On this episode of Vibe Check, Saeed and Zach are joined by Traci Thomas, host of The Stacks podcast, for an in-depth pre-Oscars chat. They break down this year’s awards season chaos and dig into Sinners and One Battle After Another, exploring how both films depict Black life in America from very different angles. They also get into Hollywood’s habit of rewarding negative tropes about Black women and debate what actually makes a movie a “Black movie.” Then, they wrap with their Oscar winner predictions.

You can find everything Vibe Check related at our official website, www.vibecheckpod.com

We want to hear from you! Email us at [email protected], and keep in touch with us on Instagram @vibecheck_pod.

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On this episode of Vibe Check, Saeed and Zach kick off the return of the Hey, Sis mini-series with special guest Ashley Cunningham, owner of Bad Ash Bakes in Pasadena, California.

Ashley talks about starting out in cooking competitions at just 16, working as a line cook, and later becoming a private chef for NBA players before launching her baking business. She also shares how going viral during the pandemic helped jumpstart her career in baking, and the highs and lows that come with social media virality. Ashley also reflects on building a brand rooted in her tagline: “Love Made Visible.”

Order cookies every 3rd week of the month at www.badashbakes.com

You can find everything Vibe Check related at our official website, www.vibecheckpod.com

We want to hear from you! Email us at [email protected], and keep in touch with us on Instagram @vibecheck_pod.

Get your Vibe Check merch at www.podswag.com/vibecheck.

Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of Vibe Check ad-free.
Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus.

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On this episode of Vibe Check, Saeed and Zach are joined by returning guest, journalist Afeef Nessouli, reporting live from Beirut, Lebanon. He breaks down what’s really happening in Iran and across the Middle East — and what life on the ground looks like amid rising tensions.

Then, Saeed and Zach unpack the flashbacks this moment is triggering from the post-9/11 era, and the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

 Plus, they share their latest picks for “the vibes are on” and “the vibes are off.”

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Saeed’s Poem of the Week: “I don’t usually talk to strangers” from DON’T LET ME BE LONELY (2004) by Claudia Rankine

You can find everything Vibe Check related at our official website, www.vibecheckpod.com

We want to hear from you! Email us at [email protected], and keep in touch with us on Instagram @vibecheck_pod.

Get your Vibe Check merch at www.podswag.com/vibecheck.

Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of Vibe Check ad-free.
Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus.

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On this episode of Vibe Check LIVE, Saeed and Zach head to Boston for a special live taping with special guest, classical composer Carlos Simon. They talk about Carlos writing music for America’s 250th anniversary, how faith and spirituality shape his work, his newest piece, Good News Mass, and more. Plus, they close out the conversation with an audience Q&A.

You can find everything Vibe Check related at our official website, www.vibecheckpod.com

We want to hear from you! Email us at [email protected], and keep in touch with us on Instagram @vibecheck_pod.

Get your Vibe Check merch at www.podswag.com/vibecheck.

Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of Vibe Check ad-free.
Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus.

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On this episode of Vibe Check, Saeed and Zach break down the political drama surrounding the Berlin Film Festival 2026 (Berlinale). Then, they dive into Tyra Banks and the new documentary Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model, unpacking how the show’s cruelty reflected its era, and how it functioned as part of a broader cultural machine built to break women down. Plus, they share their latest picks for “the vibes are on” and “the vibes are off.”

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Saeed’s Poem of the Week: “How Can Black People Write About Flowers at a Time Like This” by Hanif Abdurraqib

You can find everything Vibe Check related at our official website, www.vibecheckpod.com

We want to hear from you! Email us at [email protected], and keep in touch with us on Instagram @vibecheck_pod.

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On this episode of Vibe Check, Saeed speaks to author Namwali Serpell about her new book, On Morrison. They talk about their personal relationships to Toni Morrison’s work, the shortcomings of academic approaches to teaching literature, why difficult books are worth the effort, and more.

Namwali Serpell’s Book On Morrison is out now!

You can find everything Vibe Check related at our official website, www.vibecheckpod.com

We want to hear from you! Email us at [email protected], and keep in touch with us on Instagram @vibecheck_pod.

Get your Vibe Check merch at www.podswag.com/vibecheck.

Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of Vibe Check ad-free.
Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus.

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On this episode of Vibe Check, Saeed and Zach wrestle with the emotional weight of the Epstein files and the aftershocks that follow each new revelation.

Then, they examine America’s growing literary crisis – declining reading skills, shrinking attention spans, and what it all means.

Plus, they share their picks for “the vibes are on, the vibes are off”.

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Saeed’s Poem of the Week: “The Problem with Early Warnings” by Charles Rafferty

Namwali Serpell’s Book On Morrison is out now!

You can find everything Vibe Check related at our official website, www.vibecheckpod.com

We want to hear from you! Email us at [email protected], and keep in touch with us on Instagram @vibecheck_pod.

Get your Vibe Check merch at www.podswag.com/vibecheck.

Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of Vibe Check ad-free.
Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus.

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On this episode of Vibe Check, Saeed and Zach welcome Saeed’s longtime friend and romance expert Tanya Melendez to break down the rise of romance across every genre. From beloved tropes to what really separates a true romance from just a love story, they cover it all — including a deep dive into the TV show Heated Rivalry. Then, Tanya spills a little tea about what Saeed was like as a teenager. Plus, they share their picks for “the vibes are on, the vibes are off”.

You can find everything Vibe Check related at our official website, www.vibecheckpod.com

We want to hear from you! Email us at [email protected], and keep in touch with us on Instagram @vibecheck_pod.

Get your Vibe Check merch at www.podswag.com/vibecheck.

Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of Vibe Check ad-free.
Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus.

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On this special episode of Vibe Check, Saeed and Zach break down the cultural and political impact of Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl LX halftime performance with Nelini Stamp – Director of Strategy at the Working Families Party and certified Bad Bunny superfan!

You can find everything Vibe Check related at our official website, www.vibecheckpod.com

We want to hear from you! Email us at [email protected], and keep in touch with us on Instagram @vibecheck_pod.

Get your Vibe Check merch at www.podswag.com/vibecheck.

Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of Vibe Check ad-free.
Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus.

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On this episode of Vibe Check, Saeed and Zach break down Timothée Chalamet’s recent behavior shift leading up to the Oscars and what it says about image, performance, and proximity to Black culture. They dig into “wigga” culture and who benefits when Black culture becomes a costume. Plus, they share their picks for “the vibes are on, the vibes are off”.

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Saeed’s Poem: “Another Nate Marshall Origin Story” by Nate Marshall

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You can find everything Vibe Check related at our official website, www.vibecheckpod.com

We want to hear from you! Email us at [email protected], and keep in touch with us on Instagram @vibecheck_pod.

Get your Vibe Check merch at www.podswag.com/vibecheck.

Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of Vibe Check ad-free.
Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.