Cocoa Butter and Communion

Happy all the things y'all. This week's guest is Erin Walker, she is the founder of The C.R.Y. Space. In June of last year, Erin lost her younger sister Jessica to a fentanyl overdose. Erin and I talk about how her grieving has found purpose.  For more information about her organization, the C.R.Y. Space, contact her at couragereallyisyours@gmail.com  Follow the show on IG @cocoabutterandcommunion...

Kevin Berthia stopped by the village to share his story of a suicide attempt, depression and what his life looks like now. We talk about his journey to the Golden Gate Bridge, the picture that captured his dark day and his mission to save others. Depression is not always darkness. Sometimes depression can look like the smiling face that greets you at your local coffee shop or your best friend that...

This week's episode features the wonderful Mama Laiwah who is in these spiritual streets. She is a spiritist, spiritual counselor, a tarot reader, and an overall badass. She works with folks dealing with life’s daily crisis so if this is you, go ahead and contact her. Her work connects y'all to your inner power through the use of spiritual tools and by spiritual tools, she means tarot reading, spi...

In this episode, my brother and I discuss growing up in a multigenerational household, the love of our grandparents, the community we were raised in, parenting, and our relationship. Hopefully this episode is a start to a larger conversation that needs to happen to begin a healing process. Y'all will also see what I have to deal with on a regular basis by being the little sister (it has been like...

This week I talk with my lovely and entrepreneurial sister-in-law, Rosalind Grevious. Over 13 years ago, Rosalind and her siblings lost their mother from a battle with breast cancer and over 20 years ago, they lost their father. We talk about the loss of parents, stories of love and Luther Vandross, and self discoveries. Oh and she shares a little about her new business.  Rosalind is reading books...

This week, the village welcomes my friend, Kenyon Hill, father, soccer aficionado, coach, and trainer; history buff, music connoisseur and so much more. He was one of the first people I met that shared a similar upbringing, which we have talked about several times. On this episode, he shares about his upbringing in a predominately white space, his Tennessee roots and the greatness of his parents. ...

Hey Village! Guess who's bizaack? Jessica is! Nothing gives me greater joy than laughing but to laugh with my bestie is one of the best feelings. This episode, Jessica and I are talking about the complexity of forgiveness and what that truly means to us. We also share songs that we were singing, at a young age, that we had NO business singing (where were our mamas?)  Make sure to follow the show o...

We are discussing church hurt this week. Hear me out... many of us have been hurt by the church. Maybe you felt the sting if you had a baby in your adolescent years, or maybe you started to embrace who you fully were and came out as gay or trans... maybe you wore red fingernail polish and the church mothers whispered behind your back. Or maybe your church has failed to address the value of Black l...

In my Shug Avery voice (sing it with me) "Sister, you've been on my mind Sister, we're two of a kind So sister, I'm keepin' my eyes on you... " This is what I hum to myself every time I think of the sisterhood I am fortunate to have. This week's episode I am fortunate to have chatted with my dear sister girlfriends, Jessica and Shannon. We are broadcasting LIVE ya'll at Shannon's hair salon, Natur...

This week, I am chatting with my cousin, Dion (with the good hair) about incarceration, the fighter spirit, healing and joy. Our conversation was enlightening and needed. I hope you all enjoy.  Dion is reading text for a promotion and I am reading articles on betrayal trauma for class. Dion is listening to Bay Area (Yayyyy Arrreeeaaaa) rap and I am listening to Tevin Campbell's "I'm Ready" album (...

The spouse is in the hizzouse. I had the honor of having my husband, Daniel, stop by Cocoa Butter and Communion to share with EVERYONE the joys of being married to me and how easy it is. Well... to find out if that is true, you are just going to need to tune in, won't ya? We talk about how our journey started, how we love, what love means to us and how he had the nerve to pull the 'ol bait and swi...

My lovely guest, Malikka stops by and discusses womanism, blackness, the tomfoolery she sees on Eartha Kitt's internet  that is making her teeth itch and finding her own joy.  Malikka is reading: What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Blacker by Damon Young  Chioko is reading: White Tears/Brown Scars by Ruby Hamad  Malikka is listening to: The Forever Story (Artist: JID), Age/Sex/Location (Ari Lennox), Z...

Dr. Ericka Burns stopped by and it was my pleasure to talk to her about...well, pleasure. Tune in to hear our discussion about pleasure mapping, raising sex positive kids, fantasy novels and of course, Beyonce.  Check out what Dr. Burns is reading: An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir  Is it time for "the talk"? visit: www.sexpositivefamilies.com   Follow Dr. Burns on IG, Twitter and Tik Tok (when...

This is a good one y'all. I had the pleasure of sitting down with Theresa Fortune; mama, activist, author, actress, filmmaker and beautiful spirit. We talk about the heat (we were going through a heatwave), vulnerability in relationships and in the community. For information on her film, please check her out on IG @fromtheashes_oakland or go to her website, www.fromtheashes.media/    

Y'all! It is the first episode of Cocoa Butter and Communion, the podcast that discusses relationships within families, friends and celebrates the complexities and beauty of Black folks. We are going to be addressing real shit and I am excited to do it with all of you, The Village. Wanna stay in touch? Contact me via email at cocoabutterandcommunion@gmail.com  , check me out on IG @cocoabutterandc...