Broke-ish®

In this episode of Broke-ish, Amber and Erika dive into one of the most influential—and complicated—institutions in Black life: the Black church. Joined by Rev. Mia McClain, Senior Pastor of Riverside Baptist Church, the conversation explores how the faith, politics, and culture of the Black church has created a legacy that is both powerful and problematic. Together, we unpack what the Black church has historically given to the community—collective care, activism, spiritual grounding—and what parts of that legacy may need to be challenged or left behind. We explore what a decolonized, liberation-centered, Black Christian praxis looks like and what can be done to achieve it. Press play to hear the conversation!

This payday, Amber and Erika explore the legacy of Black capitalism through a historical and political lens with longtime Broke-ish all-star, Dr. Jared Ball. The conversation centers on whether Black capitalism is a viable path to liberation or whether it ultimately reinforces the same systems of inequality it claims to solve. Using the examples of Pinky Cole of Slutty Vegan; Fawn Weaver of Uncle Nearest; and Jay-Z's recent interview with GQ, we highlight how capitalism consistently fails most Black people and only benefits a select few. These stories remind us that entrepreneurship and business ownership alone cannot the close racial wealth gap, and we must critically examine capitalism as a structure and its prolific failures. Tune in to join the conversation!

On this episode of Broke-ish, Amber and Erika are joined by community organizer and lawyer, Kamau Franklin, to discuss the legacy of Black politics and what the past teaches us about leveraging our collective activism. Kamau highlights the systemic and interpersonal reasons that electoral politics and Black politicians have consistently failed to move beyond political theater to substantive, liberatory change. And most importantly, we discuss how to combine electoral engagement with community activism and self-determination to forge a new political path that results in true liberty and justice for all. Press play to get in on the conversation!

On this episode of Broke-ish, Amber and Erika are joined by journalist and cultural worker, Musa Springer, to discuss the legacy of Black culture - the good, bad, and ugly. Musa illuminates the ways that Black cultural workers can serve as powerful forces of resistance, with art as a source of education and activism. But we also acknowledge the downside of Black culture: the appropriation, the commercialization, and the insidious separation of the artist from their labor. Musa reminds us to critically interrogate the pursuit of "mainstream" validation and profit and work towards a culture that centers liberation, artistic expression, and community. Tune in and get the scoop!

On this payday, Amber and Erika pause to reflect on the season opening conversation with their mothers. We discuss the wisdom we gleaned while also noting the parts of their legacy that felt unacknowledged or minimized. Our hope for this conversation is to speak the truth while illuminating how our own entrenchment in patriarchy, white supremacy, and capitalism often prevents us from fully recognizing their impacts on our actions and the normalization of harm. Through interrogating the legacies our mothers left to us, we endeavor to carry on with the good while courageously discarding actions and mindsets that no longer serve us or lead to liberation. Listen in to join the conversation!

It's a special episode of Broke-ish! Amber and Erika are kicking off the season on Legacy with both their mothers as guests. Amber's mom, Eleanor Webb, and Erika's mom, Thelma Taylor, join their daughters to discuss what legacy means to them. We start with their joyful recollection of one of segregation's few benefits - thriving, loving Black communities - and then glean their insights on church, faith, marriage, and relationships. They recount the legacies of their families and the ones they sought to forge for themselves. Finally, the Queen Mothers leave us with their hopes for the legacies they wish to leave in this life. You don't want to miss this episode, so press play!

It's a new season! Amber and Erika are back for Season 12, and it feels surreal to be kicking off a new journey of Broke-ish. This season our theme is "Legacy,, and we're exploring key areas of Black life - such as media, the church, civic organizations, and financial literacy - and the things we appreciate and hope to preserve while also acknowledging the problem areas that we need to leave behind. We open the season examining Broke-ish's legacy and how we hope to impact the lived reality of Black Americans with this work. Press play and join the conversation. Welcome back!

They say, "all good things must come to an end"! On this episode, Amber and Erika bid farewell to Season 11. We start by reflecting on the last seven years and Broke-ish's journey to 11 seasons, including Delina's departure and Amber's journey from guest to co-host. Next, we discuss the looming government shutdown and the Democratic Party's decision to strike a deal with Republicans to seemingly end it. We then pivot into how Minister Malcolm's teachings offer insight into this situation and our current political climate. His work and pedagogy served as the inspiration for this season, and we celebrate his anti-capitalist convictions, repudiation of America's sham democracy, and clarion call for Black unity. Filled with gratitude, love, and respect for our formidable ancestor, Malcolm X, we say goodbye to Season 11 inspired and motivated by his life and legacy. Homework: Get in community with likeminded people—pool resources, read books, discuss ideas and shared values, develop and implement community improvement plans, and encourage each other!

