1 00:00:10,960 --> 00:00:14,600 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Therapy for Black Girls Podcast, a weekly 2 00:00:14,680 --> 00:00:19,440 Speaker 1: conversation about mental health, personal development, and all the small 3 00:00:19,480 --> 00:00:22,640 Speaker 1: decisions we can make to become the best possible versions 4 00:00:22,640 --> 00:00:26,759 Speaker 1: of ourselves. I'm your host, doctor joy hard and Bradford, 5 00:00:27,120 --> 00:00:32,199 Speaker 1: a licensed psychologist in Atlanta, Georgia. For more information or 6 00:00:32,320 --> 00:00:35,720 Speaker 1: to find a therapist in your area, visit our website 7 00:00:35,840 --> 00:00:39,559 Speaker 1: at Therapy for Blackgirls dot com. While I hope you 8 00:00:39,600 --> 00:00:43,599 Speaker 1: love listening to and learning from the podcast, it is 9 00:00:43,640 --> 00:00:46,559 Speaker 1: not meant to be a substitute for a relationship with 10 00:00:46,600 --> 00:00:57,520 Speaker 1: a licensed mental health professional. Hey, Yill, thanks so much 11 00:00:57,520 --> 00:00:59,840 Speaker 1: for joining me for the special bonus episode of the 12 00:01:00,360 --> 00:01:03,880 Speaker 1: Black Girls Podcast. We'll get right into our conversation after 13 00:01:03,960 --> 00:01:06,600 Speaker 1: word from our sponsors. What up, y'all? 14 00:01:06,760 --> 00:01:09,199 Speaker 2: Is Nico Onara and I'm on the Therapy for Black 15 00:01:09,240 --> 00:01:10,160 Speaker 2: Girls podcasts. 16 00:01:10,480 --> 00:01:20,320 Speaker 3: Yeah. 17 00:01:20,480 --> 00:01:24,240 Speaker 1: Last week Amazon dropped the highly anticipated documentary Megan the 18 00:01:24,280 --> 00:01:28,200 Speaker 1: Stallion in her own Words, directed by Nica Onara. It's 19 00:01:28,280 --> 00:01:30,880 Speaker 1: no secret how much we love Meg over here. This 20 00:01:31,040 --> 00:01:34,120 Speaker 1: documentary brilliantly showcases the rise of one of the most 21 00:01:34,240 --> 00:01:37,880 Speaker 1: charismatic and lovable rappers in the game, while also allowing 22 00:01:37,920 --> 00:01:40,520 Speaker 1: Meg to be vulnerable in discussions of our mental health 23 00:01:40,600 --> 00:01:44,840 Speaker 1: after several tragedies. Today, I'm joined by the director Nika 24 00:01:45,200 --> 00:01:48,720 Speaker 1: to learn more about how she approached documentary. Nika is 25 00:01:48,720 --> 00:01:53,120 Speaker 1: a trailblazing Emmy Award winning Nigerian American filmmaker, producer, and 26 00:01:53,320 --> 00:01:57,920 Speaker 1: activist committed to telling narratively and formally daring stories that 27 00:01:58,080 --> 00:02:00,960 Speaker 1: re examine and lift up under repers in it communities. 28 00:02:01,480 --> 00:02:04,840 Speaker 1: During our conversation, you'll hear her giving us a behind 29 00:02:04,880 --> 00:02:07,480 Speaker 1: the scenes look at how the film was created, while 30 00:02:07,520 --> 00:02:10,359 Speaker 1: also discussing what she hopes you'll take away from the film, 31 00:02:10,720 --> 00:02:13,600 Speaker 1: especially when it comes to ideas like grief and wellness 32 00:02:13,639 --> 00:02:16,760 Speaker 1: in the black community. If something resonates with you while 33 00:02:16,840 --> 00:02:19,840 Speaker 1: enjoying our conversation, please share it with us on social 34 00:02:19,880 --> 00:02:24,040 Speaker 1: media using the hashtag tpg in session or join us 35 00:02:24,040 --> 00:02:26,520 Speaker 1: over in the sister Circle To talk more about the episode. 36 00:02:26,680 --> 00:02:29,320 Speaker 1: You can join us at community dot Therapy from blackgirls 37 00:02:29,400 --> 00:02:36,440 Speaker 1: dot com. Here's our conversation. It's so good to meet you, Nicka. 38 00:02:36,520 --> 00:02:38,120 Speaker 1: Thank you so much for joining us today. 39 00:02:38,360 --> 00:02:40,320 Speaker 3: Nice to meet you too. Thank you for having. 40 00:02:40,200 --> 00:02:43,760 Speaker 1: Me absolutely absolutely so. If you could take us back 41 00:02:43,800 --> 00:02:46,240 Speaker 1: to the moment that you got the call that you 42 00:02:46,280 --> 00:02:49,079 Speaker 1: would be directing this documentary. Can you tell me a 43 00:02:49,080 --> 00:02:51,320 Speaker 1: little bit about your initial thoughts and reactions? 44 00:02:51,720 --> 00:02:54,639 Speaker 3: Absolutely. I was originally about to sign on. 45 00:02:54,720 --> 00:02:56,840 Speaker 2: Literally that day, I was on the phone with my 46 00:02:56,880 --> 00:03:01,040 Speaker 2: agents for another project, and then Time Studio and Rock 47 00:03:01,160 --> 00:03:03,359 Speaker 2: Nation had called me separately and been like, Hey, we 48 00:03:03,560 --> 00:03:05,560 Speaker 2: really want you to do this Meg in the Stallion film. 49 00:03:05,919 --> 00:03:08,160 Speaker 2: Can you just meet with her? So I said cool, 50 00:03:08,680 --> 00:03:10,760 Speaker 2: went to our house. When I got to our house, 51 00:03:10,760 --> 00:03:12,600 Speaker 2: we were supposed to have an hour meeting. That meeting 52 00:03:12,639 --> 00:03:16,280 Speaker 2: turned into three hours of tears. Me seeing a young 53 00:03:16,320 --> 00:03:19,600 Speaker 2: girl in her mid twenties at the highest point in 54 00:03:19,680 --> 00:03:22,880 Speaker 2: her career but dealing with some really emotional trauma, a 55 00:03:22,880 --> 00:03:26,880 Speaker 2: lot of grief. In the juxtaposition of experiencing that high 56 00:03:27,040 --> 00:03:31,480 Speaker 2: high and that low low simultaneously made me say, Hey, 57 00:03:31,520 --> 00:03:34,200 Speaker 2: I really really think that I should do this film, 58 00:03:34,240 --> 00:03:36,520 Speaker 2: not only because I wanted to be a safe space 59 00:03:36,560 --> 00:03:40,160 Speaker 2: for Meg, but also her story represented so much of 60 00:03:40,200 --> 00:03:42,960 Speaker 2: the storytelling that I like to tell, which is giving 61 00:03:42,960 --> 00:03:46,640 Speaker 2: a voice to the voiceless, empowering women, and also teaching 62 00:03:46,720 --> 00:03:49,240 Speaker 2: us how to unbecome so we become our highest selves. 