Shakesha and the White Boy

Editor-in-chief of PLUS Model Magazine Maddy Jones joins the show to discuss how she got her start with the body positivity movement way back in 2006, the keys to learning self acceptance and self love, how opportunities can arise simply from being yourself, and what she believes the ultimate goal of the plus-size movement should be. On WTF, Amazon has its own pro-union employees arrested for delivering food to the break area at the JFK8 warehouse. By listener request, we react to the Super Bowl halftime show, a seemingly seminal moment in getting white America to embrace the individuals who drive Black culture, and discuss if it will have a lasting impact.

Filmmaker Geno Brooks joins the show to discuss his mentorship program, Bear the Torch, which strives to give opportunities to rising, bold voices in the BIPOC community and give them space to hone their craft. Interestingly, the program is geared toward individuals not currently involved in the film industry. We discuss Bear the Torch with Geno, as well as how he overcame creative depression, why simply showing up is so important to success no matter your industry, and more. On WTF, a New York-based teacher is arrested after administering a COVID-19 vaccine to a student despite not being authorized to do so. Shakesha and Ryan play a new game called Lyric Party.

Writer, film director, innovator, and creative Kanithea Powell joins the show. Kanithea is the founder and CEO of QFN TV, a global streaming network set to launch this year and focused on content and creators that are women of color. With Kanithea, we discussed the beauty of ideas, why the words you speak over your life are so important, how most people don’t want to take the time to do the work required for growth, plans for her new network, and a lot more. On WTF, we react to a group of insane Siberians who recently set the record for running in the coldest marathon ever. Shakesha tells Ryan how she wound up working a side gig in a job that didn't even exist two years ago.

Elle Jones, a personal brand consultant, producer, best-selling author, and more, joins the show to discuss how she helps her clients find their singular swagger and channel their personal story into being better artists or professionals. She discusses the main reasons why people stay playing small, the importance of creating space to celebrate yourself, what takes a story from being bland to compelling, and how her own past traumas, including a near-death experience, helped her find her path in life. On WTF, we start off with a conversation about Boris Johnson and the English government drawing harsh criticism for throwing parties during the nation's lockdowns, but wind up going to a different place and giving the WTF to a surprise recipient. Shakesha asks Ryan an important question about their friendship and explains why everyone needs a chef's kiss of a year for 2022.

Trevor Hawkins, the first filmmaker in the history of the world to sell shares of a film via NFTs, joins the show to discuss how he got the idea to turn his movie into a series of non-fungibles and what the SEC had to say about it. We also cover the moral contradictions of playing in the NFT space, how to navigate the area where your creative soul crashes into the brutal reality of life and needing to make money to survive, and how he almost died during the production of his debut feature film "Lotawana." On WTF, we react to the news that Elon Musk's company Neuralink is advancing its efforts to plant computer chips in human brains. Ryan shares a tweet from an old enemy of the show that is related to a story he told on the very first episode of SATWB.

Because listeners enjoyed last year's holiday special, we decided to make it an annual tradition! This year, we have another Mega Version of WTF, where we each share our picks for Top 5 Most WTF Moments of 2021, including oceans on fire, bizarre celebrity relationships, dipshit billionaires, and some of the events that perfectly symbolize just how fucked up the U.S. is right now (and throughout its history). On Art of the Grind, Ryan welcomes independent filmmaker, producer, and SATWB co-host Shakesha Williams. Ryan asks Shakesha about her life as a filmmaker, including the moment she knew she wanted to make movies and TV shows, how she manages so many personalities on set, where she finds the inspiration for her ideas, and some projects she would like to do in the future.

We're discussing a new trend called toxic positivity. What is it? Does it even exist? We go through a list of examples of toxic positivity and vote on whether we think they're actually toxic behaviors or not. In the end, we find that the answer to "what is and isn't toxic positivity?" is a bit more complicated than we thought. On WTF, the Facebook Boomers are at it again, this time with a conspiracy about Joe Biden and a body double, with the key piece of evidence being a photo taken from a 2009 story by The Onion. Shakesha updates the audience on her week in L.A. and we both share some cities that we don't really vibe with.

