Take Nothing When I Die

What a JOURNEY!! Take Nothing When I Die hit SO MANY MILESTONES! From my gorgeous guests, to a guest interviewing me to almost 10,000 downloads and reaching 70+ countries, this has been a beautiful experience...and I know my ancestors are smiling upon not only me but my guests and you as well!

Njaimeh Njie is a multimedia storyteller. From her desires to make a featured documentary to learning how to make a delicious Sunday dinner, Njaimeh shows us no goal is too unreachable or too small.  Her photography, video, oral history, writing, and public artwork explores contemporary Black experiences, with a particular focus on how the past shapes the present. Njie’s work has been featured in outlets including CityLab and Belt Magazine, exhibited in spaces including the Carnegie Museum of Art and The Mattress Factory Museum, and she has presented at venues including TEDxPittsburghWomen and Harvard University. Among several awards and grants, Njie was named the 2019 Visual Artist of the Year by the Pittsburgh City Paper, and the 2018 Emerging Artist of the Year by the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts. Njie earned her B.A. in Film and Media Studies in 2010 from Washington University in St. Louis.

In this conversation, Njaimeh opens up about:

• Bringing her personal stories into her art
• How she faces imposter syndrome
• The importance of looking back and reflecting on challenges
• Listening to yourself and those AHA moments
• The 5 words Njaimeh is bringing with her into 2022

Where can you find Njaimeh:

Black women deserve ease.  Black women deserve a respite.  Black women deserve quiet.  And Tara Pringle Jefferson's mission in life is to provide all that and more.  Tara is a writer, speaker, and self-care coach with a lifelong passion for creating community. She's founder of the Self Care Suite, a wellness community for Black women to unlearn exhaustion as their default and develop a more easeful way of life. She's currently writing a book on Black women's self-care legacies, due out in 2023.

The Self Care Suite is a community of compassion and understanding. There, Tara notes, we make connections, prioritize ourselves and unlearn exhaustion using methods like virtual challenges and affirmations cards to begin your morning.

In this conversation, Tara doesn't take with her:

1. Why Black women's self care is so important
2. What future accomplishments will make 'younger Tara' jump with excitement
3. The importance of staying present
4. The impact of lurkers in a retreat space
5. Why Tara moves the Self Care Suite in the direction of what's needed in that space at that time
6. The reason therapist referrals fill Tara up

Follow Tara in these following spaces:

You know the feeling you get after it has rained and everything is quiet and calmness envelops you? That's what it's like to speak with Davion Ziere!

Born in Santa Barbara, CA and raised a global citizen between Oakland, Atlanta, Mississippi, South Africa and more, Davion Ziere is focused on being present and practicing holistic embodiment of the world we wish to live in. Ziere is a multi-instrumental artist, speaker, writer, bridge builder and serial post-growth entrepreneur cultivating visions and systems that value and respect all forms of life. He is the oldest of 9 siblings and loves his family, community, travel and exploring all that we don’t know.

Join us as we speak about:

• How Elders spoke to him about the importance of prayer, rest and meditation
• When he found himself with air bags deployed while experiencing a spiritual awakening
• The expansion of awareness
• What happened when Ziere began speaking his truth
• The importance of slowing down, being still and listening to your internal self and spirit
• Why our breath is proof of our life
• The word he uses to remind himself he is part of a collective

Follow Ziere in these following spaces:

My favorite start to any Take Nothing When I Die Episode is when I have been speaking to my guest for 30 minutes and we haven't even begun recording!

In today's episode, I spoke with Imani Maxberry (They/Them). Finding a love for the outdoors as a child, they are currently pursuing an M.S. in Urban Studies with a concentration in Urban Sustainability at Georgia State. They also hold a B.S. in Coastal Environmental Science from LSU, and have 4 years of experience working in a nationally-recognized biological analytical science laboratory under Dr. Victor H Rivera-Monroy. Since their return, Imani has implemented several environmental initiatives, community conversations and orchestrated multiple community service events, including community clean-ups and supply drives.

Join us as we speak about:

• Why their goal is to be a Noble Peace Prize Winner
• When Imani is having self doubts, what validates them
• What internal & external validations look and feel like
• How Imani attracted being an environmental scientist into their life
• The importance of work, life, play balance
• Why Imani refuses to give into the grind culture
• Imani authentically showing up as themselves

Follow Imani in these following spaces:

Did you ever continuously get an internal message from God, the Universe, or whomever you believe in...and just ignored it? You distracted yourself with work, food, family (fill in the blank here) because you didn't want to have to begin that personal journey?  Well, in the words of Michael Jackson, "You are not alone!"

We are in seasons of transitions and changes and "Take Nothing When I Die" is no different.  The biggest and greatest change:  I have created a whole life form! I will be sharing more about my parenting journey this season so stay tuned.  If you haven't gotten a chance to listen to episodes 1 - 7 of Season 2, take a listen and you'll hear a little bit of my pregnancy experience.

