Friends Like Us

Charla Lauriston and Gordon Baker-Bone visit friends and discuss being kind to yourself in writing/life and more with host Marina Franklin. 

Charla Lauriston is a Vancouver and Los Angeles based comedian, writer, and director. Most recently, she wrote for Grand Crew on NBC and has previously written for The Last OG, Ghosted, People of Earth, and Hoops. Her 2021 episodic short, Witchsters, is the official selection of the 2022 Slamdance Film Festival, New Filmmakers Los Angeles, and the 2021 Austin Film Festival and American Black Film Festival. Charla is the creator of The Werking Writer School, a career-focused online course and community for new and aspiring screenwriters. Charla’s 2014 web series, Clench & Release, garnered critical acclaim that described her as “self-assured and gleefully sarcastic” (WNYC) and “one of the most exciting and original voices in comedy” (Splitsider). As a standup, Charla has appeared on ‘The Meltdown with Jonah and Kumail’ on Comedy Central, and has performed with Jonathan Van Ness and Team Coco. Born in Haiti and raised on the East Coast, Charla’s sharp observations on everything from family to race to pop culture and the absurd minutiae of everyday life are delivered with a matter-of-fact punch to the gut.

Gordon Baker-Bone is not a stage name, it's his real name. It's also a name you won't soon want to forget. This NJ(Newar) native has been performing nationwide and has featured on AXS TV's Gotham Live and voted one of Brooklyn's 50 Funniest People in 2016. He's written for MTV, and is a regular at clubs around New Jersey, New York and Connecticut. He is poised to be a top comedian of his generation. Also, check out his show Drunk Black History coming to a town near you!

Always hosted by Marina Franklin - One Hour Comedy Special: Single Black Female ( Amazon Prime, CW Network), TBS's The Last O.G, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Hysterical on FX, The Movie Trainwreck, Louie Season V, The Jim Gaffigan Show, Conan O'Brien, Stephen Colbert, HBO's Crashing, and The Breaks with Michelle Wolf.

Christina Greer and Hollie Harper visit friends and discuss the dificult job of Mayor, Sneakers used to pay an Ex-President's legal fees, anti-social students and more with host Marina Franklin.

Christina Greer is an Associate Professor of Political Science at Fordham University - Lincoln Center (Manhattan) campus. Her research and teaching focus on American politics, Black ethnic politics, campaigns and elections, and public opinion. Prof. Greer's book Black Ethnics: Race, Immigration, and the Pursuit of the American Dream (Oxford University Press) investigates the increasingly ethnically diverse black populations in the US from Africa and the Caribbean. She finds that both ethnicity and a shared racial identity matter and also affect the policy choices and preferences for black groups. Professor Greer is currently working on a manuscript detailing the political contributions of Barbara Jordan, Fannie Lou Hamer, and Stacey Abrams. She recently co-edited Black Politics in Transition, which explores gentrification, suburbanization, and immigration of Blacks in America. She is a member of the board of The Tenement Museum in NYC,  The Mark Twain House in Hartford, CT, Community Change in Washington, DC, and serves on the Advisory Board at Tufts University. She is a frequent political commentator on several media outlets, primarily MSNBC, WNYC, and NY1, and is often quoted in media outlets such as the NYTimes, Wall Street Journal, and the AP. She is the co-host of the New York centered podcast FAQ-NYC, is a political analyst at thegrio.com and host of the podcast quiz show The Blackest Questions at thegrio.com, is a frequent author and narrator for the TedEd educational series, and also writes a weekly column for The Amsterdam News, one of the oldest black newspapers in the U.S. Prof. Greer received her BA from Tufts University and her MA, MPhil, and PhD in Political Science from Columbia University

Hollie Harper is a comedy nerd from South Jersey. She is currently the creator and co-exec producer of Hella Late! with Hollie Harper on BRIC TV and a co-host of the nationally trending Twitter Storytelling Chat “BlerdDating.” Hella Late! with Hollie Harper was recently in the 2021 NYC Web Fest where she was nominated as Best Actress. Hollie was a semi-finalist in the 2019 NBC Standup Competition and has been featured on NY1, and in Black Enterprise Magazine, Thrive Global, Confessional Magazine and Black San Diego Magazine. Her popular sketch comedy show AMERICAN CANDY has played the Comic Strip, Gotham Comedy Club, BAM Café as well as the Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival. Time Out Chicago named them one of the five groups to watch. Hollie is a regular host for West Side Comedy Club in NYC and works with Gold Comedy and Stand Up Girls, two programs that empower young women by teaching them standup comedy. She was recently the talent coordinator and casting for “Blood Lassi” on Spotify, written by Pratima Mani, and moderated the panel for the Emmy Award winning, WOC editing team of Black Lady Sketch Show for The Black TV and Film Collective. She is also the Creative Consultant for the very successful Black Women in Comedy Laff Fest.

Always hosted by Marina Franklin - One Hour Comedy Special: Single Black Female ( Amazon Prime, CW Network), TBS's The Last O.G, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Hysterical on FX, The Movie Trainwreck, Louie Season V, The Jim Gaffigan Show, Conan O'Brien, Stephen Colbert, HBO's Crashing, and The Breaks with Michelle Wolf.

Laurie Kilmartin and Onika McLean visit friends and discuss Laurie's new comedy special: Cis Woke Grief Slut, dark comedy, and protection from doxing with host Marina Franklin.

Onika McLean, born in North Carolina, and raised in East New York Brooklyn, is a single mother of two, legal professional, and a sharp comedian whose no-nonsense perspective on life, love, single motherhood, and her mid life crisis is taking the comedy arena by storm. She was the fan favorite on Bravo Television's, The Single’s Project. She is the winner of the Sloshed Comedy Competition and the Rising Stars Comedy Competition in London. Onika performs regularly at LOL and Times Square and passed at Comic Strip Live and has Dangerfield's, New York Comedy Club, New York Stand, Broadway Comedy, Village Underground, and the. She runs a monthly show entitled Cosmic Comedy.  

