Plaid Skirts & Basic Black

Justina Kopp is a stay-at-home mom living in the Twin Cities, MN with her husband and their quadruplet toddlers. She is a 2013 graduate of the University of St. Thomas - MN where she currently serves on the Advisory Board for the Center for Catholic Studies. Her life story, marked with the tragic loss of her father in the I-35W bridge collapse and the surprise of her quadruplets, has been told thr...

Louis Damani Jones is currently the Voter Engagement Coordinator  for the Gephardt Institute for Civic and Community Engagement at Washington University in St. Louis.  He is on the Board of Directors for Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of St. Louis, the Seeds of Justice Network, and the Before Gethsemane Initiative. He is married with two children, and holds a Masters of Social Work degree f...

Cohosts of Crushed the Podcast, Erin Raderstorf & Kiersten Lyons, join Marcia and Shannon for a light-hearted look at the latest installment in the Netflix Christmas Cinematic Universe -  The Princess Switch 3: Romancing the Star, starring Vanessa Hudgens. We talk about peppermint martinis, our love for physical comedy, and the importance of setting boundaries. Merry Christmas! Offertory Shann...

Marcia and Shannon reflect on the year and the many things they have to be thankful for, even in the trials of 2021. The ladies also talk about the importance of telling the truth about colonization and Native Americans, while still focusing on the attitude of gratitude that we should have for God's gifts. Offertory Shannon - Cherry Turnovers, Chinese Food, Brisk Winter Walks Marcia - If the...

In our season 7 finale, friend of the pod, Jules Miles (@mysterymannerspodcast), becomes our most featured guest! We look at the return of Gus TT Showbiz himself, Dule Hill, to the small screen, in the pilot episode of the blackity-black reboot of The Wonder Years (2021). We discuss what we love (all of it!), as well as share a few favorites in the offertory Offertory Jules - Obama Booklist,  Harr...

In the penultimate episode of season 7, Shannon and Marcia talk about the New York Times bestseller,  The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue , by author V.E. Schwab and reflect on what kind of a mark they both wish to leave on the world.  To preorder the ladies' new book,  Fat Luther, Slim Pickin's: A Black Catholic Celebration of Faith, Tradition, and Diversity,  click here. Offertory Marcia...

In this episode the ladies talk to power lifter and personal trainer Ogechi Akalegbere (@gechmeifyoucan on IG) about being strong,  Black, and Catholic!  This episode is chock full of insight, powerful takeaways, and shenanigans! 

In this super sized episode, Marcia and Shannon talk about their favorite praise and worship songs with a side of shenanigans! Come on this ride and lift the Lord’s name on high with us! 

Marcia and Shannon talk with Chenele (@chenele_k on Instagram) about the BEST Cinderella: Brandy Cinderella (formerly known as Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella). 

Shannon and Marcia have a great conversation with Dr. Ansel Augustine, a speaker, writer, professor, and New Orleans native who is Black, Catholic, and newly basic. Sort of. Offertory: Marcia: following hashtags, fandom accounts, Shang-Chi and the Ten Rings Ansel: Marvel’s “What If…” on Disney+ Shannon: BLK & Bold coffee at Target and @blacksaintsmatter on Instagram To support Ansel’s communit...

We’re still on hiatus, but we wanted to share this long-delayed gem with you all. Enjoy Shannon’s interview with our new friend Varaidzo! 

The world turns upside down in this episode as Shannon takes on hosting duties and Marcia leads us on random tangents about Target. Friend of the Pod, Karianna Frey, returns to talk with the ladies about how much we all love liturgy; how it can be a place both of refuge and of marginalization; and how we can all better welcome people to worship with us. Offertory Karianna - Ted Lasso (Apple+),  Am...

**WARNING**  This episode discusses racism, racial trauma, premature birth, pregnancy loss, and infant loss., which may be triggering for some listeners. Dr. Kera McNelis, MD, a neonatologist and friend of the podcast, joins Shannon and Marcia to discuss the impacts of racism on care for both moms and premature infants. We discuss the research on black maternal health and care for black infants in...