Thank you for staying on this episode experience with me.  I would love to know how YOU want to see TNWID transition:  a book, a documentary, a series? Hit me up! Find me on IG (@takenothingwhenidie) or Twitter (@TNWID), leave me a voicemail on Anchor (anchor.fm/tnwid) or email me: sghostonpaul@gmail.com

Now, let's get into this episode!

I am so excited to pick Season 2 back up with my amazing guest: Veronica Agard. Veronica Agard is a writer and cultural organizer at the intersections of Black identity, wellness, representation, and culture. Of Afro-Caribbean, African-American and Indigenous descent, she experiments with creative healing modalities and puts theories learned into practice. With bylines at Redefining Our Womanhood, Black Girl Magik, Life as Ceremony and Black and Well; Veronica also is the creator behind the Who Heals the Healer experience, contributes to Your Magic, and facilitates the Ancestors in Training educational project. She graduated magna cum laude from CUNY City College in 2014 and is pursuing a master of social work degree from Fordham University.

In this episode, we will be discussing:

1. Why Veronica feels aligned with coming out of a winter slumber and why she feels "even"
2. Honoring and paying homage to the phrase "Rest is Resistance"
3. Clarity in finding your inspiration
4. Ways that we hyper consume traditions by people of color
5. How letting go invites in new positive things to happen
6. The importance of Shadow work
7. What Veronica would put in a time capsule

Where can you find Veronica:

Welcome to the mid-season finale! TNWID will be on hiatus until August, but we couldn't go without leaving you with a stellar solo episode. This one is for you regardless of gender, body, or parental status because we're all putting something out in the world, whether it be a manuscript, a message, or some other contribution! Tune in to hear lessons on what to keep in mind on your journey, including:

-- how to be clear and strategic about your offering;

-- what "ancestral mathematics" have to do with your contribution; and

-- why self-discovery is so vital to the outcome you're seeking. 

DRUMROLL PLEASE! Episode 6 is legendary and historic all at once - it debuts a FIRST for the podcast (a full crossover episode) AND divulges a HUGE announcement...but you gotta listen through to the end to find out! Tune in to hear the double interview (and the news!) with Let Me Introduce Myself Podcast, which covers so much including:

-- how self-discovery can pave the way for deeper community exploration;

-- the delicate balance between being prepared and trusting your intuition; and

-- what therapy, Zen Buddhism, and mycelium have to do with one another!

Let Me Introduce Myself (LMIM) bio: Let Me Introduce Myself is all about pulling back the layers of Black humanity to look at what's true, what's authentic, what's deep. Cocreating space for Black men to explore their humanity, their blackness, their maleness, and everything in between. To fully introduce themselves. 

Um, who wouldn’t want life lessons from a former award-winning relationship matchmaker?! Episode 5 contains that, AND some! Press play to hear about Stephanie's former life as a matchmaker and how it applies to you no matter who you are, including:

-- the importance of having someone (who isn’t your friend, relative or Jesus) be a mirror for you;

-- how we need to question what we’ve been told, in love and in life; and

-- why we can’t eliminate the potential for hurt from our lives without also eliminating the potential for happiness.

Episode 4 features special guest Yvette Henry! She's a self-adventurer, teacher, content creator, wife, mom and SO MUCH MORE! You're in for a real treat - press play to absorb some of the genius she shared, including:

-- why she shifted from playing it safe to putting it all out there;

-- her distinction between trust vs control issues and;

-- how she applies "choose your hard" to her own life.

Her bio: Yvette Henry is the host of the Yvette, Unplugged! Podcast, which has become a space where many of her listeners have found pieces of themselves in her words and adventures as a wife and mother of four working through the idiosyncrasies of her own identity from these seemingly all-consuming roles. She is also the co-host of the How Married Are You? Podcast, where she and her husband, Glen Henry, explore relationships through the lens of a Christian marriage. As co-owner of their family business, Beleaf in Fatherhood, Yvette is the creative director and manager of the companies’ merchandise line. In sharing her life, she hopes to empower others to embrace the process of becoming and to love themselves as she works through it herself.

Her #TNWIDTakeaway: "We're paving our own path and doing what we want and not necessarily conforming to what the world has said that has to happen."

Episode 3 is a solo episode that debuts BRAND NEW solo segments, as well as Stephanie's experience with getting clear about the WHY when faced with a seemingly fabulous opportunity! Tune in to find out what's new AND hear her mishaps while exploring her why, including:

-- the behind-the-scenes truth about her TEDx experience;

-- why zooming out can be helpful when you're stuck; and

-- crucial questions to answer so you don't find yourself doing the same thing over and over.

Season 2's first guest is none other than THEE Michaela Harrison! This mermaid-magician-healer had a lot to say in her DEBUT podcast interview, including:

-- where she feels most at home, spiritually, physically, and mentally;

-- why she's never doubted her own magic and;

-- how she went from befriending a squirrel to singing with whales in Brazil.

