Poorna Jagannathan and Amna Nawaz on Hollywood diversity: what the PBS 'Settle In' conversation revealed

# What happened

On PBS News' podcast Settle In, anchor Amna Nawaz spoke with actor Poorna Jagannathan about representation in Hollywood. The conversation focused on recent data showing declines in diversity on streaming platforms and on the real-world effects actors and creators are seeing now.

Jagannathan described this drop as visible in everyday casting announcements. She said projects that once felt like necessary risks—shows that broke through and proved diverse casting could succeed—are increasingly treated as anomalies rather than the start of a trend.

She named two practical consequences. First, creators of color still wield influence and often prioritize diversity in their work. Second, despite that influence, the number of projects led by people of color getting green-lit has decreased, shrinking overall visibility.

# Specific examples mentioned

• Never Have I Ever: Jagannathan referenced it as a high-profile example of a streaming series that succeeded while centering diverse voices.

• Deli Boys: The conversation was recorded days before Hulu's cancellation of Deli Boys after two seasons, making the series a near-term example of how programming decisions affect representation.

• Lanterns: Jagannathan is stepping into the superhero space with this new series, showing the range she continues to pursue.

# Why this matters now

She also highlighted where representation remains thin—particularly Indigenous and some Latinx and Asian stories, which she said are sometimes flattened into a black-and-white diversity claim rather than recognized in their distinctiveness.

# What Jagannathan sees as causes

She offered two linked explanations:

• Reduced pressure: When platforms feel less external pressure to diversify, they become more willing to avoid perceived risks.

• Risk calculation by decision makers: Shows that once felt risky to green-light are now treated as optional, not foundational, which limits the pipeline for new diverse talent and stories.

# How creators respond

Jagannathan noted creators such as Mindy and Abdullah Saeed who consistently include diverse casts and perspectives. Her point: individual creators can and do prioritize inclusion, but their projects alone cannot offset systemic decreases in green-lighting across platforms.

# Bottom line

The PBS conversation combines recent data with the lived perspective of an actor working across genres. The takeaways are concrete: streaming representation declined in 2025, cancellations and green-light decisions are part of the picture, and creators of color still push for inclusion even as the industry retrenches.

# Where to hear more

The full Settle In episode and its transcript are available through PBS platforms, and the conversation includes additional context about awards tracking and casting trends that viewers and industry watchers may find useful.