The People's Donkey

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Breakfast Club – "The People's Donkey"

Date: March 13, 2026
Hosts: DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, Charlamagne Tha God

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Episode Overview

This episode of The Breakfast Club focuses on "The People’s Donkey," a recurring segment where listeners call in to nominate someone (or something) deserving of the notorious “Donkey of the Day” title. The calls are a mix of humorous, personal, and pointed, providing insight into the audience’s frustrations and the show’s community-driven vibe. Along with the listener calls, there’s an engaging discussion among the hosts on topics ranging from social faux pas to the importance of small gestures in relationships (“chore play”).

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. "The People’s Donkey" Segment – Listener Call-ins

(Commences at 03:02)

• Listener Critique of Charlamagne (03:14–03:49)

  • Caller (Tashina from Myrtle Beach, SC): Calls out Charlamagne for an inappropriate on-air ChatGPT demonstration with her kids listening.
    • Quote: “Sir, what you look up on ChatGPT is your personal business, not the world’s business. That was very inappropriate.” (03:21, Tashina)
    • Charlamagne humorously but earnestly acknowledges her point: “Yes, ma’am.” (03:47, Charlamagne)

• Community Policing Detroit Authenticity (03:54–04:36)

  • Caller (Errol from Detroit): Nominates TV personality Nicole Curtis for falsely claiming Detroit roots and controversial comments.
    • Quote: “She’s not from Detroit. She’s from Goose Point...The white folks love to say they from Detroit, but they’re not.” (04:18, Errol)
    • Charlamagne clarifies the local claim: “The 313 ain’t jacking with Nicole talking about at all, huh?” (04:29, Charlamagne)

• Double Standards in Donkey Nominations (04:42–05:47)

  • Caller (Brian from Jersey, mixed race): Points out Charlamagne’s tendency to invite “games” (guessing or jokes) only when non-Black subjects are nominated for Donkey of the Day.
    • Quote: “He discriminates all the time. Because if it’s a black person ... he don’t ever want to play a game. But as soon as it’s a white person ... he be all for the game.” (04:57, Brian)
    • Charlamagne admits: “Usually when it’s a black person, I don’t want to play the game. But when it’s a ... I like to play the game.” (05:11–05:20, Charlamagne)

• Workplace Ostracism & Racial Dynamics (05:49–07:41)

  • Caller (Natasha from West Columbia, SC): Describes feeling ostracized and overburdened as the only Black woman in her office, highlighting subtle workplace racism.
    • Quote: “Just the way they ostracize me in the office, they leave me out of everything... I’m the only black lady ... and it’s just like I’m totally ignored. Fly on the wall, make some noise.” (06:10, Natasha)
    • Charlamagne empathizes and encourages: “Thank you for calling. I hope things get better.” (07:27, Charlamagne)

• Airline Refunds Amid War (07:44–11:04)

  • Caller (Nikki from Harlem): Expresses frustration with Emirates Airline for refusing a full refund for her Dubai family vacation due to Middle East unrest.
    • Quote: “I want to take an $80 hit...I don’t care if that war ends right now. I am not going over there.” (08:21, Nikki)
    • Charlamagne reads Department of Transportation policy: “You’re entitled to full prompt refunds even on non-refundable tickets...Get that lady back her money.” (09:38, 11:04, Charlamagne)

2. Chore Play: Small Gestures, Big Impact in Relationships

(Begins at 11:32)

• Discussion Prompt: The concept introduced by author Jordan Carlos in his book “Chore Play: The Marriage Saving Magic of Getting Your Head Out Your Ass.”
  • Charlamagne introduces: “If you put in the effort in small ways, like doing chores around the house, it’ll yield big results.” (11:32, Charlamagne)
  • Co-host anecdote: Doing tasks with/for the kids or household is described as a turn-on by their wives.
    • Quote: “My wife always says...when I do stuff with the kids without her, she said that’s a huge turn on.” (12:20, Co-host)
  • Listeners are invited: “Ladies, is this true? Does chore play turn you on? Let’s discuss.” (13:01, Charlamagne & Co-host)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On inappropriate on-air topics:

  • “Sir, what you look up on ChatGPT is your personal business, not the world’s business.” (03:21, Tashina)

• On Detroit authenticity & race:

  • “The white folks love to say they from Detroit, but they’re not from Detroit, man.” (04:22, Errol)

