It has been over 18 months since I recorded an episode. If I were to be honest, I have been a journey to find my voice again. Today, I woke with a heavy desire to reflect and decided to record it.

There's a quote I have been holding close to my heart over the past 13 months, "love is like sun rays on your face." This episode is a brief reflection of how love has the final say.

We are in the final countdown and can we just all exhale together with a shout of...WE MADE IT! Insert a *praise twerk*....yasssss! I'm so glad we got to do this year together. 2021 was no JOKE and I discovered one of my favorite phrases, " I'm standing." That has been my battle cry and victory song this year. What has been your go to phrase, saying or word that has helped you stay grounded? Well, on this last mini episode of the year I'm doing a little reflection on this past year. Happy New Year Fam! Love ya'll ❤

"Owning your story is the bravest thing you will ever do." Brene Brown is so right, it is definitely one of the the bravest things I've ever done and doing! Really taking ahold of the humps, bumps, messy and good while owning it ALL, whew! Not an easy task to do because it requires such vulnerability, but every good story is written with that at its core. This week what a honor to have Kourtney Bostick, founder and writer of a new blog 'I Am Becoming KB.' Kourtney is a beautiful soul with a heart to see people mentally, emotionally and spiritually well. She has a Masters degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and is a certified Mental Health Counselor with a focus in women and young adults. This episode is full of wit and humor as Kourtney takes us on a deep, soulful 15 minutes of encouragement as she guides us in owning our story. To stay in touch with all that Kourtney is doing and to subscribe to her blog, check her out at @whatliesbeneath and @iambecomingkb.

"The greatest good you can do for another is not just to share your riches, but reveal to him his own." Meaningful mentorship is such a powerful gift and tool. Anyone who has had the honor to either be mentored or mentor others knows the power of that trusted connection. Our podcast guest today is new to the show, but not new to the BIV family, Larisa Robinson is a woman on a mission to live a full, rich and brave life! She has found that mentorship has been the guide needed to fulfill those life goals. On the show Larisa shares her journey to finding her amazing mentors and gives us a road map on how to find our own mentors. This episode is full of gems and nuggets! Follow all that Larisa is doing by checking her out on social media: IG @larisaluciel and FB @Lrobinson16 and LinkedIn @larisarobinson.

"I'd rather stand in the tension of the middle and have some not understand than to stay safely in one camp and not have the impact I know I was born to have."

When you finally decide that you have to make a radical pivot in your life, tension is a definite, being misunderstood and even feeling crazy are all things that will probably happen. Our podcast guest, Stephanie Sinclair, owner of Mini Crop Photograph, community advocate, fella sista friend and true down-home southern belle understands that all too well. Today she shares with us her radical pivot that led to quitting her job, making her faith bigger than her fears and using the tool in her hand to make the impact she knew she was born to have. Not only is Stephanie a beast behind the camera lens, she is a witty story teller that makes you feel right at home...got to be that southern charm with nuggets of wisdom and knowledge dropping all throughout this episode. To learn more about Stephanie's work and stay in touch, visit her on Instagram at @minicrop, Facebook: Mini Crop Photography, or her website: www.minicrop.co.

"Best advice I have ever received about living a great life is to make it a goal to

DIE EMPTY" Whew...that right there hit me some kinda way. How do we get everything we want? By living a life that helps others get what they need and want. What a concept right? This week's podcast guest, LaKesha Bankston-Glover who I like to call a #DreamConnector, is a government change agent, coach, wife, mom and dope makeup artist, who challenged us to move into a practice of pouring out on others and seeing the end result be a greater capacity to receive! LaKesha dropped so many beautiful gems in this episode and really coached us through finding the essence of who we are through giving. One of my favorite parts is how she shared that through pouring into others, she saw her territories expand and found herself in rooms and at tables she never would've been if she hadn't put this work into practice. Follow all that LaKesha is doing @justme_ldbg and you don't want to miss her MUA classes and tutorials @lakeshainspiringlooks & www.inspiringbeyouty.com

"Define yourself radically as one beloved by God. This is the true self. Every other identity is an illusion." All that we have been through has played a major role in how we identify ourselves. Identity actually is defined as fact of being. We often get stuck in the experiences, trauma or the assumptions of others but who we are is based on the proof of our fact of being. We have to get back to the basics, to the core value and our anchored truth. Today's guest Dr. Shalice McKnight, is an Adult Psychiatrist, who specializes in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, mom of 5, wife, hope dealer and prayer warrior, comes to the show with a challenge for us to get back to the basics and our core values. She calls us to pause and reflect on our quality and character and not the labels or experiences that try to define us but what is our value base. She leaves us with a question, how do we rest in God’s authority and excerise what is factual in the present moment to define WHO we are? Follow all that Shalice is doing @shalicemcknight.

Loneliness is not always the lack of company, it can also be a lack of purpose. The pandemic, COVID, quarnatining have all contributed to us experiencing some form of loneliness. But, what about those feelings of rejection, lack of motivation or even the disappointment of not seeing your perceived purpose come to pass the way you envisioned? Did you know those can also be contributors? How do we overcome the ugliness of loneliness when it comes knocking ?

Today's podcast guest Keah Mason, brings us a witty yet powerful episode on her experiences with loneliness that led her right into the arms of God and provided her with some life lessons and a brand new prespective. Keah is an educator, author, and a facilitator and writer for REAL Women Rock, who realized that her journey opened up a door to greater self-discovery that then sparked a mission to write the book, 'When Loneliness Visits' Grab a pen and your journal because beautiful gems are been shared from her book on this episode! Stay in touch with Keah on FB @KeahLMason and grab a copy of her book at https://purposedpublishingcompany.com/keahmason/

Happy Black History Month! "Sometimes a thing needed opening before closure was found." In 2010, realized that I couldn't continue on my healing  journey unless I came face to face with the brokenness in my relationship with my dad. If I wanted wholeness, I would have to uncover or rather open that wound up...ouch! Yet, in doing that, one incredible restoration story was written. My story continues with my dad, but I had to open something inoder for it to be closed. Today's podcast guest, Darren Franklin is not new to the podcast, he was our first guy on the podcast and co-host to The Bridge Men's series. On this episode Darren shares his "deep valley" story of finding closure by finally opening the door to it. He knew that if he took this brave step, he could experience wholeness on new levels. This is a special edition, as we celebrate black history month and recognize the importance of our men and fathers to the black community and our history. Along with this episode, I'll be doing a replay of the episode with my father, as we open the door to reconciliation and healing that allowed for closure to one chapter and an opening to the next (episode #10).

What's really the key to success? It's the habits we create from taking everyday action...those small action steps repeatedly day in and day out. Yep, the key is consistency. The big C word! Whew that is the game changer. Today, our guest Mahasin Washington, is a lover of God, family and all things fashion...check out her new fashion blog @thestyleflow. I love that Mahasin seeks to inspire others with her passion for style while positively impacting their lives with God-led encouragement. Well today she takes us on a journey of living a life of simple consistency. Mahasin shares with us her personal journey and struggles with being consistent and how everyday steps have changed her life. Is it time for you to take some real, consistent steps in your life? Then get ready for some truth nuggets that will challenge you to move forward on the things tugging at your heart. Stay in touch with Mahasin @itsmahasin and again her fashion blog @thestyleflow.