On The Phone With Friends Podcast

OTP W/Friends interviews the founders of Brown Skin Brunchin, Lillian Jackson and Melissa Mason and we discuss their endearing friendship story all the way back to the 2nd grade in Richmond, Virginia. These friends really exemplify being 10 toes doWN for each other and have been through it all at the same damn time. Melonee considers them the experts on Black ass brunchin' and maybe, just maybe, the city of Atlanta and Dallas can answer for their brunch crimes and add a disclaimer. Take a listen and learn about their global takeover!

Where to follow Brown Skin Brunchin'?

IG: @brownskinbrunchin

Twitter: @brownskinbrunch

Yep, they on Facebook too: https://www.facebook.com/brownskinbrunchin/ 

Lillian Jackson @brunchinlilly on Instagram

Melissa Mason @justmelissabsb on Instagram

Dr. Kalena Stovall is a friend that Melonee and Natalie share and it’s a perfect balance between wit, panda-like momentum, and a lot of laughs, so there’s no need to feel like you’re losing a friend when you can just share! Nope, she can’t talk about her job, and yes, we have theories on what she does for a living or the fact she may have a secret lair like Snoopy’s doghouse. We start the episode with Melonee weary from a cardio pilates class and then jumps into her best Angela Davis impersonation. We get into a lot like when your friends love Jesus but you’re the spiritual one or the need for Amazon subscriptions to Latin America aqua fresca or some of us who have an aversion to hugs and how friends help us develop healthy spaces to exorcize our affection. How has racial trauma impacted Black people’s friendships? Why do we love pandas so much even tho their bumbling doesn’t kill them. How Sway? You don’t have to take our word for why you need to give up petroleum based products. Get into this dope conversation with one of our smartest friends.

Issa a Gimme 5 episode full of insight into your favorite gal pals are in the holiday spirit and ring in this latest episode with a little "soul holiday" cheer. Natalie and Melonee stumble across a number of revelations and why Dr. Malauna Karenga will sit at their feet one day to understand why friendship is the true Kwanzaa. There's too much data to support it and they give you 7 night's feast worth of food for thought on how to be a better friend to black women. We also give you plenty of reasons to stuff your Chrimma stockings and Kwanzaa tables full of ranch dressing - literally THEE OFFICIAL SAUCE OF BLACK AMERICA - and the inside track on why the next friend's trip should be Hidden Valley Ranch. The second half of the show will help you win the blackest episode of Jeopardy yet! Also learn why Al Green only orders potatoes and has no input on the salt-sugar debate when it comes to grits. Plus, Natalie rethinks her wedding plans and why his ass is no longer on the list. But can R&B music be saved?!

We are the podcast that wants to be a good friend to you and we're sharing 257 juicy friendship questions that you can use on your next phone call, road trip, or day drinking voyage with friends.

This is part 2 of Melonee's conversation with her longtime "lil brother" friend Barry, and now that you've seen the muscles on the OTPWF IG and Facebook, can you tell she's not affected by his Barry Manilow-Barry White one-legged bowlegged charm? They talk all things eat, pray, phuck on the show and in real life. This convo even unearths Melonee's "eye problem" with West African men. Not only is he our podcast's biggest supporter, but he is a true testament of what it means to be an honest, loving, and loyal friend. Steve Harvey says he can't be friends with women but it's obvious that Barry is a different kind of guy who can talk about anything without blurring the lines. We're still trying to dismantle and analyze that dynamic with his 20+ year workout and Mediterranean diet hovering over this conversation. This is a 2 part episode on the awesomely arrogant Aries fueled friendship and we get to dive into B's therapy journey and whether he's ready to love again. We'll keep ya'll posted on when the divorce is final.

