Black Women Rising

Writing allows us to be visible. We write to say we are present in the world. Our lives and stories matter.

Today on the Black Women Rising Podcast, we sat down with Chyrel J. Jackson and Lyris D. Wallace, avid lovers, readers, and writers of African American Literature. In this episode, these sisters talk about how they developed their love for reading and writing, their passion for the culture, standing in their truth through their writing, and so much more. Throughout this conversation, you can hear their love for writing and their love for one another.

Key Discussion Points From This Episode Include:

[00:02:31] - Developing the Love for Reading and Writing

[00:05:38] - Sharing the Work With Others

[00:09:39] - Passion for the Culture

[00:12:47] - The Sister Give Their Top 3 People They Wish to Have a Conversation with From the Past

[00:17:58] - Getting Into Poetry

[00:21:34] - Inspiration to write

[00:23:23] - Standing in Truth While Writing

[00:25:42] - Doing One Thing Differently

[00:28:44] - Choosing What to Believe About Yourself 

[00:38:15] - Poems: The Other Half of Myself/Impetus

[00:45:11] - Advice For Other Writers

[00:48:00] - Chyrel and Lyris’ Take on Black Girl Magic

Chyrel J. Jackson and Lyris D. Wallace are avid lovers, readers and writers of African American Literature. They grew up in a Southern Suburb of Chicago, IL. Country Club Hills. As young girls they read Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, and Judy Blume novels. College was the real scholastic awakening introducing these two Literary Enthusiasts to the Literary works of their
great ancestors: James Baldwin, Toni Morrison, Maya Angelou and others. These writers influenced Chyrel and Lyris so much. It only makes sense that they would now be writing in the Spirit of these ancestors. Giving a voice to social issues that plague our modern time.

Their latest self-published works are books of poetry: Mirrored Images and Different Sides of the Same Coin. Both Books mirror messaging “no pun intended.” Ranging from a host of life topics: relationships, frayed familial dynamics, juggling life, single parenting, racism, etc. Some have said, our books are reminiscent of Harlem Renaissance revisited. Our anthologies of poems pair current social and living conditions with poetic verse. In this volume the sometimes darker sides and motives of human nature are also addressed.

Where their first collection of poems Different Sides of the Same Coin revisited Harlem Renaissance and collided with 2019 social unrest, Mirrored Images rips off the bandages of human life experience. It forces one to see what most are happier pretending just does not exist at all. Broken, hurt people, hurt others. Spoken word is back and these literary writers take social justice and unrest to brand-new unchartered heights.

Writing allowed Chyrel and Lyris to find their voice. Surviving a deadly pandemic, navigating life’s rough waters, and continuing to stay true to themselves birthed their latest book Mirrored Images.

Can magic be recreated for a second time? The sisters believe that it can. We write about what we know. Our experiences as black women are what we know well. Our writing is lensed from that intrinsically authentic experience.

Connect with Chyrel and Lyris:

Website: https://sistersrocnrhyme.com/ 

Link to All Other Platforms: https://sistersrocnrhyme.com/about/ 

Books: https://sistersrocnrhyme.com/read-our-books/ 

Today on the Black Women Rising Podcast, we sat down with Executive & Leadership Development Coach and Talent Strategist Angelique Anderson. Angelique works with leaders to help them simplify complexities, cut through the fog, and strategize plans of action that allow them to exercise their natural talents and strengths. In this episode, Angelique talks about the importance of leadership presence to elevate, combatting microaggressions, and what she thinks is the key to success in becoming an entrepreneur.

Key Discussion Points From This Episode Include:

[00:02:47] - Experience vs Leadership

[00:04:32] - Presence Matters for Elevation

[00:08:53] - Combatting Microaggressions

[00:15:16] - Angelique on Becoming an Entrepreneur

[00:24:36] - Key to success for Entrepreneur 

[00:27:13] - Angelique's Most Treasured Characteristic

[00:28:24] - Angelique’s Future Vision


Angelique Arnao Anderson is the Founder of Arnao Anderson & Associates, a strengths-focused talent strategy firm. As an ICF-certified Executive & Leadership Development Coach, she supports high-achieving organizational leaders in activating untapped superpowers in order to help make dream careers a reality. 

