Isah Kushma is a disabled combat veteran from the United States Army with 25 years of service.  She is a disciplined Wellness Coach and Yoga Instructor whose passion for total fitness encourages others to practice healthy lifestyles.  She established IsahMaazing Fitness and Wellness to provide knowledge, insight and inspiration to anyone that is struggling to meet their fitness goals. An experienced athlete; Isah’s journey consists of training in Crossfit, body building, nutrition coaching, TRX suspension training, competitive kettle belling and yoga. She instructs a myriad of fitness classes in person and online. 

For fitness coaching visit https://linktr.ee/IsahMaazing or https://www.instagram.com/isahmaazingfitness/

Resources for Veterans

Warriors At Ease

Veterans Yoga Project

Connect with Black Women in Wellness

IG: @bwiw_interviews  

FB: facebook.com/blackwomeninwellness

Website: blackwomeninwellness.com

Email: [email protected]

Olivia F. Scott is a respected Yoga Alliance Certified Yoga & Mindfulness Teacher trained in New York City. Freedom At The Mat is an online and offline wellness platform to provide a sacred space for people to pause for self-care with pre-recorded affirmations, intentions, wellness interviews, meditations, and yoga flows. In addition to the Freedom At The Mat YouTube Channel, classes are offered for private groups & workplaces, virtually and in-person. Olivia F. Scott is the Founder and Principal Consultant of Omerge Alliances, an integrated marketing communications consultancy serving such media & beauty clients such as ESSENCE, Media Storm, Game Show Network, New York Theological Seminary, among others, since 2009. 

A Mizzou & Gonzaga Graduate, Olivia is presently the Assistant Professor of Advertising at Loyola University New Orleans, and Adjunct Marketing Professor at New York University. NYC & NOLA-based Olivia has served in marketing leadership roles at Carol's Daughter, VIBE Magazine, Live Nation, iN DEMAND TV, DDB, Leo Burnett, Ogilvy, Draft and Frankel in New York City & Chicago for over 25 years.

Websites: Freedom At The Mat & Omerge Alliances 

Email: [email protected]

Social media handles/podcast: @freedomatthemat @omergealliances

Projects: ESSENCE Festival of Culture's ESSENCE Wellness House

Free Your Soul New Orleans Juneteenth Event

Connect with Black Women in Wellness

IG: @bwiw_interviews  

FB: facebook.com/blackwomeninwellness

Website: blackwomeninwellness.com

Email: [email protected]

Dr. Varnado left her traditional career of almost 20 years in Obstetrics and Gynecology in 2021 to address the broken healthcare system, which currently puts the most resources in treating symptoms, when it really needs to address the root cause of diseases.  Through her years of practice, she has realized that many know what it takes to be healthy but outside of a support system their efforts rarely yield the desired outcome because their environments often reinforce poor habits.  She is particularly interested in helping physicians with Burnout, as she is recovering from Burnout. This shift was born from starting her podcast in November 2020, Office Visits with Dr. V, where she not only educates women about their gynecologic health and how their bodies function but also about their overall health and wellness.  Being a mother of two, having a marriage of 17 years, a supportive family, and a strong relationship with God are keys to her success.

Website:  https://officevisitswithdrv.com/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/Office-Visits-with-Dr-V-109383657155838

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

Linkedin:  linkedin.com/in/benita-varnado-md-3460b3206

Delivering Destiny: The Prescription for Your Health and Happiness

Connect with Black Women in Wellness

IG: @bwiw_interviews  

FB: facebook.com/blackwomeninwellness

Website: blackwomeninwellness.com

Email: [email protected]

Since 2004, Tosha Bailey has coached busy women on how to become happier, healthier and hotter by creating balance between the foods they love and the foods their bodies need, short effective workouts, and shifting their mindset to create more confidence, balance, higher energy, and less stress. Tosha’s coaching style is straightforward, effective and fun, meeting her clients where they currently are in their health journey and getting them where they want to be. Tosha does this work through her business, The MIX EduKitchen & Fitness, also know as The MIX.

