This Year I Turn 40

Hey, hey! I have been super busy but I did not want to end before sharing this episode. My guests are Lynette Talley of VIrago 24/7 (check it out! It is a fantastic podcast) and Valentine Pooley. We had this conversation over the summer and I was holding on to it for this special week. This Saturday I will turn 40! As the year draws to a close I want to celebrate this transition with conversations with some of the women in my life. I'll have a few more episodes after this one. For now, enjoy! Also, here are links to two of the articles we discussed in the episode: 5 Brutally Honest Things Every Woman Turning 40 Should Know https://letslassothemoon.com/turning-40/ 20 Things to Look Forward to If You're Turning 40 in 2020 https://bestlifeonline.com/turning-40-2019/ As always, the music for this show is from the very talented Penn Davis. Check out his Instagram Page. The official art for the show is from the very talented Michaela Perkins. Check out the social media pages! I'm on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram all as @thisyeariturn40. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thisyeariturn40/message

This week's episode is with THE Laron McAdoo and THE Sean McIntosh. I will definitely need to do a part two to this episode because Sean was a surprise. He is the descendant of a legendary figure in Arkansas History, Robert "Say" McIntosh. A person "of a certain age" from the city of Little Rock, AR would know who this man was and would agree that when one thinks of Critical Patriotism, they should hear the voice of, and see the face of (in that order) Say McIntosh. Laron is a dear friend/brother/teacher/mentor and I appreciate both of these positive male figures for coming on and discussing this topic with me this week. Links to two articles that were referenced in the show are below. This week, ask yourself "Am I a critical patriot?" Definitions for Critical Patriotism https://positiveorgs.bus.umich.edu/news/united-america-core-value-10-critical-patriotism/ https://www.towson.edu/news/2021/critical-patriotism.html The 10 American Core Values https://readthespirit.com/bookstore/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2013/10/United-America-insert-front-6x9.jpg As always, the music for this show is from the very talented Penn Davis. Check out his Instagram Page. The official art for the show is from the very talented Michaela Perkins. Check out the social media pages! I'm on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram all as @thisyeariturn40. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thisyeariturn40/message

This week I talk to my friend and MILS-Sister (Military Spouse-Sister) Meg Kelvington. During the pandemic, between her leadership and determination to keep us Christ-centered and sane, and my determination to keep us jubilant and maybe slightly tipsy, she and I worked our magic to keep the heart and soul of our community vibrant. While much of our community-building efforts began before the shutdown in 2020, I feel, as a community, we were our best during the pandemic and this has motivated me to cultivate the same sense of community in every lived-in space I have going forward. As I get older, I find that community where one LIVES is so important. We don't always have to go out to find a sense of belonging and although it may seem hard at first, it is possible to cultivate a sense of belonging and togetherness in heterogeneous communities. Listen as she and I share our community stories and provide advice from our lived experiences on how to create a community where it is needed most, in our neighborhoods. About this week's guest: I'm kicking myself for this because during the episode I fail to really capture what a badass Meg is. Please forgive me! Meg flew helicopters, planes and deployed to Afghanistan. Now she uses her Army leadership experience to coach others through her company "Riveting Mission LLC" while being an Army Wife and mother to 4 young children. She grew up in an Army family with both her mother and father being West Point graduates. She joined the family business and graduated from the United States Military Academy in 2006. After graduating from flight school in 2008, qualified in both the Blackhawk helicopter and RC-12 Guardrail airplane, she was stationed at Hunter Army Airfield. She then deployed to Afghanistan and flew over 200 combat hours. After additional schooling, she went on to the 82nd Airborne Division and 1st Corps before leaving the Army to focus on her family and pursue coaching and mentoring. She has done work with Team Red White and Blue, Wear Blue: Run to Remember, and led groups in her local church. She and her husband, Mike, have four children, McKinley (9), Madison (8), “Mac” Arthur (5), and Moriah (2). Find her at riveting.mission@gmail.com and on Facebook @RivetingMissionLLC and Instagram @riveting.mission.llc She runs a Monday morning virtual group that shares a short Bible-based message and then does a workout together called "Fit To Serve." You can find details on Facebook or email her for more info. During the show, we mention some resources that are great for women and people in general. Find links to them all below. Breathe By Priscilla Shirer (here's an intro video too) The Turquoise Table by Kristin Schell - We didn't talk about this during the recording but she shared it with me after. It seems like a great place to start with building community in heterogeneous spaces. She Reads Truth Podcast The Green Plate by Jill Connett - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6681123-the-green-plate --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thisyeariturn40/message

Oh, how I wanted to have a full episode ready this week but I have to be real with myself and you all. I am in the middle of moving and I am not superwoman (or a person who has a team to help produce this podcast. It's just me!) So, here is a quick bite and I will hopefully see you soon. Yes, there are updates and a praise report in this short episode. So take a break, listen, and plan to hear from me soon! As always, the music for this show is from the very talented Penn Davis. Check out his Instagram Page. The official art for the show is from the very talented Michaela Perkins. Check out the social media pages! I'm on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram all as @thisyeariturn40. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thisyeariturn40/message

Perfectionism is... the stuff of victory and defeat. Best case scenario, our perfectionist habits propel us forward in our careers and talents and we make amazing contributions to our fields. Worst case scenario, these habits drive us crazy and lead us down paths that can be harmful for ourselves and others. My guest today is Susan Warren. She is back with us (she was also featured on episode 9, Acceptance is...) to lend her counseling and therapy knowledge to this topic. To learn more about the data and other research shared during this episode you can view the links below. Susan is thorough for sure! DiMaggio et al. 2018- https://psychotherapy.psychiatryonline.org/doi/full/10.1176/appi.psychotherapy.2015.69.3.317 - overview and general education on perfectionism. Dimaggio et al. 2018- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0010440X18300555?via%3Dihub - perfectionism within personality traits Elion et al. 2012- https://www.researchgate.net/publication/221809957_Perfectionism_in_African_American_Students_Relationship_to_Racial_Identity_GPA_Self-Esteem_and_Depression Nilsson et al. 2008- https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Johanna-Nilsson-8/publication/264649661_The_Relationships_Among_Perfectionism_Acculturation_and_Stress_in_Asian_International_Students/links/5e1a11c492851c8364c626bb/The-Relationships-Among-Perfectionism-Acculturation-and-Stress-in-Asian-International-Students.pdf Castro et al. 2003 https://www.researchgate.net/publication/10847633_Perfectionism_and_ethnicity_Implications_for_depressive_symptoms_and_self-reported_academic_achievement Bieling et al. 2004 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0191886903002356 Maladaptive versus adaptive perfectionism. Periasamy 2002- https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1300/J035v17n02_06 As always, the music for this show is from the very talented Penn Davis. Check out his Instagram Page. The official art for the show is from the very talented Michaela Perkins. Check out the social media pages! I'm on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram all as @thisyeariturn40. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thisyeariturn40/message

Tarot is not scary, not demonic, and not fully occult, it really depends on the operator. It took me a while to work up to wanting to understand any of the psychic arts such as card reading, palm reading, or even mediums. Between last year and this year, I have met enough people and had enough experiences to realize that the boogyman is what you make him. This week my sister Loni and I interview my friend and sorority sister Tiffany about what Tarot Card reading is and is not. There's a lot of names floating around this episode so I've listed some resources here in the show notes to help you out. Rider-Waite(-Smith) Deck Thoth Deck Aleister Crowley Pamela "Pixie" Coleman-Smith Here's another resource about Pixie My guest, Tiffany Davis is a Tarot Card reader and she can be found by any of these means: Website: tarotbytiffany.com YouTube [archived but active]: Tarot Tiffany Vimeo: Tarot by Tiffany Instagram: @tarot_x_tiffany Twitter: @tarotbytiffany You can also subscribe to her services for as low as $5 a month at Patreon. Patreon: Tarot by Tiffany As always, the music for this show is from the very talented Penn Davis. Check out his Instagram Page. The official art for the show is from the very talented Michaela Perkins. Check out the social media pages! I'm on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram all as @thisyeariturn40. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thisyeariturn40/message

Did you have a great PRIDE weekend?!?! I hope so! Wrapping up our month of Love is this episode featuring two couples, a lesbian and a gay couple. I enjoyed learning their union origin stories (they are very similar or else I really am getting to be too old!) and how they maintain health and balance in their relationships. Spoiler alert!! Communication was number one on both couples' lists. I want to thank my guests Auna and Jennifer and Reginald and Robert for taking time out to indulge me for this episode. I had fun talking to and catching up with them. I also encourage you to check out the resource links at the bottom of the episode notes. Some are mentioned in the episode. Knowledge is power and ignorance creates fear. Power up y'all! Resource Links: Article about the White Horse Inn in Cali: https://www.grubstreet.com/2013/05/white-horse-inn-oakland-berkeley-oldest-gay-bar.html Web Page for Lafittes in Exile in Louisiana: https://www.lafittes.com/about2 Unfortunately, I had to rely on Wikipedia for information about the oldest gay establishments in the country. Here are two articles I found, but I can't swear the info is all true. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gay_bar#:~:text=Cafe%20Lafitte%20in%20Exile%20in,bar%20in%20the%20United%20States. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Horse_Inn_(Oakland,_California) OutRight International is an LGBTQIA+ Rights Advocacy Organization: https://outrightinternational.org/content/acronyms-explained As always, the music for this show is from the very talented Penn Davis. Check out his Instagram Page. The official art for the show is from the very talented Michaela Perkins. Check out the social media pages! I'm on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram all as @thisyeariturn40. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thisyeariturn40/message

Interracial love is the topic of this episode. Although Loving Day has passed, I still wanted to take this time to commemorate the day by talking with my husband Ace about our experience as an interracial couple. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thisyeariturn40/message

Juneteenth is... or means something different to different people. This week I discuss my views on the holiday and how my views have changed over time from my twenties until now. I put some research into this episode and learned some things that I didn't know before. Below are links to the articles and websites I visited to create this episode. http://nationaljuneteenth.com/Juneteenth_National.html https://www.archives.gov/exhibits/american_originals_iv/sections/preliminary_emancipation_proclamation.html# https://news.ucdenver.edu/juneteenth-history-why-doesnt-everyone-know-about-texas/ https://nmaahc.si.edu/blog-post/historical-legacy-juneteenth https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/10-facts-what-everyone-should-know-about-civil-war https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/nation-world/juneteenth-us-states-official-holidays/507-aa8e98a6-8e01-4f39-b3b5-632d3bf8c83b https://www.cnn.com/2019/06/19/us/juneteenth-state-holidays-trnd/index.html https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R44865.pdf If I left something out or even got something wrong, message me! You can email me at thisyeariturn40@gmail.com or send a voice memo through the Anchor webpage for the show. As always, the music for this show is from the very talented Penn Davis. Check out his Instagram Page. The official art for the show is from the very talented Michaela Perkins. Check out the social media pages! I'm on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram all as @thisyeariturn40. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thisyeariturn40/message

June is full of reasons to celebrate. The end of the school year, procurement of a degree, and even the opportunity to barbeque without fear in a semi-post pandemic world are great starters. Add to that the celebration of love and liberty and you have one month full of ticker-tape parades. Although many cities are forgoing their PRIDE parades in respect of the health and wellness of their communities, there is still room to celebrate. This month I'll feature three shows that highlight LGBTQIA couples, interracial couples, and the celebration of Juneteenth. As always, the music for this show is from the very talented Penn Davis. Check out his Instagram Page. The official art for the show is from the very talented Michaela Perkins. Check out the social media pages! I'm on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram all as @thisyeariturn40. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thisyeariturn40/message

Words are powerful, but they are powerful because we give them meaning. This week,  I'm having an intergenerational conversation with my Soror and friend Renea Lyles and my former student and friend Penn Davis. Subscribers to the show should know Penn from the Intro of the show; he has graciously allowed me to use his music to help frame and fuel this podcast vision.  Though the title today is "words are," we will actually focus much of the discussion on one particular word and its derivative.  As always, the music for this show is from the very talented Penn Davis. Check out his Instagram Page. The official art for the show is from the very talented Michaela Perkins. Check out the social media pages! I'm on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram all as @thisyeariturn40. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thisyeariturn40/message

As I wrap up other projects and get ready for a post-ish-COVID summer it's time to contemplate what's next for this podcast! I'm not out of ideas, and I have some shows in mind, but at the moment, I have bitten off more than I can chew! As always, the music for this show is from the very talented Penn Davis. Check out his Instagram Page. The official art for the show is from the very talented Michaela Perkins. Check out the social media pages! I'm on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram all as @thisyeariturn40. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thisyeariturn40/message

Goals are... great to have and can be achieved by those of us who can push past disappointments, failures, and pain to get there. My husband set a goal in 2019 to run one marathon (26.2 miles) before his 40th birthday. Now, he can run that distance every weekend, unphased. This week I am with my husband, Ace Hendrix, and we are discussing his birthday accomplishment, which was running his first 100K (62.13 miles). You'd think that now that he's 40 that he's done, but wait! He has more goals with this ultra running thing! As always, the music for this show is from the very talented Penn Davis. Check out his Instagram Page. The official art for the show is from the very talented Michaela Perkins. Check out the social media pages for the show this week for interactive opportunities. I'm on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram all as @thisyeariturn40. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thisyeariturn40/message

Bonus moms are...awesome additions to a family! It can be a bumpy road at the beginning, but if one is willing to learn humility and how to put the child, or children, before ego, life could be a wonderful co-parenting existence! I am the daughter of a bonus mom and a bonus mom to my son Brayden, whose mom is a bonus mom to his three bonus brothers through her marriage to their father. This week's conversation is an exploration of our relationships, growth, mistakes, and strength.  As always, the music for this show is from the very talented Penn Davis. Check out his Instagram Page. The official art for the show is from the very talented Michaela Perkins. Check out the social media pages for the show this week for interactive opportunities. I'm on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram all as @thisyeariturn40. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thisyeariturn40/message

Depression is... part of the human experience. Whether for a moment or many, having feelings associated with depression is more common than we'd like to admit. The difference is in the frequency, duration, and symptoms of these feelings. In the past, I didn't talk much about my PDD (persistent depression disorder), and often brushed my symptoms off as simple fatigue or morphed it into anger. As I grow older, and as my social circles grow and get tighter, I am learning that these feelings that I have are not unique to me and that there are many others out there who are having the same or similar experiences. Today I'm talking about depression. Below are the resources I used to prepare for this show and the reading is quite good. If you or someone you know is experiencing feelings of depression, please reach out to a mental health care provider near you. If you need help finding resources, start with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 (HELP). (Nope! It's not in MLA or APA or even Chicago Style. It is what it is!) https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-smiling-depression-4775918 https://www.columbiawell.org/blog/2019/7/22/15-real-habits-of-people-with-concealed-depression https://sparlinmentalhealth.com/emotional-intensity-bpd/ https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/diseases/depression-anxiety.html https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/04/23/nation/boston-college-researchers-find-sharp-increase-anxiety-depression-during-first-8-months-pandemic/ https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/03/business/pandemic-burnout-productivity.html?action=click&module=RelatedLinks&pgtype=Article https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/19/well/mind/covid-mental-health-languishing.html https://umbrella.org.nz/how-do-we-spot-languishing-and-support-people-sooner-to-flourish/ https://www.health.com/mind-body/languishing https://health.clevelandclinic.org/why-good-vibes-only-isnt-always-a-good-thing/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3267345/ As always, the music for this show is from the very talented Penn Davis. Check out his Instagram Page. The official art for the show is from the very talented Michaela Perkins. Check out the social media pages for the show this week for interactive opportunities. I'm on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram all as @thisyeariturn40. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thisyeariturn40/message

Change is...on the horizon! At least this is my hope. I will always remember that the year I turned 40 was the first time in my life a police officer was charged with three counts of murder for the death of a Black man in the United States. I never thought that it would happen and now that it has, I do wonder what’s next. Before the verdict, I produced a nine-minute and 29-second podcast to express my troubled feelings about the impending verdict. Never did I imagine the jury would take less than two full days to make a decision and never did I imagine the decision would be so just. Today’s podcast was re-recorded last night with my father, Dwight Harshaw, and one of my brothers, Omavi Shukur. We discussed the verdict and our individual feelings about it. It’s interesting to hear where we agree and where we diverge. This is an example of how people of various backgrounds (although we are all family we are of different generations and have different experiences) can come to a discussion table and respectfully converse about a sensitive topic. I am exceedingly happy for the Floyd Family and Minneapolis because now they have justice, and can rest knowing that they and the community fought hard and long for him, and won. I am equally sad for the family of Derek Chavin because his action has changed their lives forever. I pray for them because either way, whatever the outcome may have been, they too will suffer, due to association. I also agree with my brother that justice is not only punishment, it is also an opportunity for reconciliation and growth. May the Chavin and Floyd families find the time, heart, and strength to heal in this way. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thisyeariturn40/message

Art is... beautiful, phenomenal, inspirational, and fun! My guests today are from my home state of Arkansas. They will dispel some myths about collecting art and also discuss the importance that art plays in Black culture. My first guest is Garbo Hearne, the owner and director of Pyramid Art, Books, and Custom Framing/Hearne Fine Art and artist Najee Dorsey, co-founder of Black Art in America (BAIA) and owner of Garden Art for the Soul (I forgot to mention that in the episode!), and Shop BAIA Online. Both of these art aficionados have earned their stripes as curators, collectors, and champions for Black Fine Art. Additionally, they have innovated and pioneered a path for more Black artists to be seen and known in the world of Fine Art. To learn more about my guests, you can visit their websites by clicking the embedded links above and visiting their social media pages, provided below. If you are in Little Rock, Arkansas, I encourage you to visit Pyramid/HFA and if you find your way to Columbus, Georgia, look for BAIA shows once the pandemic allows us more mobility. Pyramid/HFA Social Media (Facebook, Instagram) @pyramidbookslr @hearnefienart BAIA Social Media (Facebook, Instagram) @blackartinamerica_ @najee.dorsey As always, the music for this show is from the very talented Penn Davis. Check out his Instagram Page. He has filled his page with shorts and previews of the new music he is working on. I stay proud of this young man. The official art for the show is from the very talented Michaela Adams. Thank you lady for making me look cool in a drawing! Check out the social media pages for the show this week for interactive opportunities. I'm on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram all as @thisyeariturn40. Be kind to someone today; you may need someone to return the favor tomorrow! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thisyeariturn40/message

