Say It Louder

Call it a comeback.  That's exactly what it is!  This is the first episode after three years, and it was COVID that gave me the space to be at home and a push from my friend that made me pick up the microphone.  In this episode, I definitely have COVID brain because I am all over the place, but what comes out of this is the addressing of this notion that we can't ask God the question, "Why?" because I felt that there were things that were being disrupted, but I soon uncovered that I received clarity due to having the time and space to hear the answer to the question I asked.  There some more random stuff I sprinkled in this episode, so tune in.  

On this episode, the second episode dealing with toxicity, I am in the zone with two beautiful and successful female guests, Victoria Edwards (IG: vk_thestylist) and Markia Graham (IG: @keezy070).  We are talking about dating in the "Millennial age."  What is it like out there from the perspective of two successful, black women who are in different realms of the millennial range? How does your own rearing impact the way you view dating and joining with a potential person?  Tune in as we answer some questions and get insight.  

In this episode, I delve into the world of dating and relationships, but leaning into the perspective of toxicity and six reasons one is attracted to people who display toxic traits.  

Guest:  Dr. Kenycia Byrd
An antithesis to Beyonce's "Cozy" on her recent album, Renaissance, this episode is also a continuation of the concern regarding the children of the world, this episodes delves into the impact that social media has on our children which often times tends to be more negative than positive.  Whether it has to do with the various challenges that social media outlets present which inspires destructive behaviors, or the concerning ways they view themselves regarding appearance and self-esteem.  Unfortunately, these effects impact behaviors which become actions, which then becomes standard of living well into adulthood.   

Warriors of an African tribe called the Masai would greet one another with the saying,  “Kasserian ingera” which means, "How are the children?" acknowledging the high value that the Masai always place on their children’s well-being.  Unfortunately, for me, I don't believe that ALL children in our country and across the world, regardless of nationality, skin color, and socio-economic status are treated with a high value which is synonymous with the Masai.
There are so many distractors that shape the minds and behaviors of our children that can be believed are strategically introduced to set them on a path to live beneath their wildest dreams.  It's time to call it out! 

Season 2 opens as I am joined with my friend and acting comrade @iamasa_a, to discuss the slap heard around the world and the aftermath that has manifested with three comedians getting on stage with an actual goat that continues the attention and conversation about a debate of rights and wrongs.  We are giving our perspectives on the "what" and the possible "whys" as we also get into the subjects of trauma, the impact this situation has had on black male actors, and more.  

Everybody is talking about the controversy that occurred at the Oscars between Mr. Smith and Mr. Rock.  The LA Times coined the situation as "the slap that was heard across the world."  The perspective of this episode focuses on the deeper issue that men face when it comes to protecting the family and serving as protectors.  There is so much more to manhood than just being a protector and a provider.  What lies beneath needs to be discovered and understood.  

This episode empowers the people with power who refuse and can't seem to fit in to the "norm."  They challenge the status quo, they have reached a level of enlightenment and self-love, and they are unapologetic in a society that tries to make us apologize and makes every attempt to silence us or make us silence ourselves.  Here, I also give a personal account of a situation I was faced with, my attempt to make myself smaller, and my "a-'woke'-ening" that welcomed me to a new benchmark of loving myself for me.  

There are two faces to the holiday season:  (1) happy and gleeful that is focused on shopping and spreading good tidings of great joy and (2) depressed and downtrodden.  How can one whose life does not align to cheeriness that everyone speaks about deal with the "holiday stretch"?  

Final episode of the Inner Child series focuses on the trust wound.  People who have the trust wound expect to be hurt and often times sabotage in order to protect themselves.  Just like other wounds, the trust wound can be healed.