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Unglossy

Unglossy

Bun B, Tom Frank, Jeffrey Sledge 100 Episodes Jun 19, 2026

Hosted by hip-hop legend Bun B, music industry veteran Jeffrey Sledge, and brand strategist Tom Frank, Unglossy explores what really drives creativity, influence, and legacy. The podcast features honest conversations with artists, athletes, founders, and cultural architects about the risks, setbacks, and discipline behind building something real. Produced by Merrick Studios.

Episodes

Michael Ford: Blueprints, Beats, and Belonging
Michael Ford: Blueprints, Beats, and Belonging Jun 19, 2026 3443 Michael Ford, the Hip Hop Architect, joins Bun B, Jeffrey Sledge, and Tom Frank to connect bars to blueprints. From the Hip Hop Architecture Camp to leading The Hip Hop Museum in the Bronx, Ford shows how rap lyrics inspire real spaces, why representation matters when only 2 percent of architects are Black, and how collabs with Shaw and Herman Miller turn design into community impact. Plus his nex
Pete Rock: Crates, Classics, and Knicks
Pete Rock: Crates, Classics, and Knicks Jun 12, 2026 4091 Some producers make beats. Pete Rock built a blueprint. On this episode of Unglossy, Bun B, Jeffrey Sledge, and Tom Frank sit down with the legendary producer, DJ, and MC for a wide-ranging conversation that runs from his Mount Vernon roots all the way to the present moment. Pete takes us back to coming up under Heavy D, spinning on WBLS next to Marley Marl at 13 years old, and the basement studio
Shawn Porter: Showtime, Sacrifice, and Sovereignty
Shawn Porter: Showtime, Sacrifice, and Sovereignty May 29, 2026 3950 Showtime Shawn Porter sits down with Tom, Bun B, and Jeffrey for a conversation that goes well beyond the highlights reel. From training under his father Kenny at age four, to sparring Manny Pacquiao, to the real story behind that final round against Terence Crawford — Shawn holds nothing back. Plus: the state of boxing today, Floyd's real work ethic, and what he's building next including a docume
Jemele Hill: Detroit, Defiance, and the Uphill Climb
Jemele Hill: Detroit, Defiance, and the Uphill Climb May 22, 2026 5241 This week on Unglossy, Jemele Hill joins the fellas for an unfiltered ride through her come-up from Detroit to ESPN, the tweet that changed everything, and the pivot to The Atlantic, Uphill, and Flagrant and Funny with Cari Champion. Plus Dwight Howard's Top 75 snub, Kobe stories, Skip Bayless, the Pistons, and whether Anthony Davis is a Wizard next year. Honest, funny, and Detroit to the
Tim Frank: Playoffs, Ping Pong Balls, and the Future of the NBA
Tim Frank: Playoffs, Ping Pong Balls, and the Future of the NBA May 15, 2026 3837 The NBA's Sr. VP of Communications, Tim Frank, makes history as Unglossy's first two-time guest. Twenty-two years at NBA headquarters, an NBA Championship in year one with the Houston Rockets, four straight WNBA titles with the Comets — Tim has seen it all and isn't afraid to talk about it. Tom, Bun B, and Jeffrey go deep on the Playoffs, the truth behind the Draft Lottery, the new TV rights deal,
Mark Isham: Scoring Life, Film, and Everything In Between
Mark Isham: Scoring Life, Film, and Everything In Between May 7, 2026 3329 This week on Unglossy, the fellas sit down with Mark Isham — Grammy-nominated composer and trumpeter behind some of Hollywood's most iconic scores, including Crash, A River Runs Through It, Point Break, and 42. Mark traces the journey from San Francisco's jazz scene to landing a $35 million Disney film with no formal training and 90 bucks in the bank — and how a home-duplicated cassette changed ev
Bomani Jones: Playoffs, Prince, and Perspective
Bomani Jones: Playoffs, Prince, and Perspective Apr 30, 2026 3961 This week on Unglossy, Bomani Jones joins the fellas and turns a conversation about the NBA Playoffs and NFL Draft into a deeper look at the business of sports—streaming chaos, rising costs, and why access isn’t what it used to be. From there, it goes where it wants: travel, chasing awe around the world, and why a waterfall might hit harder than front-row seats. Plus a no-holds debate on Prince vs
Mark Elias: Acting, Ownership,  and Working Title:  From Paper to Screen
Mark Elias: Acting, Ownership, and Working Title: From Paper to Screen Apr 9, 2026 4378 Most actors wait. Mark Elias builds. On this episode of Unglossy, the 9-1-1: Lone Star and Lucifer actor breaks down his journey from Houston roots to Hollywood—then the pivot from chasing roles to creating them. We get into his film We Could Be Heroes, raising money through WeFunder, and what it actually takes to go from idea to screen—plus why ownership changes everything. It all leads to his ne
Michelle Delamor: American Idol, Ownership & 60 Day Hustle
Michelle Delamor: American Idol, Ownership & 60 Day Hustle Mar 27, 2026 3726 Most people chase the spotlight. Michelle Delamor learned how to own it. This week on Unglossy, we sit down with the former American Idol standout turned founder, studio executive, and creator of Amazon Prime’s 60 Day Hustle to unpack what really happens after the cameras stop rolling. From auditioning alongside 110,000 hopefuls to navigating the machine of the music industry, Michelle shares how
Don Vito: Beats, Business, and Building Beyond Music
Don Vito: Beats, Business, and Building Beyond Music Mar 12, 2026 4027 On this episode of Unglossy, we sit down with legendary producer Don Vito for a wide-ranging conversation about hustle, reinvention, and the long road behind the hits. From growing up in Gary, Indiana, to serving in the Marine Corps, to finding his way into Atlanta’s exploding music scene, Don shares the unconventional path that led him to work with artists like Nelly, Ciara, Bow Wow, Cherish, and
Jay Paterno: Happy Valley, Hard Truths, and Blitzed!
Jay Paterno: Happy Valley, Hard Truths, and Blitzed! Jan 27, 2026 3972 Where you’re from doesn’t just shape you — it frames how you understand power, loyalty, and loss. Bun B is Houston to the core. Jeffrey Sledge carries New York City wherever he goes. And for Tom Frank, everything starts in State College, Pennsylvania — a town where fall Saturdays felt sacred, Penn State football felt pure, and Happy Valley felt like a place untouched by the rest of the world. To
RE-RELEASE: Mitchell Jackson
RE-RELEASE: Mitchell Jackson Jan 23, 2026 4333 Originally released February 25, 2025 Tom, Mickey and Jeffrey are back for a new season of Unglossy. In this compelling episode, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Mitchell S. Jackson opens up about his remarkable journey from the tough streets of Portland, Oregon, to becoming a celebrated writer and educator. Mitchell shares intimate stories of balancing street life with academics, the transformative

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