Naked Conversations: Race, Culture, & Beyond

This show is a collection of real, honest, and sometimes messy conversations between two friends. We’ll explore racism, antiracism, interracial friendship, activism, books, films, and more through our different lived experiences. We’ll offer questions and actions to help you go deeper into your exploration of race & culture, find your own inner disruptor, and be a part of the solution. Occasionally, we’ll bring you interviews with others who are experts in this work so we can learn together and do better.

S8E8: This is Goodbye (ish) & Thank You! 10/25/2023

S8E7: Healing Generational Trauma & Breaking from "Stable Misery" with Dr. Lynyetta Willis 10/18/2023

S8E6: Book Bans in Schools: The What and The Why 10/11/2023

S8E5: Building Trust in Organizations 10/04/2023

S8E4: Systematic Racism 09/27/2023

S8E3: Using Somatics to Reclaim Our Agency. With Maria-Victoria Albina. 09/20/2023

S8E2: Hope Against All Odds 09/13/2023

S8E1: Black Hair and Black History Month 09/06/2023

S7E7: Friendship Across Race with the Humanize Podcast Hosts 10/11/2022

S7E7: Friendship Across Race with the Humanize Podcast Hosts And this brings Season 7 to a close! For our final episode, we are joined by Humanize Podcast hosts Courthney Russell Jr. and Emily Braucher. These two use their podcast as a platform for social justice, engaging in honest conversations about race, and not shying away from uncomfortable, vulnerable, messy terrain. What an absolute pleasure to have this pair on our show, make sure you check out their Listen to hear us talk about - How Courthney & Emily began working together - How nerve wracking it is to get to know each other publicly on the podcast. - Conversational podcasts can teach listeners that it is normal to have challenging conversations, and how to navigate them. Raising consciousness through modeling. - Is it delusional to have hope in these times? - How healing it can be to be honest with ourselves: acknowledging our conditioning and shame. - What is the role of white people in racial justice work? About our guests: Courthney Russell Jr. grew up on KY and lived in the Virgin Islands. By the time he graduated from high school, Courthney's tendency toward stereotypical behavior had him on a collision course with incarceration or death. In a last-ditch effort, he applied to medical school and was surprised to be accepted. After experiencing homelessness and graduated in 2011 with a medical degree and a new mission: leverage his knowledge in a non-traditional way to become an authentic, determined, humble leader. Today, this looks like (a) co-founding a non-proﬁt focused on serving the homeless and vulnerable (b) co-founding WeUp CBO, a company dedicated to addressing poverty through education, healthcare, and employment © He also is the co-host of The Humanize Podcast and is board president of a Co-Op organization in Denver, Colorado. Emily Braucher is a keynote speaker and trainer who is singularly focused on helping people create trusting relationships across differences. She does this by teaching clients the tools to overcome the three challenges that inevitably get in the way of trust: ego, culture and power. For the last decade, Emily has worked with corporate, non-profit, academic, and government clients on strengthening the inclusive brain, fostering the “trust mindset,” creating psychological safety and practicing stress management techniques, always pointing people towards the best version of themselves. In addition to running ReFresh Communication, Emily is also co-host of the podcast, Humanize: Stories from the Heart about Social Justice. What Courthney & Emily are hooked on right now: - Reading: Medical Apartheid by Harriet A. Washington, The 1619 Project, & The Camino - Watching: Breaking Bad, Seinfeld, The Sopranos Links and Resources Mentioned: Connect with us and learn more about our work: Sage: Speaking, leadership development & coaching, team building, and group facilitation On LinkedIn: Erica: Executive coaching and organizational strategy at Help support antiracism work and community dialogue by SHARING to the show with your friends and family! - Take a screenshot of an episode you love and tag @racecultureandbeyondpodcast on Instagram - Click the “share” button on whichever platform you listen and send it to folks who would find it helpful - Good old “spread the word,” and talk about it with your people Love the show? Please rate it and review it on Apple Podcasts. Just a few short words really helps folks to find the show. Thank you :) - See you next season! Until then - stay engaged, keep diving in, and support your community. <3 /episode/index/show/nakedconversationspodcast/id/24223701

S7E6: Race & Roe Overturned 10/04/2022

S7E5: The What and Why of Truth and Reconciliation 09/27/2022

S7E5: The What and Why of Truth and Reconciliation "Own the history, tell the truth, sit with the discomfort”. Since our chat with Amy Hunter last week, we haven’t been able to stop thinking about Truth and Reconciliation. In this episode we take a deep dive into its history, and applications, and what it would mean for the U.S to adopt its own T&R process. Listen to hear us talk about: - Truth and reconciliation: what does it really mean? - Does the U.S. need a T&R commission? - Feeling personally attacked: this isn’t about you, and you don’t need to get your feelings hurt. - Being representative of your race: black folks are constantly equated to their race, white people can own their whiteness too. - Imagining truth & reconciliation: what would it look like? Who would be in the room? - You don’t have to agree, but you can listen. - Apologies: do they mean anything? What if there was a system to walk us through this? - Sage’s ABCDE framework for cross-cultural communication Resources mentioned 1. : 2. : 3. Sage’s ABCDE approach to cross-cultural communication - Approach with respect - Be curious (with discretion) - Communication for connection (clean, clear, compassionate, couragmneous) - Dialogue (encourage discussion, don’t shut it down) - Educate yourself (diversify sources, you’re never done learning) Connect with us and learn more about our work: Sage: Speaking, leadership development & coaching, team building, and group facilitation On LinkedIn: Erica: Executive coaching and organizational strategy at Help support antiracism work and community dialogue by SHARING to the show with your friends and family! - Take a screenshot of an episode you love and tag @racecultureandbeyondpodcast on Instagram - Click the “share” button on whichever platform you listen and send it to folks who would find it helpful - Good old “spread the word,” and talk about it with your people Love the show? Please rate it and review it on Apple Podcasts. Just a few short words really helps folks to find the show. Thank you :) /episode/index/show/nakedconversationspodcast/id/24223602

S7E4: Amy Hunter on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Work 09/20/2022

S7E4: Amy Hunter on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Work “Not everything I’ve tried has worked, I just have forgotten about the things that didn’t work.” - Amy Hunter This woman will blow your mind. We are so blessed to have had this conversation with Amy Hunter, it went completely off-script in the best possible way. Amy is ‘Miss Optimism’, a relentless trier. She speaks in possibility. She motivates us to do better, to reach higher, to dream bigger. Thank you Amy. We hope you are all as inspired by this conversation as we are. Listen to hear us talk about: - What inspired Amy into activism at age 14 - HBCU’s (historically black colleges and universities) and “being white” - The need for white women to step up and support their black sisters. No longer saying yes to violence and injustice. - What does truth and reconciliation look like in practice, between women, across racial lines? - Apologies: who needs to apologise, and for what? - How “not being good enough” and “not belonging to a community” are socialisations of whiteness - Optimism: failing & trying again. How Amy looks to her successes to sustain her activist work - Your sphere of influence: what can you do to make a tangible difference, right now? More about Amy Hunter: Amy A. Hunter is the Vice President of Global Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for the publicly traded footwear company, Caleres. She recently joined the Caleres team after serving as the Senior Global Equity Diversity and Inclusion leader at Boeing. At Caleres she leads the global initiatives for diversity equity and inclusion. She has enjoyed a career in diversity working within the healthcare, agricultural, educational, and financial services industries. Hunter has more than 20 years of experience in human resources, organizational development, project management and leadership within the corporate and nonprofit arenas. Her responsibilities have included creating and implementing return on investment strategies for recruitment, curriculums for training and development and measurable retention strategies. Her community engagements have included serving on several boards for local organizations. She has spoken and presented diversity training, keynotes, seminars, and strategy sessions around the world. She is well respected globally and has received numerous awards for her achievements as a diversity resource. Her popular speech “The Talk” was incorporated into a TEDx presentation called “Lucky Zip Codes.” Hunter has an earned undergraduate degree and is currently pursuing a doctorate from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Links and Resources Mentioned: - - - : Books: - Tarana Burke & Brene Brown: You Are Your Best Thing - Brene Brown: Atlas of The Heart, - Ijeoma Oluo: So You Want to Talk About Race - Isabel Wilkerson: Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents - Gary John Bishop: Unfu*k Yourself: Get Out of Your Head and Into Your Life Connect with Amy on : Connect with us and learn more about our work: Sage: Speaking, leadership development & coaching, team building, and group facilitation On LinkedIn: Erica: Executive coaching and organizational strategy at Help support antiracism work and community dialogue by SHARING to the show with your friends and family! - Take a screenshot of an episode you love and tag @racecultureandbeyondpodcast on Instagram - Click the “share” button on whichever platform you listen and send it to folks who would find it helpful - Good old “spread the word,” and talk about it with your people Love the show? Please rate it and review it on Apple Podcasts. Just a few short words really helps folks to find the show. Thank you :) /episode/index/show/nakedconversationspodcast/id/24223494

