Referential

The '97 Sessions with Ash Alleyne & Dr. Khaliden Nas

Prepare for S2 by listening back to our S1 recap discussions with some of your favourite comic book nerds across the internet

________________

'97 Sessions' (Crossover with Ash Alleyne from 'Ash &' )

For Episode 4 we’re joined by my friend Victor Alexander (REFERENTIAL’s own video producer (follow us on Youtube and Tiktok!). We talk X-Men '97 Episode 4, Season 1 ‘Motendo / Lifedeath – Part 1’.

Find out how we've fit the following in:

• The debut of a new regular segment
• The debut of JubilAsh
• Nostalgia
• The trial of Victor Alexander, Beast Defender
• Lorna looking RIKAN
• Bzzt vs Pfft
• An ASMR recap
• Ash holds our hands
• Mojo’s Drag Race 
• White dungarees 
• Sunsplat

Find Ash @Vanthefirst on all socials and his podcast ASH & everywhere you find your podcasts. 

Find Victor @roughcopyzine on insta

Keep up to date with Dr. Khaliden Nas by checking out www.alsopurple.com and following @AlsoPurp on all socials.

Hosted by Ash Alleyne and Dr. Khaliden Nas.

Produced by Dr. Khaliden Nas

Music by PamperedFists & Anzahlung.

Podcast Artwork by Valentine M. Smith. 

*'Tangents' are audio-only episodes posted more frequently than Video Episodes because they require less work/research/editing!

Expect quick reviews, edited out content, collabs, mailbags, live audio, and so on.. *

Remember to leave a rating and review if you liked the episode!

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

The '97 Sessions with Ash Alleyne & Dr. Khaliden Nas

Prepare for S2 by listening back to our S1 recap discussions with some of your favourite comic book nerds across the internet

________________

'97 Sessions' (Crossover with Ash Alleyne from 'Ash &' )!

For Episode 3 we’re joined by our friend Connor Goldsmith (host of the Cerebro Podcast!) to talk X-Men '97 Episode 3, Season 1 ‘Fire Made Flesh’.

Slightly longer than the previous episodes, but when the three of us sit down we tend to get carried away!

Find out how we've fit the following in:

• An ode to Madelyne Jennifer Pryor (who did nothing wrong)
• Jean puts her hair up in a ponytail and gets back to work
• Communal showering
• Hank McCoy’s bedside manner and how to report it
• Morph, Gen Z and anti-sex
• Pray for Nathan Summers
• The Redemption of Scott Summers?
• Popping claws
• (MJP!)
• Chandeliers and Brimstone Clones!
• Magneto and Rogue are sure being quiet this episode…
• Will we see Bishop before the finale?
• Psychic Battles done correctly
• The breeze is still gone

Find Ash @Vanthefirst on all socials and his podcast everywhere you find your podcasts. 

Keep up to date with Dr. Khaliden Nas by checking out www.alsopurple.com and following @AlsoPurp on all socials.

Hosted by Ash Alleyne and Dr. Khaliden Nas.

Produced by Dr. Khaliden Nas

Music by PamperedFists & Anzahlung.

Podcast Artwork by Valentine M. Smith. 

*'Tangents' are audio-only episodes posted more frequently than Video Episodes because they require less work/research/editing!

Expect quick reviews, edited out content, collabs, mailbags, live audio, and so on.. *

Remember to leave a rating and review if you liked the episode!

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

The '97 Sessions with Ash Alleyne & Dr. Khaliden Nas

Prepare for S2 by listening back to our S1 recap discussions with some of your favourite comic book nerds across the internet

________________

'97 Sessions' (Crossover with Ash Alleyne from 'Ash &' )!

Ash and I decided to review/recap the just premiered 'X-Men '97'!

For Episode 2 we continued our conversation with Tiffie Starchild (@TiffieStachild) and Omar Holmon (@OmarHolmon) of Black Nerd Problems about X-Men '97 Episode 2, Season 1 'Mutant Liberation Begins'.

Find out how we also fit the following in:

• We need to talk about Lifedeath
• Magneto scams the UN
• Jean has self hate, which means its time to get scared
• X-Cutioner, you in danger girl
• Finally Xavier’s fortune is put to direct action
• Storm used to float, now she just falls down
• Gambit checks into the Heartbreak Hotel
• Will the real Jean please stand up

Find Ash @Vanthefirst on all socials and his podcast X of Words everywhere you find your podcasts. 

