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Seasoned Sessions

150 episodes listed below

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Black news, sharp jokes, real side-eye.

The gist

Seasoned Sessions tracks the Black news of the week with quick shifts between pop culture, politics, sport, film, and trending topics. It is funny, blunt, and conversational, but it can turn serious fast when racism, public accountability, or representation are on the table.

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About Seasoned Sessions

Seasoned Sessions treats Black news as something lived through, argued about, laughed at, and side-eyed in real time. Its conversations start from the week’s visible stories, then follow the logic of how people actually talk about culture. Kanye West’s Wireless appearance leads into questions about public outrage, fandom loyalty, political opportunism, and which communities are listened to when harm is discussed. Love Island, Zendaya’s privacy, Rihanna commentary, Teyana Taylor, Mary Seacole, Black music in the UK, and the natural hair community all sit within the same wider frame: who gets attention, who gets grace, and who gets credited. The show can be very funny. It can also be cutting. A throwaway joke about squirrels or five-ingredient meals may arrive seconds before a sharper point about racism in football, DEI, reckless driving, or the way celebrity culture excuses people with enough public affection behind them. Ada and Hanifa’s chemistry gives the show its pace, with guest episodes adding different textures rather than turning it formal. Dean Webster brings office-loud energy to an episode about DEI and accountability. Akinola Davies Jnr gives the BAFTAs conversation an insider timeline and a grounded account of making music videos, meeting Rose, and moving toward My Father’s Shadow. The show is not trying to sound detached. It reacts, interrupts, doubles back, and finds the uncomfortable angle in stories that have already been flattened by headlines. That looseness is part of the editorial value. Seasoned Sessions is strongest when it refuses to separate gossip from politics, because the episodes keep showing how celebrity, sport, film, race, gender, and public punishment overlap. The jokes keep it agile. The judgment gives it weight. For listeners who like their weekly commentary quick, Black British, culturally specific, and willing to be unserious without becoming empty, it offers a distinct rhythm.

Made for: For listeners who follow Black British culture, celebrity discourse, politics, sport, music, and media controversies through a conversational lens. It suits people who like funny weekly recaps that still take racism, accountability, privacy, and representation seriously.

What sets it apart: Seasoned Sessions pairs gossip-table momentum with a sharper editorial instinct for double standards in public life. Its tangents are part of the texture, not filler: they make the serious turns feel lived-in rather than scripted.

In their own words

Seasoned Sessions is a weekly discussion where two of Seasoned’s producers – Hanifah and Ada – chat about the Black news and trending topics of the week. From music and entertainment to politics, Ada and Hanifah’s conversations delve into topics that are sometimes overlooked in media, and the Seasoned Sessions podcast will celebrate blackness in spaces where it's often uncredited. Seasoned is a channel dedicated to creating and sharing content that resonates with the Black British experience.

As heard by us

Based on 6 episodes we listened to · September 2026

Ada and Hanifah connect politics, race and popular culture through candid conversation that keeps questions of power and credibility in view.

Seasoned Sessions turns the week's public arguments into a lively conversation between Ada and Hanifah, moving easily from politics and racism to film, football and celebrity culture.

Read our full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

A BAFTAs timeline meets a filmmaker's camera-rental hack; your curiosity gets absolutely no lane discipline.

Press play if you want

  • celebrity talk that asks why Kanye's Wireless tickets may sell despite the backlash
  • to hear the dismissal of reported racist abuse in football challenged, with some heat
Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →
Black news of the weekcelebrity accountabilityUK politics and reparationsBlack British cultureracism in footballmusic and entertainmentDEI and representationfilm and awards discourse

