In this energetic episode of TNE, Ken Ledesma joins Calvin and Jay Jamal for a blend of humor, cultural insight, tech talk, and community discussion. The trio starts with lighthearted weekly banter including a monitor mishap before moving into a serious look at the case of a Black woman in Indiana who was denied hospital admission during labor and ended up giving birth on the highway. This sparks a deeper conversation about racial disparities in healthcare and the legal and ethical questions surrounding the incident.

Ken shifts gears into tech as he breaks down the Steam Machine from Valve, highlighting its huge game library, aggressive sales, and its potential to shake up a console market led by high-priced systems like the PS5 Pro and Xbox especially if it lands under $600. This leads to a nostalgic reflection on Napster and how Steam could disrupt consoles in a similar way.

The episode then examines a troubling situation in Chicago where a group of kids attacked a mother and her son near a school. The hosts discuss community accountability, failed parenting, and contrasting media portrayals of cities like Chicago and Memphis. They also note that a GoFundMe for the victims reached $200K.

Ken shares a major personal milestone: the announcement of his upcoming novel, Star of Aetheria: Reawakening Book II, a 62,000-word follow-up spanning 30 chapters.

The crew then enters their interactive segment offering apologies where needed, giving career guidance, providing marriage communication advice, responding to family critiques, and solving riddles. They debate top entertainers, share a hilarious moment sparked by confusion involving Laurence Fishburne and Ike Turner, and unanimously declare the PS2 the greatest console ever made. They explain the dopamine and serotonin science behind comfort food, criticize a mother who adopted out her 7-year-old in favor of RV living, offer dating advice that encourages broader perspective, and clarify the correct shade of blue for fringes. They also discuss shifting views on men with multiple partners, debunk exaggerated supernatural fears, unpack the idea of “Black fatigue,” address recent episode feedback, push followers to join TNE on TikTok, officially call the death of mixtape rap, and speculate on WWE returns—while firmly shutting down any hope for Edge vs. Cena.

The episode wraps with this week’s partnership promos each one offering listeners exclusive savings while directly supporting the growth of TNE:

Molly Bz — 10% OFF: Use promo code TNE at https://mollybz.com/discount/TNE. Your discount is applied instantly, and a small commission comes back to support the show.

Old Glory — 15% OFF: Use promo code TNE at https://oldglory.com/discount/TNE. You save money, and your purchase helps fund TNE through commission.