PODCAST · arts
Real Ballers Read
by Jan and Miles Menafee
Brothers Jan and Miles Menafee have grown a lot through their love of reading books. Their shared passion inspired them to start Real Ballers Read, a catalyst for helping young people feel more excited about reading through social media and fashion. Here on their podcast, they invite amazing people to talk about meaningful books in their lives, then Jan and Miles read the books, talk about them with their guests, and share the wonderful conversations here with you. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/realballersread/support
Episodes
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100. The Greatest Love of All with Dr. Pamela Ellis
In this live recording special, we talk with our mom about the book that changed her relationship to reading, Disappearing Acts by Terry McMillan. She takes us back to the '90s and surprises us with stories we've never heard before... --- Support this podcast:...
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99. Considering Genius, Jazz & the Sublime with Robert Menafee
In this episode, we talk with our dad, Robert Menafee, about jazz and all of the things that jazz shines a light on. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/realballersread/support
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98. A Real Ballers Read Freestyle
In this episode, we reflect on our incredible journey with this podcast. A true freestyle. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/realballersread/support
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97. Twenty-One Questions
We learned a lot about questions during this podcast, so we wanted to dedicate an episode to just asking each other fun questions and questions about questions. How many questions can you count? --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/realballersread/support
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96. Song of Solomon with Danny Dunson
In this episode, we talk with our brilliant older brother, Danny Dunson. Danny went to church on this one, sharing an interwoven story and analysis of his life and experience with Toni Morrison's classic work, Song of Solomon. --- Support this podcast:...
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95. Holy American Burnout with Sean Enfield
In this episode, we talk with the incredible writer, Sean Enfield about his debut collection of essays, Holy American Burnout. Sean goes deep into the questions and experiences that shaped the writing of this book and still propel his thinking today. --- Support this podcast:...
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94. With Love, We Fight with Kendall Bryant
In this episode, we talk with the brilliant Kendall Bryant about a book that's in the hallowed halls of their personal canon, Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison. The story of this book for Kendall is interwoven with their history, their conception of the present, and their vision for the future. ---...
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93. Emergent Strategy with Justus Pugh
In this episode with our dear brother, Justus Pugh we talk about beavers, ducks, bird people, and all of the beauty of discovering the world anew through the lens of Emergent Strategy, adrienne marie brown's classic book. e --- Support this podcast:...
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92. No Apologies with Felton Kizer
Felton Kizer is an uncontainable creative and entrepreneur who we also know as a dear friend and brother. In this episode, we talk about a book that is as raw and truthful as he is, Prelude to King. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/realballersread/support
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91. Exploring Health and the Meaning of Home with Sidney Miles
We got to chop it up with our good brother Sidney, a local Chicago legend, fitness coach, entrepreneur, artist, model, and community organizer. We talked with him about his story getting back into reading in college, the importance of books to his health practices, and what home and community…
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90. Sand, Sweat & Poetry with Ashanee Kottage
In this episode, we are joined by our exceptionally talented friend, Ashanee Kottage. Ashanee is a multi-hyphenate artist and has just published her debut poetry collection, Sand & Sweat. We talk about Ashanee's creative process, exploring the blend of personal experiences, cultural influences…
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89. Exploring Césaire's "Return to My Native Land" with Mamadou.
In this episode, we talk with our good brother Mamadou about Aimé Césaire's book-length poem "Return to My Native Land" and how it has already shaped his thinking and storytelling. We make sense of what it means to be reading this poem in the present moment and why the poem is as relevant as…
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88. Being the Main Character with Cam Burton
Cam Burton is one of our brilliant friends who thinks deeply and humorously on a wide range of topics. In this episode, we talk about what he's been reading recently and the technological sci-fi landscape that we find ourselves in today. This one is for the main characters... --- Support this...
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87. The Future of Technology with Jadal Williams
In this episode, we talked with our friend, Jadal Williams, a genius studying robotics for his PhD at MIT. He just came back from an exciting trip abroad where he got to see the future of robotic technology and we talked about what this future may hold for all of us... --- Support this podcast:...
