The Read – “The Unbreakable Spirit of a Canine Queen”

Release date: January 29, 2026
Hosts: Kid Fury & Crissle West

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode of The Read delivers another dose of sharp pop culture commentary and hilariously candid on-air therapy as Kid Fury and Crissle West move through the latest in hip-hop, Oscar buzz, wild NYC weather, messy celebrity apologies, and the joys and agonies of dog ownership. The hosts blend their trademark shade, empathy, and storytelling to dissect internet-filling pop culture and personal dilemmas alike. Throughout, the episode’s “unbreakable spirit” is embodied by their canine companions, whose antics and personalities are woven throughout the show.

Episode Structure

• City Life and Snow Stories – [02:02]
• Black Excellence/Oscar Buzz – [05:59]
• Pop Culture Hot Tops (Film Critique, Kanye’s Apology, Rap Beefs, and More) – [09:08]
• Dog Ownership Shenanigans – Throughout
• Listener Letters & Advice – [65:53]
• Reads/Closing Rants – [109:24]

Detailed Breakdown

1. NYC SNOW STORM MISERY AND DOG ANTICS

Timestamps: 02:02–04:59

• Winter has New York locked down; Crissle details struggles getting around and the inaccessibility of snow-filled sidewalks.
• Discussion shifts to their beloved pups, Link and Lainey, and their dramatic boot-wearing escapades.
  • Quote – Crissle on her dog’s boots:
    “She’s so dramatic in them shoes… just like she's trying to kick them off.” [03:43]
  • Crissle narrates how letting her dog experience the cold convinced her to finally accept her boots.

2. BLACK EXCELLENCE & OSCAR BUZZ

Timestamps: 05:59–09:07

• Shoutouts:
  • Lena Waithe – Making playwright debut with Trinity in Baltimore.
    • Quote – Kid Fury: “Lena is always like, one of those people who's like, not Hollywood...there’s a really big hearted, amazing soul.” [05:59]
  • Oscar Nominations:
    • “Most Oscar nominations at once in history... 16!” [06:59]
  • Both hosts warily express hope for recognition for Delroy Lindo, while acknowledging industry pessimism.
  • Quote – Kid Fury: “If Delroy does not...that would be egregious, actually.” [08:08]

3. HOT TOPS—POPCULTURE AND MOVIE CRITIQUE

Timestamps: 09:08–15:58

• Film Critique – One Battle After Another
  • Crissle debates whether to watch the film; Kid Fury critiques lack of authentic Black representation.
  • Quote – Kid Fury:
    “It was so obvious that this man didn’t know how to write blackness.” [10:53]
  • Discussion about Paul Thomas Anderson’s marriage to Maya Rudolph and how even personal proximity to Blackness doesn’t equal on-screen authenticity.
• Oscar Watchlist Banter
  • Crissle lists movies up for awards, discusses likely snubs, and both hosts lament the Academy’s tendency to reward obscure films.

4. KANYE’S “APOLOGY” & ITS RECEPTION

Timestamps: 15:59–31:00

• Kanye West issues a written apology in the Wall Street Journal blaming unaddressed mental health issues for previous hateful, anti-Black, and antisemitic statements.
  • Quote – Kanye (read by Crissle):
    “I said and did things I deeply regret...In that fractured state, I gravitated toward the most destructive symbol I could find, the swastika, and even sold T-shirts bearing it.” [18:33]
• Both hosts voice deep skepticism about the apology’s sincerity, suggest it’s timed to coincide with an album rollout, and break down why words alone aren’t enough for meaningful accountability.
  • Quote – Kid Fury:
    “Nobody care about this… this is like the Half Blood Prince. Like, what chapter are we going to?” [27:05]
  • Crissle: “Some shit you just can’t come back from.” [23:00]
• Kid Fury shares a vulnerable, unexpected emotional reaction spurred by nostalgia for early Kanye and grief for his public decline.
  • Quote – Kid Fury:
    “It’s so sad...to lose that and lose it in the way that it has happened sucks, you know?” [26:10]

5. RAP BEEF, DRAKE DRAMA, & INDUSTRY MESS

Timestamps: 32:52–41:45

• Drake’s Lawsuit Against Kendrick Lamar:
  • Both hosts mock Drake’s ongoing attempts to make legal cases over perceived rap disses; argue that continued escalation looks “crazy.”
  • Crissle – on Kendrick’s potential comeback:
    “You took the streets, you lost. You could have won in court, and you still would have lost with the culture.” [34:40]
• J. Cole’s Freestyles & Subtle Disses:
  • Kid Fury reads lines from Cole’s “Golden Goose Freestyle,” sparking debate over whether shots are aimed at Drake or Nicki Minaj.
    Quote (on J. Cole’s diss): “If the stream say you win in why are tours losing… the bots is boosting…” [35:47]
• Nicki Minaj & Financial Woes:
  • Minaj settles a legal case to avoid losing her home; both hosts poke fun at her desperate PR stunts (including supporting Trump), faded pop power, and declining resources.
  • Quote – Crissle:
    “It’s the wig for me, honestly, the wig lets me know things are bad over there.” [43:17]

6. CELEBRITY MESS—GLO & MEGAN, RZA’S FAMILY DRAMA

Timestamps: 46:20–62:26

• Megan Thee Stallion/Glorilla Friendship Fallout:
  • Fans accuse Glorilla of copying Megan’s style; hosts agree stans are reaching.
  • Both mourn the fading of their favorite hip-hop girl duo.
• RZA’s Relationship Turmoil:
  • A particularly fraught personal anecdote: one of RZA’s baby mothers is arrested after a domestic dispute, and the hosts weigh the likelihood of toxic dynamics vs. a woman pushed to her breaking point.
  • Quote – Kid Fury:
    “Every woman has a breaking point, y'all.” [56:05]

7. REALITY TV, TYRA BANKS & AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL

Timestamps: 62:26–64:00

• Announcing a new Netflix doc, Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model, hosts reflect on the show’s problematic legacy and their own learning/growth as earlier superfans.
  • Crissle: “Y'all should be able to file a lawsuit! This is terrible.” [63:53]

8. LETTERS AND ADVICE — FAMILY, GUILT, AND THERAPY

Timestamps: 65:53–107:09

Notable Letters:

• Supporting an Unwilling Parent:
  • A listener is wracked with guilt about stepping back from supporting a mother who refuses to help herself. Both hosts stress: sometimes, for your own wellbeing, you must let a family member feel the consequences of their choices.
  • Crissle: “Sometimes you have to hit rock bottom to realize you need to help your fucking self.” [77:33]
• Toxic Therapy:
  • British listener wonders whether to ditch a dismissive therapist who forgets key details and sighs through sessions. The hosts say: leave! Finding the right fit is critical.
• Choosing to be Child-Free:
  • Letter-writer grieves their decision not to have children due to financial/social instability. Hosts empathize and affirm that feeling both relief and grief is normal—and pet ownership can (sort of) help fill the need.
  • Kid Fury: “These two feelings are completely connected and fair.” [97:18]

9. SPORTS SHORTS WITH KID FURY

Timestamps: 109:24–115:32

• In a hilarious “Kid Fury Sports Shorts” interlude, Kid Fury analyzes the UFC 324 match, decrying its boredom and targeting specific fighters with his signature shade.
  • Quote – Kid Fury (on Derrick Lewis):
    “Why did you lay down with open arms and open legs and allow that man to whoop your ass like that?” [113:00]
  • Crissle: “I did not understand almost everything you said, but your energy was felt.” [114:33]

10. COMMUNITY READS (Passing the Mic to Dogs!)

Timestamps: 118:59–125:54

• Crissle reads a “pass the read” letter allegedly written by Effie, a rescue dog, dragging her “lazy ass mama” for poor walk discipline, ignoring canine needs, and generally not doing better as a dog parent. Both hosts howl with laughter.
  • Effie (read by Crissle):
    “I bark. Bitch, I’m a dog. It’s in my breed, you dumb hoe. And I bark at white people, so you welcome.” [120:49]

Notable Quotes

• “It’s so sad...to lose that and lose it in the way that it has happened sucks, you know?” — Kid Fury on Kanye [26:10]
• “Some shit you just can’t come back from. And I think really that is the bottom line for a lot of people.” — Crissle [23:00]
• “Cut the tough guy image, it’s not conducive to breathing. Don’t gamble with your life, cause the opps is cruising.” — J. Cole’s “Golden Goose Freestyle” (read by Kid Fury) [36:36]
• “She's so dramatic in them shoes… just like she's trying to kick them off.” — Crissle on her dog’s boots [03:43]
• “As much as I will move a mountain, part a sea, and beat any ass over my mama…she ain’t driving me out of a fucking—I can’t tell the lady to go.” — Kid Fury [80:06]

Episode Tone & Highlights

• Signature Sarcasm: The hosts’ biting, witty commentary is in full force, especially when covering celebrity missteps, the rap industry, Oscar films, and New York life.
• Vulnerability & Reflection: Both share moments of sincerity—particularly regarding Kanye’s legacy, the heartbreak of watching a favorite turn toxic, and the exhaustion of caring for difficult family members.
• Pet Love & Therapy: Canine queens Lainey and Link are featured guests in their own right. Both hosts joke about the “unbreakable spirit” of their dogs and the ways owning a pet mirrors, and sometimes substitutes for, the challenges and joys of parenthood.
• Family, Boundaries & Guilt: Listener letters draw out strong, nuanced advice about setting limits with parents, the realities of caregiving, and the necessity of prioritizing one’s own wellbeing.
• Community & Crowd Participation: The “pass the read” letter from a listener's dog is a standout comedic segment, encapsulating the episode’s blend of humor, empathy, and irreverence.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 02:16 – NYC Snow Misadventures
• 03:43 – Dog Boot Drama
• 05:59 – Lena Waithe Play & Black Excellence
• 09:08 – Oscar Film Critique
• 16:14 – Kanye’s Apology
• 23:00 – Kanye’s Legacy & Loss
• 32:52 – Drake/Kendrick Lawsuit
• 36:36 – J. Cole Freestyle Analysis
• 43:17 – Nicki Minaj Decline
• 62:26 – America's Next Top Model Doc Talk
• 65:53 – Listener Letters Begin
• 109:24 – Kid Fury’s Sports Shorts
• 120:29 – Effie the Schnauzer’s “Read”
• 125:54 – Closing & Social Links

Summary

This episode offers a vibrant, no-holds-barred blend of pop culture roast, personal reflections, and dog-centered chaos. Whether sharing side-splitting dog “reads,” unpacking celebrity spectacle, or offering hard-won advice on family boundaries, The Read’s hosts center humor, community, and unapologetic Blackness. This episode shines especially in its attentive empathy—whether for listeners struggling with parental guilt or for former idols fallen from grace—and its refusal to let any star, system, or stubborn Schnauzer escape critique.

For newcomers or regulars alike, “The Unbreakable Spirit of a Canine Queen” is vintage Read: emotionally honest, pop-culture obsessed, and, at its heart, about learning to laugh, survive, and throw side-eye—even when the snow is six inches deep and the dog won’t wear her boots.