J's Lunch Counter

Episode 40 is live and available for download! Today on the show, we're FINALLY reviewing the biggest movie of the year - GET OUT!   I know…I know….its been weeks since this movie was released, but before the fervor completely dies down….we want to bring you our commentary on this complex, entertaining film.   This show is filled with spoilers - so if you are one of the few who still hasn't seen the film - go check it out first!    I am joined by my lovely wife Chioma, and together we breakdown the many layers of this film, from the underlying tension to the premise that an entire horror film could be made on the unspoken fears of interracial relationships, to the symbolism of slavery and the dog whistles of white liberal racism.    Plus, we talk in-depth about the powerful metaphor of the Sunken Place as the anti-thesis of being woke in America in 2017.

TELL A FRIEND. J’s Lunch Counter is a platform for each of you to engage in conversation that matters, so please help others join the convo! Tell a friend about the show and help grow our audience!   Share our posts on Facebook and Twitter and let your friends know what you find most interesting about each show!

STAY CONNECTED. Stay connected to the show!  Submit your questions about news, politics, popular culture, social justice, entertainment, music, and sports, and we will cover them for a future Mailbag segment.   You can send your questions to [email protected].   

JOIN THE CONVERSATION. We would also love for you to follow along on social media!   Like us on Facebook.  www.facebook.com/jslunchcounter.  Follow us on Twitter and tweet us at www.twitter.com/jslunchcounter. You can also follow the show on Instagram @JsLunchCounter.  Check out our website at www.jslunchcounter.com for more podcast and blog content each week!

SUPPORT THE SHOW. This show has weekly expenses that are required to keep it going.   From web services to hosting fees to equipment costs, this venture is certainly not cheap.  If you would like to support the show, you can make a PayPal donation to [email protected] or by clicking HERE.  Any amount you can give would help support the show, and all donations will go towards the expenses listed above! 

LEAVE A REVIEW ON ITUNES.  Enjoying what you've heard so far?  Then take a moment to leave a review on iTunes.  Reviews help us move up the ranks so that more people will have access to the show!   Thanks again for all your support!

Episode 39 is a jam-packed 2.5 hour HAPPY HOUR show, covering one of my favorite pastimes - Pro Wrestling, WWE, and WRESTLEMANIA!  It's WrestleMania Week and we are getting ready for the biggest show of the year - WrestleMania 33!   I invited my cousins, Griffin and Matt Brixey, to join me on this very special Happy Hour show to talk about our love of pro wrestling, and to break down this past year in WWE, and to make our predictions for WrestleMania 33.   Tune in to hear how I discovered wrestling as a kid, how my younger cousins fell in love with wrestling, and how we are able to keep watching after all these years.   We talk about the glory days of the 80s and 90s, the Attitude Era and the rise of Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock, and the modern era of stars like John Cena, Roman Reigns, the New Day and more!   We're real fans, and we definitely fan out a few times on this show, and had a good time doing it!   

We also make our predictions for WrestleMania, going match by match to breakdown the winners and losers, expected finishes, surprises and more.  We go in-depth on the character development of Roman Reigns and whether he will be the one to end Undertaker's career once and for all.  We take a look the John Cena-Nikki Bella and Miz and Maryse feud and whether it was the best thing on WWE in 2017, or if it went too far.   We look at what's gone right and gone wrong with the Women's divisions, whether Broken Matt Hardy will make his surprise WWE return at WrestleMania, whether Shane McMahon is the right opponent for AJ Styles, and we talk about how disrespectful the Andre The Giant Battle Royal has become.  Plus, we place a few prop bets on the show towards the end. 

If you are a wrestling fan, casual or die-hard, then this nearly 3-hour supershow is for you!  WrestleMania weekend is full of wrestling events and coverage, and you can now add J's Lunch Counter to that mix!  Thanks for listening!

TELL A FRIEND. J’s Lunch Counter is a platform for each of you to engage in conversation that matters, so please help others join the convo! Tell a friend about the show and help grow our audience!   Share our posts on Facebook and Twitter and let your friends know what you find most interesting about each show!

