Season 2 Ep 2: We Didn't Choose the Rum...The Rum Chose Us*

*Over 21? Please drink responsibly. 

After a hiatus, we're back to continue S2. We catch you up with what's been going on in our lives, share live "reporting" from Muddy River Distillery, and find out what made author Tomi Adeyemi so upset about her Children of Blood and Bone movie adaptation. 

#PodcastDrop #Season2 #Whiskey #Rum #PhD #Wedding #Movies

Music for S1 Ep4 and beyond from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/mountaineer/kick-back
License code: WIW2159A5LBSADR2

The first 2 episodes feature music from https://youtu.be/_uvz1APvCeM?si=clrAURycB1X0SZFx

Transcript

SPEAKER_03 0:00

It's Anita. And this is Ty. And this is the Brown Skin Power Half Power. This episode starts a little differently. That's because Anita and I are at a whiskey tasting. Uh we are at the Muddy River Distillery out in Monthali, which is outside of Charlotte in Gaskin County. Anyway, we're out here. So if you hear a little background chatter, a little shot glass clinking, mind your business. But we're live.

SPEAKER_01 0:47

Welcome to the River Distillery. My name is Jay. I am the head distiller here. So I tend to give what we call the more technical tour compared to Robbie, who gives more of a historical about the company and kind of what all is entailed with running a business like this. And then other tour guys we have from time to time give their own version of the tour. So my first thing I want to tell you all is if Faith didn't already mention, she probably did. But if this is your first time here, now you have a shot glass. If you come back in the future for tours, you can bring that shot glass back and take another tour. Not shots whenever you want.

SPEAKER_02 1:39

Ty and I are looking for guests to join us on upcoming episodes, and here's the best part. You only need about 10 minutes. Seriously, you don't have to be famous, you don't have to have a huge following, and you definitely don't have to be an expert. If you've got a story, a unique perspective, a lesson you've learned, or even an opinion that'll make us laugh or think. We'd love to have you have you on. Around here, we believe some of the best conversations happen with everyday people. That's what makes us this po that's what makes this podcast special. We talk about life, relationships, careers, culture, current events, and all those moments that make us like I've been there. So if you've ever been waiting for a sign, this is it.

SPEAKER_03 2:21

This is Ty. And listen, don't overthink this. We're not looking for the perfect speakers. You heard Anita, we're looking for real people with a story that can make someone laugh or think or just fill that togetherness, if you will. We love to hear from you. I'm not gonna hold you if you're looking for a podcast with a million followers or even a thousand followers. We're not the one for you right now. But that's fine. But here's the real flex. Here's a flex. You can say you went on a podcast that is played on Amazon, Spotify, iHeart, and many other places, right? But those are like the big three, I guess, right? Anyway, reach out to us, the Thailand Collective. That's T-H-D-T-Y-L-A-N-D collective at gmail.com. Uh, when you see us in these social media streets, you can leave a comment or send us a DM. We just might be talking to you next. You never know. So come on. Bye. So wow, a lot has happened since we recorded season two, episode one. I know you missed us, guys. I can tell because um just the other day I received an email of downloads from season two and season one. So I know y'all missed us, but we had to come back. But anyway, um, I'll let Anita share her news first and then I'll share mine.

SPEAKER_02 4:03

Well, me and David got married.

unknown 4:06

Yeah!

SPEAKER_02 4:07

Yeah, Ty was at the wedding, so we had it in Ohio. So, yeah, so it's yeah. Getting used to married, and of course I wanted a whiskey barrel ring because I love my whiskey.

SPEAKER_03 4:19

Okay, and so leading up to that, did um just take take us to where um I guess that week of how frantic or was it frantic?

SPEAKER_02 4:30

It was frantic. Uh we left early. I got a wonderful drive pedicure before we left.

SPEAKER_03 4:37

Okay.

SPEAKER_02 4:38

And it was going from North Carolina up there, and we were happy it was over. It's like, I love you. I love you too.

SPEAKER_03 4:50

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 4:51

I'm tired.

SPEAKER_03 4:52

And how long was that drive?

SPEAKER_02 4:55

Well, with his driving, yeah, it was like 10 hours. 10 hours. I think because we took some stops. Yeah. Yeah, because we left close to nine at night because we had to go see the venue because we didn't do that.

SPEAKER_03 5:08

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 5:09

Beautiful venue.

