Welcome back to another episode of The Culture Garden Podcast ! This week, Rich and Skool take a nostalgic dive into their personal DVD collections, unearthing some hidden gems and timeless classics that shaped their love of film. From cult favorites to cultural milestones, each movie holds a story—and the fellas are here to share why these particular films matter so much to them. Whether it’s the performances, or where they were in life when they first watched it, every film has a memory attach...
Jul 11, 2025•1 hr 35 min•Ep. 123
Welcome back to The Culture Garden Podcast ! In this episode, Kieron and Rachel close out Black Music Month with a deep dive into Lifetime's biopic The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel . They explore the groundbreaking legacy of Dr. Mattie Moss-Clark and her daughters, whose voices and vision forever transformed the gospel music landscape. From the group's iconic harmonies to their cultural impact, this conversation celebrates Black artistry, resilience, and faith. Whether you're a longtime...
Jun 27, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 122
Welcome back to another episode of The Culture Garden Podcast ! This week, Kieron and Rachel are celebrating Black Music Month by diving into the 2008 film Cadillac Records . Join us as we break down the all-star cast, explore the real-life inspirations behind the characters, and discuss how this iconic music came to life on screen. From Beyoncé’s best performance with her portrayal of Etta James to the legacy of the artists on Chess Records, we’re talking about all the things that make this mov...
Jun 12, 2025•1 hr 42 min•Ep. 121
Welcome to a new episode of The Culture Garden Podcast ! This week, Rich and Rachel dive into the evolution of the show’s format, embracing a more laid-back, conversational style that brings you closer to the heart of their dialogue. At the center of this episode is the film One of Them Days , starring Keke Palmer and SZA. Rich and Rachel explore the movie’s powerful themes of friendship, financial pressure, and self-discovery, all grounded in the rich cultural backdrop of Los Angeles. They refl...
Jun 05, 2025•1 hr 30 min•Ep. 120
Welcome back to The Culture Garden Podcast ! In this week’s episode, Rich and Rachel are discussing the official launch of the Culture Garden Film Club ! 🎬 This new venture is all about bringing film lovers together to explore the layers, themes, and artistry that make cinema so impactful. Whether you’re a casual moviegoer or a full-on film buff, the Film Club is your new home. Plus, Rich breaks down the 16 films he’s already seen in theaters in 2025 , giving early thoughts, highlights, and a f...
May 23, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 119
Welcome back to The Culture Garden Podcast ! This week, Rachel and Kieron head back to 2006 and dive into the Denzel Washington-led thriller Déjà Vu . Ironically, the conversation kicks off with a real sense of déjà vu — both hosts recall loving this movie way more than they do now. It’s not bad, just… slower than they remembered. In this episode, we explore the film’s take on time travel, the emotional and historical significance of it being the first major movie filmed in New Orleans after Hur...
May 15, 2025•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 118
Welcome back to The Culture Garden Podcast ! This week, Kieron and Rachel are stepping away from the usual format for a special freestyle conversation on the newly released film Sinners . Join them as they dive deep into the film’s powerhouse ensemble performances and unpack rich themes like the Great Migration, the legacy of the Black Church, and the cultural weight carried by each scene. It’s an honest, free-flowing dialogue that shines a light on the art, history, and emotion behind the story...
May 08, 2025•1 hr 50 min•Ep. 117
Welcome back to The Culture Garden Podcast ! It’s Cinco de Mayo weekend—one of the biggest moments on the boxing calendar—and we're celebrating the only way we know how: by diving into a cult classic that punches way above its weight. This week, Rich is joined by Chaz to break down The Great White Hype , a hilarious and satirical look at the boxing world that still hits hard today. Whether you're a longtime fan of the film or watching it for the first time, this episode is packed with laughs, wi...
May 02, 2025•1 hr 29 min•Ep. 116
Welcome back to another episode of The Culture Garden Podcast ! This week is a personal and heartfelt one, as Kieron takes time to honor his father ahead of the anniversary of his passing. He opens up about his dad’s lasting legacy, his deep love for cinema, and how revisiting some of his father’s favorite films helps him navigate the grief that this season brings. Alongside Skool, the duo dives into the 1990 comedy My Blue Heaven , unpacking Steve Martin’s hilarious and underrated performance, ...
Apr 17, 2025•1 hr 43 min•Ep. 115
Welcome back to The Culture Garden Podcast ! This week, Rich and Skool are in the building to break down the 2002 action/comedy I Spy . They’ll dive into Eddie Murphy’s filmography and discuss how a string of box office misfires led him to step away from acting for a while. Of course, they’ll also highlight just how goofy this movie is—touching on its best scenes, funniest quotes, and all the categories you know and love. Thank you as always for tuning in! Be sure to subscribe, comment, like, an...
