Chew On This: Recent Episodes
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Have you ever debated a topic with family or friends but wished it would be discussed with a wider audience? Whether it's local, mainstream or controversial, we're your go-to podcast for thought provoking discussions!
Mason Greenwood was a young up & coming footballer who was making a name for himself at Man United football club over the last 2 seasons before a disturbing voice note of him allegedly being verbally aggressive and sexually forceful towards his partner was leaked on social media. This resulted in his arrest and his suspension from the club. But in February 2023 all charges were dropped. Chris Brown was charged in 2009 for his assault on his then girlfriend Rihanna - he went to plead guilty, completed 5 years of probation, community service as well as a domestic violence course. But this was 14 years ago - so why is he still being a associated with a single incident when he was just a young man? Should Man United sack Mason Greenwood due to public opinion? Why is society so selective when it comes to forgiveness?
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Rihanna graced the big stage for the first time in many years at Super Bowl 56 bringing together her unique style, a floating stage, dancers and performing a slew of her greatest hits but the big news of the night was that she did all that while pregnant with baby number 2. The legend that is Serena Williams won her 23rd Grand Slam title while 20 weeks pregnant. 2 different women, 2 different stages but both were pregnant! Should women still be able to compete or perform professionally while pregnant?
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Following the self recorded video of a young 18 year old lady from South London violently attacking another female peer and a Family in Epsom where the father murdered both his wife and child before ending his own life - in episode 65 we discuss the nuances of relationship violence between people to ask is this the behaviour of an unruly society or is there a direct link to the state of a persons mental health?
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A prenuptial agreement or prenup is a legal document signed by 2 people before they get married setting out each persons share of assets among other things. But why are prenups so controversial and why do women hate them? Doesn't it make sense to have your affairs in order incase something goes wrong in the relationship or is even the thought of a prenup a sign that you are preparing your relationship for failure? We discuss in episode 64.Join the conversation and don't for get to leave your comments.Subscribe to our YouTube channel @ChewOnThisLDN for all the latest episodesAlso find us on twitter and Instagram @ChewOnThisLDN
The internet and social media have brought society many things, some good, some bad and some in-between. In this episode we ask - 'Has porn ruined men and has feminism ruined women'?
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It is often said that men and women are treated differently when it comes to sex but how differently is always a hot topic of discussion. Does a woman's sexual body count matter? and if so why does it matter more than a man's?
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Award winning music producer turned rapper turned fashion icon Kanye West is in the spot light once again and once again its for all the wrong the reasons or so you might think. With his now familiar tirades against his ex wife Kim Kardashian, he has added the likes of Adidas and GAP to his list of frenemies. In one of his latest controversial stunts he decided it was a good idea to dress both himself and his models in 'White Lives Matter' T-shirts igniting an old social media debate on what the BLM movement was all about to begin with and whether or not those words should be taken so lightly by applying them to other races. But was this sequence of events down to the poor condition of YE's mental state or was it just a coincidence that he so happened to be releasing his latest line at paris fashion week and this stunt enabled him to became one of the most trending topics on social media which in-fact would make him a marketing genius? We discuss in episode 61.
Andrew Tate is the former kick boxing professional turned social media influencer has in recent times been cancelled. Although there is a case to be made regarding the impact of his cancellation on his freedom of speech that discussion is for another day. Today we discuss his controversial language and whether or not as an influencer with a large following he has a responsibility to his listeners to ensure that the message they receive from him is not left to interpretation simply because of the use of lazy language. If a man looks after a woman, by being her provider does this make her his property? we discuss in episode 60.
Given the history of male dominance of all things powerful, it may come as a surprise to some to know that the 3 longest serving monarchs in British history have all been women. But no one has rocked that throne like Queen Elizabeth II aka Queen Lizzy or is expected to ever do so again. For 70 years Queen Elizabeth has performed her duty as head of state of the UK with the upmost focus on service and duty. For most of us she is the only monarch we've ever known since she has been present for most the major events over the last nearly 100 years. As head of state she has appointed 15 Prime Ministers from the giant that was Winston Churchill to the current and 3rd female prime minster Liz Truss. She both witnessed and served during World War 2, was present during the UK joining of the European Union, 911, Brexit, Covid-Pandemic and many more historic events in-between. But it hasn't always been smooth sailing during her reign - the loss of princess Diana had a major negative impact on the royal family and the recent family drama with Prince Harry and Meghan Markel as well as that of her favourite son prince Andrew only added to that strain. Her successor prince Charles now takes on the reigns as King Charles III, how long he will reign and whether the royal family continues over the coming generations we do not know. But whether you loved her or loathed her for whatever reason, what can't be denied is that for 70 years she has been the constant that we've all come to know and her exit from the big stage will leave some vary big shoes to fill as her commitment to public duty was unparalleled. So join us in the episode where we discuss the end of the 2nd Elizabethan Era.
After years of protests and rebellious acts of militancy by women in the UK, the Equal Franchise Act of 1928 finally allowed women over 21 to achieve the same voting rights as men. The Equality Act of 2010 gave both women and men the right to equal pay for equal work, with women and men being legally entitled to be paid at the same rate for similar work and work of equal value. With all this said in 2022 it could be argued that not much has changed when it comes to women's equality and they are still under valued and underpaid when compared to their male equivalent. Despite the slow change, it is believed by some men that women are changing tact and are now focusing on attaining positions of power such as CEOs or board member seats in order to amplify their influence over men. And to some men this is proof that the feminist movement is no longer interested in seeking equality with their male counterparts but instead seeks to be superior. But are these concerns well founded or do they simply represent the thoughts of men who are used to it being solely a man's world and are just in fear of becoming redundant? We discuss in episode 58.
Roe vs Wade was a landmark legal ruling by the US supreme court essentially enshrining a woman's choice to have or not have an abortion as a fundamental right. On 24 June 2022 the US supreme not only revisited the initial ruling but over ruled the judgement essentially removing this right and protection from all women across the country. It is no secret that some states have been ready to immediately criminalise abortion as soon as this ruling came to pass. But what is the fundamental question? Many women believe that when it comes to pregnancy it is a woman's body and so it should be her right to choose whether or not to have the child, while others would argue that there is the life of the child to consider and that should be prioritised as it is defenceless. 6 out of the 9 judges were men and so it is not suprising that this ruling went against the 3 women's wishes. Should men have a say on a woman's pregnancy decision? And where does morality fit in all of this? We discuss all this and more in Episode 57.
When it comes to relationships - Whats the difference between settling and compromising? Have you compromised to be with your partner or did you settle because it could be worse? It could be said that how much a man or woman compromises depends on an individuals age and their stage in life. The older a man gets the less reason he has to compromise because he could always date younger ladies while having a successful career. The older a woman gets the more she is willing to compromise because she is on the clock. But are either of these true? we discuss in Episode 56.
So summer is finally here and the holiday season is upon us which inevitably means its the time for lads holidays. But it could be said by some of the female camp that lads holidays are bad news especially for their relationship but what is there to fear and is this perception of an all boys trip misplaced. What about an all girls trip - should it be just as concerning or is this a case of men are bad, women are good, men can't be trusted but women are trustworthy? We discuss in episode 55!
Society often depicts men as being consistently strong, reliable and devoid of emotion. One of the major downsides to this unhealthy level of expectations is mens in ability to communicate their emotions. It is a taboo for men to be seen to be crying by women especially by their partner. But what derives this stereotype and what if anything can be done to change it? Should men be able to cry and express their emotions as freely as women with out it being considered a sign of weakness or would such a change shatter the centuries old held belief of a mans worth in providing strength and security to his family. We discuss in episode 54.
Following the sudden death of social media self-help coach Kevin Samuels - the internet has been alive with chatter. To some (mainly men) he was a hero who spoke the truths to women that wouldn't otherwise be said and which they didn't want to her but to others (mainly women) he was a patronising, misogynistic bully. I am sure the truth is in the middle somewhere. Some have argued that he was a man for the people - his people who believed in building up the black family and empowering it to be great. Others would say he thrived on putting down black women publicly and making them feel lesser than their white counter parts. The controversial black coach has now passed and while some moan his death, others have shown jubilation - but what was his legacy and what of his message? If you looked yourself in the mirror - how do you rate yourself?
The actor Jonny Depp has recently taken his ex wife Amber Heard to court for defamation. The case was brought because Mr Depp believes that Amber wrote an article that deliberately portrayed him as a domestic abuser even though the article did not mention him by name. During the trial Mr Depp has gone on to allege that it was in fact Miss Heard that was the domestic abuser and that he was the victim for many years. When Jonny revealed that Amber had once laid hands on him, her rebuttal was that this couldn't be considered in the same way as he is a man so any punches or hits she may have inflicted wouldn't of hurt him because he is a man. But what of this notion that when a woman hits a man, a man should show restraint and not hit back? Should the legal ramification physical abuse be the same for both men and women or should the differences in gender play a definitive role in determining who was at fault? Lastly is domestic violence against men taken seriously enough? we discuss in Episode 52.
Toby Obumseli a 27 year old black man from Texas was recently pronounced dead after being fatally stabbed by his girlfriend instagram influencer Courtney Taylor Clenney while at an apartment block in Miami. The death of Toby has shocked many women in the black community but it could be said for all the wrong reasons. See Courtney, who is a white woman, has not been charged with this murder and in fact was spotted out drinking at a bar a few days after the incident when most people would be in jail. But soon after this story came to light and the black community was starting to galvanise in order to seek justice for Toby, it was revealed via the exposure of previous social media posts and videos that he in fact had a distaste for black people...especially black women but was very complimentary of white women which he sought in the shape of Courtney Taylor. Interestingly his bother has since released a statement requesting assistance from the same black community for justice but with these tweets about his own black people making for some interesting reading to most, the movement has since tapped out and the black women have overwhelmingly indicated that this is not their fight and that he has in fact made his bed. But should an individuals self hate over shadow the need for a united front to seek justice especially when it comes to the death of someone from the black community? we discuss in Episode 51.
Who is SOJA you ask.... I've never heard of them either...that is until the all male white band with dreads from Arlington - Virginia won a grammy for best reggae album this year beating out the likes of Sean Paul and Spice in the category. Was this award deserved? Does it matter that they are not from the islands? Since the beauty of music is its ability to unify - should music awards also be colour blind? I don't have the answers but we discuss this and more in Episode 50.
The Oscars 2022 - I know, like me, you had no idea it was even on - so when them messages started flying into the group chats in the early hours of GMT and you quickly went to social media to verify, it soon became apparent that it wasn't all a dream. Yes the world famous MIB agent Will Smith wasn't feeling too fresh after host Chris Rock made a GI Jane joke at his wife expense. To Smith the joke was so distasteful that he channelled his inner badboy and decided to walk on stage and slap any further jokes straight out of Chris Rocks mouth. But was he justified in his actions or is there never an acceptable reason to lay hands on a man for saying words you may find uncomfortable...even if it is in defence of your wife? As for the joke, how far is too far and should comedians have boundaries when it comes to their craft or are we all just a little too sensitive now days?
Topboy season 2 has just dropped on Netflix and as you would expect it has gotten a lot of attention and fanfare not least because it was being promoted by the likes of Drake and Lebron James but what of the content and story line? The black movie & tv industry in the US has matured in the years it has been active and has given us a variety of different classics from Friday to Love and Basketball. The UK scene on the other hand seems to be just getting started but with every other movie following the Gangs, Drugs and Violence formula - are the black directors and script writers in the UK scene simply choosing to refight the battles already fought by their US counter parts or are they producing such films because their investors want a return and this is a tried and tested formula? Given the cultural stereotypes that already exist in UK society what responsibilities if any do directors, script writes and all those behind the camera have to fix the image of black culture in the UK movie industry?
Relationships can be difficult at the best of times but things often get more complicated when they breakdown and one or both individuals for whatever reason decide they are better off apart. It could be said that from the ashes of the romantic relationship, there lies an opportunity to build a whole new one around friendship if you both so choose. But society dictates that this is a taboo and couples who separate have no business been friends because there's simply nothing left to talk about. But is this bitterness or insecurity speaking and what does the role of time play if any? we discuss in Episode 47.
In the world of social media, DMs and emoji's it is clear to say flirtation has evolved but in the sexually explicit time that we are in how far is too far? And what does the 🍆 and 😈 emoji’s mean to you?
Despite numerous denials by the Russian government of any plans to invade Ukraine - War has now been brought onto the people of Ukraine. Amid the sudden chaos families and people of all ages, races and creeds have been forced to flee towards western borders. What is Putin's plan - to liberate the Ukrainian people from what western officials would say is a democratically elected government. But how did we get here? And through complacency have western nations taken peace on the European continent for granted for too long. And lastly there are wide spread reports of some members of the Ukrainian law enforcement that is prioritising Ukrainian and European citizen on available transport while discriminating against black people who are also fleeing the conflict. Is this the reality of war or is this out and out racism? We discuss in episode 45.
In a recent episode of channel 4's show unapologetic hosted by Yinka Bokinni and ZeZe Millz they discussed cultural appropriation with a few guests including a white comedian who goes by the name of White Yardie. It quickly became apparent to some by the tone of questioning that his Jamaican cultural upbringing put him at odds with the expected stereotypes of what a white male should act and sound like. Needless to say the controversy soon caught the attention of the social media and a big debate opened up. Where does nationality start and culture begin? Given the level of ignorance between the 2, what role if any does history play in the conflation of this understanding and in a similar way to racism, should cultural ignorance be treated with zero tolerance? We discuss in episode 44.
Following the latest drama between Dani Leigh and her on/off boyfriend hiphop bad boy DaBaby where he supposedly kicked her out his house live on IG and called the police to report that she assaulted him again live on social media - we look at this situation and ask what if. What if she didn't have a baby with a man with a not so suitable track record or credentials that would make for a good baby father? Fact...Men bare equal responsibility for the making of a child period…but what responsibility if any do women have for choosing to have a child with a men whose credentials or track record make them obviously unsuitable to be good partners or fathers? Also in 2021 there are have various forms of contraception but is it wrong for the morning after pill or an abortion to be seen as equally viable options to manage unplanned parenthood?
Will & Jada Smith are 26 years deep in marriage and their relationship has always been in the spotlight for one reason or another. In recent times though it has been Jada making the headlines - first with her entanglement with the young RnB singer August Alsina and more recently on the latest episode of her red table talk show she highlights what appears to be the difficulty she experienced in been sexually satisfied by her husband and the importance of sexual communication. Needless to say the internet went gone wild & has seen this as yet another shot at Will Smiths manhood. But why is talking sex still such a taboo and do men struggle to communicate in this space because of male pride or fear of being seen as unmanly? We discuss in episode 42.
Dave Chapelle's latest Netflix special 'The Closer' continues his much familiar pattern of highlighting what could be considered to be the double standards and intolerance of some in the LGBTQ+ community. True to form there have been calls from many from the LGBTQ+ community for the show to be removed as it is deemed offensive and alleges that it encourages the persecution of its members. Although so far Netflix is standing firm against this pressure, there is a legitimate discussion to be had about how to balance freedom of speech, freedom of opinion and freedom of expression in society with so many competing interests, so has society become too sensitive that no one should feel offended? Also following the recent murder of MP David Amess during his Friday surgery in his constituency and the lengths protestors appear to be going to in order to make their voices or political points heard, we explore whether society has also become more extreme, what this means for tolerance and what if anything is the solution.
Ex Little Mix star Jesy Nelson has recently dropped the visuals for her new single Boyz featuring Nicki Minaj with guest appearance from Diddy. The single is what some would consider to be a modern female version of P.Diddy's original song 'Bad Boy 4 Life'. Now with this release came the controversy of Jesy's appearance where as a white woman in this video she appears to presented herself as having darker skin in addition to dressing like and acting with the characteristics of a black woman. But you could argue that by participating both Nicki and Diddy signed off so there's no reason to question her intentions. So is this Jesy showing her appreciation of for the culture or is this a blatant 2021 example of black fishing?
Facebooks down, Instagrams down, WhatsApp is down - was I stressed out yes and so were you and the millions of other users around the world. For something that we don't pay for it sure felt like they were providing a crappy service and to top it all off there was no adjudicator to complain to. But if you was raised in the 90s even up to the 2000s, you would be familiar with sudden power cuts because the electric key needs charging or even mobile services falling over something that would probably put generation xyz into a coma. But isn't it the truth that we are all just spoilt because after all these are first world problems?
Its September 2021 and we've all just had a summer when the sun wasn't sunning. So at this point you would imagine...typical Britain with the crappy whether..No surprises there then. Then out of no where BOOM, a petrol crisis triggered by a leak that stated some forecourts might not be able to be supplied with fuel under the usual schedule due to a shortage of HGV drivers. 24 Hrs later some not so clever people understood the message to mean go out and top up on fuel that you don't need in case you need it and so the queues at petrol stations start to build up and with the assistance of social media this interpretation of the original message spreads like wild fire and now we have panic buying. So to assist with messaging the government got involved to ensure that if there wasn't enough panic before, they will create it by stating ever so calmly - "Don't Panic" and the rest is history. The B word has been used to explain the cause of the madness and at the point of writing it is clear that the government hasn't got a clue. So what is the real problem? is this because of Brexit, the pandemic backlog of HGV driving licences or simply stupidity? we discuss in episode 38.
Since the vegan brigade started a few years back it could be said that some of those that follow the "lifestyle" have developed a superiority complex and always seem eager to inform you on how terrible you are for eating meat... but despite their methods do they have a point and are we simply being selfish for continuing the way we consume food knowing what we know now? and how about the climate, what percentage of responsibility should the consumer have when compared to the government and product manufactures? And all these environmental protesters why don't they ever go directly to the producers of the products e.g. car manufactures or plastic bag factories or better yet No.10 Downing street and glue themselves to their doors or is public inconvenience the price ordinary people have to pay for change - even when they don't know how much it will benefit them in the long run? We discuss all this in episode 37.
Is it possible for a woman to simply love the man in front of them or does a woman's love come with strings attached? Lock down has ended and everyone out out but women often be complaining about the way men approach them which often results in aggressive behaviour from the guy feeling rejected - Have men lost their game and if so who's fault is it? Lastly when picking your partner what's more important to you, looks or personality? Join the discussion in episode 36.
So Cheryl Cole has been given a new podcast by the BBC to discuss "RnB" from her perspective. Now it doesn't sound like there should be an issue with this but there is as I am sure you can imagine most people are finding it difficult to understand how the BBC thought that Coles experience of RnB warranted its own podcast over other probably more suitable contenders. Piers Morgan was cleared of any offence by Offcom for his comments on Megan Markles mental health with them concluding that his views are protected by freedom of speech but the question now is, doest that same freedom apply to everyone else? We discuss in Episode 35.
Is it wrong to still listen to R.Kelly? Should his music catalogue be removed from streaming services? In this episode we look at the morality of industries and people to try understand how the abuse by R. Kelly and Harvey Weinstein went undetected and what role if any communities, industries and generally those with vested interests had to play. We also touch on the new rules of engagement when it comes to men courting their female counter part and are the old skool ways confined to history or are we just over complicating the concept of respect which should be common sense?
Following the end of lock down, the social calendar has been getting back to some sort of normal and some of us have been embracing the much missed freedom of linking up with friends and having a night out. But what of the experience? It is said that a lot of the black raving scene focuses too much on showing off of cars, designer clothes and whatever other accessory is the in thing at the time and as such this almost almost self important VIP image that many ravers now strive for has ruined the scene and is killing the vibe. But how true is this and what is the solution? We discuss in Episode 33.
Following recent scenes from this years Love Island of contestant Faye (female) shouting abuse and throwing F bombs at what appeared to be a very much defenceless Teddy (male), ITV seems to have taken the view that this sort of behaviour was perfectly suitable and should simply be viewed in the context of entertainment. But what if the roles were reversed and it was in fact the man doing the abusing, would they have taken the same accommodating approach or would Teddy be out on his ear? Also why is it that women can text each other love hearts, kisses and hugs to express the importance of their friendships but men cringe at the thought of giving out or receiving such expressions from their male friends and automatically pre-empt any attempt to associate their words or expressions with anything homosexual by saying "No Homo". Guys whats wrong with telling your close male friends that you love them? We discuss in episode 32.
Da Baby made what some would consider to be controversial comments regarding HIV/AIDs that were immediately portrayed as being aimed at the LGBTQ+ community although Da Baby has denied any targeting of that community. For those who love, know and understand the culture they would see his comments at the very worst as ignorant while others will simply make the point that a hiphop/rap artist isn't the best person to look to for an education of anything sensitive. In recent years cancel culture has had its way with various people with varying degrees of fame but is it the answer to the question of people power or is it a misguided tool that will one day be turned on those same people who strongly advocate for it to day? And what about the brands that jump on the bandwagon but releasing statements of morality while dropping any association with the said artist/celebrity, are they right to cut ties or are they selectivity moral when it suites them and so should also be punished? we discuss in episode 31.
July 19th 2021 is officially "Freedom Day" in the UK i.e. it is the day that all remaining legally binding government restrictions have been dissolved. This includes things such as mandatory mask wearing and social distance measures in public venues including pubs, bars and theatres etc. But on this same day the government is reporting that between 40-50k people are testing positive for the COVID-19 although this high infection rate is countered by the very low death rate of 19 reported deaths at the point of writing. So is freedom day a good idea or are we heading for another autumn/winter disaster? And if you think its a bad idea, what does a good idea look like given that all the vulnerable groups have now been vaccinated and vaccination was always plan A...what is your plan B and how do we get back to some sort of normal? Lastly would you take the Jab if it is made compulsory in order to do any of the social activities you enjoy? We discuss in Episode 30.
Having captured the hearts and minds of the nation, the England team faced their toughest challenge yet meeting Italy in the european cup final at Wembley and after a penalty shootout they unfortunately fell just short of glory. Rashford, Sancho and 19 year old Saka all missed their penalties and as black players have since been the victims of vile racist abuse throughout social media as if England were ever good at penalties. The social media giants trot out the same old message as always and our leaders sprout the same meaningless slogans of pretend disgust but take no affirmative actions. A recent sky sports survey found that 91% of people thought that football was racist. So what is the solution to this age old problem of racism in the english game and would you consider yourself as English or British? We discuss in episode 29.
Love Island is back on our screens and as usual there is the same questions being asked about the prospects for the women of colour on the show but especially the black women. Not only are they picked last but there chances of winning such a show seem to diminish by the hour. This is made worse by the fact that they find themselves not being the option of choice not only for the white guys which you could argue is understandable but also by there black male counter parts who tend to select either the white or lighter skinned females on the show. So is love island a setup and does it do black women a disservice that not only enforces widely held stereotypes but also impacts the confidence of the many women out there with dark skin and black features or is it that the shows selection of black women are just not fit for purpose in a competitive environment. We discuss in Episode 28.
Following the exposure of Matt Hancock (The ex Health Secretary) and his aid Gina colangelo affair, in this episode we delve into cheating. A recent report suggested that 25% of men admit to cheating compared to 18% of women. But when we look in the work place, nearly 40% of women admit to having an affair compared to 31% of men. Based on these statistics there is no doubt but both men and women cheat almost equally as much but women are most stigmatised, so so we ask the question - Does society allow men to cheat? and for those women with the confidence to own the number of men they've bagged - is ratchet the new normal?
The rapid growth of social media has for many created plenty of new opportunities to make a buck or 2. The rise of social media has also enabled the centre of gravity to shift away from the traditional methods of advertising via well established Hollywood celebrities and footballers and towards what some would say is your common man/woman also known in social media lingo as the influencer. This influencer can literally be anyone with a platform and a wide following and to some this has become the career path of choice for the current generation. But is being an influencer a genuine alternative to a traditional career and with it being an unregulated profession is there more responsibility on influencers to be content conscious towards the many vulnerable followers on their platform. We discuss in Episode 26.
Oscars, Grammy's, BAFTAs, Golden Globes and so on, all have one thing in common and that's their lack of diversity and in recent years pressure has been growing on them by those who have felt most overlooked, cheated and discriminated against for there to be change or outright boycotts. But in the age of the internet and social media where users clicks and likes are king are these mainstream awards still relevant when determining who is the best from films to music or is it time for move past the old way and create new awards that better reflect the views and thoughts of streets through such platforms such as GRM awards, YouTube awards, UKE Awards and others. We discuss in Episode 25.
In recent times Dr Umar Johnson and Kevin Samuels have come to be known as 2 of the most controversial figures within the black community. While Johnson is very much pro black everything to the point it could be viewed by some as extreme, some believe Samuels creates the impression that dark skin women are not good enough and they seem to fare badly in his grading system which he portrays as facts - but is this true? Lastly and most interestingly, Dr Umar Johnson believes that interracial relationships are killing black families, but should colour matter when it comes to love? We discuss all this and more in episode 24.
May 2021 saw yet another iteration of the historical conflict between Israel and Palestine although it could be argued that it is in fact a conflict between Israel and Hamas with the citizens on both sides simply being collateral damage. At the time of recording this, it is reported that the total number of civilian deaths stand at 213 Palestinians and 12 Israelis. From land disputes to blockades, rocket fire to missile strikes, this conflict continues to be seen through the lens of political advantage and not human suffering and it can be argued that it is all the fault of the British and the legacy of their empire. So in episode 23 we discuss some of the history that has fuelled this conflict and understand the role the British government played and what responsibility if any they have to come up with a viable solution. Additionally we have a look at some of the perceived barriers people tend believe exist when seen to be critiquing Israeli government actions compared to the free thinking criticisms that can be levelled at other regimes around the world
Couples therapy is not common place in black or ethnic minority communities and if it is, it is very much kept on the hush hush. Blue Therapy is a YouTube mini series where couples share their journey with a therapist and in episode 22 we discuss some of our findings and overservations of those involved. We also ask the question - if there are fundamental difference in expectations, is there room for compromise or should both parties go their separate ways and find the match that can meet their individual expectations?
Well known for his ground breaking films, Kidulthood, Adulthood and Brotherhood, Noel Clarke is a very well known director and script writer in the UK movie space. He has broken down barriers and his work has influenced other top productions such TopBoy. The recognition for his contribution to the arts came in the form of BAFTA which he won in April, but also in this same month 20 women are reported by the Guardian to have come forward to accuse him of committing various sexual crimes and bullying. He has since been cancelled and BAFTA revoked but no charges have been made. So in episode 21 we discuss Noel Clarke and explore whether trial by media is right way to deal with such sensitive matters.
Man United, Chelsea, Man City, Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham have joined other top teams from Spain and Italy to form a new competition called the super league. It is proposed that as the founding teams these clubs could never be relegated from the competition and of course they would also get the lions share of any profits. It is not an understatement to say that this proposal has caused an earthquake like response from the footballing community, with fans and both national and international regulators strongly apposing the move and threatening sanctions including banning those teams from other competitions like the Champions League and their players from representing their countries internationally. In Episode 20 we discuss the new proposal and try to explore whether there is any merit in the new competition or whether these clubs are simply acting in their own self interest without a care for the beautiful game and driven purely by greed
Figures from the Office For National Statistics (ONS) indictate that in 2019 there were 2.9m single parent households in the UK, with women making up 90% of all single parents. When these figures are broken down by race, black families make up the highest proportion of single parent households in the UK at 24% with white and asian families coming in at 10% and 8% respectively. With the figures in black families being more than double their white and asian counter parts, in episode 19 we discuss the possible causes for this large disparity and given that women easily make up the largest percentage of single parent households we explore whether there is any merit in laying the blame squarely with the decisions made by black women or whether it is in fact black men that are not stepping up to their responsibilities.
Derrick Jaxn is a well known social media personality that has built a platform focusing on female self-love and is well known for his harsh criticisms of male cheaters. With 700k YouTube subscribers and over 1.3 million Instagram followers it is safe say that he had built a branded trusted by its female audience. So the shock that Mr Jaxn has not been practicing what he has been preaching has angered many of his followers but the exposure of his transrations has afforded him additional publicity. Then there is Lil Nas X, a now well known musician who has released his latest music video 'Montero' where his depiction of his time with the devil has raised many eye brows amongst his many supporters. Additionally he released a pair of nike trainers that carried the theme for his music video along with reportedly an added drop of blood. On release the trainers had sold out within 1 minute. In episode 18 we discuss the actions of both of these characters and try to understand the impact they have on their followers and whether chasing clout at any cost is the new normal.
Male suicide is something not often spoken about but has been on the increase in recent years. Statistics indicate that the current rate of male suicide in the UK stands at 16.9 deaths per 100,000 people. In this episode we explore the possible causes of this increase and try to understand whether there is a relationship between the divergence of the traditional gender roles and societies traditional definition of masculinity and the possible pressure this divergence has on mans self worth in 2021.
Following the tragic death of Sarah Everard and all the events that followed there has been a spotlight shone on the continued sexual assault and violence against women. Official figures indicate that 97% of women between the ages of 18 and 24 have been sexually assaulted while prosecutions for rape are at an all time low. In Episode 16 we explore the media response to this recent tragedy, delve into some of the experiences of our female panelists, discuss what needs to change in order to support women and how to hold to account male perpetrators in order to increase the confidence women have in their own safety.
In episode 15 we discuss Harry and Meghan's exposure of the Royal family in their now famous interview with Oprah. Since Meghan's arrival into the fold, she has experienced some of the worst abuse of any royal by the media and has never felt protected. With Harry being financially exiled from his family, proposals to amend decades old conventions, removal of titles and the racially charged concern of the possible colour of their unborn son's complexion, in this episode we take a deep dive into whether the Royal family is in fact racist?
In Episode 14 we dive into the world of OnlyFans. Brought to prominence by the effects of the pandemic, the sex industry (mainly in the US) sought to diversify its income stream by allowing subscribers to continue to directly enjoy explicit content for a fee. The success of this approach, soon become popular with celebrities and the average social media influencers alike all chasing that easy money and showing anything from private parts to pictures of their feet to secure the bag...But would you do it?
Episode 13, we discuss the origins of some of our well known annual celebrations, Christmas, Easter, Halloween and even Valentines day. There is nothing wrong with the evolution of a celebration but there is always the danger that the original message may become distorted. Valentines day is a celebration of love but can we truly say that in the age of commercialisation, consumerism and social media that love is still the reason we celebrate it or is it more accurate to say that it is driven by the desire of singletons and couples alike not to be excluded from that specific celebration on that specific day?
In episode 12, we look at events throughout the pandemic, from clapping for the NHS to whether or not to wear masks or even take the COVID-19 vaccine. And of course we can't ignore the Facebook/WhatsApp privacy scandal which prompted many users to move to other platforms such as Signal and Telegram. Have we become a society that suffers from group think, simply doing what we are told or what we a prompted to do without any desire to think for ourselves? Are you a Sheep or a Shepherd?
Society is in a super charged consumer culture, where short term satisfaction supersedes any long term planning. This phenomenon is also reflected in the dating scene, with apps like Hinge, Tinder and sliding into the DMs representing the modern day method of meeting your potential future partner. So in episode 11 we look at the dating scene and explore whether the changes in traditional roles of males and females has impacted the caliber of candidates out there for would be suiters?
In episode 10, we discuss the weeks events - Dani Leigh released her latest single Yellow Bone which some consider controversially set out to imply that men prefer her because of her lighter skin tone. We also dive into the Rick Ross audition clip where 2 female singers sang to the same song and although it appeared to most that the darker skinned woman had the best vocals on the track it was in fact the lighter skinned woman who got the more positive reaction. So we going to explore HipHops relationship with colourism and who should bear the brunt of the female backlash?
To the likely satisfaction of many and following the invasion of the US capitol building by rioters, the beginning of 2021 saw social media giants Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and SnapChat block all of trumps accounts essentially silencing him on all major digital platforms. In this episode we explore whether this decision was rightly justified for the public good or whether it is the first major step in the justification of censorship of free speech by social media platforms?
In this episode we explore the drivers behind the modern day Roadman. Although it is not a new phenomenon the introduction of social media has made it a well recognised lifestyle that seems to appeal and draw in many young people. So we ask the question is it situational circumstances that have moulded these characters or were they born with attributes that make them a natural fit for the Roadman lifestyle?
In episode 7 we explore the government response to COVID-19 including the use of daily death figures, behavioural science and the role of the media in how it distributes information and government guidance
In episode 6 we are joined by special guests OT, Yomi, Martha and Lloyd on the floating chairs to discuss the purpose of Black History Month and try to understand whether since its UK introduction in 1987, it has been of value or more of a hinderance to the movement. Additionally we explore whether the word Black is in fact used to bury the individual history of africans and Caribbean's alike.
In episode 5 we are once again joined by special guests Kay and Martha on the floating chairs and we explore the compulsory teaching of LGBTQ relationships introduced into the national curriculum for both primary and secondary schools in the UK, gender identity issues amongst young children and societies contribution to toxic masculinity
Join myself Mr Kigs, H and Vinnie along with our floating chair guests Kay and Martha in episode 4 where we explore whether Adele was cultural appropriating in her carnival outfit, has the BLM movement been highjacked and whether we need a block party?
Topic: In this episode we discuss the Black Pound and explore reasons as to why it is a challenge to keep it within the black community. To get a first hand account of the difficulties faced by black businesses in attracting and maintaining customers from their own community we are joined by 5 special guests who have each been running their own businesses for a number of years. Our guest Janine is the owner of a mobile beautician business (IG: @comfortsbeauty), Rayo - runs a unique character brand celebrating diversity (IG: @mylela_com), Chantelle is the owner of an online children's boutique (IG: @boldbelles), Osman - heads his own wedding photography business (IG: @wolfshootsweddings) and finally Jermaine, whose business specialises in personal training (IG: @bodywisetraining)
Topic: In this episode we discuss the impact on race relations brought on by the tragic death of George Floyd. We also explore the role of the media in race relations and try to understand whether the likes of Colin Kaepernick and Kanye West deserved more support for their own stances against systematic racism and police brutality than they received in the past. To get an insight on the feelings of African-Americans at this time, we are joined by 2 US guests, Maame-yaa a young media director from Minneapolis (Insta:@yaamaams) & Will an entrepreneur from Washington D.C.
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In this episode we are joined by a London based NHS professional of 10 years - Dr Stanley, who gives us a detailed account of daily life on the front line and how this has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic