Black Women Amplified Podcast

Black Women Amplified

Season 8 of Black Women Amplified begins with reflection, gratitude, and a powerful theme for the conversations ahead.

In this opening episode, host Monica Wisdom thanks the community that helped grow the podcast into a global platform reaching more than 2 million views and listens, over 7,000 YouTube subscribers, and a network of more than 48,000 women connected through social media.

What began as a simple idea to create a space where the stories, wisdom, and lived experiences of Black women could be heard has grown into something much larger. Black Women Amplified has become a platform for thoughtful conversations about leadership, identity, purpose, and the realities women navigate while building their lives and careers.

Season 8 introduces a new theme: She Moves Different.

Across industries and communities, women are navigating major shifts. Jobs are changing. Entire sectors are restructuring. Cultural and political changes are creating new uncertainty about the future.

For women who have spent years building careers, businesses, families, and communities, this moment can feel both challenging and transformative.

Instead of focusing on simply surviving these changes, this season explores what it means to thrive through them.

That means becoming comfortable with who we are now. Not who we once were, and not who others expected us to be. It means setting new boundaries, aligning our lives with our values, and moving forward with clarity and intention.

Throughout Season 8, Monica will host thoughtful conversations with women who are charting their own paths, redefining leadership, and living in alignment with their purpose.

Women who are navigating change with intention.

Women who move differently.

In This Episode

• Reflecting on the growth of Black Women Amplified and the community that made it possible
• Celebrating more than 2 million listens and views across platforms
• Introducing the Season 8 theme: She Moves Different
• Discussing the cultural and economic shifts impacting women today
• Exploring the importance of clarity, boundaries, and intentional living during times of change
• Setting the stage for conversations with women who are building new paths and redefining leadership

About the Podcast

Black Women Amplified is a global podcast hosted by Monica Wisdom featuring thoughtful conversations with women across business, culture, science, and the arts. Each episode explores leadership, reinvention, identity, and the power of women’s stories.

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Vanessa Riley on Fire, Sword, and Sea, Women Pirates, Caribbean History, and Reinvention

In this episode, I sit down with bestselling historical fiction author Vanessa Riley while she is on tour for her powerful new novel, Fire, Sword, and Sea.

We go deep.

We talk about women pirates in the Caribbean, hidden history, the real cost of piracy, the sugar economy, and how the transatlantic slave trade shaped the world we are still living in. Vanessa shares the extensive research behind the novel, from Port Royal Jail to colonial archives, and how she brings erased stories back to life.

We also talk about her personal journey. From earning a PhD in mechanical engineering at Stanford University to becoming a twenty-nine-time published author. The pivots. The discipline. The courage. The craft.

This is a conversation about history, identity, moral choice, love as survival, and what it means to tell stories that were almost lost.

If you love historical fiction, Caribbean history, women pirates, or conversations about reinvention and creative success, this episode is for you.

About Vanessa Riley

Vanessa Riley is an acclaimed historical fiction author known for novels including Island Queen, a Good Morning America Buzz Pick, and Queen of Exiles, an ABC View Lit Pick. She was honored as the 2024 Georgia Mystery and Detective Author of the Year for Murder in Drury Lane and the 2023 Georgia Literary Fiction Author of the Year for Sister Mother Warrior.

Her work has been praised by The Washington Post, Entertainment Weekly, NPR, Publishers Weekly, and The New York Times.

With more than twenty-five novels to her name, Vanessa combines rigorous historical research with immersive storytelling rooted in the Caribbean, Georgian, and Regency eras. She is also an advocate for diverse voices and Sickle Cell Anemia awareness.

In This Episode We Discuss

• Fire, Sword, and Sea book tour

• Jacquotte Delahaye and women pirates in the Caribbean

• Port Royal Jail and the real history of piracy

• The sugar economy and colonial wealth

• Early forms of enslavement before the transatlantic slave trade

• Caribbean history and its connection to American history

• Writing historical fiction with modern language

• Vanessa Riley’s journey from Stanford engineer to bestselling novelist

• Publishing over twenty-five books

• Reinvention and choosing passion over expectation

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There is a lot happening right now. Culturally. Politically. Personally. And if we are not intentional, the noise will start shaping our reactions, our boundaries, and even our identity.

In this episode of Black Women Amplified, I sit down with Legacy Healing Strategist and founder of Shaping Freedom, Lisane Basquiat, for a grounded conversation about boundaries, balance, focus, and leadership in uncertain times.

This is not a surface conversation about self-care. This is about clarity. Discipline. And protecting your energy without losing yourself.

Lisane is a board-certified NLP Master Practitioner and teacher, certified professional coach, former corporate executive, and entrepreneur. She also serves as steward of her late brother Jean-Michel Basquiat’s estate, carrying one of the most significant artistic legacies of our time while continuing to build her own work and voice.

What stands out in this conversation is her steadiness. She understands that boundaries are not emotional reactions. They are strategic decisions. And balance is not passive. It is intentional.

In this episode, we explore:

• Is balance realistic in a world that feels upside down?
• The hidden cost of over-accessibility in leadership and public life.
• Why focus is a discipline in a distracted culture.
• Listening as a practice, not a performance.
• The impact of inherited family patterns on how we say yes and no.
• How to remain whole while navigating visibility and responsibility.

If you have ever felt stretched thin, overly responsible, or pulled in too many directions, this episode will resonate.

This conversation is about staying steady when everything feels loud.

Learn More

Lisane will also be hosting an upcoming virtual intensive focused on identifying inherited patterns that shape how we respond and set boundaries.

