Mahogany Momology's Podcast

Season 5, Episode 2: The Wine Down About:  The wine business is a billion dollar industry with < 3% of black and brown entrepreneurs serving as owners/operators within this setting.  We’ll be discussing this sector with Tahiira Habibi, Founder/Sommelier of the Hue Society; Cofounder of the Roots Fund Initiative. Guest Bio: Tahiirah Habibi is an esteemed Sommelier, Founder and Executive Director. In 2012, Tahiirah opened the prestigious St.Regis, Bal Harbour. Her career ventured through many leadership roles to include, Micheal’s Genuine. Frustrated with the lack of diversity in the industry, she uses her skills to bridge the intersection of wine and culture. In 2017, she launched Hue Society as a safe space for the community to learn, commune and find resources in one place. She had created a cultural space for the Black community to share their developments and experiences in wine. Tahiirah is the first Black woman to grace the cover of Wine Enthusiast 40 under 40 list and has been featured in Ocean Drive as

Season 5, Episode 1: Farming and Reclaiming the Land About: Today we are discussing Black Sustainability as it relates to increasing our knowledge about urban gardening with Guest Momomologist Iyeshima Harris-Ouedraogo. Guest Bio: Iyeshima started her journey in the food justice movement over 10 years ago as a Green Guerillas Youth Tiller. A Jamaican native, she struggled with the process of assimilation into a new culture. Through farming she found great comfort in her community. Throughout her involvement in the movement, Iyeshima has taught food justice, advocated for universal free school lunch, assisted in the development and sustainment of youth-led organizations, and is now the Project Director of East New York Farms! She is dedicated to integrating youth empowerment and leadership into adult dominated sectors. With a double major in Political Science and Sociology, Iyeshima wishes to combine her passion for food justice and her knowledge of American politics to drive the importance of food in people’s

Season 4: Episode 8: Generational Wealth Generational Wealth. We hear this term with the connotation devoted to trust funds and inheritances passed down by (white) family members.  Can we have thriving Black businesses/communities to pass our level of generational wealth? ..Let’s talk with our guest entrepreneur, Qui Winfield!   Qui Winfield, CEO and Founder of Moms Dance Too . She has been an entrepreneur for more than five years now.  She started her first business Cool Moms Dance Too! With her daughter Serenity Marie a few years after the loss of her partner/Serenity’s dad and grew the business to gain partnerships with NAMI GA, Spanx/Sara Blakely Foundation, Kid Bop, The Atlanta Hawks and more. They just released an app via the Apple app store called GenConnect Game: The Game That Gets Families Talking. Cool Moms Dance Too: https://www.coolmomsdancetoo.com/ SUBSCRIBE TO FREE NEWSLETTER: Be the first to know about new episodes, get mom hacks, and more each week by subscribing to The Monday Momologist.  He

Season 4, Episode 7: The Value of Private School: a look at culture and community Show Sponsor: St. Philips School & Community Center https://www.stphilips1600.org/ ABOUT THE EPISODE:  In Season 2, we discussed school choice, however focusing on all things private school from a prospective parents POV. Today, we will continue this conversation, however, from the side of administration within the private school. Given the outcomes of protests, of education & mask mandates during the pandemic, especially in large metropolitan school districts, is private school still worth it? We are diving into private schools enriching culture and community relationships with our guests, Darnetta Forteau and Kaityln Holmes-Adegoke, the Admissions team from St. Philip's School and Community Center in Dallas, TX.   Guest Momologist, Meet Darnetta Forteau, Director of Admissions . After 18 years in retail leadership and training, Darnetta transitioned into non-profit work and has spent the last 5 years as an Admissions D

Season 4, Episode 6: Childhood Obesity Child Obesity has been on a steady rise over the last 5 years. Childhood obesity in the Black population in the US has climbed to 22% versus 25.8% in the Latino community.  Today, we have a guest Momologist and mother of 2, Vanessa Rissetto, to discuss obesity and more.   Meet Vanessa Rissetto Vanessa received her MS in Marketing at NYU and completed her Dietetic Internship at Mount Sinai Hospital where she worked as a Senior Dietitian for five years. She is certified in Adult Weight Management (Levels I & II) by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Her work in private practice also includes treatment of GI disorders, bariatric surgery, weight management, PCOS, and family nutrition. She is mostly interested in helping clients to take an active role in their health journey, any of her clients can tell you she motivates and ensures that they always achieve success. Vanessa was named by Essence magazine as one of the top 5 black nutritionists that will change the way

