Melanated Rising

Sharing about a BIG shift in direction for me, the things that want to pull me back, and how I know that this is the right way to go. Some things you can take from this to help you decide what to do when you are pulled in multiple directions. SUBSCRIBE to get notified when new minisodes drop! Rate and review so others can find the show. Connect with me on Instagram at @kristiniris If you want a little help getting clear on what you want for your life and future get my FREE workbook for Black creatives Create Your Future Vision at www.kristiniris.com/vision

Sharing my thoughts on the passing of Chadwick Boseman, his impact on Black people worldwide, and being mindful of speaking for the dead. SUBSCRIBE to get notified when new episodes drop. If you enjoy the show rate and leave a review! Follow on Instagram - @kristiniris 

You ever notice how the “wellness” industry is just sooo white? It isn’t that there aren’t Black teachers, healers, and leaders out there, it’s that they’re not getting the same face time as their white counterparts. Then there’s the HIGH cost creating a high barrier or entry for the communities that most need care. This week’s guest, Lestraundra Alfred, is working to change that. Founder of Balanced Black Girl, Lestraundra works to highlight the Black womxn leaders in health and wellness and discuss some of the many issues we Black folx face in navigating a white dominated and classist industry. Listen as we talk wellness, Black joy, and changing how we care for ourselves! Lestraundra is a Social Media Manager, Podcast Host, experienced corporate communicator and wellness advocate. She started her first blog The Balanced Berry in 2014 to share her love of fitness and nutrition with others. After years of feeling dissatisfied with the lack of diversity in wellness content shared on large platforms, she pivoted to create Balanced Black Girl Podcast in 2018. Balanced Black Girl is a lifestyle brand that provides content and experiences empowering women of color to live their healthiest lives. Connect with Lestraundra at: Balanced Black Girl Podcast Instagram.com/balancedles Instagram.com/balancedblackgirlpodcast If you enjoyed the show make sure you rate and review to help others find it and... SUBSCRIBE to get bonus limited-time minisodes when they release! Join The Melanated Rising House - our dope ass community for Black creatives at: https://melanatedrising.mn.co/ Please share the show with others! Use #MelanatedRising on social and tag me on Instagram @Kristiniris (follow me there!)

Every year I choose one word as my theme or focus for the year. For 2020 I have two words and I chose five support words that work for both to keep me focused and living my themes. In this solo episode I share my two themes and support words and why they will take me to my next level. We’re continuing this conversation inside The Melanated Rising House - our dope ass community for Black creatives. Join at: https://melanatedrising.mn.co/ If you enjoyed the show make sure you rate and review to help others find it and... SUBSCRIBE to get bonus limited-time minisodes when they release! Please share the show with others! Use #MelanatedRising on social and tag me on Instagram @Kristiniris (follow me there!)

What if you had an idea that could change the way people relate to the land, the ways we handle disaster relief, and even change the future of the formerly incarcerated? Could you sit on it? Hold out due to fear? This week’s guest David Jones, lives his life staying curious, pursuing new careers, and using his brilliant mind and ideas to create change for marginalized communities and countries. He is a living example of going beyond what everyone else tells you is possible. David Jones is a technologist, inventor and CEO/Founder of Lite Injen Labs He is a Polyglot, has traveled to 72 countries, and is a self-taught software developer. He attended the Juilliard School-BFA for Film Score Composition, attended Airline Training Professionals and is a Certified Flight Instructor, and he’s a Massachusetts Institute of Technology-Dropout. Connect with David at: On Facebook david@liteinjenlabs.com We’re continuing this conversation inside The Melanated Rising House - our dope ass community for Black creatives. Join at: https://melanatedrising.mn.co/ If you enjoyed the show make sure you rate and review to help others find us and... SUBSCRIBE to get bonus limited-time minisodes when they release! Please share the show with others! Use #MelanatedRising on social and tag me on Instagram @Kristiniris (follow me there!)  

I’ve had a complex relationship to community throughout my life. Community can be both powerful and complicated for Black folx who were both dispersed and pushed together in marginalized groups. In this solo episode I share about my experiences in community and now building a community of my own, and I discuss the dynamics and complexities of community and Blackness. All to explore the question: What does healthy community look like? If you enjoyed the show make sure you rate and review to help others find it and... SUBSCRIBE to get bonus limited-time minisodes when they release! Join The Melanated Rising House - our dope ass community for Black creatives at: https://melanatedrising.mn.co/ Please share the show with others! Use #MelanatedRising on social and tag me on Instagram @Kristiniris

Today's bonus episode is a special announcement. I've been working hard the last couple months on designing an online community space tailor-made for Black creatives and our unique needs. It's finally here!!! Today I am introducing The Melanated Rising House - a dope ass space for Black creatives who want to make an impact! Hear all about it in this bonus episode. Join The Melanated Rising House at: https://melanatedrising.mn.co/

Can one voice create change? One story? What about 10 or 100 together? Omkari Williams joins me today for a conversation on the power of our individual and collective stories to change policy and change peoples view of us and the world. There is a power in telling your story, a power in reclaiming your voice, a power in living your right to be seen and heard. Omkari Williams is a speaker, writer and certified creativity and life coach. Her passion is teaching women to use their stories as a tool in changing social policy. Omkari says, “Our stories are bridges between us and others and can be immensely powerful in creating societal change. Yet women’s stories have been neglected. When we learn how to leverage our collective stories we can create meaningful change and help bring justice to the world.” She loves gathering stories from people she meets and inspiring them to take action. She also loves traveling to foreign countries and visiting as many churches, museums, and holy places as she can find. Her writing has been featured online by Elephant Journal, My Empowered World, Women For One, and Tattooed Buddha and in print by Savannah Magazine and Paprika Southern. Connect with Omkari at: www.omkariwilliams.com www.instagram.com/omkari_williams  Get my free video for Black Writers - 3 Key Elements To a Powerful Story at: www.kristiniris.com/3keys If you enjoyed the show make sure you SUBSCRIBE and rate and review to help others find it and… Please share the show with others! Use #MelanatedRising on social and tag me on Instagram @Kristiniris (follow me there!)