S7E3: Dr. Andrea Kane on Racism, Education, and Hope 09/13/2022

S7E3: Dr. Andrea Kane on Racism, Education, and Hope We are joined today by none other than THE Dr. Andrea M Kane, one of the most courageous & bold women we know, working tirelessly to transform the public education system. Wow, you are in for a treat. Listen to hear us talk about: - What is educational equity? - Savior complex in teaching environments is a disservice: the fine line between coddling and supporting. - Why teachers must unpack their own biases if they want to truly support their students - Sustainability in activist work: how to stay grounded and motivated, how to support other people to stay in the game - Why the public education system is an aspirational endeavor - Dr Kane’s own experience of backlash & negativity in response to speaking out against racial injustice About Dr. Andrea M. Kane: Dr. Kane is a Professor of Practice in Educational Leadership at the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education. She took on this role after serving as the the first African American Superintendent for Queen Anne’s County Public Schools, where she set professional and personal goals focused on implementing equitable practices across all areas of the organization including improving black, brown, and poor students’ access to advanced learning opportunities, offering the first African American Studies course in district history, building a diverse workforce, promoting student voice, and providing cultural proficiency/educational equity professional development to all employees. Dr. Kane’s visionary leadership proved to be effective in large suburban, urban, and small rural districts with the following as some of her achievements: - recognition for the first fully virtual learning program for public elementary and middle school students in Maryland, - achieving Green School certification in 100% of schools in Queen Anne's County Public Schools (QACPS) in 2020 and 2021, - first National Blue Ribbon School in QACPS history (2020-21) - a grant award for one million dollars for an innovative outdoor environmental education and STEAM summer program in 2021, - and induction into the prestigious Baltimore City College High School Hall of Fame (2018) What Dr. Andrea Kane is currently hooked on: Ozark & the new Jurassic Park movie Links and Resources Mentioned: New York Times article: Dr Andrea Kane’s Co-Authored Book: (May 2019). Connect with us and learn more about our work: Sage: Speaking, leadership development & coaching, team building, and group facilitation On LinkedIn: Erica: Executive coaching and organizational strategy at https://www.flyingcolorsllc.com/flying-colors-about-us- Help support antiracism work and community dialogue by SHARING to the show with your friends and family! - Take a screenshot of an episode you love and tag @racecultureandbeyondpodcast on Instagram - Click the “share” button on whichever platform you listen and send it to folks who would find it helpful - Good old “spread the word,” and talk about it with your people Love the show? Please rate it and review it on Apple Podcasts. Just a few short words really helps folks to find the show. Thank you :) /episode/index/show/nakedconversationspodcast/id/24223437

S7E2: Rita Brent: On Being a Black, Queer, Musician and Comedian from Mississippi 09/06/2022

