The People's Donkey

Summary

The Breakfast Club – "The People's Donkey"

Date: July 24, 2026
Hosts: Charlamagne Tha God, DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious
Podcast Network: The Black Effect & iHeartPodcasts

Episode Overview

This episode of The Breakfast Club centers on the popular "Donkey of the Day" segment, rebranded for Fridays as "The People's Donkey." Listeners call in to nominate individuals, organizations, or even broad groups they believe deserve public call-outs for foolish or inappropriate behavior. The episode is lively, blending humor, candid opinions, and social commentary, all in the show's trademark irreverent style.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. "Donkey of the Day" Becomes "The People's Donkey"

• Format: Listeners call in to nominate their own "donkeys," shifting the power of the segment to the audience.
• Charlamagne Tha God: Framing the tone, Charlamagne welcomes the people's input and dishes playful jabs throughout.

2. Cross-Cultural Music Appropriation Debate

• Caller (Kon Man): Raises issues over Burna Boy and Afrobeats, suggesting a lack of respect to Jamaican reggae/dancehall roots.
  • “I want to give it to Burna Boy, man...he's borrowing our music and then called Afrobeat...but not giving us no credit.” ([04:32])
  • Charlamagne and other callers discuss how genre-blending is common and often a celebration of Black music across continents, though call for mutual respect and acknowledgment.
  • "If you’re borrowing, give respect, brother. Jamaicans been singing for Africa for years." ([05:43])

3. Underpayment in Local Film Industry

• Caller from Detroit: Calls out Detroit's independent film scene for not paying actors adequately.
  • “I want to give a biggest hee haw to all the directors, executive producers and producers...who don’t pay their actors.” ([06:37])
• Charlamagne's Response: Playfully roasts the caller’s phone, comparing it to a low-budget production.

4. Frustrations at the DMV

• Aisha from Brooklyn: Targets people arriving at the DMV unprepared or expecting better photo options.
  • "Everybody comes in every day...‘I didn't know I had to take a picture. My hair's not done.’” ([07:32])
  • Suggests allowing FaceApp for license photos for women concerned about appearances.
• Charlamagne's Take:
  • “You’re supposed to look ridiculous on your license...When did y’all want to look sexy on your license picture?” ([07:56])
  • Sets a new bar: “Whitney Houston’s passport picture from ‘79. That should be the bar.” ([08:16])

5. Outrage Over Expensive Funeral Fees

• Talkback Caller: Highlights disparities in event pricing at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Coliseum.
  • “Donkey of the day to...charging Nolan Wells’ family $82,000 to have a funeral...when they only charge $7,500 for graduations.” ([09:03])
• Hosts React: Amazement and incredulity over funeral costs.

6. Lighthearted Personal Hygiene Debate

• Callers Challenge Charlamagne: On Charlamagne's long-standing claim that he does not fart in his clothes.
  • Charlamagne: “I haven't farted in my clothes since probably the age of 17.” ([09:59])
  • Explains adopting this from an OG named Mike Wheeler who said, “Why would you walk around and fart in your clothes, ruin these good jeans?...You fart in the bathroom.” ([10:03])
• Hand Washing Before Peeing:
  • Charlamagne: “I wash my hands before I pee...Have some respect for your penis, man.” ([10:31–11:07])
  • Continues the playful yet oddly earnest life advice.

7. Real-Life Relationships and Responsibility

• Recap from "Just Fix My Mess":
  • Woman admits to “trapping” her daughter’s father into parenthood, now seeks help for their daughter’s quinceañera expenses.
  • “We were never together and I kind of like tricked him...But I need his help. It's my daughter's big day.” ([11:48–11:59])
• Call for Audience Discussion:
  • Hosts ask whether it’s right for the mother to request support from the “trapped” father for their child’s birthday ([12:20]).