I’m taking you on a journey today. Taking inspiration from Courtney Alexander in episode 40 (go listen) I am sharing with you some of the changes and work I’m doing on myself to get myself ready for what I’m creating next year. You have to realize that who you are now is not who you will be when you reach them. The things that got you here are not necessarily what will take you to your next level. You have to actively work toward your next evolution. Listen as I share the old ways of being and doing that I’m letting go of, and the things I’m doing to become who I need and create what I want, and how you can do this exploration for yourself. As we come to the end of the year and look forward to future goals this is the time to ready yourself for them. If you enjoyed the show make sure you rate and review to help others find it and... SUBSCRIBE to get bonus limited-time minisodes when they release! Get your Create Your Future Vision - Free Workbook for Black Creatives at: www.kristiniris.com/vision Get my free video for Black Writers - 3 Key Elements To a Powerful Story at: www.kristiniris.com/3keys Please share the show with others! Use #MelanatedRising on social and tag me on Instagram @Kristiniris (follow me there!)

Giving you a slightly different flavor today on Melanated Rising. In honor of National Novel Writing Month I invited one of my oldest and closest friends (and writing buddy), Tranette Latrice Williams, on the show to talk about story, writing, challenging yourself, and broadening the scope of Black storytelling. Full of fun banter, laughter, and tales of old, listen in on two Black women writers working to decolonize our minds and our writing. Side note: Apparently we’re two old biddies who can’t remember years because we actually did NaNoWriMo for the first time in 2009 not 2012 (but 2012 was an epic year for finishing as you’ll hear). Connect with Tranette at: www.instagram.com/black_teena_marie Join her for weekly Wednesday write-ins at Motorhouse, 120 W. North Ave. Baltimore, MD Get my free video for Black Writers - 3 Key Elements To a Powerful Story at: www.kristiniris.com/3keys If you enjoyed the show make sure you SUBSCRIBE and rate and review to help others find it and… Please share the show with others! Use #MelanatedRising on social and tag me on Instagram @Kristiniris (follow me there!)

It's a Halloween minisode! And I am talking about using this time as we step into the dark of the year to assess where you really want to go and what needs to die for you to get there. Subscribe to catch these bonus episodes when they release! Minisodes are only available for 5 days! If you enjoy the show rate and leave a review! Follow on Instagram to catch live recordings of these episodes @kristiniris Get your Create Your Future Vision - Free Workbook for Black Creatives at: www.kristiniris.com/vision Please share the show! Use #MelanatedRising on social

Pain and trauma are part of our human experience, especially for Black folx. Aside from incidental pain from our individual experiences we also carry generational trauma. Trauma and pain can be healed but sometimes we hold onto our pain and it becomes a crutch. Today I deep dive into how and why you may be attached to your trauma, the social and cultural elements that exacerbate this for Black folx, what to do about it so you can live more freedom. If you enjoyed the show make sure you rate and review to help others find it and... SUBSCRIBE to get bonus limited-time minisodes when they release! Get your Create Your Future Vision - Free Workbook for Black Creatives at: www.kristiniris.com/vision Please share the show with others! Use #MelanatedRising on social and tag me on Instagram @Kristiniris (follow me there!)

In our society we have a skewed idea of light and dark, good and bad, that translates even to how we relate to skin color and the place it puts you in society. We also have some extremely violent, ingrained ideas about fat bodies—Black bodies in particular—that we need to get very honest about in order to create change. In this week’s episode Courtney Alexander, creator of the Dust II Onyx tarot deck, joins me to discuss light and dark, spirituality, and defying the expectations and harm imposed on fat Black womxn through art, expression, and love. She also gives some major manifesting tips for Black folx in particular that defies the mainstream white [supremacist] spiritual teachings. Courtney Alexander is a multimedia artist, writer, and publisher with a Bachelor’s in Studio Art from the University of South Florida, living and working in Tampa, FL. Alexander’s work began with decontextualizing issues of duality, hypersexuality, and self-awareness through exploration of fatness; a personal dialogue which served to facilitate vulnerability and explore the complex nature of her existence. In 2016, Alexander made history as the first black person to successfully publish and distribute a tarot deck, the widely acclaimed Dust II Onyx—crowdfunding over via Kickstarter. Through a series of 78 mixed media paintings, she collects the shards of her identity as a black/fat/queer woman and pieces them into a mosaic of works that present blackness as universal-spirit. “I reimagine a timeless ancient world intrinsically intertwined in this modern realm, birthed from a place of nothingness that is also simultaneously everything. A non-binary world where I see myself, reflections of blackness, and darkness, as powerful and eternal.” She is dedicated to the reclamation of public and art spaces for black folks and other marginalized viewers through creating participatory displays of transformation and liberation. Connect with Courtney at: www.dust2onyx.com instagram.com/dust2onyxtarot/ If you enjoyed the show make sure you rate and review to help others find it and... SUBSCRIBE to get bonus limited-time minisodes when they release! Get your Create Your Future Vision - Free Workbook for Black Creatives at: www.kristiniris.com/vision Please share the show with others! Use #MelanatedRising on social and tag me on Instagram @Kristiniris (follow me there!)

Here’s one we’re all familiar with: Fear of Failure! Everyone has experienced it but the truth it no one really knows what it is. See, the fear of failure isn’t actually about failure. In this solo episode I breakdown what the fear of failure really is and the ways it shows up that you may not even realize are holding you back. I also share how systemic oppression and generational survival conditioning of the Black diaspora exacerbate our “fear of failure” and how to navigate through so you can put your great plans into motion! If you enjoyed the show make sure you rate and review to help others find it and... SUBSCRIBE to get bonus limited-time minisodes when they release! Get your Create Your Future Vision - Free Workbook for Black Creatives at: www.kristiniris.com/vision If you are a book or script writer and want help with your story or writing learn more about my Story Consulting Services by emailing me at: kristin@kristiniris.com Please share the show with others! Use #MelanatedRising on social and tag me on Instagram @Kristiniris (follow me there!)

I don’t care what anyone says, hair is important. Especially for Black women who are constantly battling anglo-beauty standards and stigmas around our natural hair. How do you build confidence in the Beauty of your Blackness? Lulu Pierre founder of Boho Locs joins me today to talk about her brand of high-quality synthetic locs made “for us by us”. We talk natural hair journeys, hair stigma, and building confidence in our own beauty through protective styles like locs that also celebrate Black hair. Lulu Pierre is an entrepreneur, natural hair enthusiast, number one bestselling author, Christian and all around good girl who is completely and utterly obsessed with creating quality crochet locs. In the pursuit of the perfect look for her own natural girls who want natural-looking locs, she founded Boho Locs in 2016 and they have only just begun! They’ve curated a collection that helps even the most discerning slay. All. Day. Connect with Lulu at: www.Boholocs.com www.instagram.com/boholocs Facebook Group: Boho Locs Gang If you enjoyed the show make sure you rate and review to help others find it and... SUBSCRIBE to get bonus limited-time minisodes when they release! Get your Create Your Future Vision - Free Workbook for Black Creatives at: www.kristiniris.com/vision Please share the show with others! Use #MelanatedRising on social and tag me on Instagram @Kristiniris (follow me there!)

