The Fake Ass Book Club
The Book Club is Fake but the Talk is REAL! The F.A.B. Podcast serves cocktails while also serving up stories with a side dish of humor, a sprinkle of sarcasm, and an occasional expletive as garnish. Every hump day, tune in as Moni and Kat playfully and thoughtfully explore compelling books and topics as they relate to the human experience, filtered through the lens as black women in the midwest. Let each episode illustrate the power of storytelling and how it connects us all. This podcast is a reason for them to connect as friends, as individuals, and...
F.A.B. Podcast X Bellies & Bullshit: Podcast Love
This week, F.A.B. sits down with Brion and D-Matt, hosts of Bellies & Bullshit, an Indianapolis-based podcast known for its unfiltered conversations on current events, relationships, sports, and everyday life, all with a healthy dose of fun and BS. The guys share how the show got its start, the story behind its name, and how an internet radio station grew into a platform for conversation, community, iconic block parties, and so much more. Then, Moni and Kat get to know the guys a little better with some fun icebreakers, but the questions don't stop there. Things get especially interesting...
Moni & Kat discuss: Burnout, Beauty, and Ballots
This week, Moni and Kat are catching up on another Fake A$$ episode, talking about the ongoing struggle to do less, stress less, and actually make it happen. The ladies share what they’ve been watching, including the new A Different World series, Our Flag Means Death, and Lanterns, while discussing the online discourse surrounding Jasmine Guy’s appearance at 64 and the challenges of aging as a woman.The conversation also turns to a widely discussed article by Nikole Hannah-Jones, creator of The 1619 Project, about her decision to send her daughter to public school in New York City. The ladies disc...
Moni & Kat Review "Leslie F*cking Jones: A Memoir"
Welcome back F.A.B. Fam; books are back! This week our hosts reviewed "Leslie F*cking Jones", A Memior. From her childhood and journey into comedy to her time on Saturday Night Live and life in Hollywood, Leslie’s story is as candid, funny, and unapologetic as she is. The ladies talk about what makes Leslie so unapologetically herself, including an audiobook experience that feels less like a traditional reading and more like Leslie using the book as a jumping-off point to freestyle. They also discuss the moments that had them laughing, the moments that brought the tears, and ho...
F.A.B. x Perpetual Motion Podcast: Podcasting with Purpose
This week, F.A.B. sits down with the creators of Perpetual Motion Podcast for a conversation about connection, creativity, and creating content with purpose. The guests share the story behind their relationship, the origins of their podcast, and the media company they’ve built around meaningful, organic conversations rather than chasing clicks. Moni and Kat share their own F.A.B. journey, discovering the ways their missions overlap in creating space for genuine connection and conversations. The ladies get to know thier guests through a round of This or That questions, favorite books and media, and a guessing game th...
Moni & Kat discuss Books, Beef, & BS
This week, F.A.B. is back with another Fake Episode, and the ladies are catching up on some of the current events and pop culture conversations making noise right now. They talk about Solange and her virtual library, Colin Kaepernick and the ongoing conversation surrounding Jay-Z,  Chris Brown’s latest headlines involving Jasmine Crockett and more!  As usual the ladies had a lot to say so listen in and join the conversation. Cheers!Â
*Please be advised this episode is intended for adult audiences and contains adult language and content. We are expressing opinions on the s...
Moni & Kat on Roasting, Reads, and Reality Checks
This week, there is no book, but there is plenty to talk about! Kat takes the ladies inside her current love affair with Threads and tackles some of the conversations, debates, and current events that have been keeping her scrolling. From the NFL dating scammer, to Green Lantern casting debates, and more! The ladies also discuss roasting as an important part of the culture and how being read, teased, and lovingly called out is not always about being mean. Sometimes humor is how we engage with each other, learn to laugh at ourselves, and get an honest reminder that none...
Moni & Kat do The Butter Episode
This week, F.A.B. is talking all things BUTTER! The ladies recently attended BUTTER Fine Art Fair, Indianapolis’ annual celebration of Black visual artists created by GANGGANG, and they have plenty to say about what they saw, what caught their attention, and what they thought of the experience.From the artwork and artists to the atmosphere, the culture, and the people, Moni and Kat share their favorite moments and get into what makes BUTTER different from a traditional art fair. They also talk about the importance of creating spaces where Black artists are not only celebrated but su...
