This live conversation was recorded in August. Yes, that matters. Because by the time this video reaches you, all of us have already evolved. Growth be growing.In this episode, I’m joined by Varsey Laurelle and Rachael Pinckney of Columbus, Ohio for a real, unscripted conversation about becoming our favorite versions of ourselves; not the marketable kind, but the honest, embodied, still-unfolding kind.We dig into:-Self-care beyond the buzzwords-Unapologetic aging and earned wisdom-Mental health and identity-Entrepreneurship and creative leadership-Parenting, boundaries, and becoming-What it means to keep changing and let that be okaySomewhere in the middle, we joked that by the time this episode uploaded, we’d be completely different people. We were right. Still, the wisdom holds. The laughter holds. The honesty holds.This episode is irreverent, funny, tender, and expansive. Equal parts insight and wildcard energy. If you love conversations that feel like truth-telling with friends (and a mic), this one’s for you.👇🏾 Find Varsey Laurelle & Rachael Pinckney here:https://varseylaurelle.com/https://viragoconsultingllc.com/✨ Like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations at the intersection of culture, healing, and becoming.

Take some time and enjoy this vibrant conversation with Lindsey Alice; Author, Yogi, Mother, Wife, Poet, Professional, Creative. We discuss her new book F*ck It, Thankfully. In Lindsey's words, this book is not about fixing you, it's about freeing you. 

Our conversation takes many turns around the emotional landscape of being committed to personal growth and shadow work, creating healthy boundaries, and choosing what does Right Relationship look like when friends and chosen family are not committed to growth. There is a lot of wisdom in this episode and in this book. 

Have a seat. Drink your coffee. Do  a yoga meditation. And listen in as we unpack gratitude, surrender, and healing in this episode. 

Find Lindsey Alice on her website https://lindseyalicewrites.com/. You can find all you need to connect with her in the ways that make sense. 

Be gentle with yourselves and be gentle with each other!

This conversation is with some of the most talented, creative, rigorous, discipline, loving group of women. Qamil is the founder and CEO of SoulDope Entertainment amongst plenty of other things. Dear Ms. Stevi is a corporate baddie who is finding her niche is stepping forward as an incredible hostess, poetess, and event producer. Tiffany Mariie is a corporate administrative dream as well as a songstress and poetess and creator of creative and inclusive spaces. 

This was an honor to spend this time with them. They are gifts and I can't wait for you to listen in and hear the real about the current landscape of Columbus, Ohio Black art, navigating public and forward facing fame and visibility, what does restoration look like, and healing. This was a soul searching quest of a podcast. If you are trying to juggle all the responsibilities and maintain sanity and joy while doing so...this is the podcast episode for you. 

IG and YouTube Handles: 

Qamil: @qamilsouldope

 Dear Ms. Stevi: @dearmsstevi

Tiffany Mariie: @iamtiffanymariie

We are live recording Season 3 of the Culture of You at our beloved Zora's House. Take a look at this episode with three powerhouses in Columbus, Ohio; Erin Upchurch Hewitt (my wife), Letha Pugh, and Siobhan Nelson-Boyd. You don't have to look very far to find lots of information on each of these fantastic women. This is a wealth of stories that you don't want to miss. Enjoy!!

Leslie Battle is a pioneer in the local Columbus comedy scene. She is a mother, poet, veteran, culture curator, dreamer, storyteller, poet, wife, friend, and so much FUN!

Enjoy this final episode of Season 2 talking about building community, marriage, relationships, connecting across difference, and all the random subtleties you can imagine.

On March 20th, Leslie launches her own podcast with Jamie Campbell called 'As Yet'. You don't want to miss this episode. Relax your jawline and laugh a little with Leslie Battle.

Join me and Jocelyn Armstrong, Esq. in a conversation about law, justice, civic engagament, this election year, community education, advocacy and protecting your peace. Jocelyn is currently an attorney, practicing JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) advocacy.

