Black. Girl. Iowa.

Music has always been more than entertainment for me. It's been healing. It's been joy. It's been survival. In this solo episode, I'm taking a deep dive into the soundtrack of my life through ten years of Apple Music Replay playlists and the songs that have shaped who I am. From Saturday mornings listening to Earth, Wind & Fire with my parents to discovering Bobby Brown, surviv...

This week on the Black. Girl. Iowa. podcast, Emili sits down with community leader, advocate, and changemaker Monique Scarlett for a powerful conversation about Black history, civic engagement, and building bridges in Northwest Iowa. Born and raised in Sioux City, Monique shares what it was like growing up as one of the few Black children in her school during the 1960s and 70s, navigating racism a...

In this episode of Black. Girl. Iowa. , Emili sits down with Paula A. Bell—CEO, speaker, consultant, and the powerhouse behind a holistic approach to success rooted in mind, body, and soul. From her journey leaving Brooklyn and navigating life as a single mother to building a thriving consulting business, Paula shares what it really takes to bet on yourself. This conversation dives deep into disci...

In this episode of Black. Girl. Iowa. , Emili sits down with Des Moines native and healthcare leader Anesa Buchanan, whose work is rooted in community, advocacy, and access. With over 17 years in healthcare and a current role as Director of Community Impact and Engagement, Anesa shares her journey from the East Side to leadership at UnityPoint Health. From navigating life as a young mother to beco...

In this week’s episode of Black. Girl. Iowa. , Emili sits down with community leader, advocate, and disruptor Victoria Henderson Weber—President of the NAACP Des Moines Branch and Vice President of the Colonel Young Gun Club. From growing up on the East Side of Des Moines to leading statewide advocacy efforts, Victoria shares how early experiences shaped her commitment to civic engagement, communi...

Sometimes being strong comes with a cost. In this solo episode of the podcast, Emili gets real about the exhaustion so many Black women carry every day — at work and in the spaces where we are expected to keep showing up no matter what. This conversation is about burnout, boundaries, protection, and the emotional weight of constantly having to be “on.” From navigating the workplace to learning how...

Divorce isn’t just paperwork. It’s identity. It’s faith. It’s boundaries. It’s rebuilding while life keeps moving. In this candid conversation, I sit down with Lya Williams to talk about what it really looks like to navigate divorce as Black women living in Iowa. We discuss the identity shift that comes with losing the title of “wife,” the emotional weight of healing in real time, and the courage...

What happens when the dream you built your identity around suddenly ends? This week on Black. Girl. Iowa. , Emili sits down with leader, husband, father, former professional basketball player, and host of The Minds with Hakeem , Jjuan Hakeem. From growing up in Beaumont, Texas to building a life in Iowa, Jjuan shares: The identity crisis that followed retiring from professional basketball Why aski...

After a short hiatus, Emili is back — no script, no outline, just truth. In this deeply personal solo episode, she opens up about fear, anxiety, feeling lost after divorce, turning 40, and the quiet paralysis that comes from not believing your own story matters. Why is it easier to show up for work, for students, for interviews, for church — but harder to show up for yourself? Why is publishing th...

In this powerful episode of Black. Girl. Iowa. , Emili sits down with award-winning author, educator, and activist Abena Sankofa Imhotep for a conversation rooted in truth, literacy, and liberation. From growing up Black in Iowa to challenging the myth of “Iowa Nice,” Abena shares how radical imagination, community-centered education, and permissionless living are essential tools for Black futures...

This week on the Black. Girl. Iowa. podcast, Emili sits down with Councilwoman Anita Rollins — lifelong learner, advocate, and the first Black woman elected to serve on the Ames City Council. With deep Iowa roots and decades of impact in education and community spaces, she brings a powerful lived perspective into local leadership. Anita shares how growing up in Des Moines during a time of Black pr...

On this week's episode of Black. Girl. Iowa., Emili sits down with Jodi Long—award-winning journalist, storyteller, wife, mother of two, and beloved KCCI Channel 8 News anchor. From reporting on pivotal Iowa moments to speaking at local schools and community events, Jodi is committed to telling stories with empathy, truth, and purpose. We talk about: What it means to represent Black women on Iowa...

In this powerful conversation, Emili sits down with Tiara Mays-Sims — mother of twins, civic leader, community advocate, and a proud Detroit-raised Black woman building change in Iowa. Tiara shares how her journey into advocacy was shaped by motherhood, including raising a child with autism, and how saying yes — to education, service, storytelling, and political leadership — transformed her life....