Talks about

News & Politics

Podcasts like Seasoned Sessions

Episodes

  1. 1

    227. Happy Slaps, Cannibalism & the return of cinema featuring Damson Idris

    ·59m
  2. 2

    214. Self Hatred, Femininity & Black Customer Service

    ·55m
  3. 3

    262. Squirrel Apocalypse, JAŸ-Z the ethical billionaire & Natural Hair Community

    ·39m
  4. 4

    261. Teyana Taylor, Mary Seacole, Black Music Runs The UK

    ·43m
  5. 5

    263. Love Island Drama, Zendaya's Privacy & Kanye West At Wireless

    ·55m
  6. 6

    260. Terrence Howard, Timothée Chalamet & Leave Rihanna Alone!

    ·50m
  7. 7

    259. DEI Isn't Just About Black People! Featuring Dean Webster

    ·41m
  8. 8

    258. The BAFTAs & My Father's Shadow! Featuring Akinola Davies Jnr

    ·1h 14m
  9. 9

    257. Aliens Exist, ANTM & Football Is Still Racist

    ·48m
  10. 10

    256. The Superbowl Is Black History, Beauty Standards & Eni Aluko

    ·45m
  11. 11

    255. Grammys, Epstein Files & Maybe All Conspiracy Theories Are Real?

    ·45m
  12. 12

    254. Stepping Into Joy & Defiance with Jill Scott

    ·41m
  13. 13

    253. AFCON, Jenga & Shock: Hair Relaxers Are Killing Us

    ·44m
  14. 14

    252. Teyana Taylor, ICE & Bad Mind Activity

    ·57m
  15. 15

    250. Russell Simmons, Lurker & Is Timothée Flying Too Close To The Sun?

    ·48m
  16. 16

    249. Diddy, Sinners Hate & Never Stop Trying

    ·46m
  17. 17

    248. Fashion, Cynthia Erivo, and low brain activity

    ·46m
  18. 18

    247. Preserving History, Lupita Nyong'o & The Mormon Wives

    ·58m
  19. 19

    246. Nicki Minaj, Burna Boy & The Danish Deception

    ·52m
  20. 20

    245. Racism In The Cinema, Christmas Number 1 & Bald Men

    ·48m
  21. 21

    244. Embarrassing Boyfriends, The Shade Borough & Selling Sunset

    ·1h 6m
  22. 22

    243. Prostrate Cancer UK, Standing On Business & We Have A Wedding To Plan

    ·49m
  23. 23

    242. Why Don't Black Footballers Go On Strike?

    ·42m
  24. 24

    241. Talking Stages, The Mandem & Dreaming Whilst Black ft Adjani Salmon

    ·57m
  25. 25

    240. Happy Black History Month! Get to know us a little better...

    ·48m
  26. 26

    239. Let Cardi B just be, Wicked & Shall we take a Gaycation?

    ·1h 1m
  27. 27

    237. Ayo Edebiri, the world is burning, and why do we keep asking celebrities about who they call daddy?

    ·50m
  28. 28

    236. Cardi B, Flags of England & What's a film you loved but now realise is awful?

    ·59m
  29. 29

    235. Taylor Townsend, Indigenious Black Scots & Fleshlights

    ·52m
  30. 30

    234. Could Beyoncé ever EGOT? Tyla Hate & Performative Men

    ·46m
  31. 31

    233. Orange Is The New Black, Handmaids Tale & Osmosis Jones featuring Samira Wiley

    ·42m
  32. 32

    232. It came home, Whites only towns & African braiders SHOULD take over

    ·36m
  33. 33

    231. Laverne Cox & Her MAGA Beaux, Thandiwe Newton, & Can we still watch The Cosby Show?

    ·1h 3m
  34. 34

    230. Nicki Minaj, Tinfoil Hats & What Protections Are In Place For Young Footballers Like Lamine Yamal?

    ·1h 11m
  35. 35

    229. Naomi Osaka, Akon & Not everyone needs to be in a relationship

    ·53m
  36. 36

    228. The Diddy Verdict, Bob Vylan & Girlfriends

    ·1h
  37. 37

    264. Kanye West Continues, Coco Gauff & We Ain't Ever Getting Reparations

    ·43m
  38. 38

    226. The Grammys Aren't Slick, Life Updates & Let's NOT Have A Black James Bond

    ·56m
  39. 39

    225. Will men ever be okay? & why has incest been normalised

    ·52m
  40. 40

    224. “Forever”, Menopause & are you less Black if you don’t have Black friends? ft Kristabel Plummer