Topic: Let’s discuss having a partner and/or being the partner who is neurodiverse with two Momologists: a Therapist, and a Mom who has ADHS herself.   Guest Momologists: Meet LaTisha Thomas, LCSW-S graduated in 2005 with her Bachelor of Social Work from Texas Woman’s University She then received a Master’s in Social Work from the University of Texas at Arlington in 2006. She has worked at the Department of Veteran Affairs as a clinical social worker for 13 years. In April of 2019, she opened a private practice called Tomorrow and Beyond PLLC in Desoto, Texas. The mission of the practice is to normalize mental wellness for black and brown families. Her specialty is in assisting individuals process traumatic experiences that hinders them from being their best selves.  She’s a current professor at Texas Christian University where she sees herself as a catalyst to mold future social workers. LaTisha Thomas does all of this in hopes to live out the legacy of her parents and to ensure her four children have the li

You have heard of the CROWN Act (Listen to Season 2, Episode 22) but why aren't most states passing this law?  Have we seen an improvement in the workforce re: perceptions of natural hair? Is the CROWN Act considered political activism 2.0 (1.5-ish)? Black Moms your voice is your vote!   Produced By: Great Music and Games https://greatmusicandgames.com/ Continue the Discussion, Download, Subscribe, Rate, Like, Follow Us, and Share on: Website and Shopping: www.mahoganymomology.com Twitter: @MMomology Insta: @mahoganymomology FB: @MahoganyMomology FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/mahoganymomologist

How does one get the support and clarity, as black women within the higher education culture. We’ll be talking with Dr. Monique Bruner. About Guest Momologist Monique Bruner: Dr. Monique Bruner is completed her doctorate while graduating 2 girls from high school and taking in 2 toddlers. Not to mention she raised her husband's sister...we have 35, 21, 20, 6 & 5 year old children. I’ve been in higher education for over 25 years. Episode Sponsor: Juni Essentials https://juniessentials.com/?ref=-seht4hrokub Use Code: MOM20 to save 20% in the month of February 2020 This bamboo toothbrush has a handle with a smooth, luxurious finish and soft, tapered bristles that gets in all the hard-to-reach areas. No need to compromise between sustainability and quality- choose juni! This is perfect for the whole family- especially for those looking to provide a safer alternative to plastic for their kids!   Produced By: Great Music and Games https://greatmusicandgames.com/ Continue the Discussion, Download, Subscribe, Rate

Season 4, Episode 2: Corporate Diversity Mel and Tash discuss how the Black Mom is affected in the new Corporate world of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion.   Episode Sponsor: Juni Essentials https://juniessentials.com/?ref=-seht4hrokub Use Code: MOM20 to save 20% in the month of February 2020 This bamboo toothbrush has a handle with a smooth, luxurious finish and soft, tapered bristles that gets in all the hard-to-reach areas. No need to compromise between sustainability and quality- choose juni! This is perfect for the whole family- especially for those looking to provide a safer alternative to plastic for their kids! Episode Sponsor: Mother's Magical Milk Link: www.mothersmagicalmilk.com Mother's Magical Milk is a Lactation firm aimed at helping mothers achieve their breastfeeding goals. This is accomplished through Advocacy, Awareness, Education and Confidence as they strive to Normalize Breastfeeding, especially in Black Women. They offer prenatal breastfeeding training, back to work/school preparation

Season 4, Episode 1: 2020 - The Year of the Black Woman 2020 wasn't all that bad was it? Rest In Power: Afiah Bey https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-for-loving-mommas-slain-son-in-s-dallas   Produced By: Great Music and Games https://greatmusicandgames.com/ Continue the Discussion, Download, Subscribe, Rate, Like, Follow Us, and Share on: Website: www.mahoganymomology.com Twitter: @MMomology Insta: @mahoganymomology FB: @MahoganyMomology FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/mahoganymomologist

