We made it! We set a goal to record and publish ten episodes and here we are with the tenth and final episode of Season 1. *Clap for us, please, as we clap for ourselves.* We are so grateful for all of you - our dahlings, our people, ayo! Now to today's episode: are you the 'strong friend" or is there a "strong friend" who is your go-to person?

On this #MeenoMonday, we are retiring the label "strong friend". Friendship is a two-way street and it is truly out-of-touch to think that some friends are always doing well. Whether you're surrounded by a throng of friends or you keep your circle small, you want to feel cared for. The persons labeled as strong are often in as much need - if not more need - of someone to genuinely be there for them.

What makes a person appear strong? How do "strong friends" show up for the people they care about? How should friends show up for each other?

We are advocating asking questions over making assumptions, paying attention to telling shifts in behaviour, and providing space for your friends to show up as they are.

We'd love to hear your take over on Instagram! Join us there on Wednesday as we dive deeper into the topic because 'we wan' know' your thoughts!

Last week, we concluded our two-part Faith Series with a discussion of spiritual goals and practical ways we can express our faith. If you missed it, go back and give it a listen.

Q: So wa you doin' on Monday?

A: Meeno!

Stay updated via Instagram!

Follow the podcast @meenopodcast

Follow Saf @safiya.anika_

Follow Ree @ree__vee

Links to good stuff: 

The Strong Friend: Having One or Being One

Why you should be checking in on your 'strong' friends 

Your Strong Friend Gets Tired 

Hey, it's #MeenoMonday and your favourite cousin duo is back to wrap up the Faith Series. In today's episode, we bring the discussion around to the practical side of Christianity. How can we put our faith into practice? As Christians, who are we striving to be? What goals do we have to deepen the expression of our faith in God? Are religion and spirituality eternal enemies?

We talk about how we think self love fits into the Christian experience, developing a gratitude mindset and taking up our God-given space to honour our faith in God's boundless ability to provide.

Last week, we did not hold back! Do yourself a favour: go back and listen to part 1 because we unburdened our hearts to make more room for God's love, Amen?! Let us know your thoughts on the Faith series over on Instagram!

Q: So wa you doin' on Monday?

A: Meeno!

Stay updated via Instagram!

Follow the podcast @meenopodcast

Follow Saf @safiya.anika_

Follow Ree @ree__vee

Links to good stuff:

21 Spiritual Goal Examples to Grow in 2022

Siddung, get your bible, grab a snack, and get comfortable because episode 8 did not come to play! This week, we have a deep, free-flowing conversation about our Christian faith - the type of conversation that we think every Christian church should be encouraging.

Like any aspect of our lives, we want to be intentional about loving Christ and living in relationship with God. How do we keep growing in our faith? How do we tune into our personal conversation with God? Why aren't Christians more eager to love and support rather than judge and condemn? Why is forgiveness so haaaard? How do we accept God's grace and live mindful of His love for us? We talk about all of this and more! You don't want to miss this and make sure you tune in next #MeenoMonday for Part 2 of the Faith Series.

Last week, we welcomed our first guest (a big deal!) - the talented, driven, amazing curly girl and Broadway actress, Salisha Thomas. She gave us so much to think about and you need to hear her excellent advice on enjoying life, chasing joy and spreading love. So back and listen, ya deaf?!

Q: So wa you doin' on Monday?

A: Meeno!

Stay updated via Instagram!

Follow the podcast @meenopodcast

Follow Saf @safiya.anika_

Follow Ree @ree__vee

Links to good stuff:

A Catechism for use of the people called Methodists

Heyyy, did you miss us? The only response is yesss. Well, we're back and we brought a special guest (friend of the pod?), Salisha Thomas along. Salisha is a Broadway actress, podcaster and blogger. Saf and Salisha met through Salisha's podcast, Black Hair in the Big Leagues and they've been friends ever since. We are so grateful that Salisha agreed to be our first guest on Meeno and we had a great time chatting with her. Salisha tells us about how she learned to love her hair, moved forward from her "wig-to-wig" days on tour, and developed her 45 minute wash day routine (WHAT?!).

You don't want to miss her great advice on preparing ourselves for roadblocks and chasing dreams, tuning out the noise and focusing on God's voice. Listen, there is so much to take away from this episode and of course we got some singing in at the end! Let us know how you are being intentional about creating joy in your life over on Instagram!

In episode 6, we talked about our (non-existent) love lives, how our experiences have shaped our current approach to relationships and the things we can work on to allow love in. There's a whole lot of wonderful in episode 6 - we laughed and learned, as we should. Go back and catch up if you haven't listened already.

Q: So wa you doin' on Monday?

A: Meeno!

Stay updated via Instagram!

Follow the podcast @meenopodcast

Follow Saf @safiya.anika_

Follow Ree @ree__vee

Links to good stuff:

Follow Salisha @salishathomas

Salisha's Website

Follow Black Hair in the Big Leagues @blackhairpodcast

The Salisha Show Podcast 

Ayo, in this episode, we talking love, a topic where we can honestly say, "Meeno!" The Supremes sang "You can't hurry love, you just have to wait." Well, just waiting hasn't worked out too well for us. So, on this Valentine's Day, we confront how the fairytale we've been sold crumbled in the wake of past experiences, cultural expectations and our reluctance to put ourselves out there. There is so much we discover in this episode: Ree's an avoidant to her core and Saf's door isn't open but if ya knock, ya could come in, ya deaf?!

