"What's Good?" W/ Charlie Taylor
Welcome to "What's Good?", where I tackle a myriad of subjects: From Film/TV to Music, to Tech, Race & Society; Current Affairs and many more, through my eyes and the eyes of the writers I read. So if you take an interest in anything I feel like talking about any given week, along with the occasional interview with Friends of 5E, then this is your podcast. A 5EPN Original.
Ep.399 - Ceuta & The "Manosphere" Industry
In a week where:
A solar eclipse comes & goes.Josh Kushner & Bob Iger buy the Los Angeles Lakers for $12B.Parliamentary investigation resumes into Nigel Farage hours after he wins Clacton by-election.Jason Arday dies aged 41.Luigi Mangione pleads guilty to federal stalking charges in the 2024 killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.In the 1st of two Life segments: (8:05) The Ceuta migration incident has been taking the headlines in the past few weeks as mainstream media has predictably made this a referendum on migration as a concept. So what really happened in the Spanish enclave? (Article By...
Ep.398 - Togo, Jason Arday & Solitude Lifestyle
In a week where:
Nine killed at Thai school by 14-year-old who first shot his grandparents, then himself.Scientists have used AI to design new viruses that don't occur in nature and can infect bacteria.Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan sign mutual defense pact.Spain and Italy impose reciprocal border controls in Schengen dispute over Ceuta migration crisis.Benjamin Netanyahu rejects 15-point Gaza plan backed by Donald Trump and accepted by Hamas.In Politics: (12:59) In Togo, Political violence is rife after multiple orgs classed their leadership undemocratic. Torturing, harassment & constant fear paint people that dare to speak...
"The MAR-NILA Sound" W/ Thandii
Another interview for you to step to! For this one, we talk to Alt-Soul duo Thandii about their beginnings, how they got together as a duo; their upcoming album - including single with Filipino drummer Regalado and changing their typical recording process - and of course, their Top 5.
Their next single from the album - "My Angel" - drops on the 7th August & the album "Coco Okayo" drops 11th September.
Thank you for listening! If you want to contribute to the show, whether it be sending me questions or voicing your opinion in any way, p...
Ep.397 - Tigrayan Education, Braiding Hair & Luddites
In a week where:
Saudi Arabia publicly joins the US' military campaign against Iran.Russian missile crashes 57 miles into Polish territory, creating a 33-foot-wide crater.AC Milan and Italian football legend Franco Baresi dies aged 66.83 migrants die & nearly 1,000 minors stranded as 60,000 cross into Spain from Morocco.FIFA scraps proposal to sell off stakes in World Cup after widespread backlash.In Education: (12:22) After learning about what's going on in Tigray, we head back there to see how the classroom should be the first step in improving their situation after children have missed three academic years so far. (Article...
Ep.396 - "The Advantage of the Autodidact" W/ Steve Seidenberg
Another interview for you to step to! For this one we talk to Writer, Philosopher & Photographer Steve Seidenberg in conjunction with his new book "Coda". We talk about his beginnings, all three of his positions and their connections; his contrarian nature and of course, his (& most eclectic) Top 5.
Thank you for listening! If you want to contribute to the show, whether it be sending me questions or voicing your opinion in any way, peep the contact links below and I'll respond accordingly. Let me know "What's Good?"
Rate & Review
E-Mail: the5thelelmentpub@gmail...
Ep.395 - Cockroach Protests & "Black Excellence"
In a week where:
US & Saudi Arabia make a deal to provide Saudi a nuclear program.LeBron James signs a two-year deal with the Philadelphia 76ers.Spain & France coordinate on wildfires in Bordeaux.A team of 16 will set out to find Amelia Earhart's plane in October.India’s education minister resigns after mass protests by Cockroach movement.In the 1st of two Society segments: (13:53) It's all been kicking off in India after their government shafted millions of students which led to suicides, hunger strikes and protests. But those are not new to the Indian body politic. (Article By...
