The Napkin In Between

Have you ever wondered why speaking truth comes with such a high price tag in the content creation world? As I celebrate reaching 112k followers just one month after rebuilding my TikTok presence, I'm struck by the beautiful paradox of authentic connection—the more unfiltered I am, the stronger our community grows.

The pressure to self-censor is real. I've sat through meetings with talent agencies who love my num...

The moment Beyoncé took the stage and said "there's a lot of talking going on," the tears started flowing. Not just because I was witnessing the artist of our generation, but because her live vocals were an exact match to her studio recordings—a testament to her extraordinary talent that left me speechless.

From "American Requiem" opening the show to her strategic performance of the national anthem...

Strength looks different for every survivor. When Cassie took the stand to testify against Diddy, when Halle Bailey sought a restraining order against DDG, when Megan Thee Stallion refused to be silenced—they showed us courage in action while facing relentless victim-blaming.

Why do we ask "Why didn't she leave?" instead of "Why was he violent?" The answer reveals our society's persistent tend...

Cancel Zues Network, Cancel the cookout, CANCEL EVERYTHING!!!!! I had an entirely different thing to talk about today, but my morning scroll through social media revealed content that demanded immediate attention—a reality where Emmett Till's name is carelessly used as an insult while others demonstrate complete ignorance about his historical significance. This cultural disconnect ignited a passionate exploration of how histor...

Have you ever wondered what would happen if you faced your biggest fear? That's exactly what I did when I finally shaved my head after years of anxiety and hesitation. What followed was nothing short of transformative.

Growing up as a Black woman, my relationship with my hair was complicated. I received compliments only when my natural 4C hair was braided, straightened, or permed - leading me to get chemical treatment...

The beautiful arrival of spring weather and the healing power of a stranger's psychic reading set the stage for our deeper dive into a troubling conflict dividing Black communities online. As my palm reader wisely noted that my defensive walls might be keeping out more good than bad, I couldn't help but see the parallel to what's happening between Black Americans and South Africans over the controversial Zulu parade ...

Ever felt like you're screaming into the void while the walls keep closing in? That's exactly what it's like being a Black creator trying to combat racism on platforms designed to silence you.

When I started creating content in October 2022, I never imagined that simply responding to racist comments on my videos would lead to multiple account bans and being kicked out of TikTok's Creator Fund. The patte...

Sam Champagne sits down with us to pull back the curtain on her multifaceted career as a producer, sound engineer, singer, and songwriter. With disarming honesty, she reveals how her musical journey began at just 8 years old, experimenting with FL Studio on the family computer—a passion that would eventually become her calling.

The conversation takes fascinating turns as Sam discusses navigating the music industry as a dar...

TW: THERE IS MENTION OF MISCARRIAGE IN THIS EPISODE!! VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED!!!! Also, sorry the audio is a little crispy, I like to think it was the spirit of Eric Mays with us on the pod. RIP to a real one.

What happens when we misidentify our true adversaries? The sun is shining, dogs are playing, and somehow we've found ourselves in a culture war between mothers and child-free women that completely misses the point.

Family can be our greatest source of love or our most painful source of hurt. In this candid episode, I dive into my recent Atlanta trip to celebrate my Nephew's 12th birthday – a milestone that's left me emotional as I watch the little boy who gave me my Auntie nickname "Nene" grow taller than me. 

Between reflecting on my driving anxiety (seriously, we're controlling several-ton machines with just our...

Rent must be due!!!! In today's episode, let's talk about my experience receiving an AI-generated cease and desist letter from a content creator desperate for attention and relevancy.

The fake legal document (complete with misspellings and an AI-detection score of 94%) represents something troubling about today's social media landscape: the lengths some people will go to for attention. Whether seeking male validation ...

Join me in today's episode as we do an in-depth analysis of Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl Halftime performance—my current "Roman Empire" that I can't stop thinking about. This wasn't just entertainment; it was revolution televised. From the opening red "detonator button" signaling disruption to the PlayStation controller representing how America "plays games" with its citizens, partic...

What happens when the affirmations you give to a child become the mirror that transforms how you see yourself? In this deeply personal episode, I unpack my journey from internalized racism to radical self-love, sparked by an unexpected source – a 19-month-old girl named Callie who I nannied.

Growing up in predominantly white Meadville, Pennsylvania, I never experienced outright racism, but something perhaps more insidious:...

In today's episode, we take a powerful journey into history by focusing on the life of Daisy Bates. As an unsung hero of the Civil Rights Movement, Daisy's advocacy for the Little Rock Nine showcases her unwavering strength in the face of adversity. 

Throughout the episode, we explore how Daisy's childhood experiences shaped her drive to fight against racial injustice, making her a pivotal figure in the integration of...

In today's episode, we unravel the audacious undercover operation led by Ron Stallworth, a black detective who infiltrated the Ku Klux Klan in the 1970s. With his partner Chuck taking on the in-person meetings, Stallworth's bold tactics exposed the shocking naivety of the white supremacists, even gaining approval from David Duke himself. We recount the jaw-dropping moment when Stallworth posed for a photo with Duke, all w...

Join me in today's episode as we journey back to the 1960s to honor the unsung heroes of the Freedom House Ambulance Service in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania . These pioneers, despite facing systemic racism, revolutionized emergency medical care for Black communities and laid the groundwork for modern paramedics. With the visionary leadership of Phil Hallen and groundbreaking medical contributions from Dr. Peter Safar and Dr. Nancy...

HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH!!! I don't know about y'all, but I wake up every day proud to be BLICKETY BLACK BLACK BLACK BLACK!!!

In honor of Black History Month, I'd like to take some time to shed light on people in black history who may have been forgotten. In today's episode, let's journey through the unsung heroism of Claudette Colvin, the young girl whose defiance against segregation laws preceded Rosa Par...

Girl...idk. Trump has been back in office for a week & he's hit the ground RUNNING! In today's episode, we tackle the chaos of Trump's first week in office, reflecting on the disbelief and emotional turmoil it has unleashed. The episode explores not only the alarming rollback of civil rights protections but also the underlying motivations and personal vendettas driving these changes. 

When reflecting on the things...

Is TikTok truly a national security threat, or was it just a target in a personal vendetta by former (& now current) President Donald Trump? Join me, Daijné Jones, on The Napkin In Between Podcast as we unravel the tangled web of politics and personal grievances that fueled the explosive debate over the TikTok ban in the United States. This episode promises a thorough exploration of the contentious journey from Trump's ini...