Sista Brunch

🎉✨ Bonus Episode Alert! ✨🎉 We’re thrilled to bring you a special bonus episode of the Sista Brunch podcast recorded live at the Essence Film Festival! 🎬🌟 Our host, Fanshen Cox, sits down with the incredible Laurie Gardiner (USC grad), to discuss her deeply personal and impactful screenplay, 'Onset,' which explores themes of speech impediments and emotional trauma. Lori shares her journey fro...

🎉✨ Bonus Episode Alert! ✨🎉 We’re thrilled to bring you a special bonus episode of the Sista Brunch podcast recorded live at the Essence Film Festival in New Orleans! 🎬🌟 Our amazing host, sits down with the incredible Lande Yusuf (@LandeYusuf) to discuss their groundbreaking project, 'White Agbada,' which was selected for this year’s festival! 🎥 Sista Brunch dives into the inspiring stories...

In this bonus episode of the Sista Brunch podcast, recorded live at the Essence Film Festival, the hosts interview Lacey Brown about her narrative podcast 'Dr. Apples.' Lacey discusses the whimsical and creative world of her show, which combines fun, fiction, fantasy, and folklore. The conversation covers the show's format, intended audience, technical aspects of podcasting, budget management, and...

In this bonus episode of Sista Brunch, recorded live at the Essence Festival, the hosts welcome Jacqueline King Howell, a talented writer and director best known for her production company Judy's Child LLC.  Jacqueline shares her journey from actress to filmmaker, discussing her first script 'Judy's Child,' fundraising challenges, and her ongoing work on Sesame Street. She provides insights into f...

🎉✨ Bonus Episode Alert! ✨🎉 We're thrilled to bring you a special bonus episode of the Sista Brunch podcast recorded live at the Essence Film Festival! 🌟 Our amazing host sits down with the talented Indeya Dynice to discuss her groundbreaking project, 'Dating Positive,' which is being screened at this year's festival!  🎥 Sista Brunch dives into the inspiring stories of Black women and gender...

In this special episode of Sista Brunch, recorded live at the Essence Film Festival, hosts sit down with Elayne Fluker and Syretta Bell, the creators of 'Fiddy.'  This dramedy series highlights the experiences of five successful Black and Brown women turning 50, aiming to change the narrative around aging and vibrant living. They discuss their journey in writing the pilot, the challenges and learn...

In this episode of the Sista Brunch Podcast, Nathaniel 'Chuck' Brown, an actor and director, delves into his personal journey of creating the documentary 'Remember Me: Dementia in the African American Community.' Inspired by the struggles faced within his own family, Brown reveals the challenges of funding and the emotional hurdles throughout the production. He also shares insights from interviewi...

🎉✨ Bonus Episode Alert! ✨🎉 Dive into this special episode of the Sista Brunch podcast, recorded live at the Essence Film Festival, where we spotlight the Black Girls Film Camp. Host Fanshen Cox celebrates the camp's success with recent graduates Kyla, Alexandra, and Daria. Alumni coach Precious Foreman shares her experiences and the significance of teamwork and support. The graduates discuss t...

Join us on Sista Brunch live from the Essence Film Festival as we interview Aliza Pearl and Samantha Nelson, the creative minds behind the pilot 'My Intelligence.' Discover the inspiration behind the show, which features a Black woman navigating a tech field with an AI twist. Learn about their writing process, challenges, and future aspirations for the series. Don't miss this insightful and inspir...

Exploring 'The Perfect Hundred': Filmmakers Ali Matlock, Tra'Lynn Husbands & Athena Alexis Discuss Horror, Tech & Creativity Welcome back to Sista Brunch at the Essence Film Festival celebrating its 30th anniversary! In this episode, host Ali interviews filmmakers behind the horror thriller 'The Perfect Hundred.' Director Ali Matlock, lead actress Tra'Lynn Husbands, and actress Athena Alex...

Join host Fanshen Cox in a special episode of Sista Brunch recorded live from the Essence Film Festival. Fanshen interviews Adetoro Makinde, a writer, director, and producer, about her screenplay 'The American Can,' which tells the compelling story of a recon marine veteran's heroic actions during Hurricane Katrina.  The discussion explores the challenges of filmmaking, securing financial backing,...

In this empowering episode of Sista Brunch, host Fanshen Cox and guest co-host Precious Foreman shine a spotlight on diversity and innovation in the entertainment industry. Join us at USC, where Black Girls Film Camp alum Precious shares insights from her film "Call Me Cleo," exploring generational tensions and lessons in black womanhood. Our featured guest, Zoe Marshall, a Dallas native and USC a...

