Yeah...But Are You Listening?!?

Happy Valentine's Day y'all! I hope today is filled with all your favorite things…in the meantime, here's a quick episode about why I want a partner over a husband and why our shared goals are more important than the roles we're supposed to be playing. #Transparency #DoItScared #RealRelationshipGoals

Listen, in the year of 2023 I want ya'll to release friendships with people who don't even LIKE you! The ones where you're the only one calling, supporting and doing all the listening. The ones where you're being laughed at rather than laughed with, the ones where the other person's schedule is always full when you need some of their time. Forget that whole "no new friends" mantra and find you some people who want to love on you, who appreciate being in reciprocal relationships with people they like, can grow with and learn from. #FindYourPeople #DropDeadWeight #DoItScared 

It can be hard to clap for someone who's seemingly living the life you wanted and reaping the harvest you prayed for. It's like, why them and not me!? Know that your season is on the way and clapping for others doesn't delay your time. Clap anyway.

First, Merry Christmas and happy start to the New Year!! We made it through 365 whole days and while some of em' were touch and go, WE MADE IT!! If no one else says it, I am proud of us! Now we have the opportunity to reset our mind, repurpose our energy and choose our direction for the next 365. Episode 3 touches on that a bit, encouraging you to write your goals, reconnect with your heart and be intentional. I also discover (yes, while recording lol) my word for 2023. Lastly, I share the importance of being your own cheerleader and clapping for yourself, first, a lesson I'm still learning…enjoy!

I'm all in my feels from watching Harry & Meghan on Netflix and wanna talk to y'all about love and the hopeful manifestation of my forever love. Oh and I got ghosted y'all!! Anyway, tune in and laugh with me a bit.

After 6+ months of internal battling and external silence, we're back for season 4! I have missed you SO much...like you have no idea lol. This episode sheds some light on the last few months and offers insight on what's coming up this season. I am so excited to continue this journey with ya'll and can't wait to hear all the ways you've been doing it scared!

I am still figuring out content for our actual season and it's taking a while because my personal season is on FIRE! I continue to seek God for understanding and while He hasn't unveiled it in a way I can understand, one thing I know for sure is that this journey is meant to be shared. I have stood on the hill of transparency since I started Yea, But Are You Listening??? but this is easily the most transparent and vulnerable I have EVER been. It is not easy to discuss your innermost personal battles with the world but I believe someone's life may be saved from knowing they are not alone. I say it in the episode and I'll say it again here, GET HELP IF YOU NEED IT! You do not have to battle this life alone and there is power in therapy and there are meds to help with balance. GET HELP! If you are thinking about suicide, please reach out to the national suicide hotline at 800-273-8255 via call or text. Often people ask, why didn't they "just" ask for help and I'm here to tell you that for a multitude of reasons, it's never that easy. If you can't relate to this episode, great, but you never know who can so be kind anyway....

Hey y'all! Check out this teaser for Season 4 (can y'all even believe we've made it through 3 whole seasons?!?). We have so much to talk about…my goodness. Is there anything you want to make sure makes the list?? Let me know!

While thanksgiving means many things for many people, for me it is about celebrating my family with amazing food, and endless laughter. It is also about being intentionally grateful for all things - good or bad. In this season, I encourage you to have an attitude of gratitude in expectation of the next phase of your life. No matter the circumstance, we are blessed beyond measure!

We are exactly 51 days from the new year and ya girl is ti-red!! Between doing it scared, parenting, killing the new job and being across the country from everything familiar, my anxiety has been through the roof lately. Last week, I had my first panic attack ever...on an airplane (insert complete freak out!!). As I sat on the airplane floor, sweating, with my pants soaked in leaking refrigerator water, praying and crying, I kept reminding myself to "just breathe." Breathe through the mask that was sticking to my face, breathe through my accelerated heartrate, breathe through the cool air  blowing directly into my face (shoutout to the flight attendants). Looking back, my ability to "just breathe" through the terror is what got me through it and today I want to encourage you to do the same. Whatever you're facing, whatever is commanding your attention, whatever has you feeling like you might not make it...stop for a minute and just breathe. Don't focus on what's next or what was last, focus on the very minute you're in and just breathe through it. Give yourself some grace. Nothing lasts forever - bad OR good - so just give yourself some space to breathe and take in all that's good in the moment, even if you aren't sure what that is! Love ya'll, mean it. 