Her bio: Michaela A. Harrison is a Washington, D.C. native whose career is rooted in relaying the healing, transformational power of music through song. She has performed nationally and internationally as a soloist and with various bands and musical collectives. As a resident of New Orleans for over 17 years, Michaela established an enthusiastic following at local venues such as Café Istanbul, Second Vine Wine, and Ashé Cultural Arts Center.

Michaela began singing in the Baptist church at age five. Her musical style incorporates her gospel roots as well as a diverse range of genres including jazz, blues, R & B, soul, samba, MPB and African traditional music. As a protégé of Bernice Johnson Reagon, founder of Sweet Honey In The Rock, Michaela is well-versed in spirituals, work songs, and protest music from the Civil Rights era. Her soulful, heartfelt delivery of covers and original music has often moved audiences to tears. 

Her #TNWIDTakeaway: "When you are in the flow, when you are in surrender, when you are listening for and tuned into the signs and the messages and moving with that, the energy, the resources, the support that are needed for you to do what you came here to do are always there for you."

We made it to the Season Two premiere! TNWID is finally BACK and ready for action. This season's opener is jam-packed! Listen in to hear Stephanie chat about:

--  the struggles AND triumphs of 2020;

--  what's new for season two; and

--  her TEDx talk on being a living ancestor. 

Episode 30 is the Season 1 finale! TNWID is closing out the first season with a bang - this one contains the regular solo segments, lots of gratitude, universal reflections on shaping history, and a sneak peek of season 2! Tune in to hear Stephanie chat about:

--  the power of leaning into visibility;

--  how she overcame her terror of asking for help; and

--  why doing something purely for fun rejects the status quo.

Her #TNWIDTakeaway is: "We are living ancestors...we're fundamentally shifting the course of human history by what we do and who we are on a day to day basis..."

Are you sure you're ready for Episode 29, the last TNWID episode before the SEASON 1 finale? This one features Jon Jackson who dropped so many gems, including:

-- why most people are afraid of doubt;

-- the role healing pays in longevity; and

-- his healthy disrespect for the idea that people are deities.

His bio: Jonathan Jackson is a writer, speaker, and entrepreneur focused on the intersection of community, culture, and commerce.

Most recently, Jonathan was the Editor-in-Chief at Red Table Talk, overseeing content and audience for the award-winning show and looking to expand its reach and influence into new markets.

As a co-founder and former Head of Corporate Brand at Blavity Inc,  he helped spearheaded go-to-market strategy and industry penetration, helping it grow to a media brand for Black millennials and Gen Z in the U.S. reaching over 30M users a month.

He was the 2019 Nieman-Berkman Klein Fellow at the Nieman Foundation for Journalism and the Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society/ His work is centered around the emergence of black media in the digital age, examining new ways to measure black cultural influence, and its effect on the media and advertising landscape both domestically and abroad.

He began his career at LinkedIn, working across various roles at LinkedIn in across HR, Advertising, most recently as an Editor overseeing the Influencer Program, which brings together world’s top thought leaders across business and industry to engage with LinkedIn’s 580M members through rich insights and original content.

As a speaker, he has lectured at Harvard Business School,  The United Nations,  Pandora, and other global brands and Fortune 500 companies  He sits on the advisory boards of Nielsen and sparks & honey, and is an active board member at HBCU.VC, a 5013c organization focused on equipping the next generation of HBCU graduates looking to get involved in venture capital.

His #TNWIDTakeaway: "Whatever you're accountable to largely decides the price you're willing to pay for the success you want."

Please welcome special guest Jess Wass for episode 28! Jess shared so much, including:

-- the value of healthy envy, especially when it comes to your career;

-- why everyone needs a personal mission statement; and

-- how there are no such things as 'mistakes' on your career path 

Jess Wass has changed careers 5 times over the last 15 years, moving from Finance and Strategy Consulting, to Corporate and Startup roles, until finally finding her place as a Change Management Consultant & Executive Coach. Her years of experience in business combined with a strong skillset in organizational psychology, allow her to bring new perspective and frameworks to help clients tackle a variety of work-related challenges. She received her Masters in Social-Organizational Psychology from Columbia University’s Teachers College.

Jess works with individuals and groups as a Coach, focused on helping people reach their full potential by getting to the heart of what truly drives them and helping ordinary managers become extraordinary leaders. She specializes in helping clients navigate career transitions by finding clarity in what drives them and utilizing frameworks for decision making, building alignment and clarity among teams, managing conflicts, diversity & inclusion work, and increasing productivity and focus at work. When she’s not working, she’s breaking down the psychology of The Real Housewives franchises and indulging her sweet tooth in anything with chocolate.

Jess' #TNWIDTakeaway: "Defining yourself in terms of the specific role is really limiting...I wanted to instead imagine all the things that I could do and by defining my mission, I've opened it up."

Tune into episode 27 which features Jordan Sanchez in his first podcast interview ever! He stops by to share:

-- the importance of narrative-building;

-- the biggest compliment of his career; and

-- how he's disconnecting achievement from his identity.

