Ratchet & Respectable
by Demetria L. Lucas & Studio71
It's a kiki for the culture!!! Journalist and author Demetria L. Lucas brings the group chat to life on her weekly podcast where she-- and the occasional guest-- muses on pop culture shenanigans, global galavanting, political insanity, everything worth watching on any size screen, her favorite reads, dating/marriage/divorce chronicles and whatever else has captivated the zeitgeist AND her inner circle. Ratchet & Respectable is published EVERY WEDNESDAY. Listen wherever popular podcasts are heard. #ratchetandrespectable For advertising opportunities please email [email protected] We wanna make the podcast even better, help us learn how we can: https://bit.ly/2EcYbu4 Privacy Policy: https://www.studio71.com/us/terms-and-conditions-use/#Privacy%20Policy
Episodes
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Political Infighting, Diaspora Wars & the Return of Railroad Zaddy
Democrats are fighting Democrats, Africans and Black Americans are fighting each other, and somehow we're losing sight of the bigger picture in both conversations. Meanwhile, Railroad Zaddy is on drugs, Marian is already getting on my nerves, and Jax is giving Denzel in Training Day over on...
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Atlanta Is Not a Real Place, Iyanla Coddles A(nother) Grown Man & the Respectability Politics of Reasonable Doubt
POTUS is more offended by Obama's Cheesecake Factory comparison than being compared to a dictator, while Mean Mamdani drags him to hell (again). Iyanla Vanzant reignites those male-centered allegations with her latest take on R. Kelly, Halle Berry handles family business in public, and Dame Dash...
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Male-Centered Women, Messy Midterms & a Geriatric Queenpin?
Is Louise Lucas (no relation) a victim of political persecution or a geriatric gangster? Obama roasts Trump's gilded Oval Office, and what exactly is going on with Nicki Minaj and Trump? Plus, Jay-Z, Allen Iverson, an outrageous Ohio governor's race, and a major announcement from Marrakech.
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John Boyega Has Been “Hiding a Child”!! (And a Wife!!), Diddy's Prison Sentence Extended & “Corey Cash” (Reasonable Doubt) Is for the Streets
John Boyega has been keeping a whole family under wraps, Diddy is punished for his prison luxuries, and my alma mater has me embarrassed. Plus, there's plenty of good Black TV news, Reasonable Doubt is stressing me out, and The Drop is dropping the ball.
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Somebody's Son, Somebody's Daughter & Ilhan Omar's Federal Raid
A beautiful wedding has me thinking I might need to be nicer to somebody's son. Meanwhile, a young mother is killed, and the feds show up at Ilhan Omar's house three weeks before an election.
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Beautiful Women, Unfortunate Looking Men & Morris Chestnut Hates That Lady
Dr. Melissa Valle opens up about aging, some unfortunate-looking men come for the beauties of Living Single, and Cam’ron has thoughts about being African. Plus, Reasonable Doubt is BACK, and Morris Chestnut does not like that lady. At all.
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Great Expectations: Non-Monogamous Men, $1K Weaves, Chris Rock & Why We Hate Every Black Event
Kendrick Sampson has very complicated ideas about love, a $1,000 sew-in sends the Internet into a frenzy, and Demi is forced to defend Chris Rock against her will. Plus, CultureCon makes Demi wonder whether any Black event can meet everybody’s expectations, and Da’Vinchi doesn't want to be saved.
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Savannah in First Class, Diddy’s Luxe Life in Prison, & Rick Ross in Police Custody
Apparently, flying business class is a human rights violation, Diddy has discovered concierge service in federal prison, and Rick Ross is discussing rigatoni while facing criminal charges. We have officially lost the plot, and that's before we get to Cornell.
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Aging Gracefully, Hillman's Legacy & That Cornell Lawsuit
Demi returns to Hillman to discuss messy marriages, legacy kids and more. Plus, what exactly does “aging gracefully” mean when women get dragged no matter what they do, Kimora Lee revisits three messy marriages, Jay-Z gets reflective (again), and a disturbing Cornell lawsuit has Demi unable to...
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Misguided Righteousness, A Balanced Breakfast & Not Enough Dara
Demi heads back to Hillman, The Drop might be the best show on TV, and Nikole Hannah-Jones’ essay sparks a complicated conversation about Black flight, the Black elite, educational sacrifice—and whether righteous intentions can still lead to misguided choices.
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Jay-Z Goes to Therapy, Converse Teases a Lynching & Russell Simmons Does Boy Math
Demi recaps her weekend at CBC before getting into Jay-Z’s intimate new documentary and Colin Kaepernick’s version of their complicated history. Plus, Converse has some explaining to do, Russell Simmons disputes Kimora Lee Simmons’ version of when they met, and Macklemore stands on business.
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MBJ Half Nekkid for Vogue, Meghan Markle Betrayed by UK Moms & In Defense of Chris Brown
Michael B. Jordan in his drawers for Vogue, Meghan Markle’s UK drama has already begun, and what the hell is happening at the Kennedy Center? Also, Chris Brown is not wrong (about this one particular thing), and I resent everyone for making me say that
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Jasmine Lost the Plot, Boosie Lost His Money & Papoose Lost His Mind
Jasmine Crockett lost the plot, Boosie got reverse scammed, and Papoose is still doing everything except signing divorce papers. Plus, RIP to fashion god Bob Mackie—and Mitch McConnell is actually alive. Sort of.
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Jill Scott’s Bra, The Constitution Under Attack & LA’s Crack Era Is Back
We’re talking government censorship, Jill Scott’s gravity-defying bosom, and whether 1990s LA was really as wild as The Drop makes it look. Plus, P-Valley is finally back after four long years and Kennedy Ryan is collecting checks in every direction.
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5 Blocks, 5 Babies & $1,000 for Beyoncé’s Box
25 years after 9/11, Demetria remembers living five blocks from the World Trade Center. Plus: Ciara’s fifth baby, Beyoncé’s $1,000 box, a long-awaited visit to the Obama Center, and a deathly penis injection.
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Feminism, Fraud & Football
Demi survived Ghana, a US road trip and jet lag just in time to discuss the important things: Aaron Pierre and the very Black Lanterns, Ryan Clark's post-ESPN glow-up, the passing of feminist icon Gloria Steinem, and a man who allegedly convinced women he was an NFL player despite one tiny...
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Good White Folks, Bad Husbands & A Brand-New Face
We survived the Married at First Sight finale and reunion, where apologies were plentiful, good judgment was scarce, and somebody really should have packed her cat and left. Plus, RIP to Dolly Parton, and Kenya Moore has a brand-new face: unrecognizable, yes—but it’s a good face.
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Black Wives, Single Husbands & Unreliable Narrators
From Ghana, I get into Stephen A. Smith’s very public beef with NABJ, and the latest foolishness on Married at First Sight. Plus, Black women are getting married and looking GOODT, and, Meghan and Harry may be heading back to the UK
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The Price of Ambition with Amy DuBois Barnett
Amy DuBois Barnett is an editor icon—the former editor-in-chief of Teen People, Honey and Ebony and one of those women everybody in media wants to be. And now, she is finally living the dream she first had in her 20s: novelist. We get into her juicy debut, If I Ruled the World, the glory—and...
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YoU'rE NoT pReTtY eNoUgH fOr Me: Married At First Sight
Demi has a visit from the world’s most considerate handyman; goes down a rabbit hole about 50/50 relationships; Mecca from Married at First Sight has lost his ENTIRE mind
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A Waste of Fine
An aspiring MAGA politico lost to a man who quit 3 weeks prior; Andrew Gillum in the pokie; Nara Smith repeats that she is not a trad wife… despite her trad wife aesthetics; On Married At First Sight, Shawn asks Nikki for “handiwork”; an excitable review of the new season of Lioness; Demi heads...
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Legacy
Demi reflects on the loss of a friend and legendary journalist Flo Anthony, sits down with estate planning attorney Dorna Jenkins Taylor to explain why everyone needs a plan, and discusses Tomi Adeyemi's emotional response to seeing her work adapted for the screen. Find Dorna Jenkins Taylor at:...
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Villains & Heroes: We Can't Tell Who is Who Anymore
Dr. Fauci keeps a diary on his work computer, then pleads "the Fif"; Ms. Rachel enters her villain era; Hunter Biden is the mouthpiece we need; Brittney Griner files for divorce from her ride-or-die wife, Cherelle
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Pack Your Cat and Go!!!: Married at First Sight
Demi and Dating & Relationship Expert Anwar White dissect, cackle, and gag over bread-winning women, men with mother wounds, learning vulnerability and when to cut your losses on the latest (completely dysfunctional) season of MARRIED AT FIRST SIGHT (a/k/a TV’s best guilty pleasure )
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Pretty Privilege: The Cheyenne Bryant Saga Never Ever Ends
Middle-aged Usher is treated like a dirty old man by a young Chris Brown fan; The saga of Cheyenne Bryant lying about her doctorate degree gets crazier; Netflix and Pastor Jamal Bryant and Dr. Marc Lamont Hill enter the chat; another round of Bonnet-Gate and respectability politics, this time at...
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Life After Death: My Father Made Me Plan for Whatever's Next
Three celebrity estate disputes (Malcolm Jamal Warner, Chadwick Boseman, and Takeoff) made Demetria confront the conversation she has avoided for years
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QUICKIE: Ryan Clark Deserved Better from ESPN
I'm not mad that ESPN let Ryan Clark go after a decade. That's business. HOW they let him go is personal (and bad business.) In this bite-size episode, I'm breaking down why I think Ryan Clark deserved more. Plus, a preview of my thoughts on Malcolm Jamal Warner's widow's lawsuit and her upcoming...
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The Court of Public Opinion: Male Baddies, Igbo Demons, and Broken Pickers
Method Man and his wife celebrate 25 years of marriage; Andrew Gillum denies drug use; 90s fine footballer Maduka Okoye is (allegedly) a fuccboi; UPDATE on Sister Fawn/ Uncle Nearest and her friend-of-the-family CFO who went rogue
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BONUS EPISODE: When It All Falls Down: The Fawn Weaver/Uncle Nearest Story
The latest Uncle Nearest filing has damning details about a company in crisis: 200M in debt, evictions, hidden funds, unpaid taxes, a looming SEC investigation (?) and a US Attorney’s Office poking around; KevOnStage admits to self-pleasure, an Internet meltdown ensues
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Renaissance for Men: the Jaÿ Z Residency in NYC
Jay Z's NYC residency I The Bronx; A PSA about defending derelict men; Mitch McConnell’s Alleged AI photos; Lindsey Graham goes to see the (Night) King
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BONUS EPISODE: Meth, A Mistress, and Mitch McMconnell. Oh, and Andrew Gillum *sigh*
Former Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum caught with meth… again; Senator Mitch McConnell may or may not be brain dead; Texas AG Ken Paxton spends July 4 with his mistress ; the former Jackson Mayor risks it all for 50K + more.
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This Doesn't End Well: The Black People in YT Spaces Story
America turns 250; a random woman on theDC Metro becomes a national news story; ESSENCE has a successful fest; the author of Children of Blood and Bone has Hollywood drama; Black kids in white spaces
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Scammers, Boosters & Goyard Bags: The Caresha Brownlee Comeback Story
Demi returns to Penny; Good Black News: BET Awards breaks records + Lil Nas X is back (and he’s doing good); Survival of the Thickest returns: an Update on The Balls’ Divorce; Caresha’s “Spend Dat” causes a respectable kerfuffle
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The BET Awards, That Tyra Banks Lawsuit and LeVar BURTON is Happily Married
Demi is STILL in Maryland; a recap of the 2026 BET Awards, a review of “Strung”, Mara Brock Akil drops a novel, additional thoughts on Oprah Cannes’s confessions, Lavar Ball— not LeVar Burton— gets left by his wife; Tyra Banks sued Netflix over that ANTM doc
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When It All Falls Down: The Oprah vs Whitney Story
Penny under construction (again) + The Obamas remind us to hope (again) + An 8-part Jay Z Documentary + Oprah’s BTS about Whitney causes an uproar + Big Tigger Charged with Aggravated Battery
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“I Don’t Want Your Situation”: The Jordyn Woods Story
Demi’s 600th episode + Mayor Mamdani delivers a sermon at the Knicks Parade + The Glow Up of Jordyn Woods + The Opening of the Obama Library + Musings on that Tyra Banks lawsuit
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Defamation! Essence Sued By Former CEO, Jay Z's Target Exclusive
PART II Remarks, musings and an interpretative reading of the lawsuit filed by the former CEO of ESSENCE against *checks notes* ESSENCE. Also, Jay Z does an exclusive deal with Target. The Internet acts surprised. That’s it. That’s the whole episode.
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A Lot of Slavery, A Little Bit of Subservience: The David Oyelowo Story
Changes to the pod + A hiatus update + See Some World 2027 + The Trailer Park in DC + Michelle Obama insulted and misgendered + Charles Blow is sick of e’rrybody + The Daily Mail on Klay + Meg’s break up + David Oyelowo adds "a lot of slavery" and "a little bit of subservience" to his voice +...
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A Grown Lady
A Demi update; The Met Gala fashion; Stefon Diggs is not guilty, (and has more hours in a day than most people); Dr. Cheyenne Bryant is in yet another controversy; a lengthy recap of that Brandy book. ABOUT ME: http://www.demetrialucas.com/about/ STAY CONNECTED: IG:demetriallucas Twitter:...
