What's Next Mel?

What's Next Mel?

By Melanie KinchenSociety & Culture
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What's Next Mel? episodes

  • Social Justice

    Statistics show that each year, nearly 2,000 babies are born in prison. On April 9, 1995, Byron was part of that statistic. He is also known as Mosoul. He is an author, activist, social entrepreneur and scholar. He is the founder of From The Hood For The Hood: A 501C3 nonprofit dedicated to developing, empowering, and engaging young people and communities that are often overlooked while being a training catalyst for social justice. 

    In the midst of the pandemic, receiving death threats and having his property vandalized. He led several social justice initiatives, over a dozen protests across the nation, city wide social equity, initiative across the state of Michigan, and collaborated with Rapper Eminem which lead to him distributing over 65,000 pandemic relief kits across the country. 

    He draws his inspiration as an activist from the realization that "We are the change of which we seek". 

    Byron and I talk about the different ways social justice has evolved and the future of social justice. 

    He shares on how we can help and how to continue to fight for what is right! 

    Connect with Byron: 

    Facebook page: From the Hood for the Hood

    Instagram: Mosoul495

    Donate to From The Hood for the Hood Non-Profit! 





    33 min
  • Learn how to navigate pregnancy & postpartum.

    Have you and your partner been thinking about becoming pregnant?

    Are you currently pregnant or recently given birth to your beautiful baby?

    You want listen to this episode as I speak with Chanel (A Werking Mama). 

    Chanel Hogue is a Wife, Mama of two, Birth Doula, Virtual Doula, Childbirth Educator, and Lactation Educator. She is passionate about providing mamas with the education, resources and support to achieve a fearless and positive natural birth. She truly believes our bodies were designed to do this and with the proper preparation and support, we can!

    Her approach to education is to provide evidence-based information paired with simple tools that mama and partner can implement during pregnancy to become confident and ready to birth your baby.

    She believes that birth can be beautiful, pain-free, uninterrupted and empowering if the mind and body are prepared to do the werk.

    We speak about her experience with a c-section & natural birth. We also discuss having a postpartum plan, and getting a doula/midwife. 

    You can sign up for Chanel's Birth Course and download all of her resources that she provides. 

    She also provides virtual doula services! 

    Connect with Chanel: 

    Website: A Werking Mama

    Instagram: awerkingmama

    43 min
  • What is Spirituality to You?

    Have you questioned your religion or spirituality that was put on you from birth?

    Are you exploring different religions? Are your learning more about your spirits and ancestors?

    I speak with Javia, a psychic & tarot reader. She is a numerologist and Reiki Master. 

    She is a boy mom. 

    We talk about her journey to becoming a tarot reader. 

    We speak on our spiritual journey's and what tools to use on your journey. 


    Connect with Javia: (currently her books are closed, but follow her on social media to learn when she is going open them)

    Instagram: Jaealissa

    Website: Javia Alissa

    Twitter: Jaealissa


    29 min
  • Entrepreneurs & Their Mental Health
    Are you an entrepreneur and getting overwhelmed by the multiple hats that you wear? It's not easy running your own business and doing it by yourself. We talk to another entrepreneur about how they stay positive and focused throughout their journey. How they make sure that their mental health is priority while running their businesses. 
    Based in Miami, Danielle Montreuil is a multi-faceted Entrepreneur who comes accompanied with an extensive background in Digital Brand Consulting, Creative Direction, Business Development and Fashion Design. Her journey into entrepreneurship started in New York in 2008 when she began interning for a prominent contemporary designer and freelancing as a stylist assistant on the side. During her time as a designer, she learned about the business side of operating a fashion line which later on inspired her to start a digital branding agency 8 years later in order to consult individuals and brands in the fashion industry. Currently, her agency provides brand consulting to individuals and businesses domestically and internationally and she also operates other businesses in the fashion, hospitality and real estate industries.
    Connect with Danielle: 
    Instagram: d.montreuil 
    Website: The Montreuil Agency
    34 min
  • Do you know the Green & Red Flags in Dating & a Relationship?
    We have Season 1 guest, Jada back for another episode on Season 2! 
    Jada and I sit down and talk about the Red flags to avoid when it comes to dating and a relationship. Learning that when you see these red flags; it's time to make an exit. Also learning to embrace the green flags that our partner has and shares with us in our relationship. Is there such a thing as yellow flags that can be turned into green flags or move to red flags. Find out on this episode! 
    A woman of Faith, an Author, Podcast Host, Dating & Relationship Coach - helping the broken woman heal from her past, and the happy woman maintain wholeness. Jada has been on both ends of the spectrum, the brokenness and now, the wholeness. She decided to create a coaching practice dedicated to helping women redefine brokenness, what it means to truly heal, and support them in their journey to wholeness. Her practice also focuses on coaching women through maintaining their wholeness and a healthy relationship. She's passionate about supporting and empowering women in life, and in love!
    Stay Connected with Jada:
    Instagram: @JadaSharise
    Website: Jada Sharise
    Book: The Break Up Bible
    39 min
  • What's Your Creative Niche?

    Have you been trying to figure out your creative niche?

    Do you know what you're creative niche and trying to figure out how to dominate it?

    We talk to Yasmine about being able to explore her creative niche and creating a lane for yourself. 

    Yasmine Creese-Brown attended American University and graduated with an accounting degree. After briefly becoming a registered financial advisor and hedge fund accountant, she quickly realized that she needed an outlet to combine her love for math and creativity. Her journey led her down a path of board game concept design and she is now currently the creator of JUICE games- a core math concepts board game.

    Social Media: @yasmine_imon 

    30 min
  • Toxic Work Environments & Our Mental Health
    Ebonee is back for another mental health talk. 
    We talk about toxic work environments and how it affects our mental health.
    Ebonee Gilliard is a Communications Director in big tech, focusing on social media and employee engagement. She has ten years of experience in communications; internal, external and executive level. Ebonee studied Journalism, Public Relations and Strategic Communication at the The University of Oklahoma, where she was part of the National Education of Women’s Leadership (N.E.W.). She also studied abroad via the American University in London and was able to partner with Journalism and Communication giants like the BBC and Al Jazeera. Her pronouns are she/her/hers and she identifies as a Texas-Bama.
    Social Media Handles: (Twitter & Instagram) @EboneeNicolePR
    Mental Health Resources:
    Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration
    Phone # 1-800-662-HELP (4357). You can call 24/7 (English & Spanish)
    National Institute of Mental Health 
    If you're looking to start therapy, please contact your insurance or state due to COVID, some states are providing free therapy and mental health resources.
    50 min
  • Breaking the Stigma of HIV & Spiritual Awakening

    Zora Voyce is an African American female that was born with HIV.

    Her purpose is to inspire people to heal and define themselves through self-love. We don’t have to subject ourselves to a flawed narrative that aims to oppress and control how we feel about our self-image.


    Get access to self love healing resources by following  @Zora Voyce on Instagram

    And by following her organization @mypurora.

    47 min
  • The Best of Season 1

    I'm forever thankful for everyone that was a guest on my podcast! 

    We talk about the best episodes of season 1 and more of an intro about Melanie! 

    I hope that you all enjoyed season 1 of What's Next Mel? 

    I can't wait to come back for season 2!!!!

    IG: @whatsnextmel

    Website: whatsnextmel.com

    26 min
  • Can Women & Men Be Just Friends?
    I sit down with my best guy friend Nicholas of over 18 years! One, I can't believe we've been friends for almost two decades! It's absolutely crazy that time has flown by so fast. We talk about our friendship from the beginning to now. We talk about our platonic friendship; how we differ from other women and men friendships. We discuss how our friendship has affected our relationships with partners. What it's like to have a person that had your back that of the opposite sex. Nicholas is more than a best friend but like a brother to me. Enjoy us being authentic and real with one another. 
    Nicholas is in the Air Force. We met in middle school and after the first year of meeting each other; we've became and friends. Ultimately, high school is were we became best friends and I knew he had my back ever since and vice verse. We've gone through multiple milestones in life and continue to support one another and see each other grow as people! Forever grateful to have Nick in my life!
    34 min

About What's Next Mel?

From the publisher's feed

What's Next Mel is for millennial womxn that want to share their knowledge and truth about various topics. As millennial womxn, we are learning to navigate our way through our careers while balancing friendships, relationships, and self-love. Come join Mel and other womxn and men for a tea time session. We are sitting down being unfiltered, raw, and open-minded.