The people's Donkey

Summary

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Donkey of the Day – "The People's Donkey"

Podcast: Donkey of the Day (Power 105.1 FM WWPR-FM)
Host: Charlamagne Tha God
Date: June 5, 2026
Episode Theme: Listeners Award the Donkey of the Day

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Episode Overview

This special "People's Donkey" edition flips the iconic "Donkey of the Day" segment, granting listeners control of the phone lines to nominate anyone they feel deserves the Donkey title—that is, credit for "being stupid." Charlamagne, Envy, and Lauren LaRosa take calls, riff on listener choices, and engage with heartfelt, humorous, and honest discussions about everything from national politics to personal relationships. The episode is filled with candid exchanges, notable moments of vulnerability, and sharp comedic banter.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Kicking Off the "People's Donkey"

[02:25-02:46]

• Charlamagne introduces the People's Donkey, opening the lines for listeners to deliver their own award.
• "That's where we open the phone lines and allow you, the listener, to give somebody the credit they deserve. For being stupid."
  — Charlamagne Tha God [02:27]

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2. Caller #1: Thomas from New Mexico

[02:46-03:14]

• Nominee: Donald Trump
  • Reason: Attending Knicks games and hosting USC events without addressing rising prices, contrasting promises to lower them.
  • Caller's Frustration: “Supposed to make [things] cheaper, and it’s making it more expensive.” — Thomas [02:50]
• Panel chimes in: Charlamagne agrees, saying it looks like Trump doesn't have bigger issues to solve.
  • "It gives the impression that you don't have bigger things to be doing than attending a basketball game." — Charlamagne Tha God [03:02]

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3. Caller #2: Brandy from Houston

[03:18-05:32]

• Nominee: Millennials and Gen Zers skipping premarital counseling before marriage
  • Brandy, currently engaged, champions counseling for its benefits:
    • “You think you know your partner... But when you get into, like, a marriage counseling... it breaks so many barriers.” — Brandy [03:25/04:03]
    • She highlights communication struggles, personal growth, and challenging conversations as part of the process.
    • “Love is great, but get some counseling. The tough conversations will pay off in the end.” — Brandy [05:20]
• The hosts, particularly Lauren and Envy, share their experiences and support:
  • "My pastor won't even consider your marriage... without that." — Lauren LaRosa [04:21]
  • “When I got married... he had—I had to go to counseling. Me and my wife had to go, I think, one or two sessions.” — Envy [04:26]
  • Charlamagne adds he did not do counseling himself, but thinks it’s a good idea [04:35].

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4. Caller #3: Tyisha Lavon from Pennsylvania

[05:38-08:52]

• Nominee: Charlamagne and Envy themselves
  • Tyisha, a loyal listener, feels the hosts went too far joking about Lauren LaRosa’s relationship with her father.
  • “I did not appreciate the other day when y’all was going hard on her about her daddy issues. That really hurt my heart.” — Tyisha [05:50]
  • “As a listener, it hurt my feelings.” — Tyisha [06:13]
• The exchange grows candid and emotional as Tyisha explains the sensitivity of family issues, especially for “daddy’s girls.”
• Charlamagne and Envy defend their banter as playful, while Lauren calls for more sensitivity:
  • “Lauren doesn't have daddy issues. She don't have a daddy... And there's a difference, you dummy.” — Charlamagne Tha God, jokingly [06:25]
  • “That's exactly what I'm talking about. And so y'all make light of that on the air and talk about that. That hurt my feelings.” — Tyisha [06:28]
  • “We should start having conversations about the real things that are happening with me and my dad sometimes.” — Lauren LaRosa [07:53]
• Lauren appreciates Tyisha’s concern and shares her own desire for deeper conversations about family dynamics on air.
  • "Some of the jokes be warranted, but... we should start having conversations about the real things that are happening." — Lauren LaRosa [07:53]
• Charlamagne acknowledges the impact of such jokes and expresses that triggering listeners is not their goal:
  • "Yeah, we don't want to trigger nobody. I don't want to put no salt in Lauren Larose's father wound..." — Charlamagne [08:28]
• Banter resumes as Lauren jokes about throwing lip balm at Charlamagne if he mocks her emotions again.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Trump's priorities:
  “That’s not sending the good look... It gives the impression that you don't have bigger things to be doing than attending a basketball game.” — Charlamagne [03:02]
• On premarital counseling:
  “Anybody getting married... get premarital counseling... It breaks so many barriers, and there's so much baggage that you don't realize you have...” — Brandy [04:10]
• Listener-Host dynamic:
  “I think that y’all go too hard on Lauren, and... that really hurt my heart.” — Tyisha [05:50] “Lauren doesn't have daddy issues. She don't have a daddy. And there's a difference, you dummy.” — Charlamagne (jokingly provocative) [06:25] “Some of the jokes be warranted, but other stuff that isn’t... we should start having conversations about the real things.” — Lauren LaRosa [07:53] “If my voice ever crack, you better get quiet and just console me from afar.” — Lauren LaRosa [08:57]

