This week Skye & Amanda take on a new book genre - poetry. Hear about their individual feelings around poetry and their tips on how to create a better reading experience when struggling to follow along. 

After reading Finna, a collection of poems by Nate Marshall, the ladies discuss the power of Black language. Listen in as the two celebrate Black vernacular and its importance to self expression and the culture. In a world that can be critical of the African American Vernacular English (AAVE), Amanda opens up about her past struggles with code switching in order to survive in work spaces that were predominately white and Skye shares her experiences with facing judgement for her choice to speak freely. The conversation wouldn’t be complete without a run down of their favorite slang words and phrases, both past and present. 

Books mentioned in this week’s episode are linked to the Black Owned Bookstore: Malik Books

• Finna by Nate Marshall

This week’s ‘Bout That Action! highlight is: Liberation Library
For those interested in submitting personalized bookmarks. Below is the address: Liberation Library
c/o In These Times
2040 N Milwaukee Ave
Chicago Il 606047

Pockets of Joy: 

• Order your next delicious meal from Chef Donavan. Tell him Skye sent you. 
• Check on the creative genius behind Amanda’s new favorite music mixes: Jimir Reece Davis aka Amorphous 

Support Long Story Short and Local Book Stores: 

Libro.FM- get two audiobooks for the price of one when you use the code LSSPODCAST when signing up for your first month of membership. 

Follow us online:
Instagram: @LongStoryShortPod
Twitter: @LSSpodcast
Facebook: @LongStoryShortPod
Email: [email protected]

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, Skye & Amanda have an in-depth discussion about what it truly means to be grateful. After researching several articles online, the ladies discuss the primary benefits of practicing gratitude, but more importantly, they explore possible reasons why some might find it difficult to incorporate the expression of gratitude into their daily lives. The ladies express their own feelings around gratitude - both before and after reading the articles, each giving examples of their current practices, and end with what they are most grateful for this year. 

Articles mentioned in this week’s episode: 

• https://www.consciouslifestylemag.com/gratitude-power-6-principles/
• https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/mindfulness-insights/201907/fear-gratitude
• https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/compassion-matters/201511/the-healing-power-gratitude

This week’s ‘Bout That Action! highlight is:  #BlackTransLivesMatter: Actions & Resources for Solidarity 

Follow us online:

Instagram: @LongStoryShortPod
Twitter: @LSSpodcast
Facebook: @LongStoryShortPod
18Email: [email protected]

To round out their series on toxic personality traits, Skye and Amanda turn inward and take a look at their own egos. In this week's episode the ladies discuss the book, Ego is the Enemy by Ryan Holiday. Listen in as the two discuss the true definition of ego and the three stages of life (Aspire. Success. Failure.) where Holiday believes that the ego is often not only present, but can also be the culprit of our shortcomings. Skye and Amanda each explain how this book has helped them to change their mindset around when and how to check their own egos and get in tune with their higher self. 

Books mentioned in this week’s episode are linked to the Black Owned Bookstore: Pyramid Book:

• Ego is the Enemy  by Ryan Holiday

Article mentioned in this week’s episode: http://thedreamcatch.com/how-to-tell-your-ego-from-your-higher-self/

This week’s ‘Bout That Action! Highlight follow-ups are: 

• The Great Unlearn for Young Learners - sign up for updates on the pilot program
• Feed Black Futures - learn about their current fundraiser to build garden beds for their community members 
• Arielle Simone - listen in to her episode “Eating for Energy w/ the Holistic Mami” on Mind Your Mvgic Podcast

Stream the Wheels of Light album by Beautiful Chorus on Spotify

Follow us online:
Instagram: @LongStoryShortPod
Twitter: @LSSpodcast
Facebook: @LongStoryShortPod
Email: [email protected] 

Following a week like no other, Skye & Amanda decide to take it easy and sit to just shoot the shit. Listen in as the two discuss their elation over the election results and detail how they have taken care of themselves during these past days of uncertainty. They each share what they are looking forward to in the coming week, as they try to get back to a sense of normalcy and creativity. Hear all about the ladies’ first Long Story Short Podcast road trip to Philly, a city near and dear to both their hearts; the birthplace of their sisterhood. While there, they visit Black owned bookstores and other businesses and come home with nothing but goodies. 

Links to businesses and items mentioned:
Harriett’s Bookshop
Tar Baby by Toni Morrison
Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome by Dr. Joy Degruy
Homegirls & Handgrenades by Sonia Sanchez 

Uncle Bobbie’s Coffee & Books
Harlem: Between Heaven and Hell by Monique M. Taylor
Party Music: The Inside Story of the Black Panthers’ Band and How Black Power Transformed Soul Music by Rickey Vincent
The Spook Who Sat by the Door by Sam Greenlee
Behold a Pale Horse by William Cooper
Black Noise: Rap Music and Black Culture in Contemporary America by Tricia Rose

Marsh & Mane

YOWIE

It Wasn't in My Text Book Podcast

This week’s ‘Bout That Action! highlight is: Stacey Abrams
Learn more about her voter rights organizations: Fair Fight & New Georgia Program 

Book EP: Be sure to stream the songs mentioned in this week’s Book EP playlist on Long Story Short’s Spotify page: https://open.spotify.com/user/rz5hp2nppkhd82xmhhoo2euqc?si=olIngYNWSTmbhGqnyK6zgg

Follow us online:
Instagram: @LongStoryShortPod
Twitter: @LSSpodcast
Facebook: @LongStoryShortPod
Email: [email protected]

Following their recent conversation on codependency, Skye & Amanda thought it was only right to discuss its frequent counterpart; narcissism. In this week's episode, the two dive into their latest read, Why is it Always About You? By Sandy Hotchkiss. Listen in as the ladies define a narcissist through each of the "seven deadly sins of narcissism" and share Sandy's strategies to defend yourself against these traits in those you experience daily - family, friends, romantic partners, co-workers, etc. The hosts open up about some of the ways that they have experienced narcissism in others and have a few tips of their own on how to deal with it. 

Books mentioned in this week’s episode are linked to the Black Owned Bookstore: Black Pearl Books

• Why is it Always About You?: The Seven Deadly Sins of Narcissism by Sandy Hotchkiss

This week’s ‘Bout That Action! highlight is: Arielle Simone 

Check out Arielle’s Twitter thread on combating seasonal depression at: https://twitter.com/LeArielleSimone/status/1322246732135174154

Book EP: Be sure to stream the songs mentioned in this week’s Book EP playlist on Long Story Short’s Spotify page: https://open.spotify.com/user/rz5hp2nppkhd82xmhhoo2euqc?si=olIngYNWSTmbhGqnyK6zgg

Word of the Week: Inculcate

Follow us online:

Instagram: @LongStoryShortPod
Twitter: @LSSpodcast
Facebook: @LongStoryShortPod
Email: [email protected]

In the spirit of Spooky season, Skye and Amanda sit down to discuss the Black Horror genre and its depictions of the biggest terrors we face day-to-day. The ladies talk about the thrilling novel, When No One is Watching by Alyssa Cole and the movie, Vampires vs. The Bronx, both horror stories about a true life fear; gentrification. They gush about the genius of Lovecraft Country and the realities that Black people face when uncovering who the real monsters are in their lives. Hear about Skye's experience rewatching classic Black horror movies and how her perspectives have changed, and why Amanda is loving the resurgence of Black Horror stories being told today, both in literature and film.   

Books mentioned in this week’s episode are linked to the Black Owned Bookstore: Eso Won Books

• Horror Noire: Blacks in American Horror Films from the 1890s to Present, Reviews by Robin R. Means Coleman
• When No One Is Watching by Alyssa Cole
• Lovecraft Country by Matt Ruff

This week’s ‘Bout That Action! highlight is Kyyah Abdul
Check out Kyyah’s infographics on S.A.R.S on Instagram at: @kyyahabdu

Book EP: Be sure to stream the songs mentioned in this week’s Book EP playlist on Long Story Short’s Spotify page: https://open.spotify.com/user/rz5hp2nppkhd82xmhhoo2euqc?si=olIngYNWSTmbhGqnyK6zgg

Word of the Week: Forfend

Follow us online:
Instagram: @LongStoryShortPod
Twitter: @LSSpodcast
Facebook: @LongStoryShortPod
Email: [email protected]

Years after individually reading Codependent No More by Melody Beattie, Skye & Amanda sit down to revisit the book together. They walk through what it means to be codependent and how they each have identified with the term, by giving personal accounts about their struggles with putting themselves first. The two go down Beattie’s checklist of codependent characteristics, as well as her suggestions on ways to heal and find peace, by no longer sacrificing parts of yourself for the sake of another. Learn about what steps each of the women have taken and continue to take to unlearn behaviors and ways of thinking that no longer serve them. 

Books mentioned in this week’s episode are linked to the Black Owned Bookstore: Elizabeth of Akron

Codependent No More: How to Stop Controlling Others and Start Caring for Yourself

This week’s ‘Bout That Action! highlight is: Rachel Cargle

Learn about three of her current initiatives: 

• A Year of Rest
• The Loveland Foundation
•  The Great Unlearn

Check out The Loveland Foundation on Instagram at: @thelovelandfoundation
Check out The Great Unlearn on Instagram at:@thegreatunlearn

Book EP: Be sure to stream the songs mentioned in this week’s Book EP playlist on Long Story Short’s Spotify page: https://open.spotify.com/user/rz5hp2nppkhd82xmhhoo2euqc?si=olIngYNWSTmbhGqnyK6zgg

Word of the Week: Confabulate

Follow us online:

Instagram: @LongStoryShortPod
Twitter: @LSSpodcast
Facebook: @LongStoryShortPod
Email: [email protected]

It’s a tv and book crossover! This week the ladies keep it light and fun as they discuss their current binging of Girlfriends. Hear Skye & Amanda’s thoughts on what makes the show so important to television and Black culture, and the books that they would recommend to Joan, Toni, Lynn, Maya and William.

Books mentioned in this week’s episode are linked to the Black Owned Bookstore: The Tiny Bookstore 

• Codependent No More: How to Stop Controlling Others and Start Caring for Yourself 
• Love Cycles
• Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life: Life-Changing Tools for Healthy Relationships 
• If You're in My Office, It's Already Too Late: A Divorce Lawyer's Guide to Staying Together 
• The Year of Yes
• The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo
• Why Should White Guys Have All the Fun?
• What Should I Do with My Life?: The True Story of People Who Answered the Ultimate Question by Po Bronson
• Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Ducksworth
• Why Is It Always about You?: The Seven Deadly Sins of Narcissism
• Ego is the Enemy

Join @Ms.Goodreads book club: @readwithms.goodreads

This week’s ‘Bout That Action! highlight is: The Nap Ministry
Check out The Nap Ministry on Instagram at: @thenapministry

Book EP: Be sure to stream the songs mentioned in this week’s Book EP playlist on Long Story Short’s Spotify page: https://open.spotify.com/user/rz5hp2nppkhd82xmhhoo2euqc?si=olIngYNWSTmbhGqnyK6zgg

Word of the Week: Jejune

Follow us online:
Instagram: @LongStoryShortPod
Twitter: @LSSpodcast
Facebook: @LongStoryShortPod
Email: [email protected] 

Following their conversation on Black hair and their recent reading of White Negroes by Lauren Michele Jackson, Skye & Amanda share their frustrations over the sheer cultural appropriation of Black culture in America. The two discuss Jackson’s in depth examination of the history and effects of this country’s love for Black aesthetic over Black lives. From the fashion, to the music, to the body type, to the language, the ladies run through examples of when Black style, talent and ideas were jacked with little to no consequence.

*Please excuse the sound quality on this episode. We are working to fix this issue for all future recordings. Thank you for your patience!*

Books mentioned in this week’s episode are linked to the Black Owned Bookstore: The Collective Oakland

Twisted: The Tangled History of Black Hair Culture by Emma Dabiri

White Negroes: When Cornrows Were in Vogue.. And Other Thoughts on Cultural Appropriation by Lauren Michele Jackson

Black Cool: One Thousand Streams of Blackness by Rebecca Walker

The Tanning of America: How Hip-Hop Created a Culture That Rewrote the Rules of the New Economy  by Steve Stoute

This week’s ‘Bout That Action! highlight is a call to action for us all: 

Check out the steps to take to better prepare for Election Day at: Reclaim Your Vote

Book EP: Be sure to stream the songs mentioned in this week’s Book EP playlist on Long Story Short’s Spotify page: https://open.spotify.com/user/rz5hp2nppkhd82xmhhoo2euqc?si=olIngYNWSTmbhGqnyK6zgg

Word of the Week: Purport

Follow us online:

Instagram: @LongStoryShortPod

Twitter: @LSSpodcast

Facebook: @LongStoryShortPod

Email: [email protected]

In this week’s episode Skye & Amanda are joined by their Friends with Fros, Jessica and Meghan, from the podcast, Don’t Worry ‘Bout My Hair. All four women dig deep, as they walk through their journeys to embracing their natural hair. They reference what they’ve learned after their recent reading on the history of Black hair culture and open up about the role that the white gaze has ever played in their depiction of beauty. From hair mishaps they wish they could’ve reversed, to hair discrimination in the workplace, to men’s views on Black women’s hair, they dish all about their quests to unapologetically loving their hair. As healthcare workers at a children’s hospital, Jess & Meghan discuss how they are navigating Black hair in the healthcare system. They let listeners in on how they advocate for their Black patients and their current initiatives to incorporate Black hair care into coping and play at the hospital. 

Books mentioned in this week’s episode are linked to the Black Owned Bookstore: Solid State Books

Twisted: The Tangled History of Black Hair Culture by Emma Dabiri

Hair Story: Untangling the Roots of Black Hair in America by Ayana D. Byrd and Lori L. Tharps

This week’s ‘Bout That Action! highlight is: Healthcare for the People

Check out Healthcare for the People on Instagram at: @healthcareforthepeople2020

Book EP: Be sure to stream the songs mentioned in this week’s Book EP playlist on Long Story Short’s Spotify page: https://open.spotify.com/user/rz5hp2nppkhd82xmhhoo2euqc?si=olIngYNWSTmbhGqnyK6zgg

Check out this week’s guest on Instagram: Friends with Fros

Friends with Fros podcast: Don’t Worry ‘Bout My Hair 

Follow us online:

Instagram: @LongStoryShortPod

Twitter: @LSSpodcast

Facebook: @LongStoryShortPod

Email: [email protected]