The Shadow People

The Shadow People
Podcast Description
Welcome to The Shadow People, a podcast where New Orleans musicians Nigel Hall and Derrick Freeman bring their unfiltered, unapologetic, and often hilarious takes on politics, music, sports, and the chaos of life.
From behind-the-scenes tales of musician life to spirited debates about controversial internet comments and the state of pop culture, The Shadow People keeps it real, raw, and unpredictable. Whether you're here for the jokes, the insight, or just to feel like you're hanging with two of NOLA's finest, this is the podcast you didn’t know you needed.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast covers a range of topics from politics and music to sports and personal anecdotes, with episodes exploring musician life, cultural commentary, behind-the-scenes stories, and societal issues, such as discussions on Jazz Fest, touring experiences, and the complexities of music festivals.

Welcome to The Shadow People, a podcast where New Orleans musicians Nigel Hall and Derrick Freeman bring their unfiltered, unapologetic, and often hilarious takes on politics, music, sports, and the chaos of life.
From behind-the-scenes tales of musician life to spirited debates about controversial internet comments and the state of pop culture, The Shadow People keeps it real, raw, and unpredictable. Whether you’re here for the jokes, the insight, or just to feel like you’re hanging with two of NOLA’s finest, this is the podcast you didn’t know you needed.
What happens when you hand the mic to Jelly on her birthday, invite Yolanda Ross fresh off her run on The Chi, and let Derrick cook? You get one of the most heartfelt and funniest episodes yet.Yolanda opens up about growing up in Omaha, chasing fashion before acting found her, and the unlikely path from SNL background work to starring in HBO films and working with Denzel Washington. She breaks down how she grieved her Chi character Jada as if she’d lost a friend, and why she’s now pouring her energy into directing, photography, and new creative projects.Meanwhile, Jelly brings birthday chaos, champagne, and Cash App jokes while Derrick threads it all together in true Shadow People fashion.This one’s got it all: behind-the-scenes New York randomness, New Orleans film war stories, the stringer bell effect, and the tender side of an actor who’s given life to unforgettable characters.🕒 Key Timestamps0:17 – Jelly takes the mic on her birthday 🎂0:41 – Welcoming Yolanda Ross: actress, writer, director1:16 – Random New York alleyway reunion story2:02 – Growing up in Omaha: quietness and stillness in her characters5:57 – From fashion school to SNL background work6:38 – First audition: New York Undercover10:42 – HBO’s Stranger Inside and Denzel’s Antwone Fisher16:04 – Why actors often make better directors17:04 – Avoiding the “hood movie” trap19:16 – Filming in New Orleans: magic and mayhem23:43 – Landing The Chi and building Jada over 7 seasons27:03 – How it feels when your character dies32:29 – Grieving Jada as if she were real34:01 – Go For Sisters and indie acclaim36:05 – What’s next: directing, photography, Brooklyn Museum collab38:09 – Closing love, birthday wishes, and champagne

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