Black Girl Nerds

In this week's BGN Podcast Extra, ahead of tonight's episode, we interview actor Javicia Leslie.  Javicia will appear as Batwoman in the CW series 'The Flash' airing at 8/7c. Javicia Leslie is an actress, visionary and philanthropist committed to making her mark on the world. She is best known for her reign over Gotham City as Ryan Wilder in D.C.'s “Batwoman”. Her casting made global history as the first bisexual Black actress to portray Batwoman. Since her debut in 2019, she has quickly become recognized as one of young Hollywood's most heralded stars and was featured on The Hollywood Reporter’s highly coveted “Next Big Thing'' list. Host: Ryanne Music by: Sammus Edited by: Jamie Broadnax

In this week's episode of the Black Girl Nerds podcast we chat with actor Ayesha Harris of 'Daisy Jones and the Six' and filmmaker Muta' Ali of 'Cassius X: Becoming Ali'.  Segment 1: Born and raised in the Long Beach and Inland Empire areas of southern California, Ayesha lived many lives before pursuing a career in acting full time. Ayesha can next be seen in the upcoming Amazon Prime miniseries “Daisy Jones and the Six,” opposite Riley Keough, Sam Claflin, and Suki Waterhouse. Adapted from Taylor Jenkins Reid’s wildly popular historical fiction novel of the same name, the series follows the rise and fall of a fictional LA rock band in the 1970s – in the guise of Fleetwood Mac – while exploring the reason behind their split at the height of their success.  Host: Ryanne Segment 2: Muta’Ali is an award winning film director whose latest feature documentary release is Cassius X: Becoming Ali. He received an NAACP Image Award nomination for Best Director of a Documentary for his critically acclaimed Yusuf Hawk

In this week's episode of the Black Girl Nerds Podcast, we welcome multi-hyphenate Rodney Barnes and actor William Jackson Harper. Segment 1: Rodney Barnes is an award-winning writer, producer, and comic book creator whose vibrant and emphatic creative voice has established him as a Hollywood mainstay. From writing on Adult Swim’s The Boondocks, Everybody Hates Chris to Hulu’s Wu-Tang: An American Saga and HBO's Winning Time, Barnes has displayed versatility across a variety of genres in the industry’s largest and most influential programs. His newly founded Zombie Love Studios, a graphic novel production studio that will both adapt and create original graphic novels, beginning with the release of his latest graphic novel,  "Blacula: Return of The King". Host: Jamie and Ryanne Segment 2: William Jackson Harper, is an actor and playwright. He is best known for his role as Chidi Anagonye on the NBC comedy The Good Place, for which he was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor

In this week's episode of the Black Girl Nerds podcast, we welcome legendary actor of the stage and screen, Alfre Woodard. Alfre Woodard currently stars in the animated Disney series Marvel's Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur. She plays Mimi, the grandmother to superheroine Lunella Fayette aka Moon Girl. Woodard has received various accolades, including four Emmy Awards, a Golden Globe Award, and three Screen Actors Guild Awards, as well as nominations for an Academy Award and two Grammy Awards.  She chats with BGN about her role on the Disney animated series and culture of the Oscars.  Host: Jamie Music by: Sammus Edited by: Jamie Broadnax

In this week's episode of the Black Girl Nerds Podcast we interview actor Skyla I’Lece and tech entrepreneur DeJuan Strickland. Segment 1: Skyla’s will appear on the upcoming Disney+ basketball drama series, The Crossover. Poetry and basketball collide in this powerful new series about 14-year-old twin brothers who come of age on and off court, and this inspirational and emotional family drama is narrated through lyrical poetry. Skyla plays female lead ‘Alexis’ (known as ‘Miss Sweet Tea’ in the novel), a talented musician who has just moved back to the neighborhood and becomes intertwined with the twin brothers. NBA star LeBron James serves as an executive producer. The Crossover will debut on Disney Channel on April 4, 2023 then will drop the following day on Disney+. Host: Ryanne Segment 2: DeJuan Strickland is a 14-year old scholar who enjoys gaming, anime and comics. He has launched 2 comic books of his own called "Techboy" and "Science Girl". He is a member of the National Black Society of Engineers J

In this week's episode of the Black Girl Nerds podcast, we interview actor Kyla Pratt and comedian Vir Das.  Segment 1: Kyla Pratt reprises her role as Penny Proud in Disney+'s "The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder," the long-anticipated revival of the groundbreaking animated series "The Proud Family." Host: Ryanne Segment 2: Das’ latest offering Landing, his fourth Netflix special, is a show about the personal reflection and existential turmoil Vir unwittingly thrust himself into by giving that speech last year. It’s a show about freedom, foolishness, the west, the east, and what it means to be a citizen of one nation in a global world.  Host: Ryanne Music by: Sammus Edited by: Jamie Broadnax