Angelique has over 20 years of experience in leadership development, talent management and organizational effectiveness strategically leading large-scale culture change initiatives while successfully aligning talent development with complex business strategy. Her career has spanned multiple industries, including media, technology and financial services from global companies to start-ups. She has a long track record of partnering with leaders of large and small teams to uncover root problems, ideate possibilities and take agile action.

Coined the “Solutions Empress” by peers, Angelique’s unique approach to coaching empowers leaders to effectively navigate changing environments while engaging, retaining and inspiring their people towards greater success.

Connect with Angelique:

Website: Arnao Anderson

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

Today on the Black Women Rising Podcast, we sat down with podcast host, course creator, and OBGYN Nicole Rankins. Nicole is dedicated to helping women educate themselves and find confidence and peace when giving birth. In this episode, Nicole talks about the importance of educating yourself on giving birth and having people to advocate for you.

Key Discussion Points From This Episode Include:

[00:03:26] - Educating Yourself About Birth

[00:05:38] - Preparing to Give Birth Late in Age

[00:07:08] - Dealing With Fear Around Birth

[00:10:21] - Having Support to Advocate for You

[00:11:28] - Advice for Expecting Moms

[00:12:21] - Dr. Rankins take on the overall capabilities of the Medical Capabilities in The US

[00:14:49] - Death Rates Among Black Women Giving Birth

[00:16:46] - Support Through Post-Partum

[00:18:04] - Advice for Older Women Starting a Family

Dr. Nicole Calloway Rankins is a board-certified, practicing OB/GYN and mom of 2 who empowers first time moms to feel supported and prepared for pregnancy and birth. Over the last 15 years she's helped more than 1,000 babies come into this world and has demystified pregnancy and childbirth for thousands more women through her 5-star rated All About Pregnancy & Birth podcast, her free online birth plan class, and her signature online program - The Birth Preparation Course. Visit her website www.drnicolerankins.com and follow her on Instagram @drnicolerankins.

Connect with Nicole:

Website: https://drnicolerankins.com/ 

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

Podacst: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-about-pregnancy-birth/id1447449586 

Today on the Black Women Rising Podcast, we sat down with founder, principal consultant, executive advisor, and diversity strategist Stacey Gordon. Stacey is also the creator of an unconscious bias course which is the #1 most viewed course across the LinkedIn learning platform and has also been translated into at least four languages.

As a globally recognized keynote speaker, leadership consultant and DEI strategist, Stacey has worked with Fortune 100 companies that include AT&T, American Express, GE and Hewlett Packard and has provided subject matter expertise to SHRM, Fast Company, Skillsoft, Forbes, NPR Radio, BBC Radio, and the Association for Talent Development. She earned her MBA from Pepperdine University Business School and her SHRM-SCP certification, as well as the SHRM Inclusive Workplace Culture Credential.

Int his episode Stacey describes what DE&I is, the positive impact that it has on the workplace and the push back she gets when implementing it. She also talks about unconscious bias, which she goes more in depth on in her new book UNBIAS: Addressing Unconscious Bias at Work. 

[00:04:46] - DE&I defined

[00:06:28] - Moving Past Tokenism

[00:11:45] - Adding DE&I to the work culture

[00:13:37] - Push Back When Adding DE&I to the workplace

[00:15:49] - Speaking Up 

[00:22:08] - Unconscious Bias

[00:27:18] - Encountering and Managing Microaggressions

[00:29:11] - Presenting DE&I to Your Employer

[00:30:27] - Stacey’s Take on Black Girl Magic

Leading at the intersection of diversity, inclusion, and workplace culture, in her role as Executive Advisor and Diversity Strategist, Stacey Gordon coaches and counsels executive leaders on DEI strategies for the business, while offering a no-nonsense approach to education for the broader employee population.

Stacey’s book, UNBIAS: Addressing Unconscious Bias at Work debuted at #1 on Amazon’s Hot New Release list and is also available at Barnes & Noble, and wherever books are sold. Stacey is the creator of the #1 course across the LinkedIn learning platform and has surpassed more than 1 million unique learners overall. Her unconscious bias course has been translated into at least four languages and she has worked with people managers and executive leaders from companies such as American Express, ADP, Kia Motors, Hewlett Packard, Walmart, GE and many others to deliver notable sessions that support their D&I efforts. She earned her MBA from Pepperdine University Business School and her SHRM-SCP certification, as well as the SHRM Inclusive Workplace Culture Credential.

