On this episode of Author Talks Podcast, PBS NewsHour’s Geoff Bennett breaks down the golden age of Black comedy and its impact on American culture.

We explore iconic shows like:

• The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
• Living Single
• Martin
• A Different World
• In Living Color
• Sanford and Son

…and legendary comedians including Dave Chappelle, Eddie Murphy, Richard Pryor, Bill Cosby, Moms Mabley, and Redd Foxx. Geoff shares insights on:

• How comedians became truth tellers and cultural critics
• The evolution from minstrel shows and the Chitlin’ Circuit to mainstream success
• Iconic 90s sitcom moments and their lasting impact on Black TV culture
• Behind-the-scenes influence of Quincy Jones, Barry Diller, and FOX
• What makes a great comedic bit and the essentials for a writer’s or comedian’s toolkit

Whether you grew up laughing at Carlton’s dance, Will’s antics, or watching Chappelle push the limits of comedy, this episode is packed with insights on why the 90s changed TV forever.

Timestamps

00:58 - Top 5 Comedians
2:11 - Comedians are Truth Tellers
4:32 - TOBA & Minstrel Shows
5:20 - Billy Kersands
6:33 - Hattie McDaniels
7:31 - Comedy Styles (Bill Cosby & Richard Pryor)
9:01 - The Cosby Show
10:15 - The Art vs The Artist (Bill Cosby)
10:58 - A Different World
12:20 - Living Single
13:08 - A Different World Impact on HBCUs
13:44 - In Living Color
14:34 - Unreleased Pilot of In Living Color
15:37 - In Living Color – The Super Bowl
16:52 - Quincy Jones Impact on TV Sitcoms
17:46 - The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
18:22 - Barry Diller & FOX
19:42 - Living Single Impact on TV
20:55 - Chappelle Show
21:18 - Who is the Joke for?
22:35 - 90s Impact on Culture
23:33 - Writing Process & Perfect Day of Writing
25:10 - Were the 90s the Best Decade?
28:18 - What Makes a Great Comedic Bit?
29:04 - What Should Be in a Writer’s Toolkit?
30:05 - What Should Be in a Comedian’s Toolkit?

📚 Geoff Bennett’s Book

Black Out Loud: The Revolutionary History of Black Comedy from Vaudeville to ’90s Sitcoms
https://www.harpercollins.com/products/black-out-loud-geoff-bennett

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Join us on the Author Talks Podcast with New York Times Bestselling Author Keith O’Brien as we dive into the untold story of Larry Bird. From his small-town beginnings in French Lick to becoming a national icon at Indiana State.

We cover everything: recruiting drama, legendary teammates, international basketball, the 33–1 season, and the moments that made Bird a basketball legend.

Grab Keith O’Brien’s new book Heartland
to get the full story.

Download the Bookum app for exclusive book content, podcasts, and notes: https://www.bookumapp.com

Timestamps:

1:02 - March Madness Predictions
2:06 - Jim Jones Coaching Larry Bird
4:50 - Larry Bird Senior Year in HS
6:30 - Bob Knight and Larry Bird
7:18 - Why Bob Knight Didn't Try to Bring Larry Bird Back to Indiana University?
10:02 - How Bill Hodges Got Larry Bird to Indiana State?
13:13 - Carl Nicks and Building the Team Around Bird
14:11 - Larry Bird's Dad's Role in His Life
17:43 - Harry and Larry Show at Indiana State
19:34 - Larry Bird International and European Basketball
22:12 - Larry Bird Fighting and Competitiveness
24:51 - Larry Bird as the Great White Hope
27:45 - Becoming a National Face
30:02 - Larry Bird vs Magic Johnson National Basketball Championship
33:50 - The Price of Fame on Larry Bird
35:24 - Writing Process and Perfect Day of Writing
38:10 - Advice on Journalism

This Podcast is to brought you by Bookum - The book communities NEW and BEST way to host dynamic online book clubs.

Download the App and Start your Book club today at www.bookumapp.com

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Join us on the Bookum Creators Talk Podcast as we sit down with Amber Burns, a BookTube creator, vlogger, and content creator, to discuss her creative process, day-to-day life, and love for books. From starting her first blog to going in front of the camera, handling burnout, and building community, Amber shares the honest truth about life as a content creator.

Whether you are a reader, aspiring creator, or just curious about what it is like behind the camera, this conversation is packed with insights, storytelling tips, and inspiration for your own creative journey.

Episode Timestamps:

1:11 - Thank You For Asking
1:31 - Birthday Month and Plans
2:23 - Favorite Books Growing Up
4:14 - Getting Into Content Creation
5:32 - Building First Blog
6:33 - Getting in Front of the Camera (Vlog)
8:33 - Content Creation Process
10:20 - The Storytelling Through Vlogging
11:54 - Getting B-Roll for Vlogs
13:22 - Themes Setting vs Goals Setting
16:01 - Consistency as a Creator
17:10 - Staying Authentic as a Content Creator
19:02 - The Solitude of Content Creation
20:33 - Handling Burnout as a Content Creator
20:55 - Setting Boundaries as a Content Creator
23:33 - On Community
25:33 - Importance of Journaling
26:56 - Morning Pages (The Artist’s Way)
27:20 - The Artist’s Way
28:51 - Journaling for Beginners (It’s Not Intimidating)
30:02 - Journaling Helping with Writing
30:45 - Organization and Planners
32:55 - Going Back to Analog
34:12 - Last, Now, Next Books
36:03 - How You Find Your Next Book?
38:33 - Writing a Romance Novel
39:44 - Rapid Fire Book Questions
42:44 - What Would You Like To See More of in the Book World?
43:12 - What Would You Like To See Less of in the Book World?

Follow Amber Burns:

Instagram: @byamberburns

YouTube: Amber Burns

TikTok: @byamberburns

Join the Bookum Community:

Download our social book club app to track your reading, connect with creators, and join conversations: www.bookumapp.com

This Podcast is to brought you by Bookum - The book communities NEW and BEST way to host dynamic online book clubs.

Download the App and Start your Book club today at www.bookumapp.com

Catch all of conversations live on the Bookum App Nooks!

In this episode of the Bookum Founders Talk Podcast, Kyle Colley sits down with Franklin Leonard, the founder of The Black List, the industry-leading platform that discovers and showcases the best screenplays and now fiction novels.

Franklin shares his insights on Hollywood in 2026, the future of film, the Oscars, and what it really takes to break into the industry as a writer or filmmaker.

We discuss:

• How The Black List expanded from screenplays to fiction books
• Franklin’s unique approach to curation and discovering talent
• Major Hollywood shifts, including Paramount, Warner Bros., Disney Sora Deal, and Netflix podcasting
• Tips for writers navigating publishing and screenwriting
• What makes a great story and what should be in every writer’s or filmmaker’s toolkit

Whether you are a creator, writer, or just curious about the future of storytelling, this conversation is sure to inspire.

Connect with Franklin Leonard:

• Website – The Black List
• Instagram
• X / Twitter
• Substack
  
  

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Host or join dynamic online book clubs and connect with fellow readers: https://www.bookumapp.com

This Podcast is to brought you by Bookum - The book communities NEW and BEST way to host dynamic online book clubs.

Download the App and Start your Book club today at www.bookumapp.com

Catch all of conversations live on the Bookum App Nooks!

Have you ever wondered what was going through the mind of the most powerful man in the ancient world? In this episode of Bookum Author Talks, we sit down with Dr. Aaron Poochigian, Classics scholar, poet, and translator, to talk about his brand new translation of Marcus Aurelius' Meditations.

What makes this conversation so special is that Dr. Poochigian brings both the precision of a scholar and the sensitivity of a poet to a text that has moved readers for nearly 2,000 years. We talk about why Marcus Aurelius wrote in Greek instead of Latin, whether the Meditations were ever meant to be read by anyone else, and what his morning practices can teach us about living a better life today.

Whether you're a longtime lover of Stoic philosophy, just getting started with Marcus Aurelius, or simply curious about what it takes to translate one of history's greatest books — this episode has something for you.

Here's some of what we cover in this episode:

• Why Marcus Aurelius wrote his private journals in Greek instead of Latin
• How the Meditations were preserved through centuries of history
• Whether the Meditations were ever meant to be read by others
• What Marcus Aurelius brought to Stoic philosophy
• The virtues he wrestled with most as Emperor
• How Dr. Poochigian's approach differs from Gregory Hays' beloved translation
• What the Meditations can teach us about changing our daily habits
• And so much more

If the Meditations have ever made you stop and think, this episode will make you see them in a whole new light.

📖 Get a copy of Dr. Aaron Poochigian's new translation of the Meditations:
https://www.amazon.com/Meditations-Marcus-Aurelius/dp/132409639X

📱 Download the Bookum App for more great author conversations:
https://www.bookumapp.com

This Podcast is to brought you by Bookum - The book communities NEW and BEST way to host dynamic online book clubs.

Download the App and Start your Book club today at www.bookumapp.com

Catch all of conversations live on the Bookum App Nooks!

Traci Thomas of The Stacks joins us to share her 2026 book predictions, must-read authors, and the books everyone will be talking about next year.

We kick things off with pop culture highlights Grammys, Oscars, Kendrick Lamar, Justin Bieber, and the rise of video podcasting before diving into our literary forecast. Traci shares her picks for breakout authors, literary comebacks, classic revivals, and the most anticipated books of 2026.

