Don't @ Me with Justin Simien

In the season finale of Don’t @ Me, Boots Riley shares his history, muses, and the long road to one of 2018’s finest films, Sorry to Bother You.

Justin talks about what it’s like to be a filmmaker outside of the traditional studio system with producers Alana Mayo from Michael B. Jordan's new production company, Outlier Society, and independent producer Cameron Washington.

Grab a snack for this chat with David Gelb, creator of Chef’s Table and director of Jiro Dreams of Sushi. He tells Justin about food as narrative subject and the making of a career in documentary film.

You might recognize Dear White People’s Ashley Blaine Featherson (Joelle) and Courtney Sauls (Brooke). There is so much more to an actor’s life than getting a good part (think: never-ending auditions and scant parts for black women). Ashley and Courtney sit down with Justin and go deep on what success looks like for them.

Justin is joined by Green Book director and writer, Peter Farrelly, and Kris Bowers, the film’s composer. They discuss the "white savior" trap films like this often fall into, the steps Peter took to avoid it, how Kris created the score, and the talents of the film’s stars Mahershala Ali and Viggo Mortensen.

Justin sits down with Issa Rae, the original Awkward Black Girl, to talk about what happens after your dreams come true, and what it's like to be expected to create work that covers the entire black experience.

This week, Justin talks destiny with some true destiny experts. None other than Kelly Rowland from Destiny's Child and up-and-coming actor and singer Elle Lorraine talk about how they knew what their destiny was, when they knew it, and who inspired them along the way.

Writers Marvin Lemus and Travon Free solve the world's problems. Or, maybe they don't? Plus, Kanye West, black celebrity, and why Dia de los Muertos is not a Halloween costume.

How political is black art, and how much can black people critique it? A recent New York Times piece by Wesley Morris suggests that black art in this day and age is being critiqued for its politics rather than for its quality. Justin sits down with writers Chuck Hayward and Jarrett Hill to discuss.

Janet Mock is a director, producer, writer, activist, and a two times over New York Times bestselling author. But if she had to define her life's work, she'd tell you she was a storyteller.

Meet the man responsible for “Netflix and chill,” bingeing, and a new business model that allowed for shows like Dear White People. Justin is joined by his boss, Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos.

Lena Waithe is an actress and producer, but always a writer first. The Emmy-winner returns to talk about her projects in development (Queen and Slim, Twenties, Them), her creative process, and how she stays hungry.

When political institutions shut out wide swaths of people, the path to change is often through culture. Hip-hop scholar Jeff Chang gets political with Justin, calling out the strengths and stressors among black and Asian communities in California and American culture more broadly.

Zazie Beetz is back, with her writer-actor boyfriend David Rysdahl. Justin also brought his boyfriend, Rick Proctor, into the studio. Both baes are white. We discuss the deep personal growth and public perils of our interracial love.

Zazie Beetz (Atlanta, Deadpool 2) opens up about her struggle with anxiety, her biracial identity, and what becoming a public figure has meant for her personal journey on subjects like race and gender.

Robin Thede broke new late night ground with her excellent (and widely adopted) show The Rundown on BET. What’s next for her and will we ever see a return of The Rundown? Plus, what to watch when we’re avoiding the news cycle: namely, POSE and Random Acts of Flyness.

DuVernay is her last name. Array is her company. But on social media and to film and TV audiences worldwide, the director of A Wrinkle in Time and Selma needs very little introduction. Her name is simply Ava. Ava and Justin met when they both worked in publicity, and discuss how Hollywood will only make room for more voices and stories through systemic change. Plus, how Ava balances the stories she wants to tell and the desire to be recognized through awards, and her upcoming project for...

Cheryl Dunye’s 1996 film “The Watermelon Woman” was the first feature directed by a black lesbian. Cheryl traces her personal story and blend of AIDS activism, academia, and art school that prompted her to make the film, and the too-hot-to-touch subjects she’s exploring in her next feature.

Angel Lopez is the new mold of Hollywood gatekeeper: gay, Latinx, a producer who also writes, a professional astrologer. He and Justin get real about being your authentic self in an industry built on sameness that’s obsessed with sales and sequels.

Kimberly Peirce’s breakout film “Boys Don’t Cry” was ahead of its time in 1999. Justin and Kim talk about the language around gender and sexuality, from who can say “butch” to what happens when previously accepted terms go out of vogue.