Today is a very special episode. I am joined by the kiddo to celebrate his 10th birthday! First we provide some updates from the Father's Day episode (Episode 37) and we ask each other some thought provoking questions:
On today's episode Cierra and I delve into breakups. For the first time on the show, I discuss my divorce. Cierra and I both share our experiences dealing with breakups.
References:
The Book of Forgiving by Desmond Tutu and Mpho Tutu
Modern Romance by Aziz Ansari
Mating in Captivity and The State of Affairs by Esther Perrel
Attached by by Rachel Heller Amir Levine
Song I'm Rocking To:
On today's episode, Cierra and I tiptoe into restorative justice with a real and ongoing situation. Cierra's car was stolen during the summer and it has put her through a lot. Guided by her faith, she is trying to regain a sense of safety and security, navigate the criminal legal system, and wrestle with the societal implications of it all. We discuss the utility of police, prisons and theorize how restorative justice could be used in this situation.
References:
Who Knows Episode 29 w/ Randell Strickland
Songs We're Rocking To:
Cierra - Madison Ryann Ward Wanda
Kyle - Oddisee
On this episode I am joined by Ms. Cierra Lewis again! We discuss the eluded to topic of Me vs. We. Individual vs. Community. It often seems like individual and community identities are on opposing ends of a seesaw. We delve into the need to recognize and honor both the importance of individuality and the power in community.
References
Songs We're Rocking To
Burna Boy - Sitting onto of the World
Ludovico Einaudi - Seven Days Walking Day 1
Contact
@cierracarisma
@realdadult
Yet again I am joined by Ms. Cierra Lewis on this episode were we dispel the myth that comes from the old adage "sticks and stones can break my bones but words will never hurt me".
Resources
Songs
Cierra: LaNell Grant - Answer by Fire
Kyle: LaNell Grant - Collect Call
Contact
@cierracarisma
@realdadult
On this episode I am joined by Ms. Cierra Lewis! We discuss a few current events (July 4th and Kiki Palmer) before delving into the main topic: The Black Mirror Episode "Striking Vipers". This episode uses a fully immersive fighting game as the basis to explore sexuality, attraction, cheating and results in (spoiler alert) an ethically non-monogamous relationship. We raise several questions including "When is What Cheating?".
References
Striking Vipers Trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWs6okRD8bA
That's What Ci Said - Black Girl Introverts
Songs
Cierra: Maverick City - Build My Life
Kyle: Collie Buddz - Love & Reggae
Contacts
@realdadult
@cierracarisma
On this episode I am joined by my dad and the kiddo!
In this episode I recap an eventful spring break with the kiddo. We visited my brother's farm in Georgia. I speak about the joy of seeing him feed chickens, plant potatoes and overall enjoy the spacious outdoors. I also reflect on the differences in small town Georgia and the emotional roller coaster of visiting a place like Lake Lanier. I also reflect on the trip to Richmond, VA where we took part in a few historical activites (the Trail of Enslaved Africans), visited the Elegba Folklore Society, bought New Orleans Style snoballs from my high school classmates shop, and hit up Kings Dominion on the way home. I also reflect on the life and works of Harry Belafonte.
References:
Harry Belafonte at Townhall on Poverty
The Heritage: Black Athletes, a Divided America, and the Politics of Patriotism - Howard Bryant
My Song - Harry Belafonte
Song I'm Rocking To:
Kalenda Rock (Mourning Song) - Harry Belafonte
IG: @realdadult
On today's episode I tackle a subject that's been on my mind for nearly a year - the inequity between men's and women's team sports. I first offer a reaction to Bill Burr's standup bit about why women athletes don't make the money male athletes make. I then share my experience as a basketball fan of the Mystics, Wizards and the Maryland men's and women's basketball teams throughout the 2022-2023 seasons. I speak about the experience at games, ticket prices and discrepancies in media coverage. Finally, I talk about the Women's NCAA tournament results including Angel Reese's captivating performance, her reclaiming the "you can't see me" gesture from Caitlin Clark and I call on sports fans to reflect on the attention they give to women athletes.
References
Songs I'm Rocking To:
Rouge jaune vert - Yaniss Odua
iG: @realdadult
On this episode I am joined by Cierra Lewis. Cierra facilitated a book club on The 1619 Project in Norfolk, VA. We talk about her thoughts and reflections on the book as well as the experience of facilitating the book club.
Book References:
Nikole Hannah-Jones - The 1619 Project
Khaled Hosseini - And the Mountains Echoed
bell hooks - All About Love
Song Cierra is Rocking To:
Dreamville, Bas, Ayra Starr - Ogogoro
IG: @cierracarisma
This episode is dedicated to Turner Cooper, may he rest in peace and power!
On this episode I share some highlights of the end of 2022 including some concerts (Burna Boy and Oddisee), Kwanzaa discussions and a New Years Day hike. I also offer a preview of some of what's to come on the podcast in 2023.
Happy New Year!
Song I'm Rocking To:
Ethio Jazz: Yegelle Tezeta
On this episode, I talk to my long time friend Toney. At 26 years old, Toney is one of the most intelligent, insightful and reflective people I know. He is at the point of adulthood where he is reflecting on various things he learned coming of age in DC and how they are applying to life as an adult in the DMV. Toney had meaningful experiences with Life Pieces to Masterpieces which instilled Pan-African ideas around the collective (communal success, hard work and integrity). But now, he is learning to navigate a predominately white professional environment as a Black man while working through the American capitalistic ideals of individual success.
