OK, Bet!

What's good folks! In Ep 12 Ayati and The Black Thumb are live from Washington, DC where they are celebrating The Black Thumb being featured in The National Museum of African American History and Culture for his work with orchids. The Black Thumb reflects on the significance of this milestone and shares how this opportunity landed in his lap. Enjoy! #StayCasual    For more information on the exhibit, follow the link: https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/exhibitions/more-flower

We're Back! In our Season 2 premiere Ayati and The Black Thumb take their show on the road and get caught up on what's been going on since their last episode released in August 2025. They also discuss what they are looking forward to in 2026 while they hike the Oak, Yucca Ridge, Mountain Goat, Bobcat Meadow, and Santiago Creek trail in Orange, CA. Enjoy! #StayCasual 

Ayati and The Black Thumb are back in episode 10 where they give their thoughts on life, food, entertainment, music, sports, fashion and so much more.   In episode 10, Ayati & The Black Thumb catch up on what's been happening with them since the last episode. Ayati talks about rescuing 3 new frogs as well as being featured in UC Irvine's Sage Scholars Alumni Magazine. The Black Thumb celebrates 6 years of marriage. They spend the bulk of the episode giving their reactions to all the chatter around the recent Red Dress Run in New Orleans, LA where Black Men were spotted wearing red dresses for a charity run and some wifeys were not happy when they found out. Ayati & The Black Thumb will use this recent event to dig deeper on the idea of Black masculinity, sexuality, and how that may want to be defined by others in the real world. Enjoy! #StayCasual

Ayati and The Black Thumb are back in episode 9 where they will give their thoughts on life, food, entertainment, music, sports, fashion and so much more.   In episode 9, Ayati & The Black Thumb catch up on what's been happening with them since the last episode. Ayati shares his thoughts on returning to work after having to take a leave of absence. They finish up the episode discussing all things Love Island USA season 7. Enjoy! #StayCasual 

Ayati and The Black Thumb are back in episode 8 where they will give their thoughts on life, food, entertainment, music, sports, fashion and so much more.   In episode 8, Ayati & The Black Thumb catch up on the highlights of their week, but not before they give a review of their new creation, Oxtail Sushi. After reviewing their own culinary creation, they catch up on their experience at the Black Men Hike LA Juneteenth hike and celebration. They talk about what the Juneteenth holiday means to them. They finish up the episode celebrating Men's Mental Health Month by sharing personal experiences of their mental health journey and why mental health matters. Enjoy! #StayCasual

Ayati and The Black Thumb are back in episode 7 where they will give their thoughts on life, food, entertainment, music, sports, fashion, and so much more.   In episode 7, Ayati & The Black Thumb catch up on the highlights of their week (Ayati found a frog in the wild/The Black Thumb takes a pottery class). They give their reaction/review of the new hit song "Hollywood" by YG and Shoreline Mafia. They also have a candid conversation about the N-word and share personal experiences. They finish up the episode discussing the Target DEI boycott and come clean if they have shopped at Target. Enjoy! #StayCasual 

Ayati and The Black Thumb are back in episode 6 where they will give reactions to trending news, entertainment, music, sports, politics, and so much more.   In episode 6, Ayati & The Black Thumb give their first food review and do a donut tasting from Super Donuts in Long Beach, CA. Ayati brings another Random Love Show Report with his review and recap of the hit show "Forever" on Netflix. They also catch up from the previous week. Ayati discussed the impact of his most recent Black Men Hike LA camping trip. The Black Thumb shared his experience going to Kendrick Lamar and SZA concert in LA. They finish up the episode debating if listening to an audiobook counts as reading. Enjoy! #StayCasual

Ayati and The Black Thumb are back in episode 5 where they will give reactions to trending news, entertainment, music, sports, politics, and so much more.     In episode 5, Ayati & The Black Thumb discuss Diddy for the last time and explain why. They also give their reactions to some of the best and brightest fits at the recent Met Gala. The Black Thumb introduces a new segment centered around sports. Plus Ayati has another Random Love Show Report and Being Black Outside is Wild segment where he gives his reaction to the latest Pop the Balloon or Find Love episode and tells a story about his hunt for a wild pet frog while hiking. They finish up the episode with a random conversation between friends where they discuss why Men don't say "bye" when they get off the phone. Enjoy! #StayCasual 

