Purple Diary by Danielle Richardson

Don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast!* Hi friends! Thank you so much for coming back to listen to another episode. This week I'm talking to Ty'ana Romera about how she got started The Skin Brewery, being a jack of all trades, and her responses to common criticisms of black-owned businesses. Ty'ana gave some great advice and I left this interview feeling so impressed and grateful that she made time to speak with me. I hope you all enjoy it! Ty'ana, thank you so much for being my guest this week! IG: @bydaniellerichardson Email: danielletrichardson@gmail.com (contact me if you want to be on an episode or if you have any feedback/episode ideas!) Ty'ana's IGs: @theskinbrewery & @tyanaromeraa The Skin Brewery's Website: https://theskinbrewery.com Recommended Book: Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki Special thanks to Dara Michelle and Mayah Dyson for allowing me to use their work for the podcast! They're so talented! Everyone go support their art! Dara's art: drawnbydara.com -- You can order prints, stickers, etc and you can get personal commissions! Mayah's music: @mayahdyson & mayahdyson.com -- check out her new single called I Won! Thank you so much for listening. Talk to y'all next week 💜

Don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast!* Hi everybody! Thank you so much for coming back to listen to another episode. This week I'm talking to Rochelle Soyoola about how she got started as a dating coach, advice for people who want to get married, and her thoughts on current dating trends. Rochelle was so sweet and I really enjoyed talking with her. I hope you all enjoy it! Rochelle, thank you so much for being my guest this week! IG: @bydaniellerichardson Email: danielletrichardson@gmail.com (contact me if you want to be on an episode or if you have any feedback/episode ideas!) Blog: purplediarypod.com Rochelle's IG: @marriageformillennials Rochelle's Website: http://marriageformillennials.com Recommended Books: Tying the Knot by Robert Eric Green, Starting Your Marriage Right by Barbara and Dennis Rainey, The 10X Rule by Grant Cardone, and Atomic Habits by James Clear Special thanks to Dara Michelle and Mayah Dyson for allowing me to use their work for the podcast! They're so talented! Everyone go support their art! *ESPECIALLY right now, guys. Local artists need our support more than ever since they're unable to perform live. Dara's art: drawnbydara.com -- You can order prints, stickers, etc and you can get personal commissions! Mayah's music: @mayahdyson & mayahdyson.com -- check out her new single called I Won! Thank you so much for listening. Talk to y'all next week 💜

*EPISODES WILL NOW BE RELEASED ON A BI-WEEKLY BASIS* Don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast!* Hi everyone! Thank you so much for coming back to listen to another episode. This week I'm talking to my friend Vanessa Etienne about her journalism career, why we should pay to support good journalism, and how digital journalism is changing. I hope you all enjoy this one. Vanessa, thank you so much for being my guest this week! I had so much fun. IG: @bydaniellerichardson Email: danielletrichardson@gmail.com (contact me if you want to be on an episode or if you have any feedback/episode ideas!) Blog: purplediarypod.com - there are new book reviews all the time! Go check them out and let me know what you think 😊 Vanessa's IG: @nessa.atn Vanessa's Website: https://www.vanessaetienne.com  Recommended Book: Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo Special thanks to Dara Michelle and Mayah Dyson for allowing me to use their work for the podcast! They're so talented! Everyone go support their art! *ESPECIALLY right now, guys. Local artists need our support more than ever since they're unable to perform live. Dara's art: drawnbydara.com -- You can order prints, stickers, etc and you can get personal commissions! Mayah's music: @mayahdyson & mayahdyson.com -- check out her new single called I Won! Thank you so much for listening. Talk to y'all next week 💜

*EPISODES WILL NOW BE RELEASED ON A BI-WEEKLY BASIS* Don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast!* Hi friends! Thank you so much for coming back to listen to another episode. This week I'm talking to Destiny Bernardez about how she started her empanada business, growing up Afro-Latina, and her opinions on how Christian culture is evolving. I really loved this conversation - Destiny was so fun to talk to and I enjoyed learning about the history of Garifuna culture. I hope you all enjoy this one. Destiny, thank you so much for being my guest this week! I had a great time. IG: @bydaniellerichardson Email: danielletrichardson@gmail.com (contact me if you want to be on an episode or if you have any feedback/episode ideas!) Blog: purplediarypod.com - there are new book reviews all the time! Go check them out and let me know what you think 😊 Destiny's IG: @insanely_made & @im_thepodcast Destiny's Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/insanely-made-the-podcast/id1552329330  Recommended Books: Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis, Relationship Goals by Mike Todd, The Greatest You by Lou Aronica and Trent Shelton, and The Maxwell Daily Reader by John Maxwell Special thanks to Dara Michelle and Mayah Dyson for allowing me to use their work for the podcast! They're so talented! Everyone go support their art! *ESPECIALLY right now, guys. Local artists need our support more than ever since they're unable to perform live. Dara's art: drawnbydara.com -- You can order prints, stickers, etc and you can get personal commissions! Mayah's music: @mayahdyson & mayahdyson.com -- check out her new single called I Won! Thank you so much for listening. Talk to y'all next week 💜

Don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast!* Hi everyone! Thank you so much for coming back to listen to another episode. This week I'm talking to Keina Newell from Wealth Over Now about how she became a financial coach, the biggest financial problems for people in their 20s, and 3 things we can all do right now to start improving our finances. I really enjoyed this conversation - I think Keina gave some great advice and provided good insight on how unique everyone's financial journey is. I hope you all like it. Keina, thank you so much for being my guest this week! IG: @bydaniellerichardson Email: danielletrichardson@gmail.com (contact me if you want to be on an episode or if you have any feedback/episode ideas!) Blog: purplediarypod.com - there are new book reviews all the time! Go check them out and let me know what you think 😊 Keina's IG: @wealthovernow Keina's Website: https://wealthovernow.com  Recommended Book: Atomic Habits with James Clear Special thanks to Dara Michelle and Mayah Dyson for allowing me to use their work for the podcast! They're so talented! Everyone go support their art! *ESPECIALLY right now, guys. Local artists need our support more than ever since they're unable to perform live. Dara's art: drawnbydara.com -- You can order prints, stickers, etc and you can get personal commissions! Mayah's music: @mayahdyson & mayahdyson.com -- check out her new single called I Won! Thank you so much for listening. Talk to y'all next week 💜

Don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast!* Hi everyone! Thank you so much for coming back to listen to another episode. This week I'm talking to Kyara from Charm City Buyers about how she and her husband got into real estate, how CCB is changing the real estate game in Baltimore, and what people need to consider before they buy their first property. This was such a good conversation! Kyara gave so much great advice and was so friendly. I hope you all enjoy. Kyara, thank you so much for being my guest this week! IG: @bydaniellerichardson Email: danielletrichardson@gmail.com (contact me if you want to be on an episode or if you have any feedback/episode ideas!) Blog: purplediarypod.com - there are new reviews AND some original stories on the blog! Go check them out and let me know what you think 😊 Charm City Buyers's IG & Twitter: @charmcitybuyers Recommended Books: Not in My Neighborhood by Antero Pietila, They Call Me Little Willie by Mark R. Cheshire, and The 10X Rule by Grant Cardone Special thanks to Dara Michelle and Mayah Dyson for allowing me to use their work for the podcast! They're so talented! Everyone go support their art! *ESPECIALLY right now, guys. Local artists need our support more than ever since they're unable to perform live. Dara's art: drawnbydara.com -- Her new website has dropped! You can order prints, stickers, etc and you can get personal commissions! Mayah's music: @mayahdyson & mayahdyson.com -- check out her new single called I Won! Thank you so much for listening. Talk to y'all next week 💜

Don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast!* Hi everyone! Thank you so much for coming back to listen to another episode. This week I'm talking to Jelissa Washington about how she's using social media to motivate people, how we should be setting ourselves up for success in our 30s, and what she believes are the tools to a successful relationship. This was such a fun conversation; I hope y'all enjoy it! Jelissa, thank you so much for being my guest this week! IG: @bydaniellerichardson Email: danielletrichardson@gmail.com (contact me if you want to be on an episode or if you have any feedback/episode ideas!) Blog: purplediarypod.com - there are new reviews AND some original stories on the blog! Go check them out and let me know what you think 😊 Jelissa's IG: @itsjelissa Recommended Books: Advice That Sticks by Moira Somers, 52 Cups of Coffee by Megan Gebhart, and Adulting 101 by Josh Burnette and Pete Hardesty Recommended YouTube Channels: The Financial Diet, Graham Stephan, Meet Kevin, TechConversations, Lyn Allure, Chris Sain, STOCK UP! with Larry Jones, FrugalChicLife, LADY PICASSO, and Love Your Natural  Special thanks to Dara Michelle and Mayah Dyson for allowing me to use their work for the podcast! They're so talented! Everyone go support their art! *ESPECIALLY right now, guys. Local artists need our support more than ever since they're unable to perform live. Dara's art: drawnbydara.com -- Her new website has dropped! You can order prints, stickers, etc and you can get personal commissions! Mayah's music: @mayahdyson & mayahdyson.com -- check out her new single called I Won! Thank you so much for listening. Talk to y'all next week 💜

Don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast!* Hi everyone! Thank you so much for coming back to listen to another episode. This week I'm talking to my friend Mona about her recent engagement, submission in relationships, and what traits women should focus on when they're looking for a spouse. This was a fun and insightful conversation; I hope y'all enjoy. Mona, congrats again on your engagement! I'm so excited to see you and Awad continue to grow as a couple. IG: @bydaniellerichardson Email: danielletrichardson@gmail.com (contact me if you want to be on an episode or if you have any feedback/episode ideas!) Blog: purplediarypod.com - there are new reviews AND some original stories on the blog! Go check them out and let me know what you think 😊 Recommended Books: Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng Special thanks to Dara Michelle and Mayah Dyson for allowing me to use their work for the podcast! They're so talented! Everyone go support their art! *ESPECIALLY right now, guys. Local artists need our support more than ever since they're unable to perform live. Dara's art: drawnbydara.com -- Her new website has dropped! You can order prints, stickers, etc and you can get personal commissions! Mayah's music: @mayahdyson & mayahdyson.com -- check out her new single called I Won! Thank you so much for listening. Talk to y'all next week 💜

Don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast!* Hi everyone! Thank you so much for coming back to listen to another episode. I apologize for the long break I had to take during last year, but I'm back this year with some really great interviews! I hope you enjoy. This week I'm talking to Michelle Kelly about self-love, body positivity, and why she's chosen to be single during this period in her life. Thank you so much Michelle for being my guest this week! IG: @bydaniellerichardson Email: danielletrichardson@gmail.com (contact me if you want to be on an episode or if you have any feedback/episode ideas!) Blog: purplediarypod.com - there are new reviews AND some original stories on the blog! Go check them out and let me know what you think 😊 Recommended Books: The Four Agreements by don Miguel Ruiz and Robert Greene's books (The 48 Laws of Power and The Art of Seduction) Special thanks to Dara Michelle and Mayah Dyson for allowing me to use their work for the podcast! They're so talented! Everyone go support their art! *ESPECIALLY right now, guys. Local artists need our support more than ever since they're unable to perform live. Dara's art: drawnbydara.com -- Her new website has dropped! You can order prints, stickers, etc and you can get personal commissions! Mayah's music: @mayahdyson & mayahdyson.com -- check out her new single called I Won! Thank you so much for listening. Talk to y'all next week 💜

TRIGGER WARNING: We do talk about suicide and drug use during this episode. Here are the time stamps if you would prefer to skip these parts: 3:51-3:56 (suicide) 42:34-44:10 (drug use) 45:40-46:55 (drug use) 51:33-54:12 (suicide) 56:00-57:25 (drug use) 1:01:33-1:02:20 (suicide) Don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast!* Hi everyone! This week my friend Preston and I talked about our personal struggles with mental health, mental health in the black community, and the benefits of therapy. I really enjoyed this open conversation and I hope you do too. Thank you so much Preston for being my guest this week.  IG: @purplediarypod Email: purplediarypod@gmail.com (contact me if you want to be on an episode or if you have any feedback/episode ideas!) Blog: purplediarypod.com - there are new reviews AND some original stories on the blog! Go check them out and let me know what you think 😊 Recommended Book: I Am Legend by Richard Matheson and Buggin': A Brother's Tale by Donald Taylor Special thanks to Dara Michelle and Mayah Dyson for allowing me to use their work for the podcast! They're so talented! Everyone go support their art! *ESPECIALLY right now, guys. Local artists need our support more than ever since they're unable to perform live. Dara's art: daramichelle.bigcartel.com -- she does commissions and sells prints of her work! I'll let you know as soon as her new website drops! Mayah's music: @mayahdyson & mayahdyson.com -- check out her Elevation EP! Thank you so much for listening. Talk to y'all next week 💜