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86. When Black Boys Become Black Men with Donta
We sat down with the man, myth, and legend—Donta from the popular community, Gold Mouf Book Club. Through the lens of Richard Wright's memoir Black Boy, we talk about what it means to truly be radical now in 2023, the role of religion in the Black community, the power of anger, and what it means…
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85. The Intimacy of Audiobooks with Forrest Evans
In this episode, our first-ever guest on the show, Forrest Evans, returns!! Forrest brought the heat with talking about the intimate potential of audiobooks, observing what parts of herself she's been exploring in her reading recently, and demonstrating what it means to be a leader as a librarian...
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84. Revolutionized Relationships with Mechiya Jamison
In this part 2 episode, we talked with Mechiya about the all the ins and outs of relationships: having emotional intelligence, processing hurt, dating, gender norms in the Black community, and friendship. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/realballersread/support
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83. Revolutionized Learning with Mechiya Jamison
We got to sit in person with the one and only Mechiya Jamison to talk about one of her favorite books, Assata. We talked about many aspects of liberation: organizing, education, our environment, class consciousness, climate, gender, and even the role of shame. --- Support this podcast:...
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82. Forget the Alamo with Travis Green and Jason Stanford
In this episode, we talk with Real Ballers Read legend Travis Green and his friend and co-author of the book, Forget the Alamo, Jason Stanford. We talk about the truth and myth of the Alamo, how foundational it is to Texas history, the difference between history and historiography, and how the...
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81. Embracing the Sublime with Seanathan Polidore
In this episode, we are joined by the one and only Sean P! We talk about how he discovered his love of reading through the Navy, finding the positive in everything you read, coping with grief, and the golden age of Hip-Hop. Seanathan is a multi-talented autodidact who you'll love getting to know…
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80. The Epic Story of The Black Fives with Claude Johnson
In this episode, we talk with Claude Johnson, the author of the triumphant 2022 book, The Black Fives: The Epic Story of Basketball's Forgotten Era. We discussed his world-spanning childhood, the incredible decades-long journey of writing his book, fatherhood, and the future of basketball. All…
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79. Art, Science, and Liberation with Delia West
Delia West is an art teacher and scientist who's thinking in revolutionary ways. In this episode, we talk with her about one of her favorite books, The Disordered Cosmos by Chanda Prescod-Weinstein, how she got back into reading, her deep passion for all things science, and what liberation looks...
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78. Being Original with Chinelo Ikem
It might seem increasingly difficult to be original in these times, but Chinelo proves that to be original all you really have to be is honest. In this fun conversation, we talk about our sense of fashion, fantasy novels, and the nuance of everything we've been reading recently. We know you'll…
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77. Soul Food with Onyi Ozoma
In this episode, we talk with a friend of ours, Onyi Ozoma, about a collage of different topics, including adjusting into adult life, Toni Morrison's Beloved, new music we've been enjoying, and what it possibly means to be a lost soul. This conversation was soul food for us, without the…
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76. Why Willie Mae Thornton Matters with Lynnée Denise
Lynnée Denise filled the silence of her pandemic with the rich sounds and legacy of Willie Mae Thorton. The outcome of that deep listening, reading, and viewing practice is Lynnée's amazing new book, Why Willie Mae Thornton Matters. In this interview, she talks about her interdisciplinary and...
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75. The Importance of the Black Working Class with Dr. Blair LM Kelley
In this episode, we talk with Dr. Blair LM Kelley, an award-winning historian, professor, and writer about her recent book, Black Folk. We talked about how she made the study of history her own, how she thinks about progress in the Black community, her gratitude to Toni Morrison, and on whether...
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74. American Whitelash with Wesley Lowery
Our guest today is an incredible reporter and journalist—Wesley Lowery. In this episode we talk with him about his recently released book, American Whitelash, and how he approaches his writing. Check out Real Ballers Read here --- Support this podcast:...
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73. The New Black Aesthetic with Trey Ellis
Our guest today is a true writer's writer - novelist, essayist, playwright, and screenwriter Trey Ellis! Trey Ellis is the author of four books and is currently a professor at Columbia University. In this episode we talk with him about his early inspiration as a reader and writer, the New Black...
