This episode is a reintroduction of sorts, a catch up call and an exploration into the reason I wrote a book about my mother and my feelings about her, titled, "Deeply Personal: Notes From Facing My Mother Wound".

You can grab your copy here.

So much has changed since we last spoke, including the name of this podcast and how I spend my time. I tell you more about that and my life since we last spoke on this episode of "Meet Me In The Deep".

I didn't think I'd be able to show up this week but I needed to share how I've been feeling.

I'm grieving.

I'm grieving a path, a journey, a dream I wanted for over 10 years. I'm grieving a version of me that was so focused in one direction. I'm grieving the version of me that was willing to participate in the industry as is.

My values have changed and what I'm willing to sacrifice for my dreams is different.

This year deeply encouraged me to redefine how I saw success. Even the word success feels problematic to me sometimes. Historically success has been taught as external achievement and my desire is to feel in internally aligned.

In this episode I talk about the two things I'm unsubscribing from and how I'm measuring the quality of my life.

With the release of my latest endeavor, channel nine, I've had to work on my thoughts and beliefs. I also talked through some affirmations with my therapist that I'm sharing here.

PLUS! A little prayer at the end. It was on my heart.

In this episode, I share a conversation I had with my therapist that led to this topic. This podcast has been a space to process and share my learnings in pursuing art in real time.

Here's what I discuss:

• The question I asked my therapist that led to this topic
• What she says happens when we limit ourselves to a specific desired outcome 
• The serendipitous moment that led to my next read 
• What happens in the space in between what we do and the outcome we desire 
• What it's like to shift from being mostly a service provider to being in pursuit of my art full-time

At some point, my value was tied to work and my dream was tied to being chosen. Not anymore. I invited my fiancé, Syd Jones, to talk about this because she is a safe space for me talk about this with vulnerability.

As I evolve, this podcast is evolving. Since inception, it's been about women in film and television but we are more than what we do. We are humans. And that's what I'm focused on moving forward.

I'm pivoting to becoming a full-time artist and the journey has been paved with insecurities. I talk about those insecurities in this episode. I have no backup plan for my current direction so the only way forward is to face the insecurities and process them.

I have permission to start and stop something as I please. I do not have to do something for a long time to be "successful". We're talking about it today.

I'm very motivated by my goals and the vision for my future but I'm clear, I need ways to find joy and be content in this season. The waiting season. The in-between where I want to go and where I am now. I need it bad.

In this episode I talk about:

• The truth about how hard this year has been
• Allowing myself to feel the depths of my sadness
• My relationship with money and how it's evolving
• What it looks like for me to find contentment outside of work
• & Why finding this contentment is important RIGHT nowww.

Tasha and I met in 2018 while working Summit 21, presented by Blavity and 21Ninety. I was volunteering and she was WORKING. I was drawn to her focus and her ability to remain calm in such a busy time. Since we connected a few years ago, Tasha has founded Black Girls In Media, a networking organization commited to support and uplift minority women in the media industry and we're talking about in on today's episode.

Here's what you can expect: 

• How she started the Black Girls in Media Community and her long-term goal for the organization
• How she harmonizes her work at HBO and her work at Black Girls in Media
• Tasha’s advice for genuinely expanding our network
• Creating connections vs. staying connected 
• What we do with the guilt feelings we've felt around "rest"
• How creating community adds value to your job hunt 
• How you can get involved with Black Girls in Media and why this work is important to Tasha 
• The secret to getting what you want (no matter what) 
• How Tasha relates dating to her job hunting approach 
• Her affirmations and how they help her (& her Virgo) stay grounded 
• Tasha’s book recommendations for aspiring and current media leaders 

I'm so thankful that I get to tell these stories

After listening to an episode of Kimberly Brown's Your Next Move podcast, I knew I wanted to have her on this season. Through her podcast, Kimberly shares leadership tips and tricks for those of us who want to create opportunities for ourselves and build career strategies that work.

Here's what we're talking about on today's episode:

• What it mean to Manifest Yourself (and it’s not necessarily about what general manifestation means)
• Her goal planning process and how she divides up her tasks 
• The fears that hold us back from doing what we know will get us to our next level 
• Leaning into what’s comfortable vs. what feels challenging
• Addressing our level of effort vs. the level of action we’re taking
• How confidence and imposter syndrome coexist
• The definition of "The Magic Middle" 
• How mindset shifts can help us break our self-imposed rules
• Redefining our relationship with social media 
• How relationships and community help us get us to our next level

I'm really excited to bring this conversation to the Creative Women Wanted Podcast. To read Kimberly's book, Your Next Move Best Move: Transitioning To A Career You'll Love, click here.

Today I am celebrating FIVE years of recovery from bulimia, an eating addiction. I truly cannot believe I'm even here today to share these type of learnings with you. Because HONEY, five years ago - I could not see this for myself. Early recovery was so painful that the only way I made it through those first few months, was by taking it moment by moment.

