Black Girl Blueprint

Season 5, Episode 1: Long time, no see! In this episode, we're returning to our cultural critic roots for a conversation around Black media, the role of art as a powerful social and political tool, and our expectations of people with platforms in Black music and film to authentically represent Blackness in their work. From Shonda Rhimes and Quinta Brunson to Rye Lane and Cowboy Carter, we're diving into Black entertainment to evaluate what misses the mark, what has value we need to return to, and the stories we'd like to see more of in the future.

Season 4, Episode 12: The hardest conversations are typically the ones most worth having. We need to confront the hard stuff to grow, but it can be difficult to navigate how to do so productively and compassionately. In this episode, we’ll be talking about some of the hardest conversations that we’ve had to have with friends, partners, parents, and colleagues, as well as the hardest truths we’ve had to accept about ourselves and the world around us. We dive into the importance of self-awareness and open communication in our relationships and feeling empowered by honesty.

Season 4, Episode 11: What happens when you don't want to work but you have needs and desires that cost money? In this episode, we break down how central capitalism is to our daily lives: how jobs take time away from things that bring us joy and how we internalize that productivity determines our self-worth. We dive into Gen-Z's approach to work compared to previous generations, how the pandemic shifted our priorities, and the lives we dream for ourselves beyond exchanging labor for survival.

Season 4, Episode 10: When we’re little, it’s second nature to dream big and to be shameless about speaking your dreams aloud. But as we grow older, something shifts — a fear of embarrassment and the pressure to be realistic creep in. In this episode, we talk about how we imagined our futures as kids and how those dreams have shaped the way we live now. We reflect on living without regret, how we can measure and hold ourselves accountable to our desires, and encouraging ourselves to lead with hope and wonder in 2023 and beyond.

Season 4, Episode 9: Happy Thanksgiving everyone! In this week's episode, we're adding another installment to our coming into adulthood series to chat about the independence and harsh realities of moving from our parent's house out on our own.  We're getting into some roommate horror stories, what we wish we knew before buying furniture and hunting for our first big girl apartments, and how it actually feels to build a home for ourselves and live alone.

Season 4, Episode 8: In this week's episode, we're joined by stylists, content creators, and overall fashion icons, Simi (@simimoonlight) and Uniekue (@uniekue) for a conversation about developing your personal style, shopping with intention, and building a wardrobe on a budget. We’ll be discussing our favorite (and least favorite) trends, size inclusivity and desirability politics in the fashion industry, and the role of Black femmes in shaping fashion and culture. Looking for pants designed specifically for hourglass figures? Head over to AamTheLabel.com and use code BGB20 for 20% off your order.

Season 4, Episode 7: In this week's episode, we are joined by journalist, author, and former Teen Vogue editor-in-chief, Elaine Welteroth, for a conversation about the post-graduate career journeys, redefining success and personal growth, and finding your passions by leading with your joy and desires.

Season 4, Episode 6: As we prepare to enter the workforce and reflect on our high school and college years, we're thinking a lot this week about impostor syndrome and those creeping feelings of self-doubt which have held us back from recognizing our merit and entering new spaces and opportunities. In this episode, we debunk impostor syndrome by tracing it back to its root causes: the lack of representation and systemic barriers in spaces we've occupied, comparison and competitive environments, and reconciling the pressure to associate our value with our productivity and arbitrary markers of success.

Season 4, Episode 5: Big news, we graduated from college!! And in this week's episode, we're getting into the full rollercoaster coaster of the emotions that this terrifying and exciting transition period into adulthood brings.

Season 4, Episode 4: Happy Mother's Day from our moms to you and yours! This week, we're joined by our beloved mothers, Julia Jordan-Zachery and Paulette Ritchie, to reminisce about our funniest childhood memories and discuss intergenerational cycles and motherhood. We delve into lessons they learned during their young adult years, the extent to which their mothering style was informed by their own mothers, and the rewards and challenges of raising Black girls.

