Shows
Real Ballers Read99. Considering Genius, Jazz & the Sublime with Robert MenafeeIn this episode, we talk with our dad, Robert Menafee, about jazz and all of the things that jazz shines a light on.
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2024-05-051h 33Real Ballers Read99. Considering Genius, Jazz & the Sublime with Robert MenafeeIn this episode, we talk with our dad, Robert Menafee, about jazz and all of the things that jazz shines a light on.
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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/realballersread/support
2024-05-051h 33
Real Ballers Read91. Exploring Health and the Meaning of Home with Sidney MilesWe got to chop it up with our good brother Sidney, a local Chicago legend, fitness coach, entrepreneur, artist, model, and community organizer. We talked with him about his story getting back into reading in college, the importance of books to his health practices, and what home and community means to him being raised and having family all over the world.
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2024-02-1147 minReal Ballers Read91. Exploring Health and the Meaning of Home with Sidney MilesWe got to chop it up with our good brother Sidney, a local Chicago legend, fitness coach, entrepreneur, artist, model, and community organizer. We talked with him about his story getting back into reading in college, the importance of books to his health practices, and what home and community means to him being raised and having family all over the world.
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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/realballersread/support
2024-02-1147 min
Real Ballers Read76. Why Willie Mae Thornton Matters with Lynnée DeniseLynnée Denise filled the silence of her pandemic with the rich sounds and legacy of Willie Mae Thorton. The outcome of that deep listening, reading, and viewing practice is Lynnée's amazing new book, Why Willie Mae Thornton Matters.
In this interview, she talks about her interdisciplinary and interdependent approach to writing her book, how she came to love reading, and where she sees the legacy of Willie Mae Thornton today.
Buy Willie Mae Thornton Matters Here
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2023-09-101h 00
Real Ballers Read75. The Importance of the Black Working Class with Dr. Blair LM KelleyIn this episode, we talk with Dr. Blair LM Kelley, an award-winning historian, professor, and writer about her recent book, Black Folk.
We talked about how she made the study of history her own, how she thinks about progress in the Black community, her gratitude to Toni Morrison, and on whether Beyonce's "Break My Soul" is a Black working class anthem.
And we shared a lot of laughs along the way!
Check out Real Ballers Read here
Learn More About Dr. Kelley Here
Buy Black Folk Here
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2023-08-151h 02
Real Ballers Read74. American Whitelash with Wesley LoweryOur guest today is an incredible reporter and journalist—Wesley Lowery.
In this episode we talk with him about his recently released book, American Whitelash, and how he approaches his writing.
Check out Real Ballers Read here
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2023-07-0135 min
Real Ballers Read73. The New Black Aesthetic with Trey EllisOur guest today is a true writer's writer - novelist, essayist, playwright, and screenwriter Trey Ellis!
Trey Ellis is the author of four books and is currently a professor at Columbia University. In this episode we talk with him about his early inspiration as a reader and writer, the New Black Aesthetic and more.
Check out Real Ballers Read here
Check out Trey's website here
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2023-06-2443 min
Real Ballers Read72. From Precocious to the Pulitzer with Dr. Marcia ChatelainDr. Marcia Chatelain is a professor of History and African American Studies at Georgetown University and the author of two books: South Side Girls: Growing Up in the Great Migration, and the Pulitzer Prize winning Franchise: The Golden Arches in Black America.
In this episode, we first learn from Dr. Chatelain about her upbringing in Chicago - all the books she could get her hands on, and all the McDonald's she could enjoy. Although Super Size Me convinced her to give up the Golden Arches for good in 2005, her explorations of gender, race, and capitalism in American...
2023-06-0239 min
Real Ballers Read71. On Our Resilience and Brilliance with Dr. Daniel BlackDr. Daniel Black is a professor of African American Studies at Clark Atlanta University and the author of seven novels and the new collection of essays, Black on Black: On Our Resilience and Brilliance in America.
In this episode featuring him and two of his friends, Dr. Black brought us to church, brought us to the water, and brought us home to ourselves. Our conversation spans from his experiences as a young reader, to queerness and double consciousness, the problem of Black self-hatred, and naming yourself as an act of love.
Dr. Black is a...
2023-05-3156 min
Real Ballers Read70. The Color of Science with Dr. Frederic Bertley Dr. Frederic Bertley is an Emmy-Award-winning science educator and immunologist from Montreal, Canada. He currently serves as the president of the nation's #1 science museum, COSI (Center of Science and Industry) in Columbus, Ohio.
In this episode, we talk with Dr. Bertley about how he came to love reading, how he fell in love with science, and ask him all sorts of fun questions about science!!
Dr. Bertley is a one-of-a-kind guest that brought his incredible energy and intelligence to our show and we know you'll love this episode!
Check out Dr...
2023-04-251h 17
Real Ballers Read69. Race Matters: Talking About Cornel West's ClassicThis April was the 30th anniversary of Race Matters by Cornel West. It's a great book that I wanted to just sit on the couch to talk to y'all about!
Highly recommend reading through the book if you haven't, it's not as academic as it may seem.
You can check out the book with this link.
:40 How I found the book
1:39 A little context for the book
4:33 Nihilism in Black America
6:32 What does hope mean to you?
10:45 Marvin Gaye Interview
14:46 Those...
2023-04-1128 min
Real Ballers Read68. The Unexpected and Fun History of "Simple" with Dr. Donna Akiba Sullivan HarperIn this episode, we were honored to talk with educator, teacher and writer extraordinaire, Dr. Donna Akiba Sullivan Harper. She taught at Spelman for 32 years and was the Fuller E. Calloway Professor of English. She is also a world renowned expert on Langston Hughes and his Simple stories.
We talked about her longtime love and scholarship of Langston Hughes, the story of how Simple came to be, and the legacy of the stories today. Dr. Harper shares so many awesome stories and we shared many laughs! It was so great to talk about Simple fo...
2023-03-311h 14
Real Ballers Read67. How and Why to Start a PodcastWe don't know everything about podcasting, but we do know that it's one of the most fun and fulfilling things we've ever done. Everyone who enjoys listening to podcasts should at least *consider* producing one because it's a great opportunity for personal growth and community-building. Here in this episode, Jan shares some of the origin story of Real Ballers Read, and offers 5 simple steps to starting your own.
Connect with us on our Instagram and website.
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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/realballersread/support
2023-03-2233 minReal Ballers Read67. How and Why to Start a PodcastWe don't know everything about podcasting, but we do know that it's one of the most fun and fulfilling things we've ever done. Everyone who enjoys listening to podcasts should at least *consider* producing one because it's a great opportunity for personal growth and community-building. Here in this episode, Jan shares some of the origin story of Real Ballers Read, and offers 5 simple steps to starting your own.
Connect with us on our Instagram and website.
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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/realballersread/support
2023-03-2233 min
Real Ballers Read66. The Tale of Two Magazine Covers: Discussing Black Men in Popular MediaSo in the last couple of weeks there was a small controversy on Twitter about two magazine covers, one with Jonathan Majors and another with ASAP Rocky and Rihanna. The controversy was over whether or not there is an agenda to effeminize Black men in popular media.
