Dem Black Mamas Podcast

Dem Black Mamas answers all the questions yo mama won't! From sex & dream chasing to adulting & raising free Black children, Crystal Tennille Irby, NeKisha Killings, & Thea Monyee, three #BlackMamaCreatives give you all the #BlackMamaMagic your heart can hold. This is for Black girls/women who need an auntie. This is for Black Mamas who believe healing is a form of generation wealth. This is for Black girls/women who believe creativity is tool for liberation. This is for Black mamas who believe motherhood is not the graveyard of dreams.

DBM Ep 60: All Cried Out, Election 2024 & Morris Chestnut 11/01/2024

DBM Ep 59: Black Motherhood, Myths & Matrescence w/ Stepha LaFond 08/16/2024

DBM Ep 59: Black Motherhood, Myths & Matrescence w/ Stepha LaFond Dear Mama, What if I told you there’s no such thing as snapping back after giving birth, only expanding into? What if I asked you to imagine Black motherhood without suffering? Could you do it? Have we made suffering a rite of passage in Black motherhood? Have we shrouded Black motherhood in self-sacrifice as opposed to sacred sacrifice? These are the questions we explore in this episode about matrescence. Coined by reproductive psychologist Dana Raphael, matrescence is the process of becoming a mother, including the physical, psychological, and emotional changes that occur during pregnancy, birth, and the postnatal period. Lissen yall, this episode drove us Thea to drink! So we’re glad to have one of our favs Stepha Lafond of Unlearning Motherhood, ridin’ shotgun with us who provides context to all the things we know and feel about transitioning to and in motherhood but didn’t have the language for. ✨Much like adolescence, matrescence involves ongoing shifts that shape our identity and understanding of ourselves. ✨How self-forgiveness sets the tone for your motherhood journey ✨Why setting the strong Black women free is essential for us and our children ✨Normalizing not doing motherhood alone 💗Black Mama Magic Card for this episode: Card # 39 - My Children Are My Teachers💗 EPISODES MENTIONS/RELEVANT TO THIS EPISODE: 🎙️ 🎙️ 🎙️ ✨MERCH OF THE MONTH - ✨ ✨ - Grounding lead by Thea: “If I surrender to the air I can ride it” - Toni Morrison✨ ABOUT OUR GUEST: Stepha is a Life Coach, Mentor, and Speaker, dedicated to helping moms navigate the space between who they were and who they’re still becoming. As a mom of two young children, she knows firsthand the struggles of juggling the demands of motherhood, career, and life. She started her practice out of a desire to put moms at the center of the conversation, with an emphasis on shifting the narrative on modern motherhood to one that allows space for mamas to grow, heal and take care of themselves at all stages of their journey. Her work on Matrescence- the transition into motherhood- invites her clients and spectators to explore and hold space for this common but rarely discussed phase of development, whilst taking a critical look at the unjust systems and power structures impacting motherhood and creating necessary shifts towards liberation. Connect with Stepha LaFond & Unlearning Motherhood: 🔗 Connect with Dem Black Mamas 🗣️Engage: This is a conversation. Share your thoughts about the episode using the hashtag #DemBlackMamas, DM us or email us at [email protected]. For full show notes & transcript, check out our website: /episode/index/show/demblackmamas/id/32603967

DBM Ep 58: Cultural Identity, Spirituality & Ancestral Reconnection with Dr. Gina Paige 07/16/2024

DBM Ep 58: Cultural Identity, Spirituality & Ancestral Reconnection with Dr. Gina Paige Dear Mama, Who is the girl the woman who survived in the belly of the boat that brought you here? Where did she come from? How do we find our way back to that place? Why should we find our way back to that place? In this episode, WE JOURNEY & Dr. Gina Paige, co-founder of African Ancestry is ridin with us! Along the way: ✨Thea shares the profound impact of tracing African roots through DNA had on her ✨NeKisha reveals the impact Dr. Paige’s business model had on her journey as a tech innovator ✨Dr. Paige reminds us that the ancestors are a cloud of witnesses always working in our favor with a beautiful story about Chadwick Boseman. But the road isn't always smooth. We delve into some tough terrain when Crystal shares a personal story about her trip to South Africa that brought her face to face with the complexities and idealizations of her African Heritage. 💗Black Mama Magic Card for this episode: Card # 39 - My Children Are My Teachers💗 EPISODES MENTIONS/RELEVANT TO THIS EPISODE: 🎙️ 🎙️ ✨MERCH OF THE MONTH - ✨ ✨ - Issa Black Thang: Default Oven Temperatures✨ ABOUT OUR GUEST: Dr. Gina Paige, co-founder of African Ancestry, Inc. (AfricanAncestry.com), is a pioneering luminary known for revolutionizing African lineage tracing through genetics. Starting her entrepreneurial journey at age 8 with a magazine to fund family trips. Before AfricanAncestry.com, she led GPG Strategic Marketing Resources. Paige travels globally to demystify African roots, promoting Black identity empowerment through ancestral connections. She has traced the ancestry of prominent figures like Oprah Winfrey, John Legend, and Chadwick Boseman. A sought-after speaker and partner for corporations like Netflix and Nike, Paige collaborates with community and faith-based organizations worldwide. Featured in Time Magazine and on platforms like PBS' Finding Your Roots, Paige co-hosted African Ancestry Radio and appeared on MSNBC and CNN. She holds degrees from Stanford University and the University of Michigan Ross School of Business and received an Honorary Doctor of Philosophy. Connect with Dr. Gina Paige: | Grab an 🔗 Connect with Dem Black Mamas 🗣️Engage: This is a conversation. Speak back to us! Share your thoughts about the episode using the hashtag #DemBlackMamas, DM us or email us at [email protected]. For full show notes & transcript, check out our website: /episode/index/show/demblackmamas/id/32152342

DBM Ep 57: Meditations By Mamas: Rising Meditation - You Are Enough w/ Jamarah Amani 08/16/2023

DBM Ep 56: Menopause, Black Women & Spiritual Ritual with Omisade Burney-Scott 06/26/2023