Whether you’re a dedicated reader, a book club member, or just curious about the future of publishing and culture, this episode is your guide to what’s next in books and reading for 2026.

Books & Authors Mentioned:

• Canon by Paige Lewis
• Kin by Tayari Jones
• Vigil by George Saunders
• The Count of Monte Cristo
• Wuthering Heights
• The Odyssey
• Fear and Fury by Heather Ann Thompson
• Pool House by Mary HK Choi
• London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe
  …plus many more!

Join the conversation and download the Bookum app to track your reading, share notes, and connect with fellow book lovers: https://www.bookumapp.com

This Podcast is to brought you by Bookum - The book communities NEW and BEST way to host dynamic online book clubs.

Download the App and Start your Book club today at www.bookumapp.com

Catch all of conversations live on the Bookum App Nooks!

In 1949, Jackie Robinson, baseball's barrier-breaking hero, was asked to testify before the House Un-American Activities Committee against Paul Robeson, one of the most famous Black men in the world. They never met. They never shook hands. But America placed them in opposition to each other during the Second Red Scare.

Award-winning journalist and author Howard Bryant joins us to discuss his powerful new book "Kings and Pawns: Jackie Robinson and Paul Robeson in America." This conversation explores one of the most overlooked chapters in Black history the 1945-1953 era when the Cold War and the fight for civil rights collided.

Bryant reveals how Paul Robeson, an All-American football player, Columbia Law graduate, internationally acclaimed singer, actor, and civil rights activist was systematically erased from American history. His passport was revoked, his income destroyed, and the Black establishment turned against him.

At the center of this story is Jackie Robinson, thrust into becoming a political spokesperson simply because he was great at baseball. Branch Rickey used Robinson to publicly denounce Robeson, a testimony Robinson would later regret. By the end of his life, Robinson said he could no longer stand for the flag.

In this episode:

• Who was Paul Robeson and why was he erased from history?
• The 1949 HUAC testimony that pitted Jackie Robinson against Paul Robeson
• How the FBI, Second Red Scare, and Cold War destroyed Robeson's career
• Why the NAACP, Thurgood Marshall, and Black leadership abandoned Robeson
• Branch Rickey's role in manipulating Jackie Robinson
• W.E.B. Du Bois's unwavering support of Paul Robeson
• The Peekskill riots and passport revocation
• Parallels between 1949 and 2026
• Jackie Robinson's political evolution and regrets
• Howard Bryant's research and writing process

Get the book: "Kings and Pawns: Jackie Robinson and Paul Robeson in America" by Howard Bryant https://www.harpercollins.com/products/kings-and-pawns-howard-bryant

Follow Howard Bryant: Website: https://howardbryantbooks.com/ Instagram: @howardbryantbooks Facebook: Howard Bryant Official

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This Podcast is to brought you by Bookum - The book communities NEW and BEST way to host dynamic online book clubs.

Download the App and Start your Book club today at www.bookumapp.com

Catch all of conversations live on the Bookum App Nooks!

From the NFL to Coaching Student-Athletes | Oregon Ducks & Atlanta Falcons’ Drew Jay Davis

What happens after the NFL?

Former Oregon Ducks standout and Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drew Jay Davis joins Creators Talk Podcast to break down life after football, the discipline behind elite performance, and how he’s now coaching, speaking, and creating with purpose.

In this episode, Drew shares:

• How reading reshaped his mindset during and after his NFL career
• The surprising overlap between athletics and podcasting
• What actually makes a great coach and a coachable player
• How to build community instead of chasing attention
• Why solo podcasting is one of the hardest (and most rewarding) formats

This conversation is for athletes navigating transition, creators building with intention, and leaders focused on long-term growth.

Episode Highlights

• National Championship & Super Bowl predictions
• Life as a student-athlete and staying ready in the NFL
• Getting into content creation and podcasting
• The philosophy behind Too Good to Be Drew
• Coaching the next generation on and off the field
• Rapid-fire book recommendations and book-world hot takes

Books Mentioned

The Power of Habit — Charles Duhigg
When Crack Was King — Donovan X. Ramsey
Wealthy Speaker 3.0 — Jane Atkinson
Game of Edges — Bruce Schoenfeld
Referable Speaker — Andrew Davis

Connect with Drew Jay Davis

Website: drewjaydavis.com
Podcast: Too Good to Be Drew
Instagram: @drewjaydavis

Join the Book Community

Download the Bookum App: bookumapp.com

This Podcast is to brought you by Bookum - The book communities NEW and BEST way to host dynamic online book clubs.

Download the App and Start your Book club today at www.bookumapp.com

Catch all of conversations live on the Bookum App Nooks!