Living In Legacy & Breaking The Curse With Khalisa Rae

Have you ever had a conversation that changed your life? 

This week’s episode, ‘Living In Legacy & Breaking The Curse’, with Khalisa Rae, is all of that and more. 

Our guest, Khalisa Rae, is an award winning poet and journalist that speaks with furious rebellion. She is also the author of Ghost in a Black Girl's Throat (Red Hen Press 2021). 

This day, Khalisa gifted all of us with her honesty, poetry, insights, brilliance, and creativity. I am truly grateful for the courage and vulnerability she brought to our conversation. We explored:

-Healing from trauma

-How to create your own team of superheroes 

-The importance of honor your gifts

-The power of words 

-Protecting your light 

Khalisa shared some really powerful stories that left me feeling more grounded and connected to my inner power. 

Not to mention that she shared with us two poems that hit me right in my soul. 

I’m telling you - this episode will be a game-changer. For anyone who is serving a mission greater than themselves - this episode is for you. 

You can learn more about Khalisa through her website.

Or you can follow her on Twitter @k_lisarae

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Here is Khalisa Rae’s Full Bio:

Khalisa Rae is a poet and journalist in Durham, NC that speaks with furious rebellion. She is the author of Ghost in a Black Girl's Throat (Red Hen Press 2021). 

Her essays are featured in Autostraddle, Catapult, LitHub, as well as articles in B*tch Media, NBC-BLK, and others.

Her poetry appears in Frontier Poetry, Florida Review, Rust & Moth, PANK,  Carousel, HOBART, among countless others. 

She is the winner of the Bright Wings Poetry contest, the Furious Flower Gwendolyn Brooks Poetry Prize, and the White Stag Publishing Contest, among other prizes. 

Currently, she serves as Assistant Editor for Glass Poetry and co-founder of Think in Ink and the Women of Color Speak reading series. Her second collection Unlearning Eden is forthcoming from White Stag Publishing in 2022. Follow her at @k_lisarae on Twitter. Find more information here and here.

Listen to "Living In Legacy & Breaking The Curse With Khalisa Rae" on Spreaker.

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Going After What Really Matters to You With Rene Wiley

The whole reason I started my podcast was because I recognized I was hiding my gifts. 

The main reason: 

I was afraid of rejection and ridicule. 

Instead of putting myself out there and potentially getting ridiculous - I just hide my voice. 

On New Years Day 2016, I envisioned where my life would end up if I were to continue down this path. 

I realized that if I continued hiding - I would end up with a life of regret. 

Worse - it would be a wasted life. 

I wasn’t about to let that happen. 

And so I made 2016 my ‘Year of Expression.’

I vowed to record and put out a 3-minute video, every Thursday, no matter how terrible I thought it was. 

The result was a year of epic growth, adventure, and the foundation for everything I’ve done since. 

I am guessing many people can relate to this. 

That feeling of wanting to hide so you can avoid rejection. 

And yet...knowing you can’t live your life that way.

If you resonate with this then this week’s episode is for you. 

It is a replay of my conversation with the legendary Rene Wiley. 

Rene is one of my favorite people because he has this unique ability to get you to connect with your body, your spirit, and your passion. 

This interview offers a powerful insight into that magic. Rene shares with us his origin story on how he went from a DJ to a high-performance fitness trainer. 

Rene also speaks on the importance of listening to your heart and the courage it takes to do that. 

Plus - we take up the science of creating the best workout playlist! 

You’re going to really love this one!

I’m telling you, this interview is fire!

Check it out. 

Listen to "Going After What Really Matters to You With Rene Wiley" on Spreaker.

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Copywriting, Mindfulness, and Courage With Jo Mckee

Communication is one of the top skills every entrepreneur must master. 

If you have an important mission, movement, product or business—the ability to connect with your audience is vital. 

Verbal and nonverbal communication are absolutely essential. 

But what is often overlooked is copywriting.  

Copywriting, the ability to move people with your written words, is so crucial.  

Are you with me? 

Because we’re in luck. 

This week’s guest, Jo McKee, is both a master copywriter herself and a phenomenal teacher of copy. 

Jo Mckee is the founder of McKee Creative, a marketing agency with a mission to connect clients with their customers. Jo has also just released Copywriting for Profit—the hands-on system to train agency team members as in-house copywriters.

Throughout the interview, Jo shares with us templates, tools, and strategies you can use to write with persuasion and authenticity. 

Most importantly, Jo shares with us how to write in a way that centers your audience as the heroes of the story rather than on ourselves.

This episode is about more than just the written word. 

We also go all-in on the importance of mindset, courage, and emotional intelligence. 

I am always eager to learn from accomplished entrepreneurs how they move through challenges, cope with stress, and continue to perform at the highest level. 

Jo offers advice on all of this, and more. 

I’m telling you, this episode is packed with holistic insights and actions, steps you can take right now. 

You can connect with Jo on:

McKee Creative.

Copywriting for Profit.

Your Ads on Demand.

Listen to "Copywriting, Mindfulness, and Courage With Jo Mckee" on Spreaker.

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Segways, Birthdays, and Becoming Comfortable With Yourself With Alex and Ash Sullivan

In 1982, in a speech to Harvard University, Audrey Lorde famously said, “. . .If I didn't define myself for myself, I would be crunched into other people's fantasies for me and eaten alive.”

Quotes are inspiring.

And, seeing them put into action is empowering. 

That is why this week’s guests, Alex and Ash Sullivan, are two of my favorite people. 

Despite the pressure of a white supremacist capitalist patriarchy, 

They define themselves for themselves every single day. 

As they will share in the episode - that doesn’t mean it is easy. 

I mean - how does one go about living their bold self without being eaten alive? 

Let this interview be a roadmap that can guide you to your own internal answer to that question. 

Oh - and did I mention that this episode is being released on their birthday?  

*Cue the confetti*

For real though - Ash and Alex are the best. 

Alex Sullivan is the Co-Founder of Artists Call to Action.  They are also a dope poet, facilitator, activist, educator and freelance diversity consultant in academia. 

As a mixed agender human being, Alex’s work is often reflective of how the self is presented in the digital world and how current socio-political events can distort that presentation. 

Their creative and academic work is focused on the black queer experience and every aspect of it, frequently tying in themes of womanism, examination of power structures in the United States, and the experience of the Afro-Caribbean diaspora as the communities have spread out all over the world. 

Ashley Sullivan is a counselor-in-training and poet who is currently being considered for licensure, actively publishing, and putting energy into other creative endeavors such as starting their own business. 

Ash is balancing pursuing a career in poetry while also pursuing work in mental health and public health. Currently, they have been published in five or more running publications as well as fulfilling activism work centered around gender, creativity, and community. 

They are a current candidate for their Master’s of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Long Island University. 

On this week’s episode we go all in on: 

creativity, 

activism,

learning to trust yourself, 

finding your own voice,

the unique relationship Ash and Alex have with each other, 

getting comfortable with your own silence,

getting to know yourself better, and,

Well...you’re gonna need to push play to find that out! 

We could all invite a little more grace, community and courage into our lives. 

And Ash and Alex deliver all of that and more in abundance on this week’s episode. 

Let’s do this. 

Hit play.

And join us. 

Check out their past interviews here

And here

Check out Ash’s LinkedIn here

Check out Ash’s Instagram here

Find out more about the Artist’s Call to Action here

Check out ACTA on Facebook and Instagram

Listen to "Segways, Birthdays, and Becoming Comfortable With Yourself With Alex and Ash Sullivan" on Spreaker.

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Birthday Episode

My birthday is in 3 days, and each year I like to celebrate with a special birthday episode. This year I wanted to share the episode I shared on my 30th birthday.

I know a lot of us right now are going through a few challenges and obstacles and adversity, and my 30th birthday episode was one of the most vulnerable episodes I put out because it really shares the journey I’ve been on. And that is why I’d like to share it with you as a replay this week.

One of my birthday rituals is to celebrate one thing I love about myself, for every year of my life.  Which means, this year I'm sharing 30 self-love affirmations :). 

Each of my previous birthdays reflects where I was during that point in my life.  On my 18th birthday, one group of my friends (high on coke and huffing fumes) pulled knives on another group of my friends and tried to stab them.  On my 20th birthday, I was drinking a liter of whiskey almost everyday.  Or the birthday I had to tell my dad I've been arrested and am in serious trouble. 

My intention is to give closure to my 20's and step forward boldly into my 30's by sharing this part of my story.  Recording this has been one of the most vulnerable and freeing experiences of my life.  I am honored to have you be a part of it. 

When I reviewed the episode I thought I would just delete it because it was such a vulnerable share. But I decided that I would lead with courage and put it out there. So I hope that in some way that if you’re going through something right now that it can be an example that your worst days can be your best days.

Enjoy this week's episode, as I share with you my birthday stories and celebrate 30 self-love affirmations!

Listen to "Birthday Episode replay" on Spreaker.

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My Year of Adventure

Each year I set an intention for what my “year of” will be.  In past years, I’ve manifested My Year of Expression, My Year of Balance, My Year of Courage and most recently, My Year of Grace. 

This episode introduces what this year will be - My Year of Adventure! 

To introduce the theme, I take a group of my friends through a writing workshop exploring what adventures this next year will bring.