STAY CONNECTED. Stay connected to the show!  Submit your questions about news, politics, popular culture, social justice, entertainment, music, and sports, and we will cover them for a future Mailbag segment.   You can send your questions to [email protected].   

JOIN THE CONVERSATION. We would also love for you to follow along on social media!   Like us on Facebook.  www.facebook.com/jslunchcounter.  Follow us on Twitter and tweet us at www.twitter.com/jslunchcounter. You can also follow the show on Instagram @JsLunchCounter.  Check out our website at www.jslunchcounter.com for more podcast and blog content each week!

SUPPORT THE SHOW. This show has weekly expenses that are required to keep it going.   From web services to hosting fees to equipment costs, this venture is certainly not cheap.  If you would like to support the show, you can make a PayPal donation to [email protected] or by clicking HERE.  Any amount you can give would help support the show, and all donations will go towards the expenses listed above! 

LEAVE A REVIEW ON ITUNES.  Enjoying what you've heard so far?  Then take a moment to leave a review on iTunes.  Reviews help us move up the ranks so that more people will have access to the show!   Thanks again for all your support!

On Episode 38, I am joined by Junis Baldon to take a look at the Trump administration thus far, and the one word that may best describe the Trump administration's first 60+ days - FAILURE.  What has happened to all the winning that we were promised?  After a few months, Trump has seen failure after failure, shrouded in scandal and controversy and distraction.  From the failure to repeal and replace Obamacare to the failure of both attempts to ban Muslims from entering the country, this administration has gotten off to an abysmal start.   We'll dig deeper into the early days of the Trump administration and attempt to explain the struggles of this White House, while also looking forward to the upcoming battles for tax reform, immigration, infrastructure and entitlement reform.  Is there any hope for Trump, who currently sits on a 36% approval rating, one of the lowest numbers in modern history at this stage in a presidency.

Junis and I also look at a 2015 study that showed that African-Americans with degrees from Ivy League schools were only as competitive in the job market as white graduates with degrees from state colleges.   We'll fumble our way through this delicate discussion on race and opportunity, as we try to understand the root of this incredible divide.

We also have a full mailbag segment today.  You can send questions to [email protected].  Listen as we answer questions about whether Democrats are doing enough to capitalize on Trump's failures to date, whether Junis and I would be willing to work for the Trump administration if asked, whether Obamacare is safe or just safe "for now", whether the President's golfing habits are a big deal, why I haven't talked about the movie Get Out, and finally, whether Chelsea Clinton or Ivanka Trump have the brighter political future.   Plus we debut an all-new segment called Check This Out - where we tell you what we're reading and watching these days!  Listen and enjoy, and please share this episode!

TELL A FRIEND. J’s Lunch Counter is a platform for each of you to engage in conversation that matters, so please help others join the convo! Tell a friend about the show and help grow our audience!   Share our posts on Facebook and Twitter and let your friends know what you find most interesting about each show!

STAY CONNECTED. Stay connected to the show!  Submit your questions about news, politics, popular culture, social justice, entertainment, music, and sports, and we will cover them for a future Mailbag segment.   You can send your questions to [email protected].   

JOIN THE CONVERSATION. We would also love for you to follow along on social media!   Like us on Facebook.  www.facebook.com/jslunchcounter.  Follow us on Twitter and tweet us at www.twitter.com/jslunchcounter. You can also follow the show on Instagram @JsLunchCounter.  Check out our website at www.jslunchcounter.com for more podcast and blog content each week!

SUPPORT THE SHOW. This show has weekly expenses that are required to keep it going.   From web services to hosting fees to equipment costs, this venture is certainly not cheap.  If you would like to support the show, you can make a PayPal donation to [email protected] or by clicking HERE.  Any amount you can give would help support the show, and all donations will go towards the expenses listed above! 

LEAVE A REVIEW ON ITUNES.  Enjoying what you've heard so far?  Then take a moment to leave a review on iTunes.  Reviews help us move up the ranks so that more people will have access to the show!   Thanks again for all your support!

