Real Ballers Read

Glory Edim has spent a lifetime gathering and uplifting the stories of Black women. As a little girl in Arlington Virginia, Glory could be found at her local library reading The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison. As a college student at Howard University, Glory could be found at Founders Library reading Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston. As the visionary founder of Well-Read Black Girl, Glory can be found in the pages of her book On Girlhood: 15 Stories from the Well-Read Black Girl Library. On Girlhood is a beautifully curated anthology of short stories that explore the thin line between Black girlhood and womanhood.  In this episode, we trace the intersections among Glory's experiences and the stories featured in her book, hear how the narratives of Black girls and women help Glory navigate life, and learn from her what it means to believe in your best self. On Girlhood on Bookshop.org Well Read Black Girl Website Well Read Black Girl Instagram Real Ballers Read Website Real Ballers Read Instagram --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/realballersread/support

On the first day of Dr. Curtis L. Odom’s capstone business class at Northeastern, Dr. Odom tells his students that anything he says twice they should write down.  Eli Boulous, a Senior student in the class one fall, heard this message and then proceeded to take copious notes of everything important Dr. Odom said. He meticulously organized these notes into quotations and by theme, and then gifted these notes to Dr. Odom at the end of the semester, with the title “Odom’s Playbook.”  Dr. Odom was so honored and humbled by the impact his words had on Eli and thought it was one of the best gifts he had ever received. Two years later, Dr. Odom reached out to Eli on LinkedIn asking if he wanted to adapt the playbook into a book, leading to it being published with them both as co-authors in 2021. And now in 2022, they joined us on the podcast right before they release their second book. Dr. Odom is truly a fountain of wisdom and both Dr. Odom and Eli are incredible speakers and storytellers. The transition from studying to adulting is difficult to say the least.  Luckily, Dr. Curtis Odom and Eli Boulous have co-authored the perfect pair of books for those entering the working world in search of relevant, hard-earned wisdom: Things I Heard My Professor Say and Things I Heard Myself Say.  Listen in to hear their incredible stories and insights on creating your personal definition of success. Things I Heard My Professor Say on Bookshop.org Real Ballers Read Website Real Ballers Read Instagram --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/realballersread/support

Sometimes its okay to believe the hype. Brittany Anderson had heard so much about The Final Revival of Opal and New by Dawnie Walton that she figured it was worth picking up a copy.  Little did she know that through this book, she would enter a world of surprises, secrets and betrayal, where a fictional story felt so real that Brittany learned a lot about herself and society. We were blown away by The Final Revival as well after reading it in preparation for this interview, so we made sure to geek out with Brittany about all of our favorite details and moments from the book. Check this episode out to learn what made a fictional character so relatable to Brittany, how strange the line between fact and fiction can really get, and why culturally responsive educators are critical in today's world. Brittany's Instagram Real Ballers Read Website Real Ballers Read Instagram --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/realballersread/support

Halim A. Flowers is inspiring a love revolution.  He's a prolific artist, activist, and entrepreneur who’s on another level. And for 22 years and 2 months, Halim spent his life in prison, labeled by society as an unredeemable “Superpredator”.  It was during this time that Halim went from reading everything he could get his hands on, to publishing 11 books of prose and poetry from behind bars. But what no one could predict was how Halim’s words would manifest into a life of freedom, faith, and internationally acclaimed creativity today.  Although we had planned to talk about Halim’s favorite book - Marking Time by Nicole Fleetwood - we hit it off so quickly that we ended up just having an incredible conversation about everything that’s on Halim’s mind these days.  In this episode, Halim raps with us about the importance of reading right now, the keys to creating wealth, how he bridges old and new culture through art, and how he thinks about time.  Halim dropped so many gems in this interview, we know you’ll love it.  Halim A. Flower's Instagram  Real Ballers Read Website   Real Ballers Read Instagram --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/realballersread/support

