My Favorite Life
A podcast amplifying the stories of Black women who have made life defining decisions aligned with those most authentic selves to create a life that makes them proud.
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Leslé Honoré: The Warrior Writer
03/08/2024
Leslé Honoré: The Warrior Writer
Honoring Dynamic Women this month for Women’s History Month! Leslé Honoré, writer, CEO, and mother, first went viral when her poem spoke up for Black moms who lost their sons to gun violence. Since then, she’s wielded her pen and passion to elevate a narrative that removes barriers for people of color, especially women, to live a life where they can thrive. When Kamala Harris made history as the first woman to assume office of Vice President of the United States, Leslé took her pen to social media and highlighted the road Madame Vice President, and so many women of color, must travel to realize their greatest dreams. This is the piece that put her on the radar to secure her first literary agent, and sign a publishing deal. Read the post . Keep up with Leslé Honoré e
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Dry January to a Sober Life
01/14/2024
Dry January to a Sober Life
Did you start the year with "Dry January"? Ebony K. English has been sober for NINE years and she's here to share how she started her journey and how she's keeping up with it. It wasn't pretty or easy, but she kept going. Whether you're just going sober for a month, or for however long you want, Ebony reminds us that we are worthy to bet on ourselves. Learn more about Ebony below: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ebonykenglish/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EbonyKEnglish/ Books
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2024: My Redemption Song
12/31/2023
2024: My Redemption Song
2023 brought us some hard earned and learned lessons that we can take into the new year. We don't need to be imprisoned by them, just informed! With these experiences, we'll begin to redeem the time and opportunities we may have missed out on because of past. In 2024, begin singing your redemption song. Resources mentioned in this episode: . Sermon begins at 45:00 at 4:33.
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The Gift of Grace
12/26/2023
The Gift of Grace
Life has been lifiing. The moments we need a kind word of encouragement, we should look no further than from ourselves. When we offer ourself grace, we give it when we think we don’t deserve it. Even when we think we should be be doing something else, being someone else, looking or acting differently, we need grace for where we are today. That is how we can be soft with ourselves. That is how we can be the best versions of ourselves, if we're kind with who we are today. I'm also sharing where I've been the last few months and what we can anticipate in the new year. I'm encouraging you to subscribe to my substack newsletter Nicoleaslotus.substack.com.
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Getting High to Get By
10/16/2023
Getting High to Get By
October is National Substance Abuse Prevention Month and this episode features Enchelle Morris, LCPC, CADC, a licensed clinical therapist, certified in substance abuse therapy. Oftentimes we use substances- alcohol, weed, narcotics, even shopping- to knock the edge off of reality. But there is a fine line between use and abuse. This conversation is for anyone who may be struggling with their own use, are children of substance abusers, and want to seek a healthier relationship with their substance of choice. By listening, you’ll learn: Often times, Black women use substances to deal with unhealed wounds The different type of addictions How an addiction prevents a parent from being a “present” parent The impact that substance use has on children Opportunities to come into healthier relationship with your past experiences in lieu of substance use Resources in the episode About the Guest Enchelle Morris, LCPC, CADC,is a licensed clinical therapist as well as a certified substance abuse therapist in the State of Illinois. She has worked in the field of substance abuse and mental health for over 25 years. She’s worked in a multitude of settings from inpatient to outpatient, across adolescents and adults. She hopes to help people gain a voice and build the relationship with themselves first to then have better relationships with other people. Keep up with us!
