SOL Affirmations with Karega & Felicia

"What is present may not always be visible in the moment. At the right moment it will be seen. Its relevance requires its process and cannot be rushed." SOL Affirmations was (once again) nominated for an Ambie award which this time took them to Vegas. While in reflection, Karega and Felicia note how all of this, the podcast and the stories that they share in it, start with Kamaiu and the story tha...

Mass incarceration is a type of loss. It isn't often framed that way, but you know we are all about the reframe here. In the last interview in the series from the Kennedy Center, Karega and Felicia sit down with their friend Tony Lewis Jr., a DC community leader, re-entry expert, and champion for children with mass incarcerated parents to discuss the community and specifically the youth of DC. Plu...

"Sometimes the art is showing up to the day differently than you've done before." - Dr. Felicia Gangloff-Bailey As Karega and Felicia continued their stay in DC they knew that they needed to link up with their old friend Angel Gregorio. If you know DC, you know Angel. You know The Spice Suite, you know the work she does for the community and our people. What you probably don't know is how she has...

While artists in residence at the Kennedy Center, Karega & Felicia had the opportunity to sit down with their old friend husband, father, community leader, and licensed therapist Kier Gaines. In conversation they discuss not only how they have shown up for each other, but for community, and specifically the youth. It is a conversation about Black Love at it's core.  ======== Karega's New Album Leg...

Felicia's desire for structure and Karega's desire to take the path of least resistance when it comes to parenting is looked at in depth within this episode. In this episode, both share honest thoughts about navigating through the journey of parenthood and the power struggles that come with it. ======== Felicia's new book SOL Affirmations: A Toolkit for Mothers Who Are Investigating Grief's Proces...

Some of you may (or may not) know but Karega is also an artist. His latest album, Legacy Lounge Season 1, features a song  about Felicia (one that she lowkey has been waiting for). However it is through Karega's words that Felicia has been allowed to learn how to process her own grief, and how it gave her the space to learn to love without judgment after loss.  ======== Karega's New Album Legacy L...

As Felicia and Karega come to the end of 2022 they reflect on just what this second year of SOL Affirmations has meant for them and this community they have built. Thank you all for holding space for grief, reframing, discussion, vulnerability, and above all else love. Make sure you listen to the end to hear a special announcement from Karega and Felicia! ======== Felicia's new book SOL Affirmatio...

The holidays are a time of joy for most. It's when we come together with family and friends and celebrate. However when we have lost someone we have loved, the holidays are not JUST the holidays. Sometimes the grief feels like it is fighting with the joy of the season. Karega and Felicia share just what this third year holiday season without Kamaiu on this plane is like and how navigating it with...

There's just something special about being connected to your people. We all get to decide who those people are. Relatives, chosen family, and in this instance, Karega & Felicia mean their fellow Hampton Alums. It was homecoming and the trip not only allowed them the room to explore what being around other Black people and going to an HBCU meant to them, but what that community has meant to them si...

Black men, it's time to get real with each other. Wellness, self-love, finance, nutrition; these are just a few topics Black Love Inc General Manager David Wasicki will be bringing to the forefront in Man to Man: A Black Love Wellness Series. Each week the topics will change, but the insights & lessons gained from Black men of all walks of life will remain constant. Man to Man serves as a platform...

As we move into the last quarter of the year Karega reflects on slowing down and finally allowing himself to feel all the things. It's easy to get caught up in time as you push through the front half of the year, but in this period it seems almost necessary to talk stock. More importantly, it is okay to allow ourselves to take those moments and actually pause and feel all the things we've put off...

Grief is on going and ever changing. It is easy to get stuck in a very real fatigue of grief. There is this notion that going full force into will get you over it and Karega and Felicia have realized that such is not the case. Listen in as the couple processes the challenge of moving through grief as it shifts with time. What realizations have they arrived at in this point in year three of Kamaiu'...

Felicia and Karega reflect on how Kamaiu's 3rd birthday looked so much different than her first two. As a family trip gave room for not only reflection into what the family unit looks like now that Kamali is here, but in how they now acknowledge Kamaiu as she shows up differently than she had in the past. Angel parenthood is constantly changing and adjusting and there is always beauty in the refra...

