As an audio journalist who wears many hats and has worked in several top production houses on a range of shows, Zakiya has a lot of knowledge and experience that she enjoys sharing. Zakiya has been an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism where she co-taught the fundamentals of journalism, and the art of telling true stories using sound. She is also a regular guest lecturer for the University of Chicago’s audio storytelling classes, Sarah Lawrence’s audio storytelling classes, and at UnionDocs Center for Documentary Art. She speaks to students and emerging podcasters and audio makers about a range of topics, from the behind the scenes of breaking traditional formats to how to navigate the audio industry, to the nuts and bolts of audio storytelling. She often gives a talk called “Making Your Own Podcast: Tips for getting through the murky waters of creating a passion project from scratch” that explores the logistical, intellectual, creative, and emotional up’s and down’s of making art. This talk is always extremely well-received and spurs confidence and creativity, and many students and emerging podcasters describe it as “the highlight” of their learning experience. Zakiya was also an Equity and Sensitivity Consultant for Ginkgo Bioworks  and their anti-colonial, feminist podcast about the intersections of science, art, and power. She consulted on sensitivity, equity, and ethical issues, especially as it pertained to collaborating with marginalized communities in telling their stories. As a black and queer audio journalist, Zakiya is deeply passionate about racial, class, gender, and sexuality diversity and equity in the audio industry. Zakiya is a co-founder of the POC in Audio Directory, a resource created to fight the lack of racial diversity in the audio industry. Zakiya and her collaborators were recognized by Bitch Media as among the top 50 "most impactful creators, artists, and activists in pop culture" for their work in advocating for racial equity in the audio industry.