Black & Intellectualish

MP and Tee Chin begin this episode with some lighter topics - catching up and recapping the Grammy's. Specifically, they discuss Cowboy Carter and how particular kinds of critiques undermine Black success. They also balk at a new single from Bruno Mars and Sexyy Red. Finally, the pair talk about the chaos of the first few weeks of 47's presidency and how to avoid despair in these times.

In this episode, MP and Tee Chin discuss Black men voting for Donald Trump in the upcoming presidential election and ever-evolving dark allegations confronting Diddy.

In this episode, MP and Tee Chin discuss Shannon Sharpe's recent viral moment and what it might signal to us about how masculinity is performed in our culture. Next, the conversation moves to the recent presidential debate between V.P. Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump. The episode wraps up by discuss a viral moment from the debate - Trump's decision to spread a racist lie about undocumented Haitian immigrants in Springfield, OH.

We're back! After a summer hiatus, MP and Tee Chin return to talk about the Democratic National Convention versus the Republican National Convention, whether or not there is such a thing as "the Black vote," and much more! Kick off Season 3 with us by sharing this episode with a friend!

In this episode, MP and Tee Chin discuss the recent leak of hotel security footage showing Diddy's abuse of former girlfriend and Bad Boy artist Cassie. What would it look like for us to "be open to believing victims the first time," as Cassie suggests? We also break down Dr. Michael Eric Dyson's recent defense of Drake against allegations of being a culture vulture and cultural appropriator. Can those claims be valid when levied against a Black man? Finally discuss Trump's recent felony convictions and our excitement for the new season of Bridgerton.

In this episode, MP and Tee Chin discuss the pro-Palestine protests sweeping the nation's college campuses. They also discuss Amanda Seales' Club Shay Shay interview and the debate around her likability. The duo spends the rest of the podcast discussing the Drake versus Kendrick Lamar beef. Who won, and more importantly, does it change how we see Drake?

What's beef? In this episode, MP and Tee Chin discuss the recent rap beef involving Drake, Kendrick Lamar, and J. Cole. Specifically, the pair debate J. Cole's apology and retraction. Is that hip-hop? Can an artist at the upper echelon of rap refuse to compete with friends for the sake of his mental health and still be considered one of the greatest emcees? Is it fair to call hip-hop a sport if the competition seems to require negativity? We also discuss O.J. Simpson's troubled legacy and much more!

In this episode, MP and Tee Chin talk about the recent war on DEI and the ways in which inflammatory online conversation can distract from the harmful legislation being passed across the country. Next, we dive into the Diddy debacle - covering the recent civil suits that culminated in a raid by the feds this past week. Finally, we talk about Cowboy Carter, giving our thoughts on both the album as a whole as well as the cultural significance of the album.

In this episode, we discuss ReesaTeesa's marriage horror story. The 50+ part TikTok series took the internet by storm, so we had to share our perspective. We also discuss the state of Black history in America and share a Black history fact that we learned WAY too late.

Welcome to the (almost) lost episode! MP and Tee Chin are back. In this episode, the duo share diverging beliefs on the Megan Thee Stallion and Nicki Minaj feud. Are there rules to a rap battle? How does positionality impact our opinions? We wrap the episode by chatting about the seemingly manufactured competition between Beyoncé and Taylor Swift. Instagram: @blackintellectualish TikTok: @black.intellectualishpod

Happy New Year! In this episode, Tee Chin and MP catch up on the current events and pop culture happenings they missed during their break. They chat about Katt Williams, Jonathan Majors, Taraji P. Henson, Claudine Gay, and more. We also preview what we hope will be an ongoing conversation this year as we march closer to the 2024 presidential election.

In this episode, we discuss how to care for yourself in the social media era. In this constantly "on" environment, how can we protect our mental health from the negativity and toxicity that is so readily (and addictively) at our fingertips?

In this episode, we review the album that has everyone talking, Drake's For All the Dogs. After offering our thoughts on Aubrey's latest offering and discussing our favorite songs, we go back in time to discuss Drake's discography and identify our go-to albums and songs from the 6 god. Is this episode all about Drake? Yes, it is.

In this episode, we discuss the Max documentary, BS High, and chat about the difference between the scams perpetrated by institutions and how they are often overlooked to focus on those carried out by individuals. Next, Tee Chin lowkey breaks girl code to talk about online dating and online communities helping to make it a less scary place.

