Cross Culture

America: Are We There Yet?

This week, Lauren and Leila discuss the incoming Trump administration. They reminisce on their feelings following the election and dig into issues close to their hearts — like reproductive health, surveillance, and education — and explore how these things might be affected by the Trump administration. Media Lauren and Leila mentioned: Articles  Life of the Mother [https://www.propublica.org/series/life-of-the-mother] by ProPublica A Portrait on the Wall [https://www.nybooks.com/online/2024/07/14/a-portrait-on-the-wall/]by Rachel Eisendrath The Return of Trump [https://www.nybooks.com/online/2024/11/17/the-return-of-trump-vii/?srsltid=AfmBOoqxnBTEBzNTuKSLCVmNB4lUIA_AEFvDB6KuqxiUlIgN5ttISa43] by The New York Review of Books Books Entitlement [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/209330233-entitlement] by Rumaan Alam The Housemaid Series [https://www.barnesandnoble.com/b/series/the-housemaid-series/_/N-30qj] by Freida McFadden Nice White Parents [https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/23/podcasts/nice-white-parents-serial.html]by The New York Times Shows The Glory [https://www.netflix.com/title/81519223] on Netflix Hierarchy [https://www.netflix.com/title/81624364] on Netflix Movies  The Substance [https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/the-substance/umc.cmc.3fc032hv09dz1k89a1fa47396] Blink Twice [https://www.primevideo.com/-/fr/detail/Blink-Twice/0QUE9JF9GAEIPM2B3T4IDL65PA] Questions? Suggestions? Email us at crossxculturepodcast@gmail.com [crossxculturepodcast@gmail.com].

Body Positivity, Body Neutrality, and Everything in Between

[Content warning: this episode contains discussions around eating disorders and self-harm.] This week, Lauren and Leila are talking about body image. In pop culture, chatter about how people look, how much weight they’ve lost or gained, or if they look young or old is constant. Lauren and Leila dissect this phenomenon, give a history of the body acceptance movement, and share their own relationships with their bodies.  Media that Lauren and Leila mentioned: The Whale Who Went AWOL [https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/28/podcasts/the-daily/hvaldimir-whale.html] by Ferris Jabr Just In Time [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7nmdi0u4T0&ab_channel=ntx] by Nina Simone  Jane the Virgin  [https://www.netflix.com/title/80027158] Taken [https://www.netflix.com/title/70101374]  The Vanishing Half [https://britbennett.com/the-vanishing-half] Unshrinking [https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/722318/unshrinking-by-kate-manne/] by Kate Mann Questions? Suggestions? Email us at crossxculturepodcast@gmail.com [crossxculturepodcast@gmail.com].

The Black Empire Episode (Part 2)

For the second time, Lauren and Leila are talking all about Black Empires — from rappers to film stars and genre-bending artists. What the community feels stars owe to us has changed, how we interact with  Hollywood has changed, and perhaps most importantly, what the Black and non-Black famous can get away with has changed. In this second episode of a two-part series, Lauren and Leila explore the rise (and fall) of Black mega-celebrities. They also discuss their favorite up-and-coming stars. Media that Lauren and Leila are loving: Gold [https://open.spotify.com/album/67DWn1tZ245gendegv7Ioz?si=RdZMRfxMSDabRuRrL0U9Dg] by Cleo Sol Louisiana [https://open.spotify.com/track/6KXdlYA1REDyMeWUlLcVOt?si=b9fac21f604c4b1c]by Reyna Roberts The Curse [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tui5vl13Gqg&t=1s&ab_channel=SHOWTIME] ⁠Survivor⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ep8UXG0hHZs&ab_channel=GlobalTV] Questions? Suggestions? Email us at crossxculturepodcast@gmail.com [crossxculturepodcast@gmail.com].

The Black Empire Episode (Part 1)

This week and next week, Lauren and Leila are talking all about Black Empires — from rappers to film stars and genre-bending artists. What the community feels stars owe to us has changed, how we interact with Hollywood has changed, and perhaps most importantly, what the Black and non-Black famous can get away with has changed. In this first episode of a two-part series, Lauren and Leila explore two leading black celebrity stories at different points in their journey.

Things We Wish We Knew

In honor of the new year, Lauren and Leila take stock. They discuss what their lives look like today, what they’ve done wrong, and what they’ve done right along the way.  Media that got Lauren and Leila through their early 20s: Cha Cha Real Smooth [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRyyagJ9GPo&ab_channel=AppleTV] Lady Bird [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNi_HC839Wo&t=15s&ab_channel=A24] Atlanta [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CetGXHU5aOA&ab_channel=FXNetworks] The Office [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVQgSIlN4no&ab_channel=TheOffice] Young Hearts Run Free [https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=young+hearts+run+free] by Candi Staton  Tar Baby [https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/117660/tar-baby-by-toni-morrison/]by Toni Morrison Americanah [https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/878/americanah-by-chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/] by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Questions? Suggestions? Email us at crossxculturepodcast@gmail.com.