I really love connecting with my friends in community. I also love when we can have open, honest, difficult and real conversations. Tune in to this episode of The Culture of You with Sangeeta Lakhani. Sangeeta’s story is a dynamic and brilliant one and I guarantee you will want to listen. Below is some information about Sangeeta’s story, but you definitely want to tune in and hear all the wisdom that comes with her lived experience!

Sangeeta Lakhani grew up in Mumbai, India where she was surrounded by a vibrant array of spices and diverse foods. Being raised in a family of avid travelers instilled in Sangeeta the importance of experiencing many different cuisines across the globe.

After moving to the U.S. at the age of 17, Sangeeta studied at The Columbus College of Art and Design, followed by The Columbus State Culinary School. She has been in the restaurant business for over 25 years.

Sangeeta was instrumental in the expansion of a popular campus restaurant, Hounddog’s Pizza and the bar adjacent to it, Ravari Room, before co-founding Bodega in 2005. Bodega won several awards over the years from publications such as The Alive, The Other Paper, 614 Magazine, Columbus Monthly, etc. before Sangeeta successfully sold the brand in early 2015.

In 2014 she co-founded and created the menu for The Table, a prominent farm to table restaurant in the Short North District of Columbus, Ohio. 

In March of 2020, Sangeeta leveraged her network to pivot her existing restaurant into Service! A relief effort for hospitality workers. She has since then, put out over 11,000 free meals and writes weekly grants for service industry workers financially effected by the ongoing pandemic. In her role as Executive Director, Sangeeta plans to keep growing Service! to provide resources and training opportunities for service industry workers. 

Service started Cafe Overlook, a workforce development program at The Franklin County Courthouse in 2022 that provides training for citizens with barriers and helps place them in stable careers in the hospitality industry. Sangeeta plans to keep working within the industry by sharing her knowledge and concept ideas. 

Sangeeta lives with her husband and two sons in Columbus, Ohio.

As we wrap up 2023, I got a chance to check in with my dear friend Chiwan Choi. We talked about what we are doing currently, how we are dealing with the impacts of personal, local, and more national and global conflicts, and some stories you will surely want to hear. Tune in!

Chiwan Choi is a poet, writer, publisher and lifelong seer of ghosts. He is the author of four books—The Flood and the Daughter Trilogy: Abductions, The Yellow House and my name is wolf. He wrote, presented, and destroyed the novel Ghostmaker throughout the course of 2015, as part of his ongoing examination on the meaning of a book, of conjuring and nurturing of ghosts. Chiwan has published his poetry, fiction and essays in numerous journals and magazines, including The New York Times Magazine, Los Angeles Times, Zócalo Public Square and many other publications. Chiwan is a partner at Writ Large Projects and resides in Pittsburgh, PA.

The only requirement is you slow down and get present to listen in here. Enjoy and we will see you in 2024!!!

On this episode of the Culture of You, join me and my wife as we explore polyamory in our relationship. We unpack all of the beliefs we have about love and relationship and the ways it shows up in our relationship. We explore the deep desires of our hearts and what that means in the space of polyamory. We talk about all of the communication required and all of the lessons learned. This is quite a journey in discovery of self and self within relationship.

Get your journals out and let's dive in!

We would love to hear more about what you want to hear us discuss in our season 3 episode in the comments!

LC Johnson is a Columbus transplant building community in Columbus, specifically for Women and Gender Expansive People of Color. Many of you may know her as the Founder and CEO of Zora's House. She is also an activist, writer, facilitator, author, public speaker, mother, caretaker and dynamic friend.

We talk about so many things in this episode: calendars and no meetings days, rest and recovery, the right to fail, and a situational hot seat that everyone can relate to.

Buckle up and bring your biases, cause we address a lot of socialized messages that we have had to unlearn as Black women. This was a generative, restorative and joyful listening. Make sure to check out the link below to get more involved in LC's work in the Columbus community. Also make sure to share your comments and reflections so we can continue to engage in the ways that are the most relevant!!

www.zorashouse.com