The Drip

01/11/2023

Hey you guys! We've got a new episode up on Charmaine Wilkerson's best seller BLACK CAKE just in time for the adaptation premiere on Hulu tomorrow! Check us out before you watch the show. And definitely check our episode out if you've already read the book. Enjoy!

The Spoilers are back with an episode about Charmaine Wilkerson's worthy novel, Black Cake -- just in time for the Hulu release of the series on November 1st. If you haven't read the book, all you have to do is listen to our episode and you'll be ready to watch whatever Oprah ends up doing for this....

16/10/2023

Hey Everyone! Episode 46 of the Drip is out! in this episode we discuss CHANGES, by Ama Ata Aidoo. We lost this amazing author, theorist, teacher, activist, scholar, and political figure this past May. We wanted to do an episode in tribute to her amazing life and talent, so we took on one of her most celebrated novels. Don't miss it!

18/09/2023

Hey everybody! If you haven't seen it, we have a new episode out -- our 45th show! I guess we have been doing this for a long time, huh? Anyway, we recorded this one on Suzzette Mayr's THE SLEEPING CAR PORTER way back in June. It may have sat on the shelf for a while waiting to be edited, but it still sounds as fresh as ever. Be sure and check it out.

Also be on the lookout for new episodes on CHANGES by Ama Ata Aidoo and BLACK CAKE by Charmaine WIlkerson coming in the next few weeks!

Happy Fall!

https://thedripbooks.podbean.com/e/episode-45-trains-pains-and-barnacles-suzette-mayr-s-the-sleeping-car-porter/

23/06/2023

Hi everyone! We have a couple new episodes up! If you haven't caught our recent show on Baldwin's GIOVANNI'S ROOM, you definitely need to. It's turned out to be one of our most popular episodes in years. And most recently we just posted a Driplet where Anita and Todd talk about what it was like for Todd to learn to read again after having a stroke three years ago. A big part of the conversation deals with the debate around science of reading vs reading recovery pedagogies. We definitely have thoughts. Check them out!

https://thedripbooks.podbean.com/

20/04/2023

Hey everyone! We have a new episode out on Leone Ross's delightful novel, POPISHO. I'm not gonna lie -- we were confused by this book for a bit, but in the end we all really loved it. Be sure to check out the book and the episode!

https://thedripbooks.podbean.com/e/episode-43-hold-the-pum-pum-jokes-learning-to-love-leone-ross-s-popisho/

22/02/2023

Hey loyal Drip fans! We have a new episode out on Attica Locke's novel, THE CUTTING SEASON. Check it out at https://thedripbooks.podbean.com/.

28/12/2022

Hey everyone! The newest episode of The Drip is out. For the first time in almost three years, we were all in the same room together to record an episode. We ended up talking about a teaching question Anita had been thinking about instead of a book this time. Check out the reunion!

Ever wonder what a book club with professors would sound like? The Drip is a podcast where three academics of color talk about great books....

17/09/2022

Hey y'all -- a new episode of The Drip is out on Toni Morrison's SULA, and if I may say so, it is sublime. Join us for our discussion of one of the great characters of Morrison's oeuvre, Sula Peace. She is the girl whose mother loved her, but didn't like her (I guess I can see that). Well, we love her AND we like her -- so there! Come have a listen!

https://thedripbooks.podbean.com/e/episode-39-apparently-we-love-her-toni-morrison-s-sula/

29/08/2022

Hey everybody! We just finished recording our latest episode on Toni Morrison's SULA this past weekend. We hope to get it out to you in the next week or so. In the meantime, don't forget to listen to our last episode on Eloghosa Osunde's VAGBONDS! What a beautiful book. Check it out on our site: http://thedrippingspoilers.com/episodes/ep38/

05/07/2022

Hey everyone -- there's a new episode of The Drip out! We recorded this one a few weeks ago, but it's still a timely discussion of migration, borders, and movement in Namrata Poddar's BORDER LESS. It's a wonderful novel and we have a lot to say about it. Hope you enjoy it!

https://thedripbooks.podbean.com/e/episode-37-around-the-world-around-the-corner-discombobulated-migrations-in-namrata-poddar-s-border-less/

27/05/2022

Hey everybody! I posted this new episode on Sunday but forgot to let you, our Facebook friends, know about it! Many apologies! Speaking of apologies, the book we are talking about in the new episode is Louise Erdrich's THE SENTENCE, a beautiful book, in which regret, forgiveness, and healing play a major role. This is a quiet episode for us, but it is compelling. When you are talking about a book this good, it's hard not to be interesting (if I may say so myself). Anyway, don't miss it!