In this week's episode of the Black Girl Nerds podcast, we welcome guest Travis Hopson of Punch Drink Critics to chat with us about the best and worst films out of Sundance 2023.  Now that the festival has wrapped, here's our takeaways of what films you should be looking for in 2023. Host: Jamie and Jeanine Music by: Sammus Edited by: Jamie Broadnax

In this week's episode of the Black Girl Nerds podcast we're celebrating the films coming out of the 2023 Sundance Film Festival!  Featured in this episode are filmmakers D. Smith of 'Kokomo City', Milisuthando Bongela of 'Milisuthando' and actor Travina Springer of 'To Live and Die and Live. The 2023 Festival is January 19–29, 2023, in person in Park City, Salt Lake City, and the Sundance Resort, along with a selection of films available online across the country January 24–29. Segment 1: D. Smith is the director of 'Kokomo City', a film about  four Black transgender sex workers explore the dichotomy between the Black community and themselves while confronting issues long avoided.  Host: Jamie Segment 2: Milisuthando Bongela is the director of 'Milisuthando'. This penetrating coming-of-age personal essay on love and what it means to become human in the context of race explores the memories and experiences of Milisuthando Bongela, who grew up within apartheid without knowing it was happening until it was

In this week's episode of the Black Girl Nerds podcast, we interview Guslagie Malanga who stars in the French film Saint Omer directed by Alice Diop.  The film premiered at the Venice and Toronto International Film Festivals and was entered for Best International Film for the 2023 Oscars. In Saint Omer, Rama is a novelist who attends the trial of Laurence Coly (Guslagie Malanga), a young woman accused of killing her 15-month-old daughter. Testimonies from witnesses and Coly's own words soon shake Rama's convictions. Host: Jamie Music by: Sammus Edited by: Jamie Broadnax

In this week's episode of the Black Girl Nerds podcast, we open up our comic books and do a deep dive in to issue #1 of Monica Rambeau in her first solo series as Photon.  The limited series is penned by author Eve L. Ewing and illustrated by Luca Maresca, Ivan Fiorelli, with color artist Carlos Lopez and letterer Clayton Cowles. If you're a fan of Monica Rambeau and comic books this is an episode you do not want to miss! Hosts: Ryanne and Jamie Music by: Sammus Edited by: Jamie Broadnax

In this week's episode of the Black Girl Nerds podcast, we chat with director Kasi Lemmons and actor/author Terrence Terrell. Segment 1: Kasi Lemmons made her directorial debut with 1997's Eve's Bayou, followed by Dr. Hugo (1998), The Caveman's Valentine, Talk to Me, Black Nativity, and her highest-grossing film, 2019's Harriet, about abolitionist Harriet Tubman.  Her latest film, Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody is a look at the life and career of cultural icon Whitney Houston. Host: Jamie Segment 2: Terrence Terrell is well known for his roles in Chuck Lorre’s comedy series B Positive (CBS), Will Packer-produced friendship sitcom Bigger (BET+), and the longest running Amazon original series Bosch. He stars in the upcoming Peacock TV series 'The Best Man: The Final Chapters'. Host: Ryanne Music by: Sammus Edited by: Jamie Broadnax

BGN dives into episodes 3 and 4 of the new FX series 'Kindred' currently streaming on Hulu. Adapted from the celebrated novel Kindred, by Hugo Award-winner Octavia E. Butler, the FX series centers on “Dana James” (Mallori Johnson), a young Black woman and aspiring writer who has uprooted her life of familial obligation and relocated to Los Angeles, ready to claim a future that, for once, feels all her own. But, before she can settle into her new home, she finds herself being violently pulled back and forth in time. She emerges at a nineteenth-century plantation, a place remarkably and intimately linked with Dana and her family. An interracial romance threads through Dana’s past and present, and the clock is ticking as she struggles to confront secrets she never knew ran through her blood, in this genre-breaking exploration of the ties that bind. Hosts: Jamie Broadnax, Angelica Monk and Ryanne Bennett Music by: Sammus Edited by: Jamie Broadnax

BGN dives into the first two episodes of the new FX series 'Kindred' currently streaming on Hulu. Adapted from the celebrated novel Kindred, by Hugo Award-winner Octavia E. Butler, the FX series centers on “Dana James” (Mallori Johnson), a young Black woman and aspiring writer who has uprooted her life of familial obligation and relocated to Los Angeles, ready to claim a future that, for once, feels all her own. But, before she can settle into her new home, she finds herself being violently pulled back and forth in time. She emerges at a nineteenth-century plantation, a place remarkably and intimately linked with Dana and her family. An interracial romance threads through Dana’s past and present, and the clock is ticking as she struggles to confront secrets she never knew ran through her blood, in this genre-breaking exploration of the ties that bind. Hosts: Jamie Broadnax, Angelica Monk and Ryanne Bennett Music by: Sammus Edited by: Jamie Broadnax

In this week's episode of the Black Girl Nerds podcast, we welcome actors Sheria Irving and Michael Ward. Segment 1: From bringing diverse, powerful characters to life on the screen and stage, to spearheading efforts to empower, uplift and mentor young women of color, Actor and youth activist, Sheria Irving, is poised to make her mark not only the entertainment industry, but in the social impact sector as well. She is currently starring in the FX series 'Kindred' playing a new character named Olivia from Octavia E. Butler's novel of the same name. Host: Jamie Segment 2: The Jamaican born actor who grew up in East London first made his film debut in Brotherhood in 2016 and later received critical buzz when he starred in Netflix’s British Crime Drama Series “Top Boy” in 2019 and subsequently starred in the film Blue Story that same year which won him the BAFTA Rising Star Award for his performance. Ward was also honored the following year at the BAFTA’s where he received a nomination for Best Supporting Acto

This week we welcome actor and author Kirby Howell-Baptiste to the Black Girl Nerds podcast.  Most recently, she can be seen in “The Sandman” television, series and the film “Mr. Harrigan’s Phone,” both on Netflix. Upcoming, she stars in the heist series “Culprits” for Disney + launching early next year, and she is currently in production on “Sugar” for Apple +, opposite Colin Farrell. Audiences may also know Kirby from “Killing Eve”, “The Good Place”, “Hacks”, “Barry”, “Why Women Kill”, “Veronica Mars,” and Disney's “Cruella.” Beyond her memorable acting across film and television, her latest manifestation is publishing two children’s books, launching November 15th. These empowering picture books, Little Black Girl and Little Black Boy, celebrate the joys of being a child and encourage Black boys and girls to follow their wildest dreams.  Host: Ryanne Edited by: Jamie Broadnax Music by: Sammus

In this week's episode of the Black Girl Nerds podcast, we welcome Ian Lara and Christina Jackson. Segment 1: The premiere of Romantic Comedy, directed by beloved Comedian/Writer Aida Rodriguez, will be Ian’s second of 2022. His first, Growing Shame, premiered on Comedy Central Digital on February 10th as part of their series of half hours. He performed his 30-minute debut comedy special LA Meets NY for HBO Latino's esteemed Entre Nos franchise in 2020, which did so well the streamer gave him his upcoming hour.  His appearance on Comedy Central’s StandUP Featuring has garnered over 10 millions views collectively on social media, and he was a regular on the network’s hit series This Week at the Comedy Cellar. Host: Ryanne Segment 2:  Christina Jackson takes on the female lead role as Daisy Brown in Devotion, marking this her most significant screen outing. Devotion is the story of Jesse L. Brown (played by Jonathan Majors), a pioneering Black Naval aviator who flew during the Korean War. She will also star

In this week's episode of the Black Girl Nerds podcast, we interview comedian Kym Whitley and filmmaker Elegance Bratton. Segment 1: Created by Lena Waithe and Kym Whitley, Kym is a new scripted comedy audio series featuring an all-star cast including Sherri Shepherd, David A. Arnold, Jess Hilarious, Jenifer Lewis, Oscar-nominated actress Cynthia Erivo, and more, with original music composed by multiple Grammy Award-winning artist Wyclef Jean.  Host: Ryanne Segment 2: Elegance Bratton is an award-winning and boundary-breaking director, writer, producer, photographer and author. He began making films as a US Marine after spending a decade homeless. His film 'The Inspection' tells the story about a  a young gay man, rejected by his mother, who finds unexpected strength, camaraderie and support after he joins the Marines. Host: Jamie Music by: Sammus Edited by: Jamie Broadnax

In this week's episode of the Black Girl Nerds podcast, we welcome Twitch streamer Bruce Greene. Bruce has been making content on the internet for around 15 years and started at G4. From there, he went on to work for Machinima, but later fell in love with the platform Twitch. He's the creator of such shows as "Ghost Hunt" and "Nerve Center" on the livestream network respectively. You can follow him on www.twitch.tv/brucegreene  Host: Jamie Music by: Sammus Edited by: Jamie Broadnax

This season we are recapping episodes of 'The Handmaid’s Tale'!  Hosted by Angelica and Ryanne breakdowns of what happened will be discussed! We breakdown the season 5 finale, episode 10 “Safe”. Host: Angelica and Ryanne Music by: Sammus Edited by: Jamie Broadnax

Emmy and Tony Award nominee Brian Tyree Henry is a versatile actor whose career spans film, television and theater. He currently stars alongside Donald Glover in the Emmy, Golden Globe and Peabody Award winning series “Atlanta.” Henry portrays ‘Alfred Miles,' Atlanta’s hot of the moment rapper who is forced to navigate fame while remaining loyal to family, friends and himself. He has received Emmy, SAG, Critics’ Choice and MTV Movie & TV Award nominations for his work including films like If Beale Street Could Talk. In 2021, Henry starred in four feature films, including Marvel’s “Eternals,” directed by Chloe Zhao. This summer, Henry starred as Lemon in the hit feature film “Bullet Train” alongside Brad Pitt. This October, Henry stars opposite Jennifer Lawrence in A24’s “Causeway,” now streaming on Apple TV+. Host: Jamie Music by: Sammus Edited by: Jamie Broadnax