Keep up to date with Dr. Khaliden Nas by checking out www.alsopurple.com and following @AlsoPurp on all socials.

Hosted by Ash Alleyne and Dr. Khaliden Nas.

Produced by Dr. Khaliden Nas

Music by PamperedFists & Anzahlung.

Podcast Artwork by Valentine M. Smith. 

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

The '97 Sessions with Ash Alleyne & Dr. Khaliden Nas

Prepare for S2 by listening back to our S1 recap discussions with some of your favourite comic book nerds across the internet

________________

'97 Sessions' (Crossover with Ash Alleyne from 'Ash &' )!

On a whim Ash and I decided to review/recap the just premiered 'X-Men '97'!

We invited Tiffie Starchild (@TiffieStachild) and Omar Holmon (@OmarHolmon) of Black Nerd Problems to join our conversation about Episode 1, Season 1 'To Me, My X-Men'.

Find out how we also fit the following in:

• Storm & Gambit's hair dresser
• Sunspot's Imitation of Life
• The redemption of Cyclops (?)
• #NotMyJean!
• Why you can't bring Beast to Bella Noche

Find Ash @Vanthefirst on all socials and his podcast 'ASH &' everywhere you find your podcasts. 

Keep up to date with Dr. Khaliden Nas by checking out www.alsopurple.com and following @AlsoPurp on all socials.

Hosted by Ash Alleyne and Dr. Khaliden Nas.

Produced by Dr. Khaliden Nas

Music by PamperedFists & Anzahlung.

Podcast Artwork by Valentine M. Smith. 

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

AMC's The Vampire Lestat is out! So, we're Re-upping my convo with the amazing Derrick Austin about Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles, the first attempt at adapting the story and the first 2 seasons of AMC's Interview with the Vampire adaptation..

Listen!

_______

'The Vampire Sessions'

I’m joined on this episode by award-winning poet and vampire aficionado Derrick Austin!

We delve into the most recent adaptation of Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles, AMC’s Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire (Starring Jacob Anderson, Sam Reid, Bailey Bass, Eric Bogosian & Assad Zaman)

This conversation also includes our thoughts on the original book [Book 1 of The Vampire Chronicles] and the 1994 film adaptation of the story (Directed by Neil Jordan and starring Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt & Kirsten Dunst)

[spoilers all!]

+ Find out how we fit the following in

• Early 90s straight-washing 
• Race-blind casting vs adding to the narrative
• Repressed desire and the glass closet
• The existential terrors of being alive
• ‘Demonic White Daddies’
• Queer hierarchies of privilege 
• Mentorship and inter-community conflict
• Abusive relationships
• Selfishness & the toxicity of ‘queer families’
• ‘Containing’ Claudia
• In defence of Armand 
• The glass closets and taking queerness outside
• De-centring whiteness in queer narratives
• Clinton-era ‘radicalism’ today
• Creole Lady Marmalade
• Fantasies of carefree existence 
• Rabid fanbases
• This is a story about control.

Find Derrick on all socials @ParadiseLAust and more about him & his writing here: https://linktr.ee/DerrickAustin

Keep up to date with Dr. Khaliden Nas by checking out www.alsopurple.com and following @AlsoPurp on all socials.

Hosted and produced by Dr. Khaliden Nas.

Music by PamperedFists & Anzahlung.

All videos edited by Victor Alexander.

Podcast Artwork by Valentine M. Smith. 

Find out more about REFERENTIAL’s upcoming episodes on www.alsopurple.com/citations

*'Tangents' are audio-only episodes posted more frequently than Video Episodes because they require less work/research/editing!

Expect quick reviews, edited out content, collabs, mailbags, live audio, and so on.. *

If you liked this episode, help other people find the podcasts! Share, tell a friend, and remember to leave a five star rating and review to help people find us!

Thank you for listening!

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Dropcall #10

Victor and I sit down with Carolynn Bain! Carolynn is the founder of Brighton's 'Afrori', The UK's only Black owned bookshop specialising in books by Black authors.

Afrori recently launched a book drive to sell 1000 books to help keep its doors open. They managed to sell 1500 and are now launching a patreon to help make sure they're here for the long haul!

