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The Idea of...

The Idea of...

Bassey Ikpi and Mike Andrews 74 Episodes Jul 2, 2026

Bassey Ikpi and Dr. Michael Andrews explore the intersections of Black culture, family, art, and mental health. As children of immigrant parents, xennial creatives, and parents raising sons in competitive soccer, they bring the full complexity of their lives to every conversation. The podcast is a space for nuanced discussions that don't fit neatly elsewhere, blending intellect, joy, and righteousness.

Episodes

The Idea Of... Lauryn Hill's Flowers Jul 2, 2026 01:35:19 The World Cup may have brought us into the conversation, but this episode quickly becomes something much bigger.Mike and Bassey unpack why soccer finally feels different in America, how Black athletes have transformed the global game, and why creativity—not just discipline—changes sports forever. Along the way they explore racism in international fandom, North African identity, and what it means t
The Idea Of... The Blackest World Cup Ever Jun 24, 2026 01:22:39 This week, Mike and Bassey wander through a conversation that begins with Michael Jackson and ends somewhere between the World Cup, social media outrage, Black leadership, and the challenge of remaining human in a culture that rewards performance.As Bassey revisits a decades-old biography of Michael Jackson, the conversation explores our tendency to turn celebrities into myths instead of people. F
The Idea Of… The Age of Uncertainty Jun 17, 2026 01:10:01 This week, the conversation takes a turn inward. If you've ever felt stuck, disconnected, uncertain, or simply tired, this conversation may feel familiar.Mike and Bassey begin with a listener comment about music, parenting, and vulnerability, but quickly find themselves exploring something much deeper: what happens when confidence fades, motivation disappears, and the version of yourself you&#
The Idea Of... The Long Game of Parenting Jun 7, 2026 01:46:58 What song can make you cry before the first lyric even starts?This week, Mike and Bassey compare their personal "Cry About It" playlists and tumble into a conversation about James Blake, Jeff Buckley, Donny Hathaway, Billie Eilish, Kanye West, and Jay-Z—artists whose music doesn't just entertain, but evokes something deeper.But as often happens on The Idea Of..., the conversation exp
The Idea Of... Selling Crack May 27, 2026 01:36:20 This week on The Idea Of…, Bassey & Mike start with a conversation about podcasting, originality, and the strange feeling of hearing your ideas echoed back through culture. But what begins as a conversation about creativity and influence quickly turns into something much deeper.The two revisit last week’s heated Drake debate and unpack what was really happening beneath the surface: communicati
The Idea Of... Iceman May 20, 2026 01:54:53 This week, Bassey & Mike take a deeply personal trip back to Brooklyn — not just the borough, but the memories, emotions, and versions of themselves still living there. From Prospect Park scars and Nostrand Avenue apartments to the strange grief of watching places change while realizing you’ve changed too, the conversation becomes less about geography and more about identity. This episode star
The Idea Of… Roasts, Race, and Public Consumption May 13, 2026 01:41:10 This week, Bassey and Mike go deep into the cultural event that is the new Michael film—and what it unlocked emotionally for a generation that grew up watching Michael Jackson in real time.They unpack the brilliance of Jafar Jackson’s performance, the impossible weight of portraying Michael, the trauma and complexity of the Jackson family dynamic, and the reality that Michael wasn’t just a superst
The Idea Of... Homie-Sexuals May 6, 2026 01:27:28 This week, Bassey & Mike return with a conversation that starts in music—but doesn’t stay there.From revisiting Mos Def and Black Star to questioning what happens when artists are ahead of their time, the conversation quickly turns inward. Because somewhere along the way, the culture feels off.And that’s where “Homie-Sexuals” enters the chat.Not as a joke—but as a lens.What does it say about u
The Idea Of... Joe Jackson Apr 29, 2026 00:40:39 In this solo episode, Mike steps in while Bassey is out and takes listeners through a layered reflection on culture, media, and fatherhood.He explores the surge of emotionally charged stories involving Black men and Black women, questioning whether timing, amplification, and media cycles are shaping how we interpret reality. Introducing the idea of “racialized noise governance,” he breaks down how
The Idea Of... Men All Pause Apr 15, 2026 01:13:08 This the one! Aging isn’t just physical—it’s emotional, relational, and deeply social.In this episode, Bassey and Mike unpack what it really means to grow older in real time. From perimenopause and shifting identities to regret, nostalgia, and the quiet ways men and women are (and aren’t) allowed to change, this conversation moves between humor and honesty with no filter.They explore the uneven ex
The Idea Of… Midlife Flyness ft. Kendra Lendsey Apr 8, 2026 01:43:02 In this episode of The Idea Of…, we’re joined by Kendra Lendsey, creator of Midlife Flyness and a leading voice in reframing what it means to age with intention, style, and self-trust. Grounded in a 100% Gen X perspective, Kendra’s work pushes back on the idea that midlife is something to fear, and instead invites us to see it as a return to who we’ve always been.Together, we explore the tension b
The Idea of... Arrested Development Apr 1, 2026 01:12:39 This week, Bassey & Mike sit with the whirlwind of J. Cole’s recent interviews—and what they reveal beyond the headlines.What happens when an artist processes in real time, in public, without a filter? Where is the line between vulnerability and oversharing? And what does it look like when a grown man is still figuring out who he is… out loud?From “at first I was… then I was…” to the differenc

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