This week, the hosts review Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi, a sweeping multi-generational novel that traces the descendants of two half-sisters from 18th-century Ghana into the modern era. One sister, Effia, lives above the dungeon of Cape Coast Castle; the other, Esi, is imprisoned below and sold into American slavery. From that pivotal separation, the book follows their children and grandchildren across centuries, continents, and systems of power. Through alternating chapters, Gyasi explores the legacy of slavery, colonialism, identity, belonging, resilience, and generational trauma. Each descendant wrestles with the inherited shadows of the past, from plantations and Jim Crow to migration, incarceration, and cultural disconnection. The hosts unpack the book’s structure, thematic depth, and emotional resonance, reflecting on how history lives in individual lives long after its origins. It’s a layered, compassionate conversation that centers legacy, memory, and the ways personal story intertwines with collective history. Cheers!

Please be advised this episode is intended for adult audiences and contains adult language and content. We are expressing opinions on the show for entertainment purposes only. 

Dedication: To our patrons as always!! We love you! 
Moni & Kat: To the ancestors, old and new!

About the  Book: :https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/533857/homegoing-by-yaa-gyasi/Title: Homegoing Author: Yaa Gyasi Genre: Historical Fiction Published: 2016 (Moni states 2026 in error) Pages: 320 (first edition)
About the Author:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yaa_GyasiYaa Gyasi is a Ghanaian-American novelist. Her work, most notably her 2016 debut novel Homegoing and her 2020 novel Transcendent Kingdom, features themes of lineage, generational trauma, and Black and African identities.WikipediaBorn: 1989 (age 37 years), Mampong, GhanaParents: Kwaku Gyasi, Sophia GyasiEducation: Stanford University, Grissom High School, University of IowaAwards: PEN/Hemingway Award, Audie Award for Literary Fiction & Classics, American Book Award


F.A.B. Episodes mentioned on the show:
https://www.spreaker.com/episode/GreatGatsbyEpisode
https://www.spreaker.com/episode/-review-of-ketera-of-punishment-island-on-netflix--56231879

**Stranger than Fiction: 💜*Email us at [email protected] with your book suggestions and "Stranger Than Fiction" stories; we would love to share them on the show!! Please reach out and let us know how we are doing!! You can find us online by clicking here 👉🏾 https://linktr.ee/Fabpod Please subscribe to www.patreon.com/thefabpodcast.com to enjoy bonus content and weigh in on upcoming topics. Don't forget to follow, rate, review, and SHARE our podcast! Thank you!

This week, the hosts revisit the cultural chaos of early 2000s reality television through the lens of the documentary Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model  on Netflix. What a time to be alive! From the era that brought viewers Flavor of Love, I Love New York, Jersey Shore, The Real World, and Paris Hilton’s reality TV dominance, the conversation explores how shock value, humiliation, and boundary-pushing became entertainment staples. At the center of the discussion is Tyra Banks’ assertion that she was simply producing the content audiences wanted more of. The hosts critically examine that defense, questioning whether demand absolves creators of accountability. They unpack how reality television shaped beauty standards, normalized problematic behavior, and blurred the line between competition and exploitation. From controversial challenges to moments that feel deeply uncomfortable in hindsight, the episode explores what responsibility producers hold when entertainment has real-world impact.*Please be advised this episode is intended for adult audiences and contains adult language and content. We are expressing opinions on the show for entertainment purposes only. 
Dedication: To our patrons as always!! We love you!
Moni: To positive personal growth and evoulution, Forgotten dedication: RIP Jesse Jackson
Kat: Dr Steven Hassan https://freedomofmind.com/cult-mind-control/bite-model
Release Date: The 3 part series premiered on Netflix on February 16, 2026.https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/reality-check-inside-americas-next-top-model-release-date-news
About the creators of the Doc: The series was directed by Mor Loushy and Daniel Sivan (also co-executive producers). Executive producers are Ryan Miller, Jason Beekman, Vanessa Golembewski, Jon Adler, Amanda Spain, Ian Orefice, and Jonna McLaughlin. 

**Stranger than Fiction: 💜*Email us at [email protected] with your book suggestions and "Stranger Than Fiction" stories; we would love to share them on the show!! Please reach out and let us know how we are doing!! You can find us online by clicking here 👉🏾 https://linktr.ee/Fabpod Please subscribe to www.patreon.com/thefabpodcast.com to enjoy bonus content and weigh in on upcoming topics. Don't forget to follow, rate, review, and SHARE our podcast! Thank you! 