Connect with Tosha

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.mixkitchenfitness.com

FB page: https://www.facebook.com/MixKitchenFitness

Current Projects:

• Drop 10 Blueprint: a detailed and sustainable way to drop your first, next, or last 10 pounds

• Healthy, Happy, & Hot Academy: 4 month intensive to upgrade your health so that you can lose 60lbs or more in a year.

Interested in doing what Tosha does? Check out these certification programs:

• NASM (for many certs including personal trainer & nutrition)

• Precision Nutrition (nutrition)

• ISSA (personal training)

Looking for a great workout? Tosha suggests these YouTube channels:

• Magda Civil: https://www.youtube.com/@MagdaCivil

• Abby Pollock: https://www.youtube.com/@abbypollock

• Nerd Fitness: https://www.youtube.com/@NerdFitness

• Grow with Jo: https://www.youtube.com/@growwithjo

Connect with Black Women in Wellness

IG: @bwiw_interviews  

FB: facebook.com/blackwomeninwellness

Website: blackwomeninwellness.com

Email: [email protected]

A creative, innovator and critical thinker, in 2020 Venice Williams made the decision to leave her career in Education to explore various avenues that can bridge the many desires she has. She is now living in Costa Rica and is enjoying her experience living abroad. Venice desires to advocate for and expose young people to education through travel, expanding resources and dismantling stereotypes while replacing it with knowledge, understanding and the importance of preserving cultural heritage. Her altruistic energy and outgoing personality has proven to inspire everyone she meets, fueling authentic, intentional relationships. Venice strongly believes traveling is not only a quick getaway from the bustle of everyday living - it can be a gateway to transformative healing. As a Black woman, Venice regards exposure as a key element in the process of unlearning. She is excited to engage and connect with others and to share her lessons along the way. In Venice’s spare time, you will find her taking pictures, exploring Costa Rica and other Latin American countries, creating playlists, writing, and curating experiences.

IG: sheisvenice_

(Un)LearningSpace

Connect with Black Women in Wellness

IG: @bwiw_interviews  

FB: facebook.com/blackwomeninwellness

Website: blackwomeninwellness.com

Email: [email protected]

Alicia D. Bonaparte, PhD.

Dr. Alicia D. Bonaparte is currently a Full Professor of Sociology at Pitzer College and trained as a medical sociologist with a specialization in reproductive health, health disparities, and female crime and deviance. She earned her MA and PhD from Vanderbilt University in Sociology and her BA in Sociology (cum laude) from Spelman College. Her research interests include the gendered social hierarchy within American medicine, the intersection of race and gender in healthcare practices, and racial disparities. She is co-editor of the anthology Birthing Justice: Black Women, Pregnancy, and Childbirth, contributor to

Check out Dr. Bonaparte's previous interview.

Tricia Gray

Tricia Gray is a Los Angeles based community worker with over 15 years of experience in juvenile carceral system, foster care, suicide education and awareness, and county public health. Currently, Tricia is the Volunteer Engagement Coordinator at ACCESS REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE, the only abortion fund in the state of California providing free and unbiased funding and logistical support for abortion care seekers. Tricia and ACCESS are working to shift the "pro-choice" narrative of equitable abortion access, as this narrative has highlighted access for primarily higher earning white women in the country while critically limiting equitable access to reproductive healthcare for lower income, rural and most often, Black communities. Tricia believes in centering the most-affected community members as stakeholders for developing policies that will enhance quality of life for their communities; and the necessary push-back communities must collectively exercise when policies and public officials with vague and/or contradictory values are adopted. Tricia is an advocate for community connection and reconnection to indigenous Black practices as a means of transcending unjust American administrations, social service systems and policies.

Check out Tricia's previous interview.

