Episode Summary

In this lively episode of Off Color, host Rebekah Henderson and co-host Samuel Gonzalez welcome two special guests:

• Soltahr Tiv-Amanda – a therapist and spiritual teacher

• Janae Burris – a Denver-based comedian

Together, they dive into topics guaranteed to spark both insight and debate:

1. Personal Updates & Humor

   • Rebekah’s unfiltered life updates set a candid tone.

   • Sam shares reflections on navigating transitions and creative ruts.

   • Janae adds her trademark comedic edge, juggling parenthood, career, and cultural identity.

2. Being a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP)

   • Soltahr introduces the concept of HSP traits, discussing overlaps with ADHD and deep empathy.

   • Practical tips for maintaining emotional balance, grounding, and self-care so sensitivity becomes a superpower instead of a burden.

3. Race and Identity in Colonial America

   • Rebekah references historian A.B. Wilkinson’s Blurring the Lines of Race and Freedom: Mulattoes and Mixed Bloods in English Colonial America.

   • They unpack how colonial laws (especially partus sequitur ventrem) entrenched the “one-drop rule” and shaped rigid racial hierarchies still affecting us today.

4. Modern-Day Colorism & ‘Who Gets to Be Black?’

   • The group confronts the lingering question of who’s “allowed” to claim Blackness.

   • Insights on how internal divisions—rooted in white supremacy—still play out in families and communities.

5. Parenting & Tough Artistic Choices

   • Janae opens up about balancing her comedic freedom with the need to provide for her child.

   • The reality of microaggressions, gatekeepers, and navigating predominantly white spaces as a Black artist—especially with bills to pay.

6. Spiritual Guidance & Personal Liberation

   • Sam pulls an oracle card, sparking a reflection on creativity, birth, and weaving beauty into daily life.

   • Soltahr explores healing intergenerational trauma and embracing every facet of one’s heritage, from the deeply spiritual to the everyday practical.

7. A Call for Unity

   • They underscore how racism thrives on division.

   • A rallying cry for finding shared humanity and building community strength across generational lines.

 

 

Notable Quotes

On the burden of identity: “We’ll never be free until we stop worrying about what other people think about us.” – Soltahr Tiv-Amanda

On speaking truth to power: “It’s a lot easier to say how you really feel when you don’t have to worry about feeding a child… but as a mom, I can’t cost my kid his meals.” – Janae Burris

“I want to get free—that’s what the podcast is about. I want to be able to just be myself and not wonder what other people are thinking. I think it has ruined a lot of wonderful moments in my life and a lot of artistic, creative endeavors I’ve embarked upon, because I’m so concerned that people are not liking it.” — Rebekah Henderson

 

 

Show Credits

• Hosted by: Rebekah Henderson

• Co-Hosted by: Samuel Gonzalez

• Guests:

• Soltahr Tiv-Amanda (Therapist, Spiritual Teacher)

• Janae Burris (Comedian)

• Theme Song: James Meakim

• Music & Editing: Tan Tigress Productions LLC

 

 

Links & Resources

• A.B. Wilkinson’s Book Blurring the Lines of Race and Freedom: Mulattoes and Mixed Bloods in English Colonial America

• Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) Resources

• hsperson.com – Dr. Elaine Aron’s pioneering research

• Connect with Soltahr Tiv-Amanda

• Contact info: [email protected]

• Connect with Janae Burris

• Upcoming Shows & Socials: [@negativenegro on Instagram ]

 

 

Listen & Subscribe

• Apple Podcasts

• Spotify

• Google Podcasts

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Thank you for tuning in to Off Color! We appreciate every listener who joins our mission of exploring race, identity, and the ongoing quest for personal and collective liberation. Feel free to share your thoughts or questions—and until next time, stay curious!