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Memorable Quotes & Moments

• “I want to give it to Burna Boy...he’s borrowing our music and called it Afrobeat.”—Kon Man ([04:32])
• “You’re supposed to look ridiculous on your license...When did y’all want to look sexy?”—Charlamagne Tha God ([07:56])
• “I haven’t farted in my clothes since the age of 17.”—Charlamagne Tha God ([09:59])
• “Have some respect for your penis, man.”—Charlamagne Tha God ([11:07])
• "Jamaicans been singing for Africa for years...But give respect, brother."—Kon Man ([05:43])
• "That should be the bar—Whitney Houston's passport picture from 79."—Charlamagne Tha God ([08:16])

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Notable Timestamps

• 02:54: Charlamagne introduces "The People's Donkey," opens phone lines.
• 03:12–05:27: Burna Boy/Afrobeat authenticity debate with Jamaican caller.
• 06:37: Detroit caller calls out underpayment in local film industry.
• 07:18–08:03: Brooklyn caller gripes about DMV and license photos; Charlamagne's passport standard.
• 08:55–09:16: Talkback on Mississippi Coliseum funeral fee outrage.
• 09:24–10:24: Callers challenge Charlamagne's “no fart in jeans” lifestyle; he details OG wisdom.
• 10:24–11:07: Discussion on why to wash hands before (not after) using the bathroom.
• 11:23–12:02: Summary and reaction to woman who “trapped” boyfriend but now wants help for daughter’s party.

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Tone, Style, and Takeaways

The episode delivers the playful, unfiltered, and socially attuned banter The Breakfast Club is famous for. Charlamagne leans into his provocateur persona but also engages seriously on cultural appropriation and mutual respect in Black music. Callers bring real-world gripes, from industry injustices to personal pet peeves, all aired with humor, a dash of life advice, and an open invitation for the audience to participate.

For listeners who missed it:
You'll get laughs, cultural commentary, and a sampler of the frustrations, wisdom, and wit of the Breakfast Club audience and hosts. The show sets up ongoing debates around respect, responsibility, and authenticity—whether in music, relationships, or life choices.

Transcript

[Podcast Host]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.

[Commercial Narrator]

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[Paul Verze]

I thought we said Friday, No, Saturday.

[Commercial Narrator]

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[Paul Verze]

Paul Verze here and I want to talk to you about Paul's best podcast, Will Ferrell's Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio. I sit down each week with a special guest and we discuss the absolute best of things.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Pete Davidson. It's that and then there's everything else.

[Paul Verze]

Dude, his whole life has sounded like the first drop of a roller coaster.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Mark Norman. I mean, I can't even tell you,

[Paul Verze]

Paul, how crazy it was.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

It was insane.

[Paul Verze]

Listen to Paul's best podcast on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever your

[Podcast Commentator 1]

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[Podcast Commentator 2]

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[Podcast Commentator 1]

Everybody wanted to be Beyonce at that point.

[Podcast Commentator 2]

I don't think we'll ever see another Rihanna.

[Podcast Host]

What does it mean to be black

[Charlamagne Tha God]

and eat in America?

[Podcast Commentator 1]

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[Commercial Narrator]

It's your time to nominate a donkey of your own.

[Caller 1]

Remember now, that is how they choose.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Call in now.

[Commercial Narrator]

800-585-1051.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Donkey of the Day for Friday, July 24th is the People's donkey. You know, every Friday we open up the phone lines and allow you to people to give someone the credit they deserve for being stupid. So 1-800-585-1051. Good morning. Who's this?

[Caller 1]

Good morning. This is Kon Man.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Kon Kieran. I wanted to ask you something, Kieran, but I can't even remember. Oh, no. Kieran, I do want to ask you something because I wanted to ask my Jamaican brethren, my good sister Nicole Spencer. She's Jamaican, she lives in Jamaica, and she sent me a popcorn record yesterday. You know Popcorn?

[Caller 1]

Oh, you mean, man, I don't know, man.

[Caller 2]

But what you mean he don't know no Popcorn?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

You know?

[Caller 2]

Of course he know Popcorn.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

But Popcorn said in the record, you know Popcorn. No, I do. I mean, I know, but I don't know him like that. And, and he got a lyric where he says he got a song called Insurgent. And he says a whole heap of warhead, Whole heap of grains. Unruly. No chat like Charlemagne. What that mean?

