Sometimes we’re so giddy in love that we miss the signs that our fairy tale is destined to become a nightmare. His insistence that he picks us up from work is just his protective instinct, we rationalize. His refusal to get a job and contribute to the household just means he’s waiting to find the right fit.

Then one day, things get heated and we get a smack across the face. We rationalize again. It was just the heat of the moment. He’s frustrated about not getting the job. He’s a great guy. Look how sweet he’s being today.  But it happens again the next week, and then again. 

We’re the strong ones in our friend group. We’re the ones who always said, no man’s ever going to hit me. How did this become our lives?

Our guest this week is Melody Gross. She is the founder of Courageous Shift and a domestic abuse survivor. In this episode, Melody shares her story of abuse and survival and how she has transformed her pain into purpose through her domestic violence coaching and consulting company.

Melody and I discuss:

1. Types of domestic violence (physical, sexual, emotional, parental, financial, spiritual etc)
2. How to talk about domestic violence with children who have witnessed or experienced it
3. Identifying and treating with the yellow flags before they become red flags
4. Knowing when it’s time to leave vs. making an effort to make it work
5. Identifying the green flags and learning the hallmarks of a healthy relationship
6. Unlearning the negative relationship examples, you’ve experienced

Grab a drink and join the conversation. I’m fully embracing the season so this week I’m drinking an apple cider mimosa. It tastes just like fall.

Apple Cider Mimosa Ingredients:

• Prosecco
• Apple cider juice

Quotes:

• “The other side is so beautiful” – Melody Gross
• “Abuse is a learned behavior” – Melody Gross
• “No one is going to save you, you have to save yourself” – Melody Gross
• “When you begin to take your power back when you become this woman who is unapologetic and understands I am getting free…you’re going to want that in every aspect of your life.” - Melody Gross

Enjoy the show? 

I’d love to invite you to leave a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcast.  It will help others like you find the show and be a part of these necessary conversations.  I can’t do it without you: leave a review on the Apple podcast here.

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We’re continuing our conversation with cancer survivors Monika Dillard and Dawn Kemp. 

In this episode of the Crowned Opulence Podcast, we discuss:

1. How our survivors managed their mental health during and post-cancer treatment
2. How their attitudes toward life have been shaped by their cancer stories
3. Dating after cancer
4. The importance of self-care
5. The importance of reliable emotional support

And we’re still sipping on our lychee mimosas. 

Ingredients:

• Prosecco
• Lychee juice or
• Blueberry Lychee juice

Quotes:

“I say no a lot more. I live to make me happy” ~Monika Dillard

“My mentality about me had to change and not project what I think someone is going to perceive about me as gospel” ~Monika Dillard

“You never know how strong you are until you have nothing left but to be strong” ~Dawn Kemp

Enjoy the show? 

I’d love to invite you to leave a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcast.  It will help others like you find the show and be a part of these necessary conversations.  I can’t do it without you: leave a review on the Apple podcast here.

Support the show

We look to our doctors for advice on preserving our health and treating any diseases so that we can enjoy a high quality of life. But what do we do when our trusted medical professionals dismiss our concerns and we’re torn between trusting the professional and trusting our gut?

Almost everyone has been impacted by this dreadful disease in some way. October is Cancer Awareness Month and on the Crowned Opulence Podcast, we begin a conversation with two cancer survivors.

But their stories are remarkably similar for the wrong reason: Dismissive doctors. These fierce women had excellent health insurance coverage and were seen by reputable doctors… who didn’t listen to them.  

Thankfully, they’ve both lived to tell their stories but Monika Dillard and Dawn Kemp’s doctors’ failure to listen to their concerns and requests for testing, led to them requiring advanced medical care to fight cancer for their lives. 

You definitely need a drink as you listen to these stories. This week I’m sipping on a lychee mimosa.

Ingredients:

• Prosecco
• Lychee juice or
• Blueberry Lychee juice

Quotes:

“Aren’t all women made of sugar, spice, and gunpowder” ~Dawn Kemp

“If it doesn’t bring me joy, if I don’t get some happiness out of it, or some kind of education from it I’m not staying there too long” ~Dawn Kemp

“I don’t want to leave this earth feeling like I haven’t lived or fulfilled my purpose. It’s about me now” ~Monika Dillard

Listen to part 2 of the episode, which is also available right now on the Crowned Opulence Podcast. 

Enjoy the show? 

I’d love to invite you to leave a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcast.  It will help others like you find the show and be a part of these necessary conversations.  I can’t do it without you: leave a review on the Apple podcast here.

Support the show

Big Mama, Mama, and Auntie have been through it. We often joke about it.
During that time of the month, we might even wish for it. Menopause. Now before you brush this off because it’s still at least several years away, did you know that symptoms of menopause can begin as early as the mid-30s for some women? Yeah, I figured that would get your attention. This week on the podcast my guest, Charlotte Taylor Powers shares her experience with menopause and her debilitating experiences with hot flashes. Charlotte is a health coach and she believes that more women need to be open about this season to prepare younger sisters for what to expect. 

What we’re discussing: 

1. The symptoms of menopause
2. How to approach your doctor with your questions (even if you’re scared or embarrassed)
3. Emotional well-being during perimenopause and menopause
4. Menopause and family planning
5. Impact of menopause symptoms on the family… and how to prepare them

Quotes:

We are very often cheerleaders, supporters. 
We don't have a problem playing that role. 
Where we have a problem is asking someone to play that role for us. 

What we’re drinking:

Tiffany Mimosa:

• Prosecco or champagne
• Lemonade
• Blue Curacao
• Sugar (to garnish rim of glass)

Enjoyed the episode? 

I’d be so grateful if you’d subscribe, leave a rating and review, and tell a friend about it. 

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Do your eyes glaze over when the topic of finances comes up?

Do stocks and bonds and anything related to finance sound like a foreign language to you? 

I feel you, Sis. I’m the same way… but we can’t be out here dreaming about living our most opulent lives without a financial plan. 

In this week’s episode of the Crowned Opulence Podcast, we’re talking about Investing. 

Wait… stick with me for a minute. 

My guest, Cassandra Cummings is the Founder of Stocks and Stilettos, a society that helps women take charge of their financial future. In this episode, she will:

1. Simplify and explain investing
2. Explain why you shouldn’t bank solely on your 401K
3. Share how much you need to start investing in stocks (it’s less than you think)

STOCK SISTAR SUMMIT PROMO CODE

Andddddd… for all our loyal Crowned Opulence podcast listeners, Cassandra has dropped a 10% promo code for her upcoming Stock Sistar Summit on Oct 9-10! It’s going to be live-streamed so you can tune in from anywhere if you can’t make it to Las Vegas. Head over to www.stocksistarsummit.com and use the code CROWN2020 to claim your discount. 

We know opulent living ain’t cheap so let’s get to it.

What we’re drinking:

In this episode, we’re drinking blackberry mint mimosa and it tastes as yummy and refreshing as it sounds.

Blackberry Mint Mimosa

• Prosecco
• Simple syrup
• Muddled blueberries
• Sprinkle of mint

Enjoyed the episode? 

I’d be so grateful if you’d subscribe, leave a rating and review, and tell a friend about it. 

Support the show

It was so nice! We’re doing it twice… Coach Ivy Allen is back for part 2 of our conversation on masculine and feminine energies. 

In this episode of the Crowned Opulence Podcast, we discuss:

• Celebrating your femininity and allowing others to celebrate you
• Miss Independent… really?
• Accepting compliments
• Speaking your man’s language and helping him to understand yours
• Knowing when to hold court with your queens and when to go to your man
• Making relationships win-win

10% of coupon code to the Livestream of 2020 Stock Sistar Summit.
CROWN2020
Expires October 4th 2020 at 10pm PST.
https://www.stocksistarsummit.com/

What I’m Drinking: 

• Lemon ginger detox water. 
• Water (Flat or Sparkling)
• 1 Lemon medium 
• Ginger to taste

Sources:

• The Queen’s Code by Alison A. Armstrong
• Behind the Mask of the Strong Black Woman: Voice and the Embodiment of a Costly Performance by Tamara Beauboeuf-Lafontant
• Resurrecting Venus: A Self Help Book for Women by Cynthia Occelli

Quotes from the Show

• “Stop trying hold court with your man, every woman should have a Queen’s court” ~Coach Ivy Allen
• “There is a difference between a man, the man, and your man” ~Coach Ivy Allen

Connect with Coach Ivy:

• Instagram
• Facebook

Enjoyed the episode? 

I’d be so grateful if you’d subscribe, leave a rating and review, and tell a friend about it. 

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• “Act like you don’t need him” vs. “Make him feel needed”
• “You’re an independent woman. You can buy your own.” vs “You should let him pay for that.”
• “He’s not the boss of you” vs. “Let him lead”

The conflicting information is all around us. Men are confused. Women are confused. Relationships are suffering. Are your #RelationshipGoals looking more like  #RelationshipNOs? Is a truly happy, healthy, balanced relationship an elusive dream? 

My guest and my life coach Ivy Allen believes it is not. She says the answer lies in understanding masculine and feminine energy. Whoa! Relax lady… this is not about gender roles and who’s innate duty it is to load the dishwasher. 

In this episode of the Crowned Opulence Podcast, we discuss:

• How to recognise your masculine and feminine energy traits
• Busting the myths about masculine and feminine energy
• Leveraging your feminine energy
• Understanding masculine energy and the man’s perspective
• Tips for achieving a happy balance in your relationships

What I’m drinking:
Sparkling raspberry lemon mimosa

• 2 parts Prosecco
• 1 part raspberry lemonade
• Chilled raspberries sprinkled with sugar 

Sources:

• Audacity to be Queen by Gina Devee
• A Knight with the King
• Book of Esther in the Bible

Connect with Coach Ivy:

• Instagram
• Facebook

Enjoyed the episode? 

I’d be so grateful if you’d subscribe, leave a rating and review, and tell a friend about it. 

Support the show

On this episode of the Crowned Opulence Podcast, my friend Stephanie Wilson and I talk about religion and spirituality. Stephanie shares her journey of faith from traditional religious practices to more spiritual practices.  Some parts of this journey caught her by surprise causing her to ask the questions... “God is this really what you want me to do?  And can I do something else?” 

Sound familiar? 

This is not your typical religious discussion. We don’t suggest we have arrived at the pinnacle of truth. But we honestly and openly share the stories of our spiritual journeys to date. 

What do you feel God has told you to do that’s made you go HUH?!?!  Run that by me again? 

Get a drink and join the discussion:   

I’m sipping on a Mimosa Rita and it’s divine! Here’s the recipe:

• 2 parts orange juice
• 1 part margarita mix
• Top with Pink Moscato champagne

Truths to hold on to:

"Truly trusting God. It's the hardest thing you will ever do in your life because you have zero control." - Stephanie Wilson

"One of my goals for the show - and even for myself- is to recognize and to accept that the way we were created is for a purpose. " - Cassandra Conley 

Mentioned in the show:

• Pseudepigrapha and Apocrypha

If you want to know more about how Stephanie serves her community, check out her website, templetransformation360.com. Or join her text club - text Strategy to 77984.  You can also follow her on all platforms @templetransformation360.

Enjoyed the episode? 

I’d be so grateful if you’d subscribe, leave a rating and review, and tell a friend about it. 

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2020, we need a do-over! 

How has COVID-19 affected you? Are you over the Rona cause I sure am.

In this Episode of Crowned Opulence, we get real, raw, and messy… kinda like the year 2020.

I connect with my former coworker-turned-friend Jennifer Brazzell as we talk about our journey going from being employed to not during a pandemic.  Normally you hear about these types of stories when a plan has been figured out, executed, and the person is sitting pretty.  That’s not this story.  

So many people are in the same boat as us. I felt that it is important to share this story before the test becomes a testimony. 

In this episode, we talk about: 

1. How we are processing  our current situation

2. How we are communicating our situation to family and friends

3. The harsh realities of being a person of color in corporate America

4. Navigating that world and if it’s even for us; and our thoughts on the future

Episode drink:

Berry Peach Mimosa 

Connect with Jennifer: 

• Instagram: @corporate__speak

Enjoyed the episode? 

I’d be so grateful if you’d subscribe, leave a rating and review, and tell a friend about it.

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On the first episode of the Crowned Opulence Podcast, I am sitting down with my Soror, Tamira “Augie” Augustine who is actively involved in the Black Lives Matter movement, the LGBTQ community, deputized to register people to vote to have a real conversation about this upcoming election and discuss the shade that is being thrown at Kamala and sadly though not surprising mostly by Black women.  

No matter what your level of understanding of politics is and who you are planning to vote for or if you are planning to vote at all; this is for sure a conversation that you don’t want to miss.

Key Resources from the episode:

• Fact-checking resources
  • Politifact – https://www.politifact.com/
• Candidate websites
  • Joe Biden -https://joebiden.com/
  • Kamala Harris - https://www.harris.senate.gov/about
• Become Deputized to register people to vote
  • Americavotes.org
• Voting laws and calendar for your county
  • Stacey Abrams grassroots network -Text 30330 type the word “VOTE”

Connect with Augie:

• Facebook: Tamira Augustine

Enjoyed the episode? 

I’d be so grateful if you’d subscribe, rate it, and tell a friend about it. 

Support the show