S7E2: Rita Brent: On Being a Black, Queer, Musician and Comedian from Mississippi Season 7 continues to bring phenomenal guests and conversations. We have an incredible guest on this episode, whom we “met” at a live comedy show in Austin, TX. She is bold and honest, unafraid to speak to injustices and is just damn funny. We are such big fans of Rita Brent and we are beyond excited that she is joining us today. Listen to hear us talk about: - How the places we live can cultivate (or hinder) our talents. - Using curse words: when are they necessary, and when do they detract from the value of the message? - Cancel culture: who gives who the power to cancel? Who is the author of this cancellation? - Being strategic in the internet age: everything we say can be used against us - Disarming through humor - using comedy to shake opinions and resonate deeply - Greater popularity means greater responsibility. How should we use our platforms? - Why it is important to acknowledge and accept our fears, and not leave this earth with regrets. More about the hilarious and brilliant Rita Brent” Rita Brent is a comedian, musician, and military veteran from Jackson, Mississippi. She discovered her love for music as a young girl performing in talent shows and southern Baptist churches as a drummer alongside her mother and singer-pianist, Angela. She credits her mother as the one who helped cultivate and support her talents. At age 18, she joined the 41st Army National Guard Band where she served for nine years and ended her time in service as a sergeant. Rita graduated from her beloved HBCU, Jackson State University, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Mass and Speech Communication, and pledged Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. After graduating from JSU she landed at Mississippi Public Broadcasting where she served as a Radio Host and Producer. In March 2013, Rita made a sharp turn and plunged into a career as a stand-up comedian. Since then, she’s been featured on Kevin Hart’s Hart of the City, TruTV’s Laff Mobb’s Laff Tracks, and Epix TV's Unprotected Sets. Rita has released three singles, “Kamala,” “Raised in the Sipp,” and “I Deserve to Be Alive”. She currently tours as a feature act with her mentors, Rickey Smiley and Cedric the Entertainer. Rita wrote for the 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards, the Academy of Country Music Awards, MusiCares Person of the Year, and Netflix’s “Stand Out: An LGBTQ+ Celebration”. Rita is currently on The Born Funny Tour, her first as a headlining act. Links and Resources Mentioned: What Rita is currently hooked on: Reading: Viola Davis’s “Finding Me”, Christine Plant’s “Afrominimalist”. Watching: Stranger Things, First Ladies, The Lincoln Lawyer Website: Social Media: @ritabrentcomedy YouTube: Apple Music: Connect with us and learn more about our work: Sage: Speaking, leadership development & coaching, team building, and group facilitation On LinkedIn: Erica: Executive coaching and organizational strategy at Help support antiracism work and community dialogue by SHARING to the show with your friends and family! - Take a screenshot of an episode you love and tag @racecultureandbeyondpodcast on Instagram - Click the “share” button on whichever platform you listen and send it to folks who would find it helpful - Good old “spread the word,” and talk about it with your people Love the show? Please rate it and review it on Apple Podcasts. Just a few short words really helps folks to find the show. Thank you :) /episode/index/show/nakedconversationspodcast/id/24223305

S7E1: Bridgerton, The Oscar’s Slap, THE Kentanji Brown Jackson, and Disrupting the Construction Industry 05/12/2022

S6E12: Duality and Paradox: A Season In Review 02/02/2022

S6E11: New Year's Reflections on Paradoxical Emotions and Black Girl Hair 01/27/2022

