Spin The Bottle - Spin the Bottle Podcast

It’s the most wonderful time of the year and we’re for HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS. Literally. (Hits different in 2020, doesn’t it?) Welcome to Spin the Bottle’s 4th annual Christmas special! We’ve traded our wheel of topics for a 2020 Naughty or Nice debate list and our favorite seasonal cheerleaders Dennis St. Clark and Alex Queen-of-the-Elves-Sneed are back to rally up the Christmas spirit! Enjoy some of Alex’s favorite Christmas musical selections of 2020 and navigate your COVID Christmas problems with some sage-y advice from our very own Christmas life coach. We know that it’s not a perfect time, but we hope this episode inspires you to pour some egg-nog and appreciate the little things...like our health, life, love, friendships and laughter. Merry Christmas, friends.

You know what it is. And now, we wonder what in the HECK happens next?! We may never have to call Donald Trump "Mr. President" again (personal commitment), but it's unlikely that we will be rid of him completely. And what about our student loans, Joe? We have questions. Of course, it's way too soon for real answers. For now, we muse. How do we want to show up for the culture/country over the next four years? How will you? Let's discuss. Because no matter who is in the White House, we're gonna need to be our own heroes.

In keeping with our overall aim to maintain a “Keep Calm and Carry On” vibe, join us this week as we talk about the mind body connection. Although it’s not the sexiest subject, it’s definitely got some jew-ells to help us tap a little deeper into ourselves. After all, wine and facials will only get you so far. And since it’s 2020... your esthetician may be on hiatus.Hear more about Dani’s "Eyes Wide Shut" moment, a judgy moment concerning couples twinning, and how Moana is lifting our spirits and providing some quality motivation.

We could also call this the “Audacity of Joy”…because it sounds brave and right and Obama-esque. But is joy realistic in a year like 2020?? We say yes...with a few caveats. You can’t talk about JOY without acknowledging the pain and uncertainty swirling around us, but we MUST.Joy might be a struggle, but it’s worth the fight. We are all survivors.This show is chock full of feelings, so if you’re into that... join us for some good old-fashioned external processing. Also, Dréa goes on a lot of random tangents and apologizes a lot in this episode...so she’s sorry about that…on with the show!

VOTE! You’ve been hearing it a lot lately, we know. But we were getting FOMO...not to mention...IT MATTERS! So here’s our take on why the polls matter, plus a little historical fodder for you to chew on. Enjoy!

Rest. Resistance. Reparations. Restoration. Alliteration on fleek. (Are the kids still saying “on fleek?”) Today’s episode brings us all up to speed on exactly what this phrase means and how we might consider implementing it in our lives. Dani and Dréa talk about The Nap Ministry organization and its founder, x. The gals also get into some brand new spins, so don’t miss this one! No cap! ( The kids are def saying that one…)

Hey guys hey! 2020...just wow. Well, the world is still turning so we figured we'd get back in the studio. When we last spoke, we were deep into our conversation about evolution and what it looks like to evolve into the next best version of yourself. Then 2020 took a turn for the worse, and time seemed to be standing still, so we asked ourselves, "Can you still evolve while waiting?" The answer is absolutely, but it might take you some time to figure out how; as it did with us. Listen to hear about what we've been up to over the past 5 months, how we've coped with the unjust deaths of black people in America, and how we're approaching life in these apocalyptic times. We're learning a lot and we hope you are too. Let's get back to it. After all, we are our ancestor's wildest dreams.

We’re so excited to bring you a special COVID-19/New York Edition spin with Dream Team Correspondent, Erin Haywood! Erin is a career consultant and Diversity and Inclusion Recruiter who’s resume includes amazing companies like City Year, UCLA, and Jobwell. If you already finished Netflix or just need a break from Tiger King, try out her “5 Career Moves You Can Make From Your Couch.” They’re simple, rewarding, and you can still have snacks while doing them!

Fear is inevitable, but there are ways to manage it and keep it from overwhelming your life. This episode is all about shifting your perspective from one negative postulate (Why yes, that IS the word of the day, smarty pants!) to another more beneficial one. The goal? To be better than we were before, of course!

