The Nod

This Black History month has been whack, but The Nod is still ready to celebrate with an epic game of Six Degrees of Black Separation. Will Eric and Mack embarrass the ancestors or will they redeem BHM for us all? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Romance novels usually conjure images of blonde Fabio wannabees and pale, busty princesses. But Brittany recently discovered a steamy, sensual world of romance novels that center Black women. What can these books offer Black women that other media can’t? Brittany talks to Bim Adewunmi and Nichole Perkins of the podcast Thirst Aid Kit and NYT best selling author, Jasmine Guillory, to find out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A new kind of treatment for PTSD, MDMA-assisted psychotherapy, may be just a few years away from legalization. What could it do for Black patients struggling with trauma? Brittany speaks to one woman about her experience with MDMA in therapy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Eric walks us through the life of Father Divine, a Black man who believed he was God, amassed thousands of followers all over the world, and became the biggest cult religious leader you’ve likely never heard of. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Producer Simone Polanen thought she knew her little sister well, until she discovered a major part of her sister’s identity that she knew nothing about. When Simone confronts her sister, the conversation gets heated. This month, we're sharing some of Brittany and Eric's most memorable episodes of The Nod so far. This week is Brittany's pick: "Sister, Sister". Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Eric's always had an affinity for Polo Ralph Lauren. But he discovers a group of boosters in Brooklyn that took their love for Polo to another level. This month, we're sharing some of Brittany and Eric's most memorable episodes of The Nod so far. This week is Eric's pick: "On That Lo Life $hit". Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Every New Year, Brittany makes a list of intentions for how to live her life in the coming year. Last year, Eric was skeptical of the process. This year, he is a willing participant. In this week's BONUS, Brittany and Eric discuss their intentions for 2019. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Brittany and Eric were recently guests on The Upgrade podcast's first ever live show, where the theme for the night was "How to Fail". In this week's BONUS, we are sharing an excerpt from that show, where they discuss each other's biggest failures and play a work inspired game of Never Have I Ever. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

"If Beale Street Could Talk" and "A Star Is Born" are two of the biggest films out this year, and they’re both dramatic romance epics. Eric and Brittany dig into a spoiler-free conversation about how these movies get viewers to root for the love at the center of the story. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The beef between rap titans Cardi B and Nicki Minaj consumed the news this year. Shoes have been thrown, emails leaked, political candidates endorsed, and Harriet Tubman’s queenhood questioned. We consult comedian Nore Davis and associate editor at Vulture Hunter Harris to determine whether the beef is Good For The Blacks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A little-known story of how one woman stood up to one of the most powerful men in American history. Her story comes to us from Uncivil, a history podcast from Gimlet where they go back to the time our divisions turned into a war, and bring you stories left out of the official history.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this week's BONUS, we have a conversation with Lindsay Peoples Wagner, Teen Vogue's newest editor-in-chief. Last summer, Wagner wrote Everywhere and Nowhere: What its really like to be black and work in fashion, where she interviewed more than 100 people about their experiences in the fashion industry. She talked about putting together that piece, and her own experiences in the fashion world with Molly Fischer, the host of Gimlet's newest podcast The Cut on Tuesdays. In this extended cut of their conversation, Wagner talks to Fischer about who has all the power in fashion, how hard it is to get your foot in the door, and the time one of her bosses asked her if her parents had been in slavery. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Brittany schools Eric on the true nature of romantic male leads, from Marcus in "Boomerang" to Lance in "The Best Man." And she pays special tribute to a prince charming from "Living Single" who’s never gotten his due. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Writer and thinker Casey Gerald reflects on what we lose when we buy into the promise of the American dream. In his new book, “There Will Be No Miracles Here,” Gerald unravels his origin story, which was previously held up as a “rags to riches” tale, and tells his truth, which is much more complicated. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You’ve heard of the Little Rock Nine, but what about the Memphis 13? Eric talks to a man whose parents put him on the front lines of the battle for public school desegregation.... when he was only five years old.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this week's bonus outtakes, Brittany explains why Disneyland is the best place to get drunk, and Eric dabbles in the occult. We are back next week with a new episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Writer Hannah Giorgis grew up eating lasagna the Ethiopian way, and she shows Brittany why that is the BEST way. Plus, author Michael Arceneaux describes his new book I Can't Date Jesus as "learning how to ho without the fear of God." He tells Brittany how he gets his life. MUSIC Music by Calid B, Cedric Wilson and Takstar. RELATED LINKS Check out Hannah's recipe for Ethiopian lasagna. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Eric has a story about the biggest celebrity wedding you’ve never heard of. And Brittany plays a game that brings together Trina, WB sitcom stars, Tyler Perry, wig lines and Whitney Houston’s goddaughter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

BONUS: This week, Brittany and The Nod's producer Mack sit down to talk about a life-changing event… seeing Beyoncé in concert.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kunta Kinte, Geordi LaForge, and Reading Rainbow. LeVar Burton has given the world so much. On this episode, Brittany and Eric give him something back. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices