In this episode of Brian’s World, RIELLE steps into the Village with a story grounded in gratitude, discipline, and purpose. Fresh off the release of her single “Crush,” she opens up about the journey behind her sound, the experiences that shaped her writing, and the faith that carried her through the pressure of school, life, and becoming an artist.
This conversation unpacks what it really looks like when determination meets intention. From her multicultural roots to the friendships that shaped her storytelling, RIELLE shares the heart behind her work and the light she hopes to leave with every listener.
If you’re an artist, creative, or anyone navigating your own path, this episode will meet you right where you are.
Produced by The CTZNS. See the full interview here.
I am a believer in Tyrese Haliburton! The man's got ice in is veins! I was wrong!
Happy Monday! Hope you and your family are doing well. We had another busy weekend in our world. Big shoutout to CMI for another great performance in Washington, DC this weekend (also, congratulations to my lovely bride, Ashley!). Shout out to Stir Crazy RVA for the hospitality this weekend too.
Very busy weekend on Earth. Thinking of the Biden family as we learned about his prostate cancer diagnosis. Busy weekend for Ukraine & Russia. Then, of course, the infamous Angel Reese vs. Caitlin Clark battle.
Oh, man. This may ruffle your feathers.
Welcome to episode 187! Sorry I missed you last week. We were in Chicago celebrating the wedding and I got stuck doing station work when we got back. No excuses though.
Hope you've been well! What a busy Monday in our little world. We cover the Newark Airport fiasco, China Trade War, and Trump's latest immigration tactics. Then, let's get ready for this Diddy trial. We've got some exclusive information about how his defense team is planning to approach this case. It's worth diving in.
Thanks for joining us for another episode. Send me a DM on Instagram @brianjames.us and let me know that you were tapped in! God bless.
A busy weekend was anchored by the NFL draft storylines. Most of them were centered around Shedeur Sanders. Will he be a starter in the NFL? Was all the chatter about him (and his family) valid? I think so.
Also, we've got a temporary ceasefire in Ukraine. Sounds like a new Pope will be selected soon, too. Let's chat!
We will look back on this SINNERS film release as one of the greatest in film history. Ryan Coogler proved his genius once again. Also, Deion retired those kids' jerseys too early, man.
It's election season and yes, it's "unprecedented". This is the first time we've had a candidate enter the race as late as Kamala Harris. We've also never had a candidate as polarizing as Donald Trump.
This pivotal election is dowsed in commentary from media pundits and personalities. Their bias leads their conversation, even when they don't realize it. The idea of "traditional" non-partisan media has become a lost art. It feels as though these major news outlets give off the impression that they're delivering the non-partisan facts but they're actually just offering their commentary and opinion.
It's dangerous. Researchers suggest that the hidden-partisan antics of today's American media traps viewers into a 'partisan echo chamber'. A place where left, or right-wing voters are radicalized to lean even more into their bias.
This election season has already been filled with bias. Be on the look out as you step into the voting booth. Today on Brian's World, let's explore these 'partisan echo chambers' and how we can be the most ready for this upcoming election.
P.S: Are you registered to vote?
Last week, I replied to a post on X that ruffled some feathers. It was about sex appeal. Now I'm wondering if we've lost the art of sex appeal? Have we forgotten about the science of attraction?
As Dr. Wendy L. Patrick wrote in Psychology Today, "many people are intrigued by the proverbial mysterious stranger." Even the headline is titled How Intrigue Sparks Attraction. After receiving backlash for my reply to that post, I'm not sure that society believes in sex appeal anymore.
My response appreciated the mystery of sex appeal and how it awakens the imagination. Isn't that at the core of attraction? Imagination?
Better Help's staff shared an article on the science of attraction and highlighted how the mind comes alive when we encounter a beautiful mystery. In a society of weirdos and defensiveness, have we forgotten that attraction is about science? Are we uncomfortable with sex appeal?
It's true - about 26% of users on Twitter are black. That's a heavy portion of the popular social media app's user base. Research shows that it's one of the most diverse platforms available.
"Black Twitter" has become a thing. It was bound to happen. With such a heavy concentration of black-culture activity on the app, surely a community was going to be formed. It's filled with all sorts of conversation and relative commentary to the 'black experience'.