As a Senior Partnerships Lead at IDEO.org, Jordan focuses on building and nurturing relationships with partner organizations who share our mission to disrupt systems of inequity and expand prosperity in communities across the United States.

Prior to joining IDEO.org, Jordan launched and served as Executive Director of an organization focused on disaster recovery and building resilient infrastructure in Puerto Rico, leading the organization's strategy, building a team of 30 people. Before that, Jordan built relationships and honed his strategy chops at organizations like the Clinton Global Initiative, WPP, and JP Morgan Chase.

Jordan holds a bachelor's degree in Economics with a minor in Organizational Leadership from Rutgers University. He sits on the 20|30 Leadership Council of the Clinton Foundation and has also served as an advisor to the PowHERful foundation and Teach for America. When he's not at work, you can find Jordan enjoying craft beer in upstate New York, spending time with his kids, or curating his sneaker collection—sometimes all in the same day.

His #TNWIDTakeaway: "I have a really deep urge to know how everything works...I know that all these things are working around me either effecting me positively or not, and I want to know why and how they work."

You made it to episode 26! Nikita is our special guest for this episode. Listen in to hear her perspective on:

-- how to combat worrying about what other people think of you;

-- why 98% of the world's population is multi-passionate; and 

-- how to do the thing you've always wanted to do. 

Nikita Burks-Hale is the CEO and Head Creative of JourneyGurl Magic Productions, a podcast production company that supports and empowers Womxn of Color as they bring their unique voices to the masses through podcasting. Nikita is also the host of 2 podcasts, The JourneyGurl Magic Podcast and The Podcaster’s Journey. Nikita is a journeyer in every sense of the word and truly believes that life is a journey and you must be open to its endless possibilities. Her coaching and personal beliefs are centered around living your imperfect journey to the fullest by:

Showing Up

Being Vulnerable

Practicing Gratitude

Be A Badass

And Enjoying the Ride

When Nikita is not coaching, producing, or journeying, you can find her Netflix bingeing classics with her wife Jessica and catching up on the latest episode of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse with her toddler son, Adonis.

Nikita's #TNWIDTakeaway: "We are capable of doing whatever we want. Saying that, living that, and being open to the journey is something that I just don't want to take to the grave."

Episode 25 is not one to miss! Maxime Paul came through and schooled us on:

-- the value of invention and innovation in everyday life;

-- how video games can refabricate or mitigate what's going on in the world; and

-- what cooking teaches us about community research.

Maxime is an autodidactic polymath with wide-ranging industry experience and keen ability to learn quickly in any situation, environment, or context. His work has touched fields that include technology development and business design as well as interdependent city planning and community-centered program design. Currently, he helps design/redesign organizations, communities, and governments with social and environmental impact in their DNA through his fifth venture, Building What’s Next. His work is typically rooted in systems engineering, culture redefinition, power decentralization, user research, and iterative development no matter what tools need to be used to solve the challenges he’s faced with. Maxime holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Rice University in Electrical and Computer Engineering with a specialty in Systems and an MBA in Next Economy Business Design from Lift Economy. He is currently working on his first series of books, a collection of illustrated Afrofuturist parables, called A Window to Liberation. He is also the host of the Let Me Introduce Myself podcast which uncovers the deeper layers of Black men.

His #TNWIDTakeaway: "[K]eep trying things out...experiment...Everybody is a compilation of their experiences."

You made it to another solo episode! This one is about break-ups of all kinds. We're always breaking up with something or someone, even if we're not conscious of it. Press "PLAY" to hear Stephanie break down:

--  why we can't actually hold other people accountable; 

--  the importance of telling the truth, even when it's not easy; and

--  the need to examine the common denominator (hint, it's YOU!).

Her #TNWIDTakeaway is: "[T]he truth, your truth doesn't depend on outside recognition."

Zakiya Carr Johnson did not disappoint as a guest for Episode 23! Zakiya pulled up to break down:

--  Her mission to do more than survive;

--  How culture is as important as life itself; and

--  Why career isn’t a place or role.

Zakiya Carr Johnson is a social inclusion, diversity and equity expert and strategist with extensive experience in international development and over 20 years shaping public policy. Prior to founding ODARA Solutions, LLC and launching the Black Women Disrupt Initiative, she served as Senior Advisor and Director of the Race, Ethnicity and Social Inclusion Unit at the U.S. Department of State, co-chair for the White House Inter-Agency Committee on Gender-Based Violence Monitoring and Evaluation and Senior Technical Advisor for the Social Inclusion Trust Fund at the Inter-American Development Bank. As an entrepreneur, Zakiya understands the unique challenges faced by small and minority business owners. She creates opportunities for economic empowerment and investment for historically marginalized groups and builds bridges of understanding between communities. Zakiya is an accomplished public speaker, who loves to cook. She is also fluent in Spanish and Portuguese and a proud Bison!

Her #TNWIDTakeaway: "I've been driven by my own set of things I want to learn and do while I'm here. I don't place as much value in some of the trappings that keep people frozen.”

