Black Oxygen
Angela Russell is a Black woman who loves Wisconsin. That said, with so few Black folks in the state, sometimes she needs a little extra dose of Black oxygen. A place where she can breathe, connect, restore by hearing and listening deeply to Black folks in this shared journey of life. This podcast will feature and highlight the Black voices in Wisconsin and a little beyond. We hope that these conversations will lift your spirits and give you a few moments to breathe. Get your candles lit and your incense burning. It’s time for Black Oxygen.
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Carmella Glenn: The thin line between love and hate
08/03/2026
Carmella Glenn: The thin line between love and hate
Content note: police violence, domestic violence, incarceration, and substance use. In the days after Corey Ruiz was killed by Madison police on Williamson Street, Angela sits down with Carmella Glenn, Alder for District 18. Carmella traces her path into criminal justice reform — a family cycled through the correctional system, years spent working inside the walls herself — and makes the case for civilian oversight as the thing our city can't afford to get wrong. She breaks down what the Office of the Independent Police Monitor actually does, why Madison's has struggled to gain traction, and how monitors elsewhere have driven measurable change — in Denver, a monitor-driven use-of-force policy cut incidents 21% over 20 months. She's honest about the trauma carried on every side, officers included, and shares a moment that stopped her cold: on day 25 of her own oversight education campaign, she came face to face with a former detective she'd once testified against. Her throughline — healing won't come from a single leader or a single fix. It comes from a community equipped to hold every level of government accountable, and from the harder work of undoing what we've inherited, not just reforming it.
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Kierston Ghaznavi: AI & Art
07/20/2026
Kierston Ghaznavi: AI & Art
This episode of Black Oxygen is a recording of Black Oxygen Live featuring Milwaukee-based artist Kierston Ghaznavi. Born in Arkansas raised in Milwaukee, Kierston has been doing art most of her life. In conversation with Angela, Kierston talks about her history of making paper dolls, going to school for graphic design but realizing she doesn’t want to design for other people, and AI and art. Of AI and art Kierston states, “AI focuses on the outcome of the piece as opposed to the process itself.” #BlackOxygenPodcast #BlackPodcasters #WisconsinArtists #BlackArtists#BlackInMadison #BlackInWisconsin #414 #WisconsinWomen For more about Kierston:
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Keena Atkinson and Gaylene Barber-Sirmons: Community care starts at home
07/06/2026
Keena Atkinson and Gaylene Barber-Sirmons: Community care starts at home
Content note: This episode includes discussion of domestic violence and abuse. Please listen with care. If you or someone you know needs support, the National Domestic Violence Hotline is available 24/7 at 1-800-799-7233 or . When Keena Atkinson joined Black Oxygen last year, she knew the conversation wasn't finished — and she knew exactly who needed to be part of what came next: her mother. In this episode, Keena returns alongside Gaylene Barber-Sirmons, making her podcast debut at nearly 70 years old, and together they open up a conversation about survival, faith, healing, and the kind of mother-daughter relationship that gets rebuilt, not inherited. Gaylene shares her Wisconsin story — how she came to Madison in the late 1990s while escaping an abusive marriage, working weekdays in IT and driving back to the Quad Cities every weekend to be with her daughters until she could bring them home. She recounts the night she left for good: a prayer in a quiet bedroom, a voice telling her to go now, a hotel clerk who asked no questions, and $500 she didn't know she had — money her own mother had been quietly setting aside because she knew her daughter would need it one day. Keena reflects on witnessing her mother's strength as a child, on leaving her own abusive relationship years later, and on what it took for the two of them to build the honest, unshakeable bond they share today. As she puts it, their relationship wasn't handed to them — they burned it down and rebuilt it, together, more than once. In a season devoted to collective care, this conversation is a living example of it: care that starts at home, shows up consistently, and passes strength between generations in both directions. In this episode: Gaylene's journey from the Quad Cities to Madison, and the year of weekend drives that reunited her family The night she left: faith, obedience, and a path that cleared itself How a credit union, a hotel clerk, a lifelong best friend, and a praying mother formed a web of quiet community care Keena on leadership that begins at home — and a mother whose mind, once set, has never missed Healing after abuse: independence, scripture, and refusing to disappear Rebuilding a mother-daughter relationship from the ground up Decentering men, contentment in singleness, and joy on your own terms Two generations of Black women teaching wellness in Madison — groove, dance fitness, yoga, and "preventing preventable prognoses" On community care, from Gaylene: "Community care is… not that one-time help. It's consistent help, showing up, checking in… You never know when someone is struggling quietly." Connect with the guests: Gaylene teaches Groove classes at MSCR (Thursdays, 12:00 PM) and Princeton Club East (Fridays, 11:10 AM), and is available for private group sessions of five or more. (Times to be confirmed) Keena's classes and annual August wellness retreat: (sign up for the monthly newsletter) or follow her on Facebook at Keena StayFly Atkinson and on Instagram
