FIRST! with Kareem Rahma (Lemonada Media)

On this episode, we are joined by comedian, actress and writer Atsuko Okatsuka! And today, I’m going to tell her one of the greatest, unknown sports stories in our country's history: Wataru Misaka – the FIRST! Asian American and FIRST! Non-White basketball player in the NBA.

Next time on FIRST! – make sure to catch me and Ashok & Hari Kondabolu as we talk about Willie O'Ree and how he became the FIRST! Black hockey player in the NHL. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode, we are joined by the stylin’, stuntin’ and and stunnin’ comedian, actress, writer and Emmy-Nominated entertainer Sydnee Washington! And today, I’m going to tell her the story of one of the most legendary people in News: Connie Chung – the FIRST! Asian American and second woman ever to be named to the coveted post of nightly news anchor at a major network.

Next time on FIRST! – make sure to catch me and Nimesh Patel as we talk about Zaha Hadid: the FIRST! Arab and FIRST! woman to break through the upper echelon of architecture. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode, we are joined by comedian, actor and writer Martin Urbano! And today, I’m going to tell him the story of one of the most legendary people in TV history: Desi Arnaz – the FIRST! Hispanic man to play a lead role in a network television sitcom.

Next time on FIRST! – make sure to catch me and Yamaneika Saunders as we talk about Condoleezza Rice and how she became the FIRST! Black woman to serve as Secretary of State. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In our last episode this season, we are joined by two super silly dudes with cool attitudes: the Kondabolu brothers (Ashok and Hari)! And today, I’m going to tell them the story about one of the most amazing people in US Sports history: Willie O'Ree – the FIRST! Black hockey player in the NHL. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode, we are joined by the hilarious standup comedian, TV writer, and actress Jade Catta-Preta! And today, I’m going to tell her the story of one of New York City’s most overlooked legends: Pura Belpré – the FIRST! Latina librarian at the New York Public Library, and possibly the first Puerto Rican librarian in the United States. And ALSO the FIRST! Puerto Rican to author a book published in English, and the FIRST! author to publish a children’s book in Spanish with a mainstream U.S. publisher.

Next time on FIRST! – make sure to catch me and Martin Urbano as we talk about Desi Arnaz and how he became the FIRST! Hispanic man to play a lead role in a network television sitcom. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode, we are joined by the hilarious standup comedian, TV writer and actress Yamaneika Saunders! And today, I’m going to tell her the story of one of most polarizing, but important people in US Politics: Condoleezza Rice – the FIRST! Black woman to serve as Secretary of State.

Next time on FIRST! – make sure to catch me and Atsuko Okatsuka as we talk about Wataru Misaka and how he became the FIRST! Asian American and FIRST! non-white basketball player in the NBA. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode, we are joined by the surprisingly smart (jk) but unsurprisingly silly stand-up comedian and Indian hillbilly (jk?) comedian Nimesh Patel! And today, I’m going to tell him the story of one of the most legendary people in Architecture: Zaha Hadid - the FIRST! Arab and FIRST! woman to win the famed Pritzker Architecture Prize which is the top award in architecture and you guessed it, the FIRST! Arab and FIRST! woman to design a major art museum in the United States.

Next time on FIRST! – make sure to catch me and Marie Faustin and Daddy as we talk about Wendell Scott: the FIRST! Black NASCAR driver.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re dropping something special in your feed this week- we’re reexploring BEING Trans. BEING Trans was the first series of its type when it premiered in 2022- it’s reality TV for your ears. No scripts, no interviews, just real life as it happens. The show follows four trans people as they go about their lives in Los Angeles. You’ll be there for the highs and the lows, the messy, complicated, beautiful moments that make us who we are.

Trans people don’t often get to tell their own stories, in their own voices, on their own terms. That’s why this show is so important. They’re not here to explain themselves or justify who they are. They’re just letting you in—to listen, to experience, to understand.

We’re about to play you an episode from BEING Trans, featuring Chloe, a trans woman who recently transitioned and is very inexperienced with dating, so much so that she's not even sure about her sexuality but is hoping to change all of that in LA. This is BEING Trans. To hear the full series, search for BEING Trans where you are listening right now, or head to https://lemonadamedia.com/show/being

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode, we are joined by the comedian, writer, actor, Golden Globe winner and unbelievably handsome Ramy Youssef! And today, I’m going to tell him the story of one of the most legendary people in Hollywood: Omar Sharif – the FIRST! Arab actor to be nominated for an Academy Award.

Next time on FIRST! – make sure to catch me and Sydnee Washington as we talk about Connie Chung: the FIRST! Asian American and second woman ever to be named to the coveted post of nightly news anchor at a major network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode, we are joined by two incredibly beautiful, incredibly stylish, incredibly funny comedians: Marie Faustin and Daddy! And today, I’m going to tell them about one of the most legendary people in Sports: Wendell Scott – the FIRST! Black driver to compete in NASCAR and the FIRST! Black driver to win a race in the Grand National Series, NASCAR's highest level.

Next time on FIRST! – make sure to catch me and Jade Catta-Preta as we talk about Pura Belpre: the FIRST! Latina librarian at the New York Public Library. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode, we are joined by the hilarious, the athletic, the Greek by blood but not by accent, stand-up comedian and actress Alyssa Limperis! And today, I’m going to tell her the story of one of the most legendary people in the arts: Maria Tallchief – a Native American woman who became America’s FIRST! prima ballerina.

Next time on FIRST! – make sure to catch me and Ramy Youssef as we talk about Omar Sharif – the FIRST! Arab Actor to be nominated for an Academy Award.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I’m Kareem Rahma and this is a trailer for my new podcast. It’s a funny show about spectacular people who had a serious impact on society and culture because they were FIRST! I just wanna be crystal clear that’s what the show is not about spoons. Even if comedian Vinay Umapathy seems to think so…

In each episode of FIRST!, a different comedian joins me as I share the life story of a groundbreaking person who broke down a racial barrier. It’s funny, it’s smart, and it’ll be out November 1, brought to you by SomeFriends and SALT in partnership with Lemonada.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.