On this episode of Broke-ish, Amber and Erika continue their discussion on the signs and implications of fascism and authoritarianism in the U.S., particularly its impact on Black people. Through current events such as Trump's unilateral decision to initiate renovations to the White House, the targeting and criminal prosecution of Black politicians, and the government shut down's disproportionate impact on Black people. We finish out the conversation with the reminder that, although the current political climate lacks civility and refinement, it is very much a continuation of America's history of using state power to brutalize Black people and deny us fundamental fairness. Press play and join the conversation! Homework: Donate money to Feeding America or provide groceries to a local food bank to support siblings in your area facing hardship due to loss of SNAP benefits. We all we got! U.S. Hunger Relief Organization | Feeding America

On this episode of Broke-ish, the discussion centers on the signs and implications of fascism and authoritarianism in the U.S., particularly its impact on Black people. Amber and Erika explore the cultural shifts towards nationalism, the politicization of institutions, and the removal of neutral bureaucrats. They highlight the recent death of Assata Shakur, the controversial speech by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, and the introduction of legislation targeting political dissidents. The conversation emphasizes the historical and contemporary manifestations of fascism, the role of patriarchy, and the need for vigilance and resistance against these trends. Press play and join the conversation! Homework: Watch this clip “Secretary of War” Pete Hegseth’s speech and identify how many of the markers of authoritarianism and facism you identify. Hop in the comments and tell us what you notice: C-SPAN on Instagram: "Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday gathered the nation’s top military leaders to give a speech on restoring a “warrior ethos” in the armed forces, calling it a “moment of urgency.” “The military has been forced by foolish and reckless politicians to focus on the wrong things,” he said at a Marine Corps base in Quantico, Virginia. “In many ways, this speech is about fixing decades of decay, some of it obvious, some of it hidden.” The Pentagon leader declared that the only mission of the “newly restored Department of War” will be “warfighting.” “Preparing for war and preparing to win. Unrelenting and uncompromising in that pursuit. Not because we want war. No one here wants war. But it’s because we love peace,” he said. The secretary called for high fitness standards, merit-based promotions and a focus on lethality, casting aside what he considers “woke” initiatives. “No more identity months, DEI offices, dudes in dresses. No more climate change worship. No more division, distraction or gender delusions. No more debris,” he said. “As I’ve said before and will say again, we are done with that shit.” He said every member of the military, from the bottom to the top, must adhere to strict fitness and grooming standards — and that every combat job must return to the “highest male standard.” “It’s completely unacceptable to see fat generals and admirals in the halls of the Pentagon leading commands around the country, in the world. It’s a bad look,” he said. Watch more by tapping the link in our bio. #petehegseth #usmilitary #cspan"

This payday, Amber and Erika are joined by their guest, Pastor Kristian A. Smith, a pastor and public theologian, to discuss the rise of radical American religiopolitics and the insidious racism that fuels it. Malcolm X once said, “The greatest single reason for the Christian church’s failure . . . is its failure to combat racism.” This episode explores the racist roots of the most prominent American denominations and their long complicity with racism. Pastor Kristian helps us identify the ways that White Evangelicals have weaponized the Bible to advance a political agenda filled with xenophobia, homophobia, patriarchy, antagonism towards the poor, and anti-Blackness. He shows us how theology can be used for both good and bad and why we must all be willing to constantly interrogate what we believe and whether it serves our highest good. Tune in to get the scoop!

This payday, Erika and her guest, Dr. Kehinde Andrews, discuss political violence and the political theory of Malcolm X. We use the death of Ch@rlie K1rk as a springboard to interrogate the role liberals and Black leaders play in stifling political organization and outrage to ultimately act as tools of counterinsurgency. We grapple with what it means to be political and who qualifies. Because Kehinde literally wrote a book on Malcolm X, we dive into what Brother Malcolm said on the topic of political violence and intuit what he might have thought about this political moment. Tune in to see what we have to say! Guest: Dr. Kehinde Andrews Guest socials: @kehindeandrews

This payday Amber and Erika are discussing Black capitalism and why money isn’t enough to save us from the pitfalls of the system. Using two hot-button current events - the Uncle Nearest lawsuit and receivership and Target boycott - we breakdown why capitalism is inherently anti-black and an ineffective liberatory tool. Both examples point to the limitations of capitalism and why Black people’s lack of ownership of the means of production prevents the independence necessary to generate capitalistic gain. Gleaning wisdom from Malcolm X’s evolving beliefs on Black economics and capitalism, this episode highlights why being pro-Black necessarily requires being anti-capitalism. Get the scoop when you listen to the episode!