Here's Barry's theme song since 2004 and YES, we have the contact information for his Orlando-based Blacktino therapist:

Dr Ronald Byrd-Cordova | inspirewellsolutions@gmail.com 

Get into this conversation with Melonee's friend Barry, and honestly, when have you ever met a "Barry" before? Melonee cracks that nut on his name's origin only to realize it fits his one-legged bowlegged body. Not only is he our podcast's biggest supporter, but he is a true testament of what it means to be an honest, loving, and loyal friend. We are not pushing a narrative of ONLY being friends with men because that's problematic and Steve Harvey says it is impossible for men and women to be friends. What are some takeaways from this conversation that makes male-female friendships just as special with your gal pals? We try to dismantle and analyze that dynamic with his 20+ year workout and Mediterranean diet hovering over this conversation. This is a 2 part episode on the awesomely arrogant Aries fueled friendship and why snack subscriptions on Amazon will keep the two of them from flippin' all this shit over! Has Barry dealt with his trauma? How has therapy helped him? Does he have room in his heart for love again, but when that divorce final tho?

Melonee opens the show faux reeling from when shit got weird at work but contractually can’t talk about it but that’s what liner notes are for. Whew! Thank God for foodie conversations and we are hella country on this show. Do you eat your hog head cheese on saltines or club crackers? Of course, Natalie got us reconsidering if hog head cheese is oversized plant cells or nah? And we be on our googles so learn you something about gizzards. This show gets random as hell in the first 10 minutes.

If you haven’t listened to episode 7, then use this minisode to get into a more in-depth origin story of the Southern Glamazons trip and that surreal moment over Escambia Bay and why Lenny Kravitz holds a special place in our hearts as we watched the sunrise over the bay on our inaugural trip. How long was that drive? Here guh, take a look: https://goo.gl/maps/xiBfDFVRbGcB7uYo6. Listen to our friendship origin stories with Sonya, Jenny, Nikkele, and Yolanda. What are the stories you tell about your friends?

Finally, Melonee finally pussies up and confesses that’s she’s the cryer! And who are you without an endorsement from your own kid slash God-Daughter. Kid Noodle makes her podcast debut! Learn more about Swing Phi Swing Social Fellowship, Incorporated and how Black women build community. We’re taking a break because of fall break and One Music Fest ratchetness. It’s the Friendship Homecoming in ATL so a 2 part episode drops on October 24. We working class ya’ll!

Leave us a voice message: anchor.fm/otpwfriends

Swoop Miami: https://www.theswoopride.com/#the-platform

American Black Film Festival: https://www.abff.com/miami/

Freddie Jackson and the Overtown Festival: https://youtu.be/D_R0mznBklc Overtown Historic Neighborhood: https://www.miamiandbeaches.com/neighborhoods/historic-overtown

Jackson Family Soul Food: http://www.jacksonsoulfood.com/

https://www.si.com/nba/heat/miami-news/lebron-james-explains-how-time-with-miami-heat-changed-his-mindset

Wynwood Arts District: https://www.timeout.com/miami/design-district-and-wynwood

http://www.giovannidortch.com/

It’s been 26 years since Melonee was last in San Francisco, but this time she talks about the full circle experience of being a fellow with The Peace Studio and beginning her training as a creative peacebuilder. How do you go from unhoused teen to hosting a podcast with a friend you met in college? There are people you meet along the way that can change your life for the better.

OTPW Friends welcomes thee Vrita Delaine who was the Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs at The University of Southern Mississippi (TO THE TOP!). Guess who cried first? What does it mean to give someone their flowers? Can leadership be ordained? Could you hold down your career while living apart from your husband for 16 years? This is a discussion on the accidental mentors of our life who can change our trajectory in a heartbeat. We still have plenty of questions for Mrs. Vrita because her daddy also spoke 3 languages!! She’s just a little Black girl from Choctaw County, Alabama who grew up to be a graceful and respected African American lady who is in “her bag” literally.

Leave us voicemail cuz we’d love to hear what you think of the show OR if you have a question that you’d like for us to discuss on that show, that would be dope too. But for real tho, whatchu bout to do?

Here’s a good read: Mentoring While Black & FemaleThe Gendered Literacy Phenomenon of Black Women Mentors by Juanita Johnson-Bailey (The University of Georgia), Tennille Lasker-Scott Thei (University of Georgia), and Yolanda Sealey-Ruiz (Teachers College)

On episode 5, we continue our discussion with Allanda Small Campbell, Natalie’s first cousin, classically trained opera diva, African-American Caribbean queen, big sister-friend. Listen as Allanda answers our lightning round “Gimme 5” black ass questions. In the second half, Melonee and Natalie continue their conversation about the politics of being a young Black girl transitioning into womanhood.

• Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook to let us know what you ‘bout to do!
• Music provided by Purple Planet Music and Epidemic Sound
• "Leontyne Price, Opera Singer from Laurel, Mississippi" https://www.mswritersandmusicians.com/mississippi-musicians/leontyne-price
• "Rain Friendly Principles | Life Between Umbrellas" https://www.lifebetweenumbrellas.ca/rain-friendly-principles
• Purchase your copy of The Black Woman edited by Toni Cade Bambara

Email us at otpwfriends@gmail.com

On episode 4, we introduce you to Allanda Small Campbell, Natalie’s first cousin, classically trained opera diva, African-American Caribbean queen, big sister-friend. We discuss what it means to be a “proper” Black girl both up North and down South, just who holds the Black Card awarding power. and how friendship really is the family you get to choose.

• The Rules of The Black Woman: To be a Black woman and the unjust rules that follow.
• Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook to let us know what you ‘bout to do!
• Music provided by Purple Planet Music and Epidemic Sound
• “Caribbean Queen” by Billy Ocean: https://youtu.be/9f16Fw_K45s

Email us at otpwfriends@gmail.com

On Episode 3, we bring you Part 2 of our interview with the powerful, passionate, and creative Chandra Kamaria Harkins, aka Melonee’s shortest, artistic, Black rage friend. Don’t think you’re going to look down on her though, because Chandra is mighty and when she walks into a room, you better believe her presence is felt! Natalie and Chandra share their first impressions of each other and their common bond friendship via Melonee. Chandra shares her love for Tarot and gives a reading for the Black women collective. Liner Notes: We love your Patti for giving us the song "You Are My Friend" - the perfect friendship song. Chandra is a dope playwright and you can learn more about her theatre company Harkins House and learn more about some of the dope educational outreach opportunities she wants to do. She is really for the culture and you can follow her on Twitter. She is a part of a growing movement of Black women embracing ancient African and global spiritual practices.

Email us at otpwfriends@gmail.com 

On episode 2, the show opens with Melonee shouting out her mother’s home village that has mysteriously disappeared from existence but wtf are their reparations?! Speaking of which, why did Joe think $20K was enough and Black women are disproportionately impacted by student debt. Chile please! Natalie finds herself haphazardly a contestant on Thee Miss Black Ass America Pageant. What did she say that lead to her triumphant win?

OTPW/Friends welcomes Chandra Kamaria Harkins, Melonee’s artistic Black rage big sister-little sister kind of friend who loves to talk about love. How do we learn about love and our capacity for love with and through our friends? Have Black women been conditioned by our families and society to only see love as an act of service? This episode is jam-packed with gems so we had to split it into two.

Music Credits:

Courtesy of Epidemic Sound

• Show Me How Good It Can Get by Sarah the Illstrumentalist
• Moving On The Internet by Damma Beatz
• Turtleneck Music by Sarah the Illstrumentalist

Atlantis provided by Purple Planet Music

• Listen to our full interview with Mary Liston of What’s A Podcast Between Friends here.
• Black Farmers in Arkansas Still Seek Justice a Century After the Elaine Massacre
• LA County returns Bruce’s Beach to Black family 90-plus years after Manhattan Beach took it

Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook to let us know what you ‘bout to do!

You don't want to miss this! You can listen to our episode starting July 8th and learn more about What's A Podcast Between Friends here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1943936

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