The Color Shift

In a world that wants folks to constantly be "doing", it can be hard to give ourselves space to exist. To just be. Sometimes dropping all the tasks that make us “go go go” can make us feel anxious. As Black women, being "strong" and “resilient” is so deeply embedded in how others see and describe us, that it can slowly become something that keeps us from being our most authentic selves. Learning how “to be'' is a part of the journey. It takes practice and it takes time. Join me and the amazing Laura Cathcart Robbins as we journey together and have a candid conversation around releasing the burden of “doing” and allowing ourselves “to be”. 

Meet the Artist: Laura Cathcart-Robbins

Laura Cathcart Robbins is an author, freelance culture writer, mom, podcast host and accomplished speaker. As the host of the popular podcast, The Only One In The Room, Laura aims to inspire a change of perspective in how we all see and hear each other's stories. The title of her podcast was inspired by her now viral article in which she speaks about being the only black woman at a writer's retreat. Laura is also the author of the upcoming memoir 'Stash' an addiction memoir set during nine months of her life. She is a frequent contributor to HuffPo where she writes about addiction, recovery and her experience living as a black woman in America.

Listen in as Laura shares:

• How labels keep us and other folks from being
• Why the idea of "just being" sometimes creates anxiety.
• How talking about anxiety helps to destigmatize it
• Why sometimes being the only one in the room can be a burden
• All about her memoir (and what it can teach us about enduring)
• How she got her spark back with writing
•  The different approach to writing her memoir that made the process cathartic 
• Her lessons on: faith, choosing happiness and learning to love herself even without the hope of change.

Connect with Laura:

Want to learn more about Laura and her Podcast? Find more here

Check out her viral HuffPost article 

Follow her on Twitter: @LauraCRobbins

Connect on LinkedIn: Laura Cathcart Robbins 

Follow her on Instagram @lauracathcartrobbins

Connect with me

Sharing your message, your unique contribution to the world, can be a powerful thing. It can also be a grey and vulnerable unfolding that often asks us to sit with the parts of us that are hurting, to take our time. This is the part of the journey we call LIFE. Whether you're shouting it from the rooftops or speaking it in a whisper that only you can hear, your message matters simply because it is yours. Today's guest is someone that is deep in their journey of uncovering and rediscovering who they are. In this episode, I am honored to be coloring with the multi-passionate Ronni Hill. Join Ronni and I for an open and vulnerable conversation on her journey to claiming her message, how she is learning to make space for her multiple interests, the power of re-exploring her creativity and why now more than ever it is important for Women of Color, especially Black Women to put their message and their voice out there.

Meet the Artist: Ronni

Ronni Hill is a Southern-based multi-passionate creative. She describes herself as an empath, intuitive, dreamer, rebel and an overall curious person. Ronni is a podcast manager who is all about assisting visionary CEOs with producing the shows that they love. She is currently passionate about providing Done in a Day solutions for new podcasters, experienced hosts, and even CEOs with teams that manage their show. In her spare time, she can be found learning something new about her personality or finding ways to test new creative techniques. 

Listen in as Ronni shares:

• Why she feels like she's still figuring stuff out (and how she's learning to navigate it)
• How her  inner child healing has taught her that what she has to say really matters
• Some insight on how she is learning to try new things despite fear
• How she is embracing her multi-passionate journey and how this has led to self-acceptance 
• Her journey in reclaiming her creativity 
• Why it's important to ask yourself if you are where you want to be
• The life experience that allowed her to make space for things that light her up
• Her biggest life lesson thus far

A special and heartfelt thank you to Ronni for embodying and embracing all the parts of her. You are truly an inspiration.

Connect with Ronni:

Connect on LinkedIn

Find her on Facebook 

Follow her on Instagram @ronnihill

Email her at: [email protected]

Connect with me

It can be hard to trust that every step you take in your journey has a purpose. It can be even harder to believe everything you release along the way is taking you closer and closer towards alignment. That it is all a part of the process. The flexibility, the honesty, the ability to surrender and believe everything will work out in the end. It all takes practice but you can do it! As an artist, creative, or entrepreneur, trust is the foundation of your work. It is an essential part of becoming. Today's guest Sasha Huff teaches us a valuable lesson on trusting and believing in your work and yourself. Join Sasha and I as we journey through our relationship with trust. Tune in to hear more about why we should trust our identities even as they shift, the value of surrendering to endings and the power of trusting yourself to start and become

something new.

Meet the Artist: Sasha

Sasha Huff is a visual artist, podcast editor, radio veteran and Aries living in Los Angeles California. From a young age, her art teacher mother brought creativity into her life. She loves to explore texture and color, with the intention of her feelings transforming on the canvas. Her goal with her art is to show people that creativity is a valid commitment. That making art isn’t just a hobby (although it absolutely can be), and is worthy of your time. She hopes that her art can inspire the creative inside of you yearning to come out! In the podcasting space, Sasha helps podcasters launch and manage their podcasts. She is also the founder of Women Who Podcast (Or Want To). A free Facebook community for anyone who identifies as a womxn and is interested or part of the podcasting community.

Listen in as Sasha shares:

• Her journey to getting more comfortable claiming her identity as an artist 
• How trust has shown up in her life as an artist and why she believes it's one of the core foundations of her work
• Ways that trust has helped her work through feelings of worthiness
• A lesson in flexibility: why it's okay to steer away from your original ideas
• The career change that got her into podcasting and empowered her to become a full time artist 
• Why it's important to go where the energy flows and let things settle themselves 
• The value of allowing all of ourselves to co-exist and surrendering to journeys that have come to an end
• How our intuition can guide us as we learn to trust
• And so much more!

Connect with Sasha:

Learn more about the amazing Sasha Huff

Interested in buying her art? Find it here

Follow her on Instagram:

As we grow and step into our most aligned selves and navigate life’s obstacles, our voice evolve to reflect who and where we are. This can be a scary thing as times of change and transition are often gray, but we must learn to sit in the silence and find comfort and trust in the unknown. This stillness can allow us to use our voice in ways that truly fulfill us and give our lives purpose. The journey to finding our voice is just that, a journey. And as it unfolds, it brings you closer to your true self. On today's episode, I colored with Shaunda Head, CEO or Dope and Different®. Join us as we journey through finding your voice in times of change, leaving room for your voice to evolve, and why life is about bringing your voice to the masses.

Meet Shaunda:

Shaunda Head is an Atlanta-based Creative who is all about authentic self expression. She is a brand strategist and digital marketer who helps women align ALL THE THINGS so their brand message can impact more powerfully. In addition to building strategies, Shaunda also teaches various workshops on aligning your branding and marketing in a way that benefits your full brand system. With 16 years of experience in brand design, marketing, communications, and business design for various global companies, Shaunda's main mission is to teach women how to turn their powerful stories into impactful branding. Tune in to listen to her journey!

Join Shaunda and I as we talk about:

• Navigating her life and business while caring for her grandmother with Alzheimers
• How her life has changed after her grandmother's passing 
• The evolution of her voice and how she learned that it is powerful 
• Learning to adjust as you shift and evolve
• The value of not having any answers and sitting in the unknowing 
• How leaning into her differences changed her business
• How listening to her intuition has put her in alignment with her life purpose 

Connect with Shaunda:

Website: https://www.shh-creative.com/

Facebook: SHH Creative LLC

Instagram: @shhcreative

Email: [email protected]

Connect with me

Podcast website:  www.headphonesandcrayons.com

Coloring Community: www.colorfullifecommunity.com

What does it mean to amplify your voice and message? To stand in what you believe in unapologetically, whole,and aligned. To give yourself permission to question what you are doing and to resist moving through the world passively. To ask yourself why and be open to hearing and receiving the answer. Today's guest, the vibrant and fiery Mia Francis-Poulin truly embodies the essence of fearless self amplification. Tune into our insightful coloring session where we talk life lessons, ethical marketing, and the power of standing in your truth.

