The Culture Garden

Welcome back to The Culture Garden Podcast! This week, Rich and Rachel dive into the 2017 film, Marshall . They discuss why films like this still carry so much importance in 2026, the incredible performance delivered by Chadwick Boseman, why courtroom dramas remain one of the most underrated genres in film, and much more. We appreciate you for tuning in! Please remember to subscribe, comment, like...

Welcome back to a special episode of The Culture Garden Podcast! This week the crew is joined by Executive Director of the Light Reel Film Festival, Tim Gordon, to discuss the upcoming 7th annual event. Tim reflects on seeing the vision for the festival years ago and gives credit to the people who showed him it was possible. He also opens up about what truly separates Light Reel from other festiva...

Welcome back to The Culture Garden Podcast! This week the crew revisits the 1997 classic Soul Food. In this episode, they’ll recall their thoughts from episode 12 to see if any perspectives have changed over time, discuss where Soul Food ranks among the legendary films released in 1997, and break down why this movie still holds up nearly 30 years later. We appreciate you for tuning in. Please be s...

Welcome back to The Culture Garden Podcast! With the sequel to The Devil Wears Prada arriving this weekend, the crew revisits the original that helped define a generation of fashion and workplace drama. They break down key differences between the novel and the film, revisit how Anne Hathaway landed the role despite being the 9th choice, and examine why this film draws people in, whether they have...

Welcome back to The Culture Garden Podcast   This week, the crew dives into the 2003 thriller Out of Time starring Denzel Washington—and the conversation covers a range of topics. Where does this film really rank in Denzel’s catalog? Is it an underrated gem or a forgettable entry in an elite filmography? Expect a split room, honest takes, and a broader discussion about how the public remembers (or...

Welcome to a brand new episode of The Culture Garden Podcast ! This week, the crew kicks things off with a major announcement you won’t want to miss before Rich and Rachel dive into the 2004 Spike Lee joint She Hate Me . They break down the film’s layered messaging, question whether its many themes ultimately help or hurt its direction, and ask the real question—was Spike Lee trolling with this on...

Welcome back to The Culture Garden Podcast ! The break is officially over, and Rich and Skool are back in the garden to talk about the 2018 film Superfly. With this being their first time watching, they share their initial reactions, highlight what stood out most, and examine how the film holds up on its own. They also pay homage to the original Super Fly, comparing its cultural impact and questio...

What’s the word, good people?! The Culture Garden Podcast is back later this week, but in the meantime, we’ve got a bonus drop for you. We’re highlighting Skool’s podcast, Who TF Asked You , with an episode from this past December featuring Mo from Childish Grownups . The crew dives into a nostalgic conversation breaking down their Top 5 Cartoons of All Time—this one is strictly for the stoop kids...

Culture Garden is on Spring Break and will be back on April 9th. In the meantime, check out an episode of We Got Y'all discussing Paradise. If you like it, please be sure to subscribe!: Welcome back to the We Got Y’all television podcast! We’ve reached the penultimate episode of Paradise Season 2, and Rachel and Rich are back to break it all down. This week, they dive into the growing theories...

Welcome back to The Culture Garden Podcast! 🌹🎙️ Rachel and Kieron are wrapping up the 4th Annual Romance Month with a review of their first animated film, Entergalactic ! In this episode, Rachel shares her thoughts after watching the film for the very first time, and the two dive into whether this story would work as a live-action adaptation. They also explore the film’s connection to classic Bla...

Welcome back to The Culture Garden Podcast! Rachel and Kieron continue Romance Month with a deep dive into the 1997 indie classic Hav Plenty. They explore the origins of the film and how timing, opportunity, and belief helped turn a $65,000 passion project into a theatrical release. The conversation also unpacks the complexity of romantic relationships—how love isn’t just about chemistry, but abou...

Welcome back to the Culture Garden Podcast! The trio is back and honored to highlight the winners of the 26th annual Black Reel Awards. They’ll break down the winners in each category, share who they voted for, and dive into some engaging and thought-provoking discourse about the films and performances that made 2025 such a special year in cinema. We truly appreciate you for listening, and we want...

Welcome back to The Culture Garden Podcast! Rich and Rachel return for the 4th Annual Romance Month , kicking things off with a conversation about the newly released Relationship Goals . The two dive into their surprise at learning the film is based on Pastor Michael Todd’s book and whether that revelation shifted their expectations going in. They also share their overall thoughts on the film and...