Ayati and The Black Thumb are back in episode 4 where they will give reactions to trending news, entertainment, music, sports, politics, and so much more.     In episode 4, Ayati & The Black Thumb discuss the latest Diddy news, give their thoughts on Trump's tariffs and the recent wave of deportations including reactions to the illegal deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia. Plus Ayati has another Random Love Show Report and Being Black Outside is Wild segment where he gives his reaction to the latest Pop the Balloon or Find Love episode and gives his review of the new Sinners movie. They finish up the episode with another installment of the OK Bet Plant Corner and Good Vibes report. Enjoy! #StayCasual 

Ayati and The Black Thumb are back in episode 2 where they will give reactions to trending news, entertainment, music, sports, politics, and so much more.     In episode 3, Ayati & The Black Thumb Celebrate Ayati's debut book release (see link below for book details), discuss the latest Diddy news, give their thoughts on the hazing tragedy at Southern University, and discuss the upcoming Nike/Skims collab. They also debut a new segment called "Is it Trauma or is it Funny" plus Ayati gives his reaction to Pop the Balloon or Find Love episode 46 and Coulda Been Luv with Druski episode 4-5 in another installment of the Random Love Show Report. They finish up the episode with another installment of Being Black Outside is Wild where Ayati gives a review of two inline skating spots in the greater LA area. Enjoy! #StayCasual    Bad Soil: So How Do You Show Up Book Link: https://amzn.to/4bPBfQO

Ayati and The Black Thumb are back in episode 2 where they will give reactions to trending news, entertainment, music, sports, politics, and so much more.     In episode 2, Ayati & The Black Thumb discuss the recent Diddy and Luigi news and Ayati gives his thoughts on the current state of our Federal government. Ayati and The Black Thumb also introduce new segments centered around dating reality TV shows, being Black outside, their shared love for plants, and finish up the episode delivering some good news.  Enjoy! #StayCasual

Welcome to OK, Bet podcast! The podcast for the casual human. Ayati and The Black Thumb are back to launch a new era where they will give reactions to trending news, entertainment, music, sports, politics, and so much more.     In episode 1, Ayati & The Black Thumb highlight some of the biggest headlines of 2025 so far. They react to Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl performance and his 2025 Grammy success. They also give their reaction to Beyonce's 2025 Grammy success. They finish up the episode providing the latest P. Diddy news and give their thoughts on Trump's early presidency.  Enjoy! #StayCasual

Ayati and The Black Thumb are back for episode 5 where they continue to provide the casual NBA fan perspective while expanding their horizons to cover wide ranging topics centered around culture, music, fashion, & drama.   In episode 5, Ayati & The Black Thumb react to the latest P. Diddy news. They also give their reaction to the recent news surrounding Luigi Mangione, discuss the Beyoncé Bowl performance, and finish up celebrating their 1 year anniversary in the podcasting space and share updates on the show moving forward. Enjoy! #StayCasual

Ayati and The Black Thumb are back for episode 4 where they continue to provide the casual NBA fan perspective while expanding their horizons to cover wide ranging topics centered around culture, music, fashion, & drama.   In episode 4, Ayati & The Black Thumb react to Kendrick Lamar's new album "GNX" and discuss the ongoing conflict between Kendrick and Drake. They also react to the latest P. Diddy news, give their reaction to Donald Trump's pending cabinet, and finish up sharing their thoughts on the next Met Gala going Black. Enjoy! #StayCasual

Ayati and The Black Thumb are back for episode 3 where they continue to provide the casual NBA fan perspective while expanding their horizons to cover wide ranging topics centered around culture, music, fashion, & drama. In episode 3, Ayati & The Black Thumb discuss the latest P. Diddy news, give their reaction to Donald Trump being elected, give their reactions to the recent Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson fight, and finish up sharing their respective plant journeys and their aspirations to get beautiful plants in your home. Enjoy! #StayCasual

Ayati and The Black Thumb are back for episode 2 where they continue to provide the casual NBA fan perspective while expanding their horizons to cover wide ranging topics centered around culture, music, fashion, & drama. In episode 2, Ayati & The Black Thumb discuss the latest P. Diddy news, give their reaction to Young Thug's recent release from jail, give their final thoughts on the Presidential race/election, and finish up with some reactions to early NBA headlines. Enjoy! #StayCasual