Tell the truth and shame the devil...In this episode, we discuss the lies of Carlee Russell. What do her lies mean for the Black community? Should her indiscretions mean anything for the Black community at all? We also chat about Ron DeSantis's continued attacks on education in the state of Florida. Did Black people learn valuable skills from slavery? Spoiler alert - no. We wrap up by discussing the most recent attacks on AP Psychology and what this could mean for teachers and students.

Are Juneteenth and July 4th empty performances of freedom? In this episode, we discuss the missed opportunity to have Juneteenth serve as a form of reparation for Black folks. We also break down the recent Supreme Court decision on Affirmative Action in higher education admissions. We wrap things up on a positive note by sharing a few recommendations for freedom songs that get us going.

We kick off this new season of Black & Intellectualish with our reactions to President Joe Biden's student loan forgiveness plan. While this relief is undoubtedly good news for those with student loan debt, we share our thoughts on why the policy doesn't go far enough. We wrap up by discussing the fall of FN Meka, the racially ambiguous virtual rapper who was dropped from Capitol Records this week following backlash against his creators. As talks of the metaverse become everpresent, will there be any accountability for the commodification of Blackness?

In Episode 39, we start by discussing what brings us light during these dark times. With so much negativity in the world, we thought we should share the relics in popular culture and social media that give us joy. We also chat about Brittney Griner and how intersectionality plays a role in the lack of coverage around her arrest and detainment in Russia. Finally, we wrap up by briefly sharing something that we've learned recently.

The past couple of weeks has been a lot... This week we try to process the constant barrage of trauma we are experiencing. We begin by processing the anti-Blackness of the shooting at Tops Friendly Market in Buffalo, New York. Next, we discuss the tragic school shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, and our failure as a nation to pass meaningful gun control laws. We are gonna need a "Black joy" episode soon. Credits: Thanks to Gracie Lee Pekrul (@gracieleeart on Instagram) for allowing us to use her artwork for this episode. Podcast Music: Intro Music by Makaih Beats Outro by Yung Kartz Transitions Music by Audiobinger and BEATSbyDC (@dcsniper83 on Instagram)

In this episode, we chat about making the most of conferences as academics and professionals. Next, we talk about Harvard's $100M commitment to redress its history of slavery and racism. Finally, we close things out by sharing our intellectual•ish thoughts and hot takes on Netflix's new reality show "Ultimatum."

We're back! This episode begins by sharing where we've been and why we took an unexpected break. Next, we discuss the smack heard around the world by giving our intellectual-ish perspective on Will Smith slapping Chris Rock onstage at the Oscars. Then we chat about the hearings for President Joe Biden's SCOTUS nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson. Finally, we wrap up with a brief no-spoilers chat about Bel-Air and season 2 of Bridgerton.

In this episode, we chat about what it feels like to speak up as the only Black person in the room. We also talk about the egregious misrepresentations of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s life and speeches by politicians and break down President Joe Biden's decision to compare the impact of MLK's assassination to the murder of George Floyd. We also break down a new bill in Florida that protects white people's "comfort" when discussing race and American history. Finally, we wrap up by chatting about Lauren Smith-Fields and the safety of Black women when dating. 

Happy New Year, Fam! We are back with a brand new episode of Black & Intellectualish! In this episode, we address the viral comments that have surfaced from the hosts of the Fresh and Fit podcast. Is it a problem if a Black man “prefers” not to date Black women? Is a preference like that inherently misogynoir? Everyone has preferences, right? You don't want to miss this raw conversation. We also share some of our favorite books and TV shows from 2021 that we think you should check out. Start the New Year off right with your favorite Black academics! Be sure to follow us on Instagram @BlackIntellectualish to stay up to date on everything we have going on.

As the year comes to a close, we reflect on our goals and resolutions for the year. What did we say we were going to do? We also share some insights from our Spotify Wrapped. In Ph.D. 101, we discuss the different types of faculty positions and their purpose. We spend most of this episode discussing a couple of things from Black Twitter and Instagram that have gone viral - an illustration of a Black fetus in utero and "the African-American urge" memes. Finally, we wrap up by discussing the tragic loss of fashion and culture icon Virgil Abloh.

In this episode, we chat about the Kyle Rittenhouse and McMichael-Bryan trials. If only we had a theory that could help us critically analyze the role that race is playing in these cases and our legal system more broadly...wait. We also chat about the Howard University student protests and how important it is not to allow very real problems with higher education funding to turn into an anti-black critique of HBCUs. Finally, we wrap up by chatting about Summer Walker's recent album Still Over It, which features the long sought after "Ciara's Prayer," and MP and Tee Chin run into a couple of issues picking their prayer...how about Oprah's Prayer?

