Still Processing

America Has a Problem Dec 06, 2022

Today: The undoing of Kanye West. “We’re in deeply vile territory, and I can’t make intellectual sense of that,” Wesley Morris says about West, who now goes by Ye.

In 2004, when Ye released “College Dropout," he seemed to be challenging Black orthodoxy in ways that felt exciting and risky. But over the years, his expression of “freedom” has felt anything but free. His embrace of anti-Black, antisemitic and white supremacist language “comes at the expense of other people’s safety,” their humanity and their dignity, J Wortham says.

Wesley and J discuss what it means to divest from someone whose art, for two decades, had awed, challenged and excited you.

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Plastic Off the Sofa Nov 29, 2022

“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” came into theaters with a huge responsibility: It had to address the death of Chadwick Boseman, the star of the first “Black Panther” movie, who died of cancer in August 2020.

Wesley and J discuss how the film offers the audience an experience of collective grief and mourning — something that never happened in the United States in response to the losses of 2020. They interrogate what it means that this gesture of healing came from Marvel and Disney, a corporate empire that is in control of huge swaths of our entertainment, and not from another type of leadership.

Additional resources:

To hear what Wesley and J had to say about the first “Black Panther” movie, listen to this episode of “Still Processing” from 2018.
Ryan Coogler, the director of “Wakanda Forever,” spoke to the author Ta-Nehisi Coates about the making of movie, and how it captured the real-life grief that people experienced after Chadwick Boseman’s death. Listen to their conversation here.

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I'm That Girl Nov 22, 2022

Beyoncé’s latest album, “Renaissance,” showcases a pop star letting go of all expectations. Wesley and J go deep into the album and this new era of Beyoncé. It’s an era of play, freedom, comedy and queerness — unlike anything we’ve ever heard from Beyoncé Knowles-Carter before.

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New Foundation Nov 15, 2022

Wesley and J discuss the push to “return to office” — and what it means for their lives, as well as American culture as a whole. What have 50 years of workplace sitcoms, from “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” to “Abbott Elementary,” taught us about our romance with the office? And what do TikTok parodies and the TV show “Severance” get right about the history of labor in America? In this period of returning to so-called normalcy, Wesley and J reflect on how we can ensure that the lessons of the early pandemic aren’t forgotten.

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Summer Renaissance Nov 08, 2022

Donna Summer’s 1977 hit “I Feel Love” is the inspiration for the final track on Beyoncé’s new album, “Renaissance.” Summer became the queen of disco in the ’70s, but her catalog goes much further than that. You can hear her legacy in decades of electronic and R&B. “She is an architect of the pop culture we experience today,” J says.

In this episode, J and Wesley revisit her 1982 album, “Donna Summer” — and explore why, out of all of her music, this self-titled album is the most distinctly Donna.

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Alien Superstar Nov 01, 2022

J Wortham and Wesley Morris are back, just in time for Scorpio season. Ever since they watched Jordan Peele’s latest film, “Nope,” together over the summer, they haven’t been able to stop talking about it. The film stars Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer as siblings whose family horse ranch is threatened by an otherworldly creature. But instead of escaping or destroying the monster, they are determined to take a picture of it. Why is proof so important? And what does it mean to be believed?

Today: The unresolved questions of “Nope” (some of them, anyway) and what the film says about the grimmer aspects of living in America. (Beware: Spoilers ahead!)

“Still Processing” is back for a mini-season. New episodes on Tuesdays. Follow the show on Apple, Spotify, Stitcher, Amazon Music or wherever you get your podcasts.

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We Belong Together Jun 16, 2022

Reunited at last, J Wortham joins Wesley Morris in the studio for the last episode of the season. They reflect on the challenges of being apart for almost a year while J was on book leave.

How did J deal with the inevitable stretches of loneliness? How do you re-enter your home and your relationships after so much time away?

J and Wesley discuss how they managed to stay connected over the past year, and the role of community and intimacy in moments of tragedy.

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When Your Neighbor’s the Highway Jun 09, 2022

Today, Wesley leaves the studio – and goes home. He embarks on a journey that involves a car named Khad'ija, a tireless 92-year-old activist and one Chinatown. Last year, President Biden signed a $1 trillion infrastructure bill into law. One part of the initiative especially struck Wesley: the federal government’s acknowledgment that its mid-century push to build a massive highway system had caused suffering. Wesley started thinking about a highway that he sometimes crossed as a kid in Philadelphia: the Vine Street Expressway. When it was built in 1991, he never realized how deeply it had divided and altered the Chinatown neighborhood. What happened to all the people who were living there? How did their lives — and their communities — transform? On today’s show, Wesley returns to his hometown to try to find out. Click herefor photos of Wesley's journey and more info about the episode.

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And a Britney Song Was On … Jun 02, 2022

"This Is How We Do It" by Montell Jordan is an unforgettable hip-hop relic, a jam whose opening six words alone make you want to party. Wesley has heard this 1995 hit countless times since he was a teenager, but it wasn’t until hearing it recently at the gym that he had an epiphany: It’s a country song. It belongs to a long tradition of country music that expresses love and respect for one's hometown.

Wesley explores other songs that have changed in meaning for him over the years (like “Losing My Religion” by R.E.M.), and he considers what happens to music’s meaning when the culture around it changes — the way it did with Britney Spears and her hits, in the aftermath of her yearslong struggle to end her court-sanctioned conservatorship.

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Sweat Equity May 26, 2022

When Wesley was 11, he wanted to be just like Sandra from the sitcom “227,” played by Jackée Harry. Sandra was sassy, boisterous and always got what she wanted. But it took reading Margo Jefferson’s latest book, “Constructing a Nervous System: A Memoir,” for Wesley understand the complexity of this memory. On today's episode, Wesley and Margo Jefferson sift through their most deep-rooted, and sometimes difficult-to-explain cultural influences. Why did Margo adore the scatting of Ella Fitzgerald, but squirm at the sight of her sweating onstage? Why was Margo drawn to Ike Turner as a teen, but not Tina Turner? Together, Wesley and Margo unpack their cultural memories — and what they reveal about who they are now.

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Can Athletes Ever Be Movie Stars? May 19, 2022

What happens when athletes decide to act? And what doesn’t happen? Wesley Morris and Bill Simmons, sportswriter and founder of The Ringer, break down the history of athletes in movies. They start with Jackie Robinson playing himself in 1950, discuss the Blaxpoitation-era stars and make their way to the ’90s, from “He Got Game” (where Ray Allen turns in a solid performance opposite Denzel Washington, directed by Spike Lee) to “Space Jam” (the less said, the better). They trace this phenomenon all the way to Dwayne Johnson, a.k.a. The Rock, arguably the most successful athlete-turned-actor of all time — who seems to be playing the long game. Then, they imagine a new kind of renaissance for the sports movie.

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Keanu May 12, 2022

Wesley wants to get to the bottom of Keanu Reeves — and to understand “why we get so much out of a movie star who appears to give us so little.” He’s joined by Alex Pappademas, the author of “Keanu Reeves: Most Triumphant: The Movies and Meaning of an Irrepressible Icon,” to solve this mystery. They discuss Keanu’s three-decade acting career, how he became the internet’s adorably tragic boyfriend and why we are seeing ourselves when we look at the actor.

Click here for more information about today's episode, and check out Alex's book on Keanu.

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Sex, Death & Bunnies May 05, 2022

"Fatal Attraction" came out in 1987 when Wesley was 11, and it made a permanent impression on the way he thinks about certain aspects of lust and suspense. With Jenna away on book leave, he welcomed Parul Sehgal, a staff writer at The New Yorker, to the show. Both Wesley and Parul watched “Fatal Attraction” over and over as preteens, and they’ve rewatched it multiple times in the years since. As they break down the most powerful scenes, they are reminded of the loss of high-stakes sex onscreen today. They discuss why the erotic thriller genre disappeared — and what they could gain from seeing more genuine, grown-up sex in movies.

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Where'd All the Method Acting Go? Apr 28, 2022

In the 20th century, method acting was everywhere. Actors went to extreme lengths to inhabit the complicated psyche of a character, sometimes making audiences deeply uncomfortable. Think Robert De Niro in “Raging Bull” or Marlon Brando in “Apocalypse Now.” But in 2022, in our heyday of superhero blockbusters and bingeable story lines, the Method seems to be fading away. Wesley invites Isaac Butler — critic, historian and author of “The Method: How the 20th Century Learned to Act” — to dissect the Method. They discuss where it came from, its most legendary practitioners, and whether Hollywood has a place for it today.

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Skip Intro Apr 21, 2022

Wesley worries the “skip intro” button is killing the TV theme song. He takes his concern to his friend Hanif Abdurraqib, a poet, music critic and MacArthur “genius grant” winner. Together, they explore their childhood memories of “Good Times,” “The Wonder Years” and “The Jeffersons.” Then, producer Hans Buetow unearths a rendition of a theme song that blows their minds — and they vow never to hit “skip intro” on it.

We have a special request: Can you identify the choir that is singing the “Good Times” theme song in this video? We’d love to find out who they are and get in touch with them. Email us at stillprocessing@nytimes.com if you have a lead. Click here for more details. Special prizes! Endless appreciation!

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American Top 40 Apr 14, 2022

Wesley has been obsessed with lists since he was a child — think Casey Kasem’s American Top 40, the Academy Awards and Rolling Stone’s Top 500 Albums of All Time. Now, he wants to think more seriously about expanding what we call the canon, making sure more people have a say in which works of art are considered great, enduring and important.

For guidance, Wesley sits down with Daphne A. Brooks, an academic, critic and music lover, to ask whether expanding the canon is even the right way to think about this. Her thoughts surprise him: We can do better than lists!

Check out Daphne A. Brooks's reading recommendations at this link or at nytimes.com/stillprocessing.

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A New Season of 'Still Processing' Apr 07, 2022

We’re back with a new season on April 14! Jenna Wortham is on book leave, so Wesley Morris will be taking on solo hosting duties for much of this spring. He will be joined by a stellar cast of guests, including Daphne Brooks to talk pop culture hierarchies, Hanif Abdurraqib to examine television theme songs (and that polarizing “skip intro” button) and Bill Simmons on what happens when athletes try to act. We can’t kick off this season, however, without first hearing about what Jenna has been up to. Spoiler alert: black holes.

Tune in Thursdays for new episodes.

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'Before I Let Go' May 20, 2021

When the three opening notes of the song hit, there’s only one thing to do: Find your people and dance. Today, we’re talking about “Before I Let Go,” by Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, and the song’s unique ability to gather and galvanize. It wasn’t a huge hit when it came out in 1981, but it has become a unifying Black anthem and an unfailing source of joy. We dissect Beyoncé’s cover, and we hear from friends, listeners and the Philadelphia DJ Patty Jackson about their memories of the classic song.

You can find more info on today's episode here.

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The People in the Neighborhood May 13, 2021

A powerful — and revealing — aspect of the Derek Chauvin trial was the community it created out of strangers. Week later, we’re still thinking about the witnesses, and the way they were connected in telling the story of how George Floyd lost his life. This phenomenonis reflected in works of art, like Spike Lee’s “Do the Right Thing,” which explores the conflict inherent in a community.

You can find more info on today's episode here.

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We, Tina May 06, 2021

She’s simply the best. A new documentary on HBO (called, simply, “Tina”) explores Tina Turner’s tremendous triumphs, but we wanted to go deeper. We talk about how her entire career was an act of repossession: Taking back her name, her voice, her image, her vitality and her spirituality made her one of the biggest rock stars in the world, even in her 50s.

You can find more info about today's episode here, and follow Wesley’s playlist of his top Tina Turner songs.

Also, Jenna and Wesley want your help in settling a bet! Do you know the song “Before I Let Go” by Frankie Beverly and Maze? Did you play it at a party or dance to it at a wedding? Do you jump to your feet every time it comes on? Grab your phone and record yourself telling a story about what the song has meant to you. Send it to us at stillprocessing@nytimes.com

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Cathy Park Hong Apr 29, 2021

The Asian-American poet wants to help women and people of color find healing — and clarity — in their rage. Hong's book of essays, “Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning," came out in February 2020, and it’s taken on new urgency with the rise in anti-Asian violence and discrimination during the pandemic.

You can find more info on today's episode here. And check out Part 1 and Part 2 of our series on Asian-American racism from 2018.

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Lil Nas X? Not Sorry! Apr 15, 2021

Social media apologies have become the standard celebrity response to internet outrage. But why do they feel so deeply inadequate? Jenna and Wesley dissect a new spate of public apologies from the last year. And they look to the activist and writer adrienne maree brown for an example of a “fully evolved” apology.

You can find more info about today’s show here. And in our April 29 episode, we’ll be discussing the book “Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning” by Cathy Park Hong. Read it along with us!

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40 Acres and a Movie Apr 08, 2021

Disney owns a piece of every living person’s childhood. Now it owns Marvel Studios, too. Jenna and Wesley look at depictions of racist tropes and stereotypes in Disney’s ever-expanding catalog. The company has made recent attempts to atone for its past. But can it move forward without repeating the same mistakes?

You can find more info about today’s episode here. And in our April 29 episode, we’ll be discussing the book “Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning” by Cathy Park Hong. Send us your questions and thoughts about the book at stillprocessing@nytimes.com.

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No Country for Any Men Apr 01, 2021

“Promising Young Woman” is one of this year’s major Oscar contenders. It’s a dark revenge fantasy that asks a sweeping moral question: What if there are no good men? Wesley and Jenna go deep into the film and consider what it gets right — and wrong — about sexual assault and justice. Beware: There will be spoilers.

You can find more info about today’s show here. And in our April 29 episode, we’ll be discussing the book “Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning” by Cathy Park Hong. Read it along with us!