Ayati and The Black Thumb are back for the Season 2 premiere! In this season, they will continue to provide the casual NBA fan perspective while expanding their horizons to cover wide ranging topics centered around culture, music, fashion, & drama.   In episode one, Ayati and The Black Thumb discuss the biggest things they are excited about for the 2024-2025 NBA season. They also give their picks for the Eastern/Western Conference Champs and MVP. Ayati and The Black Thumb finish up episode one giving their reaction to the latest signature shoes of NBA stars and giving their reactions to all the new NBA city edition jerseys. See episode table of contents below to jump around to your favorite topics. Enjoy! #StayCasual     Table of Contents: -Intro 0:00     1st Quarter: What we are looking forward to this NBA season 1:25 -Ayati is excited about LeBron & Bronny sharing the court 2:00 -The Black Thumb gives a quick shout out 3:58 -The Black Thumb will be rooting tough for the Portland Trail Blazers 5:07 -The Black Thumb is excited about who is going to take the "Face of the NBA" title 6:27     2nd Quarter: 2024-2025 NBA Season Picks/Projections 7:30 -Eastern Conference champ picks 8:05 -Western Conference champ picks 10:21 -1st Half Timeout: MVP picks & a quick word on Anthony Edwards 14:30     3rd Quarter: Latest Signature Shoe Reactions 18:16 -LeBron James 19:00 -Kevin Durant 20:14 -Ja Morant 21:31 -Jayson Tatum 23:25 -Steph Curry 24:50 -Kyrie Irving 26:09 -Scoot Henderson 27:12 -Lamelo Ball 28:17 -Jaylen Brown 28:51 -De'aaron Fox 31:16 -Kyrie Irving Lifestyle shoe 32:05 -Lamelo Ball Lifestyle shoe 33:19 -LeBron James Cross Training shoe 33:54     4th Quarter: 2024-2025 NBA City Edition Jersey Reactions 35:25 -Toronto Raptors 35:57 -Houston Rockets 36:08 -Detroit Pistons 36:17 -San Antonio Spurs 36:49 -Phoenix Suns 37:10 -Washington Wizards 37:15 -Utah Jazz 37:30 -Memphis Grizzlies 38:18 -Golden State Warriors 38:23 -Sacramento Kings 38:30 -Charlotte Hornets 38:41 -Indiana Pacers 38:58 -Portland Trailblazers 39:16 -Cleveland Cavaliers 39:30 -Atlanta Hawks 39:50 -Philadelphia 76ers 39:58 -Dallas Mavericks 40:05 -Minnesota Timberwolves 40:13 -New Orleans Pelicans 40:30 -Brooklyn Nets 41:06 -Denver Nuggets 41:24 -Milwaukee Bucks 41:37 -Orlando Magic 41:48 -Los Angeles Clippers 41:57 -Chicago Bulls 42:09 -Boston Celtics 42:25 -Los Angeles Lakers 42:37 -New York Knicks 43:05 -Oklahoma City Thunder 43:38 -Miami Heat 44:09 -Our big takeaway from the city edition jerseys 44:25

Ayati and The Black Thumb are back for the off-season finale! In this limited series, they expand their horizons and cover wide ranging topics centered around culture, music, fashion, & drama. Plus they will throw in some basketball from time to time as well.   In the final off-season episode, Ayati and The Black Thumb discuss the recent developments in the Diddy saga after he made his first court appearance. They also discuss Beyoncé being shut out of the Country Music Awards while giving their review of Beyoncé's new whiskey, Sir Davis. Ayati and The Black Thumb finish up the finale reacting to Elon Musk's recent "We, Robot" event and the pending divorce between Cardi B and Offset. See episode table of contents below to jump around to your favorite topics. Enjoy! #StayCasual   Table of Contents -Intro 0:00 -What are we talking about today? 0:17     1st Quarter: Diddy Appears in Court 1:47 -Ayati gives his take on Diddy current events 2:46 -It's over for Baby oil 3:06 -Ayati has no sympathy for Diddy 3:50 -Did Ayati come close to going to a Diddy party? 4:05 -The Black Thumb gives Ayati his flowers 5:29 -The Black Thumb gives his take on Diddy current events 6:00 -Diddy got a story to tell 6:22 -How big is this Diddy Web? 7:10     2nd Quarter: Beyoncé gets snubbed/ Sir Davis Whiskey review 7:50 -Ayati & The Black Thumb Review Beyoncé's whiskey, Sir Davis 8:34 -Ayati makes a declaration about Sir Davis whiskey 10:54 -Ayati & The Black Thumb taste Sir Davis & give their thoughts 11:13 -Ayati/BlackThumb 1st Half Timeout: Putting finishing touches on Sir Davis review 11:54 -Ayati addresses Beyoncé being snubbed 14:21 -The Black Thumb addresses Beyoncé ring snubbed 15:43 -What if Beyoncé wins a Grammy for Cowboy Carter? What will that say about the CMA's? 18:11     3rd Quarter: Elon Musk "We, Robot" event reactions 18:49 -Ayati gives his take on the progression of artificial intelligence 19:35 -This technology is not going to save our planet 21:50 -The Black Thumb questions if this new technology is safe for humans and robots 22:41 -Are we as a society ready for this technology? 24:26     4th Quarter: Cardi B & Offset getting Divorced? 24:57 -Ayati gives his take on if Cardi B & Offset should reconcile 25:51 -The Black Thumb gives his take on if Cardi B & Offset should reconcile 27:14 -Ayati & The Black Thumb explore Cardi B & Offset's relationship through Offset's show, "The Hype" 28:51 -The Black Thumb shares how "The Hype" inspired him to make his own clothing 29:42 -A quick promo for The Black Thumb Market. Get you something 30:13 -Outro 31:46