In this episode, we chat about Squid Game and what it has to say about capitalism. We also chat about what it would look like if Squid Game were Black (Spades, anyone?). Next, we talk about Dave Chappelle's controversial comedy special The Closer. Does Dave have a point, or did he cause undue harm? Both? Finally, we revisit our conversations on blackfishing by (reluctantly) talking about Jesy Nelson, Whoa Vicky, and Bhad Bhabie. What is the difference between cultural appropriation and emulating what you grew up around? Does it matter?

In this episode, we discuss the tragic murder of Miya Marcano and how coverage of her story is starkly different than the coverage of Gabby Petito's case. We also revisit the importance of having a supportive doctoral advisor in light of an abusive advising relationship that was recently made public. On a lighter note, we share our perspectives on diversity statements as a part of the academic job search. Are they necessary? Maybe universities should be offering a diversity statement to their candidates instead of making them a part of the job application. Finally, we wrap up by discussing the disgustingly racist email sent to several Black organizations at the University of Massachusetts and what it means for those students. Let's be honest; this is not the warmest and fuzziest episode. 

We begin this episode with MP discussing a recent trip he took with his wife to St. Simons, Georgia, and the racist ahistoricism they faced learning about the history of the island. We also discuss the inhumane treatment of Haitians at the southern U.S. border and how the media frenzy around the Gabby Petito case is evidence of America's obsession with missing white women and ambivalence toward missing women of color. We conclude by sharing our lighthearted take on Nicki Minaj's recent tweet about her cousin's friend's testicles and the importance of not spreading vaccine misinformation. 

We are back! After a much-needed break, we are returning to a regular podcast schedule. In this episode, we talk about anti-mask mandates in K-12 schools and how people of color almost always lose when mixing education and politics mix. We also chat about Pomona College transfer student Drew Carter and how the COVID policies meant to keep all students safe left him homeless. And of course, we break down Drake vs. Kanye. And while we recorded this episode before CLB dropped, we stand by everything we said!

In this episode, we continue our discussion of critical race theory as MP shares how he plans to use it in his dissertation research. We also discuss Sha'Carri Richardson's suspension and new legislation requiring universities in Florida to survey their faculty, staff, and students to ensure that college campuses are not becoming "hotbeds for stale ideologies".

The war on critical race theory hits close to home as our state passes a bill banning the theory in schools and stating that it teaches kids to "hate our country and hate each other." In this episode, we talk about how Tee Chin uses CRT in her research with Black mothers. We also chat about a recent example of structural racism at the intersection of the NFL and our healthcare system - an assumption that Black football players start at a lower cognitive function than white players.

What exactly is critical race theory (CRT), and are educators really teaching it to their students? Conservative lawmakers are determined to outlaw the use of the theory in K-12 and higher education. It is evident that many don't know what CRT actually is and what it purports to be true about this country and institutional racism. In this episode, we revisit what CRT is and is not. We also discuss the troubling trend of critical scholars being denied tenure and how this can function as censorship in academia. Also, is racism evil? And if America is racist, does that make America evil? 

#NoBlackPain It's the joy for me! This episode is all about joy. How do we remain joyful despite the trauma that can come from being Black in America? We both share what joy means to us personally and some things in our lives that bring us joy.

It's our Jordan episode! In this episode, we talk about the Derek Chauvin verdict and what it means (and doesn't mean) for this country. We also discuss justice and policing more broadly. What does it mean that we couldn't even make it through Chauvin's trial without another Black man being murdered? Why does it seem like the police often lack the imagination for finding non-lethal solutions when dealing with Black people?

In Episode 22, We chat about experiencing burnout as a graduate student. We also consider the importance and the burden of keeping up with the Derek Chauvin trial. Next, we pay homage to the legend DMX and what his music and legacy mean to us personally. We end by discussing mistrust of the COVID-19 vaccine in the Black community and the racial disparities in vaccine dissemination.

Stop Asian Hate. In this episode, we discuss last week's tragic events in Atlanta how it serves as a reminder that the liberation of all racialized minorities is connected. We also discuss Florida's governor's recent remarks regarding critical race theory and why the theory's power is so feared and maligned by political conservatives. We close by chatting about Sharon Osbourne's Meghan Markle-related outburst on The Talk and Justin Bieber's new album and his confusing interlude choices.

