4 Friends & A Book Podcast

This episode, we’re getting into Keisha Lance Bottoms’ memoir The Rough Side of the Mountain and the family, struggles, and pressure that shaped her journey.

Then, we debate student loan forgiveness. Who should really foot the bill?

And in The Rant, Isaiah weighs in on Target’s controversial children’s Halloween costume and the backlash surrounding its resemblance to racist minstrel imagery.

Three topics. Different perspectives. Plenty to talk about.

Kin broke our hearts, Georgia’s election debate has us talking, and young men deserve more support. This week, we unpack the emotional ending of Kin, get into Georgia’s push for paper ballots amid election fraud concerns, and Isaiah uses The Rant to give young men their flowers and talk about why encouragement, guidance, and support matter.

We sat down with author Robin Reed-Poindexter to talk about the inspiration behind her books, the stories that shaped them, and the wisdom she’s gained along the way.

Get to know the heart behind the pages and the woman bringing these stories to life.

What do you do when you don't see yourself in the stories being told? You create your own. We talk with Hotep, creator of Black Lion and Cubs, about graphic novels, anime, entrepreneurship, and building a universe from the ground up.  

This week, we’re talking The Book of Harlan by Bernice L. McFadden and unpacking the themes of love, survival, identity, and generational pain that made this story unforgettable.

We also get into redistricting, voter suppression, and the fight to protect the Black vote.

Plus, Isaiah shares a rant about showing up as your full self and why shrinking yourself for others is never worth it.

We’re talking The Voice in My Head Is God by 2 Chainz, and yeah… we all didn’t love it. We get into what worked, what didn’t, and where we disagreed.

Each of us also shares something y’all should be paying attention to right now.

And Isaiah closes with a rant on the United Nations vote on slavery, and why the United States, being one of only three countries to vote against it matters.

In this episode, we unpack The Mother of Black Hollywood by Jenifer Lewis and her raw, unfiltered story of resilience, mental health, and making space for yourself in an industry that doesn’t always make room for you.

We also react to the rising tensions surrounding the Iran war, what’s happening, what’s at stake, and why it matters beyond the headlines.

And in The Rant, Isaiah celebrates extraordinary women, breaking down why giving women their flowers matters and what it really looks like to honor their impact.

This week, we unpack Black AF: The Unwhitewashed History of America and its bold, unfiltered take on the stories American textbooks leave out.

We also react to the latest developments in the Jeffrey Epstein files, what’s new, what’s unsettling, and what it could mean moving forward.

And in The Rant, Isaiah breaks down why honoring Black History Month still matters and what it should actually look like.

📚 Book Review: Allegedly by Tiffany D. Jackson We review Allegedly by Tiffany D. Jackson, unpacking its thriller twists, unreliable narration, and the ending that left us debating who deserves sympathy and accountability. 🔥 Hot Topic: ICE Murder: Renee Good We talk about the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent in Minneapolis, the national outrage, questions about use of force, and what this moment says about enforcement and accountability. 🎤 The Rant: Nicki Minaj United Nations Isaiah delivers a fiery rant questioning whether Nicki Minaj should have spoken at the United Nations and the implications of celebrity influence in global spaces.

📚 Book Review: Go Higher by Big Sean
This episode, we dig into Go Higher by Big Sean and talk through the themes of growth, discipline, and purpose. We reflect on what stood out, what challenged us, and how the message speaks to the season many of us are in.

🔥 Hot Topic: Holiday Plans
We shift into a more personal conversation about our holiday plans. From how we’re spending time to how we’re closing out the year, it’s an honest look at navigating the holidays as adults with full lives.

🎤 The Rant: Stop Waiting for the Perfect Time
Isaiah takes the mic for this week’s rant, speaking directly to the habit of waiting for ideal circumstances. He shares why progress often starts before things feel comfortable and why now is the right time to move.