Elle Duncan

Her name is Anita Rae Strange, but Atlanta knows her best as Blondie, famed exotic entertainer at Clermont Lounge—Atlanta’s oldest strip club. She has charmed generations of crowds and celebrities with her signature move: crushing a beer can with her breasts. But, there’s a side to Blondie many don’t know. From stripping to praying, the 67-year-old icon reveals all in this week’s episode of “The Monica Pearson Show.”   You can watch the conversation on ajc.com. Be sure to subscribe to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and download the AJC news app. The Monica Pearson Show is available wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Before heading to Paris to cover the 2024 Summer Olympics, the tables turned on “The Monica Pearson Show” as master interviewer Maria Taylor takes the hot seat. She answered questions about her life as a former athlete, sports journalist, and mother.    As the lead host of NBC’s Football Night in America, and a correspondent for events like the French Open and the Olympics, Taylor is known for getting exclusive scoop from big names. Taylor divulges her ‘secret sauce’ for interviews and shares who has inspired her career (Monica made the list).    You can watch the conversation on ajc.com. Be sure to subscribe to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and download the AJC news app. The Monica Pearson Show is available wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

When it comes to Atlanta’s most prolific musicians… Chuck Leavell is top of the list. He is known as “the 6th Rolling Stone” because of his decades-long touring gig alongside Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. In this special, extra-long episode, Chuck talks family, music and forestry in this episode of “The Monica Pearson Show.”    He has much to be proud of: adventures with the Allman brothers, Eric Clapton, and George Harrison. He is an inductee of both the Georgia Music Hall of Fame and the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. But his advice to young people? “I don’t have a clue, man.”    Be sure to check out the video of this conversation ajc.com. If you're not a subscriber to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, check out this special introductory offer.    The Monica Pearson Show is available wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify. To listen to more of what we have to offer, check out AJC Podcasts.

Music industry veteran Shanti Das knows the ins and outs of the music industry. She tells Monica what it’s like to work with Atlanta’s biggest names, like Usher, Outkast, TLC and the late Rico Wade. But, her work at major record labels only scratches the surface of her success. Shanti launched Silence the Shame, a nonprofit with the mission of normalizing discussions of mental health within communities of color. She shares how she handled her own mental health crisis and the profound impact Senator Warnock had on her mental health.    Shanti Das is a music mogul, a writer, a philanthropist… and a podcaster herself!    Be sure to check out the video of this conversation ajc.com. If you're not a subscriber to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, check out this special introductory offer.    The Monica Pearson Show is available wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify. To listen to more of what we have to offer, check out AJC Podcasts.

The New York Times best-selling author, Kathy Trocheck, joins Monica in the hot seat. But, if you don’t recognize her name, that’s because she’s authored dozens of books under her pen name, Mary Kay Andrews. The famed writer honed her skills as a newspaper reporter, reveals her subversive side, and lends some advice to aspiring writers.    You can watch this conversation on AJC.com. If you're not a subscriber to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, check out this special introductory offer. The Monica Pearson Show is available wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple and Spotify. To listen to more of what we have to offer, check out AJC Podcasts.

Pastor Troy has been an integral part of Atlanta’s rap landscape for decades and now he’s sitting

Monica knows how to make a conversation sing—literally. Kristian Bush sits down with Monica to talk about Grammy-winning country act Sugarland and his own solo projects. They also “drink happy thoughts” together as Monica convinces him to perform.    Throughout their chat, they unpack Kristian’s childhood growing up in Appalachia and his journey to stardom, complete with a hug from Dolly Parton. But as the faces of country music keep changing, Kristian makes one thing clear: he loves it. Bring it on, Beyonce.    Be sure to check out the video of this conversation ajc.com. If you're not a subscriber to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, check out this special introductory offer.    The Monica Pearson Show is available wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify. To listen to more of what we have to offer, check out AJC Podcasts.

T.I. is certainly guilty of one thing: keeping Monica on her toes. In one of his songs, he claims he’s the “King of Da South,” but T.I is a man of many titles. He’s a rapper, father, director, philanthropist, producer, and entrepreneur. His success didn’t come easy, and T.I. shares the reason he became a drug dealer at age 14 and how those experiences and hard-fought lessons fuel his trap music.    Watch the videos on ajc.com. If you're not a subscriber to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, be sure to check out this special introductory offer.  The Monica Pearson Show is available wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify. To listen to more of what we have to offer, check out AJC Podcasts.

ESPN Sports Anchor and podcast host, Elle Duncan, joins Monica in a lively discussion about her career in the male-dominated landscape of sports reporting. As two Black women in the world of broadcast, Elle opens up about her professional climb, her family, and the city that raised her. Watch the videos on ajc.com. If you're not a subscriber to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, check out this special introductory offer.   The Monica Pearson Show is available wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify. To listen to more of what we have to offer, check out AJC Podcasts.

What does Monica have in common with the folk music duo Indigo Girls? They’ve all been delighting audiences and breaking barriers for decades. After 15 studio albums and years of adversity, Amy and Emily have managed to build a giant community of fans who have stood by their side.    You can also watch the conversation on ajc.com. If you're not a subscriber to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, be sure to check out this special introductory offer.   The Monica Pearson Show is available wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple and Spotify. To listen to more of what we have to offer, check out AJC Podcasts.