Battle Fatigue

The 90s were a TIME to be Black and be in film. And a lot of us were raised by the content from this film. It was also a moment for relevance, connectivity, and realizing that the spectrum of Blackness was a lot closer together than we may have realized. Set It Off? Above the Rim? Friday? New Jack City? Black folks were living on the silver screen. In this episode, Dalin and AJ dive into the subject of 4 movies from the 90s - Boomerang, Soul Food, Bad Boys, and Love & Basketball - that influenced their relationships with the culture and how it cultivated who they became as adults. They'll also talk about the relevance these films may have today. So grab that popcorn, chocolate of your choice, and extra large icee (go to the bathroom first) because Battle Fatigue is taking you to the movies!

At Battle Fatigue’s core, finding reasons for joy and laughter amongst the madness is key. And today’s history re-telling is no different. Prepare yourself for a wild ride and very true story. In this episode, AJ regales us with the story of what happens when a counterfeit prodigy, a big bad with Thanos vibes, a relentless secret service agent (think Tommy Lee Jones in U.S. Marshals), and a smooth talking informant get together for an insane plot with more twists than a pretzel factory! Oh, what’s the plot?  To steal Abe Lincoln’s body. Join a fully-invested Dalin as he tries to keep up with everything going on in an episode we call: Counterfeit Lincoln! 

In this episode of Battle Fatigue, AJ and Dalin slow things down for a second for a check-in with each other. The world is literally going to hell in a daisy-painted handbasket and the duo wants to chill and process some of the major moments happening around us, together. If you are feeling overwhelmed or unmoored and need something to help give you words that make you feel like, “yup, I felt that too,” join these best friends for a very honest check in. 

***Trigger Warning*** This episode of Battle Fatigue deals with a reaction to the decision to overturn Roe v Wade. AJ and Dalin will be discussing the history of experimentation on Black people - specifically Black women - from the time of slavery until today.    AJ will break down how deeply rooted gynecological studies have been in causing trauma to the bodies of Black women. And you will hear about how methods of bondage, abortion, breeding, and overall sexual assault with Black women have been used to further the American agenda and other scientific advancements. If it wasn't clear, this episode is about Black women. Listener discretion is highly advised. Tune in if you can, but please take care of yourselves. 

Okay BF community, we have a ridiculous treat for you today (and us as well)! As you all know, AJ has her list of top 5 favorite historical figures, one of which is Robert Smalls. We spoke about this legendary life in a previous episode (Regulators, Mount Up! We’re Stealing A Boat) and received amazing responses from you! One of those responses came in the form of (*deep breath*) educator, thought leader, legacy keeper, CEO, father, husband, and great-great grandson of Robert Smalls: Michael Boulware Moore! And he chose to share his story on the show. Excuse us while we do a wildly choreographed dance break of joy. During this special guest-featured episode, the dynamic duo interview Mr. Michael B. Moore on the connective tissue that is his life and the legacy of his great-great grandfather, Congressman Smalls. We’ll get into - as AJ puts it - “my man Rob’s” existence outside of the history books too. Did he laugh often? Did he enjoy Sunday afternoons on the porch with a glass of iced tea? What section of the paper did he read first? We’ll also hear how the legacy of Robert Smalls continues in Mr. Moore and what it’s like to carry the beauty and weight of it all throughout fatherhood. This is not an episode to miss! 

The office is often a not-so-conventional space for Black people to exist. Most people are told to hang up their problems when they get to work, but what about having to hang up your Blackness? Working in predominantly White spaces can come with its own sets of prejudices and stresses. In this episode, AJ and Dalin recall some of their early and more current experiences of systemic racism in and around the cubicle. They’ll talk microaggressions and other discriminations as only they know how.

***NOTE: This episode was recorded one day before the horrific events in Uvalde, Texas at Robb Elementary School.*** In this blerd-to-end-all-blerd episodes, AJ and Dalin are back with another Debate Mixtape throw down. In volume 4, they tackle the still unresolved issue: Is The Nightmare Before Christmas a Halloween movie or a Christmas movie and is there a middle ground for the two? We’ll also discover the best and SECOND best Disney villains with their friend-affirming answers and hear the moment when Dalin renders AJ speechless (not for long, but still). Then things get more serious when they ponder whether OG Justice League member Martian Manhunter chose Blackness as a visual representation and home of his personal grief. Go deep into the questions inside of the questions on this blerd-i-sode ep of Battle Fatigue. 

Sometimes you just need a Black joy and friendship session to get through the day... to get through the week, even. And if a good laugh is the medicine you need too, then join us for a little comedy and camaraderie. 

Well, it finally happened. AJ finally gets to nerd out about one of her other favorite historical figures: her main man Rob. In this episode of Battle Fatigue, the duo journey through the fascinating life of Robert Smalls. This spy story is wild and winding and just when you think it’s over, there’s more. The reveals are too many to count and Dalin has a lot of questions. There aren’t too many stories from the days of enslavement that end with a sense of unbridled hope and overflowing pride. This isn't just a tale of survival. It's a tale of what's possible. So buckle up, buttercup! We’re going on a wild ride with the badass, Robert Smalls. Hope you don't get seasick. 

