Francesca (2:20)

Her.

Dustin (2:21)

Well, now that they're doing the press runs for season 16 of the Real Housewives of Atlanta, she's been on all the ladies on Married to Medicine talking trash about the show.

Francesca (2:30)

Oh, damn.

Dustin (2:31)

And. And all these other things. But let's go back because the North Remembers, okay? And I'll never Forget. And about three years ago in 2022, when we first saw Phaedra, Remember Phaedra? In the words of Quiet Web from Married to Medicine, Phaedra had been benched by the good Candy Burris for the past six years, right? Candy had made it plain that after the lie, the scathing lie Phaedra told on Real Housewives of Atlanta, she wasn't working with her anymore. If that meant they brought Phaedra back, Candy said she would leave with no problem, but she wasn't going to work over there with Phaedra. So we hadn't seen Phaedra years later in 2022, that was. Which was. Let's see if this is 2025, those three years ago. You know, it was about six years after their drama, after her split from. She appeared as a guest on the Real Housewives of Dubai, right? She sat down in the scene. She filmed a scene eating dinner with those ladies and, you know, talking about she was in Dubai taking care of business and all this.

Asante (3:28)

People were like, move feature to Dubai, which.

Dustin (3:31)

And so once she did that, Bravo Con followed. That year. She came to Bravo Con. She was sitting down, doing an interview with Dr. Jackie and a couple other Bravo Labs. And Dr. Jackie said, you need to come over here and play with us. You got. You dating. You a doctor. You need to come play with us. And that's how the idea for Phaedra being unmarried to medicine was born, right? She chomped at the bit because she wasn't doing anything. She hadn't been on television in six years. She was not practicing as an attorney. We know that she had made some investments and that was kind of keeping her afloat, but there was nothing else going on. So she jumped at the chance to be on television by any means necessary. And she tried to make it work, but she really was standoffish during her time on Married to Medicine. Once Kenya got up on the Housewives and got made her exit, and Candy had already quit this season, that opened up space for Phaedra to come back. So back in 2022, when she appeared on Dubai, right? And she was doing press because people were excited to see her again. She started saying all these things about how Atlanta, the Real Housewives of Atlanta, was a sinking ship. It was the Titanic, and she was yachting in Dubai, and she would let those girls sink on the Titanic and all that other. Fast forward three years later, you hightailed your ass right back over to the Housewives. Soon as Candy left. And now you're doing press saying things like this. This is Phaedra Parks on the red carpet at the Real Housewives of Atlanta premiere this past weekend.

Francesca (4:57)

These are fat Housewives are the type of women that are confident. They're not haters. You know what I'm saying? Everybody stays in their own lane. They not jealous. They not mad that somebody working and getting a bag. So, you know, and they like to have fun. You know what I'm saying? So I don't want to be miserable, especially not miserable.

Dustin (5:18)

And in medicine. No. It's just funny to me. It's funny to me because that's quite a different tune than she spilled back in 2022, and they asked her about the Real Housewives of Atlanta. She simply wasn't wanted there back then. But now that they've expressed a desire for her, oh, now I'd rather be here than anywhere else. Because those ladies on Married to Medicine are haters. And they not hate. They hating on me for having jobs. She doesn't have jobs. She appeared on the Real Housewives of Dubai. She appeared on the real. On Married to Medicine. She got the Traders, which put her to the forefront of the attention of a lot of people that were watching that show. From that, she went on over to Dancing with the Stars, and now she's back on Real Housewives of Atlanta. So while she's appeared on, you know, several reality shows in the past, a lot of. But that doesn't equate to having jobs and being in high demand. You just made some nice moves recently over the past few years, but there's nothing substantive to back it up, as evidenced by her answer on the red carpet. We work in media. We deal with a lot of people who ain't got no substance. They don't have no foundation. So they just say quick, you know, hot takes and little zingers. One line. Zingers. That doesn't equate to substance. You standing on that carpet saying a bunch of nothing. Oh, well, they know how to have fun. Okay? Another general broad statement. And they not. Hey, leaders. Another general broad statement, and they not mad because I'm getting bags. Get to the bag. Getting jobs. Another blank statement. Nothing. A bunch of hot air. A bunch of absolutely nothing to stand on. The show is over.

Francesca (6:49)

Like Phaedra.

Dustin (6:50)

Smoke and mirrors. Smoke and mirrors. And it's all the same thing. So I just want everybody to get ready, right? Because y' all are setting yourselves up to be let back down, okay? Getting excited about Phaedra's return and having this heavy Expectation. She never did anything. She never contributed nothing but eye roll, grunts, rhinestones on your eyelid, and roses in your hair. That's all she ever gave to the show. So I just want to highlight it. This is the era of truth telling, okay? When our voices are censored in media. You know what I'm saying? We're gonna talk our over here because I remember what the. The Phaedra did. I remember it, God damn it. And she's lying. She ain't happy to be back on the Housewives. She happy to be back anywhere. And the same housewives that she's connecting herself to this year she was on last year. So I hope they think about that. Where they are celebrating. Frack is back.

Asante (7:39)

Freaking Frack.

Dustin (7:40)

And Phaedra, all she's gonna do is just go, that's it. She ain't gonna tell you nothing about her life. She brought that same Ren. A man to the premiere and made sure that she was photographed with him. Only. Only to slight the ladies that married to medicine and try to say, see, we still are appearing together. It'd be that kind of. Phaedra is just fake. And I can't wait. I'm telling y' all now. I'm highlighting it. We should. I'm highlighting it every week. Every time Phaedra do some. Every time she lie, every time she is hypocritical, every time she contradicts herself. I'm talking about it, okay? And I'm highlighting it in neon paint over here on the Friend Zone, which I would like to welcome you to. It's your weekly look into all things mental health, mental wellness, and mental hygiene. Because who in the hell wants Phaedra back on the Housewives?

Francesca (8:34)

Not you, apparently. Friend.

Asante (8:36)

Are you gonna watch this season?

Francesca (8:37)

No, I haven't watched Housewives since, like, the first couple seasons, so that initial.

Asante (8:46)

Yes.

Francesca (8:47)

Yeah. You know, because it was such a thing back there. I mean, I'm sure it still is. I'm not saying it's not. But for me, it was like, what is this show? You know, the concept and the women. I was curious. And they were, like, a little older, so that was cool to see, too, because reality TV was about the youngins for a while. And I was curious. Yeah. You know what I'm saying? I was curious to see what these older women were talking about and we're.

Dustin (9:14)

Doing behind those gates and in those social circles.

Francesca (9:17)

And, you know, then I just was like, okay, this is what they're doing behind these gates.

Asante (9:21)

Right? Acting the damn fools.

Francesca (9:23)

And then I lost interest. Yeah, I do. I do love marriage. Medicine.

Dustin (9:29)

Yes.

Francesca (9:29)

But even that show, I have fallen off.

Asante (9:31)

Yeah.

Francesca (9:32)

I didn't watch this last season like, that. I probably watched the first, like, four or five episodes, and then I fell off again. Yeah, I think I'm off that.

Asante (9:41)

You know, I stuck around this season for Married to Medicine, or I. I am sticking around because it's still going. But it's still going.

Francesca (9:48)

Damn.

Asante (9:48)

Yeah. Right?

Dustin (9:49)

We're in season 11.

Asante (9:50)

Yeah. I just didn't watch. I didn't watch Sunday's episode. I didn't watch anything. Oh, I did watch Housewives. I watched the premiere of that.

Dustin (9:56)

Mm, me too.

Francesca (9:58)

How was the premiere where y', all, like, didn't meet expectations?

Dustin (10:02)

I met mine. I was, like, literally satisfied from beginning to end. All my expectations were met. We got aspirational families to look at again. We got wealth. We have several women that actually have husbands now. We have, like. Like, just. No, seriously, like, that contributes because it adds another character to the irony of the. Yeah, you know, but we have that. I. I am very interested to get to know the new ladies, Kelly and Brit and Angela Oakley. I. Hey, I'm here for it. And the fact that Shamia is literally driving the car of that show. She's steering the ship. She's the center of the show.

Francesca (10:44)

I saw a clip on Twitter. She had, like, an elevator in her closet or something. And her husband is, like, a H vac.

Dustin (10:54)

Yeah. He designed in the airport.

Francesca (10:56)

How cool is that?

Dustin (10:58)

Gentleman.

Francesca (10:59)

Yeah. For real. I feel like people tend to shine. The men that are out here with, like, trades and actual skills.

Dustin (11:07)

And look what she. Look at the gold mine she hit. Right?

Francesca (11:10)

Right.

Dustin (11:11)

Shamia has the things right? So the money, the house, the cars, all that. She's got all of that. Then she's got extended family that's willing to film. In that first episode, we saw her mama, her daddy, her sisters, both of her sisters, her nephew, her husband, her daughter, her nanny. Like, there's people around her. And then Shamia is literally the nucleus of the cast. Bravo released a graph like flowchart explaining how everybody in the new cast is connected. Shamia is the center. She's connected to everybody on the show. They laid that out. And you never would have thought that someone who had been in a supporting role for so long on the show, we just didn't know that, or at least I didn't. And I'm judging on what I'm seeing in, like, the commentary surrounding the episode. A lot of people feel like that we just didn't know that Shamia had it going on. We just didn't know it was all that in, you know, all these connections and that she's from Atlanta, which we knew, but we didn't know what that meant to other people. Like, she is the perfect anchor. And her way, like, the way she was on the show, she's. I don't know, she just. Seeing her, like, fall right naturally into that leadership role amongst the cast was really cool to see. I was like, damn, it just feels so new. So.

Francesca (12:31)

There any OGs?

Dustin (12:32)

No. Oh, geez. So when it comes to housewives jargon, right? Oh, The. The. The OGs are people who started on season one of whatever that.

Francesca (12:41)

Frank, they've been there, right?

Dustin (12:43)

Those are the OGs. If you came in after one, if you came in on season two and stayed a long time, or people like Kenya and Portia who arrived in season five and changed the dynamic of the show and have been impactful. Those are called vets. So there's no. You have OGs and you have vets. There's no actual OGs on the show, but we have vets. We have Cynthia as a friend of the show, which is a perfect role for her. Cynthia came in season three and stayed until season 13. Thirteen was her last season. Phaedra's back. She comes in the end of the season. She came and see. Her and Cynthia both were the season three editions. Right. So although Phaedra missed the past six, seven seasons, she's back. Kenya Moore was originally casted to be a housewife this season, but we all know what happened with her. Like I said, the dick sucking posters. So she. She. But she arrived in season five along with Portia. Her and Portia were the season five editions, and they were. They. They changed the face of the show forever when they came in season five. So they're there.

Francesca (13:47)

How are the vets responding to the show? Centering this person?

Dustin (13:51)

Wonderfully, because, remember, Shamia was. When Portia came in season five, that's when we all met Shami as viewers on the show, because she was Portia's best friend. So there's a familiarity there between her and all the OGs and the viewers. Really. That's why she was the perfect reintroduction to the show because although we haven't seen her in this capacity, we'll. We're familiar with her as viewers and they're familiar with her as cast members. So they probably just as excited to see her. Okay.

Francesca (14:18)

I didn't know if they were gonna, like, try to hit them against each other. Well, you know, sometimes production also has intentions.

Dustin (14:25)

Like, big hand in that.

Francesca (14:27)

Yeah, yeah. Like making the vets feel away by having this quote, unquote, newer person who's not a new person, but is a new person. And now the show is surrounding her and her contact. Like, it's like, how do you feel? You've been on the show for 13 seasons, and so that's cool. If they're not playing that angle, that would be surprising.

Dustin (14:46)

They're not. It felt very fresh for me, very new. It didn't feel like you have the old guard and now the new people have to try to fit in. It just felt brand new.

Asante (14:55)

Yeah.

Dustin (14:58)

Even footing. It was so good, so well produced. And like I said, it captured my attention from the beginning to the end.

Asante (15:06)

Was there no music on the episode?

Dustin (15:07)

Getting to know.

Asante (15:10)

I feel like I didn't hear, like, just at all. I feel like, you know how like, normally there's, like, sometimes music and. Or, like, sound effects or something. I feel like I didn't hear, like, a lot of, like, things.

Dustin (15:19)

Well, they played music every time they did any of the intro cards. Like, when they show the ladies with their name or whatever. At the beginning of the scene, there was music there. There was transitional music in between the scenes. I remember what they did not do. Of course, it was a premiere episode, so they didn't add in the. The show intro. So we didn't get, like, the tagline.