I keep telling ya'll my family is as dope as they come!! I've got chefs, world travelers (one of them is one in the same, s/o to my sister/cousin Quay from season 1), a bartender, a few nurses, a few who shape young minds through teaching and even a "Cosmic Energy Oracle" which even sounds awesome! Angelika is a traveling, tarot-card reading, astrology reading, headwrap wearing, homeschooling, Herbal Tea Sipping (and creating), High Key Reiki Healing Cosmic Spiritual Guide. In short, she is all things Cosmic and for episode nine she hung out with me to talk about connections. Now, ya'll know I was born and raised in the church, reading the good book, which means I had questions....is you a witch? Can you make someone fall in love with me? Read my palm, girl! She is not, she can not and she could (in that order lol).  So grab your fav drink and tune in to learn about energy, intuition and how all that still connects her to God.   

Affectionally known to those who love her as the unicorn or Ms. Hair for her dope sense of fashion, spontaneous looks and brightly colored wigs, Amber Georges joined me for Episode Eight to talk boobs. Amber is a proud wife and mother of 2, hair stylist and wig phenom. At the young age of 37, with no history of breast cancer in her family, Amber was diagnosed with Her2 Breast Cancer that would ultimately take one of her breasts. She walks me through her ongoing journey with both humor and transparency, while educating me on medical terms in a way I could understand and telling me to never Google a diagnosis!  Amber's commitment to life and service is pretty amazing as she continues to change lives with her BeautyMe Forever Foundation. She channels her love for everything beauty into service for cancer survivors in the most gentle way. BeautyMe Forever boxes are filled with goodies and can be purchased from Amber directly. Proceeds go to the BeautyMe Forever Cancer Foundation (tune in for all the deets!)  As Breast Cancer Awareness month comes to an end, I encourage you to check your boobs! I was one of the ones who thought you couldn't get breast cancer unless there was family history, on this day I learned just how wrong that is. I salute every cancer survivor and every warrior who lost their fight. I usually just ask ya'll to listen with an open heart, but today I'm asking you to DO something...please, schedule a mammogram so you can make the rest of your life the best of your life. 

Episode seven is just about reflection....taking a moment to acknowledge the strength and transparency shown during the Not Easily Broken Series on Domestic Violence AND bringing ya'll up to date on this journey because babyyyyyy it ain't been easy! My daughter continues to teach me about growth and I continue to push through adversity. Enjoy! 

Statistics show it takes a domestic violence victim an average of 7 attempts to leave before they actually do. While I didn't ask previous guests how many attempts it took before they actually left, you've heard from their stories that it wasn't after the first incident. This series has highlighted SO many things including the fact that abuse isn't just a black eye. It's also narcissistic behavior, the need to control or limit, the degrading of your self-esteem, misogyny, threats, the imposition of fear, interrelationship rape and the list goes on. Bottom line, if it doesn't feel right, it probably isn't because love shouldn't hurt even when it doesn't work. I've received so much amazing feedback, so much support to pass along to those who've shared, so much love...and I'm grateful to be a vessel. Ironically we're closing out the series during DV Awareness month. For the season finale I invited my new friend to the mic, Assistant District Attorney, Erika Johnson, a prosecutor with the Durham DA's Office Special Victims Unit. Erika, a fellow Eagle, earned her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science in 2014 and Juris Doctor in 2017 from NCCU. She is a wife, mom of 2.5 (there's one in the oven) and an advocate for victims of Domestic Violence. She offers a  legal perspective to victim rights, expectations and resources. Erika has seen and done alot and shares some of those experiences with us. Tune in.. The Durham Crisis Response Center helpline is available 24/7 at 919–403–6562 (English) or 919–519–3735 (Español). The service is free and confidential. If you need assistance with a domestic violence protective order, call the Family Justice Center at 919–450–8970. If you are an abuser, help is also available at Pathways to Change. Erika is also helping with a presentation tomorrow (October 7th) at the  Durham Crisis Response Center (DCRC).

