The Nod

Earlier this year, Brittany finally discovered the steamy, sensual world of romance novels that center Black women. A fire was lit, and she had to know more. So Brittany got schooled on the history of Black women in romance by experts Bim Adewunmi and Nichole Perkins of the Thirst Aid Kit podcast. And Brittany also spoke with the woman who made her fall in love with romance novels in the first place, New York Times bestselling author Jasmine Guillory. Stick around after the episode to get an update from Jasmine about her third book, The Wedding Party, get the lowdown her recently announced fourth book, and hear how she’s learning to have her cake and eat it, too. This episode is part of our summer podcast club series. We’ve put together a handy guide on how to organize your own podcast club! For more information, visit thenod.show/podcastclub. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In our last conversation with Michael Twitty, the chef and culinary historian told us all about his “Southern Discomfort Tour.” The tour, which he wrote about in his book, “The Cooking Gene,” involved travelling the south and cooking on plantations using the same methods that his enslaved ancestors would have used. (He even did it dressed as they would have dressed.) Since our conversation, Michael has won two James Beard awards  — the Oscar’s of the food world! — for his book and food writing. In a follow-up to our original episode, Brittany calls Michael to hear all about what it was like to win the food world’s highest honor, his recent travels all over Africa, and his unfiltered opinions on collard greens. This episode is part of our summer podcast club series. We’ve put together a handy guide on how to organize your own podcast club. For more information, visit thenod.show/podcastclub. Also, make sure to check out Michael Twitty’s book, “The Cooking Gene: A Journey Through African American Culinary Histo

Each week this August, we’re updating some of our most thought-provoking episodes. This week: writer Casey Gerald reflects on what we lose when we buy into the promise of the American dream. We first talked to Casey about his book “There Will Be No Miracles Here,” back in November of 2018. At the end of the episode, there's a very special update from from Casey, including the realization that he was thinking about freedom, and how we get free, all wrong. We want to encourage you to discuss these episodes with friends and family, too, so we’ve put together a handy guide on how to organize your own podcast club. It’s like a book club, but for podcasts. Visit thenod.show/podcastclub for more info. Recommendations from Casey: Chani Nicholas workshops "Awakening the Three Psychic Knots" meditation "An Ecstatic Experience" by Ja'Tovia Gary Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Was T-Pain’s heavily autotuned music totally genius… or the death knell of hip-hop as we knew it? In this edition of Vindication Court, Brittany tries to convince Judge Eric that T-Pain’s use of autotune was not only artistically ambitious, but that it changed music forever-- for the better. But with autotune’s many detractors, this case won’t be an easy one. Will T-Pain’s spin on autotune finally get the recognition it deserves? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Video game consoles were super boring in the early days: you could only switch between a few basic, built-in games — no Super Mario Bros, Sonic the Hedgehog or Legend of Zelda. But that all changed thanks to the contributions of a man named Jerry Lawson. Brittany tells Eric the story of the man who helped make video gaming way more fun, paving the way for the video game industry as we know it today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Eric talks with Ed O’Bannon, a former professional basketball player whose landmark lawsuit forced a national conversation on whether the NCAA should pay college athletes. It’s a conversation with massive implications for the thousands of unpaid Black athletes whose work makes millions of dollars for their colleges. Strangely, all this started with a video game. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The turbulence and violence of the late 1980s pushed hip-hop away from its party music roots, giving birth to a new subgenre: conscious rap. Groups like and Public Enemy and artists like KRS-One became stars, creating music that emphasized pro-Black political messaging. But just as conscious rap was reaching its height, one song threatened to bring the whole movement crashing down. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Brittany talks to Jimmie Fails, star and co-creator of the award-winning film, “The Last Black Man in San Francisco”, about about the meaning of home, starring in his first movie, and what it was like to grow up in “the Harlem of the West”.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rachel Wilkerson Miller is a lifestyle writer who has made it her mission to help people find ways to take better care of themselves—whether through meal prep, DIY projects, or learning how to use a dot journal to track mental health. But the concept of self care didn’t really click for her until her own life took an unexpected turn. In this installment of Get Yo Life, Rachel tells Brittany how she found joy in the least likely of places—and gives practical tips for small ways to improve your life in a big way. https://www.rachelwmiller.com/ Additional Music Credits by Calid B and Bobby Lord Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

June is Black Music Month, so Brittany and Eric decided to celebrate with a music-themed edition of Six Degrees of Black Separation… with a twist: the loser has to write and perform a song on a topic of the winner’s choosing. Will Eric FINALLY belt out that R&B slow jam about Oprah Winfrey’s Legends Ball? Will Brittany pen a ballad about The Real Housewives of Atlanta? Listen to find out! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Vindication Court is where we decide whether to redeem people or things that are reviled and ridiculed by the culture. On today’s docket: snap music. Eric tries to prove that snap music was falsely accused of being a stain on hip hop. But will Judge Brittany give snap music the redemption it deserves?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Following the release of the biggest superhero film to date, Avengers: Endgame, Brittany makes the case that Oprah has already made a superhero movie that puts ALL others to shame. The Nod goes deep into Oprah’s Legend’s Ball, which features some of the greatest real life heroes of our time. Additional songs featured in the show were “Bam Bam” by Calid B, and "Against the Wall” by Cedric Wilson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Erika Alexander, who found fame as Maxine Shaw on the classic sitcom Living Single, details what it was really like to rise to fame with the Cosby Show in the 80s, ride the crest of the Golden Era of Black TV in the 90s, and navigate Hollywood as a Black actress after that Black entertainment boom went bust in the 2000s. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Food writer Nicole A. Taylor introduces Eric to a simple yet fancy dessert that helps her stay connected with her Southern roots. And Brittany tells a story about a little known woman from history who had the freshest collection of wigs, and even better comebacks.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Good for the Blacks returns! This week, we take a fresh look at the latest Kardashian feud with Jordyn Woods, a trusted family friend accused of fooling around with Tristan Thompson, Khloe Kardashian’s boyfriend. The Kardashians tried to destroy Jordyn’s reputation, but Jordyn had a secret weapon in Will and Jada Pinkett-Smith. Will anyone come out on top? BuzzFeed News entertainment reporter Sylvia Obell joins Brittany and Eric to determine if this feud is Good for the Blacks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Della Reese deserves a showstopping biopic for the ages, packed with drama and triumph-- and maybe a fistfight or two-- but one has never been made. This week, Eric gives Brittany three reasons why the real life story of everyone’s favorite guardian angel deserves the silver screen treatment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A woman tries to befriend a robot, but when things don’t go as planned, she decides to take matters into her own hands. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Growing up, a young woman and her dad bonded over their love of basketball. But there was one game she knew they could never talk about. And for years she never asked. But when his health took a turn for the worse, she decided to ask the question she never dared. This week’s story is from The Nod’s editor, Emanuele Berry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week Eric talks with Cord Jefferson, a writer for NBC’s The Good Place, about how Blackness is depicted in the afterlife (Eric’s Chidi Anagonye standom is also discussed). Later, Eric tells Brittany the legendary story of a little-known Black cowboy that’s better than any tall tale. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We are gathered here today to celebrate the life of sister Mabel Madea Simmons. The iconic character, created and played by Tyler Perry, is being retired after 20 years of captivating and aggravating audiences on stage and screen. Join us as we gather with some special guests (including Jason Parham of Wired Magazine) to reflect on Madea’s life and legacy with a funeral service at the Nod-to-God Holy Tabernacle. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices