Don't @ Me with Justin Simien

Breaking Shame Cycles w/ Dahéli Hall Feb 01, 2021

In this week’s pre-recorded episode of Don’t @ Me, I’m joined by the funniest woman I know, Dear White People writer-actor and comedian Dahéli Hall. Hang with me and the MADtv alum while we discuss gatekeeping in the comedy world, working through our shame cycles, and why she would’ve been a much better Seinfeld.

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Hollywood Outsiders w/ Sam Bailey Dec 21, 2020

This week on Don’t @ Me, my friend and Dear White People writing producer/director Sam Bailey joins me as we tackle navigating the “industry of dreams” as Black creatives. The Chicago-bred, Emmy-nominated director and I talk about her being inspired by messy brown women, co-creating the hit web series Brown Girls, and operating as an outsider in Hollywood.

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Queer Divinity w/ Alex Newell Dec 14, 2020

In another live Zoom edition of Don’t @ Me I’m joined by Broadway-turned-TV superstar Alex Newell. We discuss his part in shaping his role as the gender-nonconforming neighbor Mo in Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist, growing up queer in the Black church, and why he is the perfect candidate to play Dreamgirls’ Effie White.

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The Not-So-Hidden Talents of Malcolm Barrett Dec 07, 2020

In this week’s episode of Don’t @ Me, the insanely hilarious Malcolm Barrett introduces me to his alter ego Verbal the Rapper. The actor-writer-rapper talks about starting Ammunition Theatre Company, not talking to white schoolmates for an entire year, and figuring out how to bring positive change as a Black creative amid protests and quarantine. Plus he drops a freestyle none of us saw coming!

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The Gospel of Karamo Brown Nov 23, 2020

In this week’s episode of Don’t @ Me, tap in and get therapized by the beloved Fab Five member Karamo Brown. From learning to live for joy, to facing pushback in shaping his Culture Expert role on Queer Eye and which of his fellow co-hosts is his favorite, Karamo spits nothing but gospel truths.

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Directing While Black w/ Tiffany Johnson Nov 16, 2020

On this week’s Don’t @ Me, my friend director Tiffany Johnson catches us up on her career growth in television! We discuss picking your battles, the role of the artist in times of trauma, and an all-Black Love Witch.

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Being Bold w/ Dime Davis Nov 02, 2020

In this live via Zoom episode of Don’t @ Me, I welcome back my bestie, writer-director Dime Davis. We look at how far she’s come since her last visit as a newly Emmy-nominated director on A Black Lady Sketch Show, her work on season two of BET’s Boomerang, and how she knew her worth even before she blew up.

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Bad Hair w/ Jarrett Hill Oct 21, 2020

Don't @ Me w/ Jarrett Hill? My friend, renowned journalist and fellow podcast host Jarrett Hill, asked to interview me on my podcast and how could I say no? Tune in to hear us break down my upcoming film BAD HAIR -- the inspiration, the backlash, the ancestral energy in it -- we get into it all. Check out the film, releasing October 23rd on Hulu!

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The 40 Year-Old Version w/ Radha Blank Oct 14, 2020

Radha Blank came by for this week’s Don’t @ Me and she did not come to play! I talk to the brilliant writer-director of the Sundance darling “The 40-Year-Old Version.” Beware of gems dropping as Radha gets real about directing herself in her feature debut, commanding respect on set as a Black woman, and the Purple Rain reference in her film you just might’ve missed.

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The Audacity of Punks w/ Patrik-Ian Polk Oct 07, 2020

Tune in for a conversation with the godfather of Black gay cinema, Patrik-Ian Polk. The Punks writer-director talks to me about commerce vs artistic vision, American culture’s Black gay spirit, and how he ended up on a Prince tribute album.

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Leading with Love w/ Laverne Cox Sep 30, 2020

Freshly emerged from Venus’s shell and into our (virtual) studio, Laverne Cox joins me for another Zoom edition of Don’t @ Me. We unpack her beginnings as a hustler, why EVERYONE should watch RuPaul’s Drag Race, and how she plans on coming out of quarantine spiritually evolved.

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Grinding During the Apocalypse with Issa Rae Sep 23, 2020

Everybody's favorite awkward Black girl Issa Rae joins us again and talks all about our sense of ownership over Black art, her expanding into Raedio, and the Insecure/Dear White People crossover you didn't realize already happened.

