Ten Years Black

Summary

The Friend Zone – “Ten Years Black” (Dec 3, 2025)

Hosts: Dustin Ross, Hey Fran Hey (Francesca), and Asante
Producer: Loud Speakers Network
Theme: Mental Health, Culture, and Celebrating a Decade of Black Film & TV

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Episode Overview

This episode marks a reflective, lighthearted, and in-depth look at the past ten years of Black excellence in film and television. The hosts take listeners on a journey through the evolution, impact, and resonant moments of Black creative storytelling, from Moonlight to Sinners, with stops along the way for memories, critiques, and big laughs. The episode also features listener feedback, a spotlight on Black-owned business, wellness, TV Land, music moments, and more.

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Main Discussion: Ten Years of Black Film & TV

Theme:
Celebrating a decade of achievements, shifts, and shining moments in Black-led film and television, the hosts discuss why certain shows and movies resonated, who stood out, and how the culture has evolved.

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Key Segments & Discussion Points

1. Opening Banter: Sleep Scares, Social Media Doctors, and Home Energy

Timestamps: 01:09–10:47

• Medical ‘Fear-Mongering’ Online: Dustin references a doctor on social media warning of sleep habits that could kill you (sleeping on your stomach, with your phone, heavy meals before bed, sleeping pills, and TV on).
  • “I’m tired of certain medical professionals... Everybody else needs to get some of that, like Dr. Lauren had when she was on.” – Dustin [01:36]
  • Fran shares her phone-charging ritual away from the bed for health reasons.
• Childhood ‘Don’t Swim After Eating’ Rule unfolds, prompting reflections on old parenting wisdom, why these ‘rules’ are passed down, and how TikTok doctors now continue the cycle.
• Vibes at Home: Hosts discuss sleep temperature preferences, evolving as they age, and the relationship between environmental comfort and self-care.
  • “Sleeping while it’s hot is nasty…a cold house smells fresher.” – Dustin [06:02]

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2. Announcements & Black Business of the Week [13:19–22:38]

• Dustin’s Comedy Dates: Shout-out to live shows in Charlotte and Miami.
• Patreon Wind Down: End-of-year episode news, extra Patreon content, and December 17th live event.
• Black-Owned Business Spotlight: Fran highlights Real Paper – a sustainable, bamboo-based, Black co-owned line of paper products.
  • “I love that it’s eco-conscious, no plastic, and wrapped in recyclable paper... I’m a huge fan of bamboo products.” – Francesca [17:43]
  • Discussion on how bamboo toilet paper feels versus traditional options, sustainability, and subscriptions.

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3. Recap & Listener Feedback: Reactions to Last Week’s Episode [22:39–38:44]

• Landmark Case of Brene Canard Recap (Last Week’s Topic)
• Listener responses from SoundCloud, Spotify, and the “gated community” (Patreon). Standout comments on:
  • Black maternal health suggestions beyond being an OB/GYN [25:48]
  • The “alienation of affection” law in North Carolina and its gendered impact [29:43]
  • Emotional shout-outs from listeners finding solace and joy in the show after loss [33:10]
  • Laughter, pop culture call-backs, and a hilarious mixup of Cynthia Bailey and Cynthia Erivo in discussion of Wicked [35:29]

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4. Main Deep Dive: A Decade in Black Television & Film [43:07–109:59]

Asante leads an exuberant walk through the Black cultural archive, inviting feedback and freeform vibes.

Chronological Highlights:

• Moonlight (2016):
  • “I’ve actually never seen the movie in full.” – Dustin, sparking a game of movies hosts 'should have seen.' [47:02]
  • Discussion of Andre Holland’s magnetic presence, Mahershala Ali’s fine acting, Janelle Monáe’s versatility, and the Oscars envelope fiasco.
  • “It showed soft layers of Black men…all right, these are men, gay, straight, whatever. These two particular men are having feelings.” – Asante [54:28]
  • Fran asks: Should straight actors play gay roles? Group consensus: It’s about acting.
• Get Out (2017):
  • Jordan Peele’s genre-defining horror debut, racially charged plot, and praise for shifting the horror landscape.
  • “It was so electrifying…couldn't stop talking about Get Out.” – Asante [56:31]
• Girls Trip (2017):
  • A festival, a phenomenon, and Tiffany Haddish’s comedic breakout.
  • “These bitches are all hilarious. It was beautiful.” – Asante [61:59]
• Black Panther (2018):
  • Massive culture moment; costume/kente at every screening. Reflection on Chadwick Boseman, Angela Bassett, Michael B. Jordan, and discussions about a third film and possible new leads.
  • “Smart Black people…throwing shade to white folks…great to see on screen.” – Asante [69:26]
• If Beale Street Could Talk (2018):
  • Regina King’s performance and subsequent Oscar, plus her directing acclaim [78:36]
• Atlanta (2016–2022):
  • Donald Glover, “weirdo in a good way,” Lakeith Stanfield, city as a character, and surreal, relatable narratives.
  • “It reset ‘weirdo’ in a very good way. Damn, this is good.” – Asante [87:34]
• Insecure (2016–2021):
  • Continuing resonance, music as narrative driver, how it changed LA TV’s look and feel, Natasha Rothwell’s breakout, and calls for future movies.
  • “It filled in a gap…black shows about everyday life…Issa did a good job." – Francesca [88:26]
• Pose (2018–2021):
  • Ballroom culture, queer and trans excellence, powerful ensemble [92:16]
• More TV and Movie Notables:
  • Reasonable Doubt, Watchmen, Lovecraft Country, The Woman King, They Cloned Tyrone, Swarm, P-Valley, Abbott Elementary, and much more.

Notable Quotes:

• “Looking back, these stories didn’t just entertain us, they challenged us. They reflect us.” – Asante [108:34]
• “So much has happened over these ten years. Black Magic continues.” – Asante [109:50]

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5. Wellness Segment: Psychology of Color [112:23–134:37]

Fran dives into how color influences mood, creativity, and personal spaces:

• Red energizing her gym routine (“Loud as hell, but made me feel good!”)
• Dustin and Asante discuss their own preferences, from dark, authoritative walls (Dustin) to bright color association (Asante)
• “These are subtle energies people should lean into…the impact on creative and emotional life is real.” – Francesca [127:00]
• Caution and intention around graphic/logo-heavy clothing (“I’m being really mindful of the words on things that I’m wearing.”) [128:26]

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6. Music: Listen Lately & Brandy Mini-Session [134:45–158:43]

Highlights:

• Jordan Chiles & Normani on Dancing with the Stars
• NLE Choppa’s “Michael Jackson” era and willingness to be ‘weird’ as a young, mainstream Black artist.
• Deep-dive Brandy segment (multiple tracks: “Put That on Everything,” “Sittin' Up in My Room,” “Yes Forever”), leading to hosts rhapsodizing about her vocal and songwriting prowess.
• Sprinkle of classics (Dr. Dre, Division, Key Glock, Keisha Cole)

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7. TV Land [158:43–167:24]

Dustin’s TV Picks:

• “Love and Marriage: Huntsville” and Wanda’s food truck return [158:53]
• “Real Housewives of Potomac”: Cast changes, new faces, Angel not connecting, Kiana Q&A [160:31]
• “Married to Medicine” returns; discussion of cast longevity, drama, and new energy.
  • “They’re the medicine in Married to Medicine…people have grudges from seasons prior.” – Dustin [165:09]
• “P-Valley” and “Reasonable Doubt” also get shout-outs.

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8. Closing

Encouragement to stay engaged, resourceful, and loving toward community, plus an ongoing celebration of Black creativity in all forms.

• “Stay black and protect your magic.” [167:34]

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Notable Quotes & Funniest Moments

• “I’d rather die clean. I want fresh-smelling underarms.” – Dustin Ross [08:35]
• “Did you see Wicked?” / “Yes. The lion. Not Colman Domingo in real life. But what the lion did in that movie, okay?” – Dustin [37:36]
• “Can’t eat a banana. Can’t lay on a couch in a robe. Can’t smile on your cake…” – Francesca riffing on gendered rules for men [11:35]
• “We was wicked, child.” – Twitter reacts to Cynthia Bailey/Ariana Grande/Wicked meme [36:31]

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Major Takeaways

• Past Decade is a Renaissance: Black creators have remixed every genre: new voices, high production values, overlooked cities, sexuality, and community. These stories amplified Black joy, pain, imagination, and reflection.
• Wellness is Layered: Mental hygiene is shaped by environment, upbringing, even home decor.
• Music Drives the Story: TV soundtracks, Brandy’s legacy, and young artists “doing their own thing” all highlighted.
• Community is Central: The listeners (“gated community”) aren’t just fans but integral to the conversation.

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:09] – Medical sleep “rules” social media panic with laughs
• [13:19] – Black Business: Real Paper bamboo TP
• [22:39] – Listener feedback highlights
• [43:07] – “Ten Years Black” TV/film master list begins
• [47:02] – “Moonlight” never-seen moment and Oscars history
• [56:31] – “Get Out” and new Black horror
• [61:59] – “Girls Trip,” Tiffany Haddish, and festival fun
• [68:14] – Black Panther kente cloth audience stories
• [87:34] – “Atlanta”: weirdness and authenticity
• [88:26] – “Insecure,” music, and LA
• [92:16] – “Pose” and queer representation
• [112:23] – Wellness: The psychology of color
• [134:45] – Music: Brandy mini-tribute, “Listen Lately"
• [158:43] – TV Land: all things reality and soapy Black excellence

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For New Listeners

If you missed the episode, you’ll come away with a sense of both joy and reverence for the vast, nuanced landscape of Black art that defined a generation. There’s laughter, music, and plenty of personal vulnerability along the way, delivered with the warmth and playful honesty that makes The Friend Zone a staple of Black podcasting.

#TheFriendZone

Transcript

[Asante]

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[Dustin Ross]

$35 a month and a free Samsung Galaxy A15.5G at Cricket Wireless.

[Asante]

No injuries, just reliable service. Cricket may temporarily slow data speeds if the network is busy. Must bring your number to Cricket on select unlimited plan.

[Dustin Ross]

Pay $40.

[Asante]

First month new lines only. First month service charge and tax due at sale. Cricket 5G is not available everywhere. Fees, terms and restrictions apply.

[Dustin Ross]

See cricketwireless.com for details.

[Asante]

It's the season to come together over your holiday favorites at Starbucks. Warm up with a creamy caramel brulee latte, get festive with an iced gingerbread chai, or share a velvety peppermint mocha. Together is the best place to be at Starbucks.

[Dustin Ross]

Welcome to the friend zone.

[Francesca]

Every time I'm in the zone.

[Dustin Ross]

My name is Dustin.

[Francesca]

I'm Francesca, also known as.

[Asante]

Hey, friend.

[Francesca]

Hey.

[Asante]

My name is Asante. This is the friend zone.

[Francesca]

Oh, my God. Asante's already laughing. So you know what this is from?

[Asante]

Oh, my God.

[Dustin Ross]

That's Sheree Whitfield.

[Francesca]

Oh, okay.

[Dustin Ross]

I figured on the Real Housewives of Atlanta Season 9 reunion when Phaedra Parks got exposed about Candy and Portia. And when Candy got up and walked off Phaedra, I mean, Sheree. Sheree was hysterical, feigning hysterics. And so she says that was her making that noise right here, Okay?

[Asante]

And so I feel like that.

[Dustin Ross]

I feel like that right now. I'm in peril and I'm in distress, okay? So. Oh, my God. All right, I seen this doctor on the Neighborhood Talk. Shout out to the Neighborhood Talk. We love y' all at the Neighborhood Talk over here. But I had seen this doctor on the Neighborhood Talk, you know what I'm saying? And they said that there was this doom and gloom mess. I'm so tired of certain medical professionals like, you see how when my cousin, Dr. Lauren was here, she gave us those messages with love still concern, still, you know, pressing in nature, but it was delivering in a certain way. Everybody else needs to get some of that. I seen this doctor, it was a white guy on the Neighborhood Talk. And he was. He was listing off things that you could do in your sleep that would make you die in your sleep.

[Francesca]

Oh.

[Dustin Ross]

I don't want to do that. And second of all, listen to the shit he said. So these are the items. I want to list them off, right? And now you see why I was over here sounding like Charade.

[Asante]

Yeah.

[Francesca]

Oh, my God.

[Dustin Ross]

Listen.

[Asante]

Yeah.

[Dustin Ross]

It says, doctor says sleeping on your stomach.

[Francesca]

Oh, God, I love sleeping on my tummy.

[Asante]

Me, too.

[Dustin Ross]

And listen, depending on how you give it up, what if you feel sexy? You know what I'm saying? For people in relationships, you know what I'm saying? What you supposed to do? Okay, so there's that. Now it says sleeping with your phone near your head. You got to define near. You know what I'm saying? The nightstand might be next to my pillow. The nightstand.

[Francesca]

I agree with that one wholeheartedly.

[Dustin Ross]

You don't put your phone on the nightstand.

[Francesca]

I don't know. I don't. For some reason, I have always felt that the phone should not be near you when you're asleep, which makes no sense because you have it on you all day regardless.

[Asante]

Right.

[Francesca]

But I don't know why. Something about that. I have to put it in another room. The bathroom. I put it in the bathroom and it charges in there. It's just like, not in my space.

[Dustin Ross]

Space.

[Asante]

Yeah.

[Francesca]

Yeah. In the ensuite.

[Dustin Ross]

Okay. I might want to wake up and watch something. You never know what's going on, you know what I'm saying? So my phone be by me. So I'm nervous. Okay, that's two, Right? Three, eating large meals before bed. That's called the itis.

[Asante]

Yeah.

[Dustin Ross]

You go to sleep.

[Asante]

Yeah, that's what I'm saying.

[Dustin Ross]

What are you supposed to do? Eat a small meal and go to bed hungry and mad. That seemed like that'll kill you first. Okay. Taking sleeping pills. You know how much shit is going on in the world today? Sometimes it's hard to drift away, you know what I'm saying? I might need a little assistance. Do we believe in science or not? Okay, that's what I want to know. Now, the last one, sleeping with the TV on.

[Francesca]

I get read, shout out that I live alone.

[Dustin Ross]

You know what I'm saying, friend? You know, we. And this is what's beautiful about relationships. Right? Right. YouTube, different people.

[Asante]

Alone.

[Dustin Ross]

I live alone, man. I need some noise.

[Asante]

I. I'm a person who.

[Dustin Ross]

I need noise and chaos for me to feel comfortable. Sometimes. Like, sometimes I like quiet. Y' all know how rap music calms me down. I thrive in social environments. I'm just. I like a little movement, you know?

[Francesca]

That's how you're wired.

[Dustin Ross]

Sometimes. I like a little movement.

[Asante]

I do turn his TV off. Turn his TV off. I be showing the compound all nights off dark.

[Francesca]

I get it cold, and I need it quiet.

[Asante]

Yeah, I'm with you now.

[Dustin Ross]

See, that Cold part with you on the cold.

[Francesca]

Well, the cold is now, as I'm older, I don't know if it's because my body.

[Asante]

I know because we've been talking about this.

[Dustin Ross]

Yeah.

[Francesca]

Yeah. So I like it colder now. Before. Y' all remember my house, my crib in Harlem? It used to be hell in there. I always had it really high heat. I can't do that anymore. Right. That part, too. I'll say.

[Asante]

See, growing up, I was such an AC brat. You remember? Remember I was an AC brat. I was always like, oh, I need some central ac. I need some central ac. So I am used to it being like. I'm used to there being a draft in my home. So when I hear people say cold, I'm used to people turning their AC down to 60. And I'm like, I like to keep mine at, like, a steady, like, 68, 70. Like, I don't put my shit on 68, but some people like to put their shit on freeze. And I'm like, no, I need it to be chilly so I can be warm, not freezing, so I can sweat in my sleep and then get cold and die and whatever. Like, it's just too much.

[Francesca]

68 is perfect.

[Dustin Ross]

I don't want to be cold drying off after the shower.

[Asante]

Absolutely.

[Francesca]

I give you.

[Dustin Ross]

I don't want to be cold drying off.

[Francesca]

That is hard.

[Dustin Ross]

But, like, when I'm in the bed, sleep. You know what I'm saying? To me, sleeping while it's hot is nasty. And then, like, sleeping, having a hot house is nasty. To me, it's something sterile, warm, cold house. You know what I'm saying?

[Francesca]

I agree with that. Your house smells fresher when it's cold.

[Dustin Ross]

But this says that was going to kill us dying. I sleep you doc. You know what I'm saying? I ain't. I've been doing that shit for 43 years and I'm still here. T shirt.

[Francesca]

You know what's so funny about you bringing this up? Just last night, I kid you not, I was scrolling through TikTok and this Dr. Pops up for me. So this is crazy, because I was gonna talk about it today, and he said you should not eat a large meal and then jump in the shower. That. That can cause a lot of problems with your heart because it's like it's. Your body is trying to digest. Like, it's the process of digestion. And so now you're making to do two hard things at the same time when then you go take a hot shower and how people have heart attacks Strokes like all kinds of problems that can happen to you because of that shower right after you eat. And I always eat. I mean I always jump in the shower right after I eat.

[Dustin Ross]

Don't nobody want to be full and musty.

[Francesca]

Yeah, you want and you know you're full, you're fresh and you go lay down or wind down for the night, whatever. But I was like, I've never heard that fall into a rabbit hole. Is that like that?

[Asante]

Aren't you supposed to like wait? I know you're supposed to like wait a certain amount of time before swimming after you eat. Like. But I wish now that people were.

[Francesca]

Saying in the comments. Well people were saying that in the comments like oh that makes sense. And our parents would be like what does that mean?

[Asante]

What does it do to you? I never, I was always scared.

[Dustin Ross]

You know like swimming involves a lot more muscle constriction than bathing yourself.

[Asante]

No, but even considering like submerging the.

[Dustin Ross]

Warning water that like you if you go in the water after you eat, you can get stomach cramps and you cramp up. I never thought that's what it was for.

[Francesca]

Parents told us that that's why I.

[Asante]

Was asking because I was thinking about when they say that to you like you when you cramp is because you're like submerged in the water. So I'm assuming when they talk about people shower they're really talking about people bathing. Maybe because. But I also think about how the body is like made mostly of water. So it's like your body's like shifting water weight to a point. I don't know. Science is interesting. But that's scary and that's fucked up.

[Dustin Ross]

I rather die clean. I was fresh smelling underarms.

[Francesca]

It says it's a blood flow theory. The blood flow would be diverted to the stomach for digestion leaving less for your muscles and potentially causing causing cramps. So that's why they say don't go swimming. So you were right Dustin, about the cramping. But I wanted to see. Yeah, I always heard, you know people would always tell you that but nobody ever said why. But you know, for families will pass down things and not necessarily know why it ends today.

[Dustin Ross]

Okay, we breaking cycles around this mother.

[Francesca]

But that also makes sense. Why is it bad to shower after eating? It's similar. The process of digestion requires increased blood flow to the stomach. And both hot and cold showers can disrupt this process. The hot shower will cause blood vessels in the skin to dilate, diverting blood away from the digestive organs. So it's. Yeah I guess it's the body not able to do both at the same time.

[Dustin Ross]

But why do we feel today?

[Asante]

Because that feels so good.

[Dustin Ross]

Eating good and getting in the shower and laying down, that feels so good.

[Francesca]

Now I do wait. I do wait before laying down. That's something that. It just feels terrible, right? Like you eat a big meal and then lay down. You just feel sluggish. I don't like that. But I'll give three hours. I try to give myself three hours, you know, some time to digest, let the body do its thing before then going to sleep. But this is interesting. Look at these doctors. Fear mongering us, right? Social media. But it's useful because I would never have looked that up. And I literally never knew why that was.

[Asante]

Oh, my God.

[Dustin Ross]

Because I'm like, I don't want to die in my sleep. I did every one of them things.

