This week, Lauren and Leila discuss the incoming Trump administration. They reminisce on their feelings following the election and dig into issues close to their hearts — like reproductive health, surveillance, and education — and explore how these things might be affected by the Trump administration.

Media Lauren and Leila mentioned:

Articles 

Life of the Mother by ProPublica

A Portrait on the Wall by Rachel Eisendrath

The Return of Trump by The New York Review of Books

Books

Entitlement by Rumaan Alam

The Housemaid Series by Freida McFadden

Nice White Parents by The New York Times

Shows

The Glory on Netflix

Hierarchy on Netflix

Movies 

The Substance

Blink Twice

Questions? Suggestions? Email us at [email protected].

[Content warning: this episode contains discussions around eating disorders and self-harm.] This week, Lauren and Leila are talking about body image. In pop culture, chatter about how people look, how much weight they’ve lost or gained, or if they look young or old is constant. Lauren and Leila dissect this phenomenon, give a history of the body acceptance movement, and share their own relationships with their bodies. 

Media that Lauren and Leila mentioned:

The Whale Who Went AWOL by Ferris Jabr

Just In Time by Nina Simone 

Jane the Virgin 

Taken 

The Vanishing Half

Unshrinking by Kate Mann

Questions? Suggestions? Email us at [email protected].

For the second time, Lauren and Leila are talking all about Black Empires — from rappers to film stars and genre-bending artists. What the community feels stars owe to us has changed, how we interact with  Hollywood has changed, and perhaps most importantly, what the Black and non-Black famous can get away with has changed. In this second episode of a two-part series, Lauren and Leila explore the rise (and fall) of Black mega-celebrities. They also discuss their favorite up-and-coming stars.

Media that Lauren and Leila are loving:

Gold by Cleo Sol

Louisiana by Reyna Roberts

The Curse

⁠Survivor⁠

Questions? Suggestions? Email us at [email protected].

This week and next week, Lauren and Leila are talking all about Black Empires — from rappers to film stars and genre-bending artists. What the community feels stars owe to us has changed, how we interact with Hollywood has changed, and perhaps most importantly, what the Black and non-Black famous can get away with has changed. In this first episode of a two-part series, Lauren and Leila explore two leading black celebrity stories at different points in their journey.

In honor of the new year, Lauren and Leila take stock. They discuss what their lives look like today, what they’ve done wrong, and what they’ve done right along the way. 

Media that got Lauren and Leila through their early 20s:

Cha Cha Real Smooth

Lady Bird

Atlanta

The Office

Young Hearts Run Free by Candi Staton 

Tar Baby by Toni Morrison

Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Questions? Suggestions? Email us at [email protected].

Lauren and Leila get into how the luxury dating trend affects modern love, how they approach relationships, and how feminism fits into it all.

In this inaugural episode, Lauren and Leila introduce themselves, break down the Keith Lee drama, and discuss Black hair salons.