Hanif Abdurraqib was just a twelve-year-old in the 90's when he picked up Your Blues Ain't Like Mine by Bebe Moore Campbell for the first time; he was probably too young to be reading the book and certainly too young to understand all of what captivated him so much about the book. But Hanif kept coming back to Your Blues Ain't Like Mine every couple of years, and it slowly shifted his own understandings of language, sympathy, and death—all the way up to and during this conversation in 2022. In this episode, we talk about the incredible gift that Your Blues Ain't Like Mine by Bebe Moore Campbell is, as well as the performance of literature, the value of platonic friendships, the meaning of justice, and the unbelievable timing of Lebron's 2016 NBA Finals Game 7 chase-down block. Hanif is an amazing person to just hear speak and riff on any of his many curiosities so we know you'll love this episode.  Hanif Abdurraqib's website Real Ballers Read website  Real Ballers Read on Instagram --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/realballersread/support

In a casual conversation with a friend in 2010, Dr. Gina Paige was introduced to a book with a bold title and an interesting premise—Brainwashed by Tom Burrell. In the book, Burrell takes the framework of advertising and marketing campaigns to explain the hundreds of years-long process of brainwashing Black people into believing their own inferiority. While she was already aware of this connection between Black people and racist advertising because of the research she did in graduate school, Gina found this premise enlightening and helpful in thinking about why her company, African Ancestry, did such important work for the Black community. Using cutting-edge genetic science, African Ancestry is able to reconnect African-Americans to their African heritage down to the specific people and place with just a sample of their DNA. In this episode, we talk about the significance of knowing who your ancestors are, the power of mitochondrial DNA, and the multi-faceted relationship between Black people and science. African Ancestry's Website Real Ballers Read website  Real Ballers Read on Instagram --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/realballersread/support

You know a book is a real classic when you can love reading it as a child, then love it even more while rereading it as an adult.  Librarian and bookstagrammer Hawa Jalloh from @hawareads proved that to us by sharing her story with Mildred D. Taylor's Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry.  Hawa first picked this one up because she saw herself in the main character on the book cover. But that recognition only deepened as she enjoyed Taylor's vivid storytelling of Black girlhood and childhood in the early 1900s.  What became clear to Hawa when she reread Roll of Thunder as an adult is just how honest and relevant this book is for current times. After reading Roll of Thunder for the first time for this episode, we couldn't agree more. Together with Hawa, we combined our opinions on the book to start a larger conversation about what it means to grow up Black in America today.  How have things changed in the last 100 years?  How have things stayed the same? How can we support Black children as they navigate racism in school and life? Why is reading still important in a world of Netflix and TikTok? What is Hawa's biggest guilty pleasure? These are just a few of the questions that we discuss in this fun interview with Hawa! Hawa's Bookstagram Real Ballers Read website Real Ballers Read on Instagram --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/realballersread/support

Double-Agent. Chessmaster. Trickster. Genius. Snitch. Louis E. Tackwood was the "Forrest Gump of Black Radical Politics" and there's no record of his life after 1975. But a careful eye can still find Tackwood in the footnotes of history—as Zach Kirk, a Bay-Area activist, did last year. After frequently seeing Tackwood as a reference in books he was reading, Zach decided to investigate this mysterious figure and discovered one of the most bizarre, interesting, and unknown stories in California history. In this episode, Zach details the amoral activities of Louis Tackwood and explains how his understandings of history, politics, and organizing have changed since learning of this story. Listen to answer for yourself whether Tackwood was the lion of history he thought he was or just a strange pawn for the government. Real Ballers Read website Real Ballers Read on Instagram --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/realballersread/support

In 2011, Brandon decided to take his life-long love and talent for cooking to the next level by getting his first job in the restaurant industry. The reality of the industry was not as sunny as Brandon expected though. After years of packed, no-weekend work schedules and being on the receiving end of an intense amount of pressure and scrutiny, Brandon chose to exit the food business and enjoy his cooking skills outside of the workplace. In the summer of 2021, Brandon stumbled upon a book that finally could speak to his experience in the restaurant industry, Notes From a Young Black Chef by Kwame Onwuachi. In the book, Kwame takes the reader through the extreme highs and lows of a career in food and all the obstacles that come with being Black in the industry. In this episode, we talk about the overlap between Brandon and Kwame's stories as well as theatre and some of Brandon's funniest memories with food. This is a must-listen for any foodies out there! Brandon's Instagram Real Ballers Read website Real Ballers Read on Instagram --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/realballersread/support

Dr. Shana L. Redmond is a professor of the first order. She's an interdisciplinary scholar of race, music, culture, and power and has published award-winning books. But most importantly, she is as committed to learning as her students. And in the fall of 2021, she decided to teach a book she had just read—A Little Devil In America: Notes in Praise of Black Performance by Hanif Abdurraqib. Where others would see a risk in teaching a new book, Dr. Redmond saw an opportunity to explore the Blues Epistemology through Hanif's intimate yet expansive peeks into Black culture. Listen to this episode to hear the gems of knowledge and wisdom that Dr. Redmond talked about in her class as well as her explanation for the importance of being an interdisciplinary scholar and the story of why she's always followed her curiosity. This was an amazing conversation that we know you'll love as much as we did. Dr. Shana L. Redmond's Website Real Ballers Read website  Real Ballers Read on Instagram --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/realballersread/support

It's the 90's—Ramunda was at Langston University in Oklahoma and Derrick was 1,300 miles away at Bowie State University in Prince George's County, Maryland. While separated by geography, Ramunda and Derrick underwent similar transformations when they were introduced to Assata Shakur's autobiography and Huey Newton's autobiography, Revolutionary Suicide. Assata and Revolutionary Suicide, respectively, for Ramunda and Derrick, helped build their lifetime commitment to Black people and Black books. Their bookstore, MahoganyBooks, was founded in 2007 to meet the literary needs of readers nationwide in search of books written for, by, or about people of the African Diaspora. Ten years later, they opened their now world-famous physical location in Washington D.C. In this episode, we talk about the importance of Black history and dive into some of the formative moments of Black people's relationship to literacy here in America. We even cover how owning a bookstore is like being a cultural anthropologist and some current trends in publishing. This is the perfect companion podcast for last week's episode with Freddie Taylor and another wonderful way to celebrate Black History Month. We know you'll love this episode.   Mahogany Books Website  Mahogany Books Instagram  Real Ballers Read website  Real Ballers Read on Instagram --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/realballersread/support

Over twenty years ago while attending graduate school, Freddie Taylor came across a book that would change the direction of his life. The book was The Miseducation of the Negro by Carter G. Woodson and it's a book he has read countless times since. Taylor then began a transformative deep dive into Black history that led to him founding Urban Intellectuals, a company committed to informing Black people of their history and culture. In 2017, Urban Intellectuals first released its flagship Black History Flashcards and has sold over 300,000 flashcards since. In this podcast, we wonder how this book, written in 1933, could still be so relevant now, and talk about the critical importance of teaching Black history to our children.  Freddie is a one-of-a-kind guest who brought some amazing energy to the show! We know you'll love this one.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/realballersread/support

In December of 1984, a young Mark Anthony Neal read a book that jumpstarted his political and cultural awakening, Earthquakes and Sunrise Missions by Haki Madhubuti. The book's honest discussion of Black culture and the relationships between Black men and Black women laid a foundation for inquiries that have guided his journey since. In response to a variety of different questions from us, Dr. Neal slowly unveils the constellation of people, music, and events that shaped him into the writer, scholar, man, husband, and father he is today. We talk about the evolving image of Black masculinity, his most amazing concert experiences, and what he predicts for the future of Black music as a music historian. Dr. Neal is a walking library and record store and will probably put you on to a writer or musician you've never heard of before, so this is not an episode to miss!  Dr. Mark Anthony Neal's Twitter Dr. Mark Anthony Neal's Website Real Ballers Read website Real Ballers Read on Instagram --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/realballersread/support

In this episode, we talk with Kat from @booksenvogue about The Afrominimalist's Guide to Living with Less by Christine Platt. Kat stumbled upon this book listening to a podcast actually (as you will by listening to this show🤯) and she was surprised by the depth of the book and all of the personal revelations it brought about. We talk about everything she appreciated and learned from Afrominimalism as well as her award-winning and amazingly creative Instagram page and all the art she gets inspiration from. We were so grateful to connect and talk with Kat and we know you'll love this conversation too! Kat's Instagram  Real Ballers Read website Real Ballers Read on Instagram --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/realballersread/support

