Tommy Chong (@heytommychong), comedian, actor, and pot smoker, is a national treasure and speaks with the kind of thoughtful introspection you’d expect from a life-long marijuana enthusiast. In this episode, he educates me on the purpose of life, the role of good and evil, and what I’m missing out on by choosing pussy over weed. Resources: Instagra…

Jasmyne Cannick is a queer community activist, politician, journalist, commentator, my first internet work-wife and – not for nothing – my #1 lesbian crush. We get fired up on cancel culture, activism, body positivity, and intersectionality in the queer world. She made 2021 the year of the bikini. Will 2022 be the year she dabbles with the D? Bruh …

Artist Christa Freehands and I connect on how emotions flow through art and discover the roots of her artistic process through the use of symbolism in her work. Resources: Instagram: @Christafreehands Let’s Talk: Website: conversationforadults.com Instagram: @conversationforadults Facebook: facebook.com/conversationforadultswithjimiizrael Twitter: …

I had the pleasure of speaking to Aja Grant, a Cleveland-based photographer who challenges White supremacy in the art world by exclusively shooting Black subjects. She shares her creative process behind the lens and why it’s so important to put Black people – as examples of power and influence – in front of the camera. Resources: Website: ajajoipho…

For 30 years, Phillip Morris wrote as columnist and editorial board member of Cleveland’s daily newspaper, The Plain Dealer. After Dick Feagler, maybe the best production writer Cleveland has ever produced. Today, we talk about his journey, writing about race, life since getting fired by The Plain Dealer, his note to his daughter and how the onus t…

In 2013, Charles Ramsey helped rescue three young women from a neighbor’s house and in a split second, he went from outsider to American Hero. Chris Gresham, aka Butters -- a hapless co-worker-- went along for the ride and got Chuck as a roommate on the other side -- Oy vey. Butters, joins me to talk about what happened after the day a pretty white…

Eric Brewer, returns to Conversation For Adults. This time around, we’re taking a forensic look at the city of Cleveland, the political dynamics of what it means to be free and rooted in American values, and the concept of The Negro Consciousness. Let’s Talk: Website: conversationforadults.com Instagram: @conversationforadults Facebook: facebook.co…

Rhonda Crowder’s back and we dig into politics, her ex-files, explore what went wrong with the frogs of her past, and go on a tangent about why big girls are winning the game right now. It’s #conversationforadults Resources: Rhonda Crowder LLC: https://www.rhondacrowderllc.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Rhonda_Crowder IG: https://twitter.com/Rho…

Michael David Cobb Bowen (Cobbski to me) and I go back to when the Internets was young. We talk art, reflect on his father and life living in the legacy of the Forrest Gumps of Black respectability, unleash his conservative-ish voice online, and follow the crumbs that took him from Black nationalism to conservatism. It’s #conversationforadults. Res…

Shalira Taylor’s back, and we’re lucky to have her -- she runs her business, runs for office, and she’s running a relationship she can’t talk about (much). She SAYS she didn’t run into The Capitol on January 6th to support her dear President Donald J. Trump. I’m not so sure -- you be the judge. We talk politics, Black banking and bullets. Shalira T…

Madd glamorous poet, Champagne Smith, connects with me for a no-holds-barred conversation about family struggles, literary triumphs, and the artistic credibility of Lizzo. We talk family drama and the cycle of bad parenting, helping a partner through trauma and debate if there is any truth in treating a black woman too well (hey, don’t shoot the me…

Genna P is a gift that keeps on giving. This episode marks the third time she’s been back on the show – and we still have shit to talk about! Mark my words; this is about as cozy as it gets here on Conversations for Adults. A lot has changed since our last rendezvous. Join us as we catch up on the usual stuff. You know -- slave ownership, COVID, sh…

Nina Foxx, author, podcaster, mother, and thirst-trap Instagrammer, chats about creating quality, publishing, and what goes on behind the scenes at Jack and Jill of America, Inc. A tech entrepreneur, cancer survivor, and blended family parent, this woman inspires everyone to become a multi-disciplinary master of some kind. Also, owns a parrot, whic…

Open, raw dialogue that pushes our comfortable edges is everything Conversation for Adults is about. I’m grateful to artist, writer, and doula Carmen Lane for going all the way with me on some tough topics. Join us as we chat – and clash – over sexuality, queer identity, the difference between harassment, and hollering before coming together to tal…

Life for Veronica Thornton is pretty hectic. She has her fingers in lots of pies – from economics and black empowerment to writing. She’s on her second book right now and thinks The Age of Aquarius brought us together. I beg to differ. Join me as I catch up with a perfect stranger to talk about everything from poetry to parenthood – and Huggy Bear …

Timothy Roberts’ father was shot dead outside a bar when he was 19. With the weight of his family heavy on his shoulders, he was inspired to become a police officer before turning his attention to education. We hone in on the act of pulling out a gun – with or without the badge – and explore the cases of Tamir Rice and Ma'Khia Bryant from the persp…

For advocate, education leader, and teacher, Jason B Allen, Atlanta is home, and the classroom is a space to mentor the next generation of humanity. Sit with us as we attempt to understand how whiteness is expressed in the education system, and the potential for Critical Race Theory being included in the curriculum. If you don't think this guy dese…