• Self-awareness on show games:

  • “Usually when it’s a black person, I don’t want to play the game. But when it’s a… I like to play the game.” (05:17–05:20, Charlamagne tha God)

• Workplace struggles:

  • “I clean the bathroom every Friday. Nobody offers to help. Real.” (06:23, Natasha)

• On airline refund struggles:

  • “You’re entitled to full prompt refunds even on non-refundable tickets.” (11:04, Charlamagne)

• Chore play revelation:

  • “That’s why he calls it chore play...and it guarantees you sex for life. I know that’s right.” (12:38, Charlamagne tha God)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Listener Donkey Nominations Start: 03:02
• ChatGPT On-Air Complaint: 03:14–03:49
• Detroit/ Nicole Curtis Incident: 03:54–04:36
• Show Format Critique: 04:42–05:47
• Workplace Ostracism Story: 05:49–07:41
• Emirates Refund/ Travel in War Zone: 07:44–11:04
• Chore Play in Relationships: 11:32–13:11

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Episode Style & Tone

• The tone stays lively, irreverent, and candid—typical of The Breakfast Club.
• The hosts encourage honesty, self-reflection, and community storytelling, alternating between empathy, humor, and playful self-deprecation.
• Engaging banter and real-life anecdotes keep the segment feeling both entertaining and authentic.

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Summary

This episode of The Breakfast Club is a snapshot of the issues and personalities that make up its listenership, covering everything from parenting to race, relationships, and travel woes. Through the “People’s Donkey” segment, listeners voice both their everyday grievances and broader social commentaries, with the hosts providing equal parts laughter, understanding, and pointed critique. The latter half's discussion on “chore play” segues from the show’s usual antics to real talk about the power of partnership in relationships, keeping the dialogue relatable and fresh for the audience.

Transcript

[Ryan Seacrest]

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[Caller]

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[Caller]

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

[Charlamagne tha God]

Remember now, that is how they choose.

[Caller]

Call in now.

[Co-host/Guest]

800-585-1051.

[Caller]

This is Tashina.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Hey, Tichina. Who you want to give the biggest hee haw to?

[Caller]

I want to give the biggest hee haw to Charlamagne the God.

[Charlamagne tha God]

What I do now.

[Caller]

Earlier this week, I was listening to the radio. I live in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and I drive back and forth to take my kids to school. And he was talking about what he used chatgpt to look up. I have two 12 year old daughters in the car. Sir, what you look up on ChatGPT is your personal business, not the world's business. That was very inappropriate. You are the only urban nation in Myrtle beach for me to listen to you get it together.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Yes, ma'. Am.

[Caller]

Thank you.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Yes, ma'.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

Am.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Have a great day. Thank you very much. She not wrong. Good morning. Who's this?

[Caller]

Errol from Detroit.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Earl, who you want to get a biggest he haw to, sir?

[Caller]

To the white lady that was talking about she from Detroit using fart n word.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Oh, Nicole Curtis. Yeah, that was her name.

[Caller]

Yeah.

Yeah. She trying to do damage control for her career, man. That ain't gonna work. She's not from Detroit. She's from the suburb Detroit.

[Charlamagne tha God]

A lot of people kept telling me that. A lot of people from Detroit was hitting me up saying she not from Detroit. She from Goose Point or something like that. What it's called? Goose Point?

[Caller]

Gross Point.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Grosse Pointe. Yes. There you go. Gross Point.

[Caller]

Yeah, that's. That's a suburb of Detroit. The white folks love to say they from Detroit, but they're not from Detroit, man. They come outside of Detroit.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Damn. So the 313. The 313 ain't jacking with Nicole talking about at all, huh?

[Caller]

Not at all, bro. Yeah, Dem patrol ain't working out here.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Thank you for calling my brother.

[Caller]

Peace and love to all of y', all, man.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Thank you. Good. Good morning. Who's this?

[Caller]

This is Brian.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Brian, who you want to get the biggest he haw to?

[Caller]

I Gotta get the biggest heat to Charlamagne, man. Like I. I watch the show every day.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Yes, yes, sir.

[Caller]

And. But Charlamagne says that donkey of the day does not discriminate.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Uh huh.

[Caller]

But let's play a game. He discriminates all the time. Because if it's a black person, I'm mixed, by the way, I'm black and white. But when it's a black person, he don't ever want to play a game. But as soon as it's a white person, man, he be all for the game.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Well, here's the thing. You're right. Usually when it's a black person, I don't want to play the game. But when it's a.

[Caller]

When it's a. I like to play the game.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Come on now, let's be fair here. Cause there's a difference.

[Caller]

I get it, I get it.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Okay.

[Caller]

I'm a big fan, man. I just wanted to call it. I think y' all are amazing. What y' all do, man. Y'.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

All.

[Caller]

I listen to y' all every single morning too, too.

[Charlamagne tha God]

So I appreciate you, brother. What you calling from again? His white side was offended that we always play a game with that.

[Caller]

It was offended. It was. The white side was like, hold on, wait a second, man. Like this is fair, you know what I mean? But I'm from Jersey.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Okay, well, thank you for calling, brother.

[Caller]

Thank you.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Yes, sir. Good morning. Who's this?

[Caller]

Natasha.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Hey, Natasha. Who you want to get a big and C hard to.

[Caller]

My job.

[Charlamagne tha God]

What's your job? You don't want to say the name of your job. You have to say your name of your job. Well, at least tell us what you do. What do you do? What do you do?

[Caller]

I work at a granite company.

[Charlamagne tha God]

A granite company. Okay.

[Caller]

West Columbia, South Carolina.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Okay. 803 Metro all day. Who you want? Okay, go ahead. The floor is yours, Vince.

[Caller]

Oh my gosh. Just my co workers, my office manager. Just the way they ostracize me in the office, they leave me out of everything we talking right in front of me, in each other ears, like I'm not there. And then on top of that, I'm the only black lady in the office with two other Caucasians and a Hispanic. And it's just like I'm totally ignored. Fly on the wall, make some noise. On top of that, I clean the bathroom every Friday. Nobody offers to help. Real.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Well, the bathroom shouldn't be like that. You should call the custodians to come clean it up. Okay?

[Caller]

They don't even have one damn well,

[Charlamagne tha God]

that's why the bathroom's, man. What the Latino be doing just sitting there while you do that?

[Caller]

Basically. And just like every day, I initiate to get the trash. I think I've been there a year. Three times. They got up and helped get the trash.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

Damn.

[Charlamagne tha God]

So the Latino was in with the Caucasian people. I'm sorry, so the Latino girl is in with the Latin. I mean, with the Caucasian people, like, shown.

[Caller]

Well, he.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

He.

[Caller]

And she is the owner of the company, so I don't expect them to do too much.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Oh, okay.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Okay.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Dang.

[Caller]

So.

But I also deserve the donkey because I put myself in this situation. Okay.

[Charlamagne tha God]

There's nobody that you can complain to? No higher up? No hr, no nothing? Like, no, no.

[Caller]

They got eyes. They see this, they're not that. They're not lying. They know what they doing.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Damn. Well, thank you for calling. I hope things get better.

[Caller]

It will. I'm doing the steps to make it better. I appreciate y'.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

All.

[Caller]

Love y'. All. Y' all do an awesome job. Make my day. Great.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Thank you very much. We appreciate you.

[Caller]

Y' all be blessed. Thank you.

[Charlamagne tha God]

You too. Good morning. Who's this?

[Caller]

Good morning.

This is Nikki. Good morning, Breakfast Club family.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Good morning. Where you calling from?

[Caller]

Harlem.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Hey, Nikki from Harlem, who you want to get a bigger sea haw to?

[Caller]

Emirates Airline.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Ooh, now I love Emirates. What happened with Emirates?

[Caller]

So I booked a family vacation to go for spring break to Dubai, which is back in August. I woke up one bright and sunny Saturday morning and we're on the purpose of World War Three.

[Charlamagne tha God]

So why you mad at Emirates?

[Caller]

Because they won't refund me my money without penalty.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Oh, that's. Now that's crazy. Yeah. Okay, now that's insane. That's insane, Right?

[Caller]

So I want to take an 80 hit.

[Charlamagne tha God]

No, they should be refunding you. They should be refunding you your money, period. Yes, like clear and clear and delivered.

[Caller]

And so right now they're saying they're giving full refunds for if you're traveling 72 hours from the current date, you can get a full refund. My scheduled Travel date is April 1st.