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Keep on Livin: Suicide Prevention Month
09/27/2023
Keep on Livin: Suicide Prevention Month
September is Suicide Prevention Month and I'm sharing a topic that should get more atention than it does, especially for Black women. And as always whether you identify as such, you'll get something from this episode. For more information on suicide prevention, please visit NAMI.org In this episode, I speak with a woman who attempted to harm herself several times over her lifetime. What she found is that life is a journey, not a destination. She learned that this life is meant to be experienced and time should not be rushed. With the right tools, she was empowered to course correct her spiraling thoughts and practice radical gratitude, even when circumstances warranted a complaint at best. She reminds us to stick around a little bit longer to enjoy the moment. While there are yucky parts of life, sometimes nearly unbearable, There are beautiful ones that can't be ignored as well. My guest urges us to be mindful of the seasons, the life that is around us, and allow that to ground us in our purpose, which is simply to be powerful, spiritual, loving beings. Resources mentioned in the episode
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Black Women Beyond Affirmative Action
08/12/2023
Black Women Beyond Affirmative Action
In November 2016, Black women knew that the impact of the 45th president’s decisions would have negative impacts on the entire country. It is why many of us, 96% of us, voted for Hilary Clinton. With our vote, we attempted to sound the alarm to the nation, and the world, that trouble was on the horizon. Over the last year, our country has seen how even beyond 45’s presidency, destruction finds every aspect of our lives. Between the Supreme Court’s ruling of Roe v. Wade and now Students for Fair Admissions v. President of Harvard College, legal protections that once afforded Black women freedom and opportunity, are being stripped from our grasp. In this episode, I sit with Natasha L. Robinson, Esq., creator and curator of Legaleaze Please! LLC, an online platform and digital space founded in May 2020, that empowers the development of individual and collective comprehension of criminal laws, cases, and policies through decoding, deconstructing, and demystifying legal language. In our conversation, we discuss: What really happened during the overturn. These Supreme Court cases will have reverberating effects for generations, unless a new court creates a new precedence We must be wary to not create new systems of hierarchy as we re-create what it means to be educated, economically protected and supported, and our most free and authentic selves Reclaiming the Afrocentric tenets of community, the assets we have must be used to empower and advance members of our community so they know how to best navigate the systems that govern our society We can anticipate that more cases that protect people of authentic backgrounds and identities (same gender loving couples, use of contraceptives), will be tried in the SCOTUS in the coming years Though it may be grim, Natasha gives us an antidote for how we can move forward. Just as the pandemic required us to shift how we moved and interacted with the world, we have an opportunity to look back at our past to see how our communities thrived, bartered, learned, and grew, and apply it to our lives today. @lotushalehill instagram.com/lotushalehill | facebook.com/lotushalehill @lotushalehill| website Connect with Nasha Robinsoni instagram.com/legaleaze_please Resources Mentioned in the Show : About the Guest Natasha Robinson, Esq. is the creator and curator of Legaleaze Please! LLC, an online platform and digital space founded in May 2020, that empowers the development of individual and collective comprehension of criminal laws, cases, and policies through decoding, deconstructing, and demystifying legal language. Legaleaze Please!, a Black-owned business created by a Black woman, provides relevant knowledge to legal information as well as equitable access for all users to understand and apply in their everyday lives. Natasha was formerly an assistant teaching professor of criminal justice at Roosevelt University. She taught courses relating to criminal justice and was a faculty member of the Government, Law and Justice Department. Prior to coming to Roosevelt, Professor Robinson was a teacher at Chicago Public Schools, teaching law courses, including Criminal Law and Criminology, to high school students enrolled in the honors program. For six years, in addition to teaching, she also coached her high school students in preparation for criminal and civil mock trial exhibitions and competitions. Professor Robinson has been a licensed criminal defense attorney for more than 20 years, having served for twelve and a half years as an assistant public defender of Cook County, specializing in the representation of indigent clients charged with felony crimes. Natasha is a regular guest legal analyst on CourtTV, WGN9 news, and is a monthly contributor to The Soultown Magazine Natasha earned her Bachelors of Arts in English from the University of Iowa, her Masters of Arts in English from Chicago State University, and her Juris Doctor from the University of Wisconsin Law School. Of all her accomplishments, accolades, and awards, “Grace’s Mama” is the most amazing of them all. Professor Robinson is the proud mother to Grace Corrine and together they are each other’s partner in life and in love. Ready to write and tell your story?
