Arts & Entertainment: ‘Yo, Is This Racist’ Podcast, Actor Mary Holland, Poet Angela Jackson

From September 23: Each week on their show, comedians Andrew Ti and Tawny Newsome answer a voicemail from their fans, sometimes with the help of a special guest, and try to answer the question: ‘Is This Racist?’ — which, spoiler alert, it probably is if you have to ask. Andrew Ti and Tawny Newsome host. 

Guest:

Andrew Ti, co-host, Yo, Is This Racist Podcast

From December 15: Northern Illinois University alum Mary Holland plays the role of Jane Caldwell in a new Christmas romantic comedy, "Happiest Season," which she co-wrote with Clea Duvall. The film stars Kristin Stewart as Abby, who plans to propose to her girlfriend, Harper, played by McKenzie Davis, over the holidays. But as with all romantic comedies there’s a wrench in the plan — in this case it’s that Harper is not out to her conservative family. "Happiest Season" can be wattched on Hulu and broke a record for “Most-Watched Original Film Debut” on the streaming site.

Guest:

Mary Holland, Writer, Actor and Comedian 

From December 2: Angela Jackson is a Chicago-based poet, playwright and novelist. She joins the likes of Carl Sandburg and Gwendolyn Brooks to become the fifth state poet laureate of Illinois — an honor the Governor’s office announced this year. Born in Greenville, Mississippi, and raised on Chicago’s south side, Jackson attended Northwestern University and later the University of Chicago. Her award-winning work spans decades. And in that time she’s been the recipient of the Pushcart Prize, the Illinois Center for the Book Heritage Award, the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame Fuller Award, just to name a few, and her novel Where I Must Go won the 2008 National Book Award. 

Guest:

Angela Jackson, Poet Laureate of Illinois