Twitches

This week, Sequoia, Jewel and Ryann revisit Taylor Swift’s self-titled debut album in honor of its 20th anniversary. They look back at teenage Taylor’s country music beginnings and early hits like “Our Song” and “Teardrops on My Guitar.” Plus, did Taylor have a real country accent? Why hasn’t her songwriting evolved beyond high school heartbreak? Is she actually upset that we don’t like her? And why is it so hard to be a Black Swiftie? They also get into the “Picture to Burn” controversy, the boyfriends who inspired her best breakup songs (like Jake Gyllenhaal and “All Too Well”), her reputation as a bad style icon, and whether her debut album still holds up 20 years later. Tune in for a jam-packed episode full of hot takes, mid-2000s nostalgia, and the Taylor Swift discourse you’ve been waiting for!

This week, Sequoia and special guest and comedian Ify Nwadiwe celebrate the 20th anniversary of My Chemical Romance’s iconic rock opera concept album, The Black Parade. They unpack the album’s legacy, Gerard Way’s powerful voice, and why its messages about life and death—especially through “The Patient”—still resonate today. Plus, is “Welcome To The Black Parade” the band’s best song? Does “Teenagers” hit differently as you get older? And did The Black Parade help make emo culture mainstream? They also discuss whether Disney rock acts like the Jonas Brothers were a stepping stone to more traditional rock music, what it was like growing up as Black emo kids, and how My Chemical Romance compares to Paramore, Fall Out Boy, Panic! At The Disco, and Green Day. Tune in for a jam-packed episode fit for the album’s 20th anniversary!

This week, Sequoia, Jewel and Ryann celebrate Insecure 10 years after the hit HBO series premiered. They get into the messiness of your late twenties and adult friendships and, of course, Issa and Lawrence’s complicated relationship history. Plus, was Insecure written for Black Twitter? Who was the best match for Issa—Daniel, Nathan, or Lawrence? Was Molly secretly jealous of Issa? And what did the show get right (and wrong) about sex, mental health, and friendship? They also debate whether Los Angeles is a character, where Insecure ranks among other ensemble female comedies, and break out the mirror raps one more time. Tune in for a mega-sized episode fit for the show’s 10th anniversary!

This week, Sequoia and Jewel celebrate Aaliyah, 25 years after her tragic plane crash. They get into her One in a Million reinvention with Missy Elliott and Timbaland, her iconic effortless streetwear style, and her budding acting career. Plus, they debate who the real sons of Aaliyah are, which songs they simply can’t live without, from “Are You That Somebody?” to “Try Again,” and whether Aaliyah was the blueprint for the R&B cool girl. They get into all this, and more!

This week, Sequoia and Ryann revisit Step Up (2006), the dance movie with a banging soundtrack (Ciara's "Get Up”) and that made Channing Tatum a star. They attempt to understand why dance movies were EVERYWHERE in the 2000s, and why Eminem’s popularity fueled the rise of wiggers. Plus, Ryann and Sequoia look at why Black audiences embraced dance movies like Step Up, despite one of their most unfortunate tropes: there’s always a Black kid that has to die. They get into all this, and more!