Connect with Stacey:

Website: www.reworkwork.com 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/staceygordon 

Is generational wealth as far off as you think it is?

Today on the Black Women Rising Podcast, we sat down with financial coach and financial strategist Racine Rikard. Her purpose is to help families earn more income become adequately protected, debt-free, and financially independent. She wishes to inspire families and businesses on the rules of personal finances and recruit and coach new associates. In this episode, Racine shares with us her journey of getting into the financial profession, her definition of generational wealth, her secret to building generational wealth. In addition, she gives us advice on why it costs more to wait and do nothing vs. getting started where we are with what we have and the importance of building your fab five financial team.

Key Discussion Points From This Episode Include:

[00:02:25] Inspiration for Getting into the Financial Profession 

[00:08:14] Generational Wealth Defined by Racine 

[00:11:40] Racine’s Secret to Building Generational Wealth 

[00:13:35] The Cost of Doing Nothing When it Comes to Building Generational Wealth

[00:16:20] The Best Way to Pay Off Debt

[00:20:13] What They Don’t Tell us About Wealth Building

[00:25:09] Building Your Fab 5 Financial Team

Hi, I’m Racine Rikard, CEO and Personal Finance Strategist at Dreamscapers Unlimited, LLC. Thank you for taking time out of your day to learn more about me and what I love to do.

I’m a Southern girl hailing from Atlanta, Georgia. I have been in the accounting and financial services industry for more than 20 years and started Dreamscapers Unlimited in 2004 as a way to help families achieve their financial life dreams. It was my father who encouraged me to pursue my passion. I’ve always loved math, so I learned the value of money early in life. But it wasn’t until I graduated college, with a mound of student loans, that I understood what it meant to have debt. Determined to fill the gap in my understanding that would ultimately set
the stage for building generational wealth for my family, I sought out a financial advisor to get on a better path to money management. That relationship worked so well, that it led to a career shift for me as I moved from being an accountant to a financial planner.

Throughout my corporate career, I’ve helped beginners and executives alike to better their financial knowledge and reach their personal finance goals. With Dreamscapers Unlimited, I aim to holistically connect and inspire my clients, particularly women, to kickstart wealth management conversations within their own families. I am passionate about debt elimination, retirement and education funding, and asset protection. I take pride in learning about your financial dreams and helping you map out and implement the “dreamscape” to achieve
it.

When I’m not helping clients plan their financial dreams, you’ll find me spending time as a mentor to young girls at Cool Girls, Inc. or volunteering at Impact Church in Atlanta. My husband and I currently reside in Stockbridge, Georgia and enjoy vacationing and spending time with family.

Connect with Racine:

Instagram: Racine Rikard (@racine_rikard) • Instagram photos and videos

Website: www.racinerikard.com (currently under construction)

Facebook: Racine Rikard, RVP | Facebook

Are you ready to elevate from employee to entrepreneur? 

Today on the black women rising podcast, we sat down with Kysha, a certified success coach, speaker and a an advocate for women owning success that’s authentic to them. Kysha talks about the mindset shifts that need to be made in order to reach your authentic success, find the beauty in yourself, the benefits of coaching and mentorship, how women can get over fear when starting a business, and create an exit strategy before going into entrepreneurship. Kysha believes that doing what we are called to do, living in our purpose, is the path to the divine and living our best life.

Key Discussion Points From This Episode Include:

[00:02:31] Kysha’s Personal Philosophy

[00:06:38] Doing What You’re Called to do/ Entrepreneurship 

[00:08:32] Daily Inspiration 

[00:10:38] Finding Beauty in Yourself 

[00:18:02] Benefits of Coaching and Mentorship

[00:22:21] Advice For Women Getting Over Fear When Starting a Business

[00:27:49] Creating an Exit Strategy Before Starting a Business 

[00:34:30] Kysha’s Black Girl Magic 

Kysha Mitchell empowers women who feel stuck in their jobs to make time for and take action on their dream to become an entrepreneur. 

A one-time corporate employee suiting up to sit in her cubicle day after day, Kysha took the bold move to leave the 9 to 5 and is now an in-demand, successful coach and speaker. She's been featured as a keynote speaker, on television, in major magazines and on podcasts sharing her framework of Empowered Feminine Success.

Learn more about her work by visiting her on the web at www.frometoe.com

Instagram: Kysha Mitchell (@elevate_your_now) • Instagram photos and videos

Website: Kysha Mitchell – Success Coach & Speaker

Website: Employee to Entrepreneur Elevation (frometoe.com)

Facebook: Powerhouse Women Rising from Employee to Entrepreneur | Facebook

Are you ready to live a life you love?

Today on the Black Women Rising Podcast, we sat down with author, inspirational speaker, and life and relationship coach Fila Antwine. In this episode, Fila talks about the value and importance of familia female relationships, healing internal battles regarding self-care, and emotional wellness. A big part of Fila’s vision for teaching Sacred Self-Care is to help you rediscover your dreams by teaching you how to reconnect with yourself so that you can have deep love, joy, freedom, and fulfillment on a sacred level and actually live a life you love.

Key Discussion Points From This Episode Include:

[00:02:58] The Value of Familia Female Relationships

[00:04:31] Fila’s Most Treasured Thing in Life

[00:05:56] How to Get Over Internal Battles

[00:08:33] Fila’s Personal Philosophy

[00:10:42] Fila’s Greatest Accomplishment

[00:13:47] Emotional Wellness Coaching

[00:19:28] Fila’s Vision For Her Clients

[00:23:25] Incorporating Self-Care When Overwhelmed

[00:28:43] Tips For Working Wives and Mothers to Put Themselves First

[00:24:28] Fila’s Black Girl Magic

Fila Antwine is an award winning Emotional Wellness, Worthiness, and Relationship Coach. She is an individual who serves her fellow human beings with compassion, intellect, and true understanding. 

Fila’s lifelong mission has been to help others triumph over tragedy, just as she has accomplished herself; overcoming childhood abuse to become who she is today: a happily married wife, proud mother of two wonderful children, and an adviser to countless women seeking lives of greater hope and fulfillment. 

Fila Antwine is the author of two important books: “Strengthening Her Essence: A Woman’s Guide To Liberation Through Truth” and a special work for children promoting diversity and confidence called “Curiously Coiled”. 

Today Fila is an acclaimed life coach and the founder of the Sacred Queen Academy; an online coaching community that offers healing, holistic, spiritual, confidence-building classes, programs, and talks for women emphasizing self-care and healthy relationships. The Wall Street Journal, New York Post, Huffington Post, MSN, The New York State Senate and the Emmy-winning talk show “Fresh Outlook” have all recognized her expertise and ability to help others overcome personal challenges in life. 

Fila has always believed in the dignity and worth of every human being and that gender equity is essential to a thriving society. She is an inspiring leader to both men and women.

Connect with Fila:

Instagram: @sheisfila

Website: www.filaantwine.com 

Facebook: Fila Antwine | Facebook

Are you waiting for the perfect time to start investing? Well, the perfect time is now!

Today on the Black Women Rising Podcast, we sat down with financial industry veteran Keisha Bailey (MBA, CFA, FRM). In this episode, Keshia talks about her purpose and inspiration for helping others live a better life by teaching them how to invest. She also debunks myths about investing, shares her take on cryptocurrency, and the formula to building wealth. The hardest part about building wealth is getting started, and with Keisha's boutique investment firm, she is committed to making wealth-building understandable, accessible, and easy to maintain.

Key Discussion Points From This Episode Include:

[00:02:25] Keisha’s Aspirations – 2:25

[00:06:14] Choose You – 6:14

[00:08:49] Accept Yourself – 8:49

[00:12:02] Debunking a Myth About Investing – 12:02

[00:14:32] Keisha’s take on Crypto Currency– 14:32

[00:18:42] The Formula to Building Wealth – 18:42

[00:21:04] Keisha’s Purpose - 21:04 

[00:23:17] Changing Stereotypes About Black Women - 23:17

[00:24:28] Keisha’s Black Girl Magic - 24:28
 

Keisha Bailey is the industry powerhouse behind the Profit Jumpstarter brand and is an experienced Financial Strategist, Investment Educator and Entrepreneur. She spent 17 years making money for wealthy individuals and corporations before shifting her expertise towards serving the up and coming generations of wealth builders.