If you’re looking for an opportunity to set your new year’s intentions and goals - let’s do this.

Listen to "My Year of Adventure" on Spreaker.

If you'd like to learn more about T.H.E. Celebration Academy.  Here's 30 days of Free Membership.

Bravery is Everything With Kendra Reed

Today’s guest is Kendra Reed of the "Kenny Hearts Life" brand. She’s an ambassador for happiness, self-care, and teaching others to "Heart" their life: all of which we talk about. We also talk about movement, blogging, and the courage it takes to break out of being ‘stuck’ (Kendra shares some personal experiences that she has with this).

Two and a half years ago, she started her journey of self discovery and happiness and has never looked back. In that time, she left a non-beneficial long term relationship, moved from her small hometown in Mississippi to Dallas, and began traveling for the first time, freelance writing, and learning to heal old mindsets.

Kendra’s goal is to empower others, especially women of color, to pursue inner peace, step away from toxic mindsets, and live a full and happy life. 

Join her on Instagram @kennyheartslifeblog, or visit her website.

Listen to "Bravery is Everything With Kendra Reed" on Spreaker.

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Leadership is a Bridge

This is the last day of my year of courage. Over the last 12 awesome months, I’ve shared thoughts on courage from my various interviewees, culminating the last two weeks with discussions that were purely about courage.

With the wonderful insights we received, we move into 2019 brimming with courage - to fulfill our own hopes and dreams. To be courageous leaders for ourselves and our communities.

When it comes to making our way, there is a bridge that connects the extremes within us. Walking that bridge and finding the balance is leadership.

Here are 4 bridges that I have focused on in this year of Courage.

1. Reflection and Decisions

2. Short Game and Long Game

3. Discipline and Go With the Flow

4. Reps and Rest

As we cross from 2018 and 2019, I wish you a year bridging those parts within you as you move forward in Courageous leadership.

Listen to "Leadership is a Bridge" on Spreaker.

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Courage Talks - Part II

Welcome to Part 2 of the Courage Talks. If you experienced last week’s episode and many of my previous work this year, you’ll know that this is my Year of Courage.

I have tried to explore the definition of courage beyond just heroic and dangerous acts of valor. While this is certainly courage, I also wanted to highlight what courage looks like in our everyday lives.

This year I have been asking guests about their own personal experiences of courage.  Many of these interviews happened after a fun and leisurely visit or dinner at my house, so the sample of guests is pretty wide-ranging.

In this second part of the Courage talks, you’ll hear the thoughts of people from different backgrounds, professions, and perspectives dive deep into who their courage role models are, what courage looks like, and how you can become more courageous.

Even after talking about courage, every week, for the past year, I still found so many gems listening back to these interviews.

I hope you enjoy this concluding part of the Courage Talks!

Featuring:

Sadiya Sassine
FB: Sadiya Sassine

Rasha Goel
IG: @RashaGoel

Adam: Adam Blake
IG: @adamblakeactor  

Na'ilah Mu'ied
IG: @poeticnubia

Tress Glenn:
IG: @TressGlenn  

Anna Sambrooks
IG: @anna_sambrooks  

Rayesa Gheewala
IG: @rayesagheewala  

Ione Butler
IG: @ionebutler

Listen to "Courage Talks - Part II" on Spreaker.

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Courage Talks - Part I

If you regularly tune into my work, you’ll have heard me say many times that this is my Year of Courage.

We often associate courage with heroic and dangerous acts of valor alone, such as saving someone from a burning building or putting yourself in harm's way.  While this is certainly courage, I also wanted to highlight what courage looks like in our everyday lives.

Throughout this year I have asked my guests what courage looks like in their life.  At the same time, during 2018, I have been asking friends these same questions. During a dinner party, or while people were over at my house, I’d invite them to step into my studio, where I would walk them through the same set of questions around courage.

During this two part episode, you get to hear their responses.  Ranging from diverse backgrounds, professions, and perspectives, the participants of this episode dive deep into who their courage role models are, what courage looks like, and how you can become more courageous.

I am so excited to share this year long process and journey with all of you in this double episode. I hope you enjoy part 1 of Courage Talks!

Featuring:

Sadiya Sassine
FB: Sadiya Sassine

Rasha Goel
IG: @RashaGoel

Adam: Adam Blake
IG: @adamblakeactor  

Na'ilah Mu'ied
IG: @poeticnubia

Tress Glenn:
IG: @TressGlenn  

Anna Sambrooks
IG: @anna_sambrooks  

Rayesa Gheewala
IG: @rayesagheewala  

Ione Butler
IG: @ionebutler

Listen to "Courage Talks - Part I" on Spreaker.

If you'd like to learn more about T.H.E. Celebration Academy.  Here's 30 days of Free Membership.