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Mandela Barnes: Dream Bigger
06/22/2026
Mandela Barnes: Dream Bigger
Mandela Barnes returns to Black Oxygen for a wide-ranging conversation about his Wisconsin roots, his run for governor, and what it actually takes to rebuild trust across a divided state. Angela and Mandela talk about the Milwaukee factory jobs that built his family's foundation, the corporate greed driving both the opioid crisis and the urban-rural divide, why social media profits from division, and what it means to lead from a place of doubt instead of certainty. They close out with Wisconsin hidden gems and Mandela's current playlist. Topics Covered Mandela's family story: his grandfather, A.O. Smith, and growing up on 26th and Locust in Milwaukee Why he's chosen to keep fighting for Wisconsin instead of leaving for a national platform Running for office as an act of care, and what government's spending priorities reveal The shared struggles underneath the urban-rural divide in Wisconsin Corporate greed, the opioid epidemic, and accountability How social media profits from manufactured division, and what it would take to rebuild third spaces Leading from doubt instead of certainty, and what it takes to actually listen His vision for Wisconsin, and why he still believes better is possible The crowded 2026 Democratic primary for governor, and why he sees that as healthy for democracy Lessons from the 2022 Senate race and the role of money in politics Wisconsin hidden gems: Madeline Island and Havenwoods State Forest How to get to know your neighbor again, starting with a simple hello Mandela's current playlist Notable Quotes "I believe that better is possible." — Mandela Barnes "There's so much money in division." — Mandela Barnes "If you're never in doubt, you're not leading right." — Mandela Barnes "Sometimes you just gotta say hi." — Mandela Barnes "It's the people around me, you know, people I grew up with, people I went to school with. If they haven't made it, then what good does it do?" — Mandela Barnes Approximate Timestamps 00:00 — Welcome back, Mandela Barnes 02:26 — His Wisconsin story: family, A.O. Smith, growing up on 26th and Locust 05:21 — Why stay and fight for Wisconsin 07:43 — Corporate greed and concentrated wealth 11:13 — Collective care and running for office 12:05 — Government spending priorities: public housing and SNAP versus wars of choice 17:05 — The shared struggles beneath the urban-rural divide 19:04 — The opioid epidemic and corporate accountability 21:48 — Social media, manufactured division, and who profits from it 26:09 — Self-righteousness, listening, and leaving room for co-creation 35:22 — His vision and hope for Wisconsin 38:14 — The crowded Democratic primary for governor 39:25 — Lessons from the 2022 Senate race and the money spent against him 43:03 — Wisconsin hidden gems: Madeline Island and Havenwoods State Forest 46:24 — Getting to know your neighbor, one hello at a time 47:34 — Mandela's playlist 48:11 — Where to find Mandela Barnes Where to Find Mandela Barnes Social media: @TheOtherMandela Website: Where to Find Black Oxygen Produced in partnership with Madison365, amplifying voices across Wisconsin.
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T.R. Williams: On having a perspective beyond your own
06/08/2026
T.R. Williams: On having a perspective beyond your own
T.R. Williams, Wisconsin Women's Network Policy Institute lead facilitator, Senior Director of Development at United Way, business owner, and newly initiated member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated — returns to Black Oxygen for an in-depth conversation about the importance of community. TR traces her family's Great Migration story from Mississippi to Milwaukee, and her own winding path from New York City to Madison, where she's been longer than she planned. She and Angela reflect on the particular texture of Black life in Madison — the hidden neighborhoods, east side vs west side life, and the community you have to know to find. TR offers a sharp, grounded critique of meritocracy — how it sells Black people on individualism and severs us from the very thing that has kept us alive: community care. She talks about what the 2024 election clarified for her, why she chose to stay engaged rather than divest, and what radical rest actually looks like as a political act. In this episode: Community care as resistance, the myth of meritocracy, epigenetics and survival, the Divine Nine in Madison, self-care beyond the spa day, Audre Lorde's radical self-preservation, and how to start building community without going 0 to 100.
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What's coming from Black Oxygen
05/25/2026
What's coming from Black Oxygen
A quick update from Black Oxygen host Angela Russell about what's coming up next on Black Oxygen.
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Tyrone Creech: Chosen Family, Consent Culture, and the Fight for LGBTQ Youth in Wisconsin
05/11/2026
Tyrone Creech: Chosen Family, Consent Culture, and the Fight for LGBTQ Youth in Wisconsin
In this episode of Black Oxygen, Angela sits down with Tyrone Creech, Executive Director of GSafe Wisconsin for a wide-ranging, deeply honest conversation about what it means to serve LGBTQ+ youth in this political moment. Tyrone shares the realities on the ground: the stripping of trans healthcare, the collapse of corporate and philanthropic support, the impossible moral calculus nonprofits face when funding comes with compromises, and the extraordinary courage of young people who are doing activism when they should just be kids. But this episode isn't just about what's being taken away. Tyrone talks about what's holding communities together — chosen family, consent culture, the joy and power of GSafe's Celebration of Leadership (now in its 30th year!), and the Leadership Training Institute (LTI), a transformative camp that gives LGBTQ youth a rare space to just exist, breathe, and be fully themselves. He also offers a direct call to adults everywhere: listen to your kids. Actually listen. In this episode: The current landscape for trans youth in Wisconsin and what survival looks like right now The moral weight of accepting grants from institutions that have abandoned the community What consent culture is, why it matters, and why it needs to start young G-Safe's Celebration of Leadership (COL) — May 30th at the Monona Terrace — and why Angela, a self-proclaimed gala-hater, loves this one The Leadership Training Institute: what happens when you give LGBTQ youth a space described as "paradise" What gives Tyrone hope — and why his team of 10 serving 200+ GSAs across Wisconsin is one of the most powerful things he knows #BlackOxygenPodcast #BlackPodcasts #Wisconsin #BlackInWisconsin #MadisonWisconsin #LGBTQ+Youth #GSafe
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Pastor Marcus Allen: Recovery from Rejection
04/27/2026
Pastor Marcus Allen: Recovery from Rejection
Marcus Allen of Mount Zion Baptist Church in Madison, Wisconsin sits down with Angela for a wide-ranging conversation about faith, service, combat, and community. What unfolds is a portrait of a man shaped by rejection, forged in war, and called to build something lasting. Marcus traces his journey from Clarksdale, Mississippi through Milwaukee's Great Migration chapter, three combat deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan, and a divine detour that landed him in Madison in 2016. Now celebrating 10 years at Mount Zion — which itself turns 115 this year — he talks candidly about what it takes to lead a congregation that refuses to be just a church. They get into the real: PTSD and the military's broken reintegration systems. The Black church's complicated relationship with mental health. The hypocrisy of using Christianity to justify policy that abandons the least of these. The fundraising gauntlet facing faith-based nonprofits. And the sermon Marcus preached just the day before — about Jephthah, the son rejected by his own father — and why it hit so close to home. Mount Zion runs a free drop-in behavioral health clinic (licensed therapist, crisis stabilizer, substance abuse counselor — no appointment needed), after-school programs, foster care aging-out support, juvenile detention programming, a food pantry, older adult transportation, and is now eyeing housing. They serve 300 unduplicated individuals a year across 15–18 Dane County zip codes. Eighty percent of the people they serve have no church connection.
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Shalicia Johnson: You’re a part of something bigger
04/13/2026
Shalicia Johnson: You’re a part of something bigger
Shalicia Johnson is a Madison-born photographer and the owner of ArrowStar Photography, where she specializes in community photography, business portraits, and family portraiture. Before picking up a professional camera, she spent 28 years in early childhood education, primarily with infants and toddlers in a continuity of care model. That work, and the deep observational practice it required, shapes everything about how she photographs people today. In this episode, Angela and Shalicia cover a wide range of topics including: Growing up in Madison and the forces that nearly redirected her path; What 28 years with babies teaches you about the world; Feeling a photograph versus seeing one; Community photography as documentation and history-keeping and much more. Connect with Shalicia: ArrowStar Photography is on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Threads, Bluesky, and Google. #BlackOxygenPodcast #BlackPodcasts #Wisconsin #BlackInWisconsin #BlackPhotographers #ArrowStarPhotography #BlackPodcasters #MadisonWisconsin #WisconsinPhotographer
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Opal Tomashevska: Welcoming vs Belonging
03/30/2026
Opal Tomashevska: Welcoming vs Belonging
Angela welcomes back the very first Black Oxygen guest, Opal Tomashevska — a Madison native, credit union leader, poet, and newly elected board president of the Lussier Community Education Center — for a rich conversation on community care as resistance. Rooted in Opal's story of growing up in Wexford Ridge and coming of age through community institutions, they explore how the cooperative model of credit unions, Black professional affinity spaces, and tight-knit circles of accountability have sustained Black women through systems that were never designed with them in mind. The conversation takes a deeper turn as Angela and Opal examine what it truly means to belong — not just to be welcomed — and the quiet cost of spending years hustling for worthiness in corporate spaces. Against the backdrop of an alarming and underreported wave of Black women's displacement from the workforce, they reflect on codependency, self-abandonment, and what it looks like to finally stop making yourself smaller to stay safe. Opal's closing vision: a Black Women's Renaissance is already underway — and it is being built on belonging to oneself first. Key Themes Community care as resistance · Welcoming vs. belonging · The cooperative finance model and credit unions · Black professional affinity spaces and ERGs · Hustling for worthiness · Self-abandonment and reclaiming agency · Black women and workforce displacement · Modeling self-care for our children · Intergenerational community impact · The Black Women's Renaissance #BlackOxygenPodcast #BlackPodcasts #Wisconsin #BlackInWisconsin #UpperMidwest #Diversity #Inclusion #Belonging
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Dr. Danielle Hairston Green: Authoring your own story
03/16/2026
Dr. Danielle Hairston Green: Authoring your own story
What if the story you've been afraid to tell is the exact story someone else needs to hear? New episode of Black Oxygen is live, and this conversation with Danielle Hairston-Green hit different. Danielle is a Moth Story Slam winner, host, storyteller, and director at UW-Madison Extension. She came to Wisconsin from Philadelphia by way of Texas. Eight years later, she's still here, and she has things to say. We talked about community care, shame, healing, and what it means to stop being the subject of someone else's narrative and become the author of your own. Her mentor told her: tell your stories from your scars, not your wounds. This one will stay with you. #BlackOxygen #BlackOxygenPodcasts #Storytelling #CommunityCare #BlackInWisconsin #TheMothMadison Embracing Arms - LinkedIn -
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Governor Jim Doyle: On Talent, Tokenism, and American Democracy
03/02/2026
Governor Jim Doyle: On Talent, Tokenism, and American Democracy
In this episode of Black Oxygen, host Angela Russell is joined by former Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle for a wide-ranging conversation about diversity, race, leadership, and democracy. Governor Doyle reflects on the formative experiences that shaped his values. We dig into the mechanics of building diverse teams without tokenism, the current fragility of American democracy, Wisconsin's outsized role as a swing state, and why the arc of history — while long — still bends toward justice. This is a conversation about hope, accountability, and the kind of courage it takes to keep showing up for what's right, even when the moment feels discouraging. I learned so much from Governor Doyle when I worked in his administration, and I think you're about to understand why. #BlackOxygenPodcast #BlackPodcasts #GovernorJimDoyle #Wisconsin #BlackInWisconsin #Democracy #UpperMidwest #Diversity #Inclusion #WisconsinGovernment
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Judge Everett Mitchell: Who is your neighbor?
02/16/2026
Judge Everett Mitchell: Who is your neighbor?
The Hon. Rev. Everett Mitchell opens this Black Oxygen conversation with a sobering analysis of our current constitutional crisis, where unchecked executive power and Christian nationalism intersect to manipulate communities. But the heart of this conversation centers on what it means to truly care for our neighbors. Drawing from Dr. Howard Thurman's question, "What does the Bible have to say to people whose backs are against the wall?" Judge Mitchell shares powerful stories from Dane County Drug Court's 30-year history. He introduces the concept of "trauma translation"—listening through pain without judgment—and tells the story of Rodney, a participant who began celebrating everyone who showed up, teaching that "showing up is a part of what community care is." Mitchell challenges us to expand our definition of neighbor and reveals how treating people with dignity transforms lives. This episode offers a masterclass in building neighborhood, finding hope in hard places, and understanding that authentic community care requires difficult work—but the promise is transformative. #BlackOxygenPodcast #BlackOxygen #DaneCountyDrugCourt #BlackInWisconsin #BlackPodcasts #HowardThurman #BlackInMadison #DrugCourt Resource: Justice Point - https://justicepoint.org/
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Dr. Courtney Hayward: Poverty does not have to exist
02/02/2026
Dr. Courtney Hayward: Poverty does not have to exist
This season is all about community care. And, quite frankly, how community and collective care is a part of the resistance. Community care is not a charity model—it's a model of solidarity. This season will be amplifying people and organizations that are examples of community care. I have a broad definition of community care—my personal definition includes systems work, democracy, policies, mutual aid, neighborhood centers, meal delivery, caregiving, respite care, and more. During this season I will invite guests to share their personal definition of community care, what they think is important in this particular moment in time, and provide thoughts and advice on how to get active in community care. This week, I'm in conversation with Dr. Courtney Hayward, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Community Action Program Association—WISCAP. Courtney, originally from South Florida, shares her journey from being a Head Start kid who grew up using the very programs she now supports, to becoming a registered lobbyist fighting to eradicate poverty across Wisconsin. We dig into some hard truths about covert racism in the Midwest, the shocking reality