This week I'm talking to two amazing people from my amazing home state of Arkansas. Garbo Hearne, Owner, and Director of Pyramid Art Books, & Custom Framing and Hearne Fine Art, and Najee Dorsey, Artist and Co-Founder of Black Art in America (BAIA). These two people have cultivated platforms for Black Fine Art and though their approach differs, the mission is the same: To bring awareness to the beauty of Black art and to make art created by Black artists available to the masses. The airdate for this episode is April 7th at 8:00 am. Now, I need you and your stories! No matter your hair journey, I want to hear from you. I am planning a show about hair journies and I know we all have them! If you are willing to share a story about your hair (good, bad, or ugly) please go to the show page and leave a message, by clicking the message button. If you aren't into creating yet another account for an app, then record the message on your phone or computer and email it to me at thisyeariturn40@gmail.com. I look forward to hearing from you! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thisyeariturn40/message

Today's episode is not a rant! I promise. It IS, however, an opportunity to learn about the mental health implications of legislation that will affect transgender communities, especially the youth in these communities, who are the most vulnerable. This was not the episode I'd planned for this week but legislative actions in Alabama, Tennessee, and my home state of Arkansas prompted me to change course. Susan Warren of Cardinal Counseling, located in North Little Rock, Arkansas is my guest. The licensed professionals at Cardinal Counseling specialize in "providing therapy services with a special focus on providing Feedback-Informed Treatment in the areas of depression, anxiety, grief, trauma recovery, and relationship issues." Ms. Warren is an outpatient psychotherapist with a background in behavioral health and working in medical social work settings. I am so thankful that she agreed to this last-minute interview and my hope is that you learn from her and this conversation so that you can grow, or help someone else to grow mentally and emotionally as it concerns the LGBTQ, specifically the "T" community. This is all love. I welcome your questions and comments and will funnel them to more informed people if I can't answer them. Thank you for coming to the pod with an open mind. Resources! If you want to learn more, or if something in the episode interested you, here are links to some of the things we discussed, as well as educational resources. Survey of Transgender and Nonbinary Youth The Trevor Project Advancing Acceptance Infographic Trans Bucket Translifeline.org The following are the bills that sparked this discussion. Arkansas HB 1570 Vetoed by the Governor, Overridden by the Arkansas Senate, Likely to be fought in the courts Arkansas HB 1749 Recommended to Pass Arkansas SB 354 Sadly, this is now Act 461 As always, the music for this show is from the very talented Penn Davis. Check out his Instagram Page. He is working on a new album and has some very entertaining freestyles on his stories and page there. The official art for the show is from the very talented Michaela Adams. Check out the social media pages for the show this week for interactive opportunities. I'm on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram all as @thisyeariturn40. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thisyeariturn40/message

This Bonus Friday I'm sharing more memories about my grandmother Mae Lou Pauley Sampson. Thank you to all of my family members who participated in making this week's episode. I hope that this was something that everyone enjoyed. Usually, we all get together downhome, in Mineral Springs. The day is filled with games, music, FOOD (lots of food), and good ole fashioned ribbing amongst cousins. Covid has changed many things, but we can still celebrate. I pray that things are settled down enough for everyone to get together to celebrate my Uncle Lee's birthday in the fall. For now, enjoy these last few memories and I encourage everyone to call an elder in their family today and say "Hey, I love you!" --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thisyeariturn40/message

Mae Lou was... my maternal grandmother. My maternal grandmother (Mae Lou Pauley) Sampson was a phenomenal woman. She was beautiful, intelligent, strong, strong-willed, kind, and just everything to our family. She was born March 31, 1920, in Graves Chapel, Arkansas.  She wasn't a saint, no real person is or was, but she was real and unapologetically herself. She loved people in the best way that any person born in the 20's could. She didn't say "I love you" but she showed you through providing for you and that provision could be anything from fresh chicken to moral support. Maybe this is where I get it from.  This week I am honoring her through recorded conversations and memories between some of my family members about her. We have a huge family and I wasn't able to get everyone, but I hope that this gives everyone a chance to hear another's perspective on this great lady.  As always, the music for this show is from the very talented Penn Davis. Check out his Instagram Page @Penndavis. He is working on a new album and has some very entertaining freestyles on his stories and page there. The official art for the show is from the very talented Michaela Adams. Check out the social media pages for the show this week for interactive opportunities. I'm on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram all as @thisyeariturn40. I'll have some pictures and memories on these pages this week commemorating my grandma's birthday.  --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thisyeariturn40/message

My Grandma Mae Lou was the matriarch of my mother's family. She was our anchor and she did a lot to keep us all connected. When she died in September of 2019, we were all heartbroken. However, in many ways, we were also filled with joy. She lived 99 years and 98 of them were spent in moderately good health and humor. She wasn't wheelchair-bound until her last year of life. I honestly feel like she could have lived longer, but the ancestors told her COVID was coming, so she went home. My family and I remember her in this episode. I didn't get a chance to talk to everyone, so any family member or family friend who wants to leave a recorded memory of Mae Lou Sampson still can! You can record the audio memory on your phone or computer, then email it to me at thisyeariturn40@gmail.com. You can also click on the MESSAGE button on the show webpage and leave a recorded message through Anchor. You can also leave a visual message on Facebook or Instagram and include the hashtag #thisyeariturn40podcast. I look forward to hearing your memories! The full episode drops on Wednesday, March 31st at 8:00 am. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thisyeariturn40/message

My [Post-COVID] Style Is... in need of help. Here's the problem (and I really don't feel alone here), having no need to leave the house other than to quickly go to the grocery store and come back out, I lost myself for a minute. My priorities were to keep us safe, feed the family, and do only what was necessary for survival. Of course, that means that my style was nowhere to be seen for many months. I've since come to realize, as the country begins to open up a bit and I find myself in front of people outside of my immediate family and neighbors, it's time to get dressed again. My friends and neighbors, Alisha and Sherry have come to my rescue! These ladies have not lost their style in all that the last 13+ months have thrown at us. While COVID-19 is still a real threat and our nation is doing all that it can to get us all the protection that we need, I feel that there is still room and a need for light-heartedness and fun. This episode is meant to bring joy and possibly hope. Join me as my friends raid my closet and give me advice on how to dress as I re-enter the world post-Covid. I also found this VOGUE article that lists some of the major fashion trends of 2021. Not surprisingly, my friends were up on just about all of them! https://www.vogue.com/article/vogue-wardrobe-essentials-guide. And because I would be me otherwise, here is an article featuring 8 trends brought to you by Black Culture: https://www.purewow.com/fashion/fashion-trends-by-black-culture. As always, the music for this show is from the very talented Penn Davis. Check out his Instagram Page. He is working on a new album and has some very entertaining freestyles on his stories and page there. The official art for the show is from the very talented Michaela Adams. Check out the social media pages for the show this week for interactive opportunities. I'm on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram all as @thisyeariturn40. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thisyeariturn40/message

Today’s guest is my friend and neighbor Tomekia Vikhrov, who is a licensed dietitian. Tomekia completed a Bachelor of Science in Food and Nutrition at the University of Minnesota, she went on to complete a dietetic internship at Western Carolina University which qualified her to sit for The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Registration exam to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. Tomekia has worked ICU, LTAC (vents and wounds), Physical/Neuro Rehab as well as working in Ambulatory care where she was the pregnancy dietitian where she helped mothers navigate Gestational Diabetes and Hyperemesis. In addition to having experience teaching group classes and individual counseling for Weight loss, Diabetes, outpatient pediatrics, and Heart Health. She and I talk about everything from Keto to Fecal Transplants (yes, that is a thing). I enjoyed this conversation so much and learned a few things that will help me make better, more informed nutritional decisions going into this 40th year. As always, the music for this show is from the very talented Penn Davis. Check out his Instagram Page. He is working on a new album and has some very entertaining freestyles on his stories and page there. The official art for the show is from the very talented Michaela Adams. Check out the social media pages for the show this week for interactive opportunities. I'm on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram all as @thisyeariturn40. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thisyeariturn40/message

