The Napkin In Between
Episodes
A Year of The Podcast. What Happens Now...?
28 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A birthday for Luna and a birthday for the pod should feel simple—cake, joy, gratitude—but sometimes milestones flip a light on in the corners you...
Starstruck, Sexism, & The System: The Diddy Documentary
14 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The photos from a thirtieth birthday party sparked something bigger than nostalgia: a reminder that peace is a choice you have to defend. I talk about...
Don't Follow Me Before You Watch This...
07 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If a single word can spark a fight, it’s rarely about the word. We open the door to a bigger, braver conversation: why “cis” and “trans” are...
30 Lessons For 30 Years!!!
23 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Thirty doesn’t feel like a deadline; it feels like a doorway. I’m stepping through it with a list of thirty lessons that reshaped how I love, rest...
WHAT WAS THE REASON!!! *Cardi B Voice*
16 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The high was real—and so was the crash. After celebrating big electoral wins and a fresh wave of optimism, we watched lawmakers fold on a shutdown f...
Blue Called...She Wants Her Shift Back!!!!!
09 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The night the “blue shift” never showed up still sits heavy—the 4 a.m. doom-scroll, the Barbie Land coping, the dread that followed. This week, ...
PROTECT BLACK WOMEN!!!!!!
02 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A cozy Halloween intro turns into a tough but needed conversation about racism, accountability, and how fast the internet can lose the plot. We share ...
AI & The Spread of Misinformation: It's Spooky Season!!!!
26 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A week on the water brought peace, but the feed was waiting with a storm. We open with the relief of a long-delayed family cruise and pivot into a sto...
The Swifties Are After Me...
12 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A new hair era, a new lens on pop—a candid analysis of Taylor Swift’s latest album discourse, the limits of “hits,” and why popularity isn’t...
From Moving Boxes to Tenant Rights: A 24 Hour Recap Of My New Apartment
05 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The boxes aren’t even unpacked and the story already has plot twists: a shower that won’t shower, a bedroom lock that locks you in, a front door t...
Reminiscing & Reflecting: My Move to NYC
28 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Taking a leap of faith can transform your entire life – even when you don't have everything figured out beforehand. When I found myself increas...
A Sunday Afternoon Rant...
21 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Moving apartments shouldn't feel like a fight to the death, yet that's exactly what it's become in New York City. Picture this: you&apo...
Racism, Relationships, and Recognizing Your Worth: What Would Daijné Do
07 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What do you do when a lifelong friendship is compromised by racism? In this raw and candid episode, I dive deep into the difficult terrain of friendsh...
I Fell For A Scam!!!!!
31 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Something strange happens when we spend too much time scrolling through feeds, watching reality shows, and following strangers online. We forget the l...
Texas Takes Hostages?!?!
24 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Finding your perfect place in the world feels like coming home to yourself. In this powerful episode, I open by sharing my journey through small Penns...
Sometimes It's Okay To Shut The F*ck Up...
17 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The journey toward authentic self-expression online isn't easy, especially for those from marginalized communities. In this candid episode, I ope...
I Fell In Love With My Psychiatrist....????
10 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Finding your voice can be one of life's most challenging yet essential skills. As a former therapist with a master's degree in social work, ...
Kenny, When I Catch You...
03 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Trust betrayed, time wasted, and the painful reality of being used—this episode, we dive into the shocking breakup between Kenny Rodriguez and JaNa ...
Steven Colbert, South Park, & Censorship: What's Really Going On?
27 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Freedom of speech is under attack, and I'm not staying silent about it. Just as I've reached 2,100 subscribers by being authentically myself...
Love Island, Hate Machine: Black Women and Reality TV Villains
20 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The villainization of Black women in media isn't new, but the recent treatment of Love Island USA contestants Chelley and Olandria offers a power...
Nicolandria and the Power of Being Gentle: Reflections on Love Island
13 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We've all heard about "putting yourself first," but for Black women, that concept often feels foreign or even forbidden. This week, I&a...
The Joy of Unsticking Yourself
29 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What does it truly mean to embrace your identity entirely, without reservation or apology? In this candid exploration of Black joy and self-acceptance...
Straight Up NOT Having A Good Time...
22 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sometimes the weight of the world becomes too heavy, and we struggle to find even one thing that brings us joy. That's exactly where I found myse...
No One Is "Illegal" On Stolen Land!!!!!!!
15 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The warmth of summer brings a curious duality – the freedom to embrace joy juxtaposed against a backdrop of urgent social issues. In this candid con...
