The Breakfast Club – Dec 17, 2025
Episode: “Breakfast Club Heads to Netflix, Young Thug Proposes, Ray J Clarifies Diddy Claim + Tamar Braxton & Isaac Hayes III Interview”
Hosts: DJ Envy, Lauren LaRosa, Charlamagne Tha God, Jess Hilarious
Guests: Tamar Braxton, Isaac Hayes III
EPISODE OVERVIEW
This lively episode of The Breakfast Club mixes major media moves, hot celebrity news, and candid personal growth conversations. The crew celebrates their new Netflix video podcast deal, discusses viral rumors and music milestones, spotlights trending headlines on politics and culture, and leans into deep, honest interview segments—especially Tamar Braxton opening up about heartbreak, healing, cheating, and new beginnings, and Isaac Hayes III breaking down Black tech entrepreneurship with Fanbase.
KEY THEMES & DISCUSSION POINTS
1. The Breakfast Club Heads to Netflix (25:09, 26:30)
- iHeartMedia & Netflix announce a major exclusive video podcast partnership.
- Multiple major iHeart shows (including The Breakfast Club) will no longer post full episodes to YouTube, shifting to Netflix as the exclusive provider.
- Hosts discuss what this pivot means for podcasting, streaming, and broader media distribution, reflecting on Netflix’s remarkable evolution from DVD rentals to global streaming powerhouse.
Notable Quotes:
- “It’s just incredible to see the business of podcasting expand in this way.” — Charlamagne (26:30)
- “Remember, Netflix just started as that red box outside of these stores... How they grew to where they're at now is just crazy.” — DJ Envy (27:55)
- “You gotta meet people where they are—Netflix has over 300 million paid subscribers.” — Charlamagne (27:13)
- “Watching the Breakfast Club in other languages? That will be hilarious.” — Charlamagne (27:35)
2. Front Page News: Politics, National Stories & Viral Events
(11:00, 37:13, 53:34, 111:00)
- Trump White House Drama: New Vanity Fair exposé about Trump’s second term and senior staff. Commentary about Trump’s public persona, the Jeffrey Epstein docs, chaotic inner circle, and Susie Wiles calling Elon Musk an “odd duck”—with audio receipts to prove quotes.
- “You better have those audio clips ready because the Trump administration will sue.” — Charlamagne (12:18)
- Obamacare Subsidies: Republican leadership will allow enhanced ACA subsidies to expire, risking higher premiums for millions.
- Latest on Brown University Shooting: Details on the ongoing manhunt, criticism of police response, tech surveillance, and public safety.
- TSA & ICE Data Sharing: TSA now regularly sends passenger lists to ICE for domestic travel, making airports domestic checkpoints for immigration enforcement.
- “Damn, I didn’t even know you get deportation orders.” — Charlamagne (41:37)
- Tamar shares a personal immigration/ICE scare involving her husband.
- Instagram Reels on TV: IG is piloting a new app to bring vertical videos to Amazon Fire/TV platforms, signaling a direct challenge to TikTok and YouTube.
- Powerball Mania: The jackpot climbs to $1.25 billion; playful banter about lottery dreams.
3. Community Calls: “Get It Off Your Chest” (15:03–20:22)
- Callers shout out HBCUs, discuss community events (like a Sneaker Ball fundraiser), post office woes (“I don’t scrè the stuff, I just deliver it”), and dog-attack postal hazards.
- Friendly banter about the holidays, work-life, and listener engagement.
- “I love all the HBCU love.” — DJ Envy (15:29)
- “Getting bit by a dog is hilarious, bro.” — Charlamagne (21:02)
4. Music & Relationship News:
- Young Thug Proposes to Mariah the Scientist (33:59):
- On-stage Atlanta proposal, social media reactions, and wider relationship talk.
- “She’s happy, we should be happy.” — DJ Envy (34:44)
- Sports Updates: New York Knicks win NBA Cup (Jalen Brunson named MVP). Terence Crawford retires undefeated (“one of the greatest boxers of our generation”).
5. Tamar Braxton Interview: Healing, Cheating & “Heartbreak Retrograde”
(starts 45:53–67:14, continued throughout hour)
- Tamar’s new album and accompanying movie “Heartbreak Retrograde” birthed from previous conversations on The Breakfast Club, especially around cheating.
- “Heartbreak Retrograde is about a woman who cheats on her spouse and breaks her own heart by breaking his heart.” — Tamar (47:07)
- She discusses using her art to process guilt, take accountability, and ultimately find peace:
- “I felt really bad...I really did hurt a person that bad. I’m really, truly sorry for that.” — Tamar (51:25)
- Deep dives into why women cheat, comparisons with men, and the complexity of love—can you love two people at once?
- On owning pain and growth:
- “I don’t regret that I found myself.” — Tamar (58:55)
- “When you really, truly let something go...I feel like I’ve completely let it go.” — Tamar (64:20)
- Advice on emotional transparency, relationships, dating after heartbreak, and embracing “soft love” moving forward.