Season 3, Episode 21: The New Educational Wealth Gap We'll discuss one of those factors that *may* contribute to the decisions OUR families are making--the wealth gap of education. Thanks to social media, not only have we heard the about the expansion of ‘learning pods’, we also hearing of other options like concierge-type teaching where teachers come to their homes. Guest Momologist: Talitha V. Anyabwele is the Founding Director of RISE (Raising Imhotep Scholars of Excellence) Educational Consulting, where they provide African-centered curriculum, as well as education, and cultural diversity training programs to parents, educators and schools. Prior to her consulting business, Talitha was a curriculum developer and specialist for True North Rochester Preparatory School and Uncommon Schools, Principal of Sakkara Youth Institute in Tallahassee, FL, Behavioral Modification Specialist for Hillsborough County Schools, as well as microschool founder and in Singapore and in Atlanta, GA. Talitha is a homeschool pare

Topic: We’ve covered a lot of topics during this pandemic, but we’ve never really sat down with ourselves to check in with how the black mother is doing...feeling...surviving during the pandemic. It’s time to schedule an appointment, sit on the couch and make sense of it all with our therapist, Dr. Dahomey Abanishe. About Dr. Dahomey Abanishe  Dr. Dahomey Abanishe is a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Florida. She has practiced as a psychologist for over 10 years in Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Oklahoma. Her clinical focus includes assessment, program development, and cognitive wellness.  She often participates in community mental health outreach programming addressing topics such as microaggressions, stress management, healthy relationships, health aging, mindfulness, and career-building. This Episode is Sponsored In Part By:  Woodus Obsetrics & Gynecology...We are failing our mothers. Especially our black & brown mamas who are 2x more likely to deliver preterm, 2-3x more likely

Topic: With a little over a month away from school reopening, parents are expressing concerns about the protocols for safe social distancing, sanitation practices, and teacher training. Let’s discuss the education options and concerns during COVID-19. Resources:  Kentucky Department of Education (2020 May 15) COVID-19 Considerations for Reopening Schools: Initial Guidance for Schools and Districts. Retrieved: https://education.ky.gov/comm/Documents/Reopening%20Guidance%20%20051520kf_tkt%20421pm%20TM.pdf   Statista. (2020 July 10)Total number of cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) in the United States as of July 10, 2020, by state Retrieved: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1102807/coronavirus-covid19-cases-number-us-americans-by-state/   American Academy of Pediatrics. (2020 July 2) Children and COVID-19: State Level Data Report. Retrieved: https://services.aap.org/en/pages/2019-novel-coronavirus-covid-19-infections/children-and-covid-19-state-level-data-report/   APM Research Lab. THE COLOR OF CORONAVIRUS:

Topic: When Black women are the token minority in the workforce, we attempt to seek out other Black women co-workers within the office environment. We give the extra inner ‘black fist’ when she is in a higher, executive position. But what happens when that sense of pride and #blackgirlmagic turns to misery and dread the hands of said Black woman? Recently, a collective group of women, called #BlackFemaleAnonymous, wrote a piece in Medium entitled, “The Truth About Essence”, in which they discussed intimidation and possible retaliation upon the demand for resignation of CEO Richelieu Dennis, Michelle Ebanks, Joy Collins Profet, and Moana Luu. We will have the link of the article in our show notes, as well as Essences’ official statement on the criticism of the article. It does bring up an interesting discussion of working under black women in leadership positions. Many love the thought of working under the visual representation of themselves, while others...not so much. Let’s talk bullying is the worst, as an

Last episode we spoke with Awete Tyehimba, owner of Pan African Connection, about reconnecting with our roots...the inspiration behind the reconnecting. One question we asked was where do we begin. It can be quite an overwhelming and daunting task. We’ll be talking about the process of researching your roots with our guest momologist, Bernetta Knighten of BernettaStyle.  Guest Momologist Bio:  Bernetta Knighten, is a certified Life Coach who helps motivate women in developing a blueprint to follow their dreams. Bernetta launched the non-profit, The Knighten Project in 2015, with a vision to reinvent how everyday people dream by making one big dream come true for people who have hope, but lack the network, resources, and opportunity. The Midwest native earned her Bachelor’s degree from Alabama State University in Marketing and is a proud ASU Alumni. She is also an Executive Concierge with PwC, PricewaterhouseCoopers in Tampa, Florida. Bernetta has also run her own lifestyle site, BernettaStyle.com for 10 years

