In this episode of Black Her Stories, Michaela welcomes the new year with a playful offering—a sound journal composed of voices, moments, and memories gathered in 2025.

This expression is less about arriving somewhere and more about honoring where we've been.

To view images that accompany these sounds, visit Michaela on Substack and follow Black Her Stories on Instagram for more reflections from the journey.

• BHS Newsletter 💌: Subscribe to our newsletter for a peek behind-the-scenes and join us on Instagram.

• Nourish: Discover upcoming workshops, creative offerings, and narrative projects led by Michaela at https://nourish.community/

In this episode of Black Her Stories, Michaela shares the story of a creative collaboration with COTS Detroit, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting families experiencing homelessness.

Through conversations with COTS leaders, we explore their radical practice of the Month of Imagination—a full month devoted to rest, reflection, and dreaming beyond limits.

Together, we uncover how imagination fuels transformation, how collaboration builds community, and how rest itself becomes a form of resistance.

Tune in for a story about creativity, care, and the courage to reimagine what's possible when we pause to dream.

• COTS Detroit: Learn more about COTS' mission to break the cycle of generational poverty through housing, partnerships, and family-centered support. https://www.cotsdetroit.org

• BHS Newsletter 💌: Subscribe to our newsletter for updates on future episodes, behind-the-scenes insights, and more stories from Black Her Stories.

• Nourish: Discover upcoming workshops, creative wellness offerings, and narrative projects led by Michaela and the Nourish team. https://www.nourishevents.org

In this two-part episode, Michaela is in conversation with Collagist and Creative Director of Intelligent Mischief, Aisha Shillingford.

Together, we explore her unique path to artistry; how she followed her intuition, experimented with different mediums, found her creative voice, and ultimately, self-actualized into an artist.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone ready for their inner artist to take up more space.

Links and Resources:

• Visual Voice: A 5-week virtual course that blends the hands-on practice of collage with art history and group coaching. The next cohort is an affinity space for Black women and is inspired by the practice of world-building.

• To learn more program and enroll, check out our site.

• Intelligent Mischief: Discover the work of Intelligent Mischief and how they unlock the power of Black imagination to fortify their world-building practice.

• While you're at it, give them a follow on Instagram (@intelligentmischief)

• BHS Newsletter 💌: Subscribe to our newsletter for updates on future episodes, behind-the-scenes insights, and more stories from Black Her Stories.

• Emergent Strategy by adrienne maree brown

• An excellent resource for anyone cultivating a movement-building/facilitation practice. 10/10, highly recommend.

• Queer Times, Black Futures by Kara Keeling

• Alexis Pauline Gumbs

• El Anatsui

In this mini-episode, Michaela sits down with Aisha Shillingford, Creative Director of Intelligent Mischief, to hear the creative journey that led to the Futures of Repair exhibit.

Links and Resources:

• Intelligent Mischief: Discover the world building practice of Intelligent Mischief and learn more about the Futures of Repair exhibit.

• While you're on the interwebs, give Aisha a follow on Instagram (@aishashillingford)

• BHS Newsletter 💌: Subscribe to our newsletter for updates on future episodes, behind-the-scenes insights, and more stories from Black Her Stories.

In this two-part episode, Michaela is in conversation with independent curator, social practice artist, caregiver, and founder, Ashara Ekundayo.

Together, we explore the influence of bell hooks on Ashara's life and the role of artists in moments of celebration, chaos, and catastrophe.

Links and Resources:

• Artist as First Responder: Discover the interstellar creative work of the Artist as First Responder platform and learn more about the important work of Ashara Ekundayo.

• While you're at it, give her a follow on Instagram (@blublakwomyn)

• bell hooks: To learn more about our sister, bell hooks, check out this site. To view the performance of 'Why is We Americans,' click here.

BHS Newsletter 💌: Subscribe to our newsletter for updates on future episodes, behind-the-scenes insights, and more stories from Black Her Stories.

In this two-part episode, Michaela is in conversation with independent curator, social practice artist, caregiver, and founder, Ashara Ekundayo.

Together, we explore the influence of bell hooks on Ashara's life and the role of artists in moments of celebration, chaos, and catastrophe.

Links and Resources:

• Artist as First Responder: Discover the interstellar creative work of the Artist as First Responder platform and learn more about the important work of Ashara Ekundayo.

• While you're at it, give her a follow on Instagram (@blublakwomyn)

• Amiri Baraka: To learn more about our brother, Amiri Baraka, check out this site. To view the performance of 'Why is We Americans,' click here.