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Now That's What I Call a Bridge! Mar 25, 2021

“Drivers License” by Olivia Rodrigo makes Wesley nostalgic for his favorite part of a song: the bridge. Bridges used to be a core feature of popular music, but they’ve become an endangered species, right next to the sitcom laugh track. While Wesley laments the demise of the bridge, Jenna points out that TikTok has given us new ways to experience the best part of a song.

You can find more info about today’s episode here, and follow our playlist of Wesley and Jenna’s favorite bridges.

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The N-Word Mar 18, 2021

It’s the episode we’ve been wanting to make for years. In our season premiere, we’re talking about the N-word. It’s both unspeakable and ubiquitous. A weapon of hate and a badge of belonging. After centuries of evolution, it’s everywhere — art, politics, everyday banter — and it can't be ignored. So we’re grappling with our complicated feelings about this word. You can find more information about today's episode here.

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The Return of Still Processing Mar 11, 2021

We’re back with a new season on March 18! Join culture writers Jenna Wortham and Wesley Morris in the juiciest group chat, the coziest diner booth, the crowded kitchen at a house party with the best snacks and the real talk. Each week, they’ll come together to talk art, identity, politics, the internet — whatever they’re grappling with. Subscribe for deep chats, uncomfortable but necessary conversations and incisive takes on the cultural landscape. New episodes come out every Thursday.

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Best of the Archives: Whitney Houston (2017) Feb 25, 2021

We’re preparing to drop a whole new season this spring. In the meantime, we want to make sure you’ve had a chance to hear some of our all-time favorite episodes. Like this one, about Whitney Houston. It’s been nine years since Ms. Houston died. She was one of the biggest pop stars of her time, but she’s often remembered as a tragic figure. In this episode, we argue that her music is much more important than any of the scandals. When we listen to some of her best performances, we remind ourselves who we actually lost: the greatest singer of the rock ’n’ roll era.

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Best of the Archives: Whiteness in America (2017) Feb 18, 2021

When “Hillbilly Elegy” showed up on Netflix last November, it was just the latest in a series of media attempting to explain whiteness to its audience. We’re revisiting a better (though not perfect) example: the podcast “S-Town.” Check out our episode from 2017 while we prepare for a new season of Still Processing — coming to you in March.

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Best of the Archives: Psychobros (2019) Feb 11, 2021

Not long ago, Harry Styles graced the cover of Vogue magazine in a dress. It was just one example of how traditional ideas of masculinity have been expanding — on the runway and in culture. In our episode “Psychobros” from a couple of seasons ago, we appreciated another man in a dress on the front page of a magazine: Brad Pitt on the cover of Rolling Stone, published just as the movie “Fight Club” came out in 1999. It’s one of our favorite past episodes coming your way … while we're getting ready to drop a whole new season this spring.

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Best of the Archives: Aretha Franklin (2018) Feb 04, 2021

Next month we’re starting a whole new season of shows! Yes, in March! We’re thrilled. While we’re getting ready, we selected four of our favorite past episodes for you to enjoy. This first one is about one of the greats: Aretha Franklin.

A singer, writer, arranger, pianist, performer and more, Ms. Franklin channeled both the difficult and beautiful aspects of American culture to make the songs that have scored our lives. She left a legacy of virtuosity and swagger that will live on — both online and off.

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Sweet, Sweet Fantasies, Baby Nov 12, 2020

With the election (nearly) resolved, we have a moment to step back and look at what fantasies our country is built upon. From the role of president, to the threat of another civil war to the soul of the country itself, we’re all harboring some kind of fantasy that we should probably interrogate.

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'Waiter, There's a Fly in Our Bubble' Oct 29, 2020

With a monumental election on the horizon, we want to bring up a few recent events that show some sort of truth amid the confusion. From the NBA bubble to the fly in Mike Pence’s hair to HBO's “Lovecraft Country”, these are moments that point us beyond the present, to be our best and greatest selves.

Discussed this week:

“Scandal” (Season 4, Episodes 9-12, ABC, 2015)
The N.B.A. bubble
The vice-presidential debate (Oct. 7, 2020)
“Lovecraft Country” (Episode 7, HBO, 2020)
Sun Ra
More Sun Ra
Even more Sun Ra

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Ziwe May Destroy Hamilton Jul 23, 2020

“Hamilton” is back in the mix, but the flavor has changed from beloved historical blockbuster to “wait, that’s what this is?” Elsewhere, in new works like “Baited,” on Instagram Live, and “I May Destroy You,” on HBO, Black women are getting personal in ways that are expanding our palates for discomfort.

Discussed this week:

“Hamilton” (written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Disney+, 2020)
“Baited” on Instagram Live
Ziwe Fumudoh
“I May Destroy You” (written by Michaela Coel, HBO, 2020)
Native Land project
“White Fragility” lecture (by Robin DiAngelo, 2019)

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Reparations for Aunt Jemima! Jul 16, 2020

When Quaker decided to take Aunt Jemima off the red pancake box after 131 years, did it also try to scrub the legacy she represents? And what sort of compensation is appropriate — and to whom — from a brand that maintained that image in public for so long?

Discussed this week:

“Aunt Jemima Brand to Change Name and Image Over ‘Racial Stereotype’” (Tiffany Hsu, The New York Times, June 2020)
“Aunt Jemima: I’se in Town, Honey” (Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia at Ferris State University)
“The Dixie Chicks Change Their Name, Dropping the ‘Dixie’” (Ben Sisario, The New York Times, June 2020)
“Lady Antebellum Sues the Singer Lady A Over Name Change” (Joe Coscarelli, The New York Times, July 2020)
“Aunt Jemima’s Heirs’ $3 Billion Lawsuit Against Pepsi, Quaker Oats Tossed by Judge” (Tim Kenneally, The Wrap, February 2015)
“What Is Owed” (Nikole Hannah Jones, The New York Times, June 2020)
“The Case for Reparations” (Ta-Nehisi Coates, The Atlantic, June 2014)

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So Y’all Finally Get It Jul 09, 2020

Excerpts from our June 12 live event, where we caught up about the uprisings and resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement. This is the first of three special summer episodes.

Discussed this week:

Jenna Wortham and Wesley Morris in a live New York Times event (June 12, 2020)
“‘Cops,’ Long-Running Reality Show That Glorified Police, Is Canceled” (The New York Times, June 2020)
“LEGO Pulls Back Police Playset Affiliate Marketing Amid George Floyd Protests” (ToyBook, June 2020)
“NASCAR Says It Will Ban Confederate Flags” (The New York Times, June 2020)
Jenna Wortham and Wesley Morris on “CBS This Morning” (Aug. 18, 2017, CBS)
Speech by Stokely Carmichael (a.k.a. Kwame Ture) (Oct. 29, 1966, Berkeley, Calif.)
“John Lewis: Good Trouble” (directed by Dawn Porter, July 2020)

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New Loop, America May 14, 2020

In our final episode from our living rooms, we visit the dystopia of “Westworld” and the utopia of “Hollywood” to see if we can glean anything about what might be in store on the other side of this pandemic — and about who we want to be.

Discussed this week:

“Westworld” (HBO, 2016-20)
“Hollywood” (Netflix, 2020)
Ryan Murphy
“The Stepford Wives” (directed by Frank Oz, 2004)
“The Stepford Wives” (directed by Bryan Forbes, 1975)
The Motion Picture Production Code of 1930
“Love Jones” (directed by Theodore Witcher, 1997)
“Love & Basketball” (directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, 2000)
Anna May Wong
Hattie McDaniel
Oscar Micheaux
“Delivering Thanks Team” (Papa John’s, 2020)

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Does This Phone Make Me Look Human? May 07, 2020

Covid-19 isn't "the great equalizer" – except when it comes to making us need our devices more than ever. Screens have revealed superstars as civilians, and turned sitcom grouches into teddy bears. Basically: We’re ready to be more open with one another.

Discussed this week:

“Take Me to the World: A Sondheim 90th Birthday Celebration” (Broadway.com)
“The ‘Credibility Bookcase’ Is the Quarantine’s Hottest Accessory” (Amanda Hess, The New York Times)
Randy Rainbow’s YouTube Channel
“A Parks and Recreation Special” (NBC, 2020)
“The Power of Vulnerability” (Brené Brown, TEDx)
“Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead” (Brené Brown, 2012)
The “Unlocking Us” Podcast (Brené Brown)
Teddy Riley Verzuz Babyface

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Fiona Ex Machina May 01, 2020

"Fetch the Bolt Cutters" is Fiona Apple's master class in channeling frustration and anger into what can only be called wisdom. Also, we hear from listeners all over the planet, sharing how they are taking care of the people in their lives.

Discussed this week:

"Fetch the Bolt Cutters" (Fiona Apple, 2020)
Fiona Apple on the VMAs in 1997
"Regret" (Fiona Apple, "The Idler Wheel Is Wiser than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More than Ropes Will Ever Do", 2012)
"Criminal" (Fiona Apple, "Tidal", 1996)
"Hold Up" (Beyonce Knowles, "Lemonade", 2016)

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Halle Berry? Hallelujah. Apr 23, 2020

We’re trying something new this week. We want you to watch a movie with us, and not just any movie, but the 2004 superhero bomb “Catwoman,” starring two of our favorites: Halle Berry and Sharon Stone. We’ve got fun facts, some questions and a little bit of, um, cattiness.

Discussed this week:

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How to Learn From a Plague Apr 16, 2020

Activists stood up against the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s and 1990s, but the tools they used to make themselves heard are unavailable during our coronavirus pandemic. Still, many of that era’s strategies and warning signs seem alarmingly relevant now.

Discussed this week:

“How to Survive a Plague” (directed by David France, 2012)
ACT UP New York
“How ACT UP Remade Political Organizing in America” (David France, The New York Times, April, 2020)
“‘A Tragedy Is Unfolding’: Inside New York’s Virus Epicenter” (Annie Correal, Andrew Jacobs and Ryan Christopher Jones, The New York Times, April, 2020)
“America’s Hidden H.I.V. Epidemic” (Linda Villarosa, The New York Times, June, 2017)
“Amazon’s Whole Foods to Cut Medical Benefits for Part-Timers” (Spencer Soper, Bloomberg, September, 2019)

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Frosted Flakes Apr 09, 2020

Lions, and tigers and barely suppressed glee at criminal weirdos, oh my!

What has big personalities, big issues and big cats? Netflix’s hit streaming show “Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness.” We explore what the show says about America’s unique relationship to freedom.

Discussed this week:

“Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness” (Netflix, 2020)
“Blue Caprice” (directed by Alexandre Moors, 2013)
“The Wire” (HBO, 2002-08)
“Breaking Bad” (AMC, 2008-13)
“O.J.: Made In America” (ESPN, 2016)
“Fargo” (directed by Joel and Ethan Coen, 1996)
“Empire” (Fox, 2015-20)
“Surviving R. Kelly” (Lifetime, 2019)
Gunther Gebel-Williams

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Delicious Vinyl Apr 02, 2020

Not all reboots deserve to exist. Lots of them aren’t even things we want.

But the new "High Fidelity" on Hulu is the reboot we didn’t know we needed.

Discussed this week:

Barack Obama’s Twitter
Cardi B’s Twitter and Instagram
"Celebrity Culture is Burning" (Amanda Hess, 2020)
"Oprah Talks Covid-19" (Apple TV+, 2020)
Britney’s Instagram
"High Fidelity" (directed by Stephen Frears, 2000)
"High Fidelity" (Hulu, 2020)

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A Pod From Both Our Houses Mar 26, 2020

From our living rooms to yours, “Still Processing” is back.

During this unprecedented time in our lives, we talk routines, dreams and what’s on our screens — or at least what will be on our screens. Because screens are all we have left.

Discussed this week:

“Darn That Dream” (Dinah Washington, 1954)

The Brian Lehrer Show (WNYC)

Working out with Mr. and Mrs. Muscle

“Ra Ma Da Sa” (Amanbir Singh, 2017)

The Wiz (directed by Sidney Lumet, 1978)

High Fidelity (Hulu, 2020)

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Got That WFH Setup Set Up Mar 21, 2020

New episodes coming March 26! You’ve got a lot of time on your hands, and so do we. Let's spend it together

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Wake Nov 07, 2019

We examine how HBO’s series “Watchmen” and Bong Joon Ho’s film “Parasite” bring to light the hidden histories that shape our modern lives.

Discussed this week:

“Parasite” (directed by Bong Joon Ho, 2019)
“Watchmen” (HBO, 2019)
“White Flights: Race, Fiction, and the American Imagination” (Jess Row, 2019)
“In the Wake: On Blackness and Being“ (Christina Sharpe, 2016)

We're going on hiatus, but we'll be back in your ears in early 2020!

Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Straws Oct 31, 2019

California’s new legislation allowing college athletes to make money off endorsements. One step forward. The backlash against victims who came forward in the wake of #MeToo. Two steps back. Does big, sustainable change have to feel like grasping at straws?

Discussed this week:

“California Tells the N.C.A.A. to Share, and It Pitches a Fit.” (Michael Powell, The New York Times, Oct. 4, 2019)
“The Toll of Me Too.” (Rebecca Traister, The Cut, Sept. 30, 2019)

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Psychobros Oct 24, 2019

We revisit "Fight Club" on the 20th anniversary of its release, and consider how the trope of the "psychobro" is showing up onscreen — in the new blockbuster “Joker” and HBO’s critically acclaimed series “Succession” — and off.