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EPISODE 106: Be Choosy: Pattern of Selectivity
06/30/2023
EPISODE 106: Be Choosy: Pattern of Selectivity
As hard as life is, we should be choosy about how we spend our days here on Earth. We’ve hit a new season with summer, and made it to the halfway mark of the year. Now’s a great time to not only assess the progress we’ve made, but whether the direction we’ve been moving in is exactly where we want to be. As we make life defining decisions to create a life that makes us proud, we reserve the right to be selective in the relationships we engage, the jobs we take, the friends we keep, the lovers we love. The thoughts we have. Pattern of selectivity is creating or shifting existing patterns so that you can align your actions, beliefs, mindsets, behaviors with who you really want to be. When being selective, we may find that the thing we said we wanted to achieve at the beginning of the year, or any other time, may not be the thing we want. We should consider the following: Check in with yourself and ask, “Do I really want to do this?” If the answer is no, pivot. Identify the decision that needs to be made if you plan to go in another direction. What are the pros and cons to either side of your decision? Be clear on why you’re pivoting or being selective. so write down, either physically or mentally, write down the way it made you feel, the feelings that it elicits. Move forward with the posture of abundance. Know that more will come Access the journal reflection questions below: Resources Referenced in this Episode myfavoritelife.co/factsguide
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Episode 105: Daddy's Lessons
06/16/2023
Episode 105: Daddy's Lessons
The fathers we have are the fathers we need. The lessons they teach us about our worth, our value, our lovability, our selflessness, are critical to forming our own opinions about us and how we wish to show up in the world. During this episode, Dara Munson, the first Black CEO of Family Focus, member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Sorority, Incorporated, shares the lessons that her daddy taught her. Although her father could not support her the way she would have liked, he fathered her the best way he could. And after years of “doing the work”, she realized that what he could offer was good enough. Dara shares some insights for those who desire to accept the father they have: Your father was a man before you came along, with dreams, aspirations, and goals. There is more to him than meets the eye. We must be mindful to acknowledge that the love fathers offer may not be the healthiest version of love. We can grow from this version of love that we assumed to be truth, to discover the right kind of love. Withholding love from our fathers does not open us up to more love, it keeps abundant love at bay.The love you give may return to you from an entirely different source. Forgiveness comes in cycles. It’s ok to nurse your wounds and be disappointed that the father you hoped for may never exist. Sacrifice temporary pleasures for long term desires. Duality is necessary to have the ability to love a father who has not been his best for you. If given the opportunity, and with capacity, celebrate the father you do have. Resources Referenced in this Episode myfavoritelife.co/factsguide Connect with me @lotushalehill instagram.com/lotushalehill | facebook.com/lotushalehill @lotushalehill| website Connect with Dara Munson on IG (two underscores)
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I kissed a girl, and I liked that sh*t!
06/02/2023
I kissed a girl, and I liked that sh*t!
This is a very special episode, as not only do I share what other may refer to as a “coming out” story, but I share how choosing to love who I want to love planted seeds of authenticity, helped me nurture self trust, strengthened my intuition, encouraged me to honor my most sacred asset- myself, and revolutionized my relationship with God. Whether you identify as a woman, Black woman, or queer person, this episode will encourage you to consider the follow: Loving who you want to love is revolutionary. It sends a signal to the world that you are no longer willing to conform to a world that was created with you in mind. You can apply this to any lifestyle that is “counter cultural”. When you feel something, believe yourself the first time. If it feels the way it feels, acknowledge it as such, don’t gaslight yourself by questioning what you feel, and don’t ask others if what you feel, think, or do is “ok”. If you are instinctively led to go in a certain direction, heed that. Acting on your instincts -not impulses- is the best way to strengthen your intuition and your trust to lean into this to guide your decisions. Doing so can help you avoid being anxious about how things will turn out because you trusted the source that led you there, YOU. Allow people to show up for you when there is a void. As you proceed along your authentic journey, everyone won’t be able to join you. And, frankly, you may not want them to. This can be jarring, and it can be lonely. In these moments, lean on yourself and your God, Source, or whoever you pray to, and trust that the void will be filled. Your tribe will fold around you soon enough. God is love is love. God created this world, and all its pleasures because God empathizes with the human experience. All that is good should be enjoyed and experienced, in a healthy way. God can be who you need God to be. Lean into the “I Am” and let God be a God of peace, of pleasure, of joy, of nurturing. Guard your heart and all that is sacred to you. People gon be people, and they may not have the level of regard and respect you have for you, for themselves. In turn, they won’t know how to offer that to you. Therefore, it’s imperative that regardless of who you love, who you work with, who you’re friends with, you must be aware of your blindspots, create boundaries to support you, and honor those boundaries. Nothing is good,or bad, it just is. Paul Ferrini, author of “Love without Conditions” shares the teachings of Jesus and the Christ Mind. Suffering is created when we create and follow our judgment of our life and world experiences. Just as there is sweetness, there is bitterness. But we can stay even keeled in this journey if we just experience it just as it is. In our personal experiences, though challenges exist, there also exists peace, love, and good things. Resources Referenced in this Episode myfavoritelife.co/factsguide Connect with me @lotushalehill instagram.com/lotushalehill | facebook.com/lotushalehill @lotushalehill| website
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Mama gotta have a life, too!
05/05/2023
Mama gotta have a life, too!
