Host Wesley Morris has a confession to make: He loves Bruno Mars. Nothing wrong with that, right? With the help of the culture writer Niela Orr, Wesley untangles his crush from his discomfort with the pop star’s cozy relationship to Blackness.

• Thoughts? Email us at cannonball@nytimes.com
• Watch our show on YouTube: youtube.com/@CannonballPodcast
• For transcripts and more, visit:nytimes.com/cannonball

Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.