Grown Folk Talk with Natasha Nicole

In my previous episode of GFT with Natasha Nicole, I was joined by momtrepreneur, Daisha Sealey and had a lively conversation about what it meant to be a person of excellence. Well, we're back in this episode to continue that conversation, as well as share some advice and tips on how one can start grooming themselves to operate in excellence and become more excellent if he or she so desires.

Daisha Sealey is the founder of Sitting Amongst Queens, a not-for-profit organization aimed to provide single mothers support and relational growth via networking opportunities and events in and around the Greater Boston area. To learn more about SAQ or donate to their wonderful cause, check out the information listed below:

Website: www.sittingamongstqueens.godaddysites.com

Email: sittingamongstqueens@gmail.com

Phone: (617) 433-8921

Donate: https://cash.app/$SittingAmongstQueens

Here's a random question, do you consider yourself to be a pigeon or an eagle? Don't know? Well, are you living your life on purpose and with excellence? If you still don't know, then this episode is for you. We were created to be people of excellence and to live not just a good life, but a prosperous one. Unfortunately, so many of us don't know just how exceptional we are in God's eyes. For this grown-folk conversation, I'm joined by momtrepreneur, Daisha Sealey as we discuss what being a person of excellence is and how to become one. Buckle up and enjoy this ride. Oh, you also may want to take some notes. I'm just saying...

Throughout my life, even before I started my Christian journey, I heard a ton of phrases or cliches that church folks would say.  As a child, I didn’t always understand what some of them meant.  Now that I’ve been rocking with God, the Son, and the Holy Spirit for 23 years, I’ve come to understand what they all mean through my life experiences.  In this episode of So Here’s the Thing, I passionately discuss my annoyance with a few Christian cliches.  However, I have to admit when I’m experiencing hardship or challenge, I DO NOT want to hear any of the listed cliches.  Maybe that’s just me, let’s talk about it.

·       He may not come when you want Him to, but He’s always on time

·       God is good all the time, and all the time God is good

·       Hate the sin, but love the sinner

·       When God closes a door, He opens a window

How do you define brokenness?  Oftentimes we equate being "broken" with being useless, but that's simply not true.  We all have "stuff" in our lives that trip us up, but that doesn't mean we can't be used to bring joy to someone else or make an impact on this world.  In this episode, me and my friend, Joy Gary, have a grown folk conversation about what it means to be broken, and how our brokenness can be used to create a beautiful work of art.

What is vision, and why is it important? Hint - I'm not referring to having the ability to see, although that's good too.  In this episode, my good friend Joy Gary joins me for a conversation about purpose and vision.  After listening to this episode, I hope at least one person will walk away with a better understanding of who they are, and what they want to do for the rest of their lives.

With each new year, I take time to reflect on the previous year, and each time I do this I receive some type of revelation that helps me understand the purpose of that year.  The revelation I received a while ago came back to me during my time of contemplation, and that is, there's a purpose in pain.  In this episode, I share my poem, Purpose in the Pain to explain or at least try to explain what that said "purpose" is.

When I was a little girl, like many adolescents, I called everyone my friend.  My grandmother wasn't too keen on the idea of me calling everyone a friend, she believed that friendship was something people needed to earn from you and should not be easily given away to just any ole bodies.  It wasn't until I was much older that I came to understand exactly what my grandmother was talking about.  As some of you may be preparing your list of new year's resolutions, I recommend each of you add, "check my friend supply".  This may seem like an odd or silly request, but we all need a good support system, which includes good friends.  

In this episode, I discuss 16 different types of friends who I categorize as Blessors and Stressors.  After listening, let's see how many friend types you can identify and if they're all in the stressor category, you may want to improve your friend-picking skills. 

Disclaimer: I do not own rights to the music used in this podcast episode - TLC, "What About Your Friends Instrumental"  

Life is too short to not be living it, the recent loss of a loved one reminded me of that.  So in this short episode, I'm reminding all of you of the same thing.

Disclaimer, I do not own rights to any music being used in this episode.

