NAACP+ Inside The Industry

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Inside the Industry is a one-on-one interview podcast that pulls back the curtain on the entertainment business by spotlighting the people who shape it. Through candid, in-depth conversations, each episode explores individual career journeys, current projects, and the realities of working behind—and in front of—the spotlight. The podcast aims to demystify the industry while celebrating creativity, strategy, and the many paths to success.

  1. 21h ago

    Mario Van Peebles: New Jack City, His Father's Legacy & Why Black Stories Must Be Owned

    Thirty-five years after New Jack City changed Hollywood, Mario Van Peebles is still at it — and this conversation proves exactly why. In this episode of NAACP+ Inside the Industry, host Ariana Drummond sits down with actor, director, writer, and producer Mario Van Peebles for one of the most wide-ranging, genuinely funny, and deeply important conversations in the series so far. Mario gets into: → What it felt like to direct New Jack City for Warner Brothers at the same time his father, Melvin, made Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song the top-grossing independent hit of 1971 — twenty years apart, same game → The iconic turkey giveaway scene that almost didn't happen — and how a warehouse fire, rain, and some street hustle made it legendary → Why he cast Ice-T as the cop and Wesley Snipes as the gangster — and how he had to convince them both → How playing his own father in Baadasssss was  "psychotherapy on celluloid" → The two questions he asked Melvin in the Mojave Desert after graduating from Columbia — and the answers that shaped everything → What his father taught him about joy, bitterness, and why "pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional" → His philosophy on building a 40-year career: love what you do, work with people you love, say something you love → Why Black storytellers controlling their own imagery is the most urgent issue in entertainment right now → The Huxtables, Obama, and the direct line between what we see on screen and what we believe is possible → Directing Nemesis for Netflix, Power's Raising Kanan, and what keeps him coming back to the Power universe → Why AI will never replace what happened on Lenox Avenue the day everything went wrong → His advice to every aspiring filmmaker, actor, and creative watching right now This is the episode for anyone who has ever wondered what it means to build a legacy — and fight to protect it at the same time. ️ Host: Ariana Drummond, NAACP Director of Talent & Media Relations Guest: Mario Van Peebles — New Jack City, Posse, Panther, Baadasssss, Roots, Wu-Tang: An American Saga, Power Book III: Raising Kanan, Nemesis New episodes every Wednesday. Subscribe so you never miss one. Watch more Inside the Industry: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaaTUaaxeh-IBd36D0P3FzFcu17Ij2S4T  Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3iny4YTd9NfUBB51aWOpYr?si=8657ebed5b5049ed&nd=1&dlsi=316fca0df52b4a1e Listen on Apple Podcasts:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/naacp-inside-the-industry/id1894940807  Follow NAACP+:  https://linktr.ee/NAACPPlus #InsideTheIndustry #NAACPPlus #MarioVanPeebles #NewJackCity #MelvinVanPeebles #BlackCinema #PowerRaisingKanan #Nemesis #BlackDirectors #ArianaDrummond #BlackStorytelling #BlackExcellence #HollywoodInsider #BlackCreatives Chapters (00:00:00) - Opening: "Love what you do"(00:00:35) - Welcome & Introduction(00:02:18) - Where He Is Now: Nemesis, Raising Kanan & What Keeps Him Going(00:05:32) - New Jack City at 35 — Then and Now(00:07:35) - Growing Up Van Peebles: Mom, Dad & the Filmmaking Family(00:11:33) - Playing His Father in Baadasssss & the Circle of Legacy(00:15:08) - Two Questions in the Mojave Desert: What Melvin Taught Him(00:18:55) - Spreading His Father's Ashes(00:19:22) - Found Family, Collaboration & The Three Loves in Life(00:21:48) - Why Black Storytellers Must Control Their Own Imagery(00:25:00) - The Huxtables, Obama & What We Put on Screen Changes Everything(00:26:13) - The Night a Stranger Spoke to Both Van Peebles at Once(00:27:19) - New Jack City: Walking the Line Between Glorifying and Condemning(00:30:47) - Acting vs. Directing: Job Seeking vs. Job Creating(00:34:37) - Favorite Projects — As an Actor & As a Director(00:39:07) - The Biggest Risk He Took With New Jack City(00:43:07) - The Power Universe, Raising Kanan & His NAACP Image Award(00:45:22) - How to Build a 40-Year Career in Hollywood(00:50:10) - AI, Technology & the Magic That Can't Be Replaced(00:52:22) - The Turkey Scene: Rain, a Warehouse Fire & Lenox Avenue(00:56:04) - Advice for the Next Generation of Creatives(00:57:52) - What He Wants the Van Peebles Name to Mean(01:00:00) - Inside Your Industry Bag (Game)

