On this epsidoe of Honestly Onai, I sat down with my friend Dujon to discuss intentional farming, farming while Black, and what it means to connect with plants, connect with food, and connect with source. We also gave some decent first steps to getting started in the plant world! 

Be sure to check out DJ on Instagran @cultivating.classics, and his gardening business Green Glow Gardens (@green.glow.gardens). Also check out our good friend Grace of Third Coast Herbal Collective (@thirdcoastherbalcollective)! She hosts tons of educational and community building events including Taste of Soil a regenerative cannabis shindig, and Oddly Specific Gathering, a festival where community comes together to share in the love of bluegrass music, tasty locally-sourced goodies, and tons of fun! 

Check out Grace's site for a bunch of homegrown goodies she creates herself, including the best damn garlic powder and garlic scape salt this world has ever seen (and I will fight you about it)!!! 

www.thirdcoastherbalcollective.com

Song of the Ep: Optimistic by Sounds of Blackness 

Be sure to listen to part one of this conversation before jumping in! In this episode, Dr. Quinney and I continue unpacking different aspects of Critical Race Theory (CRT), race and racism in America, including the role of white folks in the struggle for liberation, and misconceptions about the concept of CRT. 

Song of the Episode: Fussy by Malia 

IG: @honestly.konai

Hey hey my Honestly Onai family, welcome back to the podcast! In this episode, I am joined by my unofficial cohost & mentor Dr. Dominick Quinney to unpack the concept of race using the highly debated Critical Race Theory (CRT). One of the main identities that influences our quality of life in America is race. Race seeps into every nook and cranny to validate systems of advantage and disadvantage. It is a social category that groups together individuals who have common physical features, ancestry, and cultural practices and attitudes. Now, peep how I said social category, yet the impacts of race are felt beyond the social, or interpersonal one-on one level. Race influences various systems in America, from the political and legal systems, to American education and financial institutions. Race impacts our ability to access basic human needs like clean air or nutritious foods or water that actually hydrates us. Tune in for a great conversation about how we can use CRT to begin understanding ourselves, and the world around us. 

 

Song of the Episode: Fussy by Malia 

IG: @honestly.konai

On this episode of Honestly Onai, we are in conversation with Mayoral candidate, Keena Williams, who pivoted her passions from the fast track at a private liberal arts college to impacting her community in a more soul-filling way through leadership. Her story of embarking on this journey is inspiring, and the values of her platform are based in love and respect for the community of Albion. This is a very powerful counternarrative of bravery & leadership, especially for Black women in America. 

If you're interested to know more about Keena's mayoral run, including details of her platform and issues she is passionate about, follow the campaign Facebook page here,  or visit her website, keenacares.com/vote. 

The issue of "coming out"  is always complicated by existing family dynamics. What happens when coming out illuminates those toxic family dynamics? Shatters the illusions of love you'd once felt? Well, in my case, it means it time to put up a boundary or two. This is incredibly hard start, and uphold, with people you love.  In this episode, I sit down with my friend, Ashley, as we unpack our family histories, coming out stories, and the impact that had on our relationships with relatives. We also drop some gems of wisdom on setting boundaries, and get vulnerable about how f*cking hard that is to do. 

Song Suggestion: Cleo Sol- Don't Let it Go to Your Head

Awesome Instagram Resources for Setting Boundaries, Reparenting, & Gentle Parenting: 

Nedra Tawaab, Therapist @nedratawaab 

Whitney Goodman, LMFT @sitwithwhit

Destini Ann, Certified Parent Coach @destini.ann

Maria Sosa, MS, MFT, Therapist @holisticallygrace

 

On this episode, I sat down with my mentor & confidant, Dr. Dominick Quinney, so we can begin processing the whirlwind that life has been lately. From mass shootings to abortion rights, American media has been a literal trash fire. It hasn't been the best environment for anyone to truly grieve all that has been lost. And with all of this pain, the good things that are happening around us can get drowned out by the bad.

Please, if possible, consider donating to various nonprofit organizations focused on supporting endangered communities, and victims of mass violence. Above all, stay informed and hold space for these atrocities in your heart. Community is everywhere. 

Album of the Week: Kehlani~Blue Water Road 

Content warning: reference to the r-word, mention of s*ic*de In this episode, myself and guest Elizabeth Rudolph discuss the struggles, nuances, and misconceptions of living with ADHD. We also touch on what it means to be a member of the neurodiverse community.

Elizabeth is the Director of Accessibility Services at the Albion College Cutler Center for Student Success

Book mentioned: How to Train a Wild Elephant 

Song of the Week: Emeli Sande- Extraordinary Being

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Twitter: honestly.onai 

Website: honestlyonai.com

From the classroom to the office to the trap, 'hood is an identity full of love, pain, and endurance that is carried into each space. This week, I discuss with my guest Ari McCaskill some of the nuances and lessons that arise from growing up in a inner city/low-income area and entering  spaces of higher education. We also talked about some of the wider implications of what it means to be from the 'hood in America.    For more information on the connection between housing, education, and the 'hood, check out this corresponding blog post on my website honestlyonai.com  Instagram: @honestly.konai

Twitter: @honestlyonai

Website: www.honestlyonai.com

Welcome to Honestly Onai, a podcast created for the 20-somethings of today as we try to understand ourselves, and how we fit into this beautifully chaotic shitstorm that is American life. Personal Growth Activist Kalli Onai discusses identity, culture, mental health, and more to exhibit unpacking life experiences so we can grow with intention as we reimage the world from what was constructed before us.

In this episode, I sit down with my mentor Dr. Dominick Quinney to discuss some of the personal and cultural barriers presented to underrepresented students attending college in majority white spaces---barriers that instigated my decision to quit school at Albion College just 3 months shy of my senior year. We also learn of the barriers present when teaching in these same spaces from Dr. Quinney, as well as our words of advice to students currently in the trenches.    Dr. Dominick Quinney is an Ethnic Studies professor at Albion College. He is an unapologetic Critical Race Theorist and Hip Hop Scholar. You can find him on Instagram @blakademic! 

 

Interested in my journey to getting into college? Check out my blog www.honestlyonai.com for more! Follow me on Instagram @honestlyonai, and I'll catch you next time <3