Welcome back! With Valentine’s Day serving as the perfect backdrop for the conversation, the ladies review Relationship Goals, the Prime Video film inspired by the bestselling book by Pastor Michael Todd. They examine the movie’s portrayal of love, faith, and personal transformation, breaking down what resonated and what felt oversimplified.The discussion expands beyond the film into a broader exploration of purity culture, prosperity-based messaging, and how spiritual teachings can shape expectations around dating and marriage. From performative preaching styles to the idea of faith as a formula for relational success, the hosts thoughtfully unpack how influence, charisma, and theology intersect with real-life relationship work. The convo is full of strong feelings and opinions, so grab an even stronger drink and join the fun. Cheers!
🚨SPOILER ALART🚨  This episode contains spoilers!!
Please be advised this episode is intended for adult audiences and contains adult language and content. We are expressing opinions on the show for entertainment purposes only. 
Dedication: To our patrons as always!! We love you!
Moni: Indoor Plumbing and clean running water!! 
Kat: To her daughter for maintaining a standard of excellence over time, and for participating in the school walk out as a leader.

Notes:
Produced by DeVon Franklin and executive produced by Kelly Rowland, Bart Lipton, and pastor Michael Todd Director: Linda Mendoza Writers: Pastor Michael Todd, Michael Elliot, Cory Tynan Stars: Kelly Rowland, Method Man, Robin Thede
About Michael Todd/Transformation Church: https://transformchurch.us/aboutus-old/
Michael Todd Antics:Syrup on the Bible
Michael Todd rubs spit in mans face during church service: https://youtu.be/MichaelToddspits

**Stranger than Fiction: 💜*Email us at [email protected] with your book suggestions and "Stranger Than Fiction" stories; we would love to share them on the show!! Please reach out and let us know how we are doing!! You can find us online by clicking here 👉🏾 https://linktr.ee/Fabpod Please subscribe to www.patreon.com/thefabpodcast.com to enjoy bonus content and weigh in on upcoming topics. Don't forget to follow, rate, review, and SHARE our podcast! Thank you! 

This week, in honor of Black History Month, the ladies review Percival Everett’s powerful and provocative novel The Trees. They begin with the book’s gripping premise: when detectives from the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation arrive in Money, Mississippi to investigate a series of brutal murders, they discover something unsettling at each crime scene, a second body resembling Emmett Till. Met with resistance from local law enforcement and racist townsfolk, the detectives begin to suspect these killings are acts of retribution. As eerily similar murders begin unfolding across the country, it becomes clear that the past refuses to stay buried and that something larger is underway.In this bold and biting page turner, Everett confronts the legacy of lynching, white supremacy, and racial violence in America with sharp satire and unflinching honesty. The hosts unpack the novel’s layered storytelling, dark humor, historical weight, and cultural commentary, discussing how it challenges readers while refusing comfort. It is a thought provoking conversation about memory, justice, and what it means when history demands to be reckoned with. Cheeers!

SPOILERS & Trigger Warning: This book discusses the use of racial slurs, racial violence, racial hatred, lynchings, and other forms of racist behavior. Depictions of violence in this novel are graphic. *Please be advised this episode is intended for adult audiences and contains adult language and content. We are expressing opinions on the show for entertainment purposes only.

Dedication: To our patrons as always!! We love you!
Moni: To Carter G Woodson the father of Black History Month, to all the victims of racial violence in America and around the world past and present, to my mother in law, get well soon & I love you!
Kat: To the man who found and returned my wallet in Kroger, thank you. To the series Wonder Man.

About the book:
https://www.npr.org/2021/09/22/1039434714/percival-everett-the-trees-reviewThe Trees was published by Graywolf Press in 2021. The Trees was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize in 2022. Pages: Approximately 288–320/8 hours 
Author:https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/31723. Percival Everett is the author of 22 novels. He has been nominated for the Pulitzer Prize and is a Guggenheim Fellow (2015).
NPR Book Review:
https://www.npr.org/2021/09/22/1039434714/percival-everett-the-trees-review
Moni learned a new word: Nescience: lack of knowledge or ignorance (nesh-ence)
Other topics on the show:
Monkey Obama Meme/Trump https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/trump-shares-racist-video-depicting-obamas-monkeys-rcna257756
Surrage mix up: https://people.com/couple-sues-fertility-clinic-after-welcoming-baby-girl-not-biologically-related-to-them-11895783
Epstein Files: No blacks allowed  https://www.ms.now/news/epstein-emailed-with-silicon-valley-elites-about-racist-eugenicist-ideas

**Stranger than Fiction: 💜*Email us at [email protected] with your book suggestions and "Stranger Than Fiction" stories; we would love to share them on the show!! Please reach out and let us know how we are doing!! You can find us online by clicking here 👉🏾 https://linktr.ee/Fabpod Please subscribe to www.patreon.com/thefabpodcast.com to enjoy bonus content and weigh in on upcoming topics. Don't forget to follow, rate, review, and SHARE our podcast! Thank you!