SPEAKER_03 5:10

Oh, it was gorgeous. It was a gorgeous venue. It was a little hot out there for the ceremony now. We ain't gonna lie, but the ceremony did not last long at all. So, I mean, it was I think it was perfect. Thanks.

SPEAKER_02 5:25

I think it was perfect. Thanks.

SPEAKER_03 5:26

You were you looked amazing. Thank you. Um, you know what I really I don't know how much you want to share, but someone, um, I was surprised that someone was able to walk you down the aisle.

SPEAKER_02 5:38

Oh, yeah, my father-in-law.

SPEAKER_03 5:40

Yeah, I was so happy to see that.

SPEAKER_02 5:42

Yes.

SPEAKER_03 5:42

And I actually I don't know if he told you, but I actually hugged him on our way to the reception. I said, Thank you for doing that.

SPEAKER_02 5:50

No, you didn't let me know because I mean David went through the wrong door. So it was like, uh, which door? Oh, that was the door we're supposed to.

SPEAKER_03 6:00

I don't think anybody caught that, right? But um, I went to him and I said, Thank you for doing that for my friend. So that was really dope. Um, so yeah, so how's it feel now? Being it's it hasn't been quite a month yet, but barely three weeks.

SPEAKER_02 6:18

Barely.

SPEAKER_03 6:19

Does it feel the same or it's like I gotta remember to wear my ring. In relationship, I should say. Does that do or life in general? Does does it feel different?

SPEAKER_02 6:31

It's more of oh, I gotta remember to wear a ring. Like we both have to get used to wearing a ring.

SPEAKER_03 6:39

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 6:39

And we got our paperwork, it's at home, we got two copies of the license. So yeah, and now oh yeah, it's like, no, no, no, we're gonna order these because I spent three years working in vital records, so I'm like, what I'm you have some meetings with Homeland Security, it really changes.

SPEAKER_03 6:58

You make sure writing and writing and writing. No, I get it. Documentation is everything, especially now.

SPEAKER_02 7:07

I know, I know. It was like that when I was working there. I mean, you felt the rumblings.

SPEAKER_03 7:14

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 7:15

And this was during the Obama, but I off topic. I did feel the rumblings even then. So once the orange man.

SPEAKER_03 7:23

Well, I I will never, I will not.

SPEAKER_02 7:28

Okay, but I can say that because I don't work in government.

SPEAKER_03 7:30

You can say that.

SPEAKER_02 7:34

Yeah, yeah, but I'm just saying speak on that. No, but I can say it because it's like, okay, it's been over ten years since I worked on that side of it.

SPEAKER_03 7:43

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 7:44

So I have a lot more liberty, but it yeah, the most important thing is with birth certificates, you need to make sure it's certified, the security papers right, and it's always a long form. Because again, my little advice from my years there. Okay, anytime you get a passport, don't ever, ever, ever order those little card size. Homeland Security will not accept those.

SPEAKER_03 8:09

Yeah, I never saw the poll the point of that. I mean sentimental. You can't even use that to fly anywhere.

SPEAKER_02 8:17

I mean it's sentimental values.

SPEAKER_03 8:19

You could probably use it on a cruise, but I think they're probably gonna be phasing that out shortly. I mean, if they haven't already. Because what is the point if you can get a passport? Just get a passport, just get a passport, anyway. Um, you know, congratulations again. I'm happy for both of you. And man, it's just been a crazy year.

SPEAKER_02 8:43

Yes, because you're now Dr. Ty.

SPEAKER_03 8:45

Yes, I am finally Dr. Ty. So just about every episode since season one.

SPEAKER_00 8:55

This audio was created with async.com.

