You Better Hear Me

In this episode, the last of my fantastic conversation with Tai Christensen, we talk about the racial homeownership gap and what can be done to close it. It starts with teaching priorities. We also talk about the need for people, black women especially, to exercise self-care.

In this second part of my intriguing talk with Tai Christensen, hear how she and her husband grew after nearly two years of misunderstandings about where they stood on the issue of race.

One of the most entertaining and engaging conversations yet on YBHM. Tai Christensen, Director of Government Affairs at The Chenoa Fund offered by CBC Mortgage Agency and the newly appointed chair of the American Mortgage Diversity Council, talks about family, marriage and how diversity almost ended her blended marriage. Hear the personal side of this dynamic, passionate champion for equal housing.

This is the second part of my conversation with Will about his newly released book, "My Seven Black Dads" and his passionate about public service. We also talk about the importance of doing good - no matter how small - right where we are.

This dynamic, dedicated public servant credits many people for helping him along this life's path. Join us as we talk about politics, a servant heart and his seven black dads.

I continue my conversation with my friend and author of Falling Forward: Mishaps on the Road to Happiness, Fobby Naghmi. We talk about music, what it takes to be a good leader and the real meaning of being a giver. Here's a hint: it doesn't include money.

Have you ever felt like you were at the lowest point in your life? What did you do? Hear how author, podcaster, musician, mortgage professional and friend Fobby Naghmi rediscovered himself after losing nearly everything.

When fitness advocate Ewunike Akpan and her family decided to relocate to Mexico after a month-long, first time visit, life has changed for the better. Everything has not be peaches and cream, but the current peace and joy they share everyday while living a life not caught up in the hectic pace of a big city were worth it. Getting past the process to get to the result takes time and focus. It is possible to make a dramatic change for a better life if you are open to it.

When fitness coach and business owner Ewunike Akpan went to Mexico with her family, they had intended on staying for a month. Her family's life intentions, however, caused them to stay indefinitely. Hear how their thoughts on stability and the importance of living intentionally in this episode.

Ewunike Akpan grew up with a mom who taught aerobics classes and went running on Saturday mornings. That doesn't sound odd. But it was for a black woman in Detroit in the 1970s. It was this foundation that helped propel Ewunike to a career in fitness and a thriving business. While she she did not start out in fitness, it helped her through a challenging time in her life and she has not looked back. Hear how fitness became her passion and how it helped her have a healthy, natural pregnancy at 47.

I finish my candid conversation with Robin Terry as she shares key components, including early detection and faith, that helped her survive a cancer diagnosis. The single mom of two reminds us of the importance of having a network of positive people on your side during challenging times.

Facing a health complication can be overwhelming on its own. Add having to do so during a pandemic as a single parent with two small children and your family 3,000 miles away. Hear how Robin Terry learned about her health issue and how she managed it.

Wow, what a difference a few weeks make. Since the thankful podcast of 2021, there have been new challenges. But guess what, I am still determined to be thankful. It's 2022, boo. What are YOU going to do? I am going to be intentional.

It really is the most wonderful time of the year. The time when we start to think about all that we have accomplished during the year and get ready to do a reset for a new year. While things may not have gone exactly as planned or even close, there is ALWAYS something to be grateful for if you look closely. I wanted to share a little bit about what I am thankful for and why. How thankful are you truly?

My dear friend Rob Scheer shares more about the importance of National Adoption Month and how we all can play a role in improving the life of a child in foster care through Comfort Cases and through leadership in our own communities.

We all have a story. Rob Scheer, founder of Comfort Cases, has one that grips your heart and is shared about thousands of children in the foster care system today. Rob, also an author, husband and father, has turned the pain he experienced as a child and young adult into an international nonprofit that benefits children in the foster case system. Hear Rob's story and why this passion has driven him to succeed.