    ·58m
  41. 41

    223. Rihanna, Doechii & Why Do We Assume Creatives Are Open Minded?

    ·56m
  42. 42

    222. Terrance Howard, Blue Ivy & what happened to dancing in the club?

    ·42m
  43. 43

    221. Shannon Sharpe, Peter Andre & Why Are You Still Giving Harry Potter Your Coin?

    ·1h 9m
  44. 44

    220. American Boy, Steven Universe & The Power Of The Tongue Ft Estelle

    ·58m
  45. 45

    219. Atlanta, Speaking Life Into Black Artists & Dope Thief ft. Brian Tyree Henry

    ·26m
  46. 46

    218. Mr Milchick: severed or just Black? Ft. Tramell Tillman

    ·25m
  47. 47

    217. Child Welfare, MAFS & Sir Davis

    ·38m
  48. 48

    216. Adolescence , Jonathan Majors, & It's Endometriosis Awareness Month

    ·47m
  49. 49

    215. Trans women ARE women

    ·55m
  50. 50

    213. Thanks to Becky Joo, Black women are the enemy...again

    ·58m
  51. 51

    212. Adult Maintenance, Stormzy Disappointment & What Happened To Shame?

    ·50m
  52. 52

    211. Kendrick Lamar, Ye & why are concerts so expensive?!

    ·53m
  53. 53

    210. The Grammys, Pakistan & Never stop talking about Grenfell

    ·46m
  54. 54

    209. Severance, Pigeons, Keep it in the groupchat

    ·57m
  55. 55

    208. So White Supremacists Are Excused Now?

    ·52m
  56. 56

    207. Meghan Markle Can't Win, Stop Hating On Jackie Aina & Birthday Dinners

    ·36m
  57. 57

    206. The Traitors, LA Fires & Modern Colonialism

    ·43m
  58. 58

    204. Black Men, Kinks & Merry Christmas!

    ·1h 7m
  59. 59

    203. Blue Ivy, Sofia Richie "dance" & justice for Marcus Fakana

    ·39m
  60. 60

    202. Gym Chronicles, Online Jokes & Hercules Recasting

    ·51m
  61. 61

    201. Turning 27, Self Worth and Existing With Intention featuring David Larbi

    ·1h 13m
  62. 62

    OUR 200TH EPISODE FEATURING CYNTHIA ERIVO

    ·20m
  63. 63

    199. Daily Mail, Sickle Cell and Allyship

    ·47m
  64. 64

    198. Trump, Melissa's Wardrobe & Legacy Nudes

    ·1h 1m
  65. 65

    197. Be the change you want to see Featuring Tobi Oredein

    ·1h 9m
  66. 66

    196. I'm not Black, I work in finance

    ·41m
  67. 67

    195. Has society always been this violent?

    ·55m
  68. 68

    BHM Special: Stop curating your life...Ft Kimberley Cumberbatch

    ·1h 4m
  69. 69

    BHM Special: Why does the world look down on Black food? Ft Kiano Moju

    ·1h 19m
  70. 70

    194. Why are Black women everyones saviours?

    ·49m
  71. 71

    183. Do men cheat to heal their inner child?

    ·55m
  72. 72

    193. Why is the UK allergic to change?

    ·56m
  73. 73

    192. The "Uppity African", Diddy and ShxtnGigs

    ·57m
  74. 74

    191. Shannon Sharpe, Kendrick Lamar & Stop policing our language

    ·58m
  75. 75

    190. Why is femicide on the rise?

    ·1h
  76. 76

    189. Why are Black people seen as a risk?

    ·45m
  77. 77

    188. is carnival really for everyone

    ·1h 1m
  78. 78

    187. The UK is burning and we're barely holding on

    ·1h 2m
  79. 79

    186. It's defund the police everyday of the week

    ·53m
  80. 80

    185. The internet is making it harder to gatekeep

    ·50m
  81. 81

    185. The internet is making it harder to gatekeep

    ·50m
  82. 82

    184. Why does the world HATE women?

    ·57m
  83. 83

    182. What would happen if you gave Black people superpowers? Featuring Rapman and Tosin Cole

    ·32m
  84. 84

    181. OBE, Nara Smith, Recreational Drugs

    ·55m
  85. 85

    180. The Olympics, Euros and Fenty Hair featuring Pip from Goal Diggers Podcast

    ·54m
  86. 86

    179. Ray J, Therapy Language & Ice Cream Men

    ·59m
  87. 87

    178. When Are Black Women Supposed To Rest?

    ·1h 2m
  88. 88

    177. Why is society still protecting abusers?

    ·52m
  89. 89

    176. Why Do Americans....? Featuring Waving The Red Flag Podcast

    ·1h 8m
  90. 90

    175. Why are there so many double standards in hip hop?

    ·56m
  91. 91

    174. Shannon Sharpe is not so sharp

    ·56m
  92. 92

    173. "Hear Me Out", Windrush and Community featuring Adannay

    ·1h 4m
  93. 93

    172. BRIT School, Romeo & Juliet and Echo Chambers featuring Cat Burns

    ·57m
  94. 94

    171. Can your pro blackness actually be anti Black?

    ·1h 2m
  95. 95

    170. Diddy, Parenthood & Billie Piper

    ·57m
  96. 96

    169. When will Black women stop being disrespected? Feat. Hafsa Ahmed

    ·50m
  97. 97

    168. Is there really a difference between creators and influencers? Featuring Kimberley Possible

    ·50m
  98. 98

    205. Things to leave in 2024, Aaron Pierre & Empathy

    The hosts discuss leaving behind phone addiction and fidgeting habits in 2024, exploring alternatives like fidget spinners, slime, and crochet for 2025.

