PODCAST · arts
The Drip
by All Spoilers Collective
Ever wonder what a book club with professors would sound like? The Drip is a podcast where three academics of color talk about great books.
Episodes
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No, You Don’t Need to Read “the Original”: Percival Everett’s JAMES
At his recent visit to the Twin Cities, Everett joked that he was "so tired of talking about this book." The good news is that the Spoilers aren't. This might be one of our most engaged and lively discussions in a while. We definitely have a LOT to day. So sit back and relax and enjoy the…
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Episode 54 -- How (Not?) to Be a Revolutionary: Xochitl Gonzalez’s Olga Dies Dreaming
The Spoilers are back discussing another fun book with serious subtext. It got us thinking about a lot of things, including what kind of revolutionaries make the best parent and is it radical to own a lot of apartment buildings? We hope you will be happy to hear our shining voices after a few...
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Episode 53 -- Octavia Butler's Parables (Part II): Take Root Among the Stars
In Part II of our Parable series, the Spoilers continue their discussion of Butler's amazing novels. While Sower is definitely a shockingly accurate book in so many ways, Talents hits home with even more power. President Jarett and a Christian Nationalist movement whose motto is "Make American...
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Episode 52 -- Octavia Butler's Parables (Part I): The Future is NOW
The first of two episodes on Octavia Butler's Parable series, this show finds the Spoilers discussing one of the most beloved books of the last 40 years -- Parable of the Sower. The Spoilers have a lot to say about this amazing novel. They are amazed at Butler's prescience in depicting the world…
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Episode 51 -- Stuck In Between: Bharati Mukherjee's THE MIDDLE MAN AND OTHER STORIES
This episode, though subdued, is a fascinating journey into the critical minds of the spoilers as they try to figure out what it is about Mukherjee's stories that has a hold on them. It's probably fair to say that we didn't LOVE this collection, but there were stories here than really get in our...
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Episode 50 -- Defining a "Genre": Fifty Episodes of THE DRIP!
In this, our 50th episode, the Spoilers discuss everything from the inception of our little show to our favorite books and episodes. As you can imagine, it is celebration of everything that has kept us going all these years, including poetry, coffee, book covers, and the eternal question of…
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Episode 49 -- The Brutal Beauty of Jesmyn Ward's LET US DESCEND
The Spoilers are back with the penultimate episode on their way toward the big 50! In this episode they heap praises upon Jesmyn Ward's latest triumph about a young, enslaved woman being led on a journey to the dark and deep of slavery's corrupt heart. They spend a lot of time trying to figure…
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Episode 48: The Stories We Tell/Told/Are (Never) Told -- Shannon Gibney's THE GIRL I AM, WAS, AND NEVER WILL BE
The gang is back, you guys! It's been awhile, but we are back to discuss Shannon Gibney's amazing memoir of transracial adoption, family, and love. We've read a lot of books doing this show over the years, but you can be sure that we have never read one like this -- and it definitely shows in the...
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Episode 47 -- A Plot-Full of BLACK CAKE: Charmaine Wilkerson Serves It Up Thick
The Spoilers are back with an episode about Charmaine Wilkerson's worthy novel, Black Cake -- just in time for the Hulu release of the series on November 1st. If you haven't read the book, all you have to do is listen to our episode and you'll be ready to watch whatever Oprah ends up doing for…
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Episode 46 --It May Be a Man’s World, But Esi’s Got a Car: Ama Ata Aidoo’s CHANGES
In this episode the Spoilers talk about Aidoo's wonderful novel, but as you might expect, they end up talking about patriarchy. And in particular they spend a lot of time talking about Esi and her car. You know, we don't always understand Esi (there are lots of questions), but in the end we all...
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Episode 45 -- Trains, Pains, and Barnacles: Suzette Mayr’s THE SLEEPING CAR PORTER
In this, our 45th episode, the Spoilers are back with what they thought would be a frolicking, early summer show about Baxter, a Black Canadian aspiring dentist who works as a sleeping car porter on a cross-continent train in the late 1920s (surprise! it took a while to edit!). Paced like a...
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Driplet #4 -- ”It Must Be the Gas”: A Journey Inside Todd’s Broken Brain
In this special Driplet, Anita gives Todd the chance to share his narrative of injury and recovery. After suffering a hemorrhagic stroke in February of 2020, Todd had to learn to read again while teaching a literature class, living away from his partner, and dealing with the fallout of a…
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Episode 44 -- Profound Sentences: James Baldwin’s GIOVANNI’S ROOM
Did you know many Black writers including Zora Neale Hurston, Frank Yerby, and Lorraine Hansberry wrote works in which most or all of the characters were white? One of the best of these is James Baldwin's Giovanni's Room. In this episode, we discuss Baldwin's classic second novel, with its…
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Episode 43 -- Hold the Pum Pum Jokes: Learning to Love Leone Ross’s POPISHO
Let's be honest -- when the Spoilers first started reading Leone Ross's Popisho, they were kind of confused. But as this lively conversation reveals, we came to really love this strange, original, endearing book. It never missed an opportunity to surprise and delight us. Take a listen to this...
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Episode 42 -- A Touch of Grey: Attica Locke’s THE CUTTING SEASON
It's been a minute, but the Spoilers are back with another compelling book conversation -- this time about Attica's Locke's best-selling mystery. The novel takes place on a plantation, so you know we have to ground things with a little bit of history (Dr. Moten would have it no other way). As...
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Episode 41 -- Don’t Say It: Language, Teaching, and Community
In this special "bookless" episode (in which we actually talk about many books), the Spoilers take on the question of language use in the classroom -- specifically, what do we do as teachers when material we want to use with students contains offensive and/or hurtful language? We decided to…
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Episode 40 -- Easy Does It: Walter Mosley’s DEVIL IN A BLUE DRESS
It's been a while, but the Spoilers are back -- this time taking on the dangerous, seedy underworld of 1940s Los Angeles in Walter Mosley's classic novel about the factory worker turned private detective, Easy Rawlins. Not surprisingly, the conversation quickly turns to the racial and gender...
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Episode 39 -- Apparently, We Love Her: Toni Morrison’s SULA
The Spoilers have been on a roll lately, doing shows about books that have just blown us away -- and this show is no exception. In this episode we talk about Toni Morrison's perplexing and captivating heroine, Sula Peace. What a woman! Just when you think you hate her, you realize that…
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Episode 38 -- Eloghosa Osunde’s VAGABONDS!: We Are the Majority!
In this episode, the Spoilers can't stop gushing about Eloghosa Osunde's new novel, VAGABONDS! Structured like a spiritual text that challenges the orthodoxy and self-righteousness of those who would deny freedom and life to those on the margins of Nigerian society, this novel expertly constructs…
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Episode 37 -- Around the World, Around the Corner: Discombobulated Migrations in Namrata Poddar’s BORDER LESS
In another quiet episode, the Spoilers dig deep into issues of borders and migration both in Poddar's novel and in their own lives. It quickly becomes clear that while migration is a more immediate issue for some, it really impacts us all in significant ways. Whether you're venturing around the...
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Episode 36 -- Ghostly Reverberations: Louise Erdrich’s THE SENTENCE
In a bit of a quiet episode, the Spoilers revisit 2020 with Tookie, the protagonist of Erdrich's beautiful novel. The novel takes them back to the beginning of the pandemic, the murder of George Floyd, and the tumultuous summer that followed. But while Erdrich's book is about the haunting...
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Episode 35 -- Genre, Critique, and Relaxing Hair Grease: Zakiya Dalila Harris’ THE OTHER BLACK GIRL
In this episode the Spoilers engage in a crescendoing conversation about Harris' NYT best selling debut novel. Uneasy with their reading of the book, anxious about their commentary, and unsure if they are on steady ground, the Spoilers carefully inch forward, refusing any relaxing balm…
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Episode 34 -- Seams of Subjection: Afia Atakora’s CONJURE WOMEN
The Spoilers are back after a long hiatus, anxious to take on this compelling novel by Afia Atakora. Right from the git go they have a lot of questions to answer, but Crystal, Anita, and Todd eventually arrive at an acceptable understanding of this rich novel of slavery and the ties that bind...
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Episode 33 -- No More Crumbs: Deesha Philyaw's THE SECRET LIVES OF CHURCH LADIES
The Spoilers are back with an intense conversation about Deesha Philyaw's award-winning story collection. We have a lot to say about it and all of it is good. Known for sidestepping the sexy stuff, the Spoilers bravely tackle the intimate elements of this often steamy text -- and just for good...
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Episode 32 --A Sister Souljah Seminar, or The Coldest Episode Ever
in this episode the Spoilers get nasty with Sister Souljah's classic tale of the ice-cold Winter Santiaga, one of the great characters of Black street lit. The crew is serious, funny, and informative as they employ their own impeccable skills to break down SIster Souljah's masterpiece -- and...
