We Talk Back – "Agape....Agave"
Release Date: January 8, 2026
Hosts: TamBam & AJ Holiday
Podcast Network: The Black Effect & iHeartPodcasts
Episode Overview
In "Agape....Agave," TamBam and AJ Holiday kick off 2026 with high spirits, laughter, and their signature candid, comedic repartee. The conversation revolves around new beginnings, intentionally designing the year ahead, lessons from the past, and what it means to seek joy, love, and growth as modern Black women. Along the way, they dissect generational shifts in alcohol consumption, offer personal and relationship guidance, and pick apart a real-life "dumb story" submitted by a listener. The tone is raw, relatable, and unfiltered – equal parts life advice and hilarious sisterhood.
Main Themes and Discussion Points
1. New Year Reflections & Intentions
[03:37–16:34]
- Energy & Renewal: Both hosts express excitement for the new year, noting how the “fresh start” energy feels particularly powerful and promising for 2026.
- Personal Growth: Discussion of hopes/intentions includes being more disciplined, abandoning fear, and seeking clarity and joy.
- New Year’s Experiences: AJ shares her solo travel misadventures in Barbados, while TamBam details her spontaneous New Year’s Eve spent over-indulging with a friend.
- Notable Quote:
“I really feel good about the possibilities of 2026, until my on New Year's... Well, we're gonna get into that.”
—Tam Bam [03:46]
2. Health, Wellness, and Changing Social Trends
[06:50–11:58]
- Carnivore & Keto Diets: TamBam is trying a new diet and outdoor workouts to avoid the post-holiday gym “cesspool.”
- Illness & Immunity: Both note how “everybody's sick right now,” prompting a chat about post-holiday colds and super-fungus headlines.
- Alcohol Use Declining: The duo breaks down statistics showing a massive decline in global alcohol sales, speculating on reasons ranging from changing generational preferences to alternative substances (weed, shrooms, etc.).
- Notable Quotes:
“I think they crackheads. So at least coke. Yeah. I think they just not. Alcohol is no longer the drug of choice.”
—Tam Bam [09:02] “If you got to do something, do something natural.”
—AJ Holiday [11:43]
3. Heartwarming & Surprising News Stories
[11:58–13:19]
- Strippers as Philanthropists: TamBam spotlights Portland strippers becoming the top toy donors at a children’s hospital, challenging stereotypes.
- Men & Divorce Trends: Discussion of research showing men who marry after 35 have the lowest divorce rates, leading to a tangent about reproductive health and double standards.
- Notable Quote:
“Degeneracy can come from unexpected places.”
—Tam Bam [12:23]
4. Setting the Vibe for 2026: Hopes, Goals, and Vulnerability
[15:27–34:54]
- New Year, New Opportunities: The pair discuss how the start of a year is a chance for reinvention, but with more intention and less pressure.
- Game: Defining the Year by Song, Drink, Season:
- AJ: Song: "Crazy" – CeeLo Green. Drink: Red wine. Season: Summer.
- TamBam: Song: "I Want to Thank You" – Alicia Myers. Drink: Ranch water (tequila, soda water, lime for “getting the job done without all the extra”). Season: Spring.
- Key Words:
- AJ: Bliss
- TamBam: Agape (“that unconditional, selfless love”)
- Notable Quotes:
“If you can lock in from January to June, you can be a whole nother... a whole nother bitch.”
—AJ Holiday [15:58]
“This season is not about pressure... it’s about clarity, ease, and choosing what feels aligned.”
—AJ Holiday [16:00]
5. Personal Accountability, Overcoming Fear, and Friendship Boundaries
[25:03–41:03]
- Self-Love & Abandoning Overthinking: Both hosts discuss wanting to abandon fear—especially fear of judgment or failure—and overthinking, particularly in relationships and friendships.
- Letting Go of Dissolved Friendships: TamBam recounts seeing ex-friends and choosing not to engage, emphasizing the value of self-respect and boundaries.
- Notable Quotes:
“I have to abandon fear. Fear. And not like scared like in a corner, but like just... fear of other people's opinions, expectation, or fear that I'm going to fail”
—Tam Bam [25:59] “Sometimes people are just committed to misunderstanding you.”
