Welcome to The Curiosity Podcast.

"Yearning for romance, a single Black woman takes her dating life into her own hands in a very unconventional way leading to consequences she never saw coming."

That is the logline for "In Need of a Love Story," written by Nikita Hamilton and co-executive produced by Jodine Gordon.

Hamilton is a TV and features writer, producer, and director who never thought she’d have any of those titles. She moved to Los Angeles in 2011 to complete a Ph.D. at the Annenberg School at the University of Southern California, which included study on representations of Black women in TV.

Gordon is a producer, writer, and creative strategist working at the intersection of storytelling, technology, and culture. She is the former Head of Creative Innovation at Amazon MGM Studios, where she led high-profile talent partnerships and develops next generation storytelling initiatives across film, TV, and animation.

Hamilton and Gordon joined me to chat about why we are in need of this love story that they're producing; how "Gloria & Marvin" from "Waiting to Exhale" inspired the possibility of real love stories; and how we, the people, can help bring this film to life through a fundraising campaign.

Jump in on this mini-episode of "The Curiosity Podcast" where we discuss "What's Up with Love Stories?"

Follow them at:

IG: @inneedofalovestory

https://www.nikitahamilton.com/

Donate here:

https://seedandspark.com/fund/in-need-of-a-love-story

Host and Executive Producer: Jennifer Brown

Editor: Jennifer Brown

Show Art By: London Gray

Distributed by: BlakOWND Productions, LLC

Dr. Marion Orr joins me to discuss the most consequential congressman that you have NEVER heard of -- Charles C. Diggs, Jr.

Dr. Orr defends his claim that Charles C. Diggs is more consequential than John Lewis, Shirley Chisholm, Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. and many other Black congresspeople that are effortlessly discussed within the Black-American public trailblazing community.

We anchor the conversation on his latest book, "House of Diggs: The Rise and Fall of America's Most Consequential Black Congressman Charles C. Diggs, Jr."

Diggs was Michigan’s first Black member of Congress, was the only federal official to attend the trial of Emmett Till’s killers, founded the Congressional Black Caucus. He was also the chief architect of legislation that restored home rule to Washington, DC, and almost single-handedly ignited the American anti-apartheid movement in the 1960s.

Why haven't you heard of him? Perhaps, it was because of a scandal. However, the beloved former Mayor Marion Berry had his share of moral hiccups, but we still acknowledge his contributions today.

So, what's really up with...Charles C. DIggs, Jr.?

Host and Executive Producer: Jennifer Brown

Editor: Jennifer Brown

Show Art By: London Gray

Distributed by: BlakOWND Productions, LLC

Filmmaker Chase Parker joins me to chat about creative resilience.

Right now, in this 2025, the job market for creatives is historically competitive. There are people in the market who didn't imagine being unemployed, underemployed or functionally unemployed (what is that, right?)

Chase has made it as a creative, not in tv & film, music or fashion but in -- healthcare!

We chat about what it's like to produce videos for a healthcare company; how his experience working in healthcare is different from TV & film; and what golf has to do with any of this.

I hope this episode inspires you to get more creative in how you think about your creative skills.

Host and Executive Producer: Jennifer Brown

Editor: Chase Parker

Show Art By: London Gray

Distributed by: BlakOWND Productions, LLC

To unpack science, I invited Wilbren Gwin on this episode. He’s a S.T.E.M teacher for Van Siclen Community Middle School in Brooklyn, New York. Despite being famous for giving lunch detentions, Gwin is beloved by students. He’s been teaching for 13 years, graduated from Central State University and is a proud member of Phi Beta Sigma fraternity.

We talked about the definition of science; how he even got interested in science; how science and spirituality complement one another; and what Bigfoot has to do with science. Yes, we talked about Bigfoot, y’all…stay with me…

Host and Executive Producer: Jennifer BrownEditor: Chase ParkerProducer: Latrice LauveShow Art By: London GrayDistributed by: BlakOWND Productions, LLC

This episode features Tayo Ola. He is a popular chef, whose work has been featured in Forbes, Black Enterprise and Good Morning America.

Currently, he hosts and curates a supper club called Ebi-Ayo Supper Club here in New York. It originated in Los Angeles, but Tayo decided to bring it on over to the East Coast, and man, it has been a big success! What makes his supper club unique is that he is marrying Nigerian and Italian cuisines, which have birthed dishes like fried fufu gnocchi with oxtail and lobster jollof rice. Yum!

Learn more about Tayo Ola here:https://dinnerwithtayo.com/dinnerseries/

Host and Executive Producer: Jennifer BrownEditor: Chase ParkerProducer: Latrice LauveShow Art By: London GrayDistributed by: BlakOWND Productions, LLC

This episode features Mallory with the Flowers. She’s a florist and owns an experiential floral studio in Los Angeles that she says is “inspired by people, to inspire people.”

She has appeared on an episode of the HBO series “Insecure”; has had multiple interviews with outlets like the LA Times and Good Day LA; and creates arrangements for brand activations and corporate events.

She’s truly made a name for herself! But what matters most, in her work, is designing arrangements that are deeply personal and intentional…and she’s passing this honorable mission on to her newest flower, her baby Mabel.

Learn more about Mallory with the Flowers here:https://www.mallorywiththeflowers.com/

Host and Executive Producer: Jennifer BrownEditor: Chase ParkerProducer: Latrice LauveShow Art By: London GrayDistributed by: BlakOWND Productions, LLC

This episode features Dr. Marlene Daut. She is the author of “The First and Last King of Haiti." It is the essential biography of the controversial rebel, traitor, and only king of Haiti, Henri Christophe. She is also the Professor of French and African Diaspora Studies at Yale University.

In today’s episode, I explore my curiosity with living abroad in South Africa.

Welcome to The Curiosity Podcast.

Welcome to The Curiosity Podcast.