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Welcome back to Saucy but Sweet with Ali McPherson.  As many of you know June is not just a remarkable month because it marks the beginning of summer and where we celebrate Juneteenth. It is also remarkable in that it celebrates a community that is not only marginalized but treated as second class citizens 365 days a year. And before we close out the happiest month of the year, the host thought it would be a great idea to have fruitful discussions with those in the LGBTQ+ community on the importance of Pride and what it’s like to be a queer individual in a world that deems you as “the other.” The host will be chatting with an old pal, an alum from the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism, Valen Iricibar, who is non-binary journalist and uses they/them pronouns. Afterwards the host will share a conversation she recently had with her mother Sharon Rivas who came out as bisexual in 2021 and is celebrating her first Pride. Follow Valen on IG and Twitter: @valeniricibar  Saucy but Sweet with Ali McPherson is a proud partner of Sundays non toxic nail care brand focused on wellness. Use the promo code ALIVENUE for 10% ALL ITEMS. Your nails will thank you later. For more information on how folks can take action and access services regarding their reproductive health after the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade visit Planned Parenthood.  --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/saucy-but-sweet-with-ali/support

2020, a year that many of us probably want to forget, was a rough year for so many people. But it wasn’t just a rough year for those fighting COVID, or working people being laid off from their jobs, it was also a rough time for the woman who does not need an introduction: Hot Girl Meg. Megan Thee Stallion was shot by rapper Tory Lanez after an argument broke out between her friends in the car. Video footage from that night shows Megan The Stallion injured in her foot, as she looks around for help. The incident may have been two years ago, but for Meg, that very night would determine how she would move forward for the rest of her life. Meg recently sat down in an interview with Gayle King to discuss what transpired that fateful night. But many on social media still criticize her and blame her for either not telling the truth, or withholding the truth of what really happened. Since when did we start to view victims of abuse and violence with such venom? And Black men, where are you when we need you? To all my loud and proud Black male supporters of Black women, I salute you, but for the majority that are silent, come out, come out wherever you are. This week we will be joined by Bronx based journalist Fiifi Frimpong, to discuss from a Black man’s perspective what is really being left unsaid. Follow Fiifi on IG and Twitter: @fiififrimong  Saucy but Sweet with Ali McPherson is a proud partner of Sundays non toxic nail care brand focused on wellness. Use the promo code ALIVENUE for 10% ALL ITEMS. Your nails will thank you later. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/saucy-but-sweet-with-ali/support

Welcome back to Saucy but Sweet with Ali McPherson. We are back with another episode of your favorite society & culture podcast. If you’re anything like me, you are sick of talking about it, but still on the edge of your seat, wondering what is going to happen next. If you watched the Oscars, you know what I’m talking about. The slap heard around the world. The Will Smith and Chris Rock debacle still has everybody talking and will continue to have people talking for years to come. Most of us have never seen the Fresh Prince of Bel Air behave with such rage. But if it wasn’t obvious enough before, Chris Rock’s joke was the straw that broke the camel’s back, and Will Smith’s rage has been building up for years. This week we will be talking about how the media has decided to spin Will Smith’s slap as being less his fault, and more Jada's fault. As usual, women are attacked and blamed for the behavior of their men. And we are not here for any of it. We will be joined by the fabulous Sheneca Sharpe making her second debut on the podcast. Follow her on IG @callmeshen and Twitter @Shenecawrites Saucy but Sweet with Ali McPherson is a proud partner of Sundays non toxic nail care brand focused on wellness. Use the promo code ALIVENUE for 10% ALL ITEMS. Your nails will thank you later. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/saucy-but-sweet-with-ali/support

Welcome back to Saucy but Sweet with Ali McPherson. Apparently, judging by the titles of our recent episode and this upcoming one, we are on a “F*ckin” roll, haha see what we did there? Anyway, Last week we talked about Kanye West and the complexities surrounding both loving and hating an artist, someone who may be a creative genius but has asshole tendencies. This week we are talking about another well-known celebrity who has become a household name. Despite being a successful  business woman alongside the Kardashian clan, she recently gave some pretty shitty and arrogant business advice to working women a few weeks ago. There are so many misconceptions surrounding working women, especially working women of color who grow up without privilege and financial guidance. Where do wealthy privileged women get off on claiming to understand the average working woman? We are joined by our friend on the podcast Sarai Ashari, a Social coordinator at CNN Underscored aka one of the MANY hardworking women who got off their ass and worked. Follow Sarai on IG: thesaraiashari and Twitter @TheSaraiAshari  Later the host introduces a new segment, Saucy but Sweet Tune of the Week, where she reviews the film Deep Water which has been released on HULU. Saucy but Sweet with Ali McPherson is a proud partner of Sundays non toxic nail care brand focused on wellness. Use the promo code ALIVENUE for 10% ALL ITEMS. Your nails will thank you later. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/saucy-but-sweet-with-ali/support

Welcome back to Saucy but Sweet with Ali McPherson. We hope you missed us as much as we missed you. This week we are talking about someone who has been making headlines for over a decade and who has shown the media his genius, his scars, and his darkness. Has anybody else been thinking what we’re thinking? What the fuck are we gonna do about Kanye? Many of us grew up listening and looking up to Kanye West, not only for his extraordinary genius as a hip-hop artist but his charismatic persona and his “pick yourself up by the bootstraps” mentality. But where did it all go wrong? When did the lines get blurry between respecting his craft and being triggered by many of his missteps over the years. We are joined by the remarkable Katie Herchenroeder who is a reporter and researcher at The New Republic and also a fellow graduate (like your host) of Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism. Follow Katie on IG @katieemyladyy and Twitter @Katie_Jea  Later in the episode we will be spotlighting an independent up-and-coming artist in a segment we conduct every so often titled, Saucy but Sweet Tune of the Week. This week we will be spotlighting musician Nick Marino from the band Monkeybite and their latest song "Glow." Music Credits from the segment: "Glow" by Monkeybite Saucy but Sweet with Ali McPherson is a proud partner of Sundays non toxic nail care brand focused on wellness. Use the promo code ALIVENUE for 10% ALL ITEMS. Your nails will thank you later. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/saucy-but-sweet-with-ali/support

Welcome back to Saucy but Sweet with Ali McPherson. This week we are bringing back a guest who has made quite an impact on the show during our first season, Yasmine Jameelah. As you may remember, Yasmine is an entrepreneur, journalist and runs the well-known wellness collective Transparent & Black and its wellness brands Transparent Black Girl and Transparent Black Guy. Over a year ago, we discussed the importance of providing wellness tools for Black folks, and therapy being crucial for generational health & wellness in the Black community. The last couple of years have taken so much away from us, our sense of certainty, sense of belonging, and our health status. But we have also learned how strong we are, and will be focusing on how to set intentions for 2022. Follow Yasmine on IG and Twitter @yasminejameelah and Follow Transparent & Black on IG @transparentandblack and Twitter @transparentnblk  Saucy but Sweet with Ali McPherson is a proud partner of Sundays non toxic nail care brand focused on wellness. Use the promo code ALIVENUE for 10% ALL ITEMS. Your nails will thank you later. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/saucy-but-sweet-with-ali/support

Welcome back to Saucy but Sweet with Ali McPherson. This is our last episode of the year, and to celebrate the start of the upcoming year we will discuss what this year has meant to us. For some of us this year may not be what we expected and for others it may have been one of the best years of our lives. No judgement here. We talk about the major highlights and major downfalls of the year (one being that we are still living in a pandemic, getting us almost to the two year anniversary of this fiasco.) Joining us for a conversation of laughs, excitement, music and maybe some tears, is the fabulous Sheneca Sharpe, who is a multimedia journalist and freelance writer and has a lot to say on the year 2021. Follow Sheneca at IG: @callhershen and Twitter @shenecawrites.  Saucy but Sweet with Ali McPherson is a proud partner of Sundays non toxic nail care brand focused on wellness. Use the promo code ALIVENUE for 10% ALL ITEMS. Your nails will thank you later. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/saucy-but-sweet-with-ali/support

Welcome back to Saucy but Sweet with Ali McPherson. This week we will be talking about the realities of toxic relationships and what the media typically does not show when discussing these relationships bounded by trauma and anxiety. Every so often we’ll hear about celebs like rapper DaBaby and DaniLeigh’s relationship fiasco and instead of portraying the truth about manipulation and psychological abuse oftentimes what we hear is that partners who are abused or involved in toxic relationships should have left, or should have known better. Rarely do we hear about the psychological abuse and manipulation that have led someone to stay longer than they should have. We will be joined by a recurrent guest to the podcast, Noëlle Lilley, a News12 reporter and great friend of mine who has been very vocal about relationship abuse on social media. Follow Noëlle on IG: @noelledilley and Twitter @@NoelleDLilley If you or anyone you know is a victim of abuse of any kind, please visit the National Domestic Violence Hotline website or call 1.800.799.SAFE. Saucy but Sweet with Ali McPherson is a proud partner of Sundays non toxic nail care brand focused on wellness. Use the promo code ALIVENUE for 10% ALL ITEMS. Your nails will thank you later. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/saucy-but-sweet-with-ali/support

Welcome back to Saucy but Sweet with Ali McPherson. This week we will be discussing the end of an era, a part of culture that has in many ways established how we talk about blackness, and transformed the ways we discuss black stories, particularly Black women’s stories. If y’all have been paying attention, you know my love for Issa Rae runs deep. Her ability to create a show that has transformed my life (and so many others) is remarkable.) and it’s about time we gave her her flowers. That’s right, today we’re talking about the powerhouse that is Issa and her show, “Insecure.” It’s the final season, and I thought it would be a shame if we didn’t dedicate an episode to a show that goes above and beyond highlighting the wide variety and beauty of Black womanhood. We’ll be joined by the amazing Sarai Ashari, who is a social coordinator of CNN’s Underscored. Follow Sarai on IG: @thesaraiashari  Saucy but Sweet with Ali McPherson is a proud partner of Sundays non toxic nail care brand focused on wellness. Use the promo code ALIVENUE for 10% ALL ITEMS. Your nails will thank you later. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/saucy-but-sweet-with-ali/support

Welcome back to Saucy but Sweet with Ali McPherson.  This week we will be discussing our complicated, and sometimes straight out toxic relationships with social media. Some days we feel we are able to live our lives without it, and others we rely on it consistently. Social media is how we connect, promote ourselves and our businesses and oftentimes, seek validation. It can do a lot of good in the world, and harm. How do we stay connected without losing ourselves in the midst of the online chaos and how can we disconnect without feeling like we are the odds one out? We are joined by the fabulous Zee Ngema who has worked as a staff writer at OkayAfrica. Follow Zee on IG: @zeebeezeezoo and on Twitter @Zincalare.  Later in the episode we will be spotlighting an independent up-and-coming artist in a segment we conduct every so often titled, Saucy but Sweet Tune of the Week. This week we will be spotlighting R&B artist Con Killion and his lead single, “Prada U" from his upcoming debut album Detroit's Way.  Music Credits from the segment:  "Prada U" by Con Killion  Producers: Marcus Mims, Glenwoodonly Songwriters: Con Killion, Marcus Mims, Gairyd Fuller Saucy but Sweet with Ali McPherson is a proud partner of Sundays non toxic nail care brand focused on wellness. Use the promo code ALIVENUE for 10% ALL ITEMS. Your nails will thank you later. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/saucy-but-sweet-with-ali/support

Welcome back to Saucy but Sweet with Ali McPherson. This week we will be talking about one of my favorite topics and something that remains to be bittersweet for so many people: exes. We haven’t really spoken about exes since Love is a Gamble. Whether you’re best friends with your ex, or view your ex as the enemy, you have to admit, we can find out a lot about ourselves and each other from the people we chose to have intimate relationships with. In our society, it’s taboo to be friends with an ex, and god forbid your friends find out dating your ex again, but here, we have no judgments and believe it's worth reflecting on: what is wrong with keeping our exes in our lives? And what if the one you’ve been looking for all this time is the man or woman of your past? Sophia Ebanks, a digital producer for ACLU and creator of Sacred Essentials will be joining us to help unpack this. Follow Sophia on IG @supasoph_ Saucy but Sweet with Ali McPherson is a proud partner of Sundays non toxic nail care brand focused on wellness. Use the promo code ALIVENUE for 10% ALL ITEMS. Your nails will thank you later.  --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/saucy-but-sweet-with-ali/support

