Dr. Imani Cheers, commentator, cultural curator, and professor at The George Washington University, explores why Thriller remains a timeless cultural touchstone more than 40 years later. From Quincy Jones’ genius as a boundary-breaking producer to Michael Jackson’s creative evolution, Dr. Cheers unpacks how collaboration and storytelling can transcend genre, race, and time.

Our conversation widens to today’s media landscape: what it means to be media literate, how algorithms shape our worldview, and why community and optimism are acts of resistance. Dr. Cheers also shares her global upbringing, lessons from her father’s work with Ebony and Jet, and her upcoming books Framing Fatherhood and Sacred Sisterhoods. You can learn more about and purchase her books here.

If you love music, culture, or smart storytelling, this one’s for you.

You can follow Dr. Cheers at https://www.thecheersreport.com/