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Harlem Queen

Yhane Washington Smith

Harlem Queen is an award-winning Black historical fiction audio drama based on the true story of Madame Stephanie St. Clair, the bold, brilliant "Numbers Queen" who built a Harlem empire during the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s.

Written, produced, and directed by Yhane Washington Smith, an A'Leila Bundles Scholar at Columbia University, this five-season series brings Madame St. Clair's world to vivid life through original music, meticulous sound design, and a full cast of characters. Jazzy, glamorous, and unflinching about what it meant to be a Black woman in America in the 1920s.

As featured on ABC's primetime documentary The Story of Soaps. History this rich deserves to be heard.

You can follow on Instagram: @Yhane.Writes,

our web site: YhaneWashingtonSmith.com,

email: HarlemQueenAudioDrama@gmail.com.

or our newsletter: https://harlemqueen.substack.com/


Thank you for listening!

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  • 20 episodes
  • Avg 22 min
  • English

Episodes 20

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  • S5 · E3
    Dec 11, 2025 · 17 min

    S5 EP3 - Policy Banking 101

    Anita breaks down policy banking to Michelle. The episode features: Isabelle Kerby-McGowan Nina Smith Marie-Francoise Theodore Gabrielle Adkins Sound Designed by Collin Thomas Original Theme Music created by Jason Moran Produced, written, directed and edited by Yhane Washington Smith Thank you to The Puffin Foundation for their support of this project. This is our final season of "Harlem Queen" the audio drama. What happens next? A play? A movie? A spinoff? Read all about it in my newsletter harlemqueen.substack.com Check out my other shows: *The Courtship of Mona Mae *1972 - The Chisholm Trail and the Davis Trial * Dancers on the Shore Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • S5 · E4
    Dec 9, 2025 · 19 min

    S5 Ep4 - Final Series Episode

    In this final episode of the series, Stephanie makes her return and even convinces Anita not to give up her territory. Dutch Schultz is finally shot dead. Michelle comes to a conclusion, which sets us up for our spin-off series, "Crown Beauty". This episodes features: Gabrielle Adkins Isabelle Kerby-McGowan Nina Smith Ian Bell Jimmy Mehiel Denese Longsworth Karen Chmielnicki Sound designed by Colin Thomas Original theme music by Jason Moran Produced, written and directed by Yhane Washington Smith Thank you to The Puffin Foundation for their support of this project. What's next for "Harlem Queen" read my short and sweet newsletter and find out: https://harlemqueen.substack.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • S5 · E2
    Oct 16, 2025 · 14 min

    S5 EP2 - The Great Escape

    Stephanie makes her great escape from prison. This episode features: Marie - Francoise Theodore Gabrielle Adkins Journey Brown-Saintel Luke Slattery Thank you: Emilio Smith Tom Smith Collin Thomas Sound designed by Collin Thomas Produced, written and directed by Yhane Washington Smith Thank you to The Puffin Foundation for their support of this project. We are taking "Harlem Queen" to the stage! Join us on our journey! subscribe to: https://substack.com/@harlemqueen? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • S5 · E1
    Sep 17, 2025 · 15 min

    S5 EP1 - The Queens of Harlem

    This is our first episode of our last season! While Stephanie is recuperating in France with Josephine Baker, we meet the other Queens of Harlem; Anita Howell, Rita, Polly Adler and even Stephanie's daughter, Michelle. This episode features: Isabelle Kerby-McGowan as Anita Howell Denese Longsworth as Rita Munoz Karen Chmielnicki as Polly Adler Nina Smith as Michelle Mondesir Sound Designed by Collin Thomas "Harlem Queen" is produced, written and directed by Yhane Washington Smith Thank you to The Puffin Foundation for their support of this project. We are taking "Harlem Queen" to the stage! Join us on our journey! subscribe to: https://substack.com/@harlemqueen? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Sep 12, 2025 · 2 min

    Season Five Trailer

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Apr 4, 2025 · 39 min

    Yhane talks with Jana Naomi Smith creator of "Red for Revolution".

    I am so glad to share with you my conversation with Jana Naomi Smith creator of Red for Revolution. Jana and I discuss providing a platform for "undertold" stories. I could ALWAYS use your help to make these incredible stories. Become a patron at: https://www.patreon.com/c/harlemqueen Thank you! Keep in touch by subscribing to my newsletter! https://harlemqueen.substack.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • S3 · E9
    Feb 19, 2025 · 36 min

    Part 2 of William Sutphin (Booker and Olivia) and Yhane have a sit down.

    Part two of the talk. Yhane has a sit down with William Sutphin creator of the "Booker and Olivia" audio drama. Yhane and William discuss creating Black historical fiction. William breaks down crafting his favorite scene. You can follow William on Instagram @audio_auteur. I could ALWAYS use your help to make these incredible stories. Become a patron at: https://www.patreon.com/c/harlemqueen Thank you! Keep in touch by subscribing to my newsletter! https://harlemqueen.substack.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • S4 · E7
    Feb 5, 2025 · 30 min

    We Have Main Character Energy. Yhane talks with Dominic Lawson of Black is America.

