I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings Cover
Podcast Mentions

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

Maya Angelou

“ Here is a book as joyous and painful, as mysterious and memorable, as childhood itself.

Podcasts 13
Quotes 36
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Stuff You Should Know

Podcast

Stuff You Should Know

It was briefly mentioned as a book that was banned in Alabama because it was said to encourage bitterness toward white people.

"

Maya Angelou. Can't have any of that.

— Episode: SYSK Selects: How Book Banning Works

Episode: SYSK Selects: How Book Banning Works

It was briefly mentioned as a book that was banned in Alabama because it was said to encourage bitterness toward white people.

"

Maya Angelou. Can't have any of that.

The Alabama State Textbook Committee said that I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings encourages bitterness toward white people.

Episode: SYSK Selects: How Book Banning Works

It was discussed as a challenged book in Alabama due to its perceived promotion of bitterness towards white people.

"

Maya Angelou.

Can't have any of that.

Yeah, the Alabama State Textbook Committee said that I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings encourages bitterness toward white people.

Episode: SYSK Selects: How Book Banning Works

It was mentioned as a book that was banned by the Alabama State Textbook Committee, with the stated reason being that it encourages bitterness toward white people.

"

Maya Angelou. Can't have any of that. Yeah, the Alabama State Textbook Committee said that I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings encourages bitterness toward white people.

Episode: SYSK Selects: How Book Banning Works

Mentioned as a challenged book for allegedly encouraging bitterness toward white people.

"

The Alabama State Textbook Committee said that I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings encourages bitterness toward white people.

My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark

Podcast

My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark

It was mentioned in passing as a source for the explanation of the origin of the name Madea, an honorific title in the black community.

"

Oh, this is notably explained in Maya Angelou's 'I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings'.

— Episode: 267 - Leg Show

Episode: 267 - Leg Show

It was mentioned in passing as a source for the explanation of the origin of the name Madea, an honorific title in the black community.

"

Oh, this is notably explained in Maya Angelou's 'I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings'.

Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend

Podcast

Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend

Hillary Clinton mentioned Maya Angelou's memoir, which details her experiences with racism and inequality as a child and her journey to overcome trauma and find her voice.

"

She was somebody who I came across years before because of her amazing memoir, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, talking about her life growing up in a little town in South Arkansas called Stamps.

— Episode: Hillary and Chelsea Clinton

Episode: Hillary and Chelsea Clinton

Hillary Clinton mentioned Maya Angelou's memoir, which details her experiences with racism and inequality as a child and her journey to overcome trauma and find her voice.

"

She was somebody who I came across years before because of her amazing memoir, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, talking about her life growing up in a little town in South Arkansas called Stamps.

The Toast

Podcast

The Toast

The hosts repeatedly highlighted the memoir, noting its powerful impact and even ordering a physical paperback from a Black‑owned bookstore after reading it on Kindle. They expressed excitement about reading it and announced it as their next month’s selection. Overall, the discussion conveyed strong enthusiasm and endorsement of the title.

Highly Recommended

Episode: S3 Ep113: Reality Show Has-Been Support Group: Thu...

The hosts mentioned starting the classic memoir and noted the title, albeit with a slight misquote, indicating they were reading it.

"

Maya Angelou... I started it... So I know Why the Cage Word Sings by Maya Angelou.

Episode: S3 Ep105: Gotta Get Down on Friday: Friday, June 1...

The hosts highlighted the memoir, noting they ordered a physical paperback from a local Blackowned bookstore after reading it on Kindle and praised its impact.

"

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou.

They're based in D.C. They have I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, along with tons of other books that you can read about and learn about.

If you're not doing the Redheads or you're just looking for books, it's a great way to spend that coin. LoyaltyBookstores.com is where we got I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, our physical copies.

Because I read it on the Kindle, but I've started ordering physical copies of all of the books that we choose so that I can have a collection and also so I can take photos for Instagram. So, I ordered this one from Loyalty Books and it's great.