    1h 2m

  2. 6d ago

    Casting Is the First Act of Storytelling — The Woman Who Cast Black Hollywood | Robi Reed

    Before Beyoncé was Beyoncé. Before Jamie Foxx was Jamie Foxx.Before Halle Berry won her Oscar. Someone saw them first. That someone is Robi Reed — and in this episode of NAACP+ Inside the Industry, she finally steps into the spotlight. Host Ariana Drummond sits down with Emmy Award-winning casting director and producer Robi Reed — one of two Black women in history to win an Emmy for casting, a Hampton University alumna, and the woman responsible for some of the most culturally defining films and television in Black Hollywood history. Robi breaks down: → What a casting director actually does — from breakdown to callback to chemistry read → How she started calling herself a casting director at 15 before she ever became one, and why that mindset matters → The night she introduced Spike Lee to Ruth E. Carter and how that one moment changed everything → What it was like to cast School Daze, Malcolm X, Do the Right Thing, Love Jones, Set It Off, Soul Food, The Best Man, For Colored Girls, and all 125 episodes of In Living Color → Why casting is the first act of storytelling — and what happens when Black casting directors aren't in the room → The BET Experience Open Casting Call she created and why she built it → The biggest mistakes talented people make when they finally get in the room → Her audition advice: if it's not going right, just stop and start again — you don't need permission → What she would tell her younger self during every moment of self-doubt → Why you should never want to be the smartest person in the room → The Don King project that almost made her quit — and what stopped her → What she hopes never changes about the role of the casting director This is the episode for every actor, every aspiring creative, and every person who has ever wondered who really decides who gets to be a star. ️ Host: Ariana Drummond, NAACP Director of Talent & Media Relations Guest: Robi Reed — Emmy Award-winning Casting Director New episodes every Wednesday. Subscribe so you never miss one. Watch more Inside the Industry: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaaTUaaxeh-IBd36D0P3FzFcu17Ij2S4T Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3iny4YTd9NfUBB51aWOpYr?si=8657ebed5b5049ed&nd=1&dlsi=316fca0df52b4a1e Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/naacp-inside-the-industry/id1894940807  Follow NAACP+: https://linktr.ee/NAACPPlus #InsideTheIndustry #NAACPPlus #RobiReed #CastingDirector #BlackHollywood #ArianaDrummond #BlackCreatives Chapters (00:00:00) - Speak it into existence — Robi's opening philosophy(00:00:33) - Welcome to Inside the Industry(00:01:00) - Robi Reed introduction(00:02:18) - Fellow Hamptonians — the connection between Ariana and Robi(00:02:44) - What it feels like to have shaped an era ofBlack cinema(00:03:05) - The BET Experience Open Casting Call — what it is and why she created it(00:05:23) - What she's actually looking for when people walk in(00:06:06) - The craziest thing she's ever seen at an open call(00:06:46) - The inspiration behind scaling an open casting call to this size(00:07:11) - Before the credits — the dream that started at 15(00:08:00) - How her brother's auditions planted the seed(00:08:43) - The mentor who asked: " Do you love it or can't you live without it?"(00:09:27) - Cold calls, interns, and how she got her foot in the door(00:09:45) - What Hampton University did to her sense of what was possible(00:11:46) - Did Hampton prepare her for Hollywood?(00:12:15) - How she became one of the first Black women nominated and to win an Emmy for casting(00:12:32) - Her very first project — and how she claimed the title before she earned it(00:14:16) - What a casting director actually does (the full breakdown)(00:17:36) - The skill set you need to be a great casting director(00:18:33) - Her favorite projects and why(00:19:46) - How Love Jones, Set It Off, and The Best Man got their authenticity(00:20:35) - How she built the world of In Living Color from scratch(00:21:29) - Casting is the first act of storytelling — what that means(00:22:35) - What changes when Black casting directors aren't in the room(00:22:53) - What has actually changed in Hollywood around diversity — and what hasn't(00:24:48) - Advice for someone building industry relationships from nothing(00:25:38) - What she wishes someone had told her earlier(00:26:44) - Has she ever taken a chance on someone and been surprised?(00:27:12) - The biggest mistakes people make when they get in the room(00:28:46) - How her instincts shift between dramatic and comedic projects(00:29:48) - Casting Terrence Howard in a sitcom — and why it worked(00:30:06) - If she could change one structural thing about how Hollywood discovers Black talent(00:31:29) - What legacy means to her(00:32:11) - One thing she hopes never changes about this industry(00:32:41) - Inside Your Industry Bag (game)(00:35:08) - The Don King project that almost made her quit(00:36:54) - Casting directors being added to the Academy(00:37:30) - Final gems for anyone wanting to follow in her footsteps

    38 min

  3. Jun 17

    50+ Shows. No Film School. How Tony McCuin Became One of TV's Most Powerful Live Directors

    Most people have watched the NAACP Image Awards for years without knowing his name. Tony McCuin is the director who makes it all happen — and in this episode, he finally steps out from behind the camera. In this episode of NAACP+ Inside the Industry, host Ariana Drummond sits down with an award-winning live television director, Tony McCuin — the man behind the NAACP Image Awards, Password with Keke Palmer, Big Brother, the Super Bowl, BET's Celebration of Gospel, Soul Train Awards, and over 50 major productions — for one of the most behind-the-scenes conversations we've ever had. Tony breaks down: → What a live TV director actually does during a telecast while the show is happening in real time → Why the NAACP Image Awards "just hit different" and how he shoots it almost entirely in the round → The night Whitney Houston walked out, and he couldn't take the camera off her — not for a single reaction shot → What it felt like to be the first Black man directing Password — TV history in real time → How Big Brother taught him to let the audience pick the shots they wanted to see → The Deon Cole and Leslie Jones moment that went viral — and how he set it up in advance → His philosophy on protecting your talent – no matter what → Why he treats every act like its own separate little show → How he went from South Central to public access cable to the Super Bowl without ever going to college → "Pray Rich" — his spiritual philosophy that has carried him through 40+ years in television → The team of angels around him that keeps him going This is the episode for every aspiring director, camera operator, and behind-the-camera creative who has ever wondered what it really looks like to command a live set. ️ Host: Ariana Drummond, NAACP Director of Talent & Media Relations Guest: Tony McCuin — NAACP Image Awards, Password, Big Brother, Super Bowl, BET Celebration of Gospel, Soul Train Awards New episodes every Wednesday. Subscribe so you never miss one. ️ Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3iny4YTd9NfUBB51aWOpYr?si=a5a8e1df47ba4084 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/naacp-inside-the-industry/id1894940807 Watch the full playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaaTUaaxeh-IBd36D0P3FzFcu17Ij2S4T&si=nge5yZhBmU8SIZ9D  Learn more about NAACP+: https://linktr.ee/NAACPPlus Follow Tony McCuin: https://www.instagram.com/tonymccuin/ Follow Ariana Drummond: https://www.instagram.com/arianad_pr/ #InsideTheIndustry #NAACPPlus #TonyMcCuin #LiveTV #NaacpImageAwards #BlackDirectors #BehindTheCamera #Password #BigBrother #WhitneyHouston #ArianaDrummond #BlackCreatives #TVDirector #EntertainmentIndustry #BlackExcellence Chapters (00:00:00) - Rule number one: protect the talent(00:00:31) - Welcome to Inside the Industry(00:01:26) - What it feels like to be powerful and invisible(00:02:05) - Why the Image Awards shoot in the round(00:03:17) - How you build a reputation behind the camera(00:04:46) - How Tony got hired for the NAACP Image Awards(00:05:55) - Directing Password with Keke Palmer and Jimmy Fallon(00:08:32) - The overwhelming feeling of seeing your name on screen(00:09:44) - Imposter syndrome? His answer might surprise you(00:11:41) - Decompressing after a live show — and thanking God first(00:12:44) - Advice for creatives dealing with burnout(00:13:28) - What happens when your confidence starts to wane on set(00:15:15) - What a director is actually doing during a live telecast(00:16:12) - The most chaotic moments he's ever had to direct live(00:17:22) - How to read and react when comedians go off script(00:18:55) - How he surveys the room before every show(00:20:26) - When things fall apart on live TV — and how to stay calm(00:21:53) - How does someone become a live television director?(00:23:12) - Why there is no simulation for live directing(00:24:13) - Trust your heart — his message to Black creatives(00:25:04) - Password vs Big Brother — which show he loves most(00:26:23) - How Big Brother changed his directing style forever(00:28:08) - Why being a Black director in these spaces matters(00:29:44) - Gospel shoots differently — and why Black camera operators knew not to put the camera down(00:30:50) - Mastering every genre of television without film school(00:32:01) - His mentor Pamela Fryman and the sitcom training that changed everything(00:33:34) - How 80s music videos live in his directing brain(00:34:53) - Directing Whitney Houston's last performance(00:38:05) - The moment he couldn't take the camera off her(00:39:43) - The year after — directing Kelly Price's Whitney Houston tribute(00:41:45) - Harry Belafonte, Sidney Poitier, and why he puts on headsets(00:43:08) - How live TV has changed and how he's evolved with it(00:44:48) - Cutting everything tight from the first show(00:45:37) - Black directors behind the camera — what's changed and what hasn't(00:46:36) - Inviting young Black PAs into the director's booth(00:47:03) - What legacy means to him(00:48:41) - Pray Rich — his secret to 40+ years in this business(00:49:37) - Inside Your Industry Bag (Game)