Today I continue my conversation with Dr. Routen and we focus on her work as a teacher and administrator in the Little Rock School District. She currently serves as the Fine Arts Coordinator in the Little Rock School District and director of Voices Without Borders, an elementary honor choir that specializes in Solid Gold music from the 60s and 70s by African American artists. The Rockefeller Show Choir preceded this current endeavor and I tell you, the men and women who sang in that choir as elementary kids still have fond memories of being my aunt's kids. Dr. Routen was inducted into the Arkansas Music Educators Association Hall of Fame as a teacher in 2010 and into the Hall of Fame in 2017 as an administrator. This week we will hear from some of her former show choir students (she was shocked and it was cute) and we will wrap with her choices for Drink With/Live With/Travel With. If you enjoy the show, please like, review, and subscribe. Be sure to check out the social media pages for the show as well. Soon I will begin posting bonus content to those pages! Get ready! Find the show on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @thisyeariturn40. You may have noticed the intro has changed! We are six episodes in and it was time for a remodel! The voice you hear at the top is Penn Davis and I've incorporated his original vocals and intro from the song "Everybody Wants to be a Rapper" which he so graciously allowed me to use for my podcast. I really like this song and it has not gotten old to me. I pray it doesn't get old to you! If I can leave you with anything else after this episode it is this, support local artists and encourage people to hustle hard for the things that they believe in, especially when they are talented. Peace all! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thisyeariturn40/message

Joy is... growing up in a safe and loving community. These next two weeks feature the same guest, my aunt Dr. IJ Routen. Dr. Routen is a Little Rock native, though she is no stranger to the world. She has lived on both coasts and even abroad and has mastered the art of joy. Growing up with her around was very interesting. She always made good use of her nieces and nephews (and does to this day). In every encounter, there is a lesson, a goal, a reason why. Her house is full of instruments and art, and supplies to make art. There are pictures of family members and a story behind every picture. As a Black woman who grew up among Black professionals, at a time when media would want us to believe that elegance, beauty, and intellect were only things possessed by the White middle and upper classes in the early 20th Century, my aunt lived amongst the teachers, academics, doctors, postal workers and other professionals of Little Rock, AR. Her's was an experience unlike what we've been privy. I wonder why? (Indeed) When she turned 75 this past November, we had a very sobering conversation about what may come in the next 25 or so years and it was during that conversation that I realized that she is a woman who is full of joy. Life and circumstances, especially in the aftermath of all that the world has had thrown at it, have nothing on James 1:2-8: 2My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces [a]patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be [b]perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. We can all learn a little about counting it all joy. I hope you enjoy this episode. There's a surprise at the end, and be sure to complete the sentence "Joy is" on any of the following social media platforms, and be sure to follow and like! Instagram @thisyeariturn40 Facebook @thisyeariturn40 Twitter @thisyeariturn40 --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thisyeariturn40/message

The next two weeks feature a double punch of one of my favorite people, my aunt, Dr. I.J. Routen (there's no bias here, really). Auntie Doc and I talk about growing up on 9th Street in the early 20th Century (that seems weird to say) and the joy of being five, seven, and sometimes twelve. You will really enjoy her stories and her enthusiasm as she schools the rest of us on how to "count it all joy!" I want to hear from you this week! What gives you joy! Visit any of the show pages on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook and finish the sentence: Joy is.... --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thisyeariturn40/message

This week I am interviewing one of my many mentors, Partick Oliver. Patrick is what I call a literacy activist. He has spent decades developing, facilitating, and championing programs that promote literacy in public schools that serve intercity and rural youth. He's used his connections in the publishing world to expose young people to the possibilities that the ability to read and write can make a reality, and I can honestly say that if it weren't for one of his signature programs, Say It Loud! Youth Readers and Writers, I would not have overcome my shyness, my lack of confidence as a speaker and writer, or the effects of bullying on me from my middle school years. Patrick continues to champion the cause of promoting literacy with the Anase's Journal project, a 5th-anniversary edition of his vision board book "On My Own," and an anthology of essays, poems, and other works by high school students titled "Our Voices, Our Stories, Our Visions." He's brought together an impressive group of time-tested, highly-educated, and skilled men and women to create the Speak Loudly Speakers Bureau, which has been developed to provide high-quality speakers and professional development in a variety of subjects that center on diversity. You can learn more about Patrick and his work at Speakloudly.com. Also, I'm sharing information about a dynamic Instagram Page that promotes literacy! My friend and soror Izetta Thomas is the host of a Youtube program called Auntie Zettie's Read Aloud Time. Youth literacy is one of the major themes of this week's podcast, so I felt it only right to include promotion for this fun Friday activity. You can find more about the program on Instagram @auntiezettiereadaloudtime and on Youtube at Auntie Zettie's Read Aloud Time Youtube Page. It is fun for all ages! Message --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thisyeariturn40/message

