Brave In Vision

"Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.” – Dalai Lama. How are you preserving your happy? What a question to ponder while trying to stay safe and sane in the midst of a pandemic, lol. Yet, it is one our guest, Kacie Thompson, posed to us in today's mini-episode. Kacie is what I like to call the *full package* kinda boss, as an author, podcast host, change expert, mom, wife and overall cool chick. She reminds us that being able to tune into our happy is a great form of self-care, along with not getting caught up in the optics of what others think should give you joy. This episode is packed with practical tips and tools that will help guide us to stay the course for 2020 and preserve our happiness through it all. So, I mentioned Kacie is an author and podcast host, check out more on her fun and insightful (don't let the title fool you, it's so much more) book on IG @thehitchedbitch and her podcast The Hitched Bitch on Spotify.

"Almost all creativity involves purposeful play." This is not to say that all play or creativity has to look the same, doesn't mean you have to be an artist or dancer, it very well may be your work or passion. Today's guest, Lauren Devera, owner of the Lion's Den and host of Thrive + Thread podcast, reminded us that, "our soul lights up when we cultivate creativity in our lives." Imagine, seeing your work blossom because you allowed purposeful play to be apart of the process. On this episode, Lauren challenges us to be brave enough to trust the process of play and yes she is going to push us to move past perfectionism which often leads to procrastination. By the way, did you know that creativity is a form of self and soul care? I know, what a nugget and there's more! Grab a notepad and pen, you will need it. Want to tap into your playful side? Join Lauren for one of her dance or yoga classes @thelionsdendmv or tune into her new podcast @thriveandthread. You can also stay in touch @thelaurendevera.

Something amazing happens when we are brave enough to ask the questions, have the simple conversations and try to understand, right? We hear the saying," be slow to speak, quick to listen and slow to anger" but often times that simple phrase is so hard to do when we are unable to give space for understanding. Today, I welcome you all to a special conversation with guest Aaron Abernathy. This is the first face to face interview I've had the honor to do in over 15 weeks and what a treat it was to do it with Aaron. He is a mutli-talented artist with a gift of using his voice and passion for music to build bridges between men and women, especially black and brown men and women. We went on a journey on this episode and dove into how do we move from anger to disappointment to the final destination of understanding.  We went there y'all and it got real and Aaron dropped some powerful nuggets. He even gave us a challenge that I believe we all can do and if we do healing can occurr in our communities and families. I want to also invite you to head on over to Spotify and check out Aaron's 'Affirmation' album.  To stay connected to what Aaron is doing in the world, follow him on IG @aaron_abernathy and www.aaronabernathy.com.

How many of us have gained some extra *pounds* in this pandemic? That weight may be in true pounds around our waist or a heaviness from the weight of loss or the solitude of the quarantine has exposed hidden or unaddressed pain. However, you have felt or seen the gain, it's something that if not addressed can lead to greater weight, right?!? And who wants that? Today, our guest Jamarl Clark, founder of WeINSPIRE Movement shares with us his journey of shedding the pounds of shame, fear and loss to beginning the process of self-discovery. I love the quote he shared, "I wasn't searching for something or someone...I was searching for me." Who knew that self-discovery would be apart of our weight loss program in life! Jamarl is a natural storyteller and encourager with a heart to see people thrive in life. Follow all that he is doing @weinspiremovement and weinspiremovement.org.

"It is okay to grieve. Grief is a natural response to loss." But, how do we grieve in the midst of COVID-19 with social distancing, quarantine and literally we are hidden behind masks? Loss has become almost an expected thing these days. Loss of "normal", routines and some of us have experienced the loss of a job, relationship or a loved one. What we do know is that, the process of navigating through grief is not easy yet one that even in a pandemic doesn't have to be done alone. Today's guest is a Women's advocate, champion for children and my forever sista, Donna Thompson. Donna shares with us her personal journey of grieving through COVID-19 with the guidance of God, the power of community, and her #tribe of sista friends. Know that we are better together and if you are currently walking through a loss and need a community to come around you, come on, we are HERE! Arms wide up and ready to stand with you. We can be reached at [email protected].