This episode, Mama Gotta Have a Life, Too is inspired by the chapter, by the same name, in my book . Our guest, Avanii Inarii, youth development professional and clinical social worker (loading) shares how she has become reborn in her identity by changing her name, and has re-defined her relationship with her mother to accommodate her growth and create a relationship with more ease, grace, love and compassion. Together, Avanii and host, Lotus Hale Hill unearth a few gems to help you to foster a stronger relationship with your mother: Remember that your mother is a whole other person, who happened to be your mother along her journey. This is not to absolve accountability, but it does remind us that as children, our mothers are people first before us and they are entitled to put themselves first. As generations progress, we have the privilege to go against the grain and create new ways of doing things, living lives, and caring for ourselves. Our parents have built their relationships, identities on social constructs that we are brave enough to step outside of. As children move along their healing journey, it's imperative that we withhold judgment and ease our expectations of our parents as they may not be as far on their journeys. They have yet to master the capacity to be the parent we wished they could be. The dynamics between mother and child, parent and child can be symbiotic in that you both can parent each other through life’s ups and downs Though we love our parents, we cannot live their lives for them, we have to let them experience life and support them on the sidelines. It’s also what we’d want them to do for us. Remember that there is no “perfect” version of what a mother/child relationship should look like. So long as you maintain a relationship that make sense to both of you, that’s all you can ask for. Mother daughter relationships don’t have to be a power grab, allowing a child to be a child and explore on their own, without parental control, is the easiest way to ensure that they don’t carry shame for speaking their truth, articulating how they feel, and living authentically. Resources Referenced in this Episode Connect with me @lotushalehill instagram.com/lotushalehill | facebook.com/lotushalehill @lotushalehill| website Connect with Avanii Inarii instagram.com/avaniiinarii Ready to write and tell your story?
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Making Life a Practice Towards Authenticity
04/21/2023
Making Life a Practice Towards Authenticity
In this episode of the My Favorite Life Podcast, we’re joined by Ebony Dawn Lucas, CEO, Real Estate Attorney, and Investor of The Closing Firm, LLC,. Ebony shares valuable insights as she’s navigated the ups and downs of life to still come out on top and living that life that brings her joy and contentment. Ebony lives her life as a practice to explore the things that align with her most authentic self, and those that don’t. She offers much self grace as she navigates through life’s tough challenges, and the times when she makes mistakes. Her self will is what allows her to be present in moments of despair, regret, or sadness, and then move on to continue the journey. Ebony shares a few points for those on their journey. Take the time to identify their values and goals, which will enable them to make intentional decisions and live the life they desire. Give yourself grace while exploring your best version that brings peace. She emphasizes that self-care and self-compassion are crucial to your overall well-being and success. Build a supportive tribe of friends who can provide the necessary encouragement and support. Black women must surround themselves with people who believe in their vision, uplift them, and hold them accountable. Lean into making life-defining decisions, even when they are difficult or require a significant sacrifice. She advises them to trust their intuition, take calculated risks, and persevere through adversity to achieve their goals. Do what you say you're going to do; the world will be surprised. Connect with me @lotushalehill | @lotushalehill| website To keep up with Ebony, follow her at @lucasthecloser on Resources Referenced in this Episode Ready to write and tell your story?
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Black Women's Freedom is Non-Negotiable | Episode 101
04/07/2023
Black Women's Freedom is Non-Negotiable | Episode 101
In this episode, I am joined by Tiff Yvonne, CPA, is the CEO and Head of Strategy at Playmaker Solutions. Her passion work is rooted in her observations that though the women she worked with, and even herself, were committed to family, to community, they were burned out, and not living fulfilled easeful lives that they absolutely love. Tiff Yvonne elevates a few points for Black women for whom freedom is a non-negotiable: Living a life that makes you proud can begin today, and it requires you to make a life defining decision that may shift your current relationships, dynamics, and way of life Discern between what you believe and the borrowed beliefs of others. You may have to break the mold to save yourself and begin anew It’s critical to reclaim the woman you were before your titles and to-dos. Self love is the by-product of setting boundaries with yourself, your children, and professional lives Life doesn't happen in a vacuum, one circumstance or experience will inform the next, it's your "life curriculum" When we make life defining decisions, we can experience shame, fear, and doubt that can hinder our progress. Instead of trying to avoid these natural resistors, we should give them space, but put them in the passenger side as we move forward Listen to the Podcast on | Resources Referenced in this Episode One of Tiffany’s favorite books: https://www.peterblock.com/books/the-answer-to-how-is-yes-acting-on-what-matters/ Connect with me @lotushalehill | @lotushalehill| website Connect with Tiff Yvonne on Instagram and Ready to write and tell your story?
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