    Yhane talks with Dominic Lawson of the "Black is America" Podcast. Yhane and Dominic talk about 'standing in the gap' - making sure that we learn and share our stories. I could ALWAYS use your help to make these incredible stories. Become a patron at: https://www.patreon.com/c/harlemqueen Thank you! Keep in touch by subscribing to my newsletter! https://harlemqueen.substack.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • S4 · E4
    Jun 2, 2024 · 17 min

    S4 EP4 - Madame Stephanie St. Clair's Trial (Season Finale)

    This episode tells the tale of Stephanie's trial. This season’s special sponsor is Harlem Brewing headed by the first black woman beer brewer, Celeste Beatty. Get ready for Harlem Brewing’s Harlem themed taproom in Brixton. That’s Brixton in London. This episode was edited by Jordan Kauling, sound designed by Xperience J., Emanie White -Heard is our audio engineer. "Harlem Queen" theme music composed by Jason Moran. Produced, written and directed by Yhane Washington Smith. This episode featured: Gabrielle Adkins Marie-Francoise Theodore Bob Raymunda Jeff VanDreason Emerald Toller Peter Killy Luke Slattery Journey Brown-Saintel Tom Smith Emilio Smith Nina Smith Yhane Washington Smith If you are able, please donate to my Patreon: Patreon.com/harlemqueen Thank you! Read my newsletter: https://harlemqueen.substack.com/ Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yhane.writes.audio/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • S4 · E3
    May 19, 2024 · 24 min

    S4 EP3 - Harlem Queen Live! Wilhemina Returns.

    This is the recording of our live show!! In this episode Stephanie and Wilhemina hatch a plan that will put Dutch Schultz six feet under. Original music by Jason Moran and produced, edited, written and directed by Yhane Washington Smith. This episode featured: Gabrielle Adkins Kara Young Luke Slattery Ian Bell Karen Chmielnicki Ele Matelan our foley artist. If you are able, please donate to my Patreon: Patreon.com/harlemqueen Thank you! Read my newsletter: https://harlemqueen.substack.com/ Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yhane.writes.audio/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • S4 · E2
    May 12, 2024 · 17 min

    S4 EP2 - We Meet Bunky

    CONTENT WARNING: A lynching is discussed. In this episode, Stephanie escapes tragedy and meets Bunky. Stephanie explains to Josephine how she built her numbers empire. This episode was edited by Jordan Kauwling. Sound designed by Xperience J. original music by Jason Moran and produced, written and directed by Yhane Washington Smith. This episode featured: Gabrielle Adkins Marie-Francoise Theodore Julie Atwell Emilio Smith Tom Smith If you are able, please donate to my Patreon: patreon.com/harlemqueen . Thank you! Read my newsletter: https://harlemqueen.substack.com/ Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yhane.writes.audio/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • S4 · E1
    May 5, 2024 · 16 min

    S4 EP1 - We Meet JB (Josephine Baker)

    In this episode, Stephanie St. Clair escapes jail in New York City, lands in France and recounts her tale of arrival to "America" to her friend Josephine Baker. Around 1915, Stephanie arrives in “America”, young, pregnant, alone and gets to work building a life for herself and her baby. This episode features: Gabrielle Adkins Marie-Francoise Theodore Okema T. Moore Jocelyn O’Toole Marcus Grant Tom Smith Emilio Smith If you are able, please donate to my Patreon: patreon.com/harlemqueen Read my newsletter: https://harlemqueen.substack.com/ Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yhane.writes.audio/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • May 31, 2022 · 5 min

    BONUS - ANOTHER SHOW BY YHANE - 1972 - We Are the Revolutionaries

    THANK YOU for listening! In 1972 we hear the powerful voices of Professor and activist Angela Davis and Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm. We witness the series of events that put Davis on the F.B.I. most wanted list and we join Chisholm on her campaign trail for president of the United States. Starring: Ebonie Ellington as Shirley Chisholm Jac'leen Smith as Angela Davis Emilio Smith as Jonathan Jackson Sound Designer - Xperience J. Producer, Audio Engineer and Editor - T.H. Ponders Written, directed and edited by Yhane Washington Smith Follow us: Instagram: @Yhane.Writes.Audio Web site: YhaneWashingtonSmith.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • S3 · E2
    Jul 20, 2021 · 19 min

    S3 EP2 - Ready

    Stephanie, Rita and Wilhemina join forces to take down Schultz and Luciano.Gabrielle Adkins as Stephanie St. Clair, Ian Bell as Dutch Schultz, Journey Brown-Saintel as Ruby and Gwendolyn Bennett, Karen Chmielnicki, Denese Duran as Rita, Joshua Gold as Matteo, Driver and Gunman, Steven Hylton as Bunky and Langston Hughes, Peter Killy as Lucky Luciano, Jocelyn O'Toole as Ida, Luke Slattery as Manos, Nina Smith as Michele Mondesir, Michelle Washington Wilson as Evelyn Carson, Kara Young as Wilhemin

  • S3 · E1
    Jul 5, 2021 · 20 min

    S3 EP1 - Rapport

    Michele decides to build a rapport with her estranged mother.

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