We brought in Dream Team Correspondent and mental health professional, Soco Reynoso to give us some practical tools for identifying and managing fear. And in times as uncertain and uneasy as now, she is right on time!

Whether clowns, life-sized spiders, failure, or success, we all have a relationship with fear. Join us for a conversation about what it is, how it operates, and the way it stunts personal growth and evolution.

Every year, we highlight black excellence in a very special episode we like to call the “Black List Awards”. This year, we’re excited to share our illustrious ceremonial episode...”The Black List Awards: Love Edition.” Whether you’re boo’ed up or single AF celebrate Valentine’s Day with us!

It’s your year! It’s our time! It might sound cliché but don’t you think it’s time to embrace the desire for more than what you’ve grown used to? (Unless you’re used to waking up next to Rihanna every morning, then hunny you’re just ungrateful.) For the rest of us, it’s definitely time to reinvent ourselves and EVOLVE. Join us for a quickie (

Why we’re grieving Kobe’s death and why it’s okay for you to grieve those you never “knew”. Featuring audio from Chispa Motivatjion found in link below...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gi9y3sTrXE&t=78s

A day late, but worth the wait as we pulled out all the bells and whistles for this Christmas episode!!! Join us as we celebrate with our Christmas Correspondents , Alex & Dennis. Find out which "Word of the Day" set a Spin the Bottle record, why Frosty needs a new tribe, and who got a Christmas breakthrough. Also, we have gifts! STB is your one stop shop for holiday cheer. Seriously. We literally had bells on.

Issa tradition! You know...like how your granny makes everyone go around and say what they are thankful for? Only this time, with a lot more Dani’s Random Factoids mixed in. We love talking about gratitude because for us it goes beyond just saying thanks. When we’re grateful, we stress less, we enjoy more, and we live for what’s happening now, not the regrets of that one time we lost our temper... Honestly, it’s the most adult kind of self-care. #truestory Gratitude covers a multitude of sins...and a lot of them are connected to our physical body. This might be our nerdiest episode yet, BUT we do sprinkle in some Jesus and a bit of Kanye...so don’t give up on us now. Listen, we don’t know how much longer we’re gonna be here, so we say our prayers every night...one for our mothers, one for our fathers...You get it. If not, let Dréa sing it for you...Take a listen.

We get it. There’s always room for improvement. And, truth be told, there always will be. But, in all our striving to be better, it’s also imperative to tap into the unique magic that each and every one of us possess on TODAY. That said, join Dani and Dréa as they discuss how to cultivate and maintain their personal power. Also, discover which optical illusion has Dréa’s mind blown and how peanut butter preferences brought Dani to a #newlevel in friendship.

With Labor Day behind us, we’re inching toward the end of summer (global warming notwithstanding). We’ve had a great one, but maybe not by our usual “swimsuit and travel”standards. For us at STB, this season was all about re-centering and refocusing on what matters - our family...our dreams....our breakup with Postmates...okay, maybe we’re just redefining our relationship a little...Anyway, this episode features the magic of our Dream Team correspondents Erin Haywood, Soco Reynoso, Brandee Harris, Jody Jacobs, and Ryan Kelley. If you missed any of their episodes this summer, our Summer Recap will show you why you should be kind and rewind. You’ll be happy you did.

Meet Mr. Ryan Kelley, our favorite personal trainer and now a Dream Team Correspondent! It took some time, but fitness is becoming more and more important to us. Dani shares her secret to losing 37 pounds (Spoiler Alert: It was not cheeseburgers.) Dréa muses over the physical challenges of being older and Ryan reminds us that the word mediocrity is a painful word to hear. Listen, we're all works in progress and forward is the pace. Let's. Do. This....and by ‘this', we mean happy hour...because it's still FRIDAY! But training starts tomorrow!

Phew! Jody my Jody came through with some deep thoughts. And that’s why we’ve asked him to be the 4th member of our illustrious dream team. We just know he’s going to bless ya’ll immensely with some life coach realness. Summer is a really great time for a refresh, so in between the unofficial (maybe even unsolicited) #hotgirlsummer that is currently upon us, we’re taking the time to ask the tough questions... in between sips of our Frose, of course...Who are you at your core? What do you (not your Mom) want out of life? What are the signs that you are headed in the wrong/right direction? Per usual, we have some ideas...tap the #linkinbio and listen up!

In the third installment of the "Meet Our Dream Team Tour”, we will introduce you to our resident “It Girl”, Brandee Harris. She’s a ‘Jacquelyn' of all trades who stays helping us get our life together. Join us as we discuss millennial motherhood direct from Brandee, a mother of two. In this episode you’ll hear what she has to say about a multitude of topics ranging from starfish to self-image. Trust us, there’s something in this episode for everyone. Oh, and one last thing… “Drogon, wherever you are, we hope you’re happy."

On this episode we introduce our second dream team correspondent - Soco Reynoso. She is our resident “Dr. Glow Up” AKA mental health expert! Join us as she navigates us through a discussion on Depression. There are plenty of jew-ells and takeaways like how to identify, accept, and combat the effect of Depression. Life is hard and that’s okay. We are in this together, y’all.

This episode is designed to call out the impostors out there. And unless you’ve got life fully figured out (If that is you, congratulations. We want you on the show) we’re talking to you. Tune in as we dig into identifying and combating Impostor Syndrome. You’ll also find out who’s had to learn the hard way that pettiness never wins and why we take umbrage with that GOT finale.

How can we handle that voice that mocks our ability to take risks or do something outside of our comfort zone? With our own voices screaming just as loud, we try to figure out the secret of boxing out your inner critic. “Judgey Moments with Dréa” makes a comeback and Dani drops some amazing advice for those who just can’t seem to mind their business: H20 works wonders. Hopefully the lessons we’ve gained from our inner battles inspire you to conquer your own...What’s your secret to keeping your inner critic quiet?

We couldn’t let too much time go by before taking a moment to honor the life of Nipsey Hussle. Tune in as we discuss the lessons we learned from his life as well as how to move forward in a way that continues to perpetuate the legacy he left behind. #themarathoncontinues

With March being “International Women’s Month”, we had to show out for the ladies. Join us as we discuss our journey into womanhood, sexual health, and female intuition. You’ll also find out why we are trying to make “T-shirt & NO Panties On” a movement. This episode is brought to you by the power of femininity and Rosé. You’re welcome.

Tune in for this week’s SpinOff, "For Your Consideration." This topic allows us to share the content that is helping us live our best life. Find out what book inspired Dréa to visit Ghana and what’s got Dani singing “Oh happy day”! Hint: Winter is Coming!

If you’ve been following the news as of late, no doubt you’ve heard two names ad nauseam - R. Kelly & Jussie Smollett. This SpinOff is a conversation about the feelings and opinions we’ve had watching Black celebrities we admire involved in scandal. Tune in as we discuss where our stance as fans and consumers fall...

Let’s face it. Between Jussie Smollett and R. Kelly, it’s been a rough Black History Month. That said, Black excellence still aboundeth. Welcome to the 2nd Annual STB Black List Awards!! We got together with some of our friends to discuss all the amazing contributions to the culture in 2018. Join us as we shout out icons of our culture who make us Black and Proud.

So you started 2019 with a BANG, huh? You tryna make sure it’s YOUR YEAR, huh? Well, we believe you will, IF you do the mental work (care) necessary to “Keep that Same Energy.” Soco Reynoso - @myfavoritetherapist - joined us for a deeply insightful and entertaining conversation on how to make this year (and every year) one of our best...like for real for real. FAIR WARNING: You just might breathe easier after listening...We’d also love to introduce our first unofficial installation of Random Revelations...because we were all over the place, hunty!!! Thanks for lending us your ears!

Join us as we dive into the 1-9 (Yes...Dani is still trying to bring that back) discussing what it means to measure a year. No more trying, striving, and being depressed when we don’t meet ALL of our goals by December 31st of every year. We’ve decided there has got to be a better way. So, tune in to find out how we arrived at the top of our 2019 season with a fresh new perspective for defining our year. We’ll tell you why the "Kids Baking Championship" is giving us all the feels and true to form, Dréa is on a mission to put the 'H' back in Humble. Because, vocabulary. We are Blerds. You cant ever say we didn’t warn you!

