Black Girl Nerds

In this week's episode of the BGN Podcast, we welcome filmmaker Jonathan Levine and Candace "The Six Figure Spa Chick" Holyfield. Segment 1: Levine’s most recent film, LONG SHOT, starring Seth Rogen and Charlize Theron, debuted at SXSW in 2019, where it won the Audience Award. His latest project is the Hulu series 'Nine Perfect Strangers'. Based on The New York Times bestselling book by author Liane Moriarty, the series takes place at a boutique health-and-wellness resort that promises healing and transformation as nine stressed city dwellers try to get on a path to a better way of living.  Host: Ryanne Segment 2: Candace Holyfield-Parker started her journey with very humble beginnings.  As a single mother from Memphis, TN, Candace had big dreams to elevate her family from government assistance to a life of freedom and wealth.  Candace studied Massage Therapy, opened her first spa, and within her first few years, she became known as the Massage Therapist to the stars. As she began to learn the nuances of business and branding she quickly built her Six-Figure Spa business with multiple locations across the country. Candace was able to earn her first $300,000 by using Groupon successfully.  Host: Ryanne Music by: Sammus Edited by: Jamie Broadnax

This week's episode of the Black Girl Nerds podcast is all about public and community service.  This 2-segment episode features Katrina Williams, founder of Changing The Faces of Homelessness and Cedric Richmond, advisor to the President and  director of the White House Office of Public Engagement. Segment 1: Changing the Faces of Homelessness was founded by Katrina Williams, a Mental Health Case Manager who worked with the Regional Behavioral Health Authority under Value Options and Magellan Health Services for over 15 years in Phoenix, AZ.  Katrina Williams recently relocated to Los Angeles CA and began working for Volunteers of America as a Case Manager for the Hope for Homes Shelter Program in Pomona CA.  During her employment with VOA one of her clients ended their life via suicide with her client's sudden death, she realized the severity of the Los Angeles homeless crisis and developed the CFH supportive housing Program where she provides realistic resources (employment, counseling etc.) to meet her residents' realistic goals with housing.  Host: Jamie Segment 2: Cedric Richmond serves as a Senior Advisor to the President and Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement. Richmond served as the National Co-Chairman of the Biden-Harris Campaign and a Co-Chair of the Biden-Harris Transition Team. Since 2011, Richmond has represented Louisiana’s 2nd Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives. During his time in Congress, Richmond served on the House Ways and Means Committee, the House Committee on Homeland Security, the House Committee on the Judiciary. He was the House Democratic Assistant to the Majority Whip, a member of the New Democratic Coalition, Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, and, most recently, Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation.  Host: Ryanne Music by: Sammus Edited by: Jamie Broadnax

This week's Black Girl Nerds podcast welcomes comic book creator and screenwriter Tyler Martin and Ms. Pat of 'The Ms. Pat Show'. Segment 1: Tyler F. Martin is a comic book and screenplay writer, publisher, editor, and creative director based in Atlanta Georgia. An avid Star Wars fan, self-proclaimed Blerd, and lover of all things comics, he is most notably recognized for founding Godhood Comics. An Atlanta-based publishing company and one of the fastest-growing and Black-owned independent comic book publishers in the U.S. Godhood Comics was founded in 2014 and designed to highlight diversity in comics by focusing on telling stories around BIPOC (Black and indigenous people of color) characters and concepts. Creator of titles such as Mega Woman, Sharpshooter, Galactic Patrol Delta, and the extremely popular comic series The Antagonists. Host: Ryanne Segment 2: Based on Ms. Pat’s stand-up comedy and memoir, The Ms. Pat Show is the story of a former convicted felon turned suburban mom and stand-up comedian, whose hustle and resilient spirit was forged on the streets of Atlanta. To much reserve, she now finds herself in conservative middle America alongside her penny-pinching husband played by J. Bernard Calloway (City On A Hill), a struggle of a sister played by Tami Roman (The Family Business), and two distinct sets of kids played by Theodore Barnes (The Prince of Peoria), newcomer Briyana Guadalupe and Vince Swann (50 Central), raised under very different circumstances.  Host: Ryanne Music by: Sammus Edited by: Ryanne Bennett

BGN interviews Brian David-Marshall (President & Publisher of InterPop) and Rachel Gluckstern (Group Editor, Emergents). InterPop is forging the future of digital fandom with comic, game, and collectible NFTs minted responsibly on the Tezos blockchain. Brian David-Marshall serves as President and publisher, creating multiple digital CCGs and is excited to bring all his gaming and comic experiences to bear on the Emergents TCG and comic universe.  Rachel Gluckstern serves as group editor of InterPop's line of digital comics. She also developed the Charmz imprint for Papercutz and spearheaded the graphic novel program for Little Bee Books, acquiring the critically acclaimed "Always Human". Host: Ryanne Music by: Sammus Edited by: Ryanne Bennett

