Roots of the Spirit Podcast

Welcome to a captivating episode of our podcast as we journey alongside Prudence Kalloo through the transformative landscape of "All Things Possible", a vibrant Facebook community that she created—a space that transcends mere memes and quotes to become a sanctuary for shared dreams, profound connections, and personal growth.  Delve into the heart of Prudence's journey and community, led by her unw...

Join us for a profound exploration as we journey with Deena Ismail, a Palestinian American storyteller and visionary, into the depths of ancestral wisdom, intergenerational trauma, and healing. In this episode, we uncover how understanding the power of our lineage can guide us toward excavating our authentic selves, and reclaiming what oppression has diminished. Deena's narrative illuminates the t...

Welcome to a transformative episode of the Roots of the Spirit podcast featuring Eve Alston, a Certified Executive & Transformation Coach and DEI Specialist. Eve's mission is clear: to guide individuals and teams toward embracing the power of identity, connection and safety in their lives and within organizations. In our conversation, Eve describes their journey of self-discovery and the profound...

Dive into Season 3 of the Roots of the Spirit podcast with host, Spirit Tawfiq, kicking it off! Take a moment to tune in as she reintroduces herself and offers some raw reflections on this moment in time. This season, we're delving deep into the journeys of some truly powerful individuals who are boldly stepping into their purpose, even in the face of adversity. You'll witness them navigating thro...

Host Spirit Tawfiq talks with Jocelyn Boreta, the co-founder of a bilingual mobile herb clinic by and for Latinx and Indigenous people. The Botanical Bus is helping people in her community through the power of plants and a connection to ancestors, helping cultivate health equity and the feeling of belonging.  Community health workers called promotoras are providing culturally-centered health servi...

Author Connor Towne O'Neill explores the history of white supremacy in his book Down Along with That Devil's Bones . On a special bonus episode of Roots of the Spirit, we'll hear about his journey to fight against racism by examining the uncomfortable truths of our nation's past. Buy the Book:  https://www.workman.com/products/down-along-with-that-devils-bones/paperback

Host Spirit Tawfiq talks with Dr. Kimber Shelton about the recent release of her Handbook on Counseling African American Women , which details the mental health needs and treatment interventions for black women. Handbook on Counseling African American Women: https://www.amazon.com/Handbook-Counseling-African-American-Women/dp/1440875952 Dr. Kimber Shelton: https://www.kls-counseling.com/ Facebook:...

Host Spirit Tawfiq talks to noted meditation practitioner Shamair Courage of LoveWorks365, who will be leading a meditation session at a fundraiser on May 22, 2022 at The Studio at Athleta Flatiron to provide scholarships for women to attend the Roots of the Spirit Healing and Joy Retreat. GoFundMe donations: https://gofund.me/18016786 Sign up for Roots of the Spirit Healing and Joy Retreat: https...

Host Spirit Tawfiq kicks off Season 2 with Dr. Thema Bryant, who will become President of the American Psychological Association in 2023. Roots of the Spirit is launching the And Wellness For All initiative, which promotes honest discussion about the wellness of people of color in the U.S. 4:20 Announcing the inaugural Roots of the Spirit Healing & Joy Retreat for black, indiginous, and women of c...

Treat yourself to a conversation with Civil Rights Icon, New York Times Bestselling Author, and Speaker Ruby Bridges who at the age of six was the first Black student to integrate an all-white elementary school in New Orleans in 1960. Her walk through the front doors of William Frantz Elementary School on Nov. 14, 1960, was immortalized in Norman Rockwell's painting The Problem We All Live With in...

Join special guest, Dr. Todd Mealy for a powerful conversation about his new book Race Conscious Pedagogy: Disrupting Racism at Majority White Schools , and how to be a powerful antiracism co-conspirator. Dr. Mealy is a 20-year educator at both the secondary level and in higher education. For two decades, Mealy has advocated for race consciousness in schools. He has written extensively on the topi...

Join Roots of the Spirit podcast host, Spirit Tawfiq as she answers a few questions from listeners - topics such as Trump banning antiracism work across the federal government, strategies to maintain sanity in these tumultuous times, and how to speak to students about the election.  Links I mention in the podcast: Roots of the Spirit website: www. RootsoftheSpirit.com   Roots of the Spirit Faceboo...

Spirit and Hisham Tawfiq talk the raw truth about the mental health impacts of racism + the rage, sadness, and frustrations of everyday racism. Hisham introduces a fresh new concept, "how to rope-a-dope racism" ...and they discuss the power of resistance, radical self-care, and love as liberation. 

In today's episode, we hear from Dr. Christiana Best-Giacomini, a remarkable woman who captivates us with her mother's story infused with unwavering courage, strength, and sacrifice as she left Grenada at the tender age of 28 to immigrate to the U.S.  Here's a link to Dr. Best's moving story about her mother, Pearl Mavis Munro.  https://www.womensactivism.nyc/stories/5331 Dr. Christiana Best-Giaco...

Roots of the Spirit podcast is proud to introduce you to the powerful young people of Reform Revolution Project! Founded by antiracism and social justice education activist, Julia Mariano, Reform Revolution project believes that through the power of accessible education, everyone has the potential to face the realities of racism, learn about social justice, and dismantle white supremacy from the g...

Minnijean Brown Trickey (Little Rock Nine) speaks truth to power about the reality of racism, police violence and the power of the Black Lives Matter Movement. This episode was originally recorded on a live podcast interview on facebook. 

Little Rock Nine member, Minnijean Brown Trickey wants children to know that they have the power to shift policy and make president's act.

Why is it so scary to speak the truth? What's at stake and what are the repercussions? In a super raw conversation, Spirit and Hisham Tawfiq discuss racism, courage, fears and consequences of speaking truth in the "present-racial" U.S. Some explicit language used. Head first we go!

"I'm very big on addressing the inside and dressing the outside. I think in today's society, everyone is so busy wanting to impress people with what they have and how they look...and then inside we're torn, we're broken, we're hurting...a lot of us are going through the same things...we put up these facades. I kind of like to try to break through the facade." In 2007, Wardrobe Stylist & Costume De...

Endorsed by Michael Jordan, signed by Quincy Jones, and supported by the likes of Sean "Diddy" Combs, Lee England Jr. has without a doubt paved a unique path as a violinist. Although he is classically trained, he is claimed as "The Soul Violinist," due to his stylistic blend of R&B, hip-hop, and soul. In addition to his mastery of this instrument, he adds viola, cello, bass, guitar, drums, piano,...

Tawny is a self taught artist who has been working in the field of photography for the past 16+ years. Born in Tokyo, growing up an 'army brat', she had the unique opportunity to take in the cultures of three different continents all before the age of 12. By then she was in the United States and elbow-deep in her aunt's theatre company. She studied theatrical arts from the age 12 to early adulthoo...

Retired FDNY firefighter and actor, Hisham Tawfiq joins the Roots of the Spirit Community as a regular contributor -- sharing his own path to healing and shining a light on the importance of health and wellness for Black men.  Roots of the Spirit interview w/ Hisham from 2015: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f86EEzF1F9w Roots of the Spirit website profile of Hisham: https://www.rootsofthespirit.co...

Little Rock Nine member, Minnijean Brown was expelled from Central High School in February, 1958 for "verbal retaliation" after 6 months of daily terrorism inside the school. Famed social psychologists, Dr. Kenneth and Mamie Clark invited Minnijean to live with them to finish school in New York at New Lincoln School, a progressive integrated school. She lived with the Clarks in their home in Hasti...

Join Roots of the Spirit podcast host, Spirit Tawfiq as she reflects on her experience creating and building Roots of the Spirit - a platform to uproot racism through storytelling, education and the arts. She also also touches on lessons learned and wisdom gained as she crosses into her 40th decade on the planet!