This week on #TheFriendZone , we continue our Black History Month Celebrations! We explore who really preserves Black history, what gets lost when stories aren’t recorded and how everyday people, not just institutions, keep our culture alive. We end with a simple challenge to preserve one piece of personal history before it fades.

Black Business of the Week - Clean Design Home https://shopcleandesign.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoqQrzvties0L5rthjJWAB71_3IGX245mGTx4LFRhuyNeFnlO1II

Wellness Segment - Diabetes Digital https://diabetesdigital.co

Catch Dustin Ross Live! https://tickets.citywinery.com/event/dustin-ross-1vh9vm

Hey Fran Hey’s Amazon Storefront - www.amazon.com/shop/heyfranhey?c…9b11-63834e00ed6d

#ListensLately:

Camper, Alex Isley, RoseGold - SIXTEEN SUMMERS 

James Bambu, Durand Bernarr - Antidote 

J. Cole, Future, Tems - Bunce Road Blues 

Icewear Vezzo - High Fashion 

Danileigh - Expensive 

Lynda Dawn - Roses (feat. Bes Kept) 

Bad Dolly - Sponsor My Act Bad 

Thundercat - I Did This To Myself 

Don Toliver - E85

Genia - 10 Out of 10 

Thank you to our Sponsors:

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Contact The Friend Zone Podcast - [email protected]

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Have a GREAT day!

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This week on #TheFriendZone, we celebrate Black History Month! THE WORDS BLACK BOTTOM HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A GOOD THING. We look back at the rich Black History of the now defunct Detroit neighborhoods Black Bottom and Paradise Valley.

Black Business of the Week - IM=X Pilates & Fitness White Plains https://www.imxpilates.com/new-york/white-plains?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio

Wellness Segment - What is a NAS?

Jimmy Tries World NAS Review https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrmIn4Ed-88

Synology NAS (Kareem’s suggestion) https://www.synology.com/en-us/support/nas_selector

Catch Dustin Ross Live! https://tickets.citywinery.com/event/dustin-ross-1vh9vm

Hey Fran Hey’s Amazon Storefront - www.amazon.com/shop/heyfranhey?c…9b11-63834e00ed6d

#ListensLately:

Bellah, Destin Conrad - Typical

ASAP Rocky, Tokischa - Flackito Jodye

Elhae, Phabo - Is This Love?

Gucci Mane - East Atlanta 6

T.I., Chris Brown - Get Back Up

Ari Lennox - High Key

Normani - Grip

T.I. - Let 'Em Know

Don Toliver - ATM

Thank you to our Sponsors:

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Nutrafol - For a limited time, Nutrafol is offering our listeners $10 off your first month’s subscription and free shipping when you visit Nutrafol.com and enter promo code ZONE.

Contact The Friend Zone Podcast - [email protected]

Follow us online:

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Have a GREAT day!

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This week on #TheFriendZone, we share our thoughts on how 2026 has unfolded thus far. And how our sense of self, goals and hopes for the year have been impacted.

Black Business of the Week - The StoryGraph https://thestorygraph.com

Catch Dustin Ross Live! https://tickets.citywinery.com/event/dustin-ross-1vh9vm

Hey Fran Hey’s Amazon Storefront - www.amazon.com/shop/heyfranhey?c…9b11-63834e00ed6d

#ListensLately:

Sault - God Protect Me From My Enemies

Tone Stith - Fly

Tanerelle - feels like love

The Kid LAROI - A Cold Play

Absolutely - I Just Don't Know You Yet (Live)

Junetober - Conversation Pit

42 Dugg & Skilla Baby - Thick One

Ari Lennox - Mobbin in DC

S. Fidelity, Dawn Richard - Play

Girlfriend - Deep

Thank you to our Sponsors:

IXL Learning - The Friend Zone Listeners can get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership when they sign up today at https://www.ixl.com/FRIENDZONE

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Have a GREAT day!

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This week on #TheFriendZone, we're back from Winter Break! It's a shoot the sh*t episode. No Hot Button. No segments. Just whatever wants to come up. Brace yourself.

Thank you to our Sponsors:

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Have a GREAT day!

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Surprise!

It's a bonus episode of The Friend Zone! We asked you to share your favorite moments of the year and we put it all together to make a "Best of 2025" bonus for the holidays.

The Friend Zone returns Wednesday, January 21, 2026.

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The Binge is our weekly TV & Film recap series on Patreon. This month on #TheBinge, we're revisiting the Christmas episodes of our favorite Black Television shows. 

Follow along as Fran recaps Living Single S1E15 - Living Kringle:

"Synclaire is saddened to see that none of her friends share her enthusiasm for Christmas. She tries her best to get everyone in the spirit of Christmas."

Living Single is available now on Hulu.

Are you subscribed to The Friend Zone on Patreon? Join here: https://www.patreon.com/c/TheFriendZonePodcast

Thank you to our Sponsors:

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Have a GREAT day!

