Chocolate Therapy Podcast

Marcus and Jordan sip on Negronis, share a recipe for shrimp ceviche, and Marcus asks Jordan what the cast of Little Mermaid would look like if every character was played by Black women. Also, some updates on actions against heartbeat bills and a few shoutouts to Southerners who are getting the work done.

Marcus and Jordan talk about the legacy of New Orleans culinary legend Leah Chase, co-founder of famed restaurant Dooky Chase. They discuss her life and her importance as a patron of Black art, an entrepreneur, and as a woman who loved people in a profound way. This one is more serious than we usually are, but y'all we had feelings to sort out. The Chocolate Therapy Podcast has been made possible by a grant from the Highlander Research and Education Center.

Chattanooga based burlesque performer Juno Mars joins shares her recipe for coconut milk mashed potatoes and chats with Marcus and Jordan about burlesque, sex positive performance art, food preferences, and several random tangents. We really enjoyed talking with her.  You can follow Juno Mars on all social media platforms as @JunoMars You can purchase her pro-choice merch at www.bonfire.com/my-rights-1/ Follow us at @CTPYALL on Twitter and Instagram and find us on Facebook at The Chocolate Therapy Podcast This podcast has been made possible by a generous grant from the Highlander Research and Education Center

For this episode, we've decided to talk to our very own Jordan Scruggs about reproductive justice in the South. Jordan has been working for reproductive rights since they were in highschool and has an extensive background in that work. Jordan and Marcus start with a lovely brunch featuring gourmet cheese grits and then go into the failures of abstinence only sex ed, the need for abortion access, and they patent a new brand of gender inclusive menstrual products.  If you want to support reproductive justice in the south, check out the links below for a few places to start. https://www.healthyandfreetn.org/ http://tnstories.org/ http://www.sparkrj.org/ https://www.arc-southeast.org/ https://yellowhammerfund.org/ https://msreprofreedomfund.org/ https://www.sistersong.net/ https://sisterreach.org/ https://allaboveall.org/   The Chocolate Therapy Podcast is made possible by a generous grant from The Highlander Research and Education Center

Jordan gives their rundown of the Met Gala campy realness, Marcus concocts a decadent praline recipe, and they hash out some of the trash legislation coming through the South with some advice on how to take a stand against it. (Hint: It might not be boycotts). You can read Jordan's Met Gala ranking here: https://ello.co/jordanscruggs/post/osuu0l0vsgeqdz69p4ulaa

We continue our conversation with Chattanooga poet Erika Roberts. We ask her about Black Fridays, a movement that supports Black entrepreneurship and network building in the Chattanooga area. Also, at this point the rum and wine are starting to take effect, so we get a little extra. But what else is new?

WE'RE BACK! And to kick off Season 2 we have Erika Roberts aka Velvet Poetry sharing FOUR new recipes with us. In Part one, we talk about the food (of course) and her work as a poet and creative leader in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The interview ran long, but was SO much fun we are releasing it in two parts. In part two, Erika talks about Black Fridays. That's a really great local effort to build support for local Black businesses inspired by similar work being done in other cities. Look for that to drop Friday, May 3rd! For this season, we'll be spending more time with folks we know in and around Chattanooga to highlight just how Black and beautiful our corner of the south is. You can find Erika as Velvet Poetry on Facebook and IG. And as always you can find us @CTPYall on all the things. Shout out to Highlander Research and Education Center for supporting us and thank you for listening!

A short announcement from your hosts Marcus and Jordan about some of what's in store for Chocolate Therapy this year!

Marcus and Jordan have been on a longer than anticipated hiatus, but they're back with a new Side Dish! Serving up THREE recipes for your holiday feasting along with a recap of the midterm elections and their thoughts on public education and the vanishing middle class. You know, fun topics to bring to the Thanksgiving table. Enjoy!

It's been awhile since Marcus and Jordan got together to do a little side dishing. This week, they try out Maya Angelou's famous Banana Pudding recipe. They go in on some of the major political events of the past three weeks, from appointing trash to high office to even trashier expressions of support from a certain moderate Southern Dem. They also take a minute to discuss why they love Dolly Parton.   Maya Angelou's Banana Pudding Recipe: https://www.oprah.com/food/banana-pudding

Marcus went to The Highlander Center's 86th Homecoming in New Market, Tennessee. He met up with Ash-Lee Woodard Henderson Co-Director of the Highlander. Jordan phones in (eventually) and they all talk about fave southern foods from shrimp creole to black beans and rice, the importance of vulnerability, and how seeing a concert with Jordan is the best way to get all your life.  

We spoke with Vahisha Hasan of Movement in Faith about one of her fave foods, Fried Corn. We also discussed Arteha Franklin's funeral and how faith leaders are working to build inclusive communities and addressing the problem of far too many worship spaces being unsafe for women, gender minorities, and LGBTQ+ folks. Before the interview, Jordan and Marcus also talk about Black women leading the charge in electoral politics on the left and the reactions people are having to Kaepernick's Nike deal. You can follow and support Vahisha Hasan's work at: https://www.facebook.com/movementinfaith/ and purchase a copy of her book "Rescipscence" at https://www.facebook.com/movementinfaith/ Be sure to check out our website www.chocolatetherapypodcast.com for recipes and more about our guests You can contact us with your recipes, guest suggestions, or just say hi at yall@chocolatetherapypodcast.com Thank you to the Highlander Center for making this show possible!

Jordan and Marcus get in the kitchen with Chattanooga based radio host and community organizer Marie Mott to make her grandma's Pineapple Upside Down Cake! Then the crew sits down with Marie to talk about the case of #FreeUnjolee and many of the problems with Chattanooga's police department and mistreatment of poor and homeless people. Check out Marie Mott's livestream show at:  https://www.hotnewstalkradio.com   https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCRCa2iz0i6kthOKsAIxwGWQ   https://m.facebook.com/noogaradio/   Learn more about Unjolee Moore's case from Concerned Citizens for Justice at:  https://www.facebook.com/concernedcitizensforjustice   https://concernedcitizensforjustice.org   Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @CTPYALL Like us on Facebook Check out recipes and more at www.chocolatetherapypodcast.com   Thanks to the Highlander Center for making CTP possible.      

In this special Side Dish, Jordan and Marcus create a new version of peach cobbler with the delicious and vibrant addition of rose syrup. We needed to eat some of our feelings about the passing of Aretha Franklin and this was the result. We talk about the impact the Queen herself had on the culture and our lives.  You can find the recipe for Roses for Aretha Peach Cobbler at www.chocolatetherapypodcast.com. Listen to us on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, and wherever you catch your pods. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @CTPYall and on Facebook at The Chocolate Therapy Podcast. This podcast is made possible by a generous grant from the Highlander Center's We Shall Overcome Fund.

In this first ever Side Dish, Marcus and Jordan face off with Baked Macaroni and Mac & Cheese. They also get to talking about Lebron James, Black Woman Magic in all the magazines, and whatever in the world Space Force is gonna be. Look for a return to our normal fomat next week, and maybe we'll do these Side Dishes on our off weeks. In the meantime, check out www.chocolatetherapypodcast for updates, recipes, and more. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram under @CTPYall. And Feed Your Soul! Opening theme is Weird Science by Floami Fly Produced by Marcus Ellsworth and Joshua McAllister This podcast is made possible by a grant from the Highlander Research and Education Center.

Mary Hooks, Co-Director of Southerners On New Ground (SONG) joins us to talk about her great aunt's peanut butter cookies, ending the cash bail system, and the importance of joy in our lives. Marcus and Jordan recap their trip to see Janelle Monae live, and we learn how Jordan used the opportunity of a life time to bring back an old dance craze. The Chocolate Therapy Podcast is made possible by a generous grant from the Higlander Research and Education.  Twitter: @CTPYall Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CTPYall Websiste: www.chocolatetherapypodcast.com  

We sit down with Cazembe Jackson to talk about the right way to cook fried chicken, his work with O.U.R. Walmart and Southerners On New Groud, spirituality, our fave show POSE (and why Jordan is a terrible person for not watching it), and then some. You can find Cazembe's advice for goof fried chicken, more info about him, and links to the organizations he works with at www.chocolatetherapy.com. Follow us on Twitter @CTPYall and you can send us your recipes and suggestions for guests to yall@chocolatetherapypodcast.com.  Chocolate Therapy Podcast is made possible through a generous grant from the Highlander Center's We Shall Overcome Fund.

Josiah Golson sits down with us to talk about Mac & Cheese memories, how his family inspires his work, and how art helps us to envision our freedom. Jordan and Marcus do a Black Excellence 2018 Speed Run (Part 1). You can find Josiah's Smack-aroni and Cheese recipe and more info about the show at www.chocolatetherapypodcast.com. Opening and closing theme by Floami Fly Hosted by Marcus Ellsworth and Jordan Scruggs. Studio sound production by Josh McAllister.

Look for the first full episode of Chocolate Therapy Podcast coming soon to a set of headphones near you!