In this episode, I wanted to talk about to two writers who had a similar debate before—Frances Cress Welsing and Essex Hemphill.
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2023-03-1319 min
Real Ballers Read65. Continuing Our Exploration of "Simple" with Uncle ChrisReal Ballers Read returns to Langston Hughes’s legendary but long-forgotten character, Jess B. Semple in this week’s podcast episode! This time with our hilarious and brilliant Uncle Chris “CockaRue” Wesson.
Last summer, Uncle Chris asked if we knew Jess B. Semple and his favorite book series Simple Speaks His Mind, Simple Takes A Wife, and Simple Stakes A Claim.
We had never heard of Simple, or even knew that Langston Hughes wrote more than poetry. But today we share our conversation with Uncle Chris, where he tells the story of how Simple turned him into...
2023-02-241h 04Real Ballers Read65. Continuing Our Exploration of "Simple" with Uncle ChrisReal Ballers Read returns to Langston Hughes’s legendary but long-forgotten character, Jess B. Semple in this week’s podcast episode! This time with our hilarious and brilliant Uncle Chris “CockaRue” Wesson.
Last summer, Uncle Chris asked if we knew Jess B. Semple and his favorite book series Simple Speaks His Mind, Simple Takes A Wife, and Simple Stakes A Claim.
We had never heard of Simple, or even knew that Langston Hughes wrote more than poetry. But today we share our conversation with Uncle Chris, where he tells the story of how Simple turned him into...
2023-02-241h 04
Real Ballers Read64. We Are The Trayvon Generation“I call the young people who grew up in the past twenty-five years the Trayvon Generation. They always knew these stories. These stories formed their world view. These stories helped instruct young African-Americans about their embodiment and their vulnerability. The stories were primers in fear and futility. The stories were the ground soil of their rage. These stories instructed them that anti-black hatred and violence were never far.” - Elizabeth Alexander, The Trayvon Generation
This week is dedicated to all the young Black people who’ve grown up in the Trayvon Generation.
Elizabeth Alexander’s essay and book of the same nam...
2023-02-1851 min
Real Ballers Read63. Who is Simple?? Talking About Langston Hughes' Beloved Character“Usually over a glass of beer, he tells me his tales, mostly in high humor, but sometimes with a pain in his soul as sharp as the occasional hurt of that bunion on his right foot.”
~ Langston Hughes, 1961
Who is Simple???
For this week’s episode of Real Ballers Read, we introduce you to one of Langston Hughes’s most hilarious and lesser known characters: Jess B. Semple, nicknamed “Simple”.
Simple and his stories are a celebration of many of the black folks that Hughes encountered in Harlem. Through short dialogues between hims...
2023-02-1137 minReal Ballers Read63. Who is Simple?? Talking About Langston Hughes' Beloved Character“Usually over a glass of beer, he tells me his tales, mostly in high humor, but sometimes with a pain in his soul as sharp as the occasional hurt of that bunion on his right foot.”
~ Langston Hughes, 1961
Who is Simple???
For this week’s episode of Real Ballers Read, we introduce you to one of Langston Hughes’s most hilarious and lesser known characters: Jess B. Semple, nicknamed “Simple”.
Simple and his stories are a celebration of many of the black folks that Hughes encountered in Harlem. Through short dialogues between hims...
2023-02-1137 min
Real Ballers Read62. The Spook Who Sat By The DoorIn this episode, Miles talks about The Spook Who Sat By The Door by Sam Greenlee. He reads a short passage from the book, talks about the questions it raises and the book's influence on Nipsey Hussle.
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2023-02-0412 minReal Ballers Read62. The Spook Who Sat By The DoorIn this episode, Miles talks about The Spook Who Sat By The Door by Sam Greenlee. He reads a short passage from the book, talks about the questions it raises and the book's influence on Nipsey Hussle.
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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/realballersread/support
2023-02-0412 min
Real Ballers Read61. The Weight of Wellness with Akili Nzuri“Are you sure, sweetheart you want to be well? …Cause wholeness is no trifling matter. A lot of weight when you’re well.” Toni Cade Bambara opens her novel The Salt Eaters with these lines - questioning both the protagonist AND the reader to decide if they want to take on the weight of wellness. Reading this book is unlike any other reading experience we’ve had. It feels like trudging through mud, and in this episode Akili assures us that that means that The Salt Eaters is working!?!? Akili shows us, and all our listeners, what it means to be a sm...
2023-01-281h 06
Real Ballers Read60. Fascinated to Presume: Zadie Smith's Powerful Essay on Fiction“I have closed novels and stared at their back covers for a long moment and felt known in a way I cannot honestly say I have felt known by many real-life interactions with human beings, or even by myself.” ~ Zadie Smith On this week’s episode of Real Ballers Read, we dive into one of the most thought-provoking essays by the brilliant Zadie Smith, “Fascinated to Presume: In Defense of Fiction”. Here’s a fun contribution to the conversation started by @booksarepopculture on Black bookstagram’s preference for fiction or nonfiction. What’s your go-to genre?? The bros got a whole *concept...
2023-01-211h 34
Real Ballers Read59. Poetry is Not A Luxury with Dr. Eve L. EwingIntroducing… Dr Eve L. Ewing as the newest guest on the Real Ballers Read podcast!!
We talked with Dr. Ewing about the power and problems of reading, why the way we frame education matters, and the two Audre Lorde essays that Dr. Ewing is constantly learning from: “Poetry is Not a Luxury” and “The Transformation of Silence into Language and Action.”
We’ve been dreaming to host Dr. Ewing on our podcast since Day 1 because of her incredible artistry, scholarship and organizing. We look up to her as a Chicago writer (in the traditions of Gwendolyn Brooks and Sandra Cisneros) and could no...
2023-01-1446 min
Real Ballers Read58. Lessons from Michael Jordan for 2023"Teamwork and intelligence wins championships." In this episode, we talk about Michael Jordan's 1994 book, I Can't Accept Not Trying and what we can learn from his mindset in trying to accomplish our own goals in 2023.
1:43 Story behind the book
2:44 I Can’t Accept Not Trying… what does that mean?
4:27 Why are people afraid of failure?
5:32 Difference between faith and hope
7:19 Why people listen to athletes
14:13 The teams around Michael Jordan
19:28 Fear is an illusion
20:59 Boxing
23:30 What success looks like f...
2023-01-0729 minReal Ballers Read58. Lessons from Michael Jordan for 2023"Teamwork and intelligence wins championships." In this episode, we talk about Michael Jordan's 1994 book, I Can't Accept Not Trying and what we can learn from his mindset in trying to accomplish our own goals in 2023.
1:43 Story behind the book
2:44 I Can’t Accept Not Trying… what does that mean?
4:27 Why are people afraid of failure?
5:32 Difference between faith and hope
7:19 Why people listen to athletes
14:13 The teams around Michael Jordan
19:28 Fear is an illusion
20:59 Boxing
23:30 What success looks like f...