Laurie Kilmartin is stand up comedian and an Emmy-nominated, WGA award-winning comedy writer. She was a staff writer for all 11 years of CONAN on TBS, and has performed standup on CONAN, Late Late Show w/James Corden, and Comedy Central. She was a Top 10 finalist on season 9 of NBC's Last Comic Standing, and has been a guest on Marc Maron's WTF 3 times. She is the author of Dead People Sck, a comedic memoir about grief, and Shitty Mom- NY Times bestselling comedy about parenting. Her special 45 Jokes About My Dead Dad, was named Vulture 's Top Ten Comedy Specials of 2016. In 2022, she was a guest in the “Comedy” episdoe of Hillary Clinton’s 2022 Apple TV series Gutsy. Her new special “Cis Woke Grief Slut,” taped at Hollywood’s El Portal Theater, will be available on all platforms in January, 2024.

Born and raised in the Bay Area, Laurie became interested in trying standup after seeing one too male comics talk about women. Even in San Francisco, the early 90s lineups were stacked with men lazily stereotyping approximately half the people in the audience. Laurie distinctly remembers sitting through a comedy showcase, thinking, “I don’t like shopping, and I don’t go to the bathroom in pairs.” Her need to try standup came from an intense desire to tell her own story, instead of hearing it being told to her by a dude.

After a successful first time onstage, Laurie moved back in with her parents, bought a Chevy Blazer and started driving to gigs over the West. By the time she donated the Blazer to KCRW, there were over 500,000 miles on the odometer. She has worked one nighters, comedy clubs, casinos and wars. In fact, she performed for troops in both Iraq wars, including a New Year’s Eve show at one of Saddam Hussein’s occupied palaces. After ten years of basing herself inNorCal, she relocated to New York City in 1999. In 2003, she added TV writing to her resume, with her first staff job on Comedy Central’s Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn. She moved onto “The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson,” tried her hand at daytime on “The Bonnie Hunt Show” before being hired as a monologue writer on “CONAN,” for its entire 11 year run on TBS.

In 2006, she became a mom, and in 2009, a single mom.In 2014, she famously (or infamously) live-tweeted jokes her father’s hospice passing from lung cancer, and in 2020, she did the same after her mother was hospitalized with COVID. From these literal cremated ashes came her comedy special and second book (“45 Jokes About My Dead Dad” and “Dead People Suck”), and the 3rd titular element of her new special “Cis Woke Grief Slut.”

Always hosted by Marina Franklin - One Hour Comedy Special: Single Black Female ( Amazon Prime, CW Network), TBS's The Last O.G, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Hysterical on FX, The Movie Trainwreck, Louie Season V, The Jim Gaffigan Show, Conan O'Brien, Stephen Colbert, HBO's Crashing, and The Breaks with Michelle Wolf.

The Gossiping Heifers visit friends and discuss Micheles new book "Breaking Free" , a guide and workbook for women trying to escape a narcissistic relationship and more with host Marina Franklin.

The Gossiping Heifers- Michele and Rochele are the dynamic duo behind the wildly entertaining podcast, "The Gossiping Heifers." With a flair for humor and a knack for keeping listeners engaged, these two sisters bring a fresh and hilarious perspective to the world of current events, celebrity gossip, and everyday life.

Listeners can expect a rollercoaster ride through the latest news headlines, celebrity scandals, and everything in between. Whether it's discussing the ins and outs of politics, sharing dating stories that will have you in stitches, or offering valuable tips on navigating the complexities of modern life, Michele and Rochele leave no stone unturned.

What sets "The Gossiping Heifers" apart is their ability to blend insightful commentary with rib-tickling humor. Each week, they invite special guests from the entertainment industry, adding even more spice to their already spicy show. Whether you're seeking a good laugh or looking for some practical advice, Michele and Rochele have got you covered.

Tune in to "The Gossiping Heifers" for a dose of laughter, lively discussions, and an unfiltered take on the world's hottest topics. You won't want to miss a single episode of this dynamic podcast duo.

Check out Michele's new book: "Breaking Free" , a guide and workbook for women trying to escape a narcissistic relationship by Michele.

Always hosted by Marina Franklin - One Hour Comedy Special: Single Black Female ( Amazon Prime, CW Network), TBS's The Last O.G, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Hysterical on FX, The Movie Trainwreck, Louie Season V, The Jim Gaffigan Show, Conan O'Brien, Stephen Colbert, HBO's Crashing, and The Breaks with Michelle Wolf.

Ashima Franklin and Leighann Lord visit friends and discuss why parents can not be friends with their kids, the tiktoker who went viral for living in a storage unit, and giving yourself and elder parents grace. 

Ashima Franklin Originally from Alabama, Ashima Franklin has a “girl next door” personality that mixes with her no holds barred delivery to form a hilarious comedy routine that’s inspired by her real-world situations as a working “Baby Momma”. Ashima rose to fame after appearances on Showtime’s “Kattpacalypse,” having toured the country with comedian Katt Williams on the Conspiracy Theory & Development Spurt tours, and also from Bounce TVs “From the String.” She was also a writer for Russell Simmons All Def Digital which offers over 2.2 million subscribers and counting.

Leighann Lord is a seasoned standup comedian who has appeared on HBO's Def Comedy All Star Jam, Comedy Central, The View, Netflix, and Showtime’s Even More Funny Women of a Certain Age. She has performed for the troops and her Dry Bar Comedy special has had over one million views.

Always hosted by Marina Franklin - One Hour Comedy Special: Single Black Female ( Amazon Prime, CW Network), TBS's The Last O.G, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Hysterical on FX, The Movie Trainwreck, Louie Season V, The Jim Gaffigan Show, Conan O'Brien, Stephen Colbert, HBO's Crashing, and The Breaks with Michelle Wolf.

The Ridshare Queen Deanna Dixon and Vanessa Fraction visit friends and discuss different perspectives on success and more with host Marina Franklin.

Deanna Dixon, renowned as the Rideshare Queen, has woven an extraordinary narrative as an esteemed background vocalist for icons like Beyoncé, Kanye West, and Monica. However, her journey took a transformative turn when she chose to relinquish the glitz of Hollywood and prioritize her daughter's well-being. This decision led her to become a full-time rideshare driver in Atlanta, where her exceptional ability to forge deep connections with passengers soon took center stage. Capturing these magical, unscripted moments on TikTok, her impromptu musical performances and heart-to-heart conversations garnered over 4.9 million viewers across platforms. Notably, industry titans such as Chance the Rapper and Rihanna recognized her unparalleled talent, solidifying her status as a rising star. This transition from the spotlight to the everyday sphere, driven by her devotion to her daughter and the desire to surround

Her family highlights Deanna's resilience and authenticity. In stepping away from Hollywood, she unknowingly crafted unexpected enchantment, proving that the most remarkable stories unfold in the most unassuming of ways.