We're back!   For Episode 37, I am joined by two health care experts to discuss the Republican plan to repeal and replace Obamacare.  Cara Stewart, a Health Law Fellow at the Kentucky Equal Justice Center and Dustin Pugel, a Research and Policy Associate at the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy join me on the show to breakdown the successes and failures of Obamacare, areas where the ACA could be improved, as well as the overall impact of this bill on the country.  We then explore the details of "The World's Greatest Healthcare Plan of 2017" and discuss why repealing and replacing Obamacare with this Republican bill could be devastating for so many Americans.  From Medicaid Expansion to the individual mandate, the Republican plan will take us in a vastly different direction, one that will likely mean the loss of health insurance for millions of Americans.   We will break down all the details of this plan and discuss how it is expected to impact citizens across the country.  Thank you for taking the time to listen to this important episode.

TELL A FRIEND. J’s Lunch Counter is a platform for each of you to engage in conversation that matters, so please help others join the convo! Tell a friend about the show and help grow our audience!   Share our posts on Facebook and Twitter and let your friends know what you find most interesting about each show!

STAY CONNECTED. Stay connected to the show!  Submit your questions about news, politics, popular culture, social justice, entertainment, music, and sports, and we will cover them for a future Mailbag segment.   You can send your questions to [email protected].   

JOIN THE CONVERSATION. We would also love for you to follow along on social media!   Like us on Facebook.  www.facebook.com/jslunchcounter.  Follow us on Twitter and tweet us at www.twitter.com/jslunchcounter. You can also follow the show on Instagram @JsLunchCounter.  Check out our website at www.jslunchcounter.com for more podcast and blog content each week!

SUPPORT THE SHOW. This show has weekly expenses that are required to keep it going.   From web services to hosting fees to equipment costs, this venture is certainly not cheap.  If you would like to support the show, you can make a PayPal donation to [email protected] or by clicking HERE.  Any amount you can give would help support the show, and all donations will go towards the expenses listed above! 

LEAVE A REVIEW ON ITUNES.  Enjoying what you've heard so far?  Then take a moment to leave a review on iTunes.  Reviews help us move up the ranks so that more people will have access to the show!   Thanks again for all your support!

Today on the show, Albert and I are breaking down the 2017 Grammy's.   Known for its high-profile performances and noteworthy celebrity appearances, the Grammy's is one of our favorite awards shows, and a great way to take a break from the madness of the Trump administration.   We take a look at the highlights and lowlights from the performers, from Adele to Beyonce, Bruno and A Tribe Called Quest, John Legend and more.   We talk about the imagery of a Beyonce performance and we discuss the messages she may or may not be sending through her work.   Plus, what does it take to do a proper tribute to a fallen artist?   How did Bruno succeed where Adele came up short?   We also talk about the artist of the night, Chance The Rapper, and how he parlayed a breakout year into three Grammy's including Best New Artist, and a stellar performance.  We go further in-depth on Chance's style, his substance, and how his artistry is shaped by his faith.   Finally, we take a look at the coveted Album of the Year, and why it has become so elusive for black artists to win. 

Also, my guest for today's show Albert Shumake wants to invite the listeners of the podcast to an upcoming show in Louisville, KY, titled "This Is How We Do It - The Musical", presented by After School Urban Arts.  Come check out performances by the Lanita Rocknettes School of Dance, Albert's very own River City Drum Corp, and the West Louisville Performing Arts Academy.   The event takes place Sunday, February 26th at 4pm at The Brown Theatre.  Tickets are available for $10 and can be purchased at the Kentucky Center for the Arts.   For more information, email the show at [email protected] and I will get you connected to Albert!  Thanks for the support!

TELL A FRIEND. J’s Lunch Counter is a platform for each of you to engage in conversation that matters, so please help others join the convo! Tell a friend about the show and help grow our audience!   Share our posts on Facebook and Twitter and let your friends know what you find most interesting about each show!

