Real Talk On Godtalk

This week's Real Talk question asks: how important are names? YaYa and TRUTH switch gears for a bit of celebrity chit-chat, diving into the drama surrounding country artist Collin Obina Chibueze, better known by his stage name, “Shaboozey.” The Nigerian-American performer's stage name is essentially a mispronunciation of his family's native Igbo surname, which means “God is ruler, God is king.” After his name was used as a running gag at the 2024 Country Music Awards, the interwebz was in an uproar! With many different opinions about the implications of  pronouncing and mispronouncing of ethnic names—-  the real talk question of this week asks.. just  how important are names? Religious texts across beliefs have a thing with names, with The Bible mentioning over a dozen names of God, lists names in genealogies, and has characters that  meaningfully change names in both the old and New Testament— they gotta count for something.  Then for the Moon reading,  YaYa is starting a series preparing for the winter solstice ways we can fortify our body, minds and sprit for the darker days ahead.

It's New Years Eve! A time to reflect on the old and get ready for the new. In this episode YaYa and TRUTH catch up on the best parts of the holiday season and share what they're doing to prepare mentally, physically and spiritually for 2025. Then for the Moon reading YaYa explores the practice of creating vision boards to provide you with tips for bringing your dream life out of the imagination, on to the paper, and subsequently into real life.

It's post election day… there's that. Everyone seems to have a million opinions, think pieces and analyses on the bleak outlook for our country but for this episode TRUTH and YaYa want to take another angle, examining  what it means to; "keep the faith" even and ESPECIALLY in times of "crisis" by asking the real talk question "Is there anything left to even have faith in?"  Then for the Moon reading YaYa is talking about Scorpio season and the ways we can all incorporate BIG Scorpio energy into our lives for the better.

You know what time it is! TRUTH and YaYa are back with their Halloween antics and in this episode they're connecting with Nyya Toussaint, Haitian and Black American Pastor and scholar of the Sociology of Religion, Linguistics, and International Affairs. Nyya's research interests focus on interreligious engagement between African Diasporic Religions and Christianity and he's here to dive into the real talk question of the week, "Spiritual Possession… inherently good or bad?" Then in the Moon reading YaYa welcomes us into the ever alluring and mysterious season of the Scorpio and  provides us with some resources if we want to go a little deeper into our own personal moon readings. You can connect with Nyya on @nagobredrin or @lanbiakmanchet The Garden Within by Dr. Anita Phillps can be found here: www.anitaphillips.com/book

On this episode of Real Talk on Godtalk YaYa and TRUTH explore the psychological and social reasons we lie and spiritual cost of dishonesty as well as the steps we can take to navigate it all. Then, YaYa will take us through the Moon reading and how we can ride the energetic wave of Thursday October 17th Full Moon in Aries. Trigger Warning: This episode includes discussions of sexual abuse. Please proceed with caution or skip this section if necessary. This particular section is from 27:00-33:00  Link to article referenced in the section above - The Detail: Pedophile priests dumped in the Pacific

Do you ever find yourself overwhelmed and on auto pilot? --going to the gym, cooking, cleaning, and basically waiting for the weekend as the world around us seems to burn? On this episode YaYa and TRUTH are here to talk about their approach to the Real Talk On Godtalk podcast as a way to gain alternatives to that repetitive cycle and why they hope to offer a perspective on ways to access 'something more' through a deeper relationship with God. 

YaYa and TRUTH are back at it again with the B-Side. On this follow-up to last month's episode, YaYa is getting all up in TRUTH's business to find out more about her recent proposal and engagement.  The pair discuss what it truly means for a couple to be 'equally yoked', as well as the joys and challenges of planning a  'traditional' lesbian wedding. Later in the episode, YaYa dishes on her experiences with 100+ consecutive days of yoga practice and the do's and don'ts of Mercury Retrograde with 'The Moon Reading'.

On this episode your favorite co-hosts discuss the future of Real Talk On Godtalk and what you can expect going forward. 