On this special Halloween-themed episode, we share our thoughts on the supernatural, including whether we think ghosts exist or not, what the afterlife could be like, and personal experiences we've had with the paranormal, including Shakesha's haunted house and a crazy story involving both of Ryan's late grandfathers. On WTF, Shakesha shares a U.S. Pentagon report on an encounter with an extraterrestrial. We discuss if we believe aliens are real or not, and if they are, how we think they would approach interacting with humans. We both share our favorite horror film and Halloween costume ever. 

Non-binary poet, writer, and visual artist Joanna C. Valente joins the show to discuss the journey they took to becoming an artist, why the rhythmic and dramatic qualities of poetry make it the perfect medium for them, and how being vulnerable and authentic in their work has helped people close to them learn to better accept their Queerness. On WTF, "he who shall not be named" makes a return appearance as the hosts discuss his absurd new social media platform, TRUTH Social, which failed in record time. Shakesha asks Ryan for a funny bad date story and shares one of her own. Find more of Joanna's work at www.joannavalente.com.

Shakesha shares some of the things that she went through when she and her family experienced homelessness for a period during the 2010s. The hosts also look at some of the data around homelessness in the U.S. and offer listeners some ideas about how they can help the situation in their area. On WTF, a male Karen goes looking for the smoke from a group of landscapers working at a neighbor's house and immediately regrets his decision. And in an exciting development, a short film co-written and produced by Shakesha picks up some new distribution. This episode features discussions about depression. If you or anyone you know is dealing with depression or thoughts of suicide, help is available by calling 1-800-273-8255.

Rapper, poet, and music producer Michael Berberich, known as BRBRCK, joins the show to discuss how a viral song about his hometown changed the course of his life, how he finds the energy to keep producing music while still grinding on his 9-to-5 job, and what he believes white men need to do to use their platform in a positive and productive way. On WTF, Shakesha and Ryan react to the “news” that singer Meghan Trainor and her husband have side-by-side toilets in their bathroom. And Shakesha shares a lesson she learned this week about the value in staying ready and believing that if you do, good things will come to you when they’re supposed to.

On the first-ever White Boy goes to the Cookout, Shakesha asks Ryan to watch a quintessential Black film — the 1999 romantic comedy, "The Best Man." We discuss what the film meant to the Black community when it was released, who our favorite and least favorite characters were, and the overall themes and lessons to be taken. On WTF, a Massachusetts house that has been destroyed in a fire is on sale for $399K and the listing notes "renovation is needed." After a week without hot water, Ryan has a new perspective on celebrities like Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis who say they go days without showering or bathing their kids. 

Novelist turned filmmaker Shaun Mathis joins the show to discuss how he went from writing books to making movies, why his career as a filmmaker  is a pursuit of personal freedom, and a hilarious story about Scarface and a goat. On WTF, Shakesha and Ryan react to R. Kelly's defense attorney comparing the sexual predator to Martin Luther King Jr. Ryan asks Shakesha for her opinion on whether he should stop saying the word "bitch" or not. 

Shakesha and the White Boy react to a list of traditions or customs that seem harmless or even a little quaint on the surface, but that are actually rooted in misogyny and patriarchy. On WTF, the hosts discuss an inappropriate headline published by The Hill for an opinion piece on 9/11. Shakesha shares some of her memories living as a New Yorker during 9/11.

Actor and producer Louis Martinez joins the show to tell the incredible story of how he got into acting, discuss how to find the balance between staying humble and knowing when to use your ego, and share what he thinks it means to make meaningful art. On WTF, Shakesha goes off on a social media post that compares anti-vaccine measures by the government to Jim Crow era segregation. Shakesha and Ryan also put out a call to listeners to share some tips for how they deal with depression.

This week, Shakesha and the White Boy come to you from the middle of Hurricane Henrí to talk about everyone's favorite topic: Vaccine hesitancy. The pair discusses some of the main reasons why people remain hesitant to get vaccinated and focus on how some of the individuals who are expressing doubts about the jab are not who you might think. On WTF, Politico reports on D.C. Democrats who are sad they can't have lavish parties with champagne and oysters while the pandemic rages on. The hosts also react to this week's stunning news that OnlyFans apparently does not like making money hand over fist.

