This Womanist Work Podcast

This week, Kelli King-Jackson and Kendra Ross return to the group chat to talk about the everyday things keeping us grounded as the world keeps shifting. From celebrity parties and “eat the rich” threads to flu and COVID shots, we name how uncertain this season still feels for many of us.

Kendra shares why she’s recommitting to reading after hearing Percival Everett call books—and book clubs—radical practices. We talk about how read...

This week, hosts Kelli King-Jackson and Dr. Kendra Janelle Ross welcome writer-scholar Dr. Tahirah J. Walker for Part 1 of a rich, generous conversation about womanism, faith, academia, and radical honesty at midlife.

Dr. Walker traces her journey from Newark to Haiti to Pittsburgh— and how living, learning, working, and even giving birth in community shaped her conviction that “you don’t do anything truly liberating without it bein...

This week, co-hosts Kelli King-Jackson and Dr. Kendra Janelle Ross are back in the group chat: no guests, just real talk. We kick off with beauty faves (hi, Lip Bar!) and hair-care trials (when allergies and menopause enter the chat!), then move into media diets and why we’re reinvesting in Black-owned outlets. The episode winds down with reading lists as resistance, coalition-building, and a simple ask for this season: give peace ...

In this episode, Kendra and Kelli are deep in the group chat, unpacking what it means to get free—spiritually, politically, and personally. From unlearning rapture theology to building a pocket altar with tips from both Catholic and Wiccan Reddit communities (yes, that Reddit), this conversation is a love letter to the Black women doing the work to define divinity on their own terms in a season that is calling for our sacred no.

The...

This week, Kelli, Kendra, and our honorary third host (and original podcast co-founder) Dr. Chiyah A. Lawrence bring the group chat back to life. What starts as catching up turns into a deep dive on everything from pop culture dust-ups to church politics to the state of our digital lives.

We talk Tabitha Brown and the backlash against her recent comments, the controversy around Beyoncé’s Cécred beauty line, and the rise of “nice-nas...

This week, Kelli and Kendra sit down with the brilliant EbonyJanice—author, hip hop womanist, and all-around force of nature. From the very start, EbonyJanice brings her full self to the conversation, sharing how her journey through faith, womanism, and self-discovery has shaped her life and work.

We get real about what it means to be a “free woman on a love journey,” and how womanism can actually save and transform us—especially wh...

In this episode of This Womanist Work, we are joined by guests Pastor Cynthia Layton and Rev Dr. Vanessa Monroe. They discuss the impact of Womanist Theology on their personal and professional lives, highlighting the importance of Black women in faith spaces and leadership positions. Kendra and Kelli dive into their spiritual practices, while their guests share the challenges they face as Black women pastors, and their commitment t...

In their Season Two debut episode, hosts Kelli King-Jackson and Kendra Ross are back together again for an with Kendra's cousin Keisha Cook and Kelli's aunt Deborah Santana. In this episode, they explore the nuanced journeys of spiritual deconstruction, the richness and challenges of the Black church, and the importance of grounding in one's faith while embracing personal evolution.

As Deborah and Keisha share their s...

In this season two trailer of the This Womanist Work podcast, hosts Kendra Ross and Kelly King-Jackson invite listeners to join a journey that intertwines spirituality with politics and pop culture. 

The season focuses on the role of Black women in theology, exploring their historical contributions and contemporary influence. Throughout the season you'll hear a blend of raw faith journeys, emotional moments, empowering conversa...

Recorded live over a beautiful, catered dinner at the Pittsburgh Public Theater, your hosts Kelli King-Jackson and Kendra Ross gathered with special guests to honor the sacred work of mothering. With laughter, a few tears, and lots of love, we kicked off Season Two exploring the beauty and complexity of motherhood and daughterhood.

This conversation holds multitudes: the joy and ache of mothering, the ways trauma shows up and gets t...

In our season one finale episode, we are joined by Watering Hole Media's Chief Executive Officer, Ashley Allison. Ashley helps us break down steps for navigating life post-2024 general election. She encourages us to become clear and fortify our beliefs so we can stand ten toes down when needed, especially in our day-to-day interactions. She also calls on us to lean on the fact that our ancestors survived times such as this. We...

Now that we are past the election and getting ready for the holiday season, we are returning for our full episode with Mama Sheryl! Sheryl Thomas-Washburn joins Kelli and Kendra to share more about how she got to where she is today. Mama Sheryl is Meg's mom, and she brings a whole lotta recipes for us to take with us. She starts by sharing her journey from a Christian Baptist church to her spiritual awakening; she shares tips ...

Kelli and Kendra continue their conversation on Black women's reproductive health. This week they are joined by Regina Townsend, founder of The Broken Brown Egg. This organization exists to empower, inform, and advocate for those questioning or experiencing the impact of infertility, with an emphasis on the Black experience of it. Regina shares her fertility journey, how she started the Broken Brown Egg, how she's feeling...

Good Sis of the Pod, Dr. Chiyah A. Lawrence is back with Kendra and Kelli to discuss something we don't often discuss openly: reproductive health and the challenges Black women face. You'll hear each of them describe their experiences of navigating over the years, how it's impacted (or not impacted) their confidence as a woman, and Kendra even realizes in real time how much she has dealt with these challenges over th...

The pod is podding! Kendra and Kelli share their reflections one week after the general election of 2024. Joined by their producer and digital media manager, Leatra and Meg, the hosts share their feelings immediately following the election and what they hope this means for our society going forward. Find your community, Black women, for such a time as this. This Womanist Work is a great place to start! 

Additional links related to t...

Black women-- we see you, hear you, and share your concerns post-election 2024. This week, Kendra and Kelli are joined by Roshida Dowe and Stephanie Perry, co-founders of ExodUS Summit. This organization hosts virtual and live events and workshops that show Black women ways to plan their ExodUS while fostering community. Roshida and Stephanie tell us where their go-to location would be if they had to make a quick escape from the Un...

In this extended bonus episode, Kelli and Kendra are joined by Sheryl Thomas-Washburn, AKA Mama Sheryl, who highlights her JEDI-B (Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging) work experience and gives us an overview of her consulting work with Tomia LLC. They cover related topics such as white fragility and the discomfort of change. Specifically, why it is necessary. Tune in next week to hear more from Mama Sheryl in our ...

Kendra and Kelli cover it all this week-- from The Church (and politics!) catering to entertainment purposes these days to a mighty read from Kendra towards Donnie Swaggart regarding his recent words condemning the Black Church. The nerve! Kelli also shares updates on her office renovations, and Kendra gives a shout-out to her friend, WNBA All-Star Kym Hampton, who was honored at the New York Liberty's recent championship para...

Sign us up for the Christian Jubilee because we are getting into it on this episode! Our guest, Denele Biggs, takes us on a journey exploring critiques of the church and its exclusion of certain community members. She also shares her healing journey after a painful response from the church when she sought support, and the women share ways they've experienced church at musical performances (shout out to Beyonce and Kamasi Washi...