Mocha Message Podcast

For the Season 5 finale, Jackie and Shani speak on one thing your time on this earth is going to guarantee: Change. From its ebbs and flows, there aren't only changes on an introspective level, but also interpersonal levels to match. The Mocha Mavens are here to discuss some ways to anchor your friendships where life's waves often clash and collide.

Social media. A gift and curse. A gift because it is quick and easy to share information. But what happens when the wires get crossed, misinformation spreads just as fast, if not you can be the result of scam culture. Jackie and Shani are here to encourage you to slow down, take a beat, and fact check. We’d never want our good people to be the victims of a scam.

The Mocha Mavens are back from their mid-season Spring Break, and ready to get into another great topic! Season 5 has had an overarching theme around sisterhood, and this episode is no different. Jackie and Shani discuss how important it is to help those around you, as well as give personal experiences where a sister reached their hand out to us and the positive impact it resulted in. As always, w...

Jackie and Shani have been in their book bags (get it 😉) this season and they are bringing you a heater this episode! From episode 1 of the Mocha Message, our hosts have highlighted the importance of Sisterhood. It only makes sense they’ve completely fan-girled over the book Sisterhood Heals by, licensed Psychologist and therapist Dr. Joy Harden Bradford. The book challenged Shani and Jackie to g...

What is it with content nowadays? Nothing seems genuine, everything appears to be a push for engagement - whether negative or positive, true or glorified truth. It's exhausting. And it makes it harder to consume content on your favorite platforms for enjoyment anymore. In this episode, Jackie and Shani chat about some ways to recognize when you're being baited into clicks and views, as well as how...

There seems to be a tendency to want to question, minimize, or altogether erase the impact of Black women's accomplishments and contributions. However when this happens, it is important to advocate for yourself, hold your own, and also be your sister's keeper if need be whenever you witness it. In this episode Jackie and Shani give some encouragement on what to do to keep your head up, remain enco...

We, the Gatekeepers of the Mocha Message Podcast, in order to form a more uniform Culture, establish Boundaries to ensure a fierce Protection for all things sacred to the African-American, otherwise known as, Black community. Jackie and Shani delve into their personal thoughts, feelings, and ideas around imaginary cookout handouts, pandering to white people, and preserving recipes in this episode...

Its officially 2024! Happy New Year! By the time you receive this second part of our two-part Holiday special, we will be 3 days fresh into 2024! But before we embrace the new year, we're going to take a walk down memory lane to chat about some of the highlights of 2023. Disclaimer: This episode was filmed before the Renaissance film, The Color Purple 2023 Musical Movie, and some other stand out m...

Last year we gifted y'all with a little Holiday treat with our "Good Tidings and Cheer" episode, and you all absolutely ate it up! It is one of our most watched episodes and we had gotten some requests to run it back. We may as well make it an annual tradition at this point! Join us as we unpack all things 2023. We chat about the good, the bad, and the everything in between. This year we brought y...

In the words of one of our favorite music artists, Durand Bernarr: We’re setting boundaries. During the hiatus Jackie and Shani dove into some books penned by Black Women authors. One book they instantly knew they had to share with the Mavens was Dr. Nedra’s Glover Tawabb’s book Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself. From the minute they cracked it open, it was evident this wo...

Have you ever known a relaxed woman? For the season 4 finale, Jackie and Shani uncover why this question is profound and uncover the importance of pausing, sitting with it, and processing... Why the likelihood of your answer to that question is probably "no", what that means for Black women specifically, and what we can do to change that. This is a WRAP for Season 4 and we can't head outta here wi...

In this episode, Jackie & Shani chat ALL about what it means to release. It's so unhealthy - mentally and physically - to hold in stress, anger, and negativity. So how can you release the bad feelings in a productive way, to make room for the great ones? As always, be sure to follow us on IG and subscribe to our Youtube channel! Happy 2023, Mocha Mavens!

Happy Holidays! We figured it would be fun to gift you all with the Mocha Message, special edition since our last episode of the year lands right before the Holiday rush. Join Jackie and Shani as they bring a mini year in review by going over what they achieved this year, are looking forward to accomplishing for next year, and highlight some stand out pop culture moments!

Have you ever pushed yourself for a particular job title or positions or had dreams of climbing the corporate ladder? At one point that was us, but as Jackie often says “We off that!” It is okay to have dreams, goals, and aspirations for the future but never at the expense of taking care of self, quality time with friends and family, and your own interests. Jackie and Shani share how they re-evalu...

Insecurities. How many of us have them?? In this episode, we get candid about underlying insecurities that we ALL have a tendency to have. Sometimes apparent, other times overlooked. We're here to tell you that it's normal to have them, it's important to acknowledge them, and realizing that you can grow comfortable with them is the first step to overcoming them. Give us a like, leave a comment, an...

In this episode, we chat about the importance of lifting your voice. As Black Women - our voices are often minimized. Some of it has been learned over the years and some of it... unfortunately has been taught. But as we’ve grown over the years, we’ve realized the best way to find your voice is to practice using it! As always, catch us on Youtube and continue the conversation under our video!

Have you ever been curious about what it would be like to start a therapy journey? Faced any resistance around the matter? Even wondered how to start?? Listen, we've BEEN there! Jackie & Shani dive into their unique therapy journeys while reflecting on what made them start, explaining the process to obtain a therapist, and sharing the benefits reaped as a result of the hard work that is called hea...

This episode is a treat - because it's a call back to an oldie but goodie. In Shani & Jackie's introduction to the world as the Mocha Message, they spoke about the importance of having a tribe: a group of people that hold you down through whatever. But what happens when life gets in the way? Jackie & Shani share tips and tricks on how to stay in touch with your people, despite life's curveballs. D...

Well hello world! We are back... and on YouTube?! With three whole seasons on audio, the dynamic duo has returned and decided to leap out of their comfort zones by giving their followers something they have been asking for, for a long time... VIDEO! Listen to PART TWO of Season 4's inaugural episode as the co-hosts chat about working through their reservations of going video, addressing why their...

*Originally released September 14, 2022* Well hello world! We are back... and on YouTube?! This may be Jackie and Shani's 1st intro to the world behind the screen, but these two are no strangers to spreading light, laughs, and inspiration. With three whole seasons on audio, the dynamic duo has returned and decided to leap out of their comfort zones by giving their followers something they have bee...

*Originally released February 3, 2021* After the attack on the Capitol, and then watching AOC's Instagram live recounting her experience, we had to end Season 3 of the Mocha Message venting about the White Hypocrisy shown in law enforcement, government, honestly EVERY part of life. It's exhausting, and we (the black community) are tired. Continue the conversation on our Instagram @mochamessagepodc...

*Originally released January 13, 2021* What happens when the people who are supposed to protect and care for you cannot be trusted? We already know this to be true with police, but there are other instances where people (such as physicians) cannot & should not act upon their own biases. Jackie and Shani speak about the importance of being able to uncover bias in believing Black people, specificall...

*Originally released on December 9, 2020* In this episode, Jackie & Shani chop it up about the pressure that social media - namely IG - places on women and their looks. Having to be "on" all the time can surface a lot of insecurities, and our two Mocha Mavens unpack and process where it all stems from. Is it the male gaze? Patriarchy? Feeling the need to one-up the next woman? Let's navigate ways...

*Originally released on November 25, 2020* What do we do in a world that makes snap judgments about us strictly based on the color of our skin? In this episode, Jackie & Shani get deeply into respectability politics. We chat about running across skin folk who ain't kinfolk, and what to do when they try to tell you to "sit down and play nice." Are there times where respectability can be an advantag...

*Originally released on November 11, 2020* Isn't it interesting how we sometimes struggle to extend the same grace we give to other people... to ourselves? It is imperative to hold space to be kind to yourself just as you would to others. In this episode, Shani and Jackie explore questions such as, When is it appropriate to take a break, take a step back, or even just stop and be still? We need to...