[Asante]

Or in the shower on a regular basis at some point.

[Dustin Ross]

Every one of them. Last night I was laying down like Ty$, sign. You seen that clip of him circulating? He was laying down in this rope. I did every thing on that.

[Asante]

So.

[Dustin Ross]

Oh, well. With that being said, welcome to the friends mental hygiene and mental. My stomach hurt because who in the hell wants stomach cramps? I know I don't.

[Asante]

Cute. He did look cute. Ty Dollar Sign's always been attractive. So to see him suited up like that, I was like, yes, enjoy.

[Dustin Ross]

He was comfortable, you know what I'm saying? He was relaxing.

[Francesca]

They say he forgot that he was live streaming. What a nightmare.

[Dustin Ross]

So my was at ease. You hear me?

[Francesca]

It's the way he turned around and looked at the camera. Like.

[Dustin Ross]

He thought about them yams.

[Asante]

As long as he went up there, you know, twerking and being like, oop.

[Dustin Ross]

Y' all caught me.

[Asante]

Oopsie.

[Francesca]

It was like he wasn't doing nothing. He's just laying across the couch.

[Asante]

Just laid up a little. Sorry. Some might say.

[Francesca]

Everybody, y' all know there's strict rules for men, right? Y' all can't eat a banana. Y' all can't lay on a couch in a robe. Can't eat.

[Asante]

Did you see that clip? It was candles.

[Dustin Ross]

Can't smile on your cake.

[Francesca]

Did you.

[Dustin Ross]

Can't tell your friends hi. It's a whole bunch of.

[Francesca]

Can't hug.

[Asante]

Can't share a blunt with a gay person.

[Dustin Ross]

No.

[Francesca]

Okay.

[Dustin Ross]

Can't think nothing is funny.

[Francesca]

What were you saying? One of y' all said if I. If we seen what one me.

[Asante]

I think I was saying something, but I just angered myself thinking about that last One. I'm sorry, you talking about just hilarious. Yes. And I don't want to talk about her because she doesn't deserve to be relevant ever anymore. No, because you up here with Ms. Pat talking about, yeah, you know, why I ain't get on your show, right? And then when are trying to explain to you what the real is. Oh, gay people, they like. They like the Republicans.

[Dustin Ross]

Break it down for the people who don't. No, I'm not.

[Asante]

Deserve any spotlight. If you want to know about just Larry's. Don't Google her, okay? Just ignore this part and ignore her every time you hear her name. Stupid. And I don't talk about nobody like that. But she is a stupid bitch. I don't give a fuck.

[Francesca]

Damn. All right.

[Asante]

That's how serious.

[Dustin Ross]

Tell them what you talk.

[Asante]

Rareful man.

[Dustin Ross]

So they ain't lost. They think you just cussing.

[Asante]

You know, the reason that I get overwhelmed and I stutter is because God is telling me, like, you know, you don't need to be talking about this person. You do hate this person. They should not be in your line of conversation. So don't talk about them. So it's like, I will not map this out. If you are confused, you are supposed to be. Because she is stupid.

[Francesca]

Right?

[Asante]

Because I'm confused every time I watch her dumb ass sit up there and.

[Dustin Ross]

Seriously, still talking about it.

[Asante]

Sorry. Because that's how pissed this is the power of negativity and why I hate feeding into it.

[Francesca]

Do you guys have any announcements you want to share with our listeners before we jump in? Jump in.

[Dustin Ross]

Well, yes.

[Francesca]

First of all, I had a question for you.

[Dustin Ross]

Shout out to everybody in Charlotte. I had an amazing show. Charlotte. Shout out to Don Juan. Yeah, we had a great show. Great show. Packed house at the Comedy Zone. Much love to the staff at the Comedy Zone. If you're in Charlotte, if you're in the Queen City area, right? Patronize the Comedy Zone. They have great talent coming through there. Marlon Wayans had two shows after my show that day. So they have nice talent coming through there. Support them. The team is great. Shout out to Tammy, the head of security there. She was incredibly helpful. They were great. Everybody there. But. Shout out to the Comedy Zone in Charlotte this week on December 4th. Thursday, actually, in the in. Well, tomorrow, once you listening to this, I'll be in Miami at the Miami Improv. So I'll see y' all in Miao this Thursday. A few tickets left.

[Francesca]

Oh, cool.

[Dustin Ross]

Yeah, you can go to the Miami Improv website or you can go to dustinrosslive.com and it'll send you right over there. But that's it for me. Detroit.

[Asante]

See who he calls.

[Dustin Ross]

Thank you for coming.

[Asante]

Thank you for coming. See who he calls ugly at your show. I'm just kidding.

[Dustin Ross]

Did they laugh though?

[Asante]

Yes. The whole. The entire room was rolling and howling and hollering. Okay, it is December. This is the last month of this year. And this year is 2025. If you are a Patreon member, do not forget that we go live with you at the end of every month. We will not be going live with you at the end of this month because on the 17th, which is still a Wednesday at 8pm Eastern Standard Time, we will be doing our wind down. Okay? Wednesday wind down is December 17th, 8pm Eastern Standard Time. That's at the. That'[e-mail] the Friends on Podcast. Please join us. Lechat, we love you. If you don't know what the chat is, come find out. You'll literally be part of the chat by just saying hello. That's all you gotta do. Just show up and say hi. You don't have to do too much. Lechette does just enough. And we trust you and we love you. If you need to find out more about that again. Patreon.com runzonepodcast that's it.

[Francesca]

That's also the last episode of the year before we go on our annual end of year, top of year break. So December 17th, just so y' all know, we will have, I believe an extra episode or two available on the Patreon because we did do some, you know, early recording to make sure that, that, that would be possible. So if you miss us, you can definitely check us out at the end of December on patreon.com forward/the friend Zone podcast. So let's jump into the black business of the week. A few of you were messaging me and tagging me to this account on TikTok. It was a young lady named Nikki and I believe her account is like Nikki Mov. And she was sharing some black owned brands that she has incorporated into her daily life. And so I understood why y' all were tagging me so I could highlight some of them. I did look a few of them up and I was mostly interested in real paper. That's R E E L paper. It's premium bamboo paper products and it's co owned. Yeah. By a black founder by the name of Darren Oyekin. He grew up in Lago, Nigeria. He's partnered up with Livio Bso These names to create real paper. They offer toilet paper, paper towels, facial tissues as well as trash bags, which I think is really cool. They have a store locator on their website. They are in some stores. I look they have them at like Fred Meyer Erewhon. Yeah. And like Harris Teeter. A few other spots. If you want to check that, go on real paper dot com. That's R E E L paper dot com. What I love the most obviously was their sustainability mission. They use bamboo because bamboo is the fat is one of the fastest growing plants on earth. Which means that rather than cutting down 100 year old trees to make the paper, they can use bamboo which grows back in three to five years.

[Dustin Ross]

Bamboo right down.

[Francesca]

Right. And it also grows back, as they say on their site, from the same root once harvested. So that causes less dam damage and erosion to our ecosystem. So it's very sustainable for forestry. There's no plastic used at all. When you picture the paper aisle at the store, they say what do you see? Is usually covered in a lot of plastic. But they use more sustainable materials to make sure that it's also part of the equation. So it's packaged and shipped in eco friendly materials and it's 100% wrapped in recyclable paper. So you know, it's just a company that is really eco conscious and you know we love that as well as bamboo. We've talked about bamboo on this show many times. I'm a huge fan of bamboo sheets. We've talked about that before. Just how differently you feel.

[Asante]

No, I'm just kidding.

[Dustin Ross]

Bamboo earrings.

[Francesca]

And bamboo toilet paper is also. It's free of dyes. You know, it's just a lot less toxins because our shit be all kinds of forever chemicals. You really look it up.

[Dustin Ross]

So same question I have, the same question that d' Angelo had.

[Asante]

How does it feel?

[Dustin Ross]

The bamboo toilet paper I have, I.

[Francesca]

Haven'T used this brand so I can't speak to this brand. I will say bamboo toilet paper does feel different. It doesn't feel bad, it doesn't feel rough. But that like.

[Asante]

Yeah.

[Francesca]

That you're used to comes with a lot. You know what I'm saying? So this one is, is a little more. It's a little thinner and earthier if you want to put it that way. But I wouldn't say it hurts. It doesn't hurt. It's not like you're not putting like construction paper. It's just thinner.

[Asante]

If it's like a raw paper. Oh, that's all I could.

[Dustin Ross]

Rolling paper.

[Francesca]

No I wouldn't say that.

[Asante]

Maybe like a hint.

[Francesca]

That's like a blotting tissue when you have oil in your face.

[Asante]

Yes.

[Francesca]

No, it's not at all.

[Dustin Ross]

Or when you got too much lipstick on.

[Francesca]

You know what I use? I've used a bam. Oh. I've used edgy. I've used the bamboo.

[Dustin Ross]

That's how people do it. I remember seeing my mama do that. I remember seeing my mama put her lipstick on. She'd be in a rush and be.

[Francesca]

Like, I didn't know what part of the.

[Asante]

I didn't know what we were. I didn't know where we were.

[Dustin Ross]

I don't talk about sex all the time. Okay.

[Francesca]

I use a bamboo wash rag. That's what I was gonna say.

[Asante]

Oh, nice.

[Francesca]

It's nice for your skin. I like the way it feels. So, you know, bamboo is a material that I think a lot of people should look into and consider replacements with things. Yeah. So something to look into. I love that it's partially black owned. And thank you to all of. Even Zaya Bell. Actually, she tags me in it as well. Yeah. And a few of our listeners. So that was cool to see. I'll definitely highlight more of the brands that the young lady had mentioned. So that's Nikki N I k k I.mov on tick tock, who had this video. I think it was going viral too. Thank you to her. Just. Yeah.

[Dustin Ross]

Doing the work.

[Francesca]

Black owned, truly. And it seemed like she. The way she was able to talk about the brands, you can tell she likes, like, actually use with him. Like, it's a part of her day. She was mentioning that the toilet paper and paper towels, all the things you can be on a subscription with them, which is cool too, because you're gonna need some more. I mean. Yeah. You know, it's like if you kind of know the rate at which you need them, you can grab.

[Asante]

If you're regular. Okay.

[Francesca]

The volume, you can set up a subscription.

[Dustin Ross]

And depending on the density, I don't know, kind of you eat like, this might work out for you. They need to partner with Busta Rhymes for the. For the commercial, too, so that he can sing his song. Like, ass like your ass on fire.

[Francesca]

You know what? So that's something to look into. R E e l paper.com. i'm definitely gonna look into me too. I love that it's black owned and it's something that I should be using all the time.

[Dustin Ross]

Anyway, so I'm about to change my shit up.

[Francesca]

And I like that you can find it in store too, because that makes it easier. Sometimes supporting brands can be tricky because you have to wait, you know, and maybe you didn't order in time and then it just kind of creates a whole mess up your life. We're gonna support this, but this I like. Yes, we have Fred Meyer out here, so I'm gonna see if they carry it. Let's jump into the recap segment. Last week's episode titled A Pin in Corinne. What an episode. Dustin Ross, you walked us through the landmark case of Brene Canard.

[Dustin Ross]

I made sure I kept saying that too.

[Francesca]

The landmark case of Brene Canard in North Carolina.

[Dustin Ross]

It's like when I cooked on Thanksgiving. I kept calling everything my famous whatever it was, you know, some of my famous lemonade.

[Asante]

It was simply.

[Dustin Ross]

But that's. It's a landmark ruling.

[Asante]

You was on your Aretha world famous varnishing Jerrell.

[Dustin Ross]

Hell yeah.

[Francesca]

Those of you listening absolutely had a blast with this episode and had a lot to say. Who stood out to you? Asante?

[Asante]

Everybody and their mama stood out to me. I'm gonna share a couple from SoundCloud and well, all of them from SoundCloud right now. Then the rest and a couple from Spotify. I want to shout out to Felicia. Felicia was really enjoying this episode. She left a of con con comments. Whoa. Felicia's first comment was, well, we're going right back to you, Dustin, because Felicia says windy mouth almost sent me to glory. I'm. I'm on my walking pad and damn near lost my life. And so, and thank God Felicia didn't lose her life because later on she says Christy, who we were discussing in the opening, Christy should get the education and become an obgyn. Don't be a Jewel Santana.

[Dustin Ross]

Lol.

[Asante]

Per the other part of the opening from these last Week's episode callbacks, Dr. John Paul also commented on SoundCloud shout out to you. Dr. John Paul says. Okay, Dr. John Paul here coming in first to say that yes, I am a messy queen who lives for the drama. I went ahead and clicked the links so you don't have to and why does Brene have a YouTube channel with that? Man, that's so it hasn't been updated in a few months, but honey, it's giving stunt queen in all. You lose them just how you catch them. And for someone who has Jesus in her profile, I don't know what her God says about this. Best of luck to both of them. Seems like they deserve each Just seems like they deserve each other. Basura. I love that at the end. Me too. Couple of comments here on the Spotify that I would like to share. First comment is from Mystique hq. We talked about Mystique last week about writing Incursive and that teacher giving a failing Mystique because it's like, what the hell are you doing, teacher? Mystique commented and says, oh my God. Thank you for reading my comment everyone at the Friend Zone for your kind words. I did a spit take. I did a spit take with my topo Chico in the car when I heard my name. My partner called me on the phone about this too because she knows my handle. She said, your teacher needs to sit down with those spaces in between her teeth. Shout out to your partner, Mystique.

[Dustin Ross]

Great times.

[Asante]

We have some really great times here at the Friend Zone. There was one other comment I wanted to read. Oh it was another one for Christy. Christy, this is from Tiwi. Christy says Christy, I hope you read this or you all send this message to her. This is me sending the message, girl. And you look beautiful in your profile. T wee sorry it's on. I'm on Spotify. I could see your face.

[Dustin Ross]

You look good girl. Might as well pledge to make it complete so T week and ski.

[Asante]

No no, no. And I heard it before you said it. T we says you can still aid in the Black maternal health crisis without becoming an ob gyn. Look into doula work, specifically community based doula work. It's all about advocating for your clients throughout their pregnancy journey and postpartum. Feel free to reach out to me. It's T Y Neoseni. That's T I w a n I o S e n I gmail.com if you want to hop on the call. I'm an advocacy manager for National Doula Training Service and would love to connect you to a site. So doula work is important. The children and babies are important and black women and the health in the hospital is important. So if you still want to aid TV is right there offering yes, it's to Christy, but I'm sure if there are other people out there listening she wouldn't mind you hitting her up. I don't know if she'll get on the call with you because she only offered that to Christy. But there's the email if you want to try to shoot your shot. It's T I w a n I o S e I o s e n I gmail.com if you want to hop on a call, shout out to you guys. That's all I found on those streets, friend. What did you find out there in the streets.

[Francesca]

So I found a few on in our gated community. Veronica said, Dustin, right? Thank you, Patreon. Dustin left off one of the craziest parts in court. It was found that while Tim and Brene were having sex in Tim and Akira's house, Brene asked one of their kids to bring her a wife after they were done.

[Asante]

Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.

[Dustin Ross]

I didn't know nothing about that freaky ass. I don't know what kind of Reddit threads you've been in.

[Francesca]

Did y' all doing your research?

[Asante]

Hold on, because I'm not.

[Dustin Ross]

I'm not. I'm just.

[Francesca]

I saw you. I'm like, let me help Veronica. Did y' all see that they released Brene's bank statements? And it's like. Of like the public can look at it. I'm so confused on how that works. There were people breaking down her bank statements and I was like, where is this coming from? This is too much.

[Asante]

You know, it's crazy because somebody said, you know, I missed the comment, but somebody said that she had only paid $2 to the. Towards the judgment so far in my.

[Francesca]

Mind, I was like, crazy.

[Dustin Ross]

Well, I do know that they just issued a judgment, whatever they. If the terming is, but they about to garnish all her. They just entered all that. They about to start seizing our. Her assets and all that. Because I think her making that two dollar payment triggered, you know, whatever the. And now they're.

[Asante]

They.

[Dustin Ross]

They about to lock down on her ass.

[Francesca]

They're like, you playing in our face. Wow.

[Dustin Ross]

They're about to pull her pocket inside out. They are.

[Asante]

They said, oh, you got something. You're acting like it's only $2, but we gonna find the rest.

[Dustin Ross]

They gonna lift their breasts up, you.

[Francesca]

Know what I'm saying?

[Dustin Ross]

Too get that money.

[Francesca]

Ty. Including that clip.

[Asante]

Yeah.

[Francesca]

Okay. Christendia left a comment that I am like, hello, yes, this is also in the gated community. They said, let me start by saying that Bernee was absolutely wrong for the part she played in this situation. Right. Point blank, period. However, my issue is with this NC law itself. Fran hit on it a little when she said that Tim was the only one with an obligation. If Akira sued for alienation of affection, shouldn't she have sued Tim and not Brene? Even if Brene was the cause, quote, unquote, of the alienation, wasn't Tim the one who's actually committing the act of alienation? I think this law absolves men of the accountability of Stepping outside of their marriage and places the blame on the other woman in the situation and not the man who is actually in a legally binding agreement with their wife. Patriarchy is a hell of a drug. Side note, I also think married men should be called home wreckers because they are the ones who are actually wrecking their home. Not the woman women. Not the woman women they choose to step out with. I completely agree.

[Dustin Ross]

I completely agree too.

[Francesca]

And I felt this way when you talked of it. No, you know what? Yes. Renee, like, having to go through this, the disrespect that she showed. I don't feel bad for her, but I do think it's weird that Tim kind of like just gets to skate and she's getting her marriage, right? She. She's getting her wages garnished and so what's happening to him exactly?

[Dustin Ross]

Well, nothing, because now she's going to resent him and she's not going to give him any.

[Francesca]

That's what you.

[Dustin Ross]

So nothing. So nothing's happening to him. I know one.

[Asante]

I know.

[Dustin Ross]

Okay, Well, I don't know if it.

[Francesca]

Was exactly if she did all this.

[Dustin Ross]

And you, you coming up, you get getting me for everything I got. They knocking at my door with boxes and you know what I'm saying, trying to take what I got. I don't think I'm gonna give you none, you know what I'm saying? I don't think I would be inclined to want to suck it, you know what I'm saying? If. If that or let you nick on me, you know what I'm saying? Like, so I think the ripple effects exist, but as far as the actual consequences, it is grossly unfair. And it should not be just that way, the woman or the other partner. Because I don't know, you know what I'm saying?

[Asante]

Yeah. I'm the type of person where everybody needs to feel it. So it's like, I'm only with this law if she's also going to divorce him some point down the road too. So it's like. I don't know if there's like. Like I feel like this law is. I mean, it is type ridiculous. It's like, what? But at the same time, it's like, you know what? Everybody's gonna feel it. So you owe me some money and then I'm gonna divorce his ass and he's gonna give me some money too. But maybe because she's already married his ass, he knows she know that he ain't got no money or she gotta wait till the right time. Like Maybe there he is hurting in a different way to maybe what doesn't we're trying to say? Because it's like I want everybody to feel it, so it's like I want her to feel it, and I want him to feel it. So I'm getting my get back in any which way I can. But it is really up that Bernat. It gives her another perspective. Lo got that YouTube channel I know about. I. I'd want to see it. I would watch the YouTube channel. It could be like her redemption arc everyone gets.

[Dustin Ross]

You said what if it's body?

[Asante]

If channel is.

[Francesca]

You know what. What do you mean watch it if. You mean if she was, like, apologetic and remorseful and trying to turn her life around. Is that what you.

[Dustin Ross]

I mean, I would watch her YouTube video. Oh, you mean a song?

[Francesca]

Yes, because I knew you.

[Asante]

I feel like all of that is an illusion, right? Just be real with me. Okay? Just sit. Just sit in the camera and be like y'. All. I was. And this is what it is.

