Black Migration, Culture & Community in Unexpected Places
Mama, We Made It! With DJ & Reg
Release Date: 07/23/2025
Mama, We Made It! With DJ & Reg
How do we preserve Black history—and who gets to tell it? Dj and Reg welcome Renata Cherlise, founder of Black Archives, for the first part of a powerful conversation on memory, storytelling, and cultural preservation. Renata shares her origin story, tracing her love for archives back to family photo albums and her early days blogging on Tumblr, long before Black Archives grew into a thriving Instagram community of over 620,000 followers. They dive into the evolution of Black Archives, the emotional and intellectual weight of reclaiming Black narratives, and why archiving isn’t about...
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What does 1996 mean to you? Today on Mama, We Made It! with Dj and Reg, the hosts welcome Nakeia Medcalf for a nostalgic conversation celebrating one of the most iconic years in hip hop and R&B - 1996. The trio revisits the albums, artists, and moments from 1996 that shaped Black culture and creativity, 30 years later. From personal memories of growing up with the music to reflections on artists like Tupac, Aaliyah, Jay-Z, Outkast, De La Soul, and Foxy Brown, the conversation explores the sound, style, and impact of an unforgettable era. They also discuss representation, legacy, and...
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This episode on YouTube: Is your child under 2 years old watching social media videos? Pew Research says: this is not uncommon. On today's episode of Mama, We Made It!, Dj, Reg, and Nakeia discuss the 12 findings from 2025 that the Pew Research compiled in their annual report: https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2025/12/09/striking-findings-from-2025/ The trio gives their own opinions on why some of these phenomena may be happening, and their own suscpicions on what is causing such shifts in society. What do you think about these Pew Research findings? Let us know in the...
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This episode on YouTube: How did you react to the big reveal of Pantone's color of the year for 2026? Today on Mama, We Made It! with Dj and Reg, Dj and Reg welcome back Nakeia Medcalf, and the trio discuss some trends, events, and cultural conversations that are set to shape 2026. They begin with Pantone’s controversial “Cloud Dancer” as the Color of the Year, connecting it to themes of “rage bait,” cultural distraction, and deeper societal messages. They also reflect on creative innovation in the Black community, self-identity, and hopes for more meaningful...
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This episode on YouTube: Happy New Year! Do you have some New Year's resolutions, or do you have a different view on how to approach the next year? Today on Mama, We Made It!, Dj and Reg welcome Nakeia Medcalf to discuss their expectations, lessons, and hopes for 2026. None of them are fans of the classic resolutions; they reveal their systems. Practicing an introspective, continuous growth mindset, all three will give insight into personal rituals.
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This episode on YouTube: Curious about how Rashanna Moss started her tennis career? In this part two of a two-part series, Rashanna Moss traces her love for tennis from childhood through her college years and highlighting the powerful influence of 1980s tennis icons. She opens up about the transitions in her athletic and professional life, the pull between passion and financial stability, and the sacrifices made in pursuit of purpose over a traditional career path. Dj, Reg, and Rashanna also explore the role of spirituality and morning routines as a way to maintain...
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Watch This episode on YouTube: Today on Mama We Made It!, Reg and Dj welcome a fantastic guest and friend, Rashanna Moss, for an honest conversation about the meaning of flourishing and the nonlinear paths to peak performance. A long-time friend of Dj's, Rashanna joins to discuss her early days as an athlete and her time in business, and the role life’s detours play in shaping real growth. In this part one of a two-part episode, the team discusses how foundational values and self-alignment inform not just career moves, but also how you build relationships and navigate personal...
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There is still good music being made. On this episode of Mama, We Made It!, Dj and Reg discuss their favorite albums of 2025. The state of music has certainly changed throughout the decades, and whether today's music is better, worse, or just different from the past seems to be a topic of debate for many people. However, there is something to be said about the loss of live instruments in studios and the impact of streaming and various algorithms on discovery. All of that aside, Dj and Reg still managed to find and fall in love with the music of today, and on this episode, they share...
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This episode on YouTube: Out of literally hundreds, maybe thousands of albums, Reg and Dj picked out their top 5 covers. The task was difficult, but enjoyable, as sitting with these covers also meant digging up cherished memories that have shaped their childhood and adolescence. It's also possible that a single album cover made both of their lists. In the age of physical media slowly disappearing, we should take the time to sit with the art that we have, the art that influenced our development, and helped us become the people we are today. Hang on to your physical...
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This episode on YouTube: Do you enjoy all sorts of sports? Having grown up in the life, Dj and Reg have all sorts of thoughts, and today they serve up an unfiltered roundup, covering NBA, NFL, and baseball headlines. Personally, Dj has some fantasy football victories to share, and Reg reveals his focus shift from football to soccer (gasp!). They discuss the Dallas Mavericks and Nico Harrison’s exit as GM, the challenges of professional sports leadership he's had to deal with and what his next chapter may be. Turning to baseball, they discuss Shohei Ohtani's impact as a...
info_outlineWelcome back to Mama We Made It with Dj and Reg! In this episode, Dj and Reg are joined by the creative muse and friend of the show, Nakeia Medcalf, for a rich conversation about Black migration trends across the U.S. and how culture, identity, and community take root in unexpected places. From personal stories of growing up Black in the Midwest to navigating predominantly white spaces, the trio reflects on everything from Boys & Girls Clubs and basketball courts to family reunions that helped shape who they are.
They explore what it means to build community in places like Portland, Arizona, and Mexico City, and how technology has helped amplify and connect Black culture across state lines. Digging into the latest Pew Research data, they discuss the fast-growing Black populations in Utah, Arizona, and Minnesota, the reasons behind these moves, and the cultural and political shifts they bring. From NBA Youngboy settling in Utah to the everyday joy of finding your people, this conversation is both deeply personal and eye-opening.
The hosts close with reflections on wellness, outdoor living, and how Blackness isn’t just something they carry—it’s something that grows, wherever it is. Whether you're in a city, a suburb, or somewhere in between, this episode reminds us that Black culture always finds a way.
Pew Research Center - Key facts about the U.S. Black population - https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2025/01/23/key-facts-about-black-americans/
Pew Reserach Center: https://www.pewresearch.org/
Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/8EqVE3SP1C8
You can also listen to Mama, We Made It! with Dj & Reg on:
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mama-we-made-it-with-dj-reg/id1809918939
Spotify Podcasts: https://open.spotify.com/show/20eLaINMng2ISxB3TH6hED?si=ac880381abfd406f