THE POET GOD

Unravel the drama and intrigue of financial imbalances in relationships on our episode "Picking Up the Check with a Kept Man on Deck". Join us for a compelling exploration of how money fuels the flames of destruction in relationships where values are not aligned. And tune in for real-life stories of men who were kept for reason you may not suspect. Interesting things happen when cash and romance intersect!

As we begin a new chapter in our journey we wanted to reintroduce ourselves to new audiences and new organizations that will soon hear our name for the first time. As we set new goals fine-tune previous intentions and take stock of just how far we have come. We wanted everyone to know, we are far from done.

In this captivating installment of our Shades of Bae series, we draw inspiration from Netflix's Black Mirror episode, "Striking Vipers."

It tells the tale of two old friends who reunite and begin a new chapter in their friendship within a virtual reality video game called "Striking Vipers." As they immerse themselves in this virtual world, taking on different identities and engaging in intense tournaments, they find themselves exploring a deeper and more complicated intimate connection within and outside the game. As the lines blur between the virtual and the real, they find themselves in an unconventional affair they are unable to conceal. Join us as we unpack this fascinating episode of Black Mirror and navigate the complex terrain of relationships, identity, and the many shades of gray our sexualities exist between.

Join us as we dive into the colorful world of sexuality and gender identity! In this episode, we continue our "Shades of Bae" series as we explore the fascinating ways our desires thrive outside society's checkboxes. Discover how the spectrum of our sexuality intersects with taboo relationships, challenging the boundaries of pleasure. Get ready for a thought-provoking discussion filled with funny stories and revelations that will hopefully broaden your horizons so press play and take this extraordinary journey through the diverse tapestry of human connections.

Picking up where we left off from “The Toxic Nipple” which is the first episode of this series, we take a turn to navigate the complexities of same-sex relationships that transcend and challenge traditional definitions. Untitled, undefined with both parties often not inclined, to put a label or bring what is unspoken to the table. Are they uninterested or unable to dissect, the desires they have, that society has told them, to reject? Or are those desires linked, to bonds, they are more inclined, to protect? This is a journey through what is often unseen, yet felt deeply, at the core of one's being. Join us as we take, a look at the nuanced experiences that have shaped us, the bonds that break the boundaries we make.

Were we crippled from the start, fed with poison from the parts, our community that only embraces a narrow view of humanity, though be it far from their own reality? Were we nurtured on the nipple of insanity? 

Join us as we take a tantalizing journey deep into the dark, forbidden world of how our upbringing has shaped our sexual views, gender roles, and relationship patterns. In this and the upcoming episodes of this series, we will explore the dangerous dance between nature and nurture, and unveil the provocative teachings and messages about love and intimacy that we were exposed to and influenced by. Through intoxicating storytelling and passionate discussions, we'll navigate the twisted and captivating path of healing from past traumas as we seek to answer why so many people hide parts of themselves from the people they love the most while sharing those hidden parts with those who are like ghosts. And how we have emerged out of a culture of hiding, a culture of fear, a culture that provided a corrupt kind of care, and now we’re here, beyond the ripples of the toxic nipples! 

"Shades of Bae" is a thought-provoking exploration of the complexity of human relationships. In this series, a diverse group of individuals delve into the reasons why we often hide certain aspects of ourselves from our loved ones. Through intimate and raw conversations, discover the shades of vulnerability, fear, shame, and love that influence the way we show up in our relationships. Join us on this journey of self-discovery and connection as we shine a light on the many shades of bae.

In this episode, Akil and Calvin, The Poet God producer reflected on the past 50 episodes and Akil's spiritual journey of coming into alignment with the needs of his soul. Akil also shares his ups and downs in creating The Poet God podcast and why he almost stopped in the middle of season one and in doing so created a deeply personal and authentic listening experience. They also celebrate our 50-episode milestone by reflecting on some of the most popular ones, the lessons they've learned, and the community surrounding the podcast called The Board. Whether you're a new podcaster or a seasoned one, or looking for inspiration and motivation in the pursuit of your own goals listen to this episode and discover how to stay motivated and inspired on your journey.

