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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
Queerness
Marvel
Storm
LGBTQ Representation
Representation
Pop Culture
LGBTQ+ Rights
The Cages
Transbright Brighton
Trans Rights

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

PublishesDailyEpisodes55Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
TV & FilmScienceSocial Sciences

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Referential

Latest Episodes

Drop Call #14

New drop call episode! I'm joined by new guest and friend of the pod Noor from The Reality Is podcast! We talk about what it's like existing as an opinionated muslim queer on the internet

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• Orientalism: reimagined.

• Muslim cool

•... more

YouTube

Video Episode 5

A Queer Retrospective of Xena The Warrior Princess (& Gabrielle)

Ringing in September with the long awaited Xenasode! I'm joined by returning guest Best Issue Ever's Sara Century!

This SUPERSIZED episode features discussion of:

• ... more

YouTube

RE-RELEASE In honour of Antonia's new book examining the cultural impact of Beyonce!

Click here to order BEYONCÉ—ONE OF ONE History Lessons, Love Letters, and Affirmations from a Cultural Icon

Stream the video on Spotify or watch the full video epi... more

YouTube

30 min Preview! Tune in for the full Part 1 of our Xena (& Gabrielle) The Warrior Princess deep dive later this week!

A Queer Retrospective of Xena The Warrior Princess (& Gabrielle)

Ringing in September with the long awaited Xenasode! I'm joined b... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Sarah Century
Guest who is a writer/creator discussed in the episode, introduced as a returning guest.
Episode: Xena (& Gabrielle) The Warrior Princess (with Sara Century)
Antonia Jade King
PhD candidate researching Black cultural significance in popular media; invited guest
Independent/Academic
Episode: Critiquing Beyoncé (Or From The Renaissance to Enlightenment with Antonia Jade King) [RE-RELEASE]
Sara Century
Writer/Creator; podcaster and fan/critic with work connected to Best Issue Ever and comics
Best Issue Ever / Various zine projects
Episode: [Preview] Xena (& Gabrielle) The Warrior Princess (with Sara Century)
Jackson Lanzing
Comic book writer and writer for X-Men 97, Eisner nominee
The Hive Mind; NYX; Marvel writing projects
Episode: X-Men '97 S2 EP1/2/3 (With comic 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!)

Hosts

Khaliden Nas
Host of Referential; leads discussions with guests on pop culture, representation, and media theory.
Ash Alleyne
Host and contributor, frequently co-hosting with guests; provides production-context and critical lens on media discourse.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 70 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 discussions that balance critique with humor
High-quality guests and grounded analysis make episodes insightful
Diverse voices and thoughtful takes on representation are a strong draw

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#205
Ukraine/TV & Film

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Xena (& Gabrielle) The Warrior Princess (with Sara Century)
Q: Where did you come across Zena, and what does it mean to you today?
Sarah describes being introduced to the show as a preteen and explains how it offered a rare, welcoming space for queer viewers to see themselves represented, which deeply shaped her identity and creative sensibilities.
Critiquing Beyoncé (Or From The Renaissance to Enlightenment with Antonia Jade King) [RE-RELEASE]
Q: How did you come to Beyoncé and why does her work matter to you as a critical subject?
We discuss growing up with Beyoncé's music, Lemonade's impact, and Renaissance as a shift toward broader Black community representation, which motivates our scholarly yet personal critique.
'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.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Referential

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

This show combines scholarly framing with pop culture talk, focusing on identity, representation, and media across genres. Recent episodes spotlight animated superhero revivals, with in-depth discussions on adaptation, storytelling choices, and the politics of representation, leaning into how nostalgia intersects with modern sensibilities. Guests range from comic writers and showrunners to creators and critics, yielding conversations that mix production context, fan culture, and insider insights with humor and candor. A standout pattern is the fusion of nerdy analysis, personal storytelling, and a commitment to marginalized voices within media discourse, making it engaging for listeners who crave thoughtful critique as well as entertaining ... more

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How many listeners does Referential get?

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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. The Kibitz with Connor Goldsmith & Jordan Blok
3. Best Issue Ever Podcast
4. A Bit Fruity with Matt Bernstein
5. Graymalkin Lane the podcast

How many episodes of Referential are there?

Referential launched 3 years ago and published 55 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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What guests have appeared on Referential?

Recent guests on Referential include:

1. Sarah Century
2. Antonia Jade King
3. Sara Century
4. Jackson Lanzing
5. Kaela Shanti
6. Lauren Warren
7. Stephanie Williams
8. Brett Mannes

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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