Episode 538
with Jamie Loftus, Jelani Memory, and Tolliver
Host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello remember some beloved comic strip characters; comedian Jamie Loftus unpacks her newest podcast Aack Cast, which takes a deep dive into how the Cathy comic still pertains to feminist struggles today; writer and publisher Jelani Memory (A Kids Book About Racism) discusses how he launched a book series for parents and kids to tackle heavy topics; and soul-funk artist Tolliver performs his single "Say What!"
Jamie Loftus
Comedian
Emmy award-nominated writer and comedian Jamie Loftus still has three of her baby teeth. She has written for HBO Max's Teenage Euthanasia, and has worked as a writer and voice actor on the shows Robot Chicken, Magical Girl Friendship Squad, and Human Kind Of. Her comedy often borders on performance art: she has dated an American Girl doll, sold “Shrek nudes” on Etsy to raise money for Planned Parenthood, and attempted to eat a copy of David Foster Wallace’s Infinite Jest. She is the host and creator of three critically-acclaimed iHeartRadio podcasts: My Year in Mensa, Lolita Podcast, and Aack Cast. Along with fellow comedian Caitlin Durante, she co-hosts The Bechdel Cast, a weekly podcast about the representation of women in film. Her debut book Raw Dog, part travelogue and part history of the hot dog, will be released in 2023.
Jelani Memory
Writer and Publisher
Jelani Memory is an African American writer, storyteller, and entrepreneur who lives in Portland, Oregon, with his wife and six kids. In 2018, he wrote a book for his kids called A Kids Book About Racism. That seed has grown into the media company A Kids Company About, which has since launched a podcast network and an educational streaming platform, in addition to publishing over 50 kids books—on topics like divorce, optimism, voting, cancer, shame, racism, gratitude, empathy, and being non-binary—that have sold hundreds of thousands of copies. Website • Twitter
Tolliver
Soul-Funk Artist
Chicago-bred, LA-based Tolliver is a self-described “shimmering sequin-loving son of a cowboy-obsessed pastor and a gospel choir singer.” A man of many talents, Tolliver works as a singer, actor, journalist, junket interviewer, host and curator of the multimedia Exotic Fruits Festival, mentor at the Boyle Heights Arts Conservatory, radio DJ, commercial director, barback, and video editor. "When I list it all out, I actually worry about myself," he says. Tolliver’s latest EP, Daddyland, serves as both a letter to his late father and an affirmation of his own identity. The release has earned him critical acclaim as well as an appearance on The Late Late Show With James Corden. We’re sure to hear a lot more from this rising star in the alt/future-R&B scene. Website • Listen
