1 00:00:01,400 --> 00:00:04,240 Speaker 1: On this week's episode of Cultivating Her Space. 2 00:00:04,800 --> 00:00:07,080 Speaker 2: So that led me to at some point just say 3 00:00:07,120 --> 00:00:07,880 Speaker 2: book the system. 4 00:00:07,960 --> 00:00:11,160 Speaker 3: I'm creating my own business, and that's how I burn black. 5 00:00:11,160 --> 00:00:13,600 Speaker 3: Anybody counting and associate with me saying I'm not going 6 00:00:13,640 --> 00:00:16,880 Speaker 3: to continue to be abused and forced to engage in 7 00:00:16,920 --> 00:00:18,880 Speaker 3: this treatment modality that does not work for me in 8 00:00:18,880 --> 00:00:21,280 Speaker 3: my community. And so I'm starting my own business so 9 00:00:21,280 --> 00:00:22,840 Speaker 3: that I can have the freedom to show up in 10 00:00:22,840 --> 00:00:25,000 Speaker 3: the ways that I know are healing for us. 11 00:00:27,280 --> 00:00:30,600 Speaker 4: Hey, lady, have you ever felt like the world just 12 00:00:30,640 --> 00:00:34,320 Speaker 4: doesn't get you? Well, we do. 13 00:00:35,520 --> 00:00:38,720 Speaker 1: Welcome to Cultivating her Space, the podcast dedicated to. 14 00:00:38,720 --> 00:00:40,879 Speaker 2: Uplifting and empowering women like you. 15 00:00:42,040 --> 00:00:47,920 Speaker 4: We're your hosts, doctor Dominique Grussard and educator and psychologists. 16 00:00:46,880 --> 00:00:50,040 Speaker 1: And Terry Lomax, a techie and transformational speaker. 17 00:00:51,000 --> 00:00:55,400 Speaker 4: Join us every week for authentic conversations about everything from 18 00:00:55,520 --> 00:01:00,000 Speaker 4: fibroids to fake friends as we create space for blue 19 00:01:00,000 --> 00:01:01,440 Speaker 4: black women to just. 20 00:01:02,240 --> 00:01:05,480 Speaker 1: B Before we dive in, make sure you hit that 21 00:01:05,520 --> 00:01:08,639 Speaker 1: follow button and leave us a quick five star review. Lady, 22 00:01:08,680 --> 00:01:11,760 Speaker 1: We are black founded and black owned, and your support 23 00:01:11,760 --> 00:01:13,959 Speaker 1: will help us reach even more women like you. 24 00:01:14,920 --> 00:01:19,560 Speaker 4: Now, let's get into this week's episode of Cultivating her Space. 25 00:01:21,520 --> 00:01:24,360 Speaker 5: Hey lady, it's doctor dom here from the Cultivating her 26 00:01:24,400 --> 00:01:28,399 Speaker 5: Space podcast. Are you currently a resident of the state 27 00:01:28,440 --> 00:01:33,840 Speaker 5: of California and contemplating starting your therapy journey? Well, if so, 28 00:01:34,640 --> 00:01:38,880 Speaker 5: please reach out to me at doctor Dominique Brusard dot com. 29 00:01:39,360 --> 00:01:44,200 Speaker 5: That's d R D O M I N I q 30 00:01:44,520 --> 00:01:49,919 Speaker 5: U E b R O U ss ar D dot 31 00:01:49,960 --> 00:01:54,880 Speaker 5: com to schedule a free fifteen minute consultation. I look 32 00:01:54,920 --> 00:01:56,080 Speaker 5: forward to hearing from. 33 00:01:55,880 --> 00:01:57,440 Speaker 2: You, lady. 34 00:01:57,520 --> 00:02:00,240 Speaker 1: Today we have a special guest who's going to help 35 00:02:00,320 --> 00:02:04,760 Speaker 1: us get our bodies right from within. Alisha McCullough is 36 00:02:04,760 --> 00:02:08,560 Speaker 1: a licensed clinical mental health therapist and founder of Black 37 00:02:08,639 --> 00:02:14,960 Speaker 1: and Embodied Counseling and Consulting PLLC. She specializes in somatic therapy, 38 00:02:15,480 --> 00:02:18,920 Speaker 1: trauma healing, and eating disorder treatment with a focus on 39 00:02:19,000 --> 00:02:22,520 Speaker 1: cultivating embodiment and fostering liberation. 40 00:02:22,880 --> 00:02:23,160 Speaker 2: Yes. 41 00:02:23,960 --> 00:02:28,720 Speaker 1: Alisha also runs the self paced online course Reimagining Eating 42 00:02:28,720 --> 00:02:32,400 Speaker 1: Disorders one oh one. Alicia, we are so excited. 43 00:02:32,080 --> 00:02:32,680 Speaker 2: To have you here. 44 00:02:32,720 --> 00:02:34,480 Speaker 1: Welcome to Cultivating her Space. 45 00:02:34,919 --> 00:02:37,280 Speaker 2: Thank you, thank you. I'm so excited to be here 46 00:02:37,320 --> 00:02:37,880 Speaker 2: with you all. 47 00:02:39,160 --> 00:02:43,919 Speaker 4: Yes, and we are definitely looking forward to this important conversation. 48 00:02:44,840 --> 00:02:47,520 Speaker 4: And so we're going to go to our quote of 49 00:02:47,520 --> 00:02:51,600 Speaker 4: the day, which will sound familiar to you because it 50 00:02:51,720 --> 00:02:57,200 Speaker 4: is one of the quotes from your book. Wow amazing. Yes, 51 00:02:58,000 --> 00:03:03,760 Speaker 4: So our quote of the day. Food is a spiritual practice. 52 00:03:03,960 --> 00:03:09,960 Speaker 4: Eating is a spiritual practice, Cooking is a spiritual practice. 53 00:03:10,440 --> 00:03:16,720 Speaker 4: Farming is a spiritual practice. Gardening is a spiritual practice. 54 00:03:16,919 --> 00:03:22,120 Speaker 4: Do you see how important food is to us as 55 00:03:22,160 --> 00:03:29,440 Speaker 4: a diaspora. And that quote is from Levon Briggs and 56 00:03:29,639 --> 00:03:32,600 Speaker 4: it can be found at the beginning of chapter six 57 00:03:33,400 --> 00:03:44,640 Speaker 4: in Alicia's book, Reclaiming the Black Body. And So, Alicia, 58 00:03:44,800 --> 00:03:53,160 Speaker 4: when you think about that particular quote, but then also 59 00:03:53,400 --> 00:03:55,960 Speaker 4: every quote that you added at the start of each 60 00:03:56,040 --> 00:04:00,080 Speaker 4: chapter in your book, what comes up for you? 61 00:04:00,080 --> 00:04:03,240 Speaker 3: You one, I just want to say thank you so 62 00:04:03,320 --> 00:04:04,600 Speaker 3: much for starting us off with. 63 00:04:04,600 --> 00:04:06,200 Speaker 2: That beautiful quote. 64 00:04:06,320 --> 00:04:09,400 Speaker 3: And you know, when I chose that quote for chapter six, 65 00:04:09,440 --> 00:04:11,280 Speaker 3: what really came up for me is that we are 66 00:04:11,400 --> 00:04:15,080 Speaker 3: human beings having a spiritual experience. And so the quote 67 00:04:15,120 --> 00:04:17,599 Speaker 3: really stood out to me because it speaks about presence, 68 00:04:17,680 --> 00:04:21,240 Speaker 3: about every opportunity that we have to take in breath, 69 00:04:21,360 --> 00:04:24,479 Speaker 3: every opportunity that we have to move our bodies, every 70 00:04:24,520 --> 00:04:27,039 Speaker 3: opportunity that we have to commune with the earth and 71 00:04:27,480 --> 00:04:31,200 Speaker 3: with other beings around us is a spiritual experience because 72 00:04:31,440 --> 00:04:34,640 Speaker 3: it orients us to the present. And so particularly for 73 00:04:34,720 --> 00:04:37,840 Speaker 3: that quote for chapter six, it really brought me back 74 00:04:37,880 --> 00:04:41,880 Speaker 3: to my own origins of cooking with my grandmother, of 75 00:04:42,200 --> 00:04:45,680 Speaker 3: my first relationship with food in my family and my culture, 76 00:04:45,800 --> 00:04:49,479 Speaker 3: my community, and in that process there was so much 77 00:04:49,520 --> 00:04:53,680 Speaker 3: disconnection and we'll get into all the reasons why, but 78 00:04:53,760 --> 00:04:55,920 Speaker 3: what I really wanted to center and bring us back 79 00:04:55,960 --> 00:04:58,800 Speaker 3: into is that experience of presence that we can have 80 00:04:58,920 --> 00:05:00,400 Speaker 3: when it comes to the way we knew orish our 81 00:05:00,440 --> 00:05:04,000 Speaker 3: bodies and the way that we are in relationship with 82 00:05:04,040 --> 00:05:07,080 Speaker 3: food as well. And so I appreciate you starting us 83 00:05:07,120 --> 00:05:09,440 Speaker 3: with that. And you know, as you mentioned, I was 84 00:05:09,560 --> 00:05:12,680 Speaker 3: very intentional with every quote that was used throughout the book, 85 00:05:13,000 --> 00:05:15,440 Speaker 3: really wanting to allow the quotes to open up each 86 00:05:15,560 --> 00:05:18,520 Speaker 3: chapter and orient folks to where we were going going 87 00:05:18,640 --> 00:05:21,440 Speaker 3: to begin. And so again, this is such a beautiful 88 00:05:21,440 --> 00:05:24,240 Speaker 3: way even to start this podcast is with that quote there. 89 00:05:24,240 --> 00:05:27,920 Speaker 1: So thank you for bringing that in. Yes, we are 90 00:05:27,960 --> 00:05:31,360 Speaker 1: so excited. We appreciate the intentionality as well. And again 91 00:05:31,400 --> 00:05:33,120 Speaker 1: we're going to we're excited for the conversation. But we're 92 00:05:33,120 --> 00:05:34,920 Speaker 1: going to start off with your origin story because that's 93 00:05:34,960 --> 00:05:37,760 Speaker 1: also important and we want to understand, you know, who 94 00:05:37,839 --> 00:05:40,160 Speaker 1: are you and how did you become the Alicia that 95 00:05:40,200 --> 00:05:41,480 Speaker 1: we are sit with today. 96 00:05:41,640 --> 00:05:43,400 Speaker 2: So what is your origin story? 97 00:05:44,040 --> 00:05:46,360 Speaker 3: I love this question, Thank you so much for it. 98 00:05:46,839 --> 00:05:49,800 Speaker 3: So I am so I have so many ways I 99 00:05:49,800 --> 00:05:51,600 Speaker 3: can answer this question. But what I'll do is I'll 100 00:05:51,640 --> 00:05:55,480 Speaker 3: go back to my roots. And so I am originally 101 00:05:55,520 --> 00:05:59,040 Speaker 3: from Washington, North Carolina. It is a super small town 102 00:05:59,080 --> 00:06:02,000 Speaker 3: in North Carolina. It is known as the area of 103 00:06:02,040 --> 00:06:04,520 Speaker 3: the South. And so I'm a Southern. I'm a Southern girl. 104 00:06:05,200 --> 00:06:07,400 Speaker 3: And for me, I was raised in a family that 105 00:06:07,480 --> 00:06:11,880 Speaker 3: was very religious, that was very supportive, that was very 106 00:06:12,240 --> 00:06:15,800 Speaker 3: entrenched and very enriching in our community and our stories 107 00:06:15,839 --> 00:06:18,760 Speaker 3: and our culture. And you know, a big part of 108 00:06:18,800 --> 00:06:21,120 Speaker 3: that was my family really teaching me a lot about 109 00:06:21,560 --> 00:06:27,360 Speaker 3: understanding the importance of communing, for example, with your family 110 00:06:27,480 --> 00:06:29,680 Speaker 3: or communing with food. And so for example, on my 111 00:06:29,720 --> 00:06:32,640 Speaker 3: father's side of the family, they were farmers, and so 112 00:06:33,120 --> 00:06:35,520 Speaker 3: I learned from an early age the importance of being 113 00:06:35,520 --> 00:06:38,200 Speaker 3: connected to the land, being connected to the food culture. 114 00:06:38,960 --> 00:06:40,159 Speaker 2: In my mother's side, as well. 115 00:06:40,200 --> 00:06:43,120 Speaker 3: They were also gardeners and farmers and root workers and 116 00:06:43,200 --> 00:06:46,479 Speaker 3: other practitioners that work with plants and animals, and so 117 00:06:46,600 --> 00:06:49,359 Speaker 3: through those experience, I learned a lot about what it 118 00:06:49,480 --> 00:06:52,560 Speaker 3: meant to be connected is something bigger than myself. And 119 00:06:52,640 --> 00:06:55,320 Speaker 3: so I started in this really small town and this 120 00:06:55,400 --> 00:06:59,760 Speaker 3: really more southern area, first generation college student, first person 121 00:06:59,760 --> 00:07:01,520 Speaker 3: in my life family for those that don't know what 122 00:07:01,520 --> 00:07:03,320 Speaker 3: that means, first person in my family to go to 123 00:07:03,400 --> 00:07:07,000 Speaker 3: college and to graduate from college. In my experience, I 124 00:07:07,000 --> 00:07:09,520 Speaker 3: actually did both high school and college at the same time, 125 00:07:09,960 --> 00:07:13,360 Speaker 3: and then accelerated into finishing up university and then went 126 00:07:13,400 --> 00:07:15,000 Speaker 3: immediately into graduate school. 127 00:07:15,320 --> 00:07:16,720 Speaker 2: And it was in graduate. 