Ever wonder what a book club with professors would sound like? The Drip is a podcast where three academics of color talk about great books....

31/03/2022

Hey everybody! We're back with another episode. This time we discuss Zakiya Dalila Harris's THE OTHER BLACK GIRL, and main do we have some thoughts on this one. Pop on over to Podbean and take a listen or catch us on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, and all the other places you can find podcasts. Hope you like it!

https://thedripbooks.podbean.com/

16/02/2022

Episode 34 is ready -- The Spoilers are back and taking on Afia Atakora's novel, CONJURE WOMEN! Don't miss our first episode of 2022!

Ever wonder what a book club with professors would sound like? The Drip is a podcast where four academics of color -- Crystal, Adriana, Anita, and Todd -- talk about great books....

16/02/2022

We're back y'all! Episode 34 link in next post!

14/12/2021

Hey everyone! The Spoilers will be back in late January with a brand new episode. Next up is Afia Atakora’s CONJURE WOMEN. We can’t wait to get back on the air. Get to reading!

21/06/2021

New episode out! In this one, the Spoilers are back with an intense conversation about Deesha Philyaw’s award-winning story collection. We have a lot to say about it and all of it is good. Known for sidestepping the sexy stuff, the Spoilers bravely tackle the intimate elements of this often steamy text — and just for good measure, Adriana says the d-word at least once. It’s definitely worth a listen. You’re welcome, America!

Episode 33: The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw Posted on May 10, 2021June 21, 2021 by Crystal Moten Photo: Jared Wickerham, Pittsburgh City Paper “The nine stories in THE SECRET LIVES OF CHURCH LADIES feature four generations of characters grappling with who they want to be in the...

10/05/2021

New episode has dropped!

In this episode the Spoilers get nasty with Sister Souljah’s classic tale of the ice-cold Winter Santiaga, one of the great characters of Black street lit. The crew is serious, funny, and informative as they employ their own impeccable skills to break down SIster Souljah’s masterpiece — and luckily no one gets cut in the process.

Episode 32: The Coldest Winter Ever by Sister Souljah Posted on April 1, 2021May 10, 2021 by Crystal Moten “The Coldest Winter Ever is a beautifully woven tale about Brooklyn born Winter Santiaga, a teenaged ghetto princess, daughter of Ricky Santiaga, a prominent businessman and CEO of a drug dea...

19/03/2021

In this intellectually searching episode, the Spoilers wrestle with Robert Jones’ beautiful and challenging debut novel. We try to figure everything out at first, but ultimately settle upon a rather comfortable acceptance of un-knowing and dwelling in the wonder of ambiguity. Arriving at the conclusion that there has not really ever been a novel like this one (EVER!) doesn’t take us too awful long — and once we do get there — look out. What could have been an hour of complaining becomes a literary love fest. This episode is all epiphanic bliss and profound discovery in real time, folks (perhaps hyperbole, but it felt good).

Episode 30: The Prophets by Robert Jones, Jr. Posted on January 26, 2021March 13, 2021 by Crystal Moten Robert Jones, Jr (Penguin, Random House) “Isaiah was Samuel’s and Samuel was Isaiah’s. That was the way it was since the beginning, and the way it was to be until the end. In the barn they t...

26/01/2021

The Spoilers welcome in the new year with a rollicking discussion of Nella Larsen’s Harlem Renaissance classic, Passing in this episode — and let me tell you they have some strong feelings about the characters in this book. As she does in the novel, the radiant Clare Kendry garners much of the attention, but we have plenty to say about Irene and her very complicated mind as well. We bravely tackle all things race and of course explore the intricacies of passing as well. Mostly we just do our best to answer Anita’s questions (which are fantastic as usual). We laugh, we cry and no one dies in this entertaining episode — perhaps there’s some misadventure, but only the good kind (disclaimer: no one even comes close to crying).