63 00:03:49,280 --> 00:03:52,360 Speaker 2: And so Meg checked all those boxes, and I decided 64 00:03:52,400 --> 00:03:55,000 Speaker 2: I'm not doing that other project, and that I was 65 00:03:55,160 --> 00:03:58,040 Speaker 2: meant to do this project. And I started pacing back 66 00:03:58,040 --> 00:04:00,000 Speaker 2: and forth when I was talking to my team about 67 00:04:00,160 --> 00:04:02,040 Speaker 2: not doing an other project. And that's kind of my sign. 68 00:04:02,080 --> 00:04:04,680 Speaker 2: If I start pacing back and forth, it means I'm 69 00:04:04,720 --> 00:04:05,560 Speaker 2: in the right place. 70 00:04:05,320 --> 00:04:06,160 Speaker 3: I'm supposed to do it. 71 00:04:06,200 --> 00:04:09,800 Speaker 1: So I love that. I love that you already are 72 00:04:09,840 --> 00:04:12,120 Speaker 1: touching on a question I have because the subtitle of 73 00:04:12,120 --> 00:04:14,880 Speaker 1: the film is in her own words, So can you 74 00:04:14,880 --> 00:04:17,440 Speaker 1: say a little bit about how you collaborated with her 75 00:04:17,560 --> 00:04:20,039 Speaker 1: to make sure that she felt like she was portrayed accurately? 76 00:04:20,760 --> 00:04:21,400 Speaker 3: Absolutely. 77 00:04:21,440 --> 00:04:25,320 Speaker 2: I think me as a storyteller, I'm a verite filmmaker, 78 00:04:25,400 --> 00:04:25,920 Speaker 2: and so. 79 00:04:26,279 --> 00:04:29,200 Speaker 3: A lot of my style is observational storytelling. 80 00:04:29,279 --> 00:04:32,120 Speaker 2: I don't really do films where you have sit down 81 00:04:32,120 --> 00:04:35,840 Speaker 2: interviews and people are really given commentary on things. I'm 82 00:04:35,839 --> 00:04:38,000 Speaker 2: going to take a verite, fly on the ball approach 83 00:04:38,160 --> 00:04:41,880 Speaker 2: into this. And also I created my own relationship with 84 00:04:42,000 --> 00:04:44,760 Speaker 2: Meg by deciding to film a lot of this myself 85 00:04:44,760 --> 00:04:47,560 Speaker 2: with my own hands, sometimes with an iPhone, sometimes with 86 00:04:47,640 --> 00:04:50,840 Speaker 2: a camera, because she was very trepidacious about even doing 87 00:04:50,839 --> 00:04:51,600 Speaker 2: this to begin with. 88 00:04:52,120 --> 00:04:55,960 Speaker 3: So I created that intimacy that bond with her so. 89 00:04:55,800 --> 00:04:59,640 Speaker 2: That people could really know her through the lens of herself, 90 00:05:00,080 --> 00:05:03,520 Speaker 2: through the external conversations that were happening online. 91 00:05:03,920 --> 00:05:06,200 Speaker 1: Yeah, you took what I thought was a very unique 92 00:05:06,240 --> 00:05:08,839 Speaker 1: approach in that we do see interactions between you and 93 00:05:08,920 --> 00:05:11,440 Speaker 1: Meg in the documentary. I mean, I think that that 94 00:05:11,560 --> 00:05:13,840 Speaker 1: speaks to the intimacy that you all created. But I 95 00:05:13,839 --> 00:05:17,120 Speaker 1: think often documentaries are shot from like an outside vantage point, 96 00:05:17,160 --> 00:05:20,320 Speaker 1: right like this objective viewer. Can you say more about 97 00:05:20,360 --> 00:05:22,880 Speaker 1: like why you chose the vantage point that you chose. 98 00:05:23,480 --> 00:05:26,280 Speaker 2: I chose the vantage point because I feel like we 99 00:05:26,360 --> 00:05:29,520 Speaker 2: needed an up close experience. When you're really close to something, 100 00:05:29,960 --> 00:05:31,960 Speaker 2: you get to see the nuance, you get to see 101 00:05:31,960 --> 00:05:35,440 Speaker 2: the good, the bad, everything in between. And I feel 102 00:05:35,480 --> 00:05:38,680 Speaker 2: like the intimacy was going to create a truth that 103 00:05:39,120 --> 00:05:43,080 Speaker 2: we could see the truth of Vegan's story firsthand. There's 104 00:05:43,120 --> 00:05:46,560 Speaker 2: nothing to be told. You're seeing events recorded as they 105 00:05:46,560 --> 00:05:49,880 Speaker 2: were happening in a lot of this story, and so 106 00:05:50,000 --> 00:05:52,400 Speaker 2: I think that gave it a perspective of people just 107 00:05:52,440 --> 00:05:56,080 Speaker 2: being able to be immersed in it. And as a filmmaker, 108 00:05:56,160 --> 00:05:59,760 Speaker 2: immersive storytelling is important to me when I do any project, 109 00:05:59,800 --> 00:06:01,919 Speaker 2: I want you to feel like you're sitting with the person. 110 00:06:02,040 --> 00:06:04,440 Speaker 2: You're in their lives, you're a friend of theirs, and 111 00:06:04,520 --> 00:06:06,720 Speaker 2: so that was a part of the approach to that. 112 00:06:06,760 --> 00:06:09,880 Speaker 2: In order for people to have understanding and empathy, sometimes 113 00:06:10,160 --> 00:06:12,279 Speaker 2: you need closeness to have empathy. So you can't be 114 00:06:12,360 --> 00:06:14,559 Speaker 2: from a very far advantage point. 