It has been one year since I shared the story of my rape online. In this episode I reflect on the experience of speaking up, the fear of repercussions, and how speaking my truth and sharing my story changed the way I show up in the world. As Black folx our voices, stories, and experiences MATTER. If you have a story to share or a truth to tell there are reasons you may be holding back. I also explore why it’s hard for us to tell our stories, why it is so powerful when we do, and some advice on how to bring your story into the world. You can see the original post here. If you are a writer and have a story to share (either as a book or screenplay) and you’d like to know more about my Story Development Services email me at: kristin@kristiniris.com If you enjoyed the show make sure you rate and review to help others find it and... SUBSCRIBE to get bonus limited-time minisodes when they release! Get your Create Your Future Vision - Free Workbook for Black Creatives at: www.kristiniris.com/vision Please share the show with others! Use #MelanatedRising on social and tag me on Instagram @Kristiniris (follow me there!)

You know that quote "You have the same 24 hours in a day as Beyonce"? Yeah, that's crap. We don't have the same team or resources that Beyonce has and that makes a BIG difference. However, you do get to choose what you prioritize with the time you have. Listen in for my tips on how to maximize your time and prioritize what will move you forward. Subscribe to catch these bonus episodes when they release! Minisodes are only available for 5 days. Then you can only access them as a patron on my patreon at: www.patreon.com/melanatedrising If you enjoy the show rate and leave a review! Follow on Instagram to catch live recordings of these episodes @kristiniris Get your Create Your Future Vision - Free Workbook for Black Creatives at: www.kristiniris.com/vision #MelanatedRising

We put a lot of stock in what others think. Guess what? Everyone is judging you and you cannot be what everyone wants nor what they expect and once you realize that it frees you to show up as you are. In this episode I break down how you may be shaping yourself and your actions based on what you think people think, the impact of the real dangers in navigating the world while Black, and some key tips that will help you let go of others judgements and show up more fully as YOU! If you enjoyed the show make sure you rate and review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to help others find it! Please share the show with others! Use #MelanatedRising on social and tag me on Instagram @Kristiniris (follow me there!) Get your Create Your Future Vision - Free Workbook for Black Creatives at: www.kristiniris.com/vision Connect with me at www.kristiniris.com

There is a cycle of fatherlessness and trauma impacting our Black men all around the world. How does this harm both the family structure and male identity? This is what we explore in this episode which features my first male guest on the show! L.T. Bourne joins me today to share about his trauma growing up fatherless and gives a call-in to Black men to talk about their trauma, explore different views of what manhood means, and break the toxic cycles. This episode is packed with discussion on family, community, manhood and returning to our roots. L.T. “Leo” Bourne discovered in his early 20s his gift of inspiration and leadership. He founded Open Thought, a non-profit organization created for youth development in the Turks and Caicos Islands, to give the youth a voice and an outlet to express themselves. L.T. believed creating Open Thought would inspire youth to overcome circumstances they are facing by giving them a platform to express themselves. His Upcoming book "It's Not A Man's World" discusses the challenges of living life without a father, being raised by a woman as a man. His mission is to start the conversation: The road to manhood without having a father in the home. Weaving a tapestry of his lifetime of experience, L.T. plans to inspire youth with his personal story and lessons learned about personal development, leadership, and the power of using open-thinking to live a more fulfilling life. Connect with L.T. at: www.twitter.com/IAmLTBourne www.instagram.com/IAmLTBourne www.facebook.com/IAmLTBourne Pre-Order L.T.'s book "It's Not A Man's World" HERE! If you enjoyed the show make sure you rate and review to help others find it and... SUBSCRIBE to get bonus limited-time minisodes when they release! Get your Create Your Future Vision - Free Workbook for Black Creatives at: www.kristiniris.com/vision Please share the show with others! Use #MelanatedRising on social and tag me on Instagram @Kristiniris (follow me there!)

Who do you follow? Who do you consider a leader? As Black folx we need to learn from, follow, and be guided by people who look like us. In this solo episode I go hard on the white dominated coaching industry and why Black folx need Black coaches. I share my experience with two really good white privilege having coaches who still did harm to me as a Black woman and why, despite how much I gained, I knew I couldn't work with white coaches anymore. A lot changes and opens up when we look to people who understand our experience as Black people navigating the world. This applies to every industry. If you enjoyed the show make sure you rate and review to help others find it and... SUBSCRIBE to get bonus limited-time minisodes when they release! Check out my 8-week group program for Black creatives – From Oreo To Empowered at: www.kristiniris.com/oreo Please share the show with others! Use #MelanatedRising on social and tag me on Instagram @Kristiniris (follow me there!)

Sharing our stories as Black folx is a powerful way of addressing and healing the struggles we face, and embracing the beauty of our humanity. This week Rowana Abbensetts joins the show to discuss mental health, intuition, and following your purpose. As a fellow writer we discuss how important it is for Black stories to be told because they change the narratives for US of what we think is possible. Rowana Abbensetts is a Guyanese-American writer, mental health advocate, and founder of Spoken Black Girl Magazine, a platform that promotes wellness among women of color through expressive writing, events, and workshops. Rowana also writes fiction and poetry. She currently working on her first novel, Departure Story, which explores immigration, politics, race, and gender through one woman’s coming of age story. Connect with Rowana at: Spokenblackgirl.com Instagram: @Rowana_a and @Spokenblackgirlmag Twitter: @Rowana_a and @Spokenblackgirl Facebook: @Spokenblackgirl   If you enjoyed the show make sure you rate and review to help others find it and... SUBSCRIBE to get bonus limited-time minisodes when they release! Check out my 8-week group program for Black creatives – From Oreo To Empowered at: www.kristiniris.com/oreo Please share the show with others! Use #MelanatedRising on social and tag me on Instagram @Kristiniris (follow me there!)