Episode 29: Passing by Nella Larsen Posted on December 24, 2020January 26, 2021 by Crystal Moten Nella Larsen “Two women in 1920s New York discover how fluid and dangerous our perceptions of race can be in this electrifying classic of the Harlem Renaissance.”“Nella Larsen (1891–1964) was the...

28/11/2020

New episode dropped yesterday!
n a raucous holiday episode, the Spoilers laud Radha Blank’s heartwarming tribute to New York City and creaky black knees. With a hilarious and Irreverent critical eye, the Spoilers have nothing but good things to say about this funny, insightful, and heartwarming film. They love Radha’s edge, they love her dope AARP lyrics, and they LOVE D (don’t even get us started on that love scene). This is an all-love episode with a sprinkle of wisdom here and there for seasoning. Frankly, it’s exactly the kind of episode we envisioned when we started this whole thing 26 episodes ago — just four friends talking and laughing about something they like. Hope you all enjoy listening to it as much as we enjoyed making it.

Episode 27: The 40-Year-Old Version by Radha Blank (Film) Posted on October 30, 2020November 27, 2020 by Crystal Moten Photo: Taylor Jewell/Invision/AP Photo: Jeong Park/Netflix “Desperate for a breakthrough as she nears the big 4-0, struggling New York City playwright Radha finds inspiration by r...

30/10/2020

The Drip's new episode is out! Crystal and Anita lament not knowing about Barbara Neely earlier in their lives; Adriana and Todd school us on GENRE; and we all go on and on about how awesome Blanche White is.

Let’s just be honest: Blanche White is the best Black domestic detective there ever was. Don’t worry if you haven’t heard of her. Some of the Spoilers hadn’t either. She’s smart. She’s bold. SHE’S THE BEST. In this episode we basically won’t let Anita end the show because we can’t stop talking about how much we love this book. Let this episode be your introduction to the wonderful world of Blanche White, creation of the late, brilliant Barbara Neely. The good thing is, when you finish this novel, there are still three more to read!

Episode 26: Blanche on the Lam by Barbara Neely (1941-2020) Posted on September 25, 2020October 30, 2020 by Crystal Moten Barbara Ann Neely in 2018 Photo: Zamani Feelings Barbara Ann Neely’s “Blanche White is a plump, feisty, middle-aged African-American housekeeper working for the genteel rich ...

25/10/2020

New episode (on Barbara Neely's *Blanche on the Lam*) out soon-- here's what recording looks like for us these days. Joyful cyber community!

25/09/2020

The Spoilers are back in this special 25th episode talking everything from from Stuart Hall to BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER as they discuss the graphic novel series *MARCH* written by John Lewis (with Andrew Aydin [story] and Nate Powell [illustration]). Once again the Spoilers struggle a bit with their non-mastery of the graphic subgenre, but in the end do a pretty dang good job talking about the text and the art of this wonderful piece series of books. Want to escape the temporal hellmouth that is 2020 for about an hour? Here’s your chance. Join the Spoilers on an intense march through history as they embark on a mission to expand the chronology of the Civil Rights Movement in the public imagination.

Episode 25: March Trilogy by the late Representative John Lewis (1940-2020) Posted on August 18, 2020September 25, 2020 by Crystal Moten John Lewis, 1964 John Lewis, 2006 “March is a vivid first-hand account of John Lewis’ lifelong struggle for civil and human rights, meditating in the modern ag...

19/08/2020

In our new episode, available wherever you get your podcasts, we talk, laugh, and love over Elizabeth Acevedo's *The Poet X.*

The Spoilers are back with a love-fest episode for the ages. Beginning with an profession of gratitude and love for our own faithful host, we then tackle questions of genre, religion, bilingualism and translation, sexuality, the body, refusal, performance, and finding your voice — all in an amazingly supportive and affectionate way. Inspired by Acevedo’s beautiful book, we remember fondly our own teen years, consider the lives of teens today, celebrate the strength and empowerment of women, and repeatedly express our admiration for Xiomara, Twin, and Aman. If I may say so, this episode is a joy to listen to, and may, in some small way, make you forget everything about the world right now that is making you want to weep uncontrollably. You’re welcome, America. Enjoy.

Episode 24: The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo Posted on July 22, 2020August 18, 2020 by Crystal Moten Elizabeth Acevedo, Blue Flower Arts “A young girl in Harlem discovers slam poetry as a way to understand her mother’s religion and her own relationship to the world. Debut novel of renowned slam p...

23/07/2020

In this rangy episode, the Spoilers are introduced to an underground classic of Black feminist literature. With a main character like few others in literature, this novel leads the Spoilers into discussions of traditional vampire mythology, consent and violence, death and immortality, and the responsibility of vampire parenting. Along the way Anita quotes Sadiya Hartman and Ocean Vuong, Adriana introduces us to “Vamp Time,” Todd introduces more annoying book-specific terms, and Crystal runs up the stairs in the middle of the episode? It all comes out ok in the end because in every Drip episode the Spoilers live forever! Join us . . . JOIN US . . .

22/06/2020

In this new episode we talk about Okorafor's BINTI. It's Todd's favorite book, which makes this a fun ride as we all riff off his joy and get into interesting discussions about afrofuturism, consent, coming-of-age stories, and how Binti's journey to Oomza University reminds us each of our respective college journeys.

Available anywhere you download podcasts: Apple podcasts, stitcher, spotify, and, of course, podbean.

Finally! The Spoilers get to talk about Todd's favorite book, BINTI -- and man was it work the wait. Times have been tough lately, but the Spoilers seem enlivened discussing this wonderful award winning novella. They tackle a mess of thorny issues, but the...

29/05/2020

New episode on Wayétu Moore’s *She Would Be King* is out. Recorded in the shadow of Covid 19 & the murders of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor & George Floyd, we take solace in the Vai maxim whispered by the narrator of Moore’s novel: “Fengbe kemu beh”/we have nothing, but we have each other.

Find it on podbean, Apple podcasts, Spotify, or stitcher!

Episode 21: She Would Be King by Wayétu Moore Posted on April 19, 2020May 28, 2020 by Crystal Moten Wayétu Moore “She Would Be King is a spectacular blend of history and magical realism that follows three extraordinary characters: in the West African village of Lai, red-haired Gbessa is cursed ....

25/04/2020

A friend asked the other day, "hey, do y'all only talk about movies now?"

Nooooooo! Not at all! For our next episode, we'll be talking about Wayetú Moore's *She Would Be King*. We're super excited to tackle this "spectacular blend of history and magical realism" (https://www.graywolfpress.org/books/she-would-be-king). We'll be recording on May 16th, so you have time to read and revel in this amazing reimagining of the founding of Liberia.

19/04/2020

Even in the time of the coronavirus, the Spoilers figure out a way to come together and discuss a couple of recent films! (The secret is Zoom. Thank you (damn you) Zoom.)

As always, you can find the podcast on podbean, iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, and all the places where podcasts live.

It's been so long since the Spoilers have all been the same room together and now their reunion looks even less likely to happen anytime soon. But that ain't going to stop them from recording the podcasts your lonely ears crave! In this episode the Spoiler...

02/03/2020

Hey Y'all! March is coming in like a lion as Adriana and Todd spend a little time talking about their visit to Penumbra to see Claudia Rankin's THE WHITE CARD. Now, we know the audio isn't the best, but we went back to our roots and recorded in a coffee shop using somewhat inferior technology. You should still give it a listen, and you should definitely go see the play if you haven't. It's on for one more week. And don't worry -- we'll be back soon with a full episode. We'll let you know when it gets cookin'.

https://thedripbooks.podbean.com/e/driplet-3-claudia-rankins-the-white-card-at-penumbra-theatre/

Even with everything that's been going on with us (something we keep obliquely referring to but but giving no details), Adriana and Todd found time to go see THE WHITE CARD performed at one of Saint Paul's treasures, Penumbra Theatre. Needless to say, I wa...