128 00:07:16,320 --> 00:07:19,320 Speaker 3: School that I learned more about this whole conversation of 129 00:07:19,360 --> 00:07:24,120 Speaker 3: eating disorders and eating imbalances. Originally, when I first got there, 130 00:07:24,320 --> 00:07:26,640 Speaker 3: I noticed that there was just I was working mostly 131 00:07:26,680 --> 00:07:30,360 Speaker 3: with white women and thin women or women who were 132 00:07:31,280 --> 00:07:34,160 Speaker 3: were not very intersectional. And when I say that meaning 133 00:07:34,200 --> 00:07:38,120 Speaker 3: that they might have one area of disadvantage, but overall 134 00:07:38,160 --> 00:07:40,960 Speaker 3: we're pretty much privileged. But what I was noticing and 135 00:07:41,000 --> 00:07:43,280 Speaker 3: working with them was that they had a lot of 136 00:07:43,280 --> 00:07:46,640 Speaker 3: the similar experiences that a lot of my family or 137 00:07:46,800 --> 00:07:49,720 Speaker 3: black community that I knew or other women that I 138 00:07:49,760 --> 00:07:52,520 Speaker 3: knew were also experiencing. And so I said, why is 139 00:07:52,560 --> 00:07:55,040 Speaker 3: it that I'm seeing these similar symptoms in the folks 140 00:07:55,080 --> 00:07:57,680 Speaker 3: that I'm working with, but there's none of us represented 141 00:07:57,760 --> 00:08:00,840 Speaker 3: in the treatment represented in the group, said I'm leading 142 00:08:01,200 --> 00:08:04,280 Speaker 3: just overall represented or even getting the support that we need. 143 00:08:04,320 --> 00:08:07,000 Speaker 3: And so my job or my goal and being in 144 00:08:07,040 --> 00:08:09,640 Speaker 3: these settings for mental health was how do I feel 145 00:08:09,640 --> 00:08:12,000 Speaker 3: that gap? Not only with my own story and experience, 146 00:08:12,080 --> 00:08:14,920 Speaker 3: but being very mindful and intentional about you know, as 147 00:08:14,920 --> 00:08:18,119 Speaker 3: I'm working with different people, bringing them into these eating 148 00:08:18,120 --> 00:08:21,040 Speaker 3: disorder spaces, you know, talking to them about the symptoms 149 00:08:21,040 --> 00:08:23,880 Speaker 3: and things that they're experiencing, and then from that level, 150 00:08:24,160 --> 00:08:27,200 Speaker 3: really educating them and giving them the opportunity to learn more. 151 00:08:27,800 --> 00:08:29,520 Speaker 3: And I will just name just as you know, we 152 00:08:29,600 --> 00:08:31,560 Speaker 3: talk about what does it look like for me today? 153 00:08:31,680 --> 00:08:34,440 Speaker 3: How am I sitting here today? Is that I was? 154 00:08:34,640 --> 00:08:38,079 Speaker 3: You know, I came through a very Western, eurocentric academic system, 155 00:08:38,520 --> 00:08:41,320 Speaker 3: but a lot of what I did, especially after graduate school, 156 00:08:41,400 --> 00:08:45,480 Speaker 3: was do the work to decolonize and uproot a lot 157 00:08:45,520 --> 00:08:48,280 Speaker 3: of my conditioning that I learned in graduate school, and 158 00:08:48,320 --> 00:08:51,719 Speaker 3: in that experience was able to create a new paradigm 159 00:08:51,800 --> 00:08:54,760 Speaker 3: which leads us into this conversation of eating and balances 160 00:08:54,880 --> 00:08:59,280 Speaker 3: really centered in ancestral wisdom, centered in cultural experiences, centered 161 00:08:59,280 --> 00:09:04,120 Speaker 3: in somatic there history, food history, and just so many 162 00:09:04,200 --> 00:09:07,040 Speaker 3: other modalities. But kind of circling it back around to say, 163 00:09:07,120 --> 00:09:10,560 Speaker 3: it really did start unconsciously with my own relationship with 164 00:09:10,600 --> 00:09:12,280 Speaker 3: my family and the work that they did and really 165 00:09:12,320 --> 00:09:16,720 Speaker 3: instilling those values of connection with land, of gardening, of farming, 166 00:09:16,800 --> 00:09:19,720 Speaker 3: of you know, having those conversations about our relationship with 167 00:09:19,760 --> 00:09:22,280 Speaker 3: our bodies. Even at times when we were very much 168 00:09:22,320 --> 00:09:25,160 Speaker 3: disconnected from ourselves, there were still this understanding and this 169 00:09:25,280 --> 00:09:28,800 Speaker 3: appreciation for the gratitude that we had and you know, 170 00:09:28,840 --> 00:09:30,480 Speaker 3: the time that we would take to be present and 171 00:09:30,559 --> 00:09:33,760 Speaker 3: even think, you know God, or you know, for me 172 00:09:33,920 --> 00:09:36,679 Speaker 3: thinking my ancestors, for the food that was being prepared 173 00:09:36,720 --> 00:09:38,800 Speaker 3: in the moment. And so that's kind of like the 174 00:09:38,840 --> 00:09:41,199 Speaker 3: full circle story of how I got where I came 175 00:09:41,240 --> 00:09:43,080 Speaker 3: from and then how I got here in this work. 176 00:09:44,840 --> 00:09:49,040 Speaker 4: Ooh, I love that, Thank you, Thank you. You know, 177 00:09:50,360 --> 00:09:57,120 Speaker 4: oftentimes when we in academia, particularly for black folks in academia, 178 00:09:58,000 --> 00:10:01,559 Speaker 4: we think about how the things that we the topics 179 00:10:01,559 --> 00:10:04,320 Speaker 4: that we choose to research and the things that we 180 00:10:04,440 --> 00:10:10,679 Speaker 4: tend to focus on are usually directly related to our 181 00:10:10,760 --> 00:10:15,960 Speaker 4: experiences with our families, right, and things that we observed 182 00:10:16,120 --> 00:10:19,920 Speaker 4: but didn't have answers for growing up. Yeah, and so 183 00:10:21,240 --> 00:10:26,880 Speaker 4: I love how you explain that full connection and also 184 00:10:27,040 --> 00:10:34,400 Speaker 4: pointing out that that disparity in terms of doing the 185 00:10:34,440 --> 00:10:40,640 Speaker 4: work around eating disorders and not seeing black people in 186 00:10:40,679 --> 00:10:43,000 Speaker 4: those spaces exactly. 187 00:10:43,520 --> 00:10:43,960 Speaker 3: And so. 188 00:10:45,679 --> 00:10:48,640 Speaker 4: And then also pointing out that a lot of what 189 00:10:48,720 --> 00:10:53,800 Speaker 4: we experienced and what we learn in graduate school is 190 00:10:54,080 --> 00:11:02,120 Speaker 4: a Western European, Eurocentric, colonized way of thinking yep, and 191 00:11:02,160 --> 00:11:09,079 Speaker 4: a way of approaching things which often leads to oppressive 192 00:11:09,679 --> 00:11:17,480 Speaker 4: and dehumanizing ways of looking at anything that's other. And so, 193 00:11:17,600 --> 00:11:20,560 Speaker 4: can you talk to us about what it has been 194 00:11:20,720 --> 00:11:26,880 Speaker 4: like for you to navigate these spaces where you're having 195 00:11:26,960 --> 00:11:32,880 Speaker 4: to where you're having to call out what the textbooks 196 00:11:32,920 --> 00:11:36,319 Speaker 4: may say but what you know to be the reality. 197 00:11:37,360 --> 00:11:41,120 Speaker 3: Absolutely, And that is a conversation like I'm sitting here 198 00:11:41,120 --> 00:11:43,160 Speaker 3: now just even taking their breath as I reflect on 199 00:11:43,200 --> 00:11:46,200 Speaker 3: the whole thing that we are all having to deal 200 00:11:46,240 --> 00:11:48,679 Speaker 3: with when it comes to academia. But just to kind 201 00:11:48,679 --> 00:11:50,880 Speaker 3: of bring it backwards a little bit more for folks 202 00:11:50,880 --> 00:11:53,640 Speaker 3: that you may not know is that when we think about, 203 00:11:53,679 --> 00:11:59,959 Speaker 3: for example, the Western mental health system, it originated in racism, ableism, capitalism, 204 00:12:00,080 --> 00:12:02,880 Speaker 3: and so those are the roots and origins of the 205 00:12:02,920 --> 00:12:05,840 Speaker 3: Western mental health field. When we look at the forefathers 206 00:12:05,920 --> 00:12:08,920 Speaker 3: quote unquote of what Western mental health therapy is, it 207 00:12:08,960 --> 00:12:11,960 Speaker 3: was never intended to you know, to heal us or 208 00:12:12,040 --> 00:12:15,600 Speaker 3: to you know, support us in experiencing liberation. It has 209 00:12:15,640 --> 00:12:18,120 Speaker 3: always been very much treatment focused, and so I do 210 00:12:18,200 --> 00:12:21,280 Speaker 3: want to be specific in naming that treatment focus is 211 00:12:21,480 --> 00:12:24,520 Speaker 3: really about putting a band aid on a wound. But 212 00:12:24,559 --> 00:12:26,600 Speaker 3: when we think about like a deep wound, especially for 213 00:12:26,679 --> 00:12:29,400 Speaker 3: those of us of you know, that experienced trauma, those 214 00:12:29,400 --> 00:12:31,880 Speaker 3: of us of the African diaspora, you know, those of 215 00:12:31,960 --> 00:12:35,680 Speaker 3: us who have, you know, these very complex backgrounds, putting 216 00:12:35,679 --> 00:12:37,160 Speaker 3: a band aid on a wound does. 217 00:12:37,000 --> 00:12:39,200 Speaker 2: Not lead to healing or liberation. 218 00:12:39,880 --> 00:12:44,520 Speaker 3: And so a big part of you know, divesting from 219 00:12:44,520 --> 00:12:47,240 Speaker 3: this system is recognizing it for what it is, to 220 00:12:47,280 --> 00:12:49,800 Speaker 3: be quite honest, and holding space for what it is. 221 00:12:49,840 --> 00:12:52,559 Speaker 3: Because I tell people it doesn't mean that I'm anti therapy, 222 00:12:52,559 --> 00:12:54,360 Speaker 3: It doesn't mean that I don't think people should go 223 00:12:54,360 --> 00:12:56,880 Speaker 3: and get the support they need. I absolutely do think 224 00:12:56,920 --> 00:12:58,840 Speaker 3: that it is helpful for folks. It's helped me a 225 00:12:58,840 --> 00:13:01,000 Speaker 3: lot in my life. But I do want folks to 226 00:13:01,040 --> 00:13:03,360 Speaker 3: know that it is not the one stop, fixed all 227 00:13:03,440 --> 00:13:06,520 Speaker 3: and that it shouldn't just be the Western mental health 228 00:13:06,600 --> 00:13:09,720 Speaker 3: therapy as the healing modality. There's so many other, you know, 229 00:13:09,800 --> 00:13:12,600 Speaker 3: modalities that are out there, whether that is reiki, whether 230 00:13:12,640 --> 00:13:16,560 Speaker 3: that is sound bowl healing, whether that is ancestral healing 231 00:13:16,760 --> 00:13:19,800 Speaker 3: or an ice bath. You know, there's so many different 232 00:13:19,800 --> 00:13:22,120 Speaker 3: ways that we can heal our bodies holistically. And that's 233 00:13:22,160 --> 00:13:24,920 Speaker 3: the approach that I take to the work. And so again, 234 00:13:24,960 --> 00:13:28,199 Speaker 3: when I think about this Western mental health system, you know, 235 00:13:28,240 --> 00:13:31,720 Speaker 3: when it was originated, it wasn't to support black bodies. 236 00:13:31,960 --> 00:13:33,720 Speaker 2: And so there's history to show. 237 00:13:33,760 --> 00:13:37,079 Speaker 3: For example, when black folks were enslave, there was you know, 238 00:13:37,200 --> 00:13:40,360 Speaker 3: diagnosis like drape to mania for enslaved folks who wanted 239 00:13:40,400 --> 00:13:43,400 Speaker 3: to escape the plantation. There was actually mental health terminology 240 00:13:43,640 --> 00:13:45,440 Speaker 3: to say, if you want to escape the plantation, you 241 00:13:45,480 --> 00:13:48,560 Speaker 3: have a mental health disorder called drape to mania. And 242 00:13:48,640 --> 00:13:51,160 Speaker 3: so I think about those type of things and say, 243 00:13:51,280 --> 00:13:53,600 Speaker 3: you know, that's just one example, but there's many. And 244 00:13:53,640 --> 00:13:56,040 Speaker 3: so when we talk about for example, stigma and black 245 00:13:56,080 --> 00:13:59,120 Speaker 3: communities or people not wanting to seek out therapy. Why 246 00:13:59,160 --> 00:14:01,320 Speaker 3: would we want to seek therapy when the history of 247 00:14:01,360 --> 00:14:04,160 Speaker 3: therapy has been harmful to us, our bodies, our communities, 248 00:14:04,160 --> 00:14:07,120 Speaker 3: our ancestors. And so, you know a big part of 249 00:14:07,160 --> 00:14:11,080 Speaker 3: this conversation and really continuing to study and you know, 250 00:14:11,160 --> 00:14:13,839 Speaker 3: divest from this work is recognizing it for what it is, 251 00:14:14,200 --> 00:14:16,920 Speaker 3: but then also coming back and saying, Okay, we can 252 00:14:16,960 --> 00:14:20,320 Speaker 3: actually still do something to separate ourselves but also get 253 00:14:20,320 --> 00:14:23,040 Speaker 3: the healing and support that we need, and naming the 254 00:14:23,080 --> 00:14:25,520 Speaker 3: systems and then also saying, well, what were our ancestors 255 00:14:25,560 --> 00:14:29,000 Speaker 3: doing prior to these systems? You know, they have ancient wisdom, 256 00:14:29,040 --> 00:14:31,480 Speaker 3: they have the awareness what were they doing? And how 257 00:14:31,480 --> 00:14:34,200 Speaker 3: can I integrate those systems into what I know now 258 00:14:34,240 --> 00:14:35,359 Speaker 3: through the research. 259 00:14:35,000 --> 00:14:35,800 Speaker 2: Through the studies. 260 00:14:36,000 --> 00:14:38,600 Speaker 3: And so, yes, it is difficult having those awarenesses and 261 00:14:38,720 --> 00:14:42,440 Speaker 3: navigating academia, for example, where I had professors. You know 262 00:14:42,480 --> 00:14:44,520 Speaker 3: that I would go back and forth with around that 263 00:14:44,560 --> 00:14:47,120 Speaker 3: doesn't seem right to use with my client, or even 264 00:14:47,120 --> 00:14:50,440 Speaker 3: once I graduated and was working in higher education, having 265 00:14:50,480 --> 00:14:53,680 Speaker 3: conversations with my boss around you know that that thing 266 00:14:53,720 --> 00:14:57,240 Speaker 3: you're doing like that's actually a list or that's homophobic, 267 00:14:57,640 --> 00:14:59,760 Speaker 3: but because it's in the DSM, it's okay for them 268 00:14:59,800 --> 00:15:02,800 Speaker 3: to use it. The DSM is the Diagnostic Statistical Manual 269 00:15:02,840 --> 00:15:07,280 Speaker 3: that we use to categorize diagnosis and treatment and mental 270 00:15:07,280 --> 00:15:09,200 Speaker 3: health therapy. And so there would be a lot of 271 00:15:09,200 --> 00:15:10,920 Speaker 3: me going back and forth, and a lot of it 272 00:15:10,960 --> 00:15:13,120 Speaker 3: was really me having to stand my ground and say like, no, 273 00:15:13,240 --> 00:15:15,520 Speaker 3: this is not right, and I refuse to use these 274 00:15:15,520 --> 00:15:18,240 Speaker 3: modalities with my clients, but then receiving a lot of 275 00:15:18,240 --> 00:15:20,640 Speaker 3: backlash and a lot of black balling in the field 276 00:15:20,800 --> 00:15:22,800 Speaker 3: and then a lot of the workplaces that I was in, 277 00:15:23,200 --> 00:15:25,400 Speaker 3: And so that led me to at some point just 278 00:15:25,440 --> 00:15:26,640 Speaker 3: say like buck the system. 279 00:15:26,760 --> 00:15:28,160 Speaker 2: I'm creating my own business. 280 00:15:28,200 --> 00:15:31,240 Speaker 3: And that's how I burn black anybody counting and consulting 281 00:15:31,320 --> 00:15:33,360 Speaker 3: with me, saying like I'm not going to continue to 282 00:15:33,360 --> 00:15:36,840 Speaker 3: be abused and you forced to engage in this treatment 283 00:15:36,880 --> 00:15:38,960 Speaker 3: modality that does not work for me in my community. 284 00:15:39,280 --> 00:15:40,960 Speaker 3: And so I'm starting my own business so that I 285 00:15:40,960 --> 00:15:42,640 Speaker 3: can have the freedom to show up in the ways 286 00:15:42,640 --> 00:15:44,480 Speaker 3: that I know are healing for us. 287 00:15:46,480 --> 00:15:49,080 Speaker 1: Wow, I just want to take a moment to you 288 00:15:49,840 --> 00:15:51,680 Speaker 1: it right. It is so needed when I think whenever 289 00:15:51,720 --> 00:15:54,760 Speaker 1: we have conversations like this all shit. It just it 290 00:15:54,800 --> 00:15:57,280 Speaker 1: makes me even more grateful for mental health professionals like 291 00:15:57,320 --> 00:16:00,400 Speaker 1: you and doctor Don because I know, all my therapy journey, 292 00:16:00,480 --> 00:16:02,480 Speaker 1: I was meeting with white women initially, and not to say, 293 00:16:02,600 --> 00:16:05,040 Speaker 1: you know, black people can't gain anything from a white therapist, 294 00:16:05,080 --> 00:16:07,600 Speaker 1: but in my experience, it wasn't helpful. It wasn't until 295 00:16:07,600 --> 00:16:10,240 Speaker 1: I had a therapist that looked like me. So, whodos 296 00:16:10,280 --> 00:16:11,800 Speaker 1: to you all for doing the work that you do. 297 00:16:11,880 --> 00:16:14,760 Speaker 1: I am like, all the respect to you. Okay, seriously, 298 00:16:14,760 --> 00:16:16,720 Speaker 1: you're so needed in the world, and I want to 299 00:16:16,760 --> 00:16:19,160 Speaker 1: go back to something you are so welcome. I want 300 00:16:19,200 --> 00:16:21,400 Speaker 1: to go back to something you said about eating disorders. 301 00:16:21,400 --> 00:16:23,440 Speaker 1: So when I was younger, well, let me just say this, 302 00:16:23,640 --> 00:16:25,800 Speaker 1: I think a lot of black people have heard this term. 303 00:16:25,640 --> 00:16:27,640 Speaker 2: Oh that's for white people. Many of us have heard that. 304 00:16:27,640 --> 00:16:29,480 Speaker 1: For various things in life, right, And so when I 305 00:16:29,520 --> 00:16:32,800 Speaker 1: was younger, I remember watching Lifetime with my mom, and 306 00:16:32,840 --> 00:16:35,000 Speaker 1: you you know, hear about someone having an eating disorder, 307 00:16:35,040 --> 00:16:37,920 Speaker 1: and we always just associated that with oh, that's for them, right. 308 00:16:38,200 --> 00:16:38,400 Speaker 3: Yeah. 309 00:16:38,440 --> 00:16:41,480 Speaker 1: So I want to understand from your research, from the 310 00:16:41,520 --> 00:16:43,680 Speaker 1: work that you've done, like, what are some things that 311 00:16:44,200 --> 00:16:46,880 Speaker 1: our community should know about eating disorders, because I know 312 00:16:46,960 --> 00:16:49,480 Speaker 1: that there are some of us that are struggling with that, right, 313 00:16:49,560 --> 00:16:51,120 Speaker 1: But what are some of the things that we should 314 00:16:51,120 --> 00:16:54,480 Speaker 1: just know about, whether it's research or findings or misconceptions. 315 00:16:55,160 --> 00:16:58,040 Speaker 3: Absolutely, that's a beautiful question, and thank you. You know, 316 00:16:58,160 --> 00:17:00,720 Speaker 3: something that I think is important is for us to understand. 317 00:17:00,880 --> 00:17:03,760 Speaker 3: Going back to you All's original question is the origin story. 318 00:17:04,160 --> 00:17:06,639 Speaker 3: And so for example, I really would encourage folks to 319 00:17:06,680 --> 00:17:09,000 Speaker 3: check out the book called Fearing the Black Body by 320 00:17:09,000 --> 00:17:12,600 Speaker 3: doctor Sabrina Streams. In this book, she really lays out 321 00:17:12,640 --> 00:17:15,840 Speaker 3: how fat phobia, which is often the driver for a 322 00:17:15,840 --> 00:17:18,280 Speaker 3: lot of the reasons why we want to change our bodies, 323 00:17:18,560 --> 00:17:20,960 Speaker 3: which then contribute to a lot of the eat or 324 00:17:21,080 --> 00:17:23,320 Speaker 3: are connected to a lot of the eating disorder patterns 325 00:17:23,320 --> 00:17:26,000 Speaker 3: that we see. And so in this book Fearing the 326 00:17:26,000 --> 00:17:29,000 Speaker 3: Black Body, she really lays out that the reason why 327 00:17:29,040 --> 00:17:32,320 Speaker 3: we even have fat phobia is started in the fifteenth sixteen, 328 00:17:32,440 --> 00:17:36,080 Speaker 3: seventeenth century with the enslavement of black bodies. And so 329 00:17:36,200 --> 00:17:38,560 Speaker 3: when black bodies were brought over and I like to 330 00:17:38,560 --> 00:17:40,479 Speaker 3: be specific in my language here and say when we 331 00:17:40,480 --> 00:17:43,360 Speaker 3: were trafficked it off of our land, you know, through 332 00:17:43,400 --> 00:17:47,040 Speaker 3: the Transatlantic slaves trade. In that process, you know, it 333 00:17:47,160 --> 00:17:50,400 Speaker 3: was really about dehumanization. It was about starving our bodies. 334 00:17:50,480 --> 00:17:53,800 Speaker 3: It was about turning our bodies into profit. But in 335 00:17:53,840 --> 00:17:56,439 Speaker 3: that process as well, it was about how do we 336 00:17:56,520 --> 00:17:58,960 Speaker 3: distinct as white folks or as European folks. 337 00:17:58,960 --> 00:17:59,760 Speaker 2: This was their thoughts. 338 00:18:00,040 --> 00:18:02,560 Speaker 3: How do we distinguish our bodies from the bodies of 339 00:18:02,600 --> 00:18:03,879 Speaker 3: these newly enslaved folks. 340 00:18:03,880 --> 00:18:06,720 Speaker 2: How do we justify their. 341 00:18:06,640 --> 00:18:10,119 Speaker 3: Degradation and their less than you know, type of type 342 00:18:10,119 --> 00:18:12,159 Speaker 3: of rhetoric that they were putting out at that time, 343 00:18:12,400 --> 00:18:15,440 Speaker 3: and a big part of that was was saying they're lazy, 344 00:18:15,600 --> 00:18:19,480 Speaker 3: they're over consumptuous, their bodies are larger, and so they 345 00:18:19,480 --> 00:18:21,520 Speaker 3: came up with a lot of this rhetoric and then 346 00:18:21,680 --> 00:18:24,959 Speaker 3: backed it by not real science, but backed it up 347 00:18:25,000 --> 00:18:27,640 Speaker 3: by people who at that time were popular, people who 348 00:18:27,880 --> 00:18:31,520 Speaker 3: folks listened to. And it really became this like mainstream 349 00:18:31,840 --> 00:18:34,679 Speaker 3: conversation that you know, black bodies were fat, and so 350 00:18:34,760 --> 00:18:37,679 Speaker 3: we had the conversation about, you know, the demonization of 351 00:18:37,760 --> 00:18:38,960 Speaker 3: blackness and fatness. 352 00:18:39,280 --> 00:18:41,639 Speaker 2: This is the origin of that story. And so we 353 00:18:41,840 --> 00:18:42,919 Speaker 2: fast forward to today. 354 00:18:43,440 --> 00:18:46,560 Speaker 3: A lot of the reasons why people are on for example, Ozmpic, 355 00:18:46,720 --> 00:18:49,159 Speaker 3: or people are wanting to be in diet culture, or 356 00:18:49,200 --> 00:18:51,080 Speaker 3: we hear a lot of terminology of I gotta get 357 00:18:51,080 --> 00:18:53,520 Speaker 3: my body snatched. You know, we really get to the 358 00:18:53,600 --> 00:18:55,560 Speaker 3: roots of like what do you mean when you say that? 359 00:18:55,800 --> 00:18:57,840 Speaker 3: Or you know, what does that look like for you? 360 00:18:58,040 --> 00:19:01,040 Speaker 3: A lot of it is about changing the body, particularly 361 00:19:01,160 --> 00:19:03,760 Speaker 3: the size of the body to fit into this more 362 00:19:04,080 --> 00:19:07,200 Speaker 3: eurocentric or even you know, what's popular at this time. 363 00:19:07,680 --> 00:19:09,480 Speaker 3: And so you know, a lot of the reasons when 364 00:19:09,480 --> 00:19:12,440 Speaker 3: we think about eating disorders and diet culture or even 365 00:19:12,560 --> 00:19:14,560 Speaker 3: you know, our bodies is by people. Why it's such 366 00:19:14,560 --> 00:19:17,760 Speaker 3: a stronghold in our communities and almost something that we've 367 00:19:17,760 --> 00:19:21,760 Speaker 3: normalized is because of this like association that has been 368 00:19:21,800 --> 00:19:26,600 Speaker 3: tied historically for generations and generations about our bodies being demonized, 369 00:19:26,640 --> 00:19:28,919 Speaker 3: our bodies not being good enough. And so we're not 370 00:19:28,960 --> 00:19:31,560 Speaker 3: even having these conversations in our community because there's so 371 00:19:31,680 --> 00:19:35,440 Speaker 3: much shame and there's so much honestly too like lack 372 00:19:35,480 --> 00:19:38,960 Speaker 3: of education around the languaging. And so just to take 373 00:19:38,960 --> 00:19:41,359 Speaker 3: a brief aside and just say that, folks, you know, 374 00:19:41,560 --> 00:19:44,320 Speaker 3: when we hear the word disorder, of course, as black folks, 375 00:19:44,320 --> 00:19:46,679 Speaker 3: we're gonna say well, I don't have a disorder. That 376 00:19:46,760 --> 00:19:49,879 Speaker 3: sounds like a bad word. Why would that be associated 377 00:19:49,920 --> 00:19:52,000 Speaker 3: with me? Like, we're not going to resonate with that 378 00:19:52,040 --> 00:19:54,959 Speaker 3: type of language because typically we don't have access to 379 00:19:55,000 --> 00:19:58,080 Speaker 3: the systems where that language is used. And so even 380 00:19:58,119 --> 00:20:00,480 Speaker 3: as I write this broke this book, one of the 381 00:20:00,480 --> 00:20:03,160 Speaker 3: things I was intentional about is really examining that word 382 00:20:03,200 --> 00:20:06,280 Speaker 3: disorder and saying what is actually happening here? And so 383 00:20:06,480 --> 00:20:09,199 Speaker 3: I've shifted the language to imbalance because I feel like, 384 00:20:09,320 --> 00:20:12,359 Speaker 3: as a person you know, who is black, when I 385 00:20:12,400 --> 00:20:16,159 Speaker 3: hear the word imbalance, I'm like, Okay, I could have 386 00:20:16,200 --> 00:20:18,600 Speaker 3: a eating imbalance and I could actually and you know, 387 00:20:18,640 --> 00:20:21,040 Speaker 3: when I hear I balance, it's fluid. It's like I'm 388 00:20:21,080 --> 00:20:24,200 Speaker 3: not stuck in the imbalances. I can create more balance 389 00:20:24,200 --> 00:20:25,919 Speaker 3: in my life, like all of what is it that 390 00:20:26,000 --> 00:20:28,479 Speaker 3: needs to be more in alignment? What is it that 391 00:20:28,520 --> 00:20:30,439 Speaker 3: needs to you know, what do I need to add 392 00:20:30,480 --> 00:20:32,760 Speaker 3: to create more balance? Or what are the areas that 393 00:20:32,800 --> 00:20:35,120 Speaker 3: are you know, out of order? Then so these are 394 00:20:35,119 --> 00:20:37,920 Speaker 3: things that can like more feel that are there within 395 00:20:37,960 --> 00:20:40,560 Speaker 3: our control, feel as if we can do something about it. 396 00:20:40,640 --> 00:20:42,959 Speaker 3: And so I really shift the language so that it 397 00:20:43,040 --> 00:20:45,520 Speaker 3: is more accessible to our communities and quite honestly that 398 00:20:45,600 --> 00:20:47,760 Speaker 3: it's like truthful to what we're experiencing. 399 00:20:48,560 --> 00:20:52,439 Speaker 4: I love that I appreciate what you're sharing it and 400 00:20:52,480 --> 00:20:57,800 Speaker 4: also in recognizing like the importance of language and how 401 00:20:58,440 --> 00:21:02,200 Speaker 4: how people respond based on the language that they're given, 402 00:21:02,280 --> 00:21:08,439 Speaker 4: the words that are being used. And so when you 403 00:21:08,520 --> 00:21:16,040 Speaker 4: think about your experience in writing this book, tell us 404 00:21:16,160 --> 00:21:20,439 Speaker 4: more about what are some of the things that what 405 00:21:20,520 --> 00:21:25,080 Speaker 4: are some of the top things that you learned about yourself, 406 00:21:25,760 --> 00:21:30,280 Speaker 4: about our and about our community as you were. 407 00:21:31,800 --> 00:21:35,639 Speaker 3: Completing this book. Of course, I want to go to 408 00:21:35,680 --> 00:21:39,159 Speaker 3: the community part first. And so a lot of what 409 00:21:39,240 --> 00:21:41,359 Speaker 3: I was doing after grad school, I was working in 410 00:21:41,440 --> 00:21:45,119 Speaker 3: college mental health counseling. After that I worked in a 411 00:21:45,160 --> 00:21:47,840 Speaker 3: group private practice, and then I opened my own business. 412 00:21:48,200 --> 00:21:50,520 Speaker 3: And in these journeys of working with folks, even in 413 00:21:50,560 --> 00:21:53,240 Speaker 3: graduate school, when I had clients, what I started to 414 00:21:53,240 --> 00:21:55,880 Speaker 3: do is really start to notice, for example, Okay, I'm 415 00:21:55,880 --> 00:21:56,800 Speaker 3: working with this client. 416 00:21:56,920 --> 00:21:57,720 Speaker 2: She's telling me that. 417 00:21:57,720 --> 00:22:00,520 Speaker 3: She hasn't ate today, you know, But the reason she 418 00:22:00,520 --> 00:22:03,280 Speaker 3: hasnt eight today is because like she's working like three 419 00:22:03,400 --> 00:22:05,680 Speaker 3: jobs and also going to class and also trying to 420 00:22:05,680 --> 00:22:09,360 Speaker 3: support her family and you know, dealing with racism in class, 421 00:22:09,400 --> 00:22:11,800 Speaker 3: you know, and so I'm starting to link for a 422 00:22:11,840 --> 00:22:14,600 Speaker 3: lot of us, there's so many and going back to 423 00:22:14,600 --> 00:22:17,680 Speaker 3: the word I used earlier, intersectional experiences that we're having 424 00:22:17,720 --> 00:22:20,720 Speaker 3: at one time, or different things that we're navigating at 425 00:22:20,720 --> 00:22:23,560 Speaker 3: one time while also trying to be connected to our bodies. 426 00:22:23,600 --> 00:22:26,160 Speaker 3: And it's really hard to do that, especially when you're young, 427 00:22:26,200 --> 00:22:28,520 Speaker 3: you're in college, and even beyond that, when I was 428 00:22:28,520 --> 00:22:31,480 Speaker 3: working with adult clients, you know who for example, you know, 429 00:22:31,600 --> 00:22:34,760 Speaker 3: had children that might have had disabilities, and they're also 430 00:22:34,800 --> 00:22:36,520 Speaker 3: trying to you know, be a wife at home and 431 00:22:36,560 --> 00:22:38,439 Speaker 3: also trying to make sure that dinner is ready at 432 00:22:38,440 --> 00:22:40,400 Speaker 3: the end of the day, but at the same time 433 00:22:40,520 --> 00:22:43,719 Speaker 3: trying to navigate their changing body as they're approaching menopause. 434 00:22:43,760 --> 00:22:46,640 Speaker 3: Like there's so many experiences of just having a lot 435 00:22:46,680 --> 00:22:49,640 Speaker 3: going on, and then of course just not having that 436 00:22:49,720 --> 00:22:53,520 Speaker 3: like overall like base level understanding of what does a 437 00:22:53,520 --> 00:22:56,240 Speaker 3: connection with my body look like? And so that was 438 00:22:56,280 --> 00:22:59,119 Speaker 3: like the thing that I noticed across our community was 439 00:22:59,160 --> 00:23:01,800 Speaker 3: that there was just not this base level understanding of 440 00:23:02,240 --> 00:23:04,439 Speaker 3: what does the connection with my body look like like? 441 00:23:04,480 --> 00:23:07,800 Speaker 3: Even when we have conversations of like self care, they'd 442 00:23:07,800 --> 00:23:09,160 Speaker 3: be like what is self care? 443 00:23:09,359 --> 00:23:12,320 Speaker 2: What is rest? What is slowing down? What is listening 444 00:23:12,320 --> 00:23:12,919 Speaker 2: to my body? 445 00:23:12,960 --> 00:23:17,119 Speaker 3: It's like none of those things were available, accessible, or 446 00:23:17,200 --> 00:23:20,639 Speaker 3: even like, you know, an idea for our community. And 447 00:23:20,680 --> 00:23:23,080 Speaker 3: so what I notice is that a lot of my 448 00:23:23,200 --> 00:23:26,360 Speaker 3: early kind of work with clients was really educating them 449 00:23:26,400 --> 00:23:28,680 Speaker 3: about their relationship with their body, and not in a 450 00:23:28,720 --> 00:23:31,359 Speaker 3: way of me being the expert, but me really putting 451 00:23:31,400 --> 00:23:33,919 Speaker 3: them back in the driver's seat and empowering them and saying, 452 00:23:34,400 --> 00:23:36,359 Speaker 3: you know your body the best. And while in this 453 00:23:36,440 --> 00:23:38,480 Speaker 3: moment it might be uncomfortable for me to ask you 454 00:23:38,520 --> 00:23:41,800 Speaker 3: to sit with this emotion, it might be uncomfortable, for example, 455 00:23:41,840 --> 00:23:43,960 Speaker 3: for you to ask me for advice and me to 456 00:23:44,000 --> 00:23:46,840 Speaker 3: actually say, you know the answer, like I would like 457 00:23:46,920 --> 00:23:49,280 Speaker 3: us to explore where that answer is in your body, 458 00:23:49,560 --> 00:23:52,159 Speaker 3: you know, for us to do that, They were like 459 00:23:52,320 --> 00:23:54,760 Speaker 3: what you want me to do? What? So there was 460 00:23:54,800 --> 00:23:57,760 Speaker 3: this level of this comfort, but ultimately, you know, it 461 00:23:57,800 --> 00:23:59,960 Speaker 3: was a thing that was needed to support them in 462 00:24:00,080 --> 00:24:01,600 Speaker 3: returning back to themselves. 463 00:24:01,800 --> 00:24:03,840 Speaker 2: And so that was my experience in what I noticed 464 00:24:03,840 --> 00:24:04,879 Speaker 2: across our community. 465 00:24:05,200 --> 00:24:07,399 Speaker 3: And then as I wrote this book, I actually went 466 00:24:07,440 --> 00:24:11,040 Speaker 3: through a process of knowing that I had to for 467 00:24:11,280 --> 00:24:13,520 Speaker 3: lack of a better term, walk the walk, you know, 468 00:24:13,520 --> 00:24:14,520 Speaker 3: I couldn't just talk to talk. 469 00:24:14,520 --> 00:24:15,359 Speaker 2: I had to walk the walk. 470 00:24:15,359 --> 00:24:18,840 Speaker 3: And so, for example, I was seeing clients, I was writing, 471 00:24:19,240 --> 00:24:21,560 Speaker 3: I was in my own therapy. I was talking to 472 00:24:21,600 --> 00:24:23,800 Speaker 3: my family about the things I was writing. I was 473 00:24:23,960 --> 00:24:27,600 Speaker 3: living in DC Washington, DC at the time, and I realized, 474 00:24:27,640 --> 00:24:29,520 Speaker 3: I'm like, how am I going to write about a 475 00:24:29,560 --> 00:24:33,000 Speaker 3: book about embodiment, a book about slowing down and being 476 00:24:33,040 --> 00:24:36,639 Speaker 3: connected and healing trauma and returning back to ourselves. And 477 00:24:36,680 --> 00:24:39,040 Speaker 3: I'm not even you know, in that space where I'm 478 00:24:39,080 --> 00:24:42,440 Speaker 3: taking care of myself. And so that led me to say, 479 00:24:42,520 --> 00:24:44,600 Speaker 3: I need to take a step away from therapy. And 480 00:24:44,680 --> 00:24:47,719 Speaker 3: so I actually stopped direct therapy work in twenty twenty two. 481 00:24:48,200 --> 00:24:50,040 Speaker 3: And it was really hard for me because my whole 482 00:24:50,040 --> 00:24:53,000 Speaker 3: identity was wrapped in being a therapist and you know, 483 00:24:53,480 --> 00:24:56,000 Speaker 3: being a do all the things, being a business owner 484 00:24:56,040 --> 00:24:58,840 Speaker 3: and being a high achiever and being perfectionists and all 485 00:24:58,880 --> 00:25:02,000 Speaker 3: these things. But I decided, I said no, in order 486 00:25:02,040 --> 00:25:04,240 Speaker 3: for me to commit to this work, not only to 487 00:25:04,280 --> 00:25:06,639 Speaker 3: write about it, but to actually be it, I have 488 00:25:06,800 --> 00:25:09,199 Speaker 3: to stop, you know, doing the therapy. And so I 489 00:25:09,200 --> 00:25:11,720 Speaker 3: stopped doing the therapy and I spent all my days 490 00:25:12,080 --> 00:25:15,840 Speaker 3: waking up with yoga, with some sound bowls, with you know, 491 00:25:15,960 --> 00:25:19,160 Speaker 3: other modalities that were just about coming back to myself. 492 00:25:19,640 --> 00:25:21,920 Speaker 3: I went to coffee shops every day and would take 493 00:25:21,960 --> 00:25:23,880 Speaker 3: some time to write and then say I need a break. 