In this episode YaYa and TRUTH are getting into the greatest holiday cross-over event of the year– we're talking about Hallowen and her sister/ cousin/ neighbor celebrations of Samhain, Dia De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) and All Saint/ All Souls Day. The pair of co-hosts get real about death, the existence of the spirit realm and what we all can gain from  celebrating and remembering our loved ones lost.

Join YaYa and TRUTH on the B Side! These episodes are where you -our RTOGT community- ask the questions and bring up the topics of conversation. For this B Side episode, we are talking about Oomancy. Join the conversation!

In this latest episode YaYa and TRUTH are back with a new and improved, 'Community Pastoral Care' segment where the pair give some insight into the latest Pew Research Center project titled Modeling the Future of Religion in America. They explore a projected future where the majority of American people identify as religious 'nones' or 'somes' (ie. people who either have no religion or who identify as spiritual but not religious).  Later in the episode TRUTH delves deep into her process of discernment when making big decisions; especially for people who may not be connected to the church or to sources of spiritual guidance. And then finally, for the Moon Reading, YaYa takes us through what to expect for the final days of this period of Mercury in retrograde.

We'reee baaaack! (again). On this episode your favorite co-hosts take a look at what Smith's autobiography “Will” tells us about God, self and the courage it takes to let go of those things that no longer serve us. Then for the Moon reading we're learning to ride the energetic wave of the upcoming Autumn equinox to step confidently into the change of season.

We're all familiar with ritual fasting for holidays like Lent and Ramadaan, and then there are practices like intermittent fasting that the girls are doing for weight loss, even married folks are out here taking celibacy breaks… but what's the true spiritual value of fasting? Will the practice really make us any closer to God and are there times it can do more harm than good? Then, YaYa will take us through the moon reading, looking ahead to the March 20th Spring Equinox, sharing everything you can do to start again with a fresh, clean slate and good energy for the upcoming season.

YaYa and TRUTH are BACK for another season of Real Talk On Godtalk. Listen to what YaYa and TRUTH have been up to since their last episode. 

This week YaYa and TRUTH sit down with the Hip-Hop Theologian Bridget, to discuss the women of hip-hop, their lyrics, impact, and our theological reflections.

Usually on the podcast YaYa and TRUTH focus on the conversations they have with guests and each other, but this week they're trying something a little different, and offering a series of affirmations to help guide the inner conversations we all have with ourselves. In honor of 'Giving Tuesday', Real Talk On Godtalk is giving YOU affirmations inspired by scripture to positively inform how we relate the world, our sense of self and our physical bodies. The show is also collaborating with 418 Ministry to make double the impact by providing essential personal items for LGBTQ+ community members in the NYC area, sourced by local, Black, LatinX and Women owned businesses. 

November has been a rough month for the influencer couples of the Christian Evangelical church. From Relentless church Pastor  John Gray’s public apology "honoring" his wife after (yet another) cheating scandal, to Elevation church  pastor Carl Lentz being removed from leadership for his own infidelity, playboy pastors (and their wives) have been getting caught up in the comments section!  In a world where any publicity can be good publicity, YaYa and TRUTH, ask  the real talk question of the week, “when celebrity culture meets the church world, who really wins?” Then in the Moon reading YaYa concludes the ongoing series Zodiac 101 where she covers concepts in Astrology for beginners.

It's almost Halloween and this week we’re talking Hoodoo, Voodoo, witchdoctors and magic! In this episode we’re connecting with Katryna, Hoodoo/rootwork practitioner and owner of Brooklyn Roots Tarot Readings and Magic Services Shop, to discuss what our society understands and MISunderstands about magic...and asking the real talk question of the week, “What is it we’re so afraid of…is it the Blackness or  the Magic?” Then in the Moon reading YaYa will take us through part two of our new series Zodiac 101, where she covers concepts in Astrology for beginners.

*Explicit Content TRUTH and YaYa are getting ALL up in the business about sex, love and romantic relationships for the single LTR'd and Married crowds. They’re asking the real talk question of the week, “What does the quality of our romantic relationships tell us about our ways of understanding God?”. Then in God and the World, like everybody else we’ll be speculating on what Trump's COVID-19  diagnosis will mean for the trajectory of the upcoming election, but unlike everybody else, we’ll be talking about what that has to do with the Hindu and Bhuddist concept of Karma. And finally, this Moon Reading is the first in the series called Zodiac 101, where YaYa covers concepts in Western Astrology for beginners.