Ayati and The Black Thumb are back for another off-season episode! In this limited series, they will expand their horizons and cover wide ranging trending topics centered around culture, music, fashion, & drama. Plus they will throw in some basketball from time to time as well. In the third off-season episode, Ayati and The Black Thumb discuss the recent detainment of Tyreek Hill by Miami-Dade Police and give their thoughts on Policing in America. They also discuss the recent debate between Kamala Harris & Donald Trump (no dogs or cats were harmed in the making of this episode). Ayati and The Black Thumb finish up episode 3 discussing Kendrick getting tapped for this year's Super Bowl halftime show and give a quick update on the P. Diddy situation. See episode table of contents below to jump around to your favorite topics. Enjoy! #StayCasual   Table of Contents: -Intro 0:00  -"Wild Sh*t" Stick update 0:56     1st Quarter: Tyreek Hill Detained by Miami-Dade Police 1:33 -The Black Thumb gives his take on Tyreek Hill being detained 2:34 -Police brutality is about power 3:20 -Being young, Black, & rich in America is a trip 3:35 -Black men are still being dehumanized by the Police 5:11 -Ayati gives his take on Tyreek situation & the double standard that exist with ow Police treat Black people compared to their other groups of people 5:35 -Why are we paying taxes for this type of treatment from the Police? 6:29 -What is White Supremacy? 7:06 -The Black Thumb's 1st Half Timeout: The Policing System is doing what it was created to do 7:27 -Let's talk about professionalism 8:43 -Ayati's 1st Half Timeout: Ayati tells a scary story about his experience with the Police 9:57 -This situation was triggering for a lot of people 13:19     2nd Quarter: Kamala Harris vs. Donald Trump Debate 14:50 -Ayati gives his take on Kamala vs. Trump 16:09 -Ayati is not f*cking with Trump 18:11 -The Black Thumb gives his take on Kamala vs. Trump 19:52 -The Black Thumb ain't voting for Trump either 21:14     Halftime Show brought to you by "Wild sh*t! Because you need a little bit in your life. But, not too much." 21:30     3rd Quarter: Kendrick Lamar gets tapped for Super Bowl Halftime Performance 22:10 -The Black Thumb is here for Kendrick's Super Bowl performance 23:06 -The Jay-Z angle 23:25 -Will there be surprise performers with Kendrick? 23:47 -The Black Thumb comments on the Kendrick vs. Drake beef 24:29 -The genius of Kendrick 24:58 -Ayati gives his take on Kendrick situation 25:29 -Folks, go listen to "Spiteful Chant" by Kendrick 26:23 -Drake new stuff ain't really been hitting since "Not Like Us" dropped 26:55 -Ayati has his concerns about Kendrick's Super Bowl performance 27:20 -Will Kendrick use his Super Bowl performance to be more petty 27:44 -Since when did Nicki Minaj have beef with Jay-Z? 28:05 -Is Jay-Z responsible for tapping Kendrick for the Super Bowl or the Execs 28:23 -Could Kendrick facilitate a Cash Money reunion at the Super Bowl? 29:13     4th Quarter: P. Diddy Accusers Keep Coming Forward 30:16 -Ayati gives his take on the Diddy situation 31:48 -Diddy been ruining lives 33:00 -The Black Thumb gives his take on the Diddy situation 34:33 -This feels a little like the Deshaun Watson situation 34:55 -Diddy is at a tipping point in this situation 35:18 -The Black Thumb gives Ayati his flowers 36:45 -Outro 37:06