Season 4, Episode 3: This week, we're in our bag, in our feelings — whatever you want to call it! — and we're having a therapy session for the sensitive girlies. In this epiosde, we're getting into all things emotional: from expressing vulnerability, to our own sensitivity and emotional intelligence. We dive into which emotions are the hardest to express, feeling guilty for burdening others with our emotions, and the truth behind the "crybaby Cancer"zodiac sterotype. We explore how we were taught to deal with our emotions as children, and what this means for our current relationship with our emotional vulnerability as young Black women.

Season 4, Episode 2: "Loooooveeee", or whatever Keyshia Cole said! In this week's episode, we're getting into our dating experiences as young adults. From our introductions to romance in media and in our families, to dating apps, hookup culture in college, and dating experiences as Black women at PWIs, there's a lot to unpack today! Tune in as we break down our favorite romantic movies, ideal characteristics in a partner, worst dates, and our thoughts on Black Love and the interracial dating "spirit of Tamera".Content warning (Kanye / Pete Davidson): 7:40

Season 4, Episode 1: For the first episode of season 4, we’re going to be talking about lifestyle changes, and how to develop routines and rituals. In this episode, we discuss holding ourselves accountable to new year's resolutions, the time we spend on our phones, craving new experiences that take us outside our comfort zone and making sure that we're creating holistic goals to take care of our bodies, minds, and spirits. It's a constant journey, but what are some steps we can take to get the ball rolling and make ourselves feel just a little more grounded?

Season 3, Episode 12: Have you ever noticed yourself acting out of character? Feeling less like yourself?In this week's episode, we’re going to be talking about authenticity and being true to ourselves. Especially at this age, it can be a constant journey of trying to “find yourself” and then losing yourself again and then rinse and repeat. How do you rediscover the things that are important to you? And what happens when you notice this happening to those closest to you? Find out all of this and more today.

Season 3, Episode 11: No new friends or whatever Drake said...! In this week's episode, we will be getting real about the challenges of making friends as we get older. We’re going to be talking about social lives, more than just learning how to be social again after the pandemic but what it's like navigating the world as an introvert or an extrovert and having social anxiety.

Season 4, Episode 10: From catcalling to street harassment and downright belligerent men, this week's episode is all about the universal terrifying experiences we face at the hands of creepy men. Tune in for a  therapy session for any and everyone who has ever had to deal with harassment from men you don't know in public. This is a much-needed time to share stories of these all-too-familiar moments, how we respond to them, and to really unpack all of the feelings that come along with them.

Season 3, Episode 9: In this week's episode, we’re taking a journey through the years in music. From the songs we heard our parents play around the house to the first albums we ever purchased for ourselves, there's a lot of nostalgia to get into! Join us as we take a trip down memory lane and chat about our go-to feel-good tracks, the top-tier white bangers, and our music obsessions.

Season 3, Episode 8: Have you ever had your expectations were disappointed in a relationship? Do you forgive and forget? Or did you cut it off and keep it pushing? This week, we're getting into the nitty-gritty of reacting when people don’t live up to what you expected of them from family members to romantic relationships to friends.

Season 3, Episode 7: In this week's episode, we’re talking about what it means to live in a society that idolizes celebrities and has an unhealthy obsession with fame. Especially in the midst of the #FreeBritney Movement, it's time to discuss the impact of fame and tabloids on celebrity mental health and having grace for celebrities as real people. From the Barbz and the Beyhive on Stan Twitter to YouTube couples like Dearra & Ken… we’re getting into the good, the bad, and the downright unhealthy of celebrity culture.

Season 3,  Episode 6: Confidence, vanity, self-love, main character syndrome… a whole lot of terms but not enough conversation about how we channel these sentiments (or don’t) in the world! Tune in to this week's conversation about navigating leadership as Black women, being called high maintenance, "impostor syndrome" in the college admission process, and tips for maintaining our confidence in a world that's constantly trying to dim our light.