The Idea Of... Telling The Tooth

In this episode (peep the chapters below), Bassey and Mike explore a range of topics from personal health and aging to family dynamics and the challenges of parenting. They reflect on their experiences with traffic and its impact on mental health, discuss political discourse and current events, and delve into the complexities of hip hop culture and journalism. The conversation also touches on the societal perceptions of black men in education and the implications of recent political actions.

Chapters

00:00 – Welcome Back: The Chaos and the Catch-Up
Life be lifing. Mike and Bassey finally hit record and set the stage.

01:11 – Lip Drama & AI Diagnostics
Bassey discovers the real reason behind her rogue tooth, and ChatGPT plays doctor.

03:53 – Body Talk & Aging in Real Time
A vulnerable reflection on aging, self-image, stress, and face changes we all see coming (and still aren’t ready for).

08:46 – Traffic, Trauma, and the Gift of Slower Living
Mike’s DC trip brings clarity on the toll of hustle culture and the beauty of Southern stillness.

12:16 – New Babies & Millennial Parenting Energy
Watching new parents stumble through the fog of infancy sparks empathy and flashbacks.

14:51 – News, Tariffs, and the Theater of Politics
Mike tries to pull Bassey into the news cycle. Capitalism, chaos, and Cory Booker all get screen time.

19:23 – Cory Booker's Filibuster & The 'I Told You So' Moment
What does 25 hours of speaking really do? A convo on symbolism vs substance.

27:55 – The Kanye Interview: Madness or Exploitation?
The Akademiks interview sparks a powerful dialogue about mental illness, spectacle, and exploitation.

32:02 – Listener Feedback: Kanye & Healing
Shoutout to listeners resonating with last week’s episode. Bassey makes a critical distinction: "It’s not an excuse—it’s an explanation."

38:07 – The J. Cole Controversy: Bassey Triples Down
Bassey stands ten toes down on her take that J. Cole is technically perfect—and completely boring.

44:06 – TikTok Dancers & Rap Energy
A metaphor for the ages: choreography vs dance = structure vs soul in rap.

45:10 – Rap Latte’s Episode & Touré’s Authenticity Crisis
Did they respond to last week’s episode? Mike and Bassey dissect Touré’s whole aesthetic.

50:33 – Diddy, Clickbait, and Cosplaying the Culture
Proximity ain’t the same as participation. Touré’s brand of journalism comes under the microscope.

53:26 – Not Like Us 101: Peak Corniness
Teaching white people how to listen to Kendrick? Touré officially jumps the shark.

59:13 – Next Week’s Topic: Black Boys, Narratives & Conspiracies
Mike previews next week’s conversation about how Black boys get weaponized in media cycles.

1:03:08 – Toré’s Trade School Elitism
Hot takes get torched. Why trades aren’t second-tier and Black men deserve more nuanced conversations.

1:08:29 – Shout Out to Dr. Ivory Toldson & Real Research
Real scholars doing real work to counter myths about Black men in education. (The reseracher and documentarian that Mike couldn't remember is Janks Morton... Check out his work. )

1:10:18 – Patreon Possibilities & Closing Vibes“Your girl’s broke.” Bonus episodes? Exclusive content? Y’all might just be ready.