For Colored Nerds

Verzuz, Issa Rae's empire, and dinner with Jay-Z - oh my! Trapital founder and host Dan Runcie joins the show to talk all things music, culture, and the business that keeps it going. From Pusha T’s Arby’s Spicy Fish diss track to what the future looks like for Gen Z artists – Dan’s got the answers!

This week, Brittany and Eric take on the increase of Black characters in period dramas, a genre that mostly known for its predominantly white casts. From The Gilded Age to Hamilton, they deconstruct what does and doesn't work about these portrayals with the help of Martine Powers, host of The Washington Post's "Post Reports” and period drama superfan. And in the second half of the episode, they chat with executive producer and director of The Gilded Age, Salli Richardson-Whitfield about The Gilded Age, her career and what's to come.

This week, For Colored Nerds brings back RANKED. To honor the 31st anniversary of Robert Townsend's The Five Heartbeats, Brittany and Eric rank the best Black Fictional Music Acts of ALL TIME. This is RANKED: The Faking the Funk Edition. You won't wanna miss this.

In January, New York Magazine published a retrospective on the 10 years since Trayvon Martin’s death and the subsequent birth of Black Lives Matter. Since its evolution from rallying cry to non-profit, questions have been asked about its structure, organization, goals and leadership. NYMag spotlighted two organizations in their coverage - The Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation and Campaign Zero. The reporting details the conflict between the hope for change and revolution and the alleged desire for fame and notoriety amongst leaders who arguably became the de facto faces of “the movement.” The stories also raise questions that feel urgent as the movement for Black lives continues to evolve. This week, Brittany and Eric chat with Ernest Owens, journalist and writer of "The Rise and Rupture of Campaign Zero''. In the second half of the show, culture writer and journalist Shamira Ibrahim joins Brittany and Eric to talk about the growing conflict between activism, entertainment, fame and the continuing fight for freedom.

“The Rise and Rupture of Campaign Zero” (Ernest Owens - New York Magazine - January 2022): https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2022/01/campaign-zero-rise-and-fall.html

Campaign Zero's board statement in response to the New York Magazine piece: https://impact.campaignzero.org/message

If you would like to read the Campaign Zero impact DeRay shared with us in his statement, you can find it here: http://impact.campaignzero.org

Love is Blind, Married at First Sight, Love Island... what do all these shows have in common? Total and absolute chaos for the Black contestants, that's what! This week, Brittany and Eric discuss the fraught experiences of Black people on reality dating shows, and how one show in particular is setting the stage for a better path forward. Then, comedian and host of Ready to Love, Tommy "Nephew Tommy" Miles, joins the show to give his take on dating, love, and accountability. 

This week, Brittany lets Eric (and the world!) know that she's finally mom-curious... but there's a catch. She doesn't just want to be any mom, she wants to be a "bad" mom. More specifically, a "Bad Black Mom."

This week, writer and founder of Well-Read Black Girl, Glory Edim, joins the show to talk about her new podcast: Well-Read Black Girl! The podcast is a "literary kickback" for authors, writers, and readers to find community in written word. Brittany and Eric deep dive into Well-Read Black Girl's origin story, impact on the publishing industry and what Glory has planned for WRBG's future.

If you’ve been on the internet AT ALL you've probably heard the terms: high value man, divine feminine, alpha male, femininity coaching or any combination of those words. If you haven’t… then get ready. Today’s episode will be a deep dive into the relationship/lifestyle rhetoric that constantly has Black Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok in flames.

Janet, "Miss Jackson if You're Nasty," is back with a 4-part documentary about her superstar upbringing, taking control of her career, and the relationships that affected her along the way. This week, Brittany and Eric discuss their reactions to the series and if the special did her iconic legacy justice.

With shows like Harlem, Run the World, and Twenties... we couldn't help but wonder... do all these shows have something in common? Brittany and Eric discuss the recent influx of Black "Girlboss in the City" shows and how the Sex and the City model they imitate may be holding us back.