I Have Given My Answer

This Black History Month, we're tackling a real-life supervillain: Sidekick Syndrome. You know the feeling – always the hype man, the wingwoman, the "sassy best friend" while your dreams and stories get pushed to the background. Girl, we ain't here for that! This episode, we're talking about: Melissa Harris-Perry and Sister Citizen to expose the stereotypes that keep Black women boxed in. ‍ Colone...

This week on "I Have Given My Answer," we're diving deep into the four fierce Black Marvel Heroines who can help you slay the self-care struggle: the wise leader, the unstoppable force, the brilliant innovator, and the resilient storm.  Think you're all Monica Rambeau, power-punching through life? Or maybe you're Shuri, the creative firecracker who sometimes sets her own expectations on fire? This...

Welcome back to I Have Given My Answer, where we dissect the wisdom of fictional badasses and apply it ti our own messy lives! This week, we're taking a light dive into the "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" rabbit hole, exploring the pretty plausible theory that our dreams are windows into other versions of ourselves living their wildest lives. Get ready to ask yourself: Do you dream b...

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Welcome back to I Have Given My Answer, where we dissect the wisdom of fictional badasses and apply it to our own messy, glorious lives. This week, we're channeling our inner Nick Fury (without the eye patch, hopefully) and talking about ideas, plans, and goals. You know, that whole "there was an idea" speech that gets you all hyped and ready to conquer the world? Yeah, that one. L...

What does it mean to be a fan? You know, like - a FAN. Think about it: you know every lyric to their latest album, you plan your life around their tour dates, you even forgive them for those questionable outfits (Usher, Vegas residency, leather vest... we see you, sugar). So why do we hold ourselves to a different standard? Why do we silence our inner hype squad when the spotlight falls on us? Tim...

  Welcome back, #MagicalBlackOnes, to a podcast episode that's as bright and bubbly as a glass of rosé on a sunny day! I hope you all had a chance to recharge your batteries and get your dose of Vitamin D during the holidays. Now that we're back in the swing of things, let's talk about something that's as essential to our well-being as water and Netflix marathons: setting healthy expectations. Rem...

Welcome back to the podcast! This week, we're talking about the chosen family we create for ourselves. As the leaves start to change and the air gets crisper, it's a time to reflect on the people we cherish most, the ones who make us laugh, cry, and everything in between.  But what about the family you choose? The ones who are always there for you, no matter what? Well, this week on the podcast, w...

You have any limiting beliefs holding you back? Like you can't achieve your dreams because you're not smart enough, pretty enough, or rich enough? Friend, it's time to rewrite your origin story! On this week's episode of the podcast, we're talking about the importance of rewriting our origin stories and creating the future we want for ourselves. Join us as we discuss: How our origin stories are sh...

Hey y'all! We're back with another episode of "I Have Given My Answer," and this week, we're doing something a little different. We're pivoting to focus on our Black women Marvel fans, and we're talking about the one and only Monica Rambeau. Now, I know what you're thinking: "Monica? Who's that?" But Monica is a badass superhero who's been around since the 70s. She's also a Black woman, and she's...

This week, we're talking about "Unmasking What You Want." As Black women, we're often taught to put the needs of others before our own. We're told to be selfless, to be strong, to be everything to everyone. But what about us? What about our own desires and wishes? In this episode, I'm talking about why it's so important for Black women to take the mask off of what we want and start pursuing our ow...

Welcome back, fam!  Welcome back to the second season of I Have Given My Answer! We're kicking off this season with a topic that's near and dear to our hearts: self-care. In this episode, we're talking about how paying ourselves back through self-care can translate to money. That's right, we said it: self-care is an investment. When we take care of ourselves, we're more productive, more creative,...

In the finral episode of our first season, we are privileged to have the joy and the expertise of Joyce Conley. As Coach and Consultant at Alve' Pro, LLC, she specializes in building relationships, effective communication, and being resilient in the most challenging times, while increasing student achievement and teacher efficacy. She was one of Orange County Public Schools' three 2022-23 Assistan...

Owner of Body Luxxe Luxury Hair and Body Care, Lagina Smith shares with us not only her journey as a Black businessowner, but that of a corporate executive, a Black woman, and a Black mother. While each of those titles carries an unimaginable weight by itself, she wears them all with the poise and posture of a true queen. That doesn't mean it isn't heavy, and it doesn't mean she's stronger than mo...

