exclusive sit down with Golden Brookes celebrating Girlfriends 25th Anniversary

Summary

Podcast Title: The Breakfast Club
Host/Author: iHeartPodcasts
Episode: Exclusive Sit-Down with Golden Brooks Celebrating Girlfriends 25th Anniversary
Release Date: June 24, 2025

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Introduction to the Episode

In this special episode of The Breakfast Club, hosted by iHeartPodcasts, Lauren LaRosa welcomes listeners to an exclusive conversation celebrating the 25th anniversary of the iconic TV show Girlfriends. The episode features a heartfelt sit-down with Golden Brooks, best known for her role as Maya Denise Wilkes on the series, alongside Delaney George and multi-hyphenate artist Brittany Bird. The discussion centers around an upcoming art exhibition that honors the legacy of Girlfriends through the creative lens of Black women artists.

Overview of the Girlfriends 25th Anniversary Art Exhibition

Lauren LaRosa introduces the main focus of the episode: an art exhibition titled Iconic Visions, curated by Golden Brooks and Delaney George. Set to take place on June 28 and 29 at the Line Hotel in Los Angeles, the exhibition showcases artwork created by Black women artists and photographers. This initiative marks a significant milestone, celebrating a quarter-century since Girlfriends first aired.

Lauren LaRosa (00:12): "If you've ever seen the show Girlfriends, ... we have an icon joining us because Ms. Golden Brooks, who plays Maya on the show, will be joining us to talk about an art exhibition..."

The Impact of Girlfriends Show

Golden Brooks reflects on the profound impact Girlfriends has had over the years, not only as a television show but as a cultural touchstone that empowered and represented Black women in diverse and authentic ways.

Golden Brooks (06:32): "It really is a collection about what sisterhood looks like... Girlfriends ... what it represents to me is the whole culture of what it is to be not just a brown woman, but... female womanhood."

Personal Connections and Memories

Delaney George and Brittany Bird share their personal experiences and memories of watching Girlfriends, highlighting how the show served as a bonding experience with family members and as a source of inspiration during their formative years.

Delaney George (09:48): "The first time you watched the series... Girlfriends represents, like, a motherly bond for me, because that's something that my mom did together."

Brittany Bird (11:25): "I think Girlfriends was a talking point in every generation of Black women lineage... from grandparents to my parents."

Evolution and Rewatching Girlfriends

The conversation delves into how rewatching Girlfriends now, as adults, offers deeper insights and different emotional connections compared to the initial viewing during their younger years.

Delaney George (13:53): "I can re-watch it a thousand times and find a different reason why I needed to watch it... the story doesn't get old."

Golden Brooks (16:02): "Art is something that gives us agency to explore and express... conversations like this are really important."

Current Relevance and Legacy

The guests discuss the enduring relevance of Girlfriends in today's cultural landscape, emphasizing the importance of representation and the show's role in paving the way for future Black female-led narratives in television and art.

Golden Brooks (18:32): "Girlfriends was sort of like you had to go to your local Sunday dinner... it was the power of us... we were celebrating Black women's stories."

Conclusion and Event Details

Lauren LaRosa wraps up the episode by reiterating the invitation to the public to attend the Girlfriends 25th Anniversary art exhibition. She emphasizes the event as a celebration of creativity and community through the perspectives of Black women creators.

Lauren LaRosa (19:20): "If you were in LA on June 28 and June 29 to visit the exhibition... it will be open to the public... a day full of creativity and conversation through the lens of Black women creators."

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Lauren LaRosa (00:15): "If you've ever seen the show Girlfriends, ... we have an icon joining us because Ms. Golden Brooks, who plays Maya on the show, will be joining us to talk about an art exhibition..."

• Golden Brooks (06:32): "It really is a collection about what sisterhood looks like... Girlfriends ... what it represents to me is the whole culture of what it is to be not just a brown woman, but... female womanhood."

• Delaney George (09:48): "Girlfriends represents, like, a motherly bond for me, because that's something that my mom did together."

• Delaney George (13:53): "I can re-watch it a thousand times and find a different reason why I needed to watch it... the story doesn't get old."

• Golden Brooks (18:32): "Girlfriends was sort of like you had to go to your local Sunday dinner... it was the power of us... we were celebrating Black women's stories."

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Key Takeaways

• Celebrating Legacy: The episode honors Girlfriends’ 25-year legacy, highlighting its cultural significance and lasting impact on representation in media.

• Artistic Expression: The Iconic Visions exhibition serves as a bridge between television and visual arts, allowing Black women artists to reinterpret and celebrate the show's themes and characters.

• Personal Bonds: Girlfriends provided meaningful connections and inspiration for viewers, fostering bonds across generations and serving as a source of empowerment.

• Enduring Relevance: The show's themes of sisterhood, career, love, and personal growth continue to resonate, offering timeless lessons and reflections for both new and long-time fans.

• Community Engagement: The exhibition invites the community to engage with the art, celebrate Black women's creativity, and continue the conversation sparked by Girlfriends.

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This episode of The Breakfast Club not only celebrates a beloved TV series but also underscores the importance of representation, community, and the enduring power of storytelling through both media and art.

Transcript

[Lauren LaRosa]

This is an iHeart podcast. I'm the homegirl that knows a little bit about everything and everybody, you know.

[Golden Brooks]

She don't lie about that, right?

[Brittany Bird]

Lauren came in hot.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Hey, y' all, it's Lauren LaRosa. And this is the latest with Lauren LaRosa. This is your daily dig on all things pop culture, entertainment news and the conversations that shake the room. Now when we talk about conversations that shake the room, we know that y' all love when we bring the live conversations, the sit downs here on the podcast. So I got something really, really special for all of my low riders today. If you've ever seen the show Girlfriends, and I kind of feel like a little like, like a duh when I say that. Cause who hasn't seen the show Girlfriends? But if you have or have not seen the show Girlfriends, we are gonna talk a lot about it today in this episode because we have a icon joining us because Ms. Golden Brooks, who plays Maya on the show, will be joining us to talk about an art exhibition that is taking place in LA June 29 and June 28 at the Line Hotel in LA. So on June 29 and June 28, or June 28 and June 29, I'm like, why am I saying it backwards like that? You'll be able to come out and check out some art pieces that were all created by black women artists and photographers because Girlfriends, the show is turning 25 or has turned 25 this year. So we. And when I say we, we talked to Golden Brooks, me, Delaney George, who was the co founder of DC DG&CO. She put the whole exhibition together. She figures out like, you know, what is the focus of the exhibition, who will we focus it on, what? And then, you know, she puts all the pieces to the puzzle together. So she brought me in with an amazing dope artist named Brittany Bird. Britney is creating some of the pieces in the show as well as helping to, you know, bring other artists into the show as well. And in conversation with Golden Brooks, we got to talk a lot about what the show meant to us and pour into Golden Brooks, Maya from Girlfriends, just on her impact and what that looks like for us at our ages. And you know, we started watching Girlfriends so long ago and she, you know, Golden Brooks is in this conversation just receiving all of the flowers. But for a lot of the conversation, she's kind of in awe still of the impact of Girlfriends, But Mara Brock, Akil, Golden Tracee, Ellis, Ross Lynn, everybody who has played on this series, Jill Marie Jones, I think that they all in somewhat and in some way understand how important they are. But I think it's different when you get to hear it firsthand from women creatives who've been inspired by the work. So that's what we doing here. So take a listen to this exclusive sit down with Golden Brooks Maya of Girlfriends as we celebrate 25 years of the show.

[Golden Brooks]

Good morning.

[Delaney George]

Y' all are glowed up for 9am on a Sunday. I know that all of y' all are giving and all of y' all are glowing. I'm really excited to be here. I've been in preparation for this conversation, I've been watching a lot of Girlfriends and conversations and I went back through some of the art that we selected or that was a part of the major selection and what we narrowed it down to for the exhibition that is happening in la. And I don't know, I think it's just so dope how you know, a show that we watched and now have been able to re watch with our mothers, our grandmothers, our nieces, our aunties and you know, all these people in our lives is now like we're now talking about it in the way of art and an exhibition. I think that it's amazing to see art be able to be communicated in so many different ways. So I'm excited for this conversation. You know, I know you guys are without introduction, but if you want to just say hello really quick to the audience and let them know what part you guys are playing in this, you know, 25 year anniversary art exhibition that we are putting on in LA that will be open to the public in a few weeks. I think that that would be a great way to kick it off.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Delaney George]

Okay.

[Unknown]

Oh, golden, you go ahead, Golden.

[Golden Brooks]

Oh, you go first. Okay.

[Unknown]

Well, hi everybody on the live. I'm Delaney George, I'm the co founder of creative fine arts agency dcdg. Also this is our first iteration of our new brainchild, Iconic Visions, which basically partners legends like Golden Brooks here and other people of multiple industries, whether it's music, sports, entertainment, and put them in the role of the curator. So kind of like you said, Lauren, taking something that we all know and love within our culture and then bringing it, bringing it into fine art in the galleries and putting a contemporary twist on something that we all know and love. So I'm super excited to be talking about, about this with you all, but also to be bringing this to life with so many incredible black women artists, that's what it's really about, that's what's connecting us. So I'm Excited to get into it.

[Brittany Bird]

Hi everybody. In the live. I'm so excited to be a part of this project. My name is Brittany Bird and I am a multi hyphenate artist and creative and I am exhibiting a piece in the show and I'm just like heartful.

[Golden Brooks]

Oh, gosh. Hi you guys. I'm Golden Brooks, AKA Maya Denise Wilkes. I just, I. I was asked to, you know, sort of come along this journey and help curate and just pick some amazing art pieces from some of these, you know, these artists. And to work with the dcdg, it feels like such an honor. I feel very honored and I still get really emotional when we're talking about any girlfriends and just knowing that the show is still moving and being celebrated and empowering communities and it's being used as the muse for this particular art exhibition. It's mind blowing. All of us, Tracy, Jill, Persia and I, we're just blown away at the amount of just love and support and still the train is moving. And I think it just shows that we need more of this. We need more representation and just girlfriends to be able to be in the art space, which I love. I'm a huge art lover. I feel very honored. So thank you for having me.

[Unknown]

This is a show that we all know and love and all growing. But now to be taking it from the screen and putting it on canvas or gallery wall, I think that's something that everybody can relate to. So even if you're a person that's not traditionally trained art or you're not into it all the time, I think this show is going to bring something for everyone to be involved in.

[Golden Brooks]

It really is a collection about what sisterhood looks like.

[Delaney George]

Yes.

[Golden Brooks]

And the pieces are beautiful. And I mean, I think that girlfriends, what it represents to me is the whole culture of what it is to be not just a brown woman, but, but female womanhood. From our hair to our skin, to how we connect physically, metaphysically. I mean, some of the art pieces were so metaphorical and. And you know what? I feel like art is kind of like a really good dish. Like some, some people, you may not know what you're eating. You may not know ingredients. And sometimes intimidating. When you know a certain restaurant, you're.

[Delaney George]

Like, oh, what is it?

[Golden Brooks]

But once you eat it, it's texture, it's feeling. You just. You just know when you know. And you don't always have to have the right terminology, but when you look at something and it moves you and it, it evokes an emotion, that's when you know that that piece is for you. You know, it's all feeling.

[Brittany Bird]

Thank you.

[Delaney George]

Yeah.

[Lauren LaRosa]

And golden, this is kind of like another full circle moment for you, because.

[Delaney George]

You guys were in the African American Museum in dc.

[Golden Brooks]

We were. We absolutely were.

[Delaney George]

It just.

[Golden Brooks]

It's. You know, I think because Girlfriends was so iconic. I feel so old when I say that I'm, like, iconic, but I think because it was one of the first shows that actually celebrated or, you know, Mara Bucket Kill, you know, hats off to her, showing black women doing yoga and eating sushi and wearing fly clothes. Designer. I think that was the first time I ever heard about, you know, the. Well, not really the Birkin bag, because Sex and the City did it, but you had women of. Women of color wearing designer. You know, we talked about it, and I just think that on so many levels, it showcased us in a way that we hadn't seen ourselves and all of our flaws, you know, And I think that that's something that. I think women of color, it opened up a whole new conversation piece on the black woman in TV and what that looks like, you know, And I think museums. I think it should be celebrated. And I think Girlfriends really was sort of the catalyst for a lot of other amazing shows that have. That have come after it. So I feel very proud to be part of that.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Well, golden kind of talked a little bit about what the show meant to.

[Delaney George]

Her, but for everyone else here, I would love to know. The first time you watched this is like an icebreaker. First time you watched Girlfriends, what, like, what did it represent, like, right away to you? And, like, I feel like there's a version of us who've watched it now as we're older. But try and think back to, like, the very first time you watched the series.

[Unknown]

I'm like. I think. I want to say it might have been, like, around, like, maybe 2003 or 4. My mom used to religiously watch Girlfriends, like, get off and then tune in. And, like, we would literally sit in front of the TV together. So in a way, Girlfriend represents, like, a motherly bond for me, because that's something that my mom did together. Like, that was. We ate our dinner, we watch Girlfriends, and my mom would literally quote Maya's like, oh, hell no. All the time.

[Golden Brooks]

She's probably watching this. Oh, hell no. Get in here and clean this room.

[Unknown]

Exactly. So, I mean, that was definitely a bonding moment for me and my mom, like, so early. Early 2000s, for sure. And then it's like when I saw just the imagery of these black women, me being that age, I didn't really get to Lauren Digest, like, all of, like, the drama and the seriousness, but they were just so beautiful and, like, fabulous in the fashion, in a style. Like, every single episode, everybody was on point. Toni with all of her designer and her Prada. Like, I was crazy because, like, I mean, growing up in New Orleans, like, we just did not see that type of caliber of black women. And I think you said, like, I said golden. Like, that didn't just expose, you know, that exposed everyone to, like, the fact that this is what we can be. These black women do exist. And that was, like, my first occurrences with it. It was inspiring to see that. But also, it was a bonding moment for me and my mom.

[Golden Brooks]

I love that. That's so beautiful.

[Brittany Bird]

I think I started watching it and maybe, like, 2000 or 2001. I was definitely, like, in elementary school, but it was just, like, always on in my house, and it was like, wait a minute. They're owning homes in Miracle Mile.

[Delaney George]

Right? Y' all were. Because I'm. When I was 30, I was like, wait, because. And girlfriends, they were like, 29, 30, 31.

[Unknown]

Right, right.

[Brittany Bird]

And like, growing up, it's like, oh, wait, 28. With real jobs, law firms. Yeah, that was cool for me to see, because it definitely gave me, like, inspiration. Like, you can be outlandishly loud. You can be yourself. You can be exceptionally beautiful. So, yeah, it was a lot of inspo for me.

[Delaney George]

Yeah, same. I agree with both of you guys.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Sentiments.

[Delaney George]

For me, I think the first time I watched it younger, it was just, like, it reminded me of, like, my group of friends and, like, my family. Like, there's like, you always have the aunt who, like, has a great job, and you can tell her lifestyle. You go to her house, and it's.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Like, oh, my God.

[Delaney George]

And then you got your homegirl. Like, it just. There were so many different people in one show, but they all were together. And I don't think I ever seen that, because I think other than that, a show that sticks out to me is like, a Moesha. But it was different because she was younger. She was figuring things out. She was, you know, like, there was a certain unapologeticness in Girlfriends for each character in different ways.

[Lauren LaRosa]

And I was young.

[Delaney George]

Like, wait, hold on. Cause she just. But wait. Yeah. So figuring all those things out, as I was learning and growing, now I'm.

[Golden Brooks]

Like, oh.

[Unknown]

As a young woman, I'm like, the rewatch hit different.

[Brittany Bird]

The rewatch is crazy.

[Unknown]

I was like, wait, this is actually unhinged activity.

[Golden Brooks]

So do you guys feel like now you guys are still so young and I mean, and I know you watched it with your moms. When you look at it now, even for me, when I look at it now, you know, 25 years later and I sometimes I see so many memes now online, like, who was the most toxic friend? Or you know. But looking at it now, now that you guys are older and more mature, does it resonate in a way that. Do you feel something different? Do you feel like you're more connected to one over the other now that you're in a space of living your full fleshed out lives? Hell yeah.

[Delaney George]

Oh my God. I'll be watching that. I rewatched it a few years ago with my mom and then I just rewatched it on my own. Just. And moving to New York and wanting to, you know, you have that girlfri like, I want to take over the city, take over the world vibe. And I feel like it depends on what I'm going through in the week I'm having. I might identify with a different character for a different reason. And I might need, like, I might need to be Lynn and just be like, free spirited things are gonna work out. I might need to be Maya and be like, fuck this, this is not happening. I might need to be Joan. I might need to be Jill and be like, hold on. Cause from me, I deserve that. Like, you know what I'm saying? Like, it just depends on what I'm going through. But Mar Brock Akil, I think what is so genius about the show is that I've never. I can re watch it a thousand times and find a different reason why I needed to watch it. Like, the art, the story doesn't get old. Yeah, you watch it. Like, I don't need to see it again. Girlfriends is bad, right?

[Brittany Bird]

Definitely. Timeless for sure. Because like a lot of I primarily work in fashion and art, but like a lot of the fashion girlies are like, oh, let's watch Sex in the City.

[Delaney George]

No shade.

[Golden Brooks]

Great show.

[Brittany Bird]

But I resonate more with like the characters on Girlfriends.

[Golden Brooks]

Oh, man. Thank you.

[Unknown]

Because it's like, I think watching it as an adult, like the ages 28 through like 31, 32, it's like, it makes it like they're still going through so many things that you would like, imagine people not go through. And it's like, wow, these are grown women around my age that's going through the same thing. It's just like, it's okay to still be figuring it out. Like, Girlfriends just showed such A spectrum of different types of black women. Like, they were all different in their. But it's like their situations happen to all of us. Like, we're not, you know, opposed to going through any of that. So I feel like it's really. To be like, you can be a career woman, you can be, like, on your stuff, but you're still gonna have, like, reality happen. So I feel like girlfriends is kind of like that little hug that you need to be like, girl. Like, you're okay. Like, you're figuring it out, and that's okay, too.

[Delaney George]

Yeah.

[Golden Brooks]

Yeah, that's. You guys are so on it. I love it. I love it.

[Delaney George]

I.

[Golden Brooks]

It. It's. It really is crazy how it still holds up, you know, and we're all still so very close. And I mean, the fashion we always talk about. You know what? I would take this from Joan, you know, ooh, you know, Lynn, let me get that little black sachet. Or with her real estate dresses, and Maya with her little sassy jeans. And I loved it. I love that we're having this conversation. And I think we're all. I mean, as black women, I really think we're all those women, right? I think we're all that. And I think we have to code switch. That's what we do as women of color, women in the arts, women in, you know, if you're in the professional space, we, you know, we're a little bit of Maya when we're with our friends, you know, the sister girl. And sometimes we have to put on that hat like Joan in the boardroom. And sometimes we're the perennial student where we're constantly wanting to learn, like Lynn. And I think we wear so many hats as women of color that we have to. And so I'm so proud of all three of you for, you know, being in the space that you are. And I think people underestimate how art really can inspire you, whether it's TV or an actual art piece, or because we're moved by what is us and something that's familiar and something that gives us lency to be that and to explore that and to express that. So I just think conversations like this are really important, especially for you guys and even younger generations, so that they know it's okay. It's okay to. To. To be you, you know, And I know that. That we're living in a space right now where we're kind of told who we need to be and social. That's another thing we always talk about. Girlfriends was around at a time, but there was no social media. You know, there was no Instagram. There was no. I mean, I think Facebook was just starting.

[Unknown]

But art was maybe.

[Golden Brooks]

Yeah, was my space.

[Brittany Bird]

Right?

[Golden Brooks]

But, like, you only found out about girlfriends by word of mouth. Like, if you was, you know, at.

[Delaney George]

The grocery store.

[Brittany Bird]

It definitely was like a talking point in, like, kind of every point of black women lineage, I can definitely say, from, like, grandparents to, like, my parents.

[Golden Brooks]

Right. I mean, it was sort of like you had to go to your local Sunday dinner or to church or to a friend's house to talk about that episode. Oh, did you see when Joan did this? Because, you know, that's also how, you know that it was the power of us. Because, you know, it was really like, we'd have to get fan mail to hear what people were thinking.

[Unknown]

It wasn't like, wow.

[Golden Brooks]

So we would sit there and open up envelopes, you know, and it's very interesting. We're in a different time now, so the fact that we're still having this conversation, it just really makes me a little bit emotional. So.

[Lauren LaRosa]

All right, y' all. So that has been the sit down with Golden Brooks. Now make sure again, if you have not heard it enough throughout this conversation, you will hear right now that you come out, if you were in LA on June 28 and June 29 to visit the exhibition. It will be open to the public. You can go out, take a look at all the art pieces, and, you know, golden will be there. It's going to be a great time. It's going to be a day full of creativity and conversation through the lens of black women creators, which, of course, again, girlfriends, you know, it was tea for that. That is. That's what they gave. Even though they weren't all artists, you know, they were painting this canvas of what real life looks like for us as Black women. And 25 years later, we still celebrate it. So at the end of the day, like I always tell you guys, y' all could be anywhere with anybody having these conversations, but you choose to be right here with me. I appreciate you guys so much, Lowriders, and I will see you guys in my next episode. This is an iHeart podcast.