[Francesca]

I feel you.

[Dustin Ross]

Right.

[Asante]

I gotta pay this garnish. This is some way to go.

[Francesca]

Really?

[Asante]

I mean, yeah, just. Just keep it real.

[Dustin Ross]

I don't need the apology.

[Asante]

You didn't sleep with my man. I just know your business now. So if I know your business and you feel like telling me the rest, tell it to me in totality. I will listen, girl. Which, sorry. I don't know why I felt like.

[Dustin Ross]

Saying that, because it was great.

[Asante]

Now here's the thing.

[Dustin Ross]

She has a story now, right? You know what I'm saying?

[Francesca]

Yeah.

[Dustin Ross]

Like, now she has something to say. So this would be the time for her to start bumping her gums.

[Asante]

Yeah, Might as well.

[Francesca]

It's all out there. Yep.

[Asante]

She can make that money. Right on back. Right this way.

[Dustin Ross]

Especially if it's shot full body.

[Francesca]

You know what?

[Dustin Ross]

In total, today, I'm at the Spear in Vegas.

[Francesca]

Oh, my God.

[Asante]

Well, the spheres she need, too, for those knockers.

[Francesca]

That clip of her marching just killing me. So, Rama Rama says I lost my dad July 8th, and I'm trying to get back into some semblance of a routine for self preservation. And today was one of those harder days, and I knew I needed to focus on something else to prevent a complete meltdown. I turned on the podcast and remembered I just got a membership to the gated community. And my God, talk about an armor of love and laughter. Dustin, that intro turned my tears into the biggest laughter I've had since July 8th. The facial expressions and the absolute confusion on France Sante's face. How wild that Negro was for saying that. Talking about Jewels felt like a warm hug from my dad, reminding me to keep pushing through and seek joy wherever I can. All that to say thank you for sharing your light. I needed it. Hours later, I'm still laughing. I had to read that. That just makes it all worth it.

[Asante]

Thank you, Rama.

[Dustin Ross]

Thank you.

[Francesca]

Thank you, Rama. Me sending you so much love and covering you in and so much protection and hopefully more laughter as much as you need it. Because we are here every week, right?

[Dustin Ross]

And we still can't believe Jewel Santana can't read. We still can't believe that he's an idiot. And. And everything that we said, we meant to. At least I know for me, I don't give a who heard it, because I heard it got back somewhere close. I don't give a damn you can't read, boy. You heard it from me, right? Oh, boy. I guess we should sound that out for you too.

[Asante]

Oh.

[Dustin Ross]

Oh, okay. Dumbass nigga. Anyways, let's go. Let's move on.

[Francesca]

The last one I wanted to read was by Nikki, who said, how do you guys feel about a holiday? Listens lately, any era, Gucci Mane, Sia Big Frida, Donny Hathaway, Fetty Wap Duran, all great contributors to holiday music. I thought that was interesting. That was a funny list, right?

[Asante]

Yeah, we can definitely do holidays listen lately, right?

[Francesca]

That would be super cute. So that's it for me. My brain's like, what do we do?

[Asante]

Dustin Ross, what did you find out there?

[Dustin Ross]

It's just one, right? So shout out to d'. Anthony. The Twitter account is the Anthony and it's spelled D E A N T h, the number 0n y. Right? Who tweeted de Anthony said, My friend said, quote, quote, cynthia Bailey and Ariana Grande and I, end quote. And I haven't stopped laughing since. So what he was saying was he was talking to one of his friends. They was talking about Wicked, obviously. And his friend made the mistake of saying Cynthia Bailey instead of Cynthia Erivo. You know what I'm saying? So. And he posted a picture that they took and put Cynthia's face, Cynthia Bailey's face, not Cynthia Revo's body.

[Francesca]

Right, Right.

[Asante]

Well, of course. Please read them.

[Dustin Ross]

People started quoting the tweet with things that Cynthia Bailey would say in her tone, but were related to the film Wicked or Wicked for good. And so here were some of the quotes, because we know Cynthia is famous. We know what she says all the time. So the first quote I see from my Boy, Kyle Price. Shout out to Kyle. Kp official underscore war.

[Francesca]

Hey, kp.

[Dustin Ross]

Who wrote we was Wicked, child? That's what he wrote. The second quote, Child, that house fell right on. That's a rose ass. The third quote, because I knew you, child. Then they even appropriated her. Her scene with. With Nene when she was talking about an argument that she had with Candy and Ty when she was imitating Candy going. She said, you need to back up, back up. They took a clip from Wicked and put. And put the audio over it.

[Francesca]

Not the scene.

[Dustin Ross]

It's so funny. But all of the. Look, the wizard better back up. He getting too close. All of them. Then when just they're appropriating all these Cynthia moments and adapting them to the Wicked movie and the Wicked themes. So much fun. So funny on Twitter. And shout out to whoever his friend was that made that mistake, because that's funny.

[Francesca]

Did y' all see Wicked?

[Asante]

Yeah, I did not see it yet.

[Dustin Ross]

I saw good. I love all them damn songs, though. So, you know, that's what I was on. I got high. Yeah, I went and seen it. Listen to them singing, belting on. I was watching all the songs. I loved it. And the lion, not Colman Domingo in real life. That's my homeboy. We love Coleman Domingo. Yeah, but what the lion did in that movie, okay? And Nessa Rose, that's why that house fell right on her ass. And she deserved it. It. Her and the people that seen the movie know exactly what I'm talking about. Elphaba has lined up to save the animals, to get everything right. And here come the lion. Okay, chiming in. Okay. And we ain't even gonna start on how Nessa Rose was a hater from day one. And that's why every time I watch the wizard of Oz now, I'm gonna smile and puff my chest up when I see those feet sticking out of the house at the beginning. Now that I know the the whose legs was on the other side of it, it's gonna make me happy. I hate Nessa Rose. But that's it for my Wicked rant.

[Francesca]

That means that's it for the intro. Let's jump into this week's episode.

[Dustin Ross]

Okay, so bus it. This podcast is brought to you by Squarespace. Now, I know that you are familiar with Squarespace because you've supported our websites before. You supported my own Dustin Ross website. You know what? Squarespace is just like we do, and we love and appreciate it. Whether you just starting out or managing your brand, Squarespace has what you need and it makes it so EAS to do it. Every dream needs a domain and Squarespace Domains makes it easy to find the best name for your business at one fair, all inclusive price, y', all, with no hidden fees and no add ons required. Every single Squarespace domain comes with advanced privacy and security tools included so that everything you need, you can bring it where you need it located first of all. And you can make your dream come to life, whether that means building a website or adding a professional email service. Squarespace makes it so easy to showcase your expertise and to engage your clients with video content on your website, upload and organize your videos, create stunning video libraries, and even monetize your content by adding a paywall, y'. All. Perfect for online courses, exclusive tutorials and premium workshops, all of which I've held. Now my tutorial was real private, but that was a different type of Squarespace. Now the thing is, everything you need, you can get from Squarespace and we love them there. So you can head over to Squarespace for a free trial and when you're ready to launch, you can go to squarespace.com friendzone to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or a domain. That's 10% off your first purchase of a website or [e-mail] friendzone the holidays.

[Asante]

Are back at Starbucks. So share the season with a peppermint mocha, Starbucks signature espresso, velvety mocha and cool peppermint notes topped with whipped cream and dark chocolate curls together is the best place to be at Starbucks.

[Francesca]

So I mentioned that I am interested in getting a cozy little couch for my personal home office and I want to do that honestly. It's inspired by the Lituation, which is our book club on our Patreon. We've been reading so much, we're reading Rabbits, as my best friend Claude likes to call it, Shout out to Booktok. And he inspired me. He's created this library with a nook in his house and it look so good and cozy and I can see how that would inspire you to want to read more. So I want to kind of create my own version and get a cute couch. And I was, you know, scouring the Internet trying to find one. It was kind of hard. There's a lot to choose from. But when you go on Wayfair, everyone knows Wayfair has their couches organized so well. You can do it by color, you can do it by size, by ratings, reviews, any which way you'd like to set it up. And because the holidays are here, you can actually get what you need fast with Wayfair. From bedding and linens to decor for every room in the house, Wayfair is your one stop shop, which we love. There's something for every style in every home, no matter what your space or budget is looking like. And Wayfair makes it easy to tackle your home goals and gift list with endless inspiration for every space and budget. Budget, fast and easy delivery, even on the big stuff, so you can get what you need when you need it. So I've definitely been looking through Wayfair and I think I found one. I love the reviews too. They're actually really helpful because people don't play when it comes to the details. They'll tell you about the back of the couch, the bottom of the couch, the arms, whether it's soft, whether it's not. And I love how the Wayfair customers make sure and leave you very detailed reviews that are extremely helpful when picking a couch. So if you're looking for some last minute hosting essentials, some gift for your loved ones or decor like I am to celebrate the holidays for way less, head to Wayfair.com right now to shop all things home. That's Wayfair.com W A Y F A I R.com Wayfair Every style, every Home this week's episode is an Asante production. We have no idea what's in store for us us. Let us know what we talking about.

[Dustin Ross]

You know, say.

[Asante]

You know, I love that song. This week I had to figure out what would be good for us to talk about. It's the end of the year. I always talk about weird things. I always talk about interesting things, but I always talk about entertaining things. Right? This week I just wanted us all to be entertained together. I just want us to have a conversation. And I have a list here. I've got things to mention, but there are other pieces of art that are going to come into play because this is a love letter to all of the actors out there. So much art has been produced in film and television over these past years, these past 10 years alone. I mean, with the rise of social media, you know, I have this disdain for certain things about social media. But one thing that I love is that so many other films have been able to be promoted. People's opinions about films have been promoted, memeable moments from TV shows that we love. Just really good black, great black moments. And I was prompted by this because we had watched on Patreon for the binge. We'd Watched Damascus, which was a black series on Tubi. It was a free series. And the episode, the Thanksgiving episode, it came up over the weekend, obviously because of the holiday. And that was one of the best episodes that. And I forgot how great it was until it came back up on Twitter. And we had just watched it not too long ago. Like, we just watched that Thanksgiving episode, like, what, a couple of months ago, maybe. So the fact that it, you know, here we are, Thanksgiving. And shout out to Kirk, who worked on the show we had discussed. He put that clip up, and I was like, I. This was one of the best scenes I've seen in such a long time. So I wanted to have a conversation just talking about how it's evolved and in ways that we didn't even see over the past 10 years alone. We had shows like Insecure come about. We had movies like even just this year, Sinner come About, Sinners come About. So I want to. To just make a list and. And I've guided us through this, but this is going to be one of those episodes where we can kind of just talk about how things made us felt feel. Because I feel like we're in one of those modes where we're about to go into the holidays. And if you don't want to watch a bunch of holiday movies, because it's only December 2nd 3rd, by the time you're listening to this, and I've already watched like, five holiday movies. And I'm like, it's cute, but it's like, I'm already worn out. Some people are going to watch holiday movies every day until Christmas. And I'm like, I. I don't think I'm that type of person. So if you have kids, right? Like, I just wanted to.

[Dustin Ross]

It wouldn't be me.

[Asante]

I just wanted to be cheery and see what it was like. And I realized I don't need to be this cheery all of the time and this cheesy all the time. But I get it. It's a vibe. It's a mo for some people. But for me, I just feel like cool things that have happened in black television, that's a great gift to give as well. So I want to start off with, I kind of did a chronological order of some movies and shows, but then I realized that there are so many other things in between. So that's why I was like, you guys feel free to yell out, whatever. And if the times jump, they jump. And I can get right back. But I want to start off with in 2016, the movie moonlight came out, and that was such a moment for black people, queer people. I feel like, just like a look. Colored people. The lighting alone was such a. A piece of the story. But do you remember how. Do you even remember when moonlight came out? Because as I was doing this list, I was like, damn. Like, that was. Damn. I mean, that was 2016, so that was nine years ago. But it was like, how. How has it been nine years? It has been a while since I've discussed or thought about the movie. Yes, but I didn't realize it was like nine years ago. I thought maybe like four, five years ago. I don't know. I think maybe co messed up my. My marker for certain things.

[Francesca]

Right.

[Dustin Ross]

I've actually never seen the movie in full.

[Asante]

You've never seen moonlight in full? So you've seen bits and pieces?

[Dustin Ross]

Well, I went to see it in the theater, but I fell asleep. And I never. Not because it wasn't interesting or whatever. I just was tired and so. And I never. I've never gone back to rewatch it or to revisit it, I should say. So I. Unfortunately. But I know it was gorgeous, and I know a lot of black people did their thing and. And that movie won Oscars, and you know what I'm saying, I get it. But I've. Unfortunately. But I also just. Well, God, that's. They're not even equal. But for another classic that I just saw recently, as y' all know, was Mean Girls. You know what I'm saying? So, like, I. So, like, I. I just. Certain things, I just. I just am late to the party.

[Asante]

I lowkey, want to play a game, but I don't want to get nobody in trouble. I was about to be like, let's name a black movie that we should have seen. Or one would think you have seen, but you haven't. But listen, let's put that in the back pocket. Maybe we'll revisit. If y' all feel like answering it. Friend, have you seen Moonlight? Are you familiar with. With it?

[Francesca]

Absolutely. And I remember the whole flub at the Oscars because they won. But the. But was it.

[Dustin Ross]

What was his La La Land?

[Francesca]

No, I'm trying to remember the old actor that messed up. I can't remember his name.

[Dustin Ross]

Oh, fuck. It's on the tip.

[Francesca]

We all know. Yeah. And he. Like, I still don't understand what happened that he read La La Land when the movie was clearly Moonlight.

[Asante]

Damn.

[Francesca]

Still don't understand how he made that flow. But I think Asante.

[Asante]

Warren Beatty and Faye Dunne.

[Francesca]

Warren Beatty, that's who it was. His butt got up there, said the wrong movie. Which I can't even imagine how that feels to jump up. Everyone's excited and then they're like, wait, no, it's a mistake.

[Asante]

Apparently the presenters were given the wrong envelope which was for the best for best actress and that had already been given to Emma Stone for Lalo Land.

[Francesca]

Oh, that's what it was.

[Asante]

Yeah.

[Francesca]

Still weird.

[Dustin Ross]

But that's what they saying.

[Francesca]

Yeah.

[Dustin Ross]

What we do know is they need to get start putting his medicine in the day of the week thing.

[Francesca]

I just remember that more than anything. But the movie itself, I remember being so beautiful.

[Asante]

Yeah.

[Francesca]

Like the cinematography, how it was shot, the angles, the actors. There's an actor in it. Hold on. I love. I don't know why, but I love his face every time I see him.

[Asante]

Which character was he?

[Francesca]

I love his face. The one that was his like love.

[Asante]

So it started Trevonte Rhodes, the main one. Or Ash.

[Francesca]

Or Ash, that is. Let me. Is it. I don't think his name is Ashton Sanders. Oh, you're talking about the actual characters that played the lead. No, no, I'm talking about the guy that he was like in love with.

[Asante]

Oh no, Ashton Sanders was the young.

[Francesca]

Yeah, he just played the. The lead. What's this movie called? Moonlight?

[Asante]

You talk Andre Holland. Is that who you talking about?

[Francesca]

Andre Holland? I don't know what it is face, but every time he comes on in movies he has a very comforting. I don't mean it in like a sexual way.

[Dustin Ross]

No, I know exactly what you mean. You love his face.

[Francesca]

Yeah, like the camera loves him. I. I love seeing his face. I think he's such a great actor and I get happy when I see that he's in a movie.

[Asante]

Yeah.

[Dustin Ross]

That's how I feel about Countess Vaughn stuff. I get happy just from seeing her.

[Asante]

He gives me like theater vibes. Like I feel like if he like.

[Francesca]

Doesn't he like.

[Asante]

I don't know if he has a theater background, but if he. If he ever was on stage or something and I knew about it, I would have to go see him. Like that's.

[Francesca]

Yeah. He's just so magnetic to me. I like really, really enjoy him so much whenever I see him. So he was. It was special for him to be in it. But I, you know, obviously Trevonte did a phenomen phenomenal job. What's my guy?

[Dustin Ross]

Mahershala too. I want to have an ass. I leave now.

[Francesca]

Mahershala Ali. I like that is. He is so fine to me, you know.

[Asante]

Who even did that thing in that woof.

[Francesca]

But who?

[Asante]

Janelle Monae.

[Francesca]

Janelle Monae was also phenomenal in it. She was his girlfriend, right?

[Asante]

Yeah.

[Dustin Ross]

She's a good ass actor.

[Francesca]

She is. And has range because we've seen her in a lot of different types.

[Asante]

I know you loved her. Antebellum friend.

[Francesca]

You got me for a second.

[Asante]

Yes. A lot of cool things happened. Moonlight was dope because like we were just saying, it brought us really dope actors. Ashton Sanders was a younger breakout star. Trevonte Rhodes, it was cool to see his finance for a while. And then Mahershala Ali, he's been doing his thing. Still is. So at certain points, because I still want my hersel to do Blade, I still want Blade to come back. I know you guys don't care.

[Dustin Ross]

Play James Bond.

[Asante]

Oh, a black. We still. Yeah, he would be. You know what? We should be two or three black Bonds deep at this point.

[Francesca]

Right.

[Asante]

I feel like Idris was like a top runner for Bond. But Mahershala, his name definitely should be entered into the conversation at this point. But I feel like.

[Francesca]

He'S never in the conversation and he deserves.

[Dustin Ross]

Oh yeah, I can see that for sure, for sure.

[Francesca]

Right? Just polished, tall, handsome. They should all be in the running. Absolutely. Look at Dustin looking up.

[Dustin Ross]

I'm just trying to think like, yeah, he's trying to think like, damn, who else? No, who else besides he could do it. I'm trying to think me and let.

[Francesca]

Me think me now. I had a question. How did y' all feel about. About straight men playing gay leads? Is there ever any tension with that or is that something that y' all don't think is that deep?

[Dustin Ross]

It's not that deep to me because it's acting and it's art. And so while I would hope that there were actors who identify as gay that made themselves available for the auditioning process and which is why I asked. I don't feel like somebody gay had to play that role. Role. No.

[Francesca]

Okay. I always wondered if, if people felt like, damn, that could have been an opportunity, you know, also, I mean, yeah, but like there's to. To shine for sure.

[Dustin Ross]

That would be nice. You know what I mean? But we had pose. No, I'm just playing. I'm just. Well, I promise I'm just playing.

[Asante]

I know that you are playing funny. No, I know that you're joking. But like, yes, like not like pose is going to come up because in this story it's a coming of age tale, like about someone. Remember, he wasn't, you know, they weren't like, gay really. They was just kind of gay for each other. So it wasn't like you needed full on, like, okay, I have to be like, I know the gay experience to know the role. It was more so about men figuring out their sexuality, finding it. Like, I think that that was why moonlight was such a beautiful piece too. Because of the way that it was shot and how it was like, showing like soft, softer layers of men. It wasn't built upon, like, oh, right, we need a stereotypical straight man to be, you know, hard and beat everybody up. And then we need a real gay ass boy with a telfar bag to hit him with the bag. Like, it was just real, like, yo, like, all right, these are men. Gay, straight, whatever. These two particular men are having feelings for each other. They're having this experience and reconciling it.

[Dustin Ross]

Yeah, yeah. Sounds like a story about really complex emotions, right?

[Francesca]

Yeah.

[Asante]

Vulnerability.

[Dustin Ross]

I don't think that as a. As a. I'm gay. As a gay man. You know what I'm saying? I don't.

[Asante]

I don't think that had to remember for a second.

[Francesca]

It's the way he looked up.

[Dustin Ross]

I don't think that it had to be somebody gay doing it. You know what I'm saying? I don't feel like it was a. Unethical or whatever or. Or a crime against my community that somebody. They didn't play the art. Like, no, I'm not.

[Francesca]

Yeah.

[Dustin Ross]

No. Cease fire.

