Bassey Ikpi and Dr. Michael Andrews have a lot to work through. 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 Idea Of… is where Black culture, family, art, and mental health intersect—explored with equal parts intellect, ratchet joy, and righteousness. Nothing is too nuanced. Nothing is off limits. These are the conversations that don’t fit neatly anywhere else. New York Times bestselling author Bassey Ikpi and Dr. Michael Andrews invite you in. Pull up.
The Idea of...
Claim This Podcastby Bassey Ikpi and Mike Andrews
4.7(29 reviews)
77 episodes
Updated Daily
Accepts GuestsHas SponsorsLocation 🇺🇸
45
Podcast Authority
BetaFairBased on show quality, social media presence, reviews, charts, and more
Quality70
Social0
YouTube0
Engagement51
Podcast Overview
Bassey Ikpi and Dr. Michael Andrews have a lot to work through. 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 Idea Of… is where Black culture, family, art, and mental health intersect—explored with equal parts intellect, ratchet joy, and righteousness. Nothing is too nuanced. Nothing is off limits. These are the conversations that don’t fit neatly anywhere else. New York Times bestselling author Bassey Ikpi and Dr. Michael Andrews invite you in. Pull up.
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
12/18/2024
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45
Podcast Authority
BetaFairBased on show quality, social media presence, reviews, charts, and more
Quality70
Social0
YouTube0
Engagement51
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Recent Episodes
July 8, 2026
The Idea Of... Compassion Before Commentary
<p>This week starts with soccer...</p><p>...and somehow ends with parenting, grief, race, and what happens when tragedy collides with the internet.</p><p>Mike and Bassey unpack everything from World Cup coaching decisions and why infrastructure matters more than raw talent, to the emotional culture of international soccer and why some countries seem to know how to win before the game even begins.</p><p>Then the conversation shifts.</p><p>Following the death of 18-year-old Nolan Wells, they wrestle with something bigger than headlines: why every tragedy immediately becomes someone's cautionary tale. Instead of asking better questions, social media often rushes to assign blame—even to grieving families.</p><p>Throughout the episode, they also reflect on creator burnout, authenticity, and why conversations from creators like Deante Kyle continue to resonate so deeply.</p><p>This isn't an episode about having all the answers.</p><p>It's about resisting the urge to simplify complicated human stories.</p><p>Sometimes the hardest thing we can do is let grief stay grief.</p>
July 2, 2026
The Idea Of... Lauryn Hill's Flowers
<p>The World Cup may have brought us into the conversation, but this episode quickly becomes something much bigger.</p><p>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 to truly belong.</p><p>Then the conversation pivots to one of the greatest BET tributes ever: Lauryn Hill. They discuss why The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill remains nearly impossible to replicate, why Lauryn's artistry has always defied categories, and how her influence stretches from Kendrick Lamar to generations of writers, musicians, and creatives.</p><p>Finally, they examine something even larger: how history gets rewritten. From Michael Jackson's evolving public image to changing cultural language and collective memory, they ask an uncomfortable question:</p><p>Who gets to tell our stories once we're gone?</p><p>This is a conversation about legacy, ownership, Black creativity, and why preserving our cultural memory may be one of the most important things we do.</p>
June 24, 2026
The Idea Of... The Blackest World Cup Ever
<p>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.</p><p>As Bassey revisits a decades-old biography of Michael Jackson, the conversation explores our tendency to turn celebrities into myths instead of people. From Michael Jackson's eccentricities to Jay-Z combing Blue Ivy's hair, they discuss why audiences struggle to accept complexity, vulnerability, and ordinary humanity from extraordinary people.</p><p>The conversation then shifts to the internet's addiction to outrage, the rise of podcasts and reaction culture, and how constant commentary may be changing the way we consume music, books, and ideas. Along the way, they examine what happens when everyone has an opinion but fewer people are developing the skills to think critically.</p><p>Later, Mike reflects on an unexpected moment of affirmation while hosting an Alpha Phi Alpha scholarship gala, leading to a broader discussion about purpose, self-doubt, and the importance of hearing encouragement when you need it most.</p><p>The episode closes with a passionate conversation about the World Cup, Black athletes around the globe, representation, belonging, and why finding the right environment can change the trajectory of a life.</p><p>Sometimes the story isn't about celebrity, politics, or sports. Sometimes it's about remembering that every headline, every public figure, and every one of us is still a human being. </p>
77 total episodes available
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Deante Kyle
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