The King Williams Podcast

In this episode of The Breakdown with King Williams, I speak with journalist and author Josh Green. Josh is best known for his contributions to the Atlanta housing scene through his roles as editor at Curbed Atlanta (RIP) and now at Urbanize Atlanta.

However, today we discuss Josh's latest novel, Goodbye, Sweetberry Park, an Atlanta-inspired story of gentrification and chaos. We explore how the book came to life and how Atlanta has developed into a character within his fiction writing. He also shares that this is the second installment in a planned trilogy of novels and offers a teaser about what the next one will entail.

If you enjoyed this conversation, please visit Josh's website ⁠https://joshrgreen.com/⁠ to purchase the book or find it on ⁠Amazon⁠. This episode is available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify as well.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit iamkingwilliams.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to The Breakdown by King Williams, a newsletter covering Atlanta's hidden connections to everything. I am a documentary filmmaker, journalist, and podcast host based in Atlanta, Georgia.

In this episode of The Breakdown with King Williams, I sit down with Tommy Andres, one-half of the producing duo behind the new Wondery Podcast limited series ⁠We Came To The Forest.⁠ We Came To The Forest explores the ongoing 'Cop City' movement in Atlanta through direct interviews with those involved in the protests, including a never-before-heard interview with Manuel Esteban Paez Terán, also known as ⁠Tortuguita⁠, the protester who a Georgia State Patrol officer killed in January 2023.

In this conversation, we discuss how Tommy learned about Cop City, the controversial Atlanta Police Training Center in Southwest DeKalb County. He also shares insights into the journey of producing the podcast and what he has discovered since starting the series.

Tommy also produced the award-winning ⁠King Slime⁠ podcast with fellow Atlanta-based journalists Christina Lee and George Chidi. The podcast focuses on the Young Thug YSL Trial, which we touch on towards the end.

This podcast is available for Wondery subscribers as well as on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major podcast platforms.

-KJW

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit iamkingwilliams.substack.com/subscribe

The podcast is back! In this episode, L. Benjamin Rolsky (@LBRolsky), a professor and author, discusses his book "The Rise and Fall of the Religious Left." Using Norman Lear as a case study, Rolsky explains his work on the intersection of religion, politics, and popular culture since the 1970s.

He critiques the term "Christian nationalism," arguing it emerged post-2016 and oversimplifies conservative activism. Rolsky also discusses the complexities of evangelicalism and its political leanings, noting the influence of media and marketing. He emphasizes the need for robust academic analysis and critical thinking in understanding contemporary political dynamics.

This episode can be heard here on Substack, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

This interview references two books worth reading in addition to Dr. Rolsky’s book: Nicole Hemmer’s “Messengers of The Right,” a History of conservative media in America, and Kevin Kruse’s “One Nation Under God: How Corporate America Invented Christian America” a look at how corporate conservatives infiltrated Christian politics.

Nicole Hemmer has previously appeared on the podcast, and you can listen to her interview below:

Spotify:

Apple Podcasts:

If you enjoy this conversation, please let me know, write a review, and share it with a friend!

-KJW

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit iamkingwilliams.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of The Breakdown with King Williams, I talk to veteran Atlanta restaurateur Randy Hazelton. Randy co-founded ⁠H&H Hospitality⁠, one of Hartfield Jackson's biggest food vendors. H&H Hospitality has nearly two dozen brands in the world's busiest airport.

Randy also founded Cafe Circa, a beloved Atlanta restaurant staple, before entering the airport hospitality business. And understands the demands of hosting a popular Atlanta restaurant.

In this conversation, we discuss the last two weeks in the Atlanta restaurant scene. This includes Randy's thoughts on the Michelin Guide and whether or not awards matter for his business. We also discuss the now viral weekend featuring MMA fighter turned TikTok food reviewer/influencer Keith Lee.

We also discuss the related topics on the social media conversation and the reputation of Black Atlanta restaurants. This includes his thoughts on the perceived lack of service culture in certain Black Atlanta and the realities of owning a restaurant. As well as what he would do to change the reputation of the food scene in Black Atlanta.

This episode is also available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Substack.

-KJW

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit iamkingwilliams.substack.com/subscribe

This podcast is a connection point between my previous newsletter and my next newsletter. My next newsletter will be released tomorrow and focuses on the social media controversies of several Atlanta restaurants’ interactions with customers, including TikTok food reviewer Keith Lee. And the connections to a broader commentary on the brand of Black Atlanta + the Black Atlanta restaurant scene.