that 35% of Wisconsinites fall into the ALICE threshold—the working poor who can't meet basic needs despite being employed—and why poverty doesn't have to exist if we actually fund the programs that work. Courtney also breaks down why nonprofits need to stop being afraid of advocacy and her mantra for community care: use your life to make a positive impact on the lives of those who need it most. This is a masterclass in policy, proximity, and the power of showing up for your community. Key topics in this episode include: • The reality of poverty in Wisconsin: 11% poverty rate, but 35% of Wisconsinites fall into the ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) threshold • Covert racism in the Midwest versus overt racism in the South • The critical role of Community Action Agencies in fighting poverty across 68 of Wisconsin's 72 counties • Why the "benefits cliff" keeps working families trapped in poverty • Policy threats facing anti-poverty programs: Community Service Block Grant (CSBG), Head Start, and weatherization funding • The importance of nonprofit advocacy and holding elected officials accountable • Community care as collective action, not just individual self-care #BlackOxygenPodcast #BlackOxygen #PovertyinWisconsin #WISCAP #CommunityAction #CollectiveCare #CommunityActionPrograms #BlackInMadison #BlackWomen #Leadership #MadisonWisconsin #DaneCountyWisconsin #NonProfitLeadership Resources and links: WISCAP - Dr. Courtney Hayward - https://madison365.com/courtney-hayward-named-new-executive-director-of-wiscap/ United for ALICE - https://www.unitedforalice.org/home The State of ALICE in Wisconsin - https://www.unitedforalice.org/introducing-ALICE/wisconsin
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Black Oxygen Beyond Wisconsin feat. Ayris Scales
01/19/2026
Black Oxygen Beyond Wisconsin feat. Ayris Scales
In this Beyond Wisconsin episode, Angela sits down with Ayris Scales, a tri-sector executive who has navigated government, nonprofit, and corporate worlds with intention and wisdom. Ayris currently serves as SVP of Social Responsibility and Global Initiatives at NAREIT, where she works to expand access to real estate investment opportunities, and runs Able Vision Enterprises, her highly selective consulting practice. This conversation tackles the urgent realities facing Black women professionals in 2025—particularly the 300,000+ who have been pushed out of the workforce in recent months. Ayris doesn't hold back as she discusses the erosion (not just attrition) of Black women in DEI and social impact roles, the importance of knowing when to stop caring, and why our survival has taught us to see the "mud puddles" others refuse to acknowledge. Key themes include: Understanding REITs as an accessible wealth-building tool The truth about "high-performance work" and organizational politics Why balance is a myth, but harmony is achievable The difference between a coach who tries to change you and one who helps you get clear Transitioning with purpose, plan, and priorities Recalibrating your specialty and knowing your value Ayris also shares the origin story of her viral Tipsy Tuesday series (tips, not drinks!), her journey through unemployment and burnout, and why this moment requires Black professionals to invest in themselves differently. Connect with Ayris on LinkedIn and Instagram @AyrisScales, and learn more about Able Vision at ayrisscales.com. Featured songs: "Millionaire" by Kelis ft. André 3000, "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" by Nina Simone, "The Man I Need" by Olivia Dean
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Ali Muldrow - All Things Beautiful - Rebroadcast
01/05/2026
Ali Muldrow - All Things Beautiful - Rebroadcast
This week, I'm rebroadcasting a conversation with my dear friend Ali Muldrow. This conversation is all about beauty, joy, and friendship. As we start off 2026, the world continues to feel so heavy and overwhelming. This conversation is all about reclaiming the good in life despite the overwhelm, the noise, the comparison, and the seduction of numbness. It's an invitation to each of us to pause, slow down, to notice and to savor. Noticing beauty isn't about creating new years resolutions - it's not about the performative nature of "new year, new you." It's about noticing beauty as an act of resistance against the pressure to produce, perform, and define ourselves by metrics and outcomes. Noticing beauty is about reminding ourselves that abundance exists all around. I hope that this conversation fills your heart. Our producer, Nate Chappell, hosts a comedy interview podcast called Several Questions. He’s doing a live benefit show at Gamma Ray Bar on Wednesday, January 21st, with ticket sales going to the Autism Society of South Central Wisconsin. Nate is an autistic dad to autistic kiddos, and for this 'Oops! All Autistics!' show, all four guests are also autistic. It's going to be a silly celebration of autistic joy. Follow @severalquestionspod on Instagram for details, and get tickets here: Come support autistic folks and autistic art on January 21st! #BlackOxygenPodcast #BlackInWisconsin #BlackWomenInWisconsin #BlackWomenDroppingGems #BlackWomen #Madison365 #DopeBlackPodcasts #AliMuldrow #BlackLeadership #BlackLeadershipInWisconsin #BeautifulWisconsin #WisconsinIsBeautiful #Doula
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Defining freedom with Dr. Shakkiah Curtis
12/22/2025
Defining freedom with Dr. Shakkiah Curtis
Dr. Curtis shares her complicated relationship with Wisconsin—a "love and hate" dynamic shaped by leaving Milwaukee at 17, experiencing HBCUs and the East Coast, and returning multiple times before finally seeing the opportunity hidden in her home state. She now runs Taylor Nicole Wine and Cupcakes in Madison's Black Business Hub, creating the cultural space she couldn't find as a young woman in the city. Research on Black Women's Success Dr. Curtis's doctoral research followed 14 Black women at CEO level or higher in Fortune 500 companies for two and a half years, uncovering the SCALE framework—five foundational elements these women needed to succeed and sustain success for 10+ years: • Support Systems (mentors, networks, village) • Capital Management (resources, allocation) • Assets and Investing (wealth-building) • Learning and Knowledge (continuous professional development) • Enabling Technology (staying current with industry trends) A striking finding: 90% of successful Black women she studied had never had another Black woman as a mentor in their workplace. The Superpower Nobody Wants Dr. Curtis describes being a Black single mother as "a superpower nobody wants"—the exhausting reality of working harder because "no one was giving me handouts," of always being both woman and Black woman in corporate spaces, and of constantly asking "who's saving her?" when Black women are expected to save everyone else. From Pain to Healing In a vulnerable moment, Dr. Curtis shares hitting a breaking point during COVID—scoring 50 out of 50 on a stress assessment, meaning "you can break at any moment." Her journey to therapy, initially for her daughters, became her own path to asking a fundamental question: "Do I want success from pain, or do I want success from a healing space?" The Energy Economy Dr. Curtis speaks candidly about being "energy-led" rather than simply social—giving deeply in every interaction, which means protecting her capacity fiercely. She's retired from being "the strong friend" and encourages other Black women to ask daily: "Did you do anything selfishly for you?" Honest Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs Rather than romanticizing entrepreneurship, Dr. Curtis asks the hard questions: What do you actually want? Can you live in uncertainty? Can you handle anxiety? Can you go into deficiency for a long time? She emphasizes that stability doesn't come from entrepreneurship and that sometimes the answer is investing in someone else's business or keeping your 9-to-5 while building—whatever serves the life you actually want, not the one you think you should want. Defining Freedom The conversation closes with Dr. Curtis's challenge to listeners: What would you define as freedom? What kind of life do you really want? For her, it's "an unimaginable life"—and getting there requires the honesty to say no to many things to say yes to what matters most. • LinkedIn/Instagram: @DrShakkiahCurtis • Email: shakia@thepinkhustle.com (mailto:shakia@thepinkhustle.com) • Visit: Taylor Nicole Wine and Cupcakes (Madison's Black Business Hub)
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Lachrisa Grandberry on Following Your Dreams
12/08/2025
Lachrisa Grandberry on Following Your Dreams
This week on Black Oxygen, host Angela Russell sits down with the extraordinary Lachrisa Grandberry—singer, actor, writer, speaker, and Milwaukee native whose journey from fifth-grade teacher to professional theater artist is nothing short of inspiring. Lachrisa shares the powerful story of how a fifth-grader named Daniel changed her life by challenging her to chase her own dreams. What started as a promise to audition for one show became a full-time career in theater, supported by a network of Black women mentors who helped her navigate the industry with remarkable success. From opening The Color Purple at Chicago's Goodman Theatre to becoming one of ten fellows selected from 792 applicants for the prestigious Dramatist Guild National Fellowship Program, Lachrisa offers profound insights on overcoming fear, betting on yourself, and the principle that has guided her career: "Don't let the no come from you first." This conversation explores the radical care found in theater communities, the responsibility we have to show up for each other, and the importance of breaking the brooms and shredding the rugs that keep us silent about our trauma. Lachrisa closes the episode with a stunning reading from her poetry collection, "Shredding Rugs: A Poetic Cleansing." Key moments include discussions of mentorship, the scariest thing being our own thoughts, finding your people to turn up the volume on positivity, and what it means to have both the strength to hold and the vulnerability to be held. #BlackOxygenPodcast #BlackInWisconsin #Mentorship #FollowingYourDreams #LachrisaGrandberry #WisconsinTheater #TheColorPurple #ForwardTheater #NorthernSkyTheaterCompany #Dreams Links for this episode: https://www.lachrisagrandberry.com/ (https://www.lachrisagrandberry.com/) https://northernskytheater.com/ (https://northernskytheater.com/) https://forwardtheater.com/ (https://forwardtheater.com/) https://www.goodmantheatre.org/ (https://www.goodmantheatre.org/)
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Tracy Anderson hustles her way
11/24/2025
Tracy Anderson hustles her way
Tracy Anderson returns to Black Oxygen to discuss her unexpected 11-year journey in Madison and a recent career transition. She shares her winding path from theater in Chicago to hotel sales, radio hosting on 93.1 Jams, and community outreach at Big Brothers Big Sisters—where she finally found work she truly loved through service. Tracy opens up about learning to set boundaries, overcoming people-pleasing tendencies, and the challenges of dating as a Black woman in Madison. She reflects on how faith, therapy, and a strong network have helped her navigate this pivot gracefully, and introduces her upcoming podcast "Hustle Her Way," which will spotlight hustlers and nonprofit leaders sharing their unique journeys.
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Carla Williams - Beyond Survival
11/10/2025
Carla Williams - Beyond Survival
In this powerful episode of Black Oxygen, host Angela Russell sits down with Carla Williams, CEO and founder of The View From Here Wellness Collective, for an intimate conversation about self-care, collective care, and what it means for Black women to move from survival to thriving. Carla shares her Wisconsin story—from her family's journey from Chicago to Madison in a car without floors, to building a life rooted in community and care. She opens up about the heartbreak that sparked The View From Here Wellness Collective and her realization that Black women often build their identities around giving to others while neglecting themselves. Through honest storytelling, Carla explores the revolutionary act of rest for Black women and the importance of reclaiming your own narrative. She discusses her podcast "Black Women Deserve," the power of dating yourself, and learning to receive care without suspicion or hesitation. Carla reminds listeners: "You're not behind. You're not too late. You're not alone. Healing doesn't look perfect, and wherever you are right now, it's exactly where you need to be." Connect with Carla: Website: theviewfromherewellnesscollective.com Social Media: @CropTopCutie
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Guest Host Ali Muldrow interviews Angela Russell - Rebroadcast
10/27/2025
Guest Host Ali Muldrow interviews Angela Russell - Rebroadcast
On this week’s episode of Black Oxygen, the tables are turned. Regular Black Oxygen guest Ali Muldrow interviews Angela Russell. The friendship vibes are on thick on this episode as they discuss when Angela first started noticing beauty, her relationship with beauty, and travel the 5 senses of beauty. #BlackOxygenPodcast #BlackInMadison #BlackInWisconsin #Friends #DopeBlackPodcasts #BeautyAllAround #Madison #MadisonWI #Madison365
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Debra Gillispie, Mothers Against Gun Violence
10/13/2025
Debra Gillispie, Mothers Against Gun Violence
Debra Gillispie, founder and CEO-President of Mothers Against Gun Violence, is a women of deep faith, resilience, and extraordinary grace and vision. After losing her son Kirk Jr. to gun violence in 2003, Debra transformed her grief into action, creating an organization dedicated to amplifying the voices of families affected by gun violence. In this conversation, she shares her remarkable journey through restorative justice, including meeting the man who killed her son nearly 21 years after her son’s murder. In this episode we discuss practical solutions for gun violence prevention, the media's portrayal of victims in urban communities, and Debra's recent work establishing National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day in Wisconsin after losing another child to fentanyl poisoning. This is a powerful conversation about healing, compassion, and the transformative power of giving grace to ourselves and others. #BlackOxygen #BlackOxygenPodcast #MothersAgainstGunViolence #GunViolence #StopGunViolence
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Emily Raclaw - On Your Marq
09/29/2025
Emily Raclaw - On Your Marq
Emily Raclaw is the Director of Marquette University's "On Your Marq” program—one of the nation's top college support programs for neurodiverse students. In this Black Oxygen episode, Emily shares her personal journey of discovering her own ADHD diagnosis in her 30s, and how it shaped her approach to supporting college-bound neurodiverse students. From her unconventional path through German immersion school and living in Germany to becoming a licensed counselor and special education teacher, Emily brings a unique perspective to neurodiversity advocacy, education, and leadership. Key Topics Covered: -Why high school success doesn't predict college performance for neurodiverse students -The crucial difference between high school IEPs and college accommodations -How parents can identify hidden household accommodations that don’t transfer to college Building "frustration tolerance" -The social reality of college and workplace environments -Using AI tools for communication and social navigation This conversation is packed with practical advice for parents navigating the college search process, insights into creating inclusive educational environments, and honest discussions about neurodiversity in college and at work. Whether you're a parent of a neurodiverse student, an educator, or someone on their own neurodiversity journey, this episode offers valuable perspectives on embracing differences and building inclusive and supportive communities. A stat correction from our guest: ADHDers are 18 times more likely to be disciplined at work for perceived behavior problems, such as reduced attention span, hyperfocus and organizational difficulties. They are also 60% more likely to lose their jobs. Neurodiversity: the little-known superpower () (KornFerry, ‘Neurodiversity: the little-known superpower’, 2022) #BlackOxygen #BlackOxygenPodcast #OnYourMarq #Neurodiversity #Autistic #autism #ADHD #MarquetteUniversity #BlackInWisconsin #Milwaukee
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Black Oxygen, from the Archives: Esther Monroe, A Life Well Lived
09/15/2025
Black Oxygen, from the Archives: Esther Monroe, A Life Well Lived
This episode features my grandfather, Esther Monroe, who I call Daddy Monroe, recorded in the spring of 2023 when he was 96 years old—still driving, still living independently, and still sharing the wisdom of nearly a century on this earth. Today, he’s 98, no longer driving or living independently - but is surrounded by family, friends and health care providers that love him tremendously. What you're about to hear is a legacy—a testament to a life extraordinarily well lived. Daddy Monroe was born during the Great Depression, a Black man in the South who witnessed this country transform in ways that once seemed impossible. He saw wages so low he made just 75 cents a day. He experienced the daily cruelties of racism. In this conversation with my mom, Brenda Moten, and me, Daddy Monroe shares something profound: one of the best days of his life was watching Barack Obama become president—because for most of his life, he never thought he'd live to see such progress. "There was no way of seeing that things could get better," he tells us. But they did get better. And in our current moment, when it's easy to lose hope, Daddy Monroe's voice reminds us that change is possible. His formula is simple but not easy: know the difference between right and wrong, be honest with each other, love one another even when we disagree, and treat each other with kindness and respect. This is more than a family conversation—it's a masterclass in resilience, hope, and the long arc of progress from someone who's lived it all. Here's my grandfather, Daddy Monroe, in his own words. #BlackOxygen #BlackOxygenPodcast #PodcastReissue #LegacyStories #GenerationalWisdom #OralHistory #DaddyMonroe #Perspectives #LoveWins #KindnessMatters #LifeWellLived
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Semaj Sconiers - Find your breath
09/01/2025
Semaj Sconiers - Find your breath
Semaj Sconiers is a respected educator, mindfulness and wellness practitioner, and a Racial and Gender Justice Practitioner with the YWCA of Dane County. In this episode of Black Oxygen, Semaj shared her personal journey and experiences with mindfulness practices, including her connection to her grandmother and how she came back to her mindfulness practice while in the intensive care unit during a medical emergency. She shares, “in difficult moments, find your breath … it helps you recalibrate.” In addition, Semaj talks about her work as a race and gender equity practitioner at the YWCA and the upcoming annual YWCA Racial Justice Summit. The 2025 Racial Justice Summit is focused on Becoming the Liberated Ecosystem and will weave together the themes of solidarity, abolition, mutual aid and repair. In our conversation about the Summit, Semaj emphasized the importance of unlearning harmful ways of being together and relearning new practices and ways of being a collective and in solidarity with ourselves and each other. To learn more about the YWCA Racial Justice Summit please visit - #BlackOxygen #BlackOxygenPodcast #BlackMindfulness #Mindfulness #BlackInMadison #BlackInWisconsin #MadisonLeadership #RacialJustice #RacialEquity #YWCARacialJusticeSummit
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Corinda Rainey Moore, PhD - Boots on the ground
08/18/2025
Corinda Rainey Moore, PhD - Boots on the ground
Dr. Corinda Rainey Moore is a community steward and leader here in Madison, WI. She is a passionate racial equity advocate who believes in leading by example. In this episode of Black Oxygen, Dr. Rainey Moore and I discuss how UW-Madison brought here to Wisconsin, how love kept her here in Wisconsin, and her passion for all things community related. She provides wonderful advice on how to engage in community leadership in honest and authentic ways and reminds us all that if we’re not happy with something we have the power to change it. #BlackOxygen #BlackOxygenPodcast #BlackInMadison #BlackInWisconsin #MadisonLeadership #NonProfitLeadership #BootsOnTheGround
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Michelle Robinson, PhD - Living and Thriving with ADHD
07/21/2025
Michelle Robinson, PhD - Living and Thriving with ADHD
This week Dr. Michelle Robinson and I talk about being Black women with ADHD. We discuss growing up with undiagnosed ADHD, being diagnosed as adults, how ADHD presents differently in girls and women compared to the traditional understanding, and shared experiences in perfectionism and executive functioning. During our conversation, Michelle emphasized the importance of neurodiversity as natural variation instead of pathology. We go on a number of ADHD related side-quests and also end up talking about the Tamia Hustle, science, and climate change. #BlackOxygen #BlackOxygenPodcast #ADHDinBlackWomen #ADHDinWisconsin #BlackInWisconsin #Neurodiversity #TamiaHustle #BlackInMadison
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Keena Atkinson Part 1- Living into my Purpose
07/07/2025
Keena Atkinson Part 1- Living into my Purpose
When Keena Atkinson was in sixth grade she moved to Madison, Wisconsin in hiding. Her mother, escaping domestic abuse, moved Keena and her sister here as a place of refuge and safety. In this episode of Black Oxygen, Keena discusses her experience with domestic violence, the discerning power of Black women, how she’s learned to live into her purpose, the UW-Madison Odyssey Project and so much more. She offers so much wisdom and provides the following advice regarding life and learning, “whatever you learn, teach it.” #KeenaAtkinson #BlackOxygenPodcast #BlackInWisconsin #BlackInMadison #OdysseyProject
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Angela Lang and Ali Muldrow - What happened to #TrustBlackWomen?
06/23/2025
Angela Lang and Ali Muldrow - What happened to #TrustBlackWomen?
This week on Black Oxygen I’m in conversation with Angela Lang, Executive Director of BLOC of Milwaukee, and Ali Muldrow of the Wisconsin Abortion Fund. In this episode, we discuss what it means to be engaged in democracy locally, the role of Black women in the last presidential election, and the importance of telling our stories in real time so that our legacy and impact are not erased. AND, in addition to all of that we talk about the vision of the creation of a multiracial democracy and connecting it to the film Sinners. Beware, the second half of this episode contains spoilers - we discuss the political nature of the film, the potency of Black culture, and how the film highlights the role of sexuality and liberation.
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Alice Gilliam - The Vibe Curator
06/09/2025
Alice Gilliam - The Vibe Curator
This week on Black Oxygen we have Alice Gilliam, also known as DJ Gemini Gilly. In this episode, Alice shares her life in Wisconsin, how she become a full-time DJ after starting her career as a social worker, key highlights of her career - including being a DJ for the Milwaukee Bucs AND DJ for VP Kamala Harris, and the role of DJing in creating community. #DJGeminiGilly #BlackOxygenPodcast #BlaakInWisconsin
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