On the first episode of the new season, YaYa and TRUTH catch up on life 7 whole months into the Pandemic and discuss their own spiritual and religious journeys. TRUTH is holding strong as a follower of Jesus and YaYa ... not so much. Things get interesting when they ask the Real Talk question of the week, “who needs religion anyway?” Then in God and the World, we’re talking about the fires in California and what America’s history with wildfires can teach us about how to constructively deal with our own strong drives and emotions.

It's the LAST episode of the season so you know what that means... YaYa and TRUTH are going out with a BANG! This week on God and the World the pair are taking stock of 2020 and wondering...are these signs of the end times? --- we’re talking Apocalypse, murder bees, the Mother’s day weekend polar vortex and ALIENS confirmed... what the heck is going on here? Next, it's all about Access -- Even though we're mostly stuck at home, with 24 hour connectivity, it can feel like the outside world  has more access than ever before, so how do we decide who and what has how much access to us and when? Then for the Moon Reading, you'll be getting time in advance to get it together for the Summer Solstice. And finally we’re bringing back Community Pastoral Care.   Trigger Warning -- For the community Pastoral Care segment we will be discussing the murder of Ahmaud Arbrey and then praying together about it. This is some heavy stuff, and we understand that you just may not be here for it right now. The segment runs from 51:27 - 1:08:00 -- Be gentle with yourself and skip it if you need to care for yourself in that way.

This Week YaYa and TRUTH discuss what happens when you talk to God but it feels like God is not talking back. The pair ask the real talk question of the week: Is spiritual depression a thing? Why does it feel like spirituality just isn’t working for me right now? Then in the moon reading YaYa tries something new and TRUTH updates us with #500forflint.

In this Bonus clip from our interview with Benir Pierre we ask the intuitive life coach about letting go of a fear based god, how her journey to hitting rock bottom led her to becoming a “manifestation wizard on a mission to help one million women heal their relationship with self-God and money”, an the importance of framing our own stories in order to manifest what we want in our lives.

The law of attraction is the name given to the belief that “like attracts like” and that the quality of one's thoughts, positive or negative,  determines the quality of our lives. But that leaves us with the real talk question of the week—  “If we have the power to  manifest "abundance"… why doesn’t everybody do it? And where does God fit into the whole equation?" On this week's episode, YaYa and TRUTH help you navigate it all, alongside special guest, Intuitive life coach Benir Pierre, to clear up some misconceptions and provide some guidance on what it means to manifest abundance in YOUR life. Then in the moon reading we'll be discussing how to use the energy from Jan 24th's new moon to supercharge your intention for the new year and beyond.

For this week's episode listeners in the Real Talk On Godtalk community slid into our DM’s, inboxes, and text messages with your burning questions on religion, spirituality, sexuality, politics, pop culture and more. No question is off limits, as we tackle the real talk question of the week, “How you gonna answer a question with a question?”.  Then YaYa takes us through the moon reading in time for November 26’s new moon! And finally, TRUTH has got a quality of life hack to help you survive the weekend, even if spending quality time with family isn't all sunshine and roses...but you decided to do it anyway because #thanksgiving.

On this week’s episode, God & The World gets the full episode treatment! Recently Twitter was in an uproar when rapper, T.I made  some interesting comments surrounding the state of his daughters hymen and its implications on “virginity.” Join Yaya and TRUTH as they ask the realtalk question of the week, “Why are we all so pressed about purity?" In addition to the moon reading, the co-hosts also make a very special announcement for the holiday season.  

This week we have a 'Keeping Time' and 'Real Talk Question' mashup for you!  It’s Spooky Season....Halloween is coming. In this episode Yaya and Truth get into all types of spooky, creepy and Halloweeny  things as they ask the real talk question of the week.. “what’s up with Christians and Halloween?". Next Yaya’s bringing you the Moon reading, following October 28th’s new moon. And finally, Truth Is bringing you quality of life hacks to help you deal with the F word of this season… FEAR.

In S2 Ep.2 of Real Talk On Godtalk, your favorite co-hosts sit down with Sarah K - writer, community engagement coordinator, and self proclaimed “fat woman”. Her work joins the field of ‘fat studies’ and social ethics with theologies of the body. She helps us answer the Real Talk question of the week, “How do our feelings about fat people clue us into our beliefs about God?”. Next, in Keeping Time and the Moon Reading, YaYa shows us how to take advantage of the back to back meteor showers that end in a full moon on October 13th. And finally, we have a new segment called “Quality of Life Hack”,  where this week, TRUTH introduces us to a more spiritually grounded approach to the activity everyone loves to hate: networking. N.B At about 38:56  YaYa mistakenly refers Sara Baartman as Venus Hottentot. Let’s use the platforms we have to self-correct and #sayhername : Sara Baartman  (1770s – 29 December 1815) was the best known of at least two South African Khoikhoi women who, due to their large buttocks, were exhibited in racist freak show attractions in 19th-century Europe under the name Hottentot Venus—"Hottentot", an offensive term,  was the name for the Khoi people. Upon her death in 1815, Baartman’s body was dissected and displayed in the western scientific community for “medical research”. 

Real Talk On Godtalk is BACK!!! We kicked off Season 2 by recording LIVE in Washington D.C. at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundations 2019 Annual Legislative Conference!! At a time when millennials and Gen Z are opting out of organized religion at increasing rates, join YaYa and TRUTH as they discuss ways of developing your spiritual SELF, when you no longer look to the church as your guide. This episode was recorded LIVE at the CBCF ALC2019. 

On September 17th, Real Talk On Godtalk is back in full effect with Season 2. Join YaYa and TRUTH for a bonus episode, "Wedding Season" to take you into the end of summer.

It's our Final Episode of the season! This week in God and the world Yaya and TRUTH talk about the latest Yale research study in which scientists revived cellular activity in the brain of a pig hours after its death. They examine what this story has to tell us about what it means to be truly ALIVE! Then for the Real Talk question of the week, we’re  taking a look Kanye Wests 'Sunday Service' and considering 'cancel culture'. It seems like everyday the court of public opinion 'cancels' a new celebrity for reasons ranging from thoughtlessness, to bad behavior, to down right bigotry. But as social media dominates more of our lives, the peanut gallery is getting louder and louder. Whatever happened to 'judge not...lest ye be judged?". When we participate in cancel culture, how do we know if we're holding our community accountable or being plain ole' judgemental? And finally in Community Pastoral Care the co-hosts respond to a listener who wonders if she's morally obligated to share her (limited) funds with panhandlers on her daily commute.

On this Week's episode, In God and The World, YaYa and TRUTH discuss the outpouring of  grief surrounding the loss of rapper and community leader Nipsey Hussle. They talk about collective trauma and give strategies for dealing with its effects. Then the co-hosts ask the Real Talk Question of the week "Paper Chasin' Preachers?...Is That a Thing Now?"--When we hear the term prosperity gospel, many of us think of Televangelists like Creflo Dollar or Joel Osteen, but honestly those are the icons of our parents generation. What about the new generation of rich and prominent Christians who show off their baller and sometimes lavish lifestyles on social media while bringing people to God?  If God promises financial wealth and prosperity to the faithful, what about the 100 million people who live at or near poverty line in the U.S… are they just not praying hard enough? And finally for Community Pastoral Care, we respond to a listener who is wondering what God says about cutting off toxic family members?    

On this weeks episode, in God and the World Yaya and TRUTH ask you to consider pain and compassion as they discuss Jo Cameron,  a woman who doesn't feel physical pain, fear or emotional anxiety.Then in response to the Real Talk question of the week “what about your friends?—Romantic relationships and parenting often get all the attention when it comes to developing healthy relationships; But WE think it's time to give friendship the clout it deserves. Almost everyone has friends- whether its a single bestie, a whole girl-gang, or a friend group turned to framily. But are they bringing value and joy into your life or are they low-key draining you? This week we’ll be discussing ways of developing more positive and spiritually sound friendships.

