E2: Oprah, Jess With The Mess, And The 5-Second Memory Problem Overthinking With Karmen podcast

#Society #Conversations #Karmen Michael Smith #Overthinking #Disruption #Culture Critique #Society & Culture #Spiraling Thoughts #Deep Conversations #Questioning Norms #Honest Reflections #Thought Provoking #Breaking Patterns #Smart Humor #Truth Telling

26:28

Squid Game is back—and this time, the knives are out. In the thrilling Season 3 premiere, Player 456 is spiraling and a brutal round of hide-and-seek forces players to kill or be killed. Hosts Phil Yu and Kiera Please break down Gi-hun’s descent into vengeance, Guard 011’s daring betrayal of the Game, and the shocking moment players are forced to choose between murdering their friends… or dying. Then, Carlos Juico and Gavin Ruta from the Jumpers Jump podcast join us to unpack their wild theories for the season. Plus, Phil and Kiera face off in a high-stakes round of “Hot Sweet Potato.” SPOILER ALERT! Make sure you watch Squid Game Season 3 Episode 1 before listening on. Play one last time. IG - @SquidGameNetflix X (f.k.a. Twitter) - @SquidGame Check out more from Phil Yu @angryasianman , Kiera Please @kieraplease and the Jumpers Jump podcast Listen to more from Netflix Podcasts . Squid Game: The Official Podcast is produced by Netflix and The Mash-Up Americans.…

Overthinking with Karmen «
E2: Oprah, Jess with the Mess, and the 5-Second Memory Problem

about a year ago 5:31

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What do Oprah, Jess with the mess, and the 5-second memory have in common? What do we have in common with them? Why do we forget the lessons life keeps trying to teach us? Spiral with me as we explore what—and who—we are missing.

23 episodes

E2: Oprah, Jess with the Mess, and the 5-Second Memory Problem

Overthinking with Karmen

published about a year ago

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23 episodes

All episodes

Overthinking with Karmen

1
Essence Festival, Economics, and the End of an Era 7:34

1 day ago7:34

7:34

ssence Fest felt... off. Fewer crowds. Quiet spending. And a familiar echo: “It’s not the same.” But maybe it’s not just the festival — maybe it’s us. The world is shifting beneath our feet, and some of us are still waiting for a band that isn’t coming. From the economy to culture, the signs are everywhere. And in this episode, I ask: if the world as you knew it is sinking, what are you still holding onto? More importantly — who might you become if you finally let go? And yes, this is also your final invitation to begin your disruption journey — before the fire gets closer. Visit: 4LawsofDisruption.com…

Overthinking with Karmen

1
Guidance Counselors, Gen Z, and the Great Drift 7:46

3 days ago7:46

7:46

What do you tell students when the future you promised no longer exists? This week, we spiral into the silence — the collective uncertainty around work, purpose, and how to live in a world we didn’t prepare the next generation to inherit. From kids who feel lost, to parents who gave everything but forgot to pass on wisdom, to institutions that no longer serve — this is not just a gap. It’s a drift. A spiritual, cultural, and communal drift. And it’s not too late to course-correct. We explore the cultural shifts, the missed conversations, and the opportunity for elders, educators, and leaders to show up — not with judgment, but with guidance. Because if we don’t… the drift becomes a divide.…

Overthinking with Karmen

1
Act II, Authority & Anna Wintour 8:30

10 days ago8:30

8:30

Anna Wintour is stepping down… or is she? In this week’s episode, I spiral into what it really means to let go of authority, the illusion of legacy, and why some people can’t release power, even when the moment demands it. From boardrooms to Broadway, faculty lounges to faith communities, we talk about what happens when you become your performance… and forget how to evolve. This isn’t just about fashion. It’s about the fear of Act II. Let’s go deeper.…

Overthinking with Karmen

1
War, Noah’s Ark, and Disruption 8:20

17 days ago8:20

8:20

In this episode, I unpack the global moment we're in through the lens of prophecy, personal disruption, and spiritual survival. From U.S. military conflict to James Baldwin to Noah’s ark, we’re spiraling into what it means to prepare for uncertainty, live in truth, and stop calling fear “faith.” Because make no mistake: the fire is here. But what survives it? That’s the question. If you're tired of pretending you’re okay, if you're clinging to certainty in a collapsing world, or if you've been asking what God is really doing in this hour — this one’s for you.…

Overthinking with Karmen

1
Walking on Water, The Soft Life, and Hard Things 9:54

25 days ago9:54

9:54

This week, the spiral starts with a coaching session… and ends at Juneteenth. From frustration to grace, Karmen unpacks what it really means to want freedom, follow Jesus, and live the “soft life.” Because here’s the truth: disruption is a hard thing. And trust? That might be the hardest thing of all.…