Today, we're talking to Danielle Felton, Founder and CEO of DEF Educational Consulting. She is an expert in transforming classrooms in to safe, engaging communities where children thrive.  She is also an expert in solution oriented strategic thinking and simplifying complex subjects and tasks. In this week's episode she talks to us about creating and thriving in community, creating community for o...

Founder and Designer of Ilium Wing, Ama McKiney talks with us about how she lives her life as a fine jewelry designer, a global nomad, and a woman who has had 35+ jobs (she'll tell you herself!).  As my oldest and best friend, Ama has known me for a very long time, and I've known her. She is an incredible teacher, and is here to teach us how to live lives that are authentic to us, and that are wit...

This week, I talk about Shame and Black womxn - how it comes from generational trauma, and how we can free ourselves to live outside of it. I reference thought leaders I trust and respect like Brene Brown, Melissa V. Harris-Perry, and bell hooks - so it's a well-rounded conversation in this piece about shame. Let's get into it. The books referenced this week are: Brene Brown, The Power of Vulnerab...

Amber Vaughan comes to us with stories of learning and understanding your worth, betting on yourself, and making sure that you and everyone else knows that you ARE everything. She is the embodiment of knowing that you are the shit, and she makes sure that you know it, too. Would you believe she was nervous to record this episode? After hearing her, you'd likely never have guessed. And so she's als...

Patricia Reign is the HBIC at Traveling Aura Mobile Spa Concierge, serving the South Florida area. In our episode this week, we talk about resting, living life as a creative, and what it means to save space for your dreams. This is a powerful episode that reminds you that your birthright IS to dream, and that you deserve the space to do just that. You can find out more about Traveling Aura, and bo...

Making the choice to show up as our full selves as Black women means unlearning a lot of the lessons we grew up with. We have to unlearn what our parents and grandparents taught us, be kinder to ourselves, and extend grace to those around us. But that extension of grace to others starts with shwing it to ourselves, as well. That part, isn't always so easy. Talitha is here to share with us her jour...

So often, we think that by telling ourselves that we are a priority is the end of the work.  Spoiler alert - it's not. Prioritizing yourself is an action. It is an active verb that calls for you to make a decision about who, or what, is important.  In this week's episode, have a sneak peek at how the My Time, My Way Challenge went, and see how we get down when we're teaching. There's no holding ba...

High Priestess Afiya Matthews joins us on this episode where we take a rare dive into faith and religion. She shares with us intimate details of her journey through religious experiences, and gives us her take on how to live a life that is authentic to you, and no one else. Afiya Matthews works for the largest nonprofitr in Texas by day, but her true calling is that of a Spiritual Worker. She cons...

In today's episode, we talk to TaKenya Freeney Battle. This INCREDIBLE #MagicalBlackOne reminds us that in a world that wants us to tone ourselves down, we have a responsibilty to ourselves to be MORE. We learn about what our earliest experiences with freedom mean, and how we can sing the world a song with the music that speaks to our heart. And because we support Black women businesses in THIS sp...

In this episode we focus on self-worth, and what that means to us as Black womxn. It's important to know that we are worthy, and we don't need anyone's validation to know that (not even our own). We discuss the difference between self-esteem and self-worth, why you need a healthy supply of both, but why one of these will carry you across the finish line. This week's episode is brought to you by th...

This episode is brought to you by the FREE My Time, My Way Challenge, taking place from March 20 - March 24, 2023. Five days of live trainings leading us toward Rest, Restoration, and Reclaiming our time and space. Register at www.e616consulting.com/challenge   About Our Guest: Hanako Moondance is a MAGICAL Librarian with specialties in Children's Literature and Storytelling. But do NOT be fooled...

About Our Guest: Dee Anaya is the Founder and Creative Grief Guide of Adventures of Grief Girl. She is a Mom, an educator, and a Grief Coach. She is also a parental advocate for families with children who are Deaf or Hard of hearing. Aside from all THAT - she is an artist, a writer, and a self-proclaimed (and I can confirm!) a creator of magical things! Find her on IG at https://www.instagram.com/...