On our voyage exploring the subject of voyeurism, with our episode “Looks of Lustful Means”(S5 E2). We stopped and couldn’t help but dwell as we fell under, “The Exhibitionist’s Spell” (S5 E3). In that previous episode, the differences in opinions were not subtle! So here we are in this episode with more of “The Rebuttal”.

In our previous episode “Looks of Lustful Means” I spoke with three members of The Board about shifting boundaries, secret fantasies, and what lures the voyeur; but that wasn’t all! We took a voyage into the seas of gray, beyond what is black and white, and we continued that voyage in our conversation today. But the members of The Board in this episode are from a different crew, they have a different perspective than the previous few. They wanted to unpack some of what was said in “Looks of Lustful Means”, but don’t worry the shade came in sprinkles, not in streams. I’d describe it as, subtle. The Exhibitionist’s Spell is the rebuttal!

Could you be a voyeur with no notion of it? Do you hate it but secretly love it? Could it be a natural inclination to look without invitation? Movies surrounding the taboo topic of voyeurism such as “The Voyeurs” has inspired the following one-on-one conversations I’ve had with members of The Board. So sit back and explore with us as we take a deep dive into a conversation, about voyeurism, exhibitionism, and everything in between, in Looks of Lustful Means!

These days I have a different relationship with time. I've left birth date spaces and social media places blank with authenticity in mind. What I find is that the people who love me don't need a notification to keep me top of mind. As I begin a new season again, I wanted to make it abundantly clear that I'm so happy to be in your ear. Hopefully, the words that I share in this new poem make it to your heart from there. For every season, you are the purpose and the reason I give everything I can here. So as we begin this new season together, I do so with a sense of gratitude for the support you had shown even when my location was unknown.

Do you find that in spite of your best intentions to communicate clearly with your partner still somehow your words or actions are misunderstood?Is the collective history between you making it a mystery to discovery the lover you fell involve with? Well I’m blessed to have the board on board with me again today, as we navigate this conversation about the lost art of communication in our relationships and maybe how we can find our way.

This is a poem about evolving through adversity. It's about what we make out of all the pieces of ourselves that we discover and recover on our journey. For me it's about surrendering to the spiritual force that lives within thee, and what I'll make of this course that is my humanity.

The Board is back. They’ve been tested, and we are going to discuss the languages of love they speak. Because in the world of love languages the sentences aren’t always complete, and on the bridge of communication that could only lead to defeat. So as we explored all of the love languages that are listed, I wanted to know what happens when they get twisted!

In this new season, it's about the conversations that changed me, the truths that saved me, the revelations that guide me that hopefully helps you on your own journey of discovery. 

Subscribe To The Poet God podcast on your favorite podcast app and let’s begin a magical relationship with each other as we unpack the wonders of this life together.

Have you ever felt that traditional or religious ideas of monogamy are out of date or out of step with the needs of humanity? If the answer is yes, you're not the only one. After watching Showtime’s “The Affair” and Netflix’s Sex Life, I’ve been reflecting on a conversation that began with a group of friends at a dinner party years ago, where one person expressed his belief that the idea of the monogamous relationship is problematic because it assumes that one person can be everything that the other person in the relationship needs. He expressed that to proceed with what he believed to be an impossible dream, would lead to disappointment when one or both of you discover that you can’t meet all of each other’s needs. All of this lead to this episodes conversation with my friend Donte. After being Married with kids for years now he found himself needing to breakout of traditional ideas of what all of that means! I can't wait for you to hear how things have evolved in his relationship with his wife as they both begin a new journey of addressing their emotional, spiritual and sexual needs.

In this unexpected episode and edition of Inside The Mind of a Poet, I've found myself in the hot seat once again but this time it was with WNHHLP 103.5FM's Behind The Brand hosts Ez Blues and Prestige who graciously allowed me to remix their interview with me which you'll experiences here as "Inside: Dissecting Dualities". We ventured into what is often uncomfortable conversation about race, sexuality and religion. We explored both the business and pleasure of podcasting. On a more personal note it was an opportunity to catch up with someone I'd had a connection with years ago who now is host of his own radio show. So sit back and see what happens when two shows and three hosts come together for a journey Behind The Brand!