Discussed this week:

"The Unbearable Bradness of Being" (Chris Heath, Rolling Stone, Oct. 28, 1999)
"Fight Club" (directed by David Fincher, 1999)
"Joker" (directed by Todd Phillips, 2019)
"Succession" (HBO, 2019)
"Whistleblower Explains How Cambridge Analytica Helped Fuel U.S. 'Insurgency'" (Fresh Air, Oct. 8, 2019)

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J.Lo Oct 17, 2019

Jennifer Lopez is having a triumphant 2019. From her Motown tribute at the Grammys to the success of “Hustlers” to the announcement that she’ll be performing at the Super Bowl halftime show, she seems to be enjoying the fruits of her labor from about three decades in show business. So we want to know: is Jennifer Lopez finally getting her due?

Discussed this week:

“How Jennifer Lopez’s Versace Dress Created Google Images” (Rachel Tashjian, GQ, Sept. 20, 2019)
“Hustlers” (directed by Lorene Scafaria, 2019)
Jennifer Lopez’s Motown Tribute at the 2019 Grammy Awards
“Jennifer Lopez Talks Engagement, Diddy’s Instagram Comments, Bonding With Cardi B + More” (Breakfast Club, Apr. 10, 2019)
“‘Hustlers’ Has a Strong Opening at the Box Office” (Gabe Cohn, The New York Times, Sept. 15, 2019)
“Alex Rodriguez and Jennifer Lopez Announce Their Engagement” (The Associated Press, March 9, 2019)
“Selena” (directed by Gregory Nava, 1997)
“Movies (And Other Things)” (Shea Serrano, 2019)
“Waiting for Tonight” (Jennifer Lopez, 1999)
“1999” (Prince, 1982)
“Out of Sight” (directed by Steven Soderbergh, 1998)
“Monster-in-Law” (directed by Robert Luketic, 2005)
“The Wedding Planner” (directed by Adam Shankman, 2001)
“Maid in Manhattan” (directed by Wayne Wang, 2002)
“Gigli” (directed by Martin Brest, 2003)
“Jenny from the Block” (Jennifer Lopez, 2002)
“Play” (Jennifer Lopez, 2001)
“Rap Performer Puffy Combs Is Arrested After Shootings at Times Sq. Nightclub” (William K. Rashbaum, The New York Times, Dec. 28, 1999)
“El Cantante” (directed by Leon Ichaso, 2006)
“American Idol” (Jennifer Lopez as judge in Seasons 10-11 and 13-15)

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Back Next Week! Oct 10, 2019

We'll be back with a new episode next Thursday, October 17th.

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Chappelle Oct 03, 2019

Comedy is changing. Dave Chappelle’s latest Netflix comedy special, "Sticks & Stones," makes us wonder if he can keep up.

Discussed this week:

"Dave Chappelle: Sticks & Stones" (Netflix, 2019)
"Aziz Ansari: Right Now" (Netflix 2019)
"A Black Lady Sketch Show" (HBO, 2019)
"My Favorite Shapes" (HBO, 2019)
"Ramy Youssef: Feelings" (HBO, 2019)

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BoomBoom Sep 26, 2019

We’re in love with MTV’s dating-reality TV show “Are You the One?”

Discussed this week:

Jenna Wortham. "How Queer People Brought Some Actual Reality to Dating-Reality TV" (The New York Times Magazine, Aug. 28, 2019)
Wesley Morris. "Rom-Coms Were Corny and Retrograde. Why Do I Miss Them so Much?" (The New York Times Magazine, April 24, 2019)
"Are You the One?" (MTV, Season 8, 2019)

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Yeehaw Sep 19, 2019

How "Old Town Road" gave us hope without making us cringe, and became our song of the year.

Discussed this week:

Joe Coscarelli, Alexandra Eaton, Will Lloyd, Eden Weingart, Antonio de Luca and Alicia DeSantis. "Diary of a Song — ‘Old Town Road’: See How Memes and Controversy Took Lil Nas X to the Top of the Charts" (The New York Times, May 10, 2019)
Jon Caramanica. "The Short Rise and Long Tail of Lil Nas X" (The New York Times, Jun. 26, 2019)
Jade Jolie
"Shut Up & Sing" (directed by Barbara Kopple and Cecilia Peck, 2006)
BriMalandro.tumblr.com

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2020 Sep 12, 2019

Remember that beer test? It’s not enough. That’s why this election season, we bring you: Still Processing’s Rubric for Leadership and Democratic Excellence.

Discussed this week:

Astead Herndon, Jon Caramanica and Jon Pareles. "What Do Rally Playlists Say About the Candidates?" (The New York Times, Aug. 19, 2019)
Clara Guibourg and Helen Briggs. "Climate change: Which vegan milk is best?" (BBC News, Feb. 22, 2019)
The AP reporter Alexandra Jaffe’s post on Twitter that Senator Kamala Harris drinks oat milk
Matt Flegenheimer and Sydney Ember. "How Amy Klobuchar Treats Her Staff" (The New York Times, Feb. 22, 2019)
Carl Zimmer. "Elizabeth Warren Has a Native American Ancestor. Does That Make Her Native American?" (The New York Times, Oct. 15, 2018)
Adrienne Keene, Rebecca Nagle and Joseph M. Pierce. "Syllabus: Elizabeth Warren, Cherokee Citizenship, and DNA Testing" (Critical Ethnic Studies, Dec. 19, 2018)
Thomas Kaplan. "Elizabeth Warren Apologizes at Native American Forum: ‘I Have Listened and I Have Learned.’" (The New York Times, Aug. 19, 2019)
Matt Stieb. "Where Does Marianne Williamson Actually Stand on Vaccines?" (NYMag, Aug. 4, 2019)
Glenn Thrush. "Obama and Biden’s Relationship Looks Rosy. It Wasn’t Always That Simple." (The New York Times, Aug. 16, 2019)

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Catnip Sep 04, 2019

Still Processing will be back in your ears on Thursday, September 12th.

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Us Mar 28, 2019

We dissect Jordan Peele’s new psychological thriller, “Us,” and discuss the film’s central question (WITHOUT SPOILERS): Are any of us ever truly free from the past?

Also, we’re going on a short hiatus. Happy spring, and we’ll be back in your ears soon.

Discussed this week:

“Us” (directed by Jordan Peele, 2019)
“Suspiria” (directed by Dario Argento, 1977)
“The People Under the Stairs” (directed by Wes Craven, 1991)
“It Follows” (directed by David Robert Mitchell, 2014)
“White Is for Witching” (Helen Oyeyemi, 2014)
“Beloved” (Toni Morrison, 1987)
“Beloved” (directed by Jonathan Demme, 1998)
Jan Svankmajer
“Beloved” (Toni Morrison, audiobook, 2006)
“The Souls of Black Folk” (W.E.B. DuBois, 1903)

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Whoopi Mar 21, 2019

We celebrate Whoopi Goldberg from her days as a boundary-pushing stand-up comedian in the early ’80s to her current role as professional curmudgeon on “The View.”

Discussed this week:

“Whoopi Goldberg” (Ottessa Moshfegh, Garage magazine: Issue 16, Feb. 19, 2019)
“Whoopi Goldberg: Direct From Broadway” (directed by Thomas Schlamme, 1985)
“The Color Purple” (directed by Steven Spielberg, 1985)
“Jumpin’ Jack Flash” (directed by Penny Marshall, 1986)
“Burglar” (directed by Hugh Wilson, 1987)
“Fatal Beauty” (directed by Tom Holland, 1987)
“Clara’s Heart” (directed by Robert Mulligan, 1988)
“Ghost” (directed by Jerry Zucker, 1990)
Whoopi Goldberg winning the best supporting actress Oscar for her role in Ghost (1991)
“Sister Act” (directed by Emile Ardolino, 1992)
“The Fine Print: Danson in the Dark” (Louis Theroux, Spy magazine, February 1994)
“The Associate” (directed by Donald Petrie, 1996)

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Circular(s) Mar 14, 2019

We chat with David Wallace-Wells, climate columnist for New York Magazine, about the limits of individual consumption choices and the necessity of political action to combat climate change.

Discussed this week:

“The Uninhabitable Earth: Life After Warming” (David Wallace-Wells, 2019)

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M.J. Mar 07, 2019

HBO’s “Leaving Neverland” — a two-part documentary that focuses on the stories of two men, James Safechuck and Wade Robson, who allege that Michael Jackson sexually abused them as children — prompts us to wrestle with our love for and discomfort with the pop star. We examine how Jackson seemed to have been culturally exonerated, and we ask what to do with a man whose artistic reach is so profound that “canceling” him — an imperfect way of dealing with problematic artists to begin with — might not even be possible.

Discussed this week:

“How to Support a Friend or Loved One Who Has Been Sexually Abused” (Vanessa Marin, The New York Times, 2019)
“Leaving Neverland” (HBO, 2019)
“Moonwalk” (Michael Jackson, 2009)
“The Oprah Winfrey Show” (ABC, Feb. 10, 1993)
“Living With Michael Jackson” (ITV, 2003)
“On Michael Jackson” (Margo Jefferson, 2006)

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Liars Feb 28, 2019

The Jussie Smollett investigation has captured America’s attention — and ours. We take a look at the support for as well as the doubts about Smollett’s claims, and try to make sense of the charge that Smollett staged his own attack. In an era in which personal trauma and victimhood are often leveraged for cultural capital, we consider the long-term repercussions of the Smollett case.

Discussed this week:

“Jussie Smollett Timeline: Mystery Remains as Actor Is Charged With Faking His Assault” (Sopan Deb, The New York Times, Feb. 17, 2019)
“Lee Daniels Shares Powerful Words for Jussie Smollett After Racist, Homophobic Attack” (Alex Ungerman, ETOnline, Jan. 29, 2019)
April Ryan asks President Trump what he thinks about the alleged attack on Jussie Smollett (C-Span, Jan. 29, 2019)
“Jussie Smollett speaks to Robin Roberts in ABC News exclusive interview” (Good Morning America, Feb. 14, 2019)
“Can the Grammys Please Anyone?” (Ben Sisario, The New York Times, Feb. 7, 2019)
“Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened” (Netflix, 2019)
“Fyre Fraud” (Hulu, 2019)
“Breaking Bad” (AMC, 2008-13)
“Where’s All This Energy for the Attacks on Black Transgender Women?” (Raquel Willis, Out, Jan. 31, 2019)
“At the Dark End of the Street: Black Women, Rape, and Resistance — A New History of the Civil Rights Movement From Rosa Parks to the Rise of Black Power” (Danielle L. McGuire, 2011)
“Prada, Gucci and now Burberry: Are brands under fire for offensive designs doing it on purpose?” (Rachel Leah, Salon, Feb 20. 2019)
“Former Goucher Student Faces Four Counts of Hate Crime Charges for Racist Graffiti” (WJZ, Dec. 5, 2018)
“Revisiting a Rape Scandal That Would Have Been Monstrous if True” (Retro Report, The New York Times, June 3, 2013)
“Why You Always Lying” (Nicholas Fraser, Sept. 14, 2015)

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Fantasies Feb 21, 2019

With the Academy Awards right around the corner, we take a look back at some previous Best Picture winners. When these winning films were about race, they often highlighted a feel-good racial reconciliation fantasy. But about 30 years ago, there was one movie that was snubbed at the Oscars — “Do the Right Thing” — that is anything but a feel-good racial reconciliation fantasy. We revisit how “Do the Right Thing” showcased realities about race in America in ways that none of the current Oscar nominees — including Spike Lee’s “BlacKkKlansman” — do, and why it matters.

Discussed this week:

“Green Book” (directed by Peter Farrelly, 2018)
“Forrest Gump” (directed by Robert Zemeckis, 1994)
“Crash” (directed by Paul Haggis, 2004)
“Driving Miss Daisy” (directed by Bruce Beresford, 1989)
“BlacKkKlansman” (directed by Spike Lee, 2018)
Kim Basinger going off-script at the 1990 Academy Awards
“Do the Right Thing” (directed by Spike Lee, 1989)

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Becoming Feb 14, 2019

"Becoming," the best-selling memoir by the former first lady, Michelle Obama, is a study in what happens when the ways we see ourselves don't always line up with the ways that society sees us. In reading about her journey from high-achieving, self-possessed child in Chicago to the fraught glamour of her life in the White House, we marvel at the ways she balanced herself and her image in service of the country. And we discuss how Michelle Obama's memoir fits into a powerful lineage of black women navigating entirely new circumstances with curiosity, strength and grace.

Discussed this week:

“Becoming” (Michelle Obama, 2019)
Beyoncé singing “At Last” at Barack Obama’s 2008 inauguration
“Lean In” (Sheryl Sandberg, 2013)
“Complete Writings: Phillis Wheatley” (Phillis Wheatley, 2001)
“Thick: And Other Essays” (Dr. Tressie McMillan Cottom, 2019)
“Eloquent Rage: A Black Feminist Discovers Her Superpower” (Dr. Brittney Cooper, 2018)
“Emergent Strategy: Shaping Change, Changing Worlds” (adrienne maree brown, 2017)

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Joy Feb 07, 2019

Inspired by Netflix’s “Tidying Up With Marie Kondo,” we decide to KonMari Wesley’s Brooklyn apartment. We ask ourselves what sparks joy in our lives and examine whether Marie Kondo’s philosophy extends into the metaphysical realm.

Discussed this week:

"Tidying Up with Marie Kondo" (Netflix, 2019)
"The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing" (Marie Kondo, 2014)
"The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning: How to Free Yourself and Your Family from a Lifetime of Clutter" (Margareta Magnusson, 2017)

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Reality Jan 31, 2019

We now live in an era where people can choose to believe whatever they want to believe, regardless of proof or evidence. From the Laquan McDonald trial to the film “Green Book” to R. Kelly’s song “I Believe I Can Fly” to the Nick Sandmann/Nathan Phillips encounter at the Lincoln Memorial, we wrestle with the ways that reality is contested, both personally and politically.