Episode 22 features Allison Haywood in her first podcast interview ever! Allison stopped by to break down:

--  crucial life lessons she's learned from jewelry-making;

-- why she's sworn off social media; and

--  how raising kids (and ourselves) is a radical act.

Allison Haywood is a self-professed luddite-lite, creator, investigator, teacher, and learner. Her path has never been linear. She attended Brown University for two years and then left for four years. During her four years off from college, she trained with a master goldsmith and started a fine jewelry line, name after her Uncle Woodrow, the only man in her life who wore jewelry daily. Eventually, she decided to return to school and finish up her degree. I've dabbled in many different fields, most revolving around social justice work, and upon graduating from Brown got a job at CityBridge Education, a nonprofit charter-school incubator. She recently moved to Atlanta because of her fiance's work, and promptly enrolled in a real estate salespersons' course. She has always been interested in the concepts of ownership and private property and wanted to delve into a space that the Black community has largely been shut off from. Real estate is a wealth-building industry, and one of the biggest contributors to the Black-White wealth divide is a lack of homeownership within the Black community.

Her #TNWIDTakeaway: "Raise yourself to question, to be critical, to think, to explore, to be unafraid...it is radical to do that and it could possibly change the course of a lot of things."

Say hello to Michelle C. Johnson, our guest for Episode 21! She went DEEP to offer:

-- why she doesn't buy into dominant culture's definition of "productivity";

-- how collective grief is connected to freedom and liberation; and

-- her practice for staying grounded in a noisy world.

Her bio: Michelle Johnson is a social justice warrior, author, dismantling racism trainer, empath, yoga teacher and practitioner, and an intuitive healer. With over 20 years of experience leading dismantling racism work and working with clients as a licensed clinical social worker, she has a deep understanding of how trauma impacts the mind, body, spirit, and heart. Her awareness of the world through her own experience as a black woman allows her to know, first-hand, how privilege and power operate.

Michelle has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the College of William and Mary and a Master's degree in Social Work from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. She has worked in several non-profits and served as an elected official and on many non-profit boards of directors. She has worked with large corporations, small non-profits, and community groups, including the ACLU-WA, Duke University, Google, This American Life, The Center for Equity and Inclusion, Eno River Unitarian Universalist Church, Lululemon, and many others. Michelle published Skill in Action: Radicalizing Your Yoga Practice to Create a Just World in 2017; she teaches workshops in yoga studios and community spaces nationwide. She is on the faculty of Off the Mat Into the World, and she serves as the Co-Director of 18 Springs Healing Center in Winston-Salem, NC. Michelle was a Tedx speaker at Wake Forest University in 2019, and she has been interviewed on several podcasts in which she explores the premise and foundation of Skill in Action, along with creating ritual in justice spaces, our divine connection with nature and Spirit, and how we as a culture can heal.

Michelle leads courageously from the heart with compassion and a commitment to address the heartbreak dominant culture causes for many because of the harm it creates. She inspires change that allows people to stand in their humanity and wholeness in a world that fragments most of us. Whether in an anti-oppression training, yoga space, individual or group intuitive healing session, the heart, healing and wholeness are at the center of how she approaches all of her work in the world.

Her #TNWIDTakeaway: "I want to just encourage people to be in their wholeness and to really nourish and honor the different parts of themselves that need to flourish and come forth, like in their work and their practice."

Episode 20 is a solo episode filled with inspiration from Stephanie!

Tune in to hear:

 --  how Take Nothing When I Die is taking the PLANET by storm;

 --  why she almost DIDN'T publish this episode; and

 --  three keys to THRIVING amidst crisis.

Her #TNWIDTakeaway is: “Reach out, try again, put yourself out there. Sometimes we need to create what we’re looking for.” 

Béalleka Makau dug deep to share her wisdom for Episode 19! Listen in to hear her explain:

- how she writes her way to freedom;

- the difference between living to work and working to live; and

- her knack for fortuitous encounters with strangers!

Béalleka Makau is a Kenyan-born, California-raised, former professor of literature and cultural studies who specializes in Black maternal liberation narratives of the antebellum era. After a decade-long career witnessing the harmful impact of colonial, white-supremacist, hetero-patriarchy at universities across the U.S., she left in academia in 2015. Soon after, she experienced a spiritual rebirth that heralded her own liberation and claim of a name she had never heard before that reminds her to be her most authentic, aligned self.

Béalleka has dedicated the past 5 years to healing, traveling, and working as an intersectional equity consultant. In 2018, she gave a TEDx talk outlining her radical empathy curriculum, which encourages us to unlearn stories we’ve been taught about who we are and what we believe we deserve. A lifelong writer, Béalleka has contributed to numerous storytelling shows as both a performer and production consultant. Her stories highlight the trauma of “peculiar intimacy,” a term she coined to describe the privileges and perils of white adjacency about which she teaches and writes in a memoir that explores her personal and professional reinventions.