DBM Ep 56: Menopause, Black Women & Spiritual Ritual with Omisade Burney-Scott Dear Mama, What if I told you understanding menopause was a matter of life and death? In her 2022 book You Got Anything Stronger, Gabrielle Union went into deep detail about how in her words, “the surge and retreat of hormones” during perimenopause and menopause caused her to have passive suicidal ideations and pointed out that science has focused on hiding symptoms or treating the symptoms of menopause that have mattered most to men like vaginal dryness. The part of Union’s book that made me pause (see what I did there) was when Union stated, “According to a 2020 CDC study, the suicide rate among women is highest for those ages 45-64” and calls out how women’s depression is often linked to men or their children, focusing on the external features of women’s lives and not the internal. That’s when I knew we had to do an episode about Menopause and I knew just who turn to Omisade Burney Scott s creator of the platform Black Girl’s Guide to Surviving Menopause which includes a podcast of the same name. Black Mama Creative Week is the perfect time to drop this episode. Burney-Scott is a trailblazer in this field and roots her work in her spirituality producing creative projects such as Messages From the Menopausal Multiverse. In this episode, we talk: 👉🏾Listening to your body 👉🏾Menopause & spirituality 👉🏾Deciding to have the best sex of your life 👉🏾Bonus Content: The greatest story Nekisha ever told & why her Daddy is a REAL ONE! So thanks for coming inside the Black Mama Magic Room. If you’re a new listener, welcome to the ride. Remember Black Mama Creative Week kicks off Saturday, June 24th & we’re hosting a workshop on podcasting called Ask Us Anything: Composing Dynamic Questions to Create Compelling Interviews and one for entrepreneurs and Black Mama Creatives called Being the Blueprint: Tools to Help Black Mama Creatives and Entrepreneurs Design a New Path. To sign up go to . CHURCH ANNOUNCEMENTS It's Black Mama Creative Week! Come celebrate with us on all week! INVEST IN US Sign up for our . Share us with one other person. Become a Magic maker by getting on (aka our newsletter). ✨💗✊🏾 /episode/index/show/demblackmamas/id/27276000

DBM Ep 55: Mother's Day Special: Celebrating Black Mamas, Dreaming of Liberation & Creating Your Own Reality 05/14/2023

DBM Ep 54: Birth Justice, Liberation & the Power of Black Midwives w/ Jamarah Amani & K.Sanderson 04/14/2023

DBM Ep 54: Birth Justice, Liberation & the Power of Black Midwives w/ Jamarah Amani & K.Sanderson Dear Mama, Dream with me. Can you imagine a world with a Black midwife in every family, in every community, easily accessible, at our fingertips, a world in which birth choices aren’t controlled by capitalism, a world in which the birth practices that Black women used to literally birth this country are honored, a world in which they are revered, a world in which Black midwives could practice the full scope of reproductive health and reproductive choices are respected, a world in which Black mothers don’t fear death in the midst of giving birth, experience it with fully joy and bodily autonomy. It’s Black Maternal Health Week and we are grateful for the opportunity to sit with two people invested in building that world: Jamarah Amani, founder of National Black Midwives Alliance & cofounder of Southern Birth Justice Network & filmmaker K. Sanderson In this episode we’re talking: 👉🏾Harriet Tubman & midwifery (Yeah we ain’t even know) 👉🏾Why the medical system fears Black midwifery (I mean we know why but still) 👉🏾The fight & journey to answer your calling (chiiilllleee this got deep) 👉🏾Their documentary series Legacy Power Voice: Movements in Black Midwifery (cause WE KNO what happens when other people tell our stories) ✨💗✊🏾 ✨MERCH OF THE MONTH - ✨ The intention of this box is for Black Mamas to honor the light within themselves. The items inside the Magic Evermore box will prepare Black mamas to soak up all the energy of the sun all summer and remind them of the importance of documenting themselves, the power to manifest the life you want, and to soften and pour into yourself when your mothership hits rough waters. Items inside: ✨Full Black Mama Magic Card Deck ✨Manifestation Crystals: Citrine, Pyrite, Rose Quartz, Blue Apatite ✨Incense from Smell Good Spa ✨Mama Magic: Evermore Picture Frame ✨Postcards ✨Gratitude Jar ✨Herbs: Jasmine, Eucalyptus, & Lavender ✨An investment in yourself and in Dem Black Mamas Podcast. When you invest in us, you are investing in a platform curated by three women actively creating spaces of healing, creativity & liberation. ABOUT OUR GUESTS Jamarah Amani, LM is a community midwife who believes in the transformative and healing power of birth and that every baby has a human right to human milk. Her mission is to do her part to build a movement for Birth Justice locally, nationally and globally. Jamarah is the architect of the Birth Justice framework, the Black Midwives Model of Care and the Birth Justice Bill of Rights. Jamarah identifies as Black, Femme and Queer. A community organizer from the age of sixteen, Jamarah has worked with several organizations across the United States, the Caribbean and in Africa on various public health issues, including HIV prevention, infant mortality risk reduction, access to emergency contraception and access to midwifery care. As a birth worker and activist, Jamarah has been tackling issues of racial justice, including the epidemics of Black maternal and infant morbidity/mortality for over fifteen years. She is currently the , () a 501(c)3 non-profit organization working to expand the Birth Justice movement and to make midwifery and doula care accessible to marginalized communities. She is also the co-founder of , () the only national professional association in the U.S. specifically for midwives of African descent, and a founding member of the Queer and Transgender Midwives Association. Karyl-Lyn Sanderson (they/them), affectionately known as K, is a non-binary visionary, artist and entrepreneur with over 20 years of work experience as a digital media producer. K’s mission is to shift societal paradigms while enriching and advancing the lives of those they serve. With their daring and joyful spirit, K takes on projects that bring greater exposure to causes and issues of importance. For over a decade, K created groundbreaking media as the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Limitless New Media, an independently operated creative studio that designed a wide array of original content for community, educational and faith-based initiatives. K is an alumni of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, Film and Television Production program. OTHER IMPORTANT LINKS All other links mentioned in the episode & full show notes on our website at Thanks for coming inside the Black Mama Magic Room. If you’re a new listener, welcome to the ride. If you’re a newbie or an OG, order our intentionally curated and receive it in time for Mother’s Day. ✨💗✊🏾 /episode/index/show/demblackmamas/id/26546763