STAY CONNECTED. Stay connected to the show!  Submit your questions about news, politics, popular culture, social justice, entertainment, music, and sports, and we will cover them for a future Mailbag segment.   You can send your questions to [email protected].   

JOIN THE CONVERSATION. We would also love for you to follow along on social media!   Like us on Facebook.  www.facebook.com/jslunchcounter.  Follow us on Twitter and tweet us at www.twitter.com/jslunchcounter. You can also follow the show on Instagram @JsLunchCounter.  Check out our website at www.jslunchcounter.com for more podcast and blog content each week!

SUPPORT THE SHOW. This show has weekly expenses that are required to keep it going.   From web services to hosting fees to equipment costs, this venture is certainly not cheap.  If you would like to support the show, you can make a PayPal donation to [email protected] or by clicking HERE.  Any amount you can give would help support the show, and all donations will go towards the expenses listed above! 

LEAVE A REVIEW ON ITUNES.  Enjoying what you've heard so far?  Then take a moment to leave a review on iTunes.  Reviews help us move up the ranks so that more people will have access to the show!   Thanks again for all your support!

Episode 35 is available for download.  Today I am joined by my good friend and show regular Junis Baldon to discuss and analyze President Trump's Supreme Court nominee, Judge Neil Gorsuch.   We discuss his background, his jurisprudence, and how he can potentially change the makeup of the Court.  We also discuss the Democrat's strategy to oppose his nomination and whether they are better served by a targeted resistance as opposed to blanket obstruction of the entire Trump administration.   We also discuss the latest news from the White House including the fallout from Trump's immigration ban and his foreign policy blunders in his first two weeks in office.   We also answer your questions in a full Mailbag segment.  We answer questions about President Obama's farewell speech, his legacy in the black community and what allies should look for in progressive candidates that demonstrate their ability to be effective for the black community. We also answer an important question about Trump and the media, and the incessant willingness to lie to the American people.  This is a jam-packed show that covers a ton of ground, so we hope you can set aside time to listen to the entirety of the show!

TELL A FRIEND. J’s Lunch Counter is a platform for each of you to engage in conversation that matters, so please help others join the convo! Tell a friend about the show and help grow our audience!   Share our posts on Facebook and Twitter and let your friends know what you find most interesting about each show!

STAY CONNECTED. Stay connected to the show!  Submit your questions about news, politics, popular culture, social justice, entertainment, music, and sports, and we will cover them for a future Mailbag segment.   You can send your questions to [email protected].   

JOIN THE CONVERSATION. We would also love for you to follow along on social media!   Like us on Facebook.  www.facebook.com/jslunchcounter.  Follow us on Twitter and tweet us at www.twitter.com/jslunchcounter. You can also follow the show on Instagram @JsLunchCounter.  Check out our website at www.jslunchcounter.com for more podcast and blog content each week!

SUPPORT THE SHOW. This show has weekly expenses that are required to keep it going.   From web services to hosting fees to equipment costs, this venture is certainly not cheap.  If you would like to support the show, you can make a PayPal donation to [email protected] or by clicking HERE.  Any amount you can give would help support the show, and all donations will go towards the expenses listed above! 

LEAVE A REVIEW ON ITUNES.  Enjoying what you've heard so far?  Then take a moment to leave a review on iTunes.  Reviews help us move up the ranks so that more people will have access to the show!   Thanks again for all your support!

pisode 34 won't be forgotten anytime soon!  I am finally joined on the show by beautiful wife Chioma and her sister Diana, because today we are talking about one Hollywood's fastest rising starts,  Issa Rae and the new HBO hit show, Insecure.   Join us as we go back to the origin story of the Mis-adventures of an Awkward Black Girl to being one of the hottest writers/actresses today.   We'll go into detail about "Insecure", from the writing and acting, to the music and fashion, and of course, the many hilarious and awkward stories that unfolded in Season One.   Hear how we compare this new show to some of the popular pre-dominantly black shows like Lee Daniels' Empire, Being Mary Jane, and Girlfriends, and I'll also ask my guests how they compare Insecure to Lena Dunham's Girls.   On the second half of the show, we'll do a movie review of the hit film, Hidden Figures.   We'll talk about just how hidden this story was, how outstanding Janelle Monae was in her acting debut, and the various emotional reactions we all experienced throughout the movie.  I say this often - but this was one of the most fun shows yet!  

