Let It Marinate

We're starting off Season 3 of Let It Marinate with the woman who inspired the podcast! We sit down with Dwandra Nickole Lampkin, actor and professor of acting and multicultural theatre. We discuss her work in stage, film & television, and academia; talking about her journey into the business, the importance of storytelling, her hope for future generations of artists.

We're talking about money and finances! Why are income, bills, and taxes so difficult to discuss with others? We talk about our financial concerns and things we wish we realized about money before our young adult lives. In "The Digest", we discuss the recent abortion bills and the new Aladdin movie. What about finances are you marinating on?

It has officially been one year of Let It Marinate podcast! In this episode, we run with "The Digest" marinating on big headlines in the news including the college admissions scandal, (more) 2020 democratic candidates, and the South Korea K-Pop/entertainment scandal. We also take a look back on some of our favorite moments of Let It Marinate and what we've learned in the first year of creating this podcast. Share anything you're "marinating on" at letitmarinatepodcast@gmail.com

This week we have on guest co-host Nicole Baker. She is a Chicago area life coach and former actor who focuses on teaching performers and artists to take charge of their mindset. We discuss everything from finding positivity in negative situations, control over mindset, and how energy is a choice. Email us your thoughts on this episode to letitmarinatepodcast@gmail.com  Follow Life Coach Baker on Instagram: life_coach_baker  Donate to Macie's Polar Plunge to help Special Olympics Chicago:  https://www.crowdrise.com/o/en/campaign/frozen-turtles--basil-leaf-cafe-/macietonn

It seems like the scandals don't stop, but this time it's not from the White House. Some racist photos from a medical yearbook have surfaced surrounding Virginia's Governor Ralph Northam, as well as sexual assault allegations coming to light about Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax. Where do we go from here? Also, we hear from a listener, Michael, about his thoughts on the Kevin Hart/Oscars situation discussed in a previous episode. Send us your thoughts to letitmarinatepodcast@gmail.com 

In this episode, we talk about our reactions and thoughts on Lifetime's new 6-part documentary Surviving R. Kelly, that covers Kelly's career from his marriage to Aaliyah, his trials in Chicago, to November 2018. Send us your thoughts to letitmarinatepodcast@gmail.com!

Life can get crazy sometimes... from how "busy" we are, to what's on the news, or how we juggle different relationships. In this episode, we talk about how we handle priorities in life, what stresses us out, and how communication changes with evolving technology. What in your life are you "marinating" on? 

In this episode, we explore the topic of Asian representation in movies and storytelling, and it's importance to reflect all walks of life. Why is it so important for Asian-American audiences to see characters like them on screen, and what does that say about the influence of storytelling to general audiences? We talk about Crazy Rich Asians and all the fabulous new movies and shows on Netflix that represent Asian characters.

We continue on our conversation from last week, but in reflection to the Brett Kavanaugh Hearings for a position on the Supreme Court. We talk about Dr. Blasey Ford's testimony and the message it sent to the many Americans who watched, and the reactions to Kavanaugh's testimony as well. 

We kick off Season 2 of Let It Marinate talking about misogyny! Since it's a theme that reflects in a lot of news as of late, we discuss how we see misogyny from day to day, and how this viewpoint is ingrained in not just men, but women as well. Let us know your thoughts and opinions! Email letitmarinatepodcast@gmail.com  If you want to donate to Macie's campaign for Chicago Marathon's Back On My Feet, go to: give.backonmyfeet.org/2018BankofAmericaChicagoMarathon/macietonn  

What are you marinating on? In this update, we fill you in on our plans, including getting ready for season 2 and going over "The Digest" on recent news. We also share thoughts from our "marinaters" on our latest episode "Mental Health". Send us your thoughts and ideas to letitmarinatepodcast@gmail.com!  Donate to Macie's fundraiser for Chicago Marathon's BACK ON MY FEET team, go to:  https://give.backonmyfeet.org/2018BankofAmericaChicagoMarathon/macietonn

We go into a deep topic this week, covering mental health and suicide awareness, reflecting on recent news. We all have known someone or can relate in some way to the importance of mental health, but how do we help those who do or don't reach out?  For 24/7 lifeline help and resources, call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255. For crisis intervention and suicide prevention for LGBTQ youth, call The Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386.

Joined by a special guest who formally served in the US Navy, Yvonne Wagman, we talk the US forces and veterens. Yvonne tells us about her time with the US Navy, why she joined, and her thoughts on differents topics, such as stigmas in the military, sexual assualt, and the National Anthem. 

It's wedding season! And you know what that means... open bars and everything in between! We talk about cost with all things weddings and how our generation figures out paying for it all. Email us your comments and questions to letitmarinatepodcast@gmail.com! 

How do you keep up with the news? We dive into why sometimes we feel exhausted and numb when keeping up with current events from different media outlets, and how our current politics have us feeling this way. How do we stay informed and aware when we feel desensitized to these news trends?

Why are beauty standards so different for men and women? In this episode, we discuss women's different approaches to makeup, appearance, "getting ready" and how different or embraced it is for men.

This week, we talk about reality television, and why audiences love it or hate it so much. We mention different shows, such as Jersey Shore and The Bachelor, and weigh in on why these shows are so appealing to watch. 

In this episode, we discuss representation in the classics, namely Shakespearian works. We dive into casting, the importance of representation in theatre, and how Shakespeare relates to society today. Joining us in this episode is Detroit based actor and fellow friend, Craig Ester. 

It's a struggle for us millenials in different ways than it was for previous generations. We discuss the different experiences millenials are seeing in their career, financial, and personal lives, and how the term "millenial" seems to carry negativity for previous generations. 

In this episode, we discuss the current cultural state of dating in the US, nagivating online dating websites, mobile apps, and texting to find "the one" or anyone. We have stories and thoughts from some friends on how they feel about dating, and even their views on marriage as "millenials".

In this episode, we talk about the beginning of the #METOO and #TIMESUP movements, and sexual harrassment in the work place. We bring up different situations and instances, such as Harvey Weinstein, Louis CK, Aziz Ansari, and Gary Oldman, and discuss how we progress from here. 

In this episode, we chat about the Oscars! We dicuss the different categories and their nominees, and the lucky winners who took home an Academy Award. With featured guest, Chicago writer and film critic, Max O'Connell. 

In this episode, we talk about Marvel's latest superhero film, Black Panther, delving into the film's significance to the Marvel universe, it's fanbase, and black audiences around the world. We also discuss the actors' performances and why representaion in film matters. With featured guest, friend and Chicago actor, David Guiden.

In this episode, we talk our reactions on hearing the news covering the Parkland High School shooting and break down reactions from other Americans and people around the world. We define the second ammendment, and discuss possible solutions to prevent future school shootings.