Discussed this week:

"Jason Van Dyke Sentenced to Nearly 7 Years for Murdering Laquan McDonald" (Mitch Smith and Julie Bosman, The New York Times, Jan. 18, 2019)
"Who is America?" (Showtime, 2018)
"Green Book" (directed by Peter Farrelly, 2018)
"Why Do the Oscars Keep Falling for Racial Reconciliation Fantasies?" (Wesley Morris, The New York Times, Jan. 23, 2019)
"Surviving R. Kelly" (Lifetime, 2019)
The Nick Sandmann/Nathan Phillips encounter at the Lincoln Memorial (Jan. 25, 2019)

Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Relations Jan 24, 2019

The new Netflix show “Sex Education” feels so refreshing because for the longest time, there has been a dearth of cultural properties that specifically deal withthe realities of sex. Sure, there’s sex in film and TV, but in recent history, there has been an absence of content that treats sex (and the complicated feelings that it can bring up) not as an aside, but as the main event. From “Fatal Attraction” to “Sex and the City” to “Knocked Up” to “Black Panther,” we trace the history — on screen and off — of how we went from lots of bad sex to no sex to hopefully some good sex moving forward.

Discussed this week:

"Sex Education" (created by Laurie Nunn, 2019)
"Fatal Attraction" (directed by Adrian Lyne, 2019)
"Basic Instinct" (directed by Paul Verhoeven, 1992)
"Color of Night" (directed by Richard Rush, 1994)
"The Witches of Eastwick" (directed by George Miller, 1987)
"Sex and the City" (created by Darren Star, 1998-2004)
Bill Clinton denying his sexual relationship with Monica Lewinsky (1998)
"Knocked Up" (directed by Judd Apatow, 2007)
"X-Men" (directed by Bryan Singer, 2000)
"Black Panther" (directed by Ryan Coogler, 2018)

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Kaepernick Jan 17, 2019

Last fall, Nike released a groundbreaking ad featuring the former N.F.L. quarterback Colin Kaepernick. His kneeling protest, which started in 2016 as a response to police brutality, was reinterpreted by social media, celebrities and Nike itself to mean something that doesn’t always match the intention of his original protest. So what does it say that a multinational corporation has aligned itself with a social movement? And are we O.K. with this form of “Kaepitalism”?

Discussed this week:

"Samson et Dalila" at the Metropolitan Opera
Jennifer Lee Chan’s tweet showing Colin Kaepernick not standing for the national anthem (Aug. 27, 2016)
Colin Kaepernick explaining why he won’t stand for the national anthem (Aug. 28, 2016)
"Colin Kaepernick and the Question of Who Gets to Be Called a 'Patriot'" (Wesley Morris, The New York Times Magazine, Sept. 12, 2016)
Nike’s ad featuring Colin Kaepernick (September 2018)
"Nike’s Colin Kaepernick ad sparked a boycott — and earned $6 billion for Nike" (Alex Abad-Santos, Vox, Sept. 24, 2018)
"This Could Be the Next Step for the New, Socially Conscious Nike" (Sarah Spellings, The Cut, Sept. 6, 2018)
"Nike Is Facing a New Wave of Anti-Sweatshop Protests" (Marc Bain, Quartz, Aug. 1, 2017)

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Apology Jan 10, 2019

New year, new season.

Kevin Hart. Ellen. Brett Kavanaugh. We live in an age of #SorryNotSorry, prevalent in our pop culture and woven into the fabric of our nation’s founding. But how can we grow into the people we want to become when we can’t acknowledge our mistakes and the effect that they've had on others? We invite you to start off 2019 with an apology.

Discussed this week:

Christine Blasey Ford’s testimony at the Kavanaugh confirmation hearing (2018)
“I Won’t Back Down” (Tom Petty, 1989)
“Ms. Jackson” (OutKast, 2000)
“All Apologies” (Nirvana, 1993)
“Sorry” (Beyoncé, 2016)
“Poltergeist” (directed by Tobe Hooper, 1982)
“The Best Man” (directed by Malcom D. Lee, 1999)
Dan Harmon’s apology on the Harmontown podcast (Jan. 10, 2018)
Kevin Hart’s non-apology on Instagram (Dec. 6, 2018)
Kevin Hart’s appearance on Ellen (Jan. 4, 2019)
“The Apology of Socrates” (Plato, translated by Benjamin Jowett)
“I’m Sorry” (Brenda Lee, 1960)

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Questions Dec 20, 2018

Buckle up, babies. Still Processing returns on Thursday, January 10th.

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We R-E-S-P-E-C-T Aretha Franklin Aug 30, 2018

This week we pay our respects to the late, great Aretha Franklin. A legendary singer, writer, arranger, pianist, performer and more, Ms. Franklin channeled both the difficult and beautiful aspects of American culture to make the songs that have scored our lives. From her breakout hit “Respect,” to her performance of “Dr. Feelgood” at Fillmore West in San Francisco, to her rendition of “My Country, ’Tis of Thee” at former President Barack Obama’s first inauguration, she left a legacy of virtuosity and swagger that will live on — both online and off.

We’ll be taking some time off, but you can expect us back in your headphones sometime in the fall.

"Respect" (Aretha Franklin, 1967)
"Respect" (Otis Redding, 1964)
"I Never Loved a Man [the Way I Love You]" (Aretha Franklin, 1967)
"Dr. Feelgood" - Live at Fillmore West (Aretha Franklin, 1971)
"Think" (Aretha Franklin, 1967)
"Think" - The Blues Brothers version (Aretha Franklin, 1980)
"Rocksteady" (Aretha Franklin, 1972)
Aretha Franklin performing "My Country, 'Tis of Thee" at former president Barack Obama's first inauguration (January 20, 2009)
Aretha Franklin performing "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" at the 2015 Kennedy Center Honors
"A Different World" theme song (1988)

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We Spy Two BlacKkKlansmen — and One is Omarosa Aug 23, 2018

This week, we realize we have two black klansmen on our hands — one on the big screen in the form of Spike Lee's new film "BlacKkKlansman," and one on the small screen in the form of America's most notorious reality show villain turned ex-White House employee, Omarosa Manigault Newman. Both the film and person showcase black people infiltrating hostile white institutions and coming out the other side to tell us about it. We question, however, if the message they're bringing us was worth the journey.

Discussed this week:

"BlacKkKlansman" (directed by Spike Lee, 2018)
"Unhinged: An Insider's Account of the Trump White House" (Omarosa Manigault Newman, Gallery Books, 2018)
"The Apprentice" (NBC, 2004)
"Donald J. Trump Presents The Ultimate Merger" (TV One, 2010)
"The Bitch Switch: Knowing How to Turn It On and Off" (Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth, Phoenix Books, Inc., 2008)

Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

We Got Goop'd Aug 16, 2018

This week, our friend and colleague, Taffy Akner, chats with us about her viral article, "How Goop’s Haters Made Gwyneth Paltrow’s Company Worth $250 Million." We trace some similarities and differences between Gwyneth and fellow mogul, Oprah, and ask why the wellness industry, ironically, can make us feel bad. Taffy helps us understand how oftentimes, when our current healthcare systems fail to take the pain and suffering of women and gender non-conforming people seriously, Goop can offer a seductive alternative — that comes at a price.

Discussed this week:

"How Goop’s Haters Made Gwyneth Paltrow’s Company Worth $250 Million" (Taffy Akner, The New York Times Magazine, July 25, 2018)
"Our First Podcast: GP Sits Down with Oprah" (The Goop Podcast, March 8, 2018)

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We Give You Our Summer Faves Aug 09, 2018

This week, we celebrate summer and present to you our 2018 Summer Faves. From tech to treats, tunes to TV, and of course, summer looks, we make some recommendations to help you live your best life in these warmer months.

Special thanks to James McCombe of Maple Street Creative and Taylor Wizner for remote recording support.

Discussed this week:

Native Land app (by Victor Temprano, 2015)
"Mission: Impossible — Fallout" (directed by Christopher McQuarrie, 2018)
"Vida" (Starz, 2018)
"Freeway of Love" (Aretha Franklin, "Who's Zoomin' Who?", 1985)
"Lucid Dreams" (Juice WRLD, "Goodbye & Good Riddance," 2018)
"Afro-Harping" (Dorothy Ashby, 1968)
"The greatest five-minute tomato pasta on earth" (Francis Lam, Salon, 2010)
"A burger, but better" (Samin Nosrat, The New York Times Magazine, 2018)

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We Blaxplain Blaxplaining Aug 02, 2018

This week, we trace the evolution of black American cinema from blaxploitation in the 1970s to what we’re calling "blaxplaining" in 2018. While blaxploitation sought to showcase black actors in dramatic, action-packed films, today’s blaxplaining centers on the challenges of being black in America. We examine three films — "The Hate U Give," "Blindspotting" and "Sorry to Bother You" — and ask if they accurately depict aspects of contemporary black life, or instead merely seek to make some black experiences more palatable to white audiences.

Discussed this week:

"The Hate U Give" (directed by George Tillman Jr., 2018)
"Blindspotting" (directed by Carlos López Estrada, 2018)
"Sorry to Bother You" (directed by Boots Riley, 2018)
"Coffy" (directed by Jack Hill, 1973)
"Slaves" (directed by Herbert Biberman, 1969)
"Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song" (directed by Melvin Van Peebles, 1971)
"The Devil Finds Work" (by James Baldwin, 1976)
"Lady Sings the Blues" (directed by Sidney J. Furie, 1972)
"Mandingo" (directed by Richard Fleischer, 1975)
"Jaws" (directed by Steven Spielberg, 1975)
"Hammer" (directed by Bruce Clark, 1972)
"Truck Turner" (directed by Jonathan Kaplan, 1974)
"Shaft" (directed by Gordon Parks, 1971)
"Blacula" (directed by William Crain, 1972)
"Proud Mary" (directed by Babak Najafi, 2018)
"The Equalizer 2" (directed by Antoine Fuqua, 2018)
"White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism" (Robin DiAngelo, Beacon Press, 2018)
"Super Fly" (directed by Gordon Parks Jr., 1972)
"Dr. Black, Mr. Hyde" (Directed by William Crain, 1976)
"Cotton Comes to Harlem" (Directed by Ossie Davis, 1970)
"Mahogany" (Directed by Berry Gordy, 1975)
"Dancing in the Moonlight" (Still Processing, 2016)

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We Heard Lauryn Hill, But Did We Listen? Jul 26, 2018

It’s the 20th anniversary of the release of Ms. Lauryn Hill’s 5-time Grammy-winning debut solo album, “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.” Still very much a part of our contemporary musical landscape — being sampled by everyone from Drake to Cardi B to Kanye — her prophecies on fame, artistry and the music industry reflect her own career trajectory and serve as a cautionary tale for other artists on the rise. We take a closer look at “Miseducation,” alongside her follow-up “MTV Unplugged No. 2.0” album, and try to understand both her meteoric rise, and what she means when she says it “all falls down.”

Discussed this week:

“The Score” (The Fugees, 1996)
“The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” (Lauryn Hill, 1998)
“MTV Unplugged No. 2.0” (Lauryn Hill, 2002)
“Ooo Baby Baby” (Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, “Smokey Robinson and the Miracles LIVE!,” 1969)
"They Won't Go When I Go" (Stevie Wonder, "Fulfillingness' First Finale," 1974)
“All Falls Down” (Kanye West, “The College Dropout,” 2004)
“Dave Chappelle’s Block Party” (Directed by Michel Gondry, 2006)

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We Can't Burn It All Down (Even Though Sometimes We Want To) Jul 19, 2018

Jenna's back in New York after spending last week at the Tin House Summer Workshop in Portland, Oregon. An explosive moment at the workshop prompted us to consider what it means for an institution — from a writing workshop to a TV network to a social media platform — to really commit itself to inclusion, and whether inclusion is even enough.

Discussed this week:

Tin House Summer Workshop
"The Danger of a Single Story" (Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, TED, 2009)
"Oscars 2016: Here's why the nominees are so white — again" (Rebecca Keegan and Steven Zeitchik, The Los Angeles Times, 2016)
"Hannah Gadsby: Nanette" (Netflix, 2018)
"A Canadian Museum Promotes Indigenous Art. But Don’t Call It ‘Indian.’" (Ted Loos, The New York Times Magazine, 2018)

Correction: In this episode, the story read by Wells Tower that was the subject of controversy at the Tin House Summer Workshop was misidentified as having appeared in "Everything Ravaged, Everything Burned," a collection of short stories. The piece in question was a nonfiction article, "Own Goal," published in Harper's Magazine in 2010.

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We Choose Our Own Families Jul 12, 2018

This week, we take a deep dive into "Pose," Ryan Murphy's new show on FX, and unpack the role of queer chosen families in pop culture. We dissect some of our favorite scenes — featuring Blanca Abundance Evangelista (Mj Rodriguez), Elektra Abundance (Dominique Jackson), and Angel (Indya Moore) — and celebrate the nuanced stories told of queer and trans characters of color by queer and trans people of color. Are we free to create chosen families that support who we are and who we're trying to be, or are we destined to replicate the burdens and blessings of our biological families?

Discussed this week:

"Far From the Tree" (dir: Rachel Dretzin, 2018)
"Won't You Be My Neighbor?" (dir: Morgan Neville, 2018)
"Whitney" (dir: Kevin MacDonald, 2018)
"Review: ‘Whitney,’ a Pop Music Tragedy, Is Sad, Strange and Dismaying" (Wesley Morris, The New York Times, July 5, 2018)
"Three Identical Strangers" (dir: Tim Wardel, 2018)
"Whack World" (Tierra Whack, 2018)
"Pose" (FX, 2018)
"Queer Eye" (Netflix, 2018)
"My House" (Viceland, 2018)

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Asian-Americans Talk About Racism, and We Listen - Part 2 Jul 05, 2018

It’s the second installment of our two-part series on anti-Asian racism. Once again, we hand over the mics to our Asian-American colleagues, friends and listeners to hear about their experiences with dating, work and more as they relate to race and identity. We hear varied and nuanced perspectives — from the writer Jen Choi, the musician Simon Tam, the podcaster Andrew Ti and others — on what it feels like to be a part of the diverse community of Asian-Americans, which makes up almost 6 percent of the United States population. If you haven’t already, check out last week’s episode for Part 1 of this series.

