July 10, 2025 • 12 mins
🎙️ In this episode, Xaviera chats with Wendy Raquel Robinson, Tisha Campbell, and Amiyah Scott about their new ALLBLK film, “Operation: Aunties.”
The trio dives into the making of the cyber-crime caper, the importance of Black women in tech, sisterhood, and how Wendy stepped into the director’s chair.
From laugh-out-loud moments to powerful messages about justice and empowerment, this interview is full of energy, insight, and auntie realness.
“Operation: Aunties” premieres July 11 exclusively on ALLBLK.
💬 Tune in for behind-the-scenes stories, Black girl magic, and a conversation you don’t want to miss.
Visit IceCreamConvos.com to get the full scoop on 'Operation: Aunties' and to watch the trailer!
👉🏾 Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast, share it with a friend, and visit IceCreamConvos.com for more delicious scoops of entertainment and celebrity news. 🎧🍦
Visit https://IceCreamConvosPodcast.com for more episodes!
📨 Get the scoop delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our daily newsletter: http://eepurl.com/hovHpz
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/ice-cream-convos-podcast--2027902/support.
The trio dives into the making of the cyber-crime caper, the importance of Black women in tech, sisterhood, and how Wendy stepped into the director’s chair.
From laugh-out-loud moments to powerful messages about justice and empowerment, this interview is full of energy, insight, and auntie realness.
“Operation: Aunties” premieres July 11 exclusively on ALLBLK.
💬 Tune in for behind-the-scenes stories, Black girl magic, and a conversation you don’t want to miss.
Visit IceCreamConvos.com to get the full scoop on 'Operation: Aunties' and to watch the trailer!
👉🏾 Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast, share it with a friend, and visit IceCreamConvos.com for more delicious scoops of entertainment and celebrity news. 🎧🍦
Visit https://IceCreamConvosPodcast.com for more episodes!
📨 Get the scoop delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our daily newsletter: http://eepurl.com/hovHpz
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/ice-cream-convos-podcast--2027902/support.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Ice cream, ice ice coma but but on the grind
all day, every day, ice cream combos always real.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
They never play.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
Download up podcast listen on any day? Why didn't not
do this sooner?
Speaker 3 (00:23):
On that thing?
Speaker 1 (00:24):
You ever say? Eximea bro best host of all time.
All of the faithful listeners will say they never alive
check every story. They run like me with the Brohms
win not the Social Report anything. It should be a
crime entertainment news year. I gotta get mine from I
c C. And you should be in Klin to do
(00:44):
the same if you got at MND, I do go
sign this lady to shine like Franking Stein. Tell it
to day designed ice creamcombos, dot com.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Tune in.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
This influence fluent but ice cream.
Speaker 4 (00:59):
I am so excited to be talking to all of
you because I love all of you in your own
respective work, and now I got all three of you together.
Speaker 3 (01:21):
I went in today.
Speaker 4 (01:23):
We're all within it today.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Jesus. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (01:26):
So I am Zaviera from ice Cream Conversations. Tisha, you
may know me. I s talk you all the time, girl.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
I love ice Cream Conversations girl.
Speaker 4 (01:34):
I love you back. I love Operation Aunties so much.
The first thing that I want to ask, and I
know it may be a little off, cop. Did y'all
have as fun as much fun making this film as
I had watching it?
Speaker 2 (01:49):
We sure, nim.
Speaker 3 (01:50):
It was a love fest.
Speaker 4 (01:52):
Oh my gosh, this film was so freaking fantastic. Wendy,
talk to me about what made you take on this
role because I'm used to seeing you in front of
the camera, but now I'm seeing your work behind the
camera and I'm like, yes, ma'am, give me more. Oh
my god, you just made my day. No, seriously, I
(02:15):
was really intimidated when I first read the script and
working with Tjili, who wrote something that was just so amazing,
but it was so high tech. So we're going back,
like now two years when we first got it, and
then I was like, you know, let's workshop it, let's
simplify it. It had gone through at least four different drafts,
and I'm so glad I was with him along the way,
you know, And how can we make these characters so
(02:37):
relatable where we don't isolate a certain audience because initially
it was like, Babe, ain't nobody gonna watch this, you know,
not our culture, you know, And I can't speak for
the whole but I was like, look, I can't even
follow it, And I said, do we have any cheat
sheets along the way that we could just add in
or this, that and the other, And then boom. We
just kept going and going and going. And I think
(02:58):
the walk that we had together as writer and director
from the beginning really really created a playground that made
it safe for my actors to come in and for
me to be able to, you know, just communicate with
them because I knew the characters, I knew the world
inside and out, and it was a no brainer once
(03:19):
I got familiar with what was going on in the
Dark Web. And then when he told me it was
based on the true story, Wow, what really pulled me in. Okay,
so I have another question. I feel like I'm entering
my AUNTI era. Oh okay, look look I'm entering my
Aunty era. Can y'all just let me know, like what
(03:41):
some of the qualifications for an untie is, because I
just want to make sure that I'm in the right group,
you know what I mean. I don't want to jump
into early. I don't want to show up too late.