Well, it was a wild Women’s History Month and Black women are still getting the sh*t end of the deal. In this episode of Battle Fatigue, the bestie duo look at the treatment of Black women, past and present. And Dalin, like only he can, gets AJ to give some insight into what being a Black woman looks like in her slice of reality. Between the confirmation hearings of Judge Kentanji Brown Jackson to the countless moments during Women's History Month, in which Black women have not been cared for, this one is a heavy episode. If you have Black women in your life and don’t know how to love and support them, maybe this is the episode for you. In true BF fashion, we get through it with love, laughter and friendship. 

What do the Greenwood, Mississippi-based McGhee family, the KKK, and Marlon Brando have in common? Well, apparently the answer is Bob Zellner, civil rights activist and Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee's (SNCC) first white field secretary. In this variety session of Battle Fatigue, AJ recalls some of her favorite stories as heard from the living legend in the movement himself. We know that Black history is often one of violence and despair and it can be easy to forget that in times of crisis and survival, there can be pockets of joy and relief. How did Mrs. McGhee beat on a police officer in his place of business and get away with it? Why would you ever need to tell an episcopal pastor to shut up? Why does Marlon Brando go through so many shoes? Tune in to find out these answers and more in this multi-tale episode of "one day you'll look back on this and laugh. If the trauma lets you." SHOW NOTES: https://snccdigital.org/people/mcghee-family/

"Do you know why today's a great day? Because we are gonna be...nerrrrds!" In this nerdisode, AJ and Dalin catch up on some much needed discussions regarding the latest in things Marvel, DC,  Disney, Star Wars, comics, and more. It's a beautiful thing when one of your versions of self-care and recharge can happen with another person. Tune in for verbal shenanigans and other outlandishness as our hosts with the most talk nerdy to you.

At it again. BF community, this one hits deep. In this episode of Battle Fatigue, we exist in this show’s namesake. Hard. AJ and Dalin talk explicitly through the odd and frustrating infatuations non-Black folks have with saying the N-word. What is this perpetual verbal tug-of-war about? Is gatekeeping the only reason it’s such a magnet for toxicity? Could a day of freedom from the inconsiderations of whiteness towards Black people be bartered for? Will we ever catch a break? Tune in with us because things are weird and we’re very much over it.

This one was special! Battle Fatigue is a show about history, mental health, and Blackness. Interwoven between these topics are joy, pain, growth, music, laughter, learning, unlearning, and community. And it’s within that community that we find a connection that reinforces what this show is all about. In a fantastic collaborative effort with The Seattle Repertory Theatre, AJ and Dalin spent some time with the creators of Fannie: The Music and Life of Fannie Lou Hamer. Now, if you didn’t already know, Mrs. Hamer is easily AJ’s favorite historical figure and the “history shakes” haven’t stopped since she found out this 2 part series was happening. Join us in Part I as we get the amazing opportunity to sit with the dynamite trio of playwright Cheryl L. West, director Henry Godinez, and music director Felton Offard about the history of the first show to open Seattle Rep’s doors since the pandemic began. We’ll discuss how the “little play that could…maybe” got it’s outdoor start in Chicago and traveled from neighborhood to neighborhood to share the story of a Mississippi sharecropper who would change who would change the world. We’ll hear about how the creative team came together, the impact of having a song in your heart, and how the play has evolved over the years. This crew has a ton of chemistry that you can hear and feel. And of course, AJ gets to fangirl about Fannie Lou Hamer. In Part II of our collaboration series, we have the esteemed privilege of speaking with the accomplished, decorated, and legendary actress and Chicago native, E. Faye Butler. The conversation discusses the culture, how Mrs. Hamer taught us to show up for Blackness, what makes Mahalia Jackson so special (aside from being, you know, Mahalia Jackson), and why this play is the perfect story for right now. We also learn why becoming Fannie Lou Hamer is more of an ancestral embodiment and in true Battle Fatigue fashion, what E. Faye’s self care regimen is.  Both of these episodes are not to be missed! Whether you go see Fannie: The Music and Life of Fannie Lou Hamer (virtually or physically) and then press play on us or the other way around… just make sure you do both! ******* SHOW NOTES: Tickets to Fannie: The Music and Life of Fannie Lou Hamer - https://www.seattlerep.org/plays/202122-season/fannie/ Have a refresher! Battle Fatigue episode “Fannie Lou and the Crew” (aired Oct 2021) wherever you get your podcasts!

