The Blackness Thread (formerly Still Talking Black)

Send us Fan Mail There was a moment of surprise and, yes, discomfort, when my guess Kendra attended a Black festival with her white fiancé. But why should love come with a label? My guest Kendra, an Afrocentric woman engaged to a white man, joined me, to break down the nuances and challenges of being pro-Black while in an interracial relationship. Together, we lift the veil on how love, race, and...

Send us Fan Mail Imagine a world where all children, no matter their background, see themselves represented positively in the books they read. That's the world our guest, Dawn-Maria France , is working tirelessly to create. From the UK, Dawn-Maria uses her talent and platform to diversify the narrative of children's literature, ensuring that children from marginalized communities find th...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever wondered about the stories behind the most dedicated and resilient individuals in the medical profession? Meet Dr. Sylvia Morris, Dr. Angela Walker, and Dr. Diane Boykin, co-authors of "The Game Plan" and pioneers in their own right. Each with a unique tale of struggle, triumph, and an unwavering determination to succeed in the field of medicine, despite so...

Send us Fan Mail Imagine entering a new phase of life, one marked by hormonal change, transition, and growth, yet feeling completely unprepared to navigate the journey. This was the reality for Dana Lawson, a certified health coach, who faced her menopausal transition head-on. Dana joined us to share her personal experiences and insights, shedding light on the often misunderstood subject of menopa...

Send us Fan Mail When we sat down with Bobby Huntley, a Marine Corps veteran, author, and mentor to over 600 young boys, we were truly inspired. His Gentleman's Club program is a testament to the power of mentorship, and it's a journey he shared with us with great sincerity. We traversed his experiences in the school system, his own personal challenges, and, most importantly, the heartwa...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when a non-stop, hustle-filled lifestyle starts eating into your wellness, relationships, and peace of mind? Brace yourself for an enlightening conversation with our guest, Natalie Mullin, a wellness educator, and coach, who will take us through her journey of finding balance in her life, saving her marriage, and how that has inspired her to help others do the same. W...

Send us Fan Mail My guest, Chris Wilson, walks you down memory lane, sharing how his journey began and the transferable skills he harnessed to run a successful Pilates franchise. His story shines a light on the power of marketing, inclusivity, and creating a comfortable environment for customers. Don't miss out on an opportunity to be inspired and educated about the exciting world of franchis...

Send us Fan Mail Listen in as I share my personal experiences and engage in a profound conversation with Dr. Jeannelle Perkins-Muhammad on the intricacies of Black intimacy and relationships. Together, we unravel the layers of emotional intelligence, cultural conditioning, and personal experiences that shape our interactions with our partners. Have you ever wondered how your beliefs affect your re...

Send us Fan Mail Ever been curious about the intricate relationship between perception, representation, and the Black experience? You're in for an enlightening ride with my guest Matthew Speamer, a curious mix of a stand-up comedian and dedicated teacher, who takes us through his personal journey. We delve into his evolution towards self-acceptance, and his incredible work in educating young...

Send us Fan Mail Could the roadmap to your child's future career start with an enlightening summer camp or an eye-opening internship? Unravel this and more, as Jennifer Ledwith of Scholar Ready joins us to navigate the crucial terrain of preparing our young ones for a future packed with possibilities. Get on board as we chart a course through various career pathways, emphasizing the importanc...

Send us Fan Mail On this episode I talk to three Black fathers about there experiences in fatherhood from the perspective of a Black man. We cover various aspects of fatherhood, including the meaning, role, lessons learned, experiences, desired qualities, challenges faced by Black fathers, and the change in perspective after becoming a father.  Support the show Show Credits: Richard Dodds (Host/Pr...

Send us Fan Mail Episode Summary: In the season one finale, I talk with White parents that adopted two Black children. They open up about the things they've experienced and how their lives have been forever changed when they welcomed their children into their hearts and lives. Spotlight on Melanin: I am still looking for new submissions for Spotlight on Melanin. Spotlight on Melanin is the pa...

