The Table Is Ours season two comes to a close with peak style and grace. The one and only singer, songwriter and award-winning actress Janelle Monáe pulls up a throne to the table. Her electric energy and indescribable poise lights up the room as she discusses the music and artists that influenced her career, and the family ties that keep her grounded. She also shares an intimate dream she had about the next generation of artists she’s influenced, and how she continues to innovate on her style a...
Mar 23, 2022•53 min•Season 2Ep. 20
The Table Is Ours takes a quick look back this week as we remember some of the great conversations from season one. We’ll be back next week with the highly anticipated season two finale. Until then enjoy this oldie but goodie. Music royalty Questlove pulled up a seat this week, and we’re still ruminating on all the gems he dropped! We chatted about growing up in Philly, co-founding The Roots and how he finds balance between conscious music and commercial success. Plus we talked about his epic di...
Mar 16, 2022•58 min
This episode, we’re talking all about healthcare equity in the Black community with psychiatrist and healthcare activist Dr. Kali Cyrus. She shares some of the economic and physical obstacles she’s witnessed keeping Black communities from proper healthcare, discusses how she advocates for her patients to ensure they feel heard and receive the care they need, and how people can use social media and online resources to impact policies and make real change. Additionally, brothers Somto (MD) and Ted...
Mar 09, 2022•1 hr 6 min•Season 2Ep. 19
This week Kirby and Amira are talking BBL’s - that’s Beautiful Black Ladies with singer, songwriter, and former Love & Hip Hop cast member K. Michelle. Our hosts jump right in and discuss K. Michelle’s decision to undergo plastic surgery and how she’s doing after her severe complications with silicone injections. She also talks about her passion to help other women who have gone through similar experiences on her new show My Killer Body with K. Michelle. She stresses the importance of being ...
Mar 02, 2022•40 min•Season 2Ep. 18
This week, image architect and fashion designer, Law Roach pulls up a seat to The Table Is Ours to talk about his self-made journey into fashion. Law builds a safe space with Kirby and Amira and shares his honest feelings about the fashion industry and the strides Hollywood has yet to make when it comes to inclusion and equity. He reflects on his upbringing, the style confidence his family showed him at an early age, and the personal swag he attributes to his hometown of Chicago. Law also has a ...
Feb 23, 2022•1 hr 5 min•Season 2Ep. 17
Being a Black woman in entertainment is not easy. This week’s guest, E! News anchor and Nightly Pop host Nina Parker knows that better than most. Nina joins hosts Kirby and Amira to talk about working her way through the industry and all the obstacles along the way. Nina speaks candidly about her experience with major news networks in New York City and the lack of representation in front of and behind the scenes. She also talks about her switch to entertainment news and TV hosting, and how she f...
Feb 16, 2022•1 hr 3 min•Season 2Ep. 16
America’s Drag Superstar comes to The Table Is Ours purse first this episode with radiant energy Bob talks about being surrounded by queer fabulousness their whole life having grown up in the drag scene and what it really takes to break into the profession. They also reminisce on the moment they knew they made it in the industry and how it felt to share the stage with other truly iconic queens. And, they speak unapologetically about love and relationships and how they will never let anyone dicta...
Feb 09, 2022•54 min•Season 2Ep. 15
Esteemed entertainer and youth pastor Kel Mitchell pulls up a seat to the Table Is Ours with motivational energy this episode and Kirby and Amira are here for it all. Kel talks about his groundbreaking opportunity with Nickelodeon as a young Black kid and the creative license he was honored to have in the room. He shares his struggles navigating teen fame and learning how to balance always being “on” even when the cameras were off. Plus, Kel shares the transformative experience that led him to h...
Feb 02, 2022•48 min•Season 2Ep. 14
The Table Is Ours pivots from its regularly scheduled programming to bring you a very special episode on all things Janet Jackson. In honor of the two-part Janet Jackson documentary series out on A&E and Lifetime, hosts Kirby and Amira sit down with Rolling Stone pop culture and music journalist, Brittany Spanos. The experienced staff writer and resident Janet expert shares her personal connection to Janet Jackson’s groundbreaking career and how Janet shaped Black culture and pop throughout ...
Jan 28, 2022•37 min•Season 2Ep. 13
This week Kirby and Amira are thrilled to sit down with the groundbreaking performer and legendary drag queen Peppermint. She talks about how her innate self-confidence helps her make authentic connections and how she makes a point to hold the door open for other transgender performers behind her. She gets right to the root of the issues surrounding comedy and Dave Chappelle’s latest special and sheds light on what society should really be paying attention to when it comes to the lives and safet...