SPEAKER_03 9:01

So just about every episode since season one, I probably have been getting on y'all's nerves about um working on whether it's the dissertation or the proposal or just still in school, but I am done as of the weekend of May the 7th. I am now Dr. Ty. Officially. Officially Dr. Ty. And you talk about paperwork. My degree actually came in the mail like what last week, week before last. So yeah, I'm excited. Just I'm I'm glad it's over. Um, and and not even what three months out of um that, I am going to be going back to the classroom as an adjunct professor. Congratulations celebrate. Thank you. Yes, we did. And we still just like we celebrated you. You know what? We're just celebrating all year, guys. If you recall, when I turned 50, I celebrated that whole year. So we're running that back because we have a lot to celebrate. 2026 has been a great year for us both. But you know, in doing that, it means that we, you know, had to put some things on the back shelf. We had to handle business. But we're back. We're back with our season two, and thank you for wasting your time with us. Um, we'll be back. You're listening to the Brownskin Power Half Hour live in Mont Holly at the Muddy River Distillery. Cheers. Let's say Cheers to which one is this? Number three? Yeah, this is the third one. This is the third one. I'm trying a smooth. Well, they're all rum, but they're all right. And then you're trying to pour it. Yeah, mine's ancient port packs. Okay. And we're just vibing in here, and you know, I'm just trying to stay sober. Hi, I'm Dr. Ty. I'm inviting you or someone you know to be on the letters. I started Beyond the Letters because earning a doctoral, not a doctoral, it's not the finish line, it's the beginning of another chapter. Sidebar, I'm reading a script, as you can probably tell by now. The word or the letters that make up doctoral is highlighted in red. So shout outs to you, Apple, because you get it. Anyway, earning a doctoral degree, it's not the finish line, it's the beginning of a new chapter. So every week on Beyond the Letters, I'll spend just a couple of minutes highlighting women who are writing that next chapter, whether they're applying for a teaching position, surviving exams, defending or figuring out life after graduation. For example, what's something nobody warned you about after graduation? Let me know at Beyond the Letters. You can find us on Facebook and Discord. Email the Thailand Collective at gmail.com for more info. That's T H E T Y L A N D collective at gmail.com. Bye. And we're back. Um we want to get into these topics. There's so much to cover, right? But there's only so much we can cover in 30 minutes. So um Anita, you were telling me about a movie.

SPEAKER_02 13:05

It's out already, or uh it's not out yet, but it has been having some very interesting consequences. Uh the book Children of the Blood and Bone. I have not read it. But I have been hearing a lot of issues between the author because it was published six eight years ago.

SPEAKER_03 13:31

Okay.

SPEAKER_02 13:32

So the author is having issues with how the movie turned out.

SPEAKER_03 13:39

Okay.

SPEAKER_02 13:40

She's like, this is the worst thing I've ever seen. Uh she's been talking about it on social media.

SPEAKER_03 13:46

What does she what does she not like about it?

SPEAKER_02 13:49

Everything, pretty much summarized. Okay. She's just feels like it's not very good. But I I will say this as an author, and very few authors have the power to be like I can have control. You're this.

SPEAKER_03 14:08

Yeah, I was wondering about that because you remember Terry McMillan. Well, I think she still does for like um life, the Lifetime Network. Yeah. But she used to have a lot of box office movies based on her book. And of course, most movies are not going to cover the entire book. There's no, I mean, it would have to be a series to do that, right?

SPEAKER_02 14:34

Yeah, Stephen King with the Shining.

SPEAKER_03 14:36

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 14:37

Everybody remembers, more people remember the version with Jack Nicholson.

SPEAKER_03 14:43

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_02 14:43

Which he hated, by the way. Anne Rice hated the um interview with the vampire. She did not want Tom Cruise playing that role.

SPEAKER_03 14:53

Yeah, but going back to this movie, how um I'm trying to understand what in particular is there anything that stood out to you that she complained about?

SPEAKER_02 15:05

Well, I'm gonna look at PeopleMagazine.com according to an article two days ago by Kimberly Speakman. Told me, I do not want to ruin her name, the author.

SPEAKER_03 15:18

That's fine. We we're good.

SPEAKER_02 15:20

Okay, so she came out, she was like, she's officially separating herself from the movie adaptation of her book. She's 32 years old and a New York Times because it became one. Uh, she shed some light on her separation after the trailer. What and according to her, what I'm about to share is not a secret to the people involved. She's she did a video about this. It's a reality that I've had to live with for about a year and a half, and everyone involved, at least at the highest level, have been made aware of this reality. They haven't done anything to make it better. If anything, they've only antagonized me, and I accept that. But I also accept that if I don't say something, I think it's just going to get worse. She didn't elaborate according to this article. She did not elaborate on what happened on the set. However, she did share some insight into the aftermath. Per her words. I'm actually only going to speak about what happened after I left that set uh this that set of my own film adaptation. Hyperventilating and sobbing, and there are so many witnesses, it's not really a secret.

SPEAKER_03 16:41

Well, listen, this is not me um, you know, brushing off her sobbing, crying, and hyperventilating and anxiety attacks. I'm not, yeah. I mean, I I I am the last person, well, everybody I guess would be the last people to, you know, question what that's about, but because this made headlines, I want to know exactly, because again, most movies are not going to hit the note. And nine times out of ten, when the viewers, when the moviegoers watch the movie and they've read the book, they almost always say that the book is better. So knowing that, and I and understanding that she may not have the limit, the limit of control that honestly I thought they would have. Is she just not doing any more movies? Or and I know that this isn't in the article, so I'm not asking you to answer these, but I just have to wonder, okay, you didn't like it, you're going on, but you're not gonna elaborate. Okay.