“Change your thoughts change your life!” Right? Hmm…maybe. Mindset work alone only goes so far. You have to get to the root! In this solo episode Kristin takes you on a deep dive into why mindset work alone can leave you stuck and wanting. She shares why you must do the deeper work to get to the root issue, the ways oppression and generational trauma impact our mindset, and plenty of tips on how to truly change the way you think and show up in the world. She also breaks down some important blind spots and sneaky pitfalls Black folx need to be extra aware. If you enjoyed the show make sure you rate and review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to help others find it! Please share the show with others! Use #MelanatedRising on social and tag me on Instagram @Kristiniris (follow me there!) Learn more about my program for Black creatives – From Oreo To Empowered at: www.kristiniris.com/oreo  

As humans we are constantly evolving. That means our passions and interests evolve too. In this week’s episode we’re talking passion, play, and changing directions as your interests evolve. Nicole Goss of Blackgurlhoopin joins the show to talk about all the ways she’s changed direction to get where she is now as a hooping instructor and how important it is to pursue what you love and not just what the world tells you to do. Nicole Goss is the Creator and Head GFI for Blackgurlhoopin which is a Bodypositve org that centers black women while using the hulahoop as a tool for overall wellness and fitness. It was created as she was in her wellness journey and looking for ways to bond with her daughter. She is 33 a wife daughter mother sister friend and when she is not Hulahooping or caring for her family she nannys and provides care to adults who have special needs. Before now for several years she was a reproductive justice activist and advocate for comprehensive sex education implementation. She considers herself an advocate of people by nature. Connect with Nicole at: Instagram.com/blackgurlhoopin Facebook: @blackgurlhoopin LinkedIn: @blackgurlhoopin Play “Where is Blackgurlhoopin?” every Sunday on Instagram! Please share this episode with others! Make sure you subscribe, rate and review the show to help others find it! Check out my 8-week group program for Black creatives – From Oreo To Empowered at: www.kristiniris.com/oreo Connect with me at: @kristiniris And at #MelanatedRising

Sometimes when things aren't working it can be hard to change directions. REALLY hard. But why? There are a lot of things at play here. In this solo session Kristin Iris talks pivoting directions and why it can be such a challenge. She dives into how survival mode, oppressive societal messaging projected on Black folx, and fear all play a role in keeping you from shifting when you need to. Please share this episode with others! Make sure you SUBSCRIBE, rate and review the show to help others find it! Check out my 8 week group program for Black creatives - From Oreo To Empowered (Begins Sept 15th) at: www.kristiniris.com/oreo Connect with me on Instagram at @kristiniris #MelanatedRising

Our health and nutrition as Black people is under constant attack in U.S. and most of us don’t even know it. With corporations having their hold on food and health organizations where do we turn to for the real deal good food knowledge? Dr. Ruby Lathon joins the show today to talk about plant-based eating (it’s not just for white people), the systemic oppression of the food industry and how it’s killing Black folx, and healing your body through natural eating. Dr. Ruby Lathon is a certified holistic nutritionist and inspires with a powerful story of recovering from thyroid cancer through alternative treatment focused on a whole food, plant-based diet. Dr. Lathon was featured in the hit documentary, What the Health and is slated be featured in two upcoming health documentaries. Dr. Lathon worked as a researcher and an award-winning engineer, and now teaches others how to re-engineer their health and live disease free. Dr. Lathon is an inspirational and sought-after speaker on motivation, natural health, healing, and plant-based nutrition and served as Nutrition Policy Manager at the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine in Washington, DC. Through her organization, Roadmap to Holistic Health, Dr. Lathon hosts health conferences, workshops and vegan cooking classes and provides customized nutritional consultations and coaching programs. Dr. Lathon is host of The Veggie Chest, an online, plant-based cooking show. Connect with Ruby at: RubyLathon.com Facebook.com/TheRubyLathon Twitter: @RubyL http://www.youtube.com/TheVeggieChest http://instagram.com/rubylathon Please share this episode with others! Make sure you subscribe, rate and review the show to help others find it! Apply for my fall group program for Black creatives - From Oreo To Empowered at: www.kristiniris.com/oreo Connect with Kristin at: www.instagram.com/kristiniris www.kristiniris.com

Are you putting up barriers for yourself that don’t need to be there? Blocking your blessings, opportunities, gifts? Let’s find out! Whether it’s saying no to someone who offers the help you need, or finding all the reasons why you can’t take an opportunity in front of your face, we need to stop making it harder for ourselves. As Black people we already have enough challenges and things in our way. We don’t need to add more. In this solo episode I discuss the ways you might be consciously or subconsciously blocking the very things you’ve been asking for, the oppressive conditionings that taught us to do this, and how to shift your mindset and actions to receive what’s there for you. Please share this episode with others! Make sure you subscribe, rate and review the show to help others find it!  Resources!!! Get Stepping Into Your Black Creative Power – FREE 4-Part Video Series at: www.kristiniris.com/oreoseries Learn more about my fall program From Oreo To Empowered at: www.kristiniris.com/oreo Support this podcast on my Patreon page at: www.patreon.com/melanatedrising Connect with me at: www.instagram.com/kristiniris www.kristiniris.com

This week is loaded with powerful relationship knowledge bombs! We dive into narratives around Black love that are setting you up for failure. Getting clear on what monogamy and infidelity mean to you. And why you need to TALK because communication is key. Joining the show this week is Renelle Nelson to discuss betrayal, healing after infidelity, communication, sex, and Black love. There are some powerful things here that will change the way you approach your partner, and even how you approach your healing. Renelle E. Nelson is an engaging and charismatic clinician and a speaker that gives out hope and actionable steps to create change. She founded Kaleidoscope Services LLC to create a safe and non-judgmental space for clients who may not change their circumstances but can change their view. Renelle uses her past experience with sexual disconnection and betrayal to show her scars to give hope on healing not just for survival but to thrive. She has assisted numerous couples and individuals through the sex love and chaos of their relationship to the renewal of love, reconnection, and healing. Renelle combined being a Licensed marriage and family therapist, and Certified sex therapist to brand herself as an Infidelity/intimacy recovery Strategist.  She creates a strategic plan to assist committed individuals with reconnecting back to themselves, life and relationships after betrayal. Connect with Renelle at: https://kaleidoscopeservicesllc.org/ www.affairaftercare.com www.instagram.com/noirsxtherapist www.instagram.com/affairaftercare Please share this episode with others! Make sure you subscribe, rate and review the show to help others find it! Enrollment is now open for my program From Oreo To Empowered – A 8-Week Small Group Program for Black creatives at: www.kristiniris.com/oreo Support this podcast on my Patreon page at: www.patreon.com/melanatedrising Connect with Kristin at: www.instagram.com/kristiniris www.kristiniris.com

