The Obamalisk

Adaptive Intelligence

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 “survival” in another. Later, Shaunna and Lisa pivot to immigration policy, reflecting on Jonathan Blitzer’s Everyone Who Is Gone Is Here and his recent New Yorker piece on how executive actions are reshaping who gets to become -- AND STAY -- American. They connect the dots between adaptive intelligence and survival systems—whether in identity, migration, or belonging. Tune in for a layered conversation about pattern recognition, the politics of brilliance, and the powers that affect immigrants.   Mentioned in the show For the Nation's Birthday, Making it Harder to Become American [https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2026/06/15/for-the-nations-birthday-making-it-harder-to-become-an-american] – The New Yorker Everyone Who is Gone is Here [https://bookshop.org/p/books/everyone-who-is-gone-is-here-the-united-states-central-america-and-the-making-of-a-crisis-jonathan-blitzer/d7d4a22ec001c9ff] – Jonathan Blitzer

The Odyssey

Before your listen, take your SAT... Spoiler Alert: If you plan to see The Odyssey this podcast has spoilers. Alert: This episode mentions how control manifests in faith communities Think: 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 true. We discuss social proof, and how it may be a low-key form of group think because millions of followers don't equal expertise. Then we move on to spiritual control, and how childhood faith patterns can follow us into adulthood. Anxiety, perfectionism, spiritual OCD and other symptoms can remind us of how spirituality can be used to control rather than to liberate. Finally, we talk about the overwhelming outrage that bubbles up when fictional characters are cast in ways that interrupt homogenous and exclusionary thinking. Lupita Nyong’o as Helen of Troy, Elliot Page as Achilles, and Quinta Brunson as Betty Boop are some of the most recent examples of how creative license can tick people off. Loved the conversation or want to keep the work going? Subscribe, leave a 5-star review, and tell a friend who needs to hear this. If this episode landed for you, share one insight on social and tag us — we’ll repost the best reflections. Mentioned in the show The Hidden Wound: Intersecting Spiritual Abuse and Racial Trauma in African American Faith Communities – Black Crescent Wellness Foundation [https://crescentwellnessfoundation.org/the-hidden-wound-intersecting-spiritual-abuse-and-racial-trauma-in-african-american-faith-communities/] The right’s outrage over Elliot Page’s casting in ‘The Odyssey’ obscures Achilles’ own queerness [https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2026/05/the-rights-outrage-over-elliot-pages-casting-in-the-odyssey-obscures-achilles-own-queerness/] Quinta Brunson to Develop and Star in ‘Betty Boop’ Feature Film From Fleischer Studios and Fifth Chance Productions [https://variety.com/2026/film/news/quinta-brunson-betty-boop-movie-1236754550/] - Variety The Absurd Misunderstanding Fueling the Debate Over The Odyssey [https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/05/the-odyssey-musk-nolan-nyongo/687288/] - The Atlantic Why Can’t Elon Musk Shut Up about Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey [https://www.vanityfair.com/news/story/elon-musk-christopher-nolan-the-odyssey] - Vanity Fair Christopher Nolan Has Been Dreaming of The Odyssey for More Than 20 Years [https://time.com/article/2026/05/12/christopher-nolan-odyssey-interview/] - Time The Odyssey Trailer [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_bKjZeJBBI]

Michael, Money, and Mayhem

Before your listen, take your SAT... Spoiler Alert: If you plan to see Michael, the movie, this podcast has several spoilers. Alert: This episode mentions a high-profile legal case. All acts are alleged while the case is pending.  contenT Warning: We also discuss various forms of abuse.  Although several movies and mini-series have come before, we were excited to reflect on the latest movie, Michael. It features Jaafar Jackson, nephew of the icon himself as well as many high profile African American stars. We take a sonic time-travel from Jackson 5 in the 1960s to the Bad tour of the 1980s. We also pose some serious questions about what constitutes abuse. Then, we turn to a jaw-dropping legal settlement between the government and the…government. The president of these DIVIDED States of America has created an anti-weaponization fund of 1.8 Billion (with a B) dollars to address alleged "lawfare" by the Biden Administration -- making us revisit the definition of gaslighting as part of the optics and mechanics of political theater. If you liked this episode, subscribe, leave a rating, and tell a friend who loves movies and messy headlines.  Mentioned in the show Nia Long, Colman Domingo and Jaafar Jackson On ‘Michael’ Biopic and Jackson Legacy [https://www.forbes.com/sites/dominiquefluker/2026/04/22/nia-long-colman-domingo-and-jaafar-jackson-on-michael-biopic-and-jackson-legacy/] - Forbes Making Michael [https://www.essence.com/of-the-essence/making-michael-the-movie/] – Essence They Don’t Make Celebrities Like Michael Jackson Anymore [https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/2026/05/michael-movie-box-office-success/687186/] – Jemele Hill, The Atlantic Justice Dept. Sets Up $1.8 Billion Fund That Could Funnel Money to Trump Allies [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/18/us/trump-irs-lawsuit.html] - NYT DOJ rolls out nearly $1.8B ‘anti-weaponization fund’ as part of Trump’s IRS settlement [https://www.politico.com/news/2026/05/18/trump-irs-lawsuit-settlement-00925801] - Politico Judge questions legal basis for Trump's $10 billion case against IRS [https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/federal-judge-questions-basis-trumps-10-billion-irs-lawsuit-rcna341984] – NBC News

The Obamalisk

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 people, but the Drs argue it actually perpetuates inequality. Mentioned in the show The ‘Obamalisk’ Rises on Chicago’s South Side [https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/18/arts/design/obama-presidential-center-chicago.html] - NYT Welcome to the Obama Foundation [https://www.obama.org/] Racial Color Blindness: Emergence, Practice, and Implications [https://www.hbs.edu/ris/Publication%20Files/Racial%20Color%20Blindness_16f0f9c6-9a67-4125-ae30-5eb1ae1eff59.pdf] – The Association of Psychological Science Voters Can Be Disenfranchised Now [https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/04/vra-supreme-court-callais-decision/686997/] – Adam Serwer, The Atlantic John Roberts Believes in an America That Doesn’t Exist [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/06/opinion/callais-voting-rights-act-discrimination.html] – Jamelle Bouie, NYT Opinion

RIP VRA

In yet another week of U.S. damage reporting, Dr. Lisa and Dr. Shaunna discuss the recent gutting of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. First, we talk about the appropriately timed colloquialism, "86". Then Justice Kagan gives a scathing dissent to the 6-3 SCOTUS decision in Louisiana v. Callais that effectively signs off on the disenfranchisement of Black citizens through recent nationwide battles around gerrymandering. On a final lighthearted note, there are new Oscars rules regarding AI performances and AI-authored screenplays as the industry tries to keep up with technology as it speeds ahead. Mentioned in the Show Ask George: Where Does the Term “86’d” Come From? [https://www.stlmag.com/dining/Ask-George-Where-Does-the-Term-86d-Come-From/] – St Louis Magazine How the Supreme Court Demolished the Voting Rights Act [https://www.newyorker.com/news/the-lede/how-the-supreme-court-demolished-the-voting-rights-act] – The New Yorker Voters Can Be Disenfranchised Now [https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/04/vra-supreme-court-callais-decision/686997/] – The Atlantic Breaking: SCOTUS Deals Another Blow to Multi Racial Democracy [https://crooked.com/podcast/breaking-scotus-deals-another-blow-to-multiracial-democracy/] – Strict Scrutiny podcast Louisiana v. Callais Opinion [https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/24-109_21o3.pdf] - SCOTUS