    55 min

  4. Jun 10

    Algee Smith: From Broke in LA to Euphoria, Jamie Foxx & Owning His Music

    Algee Smith has never played it safe — and this conversation proves exactly why that's his superpower. From sleeping on a friend's couch in North Hollywood, surviving on El Pollo Loco and 7-Eleven Slurpees, to booking the New Edition Story AND Detroit in the same month — Algee's journey is one of radical faith, relentless study, and a refusal to shrink. In this episode of NAACP+ Inside the Industry, host Ariana Drummond sits down with the actor, recording artist, and NAACP Image Award nominee to talk craft, ownership, representation, and what it really takes to build a career across two industries. In this episode, we unpack: → How Algee chooses roles — and why the script always comes first → Working with Jamie Foxx on Netflix's Fight for 84 and what he learned watching Jamie set the tone on set with a boombox → The story behind his EP Love Lost — the breakup, the healing, and why men needed to hear it → Flying from Atlanta to Connecticut just to track down clearance for a sample on 'Spiraling.' → What it felt like to book New Edition and Detroit while broke and days away from flying home → How playing both a Black Panther and a cop forced him to wrestle with his own identity → His tribute to late co-star James Van Der Beek and the gems shared in an RV between scenes → The real difference between working on Black-led sets versus majority-white productions → Why ownership is legacy — and why he's never signing another deal without equity → Practical advice on contracts, AI, community building, and protecting your peace in Hollywood Subscribe to NAACP+ Inside the Industry: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaaTUaaxeh-IBd36D0P3FzFcu17Ij2S4T ️ Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3iny4YTd9NfUBB51aWOpYr?si=8657ebed5b5049ed&nd=1&dlsi=316fca0df52b4a1e Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/naacp-inside-the-industry/id1894940807 Follow Algee Smith: https://www.instagram.com/itsalgee/ https://youtube.com/@itsalgee?si=se6LrU3mfdh-2oxu Follow Ariana Drummond: https://www.instagram.com/arianad_pr/ Learn more about NAACP+: https://linktr.ee/NAACPPlus Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/naacpplus/ Chapters (00:00:00) - Cold Open: Jamie Foxx Sets the Tone(00:00:37) - Introducing Algee Smith(00:01:24) - Choosing Roles That Speak to You(00:02:40) - Who Is Algee Off Camera?(00:03:34) - Tribute to James Van Der Beek & Filming The Gates(00:05:19) - What The Gates Says About the Black Experience(00:07:26) - Playing a Cop in American Blue After Playing a Black Panther(00:08:58) - NAACP Image Nomination & Balancing Music and Acting(00:10:28) - Fight for 84: The Netflix Boxing Film With Jamie Foxx(00:12:04) - The Responsibility of Playing Real People(00:14:28) - Growing Up in Michigan, Moving to Atlanta, and Early Influences(00:16:07) - What His Parents Taught Him About Business(00:17:21) - Making Love Lost as an Independent Artist(00:19:04) - The Wild Story Behind 'Spiraling' and the Sample Clearance Chase(00:21:17) - His Sound and Identity as an Artist(00:22:47) - What Music Gives Him That Acting Doesn't(00:24:32) - What Ownership Means to Him(00:25:34) - Building a Music Career in Today's Industry(00:27:02) - Advice for Breaking Into Entertainment(00:28:54) - The Actor-Musician Perception Problem(00:30:47) - Preparing for the New Edition Story in 30 Days(00:31:55) - The Couch-Surfing, Broke-in-LA Origin Story(00:34:59) - What the NAACP Image Nomination Meant to Him(00:35:34) - The Importance of Relationships in the Industry(00:37:17) - Representation On and Off Screen(00:39:12) - The Difference Between Black-Led and Other Sets(00:41:10) - Euphoria: What He Knew and What He Didn't(00:43:04) - How He Protects His Spirit on Heavy Roles(00:44:56) - What Hollywood Should Have Told Him Earlier(00:46:27) - Navigating AI and the Changing Landscape(00:47:41) - What Keeps Him Motivated in the Valleys(00:48:41) - Contract Advice for Artists Starting Out(00:50:40) - His Favorite Career Moment (It's Right Now)(00:51:47) - Legacy: What He Wants to Leave Behind(00:53:24) - Inside the Industry Bag Game(00:55:30) - Wrap-Up