[Caller 1]

Oh, well, that means that he's not trying to. He's not trying to disrespect. He's the same. Speak his mind just like, you know, you know, I mean,

[Charlamagne Tha God]

okay, all right,

[Caller 2]

guys, he's not dissing you. He's saying he speaks his mind like Charlemagne. That's all he's saying. Got you guys speaks the truth like Charlemagne.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

No, I'm be honest with you. I couldn't even understand what the brother said just now, but I didn't want to ask him what he meant either. But who?

[Caller 1]

You want to get a biggest down a little bit? I'm gonna give my American accent now.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Okay.

[Caller 1]

Hey, what's up, man?

[Caller 2]

You sound like Shaggy now. You sound like Shaggy now.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Who you want to get a biggest?

[Caller 1]

Yeah, I want to give it to Burna Boy, man. What? Bur boy, let me ask you a question. What kind of music is he doing?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Afrobeats.

[Caller 1]

Oh, it's what it sounds like.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I mean, it sound like reggae, but I mean a lot of afrobeats sound like.

[Caller 1]

Oh, oh, so it's not authentic. Right. So he's barring our music and then called Afrobeat. Well, I'm not giving us no credit.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Well, I think guys like Burnaby's, you know, I've heard the term Afro fusion. And Afro fusion is like Afro beats and dance hall reggae and a little bit of hip hop.

[Caller 1]

Charlemagne. There's no Afro. The thing is, there's an Afrobeat, but it's not authentically. It's not authentic African. It's a borrowed thing. So you gotta give the people the credit. It's the old Spanish reggaeton.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yes.

[Caller 1]

So I'm saying the same thing, Burnable. I can't get no respect from no Jamaican because he don't respect us.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

But what about what? I mean, I. I could be completely wrong, but I feel like I've heard Burner talk about Afro fusion, where he fuses all of these different sounds. And it's all black music from black people, right? Whether it's Afrobeats, reggae, dance hall, hip hop. Like it's all black culture from around the globe.

[Caller 1]

But you gotta show those people that you borrowed from, huh? You gotta show that the people you're borrowing is from. Every time we call him out, he says he keep acting as if you don't want to give us no credit. Let me tell you something, Burnable. Jamaica's been singing for Africa for years. You come on the stage and you dance like us, you think like us and you don't respect us. I've heard your mom made a statement, say we are from Africa. And it's as if you know you have the right to do anything. Yeah, you do. You can borrow it. But give respect, brother. We as Jamaican, been singing for Africa, fighting for Africa, Nelson Mandela, all of that and you turn around and slap us in the face. Bur sh Put some respect for.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yes. I don't think Burner boy mean no disrespect though, but thank you for calling. Good morning. Who's this?

[Caller 1]

Good morning. This is s from Detroit over at Stack first publisher.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

What up, though? Who you want to get the biggest he haul to, sir?

[Caller 1]

So I want to get a biggest he haul to all the directors, executive producers and producers in the movie industry in Detroit, the independent movie industry who don't pay their actors. Y' all don't play y' all production team. Like guys assign contracts to do a. A, you know, act for somebody like. And it just don't go through. Like,

[Charlamagne Tha God]

that's it. Well, sound like you got an independent phone, bro. You know what I'm saying? Your phone needed more. More of a budget. Good morning. Who's this?

[Podcast Commentator 2]

Good morning. Charlamagne. Tha God. This is Aisha calling from Brooklyn.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Peace. Aisha from Brooklyn. Who you want to give the biggest hee haw to? Ayesha from Brooklyn.

[Podcast Commentator 2]

I want to give the biggest hee haw to anybody coming to the DMV today not expecting to take a photo and not coming in with any documents.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

The dm. Oh, the dmv. Okay. Got you, got you, got you. Yes. Yes. Yes. Damn.

[Podcast Commentator 2]

Yes. Charla. Everybody comes in every day. Oh, my God. I didn't know I had to take a picture. My hair's not done. Oh, my God. I need my Social Security card.

[Caller 2]

Yeah, people don't go online and check the things that they actually need when

[Charlamagne Tha God]

they have to go through it.

[Caller 2]

And I don't understand the picture. Like, I think DMV should allow women to put a face app on it, because a lot of women I know I'm there when I had to go to thing, there was women that wanted to be like, can I get another picture?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Can I get another picture? Yeah, but you're supposed to look ridiculous on your license. I don't know when that trend started that y' all want to look sexy on your license picture.

[Podcast Commentator 2]

But let me educate you guys now. Now that everyone needs to have a real ID to travel. You guys are carrying federal documents, so your photo needs to be updated every time you come in.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I'm gonna tell you something. The bar should be Whitney Houston's Passport photo from 79. Did y' all see that on social media, Whitney Houston's boy, Whitney Houston looks so goddamn flawless. I mean, skin just glistening, not a blemish in sight. Head just pulled back just so perfectly. Edges laid. Man, Whitney look good on her passport. 40. Y' all should look that up if y' all haven't seen it. That should be the bar. Whitney Houston's passport picture from 79.

[Podcast Commentator 2]

I know that's right. Well, you guys have an amazing Friday.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Thank you for calling. And listen, I keep telling y' all every week that we got the Talk Back feature, and the talkback feature is when you can go to the Breakfast Club, go to the iHeartRadio app, go to the Breakfast Club page, and hit the Talkback feature and leave a message. And we got a couple of those. Let's listen.

[Caller 1]

I want to give a donkey of

[Charlamagne Tha God]

the day to the Mississippi Gulf Coast Coliseum for charging Nolan Wells family $82,000

[Caller 1]

to have a funeral.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

For when they only charge 7,500 for graduations. 82,000 for a funeral?

[Caller 2]

What the hell is going on on that funeral?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Lord have mercy.

[Caller 2]

That's Too much money.

[Caller 1]

That.

[Caller 2]

That don't sound right.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

And. And they charge for graduations. I didn't know that. 7,500. That's crazy. Okay, what's the next one? Yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo.

[Caller 1]

Good morning, Breakfast Club. I know I probably won't even make Netflix 40 airways today, but don't care. Today, go to you, Sharma, for peddling these lives for the last 14 years. Talking that you don't fart in your jeans, Negro.

[Jake Stauch]

Please.

[Caller 1]

Have a good one. Blessings. Love all y'. All.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

First of all, I haven't been peddling these lies for the last 14 years. It's been more like 30. And they're not lies, okay? I've been.

[Caller 1]

We.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

We've been doing Breakfast club for almost 16 years. I've been doing radio for 28 years. I haven't farted in my clothes since probably the age of 17.

[Caller 2]

That's a lie.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I'm just telling you the truth, you know?

[Caller 2]

I mean, not even one slipped out. Like, one had to slip out.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

No, no. And I'll tell you. I'll tell you where I learned that from an OG from around my way. His name was Mike Wheeler. And Mike Wheeler said, I don't fart in my clothes. And I was like, man, that makes so much sense. He said, why would you. He said, why would I walk around and fart in my clothes, ruin these good jeans or these brand new attire that I just wore? He said, you fought in the bathroom. And I said, man, that makes so much goddamn sense. And I haven't farted in my clothes ever since.

[Caller 2]

Let me ask you a question. It's just a side note. Why do we wash our hands after we pee and not before?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I wash my hands before I pee. I learned that from another og, my man. My man, Gentleman George in South Carolina.

[Caller 2]

I do your, you know, your stuff and then peeing in, you know, I

[Charlamagne Tha God]

mean, you can wash your hands now. You. That's me. I wash my hands before I pee. What are you talking about?

[Caller 2]

Okay.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I don't fault my clothes, and I wash my hands before I pee. Y' all got a lot to learn, I see. Don't worry. Y' all learn. That's what we here for. We here to teach y' all on this radio. And by the way, if you think some of these things are impossible, just try them and watch how your life change. Stop farting in your clothes and watch how your life changes. Wash your hands before you pee. Have some respect for your penis, man.

[Caller 2]

That's right.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Okay, now that's the people's donkey. We do that every Friday. 1-800-585-1051. You can call up and give somebody the credit they deserve for being stupid. Every Friday. But when we come back, we're gonna

[Caller 2]

open up the phone lines. 800-585-1051. Yesterday a lady during Just fix my mess said this.

[Podcast Commentator 2]

How do I tell my daughter's father I need help but okay, he ain't but not enough work.

[Podcast Host]

Why do you need to tell him he ain't ish.

[Podcast Commentator 2]

I'm nervous and I'm gonna cry.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

It's okay.

[Podcast Commentator 2]

No, it's okay.

[Podcast Host]

It's okay.

[Podcast Commentator 2]

My daughter will be 15 next month and I'm having to keep Canada for her. And I need his help. I need money.

[Podcast Host]

Is he on child support? Have you taken matters? Why not?

[Podcast Commentator 2]

We were never together and I kind of like tricked him.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

You trapped him purposely?

[Podcast Commentator 2]

Yes, that's why I never took him to child support. But I need his help. It's my daughter's big day, you know,

[Podcast Host]

and that's what matters, whether you trapped him or not.

[Caller 2]

So that's the question. 800-585-1051. This lady trapped this man. They had a child. She's 15 years old. She once she wants the boyfriend to play for the baby's father to pay for the concierge. What are your thoughts? What? What do you think? Let's discuss 800-585-1051. It's the breakfast Club.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Good morning, dog. Here today is sponsored by renowned personal injury attorney Michael the Bull Laminster. Don't be a donkey when you need a fighter on your side. If you're ever injured, go to Michael the bull.com. that's Michael the bull.com. and when you mess with the bull, you get the horns.

[Podcast Host]

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[Commercial Narrator]

This show is brought to you by our family wizard and hello Divorce. You're wrapping up a meeting when your phone starts buzzing. It's your co parent asking where you are. And that's when it hits you. The pickup time changed the message got buried in a text thread and your kid is waiting outside Right now. You're frustrated before you even call back and that's not who you want to be. Our Family wizard gives both parents one shared calendar. Every schedule change confirmed by both sides, messages and expenses in one place instead of scattered across texts and voicemails. For 25 years, more than a million co parents have trusted our Family wizard to bring a little more calm to the chaos. Us two Platforms for Life After Divorce hello, Divorce helps you through the divorce itself affordably and our Family wizard carries the co parenting that comes after you've got enough on your plate. Let our family wizard carry the day to day. Start risk [e-mail] iheart backed by a 30 day money back guarantee. Ourfamilywizard.com iheart Paul Verze here and I

[Paul Verze]

want to talk to you about Paul's best podcast, Will Ferrell's Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio. I sit down each week with a special guest and we discuss absolute best of things.

[Caller 2]

Davidson.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

It's that and then there's everything else.

[Paul Verze]

Dude, his whole life has sounded like the first drop of a roller coaster. Mark Norman I mean, I can't even tell you, Paul, how crazy it was.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

It was insane.

[Paul Verze]

Listen to Paul's best podcast on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Podcast Commentator 1]

Can superstars even exist the way they used to?

[Podcast Commentator 2]

2016 was sort of that last era of monoculture where we still consume things in community.

[Podcast Commentator 1]

Everybody wanted to be Beyonce at that point.

[Podcast Commentator 2]

Ugh. I don't think we'll ever see another Rihanna.

[Podcast Host]

What does it mean to be black

[Podcast Commentator 2]

and eat in America?

[Podcast Commentator 1]

You will never make me feel bad

[Charlamagne Tha God]

for being a black girl for being

[Podcast Commentator 1]

a black American girl ever. From music to food to the conversations shaping black culture, right now, therapy for Black girls is bringing it all to the mic. Listen to Therapy for Black Girls on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Podcast Host]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.