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Important Segment Timestamps

• [02:25] Start of main segment: People's Donkey explained and lines opened
• [02:46-03:14] Caller Thomas nominates Donald Trump
• [03:18-05:32] Caller Brandy nominates couples skipping premarital counseling; hosts discuss marriage prep
• [05:38-08:52] Tyisha calls out Charlamagne & Envy on sensitivity to Lauren, emotional discussion
• [08:57] Lauren on boundaries: “If my voice ever crack, you better get quiet...”

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Episode Tone & Takeaways

• Tone: Playful, candid, deeply real at moments, at times confrontational but ultimately warm and supportive.
• Host Dynamics: The humor and teasing are balanced by listener feedback and real talk about personal issues.
• Listener Engagement: The episode shines in letting fans steer the segment and in transparently discussing the emotional impact of what airs on live radio.

For listeners new and old, this episode is both entertaining and thought-provoking, offering a snapshot of what makes "Donkey of the Day" and the Power 105.1 team a staple of morning radio: laughter, realness, and community.

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Transcript

[Lauren LaRosa]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.

[Envy]

Whether you're calling the wise women in your life, video calling your girlfriends across the country, or checking in on someone who always knows how to make you smile, staying connected matters. Those small conversations, shared laughs and quick hellos are what keep relationships strong. Even when life gets busy. Some of the most life giving conversations start with just a phone call. That's why AT&T guarantees a network you can rely on. So you can focus on the moments and people that matter the Most. That's the AT&T guarantee. AT&T connecting changes everything. Terms and conditions apply. Visit att.comguarantee for details.

[Jonas Brothers (Joe, Kevin, Nick)]

Hey guys, it's us, the Jonas Brothers.

[Teddi Mellencamp and Tamara Judge]

I'm Joe.

[Jonas Brothers (Joe, Kevin, Nick)]

I'm Kevin. And I'm Nick. And guess what? We created our own podcast called hey Jonas. We invented a podcast. Well, we didn't invent it.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

We.

[Jonas Brothers (Joe, Kevin, Nick)]

We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts. We get to ask other people questions because we're sick and tired of being asked questions. Well, sick and tired is a strong way to put it, but you know, tired and sick. Tired and sick. Listen to hey Jonas on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it.

[Tiffany 'Tee' Thomas]

Hey everyone.

[Teddi Mellencamp and Tamara Judge]

This is Teddi Mellencamp and Tamara Judge from Two T's in a Pod. There's been one scandal that's consumed our lives these last couple of months. We're recapping the three part summer house reunion and as always, we're being brutally honest. We're dissecting timelines, receipts, blind items, and previous episodes. Amanda and Wes, watch out. We're not going to be easy on you. Listen to two T's in a pod on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Jonas Brothers (Joe, Kevin, Nick)]

Every family has its secrets. But what happens when you discover that your dad has been living a double life?

[Tiffany 'Tee' Thomas]

That is not the look of an innocent man.

[Teddi Mellencamp and Tamara Judge]

Is everyone lying to me about who they are?

[Jonas Brothers (Joe, Kevin, Nick)]

I felt such desperation.

[Envy]

I felt it was what I had to do.

[Jonas Brothers (Joe, Kevin, Nick)]

Listen to Deep Cover the Family man on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Theo Henderson]

It's your time to nominate a donkey of your own. Remember now, that is how they choose. Call in now.

[Envy]

800-585-105.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Donkey of the Day for Friday, June 5th is the People's donkey. That's where we open the phone lines and allow you, the listener, to give somebody the credit they deserve. For being stupid. All you got to do is call us right now. 1-800-585-1051. Good morning. This is Tomas Damas.

[Caller (e.g., Brandy, Tyisha Lavon)]

Thomas.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Why didn't you say that the first time?

[Envy]

New Mexico.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

His name is Thomas. Good morning, Thomas. Who you want to get the biggest he haw to? Thomas.

[Caller (e.g., Brandy, Tyisha Lavon)]

Let's give it to Donald Trump. If you want to be going to Knicks games and hosting USC events and not bringing down these damn prices, Supposed to make cheaper, and it's making it more expensive.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

You're absolutely right. I mean, that's not sending the good look. That's why I said, I'm like, I don't know why you would even. I don't know. It gives the impression that you don't have bigger. Bigger things to be doing than attending a basketball game.