This week, the hosts dive into His & Hers, the Netflix series adapted from the popular novel. They break down the twists, turns, and tangled relationships at the center of this messy murder mystery while raising a few questions about the plot along the way. From unreliable narrators to layered motives, the conversation balances critique with curiosity as the ladies unpack what worked, what confused them, and why the story was still fun to dissect. It is a lively, thoughtful discussion that leans into the chaos and keeps things entertaining from start to finish. Cheers!

*🚨SPOILER ALERT🚨*Please be advised this episode is intended for adult audiences and contains adult language and content. We are expressing opinions on the show for entertainment purposes only.

 Dedication: To our patrons as always!! We love you.
Moni: To all the workers making their way out in the winter storm
Kat:Ujamaa Books store https://bookshop.org/shop/ujamaa  trauma informed arts session, & Impact Arts with a Purpose.

About the series: His & Hers is an American mystery thriller limited series starring Tessa Thompson, Jon Bernthal, Pablo Schreiber, Rebecca Rittenhouse, and Sunita Mani. It is an adaptation of the 2020 Alice Feeney novel of the same name, and premiered on Netflix on January 8, 2026https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/His_%26_Hers_(2026_TV_series)His & Hers (2026) is written and executive produced by William Oldroyd (also director/showrunner), Dee Johnson (co-showrunner), and Bill Dubuque. Based on Alice Feeney's Produced by Fifth Season, with Tessa Thompson (also starring), Jessica Chastain, Kristen Campo, Kelly Carmichael, and Kishori Rajan as executive producers.

Notes:https://mashable.com/article/his-and-hers-ending-explained
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt33382217/? His and Hers IMBD
Melinda Gates supports HBCUs:HBCUsGates Foundationhttps://www.gatesfoundation.org › ideas › articles › edu...

Some current events discussed:
Sha’Carri Richardson speeding 100mph https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/olympian-shacarri-richardson-arrested-charge-speeding-100-mph-florida-rcna256603
Waymo hits a child near a school in Santa Monica Grant Elementary (kid is ok)Waymo under scrutiny after hitting child near Santa Monica ...Los Angeles Timeshttps://www.latimes.com › business › story › waymo-un...
Nikki Manaj is Trumps biggest fan: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp87l604nx8o
Billy Porter on Nikki Minaj https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZThybCHAs/
Joy Reid READS Nikki Manaj: https://www.instagram.com/reel/Joy Reads Nikki
Don Lemon arrested while reporting from a church in Minneapolis https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c24gm3dz36pohttps://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/16/keith-porter-jr-ice-killing
ICE Keith Porter murder:  https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/16/keith-porter-jr-ice-killing
The kids who lead the resistace against the nazis
Article making a case for UBI
https://thehill.com/opinion/finance/5713876-ai-displacement-and-ubi/

**Stranger than Fiction: 💜*Email us at [email protected] with your book suggestions and "Stranger Than Fiction" stories; we would love to share them on the show!! Please reach out and let us know how we are doing!! You can find us online by clicking here 👉🏾 https://linktr.ee/Fabpod Please subscribe to www.patreon.com/thefabpodcast.com to enjoy bonus content and weigh in on upcoming topics. Don't forget to follow, rate, review, and SHARE our podcast! Thank you! 

In this episode, the hosts start with HBO’s A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, sharing their early thoughts on the series before branching out into other shows currently on their radar, including Industry, Bridgerton Season 3, Beauty, and Landman.The conversation then circles back to last week’s read, Francine’s Spectacular Crash and Burn. Kat reflects on how deeply she connected with Davie, the neurodivergent ten-year-old whose intense fixations felt familiar, sparking a thoughtful discussion about why certain topics, especially slavery, can become fixation-worthy. Along the way, the hosts laugh at their differing lingering fixations from the previous episode, including a humorous contrast between Davie’s admiration for Steve Jobs and Moni's ongoing obsession with his notoriously unhygienic reputation.Tap in and hang with the hosts for a fun FAB listen. Cheers!

*Please be advised this episode is intended for adult audiences and contains adult language and content. We are expressing opinions on the show for entertainment purposes only. Dedication: To our patrons as always!! We love you!

