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Muni Long speaks with us today about the frequencies of creating and how she channels the lyrics for the music she writes; for others and now for herself. Long has spent the last decade writing for various artists from; Rihanna, Madonna, Ariana Grande, and many more. And is now fully standing in her artistry, releasing her new single, "Made For Me" Long has enough points on the board to now set a standard and hopefully a new precedent for all artists. She speaks with candid honesty about her boundaries in the industry. **Since October '23, "Made For Me" has climbed the charts reaching No. 1 at R&B Radio!! Connect: @CariChampion @MuniLong Learn More: MuniLong.com Listen:  Made For Me See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Isha Blaaker joins Naked today to discuss his background growing up in Suriname and the Netherlands, his aspirations in martial arts and modeling, and his transition to acting. He shares his experiences working on a Tyler Perry film and the growth he has seen in his acting skills. Isha also expresses the importance of the film 'Origin' in shedding light on racism and race relations. Isha opens up about his own experiences with racism in America and the challenges he has faced. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s a Super Bowl Edition on NAKED this week and Cari sits down with Kobe Turner, a nose tackle for the Los Angeles Rams, and Coach Michael Locksley, the president and founder of the National Coalition for Minority Football Coaches. Kobe discusses his love for music and his dream of becoming a high school choir director. Coach Locksley talks about the lack of minority head coaches in the NFL and the work his organization is doing to promote and prepare aspiring coaches. Both guests share their experiences and perspectives on the importance of character, familiarity, and third-party validation in the coaching industry. Connect: @CariChampion @KobieTurner @CoachLocks See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this conversation, Antonia Hylton discusses her book 'Madness: Race and Insanity in a Jim Crow Asylum' and the history of Crownsville, a mental facility for black patients during the Jim Crow era. The conversation covers the background of Antonia's interest in journalism and mental health, the discovery of Crownsville, the construction and operation of the facility, the treatment of patients, and the broader implications of Crownsville as a microcosm of American history. The conversation emphasizes the importance of understanding and sharing our history to address the challenges of mental health in present-day America. Connect:@CariChampion @AHylton26 Learn More: AntoniaHylton.com Order MADNESS the Book See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this conversation, Cheryl P. Williamson discusses the power of affirmations and the impact they can have on one's life. She shares her journey of using affirmations to overcome challenges and manifest her desires. Cheryl emphasizes the importance of self-love and the need to pour into oneself before pouring into others. She also talks about her writings, including her recently released book, “Affirmed Volume Two”. Connect: @CariChampion @CherylPWilliamson Learn More: CherylPWilliamson.com Read: Affirmed Volume Two See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this conversation, Chiké Okonkwo discusses his background as a Nigerian growing up in the UK, his journey to becoming an actor, and the challenges and triumphs he has faced in the industry. He reflects on the impact of the film 'The Birth of a Nation' and the importance of telling untold stories. Chiké also shares his experiences as a black man in America and the perseverance required in the acting profession. He discusses his voice acting work on the Calm app and the TV show 'La Brea,' where he explores his character's backstory. We also explore the importance of complex characters and the impact of historical work. He shares his favorite performances by Denzel Washington, Robert De Niro, Samuel L. Jackson, and Sidney Poitier. He also introduces us to his new venture as one of the founders of Mansa, a platform for curated black culture. Connect: @CariChampion @ChikeOkonkwo Subscribe: Cari Champion’s YouTube Channel Learn More: Mansa.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we celebrate award season, Wilson Morales joins us from BlackFilmandTV.com to discuss predictions and he offers a 101 on the overall award show selection process.  Connect: @CariChampion @WilsonMoralesFilm Let us know your Oscar favorites and why! @NakedwithCariChampion See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is Black Excellence a shield that protects us from scrutiny or attacks from extremist with subpar accusations that seemingly weigh heavier that our excellence by their accounts? Being great at doing what you do does not equate to an opportunity to continue to do so. Last week, Claudine Gay, the first black woman to hold the title of President of Harvard University in its 388 years history resigned or rather was forced to step down after being accused of plagiarism. Throughout countless occasions we can pinpoint circumstances where persons of color were forced to redirect their greatness or remove their excellence from the deemed goal, due to ill-intended persecution, is this another one of those scenarios? Learn More: Claudine Gay Connect: @CariChampion   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we embrace a new year, we are taking a moment to highlight some of our favorite episodes and we hope you are also reflecting on your accomplishments from 2023!  Happy New Year Champions!  Connect: @CariChampion  Visit: CariChampion.com   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today is a gift to filmmakers and anyone who has a vision for their goals. A masterclass coupled with an intimate backstory of how Deniese Davis became the Producer she is today. Davis is entering into 2024 with her new company, Reform Media Group, and a production deal with Tyler Perry Studios to start creating her first film. Based on her trajectory thus far and her work with Issa Rae, the next chapter will continue to inspire.  Connect: @CariChampion @MsDeniese Learn More: RMG x TPS Deal  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mitchell S. Jackson is a Pulitzer Prize-winning writer. His debut novel The Residue Years won a Whiting Award and The Ernest J. Gaines Prize for Literary Excellence. But well before his acclaimed career took flight; he wrote a feature on three athletes from his neighborhood who didn’t make it to the NBA. Now years later well into his acclaimed career, his latest book brings him full circle back to the beginning with, “Fly” a coffee table book that fuses fashion with basketball. Listen to the end to hear Cari and Mitchell discuss their favorite NBA player’s fashion choices. Connect: @CariChampion @MitchSJackson Learn More: MitchellSJackson.com FLY – The Big Book of Basketball Fashion Amazon | BOOKSHOP | B&N | POWELL’S | Apple See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Charmaine Wilkerson is the author of the New York Times Best-Selling novel, “Black Cake”. Wilkerson started her career as a journalist, but after finding more power in telling her truth through stories of fiction she started writing scenes and flash fiction stories; which led to her debut novel, Black Cake. Wilkerson’s voice and melodic speech will pull you in and offer an introduction to her eloquent approach to storytelling. Connect: @CariChampion @charmspen1 Learn More: CharmsPen.com Watch: Black Cake on Hulu Read: Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.