'The Imperial Sessions Part 2' Conversations on Fascism & Media / Video Episode 5 Vid version updates on Youtube + Spotify some weeks after initial audio-only release. Ancient Hatreds (Or New Antisemitism, and the Left’s ‘Muslim Problem’ with Dr. Jonathan Galton) In Part 2 of The Imperial Sessions series I'm joined by Dr. Jonathan Galton to talk about his upcoming book 'Does Islamo-Leftism exist? British-Left-Muslim connections beyond the caricatures'. Jonathan shared with me a chapter title...
Jun 24, 2025•1 hr 47 min•Season 2Ep. 5
Finished the full Lady Gaga v Niamos MIX I started as a jingle in the 1st 'Imperial Session' Ep about 'Andor' & the Star Wars franchise. I decided to title it " Judas in Jedha " and share as a bonus. Enjoy! New episode in your feeds next week - see you then! Check out Project Fulcrum! https://www.getfreetogether.org/project-fulcrum Original song credits: 'NIAMOS!' originally composed by Nicholas Britell and later mixed by S2 composer Brandon Roberts and released titled ' Brasso ' and later a...
Jun 08, 2025•2 min
Tangent Episode #21 'The Imperial Sessions' Conversations on Fascism & Media New recurring series alert! And to kick off these series of conversations about Fascism in media I'm joined by returning guest (and my X-Men '97 Sessions Co-host) X of Words ' Ash Alleyne to cover Lucasfilms' latest instalment to the Star Wars Saga and franchise: 'Andor'. Created by Tony Gilroy, it is a prequel to the film Rogue One (2016) following thief-turned-rebel spy Cassian Andor during the formative five year...
May 31, 2025•57 min•Season 1Ep. 21
Video episode 4 Vid version updates on Youtube + Spotify some weeks after initial audio-only release. For this video episode I'm joined by first time guest Shannon Miller (OG Nerd of Prey!!) to talk about the theme of Black Girlhood and Coming of Age in media. Shannon Miller is a cultural commentator and writer who you might know from her work as the previous Managing Editor at Adweek, the former News Editor and writer at the A.V. Club, or her many bylines from throughout the web! Our conversati...
Apr 16, 2025•1 hr 14 min•Season 2Ep. 4
While I’m in the edit cave prepping the next episode here’s a treat for the feed. Return of friends of the pod Allison and Joe from Queer Cinema Catch Up! Alison and Joe asked me to come on their podcast to talk about Lady Gaga’s latest album Mayhem! Tune in to hear us dig into this current moment in pop music and diva worship! Make sure to check back in a few days for REFERENTIAL’s upcoming episode examining the theme of Black Girlhood in media with critic and writer Shannon Miller! Queer Cinem...
Mar 14, 2025•1 hr 25 min•Season 1Ep. 20
While I’m in the edit cave prepping the next episode here’s a treat for the feed. Return of the podcast cousin Sara Century! Some time ago I was asked the host of Best Issue Ever Podcast to join her for a discussion and I chose Wonder Woman Vol. 2 #20 (by George Perez, Bob McLeod, Carl Gafford, John Costanza, and edited by Karen Berger) as the comics I wanted to talk about the most #BringBackMyndiMayer Sara Century also has a new zine now available for preorder! You can get your digital or physi...
Mar 07, 2025•1 hr 23 min•Season 1Ep. 19
Tangent episode #18 Crossover! I got together with Elana Levin from Graphic Policy Radio to talk through our feelings about the current state of the X-Men franchise in the comics. A conversation in two parts! First we sat down to talk about the Fall of X and the end of the X-Men & Marvel's 'First Krakoan Age'. Then we came back to the mic to talk about the state of the X-Office today and the relaunched slate of X-Men comics under the ' From The Ashes ' banner. Tune in! + Fall of X From the A...
Mar 02, 2025•1 hr 56 min•Season 1Ep. 19
PART 2! (slight Act 2 spoilers from 54:15 to 57:11) Tangent episode #17 REFERENTIAL rings in the new year with a 2 parter on the latest film adaptation of Act 1 of Wicked! Welcome back to the ‘Session of The Witch’! I’m joined by returning guest Miss Sundi to talk about the 20 year history Wicked the musical and its most recent film adaptation! Directed by Jon M. Chu , ‘Wicked: Part 1’ is a film adaptation starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande . The original musical featured music and lyrics ...
