Laughter and Lessons for the Holidays with Vanessa Fraction and Hollie Harper
Friends Like Us
How do you handle winter blues? Join host Marina Franklin, Vanessa Fraction and Holie Harper as we talk holiday cheer, money-saving hacks, and controversial documentaries that will keep you talking. Hollie Harper is a comedy nerd from South Jersey. She is currently the creator and co-exec producer of Hella Late! with Hollie Harper on BRIC TV and a co-host of the nationally trending Twitter Storytelling Chat “BlerdDating.” Hella Late! with Hollie Harper was recently in the 2021 NYC Web Fest where she was nominated as Best Actress. Hollie was a semi-finalist in the 2019 NBC Standup...
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Marina Franklin's Holiday Reflections and Gratitude
Friends Like Us
Marina Franklin reflects on a year full of incredible guests, heartfelt discussions, and important advocacy work. Whether you're a longtime listener or new, there's something here for everyone. Happy Holidays, and here's to a bright 2026! Always hosted by Marina Franklin - One Hour Comedy Special: Single Black Female ( Amazon Prime, CW Network), TBS's The Last O.G, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Hysterical on FX, The Movie Trainwreck, Louie Season V, The Jim Gaffigan Show, Conan O'Brien, Stephen Colbert, HBO's Crashing, and The Breaks with Michelle Wolf. Writer for HBO's...
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Navigating Life, Love, And Loss: A Real Conversation On Caregiver Roles
Friends Like Us
Dive into a compelling discussion on embracing vulnerability, caregiving, and the complex relationships we have with our mothers. Join Marina Franklin and her incredible guests, Angela Nissel and Charla Lauriston, for a powerful episode. Angela Nissel is an author and television writer-producer best known for her comedic memoirs *The Broke Diaries* and *Mixed*, as well as her work on TV shows like *Scrubs* and *Mixed-ish*. Born and raised in Philadelphia, she graduated from the University of Pennsylvania before co-founding the music site Okayplayer with Questlove. After the success of...
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The Journey to Wellness: Therapy, Trauma, and Triumph
Friends Like Us
Friends have a powerful conversation about "The Cost Of Healing In Silence" with Marina Franklin and guests Ashley McGirt and Nonye Brown-West on the latest episode. Ashley McGirt is a psychotherapist,TEDxinternational speaker, author, and the founder and CEO of theTherapy Fund Foundation, a nonprofit focused on eliminating barriers to mental health care in Black and historically excluded communities. She specializes in trauma, racial trauma, leadership, healthequity, mental health, and self-care. Ashley holds a Master of Social Work from the University ofWashington and a Bachelor of Science...
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BLACK, WHITE, COLORED: The Hidden History of an Insurrection, a Southern Town, and Identity in America
Friends Like Us
This Friends Like Us Podcast, Host Marina Franklin talks with Leeanet Noble and Lauretta Noble about rich narratives and legacy embedded in their new book: 'BLACK, WHITE, COLORED: The Hidden History of an Insurrection, a Southern Town, and Identity in America.' Join me in conversation with its passionate authors. Lauretta Malloy Noble is a critically acclaimed performer, writer, vocalist, musician, and producer. She studied psychology, music and liberal arts extensively at Howard University and holds a BSc degree. She is certified in Genealogy Research from the University of...
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Embracing Milestones: Von Decarlo and Ant Pruitt on Aging Gracefully
Friends Like Us
This week, host Marina Franklin is joined by Von Decarlo and Ant Pruitt, and we discuss life, faith and finding purpose at every age. Von's new book, 'Fine Over Fifty' is not just a book title; it's a vibe! Von Decarlo is an introspective stand-up comedian and entertainment professional who has transformed a life of hardship into purpose. From Clairton, Pennsylvania, to a thriving career in New York City, she is known for her bold humor and unshakable authenticity. A graduate of The Art Institute of Pittsburgh, Von uses her platform to inspire inner strength—often declaring that even...
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Sci-Fi Meets Real-World Activism
Friends Like Us
This Friends Like Us, host Marina Franklin talks to Nourbese Flint and Leighann Lord about the battle for reproductive justice and community building. Nourbese Flint is President of All* Above All and All* In All Action Fund, leading All* Above All’s work to achieve abortion justice and build the political power of voters of color. She previously served as Vice President of Strategy. Prior to coming to All* Above All, she was the Senior Director of Black Engagement at Planned Parenthood Federation of America, where she worked on the strategic partnership to strengthen Planned...
