Podcast
The Napkin In Between
Hosted by Daijné Jones · EN
Welcome to The Napkin In Between Podcast where we dive into social commentary, personal life, politics, & everything in between. The Napkin In Between Podcast delivers necessary hard truths, but don't worry...we'll give you a napkin to soften the blow!
Need advice? Want a chance to be featured on the podcast? Submit your stories, scenarios, & situations at thenapkininbetweenpodcast@gmail.com!
New episodes every Sunday at 12:00 PM EST. Subscribe & turn on post notifications so you don't miss out!
22episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
A Year of The Podcast. What Happens Now...?
Dec 2800:26:24Tap to summarizeA birthday for Luna and a birthday for the pod should feel simple—cake, joy, gratitude—but sometimes milestones flip a light on in the corners you’ve been avoiding. I share how a scrappy pandemic rescue became my anchor through breakups, state lines, and long walks, then admit something harder: the show is a year old, we hit real milestones, and I’m still not as fulfilled as I want to be.We trace where that feeling comes from. I talk openly about the energy shift when there’s another voice in the room, why the episode with a guest lit me up, and how solo episodes can turn into me vs. the timeline. Editing fatigue is real; long hours of cutting myself talking drains the spark I need for better research and sharper storytelling. I explore options on-air—recurring guests for richer conversations, a possible co-host, seasonal arcs, bringing on an editor, and reviving my personal YouTube channel for vlogs that scratch the visual-creative itch. The goal isn’t louder content; it’s clearer content that feels alive.If you’ve ever hit a milestone and felt… off, this one will resonate. You’ll hear the tension between growth metrics and meaning, the case for building in public, and the power of formats that fit your creative DNA. I’m keeping the promise of transparency: I don’t have all the answers, but I’m committed to elevating the work and inviting you into the process—gear recs, guest ideas, topics you want deep-dived, all welcome. If you’re here for honest creative evolution, pull up a chair, scratch Luna’s ears, and help shape what comes next.Subscribe, share with a friend who’s rethinking their creative path, and leave a review with one idea you want to hear us explore next. Your notes guide the next chapter.
Transcribe →Starstruck, Sexism, & The System: The Diddy Documentary
Dec 1400:29:14Tap to summarizeThe photos from a thirtieth birthday party sparked something bigger than nostalgia: a reminder that peace is a choice you have to defend. I talk about cutting off toxic ties—even when they’re family—and how that pain made room for a community that actually shows up. That shift sets the stage for a harder conversation sparked by the new documentary on Diddy and the accounts surrounding Cassie Ventura: what happens when jurors bring celebrity worship and misogyny into the room where justice is supposed to live.I unpack the moments that made my blood boil—like a juror recalling a decades-old TV head-nod while doubting a survivor’s memory of kidnapping—and why “separate the art from the artist” is often just cover for ignoring harm. We address the dangerous myth of “why didn’t she just leave,” especially when an abuser also controls contracts, income, and public narrative. From video evidence of forced returns to the mechanics of coercive control, we connect the dots on how power silences, distorts, and then gets rewarded for it.This conversation isn’t about celebrity gossip; it’s about culture, trauma literacy, and the systems that keep failing people who speak up. I share personal lessons on boundaries and peace, then widen the lens to demand better: smarter jury selection, less starstruck coverage, and a public that recognizes trauma responses as evidence of harm, not contradictions. If you care about accountability, community, and making space for survivors to be believed, you’ll find clarity and fire here.Listen, share with someone who needs to hear it, and tell me: what boundary protected your peace this year? If the episode moved you, subscribe, leave a review, and pass it on. Your voice helps push this conversation into rooms where it matters most.
Transcribe →Don't Follow Me Before You Watch This...
Dec 700:33:10Tap to summarizeIf a single word can spark a fight, it’s rarely about the word. We open the door to a bigger, braver conversation: why “cis” and “trans” are descriptive terms, how sex and gender actually differ, and what it takes to create a space where learning beats defensiveness. We’re celebrating a creator milestone with our show landing in Spotify’s top 5%, but the takeaway isn’t just the numbers. It’s the responsibility that comes with growth and the promise we’re making to our community: we’ll keep telling the truth, even when it stings, because that’s how we all get smarter and safer.I share how imposter feelings collide with gratitude, why a global audience reminds me that language has power, and where the conversation often goes off the rails—especially around “real women.” We unpack the misogyny and transphobia hiding in that phrase, show how outrage at the term “cis” often masks deeper bias, and lay out a clear, simple map of sex vs gender. Then we zoom out to the structure holding all of this up: intersectionality. Racism, transphobia, homophobia, and misogyny reinforce each other. You can’t challenge one and ignore the rest. The standard in this space is anti, not just “not.” That means listening to understand, asking better questions, and setting firm boundaries against bigotry.If you’re here for growth, curiosity, and straight talk, you’ll feel at home. If you want a safe space where people can learn without fear and words are used to describe rather than divide, pull up a chair. And if accountability makes you bristle, this might not be your room. Subscribe to stay part of a community that learns out loud, share this with someone who’s ready to rethink their language, and leave a review with the moment that challenged you most.
Transcribe →30 Lessons For 30 Years!!!
Nov 2300:53:56Tap to summarizeThirty doesn’t feel like a deadline; it feels like a doorway. I’m stepping through it with a list of thirty lessons that reshaped how I love, rest, create, and choose my people. From the radical act of saying no without a paragraph of justification to the freedom of ignoring faceless critics, these are the truths I’m taking into a new decade—and the ones I wish I’d learned sooner.We talk about what it really means to treat yourself as your longest relationship and why boundaries are a daily habit, not a one-time speech. I break down dating dynamics that actually sustain a partnership, how “benefit of the doubt” can mask self-betrayal, and why an apology without changed behavior is just PR. We also get practical about creativity: perfectionism is a delay tactic, procrastination often hides fear, and small wins stack faster than you think. Expect honest reflections on family respect, the danger of male-centered friendships, and how to spot the difference between brutal honesty and kindness with clarity.There’s a lot here on listening to understand instead of responding to win, on resting before you burn out, and on choosing quality over quantity in every area of life. I share why comparison steals your joy, how to embrace solo dates and solo living, and the hard truth that people don’t change unless they want to—your job is not to wait in place. Healing that lasts comes from within, supported by community but not outsourced to it. If you’re ready to trade people-pleasing for peace and momentum, this one will meet you where you are.If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs the reminder, and leave a review to help more listeners find us. Tell me: which lesson are you claiming this week?
Transcribe →WHAT WAS THE REASON!!! *Cardi B Voice*
Nov 1600:28:21Tap to summarizeThe high was real—and so was the crash. After celebrating big electoral wins and a fresh wave of optimism, we watched lawmakers fold on a shutdown fight that had voters and even unpaid federal workers urging them to hold firm. That twist didn’t just sting; it exposed how quickly trust evaporates when bold speeches turn into soft votes and “we’ll vote later” promises fade on contact with reality.We unpack the core questions people are asking: Why were federal employees expected to work without pay while Members of Congress kept collecting checks? What did forty days of sacrifice buy if leadership accepted a deal without meaningful protections? And how do we channel anger without handing power to the very forces we fear? We break down why third-party shortcuts don’t work in a winner-take-all system, how ballot access and turnout realities tilt the field, and where energy makes the biggest difference: primaries, local races, committee pressure, and year-round organizing.You’ll hear a frank case for structural accountability—no pay for lawmakers during shutdowns, serious conversations about term limits and age caps—and a push for younger, more progressive Democrats with enough backbone to match their words with votes. We name the choices that broke trust, and we outline a plan to keep receipts, replace dead weight, and build durable power without burning out. If you’ve felt whiplash, betrayal, or just plain exhaustion, you’re not alone. Take a breath, then join us in turning that frustration into a smarter strategy that protects workers, healthcare, and basic fairness.If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs clarity, and leave a quick review—your voice helps us keep the pressure on.
Transcribe →Blue Called...She Wants Her Shift Back!!!!!
Nov 900:19:25Tap to summarizeThe night the “blue shift” never showed up still sits heavy—the 4 a.m. doom-scroll, the Barbie Land coping, the dread that followed. This week, the vibe flipped. We felt a real surge of hope as wins rolled in across New York City, Virginia, Pennsylvania, California, and more. While these wins reignite feelings of hope, we must not to confuse good news with a done deal. The heartbeat here is simple and urgent: celebrate the victories, then turn them into a plan.We get honest about skepticism. Politicians promise change; voters get whiplash. So we draw a line between step one—elect leaders—and step two—hold them to it. That means receipts, not vibes: tracking votes, showing up to hearings, organizing transportation to polls, and translating legal jargon into real-world stakes like SNAP benefits and school meals. We also tackle a tough question: what do we do with people who fueled harm and are only now waking up? The answer isn’t easy or cute. Grace is earned through action—canvassing, persuading family, and doing the unglamorous work between elections.We also unpack power mechanics that shape outcomes: why Article II, Section 4 and impeachment are process-heavy, why majorities decide who gets a hearing and who gets a pass, and why midterms are not optional. Control of the House and Senate means control of oversight. If we want accountability, we need numbers on the board. That’s the throughline: hope backed by a checklist—confirm your registration, set reminders, map your polling place, plan childcare or a ride, and plug into local organizers who know your district’s swing precincts.If you felt the spark this week, protect it. Momentum grows when feelings become steps and steps become wins. Hit play, share this with a friend who votes with you, and drop your midterm plan in the comments. If this moved you, subscribe, leave a review, and tell us one action you’ll take before the next election.
Transcribe →PROTECT BLACK WOMEN!!!!!!
Nov 200:30:50Tap to summarizeA cozy Halloween intro turns into a tough but needed conversation about racism, accountability, and how fast the internet can lose the plot. We share why inner-child joy and speaking up are connected, then walk through a viral moment where a racial slur got brushed off as “awkward laughter.” If you’ve ever wondered where apology ends and accountability begins, or why audiences keep mistaking critique for “hate,” you’ll find clarity here—along with a push for action that goes beyond statements.We talk candidly about how donations and concrete commitments shift apologies from optics to outcomes, and why being anti-racist means calling out microaggressions with the same urgency as overt slurs. From there, we unpack the whiplash pivot that turned righteous anger into a false rivalry between two Black women who haven’t attacked each other. This is where parasocial fandom and misogyny collide—when women get blamed for men’s words, when nuance vanishes, and when the original harm gets buried under team loyalty and clout-chasing.Throughout, we own our wording, tighten our framing, and refuse to let the narrative drift. You can support ChellEy and Olandria at the same time. You can demand better from castmates, brands, and platforms without fueling baseless feuds. Protect Black women means both/and: call out the harm, refuse the scapegoating, and keep the focus where it belongs.If this conversation resonates, tap follow, share it with a friend who cares about real accountability, and leave a review with your take: what does meaningful anti-racism look like in your community?
Transcribe →AI & The Spread of Misinformation: It's Spooky Season!!!!
Oct 2600:31:29Tap to summarizeA week on the water brought peace, but the feed was waiting with a storm. We open with the relief of a long-delayed family cruise and pivot into a story that exposes how fast nuance disappears online: a DoorDash delivery, an open door, indecent exposure, a report filed, and a viral clip that cost a job. Instead of picking a side on reflex, we walk through the gray space most people skip. It can be predatory for someone to be visibly exposed to a courier, and it can also be harmful for a victim to upload identifying footage. Recording for evidence and posting for the timeline are not the same decision—and the consequences echo.From there, we dissect the misinformation machine in real time: cropped screenshots that erase context, Photoshopped “proof” that travels farther than corrections, and AI-generated videos that use convincing faces and voices to launder a narrative. When people claim “I saw the original” without links, repetition becomes a stand-in for truth. We break down how expectation of privacy actually works when you’re visible from public view, why consent cannot be retrofitted by excuses like intoxication, and how pedantic term-policing can be used to dismiss harm.Most importantly, we offer a practical playbook for staying sane and accurate. Slow your scroll. Save sources. Reverse image search. Cross-check across outlets with different incentives. Treat confident strangers—with follower counts or studio mics—as leads, not authorities. If half of what you see can be edited and none of what you hear is verified, the only safe posture is active verification and patience. We’re choosing nuance, resisting outrage bait, and keeping our community informed without feeding the chaos.If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a friend who loves a good media-literacy rant, and leave a review with one habit you use to fact-check your feed. Your practices might help someone else stay clear-eyed.
Transcribe →The Swifties Are After Me...
Oct 1200:32:23Tap to summarizeA new hair era, a new lens on pop—a candid analysis of Taylor Swift’s latest album discourse, the limits of “hits,” and why popularity isn’t proof of quality.In today's episode, I read Swiftie comments and respond point by point: the “biggest tour” flex without sources, the myth of the self-made star when family capital paved lanes, and the way fans conflate streams with standards. We talk about infantilization after a very public 2009 moment, how white feminism gets weaponized to shut down critique, and why calling out privilege isn’t “tearing women down.” If folklore and evermore show maturity, why return to teen gloss? Incentives matter—and so does who gets grace to plateau.This conversation isn’t about disliking catchy music; it’s about context. Black women rarely get the cultural cushion to be merely OK and still ascend. If you’ve ever wondered why some careers float no matter the output, this is your map through fandom, metrics, and power. Tap play, then tell me: what truly makes a “hit,” and who deserves the pedestal?If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review—your words help other curious listeners find us.
Transcribe →From Moving Boxes to Tenant Rights: A 24 Hour Recap Of My New Apartment
Oct 500:24:26Tap to summarizeThe boxes aren’t even unpacked and the story already has plot twists: a shower that won’t shower, a bedroom lock that locks you in, a front door that barely holds on, and a management team dodging the only question that matters—who checked this place before handing over the keys? We walked in expecting a soft reset and got a hard lesson in habitability and accountability.We open with the fun stuff—new setup, decor ideas, and the “peak of the week” that kept spirits up: a Renee Rapp show where the mic was on and the honesty was louder. That thread of authenticity runs straight through everything that follows. Media training can sand down edges, but it can’t fix a broken deadbolt; PR phrases don’t stop leaks. When safety is at stake, loud truth beats quiet excuses every time. So we got loud in the right way: we made a 17‑item list within 24 hours, time‑stamped photos and videos, and switched from calls to written messages so the record sticks. We reported issues to the city, looked up local codes on locks, alarms, and plumbing, and mapped the difference between “quirks” and habitability violations.If you’ve ever moved and felt gaslit by “we’ll take care of it,” this conversation gives you language, steps, and momentum. We break down how to build a paper trail, what to include in repair requests, why a thorough walkthrough matters, and how to hold landlords to the implied warranty of habitability. We talk about boundaries that protect your peace: fix it fast or free the lease. And beneath the frustration sits a simple goal—reclaim the soft life without apologizing for demanding safety, dignity, and respect at home.If this resonates, tap follow, share with a friend dealing with rental chaos, and leave a review telling us the one tenant tip you wish you knew sooner. Your stories and feedback help more listeners protect their rights—and their peace.
Transcribe →