If your hair’s nappy, white people ain’t happy; if your hair’s straight, everything’s great; and if you want a promotion, you better use some hair lotion. Get that kitchen ready, because we’re closing out our first season by dissecting Black hair. We get to the root of why Black people are protective of our hairstyles as part of our culture, and and the difference between appropriation and appreciation (Kim Kardashian, we’re lookin’ at you). Then we talk to the creators of the award-winning doc ...
Dec 29, 2021•1 hr 5 min•Season 1Ep. 12
It’s Gen Z trying to claim Black terminology as internet slang for me. This month, we discuss AAVE, better known as ebonics, and we trace back the roots of why Black Americans have a certain way of communicating with each other that has evolved over time. And when non-Black folks, from Kombucha Girl to Awkafina, continuously try it by attempting to co-opt our culture and language, we offer them a gift to help them understand the error of their ways: these hands. Then we wrap by discussing discus...
Nov 17, 2021•40 min•Season 1Ep. 11
If you wanna be somebody, if you wanna go somewhere... you better wake up and pay attention! In this month’s episode, we’re breaking down Black education—from a teacher and student perspective. First, we discuss our experiences as Black students and how we were taught Black history (if we were taught it at all). Later, we speak with academic scholar Laz Letcher on the intersectional challenges of teaching curriculum that doesn’t center whiteness or heteronormativity. Then we wrap things up by di...
Oct 20, 2021•1 hr 14 min•Season 1Ep. 10
If you’ve ever heard the phrase “Pretty for a dark-skinned girl,” before, then you know this is our colorism episode. We start off by getting into when we first learned about colorism and how it has consistently shown up in media—*ahem* In the Lights Heights. Then, we wrap up by discussing the music video for "Brown Skin Girl" by Beyoncé, Wizkid, SAINt JHN and Blue Ivy Carter, and ask who that song and video was truly meant to represent. Notes: Why black people discriminate among ourselves: the ...
Sep 15, 2021•46 min•Season 1Ep. 9
Mental health in the Black community has become less taboo than ever before, but we still have a long way to go. In this month’s episode, we discuss the personal—our individual experiences with therapy and mental health—along with the public—the visibility of mental health struggles in public figures like Simone Biles. Later, mental health therapist Dr. Lawrence Jackson joins us to discuss the wide range of topics and emotions that show up in therapy for Black people. Finally, we wrap things up ...
Aug 18, 2021•1 hr 15 min•Season 1Ep. 8
With the way that Black people are treated at work, it's no wonder Tommy never had a job. In this month's episode, we discuss the challenges that come along with being Black in the workplace. From questioning how our haircuts and speech patterns are perceived while interviewing, to being one of a few or the only Black person in a predominantly white working environment, there's a lot to unpack. Later, we watch Boots Riley's 2018 movie "Sorry to Bother You," and examine the concept of code switch...
Jul 21, 2021•1 hr 5 min•Season 1Ep. 7
In this month's episode, we discuss the challenges of traveling throughout the country as Black people, then we bring in multi-hyphenate creative Chris Green for his perspective on international travel. Black people don't have the luxury to just think about the fun and excitement of new adventures, we also have to consider how our Blackness will be perceived, treated and accepted wherever we go. Will there be harassment? Is someone going to say something ignorant? Will a situation get out of han...
Jun 16, 2021•1 hr 41 min•Season 1Ep. 6
In this month’s episode, we’re looking at how companies FINALLY addressed racist imagery in their products following the murder of George Floyd in 2020. We look at brands like Uncle Ben’s, Land-O-Lakes, and the infamous Washington Redskins to discuss why this pervasive imagery could be more harmful than you think. Later, we break down dozens of Aunt Jemima commercials throughout the decades in order to turn the brand’s unsavory slogan, “What took you so long?” into a personal challenge. Why the ...
May 19, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Season 1Ep. 5
For this month’s episode, we’re breaking down iconic Black standups to see if they held up over time. And we’re cutting the episode in HALF! In the first half, we rewatch some of our favorite standup specials from childhood to see if they had us cracking up or backing out. From Martin Lawrence to Katt Williams, we look at what these standup said about Black culture at the time. Would the same jokes used back then fly now? Can you still sprinkle a lil crack on ‘em? In the second half, we dissect ...
Apr 21, 2021•1 hr 48 min•Season 1Ep. 4
Bring a bucket and a mop, because this month we’re getting filthy. In this episode, we look at some of the most sexually explicit raps from men and women, and discuss how sexuality and sex look different depending on who’s behind the mic. Later in the episode, we dissect BRS Kash's "Throat Baby (Remix)" and Cardi B feat. Megan Thee Stallion's "WAP" to see just how far we’ve come from the days when “My Neck, My Back” and “Tip Drill” had the masses clutching their pearls. Get ready to find out how...
Mar 18, 2021•1 hr 16 min•Season 1Ep. 3
From Disney’s The Princess and the Frog, to Blue Sky Studios’s Spies in Disguise, to Pixar’s Soul, have you noticed a recurring theme emerging where Black characters turn into creatures or things in animated feature films, and stay in that form for the majority of their time on screen? In our second episode, we dissect why that happens and what elements worked for and against these three films specifically. Is there a fear by major studios that Black people aren’t relatable to a wider audience? ...
Feb 24, 2021•1 hr 33 min•Season 1Ep. 2
Welcome to our podcast! We're starting things off by talking about one of the most significant events of 2020. The murder of Black people in America and the reactions that follow. George Floyd's murder sparked international outrage and "action" from corporations, the government and the public in general, but why didn't the deaths of Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade or countless other trans Black people or cis Black women garner similar outrage or concern? In our premiere episode, we explore why more ...
Jan 27, 2021•1 hr 19 min•Season 1Ep. 1