I want to be right on time to Maya.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
What's going on? Like because I feel like I'm doing
the same era go ahead, no no, no, no, no no,
Because I was saying that I feel like I'm in
the same place that she is. It's like, you don't
want to jump to early. You don't know when, but
you know that you're not a young girl anymore, you know,
So I'm.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
Sorry for me. It was about guidance, Wendy says, being
a soft place to land, or people who are in
your community or your family, or younger people, you know
what I mean. Like being an auntie isn't something that's negative, right,
(04:33):
It's something that is relatable that people want to go
to when they don't want to go to that authoritarian
type of situation. There's still there's somebody who's being an authoritarian,
but not the authority.
Speaker 4 (04:50):
Right, and you can still relate to them.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
It's more relatable. So yeah, I think you can be
an Auntie.
Speaker 4 (04:57):
Yes, I'm ready to be an Auntie. So speaking of relatable,
there were so many different themes and messages that I
loved in this film, and I think it's really going
to resonate with all of the women that watch. I mean,
first things, first, black women in tech that in itself,
let's go Amina Amaya like Black women in Tech, and
(05:17):
then you know, I had my little phase in life
where I was trying to be a cryptosist but I
didn't quite understand the black chains and this, that and
the third. But now I feel like I may need
to slide back in. But there were just so many
lessons from just being mindful of getting into a ride share,
you know, the dark web, just so many. It was
great entertaining. But I love the way the message was
(05:39):
just woven in without being preachy, and it was almost
like just subliminally embedding.
Speaker 3 (05:44):
While watching that's all Wendy Roquel, a girl TJ had
the story.
Speaker 4 (05:51):
You should know. It's like no, and I'm gonna maya
to talk, but you caught it. You got it, I
got it, beautiful, beautiful, And I watch it with one
other women we're speaking it as well. Yeah, but tech
my text sys Amina, talk to me about just representing
(06:11):
black women in tech because we are coming into this
space and we are doing big things. And I love
the representation of how you showed up in this film.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
Yes, I feel like it's rarely charted ground, so to
be able to do that and to show that like
it's an honor, you know, to open up because we can,
as black women do everything, let's be clear. So I
think for us to step out and to branch out
and to take over those spaces that we already like see,
we're in them already. There are black women in tech,
(06:42):
but it's not shown on screen, just like there are
many other things. They keep us so limited or they
try to. So I'm so thankful that we're able to
expand and show out for like our full range of diversity.
Speaker 4 (06:55):
You know, absolutely, it's cool and it's sexy. Is that's
what we're doing. We put a whole other spin on it.
It's sexy to be. I'm getting ready to just start
embedding it in my conversation where it don't even make sense. Well,
you know the other day I was symbolically looking at
my blockchain and just moving my crypto from here and there.
(07:16):
But no, it's speaking of hilarious the way I laughed,
Miss Tisha Campbell, what I'll do what you mean with queen?
Speaker 3 (07:26):
Find me?
Speaker 4 (07:27):
Queen Tisha Campbell, Like you are so just naturally funny.
It's like when I watch you sometimes I'm like is
she even acting? Because you just are? You are such
a natural on screen and Sharon is I consider sharing
like the glue.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
Right, you have a doctor Carol.
Speaker 4 (07:50):
And then you have Amina. Amina is almost like the
level headed one, like come on now, listen y'all the vigilantes,
and then you know, Carol is always like she's seems
very strategic, like everything she overly thinks. Sharon pulled up
like listen, I'm the pistol boom. It's almost like it's
(08:14):
like a party and a person. Just talk to me
about that, because it's almost like you were that perfect balance,
like if it's a ceasol, like you were right here
in the middle between doctor Carroll and Amina, and every
single scene you stole my heart and my gut laugh.
I just absolutely loved it. Just talk to me about that,
just anything you all.
Speaker 3 (08:34):
Thank you for getting the entirety of this. This I
love it so much. It's it's speaking to you obviously,
and this is what we wanted to do. But as
far as the fun of it all and the lightheartedness
of it all and to bring levity where there needed
to be levity, I take that really seriously, especially when
(08:56):
I start to learn how my partner who was playing
opposite of me, whoever that is, whether it was Mamaya
or whether it was Melissa or whomever I am playing
opposite of. I really try to learn who they are,
their body movements, everything, so that I could best support
(09:18):
because I don't look at myself as being in the forefront.
It takes the entire village, all of everybody there to
tell a story. And mostly out of everything I wanted
to do my my sister Wendy. I wanted to do
her right. I wanted to make sure that I was
(09:40):
supporting the way that I should support with this particular character.
Plus we share an ex husband. We share an ex husband,
Damon Waynams kids and problem, Yes, had them young, And
I got what you did right there.
Speaker 4 (09:58):
I see what you I did right there. There's another
line in the film that I don't want to ruin
that I literally hollered. It was a callback. And I'm
pretty sure you know what I'm talking about, But there
was a callback in the film that you made. Yeah,
I don't want to ruin it, but oh, oh, oh,
you know what I'm talking about. I remember she shouted
(10:19):
herself out.
Speaker 3 (10:20):
She did it.
Speaker 4 (10:22):
Was an ad lib. But we kept it. Yes, well,
so good, it was so good. But I just appreciate
all of you. I feel like I told my best
friend earlier, I told her I was doing this interview today,
and she was so excited to know that I was
talking to all of you, and I said, you know,
I feel like I'm getting all of my favorite superheroes
(10:42):
all together, like it's an Avengers movie, like a melanated Avengers.
So just thank you so much for this film, because
I know it's going to resonate with everyone the way
that it resonated with me. I am looking forward to
seeing more of you, Miss Wendy in that director's chair.
Jes Amaya, I've loved you. It's way back. I'm the star,
just just been my girl, just been my girl. And
(11:04):
t shir you know, we go way.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
Back like lit and listen.
Speaker 3 (11:06):
I just have to say I really do enjoy following
you on ice Cream Combos because cream Combos.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
I'm a follower.
Speaker 3 (11:13):
You have to because the way that she presents material,
it's not clickbaitish, it's a classy. It tells our stories
sometimes even when the stories have to be presented in
a way that isn't always palatable. You you do that,
and I want to thank you for the way that
(11:33):
you present us and represent us. So really, thank you.
Speaker 4 (11:38):
You've brighten my day to day and likewise, likewise, this
has been absolutely fantastic. You are always welcome to come back. Okay,
I just started following you. Okay, yeah, yes is yes,
Thank you all so much for taking the time to
speak to me. Congratulations on a fan fantastic film. July eleventh,
(12:02):
All Black, we pulling up for Operation Aunties. Now if
there is a part too, I just need you to know.
I was chicken little in first grade and the sky
is falling. I brought down the house. Wasn't a dry eye.
Speaker 2 (12:15):
In the room. Your energy, your energy, it's a baby.
Speaker 4 (12:22):
Yes, thank you all so much.
Speaker 3 (12:24):
It's a wonderful way to end this.
Speaker 4 (12:26):
Thank you. Yes, have a beautiful, blessed day. And like
I said, my door is always open and it's unlocked
for y'all. Okay, thank your congratulations, congratulation so much. All right,
bye bye bye see
Ice cream, ice ice coma but but on the grind
all day, every day, ice cream combos always real.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
They never play.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
Download up podcast listen on any day? Why didn't not
do this sooner?
Speaker 3 (00:23):
On that thing?
Speaker 1 (00:24):
You ever say? Eximea bro best host of all time.
All of the faithful listeners will say they never alive
check every story. They run like me with the Brohms
win not the Social Report anything. It should be a
crime entertainment news year. I gotta get mine from I
c C. And you should be in Klin to do
(00:44):
the same if you got at MND, I do go
sign this lady to shine like Franking Stein. Tell it
to day designed ice creamcombos, dot com.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Tune in.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
This influence fluent but ice cream.
Speaker 4 (00:59):
I am so excited to be talking to all of
you because I love all of you in your own
respective work, and now I got all three of you together.
Speaker 3 (01:21):
I went in today.
Speaker 4 (01:23):
We're all within it today.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Jesus. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (01:26):
So I am Zaviera from ice Cream Conversations. Tisha, you
may know me. I s talk you all the time, girl.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
I love ice Cream Conversations girl.
Speaker 4 (01:34):
I love you back. I love Operation Aunties so much.
The first thing that I want to ask, and I
know it may be a little off, cop. Did y'all
have as fun as much fun making this film as
I had watching it?
Speaker 2 (01:49):
We sure, nim.
Speaker 3 (01:50):
It was a love fest.
Speaker 4 (01:52):
Oh my gosh, this film was so freaking fantastic. Wendy,
talk to me about what made you take on this
role because I'm used to seeing you in front of
the camera, but now I'm seeing your work behind the
camera and I'm like, yes, ma'am, give me more. Oh
my god, you just made my day. No, seriously, I
(02:15):
was really intimidated when I first read the script and
working with Tjili, who wrote something that was just so amazing,
but it was so high tech. So we're going back,
like now two years when we first got it, and
then I was like, you know, let's workshop it, let's
simplify it. It had gone through at least four different drafts,
and I'm so glad I was with him along the way,
you know, And how can we make these characters so
(02:37):
relatable where we don't isolate a certain audience because initially
it was like, Babe, ain't nobody gonna watch this, you know,
not our culture, you know, And I can't speak for
the whole but I was like, look, I can't even
follow it, And I said, do we have any cheat
sheets along the way that we could just add in
or this, that and the other, And then boom. We
just kept going and going and going. And I think
(02:58):
the walk that we had together as writer and director
from the beginning really really created a playground that made
it safe for my actors to come in and for
me to be able to, you know, just communicate with
them because I knew the characters, I knew the world
inside and out, and it was a no brainer once
(03:19):
I got familiar with what was going on in the
Dark Web. And then when he told me it was
based on the true story, Wow, what really pulled me in. Okay,
so I have another question. I feel like I'm entering
my AUNTI era. Oh okay, look look I'm entering my
Aunty era. Can y'all just let me know, like what
(03:41):
some of the qualifications for an untie is, because I
just want to make sure that I'm in the right group,
you know what I mean. I don't want to jump
into early. I don't want to show up too late.
I want to be right on time to Maya.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
What's going on? Like because I feel like I'm doing
the same era go ahead, no no, no, no, no no,
Because I was saying that I feel like I'm in
the same place that she is. It's like, you don't
want to jump to early. You don't know when, but
you know that you're not a young girl anymore, you know,
So I'm.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
Sorry for me. It was about guidance, Wendy says, being
a soft place to land, or people who are in
your community or your family, or younger people, you know
what I mean. Like being an auntie isn't something that's negative, right,
(04:33):
It's something that is relatable that people want to go
to when they don't want to go to that authoritarian
type of situation. There's still there's somebody who's being an authoritarian,
but not the authority.
Speaker 4 (04:50):
Right, and you can still relate to them.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
It's more relatable. So yeah, I think you can be
an Auntie.
Speaker 4 (04:57):
Yes, I'm ready to be an Auntie. So speaking of relatable,
there were so many different themes and messages that I
loved in this film, and I think it's really going
to resonate with all of the women that watch. I mean,
first things, first, black women in tech that in itself,
let's go Amina Amaya like Black women in Tech, and
(05:17):
then you know, I had my little phase in life
where I was trying to be a cryptosist but I
didn't quite understand the black chains and this, that and
the third. But now I feel like I may need
to slide back in. But there were just so many
lessons from just being mindful of getting into a ride share,
you know, the dark web, just so many. It was
great entertaining. But I love the way the message was
(05:39):
just woven in without being preachy, and it was almost
like just subliminally embedding.
Speaker 3 (05:44):
While watching that's all Wendy Roquel, a girl TJ had
the story.
Speaker 4 (05:51):
You should know. It's like no, and I'm gonna maya
to talk, but you caught it. You got it, I
got it, beautiful, beautiful, And I watch it with one
other women we're speaking it as well. Yeah, but tech
my text sys Amina, talk to me about just representing
(06:11):
black women in tech because we are coming into this
space and we are doing big things. And I love
the representation of how you showed up in this film.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
Yes, I feel like it's rarely charted ground, so to
be able to do that and to show that like
it's an honor, you know, to open up because we can,
as black women do everything, let's be clear. So I
think for us to step out and to branch out
and to take over those spaces that we already like see,
we're in them already. There are black women in tech,
(06:42):
but it's not shown on screen, just like there are
many other things. They keep us so limited or they
try to. So I'm so thankful that we're able to
expand and show out for like our full range of diversity.
Speaker 4 (06:55):
You know, absolutely, it's cool and it's sexy. Is that's
what we're doing. We put a whole other spin on it.
It's sexy to be. I'm getting ready to just start
embedding it in my conversation where it don't even make sense. Well,
you know the other day I was symbolically looking at
my blockchain and just moving my crypto from here and there.
(07:16):
But no, it's speaking of hilarious the way I laughed,
Miss Tisha Campbell, what I'll do what you mean with queen?
Speaker 3 (07:26):
Find me?
Speaker 4 (07:27):
Queen Tisha Campbell, Like you are so just naturally funny.