Meet Byron Crawford. Since 2001, he’s been the best writer on the internets, pound for pound. No pleasantries required with this dude; we dive straight into the good shit about what makes good internet commentary, censorship, self-publishing (he’s written an assload of books), and why the girls go crazy for his glasses. Resources: Website: byroncra…

Dave Ramsey creates space for Black and brown artists to showcase their art free from whitewashing. Located in Fairfax, the Cleveland ‘hood, The Deep Roots Experience gallery is for and literally rooted in the Black community. We talk about how the world of art in Cleveland is a racially divided one, the artists changing the cultural landscape of t…

Rosebudd is one of America’s most famous pimps – a term he does not take lightly. He got to the top of his game with a targeted skill set and a sharp-as-nails, entrepreneurial attitude reserved for his coterie of hoes. Now he’s passing on the baton as the dean and professor of SideWalk University, where he has created a male-centric curriculum that…

Rev. Ron beams a light and love that sees the good in everybody – even racists. His 12-step program, Racist Anonymous (yes, you read that correctly), helps people exorcise the prejudice that (apparently) is inside us all. Racist Anonymous is helping people around the US (and beyond). Rev. Ron Buford and I actually go back -- we connect to discuss s…

By the time you finish this episode, it's highly likely that Latoya Davis has already evolved into something else. Here is a woman who lives life on her watch (which, FYI, needs an upgrade). She likes to keep things moving – and if you're not here for her growth, well... then she's not here for you. Period. Latoya kindly tolerated me in her crystal…

Antwoine Washington is a Michigan-born artist with a mission to create a collaborative platform for black voices. The Museum of Creative Human Art is a safe space for local artists to empower themselves and find solutions to the entrenched problems plaguing the community. For a long time he silenced himself, spending years slogging away at a post o…

I discovered Andy Kindler as the other funny guy on “Everybody Loves Raymond.” Currently, he voices Mort the mortician on “Bob’s Burgers,” which I don’t fuck with, but I may now on principle. In this episode, we dig deep: why he's been in bed with me a lot lately, his OCD, his writing, traditional Jewish humor, my crush on Kristen Schaal, the omnip…

Mark E. Howard’s work is everywhere, particularly in Cleveland. He’s done murals, garbage cans and other public art that is all over the city, from Hopkins Airport to the Federal Building to 55th and Euclid and beyond -- but finding him? That’s another matter. Somehow, I do and we explore his creative projects – past and present – and discuss how r…

Film producer, Effie Brown, lifts the lid on Black Hollywood, recalling her experience navigating LA-LA land as a strong, black female who isn’t here to sell cookie cutter, white savior, black poverty porn narratives. We pitch and fantasize about Black people getting funky on-screen, educating, entertaining by elevating marginalized groups – on and…

Cindy likes to swing -- she’s in The Lifestyle. She’s a swinger: polyamorous and all that. For CFA, we disguise her voice because, hello? (and MY voice sometimes gets caught in the wash) as she speaks up for the thriving, pulsating Black kink community. Cindy talks about married life, her Five Guys (not the burger place), her favorite gangbang, bon…

For Patrice Hampton, 2020 was a sticky stew of endings and beginnings. We discuss death from a position of equal and profound loss and we delve into widowhood and life after death for the living. The Patrice of today is a woman who knows who she is, what she’s looking for in a partnership, and where she’s going – and it sure as hell ain't an Appleb…

Liz Burr and I go back -- we met online when the Internet was young. Today, we talk offline. From blended families and absent fathers to (toxic) male/female characteristics and our collective connection to tech, be it swiping dating apps, calling someone out online, or understanding the interpersonal dynamics of POC-founded start-ups. Also, Very Sm…

Craig Serluco is a gamer and story wizard who ran to Russia in pursuit of employment and ultimately, love. In this episode, he shares his tale as an American in the land of Putin and perogis and gives his insights into the cultural fabric of a country most of us only see through our TV screens. We talk Trump, weed, whiskey, #popcorn and Black Russi…

Sheila Bee, a confessed “alpha female,” has a foxy mouth and a penchant for cigars. She works hard, plays harder, but has struggled to receive the same from men. Fortunately, she’s found her female tribe with her smoking buddies at Pretty Ash Ladies Club in Cleveland, Ohio. We talk about wigs, work, motherhood and what makes a good cigar. Resources…

I’m getting real on republicanism and relationship politics with the ladies of this roundtable debate, delving into the complex umbrella of right-wing politics and finding Mr. Right as a single, black, educated woman in America. Lady Bahjah and her +1 give me the scoop on their recent experiences in Cleveland, confronting the Karens of the Trump er…

Self-taught musician Marcus Alan Ward and I butt heads on the credentials of mainstream hip-hop culture and what it means to be a creative in the Midwest. We map out his journey, learning instruments as a young outsider in Bedford, Ohio, and hustling as a touring musician before making money moves as a filmmaker. As he settles comfortably into the …

