Cocoa Butter and Communion

Hey Village! Happy May! On the show, I am chatting with the lovely Nakita Price. We discuss Black folks and gun ownership, the second amendment for all, gun safety, what is needed to own a gun. Nakita discusses how vital it was for her to pivot, using her skillset to make moves happen.  Nakita Price is an Oak Park native (a neighborhood in South Sacramento, CA) and she is a wife and mother of 4 ch...

Hey Village! Y'all know how much I love a good book and I love the people who know a great story to publish those good books. Black writers, writers of color, and other marginalized voices have had their stories silenced. It is so important to have these stories shared and luckily, there are people like Rowana, who see the value in those stories and does her absolute best to share them to the main...

Hey Village! THEE Jessica Brown is back and as always, we spend a lot of time key-keying. Jess just celebrated a birthday and y'all, it was a time to be had... not what she expected, not what anyone expected. Good news for y'all, we provide a synopsis. Jessica talks about online dating (some of y'all need coaches) and how to be the love you seek.  Jessica is an all around amazing human being, mom...

Hey Village! Another therapist is in the house and what an experience for us all :). Malaika Hill-Jones, LMFT is on the show, discussing her life as a student at Howard University, the importance of being in an environment that encompasses greatness, and how to take care of yourself during this tumultuous election cycle (no one is ready for this).  Malaika, an east coast transplant with a myriad o...

Hey Village! This episode, it is just me. :) A little bit about me, I am Chioko Juliette Grevious, Licensed Marriage Family Therapist, Associate Professional Clinical Counselor, and a registered Psychological Assistant, all in the state of California (west siiiiide). In addition to those things, I am also the owner of a therapy practice, Grounded Roots Therapy Collective, Inc. (website is under co...

Hey Village! Today, we are talking about hip hop with someone who knows it well. I was incredibly fortunate to speak with Ashley Autumn, Founder and CEO of Talented Tenth Entertainment. She is not only the CEO but she produces, consults, and so much more. I'll let her tell it :). We talk about the state of hip hop, women in hip hop, and the evolution of hip hop.  Ashley is reading "Worthy" by Jada...

Hey Village! This week, I am chatting with Mellonie Richardson about Black women in politics, her role in the Black Women for Political Action (BWOPA) (she is the president, y'all), getting involved, our right to vote, her legacy, and so much more.  A little about Mellonie, she is the Human Resources Director of Talent Acquisition for California State University, Sacramento, as well as the Princip...

Hey Village! Happy Black History Month! Happy month of love! This episode, I am chatting with my newest sister girl/colleague/classmate, Regina McGuire. Regina is a retired Navy woman who was running a ship like the bad ass she is. We discuss her life in the military, as a Black woman, the strong Black woman trope, motherhood, and this idea of humbleness.  In addition to be a retired Navy Veteran,...

Hey Village! We are kicking off Black History Month and what better way to kick off Black History Month with a woman who celebrates her Blackness everyday? I can answer that! There isn't anything better than Chi Chi stopping by the village to drop gems about getting your life together all while parenting amazing children and finding herself throughout. We talk about who she is, at her core, awaren...

Hey Village! I am so lucky to have access to such a brilliant mind, day in and day out. Daniel is back! On this episode, him and I discuss spirituality and religion, the differences, his growth in both and what he wishes he knew. You get to know him a little more, which is always a beautiful thing.  Dan is reading "Making it So: A Memoir" by Patrick Stewart  I am reading articles for my classes. ...

Heeeyyyy, I am back! It has been a long time. Happy New Year Village! I hope your holiday season allowed rest. This week's episode can be triggering due to the content of talking about Black maternal deaths, the prevention, and the sharing of birth stories that can be traumatic for our listeners. Take breaks when you need or fast forward. Do what you need. We talk about being a doula, the history...

Heeeyyy village! Another episode of Cocoa Butter and Communion is back on the podcast airwaves. This week, I am discussing Black women in academia with my classmate, Johndalyn Armstrong. We talk about school, not separating our Blackness from our education and our experiences, her new fondness of Janelle Monae, among other stuff. She is absolutely lovely and she has an impeccable taste in fashion...