I use poetry to articulate and investigate the journey of my soul and the challenges of this human experience we are all having. In "Surrender Remember" I use the eagle (the soul) and the snail (our physical body) as a metaphor to illustrate how vastly different things feel to me when experienced spiritually versus physically. It's about what happened when I came to a place with myself when those experiences began to intertwine inextricably. Explaining  further I think of it as when the consciousness of the soul comes into alignment with the physical presence and awareness of the body. They begin to interact more powerfully and more in alignment with each other, where the spiritual and physical experiences are no longer so far away. When the eagle finds its way to the snail and there's a thinning of the veil. What has been happening with me is that the needs and desires of my soul have taken priority. As this spiritual eclipse continues I find myself redefining my humanity. The core purpose of this podcast is to take you on this journey with me, with the hope that you'd find something helpful in your own journey of better understanding both your human and spiritual reality.

For several months I worked at the Georgia 400 Toll Plaza as a cashier before it closed its doors and its lanes on Nov 22nd 2013. The following pieces were all inspired by the various experiences I had with the commuting public while I was there.

This episode is a continuation of the conversation The Board and I were having after a full day of events focused on the subject of lies. If you haven't listened to "Sometimes a lie" start there. In this episode we pick up where we left off and if you thought we couldn't possibly go any deeper, you'd be wrong. So sit back relax or multitask, cause you're in for a thought provoking emotion stirring episode. 

One thing I’ve been driven by in my work over the years as a columnist, poet, and radio show host is my pursuit of the truth. But what happens when you discover that the questions whose answers you’re driven by aren’t so easily answered? What happens when those answers show up with questions of their own? Before I sat down to have this conversation with a few members of the board, I asked them to listen to "Telling Stories" a song by Tracy Chapman, along with a Ted Talk by Nigerian Writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie called "The danger of the single story", and lastly we gathered to watch an Amazon Original movie called “The Lie”. All for the purpose this very thought provoking conversation. As Tracy Chapman puts it in"Telling Stories" there is a fiction in space between us and I wanted go into that space to explore what that fiction is all about. The conversation begins here and continues in Episode 11 "Lie To Me" Press play and begin this journey of self discovery.

This episode was inspired by a water cooler conversation I walked into between two coworkers Earley and Nate. Nate was sharing the issues he was navigating in his new relationship and Earley (Featured in this episode's Art) was basically telling him to save his time and energy and break up with her now! His advice was pretty much what he felt he should have done months earlier. Sensing that there was a lot more to Earley's story I jokingly suggested that we talk about it on the podcast and he seriously said yes lets do that soon while its fresh. So here we are unpacking everything that played a part in Earley's broken heart!

I vaguely remember taking the photo featured on this episode's art with my mother. As I look at it I'm reminded of why I'm fascinated with what the mind holds on to and what the spirit presses upon us to reflect. The question I ask myself is "What does it want to teach me?" "what does it want me to go back in time to get?". So I figured what do I have to lose? I think I found something precious in my mother's shoes.

In episode 6 "With Friends Like These"  we explored a ton about what health and toxic friendships look like. In this episode we continue that conversation in our examination of when it's time to move on and let go. If you're looking at your circle of friends and you aren't sure, ask then with this episode What's Your Friendship Credit Score?

What do your friendships say about you? Are they a toxic cocktail or a health brew? Do they encourage growth or are they like weeds around your throat? Do they enlighten and enrich you, or do they drain and deplete you? I sat down for a conversation on this topic with my friends who I refer to as "The Board" to analyze the costs the benefits and the profound rewards.

"Was it enough?" was the question that incapsulated all of my fears and hopes about what the future could be for me.  On this particular day It was one of many, that I wanted to ask all of humanity. I was looking for something certain in an abyss of uncertainty. So I sat in the corner on the bathroom floor where all of this came pouring out of me.

This is a poem born at the intersection of love and faith and what I'm realizing as well as who I'm becoming as I emerge from the shackles of hate. If you've ever been unlucky in love, out of alignment with your God given assignment then you can relate. 