This one was special! Battle Fatigue is a show about history, mental health, and Blackness. Interwoven between these topics are joy, pain, growth, music, laughter, learning, unlearning, and community. And it’s within that community that we find a connection that reinforces what this show is all about. In a fantastic collaborative effort with The Seattle Repertory Theatre, AJ and Dalin spent some time with the creators of Fannie: The Music and Life of Fannie Lou Hamer. Now, if you didn’t already know, Mrs. Hamer is easily AJ’s favorite historical figure and the “history shakes” haven’t stopped since she found out this 2 part series was happening.  Join us in Part I as we get the amazing opportunity to sit with the dynamite trio of playwright Cheryl L. West, director Henry Godinez, and music director Felton Offard about the history of the first show to open Seattle Rep’s doors since the pandemic began. We’ll discuss how the “little play that could…maybe” got it’s outdoor start in Chicago and traveled from neighborhood to neighborhood to share the story of a Mississippi sharecropper who would change who would change the world. We’ll hear about how the creative team came together, the impact of having a song in your heart, and how the play has evolved over the years. This crew has a ton of chemistry that you can hear and feel. And of course, AJ gets to fangirl about Fannie Lou Hamer.  In Part II of our collaboration series, we have the esteemed privilege of speaking with the accomplished, decorated, and legendary actress and Chicago native, E. Faye Butler. The conversation discusses the culture, how Mrs. Hamer taught us to show up for Blackness, what makes Mahalia Jackson so special (aside from being, you know, Mahalia Jackson), and why this play is the perfect story for right now. We also learn why becoming Fannie Lou Hamer is more of an ancestral embodiment and in true Battle Fatigue fashion, what E. Faye’s self care regimen is. Both of these episodes are not to be missed! Whether you go see Fannie: The Music and Life of Fannie Lou Hamer (virtually or physically) and then press play on us or the other way around… just make sure you do both! ****** SHOW NOTES:  Tickets to Fannie: The Music and Life of Fannie Lou Hamer - https://www.seattlerep.org/plays/202122-season/fannie/ Have a refresher! Battle Fatigue episode “Fannie Lou and the Crew” (aired Oct 2021) wherever you get your podcasts!

Happy new 365 y’all! (Hacked by AJ, don’t mind her…) *ahem* It’s a new year for Battle Fatigue and we hope you had the holidays you deserved. So we know AJ loves rabbit holes and Dalin loves trying to dig her out, but this trip in a history wonderland is as ridiculous as they come. Kick back as AJ leads you through the ridiculous story of how one man’s misguided ambition led to a fake slave insurrection and the secret squirrel henchmen discovered to be [no spoilers!]. It sounds wild, but like many parts of history, it’s true. And if that’s not enough - and more importantly - the duo will show just how closely related we are to it all today. It's the ties that bind in this one!

So how was your Turkey Day? Ours was full of amazing food, family, friends, and music. AJ, Dalin, and the entire BF Team are incredibly thankful for every single one of you and the opportunities we have to be in your ears; we can't express that enough. It continues to be an honor that we don't take for granted. In this freestyle episode, AJ and Dalin use their time together to check in on each other and talk what food might show up on the table in this pre-holiday conversation posted after the holiday! Enjoy!!

Do you feel like there’s a blanket expectation for Black folks to forgive in the face of racial terror? On this episode of Battle Fatigue, your favorite twosome dig into their current ideas around forgiveness. With a historical backdrop, AJ and Dalin delve into the layers of forgiveness within the context of racial terror. How do you feel about forgiveness? Do you ask for it or just expect it? Join us as we explore what the post credits scene looks like after an apology.

You know what it is. Press play.

***TRIGGER WARNING: This episode contains graphic content describing racial violence that leads to the death of Black people. 5:32-6:09 - Dalin reads a quote from JW Milam justifying his violence against Black people and has excessive use of the word “n*gger”.  43:10 - 44:50: Trigger warning – AJ describes the graphic murders of Chaney, Goodman, and Schwerner*** A Tupac diss track on racists? In this episode, AJ talks with Dalin about her favorite historical figure, Fannie Lou Hamer, and the movement she pioneered called the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party. The civil rights activist blazed trail after trail in the Jim Crow South, championing for Black voices and increasing awareness of voting rights. This story is difficult. The story is necessary. So bring your notepad and a pen because class is in session for this one. I think AJ has a test at the end. Spoiler Alert: She doesn’t. SHOW NOTES: JW Milam confession on murder of Emmett Till: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/till-killers-confession/ Browder v. Gayle - The women before Rosa Parks https://www.learningforjustice.org/magazine/browder-v-gayle-the-women-before-rosa-parks The Freedom Riders https://www.learningforjustice.org/magazine/browder-v-gayle-the-women-before-rosa-parks The Brotherhood of the Sleeping Car Porters https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/brotherhood-sleeping-car-porters-1925-1978/ “The Big Six” Organizers of the Civil Rights Movement https://www.thoughtco.com/men-of-the-civil-rights-movement-45371 Freedom Summer aka the Mississippi Summer Project https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/freedom-summer Who Was Ella Baker? https://ellabakercenter.org/who-was-ella-baker/ The Legacy of Bob Moses (NPR) https://www.npr.org/2021/07/25/1020501110/bob-moses-1960s-sncc-civil-rights-leader-math-educator-dies-at-86 Strom Thurmond’s secret child was a Black woman. https://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/06/us/essie-mae-washington-williams-secret-child-of-famous-father-dies-at-87.html