494 00:25:24,080 --> 00:25:26,920 Speaker 3: So I'd take a break and you know, do whatever 495 00:25:26,960 --> 00:25:28,600 Speaker 3: I needed to do in that moment, and then come 496 00:25:28,640 --> 00:25:30,760 Speaker 3: back and say, Okay, you know, what does my body 497 00:25:30,800 --> 00:25:32,919 Speaker 3: need in this moment. And so it was about me 498 00:25:32,960 --> 00:25:35,560 Speaker 3: waking up and saying, you know, what's on my heart today, 499 00:25:35,640 --> 00:25:38,240 Speaker 3: what's in my body today, and really honoring that journey 500 00:25:38,280 --> 00:25:41,200 Speaker 3: and process. And it was painful at times, for example, 501 00:25:41,520 --> 00:25:43,600 Speaker 3: to talk about traumatic things that had happened in my 502 00:25:43,720 --> 00:25:46,399 Speaker 3: family and then you know, turn around and call my 503 00:25:46,480 --> 00:25:48,520 Speaker 3: family and then have to have the conversations of I 504 00:25:48,600 --> 00:25:50,800 Speaker 3: just wrote this in the book. Can we talk through 505 00:25:50,840 --> 00:25:53,240 Speaker 3: this experience because you know, at some point this is 506 00:25:53,280 --> 00:25:55,320 Speaker 3: going to be out in the world. Or even to 507 00:25:55,359 --> 00:25:58,520 Speaker 3: think back on client stories and you know, so many 508 00:25:58,600 --> 00:26:01,399 Speaker 3: beautiful moments that I'm so grateful for, but to have 509 00:26:01,560 --> 00:26:03,679 Speaker 3: to like go over that with my publishing team or 510 00:26:03,760 --> 00:26:06,200 Speaker 3: you know, with the client stories, or you know, other 511 00:26:06,280 --> 00:26:08,960 Speaker 3: aspects of the journey and so it required a lot 512 00:26:08,960 --> 00:26:12,160 Speaker 3: of vulnerability. It required a lot of like deep introspection 513 00:26:12,280 --> 00:26:15,800 Speaker 3: work and deep healing work for myself to manifest and 514 00:26:15,840 --> 00:26:19,040 Speaker 3: emerge this book. However, you know, even though the process 515 00:26:19,320 --> 00:26:22,639 Speaker 3: was really beautiful, it was hard. It was moments of prying, 516 00:26:22,680 --> 00:26:24,640 Speaker 3: it was moments of joy. It was moments of calling 517 00:26:24,680 --> 00:26:27,159 Speaker 3: friends and being like what am I doing? It was 518 00:26:27,200 --> 00:26:28,960 Speaker 3: moments of me looking at the book and being like 519 00:26:29,000 --> 00:26:31,680 Speaker 3: what am I doing. Ultimately, you know, as I came 520 00:26:31,760 --> 00:26:33,359 Speaker 3: to a completion of it, I look back on the 521 00:26:33,359 --> 00:26:36,399 Speaker 3: book and say said, Wow, this is not only something 522 00:26:36,400 --> 00:26:39,119 Speaker 3: that is for me, you know, in my journey, but 523 00:26:39,160 --> 00:26:42,120 Speaker 3: this is something that is touching people all over the world, 524 00:26:42,200 --> 00:26:44,199 Speaker 3: that's going to heal people all over the world, and 525 00:26:44,240 --> 00:26:47,199 Speaker 3: not just people that have an academic experience. But I 526 00:26:47,240 --> 00:26:49,480 Speaker 3: had my mother read the book. I've had my grandmother 527 00:26:49,520 --> 00:26:51,680 Speaker 3: read the book. I've had you know, people from all 528 00:26:51,760 --> 00:26:55,480 Speaker 3: walks and backgrounds you know read or you know, offer feedback, 529 00:26:55,760 --> 00:26:58,000 Speaker 3: and they all said that it feels very accessible to 530 00:26:58,040 --> 00:26:58,640 Speaker 3: them as well. 531 00:26:58,680 --> 00:26:59,680 Speaker 2: And so for me, it's like. 532 00:26:59,640 --> 00:27:05,040 Speaker 3: I've done a good job because I've basically made my 533 00:27:05,119 --> 00:27:09,040 Speaker 3: work accessible, made this work accessible. And also that's a 534 00:27:09,080 --> 00:27:11,919 Speaker 3: part of what decolonization looks like is returning back and 535 00:27:12,000 --> 00:27:15,320 Speaker 3: really like supporting the medicine that's within us and bringing 536 00:27:15,320 --> 00:27:17,360 Speaker 3: that forward into the collective. And I feel like I've 537 00:27:17,400 --> 00:27:20,760 Speaker 3: done that job in manifesting this book so beautiful. 538 00:27:21,359 --> 00:27:24,280 Speaker 1: Thank you, Alicia. I kind of want to take a detour. 539 00:27:25,040 --> 00:27:28,080 Speaker 1: So you mentioned something about sharing your story and having 540 00:27:28,080 --> 00:27:29,600 Speaker 1: to pick up the phone and talk to your family. 541 00:27:29,640 --> 00:27:32,080 Speaker 1: And I know that everyone is not called to be 542 00:27:32,160 --> 00:27:34,119 Speaker 1: in a plat, you know, be on a platform and 543 00:27:34,119 --> 00:27:36,720 Speaker 1: share their story around the world or in a book, 544 00:27:36,800 --> 00:27:38,919 Speaker 1: but I know that for me and my healing journey, 545 00:27:39,320 --> 00:27:41,560 Speaker 1: it's required me to face my past and face some 546 00:27:41,600 --> 00:27:44,159 Speaker 1: of those stories, right and the people that contributed to 547 00:27:44,280 --> 00:27:47,760 Speaker 1: any pain or trauma? Are you what is your perspective 548 00:27:47,840 --> 00:27:50,639 Speaker 1: on us sharing our story, whether it's on a larger 549 00:27:50,680 --> 00:27:53,639 Speaker 1: scale or a smaller scale, but sharing our stories and 550 00:27:53,680 --> 00:27:56,720 Speaker 1: like facing the things that happened, and like managing those 551 00:27:56,720 --> 00:27:59,400 Speaker 1: family dynamics and relationships. I think dom and I hear 552 00:27:59,680 --> 00:28:02,120 Speaker 1: a lot about this from our listeners, where people want 553 00:28:02,160 --> 00:28:03,800 Speaker 1: to heal and they want to share those stories, but 554 00:28:03,840 --> 00:28:06,120 Speaker 1: they're afraid of what people in the family might say 555 00:28:06,200 --> 00:28:07,639 Speaker 1: or how they respond to that. 556 00:28:07,680 --> 00:28:09,720 Speaker 2: So what is your overall perspective on that. 557 00:28:10,359 --> 00:28:13,120 Speaker 3: Yeah, you know, it is a responsibility when it comes 558 00:28:13,160 --> 00:28:15,280 Speaker 3: to sharing your story. And so something even I was 559 00:28:15,359 --> 00:28:19,040 Speaker 3: very mindful of is being intentional about what is mine 560 00:28:19,040 --> 00:28:20,439 Speaker 3: and what is other people's stuff? 561 00:28:21,119 --> 00:28:21,639 Speaker 2: Right like? 562 00:28:22,480 --> 00:28:25,600 Speaker 3: And that required so much like and really like it 563 00:28:25,680 --> 00:28:28,679 Speaker 3: required me sitting with my somatic therapists or I had 564 00:28:28,680 --> 00:28:31,280 Speaker 3: a smatic therapist and also just like a traditional therapist 565 00:28:31,320 --> 00:28:35,840 Speaker 3: as well, and so it required like this conversation of Okay, 566 00:28:35,840 --> 00:28:39,000 Speaker 3: I had this specific experience with a family member, you know, 567 00:28:39,400 --> 00:28:42,120 Speaker 3: and I want to talk about that, But how do 568 00:28:42,200 --> 00:28:43,640 Speaker 3: I want to talk about it? And so I said, 569 00:28:43,640 --> 00:28:45,280 Speaker 3: I want to talk about the impact that it had 570 00:28:45,280 --> 00:28:48,320 Speaker 3: on me. So it's not about this family member did this, this, this, 571 00:28:48,360 --> 00:28:51,160 Speaker 3: and this right or and they're this, this and this 572 00:28:51,200 --> 00:28:53,920 Speaker 3: person and this is their history and why they've done this, 573 00:28:54,000 --> 00:28:56,840 Speaker 3: because that's now their story. That's now you know, me 574 00:28:56,920 --> 00:29:00,800 Speaker 3: externalizing the situation and placing blame, which you know, I'm 575 00:29:00,800 --> 00:29:02,960 Speaker 3: not opposed to that, but I also again going to 576 00:29:03,000 --> 00:29:06,239 Speaker 3: go back to being responsible with storytelling. And so for me, 577 00:29:06,320 --> 00:29:09,560 Speaker 3: it was about what is my shit and really getting 578 00:29:09,600 --> 00:29:12,640 Speaker 3: clear about that and then being able to like articulate 579 00:29:13,040 --> 00:29:15,920 Speaker 3: you know what the impact was in my life while 580 00:29:15,920 --> 00:29:18,760 Speaker 3: also holding space and grace for myself and how I 581 00:29:18,840 --> 00:29:21,640 Speaker 3: responded in those moments, quoting space and grace for the 582 00:29:21,680 --> 00:29:24,960 Speaker 3: person in those moments, I want to name that everybody 583 00:29:25,080 --> 00:29:27,560 Speaker 3: might not be at that place and that's okay, that's 584 00:29:27,600 --> 00:29:30,440 Speaker 3: not a requirement, and also to say like for me, 585 00:29:30,720 --> 00:29:33,160 Speaker 3: it was helpful. And so there would be times, for example, 586 00:29:33,160 --> 00:29:35,000 Speaker 3: where I might have called my mom and said like, 587 00:29:35,080 --> 00:29:37,440 Speaker 3: here's something I'm writing and she's like, well, that makes 588 00:29:37,440 --> 00:29:39,280 Speaker 3: the family look bad, and so then we have a 589 00:29:39,280 --> 00:29:42,200 Speaker 3: conversation of like, okay, well let's talk about you know 590 00:29:42,400 --> 00:29:45,200 Speaker 3: what's coming up for you and why you think this 591 00:29:45,280 --> 00:29:48,000 Speaker 3: makes the family look bad, and then being very clear 592 00:29:48,000 --> 00:29:50,320 Speaker 3: and boundary with you know, with different family members. And 593 00:29:50,360 --> 00:29:52,120 Speaker 3: I'll just use my mom as an example and say 594 00:29:52,920 --> 00:29:55,400 Speaker 3: telling her, okay, and I hear what you're naming and 595 00:29:55,440 --> 00:29:57,600 Speaker 3: saying about this, and I want to say this part 596 00:29:57,640 --> 00:30:00,920 Speaker 3: specifically is my story, and this is my boundaries around 597 00:30:00,960 --> 00:30:03,720 Speaker 3: that story. And I understand these other aspects of you 598 00:30:03,840 --> 00:30:05,400 Speaker 3: all story or your experience. 599 00:30:05,680 --> 00:30:06,360 Speaker 2: I respect that. 600 00:30:06,520 --> 00:30:08,600 Speaker 3: I honor that, and it's your story to tell, it's 601 00:30:08,680 --> 00:30:11,840 Speaker 3: your healing that you get to choose or not choose. However, 602 00:30:11,960 --> 00:30:13,959 Speaker 3: this is how I'm moving forward with it, and can 603 00:30:14,000 --> 00:30:16,840 Speaker 3: we come to an agreement or a compromise or even 604 00:30:16,880 --> 00:30:19,320 Speaker 3: an understanding of like what that looks like for me 605 00:30:19,360 --> 00:30:21,720 Speaker 3: to honor myself, for me to impact the world and 606 00:30:21,760 --> 00:30:25,240 Speaker 3: impact other people, while also you know, protecting you and 607 00:30:25,280 --> 00:30:27,320 Speaker 3: being mindful of you know, what. 608 00:30:27,240 --> 00:30:28,280 Speaker 2: Is yours consensual? 609 00:30:28,320 --> 00:30:30,880 Speaker 3: It's like that consent, bringing that consent in around like 610 00:30:31,120 --> 00:30:33,920 Speaker 3: what is okay were you? What is okay from your 611 00:30:33,960 --> 00:30:35,880 Speaker 3: story to share? Or what is just off limits from 612 00:30:35,880 --> 00:30:38,520 Speaker 3: your story to share? So having a lot of conversations 613 00:30:38,560 --> 00:30:42,240 Speaker 3: around consent boundaries, all the things like that was required, 614 00:30:42,240 --> 00:30:45,000 Speaker 3: while also in the moment having to regulate myself because 615 00:30:45,000 --> 00:30:48,160 Speaker 3: there be times I get triggered and activated and I'm like, okay, 616 00:30:48,960 --> 00:30:51,440 Speaker 3: what do I again as I'm having this conversation, what 617 00:30:51,480 --> 00:30:53,640 Speaker 3: do I need in this moment, as I'm speaking with her, 618 00:30:53,760 --> 00:30:55,560 Speaker 3: What's happening in my body as I'm speaking with her 619 00:30:55,680 --> 00:30:58,560 Speaker 3: another family member? So it was a lot of like 620 00:30:58,760 --> 00:31:03,000 Speaker 3: mental and emotional lady, and like the opportunity to share 621 00:31:03,000 --> 00:31:04,520 Speaker 3: a story, which is why I don't take it for 622 00:31:04,600 --> 00:31:06,360 Speaker 3: granted because it does require a lot. 623 00:31:08,200 --> 00:31:12,760 Speaker 4: Thank you for that, Yeah, I would imagine that well, 624 00:31:12,800 --> 00:31:16,360 Speaker 4: not what I would imagine. I know from personal experience 625 00:31:17,160 --> 00:31:22,320 Speaker 4: that it does require. It requires a lot, yeah, to 626 00:31:23,520 --> 00:31:31,640 Speaker 4: hold space for other people, particularly family members, and yourself simultaneously. 627 00:31:32,280 --> 00:31:34,720 Speaker 2: Yes. And so. 628 00:31:36,960 --> 00:31:40,920 Speaker 4: When you think about all of the work that you 629 00:31:40,960 --> 00:31:46,320 Speaker 4: are doing and have done to heal and to learn, 630 00:31:48,640 --> 00:31:51,680 Speaker 4: when it was all said and done, like the book is, 631 00:31:51,720 --> 00:31:56,760 Speaker 4: the book is being released, right, are there things that 632 00:31:56,800 --> 00:32:00,160 Speaker 4: you wish you would have done differently? That's a that's 633 00:32:00,160 --> 00:32:00,680 Speaker 4: a good question. 634 00:32:00,720 --> 00:32:03,000 Speaker 3: I'm taking a pause, and I love a pause, like 635 00:32:03,040 --> 00:32:05,320 Speaker 3: they're really good for the nervous system. So you know, 636 00:32:07,080 --> 00:32:09,040 Speaker 3: you know, I think something that even I think about 637 00:32:09,080 --> 00:32:10,920 Speaker 3: now as I prepare for the launch and for the 638 00:32:11,000 --> 00:32:14,000 Speaker 3: tour is something I write about in the book as well, 639 00:32:14,120 --> 00:32:17,600 Speaker 3: is how specifically, as black women in films, we've been 640 00:32:17,640 --> 00:32:22,880 Speaker 3: conditioned not to step into our power and really own 641 00:32:23,200 --> 00:32:26,360 Speaker 3: the work that we've done and like take our authority 642 00:32:26,520 --> 00:32:30,080 Speaker 3: and leadership in that work. And I feel like we 643 00:32:30,200 --> 00:32:33,480 Speaker 3: have been taught so often be humble, you know, don't 644 00:32:33,480 --> 00:32:36,840 Speaker 3: be too boseful, you know, don't do the most, you know, 645 00:32:37,480 --> 00:32:39,520 Speaker 3: And so I will name like in the process of 646 00:32:39,560 --> 00:32:41,560 Speaker 3: writing the book, for example, I would run it to 647 00:32:41,640 --> 00:32:43,480 Speaker 3: people on the street or just be out and about 648 00:32:43,520 --> 00:32:45,760 Speaker 3: or writing even and people would say like, what are 649 00:32:45,760 --> 00:32:46,280 Speaker 3: you doing. 650 00:32:46,120 --> 00:32:48,240 Speaker 2: And I'd just be like, you know, I'm writing. 651 00:32:47,960 --> 00:32:51,160 Speaker 3: A book, and it's just like it's oh yeah, it's 652 00:32:51,200 --> 00:32:53,400 Speaker 3: just like a thing, right, And it's like no, like 653 00:32:53,440 --> 00:32:56,880 Speaker 3: I'm writing a book, right, Like I have the privilege 654 00:32:57,400 --> 00:32:59,720 Speaker 3: to write a book, like I am a steward of 655 00:32:59,760 --> 00:33:02,720 Speaker 3: this work, you know, and so like I one of 656 00:33:02,720 --> 00:33:04,680 Speaker 3: the things if I could go back, is like to 657 00:33:04,720 --> 00:33:07,760 Speaker 3: really step more into like my power and my confidence 658 00:33:07,840 --> 00:33:11,560 Speaker 3: and just owning like this is a huge experience and 659 00:33:12,360 --> 00:33:14,320 Speaker 3: it's such and again, it's such a privilege to be 660 00:33:14,360 --> 00:33:16,720 Speaker 3: able to do this work. And so even now, once 661 00:33:16,720 --> 00:33:19,440 Speaker 3: I'm preparing for the launch of this book, I notice 662 00:33:19,480 --> 00:33:22,080 Speaker 3: at times there's parts to me, you know, and I 663 00:33:22,080 --> 00:33:25,000 Speaker 3: explore those parts within myself that are like, hmm, I 664 00:33:25,000 --> 00:33:27,640 Speaker 3: want to shrink back out of the spotlight, or you know, 665 00:33:27,680 --> 00:33:29,760 Speaker 3: I don't want to talk about it too much, or 666 00:33:29,880 --> 00:33:32,480 Speaker 3: I don't want to market it in this specific space, 667 00:33:32,520 --> 00:33:34,880 Speaker 3: and I'm like no, Like, you know, you've put in 668 00:33:34,920 --> 00:33:37,280 Speaker 3: all this work for four and a half years and 669 00:33:37,360 --> 00:33:41,120 Speaker 3: manifesting this book, you know, and it's time. It's time, 670 00:33:41,240 --> 00:33:43,840 Speaker 3: and it's not just about me. It's about the work 671 00:33:43,840 --> 00:33:46,239 Speaker 3: in itself, the impact that it will have, you know. 672 00:33:46,360 --> 00:33:49,200 Speaker 3: And it's about like advocating for that word while also 673 00:33:49,280 --> 00:33:52,760 Speaker 3: honoring like me being able to bring this for into 674 00:33:52,800 --> 00:33:53,240 Speaker 3: the world. 675 00:33:53,280 --> 00:33:55,120 Speaker 2: And so that's the thing I would say. 676 00:33:55,160 --> 00:33:58,360 Speaker 3: It's like just being more in my confidence, my power 677 00:33:58,560 --> 00:33:59,840 Speaker 3: and inner authority. 678 00:34:00,000 --> 00:34:03,719 Speaker 2: And wait, that's unapologetic. That is so needed. 679 00:34:03,760 --> 00:34:06,240 Speaker 1: I think all black women need to hear that, because 680 00:34:06,280 --> 00:34:08,320 Speaker 1: I think many of us were told or have heard 681 00:34:08,360 --> 00:34:10,799 Speaker 1: in our lifetime like all you're supposed to be seen 682 00:34:10,880 --> 00:34:13,480 Speaker 1: and I heard, yeah, mid Is, don't be too humble. 683 00:34:13,520 --> 00:34:15,200 Speaker 1: And as soon as you get some confidence, then people 684 00:34:15,200 --> 00:34:16,880 Speaker 1: are like, oh, you think you all asked like what, 685 00:34:17,800 --> 00:34:19,479 Speaker 1: I'm damned if I do, damned if I don't. 686 00:34:19,600 --> 00:34:23,160 Speaker 2: So exactly for thank you for that. That was a word. 687 00:34:23,840 --> 00:34:26,120 Speaker 1: So let's see try and think of where we want 688 00:34:26,120 --> 00:34:27,279 Speaker 1: to go with this. I wanted to ask you something 689 00:34:27,280 --> 00:34:29,799 Speaker 1: about food, but I also want to talk about when 690 00:34:29,840 --> 00:34:32,560 Speaker 1: you talked about just what it means to redeem our 691 00:34:32,600 --> 00:34:34,719 Speaker 1: black bodies, So maybe we can go there. What does 692 00:34:34,760 --> 00:34:36,480 Speaker 1: it mean to redeem our black bodies? And what are 693 00:34:36,520 --> 00:34:39,440 Speaker 1: some practical tools to redeem our bodies? 694 00:34:40,200 --> 00:34:41,320 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's beautiful. 695 00:34:41,520 --> 00:34:43,520 Speaker 3: You know. The word that I'll use, I love redeem, 696 00:34:43,600 --> 00:34:46,880 Speaker 3: and the word I'll use to reclaim, because when I 697 00:34:46,920 --> 00:34:50,680 Speaker 3: think about systems of colonization, of enslavement, of capitalism, and 698 00:34:50,680 --> 00:34:54,200 Speaker 3: then all the systems birth from that, whether it's patriarchy, homophobia, 699 00:34:54,760 --> 00:34:58,520 Speaker 3: anti black racism, misogyny, or so many things that I 700 00:34:58,560 --> 00:35:00,799 Speaker 3: talk about in the book, a lot of it is 701 00:35:00,880 --> 00:35:02,760 Speaker 3: about this disconnection from self. 702 00:35:03,600 --> 00:35:05,640 Speaker 2: A big reason why our culture needs us. 703 00:35:05,600 --> 00:35:08,600 Speaker 3: Disconnected is so that we can continue to, for lack 704 00:35:08,640 --> 00:35:10,760 Speaker 3: of a better word, like make money for the people 705 00:35:10,800 --> 00:35:13,279 Speaker 3: that are at the top and not question it. You know, 706 00:35:13,360 --> 00:35:15,920 Speaker 3: that is the intention of capitalism. It's for us to 707 00:35:16,160 --> 00:35:18,880 Speaker 3: exhaust our bodies, for us to burn ourselves out at 708 00:35:18,920 --> 00:35:23,120 Speaker 3: the expense of our of ourselves for someone else. And so, 709 00:35:23,520 --> 00:35:27,080 Speaker 3: you know, when I think about reclamation, it's about saying 710 00:35:27,719 --> 00:35:30,960 Speaker 3: like hell no to that system and saying, you know, 711 00:35:31,160 --> 00:35:35,320 Speaker 3: my body, my life, you know what, my dreams, my goals, 712 00:35:35,360 --> 00:35:38,440 Speaker 3: my future, my visions are way more important than me 713 00:35:38,640 --> 00:35:41,480 Speaker 3: serving a system that was never intended, you know, to 714 00:35:41,560 --> 00:35:44,799 Speaker 3: serve me. And so when I think about that reclamation 715 00:35:44,920 --> 00:35:48,360 Speaker 3: process and about what returning means, it is these micro 716 00:35:48,560 --> 00:35:51,959 Speaker 3: moments of listening to ourselves. It's getting clear about what's 717 00:35:52,000 --> 00:35:54,000 Speaker 3: on our hearts, what's in our en especially for those 718 00:35:54,000 --> 00:35:56,719 Speaker 3: of us whohole wombs, what's in our wombs? And how 719 00:35:56,760 --> 00:35:59,640 Speaker 3: are those wombs which are portals, what are they communicating 720 00:35:59,680 --> 00:36:03,200 Speaker 3: to us? It's getting clear, but with an oriented and 721 00:36:03,280 --> 00:36:07,040 Speaker 3: a line between the mind body spirit connection and recognizing 722 00:36:07,080 --> 00:36:09,120 Speaker 3: that we're just not here on accident, We're just not 723 00:36:09,160 --> 00:36:11,880 Speaker 3: here floating around in space, but that we're here intentionally 724 00:36:12,320 --> 00:36:15,399 Speaker 3: and really being mindful about that process of I'm here 725 00:36:15,440 --> 00:36:19,240 Speaker 3: intentionally and for what, you know, what is my special flavor? 726 00:36:19,680 --> 00:36:22,640 Speaker 3: What is my special you know thing that I'm bringing 727 00:36:22,680 --> 00:36:26,920 Speaker 3: into this existence in this specific time, in this specific lifetime. 728 00:36:27,280 --> 00:36:29,680 Speaker 3: And so we're so much bigger and I want folks 729 00:36:29,680 --> 00:36:33,160 Speaker 3: to know that then going to work every day, coming home, 730 00:36:33,480 --> 00:36:36,120 Speaker 3: you know, getting some food in our bodies, and then 731 00:36:36,160 --> 00:36:37,800 Speaker 3: going to sleep and doing it all over again. 732 00:36:37,840 --> 00:36:39,279 Speaker 2: Like, we're way much more than that. 733 00:36:39,640 --> 00:36:42,640 Speaker 3: And so reclamation is recognizing that and saying, like, who 734 00:36:42,719 --> 00:36:44,520 Speaker 3: am I outside of those systems? 735 00:36:44,840 --> 00:36:47,240 Speaker 2: You know? Who am I? Outside of what I do? Even? 736 00:36:47,360 --> 00:36:49,200 Speaker 3: Who am I when I'm just being when I'm just 737 00:36:49,239 --> 00:36:52,040 Speaker 3: sitting down and I don't have anything else to do, 738 00:36:52,160 --> 00:36:53,640 Speaker 3: and I just can be in my thoughts and I 739 00:36:53,640 --> 00:36:55,840 Speaker 3: can imagine, and I can dream and I can rest. 740 00:36:56,200 --> 00:36:57,960 Speaker 2: What is that? Who is that person? 741 00:36:58,440 --> 00:37:00,799 Speaker 3: And so, you know, a big part of slowing down 742 00:37:00,840 --> 00:37:03,360 Speaker 3: and recognizing that is the questions of, you know, what 743 00:37:03,520 --> 00:37:05,920 Speaker 3: is my body needing this moment? Where am I holding 744 00:37:05,960 --> 00:37:10,000 Speaker 3: a specific emotion in my body? What is that emotion need? 745 00:37:10,120 --> 00:37:11,960 Speaker 3: Does it have a color, does it have a texture, 746 00:37:12,000 --> 00:37:15,640 Speaker 3: does it have a flavor? You know, having those conversations 747 00:37:15,640 --> 00:37:19,279 Speaker 3: with yourself, and then you know, through that experience, you know, 748 00:37:19,400 --> 00:37:22,000 Speaker 3: slowing down and making sure that you're meeting your neees, 749 00:37:22,040 --> 00:37:24,400 Speaker 3: but not just your knees, but your wants, your desires 750 00:37:24,680 --> 00:37:27,040 Speaker 3: and everything else you know, beyond that as well. And 751 00:37:27,080 --> 00:37:30,120 Speaker 3: so when I think about specifically the relationship with food, 752 00:37:30,520 --> 00:37:32,920 Speaker 3: I slow down and say, this is just one aspect 753 00:37:33,000 --> 00:37:35,080 Speaker 3: of that. And so as I'm showing up in my 754 00:37:35,120 --> 00:37:38,680 Speaker 3: relationship with food, how does food support me to be present? 