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Asian-Americans Talk About Racism, and We Listen - Part 1 Jun 28, 2018

This week and next, we’re doing something different. After witnessing an awful instance of anti-Asian racism at a movie theater, we couldn’t stop thinking about how this type of racism is rampant in American culture, both on the screen and off. At first, we wanted to talk about it. But then, we realized that we needed to listen.

For the next two episodes, we hand the microphones over to our Asian-American colleagues, friends and listeners to hear about their experiences with racism. From Pablo Torre (of ESPN) to Emily Yoshida (of Vulture) to Parul Sehgal (of The Times) and more, we hear about childhood traumas, politicization, pop culture and hierarchies of oppression as they relate to Asian-American identity. The ideas are varied and complicated, conflicting and nuanced — which makes sense for a hugely diverse community that makes up almost 6 percent of the American population. We’ll bring you the second part of this two-part series next week.

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We Louvre The Carters Jun 21, 2018

Beyonce and Jay-Z. Donald and Melania. Kim and Kanye. Harry and Meghan. We're compelled by the performance of marriage in culture. And with The Carters' new surprise album, "Everything Is Love," we wonder what it means for our beloved Beyonce -- and Jay-Z -- to position their marriage as a black cultural institution -- akin to the Huxtables or the Obamas -- that everyone should believe in. From writing their legacy into The Louvre in their "Apes**t" video to documenting the turmoil and triumph of their relationship in "Lovehappy," The Carters remind us that marriage, like everything, is performance -- and that matters.

Discussed this week:

"Everything is Love" (The Carters, 2018)
Zerina Akers' Instagram
Vince Aletti's Interview with Madonna in Aperture 156 (Summer 1999)
Deana Lawson, Photographer
John Edmonds, Photographer
Carrie Mae Weems, Photographer
"Consecration of the Emperor Napoleon I and Coronation of the Empress Josephine in the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris on 2 December 1804" (Jacques-Louis David)

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We Need Bad Women Jun 14, 2018

After watching the blockbuster hit "Ocean’s 8" and BBC America’s cat-and-mouse drama "Killing Eve," we noticed some similarities in these leading women - they’re all “bad.” They’re indulgent and driven. They care about their work more than your feelings. They perform for each other more than they do for men (do they even perform for men?). They’re complicated and that’s why we like them. So we wonder: is our current cultural climate — specifically around this #MeToo moment — making space for more dynamic women characters?

Discussed this week:

Philadelphia Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins uses signs to advocate for criminal justice reform

Actor Ari'el Stachel delivers moving speech at the 72nd annual Tony Awards

"The Man Behind the Music of 'Broad City'" (Stacey Anderson, The New York Times, March 22, 2016)

"This is America” (Childish Gambino, 2018)

"All Mine" (Kanye West, 2018)

"Why 'You are loved' & 'please reach out' are crappy things to post after someone has died by suicide" (Deanna Zandt, Medium, June 8, 2018)

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - 800-273-8255

"Dykes to Watch Out For" (Alison Bechdel, 1983-2008)

"Ocean's 8" (dir: Gary Ross, Warner Bros., 2018)

"Killing Eve" (Sid Gentle Films, 2018)

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We Wouldn't Leave Kanye, But Should We? Jun 07, 2018

Almost one week after Kanye West released his eighth studio album, "Ye," we wonder what to do with artists who displease us. Going back to 2004, we take a closer look at Kanye, the artist, who questioned the role of higher education, called out former president George Bush after Hurricane Katrina on live television, and publicly grieved over the untimely death of his mother. We also examine Kanye, the problem, and try to understand how the same person who seemed to champion black solidarity in the early 2000s is now calling slavery a choice and aligning himself with President Trump. From "The College Dropout" to "808s & Heartbreak" to "Yeezus" to "Ye," we've kept listening to Kanye, but we ask ourselves: what will make us stop?

Discussed this week:

"Ivanka Trump, Samantha Bee, and the Strange Path of an Ancient Epithet" (Katy Waldman, The New Yorker, June 1, 2018)
Rebecca Traister's tweets about Samantha Bee calling Ivanka Trump the C-word (2018)
"Running Up That Hill" (Kate Bush, 1985)
"The Man Who Ate Everything" (Jeffrey Steingarten, 1998)
"Julián is a Mermaid" (Jessica Love, 2018)
"O Superman" (Laurie Anderson, 1982)
Kanye's comments about former president George Bush after Hurricane Katrina (MTV, 2005)
"Ye" (Kanye West, 2018)
"The Life of Pablo" (Kanye West, 2016)
"Yeezus" (Kanye West, 2013)
"My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" (Kanye West, 2010)
"808s & Heartbreak" (Kanye West, 2008)
"Graduation" (Kanye West, 2007)
"Late Registration" (Kanye West, 2005)
"The College Dropout" (Kanye West, 2004)

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We're Here For Your Anger, Jessica Walter May 31, 2018

When actor Jessica Walter said fellow co-star Jeffrey Tambor verbally harassed her on the set of "Arrested Development," the show’s lead, Jason Bateman, jumped to Tambor’s defense -- and we noticed. This week, we suss out what this interaction -- documented in sound -- shows us about the subtle and not-so-subtle ways that we're taught to minimize the experiences of women. We juxtapose Jessica Walter's quiet, composed anger with Asia Argento's seething indictment at Cannes, and interrogate the stakes that make women -- and other marginalized groups -- temper their rage. What would happen if our culture allowed these groups to more fully occupy their anger?

Plus, we talk about the cancellation of ABC's "Roseanne," because even though on some level justice has been done, we're still mad.

Discussed this week:

"'Reparations Happy Hour' Invites White People to Pay for Drinks" (Daniel Victor, The New York Times, 26 May 2018)
"El Anillo" (Jennifer Lopez, 2018)
"Shades of Blue" (Kelsey Lu, 2018)
Agnes Varda and Cate Blanchett at Cannes 2018
Asia Argento at Cannes 2018
"'Arrested Development:' We Sat Down With the Cast. It Got Raw." (Sopan Deb, The New York Times, 23 May 2018)

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We’re Queer - and Apparently So Is Everybody Else May 24, 2018

With Rita Ora, Janelle Monáe, Kehlani – and even fictional characters like Lando Calrissian – embracing bisexuality, pansexuality, queerness, and more, we wonder: what does it mean to publicly declare your sexual identity as something outside the gay/straight binary in 2018? And what did these declarations look like in the 80s and 90s, when we were growing up? We compare the sincereloneliness of R.E.M.'s "Losing My Religion" to the frustrating inauthenticity of Rita Ora's "Girls," and celebrate the thoughtful portrayal of the queer relationship featured in the new film, Disobedience. Plus, we break down what's wrong with sex scenes between women – with the hope that directors and cinematographers take note – becausedepictions of non-binary sexualities should reflect the humanity of the people who occupy them.

Discussed this week:

"The Hand That Robs the Cradle" (Ellen; Season 1, Episode 6; 1994)
"Girls" (Rita Ora feat. Cardi B, Bebe Rexha, and Charlie XCX, 2018)
"PYNK" (Janelle Monáe, 2018)
"Curious" (Hayley Kiyoko, 2018)
Kehlani's Tweets about her sexuality (2018)
Kristen Stewart's SNL monologue (NBC, 2017)
Disobedience (dir: Sebastián Lelio, Braven Films, 2017)
"Losing My Religion" (R.E.M., 1991)
Cruel Intentions(dir: Roger Kumble, Columbia Pictures, 1999)
Blue is the Warmest Color (dir: Abdellatif Kechiche, Quat'sous Films, 2013)

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We Unpack Black Male Privilege May 17, 2018

This week, shortly after multi-hyphenate artist Donald Glover blew up the internet with the video for his song "This is America," Wesley and guest host Rembert Browne (New York Magazine, Grantland) explore Glover's career, and how he evolved from a likable comedian to a cultural provocateur and authority on blackness. We like Glover's brain and the music and TV he is making, but we also wonder about the speed with which he's been anointed a "genius." Who gets left out when we apply that label so liberally to men? What do women have to do to be considered geniuses? More specifically, why aren't we using that term for black women? And is there such a thing as black male privilege?

Jenna will be back next week.

Discussed this week:

Magic Mike XXL (Warner Bros., 2015)
"I'm Not Black, I'm Kanye" (Ta-Nehisi Coates, The Atlantic)
"This is America" (Childish Gambino)
"That Hump" (Erykah Badu)
"How I Got Over" (Aretha Franklin)
"For a Black Artist to Win Album of the Year, They Have to Make an Album of the Decade" (Rembert Browne, Vulture)
"Miss Independent" (Ne-Yo)

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We Watch Whiteness Apr 26, 2018

This week we're talking about white culture, and what it is trying to tell us about itself on TV, at the movies and in books. We're noticing that white people are anxious--consciously and unconsciously--about their place in the world, and it's fascinating to unpack. First, we look at the new season of Roseanne, a show that explicitly embraces its whiteness and thumbs its nose at anyone who would challenge that. Then, we talk about the hit horror movie A Quiet Place, which explores dystopia in a way that reveals submerged white fears of a brown invasion (we liked the craft of the movie a lot, but it’s got some problems it’s not aware of). We pose the question: what would a self-aware interrogation of being white look like?

Plus, we celebrate JaVale McGee's incomparable stank face, worry about Kanye's tweets (we recorded this episode before his most recent tweets in support of Trump, which we'll have to address another time), and bring you our very first nominee for Song of the Summer...!

One last thing: we're bringing the show to Australia, and we'll be back with new episodes in a couple weeks. Till then, keep stuntin'! Keep shinin'!

Discussed this week:

JaVale McGee (NBA player, Golden State Warriors)

"The Legacy of Childhood Trauma" (Junot Diaz, The New Yorker)

"I Like It" (Cardi B, Bad Bunny and J. Balvin)

Kanye's recent tweets

Roseanne (ABC)

A Quiet Place (directed by John Krasinski)

White Trash: The 400-Year Untold History of Class in America (Nancy Isenberg, Penguin Books)

Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis (JD Vance, HarperCollins)

Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City (Matthew Desmond, Broadway Books)

Green (Sam Graham-Felsen, Random House)

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We Talk BeyChella Apr 19, 2018

We were so blown away by Beyoncé’s performance at the Coachella music festival that we decided to scrap our previous plans and dedicate this week’s entire episode to it. We think her performance will go down in the annals of American pop music as one of the greatest live shows ever.

We close read some of our favorite moments, including her beautiful rendition of the black national anthem, “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing,” and how she turns the swag surf into a dance for royalty. And we talk about the ways Beyoncé continues to shape-shift and grow as an artist, reinterpreting her own musical catalogue and making it richer, more sonorous and more black. We think about the ways black American music has always been misappropriated, and the ingenious way Beyoncé is pushing against that history, making music so skillful it can’t ever be replicated.

Discussed This Week:

“Kendrick Lamar Wins Pulitzer in ‘Big Moment for Hip-Hop’” (Joe Coscarelli, The New York Times)

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We Get It On (With Ourselves) Apr 12, 2018

As a break from the onslaught of traumatic news, this week we're talking about what makes us feel good about ourselves. Really good. We start by exploring what has been lost with the recent closure of Craiglist's personal ads section: a unique place, so distinct from Tinder or Grindr or Bumble, where you could search honestly for your own sexiness. Then we share some our personal tips for maintaining and nurturing that feeling once you find it. Finally we jam out to some of our all-time favorite songs of seduction, from k.d. lang to Beyoncé to Cardi B, and explain why exactly they make us feel the way they do. And finally, here’s a link to all of our favorite jams to turn it up by yourself: Still Processing Presents: The Autoerotica Mix (Spotify).

Discussed This Week:

The Magicians (SyFy)

“We need to talk about how Grindr is affecting gay men’s health” (Jack Turban, Vox)

“‘I Am Super Straight and I Prefer You be Too’: Constructions of Heterosexual Masculinity in Online Personal Ads for “Straight” Men Seeking Sex With Men” (Chelsea Reynolds, Sage Journals)

“Missed Connections: Craigslist Drops Personal Ads Because of Sex Trafficking Bill” (Niraj Chokshi, The New York Times)

“A Field Guide to Getting Lost” (Rebecca Solnit, Penguin Books)

“Sexiness: Rituals, Revisions and Reconstructions” (Tamara Santibanez, Discipline Press)

Still Processing Presents: The Autoerotica Mix (Spotify)

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We Celebrate the REAL MLK Day Apr 05, 2018

This week, we commemorate the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s death. While MLK’s birthday is celebrated on a national level, we spend time processing why his death holds a significant importance as well. We examine the months leading up to MLK Jr.’s death, including his iconic speech, “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop,” and discuss the ways in which his ideals shifted after his “I Had A Dream” speech. MLK day is a celebration of King’s birthday, and we suggest that maybe what we should really be marking is the day of his assassination.

Discussed This Week:

“My Life with Martin Luther King Jr.” (Coretta Scott King, Henry Holt & Co.)

