Behind the Confident Smile

Bianca Cotton, founder of the Behind the Confident Smile, author, wife, mom, poet, and hope dealer; is elated to recap, review and reflect on the first season of the podcast. Tune in to hear key takeaways, poetry, and exciting news!

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Follow Bianca on Instagram @biancancotton for a dose of hope and encouragement.

Thank you for tuning in for season one! Email [email protected] to share your takeaways from season one. Can't wait to hear from you.

The Behind the Confident Smile Podcast is a weekly conversation with Bianca Cotton, founder of the Behind the Confident Smile, author, wife, mom, poet, and hope dealer. Join me on this journey of revealing what's behind your smile. We will have special guests, some poetry, and inspiration.

This week Khallilah opens up and shares her story of being all things to all people, burning out, pregnancy loss, and much more. She shares how she recently fell apart and has since begun allowing God to put her back together again.

Khallilah Watkins owns The Social Loft, a boutique social media management agency that creates and manages content for people & brands in arts, music, and entertainment.

She’s a wife of almost six years to her high school sweetheart, Jacob, and mother to Eden Naomi (5) and Ani Reign (1).

Khallilah spent years as a worship leader for ministries in Chicago, St. Louis, and Washington, D.C. Her passions intersect between music, performing arts, and black maternal health care. As a mother who advocates for home births, she took many of her traumatic experiences birthing Eden to change the way she views pregnancy, fertility, women’s health, our rights, and birth.

Where to find Khallilah

TheSocialLoft.co

Are you connected with us on IG @behindtheconfidentsmilepodcast and our host @biancancotton 

Thanks for tuning in! And share with a friend!

The Behind the Confident Smile Podcast is a weekly conversation with Bianca Cotton, founder of the Behind the Confident Smile, author, wife, mom, poet, and hope dealer. Join me on this journey of revealing what's behind your smile. We will have special guests, some poetry, and inspiration.

This week Almitra Buzan shares how and when she answered God's call to go from working outside the home to being home with her children full-time. You will learn more about how she invested in her parenting, rediscovering who she is, and utilizing her skills in ways she did not think of.

Almitra Buzan is a news and public relations career professional who the Lord called to stay home with her children full time, almost eleven years ago. She was startled by this calling because she assumed she would be a working mother like generations of women in her family. Two and a half years later, her second child was born. Realizing that anyone who wants to advance in their field invests in training, Almitra became a student of parenting. She has consumed numerous books, articles, podcasts, and even a paid parenting training series. In addition, Almitra’s faith led her to prayerfully search the bible for parenting guidance, and wrestle with God over what her parenting should look like.

Since then, Almitra has strived to learn what productivity is when there are no performance metrics or time off, yet the work is ensuring the future of the human race. In that quest, Almitra started her “Productive Mommy” social media presence in which she’s found an outlet to share the parenting, personal growth, and spiritual wisdom she’s gleaned. Almitra is continuing to practice obedience to God thru homeschooling her two children.

Where to find Almitra

Instagram: @productive_mommy

Connect with us on IG @behindtheconfidentsmilepodcast and our host @biancancotton 

Thanks for tuning in. Leave a review. Share this episode with a friend!

The Behind the Confident Smile Podcast is a weekly conversation with Bianca Cotton, founder of the Behind the Confident Smile, author, wife, mom, poet, and hope dealer. Join me on this journey of revealing what's behind your smile. We will have special guests, some poetry, and inspiration.

This week Crystal and Bianca had a great conversation about foster care advocacy, writing, and the arts. She shares a poem, too!

Crystal Williams is a national speaker, poet, foster care advocate, and foster care alumna. She uses the arts to promote individual and community change. Crystal graduated from Emory University with a B.A. in English/Creative Writing/Theater Studies and received her MBA from Georgia State University with a focus in organizational management. Crystal decided to focus her career on helping organizations operate more efficiently so that families can thrive. This interest has allowed her to work with national and international organizations in the areas of marketing and communications, strategy and implementation, fundraising and community mobilization, and training and curriculum development. She also directed a theater company for the teen ministry of an international ministry working directly with youth and creative design.

Crystal has served as a member of Georgia Governor’s Council for child welfare reform, she is certified in Life Stories® Theatre curriculum through the Theatre Lab in Washington D.C., and she is a founding member of an advocacy group for foster youth in Georgia called Georgia EmpowerMEnt.

Crystal’s personal mission is to inspire people to use their gifts for good to leave their mark on this world in permanent ink.

We would love to hear your thoughts about the podcast. You can email [email protected] and connect with us on IG @behindtheconfidentsmilepodcast and our host @biancancotton 

Thanks for tuning in. Leave a review. Share this episode with a friend!

The Behind the Confident Smile Podcast is a weekly conversation with Bianca Cotton, founder of the Behind the Confident Smile, author, wife, mom, poet, and hope dealer. Join me on this journey of revealing what's behind your smile. We will have special guests, some poetry, and inspiration.

This week, Bianca, interviews Poshlyn Nicholson, a multifaceted Woman, Activist, Creative, and Believer. She is the founder and Executive Director of ChaseYouth NFP. Poshlyn talks about finding joy in the midst of pain after receiving a health diagnosis, launching a not-for-profit, and preserving to pursue her purpose.

Poshlyn believes that part of her life’s purpose is to make a difference in the lives of young people and influence change in the areas of social justice. She does this in various ways but predominately through her career, role as a mentor, her Not-for-profit ChaseYouth, NFP, and now Spoken Word. Poshlyn utilizes spoken word to uplift, inspire, educate, and challenge her spheres of influence.

Where to find Poshlyn:

Check out her spoken word. https://ampl.ink/POSH

We would love to hear your thoughts about the podcast. You can email [email protected] and connect with us on IG @behindtheconfidentsmilepodcast and our host @biancancotton 

Thanks for tuning in. Leave a review. Share this episode with a friend!

The Behind the Confident Smile Podcast is a weekly conversation with Bianca Cotton, founder of the Behind the Confident Smile, author, wife, mom, poet, and hope dealer. Join me on this journey of revealing what's behind your smile. We will have special guests, some poetry, and inspiration.

This week Dominique D. Harris joined us! She is a creative, evangelist and currently completing an MDiv at TEDS. That was all the Lord’s leading by the way. She didn’t know what an MDiv was before the Lord led me here.

Dominique is a poet and spoken word artist, who has been writing poetry since the age of 7. Now a published author of a book called God Gave Me Beauty: Seeing Self through the eyes of the creator. As an entrepreneur, with a lifestyle apparel line called “No Fear” where we promote courage by demonstrating that perfect love casts out fear. Through it, her hope is that we find the courage to love ourselves well. Sometimes we don’t fight hard enough for ourselves. How can we truly love one another if we don’t first demonstrate that type of love to ourselves? No Fear, LLC. confronts fear head-on and declares we have the victory!!

Stay tuned, because she writes songs but this is the first year that I’ve really taken it seriously. No Fear, right? LOL! Some things will be dropping this year, under her artist name is Dom Deveraux.

Where to find Dominique

http://linktr.ee/dominiquedharris

Instagram: @nofearllc

Facebook: No Fear LLC.

Connect with us on IG @behindtheconfidentsmilepodcast and our host @biancancotton 

Thanks for tuning in. Leave a review. Share this episode with a friend!

The Behind the Confident Smile Podcast is a weekly conversation with Bianca Cotton, founder of the Behind the Confident Smile, author, wife, mom, poet, and hope dealer. Join me on this journey of revealing what's behind your smile. We will have special guests, some poetry, and inspiration.

This week Pavielle Poole joined us! She is an active member of the Bolingbrook community for 4 years now and is so excited to be turning that community focus towards real estate.

Where to find Pavielle

Instagram: @paviellepoole_

Connect with us on IG @behindtheconfidentsmilepodcast and our host @biancancotton 

Thanks for tuning in. Leave a review. Share this episode with a friend!

The Behind the Confident Smile Podcast is a weekly conversation with Bianca Cotton, founder of the Behind the Confident Smile, author, wife, mom, poet, and hope dealer. Join me on this journey of revealing what's behind your smile. We will have special guests, some poetry, and inspiration.

This week Camelle ilona Daley poured from her OVERFLOW. Grab your journal and pen, you don't want to miss the strategies flowing from her about entrepreneurship, purpose, and much more!

Camelle ilona Daley is the CEO of international clergy fashion brand House of ilona. Author of ‘Finding Divine Flow’ (book/audiobook/podcast) her first published work and the culmination of ten plus years in the Fashion Business. 