—Tam Bam [28:53]
6. Choosing Joy and Embracing Possibility
[42:01–43:31]
- Intentional Positivity: Both hosts commit to actively combating negative self-talk and intentionally choosing joy and happiness each day.
- Openness: AJ is open to new partnerships, business ventures, and friends. TamBam humorously confides she’s open to having unprotected sex—ushering in laughter and celebration of honesty.
- Notable Quote:
“Anytime I have an intrusive thought, I'm going to try to combat it with two good thoughts.”
—Tam Bam [42:29]
Listener "Dumb Story" & Non-Professional Advice
[43:31–51:02]
- Situation: A listener details her whirlwind romance with a seemingly perfect man who, she discovers via TikTok, is living with and dating another woman. She reflects on missed red flags, her embarrassment, and asks how to recover her dignity in the new year.
- Hosts' Reactions:
- Both are supportive, emphasize not feeling shame, and congratulate her for blocking him (and for accepting his $500 via CashApp before blocking again!).
- The importance of trusting intuition and not settling for "vibes over logic."
- Critical advice: “Anything that is confusing, get away from it. Because relationships do not have to be that hard, we make them hard.”
- Notable Quotes:
“You know, we laugh and joke about this, but it’s because we love you. Y’all are our sisters, and we’ve been there.”
—Tam Bam [51:08]
“And if somebody is habitually, you know, stepping over those boundaries, you get their ass up out there, because all you're gonna end up with is itchy coochie.”
—Tam Bam [50:18]
Memorable Quotes & Timestamps
- On Renewal and Growth:
“You can be a whole nother... a whole nother bitch.”
—AJ Holiday [15:58] - On Choosing Yourself:
“Do what the fuck you say you going to do for me, right? In 2026.”
—AJ Holiday [25:03] - On Letting Go:
“Sometimes people are just committed to misunderstanding you.”
—Tam Bam [28:53] - On Love:
“Agape. That's that unconditional, selfless love... a love that seeks well being of others without expecting anything in return.”
—Tam Bam [34:54] - On Listening to Intuition:
“Anything that is confusing, get away from it.”
—AJ Holiday [49:34]
Closing Thoughts & Calls to Action
[52:03–end]
- Kindness for Yourself and Others: TamBam stresses the importance of kindness—toward others and especially toward oneself, given “everybody is going through something.”
- Community Vibes: Listeners encouraged to send their own stories for advice and commiseration; all are welcome in the "We Talk Back" sisterhood.
Summary Table of Timestamps
| Timestamp | Segment/Topic | |------------|----------------------------------------------------| | 03:37 | Official show intro, new year greetings | | 04:07 | Weekend and holiday recaps | | 06:50 | New diets, gym avoidance, wellness | | 07:26 | Illness trends, super fungus chat | | 08:25 | Body image and resolutions | | 08:46 | Declining alcohol consumption (main topic) | | 11:58 | Strippers donate toys | | 13:19 | Men & divorce rates, gender health talk | | 15:27 | New Year energy, intentions for 2026 | | 17:45 | Personal New Year’s stories | | 21:02 | What excites the hosts about the new year | | 22:43 | Business goals and discipline | | 23:40 | Desired feelings for the year | | 25:03 | Abandoning fear and overthinking | | 27:03 | Letting go of negative relationships/friendships | | 29:24 | “What the year feels like” game | | 31:07 | Word for the year: bliss (AJ), agape (TamBam) | | 35:36 | What not to overthink in 2026 | | 40:48 | Boundaries with ex-friends | | 42:01 | Choosing joy and daily happiness | | 43:31 | Listener “dumb story” & advice segment | | 50:55 | Closing encouragement and community call | | 52:03 | Final thoughts: choosing kindness |
Tone and Takeaway
- Unfiltered, Warm, Hilarious, Real: TamBam and AJ keep it 100, sharing their own struggles and victories while supporting their listeners with both empathy and tough love.
- A Show for the “Ultimate Greatness” of Modern Femininity: Listeners are left encouraged to set intentions, seek joy, and ditch anything—and anyone—that brings unnecessary struggle or confusion in 2026.
“Be kind to people. Show some love, even if you’re not going to get anything in return for someone. You never know how you might make somebody’s day just by being kind to them. But most importantly, be kind to yourself this year.”
—Tam Bam [52:33]