“They Push. They Protest. And Many Activists, Privately, Suffer As A Result” (John Eligon, The New York Times)

“Linda Brown, Symbol of Landmark Desegregation Case, Dies at 75” (Neil Genzlinger, The New York Times)

A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches of Martin Luther King Jr. (Martin Luther King Jr., HarperCollins Publishers)

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We’re Maxed Out, You’re Maxed Out, Everybody Is Maxed Out Mar 29, 2018

This week we're talking about why we're stressed out, why the country is stressed out, and whether anxiety has become a permanent condition. We consider the role technology has played in driving us to this point, from push alerts — so many push alerts — to Twitter to the "algorithmic gaze." Then we come back to culture and focus on a few works that either encapsulate the chaos of 2018 or offer a possible path for moving ahead.

Discussed This Week:

“Pony” (Genuwine)

“The Middle” (Zedd, Maren Morris, Grey)

“The Comfort in Stockpiling Dried Beans” (Tejal Rao, The New York Times Magazine)

“The Man Who Knew Too Little” (Sam Dolnick, The New York Times)

Annihilation (Paramount Pictures)

“Southern Reach Trilogy” (Jeff VanderMeer, Farrar, Straus and Giroux)

Ready Player One (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Downsizing (Paramount Pictures)

Angels in America (Tony Kushner)

Angels in America (miniseries; HBO)

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We Love Aunties Mar 22, 2018

This week we pay homage to aunties, in our own lives, in politics, and in pop culture. But first we have to define what an aunty is, so we play a little game called "Aunty or Nah-nty," naming aunty candidates from television shows and movies to refine our criteria for who is and isn't one. We examine the historical relevance of aunties, and think about portrayals of women who are not-quite-our mothers, fiercely independent and repositories for our secrets. Can the "aunty" label be a caricature, or is it strictly an honor? Have on-screen "aunties" changed the way we view childless women in our culture? And can white women be aunties?

Discussed This Week:

Mystic Pizza (The Samuel Goldwyn Company)

“Snapchat Lost $800 Million After Rihanna Criticized Its Offensive Ad” (Emma Stefansky, Vanity Fair)

“LGBTQ Brazillian Councilwoman Assainated” (Saurav Jung Thapa, HRC)

“Bridging The Racial Divide in a Middle School Friendship” (Jonathan Miles, The New York Times)

“Lionel Richie Wants to Teach You How to Be a Real ‘American Idol’” (Alex Pappademas, The New York Times)

Eve’s Bayou (Trimark Pictures)

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We Don’t Love Everything Made By Black People and That’s OK? Mar 15, 2018

This week, we discuss "A Wrinkle in Time," Ava DuVernay's attempt to take the audience on a magical adventure with Meg Murray as she searches for her father through multiple universes. Our time traveling experience ... wasn’t as magical as we hoped. But this is good news. We explain why the film's shortcomings do not impact the upward trajectory of Ava DuVernay career or black filmmaking in general, but actually work to highlight the progress of black filmmakers and encourage black artists to take bigger risks. We dive deep into what it means to criticize black works of art and express what gets lost when we decide it’s beyond criticism.

Discussed this week:

O.J. Simpson described ‘blood and stuff’ in hypothetical scenario (Jean Casarez, CNN)

“How to raise a Boy; I’m not sure what to think about what my dad tried to teach me. So what should I teach my sons?” (New York Magazine, Will Leitch)

Fathers and Sons and Privilege (The Brian Lehrer Show, WNYC Studios)

“In My View” - Young Fathers

“For Decades, Our Coverage Was Racist. To Rise Above Our Past, We Must Acknowledge It” (National Geographic, Susan Goldberg)

A Wrinkle in Time (Madeleine L’Engle, Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1962)

A Wrinkle in Time (Walt Disney Studios)

Black Panther (Marvel Studios)

“The Sounds, Space And Spirit of ‘Selma’: A Director’s Take” (NPR, Fresh Air)

“Black Kids Don’t Want to Read About Harriet Tubman All the Time” (The New York Times, Denene Millner)

Lemonade (Beyonce, Parkwood Entertainment)

Mapping the Margins: Intersectionality, Identity Politics, and Violence against Women of Color (Kimberly Crenshaw, 1991)

Small Doses with Amanda Seales (Starburns Audio)

How To Get Away With Murder (ABC)

Scandal (ABC)

Mo’Nique Calls For Netflix Boycott Over Alleged Gender and Race Pay Disparity (Deadline, Dino-Ray Ramos)

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We Paint the Town Obama Mar 08, 2018

We went to the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C. to look at the recently installed portraits of Barack and Michelle Obama. The paintings--Barack's by Kehinde Wiley, Michelle's by Amy Sherald--prompted both rapture and controversy when they were unveiled in February, and we wanted to see them in person to try to evaluate our own responses. As we traveled through the gallery from George Washington to Obama, we discussed what portraits can tell us about presidential power. And then we lingered at Barack and Michelle's portraits, admiring their beauty, trying to decipher their meaning, and allowing ourselves to be deeply moved. Come linger with us.

Discussed this week:

“MoviePass launches a new division to acquire and distribute movies” (Lizzie Plaugic, The Verge)

“Jordan Peele’s X-Ray Vision” (Wesley Morris, The New York Times)

“Jordan Peele Dedicates Original Screenplay Oscar To Those ‘Who Raised My Voice’” (Dawn C. Chmielewski, Deadline)

“What’s An Inclusion Rider? Here’s The Story Behind Frances McDormand’s Closing Words” (Colin Dwyer, NPR)

“Tiffany Haddish and Maya Rudolph, 2019 Oscar Hosts?” (Sopan Deb, The New York Times)

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We Want To Know What Love Is Mar 01, 2018

This week, we examine four of the Best Picture Oscar-nominated films—“Call Me By Your Name”, “Get Out”, “Shape of Water”, and “Phantom Thread”—to ask whether we are entering a new phase of romance films. By diverging from conventional norms and stereotypes, these films have created on-screen relationships that are reminiscent of our own relationships. We then look to the history of romantic dramas and comedies to see how this new version of romance-on-screen came to be and what it potentially communicates about the way men and women are relating to one another.

Discussed this week:

“Why the Trump administration's new SNAP proposal is hard to swallow” (Devra First, Boston Globe)

Janelle Monae - Make Me Feel

Maybe It’s You - The Friend Zone Podcast

The Shape of Water (Fox Searchlight Pictures)

Phantom Thread (Focus Features)

Get Out (Universal Pictures)

Call Me By Your Name (Sony Pictures Classics)

“Luca Guadagnino Had a Good Reason for Not Showing the Sex Scene in ‘Call Me By Your Name’” (Jude Dry, Indiewire)

Gone With the Wind (Loew’s Inc.)

Beyond Borders (Paramount Pictures)

The English Patient (Miramax Films)

Blade Runner 2049 (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Ingrid Goes West (Neon)

Wonder Woman (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Thelma (SF Studios)

Leap Year (Universal Pictures)

Pillow Talk (Universal-International)

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We Take the 15:17 All the Way to Pyeongchang Feb 22, 2018

This week we're looking for a thread running through three seemingly disparate moments: the release of Clint Eastwood's new film "The 15:17 to Paris," the Olympics in South Korea, and the tragic death of 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. We use these events to discuss how culture can act as a smokescreen for reality and a way to avoid our fears. Plus: Jenna defends her surprising position that spoilers are actually good.

Discussed this week:

Queer Eye (Netflix)

Alt.Latino (NPR)

“Emma González Leads a Student Outcry on Guns: ‘This is the Way I Have to Grieve’” (Julie Turkewitz, Matt Stevens and Jason M. Bailey, The New York Times)

“Whole Lot of BS” Funkadelic (Maggot Brain, 1971)

"Fergie’s National Anthem Draws Criticism" (ESPN)

“Letter of Recommendation: Spoilers” (Jenna Wortham, The New York Times Magazine)

“The Sixth Sense” (Hollywood Pictures)

“On the Evolution of Hollywood Films” (James Cutting, Cornell University, 2010)

“Pulp Fiction” (Miramax)

"The 15:17 to Paris" (Warner Bros. Pictures)

“American Sniper” (Warner Bros. Pictures)

“Sully” (Flashlight Films)

GOP Rep. Brian Mast on Florida School Shooting (Rachel Martin, NPR)

Andre Bauer on State of the Union (CNN)

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We Sink Our Claws Into "Black Panther" with Ta-Nehisi Coates Feb 16, 2018

It's going to be one of the biggest opening weekends in movie history. But "Black Panther" is about so much more than the box office. This week we're putting Ryan Coogler's new film in the full context it deserves and demands, with a little help from our friend Ta-Nehisi Coates.

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We'll See You Tomorrow Feb 15, 2018

There's no episode of Still Processing today, but Wesley and Jenna are cooking up something special — a whole show on "Black Panther" with special guest Ta-Nehisi Coates. Check your feed Friday morning!

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We Don't Know Where We Are Feb 08, 2018

This week, we take the Oscar-nominated film "Three Billboards Outside of Ebbing, Missouri" as a starting point for a discussion about a new sense of placelessness in film and TV. Over the last year, we've been seeing stories set in ambiguous spaces--the limbo between heaven and hell, distorted models of our world, towns that look like no place we recognize as American. We talk about "The Good Place," "Westworld," "Downsizing," and the Sunken Place from "Get Out" to try and figure out how we lost a sense of where we are. Then we look to shows like "Atlanta" and "The Chi" to think about how we might find our way back.

Discussed This Week:

“Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” (Fox Searchlight Pictures)

“Grownish” (Freeform)

“Riverdale” (The CW)

Hot Topic "Riverdale" Merchandise

“Dennis Edwards, Former Temptations Lead Singer, Dies at 74” (Daniel E. Slotnik, The New York Times)

"Don’t Look Any Further" (Dennis Edwards)

"'Three Billboards’ Production Designer Inbal Weinberg on Martin McDonagh’s Unique Approach To Screen Language" (Matt Grobar, Deadline)

“The Good Place” (NBC)

“Stranger Things” (Netflix)

“Coco” (Pixar)

“Black Mirror” (Netflix)

“Get Out” (Universal Pictures)

“Dunkirk” (Warner Bros.)

“Downsizing” (Paramount Pictures)

“Westworld” (HBO)

"Instravel - A Photogenic Mass Tourism Experience" (Oliver KMIA, Vimeo)

“Singin’ in the Rain” (MGM)

“Queen Sugar” (OWN)

“Atlanta” (FX Networks)

“Insecure” (HBO)

“Black-ish” (ABC)

“The Chi” (Showtime)

“Moonlight” (A24)

“Black Panther” (Marvel Studios)

"Space and Place: The Perspective of Experience" (Yi-Fu Tuan, 1977)

"Place and Placelessness" (Edward Relph, 1976)

Super Bowl LII Commercials

“Ram Trucks Commercial with Martin Luther King Jr. Sermon is Criticized” (Sapna Maheshwari, The New York Times)

2018 Kia Stinger - Steven Tyler Big Game Ad - Feel Something Again

Blacture Super Bowl Ad

Amazon Alexa Loses Her Voice - Super Bowl LII Commercial

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We're Still Here For Janet Feb 01, 2018

This week, in light of Justin Timberlake’s upcoming Super Bowl performance, we revisit his infamous 2004 “wardrobe malfunction” halftime show with Janet Jackson. We dissect the public reaction to “nipplegate,” why Janet (and not Justin) took the fall, and how the controversy changed the course of both artists’ careers. We consider Justin’s new musical direction in the context his history of appropriating other cultures. And we offer Janet the forgiveness she deserves, realizing that her sexual experimentation led to some of our favorite moments in music history.

Discussed This Week:

“Is ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ the Most Radical Show on TV?” (Jenna Wortham, The New York Times)

Evidentiary Bodies (Barbara Hammer at the Leslie-Lohman Museum)

“The Lunar Eclipse and Super Blue Moon Are Here. Watch it Before Work.” (Nicholas St. Fleur, The New York Times)

“The Color of Kink” (Ariane Cruz, 2016)

“How Jesse Williams Stole BET Awards with Speech on Racism” (Katie Rogers, The New York Times)

Man of the Woods (Justin Timberlake)

History of Rap (Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake, “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon”)

Janet Jackson (in Tyler Perry’s “Why Did I Get Married”)

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We Have a Right To Be Mad Jan 25, 2018

This week, we examine the outrage that is expressing itself in all corners of the culture. In the process, we found unexpected connections between events and ideas that might seem unrelated: Ed Sheeran being left out of all the major Grammy categories as a (possible) way to avoid controversy, the heated debate over an account of a bad date with Aziz Ansari, the testimony at the sentencing of Dr. Larry Nassar from hundreds of gymnasts who had been sexually abused, and year two of the women's march. We're thinking about why women's anger is feared, and what it means to dole out punishment against men. Whose anger counts, what kind of anger is healthy, and is there solidarity to be found in anger? Our conversation took us to places we didn't know we'd go--including becoming enraged ourselves.

Discussed This Week:

“Dolores O’Riordan, Lead Singer of the Cranberries, Dies at 46” (Christine Hauser, The New York Times)

“2018 Oscar Nominations” (Brooks Barnes, The New York Times)

“2018 Grammy Nominations” (The New York Times)

“Electric Dreams” (Amazon)

“How Ed Sheeran Made ‘Shape of You’ The Years Biggest Track” (John Pereles, The New York Times)

“The Grammy Awards Voting Process” (Recording Academy)

“I went on a date with Aziz Ansari. It turned into the worst night of my life.” (Katie Way, Babe.net)

“Modern Romance” (Aziz Ansari, 2015)

“I Used to Insist I Didn’t Get Angry. Not Anymore.” (Leslie Jamison, The New York Times Magazine)

“Banfield slams Ansari accuser in open letter” (CNN)

“One After Another, Athletes Face Larry Nassar and Recount Sexual Abuse” (Scott Cacciola and Christine Hauser, The New York Times)

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We Have a Theory About Oprah Jan 18, 2018

The wait is finally over - we’re back for Season 3! This week, we look at the movie “Proud Mary” starring Taraji P. Henson as a jumping off point for the cultural moment that black women are having right now in pop culture. We run through a brief history of black women in movies and television and consider those who built the foundation for this moment. From Hattie McDaniel to Dorothy Dandridge to Whoopi Goldberg to Halle Berry, we consider what all of this means for how we discuss Oprah’s (possible) presidential run.