TELL A FRIEND. J’s Lunch Counter is a platform for each of you to engage in conversation that matters, so please help others join the convo! Tell a friend about the show and help grow our audience!   Share our posts on Facebook and Twitter and let your friends know what you find most interesting about each show!

STAY CONNECTED. Stay connected to the show!  Submit your questions about news, politics, popular culture, social justice, entertainment, music, and sports, and we will cover them for a future Mailbag segment.   You can send your questions to [email protected].   

JOIN THE CONVERSATION. We would also love for you to follow along on social media!   Like us on Facebook.  www.facebook.com/jslunchcounter.  Follow us on Twitter and tweet us at www.twitter.com/jslunchcounter. You can also follow the show on Instagram @JsLunchCounter.  Check out our website at www.jslunchcounter.com for more podcast and blog content each week!

SUPPORT THE SHOW. This show has weekly expenses that are required to keep it going.   From web services to hosting fees to equipment costs, this venture is certainly not cheap.  If you would like to support the show, you can make a PayPal donation to [email protected] or by clicking HERE.  Any amount you can give would help support the show, and all donations will go towards the expenses listed above! 

LEAVE A REVIEW ON ITUNES.  Enjoying what you've heard so far?  Then take a moment to leave a review on iTunes.  Reviews help us move up the ranks so that more people will have access to the show!   Thanks again for all your support!

Episode 33 is all about the Women's March that took place last Saturday, during Inauguration weekend.   I am joined by Katie Kerns, who traveled to DC and participatd in the March this weekend.  Listen to Katie's story about why she felt compelled to join this march, what the atmosphere was like, which speakers resonated with the crowd, and what calls to action they were left with.   Katie and I also discuss the broader impact of the Trump presidency and how the mere thought of Donald Trump has mobilized millions of people around the world.  Finally we discuss a bit of the controversy around the march, the idea of white women leading the charge against Donald Trump compared to the majority of white women who voted for him, and the role that privilege has played in this protest.

TELL A FRIEND. J’s Lunch Counter is a platform for each of you to engage in conversation that matters, so please help others join the convo! Tell a friend about the show and help grow our audience!   Share our posts on Facebook and Twitter and let your friends know what you find most interesting about each show!

STAY CONNECTED. Stay connected to the show!  Submit your questions about news, politics, popular culture, social justice, entertainment, music, and sports, and we will cover them for a future Mailbag segment.   You can send your questions to [email protected].   

JOIN THE CONVERSATION. We would also love for you to follow along on social media!   Like us on Facebook.  www.facebook.com/jslunchcounter.  Follow us on Twitter and tweet us at www.twitter.com/jslunchcounter. You can also follow the show on Instagram @JsLunchCounter.  Check out our website at www.jslunchcounter.com for more podcast and blog content each week!

SUPPORT THE SHOW. This show has weekly expenses that are required to keep it going.   From web services to hosting fees to equipment costs, this venture is certainly not cheap.  If you would like to support the show, you can make a PayPal donation to [email protected] or by clicking HERE.  Any amount you can give would help support the show, and all donations will go towards the expenses listed above! 

LEAVE A REVIEW ON ITUNES.  Enjoying what you've heard so far?  Then take a moment to leave a review on iTunes.  Reviews help us move up the ranks so that more people will have access to the show!   Thanks again for all your support!