Ordained Magazine; The Voice for Women in Ministry was launched in 2019. As Editor-in-Chief, Camelle leads a team of over 100 writers and creatives. This led to establishing of the Divine Flow Publishing company, which launches Influencers and Authors - while nurturing emerging talent through the Divine Flow Academy. 

Camelle is passionate about marketing, business, serving, and helping others. Grateful, daily, that she gets to work in a place where Creativity meets Ministry.

Camelle wants her life and journey to be an inspiration to other creatives ready to launch and market their dreams. Wife and proud mother of two beautiful daughters.  Lives in Milton Keynes, England where she started the business.

Where to Find Camelle

https://linktr.ee/CamelleDaley

IG: @camelledaley

Connect with us on IG @behindtheconfidentsmilepodcast and our host @biancancotton 

Thanks for tuning in. Leave a review. Share this episode with a friend!

The Behind the Confident Smile Podcast is a weekly conversation with Bianca Cotton, founder of the Behind the Confident Smile, author, wife, mom, poet, and hope dealer. Join me on this journey of revealing what's behind your smile. We will have special guests, some poetry, and inspiration.

This week Brianna Hairlson joined us and brought joy, laughter, and authenticity to the space while discussing how she overcame some of the hardest moments in her life to get to where she is now!

Brianna Hairlson is an inspirational motivator, joy giver, and faith activator inspiring people to fully pursue God's purpose for their lives. As an author, speaker, and entrepreneur, she loves helping women launch their businesses and love their lives, resulting in joyful profits. Her first book, Dance Through the Storms: 22 Faith- Filled Reflections to Maintain Your Joy<https://www.briannahairlson.com/shop> gives insight into her personal story of triumph during life's most difficult situations: when she was rejected in dance, believing God to pay for college, and the loss of her mom. She is a 2018 graduate of JBS and was named the JBS Scholar and also holds her BBA and Dance Minor from Howard University where she graduated DEBT FREE and has used that same wisdom to receive over $60,000 in grants and services for her business, Bri's Dance Place.

Where to Find Brianna

https://www.briannahairlson.com/

@briannahairlson

Connect with us on IG @behindtheconfidentsmilepodcast and our host @biancancotton 

Thanks for tuning in. Leave a review. Share this episode with a friend!

The Behind the Confident Smile Podcast is a weekly conversation with Bianca Cotton, founder of the Behind the Confident Smile, author, wife, mom, poet, and hope dealer. Join me on this journey of revealing what's behind your smile. We will have special guests, some poetry, and inspiration.

We are grateful to have, Alexandra M. Hunter, on the show to talk about her career in acting and what's behind her smile. She is a deeply reflective woman with grit. Alexandra is an eloquent voice of the Millennial Generation - inspiring hope, energizing purpose, actualizing change, and empowering visionaries for success in the entertainment industry. As an actress, she assists experts, students, and leaders to communicate their philosophies through the mediums of stage, radio and, screen.

Alexandra, Chicago-native, is a graduate of Grand Valley State University and the University of Chicago. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Film and Video Production and holds a certificate in Nonprofit Board Leadership. After obtaining her formal education and working in the industry, honing in on the desire to become a distinguished actress was paramount. Alexandra trained at the British American Drama Academy's Midsummer In Oxford Program in association with Yale School of Drama. Prior to training in the U.K., she completed classes at the Acting Studio Chicago.

Her professional expertise derives from 20 years in the film and non-profit industries. Early in her career at 12 years old, she served as one of two youth programming directors for the Chicago International Children's Film Festival by viewing and critiquing over 600 international films. Alexandra has worked with companies such as Panasonic, WVON, Giffoni International Film Festival, Facets Multimedia, and Samsung Mobile. In various industry capacities, Alexandra has most recently worked with AT&T, American Girl, LunaBar, the Chicago Latino Film Festival, and the Lupus Society of Illinois where she sits as an auxiliary board member.

Where to find Alexandra

www.AlexandraMHunter.com

@alexandramhun

@CHICAontheGO

Are you connecting with us on IG @behindtheconfidentsmilepodcast and our host @biancancotton 

Thanks for tuning in. Leave a review. Share this episode with a friend!