Don't miss us coming face to face with how much our past experiences affect us and how our actions likely do not match up with our desires in dis ting call love. Finally, we discuss healthy and unhealthy behaviours in relationships and end with hopeful visions of our future love lives.

Take Francesca Hogi's dating archetype quiz and let us know your result on Instagram!

Q: So wa you doin' on Monday?

A: Meeno!

Stay updated via Instagram!

Follow the podcast @meenopodcast

Follow Saf @safiya.anika_

Follow Ree @ree__vee

Links to good stuff:

Dating Archetype Quiz

Dear Franny Podcast 

"We did not start life in a negative partnership with our bodies. There is no baby born not loving who they are." - Sonya Renee Taylor

You're looking in the mirror, pinpointing all the things you want to change. Isn't it crazy how we are conditioned by familial, cultural, societal and capitalist systems to constantly think about how our bodies do not meet "the mark"? Dive deep with us in this episode as we discuss cultivating a healthy body image. We reflect on our relationships with our bodies and the steps we are taking to genuinely love us as we are. Saf introduces us to the must-read book, The Body is not an Apology: The Power of Radical Self-Love and of course, we leave you with some tips for your journey. What are you ready to stop apologizing for? Let us know on Instagram!

In the last episode, Part 2 of Growing up Virgin Islands, we gave a little taste of the glorious food and music we grew up on. We talked about the lyrical genius of fungi music, Caribbean dishes we want to be able to cook, and the influence of V.I. calypso on the Caribbean sound.

Q: So wa you doin' on Monday?

A: Meeno!

Stay updated via Instagram!

Follow the podcast @meenopodcast

Follow Saf @safiya.anika_

Follow Ree @ree__vee

Links to good stuff:

What you need to know about body image 

The Body is not an Apology: The Power of Radical Self-Love by Sonya Renee Taylor

This episode meaty like a Johnny cake should be! Wa we talk bout? We talk about music - fungi, Virgin Islands calypso and the influence of V.I. music on the sound of the wider Caribbean. We talk about Virgin Islands pea soup (sugar or nah?), learning to cook Caribbean and Virgin Islands dishes, and the importance of documenting our culture. What's a cultural dish that you don't enjoy? Let us know on Instagram!

In the last episode, Part 1 of Growing up Virgin Islands, we chatted about family holiday traditions, childhood memories and more. Catch up with Part 1 before you dive into Part 2.

Q: So wa you doin' on Monday?

A: Meeno!

Stay updated via Instagram!

Follow the podcast @meenopodcast

Follow Saf @safiya.anika_

Follow Ree @ree__vee

Follow Adam O and be sure to check out his music: @officialadamo

"We from the Virgin Islands, nah joke, nah play, hear me when ah say!!"-Squad Up 

Hang with your favourite cousin duo, Saf and Ree, as we reminisce about growing up Virgin Islands (V.I.). We talk holiday traditions, family fun, Saf's hostage-taking skills and Ree's not-so-smart escape from a barracuda. You don't want to miss this conversation!

If you grew up in the V.I., did you relate to anything that we shared? Were our memories V.I.-typical? What's your favorite childhood memory (wherever in the world you grew up)? Let us know on Instagram!

In the last episode, we delved deep into the topic of showing up for ourselves. If you feel like you need to get back in touch with the best version of you, episode 2 is a must-listen. We talked about what impedes our ability to show up for ourselves, what we're working on and how we extend grace to ourselves while striving.

Q: So wa you doin' on Monday?

A: Meeno!

Stay updated via Instagram!

Follow the podcast @meenopodcast

Follow Saf @safiya.anika_

Follow Ree @ree__vee

Links to good stuff:

From the Virgin Islands by Squad Up

Caribbean Ecstasy Playlist

Sometimes it's hard to show up for yourself and be intentional about your decisions and actions. Maybe you are fighting with external expectations or living on autopilot. How can you move forward when you feel stuck? In this episode, we talk about what showing up for ourselves looks like and what stops us from doing it consistently. And of course, we celebrate the ways that we do show up and leave you with a few practical tips for your journey. How are you showing up for yourselves this year? We'd love for you to share!

In the last episode, we played 21 questions (or so) for you to get to know us a little better. We talked about dreams, ducks, desert-dry phones and a whole lot more. If you haven't listened to it yet, you should. 

Q: So wa you doin' on Monday?  

A: Meeno!

Stay updated via Instagram! 

Follow the podcast @meenopodcast

Follow Saf @safiya.anika_ 

Follow Ree @ree__vee

Safiya Vanterpool and Rea Vanterpool, your favourite cousin duo, are here with the first episode of Meeno. It's time to meet the us! We play a game of 21 questions +- 5 questions or so. Who's taking shots? What in the world is a daytime duck? How does Saf want to get proposed to? Are coffee beans in danger with Ree around? Listen as we answer questions - from the serious to the silly - and introduce ourselves to the world. 

Did any of our answers surprise you? Let us know over on Instagram.

Thank you for chilling with us this #MeenoMonday. Episode 2 is already live so head over there now, ya deaf?!

Q: So wa you doin' on Monday?

A: Meeno!

Stay updated via Instagram!

Follow the podcast @meenopodcast

Follow Saf @safiya.anika_ 

Follow Ree @ree__vee