Self-Regard

Akili King, the Beauty Editorial Assistant and writer at Vogue Magazine, is a 25-year-old graduate of the NYU Gallatin School of Individualized Studies, where she focused on Creative Writing, Africana Studies, and Journalism, along with a French Minor. She was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, until she moved to Paris for her freshman year of college for the NYU Paris program. She is currently based in Brooklyn, New York. Her writing covers the spheres of beauty, wellness, and culture, and her bylines can be seen in the likes of Milk Makeup, Fashion Fair and DRØME. She writes the weekly column Best Beauty Instagrams of the Week for Vogue where she aims to push the envelope of what beauty is considered to be. Her newest series, Texture Diaries, gives space to Black women in the industry to celebrate and affirm their beauty.

Akili is passionate about poetry, film, screenwriting, yoga, and pole dancing. Her poetry can be found in her book, Awakening. She started writing when she was 5 years old. As she grew up, she gained a fascination for the world of beauty and reading magazines– but noticed there were rarely diverse images represented in either spheres. Starting in college, she was inspired to be a part of changing that. Her mission is to continue writing meaningful pieces– through a beauty and wellness lens– that uplift those who don’t often feel seen in the media.

Follow @wokebeauty @rileyblanks @akili_

Read Texture Diaries: https://www.vogue.com/tag/franchise/texture-diaries

Explore more on Woke Beauty: https://www.wokebeauty.com

25:49 // Tweet from Erica Williams Simon: “Best career advice that I can give: Don't ever attach yourself to a person, a place, a company, an organization or a project. Attach yourself to a mission, a calling, a purpose ONLY. That's how you keep your power & your peace. It's worked pretty well for me thus far.”

37:47 // Ancestral healing expert: Ash Johns, @ashinspires

Authors:

Nikki Giovani 

Sonya Sanchez

Don Miguel Ruiz

Podcasts:

So What Do You Do Again

Naked Beauty 

Next in Line

Akili’s advice:

don’t be afraid to take up space, set your boundaries and attach yourself to purpose

beauty is an internal harmony

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A continuation of part 1; Kim elaborates on the ingredients of Skimdo - literally and figuratively. We get a beautiful, generous peek into business ownership, branding, adult healing and pivoting on your toes despite a pandemic.

Explore more about Woke Beauty: www.wokebeauty.com

Learn more about SKIMDO: www.skimdo.com

Follow @rileyblanks @wokebeauty @skimdo

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For Kimberley Cowans, the bi-racial identity crisis came in waves. A trip to Brazil aged 17 changed the way she saw her curly hair forever, and after wave number two hit, she left architecture to start the cult indie haircare brand SKIMDO. 

When you’re Russian and Jamaican, born in London and raised in Thailand, things are anything but smooth. (Well, everything but the hair.)

Explore more about Woke Beauty: http://www.wokebeauty.com

Learn more about SKIMDO: https://www.skimdo.com/

Follow @rileyblanks @wokebeauty @skimdo

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Just a heads up, to focus on quality over quantity content, I’ll be posting episodes once weekly on Wednesdays. Thank you so much for supporting us. It means the world!

Today’s guest, Laolu Onabanjo, is a Nigerian-American travel blogger, model and food connoisseur. She has visited 18 countries and boasts that the most equally expensive and cheapest thing she owns is a piece of paper from Tufts University that says she studied Political Science for 4 years. Laolu is passionate about mental health, physical well being, feminism, fashion, culture and of course…food. Humility and charity keep her humble while food criticism keeps her busy. She currently hosts and produces a show, Girls v. Food, where she converses with unique individuals about their path to success as a means of progressing their hobbies into financially successful careers. She believes, if you take ownership over your life, you can live on your own terms. 

Explore more on Woke Beauty

Learn more about Laolo Onabanjo

Follow @rileyblanks, @wokebeauty, @lifeabanjo

Watch Girls v Food

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Listen to Riley elaborate on the language she's discovered to take care of herself in a way that's nurturing, fortifying and plentiful.

Resources:

Getting Clear, Body Work for Women

All About Love, Bell Hooks

Explore more at www.wokebeauty.com

Follow @wokebeauty and @rileyblanks

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Liv Hadden is a clarity guide, graphic designer, uninhibited dancer, the author of Get Your Joy On: Unleash Joy in Your life, One Small Action at a Time and the host of Self-Aware Millennial, the podcast and community for people seeking a joyously authentic life. She is an award-wining fiction author and entrepreneur and has acquired a variety of skills and experiences that allow her to explore personal leadership on a deep and spiritual level. Liv’s purpose and passion in life is to help others wake up to all of the magic in the world, especially the unique brand of magic you carry inside yourself. 

Today, we touch on a really interesting dynamic: what does it mean to feel black but present white? Liv Hadden’s journey through identity, trauma and self actualization is deeply layered and will leave you feeling enlightened. 

Notable tattoos: Know Thyself, The Time Will Pass Anyway

Explore more on Woke Beauty at: http://wokebeauty.com

Learn more about Self-Aware Millennial at: https://selfawaremillennial.com/

Follow @wokebeauty and @rileyblanks

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Elaine Almeida is an artist and scholar deeply interested in healing, race and tenderness. A doctoral student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, her work asks, "what are the public realities of pleasure in marginalized bodies: how is it practiced, how is it stolen, and how does liberation reimagine these realities?” She extends this through her artistic practice, where her axiom "strength in tenderness" guides her work. Prints and tattoos can be found across the globe. 

I interviewed Elaine last summer in her cozy studio apartment just before she received her graduate degree from the University of Texas. When we met, Elaine had hired me for a Woke Beauty session. Our initial consultation revealed that we would be friends and this past February I hired her on as associate producer for Woke Beauty. Elaine is truly a rare soul. Every time I hear her I learn something. And I guarantee you will too.

Explore more on Woke Beauty at https://www.wokebeauty.com

Learn more about Elaine Almeida at https://www.almeidaagain.com/

Follow @wokebeauty @rileyblanks @almeidaagain

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Today’s guest, Heather Gallagher, is a Chinese American family photojournalist and birth and death doula. 

Heather speaks frankly and transparently about her experiences as a biracial CODA (Child of Deaf Adult) and how this has inspired and informed her work as a witness and emotional support person to individuals and families in all transitions in life. Heather's work serves to make all people feel seen and heard without judgement, hold a mirror up to current social structures and question the status quo. 

I interviewed Heather last summer on her couch in her lovely home with her pup nearby and a set of chimes just outside her front door. We lingered on her work, her family and her unique lens on all things life.

Explore more on Woke Beauty at: http://wokebeauty.com

Learn more about Heather Gallagher at http://heathergallagherphotography.com/

Follow @wokebeauty @rileyblanks @lifesaspectrum @hg_editorial

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Born in LA, but raised in a suburb of Detroit, April began calling Austin home in 2008. Her background is in Fine Art and Graphic Design, but she knew that her real passion would lead to a career in hair. At 26 years old, April put herself through Cosmetology school and graduated from Avenue Five Institute, a Vidal Sassoon partner school. April considers herself a Texture Specialist, meaning she can work with an array of hair types, from very straight to extremely curly, and particularly loves Balayage, Color Corrections and creating new shapes for anyone that sits in her chair. One of her clients coined her, “the Curl Whisperer” and it has stuck. 

In this episode, we discuss all kinds of topics from conquering bodily pain to attending school while working full time; from afro culture to money management. April is endearing and grounded. Though incredibly talented, what sets her apart in the realm of hair is her will to work hard and her genuine desire to make others happy.

Explore more on Woke Beauty at: http://wokebeauty.com

Follow @wokebeauty, @rileyblanks and @torriyatesorr on Instagram.

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Torri Yates-Orr is an Emmy nominated on-camera host/producer and history communicator based in Nashville. Her mission is to make history education engaging, entertaining and accessible for the public. She's the host of the Skeleton Keys Podcast and her history lessons can be found on twitter and instagram at @torriyatesorr. 

In this conversation, we dive deep on Torri’s identity and family makeup. With candor and transparency, she describes her path to a career in media and how she's braved the industry. We talk about today's racial climate, what freedom really means and how anger can move mountains.

Explore more on Woke Beauty at: https://wokebeauty.com

Follow @wokebeauty, @rileyblanks and @torriyatesorr on Instagram.

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