115 00:06:16,160 --> 00:06:18,560 Speaker 1: And we definitely have seen your career really kind of 116 00:06:18,560 --> 00:06:22,080 Speaker 1: skyrocket since your days as an intern and since your 117 00:06:22,120 --> 00:06:25,240 Speaker 1: first documentary, which was called The Same Difference. How do 118 00:06:25,279 --> 00:06:27,440 Speaker 1: you feel like your storytelling has evolved since then? 119 00:06:28,000 --> 00:06:28,640 Speaker 3: Oh my god. 120 00:06:28,760 --> 00:06:32,359 Speaker 2: The core tenements of why I'm telling stories is the same, 121 00:06:32,920 --> 00:06:34,880 Speaker 2: but in terms of how I tell those stories, I 122 00:06:34,920 --> 00:06:38,960 Speaker 2: continue to push the boundaries, not only visually but the 123 00:06:39,040 --> 00:06:42,600 Speaker 2: story arcs I tell. I've just been making films for 124 00:06:42,640 --> 00:06:45,120 Speaker 2: a while now. The Same Difference was like ten years 125 00:06:45,120 --> 00:06:48,359 Speaker 2: ago or something like that, and so with each film 126 00:06:48,360 --> 00:06:51,279 Speaker 2: I get stronger and stronger, and I wanted to challenge 127 00:06:51,320 --> 00:06:53,160 Speaker 2: myself on how I told this story, which is why 128 00:06:53,200 --> 00:06:56,039 Speaker 2: I had the use of anime, which is why I 129 00:06:56,120 --> 00:07:00,000 Speaker 2: challenge myself. Musically, I love orchestral music, so I knew 130 00:07:00,000 --> 00:07:02,560 Speaker 2: who Meg loved horror. I called Michael Abeles and I 131 00:07:02,560 --> 00:07:04,520 Speaker 2: wrote him a letter. I was like I'm so passionate. 132 00:07:04,600 --> 00:07:06,919 Speaker 2: He did the score for Get Out and Us with 133 00:07:07,040 --> 00:07:10,880 Speaker 2: Jordan Peel, and there was some really scary moments that 134 00:07:10,920 --> 00:07:13,760 Speaker 2: she was having nightmares and just being anxious, and I 135 00:07:13,840 --> 00:07:16,280 Speaker 2: was like, oh my god, Michael Abeles will be incredible 136 00:07:16,280 --> 00:07:19,280 Speaker 2: to score this film. So stayed up in the middle 137 00:07:19,280 --> 00:07:22,920 Speaker 2: of the night doing score with Orchestra and Budapest because 138 00:07:22,920 --> 00:07:25,080 Speaker 2: I wanted a cinematic score. So I feel like I 139 00:07:25,160 --> 00:07:28,000 Speaker 2: just continue to push the boundaries of how documentaries are made. 140 00:07:28,040 --> 00:07:31,200 Speaker 2: I like to break traditional sense of documentaries and how 141 00:07:31,240 --> 00:07:32,520 Speaker 2: they made and try to do something new. 142 00:07:32,520 --> 00:07:33,880 Speaker 3: And I think we did that with this film. 143 00:07:34,520 --> 00:07:34,800 Speaker 2: M h. 144 00:07:35,400 --> 00:07:37,160 Speaker 1: And I'm sure you know as you talked about, like 145 00:07:37,200 --> 00:07:39,200 Speaker 1: so much of this was happening in real time even 146 00:07:39,240 --> 00:07:41,960 Speaker 1: as you were filming the documentary, and there was so 147 00:07:42,080 --> 00:07:45,240 Speaker 1: much like outside conversation about everything going on with Meg, 148 00:07:45,360 --> 00:07:47,840 Speaker 1: especially as it related to the shooting. And I can 149 00:07:47,920 --> 00:07:50,000 Speaker 1: get the sense from you that there was real care 150 00:07:50,120 --> 00:07:53,800 Speaker 1: taken in how her story would be portrayed. I want 151 00:07:53,800 --> 00:07:57,000 Speaker 1: to hear more about, like how you, for example, when 152 00:07:57,000 --> 00:08:00,360 Speaker 1: she's talking about lying to Gail King right, how were 153 00:08:00,400 --> 00:08:03,280 Speaker 1: you able to craft that story in a way that 154 00:08:03,440 --> 00:08:06,760 Speaker 1: still protected her when this documentary was released. 155 00:08:07,200 --> 00:08:10,160 Speaker 2: The thing about vulnerability is that you don't necessarily always 156 00:08:10,640 --> 00:08:11,400 Speaker 2: have protection. 157 00:08:12,080 --> 00:08:13,520 Speaker 3: The protection is in the truth. 158 00:08:13,640 --> 00:08:18,040 Speaker 2: And Megan was just so candid about anything, and sometimes 159 00:08:18,040 --> 00:08:20,720 Speaker 2: I would ask for questions that would provoke what do 160 00:08:20,760 --> 00:08:23,320 Speaker 2: you feel like you could be accountable for the situation? 161 00:08:23,360 --> 00:08:25,200 Speaker 2: What do you think you could have did differently? And 162 00:08:25,280 --> 00:08:28,800 Speaker 2: having those conversations with her allowed her to be introspective 163 00:08:28,800 --> 00:08:31,000 Speaker 2: in a way where she could reflect back on things 164 00:08:31,000 --> 00:08:33,800 Speaker 2: that she did and why she did them. Going through 165 00:08:33,840 --> 00:08:35,719 Speaker 2: grief is very hard, and a lot of times when 166 00:08:35,720 --> 00:08:38,600 Speaker 2: we're going through grief we can't see through the smoke sometime, 167 00:08:39,240 --> 00:08:42,600 Speaker 2: and that's a real human experience, and I think that's 168 00:08:42,640 --> 00:08:46,440 Speaker 2: what creates the connectivity because with mental health specifically, you 169 00:08:46,520 --> 00:08:47,400 Speaker 2: have a lot of moments. 170 00:08:47,440 --> 00:08:49,599 Speaker 3: The most truthful moments are the moments. 171 00:08:49,280 --> 00:08:52,160 Speaker 2: That we never talk about because we feel alone, We 172 00:08:52,160 --> 00:08:53,839 Speaker 2: feel like no one else is going through that. 173 00:08:54,120 --> 00:08:56,959 Speaker 3: So I think she was so brave and sharing what 174 00:08:57,040 --> 00:08:58,800 Speaker 3: she was experiencing. 