S6E10: Lived Experiences and Bi-Cultural Identity with Nadia Ali 01/12/2022

S6E10: Lived Experiences and Bi-Cultural Identity with Nadia Ali Today’s guest is a close friend and colleague who leads with purpose and compassion. Nadia Ali is a change-maker who isn’t afraid to call you in while exuding kindness and intention. Nadia brings her full cultural self into all of her interactions and is dedicated to inclusivity and equity as a thread throughout her life and work. Some favorite quotes: “That's my passion, how do we, how do we create spaces for our kiddos across our communities to feel confident in their identities and feel supported in those identities in the ways that they want to express themselves.” “I just really hope that all of our future generations can confidently step into their own identities with less barriers.” “When we are empathic and compassionate, it leads to connection and vulnerability, more collaboration, which leads to more productivity, which leads to stronger teams and communication.” Highlights and key talking points in today’s conversation: Identity and the role it plays in one’s awareness of their power and uniqueness Showing up in the world as a visibly Muslim woman with a bi-cultural identity Safe vs. Brave spaces Work/life balance within your work in the DEI/JEDI space More about Nadia Ali and her work: Nadia is Founder and CEO of Idea Labs, a mission-driven consulting firm advancing diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace and across communities through training, leadership coaching and organizational strategy. She has over 20 years of experience spanning program management, coalition building, leadership development, community outreach, and health and racial equity. In her spare time, Nadia loves spending time with friends and family, traveling, cooking and baking, being outdoors with her husband and two children, and building community. Connect with Nadia Ali Website: Instagram: , Thank you thank you for listening to the show. It is such an honor to have these conversations with you and a special thank you to Nadia Ali for sharing her expertise and experience. For access to ALL the resources mentioned, sign up for the “resource roundup” at nc-podcast. The (short & awesome) newsletter will also keep you in the loop on the latest episodes, and other opportunities. Let’s connect: Like what you hear? Please subscribe to Naked Conversations on . Or . Or Google Play. Or any of the following – , , , . For (much appreciated) gold stars: ! Just a few short words will help more folks find the show and be a part of this conversation. Thank you! Also, please send a DM on Instagram to @sagebhobbs or @ericayhoward to let us know what you love about the show, what topics you’d like to hear covered, or your dream interviewee. /episode/index/show/nakedconversationspodcast/id/21751472

S6E9: How to Have Hard Conversations and the Paradox of Relationships 12/23/2021

S6E8: Celebrating The Holidays: Culture within Culture 12/15/2021

S6E7: The Meet Up: Experiences of A White Woman and A Black Woman 11/24/2021

S6E6: Comedy, Cancel Culture, and Dave Chappelle 11/10/2021

S6E5: Racism on Old TV Shows and How We Keep Learning 11/03/2021

S6E5: Racism on Old TV Shows and How We Keep Learning Welcome to Season 6 Episode 5 of Race, Culture & Beyond: A Naked Conversation Podcast. Today we are going back in time and talking about Racism on old TV shows and how we use this as a catalyst and tool to continue learning. We discuss: The lessons that can still be learned from outdated shows Navigating what we watch, how we watch responsibly, what we learn from our watching and how times have changed Our own personal learning journeys We also delve further and share our thoughts and experiences on JEDI (justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion) and explore: How do you practice JEDI in your work (whatever work that may be)? How do you envision JEDI being infused in organizations? What is the greatest challenge for leaders to bring JEDI into organizations? Why it’s important to have a TEAM The balance between insight and action (especially in the JEDI space) Do we want to add the J to JEDI? So what do we/you do with all of this? Keep learning! Keep reflecting! Stay curious and compassionate. Thank you thank you for listening to the show. It is such an honor to have these conversations with you. They are necessary and needed and we are here to do the work. For access to ALL the resources mentioned, sign up for the “resource roundup” at nc-podcast. The (short & awesome) newsletter will also keep you in the loop on the latest episodes, and other opportunities. Let’s connect: Like what you hear? Please subscribe to Naked Conversations on . Or . Or Google Play. Or any of the following – , , , . For (much appreciated) gold stars: ! Just a few short words will help more folks find the show and be a part of this conversation. Thank you! Also, please send a DM on Instagram to @sagebhobbs or @ericayhoward to let us know what you love about the show, what topics you’d like to hear covered, or your dream interviewee. /episode/index/show/nakedconversationspodcast/id/21035282

S6E4: Schools, Authentic Leadership, and Black Women Entrepreneurs with Dr. Shenelle DuBose 10/13/2021