In this heartfelt and hilarious episode, Emili sits down with Denise Williams , a USA Today bestselling romance author whose books celebrate Black love, laughter, and healing. From writing her first story in second grade to publishing ten novels, Denise shares her journey of storytelling, representation, and resilience. They dive into what it means to write (and live) as a Black woman in the Midwe...

In this week’s episode of Black. Girl. Iowa. , I share one of my most personal stories yet — about how reading, journaling, and storytelling have helped me heal, rediscover myself, and reclaim my joy. I open up about my recent mental health journey, including moments when I didn’t realize how much pain I was carrying. Through therapy, reflection, and the power of words, I was reminded that I matte...

In this heartfelt and funny conversation, Emili sits down with The Black Rose owner, Ashley Kofoed, to talk about books, belonging, and building something beautiful from the ground up. A veteran, former teacher, and proud Kentucky native turned Iowan, Ashley shares what it means to feel safe but still Black in the Midwest, why she left education to pursue entrepreneurship, and how she created a co...

In this vibrant and fashion-forward episode of Black. Girl. Iowa. , Emili sits down with Nekia Whitfield—CEO and lead designer of NikStar Designs. A proud Chicago native and Iowa State alum, Nekia shares her journey from studying fashion in Ames to building a thriving design brand in Des Moines. From prom gowns to bridal wear and maternity fashion, she designs clothing that empowers women of all s...

In this episode of Black. Girl. Iowa. , host Emili sits down with Judge Ashley Stewart, the only Black woman currently serving as a judge in the state of Iowa. From her roots in Dallas and a passion for journalism to her pivot into law during the recession, Judge Stewart shares how resilience, community, and faith led her to the bench. Together, Emili and Judge Stewart discuss: What it means to be...

In this week’s episode of Black. Girl. Iowa. , host Emili J sits down with La Toshia Burrell, licensed massage therapist, entrepreneur, and CEO of Redefine & Reveal Massage Therapy and Bodywork . Born and raised in Fort Dodge, La Toshia shares her journey from competitive athletics and collegiate coaching to discovering her true calling in wellness and healing. She opens up about navigating id...

In this week’s episode of the Black. Girl. Iowa. podcast, Emili reflects on the legacy of Black women’s organizing through her experiences with the Tawasi Federated Women’s Club. She highlights how community involvement is both a personal journey and a way of honoring those who came before us. From the safe housing provided to students in 1919 by the Iowa Association of Colored Women’s Clubs to th...

On this episode of Black. Girl. Iowa. , Emili welcomes Loretta Windsor, founder of Sista SoulFest. What began as a vision in 2020 has grown into a powerful annual celebration spotlighting women of color, entrepreneurs, artistry, and community pride. The 6th Annual Sista SoulFest takes place Sunday, August 31st from 11 a.m.–4 p.m. at Evelyn K. Davis Park in Des Moines. This year’s theme is Empowerm...

In this episode of Black. Girl. Iowa. , I sit down with Kayla Bell-Consolver—licensed mental health counselor, community leader, and founder of Question Kayla, LLC. Kayla opens up about her journey from Tampa to Des Moines, the challenges of Black girlhood and acceptance, and how her experiences with shame and resilience shape the powerful work she does today. We talk about therapy as “heart work,...

Registered nurse and community leader Monica Goodlett turned a single hike in West Virginia into a movement—founding Black Iowa Outdoors to connect, inspire, and challenge the narrative of who belongs in nature. In this episode, she shares her journey from Urbandale to trailblazer, how the outdoors boosts mental and physical health, and why representation matters on the trail. Get ready to be insp...

In this episode, I sit down with Corey Dion Lewis—health coach, media founder, and passionate health equity advocate—for a conversation that reminded me just how powerful intention and community really are. Corey shares his journey from East Moline to Iowa City, and how his experience advocating for his mother’s health changed everything. That moment pushed him to launch The Healthy Project Podcas...

In this reflective solo episode of Black. Girl. Iowa. , Emili J. opens up about her ongoing journey of self-discovery and the power of sharing one’s own story. She explores what it means to feel untethered, highlighting the deep importance of self-care, spirituality, and setting boundaries. Emili also shares how reconnecting with joy through hobbies has helped her reclaim a sense of purpose. Throu...