Jan 19, 2022•43 min•Season 2Ep. 12
This week Kirby and Amira find there’s more than meets the eye with accomplished actor and director Boris Kodjoe. He comes open and ready to share his experiences growing up with his siblings as the only Black kids in his German hometown and the racism he still recalls to this day. Boris shares how his family and pride in his Ghanian background kept him going despite the hardships. He expresses his passion for changing the narrative of Black and African culture and his unique understanding of Bl...
Jan 12, 2022•47 min•Season 2Ep. 11
It’s time to start the year off right with brand new resolutions and that is just what Kirby and Amira are doing. This week, our hosts sit down with none other than the “My Fab Finance” coach herself, Tonya Rapley. Tonya reveals her journey from making $13,000 a year to building her own financial coaching empire. These ladies get deep and personal about money management from salary transparency to learning what generational wealth really is and how you even start it. Plus, find out the most comm...
Jan 05, 2022•1 hr 4 min•Season 2Ep. 10
Esteemed politician, activist and novelist Stacey Abrams pulls up a very honorable seat to The Table Is Ours this week and hosts Kirby and Amira have never been this excited to talk about politics. Leader Abrams says she is shy, but she was not bashful on this here podcast. She talks about her childhood, the fear that fuels her drive to this day, and opens up about the delicate balance of being strong yet vulnerable as a Black woman in leadership. She also reveals her honest thoughts and feeling...
Dec 22, 2021•44 min•Season 2Ep. 9
This week Gospel music legend Kirk Franklin will make you clap your hands and make you want to dance! The 13x Grammy award winner discusses the intersection of popular culture and spirituality and opens up about his life as an adopted child and how music has always been a part of his identity. He also drops some serious knowledge on the whitewashing of religion and its effect on the Black community. And as if that wasn’t enough, be sure to stay through to the end to hear Kirk break into song abo...
Dec 15, 2021•35 min•Season 2Ep. 8
Kirby and Amira find out why catfishing cannot be tolerated with this week’s guest Kamie Crawford. This unapologetically herself TV personality and multi-talent shares her unlikely introduction to TV hosting and how to stay above the haters as a Black woman in the entertainment business. Plus, Kamie reveals the truth about competing for Miss Teen USA and the treatment of Black and Brown women in the pageant space. She tells it all from fighting racist comments to tanning to fit in. Listen closel...
Dec 08, 2021•1 hr 2 min•Season 2Ep. 7
Told y’all we was gonna bump like this! This week, Kirby and Amira sit down with the beautiful and talented Kelly Rowland and speak about the importance of sisterhood, what makes a forever friendship, and when it’s time to let others go. Kelly gets inspirational as she talks about the power of Black women and the influential figures in her life and raves about her lifelong friendships with Michelle and Beyoncé alongside the new bonds she has made and nourished in her career. Plus, Kelly opens up...
Dec 01, 2021•51 min•Season 2Ep. 6
In this episode Kirby and Amira react to the Kyle Rittenhouse verdict, while breaking the news to this week’s guest Tia Mowry-Hardrict. The three bond over the unbelievable strength of Black people to persevere and still find joy within their day-to-day despite hearing news like this on the regular. Tia talks about living out her purpose as she continues to craft her long career and advocating for women of color in the medical industry as well as in TV and film. Tia makes a space for women to th...
Nov 24, 2021•35 min•Season 2Ep. 5
In this special episode Kirby and Amira sit down with the original Black Ghostbuster, Ernie Hudson. Ernie talks about the trials and tribulations of surviving Hollywood at a time when Blackness was not openly welcomed. His experience has spanned Blaxploitation to the modern day and he’s been through it all. From stereotypes in Black roles to getting left out of the Ghostbusters franchise Ernie goes in! Don’t miss the slime he spills. See the timestamps below to catch it all. (13:20) Military and...
Nov 19, 2021•43 min
The internationally acclaimed singer, songwriter, producer, and actor Mya pulls up a seat to talk with hosts Amira and Kirby about her journey as an independent artist and more. Mya shares the vows she wrote to recommit to herself, and why loving yourself is the most important step. Also hear the unexpected way she got thrust into life as an independent artist and the blessings it’s given her, as well as her amazing mentor relationship with the late and legendary artist Prince. Plus we discuss h...
Nov 17, 2021•50 min•Season 2Ep. 3
Co-hosts Kirby and Amira sit down with esteemed actor Wendell Pierce from The Wire and Suits to celebrate career longevity and building our legacies. In an industry that can be fickle, especially for Black artists, Wendell Pierce has staying power. He talks about his upbringing in the great city of New Orleans and how he maintains his integrity as an artist in the entertainment industry. Plus, his heartfelt message for his late, dear friend Michael K. Williams and the advice he shared with his T...
Nov 10, 2021•1 hr 3 min•Season 2Ep. 2
Season two of The Table is Ours starts with a bang! We sit down with the legendary singer, songwriter and actor Jill Scott to talk about exceeding expectations and living outside of the box. In this episode, Jill asks us all to love the skin we are in and know we are so much more than what the world perceives us to be. Jill joins the Lifetime family this holiday season starring as Angela in Lifetime’s newest film Highway to Heaven premiering Saturday, November 6th. Get comfortable y’all - becaus...
