Watch With You

Ms. Semi and JJ take on the "She Said" duties to discuss the Black women of motor sports- in real life and in romance novels. Please be sure to check out the Watch With You accounts on social media to see the covers of the books listed in this podcast. Please also visit the "Racing to Love" shelf in the Watch With You Bookshop to purchase some of the titles mentioned and to help us do what we do. Citations available upon request.

Hello Friends,We are back with another round of "He Said, She Said" episodes. First up, we discuss NASCAR. If you have noticed more of us than usual, you aren't seeing things. And if you were looking for a safe place to begin your fandom, this is it. Stay tuned for the corresponding episode which features romance books set in the motorsports world.Citations Available Upon Request.

Howdy GWS Family!Mrs. Ashly, Ms. Semi and JJ are back to discuss Q1 on all things soaps. BTG has us intrigued; B and B annoys us; DAYS confuses us; GH makes us scratch our heads and Y & R has our attention for the return of Malcolm Winters and Stephanie Simmons. Which soaps works up your lather?Citations available upon request.

Howdy Folks!As we inch closer to Mania weekend, we conclude our thoughts about the card thus far and detail some things we want to see. We will be back to discuss all things Mania very soon.Stay tuned for our next episode, which will be all about soaps. And be alert: Shemar Moore and Vivica Fox will be on the Young and the Restless THIS WEEK!Citations available upon request.

Howdy Friends!Grappling With Soaps is back to discuss the road to Wrestlemania! This episode focuses on the Royal Rumble and the aftermath leading up to Elimination Chamber. Stay tuned for THE PROMOS; full discussion and soaps in later episodes soon come.Citations available upon request.

Sir Rease and Lady A join Lady D and Lady H to chat about part one of Bridgerton season four. We recorded this episode the same day part two dropped and did our best to avoid spoilers for what’s ahead. Still, we dive into our thoughts on Sophie and Benedict’s chemistry, Eloise’s immaturity, Michaela’s undeniable charm, why Lady Danbury is that B, and more. We’ll be back to break down part two in depth and hold a panel discussion on season four and the series so far. As luck would have it, this episode lands just as Lady Whistledown reveals that season five will feature a sapphic romance—and you know we’ll have plenty to say about that with our signature crass, sass, heart, and humor.

Hear Ye, Hear Ye Watchers:Queen Melmendi joins Lady D and Lady H/JJ to discuss we watched in 2025; including the Holiday movies, and what we are watching in 2026 and beyond. We discuss documentaries, sports, special events and more. A note: Xfinity is now on the list that allows you to use your Disney+ or Hulu log in to access the PLEs on ESPN+ at no additional cost.We also mention independent journalists, but failed to mention Roland Martin's Black Star Network-be sure to check them out. And please let us know what we missed: you can email us at [email protected] available upon request.

Hello Bookies,This super-packed episode lists the best books of 2025 according to our Ebonauts book club members. Have you pen and paper ready because we list some bangers. Other Notes:You can find many of the books mentioned, find classics and new releases AND support the podcast, by purchasing your books from our Bookshop. Mo and Madame Lazet followed up with some of their favorite book influencers (besides us) :Find them on Instagram:@ashreads@iamjenbrooks@[email protected] Ebonauts book club has a schedule!We are reading: The Heat Seekers by Zane until March 31, 2026Vivid by Beverly Jenkins April 1-May 31, 2026Son of the Morning by Akwaeke Emezi June 1-July 31, 2026The Missed Connection by Tia Williams August 1- September 30, 2026Vengeance by Zane October 1-November 30, 2026Catch up December 1-January 31, 2026Be sure to stay until the end to catch Nick at Night's selections. Citations available upon request.

Hello Bookies,Taking off right where we left off, this minisode finds Mo, Lady D, Ms. Semi, Madame Lazet and JJ listing some of the songs they used as an easter egg for their reviews. Ms. Semi also lists "Bones at the Crossroads" as a top book, which prompts a discussion with Madame Lazet and JJ. Stay tuned for the rest of our supersized discussion on books. As always, Citations are available upon request.

Hey Bookies!Mo_Rease, Ms. Semi, Madame Lazet, and Lady D join JJ for a lively chat about books. The conversation ran long, so we’re splitting it into parts. In this section, we cover favorite book covers, standout audio narrators, and the stories that lingered in our minds in 2025, among other topics. We also dive into Tracy Deonn’s Oathbound, pairing scenes with songs from GNX. That part comes at the end of the episode with minimal spoilers, so skip if you prefer. Along the way, we detour into a discussion on pronunciation and the impact of colonization on local customs and place names: Baltimore forever. Stay tuned for the rest of this bookish episode.Citations available upon request.

