Friends Like Us

Vanessa Fraction, Pat Brown, and Kenice Mobley visit friends and discuss diversity attack, quantifying your resolution, Rudy Giuliani's attack on Georgia election workers, 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. Kenice Mobley performs stand up comedy around the world and recently made her late-night debut on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. She appears regularly on SiriusXM and is a Finalist in the StandUp NBC Competition. This year, Kenice worked on the BET Awards and By Us For Us, a sketch comedy series presented by Color of Change. She hosts Complexify on ViceNews, Love About Town, an interview and relationship podcast, and Make Yourself Cry, available on Planet Scum. Pat Brown Sex Tape Released now available on YouTube at Pat Brown Comedy,  Tours with Tracy Morgan, writer for VMA’s, ESPy and NFL Honors  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.    

Sarah Cooper, Zainab Johnson, and Erica Switzer join to discuss Sarah's new book 'Foolish', Zainab's comedy special 'Hijab's Off', discovering passions, personal growth, the importance of supportive friends, stand-up comedy experiences, and navigating black identity in comedy.

Janus Adams and Africa Miranda visit Friends and discuss how segregation in education still remain, the lack of school funding in New York City, Brown Vs. Board Of Education and more with host Marina Franklin.   Africa Miranda - In the span of her 15-year career, Africa Miranda has been an actress, a model, a host, an author, a beautypreneur and a digital personality. Most importantly, she’s been a student of life. As the face and spokesperson for brands like Refinery 29, Macy’s, TJ Maxx and Kia Motors Africa had the opportunity to travel and see the world. Traveling taught her who she is and fueled the creative passions that allowed her to connect with and empower women everywhere. Boston-born and Alabama-raised, Africa grew up wondering what the world outside her backyard looked like. As a graduate of Alabama State University, she learned to bring the world to her using education and creative expression. This wonderment flourished into a deeply-rooted desire to travel the world. From Seoul to the South of France, Africa’s life didn’t truly begin until she left the comfort of the things she knew. Travel taught her the magic of losing yourself right before you find yourself. In 2016, Africa launched her skincare line, Beauty by Africa Miranda to commemorate the incredible experiences she has on her travels and share them with you. From her ultra-hydrating Luminous Body Mist,  inspired by the French Riviera to her aloe vera-rich Hydra Essence Complexion Mist which is a love letter to her time in Curaçao – the highly-praised product line takes your skin on an incredible journey around the globe. Africa’s skincare line and media brand has garnered acclaim from publications like EBONY.com, Essence.com, BET.com, Yahoo Lifestyle, Rolling Out, Vanity Fair and Womensweardaily.com. Her growing following on Instagram and Twitter allows Africa to connect with thousands of women all over the world. With such a successful and active career, over the years Africa received a swell of questions about navigating life as a public figure and personal brand. Her inbox full of career questions lead to the release of her 2018 book, Step Up, Step Out and Shine. Through its pages, Africa teaches readers  how to leverage social media to create their own global brands. Africa’s most recent adventure, in partnership with Facebook Watch, was the opportunity to host and executive produce her very own show – The Africa Miranda Show. Here, she invites her viewers to join in as she chats with a few favorite friends and some incredible creators. They touch on topics about everything from beauty and travel to paving a career path that suits your passion. Dedicated to empowering other women to step intentionally into the media space – Africa is helping a new generation of creators reach their highest potential through her media workshop, Media Mastery Workshop and training course Shine Media Training. Dr. Janus Adams - Emmy Award-winning journalist, historian, entrepreneur, and bestselling author of eleven books, Dr. Janus Adams is the host of public radio’s “The Janus Adams Show” and podcast.  A frequent on-air guest, she has appeared on ABC, BET, CBS, CNN, Fox News, NBC’s The Today Show, and NPR’s All Things Considered. With more than 500 articles, essays and columns to her credit, her work has been featured in Essence and Ms. Magazines, The New York Times, Newsday, USA Today, and The Washington Post.  Her syndicated column ran in the Hearst Newspapers for sixteen years.  Her commentary has been broadcast on CBS and NPR, and published in the Huffington Post.  Her book, Glory Days: 365 Inspired Moments in African American History, was licensed by McDonald’s and reached more than 3 million readers. A pioneer of issue-oriented African-American and women’s programming she has hosted her own radio and television talk shows for more than ten years.  Her series, “Milestones in African-American Business History,” ran on public radio’s Marketplace. Her 19-hour International Women’s Day marathon broadcasts brought her to NPR as the network’s first National Arts Correspondent and opened the New York News Bureau. An entrepreneur, as founder of BackPax (a children’s publishing company) and Harambee (the first national book club for African American literature), she changed the publishing landscape for authors and audiences. A dynamic speaker and passionate storyteller, she is known for her unique perspectives on current events through the lens of history. Indeed, Dr. Adams has been engaged by history and culture since childhood. A northern school desegregation pioneer at 8, she was one of the four children selected to break New York’s de facto segregation in the public schools in the wake of Brown v. Board of Education.  A classically-trained pianist, she is a graduate of New York’s High School of Performing Arts.  Her master’s is the nation’s first graduate degree in Black Studies.  Her doctoral chair was author and composer Shirley Graham Du Bois (widow of Dr. W. E. B. Du Bois, the “Father of Pan-Africanism” and co-founder of the NAACP). Her honors include Doctor of Humane Letters degrees from Shaw University and the State University of New York. 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 Nonye Brown-West join the host to discuss whether Beyonce has a responsibility to speak about injustice. They also share their experiences attending concerts and talk about ways to be politically active. The importance of comfortable comedy and the use of masks during performances are also explored.

Jason Andors and Jenny Saldaña visit friends and express their love for the Dominican Republic, Emerging talent in the Dominican Republic helps profile, Hot Travel Spot, Jason's builds a home for an Dominican elder and more.  Jenny Saldaña is an award winning playwright, actor and comedian. She is also a 17 year breast cancer survivor and advocate. Jenny published her first book, Master First Dater: Second to None (available on Amazon) Jason Andors has appeared on HBO’s Bad Boys of Comedy, Comedy Central’s Premium Blend, Showtime’s White Boyz in the Hood (which he also associate-produced), Comics Unleashed , Showtime at the Apollo (a guest artist), BET’s Comic View, Gotham Comedy Live, and many more! He recently won a Latino award at the Latino Premios for “TikToker Of The Year” and is one of the principal actors in a Dominican film that just came out called “La Soga 3”. Why a Latino award and Dominican film? Because in 2015 he went viral on social media as a Dominican character named “El Tiguere Vacano”.  “El Tiguere Vacano” is a proud Dominican from a neighborhood called Villa Mella who loves his country more than anyone. This character has been Jason’s main focus since he went viral. El Tiguere Vacano has been seen on Dominicana’s Got Talent, Raymond y Miguel” (basically the SNL of the Dominican Republic), Mananero, Jochy Santos “El Mismo Golpe”, Esta Noche Mariasela, Las Hijos de Tuta, four shows on the the radio network “Alofoke” called Esto no Es Radio Show, Open Mic, Finanzas de Humor, and Tuveralio, Boca de Piano, Carlos Sanchez’s podcast “A Sigun”, Dime AVE, Extremo Extremo, Buena Noche, and many more! He has also been written up in the popular newspaper “El Diario Libre” and other newspapers as well. This year he was finally able to make one of his dreams come true and start his own foundation in the Dominican Republic for kids in need called “Fundacion Jason Andors JAJA.” 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        

Keith Robinson and Zainab Johnson visit Friends Like Us and discuss Keith Robinson's new Netflix Comedy Taping, Zainab Johnson's Amazon's Comedy Special: Hijabs Off, and lessons from life's interuptions.  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. Keith Robinson, the comedic sensation born and raised in Philadelphia, has become an enduring legend in the heart of New York City’s comedy circuit. Renowned for his sharp wit and uproarious humor, Robinson’s career boasts a rich tapestry of accomplishments. He’s graced the stages of HBO’s iconic “Def Comedy Jam,” delighted audiences on MTV, VH1, and charmed viewers on shows like “The Chelsea Lately Show” and “Late Night with Conan O’Brien.” With his infectious laughter and keen observational humor, he’s a true master of the craft. Beyond the stage, Keith Robinson’s talent transcends into the world of cinema, with memorable roles in hit movies such as “Trainwreck” and “King of Staten Island.” His unique brand of comedy, marked by its authenticity and relatability, continues to captivate fans and cement his status as a comedic icon in New York and beyond. Please join him for the taping of his upcoming Netflix special on Dec. 19th in NYC at Sony Hall! Go to sonyhall.com for tickets! 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        

Dana Frank and Kaneeze Surka visit friends and discuss the importance of legacy, Dana as Real Estate Mogul/Change-Maker/Philanthropist, Getting Up and On It, Menopause, and more with host Marina Franklin.. Dana Frank is an accomplished businesswoman who manages several hundred residents for TD Frank Family Properties, keeping the business that her parents started in the 1950s alive and thriving. With grace and wit, she has taken the  business world by storm to challenge continuing issues of gender and racial discrimination in real estate and banking.  In her upcoming debut novel, Get Up And Get On It, Dana reveals the formula for creating generational wealth while taking the reader through a dark humor roller coaster ride filled with human experiences everyone can relate to. Dana’s passion for writing doesn’t begin or end with novels, though. Her blog, MenopauseBarbees, is a safe haven for women of all walks of life, approaching topics of aging, dating, and what it means to be a woman in the 21 st century with humor, compassion, and a wealth of lived experience. She devotes her time to philanthropic pursuits. Serving on multiple advisory boards for Seattle-based organizations, Dana finds purpose in serving her community. By supporting at-risk youth, her work focuses on guiding the rising stars of Seattle towards collaboration to motivate political change for socioeconomic equity in marginalized communities. Kaneez Surka has produced and performed in her Netflix Special, 'Ladies Up', Netflix's 'Comedy Premium League,' and Amazon Prime Video's Improv specials, 'Something From Nothing' and 'Improv All Stars - Games Night.' Kaneez is also known for her comedic acting. Her short film, 'The Shaila(s)' was selected for the Voot Select Film Festival. 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 and Subhah Agarwal visit Friends and discuss Social Media Comics, Grammy Nominated Gospel Singer On A Plane, The Perfect Proposal, and Scholastic Books Backlash with host Marina Franklin. Subhah Agarwal has brought an honesty to her comedy that will leave you saying "I didn't need to know that." Subhah has written for Netflix’s “Arsenio Hall” limited series, the "Plan B" movie on Hulu," and The Jim Jefferies Show"on Comedy Central, amongst others. You can also catch her jokes live at stand up comedy clubs across the country. If you don't want to leave your couch, you can see her late night debut on NBC's "A Little Late With Lilly Singh." She's also appeared on season three of HBO's "Westworld", "General Hospital," TruTv's sketch comedy "Friends of the People", and as herself on MTV2, Comedy Central, and Gotham Comedy Live. Vanessa Fraction -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  

Jeff Leach and Nonye Brown-West visit Friends Like Us and discuss Jeff Leach's Comedy Spectacular, Processing Loss and more with host Marina Franklin.  Jeff Leach- Born and bred out of the character-rich East End of London, Jeff cut his teeth in the world of showbiz first as an international DJ and Producer playing at clubs and major festivals throughout Europe and remixing dance tracks for Island Records and Ministry Of Sound. After years on stage performing as a theatrical actor with institutions as globally recognized as the Royal Shakespeare Company he fell into a career on-screen as a BBC television presenter. During those formative first years on television, Leach worked for many other major networks including ITV, Channel 4, ABC, Virgin Media and Current TV, hosting shows as wide-ranging as youth chat formats, live music festivals, addition therapy series and a couple of award-winning immersive documentaries. He also hosted and produced his own series for London Live entitled Jeff Leach +1 about the most bizarre nightlife activities on offer in the capital. His other accolades include hosting or guest appearing on Big Brother’s Big Mouth, Comic Relief’s Naughty Bits, Fake Reaction and NBC Sports. Check out Jeff Leach Presents: A Comedy Spectacular. With over 205,418 views!  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, Sway In The Morning, and the New York Comedy Festival. Nonye made her acting debut in The Sympathy Card, now available for streaming on Vudu, Apple, Amazon, and Google Play. 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  

Prachi Gupta and Nimesh Patel Visit friends and discuss Prachi's highly acclaimed book: "They Called Us Exceptional", Nimesh's new comedy special: "Lucky Left", mental health in the South Asian community and more. Prachi Gupta is an award-winning writer based in New York. They Called Us Exceptional is her debut memoir. She was a senior reporter at Jezebel and co-host of Jezebel's former politics podcast, Big Time Dicks. She won a 2020 Writers Guild Award for her investigative essay, "Stories About My Brother," which was also named one of the best essays of 2019 by Longform and Longreads.  Prior to Jezebel, Prachi covered the 2016 election for Cosmopolitan.com, where she "set the standard" for interviews with Ivanka Trump, per Media Matters; interviewed former First Lady Michelle Obama on her first solo trip to the Middle East; and traveled to Jordan to report on the refugee crisis. She has also written for the Atlantic, the Washington Post Magazine, Salon, Elle, and Harper’s Bazaar. Her reporting on data privacy and discrimination for Marie Claire was included in 2021's Best American Magazine Writing.                   Her new debut memoir THEY CALLED US EXCEPTIONAL is available now. The Washington Post calls it “Vulnerable and courageous…Gupta’s resilience and her hope to be fully seen are an inspiration in both personal and political terms.” —The Washington Post Nimesh Patel is a comedian and Emmy-nominated writer based in New York City, where he has performed standup comedy for 10+ years. He is currently a writer on NBC’s late night show “A Little Late with Lilly Singh. In standup, he is a regular at New York’s famed Comedy Cellar, has appeared on Late Night with Seth Meyers, and has opened for Chris Rock & Aziz Ansari. His first writing job came after Chris Rock saw him perform standup and hired him directly to write for The Academy Awards in 2016. Since then, he has written for Saturday Night Live, The White House Correspondents Dinner, & Awkwafina, and was a producer for “Full Frontal with Samantha Bee.” He has two specials available on You Tube Thank You China with over 1.7 million views and Lucky Left a comedy special that documents his diagnosis with testicular cancer. 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