Asante (15:39)

Because somebody said that to me. They were like, you didn't hear the music? And I was like, I don't remember, like, Housewives in the show. I watched her music, but somebody said that to me, like, I don't remember. So I asked, and it was actually.

Dustin (15:48)

They probably brought that to your attention because it was different for. For several seasons. They use the same audio, same music for, like, transitions between scenes for the intro cards. And. And what I heard on this premiere episode sounded like an updated version of this. Those same melodies. So it sounds familiar, but it's refreshed. Yeah, yeah.

Asante (16:09)

Like, even the way they were doing the transitions were a little different. Like, they were doing, like. Like, at one point, they were doing people as squares and then zooming it out when they were coming back to them and stuff. And I was like, this is interesting. We playing with some things this season. She got a lot of new people.

Francesca (16:23)

In the back as well, like, on the boards.

Asante (16:26)

But I'm with it. I'm loving seeing Shamia. It's great to see someone that's, you know, part of the fabric of Atlanta. And then she's such a positive force. She. You could tell she's not a shady girl. Like everything about her just seems like real. I don't know, it just. I said refresh earlier about the cast, but everything about Shamia just feels fresh. Like even her watching her have conversations that were uncomfortable or could have been uncomfortable and watch her just kind of breeze through them, I was like, you know what, Shamia, go ahead.

Dustin (16:51)

Girl.

Asante (16:51)

Like, you seem like the type that deserve everything you got. So I love watching that.

Dustin (16:55)

Listen, I'm here for seeing a black family, seeing her daughter, that beautiful little girl, running around at that mansion like that, racing her mother like that. That to me, that's why we watch shows about rich people, right? Especially rich black people. That's what people mean when they say the, the aspirational element. And we had kind of gotten away from that. It doesn't come from being materialistic. It comes from having an inside look into a life that's so different from yours, you know what I'm saying? We lost interest in the show because we started watching people that was like us get casted regular ass cribs and shit, you know what I'm saying? Like, there was no. And because of social media, a lot of the fans felt like they had access to these people who were just like them but platformed on television. And it took away, just like I said, the aspirational element that made you feel like you were getting a, a view into a world and a life and social circles that were so different from us. And that's where we have been missing the mark. So seeing Shamia, seeing Brittany edie with that 10 karat solitaire on her finger, talking about her husband and all this other like, like, you know what I'm saying? Seeing even Kelly Pharrell, one of the new housewives who owns Nana's Chicken and Waffles in Atlanta and has a very successful product line, cooked books. So much stuff, so much success in business. One of the best parts of the season premiere to me was when we were at her daughter. Her. She has a 17 year old daughter named Chloe, an 11 year old daughter named Chance, and I think 8 year old twins named Chelsea and Chastity, right? And they were at her daughter Chloe's 17th birthday party and she gave her 17 purses. Her daughter Chloe is really in the handbags and shit. So she gave her 17 purses. She said her daughter had been doing so good. She's a good girl, she deserves it. So she hooked her up right again. Love seeing It. Black wealth, black people doing it. Let these black kids live. I love it. The realest part of that scene was when she was discussing her divorce. She's been going through a divorce for two years, right? Her and her husband were married for, like, nine years or 11 years. I think it was 11 or nine. I can't remember. But they broke up. Been going through a divorce for two years. And she was talking to her mother, her friends, and I believe one. I think they were just her friends, not her sister at the table. But she was speaking about her kids and her. One of her twins. She said, one of our twins names Chelsea. The little girl runs up to the table and says, I heard you saying Chelsea. And what's going on? Can I have some of your honey lollipops? She was like, oh, she's like. I said that Chelsea was the prettiest little girl. She, like, she made up something in the spur of the moment, but she had just been talking about something really sad related to her divorce. And so when her daughter walked away from the table, the cameras caught her, like, going, damn. Like, you know what? I'm. It was just real, real, real, real, real, real. And it was what the game has been missing when it comes to the Real Housewives of Atlanta. So me personally, as somebody who watched this from season one, episode one, I'm very happy with the refresh. Very, very happy. Only thing I missed was Candy. That was the only thing I missed.

Francesca (20:02)

Oh, really?

Dustin (20:04)

Yeah.

Francesca (20:07)

Not adding much to the show, which I always see. I always see you battling people.

Asante (20:14)

I miss Candy. And I'm also gonna miss Kenya when she leaves.

Francesca (20:18)

Like, is she coming? Is she gonna be allowed to come back?

Asante (20:21)

Well, I mean, like, watching the show, like, I do hope that she comes back for the reunion and can, you know, maybe parlay her way back onto the show at some point. But I know from what they filmed, at some point, she's not gonna be there no more, so I'm gonna miss that. I don't see her on the tv, because her in the first episode was. She was so funny to me. Kenya wasn't even doing, you know, the most. But I actually missed watching Kenya like that. And I was like, I cannot believe I missed this. But I did.

Dustin (20:48)

So she turned me completely off in the first episode. I felt like every. I know that they have. Because they decided to remove her from the show midway through the season, they have had to, like, edit her out of the episode. Right. All the things that related to her. The only times we saw her in the premiere Episode, she was comment offering commentary on what was going on with the other ladies. We didn't see her house. We didn't see all the shit that I'm sure they filmed. Right. So I know that contributed to my takeaway because I don't really think I got a fair shot of seeing the totality of her. But I felt like after watching this episode, every time I saw her, she was just being nasty, negative, highlighting, whatever the problem was. Always whispering and gossiping and. And being rude to the new ladies on the cast. I felt like her energy felt archaic. I felt like it did not fit with the new vibe of the show. I felt like she was on that old school, let me find something to attach myself to, let me find an issue to discuss and make a thing. As opposed to the other ladies who were just coming in, vibing and letting the chips fall where they may, letting the drama like organically build. Kenya was coming in, just asking people rude questions, being standoffish, and it felt nasty and mean to me. And I'm a person who has always advocated for Kenya to be on this show because I believe that she contributes a great deal toward the movement of the story. And you know, like she's unafraid to kind of go there and you know, she's been a great villain. But what I saw in that season premiere episode, she looked mean and it felt like older energy. Not as far as her age, but just the. The energy and the feel of the show did not go with what she was bringing. Asking messy questions, always trying to make it dark and me and just nasty. While the other ladies looking good, getting to know each other, like everything's new, connections being made.

Francesca (22:43)

I have these feelings, you know, show.

Asante (22:46)

It definitely was two different shows. When she was there, I was just watching.

Dustin (22:50)

Mean to me. I don't like that. I didn't like that. And it felt obtuse towards growth of the show. You know what I'm saying? Yeah, I ain't like that.

Asante (22:59)

It was funny to be watching her sit down with Drew, cuz I was like, so we're not gonna get her?

Francesca (23:05)

Oh, she's on it too?

Asante (23:07)

Yes.

Francesca (23:08)

Yeah, I didn't even mention.

Asante (23:10)

Well, I actually like Drew storyline or whatever it's gonna be this season. Cuz Drew, this Ralph in the basement thing is confusing to me. So I'm just like, is he just not gonna leave? But watching Kenya pull up on Drew was funny to me.

Francesca (23:21)

What do you mean Ralph in the basement? Is that her husband in the basement of the house? Okay, people gotta do what works for them?

Dustin (23:31)

Well, he's doing it because it's a court order. They're going through a divorce. And he hasn't left the marital home. So he lives in the basement. He has a private entrance. And she leaves. She said that she leaves the home on the first, third, and fifth weekends of every month. Her kids have to go downstairs to see the daddy. Yeah, that's what happens when you got a TV show in your family that everybody is trying to attach themselves to. Because it's their vehicle to opportunity, exposure, and success. So when your wife, who you apparently can't stand or who you want us to think you can't stand, and who wants us to think she can't stand you, is filming a television show about your life that you have experienced the highs of being attached to. Ralph has gotten tons of attention from being her husband and being on this show. You know, whatever. I'm sure he doesn't want to leave the marital home. And I'm sure she don't want him to. When they can show that on the show and then Asante and viewers will watch it and say, him living in the basement. You get what I'm saying? It contributes to her value on the show.

Francesca (24:39)

It gives people something to talk about.

Dustin (24:41)

So that's what that is.

Asante (24:43)

I'll take it. I'm not really interested. Drew wasn't. I don't want to say I don't care about her career. That's really rude. But, like, the whole her being with Ralph saga was weird to me. So to watch it play out to this degree, you know, I'm tuned in. So it's like I have to watch. So watching. Can you pull us?

Dustin (24:59)

She's been on the show for three seasons. It's her fourth season. Right. So you followed that story all this time. You want to know what's going to happen, you know, because I know her.

Asante (25:07)

And Kenya didn't even have the best relationship. So watching her and Kenya sit down and her tell her all that, I was like, this is interesting.

Dustin (25:12)

That first season. Remember that second season, name of they was dogs. Kenya was nice to her. That's the second season.

Asante (25:17)

Yeah.

Dustin (25:17)

She gave her hell the first season. In the second season, Kenya defended Drew the entire time. And the next season, she was on Drew's side. So.

Asante (25:26)

And now we're not gonna get Kenya and what? We're not gonna get a big load of Kenya and Portia being friends, but.

Dustin (25:32)

Which is all we wanted. Me and say we all I wanted. We were seeing pictures of them filming when they started Filming this new season that we had to wait so long, you know what I'm saying, to see anything from. We finally saw pictures of Kenya and Portia looking so beautiful, being girlfriends, laughing, going to lunch and dinner, parking they Rolls Royces next to each other. It was like we were about to really have a moment with these two women. Had been feuding for so long. We were gonna have a moment of them working together, but Kenya just went too far. So we'll see what happens. I'm. I'm very interested to see the. How the Kenya thing plays out. Very interested to see how. Interested to see how that plays out. And I hate that she had to leave the show, but per what I saw in that premiere, I'm not gonna miss her.

Asante (26:20)

It's funny because what Portia said, she was on the Records Club doing her press run, and when she was saying she thinks that, that a conversation could be had and all that, and she thinks that would be cool if it was. It was cool because I know people were saying that Portia was lying about certain things. Certain things. But it was just funny watching Portia like advocate for Kenya.

Dustin (26:39)

Yeah.

Asante (26:41)

Yeah. Portia has grown a lot. So it's like amazing to watch her be a girl's girl and really try. It's really try that out.

Dustin (26:49)

Not that she had 44 years old.

Asante (26:50)

She always has been. I don't know why I said that as if she wasn't. She always has been.

Dustin (26:54)

Portia is 44 years old, and when we met Portia in season five of this show, she appeared to be very immature and naive, you know, about a lot of things. And we watched her go through real life. Shit. Yeah. You remember that?

Francesca (27:08)

He was like all controlling and he didn't like her going out places. What was he, an athlete?

Dustin (27:14)

Cordell Stewart? Yeah. NFL.

Francesca (27:17)

Remember? See, I remember that.

Asante (27:21)

This podcast is brought to you by Squarespace. Squarespace is the all in one website platform for entrepreneurs to stand out and succeed online. Whether you're just starting out or managing a growing brand, Squarespace makes it easy to create a beautiful website, engage with your audience and sell anything from products to content to time, all in one place, all on your terms. Every dream needs a domain. Squarespace domains make it easy to invest in your dream confidently. With premium privacy and security features included in every purchase, you can rest easy knowing your domain connection will remain online and completely secure. Choose from millions of URLs for your domain and get world class management tools included. And get discovered fast with integrated search engine optimization or SEO tools. Every Squarespace website is optimized to be indexed with meta descriptions, an auto generated sitemap and more. So you show up more often to more people in global search engine results. Connect your social and multimedia accounts to your website in a few clicks as icons, direct links or embedded feeds. Build visitor trust while updating content only where you need it, extending your brand's footprint and to the sellers. You can sync your product catalog directly with Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Google to reach more customers and reduce the steps for a purchase. You guys know that we love Squarespace over here. We've been rocking with them for years. Because I've been using Squarespace for years, I have a website hosted on Squarespace. I believe I've told you all about this. It's heyasante.com but I'm not supposed to be endorsing that. I'm supposed to be endorsing the website place that has it. Okay? In this Squarespace, it's easy to use, it's simple, it's cool. They've got really advanced tools and all you have to do is go to squarespace.com for a free trial. And when you're ready to Launch, go to squarespace.com friendzone to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain. That's 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain@squarespace.com friendzone the first.

