Janna Pea and Marc Theobald visit Friends Like Us and discuss bringing a folding chair to the table, black people not being the boogey man, DEI Attacks, the she-economy and more with host Marina Franklin. Janna Pea is a seasoned communications executive + recent entrepreneur. Her work has increased the visibility and influence of artists + entertainers, innovative brands + companies, philanthropies, visionary cultural organizations, and more. Pea Nation partners with clients to not simply fight for a seat at the table of representation but to create new rooms, venues, and movements where diverse change makers can transform dominant impact narratives. As a result of Janna’s work, more Black and brown Americans, women, and LGBTQ+ people are now seen and heard. From the Women’s March to the #MeToo movement to the racial reckoning of summer 2020, Janna has helped shape and define some of the highest-profile national and global events in recent history. Known for her calm navigation of crisis communications situations, Janna began her career on Capitol Hill. She lives in Brooklyn with her family. Marc Theobald is a stand-up, writer, and producer known for The Last O.G. (2018), Delocated (2018), and the 2019 ESPY Awards. He has performed in a number of New York's hot spots, including the "New York Comedy Club", "Catch a Rising Star", "Stand-Up New York", and "Uptown Comedy Club", He also has been featured on "Comic View" and "The Chappelle Show". True to form, Theobald keeps the crowd in stitches with his sketch artist talents and physical style. Always hosted by Marina Franklin - One Hour Comedy Special: Single Black Female ( Amazon Prime, CW Network), TBS's The Last O.G, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Hysterical on FX, The Movie Trainwreck, Louie Season V, The Jim Gaffigan Show, Conan O'Brien, Stephen Colbert, HBO's Crashing, and The Breaks with Michelle Wolf.          

Liz Meile and Nonye Brown West visit friends and talk Viral You Tube Comedy Specials, Fragile Infrastructure, Cats For Rats, and more with host Marina Franklin!  Liz Miele is a NYC comedian that has appeared on Comedy Central, FOX, AXS TV, Hulu and NPR’s Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me. She's been featured in The New Yorker, NY Times, Runner's World, Psychology Today and The Guardian. She has several viral videos on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok including jokes “Feminist Sex Positions,” "Dating Is Harder for Comedians," and "F*ck Finland". She regularly tours internationally and has four albums out including her first, “Emotionally Exhausting” which has over 3 million views, and Self Help Me, which has almost 2 million views. Her most recent special “Ghost of Academic Future” has over 1 million views and was listed on the New York Times, Paste Magazine and Interrobang “Best Comedy Specials of 2022” list. Her next special “Murder Sheets” premiered April 2nd on youtube. Her book "Why Cats Are A**holes" was published March 2021. She has a weekly podcast with comedian Maria Shehata called 2 Non-Doctors. For more info visit her website: www.lizmiele.com Nonye Brown-West  is a New York-based Nigerian-American comedian and writer. She has been featured in the Boston Globe's Rise column as a Comic to Watch, as well as in NPR, PBS, ABC, and Sway In The Morning. Nonye has produced comedy shows for The Stonewall Inn, The American Repertory Theater, and she is the co-producer of Savage Comedy at Logan's Run in Brooklyn, NY. Nonye made her acting debut in The Sympathy Card, streaming now on Vudu and Amazon. Always hosted by Marina Franklin - One Hour Comedy Special: Single Black Female ( Amazon Prime, CW Network), TBS's The Last O.G, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Hysterical on FX, The Movie Trainwreck, Louie Season V, The Jim Gaffigan Show, Conan O'Brien, Stephen Colbert, HBO's Crashing, and The Breaks with Michelle Wolf.  

TK Dutes and Ashley Ray visit friends and discuss toxic hollywood culture, social media constraint, a Screenwriter's Lawsuit and more with host Marina Franklin. Keisha "TK" Dutes is a producer with experience spanning terrestrial radio, live streaming audio, and podcast since 2005. Her life in audio is all encompassing. Her most recent episode of NPR Life Kit is about "How to Mind Your Own Business". Currently, she helps people bring their podcasts to life via her company, Philo's Future Media and serves as a board member of Association of Independents in Radio. Fun Fact: She is also an extreme hobbyist and visual artist.  Ashley Ray is the most famous bisexual solo polyamorous black queer comedian, actor, and writer currently based in Los Angeles. In 2021, she was featured in Bust for her “whip smart TV criticism.” And yes, she’s also famous for smoking pot. In 2022, Ashley wrote on Adult Swim’s, ALABAMA JACKSON created by Donald Faison. Ashley was selected as one of HBO Max’s Queer Comics to Watch for 2021 and filmed a digital special for the platform. That same year she did a sold out hour at Union Hall in NY and debuted a new hour at The Yard Theater in Los Angeles. She hosts High Gear Comedy, a monthly live show with Barbara Gray at The Airliner in LA. Ashley is the host of the popular podcast ‘TV I Say with Ashley Ray’ which was featured in the New York Times as a 2021 Podcast Worth Checking Out.” She’s also been a guest on NPR’s Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me and Seth Rogen’s Storytime. She is also known for her viral Shaun King video and post. Her newsletter about TV, pop culture and life as a solo poly bisexual dream babe was named "One of the Best 2020 Newsletters to Subscribe to That Will Keep You Informed and Entertained" by Marie Claire. Always hosted by Marina Franklin - One Hour Comedy Special: Single Black Female ( Amazon Prime, CW Network), TBS's The Last O.G, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Hysterical on FX, The Movie Trainwreck, Louie Season V, The Jim Gaffigan Show, Conan O'Brien, Stephen Colbert, HBO's Crashing, and The Breaks with Michelle Wolf.

Vanessa Fraction Visits Friends and we discuss Freaknik, Election 2024, and When Women Speak Their Truth and more with host Marina Franklin.  Vanessa Fraction is a talented and hilarious comedian, actress, and writer who has made her mark in various forms of entertainment. She can currently be heard as a co-host on the Nappy Boy Radio Podcast hosted by Tpain and seen in the movie Praise This on Peacock. Vanessa can also be seen guest hosting on the entertainment news show Dish Nation. As a stand-up comedian, Vanessa has performed on Def Comedy Jam , Laff Mobs Laff Tracks , and more. Her writing credits include Raven's Home , 106 & Park , and The Mo'Nique Show. Additionally, she has appeared in the film Barber Shop 2 and television shows Last Call, Mann & Wife (BounceTV), Comedy KnockOuts (TruTV) and Tales (BET) Not only is Vanessa "Action" Fraction a talented entertainer, but she is also a certified self-defense instructor. She teaches her unique class called Kicks & Comedy, combining her love for humor with her passion for empowering others through self-defense. Always hosted by Marina Franklin - One Hour Comedy Special: Single Black Female ( Amazon Prime, CW Network), TBS's The Last O.G, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Hysterical on FX, The Movie Trainwreck, Louie Season V, The Jim Gaffigan Show, Conan O'Brien, Stephen Colbert, HBO's Crashing, and The Breaks with Michelle Wolf.  

Von Decarlo and Ant Pruitt visit friends and discuss Artificial Intelligence Trouble, America's problem with TikTok, Bird Safety and more with host Marina Franklin. Von Decarlo is a New York-bred stand-up comedian, producer, writer, and actress who has appeared in worldwide ad campaigns and national commercials for Disney, GNC, Match, and Carnival Cruise lines. She performed in Montreal for Kevin Hart's LOL Network as well as the Lil' Rel and Friends show at the Just For Laughs comedy festival, and most recently in Australia for the Human Kind Festival. Additional appearances include HBO's Pause with Sam Jay, Laff Mobb's Laff Tracks on Tru TV and HBO Max, CNN's year-end wrap-up special, The Jerry O'Connell Show on FOX, BET, BuzzFeed, The Breakfast Club, Angela Yee's Lip Service, Sirius XM’s Urban View and NBA channel, In Godfrey We Trust Podcast, and more. Von Decarlo is the Executive Producer of the documentary Killing Is Easy on Comedy Central as well as the producer of three posthumous comedy albums, Mr. P, Unreleased, and The Lost Files. Her debut comedy album, A Draggable Offense, is available on all major platforms, and can be heard on the She So Funny and Laugh Out Loud radio stations on Sirius XM. Look out for Von Decarlo in the upcoming RomCom, Switch Up, and in the indie film, Salesman, currently on Amazon Prime.   Ant Pruitt  Freelance digital content creator. What does this mean? I'm someone that not only loves to snap photographs, but I also enjoy shooting video and writing. When I'm not capturing freelance content, I'm performing my daily duties as a host, producer and community manager at TWiT TV, the podcast network focused on providing news around the world of consumer technology and geek culture. Check out his podcast: podcast Everyday People (Doing Everyday S***) Always hosted by Marina Franklin - One Hour Comedy Special: Single Black Female ( Amazon Prime, CW Network), TBS's The Last O.G, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Hysterical on FX, The Movie Trainwreck, Louie Season V, The Jim Gaffigan Show, Conan O'Brien, Stephen Colbert, HBO's Crashing, and The Breaks with Michelle Wolf.  

We discuss pivot points with Nonye Brown-West and Zainab Johnson- Zainab Johnson's inspirational feature in Rolling Stone Magazine, hoop dreams, resillience and more with host Marina Franklin. Zainab Johnson is a stand-up comedian, actress, and writer quickly being propelled as one of the most unique and engaging performers on stage and screen.  Zainab is currently a series regular on the Amazon Original hit series titled "Upload" from Greg Daniels and stars in her very first One Hour Comedy Special "Hijabs Off" available NOW only on Prime Video. Nonye Brown-West  is a New York-based Nigerian-American comedian and writer. She has been featured in the Boston Globe's Rise column as a Comic to Watch, as well as in NPR, PBS, ABC, and Sway In The Morning. Nonye has produced comedy shows for The Stonewall Inn, The American Repertory Theater, and she is the co-producer of Savage Comedy at Logan's Run in Brooklyn, NY. Nonye made her acting debut in The Sympathy Card, streaming now on Vudu and Amazon. Always hosted by Marina Franklin - One Hour Comedy Special: Single Black Female ( Amazon Prime, CW Network), TBS's The Last O.G, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Hysterical on FX, The Movie Trainwreck, Louie Season V, The Jim Gaffigan Show, Conan O'Brien, Stephen Colbert, HBO's Crashing, and The Breaks with Michelle Wolf.

Charla Lauriston and Gordon Baker-Bone visit friends and discuss being kind to yourself in writing/life and more with host Marina Franklin.  Charla Lauriston is a Vancouver and Los Angeles based comedian, writer, and director. Most recently, she wrote for Grand Crew on NBC and has previously written for The Last OG, Ghosted, People of Earth, and Hoops. Her 2021 episodic short, Witchsters, is the official selection of the 2022 Slamdance Film Festival, New Filmmakers Los Angeles, and the 2021 Austin Film Festival and American Black Film Festival. Charla is the creator of The Werking Writer School, a career-focused online course and community for new and aspiring screenwriters. Charla’s 2014 web series, Clench & Release, garnered critical acclaim that described her as “self-assured and gleefully sarcastic” (WNYC) and “one of the most exciting and original voices in comedy” (Splitsider). As a standup, Charla has appeared on ‘The Meltdown with Jonah and Kumail’ on Comedy Central, and has performed with Jonathan Van Ness and Team Coco. Born in Haiti and raised on the East Coast, Charla’s sharp observations on everything from family to race to pop culture and the absurd minutiae of everyday life are delivered with a matter-of-fact punch to the gut. Gordon Baker-Bone is not a stage name, it's his real name. It's also a name you won't soon want to forget. This NJ(Newar) native has been performing nationwide and has featured on AXS TV's Gotham Live and voted one of Brooklyn's 50 Funniest People in 2016. He's written for MTV, and is a regular at clubs around New Jersey, New York and Connecticut. He is poised to be a top comedian of his generation. Also, check out his show Drunk Black History coming to a town near you! Always hosted by Marina Franklin - One Hour Comedy Special: Single Black Female ( Amazon Prime, CW Network), TBS's The Last O.G, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Hysterical on FX, The Movie Trainwreck, Louie Season V, The Jim Gaffigan Show, Conan O'Brien, Stephen Colbert, HBO's Crashing, and The Breaks with Michelle Wolf.  

Christina Greer and Hollie Harper visit friends and discuss the dificult job of Mayor, Sneakers used to pay an Ex-President's legal fees, anti-social students and more with host Marina Franklin. Christina Greer is an Associate Professor of Political Science at Fordham University - Lincoln Center (Manhattan) campus. Her research and teaching focus on American politics, Black ethnic politics, campaigns and elections, and public opinion. Prof. Greer's book Black Ethnics: Race, Immigration, and the Pursuit of the American Dream (Oxford University Press) investigates the increasingly ethnically diverse black populations in the US from Africa and the Caribbean. She finds that both ethnicity and a shared racial identity matter and also affect the policy choices and preferences for black groups. Professor Greer is currently working on a manuscript detailing the political contributions of Barbara Jordan, Fannie Lou Hamer, and Stacey Abrams. She recently co-edited Black Politics in Transition, which explores gentrification, suburbanization, and immigration of Blacks in America. She is a member of the board of The Tenement Museum in NYC,  The Mark Twain House in Hartford, CT, Community Change in Washington, DC, and serves on the Advisory Board at Tufts University. She is a frequent political commentator on several media outlets, primarily MSNBC, WNYC, and NY1, and is often quoted in media outlets such as the NYTimes, Wall Street Journal, and the AP. She is the co-host of the New York centered podcast FAQ-NYC, is a political analyst at thegrio.com and host of the podcast quiz show The Blackest Questions at thegrio.com, is a frequent author and narrator for the TedEd educational series, and also writes a weekly column for The Amsterdam News, one of the oldest black newspapers in the U.S. Prof. Greer received her BA from Tufts University and her MA, MPhil, and PhD in Political Science from Columbia University Hollie Harper is a comedy nerd from South Jersey. She is currently the creator and co-exec producer of Hella Late! with Hollie Harper on BRIC TV and a co-host of the nationally trending Twitter Storytelling Chat “BlerdDating.” Hella Late! with Hollie Harper was recently in the 2021 NYC Web Fest where she was nominated as Best Actress. Hollie was a semi-finalist in the 2019 NBC Standup Competition and has been featured on NY1, and in Black Enterprise Magazine, Thrive Global, Confessional Magazine and Black San Diego Magazine. Her popular sketch comedy show AMERICAN CANDY has played the Comic Strip, Gotham Comedy Club, BAM Café as well as the Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival. Time Out Chicago named them one of the five groups to watch. Hollie is a regular host for West Side Comedy Club in NYC and works with Gold Comedy and Stand Up Girls, two programs that empower young women by teaching them standup comedy. She was recently the talent coordinator and casting for “Blood Lassi” on Spotify, written by Pratima Mani, and moderated the panel for the Emmy Award winning, WOC editing team of Black Lady Sketch Show for The Black TV and Film Collective. She is also the Creative Consultant for the very successful Black Women in Comedy Laff Fest. Always hosted by Marina Franklin - One Hour Comedy Special: Single Black Female ( Amazon Prime, CW Network), TBS's The Last O.G, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Hysterical on FX, The Movie Trainwreck, Louie Season V, The Jim Gaffigan Show, Conan O'Brien, Stephen Colbert, HBO's Crashing, and The Breaks with Michelle Wolf.  

Laurie Kilmartin and Onika McLean visit friends and discuss Laurie's new comedy special: Cis Woke Grief Slut, dark comedy, and protection from doxing with host Marina Franklin. Onika McLean, born in North Carolina, and raised in East New York Brooklyn, is a single mother of two, legal professional, and a sharp comedian whose no-nonsense perspective on life, love, single motherhood, and her mid life crisis is taking the comedy arena by storm. She was the fan favorite on Bravo Television's, The Single’s Project. She is the winner of the Sloshed Comedy Competition and the Rising Stars Comedy Competition in London. Onika performs regularly at LOL and Times Square and passed at Comic Strip Live and has Dangerfield's, New York Comedy Club, New York Stand, Broadway Comedy, Village Underground, and the. She runs a monthly show entitled Cosmic Comedy.   Laurie Kilmartin is stand up comedian and an Emmy-nominated, WGA award-winning comedy writer. She was a staff writer for all 11 years of CONAN on TBS, and has performed standup on CONAN, Late Late Show w/James Corden, and Comedy Central. She was a Top 10 finalist on season 9 of NBC's Last Comic Standing, and has been a guest on Marc Maron's WTF 3 times. She is the author of Dead People Sck, a comedic memoir about grief, and Shitty Mom- NY Times bestselling comedy about parenting. Her special 45 Jokes About My Dead Dad, was named Vulture 's Top Ten Comedy Specials of 2016. In 2022, she was a guest in the “Comedy” episdoe of Hillary Clinton’s 2022 Apple TV series Gutsy. Her new special “Cis Woke Grief Slut,” taped at Hollywood’s El Portal Theater, will be available on all platforms in January, 2024. Born and raised in the Bay Area, Laurie became interested in trying standup after seeing one too male comics talk about women. Even in San Francisco, the early 90s lineups were stacked with men lazily stereotyping approximately half the people in the audience. Laurie distinctly remembers sitting through a comedy showcase, thinking, “I don’t like shopping, and I don’t go to the bathroom in pairs.” Her need to try standup came from an intense desire to tell her own story, instead of hearing it being told to her by a dude. After a successful first time onstage, Laurie moved back in with her parents, bought a Chevy Blazer and started driving to gigs over the West. By the time she donated the Blazer to KCRW, there were over 500,000 miles on the odometer. She has worked one nighters, comedy clubs, casinos and wars. In fact, she performed for troops in both Iraq wars, including a New Year’s Eve show at one of Saddam Hussein’s occupied palaces. After ten years of basing herself inNorCal, she relocated to New York City in 1999. In 2003, she added TV writing to her resume, with her first staff job on Comedy Central’s Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn. She moved onto “The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson,” tried her hand at daytime on “The Bonnie Hunt Show” before being hired as a monologue writer on “CONAN,” for its entire 11 year run on TBS. In 2006, she became a mom, and in 2009, a single mom.In 2014, she famously (or infamously) live-tweeted jokes her father’s hospice passing from lung cancer, and in 2020, she did the same after her mother was hospitalized with COVID. From these literal cremated ashes came her comedy special and second book (“45 Jokes About My Dead Dad” and “Dead People Suck”), and the 3rd titular element of her new special “Cis Woke Grief Slut.” Always hosted by Marina Franklin - One Hour Comedy Special: Single Black Female ( Amazon Prime, CW Network), TBS's The Last O.G, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Hysterical on FX, The Movie Trainwreck, Louie Season V, The Jim Gaffigan Show, Conan O'Brien, Stephen Colbert, HBO's Crashing, and The Breaks with Michelle Wolf.  

The Gossiping Heifers visit friends and discuss Micheles new book "Breaking Free" , a guide and workbook for women trying to escape a narcissistic relationship and more with host Marina Franklin. The Gossiping Heifers- Michele and Rochele are the dynamic duo behind the wildly entertaining podcast, "The Gossiping Heifers." With a flair for humor and a knack for keeping listeners engaged, these two sisters bring a fresh and hilarious perspective to the world of current events, celebrity gossip, and everyday life. Listeners can expect a rollercoaster ride through the latest news headlines, celebrity scandals, and everything in between. Whether it's discussing the ins and outs of politics, sharing dating stories that will have you in stitches, or offering valuable tips on navigating the complexities of modern life, Michele and Rochele leave no stone unturned. What sets "The Gossiping Heifers" apart is their ability to blend insightful commentary with rib-tickling humor. Each week, they invite special guests from the entertainment industry, adding even more spice to their already spicy show. Whether you're seeking a good laugh or looking for some practical advice, Michele and Rochele have got you covered. Tune in to "The Gossiping Heifers" for a dose of laughter, lively discussions, and an unfiltered take on the world's hottest topics. You won't want to miss a single episode of this dynamic podcast duo. Check out Michele's new book: "Breaking Free" , a guide and workbook for women trying to escape a narcissistic relationship by Michele. Always hosted by Marina Franklin - One Hour Comedy Special: Single Black Female ( Amazon Prime, CW Network), TBS's The Last O.G, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Hysterical on FX, The Movie Trainwreck, Louie Season V, The Jim Gaffigan Show, Conan O'Brien, Stephen Colbert, HBO's Crashing, and The Breaks with Michelle Wolf.