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Artwork for Referential

Referential

Dr. Khaliden Nas
X-Men
X-Men 97
X-Men '97
Wicked
Trans Pride Brighton
Heated Rivalry
Identity
Palestine
Trans Pride
Blackness
Storm
Representation
Pop Culture
LGBTQ+ Rights
The Cages
Transbright Brighton
Trans Rights
Krakoa
Gay Representation
Queer Relationships

Referential is hosted by Dr. Khaliden Nas to have serious conversations about frivolous topics!

Each episode takes you on an academically informed deep dive into pop culture and media that never skips out on a stupid joke.

Subscribe & join Dr. Khaliden Nas (and the occasional guest!) as we dive into conversations about identity, representation, Blackness, queerness (and so much more) across the... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes49Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Social SciencesScienceTV & Film

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Referential

Latest Episodes

The X-Men '97 Sessions with "ASH &"s Ashley Alleyne is back!

Ash and I break down the first three episodes of the new season of X-Men '97 and are joined on the third chair by 1/2 of the Hivemind Jackson Lanzing (Eisner nominated writer for Star Tre... more

YouTube

PREVIEW of the premiere of S2 of the 97 Sessions with ASH &'s Ashley Alleyne!

Ash and I break down the first three episodes of the new season of X-Men '97 and are joined on the third chair by 1/2 of the Hivemind Jackson Lanzing (Eisner nominated wr... more

YouTube

Dropcall #12

Diaspora calling! Sat down with choir-mate and content creator Kaela Shanti at the Brighton Book Festival to talk about everything.. and also nothing!

stay tuned for Season 2 of the X-Men 97' Sessions in 1.. 2...!

Subscribe to REFEREN... more

YouTube

Dropcall #10

Lauren and I got on a call and started talking about our pets, the Real Housewives of Atlanta and HBO's Game of thrones spin off House of the Dragon.

This DC is also lowkey a preview for an upcoming episode... stay tuned!

___

Subscr... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Jackson Lanzing
Comic book writer, Eisner nominee
Marvel, NYX (X-Men 97 writer)
Episode: (PREVIEW) X-Men '97 S2 EP1/2/3 (With NYX & KANG writer Jackson Lanzing and Ash Alleyne!)
Kaela Shanti
Guest, content creator and public figure
Self-identified; discusses UGC and content work
Episode: 'User Generated Nonsense' (with Kaela Shanti)
Lauren Warren
Guest on the show, discussed TV and pop culture topics
Episode: 'Dogs, Housewives & House of the Dragon' (with Lauren Warren)
Stephanie Williams
Guest, interviewee sharing perspectives on X-Men '97 and the fandom
Steph Williams (guest)
Episode: X-Men ‘97 S1 Wrap-Up/Mailbag (with Stephanie Williams, Connor Goldsmith, Ash Alleyne & More!)
Brett Mannes
Comic Book Queers Legacy co-founder and guest on finale
Comic Book Queers Legacy
Episode: X-Men ‘97 (S2 Prep) S1 EP10 ‘Tolerance is Extinction - Part 3’ (with Brett Mannes, Evil Jeff & Ash Alleyne!)
Evil Jeff
Comic Book Queers Legacy member and guest on finale
Comic Book Queers Legacy
Episode: X-Men ‘97 (S2 Prep) S1 EP10 ‘Tolerance is Extinction - Part 3’ (with Brett Mannes, Evil Jeff & Ash Alleyne!)
Jiggly Caliente
Drag performer and TV personality
Drag Race alumni
Episode: X-Men ‘97 (S2 Prep) S1 EP9 ‘Tolerance is Extinction - Part 2’ (with Jiggly Caliente & Ash Alleyne!)
Marvin Britt
Guest on the episode, referenced in conversations about X-Men 97 analysis
X-Men 97 (season/work)
Episode: X-Men ‘97 (S2 Prep) S1 EP8 ‘Tolerance is Extinction - Part 1’ (with Marvin Britt & Ash Alleyne!)
Valentine Smith
Guest on the panel with a professional background in comics/illustration
Blade Maidens (co-creator) / BladeMaidens.com
Episode: X-Men ‘97 (S2 Prep) S1 EP7 ‘Bright Eyes’ (with Valentine Smith, Miss Sundi & Ash Alleyne!)

Host

Dr. Khaliden Nas
Host of Referential, described as leading serious conversations about pop culture with academic context and humor.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 69 ratings
  • Fantastic

    Hilarious, engaging and intellectually rigorous!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    kecstatic
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • Diverse and well spoken

    I love the range of topics this podcasts has. Particularly the thoughts on Bravo/real housewives

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Megirly
    United States2 years ago
  • Great stuff

    I love this show. Both smart and fun.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    hrioejejdodo
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • Love the range and conversations

    I love the in depth conversations Dr. Nas has with his guests. Such great food for thought on the media we consume. I always learn something.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Yosoyleche
    United States2 years ago
  • Range!

    Love the variety of topics and the lens in which he discusses them! New faithful listener!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Kinglyyyyy
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Thoughtful, rigorous, and engaging discussions with sharp takes on representation.
Smart, funny, and refreshing in how it handles complex topics.
High-quality guests and deep dives make for repeat listening.
Educative yet entertaining, a rare combo in pop culture commentary.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

'User Generated Nonsense' (with Kaela Shanti)
Q: How do you get into content creation and doing things on the Internet?
Kaela explains she started by loving making videos, has mostly worked with brands through UGC, and is gradually expanding into more personal content and authorial work, while noting that she doesn't yet call herself a full influencer.
X-Men ‘97 (S2 Prep) S1 EP3 ‘Fire Made Flesh’ (with CEREBRO's Connor Goldsmith & Ash Alleyne)
Q: Who is the winner of the episode?
Madelyne Pryor stands out as the standout, with a strong, sympathetic portrayal that anchors the episode and introduces her role in the modern adaptation.
X-Men ‘97 S1 Wrap-Up/Mailbag (with Stephanie Williams, Connor Goldsmith, Ash Alleyne & More!)
Q: What was your overall impression of how X-Men '97 handled nostalgia and updated the classic material?
They felt the show balanced reverence for the original while smartly updating it with modern sensibilities, including tighter pacing and fresh emotional stakes, though some adaptation choices were not universally loved.
X-Men ‘97 (S2 Prep) S1 EP8 ‘Tolerance is Extinction - Part 1’ (with Marvin Britt & Ash Alleyne!)
Q: So to get us started, can you please tell me who was your winner of the episode?
Ash names Jean, Scott, and Cable as winners for the jet sequence; Marvin and Ash each highlight Nightcrawler or Cyclops as top moments, with Cyclops also noted for wealth-driven power dynamics.
X-Men ‘97 (S2 Prep) S1 EP5 ‘Remember it’ (with Matthew Bordenave & Ash Alleyne)
Q: So before we do, before we start speaking about specific scenes, Matt, in your own words, please tell us what the hell happened in this week's X-Men '97.
Matt summarizes the episode's core beats: Trish Tilby's interview at the mansion, Genosha's political machinations with Magneto, Gene Grey's existential arc, and the Rogue–Gambit romance amid intense action and drama, signaling a big turn in the season's arc.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
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Frequently Asked Questions About Referential

What is Referential about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Concise, academically informed discussions of pop culture and media, anchored by thoughtful analysis of representation, race, sexuality, and identity. Episodes blend rigorous context with humor, covering topics from trans rights and LGBTQ+ culture to film, music, and nostalgia, often featuring guests who bring scholarly or activist perspectives. Noteworthy is the commitment to nuanced dialogue about marginalized communities, with a cheeky, bantering tone that still treats complex topics with care. This mix makes it appealing to listeners who want smart cultural critique without sacrificing personality or entertainment.

Where can I find podcast stats for Referential?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Referential. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Referential and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Referential get?

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What are the audience demographics for Referential?

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How many subscribers and views does Referential have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Referential has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Referential?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Referential:

1. CEREBRO
2. ASH &
3. The Kibitz with Connor Goldsmith & Jordan Blok
4. Jay & Miles X-Plain the X-Men
5. X-Men Horoscopes

How many episodes of Referential are there?

Referential launched 3 years ago and published 49 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Referential?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Referential?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Referential from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Referential. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Referential?

Recent guests on Referential include:

1. Jackson Lanzing
2. Kaela Shanti
3. Lauren Warren
4. Stephanie Williams
5. Brett Mannes
6. Evil Jeff
7. Jiggly Caliente
8. Marvin Britt

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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