Don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast!* Hi friends! This week I had on my friend Sydney to talk about staying home during quarantine, Will & Jada, and Sydney's new hobbies. It was so much fun catching up with her and talking about what we've been up to. I hope y'all enjoy this conversation. Sydney, thank you for being my guest this week! IG: @purplediarypod Email: purplediarypod@gmail.com (contact me if you want to be on an episode or if you have any feedback/episode ideas!) Blog: purplediarypod.com - there are new reviews AND some original stories on the blog! Go check them out and let me know what you think 😊 Sydney's IG: @sydneygaines3 Sydney's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCN-JswYMeDdLNmZz9dEACjw  Recommended Book: The Coldest Winter Ever by Sister Souljah Special thanks to Dara Michelle and Mayah Dyson for allowing me to use their work for the podcast! They're so talented! Everyone go support their art! *ESPECIALLY right now, guys. Local artists need our support more than ever since they're unable to perform live. Dara's art: daramichelle.bigcartel.com -- she does commissions and sells prints of her work! I'll let you know as soon as her new website drops! Mayah's music: @mayahdyson & mayahdyson.com -- check out her Elevation EP! Thank you so much for listening. Please go support Sydney's YouTube channel! Talk to y'all next week 💜

Don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast!* Hi friends! This week I had Kaila Brown on to talk about starting Kai Tahëra, how she wants to change the fashion industry, and the problem with a lot of big fashion brands. I loved this conversation so much! Kaila is such a ray of light, and I hope y'all enjoy this episode. Kaila, thank you so much for being my guest this week! IG: @purplediarypod Email: purplediarypod@gmail.com (contact me if you want to be on an episode or if you have any feedback/episode ideas!) Blog: purplediarypod.com - there are new reviews AND some original stories on the blog! Go check them out and let me know what you think 😊 Kaila's IG & Twitter: @kaitahera @shopkaitahera @readkaitahera Kaila's website: https://kaitahera.com  All Books Mentioned: Boutique Business by Jance Chartae, Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo, What It Means When a Man Falls from the Sky by Lesley Nneka Arimah, and any book by Gillian Flynn Special thanks to Dara Michelle and Mayah Dyson for allowing me to use their work for the podcast! They're so talented! Everyone go support their art! *ESPECIALLY right now, guys. Local artists need our support more than ever since they're unable to perform live. Dara's art: daramichelle.bigcartel.com -- she does commissions and sells prints of her work! I'll let you know as soon as her new website drops! Mayah's music: @mayahdyson & mayahdyson.com -- check out her Elevation EP! Thank you so much for listening. Please go support Kaila and shop at Kai Tahëra! Talk to y'all next week 💜

Don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast!* Hello everyone! This week I have the incredibly talented author Megan Giddings on to talk about how she researched for and wrote Lakewood, the extreme lack of diversity in publishing, and what kinds of black stories she wants to read. This conversation was so insightful and so fun, and I am so grateful to Megan for taking the time to talk with me. Everyone please go support Lakewood and all of Megan's future work! She is so talented, and I can't wait to read what she releases in the future.  IG: @purplediarypod Email: purplediarypod@gmail.com (contact me if you want to be on an episode or if you have any feedback/episode ideas!) Blog: purplediarypod.com - there are new reviews AND some original stories on the blog! Go check them out and let me know what you think 😊 Megan's IG: @newwavehauntedhouse Megan's website: http://www.megangiddings.com - you can find the link to purchase Lakewood here! All Books Mentioned: Fiebre Tropical by Juliana Delgado Lopera, Jazz by Toni Morrison, What It Means When a Man Falls From the Sky by Lesley Nneka Arimah, Luster by Raven Leilani, Crooked Hallelujah by Kelli Jo Ford, How Much of These Hills is Gold by C Pam Zhang, and Lakewood by Megan Giddings! Special thanks to Dara Michelle and Mayah Dyson for allowing me to use their work for the podcast! They're so talented! Everyone go support their art! *ESPECIALLY right now, guys. Local artists need our support more than ever since they're unable to perform live. Dara's art: daramichelle.bigcartel.com -- she does commissions and sells prints of her work! I'll let you know as soon as her new website drops! Mayah's music: @mayahdyson & mayahdyson.com -- check out her Elevation EP! Thank you so much for listening! I hope you enjoyed this episode, and I hope you go buy Megan's book. Talk to y'all next week 💜

Don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast!* Hi guys! This week I had Stephanie Lemus Ortiz on to talk about how she lost weight, our struggles with body image and mental health, and how her transformation has been impacted by her relationship with God. Weight is a very sensitive topic for me to talk about, but I enjoyed this conversation and I'm glad we were both able to be so vulnerable. Stephanie, thank you so much for being my guest this week! IG: @purplediarypod Email: purplediarypod@gmail.com (contact me if you want to be on an episode or if you have any feedback/episode ideas!) Blog: purplediarypod.com - there are new reviews AND some original stories on the blog! Go check them out and let me know what you think 😊 Stephanie's IG: @_stephannnnie Recommended Book: This I Believe: The Personal Philosophies of Remarkable Men and Women by Jay Allison, Dan Gediman, and Studs Terkel Special thanks to Dara and Mayah Dyson for allowing me to use their work for the podcast! They're so talented! Everyone go support their art! *ESPECIALLY right now, guys. Local artists need our support more than ever since they're unable to perform live. Dara's art: daramichelle.bigcartel.com -- she does commissions and sells prints of her work! I'll let you know as soon as her new website drops! Mayah's music: @mayahdyson & mayahdyson.com -- check out her Elevation EP! Thank you so much for listening! Next week I'll be talking with MEGAN GIDDINGS! Woo! Go check out her book Lakewood because we'll be talking all about it. Talk to y'all next week 💜

Don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast!* Hi everyone! This week I brought my friend Dara back on to talk about how we've been handling quarantine life, how Dara budgeted and saved enough to pay off her loans (!), and how we're both rediscovering and committing to our passions. I loved this conversation; it just kept getting better the more we talked. Dara, thank you so much for being my guest this week! IG: @purplediarypod Email: purplediarypod@gmail.com (contact me if you want to be on an episode or if you have any feedback/episode ideas!) Blog: purplediarypod.com - there are new reviews AND some original stories on the blog! Go check them out and let me know what you think 😊 Dara's IGs: @drawnbydara & @its_dara_michelle  Recommended Book: all about love by bell hooks Special thanks to Dara and Mayah Dyson for allowing me to use their work for the podcast! They're so talented! Everyone go support their art! *ESPECIALLY right now, guys. Local artists need our support more than ever since they're unable to perform live. Dara's art: daramichelle.bigcartel.com -- she does commissions and sells prints of her work! I'll let you know as soon as her new website drops! Mayah's music: @mayahdyson & mayahdyson.com -- check out her Elevation EP! I hope y'all enjoyed this week's episode! I've really been loving these quarantine conversations. I'll be back next week with another one. Thank you so much for listening 💜

Don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast!* Hi guys! This week I had Mathew Hanson on to talk about dating as a Christian, choosing to be celibate, and whether it's worth it to have casual sex. I really enjoyed this conversation and I thought Mathew had some great points about the difference between casual dating and dating for marriage. Thank you Mathew for being my guest this week! IG: @purplediarypod Email: purplediarypod@gmail.com (contact me if you want to be on an episode or if you have any feedback/episode ideas!) Blog: purplediarypod.com - there are new reviews AND some original stories on the blog! Go check them out and let me know what you think 😊 Mathew's IG: @mathewshanson Recommended Books: The Pact by Lisa Frazier Page & The Three Doctors and Relationship Goals by Michael Todd Special thanks to Dara Michelle and Mayah Dyson for allowing me to use their work for the podcast! You ladies are so talented! Everyone go support their art! *ESPECIALLY right now, guys. Local artists need our support more than ever since they're unable to perform live. Dara's art: @drawnbydara & daramichelle.bigcartel.com -- she does commissions and sells prints of her work! Mayah's music: @mayahdyson & mayahdyson.com -- check out her Elevation EP! I hope y'all enjoyed this week's episode! Thank you so much for listening 💜

Don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast!* Hi everyone! This week I brought on Thomas Scott to talk about how he paid off $30K in student loans in only 15 months (!), whether college should be free, and why millennials are afraid to talk about money. Thomas, thank you so much for being a guest! IG: @purplediarypod Email: purplediarypod@gmail.com (contact me if you want to be on an episode or if you have any feedback/episode ideas!) Blog: purplediarypod.com - there are new reviews AND some original stories on the blog! Go check them out and let me know what you think 😊 Thomas's Twitter: @poquithomas Dave Ramsey's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/DaveRamseyShow Recommended Book: Shop Class as Soulcraft by Matthew Crawford Special thanks to Dara Michelle and Mayah Dyson for allowing me to use their work for the podcast! You ladies are so talented! Everyone go support their art! *ESPECIALLY right now, guys. Local artists need our support more than ever since they're unable to perform live. Dara's art: @drawnbydara & daramichelle.bigcartel.com -- she does commissions and sells prints of her work! Mayah's music: @mayahdyson & mayahdyson.com -- check out her Elevation EP! I hope y'all enjoyed this week's episode! Next week I'll have Mathew Hanson on to talk about dating Thank you for listening 💜

Don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast!* Hi friends! This week I had superwoman Brianna Stuckey on to talk about adjusting to motherhood, mental health, and how she’s managing her anxiety. This conversation was so insightful and emotional for me, and I hope you all enjoy it. Brianna, thank you so much for being a guest! IG: @purplediarypod Email: purplediarypod@gmail.com (contact me if you want to be on an episode or if you have any feedback/episode ideas!) Blog: purplediarypod.com - there are new reviews AND some original stories on the blog! Go check them out and let me know what you think 😊 Brianna's IG: @primadonnabrianna Brianna's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCR-vOWk8abImAddPmNs__KA  Recommended Book: Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill Special thanks to Dara Michelle and Mayah Dyson for allowing me to use their work for the podcast! You ladies are so talented! Everyone go support their art! *ESPECIALLY right now, guys. Local artists need our support more than ever since they're unable to perform live. Dara's art: @drawnbydara & daramichelle.bigcartel.com -- she does commissions and sells prints of her work! Mayah's music: @mayahdyson & mayahdyson.com -- check out her Elevation EP! I hope y'all enjoyed this week's episode! Thank you for listening 💜

Don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast!* Hi everyone! This week I have Jessica Ahenkorah on the podcast to talk about how she started her business, what is was like interning at Nickelodeon, and her plans for her career. Jessica has such a warm energy, and I thoroughly enjoyed this conversation. Jessica, thank you so much for being my guest this week! IG: @purplediarypod Email: purplediarypod@gmail.com (contact me if you want to be on an episode or if you have any feedback/episode ideas!) Blog: purplediarypod.com - there are new reviews AND some original stories on the blog! Go check them out and let me know what you think 😊 Jessica's IGs: @jessleaveittome & @gorjesswigs Gorjess Wigs website: gorjesswigs.com  Recommended Book: Higher is Waiting by Tyler Perry Special thanks to Dara Michelle and Mayah Dyson for allowing me to use their work for the podcast! You ladies are so talented! Everyone go support their art! *ESPECIALLY right now, guys. Local artists need our support more than ever since they're unable to perform live. Dara's art: @drawnbydara & daramichelle.bigcartel.com -- she does commissions and sells prints of her work! Mayah's music: @mayahdyson & mayahdyson.com -- check out her Elevation EP! Guys!! Please stay home and stay safe during this time of social distancing. It's not worth it to go out and socialize if it means other people are at a higher risk of contracting COVID-19. Next week I'm having Brianna Stuckey on to talk about motherhood, anxiety, and building her YouTube channel. Thank you for listening 💜

*Don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast!* Hi friends! This week I have Mayah Dyson and Adrian Forbes on to talk about working with your significant other, societal pressures to get married, and how they push each other to create their best work. I was so excited to have the first couple ever on the podcast and I really enjoyed the conversation. Mayah and Adrian, thank you both so much for coming on the podcast! IG: @purplediarypod Email: purplediarypod@gmail.com (contact me if you want to be on an episode or if you have any feedback/episode ideas!) Blog: purplediarypod.com - there are new reviews AND some original stories on the blog! Go check them out and let me know what you think 😊 Mayah & Adrian's IGs: @mayahdyson and @aydeee_gatti Mayah's information is always in the show notes lol so look below for the rest! I will let you know as soon as they have new music out! Recommended Book: The Emperor of Sound by Timbaland Recommended Artists: Xenia Manasseh, Terrell Hines, Gene Moore, Munir Zakee, and Imani Special thanks to Dara Michelle and Mayah Dyson for allowing me to use their work for the podcast! You ladies are so talented! Everyone go support their art! *ESPECIALLY right now, guys. Local artists need our support more than ever since they're unable to perform live. Dara's art: @drawnbydara & daramichelle.bigcartel.com -- she does commissions and sells prints of her work! Mayah's music: @mayahdyson & mayahdyson.com -- check out her Elevation EP! Guys!! Please stay home and stay safe during this time of social distancing. It's not worth it to go out and socialize if it means other people are at a higher risk of contracting COVID-19. Next week I'm having Jessica Ahenkorah on to talk about entrepreneurship and how she's grown her business and online brand. Thank you for listening 💜

*Don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast!* Hi friends! This week I've brought my friend Candice back on the podcast to talk about coronavirus in New York City. We talked about how she's handling social distancing in Manhattan and she gave us some valuable information on how incarcerated people are being mistreated and exploited during this pandemic. As always, Candice had a ton of great points and helped to shed light on an issue that is largely being ignored. I hope you all enjoy this one - it was great to see/hear Candice in her element.  IG: @purplediarypod Email: purplediarypod@gmail.com (contact me if you want to be on an episode or if you have any feedback/episode ideas!) Blog: purplediarypod.com - there are new book reviews and show reviews on the blog! Go check them out and let me know what you think 😊 Candice's IG: @whatcandicedoes Candice's Twitter: @whatcandicesays Candice's website: https://medium.com/in-justice-served/in-justice-served-the-criminal-justice-system-explained-43c2f4b62fd7  Recommended Books: Are Prisons Obsolete? by Angela Davis and Usual Cruelty: The Complicity of Lawyers in the Criminal Justice System by Alec Karakatsanis Special thanks to Dara Michelle and Mayah Dyson for allowing me to use their work for the podcast! You ladies are so talented! Everyone go support their art! *ESPECIALLY right now, guys. Local artists need our support more than ever since they're unable to perform live. Dara's art: @drawnbydara & daramichelle.bigcartel.com -- she does commissions and sells prints of her work! Mayah's music: @mayahdyson & mayahdyson.com -- check out her Elevation EP! Guys!! Please stay home and stay safe during this time of social distancing. It's not worth it to go out and socialize if it means other people are at a higher risk of contracting COVID-19. Next week I'm having Mayah Dyson (whose music is used for this podcast) and her boyfriend Adrian Forbes! I can't wait for y'all to hear it. Thank you for listening 💜

*Don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast!* Hi friends! This week, I have my 10th grade English teacher Jenn (formerly known to me as Miss Haas) as my guest. We talked about how coronavirus is affecting teachers and students in Virginia, how she decided to become a teacher, and the best and worst parts of being a teacher. It's always refreshing to talk to people who are doing exactly what they were put on earth to do, so I enjoyed this conversation a lot. I hope you do too. Thank you for being my guest, Jenn! It was great to reconnect with you.  IG: @purplediarypod Email: purplediarypod@gmail.com (contact me if you want to be on an episode or if you have any feedback/episode ideas!) Blog: purplediarypod.com - there are new book reviews and show reviews on the blog! Go check them out and let me know what you think 😊 Jenn's IG: @haastage.in.mclaughland Recommended books: Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Alias Hook by Lisa Jensen, Stiff and Packing for Mars by Mary Roach, A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson Special thanks to Dara Michelle and Mayah Dyson for allowing me to use their work for the podcast! You ladies are so talented! Everyone go support their art! *ESPECIALLY right now, guys. Local artists need our support more than ever since they're unable to perform live. Dara's art: @drawnbydara & daramichelle.bigcartel.com -- she does commissions and sells prints of her work! Mayah's music: @mayahdyson & mayahdyson.com -- check out her Elevation EP! Thank you so much for coming back to listen to another episode! I've got some awesome content coming up in the next few weeks for you guys. Next week I'm having my friend Candice back on to talk about life post-grad school, living in NYC during a pandemic, and how prison populations are being ignored and and exposed to COVID-19 at alarmingly high rates. Talk to y'all next week 💜

*Don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast!* Hi friends! Thank you for your patience - I've been getting over some sort of sickness and trying to figure out a recording schedule, but we're back on track! This week, I have my new friend Lauren Williams of Imperfectly Phenomenal Woman podcast on to talk about how societal pressures have affected our desires to be more like the "ideal" woman. We discussed relationships, how Lauren has changed since she decided to let go of bending to outside pressures, and how she's already doing her life's work. Lauren, thank you so much for being a guest! I loved talking with you and being on your podcast! Everyone please go support Lauren's podcast and follow her on IG! IG: @purplediarypod Email: purplediarypod@gmail.com (contact me if you want to be on an episode or if you have any feedback/episode ideas!) Blog: purplediarypod.com - there are new book reviews and show reviews on the blog! Go check them out and let me know what you think 😊 Lauren's IG: @ipwomanpodcast Lauren's website: https://www.ipwomanpodcast.com  Recommended Podcasts: The Daily, Brilliant Idiots, Almost 30 Special thanks to Dara Michelle and Mayah Dyson for allowing me to use their work for the podcast! You ladies are so talented! Everyone go support their art! *ESPECIALLY right now, guys. Local artists need our support more than ever since they're unable to perform live.  Dara's art: @drawnbydara & daramichelle.bigcartel.com -- she does commissions and sells prints of her work! Mayah's music: @mayahdyson & mayahdyson.com -- check out her Elevation EP! Guys!! Please stay home and stay safe during this time of social distancing. It's not worth it to go out and socialize if it means other people are at a higher risk of contracting COVID-19. Next week I'm having my 10th grade English teacher Jenn Haas-McLaughlin as my guest! I can't wait for y'all to hear it. Thank you for listening 💜

*Don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast!* Hello everybody! This week I'm talking to PR extraordinaire Esther Sakyi. We discussed how she got into the field, how we can all build connections online, and how her faith has played a role in her life. Esther is so energetic and so fun to be around, and I can't wait to see how she builds up DC's artists and advances in her career. Thank you so much Esther for coming on this week! I am so grateful. I hope y'all enjoy :)  IG: @purplediarypod Email: purplediarypod@gmail.com (contact me if you want to be on an episode or if you have any feedback/episode ideas!) Blog: purplediarypod.com - the blog is back up and running! Go check out the new posts and let me know what you think. Esther's IG: @omg_esther Recommended Books: You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero and The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle Special thanks to Dara Michelle and Mayah Dyson for allowing me to use their work for the podcast! You ladies are so talented! Everyone go support their art! Dara's art: @drawnbydara & daramichelle.bigcartel.com -- she does commissions and sells prints of her work! Mayah's music: @mayahdyson & mayahdyson.com -- check out her Elevation EP! If you want to be on the podcast or you have suggestions for people I should reach out to, please let me know! I'm open to speaking to all kinds of people. I appreciate y'all so much for listening. I'll talk to you next week! 💜

*Don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast!* Hi friends! For this week's episode I brought on my friend Shy Lennox to talk about storytelling through songwriting, elevating black queer voices, and his dream for his career. I loved hearing his thoughts on how living in Richmond and Milan shaped him as an artist. I thought this was a great conversation, and I'm so happy I finally got to have Shyheim on the show. I hope y'all enjoy the episode! Thank you for listening! IG: @purplediarypod Email: purplediarypod@gmail.com (contact me if you want to be on an episode or if you have any feedback/episode ideas!) Blog: purplediarypod.com Shy's IG: @shylennox Links to Shy's music: https://open.spotify.com/artist/69xk8WFDPSKCUCAe7fP6mw?nd=1; https://music.apple.com/us/artist/shy-lennox/1237375166; https://youtu.be/ruf2bhVYAT4 *BE SURE TO CHECK OUT HIS NEW SINGLE CALLED FRIENDS!! IT'LL BE OUT THIS SATURDAY 2/22! Recommended Book: Becoming by Michelle Obama Special thanks to Dara Michelle and Mayah Dyson for allowing me to use their work for the podcast! You ladies are so talented! Everyone go support their art! Dara's art: @drawnbydara & daramichelle.bigcartel.com -- she does commissions and sells prints of her work! Mayah's music: @mayahdyson & mayahdyson.com -- check out her Elevation EP! If you want to be on the podcast or you have suggestions for people I should reach out to, please let me know! I'm open to speaking to all kinds of people. I appreciate y'all so much for listening. I'll talk to you next week! 💜

*Please rate, review, share, and subscribe to the podcast!* Hello everybody! This week's guest is the ultimate VIP, my grandma!! She's sharing 80 years' worth of wisdom, so pay attention and take notes! In this episode we discussed maintaining friendships, marriage, and making the most of the life you have. My grandma always has good advice and a lot to say, and I'm so happy that I was finally able to have her as a guest. I will cherish having this recording forever. Please let me know what you think of this week's episode! Thank you so much for listening.  IG: @purplediarypod Email: purplediarypod@gmail.com (contact me if you want to be on an episode or if you have any feedback/episode ideas!) Blog: purplediarypod.com Recommended Book: The one about the dog - when you're old you forget things; my recommendation is The Game of Desire by Shan Boodram Special thanks to Dara Michelle and Mayah Dyson for allowing me to use their work for the podcast! You ladies are so talented! Everyone go support their art! Dara's art: @drawnbydara & daramichelle.bigcartel.com -- she does commissions and sells prints of her work! Mayah's music: @mayahdyson & mayahdyson.com -- check out her Elevation EP! Thank you for listening!! I love you guys so much. Talk to y'all next week 💜

Hey everyone! *Don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast!* This week I invited my friend Kwanjai on to talk about being married in your early 20s. We discussed the necessity for a hoe phase, the pros and cons of marrying young, and maintaining your individuality while married. It was great to hear Kwanjai really open up and be candid about what married life has been like for her and her husband. Congrats on five years together! May you have many more. Kwanjai, thank you so much for being my guest! I loved this conversation. IG: @purplediarypod Email: purplediarypod@gmail.com (contact me if you want to be on an episode or if you have any feedback/episode ideas!) Blog: purplediarypod.com Kwanjai's IG: @kwanjaiiiiii Recommended Book: Furious Flower: Seeding the Future of African American Poetry by Dr. Joanne Gabbin Special thanks to Dara Michelle and Mayah Dyson for allowing me to use their work for the podcast! You ladies are so talented! Everyone go support their art! Dara's art: @drawnbydara & daramichelle.bigcartel.com -- she does commissions and sells prints of her work! Mayah's music: @mayahdyson & mayahdyson.com -- check out her Elevation EP! Thank you for listening!! I love you guys so much. Talk to y'all next week 💜

"The moment you give up is the moment you let someone else win." - Kobe Bryant  Hello everybody! *Don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast!* In this episode I talked about how the passing of Kobe Bryant has affected my outlook on life, and how his legacy has inspired me. I also explain why there won't be any Ask Danielle episodes anymore, and what the new structure for episodes will be! Let me know if you have ideas for segments or you have another idea for how to structure episodes - I love getting feedback, please don't be afraid to reach out! I then answered the questions I got and pulled some from @SixBrownChicks on twitter. I hope y'all enjoyed this solo episode!  IG: @purplediarypod Email: purplediarypod@gmail.com (contact me if you want to be on an episode or if you have any feedback/episode ideas!) Blog: purplediarypod.com Recommended Book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho Special thanks to Dara Michelle and Mayah Dyson for allowing me to use their work for the podcast! You ladies are so talented! Everyone go support their art! Dara's art: @drawnbydara & daramichelle.bigcartel.com -- she does commissions and sells prints of her work! Mayah's music: @mayahdyson & mayahdyson.com -- check out her Elevation EP! Thank you all so much for listening! If you like Purple Diary, please share it with a friend. Next week I'm trying to get my grandma to be the special guest, so pray for me this week as I try to explain to her what a podcast is. I'll talk to y'all next Thursday!

Hey everyone! *Don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast!* This week I invited my friend Ahlam on to talk about some of the most interesting pop culture stories that have been in the headlines in 2020. We covered Lizzo and the body positivity movement, Drake's relationship with young girls, and Kevin Hart's documentary. I hope you guys enjoy the conversation, and please feel free to share your thoughts on the topics we discussed! Ahlam, thank you so much for coming back to the podcast! IG: @purplediarypod Email: purplediarypod@gmail.com (contact me if you want to be on an episode or if you have any feedback/episode ideas!) Blog: purplediarypod.com Ahlam's IG: @lamdotcom Recommended Book: A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines Special thanks to Dara Michelle and Mayah Dyson for allowing me to use their work for the podcast! You ladies are so talented! Everyone go support their art! Dara's art: @drawnbydara & daramichelle.bigcartel.com -- she does commissions and sells prints of her work! Mayah's music: @mayahdyson & mayahdyson.com -- check out her Elevation EP! Thank you for listening!! I love you guys so much. Next week is the second of Ask Danielle! Click the link to send me your questions! Talk to y'all next week 💜

"I think ambition should be more the expectation [at this age]." Hi everybody! *Don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast!* I've gotten a few requests to talk about dating from the male perspective, so I invited Brandyn to come on the podcast and share his thoughts. We talked about paying for dates, cheating, and whether black men really don't prefer black women anymore. I thought there were some interesting insights and I'm glad I got to hear how men see dating in their 20s. There will still be more parts to this conversation! Thank you Brandyn for being a guest, and thank you so much everyone for listening! IG: @purplediarypod Email: purplediarypod@gmail.com (contact me if you want to be on an episode or if you have any feedback/episode ideas!) Blog: purplediarypod.com Brandyn's IG: @bmoneyford Recommended Book: Black Male Handbook by Kevin Powell and The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Alex Haley and Malcolm X Special thanks to Dara Michelle and Mayah Dyson for allowing me to use their work for the podcast! You ladies are so talented! Everyone go support their art! Dara's art: @drawnbydara & daramichelle.bigcartel.com -- she does commissions and sells prints of her work! Mayah's music: @mayahdyson & mayahdyson.com -- check out her Elevation EP! Thank you so much for listening, and thank you so much for all the love you've been showing me lately!! I love y'all so much. Talk to y'all next week!

"I've learned not to take myself too seriously." Hi everybody! *Don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast!* I thoroughly enjoyed recording this episode. Today I'm talking to my new friend Sydney Gaines about grad school, dating, growing a brand, and what our goals are for 2020. *This was recorded in December 2019. Sydney has great energy and shared so many great ideas and relatable feelings regarding being a small content creator. I learned so much and I am so glad that we had the chance to have this conversation. Sydney, thank you so much for being on the podcast! I really appreciate it so much and I'm glad that we met.  IG: @purplediarypod Email: purplediarypod@gmail.com (contact me if you want to be on an episode or if you have any feedback/episode ideas!) Blog: purplediarypod.com Sydney's IG: @sydneygaines3 - Go support her content and subscribe to her YouTube channel! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCN-JswYMeDdLNmZz9dEACjw Recommended Book: Unfu*k Yourself by Gary John Bishop Special thanks to Dara Michelle and Mayah Dyson for allowing me to use their work for the podcast! You ladies are so talented! Everyone go support their art! Dara's art: @drawnbydara & daramichelle.bigcartel.com -- she does commissions and sells prints of her work! Mayah's music: @mayahdyson & mayahdyson.com -- check out her Elevation EP! Next week we'll be talking about dating in your early 20s from the male perspective! I hope y'all are ready! Thank you so much for listening. It means the world to me. Talk to y'all next week!

Happy New Year friends! *Don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast!* I'm so excited to be back. Episodes will be back every Thursday on a regular basis. In this episode, I talked to you guys about my personal goals for 2020 and where I want to take Purple Diary this year. Y'alls support means everything, thank you so much for listening and sending me new episode ideas. I am so inspired by all of you! I've got some great episodes coming out for you guys. I can't wait to hear what goals you have for this year! IG: @purplediarypod Email: purplediarypod@gmail.com (contact me if you want to be on an episode or if you have any feedback/episode ideas!) Blog: purplediarypod.com Recommended Books: Daring Greatly and The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown Special thanks to Dara Michelle and Mayah Dyson for allowing me to use their work for the podcast! You ladies are so talented! Everyone go support their art! Dara's art: @drawnbydara & daramichelle.bigcartel.com -- she does commissions and sells prints of her work! Mayah's music: @mayahdyson & mayahdyson.com -- check out her Elevation EP! Thank you all so much for listening. Your support means the world to me. Next week I'll have my friend Sydney on to talk about being a small influencer, grad school, dating, and so much more! Talk to y'all next Thursday!

"I want the best for everyone because I want the best for myself." Hi friends! *Don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast!* I love this episode so much. Today I'm talking to Princess Abrafi Sakyi about breaking into the beauty industry, being a business owner (since middle school!!), self-love, friendships, and her plans for her career. Princess was so open and gave great insights on the topics we discussed. Her energy is so infectious, y'all! I really admire her, and I'm so excited to see where her career takes her. Thank you so much Princess for being my guest this week. You did an amazing job! IG: @purplediarypod Email: purplediarypod@gmail.com (contact me if you want to be on an episode or if you have any feedback/episode ideas!) Blog: purplediarypod.com Princess's IG: @princessabrafi - Be sure to go out and support Princess! Contact her if you need your hair done and sign up for her class! I'll let you guys know as soon as it's available to register.  Recommended Books: The Will to Change by bell hooks and No Disrespect by Sister Souljah Special thanks to Dara Michelle and Mayah Dyson for allowing me to use their work for the podcast! You ladies are so talented! Everyone go support their art! Dara's art: @drawnbydara & daramichelle.bigcartel.com -- she does commissions and sells prints of her work! Mayah's music: @mayahdyson & mayahdyson.com -- check out her Elevation EP! Thank you all so much for listening. Your support means the world to me. Talk to y'all next year!

"On the count of three let's say how much we both make annually." Hi friends! *Don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast!* This week we're talking all about breakups. Mona and I have both had a break off relationships that weren't working anymore, and today we're sharing our stories. We're covering what warrants a breakup, involving your friends in your relationship, and some of our breakup advice. This is another really lighthearted episode, so I hope you guys enjoy! Thanks so much Mona for coming back to be a guest! IG: @purplediarypod Email: purplediarypod@gmail.com (contact me if you want to be on an episode or if you have any feedback/episode ideas!) Blog: purplediarypod.com (updates will be coming soon!) Follow Mona on IG: @monamuhidin Recommended Book: The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins Special thanks to Dara Michelle and Mayah Dyson for allowing me to use their work for the podcast! You ladies are so talented! Everyone go support their art! Dara's art: @drawnbydara & daramichelle.bigcartel.com -- she does commissions and sells prints of her work! Mayah's music: @mayahdyson & mayahdyson.com -- check out her Elevation EP! Next week I'll be talking with my friend Feyi about differences between her 20s and 30s and how she's grown as a person since she stepped into a new decade! I hope y'all are ready for this one, I'm so excited!! Thank you so much for listening. 

"France ... they were rude, but I bet this is how people who don't speak English feel in America." Hey guys! *Don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast!* This week we're talking all about travel. Ahlam has been all over the world, so I invited her on to talk about the cheapest places to travel, what's on our lists of places to go, and living outside of the country. I hope you guys enjoy this one! I can't wait to hear the places you all are planning on visiting. I hope y'all got some new ideas for places to visit too! Thanks so much to Ahlam for being a guest, and thank you to everyone who listened to this episode! IG: @purplediarypod Email: purplediarypod@gmail.com Blog: purplediarypod.com Follow Ahlam on IG: @lamdotcom Recommended Book: Drown by Junot Díaz Special thanks to Dara Michelle and Mayah Dyson for allowing me to use their work for the podcast! You ladies are so talented! Everyone go support their art! Dara's art: @drawnbydara & daramichelle.bigcartel.com -- she does commissions and sells prints of her work! Mayah's music: @mayahdyson & mayahdyson.com -- check out her Elevation EP! Next week I'm bringing back my friend Mona to talk about breakups! This one should be a fun episode so I hope y'all are excited! Thank you so much for listening.

***NEW EPISODES OF PURPLE DIARY WILL NOW BE RELEASED ON THURSDAYS AT 12 AM*** Hi friends! This week is a Q&A solo episode. I'm answering your questions about my morning/evening routine, dating outside of your political party, and my relationship with religion. I hope you guys enjoy this one, and I hope it helped you to learn a little bit more about me. I hope that as this community grows, there will be more people who share their stories and ask for advice. There won't be another one of these until next year, so I hope y'all like this one! I want to stress again how much I appreciate all the love that the podcast is getting. Nothing goes unnoticed. I am so grateful for everyone who comes back to check out another episode, and for everyone who tells someone else about it. Thank you all!!! Y'all are amazing.  IG: @purplediarypod Email: purplediarypod@gmail.com Blog: purplediarypod.com Follow my personal IG @thedaniellerich Recommended book: Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell (and anything else by Malcolm Gladwell. He's a genius). Special thanks to Dara Michelle and Mayah Dyson for allowing me to use their work for the podcast! You ladies are so talented! Everyone go support their art! Dara's art: @its_dara_michelle & daramichelle.bigcartel.com -- she does commissions and sells prints of her work! Mayah's music: @mayahdyson & mayahdyson.com -- check out her Elevation EP! Next week I'll be talking with my friend Ahlam about all things travel! I hope you guys have a peaceful, positive, and productive week! Thanks for listening. 

"Right now I think it's my job to fight for the liberation of the people who can't fight for the liberation of themselves." Hey y'all! Thanks for coming back to listen to another episode. I can't even express how much it means to me. The level of love that Purple Diary is getting is overwhelming. It feels so good, and I am so grateful for you guys. This week we're talking about SOCIAL MEDIA! Candice has mastered social media (particularly IG & Twitter), and I asked her all about her social media evolution, social media activism, and her web series (In)justice served. I hope y'all enjoy this one. I think Candice offered some great points and I can't wait to see more content from her. IG: @purplediarypod Email: purplediarypod@gmail.com Blog: purplediarypod.com Follow Candice on IG & Twitter @whatcandicedoes AND check out her (In)justice served blog https://medium.com/in-justice-served & web series on IGTV! Recommended books: Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson, Understanding Mass Incarceration by James Kilgore, and any book by Jesmyn Ward (Salvage the Bones is a good one!) Special thanks to Dara Michelle and Mayah Dyson for allowing me to use their work for the podcast! You ladies are so talented! Everyone go support their art! Dara's art: @its_dara_michelle & daramichelle.bigcartel.com -- she does commissions and sells prints of her work! Mayah's music: @mayahdyson & mayahdyson.com -- check out her Elevation EP! Next week will be an Ask Danielle Q&A episode! Feel free to send in questions to be featured on next week's episode!

"Indecision is a decision." Hey guys! This week is a continuation of last week's discussion about dating in your early 20s. My friend Dara is here and we're covering really serious topics such as the normalization of cheating, our generation's inability to communicate, and gender roles in relationships. I think Dara gives some really good insight on the topics I introduce, and I hope this generates some good conversations. Thanks so much Dara for being a guest, and thank you guys for listening. I really can't express how much the love and support from everyone means to me. It's incredibly motivating. Please always feel free to reach out to me with episode ideas or topics you want to hear me talk about with my upcoming guests!  IG: @purplediarypod Email: purplediarypod@gmail.com Blog: purplediarypod.com Follow Dara on IG @its_dara_michelle & check out her artwork!! Dara did the cover art for this podcast and she's super talented. She does commissions and sells prints of her work, so go support her on IG and online at daramichelle.bigcartel.com Recommended books: Boundaries by Dr. John Townsend & Dr. Henry Cloud and Daring Greatly by Dr. Brene Brown Special thanks to Mayah Dyson for allowing me to use her music for the podcast! You are so talented! Everyone go support her art! Mayah's music: @mayahdyson & mayahdyson.com -- check out her Elevation EP! Next week we'll be discussing social media with Candice Crutchfield! We'll be talking about social media activism, unwritten social media etiquette, and a lot more so stay tuned!

"I only offer to split the check if I don't like them."  Hi friends! Today's episode is all about dating as a woman in your early 20s (episode from a man's perspective coming soon). I brought my dear friend Mona on to talk about first date horror stories, splitting the bill, and dating preferences. I had so much fun recording this episode with Mona and she will definitely be back on the podcast again! I can't wait to hear some first date stories from you guys and hear everyone's opinions on dating apps. Thanks so much for tuning into this week's episode.  IG: @purplediarypod Email: purplediarypod@gmail.com Blog: purplediarypod.wordpress.com Follow Mona on IG @monamuhidin Recommended book: Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier (painting by Johannes Vermeer) Special thanks to Dara Michelle and Mayah Dyson for allowing me to use their work for the podcast! You ladies are so talented! Everyone go support their art! Dara's art: @its_dara_michelle & daramichelle.bigcartel.com -- she does commissions and sells prints of her work! Mayah's music: @mayahdyson & mayahdyson.com -- check out her Elevation EP! Next week will be Part 2 of dating in your early 20s with Dara Michelle! See you guys next week and thank you so much for all the love and support. It means the world. 

"Life is all about what you've done for other people." Today we're talking all about positivity.  Justin Graves (my friend and first guest on the podcast!) talks about how he's maintained a positive outlook no matter the state of his health or the energy of the people around him. He also talks about He's on Wheels, his goal of meeting one new person every day, and how he's doing his part to bring people together and create community.  I think intentional positivity is so important. I don't think it's something that comes naturally to most people, so we have to make the conscious decision to choose happiness every day. I hope you all are choosing happiness. There are always things you can be grateful for in your life. Thank you so much Justin for being my first guest, and thank you all for listening! Follow me on social media so we can continue the conversation! IG: @purplediarypod Email: purplediarypod@gmail.com Blog: purplediarypod.wordpress.com Follow Justin on social media @hesonwheels and check out hesonwheels.com Recommended book: Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi Special thanks to Dara Michelle and Mayah Dyson for allowing me to use their work for the podcast! You ladies are so talented! Everyone go support their art! Dara's art: @its_dara_michelle & daramichelle.bigcartel.com -- she does commissions and sells prints of her work! Mayah's music: @mayahdyson & mayahdyson.com -- check out her Elevation EP! Next week we're talking about dating in your early 20s, so stay tuned! Thank you so much for listening. 

Hey guys! Thank you so much for joining the Purple Diary community. I'm so excited to start this journey with everybody. Let me know on social media how you use your journal, what you want to learn most from other members of the community, and what you want to hear from future guests on the podcast! Also -- let me know what other social media accounts Purple Diary should have (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn?). I want to be able to connect with as many people as possible. IG: @purplediarypod Email: purplediarypod@gmail.com Blog: purplediarypod.wordpress.com Recommended Books: Mindset by Carol Dweck, The Color Purple by Alice Walker, and Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn Special thanks to Dara Michelle and Mayah Dyson for allowing me to use their work for the podcast! You ladies are so talented! Everyone go support their art! Dara's art: @its_dara_michelle & daramichelle.bigcartel.com -- she does commissions and sells prints of her work! Mayah's music: @mayahdyson & mayahdyson.com -- check out her Elevation EP! Stayed tuned for next week's episode! Episodes will be uploaded every Wednesday.