Béalleka currently assists others on their healing journeys via the Peculiar Intimacy Healing Institute, a.k.a., PI hi, which combines her academic training and transformative coaching experience, and 8 Star Sanctuary, which builds on the life and literature of Octavia Estelle Butler and provides virtual and physical healing space in northern New Mexico for the collective liberation of Black, Indigenous, women of color.

Her TNWIDTakeaway:  “I talk to people and I'm always learning, but I also trust myself. I trust that I am the best authority for myself, for my own life. I know better than anybody else, what I need and what I want.”

Episode 18 features Nikki Gee! This beauty mogul came through to chat about being her own incubator, listening to her 'hidden intuition,' and finding beauty everywhere - tune in to hear more!

Nikki Gee is a retired Air Force veteran who was diagnosed with Relapse Remitting MS in 2011. After being diagnosed with MS, she sought out a path to truly figuring out the meaning of life. Through her journey, she has been able to educate others on what it really means to take charge of your own life through spiritual, emotional, and physical healing.  Nikki is currently studying Complementary and Alternative Health at Ashford University and Homeopathy at Academy of Homeopathy Education, NYC. Upon completion, she will be attending Southwest Medical College in Phoenix Arizona to become a Naturopathic Doctor. It was out of Nikki’s love for nature and self-healing that Urban Essentials came into fruition. As an herbalist, she believes that herbs and roots carry messages that we need to become in tune with and that's why she infuses her products with them. Her mantra is 'Be You, Be Free, Be Inspired.'

Nikki #TNWIDTakeaway: "Sometimes being a critic is really wanting to pull out the beauty in what makes people smile."

Welcome to Episode 17 with Nick Mulkey! Nick drops some serious knowledge in this interview including:

-how to overcome the fear of failure;

-why cities should operate more like universities;

-the importance of searching for truth. 

Tune in to hear these life lessons, and more!

Nick writes: “I chase good times, live through laughs, and find fulfillment in creating ways to make life a little easier for everyone. Whether that's through my art, ventures, or advocacy, I intend on making an impact. I believe that with enough people making a positive impact, we all may be able to find our own little slice of heaven.”

His #TNWIDTakeaway: "Seek your truth and don't relent on it. Don't let life knock it out of you...don't let that stop you from seeking the truth that you want, from seeking the vision that you have for your life."

Please meet Paige Hendrix Buckner who came through for Episode 16! Paige let us in on how humor helps with trauma, her 'recovering unprofessional person' status, and her 14+ job transitions. This one's a treat!

Paige Hendrix Buckner is the Program Director of Founder Gym. Throughout her career, Paige has operated at the intersection of education, entrepreneurship, and social justice. After graduating from the University of Missouri, she taught fourth and fifth grade as a Teach for America Corps Member while earning a Master's degree in education. When she wasn't teaching elementary school, she co-founded the Nevada Chapter of the Not For Sale Campaign, an anti-human trafficking organization. She relocated to Portland, Oregon in 2011 to join her husband and worked at the Urban League of Portland helping families get access to health insurance. She then joined Multnomah County as a Policy Advisor for an elected official. After attending a Startup Weekend, she started building a company and made the leap into full-time entrepreneurship when her company was selected for the Startup PDX Challenge. As a founder and educator, she has helped cultivate the Portland ecosystem, including teaching entrepreneurship with the TiE Young Entrepreneurs Oregon Program, serving on the board of the Oregon Entrepreneurs Network, and co-founding the Xxcelerate Fund for women entrepreneurs. When she's not teaching, Paige loves gardening, going for long walks with her family and reading science fiction.

Her #TNWIDTakeaway: "Don't feel like you have to do everything and don't feel like your work is what makes you worthy."

We're officially halfway through Season 1!

Stephanie Ghoston Paul gives a midseason recap for Episode 15! In this solo episode, you'll hear:

1. Three signature solo segments: "How are you doing (the for real, for real version)", "What's bringing you pleasure?", and "The Future is Now: How are you practicing being free, whole and enough?";

2. Five life-changing lessons Stephanie learned about confidence, systems, her voice, time, and having fun;

3. AND six superlative guest awards for: The Funniest Episode, The Most Surprising Episode, The Most Soothing Episode, The Most Popular Episode, The Longest Episode, and The Shortest and Sweetest Episode!

Meet Chari Chin-Young Caston! She came through for Episode 14 and shared:

1. How traveling and reverse culture shock have changed her life;

2. Her hatred of the question "what do you want to be when you grow up?";

3. And how her fear of missing out (FOMO) sabotaged inspiration and success.

Episode 13 is filled with bars on bars from former emcee turned fatherhood guru Glen Henry aka Beleaf in Fatherhood! Press play to hear him explain how to protect your genius, how his 'mommy issues' work in his favor, and how he found something he's willing to die for.

Glen Henry is the visionary behind the brand Beleaf in Fatherhood. His mission statement says: “Fathers can make mistakes that traumatize and wound their children. I was reluctant to become a father because I was afraid of this outcome. Once I was mentored by a good father, that all changed. Everyone deserves to see what being a good father looks like. I created Beleaf in Fatherhood to be the proof. To equip fathers, bring hope to mothers, and inspire children. My hope is that real stories of fatherhood will bring connection and healing to people everywhere.”