Apr 03, 2025•1 hr 28 min•Ep. 114
Welcome back to The Culture Garden Podcast ! In this episode, Kieron and Rachel dive into the 2000 film Men of Honor , which chronicles the remarkable journey of Carl Brashear as he strives to become the first African American U.S. Navy Master Diver. Rachel offers a deep dive into the historical context of the time period, shedding light on the intense struggles Carl faced in an environment that wasn't exactly welcoming to someone of his background. The duo discusses Carl's unrelenting determina...
Mar 27, 2025•1 hr 42 min•Ep. 113
Welcome back to a brand-new episode of The Culture Garden Podcast ! This week, your hosts Rich and Ray P are diving into Chris Rock’s 2014 film, Top Five . The duo has a heartfelt and thought-provoking conversation about whether or not this movie deserves "classic" status. They discuss the stellar ensemble cast, the significance of breaking free from the boxes society puts you in, and the underrated humor of Tyler Perry. Plus, they’ll be sharing their own personal Top Five . Tune in for an insig...
Mar 13, 2025•1 hr 56 min•Ep. 112
Welcome back to a brand-new episode of The Culture Garden Podcast ! This week, the crew dives into the 25th annual Black Reel Awards, offering their thoughts on the 2024 film year. Was it a "down" year for cinema, or is there more to the story? The crew also explores the evolution and expansion of Black storytelling in film. Of course, they'll break down the award winners and share whether they agree with the selections or have some hot takes of their own. Join us as we celebrate the Black Reel ...
Feb 27, 2025•1 hr 39 min
Welcome back to a brand new episode of The Culture Garden podcast! This week, Rich and Ray P continue Romance Month with a deep dive into the 2023 Netflix film The Perfect Find . Based on Tia Williams’ book, the duo compares the film to the novel, highlighting the key differences and what worked (or didn’t) in the adaptation. Rich shares his doubts about whether there’s “true love” between Jenna and Eric, and they break down their favorite scenes from the movie. As always, thank you for your sup...
Feb 21, 2025•1 hr 41 min•Ep. 111
Welcome back to another episode of The Culture Garden Podcast ! Rachel and Kieron are continuing Romance Month with a special Valentine’s Day episode, diving into the 2014 film About Last Night . Join them as they explore the film’s origins and its adaptation from the 1986 classic, uncover what makes it so easy to watch and relatable, and Kieron raises an intriguing question about the racial dynamics of remaking films: Has a black film ever been remade with a white cast? They'll touch on these t...
Feb 14, 2025•2 hr 1 min
Welcome back to a brand new episode of The Culture Garden Podcast ! Kieron and Rachel are diving into the 3rd Annual Romance Month, and this time they're tackling the 2024 indie film She Taught Love . Right off the bat, the two hosts have different takes, with Rachel not exactly sold on Frank's charm or his ability to win over Mali. Along the way, they explore themes like the portrayal of black love and the importance of happy endings for black characters on screen. Tune in for an engaging discu...
Feb 06, 2025•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 109
Welcome back to The Culture Garden Podcast! This week, Rich & Skool take a hilarious deep dive into the 2006 Wayans film, Little Man. Listen, we have no idea why we’re discussing this movie—seriously, not a clue. Even more impressive, we managed to stretch almost an hour of conversation out of it. Join us as we laugh through the best scenes, reflect on the legacy of The Wayans family, and go off on a few random tangents along the way. As always, we appreciate your support—don’t forget to lik...
Jan 30, 2025•58 min•Ep. 108
Welcome back to another exciting episode of The Culture Garden Podcast ! This week, we’re thrilled to be joined by two incredible figures from the Black Reel Awards — Tim Gordon , film critic & founder, and Cordell Martin , Nominating Chairperson/Executive Producer. In this episode, Tim and Cordell take us behind the scenes of the Black Reel Awards, sharing the origin story of this prestigious event and the thought process that goes into nominating films and performances across categories. W...
Jan 23, 2025•2 hr 26 min
Welcome back to a brand-new episode of The Culture Garden Podcast ! This week, the crew is switching things up and diving into a 2.0 version of one of their past episodes, revisiting the classic film The Five Heartbeats . Why launch a 2.0 series for films they've already discussed? Well, no one talks about classic films just once, and they needed to add Rachel to the conversation. They break down what makes The Five Heartbeats a cultural milestone, especially for Rich and Skool, and explore JT’s...
Jan 16, 2025•2 hr 10 min•Ep. 107
Welcome back to a brand new episode of The Culture Garden Podcast ! This week, Kieron and Rachel dive into the 2007 film Pride , a story about unlikely allies, activism, and solidarity. Rachel is less than pleased with Kieron’s lukewarm take on the film, sparking a lively debate that takes them deep into themes of history, culture, and personal perspective. In this episode, they explore the significant history behind pool draining and segregation, and how these events shaped the fight for equali...
