Good Ancestor Podcast

In this episode, I speak with writer, stylist and consultant, Aja Barber.

Aja Barber is a writer, stylist, consultant and speaker whose work focuses on the intersections of feminism, colonialism and race in regards to our clothing and how we choose to consume. Aja is a prolific writer and micro-blogger on Patreon and Instagram, where she creates spaces for deep learning and inquiry into the ways that systems of power affect our buying habits.

In this episode, I speak with author, mental health advocate and historian, Blair Imani.

Blair Imani is a writer, mental health advocate, and historian living at the intersections of Black, Queer, and Muslim identity. In addition to being a public speaker, Blair is the author of Modern HERstory: Stories of Women and Nonbinary People Rewriting History (2018) and Making Our Way Home: The Great Migration and The Black American Dream (2020). She is also the official ambassador of Muslims for Progressive Values, one of the oldest progressive Muslim organizations to support the LGBTQ+ community. Blair has been featured in Essence, Out Magazine, THEM, Broadly, and more.

In this episode, I speak with social change activists and co-founders of Race and Resilience, Michelle Johnson and Kerri Kelly.

Michelle Cassandra Johnson is an author, yoga teacher, social justice activist, licensed clinical social worker and Dismantling Racism trainer. She approaches her life and work from a place of empowerment, embodiment and integration. She has been leading anti-racism trainings for 22 years. Michelle has experience working to dismantle systems of oppression inside corporations, mid-size organizations and small non-profits including Google, Lululemon, the ACLU-WA and many more. With a deep understanding of trauma and the impact that it has on the mind, body, spirit and heart, much of her work focuses on helping people better understand how power and privilege operate in their life. Michelle explores how privilege, power and oppression affects the physical, emotional, mental, spiritual and energy body.

Kerri is the founder of CTZNWELL, an emerging movement to mobilize people into a powerful force for the wellbeing for all. Kerri is recognized across communities for her inspired work to bridge transformational practice with social change and politics. She’s been instrumental in translating the tools of wellbeing into practical application and social action in the public and private sector, working in collaboration with community organizers, spiritual leaders, policy makers and corporate executives including William Morris Entertainment, Congressman Tim Ryan, Lululemon, Marianne Williamson, People's Action Group and more.

Mona Haydar is a Syrian-American rapper, chaplain, poet, and MA in Christian Ethics. Billboard Magazine named Mona's breakout hit "Hijabi" one of 2017's best protest songs and one of the top feminist anthems of all time. Her "Ask A Muslim" project, created in the wake of the Paris and San Bernardino terrorist attacks, garnered international attention and extensive press. The project was featured on the series "The Secret Life of Muslims" and remains the most-watched episode of the series. As an MA student, she worked as a chaplain at NYU and studied post colonial theology. 

In this episode, I speak with author, Healer and Transformational Coach, Jennifer Arnise.

Jennifer Arnise is an author, Healer and Transformational Coach who is dedicated to helping Black women heal their deepest emotional pain so they can experience more joy, pleasure and purpose in their life. She lives in Atlanta with her son and their dog Bella.

In this episode, I speak with writer, illustrator and spoken Jasmin Kaur is a writer, illustrator and poet living on unceded Sto:lo territory. Her writing, which explores themes of feminism, womanhood, social justice and love, acts as a means of healing and reclaiming identity. As a spoken word artist and creative writing facilitator, she has toured across North America, the UK and Australia to connect with youth through the power of artistic expression.

One of The Tempest’s 40 Women to Watch in 2019, her work has been celebrated at the American Music Awards by musical icon Jennifer Lopez and shared by celebrity activists, including Tessa Mae Thompson, Reese Witherspoon, Cara Delevigne and Sophia Bush. She has been featured in Harper’s Bazaar India, Huffington Post, The Indy 100, KaurLife Magazine, Sikh Formations Journal and other publications. ​

In this episode, I speak with designer, advocate, writer and founder of Slow Factory and The Library Study Hall, Celine Semaan.

Celine Semaan is a modern ambassador of cultures, fostering communication across industry, policy, academia and the broader citizen population. Her research focuses on circular design & communication, translating complex concepts and systems into approachable stories that resonate with a wide audience. Celine’s work in sustainability has made her a recognized expert; her non-profit education initiative Study Hall, incubated at MIT Media Lab, is now an official partner of the United Nations and holds an annual summit at the UN headquarters in New York. As a writer her work has been published in New York Magazine The Cut, Elle USA, and Vogue as well as studied in universities; as a designer she has been recognized and exhibited in museums around the world. She lives and works in New York, leading research on Regenerative Aesthetics within her company Slow Factory.

In this episode, I speak with best selling author, educator, and motivational speaker, Rebekah Borucki. Rebekah “Bex” Borucki, founder of BEXLIFE® and the BLISSED IN® wellness movement, is a mother of five, TV host, meditation and yoga guide, and birth doula. She has taught meditation as a profound act of self-care that can be executed effortlessly and effectively to hundreds of thousands of individuals online and in exclusive workshops and public events. Rebekah’s mission is to make mental-health support and stress-management tools accessible to all. For more information, visit www.MotherloadBook.com.

In this episode I speak with Ramon Stephens, Executive Director at The Conscious Kid.

Ramon Stephens is a PhD student at the University of California, San Diego and Executive Director at the Conscious Kid. His research focuses on recruitment, retention, resilience and student voice for Black students and marginalized student groups, he is currently researching Black graduate experiences at UC San Diego. Ramon has created, developed and supported student-driven, culturally-relevant curriculum and programs for various Universities, High Schools districts, Schools and nonprofits across California, Washington and Washington D.C. Currently, his research supports UC San Diego and San Diego Unified in the development and implementation of a district wide ethnic studies curriculum. Ramon has presented his research at conferences including Stanford's Race Inequality Language (RILE) conference and the American Educational Research Association (AERA) conference.

In this episode, I speak with best selling author, educator, and motivational speaker, Leah Vernon.

Leah V is an international Hijabi social media influencer, award-winning author of new memoir: Unashamed: Musings of a Fat, Black Muslim, motivational speaker, educator, and content creator. Her content has garnered over a million views combined, and she has been featured in hundreds of media platforms from The New York Times to Buzzfeed. This Detroit-native was inspired to start blogging in 2013 because there wasn't enough inclusion in the media. Her goals are to continue to spread style and self-love to underrepresented groups and to spark a fashion revolution.