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The Art of Acting w/ Chanté Adams Sep 17, 2020

In another live Zoom edition of Don’t @ Me, I sit down with star-on-the-rise, actress Chanté Adams (The Photograph, Roxanne Roxanne) and talk all about her rapid ascension from college grad to movie star, her self-care routine, and seeing her relationship with the arts as a marriage.

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Pure Creativity with Terence Nance Sep 09, 2020

In a special live Zoom edition of Don’t @ Me, I’m joined by writer/director/fellow Texan Terence Nance as he talks Selah and the Spades, working with Solange, and the secret plot to 2001 Space Odyssey you probably missed — so don’t miss it!

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Hollywood Demons w/ Janicza Bravo Sep 02, 2020

In part two of my conversation with talented Zola director Janicza Bravo, she calls out Hollywood demons, pitches VR porn and discusses why she didn't want to do the "titty version" of Zola.

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Interrogating Whiteness w/ Janicza Bravo Aug 26, 2020

In part one of this two-part episode, tune in to hear filmmaker Justin Simien and the only Black Panamanian Jewish woman in comedy, Janicza Bravo, as they break down the dark comedy of being a Black director, the mixed response to Janicza’s debut film Lemon, and interrogating Whiteness in her work.

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Cinema As Therapy w/ Alma Har’el Aug 19, 2020

Justin goes deep with Alma Har'el, the visionary director behind Honey Boy, written by and starring Shia LaBeouf (available now on VOD). Check out this one-of-a-kind conversation on fighting imposter syndrome on set, the healing properties of cinema, and Alma's unconventional path to directing.

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Sam Jay: Sam Jay Will Not Be Silent Aug 12, 2020

Join filmmaker Justin Simien as he talks to stand-up comedian Sam Jay about her new Netflix special Sam Jay: 3 in the Morning, working with white people at SNL and whether or not cocaine is compatible with Black People. Don't @ Me is back ya'll!

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Sorry to Bother You Dec 18, 2018

In the season finale of Don’t @ Me, Boots Riley shares his history, muses, and the long road to one of 2018’s finest films, Sorry to Bother You.

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The Unicorns Dec 11, 2018

Justin talks about what it’s like to be a filmmaker outside of the traditional studio system with producers Alana Mayo from Michael B. Jordan's new production company, Outlier Society, and independent producer Cameron Washington.

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Food on Film Dec 04, 2018

Grab a snack for this chat with David Gelb, creator of Chef’s Table and director of Jiro Dreams of Sushi. He tells Justin about food as narrative subject and the making of a career in documentary film.

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The Sisterhood Nov 27, 2018

You might recognize Dear White People’s Ashley Blaine Featherson (Joelle) and Courtney Sauls (Brooke). There is so much more to an actor’s life than getting a good part (think: never-ending auditions and scant parts for black women). Ashley and Courtney sit down with Justin and go deep on what success looks like for them.

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The Collaborators with Peter Farrelly and Kris Bowers Nov 20, 2018

Justin is joined by Green Book director and writer, Peter Farrelly, and Kris Bowers, the film’s composer. They discuss the "white savior" trap films like this often fall into, the steps Peter took to avoid it, how Kris created the score, and the talents of the film’s stars Mahershala Ali and Viggo Mortensen.

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The Dream with Issa Rae Nov 13, 2018

Justin sits down with Issa Rae, the original Awkward Black Girl, to talk about what happens after your dreams come true, and what it's like to be expected to create work that covers the entire black experience.

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Destiny's Children with Kelly Rowland and Elle Lorraine Nov 06, 2018

This week, Justin talks destiny with some true destiny experts. None other than Kelly Rowland from Destiny's Child and up-and-coming actor and singer Elle Lorraine talk about how they knew what their destiny was, when they knew it, and who inspired them along the way.

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The Problem Solvers Oct 30, 2018

Writers Marvin Lemus and Travon Free solve the world's problems. Or, maybe they don't? Plus, Kanye West, black celebrity, and why Dia de los Muertos is not a Halloween costume.

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The ‘Moral Correctness’ Debate Oct 16, 2018

How political is black art, and how much can black people critique it? A recent New York Times piece by Wesley Morris suggests that black art in this day and age is being critiqued for its politics rather than for its quality. Justin sits down with writers Chuck Hayward and Jarrett Hill to discuss.

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The Storyteller with Janet Mock Oct 09, 2018

Janet Mock is a director, producer, writer, activist, and a two times over New York Times bestselling author. But if she had to define her life's work, she'd tell you she was a storyteller.

