Shakesha and the White Boy

If you were to look up Bessie Coleman online, you'd quickly find that she was the first woman of African-American and Native American descent to hold a pilot's license in the U.S. But her story is so much more than that. From learning a new language and traveling overseas to attend a flight academy to traveling the U.S. doing death-defying stunts, Bessie was one of the most badass women ever. Shakesha and Ryan recap her life and all of the things that made her such an interesting character. On the mailbag, the hosts give their response to a listener question about relationships and share some of their worst date stories. And much to their chagrin, Shakesha and Ryan discuss the clusterfuck that was the Democratic Iowa Caucuses. 

Shakesha and Ryan kick off Black History Month by remembering the life of Ona Judge, an escaped slave of George and Martha Washington who winds up big-timing George while he is president of the United States. On WTF, the hosts discuss a new research report that suggests that people are lonelier and office culture might be to blame. A listener writers in to the mailbag to correct the record on Bruno Mars. Ryan has a question of decorum for Shakesha. 

From Biden to Yang and every person in between, Shakesha and Ryan share their takes on all 11 remaining candidates in the Democratic presidential field and discuss who they might vote for in the upcoming primaries. On WTF, Tennessee governor Bill Lee makes another appearance, and this time he is taken to task for his attacks LGBTQ+ rights. To kickoff the episode, the hosts take a moment to vent about the frustration of the ongoing impeachment trial and how it is being handled by Republicans. 

To celebrate MLK Day, Shakesha and Ryan dig up some lesser known quotes from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and use them to counter the way some bad actors have recently used the late activist's legacy as a cudgel against people of color protesting for equal rights. The hosts kick off their mailbag segment with a conversation about racial differences or a lack thereof and a comment on how one can approach sensitive conversations with different groups of people. On WTF, they react to the news that the Olympic Committee has banned all forms of political protest for the 2020 games.

CU Boulder Ph.D student Kandrea Wade joins the show to discuss digital identity and how marginalized groups and all individuals can be more aware of the ways in which their digital data is at risk with corporations and the government. Shakesha and Ryan discuss the turbulent first week and change of 2020, including WWIII looming and the wildfires in Australia. On WTF, Shakesha asks Ryan about some rumors she has heard about the white community's hygiene habits.

What is the P word and why do certain people always seem to get so offended whenever it is brought up? Along with their first-ever guest of the podcast in Brooklyn-based MC and producer BRBRCK, Shakesha and Ryan dive into this question, telling you what the P word is, and how it permeates every aspect of society -- from financial freedom to voter rights and even one's own sense of identity. The hosts and BRBRCK share what the P word means to them and discuss how it has affected their own lives. 

Shakesha and Ryan may feel like frauds, but apparently they're not alone. 70 percent of all people suffer from imposter syndrome, a common condition psychologists describe as, "the persistent inability to believe that one's success is deserved." The hosts dive into what drives their own sense of imposterdom while sharing the results of their Clance IP Tests, a measure used to evaluate to what degree a person feels like a fake. They offer some advice on how people can stop feeling like their success is undeserved and discuss how to tap into one's spiritual new car smell. On WTF, they recap a disturbing court decision in a case of NYPD officers raping a detainee and explore why it is that police officers are held to different standards than the rest of society. Finally, Ryan breaks a promise he made to himself earlier this year and decides to ask Shakesha for her thoughts on the democratic field of presidential candidates. 

What's the deal with wypipo continuing to call the cops on black people simply for existing and is gentrification partially to blame for this recurring phenomenon? Shakesha and Ryan delve into that topic before discussing what could be considered its opposite: White guilt. They read and react to a New York Times advice column letter where the writer confesses that he or she suffers from chronic white guilt. They play an audio clip from author and journalist Ta-Nehisi Coates discussing white people's urge to use the N-word and how we should respond when it happens. Finally, Ryan reveals a moment of sheer idiocy from his personal life.

Have you heard about what's happening in the Sudan? Despite political tensions and the murder of hundreds of innocent protesters, it seems like Americans are almost completely oblivious to the situation. What does this lack of coverage say about the American media and the American people? Shakesha and Ryan discuss that and also cover some potential non-military solutions the U.S. could pursue to help move the African nation forward. On WTF, they take Tennessee Governor Bill Lee to task for choosing to continue being racist when given the opportunity to change. Finally, Shakesha reveals a movie opinion that may shock and alarm some listeners.

Is Bruno Mars a cultural appropriator? Seren Sensei thinks so. Shakesha and Ryan use an interesting quote from the writer, activist, and YouTuber as a springboard into a discussion about the differences between cultural appropriation and cultural appreciation. They touch upon the subject as it relates to music, dance, and fashion. They also debut a new recurring segment called WTF.