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Ran Thru
Demi vs United Airlines; YT People Bidness (Steven McBee goes batsh— on his (now ex) girlfriend; Megan Pete and Cheating *ss Klay Thompson are over; musings on Tina Campbell and Teddy divorcing; Don Lemon upsets The People Thanks to our sponsors: Ready to reach your goals? https://Visit...
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Protect Black Women
Ashlee Jenae, Dr. Cerina Fairfax, Christina Snow (and more Black women) all deserved better. Thanks to our sponsors: Secure your online data TODAY by visiting https://ExpressVPN.com/ratchet ABOUT ME: http://www.demetrialucas.com/about/ STAY CONNECTED: IG: demetriallucas Twitter:...
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An Unnatural Alliance to Losers
Nominations for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame; You, Me & Tuscany debuts; Nia Long does Playboy; The Testaments on HULU; Tia & Tamera have separate dramas; Gucci was kidnapped (by idiots) in January; That TLC tour is still happening; Usher on tour with Chris Brown. Thanks to our sponsors: Let…
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Justice for Trick Daddy
The UK bans Ye; Trick Daddy performs for the AKAs; Niece Angela Reese heads to Atlanta; Stop calling minors who are being manipulated by adults “fast”; Pam Bondi begged for her job before being fired. Thanks to our sponsors: Refresh your spring wardrobe with Quince. Go to quince.com/RATCHET for...
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This is Some Bullsh--
Kristi Noem’s husband’s giant breasts; Brandy gets a Hollywood Star and drops bombshells in her new memoir; the return of Verzuz: Tank vs. Tyrese; Usher says Sean Combs has been “misrepresented”; Chilli claims she is not MAGA. Thanks to our sponsors: When life feels overwhelming, therapy can…
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Jay-Z Ruined My Summer Plans (Plus, that GQ Interview)
Jay-Z ruins summer plans, and talks to GQ; Teyana Taylor takes over Essence Fest; Cam’ron, Ray J, Mase and Shyne engage in an elaborate scheme (set up by Todd) to promote Brandy’s upcoming memoir; TLC, Salt n Pepa and En Vogue are going on tour; a jury awards millions to a Bill Cosby accuser;...
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The Oscars, Jamal Bryant & Beyonce’s Bitter Daddy
Michael B Jordan wins an Oscar; Lori Harvey is where she wants to be; Ava DuVernay debuts her “honey”; The Male Loneliness Movement co-opts MBJ; Teyana Taylor is criticized for being too… happy?; Matthew Knowles is a bitter old man; "Blue Therapy" on Netflix is hot trash (that I could not stop...
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Where is Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama of the South Side?
Sex Expert Ashley Cobb joins Demi to talk about her new book about pleasure; Michelle Obama is out of s**** to give; ESSENCE Fest announces its lineup; online racism/ xenophobia reaches new levels; Jesse Jackson’s memorial and funeral. Thanks to my sponsors: Feel like your best self again, to get…
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Righteous Indignation & Black Women’s Bidness
American bombs fall on Iran; Michael B Jordan wins at SAG AFTRA and NAACP; Delroy Lindo addresses the BAFTAs; 50 Cent vs TI; Ryan Coogler’s college dating life somehow inspires dusty men; chaos finds Deon Cole; Hillary Clinton is badgered by a cabal of deplorables; Hanifa says goodbye… for now;...
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BAFTA & the N-Word
Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo are called the N-word while presenting at the BAFTAs; BBC and BAFTA publish the show without redacting the N-word, despite a two hour delay and Warner Bros immediately flipping out; Variety has an exclusive with Tourettes activist John Davidson who used the…
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Reality Check: America’s Next Top Model
In an explosive new documentary, ANTM show creator/supermodel Tyra Banks skirts responsibility and comes across absolutely horrific. Also, Mister Jay is not Latino, and Tyra’s publicist must be on the verge of implosion. Let’s talk about it. Thanks to my sponsors: Sign up and get 10% off at...
About this show
It's a kiki for the culture!!! Journalist and author Demetria L. Lucas brings the group chat to life on her weekly podcast where she-- and the occasional guest-- muses on pop culture shenanigans, global galavanting, political insanity, everything worth watching on any size screen, her favorite reads, dating/marriage/divorce chronicles and whatever else has captivated the zeitgeist AND her inner circle.
Ratchet & Respectable is published EVERY WEDNESDAY. Listen wherever popular podcasts are heard. #ratchetandrespectable
For advertising opportunities please email [email protected]
We wanna make the podcast even better, help us learn how we can: https://bit.ly/2EcYbu4
Privacy Policy: https://www.studio71.com/us/terms-and-conditions-use/#Privacy%20Policy
Hosted by
Demetria L. Lucas & Studio71