Today Kristin is going in on why we need to de-center whiteness and heteropatriarchy to thrive in our Blackness. There are many layers to de-centering from the more obvious whose gaze are you looking for? To the less obvious deconstructing and decolonizing of concepts and sneakily oppressive ideas you’ve been taught to live by. We touch on everything from decentering whiteness in our creative work, to Law of Attraction, to the whole concept of “masculine-feminine energy” that so many have adopted. This episode will show you how to get more discerning about how you think and approach the world so you can de-center whiteness (and white supremacy) and expand your work, your impact, and your personal power as a Black person. Please share this episode with others! Make sure you subscribe, rate and review the show to help others find it! Enrollment is now open for my program From Oreo To Empowered – A 7-Week Small Group Program for Black creatives at: www.kristiniris.com/oreo Support this podcast on my Patreon page at: www.patreon.com/melanatedrising Connect with me at: www.instagram.com/kristiniris www.kristiniris.com

In this episode, Miterrez Brown joins me to share their story of being harassed as a stud stripper after speaking up about an inappropriate incident, the sacrifice that came with telling the truth, and the power of learning you have a choice. This conversation is an interesting and unexpected look at the depth of telling the truth, from the sacrifices and hardships you may have to endure to the changes you can create with the power of your voice. Miterrez who also goes by Mighty. Pronouns: They/Them. They're 27 and a cancer but they're not too sensitive. Mighty is a lesbian who strips for women. "I just want to be a positive entertainer for women,” they say. Connect with Miterrez at: Instagram: @miterrez @ayoitsmightyyyyy @mitexrated Watch the Broadly documentary here Please share this episode with others! Make sure you subscribe, and rate and review the show to help others find it! Sign up for my Free workshop – Stepping Into Your Black Creative Power at: www.kristiniris.com/class Support this podcast on my Patreon page at: www.patreon.com/melanatedrising

Juneteenth just passed and we're talking Black Freedom! In the spirit of the date the last slaves in America were freed we are exploring what is Black freedom when we live in a world where we're only free-ish. I'll take you through exploring how you are cultivating freedom and also how you may be blocking freedom in 3 big areas: with yourself, in how you show up, and in how you create change in the world. Each one has it's beauty, nuances, and challenges but all can lead you to more freedom! Please share this episode with others! Make sure you subscribe, rate and review the show to help others find it! Sign up for my free workshop for Black creatives "Breaking Through The Oreo Complex!" at: www.kristiniris.com/class Support this podcast on my Patreon page at: www.patreon.com/melanatedrising Connect with me at: www.instagram.com/kristiniris

Dismantling racism and white supremacy is challenging work that is both external AND internal. We as Black people are not exempt from the work. We too have to look at ourselves and how we perpetuate the systems of racism and white supremacy. Rachel Ricketts joins me for a powerful and in-depth conversation on Black joy, responding from survival, and doing the work to dismantle our own anti-Blackness and white supremacy to create a better world. This episode is packed with wisdom and insights that every Black and non-Black person needs to hear. Rachel Ricketts is a thought leader + outspoken champion for Black and Indigenous womxn. As a racial justice activist, lawyer, healer, speaker + writer, she educates white folx on their role in perpetuating white supremacy, and helps folx of colour heal from internalized oppression. Rachel hosts online and in-person workshops including her renowned Spiritual Activism series which promotes racial justice and offers practical solutions for all hue-mans to dismantle racist heteropatriarchy. She is the co-founder of WOC (Women of Colour) Talks and has helped numerous global brands with anti-racism including Google, WeWork, CreativeLive, Lululemon and TELUS. Rachel’s work has been featured in publications such as Huffington Post, BuzzFeed, Mind Body Green 21Ninety, Black Girl in Om and Thrive, and she’s presented at international conferences including SXSW 2018 + 2019, me Convention in Stockholm and the Follow Black Women Conference. She loves donuts, dancing and all things metaphysical. Connect with Rachel at: www.rachelricketts.com Instagram.com/iamrachelricketts Please share this episode with others! Make sure you subscribe, rate and review the show to help others find it! Sign up for Breaking Through The Oreo Complex – my upcoming free class for Black creatives at: www.kristiniris.com/class  Support this podcast on my Patreon page at: www.patreon.com/melanatedrising

It’s PRIDE month!! After sharing the real history behind Pride, I dive into the importance and challenges of claiming all the parts of yourself and showing up fully in those aspects. Recently I’ve been in a place of uniting parts of myself that I didn’t even realize were fragmented. In this episode I share what that unification has been like—most recently as it applies to my queerness—and the role of internalize oppression in the process. I give you guidance on how you can start reclaiming all of who you are too, why this can be not only challenging but outright dangerous for Black people, and the power that opens up for you when you show up fully as yourself. Please share this episode with others! Make sure you subscribe, rate and review the show to help others find it! Get your Create Your Future Vision - Free Workbook for Black Creatives at: www.kristiniris.com/vision Support this podcast on my Patreon page at: www.patreon.com/melanatedrising Connect with me at: www.instagram.com/kristiniris www.kristiniris.com

It’s time to get real about being a Black entrepreneur, especially in startup culture. Most entrepreneurial teachers (those who are white) do not speak to the experiences and challenges we face when adding race and gender to the mix. The old advice and the old paradigms don’t work for us. As Black people we typically enter entrepreneurship with less access, resources, and a smaller network than our white counterparts. In this episode Cheryl Contee, author of the newly released book Mechanical Bull: How You Can Achieve Startup Success, joins me to discuss how to navigate startup culture as a Black or Black female entrepreneur. Learn what you need to be aware of, how to operate from OUR experiences and not the assumed white experience, and how to break old ways of approaching business that are ultimately holding us back! Cheryl Contee is the award-winning CEO of the digital agency Do Big Things, a diverse team that is using a new narrative and new tech to create global change in a new era. Previously, Cheryl was CEO of Fission Strategy, which brought Silicon Valley startup culture to the world’s leading causes and campaigns. She’s the cofounder of Attentive.ly, the first tech startup with a black female founder to be acquired by a NASDAQ company; the national board chair for Netroots Nation, an affiliate of Harvard’s Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society; and a proud cofounder of #YesWeCode. Mechanical Bull by Cheryl Contee is available on Amazon in Kindle and Paperback. Connect with Cheryl at: DoBigThings.Today Instagram.com/cherylcontee Twitter.com/ch3ryl Please share this episode with others! Make sure you subscribe, and rate and review the show to help others find it! Get your Create Your Future Vision - Free Workbook for Black Creatives at: www.kristiniris.com/vision Support the production of this podcast on my Patreon page at: www.patreon.com/melanatedrising

Boundaries are an essential part to living healthy relationships and a healthy life. However, setting and enforcing boundaries with others can be unexpectedly difficult. Why? Why is it so hard to set and enforce boundaries? That's what we explore today. In this episode I share my experience going from being a bad boundary enforcer to an impeccable one; why boundaries are important, and how they influence other areas of your life. I share why setting and enforcing boundaries can be such a challenge and the historical, and social/cultural influences that make this even more difficult for Black people, and HOW to set and enforce healthy boundaries with people in your life! ***Note: I discuss my experience in an emotionally abusive relationship and how I let my boundaries get crossed. I am in no way blaming myself, nor would I blame anyone else for their own abuse. I was, however, responsible for maintaining my own boundaries and that is what I discuss. Make sure you subscribe, rate and review the show to help others find it! Get your Create Your Future Vision - Free Workbook for Black Creatives at: www.kristiniris.com/vision Support this podcast on my Patreon page at: www.patreon.com/melanatedrising Connect with me at: www.instagram.com/kristiniris www.kristiniris.com

As Black people we have to navigate dangers, micro-aggressions, and violence from white people. There are so many sneaky ways that that violence comes up that we have to train ourselves to see for our own mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing. In this week's episode Catrice M. Jackson joins me to discuss the ways the Beckys and Chads of the world launch their weapons against us, key things we can do to preserve our life force and energy against these covert and sneaky attacks, AND the ways we need to check our own privilege and anti-Blackness as well! Catrice M. Jackson is the Global Visionary Leader of the Awakened Conscious Shift, the CEO of Catriceology Enterprises, an international speaker, and a best-selling author, is a straight up, on the rocks with no chaser voice for racial justice who is unapologetic and unflinching with her anti-racism message. She is the catalytic creator of SHETalks WETalk Race Talks for Women and WETalks for Women of Color.   Catrice is strong medicine and serves up hard truths necessary to eliminate the lethal infection of racism from humanity. She realizes that her approach may be rebuked and her flavor undesired. Catrice knows she is not for everyone and that everyone won’t like her, and she is unbothered by both. She is unmoved by naysayers and does her work authentically and unapologetically with a revolutionary spirit and believes that justice is love.   Connect with Catrice at: Instagram.com/catriceology Twitter.com/beckyologist Facebook.com/CatriceJacksonSpeaks Books available on Amazon Visit the Patreon page for more episodes and to support this podcast at: Patreon.com/melanatedrising   Get your Create Your Future Vision - Free Workbook for Black Creatives at: www.kristiniris.com/vision

People talk a lot about "purpose" and finding it. I think a key element you need is a deep understanding of the impact you want to make. As Black creatives we have a powerful ability to make an impact with our work--whether it is in art, business, or any other endeavor--that ripples out into community, societal, and world change. In this episode we'll explore why impact is such an important part of pursuing your work, the blindspots you can fall into that can lead you off course, and how to make sure you are in alignment with the impact you are truly meant to have on people and the world. Please share this episode with others! Make sure you subscribe, rate and review the show to help others find it! Support this podcast on my Patreon page at: www.patreon.com/melanatedrising Connect with Kristin at: www.instagram.com/kristiniris

Good mental healthcare can literally save lives but Black people have a lot of barriers to entry when it comes to accessing good mental health services. This week I am joined by Camesha L. Jones, LSW, creator of Sista Afya, LLC. We discuss the particular issues affecting our mental health as Black people that are unique to our communities and experiences--things that don't get addressed in mainstream mental health discussions--and the challenges Black people, especially Black women, face in accessing mental healthcare. Camesha L. Jones, LSW is the Founder of Sista Afya, LLC. She has lived with a mental health condition for over 5 years and was able to overcome many challenges to achieve optimal mental wellness. Camesha created Sista Afya to help other Black women experiencing mental health challenges to get the information, community support, and the connection to resources necessary to be mentally well. She is a Radical Social Worker with an A.M. in Social Service Administration from the University of Chicago and a B.A. in Sociology from Spelman College. She focuses on clinical and systems change in mental health and interpersonal violence prevention in African-American communities. Connect with Camesha at: www.sistaafya.com instagram.com/sistaafya facebook.com/sistaafya To support this podcast visit my Patreon page at: www.patreon.com/melanatedrising

Power vs. Fear. You have more choice than you may think. So many people are living their lives from a place of fear. I don't just mean how they make decisions. I mean how they engage with people, interact with their art, relate to themselves, and more, comes from a place of fear. So how do you change that? In this episode I share some ways I used to operate from fear without realizing and how I shifted to power. Listen in as I detail the differences in operating from power versus from fear, sneaky things you may not realize are fear-based, and how historical and social influences on us as Black people impacts this fear-power dynamic. Then, you'll hear how to CHOOSE a new way of operating--from a place of power--that gives you more control, joy, and ease in your life! Support this podcast on my Patreon page at: www.patreon.com/melanatedrising Connect with Kristin at: www.instagram.com/kristiniris Make sure to subscribe, rate and review the show to help others find it!

Spirituality and religion can be a deeply supportive place for some and a tumultuous place for others. Spirituality is vast and varied and as people of the African diaspora we have a rich lineage of spiritual practices that many, if not most of us, have been disconnected from. In this week's episode of Melanated Rising L'Erin Alta joins me for a delicious conversation on loving ALL Black people, the power of connecting to your ancestors, and exploring and defining your spirituality for yourself. L’Erin Alta is a Personal Growth Facilitator for women. Through workshops, retreats, and 1:1 intensives, she teaches women how to stand in the brilliance of their own light, so they always feel seen for who they really are and not just what they do. The goal of her work is for more women to harness their own power and live boldly in their personal truths. Known for burning down the stale, fluffy, boring "self-help" formulas and helping women ignite true personal liberation. Her workshops, retreats and 1-on-1 intensives have been called, "transformation temples for unruly, soulful women”.   She believes loss, grief and pain are healing initiations and if honored, they will fortify you, bringing you through the shadows into the light of your soul. Using movement, meditation, ritual, art and ancient practices, L’Erin guides women on a spiritual journey, helping them surrender their facades, shed their fears and finally come home to themselves. The essence of her work is distilled to freedom - supporting you in finding it, cultivating it, living it. Because your power is in this moment. In this breath. In this one courageous, against-all-odds, bravely true...Yes.    Connect with L'Erin Alta at: www.lerinalta.com www.instagram.com/lerinalta Support this podcast on the Patreon page at: www.patreon.com/melanatedrising