[Asante]

Well, you know, the gays did their thing with moonlight, but, you know, such a great movie. The. The horror genre also did its thing.

[Francesca]

Oh, God.

[Asante]

Get out. In 2017, Jordan Peele, he entered the conversation and up the premise of Get Out. A black man meets his white girlfriend's parents, discovers a horrifying secret invol involving hypnosis and body snatching. Now we both. We've all seen Get Out.

[Francesca]

I have for sure.

[Asante]

Do we remember that? Do you remember?

[Dustin Ross]

Oh, it's been a lot of life since then. You know what I'm saying?

[Asante]

It has. Now. Get out does feel like it's been like Jordan Peele's done his thing since. But like, get out was like that. That interest Prince. That was just. Wow, wow. I've.

[Dustin Ross]

After I seen Sinners, I don't remember nothing about the plot to Get Out.

[Asante]

It was like Sinners was like, you know what I'm saying?

[Dustin Ross]

It's like I had seen get out there.

[Asante]

That was your recess. Yeah.

[Dustin Ross]

New Weird Black. And I'm like, oh.

[Francesca]

Oh, we gotta name this episode. We can't curse because that's not gonna be good for ads. New weird black shouldn't be great.

[Dustin Ross]

This was an eclipsing.

[Asante]

It was. It was definitely that new weird black at the time. And it was, it was interesting, but it was so. Even though it was horrifying, it was still like electrifying. Everybody couldn't stop talking about get out, everybody.

[Dustin Ross]

Brilliant.

[Francesca]

I loved it.

[Asante]

Yeah.

[Francesca]

And I was excited about Jordan Peele's entrance into the horror genre because it's like you said when you were presenting it, this is new for us. Like, we're not the sidekick, you know what I mean? It's like the lead of a horror film. A big horror film with a big budget and big movie studios behind it and top actors, you know what I mean? David Kaluuya and. And the lit. The girl from Girl, Allison Williams. You know what I mean? Like, this was a big deal and.

[Dustin Ross]

It was really big with a controversial subject matter at that.

[Francesca]

Right, right. And I think that's the part that made it super fly when it came out because it was like, oh, shit. And then when we realized, like, this is gonna be Jordan Peele's shit, like, then he came out with more and it was a bigger cast and more budget and that's been really cool to see. I'm not even a horror person, but I'm happy for the people that love horror that see themselves in these films.

[Dustin Ross]

Yeah. Enjoy. Got that death stare face. Anyway. He looked like he could write a scary ass movie. You ever really looked at Jordan Peele? And when he get to looking at some focusing.

[Francesca]

Yeah.

[Asante]

You know, he spent so many years on Key and Peele. And I remember just skipping it. I just remember every time I saw it on my tv, skipping it. Jordan Peele, his face did always make me laugh. So when I heard he was doing horror, I was like, what? Like, I was confused. But the was so good. I don't even think about him. Him from Key and Peele because I remember saying, I don't really with Key and Peele. Like certain things I guess were like. I was about to say certain things were certain things that were funny. There were little times they caught me, but like nothing that made me say, I need to sit down and just watch this. But there were little moments, I'm not gonna lie. How many episodes you didn't see how.

[Dustin Ross]

Many seasons it was. The other one who used to be funny so came out with this. I was like, oh. I thought, thought, oh, okay. It was good.

[Francesca]

Where would it play again?

[Asante]

Comedy Central.

[Francesca]

Comedy Central, cuz I'm like, where was I even seeing that show popped up.

[Dustin Ross]

Comedians do good in horror, though, cuz look how mo' Nique won that Oscar for playing Precious. And Precious.

[Francesca]

You know what?

[Asante]

Precious wasn't a horror. It was a feel good.

[Francesca]

A feel good.

[Dustin Ross]

That's what they be saying. Not y said, I feel good.

[Francesca]

Good comedy, yo jail feel good.

[Asante]

Speaking of feel good, what also came out in the year 2017 was girls trip.

[Francesca]

Girls Trip. Girls Trip used Essence Fest.

[Asante]

I was about to say Girls Trip was a whole moment because it brought Essence Fest back. Not the Essence Fest that ever left, but it showed a light on Essence Fest, like, as if it was. What was that show? What was the movie? This was like the black version of that. The Hangover. It showed the Essence Festival in light, as if it were the Hangover with a bunch of bombass black women. Starring Regina Hall, Queen Latifah, Jada Pinkett Smith, Tiffany and also, Kofi had this.

[Dustin Ross]

Right is it. This made her rise to fame.

[Asante]

That was truly that I remember after Girls Trip, they made it seem like she'd been around for a while. And I was like, oh, But Girls Trip was like. Like my, like, introduction. My clear. Like, oh, this is a funny person.

[Dustin Ross]

That's what most people got to know her.

[Asante]

Yeah.

[Dustin Ross]

And after that, she went on to win that. She got a Grammy. She got an Emmy.

[Francesca]

Oh, Grammy.

[Dustin Ross]

Yeah. For comedy album.

[Francesca]

Oh, yeah.

[Dustin Ross]

Let me look this up. I did not know that Tiffany Haddish has done, like, some incredible stuff. And a lot of people, you know, some people love her. Some people, she's not their favorite.

[Francesca]

She's polarizing.

[Asante]

She has. She's things.

[Francesca]

So, yeah, I'm not a fan.

[Asante]

Yeah, I just.

[Francesca]

It's a lot for me, the best.

[Dustin Ross]

Well, she just did something that had me. She did something that had me very interested recently. Did y' all see when she was on set somewhere?

[Asante]

She was on set somewhere.

[Dustin Ross]

She was on set somewhere, filming. And she was leaving out of a subway and the employees was cussing. She was cussing the employees out that her and the employees was arguing while she was walking down the street. Y' all haven't seen that. It really happened. She was like, sit somewhere. And the employee in the subway runs out of the store. The employee is recording. Tiffany Haddish is like, across the street and crossing across the block. The subway employee comes out. Like, there she go right there. Nasty something. Tiffany Hatch like, yep, there she go. Like, they, like, start going back and forth because Tiffany Hash was mad that they either didn't have corned beef or something like that. This really. I swear to God in heaven, it's really literally just happened on everything. I love y'.

[Asante]

All.

[Dustin Ross]

Never believe me when I tell y'. All.

[Francesca]

I believe you.

[Dustin Ross]

I believe you.

[Asante]

I do believe this one's funny.

[Dustin Ross]

Yeah.

[Asante]

Yeah. So girls trip was a moment. It was funny. It was just lovely to see all of the beautiful black women together. It was lovely to see Queen Latifah and Jada Pinkett and Regina hall and some shit together. And Tiffany Haddish was a great addition at that moment. Like, it was like, these bitches are all hilarious. Like, it was beautiful. And sidebar.

[Dustin Ross]

She did. But pause. She does have a primetime Emmy. And she has a Grammy. Tiffany fucking had this, like, just. Yeah, Just FYI, she done some shit. I was like, yeah.

[Asante]

I was shocked.

[Dustin Ross]

You know what I'm saying? I was like, nene, seeing that white refrigerator. I was shocked, honey.

[Asante]

Shocked like I was when the grapefruit tutorial came up in this movie.

[Francesca]

Oh, no.

[Dustin Ross]

Oh, yeah. Yeah.

[Francesca]

Oh, God. What a time. What a time.

[Asante]

Oh, no. Because why did that. Never mind. I just. And things you guys don't care about. But I still want the shout out. Star Trek in 2017. I just want to be transparent. All right. Don't want to put you guys through it, too.

[Dustin Ross]

Ra's record label, Star Trek, which.

[Asante]

Oh, do you remember him? And Slump. Slim Thug. I ain't heard of that. I don't know why I remember this song I just used to love For Real back. And that's why. That's why I'll stand in that. Yeah. I do still love him. Star Trek Discovery was a series that came out in 2017. Now, this star Trek was important to me. This Star Trek was actually the reason that I decided to become a Trekkie. I was like, you know what? It you a tricky. Yeah. When people are like, star wars or Star Trek, and I'm like, like, I Star Trek. Because I don't. I don't actually know the Star wars world. Whoa. I'm a trick.

[Dustin Ross]

You're a Trekkie.

[Asante]

I mean, in real life. No, but I'm very much familiar with the Star Trek franchise. So it's like if you had, like, some Jeopardy. Or you had to phone a friend on some Star Trek, I might could be able to help you. I might could.

[Dustin Ross]

Okay. That's a. That's a thing. Trekkies.

[Asante]

I know. I know. That's what I'm saying. I might. I don't want to say that. I really am that Sounds like that's what I'm saying. I don't want to say that. I really am. The only reason I say Trekkie is because I can decipher more Star Trek than Star Wars. I don't actually.

[Francesca]

It's just the side you're on.

[Asante]

It's just the side that I'm on. You know what I'm saying? But because I am on this side. In 2017, I was able to celebrate Star Trek discovery because it, it was a black woman led Star Trek series. Now Star Trek.

[Francesca]

I know that.

[Asante]

Oh, yes, honey, yes.

[Dustin Ross]

Whoopi was on back in the day, right?

[Asante]

She was on Back in the day, but she did make an appearance, a couple appearances, I believe, on this, on this series. Super dope. So Whoopi was one of the original Star Trek girls, right? Like we talk about.

[Francesca]

So cool.

[Dustin Ross]

Yeah.

[Asante]

Cause Star Trek, you know, they. The whole thing with Star Trek was even though, you know, racism has always been a thing. And I don't know why they're even in space. Even in motherfucking space.

[Dustin Ross]

Can't float as high as them.

[Francesca]

That was so genuine.

[Asante]

Which to your point, was why I was so excited about this Star Trek. Because, you know, eventually. Well, you don't know, but eventually she, she leads the. She becomes admiral. And I'm like, oh, she don't just become a bad flying a ship. She leaves the whole fleet at one point. Like, this is some, this is some amazing. But Star Trek has been on so long. The original black beauty of Star Trek was Michelle Nichols. RIP to her. We talked about her name because she paved the way. But later on down the road, you know, Whoopi was up in there. She was a staple on the show. There was a, a bar on the ship that she was on and the name of the bar was called Ten Forward. And Whoopi was the bartender. She was the bar. But her character has so much depth. It was super dope. So fast forward to, you know, our generation. And then we got 2017. We have a black woman leading it. She's complex, she's smart. And her mama on the series was Old Girl from the Wire. This is such a random piece.

[Francesca]

Who, the detective?

[Asante]

Yes, she played her mama. She played the mama on Star Trek. I was like, how you get from the Wire to space? It was great.

[Francesca]

I'm happy to see her be a cop because she's always a cop. It's the crazy.

[Asante]

Like, I feel like I saw her guest on Long Order or something as a cop. I was like, how did you.

[Francesca]

Are you just I know she said.

[Asante]

Tight case. Wait, who.

[Francesca]

Who played. Who played the girl? The lead girl.

[Asante]

So the actress's name was Soniqua. Martin Green.

[Francesca]

Sonnequa. I love that.

[Asante]

Yes.

[Dustin Ross]

So she went from music to actress acting.

[Asante]

No, no, Dustin, actually. This is so random, but, you know, when you open Zeus and it has those movies. She's. She's the actress on one of those movies. I think it's like the road trip movie. I don't remember what it was about, but when you open Zeus and they show those movies, instead of the series, Zeus has a movie of hers up there. I'm like, this is so weird.

[Francesca]

Zeus has movies?

[Asante]

Yes. They. They building out that catalog, girl. They gotta make it worth it with the coins, Wayne. But yes, Star Trek was a great moment.

[Dustin Ross]

Same Jocelyn.

[Asante]

Damn, I ain't even put Zeus on this list. I should have low key closer to Zeus, I guess. In the following year, 2018, we got the amazing bombass movie soundtrack set of actors with the film Black Panther. Ooh, big now everybody, their mama was Wakanda forever. Honey. We was so dumb.

[Francesca]

The outfits. People at the theater with like, I.

[Dustin Ross]

Had a beret on.

[Francesca]

What?

[Dustin Ross]

Like the Black Panthers. I did. I did.

[Francesca]

I tell you, that went over my.

[Dustin Ross]

When I went to see that movie, I had on a white turtleneck.

[Francesca]

Crazy.

[Dustin Ross]

I swear to God, y' all can ask my sister. I had on a white turtleneck, a black leather jacket, and black branch and black leather gloves. I was like, I know. I don't know about this, but I know about that. People was like, okay, hell yeah, sit down.

[Francesca]

You know, I saw it in Harlem at the Magic Johnson Theater.

[Asante]

I saw it a few times.

[Francesca]

And everybody was dressed with their best kente cloth.

[Asante]

From 120 pieces, right?

[Dustin Ross]

From printed kente cloth.

[Asante]

Them hoes just giving it out texture on it.

[Francesca]

Right off the bed sheet on the 25th.

[Dustin Ross]

Yeah.

[Francesca]

Oh, shit.

[Asante]

Black Panther was too much of a moment.

[Francesca]

It was funny. I actually saw it. I never saw the second one, but I saw the first one because it felt like such a moment. It was like, even though I'm not.

[Dustin Ross]

Into the Marvel, I mean, Angela Dancer playing Damn. It's cause I seen my Black Panthers. That's what. Why. But Angela Bassett playing Queen Reminder. Asante can't recover from it. Angela Bassett playing Queen Reminder. You know, her head was hurting after she. After they rap. You know, her head was hurting in the.

[Asante]

Elongating that neck. Look, don't let the doctor Jeff the.

[Dustin Ross]

Out of clean reminder.

[Francesca]

And I like Michael B. Jordan.

[Asante]

Jordan, yes. Michael B. Jordan.

[Francesca]

He was so cute.

[Asante]

This was why this was a great movie for so many reasons. It was a black superhero movie, but we had a black villain opposite that. And also black people were smart. Black people had a whole island of smart ass black people. You know what I'm saying? Black people was throwing shade to white folks. Like, you know, usually there's been this long running joke in this country of black people being the butt of it. And so it's great always to see those little moments translated on screen to, you know, y' all really the joke, right?

[Francesca]

It was great.

[Asante]

Shout out Michael B. Jordan as Killmonger I feel like was such a great moment. I didn't expect him. I hadn't seen, I've seen, I've seen Michael act and do certain things, but I didn't know how he would translate because I know superhero movies can seem cheesy to some people and so they might take it a certain way or do certain things with it. But I feel like Michael B. Jordan was cool because his character, like the meaning of his character like Wakanda was supposed to be just for Wakandans. They didn't care about other black people outside of that. And he was a black person who was birthed there. But also, or like his, his father was actually an escape evil kind of. And you know, he, his. He lost his dad. So for his, he couldn't go home because he wasn't raised properly or whatever. But also Shuri, the Black Panther's sister was trying to say that, you know, or not sh. Actually Lupita Nyong', O, the Black Panther's girlfriend was trying to get him to help other and he wasn't really trying to do that. So I think it was just a beautiful story about how we need to be helping each other other and sometimes it ain't our business. Like I think it was a great conversation on that. But I also, you know, Chadwick Boseman, RIP to him it was such a great, it was such a great film that they don't even want to. There's just all this debate around how this mantle should be passed on and I think it just speaks to him as an actor as well. And just.

[Dustin Ross]

My boy is working on part three right now. He saw, he talked about it in the interview. Interview.

[Francesca]

Really?

[Dustin Ross]

What's his name?

[Francesca]

Coogler.

[Dustin Ross]

Coogler. Ryan Coogler. Yep. He's working on the third chapter or whatever now.

[Asante]

Yeah, I, I saw things about it. I'm not sure what is true or not. Like I'm not.

[Francesca]

Me too.

[Dustin Ross]

Well, I heard him say that. You know what I'm saying?

[Asante]

No, no. Yeah. I'm just saying I wish I could add more to it, so I know that he. I did hear of things, but I don't want to say what I heard of because it might not be right, but. Yeah, but what did you hear, Fran? Just because I want to know.

[Francesca]

The cutie from snowfall.

[Asante]

Oh, Damson.

[Francesca]

Damson. Idris. I. I'm. I saw some rumors of him being the new Black Panther. Obviously, we don't know because.

[Dustin Ross]

Yeah, I heard it was going to be Travis Kelce.

[Francesca]

Until we snort from Ryan Coogler, we don't know what's what. But how would y' all feel about him?

[Asante]

I would enjoy it. I don't see anything wrong with him.

[Francesca]

I think he would do great. I'm a fan of. Of him. Yeah. I think he could do really well as a franchise. Yeah.

[Dustin Ross]

Who else?

[Francesca]

I love it.

[Asante]

The Black Panther.

[Francesca]

You know, I'm gonna say Aldis. I just feel like he's never in the conversation, and it's so frustrating to me. Aldous Hodge.

[Asante]

Yeah. He's actually part of.

[Francesca]

Well, maybe Morris.

[Dustin Ross]

You think Morris could do it or. He's too old.

[Francesca]

Chestnut.

[Asante]

Yeah, I'm a little. I can see more Chestnut. I can see him more playing Blade than the Black Panther, too.

[Francesca]

He's doing so. He looks so great and is doing so great on Reasonable Doubt.

[Dustin Ross]

Yes, he is.

[Francesca]

Don't count him out.

[Asante]

No, that's what made me.

[Dustin Ross]

That's actually what made me think of him.

[Francesca]

Think of him. Yeah. He's doing a phenomenal job. And he looks the same.

[Asante]

Yeah, no, I think.

[Dustin Ross]

Go ahead.

[Asante]

Go ahead.

[Dustin Ross]

What? You.

[Asante]

No, I just want to say I think that Morris Chestnut could be a great comic. Comic hero. You know what I'm saying? But I think that Black Panther, because Damson is so much younger, it's like. Okay, I can see that working, too, because it gives him a little bit more life. But then, because I see.

[Dustin Ross]

See a younger role.

[Asante]

Yeah, but if I were to go with, I would still like to see him in a damn movie. Like, if there was a. A. A daddy panther and a son panther, I feel like More Chesnut would play a great daddy panther or something. You know what I'm saying? So it's like.

[Dustin Ross]

I think you said.

[Asante]

Hip hop panther. Everybody should float. What were you about to say, Dustin?

[Dustin Ross]

With bullets going across. The way, he would moonwalk and pop out. Once he drank a little bit of that Vibranium.

[Asante]

You remember the Vibranium? Oh, no, but all this Hodge is actually, well, all this Hodge. Reasonably. Reasonably. Reasonable Doubt and a few things that we keep mentioning. These are all reasons that I wanted to do this episode too. Because I had just finished Reasonable Doubt. I find I finally caught up on the season and watched it all. It was good. And I'm gonna be real with y' all because the next thing that I was.

[Dustin Ross]

Oh, I thought that's what she was about to say, Cash. I was so good this season. I loved her. Unreasonable doubt.

[Asante]

Now, she wasn't bad.

[Francesca]

You love her.

[Asante]

No, she. She really wasn't bad. She really wasn't bad. But I loved seeing more Chestnut back on film. Earlier this year we had watched Cross or. Yeah, earlier this year because it was out on prime last year. It was great to see all this Hodge and a friend. I'm glad that you keep entering his name into the conversation because he was so great there. I was like, we don't really get to see Bomb.

[Francesca]

That show in general should have more.

[Dustin Ross]

Is it coming back or no?

[Asante]

I don't know. I ain't seen, you know, prime be real weird with a series. So I just don't know about Amazon.

[Francesca]

Cuz they don't promote them.

[Dustin Ross]

Don't make me call it similar to Apple.

[Francesca]

It's similar to Apple to me, where like the shows don't get no type of promo. I don't see people talking about it.

[Asante]

Which is like Apple can get away with that because Apple literally only has but so many shows, right? Like, like they promote their series more than they promote everything else that they have in their catalog. They're like, hey, you can whatever else, but we're only gonna promote our. Whereas Amazon is like, they have their. Then they trying to get you to get the add ons. Then they trying to show you it's just too much going on. And then they not promoting over there. So it's like, well, well, what do you want me to do?

[Francesca]

I didn't know about Cross until you told us. Literally never heard of it.

[Dustin Ross]

Didn't even know it was on the show.

[Francesca]

And it's great. People should check it out. If they haven't.

[Asante]

Yeah. If you are. If you're unfamiliar with the series that we're talking about, you should be familiar, especially if you're. You're part of the gated community because we watched it on the binge. But there is. There is a show on Amazon Prime. It is called Cross. It stars out as Hodge. There is a bunch of beautiful black talent that you ain't really seen around Some faces you might be familiar with. But it's. It's a really cool story and it's dope. Now, one of the things that people were talking about when we first started watching it and as we got to see what watch it was dark.

[Francesca]

Oh, my God.

[Dustin Ross]

I could we watch whole time we was watching it. We look like that mean.

[Asante]

When that.

[Dustin Ross]

Girl had her hands on her knees.

[Asante]

The series, it was the color grading was a little on the darker side. However, it is a very, very good show. I was very entertained. And I also would like another season of Cross. Me too.

[Dustin Ross]

A movie. Even movies.

[Asante]

A movie. You know what? Bring. Bring that back. Bring back when shows would randomly have movies and like Cross should be of those. I'd be like, oh, not the Cross movie. And then you go back easily too. Yes. Now that'd be a dope. And then they could do dope crossovers. Now I was gonna mention a movie that I didn't watch, but I'm just gonna skip on over this because we have been talking about a lot of movies.

[Dustin Ross]

We want to know what it is. You didn't wet our appetite. Like, what is it?

[Asante]

I'm. Because I'm ashamed that I ain't seen it. Everybody. Y' all didn't sink it, I'm sure. Actually maybe. Yeah, I'm gonna mention it.

[Dustin Ross]

Welcome to the friends. Every time I'm in the zone this Christmas, give the gift of fun.

[Asante]

The most wonderful time of the year happens here at Academy Sports and Outdoors.

[Dustin Ross]

Shop in store or [e-mail] to save.

[Asante]

On gifts for everybody's list. Find everything from football jerseys and basketball hoops to fire pits and deer stands. Academy carries all the hottest gear from top brands including Nike, Adidas, Carhartt, Yeti and Pit Boss.

[Dustin Ross]

Give the gift of fun this holiday.

[Asante]

Season at Academy Sports and outdoors at Lowe's. Before the holidays is the perfect time for upgrades and upkeep. During Black Friday, get up to 50% off. Select major appliances and buy more to save more with up to an additional 25% off when you bundle. Select major appliances plus grab select Dewalt 20 volt max drill or impact driver kits for just $99. Lowe's we help you save. Valid to 12. 3. Selection varies by location. Walt Disney supplies/seelows.com for more details. I'm gonna mention it. So if you guys have seen it, feel free to chime in and talk about it. But this movie came out in 2018. It was a tender romance wrapped in a fight against wrongful incarceration. Starring Kiki Lane, Stefan James, and Regina King. If Bill street could talk, absolutely.

[Dustin Ross]

That's what she want her ask her for.

[Asante]

I know y' all see. I know.

[Francesca]

I saw it at home, though. I didn't see it. And it was like, much later. Like, I feel like it was during quarantine. I don't even think it was.

[Dustin Ross]

I went in the theater. I can see his apartment now in my head. I can see that, like, them paintings or whatever that was and all of that shit. And Regina King. Ooh, I can see her over there looking for her. Ooh, I can see her over. Remember when she went over there looking for him and she was walking through that street passing them paper. Regina was acting. And I remember. Y' all know I love awards season in Hollywood and who won what? Keeping up with the stats. You know, that's a thing. I'm interested. I love it.

[Francesca]

Yeah.

[Dustin Ross]

So whatever. So give me my moment. During Regina's Oscar campaign, right when she was winning all the awards and during awards season and she was in the running to win the Oscar, Jack A. Harry was doing an interview. I can't even remember what show it was on. But they brought Regina King up because obviously, obviously, they work together on 227. And they maintained a close relationship throughout the years. They still cool as hell like their friends. Remember when they got drunk on watch what happens live? And I do, but they asked her about Regina King, and she was like, oh, honey, you know, she's on the Oscar track right now. She's like, you know, she's on. You know, she's on track to win an Oscar. So, you know, I remember her saying it, and I was like.

[Asante]

And.

[Dustin Ross]

And she did. She won. And I remember when she was at the governor's ball after the Oscars, and she was getting her. Her award engraved, like the plate engraved or whatever. The people who win go up to that table and, you know, get their trophy, their trophies engraved. She was getting it done. And the way she was, like, standing back looking, and she was holding her hands and, like, just looking at them. Oh, my God, I love that. So it was such a moment. I love Regina King. That's black royalty. That's why her last name is King.

[Asante]

Yes. Yeah, I see. I feel like we see or we at one point saw a lot of Regina King. And I know she's been going through some stuff and where it's like she's etching back in maybe, but Regina King is one of those people I want to just see forever. Like, the way I'd seen. I've seen Denzel my entire life. Like, I want to see Regina King on screen my entire life. Watching her and watching Watchmen was so dope because that was. She was like the closest thing that I'm gonna get to her being a superhero. Like a black. Like certain black actresses, like Angela Bassett, if she was younger, I would have loved to see her play an assassin or some. You know what I'm saying? Like, there's a certain. Like, even back when Vivica Fox was on Kill Bill, like, that was a moment was like, damn, this is cool. Yeah. So in Watchman, Regina King, she was doing some light martial arts. And so I was like, okay, I need to see her for real. Like, when with a cape or something. Like, I need y' all to give her. Watchmen had a budget. It was hbo, but I needed her.

[Francesca]

To get that big box.

[Asante]

I loved it too. I have to revisit it.

[Francesca]

That was such a good concept. And you know those. That's up our alley.

[Asante]

Hell yeah.

[Francesca]

Quantum conversations. And I'm not even really, because that's. What is that Marvel?

[Dustin Ross]

Like a comic book Marvel?

[Francesca]

Yeah, like dc. It was a DC sc. I didn't even know. I'm not like, I don't follow those words world closely. I kind of just watch one off things and sometimes they can stand alone and you don't feel lost. Loved it so much, but I just watch anything she's a part of.

[Asante]

Yeah, it was dc.

[Francesca]

It was kind of a no brainer. Yeah, I love her. That was such a great series because.

[Asante]

It was her and it was Yaya doing my team. So it was like, oh, yeah, two black. And then it was the conversation like you were saying about Quantum, like him time not being linear. I was like, I am all the way.

[Francesca]

I don't know you. I was so excited.

[Asante]

I don't know where he at and what he doing and what he's talking about, but I am right here with him. I get it.

[Dustin Ross]

Speaking of kente cloth. Right. I didn't know Yaya was in the Watchman. Yaya from Tomato, remember?

[Asante]

With the kids. Is that the. Is that the one? It's.

[Francesca]

Wait, am I saying no, that's not the one. Shout out to Yaya. That's my homie. I love her.

[Dustin Ross]

Yeah, me too.

[Francesca]

Regina King also has been directing a lot. She. Remember, she directed the pilot episode of Forever on Netflix. I remember reading that. And that was cool to see because the show ended up doing so well. It got its second season and she touched him. Was part of the pilot and bringing it to life. So she's just an all around phenomenal talent. Everything she touches is great.

[Asante]

You know what? Great segue, friend. All around phenomenal Emmys.

[Dustin Ross]

Regina King has four prime time Emmys.

[Francesca]

Come on, four.

[Asante]

Give her more. Give her more.

[Francesca]

Right?

[Asante]

Speaking of other people that act direct, do a little bit of everything. I point your attention. We're moving on into TV shows. I feel like we focus on a lot of movies. 2016 was the drop of. Of a surreal dramedy blending fame, absurdity, and cultural critique. And it was titled after my city. That's right. I am talking about Atlanta.

[Francesca]

What a show.

[Asante]

Donald Glover hit us. We got to see Lakeith Stanfield, who. So he was actually on Atlanta before he was on get out. So it was cool to see him go from weird on TV to weird nigga in the movie. And then he just carried that weird thing along with him for a while until he decided, oh, and then. Actually, I don't want to mention that movie. What was the movie with him friend? Do you know what I'm talking about? Sorry for both. Sorry not to bother you.

[Francesca]

I'm sorry to bother you. Yeah. Now that was some. You want to talk about black?

[Asante]

You know what? That's. Look, now if I would have made y' all watch that for the Bench.

[Francesca]

I don't think anything has that beat. I forgot who I think. I think I took. Was it my little cousin who. I took someone. I took someone. For some reason, it's not registering who, but I remember it was someone younger than me. And you know when younger people, like, want to watch things that they, that you watch, like, they're like, oh, Fran watches it. I need to like see it. I was like, oh, God, this is poor reflection of my taste because it was so bad. It was so confusing. I didn't know what the fuck was happening. Happening. But people love that movie, so I could.

[Asante]

Sorry to bother you came out in 2018. The premise of the movie. In an alternate reality of present day Oakland, California, telemarketer Cassius Green finds himself in a macabre universe after he discovers a magical key that leads to material glory. As Green's career begins to take off, his friends and co workers organize a protest against corporate oppression. Cassius soon falls under the spell of Steve Lyft, a cocaine sorting CEO who offers him a salary beyond his wildest Dre dreams.

[Dustin Ross]

This who's fighting for something. Cash's clay fighting. He gets tangled up with Steve Lyft, who is selling them cocaine. Okay, I see where this is going.

[Asante]

You don't.

[Francesca]

You're making it sound a lot more grounded.

[Asante]

No, that's what the wiki says. And I was about to say this doesn't. I was literally going to say this doesn't even begin to touch on the amount of that I went through watching everything. And then for that ending, I was really out of here. I was like, oh, y' all have like really played. But Lakeith Stanfield, he took that role in 2018 while he was still in Atlanta. Right. Fresh off of get out. So he was, you know, doing his weird thing. But that's dope, you know, Atlanta showed black people in a different light too. Because it showed Atlanta in a different light. Yeah, I feel like this era was where we got to see shows. We've. We're always used to seeing the city as a character in certain aspects like you know, New York or sometimes Atlanta, a lot of LA or west Coast. So it was dope to see Atlanta but like not directly like, oh, we gonna be, you know, it's drug dealing Atlanta time or. Or we in midtown, we bougie Atlanta. It was real, just like mundane with strips of, you know, do be bougie or do be on some. So yeah, yeah, I very much enjoyed Atlanta. We also got Brian Tyree Henry who was breakout stars paper boy on there. He went on to do a bunch of along with zaz beats. And you know, Donald Glover, he had been before he even did the series. We know that he was making music and acting in guest spots on shows and movies. So for him to come out the gate with this like weird ass show, but it was shot so well and had such a cool soundtrack. I think that Donald Glover like he really, he reset like weirdo in a very, very good way. And I was like, damn, this is good.

[Francesca]

I liked it.

[Asante]

Yeah. Speaking of weirdo but not so weird, right? More of the classier taste. 2016 was also the year of the insecure.

[Francesca]

Hey.

[Asante]

Ory. And everybody Named Mama. Because I feel like everybody named Mama was on Insecure. Should have been cuz my co host was on there. What about yours?

[Francesca]

What about yours?

[Asante]

Insecure was a modern LA story of friendship, dating, love, career and self definition start. And starring the people that I just mentioned. But also my friend was on there but my other friend got an award or awards, has been decorated for, you know, conversations around the show. So insecure. I feel like it's just one of those shows we could not, not talk about, you know.

[Francesca]

Yep, Insecure get a lot for the people shout out to Me and Crystal for getting podcast for that. That was huge.

[Dustin Ross]

Yes, yes.

[Francesca]

And it was such a great. I loved it. I think the show came at such a great time because it filled in a gap. Right. We have black shows that were just about everyday life. It was funny, but also dramatic. And I think Issa did a good job. Do you think that. Have you rewatched it since? Because I've seen some people asking, like, do you think it has stood the test of time? You know how some shows watch back and you're like, oof.

[Dustin Ross]

It absolutely has stood the test of time. That show was great. And honestly, we need film. Films.

[Francesca]

Asking her.

[Dustin Ross]

I saw, she says no every time.

[Asante]

Damn.

[Francesca]

I don't believe it.

[Dustin Ross]

We need films within us.

[Asante]

We need films.

[Dustin Ross]

Yes. Like, there's no reason not to continue that universe of those characters that we already love. That would be a box office smash.

[Francesca]

It really would.

[Dustin Ross]

Globally agree type. So I don't know. I hope she gets the. I hope she gets some gumption. I watched an interview recently where she was saying how if she doesn't have, like, a show airing currently, she. She was like, with all the I've done, she's like, I still feel like I'm a failure if I don't have nothing currently on.

[Francesca]

I saw that.

[Dustin Ross]

She's like, ain't that ridiculous? Yeah.

[Asante]

Yeah.

[Francesca]

So get this in the theater, on stage, I think it was. Yeah, yeah.

[Dustin Ross]

You want something to do? Get this in the theaters.

[Francesca]

We'll be there.

[Asante]

Yeah. Real. Yeah. Everything about Insecure, like, we all, a lot of us felt seen through Issa or her friends or situations that she was going through. The music on the show was just so amazing. The music, the music, like, the city itself was a story, but, like, the soundtrack was also a story, you know, like, so many amazing things came from Insecure. Even Natasha Rothwell being on the show, she got parlayed to her Hulu series and then being on hbo, the White Love noticed. So I think that's just gems.

[Dustin Ross]

Kendrick.

[Asante]

Oh, fine ass Kendrick, everybody. Cool.

[Francesca]

Don't y' all think, too? It changed the way people shoot shows because now so many shows, I'm like, this is in. This is Insecure. Like, the way they weave music into the scenes, though, even, like the. I can't explain it, but the way the. The lens that they choose.

[Dustin Ross]

You know what I mean?

[Francesca]

It's like, it is so specific to ins. And it's so interesting how, in my opinion, she really shifted TV in that way.

[Dustin Ross]

Especially TV shows that are based in la.

[Francesca]

Right, right.

[Dustin Ross]

And if You're a person who in your adult years has spent any time single in Los Angeles or going on a date in Los Angeles. That show makes. Gives you all the feels. Yeah, it's like when they would be on dates and shit on Insecure, I'd be like, oh, I remember when me. And such and such was at such and such. Like, it just. It really makes you feel like dating in la, if you've ever done that. For those who partake, I don't know.

[Asante]

But yeah, Insecure was an amazing time. Also that was 2016. Let's skip on to 2018. And Insecure ran for some years. They had seasons.

[Francesca]

Five years.

[Asante]

I could use more. I could have. I could have used more. Not that it was.

[Dustin Ross]

Make the damn movie.

[Asante]

Yeah. Just such a great.

[Francesca]

She said even before it started, she knew she was gonna do five. Like, that's just what she felt. When was the. The Secret sauce. The number. Yeah. To stop.

[Asante]

And that's okay.

[Francesca]

Tired of it.

[Asante]

Yeah. Because sometimes you keep running things. I was like, all right, it's gonna be a soap opera now. Like, and then you run it into the.

[Francesca]

And you can run it into the ground at some point. We've all seen shows where you're like, oh my God, what's happening now? You know?

[Asante]

Well, what's happening now is we're moving on to the series.

[Dustin Ross]

Pose.

[Asante]

Okay.

[Francesca]

Pose.

[Asante]

Now, we started this off queer. We start this off queer in the. In the movies with Moonlight. But I want. I want you to pose in the moonlight. Pose was a great offering to. For queer culture. Ballroom culture. Chosen family. We talked about trans. It was really trans excellence for really in the 80s and 90s. Starring MJ Rodrigo, MJ Rodriguez. Excuse me. Golden Globe winner Billy Porter and Dominique Jackson. A lot of other people, but like, those are notables. Yes.

[Francesca]

India Moore. Right.

[Asante]

I just laugh because I thought about her. And Law Post was beautiful.

[Dustin Ross]

All on the COVID of L magazine. And India is a big deal.

[Asante]

The world. You know what I mean?

[Dustin Ross]

Yeah.

[Francesca]

And what was the Latin actor that was India Moore's partner on the show. He was great.

[Asante]

Poppy.

[Francesca]

Poppy, yeah.

[Dustin Ross]

What's his real name? It's on the tip of my tongue. Cuz he was dating from Post. Janet Mock for a minute. What's his name?

[Francesca]

Oh, Angel.

[Dustin Ross]

Yeah, Angel Y.

[Francesca]

He was great. Is he Dominican? That name is giving me Dominican.

[Asante]

Well, Post was great. I really loved. We had Ryan Swain on there, but Angelic.

[Dustin Ross]

Shout out to Ryan.

[Asante]

Shout out to Ryan.

[Dustin Ross]

And Angelica Ross.

[Asante]

Angelica Ross. I. I mean, ma'.

[Dustin Ross]

Am. Powerhouse. Yeah.

[Asante]

Just Post was a great time. It was amazing. And for it to be like a period piece too. It was fun.

[Dustin Ross]

It was edgy.

[Asante]

It was great. And it was gay so. Or queer so. I love that Queen and Tales.

[Dustin Ross]

Remember when Billy Porter was giving. He was giving Jasmine Sullivan. He announced her Grammy me when she won h Tails.

[Asante]

In 2019, the movie Queen and Slim came out. I wanted to just mention this movie. I dropped it in my. My list of series.

[Dustin Ross]

I die on the Hill. Cuz I enjoyed that movie.

[Asante]

I don't care.

[Francesca]

Crazy.

[Dustin Ross]

I started crying at the end.

[Francesca]

And I was at the theater for the premiere like we were invited. I was sitting next to Dr. Joy. Shout out Dr. Joy. She's such a good person.

[Dustin Ross]

We love Dr. Jo.

[Francesca]

I kept looking over her like, I know you.

[Dustin Ross]

She's like a joy and pain that night, wasn't she? Damn, y'.

[Francesca]

All.

[Dustin Ross]

I enjoy cleaning Slim. I don't know why I did. I haven't seen it but one time.

[Francesca]

I'm glad you did.

[Dustin Ross]

I ain't seen it one time, but I enjoyed it. Why like it? And then at the end I started crying when that police car came down the street. That Runway. Remember they had got away and y' all wasn't even paying attention. Y' all was hate watching it at.

[Asante]

Paying too much attention.

[Francesca]

This was great to me.

[Dustin Ross]

Well, I remember. I remember at the end when the police cars turned down that Runway. My heart sunk. I remember my son fell in my ass. I was sitting in that seat. My feet started hurting and shit. I was like, oh my God, this is it. Nerve shot and that. And then they got shot. That was a bad. That ending really me up. But I was crying and I was moved. Yeah.

[Francesca]

Wow.

[Dustin Ross]

I wanted them to make it away had been so much deep. It was. It was. It was. It was an emotional. I was an emotional wreck at the end of that movie. And then because it was like they had dangled the promise of freedom. Happy ending.

[Asante]

But they could. They could have got away.

[Dustin Ross]

They was right. Right there. They was right there.

[Asante]

They almost would have got away with it.

[Dustin Ross]

They was right there. Darn police cars coming down the Runway. The tarmac. It was the police cars was coming down that. And they was them old police cars. So the sirens was loud. It was like a. The sirens that you start the record player to make them come on. That's how the police started the sirens. But I like that movie. It and Guarding the Gates. Lauryn Hill, that new studio version of Guarding that was on that soundtrack. It was incredible because at the end of the movie. When that music came on, I remember one of my friends that was already trying to walk out, and I remember looking like, yo, that's a new Lauryn Hill song. We don't give a fuck. We leave. I like Queen itself.

[Asante]

I don't give a fuck.

[Dustin Ross]

This is what happened. This is what happened.

