In this powerful episode of Soulful Expressions: Love, Light & Wisdom. The hosts sit down with Certified Dietitian/Nutritionist and public health advocate Denise Chapel for a heartfelt conversation about food, wellness, and community healing. From WIC programs and food deserts to chronic illness, mental health, gardening, and the importance of teaching children healthy habits early, Denise shares decades of wisdom from her work in nutrition and public health.

The conversation also explores kidney health, sustainable eating, community gardens, breast milk advocacy, and how food choices impact generations. Filled with practical advice, personal stories, laughter, and real talk about health in communities of color, this episode is both informative and deeply inspiring for anyone interested in nutrition, wellness, public health, and healthy living.

In this inspiring episode, host Eugenia sits down with Los Angeles realtor and community advocate Kashana Moncrief Williams to discuss how homeownership can become a reality for college students and young professionals. A graduate of California State University, Northridge, Kashana shares her personal journey from investing in her first property to owning multiple homes and mentoring students on the path to financial independence.

Through her partnership with CSUN, Kashana is helping students understand the power of real estate, financial literacy, credit management, down payment assistance programs, creative financing, and wealth-building strategies that are often missing from traditional education. She explains how homeownership can create long-term financial security, generational wealth, and opportunities for future success.

Joined by educator and community leader Dr. Helen P. Young, the discussion explores mentorship, legacy, collaboration, and the importance of equipping young people with the knowledge to make informed financial decisions.

This episode is filled with practical advice, real-life experiences, and valuable insights for students, parents, first-time homebuyers, aspiring investors, and anyone interested in building wealth through real estate.

✨ Discover how education, ownership, and opportunity can transform lives and create lasting legacies for generations to come.

In this flavorful episode of Soulful Expressions, we sit down with Devonna, proud owner of Butter Bakery in Pasadena, to talk about what it really means to bake with heart.

For three and a half years, Devonna has built her bakery around one simple idea: go back to the way Grandma used to do it. No shortcuts. No mixes. Just real ingredients, time-honored recipes, and everything made from scratch — every single time. As a dedicated “Sweets Specialist,” her mission is to provide fresh, homemade desserts for every occasion, whether it’s a family gathering, a community event, or a simple craving for something comforting.

Butter Bakery has become known for its rich, nostalgic flavors and standout cookies like the fan-favorite “Crownies,” classic Old Fashioned Oatmeal, and indulgent Brown Butter Toffee. Each treat carries that familiar taste that takes you back to childhood kitchens and Sunday dinners.

But this story is about more than desserts. As a small, locally owned Pasadena business, Butter Bakery shows up for the community — supplying baked goods for local events, lunches, and celebrations throughout the area. Devonna shares the ups and downs of entrepreneurship, the importance of staying consistent, and why quality will always matter more than quantity.

If you love homemade baked goods, food culture, and stories about turning passion into purpose, this episode will leave you inspired — and probably craving a cookie.

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In this powerful episode of Soulful Expressions, we sit down with Dr. Helen P. Young—educator, counselor, administrator, and equity-driven leader with more than 25 years of experience in higher education. From her early days at California State University, Dominguez Hills to her doctoral journey at San Diego State University, Dr. Young has dedicated her career to expanding access, strengthening transfer pathways, and transforming outcomes for historically underrepresented students.

As former Project Director of the California Community College Transfer Guarantee to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Dr. Young shares how HBCU transfer partnerships are creating life-changing opportunities for community college students across California. She unpacks the power of representation, faculty diversity, and equity-centered leadership in closing achievement gaps and improving student success.

We also explore Pipelines to Possibilities (P2P)—the innovative internship and faculty pipeline program she co-founded to recruit, hire, and retain diverse tenured faculty within the California Community College system. Designed to strengthen HBCU partnerships and build a more inclusive academic workforce, P2P is helping change the face of higher education through intentional collaboration, proactive recruitment, and equity-driven programming.

This conversation offers insight, inspiration, and strategy from a woman who is reshaping systems from the inside out.

Tune in for a powerful discussion on higher education reform, Black academic excellence, and building sustainable pipelines from community colleges to HBCUs and beyond.

In this episode of Soulful Expressions, we explore the soul of Black music, its roots, how it has shaped and its impact on culture, and where its sound and influence are moving next.

We’re joined by Aysaman, music producer and founder of Carbon Bluprint, LLC, and khamal., artist and producer, for an honest conversation on the evolution of Black music—from spirituals, rhythm & blues and soul to hip-hop, trap, and the art of sampling. They break down how the sound has changed over time, but the message and the spirit behind it still carry weight.

We also get into the bigger picture: how Black music shapes global culture, how it’s often commodified, and what it means to stay authentic in an industry driven by trends, algorithms, and profit.

If you care about music, culture, creativity, and the stories behind the sound, this episode is for you.

Press play and tap into the conversation.

We sit down with filmmaker, storyteller, and community activist Craig Becton Jr. for an in-depth conversation about the powerful journey behind his creative movement, Act Loud. Born in Southeast San Diego, Craig shares how he overcame addiction, homelessness, trauma, and years of instability—turning his personal struggles into a mission rooted in healing, empowerment, and bold self-expression.

Craig breaks down how Act Loud became a platform dedicated to amplifying voices, authentic storytelling, mental health awareness, and real narratives of resilience often erased or ignored in mainstream media. He opens up about rebuilding his life through sobriety, teaching himself filmmaking, and using digital storytelling to highlight community strength, cultural truth, and everyday triumphs.

This episode offers powerful insights on personal transformation, creative entrepreneurship, recovery, self-empowerment, excellence, and the inner work required to rise from rock bottom.

Craig’s journey is a testament to what’s possible when you speak your truth, trust your voice, and choose to Act Loud.

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In this powerful episode of Soulful Expressions, Eugenia, Koko and Aunt Mae sit down with legendary broadcast journalist and talk show host Carl Nelson, whose groundbreaking broadcasting career spans more than five decades. Beginning in 1971 at WYNT Radio in New York City, Nelson went on to work with Inner City Broadcasting’s WLIB and WBLS before becoming News Director at Stevie Wonder’s KJLH Radio in Los Angeles.

Carl made history as the first reporter to interview Nelson Mandela on the eve of his release from prison in 1990 and was the only journalist allowed across police lines during the 1991 Rodney King riots, coverage that earned KJLH a Peabody Award, NAACP Image Award, Golden Mike, and multiple press honors.

Throughout his career, Nelson has interviewed world leaders, U.S. presidents, civil rights icons, and cultural legends—including Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, Jesse Jackson, Maxine Waters, Oprah Winfrey, Prince, Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones, Muhammad Ali, and many more. Named News Director of the Year by Black Radio Exclusive Magazine, Carl Nelson continues to shape public discourse as host of a four-hour daily news program on WOL 95.9 FM & 1450 AM in Washington, D.C., syndicated in Baltimore.

This episode is a masterclass in radio journalism, Black media history, and broadcasting excellence.

In this episode, Soulful Expressions hosts Eugenia, Koko, Aunt Mae along with with talk show host Carl Nelson sit down with Hiram Sims — Poet, Professor, and founder of the Community Literature Initiative. Born and raised in South Central LA, Hiram shares how his personal experiences shaped his passion for storytelling, community, and creating space for Black voices in literature.

We talk about his recent appointment as a Library Board Commissioner for the Los Angeles Public Library system, what it means to him, and what he hopes to bring to the role. Hiram also reflects on starting California’s first Black-owned poetry library, the growth of the Community Literature Initiative, and why representation in libraries matters more than ever.

This conversation is honest, grounded, full of heart, and a look at how purpose, poetry, along with public service can come together to spark real change.