Greetings and Happy Bridgerton pt. 1 Day!Lady D and Lady H (JJ, if you're nasty) speak with Dr. KP, our resident Scandal-ologist, about her 2025 observations. We also discussed Bridgerton, Wicked's chances for an Oscar, and more. Mentioned on this episode:SubstacksMy Number 1 FeelingNegrowithanEgoSomethingaboutreasyBooksYellowfaceJane AustenThe Great MannThe Great GatsbyFearing the Black Body: The Racial Origins of Fat PhobiaPortrait of Dorian GrayVenus NoireSupporting JamaicaSupport Jamaica – Official Disaster Relief & Recovery PortalHurricane Melissa | Legacy CentreMental Health AssistanceNational Mental Health Hotline | 866-903-3787Mental health helplines (UK)Fan FictionAO3Home I Archive of Our OwnFind Dr. KP's work under "Incorrect Petunia"PodcastsNormal GossipThe Bald and the BeautifulJokes on YouJade and XDCitations available upon request.

Hello Grapplers!InIn this jam-packed episode, Mrs. Ashly, Ms. Semi, and JJ are joined by the Chairman of the CSPN Network, Don Delarente—yes, the nemesis himself is in the building! We cover the best and worst of 2025 wrestling, why JJ was right about Trick Williams, Mrs. Ashly’s heartfelt send-off for Cena, and Ms. Semi stepping into the role of our very own Mean Gene Okerlund. Stick around until the end when Anwar Starwind and Queen Melmendi storm the ring to share their wrestling takes. GWS returns in February to celebrate BTG’s one-year anniversary and break down the fallout from the Royal Rumble.

Hey Grapplers!Time travel back with us to December 2025, where a panel of Mo_Rease, Ms. Semi, Lady D, Queen Melmendi, and JJ play the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future whilst discussing the storylines. They also play secret Santa to a few deserving characters. And after the episode, stay tuned to hear season 1 thoughts from Mrs. Ashly, Nick at Night and Rhayne Coleman. Be sure to rate and review this episode: who would you play Secret Santa to? What is your customized Febreze scent? And stay tuned for when we return in February to really kick off season 2 and celebrate BTG's 1 year anniversary.

Surprise!This bonus episode discusses some of Anwar's top movie selections in 2025, and with the Golden Globes airing on January 11, 2026, it seems like Anwar had great taste. Do you agree? What were some of your favorite movies of 2025? For us, Sinners takes the case-see part 1 and 2 of our discussion to learn why.Citation available upon request.

This is the lightly edited version of the into to our Sinners, pt 2 episode, where Mo and JJ eulogize D'Angelo.

Hello 2026!We recorded this episode in the Spring of 2025 and saved it until the time was right. This episodes honors a fave and reminds us why Sinners should be well honored this award season. The beginning of the episode includes an edited conversation between Hoodoo Hairston and Delta Rease-the full conversation will soon be released. And have your pencil and paper handy-we drop gems of media to engage with. If you have something you'd like to add, please feel free to drop us a line and be sure to subscribe so that you don't miss an episode. Citations Available Upon Request.

Mo and JJ talk about what Mo has been up to this fall. We are two cats from Baltimore, so we got deep into Bmore lore and had to leave some things on the cutting room floor: what do you think we left out? Notice: We list some of the books (Truly, Cursed Daughters, Plus Size Player) that we read and look forward to- we will go in depth on them during our dedicated book chat coming in early 2026. That said, now is the time to get your best of 2025 lists together (in all things). Here’s the link to follow Mo’s Substack:https://open.substack.com/pub/somethingboutreasyHappy Holidays and stay safe!

Have you gotten a bit behind on Beyond the Gates? Well, Ms. Semi is here to catch you up in this minisode. And now that you are caught up, be sure to watch BTG and get those ratings where they need to be. Citations available upon request.

Greetings all!As we are winding up 2025, please prepare yourself for episodes with our myriad thoughts about the things we love. Up first: Mrs. Ashly talks about GH and who she thinks shot Drew. Citations available upon request.

Did you think we would let Black Speculative Fiction month go by without an acknowledgement? Nah.

You didn't think Black Speculative Fiction month was going to conclude without an episode from us, did you? Hoodoo Hairston (Lady H), Madame Pearl (Madam Lazet), Delta Rease (Mo_Rease), Smoke Coleman (Rhayne Coleman) and Lady D recorded our thoughts on Sinners back in the Spring. This is part one of our discussion and we go in. Here are some of the things that we mentioned in this episode:Ratchet and RespectableThe Color PurpleAliceLovecraft CountryIdlewildThe Imitation of LifePassingA Jazzman's BluesBelovedCowboy CarterOctavia ButlerCitations available upon request.

In a lost episode of Grappling With Soaps, Mrs. Ashly and Ms. Semi recap Summerslam 2025. Later the ladies and JJ discuss the fallout of Summerslam and more. It's a recap of what we missed this summer in wrestling.Citations available upon request.