Vanessa Fraction is a talented and hilarious comedian, actress, and writer who has made her mark in various forms of entertainment. She can currently be heard as a co-host on the Nappy Boy Radio Podcast hosted by Tpain and seen in the movie Praise This on Peacock. Vanessa can also be seen guest hosting on the entertainment news show Dish Nation. As a stand-up comedian, Vanessa has performed on Def Comedy Jam , Laff Mobs Laff Tracks , and more. Her writing credits include Raven's Home , 106 & Park , and The Mo'Nique Show. Additionally, she has appeared in the film Barber Shop 2 and television shows Last Call, Mann & Wife (BounceTV), Comedy KnockOuts (TruTV) and Tales (BET) Not only is Vanessa "Action" Fraction a talented entertainer, but she is also a certified self-defense instructor. She teaches her unique class called Kicks & Comedy, combining her love for humor with her passion for empowering others through self-defense.

Always hosted by Marina Franklin - One Hour Comedy Special: Single Black Female ( Amazon Prime, CW Network), TBS's The Last O.G, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Hysterical on FX, The Movie Trainwreck, Louie Season V, The Jim Gaffigan Show, Conan O'Brien, Stephen Colbert, HBO's Crashing, and The Breaks with Michelle Wolf.

Suzette Simon and Ashima Franklin visit Friends and discuss advocating for your breast health, securing health aid, touring with Katt Williams and more with host Marina Franklin! 

Suzette Simon is the founder of NYLaughs, a New York-based nonprofit that produces free comedy events in public spaces to inspire audiences, enrich the lives of New Yorkers, and connect people through humor. It Also works to deepen an appreciation of the art of Stand Up Comedy, a unique NY cultural asset.    She is also the creator of an awareness campaign called #StrongBlackBoobs, which aims to increase breast health awareness and heighten self-esteem among breast cancer patients of color through humor-filled posts. 

Ashima Franklin Originally from Alabama, Ashima Franklin has a “girl next door” personality that mixes with her no holds barred delivery to form a hilarious comedy routine that’s inspired by her real-world situations as a working “Baby Momma”. Ashima rose to fame after appearances on Showtime’s “Kattpacalypse,” having toured the country with comedian Katt Williams on the Conspiracy Theory & Development Spurt tours, and also from Bounce TVs “From the String.” She was also a writer for Russell Simmons All Def Digital which offers over 2.2 million subscribers and counting.

Always hosted by Marina Franklin - One Hour Comedy Special: Single Black Female ( Amazon Prime, CW Network), TBS's The Last O.G, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Hysterical on FX, The Movie Trainwreck, Louie Season V, The Jim Gaffigan Show, Conan O'Brien, Stephen Colbert, HBO's Crashing, and The Breaks with Michelle Wolf.

Hollie Harper and Nonye Brown-West discuss the fallout from the Katt Williams Interview, Tariji P. Henson's fight for The Color Purple cast, T.D. Jakes and more with host Marina Franklin. 

Hollie Harper is a comedy nerd from South Jersey. She is currently the creator and co-exec producer of Hella Late! with Hollie Harper on BRIC TV and a co-host of the nationally trending Twitter Storytelling Chat “BlerdDating.” Hella Late! with Hollie Harper was recently in the 2021 NYC Web Fest where she was nominated as Best Actress. Hollie was a semi-finalist in the 2019 NBC Standup Competition and has been featured on NY1, and in Black Enterprise Magazine, Thrive Global, Confessional Magazine and Black San Diego Magazine. Her popular sketch comedy show AMERICAN CANDY has played the Comic Strip, Gotham Comedy Club, BAM Café as well as the Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival. Time Out Chicago named them one of the five groups to watch. Hollie is a regular host for West Side Comedy Club in NYC and works with Gold Comedy and Stand Up Girls, two programs that empower young women by teaching them standup comedy. She was recently the talent coordinator and casting for “Blood Lassi” on Spotify, written by Pratima Mani, and moderated the panel for the Emmy Award winning, WOC editing team of Black Lady Sketch Show for The Black TV and Film Collective. She is also the Creative Consultant for the very successful Black Women in Comedy Laff Fest.

Nonye Brown-West  is a New York-based Nigerian-American comedian and writer. She has been featured in the Boston Globe's Rise column as a Comic to Watch, as well as in NPR, PBS, ABC, Sway In The Morning, and the New York Comedy Festival. Nonye made her acting debut in The Sympathy Card, now available for streaming on Vudu, Apple, Amazon, and Google Play.

Always hosted by Marina Franklin - One Hour Comedy Special: Single Black Female ( Amazon Prime, CW Network), TBS's The Last O.G, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Hysterical on FX, The Movie Trainwreck, Louie Season V, The Jim Gaffigan Show, Conan O'Brien, Stephen Colbert, HBO's Crashing, and The Breaks with Michelle Wolf.

Vanessa Fraction, Pat Brown, and Kenice Mobley visit friends and discuss diversity attack, quantifying your resolution, Rudy Giuliani's attack on Georgia election workers, and more with host Marina Franklin. 

Vanessa Fraction is a talented and hilarious comedian, actress, and writer who has made her mark in various forms of entertainment. She can currently be heard as a co-host on the Nappy Boy Radio Podcast hosted by Tpain and seen in the movie Praise This on Peacock. Vanessa can also be seen guest hosting on the entertainment news show Dish Nation. As a stand-up comedian, Vanessa has performed on Def Comedy Jam , Laff Mobs Laff Tracks , and more. Her writing credits include Raven's Home , 106 & Park , and The Mo'Nique Show. Additionally, she has appeared in the film Barber Shop 2 and television shows Last Call, Mann & Wife (BounceTV), Comedy KnockOuts (TruTV) and Tales (BET) Not only is Vanessa "Action" Fraction a talented entertainer, but she is also a certified self-defense instructor. She teaches her unique class called Kicks & Comedy, combining her love for humor with her passion for empowering others through self-defense.

Kenice Mobley performs stand up comedy around the world and recently made her late-night debut on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. She appears regularly on SiriusXM and is a Finalist in the StandUp NBC Competition. This year, Kenice worked on the BET Awards and By Us For Us, a sketch comedy series presented by Color of Change. She hosts Complexify on ViceNews, Love About Town, an interview and relationship podcast, and Make Yourself Cry, available on Planet Scum.

Pat Brown Sex Tape Released now available on YouTube at Pat Brown Comedy,  Tours with Tracy Morgan, writer for VMA’s, ESPy and NFL Honors 

Always hosted by Marina Franklin - One Hour Comedy Special: Single Black Female ( Amazon Prime, CW Network), TBS's The Last O.G, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Hysterical on FX, The Movie Trainwreck, Louie Season V, The Jim Gaffigan Show, Conan O'Brien, Stephen Colbert, HBO's Crashing, and The Breaks with Michelle Wolf.

We love it so much we aired it twice! Listen to favorite episode with Sarah Cooper, Zainab Johnson and Erica Switzer join friends and discuss Sarah's new book: "Foolish", Zainab's new comedy special: "Hijab's Off", and young star Erica Switzer. 

Sarah Cooper is a writer and comedian with millions of followers across social media. She's the author of How to Be Successful without Hurting Men's Feelings and 100 Tricks to Appear Smart in Meetings, as well as the star of the hit Netflix comedy special, Sarah Cooper: Everything's Fine. Cooper built her comedy career in between working for companies like Yahoo! and Google, where she was fed free lunches and lots of material. She has appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live, The Tonight Show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and been featured in The New York Times, Washington Post, Vanity Fair and countless others. Cooper's debut memoir, Foolish: Tales of Assimilation, Determination, and Humiliation will be released October 3, 2023 from Dutton Books

Zainab Johnson is a stand-up comedian, actress, and writer quickly being propelled as one of the most unique and engaging performers on stage and screen.  Zainab is currently a series regular on the Amazon Original hit series titled "Upload" from Greg Daniels and stars in her very first One Hour Comedy Special "Hijabs Off" premiering worldwide October 24th only on Amazon Prime video. 

Erica Switzer As seen on Roast Battle Chicago, Las Locas Comedy and Hot 5, Chicagoland’s Erica Switzer is “Your bougie jet-setting auntie who twerks to NPR.” A divorce and failed rebound in Shanghai, China led to her “Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” moment in July 2017. Co-founder of Shanghai’s Blackout Comedy and founder of Hei Now Comedy, Erica became the 1st Black comedian to perform in Mongolia at the 2019 Silk Road International Comedy Festival. She has featured for The Comedy Cellar's Simeon Goodson, Laugh Factory's Mateen Stewart, and America's Got Talent's Justin Rivera. A 2020 Flappers Comedy Club Soup-or-Bowl winner, festival appearances include the World Series of Comedy, Laugh Riot Grrrl Festival, and Burbank Comedy Festival's Best of Fest. 2022 festival appearances include Chicago's World Comedy Expo and NYC’s Black Women in Comedy Laff Fest, producing "Erica Switzer & Friends" there in 2023.

Always hosted by Marina Franklin - One Hour Comedy Special: Single Black Female ( Amazon Prime, CW Network), TBS's The Last O.G, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Hysterical on FX, The Movie Trainwreck, Louie Season V, The Jim Gaffigan Show, Conan O'Brien, Stephen Colbert, HBO's Crashing, and The Breaks with Michelle Wolf.

Janus Adams and Africa Miranda visit Friends and discuss how segregation in education still remain, the lack of school funding in New York City, Brown Vs. Board Of Education and more with host Marina Franklin.  

Africa Miranda - In the span of her 15-year career, Africa Miranda has been an actress, a model, a host, an author, a beautypreneur and a digital personality. Most importantly, she’s been a student of life. As the face and spokesperson for brands like Refinery 29, Macy’s, TJ Maxx and Kia Motors Africa had the opportunity to travel and see the world. Traveling taught her who she is and fueled the creative passions that allowed her to connect with and empower women everywhere. Boston-born and Alabama-raised, Africa grew up wondering what the world outside her backyard looked like. As a graduate of Alabama State University, she learned to bring the world to her using education and creative expression. This wonderment flourished into a deeply-rooted desire to travel the world. From Seoul to the South of France, Africa’s life didn’t truly begin until she left the comfort of the things she knew. Travel taught her the magic of losing yourself right before you find yourself. In 2016, Africa launched her skincare line, Beauty by Africa Miranda to commemorate the incredible experiences she has on her travels and share them with you. From her ultra-hydrating Luminous Body Mist,  inspired by the French Riviera to her aloe vera-rich Hydra Essence Complexion Mist which is a love letter to her time in Curaçao – the highly-praised product line takes your skin on an incredible journey around the globe.

Africa’s skincare line and media brand has garnered acclaim from publications like EBONY.com, Essence.com, BET.com, Yahoo Lifestyle, Rolling Out, Vanity Fair and Womensweardaily.com. Her growing following on Instagram and Twitter allows Africa to connect with thousands of women all over the world. With such a successful and active career, over the years Africa received a swell of questions about navigating life as a public figure and personal brand. Her inbox full of career questions lead to the release of her 2018 book, Step Up, Step Out and Shine. Through its pages, Africa teaches readers  how to leverage social media to create their own global brands. Africa’s most recent adventure, in partnership with Facebook Watch, was the opportunity to host and executive produce her very own show – The Africa Miranda Show. Here, she invites her viewers to join in as she chats with a few favorite friends and some incredible creators. They touch on topics about everything from beauty and travel to paving a career path that suits your passion. Dedicated to empowering other women to step intentionally into the media space – Africa is helping a new generation of creators reach their highest potential through her media workshop, Media Mastery Workshop and training course Shine Media Training.

Dr. Janus Adams - Emmy Award-winning journalist, historian, entrepreneur, and bestselling author of eleven books, Dr. Janus Adams is the host of public radio’s “The Janus Adams Show” and podcast.  A frequent on-air guest, she has appeared on ABC, BET, CBS, CNN, Fox News, NBC’s The Today Show, and NPR’s All Things Considered. With more than 500 articles, essays and columns to her credit, her work has been featured in Essence and Ms. Magazines, The New York Times, Newsday, USA Today, and The Washington Post.  Her syndicated column ran in the Hearst Newspapers for sixteen years.  Her commentary has been broadcast on CBS and NPR, and published in the Huffington Post.  Her book, Glory Days: 365 Inspired Moments in African American History, was licensed by McDonald’s and reached more than 3 million readers.

A pioneer of issue-oriented African-American and women’s programming she has hosted her own radio and television talk shows for more than ten years.  Her series, “Milestones in African-American Business History,” ran on public radio’s Marketplace. Her 19-hour International Women’s Day marathon broadcasts brought her to NPR as the network’s first National Arts Correspondent and opened the New York News Bureau. An entrepreneur, as founder of BackPax (a children’s publishing company) and Harambee (the first national book club for African American literature), she changed the publishing landscape for authors and audiences. A dynamic speaker and passionate storyteller, she is known for her unique perspectives on current events through the lens of history. Indeed, Dr. Adams has been engaged by history and culture since childhood. A northern school desegregation pioneer at 8, she was one of the four children selected to break New York’s de facto segregation in the public schools in the wake of Brown v. Board of Education.  A classically-trained pianist, she is a graduate of New York’s High School of Performing Arts.  Her master’s is the nation’s first graduate degree in Black Studies.  Her doctoral chair was author and composer Shirley Graham Du Bois (widow of Dr. W. E. B. Du Bois, the “Father of Pan-Africanism” and co-founder of the NAACP). Her honors include Doctor of Humane Letters degrees from Shaw University and the State University of New York.

Always hosted by Marina Franklin - One Hour Comedy Special: Single Black Female ( Amazon Prime, CW Network), TBS's The Last O.G, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Hysterical on FX, The Movie Trainwreck, Louie Season V, The Jim Gaffigan Show, Conan O'Brien, Stephen Colbert, HBO's Crashing, and The Breaks with Michelle Wolf.

Von Decarlo and Nonye Brown-West visit friends and discuss whether  celebrities like Beyonce have a responsibility to speak about injustice and more with host Marina Franklin. 

Von Decarlo is a New York-bred stand-up comedian, producer, writer, and actress who has appeared in worldwide ad campaigns and national commercials for Disney, GNC, Match, and Carnival Cruise lines. She performed in Montreal for Kevin Hart's LOL Network as well as the Lil' Rel and Friends show at the Just For Laughs comedy festival, and most recently in Australia for the Human Kind Festival. Additional appearances include HBO's Pause with Sam Jay, Laff Mobb's Laff Tracks on Tru TV and HBO Max, CNN's year-end wrap-up special, The Jerry O'Connell Show on FOX, BET, BuzzFeed, The Breakfast Club, Angela Yee's Lip Service, Sirius XM’s Urban View and NBA channel, In Godfrey We Trust Podcast, and more. Von Decarlo is the Executive Producer of the documentary Killing Is Easy on Comedy Central as well as the producer of three posthumous comedy albums, Mr. P, Unreleased, and The Lost Files. Her debut comedy album, A Draggable Offense, is available on all major platforms, and can be heard on the She So Funny and Laugh Out Loud radio stations on Sirius XM. Look out for Von Decarlo in the upcoming RomCom, Switch Up, and in the indie film, Salesman, currently on Amazon Prime.  

Nonye Brown-West is a New York-based Nigerian-American comedian and writer. She has been featured in the Boston Globe's Rise column as a Comic to Watch, as well as in NPR, PBS, ABC, Sway In The Morning, and the New York Comedy Festival. Nonye made her acting debut in The Sympathy Card, now available for streaming on Vudu, Apple, Amazon, and Google Play.

Always hosted by Marina Franklin - One Hour Comedy Special: Single Black Female ( Amazon Prime, CW Network), TBS's The Last O.G, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Hysterical on FX, The Movie Trainwreck, Louie Season V, The Jim Gaffigan Show, Conan O'Brien, Stephen Colbert, HBO's Crashing, and The Breaks with Michelle Wolf

Jason Andors and Jenny Saldaña visit friends and express their love for the Dominican Republic, Emerging talent in the Dominican Republic helps profile, Hot Travel Spot, Jason's builds a home for an Dominican elder and more. 

Jenny Saldaña is an award winning playwright, actor and comedian. She is also a 17 year breast cancer survivor and advocate. Jenny published her first book, Master First Dater: Second to None (available on Amazon)

Jason Andors has appeared on HBO’s Bad Boys of Comedy, Comedy Central’s Premium Blend, Showtime’s White Boyz in the Hood (which he also associate-produced), Comics Unleashed , Showtime at the Apollo (a guest artist), BET’s Comic View, Gotham Comedy Live, and many more! He recently won a Latino award at the Latino Premios for “TikToker Of The Year” and is one of the principal actors in a Dominican film that just came out called “La Soga 3”. Why a Latino award and Dominican film? Because in 2015 he went viral on social media as a Dominican character named “El Tiguere Vacano”. 

“El Tiguere Vacano” is a proud Dominican from a neighborhood called Villa Mella who loves his country more than anyone. This character has been Jason’s main focus since he went viral. El Tiguere Vacano has been seen on Dominicana’s Got Talent, Raymond y Miguel” (basically the SNL of the Dominican Republic), Mananero, Jochy Santos “El Mismo Golpe”, Esta Noche Mariasela, Las Hijos de Tuta, four shows on the the radio network “Alofoke” called Esto no Es Radio Show, Open Mic, Finanzas de Humor, and Tuveralio, Boca de Piano, Carlos Sanchez’s podcast “A Sigun”, Dime AVE, Extremo Extremo, Buena Noche, and many more! He has also been written up in the popular newspaper “El Diario Libre” and other newspapers as well. This year he was finally able to make one of his dreams come true and start his own foundation in the Dominican Republic for kids in need called “Fundacion Jason Andors JAJA.”

Always hosted by Marina Franklin - One Hour Comedy Special: Single Black Female ( Amazon Prime, CW Network), TBS's The Last O.G, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Hysterical on FX, The Movie Trainwreck, Louie Season V, The Jim Gaffigan Show, Conan O'Brien, Stephen Colbert, HBO's Crashing, and The Breaks with Michelle Wolf

Keith Robinson and Zainab Johnson visit Friends Like Us and discuss Keith Robinson's new Netflix Comedy Taping, Zainab Johnson's Amazon's Comedy Special: Hijabs Off, and lessons from life's interuptions. 

Zainab Johnson is a stand-up comedian, actress, and writer quickly being propelled as one of the most unique and engaging performers on stage and screen.  Zainab is currently a series regular on the Amazon Original hit series titled "Upload" from Greg Daniels and stars in her very first One Hour Comedy Special "Hijabs Off" available NOW only on Prime Video.

Keith Robinson, the comedic sensation born and raised in Philadelphia, has become an enduring legend in the heart of New York City’s comedy circuit. Renowned for his sharp wit and uproarious humor, Robinson’s career boasts a rich tapestry of accomplishments. He’s graced the stages of HBO’s iconic “Def Comedy Jam,” delighted audiences on MTV, VH1, and charmed viewers on shows like “The Chelsea Lately Show” and “Late Night with Conan O’Brien.” With his infectious laughter and keen observational humor, he’s a true master of the craft.

Beyond the stage, Keith Robinson’s talent transcends into the world of cinema, with memorable roles in hit movies such as “Trainwreck” and “King of Staten Island.” His unique brand of comedy, marked by its authenticity and relatability, continues to captivate fans and cement his status as a comedic icon in New York and beyond. Please join him for the taping of his upcoming Netflix special on Dec. 19th in NYC at Sony Hall! Go to sonyhall.com for tickets!

Always hosted by Marina Franklin - One Hour Comedy Special: Single Black Female ( Amazon Prime, CW Network), TBS's The Last O.G, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Hysterical on FX, The Movie Trainwreck, Louie Season V, The Jim Gaffigan Show, Conan O'Brien, Stephen Colbert, HBO's Crashing, and The Breaks with Michelle Wolf

Dana Frank and Kaneeze Surka visit friends and discuss the importance of legacy, Dana as Real Estate Mogul/Change-Maker/Philanthropist, Getting Up and On It, Menopause, and more with host Marina Franklin..

Dana Frank is an accomplished businesswoman who manages several hundred residents for TD Frank Family Properties, keeping the business that her parents started in the 1950s alive and thriving. With grace and wit, she has taken the  business world by storm to challenge continuing issues of gender and racial discrimination in real estate and banking. 

In her upcoming debut novel, Get Up And Get On It, Dana reveals the formula for creating generational wealth while taking the reader through a dark humor roller coaster ride filled with human experiences everyone can relate to. Dana’s passion for writing doesn’t begin or end with novels, though. Her blog, MenopauseBarbees, is a safe haven for women of all walks of life, approaching topics of aging, dating, and what it means to be a woman in the 21 st century with humor, compassion, and a wealth of lived experience.

She devotes her time to philanthropic pursuits. Serving on multiple advisory boards for Seattle-based organizations, Dana finds purpose in serving her community. By supporting at-risk youth, her work focuses on guiding the rising stars of Seattle towards collaboration to motivate political change for socioeconomic equity in marginalized communities.

Kaneez Surka has produced and performed in her Netflix Special, 'Ladies Up', Netflix's 'Comedy Premium League,' and Amazon Prime Video's Improv specials, 'Something From Nothing' and 'Improv All Stars - Games Night.' Kaneez is also known for her comedic acting. Her short film, 'The Shaila(s)' was selected for the Voot Select Film Festival.

Always hosted by Marina Franklin - One Hour Comedy Special: Single Black Female ( Amazon Prime, CW Network), TBS's The Last O.G, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Hysterical on FX, The Movie Trainwreck, Louie Season V, The Jim Gaffigan Show, Conan O'Brien, Stephen Colbert, HBO's Crashing, and The Breaks with Michelle Wolf

Vanessa Fraction and Subhah Agarwal visit Friends and discuss Social Media Comics, Grammy Nominated Gospel Singer On A Plane, The Perfect Proposal, and Scholastic Books Backlash with host Marina Franklin.

Subhah Agarwal has brought an honesty to her comedy that will leave you saying "I didn't need to know that." Subhah has written for Netflix’s “Arsenio Hall” limited series, the "Plan B" movie on Hulu," and The Jim Jefferies Show"on Comedy Central, amongst others. You can also catch her jokes live at stand up comedy clubs across the country. If you don't want to leave your couch, you can see her late night debut on NBC's "A Little Late With Lilly Singh." She's also appeared on season three of HBO's "Westworld", "General Hospital," TruTv's sketch comedy "Friends of the People", and as herself on MTV2, Comedy Central, and Gotham Comedy Live.

Vanessa Fraction -Vanessa Fraction is a talented and hilarious comedian, actress, and writer who has made her mark in various forms of entertainment. She can currently be heard as a co-host on the Nappy Boy Radio Podcast hosted by Tpain and seen in the movie Praise This on Peacock. Vanessa can also be seen guest hosting on the entertainment news show Dish Nation. As a stand-up comedian, Vanessa has performed on Def Comedy Jam , Laff Mobs Laff Tracks , and more. Her writing credits include Raven's Home , 106 & Park , and The Mo'Nique Show. Additionally, she has appeared in the film Barber Shop 2 and television shows Last Call, Mann & Wife (BounceTV), Comedy KnockOuts (TruTV) and Tales (BET) Not only is Vanessa "Action" Fraction a talented entertainer, but she is also a certified self-defense instructor. She teaches her unique class called Kicks & Comedy, combining her love for humor with her passion for empowering others through self-defense.

Always hosted by Marina Franklin - One Hour Comedy Special: Single Black Female ( Amazon Prime, CW Network), TBS's The Last O.G, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Hysterical on FX, The Movie Trainwreck, Louie Season V, The Jim Gaffigan Show, Conan O'Brien, Stephen Colbert, HBO's Crashing, and The Breaks with Michelle Wolf

Jeff Leach and Nonye Brown-West visit Friends Like Us and discuss Jeff Leach's Comedy Spectacular, Processing Loss and more with host Marina Franklin. 

