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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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We are joined by the Locus and Nebula award winning author, P. Djeli Clark to discuss his new book Ring Shout. The New York Times describes the novella as “a fantastical, brutal and thrilling triumph of the imagination.” Educator, historian and author, we drink and discuss this amazing novella.
Purchase the book here:
What happens when you die? Kati Kati, the Kenyan film by Mbithi Masya, gives you the answer you probably don’t want. Joining the long list of afterlife stories like No Exit, The Good Place and The Lovely Bones, Kati Kati, meaning “in-between” in Swahili, is a fresh take on the purgatory story.
Vox Article:How would you survive on an island haunted by a killer aqua monster? How would you survive both lower demons with nipple piercings and the demonic, but sexy voice of Billy Zane? We have two Final Black Girls, Kiersey Clemons and Jada Pinkett Smith, teaching us about surviving monsters and demons. Join us as we discuss survival horror, real creature effects and the Final Girl trope in Sweetheart (2019) and Demon Knight (1995).
https://www.vox.com/2015/10/30/9645674/final-girls
https://www.vulture.com/2019/11/the-secrets-of-sweethearts-surprisingly-complex-sea-monster.html
Akwaeke Emezi had their novel debut two years ago and was shortlisted for the transphobic Women’s Prize. Akwaeke, in powerful protest, decided to renege their newest novel, The Death of Vivek Oji, from the award. Take that Adele. We celebrate this incredible author and their debut novel Freshwater, a story about gods, Igbo spirituality and blood sacrifice. We are joined by our neighbor, Divya. Because neighbors read together.
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/oct/05/akwaeke-emezi-shuns-womens-prize-request-for-details-of-sex-as-defined-by-law
https://www.thecut.com/2018/01/writer-and-artist-akwaeke-emezi-gender-transition-and-ogbanje.html
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/nov/15/freshwater-akwaeke-emezi-book-review-nigeria
Sentient ships, nano-bots, and mathematical power come together in Nnedi Okorafor’s coming-of-age trilogy, Binti. Okorafor’s trilogy has been greenlit by Hulu and her debut novel, Who Fears Death will also be showing up on HBO. Okorafor is a powerhouse and we will be watching and reading her works aplenty in the near and distant future.
Where to buy the book: https://www.womenandchildrenfirst.com/book/9780756416935
Corrections: The Himba tribe are in the region of Namibia, not Nigeria.
There is no better way to wrap October then with two new horror films. Join us as we discuss Emmanuel Osei-Kuffour Jr.’s Black Box, and Justin Simien’s Bad Hair.
Part I: Black Box
Part II: Bad Hair
Other References:
https://shadowandact.com/amazon-black-box-film-jay-ellis-interview
Book-Horror Noire: Blacks in American Horror Films from 1890s to Present
Listen as Amber and Ben relive and revere all the incredible moments Season 1 of Lovecraft Country had to offer: Episode 1: Sundown Episode 2: Whitey’s on the Moon Episode 3: Holy Ghost Episode 4: A History of Violence Episode 5: Strange Case Episode 6: Meet Me in Daegu Episode 7: I Am Episode 8: Jig-a-Bobo Episode 9: Rewind 1921 Episode 10:Full Circle
Other References:
Victor LaValle inverted Lovecraft with his 2016 novella The Ballad of Black Tom. Tune in for an other-worldly discussion of the end times, cosmic horror and racial puberty as we explore this award-winning story.
Other Sources:
https://www.imaginaryworldspodcast.org/inverting-lovecraft.html http://strangehorizons.com/non-fiction/reviews/the-ballad-of-black-tom-by-victor-lavalle/
Watch Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror directed by Xavier Neal-Burgin. Featuring actors Keith David, Tony Todd, and Rachel True, director Jordan Peele, and author Tananarive Due. The film is inspired by the astounding film critic Dr. Robin R. Means Coleman who wrote a history book on black horror called Horror Noire. Listen as Amber and Ben breakdown the six phases of Black representation in horror films:
Other References: -Nnedi Okorafor article “Stephen King’s Super-Duper Magical Negroes” -Nightlight Podcast Interview with Tananarive Due -Women & Children First Presents: N.K. Jemisin's THE CITY WE BECAME By Orbit LIVE! -Horror Noire: Blacks in American Horror Films from the 1890s to Present by Dr. Robin R. Means Coleman
Gina Prince-Bythewood is a black director, and icon, who brought us Beyond the Lights, The Secret Life of Bees, and, most notably, Love & Basketball. She is the first black woman to direct a major comic book film. We will be reviewing... no, celebrating Gina Prince-Bythewood's 2020 film The Old Guard.
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