Unglossy

New Era Energy: VIBE Reloads + Two Mothers, One Aché Debuts

In this special drop, Tom, Jeff, and Bun B introduce Two Mothers, One Aché: A Grief Dialogue, a powerful new series from Merrick Studios about love, loss, and the courage to heal out loud. You’ll hear why this show matters, why it belongs on our network, and why Bun is stepping up not just as a co-sign—but as a future guest.Then we get into last week’s headline: VIBE Magazine is teaming up with Rolling Stone. Smart evolution or culture grab? We break down what this means for hip hop journalism, why VIBE never lost its credibility, and who deserves the first cover when the new era begins. What do you think? We’re taking bets.And please, stay to the end for a sneak preview of Episode 1 of Two Mothers, One Aché: A Grief Dialogue. Tap in now to Unglossy."Unglossy with Bun B" is produced and distributed by Merrick Studio and hosted by Bun B, Tom Frank and Jeffrey Sledge. Tune in to hear this thought-provoking discussion on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you catch your podcasts. Follow us on Instagram @UnglossyPod to join the conversation and support the show at https://unglossypod.buzzsprout.com/Send a textSupport the show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Unglossy x Comic Culture: Multiverse

A stretch limo, three kids on bikes, and Pete Rock’s block—by the time the crew steps out, half the neighborhood’s there. That’s the energy of this Unglossy crossover: Tat Wza, Mickey Factz, Pete Rock, Bun B, Jeffrey Sledge, and Tom Frank colliding over comics, hip-hop, and the MCU with zero small talk.They go from childhood comics and bodega mystery packs to hot takes on Feige, Hulk’s nerfing, and whether Endgame was therapy or just fan service. Expect wild casting debates (yes, Doom gets his own mood board), sharp arguments, and a cliffhanger: Bun B’s secret Marvel cameo.Big stories. Bigger opinions. No filters."Unglossy with Bun B" is produced and distributed by Merrick Studio and hosted by Bun B, Tom Frank and Jeffrey Sledge. Tune in to hear this thought-provoking discussion on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you catch your podcasts. Follow us on Instagram @UnglossyPod to join the conversation and support the show at https://unglossypod.buzzsprout.com/Send a textSupport the show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Future Is Conversational: Cardi, Kimmel, and Football

No guest, no fluff—just Bun B, Tom Frank, and Jeffrey Sledge turning up the signal and turning down the noise. We kick off with what’s cooking at Merrick Studios (Unglossy, Mixed & Mastered, Our Love/Hate Relationship with Comic Culture, Pitch Lab) and why podcasts are becoming the new cable. Then it’s Cardi B at Trill Burgers and the rise of celebrity cosigns as cultural currency. We get into comedy vs. consequence (Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension and the line between accountability and censorship), why Fashion Week’s real runway is now the sidewalk, and football’s full takeover of pop culture—from NIL swagger to breakfast kickoffs abroad. Plus: Jeffrey’s bionic-eye comeback, a pro-wrestling guest tease, and enough food talk to make you order something you’ll love and regret."Unglossy with Bun B" is produced and distributed by Merrick Studio and hosted by Bun B, Tom Frank and Jeffrey Sledge. Tune in to hear this thought-provoking discussion on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you catch your podcasts. Follow us on Instagram @UnglossyPod to join the conversation and support the show at https://unglossypod.buzzsprout.com/Send a textSupport the show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michael Ford: Blueprints, Beats, and Belonging

This week on Unglossy, Bun B, Tom Frank, and Jeffrey Sledge sit down with Michael Ford, The Hip Hop Architect—a designer using rhythm and rhyme to reshape skylines. From leading tThe Hip Hop Museum in the Bronx to launching the Hip Hop Architecture Camp, Ford proves design can be culture, not just construction.He shares how rap lyrics inspire real-world spaces, why representation matters in architecture, and how collaborations with Kurtis Blow, Lupe Fiasco and Herman Miller, and turn creativity into community impact.The crew dives into Virgil Abloh’s legacy, Lenny Kravitz’s world-building, and Ford’s next blueprint: a Hip Hop Museum of the South in Memphis.🎙️ Tap in as they connect bars to blueprints, showing how hip hop doesn’t just shape culture—it designs the future. This is Unglossy."Unglossy: Decoding Brand in Culture," is produced and distributed by Merrick Studio and hosted by Bun B, Tom Frank and Jeffrey Sledge. Tune in to hear this thought-provoking discussion on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you catch your podcasts. Follow us on Instagram @UnglossyPod to join the conversation and support the show at https://unglossypod.buzzsprout.com/Send a textSupport the show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Chris Shepherd: Houston, Hustle, and Taste

