BETWEEN THE WORLD AND ME

𝑩𝒆𝒕𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑾𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑴𝒆 was a letter written by author Ta-Nehisi Coates to his then 15 year old son. This epistle was Coates' account of what autonomy means in the body of a Black man navigating the streets of West Baltimore as a young boy, Howard University as a blossoming young man, well into fatherhood. In this episode of Vulgar Geniuses, we review the star studded HBO adaptation, based on the 2018 staging of the book at Apollo Theater directed by award winning director and Apollo Theater Executive Producer Kamilah Forbes.

INTERIOR CHINATOWN

Set in intersecting realities of truth and television, 𝑰𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒐𝒓 𝑪𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒐𝒘𝒏 by Charles Yu is a scathing and hilarious commentary on the racism, invisibility, and erasure of Asians in American History and Hollywood.

The story takes place in the Golden Palace Restaurant featured in the procedural cop show “Black & White”. Willis Wu plays “Generic Asian Man” but is gunning for the coveted “Kung Fu Guy” role. He wrestles with making an attempt to sacrifice his dignity to be seen by White America or be seen by his family.

KING AND THE DRAGONFLIES

It seems that everything Kacen Callender touches turns to pure gold, and in this episode we discuss their most recent award winning crown jewel, 𝑲𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑫𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒐𝒏𝒇𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒔.

King is a 12 year old boy who believes that his brother Khalid has turned into a dragonfly after he unexpectedly passes away. This young adult novel tackles subject matters of grief, homophobia, and racism.

On today’s episode we are joined by our newest edition to our show, YA book reviewers Briana and Rachel.

KOSOKO JACKSON

When Artist Alisha Wormsley coined the phrase, “There are black people in the future,” she must have seen who was coming our way. On today’s show, we sit down with new author, Kosoko Jackson, to speak about his debut novel 𝒀𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒅𝒂𝒚 𝑰𝒔 𝑯𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚, a story about being young, black, and queer based in the world of sci-fi.

Jackson speaks with us about how he came to write this book, the screen time this novel rightly deserves, and the importance of representation of racial minorities in sci-fi. I’m Dennie, and I’m Veronica, and this is another episode of the Vulgar Geniuses Podcast. 

MATEO ASKARIPOUR

Every day is deals day, and today we struck gold with the biggest deal of all. This week, we welcome New York Times bestselling author Mateo Askaripour to talk about his debut novel 𝑩𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒌 𝑩𝒖𝒄𝒌. After two prior attempts to sell manuscripts, Askaripour found that his passion for storytelling would eventually mesh his imagination and real-life experience in the tech startup world.

𝑩𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒌 𝑩𝒖𝒄𝒌 introduces us to a young man named Darren, who finds himself in the seat of opportunity. But this seat disguised as success soon becomes quicksand filled with microaggressions, racism, and soon regret.

JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH

Director Shaka King reunites Get Out stars Daniel Kaluuya and Lakeith Stanfield as they deliver Oscar worthy performances in the biopic 𝑱𝒖𝒅𝒂𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑩𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒌 𝑴𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒂𝒉. Stanfield plays William O’Neil, a car thief turned informant for the FBI sent in to infiltrate the Chicago Chapter of the Black Panther Party.

Kaluuya plays 21 year old activist Fred Hampton serving as Chairman of the political movement. This dramatic story retells the moments leading up to the assassination of Fred Hampton, and how the FBI used informants to tear down one of the most powerful movements in America’s History.

PATRICIA ENGEL

𝑰𝒏𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝑪𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒚 is the fourth novel by the brilliant New York Times bestselling author Patricia Engel. Holding us captive from the first sentence, Engel proves her commitment to leading each reader into a masterclass of how a finely crafted story can leave us all wanting to follow each character well beyond the last pages.

In this episode of the Vulgar Geniuses Podcast, we sit down with Patricia Engel to discuss her novel and what time and borders do to those we call family.

ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI…

If you want something done right, you better have Regina King do it for you. In her feature film directorial debut of the Golden Globe-nominated movie 𝑶𝒏𝒆 𝑵𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝑰𝒏 𝑴𝒊𝒂𝒎𝒊, King masterfully wields her camera like that of Thor’s hammer, giving audiences a chance to witness a legend coming into her own behind the silver screen. Malcolm X, Sam Cooke, and Jim Brown celebrate Muhammed Ali becoming the Heavyweight Champion of the World in 1964. Screenwriter Kemp Powers reimagines the conversations and the world-changing decisions that soon followed.

NICOLE GLOVER

Today’s show is hands down one of the most fun interviews of the season. We talked to Nicole Glover about her debut fantasy novel, 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒔. Set in the Reconstruction Era in Philadelphia, we meet Hetty and Benjy Rhodes, a former enslaved couple who were conductors for the Underground Railroad. The couple soon finds themselves forced to enter the world of solving murder cases when one of their closest friends winds up murdered. Nicole spoke about why she wanted to write a novel that gave Black people the ability to perform magic, her love of Sailor Moon, and the importance of looking towards the future when writing stories intertwined in the past.

BROWN & BLACK SERIES: DR. GINGER JACOBSON

What began has siniphobic remarks to scapegoat the source of the covid-19 virus from the former President of the United States of America; soon turned into a call for open season on America's Asian citizens. On today's episode we question if America can finally reckon with the sins of its forefathers. We talk to Dr. Ginger Jacobson, host of the Squeezin' Lemons Podcast, to discuss the rise in hate crimes against the Asian community; and the intersectionality of race and gender. Today's episode is dedicated to those who lost their lives in the horrendous terrorist attack Tuesday, March 16, in Atlanta, Georgia. We at Vulgar Geniuses condemn this hate crime. We stand alongside our brothers and sisters in the Asian American and Pacific Islander community in this never-ending battle.

CLAP WHEN YOU LAND

Elizabeth Acevedo has nothing to prove when it comes to her writing, she is a master of the pen. Her third novel, 𝑪𝒍𝒂𝒑 𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝑳𝒂𝒏𝒅, will leave you wanting for more in every line. In this beautiful story written in verse, we meet Camino and Yahaira. Two young women bound together by a man who straddles two worlds, the United States and Dominican Republic. After the father dies tragically in a flight back to the Dominican Republic, the two young girls soon learn that through their loss they have found each other. We are joined by our YA correspondent, Rachel and special returning guest author and poet, Michelle Lizet Flores.

DAWNIE WALTON

Take two parts Betty Davis, one part Grace Jones, and a pinch of Eartha Kitt, and you have one of the best rock & roll heroines to grace the fictional stage. On this special episode of The Vulgar Geniuses Podcast, we sit down with journalist & author Dawnie Walton to talk about her much-anticipated debut novel, 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑭𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒗𝒂𝒍 𝒐𝒇 𝑶𝒑𝒂𝒍 & 𝑵𝒆𝒗. 

We place Walton center stage as she speaks about her love of rock & roll, the moment when she began to step into her authentic self at the start of her college years, and how those and many other experiences as a journalist helped formed this beautiful story. 

SASHA BANKS

𝒂𝒎𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒂, 𝑴𝑰𝑵𝑬 is a thought-provoking introspective of what the future would look like in a post-white supremacist society. Sasha Banks’s poetry captivates while it initiates the decolonization of the readers’ minds to consider a life where Black lives thrive.

On this episode of the Vulgar Geniuses Podcast, we talk to Banks about her collections of poems, how she did a deep dive into the world of slam poetry, and which famous young adult author is the only one who knows the ingredients to her coveted peach cobbler.

HALA ALYAN

Hala Alyan will make you take inventory of the secrets you may be holding. In 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑨𝒓𝒔𝒐𝒏𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒔' 𝑪𝒊𝒕𝒚, we are given a window into the lives of the Nasr family. The secrets that each person clutches weigh heavy on their heads, but it is up to them to either carry it or suffer the repercussions of their confession. 

We continue our anniversary celebration in conversation with the brilliant poet and author, Hala Alyan. She speaks to us about how this beautiful family story was birth from a dream and how important it is to practice your craft.  

SANJENA SATHIAN

𝑮𝒐𝒍𝒅 𝑫𝒊𝒈𝒈𝒆𝒓𝒔, the debut novel from Sanjena Sathian, is where ambition meets alchemy. Neil Narayan, a teenager of Indian immigrants living in Atlanta, finds himself struggling to find his place in the world.

Neil discovers that Anita and her mother have been making a potion to achieve success by infusing lemonade with gold stolen from their Indian neighbors. In this episode, we talk to journalist Sanjena Sathian about her debut work, how she came about writing her novel, and her teenage experiences as an Indian American in suburban Atlanta.

MAHOGANY L. BROWNE

Mahogany L. Browne's novel 𝑪𝒉𝒍𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝑺𝒌𝒚 is grounded in the truth that Black girls are worthy of love and protection in a world that works hard to destroy them. She talks to us about the importance of being honest with young people and teaching them how to take up space in the world. 

Mahogany shares with us what lessons she has learned in her youth, her time as a journalist and slam poet, and why we think she could easily replace Kevin Bacon in a game of 6 degrees of separation. 

BRIAN BROOME

In the debut memoir, 𝑷𝒖𝒏𝒄𝒉 𝑴𝒆 𝑼𝒑 𝑻𝒐 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑮𝒐𝒅𝒔, by author Brian Broome, comes a series of stories in which he shares his experiences of growing up gay and black in Ohio. In this novel, Brian allows the reader to sit with him as he sorts through and wrestles with the memories from his childhood of racism and toxic masculinity.

In this episode, we sit down with Brian to dig deeper into these raw, vulnerable, and beautifully written narratives.

SHEBA KARIM

Dust off your passports everybody because on this episode of the Vulgar Geniuses podcast, we board a flight to India in the YA novel THE MARVELOUS MIRZA GIRLS from author Sheba Karim.

Karim’s book dives into the heavy topics of grieving for a loved one and the fear of moving on. Readers will get locked in watching the romance blossom between the protagonist Noreen and her very handsome tour guide Kabir.

We’re joined by the talented, Sheba Karim. She discusses her new release, how the Gilmore Girls help to inspire the mother/daughter dynamic, and her must-go-to places when she visits India.

MINOR FEELINGS

𝑴𝒊𝒏𝒐𝒓 𝑭𝒆𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔: 𝑨𝒏 𝑨𝒔𝒊𝒂𝒏 𝑨𝒎𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝑹𝒆𝒄𝒌𝒐𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 by Cathy Park Hong walks us through her experiences of racial discrimination throughout her life. Hong explores identity, race, and how the United States continues to disregard its role in the erasure and discrimination of Asian Americans.  

As we conclude our series in honor of AAPI Heritage Month, we welcome back sociologist Dr. Ginger to discuss all of our feelings on Minor Feelings.

NAIMA COSTER

𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕'𝒔 𝑴𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒀𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔 is a multilayered novel that explores the impact of racism and gentrification within the lives of two families in North Carolina. Tensions rise when a new integration program brings more Black students into a predominantly white high school.

On this episode of the Vulgar Geniuses Podcast, we interview New York Times Bestselling author Naima Coster about how difficult childhoods form us and her time spent living in North Carolina, which served as part of the inspiration behind the novel.

MIA P. MANANSALA

This week we trade our comfy clothes for trench coats and magnifying glasses as we get lost in the debut mystery novel 𝑨𝒓𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒊𝒄 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑨𝒅𝒐𝒃𝒐 by Mia P. Manansala. This delicious deathly novel is the first in the culinary 𝑻𝒊𝒕𝒂 𝑹𝒐𝒔𝒊𝒆'𝒔 𝑲𝒊𝒕𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝑴𝒚𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒚 series.

Mia speaks to us about how she decided to place food and murder as the major plot points of her novel. She also discusses writing mysteries to give her mom something she would love to read, reflecting on her Filipino culture and heritage, and how this novel serves as a love letter to her late father.

GINA YASHERE

Gina Yashare is the reincarnation of her grandmother Patience, sent to fulfill all of her dreams to live an authentically free life unfettered by men or children. She dreams of making a name for herself in America as a comic, but it will take having to endure the insidious racism of the UK and her loving but strict Nigerian mother to make it all happen. In this episode, Yashere joins us on the show to talk about her debut memoir 𝑪𝒂𝒄𝒌-𝑯𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒅.

AMBER J. PHILLIPS

For the Vulgar Geniuses Podcast, you should know that we will always choose the blackest option, and in this episode, we're joined by the authority of Black culture and Queerness. Storyteller and filmmaker Amber J. Phillips sits down with us to talk about her debut short film 𝑨𝒃𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆.

𝑨𝒃𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 is a three-part short film exploring the limitations and radical possibilities of identity from the perspective of a jaded politico, Black storyteller, and pop culture enthusiast with Black, queer, feminist intentions. 𝑨𝒃𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 is a love letter to dark-skinned Black, fat, and Queer women all over the world. Stay with us as we explore this space with Amber J. Phillips.

KHALISA RAE

Khalisa Rae brings us to the intersection of race, gender, and sexuality in her poetry collection 𝑮𝒉𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝑨 𝑩𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒌 𝑮𝒊𝒓𝒍’𝒔 𝑻𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒂𝒕.  Rae’s work dissects her journey from the Midwest to the south as she is confronted with the collective pain inflicted upon those who preyed upon Black bodies. 

We talk with Rae about the power of language within poetry, her criticism of black girl magic and its ties to the strong black woman archetype, how she came to accept her queerness, and the lessons she learned from the women in her family and connections to the south. 

DANTIEL W. MONIZ

Threaded between the Spanish moss trees and buried on the shores of beaches, Dantiel W. Moniz wants the world to know that there are stories in the South. In her debut short story collection 𝑴𝒊𝒍𝒌 𝑩𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒕 Moniz injects a new way of storytelling by rearranging the preconceived points of view of the human condition.

Dantiel joins us on the Vulgar Geniuses Podcast to talk about growing up in Jacksonville, Florida, and how it shaped the stories she wanted to tell. We also delve into her calling as an author and a unique sisterhood with fellow Floridian writers Deesha Philyaw and Dawnie Walton.

DANIEL ALEMAN

It's National Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month, and we jump off this year's celebration with a special interview with YA author Daniel Aleman. His debut novel 𝑰𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒔𝒊𝒃𝒍𝒆 follows Mateo, a gay teenager in New York City who must keep his sister safe after his parents, undocumented Mexican immigrants, are detained by ICE.

We talked to Daniel about how he drew upon the stories from his community to help build the moments he created in his novel,  the necessity for more narratives to have LGBTQ+ as lead characters in fiction, and his love for the musical Wicked. 

DANTÉ STEWART

Dante Stewart's debut memoir 𝑺𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒏' 𝑰𝒏 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑭𝒊𝒓𝒆: 𝑨𝒏 𝑨𝒎𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝑬𝒑𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒍𝒆 is a story of a young man's transformation as he grapples with the intersectionality of race, the sins of America, and the possibility of radical and necessary change within the Christian church. 

Stewart's willingness to expose his inner conflict with anti-blackness from his past set him on a metamorphic pilgrimage. Diving into works from James Baldwin, bell hooks, and June Jordan gave him the clarity and language to write this timely and poignant piece. 

THE CHAIR

Some of you may find yourself dealing with turkey-induced hangovers or fighting back road rage in black Friday holiday traffic today. But before you crank up Mariah's All I Want For Christmas, spend some time with us as we talk about Netflix's series THE CHAIR.

We're joined by our resident academic, Dr. Ginger, to discuss this binge-worthy show. THE CHAIR stars Sandra Oh as Dr. Ji-Yoon Kim, who must navigate her new role as the first woman to be the academic chair of the English Department at Pembroke University.