Hey CHI EYE! I’m back and better! Happy Stress Awareness Month. I just got back on track with my mental health personally. So I pray you all are on a similar journey. If you aren’t there yet; I hope this episode speaks to you.

In this heartfelt conversation, I sit down with my friend Anna—an emerging mental health professional currently pursuing her master’s and bringing real-world experience from her time working in mental health hospitals. She is also a researcher and putting together a dissertation on autism in women.

Together, we explore the layered realities of mental illness and the quiet (and not-so-quiet) strength women bring to their healing journeys. Men, don’t worry. We address you too!

We talk about what resilience really looks like, the unique pressures people face when navigating mental health challenges, and the power of vulnerability as a tool for growth. Anna shares insights from the field, stories of triumph, and thoughts on what it means to hold space—for others and for yourself.

This episode is for anyone who’s ever felt like they had to break down to rebuild, and anyone who believes in the healing power of community, conversation, and care.

Follow Anna: @annapechtel on IG

Follow Jocelyn: @joceliterary on IG/X/YT

Follow the pod: @chieyepod on IG

CONTACT: [email protected]

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channeling on Patreon as well lmaooooo

Me’Lo aka The Generation Hero (TGH) aka Ms. Shero is an artist, storyteller, and motivator whose work blends music, inspiration, and empowerment. Through her soulful sound and thought-provoking messages, she uplifts audiences with themes of self-love, resilience, and purpose. Whether through her music, motivational reflections, or dynamic presence, Me’Lo is dedicated to being a voice of encouragement for this generation. Her latest work showcases her commitment to creating art that not only moves people but also reminds them of their own strength. She’s also a culinary expert! So check out her food endeavors as well.

On this episode we talk about her hip-hop upbringing, creative pursuits, and personal philosophies to close out Women’s History Month.

Follow Me’Lo on IG: https://www.instagram.com/melothegenerationhero?igsh=MTg4cTc1c284czR4OA==

Follow Jocelyn (host) @joceliterary . 💯

Follow the show @chieyepod on IG.

Want to come on the show?

Email: [email protected]

Thank you for listening!

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Music: “Cold Brew” by RA (commercial music from uppbeat.io)

Welcome to 2025 CHI EYE guys, gals, and pals. Today I’m serving you a solo episode with some assistance from Ai. I wanted to share my inspirations for starting this show, honor one of my favorite ancestors, and spill the chai on my love the CHI.

Shout out to the Most High for prompting me to share this insight and my memories. Shout out to my grandmother for inspiring me from the heavens 🕊️.

In this podcast we unpack my love for Chicago, why I started the show, and where I see the city headed.

Follow me @womanistwoo everywhere for more, and expect at least one solo episode a month moving forward. We’re growing this year. If you’d like to be on the show email [email protected] 🧋

(This was recorded in January 2025. Some of my political opinions have shifted since recording this. Please read the local news for context.)

Today on CHI EYE we have on my good friend joJB. Their artist bio goes as follows:

“joJB (they/he/she) is an interdisciplinary, multi-genred songwriter and performing artist from the Chicagoland area. The product of an L.A. transplant and a South Side Gospel guru, their music is deeply influenced by the sounds they were surrounded by in their childhood as well as contemporary singer-songwriters, nostalgic melodies and lyrical depth.

Blue Dream, joJB's debut solo project was commissioned by producer/rapper/Millennial House CEO Chris Berry. The project addresses love and loss as experienced during 2020's historic pandemic and the equally global need for Black liberation.

Still Dreaming... is joJB's full-length follow-up to Blue Dream. The album explores the musings of a nameless pop star and their experiences with life, love and the game.”

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Listen along to their music and this episode. Support their merch and upcoming shows. And follow them at these links:

https://linktr.ee/joJB?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaYTbFVSA8uh-SxN4ItOuzJWR3b9hCWYET2FbSSY9kv1szShcqCVZyPk_7Y_aem_VQolTr9lFmBSoR81ZtevLA

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/ra/cold-brew

License code: UNZ8KQMUFJUL3FDQ

Hi CHI EYE! Today we have on an amazing artist, Ifeanyi Elswith. I totally love her project and was excited to interview her. Ifeanyi came on to promote her EP, GarifunaGirlMagic LLC, and other ventures. She has great advice, acumen, and artistry. Here’s a bio:

🇧🇿 Chicago/Belizean Artist Ifeanyi Elswith embodies ‘Pretty Gyal Energy' on new EP ‘Gyaltingz,’ Out Now 🧚🏿‍♀️

Ifeanyi Elswith is thrilled to announce the release of her brand new EP, “Gyaltingz.”

Blending sultry R&B melodies, hip-hop edge, and Belizean influences, Ifeanyi Elswith crafts a sonic journey that embodies the essence of divine femininity. Drawing inspiration from her Garifuna roots and Chicago upbringing, the EP explores themes of self-love, independence, and empowerment, all wrapped in her signature fusion of soulful storytelling and rhythmic finesse. With its infectious beats and heartfelt lyrics, “Gyaltingz” is more than music-it's a movement for every woman owning her power and embracing her inner feline.

Chicago artist Ifeanyi Elswith blends R&B, hip-hop, and her Belizean roots with jazz, soul, and dancehall influences, earning acclaim as The Chicago Reader’s 2023 “Best R&B Artist” runner-up. Known for her dynamic performances and genre-bending sound, she’s shared stages with Vic Mensa and Capleton, and her music has been featured on Audiotree, Chicago Tribune, and HBO Max’s South Side. Founder of Garifuna Girl Magic LLC, Ifeanyi celebrates her Caribbean heritage while making waves in the music scene.

Ifeanyi Elswith is partnering on this release with Ambitious Entertainment, a nonprofit dedicated to uplifting Chicago artists.

You can follow Ifeanyi @ifeanyielswith everywhere! Also check out her @garifunagirlmagic LLC and page. Listen to her music on all platforms. Show up to upcoming shows! 🎤💃🏿🌆

Follow the host Jocelyn @womanistwoo everywhere. And follow the show @chieyepod on IG. 👩🏿‍💻🎙️📚

If you’d like to be on the show email [email protected] 💯

Today on CHI EYE we welcome LaNijah Flagg. She is a current doctoral student at University of Chicago in their Physics program. When she's not studying or in the lab; you can catch LaNijah pursuing dance dreams as a performer and rising choreogrpaher. A proud lifelong student of both dance and science, on this episode she talks about the connections between her scholarly research, creative passions, and community upliftment. She is the founder of BlackCapsule.Z (5013c) and just graduated with her Masters in Physics from UChicago.

Some of her recent dance credits include Diamond MVMNT Chicago, John Legend, and Sheila E.

You can follow her at @nijah.f on Instagram.

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You can follow the host Jocelyn @joceliterary everywhere.

Follow the show @chieyepod on Instagram.

If you'd like to be on the show email [email protected].

Emani Figaro is a creative entrepreneur, consultant, and community connector. Although, she splits her time between Chicago and Atlanta; Emani's work has taken her all over the country and the globe. She graced CHI EYE with warmth and wisdom in the early summer or 2024 amidst her Mogul Minds series. She founded Maison Mogul Consulting Foundation, which according to the website, "was born from a vision to catalyze positive change in education, entrepreneurship, and education... [And they] strive to provide educational resources, foster an entrepreneurial spirit, and build resilient communities through impactful programs and initiatives."

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If you're interested in working with Maison Mogul check out their site.

You can follow Emani on Instagram @mogulmanii

And check out her business pages: @godisacreative_ & @maisonmogulconsulting :)

Today on CHI EYE, we're premiering an episode featuring Neelam Warren-Pal a 22-year-old creative. Be on the lookout for their upcoming podcast, Hip-Hop Don't Stop.

This episode was originally recorded in April 2024 before they graduated with Bachelors and studied abroad!

Desiree McCray entered the world, hailing from Chicago, Illinois. A womanist scholar and writer, she channels her creativity into crafting poetry and scholarly research, delving into themes of race, gender, class, and the intersection of black religion and culture. She has presented “Black Women and Unintelligible Grief: Faith that Moves Us Forward” at Princeton Theological Seminary and the Race, Religion and Social Justice Conference by Tri-Faith Initiative and the University of Nebraska-Omaha. McCray also will engage as a scholar presenting independent research at the Black Feminist Symposium themed “Count It All Joy” hosted by the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee on the topic “Combating Black Trauma Porn: Black Joy as Resistance" (February 2024).In addition, McCray released two collections of poems: "Hope Among Other Foods" (2021) and "Send A Refreshing" (2023). Their womanist work is forthcoming in "Femme Literati: Mixtape Anthology for Black Women Edition Three," "Gal's Guide Anthology," and "RAGE Zine." Her chapbook "My Sisters Look Like God" (June 2024) is highly anticipated with Abode Press. Armed with a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Missouri--Columbia (2018), McCray serves as a writer, minister of justice, and educator.

Desiree McCray (she/her/they/them) is a passionate and versatile professional who combines their skills and experience in writing, job placement services, trauma-informed pastoral care, community relations, and creative ideation to empower job seekers and faith communities. With over 10 years of preaching and over 5 years of working in the not-for-profit industry, Desiree has a proven track record of creating social impact and delivering dynamic messages.

She is the reason I even attempted to create this podcast on anchor.fm a few years back.

Gratitude to her ministry, mentorship, and many moments of reflection throughout our time as friends.

Follow Des

Substack & IG: @blaccwhoaman

Pod: Prophetic Sista Girl