As I write this last podcast descriptor for this last episode of 2015, it's 50 degrees at night, at the end of December, on the east coast of the United States. Unusual to say the least. But that's what 2015 has been, a series of strange, unusual, unorthodox and unprecedented events. A white woman claims blackness. A male Olympic champion claims womanhood. Non-politicians ruling the elections. America's favorite dad became America's most hated man. Police declaring war on black citizens. The weather defying the seasons. And that's only skimming the surface.

But what's good is that if your reading this then you've made it through 2015. And hopefully you've had some really phenomenal moments to treasure. I certainly did...quite a few of them right here on this podcast. At what I know for sure is that with hope, courage, stick-to-itiveness, and a little faith we can affect change on a global scale, for the better. Not just for some, but for all of us. And that same formula works/will work for us on a personal level.

In the new year "Everybody Loves Bliss" will only get better and grow larger. We appreciate all of you for joining in on the ride. We love you. We appreciate you. And we wish you the best of everything. Happy 2016!

~~Bliss

Round Two: The Ladies (*Jennifer, Alice, and Trouble) and I went back to the table to continue what we started. Again, the conversation, like these women, is as deliciously candid, authentically bold and decidedly personal as it was on part one. This time we go even deeper into our individual journeys through relationships, love and sex and reveal to you what we’ve discovered thus far.

You’ll also notice we did not go back to the topic of race and historic sexual abuse we’d touched on in the latter part of the first show. I realized after listening to “Women Speak- part one”, that the sensitive nature of that subject deserves a more focused, substantive and expansive exploration then we would’ve given on this episode. I am, however, dedicated to making sure that that conversation happens here on Everybody Loves Bliss, so we planning for it on an upcoming show.

We received an overwhelming amount of feedback from “Women Speak- part one”, and because of that, the ladies and I felt it was important that we addressed some of the comments and concerns we’d gotten from the listeners. The conversation starts there.

Come join us.

Grab a glass of bubbly, make yourself comfortable, and enjoy the ride.

The Wines:

*Primal Root – California Red Blends

*Columbia River Landing- Riesling 2013

*Three Pears –Pinot Grigio 2012

Round Two: The Ladies (*Jennifer, Alice, and Trouble) and I went back to the table to continue what we started. Again, the conversation, like these women, is as deliciously candid, authentically bold and decidedly personal as it was on part one. This time we go even deeper into our individual journeys through relationships, love and sex and reveal to you what we’ve discovered thus far.

You’ll also notice we did not go back to the topic of race and historic sexual abuse we’d touched on in the latter part of the first show. I realized after listening to “Women Speak- part one”, that the sensitive nature of that subject deserves a more focused, substantive and expansive exploration then we would’ve given on this episode. I am, however, dedicated to making sure that that conversation happens here on Everybody Loves Bliss, so we planning for it on an upcoming show.

We received an overwhelming amount of feedback from “Women Speak- part one”, and because of that, the ladies and I felt it was important that we addressed some of the comments and concerns we’d gotten from the listeners. The conversation starts there.

Come join us.

Grab a glass of bubbly, make yourself comfortable, and enjoy the ride.

The Wines:

*Primal Root – California Red Blends

*Columbia River Landing- Riesling 2013

*Three Pears –Pinot Grigio 2012

By the time my co-producer, Al Morgan, started handing me and my first panel of women the mics; we were already in to it. You can hear by how fast I went thru my usual intro that we were already on a role. But that’s what happens when four very opinionated, uninhibited women from four different generations get together to drink, eat and talk about men, sex, and relationships as we understand and have experienced them. We dig in deep. No one here is an “expert” or pretending to be. This conversation isn’t a clinical examination of sex, men or even the terms and situations surrounding sexual relationships. I brought together three women whom I knew from different places and times in my life for this panel. The only thing I knew for sure they had in common was me. Our relationship statuses even differ: one married and monogamous 25 years, one single not dating, one dating and celibate, and finally one “funning and f*cking.”

This is ultimate girl talk and everything I love about having a forum like “Everybody Loves Bliss,” I get to create (safe) spaces where people can be as free and flippant as they dare to be. This conversation is NSFW and absolutely not kid friendly. So please listen accordingly. And thank you for tuning in.

The wines:

*North by Northwest NxNW Horse Heaven Hills Riesling 2012

*Saint-Hilaire Blanquette de Limoux 2012

*Folie a Deux Menage a Trois 2012 (not mentioned on the podcast)

By the time my co-producer, Al Morgan, started handing me and my first panel of women the mics; we were already in to it. You can hear by how fast I went thru my usual intro that we were already on a role. But that’s what happens when four very opinionated, uninhibited women from four different generations get together to drink, eat and talk about men, sex, and relationships as we understand and have experienced them. We dig in deep. No one here is an “expert” or pretending to be. This conversation isn’t a clinical examination of sex, men or even the terms and situations surrounding sexual relationships. I brought together three women whom I knew from different places and times in my life for this panel. The only thing I knew for sure they had in common was me. Our relationship statuses even differ: one married and monogamous 25 years, one single not dating, one dating and celibate, and finally one “funning and f*cking.”

This is ultimate girl talk and everything I love about having a forum like “Everybody Loves Bliss,” I get to create (safe) spaces where people can be as free and flippant as they dare to be. This conversation is NSFW and absolutely not kid friendly. So please listen accordingly. And thank you for tuning in.

The wines:

*North by Northwest NxNW Horse Heaven Hills Riesling 2012

*Saint-Hilaire Blanquette de Limoux 2012

*Folie a Deux Menage a Trois 2012 (not mentioned on the podcast)

Kevin E. Taylor is the kind of guest that inspires me to continue to do this show. He is, in many ways, a prototype for the kind of person I love to connect with for these podcasts. He is the quintessential eccentric, highly accomplished and continuously expanding in several creative arenas. Author, talk show host, music show creator and entertainment producer are a few of the titles he holds. He’s the conscious, spiritual journeyman known for his civil rights activism, community organizing and stirring of souls as the founding pastor of Unity Fellowship Church, a love centered, LGBT friendly, non-denominational house of faith in Newark, New Jersey. Additionally, he is the man who quietly spearheaded some of your all-time favorite music shows on the BET network: “Access Granted”, “Testimony” and “Lyrically Speaking” respectively. He is also the man who, by divine intervention, did not take that last flight with the late great R&B legend Aaliyah. He lived instead to bring the moments he’d captured, her very last moments, to a saddened and waiting world. Then eighteen days later on September 11th, he cheated death once more by not boarding his originally scheduled flight to Los Angeles from New York. Again, he lived. Delivered by the “favor of God” he knows he is here for a reason. His is a fantastic life full of ebbs and flows, great joy, great pain, evolution, testimony, truth, humor and most importantly…divine purpose. There is so much more I could tell you, and I will. Just sit back and listen.

Ladies and gentleman, meet Kevin E. Taylor.

The wines: Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi (White Zinfandel)

Primal Roots-- California Red Blend

Kevin E. Taylor is the kind of guest that inspires me to continue to do this show. He is, in many ways, a prototype for the kind of person I love to connect with for these podcasts. He is the quintessential eccentric, highly accomplished and continuously expanding in several creative arenas. Author, talk show host, music show creator and entertainment producer are a few of the titles he holds. He’s the conscious, spiritual journeyman known for his civil rights activism, community organizing and stirring of souls as the founding pastor of Unity Fellowship Church, a love centered, LGBT friendly, non-denominational house of faith in Newark, New Jersey. Additionally, he is the man who quietly spearheaded some of your all-time favorite music shows on the BET network: “Access Granted”, “Testimony” and “Lyrically Speaking” respectively. He is also the man who, by divine intervention, did not take that last flight with the late great R&B legend Aaliyah. He lived instead to bring the moments he’d captured, her very last moments, to a saddened and waiting world. Then eighteen days later on September 11th, he cheated death once more by not boarding his originally scheduled flight to Los Angeles from New York. Again, he lived. Delivered by the “favor of God” he knows he is here for a reason. His is a fantastic life full of ebbs and flows, great joy, great pain, evolution, testimony, truth, humor and most importantly…divine purpose. There is so much more I could tell you, and I will. Just sit back and listen.

Ladies and gentleman, meet Kevin E. Taylor.

The wines: Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi (White Zinfandel)

Primal Roots-- California Red Blend

Yes. I know what some of you are thinking. 'Tis true. I did say in season one I would NEVER have Al Morgan back on the mic for another episode "ELB". But... desperate times call for desperate measures with a last minute cancellation and things of that nature. And to tell the truth, I actually had the best time recording with him. As you can hear from this episode, we are a funny, silly, sufficiently well-informed duo on the mics. And we do a pretty kick ass job of giving you much ado about nothing or everything, depending on your perspective. But of course, I could be biased. You'll have to listen for yourself.

The wine: Tree Of Life Pomegranate (one word: delicious)

Yes. I know what some of you are thinking. 'Tis true. I did say in season one I would NEVER have Al Morgan back on the mic for another episode "ELB". But... desperate times call for desperate measures with a last minute cancellation and things of that nature. And to tell the truth, I actually had the best time recording with him. As you can hear from this episode, we are a funny, silly, sufficiently well-informed duo on the mics. And we do a pretty kick ass job of giving you much ado about nothing or everything, depending on your perspective. But of course, I could be biased. You'll have to listen for yourself.

The wine: Tree Of Life Pomegranate (one word: delicious)

The first time I listened to the playback of this episode of “ELB” I was fraught with anxiety. During the recording, I’d gotten slightly exasperated by the comedy of errors that took place prior to us finally getting things rolling properly, and I’d wondered if I’d even captured what I wanted for this podcast. It took three takes to get us started, but as luck combined with determination provide, we got our show. I was also fortunate that my guest, actor Keith Hamilton Cobb, had enough graciousness, patience and sangria in him to endure a bit of musical chairs, and several false starts so that this recording could happen…finally!

Now about Keith…if you don’t already know, he’s a very large, exceptionally handsome presence of a man. He’s also very much an actor in every sense of the word: well groomed, observant, measured with his words, deliberate with his intentions and blessed with the unique power to conspire energies in a way that keep him, in most situations, at the center of attention. I say that last part with a bit of humor and absolute love because he’s actually quite enjoyable to be around. But what’s most important about Keith is he’s in the middle of some of the greatest work of his career, thus far. It’s a one-man show called “American Moor.” And it is because if this work and the truth of experience that he brings to it, that I invited him on the show. I wanted to touch on the love, fear, angst, surrender and vulnerability that made “the Moor.” We did that here. It took three tries, but we definitely found the charm.

A very special thank you to Teavolve Restaurant in Baltimore, MD for sponsoring this episode.

Of course we were not able to get the secret recipe for the delicious blush pomegranate sangria we drank. We did, however, find out the base wine is Paul Vella Red!