St Thomas Carnival was a MOVIE

Your Man Watching Love Island?

On this episode of With the Grain, the crew is hitting you with everything from reality TV drama and massive summer concert debates to heavy, polarizing news hitting close to home in North Texas. Episode Highlights & Breakdown Love Island Drop & Red Flags Fellas... Love Island USA Season 8 just premiered on Peacock, and the ladies are fully locked in. Be honest—what are we actually doing while they’re watching this? Are we hitting the gym, running miles, or are we low-key sitting on the couch next to them getting caught up in the drama? Plus, we debate: Is it a green flag or an absolute red flag if a man knows all the contestants' names? The Level Up: Announcing 'Summer Jam' Big news, family! Next week, we are officially debuting our brand new, recurring "Summer Jam" segment right here on the pod. All summer long, we’re bringing special guests—artists, local creators, and major tastemakers—straight into the studio to catch a vibe and sit in the hot seat with us. The energy is about to shift. Drop a comment on who y'all want us to bring in first! Hookie Weekend & Summer Culture Speaking of major summer vibes, Hookie Weekend 2026 is coming up fast next week (June 18–22)! It is officially J'ouvert season. Fellas, what is the mandatory survival strategy for surviving a proper J'ouvert weekend? We break down the playbook. FIFA World Cup 2026™ Texas Kickoff The World Cup is right here in our backyard, Texas! Dallas Stadium and Houston Stadium are hosting massive group stage matches starting this weekend. Netherlands vs. Japan is literally in Dallas this Sunday. Are y'all tapped into the energy, or is the traffic already stressing you out? The Expensive Summer Schedule: Concert Wars Ticket prices are insane right now. Who are we actually spending our hard-earned money on? Chris Brown & Usher: Are we getting R&B fatigue, or are these still legendary, mandatory shows? J. Cole: Post-drama Cole. What’s the vibe of his crowd right now? Doja Cat vs. Don Toliver: Two completely different visual experiences. If you can only buy tickets to one, who gets your money? NBA Check-in: Knicks & Spurs We do a quick dive into what’s happening with the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs as the NBA offseason shifts into high gear. The Karmelo Anthony Murder Case (Collin County Trial) We transition into some heavy, local news that has our community talking. The trial for 19-year-old Karmelo Anthony just wrapped up in Collin County, and he was found guilty of murder for the 2025 track meet stabbing of Austin Metcalf. He was just sentenced to 35 years in prison. We break down the self-defense argument (acting out of fear during a chaotic confrontation under a tent) versus what the prosecution showed to the jury. We also dive into how polarizing this case has been outside the courthouse with protests, rising racial tensions, and the fact that his team has already filed an appeal. The Discussion: How do y'all feel about the 35-year sentence? Was justice served, or does this feel like a tragedy where two families' lives are completely ruined? Join the Conversation: Who do you want to see on our first Summer Jam episode next week? Who gets your money: Doja Cat or Don Toliver? And what are your thoughts on the Collin County verdict? Drop your thoughts in the comments below or hit us up on socials! Don't forget to Subscribe, Rate, and Review With the Grain on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your pods!

Jayz V. Drake, Diddy Wont Stop, WAPA MS

We are dropping absolute heavyweights on this episode of WTG! Breezy and Raino are back in the building, and we’re starting things off local. Breezy is breaking down the constant WAPA power outages and giving the real explanation on why St. Thomas keeps getting way more than St. Croix. Right after that, we transition straight into the chaos in the industry. We are peeling back the layers on the wild Diddy tape situation involving 50 Cent’s baby mama, tracking the latest toxic updates on the Drake beef, and wrapping up with the untold stories of mentoring Jay-Z and what really went down at the Roots Picnic. The pre-game starts with us. Pull up, drop your thoughts in the comments, and don’t miss a single second! #WTG #WithTheGrain #USVI #WAPA #StThomas #StCroix #Diddy #50Cent #Drake #JayZ #RootsPicnic #HipHopPodcast

ATL CARNIVAL RECAP

Raino is holding down the booth for a massive episode as we jump straight into the Memorial Day weekend madness! This week, Raino locks in with IslandFineLa for the ultimate, unfiltered Atlanta Caribbean Carnival 2026 recap. We're breaking down everything that went down in the A—from the road vibes and the costumes to the fetes that stole the weekend. But that’s not all. IslandFineLa is officially back after a legendary travel plot twist! After getting completely stranded out in St. Thomas, she is sharing the raw survival story of how a Carnival trip turned into a logistical nightmare, and what it took to finally make it back. Grab your drink, lock in, and let’s get into the culture. What We Cover In This Episode: The ATL Carnival 2026 Breakdown: Raino and IslandFineLa give their honest review of the 39th annual celebration, the parade energy, and how Atlanta held it down. The Fete & Road Experience: The costumes, the masquerader vibes, and the big tracks that completely dominated the road this year. Stranded in St. Thomas: IslandFineLa tells the crazy story of getting stuck in America's Paradise, navigating the travel chaos, and making it home. What’s Next on the Calendar: Where the Carnival culture is heading next and what you need to look out for.

Theron Top 5, Drake ICEMAN, Chris Brown Album Mid

WTG Podcast is diving deep into a massive week in entertainment. We’re breaking down the latest drops, the viral roasts, and the charts. • Theron Thomas’s Favorites: We’re taking a look at the heavy-hitters songwriter Theron Thomas has been rocking with recently. His 2025-2026 run has been dominated by credits for major artists like Lizzo and Ciara, plus his history with tracks like "Locked Away." • The Iceman Era: Drake is officially back with his ninth studio album, Iceman, dropping May 15, 2026. We discuss the "vulnerable" tone of the project and the wild rollout involving ice sculptures in Toronto. • Rick Ross vs. Drake: Is the Rozay beef cooling down? We look at Ross’s recent radio interview where he dismissed the threat of Drake’s new album, but seemed to keep his tone more "direct than dramatic" compared to previous shots. • Chris Brown’s BROWN: Breezy just released a massive 27-track project titled BROWN (Break Rules Only When Necessary) on May 8. We’re vibing with features from Bryson Tiller, Sexyy Red, and YoungBoy Never Broke Again. • The Roast of Kevin Hart: Netflix just aired one of the most chaotic live events yet. From Tom Brady’s revenge to the shock appearance of Katt Williams—who officially put the "industry plant" beef to rest with a hug—nothing was off-limits.

St Thomas Carnival was a MOVIE

Grab your flags and get your spirit right! In this episode of With The Grain, we’re diving headfirst into the legendary St. Thomas Carnival. Whether you're a local, a member of the diaspora, or just love a good lime, this one is for the books. Inside the Episode: • The Carnival Recap: From the Village vibes to the road march, we’re breaking down the sights, sounds, and scents of the season. • Breezy & Raino’s Wildest Moments: The guys get personal (and hilarious) sharing their own "you had to be there" experiences from the festivities. • Culture & Community: A deep dive into what makes the US Virgin Islands culture so unique and why Carnival is the ultimate celebration of VI pride. Why You Need to Listen: It’s a feel-good, laugh-out-loud session that feels less like a podcast and more like a conversation on the porch with your best friends. If you want the real, unfiltered energy of the islands, you’re in the right place.