YOU Better!

It’s the end of season two of You Better! This episode features a compilation of Kiesha's reflections, questions, and conversations with this season’s guests. If you’ve listened to season two, enjoy returning to the most powerful moments from these episodes. And if you’re tuning in for the first time, let this compilation point you to some must-listen episodes for your podcast queue. Make sure you...

In this inspiring final interview of the season, Kiesha talks with Rhonda Joy McLean, a celebrated attorney, entrepreneur, leadership consultant, and co-author of The Little Black Book of Success. Rhonda shares her family heritage and pivotal life lessons, including her experience of integrating a school at age thirteen in the Jim Crow South. Kiesha and Rhonda also discuss high achievement, depres...

In this moving and thought-provoking interview, Kiesha talks with poet and educator Dr. Lauri Conner. Together, they explore the value of personal reflection in shaping character and discuss freer, more open-minded ways to think about education. Dr. Conner also reflects on her young life and shares some vulnerable and difficult lessons she learned, leading to a discussion on the importance of comp...

In this episode, Kiesha is joined by Dr. Amber Thornton, a Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Default Parenting + Millennial Motherhood Wellness Expert, and the Founder of Balanced Working Mama, where the mission is to support millennial mothers in creating a life of more balance and wellness. It is important that we - for our individual and collective wellbeing - break free from confining social nor...

In this solo episode, Kiesha reflects on why we should love all parts of ourselves and live our layers. She explores a few common ways we lose touch with ourselves. And offers suggestions for returning and reconnecting, time and time again. She also shares an exercise for figuring out when and where you’re denying yourself so you can connect with your ideal self and your most supportive community....

At the height of her career, Celine Brozovich was experiencing severe health issues and fell into a deep depression that pushed her to the edge of her life. After watching her mother battle similar issues with little success, she decided to make matters into her own hands by becoming a Lifestyle Medicine Coach. Celine is the founder of Baykenji Health and the creator of the E.L.M. tree method for...

Have you ever wondered if music could help you heal? In this episode, Kiesha is joined by Stephanie Ann Ball to discuss just that. Stephanie is a professional classical singer who performs in curated concerts across the country, as well as a sound meditation facilitator who holds space for people to hear healing sounds. She is also a Certified Hypnotherapist and Certified Master Practitioner of Ne...

In this fun and inspiring episode, Kiesha and Bernice Ye discuss how sometimes we must go against everything we’ve been taught to find the path that fits who we are. Together, they unpack how embracing your unique perspective is a key to a happy life. Bernice is a comedian, first generation Chinese-American, and producer of the multicultural comedy show Fine Imports in Santa Monica, CA. In her jou...

In this solo episode, Kiesha reflects on how we can receive and process feedback while staying true to ourselves. She explains why processing feedback requires knowledge of the self and knowledge of the source. And she shares a story about feedback she received after an internship that shows how critical feedback can actually tell us our superpowers. She also reflects on the messiness of feedback,...

In this heartfelt episode, Kiesha and Heather Burris dig deep into what it means to set an example for those around us. Together, they talk through Heather’s pandemic journey, one that brought a deep grief that taught her the importance of leaning on and receiving God’s love through community. They also discuss the book she wrote after embracing an uncomfortable lesson about how we embody the less...

In this spiritually-rich episode, Kiesha talks with proud father, artist, actor, producer, author, and activist, Aaron Ableman. Aaron shares his unusual life story, from being born in Michael Douglas’s basement to traveling the world for his award-winning work to support children and families. Together, they discuss the challenges of being renaissance people in a world that encourages hyper-specia...

Welcome back to YOU Better! We’re so excited for season two of the podcast. Today’s episode is full of vibrance and joy as Kiesha talks with Aramis O. Hamer (AO for short), an exuberant artist and spiritual woman. Together, they follow Aramis’s journey as she decided to pack up her life with her husband and move from her hometown of Chicago to Seattle for nursing school, only to discover that the...

This episode features a compilation of Kiesha's reflections, questions, and self-discovery advice from the second half of her 2022 interview guests.  Let these moments of post-conversation musing inspire your end of year journaling or your beginning of the year intention-setting. Reflections are from the following episodes: Spread Truth and Joy with Alliah L. Agostini Get to the Other Side with Al...

This episode features a compilation of Kiesha's reflections, questions, and self-discovery advice from the first half of her 2022 interview guests.  Let these moments of post-conversation musing inspire your end of year journaling or your beginning of the year intention-setting. Reflections are from the following episodes: Take the Leap with Sukie Jefferson Heal from Within with Tira Feierstein Bl...

Tomasina Boone is the founder of The Curls and Natural Hair Beauty Place, a unique space that is the only service provider of it’s kind in Sydney to provide a retail shop for great quality products and a beauty space dedicated to the care, maintenance, and styling of naturally curly hair.  As a former Essence Magazine Advertising Beauty Director, Tomasina moved to Sydney, Australia 15 years ago wi...

Kaska Adoteye, Ph. D. has held many hats, being a data scientist, author, investor, and entrepreneur. He has taken his skills from Wall Street to Silicon Valley and is known for his technical excellence across domains. He is also the author of the thought-provoking and insightful book Theory of Mind. The book, among other things, follows his story of discovering he has a rare and potentially letha...

This episode features Tonya Fewell, J.D., a highly driven woman who is truly powered by purpose.  She has made her life’s work the work of walking other people through radical transformation. As the senior strategist at Bridge Every Gap Tonya and her team build optimal systems and strategies for success with individuals, teams, and organizations in leadership and self-development. Her role as a mo...

Coax Marie is a powerful talent - an artist whose music affirms what is unique and magical about us. She uses her gifts to promote energetic freedom and liberation and creates the type of music that holds your hand throughout the beautiful challenges of being human.  She has moved thousands of people to assert “I Am Enough.” In this interview with Kiesha, Coax talks about her artistic origin story...

 A conversation about grace in the workplace from one of Kiesha's Culture Conversations with a corporate client group is lingering on her mind along with the memory of the last three minutes of raw vulnerability from Deon Cole's Netflix comedy special Charleen's Boy.  In this solo episode, Kiesha reflects on two recent moments of introspection, both centered on being able to recognize the goodness...

In this episode, Kiesha Garrison interviews Event Emcee and Author Quinn Conyers who shares her story of giving up, finding her way back to her unique gift, and defining success on her own terms. Episode Resources: HOME | Quinn Conyers Quinn's Speak Black Woman Podcast - Episode wit Kiesha! Following Your Inner Voice to Do What You Love - SBW Ep #56 with Keisha Garrison - YouTube Books Speak Black...

Growing up Anthony Cole dreamed of being a recording artist, but like many talented creatives who enter the job market, corporate pursuits became his source of stability.  But you know that saying, wherever you go, there you are... Well, eventually Anthony’s musical self became a part of his corporate life which has led to the artist in Anthony taking center stage in his life. In October of 2022,...

Chipalo Street has worn many hats throughout his life – in addition to being a groundbreaker and mentor in the tech world, he’s had a “nights and weekends” career refereeing international, professional, and collegiate soccer matches.  In this episode, Chipalo talks with Kiesha about how his dreams of playing in the NBA morphed into something else - a life filled with solving dynamic problems in a...

After reaching many of her professional and personal goals, Joy White still found herself unfulfilled and unhappy.  Once she allowed herself to acknowledge things that she survived, feel her way through her painful past, and love her inner child better, she was able to move forward boldly towards a more fulfilling and authentic life.  In this interview, she shares with Kiesha her about her decisio...

In this solo episode, Kiesha reflects on one of the areas of personal work that continues to unfold for her - honoring her limits.  This commitment to a lifestyle that allows for more reasonable expectations of mind, body, & spirit is not as simple as making the decision.    Check out the episode to find out more of how this work is informing Kiesha's identity today. Episode Resources: Books:  Res...

While serving time in San Quentin State Prison Troy Williams was able to step all the way outside the box of one would typically imagine for an inmate and create a media organization inside the walls that confined him.  In this episode of YOU Better!, Troy shares with Kiesha about his passion for being a student of life, his evolution towards listening to his inner knowing, and how love for his fa...