Hey Village! I am joined today by my dearest, Malikka Rogers. We discuss A LOT on this episode from Bruce Willis dating rumors to ridiculousness in music to spirituality. As always, I love my conversations with her and I hope you do too. Spend some time with us on this cold November day, it should get you through your workday, your clean up day, your shopping day... its a long one :). Follow Malik...

I was curious and when I am curious, a podcast episode usually happens :). I talk about building sisterhood a lot on this podcast but this episode, I wanted to chat about building brotherhood and the expression of vulnerability. I chatted with Ray, who provided me with some insight into the work he does.  Ray is of Afro-Caribbean ancestry hailing from the little country with the big reggae sound,...

Heeeyyy Village! Today's episode is a conversation with my mom, Venetia Brown. On this episode, she shares the history behind her own name and she clears up how she came up with mine. We talk about the things that connect us and the things that have kept us at a distance. She shares about her journey into motherhood and being a grandmother and the influence of her parents and grandparents.  Mom is...

Hey village! I have another great episode with my friend, by way of my brother, Brandon Johnson. I met Brandon Johnson YEARS ago and I am glad I did. Y'all will see why when you listen to this episode. We chat about music (we even sing a few duets), family, marriage, kids, and Berkeley hippies (I am that). This is the bio he provided for me:  Brandon Johnson , Aka Mr P. H. D pretty handsome, Dan J...

This week I am chatting with my friend and colleague, Angelique York. We talk about taking a leap, which is different than taking a jump in life and careers.  Angelique York is a multifaceted individual. Sacramento native and Los Angeles resident, licensed clinical social worker, a MSW graduate of University of Southern California (USC) with a concentration in community, organization, and business...

I love comedy and I have had conversations on this podcast with hilarious people. This episode, I am checking in with a hilarious person that has made his career by doing standup. On this week's episode, I chat with G. King about what it was like to take a leap without a safety net, his journey, and I get all in his business about his social life. PLUS...I realized that I could collaborate on writ...

Hey Village! My guest today is my dear friend, Lamarr D. Jackson! Lamarr and I go way back like Shasta soda and I am so glad that he stopped by to share about being a big thinker, the encouragement to do so, owning land that is rightfully yours, lessons learned, raising daughters, and a rap career.  Lamarr is a husband, a father, a Sacramento State graduate (go Hornets), a future school counselor...

We are celebrating one year of Cocoa Butter and Communion! That flew by, right? To help celebrate as a community, I would LOVE to hear your thoughts about the show and I will share them on a future episode of the podcast. Has Cocoa Butter and Communion impacted your life in any way? What has been your favorite episode? Has anything provided inspiration for you to have a conversation with your own...

Episode 45 is here and it is with my girl, Rose-Stella! She is back y'all! Just as delightful as she wants to be. On this episode her and I chat about her family's origin story, the power of our narratives, lessons from mom, and of course hip hop.  Rose-Stella Pierre-Louis is a Haitian-American mother, occupational therapist, speaker, author, and transformation coach for first-generation women ent...

(Cue Aaliyah's beat) It's been a long time, I shouldn't of left you... without a dope show to vibe to. But don't fret...I am back and the show is back.  This week's episode is delightful and it is with the dear soul Imani Mitchell. Imani Mitchell is a multidisciplinary artist based in Northern California who specializes in writing, directing, and acting. For the past 10 years, she has worked as a...

Hey Village! This week, I am chatting with my little cousin, 13 year old Yuriah Hughes. We chat about what it is like being a teenager these days, why she believes they get a bad rap, and what she wants adults to know. She also weighs in on who is the cooler adult, me or her mom and who makes the best fried chicken, me or her mom :).  Yuriah is 13 years old and she just started the 8th grade. She...

Hey Village ALONDRA IS HERE!!!!! I didn't care what we talked about or if we talked at all. We could have sat and stared at each other for all I care. I just adore and love her that much. The good thing for everyone is that we did talk about her, what inspired her career path, her love for her grandma, and her children and grand baby. In addition to all of that, she shared her Tupac story, which c...

Hey Village! As you all know I love a good book, an independent bookstore and making sure that the bookstore stays in business because we need them. One of our local bookstores needs our support. A Seat at the Table Books is a bookstore that sells books and gifts that are geared towards Black voices, people of color voices, queer voices, and all of the voices that are wrapped in all the intersecti...