Episodes
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The Price of Protection | Revisiting The Bodyguard (1992) | Ft. Ang B. Freely
What does it cost to protect someone the world believes belongs to everyone? For the Season 3 finale of The Cinematic Soul, I’m joined once again by Ang B. Freely to revisit The Bodyguard (1992), Whitney Houston’s unforgettable film debut alongside Kevin Costner! We explore how the film uses...
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Breaking the Cycle | Revisiting Is God Is (2026)
What happens when revenge becomes your identity? And what does healing look like when you’ve spent your entire life carrying someone else’s pain as well as your own? This week on The Cinematic Soul Podcast, I’m joined by Ang B Freely to unpack one of the most fascinating films I’ve watched in a...
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Freedom Had a Voice | Revisiting What’s Love Got to Do with It (1993)
The Cinematic Soul is where we revisit Black films, look at how they were made, talk about what they get right, and what they leave behind. This week, my friend Brittany joins me for a conversation about What’s Love Got to Do with It (1993), the film that brought Tina Turner’s story to the big...
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Do You Know Where You’re Going To? | Revisiting Mahogany (1975)
This week on The Cinematic Soul, I revisit the 1975 cult classic Mahogany starring Diana Ross and Billy Dee Williams. From the moment the opening runway sequence begins, Mahogany feels like a dream wrapped in glamour, ambition, loneliness, and desire. I talk about the haunting beauty of “Do You...
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The Wiz, Mentorship & the Stage That Changed Everything | Ft. Keith Myles Sr.
The Cinematic Soul is where we revisit Black films, look at how they were made, talk about what they get right, and what they leave behind. This week, I’m joined by Keith R. Myles Sr., a drama teacher and mentor whose journey into theater didn’t follow a straight line. We start with The Wiz, but...
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Why Do Fools Fall in Love Didn’t Tell Frankie Lymon’s Full Story
The Cinematic Soul is where we revisit Black films, look at how they were made, talk about what they get right, and what they leave behind. This week, we’re revisiting the 1998 film Why Do Fools Fall in Love and taking a closer look at how it tells the story of Frankie Lymon. On the surface, it’s…
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Why Get On Up Hits Different Now | Chadwick, James Brown, and Legacy (2014)
In this episode, let’s sit down for a deep conversation about Get On Up and why Chadwick Boseman’s performance as James Brown still feels so powerful. I break down the film’s storytelling choices, cinematography, the way music drives emotion, and how Chadwick completely disappeared into the role....
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The Cost of Genius | Ray and the Legacy of Ray Charles (2004)
The Cinematic Soul is where we revisit Black films, unpack the culture behind them, and celebrate the stories that stay with us. Today we’re talking about genius. The kind that changes music forever but also comes with pain, pressure, and complicated truth. In this episode we revisit the 2004…
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The Sound That Changed American Music | Cadillac Records (2008)
The Cinematic Soul is where we talk about movies through the lens of Black culture, history, and the music that lives inside these stories. The sound that changed American music didn’t start with rock and roll. It started with the blues and the artists who recorded at Chess Records! In this…
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Dreamgirls (2006): Effie White, Beyoncé, and the Legacy of a Black Musical Classic
Dreamgirls (2006) remains one of the most influential modern Black musical films. In this episode of The Cinematic Soul, I sit down with Shani Showbiz to talk about the legacy of Dreamgirls, from Jennifer Hudson’s unforgettable performance as Effie White to Beyoncé’s portrayal of Deena Jones, and...
