Dani is chatting with Leah Lakins, editor, writer and publisher, or as she sometimes calls herself - a wordy, nerdy, quirky girl from Baltimore. You may have seen her name and words in popular books like Steve Harvey's New York Times Bestseller Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man, Act Like a Success, Think Like a Success, and his most recent project Jump.

Leah shares her early dreams of what she wanted to be when she grew up and how her high school journal revealed pieces of her current reality. We get to learn about how her variety of career opportunities has prepared her for life as an entrepreneur doing what she loves - sharing the stories of others.

Change in her life inspired more change. After dreaming of living in New York for 10 years, she gambled on herself and moved to NYC and started her life as an entrepreneur. Leah shares about how she prepared for that major move and what some people had to say about her plans.  

We hear about some of her unique challenges of NYC living, what she loves and appreciates about the city, and how it has contributed to her career and success. Her advice to making it in this city: say yes! It is saying yes that has opened up so many amazing opportunities in Leah's life, including working with Steve Harvey. We get to hear her story of how that unfolded from starting a conversation with a fellow word nerd to the process of giving her all to the project.

Leah touches on the benefits and the importance of supporting herself with her networking community and business coach.

Leah also shares about her aerial yoga adventures and how it has improved her mind body connection, helping her find strength and confidence, and how it helped her on her trip to India.

We learn about her superpower, her anthem songs, and about a conversation that shifted her perspective on her life.   

Leah's story is a great example of seeing how she planted the seeds are planted and laid out the steps to create life she wanted, and this is just the beginning.

May this episode encourage you to "say yes" to gambling on yourself in whatever you want to see happen in your own life.

Learn more about Leah:

Website: http://www.fresheyeseditorial.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FreshEyesEditorialServices/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lakins9/

This episode is part of a series in the Take Over Season where speaker, host and adventure creator Danielle Fontus took over the podcast for chats about living a daring life.

Dani is chatting with Felicia Gibson Jaycox, the founder and executive director of The Power of You Teens - a Harlem based mentoring and empowerment group for girls ages 10 - 18.

For Felicia, this organization started at a time when she was in a lot of pain. She shares about the unexpected loss of her brother and how she coped with the help of a supportive sisterhood.

Learning to channel her pain into passion, she poured her heart into a space where she saw others hurting - teenaged girls who had lost hope, some even resulting in suicide, from life challenges they were facing, like bullying and abuse. Through volunteering, Felicia was able to push through her own pain and she rediscovered the joy she had in touching the lives of young girls that she'd felt before during her days working with a runaway center in Florida.

Today, through The Power of You Teens, Felicia has created a loving and supportive community, where she and her team of Power Women pour into these young girls the inspiration and the resources they need to discover the power within themselves and show up in the world as their best powerful selves.

From teaching one young woman to read and pairing one with a piano teacher to field trips and workshops lead by women from a wide variety of professional backgrounds, these girls are constantly exposed to the possibilities available to them. Year-round these teens participate in the program that includes things like improv classes, healthy cooking demonstrations, financial education workshops, college preparation sessions; and for four years they have put on their Empowerment Experience - their major event that intends to educate, empower and engage the larger Harlem community.

Felicia's vision has become a powerful reality thanks to her dedication and the support of the every-community who believe in and want to do whatever they can for our teens.

To learn more about The Power of You Teens, you can visit their website: http://thepowerofyouteens.org/

Follow them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePowerofYouTeens/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/thepowerofyou10

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/powerofyouteens/

Indiegogo: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/fundraiser-for-the-power-of-you-teens-2017-girls#/

Or reach out directly to Felicia [email protected] if you are interested in supporting however you can.

Dani is chatting with Evelyn Badia, the hostess with the mostest. She has been an Airbnb host since 2010 (before airbnb was cool and a verb).

When the economy shifted, Evelyn couldn’t find work in her industry as a TV producer. She stumbled upon Airbnb in the NY Times and decided to try it as a way to save her home. Evelyn shares about how her lifestyle changed and what it was like moving out of her home as a way of income. She tells the stories of how she started her listing and her first guest. We learn in this episode the lessons she’s learned from hosting - like setting boundaries and establishing realistic expectations with clear communication. She also shares about some of her favorite guests and funny moments, like when the guy ate her avocado.

Evelyn is the ultimate hostess because not only does she create a special experience for her guests but she also contributes to her community, lending her home to neighbors during challenging times like Hurricane Sandy and home repairs as well as for their families’ visits. She equips her guests with recommendations to give them the best NYC experience while also supporting local businesses in her neighborhood.

