The Seeds You Sow

Last week we decided to have an in depth conversation about gentrification in the Bay Area and its impact on the community. We paired this conversation with the importance of voting and also discussed this topic in connection to California's Proposition 10. Although prop. 10  did not pass we still feel it is important to think critically about the policies that are being put into place and how that connects with who has access to housing and  the changes occurring in our communities. 

We were able to question and analyze,  who is impacted by gentrification, what are the pros and cons to gentrification, and how does one get involved to maintain and preserve the culture and history of their communities. Overall, we were able to acknowledge that gentrification is a symptom of a systemic issue of institutional racism and economic access.  However, we acknowledged that we all have individual and communal power to fight against the system. We hope this episodes encourages you to have more critical conversations and to get engaged in the local politics of your community.

Last week we discussed what it is like to date in today's modern culture, and we received such good feedback for that episode we thought to extend the conversation. This week, we’re discussing the impact of finances on dating and relationships. Since it's important to understand how to manage your personal finances, we believe it's equally important to think about how your relationship with money impacts the relationship with those you're dating.

We have two helpful articles to share with you this week: "Navigating The Financial Side of a Relationship" posted by the NYTimes and "How Couples Handle Money at Every Stage of Their Relationship" posted by USNews.com. Throughout this episode we discussed the history of our personal relationships with money and how that impacts our relationships with others. We discussed and questioned financial gender norms, the reasons behind why it may be difficult to let someone provide for you or vice versa, how to share/split costs, and when the best time is to start these conversations about money with someone you are dating.  We also offered a few tips to listeners on how to be more proactive with crafting your financial philosophy in reference to dating and communicating those thoughts with your partner about it. We understand that discussing finances can bring up a range of positive and/or challenging emotions, however, we hope this episode encourages you to get comfortable with discussing this important topic with the hopes that you can better understand yourself and your partner as well.

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This week on the podcast we kept the conversation fun and light by discussing what it’s like to date in today's modern culture. In a time where people can be quick to make generalizations about men, women, and dating, we thought it would be refreshing to stop the stereotypes, break the division, and create a safe & fun space to have an open conversation about how people feel about dating.

This is the first week in which we did not highlight any specific articles, and instead offered our own opinions and experiences. We also made an effort to recognize that our individual experiences do not represent the entire culture, and encouraged our listeners to approach every new dating experience with an open mind, a willing heart, and without generalizations and tainted perspectives. Our conversation was well rounded, and we discussed the various perspectives on dating: from those who are looking to hook up and others who are looking to commit, people’s preferences in reference to online dating apps or meeting people in person; first date suggestions; the importance of doing self reflection and understanding yourself; understanding your love language; and finally, understanding your intentions as you begin to date and meet new people. Overall, different perspectives were offered, laughter was shared, and we provided insight, reflection, and hope to the single folks out there who are looking to connect and build with a significant other. We hope this episode makes you laugh, brightens your day, and gives you hope for love and a meaningful connection.

​Have you ever felt like you did not belong? Maybe questioned your own skill sets or abilities in a social or professional setting? Most people would like to admit​ that​ they navigate society with a confident view of ​themselves, but if we're all being honest, most people,at least once in their life, have questioned their talents and skill sets​. They may have even given into the idea that somehow, despite their hard work, they did not deserve the opportunity that was granted to them. This week we decided to shed light​ on this issue which is labeled as the "Imposter Syndrome." According Psychologist Pauline Rose Clance the Imposter Syndrome is defined as the idea that you’ve only succeeded due to luck, and not because of your talent or qualifications." We decided to have a conversation around the root causes of this syndrome which affects people in social, academic,and professional settings. It may even affect you.

As always, we have some great articles for you to indulge in: "Yes, Imposter Syndrome is Real. Here's How to Deal With It." published by Time.com and "The Five Types of Imposter Syndrome And How to Beat Them" by fastcompany.com. Through our conversation we were able to explore the root causes underneath this feeling of ‘not belonging’ and this haunting lie that causes certain people to makes who they truly are in order to feel accepted.Since we live in a society that constantly bombards us with negative messages and at times can have us questioning our self worth and power, we felt it was necessary to offer an episode that reinforced the following message to our listeners: you are qualified, you have done the work needed, and more importantly, you are enough. We hope this episode inspires all of you to think critically about the times you may have doubted yourself​, in hopes that you will no longer give into the negative voice that tries to hold you back. We hope that by offering our personal testimonies, you are empowered to actively overcome that lie that says ‘you do not belong’, because ultimately -- you do.

This week we decided to have a conversation on the importance of breaking our biases. Today's society can can be divisive and individuals are unwilling to engage in open dialogue with others whose opinions differ from their own. As a podcast, we are dedicated to creating spaces that foster honest & open dialogue, and we were super excited to have this conversation. Not only to inspire you to be better in your communication, but to challenge ourselves to be better as well. 

Here are two articles for you to reference:  Active Listening: The Art of Empathetic Conversation published by Positive Psychology Program and Six Ways to Break Your Implicit Bias Patterns  published by the Culture Wizard. We also encourage you to take an implicit bias test, published Harvard University to reveal any hidden biases you may hold. Follow this link to see what may be underneath the surface: Project Implicit.  We questioned and discussed the root causes of certain biased attitudes in regards to race, politics, and religion, and what is at risk when we do not take the time to learn how to have productive dialogues with people that hold differing views.  We also noted, having a bias is not necessarily a negative thing. It only becomes problematic when you allow your bias to be a basis for discriminatory behaviors or judgmental actions towards certain groups or individuals in society. We hope this episode encourages you to do some self-inventory and reflect on our your own biases. The moment we are made aware of something, is the moment we are one step closer to changing it.