Episode 32 started as a discussion about shooting of the Charleston nine and the trial and coverage of Dylan Roof, but quickly evolved into a broader, important discussion about the aggression of white supremacy in America, the increase in violent hate crimes, and the relation between these crimes and the rhetoric of President-elect Trump.     I am joined by Junis Baldon and Jared Williams to discuss the violence that America saw in 2016 and whether we can expect the atmosphere to improve in the new year under a new administration.   We discuss the role that Trump will play in the discussion, and whether President Obama will continue to be a leading and influential voice once he leaves office.   This is likely only the beginning of this discussion, as we continue to see how the atmosphere continues to unfold. I hope that you'll listen and can appreciate this conversation and that you will continue to stay engaged in this conversation on J's Lunch Counter.

TELL A FRIEND. J’s Lunch Counter is a platform for each of you to engage in conversation that matters, so please help others join the convo! Tell a friend about the show and help grow our audience!   Share our posts on Facebook and Twitter and let your friends know what you find most interesting about each show!

STAY CONNECTED. Stay connected to the show!  Submit your questions about news, politics, popular culture, social justice, entertainment, music, and sports, and we will cover them for a future Mailbag segment.   You can send your questions to [email protected].   

JOIN THE CONVERSATION. We would also love for you to follow along on social media!   Like us on Facebook.  www.facebook.com/jslunchcounter.  Follow us on Twitter and tweet us at www.twitter.com/jslunchcounter. You can also follow the show on Instagram @JsLunchCounter.  Check out our website at www.jslunchcounter.com for more podcast and blog content each week!

SUPPORT THE SHOW. This show has weekly expenses that are required to keep it going.   From web services to hosting fees to equipment costs, this venture is certainly not cheap.  If you would like to support the show, you can make a PayPal donation to [email protected] or by clicking HERE.  Any amount you can give would help support the show, and all donations will go towards the expenses listed above! 

LEAVE A REVIEW ON ITUNES.  Enjoying what you've heard so far?  Then take a moment to leave a review on iTunes.  Reviews help us move up the ranks so that more people will have access to the show!   Thanks again for all your support!

Episode 31 is the finale of our  special two-part show bringing 2016 to a  close.   I am joined by my close friends Junis Baldon, Albert Shumake aka DJ Always, and introducing to the show, Jared "J Dub" Williams.   On Part Two, we begin with the amazing year in black television with the rise of Donald Glover's Atlanta, Issa Rae's Insecure, and why Marvel's Luke Cage was one of the best shows of the year.  We also discuss the controversy surrounding Birth of A Nation and how it led to the film being such a letdown this year.   We also fell down a rabbit hole and debated the value of Ava DuVernay and the 13th documentary, because of Junis' issue with the historical inaccuracies of  the move Selma.   We conclude 2016 with the two biggest stories of the year - the deaths of unarmed black men, and of course, the election of Donald Trump.   I say this a lot, but this was definitely one of the most enjoyable shows to create, and I know you will enjoy it!    

TELL A FRIEND. J’s Lunch Counter is a platform for each of you to engage in conversation that matters, so please help others join the convo! Tell a friend about the show and help grow our audience!   Share our posts on Facebook and Twitter and let your friends know what you find most interesting about each show!

STAY CONNECTED. Stay connected to the show!  Submit your questions about news, politics, popular culture, social justice, entertainment, music, and sports, and we will cover them for a future Mailbag segment.   You can send your questions to [email protected].   

JOIN THE CONVERSATION. We would also love for you to follow along on social media!   Like us on Facebook.  www.facebook.com/jslunchcounter.  Follow us on Twitter and tweet us at www.twitter.com/jslunchcounter. You can also follow the show on Instagram @JsLunchCounter.  Check out our website at www.jslunchcounter.com for more podcast and blog content each week!

SUPPORT THE SHOW. This show has weekly expenses that are required to keep it going.   From web services to hosting fees to equipment costs, this venture is certainly not cheap.  If you would like to support the show, you can make a PayPal donation to [email protected] or by clicking HERE.  Any amount you can give would help support the show, and all donations will go towards the expenses listed above! 

LEAVE A REVIEW ON ITUNES.  Enjoying what you've heard so far?  Then take a moment to leave a review on iTunes.  Reviews help us move up the ranks so that more people will have access to the show!   Thanks again for all your support!