This conversation with Evelyn is a story of perseverance and resilience. She has created a new career in this unexpected chapter of her life, which is continuing to evolve. Seeing a need that was not getting met, she has created The Hosting Journey, an international community of hosts she offers information and support on everything from how to create a listing to how to get a stain out.

From moving to NYC from Puerto Rico at the age of 15 knowing no English to creating this new business and career for herself, Evelyn has proven to be tough, someone who takes new challenges; and we see lends that strength and her voice and experience as a host as an advocate for Airbnb and other hosts.

In this episode, you will learn what it looks like not only to become an Airbnb host but what it looks like to start a new chapter from an unfortunate situation. There are great lessons and nuggets of wisdom for you to digest.

You’ll also get answers to some questions like:

-what does she (and should you) look for in an Airbnb?

-does she ever stay in hotels?

-what makes her Airbnb a unique experience?

-what kinds of things guests have left her as gifts?

-what have been some of her interesting experiences as a guest?

Here’s where you can connect with Evelyn:

Listing: https://www.airbnb.com/users/show/118971

Website: http://www.evelynbadia.com/

Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheHostingJourney/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehostingjourney/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/EvelynBadiaBk

Dani is going deep with Tatiana Dellepiane - a sex and relationship expert and tantra teacher. She helps women connect to their sensuality, which she believes is our superpower.

She works with them through movements and their body to break through from shame and reach their full potential out in the world. It is her mission and her work to help women remember who they truly are.

Her journey started as she was seeking healing in her own life. During a time when she felt stuck and was experiencing pain, she found a teacher who opened up her eyes to work that used movement to help women heal their own trauma.

Having experienced abuse and trauma throughout her life, which she coped with by dismissing, Tatiana reached a point in her life, when she realized true, deep healing was necessary for her to move on. Following her own self love and spiritual journey, she went deeper which not only granted her healing but also helped her discover the work that she wanted to do for other women.

Tatiana has grown to know an intense life and existence, which has equipped her for the depth and capacity of the work she is doing with her clients. She is one to break taboo and play in the spaces in our lives that we often avoid or neglect.

In this conversation, we go deep and get messy, touching on what happens when spirituality, religion, culture, family, sex, sensuality, all collide. We hear about Tatiana's personal experience of sorting through these things, how she has grown from this work and how she helps her clients do the same,.

To learn more about Tatiana and her work, connect with her on:

Her website:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelovegypsy

Twitter: https://twitter.com/thelovegypsy

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelovegypsy

This episode is part of a series in the Take Over Season where speaker, host and adventure creator Danielle Fontus took over the podcast for chats about living a daring life.

We are chatting with Bernice Wooden - entrepreneur & educator, who has been in the entertainment business for 10 years. She started her own production company, Be Nice Productions, which includes videography, photography and workshops. Bernice has recently written a book How to Get a Degree in Celibacy: 10 Steps to Keeping Your Lips Closed, where she is sharing with the world about her sex life,or lack thereof.

In this conversation, we learn about Bernice's journey to where she is today in her career. She shares about the unique challenges she faced and how she overcame them and the lessons she learned from them.

In this candidly, juicy and intimate interview, Bernice dares to share:

• what makes her uncomfortable to this day & how she approaches those uncomfortable situations

• an emotional failure and the wins that also came with it

• some of the excuses she's used that have limited her (which she has since overcome)

• a private detail she hasn't shared with anyone else

In this episode, we get to hear from Bernice about:

• growing up in Brooklyn

• how she found her boldness

• who she's interviewed on the red carpet

• when she realized she was a Black Sheep

• her experience with her unique ethnic background & what unique challenges came from that

• all the things she thought she was going to be when she grew up

• the jobs shes had along the way &  the lessons she’s learned and prepared her for where she is now

• how she started in her current field - her first production job

• her networking tips

Bernice has created her own adventure with her celibacy journey AND deciding to share it publicly with her book. We get rich insight from Bernice's experience, including:

• how she decided to be celibate & the struggle

• what supported her during the process

• what she has discovered through the process (in her friendships, in her body, in her relationships)

• the surprising reactions she heard when sharing with others (men versus women)

• some of her temptations and how she dealt with them

• the interesting way she got the title of her book

• tips for anyone considering their own journey

We learn a few fun things about Bernice like:

• her superpower

• a random job would she do for a day

• one of her proudest moments

So where we can find her and stay up to date on all that she is up to?

www.bernicewooden.com (You can pre-order her book here.)

Social Media:

https://www.facebook.com/adegreeincelibacy

https://www.instagram.com/adegreeincelibacy/

https://twitter.com/BerniceWooden

https://www.instagram.com/beniceproductions/

https://www.facebook.com/adegreeincelibacy

What questions do you have for Bernice? Let's keep the conversation going! Share in the comments below.