175 00:08:58,120 --> 00:09:00,280 Speaker 2: And I think that now allows other people who are 176 00:09:00,320 --> 00:09:03,679 Speaker 2: experiencing that and hiding it to be able to come 177 00:09:03,679 --> 00:09:06,080 Speaker 2: out and have stronger mental health because they're just speaking 178 00:09:06,120 --> 00:09:08,880 Speaker 2: about why they did the things they did. And I 179 00:09:08,960 --> 00:09:11,719 Speaker 2: love that scene when she says stuff about Gail King, 180 00:09:11,760 --> 00:09:14,560 Speaker 2: because that's what it was. We all have moments like that, 181 00:09:14,600 --> 00:09:17,240 Speaker 2: and it makes her human. And I think that it's 182 00:09:17,280 --> 00:09:19,120 Speaker 2: time for us to get back to humanity and not 183 00:09:19,160 --> 00:09:22,360 Speaker 2: trying to be a highlight red on a thirty second 184 00:09:22,360 --> 00:09:24,520 Speaker 2: social media post, but just be good humans. 185 00:09:24,800 --> 00:09:26,400 Speaker 1: So I want to hear a little bit more about 186 00:09:26,440 --> 00:09:29,719 Speaker 1: like your routines and like grounding yourself to take on 187 00:09:29,840 --> 00:09:32,120 Speaker 1: a project like this. I think with some very vulnerable, 188 00:09:32,200 --> 00:09:35,160 Speaker 1: sensitive content, what kinds of rituals and things did you 189 00:09:35,200 --> 00:09:36,400 Speaker 1: do to take care of yourself. 190 00:09:36,920 --> 00:09:40,360 Speaker 2: I think my girlfriend was a very good support system 191 00:09:40,440 --> 00:09:45,199 Speaker 2: for me, just being able to be vulnerable in my relationships, 192 00:09:45,520 --> 00:09:48,640 Speaker 2: in my time with my family, opening myself up in life. 193 00:09:48,760 --> 00:09:53,480 Speaker 2: It was inspiring to see Meg really just let everything 194 00:09:53,600 --> 00:09:56,120 Speaker 2: hang out and all the struggles she was going through, 195 00:09:56,160 --> 00:09:59,280 Speaker 2: And so I embraced my emotional things I was going 196 00:09:59,280 --> 00:10:01,240 Speaker 2: through in life too, so that I can be in 197 00:10:01,280 --> 00:10:03,880 Speaker 2: the same headspace as Meg. So I'm telling it through her. 198 00:10:04,000 --> 00:10:06,400 Speaker 2: So I felt like the impath and me really took 199 00:10:06,440 --> 00:10:09,400 Speaker 2: in her story. I was living through it. So anything 200 00:10:09,440 --> 00:10:11,520 Speaker 2: I challenged Megan to do, I challenged myself to do 201 00:10:11,640 --> 00:10:14,080 Speaker 2: in my personal life. And I challenged myself to be 202 00:10:14,120 --> 00:10:16,960 Speaker 2: more vulnerable, and I challenged myself to be more honest 203 00:10:17,000 --> 00:10:19,480 Speaker 2: about where I struggle with things in life. 204 00:10:19,920 --> 00:10:21,800 Speaker 3: And having that and having. 205 00:10:21,520 --> 00:10:24,960 Speaker 2: A great support system at home, I think created a 206 00:10:25,040 --> 00:10:27,480 Speaker 2: strength in me to be able to do this for 207 00:10:27,520 --> 00:10:28,319 Speaker 2: three years. 208 00:10:28,040 --> 00:10:28,960 Speaker 3: And get it done. 209 00:10:30,520 --> 00:10:42,640 Speaker 1: More. From our conversation after the break, I hear you 210 00:10:42,720 --> 00:10:44,560 Speaker 1: talking about being in an EmPATH, and you know, it 211 00:10:44,600 --> 00:10:46,800 Speaker 1: sounds like that means you took on a lot of 212 00:10:46,840 --> 00:10:49,000 Speaker 1: the story right almost as your own. And I know 213 00:10:49,120 --> 00:10:50,920 Speaker 1: a lot of times when people feel that way, it's 214 00:10:50,960 --> 00:10:54,320 Speaker 1: important to set boundaries to help you disconnect from the story, 215 00:10:54,440 --> 00:10:57,439 Speaker 1: so to speak, and get back into your regular life. 216 00:10:57,480 --> 00:10:58,960 Speaker 1: What kinds of things did you do to kind of 217 00:10:58,960 --> 00:11:00,800 Speaker 1: disconnect disconnect? 218 00:11:00,960 --> 00:11:04,360 Speaker 2: I love karaoke. I even took Meg the karaoke before 219 00:11:04,760 --> 00:11:06,720 Speaker 2: because we needed those moments. I wanted her to have 220 00:11:06,800 --> 00:11:10,319 Speaker 2: moments of happiness. And so sometime between film and I'd 221 00:11:10,320 --> 00:11:12,160 Speaker 2: be like, Meg, you want to go to karaoke or 222 00:11:12,320 --> 00:11:14,400 Speaker 2: you want to come over, let's play games at the house. 223 00:11:14,440 --> 00:11:16,120 Speaker 3: I think me hearing the dancers, and we had a 224 00:11:16,160 --> 00:11:17,480 Speaker 3: game night, and. 225 00:11:17,440 --> 00:11:21,040 Speaker 2: So I think having fun laughter is very important to me, 226 00:11:21,640 --> 00:11:24,920 Speaker 2: being spontaneous is important to me, going to see plays, 227 00:11:25,000 --> 00:11:28,840 Speaker 2: going to Broadway, putting more art back into myself really 228 00:11:29,360 --> 00:11:32,839 Speaker 2: helped me just decompress and wipe it off at the 229 00:11:32,920 --> 00:11:34,840 Speaker 2: end of the day because it was very an emotional 230 00:11:34,880 --> 00:11:37,920 Speaker 2: experience to go through with someone. But I'm very happy 231 00:11:37,920 --> 00:11:40,240 Speaker 2: I did. I'm very proud of Megan. I got to 232 00:11:40,280 --> 00:11:43,200 Speaker 2: see everything from top to bottom and her transition. I 233 00:11:43,200 --> 00:11:45,600 Speaker 2: feel like I got to watch someone rise from the 234 00:11:45,679 --> 00:11:49,160 Speaker 2: ashes and become a phoenix, and I think seeing that 235 00:11:49,240 --> 00:11:52,360 Speaker 2: happen to a black woman is empowering. And I'm so 236 00:11:52,520 --> 00:11:56,240 Speaker 2: happy that seeing online all the