J's Lunch Counter

Episode 40 is live and available for download! Today on the show, we're FINALLY reviewing the biggest movie of the year - GET OUT!   I know…I know….its been weeks since this movie was released, but before the fervor completely dies down….we want to bring you our commentary on this complex, entertaining film.   This show is filled with spoilers - so if you are one of the few who still hasn't seen the film - go check it out first!    I am joined by my lovely wife Chioma, and together we breakdown the many layers of this film, from the underlying tension to the premise that an entire horror film could be made on the unspoken fears of interracial relationships, to the symbolism of slavery and the dog whistles of white liberal racism.    Plus, we talk in-depth about the powerful metaphor of the Sunken Place as the anti-thesis of being woke in America in 2017.   TELL A FRIEND. J’s Lunch Counter is a platform for each of you to engage in conversation that matters, so please help others join the convo! Tell a friend

Episode 39 is a jam-packed 2.5 hour HAPPY HOUR show, covering one of my favorite pastimes - Pro Wrestling, WWE, and WRESTLEMANIA!  It's WrestleMania Week and we are getting ready for the biggest show of the year - WrestleMania 33!   I invited my cousins, Griffin and Matt Brixey, to join me on this very special Happy Hour show to talk about our love of pro wrestling, and to break down this past year in WWE, and to make our predictions for WrestleMania 33.   Tune in to hear how I discovered wrestling as a kid, how my younger cousins fell in love with wrestling, and how we are able to keep watching after all these years.   We talk about the glory days of the 80s and 90s, the Attitude Era and the rise of Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock, and the modern era of stars like John Cena, Roman Reigns, the New Day and more!   We're real fans, and we definitely fan out a few times on this show, and had a good time doing it!      We also make our predictions for WrestleMania, going match by match to breakdown the winne

On Episode 38, I am joined by Junis Baldon to take a look at the Trump administration thus far, and the one word that may best describe the Trump administration's first 60+ days - FAILURE.  What has happened to all the winning that we were promised?  After a few months, Trump has seen failure after failure, shrouded in scandal and controversy and distraction.  From the failure to repeal and replace Obamacare to the failure of both attempts to ban Muslims from entering the country, this administration has gotten off to an abysmal start.   We'll dig deeper into the early days of the Trump administration and attempt to explain the struggles of this White House, while also looking forward to the upcoming battles for tax reform, immigration, infrastructure and entitlement reform.  Is there any hope for Trump, who currently sits on a 36% approval rating, one of the lowest numbers in modern history at this stage in a presidency.   Junis and I also look at a 2015 study that showed that African-Americans with degrees

We're back!   For Episode 37, I am joined by two health care experts to discuss the Republican plan to repeal and replace Obamacare.  Cara Stewart, a Health Law Fellow at the Kentucky Equal Justice Center and Dustin Pugel, a Research and Policy Associate at the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy join me on the show to breakdown the successes and failures of Obamacare, areas where the ACA could be improved, as well as the overall impact of this bill on the country.  We then explore the details of "The World's Greatest Healthcare Plan of 2017" and discuss why repealing and replacing Obamacare with this Republican bill could be devastating for so many Americans.  From Medicaid Expansion to the individual mandate, the Republican plan will take us in a vastly different direction, one that will likely mean the loss of health insurance for millions of Americans.   We will break down all the details of this plan and discuss how it is expected to impact citizens across the country.  Thank you for taking the time to l

Today on the show, Albert and I are breaking down the 2017 Grammy's.   Known for its high-profile performances and noteworthy celebrity appearances, the Grammy's is one of our favorite awards shows, and a great way to take a break from the madness of the Trump administration.   We take a look at the highlights and lowlights from the performers, from Adele to Beyonce, Bruno and A Tribe Called Quest, John Legend and more.   We talk about the imagery of a Beyonce performance and we discuss the messages she may or may not be sending through her work.   Plus, what does it take to do a proper tribute to a fallen artist?   How did Bruno succeed where Adele came up short?   We also talk about the artist of the night, Chance The Rapper, and how he parlayed a breakout year into three Grammy's including Best New Artist, and a stellar performance.  We go further in-depth on Chance's style, his substance, and how his artistry is shaped by his faith.   Finally, we take a look at the coveted Album of the Year, and why it ha