IG: @bwiw_interviews

FB: facebook.com/blackwomeninwellness

Website: blackwomeninwellness.com

Email: [email protected]

Tricia Gray is a Los Angeles based community worker with over 15 years of experience in juvenile carceral system, foster care, suicide education and awareness, and county public health. Currently, Tricia is the Volunteer Engagement Coordinator at ACCESS REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE, the only abortion fund in the state of California providing free and unbiased funding and logistical support for abortion care seekers. Tricia and ACCESS are working to shift the "pro-choice" narrative of equitable abortion access, as this narrative has highlighted access for primarily higher earning white women in the country while critically limiting equitable access to reproductive healthcare for lower income, rural and most often, Black communities. Tricia believes in centering the most-affected community members as stakeholders for developing policies that will enhance quality of life for their communities; and the necessary push-back communities must collectively exercise when policies and public officials with vague and/or contradictory values are adopted. Tricia is an advocate for community connection and reconnection to indigenous Black practices as a means of transcending unjust American administrations, social service systems and policies.

Website: ACCESS REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE

IG: @access_rj

Email: [email protected]

Helpful links:

National Network of Abortion Funds

I Need an A

Connect with Black Women in Wellness

IG: @bwiw_interviews

FB: facebook.com/blackwomeninwellness

Website: blackwomeninwellness.com

Email: [email protected]

Angel V. Shannon, MS, CRNP is a personal development keynote speaker, board certified nurse practitioner and founder of Seva Health and The Seva Institute. Her inspiring presentations are drawn from nearly three decades of clinical practice and lifetime study of integrative health and mind-body medicine. Through courses, coaching, community and radical self-compassion practice, Angel teaches overworked professionals how to break free from burnout and gain the clarity, courage and confidence they need to design the life they deserve. In 2014, she founded Seva Health, specializing in functional medicine and integrative health for adults and seniors. Drawing upon nearly three decades of experience in chronic disease care and personal study of mind-body medicine, Angel takes a uniquely integrative approach to preventive health care. Using the tools of functional medicine and mindfulness based practices, Angel’s patients uncover root causes of their conditions, developing strategies that change their lives, not just their symptoms. In addition to managing her busy clinical and coaching practice, Angel is the host of Healthy House Calls With Angel, a podcast filled with tips, tools and strategies that help listeners live longer and live better with lifestyle medicine. 

Stay connected with Angel at www.sevahealthgroup.com and on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/angelvshannon

Perle Noire is THE Black Burlesque Queen. Known as Mama Perle in the burlesque community, she's been blessed with the unique gift of embodying Josephine Baker and healing an audience in a theatre or in the classroom. A paragon of glitz and glamour, Perle is an intuitive healer, creative director, transformative coach, and the creator of The Healing Through Seduction program. She specializes in guided sensual touch, empowerment workshops, and burlesque-inspired healing rituals. As a visionary, she is also an advocate for people searching for a community to reclaim their bodies and reclaim control over their sensuality.

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.blackburlesquequeen.com

IG: instagram.com/theperlenoire

Current Projects: Healing Through Seduction 8-week course  (Registration is open.)

Talya Peters was born and raised in Atlanta Georgia.  She has worked in the aviation industry for over 20 years.  She tried hypnosis in 2016 but it wasn’t until she used Hypnobirthing in 2019 that she really began to see the benefits of hypnosis.  After taking Mindvalley courses with Marissa Peer and observing her methodology, she became a Certified Hypnotherapist in August of 2021 specializing in Rapid Transformational Therapy also known as RTT.  When she’s not in the air or in session you can find her in Costa Rica with her husband and three children.

IG: @talya_schronda   and    @greatpetersescape

Join one of Talya's tribes: Talya Peters Hypnotherapy, The Great Peters Escape

Contact Talya| email: [email protected]           WhatsApp: 770 827 5677

Check out our episode with Wanderwomxn's Janna Zinzi where she talks about sensual movement and travel as healing modalities.