[Charlamagne tha God]

I'm looking at something right now that says, according to the Department of Transportation, passengers with flights canceled are significant significantly delayed due to war. Our airspace closes in the Middle east are entitled to full prompt refunds even on non refundable tickets. And it says major carriers like Emirates, Qatar and etihd. What I can't. Which I can't pronounce are offering these along with flexible rebooking options. For affected travelers. So I don't know why they doing you like that.

[Caller]

Well, I need to write another. When I tell you the emails I wrote were like dissertations quoting the consulates, the embassy and everything. They're telling us to get the hell out of the Middle East. If you don't get out of the Middle east now, you're on your own.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Damn. But you still. They're still supposed to be giving you. According to what I'm reading here on cnn, they're still supposed to be giving you a non refundable ticket. That's what. And that's according to the Department of Transportation website as well.

[Caller]

Well, I will definitely have to cite that source when I contact them again. But every email I send is giving me the same information. 72 hours. We're giving refunds right now. Your travel data too far in advance. Things may change. I don't care if that war ends right now. I am not going over there.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Damn.

[Caller]

The hotel I was there just to stay at down the block from there another hotel would take.

[Charlamagne tha God]

So I would think. I would think you a damn fool if you was going to Dubai right now.

[Caller]

I totally agree. I just want my money back. That's $2,000 in just airline and airline fees that I paid.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Damn.

[Caller]

Now trying to find something else for a last minute vacation is almost impossible.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Yeah, we're not going nowhere. You're going to be sitting right home. It's okay. Listen, I think we should be happy when God makes us be still. He making us be still for a reason.

[Caller]

I totally agree. That's why I'm not planning to go anywhere else. I just want my money back without the penalty.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Absolutely.

[Caller]

Well, thank you for calling something fun at home, but thank you for hearing me. I just think it's a day. Hopefully somebody can contact Emirates or Emmett and say let's give these US citizens their money back.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Yes, man. I mean like I said, the Department of Transportation and CNN are both saying that Middle east. If you're. If your. If your flight was canceled significantly, significantly delayed due to war, airspace closes in the Middle east.

[Caller]

You.

[Charlamagne tha God]

You're entitled to full prompt refunds even on non refundable tickets. Yes, man. Get that lady back her money. Yeah, okay, but that's the people's donkey. We do that every Friday, 1-800-585-1051 or you can go to the iHeartRadio app and click Talk back feature and leave a message. Even though you know nobody ever checks it. N. Why don't we check it? I don't Know the same reason envy gets on at 8:50 and tell everybody call in and request music knowing damn well he ain't taking nobody request. So silly.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

Damn.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Anyway, it's Friday, so you know what that means. It's freaky, freaky, freaky Friday. My guy Jordan Carlos was here last hour. We had a conversation about his book chore play, the marriage saving magic of getting your head out your ass. And basically what Jordan is saying in the book is if you put in the effort in small ways, right, like basically just, you know, doing chores around the house, it'll yield big results. So like if you, you know, bring your wife coffee in the morning or you, you wash the dishes, wash the dishes, sweep, vacuum, go out there, take the trash out, do all of that. So that turns you on. You like that? Trash is definitely a man's thing. Men should definitely take the trash for sure. Or if you got boys, your sons, definitely for sure. But yes, it, it takes the load off of the woman in the house because that's what they look at most matriarchs to do. Cook, clean, make the house, all of that.

[Co-host/Guest]

You know what, my wife, my wife always says that. And she also says when I do stuff with the kids without her, she said that's a huge turn on. Like the fact that, you know, a couple weeks ago I went and, you know, took the daughter to dance and did the hair. She was like, that's a turn on. But so I guess that allowed her

[Charlamagne tha God]

to go hang with her friends.

[Co-host/Guest]

So that is some type of foreplay.

[Charlamagne tha God]

That's why he calls it chore play. He calls it chore play and he says it'll save your marriage and it guarantees you sex for life. I know that's right. Let's open the phone line and see if other people like chore play. Are you in the chore? Are you in the chore play, lady? So Chris does everything around the house. He's Mexican. He don't. So you always turned on?

[Julian Edelman]

Absolutely.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Wow, wow, wow.

[Caller]

It's sexy.

[Co-host/Guest]

800-585-1051. Ladies, is this. Is this true? Does show play turn you on? Let's discuss. 800-585-1051 is the breakfast Club. Come on, dog.

[Charlamagne tha God]

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