Dustin (29:16)

Few weeks of school are in the books and now is the perfect time to keep that momentum going. IXL helps kids stay confident and ahead of the curve. IXL is an award winning online learning platform that helps kids truly understand what they're learning, whether they're brushing up on the math or if they're diving into social studies. It covers math, it covers language arts, it covers science and social studies too, all the way from Pre K through 12th grade with content that's engaging, personalized and yeah, it's actually fun too. And in case you didn't know, IXL is used in 96 of the top 100 school districts in the US. I know how well IXL works, as in an aid and a supplement to what your kids are already learning because my family members have used it. I have some bad kids in my family, okay? And they needed a little help to sit down somewhere and focus. And IXL aided them greatly in that way. Now you can make an impact on your child's learning and get IXL now. And the Friend Zone listeners can get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership when they sign up today at ixl.com friendzone visit ixl.com friendzone to get the most effective learning program out at the best price. All right, y', all, look, the weather is cooling down, the days are getting shorter and I want to be at home. And I know I'm not alone. Although I'm alone in my own home. But that's another conversation. Listen, as your trusted destination for all things home, Wayfair has everything that you need to cozify your space this fall. And that's everything from comfy recliners to warm bedding and autumn decor. There's something for every style and every home, no matter your space or your budget. Wayfair's even got espresso makers, y', all, so you can make that latte or that espresso martini right there at the crib. You know the one. Wayfair makes it easy to achieve your home goals with curated collections and room ideas, plus free hassle, free delivery even on large furniture. And listen, I just copped a beautiful all modern like three tier table that I had my eye on for a minute. I got it from Wayfair. It came. You know, I'm headstrong and stubborn, so I put it together myself and I'm looking at it. I could just be so proud of my blood, sweat and tears. But even if I didn't want to do that, they have so many options for home assembly delivery straight to your door. It's incredible. I love my table. In fact, you may be seeing it soon. Around these parts. You can cozify your space with Wayfair's curated collection of easy, affordable fall updates. From comfy recliners to cozy bedding and autumn decor. Find it all for way less@wayfair.com that's W-A-Y-F-A-I-R.com Wayfair. Every style, every home, it's been seeing this evolution, this iterate, this incarnation of Portia, right this stage of her evolution is great. She's much more mature, much more confident in interview interviews. She has a great deal. For those of you who are interested in that sort of of thing, she's in a great deal with NBC Universal right now. Part of her return to the Real Housewives of Atlanta included a bunch of other as far as her working in the NBC Universal space and scripted and unscripted projects. So Portia's cooking and she has her business in order right now. And seeing her as a mom and you know, working in that capacity is great. I love seeing this evolution of Portia, who still will cuss your ass out and may even hit you. But you know what I'm saying, for the most part, she looks good. She's doing her thing and she's present and she looked really good. And all that Schiaparelli on. Watch what happens. She looks so good. And all that Schiaparelli. Like, I was like, you got that on right now? So I'm excited. I love the Real Housewives of Atlanta season 16 premiere. It was good to me. Loved it. Ate it right on up.

Asante (33:19)

Are you caught up on Beauty and Black?

Dustin (33:22)

No, I am. I am on. I'm on episode. I'm just. I just finished episode 13, and I'm about to start 14 because it stopped at 8, so we got 9, 10, 11, 12.

Francesca (33:36)

I watched, like, did a new season come out?

Dustin (33:38)

The second half. It's called Part two.

Francesca (33:40)

Oh, no wonder. Because I'm like, why is everyone talking about this show? Because we watched it last year sometime. I don't remember, like, earlier. Was it late last year?

Dustin (33:51)

I think it was late last year.

Francesca (33:52)

And we watched it because it kept popping up on the banner and she's pushing it. I mean, pushing it. And we clicked it just out of curiosity. And it was so bad that I was like, we have to keep. Everything was just bad. The acting, the writing, the storyline, the ridiculousness of the random murders. And it was just like, what is this? And it was the train wreck. Yeah. No wonder. I'm like, why is everyone talking about it now? Because I'm seeing, like, all the clips on Twitter. I didn't realize, Right.

Dustin (34:28)

You gotta watch part two.

Francesca (34:30)

I go back, but that makes sense.

Dustin (34:33)

Debbie Morgan been on there, going to off. Y' all know the legendary actress. Get in the bag. Just get in the bag. Get the in the bag. Like, she been going off. Off. She's been going off.

Francesca (34:46)

She's having a blast playing this role.

Dustin (34:49)

Richard Lawson been going off. TS Madison went off.

Francesca (34:55)

TS Madison.

Dustin (34:56)

TS Madison is in it. She plays Dagger. No, I'm talking about in part one.

Asante (35:02)

Okay.

Dustin (35:02)

Dagger, Let me see. I haven't seen her yet in part two, so I don't know. It's just been good. And if you know about Tyler Perry, you already know what to expect. You know what I'm saying? You know what you're getting into, so just enjoy it. You know what I'm saying? I just. I've just been enjoying it.

Francesca (35:18)

You might need to have a sit down with Tyler Perry.

Dustin (35:21)

I just want him to stop making the conversations like this. Are you going to get Jules? Yeah, I'm gonna Go get Jules. So you really gonna go get them? I'm gonna go get them. All right, well, let me go when you go get them him. All right. I'm going to get him.

Asante (35:34)

Okay.

Dustin (35:35)

Call me up to go get him. Bye.

Asante (35:36)

Are you stupid?

Dustin (35:37)

That's how the conversation.

Asante (35:38)

You must be stupid. No, you stupid, huh? I could tell you stupid. I was like, how many times is he stupid?

Francesca (35:46)

That's what happens when you write the entire thing by yourself. The entire thing.

Dustin (35:52)

I would love to hear his comment. You know how you talk to yourself. I wonder if Tyler Perry be talking to monologue.

Francesca (35:59)

We were watching the kids to eat of his monologues every show.

Dustin (36:05)

I am hungry. Should I be hungry? I want to hear how he talk to himself, man.

Asante (36:12)

Randomly. The. The girl from Baddies that's on their body. I actually enjoy her.

Dustin (36:17)

She did great.

Francesca (36:19)

My name is T. The mean ass like pimp.

Dustin (36:24)

Her name was Bo name.

Francesca (36:25)

Yeah, she did do a good job. I mean, you know, for.

Asante (36:29)

Right?

Francesca (36:29)

Yeah, she did.

Dustin (36:31)

She surprised me and I was very happy to see her come off of Baddies. You know what I'm saying?

Asante (36:36)

Right?

Dustin (36:36)

Doing some like this.

Francesca (36:38)

Yeah, that's what you're supposed to do. Yeah, that's so funny. Also, it's a part two. Oh, God.

Asante (36:43)

Get ready, friend.

Francesca (36:44)

You know, I know. Like, I needed it.

Dustin (36:47)

Beauty and black fell right in the. In the. The hole that was left in my heart after the haves and the have nots stopped coming on.

Francesca (36:56)

Oh, that's another habit. Wait, have you been watching the soap opera?

Dustin (36:59)

Of course. Beyond the Gates. That's my comfort. Beyond the gates. That's my television. DVR it. Okay.

Francesca (37:07)

Right. 2:00pm Daily Soapbox. Wow. I kind of want to watch it just because I've never had a soap opera that I started with the first episode. You know, when you're little, you catch on with your grandparents or aunts or whatever watching, but they. The show's been on for years. You just catch on when you catch.

Dustin (37:26)

On this our time.

Francesca (37:27)

But I never.

Asante (37:28)

This is our time. I want to be on it.

Dustin (37:32)

You know what I'm saying?

Asante (37:32)

So you can say, like, you know, he was on beyond the Gates back in the day. I did a couple, you know, walk on rows and they gave me a.

Francesca (37:38)

R. Oh, they gonna be doing that?

Dustin (37:41)

Hell yeah.

Asante (37:41)

Like watching all the random. Like seeing Karen Hugo, like the first episode. Like, imagine people are like sitting at the bar.

Francesca (37:50)

Oh, no, she was not.

Dustin (37:52)

They had her sitting at the bar in the first episode. But that, you know, they shot that before. She still put the pedal to the metal. And.

Francesca (38:03)

I'm triggered.

Dustin (38:05)

Carrie seen that tree and said.

Francesca (38:09)

You know what? I finally am catching up on season three of White Lotus.

Dustin (38:16)

Oh, okay. So, yeah, I have. It's very slow.

Asante (38:18)

I think I'm on episode.

Francesca (38:19)

This is a. Yeah. To the point where I'm like. Is where I was already on episode. What, four? I'm like, how many episodes are in this season? Because I feel like nothing's being told.

Dustin (38:30)

When is something going to happen? That's what I was worried about. Like, I, you know, I'm kind of into it.

Francesca (38:36)

You know, it's not bad because for some reason, I just stick with it. Like, I like it, but I still feel like I don't know what the show is.

Asante (38:45)

They're not a whole lot, which I like.

Dustin (38:47)

Yeah, I stick with it because it's an exercise in discipline and moral intention for me. Yeah, I want it. Like I. I said, I was watching that. You know what I'm saying? And so since I said it, I'm not going to get. I feel like getting bored. You know what I'm saying? I feel like that's dumb. I need to, like, just sit through it and pay attention and, like, you know what I'm saying? I know that I'll appreciate it when it finally crescendo.

Francesca (39:13)

And that's really what it is. Because the previous seasons, they had little lulls as well early on, and then it always ended amazing. Like, the show. I'm always happy with it by the end of it. It's always some crazy plot twists. And I'm curious with Greg slash Gary.

Dustin (39:32)

What the fuck is going on?

Francesca (39:34)

Deal. Why did he tell her that he's not who he was? Like, you know, even them staring at each other like, I'm like, oh, shoot, dude. Okay, what's happening here? So. Oh, yeah. What the Is that I'm appreciating staring at his ass.

Asante (39:52)

And that whole. That they were weird in the first episode. But again, because it's so subtle, I can appreciate all of it. Right. Like, you're. You're. The other seasons were very chaotic. Like, you know, Hawaii. It was chaos. You know, we had all the Rager bro who just got married, and, you know, the girl that didn't know if you really wanted to be with him. And then you had the two girls that were best friends, but they hate on each other because one girl's family, the hotel managers. In the past two seasons, the hotel managers were on some. Armand was really on that. Look when she mentioned. Well, she mentions Armando, if You made that. But I, I. Or if you got there. Sorry I had to spoil that. But all she did was mention them. But when she mentioned them, I was like, I missed our mind. He was. He was crazy and off this rocker, but he was. He was that someone.

Francesca (40:39)

Suki.

Asante (40:39)

No, he was off his rocker. And that chaos. We are missing that chaotic piece here. But it's so subtle and. But everything is still hitting for me. Like, watching those white women all try to, like, be fake with each other. And I'm like, y' all are crazy. Like, y' all just cannot be serious. Watching the family. Parker Posey. I just.

Dustin (41:00)

Her.

Asante (41:00)

And I don't remember the actor too.

Francesca (41:02)

She said, ironic daughter being named Pipe Parker too, or whatever. Is it Piper?

Dustin (41:12)

I'll be watching the brothers.

Asante (41:14)

I don't like the brothers because one's too douchey and the other one's too quiet.

Dustin (41:19)

I don't like them either. That's why I can't take my eyes off of them.

Asante (41:22)

Right? But. But it's subtle chaos. So it's like they. They give you little pieces that you kind of keep watching. But because it's so simple sometimes, like, I can miss this part that work.

Dustin (41:31)

At the resort is fine as. I'm just gonna say it.

Francesca (41:34)

Which one?

Dustin (41:35)

The one that.

Asante (41:36)

With the white girls.

Dustin (41:37)

The one that was on massage or the one that came to see Belinda and remember, he was. So you want me on your stomach? On my stomach. Poor child.

Asante (41:47)

Poor child was, you know, he giving it.

Dustin (41:49)

I'm ready to get on a plane.

Francesca (41:51)

No, it had me rolling when. When he told her, how do you want me? And she said all my stuff on. On your back. She was like, such a good actress. It.

Asante (42:05)

That should have been, like, completely naked.

Francesca (42:07)

You know what else I watched that was surprisingly good?

Dustin (42:11)

What?

Francesca (42:11)

And not because I don't think she's. It's not about her, but it's okay. It's not going to come out right.

Dustin (42:16)

So I want to know. I want to know who.

Francesca (42:22)

Anita. Y' all know Anita, the Brazilian artist?

Dustin (42:25)

I love her.

Francesca (42:26)

So she has a documentary out on Netflix called Larisa, which is her real name. So I really click Play, honestly, because it's in Portuguese and y' all know I'm fluent in Portuguese. So any chance I get, I'm like, I'm gonna listen to something to keep myself sharp. So I listened to it. And, man, let me tell you, that was so damn good.

Dustin (42:49)

Yeah, really.