On the season two premiere, writer, director, and filmmaker Tamieka Briscoe joins Shakesha and the White Boy to discuss QT Series, the show she created, wrote, and directed two seasons of, all while working remotely with her crew during COVID-19 lockdown restrictions. Tamieka shares how she was able to maintain her creative energy during the pandemic and her experiences as a Black woman working in Hollywood. They also discuss why white men seem to be melting down right now and if we're actually making progress as a society. On WTF, a Florida woman and former American Idol finalist has her baby boy taken by the state for committing the heinous crime of weaning him off of breastfeeding. Shakesha also shares some of the high points she has had during a year and a half of the pandemic. 

On this holiday special, we give 2020 the sendoff it deserves with a special Mega Version of WTF. We share our picks for Top 5 Most WTF Moments of 2020, covering some of the ways in which people told on themselves this year, identify the most WTF Man on Earth, and get a little emotional when we happen upon a surprise silver lining. On a new segment called Art of the Grind, Shakesha welcomes indie pop band Jetsetting, a duo that is half SATWB's very own White Boy. Shakesha goes in depth with the boys, talking about everything from the moral of their debut concept album, The Spaceman, to what it is that drives humans to sometimes do bad things and what it's like being in the music business without shows.​

In case you missed the news, there was kind of a big election last week. Shakesha and Ryan hop on for a special reaction episode, where they share their thoughts and feelings on He Who Shall Not Be Named's election loss. They discuss the ways in which they celebrated the news, the history made on the Vice Presidential ticket, and how we should consider moving forward with T's supporters now that the election is over.

With the situation in the U.S. escalating, we knew we had to speak up. In this emergency episode, we discuss the recent events happening in the United States, including the murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor, the lack of an adequate COVID-19 response, and how the violent protests are a reaction to a lot more than police brutality. 

In the season one finale, we decide to crack open a few bottles and get back to what we do best: Having unscripted, unfiltered conversations. We cover the best cures for a hangover, what we both want to do as soon as quarantine is over, why it is so hard making new friends as an adult, the ways we hope society changes in a Post-COVID-19 world, and more. 

With COVID-19 laying bare American society's many structural issues, we discuss the idea of a national labor or rent strike, including if it is even logistically possible to organize U.S. citizens and why a mass strike might be the only option for affecting real, transformative change in America.  Ryan asks Shakesha for her take on whether Rashida Jones is "black enough" to be cast as the lead in BlackAF, a question that has set Black Twitter ablaze. And on WTF, we take a start-up executive to task for patting herself on the back when she invented the lunch break. 

Yearning to escape from the depression of a global pandemic and return to a simpler time, Shakesha and Ryan share childhood memories of their family gatherings, comparing and contrasting the differences and similarities between a black Jehovah's Witness's upbringing and a white Irish Catholic's. On WTF, the hosts discuss how states are being made to bid against one another for life-saving medical supplies and speculate that Trump and his family are profiting off the crisis. On the mailbag, they share their thoughts about the somewhat controversial 2018 film, "Green Book." Desperate to talk about anything other than the 'rona for the intro, Ryan poses a food utensil-related "Would You Rather?" to Shakesha.

On Monday, March 30th, Chris Smalls was fired from his job at Staten Island's Amazon warehouse after he staged a walkout to protest the company's dangerous work conditions during the Coronavirus pandemic. In this special emergency episode, Chris tells Shakesha and Ryan about his experiences working for Amazon during these terrifying times, what led to Amazon firing him, and where he goes from here.

March 31st will mark the one-year anniversary of the tragic death of Nipsey Hussle. To help remember and celebrate his life (and for a break from Corona coverage), Shakesha and Ryan have on writer, NYC native, and certified hip hop expert Jayson Buford to discuss why Nipsey meant so much to the hip hop community. The trio also give their opinions on the best and most underrated rappers of all time. Shakesha shares her experiences being in NYC on 9/11 versus living through the Coronavirus lockdown and Ryan wonders what else has been going on with Corona dominating the news cycle.

