416: Randy Pitchford of 'Borderlands'

In this week's episode of the Black Girl Nerds podcast, we have a 2-part episode welcoming comic book creators Denys Cowan and Michael Stradford and cast members from Dune: Prophecy.  The featured cast are: Jessica Barden, Aoife Hinds, Edward Davis and Mark Addy. Segment 1: Graphic Samurai: The Art of Denys Cowan is the first comprehensive celebration of the work of this groundbreaking comic book artist. Cowan has left an indelible mark on characters like Batman, The Question, Black Panther, and Deathlok, and co-founded Milestone Media, introducing  Hardware, Icon, Rocket and the comic and character that inspired the hit television show he would produce; Static Shock. These beloved characters would eventually find their way back into the DC Universe. Author and Gizmoe co-founder Michael Stradford joins us on the podcast. Host: Jamie Segment 2: Interviews featuring: Aoife Hinds (“Sister Emeline”), Jessica Barden (“Young Valya Harkonnen”), Edward Davis (“Harrow Harkonnen”) and Mark Addy (“Evgeny Harkonnen”) are conducted in this segment for the HBO series Dune: Prophecy. 10,000 years before the ascension of Paul Atreides, following two Harkonnen sisters as they combat forces that threaten the future of humankind and establish the fabled sect that will become known as the Bene Gesserit. Host: Stacey Yvonne Music by: Sammus Edited by: Jamie Broadnax

In this week's episode of the Black Girl Nerds podcast, we welcome in this 2-part segment filmmaker Raoul Peck of Ernest Cole: Lost and Found and actor Emma Canning of Dune: Prophecy. Segment 1: Oscar-nominated filmmaker Raoul Peck’s Ernest Cole: Lost and Found  is a new documentary chronicling the life and work of Ernest Cole, one of the first Black freelance photographers in South Africa, whose early pictures, shocking at the time of their first publication, revealed to the world Black life under apartheid. Host: Jamie Segment 2: Emma Canning plays the young Tula Harkonnen in the HBO series Dune: Prophecy. Following a tragedy, young Valya Harkonnen flees her home planet to join the Sisterhood, but struggles with the decision to take her vows. Her younger sister Tula is carving out a new life for herself, but worries about being accepted for her family name. Host: Jamie Music by: Sammus Edited by: Jamie Broadnax

BGN interviews actor Rhenzy Feliz of the HBO series The Penguin. Rhenzy Feliz is best known for playing Alex Wilder in the Marvel Cinematic Universe television series Runaways, voicing Camilo Madrigal in Disney's 2021 animated feature film Encanto and playing Victor Aguilar in the HBO series The Penguin. Host: Jamie  Edited by: Jamie Broadnax

In this week's episode of the Black Girl Nerds podcast, we welcome co-creator and showrunner of the Netflix series 'Arcane' Christian Linke. Christian Linke  is the Head of Animation Studio at Riot Games, where he fuels animation development with the company’s Emmy-winning Netflix series Arcane and beyond. Linke co-created Arcane, which marked Riot’s first animated series, with Alex Yee and currently serves as its showrunner. He was also part of the League of Legends team that originally created Vi and Jinx, the beloved League champions who are the protagonists of Arcane. The show’s second season will debut in November 2024. Host: Jamie Music by: Sammus Edited by: Jamie Broadnax

In this 2-part episode, we chat with Niecy Nash Betts and Nick Cannon about TV specific episodes in two series they are starring in: FX's Grotesquerie and Fox's Accused. Segment 1: Niecy Nash-Betts is an actress, comedian, and television host. Nash received two Primetime Emmy Awards nominations for starring as Denise "Didi" Ortley in the comedy-drama series Getting On (2013–2015). She has also portrayed Denise Hemphill in the horror-comedy series Scream Queens (2015–2016).  From 2017 to 2022, she played Desna Simms in the crime comedy-drama Claws (2017–2022). She currently stars as Detective Lois Tryon in the horror drama series Grotesquerie. Host: Jamie Segment 2: Nick Cannon is a comedian, television host, actor, and rapper. In television, he began as a teenager on All That before going on to host The Nick Cannon Show, Wild 'n Out, America's Got Talent, Lip Sync Battle Shorties, and The Masked Singer. He acted in the films Drumline, Love Don't Cost a Thing, and Roll Bounce. He is currently starring in season 2 of the Fox series Accused. Host: Jamie Music by: Sammus Edited by: Jamie Broadnax

In this week's episode of the Black Girl Nerds podcast, we welcome director Brandon Espy and actor Elvis Nolasco of the new Hulu film Mr. Crocket. In 1993, a mysterious children's show host, Mr. Crocket, magically emerges from television sets to kidnap young children, brutally slaying their parents in the process. After Mr. Crocket snatches her son, one determined mother embarks on a perilous quest to track down the demonic entertainer and rescue her boy. Host: Jamie Broadnax Music by: Sammus Edited by: Jamie Broadnax

In this week's episode of the Black Girl Nerds podcast, we welcome filmmaker Sean Baker. Sean Baker is an American film director, cinematographer, producer, screenwriter and editor. He has directed six feature films over the past two decades, including 2015’s Tangerine and 2017’s The Florida Project which premiered in the Directors’ Fortnight section of the Cannes Film Festival and was distributed by A24 in the US and Altitude in the UK. His latest film Anora premieres Oct 18th. A young sex worker from Brooklyn, gets her chance at a Cinderella story when she meets and impulsively marries the son of an oligarch. Once the news reaches Russia, her fairytale is threatened as the parents set out for New York to get the marriage annulled. Host: Jamie Music by: Sammus Edited by: Jamie Broadnax

In this week's episode of the Black Girl Nerds podcast, we welcome actor Artrece Johnson. Johnson's latest role in Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist (Peacock on September 5) sees her co-starring alongside the likes of industry heavyweights Kevin Hart, Taraji P. Henson, Don Cheadle, Terrence Howard, and Samuel L. Jackson. Her journey is marked by faith, resilience, and an unshakeable self-belief. Her incredible personal and professional journey reflects resilience, determination, and an unyielding passion for her craft. From racing to auditions in the middle of scheduled shifts at her survival jobs to now acting alongside some of Hollywood's biggest names, Johnson is a force on and off the screen, building an incredible legacy for herself, her family, and those around her. Host: Jamie Music by: Sammus Edited by: Jamie Broadnax

In this week's episode of the Black Girl Nerds podcast, we welcome movie directors Karen Chapman and Samir Oliveros, both had films to premiere out of the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival.  Chapman's 'Village Keeper' and Oliveros' 'The Luckiest Man In America'. Segment 1: Born to a Guyanese family that nurtured her instinctive creative problem solving skills, award-winning artist Karen Chapman has always been acquainted with versatility. Her steep background in documentary storytelling developed a voice and style that is compassionate, compelling and brave. Preparing her for an expansive repertoire of films that includes documentaries, narratives, animation, interactive-virtual reality and installation. At the service of every story, Chapman always strives to center work that is grounded in impact. Chapman, a graduate of Norman Jewison’s Canadian Film Center, had her earlier short film Measure debut at the Toronto Film Festival in 2019 and win the International Hollywood Foreign Press and Residency Award at the 2020 Golden Globe Awards, which she attended. Her most recent film, the documentary Quiet Minds Silent Streets, had a world premiere at TIFF in 2022. Host: Jamie Segment 2: Samir Oliveros was born in Bogotá, Colombia. His first feature, BAD LUCKY GOAT, funded through kickstarter, premiered at SXSW in 2017 and went on to play over 70 festivals including BFI London and TIFF Next Wave. His AFI thesis, CACTUS BLOSSOM, was awarded with a DGA Jury Prize. He is a founding partner in PLENTY GOOD, the production company behind CHRONICLES OF A WANDERING SAINT, winner of the Adam Yauch Hornblower award at SXSW 2023 and nominated for 3 independent Spirit Awards. Host: Jamie Music by: Sammus Edited by: Jamie Broadnax

In this week's episode of the Black Girl Nerds podcast, we welcome back the team behind Truthteller Productions.  We have Miriam A. Hyman aka Robyn Hood and  East-O aka Chris Herbie Holland joining us.  In our second segment, we breakdown a recap of the films we screened at TIFF 2024! Segment 1: Miriam A. Hyman aka Robyn Hood (Philly native) is a classically trained actress and a Hip Hop Recording Artist. Hood is the CEO of independent music/production label Truth Teller Productions. She’s executive all of her solo music projects under her label and has collaborated on songs as a writer and or performer with multiple artists such as Daveed Diggs, Common, Ciara, Lupita Nyong’o, LaLa Anthony, and Junius Bervine. She is also an actor and can be seen in the new film The Lost Holliday premiering this month. The East Oakland California native East-O aka Chris Herbie Holland is an actor,music producer, songwriter and creative. He recently starred in the off-Broadway Pulitzer Prize winning play Fat Ham at the Public Theater in NYC. He teamed up with Robyn Hood/Miriam A. Hyman, a few years back and they’ve been making magic ever since. He’s known for his melodic beats and smart but edgy bars.  Host: Jamie Segment 2: Jeanine and Jamie break break down a recap of the films screened at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival.  They also discuss the films they loved and hated at the festival. Host: Jamie Music by: Sammus Edited by: Jamie Broadnax