Your Body Knows

Entrepreneur Telsha Anderson-Boone encourages women of color to confidently enter spaces that lack our representation, as founder and owner of t.a., a luxury boutique based in New York City in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District.

A former social media consultant for Food & Wine, Hypebeast, and Atlantic Records, and an influencer manager at a Fashion PR firm, Telsha began ideating on the launching t.a., while pursuing her master’s in brand management from NYU. A series of minor thoughts led her to the final moment of creating t.a., including how she was treated in the workplace, her interest in entrepreneurship, and ultimately her desire to share the dialogue surrounding Black ownership. So, she took a leap and allowed her hard work to guide her towards success.

In this week’s episode, Telsha and host Shanetta McDonald get into:

• The evolution of Black and brown women being a part of the changing narrative in fashion.
• Using spirituality as a tool for moving through fear.
• Tips for entrepreneurs in their season of growth.

Connect with Telsha:
https://shop-ta.com/
t.a’s Instagram: @t.a.newyork
Telsha Anderson’s Instagram: @telshaanderson

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Silicon Valley’s first female African American CEO Shellye Archambeau invigorates women of color to live unapologetically ambitious–in our personal and professional lives. 

An experienced CEO and Board Director with a track record of accomplishments building brands, high performance teams, and organizations, Shellye currently serves on the boards of Verizon, Nordstrom, Roper Technologies, and Okta. 

She is the author of 'Unapologetically Ambitious: Take Risks, Break Barriers and Create Success on Your Own Terms,' a book that will help professionals achieve their aspirations and create the life they want. Shellye is also a sought-after speaker on governance, risk and compliance as well as marketing and entrepreneurship and has guest lectured at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business and The Wharton School of Business. She has been featured or referenced in major publications such as The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Forbes and the Financial Times. 

In this week’s episode, Shellye and host Shanetta McDonald cover:

• How living with intention every day can get us closer to our goals.
• Creating a life in which we are ready for opportunities when they present themselves.
• The leverage we have as women of color in the workplace and how we can use it to our advantage.

Get Shellye’s videobook for free w/code: LITMOTIF
https://litvideobooks.com/unapologetically 
Code expires on 4/6.

Connect with Shellye:
https://shellyearchambeau.com/
Shellye’s Instagram: @shelarchambeau
Shellye’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shellye-archambeau/

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Twitter: @ourmotif
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Founder and creative Maricel Sison encourages women of color to move past their fear, take risks and embrace their unique journey as Principal and Marketing Director at California's premier DJ school, the Beat Junkie Institute of Sound and founder of Ladies of Sound LA, the official womxn’s division of the Beat Junkie Institute of Sound.

A first-generation Filipino, Maricel’s creative journey began as a photographer with her playing a major role in documenting Los Angeles’ underground music scene for over 15 years. And her experience thus far has elevated her into leadership roles at one of the most sought after DJ schools in the United States, within her own company, Ladies of Sound, and in future business development projects. Today Maricel executes from a place of community, and firmly believes that there is room for all of us to grow to our full potential.

In this week’s episode, Maricel and host Shanetta McDonald discuss:

• Resilience bestowed up those who are first-generation.
• Recognizing and leaning into divine purpose and being divinely led.
• The ability women of color have to adapt and problem solve better than others.

Connect with Maricel:
https://campsite.bio/ladiesofsound
Ladies of Sound LA Instagram: @ladiesofsound.la
Maricel’s Instagram: @msison

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Twitter: @ourmotif
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Educator, activist and community organizer, Alex Purple inspires women of color to lean into community and sisterhood as a part of their healing journey as founder of Women of Color (WOC) Sister Collective, a platform for creating community and collaboration with BIWOC through circles, events, workshops, healing, & empowerment.

Born first-generation in Los Angeles, Alex grew up with limited beliefs around what it meant to show emotion and express her feelings. As a young adult, she began to heal after being invited to attend a women’s circle, and understood how the power of sisterhood, vulnerability and being seen and heard by others could spark growth from within. This of course led her to create WOC Sister Collective.

 In this week’s episode, Alex and host Shanetta McDonald dive into:

• The power of connecting with other women of color.
• Finding our voice and stepping into our power.
• Breaking generational bondages through community and connection. 

Connect with Alex/WOC Sister Collective:
https://linktr.ee/wocsistercollective_
WOC Sister Collective Instagram: @wocsistercollective_
Alex Purple Instagram: @alex_purple

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Instagram: @ourmotif
Twitter: @ourmotif
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Congolese-American writer, mother, and advocate for women Chloe Dulce Louvouezo empowers women of color to move past discomfort to embrace their divine purpose as author of Life, I Swear, in which she explores nuances and insights around intimate topics of identity, mental wellness, and healing, told through the lens of women from the Black diaspora. 

Raised by a single mother and a host of other families from across diasporas, Chloe grew up in Niamey, Niger, West Africa and lived in 10 other cities around the world. She has experienced life from a unique lens; one that anchors her conviction to question and explore identity, privilege, connection and healing. Because of this, and as a mother, Chloe champions women's autonomy to live, heal, and process unconventionally.  

In this week’s episode, Chloe and host Shanetta McDonald get into:

• Overcoming fear and leaning into vulnerability as writers and artists.
• Owning our identity as multi-faceted women of color.
• Healing from past relationships.

Connect with Chloe:
https://www.chloelouvouezo.com/
Life, I Swear Instagram: @lifeiswear
Chloe’s Instagram: @chloe_dulce

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Instagram: @ourmotif
Twitter: @ourmotif
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Feel free to leave us a rating + review if you’ve enjoyed this episode. + remember to subscribe to receive alerts on our upcoming episodes. 

Mental health advocate and digital creator, Priscilla Agyeman calls for women of color to seek community as a part of their wellness & mental health practice as CEO & founder of Saddie Baddies™, a virtual safe space for people of color to destigmatize mental health and initiate collective healing.

Born first-generation to African parents, Priscilla grew up feeling the unspoken pressure of needing to succeed, due to the generational hardships of those who’d come before her, in addition to facing societal pressures, specifically in academia. After experiencing anxiety during college and thereafter, she became inspired to share about her struggles. She noticed that there wasn’t a digital platform designed primarily for young Black, Latinx, Asian, Indigenous and multiracial people that educated and unpacked the layers of mental health, and knew that needed to change. 

In this week’s episode, Priscilla and host Shanetta McDonald open up to listeners about:

• Identifying the root of our formed notions around mental health as Black women and women of color.
• Tapping into community to seek help, solace and comfort to support our well-being.
• Implementing radical self-preservation and prioritizing self-care.

Connect with Priscilla:
https://www.saddiebaddies.com/
Saddie Baddies Instagram: @saddie_baddies
Priscilla Agyeman Instagram: @priscilla.o.agyeman

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Twitter: @ourmotif
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Passionate creator, innovator and skilled connector Zoila Darton wants women of color to embrace and own their journey as CEO & creative director of WORD Agency, an LA based creative agency dedicated to culturally rich storytelling, brand elevation & experiential marketing.

A proud afro-Latina, Zoila’s career began more than 15 years ago, with success in the entertainment industry; starting in the music industry where she served as Director of Marketing & Artist Relations at boutique Latin Music Publishing and Distribution company Mayimba Music. After delivering dynamic digital campaigns and events in music, she parlayed her knowledge of relationship building, cultural trends and conceptual ideation into launching the boutique agency WORD, where she builds meaningful marketing campaigns, creative content and consumer experiences for brands like The Los Angeles Philharmonic, HBO, Red Bull, Foot Locker, Nike, Converse & Lululemon.

In this week’s episode, Zoila and host Shanetta McDonald get into:

• Owning your story through storytelling
• Women of color allowing themselves the gift of rest and softness.
• How motherhood can kickstart our personal healing

Connect with Zoila:
https://word.agency/
WORD Agency Instagram: @word.agency
Zoila Darton’s Instagram: @zoiladarton

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Instagram: @ourmotif
Twitter: @ourmotif
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Welcome to Season 3! 

We’ve got money on our mind. $$$

Wealth generator Linda Garcia empowers women of color to expand our imagination of what’s possible and to dream big as CEO & founder of In Luz We Trust, kicking off our third season of The Motif Podcast. 

A Cali native and proud Latina, Linda Garcia spent 17 years working in the TV and film industry helping well-recognized TV networks, movie studios and streaming services build programming for the U.S. Hispanic market. Despite enjoying the work, Linda knew there was more to life than working to make someone else rich. Eventually, she took the knowledge she’d gained and used it to launch the Let There Be Luz podcast: a weekly podcast aimed to channel one’s spiritual journey.

In 2019 Linda had a spiritual journey that led her to what she considers her life’s purpose: to help the Latinx community heal the generational money wounds that prevent them from achieving wealth.

Here’s what Linda and host Shanetta McDonald cover in the episode:

• How can women of color get started with investing
• Erasing limiting beliefs women of color have when it comes to money
• How healing your wounds can help unlock your purpose to help others.

Connect with Linda:
https://www.inluzwetrust.com/
In Luz We Trust Instagram: @inluzwetrust
Linda Garcia’s Instagram: @luzwarrior
Sign up for WREAM or STACKS investment courses:
https://inluzwetrust.teachable.com/courses 

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Singer, songwriter and musician Mary Akpa empowers women of color to own their gifts and offerings to the universe in the season 2 finale of The Motif Podcast. A Nigerian-American artist with African and jazz influences in her music, Mary’s career has spanned over two decades and four continents, ultimately bringing her home to self and on a healing journey of self-evolution.

Joined by host Shanetta McDonald, Mary sheds light on the inspiration behind her latest project, album Nnoo. She also offers other BIWOC words of wisdom on how to deepen their sense of inner knowing while accepting their pasts and owning their truths.

Connect with Mary:
https://www.maryakpa.com/
Instagram: @maryakpa
Listen to Nnoo: Spotify

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Entrepreneurs, creators and sisters Donna & Joanne Vo encourage women of color to pursue their creative passions as co-founders of Ladies First, a community helping all women in pursuit of their fullest potential.

Born and raised in the SF Bay area to immigrant Vietnamese parents, Donna and Joanne took on two different professional paths before joining forces to create multiple businesses together, ultimately deciding to hone in on their social media expertise, servicing small business owners. 

In conversation with host Shanetta McDonald, Donna and Joanne discuss tapping into their femininity, the value of asking for help and what’s to-come for the next chapter of 
Ladies First. 

Connect with Donna & Joanne Vo:
https://www.ladiesfirst.co/
Ladies First Instagram: @ladiesfirst.co
Joanne’s Instagram: @itsjoannev
Donna’s Instagram: @lovedonnav

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