For Colored Nerds

If you've been listening to our last few episodes, you'll know we've had the hosts of Vibe Check – Sam Sanders, Saeed Jones, & Zach Stafford – on the show to do the ultimate friendship test with Brittany and Eric. Now that FCN has ended, Vibe Check has become our go-to podcast for the latest in news, pop culture, and politics. In this unaired clip, the Vibe Check trio give their unfiltered thoughts on that controversial NYTimes Popeyes nuptial article.

This week, we're passing the mic to our very own Brittany Luse. As you all know, Brittany is the new host of NPR's It's Been a Minute. And for her debut episode, she interviewed Georgia gubernatorial candidate, Stacey Abrams. Since it's Election Day, we thought this would be the perfect time to drop her interview with Abrams on our feed. 

For the final episode of For Colored Nerds, Brittany and Eric rank the best series finales of all time.

In this penultimate episode of For Colored Nerds, Brittany, Eric, and host of NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour, Aisha Harris, go deep. This week, they discuss one of the most beloved, bankable, and now, controversial Black movie stars of all-time: Will Smith. This isn't just about The Slap or “the entanglement.” It's about Will's entire relationship to celebrity. How his career, desires, and personal branding implicates more about the idea of celebrity as a whole than we previously thought.

Tony Soprano. Walter White. Don Draper. Stringer Bell. Throughout the years, viewers have followed the trials, tribulations, and bad behavior from men we love to hate. These protagonists tend to be "relate-able" white (sometimes Black!) men who are chasing power, money, success, or any combination of those things. But in the past few years, we've seen the Black female antihero emerge. This week, Brittany and Eric divulge two of their favorite Black female antiheros of the moment. 

On June 24th, 2022, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Since then, Americans have mobilized to defend access to abortion, while also urging politicians to codify access to not just abortion - but privacy. At the center of this debate is UC Berkeley law professor Khiara Bridges, who spoke at the Senate hearing after the decision was made. Khiara joins the show to talk about what's at stake for Black communities with this ruling and what folks can do in their own time to stay informed.

This week, Brittany and Eric are joined by the hosts of Vibe Check - Sam Sanders, Saeed Jones, & Zach Stafford. Vibe Check is their group chat come to life and they spill it all! From their honest reactions to Beyonce's Renaissance to the state of the Democratic Party - you won't wanna miss this.

Writer, stylist, and consultant Aja Barber joins the show to give the lowdown on fast fashion and its effects on climate change, race, and the Global South. From Shein hauls to Ghana's Kantamanto Market, there's a lot of needles to thread but Aja's got us covered.

Reality TV juggernaut Carlos King joins the show to talk all things reality TV. From spearheading the most iconic seasons of Real Housewives of Atlanta to setting the timeline on fire every week with Love & Marriage: Huntsville & DC - he has the game on lock. Tune in to hear about Carlos' illustrious career, his new podcast Reality With the King, and how he makes the reality in reality TV.

Brittany AND Eric (!!!) are back with two big announcements for the show.

Content Warning: This episode contains discussions about domestic violence/IPV. This week, author and advocate Beverly Gooden joins the show. Beverly is the creator of the hashtag #WhyIStayed, which highlighted the stories of domestic-violence survivors and her memoir, Surviving: Why We Stay & How We Leave Abusive Relationships. We brought Beverly on the show to shed light on the conversations around domestic violence happening in pop culture. From the new Mike Tyson biopic on Hulu to Megan thee Stallion's ongoing battle with public opinion - we've been inundated with narratives that favor the alleged abuser. We thought it best to amplify the experience of those who are at the receiving end of that harm.

Every year tourists flock to visit Provincetown (aka P-Town), Massachusetts, a beach town and safe haven for queer folks looking to party, relax, hookup, enjoy live entertainment, and all of the above. Provincetown is also the backdrop for "Welcome to Provincetown,” a podcast following radio documentarian Mitra Kaboli as she explores the people, pleasures, and history of P-Town. One of the highlights of the show is singer-songwriter Qya Cristal, "IT girl" and drag entertainer who's taking the town by storm. Today, Brittany chats with Qya about her artistry, what she's learned during her time in P-Town, and what it's like to be a working drag performer in the era of RuPaul's Drag Race.Check out Welcome to Provincetown here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/welcome-to-provincetown/id1625366072

Today on the show, Brittany's talking all things race with NPR's Code Switch host Gene Demby and the newest addition to the Code Switch fam, B.A. Parker! Parker and Gene aren't just hosts, but they're friends of the show, and actual friends of Brittany's in real life. Listen in for a deep dive into reporting on race, Parker's journey from film professor to podcast host and, they even get into one of the most heated topics online right now: the cost of braids.Listen to Code Switch NOW!: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/code-switch/id1112190608

