Fine Beats & Cheeses

Get ready to con the rich for the right reasons as we talk "Leverage" and its reboot, "Leverage: Redemption", along with other shows with con artists with a heart of gold. Our guest is writer, musician and stand-up comic Jelani Greenidge. We talk the Leverage shows, as well as awesome shows like "Burn Notice" and the like. I love theses shows, and I loved this conversation.Jelani Greenidge is a consummate communicator with a passion to inform, inflame, and inspire. A writer, musician, hip-hop producer/emcee, DJ and stand-up comic, Jelani is also a graduate of North Park University and serves as Missional Storyteller for the Evangelical Covenant Church. His topical sweet spot is the intersection between hip-hop culture, nerd culture, and evangelical culture. (Come stop by, it’s not a busy intersection.) When he’s not watching TV or playing video games, he’s promoting his book Undercover Prophets: Pursuing Stand-Up Comedy to Talk about What Matters Most. Jelani lives with his wife Holly in leafy Portland, Oregon, with a few dying plants, way too many throw pillows, and a robot vacuum named Rosie.You can find Jelani on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube and here!

Join us for this bright and uplifting conversation about Issa Rae's masterpiece about being Black, young and not so sure of yourself, "Insecure". Our guest is writer, researcher and storyteller Kelly Macias. We really enjoyed this one and we hope you do, too! And check out "Insecure" on Netflix (it's heartfelt and hilarious and also kinda spicy so don't watch with your kids) because it's wonderful). Kelly Macías (she/her) is a writer, researcher, and storyteller based in Los Angeles. The multidisciplinary arts-based approach to her work is inspired by the many lived experiences of Black women and what emerges from their wisdom and magic across time and geographies. Her writing has appeared in Prose Online, The Sunlight Press, Newsweek, The Baltimore Sun, and elsewhere. She is the creator of Toogood Stories, a platform dedicated to documenting, preserving, and making visible the many facets of Black women's lives. When she isn't engaged in her mindfulness meditation practice or binge watching Netflix, she can be found somewhere in the world dancing Argentine tango in a pair of Chuck Taylors. You can find her on Instagram and on her storytelling platform. Toogood Stories.

Don't (boom) stop (hey) thinking about this podcast as we talk legendary rock band Fleetwood Mac with Analese Alvarez, co-host of the podcast Nerd Best Friends. This was so so so so much fun because Analese is not only a fan of the band, she is a really a historian of them and their music AND has a personal tie to their live reunion album and film, "The Dance". Enjoy this episode, then crank some Fleetwood Mac.Analese Alvarez is a high school principal, Buffy fanatic, cohost of Nerd Best Friends, the podcast that covers all of the NERDY conversations you are already having.... OR WISH YOU COULD!You can find her and the show on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

It's a "Yes" from us, Dawg, as we talk classic TV singing competition "American Idol" with our guest, writer Tonya Abari. We start with exuberantly motivational auditioner William Hung and being yourself, even if people don't get it. This was a wonderful musical trip down Memory Lane to a time where we were seated and tuned in to see what Kelly, Justin, Fantasia and the gang were gonna sing every week. This was a fun one. Tonya Abari is a multigenre storyteller. Her words have appeared in Essence, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, Good Housekeeping, AARP, Parents, ZORA, PBS Kids, and many more! The University of Maryland at College Park grad now lives and writes from Nashville, TN. Tonya writes for both children and adults — and has books published and forthcoming with Mudpuppy, The Innovation Press, HarperCollins, Penguin Random House, Quarto, Wiley, and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. When she isn't having her way with words, she can be found reading; visiting historic landmarks; dancing to her golden era of hip hop playlist; or frolicking in and around town with her spouse and children, all whose names also begin with "T." You can find her at tonyaabari.com.

In celebration of Taylor Swift buying her masers back and regaining control of HER music, please enjoy this encore episode of FB&C from April 30, 2024. It's a delightful talk with the delightful Melissa Leygan. Smiling thinking about it. Read more below..We know All Too Well that you will enjoy this episode, as we talk all things Taylor Swift with our guest Melissa Leygan, who is a huge fan (or Swiftie, as they are known). Melissa is the first guest of ours to actually bring us thank you gifts (including baked goods and friendship bracelets), and this convo is as enlightening and delightful as she is. Tell all your Swiftie friends!!You can hear a bonus conversation with us and Melissa on our Patreon page, where you get extra content from FB&C in exchange for a small monthly donation that helps keep us afloat! Sign-up here: https://www.patreon.com/FineBeatsandCheesesMelissa's Bio below...I've been a casual Taylor listener since I was in high school, but I became a fan as we listened to the well-crafted playlist my sister made on the drive up for the Eras tour, and it was when I saw her in May 2023 in MA that I became a real Swiftie(tm). I have so much respect for this woman and how she has navigated this world built to tear down people just like her, and she rebuilt and regrew and kept performing in spite of them all. I can't wait to share my love of her Fearless drive, Reputation, and how her Karma is the guy on the Chiefs. Truly, this bio isn't about me, it's about our Goddess and Queen, Taylor Swift. All Rise For the Queen. 👑Melissa is also on Instagram!

Put on your wind machine and wear something that billows in the breeze as we talk Romance Novels with writer Ashley Hawthorne.Ashley Hawthorne is a soft hearted idealist who wants to live in a world where love really does conquer all. She writes stories that challenge us to believe that we can find light in the darkest places, and her goal is to make us all more grateful for love, family, and forgiveness. She is a contemporary romantic suspense author with two novels currently available, Deliver Me and Death Sentence, and a duology with installments due to be published in 2025 and 2026, all through Creative James Media. She lives in Texas with her husband, two children, and numerous rescue pets.You can find Ashley on Instagram and her website, Ashleyhawthorne.net.

Go get your scuba gear as we talk about the iconic movie about really smart sharks, "Deep Blue Sea". with guest Stephanie Olson. Hilarious episode. Stephanie Olson (she/her) is a writer, cosplayer, horror movie enthusiast (especially the bad ones), and Halloween-all-year person. The first story she ever wrote was the gripping tale of a haunted bog. It was created in an attempt to scare her bunkmates at summer camp, and the result was so successful she was banned from writing any more stories that week. She’s been chasing that high ever since. While horror is her first love, she also enjoys fantasy and mysteries. Stephanie has a short story published in Spontaneous Combustion Volume II, by Sic Semper Serpent, and is part of the writing team for the horror anthology podcast, Ghost Wax. Her debut fantasy novel, Still Chosen: Another Unwanted Adventure, was released in January, 2025. You can find her on Instagram at @stephaniewritesstuff

We're going back, back, back to school again to March 2024 for this Rewind episode where we talk about the cheesy classic "Grease 2", and our guest is journalist and author, Baltimore's own Laura Lippman. We laugh, we sing, we talk about how cute Adrian Zmed is, and why this movie falls short of the first one, yet we still can belt all of the songs. Loudly. Laura Lippman was a reporter for twenty years, including twelve years at The (Baltimore) Sun. She began writing novels while working fulltime and published seven books about “accidental PI” Tess Monaghan before leaving daily journalism in 2024. Her work has been awarded the Edgar ®, the Anthony, the Agatha, the Shamus, the Nero Wolfe, Gumshoe and Barry awards. She also has been nominated for other prizes in the crime fiction field, including the Hammett and the Macavity. She was the first-ever recipient of the Mayor’s Prize for Literary Excellence and the first genre writer recognized as Author of the Year by the Maryland Library Association.Ms. Lippman grew up in Baltimore and attended city schools through ninth grade. After graduating from Wilde Lake High School in Columbia, Md., Ms. Lippman attended Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. Her other newspaper jobs included the Waco Tribune-Herald and the San Antonio Light.Ms. Lippman returned to Baltimore in 1989 and has lived there since. She is the daughter of Theo Lippman Jr., a Sun editorial writer who retired in 1995 but continues to freelance for several newspapers, and Madeline Mabry Lippman, a former Baltimore City school librarian. Her sister, Susan, is a local bookseller.You can find her at:https://lauramlippman.substack.com/ and on Instagram .

Go find a tailor and get your fabulous outfit ready as we discuss last week's Met Gala 2025! Our guest is Alexis Frank of Lexi P Coaching, who specializes in helping eldest daughters. We think that's cool. This is a timely and lively talk and we hope you like it!Alexis says:I stand at the intersection of power, truth, and identity, guiding the next generation of leaders, culture-shapers, and visionaries to remember who the fuck they are.I am a prophetess and cultural philosopher — speaking not just to personal evolution, but to systemic rebirth.My voice is a blueprint.My presence is a reckoning.You can find her on Instagram, LinkedIn, Threads, and at thefccoach.com. You can also hear her on her podcast, F That.

In honor of Mother's Day, we are doing Christmas in May, as we Rewind to Decemeber 2023 to talk to about Hallmark Christmas movies with one of our favorite moms, friend of the show Olivia Dreizen Howell, Co-Founder and CEO of Fresh Starts Registry(and one half of the sibling duo that we call "The Sisters" around here with her sister, Genevieve Dreizen )! It's an episode full of women executives from the big city who travel to Apple Valley or Walnut Lake or something like that for Christmas and fall for their high school sweetheart or the town lumberjack who has a golden retriever and a pickup. As always, there was a lot of laughing in this episode, but also a lot of insight into how all of the characters in these movies are starting over in some way, which is Olivia's specialty. Enjoy the show, and have fun at the Christmas festival at the town gazebo. A bit about Olivia:When Olivia got married at 26, she didn't think she would find herself signing divorce papers a mere 8 years later. As she stood in the half-empty house, it dawned on her that we celebrate engagements, weddings and babies, but not the boldness and bravery it takes to restart your life. Plus, she wondered, how does one find a new therapist, divorce lawyer, or mortgage lender? Relying on Google, friends, and family can be overwhelming, so why isn't there one place for everything you need to begin again? Fresh Starts was founded on this premise. It's a registry for people who are staring over. If this is you, create your registry at https://www.freshstartsregistry.com/Olivia and her sister Genevieve host several podcasts, including A Fresh Story. You can also find Olivia at on Instagram , Threads, and LinkedIn.