This week on the BGN Podcast we welcome actor Carlacia Grant of 'Outer Banks' and filmmaker Jamila Wignot of 'Ailey'. Segment 1:  “Outer Banks” follows a tight-knight group of local teens, dubbed the “Pogues,” in the beach vacation destination of the Outer Banks in North Carolina. On the small screen, Carlacia appeared on Oprah Winfrey’s well-received megachurch drama series “Greenleaf” as well as the critically acclaimed miniseries “Roots” alongside legendary actors Laurence Fishburne and Forest Whitaker. Host: Stacey Yvonne Segment 2: Many know the name Alvin Ailey, but how many know the man? Ailey’s commitment to searching for truth in movement resulted in pioneering and enduring choreography that centers on African American experiences. Director Jamila Wignot’s resonant biography grants artful access to the elusive visionary who founded one of the world’s most renowned dance companies, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Host: Ryanne Music by: Sammus Edited by: Jamie Broadnax

This week on the Black Girl Nerds podcast we host a 3-segment episode featuring actors Kristin Dodson (Flatbush Misdemeanors), Hannaha Hall and Tai Davis (The Chi). Segment 1: Kristin was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY and is currently a 3rd year in Columbia’s MFA Acting program. She has numerous television and film credits under her belt, including Cartoon Network’s The Shivering Truth and Netflix’s Roxanne Roxanne. Kristin is also an accredited theatre actor. Segment 2: Hannaha Hall is a native of the South Side of Chicago. Best known for her work as Tiff on the hit SHOWTIME drama series THE CHI, she attended the famed Lee Strasberg school in New York. She has appeared on the drama series Chicago Med. Segment 3: Tai Davis  is a Chicago native born and raised on the city's south side. She began her acting career at the age of eight when she booked her first national campaign for McDonald’s. A proud member of SAG/AFTRA, she has been in projects such as Cupid (ABC) Roll Bounce (FoxSearchlight), Save The Last Dance (MTV Productions/ Paramount Pictures) Tyler Perry’s House of Payne (TBS), and Chicago Med (NBC) You can currently catch Davis as Tracy on the hit Showtime drama series The Chi. As an established voiceover talent, you can hear Davis on national campaigns all over the world for brands like McDonalds, Xfinity, Toyota, and Pantene. All three segments are hosted by Ryanne Music by: Sammus Edited by: Jamie Broadnax

In this 2-segment episode of the Black Girl Nerds podcast, we welcome actors Patina Miller and Jay Ellis! Segment 1: Patina will lead the latest chapter of Starz’s POWER saga, POWER BOOK III: RAISING KANAN, as ‘Raquel Thomas’, the fierce and compelling mother of the nefarious ‘Kanan’, who was portrayed by Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson in the original series. Starz’s tentpole POWER franchise is the most-watched show on premium cable and has a dedicated, wide fanbase.  Hosted by: Ryanne Segment 2: The new podcast series "Written Off" is hosted by Walter Thompson-Hernández (NAACP Image Award-nominee) and co-created and co-produced by Insecure's Jay Ellis and his production company Black Bar Mitzvah. The show will spotlight the creative writing of formerly incarcerated young writers in the LA area who have been impacted and silenced by the prison system in the United States and each episode will feature a different influential creative performing their writing. Hosted by: Jeandra Music by: Sammus Edited by: Jamie Broadnax

Season 1 of Marvel Studios' 'Loki' has wrapped and we're already waiting with bated breath for season 2!  In this BGN Podcast Extra, we interview Costume Designer Christine Wada and Production Designer  Kasra Farahani. Hosted by: Ryanne Music by: Sammus Edited by: Jamie Broadnax

In this week's episode of the BGN Podcast, we welcome screenwriter Eric Pearson to discuss the Marvel blockbuster hit Black Widow currently playing in cinemas and on Disney+. Eric has worked with Marvel Studios, writing various short films for their Marvel One-Shots series of films, and writing the screenplay for the feature films Thor: Ragnarok, Black Widow, and Godzilla vs. Kong Hosted by: Jeandra In our second segment, we have a spoilery discussion about the movie and break down our thoughts about the film, and give our hot takeaways! Hosted by: Ryanne and Jamie Music by: Sammus Edited by: Jamie Broadnax

BGN interviews multi-hyphenate Questlove about his documentary 'Summer of Soul' Over the course of six weeks during the summer of 1969, thousands of people attend the Harlem Cultural Festival to celebrate Black history, culture, music, and fashion. Host: Jamie Music by: Sammus Music featured in podcast from 'Summer of Soul' courtesy of Hulu Edited by: Jamie Broadnax