Notable Moments & Quotes:
- “There’s never been a man who has experienced Tamar who didn’t want to marry me.” — Tamar (50:17)
- “Healing is realizing you hurt someone and you take responsibility, you’re honest about it.” — Tamar (54:40)
- “That’s why you can’t be laying down with everybody, because you really do be exchanging energy.” — Charlamagne (57:00)
- Tamar pokes fun at “uterus shifting” texts and relationships:
- “Once again, you shifted my uterus.” — Tamar, recounts a real text from her ex (53:32)
- Candid group discussion follows on love, dating openly, keeping your relationships private vs. public, and learning through accountability.
6. Ray J's Viral “Diddy” Comments Clarified (74:00–79:51)
- Lauren recounts a wild viral clip where Ray J joked on live about “Diddy took my ass,” sparking major social media confusion.
- Ray J calls into the show to clarify: he was in character, referencing someone else’s allegations, and not speaking literally about himself.
- “I was in character being Lil Rod...They clipped it, but this is not okay.” — Ray J via Lauren (75:00)
- Charlamagne laughs, “This is basically a digital enema—he’s got to clear his ass from all these accusations that he started, by the way.” (79:41)
- The show reflects on the speed/insanity of rumors online, as well as 50 Cent’s constant trolling and power within hip-hop media.
7. Isaac Hayes III Interview: Fanbase, Black Ownership & Tech Entrepreneur Reality
(starts 91:09)
- Isaac returns to discuss raising capital for Fanbase, a Black-owned social media platform that integrates micro-dramas, subscriptions, tipping, and more.
- Breaks down why equity crowdfunding is crucial for Black tech founders, the uphill battle in Silicon Valley, and how ordinary people (for $399 minimum) can become investors in real tech infrastructure.
- “People of color only get half of one percent of all capital raised...This is a mission. This is my calling.” — Isaac Hayes III (96:21)
- The conversation details the slow path to ROI (typically 6–8 years or longer), why crowdfunding is more transparent but much harder, and the bigger goal of generational wealth.
- “I built a tech company so that people could put $400 in, $250 in, and together we build something worth hundreds of billions of dollars.” (102:25)
Notable Questions:
- “How fast can you build, how well can you build, and who’s making the money?” — DJ Envy (99:13)
- “This is breaking a whole system down that a lot of people don’t...They want to lock us out of the best deals.” — Isaac (103:02)
8. Hot Trending News Briefs
- Howard Stern’s New 3-Year Deal (73:08): Celebrated as a media longevity milestone in a difficult time for radio.
- Rob Reiner Tragedy Update (110:39): Son Nick formally charged with murdering his parents; group contemplates legal/ethical implications and the lawyer’s motivations.
- Kai Sanat’s Mental Health Journey (115:01): The young streamer goes public about his struggles and desire to create more intentionally, inspiring a positive response from the crew.
- “The fame, the money, everything...it takes a lot. So I’m glad he’s making sure his mental is good.” — DJ Envy (115:58)
- “Sometimes it’s okay to feel like things are ending, some things are supposed to come to an end.” — Charlamagne (117:30)
MEMORABLE QUOTES & TIMESTAMPS
- “I’m mailing everything that’s going on, and you want to mess up? I’m mailing it in.” — Charlamagne Tha God (04:05)
- “Getting bit by a dog is hilarious, bro.” — Charlamagne Tha God (21:02)
- “Everybody knows fan work is thirsty work. So grab a Coca Cola and keep that HBCU pride going.” — DJ Envy (31:23)
- “You gotta meet people where they are.” — Charlamagne Tha God (27:13)
- “When you really, truly let something go, guilt go. That’s what I feel like. I’ve completely let it go.” — Tamar Braxton (64:20)
- “I built a tech company so people could put $400 in, $250 in, and together we build something...worth hundreds of billions of dollars.” — Isaac Hayes III (102:25)
- “This is the year of the snake. It’s time to shed everything that no longer serves you.” — Charlamagne Tha God (119:07)
TIMESTAMPS FOR IMPORTANT SEGMENTS
- 03:48 — Show officially starts, hosts check in
- 15:03—“Get It Off Your Chest” listener calls segment
- 25:09–27:07 — Netflix/iHeart/Breakfast Club podcast deal discussion
- 33:59—Young Thug's marriage proposal news
- 45:53–67:14 — Tamar Braxton in-studio interview (continuing)
- 74:00–79:51 — Ray J calls in to address viral Diddy rumor
- 91:09–109:50 — Isaac Hayes III interview on Fanbase, tech, Black equity
- 110:39 — Rob Reiner murder charges news update
- 115:01 — Kai Sanat’s mental health message
EPISODE TONE & STYLE
Irreverent, candid, comedic, frequently playful but unafraid to get serious—hosts blend personal, cultural, and business insight with unfiltered honesty and plenty of inside jokes. Every topic, from viral memes to music to mental wellness to Black entrepreneurship, is tackled with authenticity and real community engagement.
FOR THOSE WHO MISSED IT
This episode will go down as a modern Breakfast Club classic, marked by breaking media industry news (Netflix), a vulnerable, no-holds-barred Tamar Braxton interview on pain and growth, Isaac Hayes III transparently educating listeners on building Black economic infrastructure, and the crew both clowning and clarifying the week’s wildest rumors—reminding listeners why the platform remains so influential in both hip hop and Black culture at large.