Asante (42:50)

I'm just a girl from Rio. The music and the way she does her culture, I can Tell.

Francesca (42:55)

But not even that. It was so beautifully filmed because it was like her cr. Her childhood crush from when she was 11. He was filming it. And so, yeah, so she. They had, like, not really connected as adults, but they kind of re. And so he's speaking in terms of, like, this is the little girl that I, like, loved. And, like, we had a thing, and we were young.

Dustin (43:19)

What a perspective to watch something through.

Francesca (43:22)

That'S so very, very interesting. And I'll admit, in the first half, I was kind of like, okay, Anita, like, this is just for you to be in panties, like, bouncing around your hotel room with this crush from when you were little. But then when they really got into it, just, like, how fragmented she is as a human being, because there's this Larisa who is. Who she is, and then there's Anita and just how she feels that she turns into a character.

Asante (43:51)

And.

Francesca (43:51)

And she was like, in. This character has been my superhero. Like, it saved me. It took me out the hood, all these things. But, like, I kind of hate that I have to be a character. And she said that it's taken over her now, where she don't even always have control of when she turns into Anita and she's, like, crying and was, like, stripped down with her hair short and no makeup in the hotel room having, like, meltdowns. And it just was very raw. And by the end of it, the profound kind of breakthroughs she has when she has to climb this mountain, I mean, you just have to watch it. By the end of it, I feel.

Dustin (44:31)

Like it takes you on a ride. I want to watch it.

Asante (44:33)

Oh.

Francesca (44:33)

It was really, really, really beautifully done. I was thinking, like, man, I know she must feel so proud to have put this out, because I didn't know a lot about Anita outside of just, like, the records that she's broken. Yeah. You know, just the iconic career she's had for Brazil and being, like, one of the big, if not one of the biggest, crossover artists that, like, really made it to the American market. But this was, like, just unexpected. Y' all know I love that. So I was watching her kind of break through psychologically and mentally, emotionally, spiritually was, like, really beautiful. I was good for her.

Dustin (45:12)

I hope they win some Emmys for that. Good for her.

Francesca (45:14)

I really hope so, too. And it was just really well done, and I was so happy that I pressed play.

Dustin (45:20)

Yeah. You about to make it. Yeah.

Francesca (45:23)

Honestly, I have not been able to stop thinking about it. Yeah. It's on Netflix. It's called Larissa L A R. I S. S a. And it just made me feel like I couldn't stop thinking about it.

Asante (45:35)

You know, you watch something that good.

Francesca (45:37)

You lay in the bed and I just was like thinking about it. Like, I was like, man, that was really well done. I love this for her. And I had watched it because I tried to watch Emilia Perez, the one that. Have y' all watched?

Dustin (45:55)

No. She plays a Mexican reporter, right?

Francesca (45:58)

I believe so, yeah. But do y' all know what the movie is?

Asante (46:02)

No. Frank, you taking me out because you said you tried to watch and now you're asking that?

Francesca (46:07)

No, I just saw Oscar winner, her face on the banner and the name, and I'm like, oh, that's that movie, right?

Asante (46:13)

Okay, hold on. Don't tell me yet. Hold on. Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. Dustin, you not ready for this. Hold on.

Dustin (46:21)

Come on.

Asante (46:22)

Because, friend, I'm crying. Did you just see what it is, Dustin? It's a Spanish language, French musical crime film.

Francesca (46:31)

I was like, what the. It was so. I'm so sorry. You know I don't like knocking shit because I don't believe in that.

Dustin (46:45)

But I do.

Asante (46:45)

Come on.

Francesca (46:46)

You just start feeling weird about you.

Asante (46:48)

It's adapted from a chapter of a novel.

Francesca (46:51)

No, let me tell you. So I didn't know. I'm thinking this is like a movie about. She was a lawyer for, like, Mexican cartels, right? I believe. I believe that's what she was. And so there's. That's what I read in the description on Netflix. So I'm like, oh, this is interesting. And she won the Oscar. I'm watching Press Play. No, Asante. She starts walking down this street. So I'm like, okay. And then she starts, like. It was like. Like a poetry slam. Like, she's like, speed. And so I'm like, okay, this is different. She's like, speaking in Spanish, but then she's like, you know, like, walking down the street. And then all of a sudden, people start twirling out of the buildings behind her. And I said, know the fuck? I know this is music. You know, it was that feeling of like, oh, fuck, this is a musical. No shame.

Asante (47:44)

You just didn't know going into it. So it really.

Francesca (47:47)

But here's the thing. But then it.

Dustin (47:48)

No one say that that film was.

Francesca (47:50)

A musical, but then it wasn't.

Asante (47:51)

It's a French musical crime film.

Francesca (47:53)

They were, like, speaking in unison. Not like singing, but they were dancing. So it's like a poetry slam dance.

Asante (48:02)

But, friend, did you finish the movie?

Francesca (48:03)

Because how long did you make it honestly, maybe 10 minutes.

Asante (48:08)

Let me read the rest of this to you. And then follows a Mexican cartel leader who aims to disappear and transition into a woman with the help of a lawyer.

Dustin (48:18)

Y', all, I'm befriend for Halloween.

Asante (48:23)

Turn this TV up. Turn this tv.

Francesca (48:25)

Yo, low key. No, actually, you know why? I do know exactly how many minutes I watched because I looked to see, because I was gonna call y' all and say, can y' all press play for the first time? It was seven minutes. I watched it.

Dustin (48:38)

You needed a time stamp.

Francesca (48:39)

I needed y' all to watch the first seven. That's all y' all needed. I needed it for my soul.

Dustin (48:44)

I was like, seven minutes in hell.

Asante (48:47)

In Mexico. In Mexico, the film.

Francesca (48:50)

So. And then they were dancing. I guess I see the French that you're talking about, because it was very like, you know, like, they were like.

Asante (48:56)

Maybe you ain't make it that far.

Francesca (48:57)

And it was just this sort of, like, French, you know, I'm like, okay. But then they're, like, speaking in Spanish, talking about cartels. It just. I don't get the vision.

Asante (49:06)

In Mexico. The film was panned by both audiences and critics who criticized. She won the Oscar, who criticized its cultural misrepresentation, songwriting, use of stereotypes in Spanish dialogue. Some lgbt. LGBTQ commentators were also critical of its depiction of trans people. Despite. Despite the polarized response, Emilia Perez controversially earned numerous ex. Accolades. Yep. To the point of. That's the one that she won for.

Dustin (49:36)

She won best supporting actress. Right.

Asante (49:39)

It won. The movie itself. Won 82 the. The Golden Globe Awards. It won four awards, including best motion picture, musical or comedy.

Francesca (49:48)

Wait, she wasn't the lead? I think she was the lead.

Asante (49:54)

The plot follows. Re. Well, the plot just starts with her, so I'm assuming she is one of the lead roles. But it says Rita Mauricastro, a struggling attorney in Mexico City, leads the defense in a murder case involving a prominent media figure's wife.

Francesca (50:07)

No, but I mean, the Oscar she won was her lead actor, so.

Asante (50:11)

Yeah. Her Oscar in particular was. Hold on.

Francesca (50:14)

Because it had to be, because she's all like, I've watched seven minutes, and she's all I saw.

Asante (50:19)

Yeah, she got. She got the. She got the best supporting actress.

Francesca (50:22)

Oh. Best supporting.

Asante (50:24)

Also one Best original song. Omar.

Francesca (50:27)

Yeah, well, no, I'm sorry. And then I get.

Asante (50:31)

I gotta watch it now.

Francesca (50:32)

There's some artistic, you know, like, there's some artsy that sometimes is just, you know, not your world or your taste.

Dustin (50:39)

Right. But you can appreciate the.

Francesca (50:41)

But I can understand you know, there's that feeling of like, I get it kind of. But it's like, I'm telling you, the whole time, I was like, what the Is happening? That's all I kept saying. What is this? What is this?

Dustin (50:53)

You thought you was. Zoe Saldana is in it. Is this Nina, or is this Amelia Perez? What is this? On Washington, somebody called.

Francesca (51:02)

It was the craziest. No, y'.

Dustin (51:03)

All.

Francesca (51:04)

When she started walking down that street and the people twirled out of the building, Francis.

Dustin (51:08)

She was like.

Asante (51:12)

Friend, you just pull the xd, you telling me how bad it is, and it's making me want to watch.

Francesca (51:17)

I said, hold on. The.

Asante (51:20)

Is it?

Francesca (51:21)

You know? But, you know, when you don't know something's a musical, it's always jarring when the first number starts because you're like, oh, hell, that's just me.

Asante (51:29)

No, you cannot surprise me with the music. I actually love musicals, but you cannot.

Dustin (51:35)

Surprise me with the music.

Francesca (51:36)

But it's rare that I'm like, I.

Asante (51:37)

Love a good music.

Dustin (51:39)

People hate musicals. For real, people will see that something is a musical and be like.

Francesca (51:44)

And turn it off.

Asante (51:47)

Dream Girls was a musical, and I love it.

Francesca (51:49)

I'll watch it today because you're trying to get into the storyline, and they start singing. You're like, but we just.

Asante (51:55)

But the music sometimes makes the story. I don't know how true that is.

Francesca (51:58)

Yeah.

Asante (51:59)

Because again, like. Like you were saying, this could have been, like, real artsy, and they were using it as a tool.

Francesca (52:03)

Please watch it.

Asante (52:04)

I have to now, friends, you pull the xd, you're telling me how bad it is and how I shouldn't watch it, but I'm going to watch it. So you didn't even have to tell me. You don't have to sell me on it now. You already did.

Francesca (52:12)

I cannot wait to hear your thoughts next week.

Asante (52:14)

Please.

Francesca (52:15)

I'll send y'. All.

Asante (52:18)

I was.

Francesca (52:18)

And y' all know me. I would have kept that in the tuck, because I just don't like that. But, no, I just. I couldn't. I had to say, like, what is this? To see if anyone else felt.

Asante (52:27)

Selena Gomez.

Francesca (52:28)

What is that?

Dustin (52:29)

So it's called Emilio Estevez, right? Ain't that what it's called? What is the title? Amelia Perez. Okay.

Francesca (52:38)

Yeah. And I know the Mexicans were mad at her, right? Because how the you win this? And then also, girl, she don't care about. Because she didn't say anything about being black. She was like, my Dominicans. I was like, oh, my God, she's.

Dustin (52:52)

Already been vocal about not being considered, not considering herself black and feeling like she don't have to represent black people. And she. That's why she mad at her. Look at her. She's. She's the one that. She's a. I know black, but I'm not surprised.

Francesca (53:04)

That's a very. Yeah. I mean when you're raised that way is there are very few Dominican people you'll meet. Maybe now it's different. I'm sure now the younger ones are a little more like conscious. But my generation and up. Very few Dominicans you'll meet that call themselves black.

Dustin (53:22)

Black, yeah.

Francesca (53:23)

Yeah.

Dustin (53:24)

I didn't know that until I moved. When I moved to New York because a lot of Dominican people here, when I look at them, I see, you know, a black person like you, black. And so. But I didn't realize until I met.

Francesca (53:34)

And that's not their alignment. Yeah.

Dustin (53:37)

When I moved on Dyckman, I found out quick, you know what I'm saying? Like I learned so much and I was. You know, how much I love, you know, I love it.

Francesca (53:47)

Yeah.

Dustin (53:47)

And so. But I. That's when I found out my Dominican friends, I told you, they told me that when their grandmothers came to the United States, they would watch the news and that's. That's how they would like teach themselves English and different. What's going on?

Francesca (54:02)

Soap operas.

Dustin (54:03)

They said that the news. Because the news, news this. When I heard this, I literally turned into that emoji where your brain is like blowing up. They said that because the news makes black people out to be criminals, villains, all that other. That's where the anti blackness starts. They're like, oh no, now that I'm here, I don't want to be that. So I'm. You know what I'm saying? And that's where it gets passed down.

Francesca (54:24)

When I did my episode of Intersectionality Illuminating Intersectionality, the project shout out to that project that I did with Kia and Jade as the episode I did in the last season was about Black people versus Caribbean Black people and them being at HBCUs together and how that worked out for them, the dynamics. And a lot of the Caribbean black students said that a lot of their parents concern was coming from media, you know, and it obviously is by design. Right. Is very much like, oh, you don't want to be like the black Americans because they're violent, they're lazy, they're all on welfare. All the tropes that you could possibly think of that are put out there and they believe it and Then they come here, try to separate themselves, and that causes a rift between us and the schools, you know, so. Really interesting conversation.

Dustin (55:22)

Fascinating.