Making a family work isn’t easy. There’s no solution or approach that’s one-size-fits-all. Pregnancies can end in abortions; marriages curdle into divorce – modern family dynamics are straight-up fucked up. Broken homes, traumatized kids, child-support manhunts – the list goes on. I talk to Tonia Primm, a (single) mother of three, fashion designer,…

Eric Freeman is not a spawn of Satan, exactly. Instead, he’s bringing that big devil energy to talk about House of Wills: an Addams-Family-style-house built in the 1900s. Rest assured, this is not some sick-ass Satan school (although plenty of people have questioned his motives). Once you get over the fact that he’s a Satanist, you can get on board…

DJ Freekie London Johnson’s worst day has been seen by millions and millions of people world-wide on World Star Hip-Hop, but there is so much more to him than that. London comes on CFA to talk about his life, fatherhood, his passion for cooking, his porno, and why he turned down a rematch and coaching from the Gracies — the first family of Brazilia…

Last month, Lester Jay came through to talk about spirituality, sexuality, faith, family, and House music. Today, he returns to talk about having one of the biggest conversations you can have with a significant other: The Transition Talk. Lester gets into what the experience has been like from his side of the relationship, what surprised him most, …

Garrett McQueen is a classically-trained Bassoonist who performs everywhere, giving voice and offering space to music by Black and contemporary composers. We talk about how isolating it can be to be a professional Black performer in classical music, and how he’s decolonizing the phrase “classical music” with TRILLOQUY. We also get into the controve…

Let’s be real: everybody’s got a COVID boo. But your boo may have a boo, too… and while everyone’s worried about ‘The Virus,’ you can’t forget about the bacteria. So today, B. Cleveland is going to share the cautionary tale of what it’s like to get the clap while you're just trying to stay sane during COVID. You can take some medicine to clear up t…

Derek Hess is a self-described “superhero and overrated artist” and a mental health advocate. His work has been featured on album covers, installations in the Louvre, human skin, comic books, and the walls of Jimi Izrael’s home. I kick things off with an apology, then we get into his Atomic Punk days: dysfunctional underage drinking communities, th…

Lester Jay is a vocalist who blends old-school church vocals, hip-hop hooks, and pop production to create his upbeat brand of House music. But before we get into music, we have to talk family and faith: the family that ain’t kin and the kin that ain’t family, navigating spirituality outside the heterornormative bubble, and coming out to your people…

Dan Curtin, DJ and creator of Metamorphic Recordings, is one of the key players in creating the sound of modern techno over the last three decades. Dan shares stories from Cleveland to Berlin, from breakdancing in his parents’ basement to spinning in European nightclubs, from choosing between buying cat food or human food to starting his own label.…

Christine Jones Woods is a professional opera and jazz vocalist who has performed on stages across the U.S. and Europe. We talk about the first time she opened her mouth to sing, and trace her career from New Jersey to Rome and back. Then, we talk about the romantic night she met her husband, the brothers dissing big girls, and her unlikely ranking…

Michael Gill MFA is the Editor and Publisher of CAN Journal, the collaborative arts magazine of the Collective Arts Network and, a few days after Christine Priola, Susan Allan Brock and other Donald Trump supporters try to take the U.S. Capitol hostage, answers the musical question “what the hell is going on with white people?” We talk about why li…

Angelique Kingsbury is a former blogger and e-acquaintance I haven't talked to in about a decade. We talk about not letting anyone sew a scarlet letter on her breast, the difference between North and South Minneapolis, dealing with colorism, and advice for maintaining relationships with adult children. Angelique also shares her on-the-ground report…

Artist Michelangelo Lovelace’s paintings depict the soul of the streets: real life in America. We talk about being raised to hustle, belt vs. extension cord whoopings, meeting his first wife (who is also his fourth wife), how many jobs a man really needs, and why it’s never Momma’s fault. What artist and mentor Reverend Albert Wagner taught him abo…

I never knew much about my Great Aunt Maisy. My grandmother’s oldest sister, they had been fighting since the 40s. So I went down to the house she’s lived in for 57 years to get her side of the story and chat about what she’s seen over the last 90 years. We share stories about taking care of your siblings, white people not raising their own childre…

Freddie Mercury, Waylon Jennings, Gene Simmons, Joan Jett, Dolly Parton, Todd Rundgren, Alice Cooper, Rod Stewart, Meatloaf: that’s just an abbreviated list of the music legends that Anastasia Pantsios has photographed over the last 50 years. We talk about growing up in the middle of Chicago’s redlining (five blocks from Michelle Obama), witnessing…

I first met Denise Oliver when I was a solid B+ student in her English 099 class, but we went on to become peers, engage in a brief romantic interlude, and, years later, sit down in my home for a conversation — my first with an “ex” of any kind. We talk about writing, colonialism, why you can’t be an effective agent for change in the Black communit…

Kisha Foster returns, and a lot has changed since she last appeared: she had a daughter named Love, published "Poems 1999-2014," and won the Cleveland Arts Prize for Emerging Artist in Literature. We talk about co-parenting and why you can’t throw sex into the co-parenting mix, why she loves Ghostface Killer and why someone gets seven Wu-Tang tatto…