2023-01-0729 min
Real Ballers Read57. Why It's Important for Black Men to ReadIn this episode, we talk about why it's important for Black men to read! This is a topic we've been thinking about for a long time and want continue thinking and talking about with others. Let us know your thoughts and questions!
:32 Why is it important for Black men to read?
:49 Reading as a practice of listening
3:39 The Fear of not being heard
6:22 Why Reading has so many positive side effects
9:30 Miles’ general theory for the difference between why Black Men and Black Women read
...
2022-12-3031 minReal Ballers Read57. Why It's Important for Black Men to ReadIn this episode, we talk about why it's important for Black men to read! This is a topic we've been thinking about for a long time and want continue thinking and talking about with others. Let us know your thoughts and questions!
:32 Why is it important for Black men to read?
:49 Reading as a practice of listening
3:39 The Fear of not being heard
6:22 Why Reading has so many positive side effects
9:30 Miles’ general theory for the difference between why Black Men and Black Women read
...
2022-12-3031 min
Real Ballers Read56. 2022, A Year in Review!In this episode, Jan and Miles reflect on their year of reading! They talk about their favorite books, reflect on how reading fit into their lives and think ahead to what they are excited about reading in 2023.
1:09 Miles’ reflection on his year in reading
5:08 Year of Moving
6:33 Jan’s reflection on his year of reading
11:13 Jan’s pace of reading
12:45 Jan’s Year of Poetry and Plays in 2023
15:02 Miles Intention for 2023
17:24 The Library
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2022-12-2319 minReal Ballers Read56. 2022, A Year in Review!In this episode, Jan and Miles reflect on their year of reading! They talk about their favorite books, reflect on how reading fit into their lives and think ahead to what they are excited about reading in 2023.
1:09 Miles’ reflection on his year in reading
5:08 Year of Moving
6:33 Jan’s reflection on his year of reading
11:13 Jan’s pace of reading
12:45 Jan’s Year of Poetry and Plays in 2023
15:02 Miles Intention for 2023
17:24 The Library
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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/realballersread/support
2022-12-2319 min
Real Ballers Read55. Watering Whole with Jan Ellis MenafeeY'all - Jan’s first book is coming out this weekend!! It’s a Happy Birthday Pub Day for my bro!! Watering Whole is a chapbook of poems that are inspired by Jan’s personal and cultural relationship with water. Jan has studied water through the lens of Black art and history, environmental justice, technology and spirituality, and his insights all come to the surface in this incredible collection. You will come away from this book with a newfound perspective and appreciation for the all-life-giving source that is water! In this week’s podcast episode, Jan details his story with wat...
2022-12-1736 minReal Ballers Read55. Watering Whole with Jan Ellis MenafeeY'all - Jan’s first book is coming out this weekend!! It’s a Happy Birthday Pub Day for my bro!! Watering Whole is a chapbook of poems that are inspired by Jan’s personal and cultural relationship with water. Jan has studied water through the lens of Black art and history, environmental justice, technology and spirituality, and his insights all come to the surface in this incredible collection. You will come away from this book with a newfound perspective and appreciation for the all-life-giving source that is water! In this week’s podcast episode, Jan details his story with wat...
2022-12-1736 min
Real Ballers Read54. Seeing a Sermon in Action with Daniel CastBecause sometimes somebody can give a sermon through words that subtly, yet significantly, respects our humanity. And sometimes somebody can give a sermon without saying a word.
Our newest guest on the Real Ballers Read podcast is one of our favorite bookstagrammers and low-key authors - Daniel Cast!!
We’ve been vibing with his reflections and recommendations for more than a minute, so it was great to finally chop it up with Daniel about The Undocumented Americans by Karla Cornejo Villavicencio, why art is alive, his love of Flamin’ Hot Cheetos and more.
Dani...
2022-12-1056 min
Real Ballers Read53. Portrait of A Young Black Artist on Fire with Vera Grace Menafee“The word art does not encompass the full meaning of the word”
For this week’s episode of Real Ballers Read, we interviewed our sister Vera Grace (they/she), who is easily the wisest, coolest, and most creative person we know!!
Vera just returned from a life-changing trip to Namibia and Southern Africa, where they deepened their study of Black agricultural practices. We had an awesome time catching up and getting to reflect on her experiences together.
It’s amazing how we can know our sister our entire lives, and still learn so much abo...
2022-12-031h 47Real Ballers Read53. Portrait of A Young Black Artist on Fire with Vera Grace Menafee“The word art does not encompass the full meaning of the word”
For this week’s episode of Real Ballers Read, we interviewed our sister Vera Grace (they/she), who is easily the wisest, coolest, and most creative person we know!!
Vera just returned from a life-changing trip to Namibia and Southern Africa, where they deepened their study of Black agricultural practices. We had an awesome time catching up and getting to reflect on her experiences together.
It’s amazing how we can know our sister our entire lives, and still learn so much abo...
2022-12-031h 47
Real Ballers Read52. Celebrating Black Women for Who They Are with Shanita HubbardIn this episode, we talk with Shanita Hubbard, the author of the new book Ride or Die: A Feminist Manifesto for the Well-Being of Black Women. We had an awesome time hearing from Shanita about her journey writing Ride or Die, why we must stop imposing and glorifying a Ride or Die mentality on Black women, how she's growing as a parent, her favorite hip-hop artists and more. This is an incredible book and an incredible episode! You'll love it as much as we did.
Ride or Die Book Link
Shanita's Website
0:00 Shanita H...
2022-11-261h 20
Real Ballers Read51. Dreaming Big with Anthony IrelandAnthony Ireland is a graduate of Loyal Marymount University, he played nine years of basketball professionally in Europe, and he is the founder of the AI three Leadership Academy and host of the Grind podcast. In this episode, we talk about his love of basketball and reading and his journey with both over the years. You'll love this conversation as much as we did!
:46 What Anthony has been up to recently
1:43 Anthony’s non-profit
3:07 Why Anthony Pursued Basketball in the first place
4:23 What kept Anthony in the game
5:14 What LMU was like
6:44 What he learned from being there
7:32 Anthony’s jour...
2022-11-1940 min
Real Ballers Read50. Retiring at 24 with Symone SpeechTo celebrate our 50th episode, Real Ballers Read had a special guest on today’s podcast: Symone Speech!! Symone is the Executive Director, college advisor and NCAA specialist for @ccachicago , a volleyball coach, retired pro athlete extraordinaire, and Jan's fiancé. In this episode, we hear Symone’s incredible story from not making tryouts as a 7th grader to making it as a pro volleyballer in Italy and Germany - with a super successful D1 college career at Georgetown University in between. Along the way of her athletic career, self-help and fantasy books helped her navigate many challenges and triumphs. The m...
2022-11-1245 minReal Ballers Read50. Retiring at 24 with Symone SpeechTo celebrate our 50th episode, Real Ballers Read had a special guest on today’s podcast: Symone Speech!! Symone is the Executive Director, college advisor and NCAA specialist for @ccachicago , a volleyball coach, retired pro athlete extraordinaire, and Jan's fiancé. In this episode, we hear Symone’s incredible story from not making tryouts as a 7th grader to making it as a pro volleyballer in Italy and Germany - with a super successful D1 college career at Georgetown University in between. Along the way of her athletic career, self-help and fantasy books helped her navigate many challenges and triumphs. The m...
