Doulas & Advocacy for Black Maternal Health With Deej, Iman Seraaj, and Nicky Dawkins

Original Air Date: February 15, 2021

“We need to have an honest conversation on Black Maternal Health and the disparities in healthcare that threaten Black Women’s lives.”

This is the core conversation that takes place on this week’s episode.

This week’s episode is a panel discussion, where I am joined by 3 professional doulas - Iman Seraaj, Nicky Dawkins, and Deej.

Iman Seraaj is a trained full-spectrum doula passionate about VBACs, breastfeeding, birthrights education, orgasmic birthing, postpartum and prenatal care. With over 12 years of doula and birth advocacy experience; she founded FullCircle Doula Services in 2014.

Nicky Dawkins is a holistic Full-Spectrum Doula and Feminine Health Coach. She is also the founder of Werk it Moms — a mom-driven, soon-to-be charity organization — that focuses on providing educational workshops, products, and a safe space for moms in need to connect. 

Deej is a mother of three little boys, a wife, doula, childbirth educator, and breastfeeding specialist. Deej also owns a brand that focuses on educating women on their birthrights and all things from pregnancy to postpartum called The Nurtured Baby. 

During this episode, we have an honest and real conversation on how Black women in the United States experience disproportionately high rates of death related to pregnancy or childbirth - irrespective of income or education level. 

Iman, Nicky, and Deej provide candid and professional insights into the cause of these health disparities and share solutions we can implement. 

They also provide questions, advice, and tactics Black Women can use when they are having to engage with a racist medical system and provider. 

We also have an open conversation on infertility, miscarriages, and loss. 

I highly encourage that everyone listens to this episode and to the important conversation that Iman, Nicky, and Deej shared with us. 

I am grateful to my guests for the energy, brilliance, and generosity that they brought to this week's episode.

This is an issue that all of us must address.  

I hope you will listen to this episode and take action.

Here’s how you can connect with this week’s guest: 

Iman - https://www.instagram.com/imanseraajfc/

Nicky - https://www.instagram.com/thankyounicky/

Deej -  https://www.instagram.com/the.nurturedbaby/

tomearl.me/doula

Listen to "Doulas & Advocacy for Black Maternal Health With Deej, Iman Seraaj, and Nicky Dawkins" on Spreaker.

Confident Compassion & Thoughtful Ambition with London Jones and Rayesa Gheewala

As the US heads into the Thanksgiving season, it’s a great reminder for all of us to stop for a minute and reflect on what we’re grateful for.

Because there’s always something, especially the more you dive in.

On this VERY special Deeper Gratitude episode, we’re talking with our amazing guests Rayesa Gheewala and London Jones about what we’re each thankful for now, in this moment, and what we can do with that.

Because gratitude is best followed up with intentional actions. Thoughtful ambition. And confident compassion.

We asked questions like:

• Where are you going deeper in your life? 

• What do you want people to go deeper on?

• What are you grateful for right now?

• What is your invitation to those who are listening to this episode?

Rayesa Gheewala is a coach for women, helping them to find life after divorce. She created The Divorced Muslimah Network - a sanctuary for sisters who are divorced, or in the process, providing safety and support and helping to restore self esteem and confidence while rebuilding lives.

Rayesa describes herself as authentic, clear, patient, compassionate, confident, and resilient. She described our conversation as epic. 

Connect with Rayesa by starting at: Rayesagheewala.com

London Jones is a leader in the Black Equity Collective, working to normalize a culture of trust, collaboration, mutual respect and shared accountability, committed to building a future where Black organizations, families and communities thrive. 

She describes herself as thoughtful, ambitious, sensitive, complex, curious, and playful. She told us this conversation took her on a journey.

Hangout with London on Instagram.

You’ll find yourself inspired to share in the appreciative spirit and energy created here.

Ready to jump on in?

🎧 LISTEN now.

Listen to "Confident Compassion & Thoughtful Ambition with London Jones and Rayesa Gheewala" on Spreaker.

If you'd like to learn more about T.H.E. Celebration Academy.  Here's 30 days of Free Membership.

Resiliency & Growth Through Difficult Conversations With Sumiyah Mshaka and Moses Weir

On our monthly deep dive conversation, we’re going into resiliency and growth with our special guests Sumiyah Mshaka and Moses Weir.

So many things stop us from pushing past the hard stuff, but just on the other side of hard is greatness.

👉 What are the difficult conversations you must have with yourself and others to get you there?

👉 How can you get there when it doesn’t seem like it’s even possible?

👉 And what makes the difference between simply going through a hard time vs. growing through it?

Build the mindset that will get you to resiliency, starting by listening to these deep thinkers discussing their experiences. 

This may be the best thing you’ve done all week, just for yourself.

Sumiyah describes herself in 6 words or less: “Social worker. Business owner. Black Muslim.”

Moses gave us these words as a description: “Kind. caring. Fun. playful. Empathetic. Father.”

🎧 Ready to listen? Let’s go!

Watch or listen here: tomearl.me/rgt

Learn more about Sumiyah here.

You can contact Moses by email here.

Listen to "Resiliency & Growth Through Difficult Conversations With Sumiyah Mshaka and Moses Weir" on Spreaker.

If you'd like to learn more about T.H.E. Celebration Academy.  Here's 30 days of Free Membership.

Doulas & Advocacy for Black Maternal Health With Deej, Iman Seraaj, and Nicky Dawkins

“We need to have an honest conversation on Black Maternal Health and the disparities in healthcare that threaten Black Women’s lives.”

This is the core conversation that takes place on this week’s episode.

This week’s episode is a panel discussion, where I am joined by 3 professional doulas - Iman Seraaj, Nicky Dawkins, and Deej.

Iman Seraaj is a trained full-spectrum doula passionate about VBACs, breastfeeding, birthrights education, orgasmic birthing, postpartum and prenatal care. With over 12 years of doula and birth advocacy experience; she founded FullCircle Doula Services in 2014.

Nicky Dawkins is a holistic Full-Spectrum Doula and Feminine Health Coach. She is also the founder of Werk it Moms — a mom-driven, soon-to-be charity organization — that focuses on providing educational workshops, products, and a safe space for moms in need to connect. 

Deej is a mother of three little boys, a wife, doula, childbirth educator, and breastfeeding specialist. Deej also owns a brand that focuses on educating women on their birthrights and all things from pregnancy to postpartum called The Nurtured Baby. 

During this episode, we have an honest and real conversation on how Black women in the United States experience disproportionately high rates of death related to pregnancy or childbirth - irrespective of income or education level. 

Iman, Nicky, and Deej provide candid and professional insights into the cause of these health disparities and share solutions we can implement. 

They also provide questions, advice, and tactics Black Women can use when they are having to engage with a racist medical system and provider. 

We also have an open conversation on infertility, miscarriages, and loss. 

I highly encourage that everyone listens to this episode and to the important conversation that Iman, Nicky, and Deej shared with us. 

I am grateful to my guests for the energy, brilliance, and generosity that they brought to this week's episode. 

This is an issue that all of us must address.  

I hope you will listen to this episode and take action.

Here’s how you can connect with this week’s guest: 

Iman

Nicky

Deej

Listen to "Doulas & Advocacy for Black Maternal Health With Deej, Iman Seraaj, and Nicky Dawkins" on Spreaker.

If you'd like to learn more about T.H.E. Celebration Academy.  Here's 30 days of Free Membership.

Black Love & Plugging Into Your Spiritual Power Source With Wally B and C-Main Jennings

If a picture is worth a thousand words, how would you give voice to those words? 

This is the mission of Mouth of the Mural. 

Mouth of the Mural is an ekphrastic (i.e. visual art into words) event that unites visual, literary and performance artists with business owners in an effort to celebrate community, connection, and conversation. 

The initiative is founded by power couple Walter “Wally B.” Jennings and Charmaine "C-Maine" Jennings. 

During our interview, we explored how to cultivate a loving, supportive, and long-lasting relationship. 

There were so many special moments where Wally and C-Maine shared honest and vulnerable moments from their 20+ year marriage. 

Walter “Wally B.” Jennings is an ordained minister, published poet, spoken word artist, MC/Host, instructor and strawberry Fruit Roll-Up enthusiast!  A native of Tampa, FL, his poetical talents has allowed him to conduct over 1000 performances, workshops and mentorship sessions in the national spoken word community during his 20-year career.  

