In this episode of The Idea Of..., Bassey holds it down while Mike’s away and welcomes the brilliant Kendra Linsdey — educator, author, and host of Midlife Flyness. Together, they dive deep into the intersections of hip hop, aging, womanhood, culture, and authenticity.

What starts as a headline about Drake and Kendrick Lamar turns into a rich, layered conversation about Black art, fame, and the responsibility that comes with cultural power. From the evolution of hip hop to the trap of “Black don’t crack,” Bassey and Kendra unpack what it really means to age gratefully — not gracefully — and to claim joy, beauty, and purpose as acts of resistance.

They talk Mad City and Madonna, midlife reinvention, Essence Fest, Aisha Curry, the myth of “having it all,” and the sacredness of community between Black women across generations. It’s equal parts cultural critique and auntie real talk — sharp, soulful, and funny as hell.

Guest Bio: Kendra Linsdey

Kendra Linsdey is an educator, author, speaker, and media voice expanding how we think and talk about aging. Through her acclaimed podcast Midlife Flyness, her social media presence, and her partnerships with top brands, she reimagines what it means to grow older — especially for Black women and others often left out of the narrative.

Her work bridges research and real life, reminding the world that aging is not decline, it’s depth — and that visibility and vitality don’t fade with age, they deepen. Whether she’s in front of a camera, behind a mic, or consulting in boardrooms, Kendra’s mission is simple: to center aging as a site of power, possibility, and truth.

Follow her:📸 IG: @kendralinsdey🎧 Podcast: Midlife Flyness (Season 6 returns in 2026)

This week, Bassey & Mike start in the most unexpected place — the weather. What begins as a playful debate over hoodies versus humidity unfolds into one of the most layered cultural conversations they’ve ever had.

From Tyler, the Creator’s evolution and the internet’s obsession with punishment, to Black Twitter’s moral high ground and the “recently Black,” they unpack what happens when outrage becomes currency and when “harm” becomes performance. Through humor and honesty, they question why so many of us are addicted to digital righteousness — and what it’s costing us in empathy, nuance, and grace.

Mike connects it back to critical thinking, mental health, and the psychology of online engagement — drawing lines between COINTELPRO, culture wars, and how algorithms weaponize Black emotion for profit. Bassey challenges the performative morality that masquerades as activism, calling out how “cancel culture” mirrors the same carceral logic it claims to oppose.

Yeah, it was one of those!

What happens when you start saying the quiet parts out loud — the doubts, the what-ifs, the things you might’ve done differently?

In this episode of The Idea Of..., Bassey & Mike explore the messy middle between confidence and confession — from awkward run-ins with artistic heroes to the public vulnerability of women like Ayesha Curry and Michelle Obama.

They talk about the cost of visibility, what it means to be misunderstood in public, and how aging in hip-hop (and in life) comes with its own quiet inventory of regrets.
There’s laughter, reflection, and the real-time processing that happens when two Black creatives decide not to hide behind perfection.

Whether it’s Mike realizing he’s the “old head” at his son’s soccer game, or Bassey unpacking the grace we owe each other while stumbling toward understanding — this one sits in the tension of love, legacy, and letting yourself be seen.

Bassey and Mike unpack a week of heavy headlines and internet rabbit holes: parenting athletes without projecting anxiety, the algorithm’s “frictionless” trap, and why some narratives feel engineered. They grapple with the spectacle surrounding public tragedies, the role of bots and psy-ops, the line between skepticism and cynicism, and the American tradition of myth-making—from Helen Keller lore to textbook propaganda. With humor and straight talk, they consider what solidarity and discernment look like now: how to stay human, hold critical thought, and refuse to be played by fear, clout, or culture war scripts.

• 00:00 – Cold open & vibe check. Camera/lighting banter; DIY podcast ethos.

• 02:30 – Parenting, pressure, and D1/D3 soccer. Second-hand performance anxiety; “trust your parenting.”

• 08:45 – Reframing as a fan. Joy vs. control; music, team culture, letting kids process.

• 13:10 – Listener Corner. “Frictionless society” and the cost of convenience.

• 19:10 – Isolation, parasocials, and over-diagnosing everything. Life happens vs. victim rhetoric.

• 22:40 – Spectacle & suspicion. Public tragedy narratives, algorithm pushes, and manufactured reverence.

• 31:00 – Media hygiene & who’s missing from the mic. Where are the families? What’s amplified—and why?

• 35:00 – Power optics. The hug, performance politics, and universal “that’s weird” moments.

• 41:10 – “I’m not suicidal” posts & ambient threat. Performative fear vs. real risk.

• 43:20 – Overlooked stories. NC river shooting; what trends, what doesn’t.

• 46:30 – Psychological warfare 101. Leaflets → bots; anti-intellectualism ascendant.

• 51:30 – Amelia/Helen confusion & mythology. How school taught us to believe.

• 1:00:00 – Words matter. “Revolutionary” misuse and clout economics.

• 1:07:00 – Are we cooked? Pessimism, systems, and what would have to change.

• 1:12:30 – Handmaid’s Tale pipeline. White Christian nationalism & control.

• 1:16:00 – Lies My Teacher Told Me. Swindled history, banned books, curated innocence.

• 1:23:30 – Protest asymmetry & risk calculus. Who’s safe to confront, and what that reveals.

• 1:28:40 – The One-Drop teaser & sign-off. Topic punt to next week; chaotic clarity.

Special shout-out to a dope t-shirt and merch site, www.murchdrop.com. FIRE hip hop influenced designs and shirts!

In this episode of The Idea Of…, Bassey and Mike,dive deep into the tension between community, isolation, and the way algorithms shape how we see each other. What begins with reflections on marriage, generational differences in relationships, and the conservatism of their 20s shifts into an unflinching conversation about CeeKay's memorial, white supremacy, and the eerie normalization of violence.

They unpack how technology is rewiring our sense of humanity, how isolation culture fuels extremism, and why Black people remain the conscience of America. Along the way, they talk nostalgia, hip-hop-inspired merch, and what it means to call white people—not just white supremacy—to the front lines.

00:00 Welcome to the Conversation

00:54 Reflections on Marriage and Relationships

03:35 Cultural Differences in Social Norms

08:42 The Impact of Urban Living on Identity

12:21 Introducing New Segments and Structure

12:21 Listener Engagement and Feedback

27:31 Reflections on CeeKay's Memorial

30:44 The Rise of White Supremacist Rhetoric

33:31 Doomscrolling and the Impact of News

35:26 The Disproportionate Focus on Violence Against Black People

38:23 The Role of Algorithms in Shaping Perceptions

41:09 The Need for White Allies

44:19 The Visibility of White People Post-Election

47:50 The Extremes of Political Discourse

50:49 The Call for Collective Action

55:06 The Responsibility of White People in Social Justice

01:04:03 The Call for Action Over Words

01:08:52 Understanding Ignorance and Awareness

01:13:27 The Role of Creatives in Education

01:18:44 Community and Connection in a Divided Society

01:22:58 The Fallout of Racial Tensions on Campus

01:27:54 The Impact of Isolation and Online Communities

01:33:24 Patterns of Violence and Racial Dynamics

01:37:49 Activism and the Fight Against Racism

01:39:36 The Impact of Isolation Culture

01:42:37 The Role of Technology in Human Connection

01:45:25 AI and Its Influence on Society

01:48:36 The Disconnect in Online Interactions

01:51:26 The Importance of Community and Communication

01:54:34 Reflections and Takeaways

This episode moves from the personal to the political, and back again. Bassey opens with a braid-shop humbling and a parking garage misadventure, a story about seeing the work only when the mirror turns. From there, the conversation shifts to the week’s events: fast media cycles, thought profiling, and why Black folks don’t celebrate death—we’ve mourned too many icons of our own.

As we unpack the murders of Biggie, Pac, Nipsey, and others, we land on a new phrase: Gangsta Racism. Just as “gangsta rap” was mass-marketed as an exaggerated version of life “in the hood,” this brand of white nationalism performs itself like wrestling—part caricature, part entertainment, all spectacle. It’s not politics, it’s theater.

The second half stretches into why “average” often gets celebrated while Black excellence gets doubted—whether in conversations about DEI hires, workplace dynamics, or who gets to hold certain spaces. We talk about the politics of “spot-taking,” the energy shifts that ripple through campuses and locker rooms, and the ways resentment shows up in everyday encounters. The episode closes with James Cone’s The Cross and the Lynching Tree and what it reveals about America’s unfinished history. Through it all, the refrain is the same: pause, discern, don’t take the bait.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Week's Events

11:58 Cultural Reflections on Current Events

16:21 The Impact of Historical Events on Present Day

22:08 Understanding Patterns in Society

27:51 Reactions to Recent Tragedies

31:51 The Setup: Sacrificial Lamb or Real Anger?

37:31 The Response from the Victim's Family and Community

43:27 The Speed of Government Action

46:27 Understanding the Victim's Background

49:14 The Reaction from the Black Community

52:11 Reflections on Violence and Racism

55:10 The Power of Words and Death Threats

57:51 The Impact of Violence on Black Culture

01:00:27 Understanding the Connection Between Art and Life

01:03:58 Cultural Icons and Their Influence on Identity

01:06:30 The Disparity in Mourning Public Figures

01:08:04 Comparing Cultural Icons: Black Excellence vs. Average

01:11:44 The Fear of Replacement in White Culture

01:15:56 The Psychological Impact of Racism

01:20:25 The Role of Average in White Identity

01:24:03 The Absence of Non-Entertainer Role Models in White Culture

01:27:26 The Gangster Racist Phenomenon

01:28:41 Incels and the Trans Pipeline

01:29:41 Cultural Shifts and Youth Dynamics

01:31:41 Navigating Campus Politics

01:33:38 The Trap of Sympathy and Empathy

01:35:31 Youth Sports and Racial Dynamics

01:37:25 The Role of Religion in Politics

01:39:20 Hypocrisy in Political Rhetoric

01:41:03 The Cross and the Lynching Tree

01:45:48 Understanding Historical Contexts

01:51:40 Closing Thoughts and Reflections

In this episode of The Idea Of…, hosts Bassey & Mike explore hip-hop’s cultural reset. They reflect on why first-week sales no longer matter, how elder statesmen like Jay-Z and Kendrick Lamar have carved space for mature artistry, and what it means when rap becomes a job versus a career. They spotlight JID and Clipse as album-of-the-year contenders, celebrate the renewed energy of Chance the Rapper, and highlight Ghostface Killah and Raekwon’s timeless craft. Along the way, they discuss Lizzo’s “serve your core” strategy, Drake’s post-beef choices, and revelations from Metro/Thug. This conversation situates hip-hop within a bigger truth: naming and centering Blackness in art is not optional—it’s essential.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Personal Updates

03:04 Creative Projects and Cultural Consulting

05:48 College Soccer Experiences and Future Prospects

08:45 The State of the Music Industry

11:43 The Evolution of Rap and Artistic Integrity

14:42 The Impact of Streaming on Music Consumption

17:28 Emerging Artists and the Future of Rap

23:43 Kanye's Influence on Modern Sound

27:08 The Evolution of Hip-Hop and Aging Artists

29:25 Jay-Z's Cool Factor and Longevity

32:27 The Complexity of Artist Relationships

37:09 Drake's Identity and Cultural Impact

45:20 Drake's Disconnection from the Culture

47:00 Kendrick's Influence and Industry Politics

49:57 Drake's Controversial Actions and Industry Backlash

52:47 The Evolution of Hip-Hop and Emerging Artists

57:54 Cultural Identity and the Role of Black Artists

01:00:54 Drake's Current Standing and Future in Hip-Hop

This week, Mike and Bassey dive into what “settling in” actually looks like—for their kids and for themselves. They explore the contrasts between Division I and Division III confidence, culture shock on predominantly white campuses, and the new freedom Gen Z claims without relying on the old respectability playbook. The conversation moves from Atlanta rap eras to the internet’s role in flattening tastes, then flips into creativity: ego versus purpose, the role of “conductors” like Kanye, Quincy, and Khaled, and why low-stakes wins might be the key to saving your art.

They also name the quiet PTSD of parenting—how the body stays braced even after the crisis has passed—and how to rebuild routines, therapy included. Bassey floats a “trash on purpose” romance novel and a soccer-world story called Offsides, while Mike connects it to Kendrick’s GNX pivot: the permission to make what you need, not what others expect.

For anyone raising college athletes, navigating identity on campus, or trying to love their craft again, this episode resonates.

• 00:00 — Cold open & welcome back

• 00:29 — D1 vs. D3: confidence, coaches, care, and Black kids in white spaces

• 02:36 — Exposure & culture shock (athlete circles vs. wider campus)

• 04:45 — Respectability then vs. authenticity now: Gen X/’Xennial to Gen Z

• 05:29 — Hip-hop eras, Atlanta’s shift, and kids’ rejection of “street code”

• 08:08 — Internet homogeny, niche communities, and taste diversification

• 10:37 — Classes, “free time,” and pacing yourself in college

• 11:13 — Ellington’s DC vs. “very Catholic” campus life; city options vs. beach town

• 14:32 — Helicoptering later: wise course picks & seeing kids’ gifts

• 16:21 — “Boy mom” culture vs. healthy attachment (quick riff)

• 18:21 — Naming the fog: depression, routines, and analysis paralysis

• 20:06 — Parenting PTSD: coming down from a hard season

• 22:42 — Regulating the body after stress; redefining “what is life now?”

• 23:23 — Hair, tiny decisions, and when your brain won’t choose

• 26:11 — Low-stakes wins: “trash on purpose” novel & getting momentum back

• 30:30 — Kendrick’s pivot as template (Mr. Morale to GNX)

• 32:45 — Ego vs. purpose: creating for people, not applause

• 35:36 — When writing feels like a rap battle: execution and table-flip bars

• 38:31 — Offsides: the soccer story; TV vs. novel and character seeds

• 40:12 — Public accountability (with love but no nagging)

• 41:13 — HBCUs and soccer: the gap and the dream

• 54:56 — Q4 logistics, segments, and community comments

• 01:01:14 — Outro, CTAs, and what’s next