SPEAKER_02 18:14

You're blocking actors from it, because she even said that. Um, she wrote a response in a response because she previously other screenshots of messages sent to recipients, including one message, appeared to be from one of the adapter stars. So, this according to the people article, she wrote in response, don't ever use my name in an interview or video again. Do not text me, do not call me, and then block the contact.

SPEAKER_03 18:40

She's she did this.

SPEAKER_02 18:42

Yep, according to the people article.

SPEAKER_03 18:43

Again, okay. Listen, I'm I cannot fault her. I clearly cannot fault her because I don't know what's what happened. Like, what why are we only getting half of the story if it's making it to people? That's pretty poor journalism, if you ask me, because we have come here, we have to understand when it gets to that point, knowing what we know about adaptations, what was it? And it could have been the whole thing, and I get it, but I gotta ask. Is the author black or white?

SPEAKER_02 19:24

She's white.

SPEAKER_03 19:25

She's black, yes. That is interesting because again, Ted McMillan, who has just about most of her books are like movie versions at this point, and I don't know what it is. Again, they do not hit the mark, but she's I have not heard her complain about that. And I mean, she has every right to if she did, but we need to know, listen, if it's gonna make people I need to know exactly what was it. Were her expectations just unavailable? Like, we have to learn how to manage expectations, right? If that if that's the case. Like, what were you expecting? And even if you didn't have your hand in most of it, you had to have your hand in some of it because it's your book. Somebody on your camp, if it wasn't you, had to sign off on that. Somebody had to say, hey, let's do it. You know, let's do this. I mean, they're not gonna do that without your permission. So for you to sign, you signed off on that, ma'am. You sign, and I'm not saying, especially since you're black, and it matters. Here's why, because for years, black women, especially when you get to my this audio was created with async.com black women, especially when you get to my age, you know, and oh, and over, we were taught to just be glad you have a job, just be glad you got this opportunity, just be glad, just be glad, just be glad. Now, clearly that is not her case. That is not her um her story. She is not just glad, but there's there has to be a point where, okay, we we were mad, we were sad, okay, what happened? And yeah, I feel like we're owed that because why are you sabotaging a movie that's not even out, right?

SPEAKER_02 21:49

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 21:50

So now people are going into this, not people of magazine, but movie goers going are going to look at this with. Preconceived notions that oh it's probably gonna suck because the author didn't even like it. And and she has again she has a right to her feelings, but okay, what happened?

SPEAKER_02 22:13

One of the issues, according to MSN, she didn't like the fact that Amanda Amanda Steinberg was cast to play the lead. And this again, according to an article on MSN.com. And a lot of people brought this up. If the character's dark skinned is set in Africa, why do you have this mixed girl playing the character?

SPEAKER_03 22:34

Okay, well, kudos to you for finding one part, uh, one one complaint, which is fine, you know. I mean, really, one is all we really need. We just need to know what, you know, what was what why was she in such an uproar, you know? Is she the type of person that is a diva and just have these um unrealistic expectations? Um, is this her first movie adaptation?

SPEAKER_02 23:04

Yeah, it's part of a series. And she was 24 when she got the deal.

SPEAKER_03 23:07

Okay, okay, so then that might have something to do with it because her age, you know, when I was 24, you know, I was uh complaining about so much stuff.

SPEAKER_02 23:17

Yeah, I mean she's 30. Well, she's 33 now and still complain. But again, there were more established writers who didn't try to systematically, and I'm not trying to minimize another black woman's issues.

SPEAKER_03 23:32

Right, I don't want to do that either.

SPEAKER_02 23:34

But black or white, you're not footing the bill. At the end of the day, it's universal, they are footing the bill.

SPEAKER_03 23:40

And she's getting a check.

SPEAKER_02 23:42

Yeah, she's gonna check. She's got two checks. I mean, depending on, it's not my fault if you had a bad lawyer.

SPEAKER_03 23:49

Right.

SPEAKER_02 23:50

Because when you negotiate from it's sort of like, hear me out.

SPEAKER_03 23:54

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 23:55

90s music.

SPEAKER_03 23:56

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 23:56

If you don't hire an entertainment lawyer and you get a bad contract, yeah, that's on you.