Jan 02, 2025•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 18
PART 1! REFERENTIAL rings in the new year with a 2 parter on the latest film adaptation of Act 1 of Wicked! Welcome back to the ‘Session of The Witch’! [an ongoing miniseries of episodes diving into the resurgence of witches in pop culture fiction and their thematic relationship to this moment in feminism, womanhood, queerness, misogynoir (and musicals!] I’m joined by returning guest Miss Sundi to talk about the 20 year history Wicked the musical and its most recent film adaptation! Directed by ...
Jan 02, 2025•56 min•Season 1Ep. 18
Tangent episode #16 REFERENTIAL enters the ‘Session of The Witch’ with a special series of episodes diving into the resurgence of witches in pop culture fiction and their ties to this moment in feminism, womanhood, queerness, misogynoir (and musicals!). To start us off, I’m joined by host of Best Issue Ever ’s Sara Century to talk the MCU’s latest instalment Agatha All Along ! Created by Jac Schaeffer and starring Kathryn Hahn, Joe Locke, Aubrey Plaza, Sasheer Zamata, Ali Ahn, Patti LuPone and D...
Nov 28, 2024•1 hr 18 min•Season 1Ep. 17
Tangent #15 Josie and the Pussycats (Crossover) I’m joined on this episode by hosts of the Queer Cinema Catch Up Podcast Allison and Joe ! We get into 2001’s Josie and the Pussycats , directed by Harry Elfont and Deborah Kaplan and starring Rachel Leigh Cook, Tara Reid, Rosario Dawson, Alan Cumming, Missy Pyle and Parker Posey. The film was a commercial and critical failure that turned into a cult classic in the years since its release. We sit down to reappraise the biting satire and think about...
Oct 14, 2024•1 hr 7 min•Season 1Ep. 16
Tangent episode #14 'The Vampire Sessions' I’m joined on this episode by award-winning poet and vampire aficionado Derrick Austin ! We delve into the most recent adaptation of Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles, AMC’s Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire ( Starring Jacob Anderson, Sam Reid, Bailey Bass, Eric Bogosian & Assad Zaman ) This conversation also includes our thoughts on the original book [Book 1 of The Vampire Chronicles] and the 1994 film adaptation of the story ( Directed by Neil J...
Sep 09, 2024•1 hr 9 min•Season 1Ep. 15
(Preserving Pride Part 1) Trying something a little different and introducing a new format... I started working on this after being advised to stay in doors because the streets we’d marched on were now being threatened by rioters who feel anyone Brown, Black or different doesn’t belong. Trans Pride Brighton was the first Trans Pride event outside of the United States. It is also one of the largest, gathering 45,000 people in 2024 in protest and celebration. Grass-roots and community-led, the TPB...
Aug 15, 2024•23 min•Season 1Ep. 14
Video episode 3 Back to regular programming! [Part 1 of a series.] Have you ever heard the term 'digital blackface'? The Real Housewives franchise has spawned a million gifs and opinions; all asking if this is how 'we'' should be represented- and what these shows mean for the community. For our third main episode we decided to examine that statement through a discussion about Bravo 's Black led Real Housewives franchise (with some thoughts on the other casts sprinkled in). Do these shows reduce ...
Jul 28, 2024•1 hr 40 min•Season 2Ep. 3
Tangent Episode #13 (Crossover with Immortal X of Words)! Ash and I sat down for one final conversation about X-Men ’97! We talk our overall season one X-Men thoughts, our overall podcasting thoughts and answer listener questions. Plus, introducing ‘ The Mix ’, a new segment with a line up of heavy hitters jumping on the third chair to share their thoughts on the season overall. Featuring: Thee Miss Sundi ! Screenwriter Lauren Warren ! Graphic Policy’s Elana Levin ! CEREBRO’S Connor Goldsmith ! ...