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72. From Precocious to the Pulitzer with Dr. Marcia Chatelain
Dr. Marcia Chatelain is a professor of History and African American Studies at Georgetown University and the author of two books: South Side Girls: Growing Up in the Great Migration, and the Pulitzer Prize winning Franchise: The Golden Arches in Black America. In this episode, we first learn from...
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71. On Our Resilience and Brilliance with Dr. Daniel Black
Dr. Daniel Black is a professor of African American Studies at Clark Atlanta University and the author of seven novels and the new collection of essays, Black on Black: On Our Resilience and Brilliance in America. In this episode featuring him and two of his friends, Dr. Black brought us to…
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70. The Color of Science with Dr. Frederic Bertley
Dr. Frederic Bertley is an Emmy-Award-winning science educator and immunologist from Montreal, Canada. He currently serves as the president of the nation's #1 science museum, COSI (Center of Science and Industry) in Columbus, Ohio. In this episode, we talk with Dr. Bertley about how he came to…
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69. Race Matters: Talking About Cornel West's Classic
This April was the 30th anniversary of Race Matters by Cornel West. It's a great book that I wanted to just sit on the couch to talk to y'all about! Highly recommend reading through the book if you haven't, it's not as academic as it may seem. You can check out the book with this link. :40 How I...
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68. The Unexpected and Fun History of "Simple" with Dr. Donna Akiba Sullivan Harper
In this episode, we were honored to talk with educator, teacher and writer extraordinaire, Dr. Donna Akiba Sullivan Harper. She taught at Spelman for 32 years and was the Fuller E. Calloway Professor of English. She is also a world renowned expert on Langston Hughes and his Simple stories. We...
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67. How and Why to Start a Podcast
We don't know everything about podcasting, but we do know that it's one of the most fun and fulfilling things we've ever done. Everyone who enjoys listening to podcasts should at least *consider* producing one because it's a great opportunity for personal growth and community-building. Here in…
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66. The Tale of Two Magazine Covers: Discussing Black Men in Popular Media
So in the last couple of weeks there was a small controversy on Twitter about two magazine covers, one with Jonathan Majors and another with ASAP Rocky and Rihanna. The controversy was over whether or not there is an agenda to effeminize Black men in popular media. In this episode, I wanted to…
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65. Continuing Our Exploration of "Simple" with Uncle Chris
Real Ballers Read returns to Langston Hughes’s legendary but long-forgotten character, Jess B. Semple in this week’s podcast episode! This time with our hilarious and brilliant Uncle Chris “CockaRue” Wesson. Last summer, Uncle Chris asked if we knew Jess B. Semple and his favorite book series...
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64. We Are The Trayvon Generation
“I call the young people who grew up in the past twenty-five years the Trayvon Generation. They always knew these stories. These stories formed their world view. These stories helped instruct young African-Americans about their embodiment and their vulnerability. The stories were primers in fear...
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63. Who is Simple?? Talking About Langston Hughes' Beloved Character
“Usually over a glass of beer, he tells me his tales, mostly in high humor, but sometimes with a pain in his soul as sharp as the occasional hurt of that bunion on his right foot.” ~ Langston Hughes, 1961 Who is Simple??? For this week’s episode of Real Ballers Read, we introduce you to one of...
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62. The Spook Who Sat By The Door
In this episode, Miles talks about The Spook Who Sat By The Door by Sam Greenlee. He reads a short passage from the book, talks about the questions it raises and the book's influence on Nipsey Hussle. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/realballersread/support
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61. The Weight of Wellness with Akili Nzuri
“Are you sure, sweetheart you want to be well? …Cause wholeness is no trifling matter. A lot of weight when you’re well.” Toni Cade Bambara opens her novel The Salt Eaters with these lines - questioning both the protagonist AND the reader to decide if they want to take on the weight of wellness....