Howdy Watchers,As you know, we have been covering Beyond the Gates (BTG) since it's premier, but you've mainly heard from us- Ms. Semi, JJ and Mrs. Ashly. You've also heard from Mo_Rease, but you hadn't heard from Watch With You co-host Lady D, nor Queen Melmendi and soap newbie Fade to Black. Well, you are going to hear from them in this episode. And stay tuned, because we have feedback from other fans coming in the next episode. But wait, there's more! If you are a fan of #BTG and have something to share, shoot us a voicemail at [email protected] by October 30, 2025. Citations available upon request.

Ms. Semi, Mrs. Ashly and JJ unveil a new format for our wrestling talks. Topics covered today include Wrestlemania moving to Saudi Arabia, AAA, NXT's Homecoming and more. Please let us know what you think of the new format. Citations are available upon the request.

In this special short episode, JJ and Mrs. Ashly recap the aftermath of Drew's shooting for Ms. Semi (and you).

Hello there!Mrs. Ashly, Ms. Semi and JJ reunite to talk about soaps. We delve briefly into Days, YR and B & B-the Lionshare of our talk centers around GH and BTG. We dive right in because we had lots on our mind. We hope you had a great summer. Stay tuned for our next episode which is all about wrestling!Citation available upon request.

Mo, JJ, and Ms. Semi continue their book discussion with a reaction of smutty smut smut from the gang and then about 30 minutes in, they venture beyond the gates chat about our soaps. See how well we did with our predictions. Citation Available Upon Request.

JJ had a recording cancellation and sent out the Bat signal to fellow readers Mo_Rease and Ms. Semi. We aim to fill up your TBR lists, so please listen with a pen and paper handy. We will back with part two soon and with a chat about Beyond the Gates.

Here is part two of our Grappling With Ryan (and soaps) recording with your hosts, Mrs. Ashly, Ms. Semi and JJ. We go deep into BTG, and then touch on DAYS, Y & R, and B &B and finish our wrestling coverage. JJ also gives some headline news. We do get a little dark this episode, so take care around the 50 minute mark where you hear us talk about Disney princesses. Citations available upon request.

Hear Ye! Hear Ye!Grappling with Soaps has a special guest for this episode: Ryan (and we don't mean Chamberlain) from TVSource. We discuss May's Saturday Night Main Event, Money in The Bank, Backlash, GH and BTG and more. Stay tuned-we had a great time. Citation available upon request.

We have finally finished our Mania review. In this episode we discuss NXT's Stand and Deliver, the fallout to Wrestlemania 41-including the cuts, the state of wrestling a bit about AEW. And, yes, we do the headlines.Thank you for your patience with us as we covered April's month of wrestling and our breaks. We will be back with another episode covering the highlights of wrestling and soaps very soon. If there is a topic that you want us to cover, please feel free to let us know. Citations available upon request.

JJ, Ms. Semi and Mrs. Ashly are back to discuss Night 2 of Wrestlemania 41. But first, we begin with a dispatch from our fave Anwar Starwind. We close with some insight from ForeverYoung co-host, Miss V.Citations available upon request.

Ms. Semi, Mrs. Ashly and JJ discuss the lead up to Wrestlemania 41 and Night 1 of Mania. Also, Mo_Rease blesses us with a dispatch from the Hall of Fame ceremony. Citations available upon request.

Shout out to Kelis! Hello Friends,Ms. Semi, Mrs. Ashly and JJ are back to give some wrestling insights and discuss soaps. Find out who we hate, who gives us joy and who can go to glory. Stay tuned for our next episode, where we discuss all things Wrestlemania 41.Citations available upon request.

Part 2 is here and Ms. Semi, Madame Lazet, Ms. V, Mrs. Ashly and JJ are back on the road to Wrestlemania. Which matches are we looking forward to? What do we think of the feuds thus far? Who is missing from the card? And why does Braun Strowman and Logan Paul make us angry? Tune in to find out.Citations available upon request.

Isn't it fascinating when worlds converge? In this wrestling-focused episode, we recap 2024 then get on the road to Wrestlemania with the ladies from Grappling with Soaps - Ms. Semi and Mrs. Ashly, as well as the ladies from the ForeverYoungCast and Three Times a Lady Podcast - Ms. V and Madame Lazet. Part one centers on the ladies; stay tuned for our perspective on how the men are shaping up.Special thanks for Don Delarente from the CSPN Podcast network for the editorial assist.Citation available upon request.

Welcome back!Did Mo_Rease return to discuss other soap operas? If so, how long did it take before he decided to venture out with Cowboy Dani for greener pastures while Ms. Semi, Mrs. Ashly, and JJ discussed DAYS, GH, Bold and Beautiful, and Y & R? Tune in to find out!There are no cliffhangers in this episode, but here is a preview of the next episode of Grappling With Soaps: we are on the road to Wrestlemania with special guests, sound bites, and a retrospective on 2024 as a roadmap to how we will reach Wrestlemania 41. Stay tuned!

