Black Girl Nerds

In this 2-part episode, we chat with Niecy Nash Betts and Nick Cannon about TV specific episodes in two series they are starring in: FX's Grotesquerie and Fox's Accused. Segment 1: Niecy Nash-Betts is an actress, comedian, and television host. Nash received two Primetime Emmy Awards nominations for starring as Denise "Didi" Ortley in the comedy-drama series Getting On (2013–2015). She has also portrayed Denise Hemphill in the horror-comedy series Scream Queens (2015–2016).  From 2017 to 2022, she played Desna Simms in the crime comedy-drama Claws (2017–2022). She currently stars as Detective Lois Tryon in the horror drama series Grotesquerie. Host: Jamie Segment 2: Nick Cannon is a comedian, television host, actor, and rapper. In television, he began as a teenager on All That before going on to host The Nick Cannon Show, Wild 'n Out, America's Got Talent, Lip Sync Battle Shorties, and The Masked Singer. He acted in the films Drumline, Love Don't Cost a Thing, and Roll Bounce. He is currently starring in season 2 of the Fox series Accused. Host: Jamie Music by: Sammus Edited by: Jamie Broadnax

In this week's episode of the Black Girl Nerds podcast, we welcome director Brandon Espy and actor Elvis Nolasco of the new Hulu film Mr. Crocket. In 1993, a mysterious children's show host, Mr. Crocket, magically emerges from television sets to kidnap young children, brutally slaying their parents in the process. After Mr. Crocket snatches her son, one determined mother embarks on a perilous quest to track down the demonic entertainer and rescue her boy. Host: Jamie Broadnax Music by: Sammus Edited by: Jamie Broadnax

In this week's episode of the Black Girl Nerds podcast, we welcome filmmaker Sean Baker. Sean Baker is an American film director, cinematographer, producer, screenwriter and editor. He has directed six feature films over the past two decades, including 2015’s Tangerine and 2017’s The Florida Project which premiered in the Directors’ Fortnight section of the Cannes Film Festival and was distributed by A24 in the US and Altitude in the UK. His latest film Anora premieres Oct 18th. A young sex worker from Brooklyn, gets her chance at a Cinderella story when she meets and impulsively marries the son of an oligarch. Once the news reaches Russia, her fairytale is threatened as the parents set out for New York to get the marriage annulled. Host: Jamie Music by: Sammus Edited by: Jamie Broadnax

In this week's episode of the Black Girl Nerds podcast, we welcome actor Artrece Johnson. Johnson's latest role in Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist (Peacock on September 5) sees her co-starring alongside the likes of industry heavyweights Kevin Hart, Taraji P. Henson, Don Cheadle, Terrence Howard, and Samuel L. Jackson. Her journey is marked by faith, resilience, and an unshakeable self-belief. Her incredible personal and professional journey reflects resilience, determination, and an unyielding passion for her craft. From racing to auditions in the middle of scheduled shifts at her survival jobs to now acting alongside some of Hollywood's biggest names, Johnson is a force on and off the screen, building an incredible legacy for herself, her family, and those around her. Host: Jamie Music by: Sammus Edited by: Jamie Broadnax

In this week's episode of the Black Girl Nerds podcast, we welcome movie directors Karen Chapman and Samir Oliveros, both had films to premiere out of the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival.  Chapman's 'Village Keeper' and Oliveros' 'The Luckiest Man In America'. Segment 1: Born to a Guyanese family that nurtured her instinctive creative problem solving skills, award-winning artist Karen Chapman has always been acquainted with versatility. Her steep background in documentary storytelling developed a voice and style that is compassionate, compelling and brave. Preparing her for an expansive repertoire of films that includes documentaries, narratives, animation, interactive-virtual reality and installation. At the service of every story, Chapman always strives to center work that is grounded in impact. Chapman, a graduate of Norman Jewison’s Canadian Film Center, had her earlier short film Measure debut at the Toronto Film Festival in 2019 and win the International Hollywood Foreign Press and Residency Award at the 2020 Golden Globe Awards, which she attended. Her most recent film, the documentary Quiet Minds Silent Streets, had a world premiere at TIFF in 2022. Host: Jamie Segment 2: Samir Oliveros was born in Bogotá, Colombia. His first feature, BAD LUCKY GOAT, funded through kickstarter, premiered at SXSW in 2017 and went on to play over 70 festivals including BFI London and TIFF Next Wave. His AFI thesis, CACTUS BLOSSOM, was awarded with a DGA Jury Prize. He is a founding partner in PLENTY GOOD, the production company behind CHRONICLES OF A WANDERING SAINT, winner of the Adam Yauch Hornblower award at SXSW 2023 and nominated for 3 independent Spirit Awards. Host: Jamie Music by: Sammus Edited by: Jamie Broadnax