Season 3, Episode 16: Return to Your Roots Many of us are revamping conversations that we had in 2016 about leaving the United States… Going back to Africa… Reconnecting with our roots. What does that process look like? Where would we begin? We’ll be discussing this with our guest momologist, Aweke Tyehimba.  Guest Momologist, Aweke Tyehimba.  Bookstore owner Akwete Tyehimba was born on April 3, 1963 in Waco, Texas to Oblee Monroe and Isiah Monroe. She graduated from Richfield High School in Waco, Texas in 1981 and attended McLennan Community College in Waco, Texas, the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas and night classes at North Lake College in Irving, Texas.  Akwete has helped on various local campaigns and Co-Founded the Pan-African Connection with her late husband in 1989.  In 2013, Tyehimba was named one of thirty of the most interesting people in Dallas by the Dallas Observer. Tyehimba had three children with her late husband, Bandele Tyehimba; Adjwoa, Bambata and Sekou. Website: https://www.pa

Topic:  The Brown Mama’s Mindset A little self-care is warranted during this time for our black mothers nationwide. Not self-care in terms of deflecting your feelings and concerns (or maybe that might be true, for the moment, as well), but maybe a sense of reflection of who you are and how you can move forward?? how to prioritize your time for thoughtful conversation in positive mobilization?...or maybe reflect on your personality as a black mother and the tribe you wish to exist in? Bio: Muffy Mendoza is a tribe builder, informational and motivational speaker, author and executive director at Brown Mamas, a Pittsburgh-based fiscally sponsored nonprofit that works to provide moms-of-color with positive socialization opportunities and connect them with the resources and information they need to raise happy, healthy adults. Most notably, Muffy is known for having cultivated a community of nearly 5,000 African-American moms hungry for social change due to a lack of safe spaces for moms-of-color in the Pittsburgh

Topic: Buy Black Data from the Small Business Administration indicates that just over 19 million businesses, or 70.9 percent of all U.S. businesses, are white-owned. Blacks own about 2.6 million businesses or 9.5 percent of all U.S. businesses, and Latinos own 3.3 million businesses or 12.2 percent of all American businesses.  Obvious questions include:  Why the disproportion is fund disbursement?  Is buying black more important today than 70 years ago? Why? Why not? We’ll get into if and why buying black matters today.   Merch Merch!   We have finally launched our retail line of Mahogany Mom Merch!  Be a conversation starter with the Continue the Conversation Mug and the This Is Motherhood T-Shirt.  Shop today at www.mahoganymomology.com Continue the Discussion, Download, Subscribe, Rate, Like, Follow Us, and Share on: Website: www.mahoganymomology.com Twitter: @MMomology Insta: @mahoganymomology FB: @MahoganyMomology FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/mahoganymomologist

Topic: Mel and Tash have a deeper conversation on how hip hop, tv, and shopping has shaped us as we were growing up and how it may have affected our motherhood. Sources: https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/megan-thee-stallion-cardi-b-lizzo-are-leading-pleasure-politics-ncna1029961 https://www.allthelyrics.com/lyrics/roxanne_shante/brothers_aint_shit-lyrics-1161660.html https://www.allthelyrics.com/lyrics/roxanne_shante/independent_woman-lyrics-1161663.html https://www.nytimes.com/1986/06/15/books/sexism-racism-and-black-women-writers.html Merch Merch!   We have finally launched our retail line of Mahogany Mom Merch!  Be a conversation starter with the Continue the Conversation Mug and the This Is Motherhood T-Shirt.  Shop today at www.mahoganymomology.com Produced By: Greenville Ave. Recording Studio Continue the Discussion, Download, Subscribe, Rate, Like, Follow Us, and Share on: Website: www.mahoganymomology.com Twitter: @MMomology Insta: @mahoganymomology FB: @MahoganyMomology FB Group: https://www.

Topic:  Have you ever heard of mindfulness meditation? We think it’s fitting to discuss this during these difficult times. According to Wikipedia, Mindfulness is the psychological process of purposely bringing one's attention to experiences occurring in the present moment without judgment, which one develops through the practice of meditation and through other training. Mindfulness meditation asks us to suspend judgment and unleash our natural curiosity about the workings of the mind, approaching our experience with warmth and kindness, to ourselves and others. (Source: mindful.org). The motherhood journey is a stressful one. While we can talk about wine socials as a source of dealing (or escapism),We can imagine others are seeking a different approach for stress management.  Let’s explore this thought process of mindfulness meditation  with our guest momologist, Alana Sutton Watkins. Guest Momologist:   Alana Sutton Watkins is an entrepreneur (she started an African print curator apparel store), homeschool m