But, what happens when we don't allow this space to be open to new ideas? Is there more than one 'black experience'? Let's explore inside of Brian’s World.
CTZNS Culture-Chief, Jay Julien believes the key to developing impactful brands begins with attunement-based leadership and community development. His vision asks leaders and their teams to take a look inside themselves to discover what would really bring them together; asking the why and the who before the what.
During an interview earlier this year, Julien shared, “Attunement is the process of being patient and present enough to know who someone is and where they are in their life so that you can produce more harmonious relationships.”
He continued with CTZNS, “Attunement helps love last and empowers tribes to thrive. It allows us to ensure that we build win/win relationships.”
Hear how he plans to build the CTZNS community and his tips on how other leaders can empower their vision with attunement.
Sean "Diddy" Combs was arrested on federal charges, Monday, September 16. The shamed music-mogul is alleged to have orchestrated a sex trafficking operation, acts of non-consensual sexual violence, racketeering, and prostitution. Federal raids also uncovered drugs and weapons at his property.
It's unclear as to when the Feds began investigating Diddy. From our perspective, it all began when his ex-girlfriend (and urban culture sweetheart) Cassie Ventura filed a bombshell lawsuit against him in 2023.
Others began to emerge and it became clear that among all that Diddy had accomplished, his main talent was master manipulation.
On today's episode, we'll explore the thinking of master manipulators and how to spot them in your life. We'll go over some research about how to deal with these psychopaths and why you deserve to be respected and treated better.
Tools for today's episode:
Happy fall, family. Excited to try some new things with Brian's World. It's been a journey! One that I've enjoyed. I want to serve.
Hip hop legend Beanie Sigel stopped by the show on the way to AFRAM in Baltimore. The Philly-native is well-versed in what the culture needs at this pivotal time in society. He shared about what him and his team are cooking up to create impactful change in the community and how service is the true power of the music and entertainment industry.
The WNBA is having a historic year. The Sports Business Journal reports that the league is experiencing a tremendous surge in viewership, up an average around 200% across ESPN broadcasted games. They've also seen a 146% rise in League Pass purchases.
Clearly, the league has exploded in 2024.
Many call it the 'Caitlin Clark Effect'. I don't think that's an incorrect assessment. This conversation has birthed tense debates about race as many personalities point to Clark's race (and appeal) as the reason she garners so much attention.
I believe it's her talent. Let's talk race-war appetizers and women's basketball inside.
The interview heard (and seen) all around the world:
Hip-hop star and media personality, Cam'ron was a guest on CNN's News Night with Abby Phillip. He was invited to discuss the shocking footage of Diddy physically abusing his ex-girlfriend and singer, Cassie.
Cam'ron's interview was pure chaos. It provided unforgettable soundbites and has sparked a convoluted debate about who was at fault for the catastrophe. We believe both parties made a bad decision.
We are down to the final four teams of the 2023-24 NBA season. The postseason competition has been electric as we get clearer views of tomorrow’s stars and their superpowers. There’s also a lot of chatter in the bleachers concerning quite a few NBA story-lines that are unfolding. One of the heaviest: LeBron’s legacy, his retirement, and his near-future.
We’re joined today by Amber Wright-Burnett, NBA Analyst and Founder of ‘Not One of the Guys’. Our conversation explores “LeBron’s NBA” and analyzes his contributions to the game. Is the NBA better today because of his leadership? Is he still a top 5 talent in the league? How much longer will he play and what more can we expect from him? This off-season is slated to be one of the most active in seasons as teams and stars realign for success. Where will that leave “The King?”
Hear Amber’s analysis and more inside.
Last Tuesday, Baltimore witnessed an unthinkable tragedy as the Key Bridge collapsed following a collision with a cargo ship. Built in 1977, the landmark was considered to be in 'fair' condition at the time of its collapse. Many experts argue that no bridge could withstand the force of such a massive ship collision, while others contend that the lack of key preventative measures, like 'concrete dolphins,' contributed to the disaster. The bridge was 47 years old, nearing its typical lifespan of 50 years.
This prompts the question: was it time to upgrade this bridge?
Risky business can be taxing on the mind. The science confirms how much pressure we feel when forced to make sacrifices and tough decisions on the road to achievement. It reminds me of a story that I re-tell myself weekly. The story of the first $87 that started my radio career. I believe it's a story that can help you as well.
Our conversation today is based on the decision-making areas of our brains which Carnegie-Mellon says is 80% excitatory cells and 20% inhibitory cells (in earlier stages). Neurobiologist Sandra Kuhlman highlights how our brains change over time and how that affects risk-taking. “The inhibitory cells—the traffic cop cells—they don’t fully come online until after adolescence,” she shares, highlighting how young minds tend to be riskier. That's because the excitatory cells are dominant in younger ages. "Once the traffic cops do come online, they can dampen excitatory activity and even impede learning, but they also allow the brain to more effectively filter information and control behavior," writes Cara Masset for CMU. Although we become more skeptical and closed off to new information as we age, experts suggests that we can adjust to deep learning despite inhibitory dominance. We simply have to focus on changing. The anxiety of risk-taking is natural as we age.
I believe that there may be better awaiting you on the other side of that risk. I look back on that night where I gave up $87 to make my dream of being on the radio come true. I harken to a question that Kiersten Schmidtke asks, "if money wasn't a factor, what would you do?" Looking back, that $87 felt like a million because I was just a kid, a few months out of school. We only know so much about tomorrow and we never know when we'll get the opportunity we have been praying for. No matter how big or how small the investment is, you've got to be ready for the opportunity.
Daniel McGinn speaks on how important preparation is in his book Psyched Up: How the Science of Mental Preparation Can Help You Succeed. He found that many successful people spent time developing routines to help them prepare for big moments. "We often feel the most powerless just before we’re expected to act powerful. As you’ll learn in this life-changing book, practice might make perfect, but perfection is useless if you can’t summon it when it counts," shares the book. Being prepared is part of making the risk worth it; it's part of cashing in on the necessary sacrifices along the journey of success. Then when we make those sacrifices, we must never forget them.
According to Psychology Today, reminiscing is healthy. "Reminiscing is an important yet often underutilized method to help us manifest a state of pleasantness," writes Dr. Mike Rucker. "Activating positive memories can help suppress depression and build enduring intellectual, social, and psychological resources." I believe there's power in looking back on what you've accomplished and getting inspired to accomplish more.
That's the power in re-living this unforgettable night in July 2012 and how it was the first domino to fall on my 14-year radio career. Let's take this walk and see if it can inspire you as well. Connect with me on Twitter and Facebook @BjamesLive. The show on Instagram @LiveXBw.
We are what we eat! It's one of those cliché' statements that are both overused and true. That's why a recent study by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences caught so much attention across American media. It's a study that explored the correlation between fried foods and common mental health illnesses, like anxiety and depression.
The study found that people who consume high amounts of fried foods are at a 7% higher risk of depression, and a 12% higher risk of anxiety. It was a population-based study of 140, 728 participants over 11.3 years. "After excluding participants diagnosed with depression within the first two years, a total of 8,294 cases of anxiety and 12,735 cases of depression were found in those that consumed fried food, while specifically fried potatoes were found to have a 2% increase in risk of depression over fried white meat," writes Taylor Nicioli of CNN. "The study had also found that the participants consuming more than one serving of fried food regularly were more likely to be younger men."
Researchers pinpointed a known contaminant, Acrylamide, as the culprit. In fact, the World Health Organization has recognized Acrylamide as a human health concern. The Food and Drug Administration details the contaminant as, "a chemical that can form in some foods during high-temperature cooking processes, such as frying, roasting, and baking. Acrylamide in food forms from sugars and an amino acid that are naturally present in food; it does not come from food packaging or the environment." It's one big (or tiny) explosion of chemicals in our foods, including some of our favorites like French Fries.