women saying, wow, this 237 00:11:56,320 --> 00:11:58,600 Speaker 2: may be more empathetic or this made me think about 238 00:11:58,640 --> 00:12:01,520 Speaker 2: what I write online. It's already inspiring so many and 239 00:12:01,559 --> 00:12:04,480 Speaker 2: it's only been like twenty four hours. So I'm excited 240 00:12:04,520 --> 00:12:06,640 Speaker 2: to see what it does over the test of time 241 00:12:06,800 --> 00:12:08,800 Speaker 2: years from now, when women are going through something and 242 00:12:08,920 --> 00:12:11,920 Speaker 2: need to empower themselves or having mental health issues in 243 00:12:11,920 --> 00:12:13,599 Speaker 2: their fighting for themselves and saying I'm going to go 244 00:12:13,640 --> 00:12:16,720 Speaker 2: to therapy to fix this. Because Meghan made a decision 245 00:12:17,080 --> 00:12:20,360 Speaker 2: to stop working and go take her wellness seriously, and 246 00:12:20,360 --> 00:12:22,720 Speaker 2: that helped her navigate the case and other things. 247 00:12:23,120 --> 00:12:25,920 Speaker 1: So you mentioned that one of your favorite unwinding things 248 00:12:26,000 --> 00:12:28,360 Speaker 1: is karaoke and that you even did this with Meg. 249 00:12:28,440 --> 00:12:30,480 Speaker 1: What is your go to karaoke song? 250 00:12:30,840 --> 00:12:32,920 Speaker 3: Oh my god, my, Oh my god, my go to 251 00:12:33,040 --> 00:12:36,640 Speaker 3: karaoke song, Mary J. Blige be Without You, that's my 252 00:12:37,080 --> 00:12:39,080 Speaker 3: I think I don't have a. 253 00:12:39,160 --> 00:12:43,160 Speaker 2: Karaoke without that one. I love Mary, so that's like 254 00:12:43,280 --> 00:12:46,240 Speaker 2: my go to song. Or Tina Turner was love Got 255 00:12:46,240 --> 00:12:46,640 Speaker 2: to do It? 256 00:12:47,440 --> 00:12:49,680 Speaker 1: Oh, those are good choices. Were you shocked by any 257 00:12:49,679 --> 00:12:51,120 Speaker 1: of the songs that Meg chose. 258 00:12:51,600 --> 00:12:55,360 Speaker 2: She loves Circles by Mariah Carey Emancipation of Memi, which 259 00:12:55,400 --> 00:12:58,600 Speaker 2: is one of my favorite albums ever. So she loves 260 00:12:58,600 --> 00:13:04,440 Speaker 2: singing circles really loudly. So I love going to karaoke 261 00:13:04,559 --> 00:13:05,679 Speaker 2: with m h. 262 00:13:06,280 --> 00:13:08,120 Speaker 1: You talked a little bit about mental health a couple 263 00:13:08,120 --> 00:13:10,880 Speaker 1: of times. Now, what kinds of mental health conversations do 264 00:13:10,920 --> 00:13:13,680 Speaker 1: you hope the documentary and continues to foster. 265 00:13:14,480 --> 00:13:16,320 Speaker 3: I think shadow work in a Child. 266 00:13:16,400 --> 00:13:20,040 Speaker 2: I actually study psychology before I got into film, and 267 00:13:20,120 --> 00:13:23,880 Speaker 2: I'm very deeply inspired by a lot of not only philosophers, 268 00:13:23,920 --> 00:13:26,120 Speaker 2: but doctors and Carl Young. 269 00:13:26,400 --> 00:13:28,960 Speaker 3: Shadow work was deeply inspiring for me. 270 00:13:29,160 --> 00:13:31,760 Speaker 2: In the case of this as was Audrey Lord the 271 00:13:31,840 --> 00:13:35,320 Speaker 2: Power of the Erotic Essay, and I really feel like 272 00:13:35,760 --> 00:13:38,840 Speaker 2: mental health and navigating things. I feel like a lot 273 00:13:38,840 --> 00:13:41,600 Speaker 2: of times in our black community, we don't take the time, 274 00:13:41,679 --> 00:13:43,960 Speaker 2: and we don't have the time because we're going through 275 00:13:43,960 --> 00:13:45,959 Speaker 2: so much just trying to navigate life. We don't take 276 00:13:46,000 --> 00:13:49,800 Speaker 2: the time to pour back into ourselves. And so I 277 00:13:49,840 --> 00:13:53,000 Speaker 2: think all those things, combining those things, was hoping that 278 00:13:53,000 --> 00:13:56,520 Speaker 2: that comes through in the film to help rejuvenate people 279 00:13:56,880 --> 00:13:59,760 Speaker 2: and allow them to take theirselves seriously. A lot of 280 00:13:59,800 --> 00:14:03,240 Speaker 2: time we put ourselves second as Black women, and something 281 00:14:03,240 --> 00:14:05,200 Speaker 2: in my life I've had to do was teach myself 282 00:14:05,520 --> 00:14:08,760 Speaker 2: that I can't pour into anybody unless I'm poured into first. 283 00:14:08,960 --> 00:14:13,679 Speaker 2: And so I think that Meg decided that Megan Pete 284 00:14:13,720 --> 00:14:16,520 Speaker 2: needs to be all good so that Meghanie Stallion can 285 00:14:16,960 --> 00:14:20,200 Speaker 2: stand this adversity. I'm very inspired by the fact that 286 00:14:20,240 --> 00:14:22,440 Speaker 2: she decided to do that for herselves, especially as a 287 00:14:22,440 --> 00:14:23,240 Speaker 2: young woman. 