On this week’s It’s Fine, Sweetie, we start with a story about getting braids while dodging canned peach juice (yes, really) and spin out into the chaos of home salons, boyfriends in the background, and thrift-store negotiations that feel more like hostage situations. From there, we dive into decluttering closets and the eternal question: Goodwill, Salvation Army, or somewhere better?

We also talk wildfires, insurance nightmares, and how developers change the fabric of communities like Altadena. Then it’s halftime—literally—as we watch Kendrick Lamar’s show in real time, breaking down the symbolism, the Drake mention, and the history-making moment of two Black halftime shows in a row.

As always, we veer from personal stories to big-picture reflections: Beyoncé’s Grammy win for Cowboy Carter, what makes a true “album” vs. a collection of songs, the politics of assimilation, and why Black and Latinx history is American history.

Topics this week:
• Hair salons at home & peach juice trauma
• Closet cleanouts and thrift store hustles
• Wildfires, insurance, and displacement in Altadena
• Kendrick Lamar’s halftime show breakdown
• Beyoncé, Billie, and what makes an album timeless
• DEI, assimilation, and claiming space in America

Funny, messy, and unexpectedly deep—that’s It’s Fine, Sweetie.