S6E4: Schools, Authentic Leadership, and Black Women Entrepreneurs with Dr. Shenelle DuBose Today’s guest offers so much passion, purpose, wisdom, and humor. The amazing Dr. Shenelle Dubose shows up authentically in everything she does, including her honest and open sharing on this episode. Shenelle isn’t afraid to tell you what she thinks and to do the hard work required to create real change. Some favorite quotes: “A part of the work is disruption. We’re in a system that wasn’t built for Black and Brown children.” “Are you going to keep stepping back in fear? Or are you going to step forward?” Highlights and key talking points in today’s conversation: Her career changes and her search for positive social impact Changing our mental models Transforming schools What “clear communication” really means if you’re a Black woman leader How education and equity are tied together Black women and entrepreneurship More about Dr. Shenelle DuBose and her work: Dr. DuBose not only offers over 20 years as an experienced educator, innovator, and leader in the learning community, but she delivers unmatched passion and energy to turn your goals into reality. As a teacher, principal, leadership coach, instructional facilitator, and online instructor, Dr. DuBose has the hands-on, real-world experience you need… plus the leadership philosophy and commitment you seek “to make moves that matter” in your organization. Her own words best sum up her beliefs: “I believe in creating an inclusive and welcome learning community where every student can experience academic and social success, where diversity is celebrated, and expertise and leadership potential are valued and cultivated. I will facilitate ownership and commitment to a shared vision.” Shenelle is a systems thinker with exemplary problem-solving and coaching skills. She is adept at working with and engaging diverse groups around common learning. She uses these very same skills in her own consulting company. In addition to her professional training and development, Shenelle also supports other women educators who are ready to move beyond the classroom to stand in their value and pursue the new dream in their hearts, without starting from scratch. Connect with Dr. Shenelle DuBose via: Website: Facebook and Instagram Thank you thank you for listening to the show. It is such an honor to have these conversations with you and a special thank you to Dr. Shenelle Dubose for sharing her expertise and experience. For access to ALL the resources mentioned, sign up for the “resource roundup” at nc-podcast. The (short & awesome) newsletter will also keep you in the loop on the latest episodes, and other opportunities. Let’s connect: Like what you hear? Please subscribe to Naked Conversations on . Or . Or Google Play. Or any of the following – , , , . For (much appreciated) gold stars: ! Just a few short words will help more folks find the show and be a part of this conversation. Thank you! Also, please send a DM on Instagram to @sagebhobbs or @ericayhoward to let us know what you love about the show, what topics you’d like to hear covered, or your dream interviewee. /episode/index/show/nakedconversationspodcast/id/20803988

S6E3: Great Leadership IS Inclusive Leadership 10/07/2021

S6E2: Using Theater for Social Justice: Inclusive Leadership and Beyond 09/29/2021

S6E2: Using Theater for Social Justice: Inclusive Leadership and Beyond Welcome to Season 6 Episode 2 of Race, Culture & Beyond: A Naked Conversation Podcast. On today’s episode, we are joined by Trent Norman of Affinity Arts Consulting as we discuss improving human connection and advancing Social Justice through the art of Theatre. Trent Norman (he/his/him/they/them/theirs) has a history of Diversity & Inclusion work; As a student activist, he created the (1) Black Students Organization at Fort Lewis College, (2) UCAP (United Coalition Against Prejudice) – a not-for-profit organization created to address the Ku Klux Klan, and a (3) a performance Theatre group. Trent received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in English Literature and Theatre Performance while participating as a Residence Assistant and a student-athlete; Trent’s Master of Science is in Social Psychology; focusing his energies on group dynamics and facilitation. Trent continued his love of theatre as the co-founder and director of the University of Colorado’s Interactive Theatre Project and Affinity Arts Consulting (AAC). Through AAC Trent has created and facilitated performance about social issues for a variety of audiences including restorative justice practitioners, national and international university conferences, first-year student orientations, K-12 teacher educators, sexual assault prosecutor, and support services and environmental justice advocates; using theatre to engage audiences in learning and information sharing. Additionally, Trent works with the Center for Academic Performance Excellence (CAPE) on the University of Colorado’s Anschutz medical campus helping medical professionals improve their practice, communication skills and patient relationships as an actor and facilitator. He has served as the Assistant Director for Organizational Diversity at the University of Colorado Boulder, where he developed a stand-alone Diversity curriculum implemented by other instructors he trained. Trent created and implemented a diversity plan for the Division of Student Affairs, engaged the Department of Housing and Dining Services in a unit-wide Diversity training and with colleague Rebecca Brown Adelman received the NYU Steinhart excellence award for innovative theatre practices for their work at the University of Colorado and Affinity Arts. Trent has published and leads workshops on facilitation and used that experience to center his diversity & inclusion work. Trent participated in the Social Justice Training Institute (as a participant and intern); has been certified to train in the NCBI (National Coalition Building Institute) model; has a training certificate from NCORE (National Conference On Race and Ethnicity in American Higher Education) and completed the Social Justice Education Training Certificate from NCORE. Trent is also a professional photographer, writer, ski instructor, and avid cyclist. The conversation with Trent is not only thought-provoking but rich with experience, humor, and wisdom. Tune in to hear Trent discuss: The connection between JEDI (justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion) and Theatre How Theatre can be used as a tool for exploring identity How Theatre can amplify and bridge the gap between intention and impact Strategies for creating spaces for real and raw conversations to take place To connect with Trent and his work visit Thank you thank you for listening to the show. It is such an honor to have these conversations with you. They are necessary and needed and we are here to do the work. A special thank you to Trent for his time, his expertise, and his wisdom. For access to ALL the resources mentioned, sign up for the “resource roundup” at nc-podcast. The (short & awesome) newsletter will also keep you in the loop on the latest episodes, and other opportunities. Let’s connect: Like what you hear? Please subscribe to Naked Conversations on . Or . Or Google Play. Or any of the following – , , , . For (much appreciated) gold stars: ! Just a few short words will help more folks find the show and be a part of this conversation. Thank you! Also, please send a DM on Instagram to @sagebhobbs or @ericayhoward to let us know what you love about the show, what topics you’d like to hear covered, or your dream interviewee. /episode/index/show/nakedconversationspodcast/id/20641991

S6E1: “I’m not racist!” Real Talk on “Me and White Supremacy” 09/22/2021

S5E12: Celebration, Rest and Resistance 07/07/2021

S5E12: Celebration, Rest and Resistance “One day you will tell your story of how you overcame what you went through and it will be someone else's survival guide”. Berney Brown Welcome to the last episode of season 5! Today's episode of Race, Culture & Beyond: A Naked Conversation Podcast is a significant celebration of how much we have accomplished in 5 seasons of speaking up and contributing to the conversation on racism. We are delighted to announce we have produced 24 episodes which have been listened to by 3070 people all over the globe! We recently found out we are listened to in the US and New Zealand, Australia, the UK, Japan, Jamaica, and many more. After this episode, we will be taking a break because, as with all resistances, we must rest to keep our energy up. We must keep in mind that taking breaks is fundamental in any group or movement to continue to work hard for what we're looking for. We invite you to also take a break: read, walk, rest, and pause. In today's episode, we will also be talking about our most influential episodes: from the ones that kicked off this podcast, the first time we co-interviewed a guest, to the time we defined what antiracism means to us, among many others. Thank you for listening to the show. It is such an honor to have these conversations with you. They are necessary and needed, and we are here to do the work. For access to ALL the resources mentioned, sign up for the “resource roundup” at nc-podcast. The (short & awesome) newsletter will also keep you in the loop on the latest episodes, and other opportunities. Let’s connect: Like what you hear? Please subscribe to Naked Conversations on . Or . Or Google Play. Or any of the following – , , , . For (much appreciated) gold stars: ! Just a few short words will help more folks find the show and be a part of this conversation. Thank you! Also, please send a DM on Instagram to @sagebhobbs or @ericayhoward to let us know what you love about the show, what topics you’d like to hear covered, or your dream interviewee. /episode/index/show/nakedconversationspodcast/id/19725671

S5E11: Exploring Poetry, Storytelling, Pain, and Race in Black Culture 06/30/2021

