The Blueprint

Welcome back to The Blueprint Podcast 💛 This episode is extra special… because I’m sitting down with someone who helped shape my life—my 85-year-old grandma, recorded while I was visiting her in Manchester, Jamaica. In this heartfelt conversation, she shares: What life was like growing up in Jamaica in the 1940s Raising 9 children without modern resources The reality of poverty, resilience, and g...

Hey friends, welcome back to The Blueprint Podcast. I’m Yanique — your host, your sister, and your friend. In this episode, we’re joined by author Michelle Nicole Farley , who shares how her vivid recurring dreams became the pages of her novel All Bark and No Bite . We talk about writing as an outlet for confidence, healing, and reclaiming your voice — plus the real challenges behind publishing: f...

What happens when you spend 33 years in a narcissistic marriage and don’t even realize what you’re living in until decades later? In this powerful episode of The Blueprint, host Yanique Walters sits down with Mickey, author of Cultivating Freedom, who shares her raw, unfiltered journey of surviving narcissistic abuse, enduring six years of legal battles, and ultimately reclaiming her peace, voice,...

In this episode of The Blueprint , Yanique Walters sits down with Gift Ijeoma , a faith-driven writer, budding entrepreneur, and plant biology student from Nigeria, for a powerful conversation about loss, abuse, homelessness, and rebuilding. Gift shares her journey of losing family members, being separated from her siblings, and enduring physical and emotional abuse that deeply impacted her confid...

In this episode of The Blueprint Podcast , Yanique sits down with Daneil Dunkley for a raw and deeply moving conversation about rebuilding life from the ground up. From moving to America from Jamaica at age 20 to navigating divorce, toxic relationships, and the shame she carried after becoming pregnant again, Daneil shares her powerful story with honesty and grace. She opens up about giving birth...

Welcome back to The Blueprint Podcast . I’m Yanique — your friend, your sister, and your host. If you caught our last episode with Briyon Minor , we explored parenting, children’s mental health, and the patterns formed in the home. In today’s episode, we continue that conversation — because what starts in the home doesn’t stay there. It follows us into our adult relationships, how we love, how we...

Welcome back to The Blueprint! I’m Yanique Walters, your host, your sister, and your friend. In today’s episode, I’m joined by Ingrid Garofola , an Army veteran with over 20 years of service , a wife, dog mom, bonus mom, and a woman of faith. Ingrid shares her powerful story and the moment she realized true healing had to begin . We talk about childhood trauma , life in the military, emotional sur...

Parenting doesn’t come with a manual — and for many of us, especially Black families and single mothers, we’re trying to raise emotionally healthy children while healing ourselves at the same time. In this episode of The Blueprint Podcast , I’m joined by Briyon Minor, LAPC , a licensed associate professional counselor based in Atlanta, for an honest and necessary conversation about parenting style...

This episode is a testimony. In this episode of The Blueprint , I sit down with Aneisha “Wealthy Annie” Rose — a certified John Maxwell life and business coach, entrepreneur, and forex trader with over ten years in the financial industry. Born and raised in Kingston 13, Jamaica, Aneisha shares how growing up around violence, poverty, and discrimination shaped her mindset, her faith, and her missio...

Self-care isn’t selfish — it’s how we show up whole. Today I’m joined by Ashley Sessions , the powerhouse behind Pampering Sessions , a self-care brand creating decadent body butters, luminous body oils, cleansing sugar scrubs, and more. We break down self-care vs. self-love , rebuilding self-trust , and how small daily practices lead to big inner shifts. Ashley also shares how her brand came to l...

On this episode of The Blueprint Podcast , host Yanique Walters sits down with Karen “Karey” Casto-Chrin , founder of the global award-winning beauty brand Hopa the Karey / Hoppy Skin —a CBD-alternative skincare and cosmetics line born from deeply personal pain, resilience, and faith. Karey opens up about grief, domestic abuse, losing contact with her children, and the legal maze she’s fought thro...

Dating can be messy. Community can be messy too. Today, Gemini (Shanna Spence) keeps it all the way real about running Toronto’s largest Black singles community, navigating marriage and separation, rediscovering herself as a mom of two sets of twins, and why self-worth and boundaries matter more than opinions. If you’ve ever stayed for potential, feared the gossip, or struggled to date after doing...

On this week’s Blueprint Podcast , Yanique Walters sits down with comedian, writer, podcaster, and relationship truth-teller Clint Coley for a raw, funny, and brutally honest conversation about modern dating. They dive into: What intentional men look like Why good dating stories don’t go viral How trauma shows up in communication Green flags that actually matter Why “falling off” usually means he’...

Adrienne went from a shy church girl who married at 18 to a woman of purpose who leads and empowers other women. In this honest conversation, we talk about divorce at 26, the dark season that followed, finding her way back to God, writing poetry that became her book Pieces of Me , and launching communities that help women heal and find their tribe. We also get real about codependency after breakup...

In this episode of The Blueprint Podcast , your host Yanique Walters sits down with Sherica , a woman who embodies what it means to rise after heartbreak and loss. From failing a college course, to the devastation of divorce, to raising her daughters as a single mom and losing her career — she could have given up. Instead, she rebuilt her life. Today, she is a food sustainability professional and...

Hey friends—today’s episode is sacred. Rose survived a targeted shooting (hit 13 times), the loss of her child’s father, homelessness, health battles, and back-to-back grief. For years she lived in survival mode—until faith, accountability, and a patient love helped her begin to heal. This conversation is for anyone carrying trauma and longing to feel seen, supported, and safe. We talk about: • Su...

“I’ve been spit on. I’ve been dragged downstairs. I’ve been punched in the eye.” With that raw opening, Monique Williams invites us into her powerful journey of hurt, healing, and hope. Together, we unpack: Accountability in relationships Overcoming abuse & PTSD triggers The “runner mentality” in dating Boundaries you keep vs. boundaries you bend Co-parenting and bonus-mom challenges Social me...

Trigger Warning: This episode includes discussion of abuse and trauma. This week on The Blueprint, Yanique sits down with Devon Croom—author of Abused But Not Broken, minister, leadership coach, and founder of Women Warriors Group. Devon opens up about early trauma, why many women stay, the code system she used to leave (411/911), and the tools that rebuilt her life: faith, therapy, journaling, si...

In this inspiring episode of The Blueprint , Yanique sits down with Kim Cole-Bartley —educator, minister, life coach, and founder of Beautiful Ashes and The Complete Woman Conference . Kim opens up about her journey through childhood challenges, faith, resilience, stillbirth, and how gratitude and community transformed her life. If you’ve ever felt broken, stuck, or questioned your faith, this con...

his week’s episode is all about gratitude and reflection. As we celebrate Thanksgiving, I want to pause and thank each and every one of you for being part of this amazing journey. 💛 Over the last nine weeks, we’ve covered everything from leadership and personal growth to financial literacy and work-life integration. The conversations have been meaningful, the lessons invaluable, and your support...

Step into the world of ambition, determination, and success with The Blueprint! 🌟 Stop by our stall to explore how women are breaking barriers, leading industries, and redefining entrepreneurship. ✨ 🗣️ Don’t miss our inspiring conversations featuring bold leaders who are making their mark and helping others do the same. Whether you’re starting out or leveling up, there’s something here for every...

Welcome to The Blueprint ! In this episode, we’re diving into the world of credit cards —a tool that can be incredibly powerful or incredibly tricky, depending on how you use it. Today, we’re joined once again by personal finance coach Ashley Thomas , who’s here to share expert tips on building credit, managing credit card debt, and making the most out of your credit card perks without falling int...

Welcome to The Blueprint! In this episode, we dive deep into the world of technology and how it’s shaping the future of work and business. Ever wondered how you can turn your passion into profit using tech? Or maybe you’re curious about how technology creates new opportunities for entrepreneurs and professionals alike. Our conversation covers: - Practical ways to harness technology for personal an...

In today’s episode of The Blueprint , we're joined by personal finance coach Ashley Thomas, founder of Making Money Matter , to dive deep into budgeting, saving, and planning for retirement. Ashley shares her expertise on breaking out of the hand-to-mouth cycle, understanding our money triggers, and creating a budget that actually works. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to improve your...

In this episode of The Blueprint, we continue our journey toward financial security by focusing on insurance. Last week, we covered the importance of investing, and today, we’re exploring how insurance can protect the wealth you’re building. Joined by Devona Quarles, a licensed insurance broker, and Kirk Gordon, an investment expert, we dive into the key types of insurance, common misconceptions,...