The Black Umbrella

Happy #TBUthursday! We are in the throes of the last quarter, and burnout has officially made its presence known. Wes asks Frenchies and Nika about the tools they use to help with burnout.     WOTD: Fantasize- to create or develop—imaginative and often fantastic views or ideas. Question: What is something you used to fantasize about as a child? Join our Discord and chat with us!:  https://discord....

Happy #TBUthursday! Frenchie keeps it chill in this week's under our umbrella and checks in with us just to see how we are doing on the personal goals we set for the year.    WOTD: Date- an appointment to meet at a specified time Question: Would you let your parents set you up on a blind date?  Join our Discord and chat with us!:  https://discord.com/invite/rX9yCksxaJ Click the link below to c...

Happy #TBUthursday! Nika tells us all about what it means to root for an underdog on the heels of Ashley Hollis winning Big Brother 27.   WOTD: Bodyguard- a person or group of people hired to escort and protect another person, especially a dignitary.  Question: What is a silly way you would protect people if you were a bodyguard?  Join our Discord and chat with us!:  https://discord.com/invite/rX9...

Happy #TBUthursday! We are now living in a nation where this government's administration views exercising our First Amendment as a privilege and not our constitutional right. We should all be concerned about access to reliable information channels that are not controlled by the government.  Today we air out our grievances and brainstorm how we can continue to fight for rights while living unde...

Happy #TBUthursday! Frenchie leads us in this week's under our umbrella segment, where we discuss the importance of our friends' opinions on who we date.  WOTD: Sport- an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment. Question: What would you be MVP of if it were a sport? Join our Discord and chat with us!...

Happy #TBUthursday! Nika leads us in this week's under our umbrella, where she asks us questions surrounding our favorite moments in cinema.  WOTD: Stardom- the status of being famous exceptionally talented perfromer in the world of entertainment or sports.  Question: Who do you think is on track to stardom in the music industry  Join our Discord and chat with us!:  https://discord.com/invite/...

Happy #TBUthursday! Wes recently went to see The Roses , a movie that chronicles a couple falling in love with each other to the point where they lose sight of the reason why they fell in love in the first place. That movie inspired him to open up a conversation on the three driving factors that led to their downfall: money, communication, and their social circle.   WOTD: Snap- to make a snapping...

Happy #TBUthursday!  We spent three months following these islanders on their journey to find love, and after one month out of the villa, the time has come for them to reunite and address everything that’s happened both in and outside of the villa. We get together and share our thoughts on this juicy reunion, discussing what we wanted versus what we got.   WOTD: Plead- make an emotional appeal Que...

Happy #TBUthursday! What would you do with half a million dollars this summer? Nika had some fun with us this week, asking us if we had half a million dollars to spend and another half to hide somewhere secluded, where we would hide, and what we would spend the other half on. We only have three months, so it’s time to lock in and ball out.    WOTD: glitch- a sudden, usually temporary malfunction o...

Happy #TBUthursday! Want to get away? We discuss the benefits of carving out time to take short trips away from home and simply unplug and relax.   WOTD: propaganda- information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote or publicize a particular political cause or point of view Question: What propaganda are you not falling for? Join our Discord and chat with us!:  https://disco...

Happy #TBUthursday! Do you have any heirlooms that have been passed down through generations in your family? Frenchie leads a discussion on traditions and the passing down of “Recipes” within each of our family units and how these things have helped to keep us connected to our roots.   WOTD: doppelgänger- an apparition or double of a living person Question: Have you ever seen a doppelgänger of som...

Happy #TBUthursday! This week, we discuss one of our favorite shows, Big Brother! There is a quirky bunch in the house this season, and we are here to catch you all up on it.   WOTD: Household- a house and its occupants regarded as a unity Question: In Big Brother as HOH, you can pick an album to listen to. What album would you choose? Join our Discord and chat with us!:  https://discord.com/invit...

Happy #TBUthursday! This week, we discuss whether there is such a thing as a fair fight. The girls were fighting all week on Twitter, and it inspired us to assess what we deem a fair fight.   WOTD: Secret- not known or seen or not meant to be known or seen by others Question: In one of our favorite game shows, Big Brother, house guests can receive special powers. If you were playing and received o...