On this episode, Amber and Erika are unpacking the details of the “One Big Beautiful Bill”, the legislative centerpiece of President Trump’s presidential agenda. We take a deep dive into who the tax cuts and who benefits from them, and we also explore the areas, such as military and immigration enforcement, where the bill has increased spending. But most importantly, we delve into the largest cuts to social safety net programs in American history. Cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, SNAP, and student loan funding are all existential threats to all working class people, but especially Black people. Relying on Malcolm X’s words, we unpack what this bill can teach us and how to jump into action. Tune in to hear what we have to say!

On this episode—a Broke-ish first—Amber and Erika are diving into the comments and responding directly to what the Brokers have to say. Many of you had strong opinions about Episode 114, where we did a deep dive into the ADOS movement and Black unity across the diaspora. Community accountability is essential to liberation, and this episode was our attempt to pause and listen to our community’s opinions, concerns, and constructive criticism about our discussion on unity and Black freedom. Press play to join the conversation!

On this episode, Amber and Erika are joined by Dr. Calvin Schermerhorn, author of “The Plunder of Black America: How the Racial Wealth Gap Was Made”, to discuss the economic status of Black Americans. Despite the propaganda that Black people have less wealth due to poor choices, laziness, and missed opportunities, Dr. Schermerhorn points us to the historical data that clearly demonstrating that Black Americans have been continuously and systematically exploited and de-capitalized through racist laws, racial violence, and outright theft. We also examine Malcolm X’s vision for economically independent and vibrant Black communities and the extent to which integration distracted us from building and maintaining wealth within our own communities. Finally, Dr. Schermerhorn helps us identify reasons to be optimistic in the present fight for liberation and steps we can take to keep the past from repeating itself. Press play to hear what we have to say! Homework: Purchase and read Dr. Schermerhorn’s book: The Plunder of Black America: How the Racial Wealth Gap Was Made Guest Name: Dr. Calvin Schermerhorn Guest Bio: Dr. Calvin Schermerhorn grew up in Southern Maryland. After graduate degrees at Harvard Divinity School and the University of Virginia, he became an historian of slavery, capitalism, and African American inequality. He teaches courses in nineteenth-century American history and advises Honors, Masters, and Ph.D. students. He was a Fulbright Scholar to the University of Nottingham in 2022. He has contributed to The Atlantic, The Daily Beast, Time and The Washington Post, among other popular venues, and his work has been featured in national discussions of racial inequality. He is author of four books on American slavery and inequality including The Plunder of Black America: How the Racial Wealth Gap Was Made, which was published by Yale University Press in early 2025.

On this episode, Amber and Erika are discussing Black politics and how the fight for liberation of descendants of enslaved people here in the United States is connected to the fight of other African people in the diaspora. We are joined by journalist and teacher, Salifu Mack, and Broke-ish all-star, Dr. Kehinde Andrews, to examine black liberation politics in America and the degree to which those movements see themselves connected to broader Pan-Africanism. Finally, we look at what we can learn about the fight for freedom from Minister Malcolm X’s teachings and political philosophy. Tune in to get the scoop! Homework: Watch Kehinde’s documentary: Nobody Can Give You Freedom

On this payday, Amber and Erika are joined by Broke-ish all-star, Dr. Kehinde Andrews, to discuss his latest book, “Nobody Can Give You Freedom: The Real Mission of Malcolm X”. Malcolm X, the foundational inspiration of Season 11, articulated a vision of Black radicalism and liberation that informs how we engage the global fight against anti-Blackness and systemic oppression. Dr. Andrews helps us clarify Malcolm’s liberatory strategies and political ethos—compellingly outlining America’s injustice to the broader quest for freedom for all people of African descent. This season’s episodes will not just focus on the broken “ish”, but each payday we will highlight what viable solutions we can glean from Minister Malcolm’s work. Press play to get the scoop!

Season 11 of Broke-ish is here! Amber and Erika are back for a new season, and they’re kicking things off by bringing the Brokers up to speed about what went down during the break. After the shenanigans, the duo laid out their vision for Season 11 and how Season 10 inspired its format. Season 10’s episodes were based upon debunking the ever plentiful myths and misstatements of our most infamous guest: John Hope Bryant. Like Season 10, this new season will be centered around a central figure, but it will be in celebration and pursuit of his ideals instead of debunking them. Malcolm X spent his life opposing White Supremacy and capitalism and left a Black Radical framework for the pursuit of liberation. We’ll explore how Minister Malcolm’s work informs our current pursuit for Black unity and the fight against systemic anti-Blackness. Tune in to get the blueprint!

Well, it’s over now! Amber and Erika have officially said, “Farewell” to Season 10. What was supposed to be a single episode featuring John Hope Bryant turned into a rundown of financial literacy’s “greatest hits”, which we spent the season debunking one at a time. In this final episode, we recap the season and highlight our motivation behind this strategy and what we hope you learned. As always, we can’t wait to come back and talk about all the “ish”! It’s over now, but we’ll be back soon!