Moni & Kat discuss Dress Codes, Drug Rings, & Dolly
This week, F.A.B. was fake in the best way. Our hosts talk Law Roach, Ziwe, RuPaul’s Drag Race, and Project Runway, then get into the Tuskegee dress code controversy and the very different conversation surrounding Penn State’s cocaine ring. What do these stories say about what we choose to focus on in college, and what we ignore? The ladies also talk about the serious issue of SA on college campuses, gush over the incomparable Dolly Parton and her incredible legacy, and close things out by remembering Tim Curry, Hayden Panettiere, and Dolly Parton. Cheers!
*Pl...
Moni & Kat sit down with Eric Dizzy from Black Widow Podcast
This week, F.A.B. sits down with Eric Dizzy, creator of the Black Widow Podcast, for a conversation about creativity, storytelling, and what it really takes to keep creating. He shares his origin story in the audio and media space, what creating art means to him, and the very real struggle of life getting in the way of the things we want to create. From balancing fatherhood, self-care, and the demands of being a creator, to pushing through whatever life decides to throw at you, they reflect on the challenges, growth, and evolution of the creative journey...
Moni & Kat review "KIN" with Jennifer Magley
Fake Ass Book Club welcomes Jennifer Magley for a conversation about Tayari Jones’ Kin. The group digs into family, identity, abandonment, ambition, and the things we spend our lives chasing. Jennifer’s own experiences with persistence, reinvention, and her 365-day Stooge Quest add another layer to the discussion, creating some connections between the book and the pursuit of our own goals. And while the conversation doesn't go quite where Moni and Kat expected, that's part of what makes this episode of Fake Ass Book Club so much fun. Sometimes the best book conversations aren't about agreeing on the story, but lean...
Moni & Kat review: "All the Noise at Once" by DeAndra Davis
This week on Fake A$$ Book Club, the conversation centers on DeAndra Davis’s All the Noise at Once, a YA novel about Aiden, a Black autistic teenager whose life is upended when his older brother is arrested after a confrontation with police. The book explores race, autism, policing, brotherhood, identity, and Aiden’s journey toward finding his own voice. The episode digs into the story, its characters, and the bigger questions it raises about how Black boys are seen, protected, and treated.
*Please be advised this episode is intended for adult audiences and contains adult language and cont...
Catch-Up & Mustard
No book, no problem! With one host out of town visiting family, the F.A.B. Podcast switched things up this week and went live on YouTube for a fun, catch up episode. The hosts spent the hour chatting with friends, welcoming new viewers into the chat, and seeing where the conversation took them. The discussion naturally bounced between current events, pop culture, and personal reflections. They talked about Kat's lively debates on Threads, revisited the Juneteenth episode of Atlanta, reflected on who we choose to take advice from, explored the idea of rest and joy as reparations, and shared...
Moni & Kat review “Doubt” by John Patrick Shanley
This week the FAB ladies review Doubt by John Patrick Shanley. It's 1964, St. Nicholas in the Bronx.
A charismatic priest, Father Flynn, is trying to upend the school's strict customs, which have long been fiercely guarded by Sister Aloysius Beauvier, the iron-gloved Principal who believes in the power of fear-based discipline. The winds of political change are sweeping through the community, and indeed, the school has just accepted its first black student, Donald Miller. But when Sister James, a hopeful innocent, shares with Sister Aloysius her guilt-inducing suspicion that Father Flynn is paying too much personal attention to Donald...
Bahama Mommas
This week the ladies took their conversation on the road for a special episode recorded from an unexpected location... a library tucked away on the Atlantis property in the Bahamas!✨With hopes to connect with locals and record interviews, the trip took a different direction as they instead embraced the moment, explored the resort, enjoyed the food, experienced the service, all while reflecting on their time on the island. Along the way, they discuss their impressions of Atlantis, the highlights and surprises of the trip, and the cultural history surrounding the Bahamas. With the country recently celebrating 53 years of independence 🇧🇸, the conv...
Still Serving F.A.B.
The F.A.B. crew is taking a well deserved vacation, but they couldn't leave their listeners without something to enjoy! This week, they're opening the vault and sharing a Patreon episode. If you've ever wondered what goes on behind the paywall, here's your chance to get a taste. Expect the same hilarious conversations, unfiltered opinions, unexpected tangents, and authentic chemistry that have made the Fake A$$ Book Club a favorite among listeners.The ladies appreciate your continued support while they recharge and can't wait to return with brand new episodes. Until then, sit back, press play, and enjoy this...
Moni & Kat review The BET Awards
The BET Awards always give people something to talk about, and this year was no exception. In this episode, the F.A.B. crew shares their thoughts on the biggest moments from the show. One host watched the show, and the other pieced together the night's highlights through clips, social media, and post show conversations. From Druski's debut as host, to standout performances and longwinded acceptance speeches, the ladies break down what worked, what missed the mark, and which performances stole the spotlight. Along the way, they share their signature laughs, hot takes, and unfiltered commentary that listeners...