Angel parenthood comes to everyone differently, and everyone processes uniquely.  Karega and Felicia first came to know of  Heather and Demitri Wilson when they were invited to be guest speakers at their event, "The Angel Ball". It was then that they came to know their story.  Seven years after losing their daughter Kennedy on August 17, 2009, the idea of sewing burial gowns for infants came to He...

On September 30th, 2019, Karega and Felicia became Angel Parents to a beautiful #BabyBaileyGirl named Kamaiu SOL.  Happy 3rd Birthday Kamaiu. ======== Felicia's new book SOL Affirmations: A Toolkit for Mothers Who Are Investigating Grief's Process is available now! A collection of affirmations for Mothers who are experiencing Motherhood differently than imagined. These affirmations are carefully w...

When trying to share how one is dealing or processing grief there is always the fear of misunderstanding. At least this has been true for Felicia. There was a fear that when she shared her story on Black Love Doc that folks wouldn't understand. There's the fear that when people hear short clips of the podcast people will jump to their own conclusions and misunderstand. It's a real fear that when p...

How does one find gratitude in loss? In the hardest of moments? Continuing their reflections in their month of miracles and wonder Karega and Felicia reflect on how the meaning of gratitude has shifted for them since Kamaiu's double transition and how they continue to find ways to experience it.  ======== Felicia's new book SOL Affirmations: A Toolkit for Mothers Who Are Investigating Grief's Proc...

"I honor my reality and the heart work it requires to embrace my truth. I do not have to escape my feelings or rise above them. They are true and I will let them be true." What happens when the disbelief of manifestation holds true? When one cannot honor the truth of what they have done because the grief will not allow them to embrace their truth? Felicia and Karega share what emotions from all di...

Peace good people! Karega, Felicia and Kamali and finishing up their month long vacation but didn't want to leave you hanging.  As they travel back home they wanted to share their friend and fellow Black Love Podcast Network family member Charisse Sims' podcast Parenting for the Culture ! Charisse is an educator, PBS Early Learning Champion, and a mama of six so she knows a thing or two about rais...

There's something about grief that has a way of building connections. There is a community in grief as the process, while unique to each individual and situation is a universal concept. During Karega and Felicia's deepest period of grief they found the music of Rexx Life Raj . His lyrics connected to their experiences in a way that they couldn't necessarily find words for at the time. Nor did they...

This week Karega and Felicia discuss the grieving of the person you once were. Listen in as both share how so much loss and newness has allowed them to appreciate what the past has taught them and not needing to define what is next to come. CLICK HERE if you would like to ask Karega & Felicia a question. ======== Felicia's new book SOL Affirmations: A Toolkit for Mothers Who Are Investigating Grie...

This week Karega and Felicia discuss the importance of rest. Listen in as both share how rest has forced them to acknowledge how important it is. Because ultimately, there is no affirmation that can replace rest. CLICK HERE if you would like to ask Karega & Felicia a question. ======== Felicia's new book SOL Affirmations: A Toolkit for Mothers Who Are Investigating Grief's Process is available now...

This week Karega and Felicia celebrate their 10 year anniversary. Listen in as Karega shares how his difficulty with separating from Kamali, for an anniversary trip, ended up being a lesson on the importance of separation. While both express falling in love with one another all over again on this journey. CLICK HERE if you would like to ask Karega & Felicia a question. ======== Felicia's new book...

This week Karega and Felicia celebrate the life of Karega's brother Karim, after his passing 8 years ago. Listen in as Karega shares how acknowledging what getting better is has helped him surrender and further confront his feelings. While both share the lesson of there being no growth in the process of rushing grief. CLICK HERE if you would like to ask Karega & Felicia a question. ======== Felici...

On Saturday July 23, 2022 we start the farewell season of Black Love Doc. This week as the season premiere approaches Karega and Felicia ( and EP Kamali) reflect on their own Black Love story and the importance of Black representation in media. Listen in as they share how sharing their story was a part of their healing journey, and what the legacy of the series (and the things to come from the ser...