Episode: S3 Ep104: Conjunction Junction, What's Your Functi...

The hosts expressed excitement about reading the book as their next selection.

"

and now, um, I'm so excited to read our next book, which is I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou.

Episode: S3 Ep101: The Hate U Give: Monday, June 8th, 2020

The hosts announced that their next month's book selection would be I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou.

"

We announced that our book for next month is going to be I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou.

99% Invisible

Podcast

99% Invisible

The book was mentioned as Maya Angelou shared her experience of becoming a streetcar conductor in San Francisco during World War II, highlighting her journey and perseverance in a challenging environment.

"

excerpts from Maya Angelou's I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings read by the author used by permission of Penguin Random House Audio Publishing Group

— Episode: Model City

Episode: Model City

The book was mentioned as Maya Angelou shared her experience of becoming a streetcar conductor in San Francisco during World War II, highlighting her journey and perseverance in a challenging environment.

"

excerpts from Maya Angelou's I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings read by the author used by permission of Penguin Random House Audio Publishing Group

the idea of sailing up and down the hills of San Francisco in a dark blue uniform with a money changer at my belt caught my fancy.

I would have the job. I would be a conductorette and sling a full money changer from my belt. I would.

The Moth

Podcast

The Moth

The host listed it among the classic banned titles that moved her, noting its impact.

"

Here, I'm speaking about Maya Angelou's I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, Alice Walker's The Color Purple, Toni Morrison's The Song of Solomon, and Margaret Atwood's...

— Episode: Banned Books Week: The Moth Podcast

Episode: Banned Books Week: The Moth Podcast

The host listed it among the classic banned titles that moved her, noting its impact.

"

Here, I'm speaking about Maya Angelou's I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, Alice Walker's The Color Purple, Toni Morrison's The Song of Solomon, and Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale.

Episode: The Moth Podcast: Meeting Your Idols

The speaker recalled people mentioning a birdrelated title and quoted the line "I know why the caged bird sings," indicating the book's fame during Maya Angelou's rise.

"

I don't know the author, and I don't know the title, but it's about a bird. I know why the caged bird sings.

The Rachel Maddow Show

Podcast

The Rachel Maddow Show

The book was referenced in two episodes that examined a proposed Arizona law aiming to ban materials related to homosexuality. Hosts cited it alongside other classic titles as examples of works that could be prohibited. The discussion focused on the threat of censorship rather than recommending the book.

Episode: In uncommon trend, blue states pass laws to protec...

This book was mentioned along with "1984" and "The Great Gatsby" as potential targets for a Republican-backed bill in Arizona which sought to ban books related to homosexuality. The bill would have prohibited the teaching of homosexuality and would have been a major blow to LGBTQ+ representation in education.

"

Republicans also pushed legislation that would have banned books like Maya Angelou's book, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, or George Orwell's 1984, or F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby.

Episode: In uncommon trend, blue states pass laws to protec...

The book was mentioned in the context of a law that Republicans in Arizona were trying to pass that would have banned books, including "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings", "1984", and "The Great Gatsby".

"

Republicans also pushed legislation that would have banned books like Maya Angelou's book, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings or George Orwell's 1984 or F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby.

We Can Do Hard Things

Podcast

We Can Do Hard Things

It was discussed as an example of how someone can transform their personal pain into healing and creativity, especially through writing. The host used it to demonstrate the concept of the wounded healer.

"

Maya Angelou, who of course wrote, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.

— Episode: 85. Susan Cain Says Sadness is a Superpo...

Episode: 85. Susan Cain Says Sadness is a Superpower

It was discussed as an example of how someone can transform their personal pain into healing and creativity, especially through writing. The host used it to demonstrate the concept of the wounded healer.

"

Maya Angelou, who of course wrote, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.

Episode: 34. UNBOUND with Tarana Burke—Part 1

It was mentioned as being similar to Tarana Burke's book, Unbound, and discussed the role it played in helping Tarana Burke to understand her own experiences of childhood sexual assault and recognize her own innocence in the situation.

