My Momma Told Me: "All Famous Black People Know Each Other"

Episode Date: Nov 18, 2025
Host(s): Langston Kerman, David Gborie
Guest: Jay Jurden

Main Theme

This episode dives into the hilarious and endearing Black conspiracy theory that “all famous Black people know each other.” Comedians Langston Kerman and David Gborie, joined by the witty Jay Jurden, unravel this myth—sharing personal stories, dissecting the roots of the stereotype, and spiraling into delightful tangents about Black culture, fame, and community. Along the way, they reflect on the dynamics of celebrity, community, barbershops, and the shifting nature of Black spaces in entertainment.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Stage & Opening Bits

• (01:47–03:15)
  • The hosts and Jay riff about Black manhood and material success (“I’m a Black man who came into some money, so I got a bunch of hats.” — Jay Jurden, 01:53)
  • Playful teasing around fashion and sneaker habits.
• (02:21–02:56, 03:05–04:45)
  • Show intro with comedic takes on outlandish conspiracy theories (“The government growing babies. Microchips in your anus. All koala bears are racist.” – David Gborie).
  • Early nerd-outs over Beast Wars, pugs, and the fine line between earnestness and teasing.

2. Nerd Culture, Childhood TV, and Subtle Blackness

• (04:08–09:26)
  • A nostalgic, tongue-in-cheek deep dive into ‘90s television (Barney & Friends, Peanuts) and coded Blackness in children’s shows.
  • Jokes about which dinosaure characters might be struggling economically (“You thought Baby Bop would be affected by the SNAP benefits being cut?” – David, 06:49)
  • Questions of representation, subtle social class distinctions, and who gets to feel “seen” on TV (concern for Franklin in Peanuts, 09:09).

3. Barbershop Realness & Black Men’s Grooming

• (11:15–13:12)
  • Jay and the hosts lament the rise of hair enhancements and barbers implementing “upgrades” without asking.
  • The absurdity and vulnerability of being “improved” without your consent (“They be filling in my eyebrows. I go, what? Are you okay?” – Jay, 12:58)
  • The comfort and ritual of Black barbershops, plus anxieties over changing styles and expectations.

4. Black Celebrities and Community—The Central Conspiracy

• (54:30–58:13; 66:12–68:10)
  • Jay Jurden introduces his mom’s cherished belief: all famous Black people know each other.
    • “She thinks being a Black celebrity is like going to the big church in town.” (54:35)
    • “She thinks I’m close to getting the Black celebrity... I just want her to know that’s not happening...” (56:27)
  • The hosts agree that at a certain level of success, Black celebrities do orbit each other, partly out of necessity and social dynamics.
  • “There is a need for community at all times... Once you reach a certain level of selection, there's only like, eight people you can even vibe with.” — Langston, 58:45
  • Further, the overlap of communities can be even more specific for certain identities—such as Black queer male comics—which does lead to “everyone knowing each other” (67:18–67:38).
• Performative familiarity:
  • “There’s a level when people get successful... they pretend to know each other anyways.” – David, 57:15
  • The social currency of association and performative closeness in show business.

5. Stories from Black Cultural Spaces & Family

• (38:43–44:09)
  • Jay shares a touching, funny family story about his mother encountering James Brown on a plane:
    • “James Brown sees my mom, she’s kind of sad, but she has a box with her. And James Brown goes, ‘Hey, gotta have...’” (39:08)
    • The blend of grief, Southern culture, and Black hospitality.
• (79:21–81:04)
  • The “blacker than thou” Olympics—what’s the “blackest” thing you’ve done lately? Black parties, food, and “cookout” energy in entertainment.

6. Community, Representation, and the Evolution of Black Fame

• (74:18–76:48)
  • Reflection that many people consume comedy and art for personalities or identity representation rather than the art form itself.
  • “I think the true fan base of comedy are people who do comedy.” – Langston, 76:26
  • Acknowledgement that young audiences, too, often aspire to be performers themselves.
• (80:54–81:10)
  • Jay admits his mom might be more right than he wants to admit about the tight-knit nature of Black creative circles:
    • “I think your mom was closer than you wanted to. And I get it... you don’t want her to have insight.” – David

7. Notable Sidebar Moments

• (31:12)
  • Reflecting on the morality of humor: “The funny thing is not--that’s why these fucking comics are fucking idiots. Where all I care about is what’s funny. Well, you idiot, then go kill yourself... Humor isn’t morality.” — David
• (41:14)
  • Jay’s mom with braids: “My mom got braids and black and blonde braids in her 60s. My first thought was, I love it. I said, who is my mama dating?”
• (46:45–47:12, 84:28–89:20)
  • Hilarious voicemail from a listener theorizing “good barbers gotta be a little gay,” sparking a warm debate on the intimacy of barbershop care and the nuances of Black masculinity.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On “The Conspiracy”:
  “She thinks being a Black celebrity is like going to the big church in town.”
  — Jay Jurden, 54:35

• On Finding Community at the Top: “Once you reach a certain level of selection, there’s only, like, eight people you can even vibe with... it’s why Michelle Obama gives George Bush the mints at the funeral.”
  — Langston, 58:45

• On the Reality of Celebrity: “There’s a level... people pretend to know each other... if somebody’s hot, they’ll always attest to it.”
  — David, 58:15

• On the Blackest Thing Done Recently: “We put out a whole fucking... cookout of sorts. And then here comes my white friend. And we don’t have anything for them.”
  — Langston, 79:55

• On Black Male Grooming: “They be filling in my eyebrows. I go, what? Are you okay?”
  — Jay, 12:58

• On Barbers and Intimacy: “If you a barber and you are this invested in men’s looks, I need you to be a little gay to care about your profession.”
  — Jay quoting Voicemail, 89:25

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [15:07] Guest Jay Jurden formally introduced
• [38:43] Jay tells the James Brown and hats story
• [54:30] Introduction of the "All Black Celebrities Know Each Other" conspiracy
• [57:15] Performing familiarity in celebrity circles
• [58:45] Community at the highest levels of celebrity: Michelle Obama & George Bush mints story
• [66:12] Celebrity events and performative knowing—all celebrities in the same rooms
• [79:21] What’s the blackest thing you’ve done recently?
• [84:28] Listener voicemail about barbers "being a little gay"
• [89:25] Debrief on the voicemail—ally logic in disguise

Tone & Style

The episode is rambunctious, raucous, and filled with the familiar blend of insightful banter and irreverence the podcast is known for. The hosts and guest shift easily from hilarious personal anecdotes to sharp cultural critique—from joking about Black hats to unfiltered reflections on who belongs in Black celebrity circles—always centering love for community and Blackness, but never taking themselves too seriously.

Summary Takeaways

• The conspiracy that “all famous Black people know each other” is rooted in the very real, sometimes necessary sense of Black community—especially in industries where representation is limited.
• Fame and community overlap, but the realities are both performative and practical; there may be only a handful of people who “get it” at the top.
• Black barbershops, cookouts, and family traditions remain central, persistent sites of culture, transformation, and hilarity.
• Ultimately, Jay's mom might be more right than not: while not a literal family reunion, Black celebrity circles can be small, interconnected, and intimate—especially as social networks and shared experiences reinforce them.

Listen If...

You love smart, unvarnished, and playfully subversive takes on Black culture, identity, community, and the hilarious myths that persist within it.