BACKTalk Podcast by Successful Black Parenting Magazine

Why do Black mothers continue to experience worse maternal health outcomes, even when they have wealth, education, and access to quality healthcare? In this powerful episode of BACKtalk, host Janice Robinson-Celeste sits down with legal scholar, researcher, and author Khaira M. Bridges, J.D., Ph. D. to examine one of the most persistent and misunderstood public health crises in America. Together,...

King Moore didn't wait to grow up to make his mark — he walked onto the America's Got Talent stage and walked off with the world watching. But behind every young world-changer is a parent who believed first. In this episode of BACKtalk , we're sitting down to talk about King Moore's extraordinary journey — from a little boy with a big dream to a global force at just 10 years old. W...

Originally airing in the 1970s, The New Zoo Revue later found a new generation of viewers through reruns that became part of many childhood morning routines in the ’80s and ’90s. In this episode of BACKtalk by Successful Black Parenting Magazine, Janice Robinson-Celeste speaks with the creators behind the iconic children’s show about kindness, emotional learning, music, parenting, and why the seri...

You are not failing. The system is. Black moms have been sold a lie about "balance" — and it is costing us our health, our peace, and our sanity. In this episode of BACKtalk, Elisha Beach — Founder of The Mom Forum and author of Balance Is Bullsh*t — breaks down exactly why traditional self-care advice was never built for real moms. And she is not here to give you more things to do. She...

What if the narrative is wrong… and Black families are already doing more right than they’re given credit for? On this episode of BACKtalk Podcast by Successful Black Parenting Magazine, Dr. Iheoma Iruka unpacks powerful insights from the Black Family Census Study, shifting the conversation from deficits to strengths. This isn’t about fixing Black families. It’s about recognizing what’s already wo...

What happens when children never see themselves in the stories they read? In this powerful episode of BACKtalk, we dive into why representation in children’s books is not just important; it is life-shaping. From joyful picture books like Sounds Like Joy and Stella's Stellar Hair to showcasing artwork at the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts, this conversation explores how art, culture,...

Why are so many Black women emotionally exhausted right now? Many Black women are balancing motherhood, careers, relationships, and community expectations while also navigating generational trauma and the pressure to always be strong. In a world that often feels overwhelming, protecting your mental health has never been more important. In this episode of BACKtalk, mental health expert Dr. LaNail R...

Before a Black child leaves high school, there are money conversations that must happen, yet many of us were never taught them ourselves. In this BACKtalk episode, Dr. Paris Woods breaks down the real reason Black teens struggle financially as young adults, and it is not a lack of motivation or discipline. It is a lack of systems. Together, we unpack the costly traps Black teens fall into, the fiv...

How to Co-Parent Without the Chaos: Building Peace With Your Ex So Your Children Can ThriveCo-parenting after divorce is not about being friends. It is about being grown and choosing peace for your children's future. About the Episode: In this episode of BACKtalk, we sit down with clinical social worker and educator Darlene Taylor. She breaks down how parents can build a healthy, cooperative c...

When your child looks you dead in the eyes and asks, “Is Santa real?” 🎅🏾… what do you say? On this episode of BACKtalk Podcast by Successful Black Parenting Magazine, we dive into one of parenting’s most unexpected plot twists: the Santa talk. And no, there’s no “perfect age” or script. It’s about timing, trust, and knowing your child. Joined by Tanyell Cole, a mother of 14, Marriage and Family...

Step into a conversation that doesn’t tiptoe around real life. 🎙️ On this episode of BACKtalk Podcast by Successful Black Parenting Magazine, we sit down with Alisha Simpson-Watt, LCSW, BCBA, LBA, a powerhouse in behavioral health and the visionary behind an award-winning ABA practice. But this isn’t just about titles and accolades. It’s about the everyday realities families face when navigating a...

The statistics on Black education in Alabama tell a painful truth—our children are being pushed out of classrooms and into courtrooms. Dakarai Larriett knows this struggle firsthand. After his own false arrest at 42, he turned his trauma into a mission for justice and educational reform. In this episode, Dakarai joins host Janice Robinson-Celeste to unpack how systemic bias and over-policing impac...

If trauma can be inherited, so can healing. In this transformative BACKtalk episode, ancestral health educator Gilbert Martina reveals how Black parents can break cycles of generational trauma using rituals of belonging, storytelling, and cultural connection. Drawing on Afro-Caribbean traditions and modern science, Gilbert shares daily practices that help families reduce stress, strengthen identit...