Ayati and The Black Thumb are back for another off-season episode! In this limited series, they will expand their horizons and cover wide ranging trending topics centered around culture, music, fashion, & drama. Plus they will throw in some basketball from time to time as well. In the second off-season episode, Ayati and The Black Thumb discuss all the forms of "Love" and how we consume "Love" through entertainment. They give their reactions to Reasonable Doubt (Season 1), the hit YouTube show "Pop the Balloon or Find Love, the hottest reality dating show right now, Love Island USA, and the recent Tyrese interview with The Breakfast Club. See episode table of contents below to jump around to your favorite topics. Enjoy! #StayCasual   Table of Contents: -Intro 0:00 -What are we talking about today? 0:19 -Show format rundown 0:39     1st Quarter: Reasonable Doubt Season 1 Reactions 0:57 -The Black Thumb gives Spoiler disclaimer 1:43 -The Black Thumb discusses two takeaways from season 1 and red flags in relationships 1:55 -How trauma shapes you in life and relationships 3:05 -Ayati discusses his takeaway's from Season 1 3:28 -Reasonable Doubt "Love" ain't your typical "Love" 3:37 -Ayati is gonna spoil some sh*t for you 4:18 -This show was so LA & we here for that 4:47 -Ayati talks about Jax finding harmony between her work/family life and relationships 5:23 -It's not "Black Love," it's "Trauma Love." 5:46 -We are Team Lewis all day! 6:21 -Reasonabke Doubt is relatable for everyone 6:39     2nd Quarter: Pop the Balloon or Find Love YouTube show Reactions 8:03 -Ayati explains "Pop the Balloon or Find Love" 8:13 -Is this show real and fake at the same time? 9:21 -This show represents the Diaspora of Blackness 10:18 -Ayati ponders whether he would go on the show 10:45 -Ayati's first interaction with the show 11:17 -What Ayati has learned from the show 12:14 -This has to be one of the worst feelings being on this show 12:34 -We give "Pop the Balloon or Find Love" its flowers 13:12 -Ayati didn't know Black people was in Arizona 13:33     Halftime Show: We have our first Ad! lol 14:24     3rd Quarter: Love Island Season 6 Recap/Reactions 14:35 -Ayati introduces the show "Love Island" 14:45 -Spoiler Alert: Ayati announces winners of Love Island USA season 6 16:05 -The Black Thumb gives his take on Love Island USA 16:19 -Did The Black Thumb stumble upon something profound? 16:46 -Love: its levels to this sh*t 17:01 -Ayati gives his take on Love Island USA 17:47 -Ayati compares himself to one of the cast members 18:37 -Ayati speaks to the popularity of Love Island 19:21 -The Black Thumb has a theory about why reality dating shows are so popular 20:16     Black Thumb Timeout: Let's talk more about why reality tv is so popular 20:43     Ayati Timeout: Ayati has another favorite Love Island cast member 21:49     4th Quarter: Tyrese does interview with The Breakfast Club 23:11 -Ayati sets the stage for Tyrese interview 23:19 -Ayati and The Black Thumb show off their vocals 23:56 -How Tyrese interview ties in with the theme of Love 24:25 -The Black Thumb's wants to normalize Black men being vulnerable 25:18 -Ayati discusses how comedy can help process trauma 27:06 -The Black Thumb compares Tyrese interview to Katt Williams Chub Shay Shay interview 28:07 -Ayati encourages you to watch the Tyrese interview 29:24 -Outro 29:49

