J's Lunch Counter

Breaking News - In light of the recent controversy surrounding Donald Trump's vulgar comments that were released, we bring you a special episode of J's Lunch Counter.  I am joined by my good friend Christian Motley, and we discuss the fallout of Trump's comments, the reaction of many Republicans who are attempting to disavow the nominee, where Mike Pence fits in this equation, whether there is any avenue in place to remove or replace Trump from the Republican ticket, and how he will fare on Election Day.   This is certainly a pivotal moment in the 2016 campaign, and in our democracy.  Tune in for this very important episode!   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 Twitter and let your friends know what you find most interesting about each show!   STAY CONNECTED. Stay connected to the show!  Submit your questions about

pisode 17 Happy Hour is live to get you through the weekend, until the next Presidential Debate.  On the show today we catch up on a number of stories from the past week.   We begin with a discussion of the New York Times story published last weekend about Donald Trump's taxes in 1995, and his potentially claiming $1 Billion in losses, and how he could have used the tax code to avoid paying taxes on $50 million for 18 years.  We discuss the implications of Donald Trump's comments about his ability to avoid paying taxes, his surrogates calling him a 'genius' for not paying taxes, and how remarkable it is that working class voters identify with Trump.  We then discuss Trump's recent comments about veterans who suffer from PTSD, what his comments demonstrate about his understanding about military service and his compassion for our military men and women.    We also look at Bill Clinton's unnecessary comments about Obamacare being the craziest thing in the world, why his comments may have been valid,  but his app

Episode 16 is another end of the week show, which means HAPPY HOUR!!!! Today, Jonah closes out the week with a solo show discussing the latest in the presidential race and the aftermath of the First Presidential Debate.   He discusses the fallout from Hillary's attack on Trump fat-shaming a former Miss Universe, Trump's responding by continuing to fat-shame this former Miss Universe, and the Trump campaigns unhealthy and ill-advised obsession with talking about Bill Clinton's sex life.    He also looks at the nature of how we consume politics, how we are now conditioned to only access the information that affirms what we want to hear and believe, and how easy it is to disregard objective facts in favor of spin.   He also examines President Obama's recent townhall comments on Colin Kaepernick and other athletes who need to understand they are causing military families.   He discusses how the President got it wrong, and how people who antagonize this protest are getting it wrong in the most un-American way.   T

Episode 15 is our special Post-Debate show!  Join us as we breakdown the First Presidential Debate between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.   I am joined by my political analysts, Christian Motley, as well as Dakarai Dorsett of 10thYearSeniors.  The three of us discuss the highlights and lowlights of the First Presidential Debate.  Listen in to find out who each of thought came out as the victor in the debate, who landed the strongest punches, and who showed vulnerabilities headed into the final six weeks of this election.   We discuss Trump's hard-hitting attacks on Hillary's trade policy, his Chris Christie-inspired prosecutorial attacks on her support for TPP, and her comprehensive approach to improving the economy. We also discuss Trump's aggressive, interrupting style and whether it will be viewed as a strength or a weakness to the new and undecided voters.   We also look at Hillary's 20 second answer about her email controversy and lament why it took 1 year to develop those 20 seconds.  We take a look

Episode 14 is a solo show that I recorded for the end of the week, which means one thing….HAPPY HOUR!   Today on our second Happy Hour edition, I recap the week in news and politics.  I begin with candid thoughts on the Trump's ongoing outreach to black voters using, of all people, Don King as a surrogate on the campaign trail, as well as Don King's controversial use of the n-word, and the thing I found most troubling about this entire show.   I also take a look at two new shootings in Tulsa, Oklahoma and Charlotte, North Carolina, of black men at the hands of the police.  I explore the media coverage and the ensuing outrage over these killings, and I also spend some time attempting to encourage those who have been emotionally impacted by the ongoing imagery of this violence.   I discuss the idea of vicarious race-based trauma, and how it can impact those who consume and experience videos and photos and articles and social media posts around this violence.   Today, I also debut our new Mailbag segment, where

Episode 13 is a hard-hitting show featuring Coy Conner, who joins me in a frank, difficult discussion about Donald Trump, birtherism, and where black people find themselves in America in 2016.  We take a deeper look into the questions raised about the 'otherness' of President Obama, since his 2008 campaign until now, and we explore what his persecution really meant for him, and what it meant for black people across the country.  We look at the history of citizenship being challenged, even during slavery, how much that parallels to how Donald Trump has treated President Obama.   We lend perspective to the notion that blacks in America continue to struggle to find an identity in the fabric of America because of the ongoing attempts to delegitimize black people and attempts to minimize and rationalize the oppression of black people in America.   We also discuss an important, difficult question about the implication of Donald Trump support - Is one racist if they support Donald Trump?   You won't want to miss thi

