Rational Black Thought
A discussion of all topics as seen through the eyes of a Black Atheist, Skeptic, Humanist, Existentialist
Episodes
302 episodes
Episode 297, August 29, 2026 -" You ain't gotta be locked up to be in prison" — dead prez Behind Enemy Lines
dead prez opens this episode with a line about being imprisoned without necessarily being locked behind bars, and that idea ended up providing the structure for almost everything we're talking about this week because confinement, at its most so...
Episode 296, August 22, 2026 -"And now we got a revolution, 'Cause I see the face of things to come..." — Nina Simone, "Revolution"
Nina Simone opens this one. "And now we got a revolution, 'cause I see the face of things to come."Sit in that line, because it's doing more work than you think.Simone isn't just talking about change. She's talking about s...
Episode 295, August 15, 2026 - " How long should I stay dedicated? How long 'til opportunity meet preparation?”— Nipsey Hussle
I am your host, Neo Griot.This is Rational Black Thought, Episode 295, August 15, 2026.This week's title comes from Nipsey Hussle's "Dedication":"How long should I stay dedicated? How long 'til opportunity meet ...
Episode 294, June 8, 2026 - "Used to call us monkeys and slaves and we overcame…”—Dame D.O.L.L.A.
I am your host, Neo Griot. Welcome to Rational Black Thought, a podcast where we discuss news, politics, religion, and culture from a Black, progressive, secular humanist perspective.This week's episode is titled afte...
Episode 293, June 1, 2026 - "Everyone is crying out for peace, yes / None is crying out for justice”—Peter Tosh, Equal Rights
I am your host, Neo Griot.Welcome to Episode 293 of Rational Black Thought, the podcast where we examine politics, religion and culture from a Black, progressive, skeptical and unapologetically rational point of view.This ...
Episode 292, July 25, 2026 - "…Bring the Power Back to the Street…" – Dead Prez
Power gets talked about a lot and most of the time it is discussed as if it lives in one place.Some people locate it in elections. Others locate it in wealth. Some believe it rests in culture, protest, education, or community organizing...
Episode 291, July 11, 2026 - "Let Go My Hand," – J. Cole
Intro:Welcome to Rational Black Thought, the podcast where we examine politics, religion, culture, and power without superstition, without respectability politics, and without pretending that polite lies become truth because they ...
Episode 290, July 11, 2026 - "A Lexus or Justice" – dead prez
Welcome to Rational Black Thought, the podcast where we examine politics, religion, culture, and power without superstition, without respectability politics, and without pretending that polite lies become truth because they are repeated on tele...
Episode 289, July 4, 2026 - "Tuggin' on a string that's connected to a dream Head-bussa, hittin' nothing, even if I gotta bleed"
Welcome to Rational Black Thought. I am your host, Neo Griot.This is Episode 289, released on July 4, 2026, and the title comes from “Kites” by N.E.R.D., Kendrick Lamar & M.I.A.:“Tuggin’ on a string that...
Episode 288, June 27, 2026 - "Fear Not of Man." – Mos Def
Welcome to Rational Black Thought, the podcast where we examine politics, religion, culture, and power from a Black, secular, skeptical, and uncompromising perspective.I am your host, the Neo Griot.This week's epis...
Episode 287, June 20, 2026 - "Revolutionary curse words. First come, first served. It ain't no lost love. Freedom cost blood." –dead prez
Welcome back to Rational Black Thought, the podcast where we challenge the narratives, question the assumptions, and examine the evidence behind the stories shaping our lives.I am your host, Neo Griot.This is Episode 287 and our...
Episode 286, June 13, 2026 - "Fuck silence, speak up bitch, this shit ill…y'all kill, we kill...fuck cardboard signs, we in the field" YG FTP
I am your host, Neo Griot, and this is Rational Black Thought.This week’s title comes from YG’s “FTP,” and the message is simple: silence is no longer an option.Not when power lies openly.Not when democracy is treated like a...
