Black Women Amplified Podcast

What happens when you’ve spent so much of your life caring for everyone else that you can no longer answer the question, What do I want for myself? In this episode, Monica Wisdom explores care giving, self-neglect, perfectionism, ambition and the dreams women keep postponing for “one day.” She looks at why so many women, especially Black women, become deeply skilled at showing up for everyone else...

Life, Unedited with Monica Wisdom | Part 2 What if some of the things you believe about yourself are stories you learned to live inside? In Part 2 of Life, Unedited , Monica Wisdom takes a deeper look at the stories we tell ourselves, where those stories come from, and how experiences from our past can continue to influence how we think, feel, and make decisions today. We often talk about healing,...

I DON’T WANT TO REINVENT MYSELF What if you are not lost? What if you have simply spent so much time comparing, performing, improving, and trying to become a “better version” of yourself that you have lost touch with who you already are? In this episode of Life, Unedited , Monica Wisdom explores the pressure to constantly reinvent ourselves and what happens when personal growth starts to feel more...

Felicia Leatherwood has built the kind of career that becomes part of culture. Known around the world as the Hair Whisperer , the celebrity hairstylist has created unforgettable looks for some of entertainment’s most recognizable names, including Issa Rae, Viola Davis, Jill Scott, Lenny Kravitz, and Kim Coles. Her artistry has taken her from behind the chair to major sets, red carpets, editorial p...

Welcome to a very special episode of our podcast, where we dive deep into the world of storytelling and celebrate incredible voices. I'm thrilled to share my conversation with debut novelist Ishi Robinson, whose book "Sweetness in the Skin" has touched my heart in profound ways. Ishi's storytelling is a journey into the soul of a young Jamaican girl, a narrative that resonates with my own teenage...

Marisha Wallace joins the Black Women Amplified podcast to share her extraordinary journey back to Broadway as the leading lady in the iconic musical Cabaret , making history as the first Black woman to portray Sally Bowles . From the pig farms of Goldsboro, North Carolina, to the bright lights of Broadway's biggest stages, Marisha's story is one of unwavering faith, relentless work, resilience, a...

There are certain artists whose presence lives beyond the stage. Their work becomes part of the cultural fabric, shaping how we see ourselves, how we move, and what we believe is possible. Eshe Light is one of those artists. Long before conversations about women’s empowerment in hip hop became mainstream, Eshe was already living it. As an original member of Arrested Development, she helped to expa...

I’m really excited to introduce you to this week’s guest, Denny S. Bryce. She is brilliant, thoughtful, and the kind of writer who knows how to place our stories back where they belong. If you are drawn to the worlds of Bridgerton or The Gilded Age, this conversation will feel familiar, but richer. There is a depth here that goes beyond the aesthetic and into the truth of who we have always been....

The legends are here. Elaine Meryl Brown and Rhonda Joy McLean have spent decades doing the latter. These are not surface-level careers. These are rooms entered, decisions made, systems navigated, and influence built over time. They are pioneers in their respective fields, women who did not simply rise through the ranks but learned how to move within them with precision, strategy, and staying powe...

There is a moment in every woman’s life when she has to decide if she will shrink to fit the space or expand until the space meets her. This week on Black Women Amplified, I sit down with Rissi Palmer for a conversation that is as honest as it is necessary. Rissi knew early that country music was hers. Not as a trend or an experiment, but as a true expression of who she is. When she stepped into t...

In this episode of Black Women Amplified Podcast, Monica sits down with award-winning author Vanessa Riley for a conversation that moves beyond storytelling and into history, power, and truth. Vanessa Riley joins the show to talk about her latest novel, Fire, Sword & Sea, a sweeping historical fiction story inspired by the real-life pirate Jacquotte Delahaye. Set in the 17th-century Caribbean,...

In this episode of Black Women Amplified , I sit down with Lisane Basquiat, founder of Shaping Freedom, for a grounded and necessary conversation about boundaries, balance, focus, and self-leadership in uncertain times. Lisane is a board-certified Master Practitioner and teacher of Neuro-Linguistic Programming, a certified professional coach, a former corporate executive, and an entrepreneur who h...