Ep.394 - Somali Independence, Quitting IG & Pasta
In a week where:
The COVID Inquiry publishes a PPE report.Startup Reflect Orbital will launch a satellite with a 60-foot mirror that reflects sunlight to Earth after dark.British Steel is taken into public ownership.Andy Burnham becomes new Red Tory leader & UK Prime Minister.Spain win their 2nd World Cup.In the 1st of two Politics segments: (8:29) We have an update on Trump's "Board of Peace" and because Israel is still bombing Gaza at every opportunity, the board can't make inroads on their obscene project. (Article By Julian Borger)
In the 2nd Politics...
Ep.393 - Ethnicity Pain Gap & Palestinian Archives
In a week where:
IOC lifts suspension on Russia, paving way for them to compete at LA 2028 Olympics.Bonnie Tyler, 80s pop legend, dies aged 75.The US-Iran ceasefire collapses.Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna is kidnapped by Israeli settlers during West Bank visit.Actor Sam Neill dies aged 78.In Health: (10:05) We know that Whiteness is a constant in everyone's lives, but from cradle to grave?! Literally affecting the health of POCs from beginning to end?! (Article By Tobi Thomas)
In Society: (25:50) South Africa has gone through a lot as a country and its native Black population...
Ep.392 - America @ 250, African Football & PlayStation
In a week where:
Donald Trump earned more than $2B in income last year, financial disclosure reveals.Victor Willis, the Village People cofounder, dies at age 74.Iran have a six-day funeral for Ayatollah KhameneiAmericans celebrate 250 years of Independence amongst a heatwave.Nigel Farage resigns, triggers a byelection and plans to run in said byelection.In History: (9:34) It has been 250 years since The USA's Declaration of Independence. So let's celebrate by focusing on how demonic the country is. (Article By Nick Turse)
In Education: (29:18) An important part of American history - no matter how much their...
"I Can Change My Family's Life" W/ YG Kayboe
Another (quick) interview for you to step to! This time we head to Memphis to talk to upcoming talent YG Kayboe off the back of his newest release "Blood on the Pen III". We talk about his beginnings, growing up in Memphis; sports, how he got into music; the new Mixtape and of course, his Top 5.
Thank you for listening! If you want to contribute to the show, whether it be sending me questions or voicing your opinion in any way, peep the contact links below and I'll respond accordingly. Let me know "What's Good?"
...
Ep.391 - 10 Years of "The Exit" & Daydreaming
In a week where:
Back-to-back 7.5 and 7.2 magnitude earthquakes collapse buildings across Venezuela, killing more than 188 people.Europe go through a historic heatwave.US & Iran attack each other again.UN inquiry concludes Israel is committing genocide in Gaza by deliberately targeting children.Five killed in shooting at a North German youth facility.In the 1st of two Politics segments: (13:30) It has been 10 years since Britain voted to leave the European Union. So let's begin with a level-headed retrospective on the event. (Article By Laëtitia Langlois)
In the 2nd Politics segment: (27:54) And let's run that with a...
Ep.390 - Mozambique Disappearances & AI Sexbots
In a week where:
Gaza death toll since "ceasefire" tops 1,000.US and Iran confirm deal to end the war.Andy Burnham wins the Makerfield By-election.Kier Starmer resigns as Prime Minister.Windrush Day comes & goes.In Politics: (8:50) Mozambique is going through a worrying trend of surveillance, abductions and even killings and at the heart of all of it is the government and their critics. (Article By Mariana Abreu and Alexander Abdelilak)
In Life: (25:15) We stay in Africa for a story on Uganda's current relationship with gold and how their small-scale miners are trying to get...
Ep.389 - "Two-Tier" Policing, Belfast Riots & GLP-1s
In a week where:
Belfast devolves into race riots in response to a stabbing.Fully autonomous, Al-controlled drones have killed human soldiers for the first time.The World Cup kicks off.Revolutionary British artist David Hockney dies aged 88.Starmer to announce 'Australia plus' ban on social media for under-16s.In the 1st of three Society segments: (9:01) The right-wing have once again been enabled to take over the media whirlwind around the murder of Henry Nowak. They've even gone as far as claiming "two-tier" policing exists against white people. (Article By Nafeez Ahmed)
In the 2...
Past, Present, Future - Sade B
Welcome to Past, Present, Future: Half Podcast, half Photography series. If you would like to see the Photography side of this edition, you can catch it here. The subject for this episode is Photographer & Videographer, Sade.
Thank you for listening! If you want to contribute to the show, whether it be sending me questions or voicing your opinion in any way, peep the contact links below and I'll respond accordingly. Let me know "What's Good?"
Rate & Review
E-Mail: the5thelelmentpub@gmail.com
Twitter & IG: @The5thElementUK
Website: https://the5thelement.co...
Ep.388 - Ebola, Sudanese Hip-Hop & Kanya King
In a week where:
Iranian cartoonist Marjane Satrapi, creator of 'Persopolis', dies aged 56.Former Trump Security Adviser John Bolton is expected to plead guilty in classified documents case.Kanya King, founder of Mobo awards for Black British music, dies aged 57.Anthony Head, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Ted Lasso actor, dies aged 72.Iran & Israel start firing missiles again.In Life: (10:10) The consistent belligerence by the Israeli state towards their neighbours is a daily occurrence. Here's just one of the many stories I could cover weekly: An ethnic cleansing of a Lebanese village. (Article By Lylla Younes)
<...Ep.387 - Blair, Harriman, Enhanced Games & Miles
In a week where:
Legendary Saxophonist Sonny Rollins dies aged 95.Former US Attorney General Pam Bondi is diagnosed with cancer.Italy seizes $232M in assets tied to late Sicilian Cosa Nostra boss Matteo Messina Denaro.Justice Department investigates writer E. Jean Carroll for perjury during her two civil suit wins over Trump.Bezos’ Blue Origin rocket explodes.In Politics: (12:01) Tony Blair is throwing his weight around again, penning an essay about where the Red Tories should stand. But why should anybody listen to a War Criminal? (Article By Ian Dunt)
In Media: (26:38) Four of the wo...
Ep.386 - Unite The Kingdom & Animal Brains
In a week where:
US Indicts Former Cuban President Raúl Castro for murder and conspiracy to kill US citizens.James Murdoch buys Vox Media's New York magazine, podcast network, and more in a deal reportedly worth over $300M.London mayor Sadiq Khan blocks £50m Met police deal with Palantir.A gas blast in a Chinese mine kills 90 people. US & Iran reach a peace deal only for the US to attack Iran again.In the first of three Life segments: (13:53) The US/Iran war kicks on and even though the global economy is collectively taking a battering, of c...
"The Perfect Storm" W/ DJ Amani Roberts
In a DITD/WG double up, I talk to DJ & author Amani Roberts off the back of his book The Quiet Storm. In this talk, we get to know his background, his roots in DJing; how the book originated from a thesis, R&B and Hip-Hop groups; African-American Media and we finish off with a Lighter Note and a Top 5!
Don't say I don't spoil you!
Thank you for listening! If you want to contribute to the show, whether it be sending me questions or voicing your opinion in any way, peep the contact links...
Ep.385 - The Future Of New Orleans & Welsh Independence
In a week where:
Trump visits China.New York judge declares mistrial in Harvey Weinstein rape retrial.Russia and Ukraine swap 205 prisoners of war.Jury hands victory to Sam Altman and OpenAI in court battle with Elon Musk.Up to 57 individuals and 20 companies could face criminal charges over the Grenfell Tower fire disaster.In the 1st of two Politics segments: (9:08) Trump's visit to China has been and gone. It turned out to be a seminal moment in geopolitics as China blinded Trump with pomp as they made their stances known. (Article By Franklin Foer)
In...
Ep.384 - Heatwave Rehearsals & Dorothea Lange
In a week where:
CNN founder Ted Turner dies aged 87.UK staff of Google DeepMind vote to Unionize over military AI deals.Superdry co-founder James Holder jailed for eight years for raping a woman.Trump announces a three-day Russia-Ukraine ceasefire and prisoner swap.English Council, Mayoral; Welsh & Scottish Parliament elections come & go.In Society: (11:14) The antisemitism panic in the UK has been at a fever pitch in recent weeks in light of the Golders Green stabbing. But on top of a captive politics & media distorting the context of the event, they also made effort not to mention...
Ep.383 - Gatekeeping & "Archivists Are Futurists"
In a week where:
King Charles III visits the US.The US Supreme Court limits the Voting Rights Act, a Civil Rights-era law intended to protect minority voting power.Nigel Farage was given undisclosed £5m by crypto billionaire in 2024.A report UK stole 25m years of life and labour through slavery in Barbados alone.Elections throughout the UK will go down tomorrow.In Politics: (11:22) Palestine Action in Germany are getting similar treatment they got in the UK, setting the stage for a landmark trial that'll set a precedent for free speech in Germany. (Article By Hanno Hauenstein)
Ep.382 - InfoWars, AI Compute Crunch & MAGA Girl Grift
In a week where:
The UK is to pay France £662m to detain and deport migrants before they cross the Channel.Warner Bros. shareholders approve Paramount’s $81b takeover.Trump evacuated after security incident at White House correspondents dinner.Kenyan Sabastian Sawe & Ethiopian Tigst Assefa win Men's & Women's London Marathon; Sawe breaks the sub 2 hour barrier.Jay Bryant, one of three men charged in Jam Master Jay's death, pleads guilty in Brooklyn federal court.In the 1st of three Tech segments: (5:33) Just in case it wasn't obvious that Palantir is demonic, they dropped a manifesto on Twitter! I'm...
Ep.381 - "Tube-E Movies" W/ Will Adams
Another interview for you to step to! For this one we head back to Chicago to talk to writer/director Will Adams off the back of his latest opus "Tube-E Movie". We talk about his beginnings, what got him into film, the catalyst that got him to become a director; the commentary of his film and of course his Top 5.
Thank you for listening! If you want to contribute to the show, whether it be sending me questions or voicing your opinion in any way, peep the contact links below and I'll respond accordingly. Let me know "...
Ep.380 - Africa's Health & Music Money Gap
In a week where:
Lebanon and Israel agree to a 10-day ceasefire.Basketball Legend Oscar Schimdt dies aged 68.Iran accuses US of ceasefire breach after an Iranian-flagged cargo ship is seized.Mass shooting rampage in Louisiana leaves eight children dead and others wounded.Japan is hit by an 7.7 magnitude earthquake.In Health: (6:39) Africa's health system has a class issue where public health lacks & private health runs amuck. The reason why come all the way back to - where else - The West! (Article By Nicholas Ford)
In Music: (22:28) It could be posited that the future...
Ep.379 - Sanctions, Betting On War & Dub Music
In a week where:
Hip-Hop Pioneer Afrika Bambaataa dies aged 67.Artemis II Astronauts Splash Down, Completing First Lunar Voyage in 53 Years.Mexico's president Claudia Sheinbaum announces roll-out of Universal Healthcare.Viktor Orbán concedes defeat in Hungarian election after 16 years in power.Rory McIlroy goes back to back at The Masters.In Politics: (13:27) Sanctions are typically seen as "hard diplomacy", damaging a country economically without directly killing civilians. But when 'The West' delivers sanctions to countries in Africa, it could be seen as an extension of colonial power. (Article By Peiman Salehi)
In Society: (28:32) The "p...
Ep.378 - Olympic Gender Testing, Kanye & Losers
In a week where:
Artemis II blasts off for the first lunar mission in 50 years.Trump Fires Attorney General Pam Bondi.Rapper Pooh Shiesty is among nine people arrested for allegedly kidnapping Gucci Mane.Myanmar's coup leader is selected as president by pro-military parliament.Doctors Without Borders say Israel Has Blocked All Gaza Medical Aid Since January.In Sports: (8:02) The IOC have implemented a Gender Test for future Olympic participation, just to make sure the whopping one trans athlete doesn't get in. A wild overreaction to a non-issue. (Article By Julie Kliegman)
In Music: (21:27) Kanye...
Past, Present, Future - Mayo A-O
Welcome to Past, Present, Future: Half Podcast, half Photography series. If you would like to see the Photography side of this edition, you can catch it here. The subject for this episode is Children's Author, Mayo.
Thank you for listening! If you want to contribute to the show, whether it be sending me questions or voicing your opinion in any way, peep the contact links below and I'll respond accordingly. Let me know "What's Good?"
Rate & Review
E-Mail: the5thelelmentpub@gmail.com
Twitter & IG: @The5thElementUK
Website: https://the5thelement.co...
Ep.377 - "And Voila!" W/ Selah Sue & The Gallands
Another WG interview for you to step to! For this one we head to Belgium to talk to recent collaborators, Soul-Pop vocalist Selah Sue & father-son duo Stéphane & Elvin Galland, better known as The Gallands.
In this half-hour talk that stretched to 45 minutes, we get into their beginnings, where their musicianship started, how they got together for their album "Movin'" and of course their Top 5.
Thank you for listening! If you want to contribute to the show, whether it be sending me questions or voicing your opinion in any way, peep the contact links below a...
Ep.376 - Ethiopian Elections & Don Bronstein
In a week where:
Meta, YouTube Lose First Social Media Addiction Trial, Ordered to Pay $6M.Volkswagen in Talks with Israel to Produce Parts for Missile Defence Systems.Iran-backed hackers breach FBI director Kash Patel's personal emails.Tiger Woods arrested on suspicion of DUI after rollover crash in Florida.Half a million gather in London for biggest anti-far right demonstration.In the 1st of two Politics segments: (7:23) Ethiopia are having their election in June but with the lack of open competition and many legal levers pulled to make it look like democracy when it isn't, the political...
Ep.375 - Lumumba Murder Case & Instagram DMs
In a week where:
Rapper Mystikal pleads guilty to rape, faces up to 20 years in prison.Chuck Norris, prolific action star and martial arts champion, dies aged 86.Finland is named the world’s happiest country for the ninth consecutive year.UK lets US use British bases to strike Iranian missile sites targeting Strait of Hormuz.Robert Mueller, special counsel who investigated Trump-Russia ties, dies at 81.In History: (6:49) It hasn't been long in the Belgian revival of the Patrice Lumumba murder case but they already have their first suspect. 93-year-old ex-diplomat Étienne Davignon. (Article By Jennifer Rankin)
I...
Past, Present, Future - Mikey J
Welcome to Past, Present, Future: Half Podcast, half Photography series. If you would like to see the Photography side of this edition, you can catch it here. The subject for this episode is Friend of 5E, Mikey J, who celebrates the 25th anniversary of dance company Boy Blue.
Thank you for listening! If you want to contribute to the show, whether it be sending me questions or voicing your opinion in any way, peep the contact links below and I'll respond accordingly. Let me know "What's Good?"
Rate & Review
E-Mail: the5thelelmentpub@gmail...
Ep.374 - Far-Right AI Rappers & Peptides
In a week where:
Miami Heat star Bam Adeybayo drops 2nd All-Time 83 points on the Washington Wizards.Hereditary peers will lose their seats in the House of Lords.Bank of England announces that UK wildlife will replace famous faces on future banknotes.The Oscars come & go.Cuba suffers a complete collapse of their power system.In Environment: (10:39) Whilst the US continues to pummel Iran under circumstances that get more suspect by the day, the environmental toll of this war begins to take shape. (Article By Mark Hertsgaard and Giles Trendle)
In Tech: (21:33) Two years ago...
Past, Present, Future - Ryan G
Welcome to Past, Present, Future: Half Podcast, half Photography series. If you would like to see the Photography side of this edition, you can catch it here. The first subject is friend of the show, Ryan.
Thank you for listening! If you want to contribute to the show, whether it be sending me questions or voicing your opinion in any way, peep the contact links below and I'll respond accordingly. Let me know "What's Good?"
Rate & Review
E-Mail: the5thelelmentpub@gmail.com
Twitter & IG: @The5thElementUK
Website: https://the5thelement.co.u...