Alright guys, ya'll have hung in here with me for stories of change, fear, young love, parenthood, strength and power (because there is absolutely power in walking away!) Part 4 with my middle-school friend, Tammy, hit a special place because we were like sisters until after high school. Hearing the pain and fear of judgement in her story was HARD but the conversations we've had since then about how FREE she feels now made it all worth it. There is freedom in sharing your story and opening the doors to something that's held you hostage for so long and I am grateful to be the vessel. Tammy is an entrepreneur, currently living in Atlanta,  and striving to leave a legacy for her babies Jaylen and Santana.  Tune in, listen with your heart, let's heal together.

Each story of domestic violence can be different. In part one we heard the story of a perfect love that turned into aggression and fear. In part 2 we heard about teenage love ruled by control. In part three, Sydney takes us on a journey that combined perfect love, fear, control and parenthood. Sydney Gongs is 29, a mother of 2 beautiful little girls, an author, a business owner and a survivor. Her affirmations ebook "How I Overcame Depression: 30 Day I Am Challenge" is available on Amazon as a helpful 30 day guide to pulling yourself out of dark spaces. While Sydney's perspective was born out of domestic violence, she encourages anyone coming out of a situation to user her book to find themselves and kickstart their journey to being whole again. Tune in! To purchase the ebook: https://www.amazon.com/How-Overcame-Depression-Day-Challenge-ebook/dp/B09BMJKTRC/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=how+i+overcame+depression%3A+30+day+i+am+challenge&qid=1632283090&sr=8-1

Teen dating violence is common. Data from CDC's Youth Risk Behavior Survey and the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey indicates: Nearly 1 in 11 female and approximately 1 in 14 male high school students report having experienced physical dating violence in the last year. About 1 in 8 female and 1 in 26 male high school students report having experienced sexual dating violence in the last year. 26% of women and 15% of men who were victims of contact sexual violence, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime first experienced these or other forms of violence by that partner before age 18.  Not Easily Broken...Stories of Strength and Survival, a series aimed at increasing Domestic Violence awareness, continues with the story of Lakisha Knox. Kisha, a Durham, NC native, is a wife, mother to a 25 year-old daughter and a 6 year-old son. She is a forever student with a Bachelor and two Masters degrees from NC State, Walden University and North Carolina Central University and is almost finished with her teaching certificate. She turned her love for math into a labor of love and currently teaches 5th grade. Kisha's experience with domestic violence started at the young age of 18 at the hands of her daughter's father. Tune in to hear her story of survival, motherhood and fed-upness.   If you or anyone you know is in a violent situation and needs resources, please contact:   https://www.thehotline.org/ https://saving-grace.org/home  https://nccadv.org/

Love shouldn't hurt but nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner. Furthermore, 1 in 4 women and 1 in 9 men experience severe intimate partner physical violence, intimate partner contact sexual violence, and/or intimate partner stalking with impacts such as injury, fearfulness, post-traumatic stress disorder, use of victim services, contraction of sexually transmitted diseases, etc.  Not Easily Broken...Stories of Strength and Survival, a series aimed at increasing Domestic Violence awareness, begins with the story of Juanyetta Jones. Juanyetta Beasley Jones, from Raleigh, NC, has many roles, but the one that fills her bucket the most is being a mom to a clever, comedic, and caring pre-teen son.  She enjoys trying new things, traveling, movies, and challenging herself to grow. Her faith in and relationship with Christ is what keeps her grounded and resilient. While continuing to grow through her experience with Domestic Violence, she chats with me in the most transparent way, opening her life up for us to peek into.  If you or anyone you know is in a violent situation and needs resources, please see below:  https://www.thehotline.org/ https://saving-grace.org/home https://nccadv.org/

We're back ya'll!! It's hard to believe we're in season three already but here we are! Our last episode was on June 30th and I have MISSED you guys. So much has happened personally and professionally and I can't wait to share it with you. Although I haven't talked to you guys in a while, I've been been a busy bee! I've met some dope folks who's stories taught me alot, challenged my thinking and pulled at my heart strings. I'm excited about the lives that will continue to be impacted and the way you guys always impact me :)  If you're new here, WELCOME! If you're returning, WELCOME BACK! We're still 'round here being authentic and transparent and doing it scared...tune in, I can't wait to hear what you think!