In this unforgettable episode of Black Women Amplified , Monica Wisdom welcomes the legendary Deborah Gregory, a visionary writer, journalist, producer, performer, and creative force whose life story is as powerful as the stories she tells. Many know Deborah Gregory as the award-winning author of The Cheetah Girls , the beloved 22-book series published by Disney Publishing Worldwide that followed...

There are voices you hear, and then there are voices you feel. This week on Black Women Amplified, we sit with the incomparable Wendy Moten, an artist whose career has been defined not just by talent but by staying power, faith, and a deep understanding of who she is. From her breakout moment in 1992 to her unforgettable appearance on The Voice in 2020, Wendy’s journey stretches across decades of...

For more than 30 years, Icey Parks has been a quiet force across film, television, and theater. She began behind the stages of Broadway, running wardrobe departments and shaping how stories are told through costume. That foundation carried her into a career spanning more than 80 projects. You may not know her name, but you have seen her work. From American Gangster to Nurse Jackie, Oz, Luke Cage,...

Liv Warfield does not ease into a stage. She steps into it fully. A vocalist with range, control, and presence, she has built her career performing at the highest level. From sharing the stage with Prince to working alongside Nancy Wilson of Heart and stepping into the national spotlight on America’s Got Talent , Liv has long been a performer who knows exactly how to hold a room. In this episode,...

In this intimate and revealing conversation, Monica Wisdom sits down with Richelle Carey, an award-winning journalist whose career has spanned major newsrooms and global platforms, and who made the bold decision to walk away at the height of it. Known for her work in broadcast journalism, Richelle built a respected career delivering the news to millions. Behind that success was a deeper question a...

In this dynamic and deeply engaging conversation, Monica Wisdom sits down with Natasha Yvette Williams, a powerhouse performer whose presence on stage is matched only by the depth of her journey behind the scenes. Natasha’s story is one of vision, discipline, and the kind of resilience that is forged over time. She shares what it takes to build a life in one of the most competitive industries in t...

In this powerful and deeply layered conversation, Monica Wisdom sits down with the incomparable Tonya Pinkins—Tony Award-winning actress, author, activist, and a woman who has never asked for permission to speak her truth. Known for her commanding presence on stage and screen, Tonya’s journey extends far beyond performance. She has built a life rooted in conviction, creativity, and courage, using...

Today on Black Women Amplified , we step into the radiant world of Annette Freeman —visionary, coach, and headmistress of The Goddess Portal . Annette’s mission is clear: to help professional women reconnect with their deepest desires, reclaim their feminine power, and manifest lives of pleasure and purpose. Through her unique blend of coaching, movement, and sacred experiences, she serves as a mi...

In this episode of Black Women Amplified, we sit down with Jayne Allen, the bestselling author of the acclaimed Black Girls Must trilogy, a series that has captured the hearts of readers around the world. Jayne shares her journey from Harvard-trained attorney to bestselling novelist, turning her brilliance, purpose, and creativity into a powerful storytelling career. You will hear about her collab...

In this expansive and forward-thinking conversation, Monica Wisdom sits down with Stephanie Perry, a woman who turned a personal decision into a global movement. What began as Stephanie’s choice to leave the United States and explore life abroad has grown into a community of tens of thousands of women reimagining what freedom, work, and lifestyle can look like. This conversation is not about trave...

In this powerful and expansive conversation, Monica Wisdom sits down with Marisha Wallace, a globally recognized performer whose career reflects both discipline and bold vision. From her early beginnings in North Carolina to commanding stages across London’s West End and Broadway, Marisha has built a career that refuses limitation. Her work spans major productions including Dreamgirls , Waitress ,...

In this focused and forward-moving conversation, Monica Wisdom sits down with Jasmine Nevels, a rising entrepreneur who is redefining what it means to transition from corporate leadership into ownership. Jasmine’s journey is not built on theory. It is built on decision. The decision to leave what was familiar, step into uncertainty, and build something that reflects her vision and values. In this...

In this thoughtful and necessary episode, Monica Wisdom explores what it means to be in true community and why alignment matters more than history. Many relationships are maintained out of familiarity, obligation, or shared past experiences. Monica invites you to pause and ask a different question. Are the people around you aligned with who you are becoming, or are they reflections of who you once...