The Melanated Archives

In the season finale of The Melanated Archives Podcast, we explore the remarkable life and career of legendary stage and screen actress Diana Sands. Though her life was tragically cut short at 39, her influence continues to resonate across generations of performers. Best known for her iconic role as Beneatha Younger in both the original Broadway production and the film adaptation of A Raisin in th...

With a dynamic acting career spanning over 60 years, the legendary Glynn Turman is busier now than ever! This stage and screen titan joins us for an uplifting and inspiring conversation about his rise to Broadway fame at just 12 years old, playing Travis Younger in the original production of A Raisin in the Sun. We explored his iconic work throughout the 1970s, including his role as Preach in Cool...

We are talking all things art, activism, and the written word with acting pioneer, activist, and author Ms. Denise Nicholas! Known for her groundbreaking roles in the hit TV series In The Heat of The Night, Room 222, Let’s Do It Again, & Baby…I’m Back, Nicholas chats with us about her early career as a member of the Free Southern Theater at the height of the Black Arts Movement and her forthco...

It’s been a hot summer minute, but we are back! Check in with us as we give you all the tea on where we’ve been, what we are currently up to, & who we got stopping by next on The Melanated Archives Podcast!  Theme Music: Funky Suspense - courtesy of Bensound.com Follow Our Show & Our Hosts: TMA Instagram: @themelanatedarchives TMA TikTok: @themelanatedarchives_ TMA Website: https://www.the...

In episode 207 of the TMA Podcast, Brandon chats with famed actress, educator, and producer Carolyn Michelle Smith. Known for her portrayal of DEJA in Lena Waithe’s “The Chi” and AGNES in the hit Netflix series “Russian Doll”, Carolyn’s love for the craft stretches beyond the screen to her artistic mentorship efforts and ability to recognize and cultivate safe spaces for melanated communities. A f...

Legend in the making is what she is! Join us for a spirit-filled artistic conversation with LA-based actress, producer, and writer Regina Hoyles, whose work in the indie film industry has been turning heads for quite some time. Roll up your sleeves as we dig into the crates and unearth what it means to steward your gifts, create work for yourself, and cultivate healthy collaborations, all the whil...

This episode is all that & then some! Join us as we sit down with comedian, actress, and original cast member of the famed 90’s kids comedy show, Nickelodeon’s ALL THAT, the legendary Ms. Angelique Bates. In episode 205 of The Melanated Archives Podcast Angelique pulls back the curtain and takes us on a journey from her humble beginnings as a commercial child star to her breakout role on one o...

In episode 204 of TMA Podcast, we chat with artist, actor, and 90s child star Norman D. Golden II, whose breakout role as Devon Butler in the 1993 classic film Cop and a Half mesmerized audiences both young and old alike catapulting him to stardom. A standout performer with a diverse range, Norman is one of the most versatile stars of his generation. But, there is a story behind everything, and th...

Known as America's Aunt Viv from the 90s sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Daphne Maxwell Reid has been blazing a path, breaking down doors, and knocking off hinges since her modeling days when she became the first black woman to grace the cover of Glamour Magazine. One of television's most iconic moms, Daphne's acting career spans over 40 years and is still going strong. A visionary with a hear...

Introducing Bobby Huntley II! Director, producer, writer, and film editor who has a knack for recreating and re-envisioning classic black films, television shows, and characters. His rising star has been evident in recent years with the success of his short films like Pam & Tommy: A Detroit Love Story , a romantic thriller spin on the characters made famous by the classic 90s sitcom Martin . D...

Season 2 of The Melanated Archives Podcast is in full effect! And we are kicking things off with an insightful, bold, and deeply melanated chat with the iconic actor of stage and screen, Mr. Russell Hornsby! Russell currently stars off-Broadway in Dominique Morisseau’s SUNSET BABY at New York’s Signature Theatre. Known for his groundbreaking work as Charles Flenory in the Stars hit show BMF, Horns...

In the season finale of The Melanated Archives Podcast, we unpack the artistry of one of the most dynamic and overlooked stage and screen actresses of the last 100 years, the indelible Lynne Thigpen (1948 - 2003). Known best for her role as THE CHIEF of ACME Crimenent in the hit 90s game show Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?, Thigpen captivated audiences with her distinct voice and command o...

In 1972, actress, playwright, & theatre director Vinnette Carroll (1922 - 2002) not only opened doors, but she bulldozed them down when she became the first African-American woman to direct a show on Broadway. Along with the late great Micki Grant, Carroll helped usher in a new wave of black artists on the Great White Way with the debut of the groundbreaking musical DON'T BOTHER ME, I CAN'T COPE....

And we're back with part II of our Artistic Mentors Series! In this week's episode, Brandon sits down with his mentor and teacher, Byron Nora, to discuss everything from the impact of performing arts programs in school systems to the importance of learning professionalism early in one's acting career and how to stay grounded in an industry that often promotes competition over collabora...

The Melanated Archives Podcast is back!!!!!! Kendra & Brandon return this week with part one of a two-part series highlighting the impact and importance of artistic mentors. In this episode, Kendra sits down to chat with award-winning actress, singer, activist, & Broadway giant Valisia LeKae, who wowed audiences and garnered a Tony & Grammy nomination for her portrayal of Diana Ross in...

Black theater institutions have been instrumental in birthing the careers of some of the world's most talented artists. From Amiri Baraka to Glynn Turman to Esther Rolle to Ntozake Shange, the roaster of playwrights, actors, and theater makers who have benefited from the guidance of these prominent havens are never-ending. And in this episode of the TMA podcast, we are digging in the crates and ch...

From blackface to children's television to music videos to protests, the evolution of black puppetry tells the story of artistic resilience. This sacred art form, while youthful at times, is far from juvenile. Black puppeteers are using their creations to heal the masses. And in this episode, we dig into the crates and talk with some of the influential puppet masters whose work captivates audience...

In this episode, we talk with the iconic actor and director, Mr. Hawthorne James. Famously known for his role as Big Red in the classic film,  The Five Heartbeats,  this acting legend takes us on a journey of his 40+ year career. Listen as this fearless artist speaks and touches on the importance of creative freedom, versatility, his love for the stage, and how Shakespeare's  Richar...

In our first episode, we do a deep dive into the career and impact of film, television, and stage pioneer Rosalind Cash (1938-1995). A rich and powerful actress who wowed audiences as an original member of the Negro Ensemble Company and a standout performer on screen in projects like The Omega Man, Sister, Sister, A Different World, & General Hospital. But why was this leading actress not give...

Welcome to The Melanated Archives Podcast! Join us as we dig in the crates and study the lives and contributions of iconic black actors throughout history. In our first episode, we do a deep dive into the career and impact of film, television, and stage pioneer Rosalind Cash. A rich and powerful actress who wowed audiences as an original member of the Negro Ensemble Company and a standout performe...