Black Girl Nerds

In this week's episode of the Black Girl Nerds podcast, we chat with Stephan James, Sheryl Lee Ralph and director Rashad Frett of 'Ricky'. Directed by Rashad Frett, Ricky is a raw, deeply human drama about a 30-year-old man navigating life after prison — a man who was charged as an adult as a teenager and is now confronting the gap between the person he’s become and the world that wasn’t waiting for him. When a stolen car and a hit-and-run put everything on the line, Ricky asks a question that lingers long after the credits: will he do the right thing, even if no one is watching? Host: Jamie Music by: Sammus Edited by: Jamie Broadnax Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this week's episode of the Black Girl Nerds podcast we chat with actress Samantha Walkes of the hit Prime Video series 'Cross'. We discuss the currently role as Elle in season 2, some bits about the upcoming season. And we talk about her artistry and being a new mom working in entertainment. Host: Jamie Music by: Sammus Edited by: Jamie Broadnax Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this week's episode of Black Girl Nerds we chat with actress Taylor Polidore Williams of Netflix's 'Beauty In Black'. In the series, A stripper's fate takes a turn when she crosses paths with the wealthy, dysfunctional family behind a cosmetics dynasty and a devious trafficking scheme. Season 2 is currently streaming on Netflix. Host: Jamie Music by: Sammus Edited by: Jamie Broadnax Image credit: Alex D. Rogers Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this week's episode of the Black Girl Nerds podcast we welcome actress Ryan Michelle Bathé. She is currently the host of the Official Paradise Companion podcast and she is guest starring in this week's new episode of Paradise titled "Jane". We discuss her hosting gig on the podcast as well as some insights into her character Stacy in Paradise. Host: Jamie Music by: Sammus Edited by: Jamie Broadnax Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this week's episode of the Black Girl Nerds podcast, we welcome director Akinola Davies Jr. who talks about his powerful new film My Father’s Shadow. A semi-autobiographical story set during a single, turbulent day in Lagos amid the 1993 Nigerian election crisis. Davies Jr. shared how the film draws from personal and collective memory, using an intimate family journey to explore a nation on the brink. The narrative follows a father, estranged from his two young sons, as they navigate the sprawling city while escalating political unrest threatens their return home — turning an already fragile reunion into a tense emotional and physical odyssey. My Father’s Shadow is currently playing in theaters. Host: Jamie Music by: Sammus Edited by: Jamie Broadnax

In this week's episode of the Black Girl Nerds podcast, we sit down with actor Orlando Jones to talk about his latest musical project, Tainted Love, inspired by his graphic novel of the same name. We cover everything from movies and filmmaking to his creative evolution and yes, we definitely talk about American Gods and that unforgettable scene. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the conversation. Orlando has a lot to say, and you won’t want to miss it. Host: Jamie Music: Sammus Edited by: Jamie Broadnax

In this week's episode of the Black Girl Nerds podcast, we welcome X Mayo and Jean Elie who appear in the upcoming Marvel series 'Wonder Man' streaming on Disney+. Aspiring Hollywood actor Simon Williams is struggling to get his career off the ground. During a chance meeting with Trevor Slattery, an actor whose biggest roles may be well behind him, Simon learns legendary director Von Kovak is remaking the superhero film “Wonder Man”. These two actors at opposite ends of their careers doggedly pursue life-changing roles in this film as audiences get a peek behind the curtain of the entertainment industry. X Mayo: X has continued to build an impressive range across film and television. She co-starred in Lionsgate’s hit horror-comedy The Blackening, appears in Apple TV+’s acclaimed comedy Loot and in Disney’s Freakier Friday. Her sharp comedic voice and distinctive presence continue to solidify her position as one of the most engaging performers in comedy today. Jean Elie: Jean is best known for his portrayal of Issa’s brother Ahmal Dee on the Emmy award-winning HBO series, Insecure, for his role on the Netflix hit series, Colin in Black and White and his work on The Eric Andre Show. His series (AMC) Allblk series Send Help, which he created with producing partner Mike Gauyo (also a writer from Insecure). Inspired by his own experiences, Send Help is a coming-of-age dark comedy series centered on a first-generation Haitian-American young man (Elie as Fritz Jean-Baptiste) who is struggling to overcome the challenges of “making it” in Hollywood while coming to terms with a recent family tragedy. Send Help is currently streaming on Tubi. Wonder Man premieres Jan 27th on Disney+ Host: Jamie Music by: Sammus Edited by: Jamie Broadnax

In this week's episode of the Black Girl Nerds podcast, we welcome writer/director Nia DaCosta to discuss her latest film 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple. Fresh off directing 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, a bold and unsettling expansion of the universe created by Danny Boyle and Alex Garland, she turns a familiar horror landscape on its head injecting it with psychological depth, cultural tension, and a haunting sense of humanity. From redefining studio horror with Candyman, to helming one of the most ambitious franchise films in recent memory with The Marvels, her career has been marked by fearless storytelling and an uncompromising point of view. Host: Chalice Williams Music by: Sammus Edited by: Jamie Broadnax

Happy New Year! In this week's episode of the Black Girl Nerds podcast, we interview actor and filmmaker Nicki Micheaux. Nicki Micheaux is no stranger to commanding the screen, but in Night Patrol, she delivers one of her most grounded and emotionally charged performances yet. The actress sat down with BGN to discuss her role as Ayanda, a fierce, deeply protective mother navigating a community under siege and the personal stakes that come with survival in a system designed to overlook people like her. Set against the backdrop of South Los Angeles housing projects, Night Patrol follows an LAPD officer forced to confront his past when he uncovers a horrifying secret: a covert police task force is endangering the very neighborhood he grew up in. As tensions rise between law enforcement and local street gangs, the film explores what happens when loyalty, morality, and justice collide. At the heart of that chaos is Ayanda, a woman whose strength is rooted not in spectacle, but in her unwavering love for her two sons and her community. Host: Jamie Music by: Sammus

In this week's episode of the Black Girl Nerds Podcast, we chat with multi-hyphenate Teyana Taylor about her critically-acclaimed work in the Paul Thomas Anderson film One Battle After Another. In One Battle After Another, Teyana Taylor delivers a raw, commanding performance as Perfidia, a woman fighting to hold her life together while the world keeps throwing punches. Taylor channels her signature intensity into a character who is both fierce and deeply vulnerable someone navigating personal trauma, fractured relationships, and the quiet battles no one sees. Host: Jamie Music by: Sammus Edited by: Jamie Broadnax

In this week's episode of the Black Girl Nerds podcast, we welcome music artist East-O of Truth Teller Productions. The new EP, The Kush, from TTP was released on April 20, 2025 worldwide. The Kush was solely written and produced by East-O (Chris Herbie Holland). Host: Jamie Music by: TruthTeller Productions/East-O and Sammus Edited by: Jamie Broadnax

In this week's episode of the Black Girl Nerds podcast, we welcome actor Taylor Polidore Williams, best known for her role in the hit Netflix series Beauty In Black. Born in Texas and the daughter of an engineer and educator, Taylor grew up surrounded by the arts in the Houston area. She is a proud alumna of HBCU Clark Atlanta University where she studied Mass Media Arts with a concentration in Film. She is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She stars in Netflix’s hit series She stars in Netflix’s hit series Beauty In Black, as the series lead. Her character Kimmie begins the series as a victim of human trafficking, and perseveres to become the leader of the Beauty in Black empire. Host: Jamie Music by: Sammus Edited by: Jamie Broadnax

In this week's episode of the Black Girl Nerds podcast, we welcome director RT Thorne making his feature film debut with his movie 40 Acres. Making its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, 40 Acres is now available on Demand and DVD. After a series of plagues and wars leaves society in ruins, the Freemans are surviving — even thriving — on a farm in the middle of nowhere... so long as they repel the occasional raiding party. Former soldier Hailey (Danielle Deadwyler) and her partner Galen (Michael Greyeyes) fled the collapse along with their children, training them to fight (and, yes, kill). But now Hailey’s eldest Emanuel (Kataem O’Connor) is a young man, and when he meets a young woman (Milcania Diaz-Rojas) in the forest beyond the fence, his need for human contact could place the whole family in jeopardy. Host: Jamie Broadnax Edited by: Jamie Broadnax Music by: Sammus

BGN breaks down the films screened at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival, which celebrated its 50th year. Jamie and Chalice cover the majority of the films they screened at the festival from the good to ones that gave us some major side-eye. Hosts: Jamie Broadnax and Chalice Williams Music by: Sammus Edited by: Jamie Broadnax

In this week's episode of the Black Girl Nerds podcast, we welcome filmmaker Zamo Mkhwanazi. Making her feature debut, her movie Laundry will premiere at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival under the Discovery selection. Filmmaker Zamo Mkhwanazi’s quietly powerful debut Laundry crafts an intimate portrait of a Black family navigating the uneasy privileges and hidden costs of exemption within the violently unequal system of apartheid South Africa. The film is set in 1968, the same year that negative international opinion against apartheid fomented during the Summer Olympics but 26 years before the end of the institution. Host: Jamie Broadnax Edited by: Jamie Broadnax Music by: Sammus For more information on when and where to screen Laundry go here. The 2025 Toronto International Film Festival runs Sept 4-14th.

In this week's episode of the Black Girl Nerds podcast, we chat with Amina Mucciolo, the founder of Cloudland and Studio Mucci. She's also the author of the book "A Rainbow In Your Cloud". Amina is a self-described “unicorn, creative visionary, digital influencer” and the woman behind the decor company, Studio Mucci. Host: Jamie Music by: Sammus Edited by: Jamie Broadnax

In this week's episode of the Black Girl Nerds podcast, we chat with actor, writer and director Nnamdi Asomugha about his new film The Knife. Construction worker Chris (Nnamdi Asomugha) is prepared to do whatever he can to build a solid life for his family, yet his plans are thrown into disarray after a mysterious woman appears in their new home late one night. By the time police arrive, the intruder is lying on the kitchen floor unconscious, a knife in her hand, and it falls to steadfast Detective Carlsen (Melissa Leo) to uncover the truth about what happened. Under questioning, Chris, his wife Alex (Aja Naomi King) and their young daughters Ryley (Aiden Price) and Kendra (Amari Price) close ranks, hoping to safeguard one another’s secrets—but the choices they make lead to consequences graver than they could ever imagine. The Knife opens in theaters August 15th. Host: Jamie Edited by: Jamie Broadnax Music by: Sammus Photo credit: Alex Reside

On this week's episode of the Black Girl Nerds podcast we chat with 'Alien: Earth' Series Creator Noah Hawley and Alex Lawther. Alien: Earth is FX's upcoming sci-fi horror series created by Noah Hawley, expanding the iconic Alien franchise with a grounded, serialized story set on Earth for the first time. Taking place in the year 2120—30 years before Ripley’s story begins—the series explores a near-future where Earth is dominated by rival biotech corporations like Weyland-Yutani and Prodigy. When a deep-space research vessel crash-lands on Earth carrying something inhuman, chaos unfolds. Host: Jamie Edited by: Jamie Broadnax 'Alien: Earth' premieres Aug 12th on FX

In this week's episode of the Black Girl Nerds podcast, we interview Sonia Denis of Marvel TV's 'Ironheart'. Sonia Denis plays "Clown", the crew’s unpredictable pyrotechnics specialist. Sonia is an Emmy-nominated writer and rising actor whose credits include High Maintenance, BoJack Horseman, and A Black Lady Sketch Show. In Ironheart, she brings chaotic humor and magnetic energy to the underground world. Host: Jamie Music by: Sammus Edited by: Jamie Broadnax

BGN interviews TV director Sam Bailey of Marvel Studios' Ironheart. From co-creating the Emmy-nominated web series Brown Girls to directing and producing Dear White People, Sam’s work has consistently centered Black voices in ways that feel intentional, resonant, and bold. Ironheart continues that legacy — following Riri Williams, a young Black woman genius from Chicago who builds a suit more advanced than Iron Man’s and steps into her power. Ironheart is currently streaming on Disney+ Host: Chalice Music by: Sammus Edited by: Jamie Broadnax