Episode eleven brings season two to a close in the most transparent way. Having y'all on this journey with me has been (and continues to be) AMAZING but it is work to put out quality content I am proud of and with so many moving parts in my current journey, it has become increasingly difficult. So, instead of putting out something I'm less proud of or dragging out the season in the spirit of keeping it going, I'm going to close out this season. In season three we will talk about some things that are super important to me, but in the thoughtful, intentional way I am proud of. I hope you'll stay tuned

Hey ya'll! I took a week off and we're back as promised to talk about how important it is to take "do nothing" vacations, my near death snorkeling experience and how forced independence is an absolute sham! I spent four days in Florida doing absolutely nothing but day drinking, sunbathing and taking mid-day siestas - it was AMAZING! Aside of my near death experience in the ocean, I returned well rested, anxiety-free and ready to tackle another piece of the journey. Listen, stop jam packing your vacations with so much stuff that you come back needing a vacation from the vacation....spend some time doing nothing, after all, your busy life is why you needed the vacay in the first place! Then we chat a bit about the need for healthy, co-dependent relationships because this "I am woman, hear me roar" narrative is a sham. Help me...kill the bug, get what I need off the top shelf, take out the garbage, help me brainstorm.... Anyway, thanks for letting me off the hook last week. Love ya'll, mean it!  

For episode nine, and in celebration of Pride Month, I sat down with my great friends Sonya and Lupe Linkthun, a lesbian couple who have been married for 4 years and are now the proud parents to their baby boy, Seneca. During our chat we discussed who they are individually, reminisced about their love story - including Link's super sweet proposal - and their grueling pregnancy journey. Through their honesty and transparency, Link and Lupe revealed several flaws in my thinking and helped me to see things in a different way. No matter your stance, I hope you'll listen with an open heart...and just maybe you'll learn a thing or two.

Hey ya'll!! We've made it through the first five months of 2021 and are heading into month six...outside is reopening, masks are coming off (well, YA'LL are taking yours off, mine is staying on!) and it's officially summertime. I hope you took some time during Mental Health Awareness Month for self-care and I hope you take some time this month - Pride Month - for self love. In this episode I talk about what Pride means to me and just keep ya'll in the loop, check it out! 

For episode seven, I invited my resident relationship coach and very good friend, Chantel Grier (author, relationship coach, and creator of both Yes, Please & Thank You and Done With It - DWI) back to the mic to talk life with our good friend Kyle S. King.  Kyle is a father, four-time best-selling author, educational advocate, founder and the Chief Executive Officer of The SHINE Institute headquartered in Charlotte, NC. In 2019, he became the youngest school administrator in TMSA Public Charter School District history. He also founded Blueprint Conferences, an initiative aimed at empowering educators mentally, emotionally, and financially. His most recent mission is to help individuals magnify their voices and monetize their message by publishing books and leveraging their stories to generate $100,000.  In this episode we discuss love, life lessons, faith, and experiences and Kyle encourages me - and anyone listening - to Win the Day!

Generational curses are described as the cumulative effect on a person of things that their ancestors did, believed, or practiced in the past, and a consequence of an ancestor's actions, beliefs, and sins being passed down. Many people would call the birth of my baby's baby a generational curse but I have a hard time connecting Isaiah to anything other than blessings.  In Episode six, I share my own journey into teenage parenting and then Maya and I discuss the joys and pitfalls she experienced. Sharing the bond of being teen moms isn't one of my proudest accomplishments, but watching my baby grow as a woman and mother most definitely is. I've come to love, appreciate and enjoy these chats with my babies...I hope you do as well!

Hey ya'll! It's been a few weeks since I've checked in one on one and I wanted to update you on my life's happenings, tell you a bit about what else is coming this season and just, say heyyyyyy!! I'm out here in Oregon continuing the #DoItScared journey, showing up like I belong here, even when I'm not so sure I do. I talk alot about overcoming imposter syndrome and in this episode I remind you to behave like you belong. Whatever room you find yourself in, OWN IT! Show up. Leave a mark. Be memorable. 

How do you define support? Does whether or not someone supports you solidify the space they hold in your life? Episode Four is a DOPE conversation with my girl Chantel Grier - creator of both Yes, Please & Thank You, an etiquette program promoting positive communication and social engagement while encouraging inspiring and meaningful encounters, and, DWI (Done With It), a private coaching program that helps women identify what no longer serve them and then be DONE WITH IT! She walks clients through the rigorous process of letting go of whatever pain is holding them back, into the joy found when they put themselves first. Chantel is also a God-fearing woman, budding author, attentive mother, and an amazing friend. In this episode, we dive allllll up in the concept of support, because, if we’re honest, some of y’all “support” be looking a little funny in the light. Whether you’re on the giving or the receiving end of the support, you won’t want to miss this chat!! #EpisodeFour #DopeConversations #Girlfriends #Support #ButNotReally

Natalia is a 37 year old first gen Dominican American, raised in the South Bronx, who attended Johnson and Wales to pursue culinary arts, with a specific interest in  in culinary nutrition. However, at 22, Natalia had life changing car accident that rendered her a lifetime wheelchair user. Where most people would have given up, Nat found purpose in that chair (the story BLEW MY MIND!!) and currently uses her experiences to change - and save - the lives of others in similar situations. Y’all know I believe in authenticity and Nat is about as authentic as they come so we talked about everything. EVERYTHING. The accident. The aftermath. Dating. Sex. Mental health. The best way to address someone in a wheelchair. Everything. We also spoke extensively about a resource program that she helps lead. If you or anyone you know could benefit from the resources they provide, please see below. In addition to the info below, Nat welcomes your questions: Women on Wheels We are Women On Wheels (W.O.W.), a unique sisterhood of women with spinal cord injuries (SCI) living life to its fullest. Choosing not to sit still waiting for things to happen, we actively take part in creating change; tackling daily obstacles and challenges with inner strength, backbone and determination. Empowered by our individual and shared life experiences, we continue to move forward. Our support group meets weekly and consists of informative, lively discussions ranging from coping mechanisms, sex, relationships, body image, pain management, health, safety, education, activism and disability rights, as well as a variety of other current issues affecting women with SCI. We invite guest speakers to share their expertise and resources and have held presentations on such topics as mental health and well-being, fire safety, adaptive technology, gynecological care, and more. Currently our group is held every Wednesday at 2:30pm EST via Zoom. Here’s the link: https://zoom.us/j/97388065251?pwd=RUxRSXdRdGRiOHR0dk9ZVVg5bVRIQT09 Below is the link to our WOW website. Feel free to contact us with any questions. https://womenonwheelsnyc.org/about-4/ Here’s the website to United Spinal NYC: https://unitedspinal.org/chapter/new-york-city-chapter-of-united-spinal-association/  

Coming from a Business Marketing background and working in corporate America, Chef Carmen used her passion for cooking as motivation to start her own food truck and catering company. It was the passion plus the encouragement from family and friends to pursue her dream of becoming an entrepreneur. No matter the size of the event you will get the same level of customer service from Chef Carmen because having a good time at your event is just as important as having good food! So, for episode two I invited Chef Carmen into MY kitchen to talk about her journey and feed me! Not only did she prepare amazing, tastylicious courses just for meeeeee (insert food twerk) but we spent the time discussing the darkness that comes with working a dead-end job, the joys and pain of entrepreneurship, and of course, food. We had a GREAT time and I have to say, learning the journey behind the food truck, the meal prep, the private services and the chef coat took my respect for Carmen to another level. She’s the grill wearing, red-dred, hat to da back, chef that will make any event memorable with character and delectable dishes *chefs kiss* Ya’ll check it out! #EpisodeTwo #DoItScared #YaNewFavPodcast #ChefCarmen #IAteMussels #ThoughtTheyWereOysters

Hey ya'll, we're back for Season Two! I'm welcoming listeners back with some insight into my current #DoItScared journey. I share a little about what you can expect in the upcoming season and how excited I am to be back!

The season finale is here!! We’ve made it through 15 weeks together and I couldn’t be more proud of us. I’ve grown and learned from each conversation, each interaction, so much from so many of you. Your feedback and support has been encouraging and I am super excited to continue the journey (after a few weeks off lol). I want to extend a special thank you to my guests for your sharing your expertise, your stories and your vulnerability during the mental health series. Your willingness to share impacted people in a real way and I am grateful. Many of you have reached out to share stories of how you're doing it scared and I am PROUD OF YOU! I see ya'll out here winning!!! I going to take 2 week off to learn how to edit video (we're adding a YouTube channel for you visual learners) and REST! I hope you spend that time taking care of you, whatever that looks like. Remember, whatever that thing is you've been holding back, #DoItScared...I promise the reward outweighs the fear. I love ya'll!

As we end our six week series on Mental Health, this Yeah...But Are You Listening??? conversation hit closest to home. In a two-hour season finale, I talk to my own babies about their mental health struggles...some I knew about, others I learned while in this space. I asked for transparency with the promise that I would not push or interrogate and with reassurance that I would still love them when the conversation was over lol. I went into this episode not sure what to expect and what I got was the most authentic, transparent conversation we've ever had as a family. There were tears, and MORE tears but there was also laughter and more laughter. I have a newfound respect for each of them and in the days that have passed since recording, we have continued the conversations. We are closer now than before and I wasn't sure that was even possible.   I encourage you to listen with a open heart. While our journeys may not be identical, everyone has a journey. Listen with your kids and then allow what you hear to spark conversations in your own home. This series has wonderful, with amazing stories and resources. The finale is the perfect ending...enjoy.

Yeah...But Are You Listening???welcomes Becca Wheeler, MA, MEd, LCMHCA, RYT to the mic to wind down our mental health series with episode 13. As an author, suicide prevention and substance abuse counselor, Becca’s passion for helping and healing others is apparent in our chat as we discuss coping mechanisms, signs and treatment. Tune in! Resource: https://durhamnc.gov/3698/Crisis-Intervention-Team-CIT

Yeah...But Are You Listening??? welcomes to the mic one of the strongest women I know, in a special Tuesday tribute episode. Nine years ago today, Cherese Wesley gave Arionna, her 9 year old daughter, back to God after a hard fought battle with brain cancer. Today, she bravely shares her battle with depression, suicidal thoughts and regular ole pain with the world as proof that prayer works and God's grace is forever sufficient. While I was present for the journey, Cherese shares parts of the story I didn't know and tells of a faith I've only witnessed a handful of times. So grab a tissue and listen to what strength sounds like...

Yeah...But Are You Listening??? continues the mental health series by inviting Laura Christian Dempsey, LCSW to the mic for episode 11! Laura and I go wayyyy back to middle school but today she helps change the lives of kids and teens through social work. She previously ran a private practice but is currently impacting little people through school social work. Laura and I discuss the difference between "my kid is 13 and prefers to be in her room" isolation and "something may be going on with my kid" isolation, along with some suggestions for things parents can do to stay connected. Tune in to hear the gems and my a-ha moment!! Resources: NAMI Helpline 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or info@nami.org https://nami.org/help NAMI Resource Directory (search for resources by a wide range of topics) https://nami.org/NAMI/media/NAMI-Media/Images/FactSheets/NAMINationalResourceDirectory.pdf Psychology Today (search for providers in your area by speciality and other specifications) www.psychologytoday.com SAMHSA National Helpline 1-800-662-HELP (4327) National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Available 24 hours 1-800-273-8255 Association for Children's Mental Health-Resource Directory (by topic) http://www.acmh-mi.org/get-information/childrens-mental-health-101/additional-childrens-mental-health-resources/

Yeah...But Are You Listening??? kicks off our mental health series by welcoming Monica Johnson, NADD-DDS to the mic! Monica is a graduate of of North Carolina Central University and also has her Master’s degree in counseling studies with Capella University. She is a faithful member of Zeta Phi Beta, Incorporated, a wife and proud mother to 3 boys - Jamison, Jaiden and Jayce. During our chat, Monica shares both professional observations and personal obstacles, making our conversation as authentic as it gets. Monica opened up about challenges with parenting, therapy, and depression while sharing her wins and offering a new perspective on communication.

