Isolation Be Like...

On Just Popping Up 14 Months Later

I'm not gonna lie...I couldn't even remember where I hosted my podcast. It's been THAT long. Here I am. Still standing...and, out here breathing air in close-ish proximity people. Life is wild. This episode:

- My 'hiatus'/hibernation

- Why I quit my professor gig

- Remembering who tf I am

Welcome Back and thanks for listening, fam!

Check out the trailer to my latest film: Hampton University: One of the Wonders of the World - https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/751713690

Director's BTS - https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/745073679

Listen to me on The Moth - https://themoth.org/storytellers/phill-branch

Find me at @phillbranch on Twitter and IG / phillbranch.com /  Email: phillbranch@gmail.com

Agent (Book) - Faith Childs Literary Agency - (212) 995-9600.

Isolation Be Like... is Created, Produced and Hosted by Phill Branch (aka Phill Boogie) This podcast was supported by a 2019 Rubys Artist Grant, which is a program of the Robert W. Deutsch Foundation. Phill Branch is a storyteller working in film, creative nonfiction and theater. He is the 2019 recipient of the Maryland State Arts Council’s Solo Performance Artist Award. He is also a GrandSlam Champion of The Moth in DC. An alumnus of the American Film Institute, Branch recently directed Searching for Shaniqua; his documentary about the impact names have on people's lives.The film won the HBO Best Documentary award at the 2016 Martha's Vineyard African-American Film Festival. Branch has served as a professor at his alma mater Hampton University and recently at Howard University. He taught the only college course on Janet Jackson in the nation, because Janet Jackson is life.

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On Chicken Blessings

I was just minding my business, buying chicken and then...

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Also, my first ever solo storytelling show is happening October 8th, 9th and 10th 2021 at Baltimore Theatre Project. The show is called "Juneteenth Tilapia Rainbows." 

If you're in the Baltimore area, come through and check out the show.

Or...

If you're a fan of the podcast and can't make to the theater - here's a special link just for you and few select friends and family to watch the show virtually on October 9th at 8pm ET: 

https://phillgoodstories.ticketspice.com/juneteenth-tilapia-rainbows

 

Isolation Be Like is Created, Produced and Hosted by Phill Branch (aka Phill Boogie) This podcast is supported by a 2019 Rubys Artist Grant, which is a program of the Robert W. Deutsch Foundation. Phill Branch is a storyteller working in film, creative nonfiction and theater. He is the 2019 recipient of the Maryland State Arts Council’s Solo Performance Artist Award. He is also a GrandSlam Champion of The Moth in DC. An alumnus of the American Film Institute, Branch recently directed Searching for Shaniqua; his documentary about the impact names have on people's lives.The film won the HBO Best Documentary award at the 2016 Martha's Vineyard African-American Film Festival. Branch has served as a professor at his alma mater Hampton University and recently at Howard University. He is currently a Professor of Practice at Goucher College in Communication and Media Studies, focusing on race and ethnicity in film and media.

Find us at @isolationbelike and @phillbranch on Twitter and IG / phillbranch.com /  isolationbelike.com / Email: phillbranch@gmail.com

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Thanks for listening.

 

On Driving in a Box

I faced a challenging test this week. Take a listen. Also, my first ever solo storytelling show is happening October 8th, 9th and 10th 2021 at Baltimore Theatre Project. The show is called "Juneteenth Tilapia Rainbows." 

If you're in the Baltimore area, come through and check out the show.

Or...

If you're a fan of the podcast and can't make to the theater - here's a special link just for you and few select friends and family to watch the show virtually on October 9th at 8pm ET: 

https://phillgoodstories.ticketspice.com/juneteenth-tilapia-rainbows

 

Isolation Be Like is Created, Produced and Hosted by Phill Branch (aka Phill Boogie) This podcast is supported by a 2019 Rubys Artist Grant, which is a program of the Robert W. Deutsch Foundation. Phill Branch is a storyteller working in film, creative nonfiction and theater. He is the 2019 recipient of the Maryland State Arts Council’s Solo Performance Artist Award. He is also a GrandSlam Champion of The Moth in DC. An alumnus of the American Film Institute, Branch recently directed Searching for Shaniqua; his documentary about the impact names have on people's lives.The film won the HBO Best Documentary award at the 2016 Martha's Vineyard African-American Film Festival. Branch has served as a professor at his alma mater Hampton University and recently at Howard University. He is currently a Professor of Practice at Goucher College in Communication and Media Studies, focusing on race and ethnicity in film and media.

Find us at @isolationbelike and @phillbranch on Twitter and IG / phillbranch.com /  isolationbelike.com / Email: phillbranch@gmail.com

Subscribe and share!

Thanks for listening.