Here and now, we promise to pod faithfully, as the ladies celebrate the velvet vocals of the one and only Luther Vandross. Looking at the album "The Ultimate Luther Vandross" leads to singing, shenanigans, and a whole lotta love. **Announcement** The very first PSBB Book, Fat Luther, Slim Pickin's will be published in January 2022 by Ave Maria Press ! Yes, that is Luther Vandross in...

Paul Sifuentes, co-host of Pizza & Side Hugs Podcast , friend, and dad joins the ladies to talk about raising kids in the Church and the little known secret of Chick-Fil-Octave.  Offertory Shannon "Sticky Faith" By Kara Powell, et al Marcia Boyfriend Jean Jacket from Old Navy Many Hail Marys at a Time  on Instagram Crushed the Podcast Paul Lake Street Dive Band

In the Season 7 Premiere, Marcia and Shannon discuss the 2000 classic sports drama , Love and Basketball (Gina Prince-Bythewood).  The ladies talk about why this film is so beloved in Black culture, their favorite themes  in the film, and, of course, shenanigans ensue. Theme Song: "Seas of Mars" © 2015 Jahzzar Offertory Shannon - banana bread, Graeter's Ice Cream; setting and mainta...

In this special bonus episode, From Here Media founder Alissa Molina (Universal Voices Podcast)  joins Shannon for a chat about the origins of her not-for-profit undertaking and her new magazine "Common Horizon" (featuring pieces from your two favorite podcast hosts!). Shannon and Marcia also share their *slighty* overwhelmed weather check and an offertory filled with goodness and a very...

Join Marcia (@stylishlycia) and Shannon (@teamquarterblack)  in their conversation with their friend and  favorite hagiographer, Meg Hunter Kilmer (@mhunterkilmer) as she shares her love of saints, their stories, and her companions!  Offertory: Meg’s book, Saints Around the World (available for pre-order at https://saintsaroundtheworld.com)

Join us for an AMA (Ask Me Anything) on April 23 for Patreon subscribers only. Go to www.patreon.com/psbbpodcast to support our podcast

For our friends who are not Patreon subscribers, this is an episode from August 2020 where Marcia and our friend Vanesa Goldberg (@vanesa_goldberg) go in on Taylor’s folklore album! Enjoy! 

WARNING: Discussion of Domestic Abuse James Conway is a self-professed Army Brat who lives in Baltimore, MD. A survivor of homelessness ans domestic abuse, he serves his parish in multiple ministries as well as acting as the Parish Council President. James currently serves as the Vice President of the Board of Directors of Catholics United for Black Lives, a s not-for-profit which advocates for po...

Perpetua Charles is a first generation Haitian American who loves the saints, the Mass, and Adoration. A cradle Catholic, Perpetua grew up in Boston before moving to Central Florida in her teenage years and returning to Boston as an adult. She especially loves to sing and  lead worship for others. Music: "Homebound" and "Concrete Jungle" by Audiobinger © 2018, edited https://fr...

CONTENT WARNING - There is discussion of self harm & attempted suicide in this episode Preslaysa Williams is an award-winning author who writes contemporary romance and women’s fiction with an Afro-Filipina twist. Proud of her heritage, she loves sharing her culture with her readers. She has a MFA in Writing Popular Fiction at Seton Hill University, a Master in Public Administration from the C...

Nate Tinner-Williams is a millennial Black Catholic with a passion for theology, history, music, writing, and justice.   Nate currently lives in New Orleans with a Catholic young adult intentional community where he is studying for his Masters of Theology at the Institute for Black Catholic Studies at Xavier University of Louisiana (the one and only Catholic HBCU) and beginning seminary with the J...

Claire Obenson is an architect of Cameroonian & Nigerian descent living in the San Francisco Bay Area.  She came to the US at aged 17 to study Architecture at THE Ohio State University. During that time, she began questioning the existence of Christ, gradually becoming an atheist. It was only years later, while at the University of Oregon, that she regained her faith and returned to the Cathol...