Mahogany Honey Podcast

Paloma Valenzuela is a Dominican-American writer, Director and actress originally from the city of Boston. She is the Creative Director of the production company La Gringa Loca Productions, LLC. She is the writer/producer/creator of the comedic web series "The Pineapple Diaries". In 2017 the show was featured in Latina Magazine's "5 Web Series Every Latinx Needs to Watch Right Now". Her work has participated as Official Selection at film festivals such as the New Orleans Film Festival and Miami Short Film Festival among others. In 2019 Paloma was featured in Boston Magazine's "Boston's New Creative Guard" and selected as one of the WBUR The Artery 25, a series highlighting millennials of color making an impact in the Boston arts scene. In 2019 Paloma won Best Supporting Actress at the Premios IRIS Dominicana Movie Awards for her role as Lolita in the film "Un 4to de Josue" which is streaming on HBO. Paloma has collaborated with the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum as a museum Neighborhood Salon Artist Luminary. She is the recipient of the 2016 Creative City Grant and in 2019 she was granted the City of Boston Artist Fellowship. In March 2020 Paloma finished editing and launching the third season of "The Pineapple Diaries". She is currently planning for future projects and also has been working as a teaching artist teaching screenwriting and productions for organizations such as GrubStreet in Boston and the Institute of Contemporary Art Boston. She is currently directing a video series for the Gardner Museum called the "Luminary Lens Series". Starting January 2021, Paloma has joined the faculty at Brandeis University as Lecturer of English, teaching Screenwriting in the Creative Writing Department. Episode Description: Here we explore a detailed storytelling journey into her path to becoming a Producer and Owner of La Gringa Loca Productions. Throughout the conversation we hope to give the listeners and viewers a take on highlighting Boston inner cities local talent and advocacy in film. Themes: --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mahogany-honey/support

Our current guest Diamond L. Delancy is a queer, black womxn dedicated to utilizing her Master's degree in Forensic Psychology to understand further the role of mental health and human behavior in the United States' criminal justice and legal systems. Her career experiences and expertise in event planning, public relations, and social justice organizing has shaped her to succeed as Brazen's Chief of Organizational and Cultural Strategy by providing her with the avenues to comfortably and creatively foster and facilitate learning and discussions surrounding social justice issues, oppression and intersections of identity. As a survivor of sexual assault, she primarily hopes to provide workshops for fellow survivors as well as create spaces for black folx to reconnect to and decolonize Black Spirituality and African Traditional Religions (ATRs). Episode Description: Here we explore a detailed storytelling journey into her path to becoming a Co-Founder. Throughout the conversation we hope to give the listeners and viewers on your resilient journey thus far. A heavy focus on triumphs and trials to find healing and begin to embrace her current calling Themes: --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mahogany-honey/support

The real beginning of Mahogany Honey the Podcast started w/ My friend Jenny and I experimenting w/ audio back in July of 2018. I had an ingenious idea at the time to speak on all the different things we were experiencing at the time. I was a year into my grad degree in urban education and could not figure out how I creatively wanted to channel all my experiences and knowledge so I started to record conversations as an outlet. This was the first episode ever produced and broadcasted by your host. The podcast was originally called Melanin Miami Mami and released the following year in 2019 w/ a multitude of episodes ranging on interpersonal topics however life happened and I fell into a saturn return end of my 20’s identity crisis and took a very much well needed mental/emotional pause up until December 2020 where I relaunched/ rebirthed the platform as Mahogany Honey the Podcast. The name honestly came from a prior relationship partner who used to replay Lil Wayne’s mixtape songs “Mahogany” and as an endearment I added the word honey right after it. When I looked up the meaning of the word mahogany (the tropical American tree that produces mahogany timber, widely harvested from the wild ) it just felt right and I knew this was it. I hope you guys are enjoying the revamped content produced and launched of season 1 as we approach the last segment part 3 of the season. Episode Description: Tune in as we take a plunge into the inception of your host experimentation w/ broadcasting audio via podcasting. Learn more about the history of the platform via link in bio Themes: --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mahogany-honey/support

All the way from Birmingham, United Kingdom, Co-Founders of HeyGirlDreamer Amna and Kiran join in conversation with your host as they discuss how and what led them to start a nonprofit for WOC that supports personal and professional development of young women of color. Here we discuss cross culture, changing paths to reach a purpose, breaking cultural traditions, and the different stages of entrepreneurship from start up to now scale up stage. Guest Resource Links: www.girldreamer.co.uk Instagram: @heygirldreamer @aestheticallyamna Twitter: @heygirldreamer_ @kirannotkeiran --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mahogany-honey/support

Breaunna Dorelus is the Founder and Chief Cause Consultant at Connecting the Cause, a consultancy dedicated to helping volunteers and those that lead them identify and uproot harmful volunteer practices specifically towards Black and Brown communities. She is an advocate for voices of color to be heard, recognized and valued in the service and volunteerism sector and believes in keeping community centered in all aspects of the volunteer process. Breauna's work is built on the principal that transformational service must help instead of harm. Starting her decade plus stint in the nonprofit sector as an AmeriCorps member, she has continuously held positions in leading volunteers, creating programming, and spearheading community initiatives in the areas of humanitarian aid, refugee resettlement, and ministry. She received her Bachelor’s degree in International Studies from Georgia Southern University, and her Master’s in Public Administration with a concentration in Nonprofit Management from Georgia State University (Summa Cum Laude). Dialogue Theme: - What happens when we forget about staff/volunteers and apply more emphasis on funders and board members/ - What does it look like to serve effectively - How to place Community at the center and volunteer management - How does one transition from volunteer to employee? - Why are we so hesitant to negotiate salary as bipoc? - Are the lines blurring between nonprofits and for profit when it comes to management style? - How to revoke access to performative allyship - Confronting possessive attitudes of 9-5 in leadership - Many of us who work on passion projects/ side hustles – do you feel like your “allowed” to have individuality outside of your 9-5? - Uprooting harmful corporate practices --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mahogany-honey/support

Social Activist and Founder of Brazen Collective, Yareliz Mendez-Zamora is a daughter of revolutions. Born and raised in Miami, Yareliz grew up listening to her family’s immigration stories and constantly draws inspiration from them. Her family comes from La Tierra de Lagos y Volcanes– Nicaragua. She recently graduated from the University of Miami with her Master's in Education and Community and Social Change. She earned her Bachelor's from the University of Florida with a BA in English and History, as well as a Minor in Latin American Studies. She is involved with Latina Rebels, was a coordinator of the Latin@ Diaspora in the Americas Program, a Student Government Senator, interned at the Broward Public Defender’s Office, was an ambassador at La Casita and more. Currently, she works as a coordinator for a statewide non-profit. Episode Themes: The Path to Becoming an Entrepreneur as a WOC. Throughout the conversation we hope to give the listeners tools on how to overcome barriers to find motivation and begin to embrace their purpose. Themes: - First Generation Entrepreneurs - Nonprofits Industrial Complex – The fight for grants, the mimicking blueprint of harmful for profit corporate structures and the strain in pay grades - imposter syndrome - Race politics among black and brown folks - How to balance a 9-5 and Entrepreneurship tools --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mahogany-honey/support

Social Activist, and Creative Owner of WokeWednesdays, Gerson Sanchez joins me in conversation as we discuss his journey in completing his Doctorate Program and how he became Founder/Host of WokeWednesdays. WokeWednesdays is a media movement dedicated to addressing social justice issues. Throughout the conversation we discuss personal academic struggles, how he finds support, uprooting and addressing toxic masculinity, and how he alchemized his education and personal experiences in creative ways. Episode Themes: Navigating Higher Education, Intellect vs. Emotional intelligence, and so much more --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mahogany-honey/support

Meet Ricely, a Afrolatina, Jesus loving, and marketing videographer who is the current creative owner of The Glo Media. Tune in as she joins me in conversation on how she found her purpose and our take on branding, marketing, and social influencing. Ricely values helping others tell their story in today’s digital era. She believes your brand is more than just a product or service, your story is what sets you apart & her goal is to help you tell it. ⁣ Episode Description: Tune in as we discuss collaboration, building trust and healthy work relationships, the importance of being organized and maintaining it, , learning how to identify micromanaging and building economic equity in urban areas ⁣ ⁣Learn more about Ricely and her services in social media content creation and creative storytelling via @theglomedia and our upcoming episode streaming via most listening platforms and youtube.⁣ Resource Links: Instagram: @ricelyestela & @theglomedia Website: theglomedia.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mahogany-honey/support

Social Activist, Creative Owner of Solidarity&Co. and Host of The Mix of BGM - Podcast Mo Pirela, joins me in conversation in unpacking gatekeeping in corporate America, managing intersectionality of a black womxn, and the realities of what it is like to “step out in faith” when there are no seats available at the table. Dialogue Themes: The reputation behind the word bitterness, Gender Equity and Inclusion, Queerness in Corporate Communities, Intersectionality in Feminism, and The Danger of Idolizing those in Leadership Positions --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mahogany-honey/support

Join us in conversation while we go on this rollercoaster ride of the tried and true as newlyweds during 2020's pandemic. Michaelle Syleus, a current Licensed Mental Health Clinician in practice and her spouse Ricardo Alexander do life together through the peaks and valley. As big-hearted Disciples of Christ, they hope to make a difference in lives of others through their personal journey. In this episode we learn what it was like to get married during a pandemic. Throughout the conversation we hope to give the listeners tools on how to navigate marriage in this day and age as millennials. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mahogany-honey/support