"

People are comparing it to I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, which I'm sure is just no big deal for you at all, right Tarana?

For years, you thought that the assault on you wasn't something that someone did to you or even, even something that happened to anyone else. And then one day you snuck Maya Angelou's I Know Where the Caged Bird Sings from your mother's collection.

When I read about what happened to a young Maya Angelou, I was able to read her as innocent in a way I didn't allow for myself.

NPR News Now

Podcast

NPR News Now

The book was referenced when NPR reported that Utah school districts had banned the autobiography under a sensitive materials law, prompting the author's estate to join a lawsuit challenging the legislation. Chloe Veltman noted its 1969 publication and its exploration of racism and childhood sexual assault. The discussion centered on the controversy rather than recommending the title.

Episode: NPR News: 04-15-2025 12AM EDT

It was cited as one of the titles that the Army memo listed for removal from West Point and the Naval Academy libraries.

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Those books included Maya Angelou's I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.

Episode: NPR News: 04-14-2025 9PM EDT

The book was listed among titles the Army intended to remove from its libraries as part of a diversityrelated purge.

"

Those books included Maya Angelou's I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.

Episode: NPR News: 02-08-2026 8AM EST

Maya Angelou's autobiography was banned by Utah's Davis and Granite school districts under a sensitive materials law, leading her estate to join a lawsuit challenging the legislation.

"

The update follows the banning of Angelou's autobiography, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Utah's Davis and Granite school districts.

Published in 1969, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings explores the racism Angelou experienced growing up in the South, as well as a sexual assault the author experienced as a child.

The Daily Show: Ears Edition

Podcast

The Daily Show: Ears Edition

This book, written by the poet laureate, was mentioned in the context of being challenged and labeled as pornography by an activist, despite its subject matter dealing with racism and civil rights.

"

I know why the caged bird sings. Written by Maya Angelou. Maya Angelou's a poet laureate. That part. She wrote porn.

— Episode: TDS Time Machine | Censorship

Episode: TDS Time Machine | Censorship

This book, written by the poet laureate, was mentioned in the context of being challenged and labeled as pornography by an activist, despite its subject matter dealing with racism and civil rights.

"

I know why the caged bird sings. Written by Maya Angelou. Maya Angelou's a poet laureate. That part. She wrote porn.

But that's not what Maya Angelou's I Know Why the Caged Bird sings. It's pornography.

The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

Podcast

The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

The podcast hosts mentioned the book "The Cage Bird Sings" as a response to Kamala Harris's statement, "Now I know why the cage bird sings." They jokingly stated that she said this like she understood the meaning of the book.

"

Now I know why the cage bird sings

— Episode: Sunday Hang with Clay and Buck - Jul 14...

Episode: Sunday Hang with Clay and Buck - Jul 14 2024

The podcast hosts mentioned the book "The Cage Bird Sings" as a response to Kamala Harris's statement, "Now I know why the cage bird sings." They jokingly stated that she said this like she understood the meaning of the book.

"

Now I know why the cage bird sings

Now I know why the cage bird sings okay now I know why the cage bird sings she really said that I didn't see this whole video

No Stupid Questions

Podcast

No Stupid Questions

It was mentioned as an example of a book written by an author who was admired, and a quote from a conversation she had with Bill Moyers was shared.

"

You're only free when you realize you belong no place. You belong every place. No place at all. The price is high. The reward is great.

— Episode: 162. How Can You Be Kinder to Yourself?

Episode: 162. How Can You Be Kinder to Yourself?

It was mentioned as an example of a book written by an author who was admired, and a quote from a conversation she had with Bill Moyers was shared.

"

You're only free when you realize you belong no place. You belong every place. No place at all. The price is high. The reward is great.

Note: The book recommendations on this page are discovered automatically from podcast transcripts, and may be incorrect or incomplete.