Nov 05, 2021•35 min•Season 2Ep. 1
Kirby and Amira are back for season 2 of The Table Is Ours . Last season, we reached the hearts and minds of some of the most influential people in Black culture, and we're back to do it bigger and better. This season it is not your average chit-chat. We’re sitting down with everyone from Jill Scott to Bob The Drag Queen to The Wire's own Wendell Pierce. Season 2 premieres next Friday, November 5th, so listen up, because we are only getting louder. Find us @TheTableIsOurs on social media and sub...
Oct 29, 2021•2 min
Music royalty Questlove pulled up a seat this week, and we’re still ruminating on all the gems he dropped! We chatted about growing up in Philly, co-founding the Roots and how he finds balance between conscious music and commercial success. Plus we talked about his epic directorial debut, Summer of Soul . From Sundance Film Festival awards to multiple Grammys, it seems like everything Questlove touches turns to platinum. Hus, that's short for hustlers! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for ...
Jun 16, 2021•58 min•Season 1Ep. 19
Destiny was fulfilled this week because we have none other than THE Michelle Williams joining us. If you don’t know Michelle Williams…shame on you. Not only is she one third of the most iconic girl group of all time, Destiny’s Child, but she’s also a mental health and self-care advocate. We discussed her two-decade sisterhood with Beyoncé and Kelly, her personal journey dealing with depression and anxiety, breaking down mental health stigmas in the Black community and how she stayed true to her ...
Jun 09, 2021•55 min•Season 1Ep. 18
Philly native and the meme queen herself, Quinta Brunson, stops by the table this week for a fun and real conversation. We’ve watched Quinta evolve from viral meme to executive producer and star of her own show, Abbott Elementary. We discuss her Philly roots, transitioning from the digital world to traditional television, dealing with personal loss in a public forum and her new book She Memes Well . One thing is clear, no grass is growing under this queen’s feet. Oh, SHE got money! Hosted on Aca...
Jun 02, 2021•56 min•Season 1Ep. 17
The radiant Susan Kelechi Watson stopped by this week, and her gifts simply cannot be ignored. The multi-talented Howard University and NYU alum shines on screens big and small and is even known to bust a move or spit a bar. We talked spirituality, the challenges that Black women face breaking into the entertainment industry and what it’s like to play everyone’s favorite Black mama on This Is Us . There’s a lot in this episode, and we unpack it all! Mic check 1, 2, 1, 2…Susan Kelechi Watson is c...
May 26, 2021•52 min•Season 1Ep. 16
Three time Emmy award-winning actress Uzo Aduba blesses us with her presence on this week’s episode, and her energy and light are infectious! From portraying the legendary Suzanne “Crazy Eyes” Warren in Orange is the New Black to the iconic Shirley Chisholm in Mrs. America to her leading role as Dr. Brooke Taylor in new series In Treatment , we can always count on Uzo to deliver! We talked about being first generation and learning to be proud of her African roots, working through grief and the t...
May 19, 2021•58 min•Season 1Ep. 12
Joining us this week is comedian Naomi Ekperigin, and the girl power energy was strong from the start! Aside from being a stand-up comedian, podcast co-host of Couples Therapy and I Love A Lifetime Movie and writer for some of our favorite television shows such as Broad City , Great News and Search Party , sis does it ALL! We dive into standing out and having a unique voice in white spaces, the double standard of interracial relationships, finding your audience in comedy and so much more. It’s t...
May 12, 2021•1 hr 11 min•Season 1Ep. 14
Shaun Robinson is usually the queen of asking the questions. BUT The Table Is Ours, so we turned it! She stopped by for a chat about her climb up the local news ranks, the scoop on 90 Day Fiancé and her latest role as an executive producer for the “Seven Deadly Sins” movie anthology on Lifetime. We covered self-reflection during the pandemic, blatant discrepancies in media, and even took a dip into her DMs for the tea. Pull up a seat, y’all. It’s Shaun’s turn to tell all! Subscribe, rate and rev...
May 05, 2021•57 min•Season 1Ep. 13
Everyone’s favorite TV auntie and the original hot girl, Jackée Harry, joins us on this week’s episode and spills the tea! She’s been acting since 1984 and has been booked and busy ever since! Whether it’s 227 , Sister, Sister , or her recent ‘scandalous’ debut on Days of Our Lives , we’re here for Jackée! We discuss career longevity, being type-cast, her lesson from Maya Angelou, embracing social media and so much more! Get ready because we’re acting up with this one! Hot Girl Spring activated....
Apr 28, 2021•55 min•Season 1Ep. 12