Spin The Bottle takin’ over for the 1-9 into the…wait. Let’s try that again…HAPPY NEW YEAR! We're ready to kick 2019 into full swing, but not without catching you up on some of the highs and lows of how last year concluded. This SpinOff is merely an interlude of all the exciting things in store for you, our beloved listener, and a sneak peak into our next full episode where we discuss how you measure a year. *cue “The Rent” classic* Thanks for starting your year off right by rockin’ with us!

The Friend Zone is all about your inner circle. The kind you carefully select because you want no kinda hateration in this dancerie (or soiree…whatever your truth is...) In this episode, we talk about the folks you absolutely need in your life. (P.S. You can trust them around your boo.) Plus we give you a few tips on recognizing the toxic people in your life and compare our “friendship/relationship goals.” You’ll never guess who made the list! Okay…you probably will…but try anyway!

That’s all, folks - for now at least. We’re wrapping up the Getting Unstuck series with one of the most challenging concepts to grapple with: time. S.M.A.R.T. goals, objectives, vision boards. Yeah, we’ve all been there. But how do you break out of a rut if nothing is going your way? Wellst...we have a few ideas that might make you see your “Late Bloomer” status in a more positive light. We promise that you’re in good company! Dani’s jewells are shining brightly in this episode and Dréa’s revelation FINALLY has a little sunshine in it. It’s a good time, y’all.

Just like friends who clap on one and three...emotions make you cry sometimes. They might even hold you back from achieving your biggest dreams. Whether it’s deeper relationship with a friend, asking for a raise, or finally letting go of an ex...emotions can really get in the way of you taking the next leap. Think of them as overprotective parents, tryna keep you safe from this cold, cruel world. Spoiler Alert: You don’t have to let them run your life. Plot twist: You can’t just ignore them, either. (Ella Mai was really on to something...) Join us as we explore how to level up without getting caught up in your feelings. Spoiler Alert #2: It ain’t easy.

Join us for the 3rd installment of our “Getting Unstuck” series: Haters. During Bottle Talk, we define “hateration” and discuss how the way we address said “hating" may be keeping us mentally stuck. Also, find out what Hulu TV show has got Dani out here considering a move to Canada, why Soullection is giving Drea life, and why you need to go on ahead and splurge on Q-Tips instead of cotton swabs.

Join us as we dive into the 2nd of installment of our "Getting Unstuck" series entitled "Self Talk". Find out what’s going on in our brain, which brands of natural deodorant Dani is not a fan of, and why Dréa is all about rice these days.

This week we’re bringing you one of our favorite SpinOffs: Lyrically Tho! Find out just how misled Dani was behind the premise of an 80’s classic hit, and how the Spotify algorithm has Dréa ALL messed up! After taking a closer listen, the ladies have some fun revelations to share! Join us for some fun with words and test yourself to see if you know the real lyrics!

Join us for yet another SpinOff where we go through a myriad of current (and questionable) crushes. The ladies run the gamut of topics pulling their heart strings this week; from Tracee Ellis Ross and Netflix’s “13 Reasons Why” to “The Handmaid’s Tale” and the royal nuptials of Harry and Meghan! Beware as there is one topic in particular the ladies couldn’t get a consensus on. Check out their last hot take and let us know where YOU stand! (Hint: He’s the pied-piper who’s led us ALL astray) :-/

Just when you think you know someone...they go and do something DISRESPECTFUL. Although Kanye didn't spur the birth of this Spin, he made the top of our list for "How You Gonna Act Like That." While on one hand we're a little concerned with his mental health, you can't deny that Kanye has always been Kanye...and now he's coming back to haunt us. Mariah Carey made the list...but I'm (Drea) calling "wolf" on her newest claim. Then again...what does MC have to gain? This spin is all about shining light on the ones we love (or used to) and their bizarre antics. Hopefully, they'll come back to us one day.

Join us for another SpinOff as we discuss the things that are currently giving us all the feels. Find out who is inspiring Dani to live her best life and what has Dréa out here seeing stars…

So… we needed to get a little bit of perspective on this whole work life balance thing. Call us crazy, but “adulting”...well it's hard and we haven’t totally been nailing it. Join us as we discuss what it means to pause for the cause and get unstuck. Find out what store Dani can’t go into unsupervised and what Roadrunner has to do with being grown. We’ve got jew-ells, ALL the clichés, AND revelations rolled into one show. What can we say…it ain’t easy!

