In continuation with Episode 3: Shadow Work On Steroids, I come to the mic to tie up loose ends. People I released were chasing clout, and I was out here chasing all of the good life has to offer me. From nurturing the family Malik, Tyler and I have become to making more room for joy, every day has become incredibly fulfilling... but I'm a firm believer in acknowledging the light and the dark of life. Being loved healthily doesn't automatically erase triggers but the work I put in to put them on the back burner makes this love I experience so much sweeter.

With an abundance of gratitude and happiness moving through my veins, I share with you all why I left Lush Cosmetics; the brief hiatus I took from podcasting and The MonAlicia Bakes; the harsh reality of fighting survival mode; the beauty that comes with having a supportive life partner; and so much more.

Life looks a lot different for your girl since July of 2022. My journey through motherhood is constantly evolving. Love found me, I let it in, and I've found myself in the deepest love with the most amazing man. Above all things, shadow work this time around is way more intense than I anticipated and I have a lot of work to do.

My sister sign and good Bess is back behind the mic, and he's getting raw and real... but what else is to be expected when it's THEE Greg Pinkney (S1, EP2) we're referring to? Greg is still deep in the Pray portion of his journey and has fully surrendered to what God has always had planned for him. Embracing a new level of stillness has come with a plethora of blessings: a new apartment, a new job, a wholesome lover, and a new routine that perfectly aligns with the soft life he's creating. With each passing day, Greg makes a conscious effort to embrace the light and the darkness that comes with healing. As a result, his cup is overflowing in a way that allows him to pour into others. In a way past overdue conversation, Greg shares with me the importance of trusting his higher self; his new relationship with vulnerability; the power that comes with embracing change; and so much more.

For the inaugural episode of Season 4, your favorite baker and host is pulling up to the mic once again with her first built-in best friend, Kelci Reedy, right beside her (S3, EP5; S3, EP13). In honor of Cookies & Conversation Podcast's second anniversary on January 28th, it was imperative to have a full circle conversation and experience for the collective.

Your favorite baker and host is officially back with an earlier than anticipated Season 4 of Cookies & Conversation Podcast. On July 24th, 2022, I was seconds away from a death caused by the person I share my daughter with: Rehvon. Since that day, I look at life through a completely different lens. I move differently. Healing now is different. And even with what felt like the odds stacked against me, my mission remained the same: nurturing this community.

So as we move through this season together, I want you to sit with this: Are you extending yourself the grace you deserve? Are you honoring all of the makings of yourself without judgement? What does alignment with the highest version of yourself look like, and what does that mean to you? What brings you joy? Are you ready to welcome this new version yourself with open arms?

If you see me, you see her. To you, she's Foodish Ways with the coffee recipes and restaurant reviews for days. But to me, she's my Munchkin. Kelci is a DMV food/travel blogger and Black content creator that does it for the people who check the menu before going out. Once upon a time, her brand was called Apple of my Eye, a class assignment that stems back to her college days at St. John's University. From food to shopping experiences, she shared with the masses her adventures in The Big Apple (that I was lucky enough to be a part of at times). Soon enough, this assignment became a brand that's turning The Big 10 very soon with expansion on the horizon. The two of us come together on a late Wednesday night to talk about what it's like being the eldest of The Quad Squad; how essential discipline is and the importance of maintaining her routines; some of her foodie experiences; and so much more.

It's been a year and a half since Ambrey's been behind the mic. Life is a bit different since then but her hustle remains the same. With graduation on the horizon, she's ready to tackle the next chapter of her life and welcoming new levels of growth that are bringing her closer to the life she desires with the one she loves the most: her boyfriend of five years, Daniel. On Ambrey's journey towards determining her definition of happiness, she finds herself learning to enjoy the present moment and learning to release control. Together, the two of us discuss the importance of boundaries with those we love; what the source of her willpower is; one of the greatest lessons she's learned through therapy; and so much more.

Your favorite baker and host has retuned to give you the first episode of the second half of Season 3. Life tends to have an interesting approach when it comes to teaching you lessons, showing what or who is/isn't for you, and still bringing you exactly to where you deserve to be by way of the karma that you've earned. A month before my 28th birthday, my life was unexpectedly almost taken from me in seconds by the one person that I share the greatest gift in life with: Tyler's dad. It goes without saying that this is a life-changing situation for me on multiple levels and a very raw topic to discuss. But like I always say when I come to the mic: you gain your power back the more you share your story. The difference in this chapter is that I didn't lose my power. I've only gotten several steps further into it, reaffirming that this powerful season of my life is here to stay.

My baby sister, the Pisces to my Virgo, Devin Rayne is back behind the mic. Devin made her first appearance on Cookies & Conversation Podcast during her freshman year in Season 1, Episode 9: I Have No Regrets, Period. She's approaching her junior year; stepping even further into her power; and is so close to the future she desires that she can damn near taste it. With her right hand Jason inspiring her to pursue what she's passionate about unapologetically, there's no doubt that their friendship was meant to be. Besides being the baby of The Quad Squad, she's an natural-born artist that exercises her creativity in an infinite amount of ways. And don't let her quiet voice fool you... She's definitely a feisty one. Over cups of iced coffee, the two of us discuss how she's been navigating Sweet 16; her first on-campus gun experience; some of her thoughts on our parents' divorce; how practicing gratitude keeps her grounded; and so much more.

Just over a year later, I find myself sharing the mic and holding space with my favorite lion-hearted Virgo, LaShawn White. LaShawn made her first appearance on Cookies & Conversation Podcast in Season 1, Episode 5: Nothing Is An L. Soft-spoken in nature, she's amplifying the power of her voice and reaching new levels of confidence with every passing day. With more peace in her heart, she finds herself in a place in her life where the storms she once weathered are rewarding her with a number of blessings. From experiencing an incredibly fulfilling love to doing all that aligns with her soul, LaShawn is ready to embrace the freedom her spirit has always longed for. On a beautiful summer day, the two of us discuss what life has been like since our last conversation; the depths of her relationship with God; the beauty of trusting herself & her journey; and so much more.