Francesca (55:23)

Fascinating. Yeah. So I. I mean, I experienced. I didn't experience it as much. I will say that in my family, they. They did say, like my grandmother on my father's side and my grandfather on my father's side would say, little dumb. That now as an adult, I can look back, but as a kid, I didn't pick up, realize, you know. Yeah. Like, when my grandfather would see the black dudes on the bench because, you know, we lived in the projects and he would call them monkeys. He and monos in Spanish. And I wasn't connecting that. I was thinking he meant in terms of, like, these are silly people that are always outside. Yeah. Just an insult. But now looking back, which is crazy because my grandfather was black, so it was like, brother, what are you talking about? But it was very them versus us all the time. My grandmother, she did not like the men that I dated because they weren't like, white and lighter for fair skin. She was very much of the, like, oh, you can make our family ugly vibes. Other things I didn't pick up on as a kid either. I just thought she just didn't like people I like. But now as an adult, I can.

Dustin (56:32)

Look back, realize what it was like rooted in or it's. It's fascinating.

Francesca (56:35)

But my mom did not play that, and I appreciate that. She never made me try to with my hair. She never tried to make me feel bad about who I was dating. She never tried. Like, she had me in African dance classes as a kid, you know, and.

Dustin (56:51)

She always felt like, hey, mama friend, we love you.

Francesca (56:53)

Yeah. My mom, I give it you to. To you, mom. You didn't play that. She didn't let nobody play that. Because my aunts would try to be like, oh, you need to straighten her hair. Her hair looks so bad. You know, little commentary. Always trying to straighten my hair when my mom wasn't home. You know, things that people do. But my mom didn't say that.

Dustin (57:11)

And look at life. Life is so poetic and beautiful because you literally built an empire because you have beautiful hair.

Francesca (57:17)

Isn't that the craziest thing after being raised to think this and that your.

Dustin (57:22)

Family had to see that. Right. They had to see you experience success in the beauty space, you know what I'm saying? As not just in the beauty space, but as a natural beauty in the beauty space. So, like the very thing, you know what I'm saying?

Francesca (57:37)

Yuck. Yeah.

Dustin (57:38)

I Hope they learn. That's, that's, that's how life works. You know what I'm saying?

Asante (57:42)

My family don't want me to be.

Dustin (57:43)

Gay, and I'm gay, but they got to see it.

Asante (57:49)

You know what I'm saying?

Dustin (57:49)

Hopefully not like, oh boy, you gotta see me. You know what I'm saying? You gotta deal with it successfully. Exactly.

Francesca (57:57)

Successfully out here with your brand. 100.

Asante (58:00)

They really hate that. They'd be sick over that.

Dustin (58:02)

So like, so like. And that's the thing. Like, that's the service piece. Right. When it comes. Because I, you know, now that I'm a man of a certain age, you know what I'm saying? I'll be thinking about on a deeper level. Okay. What it means in life, what it means. And I, I. And I feel like that's the service. That's my. I'm not a father. I don't have children. Right. But I come from a family who loves me. And some like my parents specifically. That's what I'm talking about. You know, they don't want me to be a homosexual. Right. But I have completely redefined, you know what I'm saying? What they know a homosexual's life to be what they know almost. And I'm not talking about no masculine and feminine. I'm talking about just living, thriving, being happy, being pursuant of my goals, feeling confident enough to. To be who I am openly in the world type. Right. They have to see that. So, yeah. They never say it or whatever the. Like, I know that you feel it and that's.

Asante (59:00)

Yep.

Dustin (59:03)

I don't have to tell you ugly because you already know you. So you know what I'm saying?

Asante (59:08)

You gotta.

Dustin (59:09)

The baseline sometimes to things is. Is enough sometimes. And so. And the fact that we have repelled those ideas and stuff. Like you said, friend, you have to thank God for your mother, you know, disrupting that you have made.

Francesca (59:23)

Yeah. Even just having one person.

Dustin (59:26)

Yeah.

Francesca (59:26)

You.

Dustin (59:27)

Y' all stop that from moving forward in your family and in the, the lives of the people that are around you. That's the service piece and that's, that's the most relevant piece to me when it comes to those sort of engagements. So I don't give a. I live out loud. You know what I'm saying? That's. That's what it is. That's how we. That's the service that we provide through. Yeah.

Francesca (59:51)

I remember even having a campaign this. Oh, I don't know what year this was. I'm bad with remembering years, but I had a campaign Where I had to go to Dr. And if you know anything about the Santiago airport, for those of you listening that have come out, it's like a Runway. Almost like you. You walk out and it's just a long ass walkway. And all Dominicans are standing there waiting and it's kind of embarrassing. You gotta walk mad far through. All these people just was like, wait.

Dustin (60:19)

That just turned me off.

Francesca (60:22)

And I remember my hair and y' all remember how I used to wear my hair? Much, much bigger, really messy and huge moment. Imagine me coming out. They was like, oh.

Dustin (60:40)

What you mean no?

Francesca (60:42)

It was like, no, but for us that's dope. But for them it was like, oh no. Like people was saying like, you forgot your comb. You know, like it was. Yeah.

Asante (60:54)

Completely different direction. Look, look, we had a completely different. Completely different vision.

Francesca (61:00)

I'm just so grateful that I. Because I already had heard all that.

Asante (61:05)

You're well traveled.

Francesca (61:06)

It just wasn't a thing. Like I thought I was laughing. The. The host family that was walking was mortified. They was like, oh my God, she's never gonna come back. She's gonna talk about us. She can talk about the campaign and it up, which I didn't do that. But it just was like, damn, bro, this is my hair, you weirdo.

Dustin (61:24)

As beautiful of a woman as you are, you know what I'm saying? That's crazy.

Francesca (61:28)

No, they were saying the craziest shit. And I remember when like the one of the first natural hair salons shout out to Ms. Rizos, really dope Dominican woman that like created one of the first natural hair Salons in Dr. And was really like in the middle of there. Where in doctor you don't play that like you straighten your hair, you permit. Those are the two options. But she had people considering their curls, having their afros and really like spearheaded them embracing them. Yeah. And it was nice to kind of have that with her, you know, where it's like we're representing this sort of new guard for beauty in the space. So I get why Zoe can be such a polarizer. Yeah. Like the anger of it. Because it's like, girl, we. We're trying to get past that shit. Here you are, your two dark skinned sisters, all three of y' all have white husbands. So that tells you a lot, you know what I mean? About how they were raised. I'm sorry to say it. I'm gonna say it. That tells you a lot. All three have white husbands. All three, you know what I'm saying? So. And then for her to still be Battling the whole. Whether she is Dominican or not or if she's black or not. Like, you can tell. It's just a lot going on there. And these are conversations that are heated, though. I saw some of it on Twitter. People just heated.

Dustin (62:48)

You know, it's crazy because I think because I always been. I can't remember being nothing but black. So, like, right when people try to.

Francesca (62:55)

Ask me about my experience, I'm like, I was raised that way, so I don't. I didn't have that breakthrough moment in college where I, like, started feeling, you know, like I took a couple classes and was like, oh, my God, this is my culture. Like, it just wasn't that for me.

Dustin (63:12)

When I met you, I thought you were a beautiful black woman. You know what I'm saying? Like, straight up. Like, that's just what I. Like that.

Francesca (63:19)

Or there are people.

Dustin (63:20)

I met you.

Francesca (63:21)

But.

Dustin (63:21)

Yeah, no, but, like, I. Even. Even though I've understood racism from a very early age, like, I kn. I remember when I was in the fourth grade, this boy named Peter Peterson. You bitch. You white bitch. This boy named Peter Peterson called me a nigger in the fourth grade, and I beat his ass. Oh, I understand. Yeah. So I understood. You know what I'm saying? Racism at an early age. I'm really over it, too. But if you still on that racist shit to suck my dick. But, you know. But anyways, I remember, so I understood it. But I never. I have never in my life felt like I didn't want to be black because of the opposition that, you know, comes up against you as a black person because of racism. I never felt. I never felt. I never felt like I wanted to abandon my blackness ever in life, ever.

Francesca (64:11)

Even when you saw, like, oh, in this instance, this is when I saw roots to my advantage. You know, we watched the young Kobe shit.

Dustin (64:24)

I was on his side. Kung. I ain't saying no, Toby.

Francesca (64:28)

Fuck.

Dustin (64:28)

Y' all beat my ass.

Francesca (64:30)

No, it's true. And I went to private school with really wealthy white girls in Riverdale. If anyone knows about Riverdale. It's just. Just to give you an idea, JFK and Tracee Ellis Ross are the alumni. You know what I'm saying? Like, that's gonna tell you what type of school it is. And even then, it just wasn't a thing for me. I never felt embarrassed or like, oh, my God, I'm not gonna fit in.

Dustin (64:56)

Never.

Francesca (64:56)

Never tried to fit in. That just wasn't my plan at that school. I was like, I'm coming here to get this education That I got blessed to be able to be up in here with a scholarship, got what I needed, and got the out. It was never a thing of me needing to assimilate or have them understand me. I just didn't feel those things.

Dustin (65:17)

For me also, it's the same thing with, like, being gay, right? Like, once, my. The only people I ever was afraid to find out that I was gay back before, you know, it was public knowledge, were like, my parents and then like, my family members that had small children, you know what I'm saying? I was very close with, like, my little cousins and shit. They would come spend the night at my house. I never wanted, like, their parents to just even have a thought that they might not even fit, even want to have. But, you know, you just think about it, you know, I never doubted they love me type shit. But I. But I never wanted to jeopardize those connections that were important to me. But once they found out, I. I don't never feel uncomfortable. I go and I go go in the most space spaces that are considered dangerous. I don't feel unsafe in. You know what I'm saying? Like, I have. I've been. You name it. You the hood of El Paso, Texas, with the. The asset month. Anyhow, like my. With my family. I don't feel like, uncomfortable. I don't feel like anybody can make you gonna be uncomfortable in the room before I will. I'll be right like that.

Francesca (66:29)

Right.

Dustin (66:29)

You know, and so. So, like, I just. It's funny. It's funny about those sort of things in life where typically they work, they're disadvantaged, or they, you know, are deemed to be such. I never felt no kind of way about that shit is what it is. And I don't give a. You know what I mean? I'm gonna do it anyway in spite of all of that shit. So when I see people abandoning their blackness or when I see gay people being pick me and letting the homophobia slide and like that, I look at you like a. You a. To me, you know what I'm saying? Them. Candace Owens, y' all some. Y' all some hoes. Like, the fact that y' all so different, you know, so different. Like, why would. How you gonna fold on your. On your. On who you are as a person? How can you fold on that? I just don't. Yeah, I don't know.

Asante (67:18)

As far as my black experience goes, I always loved being black. Always. Like, I can't think of a time I've always seen happen that was like, racist, but it's never made me be like, damn, if I didn't have this black skin on me, my life would be better. Like, I've never had that thought. I've always thought that, like, you know, stay black and protect your magic. I've always thought that black people are the business, and for whatever reason, white folks are just haters. I don't know why I, I, you know, it happened before we got here, but it's still happening. And they don't want to change, but niggas are always going to be it. That's why I love my people. We are it. And that's just how I feel about it. I just hate that we live in a day and age where that does still happen. This, all of this, right? But then even going back to the gay thing, it's harder to come out to some gay men than fucking straight people now, because some gay men are just so scared. But I guess it's because of, you know, what station you're in in life or, you know, what you've gone through and what you've seen. But people are like, it's 2020. Why haven't you come out yet? It's 2022. It's 2025. Like, you're still in the closet. It's like, some of y' all say that, but then on the other shoe, some of y' all still like, no, with that gay making people want to hide even more. So it's like we have to choose in certain aspects. Like, okay, do you want people to come out, or do you want, like, you want people to do the right thing, right? So it's like, you want people to feel comfortable enough to be gay, but you also don't want people to feel comfortable enough to be black, I guess, which is interesting to me when people always want to equate the two, and they're two completely different things. Sometimes they just so happen to intersect.

Dustin (68:41)

Dank, dumbass.

Asante (68:43)

Oh, my God. It's so complex. And I just hate when people offer opinions on those things as if they're truth or they're fact. Like, yes, you are black first, or you appear black first. And some people don't reconcile that. Or some people have reconciled that as, like, I don't even see myself as black first because you can already see that. Like, I already know. But some people haven't reconciled that as, like, well, I don't know if I want to lead with that bubble. It's like, you have no choice. So, like, like, you don't have to be with. Yes, I'M black, and let me give you the history lesson, but it's like you already know sometimes that people are, you know, doing some shit they ain't supposed to be doing. Are you going to be a party to it? Are you going to stand up and say something?