The Meat Cake Episode
This week, Moni and Kat recap one of the most delightfully unexpected weekends they've had in a while after attending the 5th Annual Meat Cake Invitational. This a one of a kind Indianapolis event was created by comedians, chefs, and food lovers Dyke Michaels and Zach Roan, also hosted by Thaddaeus McKee. The event celebrates culinary creativity by challenging participants to craft outrageous "cakes" made entirely of meat, blending food, comedy, and community into a truly unforgettable experience. As vendors, the Fake Ass Book Club hosts had the opportunity to introduce new listeners to the podcast, reconnect with...
Moni & Kat review "The Coldest Winter Ever" by Sister Souljah
In this episode of Fake Ass Book Club, Moni and Kat finally tackle The Coldest Winter Ever by Sister Souljah, the iconic urban fiction novel first published in 1999 by Simon & Schuster. Confession time: urban fiction is not typically their preferred genre, which is one reason it took so long for them to pick up this book. After years of hearing readers praise the book as a modern classic, they decided it was finally time to see for themselves why this story has captured the hearts and minds of millions. Following the rise and fall of Winter Santiaga, the...
Moni & Kat Answer Reddit AITA Questions
This week on Fake Ass Book Club, Moni and Kat are stepping into the role of judge and jury...for fun, of course! Before diving into Reddit's most dramatic dilemmas, the hosts kick off the episode with a conversation about honorary degrees. What purpose do they serve? Who should receive them? And does fame alone make someone worthy of the honor? Then it's time for one of the podcast's most requested and fan-favorite formats: AITA (Am I The A**hole?) stories from Reddit! Listeners know these episodes always deliver plenty of laughs, spirited debates, and unforgettable takes, and this installment...
"Nerding While Black": Kat interviews Basi Affia of Sensiil Studios
This week, Kat takes the mic solo for a special live interview recorded at the exciting atmosphere of Indy Comic Con. Sitting down with a talented Black comic book creator Basi Affia, they dive into a conversation celebrating Black nerdhood, creativity, and a shared love of comics, science fiction, fandom culture, and storytelling. From the power of representation to the joy of creating art that inspires others, this discussion explores what it means to embrace geek culture while carving out space for diverse voices in the comic book world. It is a fun, thoughtful, and energetic conversation that showcases Kat's...
Moni & Kat LIVE @PopCon 2026
This week, the hosts take the stage at PopCon Indy for another live podcast adventure! Returning for their third year on the podcast stage, they bring the audience into the fun with a fun trivia game hosted by Kat. Filled with pop culture questions, friendly competition, audience participation, and plenty of laughs, this special live episode captures the energy and spontaneity that listeners have come to love. Whether you're testing your own trivia knowledge or just along for the ride, this episode is a celebration of community, fandom, and having a great time together. Cheers!
*Please be advised...
Moni & Kat review "The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches" by Sangu Mandanna
Welcome back! This week the ladies review The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna. It is a cozy fantasy novel about Mika Moon, a lonely witch who must hide her magic but is recruited to teach three young witches at a mysterious house called Nowhere House, leading her to find a found family and a slow-burn romance with the prickly librarian, Jamie, while navigating the challenges of their secret society and a potential threat to their home.
🚨SPOILER ALRET🚨
 *Please be advised this episode is intended for adult audiences and contains adult language and content...
Moni & Kat review The Drama
Welcome back! This week the ladies dive into "The Drama", the uncomfortable, anxiety-inducing A24 film starring  Zendaya and Robert Pattinson. What starts as an awkward romantic drama about an engaged couple heading into their wedding week, quickly spirals into something much darker after a “worst thing you’ve ever done” conversation goes completely off the rails. Emma reveals a disturbing part of her teenage past, and that one confession detonates the relationship, the "friend"group, and the entire wedding weekend. We break down the film’s tense atmosphere, uncomfortable chemistry, and the bigger conversations surrounding alienation, radical honesty, identity, and whether p...
Moni & Kat review "The Cult of Nature Boy" on Hulu
Welcome back! This week the ladies jump head first in the "The Cult of NatureBoy", a four-part docuseries that premiered on Hulu (and Disney+) on April 28, 2026. The series, produced by ABC News Studios and Zandland, chronicles the rise and fall of Eligio Bishop, a social media influencer known as "NatureBoy," who founded a controversial cult called Carbon Nation. We break down the rise and fall of NatureBoy, the formation of Carbon Nation, the cult dynamics at play, and how social media helped build a following in plain sight. From charisma and community to manipulation, control, and criminal consequences...