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But without that eating disorder and without that very dark period in my life - I wouldn't be where I am or who I am. 

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Today, healing, health and wellness are a big part of my life and in today's episode I'm talking about:

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• My eating disorder recovery journey 
• What centering health and wellness mean to me (I break it down much further because I know - health and wellness feels very general) 
• What I've learned in centering my my well being and humanity 
• How taking care of my body and mind has influenced my decision making 
• What I hope for us all 

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I was an subscriber to The Create Daily years ago and a fan of Screenwriter/Producer/Director Felicia Pride's work beginning with Really Love so it is an honor to have her on the podcast today. Her outlook on life as an artist is refreshing and in a season that, for me, is extremely challenging, her perspective comes right on time.

Here's what we're talking about in today's episode:

• How she reaffirmed her relationship with writing after a seven-year hiatus 
• How Felicia found creativity on her spiritual journey 
• What she learned from the project that took her 10 years to make (& the creatives capacity for commitment) 
• The origin of her production company, HONEY, CHILE and their mission for Black women 40+ (loved this!) 
• Why she decided to do produce and direct a proof-of-concept for her feature film, LOOK BACK AT IT 
• How she’s creating new energy in her life right now
• Why “care” is a huge piece of the creative process 
• The business case for Black women and why our community is so important
• The biggest piece that changed for her when she turned 40 and how that influenced her decision making
• The difference between being driven by purpose vs being driven by inflated ego
• Where she found her happy place within this industry and her relationship with expectations 
• The two things that have contributed most to her spiritual and creative journeys 
• Why she likes to explore Black love, coming home to ourselves and class in her art

After watching the Harry & Meghan documentary and finding out today's guest worked on the series, I reached out to inquire if she'd be interested in being on the podcast. . She was down! And I'm so happy that Stephanie said "yes!" because our conversation was so refreshing. (It was also straight to the point like Stephanie herself.)

The thing I enjoy most about today's guest, that I think you'll enjoy as well, is her sense of clarity. She knows what she wants and she knows what she needs to do to get there. Here's what we're talking about in today's episode:

• How she advocates for herself by using her voice at work 
• The benefits of consuming journalism style content as a writer 
• The thing she does once a week to recalibrate her energy 
• How she finds her flow as a writer 
• The challenge of setting boundaries when you’re multi-passionate 
• How she preserves her creativity for herself outside of her freelance jobs  
• What discipline looks like for her in this season
• How she's leaning into the things she wants to do better
• Her experience as an Archival Producer on the Mary J. Blige documentary

Stephanie is a brilliant woman.

If you like this episode, please subscribe, rate and review.

I remember listening to "The 1619 Project" podcast during the pandemic and being enamored with the quality of storytelling and with the depth of story. I had never heard our history told with such specificity and care. So when I found out Hulu and The Onyx Collective were adapting "The 1619 Project" for television, I knew I would watch. So I am delighted to have one of the director's and producer's, Naimah Jabali-Nash,

Here's what we're talking about:

• The historical background of "The 1619 Project" and its importance
• How the opportunity to direct "The 1619 Project" happened
• How they decided on the visual direction for her episode
• Her experience as a first-time director
• How they adapted the book, essays and podcast into a TV series
• Why she allows her curiosity to dictate the projects she works on
• How she decompresses after engaging with the weight of these stories
• The impact of the stories shared in "The 1619 Project"

"The 1619 Project" is a history lesson unlike any lesson we've had before.

I've been following Courtney for awhile so I love that we can now have a fun, honest and very transparent conversation about her career and her life outside of work. 

Here's what we're talking about on today's episode:

• The advice she would give to Black women creating their own shows 
• Our experience working together on "Turning Tables with Robin Roberts" (out right now on Disney+) 

• What it feels like to win an Emmy!
• Her journey to her job at Springhill and why she accepted the position 
• Her vision and mission for herself as a Producer (sis, has BIG dreams and I love it.) 
• Why she's not afraid to dream big 
• How she deals with life when things aren't going her way 
• The books that keep her excited 
• How to keep your creative juices flowing in between gigs

Courtney's Instagram: @courtneyrwhitaker 

My journey in finding confidence in my creativity has been a rocky and vulnerable one. I'm talking about that and the theme for season two in this episode.

In this season of life, this is what's required. 

I'm back for a quick recap of 2022! Because it. has. been. a YEAR.  

I won't keep you long because I want you to hear the episode but here's what I'm talking about on Episode 25: 

• Why I made the decision to move to LA
• What I needed to grieve from when we made the move to LA
• All the road trips Sydney and I took this summer 
• My nine-year history with gut issues and how I'm finally healing myself 
• The books I read this year  (and my favorite book of the year) 
• What happened when God removed all of the distractions (and what those distractions were)
• What it was like visiting Atlanta after being away for six months 
• What I am doing more of next year