BEing Blunt

Highlights from the conversation: 

[01:45] Sean Blount

· Management position with the US Department of Agriculture

· Developed his podcast from a “happy hour” with his colleagues

[05:45] Critical Race Theory – how it’s impacting the space

Critical Race Theory, or CRT, is a theoretical and interpretive mode that examines the appearance of race and racism across dominant cultural modes of expression. It is an academic framework on how we look at laws and policies that have shaped America at how it impacted us. Some of it, we hear frequently but we have done so much and are so involved. A lot of our history may not be pretty, it may have been violent and very dark, and however, a lot of it has been erased and are not taught to us.

[13:15] Suppressing what really happened – doing our part teaching the history

This could be a play on keeping what really happened which could be due to guilt. The reality is that just because history is not being taught in schools does not mean it will not get taught. This is where we have to take responsibility and learn the history ourselves so we can then teach our children what was not being taught in school.

[19:33] Taking Responsibility - Educating ourselves and sharing what we learned

Some people are busy being parents and living life that they have not just opened that door to allow themselves to take time and do the research. This is why we are on a movement to share what we learned and not keep it to ourselves. We play a big role as part of this whole movement to dismantle the system of oppression and suppression of true history and the education system.

[22:25] Ripples that create a wave

Doing things like going to the school board meetings, being a part of the PTA, educating our children – these are the small steps we can do to create that ripple. And with a whole bunch of ripples, we can create a wave!

Catch up with Dr. Miaysha Clairborne by visiting her podcast and various other sites: 

Maiysha Clairborne MD - Mind Remapping (mindremappingacademy.com)

What is NLP? - Mind Remapping (mindremappingacademy.com)

‎The Black Mind Garden: ReMap Your Mind! Create a Life You Design on Apple Podcasts

www.Anchor.fm/ReMapYourMind 

 Hosted by: Dr. Maiysha Clairborne
Guest:  Sean B.

The legalization of marijuana has spread around the country in recent years. Currently 33 states allow it for medical use and 11 for recreational. Yet scientists and researchers say a paradox about it endures: There has been broad public experience with pot, but the medical community still doesn’t know enough about the health effects — and what it does know is often obscured by enduring myths. 

Opponents say marijuana poses a public health and safety risk, and some are morally against legalization. Proponents, however, argue that it is not as dangerous as alcohol and point to evidence that it has therapeutic benefits, such as stress and pain relief.

Advocates also see it as a moneymaker for states and a necessary social justice initiative. Marijuana laws have disproportionately affected people from minority communities, contributing to mass incarceration. States where the drug is legal have sought to retroactively address the consequences of marijuana prohibition, often including provisions allowing for the expungement or vacation of low-level marijuana convictions.

Links:
https://www.livescience.com/60094-marijuana-popularity.html

https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/medical-marijuana-faq

https://www.rtor.org/2019/09/06/worst-side-effects-of-medical-marijuana/

Where Is Marijuana Legal? A Guide to Marijuana Legalization | Best States | US News

Theme Song by Iconic Bond:
Iconic Bond (theiconicbond.com

Just what is critical race theory anyway?

Critical race theory is an academic concept that is more than 40 years old. The core idea is that race is a social construct, and that racism is not merely the product of individual bias or prejudice, but also something embedded in legal systems and policies.

The basic tenets of critical race theory, or CRT, emerged out of a framework for legal analysis in the late 1970s and early 1980s created by legal scholars Derrick Bell, Kimberlé Crenshaw, and Richard Delgado, among others.

What does any of this have to do with K-12 education?

Scholars who study critical race theory in education look at how policies and practices in K-12 education contribute to persistent racial inequalities in education, and advocate for ways to change them.

Links:
What Is Critical Race Theory, and Why Is It Under Attack? (edweek.org)

econTabReport.pdf (yougov.com)

https://www.edweek.org/leadership/what-is-critical-race-theory-and-why-is-it-under-attack/2021/05

https://news.yahoo.com/majority-unfavorable-view-critical-race-193300830.html

Who is Iconic Bond?

www.theiconicbond.com

Iconic Bond - YouTube

Coming from an immigrant Egyptian family, Iconic Bond has always been an outsider looking in. Through that lens, he has gained the ability to connect with people of all walks of life.

Rather than use his platform as a way to “dumb-down” his listeners, Iconic strives to always have a message in his words. Iconic would “rather be the medicine, than to be sickest…rather be a man that’s a little different”

Are you aware how important Juneteenth is to our community?  Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States.

The symbolic and spiritual significance of a federal Juneteenth holiday can't be diminished. There are many who have fought for this moment, and we bow to the work of our elders, tireless advocates like Mrs. Opal Lee, the Grandmother of Juneteenth," who has dedicated the last four decades of her life to this cause.

Juneteenth marks a date of major significance in American history and shows us that freedom and racial equality have always been a hard-fought battle for black Americans – a battle that continues to this day.

By moving forward with this legislation, Congress is celebrating the liberation of slaves in Texas in 1865. But why is it that they can mobilize such quick bipartisan action on a new federal holiday, but not voting rights legislation to protect Black voters in 2021.

Why can't they move with such urgency on anti-lynching legislation to protect Black lives, or the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act to protect Black civil rights?

Yes, this is a time to celebrate but we must be more vigilant than over to continue to fight for a better America and do right by people of color. 

Stay Blunt Yall!!!!!

Links:
 Juneteenth: What Is It, Why Is It Important, And How We Should Celebrate It - Bobby Berk

Juneteenth: What It Is And How It's Observed : NPR

 Opinion: Don't get comfortable after getting Juneteenth holiday - CNN

Foreign affairs  deals with international relations and with the interests of the home country in foreign countries. As a new junkie and practicing political analyst, my thoughts about the military and the billions of dollars we spend  had me thinking. 

Can't we use some of the of those billions  to help the poor, while investing in the health and wealth of our communities?   After all, soldiers have died on the battlefield for years to see a better America. We just need to do right by the money.   

My latest research took aim at military spending and that quickly took me down a road about my own views on the military and should we encourage our young men  and women to consider the military as a career?  Better yet, do we trust the judgement of politicians who often have agendas and are willing to put our children on the front lines to further their agenda.   

Thus, I decided to call a a good friend, Frat (Phi Beta Sigma) Brother and a retired Lieutenant Colonel to help me talk this out.  Surprisingly,  this discussion helped me recalibrate and look at the big picture about the military, foreign affairs and wars. 

Sit back and relax as I have a one-on-one conversation with retired Lieutenant Colonel,  Dennis Daniels.

Links:
Afghanistan war: What has the conflict cost the US? - BBC News
https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2017/10/05/3-foreign-policy/
https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2017/10/05/3-foreign-policy/

House Republicans, who love to complain about “cancel culture,” have canceled Rep. Liz Cheney for the “crime” of living in the real world. However, Liz is not really the problem. Check out my new 5 minute podcast where I talk about the real source of the problem. 

Politics in 5-Minutes

Links:
Liz Cheney ousted: GOP ties party to Big Lie that Trump won in 2020 (usatoday.com

https://now.tufts.edu/articles/local-governments-favor-white-and-wealthy

https://campuselect.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/local_office_description-an_explainer.pdf

https://www.rockthevote.org/

This episode is my relaunch  of the Being Blunt Podcast and a sneak peak into my mind and how I process the issues facing our community.  

At time, I have to laugh to keep from crying,  but I feel the need to talk it out with my peeps who are  who are ready to get off the sideline and make a difference.

I appreciate you waiting for me to pull it all together. I hope and pray you will trust me to bring you all the shades of  Being Blunt to you. This would include positivity, inspiration, and amazing guests.  I  urge you to stay involved and check out my new episode ONE VOICE, SAME MISSION.

I would like to dedicate this show to my friend Nandi.  She encouraged me to keep going.  Thanks for all your guidance and support

LINKS:

https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2020/10/06/amid-national-reckoning-americans-divided-on-whether-increased-focus-on-race-will-lead-to-major-policy-change/

 https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/voting-laws-roundup-march-2021

What is Yoga?
Is it just an exercise? Is it a religion, a philosophy, an ideology? Or is it something else entirely? The word "Yoga" literally means “to unite or integrate”.  It is a powerful practice to unite mind, body, and spirit.

The Black community has and continues to be exposed to layers of trauma at an unparalleled rate. A consistent yoga practice can start to alleviate some of the trauma as well as increase self love, self acceptance and self compassion. Study have also shown that yoga helps with managing high level of stress and as a complement to therapeutic work . 

In this episode,  Sean and Nandi did a deep dive into yoga with our two guests, Maharri Lodge and Andrea Smith. Maharri and Andrea enlightened us about the benefits and misconceptions of yoga .  They also shared numerous tips on how  to begin one's own personal yoga journey.