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Episode 31 -- Chaste Heat and Sweet Potato Pie: Beverly Jenkins' JOSEPHINE
For this, our first foray into the romance novel genre, we went in craving a bodice ripper, but ended up with teenage dress mending -- only a little less hot. However, we must admit that the results of our reading of the great Beverly Jenkins' YA novel, Josephine, were more than satisfying! In…
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Episode 30 -- There is a Balm: Robert Jones Jr.'s THE PROPHETS
In this rather intellectually searching episode, the Spoilers wrestle with Robert Jones' beautiful and challenging debut novel. We try to figure everything out at first, but ultimately settle upon a rather comfortable acceptance of un-knowing and dwelling in the wonder of ambiguity. Arriving at…
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Episode 29 -- Black and White and Misread All Over: Nella Larsen's PASSING
The Spoilers welcome in the new year with a rollicking discussion of Nella Larsen's Harlem Renaissance classic, Passing in this episode -- and let me tell you they have some strong feelings about the characters in this book. As she does in the novel, the radiant Clare Kendry garners much of the...
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Episode 28 -- Pass the Bone Salt, Please: Cherie Dimaline's EMPIRE OF WILD
This episode begins quietly, with the Spoilers in a contemplative mode, as they feel their way through the dark forest of Dimaline's intriguing new novel about a young Metis woman's search for her missing husband. White occasionally pausing to ponder theoretical subjects such as human morality,...
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Episode 27 -- Everybody Loves Radha: THE 40 YEAR-OLD VERSION
In a raucous holiday episode, the Spoilers laud Radha Blank's heartwarming tribute to New York City and creaky black knees. With a hilarious and Irreverent critical eye, the Spoilers have nothing but good things to say about this funny, insightful, and heartwarming film. They love Radha's edge,...
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Episode 26 -- To Hell With THE HELP: An Unbridled Celebration of Barbara Neely's BLANCHE ON THE LAM
Let's just be honest: Blanche White is the best Black domestic detective there ever was. Don't worry if you haven't heard of her. Some of the Spoilers hadn't either. She's smart. She's bold. SHE'S THE BEST. In this episode we basically won't let Anita end the show because we can't stop talking...
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Episode 25 -- A Black, Black, Black Episode: John Lewis's MARCH, Volumes 1,2, & 3
The Spoiler are back in this special 25th episode talking everything from from Stuart Hall to BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER. Once again the Spoilers struggle a bit with their non-mastery of the graphic subgenre, but in the end do a pretty dang good job talking about the text and the art of this...
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Episode 24 -- "No more backward steps": Elizabeth Acevedo's THE POET X
The Spoilers are back with a love-fest episode for the ages. Beginning with an profession of gratitude and love for our own faithful host, we then tackle questions of genre, religion, bilingualism and translation, sexuality, the body, refusal, performance, and finding your voice -- all in an...
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Episode 23 -- Always Taking; Always Giving: Jewelle Gomez's THE GILDA STORIES
In this rangy episode, the Spoilers are introduced to an underground classic of Black feminist literature. With a main character like few others in literature, this novel leads the Spoilers into discussions of traditional vampire mythology, consent and violence, death and immortality, and the...
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Episode 22 -- What We Take With Us: Nnedi Okorafor's BINTI
Finally! The Spoilers get to talk about Todd's favorite book, BINTI -- and man was it work the wait. Times have been tough lately, but the Spoilers seem enlivened discussing this wonderful award winning novella. They tackle a mess of thorny issues, but they do a lot of laughing along the way. If...
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Episode 21 -- A Marvelous Reality: Wayetu Moore's SHE WOULD BE KING
If you've been missing the us during the lockdown, fear not! We're back with a new jumbo episode for all y'all to dig into. Recording in the shadow of Covid 19, Ahmaud Arbery, and the George Floyd murder, the Spoilers take solace in the Vai maxim whispered by the narrator of Moore's compelling...
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Episode 20 -- The Spoilers Set It Off With QUEEN AND SLIM and ATLANTICS (Quarantine Edition)
It's been so long since the Spoilers have all been the same room together and now their reunion looks even less likely to happen anytime soon. But that ain't going to stop them from recording the podcasts your lonely ears crave! In this episode the Spoilers discuss two recent films directed by...
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Driplet #3 -- Claudia Rankin's THE WHITE CARD at Penumbra Theatre
Even with everything that's been going on with us (something we keep obliquely referring to but but giving no details), Adriana and Todd found time to go see THE WHITE CARD performed at one of Saint Paul's treasures, Penumbra Theatre. Needless to say, I was fantastic, and we have a lot to say…
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Episode 19 -- "Who the heck is Jack!?!": Colson Whitehead's THE NICKEL BOYS
In this new-to-you episode the spoilers gush over another amazing novel by Colson Whitehead. There's lots to talk about, and in the end, what seems like it could be a depressing conversation turns out to be a rather uplifting one (Crystal is getting tired, y'all). Don't miss the Spoilers getting...