Send us Fan Mail Episode Summary: As we near the end of season one, host and producer Richard Dodds sits down and discusses the whys. Why he started the podcast, why it's important, and more. Spotlight on Melanin: I am still looking for new submissions for Spotlight on Melanin. Spotlight on Melanin is the part of the show where I like to spotlight a creator, influencer, artist, business owner...

Send us Fan Mail Episode Summary: You never know what someone is going through from the outside looking in. My guest Chris Blount talks about his struggles with anxiety and depression and how he used music and podcasting to help get him through it. About the Interviewee: Chris Blount is a podcaster, artist, and owner of On Purpose Recordings in Tacoma, WA. He hosts a podcast called "I Said Th...

Send us Fan Mail Episode Summary: In this episode, I am joined by the hosts and producers of the Full-Time Black Woman podcast to talk about what it means to protect our Black women and how we do it. About the Interviewee: Full-Time Black Woman is your safe space for you to be your full self. Our goal is to create an environment where Black professional women can discuss the ups and downs we exper...

Send us Fan Mail Episode Summary: Sometimes we feel like it's much easier to shut our eyes to injustices because they may not be affecting us directly, but in the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." In this episode guest, Devan Sandiford and I discuss how we found our voices through all the injustices and made room to be our fu...

Send us Fan Mail Episode Summary: This one was a hard one. In the wake of the shooting in Buffalo, New York, and Uvalde, Texas, we welcome back Mia Reid to tell us more about how the loss of her son led her to become a psychologist and an advocate that fights for better gun laws. We talk about ways to help bring awareness to gun safety and why people will be wearing orange this weekend. WearOrange...

Send us Fan Mail Episode Summary: Diversity, equity, and inclusion are important values in the workplace because they foster a work environment that is fair and inclusive. They also benefit employees by making them feel valued and appreciated. Studies have shown that workplaces with greater diversity, equity, and inclusion have lower turnover rates, better communication among employees, and strong...

Send us Fan Mail Episode Summary: We live in a world where some of us have been convinced that looking wealthy is more important than actually building wealth. From what I’ve seen and experienced, many of our people lack financial literacy. It is something that I noticed at a very young age, and since then worked to educate myself on how to better handle my finances. I try to pass on the financial...

Send us Fan Mail Episode Summary: How do we become better leaders? That is the focus of today's show, figuring out how to deal with the added pressures of being a leader as a minority and also learning how to be a better leader. I talk with Shayna Hammond Founder & CEO of Lead For Liberation and IndigoWomen, whose understanding of leadership started at a very young age when her teacher to...

Send us Fan Mail Episode Summary: This episode is all about the pursuit of higher education. I talk to DR. Zakiya, a self-proclaimed former career student and author of the upcoming book, "Dump Your Degree." We talk about our experiences with higher education, the lessons we learned, and the pitfalls we faced. We also talk about our experiences with work-life after school.   About the In...

Send us Fan Mail Episode Summary: In this episode, I talk to Christina and Eddie Sledge of Sledge House Media. They not only created a media company from the ground up, but they did it in the middle of a pandemic. Now they are sharing their fiction and non-fiction stories in book form, and one day plan to expand to other forms of media such as feature films.  About the Interviewees / Spotlight on...

Send us Fan Mail Episode Summary: This episode is all about soul food, but not the soul food you may be used to, today we are talking about vegan soul food with my guest Kirsten Ussery. Kristen talks with me about her journey of going vegan and later opening a vegan restaurant. I also spend a little time talking about the history of traditional soul food. Veganism has many health benefits and I am...

Send us Fan Mail Episode Summary: This is the final episode of the series Mother's of Black Sons. In this episode, I talked to Kristin, who is preparing her son for college. One of the things we talked about that resonated the most was her talking about how differently people see her son now that is has started to transition from a boy to a man. About the Interviewee / Spotlight on Melanin :...

Send us Fan Mail Episode Summary: This is the fourth episode in a five-part series talking to Mothers of Black Sons. In this episode, we talk to Mallorie whose eight-year-old son has already faced discrimination from other children. She also shares the ways in which having a son has changed her and helped her to grow and mature. Support the show Show Credits: Richard Dodds (Host/Producer): @Doddsi...