PAST, PRESENT, PUSHBACK

Most of us are more connected online than ever before—yet, somehow, loneliness, jealousy, and broken bonds are on the rise. What’s happening to our relationships in the age of social media? This episode dives deep into a truth that’s shocking so many of us: while we scroll for connection, we’re tearing apart the very relationships that matter most. Your love life, friendships, family — even your o...

Technology is more advanced than ever. Medicine is more accessible than ever. And Black Americans are still dying earlier, getting sicker faster, and receiving worse care than almost every other group in this country. In this episode of Past Present Pushback, XO, AZ, and CDA sit down and have the conversation our community needs to hear. Why Black Americans have the highest rates of high blood pre...

In 1959, a man named Berry Gordy borrowed $800 from his family, converted the ground floor of a Detroit house into a recording studio, hung a sign outside that said Hitsville U.S.A. — and changed the world forever. In this deep dive episode of Past Present Pushback, XO, AZ, and CDA tell the FULL story of Motown Records. Not just the hits. The business model that beat the Beatles. The artists who f...

They didn't put these names in your textbooks. They didn't teach you this in school. But the truth is — Black inventors built the lights in your home, the GPS in your phone, the pacemaker keeping someone's grandmother alive, the microphone we're recording this on, and the internet you're watching this on right now. In this episode of Past Present Pushback, XO, AZ, and CDA sit d...

In this episode, we bridge the gap between the future of professional sports and the historical foundations of modern society. We dive deep into the breaking news of the NBA expansion , the return of the Seattle SuperSonics , and the new frontier in Las Vegas . Then, we shift focus to a heavy-hitting discussion on African history in the 1600s , examining how those centuries-old dynamics paved the...

Are Black people the most hated race in the world? In this episode of Past Present Pushback, XO and AZ sit down for an unfiltered, research-backed conversation covering FBI hate crime data, systemic racism, global anti-Blackness, media representation, and colorism within the Black community. This isn't opinion — this is history, facts, and real talk. No sugarcoating. No apologies. 🔑 SEO TAGS...

Do men and women actually love the same way? Or are we speaking completely different emotional languages in relationships? In this open panel discussion, we take the conversation from our previous episode on Unconditional Love and go deeper into one of the biggest questions in modern dating. Is love expressed differently by men and women? Research suggests men often associate love with loyalty, re...

Does unconditional love truly exist — or is love always tied to behavior, loyalty, and expectation? In this powerful open panel discussion, we unpack one of the most misunderstood concepts in modern relationships: unconditional love. Is it about accepting someone no matter what? Or is it about loving someone while still maintaining boundaries? In this episode, we explore: • The difference between...

What happens when performance becomes your identity? In this powerful episode of Past Present Pushback , we unpack the pressure behind success — from professional sports to parenting and civic responsibility. 🏀 Black Millennial Male Athletes & Mental Health We examine the invisible emotional weight carried by modern Black athletes — social media scrutiny, financial expectations, brand pressur...

As Black History Month comes to a close, this episode goes beyond celebration — and into understanding. In this powerful panel discussion, we examine why Black history is not a side chapter of American history, but a foundational part of it. We explore: • Why Black history is often framed around struggle instead of innovation • The overlooked contributions that shape everyday American life • Why B...

Is NBA All-Star Weekend officially in decline? Why does Congress have to wait before giving itself a raise? And why are people more committed to the wedding than the marriage? In this episode of Past Present Pushback , we break down three conversations connected by one theme: attention vs commitment. 🏀 Sports: We examine the steady decline in NBA All-Star Weekend ratings, why fans say the game la...

For generations, Black communities across America built thriving economic hubs known as Black Wall Streets — places of Black ownership, wealth circulation, and independence. In this open discussion, Past Present Pushback goes beyond Tulsa to examine multiple Black Wall Streets in cities like Atlanta, Durham, Chicago, and Richmond. We explore how these communities were formed, why they were seen as...