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Crooklyn Raised: Why Spike Lee’s Most Personal Film Feels Like Home
In this episode of The Cinematic Soul, I sit down with one of the most important films of my life, Spike Lee’s Crooklyn. A movie that raised me. I share what it was like growing up watching Crooklyn with my family and why it still feels like home every time I revisit it. We get into the…
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The Jacksons: An American Dream and the Making of a Music Dynasty
In 1992, ABC aired a five hour event that felt bigger than television. The Jacksons: An American Dream is ICONIC! It was a Black family story told at a scale we did not see often back then. Gary, Indiana to global stages. Talent, tension, discipline, dreams. All of it. This episode of The…
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Remembering The Temptations Beyond the Hits
In this episode of The Cinematic Soul Podcast, we sit with The Temptations and talk through why it still resonates decades after its original airing. Rather than treating the miniseries as a history lesson, this conversation looks at how the story balances memory and dramatization, how…
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The Five Heartbeats (1991): Brotherhood, Betrayal & Black Music Magic | Season Premiere
Season premiere baby! 🎙️ This week I’m diving into The Five Heartbeats (1991) — the music, the brotherhood, the breakdown, and why Robert Townsend really gave us a Black cinema classic that STILL feels personal. If you know…you know. If you don’t…press play and meet the Heartbeats 👌🏾 Chapters...
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Two Can Play That Game (But Should We?)
What happens when love turns into a chess match? Vivica, Morris, Gabrielle, and the messy brilliance of Two Can Play That Game. We got Shanté’s 10-day plan, the soundtrack that still hits, we’ll talk about the culture, the comedy, and if it really holds up in 2025! Timestamps: 00:18 –…
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How Stella Got Her Groove Back: Romance, Regret & Real Life Mess!
*Sorry for the delay! There was an issue uploading and I had to talk to Riverside support for two days 🥱* Angela Bassett. Taye Diggs. JAMAICA! This week on The Cinematic Soul, let’s get into the 1998 romantic dramedy How Stella Got Her Groove Back, the film that sparked tropical getaways, auntie...
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Hip-Hop Soul Cinema: Brown Sugar & the Era of Black Love
Let’s go on a soulful deep dive into Brown Sugar (2002), one of the most beloved Black romantic comedies of the early 2000s. This episode of The Cinematic Soul explores how the film blends hip-hop culture, Black love, and friendship into a timeless story. On this episode I get into the chemistry…
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Mackin’, Hangin’, and Growing Up: The Legacy of The Wood
What does it mean to grow up Black, goofy, and just trying to see who can get the most numbers? This week, I revisit one of my all-time favorite films, The Wood, and the layers Rick Famuyiwa gave us in his 1999 ode to brotherhood and coming-of-age 🙌🏾. Let’s go to The Wood! TIMESTAMPS: 00:20 –...
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On and On: The Makings of Claudine
This week on The Cinematic Soul, I’m revisiting Claudine with all of my thoughts and reflections. From Diahann Carroll’s layered performance to James Earl Jones redefining what love looks like under pressure, this one’s personal. I talked about what this film taught me about my own mother, the...
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The “Forever” Episode
Mara Brock Akil dropped a gem with Forever! This coming-of-age love story that hits deep. From family scars to first love and flashing lights, it’s layered and loud in all the right ways. I couldn’t wait to talk about this in my own way! This one’s a smash. Let’s get into it. Follow the podcast…
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Sinners Part Two: The Crossroads Between Ancestry, Music, and Magic
If Part One cracked the door open, Part Two will really leave you thinking! Let’s talk about the blues, legacy, and history Cinematic Soul style! Timestamps: 0:00 – Thank You / Response From Part 1 04:08 – Ancestors on The Dancefloor 12:17 – “I Lied To You” and Its Roots 17:29 – Delta Connections…
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Sinners Review: Hoodoo, Horror & Black History in 1932 Mississippi
I had to hop on the mic for this one! Sinners isn’t just a movie. It’s a sermon, a spirit bath, and a cultural reckoning all wrapped in blues and blood. In this special bonus episode of The Cinematic Soul, I’m breaking down Ryan Coogler’s newest film and why it shook me to my core. From the...
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Platinum Blonde & Leopard Print: B.A.P.S. Talk w/ Shani Showbiz
First off, from the bottom of my heart, thank you all for listening this season! Carving out a space for niche content like this that is FUBU is vital, and your engagement verifies the necessity of diverse voices in the cinematic conversations. In this season finale, we dive into B.A.P.S., a...
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Calculating Courage: The Story Behind Hidden Figures
In this episode of The Cinematic Soul, let’s delve into the remarkable narratives of Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson, the African American mathematicians whose brilliance propelled NASA’s missions during the Space Race. Join me as we celebrate these trailblazing women who...
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Waiting to Exhale: Celebrating Sisterhood and Resilience in Black Cinema
In this episode of The Cinematic Soul, I wanted to explore the 1995 classic Waiting to Exhale. Directed by Forest Whitaker and adapted from Terry McMillan’s novel, the film tells the stories of Savannah, Bernadine, Robin, and Gloria—four African-American women navigating the complexities of love,...
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Like A Legend: Breaking Down Set It Off
Cleo went out like a legend. Set It Off (1996) was a story of sisterhood, survival, and defiance. From its gritty cinematography to that gut-wrenching final scene, tune in to listen to the breakdown of why this film still hits in 2025. Buckle up, we’re setting it off. Follow @cinematicsoulpod on...
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The Art of Black Culture in Poetic Justice
Poetic Justice isn’t just a movie, it’s a moment! It’s poetry, love, grief, and fate all wrapped up in a road trip, with Janet and Pac at the center of it. Let’s break down why this film still hits all these years later. Follow @cinematicsoulpod on Instagram and join the conversation on Facebook…
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Do The Right Thing: Spike Lee’s Timeless Warning
The heat is rising, and we’re stepping into one of the most powerful films ever made—Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing. This isn’t just a movie; it’s a mirror. From the scorching streets of Brooklyn to the boiling tensions between cultures, this film forces you to confront hard truths. In this...
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Memory, Mystery, and the Unreliable Truth: Revisiting Eve’s Bayou
Kasi Lemmons’ Eve’s Bayou is an experience. A Southern Gothic masterpiece wrapped in memory, mysticism, and trauma. On this episode of The Cinematic Soul, we’re diving into the depths of this haunting 1997 classic. 🔹 How the film’s cinematography plays with memory and truth 🔹 Jurnee Smollett…
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Beyond the Lights: The Black Love Story Where We Fly Before We Fall
Gina Prince-Bythewood understood the assignment. In this episode of The Cinematic Soul, I’m breaking down how she carved out a lane for Black love stories with Beyond the Lights. We’ll also talk about Cynthia Erivo’s rise to fame (shoutout to Fly Before You Fall for putting me on) and why this…
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Love & Basketball: 88s and Heartbreak
“All’s fair in love and basketball right…” This week on The Cinematic Soul, we’re breaking down Gina Prince-Bythewood’s 2000 classic Love & Basketball. Was Quincy really the villain, or was he just a product of his environment? Does the film still hold up after all these years? Let’s talk about…
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Boomerang: Style, Soul, and Cinematic Impact
In this episode of The Cinematic Soul, we’re diving into the legacy of Boomerang—not just as a romantic comedy, but as a cultural blueprint. From Reginald Hudlin’s sleek direction to the film’s rich cinematography, sharp costume design, and one of the smoothest R&B soundtracks ever curated, we’re...
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The Best Man: A Toast to Love, Friendship & Chaos
Weddings are supposed to bring people together… unless, of course, a certain book exposes secrets that should’ve stayed buried. The Best Man gave us romance, brotherhood, and just the right amount of messy drama, all wrapped up in one of the most iconic Black ensemble films of the 90s! 📩 Got any...
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Black Love on Film: How Love Jones Got It Right
Is Love Jones the ultimate Black romance film, or does nostalgia make us see it through rose-colored glasses? In this debut episode of The Cinematic Soul, let’s dive into the poetry, the passion, and the beautifully flawed love story of Darius and Nina. From 90s Chicago’s cinematic glow to the…
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