2022-11-1245 min
Real Ballers Read49. We Real Cool: Breaking Down bell hooks' Book on Black Masculinity What a joy this episode was to record! bell hooks is one of our favorite authors and there is still so much we have to learn from her work. In this episode, we talk about one of our favorite books of hers, We Real Cool. We discuss what our favorite chapters are, whether or not we agree with her analysis and so many different aspects of masculinity and Black masculinity in particular. Share this episode with someone you think would appreciate it! Leave a review while you're here too!
Real Ballers Read Instagram
0:51 Our podcast w...
2022-11-0450 minReal Ballers Read49. We Real Cool: Breaking Down bell hooks' Book on Black Masculinity What a joy this episode was to record! bell hooks is one of our favorite authors and there is still so much we have to learn from her work. In this episode, we talk about one of our favorite books of hers, We Real Cool. We discuss what our favorite chapters are, whether or not we agree with her analysis and so many different aspects of masculinity and Black masculinity in particular. Share this episode with someone you think would appreciate it! Leave a review while you're here too!
Real Ballers Read Instagram
0:51 Our podcast w...
2022-11-0450 min
Real Ballers Read48. Part 3. Keeping It Real with Reggie BaileyIn this final Part 3 episode, Jan and Miles keep talking with Reggie Bailey— the man behind @reggiereads and one of the hosts of the awesome podcast, Books Are Pop Culture! The party don't stop...
2:32 You can’t get to the next level by being agreeable
4:34 How does Reggie measure his growth
7:39 Practicing the community you preach
10:34 Talking with Imani Perry
13:18 How to contact and talk with authors’
14:41 👀
19:17 Miles’ questions about the future of the book industry
21:47 Jan’s big questions that he’s pondering
2022-10-2940 minReal Ballers Read48. Part 3. Keeping It Real with Reggie BaileyIn this final Part 3 episode, Jan and Miles keep talking with Reggie Bailey— the man behind @reggiereads and one of the hosts of the awesome podcast, Books Are Pop Culture! The party don't stop...
2:32 You can’t get to the next level by being agreeable
4:34 How does Reggie measure his growth
7:39 Practicing the community you preach
10:34 Talking with Imani Perry
13:18 How to contact and talk with authors’
14:41 👀
19:17 Miles’ questions about the future of the book industry
21:47 Jan’s big questions that he’s pondering
2022-10-2940 min
Real Ballers Read47. Part 2. Keeping It Real with Reggie BaileyIn this Part 2 episode, Jan and Miles keep talking with Reggie Bailey— the man behind @reggiereads and one of the hosts of the awesome podcast, Books Are Pop Culture! We talk about whether or not books should have trigger warnings, Reggie’s 10 Books 10 Decades challenge, and his story of how Books Are Pop Culture started. This is another episode full of gems and energy from Reggie so we know you’ll love it.
Reggie's Instagram
Books Are Pop Culture Instagram
1:10 Trigger warnings quote
2:10 Reggie’s take on trigger warnings
6:05 Movie and...
2022-10-221h 23Real Ballers Read47. Part 2. Keeping It Real with Reggie BaileyIn this Part 2 episode, Jan and Miles keep talking with Reggie Bailey— the man behind @reggiereads and one of the hosts of the awesome podcast, Books Are Pop Culture! We talk about whether or not books should have trigger warnings, Reggie’s 10 Books 10 Decades challenge, and his story of how Books Are Pop Culture started. This is another episode full of gems and energy from Reggie so we know you’ll love it.
Reggie's Instagram
Books Are Pop Culture Instagram
1:10 Trigger warnings quote
2:10 Reggie’s take on trigger warnings
6:05 Movie and...
2022-10-221h 23
Real Ballers Read46. Keeping It Real with Reggie BaileyIn this episode, Jan and Miles talk with Reggie Bailey— the man behind @reggiereads and one of the hosts of the awesome podcast, Books Are Pop Culture! We talk about Reggie’s epic story of how he got into reading and our thoughts about Deborah Appleman’s new book, Literature and the New Culture Wars. We kept it real for three + hours so this is just the first part of our convo! Stay tuned for Part 2….
2:04 How Reggie got into reading
10:17 How Reggie built his own Black canon
14:38 How Reggie Left the Mob
16:07...
2022-10-1547 minReal Ballers Read46. Keeping It Real with Reggie BaileyIn this episode, Jan and Miles talk with Reggie Bailey— the man behind @reggiereads and one of the hosts of the awesome podcast, Books Are Pop Culture! We talk about Reggie’s epic story of how he got into reading and our thoughts about Deborah Appleman’s new book, Literature and the New Culture Wars. We kept it real for three + hours so this is just the first part of our convo! Stay tuned for Part 2….
2:04 How Reggie got into reading
10:17 How Reggie built his own Black canon
14:38 How Reggie Left the Mob
16:07...
2022-10-1547 min
Real Ballers Read45. You Owe You: Ignite Your Power, Your Purpose and Your WhyIn this episode, Miles interviews Jan about Eric Thomas' new book, You Owe You. We have been fans of ET's message for some time and this book did not disappoint. It brought all of the energy and focus of his speeches in an even more personal package.
0:41 Background on Eric Thomas
2:08 What surprised Jan most about You Owe You
3:38 Eric Thomas’ Childhood story
5:30 How Jan clarified his purpose from reading this book
8:49 What Jan owes himself
10:04 Jan’s daily non-negotiables
11:34 The Journey to Un...
2022-10-0823 minReal Ballers Read45. You Owe You: Ignite Your Power, Your Purpose and Your WhyIn this episode, Miles interviews Jan about Eric Thomas' new book, You Owe You. We have been fans of ET's message for some time and this book did not disappoint. It brought all of the energy and focus of his speeches in an even more personal package.
0:41 Background on Eric Thomas
2:08 What surprised Jan most about You Owe You
3:38 Eric Thomas’ Childhood story
5:30 How Jan clarified his purpose from reading this book
8:49 What Jan owes himself
10:04 Jan’s daily non-negotiables
11:34 The Journey to Un...
2022-10-0823 min
Real Ballers Read44. Native Son: Masculinity, Emotions, and Being MisunderstoodIn this episode, Miles and Jan talk about a book that Miles read recently: Native Son by Richard Wright. It's a crazy and complex book that has an even more important legacy. We talk about why the book had such a big impact, what’s relatable and realistic about Bigger Thomas, dive into what it really means to understand other people's emotions and our own. CW: In discussing Native Son, we talk about the novel’s depictions of sexual violence.
3:04 Books that Native Son influenced
6:00 Non-Fiction Writers who are great novelists
6:45 Richard Wright's writing about Africa
7:00 Talk about Native Son’s Impa...