Shakesha and Ryan discuss the great American tradition of voter suppression and some of the many means and mechanisms that exist in American society to prevent people from voting. The hosts say WTF to the white outrage that came in response to a seemingly harmless Target commercial featuring black entrepreneur Bea Dixon and her business, The Honey Pot. A listener writes in asking for thoughts on the 1989 film Driving Miss Daisy. Shakesha recaps her participation in Saturday night's Club Quarantine livestream and Ryan shares a surreal experience he had while practicing social distancing.

In the first-ever Social Distancing Edition of SATWB, Shakesha and Ryan use an extended WTF to discuss COVID-19 as it relates to Trump, toilet paper, public cough shaming, and some potential silver linings that may result from the global pandemic. On the main segment, comedian and writer Martin M. Morrow joins the hosts for a conversation about Cancel Culture and how it pertains to race. They cover public reaction following the death of Kobe Bryant, the levels and nuances that need to exist in cancel culture conversations, and Martin reflects on his personal experiences with nearly being cancelled.

Shakesha and Ryan get back to their roots with a good ol' fashioned conversation about white fascination with black hair, what a microaggression is, and how we can all be better and more respectful. The hosts inject the episode with a little class on a brand new segment called Beg Your Pardon Bingo, where they respond to an internet troll with nothing but grace and dignity. On WTF, a Texas high school informs a student that he cannot walk in graduation unless he cuts his dreads.  

Marsha P. Johnson checked all the boxes of unprivilege: She was black, a woman, transgendered, and poor. Despite all of this, she spent her life advocating for the LGBTQ+ community, sheltering other trans individuals in the 70s and caring for patients during the AIDS Epidemic of the 80s, living a rich life where she did so much more than kickoff the Stonewall Inn Riots. Shakesha and Ryan wrap up Black History Month by discussing Marsha's inspiring tenacity and how she never allowed circumstance to stop her from standing up for herself and those around her when they needed it most. On WTF, those hosts pull out their calculators and figure out some better things Michael Bloomberg could be doing with the $4.5M he is reportedly spending daily on his vanity presidential campaign. To kick things off, Shakesha plays Ryan a classic George Carlin standup segment to illustrate how little things have changed over the years.

What do Spike Lee, Tyler Perry, Ryan Coogler, Ava DuVernay,  and Barry Jenkins all have in common? They each owe something to early 20th century black filmmaker Oscar Micheaux. On this episode, Shakesha and Ryan discuss the prolific director and producer's disputed legacy, examine his work and the way it was received by different communities, and, inspired by the conversation, examine the dynamics of their own relationship. On WTF, Shakesha busts out the tea for Jillian Michaels and her bodyshaming of pop superstar Lizzo. Ryan shares a funny story about a time when Lizzo made him emotional. 

If you were to look up Bessie Coleman online, you'd quickly find that she was the first woman of African-American and Native American descent to hold a pilot's license in the U.S. But her story is so much more than that. From learning a new language and traveling overseas to attend a flight academy to traveling the U.S. doing death-defying stunts, Bessie was one of the most badass women ever. Shakesha and Ryan recap her life and all of the things that made her such an interesting character. On the mailbag, the hosts give their response to a listener question about relationships and share some of their worst date stories. And much to their chagrin, Shakesha and Ryan discuss the clusterfuck that was the Democratic Iowa Caucuses. 

Shakesha and Ryan kick off Black History Month by remembering the life of Ona Judge, an escaped slave of George and Martha Washington who winds up big-timing George while he is president of the United States. On WTF, the hosts discuss a new research report that suggests that people are lonelier and office culture might be to blame. A listener writers in to the mailbag to correct the record on Bruno Mars. Ryan has a question of decorum for Shakesha. 