The Privilege Paradox: Recognizing Systemic Oppression Across Different Groups
08 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever wondered why speaking truth comes with such a high price tag in the content creation world? As I celebrate reaching 112k followers just ...
My Cowboy Carter Tour Experience!!!!!!!!
01 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The moment Beyoncé took the stage and said "there's a lot of talking going on," the tears started flowing. Not just because I was witn...
PROTECT BLACK WOMEN!!!!!!!
25 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Strength looks different for every survivor. When Cassie took the stand to testify against Diddy, when Halle Bailey sought a restraining order against...
Summer is Coming, But The Cookout is CANCELED Indefinitely!!!!
18 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Cancel Zues Network, Cancel the cookout, CANCEL EVERYTHING!!!!! I had an entirely different thing to talk about today, but my morning scroll through s...
I FINALLY DID THE BIG CHOP!!!!!
11 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever wondered what would happen if you faced your biggest fear? That's exactly what I did when I finally shaved my head after years of a...
The Girls Are Fighting…
27 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The beautiful arrival of spring weather and the healing power of a stranger's psychic reading set the stage for our deeper dive into a troubling ...
I'm Quitting TikTok...
20 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ever felt like you're screaming into the void while the walls keep closing in? That's exactly what it's like being a Black creator tryi...
Navigating The Music Industry & Creating Clear Boundaries with Sam Champagne
13 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sam Champagne sits down with us to pull back the curtain on her multifaceted career as a producer, sound engineer, singer, and songwriter. With disarm...
There Is A SERIOUS ATTACK On Motherhood!!!!!!
06 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
TW: THERE IS MENTION OF MISCARRIAGE IN THIS EPISODE!! VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED!!!! Also, sorry the audio is a little crispy, I like to think it wa...
Home Visits, Headstones, & Homophobes: WWDD?!
30 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Family can be our greatest source of love or our most painful source of hurt. In this candid episode, I dive into my recent Atlanta trip to celebrate ...
I WAS SENT A CEASE & DESIST!!!!!!
23 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Rent must be due!!!! In today's episode, let's talk about my experience receiving an AI-generated cease and desist letter from a content cre...
Unpacking Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl Halftime Protest
16 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join me in today's episode as we do an in-depth analysis of Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl Halftime performance—my current "Roman Empire...
What "Radicalized" Me?
09 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when the affirmations you give to a child become the mirror that transforms how you see yourself? In this deeply personal episode, I unpa...
Fighting for Justice: The Legacy of Daisy Bates
02 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In today's episode, we take a powerful journey into history by focusing on the life of Daisy Bates. As an unsung hero of the Civil Rights Movemen...
The BlacKkKlansman: Ron Stallworth and Unmaksing The KKK
23 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In today's episode, we unravel the audacious undercover operation led by Ron Stallworth, a black detective who infiltrated the Ku Klux Klan in th...
Pioneers of Change: The Legacy of The Freedom House Ambulance Service
16 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join me in today's episode as we journey back to the 1960s to honor the unsung heroes of the Freedom House Ambulance Service in Pittsburgh, Penns...
The Untold Story of Courage, Change, and Claudette Colvin
09 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH!!! I don't know about y'all, but I wake up every day proud to be BLICKETY BLACK BLACK BLACK BLACK!!!In honor of Bl...
It's Been A Week…
02 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Girl...idk. Trump has been back in office for a week & he's hit the ground RUNNING! In today's episode, we tackle the chaos of Trump&apo...
Unraveling the TikTok Ban: Politics, Privacy, and Personal Vendettas
26 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Is TikTok truly a national security threat, or was it just a target in a personal vendetta by former (& now current) President Donald Trump? Join ...
___is the JLO of___
19 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
From the quirks of Florida to the peelable joy of Twizzlers, we have a blast comparing everything to the one and only Jennifer Lopez. Ever thought abo...
Challenging Misconceptions: Building Inclusive Advocacy and Addressing Systemic Injustice
12 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Waking up with an inexplicable burst of joy is a rare blessing that sets the tone for a meaningful exploration of topics often shrouded in misundersta...
Misinformation & Immigration, Celebrity Allegations, & My Life-Long Beef with That Orange Drink Lady
05 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
**DISCLAIMER**: Some topics discussed in this episode are currently unfolding, meaning new evidence & information can become available after filmi...
Embracing the Solo Journey: My Path to Launching The Napkin In Between Podcast
29 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Can you imagine chasing your podcast dreams only to face setbacks and misaligned partnerships at every turn? That's exactly what happened on my p...