On August 20th, 2017 we recorded our first episode as a podcast at the University of San Francisco. Last week, we took the time to celebrate our consistency, commitment, and overall love we have for each member on our team, our supporters, and the Seeds You Sow Podcast platform! This was a high energy, record-setting two hour episode! We guarantee it's an engaging, hilarious, and heart felt episode you'll truly enjoy, so set time aside to fully indulge!

We took a moment to reflect on a few highlights we've had as podcast:

*A total of over 2,300 downloads world wide (Listeners from New York to Japan have tuned in with us!)

*12 phenomenal guests!

*A total of 27 released episodes (nine unreleased episodes coming soon)

*Two promotional videos

*Solidification of our team, the mission, and the brand as a podcast!

*One Live Show at Trapathon (episode to be released soon!)

Not only were we able to pause and reflect on our growth as a podcast, we were able to reflect on our growth as individuals. We highlighted the importance of rest & reflection and acknowledged the power in connecting the decisions and actions of our past to our present day self, which allows use to move forward with purpose and intentionally. We also shared our vulnerabilities by reflecting on our different experience as individuals, and the unique peaks and falls in our own processes. All in all though, we were able to show gratitude for everything we endured this past year, and we hope this episode encourages YOU to take a moment to reset and reflect on where you are within your own journey in life.

This past week on the Seeds You Sow we took a minute to pause and reflect. In today's culture we realize that we are constantly bombarded with a multitude of images and reports of violence against black bodies. How often though do we question the effects of these reports and the rapid exposure to these too often violent  stories and images,  on our daily mental health?  Considering that the violence against black bodies in America is not only a recent issue but a historical one as well, we wanted to take the time to think about how we're processing the media we receive, and if we are responding or reacting to these upsettig news reports in a healthy way.

We have two articles for you to review: "Police Killings and Violence Are Driving Black People Crazy posted by citylab.com and "New Study Gives Broader Look Into How Police Killings Affect Black Americans' Mental Health" posted by pbs.org. This episode was also inspired by Nia Wilson; a young woman whose life was senselessly taken while traveling on BART with her older sister. The incident took place three weeks ago and though the news was quick to report, now that time has passed a number of us have been left with a range of emotions and lingering questions. Through this episode we created a space where questions were not left unasked, and emotions were not left to linger; instead they were affirmed and felt.  We acknowledge the importance of taking a moment to honor the lives of those who were killed and not just scrolling through these stories but giving a space for us to be vulnerable in about how this affects us as individuals and as a community. Through our conversation we offered tips and advice to our listeners  about how to protect themselves from the violence that occurs in their day to day lives, and also about how to protect their mind and spirit, by filtering out the media messages they consume.  We hope this episode encourages you and other listeners all to think critically about the news and media you consume, and the affect it has on the way you view yourself and your outlook on the world around you.  More importantly, we hope this episode encourages us all to think about what actions we can take to make these violent stories against black bodies less prevalent.

The concepts of "selling out", code switching, and having to to mask who you are in order to get ahead can be complex for people, especially those who are still attempting to decide what passion and profession to pursue.  In this episode, we decided to have a conversation on the challenges faced when pursuing a profession that expects one to alter or mask who they are. Through our conversation we were able to uncover the different layers, biases, and prejudices that are promoted in some work settings. We questioned, how does one navigate the professional landscape? How can one stay true to their authentic self if they are asked to assimilate into a work culture that doesn't quite match with who they are? We also took the time to  define what professionalism look likes and how race, culture, and gender play a role within the professional working world.

Today's culture can be extremely fast paced and at times even isolating. People are so quick to emphasize  the need to put themselves first, it's difficult for them to establish balance and prioritize the needs of their community as well.  In this episode we highlight the importance of giving back to our community through the role of being an active Mentor.  There is power when we are able to connect, thrive, and provide ongoing leadership and support to another who is in need of that guidance. 

We have two articles for you check out:  "The Importance of Communities, Mentors in Youth's  Lives" posted by Black Enterprise and  "Mentoring is Desperately Needed In The Black Community"  posted by the HuffPost. We discussed what prevents people from giving back and connecting to their community as a role as a Mentor. We also highlighted the benefits and need to provide guidance and support to our community by defining key values of what an effective Mentor demonstrates.  Through this episode we hope it encourages people to think about who were the individuals in their lives, who took the time to offer support and guidance.  We also hope it motivates people to tack action and establish a leadership role in another young person's life who may be in need of wisdom,  love, and support.

We've had some reflective conversations on relationships but what about the other ships of life? Our friendships? Metaphorically speaking, our friends are like ships, people who sail with us through the fun times as well as the challenging times. We decided to examine the different 'ships' of life and the importance of maintaining healthy connected friendships. In doing so, we highlighted two articles: Fifteen Reasons We Need Friends posted by Psychology Today & The Love Story I Never Thought To Tell. We brought into question, what are the values and qualities of a good friend? How does one define a healthy friendship? How do you navigate changes and difficulties within friendships? And why do we need friends as we go forward in life?

We think it is important to stop and reflect on the different relationships in our lives, and how we are all interconnected beings who thrive when we are part of mutually beneficial friendships. We hope this episode inspires people to stop and reflect on the meaningful friendships they've had throughout life, and to also take time to show love & appreciation to the people who they have come to honor as their friends.