288 00:14:24,040 --> 00:14:27,480 Speaker 1: M You've talked in a couple of other interviews about 289 00:14:27,480 --> 00:14:30,280 Speaker 1: the importance of exercise for you, and really that helps 290 00:14:30,320 --> 00:14:34,040 Speaker 1: you to strengthen their craft. Why is exercise and physical 291 00:14:34,040 --> 00:14:35,280 Speaker 1: activity so important to you? 292 00:14:35,920 --> 00:14:37,600 Speaker 3: Number One, Going to the gym. 293 00:14:37,720 --> 00:14:40,160 Speaker 2: Early in the morning before anybody wakes up is a 294 00:14:40,200 --> 00:14:43,320 Speaker 2: time where I get to just be quiet and visualize 295 00:14:43,320 --> 00:14:45,080 Speaker 2: what I want my life my day to look like, 296 00:14:45,560 --> 00:14:48,960 Speaker 2: listen to some music, pour some inspirational playlist into my head. 297 00:14:49,360 --> 00:14:52,760 Speaker 2: And then also it's a physical reminder that I'm taking 298 00:14:52,800 --> 00:14:55,360 Speaker 2: care of myself. A lot of times my day gets 299 00:14:55,400 --> 00:15:00,600 Speaker 2: lost by pouring into my work, directing other people, going 300 00:15:00,640 --> 00:15:03,400 Speaker 2: to get the kids, taking care of my mom, whatever 301 00:15:03,440 --> 00:15:05,400 Speaker 2: it is. My day is a lot of that, and 302 00:15:05,480 --> 00:15:09,040 Speaker 2: so it's my one moment for me to feel my body, 303 00:15:09,480 --> 00:15:12,480 Speaker 2: know that I'm a physical being, check in with myself, 304 00:15:12,520 --> 00:15:14,800 Speaker 2: and to do that in a physical way. Because a 305 00:15:14,800 --> 00:15:17,200 Speaker 2: lot of my work is so mental, it's nice to 306 00:15:17,280 --> 00:15:19,800 Speaker 2: have that outlet to come out of my body and 307 00:15:19,920 --> 00:15:21,920 Speaker 2: just tell my body, we love you, we love you 308 00:15:22,040 --> 00:15:25,560 Speaker 2: every morning and be able to visualize what I want 309 00:15:25,560 --> 00:15:26,200 Speaker 2: my life to look like. 310 00:15:26,240 --> 00:15:28,720 Speaker 3: So I use that time before anybody wakes up to 311 00:15:28,800 --> 00:15:29,120 Speaker 3: do that. 312 00:15:29,840 --> 00:15:31,560 Speaker 1: And what's your favorite physical activity? 313 00:15:32,040 --> 00:15:34,480 Speaker 2: My favorite physical activity is a treadmill. If I don't 314 00:15:34,480 --> 00:15:36,200 Speaker 2: go to the treadmill for more than two days, I 315 00:15:36,240 --> 00:15:38,400 Speaker 2: start to lose it a little bit. I like it 316 00:15:38,440 --> 00:15:41,760 Speaker 2: because I'm the areas I like fast and hard, fast paced, 317 00:15:42,320 --> 00:15:44,920 Speaker 2: to sweat and just to be able to tune the 318 00:15:44,960 --> 00:15:47,440 Speaker 2: world out sometimes. And so I think that's my favorite 319 00:15:47,440 --> 00:15:50,960 Speaker 2: physical activity. Besides that is dancing. Everybody knows I used 320 00:15:50,960 --> 00:15:53,560 Speaker 2: to be a dancer before I was a director. I 321 00:15:53,560 --> 00:15:56,520 Speaker 2: feel like it's another form of physical storytelling. So I 322 00:15:56,600 --> 00:15:58,960 Speaker 2: like to tell that story with my body too. So 323 00:15:59,480 --> 00:16:02,040 Speaker 2: you can find me at any moment dancing randomly on 324 00:16:02,080 --> 00:16:04,400 Speaker 2: the street and you know, in the house with my family. 325 00:16:04,480 --> 00:16:07,480 Speaker 2: So those are the two, like running and dancing. Got it? 326 00:16:07,600 --> 00:16:10,480 Speaker 1: Love that? Love that. So in the beginning of the year, 327 00:16:10,560 --> 00:16:13,640 Speaker 1: you announced a first look deal with Amazon MGM in 328 00:16:13,680 --> 00:16:16,840 Speaker 1: addition to this new documentary that you have now, So 329 00:16:16,880 --> 00:16:19,080 Speaker 1: I'd love to hear what does the first look deal 330 00:16:19,200 --> 00:16:21,200 Speaker 1: mean for people who may not be familiar with that, 331 00:16:21,560 --> 00:16:24,240 Speaker 1: and how are you celebrating all of these incredible wins 332 00:16:24,240 --> 00:16:24,920 Speaker 1: in your life. 333 00:16:25,360 --> 00:16:27,480 Speaker 2: First look deal just means that if I have a 334 00:16:27,520 --> 00:16:30,320 Speaker 2: creative idea, I just take it to Amazon first to 335 00:16:30,360 --> 00:16:33,760 Speaker 2: see if they're interested in that idea. Amazon has been 336 00:16:33,800 --> 00:16:37,280 Speaker 2: so good to me in my career trajectory and me 337 00:16:37,400 --> 00:16:40,200 Speaker 2: growing as a filmmaker, and they invested in that, and 338 00:16:40,480 --> 00:16:42,880 Speaker 2: it means the world to me. These are things that. 339 00:16:43,520 --> 00:16:45,640 Speaker 3: Were on my vision board. Some of them weren't. 340 00:16:45,960 --> 00:16:50,960 Speaker 2: I never imagine winning an Emmy, or directing Obama or 341 00:16:51,000 --> 00:16:53,440 Speaker 2: her first look deals. I didn't care about that at 342 00:16:53,440 --> 00:16:56,040 Speaker 2: the time. I just really was trying to make a 343 00:16:56,080 --> 00:16:58,200 Speaker 2: difference in the world. I thought I was going to 344 00:16:58,240 --> 00:17:01,200 Speaker 2: be in politics or like I said, collogy, helping others. 345 00:17:01,680 --> 00:17:03,280 Speaker 3: And so if you ask. 346 00:17:03,160 --> 00:17:05,400 Speaker 2: My mom, when I was younger, I would just boss 347 00:17:05,520 --> 00:17:07,679 Speaker 2: my friends around and make them do dances all day 348 00:17:07,840 --> 00:17:10,480 Speaker 2: till they got tired into oblivion and cried and try 349 00:17:10,520 --> 00:17:12,639 Speaker 2: to go home. And even though I thought I was 350 00:17:12,680 --> 00:17:16,080 Speaker 2: playing but real talk, I was really directing. I've been 351 00:17:16,080 --> 00:17:18,480 Speaker 2: doing it my entire life. I'm listening to a song, 352 00:17:18,920 --> 00:17:21,680 Speaker 2: looking out the window it's raining, I'm imagining the pain 353 00:17:21,760 --> 00:17:23,920 Speaker 2: someone maybe going through, making up stories in my head. 354 00:17:24,440 --> 00:17:26,959 Speaker 2: And so to even think that would be a thing 355 00:17:27,040 --> 00:17:30,480 Speaker 2: that I do out loud for work as a career, 356 00:17:30,640 --> 00:17:33,560 Speaker 2: I'm just being myself and so I'm walking in my 357 00:17:33,640 --> 00:17:37,240 Speaker 2: purpose and