Real Ballers Read

In this two-part episode, we brought back Travis Green from @letustalkbooks to talk about an unexpected combo of books: How to Have Impossible Conversations by Peter Boghossian & James Lindsay and God Is Not Great by Christopher Hitchens. Travis is a Senior Instructor at the U.S. Army’s Military Advisor Training Academy, a world-traveler, and an atheist who loves collecting Bibles. He’s a genu...

In this two-part episode, we brought back Travis Green from @letustalkbooks to talk about an unexpected combo of books: How to Have Impossible Conversations by Peter Boghossian & James Lindsay and God Is Not Great by Christopher Hitchens. Travis is a Senior Instructor at the U.S. Army’s Military Advisor Training Academy, a world-traveler, and an atheist who loves collecting Bibles. He’s a genu...

George M. Johnson is an award-winning Black Non-Binary writer, author, and activist with boundless creativity. They are also our first guest that chose their own books to talk about—and we are so glad they did. This is a really special episode for us because we were able to be in conversation with George and Sol Kelly, our friend who came on the podcast to talk about George's book All Boys Aren't...

In this episode, we talk with Cayla a.k.a. the @bookitqueen about all the interesting facts and stories from The Address Book by Deidre Mask. We were surprised by all of the political and social implications of street addresses and numbers and loved how we got to know the world a little bit better with this book. We discuss the effects of GPS on memory, funny street names(A** Crack Lane), early 20...

In this episode, we talk to Travis Green (@letustalkbooks on IG) about Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell. Although we had many hesitations and critiques of this book, Travis showed us how important it is, and has been, in his work training soldiers to actually talk to strangers everywhere around the world. Travis uses the cautionary tales of the book to improve his own and students' open-mi...

In this episode, we talk with the brilliant Jacqueline Woodson about Hurdy-Gurdy by Tim Seibles. When she first heard the poems from the book at one of Seibles' readings in 1992, Jacqueline felt like she was being invited to a party for the first time. She felt like she could finally understand poetry and she's enjoyed the book now for almost thirty years. We read some of our favorite poems from H...

In this episode, we talk to Demetrius Frazier from Black Men Read about Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates. Demetrius loves this book, not only for its impact on him, but also because it seemed like the perfect book for him to share with Black men who don't like to read. Since the shock of an early encounter, Demetrius has been on a journey of lessons learned, deepening passion for Black...

In this episode, we talk to Dr. Terrence Johnson about The Nickel Boys, a novel by Colson Whitehead. Dr. Johnson wanted to take a break from reading non-fiction to read The Nickel Boys and the book ended up causing some unexpected revelations about being a Black parent, how to teach children in school, and our personal relation to historical figures. Our conversation with Dr. Johnson is a powerful...

On this episode, we're talking about I'm Telling the Truth, but I'm Lying, Essays by Bassey Ikpi, with Tre' Mason (@tre.thelitcritic on IG). Tre' shares her path with getting more serious about her mental health and how the book has informed and inspired her along the way. We talk about the limitations of self-help, why it's important to find a therapist who looks like you, and when it's okay to l...

On this episode, we discuss The Autobiography of Malcolm X (as told to Alex Haley) with Dr. Lewis Gordon. Dr. Gordon is a philosopher at the University of Connecticut, who has a wonderful ability to tell stories and describe the meaning of this book for his life. We already loved The Autobiography of Malcolm X, but Lewis brought us to a wholly new and deep appreciation for it. This conversation in...

On this episode, we discuss The Autobiography of Malcolm X (as told to Alex Haley) with Dr. Lewis Gordon. Dr. Gordon is a philosopher at the University of Connecticut, who has a wonderful ability to tell stories and describe the meaning of this book for his life. We already loved The Autobiography of Malcolm X, but Lewis brought us to a wholly new and deep appreciation for it. This conversation in...

On this episode, we're talking about Praise Song For the Butterflies by Bernice L. McFadden with Alexis Milton. We talk about Alexis' Unsung Literature and History project and a whole bunch of other underrated books that you have to check out. Alexis really helped us appreciate Praise Song for the Butterflies in a new light and you'll definitely want to read the book if you haven't!  Alexis M...

