...But Make It Books

Join Niccara as she welcomes a fellow Black book influencer, Lakia Barr at Kia's Korner who mission is focused on how to get people excited about reading, and increasing the visibility and support for Black authors and Black books. In this conversation, we talk hidden truths we find in the pages of our favorite reads, self discovery through literature, and how books have a way to bring squared wit...

Join Niccara as she welcomes a fellow Black book influencer, Alexis Milton at Lex Reads who is a passionate literary advocate dedicated to amplifying Black voices in literature. In this conversation, we talk finding home in the pages of our favorite novels as well as community amongst other bookish folks and nurturing the wells of our communities where we are. If you want to find out how to build...

Join host Niccara as she welcomes the powerful bicoastal friend duo, Sujeiry Gonzalez and Krista Purnell, of Corner of Press as they continue to pioneer the romance genre for women of color. In this conversation, we talk about our favorite tropes, friendship in unlikely places, and how bar conversations can spark big ideas. Romance lovers this is for you but for anyone with big dreams and bigger h...

Join host Niccara as she welcomes Baltimore native, author and publisher, MultiMind to "...But Make It Books." In this conversation, Niccara and MultiMind dive into her love of fountain pens, traveling, creating and owning your own vision and path and how everything you do in life can lead you to your purpose.  With candid reflections on independent publishing, charting your own path, and the...

Join host Niccara as she welcomes acclaimed multi-hyphenate creative force Felicia Pride to "...But Make It Books." In this conversation, Pride discusses her remarkable journey from literature lover to award-winning filmmaker, TV writer, and founder of HONEY CHILE, her production company dedicated to Black women 40+. Pride, whose impressive credits include writing for "Queen Sugar," "Grey's Anatom...

Join Niccara as she delves in with LaDarrion Williams, author of "Blood at the Root" to discuss all things magic, Black people, Black life, and the trusting in your own magic even when you are in doubt. As always, rate, subscribe, and review us wherever you are listening. Follow us at: @butmakeitbookspod @thebookishhottie

We are circling back to come our favorite theme: manhood, fatherhood, and entertainment surrounding Will Smith's autobiography "Will". As always, rate, subscribe, and review us wherever you are listening.   Check out our bookish partner over at Charm City Books! Follow us at: @butmakeitbookspod @thebookishhottie @b_rad.books  

Happy New Year, Family! We are jumping back into the New Year with THE Jada Pinkett Smith's memoir, 'Worthy'. We are talking about the definition of worthy to us, what we received from her and the pages of her vulnerability, and so much more.  As always, rate, subscribe, and review us wherever you are listening. Check out our bookish partner over at Charm City Books! Follow us at: @butmakeitbooksp...

In this episode, we are doing something new here at BMIB called "Pound for Pound" where Niccara and Brandon give out their suggested recommendations to the other. This episode is centered on Jason Reynolds "Stuntboy, in the Meantime" and the need to read cross generationally, how children are always watching, and what we can learn from them. As always, rate, subscribe, and review. Check out our bo...

In this episode, we are doing something new here at BMIB called "Pound for Pound" where Niccara and Brandon give out their suggested recommendations to the other. This episode is centered on Jason Reynolds "Twenty-Four Seconds from Now...: A LOVE Story" and how can get more young boys to read, the need for more young Black love stories from the male perspective, and so much more.    As always, rat...

Following Brandon and Niccara as they discuss Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead, the soon to be film coming to the silver screen. Delve in as we discuss the topics of today as well as the  idealism and survivors’ remorse and all the ways we discover ourselves.    Books Discussed: Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead    Check out the visual discussion here:  Get any books discussed here: www.charmcitybook...

In this special live episode, co-host Brandon goes producer mode behind the camera with our audio engineer, Donte at The Trap Factory for a special interview with Niccara and author and Afro Minimalist, Christine Platt . Dive in as we talk about the generational need for ownership, silent identity markers and living for you.   Live taping took place at Charm City Books in Baltimore MD  Pick up you...

Join Brandon and Niccara for special live episode with the plant guru Hilton Carter at the annual Baltimore Book Fest! We talk everything from plants, life, difference between a play with a music and a musical, and the brilliance that is Max Martin.    Dive into another great episode! Grab Hilton's latest book "The Propagation Handbook"   We can only grow us much as you allow. Rate/Review & Sh...

Authenticity and cultural appropriation... but make it books with Yellowface by R.F. Kuang.   Tap in with Brandon and Niccara as they explore all the themes and nuisances in Kuang's work Yellowface. What is authenticity? Who owns what and how do we decide?   Get any books discussed here: www.charmcitybooks.com (http://www.charmcitybooks.com/)   Don't forget to rate, review, subscribe and share !  ...

Welcome backkkkk to a new season of …But Make It Books! Join Niccara and Brandon as they get back into the groove discussing everything from what they did with their break, what books they are loving, what chapter of this life is called and more.    Get any books discussed here: www.charmcitybooks.com   Thank you for listening and sharing!

Loving the return of another episode of…But Make it Books! Join Niccara and Brandon as they dig into their fondness of You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty by Akwake Emezi. In this episode, they discuss how grief can be kinda weird, begging v standing, a question men should ask themselves, and what love song that comes to mind when thinking on L-O-V-E.   As always you can find all the books t...

We are officially back in full swing with your favorite bi-weekly bookish pod…But Make it Books! Join Niccara and Brandon as they discuss the necessity of taking a break, check in on our reading, set forth reading hopefuls, and figure out how we get back into the groove of being a reader.    Joining us on our Instagram on March 11h as we chat with The Kitchenista (Angela Davis) on IG Live at noon...

After a much needed break, we are back! As a bonus, we have a LIVE episode…But Make it Books! Join Niccara, Brandon, and Sadeqa Johnson, author of the NAACP Image Award nominated The House of Eve , as they discuss how Black women deserve bodily autonomy, the effects of classism, Sadeqa’s writing process, adoption, and dream casting ideas. Welcome back everyone!   Books Discussed: The House of Eve...

The 3rd episode of the Ambition Trilogy has arrived on…But Make it Books! Join Niccara, Brandon, and Mateo Askaripour, author of  Black Buck, as they discuss the plot of his coming novel “This Great Hemisphere”, people as products, "can we separate the creator from the work?", and mourning Kanye West.   Books Discussed: Black Buck by Mateo Askaripour This Great Hemisphere by Mateo Askaripour Yello...

And now, a sequel episode of...But Make it Books! Join Niccara, Brandon, and Mateo Askaripour, author Black Buck, as they discuss Scarcity vs Abundance, the implications of the word “buck", the double read, and the responsibility of satirical work. Stay tuned for the conclusion of this trilogy to hear more about Mateo's upcoming novel! Books Discussed: Black Buck by Mateo Askaripour This Great Hem...

We are all the way LIVE…But Make it Books! Join Niccara, Brandon, and Deesha Philyaw, author of a Finalist for the National Book Award for The Secret Lives of Church Ladies , as they discuss how the church fashions young Black women, the importance of intergenerational representation, Deesha’s writing process, and share light discourse about Greenleaf. This episode marks our first live event and w...

Smells like a fresh, hot episode of...But Make it Books! Join Niccara and Brandon as they discuss books, their best dishes, sugar as a nostalgic ingredient, why you should cook more, and what you can get out of reading cookbooks. Books Discussed: Notes From a Young Black Chef by Kwame Onuwachi My America by Kwame Onuwachi Salt Fat Acid Heat by Samin Nosrat The Golden Girls Cookbook by Christopher...

Fresh out the oven, another episode of But Make It Books. Join Niccara and Brandon as they discuss generational recipes, the family table, the science behind cooking up a legacy, and the family recipes they love. Check out the visual discussion here:  Charm City Books YouTube! Follow us on Instagram: @butmakeitbookspod  Get any books discussed here:  www.charmcitybooks.com Books discussed: Black C...

It’s time to finish another episode of…But Make it Books! Join Niccara and Brandon as they discuss books they did not finish, potential varietal story telling, the importance of a multifaceted reader community, and taunt with another tbd conversation on Luster Check out the visual discussion here: Charm City Books YouTube! Follow us on Instagram: @butmakeitbookspod  Get any books discussed here: w...

Time for another deep-rooted episode of …But Make it Books! Join Niccara and Brandon as they examine the infrastructure of America, effects of a developing hometown, the necessity to maintain a certain narrative of US history, and prepare you for what will be a revealing and altering read, of The 1619 Project.    Books Discussed: The 1619 Project by Nikole Hannah-Jones Check out the visual discuss...