"BREATHE, Darling! This is just a chapter, NOT your whole story." Whew! How many of us need to just stop and breathe? No, really take a deep, long loving breath. Now, grab your pen and notepad cause this week's mini-episode is so packed you are going to want to write it ALL down. After all we have endured together in these last 11 weeks, felt we needed a *word* today! One that encouraged us with beautiful reminders of God's heart for us in the midst of crisis and chaos. Today's guest is one of my dearest friends, my in the "trenches" prayer partner and lil sissy, Fynn Coleman. She is a financial strategist, entrepreneur and ultimate fashionista. Fynn comes with an on-time message and I will admit there maybe a few tears shed, some shouting may occur and possibly a praise twerk or two from this one! As she challenges to trust the process; which is never an easy thing to do but when we do, it can change our lives and ultimately shift the lives of the next generation. Want stay in touch with Fynn, shoot her an email at [email protected] or check out all she is doing with her business at www.gen8sys.com.

Happy Juneteenth! Wow! With everything going on in the world, we can say we made it to this day! That's a greeting I don't take for granted. So, to honor that and Juneteenth, wanted to do a recap of the power, beauty and yes black goodness that's been on the podcast over the last 10 weeks. We have been on a journey with COVID-19 and the most recent racial injustices. Yet, together we have stood...we truly are better together👊🏾. Now, this hasn't been a comfortable journey, actually it's been an uncomfortable one but we got to admit there have been lessons and opportunities that wouldn't have been learned or opened if we hadn't walked through this. I always like to say, "the struggle makes for a greater capacity of joy." Today, jump in with us as we recap the goodness of the last 10 mini-episodes of 15 minutes of encouragement, focus and soul care series. Oh and you know I couldn't get on here and not share alittle bit of my story! Make sure to check out ALL 10 of the mini-episodes and follow us on IG @braveinvisionpodcast and @kenyasbryant

"I was so focused on getting through the crunch and pushing through the pain that I didn't take time to "sit" in my situation and properly process all that was going on." How many of us have been right there? Are there right now? Our guest, today for 15 Minutes of Clarity is one I like to call a #hopedealer with a gentle yet powerful presence and heart, Autumn Joiner. Autumn joins us right at the peek of all this pain and mess we are walking through as a nation and as women standing trying to process through own personal pain. This powerhouse is a mom of three handsome fellas, military wife, youth advocate and champion for hope! She is going to take us on a much needed journey of doing an introspective look within ourselves, which allows us to reflect and challenge ourselves to lean in and learn from the pain. The mantra she lives by is, "what I grow through today will contribute to who I become tomorrow." Follow Autumn on IG @autumnjoiner.

Here we are in June, the month we celebrate the men in our lives that have had the greatest influence, our fathers or those that stepped in as a father figures. Being a women of color, I often wonder what it must feel like to be a black father, mentor or uncle in these times of racial discrimination and injustices. What the hearts of men desiring to leave "seeds of legacy" in the gardens of their children's lives in the midst of crisis must feel like. COVID-19, quarantining, demonstrates, protests, riots and let's not forget just everyday life that can come with it's own chaos. On today's mini-episode, William Cooper joined the BIV family and braved being the first man on the mini-series. He shares with us his heart on fatherhood, legacy building and how being a father helped him with his mental health. William, affectionately known as Sha, a Brooklyn native, veteran and 2nd oldest to 11 siblings, used the following quote to describe being a father, "Being a father is my #1 priority, I don't know what what #2 is but it's light years behind #1"

This is what we need right now, a reminder of the goodness black fathers bring to our communities. A powerful 15 minutes sprinkled with storytelling, laughter, affirmations and encouragement. Follow William on IG @Sha_rock250.

"It sounds corny, but I've promised my inner child that never again will I abandoned myself for anything or anyone else again." Who are you? What gifts and talents do you hold in your heart? Today, our guest Yvonne Pacheco, who is my sista from another momma, born again artist, line sister in Delta Sigma Theta, Air Force Veteran and prayer warrior take us on a journey of rediscovery. She challenges us at time where the world will try to tell us who we are not, she reminds us of who we are by tapping back into our inner child! So fitting and on time for the times we are currently facing right now. As Yvonne is a brown mom raising brown sons, in a world that would try to stripe them of their very lives. She gives a heartfelt loving reminder to fight, rediscover and tear down those labels to return back to the thing you were born to be. What gifts and talents are you not tapping into? Well, today Yvonne is going to call you to action and you just maybe painting or creating after this mini-episode. Follow Yvonne on IG @yvonnejosepacheco.