In this week's episode of the Black Girl Nerds podcast, we welcome back the team behind Truthteller Productions.  We have Miriam A. Hyman aka Robyn Hood and  East-O aka Chris Herbie Holland joining us.  In our second segment, we breakdown a recap of the films we screened at TIFF 2024! Segment 1: Miriam A. Hyman aka Robyn Hood (Philly native) is a classically trained actress and a Hip Hop Recording Artist. Hood is the CEO of independent music/production label Truth Teller Productions. She’s executive all of her solo music projects under her label and has collaborated on songs as a writer and or performer with multiple artists such as Daveed Diggs, Common, Ciara, Lupita Nyong’o, LaLa Anthony, and Junius Bervine. She is also an actor and can be seen in the new film The Lost Holliday premiering this month. The East Oakland California native East-O aka Chris Herbie Holland is an actor,music producer, songwriter and creative. He recently starred in the off-Broadway Pulitzer Prize winning play Fat Ham at the Public Theater in NYC. He teamed up with Robyn Hood/Miriam A. Hyman, a few years back and they’ve been making magic ever since. He’s known for his melodic beats and smart but edgy bars.  Host: Jamie Segment 2: Jeanine and Jamie break break down a recap of the films screened at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival.  They also discuss the films they loved and hated at the festival. Host: Jamie Music by: Sammus Edited by: Jamie Broadnax

In this week's episode of the Black Girl Nerds podcast, we welcome actor of film, TV and gaming Laya DeLeon Hayes. Laya is best known for her role in CBS’s The Equalizer where she plays 'Delilah,' the boundary pushing teen daughter of Robyn McCall played by the incomparable Queen Latifah. Laya is also known for voicing the titular role in the BAFTA, Emmy, and Peabody Award nominated animated series, Doc McStuffins, in which she won her first individual NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance (Television). Laya also recentlystarred as the lead of IFC Films The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster for which she garnered her 3rd NAACP Image Award nomination in addition to the film’s nomination with the prestigious award show. She also voiced the character ‘Angrboda’ in the extraordinarily popular video game “God Of War: Ragnarök,"for which she won a BAFTA Game Award in 2023 for “Best Supporting Actor.” Host: Jamie Music by: Sammus Edited by: Jamie Broadnax

In this week's episode of the Black Girl Nerds podcast, we chat with executive producer and author Attica Locke. A renowned TV writer, one of Hollywood’s most sought-after executive producers (Little Fires Everywhere, Empire) and showrunner (Netflix’s From Scratch), the Edgar Award-winning and New York Times-bestselling author Attica Locke is releasing the final novel in her “timely and evocative” (NPR) Highway 59 trilogy, “Guide Me Home,” in the US on September 3rd and on September 26th in the UK. Host: Ryanne Music by: Sammus Edited by: Jamie Broadnax

In this week's episode of the Black Girl Nerds podcast, we welcome author, actor and motivational speaker Priscilla Shirer and actor Imani Pullum to the show. Segment 1: Priscilla Shirer is a wife and mom first, but put a Bible in her hand and a message in her heart, and you’ll see why thousands meet God in powerful, personal ways at her conferences and through her Bible Study resources. She is the New York Times Best Selling author of more than two dozen books and has had featured roles in movies like War Room (2015), I Can Only Imagine (2018), Overcomer (2019) and The Forge – which will premiere August 23rd. Host: Jamie Segment 2: Imani is well beyond her years; she is the real deal with such a bright future ahead of her. At a young age she helped her dad at his community center in Leimert Park, the Fernando Pullum Performing Arts Center where they offer free performing arts lessons to the youth. Her talent was recognized at a young age, and from there she booked her first role in Disney’s Broadway touring production of the Lion King. Following Broadway, Imani launched her acting career coming out the gates strong being recognized by legends like Antoine Fuqua, Will Smith and Seth McFarlane leading to projects on Apple TV+, Hulu and now Prime Video.  Her new series Classified premieres on on Prime Video August 22nd. Host: Ryanne Music by: Sammus Edited by: Jamie Broadnax

In this week's episode of the Black Girl Nerds podcast, we interview director and executive producer Justin Simien of the new docuseries Hollywood Black. Inspired by the book from historian Donald Bogle, Hollywood Black, directed and executive produced by Justin Simien, chronicles the history of cinema, but from a radically Black perspective. By unearthing personal stories from actors, writers, directors, and producers who fought for their place on the page, behind the camera and on the screen, the series provides a critical reexamination of a quintessentially American story—in brilliant color. Host: Jamie Music by: Sammus Edited by: Jamie Broadnax