In Episode 4 of In The Black Podcast, we welcome the radiant and resilient Hazel - a trans woman, mom of two, and joyful force of nature who lives life with unapologetic enthusiasm and authenticity.

Hazel is the founder of Enthusiastically You, a platform and movement encouraging people to show up in the world as their boldest, most vibrant selves. Whether she’s writing, parenting, or spreading love through all things pink, Hazel embodies the freedom that comes from fully embracing who you are.

In this episode, Hazel opens up about:

• Her journey as a trans woman and mother

• What authentic living really looks like

• Finding joy in the midst of identity transformation

• Using color, energy, and community to reclaim space and celebrate selfhood

🎧 This episode is a celebration of personal power, parenting with pride, and choosing joy - even when the world says otherwise.

📌 Connect with Hazel:
Instagram + YouTube: @enthusiastically-you4995
🌐 Website: enthusiastically-you.com
📩 Email: [email protected]

📌 Connect with ITB:

@intheblackpassionproject

In Episode 4 of In The Black Podcast, we’re joined by the visionary Bunny Nevels, the powerhouse behind The Bunny Studio and The Bunny Collection, two creative platforms built to inspire confidence, purpose, and radical self-expression.

As a visual storyteller and lifestyle brand founder, Bunny has a gift for helping people see themselves differently, not just in front of the camera, but in life. Through her lens, she captures the essence of confidence, authenticity, and beauty in every form.

But her impact goes beyond the art.

A college dropout turned entrepreneur and community builder, Bunny uses her voice and platform to challenge the traditional narratives of success. She’s launched a fund to support financially struggling students and built a brand that encourages people to own their journey, no matter how unconventional.

🎧 In this episode, we explore:

• The power of visual storytelling to heal and empower

• Why self-worth must come before success

• What it means to choose purpose over pressure

• Bunny’s journey from dropout to creative CEO

• Building a lifestyle brand that gives back

If you’ve ever questioned your path or felt boxed in by expectations, Bunny’s story is your permission slip to redefine what success means for you.

✨ Follow Bunny:
Instagram: @bunnynevels
Website: thebunnystudio.com | thebunnycollection.com

✨ Follow ITB:

@intheblackpassionproject

In Episode 2 of In The Black Podcast, we welcome Gretchen, a woman whose story is a powerful testament to courage, resilience, and breaking generational cycles.

Gretchen grew up in a home marked by abuse at the hands of her father, a trauma that shaped her identity, her relationships, and her ability to trust. But she refused to let the pain of her past dictate her future.

Instead, she chose to fight for her healing, rewrite her story, and rise, not just for herself, but to be a light for others walking similar paths.

In this episode, we explore:

• The long-term impact of childhood abuse

• How trauma affects adult relationships

• What it takes to break generational cycles

• Choosing self-worth, healing, and fierce freedom

🎧 If you’ve ever struggled to reclaim your identity after trauma, or wondered if you can ever fully heal, this episode is for you.

@intheblackpassionproject

In our very first episode of In The Black Podcast, we’re honored to share the courageous story of Janice, a survivor who turned her pain into purpose.

As a core member of the Family Justice Center’s Inner Voices Committee, Janice now works alongside fellow survivors to train first responders, raise community awareness around domestic violence and sexual assault, and ensure that victims are seen, heard, and supported.

In this episode, Janice opens up about:

• Escaping an abusive relationship

• The emotional toll of surviving assault

• Why survivor-led advocacy matters

• How she found healing through helping others

This conversation is raw, real, and deeply important.

🎧 Whether you’re a survivor, supporter, or someone seeking to better understand trauma and resilience, Janice’s story is a powerful reminder: your voice can create change.

Janice:

https://www.instagram.com/janicetgehrke/?igsh=OGN1ZWJ1Z2t4NTBy#

In The Black Passion Project:

@intheblackpassionproject

Welcome to In The Black-the podcast that shines a light on resilience, transformation, and the power of reinvention. I'm Aracelli, and each week, my co-host Shannon and I sit down with incredible women who've faced some of life's hardest challenges, from personal setbacks to societal obstacles, and have emerged on the other side stronger, driven, and ready to make a difference.

In today's episode, we will talk about:

1.) How the name title came to be.

2.) Shannon's project called "In The Black"

3.) Aracelli's idea of sharing these stories in a book or podcast.

4.) How the podcast project came together.

5.) Fun back story of how we met.

We hope you enjoy.

A special thank you to @dafrizell for our Podcast Design. Go check him out and follow his amazing art work.

This Christmas Day episode of In The Black is a pause, a breath, a moment of reflection.

Through an original spoken-word poem titled “Let’s Jump,” this episode explores heartbreak, letting go, surrender, and the quiet trust that comes when we stop fighting the current and allow God to hold us.

This is a story about jumping together… and learning how to float when someone lets go. About trusting the water beneath you when you don’t know how to swim or where the shore is. And about discovering that peace can exist even in the unknown.

If you’re ending the year feeling tender, uncertain, or quietly hopeful, this episode is for you.

In The Black will return in the new year.
For now, may you rest. May you trust. May you float. Cheers.

Follow us: @intheblackpassionproject

Support: @intheblackpassionprojectsupport