Compost, Cotton & Cornrows

Picture this: You’ve got three young kids in Oakland, you're navigating a divorce, you're back in school—oh, and you're also launching a national movement. Sound impossible? Not for Rue Mapp as  the unstoppable force behind OUTDOOR AFRO, Rue didn’t just build an organization; she sparked a Renaissance that’s reconnecting Black communities with the great outdoors. In this episode, we...

What happens when the world’s top-selling Black woman nature photographer steps behind the lens? SUBLIMENESS! In this episode, we venture into the breathtaking world of Wild Gina, an intimate landscape photographer whose work isn’t just art—it’s a time capsule for the planet. Gina takes us on a tour on how she got into nature photography, the deeply rooted ancestral connections guiding her work, a...

Experience a beautiful ride into the world of sustainable RE-education with Mahdiyyah—aka the Fabric Alchemist—who’s here to prove that fabric upcycling is more than just a trend; it’s a catalyst for revolutionizing education! In this electric conversation, Mahdiyyah unravels her journey through the overwhelmingly white-dominated environmental scene, where she learned that “sustainability” was jus...

In this episode, Nia Thomas enlightens us on shaking up the luxury fashion game—because, let’s be honest, the industry is drowning in poorly made fast fashion nonsense. As the mastermind behind her eponymous brand, Nia shares her journey from self-doubt to building a sustainable, high-end fashion house rooted in intention, integrity, and undeniable Black beauty. She and Dominique Drakeford dive in...

DISCLAIMER - this episode features stories connected to self transitioning. EPISODE 1:  Get ready for a lively and unapologetically real chat with Dr. Tiara Moore—a powerhouse marine ecologist and the no-nonsense founder of Black in Marine Science. With a mix of sass and science, Dr. Moore spills the tea on her journey, from diving into the deep blue to making waves for Black scientists in a field...

Hello, my name is Dominique Drakeford and welcome to Compost, Cotton & Cornrows! In this exciting trailer episode, we give you a sneak peek into what Compost, Cotton and Cornrows is all about. Here’s what you can expect: This space is where Black & Afro-Indigenous Vanguards are redefining sustainability through storytelling across a myriad of industries and interests including agriculture,...