James Beard winner Chris Shepherd pulls up to Unglossy with Bun B, Jeffrey Sledge, and Tom Frank to talk real kitchen life—no foam, all flame. He traces the glide path from Tulsa dishwasher to Houston icon, why cooking clicked when school didn’t, and how using all five senses beats any recipe card. We dig into Underbelly’s whole-animal, write-the-menu-daily chaos; the gloriously unhinged One Fifth experiment (five concepts in five years); and the way Houston’s Vietnamese community reshaped Gulf flavors—from crawfish boils to kimchi on a “Chinese-Korean” menu. Bun and Chris revisit the night they wrote wine notes together (“that tastes red” is canon now), we adjudicate the great gravy debate (brown on almost everything; white strictly for chicken-fried), and Chris breaks down how Eat Like a Local can take a chicken-fried steak from 50 orders a week to 400. Most importantly, we go deep on Southern Smoke—emergency aid, mental-health care, real safety nets for hospitality workers—and how you can help. Come hungry, leave useful.🎙️ Tap in. This is Unglossy."Unglossy: Decoding Brand in Culture," is produced and distributed by Merrick Studio and hosted by Bun B, Tom Frank and Jeffrey Sledge. Tune in to hear this thought-provoking discussion on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you catch your podcasts. Follow us on Instagram @UnglossyPod to join the conversation and support the show at https://unglossypod.buzzsprout.com/Send a textSupport the show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hawaii Mike: Culture, Cannabis, and Connection

On this episode of Unglossy, hosts Bun B, Jeffrey Sledge, and Tom Frank welcome Hawaii Mike, a creative force whose journey spans road managing Mobb Deep to editing at The Source. Today, he is the founder of Chef for Higher, where hip hop, cannabis, and culinary arts come together to create community through dining. Together the crew reflects on the growth of the Unglossy network and dive deep into the evolution of hip hop culture, the challenges of the music industry, and the power of authentic storytelling. Hawaii Mike shares how he’s blended food, cannabis, and culture into unique experiences, while the hosts explore themes of self-awareness, identity, and personal growth. From fashion and community to the global reach of hip hop, this conversation is a celebration of culture, connection, and carving out new lanes.🎙️ Tap in. This is Unglossy."Unglossy: Decoding Brand in Culture," is produced and distributed by Merrick Studio and hosted by Bun B, Tom Frank and Jeffrey Sledge. Tune in to hear this thought-provoking discussion on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you catch your podcasts. Follow us on Instagram @UnglossyPod to join the conversation and support the show at https://unglossypod.buzzsprout.com/Send a textSupport the show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Chef Teach: Hustle, Heat, and House of Mac

Chef Teach (Derrick Turton) pulls up to Unglossy with Bun B, Tom Frank, and Jeffrey Sledge to chart a wild route from Luke Records and Pitbull’s early grind to Miami’s cult-favorite House of Mac. We get into the origin of that legendary mac & cheese, the food-truck-to-brick-and-mortar leap, COVID pivots, DoorDash math, SOPs that save businesses, and why your playlist is part of the plate. Bun shares how a nudge turned into a movement—and how mentorship boomerangs. Plus: Trillburgers x KD “Easy Money” drop, MySpace with Lil Jon and E-40, and the hard truth about scaling without losing your soul—or your margins.🎙️ Tap in. This is Unglossy."Unglossy: Decoding Brand in Culture," is produced and distributed by Merrick Studio and hosted by Bun B, Tom Frank and Jeffrey Sledge. Tune in to hear this thought-provoking discussion on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you catch your podcasts. Follow us on Instagram @UnglossyPod to join the conversation and support the show at https://unglossypod.buzzsprout.com/Send a textSupport the show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Andre Reed: Part 2 – Grit, Greatness, and Growth

