Crissle West

The Read was adapted into a television show on Fuse TV that premiered in October 2019.

West is also a host on Beats 1 Radio, part of Apple Music, and has written for Essence. Madame Noire calls her "one of the people we wish were our friends. She’s just that cool, really."

West is also a comedian, notably appearing with Octavia Spencer on Comedy Central's Drunk History series in "a surprisingly-hilarious retelling" of Harriet Tubman's work as a Union spy during the Civil War. Salon called the episode one of 2015's "best moments in political comedy." In 2016, West narrated an episode of Drunk History honoring National Coming Out Day, recounting Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P. Johnson's role in the Stonewall Riots. The A.V. Club said the episode "schools Hollywood in telling LGBT stories," as "West, who was one of last season’s best narrators, returns with another memorable, powerful retelling."

Two months after West moved to New York, Kid Fury approached her about starting a podcast through the Loud Speakers Network; the show, named The Read, quickly gained traction. iTunes featured The Read on its Best of 2013 list and as an Editors’ Choice pick in 2014. Slate named one episode to its list of “Best 25 Podcast Episodes of All Time,” and The Verge named The Read to its list of podcasts "you should be listening to." The Read also won best podcast at the 2014 Black Weblog Awards.

West was born in Louisiana and raised in Oklahoma City. While living in Oklahoma, she met future The Read co-host Kid Fury first on Twitter, then in person during a trip to Atlanta in 2012. West moved to New York City shortly thereafter and worked first at a magazine, and then as an executive assistant.