[Asante]

Shit. Both of y' all are crazy with that. I'm gonna just skip forward another series. We talked already about Watchmen that came out in 2019 on HBO. And that was such a phenomenal HBO series. And they had got me back to back because we had got Watchmen. And then the very next year, 2020, I got Lovecraft Country.

[Dustin Ross]

Oh, baby.

[Francesca]

Damn.

[Asante]

That was crazy.

[Francesca]

Because it was weird and I. I loved it.

[Asante]

It was weird, but it was also weird. Kind of like how Watchmen was already. So it was like I was ready, so I felt a little prepared already. So. But then it was different. Then it got real crazy. But I was still kind of like, I would like to see season two. Like, I didn't read the book, so I don't even know if there is supposed to be another season or not. But the way that it went, I really, really appreciate it. I really enjoyed.

[Francesca]

Was good.

[Dustin Ross]

I'm just gonna say it was good. I was about to tell too much of my business. I saved that for the whole. It was a character in that movie that it was dangerous to like, you know, to be with. You know what I mean? And I wanted to be with them just one time. I wanted to see what it felt like, because when it would happen, you know what I'm saying, the people would be all into it. And then she would get up growing them legs and get them. So I was like, damn, all you gotta do is just do it a little bit and get out of there. You know what I'm saying?

[Francesca]

You are crazy.

[Dustin Ross]

I was like, I wonder what it felt like. That's all.

[Asante]

Lovecraft star Jonathan Major's journey. Smoke it. RP to Michael Williams.

[Dustin Ross]

Ass off in that mov. Oh, yes, she was.

[Asante]

Ain't it crazy? Ain't that crazy?

[Francesca]

That's right.

[Asante]

We also got to see.

[Dustin Ross]

Loved a lot of people loved him too, like, in his community. And.

[Asante]

And then we were just talking about the Wire earlier, too, on hbo.

[Dustin Ross]

Damn.

[Asante]

We also got to see more of Anu Ellis Taylor's beautiful face. And we were introduced. Well, I was introduced forever.

[Francesca]

Icon.

[Dustin Ross]

Let's talk about how she's on that list. She's on the list of the that don't around I and that ain't even a black list. That's just a list. Meryl Streep, Viola Davis. You know what I'm saying? Angenu Ellis. And what did it for me was when she was in the Clark sisters movies playing Maddie Moss. Clark. They mama. She was acting just like that woman.

[Asante]

She had a very notable brash personality.

[Dustin Ross]

That was one of a kind and to see. Well, at least we thought. Cause now Anja knew Ellis was able to make it two of a kind. She was good.

[Asante]

I don't know.

[Dustin Ross]

I just. I love her.

[Asante]

She was.

[Dustin Ross]

I love her. She makes everything good.

[Asante]

Love that woman.

[Dustin Ross]

Love her.

[Asante]

You know what?

[Dustin Ross]

That. She's so good. And Meryl Streep. So good. They could play each other.

[Asante]

They could. They could.

[Dustin Ross]

They could play each other.

[Asante]

We were also introduced to Wami Masaku on this production, which I appreciate and loved her then love her now. When we seen her this year in Sinners, oh, my God, it was amazing to see her again.

[Francesca]

She's another one that the camera loves her face.

[Dustin Ross]

Beautiful.

[Francesca]

Like, the way Andre to me, like, there's some people that the camera just loves your face. She's sexy, shines.

[Asante]

She's gorgeous.

[Francesca]

Absolutely.

[Asante]

Yes. Just a few more notables I'm gonna shout out, and then we can get out of here. Because so much has happened over the past. Past 10 years for filming black people. There are so many new faces. There are so many people that have moved from the Internet to film. You know, we talked about Issa Rae. One of the dope things about her is how she'd been on YouTube for a long time, and then she was able to parlay over.

[Francesca]

Yeah, Quinta.

[Asante]

Like, quinta perfect segue friend. Advent elementary came out in 2021. Quinta went from, you know, doing her thing online to she was on a season of a black lady sketch show and parlayed her way on over to her own thing on abc.

[Dustin Ross]

Why y' all don't ever be bringing that show up no more? Y' all love the black lady sketch.

[Asante]

It's a black lady courtroom. It's a black lady courtroom. But I watched.

[Dustin Ross]

Y' all love this show.

[Asante]

I watched, and I. I. There were a lot of moments that I did.

[Dustin Ross]

Motherfuckers ain't just gonna give me every time.

[Asante]

Look, you ain't. You ain't getting me. Okay? I enjoy the black lady sketcher. Shout out to Robert Feedy. Okay, look, if it was.

[Dustin Ross]

Yeah, yeah.

[Asante]

If it was a black naked sketch show, I wish I could have been one of Nick's. Okay. Something about seeing Scott Townsend on there. She'd be taking me the out. I just, you know, I support elementary, also supports Quinta Brunson, Tyler James Williams, Shirley Ralph. I mean, who knew we need to see her on a sitcom. Who knew?

[Dustin Ross]

You funny.

[Asante]

Okay, look. Oh, another one rather, because I forgot she'd been doing her thing. Speaking people doing their thing. Quick shout outs. The Woman King. I was trying really hard not to sing the song and I'm glad that I didn't. Viola Davis. I actually have not.

[Dustin Ross]

Never saw that.

[Asante]

I have not seen the Woman King. Okay.

[Dustin Ross]

I felt like it was a women's movie. I don't know. I just felt like it wasn't for everybody was in such a. I'm like, let me just. You know what I'm saying? Yeah, Let y' all have that.

[Asante]

Yes. It's an epic about the all woman war unit of the Kingdom of the homie. I'm not sure, but it was a Netflix feature, I believe. Or was it in films? It was films. And then it was.

[Dustin Ross]

I believe it was in theaters.

[Asante]

It was in theaters. Okay, well, Violet Davis, the Woman King. I know that she was doing her thing as the woman king. Okay. Was even included in that. Bedley. I'm still going to try not to sing and I can't stop rhyming. Okay.

[Dustin Ross]

About Martin Luther King. Daughter, you know, she a politician. Bernie, say King. That's what I thought.

[Asante]

The movie.

[Dustin Ross]

I said, oh, she got a biopic.

[Francesca]

This was a historical movie, right? It's. It had nothing to do with Black Panther.

[Asante]

Yeah, I think it. No, it did not. It did not.

[Francesca]

Because I think that's where there was a lot of confusion. People thought this was a Black Panther spinner. I did. I'm not gonna lie.

[Asante]

I have never heard that. A lot of overlapping.

[Francesca]

It was. You said you never heard that.

[Dustin Ross]

I have never heard that.

[Francesca]

I promise you there's gonna be listeners that thought Woman King was a spin off that focused on the. What were they called?

[Dustin Ross]

Dana?

[Asante]

Actress's name?

[Francesca]

The Milaj. What are they called?

[Asante]

Oh, from. From Black Panther. Dora Milaj.

[Francesca]

The Dora Milaj? Not me kind of remembering the Dora Milaj. I think people thought that that's a hair color change.

[Asante]

Look, he remember Vibranium. Look, Black Panther really did some things.

[Francesca]

And so I, I remembered someone being like, no, that has nothing to do with the Dora Milaj. This is a historical.

[Dustin Ross]

They told me it was a spin off and that Viola Davis was their cousin. This was, you know what, their cousin's kingdom. That's what all the black people Thought about the woman kings last few things I'm gonna mention.

[Asante]

I just wanted to shout out Tramell Tillman from Severance. Severance was a series that came out.

[Francesca]

Oh, I love Severance.

[Asante]

Years ago. But he won this year. He was the first black man ever to win supporting actor in the drama.

[Francesca]

What? Yeah, he's great. So I'm not surprised at all.

[Dustin Ross]

Yeah, supporting. You're right. He was a supporting actor in a drama series.

[Francesca]

Yeah. Because he wasn't.

[Asante]

Okay. Yeah. Yeah.

[Dustin Ross]

Well, he should have been so good.

[Asante]

Next damn season.

[Dustin Ross]

He won.

[Asante]

I mean, Severance was so genre building and genre bending. Creepy, artistic. Another one of those shows that just. It looks super dope and it's got really dope conversations. It's attached to it. So I was already in. But then y' all throwing in this. And look, he a character with a little power and he being an. But now he's starting to question his own existence. I love Layers.

[Dustin Ross]

So existing by Rihanna. That was a question. Questioning. Well, he actually queer though, right?

[Asante]

Oh, is he?

[Dustin Ross]

I didn't. Yeah.

[Asante]

Hey, tr. Wel. Other things I'm going to shout out, then we're going to get out of here because so much has happened. I just want to give everybody their moment. They cloned Tyrone. It was great to see Jamie Fox back on screen at the time because he'd been gone for a minute. John Boa was in the lead. Tiana Paris, who's another blackress that I love. Everybody did their thing and everybody got that Netflix check. Okay. Swarm. Dominique Fishback dancing was in there. Chloe Bailey. That's all you got to say.

[Francesca]

Movies.

[Asante]

Series. It was weird.

[Dustin Ross]

She ain't do nothing but like this the whole time.

[Asante]

Who's your favorite artist? How many Grammys does your favorite artist have? Nigel has more grammar Grammys in that she's a better artist.

[Dustin Ross]

And then the graphics package looked like fake Kill Bill knockoff. I'm straight. Go ahead.

[Asante]

Well, Dominique Fishback did her thing. I. With her. No, she's the. She's the.

[Francesca]

Yeah, yeah. Nothing on her.

[Asante]

It was just.

[Dustin Ross]

We love her.

[Asante]

Yeah, yeah. Got it.

[Dustin Ross]

We put our arm around your shoulder, girl. We talking about the thing, the program.

[Asante]

Cause why can't. We barely had it being there. I mean, she can. You know, I ain't mad at the problem with that. I. I ain't mad at that. But it's like, why was it so a thing? It was. Look, her cheeks was acting. We've already talked about sinners. That was what I was going to close out with because sinners we talked about horror early. Early on, and it's crazy that 2025 got an amazing black horror film. A couple of them. I didn't put Opus on this list. It did have a black director and Iiri, so I'm just gonna mention it right here. But Sinners. It star Michael.

[Francesca]

It was.

[Asante]

It was.

[Dustin Ross]

It was.

[Asante]

Her hair was amazing on there.

[Francesca]

So good.

[Asante]

I don't know if mama Tina was on set with the chair or what, but the hair was looking bomb.

[Dustin Ross]

She had some drops.

[Asante]

Sinners. It had one me, Masaku, in it, who we were talking about that we love earlier on. It was great to see her back. This year in it, Michael B. Jordan was leading the charge. He was actually down in that movie. And Twins, he played a dual role, which was funny. And it was funny. It. It wasn't funny. It was good, but it was funny.

[Dustin Ross]

Because I wasn't so damn good at. Like, he was. I think he earned the respect of a lot of people, you know, from his performance in Sinners. Like, that was a great performance. For real.

[Francesca]

Agreed. Because people. I noticed people are on the fence about his acting, and I. But I think this kind of solidified him.

[Dustin Ross]

They'd be trying to play him because he got a low. A jowl. You know what I'm saying? Yeah. So because his jowl, they be trying to say he always dropped. You know what I'm saying? And that's not the same. They'd be trying to say he's one. One note because of his jowls. And I just don't understand it. I always thought that was.

[Asante]

There were some great, fresh talent in Sinners. The young woman that played Pearline, I believe her name is Jamie Lawson. I very, very much enjoyed her. The lead, Miles Kaden. Or is that his name? Cat and Kaden, the one. I think one of y' all was telling me he had just won American Idol title or something.

[Francesca]

He was, like, opening up for her on Twitter.

[Asante]

Oh, that's what it was. Okay.

[Francesca]

That's how he got the role. Yeah. Because she. Well, not. That's not. That's how he got it. But she's the one that told him, there's an audition I think you should try for. Yeah.

[Asante]

Well, he. He did outstanding as this being his breakout. And then it was amazing to see Delroy Lindo back in the paint. It's always beautiful to see older brothers still out here doing their thing. Looking back, these stories, they didn't just entertain us. They challenged us. They reflect us. Okay. I keep thinking about you in that Mirror rapping. They imagine us beyond the limits that we were handed back to Star Trek Discovery and her running the whole fleet because I didn't think that they was gonna get that. So many things happened in film and I just wanted to make sure that we wrapped it up at some point. We talk about TV via TV Land through Dustin on a weekly basis. But sometimes it's good to just sit and talk about some of the moments that we didn't really get a chance to talk about. It was great that we talked about more chess. Not because even the best man holiday had came back around earlier, but that was, you know, before the 10 years. And I didn't want to make this 20 years because even the 10 was too damn long. Okay. But yes, a lot of great black motion happening and I want to continue to see that. A lot of black magic. A lot more Black Magic in 2026. I hope you all enjoyed this episode. I hope you all enjoyed this list. If you have any notables that you want to add to it, you're more than welcome to. I did not talk about Honk for Jesus, save your soul. I did not talk about. Talked about 1001.

[Dustin Ross]

There was just a great performance from Tiana Taylor.

[Francesca]

Oh, yeah, I saw that in theaters too.

[Asante]

Great movie. They're just so. I. I did not get into Gerard Carmichael at all. There were just so many things. I have a list. I didn't even talk about P. Valley Child, so there's so many things. There's just so many things y' all.

[Francesca]

Seems like.

[Asante]

I hope that you all enjoy.

[Dustin Ross]

That's what we should talked about. She didn't held up that in court. Wasting everybody's time. We don't know what the hell is going on. And what was the name of the city in P. Valley? Chuckaloosa. Chaloosa.

[Asante]

Was it Chuckaloosa, Chuck?

[Francesca]

It sounds about right.

[Dustin Ross]

Norris, Chuck.

[Asante]

Chuck Norris.

[Dustin Ross]

Chuck Roast. I don't know. Wherever they was from.

[Asante]

Yeah, Wherever the hell they were.

[Dustin Ross]

That it's not bad.

[Asante]

Chuckalisa. Chuckalisa.

[Dustin Ross]

Chalisa.

[Asante]

All right. Happy birthday to Chescal. Yeah. Happy birthday.

[Francesca]

Happy birthday, sister.

[Asante]

Another black creative that we need to be out there supporting while we retire.

[Francesca]

Absolutely.

[Dustin Ross]

And she be tearing y' all ass up with them leopards. And I love you.

[Francesca]

She's so funny.

[Asante]

That's it. That's it this week for me. I hope you guys enjoyed. Love you guys very much.

[Francesca]

Great combo. Thank you. Asante. Jump into this week's segment.

[Dustin Ross]

This Christmas. Give the gift of fun.

[Asante]

The most wonderful time of the Year happens here at Academy Sports and Outdoors.

[Dustin Ross]

Shop in store or [e-mail] to save.

[Asante]

On gifts for everybody's list. Find everything from football jerseys and basketball hoops to fire pits and deer stands. Academy carries all the hottest gear from top brands including Nike, Adidas, Carhartt, Yeti, and Pit Boss.

[Dustin Ross]

Give the gift of fun this holiday.

[Asante]

Season at Academy Sports and outdoors at Lowe's. Before the holidays is the perfect time for upgrades and upkeep. During Black Friday, get up to 50% off, select major appliances and buy more to save more with up to an additional 25% off when you bundle, select major appliances. Plus grab select Dewalt 20 volt max.

[Dustin Ross]

Drill or impact driver kits for just 99 Lowe's.

[Asante]

We help you save. Valid through 12. 3. Selection varies by location while supplies last seelose.com for more details.

[Francesca]

This week in wellness, y' all got me laughing over here. I wanted to talk about the psychology of color, right? Even with. I kind of love it because Asante is wearing one of the colors. I wanted to talk about Dustin, even with you choosing to paint your walls black, right? Me choosing to paint them forest green. What inspired this conversation? I went, I don't normally wear color at the gym for some reason. Well, I can't say that because black is a color, right? I don't wear bright colors or loud colors. I tend to just stick to black, gray, kind of like muted colors. To me, it's muted. It's neutrals for me. But I. I was doing some purging in my closet of sweatsuits, you know, just wanted to get some sweatsuits out the way, make room for new stuff. And I had an old sweatsuit I'm talking about. I bought it from, like, Urban Outfitters when I was still in Harlem. So at minimum, seven years old, right? So I'm like, oh, let me just. It's red, too. It's a red sweatsuit. Still in good shape, but it's just something I don't wear anymore. And I was like, like, I should just keep this for the gym because I don't know why. I like wearing sweatsuits to work out. It makes me comfortable.

[Dustin Ross]

So I want a sweatsuit right now. I love sweatsuits.

[Francesca]

Yeah, I mean, same. I just love them in general. But I have really started enjoying them at the gym, especially now that it's colder outside. So I was like, I'm gonna keep it for the gym. Wore the red sweatsuit. Loud as hell, right? And I feel like it energized me. It Was so strange. I felt like I had a better way workout something about it. I can't explain it. And then it made me go into a rabbit hole. Of course, me being me to looking at red, you know, when you look at marketing, because really that's where the psychology of color tends, in my opinion, comes from how it's used in media and marketing and to affect us emotionally, mentally. When we look at things, there's something that people are intentionally trying to get from us. Right. Or make us feel so to alert red, you know, yeah, it's attention grabbing, but it's also like fiery and strong and energetic and that's how it makes you feel when you put it on. And it started kind of making me think about if. Do you guys ever purposely wear certain colors depending on the event or where you're headed or what it is that you're trying to exude or have sure. View you. Is that something you play with the psychology of color at all?

[Dustin Ross]

I personally do 100%. When I want to have influence and be received as impactful and strong, I wear dark colors. When I want to feel confident, I wear dark colors. I love wearing black and navy. I think I look sexiest in like blacks and grays and navies, you know, So I enjoy that. But I also do like to feel lighter sometimes and more upbeat when I wear brighter colors. Sometimes I do like to play with brighter colors and it does directly affect my mood. So this is 100% on board. Somebody that I know that means a lot to me had done shrooms one time and they said I got to their house and this is a person I love.

[Francesca]

Was it me?

[Dustin Ross]

And so, and they said that they remember they, this was a one time thing for them. Right. And so they said that they remember me having a yellow light coming off of me. They remember my aura being yellow. And so they looked it up and what it meant and. And so I was like, dam, I'm. I got a yellow aura. I just want y' all to know that. So I believe, I believe in like the meaning of colors. You know what I'm saying?

[Francesca]

I believe in that. Yeah, I'm really moody.

[Asante]

I just like what I see, how it makes me feel, you know what I'm saying? So like some like dark things, like, you know, if you wear the dark and it makes you feel sexy, like that's one thing. But sometimes you might see something dark. I'm like, ah, the look is too dark. So sometimes I feel like dark things look really cool in the light or they make Me feel good at certain times. Like, if I'm going to the daytime, I do like to dress lighter. But if I notice that I am a little bit darker leaning, I try to figure out, like, all right, well, how can I switch this up a little bit? Like, all right, let's remove the black pants, and we're gonna go for a black and white pant. Like. Like, little things here and there I think about, but there are certain, like, pieces that I'll put on that just make me feel like that.

[Dustin Ross]

That's crazy, because in my mind, I associate you with bright neons. You know what I'm saying?

[Asante]

And bright colors.

[Dustin Ross]

I. I don't. I never would associate.

[Asante]

Which is funny, because I have.

[Dustin Ross]

When I think about you, I think.

[Asante]

About, like, I have so many, like, black T shirts. Like, I. Like, we always talk about the black torti. I. I buy the bright shit, and I always buy something dark, too. So it's like I have literally however I'm feeling in my closet any given time.

[Dustin Ross]

I love dark clothing. I love it. You know. Personal style icon is Jerry Lorenzo. He's always wearing dark. Multiple big layers that just have a lot of mood and drama to the look. That's. I just. It's just a personality thing. You know what I'm saying? Like, I feel comfortable in that sort of mood. You know what I'm saying?