Jeff Leach- Born and bred out of the character-rich East End of London, Jeff cut his teeth in the world of showbiz first as an international DJ and Producer playing at clubs and major festivals throughout Europe and remixing dance tracks for Island Records and Ministry Of Sound. After years on stage performing as a theatrical actor with institutions as globally recognized as the Royal Shakespeare Company he fell into a career on-screen as a BBC television presenter.

During those formative first years on television, Leach worked for many other major networks including ITV, Channel 4, ABC, Virgin Media and Current TV, hosting shows as wide-ranging as youth chat formats, live music festivals, addition therapy series and a couple of award-winning immersive documentaries. He also hosted and produced his own series for London Live entitled Jeff Leach +1 about the most bizarre nightlife activities on offer in the capital. His other accolades include hosting or guest appearing on Big Brother’s Big Mouth, Comic Relief’s Naughty Bits, Fake Reaction and NBC Sports. Check out Jeff Leach Presents: A Comedy Spectacular. With over 205,418 views! 

Nonye Brown-West is a New York-based Nigerian-American comedian and writer. She has been featured in the Boston Globe's Rise column as a Comic to Watch, as well as in NPR, PBS, ABC, Sway In The Morning, and the New York Comedy Festival. Nonye made her acting debut in The Sympathy Card, now available for streaming on Vudu, Apple, Amazon, and Google Play.

Always hosted by Marina Franklin - One Hour Comedy Special: Single Black Female ( Amazon Prime, CW Network), TBS's The Last O.G, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Hysterical on FX, The Movie Trainwreck, Louie Season V, The Jim Gaffigan Show, Conan O'Brien, Stephen Colbert, HBO's Crashing, and The Breaks with Michelle Wolf

Prachi Gupta and Nimesh Patel Visit friends and discuss Prachi's highly acclaimed book: "They Called Us Exceptional", Nimesh's new comedy special: "Lucky Left", mental health in the South Asian community and more.

Prachi Gupta is an award-winning writer based in New York. They Called Us Exceptional is her debut memoir. She was a senior reporter at Jezebel and co-host of Jezebel's former politics podcast, Big Time Dicks. She won a 2020 Writers Guild Award for her investigative essay, "Stories About My Brother," which was also named one of the best essays of 2019 by Longform and Longreads. 

Prior to Jezebel, Prachi covered the 2016 election for Cosmopolitan.com, where she "set the standard" for interviews with Ivanka Trump, per Media Matters; interviewed former First Lady Michelle Obama on her first solo trip to the Middle East; and traveled to Jordan to report on the refugee crisis. She has also written for the Atlantic, the Washington Post Magazine, Salon, Elle, and Harper’s Bazaar. Her reporting on data privacy and discrimination for Marie Claire was included in 2021's Best American Magazine Writing.                  

Her new debut memoir THEY CALLED US EXCEPTIONAL is available now. The Washington Post calls it “Vulnerable and courageous…Gupta’s resilience and her hope to be fully seen are an inspiration in both personal and political terms.” —The Washington Post

Nimesh Patel is a comedian and Emmy-nominated writer based in New York City, where he has performed standup comedy for 10+ years. He is currently a writer on NBC’s late night show “A Little Late with Lilly Singh.

In standup, he is a regular at New York’s famed Comedy Cellar, has appeared on Late Night with Seth Meyers, and has opened for Chris Rock & Aziz Ansari.

His first writing job came after Chris Rock saw him perform standup and hired him directly to write for The Academy Awards in 2016. Since then, he has written for Saturday Night Live, The White House Correspondents Dinner, & Awkwafina, and was a producer for “Full Frontal with Samantha Bee.” He has two specials available on You Tube Thank You China with over 1.7 million views and Lucky Left a comedy special that documents his diagnosis with testicular cancer.

Always hosted by Marina Franklin - One Hour Comedy Special: Single Black Female ( Amazon Prime, CW Network), TBS's The Last O.G, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Hysterical on FX, The Movie Trainwreck, Louie Season V, The Jim Gaffigan Show, Conan O'Brien, Stephen Colbert, HBO's Crashing, and The Breaks with Michelle Wolf

Shannon Jones and Yadira Harrison visit Friends and discuss the importance of making cool stuff with friends in business, working with some of the world’s biggest and most recognizable brands, diversity in marketing, and work-life balance.

Shannon Simpson Jones Co-founder, verb. Shannon Simpson Jones is co-founder of Verb, a marketing consultancy that is redefining how consumers experience and interact with brands. Verb gives brands a new type of partner, providing a holistic approach to integrated and experiential campaigns, brand partnerships and proprietary platforms. At Verb, Shannon leads a diverse bi-coastal team, working with clients including Netflix, Everlane and Amazon. Shannon is a natural-born leader; inspiring her team to reach new heights and deliver for clients by staying ahead of the curve on industry trends. She also has exceptional business leadership skills - Shannon co-founded Verb just over two years ago, and she has already been on some of the industry’s largest stages including SXSW, Fast Co Innovation Festival and CultureCon. Additionally, Shannon was named to the 2019 AdAge 40 Under 40 and the AdWeek Creative 100 with co-founder Yadira Harrison.  

An avid seeker of innovation, Shannon has continued to keep her clients and her team on top of the latest trends in culture and entertainment. She is especially skilled in identifying key business challenges brands face and prioritizing and managing resources to solve them. Utilizing these skill sets, Shannon has also been working to build a platform in the death care industry to support people with end of life planning.

Shannon is originally from Baltimore, Maryland and now resides in Brooklyn, New York with her husband and son. She is also a proud alum of the University of Maryland College Park.

Yadira Noelle Harrison is a creative marketer and experiential expert who offers leadership and thoughtful solutions to brands. For nearly 20 years, she has led marketing strategy and execution for iconic and groundbreaking events, while also forging partnerships and developing innovative concepts for content, social media and programming. 

Yadira is co-founder of Verb, a creative consultancy + agency developing brand experiences, partnerships, campaigns and proprietary platforms for brands such as Airbnb, HBO, FX, Lyft, Netflix and Everlane. She has been featured in Ad Age, Entrepreneur Magazine, Campaign US, Digiday and recognized as an inspiring Agency Leader on Adweek’s ‘Creative 100’ list.

