When you tune into Shit Black Girls Watch, you’re not just listening to a podcast. You’re stepping into the living room of two best friends who laugh loud, tell it like it is, and love film and TV so much they’ve made it a full-on cultural conversation. Hosted by Meah Denee Barrington and Dr. Trish Whitfield, the show is a space where research meets real talk, where the classics get re-examined, and where you’ll always find Black women centered in the narrative.
“We’re not film critics, we’re culture critics — and that’s way more fun.”
– Dr. Trish Whitfield
The duo isn’t interested in being film critics, and that’s exactly what makes their show special. Instead, they give you humor, historical gems, cultural breakdowns, and the kind of side commentary that feels like watching movies with your favorite cousins. Earlier this year, their episode unpacking Sinners showed off just how sharp and layered their analysis can be.
And now, as the show makes its season return on August 21, they’re kicking things off with the 25th anniversary of Bring It On, a cheerleading classic that still has us quoting lines and throwing up “spirit fingers.”
I caught up with Meah and Trish to talk about their friendship, their process, and what’s ahead for the new season.
What inspired you two to start Shit Black Girls Watch, and how did your love for film and TV turn into a full-on podcast?
Meah Denee Barrington: “I’ve always loved our conversations and would always say we need to record this, or dang, I wish I had recorded this. Sometimes I would sneak and record our conversations and laugh hysterically later watching them. But I just thought our friendship was so fun, and I wanted to share our conversations. On top of that, I feel like we have great insight and perspectives into the film and media industry.”
Dr. Trish Whitfield: “As roommates, one of the things we always enjoyed was convening in the living room to watch something and have whole side commentaries throughout. When I found out Meah was recording our convos and they still held up on the rewatch, we realized ‘damn, maybe we should be having these conversations with a wider audience.’ Boom. We started podding.”
You’ve said you’re not film critics. How does that free you up to talk about movies and TV in your own way?
Meah Denee Barrington: “To me, Trish is a film critic! I think the fact that she’s such a scholar helps make our show so special, and then I love film history and finding interesting connections and trivia. So, combining the two with our own personalities and humor is the cherry on top.”
Dr. Trish Whitfield: “Who said that? In all seriousness, we’re not film critics, but we do love film and television. I think we just hold a deep appreciation for the creativity that goes into it and a mutual disdain for the lack of representation in media. I’ve talked about this on the pod, but being mixed means you miss out on some cultural experiences, and Meah has helped introduce me to a lot of Black film, television, and history that I might’ve missed out on in my formative years… shout out to the Hood Classics episode.”
The Sinners episode was packed with history and cultural context. What’s your process for weaving research into the fun, bestie-style banter?
Meah Denee Barrington: “Yes, the Sinners episode was so fun to research and record! There was so much from us to pull from, and Ryan Coogler and his team did such a good job connecting Black culture and history into this vampire horror that it was easy for us to pull from. I think with our research, we always dig into the things that resonate with us as Black women and go from there, finding interesting facts and things no one has really heard of before.”
Dr. Trish Whitfield: “Oh, the research is a process! I mean we do rewatches, we’re reading articles, we’re on forums, we’re in your comments, and we try to find the gaps in the conversation. Sinners was harder since it inspired so much commentary, but we’re always thinking about how we can take a conversation to the next level. I think how we have these conversations just comes naturally. How we are on the pod is actually how we talk to each other in real life.”
With Bring It On turning 25, what moments from that film still hit the hardest for you, and do you think it aged well?
Meah Denee Barrington: “Aww man, it’s wild to think 25 years have passed by since Bring It On came out! Rewatching it, I was actually surprised at how well it stood the test of time. There were some cringeworthy moments where they used the ‘F’ word, but aside from that, it remains culturally relevant. We spoke about how mature the characters were in discussing race and how the movie did a good job of representing Black women. We break that down more, too, speaking about how Gabrielle Union influenced the script!”
Dr. Trish Whitfield: “Maaaan, Bring it On aged so well. I was surprised at how funny ‘spirit fingers’ still was and how they tackled racial tension without making the Torros White saviors. I liked that the Clovers weren’t caricatures of young Black women and all of us could see ourselves in that movie both then and now.”
How do you decide which films or TV moments get the Shit Black Girls Watch treatment?
Meah Denee Barrington: “Trish and I have several creative sessions! We try to find a mix of current films to discuss and evergreen topics, so we don’t get stressed with having to shoot constantly to stay current with pop culture, but it’s really about what makes us excited. This season, we’re getting back into the groove of recording, so one week we like the topics and then three weeks later we’re like ‘naw, let’s pivot,’ and we don’t mind doing that because we always want to have fun with the conversation and feel confident that our audience will enjoy the topic too.”
Dr. Trish Whitfield: “A lot of planning and willingness to adjust when needed. If we don’t feel excited to talk about something, we assume people won’t be excited to listen to it either. And we play around with structure a lot. While one episode might have fun facts and hilarious discussion (Hood Classics), we’ve also done actor brackets (We Need Some Really Big Rings), genre focused (Black Love), and given flowers to the people we think deserve it (Black Oscars). It’s hard to duplicate what we do.”
As best friends hosting a podcast, what’s the one topic or moment that had you both laughing so hard you had to pause recording?
Meah Denee Barrington: “The first episode that comes to mind is our Hood Classics episode! We had such a good time rewatching those films and researching behind-the-scenes moments.
Honestly, us rewatching films needs to be recorded because we have more fun rewatching than recording sometimes.”
– Meah Denee Barrington
But also, discussing the ridiculous scenes and moments that are still funny 20 years later! That was a really fun episode to record.”
Dr. Trish Whitfield: “Hood Classics hands down. But I also had a really good time recording Crackhead Santa Clause and Heaux Tales too. Sometimes it’s just nice to let our hair down to just chat shit and improv with one another.”
What can listeners expect from this new season that’s different from past ones?
Meah Denee Barrington: “Aww man, that’s a little tough to say because we’re still bringing deep research and hilarious banter. But I think this season it will feel more polished with smoother transitions and segments. The conversations flow better to me this season, and I love the direction we’re taking the podcast with doing events like trivia nights and watch parties. We even have a community group on WhatsApp where we discuss film and TV shows, that’s been really fun to be a part of. So this season, we’re tapping into our community more for sure!”
Dr. Trish Whitfield: “I think the conversations are more focused than they have been in previous seasons. In the past, we covered such broad topics and big ideas, which was lovely, but I think we’ve been more strategic about how we’re recording this season. Plus, we’re coming back after a hiatus, which means we’re bringing more life and more perspective to our conversations. We’re giving the audience more of ourselves.”
At the end of the day, Shit Black Girls Watch isn’t just about film or television, it’s about friendship, culture, and the magic that happens when two women bring their whole selves to the mic. Meah and Trish don’t just review movies; they invite us into their world, where laughter, research, and real talk collide. This new season promises more gems, more banter, and more reasons to press play, because when Black women tell the story, it always hits different.
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