Ep. 23 | Pay Us What You Owe Us feat. Giovonnie Samuels & Sy Ari

On this week’s episode of Selective Ignorance, Mandii B is joined by actress Giovonnie Samuels and rapper Sy Ari to unpack the layered relationship between self-worth and market value across entertainment, sports, and media.

The conversation kicks off with a distinction between personal value and perceived value in professional spaces (02:37), touching on the importance of negotiating with clarity and intention—whether you’re in a boardroom or on a basketball court.

From there, the trio dives deep into the realities of contracts (16:55), the cultural and economic factors behind the WNBA’s ongoing pay disparities (36:01), and the larger systems that define how labor is valued in male-dominated industries like sports and music (52:20).

They also explore how cultural impact often doesn’t align with compensation (54:37), especially as new dynamics like NIL deals reshape college sports (56:55). The discussion expands to Joe Budden’s controversial business approach (59:42), the evolving economics of podcasting and creator-led media (01:03:23), and what fair pay looks like for creatives (01:09:21).

In the latter half, Mandii and guests shed light on residuals for TV actors (01:17:40), the historic exploitation of child actors (01:23:51), and why knowing your worth—and demanding it—is an act of survival in an industry that rarely plays fair (01:29:50).

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