DBM Episode 53: Black Grief, Ritual & Wakanda Forever 03/02/2023

DBM Episode 53: Black Grief, Ritual & Wakanda Forever Dear Mama, There are two things that happen to everyone in this life that we don’t talk about - birth and death - both can challenge and transform everything we believe in. They can be messy and uncomfortable roads to travel and sometimes art can help us through. In Black Panther Ryan Coogler proved he is a master at guiding us through uncomfortable conversations & in this episode we are joined by one of our faves to talk about how Coogler guides us through grief in Wakanda Forever. We can’t think of a better way to kick off Women’s History Month than talking about a film held together by Black women & centers the mother daughter relationship. May we never forget and ALWAYS celebrate their work. In this episode we’re talking: 👉🏾The impact of Black grief 👉🏾The return of Kilmonger in that white sweater with NO SHIRT 👉🏾What surprised us 👉🏾A new film rating system based on Angela Bassett. ✨💗✊🏾 ✨MERCH OF THE MONTH - ✨ We’re unlocking our Patreon for the next 30 days. If you love to laugh, if you want to nurture your creativity and imagination, if you want a wild ride, then THIS IS THE SPOT FOR YOU! Check the perks>>> ✨BEST PART - Investing in Black women who are committed to and actively creating spaces for Black folx rooted in creativity, healing, and liberation ABOUT OUR GUEST (she/her) challenges us all to reconsider our relationship with television. She is the creator, producer, and host of (), a podcast in which she uses her training, instinct, and empathy to “prescribe” the very best TV show to heal your emotional ailments. When she’s not “making the rounds” as a speaker and podcaster, she is Professor of Rhetoric and Media at Sacramento State University, where she teaches classes including Television Criticism, Rhetoric and Social Influence, and Media Aesthetics. You should feel free to greet her with the Vulcan salute or a few words of Klingon; she is also fluent in RuPaul’s Drag Race-isms and lyrics from ‘80s music. She is an advocate for social justice, an activist for anti-racism, and a firm believer in putting “DONE” items on your “TO-DO” list, just for the pleasure of crossing them off. Show Michele some love and follow her and her podcast on IG: EPISODES MENTIONS/RELEVANT TO THIS EPISODE: 🎙️ All other links mentioned in the episode & full show notes on our website at INVEST IN US Don’t just listen, subscribe and follow us on all social media platforms @demblackmamaspodcast Talk back to us email us (), engage with us through social media comments, your reviews, and SoundCloud comments. Share us with one other person. Become a Magic maker by getting on (aka our newsletter). Attend our Magic Makers Fall Workshop & purchase a Magic Evermore Box ✨💗✊🏾 /episode/index/show/demblackmamas/id/26106360

DBM Episode 52: Black Women Organizing, Hoes That Ain't Loyal, & Spiritual Political Cycles 01/26/2023

DBM Episode 52: Black Women Organizing, Hoes That Ain't Loyal, & Spiritual Political Cycles Dear Mama, Hey Mamas! The election dust has settled, MLK’s birthday is in our rearview mirror & February is on the horizon which means we are rested and hopeful so now is the perfect time to look at the political landscape for Black folx with clear eyes. Yup! It’s the Black Mama Magic Election Update. Our was in response to the 2016 election and we haven’t missed an election cycle yet. In this episode we talk: about how we feel now vs. 2016, what gives us hope, In this episode we talk: 👉🏾Black Americans are 10 toes down for The Constitution 👉🏾Why democrats need to stop chasing hoes that ain’t loyal. 👉🏾What gives us hope (Clue: Black women 😉) ✨💗✊🏾 ORDER YOUR MAGIC EVERMORE BOX BY THE 30th & recieve it next month: The intention of this box is to help you alchemize the magic inside. Items inside include ✨A Full Black Mama Magic Card Deck. ✨Incense from Smell Good Spa ✨Mama Magic: Evermore Picture Frame ✨Black Mama Magic Postcards ✨Gratitude Jar ✨The Herbs: Jasmine, Eucalyptus, & Lavender which represent healing , creativity and liberation ✨and the best part is its An investment in yourself and in Dem Black Mamas Podcast. When you invest in us, you are investing in a platform curated by three women actively creating spaces of healing, creativity & liberation. . CHURCH ANNOUNCEMENTS We Upgraded Our ! Exclusive Content including one live a month & behind the scenes content A Magic Maker Mug S/o on the podcast Discounts on merch & live shows Investing a platform with 3 Black women actively curating spaces of healing, creativity & liberation for Black folx NeKisha: Join the Blackest most roductive co-working space on the internet! Say Less 1st Monday 8amET-11amET 👉🏾 3rd Monday 8pmPT-11pmPT 👉🏾 Thea: WE GOIN TO EGYPT! EPISODES MENTIONS/RELEVANT TO THIS EPISODE: INVEST IN US Don’t just listen, subscribe and follow us on all social media platforms @demblackmamaspodcast Talk back to us email us (), engage with us through social media comments, your reviews, and SoundCloud comments. Share us with one other person. Become a Magic maker by getting on (aka our newsletter). Join our Patreon & purchase a Magic Evermore Box All other links mentioned in the episode & full show notes on our website at ✨💗✊🏾 /episode/index/show/demblackmamas/id/25733877

DBM Episode 51: When It All Falls Down, Finding Freedom & Transitioning to Conscious Parenting w/ Domari Dickinson 11/06/2022

DBM Episode 51: When It All Falls Down, Finding Freedom & Transitioning to Conscious Parenting w/ Domari Dickinson Dear Mama, What if I told you conscious parenting wasn’t about your children, it was about your journey to freedom, about you creating the life and relationship you desire about leaving behind a system that you and your children may be highly functioning in but it’s in fact causing harm and it just don’t feel good. These are the beautiful revelations we discovered in our conversation with liberation partner and conscious parenting coach . This conversation is about more than conscious parenting, it’s about how Black mothers can free ourselves from the myths and shackles of motherhood. We are diving deep into finding liberation in the Black motherhood experience, for our children and for ourselves over the next three episodes and Domari Dickinson kicks this series off in a powerful way. In this episode we talk: 👉🏾The relationship between conscious parenting and Raheem Davaughn (it's there 🤣) 👉🏾The good, bad, the ugly of transitioning to conscious parenting 👉🏾Repairing your relationship with adult children (chiiilllleee we got healing to do 🙏🏿) ✨💗✊🏾 REGISTER NOW Magic Makers Fall Workshop: Sunday, November 20th, 6pmET ORDER YOUR MAGIC EVERMORE BOX BY THE 25th & recieve it in November: The intention of this box is to help you alchemize the magic inside. Items inside include ✨A Full Black Mama Magic Card Deck. ✨Incense from Smell Good Spa ✨Mama Magic: Evermore Picture Frame ✨Black Mama Magic Postcards ✨Gratitude Jar ✨The Herbs: Jasmine, Eucalyptus, & Lavender which represent healing , creativity and liberation ✨and the best part is its An investment in yourself and in Dem Black Mamas Podcast. When you invest in us, you are investing in a platform curated by three women actively creating spaces of healing, creativity & liberation. . All other links mentioned in the episode & full show notes on our website at INVEST IN US Don’t just listen, subscribe and follow us on all social media platforms @demblackmamaspodcast Talk back to us email us (), engage with us through social media comments, your reviews, and SoundCloud comments. Share us with one other person. Become a Magic maker by getting on (aka our newsletter). Attend our Magic Makers Fall Workshop & purchase a Magic Evermore Box ✨💗✊🏾 /episode/index/show/demblackmamas/id/24913224

DBM Episode 50: Our Golden Episode, Fans Only, Honk for Jesus & Looking Back 10/18/2022

DBM Episode 50: Our Golden Episode, Fans Only, Honk for Jesus & Looking Back Dear Mama, Stop waiting for the big moment. Celebrate now. Celebrate the big things, the small things, the major milestones and the minor ones even if they’re only meaningful to you, even if they come much later than you expected. Instead of judging the journey, rest in gratitude. Our celebration is a thank you to God, Spirit, the universe, the ancestors, the orishas, the angels and our very own souls for all they’ve done, for clearing our path, for holding us, standing with us, carrying us. We celebrate this 50th episode. We are grateful to you and most of all we are grateful for the journey and we trust the expansion that lies ahead. ✨💗✊🏾 REGISTER NOW Magic Makers Fall Workshop: Sunday, November 20th, 6pmET ORDER YOUR MAGIC EVERMORE BOX BY THE 25th & recieve it in November: The intention of this box is to help you alchemize the magic inside. Items inside include ✨A Full Black Mama Magic Card Deck. ✨Incense from Smell Good Spa ✨Mama Magic: Evermore Picture Frame ✨Black Mama Magic Postcards ✨Gratitude Jar ✨The Herbs: Jasmine, Eucalyptus, & Lavender which represent healing , creativity and liberation ✨and the best part is its An investment in yourself and in Dem Black Mamas Podcast. When you invest in us, you are investing in a platform curated by three women actively creating spaces of healing, creativity & liberation. . All other links mentioned in the episode & full show notes on our website at We couldn’t have come this far without our listeners. THANK YOU & a special shoutout to the five lucky listeners who joined us for this episode. Thanks for rockin with us. Don’t just listen, subscribe and follow us on all social media platforms @demblackmamaspodcast so you won’t miss a moment of the magic. Please keep emailing us, keep engaging with us through social media comments, your reviews, and SoundCloud comments. Keep sharing us, even if it’s only with one other person. If you’re a new listener, welcome to the ride. If you’re a newbie or an OG become a Magic maker by getting on (aka our newsletter). Now let's 👏🏿get 👏🏿free👏🏿 yall and jump into Episode 50 of Dem Black Mamas! ✨💗✊🏾 /episode/index/show/demblackmamas/id/24728433

DBM Episode 49 Leaning Into Love, Reclaiming Yourself & Staying Present 10/02/2022

DBM Episode 48 Black Moms, Breastfeeding & Informal Milk Sharing with Rita Little. 09/15/2022

DBM Episode 48 Black Moms, Breastfeeding & Informal Milk Sharing with Rita Little. Church Announcements: Responsive Reading Black Mama Magic Card 33: I Trust All Of Me Dem Black Mamas The intention of this box is for Black Mamas to honor the light within themselves. The items inside the Magic Evermore box will prepare Black mamas to soak up all the energy of the sun all summer and remind them of the importance of documenting themselves, the power to manifest the life you want, and to soften and pour into yourself when your mothership hits rough waters. Items inside: ☀️Full Black Mama Magic Card Deck ☀️Incense from Smell Good Spa ☀️Mama Magic: Evermore Picture Frame ☀️Postcards ☀️Gratitude Jar ☀️Herbs: Jasmine, Eucalyptus, & Lavender ☀️An investment in yourself and in Dem Black Mamas Podcast. When you invest in us, you are investing in a platform curated by three women actively creating spaces of healing, creativity & liberation. Order by the 25th of each month to receive the following month. Theme: Building for Liberation: Centering Black Mamas, Black Families and Black Systems of Care Virtual Tickets are still available. Link to register: REGISTER NOW!, Sunday, October 23rd, 6pmET Crystal & NeKisha are presenting at the , September 17-18 Magic Makers Workshops Crystal Producing , Monday, October 3rd - Wednesday, October 5th NeKisha: Created by our very own NeKisha Killings, the Melanated Mammary Atlas® is your portal to a world of images displaying mammary related conditions on Asian, Indigenous, Black and Brown folks. We feature the first and only cache of images of this type available for viewing and constantly updated by health professionals and the public. 1st Monday 8amET-11amET Link To Join: 3rd Monday 8pmPT-11pmPT Link To Join: Say Less: A virtual BIPOC silent co-working space Thea: , November 3rd - November 6th OUT NOW! Mac & Cheese Rita Little is a mom trying to leave the world a little better than she found it. She resides with pride in the City of Detroit. She has been gifted with raising the most amazing four year old full of Black boy joy. Professionally, she works full time as a Community Health Program Manager for a local health system. She also works part time helping to inspire the minds of our future public health professionals, as a professor at two universities. She also remain diligent and dedicated to advocacy and education about breastfeeding with an emphasis on Black families. Invest in us! Invest in a platform curated by 3 Black women actively cultivating spaces rooted in healing, creativity, and liberation for Black mamas. Help us continue to be #BlackMamaBuilt. Don’t just listen, subscribe Share with at least one person Follow us on any social media platform @demblackmamaspodcast Engage through social media comments, DM us or email with questions [email protected] Join our email list Patreon: Merch: One Time Donation: /episode/index/show/demblackmamas/id/24379176

DBM Episode 47: Black Mamas Leaving America, Belonging & Liberation Beyond Borders with Parthenia Luke 08/01/2022

DBM Episode 47: Black Mamas Leaving America, Belonging & Liberation Beyond Borders with Parthenia Luke #DearMama, where do we belong? Where can we be safe? Where can we be brave? Where can our children thrive? Where can we be? These are questions that more and more Black mothers are searching beyond the borders of America for answers to. Today, we explore these questions with daughter of the diaspora, Parthenia Luke. A descendant of formerly enslaved Black folks who left America in the late 1800s for Liberia, we have a raw, honest, and real conversation about what it means for Black Americans to leave America, and what it means for our children and us to stay. For full show notes visit our website and follow us on . New video version of our podcast drop September 1st! Church Announcements/Prayer Requests/Praise Reports: Responsive Reading: Black Mama Magic Card #11 - "Magic is real. You are proof." Crystal: Magic Evermore Box: The intention of this box is for Black Mamas to honor the light within themselves. The items inside the Magic Evermore box will prepare Black mamas to soak up all the energy of the sun all summer and remind them of the importance of documenting themselves, the power to manifest the life you want, and to soften and pour into yourself when your mothership hits rough waters. Items inside: ☀️Full Black Mama Magic Card Deck ☀️Manifestation crystals ☀️Incense from Smell Good Spa ☀️Mama Magic: Evermore Picture Frame ☀️Postcards ☀️Gratitude Jar ☀️Herbs: Jasmine, Eucalyptus, & Lavender ☀️An investment in yourself and in Dem Black Mamas Podcast. When you invest in us, you are investing in a platform curated by three women actively creating spaces of healing, creativity & liberation. Thea: Join Thea for Sacred Sundays by texting SACRED to 213.377.1827 & Choose your own adventure NeKisha: New Website for Nikki & Nikki Lactation Career Consultants: Say Less: A virtual BIPOC silent co-working space 1st Monday 8amET-11amET Link To Join: 3rd Monday 8pmPT-11pmPT Link To Join: Mac & Cheese: For today’s mac and cheese, we are speaking to Parthenia Luke. Parthenia is a social worker by passion and profession. She’s passionate about social justice as it pertains to the human right to be and to belong. As an emerging scholar working towards a PhD in social work, she aims to shed light on the long-term implications of gentrification, especially for individual residents and for entire communities. Her passions carry into her work as an instructor in higher education, where she advises administrators and leads efforts to promote a more inclusive, diverse, and equitable experience for graduate and undergraduate students. We dig in deep into our mac and cheese today as we discuss her challenges in social justice work, Liberia, her family’s history, and what Black mamas can learn about liberation beyond borders. Invest in us! Invest in a platform curated by 3 Black women actively cultivating spaces rooted in healing, creativity, and liberation for Black mamas. Help us continue to be #BlackMamaBuilt. Don’t just listen, subscribe Share with at least one person Follow us on any social media platform @demblackmamaspodcast Engage through social media comments, DM us or email with questions [email protected] Join our email list Patreon: Merch: One Time Donation: /episode/index/show/demblackmamas/id/23909403

DBM Episode 46: Reflecting on Things We Manifested, Following Dreams & Being a Black Mama Creative 06/01/2022

DBM Episode 45: Black Women, Social Media & Building Community for Liberation 05/16/2022

DBM Episode 45: Black Women, Social Media & Building Community for Liberation Dear Mama, From Rosewood, Florida to Tulsa Oklahoma Black folx have always been about the the business of building sustainable thriving communities. What if I told you we are in the midst of the same opportunity now? What if I told you we could build communities rooted in healing, creativity and liberation? What if I told you the real estate is in the palm of your hands? Yup I’m talking about the interwebs. In this episode writer, content creator, sociologist, abolitionist, womanist, and intersectional feminist gives us the tools to cultivate our virtual real estate and challenges us to think about the internet, in particular social media as an infinite canvas and a rushing river. Imagine That! So if you are trying to find your footing in these internet streets, if you are trying to find your folks, if you are a creative, innovator, if you have a story to tell, a message in your gut burning with the fierce urgency of now, or you have grown weary and frustrated with the interwebs period THIS EPISODE IS FOR YOU! SPECIAL OFFER FROM NIKKI BLACK >>>$10 off CODE: DBMHAPPINESS Church Announcements/Prayer Requests/Praise Reports: Crystal: Crystal & Thea will be speaking at Black Pod Festival (https://www.blkpodfestival.com/) hosted by Black Pod Collective goin down in ATL May 28th-29th. Magic Evermore Box: The intention of this box is for Black Mamas to honor the light within themselves. The items inside the Magic Evermore box will prepare Black mamas to soak up all the energy of the sun all summer and remind them of the importance of documenting themselves, the power to manifest the life you want, and to soften and pour into yourself when your mothership hits rough waters. Items inside: ☀️Full Black Mama Magic Card Deck ☀️Manifestation crystals ☀️Incense from Smell Good Spa ☀️Mama Magic: Evermore Picture Frame ☀️Postcards ☀️Gratitude Jar ☀️Herbs: Jasmine, Eucalyptus, & Lavender ☀️An investment in yourself and in Dem Black Mamas Podcast. When you invest in us, you are investing in a platform curated by three women actively creating spaces of healing, creativity & liberation. Black Mama Creative Week is the last seven days of June. Thursday, June 24th - Thursday, June 30th Writing Workshop: I AM: Writing an Artist/Personal Statement & Cover Letter Link To Register: Thea: Blood & Bajaraque - Join Thea for Sacred Sundays by texting SACRED to 213.377.1827 & Choose your own adventure NeKisha: New Website for Nikki & Nikki Lactation Career Consultants: Say Less: A virtual BIPOC silent co-working space 1st Monday 8amET-11amET Link To Join: 3rd Monday 8pmPT-11pmPT Link To Join: Invest in us! Invest in a platform curated by 3 Black women actively cultivating spaces rooted in healing, creativity, and liberation for Black mamas. Help us continue to be #BlackMamaBuilt. Don’t just listen, subscribe Share with at least one person Follow us on any social media platform @demblackmamaspodcast Engage through social media comments, DM us or email with questions [email protected] Join our email list Patreon: Merch: One Time Donation: Related Episodes We mention our Black Mama Creative Episode: DBM Ep 15: Black Mama Creative: /episode/index/show/demblackmamas/id/23129501

