Why did the media treat Ryan Coogler's box office hit "Sinners" with skepticism while breathlessly hyping Josh Safdie's "Marty Supreme"—which made a fraction of the money?

We trace the disparate coverage back to one source: Penske Media Corporation, which owns Variety, The Golden Globes, Rolling Stone, Billboard, The Hollywood Reporter, and more. Turns out when one company controls entertainment journalism, narratives get... controlled.

This week we explore:
→ The return of #OscarsSoWhite energy (and why it never really left)
→ How media consolidation shapes what films get celebrated
→ Teyana Taylor's uncomfortable truth about Black women's hypersexualization
→ The pattern of promised progress → quiet reversals
→ Speaking with your dollars when you have zero control over Hollywood

Content note: Discussion of racism, sexualization of Black women, and systemic media manipulation.

Resources mentioned:
- Penske Media holdings breakdown
- National Museum of African American History & Culture
- UCLA Hollywood Diversity Report
- Dartmouth research on Hollywood representation

Not Even Supposed to Be Here Today: Group therapy disguised as cultural commentary. We're talking WITH you, not AT you.
https://www.bearing287.com/

If you've ever thought "I can't just sit here scrolling anymore" but had no idea where to start - same. This episode is for every exhausted professional who wants to DO something but doesn't know what. Chris and Des explore citizenship beyond voting: local politics, organizing, legal aid, documentation, and finding your role in the fight. Recorded hours after the Minneapolis Ice shooting, this is group therapy for people who are done just talking and ready to show up - but need a roadmap. You'll learn: → How to figure out if local politics is your path (spoiler: it might be) → The roles activists need that you've never heard of → Why "politics" is just showing up for a place → How photography can be activism → What "find the helpers" actually means in 2026 Content warning: Discusses Ice shooting, police violence, political activism Resources mentioned: Run for Something, local school boards, city councils, mutual aid networks Got questions or want to get involved? DM us or leave a comment.

If you've ever wondered why your family relationships feel like they have higher stakes than ever, this episode explains why.

We're not talking about the therapy discourse around "toxic families" or whether Oprah and Mel Robbins are right about going "no contact." We're talking about the thing almost nobody is discussing: 26 states have filial responsibility laws that can make you legally liable for your parents' nursing home bills - which average $127,750 per year.

The timing isn't coincidental. The government just enacted $1 trillion in Medicaid cuts, and suddenly the cultural conversation shifted from "protect your mental health" to "life is too short to fight with family."

Chris (Gen X) and Des (Elder Millennial) break down the economic, political, and ideological forces making the holidays more complicated than ever - plus what you actually need to do to protect yourself.

This isn't about choosing sides. It's about understanding the game.

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Episode Highlights:

- The filial responsibility law most people don't know exists

- Why the "no contact" backlash exploded in late 2025

- What the Heritage Foundation has been planning since 1988

- The Pennsylvania case that held a son liable for $92,943

- Chris's experience as a caregiver for his dad

- Actionable steps to take right now

Resources: Standalone.org, state-by-state filial law guide, Medicaid cuts timeline

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I'm Not Even Supposed to Be Here Today is a conversational, culturally savvy podcast for people navigating information chaos, cultural absurdity, and democratic crisis through humor and historical context.

Subscribe for weekly episodes.

https://www.bearing287.com/

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