Black Girl Nerds

In this week's episode of the Black Girl Nerds podcast, we welcome TV host, weather man and executive producer Al Roker. Al Roker is a journalist, television personality, and author. He is the current weather anchor on NBC's Today and occasionally co-hosts 3rd Hour Today. His latest project is the film Gaining Ground: The Fight for Black Land. The documentary explores the complex history of the American Black farmer. As an underrepresented topic that continues to impact Black farmers today, it’s important to showcase the legacy of Black farming in America and the devastating impact of heirs’ property on Black land ownership. It also addresses how landowners are reclaiming their agricultural rights and their paths to generational wealth with the support of other landowners and organizations. Host: Jamie Music by: Sammus Edited by: Jamie Broadnax

In this week's episode of the Black Girl Nerds podcast, we welcome executive producers Jim Cooper and Jeff Dixon of the new Apple TV+ series Curses! In Curses!, when a generations-long family curse turns Alex Vanderhouven to stone, it’s up to his two kids, Pandora and Russ, and his wife Sky, to return artifacts stolen by their ancestors to their rightful homes to finally lift the curse for good. The series is created and executive produced by Jim Cooper (“DreamWorks Dragons”) and Jeff Dixon (“The Hurricane Heist”). Writer/director John Krasinski (“A Quiet Place” Parts I & II) also serves as executive producer and Allyson Seeger (“A Quiet Place” Parts I & II) as co-executive producer. Leo Riley (“Guardians of the Galaxy,” “Tron: Uprising”) is supervising producer, with Chris Copeland (“Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts”) and Justin Copeland (“Wonder Woman: Bloodlines”) serving as creative consultants. Leo Riley (“Guardians of the Galaxy,” “Tron: Uprising”) directs with animation services provided by CGCG and House of Cool. Host: Ryanne Edited by: Jamie Broadnax Music by: Sammus

In this week's episode of the Black Girl Nerds podcast, we welcome author Tatiana Obey. Tatiana Obey writes badass characters slaying dragons. Her debut novel, Bones to the Wind, is a 2022 BBA Award Winner and a 2022 Indie Ink Award Finalist. She taught English in South Korea, studied abroad in Japan, and worked as a marketing specialist for a woman-owned law firm. The one thing she loves as much as writing is traveling the world. Host: Ryanne Music by: Sammus Edited by: Jamie Broadnax

In this week's episode of the Black Girl Nerds podcast, we chat with comic book creator Beserat Debebe. Beserat Debebe is the founder of Etan Comics and the writer/creator of HAWI, JEMBER, and ZUFAN. He was born and raised in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Maryland and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Indiana University. In 2018, his love for graphic novels and fantasy stories led him to establish  Etan Comics, a Pan-African entertainment company bringing African stories to life using comics & graphic novels made by African storytellers. His works have been nominated for Best Graphic Novel Awards, and featured on BBC, OkayAfrica, ComicsBeat, and more! Host: Ryanne Music by: Sammus Edited by: Jamie Broadnax

In this week's episode of the Black Girl Nerds podcast, we discuss the season 1 finale of the Disney+ series Ahsoka. Specifically the discussion circulates around episodes 7 and 8 of the series. The show is about Ahsoka Tano, the former Jedi knight investigates an emerging threat to a vulnerable galaxy. Building off her popularity in the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels, Ahsoka Tano (Rosario Dawson), seeks to quell a threat that is attempting to revive the Empire. Featuring a majority female-led cast, the series centers around three women with a shared history of standing up against repression and fighting for what is right, even when the odds are stacked against them. The team comes face to face with new conflicts as society struggles to reform. The women are prompted to consider their places in a post-war environment and what it means to work together as a team… along with awesome lightsaber battles, of course.  Host: Jamie and Ryanne Music by: Sammus Edited by: Jamie Broadnax

In this week's episode of the Black Girl Nerds podcast, we welcome the animation team behind the upcoming Disney adventure Wish. Segment 1: Jennifer Lee (Exec Producer), is the chief creative officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios (WDAS) and is the writer/director of Frozen and Frozen 2  the latter of which continues to be the highest-grossing animated feature ever released. Segment 2: Chris Buck (Director), previously directed Frozen 2 and the Oscar® winning Frozen, along with fellow director Jennifer Lee, and both films went on to become the top two highest-grossing animated features ever released. Fawn Veerasunthorn (Director): was previously head of story for the Academy Award®-nominated Raya and the Last Dragon from Walt Disney Animation Studios. Veerasunthorn joined the Studio as a story artist in 2011 and has since contributed her talents to the Oscar®-winning feature films Frozen and Zootopia, as well as Moana, Ralph Breaks the Internet and Frozen 2. Host: Jamie Music by: Sammus Edited by: Jamie Broadnax Wish premieres in theaters Nov 22nd.

In this week's episode of the Black Girl Nerds podcast, we chat about the Disney+ series Ahsoka. The series is about Ahsoka Tano, the former Jedi knight investigates an emerging threat to a vulnerable galaxy. Building off her popularity in the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels, Ahsoka Tano (Rosario Dawson), seeks to quell a threat that is attempting to revive the Empire. Featuring a majority female-led cast, the series centers around three women with a shared history of standing up against repression and fighting for what is right, even when the odds are stacked against them. The team comes face to face with new conflicts as society struggles to reform. The women are prompted to consider their places in a post-war environment and what it means to work together as a team… along with awesome lightsaber battles, of course.  Host: Jamie and Ryanne Music by: Sammus Edited by: Jamie Broadnax

In this week's episode of the Black Girl Nerds podcast, we welcome comedian and author Aida Rodriguez. Aida Rodriguez is a favorite of critics and fans alike.  Aida's comedy special Fighting Words is currently streaming on Max. The special concludes with a travel documentary of Aida’s trips to Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic celebrating her vibrant heritage and reuniting with her estranged father.  She also has a new book called Legitimate Kid, a personal memoir of her childhood. Host: Ryanne Music by: Sammus Edited by: Jamie Broadnax

In this week's episode of the Black Girl Nerds podcast, we welcome former model and and activist Bethann Hardison and filmmaker Nailah Jefferson. Segment 1: Invisible Beauty shines a spotlight on the singular and unapologetic Hardison, one of the fashion industry’s most influential icons who, as a pioneering Black model, modeling agent and entrepreneur, has pushed the boundaries of fashion culture and has been at the forefront of progress throughout her career. In her lifetime, Hardison has seen the pendulum swing toward and away from the Black model. At every setback, she spoke up and rallied her colleagues and clients in the industry to advance change. Now in her 70s, the Brooklyn native is writing her memoir, taking stock of her own legacy at a moment when the fashion industry was shaken by discrimination. Opens in theaters September 15th. Host: Jamie Segment 2: Nailah is a New Orleans based filmmaker intrigued and inspired by the enduring human spirit, whose films span fiction and nonfiction. Her acclaimed work has been distributed domestically and internationally on the film festival circuit, theatrically and televised. Her film Donyale Luna: Supermodel explores the remarkable life and career of Donyale Luna, one of the first Black models who graced the covers of both Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar in Europe. The movies premieres Sept 13th on HBO. Host: Jamie Music by: Sammus Edited by: Jamie Broadnax

*This interview was recorded before the SAG-AFTRA strike* In this week's episode of the Black Girl Nerds podcast, we welcome actors Birgundi Baker and Hannaha Hall of Showtime's The Chi. The Chi follows life in a neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago where daily danger, and the smallest and simplest of decisions can have life or death consequences for the residents. Birgundi Baker hails from Raleigh, North Carolina. She graduated from Howard University’s musical theater program and shortly after moved to Chicago to pursue her career in acting. Previously, she was seen in hit series such as Fox’s Empire, ABC’s Station 19, the CW DC series Black Lightning, and NBC’s Chicago Med and Chicago PD. Hannaha Hall is best known for her roles in the TV shows, The Chi (2018) and Chicago Med (2015). After completing college, she moved to New York City to study acting at The Lee Strasberg Theater and Film Institute. Host: Ryanne Music by: Sammus Edited by: Jamie Broadnax