Hey Friends!Ms. Semi, Mrs. Ashly and JJ are joined by Watch With You podcast fave, Mo_Rease to discuss wrestling news in his patented "Mo Meltzer" segment, and then we move on to soaps and with first impressions of Beyond the Gates. Stay tuned for a soapy cliffhanger at the end, which will be answered on the next soap episode where we cover: DAYS, GH, Bold, and Y & R. Citations available upon request.

After a mega delay from the technological gremlins, we are back and ready to discuss wrestling. Mrs. Ashly leads the discussion on the programming up to the Royal Rumble, the Rumble PLE itself, and the programming immediately after. In addition, Ms. Semi comes through with the commentary on NXT and AEW. We will return soon to discuss the road to Wrestlemania and the premier of Beyond the Gates. Citations Available Upon Request.

Hello All!Happy Valentine's and Galentine's Day! We are back to discuss some wrestling news and update you on the happenings of the soaps. We do have one question, though: where is the love? Stay tuned for our wrestling portion of the show.Citations available upon request!

Aaaand we are back to discuss our thoughts on American soaps in the year of 2024. Later we discuss what Soap Digest reports on what to expect in 2024. Citations available upon request.

Ms. Semi, Mrs. Ashly, and JJ have returned from their holiday hiatus to recap The Bold and the Beautiful, General Hospital, Days of Our Lives, and The Young and The Restless. Later, we will discuss our overall impressions of the 2024 soaps and look ahead to 2025. After recording this episode, we learned of the passing of GH soap legend Leslie Charleson. Rest in peace, Ms. Charleson. Furthermore, the wildfires in California continue to be a significant concern. If you would like to donate to support the survivors, please consider contributing to this fund promoted by Win With Black Women.

Greetings Earthling: M. Haynes, Rhayne, Madame Lazet, and JJ are back to discuss Blood at the Root in depth. Later we decide if BATR should be in conversation with the Legendborn cycle. Stay tuned for bonus content from Lady D! Citations available upon request.

Greetings Earthlings! Blood at the Root (BATR) argues that Black boys deserve magical stories, and we agree. Join M. Haynes, Rhayne, Madame Lazet, and Jupiterjulep24 as we discuss this book without spoilers! It is our intent to help you decide if you should add it to your TBR lists or rotate to a different position on your TBR list: we discuss the controversies, the highs and the lows of the story. Push play and stay tuned for part 2 where we give a deeper analysis with spoilers. Citations available upon request.

Christmas movie royalty Lady D and Queen Melmendi try to convince Lady H to watch this year's round of Holiday movies. Queen Melmendi gives us a good list of what is new and recommendations for what to watch. The ladies also name the shows they are watching this fall and what they are looking forward to seeing in 2025. Later, Queen Melmendi and Lady H talk about Love is Blind, MAFS and skeeting. We wish you a sensational holiday season, filled with whatever makes you the happiest. Citations available upon request. Movie Listings Cheat Sheet: Essence The Root Ebony

Hey Hey Hey Listeners! JJ, Ms. Semi and Mrs. Ashly cover the highlights of the graps and soaps (if soaps isnt your thing, skip forward 1 hour). We cover the fallout from Full Gear, Survivor Series and made prediction for NXT's Deadline. We are taking a brief holiday hiatus, but we will be back in January to recap the year in soaps, graps and more. If you have a highlight from wrestling or soap operas from 2024, please email us at [email protected]. Until then, have a fantastic holiday season and we will see you in 2025. Citations available upon request.

In the words of Ms. Semi, "and we are back." Part 2 of our November chat focuses on NXT and AEW. Listen to prepare yourself for tonight's PLE-this is dropping on 12/07/24. Citations available upon request.

JJ and Ms. Semi join Mrs. Ashly as we cover what matters most leading up to Survivor Series. We cover soapy headlines (skip forward 30 minutes if need be) give predictions, veer off topic a little bit and overall bet on Black. Stay tuned for part 2 about NXT and AEW. Citations available upon request.

JJ watches the soaps so that you don't have to! Bless Mrs. Ashly and Ms. Semi for sitting through JJ's dramatic retellings of the death of Sam McCall, Carter's "Save-a-hoe" antics, Johnny taking, "I don't see color" to a whole other level and Lily in her boss era. Also stay tuned for headlines and a Beyond the gates special. Citations available upon request.

Greeting Earthlings: After the week you've had, we thought you might need a break. So, travel back to the summer and out of this world with Ms. Semi and Mo_Rease as they discuss The Missy Elliott tour. And remember, take care of yourselves and each other.