In this episode of Image Unscripted, Bozoma Saint John, Tai Beauchamp and Shantel Jackson have a candid conversation about early earned success and the realities of making decisions for both others and themselves.

From filing patents and making boardroom decisions to acquiring valued assets -- did someone say early Kehinde Wiley?? -- the three reflect on their pivotal career milestones and the confidence building moves that helped them achieve their goals regardless of the audience and outcome.

Executive Producers: Robin Harrison & Fallon Jethroe

Producers: Cris Colbert & Danielle Jones-Wesley

An NAACP+ Production | Watch on YouTube @naacp-plus

#NAACPIMAGEAWARDS #IMAGEUNSCRIPTEDPODCAST #IMAGEAWARDS2026 #IMAGE #JemeleHill #BozomaSaintJohn #ShantelJackson #TaiBeauchamp

• (00:00:00) - Image Unscripted
• (00:00:45) - The Real Housewives on Spending Money
• (00:04:57) - "You Should Go On A Date"
• (00:05:49) - How Early In The Dating Process Would You Go To The Strip Club
• (00:06:40) - Tyga on His Success
• (00:11:16) - Shoe Gummi
• (00:12:48) - Inventor and entrepreneur: Taking a step back
• (00:14:27) - What Drives You To The Business World?
• (00:17:46) - Have You Had A Talk With Your Parents About Work?
• (00:19:11) - Bozoma on Own Your Own Business
• (00:26:10) - Pepsi's 'In the Elevator'
• (00:27:59) - Morning Mindset: The Creators' Journey
• (00:31:02) - Bozoman on Real Housewives
• (00:34:14) - A Question for the Game
• (00:34:50) - Black Women Start and Scale a Business
• (00:40:18) - Annalise Keaton or Olivia Pope
• (00:41:58) - Athena vs Khadijah: The Battle
• (00:42:53) - Punishment for Having A Private Jet
• (00:44:33) - Image Unscripted

When culture, community and gaming collide, magic happens. In this episode, Jemele chats with Khleo Thomas (actor, rapper, gamer) and Jay-Ann Lopez (founder of Black Girl Gamers). The three dig in on the ways identity shape gaming spaces and the importance of representation through community.
From unpacking long-standing stereotypes in gaming spaces, Jay-Ann and Khleo discuss how they are reclaiming online spaces one game at a time and creating new possibilities for themselves and the culture.

Later, in a game of This or That!, they give us their final answer on what is better for gaming…PC? or Console?

Executive Producers: Robin Harrison & Fallon Jethroe

Producers: Cris Colbert & Danielle Jones-Wesley

An NAACP+ Production | Watch on YouTube @naacp-plus

Got a guest or topic you’d love to hear on the show? Interested in sponsoring an episode: Email your pitch to imageunscripted@naacpnet.org

#NAACPIMAGEAWARDS #IMAGEUNSCRIPTEDPODCAST #IMAGEAWARDS2026 #IMAGE #JemeleHill #JayAnnLopez #Blackgirlgamers #KhleoThomas

• (00:00:00) - Image Unscripted
• (00:00:55) - Nomination for the NAACP Image Awards
• (00:02:07) - Fortnite, Mario Brothers & More
• (00:05:47) - Don't Let A Man Ruin Your Gaming
• (00:07:55) - Q&A: The State of Women Gamers
• (00:09:31) - Black gamers on Inclusiveness
• (00:12:19) - Khleo on His Love for Gaming
• (00:14:58) - Black Girl Gamers
• (00:19:21) - Khleo on Being the Odd Guy Out
• (00:20:52) - No More 24-Hour Streaming
• (00:22:20) - Khleo on Being in the Spotlight
• (00:25:03) - Are You a Gamer's Therapist?
• (00:27:33) - Black Girl Gamers on
• (00:32:32) - If You Were Creating A Video Game, What Kind Of Game Would
• (00:35:32) - Xbox One vs Playstation 4
• (00:37:47) - When You Can't Play With Your Significant Other
• (00:39:28) - Image Unscripted

In this episode of Image Unscripted, Jemele sits down with competition reality standouts and TV personalities Taylor Hale (Winner of Big Brother Season 24) and Chelley Bissanthe (Season 7 of Love Island) for a candid conversation about competition reality television and the highs and lows of visibility.

From their days before reality television, Taylor as a former Miss Michigan and Chelley as a daytrader, they connect over their experiences in reality television. With Jemele, they explore what it means to represent Black culture in the mainstream competition reality television as well as their own personal career highlights.

With Jemele, they explore the similarities and differences in their reality TV experiences — from deciding who is worthy of a date to determining the value of a gameplay alliance.

Executive Producers: Robin Harrison & Fallon Jethroe

Producers: Cris Colbert & Danielle Jones-Wesley

An NAACP+ Production | Watch on YouTube @naacpplus

#NAACPIMAGEAWARDS #IMAGEUNSCRIPTEDPODCAST #IMAGEAWARDS2026 #IMAGE #JemeleHill #TaylorHale #BigBrother #LoveIsland #ChelleyBissainthe #Chelley #RealityTV

• (00:01:03) - The Big Brother Cast
• (00:03:02) - Celebrities On Big Brother
• (00:08:07) - Big Brother's Josh on Love Island
• (00:13:42) - Big Brother: On Being On The Show
• (00:20:14) - Omarosa on Real World
• (00:22:17) - Celebrities Talk Reality TV
• (00:27:59) - Shelley On The Dating Reality Show
• (00:29:25) - The Real Love On Big Brother
• (00:31:43) - The Big Brother and Love Island
• (00:34:36) - Robyn on Reality Shows
• (00:37:10) - The Life of the People

In this episode of Image Unscripted, Jemele sits down and chats with Ego Nwodim about her early days of sketch and improv and the lesson she learned about her own work ethic. From those early lessons, to being cast as Saturday Night Live’s 7th Black female cast-member Ego chats about the world of sketch comedy and career milestones.

With Jemele, Ego reflects on her time at SNL crafting viral sketches and characters with revered Black celebrities like Dionne Warwick and Meg Thee Stallion — keeping it real on what it was like to share Black culture with mainstream comedy audiences.

Executive Producers: Robin Harrison & Fallon Jethroe

Producers: Cris Colbert & Danielle Jones-Wesley

An NAACP+ Production | Watch on YouTube @naacp-plus

Got a guest or topic you’d love to hear on the show? Email your pitch to imageunscripted@naacpnet.org

#NAACPIMAGEAWARDS #IMAGEUNSCRIPTEDPODCAST #IMAGEAWARDS2026 #IMAGE #JemeleHill #EgoNwodim #SNL #ThanksDadwithEgoNwodim #WomeninComedy #Comedy

• (00:00:00) - NAACP Image Awards Podcast
• (00:00:54) - 2018 Recap: A Comprehensive Year in the Life
• (00:01:47) - You Had Pre-Med at SNL
• (00:04:34) - When Did You Know You Were Funny?
• (00:06:58) - Hart on Coming to Realization That He Should've Quit Acting
• (00:10:59) - Kate McKinnon on Getting On SNL
• (00:12:51) - How Did You Find Your Comedy Voice?
• (00:14:31) - George Martin on His Favorite Episode
• (00:15:08) - Adam Levine on Developing His Comic Voice
• (00:18:49) - Martin on Martin's Face in the Elevator
• (00:21:01) - On Doing An Impression of Dionne Warwick
• (00:24:37) - In the Elevator With SNL's Megan Moore
• (00:27:49) - The Black Women on SNL
• (00:30:22) - Eddie Murphy on The Tonight Show
• (00:32:00) - On His Decision to Leave SNL
• (00:33:32) - Andy Daly on His Post-SNL Life
• (00:36:12) - The Importance of Taking a Risk
• (00:38:30) - Amy Poehler on Being Edgy in the Comedy
• (00:40:33) - Why Black People Love Laughter
• (00:41:48) - How Do You Find Your Joy?

In this episode of Image Unscripted, Jemele sits down and has a brief chat with NAACP President Derrick Johnson about why the NAACP’s work is important today more than ever.

Through the lighthearted conversation with Jemele, President Johnson chats about the history of the NAACP and how the movement evolves from the streets to the screen to the algorithms. Later, President Derrick Johnson talks about visibility as a framework for Black culture and details the importance in supporting the next generation.

Executive Producers: Robin Harrison & Fallon Jethroe

Producers: Cris Colbert & Danielle Jones-Wesley

An NAACP+ Production | Watch on YouTube @naacp-plus

Got a guest or topic you’d love to hear on the show? Email your pitch to fallon@hellofallon.com

#NAACPIMAGEAWARDS #IMAGEUNSCRIPTEDPODCAST #IMAGEAWARDS2026 #IMAGE #JemeleHill #PresidentDerrickJohnson #NAACPPRESIDENT #Entertainent #Policy #BlackHistory

• (00:00:00) - Image Unscripted
• (00:00:59) - President Johnson on the NAACP's Role in the Country
• (00:04:36) - The NAACP's advocacy of film
• (00:08:13) - NAACP's Image Award
• (00:10:33) - Black filmmakers on the Image Awards
• (00:13:51) - Black People's Image Awards
• (00:16:19) - Nick Saban on Sports and Political Issues
• (00:19:55) - Social Media as a Means of Organizing
• (00:21:25) - How do you see these digital platforms shaping our history?
• (00:22:55) - Marcus On The Future of Digital Creators
• (00:25:30) - "Sugar on Grits..."
• (00:27:28) - Coleman Young on Detroiters
• (00:30:18) - NAACP President Johnson Nominates for the 2021 NAACP Awards
• (00:31:12) - Image Unscripted NAACP Image Awards

"Art is very subjective...and it redefined my relationship to grief" - Tyriq Withers.

In this episode of Image Unscripted, Jemele sits down on the couch with artists who embody humanity on screen, Miles Caton (Sinners); Jaz Sinclair (Gen V) and rising film star Tyriq Withers (Him, I Know What You Did Last Summer and Reminders of Him)... and it gets artsy!

Prepare to get into your feels as Miles Caton opens up about the reality of fame and the joy he finds when leaning into the artistry parts of his work. Jaz Sinclair reflects on the joy of leading a successful superhero series, what it’s like to exist in the superhero world as Black representation and why Black artists should tell the story they want to tell. Tyriq Withers chats on his early career pivot that led him to be a leading man, and the moment he fully understood the weight of what he represents on screen.

Jemele brings it all together through this thoughtful conversation about vulnerability, identify, art and purpose.

Executive Producers: Robin Harrison & Fallon Jethroe

Producers: Cris Colbert & Danielle Jones-Wesley

Got a guest or topic you’d love to hear on the show? Email your pitch to imageunscripted@naacpnet.org

An NAACP+ Production | Watch on YouTube @naacp-plus

• (00:00:00) - Image Unscripted
• (00:02:05) - Being Famous and Success
• (00:09:08) - The Insecurities of Being an Actor
• (00:14:54) - Ryan Cast in Sinners
• (00:17:53) - Tyriq on 'Him'
• (00:21:58) - Jaz on Acting and Music
• (00:27:04) - How Do You Handle Self-Doubt In Your Life?
• (00:29:49) - What would I say to my older self?
• (00:32:47) - Oh, That's a Game

In this episode of Image Unscripted, host Jemele Hill kicks back with Kalen Allen, KevOnStage, and Scott Evans – and find a laugh over their love of the Hailey Bieber Erewhon smoothie.

Scott Evans reacts to his Image Award nomination, shares what it’s like to find a greater purpose through his independently produced series House Guest and provides a small lesson on the etymology of the word avocado.

Kalen Allen reflects back on his early work journey, the barriers he’s broken as a Black creator, and why it still important to break barriers as a Black creator. KevOnStage shares his love of being a Black creator, his early career sucesses and biggest lessons.

It’s a raw conversation on building from the ground up and how we can better claim the digital era.

Executive Producers: Robin Harrison & Fallon Jethroe

Producers: Cris Colbert & Danielle Jones-Wesley

An NAACP+ Production | Watch on YouTube @naacp-plus

Got a guests or topic you’d love to hear on the show? Interested in sponsoring an episode: Email your pitch to imageunscripted@naacpnet.org

#NAACPIMAGEAWARDS #IMAGEUNSCRIPTEDPODCAST #IMAGEAWARDS2026 #IMAGE #JemeleHill #KevOnStage #KalenAllen #ScottEvans #BlackHistory

• (00:00:00) - NAACP Image Awards 2017
• (00:01:08) - Kev on His NAACP Image Award Nominations
• (00:05:06) - Hot Wing Rib Tips
• (00:06:45) - Hailey Bieber's Shake and Smoothie
• (00:08:10) - Cynthia Erivo on Jimmy Fallon
• (00:09:34) - NBA All-Stars on Success
• (00:13:55) - Jay-Z on Success Feels Crazy Until It's
• (00:16:49) - Bill Maher on Posting Guacs
• (00:21:20) - Jamel on Taking a Social Media Sabbatical
• (00:24:26) - Kalen on Being Younger on Ellen
• (00:27:26) - "It's Never Enough for Me"
• (00:30:49) - Jimmy Fallon on Houseguests
• (00:32:09) - Jimmy Kimmel on His Elevator Pitch
• (00:36:48) - The Secret to Good Football
• (00:37:00) - Kevin Smith on Starting a Business on The Internet
• (00:41:02) - Houseguests and Recognized: On The Search for Success
• (00:45:31) - Conscience vs Effects
• (00:46:45) - Selena Gomez on Starting a Digital Entertainment Company
• (00:49:33) - On the Coaching and Consulting Firm
• (00:52:45) - Abbott on Being the Boss on Houseguests
• (00:55:42) - "I'm the Only One In Blue"
• (00:56:07) - Jamel on Being On "Houseguests"
• (00:56:45) - Onion Powder vs Garlic Powder
• (00:59:13) - All That Garlic Powder And Onion Powder
• (00:59:48) - Sister Act 2 vs Bad Boys 2
• (01:00:19) - Eddie Murphy on Life and Harlem Nights
• (01:02:19) - In the Elevator With the NAACP
• (01:03:05) - "Sugar on Grits"
• (01:05:00) - Sam and Kevin on Unscripted

Image Unscripted Podcast! Hosted by Jemele Hill. This NAACP+ project is highlighting the actual moves that shape careers, creativity, and keep the culture moving forward.

Follow us as we chat with actors, comedians, execs, and innovators — and they bring the honesty. Listen as they chat about being part of a greater purpose and the impact their breakthrough moments and career highlights have made. Nothing is unscripted.

Executive Producers: Robin Harrison & Fallon Jethroe

Producers: Cris Colbert & Danielle Jones-Wesley

An NAACP+ Production | Watch on YouTube @naacp-plus