Episode 35 is available for download.  Today I am joined by my good friend and show regular Junis Baldon to discuss and analyze President Trump's Supreme Court nominee, Judge Neil Gorsuch.   We discuss his background, his jurisprudence, and how he can potentially change the makeup of the Court.  We also discuss the Democrat's strategy to oppose his nomination and whether they are better served by a targeted resistance as opposed to blanket obstruction of the entire Trump administration.   We also discuss the latest news from the White House including the fallout from Trump's immigration ban and his foreign policy blunders in his first two weeks in office.   We also answer your questions in a full Mailbag segment.  We answer questions about President Obama's farewell speech, his legacy in the black community and what allies should look for in progressive candidates that demonstrate their ability to be effective for the black community. We also answer an important question about Trump and the media, and the inc

pisode 34 won't be forgotten anytime soon!  I am finally joined on the show by beautiful wife Chioma and her sister Diana, because today we are talking about one Hollywood's fastest rising starts,  Issa Rae and the new HBO hit show, Insecure.   Join us as we go back to the origin story of the Mis-adventures of an Awkward Black Girl to being one of the hottest writers/actresses today.   We'll go into detail about "Insecure", from the writing and acting, to the music and fashion, and of course, the many hilarious and awkward stories that unfolded in Season One.   Hear how we compare this new show to some of the popular pre-dominantly black shows like Lee Daniels' Empire, Being Mary Jane, and Girlfriends, and I'll also ask my guests how they compare Insecure to Lena Dunham's Girls.   On the second half of the show, we'll do a movie review of the hit film, Hidden Figures.   We'll talk about just how hidden this story was, how outstanding Janelle Monae was in her acting debut, and the various emotional reactions w

Episode 33 is all about the Women's March that took place last Saturday, during Inauguration weekend.   I am joined by Katie Kerns, who traveled to DC and participatd in the March this weekend.  Listen to Katie's story about why she felt compelled to join this march, what the atmosphere was like, which speakers resonated with the crowd, and what calls to action they were left with.   Katie and I also discuss the broader impact of the Trump presidency and how the mere thought of Donald Trump has mobilized millions of people around the world.  Finally we discuss a bit of the controversy around the march, the idea of white women leading the charge against Donald Trump compared to the majority of white women who voted for him, and the role that privilege has played in this protest.   TELL A FRIEND. J’s Lunch Counter is a platform for each of you to engage in conversation that matters, so please help others join the convo! Tell a friend about the show and help grow our audience!   Share our posts on Facebook and T

Episode 32 started as a discussion about shooting of the Charleston nine and the trial and coverage of Dylan Roof, but quickly evolved into a broader, important discussion about the aggression of white supremacy in America, the increase in violent hate crimes, and the relation between these crimes and the rhetoric of President-elect Trump.     I am joined by Junis Baldon and Jared Williams to discuss the violence that America saw in 2016 and whether we can expect the atmosphere to improve in the new year under a new administration.   We discuss the role that Trump will play in the discussion, and whether President Obama will continue to be a leading and influential voice once he leaves office.   This is likely only the beginning of this discussion, as we continue to see how the atmosphere continues to unfold. I hope that you'll listen and can appreciate this conversation and that you will continue to stay engaged in this conversation on J's Lunch Counter.   TELL A FRIEND. J’s Lunch Counter is a platform for e

Episode 31 is the finale of our  special two-part show bringing 2016 to a  close.   I am joined by my close friends Junis Baldon, Albert Shumake aka DJ Always, and introducing to the show, Jared "J Dub" Williams.   On Part Two, we begin with the amazing year in black television with the rise of Donald Glover's Atlanta, Issa Rae's Insecure, and why Marvel's Luke Cage was one of the best shows of the year.  We also discuss the controversy surrounding Birth of A Nation and how it led to the film being such a letdown this year.   We also fell down a rabbit hole and debated the value of Ava DuVernay and the 13th documentary, because of Junis' issue with the historical inaccuracies of  the move Selma.   We conclude 2016 with the two biggest stories of the year - the deaths of unarmed black men, and of course, the election of Donald Trump.   I say this a lot, but this was definitely one of the most enjoyable shows to create, and I know you will enjoy it!       TELL A FRIEND. J’s Lunch Counter is a platform for each

Episode 30 is the show that brings 2016 to a close.   In this special two-part show, I am joined by my close friends Junis Baldon, Albert Shumake aka DJ Always, and introducing to the show, Jared "J Dub" Williams.   On Part One, we take a look at some of the best, worst, and most memorable moments of 2016 beginning with what felt like an unprecedented amount of celebrity deaths, some of which will carry lasting implications.   We look at the vacuum created by the death of Ali, and how 2016 saw a new generation of athletes from Lebron James to Colin Kaepernick have  begun to speak out on issues of social justice.   We spend a good portion of the show trying to answer the question - "What happened to Kanye?"  We also explore the year in music, the best albums of the year, why none of us were high on Beyonce this year, and why Chance The Rapper has become so important to the world of Hip-Hop.   I say this a lot, but this was definitely one of the most enjoyable shows to create, and I know you will enjoy it!    

J's Lunch Counter makes its triumphant return!  Well, triumphant is a poor choice of words.  More like its sluggish, shameful return after weeks of wound-licking following the Presidential Election.   It's been a long time coming, and as much as Jonah didn't want to record this show, this was a very necessary show - finally recapping the outcome of the 2016 Presidential Election, and of course, the new President-elect Donald Trump.    There's really no way to describe this except that this is a reaction show with an attempt to make some sense of what happened, to distinguish the voice of the head and the voice of the heart, and to begin to pick up the pieces and move forward.   This is the first step in our journey of figuring out what's next.   Jonah has words for the country, for Trump voters, for those who have been harassing people since the election, and those who are still reeling from the devastating outcome of this historic race.  What else can I say?   You just have to listen for yourself.   TELL A F

It's Election Eve so we had to bring you a special edition of J's Lunch Counter Happy Hour.  On Episode 26, Junis Baldon and I are making our final predictions for the election.  We are taking a hard look at all of the toss-up and battleground states, looking at recent trends, the latest polling data, and reports of early voting, to make our final calls for each state, and for the winner of the presidency.   Can Hillary hold on to her blue state firewall in the Midwestern states of Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota and Pennsylvania?  Can Trump overcome the early voting advantages Clinton has gained in states like Florida and Nevada?  Will this be a close nailbiter race, or will we be able to characterize this race fairly early in the evening?  The only thing that's for sure is that this race will end with as much excitement and chaos as its displayed for the past year and a half.     TELL A FRIEND. J’s Lunch Counter is a platform for each of you to engage in conversation that matters, so please help others join

We're only one week away from a historic presidential election that is guaranteed to have a long-lasting impact on our country.  In many ways, regardless of the outcome next Tuesday, it already has!   Today on J's Lunch Counter - Episode 25, we explore this impact in detail.  For the first half of the show, I am joined by Republican strategist Charles Badger, to discuss the damaging impact of our partisanship on our politics and government progress, looking at where Republicans and Democrats have both failed the country.  On the second half of the show, I am joined by Junis Baldon, to discuss how our parties communicate with voters, and where both parties focus on partisanship have left their messaging flawed and their voices tone-deaf.  We look at Republicans' struggles with minority voters, Democrats' struggles with evangelical voters and blue collar voters, and how both sides continue to struggle with connecting to new constituencies.  We also look at whether voters have a responsibility to focus on messag

On Today's show, we're covering the final two weeks of the President election, during what has been a relatively uneventful week in the campaign trail.  We begin with the latest in electoral math, whether Hillary's lead is solid, what states have moved to toss-up status, and the only remaining path for Donald Trump to 270.   We also explore the antics of the GOP in the final weeks of this race, and how alarming their behavior has been, and what it tells us about what the Republican party has learned throughout this campaign, and in the past eight years.    Will the Republican Party save itself, or will they continue to be driven into the margins?   As we explore what's happening, we realize this problem isn't exclusive to Donald Trump, but part of a larger pattern that we've been seeing for years, a pattern that isn't good for the party or the country.   TELL A FRIEND. J’s Lunch Counter is a platform for each of you to engage in conversation that matters, so please help others join the convo! Tell a friend ab