755 00:37:38,760 --> 00:37:40,800 Speaker 2: How is food supporting me and feeling nourished? 756 00:37:40,840 --> 00:37:43,840 Speaker 3: How is food supporting me for example, and ensuring that 757 00:37:43,920 --> 00:37:47,800 Speaker 3: my body's like actual organs are functioning in the most 758 00:37:48,000 --> 00:37:51,480 Speaker 3: way that support my vitality, you know, like it's about 759 00:37:51,520 --> 00:37:54,719 Speaker 3: really honoring the holistic self, so that we can like 760 00:37:54,760 --> 00:37:57,040 Speaker 3: show up for ourselves and have these conversations and we're 761 00:37:57,040 --> 00:37:59,279 Speaker 3: not working from a space of deficit or depletion, but 762 00:37:59,320 --> 00:38:02,280 Speaker 3: from a space of an abundance and fullness and wholeness 763 00:38:02,280 --> 00:38:03,000 Speaker 3: when we show. 764 00:38:02,880 --> 00:38:06,359 Speaker 1: Up all right now, not as probably said this ten 765 00:38:06,440 --> 00:38:09,239 Speaker 1: times already, but that was a beautiful response. And I 766 00:38:09,280 --> 00:38:11,400 Speaker 1: don't know you have me at holistic self. So I 767 00:38:11,440 --> 00:38:13,960 Speaker 1: think it might be time to shift up the energy 768 00:38:13,960 --> 00:38:17,880 Speaker 1: of this conversation, Alicia. And because we recognize, appreciate, and 769 00:38:17,920 --> 00:38:21,359 Speaker 1: celebrate the multifaceted woman, and we believe that it's okay 770 00:38:21,400 --> 00:38:24,440 Speaker 1: to be bougie, classy and ratchet. You can still be 771 00:38:24,560 --> 00:38:28,360 Speaker 1: elegant and dance to strip club music if you so choose, 772 00:38:29,080 --> 00:38:32,760 Speaker 1: we want to invite you to the ou blatchet segment. 773 00:38:33,120 --> 00:38:34,640 Speaker 1: Do you take on the challenge? 774 00:38:35,160 --> 00:38:35,840 Speaker 2: I take it on? 775 00:38:36,920 --> 00:38:39,600 Speaker 1: Yeah, Okay, we got our domb Okay. So now that 776 00:38:39,680 --> 00:38:43,480 Speaker 1: you've agreed, we're gonna tell you what to expect. So 777 00:38:43,600 --> 00:38:46,359 Speaker 1: we are going to ask you three questions. We're gonna 778 00:38:46,360 --> 00:38:49,920 Speaker 1: share three sentence completions, and then we have some photos 779 00:38:49,920 --> 00:38:53,040 Speaker 1: pulled up a view from social media, and these told 780 00:38:53,080 --> 00:38:54,879 Speaker 1: us a look bad okay, and so what we want 781 00:38:54,880 --> 00:38:57,080 Speaker 1: you to do it, Yes, we want you to choose 782 00:38:57,160 --> 00:38:59,480 Speaker 1: a photo. You're gonna choose a number out of one 783 00:38:59,520 --> 00:39:02,520 Speaker 1: and three, and we'll share that photo on the big screen, 784 00:39:02,560 --> 00:39:04,880 Speaker 1: and you will give us some context about the photo 785 00:39:05,280 --> 00:39:07,880 Speaker 1: that we wouldn't know just by looking at it. Okay, 786 00:39:08,360 --> 00:39:10,560 Speaker 1: we're going to ease onto this segment. The first question 787 00:39:10,640 --> 00:39:14,680 Speaker 1: for you is what's the best piece of wisdom or 788 00:39:14,719 --> 00:39:16,320 Speaker 1: advice you've ever received? 789 00:39:17,840 --> 00:39:20,239 Speaker 3: I would say, and so it might be cliche, but 790 00:39:20,600 --> 00:39:21,680 Speaker 3: really be yourself. 791 00:39:22,360 --> 00:39:23,040 Speaker 2: Be yourself. 792 00:39:24,920 --> 00:39:26,839 Speaker 3: Yeah, And I just want to add a little bit 793 00:39:26,840 --> 00:39:30,400 Speaker 3: to that and say, I think it's so convenient and 794 00:39:30,440 --> 00:39:34,240 Speaker 3: it's so easy to like shift ourselves for other people 795 00:39:34,920 --> 00:39:38,239 Speaker 3: and to and a lot of times we downplay what 796 00:39:38,320 --> 00:39:40,479 Speaker 3: we need to keep people in our lives or even 797 00:39:40,560 --> 00:39:43,000 Speaker 3: to get the things we think we want, you know, 798 00:39:43,120 --> 00:39:45,400 Speaker 3: but what I tell myself is like, no, be yourself, 799 00:39:45,400 --> 00:39:48,680 Speaker 3: and everything you desire and want will be attracted towards you. 800 00:39:49,000 --> 00:39:51,160 Speaker 3: Like you're just in the energy of everything you want 801 00:39:51,280 --> 00:39:53,840 Speaker 3: by just being you. And so that's that's what I 802 00:39:53,880 --> 00:40:00,279 Speaker 3: would say. Yes, that's so beautiful. Okay, all right, So 803 00:40:01,200 --> 00:40:02,520 Speaker 3: you know, in the spirit. 804 00:40:02,200 --> 00:40:07,080 Speaker 4: Of being yourself, when you're out and about, or maybe 805 00:40:07,080 --> 00:40:11,840 Speaker 4: you're at home and one of your favorite songs comes on. 806 00:40:13,680 --> 00:40:20,399 Speaker 4: Are you going to twerk? Or two Steps? I love it? 807 00:40:20,840 --> 00:40:22,080 Speaker 2: Well, I was just named. 808 00:40:22,080 --> 00:40:25,920 Speaker 3: I have a very diverse music experience, like taste, but right. 809 00:40:25,719 --> 00:40:30,080 Speaker 2: Now I've really been into some glorilla. So yeah, you know, 810 00:40:30,120 --> 00:40:32,360 Speaker 2: I'm gonna be a little ratchet, be a little rachet, 811 00:40:33,120 --> 00:40:33,440 Speaker 2: you know. 812 00:40:33,680 --> 00:40:40,600 Speaker 1: Do a little to Memphis. What you know about me? Yay? 813 00:40:41,120 --> 00:40:42,240 Speaker 2: Love it? 814 00:40:42,360 --> 00:40:45,600 Speaker 3: Yes, it's literally that, like I will twork. I will 815 00:40:45,640 --> 00:40:48,200 Speaker 3: be saying I'll be rapping in the house. So yeah, 816 00:40:48,520 --> 00:40:51,560 Speaker 3: I'm into it all. It's a vibe. 817 00:40:51,880 --> 00:40:53,120 Speaker 2: We love it. We love it. 818 00:40:53,640 --> 00:40:56,360 Speaker 1: Okay, So our last question for you in this segment 819 00:40:56,600 --> 00:40:59,759 Speaker 1: is what's the sexiest item you own? 820 00:41:01,480 --> 00:41:04,840 Speaker 2: Yes, so I have some lingerie. 821 00:41:05,360 --> 00:41:09,040 Speaker 3: Maybe I'll tell my fams, Like, let's log off the podcast. 822 00:41:08,800 --> 00:41:13,879 Speaker 4: Right forward for the next couple of minutes. 823 00:41:14,200 --> 00:41:19,480 Speaker 3: Please, But yeah, I have this little set, you know, 824 00:41:19,640 --> 00:41:21,800 Speaker 3: and I have this little cute, little black set actually 825 00:41:21,840 --> 00:41:24,680 Speaker 3: work this weekend, so yeah, you know, I feel so 826 00:41:24,760 --> 00:41:27,000 Speaker 3: confident in it. I like looking in the mirror and 827 00:41:27,080 --> 00:41:29,960 Speaker 3: doing like mirror work with this outfit on, and I 828 00:41:30,080 --> 00:41:33,960 Speaker 3: just feel so like sexy and full and all delicious 829 00:41:33,960 --> 00:41:36,640 Speaker 3: and all the beautiful words, and so yeah, I would 830 00:41:36,640 --> 00:41:38,640 Speaker 3: say that's like the sexiest thing I have right now. 831 00:41:38,640 --> 00:41:41,839 Speaker 3: It's just like black little Corsett broad type of thing. 832 00:41:42,760 --> 00:41:43,440 Speaker 3: It's beautiful. 833 00:41:45,200 --> 00:41:50,839 Speaker 4: See you Okay, all right, all right, family can tune 834 00:41:50,880 --> 00:41:53,680 Speaker 4: back in now. Yes, and you know we're going to 835 00:41:53,800 --> 00:41:59,719 Speaker 4: move on to the sentence completion. So our first sentence completion, 836 00:42:01,080 --> 00:42:04,600 Speaker 4: one question or topic I wish people asked me about 837 00:42:04,719 --> 00:42:06,160 Speaker 4: more often is. 838 00:42:08,040 --> 00:42:10,080 Speaker 2: I think it would be my experience living outside of 839 00:42:10,120 --> 00:42:11,040 Speaker 2: the United States. 840 00:42:11,320 --> 00:42:14,200 Speaker 3: It's been so transformative for me moving outside of the 841 00:42:14,320 --> 00:42:16,759 Speaker 3: US and living in Mexico, and I just you know, 842 00:42:17,200 --> 00:42:19,120 Speaker 3: hope and wish more people would ask me about that 843 00:42:19,200 --> 00:42:21,360 Speaker 3: experience so that I can talk more about it and 844 00:42:21,400 --> 00:42:24,520 Speaker 3: hopefully encourage other people if it feels accessible and right 845 00:42:24,600 --> 00:42:25,960 Speaker 3: for them to make that move as well. 846 00:42:28,160 --> 00:42:30,799 Speaker 1: Well, mate, wait, are you in Mexico right now? 847 00:42:31,160 --> 00:42:33,040 Speaker 2: I am. I live in Mexico. 848 00:42:33,160 --> 00:42:37,120 Speaker 3: I got my I got my everything, Like. 849 00:42:36,080 --> 00:42:39,400 Speaker 1: Congratulations, oh in your life. Okay, well you're not going 850 00:42:39,440 --> 00:42:42,359 Speaker 1: to believe this, Alesia. So our next sentence completion is 851 00:42:42,920 --> 00:42:45,759 Speaker 1: what I would tell everyone about living in Mexico is. 852 00:42:46,960 --> 00:42:50,880 Speaker 3: Wow, okay, yes, beautiful, Okay, I would tell folks that 853 00:42:51,480 --> 00:42:56,080 Speaker 3: it is. It's like being in another world in a 854 00:42:56,120 --> 00:42:58,400 Speaker 3: way that it's like you get to discover who you 855 00:42:58,440 --> 00:43:00,520 Speaker 3: are outside of all the systems of a depression that 856 00:43:00,560 --> 00:43:02,719 Speaker 3: we learn in the States, and so you get to 857 00:43:02,719 --> 00:43:03,760 Speaker 3: become another person. 858 00:43:03,800 --> 00:43:06,160 Speaker 2: That actually is like living in the liberation. 859 00:43:06,280 --> 00:43:08,520 Speaker 3: It's not just talking about it, it's like being in 860 00:43:08,560 --> 00:43:09,919 Speaker 3: it in the moment every day. 861 00:43:11,040 --> 00:43:15,080 Speaker 6: That sounds amazing. Can we come down the yeah, come on, 862 00:43:16,200 --> 00:43:22,280 Speaker 6: we need this. Yes, yes, country, Yes, Okay. 863 00:43:22,440 --> 00:43:27,440 Speaker 4: So our final sentence completion, I think it ties perfectly 864 00:43:28,160 --> 00:43:32,440 Speaker 4: with our first question or your answer to our first question. 865 00:43:33,160 --> 00:43:38,560 Speaker 4: So our final sentence completion is What I love most 866 00:43:38,640 --> 00:43:40,359 Speaker 4: about myself is. 867 00:43:42,880 --> 00:43:43,480 Speaker 2: I love this. 868 00:43:45,520 --> 00:43:48,960 Speaker 3: What I love most about myself is my intuition and 869 00:43:49,160 --> 00:43:52,680 Speaker 3: she never stares me wrong. I trust her even when 870 00:43:52,680 --> 00:43:54,880 Speaker 3: I don't know what might be on the other side. 871 00:43:54,920 --> 00:43:57,520 Speaker 3: Even in this moved to Mexico, I'm like Mexico, like, 872 00:43:57,880 --> 00:44:00,520 Speaker 3: what the hell you know? But I trusted the journey 873 00:44:00,520 --> 00:44:02,680 Speaker 3: and process and it's been so beautiful and worth it. 874 00:44:02,760 --> 00:44:05,560 Speaker 3: And so my favorite thing about myself that I love 875 00:44:05,640 --> 00:44:06,360 Speaker 3: is my intuition. 876 00:44:08,239 --> 00:44:11,720 Speaker 2: Yes, amen to that awesome, Well, we are so excited. 