The Score

Happy Tuesday, Scorekeepers! Welcome to another episode of THE SCORE! This week, we take another step on our journey through Season 11 of RuPaul's Drag Race and this week's stop is Episode 6: The Draglympics (0:38:52). And if the Trump episode was the worst episode we've ever seen, this one is definitely the most confounding. Now we aren't left speechless very often, but this one left us with more questions than answers. Namely, why? Also, how dare you? But before we get to all that, what started as a little RFK, Jr. shade turned into the rant of all rants (0:04:00). So if...

Hey there, Scorekeepers! On our off weeks for the next few months, we're revisiting ART CLASS, the 12-episode series all about arts and arts education that we released last year. We hope you enjoy taking this stroll down memory lane with us!

This episode was originally released on February 27, 2024.

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Good morrow, dear Classmates! For today's episode of ART CLASS, we're thinking about how the art of the future intersects with the art of the present. Have you ever wondered what art will look like in the age of artificial intelligence? Well, so...

What it do, Scorekeepers?! Have we got a guest for you today! At long last, we are joined once again by our dear friend, chef and Executive Director of The Black Feminist Project, Tanya Denise Fields! You may recognize Tanya (aka Mama Tanya) from her numerous appearances on The Food Network, but did you also know that she's an activist, philanthropist, philosopher, community builder and all-around badass? It's true! This week, she's here to chat with us about Cardamom & Thyme, BFP's new social justice cafe in the South Bronx and how she's fighting injustice and white supremacy with love...

Hey there, Scorekeepers! On our off weeks for the next few months, we're revisiting ART CLASS, the 12-episode series all about arts and arts education that we released last year. We hope you enjoy taking this stroll down memory lane with us!

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This episode was originally released on February 13, 2024.

Happy Black History Month, Classmates! This week's ART CLASS is all about healing and self-care. As Black folks and Black artists especially, it's so easy to over-extend ourselves during the month of February, so this week we devote the first part of the...

Hi Scorekeepers! Have we got a spicy one for you today! We're back to our coverage of RuPaul's Drag Race and this time we're diving into Season 11, Episode 5: The Monster Ball. Join us as we dissect all 33 looks from this (underwhelming) supersized runway. Plus, we finally break down our feelings about this last season of All-Stars and dare to ask the question: Gen Z, what is up with your shoe game? All that, plus a quick Pure Black Joy to get you through the week! Let's do it to it, y'all!

Hosts: Lee Bynum, Rocky Jones, Paige...

Hey, Scorekeepers! On our off weeks for the next few months, we're revisiting ART CLASS, the 12-episode series all about arts and arts education that we released last year. We hope you enjoy this stroll down memory lane!

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This episode was originally released on January 30, 2024.

Welcome back, Classmates! And thank you so much for joining us for episode 2 of Lincoln Center's ART CLASS! This week is all about preserving the legacy of Black art and culture, specifically Black music. COVID-19 and the murder of George Floyd in 2020 brought about a racial reckoning...

Happy Tuesday, Scorekeepers! It's time for another episode of your favorite podcast, THE SCORE! This week, we examine the strange turn to the right taken by several Black American celebrities and institutions of late. From Laverne Cox coyly revealing her MAGA ex-boyfriend to the backlash to this year's Essence Festival, it seems like there are some influential Black people who are using their platforms to (both wittingly and unwittingly) parrot conservative talking points, prop up the broken status quo, and/or create division between different members of the African diaspora. And it seems rather sinister and frustrating and unnecessary...

Originally aired January 16, 2024.

What's up, Classmates?! Class is officially in session! Welcome to the first episode of ART CLASS, a provocative, thoughtful and often humorous podcast all about art and artists creating at the intersection of beauty and innovation. This week, hosts Lee Bynum, Paige Reynolds, and Rocky Jones are joined by author, activist, and multi-disciplinary artist Junauda Petrus, whose novel The Stars and the Blackness Between Them, has appeared on multiple banned books lists in the past few years. We talk art and censorship, other influential, inspirational artists who have also showed up on banned book...

Good day, Scorekeepers! It's time for another step on our journey through Season 11 of RuPaul's Drag Race. This week, we're covering episode 4, and we must have all memory-holed this one, because we had all completely forgot it existed and, quite frankly, it just might be the worst episode of Drag Race ever. Of course, we are talking about the dreaded "Trump: The Rusical." So come for the weak satirization of modern history's greatest existential threat to the entire planet and stay for the absolutely hideous all-orange runway! 'Cause If you like it when we throw shade for an entire...

Good tidings, dear Scorekeepers! Have we got a show for you today! We've finally all seen Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan's latest cinematic masterpiece, Sinners, and we can't wait to talk about it. From the music to the history to the messages the movie sends, we loved it all - a few small critiques notwithstanding, of course. (Spoilers abound!) But before that we have a little chat about reality TV and what we're currently watching. This time around we're covering Love Island, RuPaul's Drag Race: All-Stars, and so much more! Plus, we'd never leave you without a little...

Greetings and salutations, dear Scorekeepers! It's time for another installment of our journey through season 11 of RuPaul's Drag Race! After a quick chitchat about some hot topics, including our wrap-up of last week's Tony Awards, we dive into episode 3, "Diva Worship". This week the queens are tasked with creating "she-vangelical" talk shows devoted to the pop diva of their choice, and let's just say... one team does fine and the other is a train wreck the likes we haven't seen before or since. All that, plus a fringe-tastic runway and questionable lip sync, make for a juicy, messy, hilarious...

Greetings, dear Scorekeepers! This week, it's another one of those situations where we were hoping to have a guest join us, but sadly it didn't work out. So we're kind of winging it. But these unexpected conversations always turn out to be some of our favorites and this one is no exception! Basically, this week's show is about assholes and America's obsession with them. From Donald Trump to the Black conservatives who grift in his name to Diddy, why do we give these people so much of our time and attention. We should maybe stop doing that. Anyway, just...

What's shakin', Scorekeepers?! It's time for another episode of THE SCORE and another step on our journey through season 11 of RuPaul's Drag Race. This time we'll cover episode 2, "Good God Girl Get Out", in which the queens divide into teams to spoof the films Black Panther and Get Out. The results are... ummm... interesting. It's all worth it, however, because afterwards we are blessed with a runway full of our two favorite things: fashion and astrology!!! But before that, we dive into some current events and hot button political issues. Have you heard about the co-opting of the phrase "...

What's up, Scorekeepers? It's time for a fresh episode of THE SCORE and have we got a jam-packed episode for you today. First up, we have a chat about this year's Tony nominees, including the incredible Kara Young, who's been nominated now four years in a row (0:16:45)! Talk about Pure Black Joy! Then, we have an important and timely conversation about DEI in the arts (0:31:40). In light of the poicy shifts of the new administration, all over the country we're seeing arts organizations slash their DEI programs and DEI professionals like Rocky getting restructured out the door. We take...

Start your engines, Scorekeepers! It's time for us to dive into the show we were born to recap: RuPaul's Drag Race! In this episode, we kick off our new series with a deep dive into RPDR Season 11. (It's the one with Yvie, Brooke, Vanjie, Silky, and them!) Join us as we break down Episode 1 from the runway look, to the questionable judging, all gag-worthy moments, and, of course, all the drama. And we're looking at it all through our unapologetically Black, queer lens. We'll start the ep off with a little drag herstory lesson from Dr. Bynum before we...

Hey there, Scorekeepers! Huzzah! For it's a day of jubilation here at THE SCORE! You may have heard already, but our dear Dr. Lee Bynum has a new full-time gig and what a dope gig it is! So since some of you may have seen the news and are therefore new to the show, we thought it would be nice to take a trip down memory lane. So join us as we give you a little insight into who we are as humans, how the three of us became friends, and just what it is we've been doing around...

What's shaking, Scorekeepers?!?! It's time for another episode of your favorite podcast, THE SCORE. It's a bittersweet day for us, because it's the last episode (for now) in our series revisiting 2006 and the classic queer, Black sitcom, Noah's Arc. We'll be covering episodes 8 and 9 of the second season and y'all it's a whole mess. But a fun mess with a wild cliffhanger. So come along for the ride as we take a walk down memory lane and celebrate this seminal work of gay, Black art one last time. Plus, a little Pure Black Joy to get you through the...

Good tidings, Scorekeepers! It's time for another episode of THE SCORE! For the past few months, the three of us have been going it alone, but recently we thought wouldn't it be nice to add another voice to the mix for a change? So we are over the moon to welcome back our dear friend and past guest, Pablo Siqueiros! Pablo is a brilliant singer, arts advocate, and all-around talented, lovely person and the perfect first guest for THE SCORE 2.0! We had great conversation with him about what supporting artists looks like in 2025, how to rekindle a lost creative...

Hey Scorekeepers! It's time for another episode of THE SCORE! This week, we continue our journey back to the mid-2000's and the groundbreaking queer dramedy, Noah's Arc. And if you can believe it, in this batch of episodes, things somehow get even messier for our four intrepid friends. Join us as we examine all the love triangles, the psycho closet cases, and the devastating reads. Plus, a look back at the queer politics of the time from the two geezers who were actually there! If you like to watch along with us, check out the links below. Let's...

Well, hey there, Scorekeepers! Have the last few weeks got you feeling scared? Anxious? Overwhelmed? Well, much like any rational, thinking human being living in 2025, we are feeling that way too. So we thought about it and figured that one thing that we could do is bring a little bit of joy into the proceedings, because even in these darkest of times, it's important to remember there's still joy to be had. So ladies and germs, we're doing an episode-long edition of Pure Black Joy! All episode we will be highlighting the beautiful Black people, art, and culture that...

G'day, lovely Scorekeepers! And welcome to another episode of your favorite podcast, THE SCORE! It's been quite a year so far to say the least, so up top we take stock of the first week of Trump II. Spoiler alert: It's not great. But then things get happy, because we're on to season 2 of Noah's Arc (0:12:39) and things are getting juicy, y'all! Come along with us as we take a trip back to 2006 with more shambolic exes, secret lesbians and questionable childcare decisions than you can shake a stick at! And finally, as always, a bit of Pure Black...

Happy new year, Scorekeepers! It's the first episode of 2025 and have we got spicy one for you today. First, there's a new season of RuPaul's Drag Race upon us, so you know we have to have a chat about these new girls (and drag Katy Perry)! Then, Rocky recently tried dipping his toe into the fiction pond with presumptive Oscar contender Emilia Pérez and... it didn't go well. It got us thinking that, of course, representation of minoritized groups in art is important, but what happens when the things being represented are tired stereotypes and problematic tropes? Who o...

Habari Gani, Scorekeepers! And Happy New Year's Eve! We hope you've all had a wonderful holiday season and we are so excited to be back with our recap of the last three episodes of season 1 of Noah's Arc (0:17:30). We're very happy to report that it gets juicy and very, very messy and y'all know we love some mess! But before we get into that, we break down the queen's Christmas Day gift to us all, the Beyoncé Bowl, and make some resolutions for 2025 (0:04:14). And then of course, we couldn't end the show without one last Pure Black Joy for 2024 (1:14:36). L...

It's the most wonderful time of the year, Scorekeepers! Welcome to another episode of your favorite podcast, THE SCORE! This week, we're talking about the holiday season (0:23:29). What are we celebrating this year? What are we definitely NOT celebrating this year? And how do our identities inform those feelings and decisions? But first, we finally wade into the Wicked discourse and Lee gives us their review of the new all-Black production of Gypsy on Broadway, starring the legendary Audra McDonald (0:00:32). Last but certainly not least, for PBJ we celebrate the life of Black and queer artist, activist and icon...

Hey there, Scorekeepers! Apologies for our tardiness, but we've been going through it, y'all. I mean we all have, of course, but your hosts had some personal emergencies to tend to these last few weeks that meant putting the show on the back burner for a sec. But we're back and so happy to be with all of you lovely people! This week, we start with a quick chat about how we're all feeling about the state of the world. Spoiler alert: NOT GOOD (0:47:07). But if you want to skip to the fun part, go right ahead (0:11:33), because we're...

It's finally here, Scorekeepers. It's Election Day 2024 here in the US. So if you haven't yet voted and made your voice heard, may we kindly suggest you pause the pod and go do that. And then while you're waiting in line or when you get back, you can listen to us chat about the literal life and death choice before us (00:33), the strange celebrity political endorsement industrial complex that seems especially present this election cycle (43:23), and then -- because we all need it desperately today -- a supersized dose of Pure Black Joy to help us all get through...

Hey hey, Scorekeepers! We're back for another episode of your favorite podcast, THE SCORE! This week, after a little election update, we're gonna try something new. Noah's Arc was the first of its kind: a funny and frank dramedy about four Black gay men living in Los Angeles that ran for two seasons on LogoTV in the mid-2000s. For the next few months, we'll be revisiting this trailblazing show episode by episode, chatting about the friendships, the sex, the romance, the fashions, and what seeing these characters on our screens meant to us then and still means to...

Don't call it a comeback, dear Scorekeepers! Call it a homecoming! Welcome to the new iteration of your favorite podcast, which we're affectionately calling The Score 2.0. The Minnesota Opera era is over. The Lincoln Center era is over. We're now proudly coming to you as a wholly independent, Black and queer media enterprise, liberated from the shackles of any institutional pressure. What does that mean? It means we're going to keep bringing you the same Black, queer arts and culture commentary you've come to enjoy, but a bit freer and a lot spicier. Plus, we're excited to dip our...

Hey hey, Scorekeepers! At long last, it's time for the premiere of our new show with Lincoln Center, ART CLASS! If you loved The Score, you'll absolutely adore ART CLASS! We've kept a lot of the things you've come to know and love about The Score, but we've expanded our scope beyond classical music and we're shining a light on Global Majority artists creating in all sorts of different art forms, like books, film, theater and so much more. We figured we'd drop the first episode here on this feed, but moving forward new episodes will be dropping over...

What's up, Scorekeepers?! As Mariah would say, "It's tiiiiiiime!" ART CLASS, Paige, Rocky and Lee's new podcast with Lincoln Center premieres this Tuesday, January 16. So if you've been missing us popping up in your feed on the regular, you can now officially check out the new show on our page at lincolncenter.org and subscribe to ART CLASS on your podcast platform of choice. Platforms such as...

It's been way too long, Scorekeepers! Did you miss us? We missed you! How was your summer? How has your fall been? How's your mama and them? Well, we have been hard at work on our next endeavor since we last left you and we are so excited to FINALLY share the details of our new adventure! So... if we may, we'd like to proudly introduce you to... ART CLASS, a brand new podcast from the one and only Lincoln Center Education. Yes, you read that correctly, THE Lincoln Center! ART CLASS will consist of the same news and...

Hello, all you wonderful, gorgeous Scorekeepers! It's a momentous and bittersweet day here at THE SCORE HQ. After 2 years, 3 seasons, 58 episodes, a murderers' row of amazing guests and countless engrossing conversations, it's our last episode. BUT! It won't be the last you hear from the three of us, because we haven't been cancelled. Far from it! We can't spill all the details yet, but this fall we'll be embarking on a ridiculously exciting brand new podcasting adventure and we can't wait to share all the details with you! But until then, we are so happy to go out on...

Hi hi, Scorekeepers! It's time for another episode of your favorite podcast, THE SCORE! This week's episode has been two years in the making and, considering he's married to one of us, I can't believe it's taken all this time to finally nab today's fabulous guest: singer, composer, activist and all-around brilliant and lovely person, Damian Norfleet! Join us as he shares his insightful thoughts and opinions on the state of arts education and what institutions should avoid when commissioning work from Black artists. Plus, we have a chit-chat about the commercialization of Juneteenth and, of course, a little...

Oh my goodness, Scorekeepers, do we have a special episode for you today! Get ready, cuz it's time for the Trans Takeover! It's almost Pride month, and given what's happening in statehouses around the country, this year's vibe is less "love is love" and more "please do something, because queer and trans people are under attack." So we hope this week you'll join us for an important roundtable discussion all about the issues specifically facing our trans and non-binary siblings, moderated by our very own Paige Reynolds, and featuring three incredible non-binary artists and activists of color: friend-of-the-show Frankie...

Mornin', Scorekeepers! Welcome to another edition of your favorite podcast, THE SCORE! And this week, we've another banger for you. We are so excited to welcome an incredible, young Canadian composer who is making huge waves: Morgan-Paige Melbourne! Join us as we chat about what it's like to be a child piano prodigy, what music educators need to do to better support students of marked identities, and the messages of love and resilience she hopes to send fellow Black folks and queer folks with her music. Also, we talk about some of the amazing shows that have recently opened...

Hi hi, dear Scorekeepers! Congratulations, it's time for a new episode of your favorite podcast, THE SCORE! And this week, we've got a very special episode for you. For the very first time in Score theirstory, our wonderful guest unfortunately had to bow out at the last minute due to illness, so it's just us 3 and... we're kinda winging it this week. So join us for a fun, free-wheeling hour that's a little bit EDI in the arts, a little bit Icebreakers, and a supersized edition of Pure Black Joy! Let's do it to it, ya'll!

Hosts...

Oh hello, dear Scorekeepers! It's time for another episode of your favorite podcast, THE SCORE! This week, we are absolutely blessed to be in conversation with the one and only, JULIA BULLOCK! Join us for an intimate chat with the legendary soprano and activist all about using art as a means to heal and create new spaces, what institutions could be doing to support young artists of color, and her fabulous new solo debut album, Walking in the Dark. And so much more! You don't want to miss this one, folks! And if that wasn't enough, we've got more...

Greetings, dear Scorekeepers! It's high time for another episode of your favorite podcast, THE SCORE! And this week, we have quite a show for you! First, we'll gingerly dip out toes into a quick discussion of the current political moment. Then we are honored to welcome to the show veteran composer, educator and conductor, William Henry Curry (0:19:00)! Maestro Curry takes us on a journey through his storied career from growing up a poor Black kid with a burning passion for music in 1950s Pittsburgh to performing in some of the most famous concert halls in the world. And while...

Good morrow, dear Scorekeepers! It's time for another episode of your favorite podcast, THE SCORE! This week, we are joined by one of the most celebrated, world-renowned operatic tenors working today: LAWRENCE BROWNLEE! And we couldn't be more excited! Join us for an insightful and personal chat all about his musical upbringing, the ways he is keeping the doors open for the next generation of Global Majority operatic talent, and the surprising hobbies that he's passionate about when he's not busy being a once-in-a-generation operatic superstar (0:23:34)! All that plus: our Oscars recap (0:09:44), a long overdue dip into RuPaul's Drag...

Happy Wednesday, Scorekeepers! It's time for another episode of THE SCORE and have we got a show for you! Thursday, March 9 is the world premiere of The Song Poet, the first Hmong story adapted for the operatic stage! Join us for an emotional and insightful conversation with Kao Kalia Yang, author of both the book The Song Poet as well as the opera's libretto, all about this incredible story's journey from the page to the stage. We're also joined local Hmong-American artist Josephine Yang, MN Opera's Community Engagement Consultant. We'll chat about the genesis of Kao Kalia's beautiful story, t...