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Friends Celebrate Native American Heritage Month With Allie Redhorse Young
Friends Like Us
Host Marina Franklin and young star Nonye Brown-West talk with Allie Redhorse Young as they celebrate Native American Heritage Month. They discuss the siginficance of preserving cultural narratives like cowgirl culture! Allie Redhorse Young is a powerhouse Diné organizer, storyteller, and founder of Protect the Sacred, where she's educating and empowering the next generation of Native youth and allies to lead with courage and sovereignty. Through Protect the Sacred, she’s registered thousands of Native voters, mobilized young people to the polls on horseback and skateboards, and...
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Stronger Together: Friendship and Breast Cancer Awareness
Friends Like Us
October, we're spotlighting Breast Cancer Awareness Month with powerful stories of resilience and advocacy. Tune in to hear from Marina Franklin's incredible friends Jenny Saldana and Christina Bernard as we discuss survival, hope, and healthcare challenges. Christina Bernard, a stage 4 cancer thriver, chaplain, and motivational speaker, utilizes her global platform to convert pain into purpose and empowerment. She enables women to overcome adversity by embracing resilience, faith, and the healing power of love, advocating for emotional wellness, spiritual growth, and hope during life's most...
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Navigating Venture Capital with Jon Laster and Marlon Nichols
Friends Like Us
Join Marina Franklin on the latest Friends Like Us podcast with special guests Jon Laster & Marlon Nichols as they dive into the world of venture capital, diversity in tech, and the untapped potential in Africa. Don't miss this insightful episode! Jon Laster is known for One Bedroom (2018), No More Mr Nice Guy (2018) and The 2019 ESPY Awards (2019) and check out his new series An Astute Woman Web Series. He is the Founder and C.E.O. of Blapp. Blapp is a Google-based, geo-located app that will tell you all the Black businesses that are right around you. Marlon Nichols is the...
info_outlineOn this Friends Like Us, I talk with both Erica Switzer and Nnenna Freelon about the improvisation of grief.
Experience the powerful stories behind Nnenna Freelon's album "Beneath The Skin" and her upcoming book "Beneath The Skin Of Sorrow." Pre-order the book now and get the album today! Don't miss out on these soulful insights into art and grief.
Nnenna Freelon is a celebrated jazz vocalist, composer, producer, author and host of the award-winning podcast Great Grief with Nnenna Freelon. A seven-time Grammy® Award nominee, Freelon is a member of the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame. She has released over twelve solo albums, most recently, Beneath the Skin on Origin Records. She toured with Ray Charles. She performed at the inauguration of President George W. Bush in January 2001. In November 2011, The White House, under the leadership of President Barack Obama, asked Freelon to headline the Asia Pacific Economic Summit for 300 Presidents, Premiers, and Heads of State from around the world. Dr. Maya Angelou was an admirer of her voice. Married to Phillip Freelon, the lead architect for the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of African American History.
Nnenna's book- preorder it now! : officially Oct. 21, is the companion piece to her lauded spring 2025 album ‘Beneath the Skin’ (Origin Records), Beneath the Skin of Sorrow, is a new collection of essays, poems, lyrics, revelations, and explorations of jazz, shaped by Freelon’s personal experiences with grief. It’s also a love letter—to Phil, to her sister, and to anyone learning to live with loss.
Erica Switzer: Chicagoland’s Erica Switzer is a rising stand-up comedian; think “Your bougie jet-set auntie who twerks to NPR.” Since 2021, she has produced Fear Of A Black Cat Comedy, a platform highlighting diverse comedic talent. A 2020 Flappers Comedy Club Soup-or-Bowl winner, she has performed at major festivals such as the World Series of Comedy, Black Women in Comedy Laff Fest, and Burbank Comedy Festival's Best of Fest.
Always hosted by Marina Franklin - One Hour Comedy Special: Single Black Female ( Amazon Prime, CW Network), TBS's The Last O.G, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Hysterical on FX, The Movie Trainwreck, Louie Season V, The Jim Gaffigan Show, Conan O'Brien, Stephen Colbert, HBO's Crashing, and The Breaks with Michelle Wolf. Writer for HBO's 'Divorce' and the new Tracy Morgan show on Paramount Plus: 'Crutch'.