Get your long ears and tails to match together for this DELIGHTFUL episode about the underrated and misunderstood cult classic film, 2001's "Josie and the Pussycats". Our guest is costume designer and podcaster, Melinda Hare, and we talk about the tragedy it is that this movie wasn't a hit when it came out, although it has a big following now. We love this movie and we loved doing this episode.About Melinda:"Born/raised in Northern California, I have a background in costume design and construction for theatre. BA from San Francisco state university, MFA from university of Washington. I have worked in professional and educational theatre. I co-created and co-host Haute Set Podcast, a movie podcast with a particular focus on the costume design. "You can find her on Instagram.

Get ready to be your best you as we go back to February 2024 to talk about self-help books with writer Arianna Bradford! We talk about why we love them (or not) and why we are drawn to the advice that we're drawn to. Arianna Bradford is many things, including a writer/author, ADHD coach, herbalist, wife, mommy, and expat. She is the author of the book "Shame On You: Big Truths From a Bad Mom", and has written for Scary Mommy and Parents magazine. She lives in Costa Rica with her family. You can find her at https://www.theariannabradford.com , on Instagram and on YouTube.

Pack your bags for Port Charles, NY, as we talk classic ABC soap, "General Hospital", with our amazing guest, veteran audiobook narrator and really one of the funniest people ever, Tony Penny. Such freaking daggone fun. CW: Mention of sexual assault and how it has been depicted wrongly at times on soaps. Tony Penny is the Principal of Red Hill Productions, LLC< and is an award-winning audiobook narrator with over 300 titles currently available on Audible. He has voiced commercials and marketing & e-learning material for clients such as Ralph Lauren, Verizon, Honda, and the United States Marine Corps, in which he spent 8 years himself. He lives in Frederick, MD, with his wife, two kids, two dogs, and a cat. You can find him on Facebook and Instagram.

Gather your Family around and listen to this episode on the film saga "The Fast and the Furious" and all of its related movies and media. We talk to podcast host Chris Smith and it is a real hoot. Because, as Vin Diesel assures us over and over, we're Family. Yes. Meet Chris:"Hi, I’m Chris Smith! I’m the voice behind Podtastic Audio and one-half of the fun-loving team that hosts the Kris and Kristine Show. Podcasting is my passion, and I love sharing tips, tricks, and advice to help others create amazing shows through Podtastic Audio. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to improve your sound, I’m here to make the process easier and more enjoyable.On the Kris and Kristine Show, my wife Kristine and I share real-life stories about love, family, and all the ups and downs in between. It’s our way of connecting with people, spreading a little positivity, and having some laughs along the way. When I’m not behind the mic, you’ll probably find me tinkering with audio gear or brainstorming new ideas for the next episode.Podcasting isn’t just a hobby for me—it’s a way to connect, inspire, and have a lot of fun doing it. Thanks for stopping by, and I hope to see you around the podcasting world!"You can find Chris on Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, and on his website at Podtasticaudio.com.

Travel with us to July 2024 with this conversation with our lifelong friend, Glenda Crest, who also listens to Fine Beats and Cheeses more than anyone who isn't Lynne, Leslie or Sam. We love her.Do you yell at us through your speakers? Long time friend of the Podcast, Glenda, gets to do just that in person...About Glenda:Younger of 2 siblings, Watches wayyy too much TV. Been on various choirs since a child. Graduate of Baltimore City College. Towson STATE University, Mass Communications. Worked in TV Production since 1992.Still single, accepting applications.

It's all product placement, all the time as we talk to educator, writer and podcaster Shaun Duke about 1988's E.T. rip-off/commercial for McDonald's and Coca-Cola wrapped into a movie "Mac and Me". Oh, we laughed while recording this one. y'all. Is it a good movie? No. Is it delightful? Yes. Hope you love this episode. Shaun Duke is a writer, editor, podcaster, and educator. By day, he works as a professor of English at DMACC and as the Director of the Portolan Project, where he builds educational modules for science fiction, fantasy, and horror writers. By night, he produces The Skiffy and Fanty Show, a 4X Hugo Finalist SF/F/H podcast, streams games and occasional TTRPG actual plays on Twitch as AlphabetStreams, and works as a freelance editor at The Duke of Editing. He's also published genre fiction in a few places, which is pretty cool, among other nifty things. He also loves books, reptiles, his cat, and other strangeness.You can find Shaun on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.

Get out your dust cloth and prepared to wax on and off as we talk all things Karate Kid (and its sequel series Cobra Kai) with writer M.C. Benner Dixon. This is an awesome discussion of how good guys and bad guys are not always as clear as we imagine them to be. We hope you love it!!M. C. Benner Dixon lives, writes, and grows things in Pittsburgh, PA. She is quick to make a pun and slow to cut her grass. Her debut novel, The Height of Land, is an Orison Fiction Prize winner and will be released by Orison Books in April 2025. Her poetry and prose have appeared or are forthcoming in Flash Fiction Online, Reckoning, Literary Hub, Fusion Fragment, Appalachian Review, and elsewhere. Millions of Suns, a collection of craft essays co-authored with Sharon Fagan McDermott, is out now from the University of Michigan Press. Find her at bennerdixon.com. You can also find her on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.