2022-10-0147 minReal Ballers Read44. Native Son: Masculinity, Emotions, and Being MisunderstoodIn this episode, Miles and Jan talk about a book that Miles read recently: Native Son by Richard Wright. It's a crazy and complex book that has an even more important legacy. We talk about why the book had such a big impact, what’s relatable and realistic about Bigger Thomas, dive into what it really means to understand other people's emotions and our own. CW: In discussing Native Son, we talk about the novel’s depictions of sexual violence.
3:04 Books that Native Son influenced
6:00 Non-Fiction Writers who are great novelists
6:45 Richard Wright's writing about Africa
7:00 Talk about Native Son’s Impa...
2022-10-0147 min
Real Ballers Read43. Relationships Aren't Everything...They are the ONLY thing. In this podcast episode, we talk about all of the places we've been in the past couple of years, and how our relationships to each other and our friends and family have changed during that time.
0:50 What We’re Looking Forward to In Chicago
3:31 What DC Means to Jan
5:04 The difference between people and place
5:30 Miles talks about New York City
11:00 How City Stereotypes Affect How You Live there
13:00 Miles talks about teaching in New York City
16:00 All the places we’ve been in the last two years
22.52 What the podcast has meant to us
27:00 The i...
2022-09-2159 minReal Ballers Read43. Relationships Aren't Everything...They are the ONLY thing. In this podcast episode, we talk about all of the places we've been in the past couple of years, and how our relationships to each other and our friends and family have changed during that time.
0:50 What We’re Looking Forward to In Chicago
3:31 What DC Means to Jan
5:04 The difference between people and place
5:30 Miles talks about New York City
11:00 How City Stereotypes Affect How You Live there
13:00 Miles talks about teaching in New York City
16:00 All the places we’ve been in the last two years
22.52 What the podcast has meant to us
27:00 The i...
2022-09-2159 min
Real Ballers Read42. Why Real Ballers ReadIn this episode, we talk about why Real Ballers Read, the origin of the phrase, why reading is important to us, how our relationship to reading has changed over time and how you can start to strengthen your own reading habits. This episode has been years in the making! We know you'll love it. Subscribe to our podcast and leave a review!
1:31 The Story of When Our Mom First Said Real Ballers Read
4:49 How Our Dad Helped Us Love Reading through Basketball
8:14 The Origins of Real Ballers Read
11:15 The importance of...
2022-09-101h 00Real Ballers Read42. Why Real Ballers ReadIn this episode, we talk about why Real Ballers Read, the origin of the phrase, why reading is important to us, how our relationship to reading has changed over time and how you can start to strengthen your own reading habits. This episode has been years in the making! We know you'll love it. Subscribe to our podcast and leave a review!
1:31 The Story of When Our Mom First Said Real Ballers Read
4:49 How Our Dad Helped Us Love Reading through Basketball
8:14 The Origins of Real Ballers Read
11:15 The importance of...
2022-09-101h 00
Real Ballers Read41. 5 Lessons From Our First Year of PodcastingWe're back to reflect on all of the ways we've grown from this last year of the Real Ballers Read Podcast. We're excited to embark on this new chapter of the podcast with you all! Subscribe to our podcast and leave a review!
Real Ballers Read Website
Real Ballers Read Instagram
0:40 What We’ve Been up to
6:49 The original purpose of the podcast
10:35 Lesson One- Go First
14:04 How We’ve Changed Through the Podcast
17:40 Lesson Two-Follow up
20:17 Our Favorite Email Chronicles
25:00 Less...
2022-08-311h 01Real Ballers Read41. 5 Lessons From Our First Year of PodcastingWe're back to reflect on all of the ways we've grown from this last year of the Real Ballers Read Podcast. We're excited to embark on this new chapter of the podcast with you all! Subscribe to our podcast and leave a review!
Real Ballers Read Website
Real Ballers Read Instagram
0:40 What We’ve Been up to
6:49 The original purpose of the podcast
10:35 Lesson One- Go First
14:04 How We’ve Changed Through the Podcast
17:40 Lesson Two-Follow up
20:17 Our Favorite Email Chronicles
25:00 Less...
2022-08-311h 01
Real Ballers Read40. Reaching for Cosmic Glory with Glory EdimGlory Edim has spent a lifetime gathering and uplifting the stories of Black women.
As a little girl in Arlington Virginia, Glory could be found at her local library reading The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison.
As a college student at Howard University, Glory could be found at Founders Library reading Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston.
As the visionary founder of Well-Read Black Girl, Glory can be found in the pages of her book On Girlhood: 15 Stories from the Well-Read Black Girl Library.
On Girlhood is a...
2022-06-281h 01
Real Ballers Read39. Things I Heard My Professor Say with Dr. Curtis Odom and Eli BoulousOn the first day of Dr. Curtis L. Odom’s capstone business class at Northeastern, Dr. Odom tells his students that anything he says twice they should write down.
Eli Boulous, a Senior student in the class one fall, heard this message and then proceeded to take copious notes of everything important Dr. Odom said. He meticulously organized these notes into quotations and by theme, and then gifted these notes to Dr. Odom at the end of the semester, with the title “Odom’s Playbook.”
Dr. Odom was so honored and humbled by the impact his words...
2022-06-061h 32
Real Ballers Read38. The Power of Betting On Yourself with Cree MylesCree Myles doesn't believe in book blurbs. After years of reading the newest releases around the clock, she's no longer fooled by any overly positive message on a book jacket. But when the author Jason Reynolds took the time to tweet about Noviolet Bulawayo's new book, Glory, she knew his praise was genuine and decided to read the book for herself⏤and now, Glory is her favorite book of 2022. In this episode, we discuss the novel's deft and humorous use of satire to illuminate recent Zimbabwean history and dive into Cree's journey into becoming a book influencer and inaugural ed...
2022-05-291h 26
Real Ballers Read37. The World is a Better Place Because of This Book with Brittany AndersonSometimes its okay to believe the hype.
Brittany Anderson had heard so much about The Final Revival of Opal and New by Dawnie Walton that she figured it was worth picking up a copy.
Little did she know that through this book, she would enter a world of surprises, secrets and betrayal, where a fictional story felt so real that Brittany learned a lot about herself and society.
We were blown away by The Final Revival as well after reading it in preparation for this interview, so we made sure to geek out w...
2022-05-211h 04
Real Ballers Read36. Rooted In Love with Halim A. FlowersHalim A. Flowers is inspiring a love revolution.
He's a prolific artist, activist, and entrepreneur who’s on another level. And for 22 years and 2 months, Halim spent his life in prison, labeled by society as an unredeemable “Superpredator”.
It was during this time that Halim went from reading everything he could get his hands on, to publishing 11 books of prose and poetry from behind bars. But what no one could predict was how Halim’s words would manifest into a life of freedom, faith, and internationally acclaimed creativity today.
Although we had planned to talk abo...
2022-05-141h 24
Real Ballers Read35. The Art of Pursuing Permanence with Hanif AbdurraqibHanif Abdurraqib was just a twelve-year-old in the 90's when he picked up Your Blues Ain't Like Mine by Bebe Moore Campbell for the first time; he was probably too young to be reading the book and certainly too young to understand all of what captivated him so much about the book. But Hanif kept coming back to Your Blues Ain't Like Mine every couple of years, and it slowly shifted his own understandings of language, sympathy, and death—all the way up to and during this conversation in 2022. In this episode, we talk about the incredible gift that Yo...
2022-05-071h 26
Real Ballers Read34. Why Our Ancestors Want Us To Know Who They Are with Dr. Gina PaigeIn a casual conversation with a friend in 2010, Dr. Gina Paige was introduced to a book with a bold title and an interesting premise—Brainwashed by Tom Burrell. In the book, Burrell takes the framework of advertising and marketing campaigns to explain the hundreds of years-long process of brainwashing Black people into believing their own inferiority. While she was already aware of this connection between Black people and racist advertising because of the research she did in graduate school, Gina found this premise enlightening and helpful in thinking about why her company, African Ancestry, did such important work for th...
2022-04-301h 10
Real Ballers Read33. When the Old Children's Book Becomes the New Favorite with Hawa JallohYou know a book is a real classic when you can love reading it as a child, then love it even more while rereading it as an adult.
Librarian and bookstagrammer Hawa Jalloh from @hawareads proved that to us by sharing her story with Mildred D. Taylor's Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry.
Hawa first picked this one up because she saw herself in the main character on the book cover. But that recognition only deepened as she enjoyed Taylor's vivid storytelling of Black girlhood and childhood in the early 1900s.
What became cle...
2022-04-1856 min
Real Ballers Read32. The Forrest Gump of Black Radical Politics with Zach KirkDouble-Agent. Chessmaster. Trickster. Genius. Snitch. Louis E. Tackwood was the "Forrest Gump of Black Radical Politics" and there's no record of his life after 1975. But a careful eye can still find Tackwood in the footnotes of history—as Zach Kirk, a Bay-Area activist, did last year. After frequently seeing Tackwood as a reference in books he was reading, Zach decided to investigate this mysterious figure and discovered one of the most bizarre, interesting, and unknown stories in California history. In this episode, Zach details the amoral activities of Louis Tackwood and explains how his understandings of history, politics, and or...
2022-04-041h 29
Real Ballers Read31. Being Young, Gifted and Black in the Culinary World with Brandon ButtsIn 2011, Brandon decided to take his life-long love and talent for cooking to the next level by getting his first job in the restaurant industry. The reality of the industry was not as sunny as Brandon expected though. After years of packed, no-weekend work schedules and being on the receiving end of an intense amount of pressure and scrutiny, Brandon chose to exit the food business and enjoy his cooking skills outside of the workplace. In the summer of 2021, Brandon stumbled upon a book that finally could speak to his experience in the restaurant industry, Notes From a Young...
2022-03-2855 min
Real Ballers Read30. The Power of Curiosity with Dr. Shana L. RedmondDr. Shana L. Redmond is a professor of the first order. She's an interdisciplinary scholar of race, music, culture, and power and has published award-winning books. But most importantly, she is as committed to learning as her students. And in the fall of 2021, she decided to teach a book she had just read—A Little Devil In America: Notes in Praise of Black Performance by Hanif Abdurraqib. Where others would see a risk in teaching a new book, Dr. Redmond saw an opportunity to explore the Blues Epistemology through Hanif's intimate yet expansive peeks into Black culture. Listen to th...
2022-03-091h 10
Real Ballers Read29. Why Black Books Matter with Ramunda and Derrick YoungIt's the 90's—Ramunda was at Langston University in Oklahoma and Derrick was 1,300 miles away at Bowie State University in Prince George's County, Maryland. While separated by geography, Ramunda and Derrick underwent similar transformations when they were introduced to Assata Shakur's autobiography and Huey Newton's autobiography, Revolutionary Suicide. Assata and Revolutionary Suicide, respectively, for Ramunda and Derrick, helped build their lifetime commitment to Black people and Black books. Their bookstore, MahoganyBooks, was founded in 2007 to meet the literary needs of readers nationwide in search of books written for, by, or about people of the African Diaspora. Ten years later, th...
2022-02-251h 13Real Ballers Read29. Why Black Books Matter with Ramunda and Derrick YoungIt's the 90's—Ramunda was at Langston University in Oklahoma and Derrick was 1,300 miles away at Bowie State University in Prince George's County, Maryland. While separated by geography, Ramunda and Derrick underwent similar transformations when they were introduced to Assata Shakur's autobiography and Huey Newton's autobiography, Revolutionary Suicide. Assata and Revolutionary Suicide, respectively, for Ramunda and Derrick, helped build their lifetime commitment to Black people and Black books. Their bookstore, MahoganyBooks, was founded in 2007 to meet the literary needs of readers nationwide in search of books written for, by, or about people of the African Diaspora. Ten years later, th...
2022-02-251h 13
Real Ballers Read28. Why Black History Matters with Freddie TaylorOver twenty years ago while attending graduate school, Freddie Taylor came across a book that would change the direction of his life. The book was The Miseducation of the Negro by Carter G. Woodson and it's a book he has read countless times since. Taylor then began a transformative deep dive into Black history that led to him founding Urban Intellectuals, a company committed to informing Black people of their history and culture. In 2017, Urban Intellectuals first released its flagship Black History Flashcards and has sold over 300,000 flashcards since. In this podcast, we wonder how this book, written in 1933, could...
2022-02-231h 08
Real Ballers Read27. How Earthquakes and Sunrise Missions Gave Birth to the New Black Man with Dr. Mark Anthony NealIn December of 1984, a young Mark Anthony Neal read a book that jumpstarted his political and cultural awakening, Earthquakes and Sunrise Missions by Haki Madhubuti. The book's honest discussion of Black culture and the relationships between Black men and Black women laid a foundation for inquiries that have guided his journey since. In response to a variety of different questions from us, Dr. Neal slowly unveils the constellation of people, music, and events that shaped him into the writer, scholar, man, husband, and father he is today. We talk about the evolving image of Black masculinity, his most amazing...
2022-01-271h 23
Real Ballers Read26. Why Afrominimalism Is the Wake Up Call I Needed with Kat TrinidadIn this episode, we talk with Kat from @booksenvogue about The Afrominimalist's Guide to Living with Less by Christine Platt. Kat stumbled upon this book listening to a podcast actually (as you will by listening to this show🤯) and she was surprised by the depth of the book and all of the personal revelations it brought about. We talk about everything she appreciated and learned from Afrominimalism as well as her award-winning and amazingly creative Instagram page and all the art she gets inspiration from. We were so grateful to connect and talk with Kat and we know you'll lov...
2022-01-1254 min
Real Ballers Read25. Part 2: How to Have Impossible Conversations with Travis GreenIn this two-part episode, we brought back Travis Green from @letustalkbooks to talk about an unexpected combo of books: How to Have Impossible Conversations by Peter Boghossian & James Lindsay and God Is Not Great by Christopher Hitchens. Travis is a Senior Instructor at the U.S. Army’s Military Advisor Training Academy, a world-traveler, and an atheist who loves collecting Bibles. He’s a genuinely curious and compassionate person who knows how impactful difficult conversations can be. This conversation was anything but difficult for us though, as we laugh and question our way through talking about religion, foreign policy, and...