We waited as long as we possibly could. If you haven’t seen Black Panther yet, we don’t know what to tell you other than be prepared for spoilers! How much do we love Wakanda? Let us count the ways…Tune in as we celebrate Black Cinema at its very finest! WAKANDA FOREVER!!!

We’re back, ya’ll!!! We couldn’t think of a better way to kick off our first show of 2018 than to honor all of the melanin magic that abounds. We’ve got Black excellence everywhere, it’s Black History Month, AND Black Panther premiers! Truly, it’s a magical month. Join us as we present our Inaugural STB Black List Awards. Yes that’s right. We made up our own awards to honor the MVP’s that did the damn thing in 2017. There’s so much amazingness to celebrate! #doitfortheculture

For our last #SpinOff of the year, we reflect on some of our favorite podcasting moments of 2017. From our first Spin the Bottle: LIVE show to a romantic social experiment, it’s been a fun and crazy ride with all of you. Thank you for listening and we’ll catch you in the new year!

Join us for our 2nd annual Christmas episode!!! It wouldn’t be right if we didn’t bring Alex Queen-Sneed back in the studio to do what she does best - bring us all some holiday cheer. To make sure the job was properly done, she even brought a special 4-year-old elf along; her daughter, Aliyah Sneed (AKA Dréa’s Goddaughter) to drop some jew-ells on us for a new segment, Aliyah’s Advice Corner. Find out why Dani feels a way about St. Nicholas being her Patron saint and what toothbrushes and Nintendo 64 have in common. We’ve also included our favorite Christmas songs and humbly suggest you check out Dru Hill’s new album “Christmas in Baltimore”. #doitfortheculture And last but not least, find out who takes serious umbrage with the “Pa Rum Pum Pum Pum” song. Hey, everything isn’t for everybody. From the STB family to yours, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.

On this week’s SpinOff we bring our resident engineer, Jarrett Johnson, to the mic representing Team Testosterone as we take a spin “Mars vs. Venus” style. Join us as we hash out a few hot topics like: “When is it okay to bring your boo home for the holidays” and “What to do when Uncle Junebug always has a new ‘friend’ on his arm at every family function”. Jarrett and Dani also go at it over prevailing stereotypes like the “Cat Lady” and “Distinguished Gentleman” while Dréa considers if she is actually Team Mars. Lastly, for kicks and giggles, find out why “You opened your mouth!” is our favorite quote of the show!

Let’s face it. Adulting is hard. From time to time we all need a little help from our family and friends to get by. Join us this week as we discuss a few of the things we think all adults should have in their “grown folk” arsenal. For a little extra fun, find out what threatening a butterfly and the “Fresh Prince of Bel Air” theme song have to do with it all.

Join us for a SpinOff where we cover a range of questions and odd scenarios. That’s right! We are taking a walk in another's shoes with WWDDD (What Would Dani & Drea Do). Find out what scene in the movie “Bridesmaids" presents a very serious dilemma for Dani, how Dréa feels about marrying a stripper (with goals), and what incest has to do with it all. Hey, it’s Spin the Bottle. You never know what you’re gonna get.

Pardon the delay, but that tryptophan did a job on us this year… ;-)We’ve got a lot to be grateful for though; from family, to friends, to recent revelations about Magic Mike and our momma’s good cooking -- the list goes on. Today we say thanks for all the blessings we’ve received in 2017. Thanks for listening and being part of the Spin the Bottle fam. We’re grateful for you!

Every now and again, someone takes liberty with the good Lordt’s messaging. And once in a while, Dani and Dréa take umbrage with incredulous interpretations. Oh, not your pastor, of course....just the folks who throw around “God told me” all willy-nilly and combine scripture with Cardi B. Whether it’s bad behavior or annoying Christian-speak, the truth is, sometimes you just gotta let people know...that’s not in the Bible. (And yes, that phrase should be soaked with judgement and accompanied with a Maxine Waters-like frown.)