Toney talks about the anxiety that can come from working in white, capitalist, individualist spaces. We delve into the gentrification his family experienced and the disconnect between the historic Civil Rights Movement and contemporary issues effecting the Black community. We talk about the evolution of his Black identity and the growth in his relationships with people of other races/ethnicities and the LGBTQ+ community.
We also discuss his current views and perspectives of activism and the impact of social media.
Book Recommendation:
Ishmael -Daniel Quinn
Song Toney is Rocking To:
Toney is on IG @mr.toneytone
Kyle is on IG @realdadult
On this episode I am joined by a long time college friend MaBiniti Yillah. She is an avid football (soccer) fan and helped me breakdown the World Cup results and major stories leading up to the final. We talk about whether or not we should call it football in the US. We break down Morocco's historic run for Africa and the geopolitical complexities surrounding it. We also talk about the racial composition of "colonizer" teams and the dynamics surrounding national allegiances. Kyle also is searching for club football teams to support. MaBinti gave a strong push for Arsenal....are there others I should consider?
Book Recommendation:
Purification of the Heart - Hamza Yusuf
Song MaBinti is Rocking To:
Anything Stevie Wonder
You can findand support MaBinit's work by following:
https://www.youtube.com/@TheCSEChannel
@cse_media
On this episode I reflect on my trip to Ghana. A major theme of my experience was sorting out feelings of home. Is the US home? Is Ghana a homegoing of sorts? I've read Searching for Zion by Emily Raboteau and Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi. Both delve into the idea of "home" for Black Americans and where in my mind as I processed my experiences in Ghana. I don't know much about my African ancestors. Through African Ancestry.com I do know that my patrilineal ancestor is Portuguese while my matrilineal ancestor is Yoruba and Hausa. These are just fragments of my ethnic and tribal makeup so my journey to Ghana was part birthright/pilgrimage and part cultural immersion. Suffice it to say that the trip has had a huge impact on me and I will look for opportunities to return and continue my learning and processing. This episode features recordings I made while in Ghana as well as footage from my tour of the Cape Coast Castle.
Books Referenced:
1619 Project - Nikole Hannah-Jones
Born on the Water - Nikole Hannah-Jones
Songs I'm Rocking To:
IG - @realdadult
On this episode I interview Mr. Randell Strickland. He is a Chicago native who now resides in the DC area. His career has gone from being in the U.S. military to being a non violent advocate and restorative justice worker in DC Public Schools. We briefly talk about his family upbringing, his decision to join the military and the experiences that shifted his perspective towards nonviolence.
For this episode I am joined by my cousin Lucas. We recorded from the beach in Narragansett, Rhode Island - the site of a long time tradition in my mom's family. As kids, this was our best time to hang out since Lucas is from Seekonk, MA and I was raised in the DC area. As adults, all 7 cousins are continuing the tradition! Lucas and I reflected on the similarities and differences in our upbringing. While mine was heavily influenced by socioeconomic, racial and cultural diversity, his was a stark opposite - mostly white, Christian and hetero-normative. We talk through how this and his familial makeup impacted his journey to self discovery and coming out as a gay man. We talk about autism, "turning in a piece of privilege", being openly gay in pubic, patriarchy and Lucas' current study of Peruvian shamanism.
Book Recommendation:
Jen Sincero - You Are a Badass
Song Lucas is Rocking To:
Senses Fail - Hell is in Your Head
Contact:
Lucas: Facebook: Lucasccshaman, lucasccshaman@gmail.com
@realdadult
On this episode I am joined by my younger sister Kendra. Though we are both technically millennials, it sometimes seems like we are worlds apart in our generational experiences. We discuss racial identity, the R-word, sexual/gender identity and more. We also talk about differences in our collegiate experiences, social media, our relationship with the capitalism/the economy, cancel culture, and more. Kendra is also a huge Dungeons & Dragons player and Dungeon Master. We also shed some light on her efforts to create diverse, inclusive and paradigm shifting worlds through tabletop role playing games like D&D.
Resources/References:
Books Recommended by Kendra:
Song Kendra is Rocking T0:
Contact Kendra:
Kyle can be reached on IG @realdadult
Why can't I vote in the meaningful primary elections in Maryland? Why is gerrymandering watering down the political process? Is it at all surprising that the corporate elite in the DNC are spending big money AGAINST progressive candidates within their party? I discuss all this and more on this episode. I also propose an alternative to the geographic Congressional Districts - what if we elected representatives by household income brackets instead? I also shed some light on the South African Constitution as an example for what we could do differently.
References:
Updates on Violence
Democracy Now! Episode 5/18/2022
Other Sources
Song I'm Rocking To:
Thanks to the kiddo - For Good - Kristin Chenoweth, Idina Menzel on Wicked the Musical & Nipsey Russell - Slide Some Oil To Me
On this episode I talk to my Uncle Shawn who is an English teacher, world traveler and all around amazing person. We discuss his travels in South America, Australia/New Zeland and his most recent travels in Kemet (Egypt), Kenya and Ethiopia. He shares what it was like to save up and leave the comforts of the United States prior to finishing his bachelors degree, he describes his perseverance through some scary incidents, and the need to adjust and go with the flow while living abroad.
TikToc: @doepicshit13
Youtube: @shawnlcarson
On this episode I speak about choosing violence. Yes, I talk about Will Smith choosing violence, Chris Rock & Ketanji Brown Jackson NOT choosing violence, the War in Ukrane, the War in the Tigray region of Ethiophia and the overall disconnects and hypocrisy regarding violence in our society.
IG: @realdadult
The Song I'm Rocking To:
References -
https://www.statista.com/statistics/1293492/ukraine-war-casualties/