From Biden to Yang and every person in between, Shakesha and Ryan share their takes on all 11 remaining candidates in the Democratic presidential field and discuss who they might vote for in the upcoming primaries. On WTF, Tennessee governor Bill Lee makes another appearance, and this time he is taken to task for his attacks LGBTQ+ rights. To kickoff the episode, the hosts take a moment to vent about the frustration of the ongoing impeachment trial and how it is being handled by Republicans. 

To celebrate MLK Day, Shakesha and Ryan dig up some lesser known quotes from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and use them to counter the way some bad actors have recently used the late activist's legacy as a cudgel against people of color protesting for equal rights. The hosts kick off their mailbag segment with a conversation about racial differences or a lack thereof and a comment on how one can approach sensitive conversations with different groups of people. On WTF, they react to the news that the Olympic Committee has banned all forms of political protest for the 2020 games.

CU Boulder Ph.D student Kandrea Wade joins the show to discuss digital identity and how marginalized groups and all individuals can be more aware of the ways in which their digital data is at risk with corporations and the government. Shakesha and Ryan discuss the turbulent first week and change of 2020, including WWIII looming and the wildfires in Australia. On WTF, Shakesha asks Ryan about some rumors she has heard about the white community's hygiene habits.

What is the P word and why do certain people always seem to get so offended whenever it is brought up? Along with their first-ever guest of the podcast in Brooklyn-based MC and producer BRBRCK, Shakesha and Ryan dive into this question, telling you what the P word is, and how it permeates every aspect of society -- from financial freedom to voter rights and even one's own sense of identity. The hosts and BRBRCK share what the P word means to them and discuss how it has affected their own lives. 

Shakesha and Ryan may feel like frauds, but apparently they're not alone. 70 percent of all people suffer from imposter syndrome, a common condition psychologists describe as, "the persistent inability to believe that one's success is deserved." The hosts dive into what drives their own sense of imposterdom while sharing the results of their Clance IP Tests, a measure used to evaluate to what degree a person feels like a fake. They offer some advice on how people can stop feeling like their success is undeserved and discuss how to tap into one's spiritual new car smell. On WTF, they recap a disturbing court decision in a case of NYPD officers raping a detainee and explore why it is that police officers are held to different standards than the rest of society. Finally, Ryan breaks a promise he made to himself earlier this year and decides to ask Shakesha for her thoughts on the democratic field of presidential candidates. 

What's the deal with wypipo continuing to call the cops on black people simply for existing and is gentrification partially to blame for this recurring phenomenon? Shakesha and Ryan delve into that topic before discussing what could be considered its opposite: White guilt. They read and react to a New York Times advice column letter where the writer confesses that he or she suffers from chronic white guilt. They play an audio clip from author and journalist Ta-Nehisi Coates discussing white people's urge to use the N-word and how we should respond when it happens. Finally, Ryan reveals a moment of sheer idiocy from his personal life.

Have you heard about what's happening in the Sudan? Despite political tensions and the murder of hundreds of innocent protesters, it seems like Americans are almost completely oblivious to the situation. What does this lack of coverage say about the American media and the American people? Shakesha and Ryan discuss that and also cover some potential non-military solutions the U.S. could pursue to help move the African nation forward. On WTF, they take Tennessee Governor Bill Lee to task for choosing to continue being racist when given the opportunity to change. Finally, Shakesha reveals a movie opinion that may shock and alarm some listeners.

Is Bruno Mars a cultural appropriator? Seren Sensei thinks so. Shakesha and Ryan use an interesting quote from the writer, activist, and YouTuber as a springboard into a discussion about the differences between cultural appropriation and cultural appreciation. They touch upon the subject as it relates to music, dance, and fashion. They also debut a new recurring segment called WTF. 

Shakesha and Ryan introduce themselves and share what inspired the two of them to start a podcast together. They watch and react to a 1988 clip of Donald Trump on The Oprah Winfrey Show, examine how fear-mongering was a common tactic in every every U.S. presidential campaign of the late 20th century, and share ideas on how people can overcome the sensationalism that permeates news reporting and the national discourse in America.

Hosted by Shakesha Williams and Ryan Dinger, Shakesha and the White Boy is a podcast where politics and pop culture collide. Find out what you're in for each episode by listening to this trailer.