Join us in conversation with Jasmin Stewart as we discuss what it is like to navigate a relationship during a pandemic, keeping the romance alive, unpacking difficult conversations, and managing expectations when it comes to finances and so much more. Resident nomad and an International Education Professional for nearly a decade. Jasmin has lived and worked all over the country and oversees. For her latest move, she has relocated from Silicon Valley (San Francisco, California) to Silicon Hills (Austin, Texas). The last 5 years she worked as a Program Director for an EdTech start-up that partners with universities around the country to enhance the international student experience. Her global experience is what gives her such a unique perspective on love, life, and everything that happens in-between. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mahogany-honey/support

Dominican Writer and Home Based Baker, Lizbel Ortiz was born and raised in East New York after her parents migrated to the U.S. in the late 80’s from the Dominican Republic. She recently released her first book “Let’s Talk About It.” Most of her teenage years and early adult years into researching and dissecting Dominican and Caribbean culture. Plus the effects racism, sexism and classism have had on us and our elders. It is without a doubt that her goal is educate the Latinx community how to pinpoint and unlearn toxicity, violence, ideologies and beliefs that were taught to us by the wounded so we can heal ourselves and raise children who don’t have to fight through chaos. Episode Themes: Tune into this detailed storytelling journey into her path to becoming an Author. Throughout the conversation we hope to give the readers and listeners tools on how to start having difficult conversations around family dynamics and confront barriers to find healing and begin to reparent ourselves. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mahogany-honey/support

This episode was originally recorded in December of 2019. I decided to dust off this episode to give my listeners a better idea into my own inward journey. I believe this was the best way I could document my saturn return and shadow work. Those who have decide to look at their generational transgressions, self sabotage, aged wounds, and forego spiritual transformation will know it is a journey that forever leaves an imprint. A blank slate means watching your life take a drastic shift and is no longer what you knew it to be. Illusions are shattered, you meet face to face with aspects of yourself that you don't want to look at because it means pulling back the curtain, cleaning out your emotional closet, and unpack. The emotional work is real and not many of us are ready or willing to go through the flames in order to rise like a phoenix. If you do decide to do this inner work please find community as this is not meant to be experienced alone. We deserve to give ourselves a chance and take up space unapologetically. Tune in as your host ventures solo through vulnerability, challenges of taking "leaps of faith" in changing careers, and confronting head on personal failures and question "WHO AM I". --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mahogany-honey/support

Karina is a creative health-wellness advocate that works for one of the top tech-companies as a health coach. She dedicates her time towards promoting growth within the WOC (Women of Color) community by teaching them how to stay motivated in their wellness journey. She has been recognized as a leading Latinx influencer that breaks through cultural barriers. Tune in as we explore cultural comfort foods, the root causes behind emotional over eating and how it all circle backs to operating in survival mode. Furthermore, we dive into beauty perceptions of natural beauty vs. external enhancements in marginalized communities and bring forth awareness of human and sex trafficking across the marginalized spectrum in urban cities. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mahogany-honey/support

Tune in as we discuss Shawnee’s self-evolution as a licensed social worker to a mindset coach and author. Throughout the conversation we hope to give the readers and listeners tools on how to overcome mental and emotional barriers to find holistic wellness. After working in healthcare for many years, Shawnee developed a desire to become more active in helping people overcome the challenges in their lives. Shawnee is an author who released her book, “Shifting Your Mindset: A Guide to Overcome Depression, Anxiety & Trauma” October 2020. The book focuses on identifying ways to change your perspective on life. As a mental health therapist, Shawnee wrote scenarios based on her own life experiences to give the readers a great idea of how they can overcome many life obstacles--from unhealthy relationships to abandonment issues. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mahogany-honey/support

Join your Host in a solo session as she ventures through the sea of her own self-exploration. Hear her views on social change, ethics, validation, courage, accountability, and duty to act once discernment and knowledge are aligned. Grab your journals and self-reflect if we are acting consciously or robotically in relation to our service and hold space for your intuition. This episode was originally recorded and launched in December of 2019 when I decided to ask myself a series of questions such as, what does support look like as we continue to evolve/shift? What to do when we start to question the things we once fought for? Do we forget that we are catalysts as we fight through stagnation? --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mahogany-honey/support

Clinical Social Worker Tahis Zuniga joins me in a conversation on the current public health environment during the pandemic. The discussion walks you through a day in the life working in spaces dedicated to mental health such as a psychiatric unit, handling ethical challenges and social barriers such as millennial burnout stigmas of being a young professional seeking professional resources for self within the mental health field --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mahogany-honey/support

Student Service Director Jasmin Stewart joins me in a conversation on our current college climate during a pandemic. We navigate the challenges students and staff are confronting. The discussion covers topics on managing international students, diversity, performative allyship concerns, turnover, and the need for more awareness of educational policy changes starting with our current secretary of education. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mahogany-honey/support

Foster Care Specialist Karem Rodriguez joins me in a conversation on the current cross-cultural gaps inner cities face between BIPOC (Blacks, Indigenous, People of Color) in foster care and the ongoing disparities within juvenile justice that continue to affect youth and social workers in urban cities (Miami, FL). --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mahogany-honey/support