Whether its is the physical death of a loved one or the end of a relationship, it is important to process the grief that comes with that death. Not doing so will leave you wounded, stuck and carrying baggage that can not only weigh you down but prevent you from moving forward in a positive way. My dear friend Monica Best discuss how she came to grips with grief years after her mother died and how the process was liberating and necessary.

The last couple of years has been challenging to say the least. Millions of people have died since the start of the pandemic and more are dying. During that time, we have had to face unimaginable grief. There has been so much loss; of loved ones, jobs, homes, the way we normally live out lives. Many of us need to give ourselves the space and time to grieve. In this episode, I speak with one of the authors of the book We all Grieve Differently. Monica Best is one of the 12 women in the book who talks about the death of her mother and addressing the sadness and range of emotions that come with the death of a parent.

With a passion for public service and giving a voice to people who might not ever be heard, Councilman Will Jawando shares the importance of the men who poured into his early life and how it helped shaped him into the man, father, husband and public servant he is today.

I met William Jawando when he was 10 and mastering the fine art of being a brat at his parent's and my place of employment. He was bright and quick witted and had a mouth on him. He grew up to become a man who put those skills to work for him to help other people. Currently, he is a Councilman at Large in Montgomery County, Maryland. I hope he has the chance to share his voice and passion for public service with many more people in the future. In this episode, I talk to Will about his upcoming book and where he sees his role in public service.

In the conclusion of my conversation with my sister Alecia "Cookie" Johnson, this front-line caregiver talks about working through COVID-19, what it takes to be a nurse, one of her recent interactions with a not-so-nice patient and the one thing people should check before going into the healthcare industry. Oh, and she talks about riding. You know I had to get the bike talk in there somewhere.

I have the pleasure of talking to my friend Alecia "Cookie" Johnson in this episode. She's a nurse, a mom and a biker. She shares some of the things she has seen during her 29 years as a registered nurse. She has survived COVID-19, unpleasant patience and something she didn't see coming.

What better way to celebrate a year of encouraging, inspiring, supporting and loving women through The Honey Bee Society than to revisit my conversation with the founder and Boss Honey Bee, April Richardson Boyd. Take a listen to how April is building a group of women who strives to be there for each other in an honest, nurturing way.

I conclude my conversation with Marilyn Wilson on what to expect when you adopt a child later in life. The joys are high and she shares some areas you might not consider when thinking of taking the same path.

I talk with my dear friend and one of my daughter's Godmothers Marilyn Wilson about adoption and what it was like to adopt later in life. It's one thing to be a parent; it is another to chose to be one later in life. Listen to this entertaining and encouraging conversation and hear how Marilyn and her husband stood strong during the tough times and continue to rely on their faith as they now parent their teenage son.

Have you ever paid attention to that pedestrian crossing sign? The little person or people in it are walking. They just keep walking. That is what we need to learn to do when life throws you some not so pleasant situation. Keep walking. Why stop for good? Your better, different or new is on the other side. Keep walking!!!

I continue my conversation with stylist Jontea Johnson about embracing natural hair, wearing your hair how you want and how society affects how women of color feel about their hair. I agree that #AllStrandsMatter.

In this episode of You Better Hear Me, I am talking to my loctician, that's right, LOCTICIAN. Jontea Johnson and I have a candid, fun discussion about ethnic hair, mainly black women's hair. The perceptions, emotions and how what you eat, drink and put in your body shows up in you hair. Come listen to this informative chat on hair.

Hear more from my friend and fellow female biker, Sheryl "Shorty Rock" Gatheright, as she shares her story and wisdom about being a ground pounder and keeping your wits about you during the process.

One of my fellow female riders talks about this thing we love, bike life. In this episode, hear how she got started and where that passion has taken her. And yes, she talks about Bessie.

Join me for a discussion with Eric Campbell, the man behind some of the music for several television shows and commercials. Eric shares how he persevered through years of learning, personal tragedies and missteps before finding his groove in the business.