2021-11-151h 16
Real Ballers Read24. How to Have Impossible Conversations with Travis GreenIn this two-part episode, we brought back Travis Green from @letustalkbooks to talk about an unexpected combo of books: How to Have Impossible Conversations by Peter Boghossian & James Lindsay and God Is Not Great by Christopher Hitchens. Travis is a Senior Instructor at the U.S. Army’s Military Advisor Training Academy, a world-traveler, and an atheist who loves collecting Bibles. He’s a genuinely curious and compassionate person who knows how impactful difficult conversations can be. This conversation was anything but difficult for us though, as we laugh and question our way through talking about religion, foreign policy, and...
2021-11-151h 10
Real Ballers Read23. Why Our Stories Must Be Told with George M. JohnsonGeorge M. Johnson is an award-winning Black Non-Binary writer, author, and activist with boundless creativity. They are also our first guest that chose their own books to talk about—and we are so glad they did. This is a really special episode for us because we were able to be in conversation with George and Sol Kelly, our friend who came on the podcast to talk about George's book All Boys Aren't Blue!
We dive deep in this episode too. George talks about the power of vulnerability, freedom, the meaning of activism, and what progress looks like for...
2021-10-301h 00
Real Ballers Read22. Why The Address Book Is One of My Top Three Books of All Time with Cayla SparkmanIn this episode, we talk with Cayla a.k.a. the @bookitqueen about all the interesting facts and stories from The Address Book by Deidre Mask. We were surprised by all of the political and social implications of street addresses and numbers and loved how we got to know the world a little bit better with this book. We discuss the effects of GPS on memory, funny street names(A** Crack Lane), early 2000's nostalgia and even the Quaker Oats guy controversy. This conversation shows how curiosity builds in unexpected ways!
Cayla's Instagram
Real Ballers R...
2021-10-1258 min
Real Ballers Read21. When Talking to Strangers Actually Goes Well with Travis GreenIn this episode, we talk to Travis Green (@letustalkbooks on IG) about Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell. Although we had many hesitations and critiques of this book, Travis showed us how important it is, and has been, in his work training soldiers to actually talk to strangers everywhere around the world. Travis uses the cautionary tales of the book to improve his own and students' open-mindedness and adaptability. However, this conversation among strangers is anything but a cautionary tale, as we share a deep conversation with Travis about his experiences and growth over time, and how books have...
2021-09-241h 24
Real Ballers Read20. Why Hurdy-Gurdy Was Love at First Listen with Jacqueline WoodsonIn this episode, we talk with the brilliant Jacqueline Woodson about Hurdy-Gurdy by Tim Seibles. When she first heard the poems from the book at one of Seibles' readings in 1992, Jacqueline felt like she was being invited to a party for the first time. She felt like she could finally understand poetry and she's enjoyed the book now for almost thirty years. We read some of our favorite poems from Hurdy-Gurdy, talk about what it means to paint with words, the importance of place in poetry, and Jacqueline even recites passages of her own work from memory (Yes, she's...
2021-09-161h 09
Real Ballers Read19. How Between the World and Me Helps Me Empower the Next Generation with Demetrius FrazierIn this episode, we talk to Demetrius Frazier from Black Men Read about Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates. Demetrius loves this book, not only for its impact on him, but also because it seemed like the perfect book for him to share with Black men who don't like to read. Since the shock of an early encounter, Demetrius has been on a journey of lessons learned, deepening passion for Black literacy, and service to Black communities around the U.S. He shares with us what it's like to be a Black father, what it takes to...
2021-09-111h 20
Real Ballers Read18. Why We Changed Our Minds About The Nickel Boys with Dr. Terrence JohnsonIn this episode, we talk to Dr. Terrence Johnson about The Nickel Boys, a novel by Colson Whitehead. Dr. Johnson wanted to take a break from reading non-fiction to read The Nickel Boys and the book ended up causing some unexpected revelations about being a Black parent, how to teach children in school, and our personal relation to historical figures. Our conversation with Dr. Johnson is a powerful example of how dialogue can radically alter first impressions of a book.
Dr. Johnson's new book We Testify With Our Lives
Real Ballers Read website
R...
2021-09-051h 20
Real Ballers Read17. Why I'm Telling the Truth, but I'm Lying Inspired Me to Improve My Mental Health with Tre' MasonOn this episode, we're talking about I'm Telling the Truth, but I'm Lying, Essays by Bassey Ikpi, with Tre' Mason (@tre.thelitcritic on IG). Tre' shares her path with getting more serious about her mental health and how the book has informed and inspired her along the way. We talk about the limitations of self-help, why it's important to find a therapist who looks like you, and when it's okay to lie. Be real: would YOU tell someone, to their face, that their food was bad?? Listen to hear our answers and more!
I'm Telling the Truth...
2021-09-011h 07
Real Ballers Read16. Part 2: How Malcom X Inspired Me to Join the Struggle for Dignity and Liberation with Dr. Lewis GordonOn this episode, we discuss The Autobiography of Malcolm X (as told to Alex Haley) with Dr. Lewis Gordon. Dr. Gordon is a philosopher at the University of Connecticut, who has a wonderful ability to tell stories and describe the meaning of this book for his life. We already loved The Autobiography of Malcolm X, but Lewis brought us to a wholly new and deep appreciation for it. This conversation includes Lewis's stories of teachers who believed in him and ones who didn't, how to turn everything into a learning opportunity, and why everyone needs a community in order...
2021-08-3156 min
Real Ballers Read15. How Malcom X Inspired Me to Join the Struggle for Dignity and Liberation with Dr. Lewis GordonOn this episode, we discuss The Autobiography of Malcolm X (as told to Alex Haley) with Dr. Lewis Gordon. Dr. Gordon is a philosopher at the University of Connecticut, who has a wonderful ability to tell stories and describe the meaning of this book for his life. We already loved The Autobiography of Malcolm X, but Lewis brought us to a wholly new and deep appreciation for it. This conversation includes Lewis's stories of teachers who believed in him and ones who didn't, how to turn everything into a learning opportunity, and why everyone needs a community in order...
2021-08-311h 09
Real Ballers Read14. How Praise Song For The Butterflies Renewed My Love of Reading with Alexis MiltonOn this episode, we're talking about Praise Song For the Butterflies by Bernice L. McFadden with Alexis Milton. We talk about Alexis' Unsung Literature and History project and a whole bunch of other underrated books that you have to check out. Alexis really helped us appreciate Praise Song for the Butterflies in a new light and you'll definitely want to read the book if you haven't!
Alexis Milton on Instagram
Real Ballers Read website
Real Ballers Read on Instagram
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2021-08-251h 19
Real Ballers Read13. Why Everyone Should Read Tallulah the Tooth Fairy CEO with Sarah KamyaOn this episode, we’re talking about Tallulah the Tooth Fairy CEO by Dr. Tamara Pizzoli with Sarah Kamya from Diverstories.
