Melanated Rising

You ever notice how the “wellness” industry is just sooo white? It isn’t that there aren’t Black teachers, healers, and leaders out there, it’s that they’re not getting the same face time as their white counterparts. Then there’s the HIGH cost creating a high barrier or entry for the communities that most need care.

This week’s guest, Lestraundra Alfred, is work...

Every year I choose one word as my theme or focus for the year. For 2020 I have two words and I chose five support words that work for both to keep me focused and living my themes. In this solo episode I share my two themes and support words and why they will take me to my next level.

We’re continuing this conversation inside The Melanated Rising House - our dope...

What if you had an idea that could change the way people relate to the land, the ways we handle disaster relief, and even change the future of the formerly incarcerated? Could you sit on it? Hold out due to fear?

This week’s guest David Jones, lives his life staying curious, pursuing new careers, and using his brilliant mind and ideas to create change for marginalized communities and c...

I’ve had a complex relationship to community throughout my life. Community can be both powerful and complicated for Black folx who were both dispersed and pushed together in marginalized groups. In this solo episode I share about my experiences in community and now building a community of my own, and I discuss the dynamics and complexities of community and Blackness. All to explore the question: What does healthy community look lik...

Can one voice create change? One story? What about 10 or 100 together? Omkari Williams joins me today for a conversation on the power of our individual and collective stories to change policy and change peoples view of us and the world. There is a power in telling your story, a power in reclaiming your voice, a power in living your right to be seen and heard.

Omkari Williams is a speaker, writer and ...

I’m taking you on a journey today. Taking inspiration from Courtney Alexander in episode 40 (go listen) I am sharing with you some of the changes and work I’m doing on myself to get myself ready for what I’m creating next year. You have to realize that who you are now is not who you will be when you reach them. The things that got you here are not necessarily what will take you to your next level. You have to actively work toward y...

Giving you a slightly different flavor today on Melanated Rising. In honor of National Novel Writing Month I invited one of my oldest and closest friends (and writing buddy), Tranette Latrice Williams, on the show to talk about story, writing, challenging yourself, and broadening the scope of Black storytelling. Full of fun banter, laughter, and tales of old, listen in on two Black women writers working to decolonize our minds and ...

It's a Halloween minisode! And I am talking about using this time as we step into the dark of the year to assess where you really want to go and what needs to die for you to get there.

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Pain and trauma are part of our human experience, especially for Black folx. Aside from incidental pain from our individual experiences we also carry generational trauma. Trauma and pain can be healed but sometimes we hold onto our pain and it becomes a crutch. Today I deep dive into how and why you may be attached to your trauma, the social and cultural elements that exacerbate this for Black folx, what to do about it so you can l...

In our society we have a skewed idea of light and dark, good and bad, that translates even to how we relate to skin color and the place it puts you in society. We also have some extremely violent, ingrained ideas about fat bodies—Black bodies in particular—that we need to get very honest about in order to create change.

In this week’s episode Courtney Alexander, creator of the Dust II Onyx tarot deck, joins me to discuss light and ...

Here’s one we’re all familiar with: Fear of Failure! Everyone has experienced it but the truth it no one really knows what it is. See, the fear of failure isn’t actually about failure. In this solo episode I breakdown what the fear of failure really is and the ways it shows up that you may not even realize are holding you back. I also share how systemic oppression and generational survival conditioning of the Black diaspora exacerb...

I don’t care what anyone says, hair is important. Especially for Black women who are constantly battling anglo-beauty standards and stigmas around our natural hair. How do you build confidence in the Beauty of your Blackness?

Lulu Pierre founder of Boho Locs joins me today to talk about her brand of high-quality synthetic locs made “for us by us”. We talk natural hair journeys, hair stigma, and building confidence in our own beauty...

It has been one year since I shared the story of my rape online. In this episode I reflect on the experience of speaking up, the fear of repercussions, and how speaking my truth and sharing my story changed the way I show up in the world. As Black folx our voices, stories, and experiences MATTER. If you have a story to share or a truth to tell there are reasons you may be holding back. I also explore why it’s hard for us to tell ou...

You know that quote "You have the same 24 hours in a day as Beyonce"? Yeah, that's crap. We don't have the same team or resources that Beyonce has and that makes a BIG difference. However, you do get to choose what you prioritize with the time you have. Listen in for my tips on how to maximize your time and prioritize what will move you forward.

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We put a lot of stock in what others think. Guess what? Everyone is judging you and you cannot be what everyone wants nor what they expect and once you realize that it frees you to show up as you are.

In this episode I break down how you may be shaping yourself and your actions based on what you think people think, the impact of the real dangers in navigating the world while Black, and some key tips that will help you let go of oth...

There is a cycle of fatherlessness and trauma impacting our Black men all around the world. How does this harm both the family structure and male identity? This is what we explore in this episode which features my first male guest on the show!

L.T. Bourne joins me today to share about his trauma growing up fatherless and gives a call-in to Black men to talk about their trauma, explore different views of what manhood means, and brea...

Who do you follow? Who do you consider a leader? As Black folx we need to learn from, follow, and be guided by people who look like us. In this solo episode I go hard on the white dominated coaching industry and why Black folx need Black coaches.

I share my experience with two really good white privilege having coaches who still did harm to me as a Black woman and why, despite how much I gained, I knew I couldn't work with white co...