It's the one-year anniversary of Black & Intellectualish! We thought the best way to celebrate would be by hosting our first guest. In this episode, the brilliant scholar (and our mentor) Dr. Chris Busey joins us to talk about what it means to him to advise a graduate student and the difference between being a scholar of race/racism and a scholar of color. We also chat about the challenge of consuming pop culture as an academic who studies race/racism. 

In this episode, we discuss whether or not Lion King can be considered a Black movie. This leads to a broader conversation on what makes something a "Black" show or film. Is Scandal a Black show? What about Orange Is the New Black? Next, Tee Chin introduces MP to the latest controversy in the Bachelor nation. We talk about cancel culture and the racism that has long been a part of the Bachelor's history.

In this episode, Tee Chin shares some of her experiences from being on the academic job market. MP finally stops being cryptic and tells everyone about the business he just launched. Tee Chin shares her shocking 23 & Me results, which leads to a conversation about who would be eligible to receive reparations from the United States. We wrap up by chatting about the Chloe Bailey video that broke the internet and sparked the viral #silhouettechallenge.

This episode, we give our non-PC thoughts on MLK Day, discuss the Inauguration of President Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, and give our intellectual•ish thoughts on the Pixar movie Soul.

Happy New Year! We begin the podcast by discussing how some of the madness of 2020 has followed us into 2021. We chat about the importance of remaining resilient while also giving ourselves grace as we face multiple historical moments, one after another. Of course, we chat about the horrendous acts of domestic terrorism carried out at the nation's Capitol this week and the differences in how the nation processes Black death versus White death. We wrap up with a spoiler(ish) conversation about the new Netflix show 'Bridgerton' produced by Shonda Rhimes. Should the show have handled race differently? Can you guess our perspective on the interracial relationship in the show? We're excited to back!

A quick update from the Black & Intellectualish crew. See you in 2021!

Black women played a critical role in delivering President-Elect Joe Biden and Vice President-Elect Madam Kamala Harris, the White House (even if Trump isn't quite ready to admit defeat). In this episode, we discuss the significance of having a Black woman serve as the Vice President of the United States of America. We also consider Stacey Abrams and other Black women's activist work to register nearly 1 million voters in Georgia, which resulted in Biden winning the state. Finally, we chat about Black women voters' consistency and what it really means for Black women to have "saved America" by voting overwhelmingly for Democrats in this election. Even Eva Longoria had to give props.

This episode is all about the upcoming election. We chat about Ice Cube working with Donald Trump to create the "Platinum Plan" for Black Americans and how it stacks up against Biden & Harris's "Lift Every Voice" plan. We also talk about voting and choice for Black folks in the United States and how the U.S.'s voting system differs from Canada's. And of course, we discuss two best parts of the vice presidential debate - Kamala Harris' facial expressions and the fly that stole the spotlight from Mike Pence. Also, what does the GOP have to offer Black folks?

We're back! Despite countless attempts to downplay the pandemic, President Trump has contracted COVID-19. We discuss the impact that this could have on the upcoming election. We also chat about Jessica Krug, the award-winning professor who admitted to deceitfully claiming to be a Black woman for years. Finally, we talk about the grand jury's decision not to charge any of the officers involved in the killing of Breonna Taylor and how it connects to Tory Lanez's decision to release an album refuting Megan Thee Stallion's claims that he shot her.

In this episode, we talk about the tragic shooting of Jacob Blake and the type of revolution that can make lasting change in America. We also chat about the support systems that have helped us thrive in our doctoral programs.

In this episode, we talk about two popular and controversial pieces of art; Black is King by Beyonce and WAP by Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion. First, we discuss the criticism that WAP has received and what it can tell us about the nature of gendered racism in our society. We also discuss whether there is value in an imagined pan-African homeland for the descendants enslaved people, even if Africans don't perceive that value. We don't have all the answers, but it's a fun journey nonetheless.

This episode, we pull back the curtain on doctoral coursework. We also discuss the future of cancel culture and whether or not it has gone too far already. Finally, we break down Black people's uncanny ability to infuse humor into any situation, and how this functions as a form of resistance to oppression.

In this episode, we talk “entanglement” and why Black love is radical. We also discuss whether Terry Crews should be considered an Uncle Tom and break down the Trump administration's decision to rescind its requirement for international students to return to their home countries in the Fall.

In this episode, we talk about how white supremacy can undermine our capacity to build a transnational Black identity. We also talk about seeking tenure while Black and the need for white people to decenter their whiteness when learning about race and racism.