Unglossy: Decoding Brand in Culture

About Unglossy: Decoding Brand in Culture

Is influence built through hard work—or shaped by the choices no one sees? Hosted by hip-hop legend Bun B, music industry veteran Jeffrey Sledge, and brand strategist Tom Frank, Unglossy cuts through the noise to explore what really drives creativity, influence, and legacy. No rehearsed talking points. No brand-approved answers—just honest conversations with people who’ve built something real. Unglossy brings you inside the minds of artists, athletes, founders, and cultural architects to unpack the grind behind the growth: the risks taken early, the setbacks that sharpened the work, and the discipline it takes to turn ideas into impact. If you care about culture, music, business, branding, or how ideas spread when effort meets opportunity, this is your front-row seat. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. Follow @UnglossyPod and join the unfiltered conversation. Produced by Merrick Studios — where culture takes the mic.

Publisher

Bun B, Jeffrey Sledge, Tom Frank

Category

business · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

1 Oct 2020

Latest episode

12 Jun 2026

Latest episodes

24 of 124 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   12 Jun 2026

   Pete Rock: Crates, Classics, and Knicks

   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 where Biggie, Run DMC, Nas, and half of hip hop passed through. He breaks down the stories behind the classics: how "T.R.O.Y." came out of real grief and taught him to treat music like medicine, how Jam Master Jay tapped out the drums on "Down with the King," and how he ended up singing the hook on "The World Is Yours." Plus the new De La Soul album, his love of comics, and why, after 53 years without a chip, these Knicks have him out of his head in the best way. It is a masterclass, a memory lap, and a love letter to New York, all in one. Follow us on Instagram @UnglossyPod (https://instagram.com/unglossypod) to join the conversation, and get early access plus live recordings and more at Merrick Studios+ (https://merrickstudios.com/plus). Unglossy is produced and distributed by Merrick Studios, (https://merrickstudios.com) where culture takes the mic.

2. 

   29 May 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Shawn Porter: Showtime, Sacrifice, and Sovereignty

   Showtime Shawn Porter shares his journey of sacrifice and sovereignty with hosts Bun B, Jeffrey Sledge, and Tom Frank, revealing untold stories from his boxing career and future endeavors.

3. 

   22 May 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Jemele Hill: Detroit, Defiance, and the Uphill Climb

   Host Bun B, Jeffrey Sledge, and Tom Frank interview Jemele Hill about her journey from Detroit to sports media stardom and her candid reflections on pivotal career moments.

Inside a recent episode

Shawn Porter: Showtime, Sacrifice, and Sovereignty

Published 29 May 2026 · Transcript excerpt

[…] Let me tell you why I know I made the right decision. I didn't realize how much people love boxing. I didn't realize how much people revere and respect fighters. My whole life, all I wanted to do was play ball. I boxed because that was just what we did. I grew up doing it. That was just what we did. We went to tournaments. We won tournaments. We lost tournaments. We just kept going. But football was a seasonal thing in Ohio. So it was like, whenever football came around, nothing else mattered. But I played on two different high schools where I was the best played on the field, struggling to get wins and all that kind of stuff. […]

Who has been a guest on Unglossy: Decoding Brand in Culture

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Shawn Porter
• Jemele Hill
• Tim Frank
• Mark Elias
• Michelle Delamor

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.9 / 5

881 ratings

Contact Unglossy: Decoding Brand in Culture

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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