I woke up a few days ago with and intense desire to start a mental health discussion so I headed over to social media to recruit some help. The feedback was overwhelming (in a good way, of course) so here we are...kicking off a series of episodes focusing specifically on mental health! Episode 9 shares a little about my mental health struggles and the following weeks will be packed with powerful testimonies, helpful resources, and most of all, support. I’m looking forward to embarking on this journey of necessary conversations and healing.

I almost ended season 1 at 8 episodes but then I had the pleasure of doing this amazing interview with three of my dopest friends who also happen to be pretty awesome in the world of finances and I couldn't end the season without sharing them with the world. When I land where the money resides Faith, Kris and Fred will officially become my money team but check out the gems they dropped on the mic.... Let me introduce you to My Dream Money Team: Faith Bynum Patterson is a highly dedicated, innovative, and goal driven CPA, author, speaker and entrepreneur who’s primary mission is to spearhead positive transformations within the Finance and Entrepreneurial industries. She is the Principal of Faith Bynum, CPA, PC and author of “Build Faith in Your Business” while also being an amazing mother and new wife. Kris Chavious is a Husband, GirlDad, Real Estate Investor, and Servant Leader who is an IT Professional by trade, Financial Professional by purpose. Kris helps individuals and families take charge of their finances to build generational wealth. Frederick X. Ravin, III was raised in Durham, NC, and is a graduate of both North Carolina A&T State University and North Carolina Central University. He serves as a Business & IT consultant, financial literacy mentor, community advocate, and DPS School Board Member. He’s also pretty dope BoyDad and husband.

Yeah...But Are You Listening?? welcomes Uduak Affiah to the mic as the second guest! Uduak is a Nigerian born, Durham raised, NCCU grad who has found his passion in service through real estate. During the interview, we discuss the path to becoming a home owner - including your credit - his travel experiences and of course, dating. Tune in!

After pondering over what content would be most impactful following yesterday’s inauguration, I scrapped both the prepped episodes and started over. Sometimes being authentic means things take longer than you’d like but it also means the product is something you’re proud of. Enjoy....

Isaac Newton said there is no action without reaction but in today’s tumultuous climate, often times reaction = consequence. Too often, people stand on the grounds of freedom of speech without the mutual understanding that that right does not free them from catching these hands. Everyone has choices to make, choose wisely.

Happy New Year!! We made it through and to another year which is something to celebrate (pours champagne). While it’s important to take some time and reflect on 2020, it’s also important to set your intentions for 2021 and begin manifesting the life you want. Take a listen as I talk about why it’s so imperative to write your visions and why post-it notes are a thing!

Shaquay and I wrap up our chat about her 3 favorite countries and online dating!

Yeah...But Are You Listening's first guest interview invites Shaquay Peacock to the mic to discuss the travel excursions and dating shenanigans of a NYC native and personal chef. Broken into two parts, in part one we discuss the lifestyle of a personal chef and some of her favorite travel experiences. 

When is the last time you audited your circle? When is the last time you spent time around people that challenged who you are and how you think about the world? When is the last time you weren't the smartest person in the room? If you can't remember the last time any of these were true, then this episode will remind you why it's important to check your circle and then position yourself to be sharpened.

Let's get acquainted! Yeah...but are you listening's inaugural episode introduces your host, explains “why a podcast” and reveals the vision for season one.

I was encouraged to share a little about the journey to the podcast launch so here's a snippet. How you speak to yourself will forever outweigh how anyone else speaks to you.

When something is dropped in your spirit and won't go away, don't ignore it. If you're scared that means you're passionate about what you have to share....SHARE IT! Do it scared, do it broke, do it unsure...just do it. Get it out there, perfect it later!