456: From Standing Ovations to Side-Eyes: BGN Breaks Down TIFF 2025

In this week's episode of the Black Girl Nerds podcast, we chat with Stephan James, Sheryl Lee Ralph and director Rashad Frett of 'Ricky'. Directed by Rashad Frett, Ricky is a raw, deeply human drama about a 30-year-old man navigating life after prison — a man who was charged as an adult as a teenager and is now confronting the gap between the person he’s become and the world that wasn’t waiting for him. When a stolen car and a hit-and-run put everything on the line, Ricky asks a question that lingers long after the credits: will he do the right thing, even if no one is watching? Host: Jamie Music by: Sammus Edited by: Jamie Broadnax   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this week's episode of the Black Girl Nerds podcast we chat with actress Samantha Walkes of the hit Prime Video series 'Cross'. We discuss the currently role as Elle in season 2, some bits about the upcoming season. And we talk about her artistry and being a new mom working in entertainment. Host: Jamie Music by: Sammus Edited by: Jamie Broadnax Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this week's episode of Black Girl Nerds we chat with actress Taylor Polidore Williams of Netflix's 'Beauty In Black'. In the series, A stripper's fate takes a turn when she crosses paths with the wealthy, dysfunctional family behind a cosmetics dynasty and a devious trafficking scheme. Season 2 is currently streaming on Netflix. Host: Jamie Music by: Sammus Edited by: Jamie Broadnax Image credit: Alex D. Rogers Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this week's episode of the Black Girl Nerds podcast we welcome actress Ryan Michelle Bathé. She is currently the host of the Official Paradise Companion podcast and she is guest starring in this week's new episode of Paradise titled "Jane". We discuss her hosting gig on the podcast as well as some insights into her character Stacy in Paradise. Host: Jamie Music by: Sammus Edited by: Jamie Broadnax Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this week's episode of the Black Girl Nerds podcast, we welcome director Akinola Davies Jr. who talks about his powerful new film My Father’s Shadow. A semi-autobiographical story set during a single, turbulent day in Lagos amid the 1993 Nigerian election crisis. Davies Jr. shared how the film draws from personal and collective memory, using an intimate family journey to explore a nation on the brink. The narrative follows a father, estranged from his two young sons, as they navigate the sprawling city while escalating political unrest threatens their return home — turning an already fragile reunion into a tense emotional and physical odyssey. My Father’s Shadow is currently playing in theaters. Host: Jamie Music by: Sammus Edited by: Jamie Broadnax Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this week's episode of the Black Girl Nerds podcast, we sit down with actor Orlando Jones to talk about his latest musical project, Tainted Love, inspired by his graphic novel of the same name.We cover everything from movies and filmmaking to his creative evolution and yes, we definitely talk about American Gods and that unforgettable scene.So sit back, relax, and enjoy the conversation. Orlando has a lot to say, and you won’t want to miss it.Host: JamieMusic: SammusEdited by: Jamie Broadnax Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this week's episode of the Black Girl Nerds podcast, we welcome X Mayo and Jean Elie who appear in the upcoming Marvel series 'Wonder Man' streaming on Disney+.  Aspiring Hollywood actor Simon Williams is struggling to get his career off the ground. During a chance meeting with Trevor Slattery, an actor whose biggest roles may be well behind him, Simon learns legendary director Von Kovak is remaking the superhero film “Wonder Man”. These two actors at opposite ends of their careers doggedly pursue life-changing roles in this film as audiences get a peek behind the curtain of the entertainment industry. X Mayo: X has continued to build an impressive range across film and television. She co-starred in Lionsgate’s hit horror-comedy The Blackening, appears in Apple TV+’s acclaimed comedy Loot and in Disney’s Freakier Friday. Her sharp comedic voice and distinctive presence continue to solidify her position as one of the most engaging performers in comedy today. Jean Elie: Jean is best known for his portrayal of Issa’s brother Ahmal Dee on the Emmy award-winning HBO series, Insecure, for his role on the Netflix hit series, Colin in Black and White and his work on The Eric Andre Show. His series (AMC) Allblk series Send Help, which he created with producing partner Mike Gauyo (also a writer from Insecure). Inspired by his own experiences, Send Help is a coming-of-age dark comedy series centered on a first-generation Haitian-American young man (Elie as Fritz Jean-Baptiste) who is struggling to overcome the challenges of “making it” in Hollywood while coming to terms with a recent family tragedy. Send Help is currently streaming on Tubi. Wonder Man premieres Jan 27th on Disney+ Host: Jamie Music by: Sammus Edited by: Jamie Broadnax Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this week's episode of the Black Girl Nerds podcast, we welcome writer/director Nia DaCosta to discuss her latest film 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple. Fresh off directing 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, a bold and unsettling expansion of the universe created by Danny Boyle and Alex Garland, she turns a familiar horror landscape on its head injecting it with psychological depth, cultural tension, and a haunting sense of humanity.From redefining studio horror with Candyman, to helming one of the most ambitious franchise films in recent memory with The Marvels, her career has been marked by fearless storytelling and an uncompromising point of view.Host: Chalice WilliamsMusic by: SammusEdited by: Jamie Broadnax Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Happy New Year! In this week's episode of the Black Girl Nerds podcast, we interview actor and filmmaker Nicki Micheaux.Nicki Micheaux is no stranger to commanding the screen, but in Night Patrol, she delivers one of her most grounded and emotionally charged performances yet. The actress sat down with BGN to discuss her role as Ayanda, a fierce, deeply protective mother navigating a community under siege and the personal stakes that come with survival in a system designed to overlook people like her.Set against the backdrop of South Los Angeles housing projects, Night Patrol follows an LAPD officer forced to confront his past when he uncovers a horrifying secret: a covert police task force is endangering the very neighborhood he grew up in. As tensions rise between law enforcement and local street gangs, the film explores what happens when loyalty, morality, and justice collide. At the heart of that chaos is Ayanda, a woman whose strength is rooted not in spectacle, but in her unwavering love for her two sons and her community.Host: JamieMusic by: Sammus Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this week's episode of the Black Girl Nerds Podcast, we chat with multi-hyphenate Teyana Taylor about her critically-acclaimed work in the Paul Thomas Anderson film One Battle After Another. In One Battle After Another, Teyana Taylor delivers a raw, commanding performance as Perfidia, a woman fighting to hold her life together while the world keeps throwing punches. Taylor channels her signature intensity into a character who is both fierce and deeply vulnerable someone navigating personal trauma, fractured relationships, and the quiet battles no one sees. Host: Jamie Music by: Sammus Edited by: Jamie Broadnax Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.