This podcast episode can also be found on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Substack!

—P.S. I can’t believe how much these topics have been moving everyone. I have seen everyone’s DM’s and emails and will reply by EOD tomorrow!

The Michelin Guide’s first set of awards is here.

In this episode of The Breakdown with King Williams, I talk to Mike Jordan, a veteran Atlanta food and culture journalist. In this interview, we talk about the wild week in Atlanta's food scene.

A week that includes the first-ever Michelin Guide winners and recommendations. As well as some of the notable omissions and surprises. This includes Mike’s thoughts on what he thinks the best restaurant is. Hint: it’s the same choice as the previous guest, Sara Delgado.

—You can listen to both episodes here: Part One: Preview and Part Two: Reactions.

Mike on Michelin and food in Atlanta

Markers of conversation: The episode starts at 2:00

* 2:00-5:15 - Who is Mike Jordan, and his experience as an Atlanta food writer

* 5:00-7:15 - The various media bubbles of Atlanta’s food scene

* 26:07-33:10 - Mike’s choice for Atlanta’s best restaurant and is Atlanta restaurant scene delivering on a Michelin level?

* 33:29-40:20- What restaurants should’ve received a star?

Keith Lee’s misadventures in the (Black) Atlanta restaurant scene

We also discuss the wild weekend of MMA Fighter turned TikTok food reviewer and influencer Keith Lee. Lee's misadventures in Atlanta's Black food scene. As well as the explosion of the online backlash to specific Black-owned restaurants in Atlanta. Lee’s everyman style of reviews has made him a celebrity on TikTok, granting him a Midas touch for small businesses.

Lee’s non-negative reviews and positive attitude met a rude awakening in Atlanta. Lee’s weekend visit as an attendee for the local-turned-national R&B/Hip Hop music festival, One Music Fest, led to a cacophony of press and social media unlike anything Atlanta has experienced in the modern era.

In this conversation:

* 7:15-11:13 - Black Atlanta, Black food culture, and the brands of both

* 23:45-26:06 — ‘The Keith Lee effect’ on small business

“Grass Wall Restaurants” and popular food hangouts

We discuss the role of "Grass Wall Restaurants," referring to trendy, social media and celebrity-driven restaurants that have angered its mostly Black clientele for years.

In this conversation:

* 11:13-15:22 - The ongoing (Black) criticisms of (Black) Atlanta restaurants

* 15:22-18:40 - A primer on grass wall restaurants

* 18:42-23:45 - The ‘Atlanta’ experience, the loss of Atlanta cultural markers, and its impact on restaurants

* 40:20-47:59 - Atlanta restaurant’s (bad) service reputation

* 48:00-51:28 - Suggestions on what the food scene can do better

* 51:00-56:46 - Does Atlanta compete with other cities’s food scenes?

* 1:01:00-1:09:00 - Closing thoughts

Where can you find Mike

If you want to follow Mike on Twitter, he can be found ⁠@michaelbjordan⁠ on Twitter or at his website, ⁠http://www.mikejordanonline.com/⁠.

Again, this episode can also be found on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Substack!

What do you think about the Michelin Guide, Keith Lee, Black Atlanta restaurants, the Atlanta overall food scene, or something else?

-KJW

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit iamkingwilliams.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of The Breakdown with King Williams, Sara Delgado returns to give her thoughts on the 2023 Atlanta Michelin Guide. The guide comes at a time when Atlanta's food scene is being heavily questioned on both its quality and service. In addition, social media influencer Keith Lee is in town tasting Atlanta's Black-owned restaurants, resulting in an online firestorm of virality.

This episode is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Substack!

This interview continues an earlier conversation from the previous episode titled 'Does Atlanta’s restaurant scene have what it takes to get a Michelin star?'.

This episode is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Substack!

Sara is a food industry veteran, blogger, and enthusiast. You can read some of her works below.

Medium - ⁠Sara Delina⁠

Substack - ⁠Word of Mouth⁠

Rough Draft Atlanta - ⁠How to be a good eater⁠, ⁠Dine like the main character⁠, and ⁠Leaving the party a little too early⁠

She’s also on Instagram ⁠@saradelina⁠.

What’s good to eat in this town?!

-KJW

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit iamkingwilliams.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to my podcast by King Williams. I am a documentary filmmaker, journalist, podcast host, and author in Atlanta, Georgia. This covers the hidden connections of Atlanta to everything else.