In this transformative episode of Sista Brunch, join us at USC for a heartening discussion with Black Girls Film Camp alumni Lanaa Dantzler and the inspiring Tamika Lamison, a vanguard in promoting diversity and social impact in film.  Lanaa introduces her compelling short film, "Five Angry Black Girls," exploring themes of rebellion and freedom.  Dive deep with Tamika Lamison, an award-winning di...

Dive into an insightful episode of Sista Brunch as we partner once again with Black Girls Film Camp to bring you a conversation with the dynamic Salena Rochester. A Peabody award-winning producer, Salena shares her extensive experience in television, producing everything from "The Real Housewives" to groundbreaking documentaries like "The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks."  Joined by co-host Ave...

Tune into this bonus episode of Sista Brunch, where host Fanshen Cox celebrates the impact of Black Girls Film Camp and the powerful strides women are making in film and TV.  Joined by co-host Addison Bellhomme, a proud alum of the camp, this episode dives deep into an engaging conversation with Katrina Ogilvie, a seasoned writer and producer known for her work on the Rosa Parks movie "Behind the...

Join us for a special bonus episode of Sista Brunch, featuring the powerful voices of Black Girls Film Camp. Co-hosted by Fanshen Cox and her niece, Jaida Cox, an alumna of the camp, this episode dives deep into the world of film and media with the esteemed entertainment executive Karen Peterkin.  With over two decades in the industry, Karen shares her journey and insights into nurturing diverse t...

Dive into a captivating bonus episode of Sista Brunch, broadcasting directly from USC's campus in collaboration with Black Girls Film Camp.  Join host Fanshen Cox as she welcomes Terryn Pinder, a Black Girls Film Camp alumna whose short film "Desquamated" explores complex themes of body image through a sci-fi horror lens.  The episode also features a special guest, Chassidy Jade, a trailblazing fi...

In the season finale of Sista Brunch, join us for an exhilarating conversation with Ciera Thompson, a Black queer writer whose work champions intersectional equality and narrative empowerment. This episode also features Sanaa Wilkins, an alumna of Black Girls Film Camp, as our special co-host. Together, we dive into the challenges and triumphs of filmmaking, the importance of mentorship, and the i...

In this riveting episode of Sista Brunch, join Fanshen as she sits down with the exceptional Natalie Jasmine Harris, whose early journey through film and activism has carved a path from NYU to Sundance. Hear the inspiring story of how Harris turned the challenges of the pandemic into a springboard for success, leading her compelling short film "Grace" to critical acclaim. Discover the drive and pa...

In this enlightening episode of Sista Brunch, we sit down with Reginé Gilbert, a powerhouse in the intersection of tech and social justice. Holding the esteemed James Weldon Johnson professorship at New York University, Reginé is not only shaping minds in academia with her profound insights into inclusive and accessible digital design but also touching lives through her pioneering work in augmente...

Dive into a narrative journey with Asia Nichols, an extraordinary storyteller who defies conventional genre labels, on this week's episode of Sista Brunch. Asia takes us along on her 13-year global adventure from the blue city of Jodhpur to a farm in central Mexico, all while sustaining a creative life out of a backpack. She shares the evolution from social work to unconventional screenwriting, de...

Welcome to another empowering episode of Sista Brunch, where we delve into the fascinating world of independent filmmaking with Hurriyah Muhammad, a beacon of inspiration for Black filmmakers. As co-founder and former executive director of the Black TV and Film Collective, Hurriyah's influence extends far beyond the screen. With a mission to uplift and support Black creators, her work echoes throu...

Journey with us in Season 5, Episode 9 of Sista Brunch as we spotlight the extraordinary Seyi Adebanjo, a queer gender non-conforming Nigerian artist whose storytelling magnificently intertwines the threads of activism, spirituality, and identity. Seyi shares their vibrant journey from Nigeria to New York, navigating the spaces in between their Yoruba heritage and queer, gender-expansive identity....

Welcome back to Sista Brunch, where we illuminate the paths of Black women and gender-expansive people in entertainment and media. In this inspiring Season 5 episode, join us as we delve into the multifaceted life of Valerie Udeozor. She's not only a Howard University alumna and a talented filmmaker with works on TubiTV and BHERCTV, but also a celebrated Registered Nurse and esteemed nursing profe...

Season five of Sista Brunch continues to highlight trailblazing Black women and gender-expansive people in entertainment and media. This episode, we're thrilled to introduce LaChelle Chrysanne – an eclectic artist whose journey from the Midwest to the heart of New York's creative scene epitomizes breaking through boundaries. With a story that weaves through the realms of music, design, and filmmak...