For Colored Nerds is back this week with actress, host, and fellow bison, Ashley Blaine Featherson-Jenkins. You may know her as Joelle Brooks from Netflix's Dear White People, but today she joins the show to talk about her podcast, Trials to Triumphs. On Trials to Triumphs, Ashley interviews her friends, mentors, and inspirations as they unpack all the behind the scenes trials that led to their public triumphs. Brittany and Ashley get into the podcast, Ashley's career, her full circle moments and so much more!Check out Trials to Triumphs NOW!: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/trials-to-triumphs/id1618812391

Beyoncé is coming. To properly prepare for the arrival of her 7th studio album Renaissance, Brittany is joined by entertainment journalist, hive member, and certified Bey enthusiast, Sylvia Obell, to rank the top songs from Queen Bey. Join us for RANKED!: The Beyonce Experience Edition!

This week, Eric interviews journalist Pendarvis Harshaw and filmmaker Brandon Tauszik about their groundbreaking online documentary, Facing Life. Facing Life follows the stories of eight formerly incarcerated people adjusting to life outside of California prisons. Make sure to stay tuned til the end for an announcement about Eric!Facing LifeFacing Life in the LA TimesPendarvis Harshaw: https://www.kqed.org/author/ogpennInstagramTwitterBrandon Tauszik: https://brandontauszik.com/InstagramTwitter

Bridget Todd, host of There Are No Girls on The Internet, joins the show this week to talk to us about all things tech, social media, and digital landscapes. She's covered everything from sex trafficking myths that go viral to Kanye West's bizarre intimidation tactics towards a Georgia election worker in 2020. Join Brittany and Bridget as they cover the manosphere's crypto connection, the racial politics of online harassment and the endless search for a safe space online. Check out There Are No Girls On the Internet today: https://www.tangoti.com/

This week, journalist and author Aaron Foley joins the show to talk about his debut novel, Boys Come First. The book follows Dominick Gibson, Remy Patton, and Troy Clements; three Black gay milennial men trying to figure their lives out in an ever-changing Motor City. There's love, friendship, tenderness, success, and a LOT of steamy sex scenes... but most importantly, it's a love letter to the city of Detroit. Put this on your summer reading list TODAY!

After our episode with Tirhakah Love on Kendrick Lamar's latest album, Brittany and Eric realized there was another conversation brewing right under the surface: pop culture's reckoning with queerness and how it challenges the "traditional" ideals of Black masculinity. Between the tumultuous relationship between Lil Nas X and BET, Jerrod Carmichael's latest HBO special "Rothaniel," and Isaiah Rashad's leaked sex tape, Brittany and Eric are in conversation (again) with Tirhakah on how far hip-hop and comedy have ~really~ come when it comes to queerness. 

This week, Brittany and Eric return to the show that started it all: The Real World. As long time fans of the original New Orleans season, the For Colored Nerds crew was SUPER excited for the reunion, The Real World Homecoming: New Orleans. Brittany and Eric reflect on the original series, their favorite moments, what they loved about the reunion, and, most importantly, they chat with everyone's favorite cast member from the New Orleans series: Melissa Beck. 

Brittany and Eric are comin' for your top five. After weeks of buzz, questions, conspiracies, and callouts, it's safe to say Mr. Morale and The Big Steppers is Kendrick Lamar's most controversial work. With help from Vulture writer Tirhakah Love, the For Colored Nerds crew gives their raw and unfiltered reactions to the album.

This week, Brittany and Eric chat with theologian, writer, and author Candice Marie Benbow about her book, Red Lip Theology: For Church Girls Who've Considered Tithing to the Beauty Supply Store When Sunday Morning Isn't Enough. To say the book challenges every idea of religion that we've come to know as gospel is an understatement. Candice refers to God not as He but They/Them, she encourages the need for grace by telling her own story of being ‘the other women', and she makes the case that the Bible is a more overtly sexual text than we think. These ideas may come as a shock to most...but what's that old saying? If you scared, go to church!

This week, Brittany chatted with Nicole A. Taylor, writer, master home chef, producer, and cookbook author about her latest cookbook Watermelon and Red Birds: A Cookbook for Juneteenth and Black Celebrations. From rhubarb BBQ sauce to corn dogs there's something in this cookbook for everyone. And, they get into the importance of honoring Juneteenth's origins in Texas.

Have you ever felt bad for critiquing a Black film for fear of "no more being made"? Feeling so-so about this season of ATLANTA? Are you looking for someone, somewhere who can just say what's been sitting on your chest for so long? Look no further. Angelica Jade Bastien, Vulture film & TV critic, joins the show to give her unfiltered, deeply researched, and incisive commentary that we've grown to love in her work. She's written about all your favorite films and TV shows from I May Destroy You to Candyman and she doesn't hold back. Angelica and Eric get into the value of black criticism, reviewing Candyman, and season 3 of Atlanta. You really don't wanna miss this.

