Black Oxygen

Dr. Curtis shares her complicated relationship with Wisconsin—a "love and hate" dynamic shaped by leaving Milwaukee at 17, experiencing HBCUs and the East Coast, and returning multiple times before finally seeing the opportunity hidden in her home state. She now runs Taylor Nicole Wine and Cupcakes in Madison's Black Business Hub, creating the cultural space she couldn't find as a young woman in the city.

Research on Black Women's Success Dr. Curtis's doctoral research followed 14 Black women at CEO level or higher in Fortune 500 companies for two and a half years, uncovering the SCALE framework—five foundational elements these women needed to succeed and sustain success for 10+ years:

• Support Systems (mentors, networks, village) • Capital Management (resources, allocation) • Assets and Investing (wealth-building) • Learning and Knowledge (continuous professional development) • Enabling Technology (staying current with industry trends)

A striking finding: 90% of successful Black women she studied had never had another Black woman as a mentor in their workplace.

The Superpower Nobody Wants Dr. Curtis describes being a Black single mother as "a superpower nobody wants"—the exhausting reality of working harder because "no one was giving me handouts," of always being both woman and Black woman in corporate spaces, and of constantly asking "who's saving her?" when Black women are expected to save everyone else.

From Pain to Healing In a vulnerable moment, Dr. Curtis shares hitting a breaking point during COVID—scoring 50 out of 50 on a stress assessment, meaning "you can break at any moment." Her journey to therapy, initially for her daughters, became her own path to asking a fundamental question: "Do I want success from pain, or do I want success from a healing space?"

The Energy Economy Dr. Curtis speaks candidly about being "energy-led" rather than simply social—giving deeply in every interaction, which means protecting her capacity fiercely. She's retired from being "the strong friend" and encourages other Black women to ask daily: "Did you do anything selfishly for you?"

Honest Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs Rather than romanticizing entrepreneurship, Dr. Curtis asks the hard questions: What do you actually want? Can you live in uncertainty? Can you handle anxiety? Can you go into deficiency for a long time? She emphasizes that stability doesn't come from entrepreneurship and that sometimes the answer is investing in someone else's business or keeping your 9-to-5 while building—whatever serves the life you actually want, not the one you think you should want.

Defining Freedom The conversation closes with Dr. Curtis's challenge to listeners: What would you define as freedom? What kind of life do you really want? For her, it's "an unimaginable life"—and getting there requires the honesty to say no to many things to say yes to what matters most.

• LinkedIn/Instagram: @DrShakkiahCurtis • Email: [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) • Visit: Taylor Nicole Wine and Cupcakes (Madison's Black Business Hub)

This week on Black Oxygen, host Angela Russell sits down with the extraordinary Lachrisa Grandberry—singer, actor, writer, speaker, and Milwaukee native whose journey from fifth-grade teacher to professional theater artist is nothing short of inspiring.

Lachrisa shares the powerful story of how a fifth-grader named Daniel changed her life by challenging her to chase her own dreams. What started as a promise to audition for one show became a full-time career in theater, supported by a network of Black women mentors who helped her navigate the industry with remarkable success.

From opening The Color Purple at Chicago's Goodman Theatre to becoming one of ten fellows selected from 792 applicants for the prestigious Dramatist Guild National Fellowship Program, Lachrisa offers profound insights on overcoming fear, betting on yourself, and the principle that has guided her career: "Don't let the no come from you first."

This conversation explores the radical care found in theater communities, the responsibility we have to show up for each other, and the importance of breaking the brooms and shredding the rugs that keep us silent about our trauma. Lachrisa closes the episode with a stunning reading from her poetry collection, "Shredding Rugs: A Poetic Cleansing."

Key moments include discussions of mentorship, the scariest thing being our own thoughts, finding your people to turn up the volume on positivity, and what it means to have both the strength to hold and the vulnerability to be held.

#BlackOxygenPodcast #BlackInWisconsin #Mentorship #FollowingYourDreams #LachrisaGrandberry #WisconsinTheater #TheColorPurple #ForwardTheater #NorthernSkyTheaterCompany #Dreams

Links for this episode:

https://www.lachrisagrandberry.com/ (https://www.lachrisagrandberry.com/)

https://northernskytheater.com/ (https://northernskytheater.com/)

https://forwardtheater.com/ (https://forwardtheater.com/)

https://www.goodmantheatre.org/ (https://www.goodmantheatre.org/)

Tracy Anderson returns to Black Oxygen to discuss her unexpected 11-year journey in Madison and a recent career transition. She shares her winding path from theater in Chicago to hotel sales, radio hosting on 93.1 Jams, and community outreach at Big Brothers Big Sisters—where she finally found work she truly loved through service. Tracy opens up about learning to set boundaries, overcoming people-pleasing tendencies, and the challenges of dating as a Black woman in Madison. She reflects on how faith, therapy, and a strong network have helped her navigate this pivot gracefully, and introduces her upcoming podcast "Hustle Her Way," which will spotlight hustlers and nonprofit leaders sharing their unique journeys.

In this powerful episode of Black Oxygen, host Angela Russell sits down with Carla Williams, CEO and founder of The View From Here Wellness Collective, for an intimate conversation about self-care, collective care, and what it means for Black women to move from survival to thriving. Carla shares her Wisconsin story—from her family's journey from Chicago to Madison in a car without floors, to building a life rooted in community and care. She opens up about the heartbreak that sparked The View From Here Wellness Collective and her realization that Black women often build their identities around giving to others while neglecting themselves. Through honest storytelling, Carla explores the revolutionary act of rest for Black women and the importance of reclaiming your own narrative. She discusses her podcast "Black Women Deserve," the power of dating yourself, and learning to receive care without suspicion or hesitation. Carla reminds listeners: "You're not behind. You're not too late. You're not alone. Healing doesn't look perfect, and wherever you are right now, it's exactly where you need to be." Connect with Carla: Website: theviewfromherewellnesscollective.com Social Media: @CropTopCutie

On this week's episode of Black Oxygen, the tables are turned. Regular Black Oxygen guest Ali Muldrow interviews Angela Russell. The friendship vibes are on thick on this episode as they discuss when Angela first started noticing beauty, her relationship with beauty, and travel the 5 senses of beauty.

#BlackOxygenPodcast #BlackInMadison #BlackInWisconsin #Friends #DopeBlackPodcasts #BeautyAllAround #Madison #MadisonWI #Madison365

Debra Gillispie, founder and CEO-President of Mothers Against Gun Violence, is a women of deep faith, resilience, and extraordinary grace and vision.

After losing her son Kirk Jr. to gun violence in 2003, Debra transformed her grief into action, creating an organization dedicated to amplifying the voices of families affected by gun violence. In this conversation, she shares her remarkable journey through restorative justice, including meeting the man who killed her son nearly 21 years after her son's murder.

In this episode we discuss practical solutions for gun violence prevention, the media's portrayal of victims in urban communities, and Debra's recent work establishing National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day in Wisconsin after losing another child to fentanyl poisoning.

This is a powerful conversation about healing, compassion, and the transformative power of giving grace to ourselves and others.

#BlackOxygen #BlackOxygenPodcast #MothersAgainstGunViolence #GunViolence #StopGunViolence

Emily Raclaw is the Director of Marquette University's "On Your Marq" program—one of the nation's top college support programs for neurodiverse students. In this Black Oxygen episode, Emily shares her personal journey of discovering her own ADHD diagnosis in her 30s, and how it shaped her approach to supporting college-bound neurodiverse students. From her unconventional path through German immersion school and living in Germany to becoming a licensed counselor and special education teacher, Emily brings a unique perspective to neurodiversity advocacy, education, and leadership.