Episode 12 is NOT one to miss! Arlan Hamilton stopped by to share more about her new book called "It's About Damn Time: How to turn being underestimated into your greatest advantage". Listen in to hear her advice on how to shield against 'hustle porn' and how she's thinking about self-reinvention these days. She even breaks down "the seed doesn't see the petal" gem from her mother!

Arlan Hamilton built a venture capital fund from the ground up, while homeless. She is the Founder and Managing Partner of Backstage Capital, a fund that is dedicated to minimizing funding disparities in tech by investing in high-potential founders who are people of color, women, and/or LGBT.

Laura E. Knights is our special guest for the Take Nothing When I Die Podcast Episode 11! This episode is all about her work as a reformed workaholic, her mission to empower people to create their own legacy and how being a 'bad employee' led to being a successful entrepreneur! You don't want to miss out on what she shares.

Laura E. Knights is an author, speaker, and relationship expert that helps people discover solutions, techniques, and strategies to achieve desired outcomes in their personal and professional relationships. Her expertise and background in business, organizational development, adult learning and education, and as a licensed clinical social worker has uniquely equipped her to teach others how to deal with both the "head work" and "heart work" required to succeed at work and in life.  She has been developing both personal and professional programs in this vein for the last 16 years. Laura is also the Founder and Lead Consultant of Knights Consulting LLC, a leadership development consultancy focused on strengthening leaders and teams, and enhancing workplace culture through coaching, training, and consulting services.

Over the years, her multi-passionate adventures have taken her in many directions as a serial entrepreneur. Laura has worked as a wedding planner, social worker, licensed family therapist, non-profit program developer and administrator, and small business advisor, just to name a few.  Today, she spends her time providing leadership development consulting to organizations and providing relationship coaching to couples. No matter how she’s spending her time, Laura is a teacher at heart.  With all her activities, she always aims to fulfill her WHY —To educate and empower people so that they can uncover their full potential, walk boldly in it, and create their own legacy.  She looks at life as one big adventure, and she always has her eyes open for the next leg of the journey.

Laura's #TNWIDTakeaway: "The energy that you spend on thinking you aren't going fast enough, you aren't doing things big enough, you are not 'on the timeline' will literally rob of your time, of your happiness, of your creativity, which is one of the most valuable things that we have."

While we're physically distancing due to COVID-19, there's still a need to set boundaries, especially emotional and energetic ones! 

Meet Jasmine Williams, our guest for the Take Nothing When I Die Podcast Episode 9! Press play to hear Jasmine explain: how she adopted an IDGAF lifestyle; how a college textbook helped her open a pop-up shop; and why you (yes YOU!) aren't doing the thing you really want to do.  

Jasmine Williams is a recovering attorney turned designer who focuses her work on helping brainy people activate their ideas and bring good things into the world. Armed with 20+ years of experience in nonprofit, legal, and government environments, Jasmine brings an analytical and strategic edge to projects with the goal of creating things that look good and do good. Before moving to the Carolinas, Jasmine worked as a Staff Attorney for the Indiana Supreme Court with her work focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion in the judicial and legal education systems.

Jasmine's #TNWIDTakeaway: "Life is shorter than you think it is. You have less time than you think you do. So live well, do good and be kind"

Mariel Kanene graced us with his presence for Episode 8! In this interview, you'll hear about what wakes him up in the morning, how fitness and blogging relate to fundraising, and an alternative to keeping a bucket list (hint: it's called a Life List).

By day, Mariel spends his days slowly trying to change the world—one meaningful interaction at a time. As the U.S. Strategic Partnerships Lead for Ubongo, a pan-African edutainment company, Mariel works to mobilize support and funding in the US and beyond, for Ubongo’s work in Africa which focuses on using top quality, localized educational entertainment to help Africa’s 440 million kids learn and leverage their learning to change their lives. When Mariel is not in the office, he spends his free time writing and crafting stories on people, place, and purpose for his blog TheArtOfPerspective.co. When not blogging, he invests is time in various athletic pursuits and building his fitness brand GymWithMK. Mariel was born in Kinshasa, Congo, grew up in Dallas, Texas, and became a grown-up in Washington, DC. Mariel now resides in Los Angeles, CA.

Mariel's #TNWIDTakeaway: "Not everyone is built like you and you are not built like everyone else...Find what a growth mindset looks like in your own situation"

Melinda Weekes-Laidlow stopped by for Episode 7 and we loved the wisdom she shared! Tune in to hear Melinda explain what “doing the work your soul must have” means to her, and how she created a life where she doesn't have to be just one role. 