Jun 30, 2024•1 hr 17 min•Season 1Ep. 13
Tangent Episode #12 (Crossover with Immortal X of Words)! Icons in the room! We’re joined by Brett Mannes and Evil Jeff, hosts of the OG Queer nerd podcast “Comic Book Queers: Legacy” ! We dig into our thoughts and feelings on Episode 10, Season 1 of X-Men '97 - the Season One finale:‘ Tolerance is Extinction - Part 2 ’. Come listen to us dig into this episode and find out how we also fit the following in. Nerd podcasting in the Pre-Krakoa boom, pre-Serial. Ash reveals his American heritage Don’...
May 30, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Season 1Ep. 12
Tangent #11 (Crossover with Immortal X of Words)! We’re joined by actress, drag performer, rapper, activist and nerd Bianca Castro aka Jiggly Caliente! (Drag Race Philippines judge, Pose, Rupaul's Drag Race Season 4, All Stars 6, co-host of Translations!) to talk through all our feelings on X-Men '97 Episode 9, Season 1 ‘ Tolerance is Extinction - Part 2 ’. Come listen to us dig into this episode with an icon in the room! + X-Men '97 as that one ex you keep coming back to Jiggly Caliente's histo...
May 16, 2024•58 min•Season 1Ep. 11
Tangent Episode #10 (Crossover with Immortal X of Words)! We’re joined by Marvin Britt (Storyboard Artist for X-Men ’97, Star Trek: Lower Decks, Blood of Zeus, The Legend of Vox Machina) to go behind the scenes on X-Men '97 Episode 8, Season 1 ‘ Tolerance is Extinction - Part 1 ’. Come listen to us dig into all the behind the scenes secrets of the making of this episode’s most iconic scenes + Return of the Children of Toonami Is Bishop okay? Losing someone’s baby Khaliden develops name blindness...
May 08, 2024•14 min•Season 1Ep. 10
Tangent #9 (Crossover with Immortal X of Words)! For Episode 7 we’re joined by two new chairs ( Valentine Smith and Miss Sundi !) to talk all about X-Men '97 Episode 7, Season 1 ‘ Bright Eyes ’ (written by Charley Feldman and JB Ballard)! Come listen to us dig into our favourite episode so far + Find out how we've fit the following in: The Debut of a brand new segment The return of Trifiling Trish Tilby Appropriate funeral attire Team Rogue did nothing wrong Days of Genocides past Wading into Ca...
May 01, 2024•1 hr 13 min•Season 1Ep. 9
Tangent Episode #8 (Crossover with Immortal X of Words)! For Episode 6 we’re joined by our first ever returning third chair Tiffie Starchild o talk all about X-Men '97 Episode 6, Season 1 ‘Lifedeath - Part 2’. Come listen to us dig into it + Find out how we've fit the following in: THE BREEZE IS BACK! Galaxy of white refrigerators Bird ass people and bussing bald bussy Stop the Sinister Steal 2025 The return of our now regular segment Storm can’t catch a break Alison Sealy-Smith you will always ...
Apr 24, 2024•11 min•Season 1Ep. 8
Tangent Episode #7 (Crossover with Immortal X of Words) For Episode 5 we’re joined by Matthew Bordenave (Assistant Director & Storyboard Artist for X-Men ’97, Young Justice, The Boys Present: Diabolical, Invincible Fight Girl) to talk all about X-Men '97 Episode 5, Season 1 ‘ Remember It ’. Come listen to us dig into all the behind the scenes secrets of the making of this instantly iconic episode. + Find out how we've fit the following in: The return of our new regular segment Trifiling Tris...
Apr 17, 2024•1 hr 9 min•Season 1Ep. 7
PREVIEW Tangent #6 (Crossover with Immortal X of Words) On a whim Ash and I decided to review/recap the just premiered ' X-Men '97 '! For Episode 4 we’re joined by my friend Victor Alexander (REFERENTIAL’s own video producer (follow us on Youtube and Tiktok !). We talk X-Men '97 Episode 4, Season 1 ‘ Motendo / Lifedeath – Part 1 ’. Find out how we've fit the following in: The debut of a new regular segment The debut of JubilAsh Nostalgia The trial of Victor Alexander, Beast Defender Lorna lookin...
Apr 10, 2024•9 min•Season 1Ep. 6
Tangent #5 (Crossover with Immortal X of Words) On a whim Ash and I decided to review/recap the just premiered ' X-Men '97 '! For Episode 3 we’re joined by our friend Connor Goldsmith (host of the Cerebro Podcast !) to talk X-Men '97 Episode 3, Season 1 ‘ Fire Made Flesh ’. Slightly longer than the previous episodes, but when the three of us sit down we tend to get carried away! Find out how we've fit the following in: An ode to Madelyne Jennifer Pryor (who did nothing wrong) Jean puts her hair ...
Apr 03, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 5
Tangent Episode #4 (Crossover with Immortal X of Words)! Ash and I decided to review/recap the just premiered ' X-Men '97 '! For Episode 2 we continued our conversation with Tiffie Starchild (@TiffieStachild) and Omar Holmon (@OmarHolmon) of Black Nerd Problems about X-Men '97 Episode 2, Season 1 ' Mutant Liberation Begins '. Find out how we also fit the following in: We need to talk about Lifedeath Magneto scams the UN Jean has self hate, which means its time to get scared X-Cutioner, you in da...
Mar 26, 2024•46 min•Season 1Ep. 4
Tangent Episode #3 (Crossover with Immortal X of Words)! On a whim Ash and I decided to review/recap the just premiered ' X-Men '97 '! We invited Tiffie Starchild (@TiffieStachild) and Omar Holmon (@OmarHolmon) of Black Nerd Problems to join our conversation about Episode 1, Season 1 ' To Me, My X-Men '. Find out how we also fit the following in: Storm & Gambit's hair dresser Sunspot's Imitation of Life The redemption of Cyclops (?) #NotMyJean! Why you can't bring Beast to Bella Noche We'll ...
Mar 24, 2024•50 min•Season 1Ep. 3
Video Episode 2 Beyonce’s Renaissance is over, now we’ve entered the Age of Enlightenment. Welcome to the rodeo? Yeehaw! I’m joined by Antonia Jade King (poet, writer, and soon to be Dr. AJ writing her thesis about the cultural and historical significance of the Fresh Prince of Bel Air) after watching the Renaissance film for a discussion on Beyoncé and the cultural conversations we’ve been having about her ever since she burst on the scene in 1997. AJ and I risk it all, come find out if we get ...
Feb 16, 2024•1 hr 7 min•Season 2Ep. 2
Tangent Episode #2 *'Tangents' are audio-only episodes posted more frequently than Video Episodes because they require less work/research/editing! Expect quick reviews, edited out content, collabs, mailbags, live audio, and so on.. * Happy Holidays! Commuting? Looking for a reason to escape family for a few minutes? Bored because you don't celebrate anything but everything has shut down for 4 days? Distract yourself with these 2 minutes minutes of Ash and I almost ending our friendship because o...
Dec 24, 2023•2 min•Season 1Ep. 2
Tangent Episode #1** *Apologies for the audio quality! It's not too bad but we were still learning. Miss Sundi will be back on the pod soon with the mic their voice deserves!* *'Tangents' are audio-only episodes posted more frequently than Video Episodes because they require less work/research/editing Expect quick reviews, edited out content, collabs, mailbags, live audio, and so on.. * Miss Sundi and I sit down to talk about and queerness in the mainstream, baby gays and how we're imagining que...
Nov 20, 2023•48 min•Season 1Ep. 1
Video episode 1 I'm joined by Ash Alleyne for a discussion about the state of Black representation in superhero, fantasy and science fiction media. + Find out how we also fit the following in: Black Telepaths or the lack of them in comics Reading against the grain Storm & Marvel & The X-Men Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom Uhura & Star Trek Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Insecure Queen Sugar Richard Ayoade being disappointing Aircoolers or Airfryers Star Wars Judge Dredd & The Empire...
Nov 19, 2023•1 hr 27 min•Season 2Ep. 1
Here's what you can expect! Referential is hosted by Dr. Khaliden Nas to have serious conversations about frivolous topics! Each episode takes you on an academically informed deep dive into pop culture and media that never skips out on a stupid joke. Subscribe & join Dr. Khaliden Nas (and the occasional guest!) as we dive into conversations about identity, representation, Blackness, queerness (and so much more) across the cultures that we make; and the cultures that make us. Keep up to date ...
Nov 19, 2023•2 min•Season 1Ep. 1
