Compost, Cotton & Cornrows

What does it look like to build a thriving, profitable, and unapologetically Black owned grocery store from scratch—rooted in the soil, powered by the people, and driven by deep love for community? In this episode, Dominique Drakeford links up with the fearless Ivy Walls: a married queer Black woman, a visionary farmer, and co-founder of Fresh Houwse Grocery—Houston’s only Black farmer-owned, community-operated grocery store that’s redefining what nourishment and neighborhood really means.

Ivy breaks down the raw truth about the cost of doing this work—from shady urban ag tax laws that punish growers, to the dangerous normalization of doing labor for free in the name of community. She boldly reframes sustainability as financial responsibility and shows us how creating beauty and abundance in Black spaces is of course positive vibes —but more importantly it’s about economic strategy, ownership, and refusing to be exploited. 

But the magic doesn’t stop at the produce aisle. Ivy and her co-founder Jeremy—a married Black man leading with intention and care—showcase a powerful model of gender-balanced, queer-affirming leadership that uplifts two strong families, side by side, united by purpose. They’re breaking the mold of what Black agricultural business looks like, and doing it with joy, mobility (food trucks + prep kitchens!), equitably POURING into the community and a whole lotta love. 

In this episode, we unpack:

• Fresh Houwse Grocery as a radical model of community sovereignty
• Ivy’s fight for urban ag policy reform at the city, county, and state levels
• Why shade poverty is an overlooked environmental justice issue
• Her non-negotiable stance on financial security: “Profitability is sustainability”
• Challenging the idea that Black women should give everything for free
• The power of collaborative, cross-family Black leadership rooted in queer joy, respect, and shared vision
• How Ivy and Jeremy are cultivating a space where people don’t just shop—they feel seen, heard, and loved

This episode is a masterclass in vision, strategy, and sacred resistance. Whether you're on the land, in the city, or building your own lane—this one will light a fire under you.

https://www.ivyleaffarms.com/
https://www.blackfarmerbox.com/

Compost, Cotton & Cornrows: the space where Black & Afro-Indigenous Vanguards are redefining sustainability through storytelling!

@Compost_Cotton_Cornrows

In this vibrant episode, fashion stylist and creative force Brownie Brown unpacks her evolution from a fashion-obsessed kid in Nigeria to a sustainability-driven style maven in New York. We talk fast fashion, thrifting gems, and how True Cost documentary flipped her worldview. Brownie dives deep into how cultural roots, personal style, and self-work fuel her mission to help others reimagine their wardrobes. From architectural inspiration to wardrobe healing, this convo is a whole fit check for your soul and the planet.

https://www.highfashionthrift.com/

Compost, Cotton & Cornrows: the space where Black & Afro-Indigenous Vanguards are redefining sustainability through storytelling!

@Compost_Cotton_Cornrows

In honor of Black Maternal Health Week, we’re going deep into the sacred, radical, and healing power of Black birth with none other than Licensed and Certified Professional Midwife, Kiki Jordan.

Kiki’s journey started with her own homebirth — and what it sparked was more than curiosity... it was a calling. Through her 20+ years of midwifery care, she’s built a wellness ecosystem rooted in ancestral wisdom, community care, and the unapologetic rejection of colonial, profit-driven healthcare systems.

In this episode, Kiki drops truth about what it means to center Black birthing folks in holistic, financially accessible midwifery care — and she introduces us to her revolutionary vision: BIRTHLAND. Imagine Oakland’s first full-spectrum birthing center and wellness sanctuary — a space for safe pre- and postnatal care, emotional and spiritual healing, and cooperative, community-based clinical support. This isn’t just a dream. It’s a blueprint. Oakland has been craving this care — and now, the vision is taking root.

We discuss how the future of Black birth is rooted in healing, autonomy, and thriving outside the trauma-inducing grip of the medical industrial complex.

We get into the sacredness of trust between midwife and birthing person. We explore the power of storytelling to reshape what’s possible. And we name the truth: birth is not inherently a crisis — it’s spirit work.

This is for the ancestors and the babies. For the mamas and midwives. For every Black woman ready to reclaim her power.

Let’s get into it.

https://www.birthlandmidwifery.com/

https://www.bwellfund.org/

Compost, Cotton & Cornrows: the space where Black & Afro-Indigenous Vanguards are redefining sustainability through storytelling!

@Compost_Cotton_Cornrows

In this episode, we dig into the reclamation of cotton with Julius Tillery, a fifth-generation Black cotton farmer and unapologetic advocate for Black agricultural futures. Based in North Carolina, Julius shares how cotton isn’t just a trauma drenched crop — it’s a calling rooted in his linage. A healing practice. A cultural archive.

We explore the beauty and burden of cotton farming, the intergenerational strength that grounds his work, and how his land serves as a sanctuary for rest, resistance, and rural pride. Julius speaks on the financial realities of Black farmers, and how hip-hop has grounded his work in farming as both a lifestyle and a liberation tool.

With a specialty in using cotton in floral design and home décor, Julius is flipping the script on cotton’s narrative — and reminding us that the soil holds stories worth telling.

https://www.blackcotton.us/

Compost, Cotton & Cornrows: the space where Black & Afro-Indigenous Vanguards are redefining sustainability through storytelling!

@Compost_Cotton_Cornrows

We love a fresh set of braids—but at what cost? Science has spoken: synthetic hair is harming Black bodies and the planet, and Dr. Raven Baxter is here to break it all the way down. In this episode, we unravel the tangled intersection of science, culture, and sustainability to confront the hard truths: How do we divest from harmful beauty practices while honoring our history? What does it mean to take up space in both science and sustainability? And most importantly, how do we build a legacy that protects our future?

From the unsung Black scientists who fought to expose the toxic reality of synthetic hair to the deeper connections between beauty, wellness, and self-worth—this conversation is a wake-up call wrapped in love. Dr. Baxter keeps it real on why it’s time for the Black community to release what doesn’t serve us—from stress to synthetic braiding hair—and reclaim rituals that uplift both our bodies and our legacy.

With a fierce blend of science, culture, and sustainability, we’re peeling back the layers of chemical warfare hidden in our beauty routines and taking bold steps toward collective healing. It’s time to rewrite the narrative and reimagine Black culture—because our well-being is worth far more than a flawless install.

https://thesciencemaven.com/

Compost, Cotton & Cornrows: the space where Black & Afro-Indigenous Vanguards are redefining sustainability through storytelling!

@Compost_Cotton_Cornrows

Jamaica is more than sun-soaked beaches and reggae rhythms—it’s a frontline battleground where capitalism, colonialism, and climate injustice collide. Educator and climate justice activist Dahvia Hylton unpacks the hard truths about how tourism, bauxite mining, and corporate greed are gutting the island’s environmental and infrastructural integrity. From locals being locked out of their own beaches to the relentless grip of American socio-political influence, Dahvia breaks down the manufactured systems keeping Jamaicans in survival mode—an all-too-familiar reality for Black communities worldwide.

With deep ancestral wisdom of land stewardship, Jamaica should be a climate-resilient haven, yet the odds are stacked. Dahvia speaks candidly on the uphill battle of sustainability, the hypocrisy of environmental policies, and the necessity of radical community-driven solutions. This is a raw and urgent reckoning with the forces threatening Jamaica’s future—and a powerful reminder that the fight for climate justice is a fight for liberation.

https://ourfootprintja.org/

@ourfootprintja

@one_of_the_planeteers

https://environmentallyspeaking.buzzsprout.com/

Compost, Cotton & Cornrows: the space where Black & Afro-Indigenous Vanguards are redefining sustainability through storytelling!

@Compost_Cotton_Cornrows

Wanjiku Angela isn’t just designing clothes—she’s dismantling barriers. As the founder of Hisi Studio, a game-changing Kenyan fashion brand, she’s reimagining what truly inclusive and sustainable design looks like. This conversation isn’t just about fashion—it’s about revolution.

Wanjiku breaks down how she’s weaving tactile elements, braille, research, and 3D printing into her creations, ensuring that visually impaired individuals aren’t just accommodated but centered. She doesn’t hold back on the hard truths either—calling out the systemic challenges in funding, advocacy, and the deep-rooted stigmas that have long erased disabled voices from Africa’s creative industries.

This episode is a wake-up call for the sustainability movement: True circularity isn’t just about materials—it’s about people. Hissi Studio is proving that innovation, disability inclusion, and cultural regeneration aren’t extras—they’re essential. The future of fashion must be adaptive, radically inclusive, and socially conscious at its core. Wanjiku is already planting the seeds—are we ready to grow with her?

@hisi_studio

Compost, Cotton & Cornrows: the space where Black & Afro-Indigenous Vanguards are redefining sustainability through storytelling!

@Compost_Cotton_Cornrows

In this episode, Chelsea Murphy takes us on a journey through her deep-rooted love for the outdoors and how sustainability shapes her relationship with nature—whether it's in her backyard or deep in the backcountry. She shares heartfelt stories about helping her parents reconnect with nature, navigating the historical trauma that often lingers for Black folks in outdoor spaces. It's a powerful reminder that healing can happen under open skies.

But Chelsea isn’t just out here for herself. She and her partner are raising three little nature lovers, instilling an intergenerational bond with the earth—because loving the land is a legacy. From tackling generational gaps in outdoor engagement to unpacking the power of storytelling and community, Chelsea keeps it real about what it means to foster a love for the outdoors, especially within Black families.

Oh, and postpartum healing? Nature’s got that too. Chelsea gets personal about how the outdoors became a space for her own restoration and reflection.

Whether you’re surrounded by concrete or pine trees, Chelsea’s message is clear: nature is for you. She’s here to inspire her global online community (and you!) to find their own path to the outdoors—because the earth is calling, and it’s time to answer.

https://shecolorsnature.com/

@she_colorsnature

Heads up: Audio is a bit muffled, but the storytelling is pure gold.

Compost, Cotton & Cornrows: the space where Black & Afro-Indigenous Vanguards are redefining sustainability through storytelling!

@Compost_Cotton_Cornrows

What if birth work and sustainability were two sides of the same powerful coin? In this beautifully bold episode, Nicole JeanBaptiste (co-founder of Sésé, Birthing Freedom) takes us deep into the heart of holistic birth work, community health, and the radical act of care. From the frontline of activism to the sacred spaces of home births, she shares why sustainability isn’t just about the environment—it’s about creating an ecosystem where Black families, birth workers, and traditions thrive.

We talk home births as a viable, informed choice for low-risk parents, the importance of cultural rituals in birthing spaces (yes, dancing to Soca is absolutely part of the process), and the overlooked reality that birth workers need care, too. Through personal stories of triumph and challenge, Nicole reminds us that wellness is a communal act—one that demands we nurture those who nurture us.

HEADS UP: A tech glitch clipped 10 minutes of our convo, but trust—this episode is still packed with love, wisdom, and unapologetic truth. Tap in and let’s reimagine what sustainable birth work really looks like and why it’s especially important to support Black midwives, doulas and prenatal specialists.

https://www.sesebirthingfreedom.com/

Compost, Cotton & Cornrows: the space where Black & Afro-Indigenous Vanguards are redefining sustainability through storytelling!

@Compost_Cotton_Cornrows

Akintunde Ahmad is not just a designer—he’s a disruptor, a political poet, and a fourth-generation Oakland native with revolution in his DNA. As the founder of Ade Dehye, his work isn’t just about fashion—it’s about radically ethical design.

Rooted in Oakland’s legacy of political defiance and sartorial swagger, Akintunde bridges continents, weaving West Africa’s ancestral craftsmanship with a future of fashion that prioritizes sustainability, transparency, and decolonization. In this very real conversation, he lays bare the hard truths: how the global fashion industry has long profited from African labor while shutting out Black designers, and why it’s imperative for folks to build ethical, circular fashion systems that equitably center - not exploit - the continent.

But Akintunde doesn’t just talk the talk. He’s about the receipts—ensuring that the very artisans and communities most impacted by climate injustices are creatively and economically elevated. He calls on Black American creatives, visionaries, and entrepreneurs to forge real partnerships with African textile experts while dismantling the racialized capitalist barriers that keep Black designers locked out and the global diaspora disconnected. (Hello F.U.B.U) 

This isn’t just about clothes—it’s about global community, cultural preservation, and a revolution in how we communicate, connect and create.

Tap In! 

https://adedehye.com/

https://www.akintundeahmad.com/

Compost, Cotton & Cornrows: the space where Black & Afro-Indigenous Vanguards are redefining sustainability through storytelling!

@Compost_Cotton_Cornrows