Melinda Weekes-Laidlow is a social change architect, expert facilitator, ordained minister and social entrepreneur. She is the President of Weekes In Advance Enterprises, an organizational development firm offering consulting, facilitation, coaching and professional development services in arts and culture, social innovation, racial equity and collaborative leadership spaces. Melinda is also graduate Professor of Management at Marlboro College in Brattleboro, VT and served for several years as the Managing Director for Race Forward: The Center for Racial Justice Innovation. Previously, Melinda founded and operated her own transactional law firm in New York City and was a Senior Associate at the Interaction Institute for Social Change, where she now serves on its Board. Melinda is on the Advisory Board of Wesleyan University’s Patricelli Center for Social Entrepreneurship and serves on the ministerial staff at the Greater Allen A.M.E. Cathedral of New York. In  2015, Echoing Green named Melinda its first-ever Social Entrepreneur in Residence which supported her work as Founder/CEO of Beautiful Ventures, a platform to disrupt anti-Blackness and elevate perceptions of people of African descent through inclusive storytelling in popular culture. Melinda holds degrees from Wesleyan University, Harvard University and New York University School of Law. As a native New Yorker born in the Bronx, Melinda flows between the Big Apple and the Big Peach - Atlanta, GA - where she now makes home and community.

Her #TNWIDTakeaway: "The world is waiting for 'the sound of the genuine' within us"

We have Jordan Hayles for Episode 5! Listen in as she shares about her 25 life crises, her experience as an inventor, and how her career transitions have mirrored her life transitions.

Jordan Hayles is a human being. Made in Alabama. Educated in Atlanta. A former Southerner in New York. And a current hippie in Portland, Oregon. If she could make up a title for herself it would be Director of Intellectual Creativity and Visionary Art who leads inventions, comedic writing and dance parties at all the places all of the time. And she has a speaking and innovation practice!

Her #TNWIDTakeaway: "[When I grow up I want to be] a human who breathes regularly before answering and is unbothered but still very much alive."

Want to understand more about what it means to be a living ancestor and how it's connected to the #dabbler lifestyle? Then this episode is for you! Listen in as Stephanie connects the dots between living ancestry and being a jill-of-all-trades. You'll also hear life-changing advice from those who attended the TNWID Launch Party in person. These special guests dish on everything from the importance of storytellers, how to make and live by your own rules, and the power of knowing you always have a choice.  You don't want to miss this! 

Stephanie's #TNWIDTakeway: "My work is to heal myself in ways my ancestors couldn't...and so my future children won't have to"

Hear guest Paul Carrick Brunson give his own eulogy and explain the difference between creating passion and chasing passion. Episode 3 is jam-packed full of wisdom from Paul's experiences in finance, education, matchmaking, international negotiating, and more!

Paul Carrick Brunson is a serial entrepreneur, television host, and columnist whose specialty lies in teaching others professional and social skills. An internationally recognized expert in interpersonal relationships, personal development, and entrepreneurship, he currently serves as a featured business columnist for USA Today, co-host of UK’s Celebs Go Dating television show, and host of the Better with Paul podcast and event series.

Major media outlets throughout the world, such as Good Morning America and The New York Times in the U.S., The Guardian and Sunday Brunch in the UK, and The Jamaican Observer and TVJ in Jamaica have sought Paul’s insights on everything from finding love to pursuing entrepreneurial passion. Named as a Top Voice on LinkedIn and the world’s most influential matchmaker by the Matchmaking Institute, Oprah Winfrey said herself that, “Paul is much more than a matchmaker.”

The heart of his work is centered on impacting lives through mentorship and developing a new generation of servant-leaders with a desire to change the world. Paul is the founder and chair of “Give Love, Build Hope” – a non-profit organization dedicated to transforming schools in rural areas of the Caribbean. A proud second generation son of Jamaica, Paul’s greatest achievements are in his roles of husband and father. When he’s not serving the world, he’s serving his family – likely with a Red Stripe beer in one hand and a good book in the other.

Paul's #TNWIDTakewaway: "the eulogy is one of the most powerful moments in your life...that happens when we’re not here anymore."

Listen in as guest Amanda Spann dishes invaluable advice on her journey from PR to the tech industry. We discuss the highs, lows, wins, and regrets of career development, as well as how coasting is not conducive to growth. 

Amanda Spann is a Chicago-based marketing consultant & app entrepreneur. Sitting at the intersection of product and promotion, she helps brands take their ideas from concept to creation and then build a buzz around them.

Prior to her current roles, Amanda co-founded Tiphub, an impact-driven innovation community for entrepreneurs in Africa and the African Diaspora and the hosts of Diaspora Demo Day, once the largest US-based pitch competition for African led startups. She also served as CMO of Blerdology, a tech social enterprise to support and engage the black tech community and the first organization to host hackathons targeting African-Americans. The company helped to spark interest innovation and assisted minority entrepreneurs build their apps or web-based ventures for little to no cost.

The Florida State and Georgetown grad is a member of the Techstars network and has previously been honored as one of Business Insider’s 30 Most Important Women In Tech Under 30, Walker’s Legacy 2016 Power50, Rolling Out’s 25 Women you should know, as one of BET’s Blacks on the Brink of Greatness, as well as one of the 5 future leaders in technology by Black Enterprise Magazine.