Episode 12 covers the latest in the 2016 presidential campaign, as the race continues to tighten and the polls show a real fight in many of the battleground states. On the show, I am joined by political strategist Christian Motley, and together we take a look at the recent tightening in the polls, and try to predict why the recent change and where the race is headed in the final two months. We also make discuss the recent Commander in Chief Forum and how both candidates struggled through an awful format, and more importantly, what weaknesses Hillary revealed and what she can do in the upcoming debates to counter this weakness. We go in-depth on strategy for the upcoming presidential debate, and I tell you exactly how Hillary could win the debate against Donald Trump.   We also discuss Hillary's recent comments about the "basket of deplorables" supporting Donald Trump, and whether these comments are accurate, fair, and necessary.   We also explore the recent controversy around Hillary's health, the reveal of h

Episode 11 covers one of the most interesting new shows on Netflix - Last Chance U - a six-episode docuseries that chronicles the football season of the players of East Mississippi Community College, as they try to balance their academic workload with their passion for football and their drive for redemption and a chance to return to Division I.   Today on the show I am joined by cousin and former student athlete Griffin Brixey to discuss the many stories and subplots of this series.   THIS SHOW CONTAINS SPOILERS!!!! If you haven't yet seen it, go back and watch and enjoy.  Griffin and I break down the season of the EMCC Lions, the controversy surrounding their temperamental coach Buddy Stephens, and his mid-season suspension, the season-ending brawl and the racial overtones displayed in reaction to the players.   We also go in-depth on the personalities of the show, from Ronald Ollie and John Franklin to DJ Law, Coach Wood, and the ever-supportive Ms. Wagner.  This episode is a review and breakdown of a real

Episode 10 is up and it's the first-ever J's Lunch Counter Happy Hour show!  Happy Hour is our time to provide a brief recap of two or three of the more interesting stories in the world of news and politics, with some sports and entertainment thrown in as well.  This will be a much shorter show, with commentary and analysis on the week in news and more.   Today, I'm talking Trump and immigration.  I take a look at Trump's first diplomatic trip to Mexico and his meeting with Mexican President  Enrique Pena Nieto.  I also break down Trump's contradictory, angry, hate-filled ignorant speech doubling down on his harsh immigration policy he gave just hours after the more diplomatic meeting with the Mexican President.  I also shed some much-needed light on the faux-controversy surrounding the health of both candidates, why it makes no sense, and why you should disregard these as desperate, meaningless attacks with little factual basis whatsoever.  Finally, we preview next week's Apple product launch and how underwh

Episode 9 is live and it is LIT!   Today, on the show - When Race and Politics Collide!  I am joined by my friend Dakarai Dorsett of 10thYearSeniors.com discussing the latest news in the 2016 Presidential Election, focused on Donald Trump's attempts to appeal to black voters.   We discuss the effectiveness of his messaging, how tone deaf the Republicans continue to be, and whether this latest message is actually meant for black people, or from someone else entirely.   We also raise the question about whether some of what Donald Trump says is true - is Hillary Clinton a bigot?  Well, no not that part.  But we tackle whether Hillary Clinton and the Democrats are genuinely courting black voters or if this is all just political opportunism that we can expect every four years!   PLUS, the second half of the show gets heavy with the controversy surrounding NFL Quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, Colin Kaepernick, and his recent protest during the playing of the national anthem.   The outrage for this protest h

Episode 8 is all about one of the hottest movies of the summer - SUICIDE SQUAD!   I am joined by good friend Coy Conner, and together we break down all thins Suicide Squad.  Listen as we share our thoughts on all of the characters, the portrayals by Will Smith as Deadshot, Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn, Viola Davis as Amanda Waller, and of course, Jared Leto as The Joker, what this movie means for the DC films including the upcoming Justice League movie.   We also give our thoughts on the Marvel Universe, how they get right what DC continues to get wrong, and whose comic characters are stronger for the film world!   Plus, you won't want to miss our thoughts on the newest Joker, how he lives up to the legacy of Heath Ledger, and what his future holds in the future DC films.   Also, tune in for Coy's skewering of DC's Gotham tv series on Fox.   We also dig deeper into the Marvel Universe, how Marvel continues to experience success in their film arcs, and where that success is headed.  We also provide an in-dept

Episode 7 is what J's Lunch Counter is all about.  This is the first show recorded live in person, with my long-time friend and guest, Albert Shumake aka DJ Always!  Together, before we talk about the news of the day, we go back in time and share about our backgrounds, looking at the moments when we became aware of race and racism, and what it was like for both of us, with two different backgrounds, on a predominantly white college campus.   We talk about our experiences in life, how those experiences shape our understanding of the world, and what we’ve learned about race from our experiences. Listen to a meaningful conversation about race in America, in response to a Washington Post article that poses an important question of the day - "Why are white people just now waking up to racism?"   We discuss the biggest challenges for people attempting to understand the plights of people from different backgrounds, how race shattered our innocence as children, whether that's different for the current generation, an