Welcome back to a brand-new episode of The Culture Garden Podcast ! In Episode 140, the trio revisits the 1999 crime drama In Too Deep . The conversation hits close to home as Rich and Skool reflect on their personal connections to the film, especially with parts of it being filmed right in Cincinnati. They also dive into a fun debate: who belongs on the Mt. Rushmore of rappers turned actors , and...

Welcome back to The Culture Garden Podcast   In Episode 139 , Kieron and Skool break down the 2015 coming-of-age film Dope . The conversation connects the dots between the continuing universe that began with Rick Famuyiwa’s The Wood , explores the film’s central theme of refusing to let anyone define you or put you in a box, and gives flowers to an incredible cast that brought this story to life....

Welcome back to The Culture Garden Podcast ! 🌱 We’re kicking off 2026 with a classic as the crew dives into the 2003 sequel Bad Boys II . In this episode, we discuss where Bad Boys II ranks within the franchise, what it was really like being outside when this movie dropped, and the film’s lasting cultural impact. Of course, we also tackle the big debate: is Mike Lowery the coolest movie character...

Happy New Year from The Culture Garden Podcast ! This week, Kieron and Skool take a moment to reflect on all the movies they watched throughout 2025 and narrow it down to their Top 10 Films of the Year . Before locking in the list, the conversation kicks off with some fun reflection—highlighting the most surprising films , the most disappointing releases , and a few honorable mentions that just mi...

Ending 2025 with gratitude 🙏🏽 Seeing our Spotify Wrapped for The Culture Garden and We Got Y’all is always humbling. Being part of your weekly listens, your routines, and your conversations means more than we can put into words. Thank you for letting us share one of our biggest passions with you and for being part of this family.  Happy New Year — let’s claim that 2026 will be an incredible year...

Welcome back to The Culture Garden Podcast ! 🎬 In this episode, Kieron, Rachel, and Skool break down the nominations for the 26th Annual Black Reel Awards , set to take place on February 16th, 2026 . The crew goes category by category, sharing their thoughts on this year’s nominees, highlighting Sinners and its record-breaking nominations, debating the crowded fields for Outstanding Lead and Supp...

Welcome back to The Culture Garden Podcast ! In this episode, Rich and Skool dive into The New York Times’ list of the Top 100 Films of the 21st Century , breaking down entries ranked 60–51 and what makes each one stand out. From the intensity of Whiplash and the chaos of Uncut Gems to the brilliance of Best in Show , Punch Drunk Love , Inception , Pan’s Labyrinth , Borat , The Favourite , and the...

Welcome to a new episode of The Culture Garden Podcast ! The trio is back like they never left to break down the 2007 Tyler Perry classic, Why Did I Get Married . This week’s conversation centers on the film’s legacy and where it stands among Tyler Perry’s extensive catalog. They dive into the friend group’s dynamic and their annual couples’ trip, and debate whether Mike might be the most diabolic...

Welcome back to The Culture Garden Podcast! It’s officially college football season, so Rich and Skool are lacing up to break down the 1998 comedy classic(?) The Waterboy . This week, they dive into Adam Sandler’s incredible run, including his two-lane career as both a legendary comedy actor and an underrated dramatic performer. They’ll talk about where The Waterboy ranks in Sandler’s filmography,...

Welcome back to a new episode of The Culture Garden Podcast! This week, Rich and Skool are joined by Childish Grownups co-host, Mia, for her annual Halloween appearance to discuss the 2005 supernatural thriller The Skeleton Key . The crew dives into why Mia chose the film, what makes it appealing even for non-horror fans, and the clever plot twist that still surprises viewers nearly 20 years later...

Welcome back to a new episode of The Culture Garden Podcast! 🌿 Rich and Skool are back to break down the next batch of 10 films from the NY Times Top 100 list . This round includes some surprise first watches like Memento , The Hurt Locker , and Little Miss Sunshine , along with a chance to revisit modern classics such as Gone Girl and Oppenheimer . 🎬 If you’re a film lover or a true movie nerd,...

Welcome back to The Culture Garden Podcast ! 🌱🎬 In this episode, Rich and Skool are back with exciting news about the upcoming launch of The Culture Garden Film Club – a space for true film lovers to connect, discuss, and dive deeper into the movies that move us. They also break down all the films they watched in theaters during September and early October , including One Battle After Another ,...