This week I interview one of my many mentors, Patrick Oliver. You can check him out on Social Media at @SayItLoudReadersandWriters or @SayItLoudLiteraryCafe (Facebook), as well as on his website, https://www.speakloudly.com/. This episode will air on Wednesday, February 17th at 8:00 am EST. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thisyeariturn40/message

Friends are...blessings! I have been blessed to have a strong bond with girlfriends and nothing - not miles, children, or ideological differences - will sever. My guests today are my three best and oldest friends, Carmen Portillo, Kiesha Nash, and Bernice Osei-Danquah. Keisha and Carmen are Arkansas natives, like me, and Bernice immigrated from Ghana to Arkansas with her family, when she was five. We met over ten years ago through programs and events at Mosaic Church of Central Arkansas and have been tight ever since. We’re going to dive into our friendship and how we have stayed close as we grow older and, in some cases, further apart in distance. Though we won't talk much about their businesses, Bernice and Carmen are both entrepreneurs and have digital storefronts. You can find out more about the beautiful and delicious things they make and sell by clicking the links below. Cocoa Belle Chocolates: Go to www.cocoabellechocolates.com to order handmade artisan chocolates; Store location 108 W 6th Downtown Little Rock, AR 72202. RNB Ghanaian Fashions: This business can be found on Instagram, Facebook, and Etsy by name. The shop is featuring handmade Ghana-inspired creations. http://www.Instagram.com/rnbghanaianfashions. RNB Ghanaian Fashions. http://www.rnbghanaianfashions.etsy.com Special Thanks Again to Penn Davis and Michaela Adams for their contributions to this project. The music you hear is from Penn Davis; the song's title is "Everybody Wants to Be a Rapper." Penn is a gifted rapper, writer, and teacher and he graciously lent me this track for my podcast. You can find his latest album, Penn's Bayou, and more of his work on Spotify, Apple Music, and anywhere you can find music. Michaela Adams created the cover art for the podcast. She has wonderfully captured the essence of this program and I am privileged to have taught, mentored, and become friends with both these people! Like what you heard or have something to add? Click on the message link in Anchor to send me a voice memo or email me at thisyeariturn40@gmail.com and be sure to rate, follow, and review the podcast and follow the show on Social Media for special announcements and bonus content. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thisyeariturn40/message

Here's a teaser for the next episode, Friends are..., which airs at 8:00 am on Wednesday, February 10th! Put it on your calendar y'all! It's going to be a good time. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thisyeariturn40/message

Sisters are...something else! I have many siblings, but the relationship that I have with these two sisters, Popi and Loni, is comical, loyal, and sometimes intense. We have vastly different personalities and there's a five-year gap between each of us. The combination of these two facts made the early years torturous, as you would imagine, but as we all entered, or exited our 20s we became friends, confidants, and riders for one another. This episode is about us: our upbringing, some family lore, and a bunch of laughs that include a cameo appearance from our mother, Rena. Special Thanks Again to Penn Davis and Michaela Adams for their contributions to this project. The music you hear is from Penn Davis; the song's title is "Everybody Wants to Be a Rapper." Penn is a gifted rapper, writer, and teacher and he graciously lent me this track for my podcast. You can find his latest album, Penn's Bayou, and more of his work on Spotify, Apple Music, and anywhere you can find music. Michaela Adams created the cover art for the podcast. She has wonderfully captured the essence of this program and I am privileged to have taught, mentored, and become friends with both these people! Like what you heard or have something to add? Click on the message link to send me a voice memo or email me at thisyeariturn40@gmail.com and be sure to follow the show on Social Media for special announcements and bonus content. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thisyeariturn40/message

This is a podcast about the journey to 40. In lieu of having an epic 40th birthday party, I’m embarking on a journey to learn what it means to be 40 and how to make this next decade the best one so far. Each week I will feature a guest or two to explore a new topic. I want to thank Penn Davis and Michaela Adams for their contributions to this project. The music you hear is from Penn Davis; the song's title is "Everybody Wants to Be a Rapper." Penn is a gifted rapper, writer, and teacher and he graciously lent me this track for my podcast. You can find his latest album, Penn's Bayou, and more of his work on Spotify, Apple Music, and anywhere you can find music. Michaela Adams created the cover art for the podcast. She has wonderfully captured the essence of this program and I am privileged to have taught, mentored, and become friends with both these people! Like what you heard or have something to add? Click on the message link to send me a voice memo and follow me on social media. I can be found at @thisyearIturn40 on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter and you can email show ideas or voice memos to thisyeariturn40@gmail.com. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thisyeariturn40/message