We chat about

• The History of Afrori
• Building a 'village'
• The importance of a third space for Brighton's Black community (and their allies)
• Asking for help vs Pride
• Supporting independent businesses
• Changing our habits
• Shout out to 'Men of Melanin Brighton'
• Carolynn: "As young men in your 20s"
• BUY A BOOK
• JOIN THE PATREONS

Recommendations:

Carolynn's : 'Kin' (2026) by Tayari Jones

Victor’s : 'Black England: The Forgotten Georgian History' (2022) by Gretchen Gerzina

Khaliden’s : 'The Day God Saw Me As Black' (2024) by D. Danyelle Thomas

___________

Join Afrori's patreon!

https://www.patreon.com/AfroriBooks

You can also find them on instagram and threads:

https://www.threads.com/@afroribooks

https://www.instagram.com/afroribooks/

To buy a book + Check for upcoming events + find out how to support on their website!

https://afroribooks.co.uk/

_____

You can find Victor @ugly_knowws + @roughcopyzine on insta and tiktok!

________

Subscribe to REFERENTIAL PODCAST's patreon!

https://www.patreon.com/ReferentialPodcast

Keep up to date with Khaliden and the podcast by following @AlsoPurp on all socials.

__________

Original podcast Artwork by Valentine M. Smith. 

Video Production by Victor Alexander (@Ugly_knees on insta and @clevvergirl on Tiktok)

Subscribe to our Youtube Page!

https://youtube.com/@referentialpod

More at www.alsopurple.com

___________

Thank you for listening! Don’t forget to leave a 5 star rating and review to help people find the podcast!

NEXT UP: Xena (& Gabrielle) The Warrior Princess (with Sara Century)

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Dropcall #9

Ashley and Victor came to visit me in my new flat and I decided to record it. Chaos ensues.

Topics covered include:

• Victor hates K-Pop Demon Hunters
• Ashley and Khaliden loved K-Pop Demon Hunters
• Wallace and Gromit is not a children’s film
• We debate if most of American Animation is for children.
• What’s the state of Western Adult Animation today?
• Common Side Effects, Blue-Eyed Samurai, Prey
• Darth Maul, Star Wars Visions
• American Samurai is… racist
• Shogun is why white people keep trying be asian 
• Paradise! 
• Quadroons
• ‘ADHD’ by Paris Hilton written by Sia. 
• Pluribus baby 
• Problematicville, Problem Promenade & Cancel-isle
• X-Men 97 Season 2 Electric Boogaloo 
• Sunspot, Tanspot, Sundodgingspot, Sunscreenspot, SPFspot 
• Doechii say no to more things please 
• Abandoning RuPaul’s Drag Race 
• We don’t support celebrity podcasts
• Lily Allen the British Taylor Swift
• Raye’s ‘This Album May Contain Hope’
• Casiano Prado, Sam Smith and Kerry Washington
• It’s handled.

Recommendations:

Victor’s : ‘Girls’ by Princess Nokia 

Ashley’s : ‘Pretty Idea’ by Amber Mark

Khaliden’s : ‘Once Upon a Time…’ by Donna Summer

___________

Find Victor @roughcopyzine on insta and @roughcopyzinebtn on tiktok!

Keep up to date by following @AlsoPurp on all socials.

Original podcast Artwork by Valentine M. Smith. 

Video Production by Victor Alexander (@Ugly_knees on insta and @clevvergirl on Tiktok)

Subscribe to our Youtube Page!

https://youtube.com/@referentialpod

More at www.alsopurple.com

Thank you for listening! Don’t forget to leave a 5 star rating and review to help people find the podcast!

___________

NEXT UP: Xena (& Gabrielle) The Warrior Princess (with Sara Century)

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

New Series!

MIXepisodes: Where I'm joined by past guests and new to talk about, what I’ve been, calling their ‘cornerstone album’. We go in depth and track by track on some of our favourite musical projects to break apart what it’s doing, why we love it and why it’s important. 

On the second chair, I'm joined by Black Fat Femme Podcast's Dr Jonathan Paul Higgins to talk about the album known as the 'Blueprint of Modern R&B', Brandy Norwood's 2002 third full musical release 'Full Moon'.

Cited by everyone from the Red Hot Chilli Peppers to Jazmine Sullivan to Beyonce for its influence; this is the album that first garnered Brandy the moniker of the 'Vocal Bible'.