Dustin (69:20)

Because you live in the world, right? We live in this world. You cannot erase or deny the relevance or the social impact of race, you know what I'm saying? In America. And you have a responsibility to understand what it means to be exactly who you are, you know what I'm saying? You have to understand what that means, the history of your people in this country, so that you can make decisions, you know what I'm saying? That contribute to the progress of your people in whatever way you can. That should be important to people.

Asante (69:52)

Yeah.

Dustin (69:53)

You know what I'm saying? And so that's why I hate hearing the. I don't see color, you know what I'm saying? When it comes to certain things, I hate hearing that because you need to understand that. You need to understand who you are, who others are.

Francesca (70:04)

You need to see it, you need.

Dustin (70:05)

To, and you need to understand it, you know what I'm saying? Like, it's, it's when I see some young people kind of shrug off blackness as if it is some sort of license to vic. To victimhood or, you know what I'm saying? They, they act, they. They associate it with that, and so they refute it. Or they don't want to be proud of their blackness, or they don't want things to be about race because that. Now they're making black people out to be the victims. That's an inaccurate view. And it's. It's actually an uninformed view. And I hate seeing it so popularized because people are lazy and they don't want to do the work to sit their asses down and read about history, and so they just shrug it off. Well, I don't see color, so I don't want to talk about. Everything's not about race. And then they want to move on from it. No, you need to take a little time and enjoy the view, like Whoopi and said and understand race in America. So I hate hearing that.

Asante (71:04)

I, I wish it. Like, when people say that, it's like, you know, I'm delusional. So it's like, I wish we could live in the world, or I wish when it's used in certain aspects, it's like we could celebrate you not seeing color. But like this, like, because we live in America and it is a global thing. But because we live in America, it is an important thing that a lot of people either choose to ignore or they just choose to use inappropriately or gaslight with. Because some people will say that to you knowing good and hell. Well, you know what the. Well, I don't see col. Like, let me just say that so I can get these black people off my beans. Like, but you don't see color. So now you trying to get this black person off you. Like how. How is that the same thing? Or how are these different? I don't know. I just hate that we. We can't truly move forward in a lot of these systems because there is so much. There's so many different things happening. People feel so othered out to so many different degrees.

Dustin (71:52)

I got white people in my family that I love. Like we got the exact same blood going through our veins, you know what I'm saying? And they're very well aware of the complexities and realities of race in America. And we love each other, you know what I'm saying? You want to take it to the gay? We said, me and one of my white cousins sat down right here, you know, one of my favorite restaurants, Brooklyn Chop House. We sit down, me and my cousin, my cousin shout out to my cousin because actually I'm have her come on the show about something completely unrelated. But me and one of my cousins, I should say, let me give her a little anonymity, and her husband, who happens to be white, we sat down at dinner. We were at dinner for like three and a half hours, just bonding, you know what I'm saying? We have made an effort to be in relationship with one another and we talk about all of the things, you know what I'm saying, that make us who we are. And so I know that this is. I feel like people choose to make this an issue, you know what I'm saying? Like, you're choosing of your own volition to make this an issue. That is, that doesn't work for you and the people around you because me and my people, my niggas, some of them who happen to be white, you know what I'm saying? We good, we good, you know what I'm saying? And we, we respect each other and, and who each other are in a way that is loving, you know what I'm saying? And it is, is. Is authentic. There's no denying of anything to make this more comfortable, you know what I'm saying? We. We talk about the realities. So I ain't got time for it. So if you prejudice, if you homophobic, if you fat, phobic, misogynistic, all of that, you. You know what I'm saying? Welcome to the Friends.

Francesca (73:37)

This summer, Instacart is bringing back your favorites from 1999 with prices from 1999. That means 90s prices on juice pouches that ought to be respected, 90s prices on box Mac and cheese, and 90s prices on ham, cheese, and cracker lunches. Enjoy all those throwbacks and more at throwback prices only through Instacart. $4.72. Maximum discount per $10 of eligible items. Limit one offer per order expires 95 while supplies last. Discount based on CPI comp. Did y' all watch this latest season of Love is Blind?

Dustin (74:13)

Not yet, no. So I needed a break from the.

Francesca (74:16)

I get it, too, because it's been back to back, but I know I won't have any. I won't say any spoilers since y' all haven't watched. I don't even know if y'. All.

Asante (74:25)

You ain't even.

Dustin (74:27)

You know, you're supposed to say when you watch them like that, you supposed to. We know.

Asante (74:31)

I always say, I'm not gonna watch it until you make me watch it, right?

Francesca (74:34)

But I will say this one thing that was interesting this season was some of the women straight up said no at the altar because of, like, this. Where, like, one of the. And it was. One of them was a white woman.

Asante (74:47)

I did see that clip of that white woman.

Francesca (74:48)

She really, mind you, she really liked him. Like, everything was, like, great. Like, she's like, he's nice, he's handsome. Everything was great. But when she asked him, what are your thoughts on Black Lives Matter? And he's. He goes to church. So she was like, what does your church say about lgbtq? Like, I just want to know your values. And he said to her, oh, I don't know what my church thinks of lgbtq. Which. Come on, brother, you don't know what your church thinks? Like, he was, oh, I don't know. I've never heard them talk about it. Lies. Number two. She asked him about blm. What are your thoughts on Black Lives Matters? He said, I've never thought about it. Then she said, what do you mean you've never thought about it? He essentially was like, it's just not my reality. Which he ain't lying. He's a white man. The world is their oyster. But she was so turned off that he had no curiosity, he had no perspective, no position. And instead of just saying that, he Kept skirting around the issue by being like, oh, I don't know what my church said. And she said the crazy part is she looked up his church online because, you know, most of these churches stream. She said the very first sermon she picked, she caught was talking about gays. And that's what she was like, no. And then there was another woman, and this was a black couple, where she said the same thing, where, like, she asked him, what are your thoughts? But with him, he was slick because he told her, I don't want to talk about this on camera. So he was able to dodge sharing his actual thoughts about the lgbtq, which.

Asante (76:27)

She still got that ass at the altar, though.

Francesca (76:29)

She. And she said, no.

Asante (76:32)

Good girl.

Dustin (76:33)

Like that he was.

Francesca (76:34)

Yeah. And he cried. And then at the reunion, that's when they asked her, like, what happened? Because she didn't. Still didn't really say, but at the reunion, she let it all out.

Dustin (76:45)

What did he say? Did he cop to it and say, she's right, or, like, what?

Francesca (76:49)

He just spoke in circles like most people do.

Dustin (76:52)

What kind of was he saying, Friend, I want to fight?

Francesca (76:56)

Well, I mean, what she said was that he basically doesn't believe in gays and was like, you know, a magical unicorn. I don't believe in the magic I'm doing.

Asante (77:12)

What I don't believe in.

Francesca (77:13)

That topic was abortion. That he didn't agree because he's a religious man. And for a lot of people, that's. That's just a no because the family. So. Right. So. But he didn't say it on camera, so he got to skate a little bit to that reunion. So I thought that was interesting because this was pretty much everybody said no this season. There was only one couple, and all the no's had to do with the man's values.

Dustin (77:42)

I love that. I love that. You know what it was, the women, they all said.

Francesca (77:48)

And I thought it was such a. It was a boring season, but I think that that was cool to see.

Dustin (77:53)

And it's Women's History month. Right.

Francesca (77:55)

And his women's history, which in a way I was like, was this good.

Dustin (77:59)

Picture Rosie the Riveter on their ass.

Francesca (78:03)

You know, because it's just the timing felt a little sus.

Asante (78:06)

Right. But they put it out right in time.

Dustin (78:10)

But women need to stand up for shit like that. You know what I'm saying? No. Men have that sort of control over your household when it comes to values and shit. If you don't want to be connected to that, that. Yeah.

Francesca (78:22)

And the part that I think was admirable was that the men appeared so kind. They were. Had communication skills, they were loving, they were attentive. So all the things that as a woman you're like paying attention to as, as the kids say, it's a green flag, you know, it's like, oh my God, he's all these things. When someone is all of those things, they're making you breakfast. They're, they're. The house is equally allocated as far as chores, you know, like they're just doing all of the things. I can imagine how hard that would be. Because in your mind I know how as a woman you're like, well at least, at least I get 8 out of 10. You know, sometimes you have to tell yourself is 8 out of 10 because it's just not good pickings out there. But I kind of fuck with the fact that they was like, I don't give a shit that you have all these things. You don't have this thing and I don't fuck with it. And they all said no.

Dustin (79:19)

And it was so smart because most often, and this I'm sure is supported by statistical data of some sort. Most often people, men who are homophobic, men who are transphobic, men who are racist or have very conservative Christian or religious centered views. They don't like women. Let me just put it like that. They don't like women. They don't want to see. They don't want women to have any sort of control over their own autonomy in life, any sort of independence, any of that. So you, you have, it's more than just them have having some sort of allyship to fags and you know what I'm saying? And, or whatever like you know this, this directly impacts the way he sees you as his partner, as a woman, as a, as an equal or non equal or whatever the. So they were very smart for recognizing those signs early and getting the hell on down the street like they should have. You gotta, you can't. If people be. Just want to equate it to those issues, it goes a lot deeper than that. You know what I'm saying?

Francesca (80:24)

And they saw, they were able to look past the.

Dustin (80:27)

The moment and everybody trying to be in a handmaid's tale and bound by law because you didn't mar. That you didn't even see in the first damn place.

Francesca (80:36)

Yeah. Just because you liked his personality. So you know, I think that was a good part of the season. It was interesting because I feel like we hadn't really seen that on this show.

Dustin (80:45)

That's right. Ladies who you calling a. That's how I feel. I'm on women's empowerment this episode. Okay, I like that.

Francesca (80:55)

No, it was good. It was definitely good. I feel. I feel, too, that they rolled it out hella fast, because I feel like usually they kind of spread it out. You gotta wait till this, wait till that. It was like the whole season up until the reunion in like, two, three weeks.

Dustin (81:09)

What city were they in?

Francesca (81:10)

Friend, Minnesota.

Asante (81:19)

It was the.

Francesca (81:20)

Were they in Minneapolis? Hold on. It might have been Minneapolis. Let me make sure not you laughing with that.

Dustin (81:29)

For several reasons. Number one.

Francesca (81:35)

Right? So there was. It was Minneapolis. I wanted to make sure, because I know it's Minnesota, but it was Minneapolis.

Dustin (81:45)

First of all, them women is smart because they knew the demographic. It's not a lot of gay people in Minnesota.

Francesca (81:52)

Honestly, I was shocked when I saw the. Well, let me not say that, because I'm in motherfucking Portland, Oregon. I was like, the black people people, right? They might be too.

Dustin (82:04)

You is a transplant. Okay.

Francesca (82:10)

But I was like, oh, look at the black folks.

Dustin (82:16)

Three or four.

Francesca (82:17)

Yeah. And it's the one of the ones that walked off. So.

Dustin (82:20)

So they. And none of them cop to it at the reunion. None of them were like, yes, she right? My. I'm not, you know, I'm a conservative. None of them cop to it.

Francesca (82:29)

I mean, I feel like the one that was, like, speaking in circles about blm, if I remember correctly, he was probably the more accountable one where he admitted, like, yeah, I just wasn't. The Sante is over here cracking.

Asante (82:46)

Sorry. I'm looking at the photos because I want to see, you know, how the people were looking and the men just. I know the men are always, you know, lesser than the women.

Francesca (82:54)

They look like the outcome. Right.

Dustin (82:55)

Share the screen for our beautiful Patreon.

Asante (82:58)

Everything clean. I'm just on Google images, so, like, if I. Hold on.

Dustin (83:01)

Let me just want to show them that. Show you the start at the Patreon. You can join us at www.patreon where.

Francesca (83:10)

Sante's cursor with the red jacket.

Dustin (83:13)

Okay. He just. He just took the red hat off. Okay, Got it. He looked like it, too. Little ass thumbs. Let me see.

Francesca (83:24)

Britney. Brittany is one of the girls that was dating him, but she actually broke it. Oh, she broke it off with him in the pods because you know, when you're being open.

Asante (83:36)

So Brittany broke it off with him in the pods?

Francesca (83:39)

Yes. He had her as his number one. That. That girl Brittany, she broke it off because she shared with him the fact that she was that she liked women and had dated women in college and was basically sharing about her exploration with her sexuality and identity. And they got into a whole combo and he was just, like, not feeling it. And she felt bothered by that because she's like, you've been an open book. You've cried, you've told me all this personal shit. It's my turn to share. But because it's something you don't like. He was all kind of cold and not very, like, supportive during the conversation. Like, one of the first things that came out his mouth was like, so you would still date a girl. Like, it just felt very insecure and.

