My Brilliant Friends

passion may have taken this episode kinda personal, Friends. She talked about friends and social media and she got super specific. Are you really keeping up with your friends and what they're going through or what they have going on if your only contact is through social media? Are you on the other side of that coin? Are you the friend who feels slighted by the person trying who has time to be on social media 16 hours a day, but can't respond to a text with a simple yes or no? No matter your stance on this issue, you'll find yourself in this episode. Tune in and let us know your thoughts!This week's vocabulary:

persona non grata: an unacceptable or unwelcome person

feign: pretend to be affected by (a feeling, state, or injury)

indubitably: an adverb that means "impossible to doubt"

agape: wide open, especially with surprise or wonder

lauded: highly praised or admired

befitting: appropriate to the occasion

behest: an earnest or strongly worded request

In this week's episode, passion talks about seasons changing in friendship, gives a few examples of those changes and a few tips on how to maneuver if the change caught you off guard. Per usual, she gives it to us raw and uncut with a sprinkle of tact to smooth out the rough places. Tune in!

Today's Vocabulary:

somber: dark or dull in color or tone; gloomy/oppressively solemn or sober in mood; grave.

nigh: almost/at or to a short distance away.

continuum: a coherent whole characterized as a collection, sequence, or progression of values or elements varying by minute degrees

vernal equinox: the equinox in spring, on about March 20 in the northern hemisphere and September 22 in the southern hemisphere.
--the equinox in March, when the sun crosses the celestial equator in a northerly direction, marking the prime meridian of right ascension.

exacted: demand and obtain (something, especially a payment) from someone./inflict (revenge) on someone.

proselytize: convert or attempt to convert (someone) from one religion, belief, or opinion to another./advocate or promote (a belief or course of action).

snarky: critical or mocking in an indirect or sarcastic way./bad-tempered or irritable.

diatribe: a forceful and bitter verbal attack against someone or something.

idiosyncrasies: a mode of behavior or way of thought peculiar to an individual.

Thank you for taking the lead with this. I love you! - Cory

In this week's episode, Cory pops in and your favorite dynamic duo have a very candid and transparent conversation about what's been going on with Cory, as well as the pair's friendship. As this podcast is about friendship navigation, Cory and passion use their friendship as the model for the good, the bad, and the ugly. You definitely don't want to miss this one!

This week's vocabulary:

mitigating: having the effect of making something bad less severe, serious, or painful

tenuous: very weak or slight

dole: distribute shares of something

sabbatical: a period of paid leave granted to a university teacher or other worker for study or travel, traditionally one year for every seven years worked -- per thesabbaticalguide.com: A personal sabbatical is where you take an extended break from work, agreed with your employer. It is usually between 4 and 12 weeks and in most circumstances is unpaid

In this week's episode, passion talks about leveling up in friendship. What is leveling up in the first place? What does that mean for you as an individual? What does it mean for you as a friend? What expectations and requirements does that come with? What expectations and requirements are you allowed to have? Tune in to find out what other questions are explored and passion's advice on how to elevate your friendships. 

This week's vocabulary: 

vernacular: the language or dialect spoken by the ordinary people in a particular country or region.

omnipotent: (of a deity) having unlimited power; able to do anything

omniscient: knowing everything

omnipresent: widely or constantly encountered; common or widespread / (of God) present everywhere at the same time.

omnibenevolent: (of a deity) possessing perfect or unlimited goodness

nuance: a subtle difference in or shade of meaning, expression, or sound

In this week's episode, passion takes the lead to give Cory some time for self-maintenance. She leads us through the first installment of the grief series. What is grief? What is depression? Are they the same thing? What is the impact, if any, to the person who isn't grieving? How do you show up for your friend? How do you navigate someone else's grief when you're trying to navigate your own? How do you navigate grief when it's your business partner? Get your pen and paper ready because class is in session!

Be sure to follow us on any and all of our pages.  @theycallmepassion or passion NoLastNecessary Facebook fanpage. @corylscott on all platforms or corylscott.com You can also follow @mbfpod, @mybrilliantfriendpassion, or @mybrilliantfriendcory . Follow, like, subscribe, comment, share or click the support button and become a monthly contributor. It all counts and it is all appreciated!

This week's vocabulary words: 

tenet: a principle or belief, especially one of the main principles of a religion or philosophy

iteration: a form, adaption, or version of something

in tandem: (phrase) alongside each other; together

broach: raise (a sensitive or difficult subject) for discussion

cacophony: a harsh discordant mixture of sounds

rapt: completely fascinated by what one is seeing or hearing

angst: a feeling of deep anxiety or dread, typically an unfocused one about the human condition or the state of the world in genera

allusion: an expression designed to call something to mind without mentioning it explicitly; an indirect or passing reference

colloquy: a conversation.

This week's episode is the first edition of the "Supporting Friends" Series, where we discuss the ways that friends show up to support each other. For the opening conversation in this series, we talk with Alexis Flakes (@flakeslikefrosted) about what it looks like to be a serial entrepreneur, what it means to find your tribe, and redefining support. We tackle the conversation about following your passion - even if it means couch surfing for a little while and more...