About the shows:
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Knight_of_the_Seven_Kingdoms_(TV_series)
Bridgerton:https://www.shondaland.com/shondaland-series/bridgerton/bridgerton-recap-season
Beautyhttps://www.fxnetworks.com/shows/the-beauty
Industry:https://www.imdb.com/title/Industry
Landman: https://www.paramountplus.com/shows/landman/

*Stranger than Fiction: 💜*Email us at [email protected] with your book suggestions and "Stranger Than Fiction" stories; we would love to share them on the show!! Please reach out and let us know how we are doing!! You can find us online by clicking here 👉🏾 https://linktr.ee/Fabpod Please subscribe to www.patreon.com/thefabpodcast.com to enjoy bonus content and weigh in on upcoming topics. Don't forget to follow, rate, review, and SHARE our podcast! Thank you!

In this episode, the hosts kick things off by unpacking the viral Druski mega-church skit, debating whether the satire crosses the line or simply holds up an uncomfortable mirror. Then, the hosts dive into this weeks book, Francine’s Spectacular Crash and Burn by Renéé Swindle. This is a novel about grief, longing, and the chaos that follows when good intentions collide with poor boundaries. The ladies walk through the story of Francine Stevenson, unpacking her relationships, her unraveling sense of self, and the complicated choices that turn connection into consequence.The discussion includes how grief can blur judgment, how desire can masquerade as healing, and how self-deception often feels like survival. Along the way, they talk about healing through connection, emotional avoidance, abuse, and what accountability looks like when harm isn’t intentional but still very real. Grounded in humor and honesty, this episode reflects Fake Ass Book Club at its core: thoughtful conversation, real reactions, and space to hold empathy and critique at the same time. Cheers*🚨SPOILER ALERT🚨Please be advised this episode is intended for adult audiences and contains adult language and content. We are expressing opinions on the show for entertainment purposes only. 
Dedication: To our patrons as always!! We love you, and thank you!
Moni: To doing the things you love and the things that make life good! aka the Druski skit!!!
Kat:The the HBO show Industry and to quality TV. Also, to all my cousins,and Claudette Colvin R.I.P.. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claudette_Colvin
Drunk History Claudette Colvin: https://youtu.be/Tov2tLSFq5k?si=4R2YBV6y179ExY8y
About the Book:https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/216522693-francine-s-spectacular-crash-and-burn
About theAuthor: Renee' Swindle https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/276659.Renee_Swindle
Instagram: @reneewritesnovels
Facebook: www.facebook.com/reneeswindlebooks
Pre-order Francine's Spectacular Crash and Burn: https://bit.ly/FrancinesCrashandBurn
320 pages, Paperback PublishedApril 15, 2025 by Tiny Reparations Books Audio Book: 11 hours

Notes:
Trauma Bonding: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traumatic_bonding
Stinky Steve Jobs:https://finance.yahoo.com/news/steve-jobs-didnt-think-needed-171754585.html
Druski Skit: https://youtube.com/shorts/DruskiMegaChurch
Winans Church: https://www.reddit.com/r/Christianity/comments/1obo8s6/bishop_marvin_winans_goes_viral_after_criticizing/
Marvin Sapp viral moment "Ushers, close the doors": https://youtu.MarvinSappClosetheDoors
Lady asked 40 churches to help with baby food "We Can't Help You" https://youtu.be/JwWu7-M1Uq0,
**Stranger than Fiction: 💜*Email us at [email protected] with your book suggestions and "Stranger Than Fiction" stories; we would love to share them on the show!! Please reach out and let us know how we are doing!! You can find us online by clicking here 👉🏾 https://linktr.ee/Fabpod Please subscribe to www.patreon.com/thefabpodcast.com to enjoy bonus content and weigh in on upcoming topics. Don't forget to follow, rate, review, and SHARE our podcast! Thank you!

This week, burnout is the starting point and everything else flows from there. The hosts unpack the exhaustion that comes from juggling work, life, and the constant pressure to stay functional in a world that rarely slows down. What begins as a conversation about overwork quickly expands into a broader discussion about labor, fairness, and preserving one’s peace. Inspired by a Reddit post about a Dutch employee pushing back against an American boss’s expectation to work nights and weekends, the ladies dive into a series of AITA: Work Edition scenarios. They weigh in on office culture, workplace boundaries, and the often-overlooked labor happening at home, questioning whose contributions are valued, whose are dismissed, and why. The conversation takes a detour into gender dynamics, emotional labor, and long-term relationships, including a reflection on whether people sometimes stay with abusive partners in the hope that time, aging, or change will soften them. Referencing Viola Davis’s Finding Me, the hosts explore the complicated idea of retribution, repair, and what accountability looks like when harm has already been done. Messy, honest, and reflective, this episode uses humor, judgment, and collective side-eye as tools for survival..because sometimes the best way to stay sane is to laugh, decompress, and judge strangers together. Cheers!! 