On Episode 23, we're talking the best and worst of political comedy. I'm joined by Dakarai Dorsett of 10thYearSeniors.com to take a look at how comedy continues to shape our perspective on politics.   We discuss our favorite political comedians from John Oliver to Bill Maher, late night staples like Stephen Colbert and Seth Meyers, and more. We also examine why the new daily show with Trevor Noah is struggling to capture an audience with his unique brand of coverage. We examine the highlights of SNL and how they impact the election and brand candidates more than other shows.  We also look at the candidates themselves, how Donald Trump has changed the face of comedy and political correctness, whether Hillary would be a funny president, and how these candidates differ from President Obama and his everlasting coolness.     For the last segment of the show, I bring back Kyndel Brown and Sam Gaines to decompress after Sunday's gruesome season 7 premiere of AMC's The Walking Dead.   Hear our reactions to the horrif

Episode 22 is a jam-packed special TWO HOUR show, plus its Friday which means HAPPY HOUR!   Today we are recapping the third and final presidential debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.   Today, I am pleased to be join by the biggest roundtable yet - political strategist Christian Motley, attorney Junis Baldon, and new to the show, Republican strategist and former White House Intern and campaign aide for Jeb Bush for America, Charles Badger.  In our analysis, we score the debate in terms of whether the needle was moved on Wednesday night, and whether Donald Trump was able to do anything to stop Hillary's momentum in the final three weeks.   We take a look at each of the issues raised in the debate and where each candidate was strongest, why Chris Wallace was the most effect debate moderator of this cycle, and we discuss which candidate most effectively communicated to the key undecided demographic of this election.  Beyond the debate, we talk about the strategy for the next three weeks, how Hillary

Episode 21 is a must-listen preview of the upcoming Season 7 premiere of AMC's The Walking Dead.  Today I am joined by my sister, Kyndel Brown, and my friend Sam Gaines, both Walking Dead fanatics, for a fun conversation about what to expect in the season premiere this Sunday.  We begin with our reaction to the brutally entertaining Season 6 finale, the introduction of Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Negan, and the prospect of losing one of our beloved characters.   We explore all of the possibilities for who we will see die at the hands of Lucille, what clues we can glean from the finale, and from the recently leaked preview for the premiere.   We also discuss our thoughts on the Negan storyline, where Season 7 is headed, and how closely we anticipate this show will stick to the comic book storyline.   We also discuss our reaction to the introduction of King Ezekiel, discuss the fate of Morgan and Carol, and wonder how many more characters will suffer throughout the season at the hands of Negan and the saviors.   We

Episode 20 is here to get you through the weekend.  It's Friday so it must be HAPPY HOUR!   Today on the show, Jonah covers the latest in the presidential campaign, beginning with the ongoing controversy surrounding Donald Trump and the women accusing him of unwanted sexual advances, the dangerous and disgusting narrative being floated by the Trump campaign, and why we can't afford to be so dismissive of the women who continue to come forward.  We also take a look at the feud between NFL Quarterback Colin Kaepernick and Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, why Ginsburg was off base for her comments, why Kaepernick should be commended, and how difficult it is to advance the conversation about race with allies that still don't get it.   We also explore the evolution of Glenn Beck, his recent comments in support of Black Lives Matter, Michael Moore, and the remarkable nature of his recent endorsement of Hillary Clinton.   We've got a full mailbag today as well, including questions on the following: whether

Episode 19 brings you a complete recap of the last 72 hours in the presidential campaign including a full review of the Second Presidential Debate.  Today, I am joined by Christian Motley to take a look at Sunday night's debate, and the spectacle leading up to it.   We discuss the panel of Bill Clinton accusers that Trump hosted just an hour before the debate, and how that played to voters.  We discuss the candidates' performance in the debate, Hillary's poise in the face of a humiliating spectacle, Trump's ruthlessness in attacking her and Bill, and the unprecedented statements made in the debate promising to prosecute her, calling her the devil, and accusing her of laughing at a 12 year old rape victim.   We talk about who this debate performance was meant for, who was behind it, and why it could potentially seal Trump's fate on election day.   Moving forward, we discuss how this weekend's events, culminating in this debate will impact the race, and equally important, how this GOP civil war is playing out a