Key Topics Covered: -Why high school success doesn't predict college performance for neurodiverse students -The crucial difference between high school IEPs and college accommodations -How parents can identify hidden household accommodations that don't transfer to college Building "frustration tolerance" -The social reality of college and workplace environments -Using AI tools for communication and social navigation

This conversation is packed with practical advice for parents navigating the college search process, insights into creating inclusive educational environments, and honest discussions about neurodiversity in college and at work.

Whether you're a parent of a neurodiverse student, an educator, or someone on their own neurodiversity journey, this episode offers valuable perspectives on embracing differences and building inclusive and supportive communities.

A stat correction from our guest:

#BlackOxygen #BlackOxygenPodcast #OnYourMarq #Neurodiversity #Autistic #autism #ADHD #MarquetteUniversity #BlackInWisconsin #Milwaukee

This episode features my grandfather, Esther Monroe, who I call Daddy Monroe, recorded in the spring of 2023 when he was 96 years old—still driving, still living independently, and still sharing the wisdom of nearly a century on this earth. Today, he's 98, no longer driving or living independently - but is surrounded by family, friends and health care providers that love him tremendously.

What you're about to hear is a legacy—a testament to a life extraordinarily well lived. Daddy Monroe was born during the Great Depression, a Black man in the South who witnessed this country transform in ways that once seemed impossible. He saw wages so low he made just 75 cents a day. He experienced the daily cruelties of racism.

In this conversation with my mom, Brenda Moten, and me, Daddy Monroe shares something profound: one of the best days of his life was watching Barack Obama become president—because for most of his life, he never thought he'd live to see such progress. "There was no way of seeing that things could get better," he tells us.

But they did get better. And in our current moment, when it's easy to lose hope, Daddy Monroe's voice reminds us that change is possible. His formula is simple but not easy: know the difference between right and wrong, be honest with each other, love one another even when we disagree, and treat each other with kindness and respect.

This is more than a family conversation—it's a masterclass in resilience, hope, and the long arc of progress from someone who's lived it all.

Here's my grandfather, Daddy Monroe, in his own words.

#BlackOxygen #BlackOxygenPodcast #PodcastReissue #LegacyStories #GenerationalWisdom #OralHistory #DaddyMonroe #Perspectives #LoveWins #KindnessMatters #LifeWellLived

Semaj Sconiers is a respected educator, mindfulness and wellness practitioner, and a Racial and Gender Justice Practitioner with the YWCA of Dane County. In this episode of Black Oxygen, Semaj shared her personal journey and experiences with mindfulness practices, including her connection to her grandmother and how she came back to her mindfulness practice while in the intensive care unit during a medical emergency. She shares, "in difficult moments, find your breath … it helps you recalibrate."

In addition, Semaj talks about her work as a race and gender equity practitioner at the YWCA and the upcoming annual YWCA Racial Justice Summit. The 2025 Racial Justice Summit is focused on Becoming the Liberated Ecosystem and will weave together the themes of solidarity, abolition, mutual aid and repair. In our conversation about the Summit, Semaj emphasized the importance of unlearning harmful ways of being together and relearning new practices and ways of being a collective and in solidarity with ourselves and each other.

To learn more about the YWCA Racial Justice Summit please visit - http://ywcamadison-racialjusticesummit.org

#BlackOxygen #BlackOxygenPodcast #BlackMindfulness #Mindfulness #BlackInMadison #BlackInWisconsin #MadisonLeadership #RacialJustice #RacialEquity #YWCARacialJusticeSummit

Dr. Corinda Rainey Moore is a community steward and leader here in Madison, WI. She is a passionate racial equity advocate who believes in leading by example. In this episode of Black Oxygen, Dr. Rainey Moore and I discuss how UW-Madison brought here to Wisconsin, how love kept her here in Wisconsin, and her passion for all things community related. She provides wonderful advice on how to engage in community leadership in honest and authentic ways and reminds us all that if we're not happy with something we have the power to change it.

#BlackOxygen #BlackOxygenPodcast #BlackInMadison #BlackInWisconsin #MadisonLeadership #NonProfitLeadership #BootsOnTheGround