Welcome to the off-season! In this limited series of episodes Ayati and The Black Thumb will expand their horizons and cover wide ranging trending topics centered around culture, music, fashion, & drama. Plus they will throw in some basketball from time to time as well. In the first off-season episode, Ayati and The Black Thumb discuss the recent release of "Coresha,Please" where Yung Miami spoke her truth about her relationship with Diddy, Taylor Swift's concert being cancelled in Vienna, Travis Scott & The Curry's run in with Paris police, & Kamala Harris vs. Donald Trump. See episode table of contents below. Enjoy! #StayCasual    Episode Table of Contents -Intro/New Format Review 0:00 -Wild Shit Stick update 2:35   -1st Quarter: Yung Miami talks about Diddy 3:25 -Ayati introduces Yung Miami/Coresha 3:52 -Ayati sets the stage for Diddy discussion 4:32 -Ayati gives his take on "Coresha, Please" episode 6:15 -The Black Thumb gives his take on "Coresha, Please" episode 7:50 -Will Yung Miami catch Diddy strays 9:53 -Diddy been on that weird shit for a minute 10:04 -Ayati compares Diddy to a mythical creature 10:40   -2nd Quarter: Taylor Swift Got Cancelled 12:01 -Ayati is shocked by the Taylor Swift news 14:23 -The power of Taylor Swift 14:55 -The power of the Swifties 15:29 -Ayati sees the positives of the situation 15:59 -The Black Thumb went in the opposite direction 16:19 -Why are white dudes being radicalized online so much? 16:42 -The Black Thumb shares a Taylor Swift story 17:47 -Ayati has a Drake/Taylor Swift theory 19:16 -Ayati's 1st Timeout: Why are we trying to terrorize a Taylor Swift Concert? 21:14   -3rd Quarter: Travis Scott & Ayesha Curry have Paris police encounters 22:05 -Wemby is no longer "The Baby Whale" 23:07 -Ayati reacts to news of police encounters 25:06 -The consequences of being Black, loud, and rich 26:44 -Travis Scott is an easy target 27:31 -You can't put hands on the Curry baby 28:29 -Draymond wasn't Draymonding 29:21 -The Black Thumb's 1st Timeout: More on Draymond 29:56 -What happened to humanity 31:32 -You need a "Paris Pusher" 32:17 -Not the children and babies, Ayati! 33:15   -4th Quarter: Kamala Harris vs Donald Trump 34:20 -It's all bad for Virgos this year 34:49 -Ayati gives his take on the presidential race & politics 35:22 -Politicians are the biggest clout chasers 37:52 -The Black Thumb talks about the toll of consuming American politics 38:39 -The disrespect of Black women is unreal 40:22 -Is American politics just like WWE? 41:03

What's good folks! Y'all made it to the Season 1 finale! In episode 13, Ayati and The Black Thumb play around with the show format and treat the show like an NBA game. They even have timeouts they can use! Over the course of the episode, Ayati and The Black Thumb discuss topics like the Celtics 18th title, the Lakers offseason, the WNBA's growth, & check in with the Kendrick & Drake beef. Enjoy! #StayCasual   Episode Table of Contents:  -Intro 0:00 -This episode is an experiment 0:35 -How the experiment will work for this episode 0:59 -Introduction of the "Wild Shit" stick 2:34   1st Quarter: Boston celebrates 18th NBA title 3:45 - Ayati gives his take on Boston's title 4:28 - Ayati thinks the NBA is rigged & explains why 5:24 - Jayson Tatum's celebration plagiarism 7:01 - The Black Thumb pushes back on NBA being rigged & gives his take on Boston's title 7:22 - Boston's prospects to win back to back 9:05 - Jayson Tatum still has questions to answer 9:50 - Could Jayson Tatum play with his son, Deuce, in the NBA one day? 9:59 - Jayson Tatum & Ella Mai having a baby?!? 10:42 - The Black Thumb's 1st Timeout: A quick word on Ant-Man's baby mama drama 10:58 - Ayati's 1st Timeout: Ant-Man convo continues 12:07 - Jayson Tatum vs. Jaylen Brown 14:41   2nd Quarter: The Lakers offseason 18:38 - Lakers stealing all the headlines 18:50 - Lakers offseason update 19:01 - Ayati gives his take on Bronny, Bron, & nepotism 21:40 - Ayati dethrones Jordan as the GOAT 24:20 - Nepotism = America 24:09 - Klutch sports & Lebron are doing right by Bronny so far 26:50 - The Black Thumb gives his thoughts on Bronny with the Lakers 28:08 - The Black Thumb discusses Lakers draft 29:19 - Why can't the Lakers get free agents anymore? 29:59 - Final word on Lakers offseason 30:49 - The Black Thumb's 2nd timeout: A quick word on JJ Redick hire 31:06   3rd Quarter: The WNBA Season storylines thus far 32:28 - The W finally getting the love it deserves 32:42 - No shortage of drama 33:09 - Why The W is like the 90's NBA 34:20 - Angel Reese/Caitlin Clark rivalry 35:22 - Angel Reese is a MONSTER! 35:44 - Chennedy Carter vs. Caitlin Clark 36:50 - Ayati is checking for the WNBA fashion 38:39 - A quick review of the Sabrina 1 & 2's 40:00 - Ayati don't know shit about the W 40:35 - The W All-Star Weekend is gonna be crazy 40:52 - The parallels of growth for the W and the NBA are uncanny 42:29 - WNBA salaries are what!?! 44:00 - Ayati's 2nd timeout: NBA/WNBA wage gap 44:26   4th Quarter: Kendrick vs. Drake Update 46:31 - Ayati's take on the latest Kendrick/Drake news 48:23 - "Not Like Us" music video review 49:04 - Ayati's love/hate relationship with Compton 49:37 - Kendrick made DeMar DaRozen choose sides 50:46 - An ode to Tommy The Clown 51:23 - Kendrick diss album coming soon? 52:28 - Winter is here for Drake 52:51 - The impact of "Not Like Us" 53:32 - Drake be Draking 54:07 - We lament early Drake 54:49 - How celebs end up with "Mob Ties" 55:45 - Is Drake the new Ja Rule? 57:05 - Ja Rule resurfaces to catch L's 57:23 - Can Drake weather the storm? 58:17 -Plans for offseason content 59:27 -Outro 60:26