it's making me so happy. This particular film, 358 00:17:37,359 --> 00:17:40,720 Speaker 2: I really feel like I showcased my art in its 359 00:17:40,960 --> 00:17:42,840 Speaker 2: truest form. I feel like I got to tell I 360 00:17:42,880 --> 00:17:45,280 Speaker 2: feel like this is the director's cut year I feel 361 00:17:45,320 --> 00:17:47,359 Speaker 2: I got to tell the story exactly as I wanted 362 00:17:47,400 --> 00:17:51,320 Speaker 2: to with no interference. And I just think Amazon for 363 00:17:51,359 --> 00:17:53,800 Speaker 2: trusting me. I think Megan for trusting me. I think 364 00:17:53,960 --> 00:17:56,280 Speaker 2: Time Studios for trusting me. I think Rock Nation for 365 00:17:56,320 --> 00:17:59,520 Speaker 2: trusting me, and most importantly, the community for trusting me 366 00:18:00,040 --> 00:18:03,480 Speaker 2: as a storyteller that can showcase their truth their voice 367 00:18:03,520 --> 00:18:06,720 Speaker 2: in a positive way. So I'm very thankful to be 368 00:18:06,800 --> 00:18:10,120 Speaker 2: able to live in my purpose and my God given ordination. 369 00:18:10,760 --> 00:18:13,480 Speaker 1: Yeah. Yeah, I'm very excited for you to share that 370 00:18:13,920 --> 00:18:15,480 Speaker 1: you know, And I wonder if you think about it, 371 00:18:15,520 --> 00:18:17,560 Speaker 1: because I hear you talking about like, oh, I study 372 00:18:17,600 --> 00:18:19,679 Speaker 1: psychology and you know all of these things. Do you 373 00:18:19,720 --> 00:18:22,399 Speaker 1: see what you do now as a kind of not 374 00:18:22,560 --> 00:18:25,640 Speaker 1: direct but it to me is connected to psychology, especially 375 00:18:25,720 --> 00:18:26,560 Speaker 1: this documentary. 376 00:18:27,080 --> 00:18:31,639 Speaker 2: Absolutely, I actually am doing documentaries so I can do 377 00:18:31,720 --> 00:18:33,440 Speaker 2: them for a certain amount of years. 378 00:18:33,440 --> 00:18:35,280 Speaker 3: But then I want to become like a fraud. 379 00:18:35,320 --> 00:18:38,359 Speaker 2: I want to come up with theories about the world 380 00:18:38,400 --> 00:18:40,840 Speaker 2: that I can leave as a legacy based on these 381 00:18:40,880 --> 00:18:43,880 Speaker 2: documentaries that I study. Because if you look at whether 382 00:18:43,920 --> 00:18:48,480 Speaker 2: I'm doing a documentary on boys in Nigeria being oppressed 383 00:18:48,480 --> 00:18:53,120 Speaker 2: and arrested for their sexuality, or perceived sexuality, or doing 384 00:18:53,119 --> 00:18:55,639 Speaker 2: a story on women who are plus sized loving on 385 00:18:55,680 --> 00:18:59,639 Speaker 2: themselves dancing for joy, whether it's doing it on a 386 00:18:59,680 --> 00:19:01,440 Speaker 2: group with dancers or. 387 00:19:01,520 --> 00:19:02,679 Speaker 3: Whatever the case is. 388 00:19:02,760 --> 00:19:07,240 Speaker 2: Whatever stories I'm telling, it's really about unbecoming to become 389 00:19:07,400 --> 00:19:10,159 Speaker 2: your highest self. And I feel like I want to 390 00:19:10,200 --> 00:19:12,800 Speaker 2: come up with theories around this in years to come. 391 00:19:12,880 --> 00:19:15,120 Speaker 2: So I'm using this as a case study for myself. 392 00:19:15,359 --> 00:19:18,080 Speaker 2: And I do consider myself a social scientist. I just 393 00:19:18,200 --> 00:19:21,679 Speaker 2: changed the way that social science learning could be and 394 00:19:21,720 --> 00:19:24,639 Speaker 2: I'm learning it through life and real people versus reading 395 00:19:24,680 --> 00:19:25,240 Speaker 2: a book. 396 00:19:25,040 --> 00:19:25,960 Speaker 3: And writing about it. 397 00:19:26,359 --> 00:19:28,560 Speaker 1: And how do you hope that your presence in the 398 00:19:28,600 --> 00:19:30,800 Speaker 1: things that you were doing in the film and media 399 00:19:30,840 --> 00:19:33,760 Speaker 1: space open the doors for other black queer creatives. 400 00:19:34,280 --> 00:19:38,359 Speaker 2: I hope I opened the doors for other creatives by saying, look, 401 00:19:38,440 --> 00:19:40,880 Speaker 2: you don't have to go to conventional way everybody else did. 402 00:19:41,000 --> 00:19:44,600 Speaker 2: I didn't go to film school. I did not really 403 00:19:45,160 --> 00:19:47,480 Speaker 2: get handed in the opportunity. I didn't know anyone in 404 00:19:47,520 --> 00:19:50,640 Speaker 2: the film industry or anything. I just went for it. 405 00:19:51,000 --> 00:19:51,919 Speaker 2: Whatever I wanted to do. 406 00:19:52,000 --> 00:19:54,720 Speaker 3: I found the person I asked for it. I demanded it. 407 00:19:55,119 --> 00:19:56,919 Speaker 2: If I have the money to film something I was 408 00:19:56,920 --> 00:19:59,120 Speaker 2: like Yo, I'll give you Chinese food or a Metro card. 409 00:19:59,320 --> 00:20:00,760 Speaker 3: Can you shoot this interview for me? 410 00:20:01,080 --> 00:20:03,160 Speaker 2: There should be nothing that could stop you from doing 411 00:20:03,200 --> 00:20:06,199 Speaker 2: anything that you're passionate about. If you want to do something, 412 00:20:06,640 --> 00:20:08,880 Speaker 2: you make it happen with as little or as much. 413 00:20:08,680 --> 00:20:10,600 Speaker 3: As you have. It doesn't matter. I would do this 414 00:20:11,080 --> 00:20:11,960 Speaker 3: with no money. 