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The Binge with Netflix’s Ted Sarandos Oct 02, 2018

Meet the man responsible for “Netflix and chill,” bingeing, and a new business model that allowed for shows like Dear White People. Justin is joined by his boss, Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos.

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The Process with Lena Waithe (Live at LA Film Festival) Sep 25, 2018

Lena Waithe is an actress and producer, but always a writer first. The Emmy-winner returns to talk about her projects in development (Queen and Slim, Twenties, Them), her creative process, and how she stays hungry.

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Jeff Chang: The Afro-Asian Connection Sep 18, 2018

When political institutions shut out wide swaths of people, the path to change is often through culture. Hip-hop scholar Jeff Chang gets political with Justin, calling out the strengths and stressors among black and Asian communities in California and American culture more broadly.

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The White Boyfriend with Zazie Beetz, David Rysdahl & Rick Proctor Sep 11, 2018

Zazie Beetz is back, with her writer-actor boyfriend David Rysdahl. Justin also brought his boyfriend, Rick Proctor, into the studio. Both baes are white. We discuss the deep personal growth and public perils of our interracial love.

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The Black Cloud with Zazie Beetz Sep 04, 2018

Zazie Beetz (Atlanta, Deadpool 2) opens up about her struggle with anxiety, her biracial identity, and what becoming a public figure has meant for her personal journey on subjects like race and gender.

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The Rundown Breakdown with Robin Thede Aug 28, 2018

Robin Thede broke new late night ground with her excellent (and widely adopted) show The Rundown on BET. What’s next for her and will we ever see a return of The Rundown? Plus, what to watch when we’re avoiding the news cycle: namely, POSE and Random Acts of Flyness.

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The one-and-only Ava Aug 21, 2018

DuVernay is her last name. Array is her company. But on social media and to film and TV audiences worldwide, the director of A Wrinkle in Time and Selma needs very little introduction. Her name is simply Ava. Ava and Justin met when they both worked in publicity, and discuss how Hollywood will only make room for more voices and stories through systemic change. Plus, how Ava balances the stories she wants to tell and the desire to be recognized through awards, and her upcoming project for Netflix, Central Park Five.

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The Trailblazer: Cheryl Dunye Aug 14, 2018

Cheryl Dunye’s 1996 film “The Watermelon Woman” was the first feature directed by a black lesbian. Cheryl traces her personal story and blend of AIDS activism, academia, and art school that prompted her to make the film, and the too-hot-to-touch subjects she’s exploring in her next feature.

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The Gatekeeper Aug 07, 2018

Angel Lopez is the new mold of Hollywood gatekeeper: gay, Latinx, a producer who also writes, a professional astrologer. He and Justin get real about being your authentic self in an industry built on sameness that’s obsessed with sales and sequels.

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The Sexual (and Gender) Revolution with Kimberly Peirce Jul 31, 2018

Kimberly Peirce’s breakout film “Boys Don’t Cry” was ahead of its time in 1999. Justin and Kim talk about the language around gender and sexuality, from who can say “butch” to what happens when previously accepted terms go out of vogue.

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The Dynamic Duo: Daveed Diggs and Rafael Casal Jul 24, 2018

Who can use the N-word? How many writers and artists have a film like Moonlight waiting to be made? What was ScarJo thinking? We get into it with Daveed Diggs and Rafael Casal, platonic life partners and the incredible duo behind the new film Blindspotting.

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The Auteur Barry Jenkins Jul 17, 2018

Barry Jenkins gained worldwide recognition with Moonlight, his film about the life of Chiron, a young black man in Florida struggling with his sexuality and a drug-addicted mom. Also of course, the whole Oscars catastrophe. Despite evidence (and awards) to the contrary, Barry doubts his own brilliance. We get into that, the best movie ever made (and the worst in recent memory).

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The Mirror Jul 10, 2018

Actors Marque Richardson and Kellee Stewart digest the new documentary, Whitney, which explores the complicated life of Whitney Houston. Plus, how Marque and Kellee learned to inhabit people’s lives in their characters.

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The Black Female Director with Dime Davis and Tiffany Johnson Jul 03, 2018

Justin is joined by friends and fellow directors Tiffany Johnson and Dime Davis. Each one has a different journey to finding their voice as a filmmaker. All three are nurtured by peers, and terrified of speaking ill of another black person’s film (even in a Don’t @ Me environment). Plus, nerding out about Caberet and the classic movie musical.

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