At The Intersection

Brian & Marion open up about their personal problematic faves vs. the people who have landed on their ‘cancelled’ lists, and what makes it difficult to let a fave go. They also investigate who’s allowed to have second chances (hint: it’s usually rich white people) and how deeply embedded power dynamics make it hard to hold those people accountable for the harm they’ve caused. EVERYTHING IS LOVE gets sneaked in there too.

Brian & Marion talk about the falling rate of LGBTQ representation on the big screen, and how important it is to see honest, relatable portrayals of queer Black and brown people in media, especially in a political climate that criminalizes every single one of those adjectives. Sadly, Marion is forced to call out her longtime fave Donald Glover for participating in one of today's hottest trends, "Word of Gay." Happy Pride Month!

Brian & Marion talk "the n-word," free speech, and how language can be used as a weapon to protect white supremacy. They also talk to policy analyst and immigrant rights advocate Victoria Crouse about the renewed interest in making English the official language, and what the actual fallout from legislation like that could be. Content warning: profanity and ICE deportation.

Brian & Marion dive into the 21st-century Black Renaissance we're blessed to be living in, covering everything from "This Is America" to Beychella to DAMN. Then they throw back to the originator - the Harlem Renaissance - and read each other quotes by Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, and Alain Locke.

Brian & Marion talk to economics expert Janelle Jones about the meaning of equity and how we actually achieve it. Surprise - reparations come up. Janelle also gives us some real talk about how white progressives continue to uphold white supremacy by being unwilling to accept the whole truth about racism in America.

Brian & Marion talk to Professor Darrick Hamilton about the federal job guarantee proposal that he helped create, and about how we want our reparations. Brian also slips in an unnecessary dig at Indiana Jones for what must be the thousandth time.

Brian & Marion discuss the many layers of discrimination found in the gender wage gap and why women of color get left out of the wage gap conversation. Brian shares some advice for men in a new game called Don't Be That Guy.

Brian & Marion debate the financial, ethical, and political implications of paying college athletes for their labor. (Spoiler alert: people's opinions on the matter are often guided by race.) Marion also learns that Canadians play American football.

In Part 2 of this episode, Brian & Marion reminisce about the mass shooting events that loom large in their memories, and discuss where the gun control movement could go next. Marion also talks to her friend Marcus, a veteran and life-long gun owner, about his place in the gun debate.

In Part 1 of this episode, Brian & Marion explore the long history of American gun culture and how the gun debate has been racialized since the beginning. They cover the Black Panther Party, Clint Eastwood, Ronald Reagan, and a George R.R. Martin-style takeover of the NRA.