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Episode 18 -- Treacherous Feet, Bubble Tea, and PERFECT STRANGERS: Gene Yang's AMERICAN BORN CHINESE
The Spoilers are back after a bit of a hiatus, and man, do we have an episode for you. In our triumphant return to the mics, we take up Gene Yang's sprawling graphic novel, AMERICAN BORN CHINESE. This colorful, complex feat of storytelling had us all over the place -- from the Google Empire to...
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Episode 17 -- A Little Pink House for You and Me: Relationships and Borderlands in Oscar Casares' WHERE WE COME FROM
In this episode, our first with Crystal on remote from DC (we're still working on the tech-it'll be better next time), we rail against the arbitrary nature of rules and regulations while thinking about the ways that our stories are all connected. We gotta be honest, we all fell in love with this...
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Episode 16 -- "You can shoot me now": White Saviors and the Art of Race in Claudia Rankine's THE WHITE CARD
In this episode, the Spoilers get to work talking about whiteness, representation, art, race, and the spectacle of black death. Sure, it sounds heavy, but the Spoilers bring all their serious thinking power as well as their decidedly enduring humor to bear in grappling with some of the most...
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Episode 15 -- Pulsing, Possible Dreams: Danez Smith's DON'T CALL US DEAD
Once again the Spoilers take on a poetry collection and the result is astonishment, tear-filled silences, and general veneration of the genius of Danez Smith. As usual, we ask more questions than we give definitive answers, in the process modeling an engagement with poetry that requires only that...
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Episode 14 -- "Damn these Eggs!": Lorraine Hansberry's A RAISIN IN THE SUN
In this episode, the Spoilers go back to high school to take on one of the most beloved and widely taught plays of the 20th century. Bravely confronting their literary prejudices, they reexamine this classic of African American literature while getting a little bit feisty in the process. Housing...
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Driplet #2 -- Tunnel Vision: Jordan Peele's US
We're calling this a Driplet, but it's actually more of a teenage Drip about to head off to college. So if you've got the time, buckle up and listen to the Spoilers get all tied up in hilarious knots arguing about Jordan Peele's new movie, US. I mean, they go deep, deep down into the underground...
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Episode 13 - Movin' on Up: Michelle Obama's BECOMING
In this episode, the Spoilers get all excited about Michelle Obama's lovely memoir. As always, we have some gripes, but it is mainly all love for our favorite First Lady (No offense, Hillary). We start on the south side of Chicago with more of Crystal's remembrances of her childhood hood and move...
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Episode 12 -- What About Tish?: Barry Jenkins' IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK
There's just not much we don't like about Barry Jenkins' adaptation of James Baldwins' novel IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK. It's a layered, lush, beautiful depiction of black love that really touched us all. But if you know the Spoilers you know we are always going to have something contentious to...
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The Drip Episode 11 -- Be Loving This Book: Kiese Laymon's HEAVY
In this Episode, the Spoilers are back to gush over Kiese Layman's amazing new memoir, HEAVY. There's not much to say except we were pretty much knocked out by the audacity of Laymon's writing and we talk almost endlessly about the countless ways that we were amazed. The show is fifty minutes…
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The Drip Episode 10 -- Food and Wine and We Feel Fine: Our Dinner With Yaa Gyasi's HOMEGOING
This special episode has a little bit of everything. The Spoliers, satiated by an unbelievable Ghaniain meal prepared by their friend Nasreen, fight through the haze of the itis to tackle some deep issues in Yaa Gyasi's wonderful novel HOMEGOING. And as they do it, they have plenty of trouble...
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The Drip Episode 9 -- And We Have Another Thing to Say: THE HATE U GIVE, the movie
In this episode the Spoilers go another round with the THE HATE U GIVE, but this time it's the movie. In it we discuss what a Black Lives Matter movie might look like, question the apparently dwindling black lighting budget, and you knew we were going to complain some more about Chris. It gets a...
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The Drip have?
The Drip currently has 55 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The Drip about?
Ever wonder what a book club with professors would sound like? The Drip is a podcast where three academics of color talk about great books.
How often does The Drip release new episodes?
The Drip has 55 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to The Drip?
You can listen to The Drip 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 The Drip?
The Drip is created and hosted by All Spoilers Collective.
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