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On this episode Critical Take reflects on 2020. They dive into events that transpired during the year, how the pandemic has impacted them, and what they plan on changing post-pandemic. On the B-side, Critical Take gives their top three episodes of the podcast. Thanks so much for joining us all season! We will be back with Season 2 in the New Year!Facebook: @thecriticaltakepodcastTwitter:@criticaltakepodDon't forget to leave us a 5 star review and visit Thecriticaltakepodcast.com

After a brief break, Critical take returns and builds on its inspection of hiphop. Chris & Scott explore Joan Morgan’s concept of hiphop feminism and dig into the treatment of black womyn in hiphop. They also take up whether or not there is room for progress in hiphop and if they have any optimism for change with respect to identified sexism. On the b-side, Chris & Scott reflect on Obama’s comments about defunding the police and Chris offers a surprising apology. Facebook: @thecriticaltakepodcastTwitter:@criticaltakepodDon't forget to leave us a 5 star review and visit Thecriticaltakepodcast.com

On this episode, Critical Take finally ventures into hiphop and rap. We get some help from our family over at Simple Wednesday and have a candid conversation about the relationship between hiphop and whiteness, whether rappers should self-police lyrics because of non-black listeners, and the bad rap some sub-genres get. On the b-side we discuss which type of rap we would erase from the map.  Don’t forget to leave us a 5 star review. Facebook: @thecriticaltakepodcastTwitter: @criticaltakepod

On this episode Critical Take takes a quick pit stop to talk about some research  in progress. Chris talks about a work in progress that details the inclusion of law enforcement under hate crime statutes as well as blue lives matter’s strategy at criminalizing black lives matter. Scott talks about the “middling” of athletes and how this often leads to athletes leaving a particular sport organization. Scott then shows us how we can extend “middling” to non-sport contexts and what fruits we may get by doing so. On the B-side, Chris and Scott share what they’ve been listening to and how its been pushing them through tough times.  Facebook: @thecriticaltakepodcastTwitter:@criticaltakepodDon't forget to leave us a 5 star review and visit Thecriticaltakepodcast.com

On this episode Critical Take dives into their post election analysis. We walk through our election week emotions and dive into some of the data we learned from the election.  We also talk Biden/Harris Killjoys, needing nuance to understand the hispanic/latinx vote, and the political myths white people tell themselves. On the b-side, we talk our favorite version of white tears. Facebook: @thecriticaltakepodcastTwitter:@criticaltakepodDon't forget to leave us a 5 star review and visit Thecriticaltakepodcast.com

On this episode, Critical Take sits down with University of Minnesota Professor Michael Minta. As the election nears, Michael Minta breaks down what is at stake with this election and why we need to keep a long view of the elections. Minta also highlights some special issues with the Judiciary and Congress related to the election that are not exactly being talked about. On the B-side,  we flip our pet peeves into political platforms. Don’t forget to leave us a 5 star review. Facebook: @thecriticaltakepodcastTwitter: @criticaltakepod

On this episode, Critical Take sits down with University of Minnesota Professor Michael Walker. We dive into Mike’s work about time in jail and what jail (not prison) abolition would look like. Later on, we struggle through the problems this presidential election has presented us as black men. We assess whether it is acceptable to not participate, complain, or Vote Trump. On the B-side, Chris asks Scott and Mike whether the West Coast considers the Ice Cube debacle an L. Don’t forget to leave us a 5 star review. Facebook: @thecriticaltakepodcastTwitter: @criticaltakepod

On this episode Critical Take does a deep into Ice Cube’s recent entrance into the political arena. Chris and Scott walk through and assess Cube’s talking points; Will economic means only save black people? Can we afford to have a “black only approach”? Should would be talking to both parties? On the B-side, Chris and Scott talk through what HipHop acts they once liked but have to ultimately let go. 

On this episode, Critical Take sits down with SEC Associate Commissioner Dan Leibovitz to get some insight on how Sport Leagues are grappling with Corona and racial injustice. We talk to Dan about how the SEC has  adjusted to the Corona pandemic and  racial uprisings.  In addition, we talk whether Corona and racial uprisings have changed the landscape of Sport forever. On the B-side, we regrettably share some embarrassing stories about trends we got involved in that we should have probably sat out. Don’t forget to leave us a 5 star review. Facebook: @thecriticaltakepodcastTwitter: @criticaltakepod

This week Critical Take sits down with Stan Thangaraj, who is an Assistant Professor of Anthropology at the City College of New York. Stan, through his work on South Asian Basketball leagues, helps us understand how South Asian men negotiate and navigate race and masculinity in the U.S.. As Stan explains, masculinity becomes a way for us to better understand how South Asian men construct notions of citizenship and belonging in a U.S. context that often makes them invisible. In addition, Stan teases out the connections and need for solidarity amongst black folx and South Asians in light of Kamala Harris, South Asian support of Trump, and black lives matter. On the B-side, Scott and Chris go back and forth about why people often dig in their heels when defending their hometown. 

This week we take a deep dive into the landscape of Boxing. Rudy peels back the layers of the pre-fighting ritual and explains how such rituals often contain intentional social and political messages that produce understandings about the social world, national identity, race, and masculinity. Isais schools us on ideal types within boxing, such as “Mexican style”,  and explains how race and ethnicity become embedded in fighting styles themselves. In addition, we dig under the surface of the Andy Ruiz v Anthony Joshua fight and explore issues related to body image and inter ethnic conflict. Lastly, we struggle through why boxing doesn’t value boxers who are women. On the B-side, we discuss in an ideal world what our own ring entrances might be if we were boxers. 

