Don't Hold Back

It's been a year...a whole year since we all went home in March of 2020 and expected that this would only last for a few weeks. A year later, Alixx and I take a moment to reflect on grief, our last day outside, and how we cannot wait to go to the movies. Listen to us as Alixx tells us about her job as an EMT and how we all need to give more grace to each other.

Last episode of 2020!!!!! Syedah comes on the podcast to talk about black people getting superpowers, lessons we learned this year, and how black people stay "black peopling." This year has been nothing short of a ride so listen to us laugh and crack jokes as we send 2020 off in style! See you all in 2021!

It's Nov. 5th, 2020. Two things are true: we still don't know who the president is and Margaret and I are not having a good week. We chat about our coping mechanisms the past few days, Margaret's almost suppressed vote, my sudden illness, and my quota of white people. Through the laughs and realization that our democracy is truly doomed, Margaret talks to me about the hard conversations she has with her white peers about racism, politics, and everything in between.

Josh Foster is one of the only people I know who can get into an uber ride and leave the car with a job offer from the driver! We all know those people, who seem to connect with almost anyone in such a genuine way. So Josh came on the podcast to tell me and you all how networking can be done in a way that is not inherently transactional. Our conversation led to him coining the term "microwave networker", cluing me into one of his special day jobs, and sharing with me a hilarious, yet...

Josh Foster is one of the only people I know who can get into an uber ride and leave the car with a job offer from the driver! We all know those people, who seem to connect with almost anyone in such a genuine way. So Josh came on the podcast to tell me and you all how networking can be done in a way that is not inherently transactional. Our conversation led to him coining the term "microwave networker", cluing me into one of his special day jobs, and sharing with me a hilarious, yet...

It's October, Halloween is around the corner, and today is the start of Scorpio Szn, so it only makes sense that my return episode is all about fear! Today, Mallika and I take a moment to talk about the bad reputation that the emotion fear gets and how we shift the use of fear in our lives. We talk about how we examined fear in our youth, the loss of curiosity as an adult, and Mallika tells everyone her American Dream: free therapy for all. Listen all the way through as Mallika drops gems,...

Don't Hold Back is on a hiatus for two weeks and will be back in October! In the meantime, please let me know if there are any topics you want to hear about!!!

Today's episode is more informal than usual in the best way possible. Jessica and I took some time, to talk about why black women are tired of being expected to save the world. We laughed a lot and asked many rhetorical questions! Of course it is me, so we do get around to serious topics. There is drinking involved in this episode so that should explain things!

Today on the podcast, Ron comes to discuss the complex duality of buying black while imagining an anti-capitalistic world. We discuss how people can examine the ills of capitalism in America and acknowledge the way black people were not afforded generational wealth. Other topics include: entrepreneurship, Booker T. Washington, and James Baldwin. Articles for more info: https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/nipsey-killer-mike-race-economics/tnamp/...

After Jacob Blake's shooting earlier this week and the RNC coming to a close last night, it only made sense that this week would be all about politics. Leanna and Shondrea hopped on to discuss what a Biden/Harris presidency means to them, the idea of representation, and if abstaining to vote is actually a vote for Trump. Keep listening to hear me go on a rant about how the act of voting is not as individualistic and revolutionary as we have all been led to believe. Listen up!

With the release of Black Is King last week, the age old question of if Black people can perform cultural appropriation came back to the surface. Can Black Americans misuse African culture? Is Africa being treated as a monolith? Today I speak with Ezeugo, a college friend who is Nigerian American and discuss ethnicity, college politics, and if any of the critiques of Beyoncé are valid. Listen closely because we even touch on Drake and his...weird accents in songs. Ezeugo's Twitter:...

Kira, one of my dear friends, comes on the podcast today to discuss what it means to date to marry. Which basically means, the idea of dating with intention and not just for an experience. We talk about her upcoming wedding, my hesitancy regarding marriage, and why everyone talks about marriage like it is the hardest thing in the entire world.

Remember that really bad break up with your ex? Well that can happen with friends too...or can it? Today Austin and I discuss how we both navigate our friendships, why we are all taught to prioritize romantic relationships, and how it is very possible to mourn a friendship that has ended. We even took a chance to dive into how covid impacts our friendships these days!

Shondrea, a second time guest on the podcast, takes some time to talk to me about what fat phobia means and how we all participate in it. Those little comments we say to ourselves about our body? Fatphobic. The judgement you have when someone wears something you don't think looks good on fat people...fatphobic. Listen to Shondrea as she tells us why we take part in something that always hurts us.

Today on the podcast we talk all things celebrities! Celebrity culture is a staple of American culture, but with a pandemic and a civil rights movement, celebrity culture is shifting as we know it. Elisabetta gets on the podcast today to tell me why she loves celebrities, we discuss if celebs should speak up on important issues, and inevitably we talk about Beyoncé. Also please listen to Leanna's podcast Absolutely Not, where she debunks many popular ideas. If you listen to the 3rd episode...

Today Blake VP and I talk about all things entrepreneurship on the podcast. Since most of Twitter and Instagram encourages people to start their own businesses and stop working their 9am-5pm jobs, I decided to talk to Blake about his journey as a business owner. He is the founder of Cise Agency, a branding and design agency. Blake breaks down the myths of being your own boss, tells us why "Rise and Grind" Twitter should keep going, and listens to me struggle to say the word...

Lavender and I take a moment to talk about dating during this time. Should we be doing it? Should y'all be doing? Are we doing it? We sit and dissect texting practices and how if you didn't start this quarantine with a partner, you really can't date until 2021. Enjoy!

Nia Ashley, a writer, producer, and dear friend, takes some time to discuss with me what classifies a work of art as "Black art." We take time to go into why we hate the trash talk about Lizzo, Kenya Barris should hire us to make another "ish" show, and that in our demand for more Black art, we want art that is pretty terrible as well.

Happy Juneteenth! On this historic day for black people, I give you a longer episode where my two friends, Dele and Miles, take some time to talk and laugh with me. All of us discuss growing up black in our respective locations, high school, and the age old debate of Predominately White Institutions vs. Historically Black Colleges and Universities. In addition, we take a tiny dive into the different ways we perform blackness and that no matter what, black people will always laugh.

Jelani Jenkins, a former NFL player, and possibly my long lost cousin, took some time to talk to me about what it means to be mindful. We discussed how people can center themselves in this trying time with self love, how protest takes different forms, and how practice sometimes does make perfect.