DISCLAIMER: This conversation was originally recorded during a pre-show sound check on February 19, 2024. In other words, you get what you get! What's good folks! Ayati and The Black Thumb are taking you behind the curtain with this one. In this "Interlude" you will watch an unedited and unfiltered conversation about Bronny James and his NBA aspirations. With all the pre-draft hype and eventual drafting of Bronny James to the Los Angeles Lakers to play with his dad, Lebron James, Ayati and The Black Thumb had to share their initial thoughts on the situation. This conversation was filmed around the All-Star break and will include topics like normalizing nepotism in the Black community, should Bronny stay in college or go to the NBA, the pros and cons of each decision, and of course, Ayati says some wild shit again! Enjoy! #StayCasual Table of Contents -Intro 0:00 -Ayati & The Black Thumb discuss nepotism in the Black community 0:15 -Lebron talks about Bronny's NBA hopes at All-Star weekend 0:49 -Ayati & The Black Thumb declare if Bronny should in school or go to the NBA 1:10 -Ayati's POV on the Bronny situation 1:25 -The Black Thumb discusses the challenges ahead for Bronny 2:33 -Ayati talks about the power of being in the right environment 4:20 -Ayati says some wild shit about the NBA 5:42 -A quick sidebar on Steph Curry coming into the NBA 6:08 -What The Black Thumb wants for Bronny 7:47 -Is Lebron forcing the issue with Bronny? 8:03 -The Black Thumb compares Bronny's situation to the Movie "Love & Basketball" 8:33 -The Black Thumb discusses the financial pros and cons of going to the NBA now 11:23 -Ayati has concerns about how injuries could derail Bronny 12:29 -Ayati implores Bronny to leave for the NBA 13:54 -Could Bronny benefit from more time in college? 14:36 -A quick tangent on Shaq and his son's journey to try to make it in the NBA 15:30 -Will Bryce James need Lebron's help to get into the NBA? 16:04 -Why making it in the NBA will be an uphill climb for Bronny and not Bryce 16:50 -Bronny has an ultimate UNO card to play 18:01 -Will Lebron play until Bryce is eligible for the NBA? 18:41 -Lebron as a 6th Man in year 25??? 19:04 -A quick word on the greatness of JuJu Watkins 20:58 -Outro 21:36

What's good folks! Ayati and The Black Thumb are back and discussing all things about the beef between lifetime LA Laker fan, Kendrick Lamar, and Toronto Raptor Ambassador, Drake. In episode 12, Ayati and the Black Thumb share their take on the beef as a whole including who they believe won the battle. They also discuss various topics like Ayati's family history in Compton, some of the other "side quest" beefs in hip hop, and you know we had to sneak a little Diddy take in at the end. Plus, Ayati makes a bold prediction for hip hop and gives our viewers some advice around how to consume hip hop beefs. Enjoy! See Episode Topics Below:  -Ayati, Who side you on? 2:00 -Ayati's family history in Compton 3:25 -Ayati shares what makes Drake and Kendrick different as artists 7:35 -Real world consequences of rap beef 9:40 -The Black Thumb gives his take on Kendrick/Drake beef 11:33 -Themes in how Drake handles beef 16:23 -A quick tangent on Kanye's new album 19:19 -Ayati has advice for Drake 22:18 -Classic diss songs in hip hop 23:29 -A quick word on J. Cole 26:41 -Better opponents for Kendrick 27:50 -Side quest Beefs (Chris brown/quavo) 31:31 -Ayati's conspiracy theory antennas are up 34:28 -A quick word about Taylor Swift & Swifties 34:50 -Potential legal ramifications for bars 38:41 -Quick Diddy take 40:58 -How Black is Drake? 41:19 -Future outlook for Drake and Kendrick 42:52 -Ayati makes a bold prediction in hip hop 50:17 -Ayati gives some advice to viewers/listeners 51:57 