    56 min

  5. Jun 3

    Hollywood's Top Publicist Reveals What It Really Takes to Make Stars | Shannon Barr

    What does it actually take to shape the careers of Hollywood's biggest stars — and survive the chaos behind the scenes? Veteran publicist Shannon Barr pulls back the curtain on 20+ years in entertainment PR, from her early days at ICM to managing crises at 3 am, losing client John Singleton, and what it really costs to get the press you deserve. In this episode, Shannon covers: → How she got her start — and the friend named Caprice who changed everything → The toxic ICM boss she finally quit on (out loud, by accident) → Why braids cost her job opportunities and the racism she faced climbing Hollywood's ladder → What publicists actually do during a celebrity crisis (yes, the Will Smith slap comes up) → Why PR is a marathon, not a sprint — and what that means for your career → The real cost of hiring a publicist and why boutique pricing matters → Her 20-year relationship with Kenya Moore and why she fell in love with her instantly → The deeply emotional story of losing John Singleton and writing his final statement → How she represented Damson Idris, Isaiah John, and Malcolm Mays as emerging talent → What she wants her legacy to be as a star maker ️ Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3iny4YTd9NfUBB51aWOpYr?si=8657ebed5b5049ed&nd=1&dlsi=316fca0df52b4a1e Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/naacp-inside-the-industry/id1894940807  Watch the full playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaaTUaaxeh-IBd36D0P3FzFcu17Ij2S4T  Learn more about NAACP+: https://linktr.ee/NAACPPlus Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/naacpplus/ Follow Shannon Barr: https://www.instagram.com/sbarr06/?hl=en Follow Ariana Drummond: https://www.instagram.com/arianad_pr/ Chapters (00:00:00) - PR Is a Marathon: Opening Quote(00:00:23) - Introducing Shannon Barr(00:01:11) - Shannon's Origin Story: Wanting to Make Stars at Age 8(00:02:56) - Shout Out to Caprice: The Internship That Started It All(00:04:00) - Landing at ICM and the Worst Boss in Hollywood(00:07:10) - The Moment She Quit Out Loud(00:08:45) - Staying On to Find a Replacement — and Getting Paid(00:10:25) - Finding a Mentor She Still Loves(00:11:40) - How Braids Cost Her a Job(00:13:00) - Starting a Talent Department From Scratch(00:14:03) - Barriers Black Professionals Still Face in PR(00:16:00) - Building Lasting Success: Only Taking Clients She Believes In(00:17:10) - The Poet, the Publishing House, and Letting Someone Out of a Contract(00:19:20) - Why Having a Publicist Only Matters When You Have the Right Project(00:21:00) - What Publicists Actually Cost and Why It Matters(00:22:09) - ow Low-Balling Destroys the Industry(00:24:10) - What Happens Behind the Scenes During a Celebrity Crisis(00:25:12) - The Will Smith Slap and the Group Chat(00:27:10) - Why Some Celebrities Survive Scandal and Others Don't(00:29:30) - The Me Too Attempt on Her Client — and How She Killed the Story(00:30:41) - Why She Doesn't Represent Influencers(00:33:15) - Influencers at Premieres and Why Publicists Stopped Pitching Them(00:34:44) - Remembering John Singleton(00:39:58) - The Emotional Side of Being a Publicist(00:40:20) - Balancing Professionalism and Humanity(00:42:24) - The Legacy Shannon Wants to Leave(00:43:13) - Inside Your Industry Bag Game(00:43:55) - Closing Thoughts from Ariana

    45 min

  6. May 27

    From Interning at Hot 97 to the Met Gala with Rihanna — Entertainment Journalist Gia Peppers

    What does it actually take to build a two-decade career in entertainment journalism — across NBC's Today Show, Hot 97, Essence, Access Hollywood, BET, and the Met Gala red carpet with Rihanna? In this episode of NAACP+'s Inside the Industry, host ArianaDrummond sits down with her close friend and NAACP Image Awards-nominated journalist, podcaster, and host Gia Peppers for one of the most candid, funny, and genuinely inspiring conversations in the series so far. Gia breaks down: → How she went from overnight shifts at CBS Radio News to   the Met Gala carpet — and what happened in between → What her dad's 23 years at NPR taught her about   storytelling before she ever stepped into a newsroom → How she co-created Black Girl Podcast before Black women   podcasting was even a thing — and what it feels like to have built a blueprint you don't always get credit for → What it was really like interviewing Rihanna, Kobe Bryant, and Vice President Kamala Harris → How to navigate microaggressions as a Black woman in media without losing your voice or your career → Why she did the New York to D.C. commute for four years straight while working at Hot 97, Essence, and hosting   for the Washington Wizards simultaneously → The pay equity conversation that changed how she thinks about negotiating forever → Why she's launching Creatives of Faith — and what it means to keep creatives on assignment from God → The state of Black media right now and what we all need to do about it → Why dragging the rooms you want to be in is her most unpopular industry opinion Plus — her most honest reflection on legacy, what she still wants to build, and the moment at her friend's funeral that made her decide to go all the way in on her dreams. This is the episode for every aspiring journalist, content creator, and Black woman trying to take up space in an industry that wasn't built for her. Host: Ariana Drummond, NAACP Director of Talent & Media Relations  Guest: Gia Peppers — Today Show, Hot 97, Essence, More Than   That with Gia Peppers, Healed Girl Era, Black Girl Podcast New episodes every Wednesday. Subscribe so you never miss one. Watch more Inside the Industry: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaaTUaaxeh-IBd36D0P3FzFcu17Ij2S4T  Listen on Spotify:  https://open.spotify.com/show/3iny4YTd9NfUBB51aWOpYr?si=8657ebed5b5049ed&nd=1&dlsi=316fca0df52b4a1e  Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/naacp-inside-the-industry/id1894940807  Follow NAACP+: https://linktr.ee/NAACPPlus Chapters (00:00:00) - You create the environment — Gia's philosophy on hosting(00:00:28) - Welcome to Inside the Industry(00:01:22) - Who is Gia Peppers — in her own words(00:02:35) - Creatives of Faith — what it is and why she finally did it(00:05:12) - The resume — Today Show, BET, Essence, Hot 97 and more(00:05:44) - Where it all started — her dad, NPR, and Coming to America(00:08:09) - The process of getting booked and staying booked(00:08:33) - Overnight shifts at CBS Radio News and the Sandy Hook moment(00:13:31) - How she hustled her way from CBS to every major platform(00:14:15) - How she got the Washington Wizards gig — and what it taught her(00:16:10) - What kept her motivated through the grind(00:17:00) - The funeral that changed everything — faith and going all in(00:19:32) - Navigating microaggressions as a Black woman in media(00:22:12) - How to protect your voice without burning bridges(00:23:24) - Pay equity, negotiating, and why she's still learning(00:24:28) - What Rodney Rakai taught her about taking up space(00:27:32) - Interviewing Rihanna, Kamala Harris, and Kobe Bryant(00:29:52) - The first time ESSENCE was ever on the Met Gala carpet(00:33:08) - Kobe Bryant — her favorite interview of her career(00:35:43) - The Golden Globes — her hardest room and what she learned(00:37:10) - The state of Black media and what we have to do right now(00:39:42) - Misinformation, voter rights, and why the tea can wait(00:41:30) - Black Girl Podcast — building the blueprint before it existed(00:43:33) - What it means to hear that the blueprint is still being used(00:45:18) - Was there ever pressure to make it more palatable?(00:45:56) - Legacy — what Gia Peppers wants to leave behind(00:48:23) - Inside Your Industry Bag (game)

