The Janus Adams Show

Preview, The Janus Adams Show, season 11, Fall 2026. Guest journalist, author, archivist, A'Lelia Bundles continues the Walker Legacy with this biography of her great-grandmother, A'Lelia Walker, Madam CJ Walker's only child.

Black Wild Girl MENAH PRATT

Power, Parenting, and Warrior Women

When a five-year-old Black girl declares “I am the Queen of Sheba,” it sets her on a lifelong journey—from her father’s shattered dreams and punishing discipline to reclaiming her own superpower as a Black wild woman in a world on fire.

SHOW NOTES

What happens when a five-year-old Black girl answers her father’s shout of “Who do you think you are?” with “I am the Queen of Sheba”?

In this intimate conversation, scholar-activist MENAH PRATT, author of "BLACKWILDGIRL: A Writer’s Journey to Take Back Her Superpower," traces her path from a rigorously controlled childhood path to tennis excellence and her father’s shattered academic career to reclaiming her voice, power, and purpose. This episode is a moving roadmap for anyone—especially Black women and girls—seeking to turn family wounds, racism, and sexism into wisdom, courage, and liberation in turbulent times.

ABOUT THE GUEST

Scholar, writer, and activist MENAH ADEOLA EYASIDE PRATT holds five degrees including JD and PhD. She is Vice President for Strategic Affairs & Diversity and Professor of Education at Virginia Tech.

Author, "BLACK WILD GIRL: A Writer’s Journey to Take Back Her Superpower" and "BLACK WILD GIRL: (companion guided journal)"

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

In these days of book bans, I’ve curated a pro-book, pro-African American studies, pro-sanity recommended reading list inspired and requested by readers like you.

Sign up for 50 BOOKS THAT CHANGED THE STORY OF AFRICAN AMERICA and other Resources at www.JanusAdams.com → Resources

Learn More about Menah Pratt: www.MenahPratt.com

Also mentioned on the show:

Menah’s brother is Awadagin Pratt—the internationally-renowned concert pianist, and conductor.

Learn more about Awadagin Pratt www.awadagin.com/

Watch what happens when he visits Sesame Street

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4M9sy4PFKE

TAKEAWAY QUOTES FROM MENAH PRATT:

1. The Queen of Sheba moment

“He said, ‘Who do you think you are?’ And I responded, ‘Queen of Sheba.’ … Many Black girls come into the world with attitude… and the world kind of squashes that. Our responsibility becomes, how do we become that Black, wild girl again as women?”

2. On discipline and excellence

“For what needs to be accomplished in my life… we have to operate at a level of excellence, or set that as an expectation and strive for it. We may not always meet the mark, but it’s the striving for excellence.”

3. On her father’s wound and the ‘Pratt setup’

“After three years as a tenure-track professor, the racism of America terminated his university contract… His mindset became, I will raise my children so they are never dependent on the American system… That was the Pratt setup.”

4. On the struggle to tell the truth on the page

“I was tired of fighting invisible ghosts of racism, sexism and hatred… I’ve been experiencing an internal battle about what to share, what to reveal, and what to allow to remain hidden… My brother reminds me that sanitizing protects no one.”

5. Her mother’s affirmation

“You are special. You are a Pratt. You are African, part of one of the oldest cultures in the world. Remember that and never take a back seat to anyone… Aspire to be the best that is in you to be.” – Mildred Pratt’s letter to her daughter, Menah.

For more about Janus Adams and the show, visit: www.JanusAdams.com

In this wide ranging conversation, Janus Adams speaks with Felipe Zurita Quintana about his journey from a conservative upbringing in Chile and deep immersion in Mormonism—including serving a mission during California’s Prop 8 campaign— to coming out as queer, leaving the church, and dedicating his life to the work of compassion.

Together, they explore how religion can both wound and heal, what it takes to reclaim one’s spiritual and moral agency, and why compassion—starting with self compassion—may be one of the most radical tools we have in today’s fractured world.

Three women click into a Zoom. OMG.

Why them? Why now? Why should anyone care?

All it takes is one question -- the first question, “How are you?” -- and everything we think we knew about each other can suddenly change. Who are we? How do we come to be who we are? What’s in a name? What’s in a story? What happens when we openly speak our truths?

Join me for this week's episode of "The Janus Adams Show" with my guests: authors Hasna Muhammad ("BREATHE IN THE SKY: Poems, Prayers and Photographs") and Gail Straub ("HOME INSIDE THE GLOBE: Embracing Our Human Family").

In this unstructured non-interview, three women click into a Zoom and the rest is a reflection of these tense times, our lives and, perhaps, something of your own: family legacy, the strength to endure amid societal upheaval, the journey of reclaiming identity, the art of holding space for complexity.

Traveling the globe through our shared stories, we explore history (up close and personal), current events, justice, injustice, sorrow, and joy. Reading to and for each other, the conversation delivers a timely blueprint for courageous connection.

GUESTS

- Hasna Muhammad, author, “BREATHE IN THE SKY: Poems, Prayers, and Photographs”

website: BirthmarkMedia.com https://www.birthmarkmedia.com/

- Gail Straub, author, “HOME INSIDE THE GLOBE: Embracing the Human Family”

website: GailStraub.com https://gailstraub.com/

THEMES

- Facing challenging times with hope and solidarity

- The meaning and reclamation of identity and legacy

- Generational wisdom, vulnerability, and mutual encouragement

- Navigating and healing divisions—personal, social, historical

- The restorative power of storytelling, poetry, and community

MOMENTS YOU'LL WANT TO EXPERIENCE FOR YOURSELF

"I am well, I am strong ... There are people around the world, especially those in the war-torn areas, who are starving and dying and bleeding, and they cannot be strong. But I have the opportunity to be strong. ... We must each have our own set of skills, our own ideals and desire to move forward."

— Hasna Muhammad [0:04:49]

"I read an article recently about prisoners of war and how they maintain hope in those dire circumstances. A key thing they found was this paradox of fully facing how bad It is and simultaneously, equally at the same time, knowing that they'll get through this. I'm wanting to do that. [But] it's not hope, because that's a complicated word."

— Gail Straub [0:08:40]

"I admit to feeling conflicted. I have a friends who are packing up to leave the country, something I completely understand. On the other hand, I'm the granddaughter of four immigrants, three of whom left relatively privileged circumstances to emigrate to America. Two came with their young children. Two met here. I would not exist had they not dared sacrifice their all and make possible my life. "

— Janus Adams [0:13:10]

Learn more at JanusAdams.com https://www.janusadams.com/

HARRIET TUBMAN'S WAY - Spring Washam by Janus Adams

In a world often divided by borders, beliefs, and differences, Gail Straub offers a transformative vision of human connection. Author of "Home Inside the Globe: Embracing Our Human Family," Straub takes us on a remarkable journey from her childhood in Delaware to empowering women across Africa, India, and the Middle East.

Gail Straub, HOME INSIDE THE GLOBE (Promo) by Janus Adams

What must we do to fortify our sons (and our daughters); to teach them not just how to survive but to thrive; to save their righteous minds, bodies and spirits? This week's show: RAISING BLACK BOYS IN TOUCH TIMES with our guests, MaryAnne Howland, author of "WARRIOR RISING: How Four Men Helped a Boy on His Journey to Manhood," and Raymond Winbush, PhD, author of "THE WARRIOR METHOD: A Parents' Guide to Rearing Healthy Black Boys."

At a time when the entire world is in turmoil and the brink of chaos seems not far off, what does it take to right the world—to right the world order to balance. Are these very goals—balance, world order—the root of the problem

Ambassadar Stuart E. Eizenstat, veteran U.S. diplomat, member of the Carter and Clinton administrations, former ambassador to the European Union, is this week's guest.. His new book is: THE ART OF DIPLOMACY: How American Negotiators Reached Historic Agreements. Ambassador Eizenstat (retired) was appointed by President Joe Biden to chair the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum Council.

In this special broadcast, FarmArts Collective--an Agri/Cultural Center at Willow Wisp Organic Farm in Damascus, PA--discusses its second annual Juneteenth celebration. Guests: Tasa Faronii, Robin Grey Wolf Henderson, Adrienne Jensen, Faye Kaiser-Valdera, G. Oliver King, and FarmArts founder, Tannis Kowalchuk. Special thanks to Radio Catskill Program Director Jason Dole.