    ·51m
  99. 99

    251. GOOD BLACK NEWS FROM 2025!

    The hosts celebrate positive Black news from 2025, highlighting Coco Gauff becoming the highest-paid female athlete.

    ·1h 3m
  100. 100

    238. RIP Trey Reed, D4vd & What is wrong with Dababy

    Hosts Adam and Hanifa discuss the week's black news, including a near-death bike accident and updates on Trey Reed, D4vd, and Dababy.

    ·56m
  101. 101

    264. Kanye West Continues, Coco Gauff & We Ain't Ever Getting Reparations

    Hidden gem

    Hosts Ada and TV Team Buster discuss recent Black news including Kanye West's controversies, Coco Gauff's achievements, and the topic of reparations.

    Apr 11, 2026·43m·2 clips
  102. 102

    263. Love Island Drama, Zendaya's Privacy & Kanye West At Wireless

    Seasoned Sessions examines current UK controversies, including Simon Dudley’s Grenfell comments and Nigel Farage’s decision to dismiss him.

    Apr 4, 2026·55m·3 clips
  103. 103

    262. Squirrel Apocalypse, JAŸ-Z the ethical billionaire & Natural Hair Community

    Adam and Tanifa discuss the week's black news, including squirrel apocalypse, Jay-Z as an ethical billionaire, and the natural hair community, with tangents about Matilda and self-care.

    Mar 28, 2026·39m
  104. 104

    261. Teyana Taylor, Mary Seacole, Black Music Runs The UK

    Hosts Ada and Hanifa discuss turning 32, accountability, and reflections on legacy while visiting Rome.

    Mar 20, 2026·43m
  105. 105

    260. Terrence Howard, Timothée Chalamet & Leave Rihanna Alone!

    Hosts Ada and Halifa discuss black news of the week, including Terrence Howard, Timothée Chalamet, and Rihanna, while debating whether seasonal symptoms are hay fever or something else.

    Mar 14, 2026·50m
  106. 106

    259. DEI Isn't Just About Black People! Featuring Dean Webster

    Hidden gem

    Seasoned Sessions with Ada and Dean Webster links UK black news to DEI, sickle cell care, and newsroom treatment at Creative Access and the Lenny Henry Centre.

    Mar 7, 2026·41m·2 clips
  107. 107

    258. The BAFTAs & My Father's Shadow! Featuring Akinola Davies Jnr

    Hidden gem

    Adam and Hanifa spend the first half of Seasoned Sessions on the BAFTAs, John Tavison's Tourette's, and the claim that BAFTA and BBC failed Delroy Lindo and Michael B.

    Feb 28, 2026·1h 14m·2 clips
  108. 108

    257. Aliens Exist, ANTM & Football Is Still Racist

    Adam and Danny open Seasoned Sessions by mocking Barack Obama's implicit confirmation that aliens exist, questioning why sightings are always tied to the US rather than Europe.

    Feb 21, 2026·48m·4 clips
  109. 109

    256. The Superbowl Is Black History, Beauty Standards & Eni Aluko

    Seasoned Sessions hosts Ada and Hanifa open with a shaving mishap story before shouting out poet-influencer Shiyo Talabi, whose sister was cured of sickle cell disease via a bone marrow transplant.

    Feb 14, 2026·45m·3 clips
  110. 110

    255. Grammys, Epstein Files & Maybe All Conspiracy Theories Are Real?

    Feb 7, 2026·45m
  111. 111

    254. Stepping Into Joy & Defiance with Jill Scott

    Jill Scott discusses her music's impact on listeners and her approach to artistry and life.