The podcast is back.

Hey everyone,

The podcast is back! And for the fall, episodes will be debuting on Saturdays!

Starting this new season of the podcast, I decided to talk about Atlanta’s pursuit of the Michelin Guide with Sara Delgado, a food industry veteran working in food tech and restaurants.

She is also a foodie and blogger. She also recently moved to NYC to continue her work in food tech. While in Atlanta, Sara’s work in the Atlanta food scene allowed her to do guest spots with Reporter News and Eater Atlanta.

In this conversation, we talk about the Atlanta food scene and the arrival of the Michelin review system in town.

In this interview, we discuss what Sara thinks about the Atlanta food scene. Including what she thinks is overrated (Buford Highway) and underrated (old money/old guard restaurants). As well as what could be hindering Atlanta from having a Michelin-level food scene.

This episode is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Substack!

You can read Sara’s work:

Medium - Sara Delina

Substack - Word of Mouth

Rough Draft Atlanta - How to be a good eater, Dine like the main character, and Leaving the party a little too early

She’s also on Instagram @saradelina.

Let me know what you think of this interview, and if you can, give it five stars in your review. Also, let me know your thoughts on the Atlanta restaurant scene, what restaurants should be Michelin Star-level, and overrated/underrated.

What’s good to eat in this town?!

-KJW

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit iamkingwilliams.substack.com/subscribe

In this special edition of the podcast, I live-watched (virtually) the results of the Georgia elections and US midterms with Tea Troutman. Tea is a talented journalist, Georgia native, and current Ph.D. student.

We talk about the live results of several US races including the Pennsylvania and Arizona US Senate races alongside several national ballot initiatives. This interview is available on Spotify and on Apple Podcasts and starts 90 seconds in.

Timestamps:

1:30 - Interview start

2:30 - Hot take: Tea Troutman’s politics—Tea

3:00 - My thoughts on polling in the 2022 election

4:25 - Thoughts on Kemp/Warnock as a split ticket

7:00 - The Kemp/Warnock voter is the new Nathan Deal/Kasim Reed voter

7:56 - Kemp’s covid response

8:59 - Why did people support Warnock over Stacey?

11:30 - Where does Stacey Abrams go from here?

13:00 - Where do the Democrats and Republicans go from here?

19:07 - Hot take: Tea’s thoughts on politicians taking activists’ work and phrases—Tea

23:03 - General malaise in this election with would be Dem voters

27:30 - Contextualizing the impact of Republicans on the Supreme Court

29:37 - The role of an activist in a GOP-led society

33:30 - Updates on Georgia vote totals

34:45 - Mableton Cityhood

41:48 - More updates on California, and Illinois special ballot initiatives

45:15 - Hot take: film industry people don’t want to live in Georgia —King

52:16 - Update 1,100 votes separate Warnock and Walker + looking at vote totals

55:16 - Why Georgia’s new absentee ballot laws changed turnout

58:45 - Potential national implications of voter suppression

1:00:30 - Rise of global fascism and the recent Brazilian election

1:04:00 - Potential of an upcoming Supreme Court case in Louisiana and North Carolina on voter suppression, gerrymandering, and the ‘independent state doctrine’.

1:07:00 - Hot take: White men have never let go of power in the state, from 1700s-present.—King

1:12:22 - Hot take: Brian Kemp is Richard Nixon —King

1:13:30 - Pennsylvania US Senate and Governor’s race updates + thoughts on Dr. Oz versus Jon Fetterman with a dash of ableism.

1:15:49 - Hot take: White people (in the majority) are voting Republican regardless

1:17:57 - What does it take for the US to have a viable 3rd party? —Tea

1:21:04 - Another Warnock-Walker update + other totals

1:21:55 - SB202 and problems with the live totals

1:24:15 - Hot take: Florida is who we thought they were —Tea + King

1:29:19 - Arizona Governor and US Senate races

1:31:23 - Hot take: Does the GOP take the US back to the 1850s or the 1950s?

1:31:51 - Hot take: Does Biden run again in 2024?

1:33:15 - Hot take: What does the Biden administration do now?

1:35:20 - Hot take: President Ron DeSantis?

1:37:57 - Hot take: What is the next thing in the culture wars?

1:40:21 - Hot take: Herschel Walker’s candidacy is disrespectful to Black Republicans—King

1:43:21 - Updates on the DC tipping initiative

1:45:00 - Hot take: Black Christians backing away from Stacey on abortion

1:48:00 - Closing comments and updates

This was a long chat and I hope you enjoyed it, if you have additional questions, comments, or concerns—or hot takes of your own, please let me know or in the comments below.