Charmaine "C-Maine" Jennings is a 20+year leader in education.  She is a writer, artist and champion for equity, culture, diversity and inclusion.  She has designed and facilitated professional development and workshops for private organizations and K-12 public schools across county and state lines.

At the core of this episode, we discuss the importance of finding the spiritual power source that will sustain you. 

I hope you will do yourself this favor, and dive into this week’s episode. 

Enjoy. 

You can learn more about Mouth of the Mural here and here.

Listen to "Black Love & Plugging Into Your Spiritual Power Source With Wally B and C-Main Jennings" on Spreaker.

If you'd like to learn more about T.H.E. Celebration Academy.  Here's 30 days of Free Membership.

Black Lives Matter Justice League With Dermot Givens

If you’re a long time listener you’ll know that I rarely share replay episodes but this was one episode I had to share as a replay. 

In 2017, I sat down with social justice activist and lawyer, Dermot Givens. We dug deep on current topics, his life journey, and shared a phenomenal dialogue about issues that are prevalent in society today.

Dermot has been an activist his whole life and is also a member of the Black Lives Matter Justice League. He is the first and only lawyer in CA to win a criminal case defending a Black Lives Matter activist.

Here are some of my favorite questions Dermot answered during his in-depth interview: 

1. Is it possible to have a fair trial? 

2. What is the Black Lives Matter Justice League?

3. What is a person's reaction, when they are serving a life sentence, and they first hear they have been given parole? (Dermot helps people with life sentences receive parole).

4.  What legal advice do you have for activists? 

5.  Do you have any legal advice for entrepreneurs who are getting started? 

6.  What is a plea bargain and what is its relationship to the prison industrial complex? 

Tune in to this very special interview below.

ALSO LISTEN ON ITUNES.

Black Lives Matter Justice League With Dermot Givens

If you’re a long time listener you’ll know that I rarely share replay episodes but this was one episode I had to share as a replay. 

In 2017, I sat down with social justice activist and lawyer, Dermot Givens. We dug deep on current topics, his life journey, and shared a phenomenal dialogue about issues that are prevalent in society today.

Dermot has been an activist his whole life and is also a member of the Black Lives Matter Justice League. He is the first and only lawyer in CA to win a criminal case defending a Black Lives Matter activist.

Here are some of my favorite questions Dermot answered during his in-depth interview: 

1. Is it possible to have a fair trial? 

2. What is the Black Lives Matter Justice League?

3. What is a person's reaction, when they are serving a life sentence, and they first hear they have been given parole? (Dermot helps people with life sentences receive parole).

4.  What legal advice do you have for activists? 

5.  Do you have any legal advice for entrepreneurs who are getting started? 

6.  What is a plea bargain and what is its relationship to the prison industrial complex? 

Tune in to this very special interview below.

Listen to "Black Lives Matter Justice League With Dermot Givens" on Spreaker.

If you'd like to learn more about T.H.E. Celebration Academy.  Here's 30 days of Free Membership.

My First 7-Figure Year With Crysta Tyus

In this week's episode, there were multiple goosebump moments of pure awesomeness. I talked with Crysta Tyus who is an online marketing consultant who helps service-based businesses get clients from social media, master sales without being salesy and build multiple 6-figure businesses. 

Crysta shared her incredible story of experiencing homelessness and living out of her office building with her 2 kids,  and then doing a complete 180-degree turn and closing on the million-dollar home that she's moving into in 2 days. Then, after our minds were blown from that amazing journey, she then gave us the goods for free and told us exactly how she did it!

For Crysta it all started with envisioning the type of person she wanted to become, being intentional about self-care and surrounding herself with successful people who sounded like her and vibed with her. She developed a strategy for business growth and outlined tactical ways to niche down and become an online celebrity. In our talk, we discuss what Black History Month and representation mean to her, and Crysta shares what adventure looks like in her life in 2020.

If you are interested in making this year your most abundantly successful year ever, you won't want to miss hearing how Crysta is manifesting her first 7-figure year ever. 

You can follow crysta on instagram or watch her on youtube.

Listen to "My First 7-Figure Year With Crysta Tyus" on Spreaker.

If you'd like to learn more about T.H.E. Celebration Academy.  Here's 30 days of Free Membership.