Sarah is such an awesome educator and leader and we were so excited to talk with her. We talk about what she's learned from being an elementary school counselor, why she thinks adults need to be reading children's books more often, and how conversations about race and diversity have changed. We know you'll love the episode!
Diverstories Website
Diverstories on Instagram
Tallulah the Tooth Fairy CEO on Bookshop
Real...
2021-08-2049 min
Real Ballers Read12. Why Othello Reminds Me That We've Always Been Here with Traci ThomasOn this episode, we’re talking about the play Othello by William Shakespeare with Traci Thomas, the host of (our favorite book podcast) The Stacks.
We’re really excited to share this conversation with you because we had a lot of fun talking to Traci. We discuss why Othello is more relevant than ever, how it represents race and gender, as well as debate over our problematic favorite movies and hear Traci’s book recommendations. We shared a lot of laughs in this conversation and hope you enjoy it!
Othello on Bookshop.org
The St...
2021-08-131h 13
Real Ballers Read11. How Heavy Changed the Way I Understand Black Life with Dr. Charles HF DavisOn this episode, we discuss Heavy by Kiese Laymon with Dr. Charles HF Davis. For Dr. Davis, Heavy is the book that changed how he understands the complexities of Black life.
HF is an educator and creative committed to the lives, love, and liberation of everyday Black people. He is currently an assistant professor in the Center for the Study of Higher and Postsecondary Education at the University of Michigan, where his research and teaching broadly focus on issues of race, racism, and resistance in education and society.
Dr. Charles HF Davis's website
F...
2021-08-101h 04
Real Ballers Read10. Why I Love the Characters from Under the Feet of Jesus with Dr. Paula MoyaIn this episode, we discuss Under the Feet of Jesus by Helena María Viramontes with Dr. Paula Moya. We cover everything from the importance of rereading to the myth of La Llorona and the meaning of womanhood and environmental racism in the book.
Dr. Moya is a Professor of the Humanities at Stanford University and her teaching and research focus on twentieth-century and early twenty-first-century literary studies, feminist theory, critical theory, narrative theory, American cultural studies, interdisciplinary approaches to race and ethnicity, and Chicano/a and U.S. Latina/o studies.
Check out Dr. Pa...
2021-06-3055 min
Real Ballers Read9. How All Boys Aren't Blue Explained My Blended Energies with Sol KellyIn this episode, we talk about All Boys Aren't Blue: A Memoir-Manifesto by George M. Johnson with Sol (@thesolreader on IG). For her, this is "The Book That Explained and Examined My Blended Energies". We discuss the importance of names and pronouns, how to navigate life with depression and perfectionism, inclusive learning and education, growing up as Black and queer, and more.
All Boys Aren't Blue on Bookshop.org
Follow Sol on IG!
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2021-06-281h 30
Real Ballers Read8. How The Midnight Library Made Me More Confident with Paakow EssandohIn this episode, we talk about The Midnight Library by Matt Haig, with Paakow Essandoh, CEO of MIZIZI, The Official Lifestyle Brand for the Diaspora. For Paakow, The Midnight Library is "The Book That Made Me More Confident In My Decisions". Learn how in this fun conversation where we cover leadership, Rick and Morty and the meaning of life, and the Black Diaspora.
The Midnight Library on Bookshop.org
Paakow's IG
MIZIZI Shop IG
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2021-06-2845 min
Real Ballers Read7. Why The Big Leap Is Always With Me with Dereca BlackmonIn this episode, we’re talking about The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks, which for our guest Dereca Blackmon, is "The Book That Is Always With Me". The Big leap is about eliminating the barriers to success by overcoming false fears and beliefs, and this is central to our conversation with Dereca, as well as finding your true genius and healing the disease of racism.
Dereca's website
The Big Leap on Bookshop.org
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2021-06-281h 16
Real Ballers Read6. Part 2: Why I Haven't Stopped Thinking About The Color Purple for 18 YEARS with Dr. Jakeya CaruthersIn this episode we talk about The Color Purple by Alice Walker with our guest, Dr. Jakeya Caruthers. Jakeya is an Assistant Professor of African & African American Studies and Women’s and Gender Studies at Berea College. She is a scholar of black political humor; cultural coherence and memory within contemporary black aesthetic movements; and issues of race, gender, sexuality, and (resistance to) state discipline.
For her, The Color Purple is "the book that I haven’t stopped thinking about for 18 years". That’s a big blank and it turned into a big 2 part conversation. In the second...
2021-05-231h 01
Real Ballers Read5. Why I Haven't Stopped Thinking About The Color Purple for 18 YEARS with Dr. Jakeya CaruthersIn this episode we talk about The Color Purple by Alice Walker with our guest, Dr. Jakeya Caruthers. Jakeya is an Assistant Professor of African & African American Studies and Women’s and Gender Studies at Berea College. She is a scholar of black political humor; cultural coherence and memory within contemporary black aesthetic movements; and issues of race, gender, sexuality, and (resistance to) state discipline.
For her, The Color Purple is "the book that I haven’t stopped thinking about for 18 years". That’s a big blank and it turned into a big 2 part conversation. In the first...
2021-05-231h 10
Real Ballers Read4. Why Tram 83 Changed My Mind About Jazz with Dr. Ato QuaysonIn this episode, we’re talking about Tram 83 by Fiston Mwanza Mujila, which is a post-colonial critique that centers around two friends reunited in an unnamed city-state in Africa. For Dr Ato Quayson, Tram 83 is the book that changed my mind about jazz and political allegory.
Now, Ato is dope. He’s currently an English professor at Stanford University, whose academic work lives at the intersection of postcolonial literature, disability studies, urban studies, and diaspora studies.
Our conversation with him also covered a lot of ground from fashion to jazz, neo-colonialism, extractive capitalism, the resourcefulness and r...
2021-04-071h 21
Real Ballers Read3. What The Other Wes Moore Reveals About Systemic Racism with Felicia A. SmithIn this episode of The Book that (Reminds Me of Interpenetrating Dimensions and Psychospiritual Integration) we talk about The Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore and Felicia A. Smith does an incredible breakdown of all of the layers of systemic racism present in the book. We also cover how much personal responsibility should factor into analysis of systemic racism, what freedom is and more!
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2021-03-281h 19
Real Ballers Read2. How Motherless Daughters Defined My Life with Nina CollinsIn this episode we talk about Motherless Daughters by Hope Edelman, aging, how to think about death, our views on religion, and why our best traits can sometimes be our worst.
Follow us at Real Ballers Read on Instagram!
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2021-03-2852 min
Real Ballers Read1. Why Sassafrass, Cypress and Indigo Makes Me Feel Seen and Heard with Forrest EvansIn this episode, we talk about Sassafrass, Cypress and Indigo by Ntozake Shange in all of its richness and nuance with Forrest Your Favorite Librarian.
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Discover a world of literature featuring Black stories at MahoganyBooks.com! Enhance your reading experience with a diverse collection of culturally enriching books. By using our affiliate link, you can support Black-owned businesses and promote representation in literature. Visit MahoganyBooks.com today and save 10% on your first purchase!
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2021-03-151h 20