'Full Moon' was birthed in collaboration with Brandy Norwood, legendary producer Rodney 'Darkchild' Jerkins and his songwriting team (that included the likes of Kenisha Pratt, Fred Jerkins & LaShawn Daniels); the album also featured the work of Mike City, Warryn Campbell and Keith Crouch (+ an uncredited Michael Jackson on background) to create its tableau fusion of R&B, Pop, Garage, House and Soul.

We get into all that +

• Dr Jon Paul Higgins!
• 'Black Fat Femme' the podcast/the book
• Remembering the world before streaming
• Giving 'real tea'
• Shout out to André Leon Talley
• Shout out to Remy Ma
• Bring back 'boomkak'
• Our beef with Clive Davis
• Brandy, BraNU, B-Rocka
• "awoowoo"
• R&B Enya
• Brandy's most difficult vocal album
• The productions
• The riffs
• The harmonies
• The 'vocal bible'
• Aaliyah
• NEW MONICA
• Patreon!

___________

Find Dr Jon Paul Higgins @DoctorJonPaul and @blkfatfemmepod on socials!

Keep up to date by following @AlsoPurp on all socials.

Original podcast Artwork by Valentine M. Smith. 

Video Production by Victor Alexander (@Ugly_knees on insta and @roughcopyzine)

Additional audio production by Laila

Subscribe to our Youtube Page!

https://youtube.com/@referentialpod

More at www.alsopurple.com

Thank you for listening! Don’t forget to leave a 5 star rating and review to help people find the podcast!

_____

NEXT UP: Xena (& Gabrielle) The Warrior Princess (with Sara Century)

______

Join the Patreon!

https://patreon.com/ReferentialPodcast

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

*'Or why we're skipping Scream 7'

Drop Call #8

Victor and I did not watch Scream 7 and tell you all about why. Then we talk about our history with the Scream franchise

• Distracting yourself.
• Haden Panitierre’s Scream
• Jenny McCarthy’s Scream
• Heather Graham’s Scream
• Jennifer Love Hewitt’s Ghost Whisperer
• Aisha Tyler’s Bruce Willis 
• Bangs
• The bear necessities
• Nostalgic for nostalgia
• Footloose 2: Footlooser
• Our Charmed sisters ranking 
• Patreon!

___________

Find Victor @roughcopyzine on insta and @roughcopyzinebtn on tiktok!

Keep up to date by following @AlsoPurp on all socials.

Original podcast Artwork by Valentine M. Smith. 

Video Production by Victor Alexander (@Ugly_knees on insta and @clevvergirl on Tiktok)

Subscribe to our Youtube Page!

https://youtube.com/@referentialpod

More at www.alsopurple.com

Thank you for listening! Don’t forget to leave a 5 star rating and review to help people find the podcast!

_____

NEXT UP: MIX #3: Breaking Down Brandy’s Full Moon’ [2002] (with Dr. Jonathan Paul Higgins from the ‘Black, Fat, Femme’ Pod!)

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Drop Call #7

Victor watched Emerald Fennell’s 'Wuthering Heights' and gives me his review before we unpack Netflix’s new documentary series ‘Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model’ about Tyra Banks and America’s Next Top Model. The controversial reality show that ran from 2003 to 2018 and has been getting reappraised by the TikTok era.

• Brontë Classics
• Tyra Banks 
• The Netflix 'Documentary'
• Les Moonves and Janet Jackson
• RuPaul and that twink medium
• Rita Ora hosted ANTM (?)
• Fruits of the Oprah tree
• Miss Jay Alexander, Jay Manuel and Nigel Barker
• Accountability and obfuscation
• Shared Complicity 
• "Do you want to play a game?"
• Remember when Tyra Banks gave that homophobe a beard weave?
• Guess which Batman villain we decide is Tyra’s alter ego

___________

Find Victor @roughcopyzine on insta and @roughcopyzinebtn on tiktok!

Keep up to date by following @AlsoPurp on all socials.

Original podcast Artwork by Valentine M. Smith. 

Video Production by Victor Alexander (@Ugly_knees on insta and @clevvergirl on Tiktok)

Subscribe to our Youtube Page!

https://youtube.com/@referentialpod

More at www.alsopurple.com

Thank you for listening! Don’t forget to leave a 5 star rating and review to help people find the podcast!

_____

NEXT UP: MIX #3: Breaking Down Brandy’s Full Moon’ [2002] (with Dr. Jonathan Paul Higgins from the ‘Black, Fat, Femme’ Pod!)

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy