Advertise on podcast: Back Issue

Written and narrated by award-winning author and Professor of African American Studies at Princeton University, Dr. Eddie S. Glaude, “History is US” is a 6-part audio documentary produced and developed by C13Originals that asks questions about who we are as a nation, and what race might reveal about our current crisis. Through the voices of distinguished historians and scholars, this limited series gives listeners the background and education to understand how we got here and how we can all use history to clarify the choices before us. There will always be something distinct about our present day, yet history haunts. “History is US” is a presentation of Shining City Audio, a C13Originals and Jon Meacham Studio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We did it, Joe! We made it to the end of year and not going to lie, 2021 had us in the first half…and maybe the second half, too. But, ’tis the season to reflect on all its ups and downs, and we’re coming at you with a once-in-a-2021 worldwide event—a special Back Issue bonus episode. Tracy and Josh look back at 2021 with their latest game “Was that This Year?,” and really put their pop culture knowledge and concepts of time to the test. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, we're popping back into your feeds to share an extra special episode from one of our favorite pop culture rewind podcasts: ''Okay Now Listen,' hosted by Scottie Beam and Sylvia Obell! On this episode, Scottie and Sylvia share the excitement of their new series  'Get You A Me," their brand new series on Netflix's 'Still Watching Netflix' YouTube channel. Then, they dive into all the baby mama drama in the air starting with the latest episode of ‘Insecure’ and ending with Summer Walker’s new album ‘Still Over It.’ After that, Scottie and Sylvia fan out over the greatness that is 'The Harder They Fall,' Netflix's new all-black Western film. Tune in for the thirst, the fashion, the violence, and some of their favorite scenes including the badass women-led fight scenes. Finally, they rate some of their favorite fighting scenes of all time where fierce women get to battle it out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In our final episode of Season Two, we had to “end” it just right, by doing what we do best— looking back at it (aye!) — so we’re backing thangs up with a conversation on booty. That’s right: Tracy and Josh are investigating the history and trends around round, plump posteriors, butts, dumps and humps. They invite writer and podcaster Nichole Perkins to help define terminology around Black women and girls’ bodies and sexual agency. We learn from author, professor and speaker Savala Nolan, who teaches us about the body as a site for learning. Finally, we witness wisdom in action, as we hear from Civil Rights activist, educator, poet and writer Nikki Giovanni, who shares her own body journey and some affirmations that we could all live by. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Racers, start your engines ‘cause this week’s maxi challenge is gonna leave you gagging (don’t worry; that’s a good thing). Josh and Tracy tackle the good, the bad, and the ooooh girl of RuPaul’s Drag Race, from favorite moments like Valentina’s prophetic mask and Trinity K. Bonet’s un-bey-lievable comeback, to concerning trends like how access to money and designers have become more important than talent on the show. And, because an episode about drag artists demands a sprinkle of EXTRA, Josh and Tracy are also debuting their own drag personas, Chaka Tom and Uncle Tracy. 💅💄💋 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, we’re taking a moment to breathe, shoop shoop, and exhale. Tracy and Josh explore mental health with our favorite therapist, Dr. Joy Harden Bradford of the Therapy for Black Girls podcast! With Dr. Joy’s guidance, our hosts tackle huge questions like: How do we take care of ourselves when it feels like The End Times™️? How do we bounce back from burnout? And how do we stop thinking of rest as something we need to earn? Grab your fluffiest pillow, ‘cause we’re all about to go lay down. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s game night, so get your "Draw 4" cards ready 'cause it's about to go down! Josh and Tracy invite the very special and highly competitive hosts of the For Colored Nerds podcast, Brittany Luse and Eric Eddings, to share their favorite game night memories, some game night horror stories, and play an original game Tracy invented called Aight Bet! Will they still be friends afterward? Gotta listen to find out! Then, Josh and Tracy talk to someone who makes games for a living, Teddy Philips, creator and developer of the mobile apps For the Culture and For La Cultura, who explains why game night is so vital to American Black culture, and why there’s a need for more games for us by us. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to the Fifty-Eleventh Back Issue Video Music Awards! Join Josh and Tracy as they honor their favorite music videos of the ‘90s and 2000s in categories you might expect (Most Iconic Look in a Music Video) and some you absolutely won’t (Best Use of Water in a Music Video & Best Music Video Sponsored by Old Navy). Spoiler alert: our Blifetime (nope, that’s not a typo) Award goes to THEE Director X, who’s worked with pretty much everybody, including Usher, Aaliyah, DMX, and Drake. He helps answer the questions: what makes a great music video and what does the future hold for the medium? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How did 9/11 the day become 9/11 the idea? That question drives award-winning host Dan Taberski (Missing Richard Simmons, Running From COPS, The Line) to shift his focus to what happened on 9/12, and every day after that. 9/12 is a poignant, surprising, and surprisingly funny seven episode series about people who wake up on 9/12 having to navigate a new, radically altered world. A teenager gets caught up in an out-of-control conspiracy theory that he helped start. A Pakistani business owner finds hundreds of his Brooklyn neighbors are disappearing. Joke-writers at The Onion must figure out just how soon is “too soon”? 9/12 asks what it all means. We know what happened on 9/11. But what happened on 9/12 to alter our memory and our perspective forever? Listen to 9/12: wondery.fm/9_12_BackIssue All seven episodes of 9/12 are available to stream now on Amazon Music or Wondery+. Episodes will release weekly everywhere starting September 8th. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Reality TV dating shows are a subgenre of “reality” that seem to get weirder by the year. Josh and Tracy have watched their fair share of trash reality TV but could never get into nor get the appeal of the most popular reality dating hell show franchise of all: The Bachelor and The Bachelorette. Why do shows like this exist and what keeps people coming back for 25 seasons straight? We’ll hear from Ali Barthwell, a writer for Last Week Tonight with John Oliver and Vulture Magazine’s Bachelor recap columnist, as she breaks it all down for us, and maybe convinces our hosts to join the Bachelor Nation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Glamour. Sass. Unadulterated talent. What makes a diva? Podcast divas of the universe Tracy and Josh go deep in their diva bags and unpack the origins and evolution of divas as well as the politics around diva-dom. They invite Wayne Isaak, former Executive Vice President of Music Programming and Talent for VH1 and Co-Producer of VH1’s Divas Live ’98 and ’99 to explain all things diva, and he gives the tea on what really happened behind the scenes between the ultimate diva/divo acts like Tina Turner, Elton John, Whitney Houston, and Aretha Franklin. Is a diva still a female version of a hustler or has it been reinvented? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Grab your sporks and your doggy bags! This week, Josh and Tracy dig in and dig deep about their mutual love of food and its way of connecting people, places, and stories. Joining them is founder of Herb ‘N’ Cooking and Food Network's "Chopped" finalist Chef Mustapha Abdul-Rahiim. He breaks down food’s ability to socialize us and its inherent connection to memory. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices