The podcast's one hundredth episode! Much love and appreciation for our listeners and viewers, whether you were part of the convo since Episode One, Episode 50, or just recently --- thank you all for rocking with us! On this milestone episode, TAJ & Will tackle the podcast’s most heralded topic: separating the art from the artist. Can you enjoy R. Kelly’s music while knowing he was found guilty of charges that include sexual exploitation of a child and sex trafficking? Did you rush to hear Kanye’s Donda album despite everything he was saying just a couple years ago? And how do we determine if someone linked to an artist is “guilty by association”? Do you tune into NFL every week with knowledge of how Colin Kaepernick was silenced? A lot of layers to this topic, and the both of them get into all of it. Then, as promised, they have a special announcement on the podcast’s one hundredth! Rock with us!  Subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0qneYn1sQUikJknAXVjKjA   IG: @breakbarrierpod, @ryals____   Twitter: @breakbarrierpod, @tajfcruz, @therealryals   Email: [email protected]

One away from the podcast’s hundredth episode! Big announcement coming in Episode 100, so don’t miss it! In Episode 99, TAJ & Will hold no punches against the anti-vaxxers of the NBA, and they discuss whether LeBron James should speak up on this matter, plus the vaccine becoming politicized and agendas targeting the Black community. Then, they talk about the social media outage that had Instagram and Facebook down, and they imagine what society would be like if the social media platforms never came back. Subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0qneYn1sQUikJknAXVjKjA  IG: @breakbarrierpod, @ryals____  Twitter: @breakbarrierpod, @tajfcruz, @therealryals  Email: [email protected]

Kick it with us for this chill episode! TAJ & Will have some meaningful therapy talk after TAJ talks about having his first ever therapy session this week. Then, they talk about the representation and impact of Rihanna's Fenty show and the unfortunate truth about how things unfolded with Britney Spears and the conservatorship. TAJ & Will also find parallels between their respective emotional experiences watching Shang-Chi and the Black Panther, both getting the full Marvel blockbuster treatment. Then, they discuss R. Kelly being found guilty of all charges after 11 sexual abuse victims testified against him. Subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0qneYn1sQUikJknAXVjKjA IG: @breakbarrierpod, @ryals____ Twitter: @breakbarrierpod, @tajfcruz, @therealryals Email: [email protected]

In this episode, TAJ & Will unpack some of the layers of Netflix's Clickbait limited series, from race to workplace privilege, plus the pros and cons of social media. They also talk about its parallels to the real-life coverage of Gabby Petito and discuss "missing white woman syndrome". Then, they touch on representation at the recent Emmys. Rest In Peace, Gabby Petito. Subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0qneYn1sQUikJknAXVjKjA IG: @breakbarrierpod, @ryals____ Twitter: @breakbarrierpod, @tajfcruz, @therealryals Email: [email protected]

TAJ & Will had a blast recording this one. In this entertaining episode, they disagree as they discuss Nicki Minaj's COVID-19 vaccine tweets (9:50). They also talk about the influence of celebrities like Nicki Minaj and Kyrie Irving on the public, and they get into Kyrie's mysterious tweet mentioning his "mask is off" (16:45). Other topics include the US Women's Gymnastics Olympians calling out the FBI and the system for enabling the abuse of gymnasts by Larry Nassar (36:00), the podcast's thoughts on the screening process for deciding on the best therapist for you (43:55), the latest Verzuz battle between Fat Joe and Ja Rule (0:30), the MET Gala, the US Open Women's Final, and more! Rock w/ us!  Subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0qneYn1sQUikJknAXVjKjA IG: @breakbarrierpod, @ryals____ Twitter: @breakbarrierpod, @tajfcruz, @therealryals Email: [email protected]

TAJ & Will start the episode with a tribute to barrier breaker and legendary actor Michael K. Williams, and they talk about the memorable characters he played throughout his career (3:00). Afterward, they congratulate Derek Jeter for being inducted into the MLB Hall of Fame and talk about him as a role model (17:00). Then, for the 20th anniversary of September 11, they both recount their experiences of that day as kids (26:00), the trauma that comes with seeing September 11 unfold at a young age (30:40), xenophobia, and TAJ shares his emotional experience at the 9/11 memorial in 2009 (36:40). They end the episode with their thoughts on the Texas abortion ban and rape (41:25). Subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0qneYn1sQUikJknAXVjKjA  IG: @breakbarrierpod, @ryals____  Twitter: @breakbarrierpod, @tajfcruz, @therealryals  Email: [email protected]

This episode is a good one. School is back, but during such uncertain times. Is it safe for the students? Is it safe for the teachers? Should all workers be vaccinated? TAJ & Will start this episode by discussing school returning to in-person classes during covid, the remaining unvaccinated folks, required vaccinations, did society reopen too early, and more. Then, they shift gears to the polarizing Kanye West after the release of his album, "Donda" (24:30). They talk about how people flip-flopped their stance on Kanye, Kanye tying his actions and music to God, what message is Kanye trying to send, the coupling of religion and conservatives, and caring for Kanye's mental health while holding him accountable. Barrier Breakers: Shang-Chi (now in theaters!) for repping as Marvel's first Asian superhero and Nia DaCosta for being the 1st Black woman director with a top box office debut (for Candyman).  Subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0qneYn1sQUikJknAXVjKjA IG: @breakbarrierpod, @ryals____ Twitter: @breakbarrierpod, @tajfcruz, @therealryals Email: [email protected]

TAJ & Will talk about the "Hood Olympics" and #CrateChallenge that took over social media (10:45), does society care about the health and wellbeing of sex workers plus OnlyFans reversing their plan to ban sexually explicit content (16:30), Beyonce getting backlash for the new Tiffany & Co. campaign (29:40), and much more! Other topics include a salute to MLB superstar Shohei Ohtani for his historic season, sending love to Aaliyah, and hip-hop shoutouts including Kendrick Lamar, Kanye West, and Fat Joe. IG: @breakbarrierpod, @ryals____ Subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0qneYn1sQUikJknAXVjKjA Twitter: @breakbarrierpod, @tajfcruz, @therealryals Email: [email protected]

And we back! Super chill episode. Will returns as a married man. TAJ & Will start the episode by reflecting on the great wedding and reception that you missed. Then, the two share recent nightmare airport and flight stories (14:50), including anti-maskers delaying TAJ's flight (23:05) and Will's return to JFK Airport from his honeymoon (29:30). Kick it with us!  IG: @breakbarrierpod, @ryals____  Subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0qneYn1sQUikJknAXVjKjA  Twitter: @breakbarrierpod, @tajfcruz, @therealryals  Email: [email protected] 

A lot to unpack in this episode. TAJ & Will have opposing perspectives on the recent controversy involving ESPN's Rachel Nichols and Maria Taylor (5:00), and they discuss ESPN's history of mishandling issues linked to race, diversity VS inclusion, Bill Cosby being released from prison after sexual assault conviction is overturned, NCAA student athletes to get paid for their likeness, Britney Spears and the justice system, Sha'Carri Richardson being suspended after testing positive for marijuana, Black identity not being welcome at the Olympics, the #MeToo movement, plea deals, and more!  IG: @breakbarrierpod, @ryals____ Twitter: @breakbarrierpod, @tajfcruz, @therealryals Email: [email protected]