Dustin (84:27)

He was trying to shame her. Like, yeah.

Francesca (84:30)

And very much like, so you would marry a girl. And, you know, and then they just got into the whole thing and so she broke up with him and she saw that off jump, like. Yeah, so that's what I'm saying. The women this season were just like, nah. Like, that was the theme of the season, where they just look for her.

Dustin (84:48)

And he looks like Tamara Tuney. Do you know who that is?

Francesca (84:51)

Who the hell is that?

Dustin (84:52)

Tamara Tuney. T U N I E For those that are watching and listening, look that up and laugh when you see the guy from. From Love is Blind. Oh.

Asante (85:07)

God.

Dustin (85:11)

He looked like the Maratuni. Right there. There you go, right there. Yep, it's in the eyes, yo. You know, she's been around too.

Francesca (85:24)

Dustin is so dang funny.

Dustin (85:25)

Yeah, she's been in a lot.

Francesca (85:29)

But, you know, I think that was the theme of the season. The women was not with. Was breaking up with these men left and right, and they ain't got time for that.

Dustin (85:39)

It's cold in Minnesota.

Francesca (85:41)

Yeah, she popped out DMS out her titty to prove that the dude was like, fake nice and was like. You pretended to be this fake nice person on camera, but with me, you were, like, talking mad about the cast. It was just bad. I was like, ugly. But yeah, it wasn't that great of a season, though. Even though I'm making it sound like it was.

Dustin (86:02)

You're making it.

Francesca (86:02)

I just kind of know I drudged through it, honestly. I was like, cleaning the house, you know, you just have in the background.

Dustin (86:09)

But now here's the thing about that, because, you know, I struggle with the pod scenes on Love is Blind every season. If you said it's bad, there's no way I'm gonna to be able to enjoy it.

Francesca (86:22)

You're not.

Dustin (86:23)

Barely be. I know.

Francesca (86:24)

I told you the best part. I told you the best parts. Like that's just what it is.

Dustin (86:31)

Well, thank you, Daniel Caesar and her. You're the reason I'm not watching that damn show. You're the reason I don't want to see it no more.

Francesca (86:42)

That's what I was watching this past weekend, though.

Dustin (86:46)

Oh, yeah?

Francesca (86:46)

Yeah.

Dustin (86:47)

Have y'. All. Have y' all started the Gross Point Whatever Society? Gross Point Whatever. What's it called?

Francesca (86:54)

What is that?

Dustin (86:54)

It's on NBC. And Peacock. And it's the. It's got Asian Naomi King. Hold on. Gross Point. Because I just watched.

Asante (87:01)

We talked about it last time, I think. Or the time before.

Dustin (87:03)

Gross Point Garden Society. It comes on NBC. It's a murder mystery, scripted television show starring a few people. But the black girl from how to Get Away with Murder. Yeah. And she, you know, culturally, we have to introduce her that way for people to, you know, be familiar, you know, and connect. But, yes, it's so good. It's a murder. It's a who done it and a who is it? You're trying to figure out who killed who and who was it that they killed. And they go. They keep jumping from six months earlier to the present day. And one of the coolest parts about the show is that when they have those transitional scenes from those jump scenes from six months ago to present day, they always put present day or six months ago on an item or a T shirt in the scene, and they focus on it and then go to the scene. So it'll be like they'll be in the garden, and you'll go to a bag of soil that'll say present day, and it'll zoom out and they'll be in the garden. It's so cool, but it's good. And I'm. I've been on the edge of my seat. I want to know.

Francesca (88:07)

I'm going to definitely check it out.

Dustin (88:09)

And it's only on episode three or four, so it's still early enough for you guys. It's not daunting. Peacock. It comes on NBC on Sundays and Peacock on Mondays, I think.

Francesca (88:21)

Yeah, I'll definitely check it out. Have y' all been watching Paradise? Yeah.

Dustin (88:25)

No. I watched the first episode, but I haven't had a chance to sit down and get into it.

Asante (88:29)

I'm one episode behind, maybe two.

Francesca (88:31)

It's. I love it. I was. I felt a little let down by the season finale. Only because, you know, when a show, it almost feel. This is my opinion, it almost feels like it was more concerned with going into season two.

Dustin (88:49)

Yeah.

Francesca (88:50)

In a way that you at least get a Little something like, to keep you going. It's like they didn't give you pretty much nothing. It just went into season two, which obviously they have coming out, but I was like, damn. Like, it didn't even feel like the end. It felt like we still had another.

Dustin (89:06)

Episode to go because they used to be called Paradise. This feel like hell.

Francesca (89:11)

But it's such a good show that, like, I. That's how you know it's good. Because even with that, I still was, like, excited. Like, it was probably one of those. Watch it.

Asante (89:20)

It was probably one of those shows that was, like, meant to be longer. Like, you know, because what was it, only eight episodes?

Francesca (89:26)

I believe it is eight episodes.

Asante (89:27)

Yeah. So, you know, before shows used to be like, 12, 16, 22 in a season.

Francesca (89:32)

Yeah.

Asante (89:32)

So I think. Think for some people, even though we have been living in a six to eight episode, you know, timeline for a few years now, but I feel like some writers, they still have that formula of like, all right, let me do it this way. And sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

Dustin (89:46)

And it's all just.

Francesca (89:47)

And I get it because the dude is. Is his name Dan Fogle? I might be making that up, but it's the same dude from this Is Us, the creator. Yeah. So he.

Dustin (89:59)

Brown keeping in relationship?

Francesca (90:01)

Not only that, he actually. I saw a tweet that he put out, the director saying that he made this show with Sterling K. Brown in mind. Like, literally that saw. Yeah, it does.

Dustin (90:14)

Great of a performer, though. He's that good. Sterling K. Brown used to make me cry in mind.

Francesca (90:20)

Created the whole thing around him and then hit him telling him that and was like, I really hope you'll be a part of this. Of course he didn't turn it down. And even in the same note he sent him, oh, it's a massive hit. He even said, we're gonna do a few seasons. So they knew it was gonna be a hit because in the note it said that. And I'm like, yeah, clearly he knew it's gonna be multiple seasons because he kept this. This rolling in the last episode.

Dustin (90:45)

That'd be my goal when I work on. I. I want to be like. I remember him it up and I want him to, like, I want to use it.

Francesca (90:54)

Things around me.

Dustin (90:55)

Yeah, that's the goal. And so shout out to Sterling K. Brown, because he is doing the damn thing. He was great in American fiction. Right. And that was so different for him. It was.

Francesca (91:06)

Yeah, he has good range. I like him.

Asante (91:09)

That was the other movie he did.

Francesca (91:11)

He was a pastor yes, Regina, that movie.

Asante (91:14)

That movie was campy, but I loved it. Friend. You know, that's my type of. That's my type of. So watching that, I was like, oh, yes. Everything about this I love.

Dustin (91:26)

He's a very serious, very serious actor, but he has comedic chops and just like Viola Davis does too. Viola Davis can be funny. Octavia Spencer can be funny. I love actors like that.

Asante (91:40)

I'll never forget when I was in high school in my little performing arts magnet, the drama teacher always used to say, like, if you're funny, you can doctor like, you can do. Do drama. Like, we had people that were just too damn funny and sometimes they couldn't get lines out and try to be serious because they're like, no, this is. I mean, you know, I'm funny. And they'd be like, no, all you need to do is sit there and connect because when you're funny, you connect to yourself so you can connect to this drama. You're gonna like, kill it.

Dustin (92:03)

Everybody on power. I'm ready.

Asante (92:05)

Every funny ass person I watched when we were doing exercise and they were like, tap in the. Would be like crying or being angry and really selling that shit. That. And I was like, damn, that's power. Like that. Like, that would be that.

Francesca (92:17)

So, yeah, yeah. And he did a great job on this show. Everybody did. I just really like the show.

Dustin (92:23)

I gotta deal with it. Y' all gotta deal with it.

Francesca (92:26)

Y' all should definitely check it out. Another thing I'm watching it. I'm just watch. Was y' all see the documentary, what's her name? Ruby Frank, about the YouTuber, the Mormon YouTuber. That was like a family vlogger. They were like super popular. I think she has six kids, you know, the typical Utah Mormon. And it turns out she was like abusing them. And it was like a house of horrors.

Asante (92:51)

What?

Francesca (92:52)

Yeah, it was bad. They have a whole documentary about it. I started watching it, but honestly, I was like, do I really want to take this in? I don't know why. And in that moment when I saw the scene. Yeah, like, it starts with one of the sons. He escaped. He managed to escape. Escape. And he was so you. When you saw his little legs, he was like emaciated. Oh, my God, the bones in his little legs. And he managed to escape and ran to a neighbor's house. By the grace of God. The neighbor was there and was like, what do you need? It was like an old man. He sat with him in a rocking chair and. And was like, what's going on? Because he Said he could tell the boy had been, like, tied up because you can see the markings. And he clearly is starving and abused.

Dustin (93:39)

Is that dead? Where is she at? I think she.

Francesca (93:42)

I think she's in jail.

Dustin (93:44)

I hope she.

Francesca (93:46)

I didn't watch the whole thing, but I'm assuming that that's where she is now, because obviously this was like, a whole expose, man. But I'm like, God. That's why, you know, there. We've talked about this before. Just there needing to be more laws. More laws around children as well, being.

Dustin (94:05)

People like her should be set on fire in a public square. Don't let me get in that motherfucking office. You want to make it great again? Let's do it. Like, give me some kinks for charcoal because a like her. I'm telling you right now, like, people like that, children. And.

Francesca (94:21)

And she would starve them if they didn't create the content. And then they had to be fake happy on the camera. And you saw some behind the scenes, I guess, you know, when you're editing or when you're filming while you're yelling at the kid. Like, they had clips of that that they showed. I only watched maybe half of the first episode, and I saw she was, like, talking to them crazy. Like, I'm trying to film, you know, like, it just was crazy friend.

Dustin (94:53)

What did she say to him? Please, please. What did she say, Fred? What did she say? What was she saying? So how did she say it, Fred?

Asante (95:12)

Come on.

Dustin (95:16)

Come on, come.

Asante (95:20)

On.

Francesca (95:21)

Y' all have to watch it. Only Dustin will find.

Dustin (95:31)

Oh, my God. Oh, my God. Lord, please, Lord Jesus. See, this is the problem about, like that. It's like at the beginning of Precious when she. When them tennis shoes is on the camera. And I told you I went to the preview. It was serious when I went the day it was released. And it wasn't invited guests. No, this was in Detroit.

Francesca (96:01)

Oh, God. I don't know what's worse, right?

Dustin (96:05)

Huh?

Francesca (96:07)

Oh, man.

Dustin (96:09)

Anyway, we try to record.

Francesca (96:13)

I don't know that you need to watch it, but it's a very sad story.

Dustin (96:16)

What's it called?

Francesca (96:17)

It's Ruby Frank. I believe her name is Ruby Frank. I saw it on Hulu and I actually heard XD talking about it too, because he had just watched it recently.

Dustin (96:27)

I hope she become a blood Ruby.

Francesca (96:29)

Oh, what a house of hearts. And yes, we saw all of your tweets that there's a new show about Natalia Grace.

Asante (96:36)

Natalia Grayson.

Dustin (96:37)

Oh, yeah.

Francesca (96:38)

Y' all wore me out online. I think I have. I kid you not at least a thousand plus tweet.

Dustin (96:44)

Yeah. I'm sick of Natalia Grace. How old? I'm not gonna lie.

Francesca (96:49)

I think it's over. Like, I can't do it.

Dustin (96:51)

I don't even give it. Damn.

Francesca (96:52)

People asking us to. To do it for the binge. And I'm like, are y' all not Natalia Graced out? I did what, three episodes about. No, two episodes. The M, the first one, and then a followup.

Dustin (97:06)

For the binge for the B. Because I love the support and truly appreciate it. And if that's what y' all are saying y' all want, I'm willing to.

Asante (97:16)

Consider it on Patreon. Y' all gonna have to tell us that for me Patreon, for me to believe it.

Dustin (97:22)

I'm open to the consideration. I will say that I'm open to Dustin.

Asante (97:27)

I will run the numbers. I will let you know if there's any consideration.

Francesca (97:30)

They want. They asked.

Dustin (97:34)

I will facilitate so that friend don't have to and Asante don't have to. Y' all just let me know on Patreon and Asante than for interpreting the data. Y' all let me know. I'm open to considering it.

