We Speak Entertainment

Donald Glover Found Inspiration for Atlanta’s Second Season in the Unlikeliest of Places

Published

7 years ago

January 7, 2018

It’s been a long time since we last visited Donald Glover‘s specific, surreal vision of Atlanta.

But the highly-anticipated second season of the Emmy-winning FX comedy, officially titled Atlanta Robbin’ Season (more on that later), finally has a premiere date of March 1. And because the return is right around the corner, the multi-hyphenate (Seriously, not only does he star in the series he created, but he is also credited as executive producer, director, writer and executive music producer. Whew.) and his co-stars were on hand during FX’s day at the 2018 TCA Winter Press Tour to give the world some insight into what it’s like to return to something that was so rapturously received the first time around, as well as what to expect once it’s back.

CBS

“What we liked about the first season was we just looked at it as 30 minutes on television. We weren’t trying to think about it in terms of sitcom tropes and what has come before. We really tried to just devolve what television was. We just had 30 minutes to do whatever we want,” Donald explained. “So we just went into this being like ‘Why are we going to do seasons? Everybody does seasons.’ I felt like the theme that we really wanted to go for was this. I think in the writer’s room we talked a lot about How I Spent My Summer Vacation by the Tiny Toons which is a show we really liked. That was kind of the inspiration for season two.”

Now, before you start thinking that Earn, Van (Zazie Beets), Paper Boi (Brian Tyree Henry) and the rest of the gang are going to suddenly get animated or spend some time with some animals or something like that (though, with this show, that might still be possible), Donald’s brother Stephen Glover, who writes and serves as executive producer on Atlanta, explained how that early ’90s animated classic truly inspired this new batch of episodes.

“Summer Vacation Tiny Toons episodes were broken up into a bunch of episodes, like eight or nine, but if you watched them all together, it was a movie,” he explained. “We had this idea like, yeah, a whole story, but being told in a bunch of little parts.”

“You enjoy them more when they’re all together, but you also enjoy them in little bit,” Donald added.

As for the interesting new title, Stephen also kindly explained to the room what it was all about. “Robbin’ Season, for most of you that don’t know, is a time in Atlanta before Christmastime and New Year’s, but it’s basically a bunch of crime happens in the city because people have their Christmas gifts,” he said. “It’s just a time where robberies go up, like all times…It’s just a very tense and desperate time, so we kind of wanted to make that the backdrop of the season…Robbin’ Season’s kind of a metaphor for all of our characters.”

When the conversation turned to the pressure felt trying to capitalize on the first season’s success in the face of fan expectations, Donald admitted that he’s wary of giving people what they think they want. “It just feels like everybody wants you to do the thing that they like again,” he said.

“At one point you talked about how last season, the ‘B.A.M.’ episode was sort of the anomaly or the one that completely unboxed what the TV format could be and you saying, ‘We can’t do another one like that,'” Zazie added. “So, like, not copying yourself.”

Something tells us that for the endlessly creative artist at the helm, not copying himself shouldn’t be much of a problem.

Atlanta Robbin’ Season kicks off on Thursday, March 1 at 10 p.m. on FX.

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We Speak Podcast

Music Therapy & Motivation Season 2, Episode 6 – “The Resurgence of RIMIDI: Soul, Self & Service”

Published

2 days ago

June 21, 2025

Ethan Cole

If you’re drawn to deeply soulful voices and stories of artistic rebirth, don’t miss this episode. Gino Black sits down with RIMIDI, a rising indie-soul vocalist whose latest work channels vulnerability and empowerment.

What You’ll Learn:

Rediscovering Purpose: RIMIDI walks through her comeback story—how she reclaimed her artistry after stepping back, and the creative clarity that followed.
Lyrics as Healing: Discover how she uses songwriting as a therapeutic medium, tackling identity, mental health, and community through music.
Empowerment Through Action: From launching GEMCulture.org to uplifting others via Fund‑a‑GEM, RIMIDI merges creative expression with communal support.
Practical Wisdom: Ideal for independent artists—RIMIDI shares how she navigates self-promotion, audience engagement, and maintaining authenticity throughout the process.

The Takeaway:
This episode transcends the norm—it’s not just motivation, it’s a movement. RIMIDI’s journey is a blueprint for anyone reclaiming their voice, creative drive, or purpose. Her blend of soulful artistry and grassroots community work reminds us that music can heal both artist and audience.

Final Word:
RIMIDI’s episode is a stirring testament to resilience, artistry, and empowerment. Gino Black masterfully guides the conversation from personal growth to community building. Listeners—whether creatives, dreamers, or supporters—will walk away fueled by hope and inspiration.

Tune in to Season 2, Episode 6 now, and subscribe for more weekly stories at the intersection of music and motivation!