Meet the Artist: Mia

Words are Mia Francis-Poulin's jam. A conversion copywriter, native New Orleanian, and Parks and Rec enthusiast, Mia (along with her team of dedicated copywriters and content strategists) helps online business owners to find the right words to market their products confidently — and without the sleaze. She's the CEO and Copywriter-in-Chief of The Copy Haus -- the one-stop, flat-rate copywriting subscription for businesses that want to market their message authentically, ethically, and profitably. 

Listen in as Mia shares:

• What color she would be and why
• How the theme of amplification is showing up in her life right now.
• The burn out she experienced that led to a more ethically aligned business model
• What Ethical Marketing is and the three tenets it is based on
• What is next for her and the color that comes to mind as she moves forward 
• Three greatest lessons in her life and business 
• And so much more!

Connect with Mia

Follow her on Instagram: @mia_the_marketer

Find her on LinkedIn:  Mia Francis Poulin

Check out The Copy Haus, the go to if you a business owner looking for a custom, hands on, and ethical copywriting service.

Check out Mia' podcast The Money, Marketing and Mission Show, available on all major podcast listening sites.

Connect with me

Podcast website:  www.headphonesandcrayons.com

Coloring Community: www.colorfullifecommunity.com

Follow me on Instagram:

I often speak about alignment and about the flow that comes with embodying your purpose, but the journey to alignment can be long and confusing with all sorts of unexpected twists and turns. How do you know when you are truly aligned? What do you look for? What does it feel like? A common misconception about alignment is that it is always easy, always smooth. If I'm being honest, alignment comes with a lot of unexpected and sometimes difficult shit and it's ALL a part of the journey. Today's guest is the perfect example of how complex and dynamic the journey towards alignment can be. Join Bethany Hawkins and I as we talk about her journey to alignment  and why it's important for Women of Color to take up space and build community throughout.

Meet The Artist: Bethany

Bethany Hawkins is a Mom, wife, entrepreneur,CEO, and an award winning podcaster. As the CEO and founder of Crackers In Soup, a premier podcast management company, Bethany has made it her mission to assist women podcast hosts that need the best "F" word known in the English Language: FREEDOM. As a co-host on the award winning podcast Chatting Over Chowder, she provides space for women in the podcasting industry to talk about their experiences. Bethany has dedicated her life to making sure that women, especially women of color take up space and get their voices heard. Join the hilarious Bethany and I as we speak about our journeys and what they have taught us about alignment.

Listen in as Bethany and I share:

• The colors that represent her and her business
• One factor that will help you identify if what you are doing is in alignment
• The experience that shaped Bethany's views on who she works with.
• Common misconceptions about alignment and how "mistakes" can put you back on your path
• How being in alignment helps you deliver your message
• Why it's important to use our voices as Women of Color
• Ways to persevere, re-align and tap into your own power in a white male dominated space such as podcasting 
• The importance of community and why the bonds we form as WOC are sacred

COLLECTIVE ACTION. COLLECTIVE VOICES. | Join the women’s podcasting movement. #ClaimPodParity.

This episode was created and published to encourage and bring light to the women’s podcasting movement. Join us to amplify the equity movement as we showcase an incredible slate of women in podcasting under the powerful canopy: #ClaimPodParity. Look for posts, blogs, tweets, and more as we grow louder, bolder and brighter. Use it again and again as we join together in collective action to make our collective voice heard. 

https://libsyn.com/claimpodparity

Connect with Bethany

Learn more about Crackers In Soup:

Being able to use our voices can sometimes come with a lot of obstacles. Finding the ability within us to wield and embody our voice requires practice and uncomfortability. It is hard but not impossible. Our voices are powerful and through them we can create new ways of being that truly awaken not only us but the people around us. Today's guest is a testament of the power you can access when you tap into your voice. Join Elsie Escobar and I for a deeply grounding coloring session where we uncover Elsie's journey of embodying and embracing her own voice, how the voice can be a transformational tool and how it is all connected.

Meet the Artist: Elsie

Elsie Escobar is a mom, podcasting pundit, educator and O.G that has been using her podcast industry know-how to amplify and uplift marginalized voices within the podcasting space. As one of the co-founders of She Podcasts, the largest community for women in the podcasting industry, she aims to ensure that women keep telling and sharing their stories with the world. She is also one of the first indie female podcasters and used audio to teach yoga. Her work exists on the intersection of tech, digital media and holistic living. Tune in to listen to Elsie's journey and learn how she learned that her voice is a source of power.

Listen in as Elsie shares:

• The lost item that served as a lesson on grace 
• How she sets herself up for success when performing tasks as a neuro divergent person 
• What My Voice is Power means to her 
• Her belief that voice is an embodied experience and what that means
• How she has learned to use her voice within the podcasting world 
• Methods of using podcasting as a tool for self-transformation
• Ways that podcasters can find alignment 
• How intuition plays a big part in podcasting and the lessons listening to it can teach you.
• And so much more!

COLLECTIVE ACTION. COLLECTIVE VOICES. | Join the women’s podcasting movement. #ClaimPodParity.

This episode was created and published to encourage and bring light to the women’s podcasting movement. Join us to amplify the equity movement as we showcase an incredible slate of women in podcasting under the powerful canopy: #ClaimPodParity. Look for posts, blogs, tweets, and more as we grow louder, bolder and brighter. Use it again and again as we join together in collective action to make our collective voice heard. 

https://libsyn.com/claimpodparity

Connect with Elsie

To work with Elsie, check out her website: www.elsieescobar.com/

Follow her on: 

Welcome to the first episode of the Headphones and Crayons podcast. A space to journey with creatives, podcasters, and entrepreneurs. Tune in to listen to amazing human beings have heartfelt, vulnerable, and sometimes hilarious conversations all while they color! Join us every other week as we share all about where we are on our journeys. Welcome to the COLORFULL life!

A little bit about me:

I am Nikita Burks-Hale. If I could use some words to describe myself, I would probably say that I am a journeyer in every sense of the word and my life reflects that. I am a mom of two littles, a wife, and an entrepreneur. I am also a podcaster and a creative at heart. I am so humbled and honored to have been called to create this space. Coloring has always been an immense source of healing for me. A way to slow down, silence the noise, and just be. This is a space created for folks to let down their guard, color, and connect through authentic conversations. My hope is that this is a space you can tune into to witness the colorful journey between two humans. I hope that it brings insight, resonance, and a sense of belonging. 

In this episode I share:

• The colors that resonate with me and my journey right now
• Some of the ways that coloring was a huge part of my healing journey (and ways that it can help other folks)
• How Headphones and Crayons came to be (and how everything clicked)
• Why a space like this is important and why this is more than just a podcast.
• My hopes for the podcast and the coloring movement altogether
• So much more (all while coloring of course!)

For more information about the podcast including being a guest, leaving feedback, and of course, listening to the most recent episodes, visit www.headphonesandcrayons.com

For more information about the Colorfull Life Community visit www.colorfullifecommunity.com

 Connect with me

Podcast website:  www.headphonesandcrayons.com

Coloring Community: www.colorfullifecommunity.com

Instagram: @journeyGurlMagic

LinkedIn: Nikita Burks-Hale

Welcome to headphones and crayons, a colorful journey for the everyday human. I'm your host and Chief Coloring Officer Nikita Burks-Hale. Join me as I journey through life with creatives, entrepreneurs, and podcasters from around the world while coloring. Coloring is a powerful and important tool that allows us to let down our guard and open up ourselves to authentic conversations, new insights, and new perspective shifts.

Who would have thought that was possible while coloring? But it is and that is exactly what we're going to do. So join us, tune in, and let's talk, color and journey together. Let the exploration begin. Happy coloring.

In order to do the work, it is necessary for you to first know who you are. On today's episode, we journey through questions to consider and things to think about as you figure out who you are.

Past Episodes Mentioned:

Episode 14 - The Journey To Your Inner Voice

Episode 28 - Who Are You Traveling With? Who is In Your Passenger Seat?

Let's continue this conversation over in our free private FB Group JourneyGurl Magic