Let's Talk About Shhh(it)!

2020, WOOF am I right? No no, that's not a question (said in my best Meryl voice). My questions is, what are you doing to stay sane right now? As we head into the end of this year of insanity, people seem to be spinning out a bit more. I meeeean, we are just in the middle of an economic, environmental, health, political, and ethical crisis. Throw in the Holidays and you've got yourself an anxiety & depression sandwich, extra cheese please. Ho ho ho! I believe we must take the time to heal & protect our spirits. Personally, this is a time where what I need, emotionally speaking, changes quite frequently. I can go from 0 to 100 and back to 0 in mere minutes. I often feel insane. In a world where it is customary for us to put on the mask of "I'm fine I'm FIIIIIIINE" (cue M'Lynne at Shelby's funeral), we can most definitely look behind the curtain to see that we are indeed NOT always fine. In the words for Bill & Ted, I ask you to "be excellent to each other" but most of all, I ask you to be excellent to yourself. Here are some of the tools I use to stay away from the edge. Feel free to borrow. In the words of the great Stephen Sondheim, I urge you to remember, #NooneIsAlone

Hey y'all! Today we chat with Bevin Prince & Marc Ronick. A few months ago Bevin asked me to be a guest on her podcast, Be My Neighbor. We were at the height of the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement and I had begun teaching my white ally education forum, which Bevin attended. Bevin and her co- pilot Brittany (both white women) brought me onto their platform to share my concepts with their community on how white people can be better allies as our country battles for equality & justice. Enter stage left, Marc Ronick. Marc is their producer (and now mine- winky face emoji). Well, we totally vibed and the rest is history! Join us as we chat about how Let's Talk Shhh(it) came to be and how these precious treasures helped me find my voice again. Mmk? Mmk! Gday.

Follow Bevin Prince: bemyneighborpodcast.com instagram.com/bemyneighborpodcast instagram.com/bevinaprince Follow Marc Ronick: ironickmedia.com instagram.com/ironickmedia instagram.com/marcronick

NOTE: This Ponderling was recorded right before the 2020 election, but this concept has always been universal in my book. Public shaming on social media is at an all time high in today's world. REMINDER: SOCIAL MEDIA IS NOT REAL LIFE. I'll leave it at that. As the great Ice Cube (film & rap star of Are We ThereYet? Anaconda & more) once said, "chickity check yo self before you wreck yo self". #DontComeForMeIfIDidntSendForYou

Growing up multiracial is different for everyone, but behind the screen there are many trending -isms that go unspoken. Being told you're not black enough by the black community. Never being able to optically fit into the white community. From code switching and deciding which box to check on an application to watching your back when reprimanding your fair skinned/white presenting child in public; there are many long standing stigmas that contribute to the plight of the multiracial. In this episode, my guests & fellow multiracial buds, Alisha Louise Joy & Joe Aaron Reid, delve into white vs black, growing up without an identity, parenting, trigger words and more as they help me shed some light into our world. Oh yeah, and there's laughter. We laugh a lot! Come on in. Mmk? Mmk! Gday.

For Joe Aaron Reid: Cameo / Twitter / Facebook: @joeaaronreid For Alisha Louise Joy on Instagram: @alisha__louise

Activate your stick & glow UP! Today I dive into the idea of physical touch & self love. Humans need to be touched. Research shows that touch is crucial to a baby's development and actually has some pretty major benefits when it comes to brain development. See, there is an entire science behind getting touched. Whether you are being touched by someone else or you're touching yourself, yes I said that. TOUCH YOURSELF! Do yourself a favor.... #GoGetTouched.

Happy Thanksgiving Friends! Horrible indigenous community experience aside (and I want to acknowledge that), this is the time of year that really kicks off the holiday season for me. I never quite got those people who start celebrating the day after Halloween #SlowYourRoll. This is often billed as a time where we take a moment to pause with our family & friends and remind ourselves how grateful we are. This year definitely makes that a bit harder to do for many. I think it's important to count every blessing. On today's episode, I talk to one of my oldest & dearest friends who has always encouraged me see that, Sal Sabella.

FUN FACTS: Sal was my first friend in NYC. He is kind. He is smart. He is important. Wait where have I heard that before? From stories about Grandma to how Sal helped me quit my job & change the trajectory of my future, NBD, this is the perfect episode to share my gratitdue to and for my sweet friend. Come on in. Mmk?Mmk! Gday.

Insta: @salgo10How to Support Indigenous People on Thanksgiving

As we head into the holiday season, we are all beginning to grasp the reality of what this year's season will bring. We are living in the midst of an economic crisis. Why not try out another love language and remember the reason for the season. HINT: #ItsNotAboutPresents

At work, do you find yourself looking around the room for someone who looks like you to hit the water cooler with? Yeah I knew you did. Well that's how I met Mrs. Adena Jones. It's pretty common in the corporate world for black people to align with other black people in the workplace, particularly in a sea of white people. Does that make you uncomfortable to hear? Sorry, it's the truth. The systemic racism of our nation (don't forget, it was built on back of black slaves FOR FREE) has infiltrated most systems, particularly the corporate system. This assumed work/friend alliance is rooted in years of generational trauma. DANG, he went there!! YUP, sure did! Join us as we talk about her journey in the business world from a black woman creating content for a world that doesn't reflect her, to the FOUNDER of an up & coming tech start up aimed at empowering the urban community. Come on in. Mmk? Mmk! Gday.

Twitter: @adena_andrews Website: another-lane.com

Let it go! No not Elsa, YOU! I find it nice to believe that there's something greater out there. A something that's in charge of all this nonsense and amazingness we call life. Call it God, Buddha, Universe, Energy or Alex Trebek (Rest In Peace), I believe something is watching over us. And that something... TOTALLY has my back! #GodFriendedMe

I believe people come into our lives for a reason, a season or a lifetime. What does that mean? Come on in and find out. #RelationshipGoals