The Culture Garden

Welcome back to The Culture Garden Podcast! It's Halloween Week, and Skool and Rich are digging into the 2008 horror film The Ruins!

It's Rich's first time watching the film, so he'll share his thoughts on whether it delivers, while Skool gets to the bottom of one important question: Why doesn't Rich like horror movies? They'll also break down what works, what doesn't, and what the filmmakers could've left behind.

Have you seen The Ruins? Let us know what you think in the comments!

As always, please subscribe, comment, like, and share!

Y'all be cool how y'all be cool!

Welcome back to The Culture Garden Podcast! This week, Rich is joined by Spike Lou to recap the films they watched in theaters and on streaming in September and preview what they’re looking forward to in October. Tune in for recommendations, film talk, and plenty of conversation about what’s worth watching. Let us know what you enjoyed last month and what’s on your October watchlist!

We appreciate you for listening. Y’all be cool how y’all be cool!

Welcome to a bonus episode of The Culture Garden Podcast! Skool and Rich revisit a conversation originally recorded for Skool’s podcast, imagining what some of Denzel Washington and Will Smith’s most iconic roles might have looked like if they had swapped characters.

It’s a fun “what if?” conversation, and now we want to hear from you! Which role swap would you have wanted to see?

Be sure to subscribe, comment, like, and share. Y’all be cool how y’all be cool!

#CultureGarden #DenzelWashington #WillSmith #BlackCinema #MovieTalk

Welcome back to The Culture Garden Podcast! After a summer break, the crew is back for a milestone Episode 150—and with it comes some exciting updates as The Culture Garden begins its transition from a podcast into a media group.

To celebrate the return, the crew revisits the 2000 classic Remember the Titans just in time for football season. They dive into the film’s memorable characters, themes, performances, cultural impact, and why this story continues to resonate more than 25 years later.

We appreciate you for listening! Be sure to subscribe, comment, like, and share, and let us know what you think about Episode 150.

Y’all be cool how y’all be cool!

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E-mail: theculturegardenpodcast@gmail.com

Welcome back to The Culture Garden Podcast!

Kieron and Rachel are joined by Kindra Parker and Rashid Mausi to discuss their upcoming docuseries, Go Black to Africa.

The conversation explores Kindra’s journey from Detroit to becoming a citizen of Ghana, what inspired her to reconnect with the Continent, and how the series aims to give audiences a deeper look at the food, culture, music, people, and everyday experiences of life across Ghana, Botswana, and South Africa.

Rashid also joins the conversation to talk about helping bring Kindra’s vision to life and what it takes to turn a powerful personal journey into a story that can reach audiences around the world.

The first season of Go Black to Africa has been filmed, and the team has launched a Kickstarter campaign to help complete the final editing and production. Every contribution counts—but if you can't contribute financially, simply listening, sharing the story, and spreading the Kickstarter link can make a huge difference.

We appreciate you for tuning in! Check out the Kickstarter link in our bio, support the project however you can, and be sure to follow the movement!

Instagram:

Kindra Parker: @motowngirlkp

Rashid Mausi: @goodenoughisnot

Docuseries: @goblackdocuseries

Welcome back to The Culture Garden Podcast! This week, Rich and Rachel dive into the 2017 film, Marshall. They discuss why films like this still carry so much importance in 2026, the incredible performance delivered by Chadwick Boseman, why courtroom dramas remain one of the most underrated genres in film, and much more.

We appreciate you for tuning in! Please remember to subscribe, comment, like, and share. Y’all be cool how y’all be cool!

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Welcome back to a special episode of The Culture Garden Podcast! This week the crew is joined by Executive Director of the Light Reel Film Festival, Tim Gordon, to discuss the upcoming 7th annual event. Tim reflects on seeing the vision for the festival years ago and gives credit to the people who showed him it was possible. He also opens up about what truly separates Light Reel from other festivals, and the impact he hopes the event continues to have on filmmakers and the community alike.

The conversation also dives into what attendees can expect from this year’s festival, the growth of Light Reel over the years, and what Tim hopes people take away from the experience once the weekend is over. As always, we appreciate you for tuning in and supporting the show!