Last episode we explored the rise and destruction of historic Black Wall Streets — thriving Black economic communities that were built through ownership, discipline, and collective support. But today we ask the bigger question: Could a new Black Wall Street exist in the modern world? In this Part 2 discussion, we break down why recreating a physical Black economic district may no longer be realist...

In this episode of Past Present Pushback , we break down how money, power, and meaning shape the worlds of sports, politics, and culture — past and present. 🔥 In the Sports Segment , we dive into the latest blockbuster NBA trades , what they reveal about today’s player-driven league, and how business decisions are reshaping team loyalty. We also recap Super Bowl 60 , highlighting key moments, per...

You use these inventions every single day. But chances are… you were never taught who created them. In this eye-opening episode of Past Present Pushback , XO, AZ, and CDA break down 15 everyday inventions created by Black innovators that modern life literally depends on — from traffic lights and refrigeration to home security systems, blood banks, mobile technology, and more. Because Black history...

College sports changed forever. Politics is built on backup plans. And humanity might be more connected than we think. In this episode of Past Present Pushback , XO, AZ, and CDA break down three powerful conversations around money, leadership, and identity — from the playing field to the Constitution to our shared human roots. 🏈 Sports (XO) We open with a debate on NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness)...

Black History Month didn’t start as a celebration. It started as a correction. In this powerful Monday open discussion, Past Present Pushback breaks down the true origin of Black History Month — who created it, why it was necessary, and what it was originally meant to accomplish. XO, AZ, and CDA unpack how historian Carter G. Woodson built what began as Negro History Week to fight the erasure of B...

In this episode of Past Present Pushback , pressure tells the truth. XO, AZ, and CDA break down one of the most layered conversations of the season — from NFL Conference Championship games and Super Bowl predictions to constitutional voting rights and the evolving definition of family in modern life . We start on the field with a full recap of the AFC Championship and NFC Championship games , anal...

Before Greenwood was erased, it was attacked. In Part 2 of this two-episode series, Past Present Pushback confronts the truth about the destruction of Black Tulsa’s Greenwood District — known as Black Wall Street — and what really happened after the fires stopped . XO, AZ, and CDA move beyond the oversimplified “riot” narrative and break down the facts: how a false accusation escalated into organi...

In this episode of Past Present Pushback , we examine how pressure reveals truth, power shapes outcomes, and perspective changes how we judge success and failure . XO kicks off the conversation with a breakdown of the NFL Divisional Round and Championship Weekend , unpacking the key wins and losses, what separated contenders from pretenders, and how discipline, turnovers, and coaching decisions de...

Before the destruction, there was strategy. In this episode of Past Present Pushback , we examine the rise of Black Tulsa , also known as the Greenwood District in Tulsa—not as a myth, but as a deliberately built Black economic powerhouse . XO, joined by AZ and CDA, breaks down how Greenwood was formed, who intentionally built it, and why it thrived in a country that actively worked against Black...

In this episode of Past Present Pushback , we explore how pressure and limits shape outcomes—on the football field, in government, and within our own families. XO kicks things off with a full recap of NFL Wild Card Weekend , breaking down the real results, key performances, coaching decisions, and what playoff football reveals when the margin for error disappears. Then AZ steps in with an educatio...

In this episode of  Past Present Pushback , we step into one of the most sensitive and misunderstood conversations in Black culture—the origin and legacy of the “N” word. XO, joined by AZ and CDA, leads an honest  intergenerational discussion  unpacking where the word came from, how it was weaponized during slavery and segregation, and why it still carries power today. With hosts spanning differen...

In this episode of Past Present Pushback , pressure is the common thread. We start with the Steelers barely making the NFL playoffs , breaking down what got them in, what to watch in the postseason, key matchups, and playoff picks—because January football exposes who’s built to survive when the margin for error disappears. Then AZ steps in with a breakdown of the 21st Amendment , challenging the i...

In Part 2 of this two-episode series, Past Present Pushback shifts from awareness to action. After unpacking why defensiveness shows up so quickly—especially in Black families—we now focus on what real listening actually requires and why so many of us struggle to do it without feeling exposed, powerless, or misunderstood. This conversation explores: The difference between listening to respond and...