Chocolate: The Podcast

Questionable Chocolate: Q&A Pt.4

On this episode of Chocolate: The Podcast, we dive into another deeply personal and hilarious Q&A episode answering listener questions about music obsessions, social batteries, embarrassing fashion eras, and the strange emotional trauma caused by staplers. From reflections on the Black Arts Movement to why social media might deserve less of our energy, this episode moves between thoughtful, funny, cozy, and unexpectedly vulnerable. Join Patreon. Join the Chocolate Club. 🍫 Chocolate: The Podcast — Unwrapped. 👉 https://www.patreon.com/c/chocolatethepodcast [https://www.patreon.com/c/chocolatethepodcast] Want to stay connected with Chocolate: The Podcast? Follow us on Instagram: @chocolatethepodcast [https://www.instagram.com/chocolatethepodcast/]

Bubbly Chocolate: Soda

On this episode of Chocolate: The Podcast, we take a step back and look at what’s really behind something as simple as a fizzy drink. From culture and marketing to identity and environment, this deep dive starts with soda, but quickly turns into something much bigger. References * Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Sugar-Sweetened Beverages; REACH Program. * Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The Nutrition Source: Sugary Drinks. * Nicholas Freudenberg. “The Manufacture of Inequality: Soda, Corporate Power, and Public Health.” American Journal of Public Health, 2016. * David Stuckler & Marion Nestle. “Big Food, Food Systems, and Global Health.” The Lancet, 2008. * World Health Organization. Fiscal Policies for Diet and NCD Prevention; Obesity and Inequality in Europe. * Beverage Marketing Corporation. U.S. Beverage Industry Overview. * McKinsey & Company. Future of Food and Beverage. * NielsenIQ. Global Beverage Trends. * European Commission. Health Inequalities in the EU. * Robert Koch Institute. Health in Germany: Key Indicators. ____________ mowe Festival for Art and Urban Culture Berlin, Germany | May 7th – May 10th “Dear Universe” Concert Saturday, May 9th 17:00 PM For more information and the full weekend programme, visit: MOWE [https://www.kunst-im-stadtraum.berlin/de/mowe-festival] ____________ TIBA Shout-out to TIBA Movement e.V. a powerful Cologne-based collective creating space for music, community, and cultural exchange. From festivals to workshops and club nights, they continue to build platforms that center creativity, inclusivity, and empowerment. For more information, follow on instagram @tiba_cologne [https://www.instagram.com/tiba_cologne/] Join Patreon. Join the Chocolate Club. 🍫 Chocolate: The Podcast — Unwrapped. 👉 https://www.patreon.com/c/chocolatethepodcast [https://www.patreon.com/c/chocolatethepodcast] Want to stay connected with Chocolate: The Podcast? Follow us on Instagram: @chocolatethepodcast [https://www.instagram.com/chocolatethepodcast/]

Expected Chocolate: Expectations

On this episode we talk all about expectations. Expectations we place on ourselves, the ones we project onto others, and the ones we don’t even realize we’re carrying. From unspoken pressures to the ways expectations shape how we love, create, and move through the world, this is a reflection on learning to pause, question, and redefine what truly aligns. Maybe it’s not about meeting every expectation… but choosing the ones that actually feel like home. This episode is represented by OYA MÜLLEM Birthday #2 x Mülheimer Nacht ! 25.04.26 | 7PM | OYA MÜLLEM, Köln Germany 🎂✨ OYA MÜLLEM is turning TWO—and you already know it’s about to be a whole vibe. Expect a night full of good energy, amazing music, delicious food & drinks, and just beautiful people all in one space 💫 For more info, follow @oya_koeln [https://www.instagram.com/oya_koeln/] and check out oya-koeln.de [https://oya-koeln.de] to learn more about the space and what’s coming up next 🧡 Community Shout-Out: Help Jarral & ChiChi get home 🧡 We’re raising support to help Jarral and their cat, ChiChi, make the long journey from Thailand back home to Buffalo, NY—also known as the “City of Good Neighbors.” After years away, they’re feeling called to return, reconnect with community, and continue mutual aid work in a place that truly needs it right now. This journey is deeply meaningful, but also emotionally and financially heavy—and they can’t do it alone. The route ahead is long: Krabi → Hua Hin → Bangkok → Istanbul → New York → Buffalo If you’re able to support in any way, please check the GoFundMe link below: gofundme.com/f/help-jarral-and-chichi-get-home/cl/o?utm_campaign=man_sharesheet_dash&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=copy_link&lang=en_GB&attribution_id=sl%3A11d9368b-55fd-497f-bd9c-1e21aa6f078f&ts=1776129556&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGnRQKI8tPn4Ubsiw0iT-R_BgYkoYoNhJEkT2zsoUTokUnIEZa3kYXUx3eIqso_aem_1texjF-oxz3aI-uqpk0eJQ&utm_id=97760_v0_s00_e0_tv3_a1dennguhedx9o [https://gofundme.com/f/help-jarral-and-chichi-get-home/cl/o?utm_campaign=man_sharesheet_dash&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=copy_link&lang=en_GB&attribution_id=sl%3A11d9368b-55fd-497f-bd9c-1e21aa6f078f&ts=1776129556&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGnRQKI8tPn4Ubsiw0iT-R_BgYkoYoNhJEkT2zsoUTokUnIEZa3kYXUx3eIqso_aem_1texjF-oxz3aI-uqpk0eJQ&utm_id=97760_v0_s00_e0_tv3_a1dennguhedx9o] Donations, shares, and even kind words all make a difference and bring them one step closer to home. Thank you for holding space and being part of this growing journey 🧡 If you want to stay up to date with my music and all the other creative things I’m working on, you can follow me on Instagram @eye.zik [https://www.instagram.com/eye.zik/] 🖤 Join Patreon. Join the Chocolate Club. 🍫 Chocolate: The Podcast — Unwrapped. 👉 https://www.patreon.com/chocolatethepodcast [https://www.patreon.com/chocolatethepodcast] Want to stay connected with Chocolate: The Podcast? Follow us on Instagram: @chocolatethepodcast [https://www.instagram.com/chocolatethepodcast/]

