You Ain’t Imagining This!

Hi, I'm Ama-Robin.

Welcome to You Ain't Imagining This!

This podcast show is a sanctuary for Black empowerment, truth, and liberation. Here, we create a space to breathe, reflect, and rise through enlightening storytelling, powerful conversations, and comforting rituals.

Whether you're fee...

Black people have always valued knowledge—through books, through songs, through music, and even through memory. In this fireside reflection, Ama-Robin explores why reading has always been a form of resistance and an expression of joy, why storytelling matters, the importance of music, drumming, dance, and other forms of communication and repositories of knowledge.  Most importantly, she discusses how ...

In this story, we will step inside a Black-owned bookstore. Feel the warmth. Hear the conversations. Smell the books and the spice of chai in the air. This isn’t just a shop—it’s a sanctuary, a meeting place, a revolution in the making. In this story-driven episode, I take you inside a Black bookstore where knowledge is resistance, elders share wisdom, and a single quote can change everything.

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Hujambo community, and welcome to Espresso Talk today. 

Today I'll be guiding you through a heartfelt reflection as we close out Black History Month. We'll start by grounding ourselves in the wisdom of our ancestors and celebrating the lessons, stories, and triumphs we've explored this month. Dr. Carter G. Woodson's vision for Black History Month serves as a reminder of the power in knowing our history.

Asante sana for being on thi...

In this Espresso Talk Today episode, we step into the rich, vibrant world of Black food spaces with the story A Taste of Home. This story is more than a sensory experience—it’s an exploration of how food connects us to our history, our culture, and our sense of belonging.

Through the bustling A...

Hujambo fam and Akwaaba (welcome!). Join me as I take you on a journey into my dream where I sit with great Black figures like Frederick Douglass, Ida B. Wells, and Dr. Carter G. Woodson. Together, we discuss the significance of Black history, and the importance of reclaiming our narratives and lighting the way for future generations. ✨💡 

In this episode, you’ll experience a historical roundtable discussion, a traditional libation...

What connects you to your history? For Ama-Robin, it was a wooden map of Africa that hung in my childhood home—a powerful symbol of identity, pride, and resilience.

In this episode, Ama-Robin shares a deeply personal story about how this map, despite being ridiculed, became a source of strength and a reminder of the greatness of Black history.

We’ll reflect on the power of symbols, the lessons of Dr. Carter G. Woodson, and the impo...

Western society glorifies rugged individualism, but in the Black community, we know the truth—our power has always been collective. From Black Wall Street to the Black Panther Party, from HBCUs to our multigenerational families, we have built, protected, and uplifted each other through shared core values like unity, self-determination, and collective responsibility.

Yet, these values have been ignored—or worse, attacked—by a societ...

What are core values? Why should I care about them?

Core values aren’t just a “white thing”—they’re the foundation of Black empowerment.

In this episode, Black empowerment educator Ama-Robin explores how our core values are challenged and undermined in a world that often questions our humanity. She's talking directly to the sk...

In this episode, we’re ditching resolutions and diving deep into the transformative power of core values. Discover how values like resilience, unity, and freedom can ground and empower us, especially as Black individuals navigating racial chaos. Core values aren’t just personal—they’re revolutionary tools for empowerment and liberation. Let’s explore how living by our truth can inspire change for ours...

Habarigani! Discover the power of Kwanzaa as a celebration of Black culture, resilience, and liberation. This episode explores the seven principles of Kwanzaa, connecting each to the inspiring stories of Black historical figures and the importance of the #BelieveBlackPeople movement.

Join us for reflection, empowerment, and a call to action for liberation.

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In this episode of Espresso Talk Today, host Ama-Robin dives deeper into the #BelieveBlackPeople movement. This isn’t just a hashtag—it’s a revolutionary call to honor and trust Black voices, celebrate our achievements, and challenge the stereotypes and biases that have silenced us for too long.

Ama-Robin breaks down what it means to beli...

BelieveBlackPeople is more than words--it's a call to action!

In this episode, we break down what it means to believe Black people and why it matters now more than ever. 

Hosted by Ama-Robin, this episode explores why believing Black people is essential—from recognizing everyday encounters with racism and bias to celebrating Black excellence that’s too often overlooked. Listen in as we discuss the powerful message behind #BelieveBl...

In this powerful episode, Espresso Talk Today dives into the remarkable, often-hidden stories of Black explorers who redefined what’s possible—from Matthew Henson’s trek to the North Pole to Mae Jemison’s journey beyond Earth’s atmosphere and beyond. Join Ama-Robin as she reveals how racial barriers sought to silence these achievements, fostering a narrative that promoted white supremacy by erasing Black contributions. But these st...

In this powerful episode of Espresso Talk Today, host Ama-Robin shines a light on the incredible Black explorers whose contributions have been erased by the quiet force of racism. From Matthew Henson, one of the first men to reach the North Pole, to Octavia Butler, who explored the Black experience through Afro-futurism, this episode uncovers stories of Black excellence and empowerment that history has tried to silence or diminish.

In this episode of Espresso Talk Today, we're diving into how to prepare for and manage the racial chaos in the healthcare system. I know many of you—especially my young audience—feel nervous, afraid, or even powerless when facing medical appointments. This episode is for you.

We're shifting gears from recognizing the red flags of medical racism to discussing real...

Hujambo, beautiful people! In this episode of Espresso Talk Today, we confront the subtle yet pervasive racial chaos in the healthcare system.

Join host Ama-Robin as she uncovers the microaggressions, hidden biases, and other red flags that Black people often face during medical treatment. From dismissal of pain to offensive stereotypes, we get real about how raci...