Jan 09, 2025•1 hr 43 min•Ep. 106
Welcome back to The Culture Garden podcast! We hope everyone is having a fantastic start to the year! In this episode, Rich and Skool kick off 2025 by diving into the 2009 comedy Janky Promoters . They discuss their surprise at how many people haven't seen or even heard of the film, its troubled release (including how it came out unfinished), and the hilarious moments that have kept them laughing for years. Expect deep dives, lots of laughs, and a whole lot of love for this underappreciated gem....
Jan 02, 2025•1 hr 10 min
Welcome back to a new episode of The Culture Garden Podcast ! This week, Kieron and Rachel are joined by Podcast OG and the host of The Frequency Podcast , Portia Renee, for a hilarious deep dive into the 2003 cult classic Bad Santa . Together, the trio discusses the near-misses in casting, their first experiences with the film, and whether or not Bad Santa deserves its place in the pantheon of Christmas classics. From unforgettable performances to its dark, twisted humor, this episode covers it...
Dec 19, 2024•1 hr 30 min
Welcome back to The Culture Garden Podcast ! The holiday cheer continues as Kieron and Rachel dive into the 2016 film Almost Christmas . In this episode, the duo explores how this movie mirrors the 2007 classic This Christmas , Mo'Nique’s unforgettable return to the big screen, and why the film didn’t quite land for Kieron despite its potential. From memorable performances to missed opportunities, they break down what works, what doesn’t, and why Almost Christmas remains a holiday film with a lo...
Dec 13, 2024•1 hr 36 min•Ep. 103
Welcome back to a new episode of The Culture Garden Podcast ! This week, we’re diving into the 1998 romantic comedy You’ve Got Mail , the ultimate blend of romance, technology, and '90s charm. Kieron and Rachel will unpack Nora Ephron's legendary contributions to the rom-com genre, including her work on You’ve Got Mail —which sits comfortably alongside some of the best rom-coms of all time. In this episode, we’ll take a stroll down memory lane to revisit the AOL chatroom days, where instant mess...
Dec 05, 2024•1 hr 42 min•Ep. 102
Welcome back to a brand-new episode of The Culture Garden Podcast ! This week, we're diving deep into the iconic Spike Lee film School Daze , with over two hours of discussion that you won’t want to miss. As you're traveling for the holiday, kick back and join Kieron and Rachel as they take a trip down memory lane, sharing some of their own college stories, experiences with Greek life, and reflections on the university culture. The duo also explore the themes of School Daze —from classism and co...
Nov 27, 2024•2 hr 13 min•Ep. 101
Welcome back to The Culture Garden Podcast —and this week, we're celebrating a HUGE milestone: Episode 100! 🎉 The gang is back together to kick off this special episode with a trip down memory lane. We’ll spend the first 40 minutes reflecting on how we got here—our early podcast memories, whether we ever thought we’d make it to 100 episodes, some of our favorite moments, and a few behind-the-scenes stories. It’s a celebration of all the incredible listeners and supporters who’ve helped us grow ...
Nov 14, 2024•2 hr 6 min•Ep. 100
Before we hit the big milestone of Episode 100, we wanted to take a moment to introduce you to a fantastic new podcast brought to you by the Culture Garden Family: Childish Grownups ! Hosted by Maurice, Ash, and Mia, this podcast takes a nostalgic look at the films we grew up with—revisiting them through the lens of adulthood. In their debut episode, they dive into the iconic The Lion King , unpacking its themes, moments, and legacy from an adult perspective. We’re excited to share this first ep...
Nov 08, 2024•1 hr 44 min
Welcome to a special Halloween bonus episode of The Culture Garden Podcast! We’re thrilled to bring you our Horror Film correspondent, Mia, as we dive into Jordan Peele’s groundbreaking 2017 directorial debut, Get Out. In this episode, we explore whether Get Out stands as the best film of the 2010s and if it marked the end of the “instant classic” era. We’ll discuss how the movie hits differently with each rewatch and uncover the surprising fact that Get Out was never initially intended to be ma...
Oct 31, 2024•2 hr 5 min
Welcome back to a new episode of The Culture Garden Podcast! Kieron and Rachel are back to dive into the 2020 film The High Note . They talk about how the Covid-19 pandemic caused the film to fly under the radar, and explore the confusion around its genre—was it a rom-com, a drama, or something else entirely? They also highlight the incredible performances, with a special focus on Kelvin Harrison Jr., and much more. As always, we appreciate your support, so please remember to subscribe, share, a...
Oct 24, 2024•1 hr 28 min•Ep. 99
Welcome back to another episode of The Culture Garden Podcast! This week, Kieron and Rachel will be breaking down Chadwick Boseman’s last theatrical release, 21 Bridges . The two will dive into the film’s anonymity, why it’s the perfect plane movie, and how it stacks up to The Negotiator . They’ll also touch on the things that stood out (for better or worse) and much more. Thank you, as always, for your support—we couldn’t do this without you. Don’t forget to subscribe, share, and drop a comment...
Oct 11, 2024•1 hr 24 min•Ep. 98