*Please be advised this episode is intended for adult audiences and contains adult language and content. We are expressing opinions on the show for entertainment purposes only. Dedication: To our patrons as always!! We love you!
Moni:Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old mother and U.S. citizen recently murdered by ICE. .https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/renee-nicole-good-minneapolis-ice-shooting-victim-caring-neighbor-rcna252901 and Luis David Nino-Moncada and Yorlenys Betzabeth Zambrano-Contreras. shot in Portland: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/shootings-in-minLuis%20David%20Nino-Moncada%20and%20Yorlenys%20Betzabeth%20Zambrano-Contreras.%20%20neapolis-and-portland-spur-protests-over-federal-enforcement-operations-after
and the Dutch Worker who read his American Boss for pushing grind culture.
Kat:Stranger Comics: Black comic book maker https://www.strangercomics.com

**Stranger than Fiction: 💜*Email us at [email protected] with your book suggestions and "Stranger Than Fiction" stories; we would love to share them on the show!! Please reach out and let us know how we are doing!! You can find us online by clicking here 👉🏾 https://linktr.ee/Fabpod Please subscribe to www.patreon.com/thefabpodcast.com to enjoy bonus content and weigh in on upcoming topics. Don't forget to follow, rate, review, and SHARE our podcast! Thank you! 

This week’s episode takes a different shape. Due to scheduling conflicts and real-life responsibilities, the hosts dip into archived Patreon clips to create an unconventional, raw, and unfiltered listen. The result is a collage-style episode that feels less like a traditional show and more like a peek behind the curtain. Pulled from conversations before recording, the ladies share side commentary, candid reflections, and off-mic moments that listeners don’t usually hear. The episode may be all over the place, but in a way that mirrors real life, creative process, and the kind of conversations that happen when the pressure is off. Messy, honest, and deeply human, this episode offers the crew’s community a glimpse into how the show sounds when it’s just them...no agenda, no polish, just real talk. Cheers.
*Please be advised this episode is intended for adult audiences and contains adult language and content. We are expressing opinions on the show for entertainment purposes only. Dedication: To our patrons as always!! We love you!
Moni: Happy Birthday to my big brother, Marcel!
Kat: Who knows, probably Star Trek! (hehe)
**Stranger than Fiction: 💜*Email us at [email protected] with your book suggestions and "Stranger Than Fiction" stories; we would love to share them on the show!! Please reach out and let us know how we are doing!! You can find us online by clicking here 👉🏾 https://linktr.ee/Fabpod Please subscribe to www.patreon.com/thefabpodcast.com to enjoy bonus content and weigh in on upcoming topics. Don't forget to follow, rate, review, and SHARE our podcast! Thank you!

Happy New Year FAB FAM! On this New Year’s Eve episode, the hosts kick back and decompress with a conversation about 2025 coming to an end, media, and the escapism helping them unwind as the year comes to a close. The ladies share what they’re watching and indulging in as a form of rest, reflection, and survival. Along the way, they weigh in on Dave Chappelle’s latest comedy special, unpacking its impact, intent, and reception, and discuss Nicki Minaj’s increasingly controversial public and political turn, what they jokingly refer to as her dark side era, and what it says about celebrity, politics, and accountability.  Designed as a moment to exhale before the reset, this episode blends laughter, side commentary, and honesty as the crew reflects on how they decompress, protect their peace, and prepare themselves mentally and emotionally for the year ahead. Cheers!!*Please be advised this episode is intended for adult audiences and contains adult language and content. We are expressing opinions on the show for entertainment purposes only. 
Dedication: To our patrons as always!! We love you!
Moni: To evolution in all areas...and always striving to be a better version of yourself.
Kat: To Lush Cosmetics

**Stranger than Fiction: 💜*Email us at [email protected] with your book suggestions and "Stranger Than Fiction" stories; we would love to share them on the show!! Please reach out and let us know how we are doing!! You can find us online by clicking here 👉🏾 https://linktr.ee/Fabpod Please subscribe to www.patreon.com/thefabpodcast.com to enjoy bonus content and weigh in on upcoming topics. Don't forget to follow, rate, review, and SHARE our podcast! Thank you!