Happy #TBUthursday! This week, we're taking you straight to Fiji! Love Island Season 7 has finally wrapped, and we have plenty to discuss. We run this season's most memorable moments back and talk about our true feelings on who made it to the final four.  WOTD: Expunge- erase or remove completely (something unwanted or unpleasant) Question: If you could expunge something from your memory,...

Happy #TBUthursday! We were devastated to hear the news of Anna Burrell, one of our favorite Food Network stars, passing away, and we dedicate this episode to her and her loved ones. Nika has us create our dream food tour with our favorite chefs and cuisine.   WOTD: Sleuth- a person who investigates crimes; a detective Question: When are you more likely to be a super sleuth.  Join our Discord and...

Happy #TBUthursday! We all have been in a season of grieving in one shape or form, and Wes leaves the floor open to discuss the different ways we have learned to process it.   WOTD: Transparent- easy to perceive or detect Question: What do people need to be more transparent about? Join our Discord and chat with us!:  https://discord.com/invite/rX9yCksxaJ Click the link below to check out our Spoti...

Happy #TBUthursday! Life has been doing a number on all of us, but we are happy to be back to you this week with a brand new exclusive audio-only episode. So much uncertainty has been in the air, and Frenchie takes the time to ask us what tools we use to ground us during these uncertain times.   WOTD: Volume- quantity or power of sound; degree of loudness. Question: Summer is around the corner. Wh...

Happy #TBUthursday! Hear ye, hear ye! Each host from TBU is throwing a ball on the same day, and we want to know which one you would attend. Nika has us use our creativity and imagination to dream up the ball of the year.    WOTD: Random- made, done, happening, or chosen without method of conscious decision. Question: What is a random thought you’ve had recently? Join our Discord and chat with us!...

Happy #TBUthursday! Do you have a green thumb? Wes has us all acknowledge the growth we’ve made in our lives. It’s so easy to get swept up in the responsibilities of life, but it is always nice to look back and acknowledge how you’ve grown over time.   WOTD: Sequel- a published, broadcast, or recorded work that continues that story or develops the theme of an earlier one.  Question: What is a movi...

Happy #TBUthursday! Summer is almost here, and Frenchie wants to know what we have planned :). We talk about all we hope to do this summer. WOTD: Unpopular- not liked or popular Question: What’s your unpopular opinion? Join our Discord and chat with us!:  https://discord.com/invite/rX9yCksxaJ Click the link below to check out our Spotify playlist. It is updated weekly with the music we discuss on...

Happy #TBUthursday! We are so happy to be back this week with a new episode for y’all. Do you know what a birthday time capsule is? Nika has us make our own birthday time capsules this weeks, Under Our Umbrella. We also discuss new music, the MET, and more.  WOTD: Time- the indefinite continued progress of existence and events in the past, present, and future regarded as a whole.  Question: What w...

Happy #TBUthursday! We have been coming at you a little heavy with the Under Our Umbrella segments these past few weeks, so Wes decided to lighten it up this week, asking us a series of hypotheticals for us to answer :).  WOTD: Vinyl- synthetic resin or plastic consisting of polyvinyl chloride or a related polymer, used for wallpaper and other covering materials and for records.  Question: What’s...

Happy #TBUthursday! This week Frenchie takes on a conversation regarding the weight of Understanding. She asses our importance in feeling understood vs. others understanding us.  WOTD: Easter- the most important and oldest festival of the Christian Church, celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Question: What was your favorite part about Easter growing up?  Join our Discord and chat with u...

Happy #TBUthursday! NIka gives us a crash course on crashing out and we share some stories of our own. Do you have any crash our stories? WOTD: Slap- hit or strike with the palm of the hand or a flat object. Question: Who is a celebrity you’d love to slap for an easy five million dollars? Join our Discord and chat with us!:  https://discord.com/invite/rX9yCksxaJ Click the link below to check out o...

Happy #TBUthursday! Do you remember the first time you were disappointed? Wes brings the topic of disappointment to the table for this week's under our umbrella. We discuss the difference in feeling from being the  "disapointee" to the "disapointer". Let us know how you handle disappointment in the comments.  WOTD: Return- come or go back to a place or person  Question: If 106 & park were to retur...