Episode 285, June 6, 2026 - "The sky is falling, the wind is calling. Stand for something or die in the morning." Kendrick Lamar
I am your host, Neo Griot, and this is Rational Black Thought, the podcast where faith gets cross-examined, power gets analyzed without apology, and foolishness gets dragged into the sunlight where it can no longer pretend to be wisdom....
Episode 284, May 30, 2026 - "I break chains all by myself - Won't let my freedom rot in hell" Beyoncé
Welcome to Rational Black Thought, the podcast where we examine politics, religion, culture, and society through the lens of critical thinking and Black consciousness. I am your host, Neo Griot. Our title today comes from Queen B’s Freedom, bec...
Episode 283, May 23, 2026 - "Get up, stand up, stand up for your right - Get up, stand up, don't give up the fight"
Welcome to Rational Black Thought, the podcast where we examine politics, religion, culture, and society through the lens of critical thinking and Black consciousness. I am your host, Neo Griot.This week’s episode is inspired by Bob Mar...
Episode 282, May 16, 2026 - "Don't Believe the Hype" - Public Enemy
Welcome to Rational Black Thought. I am your host, Neo Griot.This week's title is "Don't Believe the Hype" from Public Enemy — because this episode is about the stories power tells to hide what power is actually doing.The hype t...
Episode 281, May 9, 2026 - “Never looking back or too far in front of me-The present is a gift, and I just wanna be”
Welcome to Rational Black Thought. I am your host, Neo Griot.This week’s title comes from Common’s “Be,” and it gives us the frame for this episode: the discipline of being present.Not present as in passive. Not present a...
Episode 280, May 2, 2026 - “The same people who control the school system - Control the prison system”
Welcome to Rational Black Thought. I am your host, Neo Griot.This week’s episode is titled comes from the lyrics from the song “They’ Schools” by dead prez, the full lyrics I want to quote are:Why haven't you learned anythin...
Episode 279, April 25, 2026 - “Until the philosophy which hold one race Superior and another Inferior Is… Abandoned Everywhere is war”
Welcome to Episode 279 of the Rational Black the podcast where we confront ideology with reason, power with truth, and myth with evidence.This week’s title comes from Bob Marley’s War, and those lyrics still cut with brutal precision: “...
Episode 278, April 18, 2026 -- “Was all that money I made last year For whitey on the moon?”
This week’s title comes from Gil Scott-Heron’s cutting question: “Was all that money I made last year, for whitey on the moon?” It is the kind of line that survives because the contradiction it names never really dies. It forces...
Episode 277, April 11, 2026 -- “Black is not divisive, they been lyin', and I hate the shit-Black has never been a competition, we all make this shit”
Welcome to Rational Black Thought. I’m your host, Neo Griot.This week’s title comes from the UK rapper Dave and his song "Black" and says something that needs to be said plainly because too many people still pretend not to understand it...
Episode 276, April 4, 2026 -- “Make America great again the middle just love it / When he wanna talk, walk y’all straight to them ovens”
Welcome to Rational Black Thought. I’m your host, Neo Griot. Public Enemy gave us the language for this week’s title before most people were willing to admit what they were seeing. Public Enemy said it plainly: “Make America great again t...
Episode #275 | Is the Total Story Told or Is It They Hide You From?
Welcome to Rational Black Thought. I’m your host, Neo Griot. This week’s title comes from Blackalicious’ Brain Washers, and it captures something essential about the moment we are living through. The song is not merely about lies. It is a...
Rational Black Thought Ep. 274 | Trump, Iran, Empire and the Politics of Devouring People
Episode #274 – March 21, 2026 – “…"Don't you know the powers that be Are using people as pawns, devouring we” | Hi and welcome to Episode 274 of the Rational Black Thought podcast. I am y...
Episode #273 – March 14, 2026 – “You need to get up, get out, and get something”
Welcome to Episode 273 of Rational Black Thought. This week’s title is “You need to get up, get out, and get something.” From Outkast, and that title captures the central truth of this moment. We are living in a time of confusion,...