The Black Sheep Podcast is BAAACK!

In this episode you will head from Nicole on what caused the long delay in between seasons, what to expect in upcoming seasons of the podcast and how to get your initiatives, products and services in front of our audience.

This episode is an interview by past guest Danielle Fontus who is back to interview Nicole.  This episode kicks off the “Take Over Season” where Nicole invited Danielle to take over the mic for honest chats with women who are daring to live life on their terms as a Black Sheep.

In this episode we will learn:

What has happened since last season? Nicole had baby # 2 and alot of work come her way at the same time and the impact of both these on her, her family and health. Including the low moments - “I’m failing” and high moments “im living and doing work that matters”

• Her plans for the future of the podcast and ways to continue to support WOC.

• How time is the most valuable currency in her home

• Why she and Danielle are really owning not having a business and being freelancers.

• Reacting vs responding to life’s challenges

• Hard chats around gender norms with her husband. Deep work; money work, valuing her worth.

• Creating an entrepreneurial life.

• Nicole’s aspiration?  Creating a WOC Podcaster Network.

NEW WAYS TO GET YOUR SERVICES, PRODUCTS + SOCIAL GOOD EFFORTS FEATURED!

A call to listeners >>>>WOC who want to experiment with launching a podcast!Want to Take Over the Black Sheep Podcast??

We pick a topic- tied to your word, your biz, interviews or a topic to explore with NIcole

Email: [email protected] or visit www.liveblacksheep.com

A call to listeners >>>>WOC with Social Impact Efforts that Need Promotion!

The Black Sheep Podcast is looking to support smaller grassroots efforts -

We will be experimenting with in episode segments or mini episode on initiative led by WOC looking for small investment of funding. Use the Black Sheep Podcast platform to promote it.

Email: [email protected] or visit www.liveblacksheep.com

A call to listeners >>>>Micro-sponsorship for WOC with Small Businesses!

The Black Sheep Podcast and Live Black Sheep brand is looking to support smaller WOC owned businesses interested in sponsoring episodes, segments and WOC Shopping Guides.

Email: [email protected] or visit www.liveblacksheep.com

Join the Black Sheep Society and connect with fellow WOC!

Get on the list and get notified about new episodes!

Follow us @liveblacksheep

Victoria's company (and her passion) is called Victoria Akkari Organic Culinary Oil. She works with a Women's Cooperative in Aberdare, in the South Western region of Morocco. There, the women make the culinary Argan Oil by hand, in the ancient, traditional way. This is what Victoria imports and she does the bottling and the labelling in Long Island. Victoria has a passion for this and she has many wonderful ideas for the future, to expand and incorporate working with other Moroccan cooperatives. Listen in to find out more about Victoria and the benefits of edible Argan Oil.

Today, Victoria and Nicole discuss:

• The difference between edible and non-edible Argan Oil.
• The importance of knowing where what we eat or put on our bodies comes from.
• How Victoria came to find herself creating a company based around Argan Oil and supporting Women's Cooperatives in Morocco.
• Victoria's background, growing up.
• What Victoria had to do, in order to import a food product from Morocco.
• How Victoria found her commercial kitchen in Long Island.
• How Victoria started her business while she was still employed in a job.
• How and where Victoria sells her products.
• How Victoria got to sell her products at ABC Carpet.
• The properties and benefits of Argon Oil and how to cook with it.
• The Argan Tree and it's fruit that produces the oil.
• Victoria describes the labour intensive job of extracting the Argon Oil.
• Victoria explains what a women's cooperative is and how it works.
• How Victoria found the Women's Cooperative that she works with currently.
• Why fair trade is even more important than organic.
• Some great ways to eat and cook with Argan Oil.

Links:

Victoria Akkari can be found across all the social media platforms.

Victoria's website:www.victoriaakkari.com -to buy Argan Oil from Victoria online

Argon Oil can also be bought from ABC Carpet and Home in NYC

If you would like to know what it's like to have psychic abilities, or how a person gifted with clairvoyance or clairsentience uses those talents to help people, listen in and find out, as Nicole's psychic guest, Tanya Brown, shares her story, on this week's show.

Tanya, who comes from New Jersey, is psychic, clairvoyant and she's also a business coach. Tanya describes her psychic ability as being like having someone whispering the answer to a question in her ear. She explains clairvoyance by saying that her guides give her information, in the form of pictures, which she can 'see' when she closes her eyes. She's also clairsentient, which means that she can feel what her clients are feeling, either emotionally, or physically. Tanya's journey so far has been really fun and interesting. Join her and Nicole this week's show to find out more about her and about how she uses her gifts to help her clients with their lives and in their businesses.

Today, Tanya talks to Nicole about:

• How her gifts developed in stages and how she learned to work with them.
• How she came to realize that her grandmother was her Spirit Guide.
• The ad that she put on Craig's list to do free Tarot readings and what happened as a result.
• How she initially put her abilities down to luck.
• The prophetic dreams that she's had.
• How she describes her sense of really knowing.
• How her Guides urge her, in loud voices, her to do as they recommend.
• How the information comes to her in various ways.
• How channeling gives her a nauseous feeling.
• Nicole explains how you, as a listener, can benefit from hearing Tanya's story.
• How Tanya's participating in a Brian Weiss Event worked as a catalyst for awakening her to her abilities.
• What Past Life Regression is all about.
• What she experienced during some of her Past Life Regressions.
• How Tanya's family accepts her gifts and abilities.
• How her clients find her.
• Why she prefers working with people that she's never met before.
• Why it takes more energy for her to work with people that she knows well.
• How her journey has brought her to the full realization of who and what she really is today.
• How she feels after she's done a reading.
• Why people tend to contact her, either regarding their businesses, or for themselves, personally.
• That she is more afraid of not doing, than doing- and how that really works in her life.
• Nicole talks about Tanya's courage and confidence in doing what she does.

Links:

Tanya's website: www.laurenstjulian.com

Tanya Brown on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest

Resources:

Book: Many Lives Many Masters by Brian Weiss.

If you're interested in finding out about what drives and motivates someone with an active social conscience, join Nicole and her guest, Sharee Johnson-Cammon, on this week's show. Listen in and find out about Sharee and what she does to educate and raise the awareness of her community.

Sharee is from Houston Texas and she's the founder and owner of the BAM Black Friday Market, which she started in 2015. Although she shies away from the limelight, Sharee is active with social justice movements and with raising awareness about inequality, oppression, police brutality, communities and education. Listen in this week and find out what Sharee does to raise community awareness and create business opportunities for black people.

This week, Sharee and Nicole discuss:

• Providing information to inform and educate people, without overwhelming them.
• How Sharee's business came about and what provided the impetus to make it happen.
• That Sharee's business is a whole new thing for her.
• How people of color tend to be overlooked for events and conferences.
• Sharee's bold approach to getting out there and taking risks as an entrepreneur.
• Sharee's planned event, now to be launched in 2017 and how she responded to the pressure to make it happen.
• The momentum and motivation for creating something or for making something happen.
• How people have been conditioned to believe that black owned businesses are inferior, and Sharee's efforts to create awareness to change that perception.
• What really motivates Sharee.
• How you can make a change with the money you hold in your hands.
• Sharee's white friends' responses to what she's doing.
• How some people have labelled Sharee racist for what she does.
• The obvious disinvestment in black communities.
• The criticism that has been directed towards Sharee, due to her focus being only on black owned businesses.
• How businesses capitalize on black (people's) pain.

Links:

Sharee's website: www.bamblackfridaymarket.com

Dates for BAM Black Friday Market: 24th November 2017

                                                  25th November 2017 and

                                                   27th November 2017- Online for Cyber Monday

Follow Nicole on all the social media outlets- @liveblacksheep

This chat was super insightful and inspiring. Dara is the founder of Brevity Brand which is launching its first piece of apparel the Do Anything Jacket. 

In this episode we talk about:

• The process of designing and producing a piece of apparel
• Her drive for creating a social enterprise 
• The importance of getting away from the computer + email and just going out and meeting people. She started showing up at factories and meeting with pattern makers at as a result was able to move faster on getting her jacket designed.
• Going in person to the factories also opened her eyes to the huge disparity of women owned vs male owned manufacturing plants
• Launching a successful KickStarter campaign - we go behind the scenes with step by steps to ensure your campaign is successful
• Ignoring naysayers! Going against the grain and trusting your gut - all the established fashion experts advised her against Kickstarter and told her she can't build a brand or launch a sustainable biz on Kickstarter but trusting her gut that this wasn't true she meet with newer brand owners who supported her vision stating many had regrets on not doing it 
• What Dara learned about entrepreneurship from watching her immigrant parents run a donut shop waking up at midnight everyday.
• Why she feels so passionate about women owned factories producing her work, in the USA and only using vegan materials.

Resources mentioned in this episode include:

• MakersRow - http://makersrow.com/

Get your Do Anything Jacket at https://brevitybrand.com/

And connect online at https://instagram.com/brevitybrand and @BrevityBrand