You Ain't Imagining This!

What does self-empowerment mean to you? Do you feel self-empowered? In a world of white privilege and white supremacy, many African Americans feel dis-empowered and struggle with maintaining self-esteem. This show will introduce the elements of self-empowerment, the obstacles to self-empowerment, and how everyone can live a self-empowered life.  You will also learn practical and important steps you can take towards self-empowerment. The show ends with a meditation that will help you to feel and live a self-empowered life. 

Friendships can be complicated. What happens if you discover that your friend holds racist views? Or homophobic views? Or sexist attitudes? Bias exists in every person. Yet racism, sexism, and anti-LGBTQ-ism take prejudice to a different and possibly dangerous level. Handling a racist "friend" is a difficult situation. It can create hostility or even a teachable moment about the perils of racism.  Hans and Ben discuss this problem from different practical and ethical points of view, including a personal experience standpoint. While they agree that there is no "one way" to confront this problem, they have a lively discussion about the moral and ethical dilemmas posed by the "racist" friends. They also identify their "red line" that should never be crossed. You don't want to miss this uncommon conversation! 

The premiere episode of the ETT News Edition! Senior Content Analyst Hans Hyppolite presents the major news events of the month. There is a lot of news happening these days! From elections to conflicts to Covid: How can we remember it all? We think about events as they arise throughout the month. However, by the end of the month, we have often forgotten those events or moved on to focus on others.  Yet all of the events are still important and still making an impact. The Espresso Talk Today Team designed this show to help you remember and reflect upon these important events. Hans summarizes and presents the month's major news events to you in a quick and memorable way--just like a good espresso! 

Fortune 500 Corporations are considered both financial powerhouses and leaders in social change. Yet corporate leadership is undeniably white and male. Today, there are only 4 African American (all male) CEOs.  And most corporations have few--most have none!--African Americans on the Boards of Directors or in other executive roles. Following the killing of George Floyd in May 2020, many corporations pledged to work for racial and social justice and equity. Yet most of these white male-led businesses have yet to make meaningful changes in the advancement of people of color. Hans and Robin hold a heated, yet amicable, discussion about the role of corporations as leaders of social change and their responsibility in making reforms. They also discuss the lack of African Americans in corporate leadership roles and the impact of this failure on the African American community and wider American society. Please join them to discuss how more African Americans can take leadership roles and whether more patience is needed in fighting for and expecting real change. You don't want to miss this exciting episode.

What does self-determination mean to you? What things threaten your right to self-determination? For people of color around the world, the right to self-determination is supreme yet has been undermined by colonialism, systemic racism, and economic inequality. Many Black and Brown people have fought--some successfully, others unsuccessfully--for their right to self-determination.  Yet, to many, it remains a vague notion. The Espresso Talk Today Team discusses the right to self-determination through one of its favorite forms of education: storytelling. Elder Mellanese returns to present this African story called "The Three Tests" in which the animals fight to protect their country and their lives. Enjoy this story and consider how you would protect your right to self-determination.  What would you do?

History is boring, right? Wrong! If you like stories, romance, mystery, and drama then you will love learning history. But history is often taught only by memorizing names, dates, and death counts. Robin and Hans are continuing their discussion from last week's podcast show in which they discussed why history is still important. In this show, history-lovers Robin, Hans, and Ben discuss their favorite ways to learn and experience history. Yes, they love reading books like biographies, non-fiction novels, and even cookbooks. But we also discuss other ways of learning history like attending cultural festivals, visiting historic sites, and other surprising activities. This engaging and definitely uncommon conversation will show you exciting ways to learn and experience Black history throughout the year.  

No, it's not Black History Month but Black history is still important. Protests. Marches. Covid pandemic. Police violence. Systemic racism. These are not new in American history. Yet many people have forgotten how these events have had a regular presence throughout American (and perhaps world) history. Are we doomed to repeat the failures of the past? Have we learned how to approach these important issues effectively? Robin and Hans think that history is important but that it is not getting the attention needed to have an impact. They discuss how the educational system in America approaches African American history (spoiler alert: fail) and the effects of America's failure to teach and value Black history. Join us for this lively conversation about Black history. It's not just to learn for a single month anymore! 

This is the flagship podcast for the Wellness Time series! Many people accept the power of fear in their lives. Fear drives many of our big and small decisions.  But fear can affect our mental and physical health causing depression, hypertension, anxiety, obesity, and many other chronic illnesses. Racism and police violence are two major causes of fear among people of color, making us more susceptible to chronic illness. However, fear can be controlled and defeated. Robin is the host for the Wellness Time series on the Espresso Talk Today podcast show. She discusses the sources of fear, effects of fear, and guides you through a short meditation that can help you to identify and control the fear in your life. This important episode could improve your mental and physical health. Don't miss it!

The 2020 General Election in the United States is destined to be a historic moment in American history. Yes, the election is likely to be the most hotly contested electoral competition since the Bush-Gore election in 2000. The election process will be the defining feature and possibly affect the outcome. Because of the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, mail-in (or no-excuse absentee) voting will be the most popular method of voting in the 2020 election.  However, voting by mail is not new in the United States. In fact, it has existed since the American Civil War and it was used during both world wars and the 1918 Spanish flu. Yet many Americans are unfamiliar with the process and pitfalls of voting by mail. Join Robin, Hans, and Ben as they discuss the process of voting by mail, the rules in the different states, and the steps for voting by mail from abroad. Great information for voters in every state. This is a unique "how-to" episode that could ensure that you stay safe while voting and that your vote counts. 

Folktales are an ancient method of entertainment and teaching lessons. They are also a way of promoting and preserving cultural traditions. The Espresso Talk Today team loves this ancient art of storytelling and education to add a special flavor to its show. In this folktale called Lord of the Cranes, the main character tests the kindness and helpfulness of a wealthy businessman.  The story, similar to the parable of the Good Samaritan, introduces the importance of showing kindness. Elder Mellanese returns to read this ancient Chinese folktale. Sit back. Get comfortable. Listen. Think. Enjoy. This is storytelling at its finest!