877 00:44:11,719 --> 00:44:13,759 Speaker 1: These answers were amazing and we're so excited for this 878 00:44:13,880 --> 00:44:16,359 Speaker 1: next segment because we have a photo pulled up. 879 00:44:16,400 --> 00:44:18,560 Speaker 2: We have three photos pulled up, actually, Lisha, and. 880 00:44:18,520 --> 00:44:20,560 Speaker 1: What we want you to do is choose a number 881 00:44:20,600 --> 00:44:22,920 Speaker 1: out of one in three and then we'll share that 882 00:44:23,000 --> 00:44:24,960 Speaker 1: one photo on the screen for you. 883 00:44:25,280 --> 00:44:31,080 Speaker 2: Okay, I'm feeling too Okay, Oh this is cute. 884 00:44:31,080 --> 00:44:33,920 Speaker 1: Okay, So really quick before I share the photo, Alicia, 885 00:44:34,000 --> 00:44:36,319 Speaker 1: if you can describe the photo first for the people 886 00:44:36,360 --> 00:44:38,759 Speaker 1: who are only tuning into the audio, and then those 887 00:44:38,800 --> 00:44:41,560 Speaker 1: that are tuning in on video on our Patreon, they 888 00:44:41,600 --> 00:44:43,680 Speaker 1: will see the video or they'll see the photo. So 889 00:44:43,800 --> 00:44:45,440 Speaker 1: you can describe the photo first and then give us 890 00:44:45,440 --> 00:44:47,920 Speaker 1: some context about this photo that we would not know 891 00:44:48,520 --> 00:44:49,680 Speaker 1: just by looking at it. 892 00:44:50,000 --> 00:44:55,640 Speaker 3: Okay, perfect, Oh yes, okay, So for folks that are listening, 893 00:44:56,000 --> 00:44:58,800 Speaker 3: this is a photo of me. I have on a 894 00:44:59,239 --> 00:45:01,920 Speaker 3: Yello it's not like a gym outfit, but it's like 895 00:45:02,000 --> 00:45:05,719 Speaker 3: Yitty Lizzo's company, shout out to her. But I have 896 00:45:05,800 --> 00:45:09,360 Speaker 3: on my Yiddy yellow brawlet, and then some like biker 897 00:45:09,400 --> 00:45:12,600 Speaker 3: shorts that are yellow as well, some white nikes and 898 00:45:12,760 --> 00:45:16,480 Speaker 3: a Nike pullover what is it called wind jacket? And 899 00:45:16,480 --> 00:45:18,840 Speaker 3: then I have like a little pouch wrapped around my waist, 900 00:45:18,960 --> 00:45:21,120 Speaker 3: and I'm like guarding my I have one of my 901 00:45:21,160 --> 00:45:23,600 Speaker 3: hands up guarding my face from the sun, and the 902 00:45:23,640 --> 00:45:27,000 Speaker 3: other hand is just like holding my glasses, which is. 903 00:45:27,040 --> 00:45:28,480 Speaker 2: Like, why am I hold of my glasses in one 904 00:45:28,480 --> 00:45:30,040 Speaker 2: hand and guarding my face from the sun. But that's 905 00:45:30,080 --> 00:45:31,600 Speaker 2: another that's a whole other thing. 906 00:45:31,719 --> 00:45:32,160 Speaker 3: You know. 907 00:45:33,719 --> 00:45:35,120 Speaker 2: It's been a photo, okay, y'all. 908 00:45:35,640 --> 00:45:37,880 Speaker 3: And then I'm standing in front of this very colorful 909 00:45:37,920 --> 00:45:40,520 Speaker 3: fruit area that's here in Mexico. And so just for 910 00:45:40,640 --> 00:45:43,520 Speaker 3: context of this photo, I had some friends visit me. 911 00:45:43,560 --> 00:45:45,960 Speaker 3: They were my first guests here in Mexico. They visited 912 00:45:46,000 --> 00:45:48,480 Speaker 3: me back in March, and I'm just showing them around 913 00:45:48,560 --> 00:45:53,040 Speaker 3: everywhere my neighborhood, different restaurants, bars, and I said, I 914 00:45:53,040 --> 00:45:55,279 Speaker 3: want y'all to also see, like this place that I 915 00:45:55,320 --> 00:45:58,440 Speaker 3: go to buy my fresh fruit vegetables. It's you know, 916 00:45:58,680 --> 00:46:01,360 Speaker 3: pretty affordable, but it's also really good for the body. 917 00:46:01,400 --> 00:46:03,360 Speaker 2: And that you know, everything here is fresh. 918 00:46:03,360 --> 00:46:07,319 Speaker 3: There's no like chemically processed things mixed with pesticides in 919 00:46:07,320 --> 00:46:10,279 Speaker 3: this fruteria. Like everything's coming directly from the land. They 920 00:46:10,320 --> 00:46:12,880 Speaker 3: can name exactly where it's coming from. And so I 921 00:46:12,960 --> 00:46:15,279 Speaker 3: really wanted them to have that experience. And then after bird, 922 00:46:15,320 --> 00:46:17,640 Speaker 3: I was like, well, let's catchure some little photos because 923 00:46:17,719 --> 00:46:21,680 Speaker 3: I'm looking cute. So then that's what led to this photo. 924 00:46:21,760 --> 00:46:23,960 Speaker 3: And that's just the background of that experience as well. 925 00:46:24,040 --> 00:46:24,200 Speaker 4: To you. 926 00:46:25,400 --> 00:46:30,160 Speaker 1: Yes, we love that, Yes, thank you for playing along 927 00:46:30,200 --> 00:46:30,680 Speaker 1: with us. 928 00:46:30,960 --> 00:46:32,120 Speaker 2: Of course, this is great. 929 00:46:33,080 --> 00:46:38,480 Speaker 4: Yes, we appreciate it. And so as we are coming 930 00:46:38,560 --> 00:46:42,520 Speaker 4: to a close with this amazing interview, there's so many 931 00:46:42,520 --> 00:46:47,000 Speaker 4: more questions we could ask and we could totally keep 932 00:46:47,000 --> 00:46:48,920 Speaker 4: this conversation going, but we want to be mindful of 933 00:46:48,960 --> 00:46:53,080 Speaker 4: your time. Ay list, you're in Mexico, and so when 934 00:46:53,160 --> 00:46:59,520 Speaker 4: you think about what's next to you, what's coming up, 935 00:46:59,600 --> 00:47:02,319 Speaker 4: what what's in the plan? And then also can you 936 00:47:02,400 --> 00:47:07,239 Speaker 4: tell our listeners where they can find their copy of 937 00:47:07,880 --> 00:47:09,800 Speaker 4: Reclaiming the Black Body? 938 00:47:11,080 --> 00:47:15,719 Speaker 3: Of course absolutely, what's next for me is really being 939 00:47:15,800 --> 00:47:20,120 Speaker 3: in the presence of joy and of celebration for this 940 00:47:20,160 --> 00:47:22,360 Speaker 3: book launch. I know I'll be going back to the 941 00:47:22,400 --> 00:47:25,279 Speaker 3: States and visiting a couple cities, I'll be talking to 942 00:47:25,760 --> 00:47:29,160 Speaker 3: more folks for different interviews, podcasts, speaking engagements, and so 943 00:47:29,320 --> 00:47:32,120 Speaker 3: really being in the experience of like all of that, 944 00:47:32,880 --> 00:47:34,840 Speaker 3: I do feel already in my heart and in my 945 00:47:34,880 --> 00:47:37,719 Speaker 3: gut that I do have another book within me, and 946 00:47:37,920 --> 00:47:40,480 Speaker 3: a lot of that is the experiences that I've gained 947 00:47:40,480 --> 00:47:43,360 Speaker 3: since leaving the US and really talking and expanding on 948 00:47:43,400 --> 00:47:45,680 Speaker 3: my work of what it looks like for our relationships 949 00:47:45,680 --> 00:47:48,160 Speaker 3: with our body and with food when we're not in 950 00:47:48,200 --> 00:47:49,280 Speaker 3: that specific place. 951 00:47:49,360 --> 00:47:52,120 Speaker 2: And so that's like something that's on the horizon. 952 00:47:52,200 --> 00:47:55,000 Speaker 3: That's something that I've been massaging and just feeling into 953 00:47:55,440 --> 00:47:58,040 Speaker 3: and so that's kind of like a future thing. And 954 00:47:58,600 --> 00:48:01,600 Speaker 3: outside of that is really just to continue to enjoy life. 955 00:48:01,640 --> 00:48:03,880 Speaker 2: Like I get off work, I go to the beach. 956 00:48:04,080 --> 00:48:06,560 Speaker 3: I literally I live right off of the beach right now, 957 00:48:06,640 --> 00:48:09,279 Speaker 3: so I just go downstairs. I'm on the beach, and 958 00:48:09,800 --> 00:48:13,440 Speaker 3: you know, I'm i have amazing friends here, amazing community, 959 00:48:13,480 --> 00:48:16,239 Speaker 3: I'm an amazing partnership, and so just like being in 960 00:48:16,440 --> 00:48:19,680 Speaker 3: like the joy and fullness of all of these beautiful experiences. 961 00:48:20,200 --> 00:48:21,920 Speaker 3: And then for folks that are interested in want to 962 00:48:21,920 --> 00:48:23,719 Speaker 3: find me, you can find me on my website at 963 00:48:23,760 --> 00:48:28,120 Speaker 3: Blackenembody dot com, on Instagram at black and Embodied, TikTok 964 00:48:28,160 --> 00:48:30,399 Speaker 3: and black and Embodied, so everywhere at Black and Body 965 00:48:30,520 --> 00:48:32,440 Speaker 3: you can find me. But I do look word to 966 00:48:32,440 --> 00:48:34,520 Speaker 3: connecting with you all, and thank you all for buying 967 00:48:34,520 --> 00:48:37,480 Speaker 3: the book. It is available on Amazon Books a million, 968 00:48:37,600 --> 00:48:42,360 Speaker 3: It's available in Walmart, Target, and everywhere you can buy books. Amazon, 969 00:48:42,440 --> 00:48:44,960 Speaker 3: I think I said that, but Barnes and Nobles anywhere 970 00:48:44,960 --> 00:48:46,600 Speaker 3: you can buy books, my book is available. 971 00:48:47,280 --> 00:48:50,440 Speaker 1: Thank you so much, Lucia, this was such an amazing conversation. 972 00:48:50,480 --> 00:48:54,000 Speaker 1: We appreciate you and your work so much, and lady 973 00:48:54,040 --> 00:48:55,640 Speaker 1: make sure you go out and support her work well. 974 00:48:55,680 --> 00:48:57,400 Speaker 1: At links in the bio, you can pre order the 975 00:48:57,440 --> 00:48:59,640 Speaker 1: book if you're you know, if you didn't get it 976 00:48:59,680 --> 00:49:01,720 Speaker 1: all ready, you can buy it now. All that good stuff, 977 00:49:01,719 --> 00:49:04,080 Speaker 1: so we'll put all the links in the show notes. 978 00:49:04,200 --> 00:49:05,960 Speaker 1: Thank you so much, Alesha, this was amazing. 979 00:49:06,520 --> 00:49:09,839 Speaker 2: Thank you all. Have a beautiful evening too. 980 00:49:12,000 --> 00:49:15,600 Speaker 1: If you're feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure of your next steps, 981 00:49:16,040 --> 00:49:19,600 Speaker 1: this is for you. Hey, lady is Tea here and 982 00:49:19,640 --> 00:49:21,600 Speaker 1: I just want to invite you to my free goal 983 00:49:21,640 --> 00:49:24,440 Speaker 1: map like a pro coaching workshop, where I'll share the 984 00:49:24,520 --> 00:49:28,280 Speaker 1: five proven steps to get unstuck and achieve your goals. 985 00:49:28,560 --> 00:49:33,120 Speaker 1: Whether you're feeling overwhelmed by all your ideas, juggling scattered ideas, 986 00:49:33,280 --> 00:49:36,560 Speaker 1: or maybe you just need confidence to start. This workshop 987 00:49:36,560 --> 00:49:39,680 Speaker 1: will give you the clarity, tools and the motivation to 988 00:49:39,800 --> 00:49:43,320 Speaker 1: take back control. Reserve your spot for free by visiting 989 00:49:43,440 --> 00:49:47,600 Speaker 1: her spacepodcast dot com and clicking on the goal map 990 00:49:47,680 --> 00:49:48,919 Speaker 1: like a pro webinar link. 991 00:49:49,280 --> 00:49:50,280 Speaker 2: Lady, don't miss. 992 00:49:50,120 --> 00:49:52,200 Speaker 1: This chance to build a roadmap that fits your life 993 00:49:52,239 --> 00:49:53,520 Speaker 1: and set you up for success. 994 00:49:53,760 --> 00:49:54,800 Speaker 2: I hope to see you there. 995 00:49:58,840 --> 00:50:02,560 Speaker 4: Thanks for tuning in to call her Space. Remember that 996 00:50:02,640 --> 00:50:06,960 Speaker 4: while this podcast is all about healing, empowerment, and resilience, 997 00:50:07,480 --> 00:50:11,560 Speaker 4: it's not a substitute for therapy. If you are someone 998 00:50:11,600 --> 00:50:15,480 Speaker 4: you know need support, check out resources like Therapy for 999 00:50:15,560 --> 00:50:20,120 Speaker 4: Black Girls or Psychology Today. If you love today's episode, 1000 00:50:20,440 --> 00:50:22,399 Speaker 4: do us a favor and share it with a friend 1001 00:50:22,440 --> 00:50:26,479 Speaker 4: who needs some inspiration, or leave us a quick five 1002 00:50:26,520 --> 00:50:30,080 Speaker 4: star review. Your support needs the world to us and 1003 00:50:30,160 --> 00:50:31,960 Speaker 4: helps keep this space thriving. 1004 00:50:32,520 --> 00:50:36,640 Speaker 1: And before we meet again, repeat after me. I am 1005 00:50:36,680 --> 00:50:41,640 Speaker 1: the architect of my destiny, shaping every moment with purpose 1006 00:50:42,280 --> 00:50:46,680 Speaker 1: and passion. Keep thriving, lady, and tune in next Friday 1007 00:50:46,719 --> 00:50:51,200 Speaker 1: for more inspiration from Cultivating her Space. In the meantime, 1008 00:50:51,480 --> 00:50:54,440 Speaker 1: be sure to connect with us on Instagram at her 1009 00:50:54,480 --> 00:50:55,480 Speaker 1: Space Podcast