Yes, today we talk gastric distress and more with author Marla Taviano. It's not just about the farts, though!! We talk about what we all have in common, even when it's uncomfortable. It's a really honest conversation and we hope you like it. Marla Taviano is into books, love, justice, globes, anti-racism, blue, gray, rainbows, and poems. She reads and writes for a living, wears her heart on her t-shirts, and is on a journey to live wholefarted (not a typo). She's the author of unbelieve, jaded, and whole, and lives in South Carolina with her kids and her cats. Find out more at marlataviano.com. You can also find her on Facebook, Instagram, and Threads.

Get your honey sticks, baked donuts and balloon arches ready as we discuss Meghan (formerly Markle), Duchess of Sussex's new Netflix lifestyle show, "With Love, Meghan". Our guest is the wonderful Donyelle Marshall, Media and Entertainment Development Advisor. We talk domestication, making nice stuff, and why some people seem ready to not like anything that the Duchess does. I hope you like it. We had a lot of fun with this one!Donyelle T. Marshall has been immersed in the arts and entertainment space for over 40 years with beginnings as a multidisciplinary artist and photojournalist. Marshall is the founder of Reedapoint, an advisory firm for business development in arts, sports and entertainment entities and Negrovela Productions which focuses on stories of Afro-descendents in the Americas. You can find her on Instagram, Threads, and LinkedIn.

2/3 of the Fine Beats team are either sick or have a sick kid, so this week, Fine Beats and Cheeses goes up to 11 as we bring you this hilarious Rewind Episode from October 2023 where we discussed the classic Rock Mockumentary, "This Is Spinal Tap" with our guest, author and radio host Brant Hansen. I think this episode has more instances of communal giggling than any other episode we have done. We talk this movie's hilarity and earnestness and just all-around wonderfulness. Brant Hansen is a bestselling author and nationally syndicated radio host on more than 150 stations. His podcast, with friend and show producer Sherri Lynn ("The Brant and Sherri Oddcast") has been downloaded more than 15 million times. Brant has written for the Washington Post and CNN.com, among many other outlets, and he was recently featured on ABC's Good Morning America. He lives in Jupiter with his wife Carolyn. They've been married for almost 35 years. You can find Brant at Branthansen.com , Facebook , Instagram and you can find The Brant and Sherri Oddcast wherever you listen to podcasts!

Author Julie Whitehead talks about how music helped to inspire her while writing Hurricane Baby: Stories Spoiler alert, we've got an eerily similar 80's playlist going on...Julie Liddell Whitehead lives and writes in Mississippi. Her debut book is Hurricane Baby: Stories from Madville Publishing. She loves Peanuts, the Muppets, Hamilton: An American Musical, and 80s music. You can find her on LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

The terror that flaps in the night! Wait, we've crossed pop culture streams! Joining us is guest Wendy Gibson to discuss all the Batmen and their effect on us and on pop culture!Wendy says:I am a long time educator with a passion to encourage others. In addition to working in public education, I recently opened my own business WendysWavesSwimSchool. I would love to share my passion for teaching on your podcast and also talk about the social and cultural significance of Batman from the comic book error thru to modern movies!

Walk slowly so that you can blend in with the zombies back to January 2024 for this rewind episode as we talked epic undead TV series "The Walking Dead" with Brian Wade, Pastor of Centerpoint Church- Kent Island in Stevensville, Maryland. This was a really deep convo about this show, media with dystopian themes, and other shows with complicated stories (like "Lost" and "Game of Thrones"). This was SUCH a good conversation. You can find Brian at:Instagram , YouTube, and on his podcast After the Show with B Wade

Get our your formal dinner outfit, and join us back in February 2024 for this REALLY hilarious episode of FB&C as we talked new classic PBS period drama, "Downton Abbey". Our guest is playwright and actor France-Luce Benson. We discuss the show and loving being transported to a different place and time. We hope you love it. France-Luce Benson is a playwright, television writer and performer. Her plays have been produced and developed at Ensemble Studio Theatre NY, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Crossroads Theatre, Atlantic Theatre Company, The Billy Holiday Theatre, the New Black Fest, Juggernaut Theatre, City Theatre Miami, Fountain Theatre, Global Voices Theatre in London, and at the Afropea Festival in Marseilles, France. Honors include the Lily’s Lorraine Hansberry Award, Son Pictures Television Fellow, New York State Council on the Arts’ Individual Artist Award, Dramatists Guild Fellow, Sam French OOB Festival Winner, and Zoetrope’s Grand Prize for Best Original screenplay. Her plays The Talk, Showtime Blues, Her work has been published by DPS, Samuel French, and Routledge. She was a staff writer on the TV series Bass Reeves and is currently an Assistant Professor of Theatre at CSU San Marcos. Find her:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/franceluceInstagram: @luceloveslightTwitter: @francelucebensoLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/francelucebenson/

We jump out of the corner that nobody put us in to talk about the best movie ever, 1987's "Dirty Dancing", with our guests and friends of the show, Olivia Howell and Genevieve Dreizen, who we call "The Sisters". This was a wonderful conversation and we hope you love it. In 2020, after her divorce, Olivia wanted to create a system of support for the moments in life when we start over. Alongside her sister, Jenny Dreizen, Olivia founded Fresh Starts Registry, and since then, it has been named the “the first divorce registry of its kind” by Forbes. It has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, New York Magazine, Forbes, The Cut, The New York Post, and more. Fresh Starts Registry is the first registry and online platform for everything a person needs to begin their life again after a major life change, such as divorce, job changes, moving, or coming out. They provide a free registry builder and bundles of products based on rooms of the house and budget to eliminate the overwhelm of creating a registry for restarting their life. The platform features 100+ vetted Experts in all categories to support people in all processes of their life changes. It is always free to build a registry and access the experts. Fresh Starts aims to eliminate the overwhelming feeling of starting your life over again with all the home items and Experts you need to empower you on your journey forward.Listen to them on their podcast, A Fresh Story, and find them:Olivia- Instagram and Threads Genevieve- Instagram and Threads

Happy Valentines Day 2025! Travel with us back to February of 2024 and get out your hankies because we are talking about classic tearjerker, "A Walk To Remember", with our guest, friend of the show, Catrina Parker. It's a lovely movie and lovely conversation! And also, Mandy Moore has always been wonderful. We have also posted a bonus episode that continues the conversation, and subscribers to our Patreon can find it here! Hey, you should join!https://www.patreon.com/FineBeatsandCheesesCatrina is the host of the Quirky Pop Podcast where she explores quirky characters in tv, film, and other areas with hint of social science. Catrina has been on panels a fan conventions and interviewed in The Guardian, The New York Times, and WGN Weekend News. Catrina lives with her two teens and cat, Gallifrey in Bloomington,Il.

Grab your friends and your bridal magazines and join us for this festive episode where we talk to social media strategist Brée Nachelle about TLC's wedding dress hit show "Say Yes to the Dress". This was a fun conversation about somethin we all had a lot to say about!Brée Nachelle is a former NASA digital media specialist turned social media strategist, meditation facilitator, and host of the Fabulous Fuckery podcast. With a passion for mental wellness and storytelling, she explores the intersections of digital media, creativity, and personal growth. Brée’s unique journey inspires others to find balance and brilliance in the chaos of everyday life.You can find her on Instagram, Threads, and at Breenachelle.com.

Come with us to August of 2023 for this wonderful episode about introverts. It was a single twin week as Leslie was on vacation! This time, Lynne cohosts with Elicia Marie, friend of the show and past guest, as they welcome Melvin Edwards to the show to talk about introverts, their image in pop culture, and how being one is part of who he is. We talk superheroes, sensitive kids, and letting your people find you. Melvin E. Edwards is a 6th-generation Texan, who was an award-winning newspaper reporter and columnist before entering the colorful and ambitious world of Texas politics. He started his career writing about Texas high school football and within a few short years, he was a speechwriter for the Lieutenant Governor and Governor of Texas. He has written two award-winning books tracing generations of his Texas family back to its Republic of Texas days, making him one of the first African-American members of the Sons of the Republic of Texas. He has the rarest Myers-Briggs personality type in the world (INFJ), which could explain why he loves cowboy boots, hats, and baseball, and can imagine stories so big, they make even Texas seem small.

Join us for this delightful episode where we talk the 2019 cinematic remake of "Hellboy" with our guest, artist Jon Bonjour. This was a really fun one. Jon says:Hi! I'm Jon! I'm an illustrator, graphic designer, and storyteller with the life goal of spreading love through creativity! Comic book, storyboard, children’s book, and coloring book art have been my focus for over a decade. I am published as both a writer and an artist of children’s books and graphic novels, a passion that was sparked when I picked up my first comic book (Amazing Spider-Man Issue #378) at a garage sale at age 10. ​My mission is to display God through stories. I see art not as an expression of myself, but as a gift given to me to steward. I am honored to have the opportunity.You can find him on his website, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

Come back with us to December of 2023 for this delicious conversation about food that feeds the soul with journalist Wilkine Brutus about food, and specifically, the ways that food from all over the world brings us together. We talk about how food may be unfamiliar, but none of it is weird. Basically, it's about liking what you like. Wilkine Brutus is a reporter/producer and host for WLRN, South Florida's NPR station. The award-winning, Haitian-American journalist produces stories on topics surrounding Palm Beach County, news, current affairs, arts and culture — for radio and web. Before joining WLRN, Brutus worked as a Digital Reporter for the Palm Beach Post, producing print and video-based profiles of artists and entrepreneurs. Prior to that, he spent four years in South Korea as an English educator and freelance cultural journalist, amassing millions of views on his YouTube channel. Brutus is the founder of Maps & Diaries, a new media production company highlighting cross-cultural stories, art and travel. "A Boat A Voyage," produced under the startup, is a 5-episode podcast exploring his Haitian mother’s account of her 1980's refugee experience in Miami and Cuba.You can find Wilkine at:Instagram and Twitter- @wilkinebrutusYouTube- https://www.youtube.com/@WilkineBrutus

Take off your shoes and socks and make yourself comfortable as our guest, Dr. Carrie Graham, talks about her affection for foot care videos, where doctors lovingly serve people with severe foot issues. It's a conversation about the intersections of dirt, compassion, bunions and dignity, and how sometimes the best way to show someone that you care is to wash their feet, both literally and figuratively. What a beautiful talk this was. Dr Carrie Graham believes “learning opportunities are everywhere; all the time and we should remove barriers that prevent growth”. Along with 25+ years of training experience and a PhD in adult and workplace learning, Dr. Graham leads teams to create strategies for efficient training implementation that exceed expectations. In her down time, Dr G is watching toenail procedures on YouTube. She admits to watching the Meticulous Manicurist, the DC Foot Doctor, and the Toe Bro because they are providing necessary foot care, she loves things to be clean, and caring for others in this intimate way is a form of social justice + Christian love. NOTE FROM LYNNE: These really uplifting videos show feet with problems, so if you don't want to see that, don't click the links in the paragraph above. You can find Dr. Graham on Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube .

Travel with us back to August 2023 where we talked game shows with our friend, Milton Kent!No Whammys!! We had a hoot recording this episode with veteran journalist Milton Kent, and we talk about game shows, both classic and new. Milton Kent is a veteran of Baltimore sports media, having covered the World Series, the Final Four, the NBA, NFL conference championship games, sports media and high schools over a career that spans over four decades. He currently teaches journalism at Morgan State University, where he is an advisor to the school newspaper, The MSU Spokesman. He and his wife live in Baltimore County.You can listen to him on his show Sports At Large from WYPR on that station, or wherever you listen to podcasts!

Enjoy this thoughtful conversation about comics with comic book historian, Sasha Kaplan!Sasha Kaplan is a comic book historian, Jewish representation advocate, and pop culture commentator. She holds a Master's degree in US History and educates people about Jewish history, people, and issues of Jewish portrayal in TV, film, and comics at various events, synagogues, and comic cons. She is a funny, passionate, effective speaker, moderator, and charming individual. You can find Sasha on Instagram!

Journey back with us to June 2024! We have our banjos tuned and our cowboy hats on as we talk country music with our friend, podcaster and author, Melvin E. Edwards, who was previously on our episode on Introverts. This was a really fun conversation about country, who it belongs to and who gets to sing it (the answer to that s EVERYONE), its origins, and other issues that were raised by the release this past spring of Beyonce's "Cowboy Carter". GOOD conversation. Melvin E. Edwards is the host of the popular podcast, Stories From Real Life, and the author of "The Eyes of Texans: From Slavery to the Texas Capitol: Stories From Six Generations' of One Family" and "The Strength of a Thousand Suns: More Stories from my Texas Family".

Don't go broke doing the stuff you love! Listen to this episode with Financial Coach Nicole Stanley about budgeting for guilty pleasures. This is an honest and eye-opening conversation! We loved it. Nicole Stanley is owner and head money coach at Arise Financial Coaching. Her mission? Shame-free and accessible wealth-building education empowering women. Nicole is a Latina founder and personal finance expert. After paying off debt and increasing her family’s net worth through investing, she discovered her passion for helping women change their communities through financial literacy and wealth. Arise Financial Coaching has helped hundreds of women get out of debt, save, and become confident investors. Nicole and Arise have been featured on GMA, Yahoo Finance, Time, ABC News, Business Insider, and more.You can find her on Facebook and Instagram!

Come with us back to July 2023 (and actually further back to prehistoric times) as we talk The Flintstones with our friend, veteran voice actor Ivan Sherry! He has done a bunch of animated shows and projects, including starring as Inspector Gadget on the 2015 reboot (PLUS you may hear a bit of the Inspector on this podcast episode and it's amazing). We talk about the lasting effect of The Flintstones on popular culture from the 60s through now. What a fun, fun episode. Ivan's voice credits include "Inspector Gadget" (2015-2018), the Assassin's Creed games, and his live action credits include the "Fargo" TV series and "Murdoch Mysteries". He can be heard currently on the BYUtv animated series, "Saving Me".

We're starting off the new year with this really calming and encouraging episode with our guest, Master Empowerment Coach Teal Shoop about the wonderful joys of a good cup of tea. This was a lovely conversation that touches on working through what you are dealing with and being your best self. We hope that is helps start your year off right.CW: Grief, depression, suicide ideationTeal says:As a little background about me, I’m all about helping women raise their frequency, step into their power, and connect with their authentic self, their Goddess self in order to live a life they love and thrive. As a recovered people pleaser, perfectionist, overachiever (who spent years off and on in depression and even several suicidal episodes), it is my mission to help as many women as possible move beyond their limitations, suffering, and whatever is holding them back so they can live their desires. Our desires are our birthright, and inspired by my 22 month old daughter, it breaks my heart to think of any woman (or anyone else) ever experiencing even a fraction of the darkness I’ve gone through…and come out the other side of. 😊Find out more about Teal here, on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Threads, and YouTube.

Join us on the last new Fine Beats and Cheeses episode of 2024 as we talk to digital skills expert and trainer, Kendra Nelson AKA the Charm City Maven , about Black Sci Fi and Afrofuturism. It's an inspiring conversation that we hope you love. Recorded in August 2024.Note: Here is a link to the Octavia Butler essay "Lost Races of Science Fiction" mentioned in the episode. Kendra Nelson, in her words, is "Baltimore's digital equity champion and civic engagement enthusiast. My mission? Rewiring the digital landscape for a better future! I'm all about empowering mid-level professionals with game-changing digital skills and advocating for digital equity. Whether I'm crafting transformative training programs, fostering civic engagement, or lobbying over coffee, I'm dedicated to bridging the digital divide."You can find Kendra on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube!

