Yeah...But Are You Listening?!?

Yeah...But Are You Listening?!?

By Ovietta RuffinSociety & CulturePersonal Journals
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Yeah...But Are You Listening?!? episodes

  • Forced independence and the importance of "do nothing" vacations!
    Hey ya'll! I took a week off and we're back as promised to talk about how important it is to take "do nothing" vacations, my near death snorkeling experience and how forced independence is an absolute sham! I spent four days in Florida doing absolutely nothing but day drinking, sunbathing and taking mid-day siestas - it was AMAZING! Aside of my near death experience in the ocean, I returned well rested, anxiety-free and ready to tackle another piece of the journey. Listen, stop jam packing your vacations with so much stuff that you come back needing a vacation from the vacation....spend some time doing nothing, after all, your busy life is why you needed the vacay in the first place! Then we chat a bit about the need for healthy, co-dependent relationships because this "I am woman, hear me roar" narrative is a sham. Help me...kill the bug, get what I need off the top shelf, take out the garbage, help me brainstorm....
    Anyway, thanks for letting me off the hook last week. Love ya'll, mean it!
    27 min
  • Love is Love: A story of identity, love, marriage and motherhood.
    For episode nine, and in celebration of Pride Month, I sat down with my great friends Sonya and Lupe Linkthun, a lesbian couple who have been married for 4 years and are now the proud parents to their baby boy, Seneca. During our chat we discussed who they are individually, reminisced about their love story - including Link’s super sweet proposal - and their grueling pregnancy journey. Through their honesty and transparency, Link and Lupe revealed several flaws in my thinking and helped me to see things in a different way. No matter your stance, I hope you’ll listen with an open heart...and just maybe you’ll learn a thing or two.
    2 hr 18 min
  • Pride is about Self-Love
    Hey ya'll!! We've made it through the first five months of 2021 and are heading into month six...outside is reopening, masks are coming off (well, YA'LL are taking yours off, mine is staying on!) and it's officially summertime. I hope you took some time during Mental Health Awareness Month for self-care and I hope you take some time this month - Pride Month - for self love. In this episode I talk about what Pride means to me and just keep ya'll in the loop, check it out!
    28 min
  • "Win the Day" with Kyle King and Chantel Grier
    For episode seven, I invited my resident relationship coach and very good friend, Chantel Grier (author, relationship coach, and creator of both Yes, Please & Thank You and Done With It - DWI) back to the mic to talk life with our good friend Kyle S. King. 
    Kyle is a father, four-time best-selling author, educational advocate, founder and the Chief Executive Officer of The SHINE Institute headquartered in Charlotte, NC. In 2019, he became the youngest school administrator in TMSA Public Charter School District history. He also founded Blueprint Conferences, an initiative aimed at empowering educators mentally, emotionally, and financially. His most recent mission is to help individuals magnify their voices and monetize their message by publishing books and leveraging their stories to generate $100,000. 
    In this episode we discuss love, life lessons, faith, and experiences and Kyle encourages me - and anyone listening - to Win the Day!
    1 hr 28 min
  • A Life Revisited: A chat about teenage parenting with my teenage parent
    Generational curses are described as the cumulative effect on a person of things that their ancestors did, believed, or practiced in the past, and a consequence of an ancestor's actions, beliefs, and sins being passed down. Many people would call the birth of my baby's baby a generational curse but I have a hard time connecting Isaiah to anything other than blessings. 
    In Episode six, I share my own journey into teenage parenting and then Maya and I discuss the joys and pitfalls she experienced. Sharing the bond of being teen moms isn't one of my proudest accomplishments, but watching my baby grow as a woman and mother most definitely is. I've come to love, appreciate and enjoy these chats with my babies...I hope you do as well!
    46 min
  • Behave like you belong!!
    Hey ya'll! It's been a few weeks since I've checked in one on one and I wanted to update you on my life's happenings, tell you a bit about what else is coming this season and just, say heyyyyyy!! I'm out here in Oregon continuing the #DoItScared journey, showing up like I belong here, even when I'm not so sure I do. I talk alot about overcoming imposter syndrome and in this episode I remind you to behave like you belong. Whatever room you find yourself in, OWN IT! Show up. Leave a mark. Be memorable.
    33 min
  • “When the support starts looking a little funny in the light,” with my girl Chantel Grier