Reality Chocolate: Reality TV

On this episode, we dive into the addictive world of reality TV! We explore why watching wealthy people stumble can feel cathartic, entertaining, and socially connective, while also examining the tension between image and reality. We discuss how editing, storylines, and reunion episodes often reinforce racial stereotypes, especially for Black women, and why representation matters. It’s a conversation about humor, escapism, and critical viewing, all through the lens of what we watch, who we see, and how we respond. Episode References: Nielsen. Creating Connections with Black Americans Across Media. 2024, Nielsen, https://www.nielsen.com/insights/2024/creating-connections-with-black-americans-across-media/ [https://www.nielsen.com/insights/2024/creating-connections-with-black-americans-across-media/]. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026. Young, Jabari. “Nielsen’s Annual Report Highlights These New Trends Among Black Consumers.” Forbes, 29 Jan. 2025, https://www.forbes.com/sites/jabariyoung/2025/01/29/nielsens-annual-report-highlights-these-new-trends-among-black-consumers/ [https://www.forbes.com/sites/jabariyoung/2025/01/29/nielsens-annual-report-highlights-these-new-trends-among-black-consumers/]. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026. Manfredi, Lucas. “YouTube Hits 12.7% TV Viewership Share Among Black Audiences.” TheWrap, 29 Jan. 2025, https://www.thewrap.com/youtube-tv-viewership-share-black-audiences-nielsen/ [https://www.thewrap.com/youtube-tv-viewership-share-black-audiences-nielsen/]. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026. “Love & Hip Hop.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_%26_Hip_Hop [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_%26_Hip_Hop]. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026. “Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_%26_Hip_Hop%3A_Atlanta [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_%26_Hip_Hop%3A_Atlanta]. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026. “Summer House: Martha’s Vineyard.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summer_House%3A_Martha%27s_Vineyard. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summer_House%3A_Martha%27s_Vineyard.] Accessed 12 Mar. 2026. Join Patreon. Join the Chocolate Club. 🍫 Chocolate: The Podcast — Unwrapped. 👉 https://www.patreon.com/chocolatethepodcast [https://www.patreon.com/chocolatethepodcast] Want to stay connected with Chocolate: The Podcast? Follow us on Instagram: @chocolatethepodcast [https://www.instagram.com/chocolatethepodcast/]

Sexy Chocolate: Men Validation

On this vulnerable episode, we explore how validation, especially from cis men, can feel like proof of existence in a world shaped by the male gaze. Through personal reflection and cultural insight, we unpack the line between self-expression and performance, the pull of external validation, and what it means to feel seen but not truly known. This is a conversation about unlearning, reclaiming self-worth, and redefining desire on your own terms. Episode References: Mbowe, Khadija. “The Feminine Urge to Internalize the Male Gaze, Unpacking Desirability 🥴.” YouTube, 13 Nov. 2022, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVXxzqBvAx8 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVXxzqBvAx8] Mulvey, L. (1975). Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema. Screen, 16(3), 6–18. – Foundational essay introducing the concept of the male gaze. Otago. (n.d.). Depiction of women in advertisements. Otago Shorthand Stories. Retrieved from https://otago.shorthandstories.com/gend305-depiction-of-women-in-ads/index.html [https://otago.shorthandstories.com/gend305-depiction-of-women-in-ads/index.html] Zipdo. (n.d.). Sex in advertising statistics. Retrieved from https://zipdo.co/sex-in-advertising-statistics/ [https://zipdo.co/sex-in-advertising-statistics/] Lancers Point. (2022, April 5). The objectification of women in film and its impact on society. Retrieved from https://lancerspoint.sjvhs.com/pop-culture/2022/04/05/the-objectification-of-women-in-film-and-its-impact-on-society/ [https://lancerspoint.sjvhs.com/pop-culture/2022/04/05/the-objectification-of-women-in-film-and-its-impact-on-society/] Fast at UCLA. (n.d.). Sex fuels fashion: Destabilizing the male gaze. Retrieved from https://www.fastatucla.com/fast-at-ucla/sex-fuels-fashion-destabilizing-the-male-gaze-by-shattering-the-glass-runway [https://www.fastatucla.com/fast-at-ucla/sex-fuels-fashion-destabilizing-the-male-gaze-by-shattering-the-glass-runway] Pew Research Center. (2022). LGBTQ adults and attraction patterns in the U.S. Retrieved from https://www.pewresearch.org/ [https://www.pewresearch.org/] YouGov. (n.d.). Young Americans and sexual attraction beyond cisgender women. Retrieved from https://yougov.co.uk/topics/lifestyle/articles-reports/ [https://yougov.co.uk/topics/lifestyle/articles-reports/] The Trevor Project. (n.d.). Nonbinary and gender nonconforming youth experiences. Retrieved from https://www.thetrevorproject.org/ [https://www.thetrevorproject.org/] Join Patreon. Join the Chocolate Club. 🍫 Chocolate: The Podcast — Unwrapped. 👉 https://www.patreon.com/chocolatethepodcast [https://www.patreon.com/chocolatethepodcast] Want to stay connected with Chocolate: The Podcast? Follow us on Instagram: @chocolatethepodcast [https://www.instagram.com/chocolatethepodcast/]