Accept this gift from us! It's a rewind of our episode last tear about Rankin-Bass Christmas Specials. It's a hoot (and we will have a brand-new episode tomorrow)!Tis the season for holiday stop motion animation from the 1970s, as we talk the classic Rankin/Bass Christmas specials with amazing guest, Marni Penning. We discuss old faves like "Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer" and "Santa Claus is Coming to Town", debate which Miser brother (Heat or Snow ) had the best song, and generally laugh a lot. It was fun!!MARNI PENNING is an award-winning actress, audiobook narrator, playwright, teacher, children's book illustrator, and proud ADHD mom who lives with her husband, son, dog, fish, and chickens in Falls Church, VA. Career includes 54 productions of 23 of Shakespeare's plays, and she has toured, taught, and coached Shakespeare for over 25 years. Ms. Penning is also a co-founder of Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, for whom she performed over 35 roles, including Juliet, Kate, Rosalind, Beatrice, and Hamlet. DC: Shakespeare Theatre, Studio Theatre, Round House, Mosaic Theatre, Woolly Mammoth, Folger, Washington Stage Guild, American Century. Regional: Orlando Shakespeare Theater, Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, Georgia Shakespeare, Human Race. Film: Mona Lisa Smile, Sonnet #77. Television: ‪Saturday Night Live, All My Children, Guiding Light‬. Playwright: Carol's Christmas, DC 1-Minute Play Festival (4 years).Find her:Facebook http://fb.com/marniwatchInstagram @theladyhamletLinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/theladyhamlet/YouTube http://youtube.com/theladyhamlethttp://theladyhamlet.com

We are so happy to have had this conversation with the wonderful Gwydion Suilebhan about the classic wartime dramedy series, M*A*S*H. Like seriously, it's a wonderful episode, recorded in September of this year. Please forgive some audio interference when Lynne talks at first because she was at a coffee shop during recording .CW: War and what comes with itGwydion Suilebhan is a cultural critic, essayist, and playwright. A lifelong arts advocate, he serves as both the Executive Director of the PEN/Faulkner Foundation and the Project Director of the New Play Exchange for the National New Play Network.A founding member of The Welders, a Helen Hayes Award-winning playwrights collective in Washington, DC, Suilebhan previously held the position of Director of Brand and Marketing for Woolly Mammoth. Earlier in his career, he worked as a brand and communications consultant for arts and culture organizations.Suilebhan currently serves on the board of the Alliance for Jewish Theatre. From 2017-2020, he was a member of the Council of the Dramatists Guild of America. He speaks widely on the intersection between the arts and technology in the 21st century.Gwydion Suilebhan is a cultural critic, essayist, and playwright. A lifelong arts advocate, he serves as both the Executive Director of the PEN/Faulkner Foundation and the Project Director of the New Play Exchange for the National New Play Network.You can find him on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Chung Chung!!We are so excited to be talking about NBC's REALLY long-running crime drama, Law and Order (and all of its versions). Our guest is writer of arts and politics, Stephen Robinson. This was a really smart fantastic conversation and we can't wait for you to hear it! And it's especially awesome because we recorded an L&O episode with Stephen last year that had tech issues and never saw the light of day, so we recorded a whole new L&O episode in August and here it is!CW: This episode mentions murder and sexual assault. You can find out more about Stephen by subscribing to his newsletter, The Play Typer Guy, and find him on Instagram.

We are so happy to talk to returning guest and friend of the show, podcaster David Ginsburg, about animated shows for adults, like "King of the Hill" and "Bob's Burgers". We talked about our faves, and why cartoons are for the grown-ups, too! He is seriously one of our favorite guests, and is one of Fine Beats and Cheese's biggest cheerleaders.David Ginsburg is host of the Tales from the Fandom podcast, a show where fans of all kinds of stuff come on to talk about what they love. Live in Orlando, FL. He loves so many different things its hard to quantify, but he can and he will. You can find David on the Tales From the Fandom Facebook page, on their Facebook group page, on Instagram, on YouTube, and on Threads.

We are ridiculously thrilled to talk about dating apps with today's guest, Saturday Night Live alum, Dr. Ellen Cleghorne!! We laughed. A LOT. This was a really joyous conversation and we can't wait for you to hear it. Content Note: A few spicy words.Ellen Cleghorne is an iconic actress and comedian, and was a cast member of Saturday Night Live from 1991 to 1995. She was SNL's second Black woman to be a regular part of the cast. She's gone on to appear in things like "The Adventures of Pete and Pete", "Armageddon", and was hilarious on Hulu's 2024 series, "How To Die Alone". She holds a PhD in Performance Studies from NYU. She also contributed to the book "Rolling: Blackness and Mediated Comedy", printed by Indiana University Press. You can find her on Instagram and Threads.

Get out your mixing bowls and your fondant, as we talk baking competition TV shows with author Jamie Jackson! It's a conversation that's as sweet and spicy as those shows can be, and it was thoroughly delightful!Jamie Jackson is the author of the 7- book series, "Adventures of a Villain-Leaning Humanoid", an urban fantasy super-hero romance collection. You can find her on Instagram and Threads.

The Fine Beats Crew has stuff this week, so enjoy this Rewind episode from this past April 2024, where our guest was Josh Mankiewicz, journalist and reporter for classic true crime show, Dateline! We talked about a bunch of stuff, including food and health, and also, Dateline (which is actually one of Leslie's not-so-guilty-at-all-pleasures). This was a really, really fun one, and it was an honor to talk to him. Josh Mankiewicz is an American journalist, who has been reporting for Dateline NBC since 1995. He has reported for The Today Show and NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams, and Sunday Night with Megyn Kelly. Before moving to NBC, Mankiewicz worked as a producer and reporter for ABC News. (Bio from Wikipedia, because we give credit)Twitter @JoshMankiewicz

We are so excited to welcome back comedian, TV writer, and friend of the show Ashley Ray , as we dive into the writer's room drama behind the medical drama "Grey's Anatomy". "Anatomy of Lies" is a docuseries on Peacock about a writer on "Grey's" who wasn't at all what she claimed to be, and it's a wild story with a bunch of twists and turns. Ashley was on one of our very first episodes in 2022 (that' is not currently available) so when we heard about this documentary, we knew we wanted her on!CW: some spicy words, mention of sexual assault, cancer, mental illnessAshley Ray is a comedian and TV Writer. Her debut comedy album, "Ice Cream Money", is out now on Blonde Medicine Records. In 2022, Ashley wrote on Adult Swim’s, ALABAMA JACKSON created by Donald Faison. Ashley was selected as one of HBO Max’s Queer Comics to Watch for 2021 and filmed a digital special for the platform. That same year she did a sold out hour at Union Hall in NY and debuted a new hour at The Yard Theater in Los Angeles. She hosts High Gear Comedy, a monthly live show with Barbara Gray at The Airliner in LA. Ashley is the host of the popular podcast ‘TV I Say with Ashley Ray’ which was featured in the New York Times as a 2021 Podcast Worth Checking Out.” She’s also been a guest on NPR’s Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me and Seth Rogen’s Storytime. She is also known for her viral Shaun King video and post. Her newsletter about TV, pop culture and life as a solo poly bisexual dream babe was named "One of the Best 2020 Newsletters to Subscribe to That Will Keep You Informed and Entertained" by Marie Claire.You can find her on Instagram. , X (formerly Twitter), and Threads.

Thank all you wonderful Cheese Cubes for your support and encouragement! This week, our guests are US. Join us for a look back at the podcast, a few of our own guilty-not-guilty pleasures, and the usual random meandering sidebars! We are so happy to be doing this little show for and with you, and we hope you keep listening!Here is where to find us, if you wanna find us more!THE SHOW:Facebook, Instagram and ThreadsLeslie Gray Streeter:Facebook, Instagram and ThreadsLynne Streeter Childress:Facebook, Instagram, ThreadsSam Lewis :Instagram

Friend of the show Catrina Parker dives deep into the beloved world of The Golden Girls with twin sister Leslie and Producer Sam. Twin sister Lynne was unavoidable off to St. Olaf...Catrina is the host of the Quirky Pop Podcast where she explores quirky characters in tv, film, and other areas with hint of social science. Catrina has been on panels a fan conventions and interviewed in The Guardian, The New York Times, and WGN Weekend News. Catrina lives with her two teens and cat, Gallifrey in Bloomington, Il. You can find her on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

Join motivational speaker Chris Clews as we talk about the lessons we can learn from the myriad of 80s movies, including John Hughes and beyond! Chris is a keynote speaker, author and ‘80s pop culture guy. Growing up in the '80s and with over 20 years of leadership experience in marketing, Chris knew 3 things very well – '80s pop culture, business and this thing we call life. He left corporate marketing to become a keynote speaker and author. He's spoken to organizations like VISA, Duke Health, University of Florida, Penn Medicine, DHL, and more. His keynote is titled “Everything I Need To Know (For Life and Work), I Learned from ‘80s Pop Culture” and as an author created the book series, The Ultimate Series on Essential Work & Life Lessons from ‘80s Pop Culture, which has 3 volumes.He's passionate about animal rescue and donates a portion of the proceeds from his book sales and speaking events to Wonder Paws rescue, which saved his pit-mix, Bodhi. He lives by the quote from the poet laureate, Ferris Bueller, when he said, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop to look around once in a while, you could miss it.”Find Chris on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook and on his website.

Today, we talk the long running true crime podcast, "Snapped", with our guest, podcaster Adonica Albert, host of You Do You!Adonica says: "I’ve had more than 30 years experience in the fitness industry as a personal trainer in a variety of specialties. I still dabble in it here and there but what really has my attention now is RED LIGHT THERAPY and the potential to help people with pain and inflammation.Being a stroke survivor (one major and two minors) with an abundance of other medical issues, I went down the rabbit hole researching Red Light Therapy and strokes. It blew my mind the abundance of research out there, and it all looks promising!"You can find Adonica on Facebook, LinkedIn, and on her website!