[Un]phased Unedited Podcast

This week on [un]phased Unedited, the team explore the concept of cultural continuity and the ways communities preserve customs, values, stories, and traditions across generations (for good or for bad). Using Ryan Coogler's film, "Sinners" as a cultural touchpoint, they trace the journey of the Zaouli mask dance   of the Guro people of Côte d’Ivoire through West African performance...

What happens when violence and inequality become so commonplace that we stop reacting to them? In this episode, Dr. Shaunna and Dr. Lisa explore the concept of desensitization and how repeated exposure shapes what we see as normal, acceptable, or inevitable. From economic policy and global conflict to historical racial violence and everyday language, they examine the ways indiv...

In this episode of [un]phased unedited, we examine "Diaspora Wars," the tensions that surface between African Americans, continental Africans, Caribbean immigrants, and other communities across the global Black diaspora.  We then move to the controversy surrounding a University of Maryland club tennis team email that included an altered version of the Maryland flag featuring r@cist image...

Every so often, we stumble upon a word that aligns seamlessly with current events. Today's vocabulary spotlight features  doughty  and  slew  as we recount the case of Christa Gail Pike following her recently botched ex*cution. Dr. Lisa and Dr. Shaunna will wrestle with broader questions regarding capital punishment in the U.S., including, what comes next in Pike's legal proces...

What happens when a society believes that one group's gain must come at another group's expense? In this episode of [un]phased unedited, Dr. Shaunna and Dr. Lisa explore the concept of the zero-sum game and the powerful ways it shapes American culture, policy, and public perception. From Heather McGhee's groundbreaking book, The Sum of Us to a recent advertising controversy involving Converse, the...

In this episode, Dr. Shaunna and Dr. Lisa explore Weltschmerz — the German concept of “world-pain,” a deep, melancholic weariness about the suffering and imperfection woven into human life.  Dr. Shaunna leads a conversation about gathering and fighting, drawing inspiration from Priya Parker’s books. They explore Parker’s idea of “healthy heat” and if it's even possible in the sociopolitical c...

Over 400 celebrities signed an ACLU letter in support of Jimmy Kimmel's return to the air after being silenced by cronies of the current presidential administration. While public opposition to threats to free speech grew, we simultaneously had to navigate being presented with unwanted videos of recent public violence in the social media public square.  Word of the Week [1:46]: Otrovert:...

In this episode, we explore how attempting to quell some voices simply amplifies them. We start from Amanda Montell's book,  Cultish (2021)  and the world of thought‑terminating clichés. T hese are catchy, seemingly harmless phrases that shut down curiosity, silence, dissent, and discourage deeper critical thinking. We also investigate the role of satire as...

In this episode, Dr. Shaunna and Dr. Lisa debrief Tad Stoermer’s latest work on democratic resilience and the nine strategies that separate performative resistance from sustained, principled action. They trace how movements lose momentum when power is squandered — from Biden’s missed opportunities to the enduring arc toward justice. Abusive authority will wait you out unless you build structures t...

We had so much to discuss this week that we just skipped the Word of the Week and got right to it! Apparently, there is language to describe individuals who have had to outthink systems that weren't built for their survival. (Oh wait, are we talking about the entire U.S.?)   Anyway, Bruce Ellis's Hidden Talents Framework introduces survivor's intelligence and its five dimensions.   Then,...

In this episode of [un]phased unedited, Dr. Shaunna and Dr. Lisa tackle two of today's most pressing workforce conversations: the changing nature of employment and the growing instability within higher education. From corporate DEI decisions to the realities of adjunct faculty labor, this episode explores what happens when institutions prioritize flexibility, cost-cutting, and short-term solutions...

From "peak w*ke" to a new era of class-conscious activism, Dr. Lisa and Dr. Shaunna trace how "w*ke" evolved -- from 1923 down through the most recent focus on economic populism and practical justice. Drawing on voices like AOC and Chi Ossé, we explore what happens when movements mature -- and what "w*ke" means for leadership and community work.   Mentioned in the show Episode 139: Wake Up… S...

In this episode, Dr. Shaunna and Dr. Lisa begin by exploring how language and lifestyle branding shape women's identities and power. They start with the concept of semantic derogation -- the way words associated with women or marginalized groups acquire negative meanings over time. They then pivot to the rise of "trad wife" influencers, whose curated domesticity makes entrepreneurial empires built...

In this episode, Dr. Lisa and Dr. Shaunna tackle intertwined themes shaping intimacy and connection today:  stealthing and the cost-of-living crisis that's rewriting the rules of dating. The topics reveal how power, consent, and economics intersect in our most personal spaces. They also explore voting patterns in support or against candidates accused of domestic violence, revealing partisan d...

In today’s episode, the Drs. unpack the layered concept of respectability politics—a survival strategy turned social constraint—and explore how it continues to shape institutional norms today. Using Tuskegee University’s updated dress code policy as a case study, they examine the intersection of professional preparation, cultural expression, and standards in historically Black spaces. Additionally...

Given that we love language, Dr. Shaunna discusses " false cognates"  —words that look or sound the same across languages but mean different things—and how they can cause awkward, harmful, or even offensive moments. Toronto Tempo Head Coach Sandy Brondello provides a recent example of this with problematic language about Atlanta Dream's Angel Reese. Later Dr. Lisa discusses&nbs...

Pick up what we're putting down with the double entendre! This week's 250th episode has little to do with the history of the country and everything to do with museums and football (soccer). We start with introducing a century-old term: "museum fatigue" which explains what we've all felt physically but never knew how to describe while appreciating art. Then, we move into The Men’s World Cup action...

In this week's episode, the Drs explore the idea of "sampling" original ideas but using them to make a point out of context. This can be used as a weapon or an effective political tool, and the ethics of intent continue to be queried. Next up, they discuss social media use as an accountability tool. This includes public callouts — cheaters, rac*sts, other -ists — white men’s provocation...

This week, we discuss Suzan-Lori Park's play-within-a-play, “Sally & Tom” before we segue into the latest regarding SCOTUS decisions on immigration, asylum, and green card protections. We start with the Word of the Week, micro-boycotting, which is a great way to have agency when it feels that there are no options for you as a consumer. Then we move into the stage play that queries the complex...

In today’s episode, Shaunna and Lisa reflect on the weight of June anniversaries — Pulse Nightclub (6/12) and the Emanuel 9 (6/17) — as well as the meaning of Juneteenth (6/19) in a moment that also saw the opening of the Obama Presidential Center (OPC).  Then, the green algae of the Reflecting Pool in Washington, DC is more than just a chemistry project gone wrong. They discuss the politics...

The Drs. open this week's episode hot and unapologetic: a gender-reveal smoke bomb turned into a months-long inferno, a firefighter lost his life, and three companies suddenly write checks for more than $4 million. Then they pivot to the political tightrope -- authenticity vs. electability -- and ask whether moderates who vote with the sketchy are doing the right thing in the moment. Listen in for...

In this episode, Dr. Shaunna and Dr. Lisa examine language in a new way. First, they look at Elsa Mehary's provocative Instagram reel regarding what it means to be a polymath —someone with a wide range of knowledge or learning—and ask a provocative question: Are you a polymath, or just Black? It's always a good time to examine what’s celebrated as “genius” in one space that may be dismissed as “su...

Before your listen, take your SAT... S poiler Alert: If you plan to see  The Odyssey this podcast has spoilers. A lert: This episode mentions how control manifests in faith communities T hink: Hopefully, this episode will make you think!   This week, we have a thoughtful, sometimes funny, but always honest conversation about why we believe what we believe — and who gets to tell us what’s...

Before your listen, take your SAT... S poiler Alert: If you plan to see  Michael,  the movie, this podcast has several spoilers. A lert: This episode mentions a high-profile legal case. All acts are alleged while the case is pending.  conten T Warning: We also discuss various forms of abuse.  Although several movies and mini-series have come before, we were excit...

In this week's episode, the hosts touch on the notion of jawboning as a means of political coercion and the Obama Presidential Center - the 8-story, 225-foot-tall museum tower designed for community in ways that the other presidential centers have not accomplished. Lastly, the Drs deep dive into the theory of colorblindness using the Voting Rights Act as a backdrop. It can make intuitive sense to...