    51 min

  7. May 20

    Tribeca Film Festival Programmer Reveals Why Your Film Really Got Rejected

    If your film has been rejected by festival after festival, this episode is going to change how you think about everything. In this episode of NAACP+'s Inside the Industry, host Ariana Drummond sits down with Kimberley Browning — veteran film programmer, festival director, and Senior Associate Short Film Programmer for the Tribeca Film Festival — to pull back the curtain on how film festivals actually work, what programmers are really looking for, and the costly mistakes filmmakers make that have nothing to do with the quality of their films. Kimberley breaks down: → How programmers actually decide which films get selected → Why most festival rejections have nothing to do with your filmmaking → The biggest mistake filmmakers make when building a festival strategy → Why you should stop obsessing over the top 10 festivals you can name → How to build a festival strategy unique to the film you actually made → What really happens after your film gets accepted to a major festival → How to qualify for the Oscars without spending thousands of dollars → The insider tip on completion dates that most filmmakers don't know → Why submitting a rough cut could cost you more than just this festival → How film festivals are evolving in the streaming era → What the rise of virtual festivals means for filmmakers worldwide → The one music licensing mistake that's killing independent films Plus — Kimberley shares the story of the film that helped a woman get clemency, why rejection letters are not commentary on your talent, and what she wants her legacy in this industry to be. This is the episode every filmmaker needs to watch before their next submission. Period.  Host: Ariana Drummond, NAACP Director of Talent & Media Relations  Guest: Kimberley Browning — Tribeca Film Festival, HBO, AFI, ABFF New episodes every Wednesday. Subscribe so you never miss one. Watch more Inside the Industry: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaaTUaaxeh-IBd36D0P3FzFcu17Ij2S4T  Listen on Spotify:  https://open.spotify.com/show/3iny4YTd9NfUBB51aWOpYr?si=8657ebed5b5049ed&nd=1&dlsi=316fca0df52b4a1e  Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/naacp-inside-the-industry/id1894940807  Follow NAACP+: https://linktr.ee/NAACPPlus #InsideTheIndustry #NAACPPlus #FilmFestival #TribecaFilmFestival#IndependentFilm #Filmmaking #BlackFilmmakers #FilmFestivalStrategy#KimberleyBrowning #ArianaDrummond #ShortFilms #IndieFilm#FilmDistribution #BlackCreatives #OscarQualifying Chapters (00:00:00) - The truth about festival rejection — straight from a programmer(00:00:24) - Welcome to Inside the Industry(00:01:01) - What submissions look like at Tribeca this year(00:02:06) - How quickly can a programmer tell if a film is working?(00:03:42) - How programmers advocate for filmmakers beyond just selection(00:04:52) - What filmmakers don't see happening behind the scenes(00:06:22) - Does cultural timing or relevance affect your chances?(00:09:49) - Does runtime, pacing, or format affect selection?(00:12:13) - How to increase your chances of getting selected(00:14:22) - Why your first films are often "working out your stuff"(00:16:33) - Why you need to meet filmmakers in every city(00:18:24) - How festival laurels work as industry endorsements(00:18:50) - The premiere status question — what filmmakers get wrong(00:20:40) - You are the least qualified person to evaluate your own film(00:21:44) - Every film needs its own unique festival strategy(00:23:00) - When to hire a festival strategist — and why you can't afford not to(00:25:07) - Moonlight wasn't Barry Jenkins' first film — give yourself time(00:26:20) - Can programmers tell if your film was rejected elsewhere?(00:27:09) - The completion date insider tip you need to know(00:28:10) - How to think about top tier vs. regional vs. niche festivals(00:31:53) - Build a quilt of festivals — not a ladder(00:33:04) - The emotional journey of festival rejection(00:35:00) - The offers that come after acceptance — and which ones to ignore(00:40:18) - How to get on the Oscar shortlist — the real pathways(00:44:50) - How streaming and COVID changed the festival circuit forever(00:47:55) - The evolution of festivals and Black storytelling worldwide(00:52:24) - What filmmakers need to give themselves permission to do(00:54:34) - Kimberly's legacy — truth and encouragement(00:56:13) - Real Talk or Industry Cap (game)(01:03:16) - Inside Your Industry Bag (game)