From The Slap Heard Around to World to Rihanna's pregnancy, we've heard all the possible takes on our juiciest celebrity gossip. But there's one voice missing from the pack.. the one, the only, Wendy Williams. This week, Brittany, Eric, and Ira Madison III  (Keep It) get into what makes Wendy the shock jock we hate to love, why her absence is so missed, and how the gossip landscape has grown because of her influence. 

What's good, For Colored Nerds fam? Brittany and Eric are back this week with David Dennis Jr. David is a writer, educator, and author of a new memoir, The Movement Made Us. The book recounts the life of David's father, David Dennis Sr., a key figure in the Civil Rights Movement. It follows David Sr.'s life from his first CORE meeting to the Freedom Rides and more. Through firsthand accounts from David Sr. and letters from his son, we see the ripples effects of his movement work and most of all, his relationship with David Jr.

Today we have a very preview from the Washington Post's daily show, Post Reports. Every weekday, host Martine Powers walks listeners through the news of the day. In this particular episode, reporter Danielle Douglas-Gabriel talked with Black women about the student loan debt freeze and what they've been able to do while their payments remain paused.  

Today we have a very special clip of Well-Read Black Girl, where the host and creator, Glory Edim, talks to actress Gabrielle Union about Bring it On.

This week, Brittany chats with iconic journalist, magazine editor, and novelist, Danyel Smith, about the release of her new book, Shine Bright: A Very Personal History of Black Women in Pop. From celebrating the enduring impact of Phillis Wheatley's poetry to giving insight into Whitney Houston's relationship with Bobby Brown - there's a little something for everyone. And to top it all off, Danyel's book is not just a love letter to Black women but a memoir of how these Black women in particular have showered her life with love, ambition, and empathy through their gifts. 

In honor of Black Maternal Health Week, the For Colored Nerds crew chats with Gabrielle Horton and Martina Abrahams Ilunga, the hosts of NATAL, a podcast about giving birth while Black. NATAL is in its second season and follows the lives of three Black families in rural America. Stay tuned for a deep dive into reproductive justice, reverse migration, and a special announcement from our very own Eric Eddings.

Verzuz, Issa Rae's empire, and dinner with Jay-Z - oh my! Trapital founder and host Dan Runcie joins the show to talk all things music, culture, and the business that keeps it going. From Pusha T's Arby's Spicy Fish diss track to what the future looks like for Gen Z artists – Dan's got the answers!

This week, Brittany and Eric take on the increase of Black characters in period dramas, a genre that mostly known for its predominantly white casts. From The Gilded Age to Hamilton, they deconstruct what does and doesn't work about these portrayals with the help of Martine Powers, host of The Washington Post's "Post Reports” and period drama superfan. And in the second half of the episode, they chat with executive producer and director of The Gilded Age, Salli Richardson-Whitfield about The Gilded Age, her career and what's to come.

This week, For Colored Nerds brings back RANKED. To honor the 31st anniversary of Robert Townsend's The Five Heartbeats, Brittany and Eric rank the best Black Fictional Music Acts of ALL TIME. This is RANKED: The Faking the Funk Edition. You won't wanna miss this.

In January, New York Magazine published a retrospective on the 10 years since Trayvon Martin's death and the subsequent birth of Black Lives Matter. Since its evolution from rallying cry to non-profit, questions have been asked about its structure, organization, goals and leadership. NYMag spotlighted two organizations in their coverage - The Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation and Campaign Zero. The reporting details the conflict between the hope for change and revolution and the alleged desire for fame and notoriety amongst leaders who arguably became the de facto faces of “the movement.” The stories also raise questions that feel urgent as the movement for Black lives continues to evolve. This week, Brittany and Eric chat with Ernest Owens, journalist and writer of "The Rise and Rupture of Campaign Zero''. In the second half of the show, culture writer and journalist Shamira Ibrahim joins Brittany and Eric to talk about the growing conflict between activism, entertainment, fame and the continuing fight for freedom.“The Rise and Rupture of Campaign Zero” (Ernest Owens - New York Magazine - January 2022): https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2022/01/campaign-zero-rise-and-fall.htmlCampaign Zero's board statement in response to the New York Magazine piece: https://impact.campaignzero.org/messageIf you would like to read the Campaign Zero impact DeRay shared with us in his statement, you can find it here: http://impact.campaignzero.org

Love is Blind, Married at First Sight, Love Island... what do all these shows have in common? Total and absolute chaos for the Black contestants, that's what! This week, Brittany and Eric discuss the fraught experiences of Black people on reality dating shows, and how one show in particular is setting the stage for a better path forward. Then, comedian and host of Ready to Love, Tommy "Nephew Tommy" Miles, joins the show to give his take on dating, love, and accountability. 

This week, Brittany lets Eric (and the world!) know that she's finally mom-curious... but there's a catch. She doesn't just want to be any mom, she wants to be a "bad" mom. More specifically, a "Bad Black Mom."

This week, writer and founder of Well-Read Black Girl, Glory Edim, joins the show to talk about her new podcast: Well-Read Black Girl! The podcast is a "literary kickback" for authors, writers, and readers to find community in written word. Brittany and Eric deep dive into Well-Read Black Girl's origin story, impact on the publishing industry and what Glory has planned for WRBG's future.

If you've been on the internet AT ALL you've probably heard the terms: high value man, divine feminine, alpha male, femininity coaching or any combination of those words. If you haven't… then get ready. Today's episode will be a deep dive into the relationship/lifestyle rhetoric that constantly has Black Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok in flames.

Janet, "Miss Jackson if You're Nasty," is back with a 4-part documentary about her superstar upbringing, taking control of her career, and the relationships that affected her along the way. This week, Brittany and Eric discuss their reactions to the series and if the special did her iconic legacy justice.

With shows like Harlem, Run the World, and Twenties... we couldn't help but wonder... do all these shows have something in common? Brittany and Eric discuss the recent influx of Black "Girlboss in the City" shows and how the Sex and the City model they imitate may be holding us back.

Jodi-Ann Burey is a writer, speaker and host who works at the intersection of race, culture and health equity. She joins the show this week to discuss the myth of authenticity at work, her Harvard Business Review article on imposter syndrome, and the importance of centering the experiences of disabled people of color.

Former lawyer Vallery Lomas turned to baking on a whim, but quickly shot to the top when she became the first Black winner of The Great American Baking Show. But in a strange twist of fate, her season never aired on TV. Vallery chats with Brittany and Eric about her subsequent bounce back and resulting cookbook -- Life Is What You Bake It.

Writer Jason Parham -- our first ever repeat guest -- chats with Brittany and Eric about the distinct way he covers digital life, the ways Black creators are holding platforms accountable, and the radical heart of TikTok and OnlyFans.

Today we share a special clip of Back Issue, a podcast about pop culture and nostalgia from friends and co-hosts Tracy Clayton and Josh Gwynn.

Happy New Year! Today, Brittany and Eric share their intentions (not resolutions!) for 2022, and how they've grown over time.

Before the year ends, Brittany and Eric welcome another dynamic duo: Tracy Clayton and Josh Gwynn, hosts of the Back Issue podcast. They get into the ins and outs of co-host life, make a case for how pop culture can be a balm for all of us in these times, and also test how well they really know each other.

The holiday movie genre is loved by many (especially Brittany), even though its films are known to be about as diverse as La La Land and often have white conservative Christian undertones to the storytelling. But lately, Lifetime's holiday slate has featured Black, queer, disabled, and Asian leads, bucking the usual trend. Today, Brittany and Eric examine some of the network's holiday offerings and get insight on the uptick in inclusive films from Lifetime's VP of Scripted Content.

In 2020, Maya Cade started the Black Film Archive, a collection dedicated to the long legacy of Black cinema history. Since its inception, viewers have been able to consume Black films that have been lost to time or simply ignored. Brittany and Eric sit down with Maya to talk about her motivation behind the collection, recontextualizing the work of Black artists, and how we may be able to find the answers to our current conversations about Black film, in our past.

Season 2 of the HBO Max romantic comedy anthology series, Love Life, follows the ups and downs of Marcus Watkins (William Jackson Harper), a Black man living in New York City with his wife, Emily. All seems well in his marriage until he meets Mia (Jessica Williams) at a party. What ensues is a messy, chaotic and hopeful love story that Brittany and Eric discuss in this week's episode.

The New York Times Magazine's 1619 Project shattered common narratives about the founding of the United States and the profound history, impact and influence of slavery and race in America. Journalist and Howard University professor Nikole Hannah-Jones, the project's creator, is back two years later with a new book that's an expansion of the project. Brittany and Eric dissect the book, which features essays, poetry and photographs. And they chat with Nikole about how the book is both a reframing of narrative and a testament to the ancestors.

Netflix's new film, Passing, tells the story of Irene Redfield (Tessa Thompson), a light-skinned Black woman living in Harlem who reconnects with her childhood friend Clare Bellew (Ruth Negga), a light-skinned Black woman who "passes" for white. Brittany and Eric get into the dynamics between Irene and Clare, the history of passing in the Black community, and how conversations about passing were actually more common - and encouraged - than today. Read Brittany's piece in Vulture about the same topic, HERE