Before founding Verb with her longtime business partner Shannon Jones, Yadira was Vice President at creative agency Civic Entertainment Group, where she led Airbnb and eBay on numerous activations and proprietary franchises including Airbnb Open, Airbnb Haus @ Sundance Film Festival and On The Run with eBay Motors. Prior to, she led the Advertising & Partnership Marketing team at Macy’s Parade & Entertainment Group pushing for digital and social integration, new art direction and large-scale promotional ideas to increase brand equity for Macy’s annual events. Yadira is originally from Arlington, Texas and now resides in Los Angeles. She is also a proud alum of Syracuse University, an obnoxious lover of Formula 1 and a karaoke assassin. (No really, she was once told she performed Bruno Mars better than Bruno Mars, LOL).

Yadira Harrison and Shannon Jones: two marketing masterminds who have taken the industry by storm with their dynamic and innovative approach to brand experiences. As co-founders of verb, their creative consultancy + agency offers a holistic and thoughtful approach to solving business challenges, working with some of the world’s biggest and most recognizable brands like Airbnb (Barbie Dreamhouse, Home Alone, Bad Bunny Tour Truck), HBO (I May Destroy, In Treatment), and Netflix (Orange is the New Black, TUDUM).

Yadira brings over 20 years of experience in creative marketing and experiential events, having led groundbreaking events and partnerships for leading brands like Macy’s Parade & Branded Entertainment, Airbnb, and eBay. Meanwhile, Shannon is an avid seeker of innovation and has worked in marketing agencies for nearly 20 years, specializing in sports, entertainment, and talent endorsement deals across properties like NCAA Final Four, IMG Fashion Week, and Cirque du Soleil. Together, with their bi-coastal team, verb offers a wealth of experience and passion to their clients. They’re dedicated to inspiring brands to reach new heights and stay ahead of industry trends, earning recognition from Ad Age, Entrepreneur Magazine, and Adweek’s ‘Creative 100’ list. They’ve also graced some of the industry’s most prestigious stages at SXSW, Fast Co Innovation Festival, and CultureCon.

Always hosted by Marina Franklin - One Hour Comedy Special: Single Black Female ( Amazon Prime, CW Network), TBS's The Last O.G, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Hysterical on FX, The Movie Trainwreck, Louie Season V, The Jim Gaffigan Show, Conan O'Brien, Stephen Colbert, HBO's Crashing, and The Breaks with Michelle Wolf

Aparna Nancherla and Alvin Irby Visit friends and take a deep dive into the imposter syndrome and how funding for Black Organizations are held under a microscope. 

Aparna Nancherla is a comedian and general silly billy. Her sense of humor is dry, existential, and absurd, with notes of uncalled-for whimsy. Think a wine you didn’t order.

Her forthcoming book, Unreliable Narrator: Me, Myself and Impostor Syndrome (Viking), is currently available for pre-order via Penguin Random House and will be released on September 19, 2023. You can hear Aparna as the voice of Moon on Fox’s The Great North, or have heard her as the voice of Hollyhock on Bojack Horseman. You can currently watch Aparna in The Drop on Hulu or as Dr. Pocha on Lopez vs. Lopez (NBC). You may have watched Aparna as Grace the belabored HR rep on the critically-acclaimed Comedy Central show, Corporate.

She also has a half-hour special on the second season of The Standups on Netflix, as well as appearances on Late Night with Stephen Colbert on CBS and Two Dope Queens on HBO. Other acting credits include A Simple Favor, Modern Love, Bob’s Burgers, Crashing, Master of None, and Inside Amy Schumer. She’s written for Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell and Late Night with Seth Meyers, as well as Mythic Quest on Apple+.

Aparna was also named one of “The 50 Funniest People Right Now” by Rolling Stone. In 2019, she was in a Super Bowl commercial with Michael Bublé for sparkling water neé seltzer.

In 2016, she released her debut album, Just Putting It Out There, on Tig Notaro’s label, Bentzen Ball Records, and recorded a half hour special for Comedy Central. She was also chosen as one of Variety’s “Top 10 Comics to Watch” that year.

Aparna currently lives in Los Angeles if you can even imagine.  Watch the absurdist web series Womanhood Aparna made with bright light Jo Firestone for Refinery29.

Alvin Irby is a former kindergarten teacher turned award-winning social entrepreneur, international speaker, comedian, and author. He is Founder and Chief Reading Inspirer at Barbershop Books, a literacy program that creates child-friendly reading spaces in barbershops and provides early literacy training to barbers. His work connecting reading to male-centered spaces and involving men in boys’ early reading experiences earned him the National Book Foundation’s 2017 Innovations in Reading Prize. Irby’s popular TED Talk "How to inspire every child to be a lifelong reader," has been viewed over 1 million times.

Irby’s nationally-recognized cultural competency workshops help school districts, library systems, and education organizations create relevant and engaging learning experiences for all students. His Diversity & Inclusion trainings have been described as informative, inspiring, engaging, and humorous. Ir by helps educators better understand and address the systemic and personal challenges that inhibit children’s intrinsic motivation to read and learn. His debut children’s book, Gross Greg, combines Irby’s passion for early literacy and comedy. Gross Greg is a laugh-out-loud story that captures the hilariously gross behavior of kids everywhere.

As a stand up comedian, Irby's fresh perspective and smart brand of humor shine through in his comedy album "Really Dense." His clever social commentary and funny observations have not gone unnoticed. Irby won the Clean Comedy Showcase at the 2019 San Diego Comedy Festival and won 2nd place at NYC’s 2019 Laughing Devil Comedy Festival. One of the highlights of Irby’s comedy career was being selected as a national finalist for the StandUp NBC competition and performing at the legendary Hollywood Improv in Los Angeles.

Alvin Irby holds a Masters of Science (MS) in Childhood Education from Bank Street Graduate School of Education, a Masters of Public Administration (MPA) from New York University’s Robert F. Wagner School of Public Service, and a Bachelors of Arts (BA) in Sociology from Grinnell College.

Always hosted by Marina Franklin - One Hour Comedy Special: Single Black Female ( Amazon Prime, CW Network), TBS's The Last O.G, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Hysterical on FX, The Movie Trainwreck, Louie Season V, The Jim Gaffigan Show, Conan O'Brien, Stephen Colbert, HBO's Crashing, and The Breaks with Michelle Wolf