Radical Magical Brilliance: Centering The Well-Being of Black Women

In today's episode, I talk about self-care and one of the barriers to it, a lack of healthy internal and external boundaries.

Today's Episode is a special one. It is Mother's Day and today's guest is a dear person to me. Cassandra Lane is a writer, author, mother, wife and beloved friend. In today's episode, our conversation centers on motherhood, creativity and the powerful themes that emerge in her newest memoir, We are Bridges.

Cassandra Lane is author of We Are Bridges (Feminist Press), winner of the Louise Meriwether First Book Prize and Editor-in-Chief of L.A. Parent magazine. She previously worked as a newspaper staff reporter and received an MFA in creative writing from Antioch University LA. A Louisiana native, she lives with her husband and son in Los Angeles.

Sierra Brown is a health and wellness coach particularly obsessed with helping black women (and our loving allies) get out of unmanageable routines and into bodies they love and love them back… for good.

Through her Melanin Well community - she has been able to help 100's of women find freedom in their own revised version of health and wellness.

Music by Gabrilla Ballard

Ahlia is the founder of Little Black Buddha, (LBB) which offers women help in making career transitions and figuring out their next move in their lives and careers. LBB also creates the space to honestly look at the entire picture of one's life by incorporating a life design ethos into the work and programming, advocating wholeness, wellness and a complete sense of self. She is a RYT 200 certified yoga instructor.

Little Black Buddha is currently developing LBB Pathways, which is an App that helps people figure (a) what their transferable skills are and (b) what industries those skills can be used in (c) the opportunity to experiment and prototype different career paths. She is currently holding a crowdfund campaign to raise money to hire developers, please feel free to donate at https://littleblackbuddha.live/pathways.

Ahlia has navigated 5 successful career transitions over a fifteen-year period. Prior to starting Little Black Buddha, she was a Lead Engineer at a Fortune 500 company for 10+ years. Additionally, she is an adjunct professor at Monroe Community College. She has a BS in Electrical Engineering (2001) from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and an MA in Math Education (2009) from the City College of New York. Ahlia is married to a wonderful and supportive partner and most importantly, she is a mother of three beautiful and bright children (4, 9 & 12 years old).

Music produced by Gabrilla Ballard (Urban Mamasong Productions)

Ashley is a "Sexfluencer" whose goal is to help women create more intimate, exciting, fulfilling sex life. She created her personal brand and blog, Sex With Ashley as a tool to help women feel comfortable discussing their sexual desires as well as release all the negative B.S. that holds them back from experiencing the best sex imaginable. Likewise her CBD Sexual Wellness Company, Bedtanicals is on a mission to provide luscious, organic CBD lubrication and increased pleasure to people with vulvas and vaginas.

Rebecca Thompson is an award-winning international political consultant and Clarity Coach who helps high achieving Black womxn transform their lives from the inside out. She has inspired audiences around the world with her story.

"Dr. Danielle Drake is one of those torch bearers, healers, her open hands offering us tools to remember that our worth, wonder, wholeness and humanity is implied. Regardless of those who lack the soul or substance to acknowledge it. Dr. Drake's scholarship and commitment reminds us that the visionary power of those who have come before us is within us and is needed now more than ever."

Danielle Drake, PhD is Associate Professor, Program Chair, and alum of the Counseling Psychology, Expressive Arts Therapy MA program at the California Institute of Integral Studies. She received her PhD in Clinical Psychology from Fielding Graduate University with her dissertation study focused on the use creativity and spirituality among African Americans. As a result of her dissertation research she developed and conducted an initial validation of the Black Spiritual Creativity Scale. Her post-doctoral internship at Rafiki Coalition focuses on holistic health and wellness in the Bayview / Hunters Point community of San Francisco. Dr. Drake's clinical work as an Expressive Arts Therapist engages clients in creative writing, music, and visual arts processes. She uses a liberatory informed theoretical approach that incorporates Womanist (black feminist), and Black/African-centered psychologies with Narrative Therapy, Emotion Focused Therapy, and contemplative practices. Dr. Drake is co-author of book chapter, "Womanism, Creativity and Resistance," published in American Psychological Association publication, "Womanist and Mujerista Psychologies: Voice of Fire, Acts of Courage." In 2018 Dr. Drake hosted a conversation with Angela Davis for CIIS Public Programs on Dr. Davis' life of activism. As a spoken word artist Dr. Drake is a former Oakland Poetry Slam Champion, and author of Cast Iron Life: A collection of poems and recipes.

Now that we have been in this new normal, I wanted to check in. I'm excited to be back.

In celebration and recognition of Earth day, we are sharing a much loved interview with Ree of Fort Negrita, conducted in 2015.

For more on her work, please visit www.fortnegrita.com