How To Keep Kids Listening (and Loving It! | Ms. Monica on Positive Parenting & Preschool Strategies Welcome to Back Talk, the official podcast from Successful Black Parenting Magazine! 🎙️In this episode, we are joined by YouTube star and educator Ms. Monica (Monica J. Sutton) — the beloved host of the preschool show “Circle Time with Ms. Monica.” With over 1 million subscribers and collaborat...

As parents, we send our children to college with hopes of safety, inclusion, and opportunity—but today’s campuses are under siege. With DEI rollbacks, the end of affirmative action, and rising mental health concerns, Black students face unprecedented challenges. In this episode of BACKtalk, Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum—acclaimed psychologist, former Spelman College president, and author of the new boo...

What if hip-hop could be more than music? In this episode of BACKtalk, we sit down with Dave Joisil — better known as Mr. J — whose YouTube channel Hey! It’s Mr. J! has earned over 1 million views for blending fitness, hip-hop, and social-emotional learning. He shows parents how rhythm, movement, and positivity can transform everyday moments into lessons of confidence, discipline, and joy. From he...

What if the system is stacked against your child before they ever step into a classroom? In this episode of BACKtalk, Dr. Terence Lester—once a high school dropout who faced homelessness and gangs, now a PhD, author, and founder of Love Beyond Walls—teaches Black parents how to break generational cycles of poverty, trauma, and educational inequality. From navigating schools that fail our kids, to...

Autism doesn’t discriminate—but Black families often face late diagnoses, stigma, and fewer resources. In this episode of BACKtalk, Alisha Simpson-Watt, LCSW, BCBA, LBA, shares real strategies every Black parent can use to advocate for their child, build support systems, and break down barriers in schools and healthcare. Learn how to recognize early signs, push past systemic roadblocks, and create...

If your child could write your co-parenting rules, what would they say? Author and child-of-co-parents Kylar Denae joins BACKtalk to flip the script—sharing the simple, science-backed shifts that make kids feel safe, seen, and stable after separation. We get real about boundaries (not beef), handoffs without drama, talking to your child without weaponizing them, new partners, holidays, and breakin...

She’s a world-famous ballerina, a bestselling author, and a history-maker as the first Black woman Principal Dancer at American Ballet Theatre—but Misty Copeland just told me she’s… clumsy. And yet, that didn’t stop her from becoming great. Listen to this episode and come and get some of this Black girl magic! In this episode of BACKtalk, Misty opens up about her new children’s book Bunheads, Act...

Khadijah VanBrakle is a Black Muslim woman and contemporary young adult author living in the Southwestern United States. Born and raised in Canada to American parents, she writes stories that reflect the dual marginalization of Black American Muslim teens, because for far too long, those voices have been missing from the shelves. Her 2023 debut novel, Fatima Tate Takes The Cake, and her upcoming r...

What if Black mothers didn’t have to do it all alone? In this powerful episode of BACKtalk, Trishay “Mama Yata” Young—Founder of Melanin Mothers Meet and warrior for Black maternal health—shares how to reclaim rest and activate your village after childbirth. From delegating tasks to building community rituals that protect your peace, Mama Yata drops wisdom every parent needs to hear. Tune in to le...

Black youth are under pressure—and the mental health cost is rising. From the relentless grip of social media to the weight of racial trauma and cultural stigma, many of our children are suffering in silence. In this powerful BACKtalk episode, we sit down with Dr. Cedric X. Bryant, CEO of the American Council on Exercise and a leading expert in behavior-change science, to unpack the real stressors...

https://www. SuccessfulBlackParenting.com -- Award-winning author Derrick Barnes joins BACKtalk to share the powerful story behind his newest picture book, I Got You: A Brother’s Promise. Inspired by his own four sons—aka the Mighty Barnes Brothers—this heartwarming tale celebrates brotherhood, empathy, and the ups and downs of growing up Black and brilliant. We talked about: - The importance of s...

He walked in space, but hates roller coasters. 🚀 Go figure! In this episode of BACKtalk, we sit down with Dr. Bernard A. Harris Jr. , the first African American to walk in space , to talk about his surprising fears, his journey from humble beginnings to NASA astronaut, and why his biggest mission today is helping Black and Brown kids unlock their potential through STEM, education, and mentorship...