Let's Talk About Shhh(it)!

Every good season has a finale and we sure are cominng out of a SEASON! Sometimes you just need to take a break. A time to pause & reflect on where you are on your journey. A time for you. So with that in mind, I have decided to take a light pause. Chauvin’s been convicted. Trump’s been ousted. Vaccines are a pumpin’ & Spring babies are a bumpin’. My brain & heart are exhausted. So its time for a refuel & an expansion. Come on in, hear some thoughts about all that shhh(it)! #ImOuttaHere but #IllBeBackhttps://youtu.be/dkF1fFGUNoM

What a blessing it is when you come across humans that connect to your SPIRIT. I have the pleasure of having a few of these humans in my life. Today we chat with one of my favs, Ms. Haneefah Wood. From the day I peeped her kick-ball-changing on a Syracuse University stage, marching to the beat of her own drum (which she still does), I knew I needed to know this human! A few years later God brought us together on the RENT tour and its been a pleasure to watch this woman's journey ever since. Recorded on Easter Sunday; join us as we discuss topics ranging from the business of religion & side jobs that made us cry (who hasn't found a secret spot at a catering event to eat hors d'oeuvres out of their pocket) to that time she woke up from a surgery gone wrong without the ability to speak, move, communicate or BREATHE! Haneefah is on a journey to use her art as a means to feel and defeat unconscious self sabotage. She WILL make you smile. Come on in learn more. Mmk? Mmk! Gday.

That Moment You Realize You Could Die

Marijuana. Weed. Pot. Cannabis. Grass. Ganja. Whatever you wanna call it, I am a fan! Today I celebrate this beautiful gift that literally COMES. FROM. THE. EARTH! Marijuana has been stigmatized for ages & WHY is that? Did you know that this treasure of an herb only became illegal in the last 100 years. Also, its illegalization is tied to politics, racism & xenophobia. Imagine that? In the USA? No way (HUGE eyeroll). Mary J has been used for THOUSANDS of years by scores of culture & civilizations as a tool for healing, spiritual practice & commerce. In moderation, as with ALL things, this sweet nectar provided by Mamma Nature can be a game changer. Y'all its time to change yo' brain. Do or don't, but honesty I think you're missing out. Happy 420! Puff puff pass. #GoGREEEEEEEEN! https://www.history.com/topics/crime/history-of-marijuana

As we round out Women's History Month, I sit down with VFILES Founder & all around badass, Julie Anne Quay! Julie Anne has made it her life's mission to connect "the kids in the line" with resources & opportunities to help get them to the front. Through the power of media, fashion & music, VILES creates a world that is set on empowering those who don't have access by finding ways to get them into the room. Access, it is what can make or break a life. Both Julie Anne & I firmly believe in the power of working your way up, communication & community. This is one of my favorite conversations. Come on in & learn more. Mmk? Mmk! Gday.

For more on Julie Anne Quay:

https://linktr.ee/vfiles

https://www.vfiles.org

https://www.instagram.com/julieannequay

For every up, there is a down. If there is dark, then there WILL be light. There are many universal signs that point us back to the overarching intention of balance. Of course there are many human factors that mess with the universal laws of equality, but for today, let’s avoid THOSE ponders. With that in mind, it only makes sense that for every contraction there is an equal & opposite EXPANSION! It’s science, DUH! I believe we’ve been in a great collective contraction. It has been a year of reflection, loss, solitude, recalculation & more. It is only fair that the universe hands us a reset & a redistribution of the energetic flow. I believe we are heading into that moment & we should celebrate that! Wanna hear more? Come on in. Mmk? Mmk! Gday. #Newtowns3rdLaw

Hopefully we all have those amazing humans in our lives that allow us to be ourselves, to feel free and to help us face & push past our fears. They make us better people. I am SO blessed to have this in my life. Today I sit down with one of my nearest & dearest; Ms. Sarah Johnson, my sista from another mista! We’ve traveled near & far together; from the beaches of Mexico & the DR, to the winter mountains of the Catskills. My Sarita is always up for an adventure and I am always up to join her on one! We’ve laughed together, we’ve worked together (Alice’s Tea Cup), we’ve celebrated together, we’ve had emotional MO-MENTS together, we’ve conjured the spirits of our Johnson grandmothers together. This special human loves like none other & she sure is MAGIC! Oh, AND she's a badass woman working daily to change the world as an ally & supportor of social justice. Come on in and learn more about my Sarita Johnson. Mmk? Mmk! Gday.

TODAY'S TRIVIA: KEANU REEVES

March is Women's History Month. But did you also know that March is (MS) Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month? What better way to celebrate both these phenomenal directives than with my guest today? On today’s Ponderling, my special guest & badass female friend with MS, Nicole Nasca, gives us a brief download on what its like living with MS. Oh, we also laugh a lot & recount our many travels together as work mates who opened new stores together. #FromCannesToAspenAndBeyond #CorporateCreditCardLife.

Multiple sclerosis is a disease of the central nervous system. It's believed to be an autoimmune condition, in which the immune system mistakenly attacks normal tissues. It's not clear what causes the onset of this immune reaction, and most people diagnosed with MS have no known risk factors. Come on in & learn more! #MSWomenAreFierce

Please visit myMSAA.org for more information.

A few years back I was in a room where I had the great opportunity AND duty to speak up & out about the huge effects of racial stigmas on corporate marketing. I didn’t know this then, but my buddy Ritesh Rajan was the straw catalyst that broke the camel’s back for me of “ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!” Often times society thinks it NEEDS to present a certain picture to consumers in order to sell whatever wares it’s peddling. Guess what?? False. People shop where they see themselves. I’m still not clear why that is such a hard concept to grasp. Oh I know why, institutional racism. DUH! Today I chat with Tesh about everything from being brown & growing up in NYC post 9/11 to what its like being an Indian man on TV in today’s America. FACT: Brown actors can be more than taxi drivers, nerds, doctors & convenience store workers. Among many projects; Tesh currently voices the iconic All-American doll Ken, on Mattel’s animated Barbie series, where he is helping to shift the narrative from within! Come on in, there’s lots to talk about. Mmk? Mmk! Gday. TODAY'S TRIVIA: VIDEO GAMES

Follow Tesh: @teshrajan

For those of you who don't know, I have been given the magical gift of being born on a disappearing day, 2/29- LEAP YEAR! 3 out of every 4 years I celebrate my birthday on 2/28 AND 3/1. So never fear, you have 2 CHANCES to send me love, winky face emoji. For my birthday, all I am asking you to do is to ponder this thought of sharing. Years ago as a NYC commuter, I would often come across the same homeless people. This inspired me to carry snacks to share. One day I came across a homeless man who helped me realize something. Not everyone has teeth! AH HA moment y'all. This led me to starting my personal initiative to be more inclusive with my snack choices, and thus the Banana Project was born. Come on in and learn more! A banana a day can change someone's way. Carry a banana in your bag & give it away. Let's spread some banana love. Ooh PS. No pressure OF COURSE, but I do accept monetary birthday presents (venmo- @Miles-Johnson-4)- again winky face emoji. #AskAndYouShallReceive