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This now-complete podcast features Amber and Ben — married, mildly overwhelmed, and hilariously honest — as they roast their own parenting fails, marriage misadventures, and behind-the-scenes influencer life.
No new episodes are dropping, but the full archive is full of chaos, laughs, and the kind of relatable moments that make you feel like you’re hanging with friends. Binge now — because real life is rarely picture-perfect, and that’s what makes it great.
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One man’s degradation porn is another man’s grieving process. We sat down to recap the controversial Amazon TV Series “Them,” directed by Little Marvin and produced by Lena Waite. Join our discussion of Black Slash horror, haunting violence, and the effortless ingenuity of Jordan Peele.
Resources:
This week we reviewed the 2019 film MIB: International with the dynamic duo of Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson. F. Gary Gray, director of such classics as “Set It Off” and “Friday,” came into reboot the franchise. We discuss immigration, controlling creators, and drinking Thor’s beer.
Sources Referenced:
https://www.vulture.com/2019/06/why-dark-phoenix-and-men-in-black-international-flopped.html
This week we read Walter Mosley’s short story cycle Futureland. Find out what happens when an Edgar award-winning mystery author dips his toe into the waters of near-future Science Fiction. We discuss book clubs, toxic work environments, and anti-establishment millennials.
Jefferson Pierce is back with his whole family as backup. We have mad scientists galore, cell regeneration roadkill, poison knives, and godly health clinics. Not to mention a dash of white supremacy. Black Lightning does it all. Join us as we discuss Black Lightning season 2.
Season 2 Breakdown:
The Book of Consequences
The Book of Blood
The Book of Rebellion
The Book of Secrets
The Book of the Apocalypse
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/why-religious-health-care-restrictions-often-take-patients-by-surprise/
https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/religious-freedom-rule-could-cause-significant-damage-lgbtq-health-care-n1001996
Before the wonder of Black Lightning, Black Panther, and Luke Cage, there was The Meteor Man. The Meteor Man can do it all--X-ray super vision, super strength, and of course, telepathy with dogs only. Robert Townsend’s camp of the superhero genre was years ahead of its time despite some significant set-backs. Power up and watch this cult classic with us
Circles & Ciphers:
www.circlesandciphers.org/#programming Chicago Police Torture- Jon Burge:
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2021/2/3/22263444/new-chicago-police-torture-archive-details-acts-of-jon-burge-and-underlings
What do you get when you combine Michael Shultz’s direction with Berry Gordy’s bops? The 1985 smash hit “The Last Dragon.” Kick some ass with this fusion of 80’s NYC, Bruce Lee inspiration and anti-racism. Decades ahead of its time, this cult classic is a must see for every fantasy fan.
Harvard Research Study on Asian Students Article:
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nytimes.com/2018/06/23/us/confronting-asian-american-stereotypes.amp.html
We read the short story cycle, Nine Bar Blues. Giant cicadas, Beale Street Blues, and a devil at the crossroads, what else could you want from Southern fiction? This ain’t no Faulkner’s Yoknapatawpha County, this here is Sheree’s Memphis.
Other Sources:
Mixtape v. Album- https://www.vice.com/en/article/rmx446/the-real-difference-between-a-mixtape-and-an-album Black Justin Bieber-https://www.thrillist.com/entertainment/nation/atlanta-justin-bieber
If you loved Wakanda get ready for an Afro-centric world like no other. We watched Naughts and Crosses on Peacock TV-- written by Malorie Blackman and co-directed Koby Adom. This alternate-history story set the game in motion for a discussion of black power, black culture and black band-aids.
We read "The Dark Fantastic: Race and the Imagination from Harry Potter to the Hunger Games" by Ebony Elizabeth Thomas. The book was recently awarded a World Fantasy Award for 2020.
Amber and Ben come to terms with imagination gaps, toxic twitter feeds, and “slash fiction.” For once Ben knows more about social media than Amber.
A mostly spoiler-free review of the first season of Black Lightning. Yeah, Black Lightning is fine, but it's Lala, Jill Scott aka Lady Eve, and Tobias Whale that carry this show. We discuss D&D alignment, creator controversy, and awkward family dinners.
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