The Shadow People hit their one–year anniversary with a holiday episode that somehow manages to be equal parts true-crime autopsy, sports therapy session, and Christmas group hug.Nigel and Derrick kick things off with a deep dive into the new Diddy documentary produced by 50 Cent: the year of peak pettiness, Bad Boy’s legacy, the Tupac timeline finally “making sense,” witness tampering on camera, and what it means when one of the architects of the culture becomes its cautionary tale. From Shine to Mase and Cam’ron, they connect all the messy dots while trying not to laugh at things that really aren’t funny.Then it’s back home: the Saints are trash-but-not-that-trash, the Pelicans suddenly look alive, and the guys talk sloppy wins, Rasul’s good-luck trip to the Dome, and why Denver might quietly be headed to the Super Bowl in one of the weirdest NFL seasons in memory.In the spirit of the season, there’s Jazz Fest news (Lettuce is in, plus Nigel’s own sets), a recap of the Harry Shearer/Judith Owen Christmas show, and a mini–Christmas music war: Irma Thomas vs everybody, Donny Hathaway vs Chris Brown, Prince vs Sinéad O’Connor, and why some songs simply belong to the originals.Finally, Derrick breaks out gifts from his Thanksgiving trip to Houston: a Jimmy Smith Blue Note classic, a Houston rap history book, and a gloriously chaotic Taylor Swift poster that will haunt the Brown Hound Sounds studio forever. Nigel closes with a genuinely heartfelt reflection on gratitude, surviving the holidays, and taking fifteen minutes a day to remember what’s still good.Recorded at Brown Hound Sounds in New Orleans. Like, subscribe, and hit up shadowpeoplepodcast@gmail.com with questions, comments, and sponsors who aren’t afraid of a little truth.Timestamps:00:00 – One year of The Shadow People and a very pagan Christmas02:40 – Breaking down the Diddy doc, 50 Cent’s pettiness & Bad Boy fallout10:59 – “No Diddy”: victims, hubris, and the culture taking an L20:02 – Saints, Rasul’s good-luck game, and the Pelicans finally hooping25:24 – NFL playoff chaos and why Denver suddenly looks dangerous35:23 – Harry Shearer’s Christmas show, Irma Thomas, and Jazz Fest news37:45 – This Christmas discourse: Donny vs Chris Brown, Prince vs Sinéad49:23 – Houston gifts, Taylor Swift poster chaos & Nigel’s holiday gratitude sermon

Back in the studio after a couple months on the road, Nigel and Derrick get right to it. Nigel’s fresh off Europe, Australia, Tokyo, Hawaii, and a stop at Hyde Street Studios in San Francisco, and the contrast between “the world” and “home” hits hard. The fellas talk travel whiplash, culture shock, and why San Francisco’s reputation does not match the Tenderloin reality, even if the city’s still got magic and history all over it.Then the episode flips into a full Nigel sermon. First on the state of the country and the clown parade running things, then into a deep, personal rant about D’Angelo’s passing and the tribute machine that turns on the second somebody dies. Nigel is not here for fake flowers, sloppy cover bands, or performative grief. His point is simple and heavy. If an artist changed you, honor them by building your own work, while you are alive, while they are alive, and while the chance to mean something is still on the table. If you want to mourn, mourn. If you want to celebrate, create. And if you are waiting for permission, stop waiting.Timestamps0:00 Nigel returns, no guest today, the gang back together2:00 Nigel on the country getting dumber and leadership looking worse by the day3:20 Wild FBI press conference and Nigel’s cokehead radar goes off7:30 History repeating itself and everybody in power looking high12:45 Travel recap Europe, Australia, Tokyo, Hawaii17:10 San Francisco dirt, Hyde Street Studios, and the Tenderloin contrast20:10 Perception vs reality in “black cities” and getting robbed in San Francisco33:10 D’Angelo passing and why tribute shows feel off46:10 The real way to honor artists is to make your own music57:40 Next episode tease with Nigel’s son and brothers

Nigel is somewhere over the Pacific. Danny slides from the dark corner into the hot lights. We talk Mississippi childhood, art schools, Tulane to UNO, Marsalis and Peterson lore, and the strange path from guitar ensemble to Guitarmy. There is a Hornets band saga, a Pelicans kid-night meltdown, and a food-court survival guide.We also wander into fruit heists, Red Rocks with Jack Black, why backup QBs have the best job in sports, and a quick plea to feed people when SNAP gets cut. Music, jokes, and a little civic sense.

Timestamps00:00 Cold open and roll call01:10 Setting up the Danny deep dive02:06 Mississippi memories and first bands06:38 Tulane to UNO and the Funky Butt era08:35 Katrina semester and the mystery diploma29:08 Pelicans pain and the kid-night rant33:46 NBA house band stories and the jovial music request41:09 Red Rocks tale with Jack Black45:54 SNAP talk and feeding people59:09 Quote of the day and sign-off