You all are in for a treat with this Season 1 Finale. I knew when I started this podcast I wanted to end the season speaking about Joy. When working with my coaching clients to explore their niche in their business, I always start with the question “what brings you joy, that solves a problem/ fills a need for other people, that you’re good at & that they’ll pay you for?

They would be able to come up with 3 out of 4, but the first one got them stuck, the joy. What is joy? Where does it come from? What does it feel like? Why is it scary? I still ask myself these questions as well, beyond my work, but in who I am, and in just being. I'm so grateful to have the author of Black Joy on to dig in!

As a writer and thought-leader, Tracey Michae’l Lewis-Giggetts offers those who read her work and hear her speak an authentic experience; an opportunity to explore the intersection of culture, identity, and spirituality at the deepest levels. She is the founder of HeARTspace, a healing community created to serve those who have experienced trauma of any kind through the use of storytelling and the arts.

Tracey has published 25 books including several collaborations with numerous high-profile authors. Calling herself a “literary midwife,” Tracey is a highly sought-after ghostwriter/collaborator whose work includes two New York Times bestselling books by Tabitha Brown, Better Not Bitter by Yusef Salaam, Sideshow by Rickey Smiley, and many others. In 2021, Tracey became one of 20 writers who contributed to the groundbreaking book, You are Your Best Thing: Vulnerability, Shame Resilience, and the Black Experience edited by acclaimed researcher, Brene Brown, and founder of the MeToo Movement, Tarana Burke.

In 2022, Tracey's critically-acclaimed book, Black Joy: Stories of Resistance, Resilience, and Restoration was published and won the 2023 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work - Instructional and has received rave reviews from celebrities like Kerry Washington and media outlets like Good Morning America, Essence Magazine, and USA Today. Her dynamic journal/ daily devotional, The Black Joy Playbook: 30 Days to Intentionally Reclaiming Your Delight released on October 29, 2024.

#joy #blackjoy #innerchildhealing #collectiveliberation

This Election Bonus episode channels our best School House Rock, and discussing the mechanics of Election Day. From not automatically expecting immediate results and tuning out the noise trying to drive chaos. As well as where to turn if you run into any issues at the polls. Nothing beats anxiety like information!

Double check registration and FAQs: https://www.vote411.org Election Protection Hotline: 1-866-OUR-VOTE

Marcia Johnson, Esq. is the Chief Counsel for the League of Women Voters. She leads the organization's advocacy and litigation teams. Before joining the League, Marcia worked as the co-director of the Lawyers’ Committee’s Voting Rights Project, where she led the organization’s work convening the nationally recognized Election Protection, a nonpartisan voter protection coalition.

The coalition’s goals include ensuring that voters have any support needed when casting a ballot. Marcia has also done extensive work researching the history of discrimination in voting, advocating for legislation reform to improve access to voting, and advocating for the full restoration of the full protections of the Voting Rights Act.

Marcia’s work throughout her career has profoundly impacted the nation. She played a pivotal role organizing two national commissions that researched the record of discrimination in voting within the United States. Commission findings were a significant part of the record that Congress pointed to when it reauthorized the Voting Rights Act in 2006.

The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization working to protect and expand voting rights and ensure everyone is represented in our democracy. They empower voters and defend democracy through advocacy, education, and litigation, at the local, state, and national levels.

#vote #informationispower #shirleychisholm #collectiveliberation

Coming out later in life can feel like finding parts of yourself that have been hidden in plain sight. In this episode, we explore the lack of affirming visibility for Queer Black Women especially and its impact on our identity development. Also how our minds and bodies-through somatic responses —keep us safe by not allowing us to see ourselves, even subconsciously. Because belonging is a human need for survival. It's a journey of unlearning, self-acceptance, and finally embracing who we've always been.

One of the biggest things that l've become more deeply aware of since coming out is just how much patriarchy is hurting all of us, especially when it comes to living the fullest expression of authentic ourselves. Most people are extremely repressed when it comes to relationships and sexuality because we are all trying to fit into the same mold, and the very real dangers associated with realizing you are your own blueprint & stepping outside of what is deemed the norm.

Today's guest, Victoria D. Stubbs, LICSW, LCSW-C, RMT, is a therapist, educator, wellness coach, writer, reiki practitioner, psychic medium and the founder of Inner Truth Psychotherapy and Wellness, LLC. Victoria’s practice combines her over 20 years of social work and teaching experience with her intuitive abilities to offer a space for healing and growth to all who seek it.

Her areas of practice include coming out later in life, sexuality & gender identity, anxiety, trauma, relationships, life transitions and stress. She also offers clinical supervision & consultation as well as mediumship sessions. Victoria has co-authored several peer reviewed journal articles, is a contributing writer for QueerPsych.com and is the author of Untangled: A Black Woman’s Journey to Personal, Spiritual and Sexual Freedom.

https://www.innertruthllc.com/