DBM Episode 44: Honoring and Navigating Our Friendships as Mothers 05/01/2022

DBM Episode 44: Honoring and Navigating Our Friendships as Mothers #DearMama, take time this Mother's Day to honor your friendships. Honor those who have expanded you, stretched you, given to you, trusted you, and elevated you. We come here to be seen and loved, and I'm so grateful to have friends in my life who see me. In this episode, Thea and I share the genesis and evolution of our friendship and the challenges we’ve faced along the way. As always, this podcast has always given me exactly what I need, and today I needed to see love and trust active in my life, holding me. Our intention is that this episode allows you to see yourself and all the women pouring into you as always. Church Announcements/Prayer Requests/Praise Reports: Magic Evermore Box Link: The intention of this box is for Black Mamas to honor the light within themselves. The items inside the Magic Evermore box will prepare Black mamas to soak up all the energy of the sun all summer and remind them of the importance of documenting themselves, the power to manifest the life you want, and to soften and pour into yourself when your mothership hits rough waters. Items inside: ☀️Full Black Mama Magic Card Deck ☀️Manifestation crystals ☀️Incense from Smell Good Spa ☀️Mama Magic: Evermore Picture Frame ☀️Postcards ☀️Gratitude Jar ☀️Herbs: Jasmine, Eucalyptus, & Lavender ☀️An investment in yourself and in Dem Black Mamas Podcast. When you invest in us, you are investing in a platform curated by three women actively creating spaces of healing, creativity & liberation. Order by June 1st for $175 and in time for Summer Solstice. Order by the 25th of each month to receive the following month. Thea: New Website: Join Thea for Sacred Sundays by texting SACRED to 213 & Choose your own adventure NeKisha: New Website for Nikki & Nikki Lactation Career Consultants: Say Less: A virtual BIPOC silent co-working space 1st Monday 8amET-11amET Link To Join: 3rd Monday 8pmPT-11pmPT Link To Join: Crystal: Turning 7 year program Writers Well Youth Fellowship into a non-profit Writers Well is a program for Black girls/femmes 14-19 living in South Carolina interested in writing and/or performance. It’s a brave space for Black girls to nurture their imagination. Follow on IG: and/or donate: Writing Workshop: I AM: Writing an Artist/Personal Statement & Cover Letter Sunday, June 26th, 6pm, Zoom Link To Register: Invest in us! Invest in a platform curated by 3 Black women actively cultivating spaces rooted in healing, creativity, and liberation for Black mamas. Help us continue to be #BlackMamaBuilt. Don’t just listen, subscribe Share with at least one person Follow us on any social media platform @demblackmamaspodcast Engage through social media comments, DM us or email with questions [email protected] Join our email list Patreon: Merch: One Time Donation: Related Episodes Our first Mother's Day Episode: DBM Ep 6: I Get It From My Mama - Annette, Etta Mae & Monica: Episode mentioned in this episode We mention our Black Mama Creative Episode: DBM Ep 15: Black Mama Creative: /episode/index/show/demblackmamas/id/22923401

DBM Episode 43: Rewriting the Script on Mental Health for Black Mothers 04/15/2022

DBM Episode 42: Honoring Your Body, Creativity, and Embracing Motherhood on Your Own Terms featuring Staci Mitchell 04/01/2022

DBM Episode 41 Surrender, Worthiness & Learning From Our Children featuring Precious Bivings 03/15/2022

DBM Episode 41 Surrender, Worthiness & Learning From Our Children featuring Precious Bivings Dear Mama, The Mother Ship hit some unchartered territory and It got TIIIIGHT in the up #BlackMamaMagic room but WE AIN’T NEVA scared so we allowed and trusted. We discussed what it means to surrender, reconciling our ancestors spiritual agreements with their human existence, allowing our children to impact our works and how to make yo booty sit high-ya. Our guest affectionately known as Coach P helped me discover the tools I needed to transform my life into a powerful transformative creative experience. If you wanna go higher, keep listening. If you wanna be stretched, keep listening. If you wanna find your power, we got you this episode. If you want yo booty to sit up HIGH-YA. KEEP LISSENIN! Church Announcements Thea: New Website: Join Thea for Sacred Sundays by texting SACRED to 213 & Choose your own adventure NeKisha: New Website for Nikki & Nikki Lactation Career Consultants: Say Less: A virtual BIPOC silent co-working space 1st Monday 8amET-11amET Link To Join: 3rd Monday 8pmPT-11pmPT Link To Join: Crystal: Turning 7 year program Writers Well Youth Fellowship into a non-profit Writers Well is a program for Black girls/femmes 14-19 living in South Carolina interested in writing and/or performance. It’s a brave space for Black girls to nurture their imagination. Follow on IG: and/or donate: Writing Workshop: I AM: Writing an Artist/Personal Statement & Cover Letter Sunday, April 3rd, 6pm, Zoom Link To Register: Invest in us! Invest in a platform curated by 3 Black women actively cultivating spaces rooted in healing, creativity, and liberation for Black mamas. Help us continue to be #BlackMamaBuilt. Dem Black Mamas Social Media: | | Patreon: Merch: One Time Donation: SUPPORT OUR SISTER POD: hosted by our very own | INFORMATION & INSPIRATION Looking for some Black Mama Love, support, and connection? Join the Facebook group Join the new app for Black Moms, founded by Black mom and entrepreneur Leigh Butler, Meet Akina is a new social media app for Black Mamas, Black Bonus Mamas, and Aunties Are you a Woman of Color or a Black person interested in starting a podcast? For information and inspiration follow and/or on IG. We need more of us feeding us! If you’re a Black woman interested in becoming a lactation consultant check out /episode/index/show/demblackmamas/id/22456622

DBM Episode 40: We Back! What We Learned in 2021 and What’s Coming Next 03/01/2022

DBM Episode 40: We Back! What We Learned in 2021 and What’s Coming Next Dear Mama, We all deserve the grace and permission to explore our shadows and cradle ourselves in radical honesty. After losing the desire to continue producing our podcast, I went on an unexpected hiatus where I found the answers I was looking for. WE BACK & Today, Thea and Nekisha are riding shotgun with me as we all share our journey looking back at what 2021 taught us and where we’re headed in 2022. Church Announcements Thea: New Website: Join Thea for Sacred Sundays by texting SACRED to 213 & Choose your own adventure NeKisha: New Website for Nikki & Nikki Lactation Career Consultants: Say Less: A virtual BIPOC silent co-working space 1st Monday 8amET-11amET Link To Join: 3rd Monday 8pmPT-11pmPT Link To Join: Crystal: Turning 7 year program Writers Well Youth Fellowship into a non-profit Writers Well is a program for Black girls/femmes 14-19 living in South Carolina interested in writing and/or performance. It’s a brave space for Black girls to nurture their imagination. Follow on IG: and/or donate: Writing Workshop: I AM: Writing an Artist/Personal Statement & Cover Letter Sunday, April 3rd, 6pm, Zoom Link To Register: Invest in us! Invest in a platform curated by 3 Black women actively cultivating spaces rooted in healing, creativity, and liberation for Black mamas. Help us continue to be #BlackMamaBuilt. Dem Black Mamas Social Media: | | Patreon: Merch: One Time Donation: SUPPORT OUR SISTER POD: hosted by our very own | INFORMATION & INSPIRATION Looking for some Black Mama Love, support, and connection? Join the Facebook group Join the new app for Black Moms, founded by Black mom and entrepreneur Leigh Butler, Meet Akina is a new social media app for Black Mamas, Black Bonus Mamas, and Aunties Are you a Woman of Color or a Black person interested in starting a podcast? For information and inspiration follow and/or on IG. We need more of us feeding us! If you’re a Black woman interested in becoming a lactation consultant check out /episode/index/show/demblackmamas/id/22274774

DBM Episode 39 Mothering, Art & Black Maternal Health 05/04/2021

DBM Episode 39 Mothering, Art & Black Maternal Health Dear Mama, When it comes to Black Maternal Health, our work is not over when Black mothers survive and the child is born alive and we will not let it fade into our peripheral. In this episode we discuss being invited to do an art installation for Project Row Houses Round 50 entitled Race, Motherhood, and Health. We also discuss the importance of art in this movement and art’s capacity like nothing else to creep into the crevices of culture and push us forward. Before we jump into that convo we take a discuss witnessing our children during hard situations inspired by card number 19 from our Black Mama Magic Card Deck which reads I honor my child’s divine path. We hope this episode reminds you that motherhood is not the graveyard of dreams, that our children are divine beings on their own divine journey, and when your mothership hits rough waters to soften. SYLLABUS Church Announcements/Prayer Requests/Praise Reports: Black Mama Magic Mini Card Deck & Magic Evermore Summer Solstice Boxes are on SALE NOW Crystal is teaching writing and helping Black folks heal. NeKisha is getting her keynote on! Thea has a new web home and released her first book from her press. Check the show notes for the episode for all the links to support us! Mac & Cheese Art & Black Maternal Health Black Mama Say A word to mamas from the mamas ASSIGNMENTS Visit our website to do TWO important things: Invest in us by purchasing the or a on SALE NOW! Check our website for raw footage & images from our . As always thanks for rockin with us. For full show notes & time stamps check out website: MORE WAYS TO INVEST IN US Invest in a platform curated by 3 Black women actively cultivating spaces rooted in healing, creativity, and liberation for Black mamas. Help us continue to be #BlackMamaBuilt:⠀⁣ Don't just listen, subscribe Share with at least one person Follow us on any social media platform @demblackmamaspodcast Engage through social media comments, DM us or email with questions [email protected] Join our email list by visiting our website One Time Donation: Now let's get free yall & jump into Episode 39 of Dem Black Mamas! /episode/index/show/demblackmamas/id/18971678

DBM Episode 38 Raising Transgender Children featuring Jamarah Amani & Michelle 03/19/2021

DBM Episode 38 Raising Transgender Children featuring Jamarah Amani & Michelle Dear Mama, Come celebrate with us. Celebrate this beautiful mothering journey. Celebrate with us the powerful legacy of Black motherhood that always offers healing, is abundant in creativity, and expands liberation. We are celebrating Women’s History Month by elevating the radical work of mothers raising transgender children. In this episode guests midwife Jamarah Amani & Michelle are Black mothers building a Promise Land rooted in equity and love. We would like to say thank you for your patience during our unexpected hiatus while I was healing from COVID. SYLLABUS Church Announcements/Prayer Requests/Praise Reports: All who have had COVID and lost love ones to COVID Frontline workers Gratitude Crystal writing workshop coming up on Sunday, March 28th & NeKisha's first conference keynote on Monday, March 29th (check the show notes on our website for registration links: ) Mac & Cheese: In this episode we talk with midwife & transgender youth advocate Michelle about what they learned about themselves & what raising transgender children taught them about liberation. Black Mama Say: Black Mamas on The Insurrection ASSIGNMENTS Visit our website to do three important things: Check the & register of Crystal's writing workshop & register to hear NeKisha's first conference keynote. Our Black Mama Magic Mini Card Deck will be on sale again soon so sign up for our email list And get yo mug on Mama and invest in us by purchasing a mug, which is our from our All of these things can be done on our website As always thanks for rockin with us. For full show notes check out website: INVEST IN US Invest in a platform curated by 3 Black women actively cultivating spaces rooted in healing, creativity, and liberation for Black mamas. Help us continue to be #BlackMamaBuilt:⠀⁣ Don't just listen, subscribe Share with at least one person Follow us on any social media platform @demblackmamaspodcast Engage through social media comments, DM us or email with questions [email protected] Join our email list by visiting our website One Time Donation: Now let's get free yall & jump into Episode 37 of Dem Black Mamas! /episode/index/show/demblackmamas/id/18389990

DBM Episode 37 Black Mama Beyond Borders w/ Aja Marie 01/18/2021

DBM Episode 37 Black Mama Beyond Borders w/ Aja Marie #DearMama We have a right to explore all the ways to tap into our freedom. Motherhood should be an opportunity, an experience, a journey of expansion. Liberation is about breaking down any barrier that binds you, even borders. We must always be willing to do whatever AND GO wherever we can to be free this lifetime. SYLLABUS Church Announcements/Prayer Requests/Praise Reports: We got prayers & praise Thea & Crystal have workshops coming up on January 31st (check the show notes on our website for registration links: ) Mac & Cheese: In this episode we talk with Aja Marie the person behind the blog Doing Life Afraid and the voice behind the podcast, She Said We Shed and a former American dreamer, who realized that dream wasn’t hers and ditched everything she and her son hated to pursue everything that lit them up. That led to long term travel and closer connection with her son. Black Mama Say: Every Time I Turn Around ASSIGNMENTS Visit our website to do three important things: Check the to get $5 off of Asia’s workbook Our Black Mama Magic Mini Card Deck will be on sale again soon so sign up for our email list And get yo mug on Mama and invest in us by purchasing a mug, which is our from our All of these things can be done on our website As always thanks for rockin with us. For full show notes check out website: INVEST IN US Invest in a platform curated by 3 Black women actively cultivating spaces rooted in healing, creativity, and liberation for Black mamas. Help us continue to be #BlackMamaBuilt:⠀⁣ Don't just listen, subscribe Share with at least one person Follow us on any social media platform @demblackmamaspodcast Engage through social media comments, DM us or email with questions [email protected] Join our email list by visiting our website One Time Donation: Now let's get free yall & jump into Episode 37 of Dem Black Mamas! /episode/index/show/demblackmamas/id/17598866

Meditations By Mamas: You Are Enough w/ Leslie W. Bray 01/10/2021

Meditations By Mamas: Liberation Mama w/ Muffy Mendoza 12/27/2020

Meditations By Mamas: Liberation Mama w/ Muffy Mendoza #DearMama, don't think it peculiar or strange to have #liberation heavy on your mind in this season. We're leaving an old year behind and naturally, it's got us yearning to be untethered. It's got us wanting to feel new. We feel strong, full of possibility and brimming with hope, daring to believe that going forward we can do what we were never able to in the past -- get all the way free. Join in our newest installment of #MeditationsByMamas to feel empowered and ready to pursue liberation. Muffy Mendoza is a tribe builder, informational and motivational speaker, author and executive director at Brown Mamas, a Pittsburgh-based fiscally sponsored nonprofit that works to provide moms-of-color with positive socialization opportunities and connect them with the resources and information they need to raise happy, healthy adults. Most notably, Muffy is known for having cultivated a community of nearly 5,000 African-American moms hungry for social change due to a lack of safe spaces for moms-of-color in the Pittsburgh region. Muffy has leveraged this platform to author her first book, The Brown Mama Mindset, that was featured at the 2018 Essence Festival and is currently sold at various cities across the U.S. In 2019 Muffy was nominated for an Iris Award for her outstanding work as an activist and influencer. As if building a massive tribe of moms isn’t enough, Muffy stays focused on tribe building at home as a homeschooling mom of 3 boys and wife of one awesome husband. Follow/Like Muffy Mendoza: | Follow/Like Brown Mamas: | To listen and/or subscribe tap the link in the bio & hit the tab LISTEN NOW: Meditations By Mamas Liberation Meditation. To subscribe go to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud or on any podcast streaming platform, search Dem Black Mamas Podcast & hit subscribe. #BlackMamaMagic™️ #MeditationsByMamas @demblackmamaspodcast #MeditationWithMamas -- just in time to get us centered for the holiday whirlwind!⁣#MeditationsByMamas are lead by Black mamas to help us maintain in alignment with healing, creativity, and liberation to manifest joy and abundance. ⠀ INVEST IN US! When you invest in us, you invest in a platform curated by three Black women actively cultivating spaces rooted in healing, creativity, and liberation for Black mamas. There are multiple ways to help us continue to be #BlackMamaBuilt Don't just listen, subscribe Share with at least one person Engage with us on social media: | | Email us with questions, comments, and/or show topic suggestions: Join our email list through our . /episode/index/show/demblackmamas/id/17335745

Meditations By Mamas: Rest Mama w/ Jasmin Forts 12/13/2020

Meditations By Mamas: Black Love w/ Crystal Tennille Irby 11/22/2020

DBM Episode 36 Election Shift w/ Shaping The Shift 10/30/2020

DBM Episode 35 Aggie Pride: Breastfeeding & HBCUs featuring Janiya Williams 10/09/2020

DBM Episode 35 Aggie Pride: Breastfeeding & HBCUs featuring Janiya Williams #DearMama, Your gifts will make a way for you. Speak into existence all you desire for yourself, your community, your children, your friends, and your family. Declare for yourself how you will be fulfilled by your work. Show up in the fullness of your authentic self and allow your talents to bless the world. In this episode #BlackMamaMagic + #AggiePride = Janiya Mitnaul Williams (), mother of four, founder of Mahogany Milk Support Group () and literally works everyday to change the trajectory of the health outcomes among Black people as the current , the 1st lactation certification program at a public HBCU.⁣⁣ Our desire is to expand the conversation around breastfeeding beyond the physical to the spiritual and position breastfeeding as a critical element of the movement for Black Lives. We need more of us showing us how to feed our babies in the thriving Promise Land we imagine. So we are excited to have a conversation with a Black Mama laying this critical foundation for liberation. For full show notes check out website: INVEST IN US Invest in a platform curated by 3 Black women actively cultivating spaces rooted in healing, creativity, and liberation for Black mamas. Help us continue to be #BlackMamaBuilt⠀⁣ Don't just listen, subscribe Share with at least one person Follow us on any social media platform @demblackmamaspodcast Engage through social media comments, DM us or email with questions Join our email list Patreon: Merch: One Time Donation: PayPal: Venmo: SYLLABUS Church Announcements/Prayer Requests: Prayer Request: Jacob Black Black Parents Virtual Schooling The State of Florida Anybody with allergies in California Announcements: Nekisha: New IG Thea: Introduces & it’s first lecture Mac & Cheese: Janiya Mitnaul Williams Black Mama Say: "It Is What It Is" SUPPORT OUR SISTER PODS: | INFORMATION & INSPIRATION Looking for some Black Mama Love, support and connection? Join the Facebook group Are you a Women of Color interested in starting a podcast? For information and inspiration join the ⁣We need more of us feeding us! If you're a Black woman interested in becoming a lactation consultant check out . /episode/index/show/demblackmamas/id/16338500

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