Moni & Kat review "The Joy Luck Club" by Amy Tan
Just in time for Mother’s Day, the hosts explore The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan, a moving and multigenerational novel that examines the beautifully complicated relationships between mothers and daughters. Through the stories of four Chinese immigrant mothers and their American-born daughters, this episode unpacks themes of love, sacrifice, identity, cultural expectations, and inherited trauma. The discussion reflects on generational differences, communication gaps, and the challenge of understanding the women who shaped us. Timely, thoughtful, and relatable, this episode offers listeners a great conversation on family, legacy, and connection ahead of Mother’s Day. Cheers!*Please be advi...
Moni & Kat review "Their Eyes Were Watching God" by Zora Neale Hurston
Welcome back FAB friends, this week the ladies reviewed one of the most important and enduring books of the 20th century. "Their Eyes Were Watching God" brings to life a Southern love story with the wit and pathos found only in the writing of Zora Neale Hurston. Out of print for almost thirty years, due largely to initial audiences’ rejection of its strong black female protagonist, Hurston’s classic has since its 1978 reissue become perhaps the most widely read and highly acclaimed novel in the canon of African-American literature. The story follows Janie's journey from a voiceless teen...
Moni & Kat review Euphoria Season 3 Premiere
In this episode, the hosts take a peek at the Season 3 premiere of Euphoria and immediately clock a dramatic tonal shift. With a 4–5 year time jump pushing the characters out of high school and into early adulthood, the glossy, dreamlike aesthetic of earlier seasons gives way to something more raw, gritty, and unfiltered. The episode feels less like stylized chaos and more like a stark plunge into the “wild west” of adulthood. The conversation unpacks the show’s signature graphic intensity, questioning whether this new edge signals deeper storytelling or leans too heavily into shock value. The hosts also wrestle with how...
Moni & Kat review "There There" by Tommy Orange
This week, the hosts explore There There by Tommy Orange. The book intertwines the stories of twelve urban Native characters in Oakland, California. It’s a powerful, character-driven novel weaving together lives that at first seem separate, but gradually reveal deep and unexpected connections, all leading to a pivotal and gut wrenching event. As the narrative unfolds, the book explores the lasting impact of generational trauma, cultural erasure, and the search for connection in a modern world. Did the ladies keep every detail perfectly straight? Not quite...but did that stop them? Not even a little. The discussion, much like th...
Moni and Kat review “The House on Mango Street” by Sandra Cisneros
This week, the hosts dive into The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros and for once, they don’t see eye to eye. In a rare twist, one host connected with the book while the other didn’t, not because of the story itself, but because of its unique vignette-style format. Even with that divide, the conversation proves why this modern classic continues to resonate, sparking thoughtful discussion around voice, identity, and storytelling. You’ll have to tune in to find out who was on which side. Cheers!!Â
*Please be advised this episode is intended for adult a...
April Fools in the News
This week the ladies didn't read a book, they read the headlines. In this perfectly timed “fake book club” episode, the hosts showed up ready to connect, laugh, and unpack what’s happening in the world. The episode leans into current events, and pop culture shaping the timeline, from global tensions and viral AI-generated propaganda circulating out of Iran and the US, to the cultural conversation sparked by Druski’s Erika Kirk parody. They also touch on the recent Verzuz matchup  between Tyrese and Tank, insights from Jay-Z’s recent interview with GQ, and much more. Just a reminder that this “book...
Moni & Kat review "Into the Manosphere" on Netflix
In this episode, the hosts dive into Louis Theroux's: Inside the Manosphere, Netflix documentary exploring the rise of online spaces centered around modern masculinity and “red pill” ideology. They unpack what the manosphere is, why it resonates with so many men, and how its messaging around success, relationships, and identity can be both appealing and concerning. The conversation takes a thoughtful turn as they examine the broader implications of this rhetoric,not just for men, but for women and society as a whole. Blending curiosity, critique, and real conversation, the hosts reflect on what the documentary reveals, what it leaves unan...
The 4th Annual F.A.B. Awards
Awards season is in full swing and while Hollywood is busy polishing statues and rolling out the red carpet for the Oscars, over here at the Fake Ass Book Club the ladies are getting ready for something just as prestigious… or at least as entertaining. This week they are looking back at the past year and handing their own F.A.B. Awards for the best books, looks, moments, and highlights. So grab your imaginary red carpet fit and join them as they celebrate the best, the boldest, and the most unforgettable books and episodes of the year at the 4th...