Overthinking with Karmen

1
Plastic on the Sofa, Black Homophobia, and Supremacy and Certainty. 10:12

5 weeks ago10:12

10:12

What if some of our most deeply held beliefs aren’t culture... but control? This week on Overthinking , we spiral into the unspoken scripts we call tradition, the fear that disguises itself as morality, and what freedom might look like if we finally stop performing. Don’t press play unless you’re ready to question everything and possibly lose your Black Card.…

Overthinking with Karmen

1
Breaking the Algorithm, Colman Domingo, and Fitting In 8:58

5 weeks ago8:58

8:58

Colman Domingo said bring your love, your hope, and your dedication—with no guarantee it’ll ever work. This week, I’m spiraling on what happens when you stop chasing the algorithm and start honoring your truth. Because trying to fit in won’t get you free.

Overthinking with Karmen

1
DC Black Pride, Chasing Pleasure, and Freedom Ain't Free 9:14

7 weeks ago9:14

9:14

This week, your Overthinker-in-Chief Karmen Michael Smith spirals into a layered reflection on freedom—not just political, but personal, embodied, and spiritual. From a conversation about emotional well-being, to the joy and tension of DC’s Black Pride, to the cost of sexual liberation in a world that polices Black queer bodies, this episode asks: What are we calling “freedom”… that’s actually just well-dressed captivity? Karmen weaves scripture, history, and lived experience into a moving reflection on desire, disruption, and what we’re really chasing when we chase pleasure.…

Overthinking with Karmen

1
What Survives the Fire: Kim Burrell, Tamar Braxton, Orlando Brown, and the Performance of Pain 8:22

8 weeks ago8:22

8:22

They make us laugh. They make us cringe. Sometimes they make us mad. But what do Kim Burrell, Tamar Braxton, and Orlando Brown all have in common? They’ve all been crowned “too much.” Too dramatic. Too messy. Too unpredictable. And yet… we can’t look away. In this episode of Overthinking with Karmen , your Overthinker-in-Chief Karmen Michael Smith spirals into the performance of Black pain—on pulpits, on stages, on timelines—and asks: What happens when the armor becomes the identity? From the release of his new cinematic sermon What Survives the Fire , to conversations about persona, prophecy, and perception—Karmen reflects on what it costs to be seen, who gets grace, and who gets discarded. This isn’t just about celebrity. It’s about all of us. And the lies we’ve learned to live out loud.…

Overthinking with Karmen

1
Raw Dogging, Barebacking & the Return to Reality 6:20

9 weeks ago6:20

6:20

What do Gen Z’s “barebacking” trend, raw dogging flights, and the future of social media all have in common? Spiral with me as we explore the quiet rebellion against distraction, the power of presence, and why the next revolution won’t be posted—it’ll be lived.

Overthinking with Karmen

1
E13: Jobs, Dropouts, and Disappearing in America 8:51

10 weeks ago8:51

8:51

What do being unemployed, your cousin dropping out of high school, and feeling invisible all have in common? Spiral with me as we unpack how capitalism confuses labor with worth, why the system ejects those who can’t conform, and why being pushed out might be the first step toward designing a life that’s actually yours.…

Overthinking with Karmen

1
E12: The Met Gala, Janet Jackson, and Grandma’s House 7:08

10 weeks ago7:08

7:08

What do the Met Gala, Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation , and Grandma’s house have in common? Spiral with me as we explore how Black aesthetic has never just been about looking good—it’s been survival, sanctuary, and spiritual resistance in a world that never meant for us to thrive.

Overthinking with Karmen

1
E11: Unemployment, Ryan Coogler, and Strange Earthquakes 6:32

11 weeks ago6:32

6:32

What do unemployment, Ryan Coogler, and your strange earthqukes have in common? Spiral with me as we explore why real freedom feels terrifying at first, why unprecedented moves often get mistaken for mistakes, and why stepping into a life with no blueprint might just be the real revolution.

Overthinking with Karmen

1
E10: Beyonce, Oxtails, and Generational Wealth 7:52

12 weeks ago7:52

7:52

Why did Beyoncé pull her music off TikTok? Why are oxtails $40 a plate? And why are you giving away your family’s inheritance for free? Spiral with me as we unpack how protecting your legacy—your creativity, your culture, your voice—isn’t gatekeeping. It’s survival. Generational wealth isn’t just about making money; it’s about knowing what’s worth keeping sacred.…

Overthinking with Karmen

1
E9: DEI, Yoga, and Learning to Live on Purpose 10:40

12 weeks ago10:40