Her knowledge of the financial industry is matched only by her passion to teach what she knows to rising money-makers on the individual and institutional levels.  Whether they are equipping corporate teams to do more with their current income, or she is encouraging an individual to explore greater investment options, Keisha and her team operate on three principles: educate + liberate + activate.

People in control of their time, money and knowledge, are people in control of life. That's the freedom Profit Jumpstarter believes in creating for every client, company and community they serve.

Connect with Keisha:

Instagram: @profitjumpstarter

Website: www.profitjumpstarter.com 

Facebook: Profit JumpStarter

Are you lacking the confidence to embrace your sexuality? Are you afraid to share your fantasies and desires with your partner due to shame? Has intimacy and sex in your relationship/s lost its priority?

Today on the Black Women Rising Podcast, we sat down with sex and intimacy therapist Natasha Riley. Natasha aims to help women navigate the challenges around sex, provide a safe space for them to be vulnerable, process emotions, and work towards solutions with their partners. In this episode, Natasha debunks some common myths about sex, encourages women to love their mom body, and gives us tips on how to have a conversation with our partner about improving sex and intimacy.

Key Discussion Points From This Episode Include:

[00:01:39] Natasha’s Earliest Life Lesson 

[00:02:21] Fundamental Change of Becoming a Mother 

[00:04:42] Becoming a Sex Therapist

[00:06:45] Debunking Myths About Sex Therapy 

[00:07:58] Loving The Mom Body

[00:10:05] Having The Sex Conversation With Your Partner

[00:14:09] Finding Your Sexy

[00:17:31] One of The Biggest Challenges That Black Women Face When Returning to Themselves

[00:24:28] Natasha’s Black Girl Magic
 

Natasha is a Licensed Sex Therapist as well as a Certified Sex Coach. As a graduate from Sex Coach University with Dr. Patti Britton, Natasha has learned the benefits of sex coaching and how she can empower her clients to own their choices as well as take responsibility of their pleasure.

Natasha has not only worked with couples to increase communication about sexual concerns, she has also worked to empower women to make sexual pleasure a priority. She takes pride in providing a compassionate safe space to help clients reignite their sexual expression. Natasha works side by side with clients to reach the goal of sexual fulfillment and pleasure.

Connect with Natasha:

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: Natasha Chentille-Sex and Intimacy Coach | Facebook

Facebook Group: Be Sensually Free and Sexually Confident | Facebook

Today on the Black Women Rising Podcast, we sat down with management consultant, strategic advisor, and certified online business coach Tarena Muhammad. Tarena's passion is to help small businesses stay secure and help veteran women transitioning from the military who are looking to start a successful business. In this episode, Tarena talks about her journey to IT security, the biggest mistake she sees most of her IT security clients make with their small businesses, what working with her ideal client looks like, and the freedom that entrepreneurship affords.

Key Discussion Points From This Episode Include:

[00:01:08] Fundamental Change When Turning 18

[00:02:11] Becoming an Entrepreneur 

[00:04:30] Journey to IT Security 

[00:09:03] Biggest Mistake IT Security Clients Make

[00:10:40] Tarena’s Ideal Client

[00:15:55] The Freedom that Entrepreneur Affords

[00:20:19] Mental Strength

[00:22:40] Constructively Acknowledging Regrets and Reflecting on Them

[00:25:43] Tarena’s Definition of Black Girl Magic

Tarena Muhammad, founder and CEO of Legion, is a business consultant and Air Force Veteran who helps women entrepreneurs rapidly grow their businesses while creating more balance and ease in their daily routines. With 20 years of experience in operations, SOPs, automation, and data privacy and security, she's discovered the keys to getting more done in less time so her clients can take time off without feeling guilty. As a mom of 2 herself, she knows exactly how sanity-saving this can be. As well as running her own business, Tarena serves as the Head of Operations for The Well, a professional network for women of color. She's passionate about helping women—especially fellow veterans—build the business of their dreams.

Connect with Tarena:

Instagram: Tarena (@heytarena) • Instagram photos and videos

LinkedIn: Tarena M. - Charlotte, North Carolina, United States | Professional Profile | LinkedIn