Ep.373 - The IRGC, London School Wars & Sophie Oluwole
In a week where:
Kristi Noem is fired as US Homeland Security Secretary.Mojtaba Khamenei is selected as Iran's new supreme leader.Rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah wins Nepalese General Election in a landslide.Footage reveals it was the US that double-tapped the South Iran Primary School.AI company Anthropic files two lawsuits against the US government.In Geopolitics: (7:09) As the US & Israel continue to bomb Iran and the global economy, Iran's Revolutionary Guard continue ticking on, both militarily & politically. (Article By Najmeh Bozorgmehr & Andrew England)
In the 1st of two Tech segments: (21:41) With the news of...
Ep.372 - "One In, One Out" & Leaving Big Tech
In a week where:
Hillary & Bill Clinton testify in an Epstein probe by the House Oversight Committee.Green Party's Hannah Spencer wins the Gorton & Denton By-election.Pakistan declares ‘open war’ on Afghanistan.Pokemon turns 30.Israel & the USA fire first at Iran, kicking off another conflict.In Life: (5:35) The "One In, One Out" migration policy between the UK & France is in full swing. So what about the people that are involved, the ones in and especially the ones out? (Article By Diane Taylor)
In Politics: (19:19) It has been 10 years since "The Exit" campaign began with that dumb...
Ep.371 - Board Of "Peace", Jesse Jackson & Solarpunk
In a week where:
South Korea’s former president Yoon Suk Yeol jailed for life for leading insurrection.Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office.Trump officials plan to build 5,000-person military base in Gaza.Kenyan intelligence report finds 1,000 Kenyan citizens were lured to Russia on false promises of employment, recruited to fight against Ukraine.Leader of Mexico's Jalisco Cartel Nemesio Rubén "El Mencho" Oseguera Cervantes is killed by the Mexican Army.In the 1st of two Life segments: (5:55) As the worst timeline unveils before our very eyes in the form of Trump's "Boa...
Ep.370 - Surveillance & Hyper-Independence
In a week where:
Bangladesh Nationalist Party win in landslide election, first since Gen Z uprising.Kim Jong UN designates his teenage daughter as his successor.High court rules ban on Palestine Action is unlawful.UK & other European nations pin death of Alexei Navalny on Russia.Ramadan begins.In Tech: (5:58) It's time to start understanding a simple fact as nations police the Internet more: The more connected we get, the more surveillance that will come behind it. (Article By Nathan Gardels)
In Geopolitics: (17:12) When The Wagner Group was officially declared done in 2022, their operations didn't...
Ep.369 - "The Concept Of Surrender" W/ Kiyan Foroughi
Another interview for you to step to! Typically, when I interview artists they have spent most of their lives creating music one way or another. But there's many ways to find yourself producing your debut album and for French-Iranian-now-residing-in-Singapore entrepreneur Kiyan Foroughi, he got to this point in a roundabout way. We talk about his beginnings, his business background, how COVID was the catalyst for his music journey and of course his Top 5.
Kiyan's album "inner light. OUTER SPACE" drops 27th February.
Thank you for listening! If you want to contribute to the show, whether...
Ep.368 - Peter Mandelson & The War For Water
In a week where:
Morgan McSweeney quits as Keir Starmer's chief of staff.Sanae Takaichi’s Liberal Democratic Party win snap Japanese Elections in a landslide.Ghanaian Highlife legend Ebo Taylor dies aged 90.Seattle Seahawks beat New England Patriots to win SB60.Jimmy Lai, Hong Kong pro-democracy figure, sentenced to 20 years in prison for national security offences.In Politics: (8:42) Peter Mandelson was always a snake but snaked a bit too much when he allegedly shared information with Jeffrey Epstein. As the Red Tories reel in the scandal, it must be acknowledged that maybe, just maybe, UK Politics is...
Ep.367 - New Colonialism, Flooding & Futureproofing
In a week where:
UK PM Kier Starmer visits China.More Epstein Files drop.The Rafah border reopens.The Grammys came & went.The Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics begin this week.In Geopolitics: (8:11) As the world continues to fluctuate wildly, we all sit and wait to see how the Colonialism will move from oil to rare earth minerals. (Article By Lexy Reid)
In the 1st of two Environment segments: (25:12) The future of some British homes are in jeopardy. In this case, it's flooding and the Climate Crisis is sure to make things worse. (Article By Damian Carrington...