SPEAKER_03 24:02

I'm sorry, I'm getting allergy season. Yeah, you and me both. I get it. But um, you know, I don't want producers to read this and think, oh, she's hard to deal with. Because once the entertainment industry deem you as hard to deal with, a complainer, a baby, they don't want to deal with you no more. Your career is pretty much over. And I mean, she's a writer, she can go back to writing books, but who's gonna really want to that's about as far as she can go. Yeah. Now I I mean, but you know, at the same time, she's also doing herself a not even a disservice anymore, but a service because now, guess what? Now I want to read the book, and I want to see this movie that is so bad that caused her to cry. And you know what? Let me just apologize for saying it the way I said that just now, because again, we're not here to minimize, especially another black woman, because we have it rough, especially in the entertainment industry. We have it still, we still have it so rough.

SPEAKER_02 25:16

But it's also a fine line. I was just thinking about first time Viv. She was labeled difficult, and look at how many years it took for her to bounce back.

SPEAKER_03 25:28

That that really was not all her. It came to find come to find out.

SPEAKER_02 25:33

Yeah, come to find, yeah, but it took how many years she was not going to kiss behind, basically.

SPEAKER_03 25:39

She was not kissing Will Smith's behind.

SPEAKER_02 25:42

Get that.

SPEAKER_03 25:43

And people back then, and even now, people think you're difficult just for that. And she was pregnant in real life at the time.

SPEAKER_02 25:51

Oh, yeah, she was. They wrote it in. Yeah. And I remember like part of her book, she was like, I didn't like the gift, you know, Chrissy Jones gave. Uh, not everybody's gonna like every gift you get, right? But there's still, you don't put it in a book.

SPEAKER_03 26:04

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 26:05

There's a level, look at Monique. Okay, another example. Was she 100% right with her grievances about black actresses?

SPEAKER_03 26:14

I don't I don't think she was 100% right. I think she had some valid points. I agree. I don't think I don't she always for me, I'm always on the fence with her.

SPEAKER_02 26:28

A problematic truth.

SPEAKER_03 26:30

Yeah, yeah. I don't like being on the fence at all. But, you know, there's times where she talks about, you know, women, girls at the airport wearing bonnets, you know. There's when there's a time she did charm school, she's a host, but if you've ever seen her older stand-up, it's like you're the last one to talk about class, you know what I'm saying?

SPEAKER_02 26:55

No, I 100% agree. And the whole thing with um, I forgot her name. Um the girl who girl with the tramp stamp, the actress who Which one? No, she wrote a book, that was the name of the book, literally.

SPEAKER_03 27:12

Okay, okay.

SPEAKER_02 27:12

Um, because she complained about her.

SPEAKER_03 27:15

Okay.

SPEAKER_02 27:16

I feel pretty. People don't think she's really funny. Um I can picture her face, but anyway, Monique complained. It's like, well, why don't I have the same kind of Netflix deal?

SPEAKER_03 27:27

Right.

SPEAKER_02 27:28

Because your whole filmography, and yes, I talked this over and I did the numbers. Your comedic filmography isn't even worth one of her movies. That's a business decision. That's not racist.

SPEAKER_03 27:46

Yeah and we'll be back. You're listening to the Brownskin Power Half Hour live in Mont Holly at the Muddy River Distillery. Cheers. Cheers to life. 2026 has been a good year and great jobs. And great jobs and just great futures. Cheers. Hi, I'm Dr. Ty, inviting you or someone you know to Beyond the Letters. I started Beyond the Letters because earning a doctoral degree is not the finish line, you guys. It's the beginning of another chapter. Each week I'll spend just a couple of minutes highlighting women who are writing that next chapter. Whether they're applying for a teaching position, surviving comps, or as we called it at my school, qualifying exams, defending, or figuring out life after graduation. What are some topics you might find on BTL? Well, I'm glad you asked. How are you feeling about AI? Whether you're a student or a professor. We'll keep an eye on this and more inside beyond the letters on Facebook and on Discord. For more information, you can email me at the Thailand Collective at gmail.com. That's T-H-E-T-Y-L-A-N-D collective at gmail.com.

SPEAKER_02 29:33

Thanks for listening to the Brown Skin Power Half Hour. I'm Anita.

SPEAKER_03 29:38

And this is time. We only have 30 minutes, so thanks for listening. Cheers to the life. Twenty twenty-six has been a good year and great job.

SPEAKER_00 29:51

Great jobs and great years.com.