Welcome back to Saucy but Sweet with Ali McPherson. This week we will be talking about a topic that has been on my mind ever since I was a little girl. Discrimination and prejudice based on one’s complexion typically darker complexions, and the hierarchy of lighter skin tone. We refer to it as colorism. Or as Queen Lupita Nyong'o calls it, the daughter of racism. In our society color dictates how people view us, and how we view themselves. As Black women we are not only discriminated against by race but by our complexion. Many of the TV shows and films we consume, and even music impacts how we view and talk about our complexions. Mariah Thomas, who is an author, freelance journalist and student at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism will be joining us to unpack just how dangerous and common colorism is. Follow Mariah on IG and Twitter @iammariahth.  Later in the episode we will be spotlighting an independent up-and-coming artist in a segment we conduct every so often titled, Saucy but Sweet Tune of the Week. This week we will be spotlighting musician Ernest Brockenberry and his single, “Romans.”  Music Credits from the segment: "Romans by Ernest Brockenberry  --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/saucy-but-sweet-with-ali/support

Welcome back to Saucy but Sweet with Ali McPherson. This week is a little controversial, or maybe A LOT controversial. We’re going to be talking about cultural appropriation, who is allowed to do it, and who isn’t. Is it possible to admire a culture without appropriating or is admiration the root of cultural appropriation? I’ll tell you this now, I do not have all the answers, so to help push this discussion further I will be talking about this with Yemi Osibogun an event producer who is not afraid to vocalize his opinion on all things music and culture especially pertaining to African and Black Americans. Follow Yemi on IG @nappyzeus.  --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/saucy-but-sweet-with-ali/support

Welcome back to Saucy but Sweet with Ali McPherson. It’s been a long time, we shouldn’t have left you, without a dope clip to step to. All joking aside, right now we are embarking on yet another summer in the midst of The Rona, and there are so many things to look forward to and to and beware of as restrictions loosen. We hope our listeners are vaccinated or plan to be vaccinated. For more information we urge you to visit the Centers for Disease and Control website. Now onto the good stuff. This week we are going to take a deep dive in the ocean of genuine conversations about how to enjoy our sex lives (or lack thereof) where to catch the best vibe without putting our health at risk, and what are travel plans are. Last summer many of us had to put some of our favorite traditions on hold, how do we plan to make up for what many of us considered a lost summer? This week we have the amazing Karla Arroyo. Arroyo is a bilingual Bronx journalist who recently graduated from the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY along with yours truly (class of 2020 gang!) She recently took a new position as community manager at Group SJR marketing agency. We got a triple threat on our hands y'all. Follow Karla on Twitter, @karleezysway.  Later in the episode we will be spotlighting an independent up-and-coming artist in a segment we will be conducting every so often titled, Saucy but Sweet Tune of the Week. This week we will be spotlighting R&B artist Kayana for the debut of our new segment.  Music Credits from the segment: 6 Feet by Kayana Produced by Mediumrarecookies Beatz --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/saucy-but-sweet-with-ali/support

 Welcome back to Saucy but Sweet with Ali McPherson, It feels like we’ve been gone forever but you know we can’t stay away from our Saucy but Sweet fam for too long. We always come correct, and with extra spice than the week before. The last time, you heard from us we were talking about the election, and the importance of voting and SEX for those of us getting back out in the socially distant hopefully masked saddle. But this week we are putting all of our 2020 experiences in a box and shipping it far, far away. Just kidding, 2020 might have been a chaotic year, but we all learned so much about ourselves along the way. We will be discussing the highlights, the pitfalls, and our top most memorable moments of 2020. We are about to embark on a new year (hopefully one that is less chaotic and has more highlights than dark times) and so there is a lot to unpack before we say goodbye to 2020. We are joined by the amazing Daisy Williams, an Australian native who recently graduated from the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism with yours truly (class of 2020 gang) She is about to embark on a new journey herself, interning at Rolling Stone next year. She is an arts and culture journalist, with a comic beat. Follow Daisy on IG @daisyjoywilliams.  --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/saucy-but-sweet-with-ali/support

Welcome back to Saucy but Sweet with Ali McPherson, It feels like we’ve been gone forever and  you know we can’t stay away from our Saucy but Sweet fam for too long. You know we always come correct, and stay on top of all that is going on in the world. As election season heats up, millennials have a lot on their plate, many of us are eager for change, and this time around this election can mean the difference between four years of actual change, or four more years of anger, pain, and division within the country. And on the other hand, in the midst of this raging pandemic we are entering a COVID-filled cuffing season. This week we are reflecting on dirty politics which have taken over this  strange and unsettling election season, and finding love and lust in the midst of a health crisis.  We are also joined by our former guest Trone Dowd, who works as a reporter at VICE and another one of our former guests Noëlle D Lilley, a journalist at the Craig Newmark School of Journalism, reporter for News 12and CNN Fellow. She wears many hats and is living her best life despite this never-ending pandemic.  CORRECTION: Noëlle D. Lilley is a multimedia reporter for News 12, not an intern. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/saucy-but-sweet-with-ali/support

Welcome back to Saucy but Sweet with Ali McPherson. The last time we spoke we got into sexy topics, sex, romance, and dating during this hot rona summer. This week, we are talking about something not as sexy, but definitely worth a chat now more than ever: the white gaze on black life in the media and how black voices and talents are underrepresented. Being able to showcase your talents to the world should be a freedom for all regardless of race, but yet we see an industry that fails to do this. We are joined by Jorge Romero who is usually behind the scenes as the co-producer and graphic designer for Saucy but Sweet with Ali McPherson and the remarkable Aaron Foley who is the new Black Media Initiative director at the Craig Newmark School of Journalism at CUNY. Follow Jorge on IG @jorgiecito and follow Aaron Foley on IG and Twitter @aaronkfoley.  --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/saucy-but-sweet-with-ali/support

Welcome back to Saucy but Sweet with Ali McPherson. This week we will be discussing how to navigate the dating scene, and indulge in the solo life as a party of one during a pandemic that doesn’t seem to be letting up anytime soon. Most of us want to love and to be able to enjoy our sex lives, but it’s difficult when there is still so much uncertainty. Even though restaurants and bars are opening back up and people are out at the beach, the pandemic is still here to stay which proves to be a barrier for singles looking for a good time face to face. We are joined by the amazing Soheil Pedram. Soheil identifies as non-binary, and is a journalist who currently writes for the Associated Press Paris. After living in New York City for some time, Soheil is back in their home city of Paris, where they have been living during the quarantine.  As a serial dater, they have a lot to say when it comes to navigating the dating scene, and despite all that is going on, they are not allowing a pandemic to keep them from dating. For all of my singles out there struggling to find the one amongst all of the chaos, we got you. Follow Soheil on Twitter @arnopedram and IG @lamda.velorum.  --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/saucy-but-sweet-with-ali/support

Happy First of July and belated Juneteenth! July 4th is just around the corner! Welcome back to Saucy but Sweet with Ali McPherson. This week we will be discussing what it means to practice self-care and wellness during such a traumatic yet most important time in history. We are still trying to find the balance between staying woke, and staying well, especially during a long global lockdown. Between the lockdown and dealing with the continued oppression of all of my Black men, women, and LGBTQ+ folks, it’s easy to forget to take care of yourself. We will be joined by Racquel Samuel, who is the host of the fabulous podcast Brooklyn and Soursop (available on Anchor, and Spotify) Follow Racquel on IG @racquel.lsamuel. We will also be joined by a close friend of mine Adji Diatta. Adji has a joint youtube channel called Adji and Abby. Follow Adji on IG @mami_adji and @adjis_beauty_room.  --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/saucy-but-sweet-with-ali/support

Welcome back to Saucy but Sweet with Ali McPherson this week we’re going to be diving into the thick of it. Our last episode was about how we are handling being in the thick of this pandemic, but this week we will focus on something just as serious: police violence. These last few months have been filled with uncertainty. Millennials have gone from worrying about the pandemic, to protesting and using their voice to speak out about police brutality. Across the country, millennials are putting their lives on the line to bring social change and better the lives of millions of Black Americans.  This week we are joined by two white allies, Georgia native Alexandra Sapp who is using photography and video to spark change, as well as using her platform to educate her followers and New York-based Journalist and translator Roman Gressier. Gressier has become a valuable ally and continues to protest to bring out change. Follow Alexandra on IG @alex_sappy and @alexandra.sapp. Follow Roman on IG @romannoodles and on Twitter @romangressier.  --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/saucy-but-sweet-with-ali/support