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Who Gets to Be Black, Anyway? Mixed Race Truths, HSP Realness, and Parenting Under Pressure

Off Color

Release Date: 01/20/2025

Spoon Brain, Rap Rivalries, and the Superb Owl show art Spoon Brain, Rap Rivalries, and the Superb Owl

Off Color

Host: Rebekah Henderson (spelled R-E-B-E-K-A-H) Co-Host: Samuel Gonzalez Guest: Cel Wilson Time-Coded Highlights 00:00:07 – 00:00:13 Rebekah kicks off the show, introducing Off Color and its focus on race, pop culture, and well-being. 00:00:25 – 00:00:31 Sam enters the conversation and shares their current mood check. 00:01:11 – 00:01:37 The hosts delve into personal updates and set the tone for a candid, wide-ranging chat. 00:20:05 – 00:20:21 Special guest joins. Brief intro to Cel’s background as a musician and vocal coach. 00:21:44 – 00:22:02 Cel explains how anyone...

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Off Color

In this lively and wide-ranging episode of Off Color, host Rebekah Henderson and co-host Samuel Gonzalez  dive into a whirlwind of topics—from personal updates and current events to the role of art in social change. Midway through, they welcome special guest Lynn Johnson, a queer Black theatre artist working on a powerful new project supporting queer and trans youth in New Mexico. Whether you’re here for the sharp wit, deep dives, or the celebration of community, this episode delivers candid conversations and vibrant storytelling that fans of Off Color have come to love. Key Segments...

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Off Color

Episode Summary In this lively and unfiltered episode, Sam and Rebekah delve into everything from personal financial challenges and collective boycotts to civil rights parallels between 1968 and 2025. Rebekah shares her powerful experience screening her film, Running With My Girls, in Jackson, Mississippi—reminding her why community, sisterhood, and collective action matter. They also discuss recent executive orders affecting immigrant advocacy organizations, reflect on the historical echoes of disenfranchisement, and premiere a quirky AI-generated tune about dieting woes. As always, expect...

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Off Color

Show Notes Summary In this lively (and often hilarious) episode of the Off Color Podcast, hosts Rebekah and Sam experiment with their show’s format while grappling with the emotional ups and downs of current events. They kick things off by acknowledging listener feedback and the ongoing evolution of the podcast. Rebekah shares her raw feelings about the political turmoil post-inauguration—expressing frustration, anxiety, and hope in equal measure. A key highlight is Rebekah’s story about meeting Pulitzer Prize–winner Isabel Wilkerson, author of Caste, and how that powerful encounter...

info_outline Who Gets to Be Black, Anyway? Mixed Race Truths, HSP Realness, and Parenting Under Pressure show art Who Gets to Be Black, Anyway? Mixed Race Truths, HSP Realness, and Parenting Under Pressure

Off Color

Episode Summary In this lively episode of Off Color, host Rebekah Henderson and co-host Samuel Gonzalez welcome two special guests: Soltahr Tiv-Amanda – a therapist and spiritual teacher Janae Burris – a Denver-based comedian Together, they dive into topics guaranteed to spark both insight and debate: Personal Updates & Humor Rebekah’s unfiltered life updates set a candid tone. Sam shares reflections on navigating transitions and creative ruts. Janae adds her trademark comedic edge, juggling parenthood, career, and cultural identity. Being a Highly Sensitive Person...

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Off Color

In this episode, Rebekah and her co-host Sam dive deep into the evolving conversations around race, identity, and cultural representation, as seen through the lens of TikTok's algorithm-driven echo chambers. The discussion explores the complexities of blackness, mixed-race identity, and the historical baggage that shapes these dialogues today. The hosts reflect on their personal experiences, generational differences, and the ways social media both amplifies and distorts these critical conversations. Key topics include: The role of TikTok in fostering discussions on race and identity....

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Off Color

In this special year-end episode of Off Color, hosts Rebekah Henderson and Samuel Gonzalez experiment with a hybrid format of voice messages, AI-generated commentary, and raw reflections. Rebekah—under the weather and feeling the weight of another challenging year—introduces a unique “very COVIDed Christmas” approach, weaving humor and vulnerability into the show’s fabric. Amidst muffled masks and muffled feelings, the conversation drifts through the complexities of personal authenticity, the odd comfort of AI-generated praise, and the sometimes uneasy dance between sincerity and...

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Off Color

This episode of Off Color is a wonderful resource for anyone navigating mental health, mixed-race identity, and the joys and struggles of living authentically. Yay! 🎉 We dive deep into therapy, ancestral connections, and how comedy can heal, with laughs and insights all along the way. If you loved this episode, we'd love to hear from you! Call us and leave a message (the funnier, the better!) or slide into Sam’s DMs on Instagram—your thoughts could even make it into a future episode! And hey, if you want to support what we’re doing, head over to our Patreon. Every little bit helps us...

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Off Color

In this thought-provoking episode of Off Color, hosts Rebekah Henderson and Samuel Gonzalez dive into a whirlwind conversation sparked by the film adaptation of Wicked. They explore themes of societal norms, allyship, and the parallels between art and real-world struggles, with some reflective AI-inspired commentary woven throughout. Rebekah shares her deeply personal connection to Wicked, seeing herself in Elphaba's misunderstood resilience and the societal pressures of being an outsider. Samuel counters with his own reflections on privilege, performative activism, and how media like...

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Off Color

Show Notes 00:00:00 - 00:02:06 - Introduction and Buffy the Vampire Slayer Discussion Rebekah shares her thoughts on the Thanksgiving episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, focusing on the portrayal of the Native American Chumash tribe. Sam criticizes the episode for its handling of racial topics, noting that it features white characters discussing Thanksgiving without proper insight. Rebekah mentions that James Marsters (who played Spike) is available on Cameo and humorously suggests she would love a personalized message. 00:02:06 - 00:03:20 - Debate on Representation and Context Sam...

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Episode Summary

In this lively episode of Off Color, host Rebekah Henderson and co-host Samuel Gonzalez welcome two special guests:

  • Soltahr Tiv-Amanda – a therapist and spiritual teacher

  • Janae Burris – a Denver-based comedian

Together, they dive into topics guaranteed to spark both insight and debate:

  1. Personal Updates & Humor

    • Rebekah’s unfiltered life updates set a candid tone.

    • Sam shares reflections on navigating transitions and creative ruts.

    • Janae adds her trademark comedic edge, juggling parenthood, career, and cultural identity.

  2. Being a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP)

    • Soltahr introduces the concept of HSP traits, discussing overlaps with ADHD and deep empathy.

    • Practical tips for maintaining emotional balance, grounding, and self-care so sensitivity becomes a superpower instead of a burden.

  3. Race and Identity in Colonial America

    • Rebekah references historian A.B. Wilkinson’s Blurring the Lines of Race and Freedom: Mulattoes and Mixed Bloods in English Colonial America.

    • They unpack how colonial laws (especially partus sequitur ventrem) entrenched the “one-drop rule” and shaped rigid racial hierarchies still affecting us today.

  4. Modern-Day Colorism & ‘Who Gets to Be Black?’

    • The group confronts the lingering question of who’s “allowed” to claim Blackness.

    • Insights on how internal divisions—rooted in white supremacy—still play out in families and communities.

  5. Parenting & Tough Artistic Choices

    • Janae opens up about balancing her comedic freedom with the need to provide for her child.

    • The reality of microaggressions, gatekeepers, and navigating predominantly white spaces as a Black artist—especially with bills to pay.

  6. Spiritual Guidance & Personal Liberation

    • Sam pulls an oracle card, sparking a reflection on creativity, birth, and weaving beauty into daily life.

    • Soltahr explores healing intergenerational trauma and embracing every facet of one’s heritage, from the deeply spiritual to the everyday practical.

  7. A Call for Unity

    • They underscore how racism thrives on division.

    • A rallying cry for finding shared humanity and building community strength across generational lines.

 

 

Notable Quotes

On the burden of identity:
“We’ll never be free until we stop worrying about what other people think about us.” – Soltahr Tiv-Amanda

On speaking truth to power:
“It’s a lot easier to say how you really feel when you don’t have to worry about feeding a child… but as a mom, I can’t cost my kid his meals.” – Janae Burris

“I want to get free—that’s what the podcast is about. I want to be able to just be myself and not wonder what other people are thinking. I think it has ruined a lot of wonderful moments in my life and a lot of artistic, creative endeavors I’ve embarked upon, because I’m so concerned that people are not liking it.”
— Rebekah Henderson

 

 

Show Credits

  • Hosted by: Rebekah Henderson

  • Co-Hosted by: Samuel Gonzalez

  • Guests:

    • Soltahr Tiv-Amanda (Therapist, Spiritual Teacher)

    • Janae Burris (Comedian)

  • Theme Song: James Meakim

  • Music & Editing: Tan Tigress Productions LLC

 

 

Links & Resources

 

 

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Thank you for tuning in to Off Color! We appreciate every listener who joins our mission of exploring race, identity, and the ongoing quest for personal and collective liberation. Feel free to share your thoughts or questions—and until next time, stay curious!