Francesca (97:47)

I got the thousand about the people.

Dustin (97:50)

I'm the people's champ.

Francesca (97:54)

I'm personally Natalia Gray style. But I'm glad that y' all enjoyed those. That series.

Asante (97:59)

We're gonna revisit this during the wind down.

Francesca (98:04)

It really was. And it opened us up to a whole new way of storytelling on friendzone.

Dustin (98:08)

Which is shout out to Fran. I remember when we recorded that Natalia Grace episode, Fran gonna say, all right, y', all, we gonna talk about this story. And y' all don't have. I just want y' all to just offer commentary. We was like, what? She was. Fran was like, I'm telling you, just don't even trip. She's like, whatever you think, just say it. As the story progresses. Don't even.

Francesca (98:30)

I told y', all, if y' all need to interrupt me, if y' all need to laugh, don't feel confined to my storytelling. Just react.

Dustin (98:37)

And it's the way you have to support gold. When a person is. Is. Is. Is offering a narrative. When a person is narrating a story on the podcast, there's a way you have to support that. Right? And that's typically what we do. Fran told us that day, take your seat belt off, like, whatever the you want. We driving a Jeep. The doors are off today. You know what I'm saying? Like, and so that's why we got. That's how the episode was burned born. Yeah.

Francesca (99:05)

And it's to this day, no matter how many years pass, that is still one of our top five episodes.

Dustin (99:12)

And somebody's still lying after all this time. Somebody is. Either her or that family is lying. One of them is still lying. That's why I watch my hands. The whole damn deal.

Francesca (99:24)

Someone tweeted us last week and say, y' all might as well just have her on.

Dustin (99:27)

I know, right? Drop the. Lower that mic.

Francesca (99:30)

Could you imagine?

Dustin (99:31)

You have to lower that mic down and raise that chair up that she can with br.

Asante (99:36)

He said it twice.

Dustin (99:37)

She going to be like, oh, gonna be on the show. Like, first of all, they're all lying.

Francesca (99:44)

Oh, my God.

Dustin (99:46)

I am six. I just got my hair done. And you know, that's what she gonna be on. Natalia, Grace, baby. I mean, I'll talk to her ass. I don't give a. She didn't seen. She been.

Francesca (99:57)

You know what she reminded me of? Did y' all see the picture? Jennifer Hudson tweeted saying, we got Kevin Harson.

Dustin (100:05)

She on one now. She got hit in the head with that basketball. She don't give a no more. She don't give a no more. She got cte. That's why she posted that kind of on Instagram.

Francesca (100:15)

Look, Asante still hasn't come back.

Dustin (100:19)

Oh, okay.

Francesca (100:21)

No, that was. Honestly, I don't know. But yes, maybe. Maybe Dustin will take the reins from the story if y' all really, really want that. Yeah, because they're gonna just tweet us again. They do love it. I mean, I get it. It's a wild story. And I am kind of interested in how they are going to portray this on. On tv. Like, what? How?

Dustin (100:47)

I want to talk to that staff. Them staff that says she was, you know, handling hers in that home. She was there. I want to talk to that staff. I feel like that's who got the juice, you know what I'm saying? Like, we need to talk to them to see what really the was going.

Francesca (101:02)

But the trippy part is she really says that that never happened. I'm like, who is lying?

Dustin (101:08)

Somebody is flat out lying.

Francesca (101:10)

And that's what I'm saying with a straight face at that. I don't know.

Asante (101:15)

Maybe I'm just crying to take out Ellen Pompeo to do this.

Francesca (101:18)

Like, of course they do.

Asante (101:20)

Like, I don't know how this is going to look, but to know that she is doing this.

Dustin (101:26)

Oh, so wait a minute. Because I saw the tweets, but I was so over it. I didn't watch the clip. This is scripted. This isn't.

Asante (101:34)

Dr. You didn't even know what he signed up for. I didn't even know what he signed up for.

Francesca (101:37)

This is a shit.

Asante (101:40)

He didn't even know what he signed up for.

Francesca (101:42)

Justin, this is a scripted drama. Why? With the lady from Grey's Anatomy?

Asante (101:48)

Yes.

Dustin (101:48)

I blame Octavia Spencer. I mean, Octavia Butler for this.

Francesca (101:52)

No, you didn't.

Asante (101:53)

I know.

Dustin (101:53)

She nudged somebody up there. Like you heard that.

Francesca (101:58)

It might be good, though, because Ellen Pompeo.

Dustin (102:01)

I. I mean, man, Ellen Pompeo. I don't want to watch this and Gray's Anatomy.

Francesca (102:07)

I want to watch him tell people he's. He's gonna do it for the.

Asante (102:10)

I a. Gonna play it. I told you to see her face.

Francesca (102:13)

Oh, wait. I guess we can't play this, right?

Asante (102:14)

What is this? I don't think we can. I just want.

Francesca (102:17)

Okay, never mind.

Dustin (102:18)

We ain't got time for that.

Asante (102:19)

I just want you to see her face.

Francesca (102:21)

She look like. Do it. You see her smile?

Dustin (102:26)

Damn, she gotta play that.

Francesca (102:27)

Mama Natalia. Scroll to see who's playing Natalia. Oh, I thought that was that older wife.

Asante (102:37)

Oh, no, this is not gonna be good.

Francesca (102:40)

That's n. Who Is that why they make this look like a horror film, though, right?

Dustin (102:45)

She look like that? Dial Meg or whatever. Whatever.

Francesca (102:50)

Well, you know, I'm definitely. Is it out already?

Asante (102:55)

And March 19th.

Francesca (102:56)

March 19th. Oh, okay. So soon?

Dustin (102:58)

Is it a movie or a series?

Francesca (103:01)

I believe it's a. Inspired by multiple stories. What does it say? Does it say, huh? I believe it's a show.

Dustin (103:13)

God damn. See, that's what I get for talking too much. This is good. I'm smoking Sherbinski.

Asante (103:21)

It's crazy because I keep forgetting that Disney and Hulu are the same thing. So I'm just imagining watching this type of content on Disney.

Francesca (103:27)

On Disney. Them kids be like, mom, what is this?

Dustin (103:31)

You know what else is the same thing? The new set for the View and Tamara hall set. I went to the View a couple weeks ago. Well, I guess it was like a month ago. A couple months ago now. Two months ago. So still a couple weeks ago.

Asante (103:44)

It is a limited series just to.

Dustin (103:46)

Okay, okay, thank you. But they have a beautiful. They moved to a whole. You know, the ABC Disney Studios moved to a whole new building downtown. They're not up on what was at 66 and, like, Columbus. Remember up there where ABC Studios was? It's not up there anymore. It's downtown. And the whole studio is like digital screenshot. Like the floor, the walls, everything. So the views, new studio that you see, all that is digital and they flip it into something totally different for Tamron Hall. So it's amazing. It's like beautiful. Like gorgeous.

Francesca (104:21)

Cost effective too, right? Just instead of having to have sets.

Dustin (104:25)

In different buildings, they can change the configuration and like the colors and they bring out these screens to like, make it. It's so dope. Like, I was fascinated. I love, you know, I like TV production and like that.

Francesca (104:38)

Hell yeah. Well, you know, you gotta.

Dustin (104:40)

Yeah. So when I seen it, I was like, damn. Shout out to my friend Derek Monroe, who is one of the lead hairstylists over at the View. And Derek has a really great interview series called behind the Scenes. Behind the Beauty or whatever. Let me, let me get it right, because Derek is the man. But Derek invited me and Claudia to go to the View and we had such a great time and he let us, like, sit at the table and all that kind of.

Francesca (105:07)

That's so cool.

Dustin (105:09)

Yeah, Shout out to Derek.

Asante (105:10)

I know you. Love you too.

Dustin (105:11)

Behind the Scenes. Yeah, I would love to be on there. But behind the Scenes Beauty is his interview series on YouTube and you can follow him on Instagram. Derek D, E R I C K. Because most Derek's be two hours, but his is one Derek Monroe. But he's an incredible hairstylist, Emmy nominated, All that. But yeah, so I saw it. That's, that's how I saw, like, the settings. And I was like, this is really. I was looking like Tanisha on Bad Girls Club when she walked up to the house and set that luggage down and was like, impressed. Yeah, I was like, okay. Damn, this is like, so cool. So.

Francesca (105:45)

Yeah, I love that. Also. I, I, we didn't mention Angie Stone last.

Dustin (105:54)

Oh, rest in peace. Angie Stone.

Francesca (105:58)

Roy Ayers.

Dustin (105:59)

Like, it's been a. Roberta Flack.

Francesca (106:01)

Roberta Flack. Dwayne, right?

Dustin (106:05)

From Dwayne Wiggins. From Tony. Tony. Tony.

Francesca (106:08)

Dwayne Wiggins From Tony. Like, what, a month?

Dustin (106:11)

Yeah. A huge loss of black. Black art. You know what I'm saying? Art in general, but black art and black history. Roy Ayers. Let's not even go there. Roberta Flack, you know, Dwayne Wiggins.

Francesca (106:24)

Literal pillars of sound.

Dustin (106:27)

So Angie Stone, man. Rest in peace to all of them.

Francesca (106:31)

Yeah, Rest in peace. I definitely wanted to take the time out because I know once we get in the swing of, like, production, sometimes it's easy to not discuss things that kind of just come up. But with this, I was so sad. And with Angie Stone, the way that it Happened.

Dustin (106:47)

Yeah.

Asante (106:48)

You know, my goodness, those clips of people at the venue finding out on.

Francesca (106:53)

Her way to the show, like, I can't even imagine.

Dustin (106:57)

And Angie Stone was also in the middle of a legal battle pertaining to some royalties that she was old. So I genuinely hope that somebody is helping her son and daughter, you know, continue that fight. And they get right.

Francesca (107:10)

Right.

Dustin (107:11)

That's theirs. You know what I'm saying? Yeah. In her legacy. So rest in peace, Angie Stone, and play her music. Y' all buy it. Don't just stream it. If you with her Angie Stone like the song like that, go to the itunes store or wherever that music, you know, all the. All those artists, you know what I mean?

Francesca (107:30)

Like, anything so their families can live on with their work. Yeah. What a time. Oof.

Dustin (107:37)

It might be $0.99 or 1.29, but all it takes is the faith the size of a mustard seed.

Francesca (107:43)

And if we all do it one hand.

Dustin (107:46)

Put your hand in the hand of the man, you know, and really help with love. Lift us up, up where we belong.

Francesca (107:54)

And on that note, do y'.

Dustin (107:57)

All. We are one heartache.

Francesca (108:02)

Before we get up on out of here.

Dustin (108:04)

Yep. I got a few tickets left to my second show at City Winery. You can go to citywinery.com. look up my name. All you got to do is type in the first three letters and my come right up. The link you can see is below.

Francesca (108:16)

And it was below last week, too, so, yeah.

Dustin (108:18)

Thank you.

Francesca (108:18)

Click it. It.

Dustin (108:19)

Thank you to everybody who supported this. I'm really excited and ready to have some fun. Let's have some fun. You know, whatever. What's Sheree say? Whatever happened to customer service? I'm ready to provide some customer Service on Monday, March 17, at City Winery. So, yeah, thank you to everybody. I'm excited. I can't wait to see your beautiful faces.

Asante (108:38)

Are you gonna wear green?

Dustin (108:40)

Nope.

Asante (108:42)

But if someone pinches you the way.

Dustin (108:44)

They gonna get their ass, they'll be part of the. It's gonna be a. It's gonna be two shows. Okay. That's what's happening, though.

Francesca (108:53)

Find the link. It's always down below. That'll be easier for you guys to clink.

Dustin (108:58)

And I thank you for that.

Francesca (108:59)

What am I talking about? Clean Click.

Asante (109:03)

I knew we were going right there.

Dustin (109:04)

I love you, Ray. God's got you. Did y' all see that, what she was saying when she was being let out?

Francesca (109:10)

No.

Dustin (109:12)

I don't want caring to be in jail. I love you, Ray. God's got you. Be okay. God's got you.

Francesca (109:19)

Not. God's got you when she's going in.

Dustin (109:22)

Well, because God didn't have her at that point. The authorities did.

Asante (109:26)

You know what I'm saying?

Francesca (109:27)

You know what?

Dustin (109:28)

Can you believe? Can you believe Karen Huger was apprehended? Think about that word and think about caught that instead.

Asante (109:41)

Bye, y'. All.

Francesca (109:42)

We love.

Dustin (109:44)

That bar soap. And that little yellow leather jacket. You remember? Oh, my God.

Francesca (109:52)

This is.