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This week on #TheFriendZone, it’s the final episode of the year. We take a look back at 2025 - from the community rallying together during the LA Wildfires, Armon’s Diddy coverage on YouTube to Patti LuPone getting cursed out for 15 min straight as an intro! We also take note of the range of conversations we contributed to the Podcast Landscape.

Thank you for another wonderful year together. Have a happy and safe Holiday!

The Friend Zone Returns on Wednesday, Jan 21, 2026

Catch Dustin Ross Live! - www.dustinrosslive.com

Hey Fran Hey’s Amazon Storefront - www.amazon.com/shop/heyfranhey?c…9b11-63834e00ed6d

Thank you to our Sponsors:

Squarespace - Head over to Squarespace.com for a free trial, and when you’re ready to launch, go to squarespace.com/friendzone to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.

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Follow us online:

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Facebook - www.facebook.com/thefriendzonepodcast
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Have a GREAT day!

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This week on #TheFriendZone, it's a shoot the sh*t episode. No Hot Button. No segments. Just whatever wants to come up. Brace yourself.

Catch Dustin Ross Live! - www.dustinrosslive.com

Hey Fran Hey’s Amazon Storefront - www.amazon.com/shop/heyfranhey?c…9b11-63834e00ed6d

Thank you to our Sponsors:

Squarespace - Head over to Squarespace.com for a free trial, and when you’re ready to launch, go to squarespace.com/friendzone to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.

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Mint Mobile - Get this new customer offer and your 3-month Unlimited wireless plan for just 15 bucks a month at www.mintmobile.com/friend

Follow us online:

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Facebook - www.facebook.com/thefriendzonepodcast
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Have a GREAT day!

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This week on #TheFriendZone, we look back at the last 10 years of Black Television & Film.

Black Business of the Week - Reel Paper https://www.reelpaper.com

Wellness Segment - Hey Fran Hey’s Amazon Storefront https://www.amazon.com/shop/heyfranhey

Dustin Ross Live on Tour! https://www.dustinrosslive.com

#ListensLately:

Brandy - Put That On Everything

Brandy - Full Moon 

Brandy - Sittin' Up In My Room 

Wale, Leon Thomas - Watching Us 

Dr. Dre - Bitches Ain't Shit 

Dvsn - Excited 

Key Glock - A+ 

DropOut Finn - Cool On Ha 

Brandy - A Capella (Something's Missing) 

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Have a GREAT day!

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This week on #TheFriendZone, Dustin walks us through the landmark case of Brenay Kennard in North Carolina

Black Business of the Week - Ease The Brand https://www.instagram.com/easethebrand

Wellness Segment:

Everything’s Good - Toni Chapman (The Moody Foody) Cookbook https://www.amazon.com/dp/0593800788?linkCode=ssc&tag=onamzhefrhe-20&creativeASIN=0593800788&asc_item-id=amzn1.ideas.27GAJJMEAZL0F&ref_=aip_sf_list_spv_ofs_mixed_d_asin

The New Southern Table - Cordarrius Green https://cordandthekitchen.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoqoWNpVc2was3n7R4LoADg7mvby35BEonYWM7PLLFDc_YnooSw8

#ListensLately:

kwn - back of the club 

Sasha Keable, BEAM - Work 

Masego - Unhinged 

The Smashing Pumpkins - 1979 (Remastered 2012) 

The Smashing Pumpkins - Tonight, Tonight 

Elephants & Little Girls - Loch Lomond

V Cartier. - So Good 

Party Next Door - Cheers 

Case - Touch Me Tease Me

Follow us online:

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Facebook - www.facebook.com/thefriendzonepodcast
Patreon - www.patreon.com/thefriendzonepodcast
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Have a GREAT day!

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This week on #TheFriendZone, we discuss decisions and circumstances that shifted our trajectory and daydream about alternate lives.

Dustin Ross Live! https://www.dustinrosslive.com

The People’s Brief - Redefining Masculinity ft. Dustin Ross - https://youtu.be/Ea1hcOwdwFQ

Hey Fran Hey’s Amazon Storefront - https://www.amazon.com/shop/heyfranhey?ccs_id=442f4c1b-a313-4f4b-9b11-63834e00ed6d

Black Business of The Week - Crissle’s Couch Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/crissles-couch/id1851088933

Wellness Segment:

https://ifly-youth.org

https://www.blackgirlscaninc.org

#ListensLately:

Xavier Omar, Jai'Len Josey - Painting The Stars

Tiana Major9, Yebba - Always

Sampha - Cumulus/Memory

Max B - I Gotta Habit

Tweet - Toot Toot

Jermaine Dupri, CeeLo - Atlanna

Juvenile, B.G. & Jacquees - Hotboy Summer

Teedra Moses - Outta My Head (Reimagined)

Wale, Leon Thomas - Watching Us

Summer Walker - Don't Make Me Do It /Tempted

Summer Walker, Anderson Paak - 1-800 Heartbreak

Thank you to our Sponsors:

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Follow us online:

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Have a GREAT day!

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