Alright folks! It's that time of year when your favorite NBA superstars start unveiling the latest edition of their signature shoe lines and we have thoughts and opinions. So buckle up, this is a long one even for us, but it's so good! Cue this one up in bite size pieces, save it for a road-trip/flight, or listen all the way through like a real one.  In episode 11, Ayati and The Black Thumb start the episode sharing their early NBA playoff impressions. In particular, they give their take on how the LA Clippers and LA Lakers are performing thus far and give a vibe check of what's to come for their respective teams. In the second part of this episode, Ayati and The Black Thumb give their ratings and reactions to the signature shoes of players currently playing in the NBA playoffs and go down plenty of rabbit holes that will keep you laughing and provoke some thought around the NBA shoe game. Enjoy! #StayCasual

Alright basketball fans, the NBA season is heating up and we're looking forward to the competition heading into the NBA Playoffs! In Episode 10 Ayati & The Black Thumb break down who they think has the inside track to win MVP, Rookie of the Year and who the top contenders are to make a deep run in this year's playoffs. We've got some young stars emerging, veterans still performing at an elite level and teams looking to break through, so there should be no shortage of intriguing storylines as the season winds down and the playoffs ramp up. Let us know who you've got your eye on for these awards and who you think will go the furthest in the playoffs! And as always, stay casual. Enjoy!

In episode 9, Ayati and The Black Thumb discuss the multi year deal Kim Kardashian's shapewear brand, Skims, inked with the NBA, WNBA, & USA Basketball to be the exclusive underwear provider for these leagues. Enjoy!

In episode eight, Ayati and The Black Thumb discuss their takeaways from the recent NBA All-Star weekend and what changes they would make to make the All-Star game to make it a better fan experience. Enjoy!

This is not an episode! I repeat, this is not an episode. Ayati and The Black Thumb have a candid conversation about the NBA All-Star game. This was meant to be an offline conversation, but the camera was rolling and well, you get what you get. Enjoy!

In the true spirit of Robbin' season, Ayati and The Black Thumb discuss the recent shoplifting allegations surrounding former Washington Wizards guard, Ryan Rollins. Enjoy!

Welcome to New to the Game podcast! The podcast for the casual NBA fan. In episode 6, Ayati and The Black Thumb discuss the unprecedented Katt Williams interview on Club Shay Shay podcast earlier this year because let's be honest, who isn't talking about this! We discuss the back and forth between Katt and Kevin Hart, our big takeaways from each comedian's comments, and life lessons gleaned from Katt Williams. And in true New to the Game fashion, we take a few other tangents that will be sure to entertain and get you thinking. Enjoy!

Welcome to the New to the Game podcast. The podcast for the casual NBA fan. In episode 5, Ayati and The Black Thumb discuss a few transcendent players in the NBA and how their individual play is impacting their respective teams thus far this season. Enjoy!

Welcome to New to the Game podcast! The podcast for the casual NBA fan. In episode 4, Ayati and The Black Thumb discuss Ja Morant's electric return from suspension and the intersectionality of NBA fatherhood. Enjoy!

Welcome to "New to the Game" podcast. The podcast for the casual NBA fan. In episode 3, Ayati and The Black Thumb discuss their origin story and how their friendship morphed into a podcast centered around the NBA. Enjoy!

Welcome to "New to the Game" podcast! The podcast for the casual NBA fan. In episode 2, Ayati and T-Rich discuss all things Draymond Green and his recent indefinite suspension because let's be honest, we all have an opinion or feel some type of way about this shit. We dive into the mental health aspect of this situation and share a little bit about our personal mental health journey. All while running down a few rabbit holes with Ayati about how the NBA can make the league better and more interesting. These Ayati ideas are reason enough to listen, trust me! So, subscribe and enjoy these two friends talking about the Association they love, casually.

Let's talk about on court fashion! In our first episode we talk a little bit about the inaugural In-Season Tournament finals matchup between the Indiana Pacers and Los Angeles Lakers. We also give our reactions to each NBA team's city edition jersey with plenty random NBA related tangents to get to know us a little better. Make sure you subscribe and share!