415 00:20:12,119 --> 00:20:14,440 Speaker 2: I've done it with a cell phone, even up into 416 00:20:14,520 --> 00:20:17,480 Speaker 2: this film, I've done it with more and less, and 417 00:20:17,560 --> 00:20:20,119 Speaker 2: so I think that you just have to continue to 418 00:20:20,520 --> 00:20:23,680 Speaker 2: listen to yourself and continue to listen so you could 419 00:20:23,680 --> 00:20:26,159 Speaker 2: fulfill your vision of life. You can absolutely do it, 420 00:20:26,200 --> 00:20:28,000 Speaker 2: and waiting for it is not going to make it 421 00:20:28,000 --> 00:20:30,000 Speaker 2: happen any faster. So go out there and get it 422 00:20:30,440 --> 00:20:33,200 Speaker 2: for yourself, despite what anyone says. 423 00:20:33,480 --> 00:20:36,520 Speaker 1: Thank you so much for that, Nika. So one final question. 424 00:20:36,720 --> 00:20:38,760 Speaker 1: What kinds of things do you feel like you learned 425 00:20:38,800 --> 00:20:42,239 Speaker 1: about Meg that you were surprised by and what do 426 00:20:42,280 --> 00:20:44,960 Speaker 1: you want the world to know differently about Meg based 427 00:20:44,960 --> 00:20:45,960 Speaker 1: on this documentary. 428 00:20:46,560 --> 00:20:49,680 Speaker 2: I think I was surprised by how quirky and curious 429 00:20:49,720 --> 00:20:52,719 Speaker 2: she was. Me and Meg spent off time talking about 430 00:20:53,080 --> 00:20:57,159 Speaker 2: am I Slytherin or gryffindor her wanting to travel to 431 00:20:57,280 --> 00:21:00,000 Speaker 2: different countries. I thought she had traveled to all these countries. 432 00:21:00,080 --> 00:21:02,080 Speaker 2: She's like, what's this country? Like what's that country? Like 433 00:21:02,119 --> 00:21:04,680 Speaker 2: me talking to her about that or caviar. I think 434 00:21:04,720 --> 00:21:08,040 Speaker 2: she's just deeply curious and she's so intelligent. She knows 435 00:21:08,040 --> 00:21:11,080 Speaker 2: something about everything. Every subject you could bring to her, 436 00:21:11,640 --> 00:21:15,959 Speaker 2: whether it's an anime conversation, whether it's a science conversation, 437 00:21:16,320 --> 00:21:19,760 Speaker 2: random facts about animals. Meg will just start going on 438 00:21:19,840 --> 00:21:23,320 Speaker 2: a rent about different facts in the world, like a 439 00:21:23,359 --> 00:21:25,879 Speaker 2: true Aquarius. And so I hope the world gets in 440 00:21:25,920 --> 00:21:28,000 Speaker 2: on how intelligent and brilliant she is and that she 441 00:21:28,040 --> 00:21:29,800 Speaker 2: has so many sides to her, and I hope those 442 00:21:29,840 --> 00:21:33,240 Speaker 2: sides continue to shine and people get to know Megan 443 00:21:33,320 --> 00:21:36,000 Speaker 2: Pete as Megan thee Stallion holds all the women down 444 00:21:36,400 --> 00:21:37,960 Speaker 2: and make sure they feel in powered. 445 00:21:38,080 --> 00:21:40,080 Speaker 1: I love that. Thank you so much for that. Nika, 446 00:21:40,160 --> 00:21:42,119 Speaker 1: where can we stay connected with you? Do you have 447 00:21:42,160 --> 00:21:45,200 Speaker 1: a website or any social media handles you'd like to share? 448 00:21:45,840 --> 00:21:50,680 Speaker 2: Yees for NIKEA Energy at Instagram and I put all 449 00:21:50,680 --> 00:21:53,280 Speaker 2: my updates there. You can find all my links, everything 450 00:21:53,280 --> 00:21:55,680 Speaker 2: I'm up to, all my work you can find from there. 451 00:21:55,760 --> 00:21:59,359 Speaker 2: So Nike Energy at Instagram and make sure you watch 452 00:21:59,400 --> 00:22:00,760 Speaker 2: MEGANI style and her words. 453 00:22:00,760 --> 00:22:02,760 Speaker 3: You will be moved by this film. 454 00:22:02,920 --> 00:22:05,120 Speaker 2: It's a labor of love, three years in the making 455 00:22:05,119 --> 00:22:07,119 Speaker 2: and I'm so excited to share with the world so 456 00:22:07,160 --> 00:22:08,399 Speaker 2: on Prime video right now. 457 00:22:08,960 --> 00:22:11,000 Speaker 1: Beautiful, Thank you so much for spending some time with 458 00:22:11,080 --> 00:22:11,680 Speaker 1: us today. 459 00:22:11,520 --> 00:22:13,360 Speaker 3: Nika, thank you, thank you for having me. 460 00:22:13,600 --> 00:22:19,600 Speaker 1: Absolutely, I'm so glad Nika was able to join me 461 00:22:19,640 --> 00:22:22,800 Speaker 1: for this conversation. To learn more about her and her work, 462 00:22:23,119 --> 00:22:25,040 Speaker 1: be sure to visit the show notes at Therapy for 463 00:22:25,119 --> 00:22:28,400 Speaker 1: Blackgirls dot com slash in her own words, and don't 464 00:22:28,440 --> 00:22:30,560 Speaker 1: forget to text this episode to two of your girls 465 00:22:30,600 --> 00:22:32,760 Speaker 1: right now and tell them to check it out. If 466 00:22:32,760 --> 00:22:35,959 Speaker 1: you're looking for a therapist, visit our therapist directory at 467 00:22:35,960 --> 00:22:39,080 Speaker 1: Therapy for Black Girls dot com slash directory. And if 468 00:22:39,080 --> 00:22:41,399 Speaker 1: you want to continue to dig into this topic or 469 00:22:41,480 --> 00:22:44,040 Speaker 1: just be in community with other sisters, come on over 470 00:22:44,080 --> 00:22:46,440 Speaker 1: and join us in the Sister Circle. It's our cozy 471 00:22:46,480 --> 00:22:49,560 Speaker 1: Connor Vanternet designed just for black women. You can join 472 00:22:49,640 --> 00:22:52,800 Speaker 1: us at community dot Therapy for Blackgirls dot com. This 473 00:22:52,840 --> 00:22:57,320 Speaker 1: episode was produced by Elise Ellis, Zaia Taylor, and Tyree Rush. 474 00:22:57,560 --> 00:23:00,760 Speaker 1: Editing was done by Dennison Bradford. Thank y'all so much 475 00:23:00,800 --> 00:23:03,359 Speaker 1: for joining me for this conversation. We'll be back with 476 00:23:03,400 --> 00:23:07,400 Speaker 1: our regular episode on Wednesday, but until then, take good care.