In this two-part episode, we brought back Travis Green from @letustalkbooks to talk about an unexpected combo of books: How to Have Impossible Conversations by Peter Boghossian & James Lindsay and God Is Not Great by Christopher Hitchens. Travis is a Senior Instructor at the U.S. Army’s Military Advisor Training Academy, a world-traveler, and an atheist who loves collecting Bibles. He’s a genuinely curious and compassionate person who knows how impactful difficult conversations can be. This conversation was anything but difficult for us though, as we laugh and question our way through talking about religion, foreign policy, and the intersection of these two books. Travis's Instagram Real Ballers Read website Real Ballers Read on Instagram --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/realballersread/support

In this two-part episode, we brought back Travis Green from @letustalkbooks to talk about an unexpected combo of books: How to Have Impossible Conversations by Peter Boghossian & James Lindsay and God Is Not Great by Christopher Hitchens. Travis is a Senior Instructor at the U.S. Army’s Military Advisor Training Academy, a world-traveler, and an atheist who loves collecting Bibles. He’s a genuinely curious and compassionate person who knows how impactful difficult conversations can be. This conversation was anything but difficult for us though, as we laugh and question our way through talking about religion, foreign policy, and the intersection of these two books. Travis's Instagram Real Ballers Read website Real Ballers Read on Instagram --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/realballersread/support

George M. Johnson is an award-winning Black Non-Binary writer, author, and activist with boundless creativity. They are also our first guest that chose their own books to talk about—and we are so glad they did. This is a really special episode for us because we were able to be in conversation with George and Sol Kelly, our friend who came on the podcast to talk about George's book All Boys Aren't Blue!  We dive deep in this episode too. George talks about the power of vulnerability, freedom, the meaning of activism, and what progress looks like for the Black community. And even with all these topics, we share a lot of laughs. You'll love this one. George's Instagram George's Books Sol's Instagram Real Ballers Read website Real Ballers Read on Instagram --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/realballersread/support

In this episode, we talk with Cayla a.k.a. the @bookitqueen about all the interesting facts and stories from The Address Book by Deidre Mask. We were surprised by all of the political and social implications of street addresses and numbers and loved how we got to know the world a little bit better with this book. We discuss the effects of GPS on memory, funny street names(A** Crack Lane), early 2000's nostalgia and even the Quaker Oats guy controversy. This conversation shows how curiosity builds in unexpected ways!  Cayla's Instagram Real Ballers Read website Real Ballers Read on Instagram --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/realballersread/support

In this episode, we talk to Travis Green (@letustalkbooks on IG) about Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell. Although we had many hesitations and critiques of this book, Travis showed us how important it is, and has been, in his work training soldiers to actually talk to strangers everywhere around the world. Travis uses the cautionary tales of the book to improve his own and students' open-mindedness and adaptability. However, this conversation among strangers is anything but a cautionary tale, as we share a deep conversation with Travis about his experiences and growth over time, and how books have literally saved his life. Travis's Instagram  Real Ballers Read website Real Ballers Read on Instagram Talking to Strangers on Bookshop     --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/realballersread/support

In this episode, we talk with the brilliant Jacqueline Woodson about Hurdy-Gurdy by Tim Seibles. When she first heard the poems from the book at one of Seibles' readings in 1992, Jacqueline felt like she was being invited to a party for the first time. She felt like she could finally understand poetry and she's enjoyed the book now for almost thirty years. We read some of our favorite poems from Hurdy-Gurdy, talk about what it means to paint with words, the importance of place in poetry, and Jacqueline even recites passages of her own work from memory (Yes, she's that cool).  Hearing the power of Jacqueline's language will really make you want to go read one(or all) of her books.  Jacqueline Woodson's Website Real Ballers Read website Real Ballers Read on Instagram --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/realballersread/support