Episode 6 is the biggest show yet!   For all the political junkie listeners – this one’s for you!  Today we’re talking politics, polls, and the Presidential Election!   Two weeks out of the convention, the race is taking a sharp turn in favor of the Democrats – but will it hold?  Today I am joined by Junis Baldon, and first-timer to J’s Lunch Counter – Kentucky political strategist and analyst, Christian Motley.  Together, the three of us will breakdown the latest in the polling data nationwide, and in each of the battleground states.  We also evaluate how successful the conventions have proven to be for each candidate, and which candidate keeps shooting themselves in the foot? (Hint: It is exactly who you think it is!).    We go in the weeds on all the latest polls, looking at whether Hillary Clinton is in line for a record electoral college victory, whether she can outperform President Obama in 2008 or 2012, how demography and the increase in minority voters will shape this election, and we spend a good amo

Episode 5 continues our conversation with Renaldo Dorsett of 10thYearSeniors.com and Junis Baldon discussing the complexities of being a professional athlete who speaks out on issues of social justice, and how athletes are perceived by the media and their fan-bases as they get involved in meaningful causes.   In Part 2 of this conversation, we break down how Serena Williams has been perceived by the media and how that perception continues to change throughout her career.   We discuss the legendary OJ Simpson trial and aftermath and how race shaped his story and his perception by the media, both during his career at USC and in the NFL, and in the aftermath of the infamous trial. The guys move on to Tiger Woods and how he chose to navigate the waters of being a multi-racial athlete who avoided controversial issues until he found himself at the center of the controversy. Also, listen for the hottest of takes about Michael Jordan, his infamous “Republicans wear sneakers too” comment in the early 90’s, the opportu

Episode 4 finally steps away from the presidential election and the Donald Trump Hillary Clinton saga and instead brings you an important, fun conversation on athletes and their roles in social activism especially on issues of the day including race and black lives matter.   Jonah is joined by Junis Baldon, and introduces the audience to his good friend Renaldo Dorsett, sportswriter and editor of 10thYearSeniors.com and co-host of the 10thYearSeniors Podcast.   The three take on a host of issues involving the influential figures in our sports world, the role and responsibility they share in using their platform to advance social causes, and the factors that exist to keep athletes from speaking out.  We look deeper into the recent efforts of NBA superstar Carmelo Anthony and his involvement with Black Lives Matter, the responsibility of Lebron James, Chris Paul, Dwyane Wade and Carmelo Anthony at the 2016 ESPY Awards, how these men compare to NFL legend Jim Brown and boxing legend Muhammad Ali from the iconic

Episode Three of J's Lunch Counter - The Podcast! covers the best and worst of the 2016 Democratic National Convention, including the politics and pageantry and political theater in Philadelphia.  In today's hour-plus episode, Jonah goes solo, breaking down the highlights and lowlights of the past week in politics, and how the Democrats created a stark contrast to the Trump convention in Cleveland. Listen to his thoughts on the choice of Tim Kaine for Vice President, the DNC email hack and how poorly the DNC handled the Democratic primary, the ongoing protests of the Bernie Sanders "Bernie or Bust" supporters, the rise of Cory Booker, the all-time great speech of the First Lady Michelle Obama, the awkward, edited re-telling of the Bill and Hillary love story, the Joe Biden Convention that never was, why the delegates were wrong to boo and heckle Michael Bloomberg, Tim Kaine and his most un-presidential shirt, President Barack Obama's most presidential performance, and the historic, slightly underwhelming but

We made it back for a second episode of J's Lunch Counter - The Podcast!    In today's hour-plus episode, avid political junkie, attorney, consultant and good speech enthusiast Jonah Brown is joined by guest Junis Baldon to continue their conversation about the final night of the Republican National Convention.  Hear their thoughts on whether Ivanka Trump and the rest of the Trump children helped to humanize their mogul father Donald Trump, how they reacted to the record-breaking 74-minute acceptance speech of Trump,  whether the 2016 Republican National Convention was an overall success or failure, and whether Trump will benefit from this convention in the polls.  We will also preview the pick for Hillary Clinton's Vice Presidential nominee, and make our predictions for who will shine in the Democratic Convention.   Plus, the guys try to answer the most interesting question of this election cycle - who will play the role of Donald Trump in Hillary Clinton's debate prep??? TELL A FRIEND. Stay tuned for future

WELCOME to the very first episode of J's Lunch Counter, featuring your host, Jonah Brown.   On today's inaugural episode, Jonah introduces himself to the audience, and goes right into the 2016 Republican National Convention.   Joined by his guest for the show,attorney and political junkie, Junis Baldon, together the breakdown the first three nights of the Republican National Convention including the fallout from the Melania Trump speech plagiarism controversy, the lack of statesmanship by Chris Christie, the emergence of the Trump children, the boldness of Ted Cruz, and the struggle to paint a human narrative for the Republican nominee, Donald Trump.    TELL A FRIEND. Stay tuned for future episodes of J's Lunch Counter.  Tell a friend about the show and help grow our audience! STAY CONNECTED. Stay connected to the show!  Submit your questions about news, politics, popular culture, social justice, entertainment, music, and sports, and we will cover them for a future Mailbag segment.   You can send your questio