How many of you feel like you're called to do something more or be something more?  If you feel that way, it's because you are called, but oftentimes we struggle with the calling/assignment God gives us because it's more challenging than we expect.  In this episode, I share my experiential advice on what to expect when God calls/assigns you, what to be careful of when fulfilling your call, and why it's important to answer the call.

Also, I'm starting a new segment of Grown Folk Talk with Natasha Nicole, titled, So Here's the Thing...  Episodes in this segment will be shorter and will contain what I like to call, life nuggets, which are my thoughts and opinions about things I've observed and learned throughout my life.  A few of my previous episodes already fit this format, but this specific episode is the official launch.   Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own rights to the music used in this episode.  Artist: Jonny Easton, "Purpose"

More often than not, Black people have to try twice as hard as White people to obtain anything valuable, whether it's tangible or intangible.  And more often than not, many White people like to keep Black people from obtaining what's theirs or what they've earned.  So, after listening to one of my good friends share the challenge she's experiencing at work to be recognized as the intelligent, hard-working professional she is, I decided to share my thoughts on the matter. 

There are many of us who can hold onto a grudge like it's a $100 dollar bill.  But, as Dr. Phil would ask, how is that working for us?  Whether we believe it or not, it is much easier and healthier to let that grudge go and move on with our lives.  This episode explores the radical idea of pardoning people for their wrongdoings and hurtful actions towards us.  

Rejection.  The word itself means to refuse or dismiss something or to not accept an idea, proposal, etc.  But for this episode we're going to be specifically talking about social rejection from someone or people and the havoc it can wreak on our lives.  Join me or some grown folk talk about my personal relationship with Rejection and how I was able to triumph over him.

This is the last episode of the series, Women of Black Excellence: Queens at the Table, and I wanted to leave you, my listeners, with something to chew on while you're going about your everyday life.  At some point in our lives, we all sing the "Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda" song when we reflect on certain situations or occurrences.  Jessie Saintcyr, Esquire, and Tiffaney Burford join me for a transparent discussion about the wrong turns they've made in their lives when building their careers and establishing themselves, and all the truths they wish they knew back then that they know now that could have helped them avoid many hurts, disappointments, and setbacks. 

Self-care, sadly is not something many of us engage in.  Loosely interpreted, self-care is any intentional activity that requires us to focus on ourselves.  We're often "too busy" to do something that will benefit our physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual state.  Unfortunately, our lack of self-care is what causes us to break down, burn out, and bankrupt our health.  In this episode, I'm joined by Dr. Ramona Cox and Dr. Monica Miller and we'll be discussing the various types of self-care our guests use to stay above 6-feet, as well as tackle some of the misconceptions and myths related to Black women in general, (being superwomen, too strong, don't need help, etc.).

To make money, you often have to spend money.  In this episode, Black queens and entrepreneurs, Cheryl Cooper, Alina Lopez-Thomas, and Dr. Kalise Wornum will discuss the financial responsibilities that accompany being a business owner, as well as share the strategies they used to start their own companies and offer tips and experiential advice on how to stay financially afloat.

While it is great to be the captain of your own ship, you must navigate through many storms.  Join in on my conversation with fellow Black Queens/Entrepreneurs, Robyn Rease, Annika Boateng, and Annette Grant as we discuss the challenges that come along with owning one's own business.  To learn more about their fantabulous work and creations, visit their websites below:

Robyn Rease, Writer: https://www.pensivewritingservices.com/

Annika Boateng, Fragrance Designer: https://www.annikadecor.com/

Annette Grant, Photographer: https://www.agrantphoto.com/

This is the first episode of a series entitled, "Women of Black Excellence: Queens at the Table".  Becoming a Black female executive can be extremely challenging, especially when society and statistics have shown that Black women's voices are not always appreciated or celebrated in the world of business and decision-making.  Keila Barros, Joy Gary, and Katrina Shaw have defied the odds by seizing a seat at the proverbial "table" and are using their voices to impact lives and communities and evoke change within the Boston, MA area.  Tune in and listen as we discuss their inspiring journeys, and gain insight into what and who propelled their careers.