  Let's talk the dreaded "imposter syndrome". That icky, irksome feeling that you're not good enough, smart enough, talented enough, expert enough, blah blah enough for what you're doing. It shows up in sneaky ways, sabotaging your progress, and it's something EVERYONE experiences. In this episode I dive into what imposter syndrome is, how it shows up in ways you may not expect, the social/cultural/historical factors that fuel imposter syndrome specifically for Black people, and of course some key steps on how to beat it! To learn more about my 1-on-1 Liberation Coaching Programs for Black creatives visit: www.kristiniris.com/coaching You can support this podcast by joining my Patreon at www.patreon.com/melanatedrising Connect with me at: www.instagram.com/kristiniris Make sure you rate and review the show to help others find it!

Being Afrolatinx is both beautiful and complicated. Between the denial of Afrolatinx people's Blackness by Black Americans and the erasure of Blackness in Latin America the relationship between Afrolatinx people and the global Black community is complex. In this episode Mavelyn Cedeño joins me to discuss the many complexities of the Afrolatinx diaspora and how to heal the divide between our global Black communities, histories, and cultures through the power of Pan-Africanism. Mavelyn Cedeño is a Dominican activist, orator, teacher, event planner and artist from Washington Heights, NYC. She started curating events for the minds of black people over 10 years ago as college sophomore in south-east Tennessee. Her affinity for challenging our colonized systemic education peaked when she was given the opportunity to teach Ethics & English to 7th and 8th students in the La Romana, Dominican Republic.   Since then she has dedicated her life’s work to being a “behind the scenes” mover and shaker in the fight for Pan-Africanist / decolonizing work within the Diaspora. She is currently the executive administrator of The AfroLatin Diaspora social media platform. And the founder and creator of The Redefining Melanin project.   Connect with Mavelyn at: Instagram.com/theafrolatindiaspora   To support this podcast visit www.patreon.com/melanatedrising

Ever here the line for Black people that you have to be twice as good for half as much? It's a reality that shows up across environments, industries, and experiences. It's a lesson Black parents sometimes teach their kids. It's also a barrier we often unintentionally put up for ourselves without even realizing. In this episode I share a story of how this showed up in my life years ago when I tested for my black belt, 3 ways we internalize this concept and sabotage ourselves, and some tips for how to break through the self-sabotage and step up to the next level. Support this podcast by joining my Patreon at: www.patreon.com/melanatedrising Connect with me at: www.instagram.com/kristiniris Make sure you subscribe then rate and review the show to help others find it!

In the first guest episode since returning I am joined by Sara Haile-Mariam for a beautiful conversation on claiming your Blackness and your artist, and how love is a power with which we as Black people counter white supremacy and rise! Sara Haile-Mariam is a writer, storyteller and musician. She is the front woman and drummer of Makeda!, a band on a mission to reclaim rock and roll. Sara creates unapologetically with, and about, love. She believes that oppressive paradigms are all rooted in the futile attempt to find one’s worth in the perceived worthlessness of another. She believes that art is a powerful vehicle to assist in the ongoing work of healing and reclaiming our humanity.   Sara’s work centers Black People and is created with the intention of holding space for our truths to spoken, our wounds to be healed, and our glory to rise. Born in Ethiopia, Sara initially began exercising her voice and her artistry after being activated by the 2008 Presidential Election. In 2012, Sara got high and found music. A year later she connected with guitarist Mike Sutjipto and founded Makeda!.   Connect with Sara at: www.makedaband.com www.instagram.com/sarahailemariam www.patreon.com/sarahailemariam   From Oreo To Empowered - 7 week group program: www.kristiniris.com/oreotoempowered   Melanated Rising Patreon: www.patreon.com/melanatedrising

Welcome back to the show! After taking a break we return with my first full solo episode! And what narrative around Blackness am I challenging today? The Oreo. Listen in as I share my experience being called an Oreo and told I wasn’t Black enough, 3 truths about The Oreo Complex, and what you can start doing now to address and breakthrough your personal Oreo story. To support this show (and find the show notes) visit the Patreon page at www.patreon.com/melanatedrising  Learn more about From Oreo To Empowered: an online 7 week group program for Black creatives at: www.kristiniris.com/oreotoempowered Begins March 1st. Only 8 spots total! Scholarships available!

Host, Kristin Iris, shares in this bonus/teaser episode why she had to take a break from the podcast (Hint: being a solo podcast producer is time consuming, energy consuming, and costs money to do). She also shares what changes are coming to the podcast in 2019 and how you can help support it! Speaking of, you can support the show at www.patreon.com/melanatedrising

Branding, social media, and impact oh my! Whether you're an entrepreneur, a creative, or an athlete you are your BRAND and if you want to have an impact you have to start thinking that way. Shadé Y. Adu joins me for this brilliant discussion on branding for Black & POC creatives, making money so you can have impact, and the 3 major challenges for Black women entrepreneurs. Shadé Y. Adu is a Digital Brand Strategist, International Speaker, Bestselling Author and the Founder of Savvy Solutions Consulting. Shadé helps women entrepreneurs use the power of social media to brand, build, and monetize digital programs, products, and services. She provides transformational tips, tool, strategies, and techniques that turn entrepreneurial leaders into online celebrities by leveraging the power of social media and live streaming. Shadé is a featured expert in Hello Beautiful, Black Enterprise, HuffPost, and the Rachael Ray Show. Shadé has shared her life-changing message in Europe, Asia, Africa, and across the United States. In addition to being a full-time entrepreneur, Shadé is a doctoral candidate at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the recipient of the prestigious Gates Millennium Scholarship. With a sincere passion for her line of work and a tenacious drive to succeed, Shadé strives to make even more colossal changes in the world around her. Connect with Shadé at: Instagram/Twitter: @FutureDrShade Facebook Group: BreakfastBranding.com Freegiftfromshade.com Video version and show notes for this episode at: www.kristiniris.com/podcast008 Get your free Create Your Future Vision workbook & video guide at www.kristiniris.com/vision

Being an entrepreneur is challenging, rewarding, and sometimes exhausting especially as a Person of Color entrepreneur in a white-dominated world. So how do you stand out? Deborrah Ashley joins me today for an honest conversation on leveraging your "It" factor, not letting prejudice hold you back, and some Black icons who are breaking the rules! Deborrah Ashley, known for showing people how to leverage their “IT” Factor, helps her clients package and position their expertise and ideas into high value offers. Nearly 4 years ago Deborrah left the corporate world after a 2 decade career to live out her purpose and hasn’t looked back since.  She is consultant, educator and advocate for women over 40 who are ready to impact the world.   A former board member of the National Black MBA Association, Deborrah has raised brand awareness for companies for over two decades and has helped organizations generate over 400 million in sales revenue. To date, she has built 3 highly profitable businesses, been in Oprah Magazine and The New York Times, and has helped over 100 entrepreneurs build awareness around their personal brand.   Connect with Deborrah at: instagram.com/leverageyouritfactor www.facebook.com/DeborrahAshley Stand Out As An Authority to Get Clients: brandauthoritysecrets.com   Video version and show notes for this episode at: www.kristiniris.com/podcast007   Get your free Create Your Future Vision workbook & video guide at www.kristiniris.com/vision

Fitness, like every industry, has it's issues with race. Joining Kristin is Sonja Herbert for a candid discussion on racism, white supremacy, and anti-blackness in the fitness industry and how it affects fitness professionals of color, customers of color, and why we need to start talking race in fitness! Sonja lives in New York where she is a pilates, fitness, and lifestyle coach and a former social worker. She is the founder of Commando Fitness Collective and the Black Girl Pilates community on Instagram and Facebook. Sonja is committed to Black female representation in fitness, as well as improving the health and wellness in the Black community through writing, speaking and curating health and wellness events for Black women. She is comprehensively certified in Pilates, and also holds TRX Level 1 and Kettlebell Concepts Level 1 certifications. Connect with Sonja at: https://www.commandofitnesscollective.com/ https://www.instagram.com/commandofitnesscollective/ https://www.facebook.com/ComFitColl/ Facebook & Instagram: @BlackGirlPilates Get your free Create Your Future Vision workbook & video guide at www.kristiniris.com/vision Video version and show notes for this episode at: www.kristiniris.com/podcast006

Sex and sexuality are part of our human experience. But there are so many messages we get as far back as early childhood that teach us to feel ashamed of our bodies, or that we aren't allowed ownership of them. Melissa Carnagey guest-hosts this episode with me to discuss the absolute necessity and generational changing power of sex-positive parenting and upbringing, especially for Black children and children of color. Whether you have kids or not this conversation will open your eyes to some of your own conditioning and parenting habits that cost you (or your kids) in the future and how to change it! Melissa Carnagey is a sex educator and social worker with over 10 years experience in the field of sexual health, having worked in non-profit, state government and classroom settings. She is the founder of Sex Positive Families, a platform that offers pleasure-positive, shame-free education, workshops and support for families and professionals to strengthen sexual health talks with the children in their lives. Melissa is passionate about sex-positive parenting and fostering sexual health in youth. She is an American Sexual Health Association Ambassador and a member of the Sexual Health Alliance as well as the Women of Sex Tech. She lives in Austin, Texas with her partner, raising three sex-positive children between the ages of 4-19. Connect with Melissa at: www.sexpositivefamilies.com www.instagram.com/sexpositive_families/ Sex Positive Families Podcast & Blog: sexpositivefamilies.com/blog/ Free video & workbook guide Unblock Your Dream Life at: www.kristiniris.com/unblock Get episode notes and video version at: www.kristiniris.com/podcast005

Your body is a powerful space for both athletes and non-athletic creatives alike. Monica Bright, yoga teacher and movement specialist joins me for this episode to discuss body mechanics, body awareness, and how improving functionality in your body improves your creativity, athletic performance, and overall wellbeing. We discuss yoga, building awareness of your own body mechanics, and taking control of your injuries and pain especially as People of Color who are often dismissed by medical professionals. Monica’s passion in life is to teach. She holds an M.A. in Elementary Education and has spent a career of more than 15 years teaching young students, thus acquiring the skills to disseminate information in a clear and concise manner. With a dance background of more than 20 years and studying extensively in the area of biomechanics in movement and anatomy, Monica has a passion for the human body and understands the human form on a considerably deeper level, which you will find apparent in the intelligent sequencing of her classes. Monica is a registered (Experienced) E-RYT 500hr Yoga Alliance certified teacher. Her love of yoga and movement and a desire for continued education led her to Kerala, India, where she participated in advanced training in the Tantric lineage. As a life-long student she is committed to traveling across country to train exclusively with master teachers in the industries of yoga, biomechanics, functional movement and physiotherapy. She continues to intensify her knowledge by visiting various movement studios and has acquired thousands of hours of continuing education and is currently enrolled in another 300hr training in biomechanics and movement science. As Monica infuses her studies, she remains committed to leading Teacher Trainings, hosting yoga retreats in Mexico and facilitating movement workshops – all with the objective of educating clients about their bodies. Connect with Monica at: www.enhanced-body.com www.instagram.com/enhancedbody Get your Create Your Future Vision Workbook & Video Guide at: www.kristiniris.com/vision Get the show notes and watch the video version at www.kristiniris.com/podcast004

Our past pains, traumas, hurts, and experiences can create a wall of boundaries and barriers to living a fulfilling life and fulfilling relationships. Add to that the societal oppressions and messages we get as people of color and we have a lot to work through! Joining me for this conversation is guest-host Ebony Tutora to discuss how to turn our past pains and traumas into a gift not only to ourselves but to others as well.   Ebony is a Certified Life Coach,  Motivational Speaker, Writer, and the founder behind the empowerment brand Queens Recognize Queens®. She is a powerhouse of thought, light, and love, offering revolutionary insight into how changing ourselves little by little, IS the change we wish to see. She hosts & collaborates with other women to offer  unique,  holistic workshops, events,  and online classes, to assist women in their pursuit of their highest confidence and potential. Through methods of self-love and self-discovery, Ebony shares the methods that have allowed her to thrive as a champion of life.  Her passion comes in giving women the much-needed tools and perspective to shift their lives into gear of being a true Queen. Her work gives women confidence, clarity, and courage to live their lives with ease, wisdom, and grace.   Connect with Ebony at: www.queensrecognizequeens.com Instagram & Facebook: @QueensRecognizeQueens Twitter: QRQMovement   Get your free video and workbook guide Unblock Your Dream Life at www.kristiniris.com/unblock   Help others find this show and leave a review!