THE MELANIN PEARLS PODCAST

Get ready for a heart-warming, thought-provoking journey in this special episode of The Mirror Year, where your hosts bare their souls through seven transformative questions that will reshape your approach to 2025. From belly laughs over shared victories to vulnerable moments discussing tough lessons learned, we dive deep into what made our past year tick and how we're crafting an intentional path...

Everyone experiences being in a rut and it's hard to break out of a rut alone. In this episode, Yvette and Ericka discuss the importance of building a support system to help you on your journey. They also share their insights on the benefits of accountability partners, mentors, and community support. It’s our hope that by listening you’d find something that could give you an idea to try or what we...

Our first episode in a bit because LIFE HAPPENS!! We missed everyone and are super happy to be back. So, consider this a welcome back episode, we talk about the reality of a FULL life and how it can be difficult to find time for everything we want to do. “Life Is What Happens While You Are Busy Making Other Plans” – John Lennon

In this episode, Yvette and Ericka tackle the topic of imperfect starts and how to use the power of imperfect starts to change your life. “Failure should be our teacher, not our undertaker. Failure is delay, not defeat. It is a temporary detour, not a dead end. Failure is something we can avoid only by saying nothing, doing nothing, and being nothing.” - Denis Waitley

It’s Women’s History month and today is actually International Women’s Day and this year’s theme is Embrace Equity. In addition to celebrating the countless contributions and achievements of women throughout history, in this episode, Yvette and Ericka discuss the importance between equity and equality and how actualizing both can change the world. “There is no limit to what we, as women, can accom...

It’s Black History month and while Black History is officially recognized in the month February, its actually a longstanding history filled with firsts, innovation, science, medicine, architecture, engineering, art, music and sports. And such a rich and life changing history should be celebrated EVERY SINGLE DAY! In this episode, Yvette and Ericka highlight a few Black people making an impact. "Th...

Before we kick off Season 4, we wanted to go back and replay one of the highest rated, fan talked about episodes from Season 3, Your Tribe. So, take a listen and we will be back with a whole new Season 4 soon!

Wow, that was quick! It’s the end of 2022 and we’ve come to the final episode of Season 3. In this episode Yvette and Ericka recap some of the major happenings of 2022, reflect on their year and what they have in store for 2023. “The bad news is that time flies, the good news is that you are the pilot.” – Michelle Altshuler

Being comfortable in one’s own skin takes a long time, decades some say even a lifetime, but it’s well worth it. In this episode Yvette and Ericka share their views on the importance of being OK with being alone – alone with one’s thoughts, feelings, emotions and self. “Me, myself and I; all I got in the end – Beyonce Knowles”

By definition, microaggressions are brief and commonplace daily verbal, behavioral, or environmental indignities, whether intentional or unintentional, that communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative racial slights and insults toward people of color. Perpetrators of microaggressions are often unaware that they engage in such communications when they interact with racial/ethnic minorities. In thi...

To say we’re living through challenging times sounds like both a cliché and an understatement. In recent months, news about the pandemic, economic woes, and bitter political debates have triggered tremendous anxiety and sadness for many Americans. But when people look back on their lives, it is usually the most difficult challenges that gave them a new perspective or caused them to grow the most....

Working from home is dominating our lives. If you haven’t experienced the phenomenon directly, you’ve undoubtedly heard all about it, as U.S. media coverage of working from home jumped 12,000 percent since January 2020. This change in working arrangements is impossible to overhype. As big as it is, it’s even bigger than people think – this is the largest societal change in America since the end of...

Everyone has an inner voice that deep down is trying to be helpful and keep you safe – even when it’s being harsh. In this episode, we share ways you can shift your inner critic and transform negative self-talk into a more supportive and empowering voice. Remember that you will never get rid of the inner critic forever – and you don’t have to. You can, however, re-pattern it and shift your relatio...

In this episode, Yvette and Ericka chat about leveraging your superpowers at work and how to use your superpowers to help others. “The things that make us different those are our superpowers” ~ Lena Waithe

In this episode, we will shine a light on Renee Belton, retired New York City Principal. Ms. Belton is a member of the first graduating class of the New York City Leadership Academy, the most intensive and costly principal training program in the country. The academy was created at the suggestion of the New York City Department of Education’s Chancellor Joel I. Klein, who was chairman of its board...

In this episode, Yvette and Ericka share how they use their influence to create meaningful impacts on those around them and how others have used their influence to impact their lives. “Each of us should be aware of the energy we are putting out into the world. Are we a positive influence or a negative one.” – Laurence Overmire

Steve Jobs said “your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is GREAT work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking, and don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart you’ll know when you find it.” In this episode Yvette and Ericka share how they found their passi...

Providing and soliciting constructive feedback can be difficult, and in this episode Yvette and Ericka tackle how to handle constructive conversations, specifically, how to ask for and give constructive feedback. “Sometimes speaking the truth feels as if we are being unkind, especially when sharing difficult information or feedback. But in reality, dancing around the truth is unkind. When we avoid...

In this episode, we talk about the impact of everyday choices have on our lives.“At any moment, you have a choice that either leads you close to your spirit or further away from it. – Thick Nhat Hanh”

Do you let your light shine? Do you step into your greatness? Do you refuse to shrink or play small? Ah, yes, the power of giving yourself permission to glow. Many have a hard time wielding it. In this episode, Yvette and Ericka chat about how they give themselves permission to glow and share 5 ways that could help you give yourself the power, and the permission to glow. “As we let out light shine...

In this episode, we will shine a light on Niani Skinner who joined the ranks of FDNY in 2019. There are more than 11,000 firefighters and fire officers in the New York Fire Department, making it the nation’s largest. Black women have played a major role in the fire service ever since the 1800’s when a slave named Molly Williams served as a volunteer firefighter in New York City. African American w...

In this episode, Yvette and Ericka discuss the importance of your tribe, building your tribe, how it evolves and the varying roles people play. It’s important to note, your tribe is not you “squad.” Your tribe is a small group of people who want the best for you, are there for you, refills your well, tells you about yourself and vice versa. The level of vulnerability and intimacy that comes with a...

In this episode, Yvette and Ericka tackle the elusive question of “how can you do it all?” But it’s more about not doing it ALL but doing the right things for you. Stephen Covey reminds us that learning to choose well in a world of unlimited possibilities comes down to one thing: focus. What do we truly value? He asks us to consider: “If you were to pause and think seriously about the ‘first thing...

The confirmation hearings of Judge Jackson highlighted what highly qualified Black women go through every single day in the workplace. Hostility and devalued for the breadth and depth of experience, and talent they bring. This episode, Yvette and Ericka dive into the disparities on the Supreme Court and how for the first time in over 115 years, a Black woman is nominated to be seated on the Suprem...

Being 'The Only Woman In The Room' is not the same as being the only Black woman in the room - while all women can face sexist discrimination at work, the stakes for Black women have always been much higher. In this episode, Yvette and Ericka share their experiences and a few tips on how they handle being the “only” in the room/concert/meeting and/or event."My mother would look at me and she’d say...