Discussed This Week:

“She’s Gotta Have It” (Netflix)

“The Case for the Subway" (Jonathan Mahler, New York Times Magazine)

Black Women Voters of Alabama

“Picturing Us: African American Identity in Photography” (Deb Willis)

Diahann Carroll (in "Julia")

Pam Grier (in "Coffy")

Oprah’s SNL Cold Open

“The Spector of Oprah Winfrey: Critical Black Female Spectorship“ (Terisha L. Stanley, 2007)

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We Back! (On Thursday) Jan 16, 2018

The wait is (almost) over: Jenna and Wesley will be back with a new season of "Still Processing" starting Thursday, Jan. 18th. It’s O.K. to cry, even if you’re wearing glitter.

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We Are Tired of Sexual Harassment (and Sequels) | Season Finale Oct 12, 2017

It’s our season finale! We’ve spent our second season keeping a critical eye on the unreality of America and dissecting the systems of power that uphold the status quo. Last week, a series of news articles reported that Harvey Weinstein, one of the most powerful movie producers in Hollywood, has been accused of sexually harrassing women for decades. Twitter is ablaze with other women and men sharing their own stories of sexual misconduct at the hands of the powerful, spawning conversations about power and fame, privilege and punishment. The aftermath has raised questions about the commonality of harassment — and has forced us to confront our own complacency. We were compelled to talk about the cultural petri dish that allows assault and abuse to perpetuate and about what might be changing, socially and technologically, that is encouraging survivors to come forward. We also discuss the recently released “Blade Runner 2049” which somehow felt lacking, as if science fiction can’t keep up with the reality of the moment we’re living through. And before we sign off for a few months, we relive some of our favorite moments from this season. Thank you for listening, and we’ll talk to you soon!

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We Get Biracial Oct 05, 2017

For months, the two of us have been trying to figure out a way to have a conversation about the experience of being biracial. This week we just go for it. First, we talk about the cultural and historical suspicion America still has of black-white interracial romantic relationships. It gives us an excuse to revisit the reason ‘‘Get Out’’ has been one of the year’s major movies: It articulates the previously inarticulable about race. Then we consider the offspring of interracial coupling — whether the possibility of occupying two identities (or more) is a choice, a luxury or a delusion; and what fears, doubts or envy nonbiracial black Americans might feel about biracial black Americans. We drop in on Spike Lee’s ‘‘School Daze’’ and the sitcom ‘‘Black-ish.’’ We consider our feelings about Rashida Jones, Drake and Vin Diesel. We unpack the writings of Zadie Smith and Barack Obama. And we kind of have to ask: Aren’t we all a little bit mixed?

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We Take a Knee Sep 28, 2017

Another day, another rant from Donald Trump. This time, the president took aim at Colin Kaepernick, the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback who spent the majority of last season sitting or kneeling during the national anthem to draw attention to police brutality and racial injustice. Trump’s remarks — that the owners of football teams should fire anyone who followed suit — prompted a nationwide demonstration the following Sunday from players and team owners who knelt or linked arms. We talk about the language used by the president and his supporters and their expectations of black entertainers and athletes. We also investigate the history of the national anthem. What all did Francis Scott Key really invoke in the “Star-Spangled Banner”? Oh, and we also manage to work in a reference to “Get Out.” All kinds of people, including Stevie Wonder and celebrity chef Carla Hall, are joining the #TakeAKnee movement. Will it retain its integrity as it evolves away from Kaepernick?

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We Assess the Outrage over "Bodega" and Mother! Sep 21, 2017

Last week, a Silicon Valley startup called Bodega instigated an internet meltdown after a Fast Company profile made the company’s intentions clear. “Eventually, centralized shopping locations won’t be necessary, because there will be 100,000 Bodegas spread out, with one always 100 feet away from you,” said Paul McDonald, a co-founder, who used to work at Google. The outrage made moral sense. “Bodega” is name that’s asking for trouble, especially with people who frequent them. The outrage is also easy. Where’s the upset over the effect other, bigger companies – like Amazon, whose latest major acquisition, Whole Foods, has slashed prices – might actually have on bodegas? Being mad at Amazon is harder when it’s mixed up in so much of your life. We discuss the dilemma.

We also get into the horror at the movies (“It,” “Mother!”) and on TV (“American Horror Story: Cult”), and how it meets up with our times in surprising and hilarious ways — especially Darren Aronofsky’s “Mother!” with Jennifer Lawerence and Javier Bardem. It’s a mess and a half. But it’s a really fun mess.

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We Bow Down to Rihanna and Venus Sep 14, 2017

Last week, we witnessed two extraordinary events: Venus Williams playing some of the best tennis in the last decade of her career (she lost in the U.S. Open, but with grace and style), and the rollout of Rihanna's new cosmetics line, Fenty Beauty, which was splashier than the launch of the new iPhone X. We learned something unexpected from both. Venus showed us what it means to lose, and yet somehow remain undefeated, and the Rihanna event gave us insight into the economy of social media “influencers” who are radically changing—and possibly democratizing—the beauty and fashion industries.

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We Debate NPR’s Greatest Albums by Women Sep 07, 2017

Last month, NPR published a list of the 150 greatest albums by women. The list was debated. It was discussed. There were alternative lists of 150 additional albums not on the NPR list. But quibbling with the particulars misses an important concern about what it means to argue for a women-only canon. This week we discuss why it takes an all-women team at NPR to celebrate women musicians, and why women are glaringly missing from lists determined by both genders. We also revisit the song of the summer, a phenomenon that is ruled by male artists — but perhaps not according to us.

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We Have a Chappelle Show Aug 31, 2017

This summer, Dave Chappelle returned to the stage for an ambitious, monthlong residency at Radio City Music Hall in New York. We saw the show independently, on separate nights. What we witnessed inspired us to dedicate an entire episode to the legacy of Chappelle’s comedy as he works to re-establish his place in American culture. But much has shifted in the decade since Chappelle, through his much-loved TV show, “Chappelle’s Show,” brilliantly explored how black people are represented and misrepresented: Nowadays, he’s no longer interested in speaking on behalf of anyone else. We consider his past to consider where he might be headed and whether we still need comedians — and comedy, for that matter — to help us make sense of the present.

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We Care For Ourselves and Others in Trump’s America Aug 24, 2017

The events of the last few weeks have shown us that we are fully living in Trump's America, with a president who is slow to condemn the actions of white supremacists. The realization has been exhausting. This week, we take a step back to think about what the political moment is doing to our emotional and physical states. We discuss our routines of self-care — and investigate the origins of the phrase, and why it feels overused and even a little cliche. We also talk to Dr. Matthew Steinfeld, an assistant professor of psychiatry at the Yale University School of Medicine about our ailing country and get a few ideas for how to remedy ourselves, and perhaps each other.

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We Grieve Charlottesville Aug 15, 2017

What happened in Charlottesville, Va., over the weekend was the largest public melee during a presidential administration that includes men with white nationalist ties. Three people were killed, dozens of people were injured and the country was thrown into a state of anguish and shock. The show was on vacation, but we came back early to do a special episode about Charlottesville. We talk about why the violence there isn’t surprising, what it means to remove totems of the American Confederacy and what a verbal apology from President Trump is really worth.

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We Discuss: Who Owns Stories About Blackness? Aug 03, 2017

It’s been a summer of outrage over the question of who can tell stories about black history and black pain. We reckon with this question by examining Kathryn Bigelow’s film "Detroit," Dana Schutz's painting “Open Casket” and the recently announced new project from the "Game of Thrones" showrunners, an HBO drama called "Confederate." Without promising any answers, we also ask: Do stories about the American black experience belong to all Americans? Are there any criteria by which white creators can successfully make work about blackness?

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We’re Freaking Out About O.J. and Girls Trip Jul 27, 2017

The country was barely on the other side of a period of deep thought about the cultural meaning of O.J. Simpson, and then last week we found out that O.J. will be a free man this October. We explore the vexing empathy that racism toward him inspires in us. Second, we can’t believe how much fun we had watching "Girls Trip"! Comedies starring black women – in which they aren’t the butt of the joke – are virtually non-existent. We cheer the movie for giving us four fun, sexual black women without also denying their humanness.

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We Pick Science Fiction for Mitch McConnell Jul 20, 2017

2017 feels sort of like the End Times, and we’re leaning into science fiction TV shows and movies to imagine the outcome of our current political and geological climate. If science fiction functions as a cautionary tale, offering lessons in morality and asking us to consider our relationship with technology, what should our country’s leaders be watching? We discuss “War for the Planet of the Apes,” in which highly intelligent apes and plague-riddled humans battle for control of the Earth. Then, we serve up a list of sci-fi homework for ourselves and our elected officials.

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We Get Bodied Talking Jay-Z and Beyoncé Jul 13, 2017

“4:44” is Jay-Z’s first album since Beyoncé turned their marital trouble into a masterpiece called "Lemonade." On “4:44,” Jay-Z expresses regret for his infidelity and ruminates on the socioeconomic state of black America. The album is knotty and contradictory, especially when compared with the psychological clarity of "Lemonade." We spend the episode unpacking “4:44” as a work unto itself, and also in the context of “Lemonade.” We also discuss why the survival and performance of Jay-Z and Beyoncé’s marriage means so much to the culture and to us.

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We Seek “Authentic” BBQ Jul 06, 2017

It’s barbecue season! But let’s be clear: We aren’t talking about throwing burgers and veggies on a grill. We’re talking about the rich culinary tradition of slow-cooking meat over a dirt pit, a cuisine cultivated by enslaved Africans in the American South. We both live in Brooklyn, where barbecue is gentrifying as quickly as our neighborhoods. To talk through our feelings, we invited two Southern food experts on the show: John Thomas Edge Jr., the author of “The Potlikker Papers,” and Nicole Taylor, a chef and the author of “The Up South Cookbook.” They help us remember the central role that African-Americans played (and continue to play) in establishing one of our country’s most signature styles of eating. Then we venture to a Carolina-style pit in the middle of Bushwick. It's a truly American tale.

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We Revive Tupac and Side-Eye Sofia Coppola Jun 29, 2017

What responsibility does a movie have to the details of history? In Sofia Coppola’s new film, “The Beguiled,” a remake of Don Siegel’s 1971 psychological thriller set in the American South during the Civil War, she omits a key character from the original film: a slave woman named Hallie. Is Coppola’s omission a correction of history or an act of artistic cowardice? Speaking of history and responsibility: We take a look at “All Eyez on Me,” which tells the story of the brief but remarkable life of Tupac Shakur. At a time when the safety of black men’s lives seems dubious, is there significance in people’s refusing to accept that Tupac is truly dead?

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We Celebrate Gay Pride — The Highs and Lows Jun 22, 2017

June is Gay Pride month: four weekends of parades, pageantry, and partying, all over the country. But now, a year after the Pulse nightclub shooting, people are asking whether Pride celebrations are sufficiently black, political and confrontational. We talk about the joy we feel during Pride, while also recognizing the limits of the parade and the gay rights movement in general. We also reckon with the racism in gay life, and where that leaves the two of us.

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We Said, He Said, She Said Jun 15, 2017

In a live-stream to promote her new album, “Witness,” Katy Perry put on an elaborate performance, giving a series of confessional interviews about her cultural missteps. We analyze all the reasons this was an experiment gone terribly wrong. We then turn to a much more sinister attempt by a celebrity to reshape his image by performing for the public: Bill Cosby pretending he is Cliff Huxtable at his trial for the sexual assault of Andrea Constand. The cross-examining of Constand strangely reminded us of Jim Comey’s testimony before Congress, leading us to a discussion of the different ways these two victims — one male and powerful, one female and powerless — were received in the culture.

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We Watch 'Wonder Woman' and Do a Taxonomy of the Summer Jam Jun 08, 2017

Summer is here, and so are the superhero movies and hit pop songs that define the season. We discuss the politics of “Wonder Woman,” the first female-fronted and female-directed superhero blockbuster. We also search for the definitive summer jam of 2017 and try to define what makes a great summer song along the way.

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We Love the Beach, We Hate the Beach Jun 01, 2017

Last week, the Baywatch franchise returned — this time on the big screen — with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Zac Efron leading a cast of tan, muscled lifeguards. But the film isn’t just a goofy romp; it presents the beach as a place of danger that needs to be patrolled, raising questions about who beaches are for. Jenna spends as much time at the beach as she can, while Wesley has always resisted going. As they try to untangle why that is, they discuss the history of American beaches and American beach movies, and the beach as a place of infinite possibility and mystery, as bearing the traces of racial segregation and as being one of the most liberating environments in the world.

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We're Going Black(er) AKA Dear Woke People May 25, 2017

In the last 30 years, blackness has migrated from the margins of American popular culture to its center. Right now, a bounty of television, movies, and music engages with the question of how people signal to each other that they’re down with blackness. And it isn't just white people doing the signaling. It's black people too, albeit in a different way. We’ll dig into Netflix’s new show “Dear White People,” and television and film from the 1980s and 1990s and try to understand: what does it mean to perform blackness?

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We Watch Trump TV with Emily Nussbaum May 18, 2017

Donald Trump has changed the way we watch TV, whether it’s the reality show within the White House, or the scripted dramas we can’t help but compare to our political situation. New Yorker television critic Emily Nussbaum joins us to analyze what Trump's persona in "The Apprentice" might tell us about how he wields power as president, and to talk about how living in Trump’s America changes the way we watch political television, including shows like "The Leftovers" and "The Handmaid’s Tale."

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We Will Always Love You, Whitney Houston May 11, 2017

It has been five years since Whitney Houston died. She was one of the biggest pop stars of her time and a glorious singer — but we don’t properly remember her for that. Instead, she is considered a tragic figure who sacrificed herself to drugs and her marriage. This week, we felt a reappraisal of Houston was in order. It’s a chance to argue that the music is much more important than any of the scandal. So we listen to some of her best recordings and live performances. And yes, we walk through the bad years, but only to remind ourselves of who we actually lost: the greatest singer of the rock ’n’ roll era.

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We Feud About “Feud” May 04, 2017

The ruthlessness of Silicon Valley companies like Uber is out of control, but why do we expect more from the tech industry than from corporations like McDonalds or Exxon Mobil? We also discuss the bloody rivalry between the big-screen queens Joan Crawford and Bette Davis, as depicted in Ryan Murphy’s FX drama “Feud,” and whether the show defies stereotypes or perpetuates them.

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We Relive the Oscars with Barry Jenkins Apr 27, 2017

A conversation with the director of "Moonlight" about his cinematic style, his forthcoming adaptation of Colson Whitehead’s "Underground Railroad," his love of science fiction and, yes, that crazy night at the Academy Awards.

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We Listen to Kendrick Lamar & Talk to Valerie Jarrett Apr 20, 2017

We discuss Kendrick Lamar’s new album, “DAMN.,” and listen closely to “XXX,” one of our favorite tracks. Is his latest project a breakup with America, or with an older version of himself? Then we speak to Valerie Jarrett, a former White House adviser, about what she and the Obamas have in store.

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We Go To S-Town Apr 13, 2017

We’re back! And we’re picking up right where we left off: thinking about “Get Out.” Jordan Peele’s instant classic is the lens through which we’re seeing everything these days, from the hit podcast “S-Town” to that Kendall Jenner Pepsi ad the internet will never let us forget. We've got a grand theory about how it all connects.

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Season Finale with Jordan Peele | Episode 26 Mar 02, 2017

We’re not over what happened at the Oscars on Sunday. You probably aren’t either. But we’re ready to move onto next year’s Oscars, where we fully expect to see “Get Out,” currently the No. 1 movie in America. We talk to its writer and director, Jordan Peele, about carving out space in the horror genre, how to deal with your liberal white friends and what it’s like to ask an actor to play a racist. Then, before the show takes month-long hiatus, we meditate on what we’ve learned doing Still Processing.

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Oscars Preview with A.O. Scott | Episode 25 Feb 23, 2017

“La La Land” is probably going to win a lot of Oscars on Sunday. Perhaps even for best picture. But it’s O.K. Truly. We are joined by A. O. Scott, a chief film critic for The New York Times, to discuss our predictions and preferences for the Academy Awards. Since it’s the last week of Black History Month, we talk about a few of our favorite moments from the past week. And we play another round of Did They Vote for Trump? This time it’s the “Roseanne” edition.

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Beyoncé to Baldwin and Back Again | Episode 24 Feb 16, 2017

It’s been five days, and we’re still trying to make sense of Beyoncé’s loss at the Grammys. It’s been 50 years, and we’re still learning from James Baldwin. The new Baldwin documentary “I Am Not Your Negro” touched both of us, and this week we interview its director Raoul Peck about why the Oscar-nominated film is so invigorating in this moment. Then we bring on our pal and New York Times food reporter Tejal Rao to talk about something we all need these days: comfort food. To take our survey, please visit nytimes.com/SPsurvey.

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The Women of “Girls” | Episode 23 Feb 09, 2017

HBO’s “Girls” begins its final season this Sunday, and we discuss the show’s legacy before Jenna sits down for a live conversation with Lena Dunham, Allison Williams, Zosia Mamet and Jemima Kirke. They talk about the show’s early lack of diversity, why “Silicon Valley” gets off easy and what it’s like to have the public completely conflate a person and the character she plays. Plus: We debate whether deleting your Uber account actually has an impact and play a new game called “Did This Person Vote for Trump?”

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‘You Only Leave Home When Home Won’t Let You Stay’ | Episode 22 Feb 02, 2017

We speak to three friends: Habab, a Muslim woman born in Sudan who was nearly detained after landing home at Dulles International Airport in Virginia this weekend; Rukmini Callimachi, our colleague who covers terrorism for The Times and immigrated to America at the age of 10; and Armida Lizarraga, a Peruvian who gives a history lesson on her country’s slide from democracy to dictatorship under Alberto Fujimori. Plus: our tips for how best to take a break this week.

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Wesley and Jenna’s Existential Fears | Episode 21 Jan 26, 2017

It’s 50 degrees in New York in January, 2016 was the warmest year ever— and the words “climate change” no longer exist on whitehouse.gov. Time for a call to self-proclaimed climate hawk Eric Holthaus, co-host of the podcast “Our Warm Regards,” to give us some context about what this moment means for the planet. Next we talk about “Split,” the No. 1 movie in America, and the twist in M. Night Shyamalan’s career. Finally, Jenna tells Wesley whether or not Alexa is the future.

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Show Me the (Read) Receipts! | Episode 20 Jan 19, 2017

We start by debating one of the great questions of our time: should you or should you not use read receipts on your text messages? Jenna feels strongly one way, Wesley the exact opposite. So we call our pal Juliet Litman, managing editor of The Ringer, for a third opinion. Next, we consider the significance of shows like “The OA” and “Search Party” and what they mean for how young people are depicted on screen in 2017. Finally, Wesley takes a breath and says goodbye to President Obama.

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Batman vs. Joker | Episode 19 Jan 12, 2017

We take a deep breath after President Obama’s farewell speech and talk about his future as the ultimate black dad. Next we call up our friend and New York Times media columnist Jim Rutenberg to help us make sense of the latest on Donald Trump’s relationship with Russia, “fake news” and the media’s role in reporting it all. To top it off, we revisit highlights from the Golden Globes, share our thoughts on “Hidden Figures” — not “Hidden Fences” — and consider the lasting impact of Meryl Streep’s speech.

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‘The Perfect Movie for Our Time’ | Episode 18 Jan 05, 2017

We’re kicking off 2017 with a movie speed round to prepare for this weekend’s Golden Globes. We talk through our feelings about “La La Land,” “Fences” and a couple of the other films we saw over the holidays that made us laugh, cry — and sometimes cringe. Plus: Wesley serenades Mariah Carey after her New Year’s Eve debacle and we offer some cultural intentions for 2017.

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The Kanye-thon | Episode 17 Dec 29, 2016

This week we devote the entire episode to one question: What is happening with Kanye West?

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The Lives They Lived | Episode 16 Dec 22, 2016

This week, it’s our turn to take a look back on 2016 and share our picks for the most cultural moments that will stick with us. But before we do that, Ilena Silverman, an editor at The New York Times Magazine, joins us to talk about the people remembered in the magazine’s annual last issue of the year, “The Lives They Lived.” We also give one last listener some DIY gift advice.

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Best of 2016 with Bill Simmons, Heben Nigatu, Tracy Clayton and Ezra Edelman | Episode 15 Dec 15, 2016

This week on the show we're talking to some of our favorite people on Earth about the culture from 2016 — the movies, the music, the moments — that will stick with them. We've got Bill Simmons, CEO of the Ringer; Ezra Edelman, director of "OJ: Made in America"; and Heben Nigatu and Tracy Clayton, the hosts of BuzzFeed's "Another Round." Plus, we answer a voicemail from a very special listener.

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Beyoncé vs. Adele? No Contest | Episode 14 Dec 08, 2016

Good news: Jenna’s back! And in the wake of this week’s Grammy nominations, she’s here to say that no matter how desperate the internet may be for a Beyoncé and Adele rivalry, it’s just not a competition. Next, New York Times tech reporter Mike Isaac helps explain what Facebook’s attempt to enter China means for the service and our lives. Finally, we help a listener solve a holiday gift dilemma.

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Obama’s Last Cultural Statement | Episode 13 Dec 01, 2016

Jenna is off road-tripping across Southern Africa, so this week Wesley reunites with Alex Pappademas, his old co-host on Grantland’s podcast “Do You Like Prince Movies?” Wesley explains why he found President Obama’s final Medal of Freedom Ceremony to be the most emotional cultural moment of the year, then he and Alex imagine the people who will be honored by President Trump. One artist they hope won't be on the list: the Weeknd, who after some debate Wesley and Alex decide is a phony.

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The Brilliance of Kerry James Marshall | Episode 12 Nov 24, 2016

Join our field trip to The Met Breuer, the Metropolitan Museum’s new space in New York dedicated to contemporary art, where we give you an audio tour of the painter Kerry James Marshall’s astonishing retrospective. We also have picks for movies to see this weekend. “Almost Christmas” is a film for the whole family; “The Handmaiden” is more of a solo midnight show.

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How to Survive Thanksgiving | Episode 11 Nov 17, 2016

To nourish your souls this week, we’re serving up some serious comfort food live from the kitchen of the New York Times food editor Sam Sifton. Sam literally wrote the book on Thanksgiving, and he walks us through how to make the perfect gravy, his tips for carving the turkey and his most important rules for the meal. And because this year’s Thanksgiving is going to be different for many families, we talk about how to navigate postelection tensions and practice radical acceptance. Plus: the case for replacing turkey with fried chicken and Jenna’s tips for traveling.

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The Reckoning | Episode 10 Nov 10, 2016

Through tears, and with the help of our oracle Margo Jefferson, we begin to process the election of Donald J. Trump.

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Dancing in the Moonlight | Episode 9 Nov 03, 2016

To combat the stresses of an election we want to end and the onset of winter, we’re offering a whole episode dedicated to things that make us feel good. We talk to the Times film critic A.O. Scott about “Moonlight,” a movie everyone agrees is perfect. We celebrate “A Seat at the Table,” Solange’s lusciously spare new album, in which she comes into her own as an artist. And we end with a few tips from Jenna on how to survive not only the next week but maybe the rest of your life.

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Nudity Clause | Episode 8 Oct 27, 2016

This week we’re talking about penises. Specifically, penises on the big screen. There are more and more of them, but the penises deemed safe enough to see tend to be white ones. We talk about the role of black penises and black sexuality in popular culture. Plus, Jenna puts Barack Obama’s digital legacy in perspective, and then our boss, Jake Silverstein, joins us to discuss the one thing we never got from the president.

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Peak Black TV | Episode 7 Oct 20, 2016

This week, we devote an entire episode to our favorite (and not so favorite) shows on TV, touching on “Queen Sugar,” “Westworld,” “Insecure,” “Empire,” and more. We give out superlatives, delve into the brilliance of Donald Glover’s “Atlanta,” and attempt to answer the question: Have we reached peak black TV?

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America, What You Doin’ Gurl? | Episode 6 Oct 13, 2016

This week we’ve got some questions. What show could possibly hold your attention for 24 straight hours? (Wesley found it.) Should you still feel obligated to see “Birth of a Nation,” even though Nate Parker is Nate Parker? (You most certainly should not.) And how differently would this country work with a woman in the White House? (Susan Dominus, who’s covering gender and the election for the New York Times Magazine, joins us to answer that one.) Plus: we answer a question from the last debate.

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A Journey to the 'Blacksonian' | Episode 5 Oct 06, 2016

This week our entire episode comes to you from inside the Smithsonian’s brand-new National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington. We talked to children. We talked to curators. We sat together in the Oprah Winfrey Theater and it felt like church, and together we tried to understand the first museum that has tried to understand us.

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Maintaining Higher Ground | Episode 4 Sep 29, 2016

This week we catch up with Katja Blichfeld and Ben Sinclair, the husband-and-wife team behind “High Maintenance,” HBO’s new show (which was just renewed for a second season) about a weed dealer in New York. It's billed as a stoner comedy, but the show is actually about the vulnerability of life in the city, and we swap stories about the moments we've felt most alive in New York. Then, in honor of “The Magnificent Seven” topping the weekend box office, our beloved colleague Nikole Hannah-Jones joins to break down her all-time favorite Denzel Washington performances. Wesley has a list too.

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RuPaul: 'Identity Is a Hoax, People!' | Episode 3 Sep 22, 2016

While we are discussing the Emmys, which Jenna barely wanted to watch, something amazing happens: a call from somebody who actually has an Emmy! Yup, it’s RuPaul. He talks about both the importance of his Emmy-winning show, “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” and its non-importance, which, according to him, is its actual importance: “Identity is a hoax, people!” Then it’s on to a conversation about “Bridget Jones’s Baby” and “Snowden,” two films with nothing in common — well, except in Wesley's experience of them. Ultimately, the week’s news — police shootings, political insults, and, yes, superstar divorce — proves too much for us. So we escape to Bryant Park, where Jenna gives Wesley some advice for how to detox.

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‘You Can’t Code Your Way Out of Racism’ | Episode 2 Sep 15, 2016

This week, Wesley and Jenna meet for breakfast to talk through their conflicting feelings about the new film “When the Bough Breaks,” the No. 2 film in America — she loved it, he not so much. They also decode the inherent racism of the sharing economy and bring in dance writer Shanti Crawford to review the moves we watched during the U.S. Open.

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First Date | Episode 1 Sep 08, 2016

In this inaugural episode, Wesley and Jenna work through their feelings about America's reaction to Colin Kaepernick and Leslie Jones, take a romantic stroll through Central Park, and talk to Tika Sumpter of "Southside With You" about the art of the first date.

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Introducing Still Processing Sep 06, 2016

The first episode of Still Processing will drop on Thursday, Sept. 8, and Wesley and Jenna will be back every Thursday after that. Here’s a quick taste of what’s to come.

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