Our Guests
Andrea Smith moved to Sunny South Florida in 2009 from Bristol, Connecticut. After wanting something to compliment her high intensity workout routines, Andrea turned to yoga.  She has always lived by the saying "Dare to be different" and to do so her yoga class incorporates strength training, Pranayama (breath control) and meditation to help her students go deep within. You will want to be present in this yoga class!
Andrea - Yoga Teacher 🧘🏾‍♀️ (@andrealovesyoga) • Instagram photos and videos
andrealovesyoga | Facebook

Maharri is a yoga instructor and wellness coach who is highly invested in advocating a wellness lifestyle and the impact it has on our daily lives.
Wellness Rebirth (@wellnessrebirth) • Instagram photos and videos
Wellness Rebirth - Home | Facebook

Additional  Show Notes of Interest
Egypt and India and The Origins of Hinduism, Vedanta, Yoga, Buddhism and Dharma of India https://www.amazon.com/dp/1884564577/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_86EYW0ZDWH6CHHZT6D5K

The Yamas & Niyamas: Exploring Yoga's Ethical Practice https://www.amazon.com/dp/0974470643/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_STE8ZBP83JH7X5FRFJGT

https://instagram.com/mynameisjessamyn?igshid=1pjk6g3gfh1zw

Special Promotion
If you were inspired like we were, we encourage you to contact our Yoga Queens via their social media platforms and mention the Being Blunt Podcast for 1 free class.  

What is Yoga?
Is it just an exercise? Is it a religion, a philosophy, an ideology? Or is it something else entirely? The word "Yoga" literally means “to unite or integrate”.  It is a powerful practice to unite mind, body, and spirit. 

The Black community has and continues to be exposed to layers of trauma at an unparalleled rate. A consistent yoga practice can start to alleviate some of the trauma as well as increase self love, self acceptance and self compassion. Study have also shown that yoga helps with managing high level of stress and as a complement to therapeutic work .  

In this episode,  Sean and Nandi did a deep dive into yoga with our two guests, Maharri Lodge and Andrea Smith. Maharri and Andrea enlightened us about yoga and the different types of yoga .  They also shared their  personal journeys, educated us on the origin of this powerful practice and shared tips to start a yoga journey. 

Our Guests
Andrea Smith moved to Sunny South Florida in 2009 from Bristol, Connecticut. After wanting something to compliment her high intensity workout routines, Andrea turned to yoga.  She has always lived by the saying "Dare to be different" and to do so her yoga class incorporates strength training, Pranayama (breath control) and meditation to help her students go deep within. You will want to be present in this yoga class!
Andrea - Yoga Teacher 🧘🏾‍♀️ (@andrealovesyoga) • Instagram photos and videos
andrealovesyoga | Facebook

Maharri is a yoga instructor and wellness coach who is highly invested in advocating a wellness lifestyle and the impact it has on our daily lives.
Wellness Rebirth (@wellnessrebirth) • Instagram photos and videos
Wellness Rebirth - Home | Facebook

Additional  Show Notes of Interest
Egypt and India and The Origins of Hinduism, Vedanta, Yoga, Buddhism and Dharma of India https://www.amazon.com/dp/1884564577/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_86EYW0ZDWH6CHHZT6D5K

The Yamas & Niyamas: Exploring Yoga's Ethical Practice https://www.amazon.com/dp/0974470643/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_STE8ZBP83JH7X5FRFJGT

https://instagram.com/mynameisjessamyn?igshid=1pjk6g3gfh1zw

Special Promotion
If you were inspired like we were, we encourage you to contact our Yoga Queens via their social media platforms and mention the Being Blunt Podcast for 1 free class.  

Happy New Years - the Being Blunt Podcast is back with a new conversation that we can't wait to share with our community. 

Making a New Year's resolution is a great idea, as it means you are taking time to evaluate yourself and your life over the past year and discover what you would like to see change during the next year.  However, is this really the best methodology to change your life for the better?   

Rituals have the power to ground and stabilize us, and keep us focused and purposeful. They increase confidence, provide us with a sense of security, alleviate the weight of grief and help to reduce anxiety.   Can you believe that create Rituals can do that??? 

Being Blunt explored the benefits of rituals with our guests  Laurie Ellington and Paul E. McFadden of Zero Point Leadership, Inc. 

Founded in 2011,  Zero Point Leadership, Inc. is a globally recognized science-based leadership learning and development organization with foundations in neuroscience, heart intelligence, social intelligence, quantum theory, systems thinking and mindfulness. 
Zero Point Leadership™ | Home

It was a great conversation with plenty of laughs and a game twist at the end, so sit back and enjoy Being Blunt!!