On this Week's episode, YaYa and TRUTH discuss the passing of the New York State Reproductive Health Act, which primarily affects women by increasing access to abortion.The ongoing and sometimes misinformed conversation on pregnancy termination in The U.S generally centers on politics; But in this episode, the co-hosts have candid conversation - asking the Real Talk Question of the week "where does God fit into the picture when it comes to a woman's right to choose?" Then in Keeping Time, YaYa gets us ready for the effects of the Spring Equinox. And Finally, for Community Pastoral Care, we're going live ya'll!

On this Week's episode YaYa and TRUTH ask the Real Talk question "How am I supposed to know what I want to be when I grow up?". The pair discuss the challenges of career discernment and job searching; imagining what it looks like to find the right career path using the Japanese concept of Ikigai. In God and the World they discuss spiritual appropriation, and the uses and misuses of Polynesian spirituality in pop culture. Then finally, in Keeping time, YaYa gives the rundown of a holiday filled month of March.

In celebration of Black History Month YaYa and TRUTH speak with Katilau, scholar of African Spirituality and Ecological Theology- asking the real talk question of the week - “is it possible to be ‘woke’, Black, and a Christian?”.  In God and the World, the co-hosts take a deeper look at Jesus's message for us during tax season; and finally YaYa’s Moon Reading helps us deal with he energy of February's Super Snow Moon.

On this Week's episode of Real Talk on Godtalk no subject is taboo as YaYa and TRUTH talk about all things sexuality- asking the real talk question of the week " If sex is so bad, why did God make it feel so good?" In Keeping time with YaYa, hear what's on the horizon for the Chinese or Lunar New Year. Then stay tuned for Community Pastoral Care, where we find out how Lyric13, a Black Millenial who is active in the BDSM, Kink, and Festish scene, meshes her spirituality and sexuality to build community.

On this week’s episode of Real Talk on Godtalk, YaYa and TRUTH ask ‘what lessons have you learned from 2018? And did you learn any the hard way?’  The pair also considers whether the geneticists who developed the worlds first gene edited babies was “Playing God”. Keeping Time with YaYa is all about the Winter Soltice.  And finally in the Community Pastoral Care segment, listeners get the chance to support the families of formerly incarcerated New Yorkers just in time for the holidays.

On this week’s episode, in God & The World,  YaYa and TRUTH try to make sense of the killing of an American Christian missionary by the Indigenous peoples he had hoped to convert. The duo  then shifts gears to talk all about the joys and perils of Christmas shopping by answering the real talk question: ‘on a scale of broke to 10 how much are we into Christmas shopping this year?’ . They end by announcing  the winner of the Real Talk on Godtalk swag give away, before heading into the moon reading and community pastoral care segments.   Note: For the sake of transparency we want to clarify two of YaYa’s statements during the show. During God and the World YaYa implies that John Chau was white. While he may( or may not) be racially ‘ white’, what YaYa was referring to was a history of  Christian religious imperialism propagated in the name of White Supremacy. Also during the moon reading, YaYa quotes an Instagram post she had briefly encountered  without giving its original creator due credit (we were unable to find and cite the author, but if you find them please give us a heads up)

On this week's episode of Real Talk on Godtalk, YaYa and Truth explore the question: 'Can gossip ever be a good thing?'. They talk about the ways in which we can honor God and the Earth, by changing our relationship with plastics. And in the Community Pastoral Care Segment, the pair step out on faith- providing a prayer of discernment for a listener in need.

On this week’s episode of Real Talk on GodTalk YaYa and TRUTH celebrate the official start of “cuffing season” and talk about the factors to consider when choosing a cold weather companion. The pair discuss the importance of exercising your right to vote; as well as ways to develop a deeper everyday relationship with God, instead of only turning to Her in times of trouble.

On this week’s episode of Real Talk on God Talk YaYa and Truth sit down to ask the question “if nice guys often finish last, what’s the point in being humble?” The pair also expose the ways scripture can be twisted to perpetuate sexual abuse in The Church. And finally, they help a listener figure out a how to deal when partisan politics is tearing a family apart.

Is it necessary to attend church regularly for a meaningful relationship with God?