Hall of Fame wide receiver Andre Reed is back on Unglossy with Bun B, Tom Frank, and Jeffrey Sledge for Part 2 of our conversation. This time, the Bills legend opens up about life after football and the season ahead—mixing wisdom, humor, and a few bold predictions.From surviving –43 degree temperatures in Alaska to calling a 13-4 record for Buffalo this year, Andre gives us his unfiltered take on extreme conditions, fantasy football sleepers, and why Kansas City is still the mountain the Bills must climb. He draws parallels between NFL rivalries and modern rap beefs, breaks down why the defensive line will decide Buffalo’s Super Bowl hopes, and explains why Bills Mafia is the best fan base in sports.Along the way, Andre reflects on meeting his wife the day he got the Hall of Fame call, what legacy really means, and how authenticity defines both football greatness and life beyond the game.🎙️ Tap in. This is Unglossy."Unglossy: Decoding Brand in Culture," is produced and distributed by Merrick Studio and hosted by Bun B, Tom Frank and Jeffrey Sledge. Tune in to hear this thought-provoking discussion on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you catch your podcasts. Follow us on Instagram @UnglossyPod to join the conversation and support the show at https://unglossypod.buzzsprout.com/Send a textSupport the show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Andre Reed: Part 1 – Respect, Resilience, and Results

Bun B makes it official as co-host of Unglossy, and we kick things off with a legend: Buffalo Bills icon and Pro Football Hall of Famer, Andre Reed. From a small-town kid in Allentown, Pennsylvania to four straight Super Bowl appearances and a gold jacket in Canton, Reed’s story is one of grit, growth, and giving back.In this first part of our two-part conversation, Andre takes us through the real playbook behind his success—relationships, mentorship, and showing up when nobody’s watching. He reflects on the wisdom of his Hall of Fame coach Marv Levy (who just turned 100), weighs in on Micah Parsons’ contract standoff and the high-stakes “game within the game” of NFL negotiations, and breaks down how rule changes like the kickoff shift and the tush push have reshaped football forever.We dive into what it was like lining up against Deion Sanders, Rod Woodson, and Darrell Green, the brutal six-week training camps of the ’80s, and the difference between recovering from injuries then versus now. Beyond the field, Andre shares the roots of his purpose—his years as a Boys & Girls Club kid, the founding of the Andre Reed Foundation, and the legacy he’s building with a park, a street, and a stadium all carrying his name back home.Four straight Super Bowls, seven Pro Bowls, and zero regrets—because whether or not the scoreboard went his way, the world was watching.🎙️ Tap in. This is Unglossy."Unglossy: Decoding Brand in Culture," is produced and distributed by Merrick Studio and hosted by Bun B, Tom Frank and Jeffrey Sledge. Tune in to hear this thought-provoking discussion on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you catch your podcasts. Follow us on Instagram @UnglossyPod to join the conversation and support the show at https://unglossypod.buzzsprout.com/Send a textSupport the show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Bun B: Culture, Burgers, and the Real Trill

In this powerhouse episode of Unglossy, hip-hop icon and cultural heavyweight Bun B (aka Bernard Freeman) joins Thomas Frank and Jeffrey Sledge for a deep, funny, and wildly inspiring conversation that spans decades — and industries.From his early days forming UGK with the late, great Pimp C to building Trill Burgers into America’s best burger brand (literally), Bun breaks down the milestones, missteps, and mindset that kept him both relevant and real. He talks about the origin of his rap name, the Houston culture that shaped him, what it really takes to build longevity in music and business — and why being trill isn’t just a brand, it’s a standard.You’ll hear stories that have never been told, like the day UGK signed with Jive, how Bun became a professor at Rice University, why Ridin’ Dirty was their first real album, and the honest truth about whether he’d ever run for mayor of Houston.And yes, there’s a surprise. Stay till the end to catch a major Unglossy announcement you won't want to miss.This episode is a masterclass in authenticity, entrepreneurship, and cultural leadership — from a man who’s done it all and still shows up hungry.🎙️ Tap in. This is Unglossy."Unglossy: Decoding Brand in Culture," is produced and distributed by Merrick Studio and hosted by Bun B, Tom Frank and Jeffrey Sledge. Tune in to hear this thought-provoking discussion on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you catch your podcasts. Follow us on Instagram @UnglossyPod to join the conversation and support the show at https://unglossypod.buzzsprout.com/Send a textSupport the show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices