The Munsons welcome special guest Ed Chaja as we shine the spotlight on the eternally cool and effortlessly iconic Nia Long. From her early breakout roles in Boyz N the Hood and Friday to her unbelievable influence on pop culture—especially in music—Nia’s presence is undeniable. We marvel at her shockingly consistent audience scores, laugh at the clueless casting directors who once called her “too sophisticated” for certain roles, and celebrate how she’s always made sophistication look exactly right.

Her soulful turn in Love Jones reminds us she could have dominated the romantic drama genre as the rare unicorn who captivates both male and female audiences alike. We track her first crossover into mainstream Hollywood with Stigmata, recognize her as the first actor we’ve covered with a legitimate connection to the Willennium, and applaud her recent SKIMS campaign for nearly breaking the internet at age 54. And of course, we take a moment to call out just how much of an idiot Ime Udoka was for ever letting her go.

It’s a celebration of elegance, longevity, and straight-up star power—Nia Long deserves her flowers. How does she rank on the Munson Meter? Listen to find out.