Overview of The Untethered Canine
This episode of The Read blends pop culture commentary, social critique, and listener advice. The hosts spend a lot of time on themes of accountability, public behavior, and the consequences of people refusing to think before they speak or act—whether that’s on social media, in relationships, or while walking a dog off-leash in the city.
Black Excellence
Angel Reese
The episode opens with a celebration of Angel Reese, who was honored as Kia Defensive Player of the Year and recognized for a historic rebounding season.
Key highlights discussed:
- Led the league in total rebounds
- Set a single-season record
- First player in league history to reach 500 rebounds in a season
- Also posted strong defensive numbers, including steals
The hosts frame the recognition as overdue and fully deserved.
Hot Tops
AI backlash
A major running theme is frustration with AI-generated content:
- AI album covers
- AI flyers and posters
- AI art used by businesses
- AI-generated creative work in general
The hosts argue that AI is being overused for shallow, nonessential things that contribute little value and, in some cases, harm real artists and the environment.
Chris Brown and baby-mama drama
They also discuss Chris Brown’s ongoing custody/public drama:
- He accused one of his children’s mothers of keeping him from seeing his daughter
- She reportedly said he had threatened her boyfriend and the boyfriend’s twin
- The hosts note that if he wants access to his child, the proper route is court—not Instagram posts
Their takeaway: public complaints mean little if he isn’t actually taking legal action or addressing his own behavior.
Rihanna and EJ Johnson
Another segment centers on:
- EJ Johnson commenting about a fashion show running late because Rihanna arrived late
- Rihanna’s brief “damn” response becoming a meme
The hosts note that while the delay may have been annoying, the comment didn’t read as an attack on Rihanna. They also point out that Rihanna’s status probably explains why people were willing to wait.
Raven-Symoné and period diapers
Raven-Symoné revealed she prefers using menstrual diapers during her period, joking about wearing a baby tee and binky with them.
The hosts:
- Did not find the idea strange
- Noted that period underwear already exists
- Emphasized that people should use whatever works for their body
- Framed it as a way to reduce stigma around menstruation and heavy periods
DaVinci’s anti-Black American remarks
A major discussion involves actor Da’Vinchi/Da Vinci making dismissive comments about Black Americans while discussing his Haitian background.
The hosts strongly push back on:
- The idea that Black Americans are lazy
- Respectability politics within immigrant communities
- The habit of inheriting anti-Black ideas from family without questioning them
They stress that being Haitian, Jamaican, or otherwise Caribbean does not make someone better than Black Americans, and that white supremacy still sees all of them as Black.
Listener Letters
Mars: friendship, grief, and poor communication
Mars writes about a friend who failed to support them after two family deaths, then apologized in a way that still felt insufficient. The friend later unfollowed/blocking them on social media.
Advice given:
- Mars was justified in being hurt
- The friend’s response was awkward but not necessarily malicious
- Both people handled the situation immaturely
- The friendship could still be salvaged if one of them reaches out with a real conversation
Blaine: cheating ex and legal trouble
Blaine’s ex-boyfriend cheated, lied, and then broke into her home, leading to his arrest and a felony charge in Florida. She wonders whether she should help him get a lighter sentence for the sake of his children.
Advice given:
- Absolutely do not intervene on his behalf
- He made his choices
- His children are his responsibility, not hers
- If he cared about his kids, he wouldn’t have done something that could land him in more serious trouble
Naomi: church, hypocrisy, and sexuality
Naomi is frustrated that her friend Mary, who has talked about being attracted to women, suddenly acted disgusted when asked whether she’d date women after joining church.
Advice given:
- Naomi wasn’t wrong to notice the hypocrisy
- Mary is allowed to set boundaries about what she shares and with whom
- But Mary’s reaction suggests she may be hiding behind church culture and performing respectability
- If the friendship now feels fake, distancing may be reasonable
The Read
The off-leash dog rant
The main read of the episode is a long, heated rant about irresponsible dog owners:
- A woman was walking two small dogs off-leash at night in a busy residential area
- Both dogs had glowing collars, but no leashes
- The hosts are furious because off-leash dogs are unsafe for the dogs, other people, and passing traffic
They also complain about:
- Owners not picking up dog poop
- People treating leashes like an inconvenience instead of a safety tool
- The broader lack of responsibility among dog owners in the city
The segment is as much about public accountability as it is about pets.
Sophie Cunningham and transphobic merch
They then mock WNBA player Sophie Cunningham for wearing a “No sis, just woman” hat sold by a conservative-leaning brand.
The hosts criticize:
- The bad grammar
- The obvious transphobic subtext
- The contradiction of claiming not to be transphobic while promoting anti-trans messaging
Their point: if you’re rejecting the label “cis,” you’re still describing yourself with an adjective—just one you don’t want to acknowledge.
Trump, war, and white supremacy
The episode closes with a broader political rant about:
- Trump’s reckless comments
- White supremacy bending itself to normalize him
- The public’s willingness to excuse things that would be treated as treason or disqualifying if said by anyone else
The hosts argue that many people still refuse to admit who Trump has always been, even now.
Main Takeaways
- Use logic and accountability in public and private life.
- Don’t expect sympathy if you refuse to communicate clearly.
- Stop excusing harmful behavior because it’s familiar or popular.
- AI, transphobia, anti-Blackness, and irresponsible pet ownership all get treated as examples of people choosing convenience over care.
- The episode repeatedly returns to one theme: if you want people to respect you, act like you respect others first.