[Caller (e.g., Brandy, Tyisha Lavon)]

Exactly.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Well, thank you, Thomas. Good morning. Who's this? Who you want to get the biggest er to?

[Caller (e.g., Brandy, Tyisha Lavon)]

Hey, this is Brandy from Houston. Hey, Charlotte Peace.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Brandy from Houston. Who you want to get a biggest he haw to?

[Caller (e.g., Brandy, Tyisha Lavon)]

Hey, Envy. I want to give it to any couple millennials, Gen Z, whoever, who are out here getting married without doing premarital counseling. I'm currently engaged, and me and my fiance, we've been together for a few years, but we're doing premarital counseling. And when I tell you, it, it just. It helps the bond. It helps us understand the challenges that we're going to face, things that we may have not addressed. And you think you know your partner. No, you know them. But when you get into, like, a marriage counseling and talk to somebody, a therapist, oh, it breaks so many barriers, and there's so much baggage that you don't, you know, realize that you have or realize that you haven't shared with your partner. So anybody getting married with the divorce rate and just with the marriage rate for black people, get premarital counseling.

[Envy]

Yeah, I agree with you.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Yeah. My pastor won't even consider your marriage. Like, he won't. They won't even let you do your ceremony without that.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yeah.

[Envy]

When I got married, I had to. For the pastor to oversee the wedding, he had. I had to go to counseling. Me and my wife had to go, I think, one or two sessions. Yep.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I ain't go to church, so I ain't. I ain't had none of that. I ain't have no. I didn't have none of that, but I did. I think it's a good idea, though.

[Caller (e.g., Brandy, Tyisha Lavon)]

It's a great idea. Like, it's good. We go every week. I love it. And I Feel like it's already, like, preparing us for what's to come, how to handle things. I'm more of a open communicator, and my fiance is kind of avoidant and acts like everything's fine. And even when I dig at him, like, they tell me, you know, am I doing this? Am I doing that? Are we good? He doesn't want to disappoint me or he doesn't want to have any issue from that. So we're working through that. It's just amazing to have and.

[Tiffany 'Tee' Thomas]

Hey, Lauren.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Hey, good morning.

[Caller (e.g., Brandy, Tyisha Lavon)]

Is Jess there?

[Tiffany 'Tee' Thomas]

No.

[Envy]

She had her son's graduation.

[Caller (e.g., Brandy, Tyisha Lavon)]

Oh, okay. I love her. Well, I love you guys, and I just wanted to give the donkey of the day to anybody. Jumping into it too soon. Like, love is great, but get some counseling. The tough conversations will pay off in the end.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Do you Hear that, Lauren LaRosa?

[Lauren LaRosa]

I do. I hear you. It's happening.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

All right, let's take one more. Good morning. Who's this?

[Tiffany 'Tee' Thomas]

Hello, this is Tyisha Lavon on all social medias coming out of Pennsylvania.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Okay, Tyisha LaVonne on all social medias coming out of Pennsylvania. Who you want to get a big and see hard, too.

[Tiffany 'Tee' Thomas]

You and envy.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

What we do.

[Tiffany 'Tee' Thomas]

Charlamagne and envy. And I'm giving it to y' all because I am a fan of the show, for real. But I think y' all go too hard on Lauren, and I did not appreciate the other day when y' all was going hard on her about her daddy issues. That really hurt my heart. I'm a daddy's girl. I got my own daddy issues, and I didn't like that whole situation. I know that might be your friend. Y' all laughing. He, he, he. As a listener, it hurt my feelings.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Well, I want to tell you something.

[Tiffany 'Tee' Thomas]

Especially when y was talking about her asking her dad to walk her down the aisle. That really hurt my feelings.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Here's the thing. Wait. Wait a minute. Lauren doesn't have daddy issues. She don't have a daddy.

[Jonas Brothers (Joe, Kevin, Nick)]

Wow.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

And there's a difference, you dummy.

[Envy]

She does have a daddy.

[Tiffany 'Tee' Thomas]

That's exactly what I'm talking about. And so y' all make light of that on the air and talk about that. That hurt my feelings.

[Envy]

She has a dad. He's just not there. There's a difference.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I treat Lauren's daddy the way Lauren treats her father. And the.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Yeah, shut up. You don't even know.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

She always jokes about him.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Yes, but what she's saying is, is that you trigger, you made her upset. You just need to apologize.

[Envy]

No, Tyisha, I said if her dad is not there to walk her down the aisle, the UN will. We will walk her down.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yes.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Tyisha.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

What's wrong with that?

[Lauren LaRosa]

I appreciate.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Tyisha. Let me tell you what her daddy did to her on YouTube. She put up a video on YouTube. What was that video about, Lauren?

[Lauren LaRosa]

What interview was it?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

It was an interview she did with somebody her daddy left on the comments. Who cares?

[Envy]

Wow.

[Tiffany 'Tee' Thomas]

Listen, and if that happened, I just don't think that y' all should be laughing and joking about it on the radio like, I don't know. I'm a big daddy's girl. I love my daddy, but we have our own issues. So if anybody ever talked to me and made fun of it, it would really, like, piss me off. Like, I would really be wanting to fight y', all, especially because I've listened to her story about how she was over at tmz. And so for her to go from there to being in the environment with y', all, I think that y' all need to just tone it down a little bit.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

First of all, we are the best thing to ever happen to her professionally. I refuse to accept that. I refuse to accept that.

[Lauren LaRosa]

I appreciate you for calling, but some of the jokes be warranted, but other stuff that isn't warranted, I think, and I was telling Envy this other day, we should start having conversations about the real things that are happening with me and my dad sometimes, because it's a lot of people that I be running into in real life, too, that be like, I actually appreciate the fact that you're not afraid to talk about some of the issues you and your dad be having. I don't know how much my dad appreciates it. That's been a conversation, but. But I understand, though. It's very.

[Tiffany 'Tee' Thomas]

I understand where you're coming from. And, you know, the jokes are jokes and fun amongst you guys. It might be cool, but as a listener, it's, like, cringy.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yeah, we don't want it. We don't want to trigger nobody. I don't want to put no salt. And Lauren Larose's father wound, but, man, sometimes when her voice cracks talking about it, it's kind of, you know, it just.

[Envy]

That's not funny, man. I don't know what she's hurt.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

He said it's funny.

[Lauren LaRosa]

You want that? Can I throw that word this at him?

[Envy]

No.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yes. He wants it.

[Caller (e.g., Brandy, Tyisha Lavon)]

Okay.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Okay.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Because I really. I got some things to get off my chest.

[Envy]

All right. Thank you, Taisha. We appreciate your honesty.

[Tiffany 'Tee' Thomas]

Thank you have a blessed day, y'.

[Caller (e.g., Brandy, Tyisha Lavon)]

All.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Thank you, Taisha.

[Lauren LaRosa]

You lucky this lip balm expensive or I would have threw it at you.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Why?

[Lauren LaRosa]

Because, like, if my voice ever crack, you better get quiet and just console me from afar.

[Envy]

Come on, wrap it up, man.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Listen, we do the People's donkey every Friday, 1-800-585-1051. If you want to call up and give somebody the credit they deserve for being stupid, you can do that. Okay?

[Theo Henderson]

That's right.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Donkey of the Day is sponsored by renowned personal injury attorney Michael the Bull Laminsoft. Don't be a donkey when you need a fighter on your side. If you're ever injured, go to michaeltheboull.com that's michaelthebull.com and when you mess with the bull, you get the horns.

[Teddi Mellencamp and Tamara Judge]

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[Jonas Brothers (Joe, Kevin, Nick)]

Hey, guys, it's us, the Jonas Brothers.

[Tiffany 'Tee' Thomas]

I'm Joe.

[Jonas Brothers (Joe, Kevin, Nick)]

I'm Kevin. And I'm Nick. And guess what? We created our own podcast called hey Jonas. We invented a podcast. Well, we didn't invent it.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

We.

[Jonas Brothers (Joe, Kevin, Nick)]

We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts. We get to ask other people questions because we're sick and tired of being asked questions. Well, sick and tired is a strong way to put it, but, you know, tired and sick. Tired and sick. Listen to hey Jonas on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it.

[Tiffany 'Tee' Thomas]

Hey, everyone.

[Teddi Mellencamp and Tamara Judge]

This is Teddi Mellencamp and Tamara Judge from Two T's and a Pod. There's been one scandal that's consumed our lives these last couple of months. We're recapping the three part summer house reunion and as always, we're being brutally honest.

[Caller (e.g., Brandy, Tyisha Lavon)]

List.

[Teddi Mellencamp and Tamara Judge]

We're dissecting timelines, receipts, blind items and previous episodes. Amanda and Wes, watch out. We're not going to be easy on you. Listen to two T's in a pod on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Theo Henderson]

For years, the Unhoused has been presented as a monolith in mainstream media. Wheaton House is a podcast that's changing the narrative. I'm Theo Henderson and I created the show while it was unhoused on the streets of Los Angeles. We've grown into a two time Webby award winning podcast. The only podcast that shares unhoused stories and news from the unhoused perspective. Listen to we the unhoused on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

[Lauren LaRosa]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.