This week Critical Take sits down with Havana McElvaine, who is a Marshall scholar and one of the first collegiate athletes to kneel in protest post-Mike Brown. Havanna shares with us her insight as to why she decided to kneel and ultimately why it was important for her to take a stand alongside Kaepernick. She reminds us why it is important to center athletes as human and to consider how protest can be a form of healing for athletes. Lastly, we talk about the social ramifications of the gendering of Sport and the social pressures athletes face. On the B-side, we settle the age old discussion. You riding with savory or sweet for breakfast? Tune in!Don’t forget to leave us a 5 star review. Facebook: @thecriticaltakepodcastTwitter: @criticaltakepod

This week Critical Take welcomed back Jerome “Pooh” Allen, assistant coach of the Boston Celtics. Pooh just dropped his first book, When the Alphabet Comes, which details his involvement in a college admissions scandal that led to a federal prosecution and his road to redemption. He share some teasers and gives the real on how one overcomes deep personal struggle and challenges in the midst of potentially losing everything. On the B-sides Chris figures out what really goes on when they talk about “Cali.”Don’t forget to leave us a 5 star review. Facebook: @thecriticaltakepodcastTwitter: @criticaltakepodWe apologize for some brief poor audio quality towards the end!

On this episode, The Critical Take Podcast sits down with  Dr.  Deborah Stroman who is the founder of the Center of Sports Business and Analytics (CSBA). Dr. Stroman walks us through her approach to having conversations about race and racism in the realm of Sport. We also rap about the significance of centering black womyn in our analysis when thinking critically about problems in Sport. On the B-side, Chris  poses the question, “Which position in basketball is the most important?” knowing it’ll poke Scott. 

This week we started our Critical Take Sports Series. We teamed up with 12InchesOver, which Scott co-hosts with D1 Asst men's basketball coach, Geoff Arnold. Geoff joins us with three other members of 12InchesOver - Hall of Famer and Team USA head coach Dawn Staley, pro MNBA 76ers scout and former college head coach Rod Baker, and pro MNBA Boston Celtics assistant coach, Jerome "Pooh" Allen, coming straight from the bubble. We talk about the historic week in sport and reflect on our thoughts in light of the Jacob Blake shooting. The panel lets us know how what they’re willing to risk to end racism and how this moment has impacted how they approach coaching. On the B-side we revisit an oldie but goodie that our listeners will find refreshingly controversial. Don’t forget to leave us a 5 star review. Facebook: @thecriticaltakepodcastTwitter: @criticaltakepod

This week Critical Take sits down with L. Song Richardson who is the Dean at the University of California-Irvine School of Law.  Dean Richardson tell us about her classical musical upbringing and the racial undertones she experienced as a result of being both Black and Korean. She also schools us on just how implicit bias works as it relates to police and her path to getting comfortable with making white supremacy uncomfortable. Lastly, we close with a B-sides conversation that turns into a discussion about Prince’s musical legacy Don't forget to subscribe and leave us a 5 star review!Twitter: @criticaltakepodFacebook:@criticaltakepodcast

On this episode, The Critical Take Podcast sits down with  Dr. Rashawn Ray, Rubenstein Fellow at the Brookings Institute.  We take a deep in-depth look at two specific conversations surrounding police reform; defunding the police and qualified immunity. Professor Ray schools and provokes us with hard data to think critically about what defunding the police and ending qualified immunity means in the context of police reform.  Our conversation then turns to the B-side where we discuss God level soul food, honorable mention soul food, and soul food that should be done away with. Professor Ray surprises us with a God level Cornbread ketchup combo entry. Don’t forget to leave us a 5 star review. Facebook: @thecriticaltakepodcastTwitter: @criticaltakepod

The Critical Take Podcast sits down with  UC Berkeley Professor Nikki Jones in our third installment on policing.  We dive headfirst into a deep conversation about surveillance and the increased usage of technology by law enforcement. We also get into whether or not police reform is feasible given the history of policing. Lastly, things wrap up with Nikki, Scott, and Chris rehashing the greatness is eras conversation across the WNBA, NBA, and academic scholars. Chris rides with contemporary players and scholars over the past while Scott suggests a more nuanced approach. But where does Nikki fall? Tune in and find out!

In this episode Critical Take lets the policing series get personal. Chris and Scott dig deep, sharing stories about their interactions with police and the lessons learned. They touch on black officers, surveillance, and what the cumulative impact of negative contact with law enforcement is. Don't forget to subscribe and leave us a 5 star review!Twitter: @criticaltakepodFacebook: @thecriticaltakepodcast

The Critical Take Podcast welcomes, Sociologist Waverly Duck. Professor Duck leads our first installment on policing. His latest book, Tacit Racism, illustrates racism as omnipresent in everyday American life. We talk about how police provoke Black male resistance and how Blacks practice “submissive civility,” a concept of tacit racism, to try and arrive alive. Our conversation expands to include the “policing” that Blacks face in all aspects of life from actual police to “Karens.” We end discussing our side hustles and Waverly gives us a gem: his moms is a thug!