Wrapping up our conversation about our first cross country trip and the importance of planning. We also talk about that trip from Daytona. The road will humble you.

In this continuation of the story of the Kingdom Knight's first cross country trip and how important personalities are for a successful trip.

I am a proud biker (motorcycle) and the love I have for the lifestyle is strong. While I am in the season of not riding as much as I like, mothering Little Chick is more important, I STILL LOVE it so. I am blessed to be a part of terrific group - more like family - the Kingdom Knights Motorcycle Ministry. In this episode, I talk to Lydell "Hustleman" Hagans Sr. and Jacques "Moose" Wilson. We talk about our love for biking, our road names and the difference between a motorcycle club and a motorcycle ministry.

Statistic show that about 75 percent of all suicides are men. That should concern you. Men are more likely to hide or not address mental health issues due to some misguided notion that it would be weak to admit to needing help. So not true. Hear how Angelo D. Jones II came to grips with his need to take care of his mental health and he share some signs that you or the man in your life could use some help managing their mental health issue.

Join me as I take a few minutes to talk about Mental Health Awareness Month and some upcoming episodes.

Hear how Mike Hill beat cancer and started the DAWG Culture to encourage others that they can overcome and be what they think. He shares how his drive to live and his passion to help others is fueled by a determined, never-quit attitude.

You will be inspired and awe-struck by Mike Hill's story. This life-long athlete has fought more than just the battle in the mind needed to be a top-performing athlete. He has waged war against the very vehicle needed to get him there, his body. Hear how this determined man beat Stage 4 Hodgkin's Lymphoma with Desire Attitude Will and Grind and how he lives each day encouraging and uplifting others.

Race relations continue to be a hot topic in this country, and it is only fueled by stories of black people dying at the hands of white police officers. In the 1960s, people protested to show their support for civil rights and the need for change. Today, people are still turning to protests for the exact same thing. It appears that more people need to realize Black Lives Matter. Canyon Hunt knows this is true. Hear why and how he shows his support for a movement that is far from over.

Conversations around race relations have ebbed and flowed in our country for decades. They bubble up to the surface as the pressure gets to be too much, and they blow when there is injustice, brutality and senseless violent acts that sometimes try to hide behind a badge. In this episode, I wanted to share a conversation I had with my 21-year-old Goddaughter Tyla Holoman because it gave me hope that not all young people are mesmerized by photo filters and social media trappings. There are some young people who believe they have a role in much-needed change in our society. Listen to Tyla's thoughts on race and why defunding the police is a good thing. You Better Hear that change needs to come. *Note: This episode was recorded in Jan. 2021 before the Derek Chauvin trial and the protest in Minnesota after another young black man was killed by a police officer.

As we spend some time enjoying the rebirth of the trees, grass, plants and yes even the bugs, let's take some time to consider the rebirth of our approach to this thing called life. There are some things we can control ourselves. Listen to hear as I talk about three of those areas and give a preview of this month's episodes.

As we close out Women's History Month, I talk with April Boyd, The Bridge to connect women to create lasting bonds in The Honey Bee Society. Hear why she started the Society and how it can benefit women and girls around the world.

Women entrepreneurs are leaving a legacy of greatness and inspiration for women and men alike. Hear how Corey Trujillo, Chief Maven of Synergy Maven, approached her plan A and the commitment it takes to make it work, even during a pandemic.

For those people who think it is too late for them to have a child or you have given up on the dream of being a mom, this episode shares insights from a mother who prepared for motherhood in her late 30s. And yours truly waited until 45 to have a child. Keep hope and your dream of parenthood alive.

Caring for our mental health is crucial if we want to be our best selves for the people around us, especially during these challenging times. In this episode, hear how my friend, mom and blogger Katrice Lattimore takes care of her mental health using the five Love languages.

Hear some tips on getting the most out of relationships and how to develop healthy ones, even during a pandemic.

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