    1h 6m

  8. May 11

    Ted Lasso Writer Reveals What Hollywood Won't Tell You About Breaking In

    What does it actually take to become a working television writer in Hollywood? In this episode of NAACP+'s Inside the Industry, host Ariana Drummond sits down with writer and producer Chuck Hayward — whose credits include Ted Lasso, WandaVision, and Dear White People — for one of the most honest conversations we've had about the realities of building a writing career. Chuck breaks down: → How TV writers actually get staffed on shows → The difference between a spec script and a pilot (and which one to write first) → What showrunners are really looking for when they read your script → How to handle notes without killing your creative vision → The mistakes that quietly stall careers — even for talented writers → Why the streaming bubble burst changed everything for writers → How to stay competitive when the industry is shrinking Plus, Chuck shares the writing philosophy that drives everything he does: more Black weirdos on screen. And why writing authentically — not to the market— is the only strategy that actually works long term. Whether you're an aspiring writer, a creative trying to break in, or someone already in the industry looking to level up, this episode is your blueprint. Host: Ariana Drummond, NAACP Director of Talent & Media Relations  Guest: Chuck Hayward — Ted Lasso, WandaVision, Dear White People New episodes every Wednesday. Subscribe so you never miss one. Watch more Inside the Industry: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnLI7v57zoc&list=PLaaTUaaxeh-IBd36D0P3FzFcu17Ij2S4T&pp=sAgC Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3iny4YTd9NfUBB51aWOpYr?si=8657ebed5b5049ed  Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/naacp-inside-the-industry/id1894940807 Follow NAACP+: https://linktr.ee/NAACPPlus #InsideTheIndustry #NAACPPlus #TVWriter #HowToBeAWriter#BreakingIntoHollywood #Screenwriting #TedLasso #WandaVision#BlackCreatives #EntertainmentIndustry #ChuckHayward #ArianaDrummond Chapters (00:00:00) - What it Really Takes to Become a Professional Writer(00:01:13) - Chuck's background and what sets him apart in the room(00:04:26) - What writers do beyond just writing(00:05:20) - How Show-runners assign episodes(00:06:44) - How many writers are in a room — and the diversity problem(00:07:14) - Passionate writer vs. Professional writer: What's the difference?(00:09:09) - Where Chuck's love of writing started(00:10:21) - Was There a defining moment that really, like, started you on(00:11:14) - The decisions that took him from aspiring to professional(00:12:12) - His Core Writing Ethos: More Black Weirdos(00:13:43) - The Career Ladder and where writers get stuck(00:16:40) - Specs vs. Pilots — Which should you write first?(00:21:09) - How to actually get staffed on a show(00:23:00) - Mistakes that quietly stall careers(00:26:16) - How to handle notes and rewrites like a pro(00:29:57) - How to stay competitive right now(00:33:53) - Where the industry is headed(00:38:04) - How rejection feels at his level — and how he keeps going(00:41:28) - A mistake he made and what he learned from it(00:45:44) - What makes a script hireable vs. just good(00:47:25) - How to know when you've found your voice(00:48:36) - The legacy Chuck wants to leave(00:49:38) - Real Talk or Industry Cap (game)(00:53:14) - Inside Your Industry Bag (game)

    55 min
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Inside the Industry is a one-on-one interview podcast that pulls back the curtain on the entertainment business by spotlighting the people who shape it. Through candid, in-depth conversations, each episode explores individual career journeys, current projects, and the realities of working behind—and in front of—the spotlight. The podcast aims to demystify the industry while celebrating creativity, strategy, and the many paths to success.

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