Back to our regularly scheduled programming, Desmond gets into the lovely hidden gem THE FORTY-YEAR-OLD VERSION this week, and talks about the importance of artistic integrity as you age as a Black artist, and the magical expression of Hip-Hop. Also, there’s a new segment on the show!! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to the Oscar Extravaganza!! In this week’s mega-sized episode, Desmond breaks down the Oscar voting process, his thoughts on this year’s major category nominations and some of this year’s history makers! Check it out and get those ballot pools ready!! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Love is never easy, but it can be extremely beautiful, as portrayed in Barry Jenkins film adaptation of James Baldwin’s IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK. This week, Desmond talks about the incredible performances in this ensemble film, as well as the gorgeous design, and the many awards that it could have been nominated for at the Oscars. Also, this week’s You Betta Act award goes to a performance in another Barry Jenkins film. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Now that we’re back from our Girls Trip, let’s rob!! This week, Desmond reunites with Jada and Queen in their first film collaboration, SET IT OFF! Desmond and his guest, comedian Lynaé DePriest get into the Nitty Gritty about what this film says about how society antagonizes Black women, and the beautiful Black female friendship in this classic film. Also, listen to Lynaé absolutely slay a fresh round of Who’s Invited! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pack your bags! This week Desmond gets into the nitty gritty of the epic comedy GIRLS TRIP!! Desmond talks about the wonderful performances from the main cast, the fun moments in the film, and the important messages that the film carries about Black female friendship. Also, this week’s You Betta Act award goes to one of the last great Black sitcoms on network television, that you may not have seen! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s our thirtieth episode!! This week, Desmond digs into one of the best films of all time, DO THE RIGHT THING. Desmond talks about Spike’s process while crafting the film, the incredible performances, the ways in which aspects of this film are similar to a play, and the reasons why this classic film will live on forever. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our first guest is back! Film programmer Shay Filmore is back to discuss the problematic and iconic fun thriller, Ma! Desmond and Shay talk about the issues with the film, the ways it could have actually been great, and of course Octavia Spencer’s committed performance as Sue Ann. Also, of course, there’s another round of Who’s Invited!! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The White gaze is back with a vengeance in this week’s film, MALCOLM & MARIE! Desmond talks about Zendaya’s great performance in the film along with some other aspects that he did not enjoy as much, including the gaze that is ever present in the script. Also, Desmond puts you on to another Netflix film that shines bright and welcomes a new talent on to the scene! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Desmond gets into Regina King’s directorial debut, ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI. Desmond talks about these iconic performances of iconic figures in our history, while also discussing some of the things that make them complicated in the film as well as in real life. Also, Desmond gets into the buzz about Black films from this year’s Sundance Film Festival! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Desmond is joined by film critic Jourdain Searles to talk about Pixar’s SOUL (a film Desmond mostly liked, and Jourdain mostly didn’t!). They talk about the history of Black representation in film animation and how SOUL fits into that conversation, what could have made the film better, and they recast the role of 22! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are y’all ready to party? This week, Desmond digs into the classic 90’s comedy HOUSE PARTY! He talks about the brilliance of the film, how much he misses house parties IRL, as well as some of the film’s more problematic aspects. Also, Desmond dishes about an amazing actor that he didn’t know was gay until very recently!! 

This week, Desmond is joined by film critic Jourdain Searles to talk about Pixar’s SOUL (a film Desmond mostly liked, and Jourdain mostly didn’t!). They talk about the history of Black representation in film animation and how SOUL fits into that conversation, what could have made the film better, and they recast the role of 22!

Are y’all ready to party? This week, Desmond digs into the classic 90’s comedy HOUSE PARTY! He talks about the brilliance of the film, how much he misses house parties IRL, as well as some of the film’s more problematic aspects. Also, Desmond dishes about an amazing actor that he didn’t know was gay until very recently!! 

Welcome back y’all!! Season two of the show starts off with the classic romantic film, HOW STELLA GOT HER GROOVE BACK. Desmond talks about relating to Stella’s single life, her issues with letting loose, and how much he misses going on vacation! Also, this week’s Trust & Believe highlights Steve McQueen’s five film masterpiece, SMALL AXE.

Welcome back y’all!! Season two of the show starts off with the classic romantic film, HOW STELLA GOT HER GROOVE BACK. Desmond talks about relating to Stella’s single life, her issues with letting loose, and how much he misses going on vacation! Also, this week’s Trust & Believe highlights Steve McQueen’s five film masterpiece, SMALL AXE.

In this special bonus mini-episode, Desmond talks to filmmakers Elegance Bratton & Chester Algernal (from our "Paris is Burning" episode) about the incredible group of Queer, Black, award-winning filmmakers that they have created and nurtured over the years. Elegance and Chester discuss how they started this Black film family, and the systems in Hollywood that they want to challenge together with their work.

Happy Holidays, y’all! In our last episode of 2020, Desmond pays respect to the seminal Christmas film THE PREACHER’S WIFE. Desmond gets into Advent, one of his favorite times of the year, the accuracy of the Black church in this film as portrayed by director Penny Marshall, and the wonderful people involved in this movie that we have lost in the past few years. Also, Desmond talks about how GAY Christmas truly is!!

Just in time for the Holidays, Desmond dives deep into the ‘meet the parents horror film’, GET OUT! Though this film initially was thought of as a horror film about interracial relationships, Desmond talks about how it touches on so much more, including aspects of how Blackness is commodified in the United States. Also, this week’s TRUST & BELIEVE is a new Netflix horror film, and the YOU BETTA ACT award this week is what Desmond considers to be a classic performance.

In this hilarious episode, Desmond and his guest, actor/writer Sheldon D. Brown, discuss the 90’s classic comedy match-up, LIFE starring Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence. They dig into the memorable lines and moments, Bernie Mac, the Queer representation in the film, and how they feel about the unity between Black men in our current times. Also, where there’s a guest, there’s another round of WHO’S INVITED!!

It’s our twentieth episode!! This week, Desmond finally gets into the subject he’s been talking about all summer and fall, Malcolm X! He not only digs into the famous Spike Lee film from 1992 starring a flawless Denzel Washington, but also the seminal 1972 documentary MALCOLM X, also based on the 1965 autobiography; and talks about the legacy that this incredible man has left behind.  

Are you hungry? This week, Desmond dives into the 90’s classic, SOUL FOOD. He praises Vanessa Williams iconic performance, reminisces on missing his extended family and eating soul food, and also clocks some of the weak sauce gender dynamics in the film. Also, there’s another “Some Gay Shit” centered around LOVECRAFT COUNTRY!

Yahhhs! Take a trip to the Ballroom this week as Desmond gets into the monumental documentary PARIS IS BURNING with two brilliant filmmakers and ballroom experts, Elegance Bratton and Chester Algernal Gordon! The three of them have a fun Kiki about the documentary, the ethics of white people directing black films, and also where the ballroom scene is today! And with two guests comes a DOUBLE edition of ‘Who’s Invited’!!

Are you ready to get weird?? This week, Desmond dives into the strange 2018 indie gem, SORRY TO BOTHER YOU! Desmond breaks down the incredible production design in the film, the aspects of protest in the film, and how both of these elements connect to the concept of Black folks assimilating to whiteness. Also, this week’s You Betta Act award goes to one of the best actors of this current generation!

This week join Desmond as he gets into the 90’s classic MENACE II SOCIETY. Desmond talks about the legendary character O-Dog (played to perfection by Pod favorite Larenz Tate) as well as an ABC History Lesson about the racist systems put in place that led to the Watts uprising and the tragic events of this film. Also, Desmond dishes out another Decease and Desist, and this time, it’s for an industry publication calling one of our longest working young actors a “breakout”.

In this special Mega-sized episode, Desmond is joined by friend and actor Tessa Claire Hersh to talk about the mega important film LOVE & BASKETBALL. Desmond and Tessa break down the amazing moments, brilliant acting, and brilliant direction in this film, as well as what it means to be a Black woman working hard in a professional space. Also, they spend some quality time at the top of the episode honoring the life of Breonna Taylor. Plus, we play another round of everyone’s favorite game,...