    Jan 31, 2026·41m
  112. 112

    253. AFCON, Jenga & Shock: Hair Relaxers Are Killing Us

    Jan 24, 2026·44m
  113. 113

    252. Teyana Taylor, ICE & Bad Mind Activity

    Jan 17, 2026·57m
  114. 114

    251. GOOD BLACK NEWS FROM 2025!

    Dec 27, 2025·1h 3m
  115. 115

    250. Russell Simmons, Lurker & Is Timothée Flying Too Close To The Sun?

    Dec 20, 2025·48m
  116. 116

    249. Diddy, Sinners Hate & Never Stop Trying

    Dec 13, 2025·46m
  117. 117

    248. Fashion, Cynthia Erivo, and low brain activity

    Dec 6, 2025·46m
  118. 118

    247. Preserving History, Lupita Nyong'o & The Mormon Wives

    Nov 29, 2025·58m
  119. 119

    246. Nicki Minaj, Burna Boy & The Danish Deception

    Nov 22, 2025·52m
  120. 120

    245. Racism In The Cinema, Christmas Number 1 & Bald Men

    Nov 15, 2025·48m
  121. 121

    244. Embarrassing Boyfriends, The Shade Borough & Selling Sunset

    Nov 8, 2025·1h 6m
  122. 122

    243. Prostrate Cancer UK, Standing On Business & We Have A Wedding To Plan

    Oct 25, 2025·49m
  123. 123

    242. Why Don't Black Footballers Go On Strike?

    Oct 18, 2025·42m
  124. 124

    241. Talking Stages, The Mandem & Dreaming Whilst Black ft Adjani Salmon

    Oct 11, 2025·57m
  125. 125

    240. Happy Black History Month! Get to know us a little better...

    Oct 4, 2025·48m
  126. 126

    239. Let Cardi B just be, Wicked & Shall we take a Gaycation?

    Sep 27, 2025·1h 1m
  127. 127

    238. RIP Trey Reed, D4vd & What is wrong with Dababy

    Hidden gem

    Hosts Adam and Hanifa discuss the week's black news, including a near-death bike accident and updates on Trey Reed, D4vd, and Dababy.

    Sep 19, 2025·56m·2 clips
  128. 128

    237. Ayo Edebiri, the world is burning, and why do we keep asking celebrities about who they call daddy?

    Sep 13, 2025·50m
  129. 129

    236. Cardi B, Flags of England & What's a film you loved but now realise is awful?

    Sep 6, 2025·59m
  130. 130

    235. Taylor Townsend, Indigenious Black Scots & Fleshlights

    Aug 30, 2025·52m
  131. 131

    234. Could Beyoncé ever EGOT? Tyla Hate & Performative Men

    Aug 16, 2025·46m
  132. 132

    233. Orange Is The New Black, Handmaids Tale & Osmosis Jones featuring Samira Wiley

    Aug 9, 2025·42m
  133. 133

    232. It came home, Whites only towns & African braiders SHOULD take over

    Aug 2, 2025·36m
  134. 134

    231. Laverne Cox & Her MAGA Beaux, Thandiwe Newton, & Can we still watch The Cosby Show?

    Jul 26, 2025·1h 3m
  135. 135

    230. Nicki Minaj, Tinfoil Hats & What Protections Are In Place For Young Footballers Like Lamine Yamal?

    Jul 19, 2025·1h 11m
  136. 136

    229. Naomi Osaka, Akon & Not everyone needs to be in a relationship

    Jul 12, 2025·53m
  137. 137

    228. The Diddy Verdict, Bob Vylan & Girlfriends

    Jul 5, 2025·1h
  138. 138

    227. Happy Slaps, Cannibalism & the return of cinema featuring Damson Idris

    Jun 28, 2025·59m
  139. 139

    226. The Grammys Aren't Slick, Life Updates & Let's NOT Have A Black James Bond

    Jun 21, 2025·56m
  140. 140

    225. Will men ever be okay? & why has incest been normalised

    May 24, 2025·52m
  141. 141

    224. “Forever”, Menopause & are you less Black if you don’t have Black friends? ft Kristabel Plummer

    May 17, 2025·58m
  142. 142

    223. Rihanna, Doechii & Why Do We Assume Creatives Are Open Minded?

    May 10, 2025·56m
  143. 143

    222. Terrance Howard, Blue Ivy & what happened to dancing in the club?

    May 3, 2025·42m
  144. 144

    221. Shannon Sharpe, Peter Andre & Why Are You Still Giving Harry Potter Your Coin?

    Apr 26, 2025·1h 9m
  145. 145

    220. American Boy, Steven Universe & The Power Of The Tongue Ft Estelle

    Apr 19, 2025·58m
  146. 146

    219. Atlanta, Speaking Life Into Black Artists & Dope Thief ft. Brian Tyree Henry

    Apr 12, 2025·26m
  147. 147

    218. Mr Milchick: severed or just Black? Ft. Tramell Tillman

    Apr 5, 2025·25m
  148. 148

    217. Child Welfare, MAFS & Sir Davis

    Mar 29, 2025·38m
  149. 149

    216. Adolescence , Jonathan Majors, & It's Endometriosis Awareness Month

    Mar 22, 2025·47m
  150. 150

    215. Trans women ARE women

    Mar 15, 2025·55m