They say two is company and three a crowd, but what happens when busy bedrooms get a little too loud. After reading a controversial article about a couple claiming to make an open relationship work, The Board and I got together in this episode to unpack the article and share our own personal experiences of why open relationships can work and why they often don't. 

Can we as a society get past the black penis or will we be forever mesmerized by it? And if we as a society can’t, will we as Black-men broaden our own ideas surrounding who we are and what we’re worth beyond whatever size we happen to be? Or will the size of our penises for better or worse be held high as part of our identity? Who better to have this conversation with other than a group of black men! I doubt you've ever heard a conversation about penises go this deep! 

We are starting off season three with the sexiest episode we've ever done! So listen as we exploring a plethora of topics as well as answer some of your question about topics of compatibility, dealing with rejection, identifying a toxic connection and when being unclear about your bisexuality boarders on deception! This wouldn't be The Poet God podcast if we didn't weave in a little poetry, so we start things off exploring the experiences of two types of love that have become known to me.

Everything I’ve been through and everywhere I’ve been to, has informed what I now bring to, this space. There are some things you have to show up naked to face. Although this podcast has been a personal journey for me, I’ve been empowered and encouraged by the community that has shown up lovely. So as we go forward with season 3 now 12 platforms strong including (Apple podcast, google podcast, Spotify, Anchor, iHeart Radio and pandora) just to name a few; thousands of downloads later, I believe that together there’s nothing we can’t do!

Hopes die

but they also live

and while they are alive

they have so much to give

it would be foolish to deny

the gifts they have to give

because we can't see why

some of those may be short-lived

hopes die that is why we must let them be

some gifts are for today

others an eternity

This episode isn't as depressing as the title suggests, it's about some of those thing we have been unwilling to address. It's a poem about looking pass disappointment, and diving into the uncomfortable places to find out how strong we can be. It's a message about understand the greater truths storms come into our lives to help us see. It was inspired by India Arie and I’m so glad you’re here for what is our season finale! I want to thank you so much for taking this journey with me.

After reflecting on Leaving Neverland and the feelings it elicits for me, comes some pertinent questions. How did my molester, who for many years I saw as a monster become my friend? How do we deal with the duality of loving and hating the same thing? How do accept the reality without completely understanding the why, that sometimes the good guy and bad is the same guy? So you made it to part two, you’re something special look at you! And if that’s not you, don’t skip a thing, before you listen to this you need to listen to How 4pm changed everything!

I had the honor of being part of a historical Oprah television event with 200 men including myself who came forward to discuss our personal stories of sexual abuse as young boys on two award-winning episodes of Oprah's Farewell Season called "200 Men Molested Come Forward" This Poem (200 Heroes) was inspired by that liberating experience.

After watching HBO's Leaving Neverland and the Oprah interview that follows it, I realized that the lens through which I see it would be informed by why I began watching the Oprah show 28 years ago. I couldn't talk about one story without telling the other. So here's how it all began, this is how 4pm changed everything! After this episode check out "200 Heroes", the poem inspired by the landmark Oprah show event where 200 men molested came forwards to break the silence!

In this special behind the scenes episode of the podcast you get to be an ear on the wall in our meeting with our new producer as we talk through the thinking of some of the latest episodes, and the making of newest edition of the podcast called Dear Oprah! We also talk about the challenges in running The Oprah Viewers Club Facebook group and why I decided to integrate content created for the group into the podcast.

The makings of this episode began from a conversation with my friend Calvin who is also the new producer of the podcast. I was sharing with him some scenes from a movie called "The Hours" that helped me get through some rough times in my life. We had a great conversation that you will enjoy whether you have seen the movie or not, and like every episode of this podcast poetry lives in its DNA.

In 2011 when Oprah launched OWN I created a Facebook group called "OWN: The Oprah Viewers Club" because I wanted a space for us as viewers to unpack the content and explore the ways in which it informs, inspires and challenges us. Recently I started a podcast called The Poet God which for me was about answering the call to live a more fulfilling and authentic life. Now I’m happy to announce that beginning with this episode I’m taking all of that one step further with a new edition of the podcast called Dear Oprah, affectionately named after a column I write and publish in our group. It's been quite awhile but I'm glad to be here with you again. Thank you for listening!