Light Reel will take place June 3rd–6th at. Pull up, support, and celebrate film and culture with the community!

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@lightreelfilmfest

Welcome back to The Culture Garden Podcast! This week the crew revisits the 1997 classic Soul Food. In this episode, they’ll recall their thoughts from episode 12 to see if any perspectives have changed over time, discuss where Soul Food ranks among the legendary films released in 1997, and break down why this movie still holds up nearly 30 years later.

We appreciate you for tuning in. Please be sure to subscribe, comment, like, and share. Y’all be cool how y’all be cool!

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Welcome back to The Culture Garden Podcast! With the sequel to The Devil Wears Prada arriving this weekend, the crew revisits the original that helped define a generation of fashion and workplace drama.

They break down key differences between the novel and the film, revisit how Anne Hathaway landed the role despite being the 9th choice, and examine why this film draws people in, whether they have an interest in fashion or not.

We appreciate you for tuning in. Be sure to subscribe, comment, like, and share.

Y’all be cool how y’all be cool!

Instagram: @theculturegardenpodcast

Welcome back to The Culture Garden Podcast

This week, the crew dives into the 2003 thriller Out of Time starring Denzel Washington—and the conversation covers a range of topics. Where does this film really rank in Denzel’s catalog? Is it an underrated gem or a forgettable entry in an elite filmography?

Expect a split room, honest takes, and a broader discussion about how the public remembers (or overlooks) certain films over time. This one might have you rethinking where Out of Time belongs.

Tap in, join the conversation, and let us know where you stand.

Subscribe. Comment. Like. Share.

Y’all be cool how y’all be cool.

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Welcome to a brand new episode of The Culture Garden Podcast! This week, the crew kicks things off with a major announcement you won’t want to miss before Rich and Rachel dive into the 2004 Spike Lee joint She Hate Me.

They break down the film’s layered messaging, question whether its many themes ultimately help or hurt its direction, and ask the real question—was Spike Lee trolling with this one? Expect thoughtful analysis, a few laughs, and an honest conversation about one of his more polarizing films.

We appreciate you for tapping in. Be sure to subscribe, comment, like, and share. Y’all be cool how y’all be cool.

Instagram: @theculturegardenpodcast

Welcome back to The Culture Garden Podcast! The break is officially over, and Rich and Skool are back in the garden to talk about the 2018 film Superfly.

With this being their first time watching, they share their initial reactions, highlight what stood out most, and examine how the film holds up on its own. They also pay homage to the original Super Fly, comparing its cultural impact and questioning where the 2018 version fits in terms of legacy.

Tap in for a conversation filled with perspective, critique, and a deeper look at how remakes measure up over time.

We appreciate you for tuning in—be sure to subscribe, comment, like, and share. Y’all be cool how y’all be cool!

Instagram: @theculturegardenpodcast

What’s the word, good people?! The Culture Garden Podcast is back later this week, but in the meantime, we’ve got a bonus drop for you. We’re highlighting Skool’s podcast, Who TF Asked You, with an episode from this past December featuring Mo from Childish Grownups.

The crew dives into a nostalgic conversation breaking down their Top 5 Cartoons of All Time—this one is strictly for the stoop kids. From classics to personal favorites, expect strong opinions, real debate, and a lot of laughs along the way.

We appreciate you for tapping in. If you like what you hear, make sure to subscribe to Skool’s feed and show some love. We’ll catch y’all later this week. Peace!

Instagram: @theculturegardenpodcast

@wtfaskedyoupod

Culture Garden is on Spring Break and will be back on April 9th. In the meantime, check out an episode of We Got Y'all discussing Paradise. If you like it, please be sure to subscribe!:

Welcome back to the We Got Y’all television podcast! We’ve reached the penultimate episode of Paradise Season 2, and Rachel and Rich are back to break it all down. This week, they dive into the growing theories surrounding Alex, attempt to untangle the complicated Samantha/Link timeline, and explore fan speculation about parallel timelines and alternate universes. Plus, they react to Xavier finally reuniting with Teri and what it could mean heading into the finale.

As the season heads toward its conclusion, the stakes are higher, the questions are deeper, and nothing is quite what it seems. Tap in with us as we sort through it all.

We appreciate you for listening—be sure to subscribe, comment, like, and share. We Got Y’all!

Welcome back to The Culture Garden Podcast! 🌹🎙️

Rachel and Kieron are wrapping up the 4th Annual Romance Month with a review of their first animated film, Entergalactic! In this episode, Rachel shares her thoughts after watching the film for the very first time, and the two dive into whether this story would work as a live-action adaptation.

They also explore the film’s connection to classic Black romantic movies, the themes of timing and vulnerability in relationships, and how animation adds a unique layer to modern love stories.

Was Entergalactic a perfect way to close out Romance Month? Tap in and join the conversation.

We appreciate you for tuning in — please subscribe, comment, like, and share.

Y’all be cool how y’all be cool! ✌🏾

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@theculturegardenpodcast

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theculturegardenpodcast@gmail.com

Welcome back to The Culture Garden Podcast!

Rachel and Kieron continue Romance Month with a deep dive into the 1997 indie classic Hav Plenty. They explore the origins of the film and how timing, opportunity, and belief helped turn a $65,000 passion project into a theatrical release.

The conversation also unpacks the complexity of romantic relationships—how love isn’t just about chemistry, but about alignment. Where you are in life, emotionally and professionally, can ultimately determine whether you end up with the person you once thought was “the one.”

We appreciate you for listening. Be sure to subscribe, comment, like, and share. Y’all be cool how y’all be cool!

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@theculturegardenpodcast

E-mail:

theculturegardenpodcast@gmail.com

Welcome back to the Culture Garden Podcast! The trio is back and honored to highlight the winners of the 26th annual Black Reel Awards. They’ll break down the winners in each category, share who they voted for, and dive into some engaging and thought-provoking discourse about the films and performances that made 2025 such a special year in cinema.

We truly appreciate you for listening, and we want to give a special shoutout to the Black Reel Awards for continuing to create space for the culture. Be sure to support their mission, and y’all be cool how y’all be cool!

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@theculturegardenpodcast

E-mail:

theculturegardenpodcast@gmail.com

Welcome back to The Culture Garden Podcast! Rich and Rachel return for the 4th Annual Romance Month, kicking things off with a conversation about the newly released Relationship Goals. The two dive into their surprise at learning the film is based on Pastor Michael Todd’s book and whether that revelation shifted their expectations going in. They also share their overall thoughts on the film and have a larger conversation about what happened to the Rom-Com genre over the last decade.

We appreciate you for tuning in. Be sure to subscribe, comment, like, and share. Y’all be cool how y’all be cool!

Instagram:

@theculturegardenpodcast

E-mail:

theculturegardenpodcast@gmail.com

Welcome back to a brand-new episode of The Culture Garden Podcast!

In Episode 140, the trio revisits the 1999 crime drama In Too Deep. The conversation hits close to home as Rich and Skool reflect on their personal connections to the film, especially with parts of it being filmed right in Cincinnati.

They also dive into a fun debate: who belongs on the Mt. Rushmore of rappers turned actors, and ultimately tackle the big question — does In Too Deep deserve classic status?

As always, we appreciate you for tapping in. Be sure to subscribe, comment, like, and share to keep the Culture Garden growing.

Y’all be cool how y’all be cool.

E-mail:

theculturegardenpodcast@gmail.com

Welcome back to The Culture Garden Podcast

In Episode 139, Kieron and Skool break down the 2015 coming-of-age film Dope. The conversation connects the dots between the continuing universe that began with Rick Famuyiwa’s The Wood, explores the film’s central theme of refusing to let anyone define you or put you in a box, and gives flowers to an incredible cast that brought this story to life. They also talk about why Los Angeles might be one of the best cities ever captured on screen and how the setting plays a huge role in the film’s impact.

As always, we appreciate you for tuning in. Don’t forget to subscribe, comment, like, and share.

Y’all be cool how y’all be cool ✌🏾

Instagram:

@theculturegardenpodcast

E-mail:

theculturegardenpodcast@gmail.com