End-of-year energy has everyone saying they’re “protecting their peace,” but this episode asks the sharper question: what piece are people actually protecting? Peace of mind, a piece of clout, a baddie era, or something more?

This episode breaks down the contradiction of claiming peace while starting beef, soft-launching new personalities, and redefining confidence online — including the internet debate over whether men can be baddies.

The conversation zooms out to global politics with a clear, accessible breakdown of the Venezuela crisis: how the country got here, what’s happening now, and why it feels like political Groundhog Day, with a brief Iraq-era parallel.

We also unpack internet culture’s cycle of selective outrage, where new villains and victims are crowned weekly depending on gender, looks, popularity, and bias.

The episode closes with the Anthony Joshua situation and what it reveals about modern journalism, media framing, and why protecting your piece of the truth matters.

Protect your peace if you must —
but don’t forget to protect your piece.

Total Runtime: 1:26:00

0:00 — Music intro
1:05 — Welcome to The Sidebar Podcast
2:30 — Holiday check-in + end-of-year energy
6:10 — “Protecting your peace”… while starting beef
11:45 — Soft-launching new personalities
16:20 — Can men be “baddies”? (protecting your piece of confidence)

23:40 — Is it Groundhog Day?
25:10 — Venezuela: how we got here (simple breakdown)
34:50 — What’s happening now in Venezuela
44:10 — Iraq parallels & repeating history

49:30 — Internet villain/victim of the week
51:15 — Selective outrage
57:40 — Same behavior, different reaction
1:03:30 — Gender, looks, popularity, and bias

1:08:45 — Anthony Joshua situation
1:11:30 — How media narratives are formed
1:18:20 — The state of journalism
1:23:30 — Final thoughts: protecting your piece
1:26:00 — End

In this episode of The Sidebar Podcast, Leise Winny and Royce deliver a true Christmas miracle of chaos, culture, and commentary. From watching the Diddy documentary and deciding once and for all that Mase won, to questioning why cartoons are disappearing and whether SpongeBob has been a victim all along, nothing is off limits.

We get into sex as a “gift,” why people lose their minds when Black women run for office, and how society feels dangerously close to becoming the movie Idiocracy. Leise revisits her goth kid era, Royce unpacks white culture, and we pause to give flowers to Black horror legends who shaped the genre.

Then we ask the fundamental questions: What changed Stephen A. Smith? Are podcasters actually the problem with society? And is Jake Paul really ready for Anthony Joshua?

We close it out with football talk, TikTok trends, and a very Sidebar Christmas send-off.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS

2:10 — Royce watched the Diddy documentary… Mase won
4:40 — No more cartoons for kids + SpongeBob is a victim
6:12 — Why do cartoons wear gloves?
11:12 — Is sex a real gift?
23:32 — Why people hate when Black women run for office
33:42 — Are we living in the movie Idiocracy?
36:06 — Goth kid Leise
39:15 — White culture
45:57 — Paying tribute to Black horror figures
49:55 — What changed Stephen A. Smith?
57:19 — Are podcasters the problem?
1:07:25 — Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua fight talk
1:11:35 — Football talk
1:13:15 — TikTok flow
1:17:00 — Happy Christmas 🎄

This week, we’re talking about living life with Deion Sanders' confidence, how everybody missed the signs with Diddy (Millennials, we need a meeting), and why the U.S. is casually committing war crimes like it’s a side quest. In Episode 2 of The Sidebar Podcast, Leise Winny and Royce are back with another neon-lit sermon of truth, nonsense, and cultural clarity. This week, we’re talking about living life with Deion Sanders' confidence, how everybody missed the signs with Diddy (Millennials, we need a meeting), and why the U.S. is casually committing war crimes like it’s a side quest.

We hit everything from messy volunteer firings to Brandy never getting her due, TikTok chaos, body positivity, the 2010s music betrayal era, and Shannon Sharpe being dragged by Dr. Bryant. Buckle up — this one is a ride.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS0:49 — Opening Song1:15 — Intro2:31 — Getting fired from a volunteer job (HOW??)3:00 — Social media is a problem, and you can’t tell us otherwise6:00 — Brandy still isn’t getting her flowers22:23 — Big girls are the best (we said what we said)31:21 — The Diddy Doc: Millennials… how did we miss the signs?46:32 — Hating the 2010s music era + is Timbaland a menace??54:38 — The U.S. bombing Venezuela — America, please stand up1:09:00 — Live your Life like Deion Sanders— pastor vs. pundit showdown