Thu, Feb 4, 2021
Appalachians usually get the short end of the stick when it comes to media representation. Which is ironic because we have a ton of sticks here. 15 Minutes Late takes a look at J.D. Vance's Hillbilly Elegy, Fallout 76, and a slew of other movies that missed the mark when talking about one of the poorest regions in the country. Then, host Afsheen Misaghi sits down with podcaster Rileigh Smirl of Still Buffering to talk about her "Bicon" status and representing West Virginia.
Thu, Feb 11, 2021
Businesses both big and small vowed to do better in the wake of 2020 #BLM protests. We recap some of the promises made and give a refresher on how long these systematic changes actually take. Then, Afsheen talks with activist/educator/Tik-Tok icon George "Conscious" Lee Jr. about how to see real, meaningful change in our conversation about systemic racism.
Thu, Feb 18, 2021
When country megastar Morgan Wallen made headlines after using a racial slur on video, country music quickly condemned it. This isn't the first time in the last year artists have spoken on racial equality in America. Artists like Jimmie Allen, Darius Rucker, Tyler Childers, Jason Isbell, Marren Morris, and more have stepped up to be voices in the industry supporting causes like Black Lives Matter. BUT what's the real track record? And what do country megastars Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson have to say? Then, Afsheen talks with long time friend and emerging country artist Scott T. Smith about his experiences as a Black musician in an industry that doesn't have many black musicians. They both share their experiences as diverse Appalachians and Scott plays a jingle about 2021. Plus, Walker goes outside.
Thu, Feb 25, 2021
After a series of issues came to light at magazine Bon Appetit, including the (former) editor Adam Rapaport posing in brown face, a wave of scrutiny led to high-profile resignations. Food media has its own problematic history with racial equity, but how about the rest of the culinary world? Also, Afsheen talks with chef and social justice activist Devon Hamilton about his work expanding people's understanding of Black Cuisine.
Thu, Mar 4, 2021
As Season 1 of 15 Minutes Late comes to an end, Afsheen looks at all the ways (for better or worse) the media has changed in the last year. From a crop of diversely cast shows like Woke, Little Fires Everywhere, and Ramy, to the Academy Award's response to #OscarsSoWhite, a lot is shifting when it comes to BIPOC representation on screen. Does Hollywood finally have the solution to fixing the disparities in the industry? Then, actor/producer/writer X Mayo (The Daily Show, The Farewell, Strangers) joins Afsheen to help make sense of the industry. They talk about her wildly popular sketch show "Who Made the Potato Salad?" as well as her plan for building the industry around herself. X shares whether or not her 2020 dream collab happened or not.