"When high carbohydrate foods such as potatoes are cooked at these temperatures, their natural sugars and the amino acid asparagine, undergo a chemical change that producing the compound acrylamide," writes Devon Mendez of The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences. Dr. Walter Willett of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health shared, "potatoes are a concern for possible effects of mood because they can cause large surges in blood sugar and then hormonal responses to these surges. However, these surges are partly blunted by fat, which would be provided by the fat from frying.” It's also found in other favorites like coffee (ouch), potato chips, bread, cereal, and more. Experts suggest that a heavily green diet will help combat the dangers of acrylamide. The FDA suggests a diet that, "emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products; includes lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs, and nuts; and limits saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, salt (sodium) and added sugars." That a lot more realistic than trying to avoid the contaminant all together.
But, is the depression/anxiety the result of the diet? Or, is the diet the result of the mental illnesses? It's common practice for real-world coping to real-world (outside the realms of the study) problems to involve infamous 'comfort foods'. “Unhealthy foods are detrimental to the microbiome and can exacerbate depressive symptoms, but at the same time those experiencing low mood tend to be more inclined to reach for ‘comfort’ foods such as fried foods and desserts,” says Dr. Uma Naidoo, Harvard University-trained nutritional psychiatrist and author of “This is Your Brain on Food.”
Dr. David Katz had similar thoughts, "however, the causal pathway could just as readily go the other way: people with anxiety/depression turn to ‘comfort food’ with increasing frequency for some semblance of relief.” Katz is the founder of the nonprofit True Health Initiative, a global coalition of experts dedicated to evidence-based lifestyle medicine.
Let's go deeper than the headlines were offering and devise a healthier and brighter life. This is episode 180. Leave notes and comments on the show's Instagram. Feel free to reach out to me directly on my Instagram and Twitter.
We're a long way from the sandbox. Smiling takes a little effort from this distance. We were born into innocence without the slightest clue of race or class. We probably stared at ourselves in a mirror (as babies - maybe we were carried into the bathroom and mum was washing her hands with us in her arms) and didn't even recognize ourselves. Those days are long gone. Now, not only are we critical of our own reflections, but we've got opinions about those around us too. We've grown into full blown adults, completely aware of our fears, concerns, inhibitions, complaints, and everything else that comes with the daily life of adulthood. For some of us, the journey from childhood to adulthood curls us up into pessimistic, skeptical, fearful, and isolated adults whose growth buds like an ingrown hair.
According to World Counts, 385,000 babies are born across the world each day. There's poetry there - 385,000 new stories begin across the world each day. Stories that are complete with failure, triumph, pain, loss, and other emotional climaxes. You can guarantee that each of those newborns will experience some of that in their life. Some could be born right in the middle of poverty or war and wouldn't know a thing. The National Institutes of Health says that the newborn infant is only conscious at a minimal level. Phillip David Zelazo of the University of Toronto says that children's growth of consciousness happens in 4 stages, leading to a "complex processing of higher-order and subordination". He also says that adults go through similar phases as they continue in life. The days pass on, some cloudy and others bright, and we continue to learn how to process it all. It's all part of the process of shedding the innocence of childhood. We get some bumps and bruises along the way and according to Medicine Today, some people become cynical, emotional, and behavioral crippling as they shed their innocence. Some develop gradual, or sudden, dangerous skepticism. The "gauntlet" of life is the painful bombardment of responsibility.
In fact, I've found that "The Gauntlet Theory" reveals a fork in the road (or, many of them) to the grave that points to adverse reactions to some of life's tough choices. The heartbreak that turned a romantic's heart cold, the thief who stole the soul of the generous, etc. The Psalmist Hayley Williams of Paramore sings about how tough this period can be in their song, Ain't It Fun. Losing that childhood (and even adolescent) innocence is a hard process. Life begins to happen and there's no one else to carry our burdens. We begin to experience social, spiritual, romantic, financial, health, and career pain along with an unspoken illusion of expectation of dealing with it all - perfectly.
Today's episode explores this journey to understand how skeptic adults are made. The dark cloud of adulthood is watching people who used to love to smile forget its power. We'll explore how The Gauntlet Theory takes a toll on our souls and creates two emotional responses based on research from Better Help. Then we'll analyze the science of defensiveness and discover the cure to it all, based on research from Science Daily. Our goal is to improve our connections with each other and seek other solutions to coping with adulthood instead of diving into a pool of skepticism, isolation, and fear. Those traits are not conducive to empowerment.
Connect with me on Twitter and stay connected with the show on Instagram. Visit our website for more.