• BHS Newsletter 💌: Subscribe to our newsletter for updates on future episodes, behind-the-scenes insights, and more stories from Black Her Stories.

In this episode, Michaela Ayers explores the transformative power of love, creativity, and community care. Reflecting on her journey through the Seeda School for Black feminist worldbuilding, Michaela shares how the recovery of her creative spirit has shaped her latest offering—The Art of Black Love, a collage and memory workshop.

Join us inside Wa Na Wari, a historically Black home turned cultural space, where participants gather to reflect on love in all its forms. Listen as workshop attendees, including Rachel Chapman, bring their memories to life through creative writing and collage.

Resources:

• Sign up for Michaela's Creative Moments newsletter to learn more about her offerings. To listen to Act II, join BHS on Substack.
• Discover the work of Rachel Chapman, Associate Professor of Cultural Anthropology.
• Learn more about Ayana Zaire Cotton and Seeda School, a liberatory space that explores Black feminist worldbuilding and creative actualization.
• Check out Wa Na Wari's work advancing belonging through Black arts and Culture in Seattle.

In this reflective episode, Michaela travels through space-time to revisit one of her proudest moments of 2024. This episode also introduces the concept of Black Quantum Futurism, connecting ancestral wisdom to our present lives. Join Michaela as she shares a heartfelt letter to her future self and offers a glimpse into her personal journey as an artist.

Links and Resources:

• Trinit Watson: A Detroit-based Cultural Worker, Resource Mobilizer, and Facilitator of Birwood House's Collective Memory Mapping Series. Learn more about her artistic practice and commitment to communal care.

• Birwood House 🏠: Tap in at Birwood House. Subscribe to their newsletter to learn more about this community-minded nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for residents.

• Black Quantum Futurism 🚀: Dive into the depths of Black Quantum Futurism and learn more about the important work of Moor Mother and Rasheeda Phillips.

• Stateside 🎙️: Subscribe to Stateside to get the 411 on what's happening across the state of Michigan—from policymakers in Lansing to entrepreneurs in Detroit, to artists in Grand Rapids.

• BHS Newsletter 💌: Subscribe to our newsletter for updates on future episodes, behind-the-scenes insights, and more stories from Black Her Stories.

In this episode of Black Her Stories, Michaela Ayers reconnects with Chef Franchesca Lamarre. Together, they host an intimate backyard dinner party where food rituals and lineage intertwine.

From her roots in Haitian traditions to her bold experimentation with Black American flavors, Fran takes us on a journey through food that honors her ancestors and connects her to her community.

Links and Resources:

• Episode Sponsor: The FBomb Breakfast Club is badass peer support network where women and gender-diverse business leaders come together to laugh, learn, and share recipes for success.

• Join the FBomb community (@fbombbreakfastclub) to gain access to monthly meetings, accountability groups and business resources. Blow up the ordinary on f-bomb at a time.

• Follow that Fran Keep up with Fran (@franchescalamarre) to stay up to date on her food pop-ups (@ayitispaghetti) book clubs (@thisisthepeoplesbookclub), and so much more!
• Learn More About Feed'em Freedom Growers: Explore the work of Myrtle Thompson and Feed'em Freedom Growers (@feedemfreedomgrowers), the Detroit-based farming community featured in the dinner.
• BHS Newsletter 💌: Subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive content and interviews on Substack.

Connect with BHS:

• For collaborations and media inquiries, send a message 👉🏿 helloatnourishevents.org

This episode of Black Her Stories celebrates our maternal connections through food and the sisterhood between chefs Franchescha Lamarre and Mariya Moore Russell.

Both women allow us to tag along their journeys through the culinary world and their commitment to preserving Black food traditions. Tune in for a delicious conversation about food, family, and the care of cooking.

Links and Resources:

• Instagram 📸: Keep up with Fran (@franchescalamarre) and Mariya (@mariyamoore_russell) to stay informed about their upcoming events. And if you haven't yet, be sure to give BHS (@blackherstories) a follow.

• Food Pop-Ups 😋: If you're in Detroit (@ayitispaghetti) or Chicago (@conniesunderground), don't miss the opportunity to attend their pop-up food events. Prepare to get your grub on!

• BHS Newsletter 💌: Subscribe to our newsletter for updates on episodes, behind-the-scenes insights, and more food stories from Black Her Stories.