S5E11: Exploring Poetry, Storytelling, Pain, and Race in Black Culture Welcome back to another episode of Race, Culture & Beyond, A Naked Conversation Podcast! In today’s episode, we have an exceptional guest with us who will share with us all about her journey towards becoming a poet and how her writing has a special connection with religion, childhood, trauma, and racism. Dr. Rochelle Robinson-Dukes is a professor at the city college of Chicago, where she teaches literature and English composition. She has been published in African American Review, Another Chicago Magazine, Poetry Hall, The Raven’s Perch, among many others. In addition, she’s the editor of Brownstone Barrio Bards, a journal celebrating its twentieth edition this year (you can find the link to the journal on , , and ). Dr. Rochelle Robinson-Dukes began writing when she was only 8 years old. She started writing because she felt it was the best way to express her emotions, given that she comes from an era of “children should be seen and not heard.” She was also raised in a religious background that did not allow her to express her thoughts transparently. As a result, Rochelle put off writing for a couple of years, and the year of the pandemic gave her back that space to write about all of the bottled-up feelings she had. Dr. Robinson-Dukes also speaks about how she never felt she couldn’t do anything. She accomplished everything she set her mind to and raised her son based on those beliefs. Rochelle gives those examples to her children: to never accept judgment, categories, or labels. And to instead look up to the leaders we have or have had. We cover many topics including storytelling in Black culture, religion, abandonment issues, racism, family history and trauma, and self-awareness. Thank you for listening to the show. It is such an honor to have these conversations with you. They are necessary and needed, and we are here to do the work. For access to ALL the resources mentioned, sign up for the “resource roundup” at nc-podcast. The (short & awesome) newsletter will also keep you in the loop on the latest episodes, and other opportunities. Let’s connect: Like what you hear? Please subscribe to Naked Conversations on . Or . Or Google Play. Or any of the following – , , , . For (much appreciated) gold stars: ! Just a few short words will help more folks find the show and be a part of this conversation. Thank you! Also, please send a DM on Instagram to @sagebhobbs or @ericayhoward to let us know what you love about the show, what topics you’d like to hear covered, or your dream interviewee. /episode/index/show/nakedconversationspodcast/id/19652624

S5E10: Juneteenth, Awkward Opportunities and Black Joy 06/23/2021

S5E10: Juneteenth, Awkward Opportunities and Black Joy Hello everyone, and welcome to a new episode of Naked Conversations! Today’s episode will be a review of many important matters happening at the moment. As most of our episodes begin, we will be speaking about what we’re currently into: Ramy on Hulu Dave Chapelle The prophets, a novel by Robert Jones Jr. We will also be discussing awkward moments, for instance, how Sage found herself in a teenage theater play and found it offensive for herself and her son, who watched it with her. Finally, we talk about the importance of time, place, and audience and how we sometimes don’t enjoy what everyone else finds hilarious. One of the most significant subjects discussed during this episode will be Juneteenth: “Juneteenth commemorates African American freedom and emphasizes education and achievement. It is a day, a week, and in some areas, a month marked with celebrations, guest speakers, picnics, and family gatherings. It is a time for reflection and rejoicing.” We will discuss the importance of this date, its history, and why it is a time to honor and date June 19th. For more information on Juneteenth, visit Thank you for listening to the show. It is such an honor to have these conversations with you. They are necessary and needed, and we are here to do the work. For access to ALL the resources mentioned, sign up for the “resource roundup” at nc-podcast. The (short & awesome) newsletter will also keep you in the loop on the latest episodes, and other opportunities. Let’s connect: Like what you hear? Please subscribe to Naked Conversations on . Or . Or Google Play. Or any of the following – , , , . For (much appreciated) gold stars: ! Just a few short words will help more folks find the show and be a part of this conversation. Thank you! Also, please send a DM on Instagram to @sagebhobbs or @ericayhoward to let us know what you love about the show, what topics you’d like to hear covered, or your dream interviewee. /episode/index/show/nakedconversationspodcast/id/19574210