-KJW

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit iamkingwilliams.substack.com/subscribe

In this interview, I talk to Nicole Hemmer, author of the book Messengers of the Right: Conservative Media and the Transformation of American Politics. In this conversation, we talk about the history of conservative media in the US. Nicole is also the host of a popular history podcast called Past Present, which talks about the historic parallels of top news stories.

We talk about its roots in anti-war activists and its anti-New Deal stance/ We talk about the rise of outlets such as Human Events, National Review, and others bringing in a socially acceptable version of conservatism, that still holds true today. This was in contrast to the brash anti-civil rights, and anti-integration ethos of the 1950s/1960s.

We also talk about the role of talk radio in the 1970s leading to the growth of conservative podcasts today. In addition, this interview talks about how conservative media frames narratives and how it shapes public policy goals using media. This includes Ronald Reagan’s efforts in the 1980s to eliminate general standards along the fairness doctrine and the role of the 1996 telecommunications act. We also talk about the role of former talk radio Rush Limbaugh on conservatism and the model he set forth in the 1990s. We end this conversation by talking about the role of YouTube and social media plays now in conservative media.

This interview can be heard here on Substack, Apple Podcasts, and on Spotify.

*ALSO, my apologies on my microphone. I have it fixed now, but at times during the interview, my audio spikes and falls at times.

Timestamps:

2:45 - Who is Nicole Hemmer?

3:15 - How did Nicole get into history?

4:24 - How did her book Messengers of the Right happen?

6:30 - What about the 1940s that brought about the rise of conservative media?

8:49 - How the role of television and 1950s culture played in conservative media being alt-media

11:10 - The creation of ‘Liberal media’ claims in the 1950s as a political identity?

13:30 - Conservative wasn’t always the GOP historically

15:00 - How the 1960s changed everything in media and the role of media

18:00 - The nomination of Barry Goldwater and his long-term impact on conservatives

22:20 - The impact of Richard Nixon on conservatives

25:30 - Vice President Spiro Agnew’s 1969 speech directly using conservative media jargon and the mainstreaming of ‘liberal bias’

28:16 - How conservative media destroyed journalism’s world of impartiality and objectivity

32:16 - The rise of talk radio and its impact on conservative media

37:00 - The rise of Rupert Murdoch

42:00 - Tucker Carlson and punditry in conservative media

45:40 - How the internet has changed conservative media

49:00 - How conservative podcasting is taking over the internet

51:40 - Conservative culture wars are having their moment in controlling the narrative

54:20 - Nicole’s other podcasts

55:20 - Nicole’s next book on 1990’s conservativism post-Ronald Reagan

57:00 - What’s something about Nicole that people misconstrue about her.

58:45 - What’s making her happy

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit iamkingwilliams.substack.com/subscribe

In this interview, I talk to Dr. Michelle Schreiner. Dr. Schreiner is one of two candidates in the June 21st runoff to represent HD90 aka 'The Stacey Abrams' district. (Interview starts at 3:00)

HD90 formerly HD89 (via the controversial fall 2021 statewide redistricting) is one of the most demographically diverse districts in metro Atlanta both racially and economically. The district includes both the city of Atlanta and DeKalb County. This district includes on the DeKalb side parts of unincorporated Decatur, Panthersville, Cedar Grove, Conley, Gresham Park, and parts of Ellenwood. While parts of Atlanta include East Lake, Kirkwood, East Atlanta, Lake Claire, Edgewood, Piney Grove, and parts of Candler Park.

In this conversation, we talk about Dr. Schreiner's motivations for running, the most pressing issues of the district, and address the needs of a very diverse district. This includes the needs of south DeKalb such as the various environmental waste corridors in the area, the 'cop city' controversy happening in that part of the district, and lack of economic development. We also talk about the issues on the northern side of the district including concerns over housing affordability, bad roads, and concerns over rising violent crime.

We talk about Michelle's upbringing in metro Atlanta after leaving her native Puerto Rico at a very young age as well as what it would mean to be potentially the only Latina in the state legislature this year.

If you want to know more about Michelle you can visit her website. Or you can also check out her Instagram account or Twitter page. Also please check the Secretary of State's website to check your voter registration status.

This episode is also available on Apple Podcasts and on Spotify. 

-King

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit iamkingwilliams.substack.com/subscribe