Consuming a lot of media content about the USA means we all think we know what the USA and what Americans are like. And whilst many of our pre-conceived notions are positive, some are invariably negative. As an African woman who went to a very liberal university that was critical of US power relations - I was expecting the worst. What I discovered on my first trip to the USA was decidedly different and challenged my own biases.

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Is there an agenda in Hollywood and the wider world to feminize and emasculate black men? Looking at the long roster of back male comedians and actors who have donned women's clothes and make up at some point in their careers (think: Tyler Perry, Martin Lawrence, Eddie Murphy, Dave Chapelle and others) it is easy to see why this belief has made it into black popular culture. But is it actually true?

The soft girl/ soft life era is upon us. Its proponents tell us that grind culture, hustle culture and corporate climbing is an inherently masculine pursuit that leaves women burnt out and out of touch with their core feminine selves. The cure, they say, is to stop the pursuit of money and focus instead on achieving a state of inner peace that can only be attained by a dedication to self-care, relaxation and disengagement from anything and anyone that brings stress. These goals centre around having a male partner that is “masculine” enough to provide financially to afford the woman the option to not work. Tune into this week’s episode to discuss why this lifestyle can only be achieved by above-average earners and why it is therefore an inherently unrealistic pursuit that leaves women equally unsatisfied and vulnerable.

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The old adage is true - there is no such thing as a free lunch. In the case of social media platforms, they may be free at the point of use but that is only because it us who are the products for sale. These platforms harvest our data to study our behaviour and subsequently sell this data to advertisers who in turn target us with carefully curated ads based on our consumer profile. These advertisers then sell our data to other vendors. The consequences are that we never really know which are our own thoughts and which beliefs have been imposed upon us. Tune in to this week’s episode to discuss the perils of living life online.

I'd love to get your feedback and hear your thoughts and comments at [email protected].

This episode dives into the intricacies of workplace relationships and asks the age-old question: Are your colleagues truly your friends? Tune in to explore the blurred lines between professional connections and personal bonds and how these relationships can impact both your career and personal life.

Online content is full of advice on how to meet "the one" and tips on navigating the early stages of relationships. There is less content on what it takes to keep the spark in a long term relationship going. Conventional wisdom tells us being friends with your partner is the most important component in sustaining a relationship. This episode discusses why that is not true and why it is more important to be lovers first, and friends second.

I'd love to get your feedback and hear your thoughts and comments at [email protected].

Intersectionality politics is the acknowledgment that people are complex and that the different facets of who they are impacts their lived experiences in different and complex ways. Within movements and between individual marginalised groups there are shared experiences and goals that binds these groups but, equally, there are power dynamics that cause tensions within and between these marginalised groups. This episode looks at the resistance women have towards the "cisgender" or "cis" label and unpacks why trans people, particularly trans women, need for this label to be adopted in the mainstream.

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Why do we celebrate Christmas? Has the commercialisation of Christmas meant we have lost sight of what makes it special - family time, bonding, togetherness - and made it another occasion for celebrating mindless consumption? Tune in to this week's episode to chat about all the best and worst bits about the Christmas season.

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All that glitters isn't gold. Cassie and P Diddy once upon a time were hiphop royalty and a Hollywood power couple. They were photographed at fancy industry events in expensive jewellery and clothes and always surrounded by lavish luxury. Cassie seemed to be experiencing the princess treatment and we assumed there is nothing that P Diddy wouldn't give her. She was living every woman's fantasy.

That bubble was burst in mid-November 2023 when Cassie filed court documents against P Diddy alleging years of abuse and exploitation. This episode discusses the dark side of being a sugar baby and the tell-tale signs these kinds of relationship are typically always sinister and a prelude for abuse.

I'd love to get your feedback and hear your thoughts and comments at [email protected].

Coach Stormy is a real life rags-to-riches story - from teen mom and former stripper to millionaire entrepreneur. She is now a wealth coach that helps women overcome their limitations to become financially independent. In addition to being a distributor and brand ambassador for TLC - Total Life Changes - she also runs the mentoring organisations Girl Hold My Hand and 1000 Families. But is there more to Coach Stormy's successes? Her detractors call her a scam artist and accuse her of running a pyramid scheme. Tune in to listen to the discourse.

I'd love to get your feedback and hear your thoughts and comments at [email protected].