[Francesca]

See, I'm the opposite. I can count on one hand how many times I have worn, like, black. Like, a full black outfit. Literally can count on one hand. Cause it's just never been a look I've gravitated towards. It always felt kind of heavy. And for me, you notice I'm always in, like, a beige or a sage and sort of, like, airy, breathable. Yeah, I love green. Green, as is probably the top color you're gonna find in all shades, even my office out. Because I may not have played with the psychology of color intentionally, but I think intuitively, too, we've drawn to things just based on, like, Asante was saying his mood or whatever is kind of calling. Because for me, when I. When we moved here, and I was like, what color do I want? My office, where I create, where I sit and think and make things. What color should that be? And the forest green was the first color that popped into my mind, because I think when I think of money.

[Dustin Ross]

What she mean?

[Francesca]

When I think of, like, the. Like, when I'm going into a forest or out in nature, that feeling of, like, calm and ease and, you know, when you're around trees, there's almost like a wisdom that's being imparted. You always feel.

[Asante]

Do you remember my old wallpaper in my. I do part of that because it was the green and the gold. You know what I'm saying? But part of that was because you always referred to it as, like, resort living or island living, resort style. And I always thought to myself, when I had that wallpaper up, if you lived on the island by yourself. And then I just used to laugh because it's like. Like, this is my little island. This. That was my world. That's why I love that wallpaper now. Old apartment.

[Francesca]

Yeah.

[Asante]

When I move, I ain't going to wallpaper this spot. I just be so in and out here. So it's like.

[Francesca]

Yeah, yeah. And I. I painted this dark green, and it felt good. It felt like. I felt like that's the energy I'm trying to put out of groundedness and ease and calm. My bedroom is more of, like, a clay, like a burnt orange. Orange kind of, you know, darker. Terracotta. Like, when I think of plants, you know, and pots and tiles and nature, like, I. You know, like, I realize I'm. I gravitate towards natural hues. And I love. I'm starting to really love blue. I noticed I'm really drawn to blue now. Like, it's a color I'm so gravitate. I've been. And I've never really been a girly, but. But now I'm like, all of them navy.

[Dustin Ross]

I've never seen everything a prettier blue color palette in my life than when I was in Seattle and I went to the edge, like, down by the water where all the shit is or whatever, and looked out and saw the mountains and that water and shit. Those were the truest blue hues I have ever seen in my life. Not in a teal, bluish green way, like the Caribbean waters. Like a cerule, not like a cerulean. These were literally just like, shades of blue that I had never seen so vividly in my life when it came to, like, the environment. And that might be why. Because you out there, you know what I'm saying, look different.

[Francesca]

Just the mountains and the backdrops and being more immersed in nature the way I am right now, that's some different shit. It's just so good. And you know what's funny, Dustin? When you. This is the second time you've done your black wall. When I looked up the psychology of black, it's like, oh, authority, you know, and strength and. And it's a Business color. You think of businessmen in their black suits and their briefcases. And I kind of like, that's my brother.

[Dustin Ross]

No, I literally. That's my brother. That's that right there.

[Francesca]

Like, with this, with the. The trajectory that you carving out as far as the success that you want. Like, it makes sense that you've surrounded yourself with this color. You take your meetings, you create. You know, this is the backdrop that. That we see. And I just wondered if people consider that when they are doing home decor. How is this color gonna make me feel? You know, like, is this aligned? I remember we were gonna do like a turmeric yellow, kind of like a muddy yellow in one of the rooms. And then I remember thinking, like, but does this align with like, well, we want the people in this guest. You know, like, you gotta consider what's the energy you want people into. Some things might feel too energetic for someone to come rest in. You know what I mean? Or. Or maybe the opposite. Maybe it's too laid back for a room where you need to be creating in and just kind of considering the effect that you're creating in the spaces that you have. Like, I think it's something.

[Asante]

I think. I think I was gonna say I think you see it all the time. Tick tock too, right? When you're looking for pieces, how you see people. Because I'm the trend that I'm seeing on YouTube shorts now, so I don't confuse the things, even though they're all the same. Is eight months or eight or nine months into me living in my apartment, and it's guys, like, putting together their apartment. Like, all right, it was bearing this and not. And put in. It takes a while sexy or some fun. So it's like some people will be putting in, like, you know, brown couch, clear table, books and stuff. Where some people putting in big burnt orange cow couch, big ass coffee table for you to put your feet up on. So it's like really interesting to watch people's homes and like, what they want or what they even think or what they could be thinking about when they come home. Like, some people want to come home to rest. Some people come home to relax or recharge. Some people come home because they're ready to be excited because they are home. So they need that pop. So that is funny to think about. Like, yeah, when you come in, like, how those colors make you feel like you come into your purple home. All right, you feel like in the lap of luxury. Or do you feel like you're in Barney's cave? And you need to get out, like. Or you come into the. The green. I feel like. I feel like I'm in a fresh forest. Or do I feel like. Like it's cool that those different things can make you feel differently in different ways and affect even how you think about how you treat other people, right? Like, because you were talking about the color of your guest room and what you want people to feel. When you coordinate, like, the sheets and. And everything else and how it's set, then it feels like welcoming. Whatever the color is, they just get that welcoming tone of that color that you chose. So that's cool. I like this segment.

[Francesca]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Go ahead, Dustin.

[Dustin Ross]

Well, no, I just think sometimes people confuse and misconstrue, like, colors having an energetic component. Right. With some sort of spiritual practice or whatever. This is not that. This is about how colors affect your brain, make you think, make you feel and inspire you or whatever the fuck in your environment. And a lot of times, people struggle with, like, design choices and which way to start, where to go. That can be your compass, right? How do you want the space to make you feel, look that shit up. What colors make you feel like that? You know what I'm saying? I wanted a bachelor pad, you know what I'm saying? I had painted and decorated my last apartment, but I felt like it was old man and too mature, this apartment, you know, these ceilings are, like, 16ft in here. I knew that a dark wall would be dramatic and, you know, feel sexy and shit. I want to inspire conversation when you walk in this bitch, you know what I'm saying? Sit down. Let's talk some shit and feel the feels, you know what I mean? And so, like, that's. And I wanted it to, at the same time, have a more of a youthful vibe, per our earlier conversation. Right? So, like, you do those elements, like what I showed y' all earlier, to keep it youthful. Right? Right. And never. I feel like that directly reflects my personality, you know what I mean? And I just. I love that, that we can personalize our spaces like that. My mama always fixed up her shit. Always. Like, I remember her and her sisters, my aunts, they always. I went and got these vertical blinds and valances in all their living rooms and houses, and everybody had a different color. Remember, like, my mama had cream and, like, gold. It was like a mauve valance. My aunt had, like, lavender and cream or some shit, like. But I remember they all went and got blinds, you know, they would. They would decorate their spaces, and, you know, I don't Know, I just think that's a part of me. I like personalizing the space that I live in, and I like entertaining. You know what I'm saying? My friends come visit me. I be having put motherfuckers over. Like, my friends come pick it at my house. And so I like to.

[Francesca]

And it's something to consider. I've always been that way, too, because even in college, I was always the person that. My room was so fire. And people would come in and be like, yo, your dorm is crazy. Like, how did you do this? And it's not even because I have money, because I didn't. But I'm just someone that has always had to figure out if I'm staying here. It needs to feel a certain way.

[Dustin Ross]

I love you.

[Francesca]

Yeah, my room is in college. All four years was fire. You know what I mean? Or all three years, because I was away for one of the years, but it was just fire.

[Dustin Ross]

Then I'll snap. Now snap at the camera, say that.

[Asante]

Say, well, three years.

[Dustin Ross]

Well, because I was away for one year. Now snap at the camera.

[Francesca]

You know what? You sound crazy, but it's something that I think, you know, it also is why I get a little sad when I say, see, like, the influencers and, like, how their homes all look the same, you know, like, they all have those designer books, and everything is just, like, the same. The same. I think you. And obviously, as adults, people are going to do what they want. So it's not even really a call to that, but it's more so, like, I think it's important to lean into how you want to feel as opposed to what you're seeing. Inspiration is important if you don't know where to start. You know, sometimes you can look up like, I love Jungle Galo, shout out to Justina. She actually inspired my bedroom color because it was one of the colors in her book. And I was like, oh, this color, you know, like, it just popped. I went and looked it up, but it's a color that she inspired. But then I created the room that makes sense to me. You know what I'm saying? So it's important. It's cool to get inspiration, but I think it's also important to ask yourself questions because this is your space. About, like we said, what. What am I trying to feel when I'm up in here? What does that look like? It don't have to be nothing expensive, but I think those colors. And even with your outfits. And you know what's another thing I've been really mindful of the words on things that I'm wearing.

[Asante]

Oh, yeah.

[Francesca]

The older I'm getting, I'm becoming very sensitive to that. He looked at, oh like someone had merch and they gave me something and it was like, something is like I said dropout or something like that, you know, And I just was like, I. I don't want to wear that. I hate to say that, but just being mindful of like, I. I think you saying a lot for number one.

[Dustin Ross]

Okay. Hell, even.

[Francesca]

Yo. Even you mentioned Jerry Lorenzo. A lot of time I won't wear Fear of God in big letters like that because I'm like, I don't want that on my body. It just don't.

[Dustin Ross]

I get it.

[Francesca]

So I've become sensitive to that.

[Dustin Ross]

But I get what you're saying though. You know, I get it. I get exactly what it is.

[Francesca]

His clothes is fire. I have like a trench that I got from them. But it don't say it. But when it's like the big wording, I'm like mindful of that.

[Dustin Ross]

Yeah, it ain't what you.

[Francesca]

Certain. Certain shirts and what. Yeah, like there's. I'm trying to think of. Of other.

[Asante]

No, I need to grow up. I don't wear this too. I just don't.

[Francesca]

I mean, that makes sense though, some things that your body also. Let me be. Woo.

[Asante]

Woo.

[Francesca]

Has its own wisdom. Right. And it's kind of like this doesn't work for me. I think it's important to start listening to those things. Super mindful of that. I remember when we were purging, we did a T shirt purge because, you know, you end up with so many goddamn T shirts. I'm just like, what is this? Too many stacks of shirts in our shelving and we needed to start getting rid of some. And I just was mindful looking through all the stuff that it was saying. I was like, you just gotta go. I can't even get that. You know what I mean? I get it. Just, you know, I think these are the, like, subtle.

[Dustin Ross]

You made me feel bad.

[Francesca]

Why?

[Dustin Ross]

I got this shirt from this black business that we actually promoted on this show before. Remember I told you we was walking downtown and I went in that black owned store and got them shirts.

[Francesca]

Oh, right, right.

[Dustin Ross]

One of them says, and I think I'm gonna wear it in my Miami show.

[Francesca]

Well, it'll be a callback to the.

[Dustin Ross]

It says every outfit I wear is raw as fuck.

[Asante]

That's what it sound.

[Francesca]

Well, yeah, but I mean, that's an affirmation.

[Dustin Ross]

Okay, thank you.

[Asante]

See that'?

[Francesca]

Thanks.

[Dustin Ross]

For the support.

[Francesca]

That's better than.

[Asante]

With a knife in the front. It's like, yeah, I'm just a bitch walking by and you're killing me. Why? I just. You're wearing the shirt.

[Dustin Ross]

I gotta die.

[Francesca]

I went to get. I saw this hat. It was so cute. And then it said. What was it? Dead Something. Dead. But it was. It's a brand. It's like a popular theater brand. It's like something. I don't know if it. No, it was like dead skull or dead something. And I was like, I'm cool because chrome hurts.

[Dustin Ross]

We have in that them skulls and too.

[Francesca]

Sometimes I don't really mind the skull as like a logo or an image, but the word dead like something that's so. I'm like, I'm cool off that, you know?

[Dustin Ross]

Yeah.

[Francesca]

The older I'm getting. That's why I kind of love that. Even falling into this rabbit hole, it just was like a reminder of these subtle things that I think are easy to overlook, but in my opin, really do shift your mood. Think of, like, how an outfit will completely change how you're feeling, how you approach an event. Yeah. Like, if I'm not dressed in a way that I feel. If I'm not dressed in a way that I feel is representative of me for real, it can throw me off. I can just like, not even be in a good mood. And so these are subtle energies that I think people should like.

[Dustin Ross]

Angel Potomac. She always doing like this in the scenes, Always looking uncomfortable. Nothing she say landed. Wendy tore her ass up last week. She was like. And there you go falling flat once again, everybody.

[Asante]

She deserved it. She deserved it.

[Dustin Ross]

Her exes have devolved in a mercurial.

[Asante]

Yeah, like, what the.

[Dustin Ross]

Wendy was like. Wendy was literally laughing like, oh, Angel. She trying to say stuff that she thought was gonna get with me.

[Asante]

And she deserved it.

[Francesca]

Oh, that's what she fallen.

[Asante]

And she deserved it.

[Dustin Ross]

Because you're trying to make a book.

[Asante]

Sorry.

[Dustin Ross]

I understand what you mean about clothing affecting your mood. Yes.

[Francesca]

But. Yeah. So this is just something I wanted to throw out there in terms of wellness, you know, I considered making this, like, a larger conversation, but I think this is good. Like, it's just perfect. Small. Yeah, it's something to consider, really. Like I said straight to the point. Inspired from wearing that outfit at the gym. I had a phenomenal leg.

[Dustin Ross]

That's a song. Lady in Red. Clapper Grandfriend in the red.

[Francesca]

And it's very loud. But the funny thing is all these dudes kept coming up to Me and being like, where did you get that? I was like, it's a fire joint. Yeah. I mean, it's cute. It just falls good. They was like, where'd you get that? I'm like, this shit's so old. It has holes in the side of the leg and everything. It's really old, but it's just perfect for the gym. And that's, like I said, made me fall into the rabbit hole to talk about the psychology of color and something that I think a lot of us should consider when we are decorating, when we're moving through the world or even a lot of people are content creators. Think of what your backdrop is putting out as far as the trajectory you're trying to carve out for yourself.

[Asante]

So.

[Dustin Ross]

And your nail polish. Jade. Y' all be on jade ass. I'll be on her ass. Yeah.

[Asante]

After.

[Dustin Ross]

After consulting with me, because I told Jay, she showed me one time. She had some look. It was round, and then they look like seashells. They was burgundy. I was like, if you don't get them Buick nails out them old lady ass, get you some fire. And so now we go back and forth about it. Y' all know I don't give a about no makeup or nails, but I just give her a hard time about it.

[Francesca]

And your nails, too. That's it. That's it for this Tambien in wellness.

[Asante]

All right, this week in music, I am going to talk about something a little TV related. Just very, very quickly. Dancing with the Stars. It is not a show that I watch, but it is a show that has music, and there are certain musical choices that make me and my friends laugh. So there was a clip sent to me.

[Dustin Ross]

I hope I get to do it one day.

[Asante]

Dancing with the Stars is a great show. I will say. Say that Jordan Childs. Is it Chile? It's CH the gymnast.

[Francesca]

I think.

[Asante]

I kept wanting to say Childs, and then I kept seeing little accents on certain. I don't know, it was the captions or something. I was like, when did this happen? I thought she was Child, but, you know, anyway, Jordan Childs, she's been doing her thing on Dancing with the Stars. It recently ended, and they crowned their winners. I'm not interested in that. Again, this is not the TV Land segment. Jordan Childs was out there doing her thing, as I've seen through some of the clips, and that's why I want to shout her out for doing her thing. She performed a freestyle to Bow down, and then there was a medley where motivation came in and Normani popped out. So that was just a cute moment. Oh, that was a cute moment. I want to shout that out because I thought that that was super fly. Jordan was doing her thing, looking good already. And then Normani came out just to support the act, you know, but she still looked great and did her thing. So it was bomb to see those two beautiful queens up there. And I also.

[Francesca]

You can have guests dance.

[Asante]

Yeah, I don't watch Dance with the Stars. I can't really speak to sometimes.

[Dustin Ross]

I've seen enough episodes. I'm by no means a Dancing with the Stars. I'm not a Dickie, you know, but sometimes they have performers come out and perform the songs that they. They're dancing to live. And there's some interaction sometimes. So it's not like a guest dancer, but it's like during the performance, they're. They're dancing to the. The artist performing the song.

[Francesca]

Got you Gotcha.

[Asante]

So that makes sense because when Normani came out, they danced a little bit to bow down and then went right into motivation. And then Normani got up on one of those fences and popped her. But like the motivation video, it was cute. The reason. Reason that I even was able to see this is because there was another clip of Jordan Child's performing the dance, I believe was the paso doble. I'm not sure if I'm saying that correctly. Correctly. Thank you. Thank you. The dance was great. I just wanted to mention it because I thought that it was in interesting and it made me laugh, if I'm being honest. Breaking Dishes was the song selection. Now, again, this was done very well. Like, I like how they did some of the beats to the song, which was making it, you know, worth the while of it being the selection. But it was just funny that they chose that song for that dance. And I want to mention that because that took me out because this is where we mentioned musical things that happen. And Rihanna's having another baby. She's not coming out with an album. So this is all the Rihanna talk you really about to get for Lord knows how long.

[Dustin Ross]

I will quit the show if they tried to make me dance during crunk. I quit.

[Asante]

I quit not.

[Dustin Ross]

Cause you think I'm finna be out there doing all that shit.

[Asante]

I quit Crunk dancing weeks.

[Dustin Ross]

Racist.

[Asante]

I just wanna shout out one more artist and then we're gonna get to the listens. The artist? Yeah, the listens lately songs to play portion of this.

[Dustin Ross]

Who is it?

[Asante]

The one artist that I want to mention. And we're gonna move on very Quickly. So friend, you might want to grab your phone because I don really know how much y' all have to say about this. I would like to shout out Nle Chopper, I guess now known as Nle the Great.

[Francesca]

Was he going, apparently you ain't genuinely the Michael Jackson, yo.

[Asante]

Yes.

[Francesca]

What's happening?

[Asante]

Michael Jackson that friend is trying to work through is in his new video in Ellie the Great. He has a new song called hello Revenge and it's actually a young boy dis.

[Francesca]

He has two young.

[Asante]

This is one of two young boy disses. I just figured that was the one you were talking about. But yeah, they've been going back and forth. I don't know the beef because I don't really get into young boy enough let. And I really don't get into Nle enough. I just see him from time to time and I hear something I like and I. I click play. I don't know what the beef is. I don't really care. That's never really my buy in. But yes, please.

[Francesca]

Phyllis and Dustin, are they going back and forth? Cause this seems very one sided. One sided.

[Dustin Ross]

Nle started it and I love. I love Nle. You know what I'm saying? I love his music but he started it because he got involved in between a. He. He offered an opinion on a beef between NBA YoungBoy and King Von and them and he.

[Francesca]

And he.

[Dustin Ross]

He offered his opinion unsolicited and started like taking jabs in the music and that's how all of it started. So he literally started.

[Francesca]

But has young boy ever said anything? Okay, so he has. Okay, so. Because I thought that he's just like completely.

[Dustin Ross]

He be ignoring him but he's. He's taking like subtle shots here.

[Francesca]

Okay.

[Dustin Ross]

You know what I'm saying?

[Francesca]

That makes sense. It still seems weird. I don't understand the Michael Jackson. I know he's trying to say he's the greatest but it just seems so heavy handed, you know, like the dancing, the gloves, the socks. I'm like what's happening?

[Dustin Ross]

The Christianity monologues talking about. And you don't. The father don't come before the son. The son don't come before the father. I didn't like that. That all of that like shut up.