March Fakeness
In this episode titled March Fakeness, the hosts switch things up with one of their signature Fake A$$ episodes. With no book on the agenda this week, they dive into a mix of the headlines, pop culture conversations, and internet moments that have been making noise lately. From current events to the latest cultural chatter, the hosts share their reactions, questions, and hot takes on what’s been showing up in their feeds. After sorting through the week’s mess, they wrap things up with a palate cleanser, talking about what they’ve been watching lately and what’s worth adding t...
Moni & Kat review "Homegoing" by Yaa Gyasi
This week, the hosts review Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi, a sweeping multi-generational novel that traces the descendants of two half-sisters from 18th-century Ghana into the modern era. One sister, Effia, lives above the dungeon of Cape Coast Castle; the other, Esi, is imprisoned below and sold into American slavery. From that pivotal separation, the book follows their children and grandchildren across centuries, continents, and systems of power. Through alternating chapters, Gyasi explores the legacy of slavery, colonialism, identity, belonging, resilience, and generational trauma. Each descendant wrestles with the inherited shadows of the past, from plantations and Jim Crow to migration...
Moni & Kat review "Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model"
This week, the hosts revisit the cultural chaos of early 2000s reality television through the lens of the documentary Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model on Netflix. What a time to be alive! From the era that brought viewers Flavor of Love, I Love New York, Jersey Shore, The Real World, and Paris Hilton’s reality TV dominance, the conversation explores how shock value, humiliation, and boundary-pushing became entertainment staples. At the center of the discussion is Tyra Banks’ assertion that she was simply producing the content audiences wanted more of. The hosts critically examine that defense, questi...
Moni & Kat review"Relationship Goals" on Prime Video
Welcome back! With Valentine’s Day serving as the perfect backdrop for the conversation, the ladies review Relationship Goals, the Prime Video film inspired by the bestselling book by Pastor Michael Todd. They examine the movie’s portrayal of love, faith, and personal transformation, breaking down what resonated and what felt oversimplified.The discussion expands beyond the film into a broader exploration of purity culture, prosperity-based messaging, and how spiritual teachings can shape expectations around dating and marriage. From performative preaching styles to the idea of faith as a formula for relational success, the hosts thoughtfully unpack how influence, charisma, and...
Moni & Kat review “The Trees” by Percival Everett
This week, in honor of Black History Month, the ladies review Percival Everett’s powerful and provocative novel The Trees. They begin with the book’s gripping premise: when detectives from the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation arrive in Money, Mississippi to investigate a series of brutal murders, they discover something unsettling at each crime scene, a second body resembling Emmett Till. Met with resistance from local law enforcement and racist townsfolk, the detectives begin to suspect these killings are acts of retribution. As eerily similar murders begin unfolding across the country, it becomes clear that the past refuses to stay buri...
Moni & Kat review "His and Hers" on Netflix
This week, the hosts dive into His & Hers, the Netflix series adapted from the popular novel. They break down the twists, turns, and tangled relationships at the center of this messy murder mystery while raising a few questions about the plot along the way. From unreliable narrators to layered motives, the conversation balances critique with curiosity as the ladies unpack what worked, what confused them, and why the story was still fun to dissect. It is a lively, thoughtful discussion that leans into the chaos and keeps things entertaining from start to finish. Cheers!
*🚨SPOILER ALE...
Moni and Kat review "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms"
In this episode, the hosts start with HBO’s A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, sharing their early thoughts on the series before branching out into other shows currently on their radar, including Industry, Bridgerton Season 3, Beauty, and Landman.The conversation then circles back to last week’s read, Francine’s Spectacular Crash and Burn. Kat reflects on how deeply she connected with Davie, the neurodivergent ten-year-old whose intense fixations felt familiar, sparking a thoughtful discussion about why certain topics, especially slavery, can become fixation-worthy. Along the way, the hosts laugh at their differing lingering fixations from the previous episode, includ...
Moni & Kat review "Francine’s Spectacular Crash and Burn" by Renee' Swindle
In this episode, the hosts kick things off by unpacking the viral Druski mega-church skit, debating whether the satire crosses the line or simply holds up an uncomfortable mirror. Then, the hosts dive into this weeks book, Francine’s Spectacular Crash and Burn by Renéé Swindle. This is a novel about grief, longing, and the chaos that follows when good intentions collide with poor boundaries. The ladies walk through the story of Francine Stevenson, unpacking her relationships, her unraveling sense of self, and the complicated choices that turn connection into consequence.The discussion includes how grief can blur judgment, how desi...
