Back in the studio with experienced mamas: Tameka Kelsey and Jasmine Willis.

We start this episode with the hard question: What does it mean to parent from a place of fear?

As Black mothers we canNOT separate the reality of racial discrimination, racist practices in US police departments, school systems, housing from daily parenting conflicts like lost laundry, dirty rooms, and puberty.

The stress of being a Black mother in the US cannot be underestimated.  It is hard emotional work that canNOT be done successfully without a purposeful village.

While America debates if #CriticalRaceTheory should be taught in school, Black parents are navigating with their children the reality of white supremacy continues to cast a shadow over everyday life.

Talking Mamahood with 2 expert mothers both with more experience in the ‘hood than I. Today I welcome my sister friends Tameka Kelsey (mothering for 27 years) and Jasmine Willis (mothering for 15 years) to the studio.

Although we all came to the motherhood at different points in our lives, not one of us would change our membership.

During this episode we explore our unique journeys through the ‘hood and lessons we’ve learned. As black mothers we raise our kids with fierce determination knowing that both white supremacy and the patriarchy are working diligently against us. Yet despite the odds we celebrate our accomplishments and honor our children.

For more information on Barack Obama’s mama check out “A Singular Woman.”

Welcome to Episode 19!!

Today I welcome back my good friend Jonathan Wynne, founder of Kingdom Concepts. We talk about this journey as an author and consultant. His motivation behind his books and the impact his work has had on communities is inspiring.

I highly recommend you check out his books on parenting which include Impact Parenting: Raising College Ready Kids and Pandemic Parenting: IMPACT Strategies for Success.

For more information about Kingdom Concepts or to order one of Mr. Wynne's books check out his website at https://jonathanwynne.com.

In the studio with me for episode 17 is my good friend and mentor Mr. Jonathan Wynne.

Mr. Wynne is the founder of Kingdom Concepts. He is an author, consultant, coach, minister, and so much more. Whether you have attended one of his parenting workshops or was coached by Mr. Wynne on the basketball court you are aware of the fact that for him people come first.

In this episode I get to have a candid conversation with him about building community through servant leadership by attending to the unique needs of people. It is always a good time speaking with Mr. Wynne.

For more information about Kingdom Concepts or to order one of Mr. Wynne's books check out his website at https://jonathanwynne.com.

Horace HB Sanders is back in the studio with me for our 16th episode.

 HB takes us on a candid view of his journey as a professional comedian.

I appreciate HB's candor and willingness to share life lessons he's picked up along the way. So often people rate your success by your visibility and will judge you as unsuccessful because they 'can't see' your growth.

But the greatest value in this conversation comes from lessons HB learned through his professional community. Everyone wants to be blessed but many don't want to be a blessing.

To follow HB's career and learn how you might hire him as a motivational speaker for your next event, check out his website: www.horacehbsanders.com. 

Today in the studio I invite my good friend Horace HB Sanders.

HB is a professional comedian and community organizer based in Detroit. In this episode we define tenacity being sure to distinguish it from stubbornness. We dive deep into how tenacity has been the gift that set us up for success in the pursuit of life goals even in the face of multiple personal challenges.

We also being a very important conversation about the impact our fathers had on setting us up to follow our unique paths. Talking about Black Fathers is such an important conversation to have publicly because it dispels the negative narrative that so many seem to focus on about the myth of the deadbeat dad in the Black community.

Neither of us took the obvious road but the importance of working to build community is a common thread in our efforts to be of service.

To follow HB's career and learn how you might hire him as a motivational speaker or comedian for your events check out his website: www.horacehbsanders.com

In this episode I welcome Family Nurse Practitioner Tracy Threat. Mrs. Threat is, not only my very good sister friend, she is an amazing health care professional. She helps outline for us who in a medical office is trained to do what so that we know who to ask which questions.

But I'm most excited that she came into the studio to share her journey towards becoming a Family Nurse Practitioner. Her story is confirmation that you can make all the plans you want, however, your plans may not be your calling. When you plans don't align with your calling you may make progress but the path will feel arduous. However, when you get calm and listen you become aware of your calling then your plans begin to align and the path feel almost too easy.

Take a moment and listen to Tracy's story as she evolved from wanting to be a doctor to learning to be a healer. 

This episode's takeaways:
1. Your path is your path and the door is going to open for you.
2. People can only be expected to do what they are trained to day.
3. In everything that you do be a village builder.

Today we welcome Nurse Practitioner Tracy Threat back to the studio.

Mrs. Threat is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to health care management, not just for her patients but she is what many would call a nurse's nurse. In this episode, she shares with us the most critical element of professionalism for a health care professional - listening.

Learning how to listen is critical in all best practice models. When we learn how to listen whether we are nurses, social workers, lawyers, post master generals, or Boy Scout leaders we are better equipped to support the communities we have agreed to serve.

Let's talk essential support, listening, and of course village building with my very good friend, Nurse Practitioner Tracy Threat.

If you need health care and don't know where to turn, follow Mrs. Threat advice and apply: https://www.usa.gov/medicaid. 

In this episode I reflect on the impact the Covid 19 Pandemic has had on us as individuals, in our families and our communities.

Seeking support to integrate the many ways that you have been traumatized or triggered by the pandemic is critical to your personal health and healing. There are so many resources available to all of us to help navigate the emotional, social, and mental isolation we've all felt.

Research proves that prolonged social isolation can lead to adverse health consequences including: depression, poor sleep quality, impaired executive function*, accelerated cognitive** decline, poor cardiovascular function, and impaired immunity. 

I am recommending that every human who has survived the Covid 19 Pandemic access a therapeutic relationship in order to process their experiences. The therapeutic relationship you choose to debrief the impact the pandemic has had on you could be

• One on One Therapy with a licensed mental health professional.
• Joining a therapeutic group for support to process the impact the pandemic has had on your life.

Create a plan to get familiar again with socialization. Your plan should allow you to slowly re-emerge into the social world. Jumping directly into socialization may not work for you.

• Participating in community forums to process and learn more about the ways that the pandemic has impacted your social, emotional, and mental well being.
• Locating an activity group that will help you process the experience, learn a new skill or reacquaint yourself with a social community.

To locate a therapist near you check out:
www.therapyforblackmen.org
www.therapyforblackgirls.com
www.therapyforblackkids.org


*Executive functioning is a set of mental skills that include working memory, flexible thinking and self control.

**Cognition is the mental action or process of acquiring knowledge and understanding through thought, experience, and the senses.

In this episode, my 13 year old son joins me in the studio to talk pandemic quarantine and what life has been like from March 2020 - March 2021.

The Coronavirus Pandemic deeply impacted us all. It's important that we each have critical conversations with our loved ones about the way our nation's response to the pandemic has altered our daily lives.

I get to talk with my son about his thoughts and feelings with being in a slow down with me, his mom, for 13 months. He has permission to be honest about his feelings and I get the opportunity to listen and hear what he has to say.

If you are struggling with how to talk with your kids about their experiences here are a few tools that I think are wonderful:

Around the Table Games Family Talk Portable Meaning Conversation Starters
How to Talk So Kids will Listen & Listen so Kids will Talk Audiobook