Real Hot Blerd Pod

Join us for a special episode featuring our dear friend and colleague, Saran Fina Sidime! As we kick of Black History Month/Black Love Month, Saran joined us to talk about her journey (and journaling about) moving toward self love. She’s booked and busy learning to love and care for herself, but she took the time to come drop some amazing wisdom for y’all! Recommended Reading: The Love Trilogy by...

Episode Details: Remember last episode when we did our “shout out to my timeline” segment? Well have we got a show for you! A lot has happened since our last episode dropped, so we spend most of this episode talking about current events, including the shooting in Minnesota and the kidnapping of Maduro. Seriously, y’all…why the f*ck is this our timeline?! Suggested Readings: Kwame Nkrumah, Neo-Colo...

We’re back!! We’re kicking off this episode with a little debrief about what we were up to since our last episode since we took December off from recording. Now it’s a new year…depending on who you ask, so we also briefly discuss the origins of the Gregorian calendar and our groundings for 2026. To kick off 2026, we decided to switch it up a bit with a positive twist to why is this my timeline…sho...

In this episode, Dani and Jazzy interview their first guest on the pod—film maker, educator, and creator—Sarah Oberholtzer (or Sarah O.). Sarah shares about the abolitionist writer’s room and their film series, “We Call Each Other” which explores themes of public safety, crisis, community response, and abolition. In this conversation Sarah uncovers the motivations for creating this film series whi...

In today’s Blerd Werk episode, Dani shares her presentation “Hobbstown Oral History Project: Descendent’s as the Stewards of Cultural Memory” from this year’s New Jersey Historical Commission conference. In the presentation she talks about the history of the neighborhood her family founded in New Jersey and why it is important to preserve such histories. Episode Music: Track: I Am OK — Vishmak [Au...

Exciting update: we’re no longer doctoral students, we’re doctoral candidates! In this episode we share what the journey has been like so far in our degree programs. We also talk about the ways that fascist governments often target academics, especially in the humanities. Works Referenced The Case for Reparations by Ta-Nehisi Coates Womanist Ethics and the Cultural Production of Evil by Emilie Tow...

Welcome to spooky season! 👻 This episode is a follow up to our last episode as we continue our focus on evangelicalism. In part 2 we talk about the rapture, zombie nationalism, Christian haunted houses (hell houses), and finish with a history of the evangelical left. You can check out a free copy of Jason Springs’ “Zombie Nationalism” chapter here: https://philarchive.org/archive/SPRZNT Episode M...

Welcome back! We filmed this episode Sept. 8th when we had the chance to actually be together in person! This is the first part in what will be a two part series on evangelicalism (dun dun dunhhh). In this episode we dive into the theology that often organizes evangelicalism and the role of the capitalist marketplace in evangelical culture. We also both share our personal stories related to being...

Welcome to a special episode of Real Hot Blerd Pod! We’ll be posting solo episodes occasionally called Blerd Werk where we share our papers and presentations from conferences and other spaces. In this episode, Jazzy shares her presentation from the American Academy of Religion 2024 Annual Conference titled "Cannibalism, Vampirism, and Womanist Transubstantiating Magic: Materializing Colonialcraft...

Spoiler Alert! In this episode we dive into the Marvel miniseries, Ironheart. We talk about the ethically complicated characters on the show and how the series can help us consider the ramifications of AI. In this edition of “Why is this my timeline?!” we talk a bit about the federal takeover of D.C. Want to hear more about any of these topics? Let us know on our socials @realhotblerdshit. Audio:...

In this episode we spend time discussing the genocide in Gaza. We explore the questions: Why do we personally talk about and take action for Gaza and a free Palestine? Why should Black Americans care about what is happening in Gaza? How do we get out of this timeline? Book Recommendation: Side by Side: Parallel Histories of Israel-Palestine edited by Sami Adwan, Dan Bar-On, and Eyal Naveh Places t...

Spoiler Alert! We're diving deeper into Ryan Coogler's Sinners on today's episode of the podcast. Join us as we connect the film to the religious lives of people who were enslaved and afropessimist theory. We also talk about "Alligator Alcatraz," the big beautiful bill * rolls eyes * and Trump being nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. Episode Citations: Frank B. Wilderson III, Red, White & Bl...

Welcome to the very first episode of Real Hot Blerd Pod. On this episode, we dive right in and ask: will the revolution be televised...or nah? Join us as we talk about Beyoncé, Kendrick, Sinners, Evangelicals, and debates around whether or not the revolution will/can be televised. Track: I Am OK — Vishmak [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch: • I Am OK — Vishmak | Fre...