Rushing to Adulthood

Wow! And just like that, Season Two comes to an end! It’s been an absolute joy to go on this journey with you! I have loved every conversation and every interaction with listeners from all over! In the theme of intentional adulting, I will be putting the Rushing To Adulthood Podcast on pause to shift from creating a story podcast to starting my manuscript for my book! Thank you all for this amazing experience! Peace and Light! Hazel Monae 

Rev. Emily Labrecque currently serves as the Missioner for Church Revitalization at the Episcopal Diocese of Washington (DC). Ordained in the United Church of Christ, she is an Enneagram practitioner and ICF trained coach. Emily lives in DC with her 5 year old twins, Max and Ruth. When not working or chasing her kids, she can be found exercising with the Queer Gym, exploring the National Arboretum, or binging the latest TV dramedy

@emilymlabr on IG

Rudy Logan is from Silver Spring, Maryland. He uses his experience in grassroots organizing, creative arts, criminal justice, prison, and social justice-based ministries to cultivate holistic and collective liberation alongside others. His parents are from Washington, D.C., and Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), and their social locations have played a critical role concerning his perspectives on matters of religion, prison and policing, migration, interiority, race, class, and gender. Moreover, Rudy’s upbringing in his local Baptist church, experiences across communities from the D.C. area, to New York City and Central New Jersey, in addition to anti-carceral advocacy, Black Liberation Theology, and Black Philosophies of Existence, profoundly shape his processing toward a justice-oriented life. Rudy is a graduate of both St. John’s University (Queens, New York) and Princeton Theological Seminary. He currently works for the Episcopal Diocese of Washington as the Missioner for Equity and Justice, building capacity for racial justice and equity-based practice while supporting the Diocesan strategic plan. 

rudy.e.logan@gmail.com

Rudykouakoe

Joining me in the last part of this series is a dear human, Tory Dillard! Honored to know him!

Tory Shane Dillard is an actor, poet, and pastor. He is a 29 year old clergy person of the United Methodist Church in the heart of rural Tennessee. Tory dreams of a church that embroils the joys  within us, brings to light the best in us, and empowers us to be transformed through the perfected love of God’s unfailing grace. Tory’s hobbies involve playing Dnd, taking hikes, writing poetry and participating in community theater.  You can find him in Adamsville, Tn serving three wonderful churches and seeking to be a bearer of joy to all he meets. Tory wishes that you be someone’s joy this week and he prays that he can be a joy for you this day. You are a child of God and you are Loved.

Honored to be joined by my brother, Michael as part of this series.

Michael is a 30-year old Black Gay traveler who navigates the nomadic life with so much intention and lightness. Having traveled all over the United States, Michael highlights Vermont and Martha’s Vineyard as his favorite places. As an advocate for the LGBTQIA community, Michael brings deep passion to advancing opportunities for this beautiful community’s full thriving.

So happy to have my love back on the podcast to talk about Creating Impact in Community from a very powerful perspective.

In this short episode, we hear a real-time revelation from podcast host, Hazel Monae, about what it means to have fun.

What a joy it is to be joined by my little sister, Yu'Nique, who is 10 years younger! It's been such a joy to learn with and from her!  In this episode we reflect on what it's like to realize that we are ACTUALLY adults. Yu'Nique is a Nevada native currently residing in Texas as she navigates this adult life.

You can find her on all social media platforms: @lifeasyunique

We are back with Hazel Monae & Bae! In this video episode this week, we talk all things marriage and what it took to get here! 

In this episode, I am joined by my beautiful step daughter, Halimah. In this short segment, we talk about the gifts and challenges of learning a new person and our hopes for our relationship. 

Language note: Yumma is an Arabic word for Mother

It's a video episode! Woot woot! 

This week, I share a bit about my desire to move away from perfection.  Creating this podcast without a plan is the very thing I need to heal pertaining to what my rush to adulthood did to me. This episode is created with so much gratitude to my brother, Michael, who teaches me so much about freedom. 

Content Warning: Death/Murder is mentioned in this episode. 

Today, I am joined by my friend, Greg Etienne as we explore the theme of queering adulthood. Yes, both in terms of sexual orientation and in the way that we are different, eclectic and go against the norm.   

About Greg 

Originally from Boston, MA, and the son of Haitian immigrants, Greg has been in the nation’s capital for 7 years. It is in Washington D.C., where he achieved his BS in IT from Southern New Hampshire University and his MS in Cybersecurity from University of Maryland Global Campus. He uses his vast experience in the hospitality industry, his incredible customer service acumen, and his technical skills to grow his business, BOTL’D.  BOTL’D is a Black-owned, LGBTQ+, artisanal, handcrafted, small-batch, ready-to-drink cocktail company that provides unique and delicious cocktails for every occasion. You can learn more about Greg, and his business below. 

• Personal IG: @alaphunkee 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregory-etienne/ 
• Business Link Sites: https://bio.site/BOTLD