[Asante]

In he is still of the younger variety of rappers and he's still new. He's still. He's still. He's been around for a while but he's still new. So one of the things that I do enjoy about him is that he's still fresh. He's still Having fun. This new era. I don't know what the. The going on, but I like the fact that he's dancing and he's dressed up and he's moving and grooving and he's not just trying to give us the same old formula. He's trying to play in some other world. He's moving and grooving. He's moving and grooving. He is. That's legit what he's doing. Because I'm like, what are you doing? But it's interesting, it's fresh. There's something about it that I like that he's playing with. And it doesn't have anything to do with his masculinity. It's more so it. It is about his artistry. It may be confusing to some, self included. But I like. But I like the fact that he's taking risks and I don't care much that it's through a disc, but I like the fact that visually, sonically, he's doing other. And it's like he could keep making those trap records that everybody's making or those drill records and. But he's like, you know what? I got something else to say. Do I necessarily want to hear what else he has to say? Only time will tell.

[Francesca]

Yeah, I agree with you. I. I actually was having this combo and I saw the second video a couple days ago and I was like, what I can appreciate is that even though I don't know what's happening, he's doing what the fuck he wants.

[Dustin Ross]

When he was outside in the black with the studs all over, like.

[Francesca]

And dance, it was just so, I.

[Dustin Ross]

Don'T know, Three Amigos outfit. You remember what they had on in the Three Amigos.

[Francesca]

With the crop bolero. But my thing is I can appreciate someone that young and in an industry this consuming and it's such a, like, follow the leader, you know, we all know how this goes. For him to be comfortable being this quote unquote weird is cool to me.

[Dustin Ross]

100.

[Francesca]

Because it's like the way he's dancing, the way he looks, the song, the way it's like it has ad. It's just shout out to you for being comfortable being like, I don't taking those risks.

[Dustin Ross]

Yeah.

[Francesca]

Yeah. And we were looking through the comments just out of curiosity and people from his age range seems really.

[Asante]

Yeah.

[Francesca]

Happy. Yeah. Like, they're like, we need this. You know, we're tired of the.

[Dustin Ross]

So, yeah, I like that. Let the world progress. I'm young enough to still go out and reap the benefits. So let the let the world progress. It'd be okay to be gay.

[Asante]

Was it KO was the first one where he was like rapping to the fake NBA. NBA young boy. That's when I saw yeah that came out and I ignored that. Not because I just want to be like oh let me scroll past because I don't want him doing some dumb. I just like I don't know what this is. I'm not about to watch this. But then after that he came out with the freestyle. It was a media day and it was literally like him rapping in front of some microphones. Like he was like on some like on press conference and I thought that that was dope. Right. So it's like there are little things that he does that still speaks to him being hip hop that I still with. It's not like he's being and not you just adding to your point. Right. I like the fact that he's still adding to the sport by doing these things. It's like all right, I'm a still I'm still am a rapper but I do still got something to say and I'mma dance and move and groove while I do it. And it's like yeah yeah, I with rock star and Ellie the great. I'm interested to see where we go from here. Even if I don't with the rest of this era, I still will support you through however many you get. So that's all I wanted to mention.

[Dustin Ross]

And he's got nice feed.

[Asante]

Now we can move on to the listens lately songs to play portion of this brand. I would love to know what you have been listening to lately.

[Francesca]

So all the clips I'm seeing from people at the Brandy and my so envious.

[Asante]

No I just wanted to mention that it was happening. Prayers out for money Long. I know she dropped out of the tour. I know people had things to say about it but you know she got to take care of her health, honey.

[Dustin Ross]

What they said Mariah got her father.

[Asante]

It was. It was other stuff. I don't even want to get involved in it because money Long. I like your music girl. What you be saying on social media ain't got nothing to do. I do too because look I just want to hear the records so but.

[Dustin Ross]

Why would she say that but do that Mariah Carey video like that and then say she ain't mean nothing by.

[Francesca]

It because she fell shaded.

[Dustin Ross]

Yeah but it's Mariah.

[Francesca]

It's the divas, right?

[Asante]

Let the diva diva huh Friend whoever you could to say about the concert.

[Francesca]

So all the clips, I've just been like, you know, the little puppy looking out the window, like, so. I've just been listening to brandy. Y' all have had me in a brandy state of mind. So I'm going to play some brandy records. We're going to start with brandy. Put that on. Everything, Sam. In everything, I swear take the pain and I heard you almost there. I will pull the star out of the sky for you yes, I would to the edge of the here I'll go to see you yes, it's true if you're anywhere and I just think.

[Asante]

One thought of love and out of.

[Francesca]

There oh, baby if you're looking to.

[Asante]

Find a love that will stand until.

[Francesca]

The end of time baby, relax your relax your mind my love is here I do everything I swear I take the pain in my.

[Asante]

Wow.

[Francesca]

Oh, gosh. That song makes me feel so many things. It's just so beautiful. I also want to play yes, forever. And it feels good every time I hear Come on. This is how it goes. I saw you soon as you came bouncing through the door you and your.

[Asante]

Mans and them just took over the.

[Francesca]

Floor started doing your thing and it.

[Asante]

Made me notice you even more.

[Francesca]

Hey.

[Asante]

You turned around and looked at me it seemed as all you must have somehow felt me staring on the something tells me you're the kind of guy I'd like to get to know.

[Francesca]

I.

[Asante]

Ain'T even going to cry I ain't even going to cry since you w up in the club I've been giving you the highest.

[Francesca]

Like, come on. And then for the third brandy record, I was kind of torn but hold on.

[Asante]

You gonna make me play something from brandy? God damn it, I'm mad.

[Francesca]

Let's just do it. Let's level up our brandy.

[Dustin Ross]

Sitting up in my room Sam.

[Francesca]

Presence the first day we met there is no one else I think you're more than you can't do again and get you on my head there's a verdict I'm crazy over you how can one be down Tell me where to start cuz every time you smile I feel tremble in my heart I have a concern can I get with you till my day comes? Here's what I'm going to do. I must confess I'm a mess for you. I love that. Especially the breakdown at the end. Remember, they were dancing in the living room? So.

[Dustin Ross]

Absolutely.

[Francesca]

Those are my three for the season.

[Asante]

Amazing. We do love you, brandy. What about you, dustin ross? What you been listening to?

[Dustin Ross]

We love you. Love you. Okay, this Weekend. I mean this week I want to play this song by W and Leon. Time is called Watch it. Yes.

[Asante]

Stop.

[Dustin Ross]

A little stress a little last.

[Asante]

Made me work harder the most See I don't mind before you even realize.

[Francesca]

That you were mine Skin been glowing lately.

[Asante]

I know why.

[Francesca]

Why?

[Dustin Ross]

I like to chase too much.

[Asante]

You know you play too much once I got.

[Dustin Ross]

All right, this next song is by.

[Francesca]

Dr. You played that, right?

[Dustin Ross]

Oh, you did win.

[Asante]

My bad.

[Francesca]

Like.

[Asante]

Let'S go for the run back. It sorry for the run back. It was cool. For the run back.

[Dustin Ross]

My bad. We owed, we owed, we owed. And I smoke my bad. And this next song is. Is about me playing the same song the next week.

[Asante]

Ain't but hoes and tricks. And tricks. I used to know a named Merrick Wright we used to roll around and the hoes at night yeah. Wow.

[Dustin Ross]

Shout out to that classic Dr. Dre.

[Asante]

You know what I'm saying? I'm sorry.

[Dustin Ross]

Asante. I don't know how I've done that before.

[Asante]

Like some. Sometimes you'll play something and then yeah, cuz you'll be like, damn, that's a good song. And then you like it and then you'll be playing it back. I'm g play that next week.

[Dustin Ross]

All right, well, this song is by division. It's called Excited. I hope I ain't played this.

[Asante]

It don't matter if if a song is good, I gotta do better.

[Dustin Ross]

Good. God damn it. Damn.

[Francesca]

Excited.

[Asante]

Lately I've been trying not to show it Now I keep on getting caught.

[Francesca]

Up in the moment now it's really.

[Dustin Ross]

Getting harder to control myself I barely.

[Francesca]

Want to spend my time with no.

[Dustin Ross]

One else Every time you want to.

[Asante]

Run it I love to bring you.

[Dustin Ross]

Peace of mind girl what you think of that? Tell me the truth that I gone.

[Francesca]

Too far Sign advance if I go.

[Asante]

Too hard show me what kind of girl you are need you to know you me.

[Dustin Ross]

Something new into this weekend that's it for me. I retreat in shame.

[Asante]

No shame. Dustin. First artist I'd like to play is called is key Glock. And this is A plus here. How here's how it goes. Yeah.

[Dustin Ross]

I love you too.

[Asante]

She wanna drink this look good A plus. This trying to drink and this wanna drinking this wanna drink can this look good A plus this look good A plus this look good A plus this wanna Dr. And her friends too. And her friends too. And her friends they want to drink. Yeah, I think I do too. I think I do too. I think I do too. She said she want to me and my mayback so find no latex I like that. Next artist I'm going to play. This is by an artist named Dropout Finn. I don't know if I played this song already or not, but this is an older song, but it only came into my view as of late. This song is called Cool on Her. Here's how it goes. Please don't snooze on me by the time you notice I'm him I be cool on it yeah, yeah don't put no rules on me by the time you gonna do that I be cool on it yeah, I be cool on the Cool on that Cool on that Cool on that Cool on that Cool on that Cool on that Cool on that Cool on that Cool on that Cool on that cool on that Ho gonna tell me new like impel me Walk around all this pap no, I ain't no 8 these hoes still smell me Double cup full of great jelly Wanted the limit like Nelly Let it hang around the game now she want to my friends like Nelly all right, that is Dropout Finn. That song came out earlier this year.

[Dustin Ross]

I like that.

[Asante]

Last.

[Dustin Ross]

I'mma play it next week.

[Asante]

Next song I'm gonna play is Keisha Cole. Let it go. No, I'm just playing. Last selection is gonna go to Brandy. I am going to choose something off of Human, one of my faves. Oh, and you know what? Damn. I'm so mad. I thought it was going to be an easy selection, but now I'm just, like, first in love. I know, but, you know, Acapella corner.

[Dustin Ross]

Oh, Acapella. Something's missing.

[Asante]

Something Acapella Clap boom clap.

[Francesca]

Clap boom clap clap bo Boom clap clap boom clap clap boom clap clap I'm feeling such a vacancy I don't feel clap clap Wish I can put.

[Asante]

My finger on it, but I don't.

[Francesca]

Know what it is. Looked in every place I could see Try trying to find Missing part of me I can't explain this feeling. Somebody help me Something is missing Something is missing.

[Asante]

I just can't. I can listen to Brandy forever. That's Acapella. Something's missing The Human has so many great selections, too. I mean, the. She's got so many in her catalog, to be honest. Because when you first started playing Brandon, I was like, damn, which album do I want to even go to? Like, I've been stuck on 211 for I don't know how many years, but even in that first album, then I always want to listen to some aphrodisiac like it's just so much to go through. So I landed on human, and I'm not mad about it. That's all here for the music man section today. Now we going to go into Dustin Ross because it's TV land. What you been watching, Dustin?

[Dustin Ross]

First of all, love. And Mary Chunville is back on own on Saturday nights. And those of you that are familiar with the show, Ms. Wanda, her return this week.

[Francesca]

I remember her.

[Dustin Ross]

The cameras went to Bessemer, Alabama, right? Yes, ma'.

[Asante]

Am.

[Dustin Ross]

And they saw Bessemer's finest, Ms. Wanda and her food truck. Miss Wanda shown up. Food truck. And.

[Asante]

Yep.

[Dustin Ross]

And so they filmed with her. She's gonna come raise some hell and kick some snooty hunter. And that's from the film big business that we watched. Remember, she was like, let's go to New York and raise some hell and kick some snooty New York ass. Anyway, so that's been great. The show's kicking in full force. And shout out to Trisha, who is filming her therapy journey and talking about some real things related to grief and loss that can help a lot of people. So folks should watch that.

[Asante]

That's Latisha Cousin.

[Dustin Ross]

Shout out to no, Trisha is the one who is in a relationship with Ken, but she's also Mary still and. Yeah.

[Asante]

Oh, the trainer. Yeah, yeah, I forgot. Okay, good, good. I like her.

[Dustin Ross]

Yep. Her walls are coming down. She's a lot less guidance.

[Asante]

Yeah. Okay, good.

[Dustin Ross]

And Destiny is dating and fun.

[Asante]

It's just.

[Dustin Ross]

It's good this season.

[Asante]

It's like. Oh, it's like friends I'm checking in with.

[Dustin Ross]

Oh, okay, good. Yeah, yeah.

[Francesca]

Cuz I'm laughing.

[Dustin Ross]

You happy to know it's good, right?

[Asante]

Because, you know, I like Destiny, but I felt like she was in some situations that just didn't make her look great. So now that she gets like a dating.

[Dustin Ross]

Yeah, she did some dumb on the show. You could say it. She did some dumb on the show. But I love seeing this single Destiny dating and, you know, managing her life. And she's mixing with the. The ladies, too. It's good. It's good. Shout out to Destiny.

[Asante]

But.

[Dustin Ross]

So that's been great. Real housewives of Potomac is having a great alvet miscellaneous season. There's a lot of new faces. You know what I'm saying? Some work, some don't. Angel don't work. And everybody knows it.

[Asante]

Everybody.

[Dustin Ross]

All she had to do was show her wa lifestyle and just be that. But she wants to come on show everything. Her. Her looks, her.

[Asante]

Her.

[Dustin Ross]

She's not connecting with nobody on the cast. She's not being herself. They showed her in the house looking through binoculars. Is Bobby out? Where is Bobby with them kids out there looking through binoculars.

[Asante]

And it's okay if that's all she does. It just means you don't need to.

[Dustin Ross]

Be on the show do that.

[Asante]

She doesn't.

[Dustin Ross]

She just wanted to film. She wanted to be filmed using binoculars normally. She was talking about a confrontation that she had had with someone else. She with Wendy. She told Giselle. Yes. And it's because of that that, well, now her and I, our interactions have devolved into a mercurial nature. That was the quote. Now I'm all about using words that specifically mean what the you're trying to say. Right?

[Asante]

Use them.

[Dustin Ross]

Use descriptive language, but make it make sense. Because angel, sweetheart, you're not using those. That's not your vernacular. That's not your common everyday language speech. And now do you know that word? That's my thing. We all could be saying big words, slap each other in the face with multi syllable words if we wanted to. We trying to get to know your ass. You know what I'm saying? And so it's been virtually impossible for viewers and cast members alike. And so. So she's not connecting with no viewers or nothing. And she's going out bad shout out to Kiana. Don't nobody like her but me. And that's fine because I'll be on that hill by myself. She getting on people's nerves, but she's, she's becoming iconic for getting on their nerves in a way that is unique and special and I don't care. She's pretty and I like her and that's it. Okay.

[Francesca]

And her mom that I saw, I saw people lusting over her brother.

[Dustin Ross]

Yes, yes. Her whole damn family.

[Francesca]

I saw a picture. They was like, oh my God, her mom was not playing with them kids.

[Dustin Ross]

He had that bucket hat on.

[Francesca]

Yeah, with like a muscle shirt and he's like tatted up. See Mansome.

[Dustin Ross]

So you know, she needs to stay on the show. That's been great though. What else have I been watching? Of course, you know our Sunday night streaming television, which is baddies and now there's tv. All those shows have been great as well. Reasonable Doubt was great. They had a great season. We talked about, about all her fault. That's it. That's it for TV Land this week. Those are the shows. Oh, Married to Medicine. That's the last thing. Married to Medicine had their season 12 premiere. They're back. It Was great. My boy Steve Sanders that I worked with a couple months ago at Revolt, him and his wife are full time cast on there this season. He been in that shit already, you know what I'm saying? Black Loewe leather shirt in the confessionals. Fossin just fresh. And I like. Stevie's a good guy. Him and his wife are mixing with the cast perfectly. Quad is back, looking good. Coming outside, filming herself on FaceTime, leaning on her Rolls Royce in front of.

[Asante]

Her house, just doing.

[Dustin Ross]

Doing all the stuff that makes us enjoy watching these shows. So shout out to Mary to medicine. And that's it for real this week.

[Francesca]

I do have a question. Why are people. I saw a large discourse on Twitter growing about Jackie and Simone to not be on the show anymore.

[Dustin Ross]

People just love saying that when somebody does something that they don't like on the show, they love saying that they shouldn't be on there anymore. And because Dr. Jackie and Dr. Simone, although they show their ass in their own way, they are positioned as the, you know, the big dogs on the cast. They're the medicine and married to medicine. And they've been on since season one. It's now season 12. It's really unheard of for anybody to be on an ensemble cast that long. But it makes sense because they're both the doctors that are kind of the roots of the tree of married to medicine. Them Quad Toya. So people are gonna feel like their antics have become repetitive at a certain point after watching them for 12 seasons, but it's simply that just chatter like that of people growing tired of certain things after a certain amount of time. But it doesn't make it less entertaining. It's just people who've been watching from day one and have grudges against them for something that happened in the seasons prior that pissed them off. Like we all do when we watch these shows, right?

[Francesca]

Yeah.

[Dustin Ross]

And so now that they feel like they're growing tired of their antics, they need to be off the damn show. That's all it is. That's it. Ain't nothing.

[Francesca]

Is everyone back on the cast? Is anyone left? Like, no.

[Dustin Ross]

Contessa is back full time. Heavenly is demoted to a friend of this season, but it's only because they had to write because she's running for office. And it was unprecedented for a reality star at her level. They had to figure out, she said they had to get like eight different legal counsel to work out the deal for it to happen so that they could even show it on TV and all this other shit. Wow.

[Francesca]

Interesting.

[Dustin Ross]

That's why if she loses, she'll be right back full time next season. It's Dr. Heavenly, an anchor of the show. So. Yeah, but they also have new blood on the show this season. Like I said, Dr. Mimi and her husband Steve, she was a friend of last season. She's now full time and adding a lot already. The first main cast event was at their house this year. And then Angel Love, who used to be on Basketball Wives, I was going.

[Francesca]

To say that rings a bell.

[Dustin Ross]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful girl. Lots of personality. I love the. I'll tell you this and then we'll get out of there. The opening scene where we're introduced to Angel Love on the cast. Her quad and a couple of their other friends are all in quad's resort pool in her backyard with all this rock work and waterfalls everywhere in designer bikinis, having drinks and, and dance, talking about girl. The party was fun last night, like so it's young, fresh energy, you know what I'm saying, in the show. And she's also a very successful registered nurse. She owns like a. She, she's got. She owns like a line of medical scrubs that's really, really actually legitimately successful. And so it's good to see her have those sort of legitimate markers of success under her belt in addition to now working in entertainment again, you know what I'm saying? But this time highlighting her work, literally. She's on marriage to medicine. So I like her being on the cast and I like the energy she brings. And she's a really, really, really pretty black girl, so why not? You know what I'm saying? But that's it this week. Turn the TV off.

[Francesca]

Like Asante said, that's it for us. We love you guys so much. Thanks for hanging out with us yet another week and we will catch you guys next week.

[Asante]

Stay black and protect your magic.

[Francesca]

Bye, y'. All. This is trendall.

[Asante]

My uncontrollable movements called TD tardive dyskinesia felt embarrassing. I felt like disconnecting. I asked my doctor about treating my TD and learned about Ingrezac, a prescription medicine clinically proven for reducing TD in adults. That's always one capsule once daily and number one prescribed people taking in can stay on most mental health meds in can cause depression, suicidal thoughts or actions in patients with Huntington's disease. Call your doctor if you become depressed.

[Dustin Ross]

Have sudden behavior or mood changes or suicidal thoughts.

[Asante]

Don't take in allergic. Serious side effects may include allergic reactions like sudden potentially fatal swelling and hives. Sleepiness, the most common side effect, and heart rhythm problems. Know how in affects you. Before operating a car or dangerous machinery.

[Dustin Ross]

Report fever, stiff muscles or problems, thinking.

[Asante]

As these might be life threatening.

[Dustin Ross]

Shaking, stiffness, drooling and trouble with moving.

[Asante]

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