 

On Losing it Again

Y'all. Just listen. It's short.

On Homeschool, Bourbon and Re-Entry

It was Fathers' Day (I choose plural possessive), I had a couple sips and then hit record. Enter at your own risk. Getting back to the grind is going to be difficult. Folks already standing too close and trying to breathe in your face. Work, and other things, don't feel quite the same and I'm not so sure what's next. 

Isolation Be Like is Created, Produced and Hosted by Phill Branch (aka Phill Boogie) This podcast is supported by a 2019 Rubys Artist Grant, which is a program of the Robert W. Deutsch Foundation. Phill Branch is a storyteller working in film, creative nonfiction and theater. He is the 2019 recipient of the Maryland State Arts Council’s Solo Performance Artist Award. He is also a GrandSlam Champion of The Moth in DC. An alumnus of the American Film Institute, Branch recently directed Searching for Shaniqua; his documentary about the impact names have on people's lives.The film won the HBO Best Documentary award at the 2016 Martha's Vineyard African-American Film Festival. Branch has served as a professor at his alma mater Hampton University and recently at Howard University. He is currently a Professor of Practice at Goucher College in Communication and Media Studies, focusing on race and ethnicity in film and media.

Find us at @isolationbelike and @phillbranch on Twitter and IG / phillbranch.com /  isolationbelike.com / Email: phill@phillbranch.com

Music by BaadChuck

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Thanks for listening.

 

On Hydroponics, Bad Grades and Burgers

Over a year into the apocalypse, I'm growing my own food with the help of vegetable robot. It's keeping me sane as the end of semester madness begins.

 

Isolation Be Like is Created, Produced and Hosted by Phill Branch (aka Phill Boogie) This podcast is supported by a 2019 Rubys Artist Grant, which is a program of the Robert W. Deutsch Foundation. Phill Branch is a storyteller working in film, creative nonfiction and theater. He is the 2019 recipient of the Maryland State Arts Council’s Solo Performance Artist Award. He is also a GrandSlam Champion of The Moth in DC. An alumnus of the American Film Institute, Branch recently directed Searching for Shaniqua; his documentary about the impact names have on people's lives.The film won the HBO Best Documentary award at the 2016 Martha's Vineyard African-American Film Festival. Branch has served as a professor at his alma mater Hampton University and recently at Howard University. He is currently a Professor of Practice at Goucher College in Communication and Media Studies, focusing on race and ethnicity in film and media.

Find us at @isolationbelike and @phillbranch on Twitter and IG / phillbranch.com / isolationbelike.com

Music by BaadChuck

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Thanks for listening.

On Us vs. Them

Processing how art about Black life is often, both, too much and not enough - at the same. Join me as I discuss Amazon's new series "Them." I did my best to make it spoiler free, but feel free to circle back to this discussion AFTER you watch, if you don't want to know anything about the show. That said, the discussion is a general one about nuance and responsibility as creators.

Please chime in to the discussion in the comments...even if you watch the recording later. I'll respond.

Isolation Be Like is Created, Produced and Hosted by Phill Branch (aka Phill Boogie) This podcast is supported by a 2019 Rubys Artist Grant, which is a program of the Robert W. Deutsch Foundation. Phill Branch is a storyteller working in film, creative nonfiction and theater. He is the 2019 recipient of the Maryland State Arts Council’s Solo Performance Artist Award. He is also a GrandSlam Champion of The Moth in DC. An alumnus of the American Film Institute, Branch recently directed Searching for Shaniqua; his documentary about the impact names have on people's lives.The film won the HBO Best Documentary award at the 2016 Martha's Vineyard African-American Film Festival. Branch has served as a professor at his alma mater Hampton University and recently at Howard University. He is currently a Professor of Practice at Goucher College in Communication and Media Studies, focusing on race and ethnicity in film and media.

Find us at @isolationbelike and @phillbranch on Twitter and IG / phillbranch.com / isolationbelike.com

Subscribe and share!

Thanks for listening.

On How it All Began

It's been a year since the world turned upside down. I take some time to look back at how it all began - pandemic grocery shopping, lots of bleach and...fear.

Isolation Be Like is produced and hosted by Phill Branch (aka Phill Boogie).  He is the 2019 recipient of the Maryland State Arts Council’s Solo Performance Artist Award. He is also a GrandSlam Champion of The Moth in DC. An alumnus of the American Film Institute, Branch directed Searching for Shaniqua; his documentary about the impact names have on people's lives.The film won the HBO Best Documentary award at the 2016 Martha's Vineyard African-American Film Festival. Branch has served as a professor at his alma mater Hampton University and recently at Howard University. He is currently a Professor of Practice at Goucher College in Communication and Media Studies, focusing on race and ethnicity in film and media. He currently teaches On Janet Jackson: Race, Class and Wardrobe Malfunctions.

Find us at @isolationbelike and @phillbranch on Twitter and IG / phillbranch.com / janetclass.com isolationbelike.com

Edited by Ronald Young Jr. - follow him on Twitter and IG - @ohitsBigRon   

Music by Baadchuck

 

On Janet: Race, Gender & Wardrobe Malfunctions

Hey!!! I celebrated the 35th anniversary of the release of Control, talking about Janet, her legacy and my new class - On Janet: Race, Gender & Wardrobe Malfunctions.

 

This podcast will have its own space, but I thought I'd share this first episode with my loyal Isolation listeners. Check janetclass.com next week to keep up with future episodes, the syllabus and other discussions.

 

I'll be posting the syllabus next week, when class officially starts. I also plan to do 10 episodes that coincide with the syllabus, so do your homework and join the discussion. Shout out to Goucher College for giving me space to explore this topic.

 

I am a one man band...with two other classes, two 5 year olds and insomnia. There will be glitches. I'm gonna let them rock. Ain't nobody got time for editing.

 

A brief description of the class and the first set of readings are below. Take a peek.

 

And by the way...what's your favorite cut from Control?

 

On Janet: Race, Gender and Wardrobe Malfunctions

 

Description and Goals:

We will use Janet Jackson’s career as a case study to examine how race, gender and politics play a role in how media content is created, marketed and consumed.

 

The Super Bowl XXXVIII (2004) Halftime Show which featured Janet Jackson as the headliner and resulted in what became coined as a “wardrobe malfunction,” was a turning point for the global pop icon and touchstone for discussions about race, gender and politics and popular culture. She is often cited as the trigger that helped propel YouTube’s success.

 

Despite her enormous success and her place among the most revered artists in pop music, she was blacklisted for the Super Bowl incident. Radio stations banned her music, MTV stopped promoting her videos, album sales dropped, etc. Meanwhile, Justin Timberlake, the featured performer during Janet’s Super Bowl performance, became one of the biggest stars in the world. His career did not suffer at all; despite his role in tearing off Janet’s bustier, revealing her breast.

 

This course will examine how pop music iconography is crafted and maintained under systemic structures that disempower women, Blacks and other marginalized groups. We will gain an understanding of power and how it functions in the media. We will look at the social/cultural implications of Janet being blacklisted, while Justin Timberlake’s career flourished. We will also examine Janet Jackson’s recent return to prominence as a respected legacy artist and how modern protest movements via social media helped revitalize her career and legacy.

 

In the end you will see that entertainment is about more than a song, a dance or an image. It is all about control and in order for the system to function, someone has to wield it and others yield.

 

Weekly Schedule ·

Week One

On Janet Jackson and Black Music Crossover Success

Readings:

Sorry, Ms. Jackson: You’re Underrated. ‘Control’ at 30 - https://www.nytimes.com/.../janet-jackson-control...

A Pop and R&B Legend, Janet Jackson Is Still Somehow Underrated - https://www.postandcourier.com/.../article_acdee782-6060...

Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation redefined pop style 30 years ago - https://slate.com/.../rhythm-nation-was-the-sound-of-the...

 

Guiding Question: What makes Janet Jackson’s success significant given the era in which she began her music career?

 

Reach me at @phillbranch on IG/Twitter and at phillbranch.com.

 

Season 2 of Isolation be Like coming soon....

Recorded Feb. 4, 2021

On Twerking At Dinner

To twerk, or not to twerk (at dinner)? That is the question.

Links:

Dallas True Kitchen owner tells ‘twerking’ women to ‘get the f–k’ out

Video of Dallas Restaurant Owner’s Anti-Twerking Rant Goes Viral

 

Isolation Be Like is Created, Produced and Hosted by Phill Branch (aka Phill Boogie) This podcast is supported by a 2019 Rubys Artist Grant, which is a program of the Robert W. Deutsch Foundation. Phill Branch is a storyteller working in film, creative nonfiction and theater. He is the 2019 recipient of the Maryland State Arts Council’s Solo Performance Artist Award. He is also a GrandSlam Champion of The Moth in DC. An alumnus of the American Film Institute, Branch recently directed Searching for Shaniqua; his documentary about the impact names have on people's lives.The film won the HBO Best Documentary award at the 2016 Martha's Vineyard African-American Film Festival. Branch has served as a professor at his alma mater Hampton University and recently at Howard University. He is currently a Visiting Professor at Goucher College in Communication and Media Studies, focusing on race and ethnicity in film and media.

Find us at @isolationbelike and @phillbranch on Twitter and IG / phillbranch.com / isolationbelike.com

Music by Kris Johnson - follow him on YouTube and IG - @krisjohnsonmusic