For more information about her work and upcoming offerings, visit:

www.shapingfreedom.com

• Why I finally decided to write the book after years of putting it off
• How the topic shifted from storytelling to social commentary
• The myth of the “perfect” writing process and what actually worked
• Behind the curtain of best-seller campaigns and the publishing industry
• Why authorship adds power to your voice and legacy
• The difference between content and contribution
• What it really means to finish something

• Jayne’s journey from Harvard Law to bestselling author
• The creative collaboration with Malcolm D. Lee on The Best Man book series
• How she built the Black Girls Must Die Exhausted trilogy into a global phenomenon
• The business and purpose behind her storytelling empire
• Insights into Book Genius and how she helps aspiring authors navigate publishing
• What is next in the Jayne Allen Universe

In this expansive and forward-thinking conversation, Monica Wisdom sits down with Stephanie Perry, a woman who turned a personal decision into a global movement.

What began as Stephanie’s choice to leave the United States and explore life abroad has grown into a community of tens of thousands of women reimagining what freedom, work, and lifestyle can look like.

This conversation is not about travel. It is about structure.

Stephanie shares how she built a life that allowed her to move across countries through house-sitting, how she sustained herself financially, and what it required to shift from constant movement to establishing roots in Bogotá, Colombia.

We also explore the creation of ExodUS Summit, a global platform designed to help women build income streams, develop digital skills, and create sustainable lives beyond traditional systems.

This episode moves beyond inspiration and into execution.

At its core, this is a conversation about ownership of time, location, and income, and the mindset required to build a life that is not confined by geography.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Building a life abroad through house-sitting and remote income
• Transitioning from a nomadic lifestyle to establishing roots
• The structure behind creating sustainable global freedom
• How ExodUS Summit supports women in building income online
• The mindset required to live and work internationally
• Preparing emotionally and practically for life outside the U.S.

Key Takeaways:

• Freedom requires both vision and structure
• Location independence is built through intentional income streams
• You can create a life that is not tied to one place
• Preparation is essential for long-term sustainability abroad
• Expanding your environment can expand how you see your life

About Stephanie Perry

Stephanie Perry is an entrepreneur, speaker, and founder of House Sitter School. She is known for helping women create location-independent lifestyles through house-sitting, digital income, and strategic planning. Her work has grown into a global movement supporting women who want to live and work abroad with intention.

Join the Movement

ExodUS Summit A global virtual experience designed to help you build income, create freedom, and design a sustainable life abroad

Register: www.blackwomenamplified.com/freedom

Listen and Stay Connected

Visit: www.blackwomenamplified.com Follow: @blackwomenamplified

In this powerful and expansive conversation, Monica Wisdom sits down with Marisha Wallace, a globally recognized performer whose career reflects both discipline and bold vision.

From her early beginnings in North Carolina to commanding stages across London’s West End and Broadway, Marisha has built a career that refuses limitation. Her work spans major productions including Dreamgirls, Waitress, Hairspray, Oklahoma!, Guys and Dolls, and her return to Broadway in Cabaret.

This conversation moves beyond performance and into what it takes to sustain a life at this level.

Marisha shares the realities behind her journey, the resilience required to navigate the industry, and the faith that has anchored her through each transition. She speaks candidly about stepping into global opportunities, building a career across continents, and remaining grounded while operating at the highest level of her craft.

We also explore her latest project, Live in London, recorded at the Adelphi Theatre, a body of work that captures both her artistry and her evolution as a performer.

At its core, this episode is about expansion. What it looks like to move beyond what is expected and create a career that reflects your full range.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Building a career across Broadway and the West End
• Navigating the realities of the theatre industry at a global level
• The discipline and resilience required for longevity
• Returning to Broadway and continuing to evolve as an artist
• The creation of Live in London and what it represents
• Balancing visibility, faith, and personal grounding

Key Takeaways:

• A global career requires both talent and strategic movement
• Expansion often comes from stepping into unfamiliar spaces
• Longevity is built through discipline and consistency
• Faith and self-trust can anchor you through uncertainty
• Your path can extend far beyond what you initially imagined

About Marisha Wallace

Marisha Wallace is a Broadway and West End performer known for her dynamic stage presence and powerful vocals. Her work includes leading roles in major productions across the U.S. and U.K., as well as performances on screen in projects such as Disney’s Aladdin and Netflix’s Jingle Jangle. She has received Olivier Award nominations for her work in theatre and continues to build a global career as both a performer and recording artist.

Listen and Stay Connected

Visit: www.blackwomenamplified.com Explore: queen.blackwomenamplified.com

In this focused and forward-moving conversation, Monica Wisdom sits down with Jasmine Nevels, a rising entrepreneur who is redefining what it means to transition from corporate leadership into ownership.

Jasmine’s journey is not built on theory. It is built on decision. The decision to leave what was familiar, step into uncertainty, and build something that reflects her vision and values.

In this episode, she shares how she carved out space in the coffee industry, an industry that is both competitive and often overlooked when it comes to representation. She speaks candidly about the discipline required to shift from executive to entrepreneur and what it means to fully commit to your next chapter.

This conversation is about ownership.

Not just in business, but in identity, direction, and the willingness to bet on yourself before there is proof.

At its core, this episode reflects a larger moment. A shift where more women are choosing to build, invest, and create on their own terms.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Transitioning from corporate leadership to entrepreneurship
• Entering and building within the coffee industry
• The mindset required to bet on yourself
• Navigating uncertainty while building something new
• Ownership as both a business decision and a personal one
• Creating opportunities in spaces where access is limited

Key Takeaways:

• You have to decide before the results show up
• Ownership requires clarity, discipline, and consistency
• Leaving security is often the first step toward expansion
• Your vision has to be strong enough to guide your decisions
• Building something new requires both courage and structure

Listen and Stay Connected

Visit: www.blackwomenamplified.com Follow: @blackwomenamplified

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