Check out and support the Black entrepreneurs mentioned in the episode: @getboldjewels (handmade clip-on earrings by Alexis); @marshandmane (beauty supply boutique in Philly); @RLCDecorLifestyle (handmade candles and lifestyle brand in Chicago); @growingeverymoment (t-shirt and clothing brand in Chicago); and @the.Blairisms (clothing and lifestyle brand in DC).

Be sure to follow us!

Instagram: @mbfpod, @corylscott, @theycallmepassion, @mybrilliantfriendcory,  @mybrilliantfriendpassion, Alexis - @flakeslikefrosted.

This week's vocabulary word:

Dejected (adjective): sad and depressed; dispirited.

In this week's episode we discuss how single friends show up for our friends who have do in fact have children. We're joined by Morgan Cuffie, the host of the Bad Mommi Podcast, who gives us some insight into what its like to be a single mom and navigate friendship. She talks discipline, load sharing, timing and all the things a bad mommi needs in order to have a life too.

In this week's episode we discuss the difference between long distance friendships versus distant friendships. How do you maintain friendship when there is distance created by location or distance created by life? Who's responsible? Should you even feel "responsible"? Should friendship feel like work? We invited three of Cory's closest friends ("The Boys" aka Carl, Tavares, and Charles) to talk about how they have kept up their friendship over several years and hundreds of miles. 

Be sure to follow us!

Instagram: @mbfpod, @corylscott, @theycallmepassion, @mybrilliantfriendcory,  @mybrilliantfriendpassion, Carl (@WhoTheFuckIsCarlRay), Tavares (@Iam_Tavares), and Charles (@kngdm2020).

In this week's episode we discuss mental health with our brilliant friend Rich, who works as a mental healthcare professional. We talk about emotional dumping, capacity, being the strong friend, and how we handle serious challenges that surface in friendship surrounding mental health.

Be sure to follow us!

Instagram: @mbfpod, @corylscott, @theycallmepassion, @mybrilliantfriendcory,  @mybrilliantfriendpassion, Rich (@Aurabright).

This week's vocabulary list is dedicated to mental health terminology.

Depressive Disorder (or clinical depression): a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. Also called major depressive disorder or clinical depression, it affects how you feel, think and behave and can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems. You may have trouble doing normal day-to-day activities, and sometimes you may feel as if life isn't worth living.

Anxiety Disorder: A mental health disorder characterized by feelings of worry, anxiety, or fear that are strong enough to interfere with one's daily activities; including generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and various phobia-related disorders.

Bi-Polar Disorder (formerly called manic-depressive illness or manic depression): is a mental disorder that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, concentration, and the ability to carry out day-to-day tasks. These moods range from periods of extremely “up,” elated, irritable, or energized behavior (known as manic episodes) to very “down,” sad, indifferent, or hopeless periods (known as depressive episodes). Less severe manic periods are known as hypomanic episodes.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (commonly called OCD): a personality disorder characterized by excessive orderliness, perfectionism, attention to details, and a need for control in relating to others. OCD is characterized by unreasonable thoughts and fears (obsessions) that lead to compulsive behaviors.

Sexually Compulsive Behavior (noun): sometimes called hypersexuality, hypersexuality disorder or sexual addiction. It's an excessive preoccupation with sexual fantasies, urges or behaviors that is difficult to control, causes you distress, or negatively affects your health, job, relationships or other parts of your life

Schizophrenia (noun): a long-term mental disorder of a type involving a breakdown in the relation between thought, emotion, and behavior, leading to faulty perception, inappropriate actions and feelings, withdrawal from reality and personal relationships into fantasy and delusion, and a sense of mental fragmentation.

In Pt. 2 of Lights. Camera. It's On! Passion, Cory and Will (S1 Producer) walk you through all the segments of the show and take rapid-fire questions near the end of the episode to give the listeners a peek into who they are.  Don't forget to send your friend request (listener letters) or suggestions to mybrilliantfriendpassion@gmail.com. 

Be sure to follow us!

Instagram: @mbfpod, @corylscott, @theycallmepassion, @mybrilliantfriendcory,  @mybrilliantfriendpassion,

Producer: William Carl Stallings III - @dukeofbeaux (Instagram).

In Pt. 1 of Lights. Camera. It's On! Cory and Passion share the history of their friendship and how they came to host this podcast together. They share stories about their mutual friends, what they think friendship is, and much more... This week's guest is our S1 producer, William Carl Stallings III.

Be sure to follow us!

Instagram: @mbfpod, @corylscott, @theycallmepassion, @mybrilliantfriendcory,  @mybrilliantfriendpassion,

Producer: William Carl Stallings III - @dukeofbeaux (Instagram). 

Vocabulary List:

Apropos (adverb): at an opportune time.

Chicanery (noun): the use of trickery to achieve a political, financial, or legal purpose.

Parasol (noun): 1. a light umbrella used to give shade from the sun.

Solemnity (noun): the state or quality of being serious and dignified.

Abdicate (verb): 1. (of a monarch) renounce one's throne. 2. fail to fulfill or undertake (a responsibility or duty).