    How do you define support? Does whether or not someone supports you solidify the space they hold in your life?  Episode Four is a DOPE conversation with my girl Chantel Grier - creator of both Yes, Please & Thank You, an etiquette program promoting positive communication and social engagement while encouraging inspiring and meaningful encounters, and, DWI (Done With It), a private coaching program that helps women identify what no longer serve them and then be DONE WITH IT! She walks clients through the rigorous process of letting go of whatever pain is holding them back, into the joy found when they put themselves first. Chantel is also a God-fearing woman, budding author, attentive mother, and an amazing friend.  In this episode, we dive allllll up in the concept of support, because, if we’re honest, some of y’all “support” be looking a little funny in the light. Whether you’re on the giving or the receiving end of the support, you won’t want to miss this chat!! #EpisodeFour #DopeConversations #Girlfriends #Support #ButNotReally

    1 hr 6 min
  • The Heart of a Soldier with Natalia Mendez
    Natalia is a 37 year old first gen Dominican American, raised in the South Bronx, who attended Johnson and Wales to pursue culinary arts, with a specific interest in  in culinary nutrition. However, at 22, Natalia had life changing car accident that rendered her a lifetime wheelchair user. Where most people would have given up, Nat found purpose in that chair (the story BLEW MY MIND!!) and currently uses her experiences to change - and save - the lives of others in similar situations.
    Y’all know I believe in authenticity and Nat is about as authentic as they come so we talked about everything. EVERYTHING. The accident. The aftermath. Dating. Sex. Mental health. The best way to address someone in a wheelchair. Everything. We also spoke extensively about a resource program that she helps lead. If you or anyone you know could benefit from the resources they provide, please see below. In addition to the info below, Nat welcomes your questions:
    Women on Wheels
    We are Women On Wheels (W.O.W.), a unique sisterhood of women with spinal cord injuries (SCI) living life to its fullest. Choosing not to sit still waiting for things to happen, we actively take part in creating change; tackling daily obstacles and challenges with inner strength, backbone and determination. Empowered by our individual and shared life experiences, we continue to move forward.
    Our support group meets weekly and consists of informative, lively discussions ranging from coping mechanisms, sex, relationships, body image, pain management, health, safety, education, activism and disability rights, as well as a variety of other current issues affecting women with SCI. We invite guest speakers to share their expertise and resources and have held presentations on such topics as mental health and well-being, fire safety, adaptive technology, gynecological care, and more.
    Currently our group is held every Wednesday at 2:30pm EST via Zoom. Here’s the link:
    https://zoom.us/j/97388065251?pwd=RUxRSXdRdGRiOHR0dk9ZVVg5bVRIQT09
    Below is the link to our WOW website. Feel free to contact us with any questions.
    https://womenonwheelsnyc.org/about-4/
    Here’s the website to United Spinal NYC:
    https://unitedspinal.org/chapter/new-york-city-chapter-of-united-spinal-association/
    1 hr 21 min
  • “I gotta stop working so I can start working,” with Chef Carmen
    Coming from a Business Marketing background and working in corporate America, Chef Carmen used her passion for cooking as motivation to start her own food truck and catering company. It was the passion plus the encouragement from family and friends to pursue her dream of becoming an entrepreneur. No matter the size of the event you will get the same level of customer service from Chef Carmen because having a good time at your event is just as important as having good food!
    So, for episode two I invited Chef Carmen into MY kitchen to talk about her journey and feed me! Not only did she prepare amazing, tastylicious courses just for meeeeee (insert food twerk) but we spent the time discussing the darkness that comes with working a dead-end job, the joys and pain of entrepreneurship, and of course, food.
    We had a GREAT time and I have to say, learning the journey behind the food truck, the meal prep, the private services and the chef coat took my respect for Carmen to another level. She’s the grill wearing, red-dred, hat to da back, chef that will make any event memorable with character and delectable dishes *chefs kiss* Ya’ll check it out! #EpisodeTwo #DoItScared #YaNewFavPodcast #ChefCarmen #IAteMussels #ThoughtTheyWereOysters
    1 hr 40 min
  • Season Two - Back At It!!
    Hey ya'll, we're back for Season Two! I'm welcoming listeners back with some insight into my current #DoItScared journey. I share a little about what you can expect in the upcoming season and how excited I am to be back!
    29 min

About Yeah...But Are You Listening?!?

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Yeah...But Are You Listening is a space curated to share stories, blueprints to success, laughter, tears, and WINS!! We're gonna celebrate and comfort each other along the journey, occasionally…