It's like when I watch you sometimes I'm like is
she even acting? Because you just are? You are such
a natural on screen and Sharon is I consider sharing
like the glue.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
Right, you have a doctor Carol.
Speaker 4 (07:50):
And then you have Amina. Amina is almost like the
level headed one, like come on now, listen y'all the vigilantes,
and then you know, Carol is always like she's seems
very strategic, like everything she overly thinks. Sharon pulled up
like listen, I'm the pistol boom. It's almost like it's
(08:14):
like a party and a person. Just talk to me
about that, because it's almost like you were that perfect balance,
like if it's a ceasol, like you were right here
in the middle between doctor Carroll and Amina, and every
single scene you stole my heart and my gut laugh.
I just absolutely loved it. Just talk to me about that,
just anything you all.
Speaker 3 (08:34):
Thank you for getting the entirety of this. This I
love it so much. It's it's speaking to you obviously,
and this is what we wanted to do. But as
far as the fun of it all and the lightheartedness
of it all and to bring levity where there needed
to be levity, I take that really seriously, especially when
(08:56):
I start to learn how my partner who was playing
opposite of me, whoever that is, whether it was Mamaya
or whether it was Melissa or whomever I am playing
opposite of. I really try to learn who they are,
their body movements, everything, so that I could best support
(09:18):
because I don't look at myself as being in the forefront.
It takes the entire village, all of everybody there to
tell a story. And mostly out of everything I wanted
to do my my sister Wendy. I wanted to do
her right. I wanted to make sure that I was
(09:40):
supporting the way that I should support with this particular character.
Plus we share an ex husband. We share an ex husband,
Damon Waynams kids and problem, Yes, had them young, And
I got what you did right there.
Speaker 4 (09:58):
I see what you I did right there. There's another
line in the film that I don't want to ruin
that I literally hollered. It was a callback. And I'm
pretty sure you know what I'm talking about, But there
was a callback in the film that you made. Yeah,
I don't want to ruin it, but oh, oh, oh,
you know what I'm talking about. I remember she shouted
(10:19):
herself out.
Speaker 3 (10:20):
She did it.
Speaker 4 (10:22):
Was an ad lib. But we kept it. Yes, well,
so good, it was so good. But I just appreciate
all of you. I feel like I told my best
friend earlier, I told her I was doing this interview today,
and she was so excited to know that I was
talking to all of you, and I said, you know,
I feel like I'm getting all of my favorite superheroes
(10:42):
all together, like it's an Avengers movie, like a melanated Avengers.
So just thank you so much for this film, because
I know it's going to resonate with everyone the way
that it resonated with me. I am looking forward to
seeing more of you, Miss Wendy in that director's chair.
Jes Amaya, I've loved you. It's way back. I'm the star,
just just been my girl, just been my girl. And
(11:04):
t shir you know, we go way.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
Back like lit and listen.
Speaker 3 (11:06):
I just have to say I really do enjoy following
you on ice Cream Combos because cream Combos.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
I'm a follower.
Speaker 3 (11:13):
You have to because the way that she presents material,
it's not clickbaitish, it's a classy. It tells our stories
sometimes even when the stories have to be presented in
a way that isn't always palatable. You you do that,
and I want to thank you for the way that
(11:33):
you present us and represent us. So really, thank you.
Speaker 4 (11:38):
You've brighten my day to day and likewise, likewise, this
has been absolutely fantastic. You are always welcome to come back. Okay,
I just started following you. Okay, yeah, yes is yes,
Thank you all so much for taking the time to
speak to me. Congratulations on a fan fantastic film. July eleventh,
(12:02):
All Black, we pulling up for Operation Aunties. Now if
there is a part too, I just need you to know.
I was chicken little in first grade and the sky
is falling. I brought down the house. Wasn't a dry eye.
Speaker 2 (12:15):
In the room. Your energy, your energy, it's a baby.
Speaker 4 (12:22):
Yes, thank you all so much.
Speaker 3 (12:24):
It's a wonderful way to end this.
Speaker 4 (12:26):
Thank you. Yes, have a beautiful, blessed day. And like
I said, my door is always open and it's unlocked
for y'all. Okay, thank your congratulations, congratulation so much. All right,
bye bye bye see
Popular Podcasts
CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist
It’s 1996 in rural North Carolina, and an oddball crew makes history when they pull off America’s third largest cash heist. But it’s all downhill from there. Join host Johnny Knoxville as he unspools a wild and woolly tale about a group of regular ‘ol folks who risked it all for a chance at a better life. CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist answers the question: what would you do with 17.3 million dollars? The answer includes diamond rings, mansions, velvet Elvis paintings, plus a run for the border, murder-for-hire-plots, and FBI busts.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.