On this episode, we’re talking about Tallulah the Tooth Fairy CEO by Dr. Tamara Pizzoli with Sarah Kamya from Diverstories.  Sarah is such an awesome educator and leader and we were so excited to talk with her. We talk about what she's learned from being an elementary school counselor, why she thinks adults need to be reading children's books more often, and how conversations about race and d...

On this episode, we’re talking about the play Othello by William Shakespeare with Traci Thomas, the host of (our favorite book podcast) The Stacks. We’re really excited to share this conversation with you because we had a lot of fun talking to Traci. We discuss why Othello is more relevant than ever, how it represents race and gender, as well as debate over our problematic favorite movies and hear...

On this episode, we discuss Heavy by Kiese Laymon with Dr. Charles HF Davis. For Dr. Davis, Heavy is the book that changed how he understands the complexities of Black life. HF is an educator and creative committed to the lives, love, and liberation of everyday Black people. He is currently an assistant professor in the Center for the Study of Higher and Postsecondary Education at the University o...

In this episode, we discuss Under the Feet of Jesus by Helena María Viramontes with Dr. Paula Moya. We cover everything from the importance of rereading to the myth of La Llorona and the meaning of womanhood and environmental racism in the book.  Dr. Moya is a Professor of the Humanities at Stanford University and her teaching and research focus on twentieth-century and early twenty-first-cen...

In this episode, we talk about All Boys Aren't Blue: A Memoir-Manifesto by George M. Johnson with Sol (@thesolreader on IG). For her, this is "The Book That Explained and Examined My Blended Energies". We discuss the importance of names and pronouns, how to navigate life with depression and perfectionism, inclusive learning and education, growing up as Black and queer, and more.  All Boys Are...

In this episode, we talk about The Midnight Library by Matt Haig, with Paakow Essandoh, CEO of MIZIZI, The Official Lifestyle Brand for the Diaspora. For Paakow, The Midnight Library is "The Book That Made Me More Confident In My Decisions". Learn how in this fun conversation where we cover leadership, Rick and Morty and the meaning of life, and the Black Diaspora. The Midnight Library on Bookshop...

In this episode, we’re talking about The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks, which for our guest Dereca Blackmon, is "The Book That Is Always With Me". The Big leap is about eliminating the barriers to success by overcoming false fears and beliefs, and this is central to our conversation with Dereca, as well as finding your true genius and healing the disease of racism. Dereca's website The Big Leap on Boo...

In this episode we talk about The Color Purple by Alice Walker with our guest, Dr. Jakeya Caruthers. Jakeya is an Assistant Professor of African & African American Studies and Women’s and Gender Studies at Berea College. She is a scholar of black political humor; cultural coherence and memory within contemporary black aesthetic movements; and issues of race, gender, sexuality, and (resistance...

In this episode we talk about The Color Purple by Alice Walker with our guest, Dr. Jakeya Caruthers. Jakeya is an Assistant Professor of African & African American Studies and Women’s and Gender Studies at Berea College. She is a scholar of black political humor; cultural coherence and memory within contemporary black aesthetic movements; and issues of race, gender, sexuality, and (resistance...

In this episode, we’re talking about Tram 83 by Fiston Mwanza Mujila, which is a post-colonial critique that centers around two friends reunited in an unnamed city-state in Africa. For Dr Ato Quayson, Tram 83 is the book that changed my mind about jazz and political allegory.  Now, Ato is dope. He’s currently an English professor at Stanford University, whose academic work lives at the inters...

In this episode of The Book that (Reminds Me of Interpenetrating Dimensions and Psychospiritual Integration) we talk about The Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore and Felicia A. Smith does an incredible breakdown of all of the layers of systemic racism present in the book. We also cover how much personal responsibility should factor into analysis of systemic racism, what freedom is and more! --- Support...

In this episode we talk about Motherless Daughters by Hope Edelman, aging, how to think about death, our views on religion, and why our best traits can sometimes be our worst. Follow us at Real Ballers Read on Instagram!  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/realballersread/support

In this episode, we talk about Sassafrass, Cypress and Indigo by Ntozake Shange in all of its richness and nuance with Forrest Your Favorite Librarian. Follow Your Favorite Librarian on Instagram Here! Follow Real Ballers Read on Instagram Here! Discover a world of literature featuring Black stories at MahoganyBooks.com! Enhance your reading experience with a diverse collection of culturally enric...