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60. Fascinated to Presume: Zadie Smith's Powerful Essay on Fiction
“I have closed novels and stared at their back covers for a long moment and felt known in a way I cannot honestly say I have felt known by many real-life interactions with human beings, or even by myself.” ~ Zadie Smith On this week’s episode of Real Ballers Read, we dive into one of the most...
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59. Poetry is Not A Luxury with Dr. Eve L. Ewing
Introducing… Dr Eve L. Ewing as the newest guest on the Real Ballers Read podcast!! We talked with Dr. Ewing about the power and problems of reading, why the way we frame education matters, and the two Audre Lorde essays that Dr. Ewing is constantly learning from: “Poetry is Not a Luxury” and…
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58. Lessons from Michael Jordan for 2023
"Teamwork and intelligence wins championships." In this episode, we talk about Michael Jordan's 1994 book, I Can't Accept Not Trying and what we can learn from his mindset in trying to accomplish our own goals in 2023. 1:43 Story behind the book 2:44 I Can’t Accept Not Trying… what does that…
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57. Why It's Important for Black Men to Read
In this episode, we talk about why it's important for Black men to read! This is a topic we've been thinking about for a long time and want continue thinking and talking about with others. Let us know your thoughts and questions! :32 Why is it important for Black men to read? :49 Reading as a...
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56. 2022, A Year in Review!
In this episode, Jan and Miles reflect on their year of reading! They talk about their favorite books, reflect on how reading fit into their lives and think ahead to what they are excited about reading in 2023. 1:09 Miles’ reflection on his year in reading 5:08 Year of Moving 6:33 Jan’s…
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55. Watering Whole with Jan Ellis Menafee
Y'all - Jan’s first book is coming out this weekend!! It’s a Happy Birthday Pub Day for my bro!! Watering Whole is a chapbook of poems that are inspired by Jan’s personal and cultural relationship with water. Jan has studied water through the lens of Black art and history, environmental justice,...
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54. Seeing a Sermon in Action with Daniel Cast
Because sometimes somebody can give a sermon through words that subtly, yet significantly, respects our humanity. And sometimes somebody can give a sermon without saying a word. Our newest guest on the Real Ballers Read podcast is one of our favorite bookstagrammers and low-key authors - Daniel...
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53. Portrait of A Young Black Artist on Fire with Vera Grace Menafee
“The word art does not encompass the full meaning of the word” For this week’s episode of Real Ballers Read, we interviewed our sister Vera Grace (they/she), who is easily the wisest, coolest, and most creative person we know!! Vera just returned from a life-changing trip to Namibia and Southern...
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52. Celebrating Black Women for Who They Are with Shanita Hubbard
In this episode, we talk with Shanita Hubbard, the author of the new book Ride or Die: A Feminist Manifesto for the Well-Being of Black Women. We had an awesome time hearing from Shanita about her journey writing Ride or Die, why we must stop imposing and glorifying a Ride or Die mentality on…
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51. Dreaming Big with Anthony Ireland
Anthony Ireland is a graduate of Loyal Marymount University, he played nine years of basketball professionally in Europe, and he is the founder of the AI three Leadership Academy and host of the Grind podcast. In this episode, we talk about his love of basketball and reading and his journey with...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Brothers Jan and Miles Menafee have grown a lot through their love of reading books. Their shared passion inspired them to start Real Ballers Read, a catalyst for helping young people feel more excited about reading through social media and fashion. Here on their podcast, they invite amazing people to talk about meaningful books in their lives, then Jan and Miles read the books, talk about them with their guests, and share the wonderful conversations here with you. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/realballersread/support
HOSTED BY
Jan and Miles Menafee
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Real Ballers Read have?
Real Ballers Read currently has 100 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Real Ballers Read about?
Brothers Jan and Miles Menafee have grown a lot through their love of reading books. Their shared passion inspired them to start Real Ballers Read, a catalyst for helping young people feel more excited about reading through social media and fashion. Here on their podcast, they invite amazing people...
How often does Real Ballers Read release new episodes?
Real Ballers Read has 100 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Real Ballers Read?
You can listen to Real Ballers Read on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Real Ballers Read?
Real Ballers Read is created and hosted by Jan and Miles Menafee.
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