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In this episode, MacArthur Genius and Chicago-based artist Tonika Lewis Johnson joins host Dr. Yndia for a deeply moving conversation on reparations as reclaiming home, dignity, and neighborhood life. They explore Tonika’s groundbreaking projects Unblocked Englewood and The Folded Map Project, and how she uses photography as a tool for social justice and collective memory. Tonika reflects on growing up in a household filled with artists and how that foundation shaped her commitment to community, place, and storytelling. This episode centers the power of Black neighborhoods and why honoring them is essential to maintaining thriving communities for generations to come.  Production credit: @Masauko. Episode sponsored by @Give Black Alliance.  Share and Follow on IG: @BelongingToBlackness_Podcast & @ProfYndia. Listen to episodes directly at: https://yndialorickwilmot.com/belonging-to-blackness/ and wherever you listen to your podcasts. The post S7, Ep 063 with Tonika Lewis Johnson, MacArthur Genius and Chi-Town Artist Reimagining Reparations as Reclaiming Home, Dignity, and Neighborhoods first appeared on Yndia Lorick-Wilmot, PhD.

It’s December and this month offers an opportunity to prioritize our wellness in ways that feel nourishing, restorative, and empowering for entering the new year! In this episode, Dr. Yndia sits with Sherece Brown, the founder of Dr. Pabs, Pineapple is a Berry—a natural food and wellness brand for families.  Listen in as they discuss how Sherece’s Jamaican immigrant family influenced her entrepreneurial spirit, and passion and concern for children’s overall wellbeing that led to the development of high-quality, plant-based multivitamins, Dr. Pabs. Sherece also shares lessons learned as a Black woman navigating obstacles in a competitive wellness industry and her drive to create products that support our future generation’s growth and development. Production credit: @Masauko. Episode sponsored by @Give Black Alliance and @Get Konnected! Share and Follow on IG: @BelongingToBlackness_Podcast & @ProfYndia. Listen to episodes directly at: https://yndialorickwilmot.com/belonging-to-blackness/ and wherever you listen to your podcasts. The post S7, Ep 062 with Sherece Brown, founder of Dr. Pabs, Pineapple is a Berry on the importance of all natural, plant-based wellness on Black family health and prosperity first appeared on Yndia Lorick-Wilmot, PhD.

In this episode, Dr. Yndia sits with award-winning luxury event designer Ieasha James, founder and creative director of Endless Flair Events, a Boston-based event-design firm nationally recognized for immersive, luxury, story-driven installations. Listen in as Ieasha shares her journey as a former healthcare professional who leaned into her creative and entrepreneurial vision to become a highly sought-after creative known for crafting unforgettable, high-end experiences for celebrities, politicians and everyday people. Her story of artistry, mental health resiliency, and faith-based purpose-driven leadership will inspire you to dream bigger and boldly. Production credit: @Masauko. Episode sponsored by @Give Black Alliance and @Get Konnected! Share and Follow on IG: @BelongingToBlackness_Podcast & @ProfYndia. Listen to episodes directly at: https://yndialorickwilmot.com/belonging-to-blackness/ and wherever you listen to your podcasts. The post S7, Ep 061 with Ieasha James, award-winning luxury event designer, visionary founder and Creative Director of Endless Flair Events, on aligning faith and purpose in design and visual storytelling first appeared on Yndia Lorick-Wilmot, PhD.

In celebration of UK’s Black History Month, this episode Dr. Yndia features award-winning British-Grenadian visual artist, photographer, and filmmaker Simon Frederick, one of the 100 Most Influential Black Britons in Media & Entertainment.  In this powerful conversation, Simon Frederick and Dr. Yndia discuss visual storytelling, identity, and the important transformative role art plays in reclaiming Black representation in the British postcolonial narrative and beyond. Simon Frederick also reflects on why “Blackness is a privilege,” the significance of his works, from his portraits representing the largest acquisition of African and Caribbean photographs in the National Portrait Gallery to his Netflix/BBC films Black is the New Black and They’ve Gotta Have Us, and the ways his Caribbean diasporic sensibilities informs the lens.  Production credit: @Masauko. Episode sponsored by @Give Black Alliance and @Get Konnected! Share and Follow on IG: @BelongingToBlackness_Podcast & @ProfYndia. Listen to episodes directly at: https://yndialorickwilmot.com/belonging-to-blackness/ and wherever you listen to your podcasts. The post S7, Ep 060 with visual artist, photographer, filmmaker, and broadcaster Simon Frederick on Redefining Black Representation in British Art and Media first appeared on Yndia Lorick-Wilmot, PhD.

WE ARE BACK! In this Season 7 premiere, Dr. Yndia is in conversation with Dr. Eddie S. Glaude, Jr., scholar, T.V political commentator, and NYT bestselling author. In this deeply personal and thought-provoking episode, they discuss his latest and riveting book, We Are The Leaders We Have Been Looking For–a work that challenges us to reckon with the moral crises of democracy, the soul of Black America, and our own responsibilities in this era of transformation. They explore his personal journey, his evolving scholarship, and the urgent politics of Black belonging–locally and globally.  Production credit: @Masauko. Episode sponsored by @Give Black Alliance and @Get Konnected! Share and Follow on IG: @BelongingToBlackness_Podcast & @ProfYndia. Listen to episodes directly at: https://yndialorickwilmot.com/belonging-to-blackness/ and wherever you listen to your podcasts. The post S7, Ep 059 with Eddie S. Glaude, Jr., scholar, political commentator and NYT author of We Are The Leaders We Have Been Looking For first appeared on Yndia Lorick-Wilmot, PhD.

It’s June and Caribbean American Heritage month!  In this Season 6 finale, Dr. Yndia is in conversation with historian of science, writer, and global public intellectual, Dr. Edna Bonhomme about her new book A History of the World in Six Plagues.  Bonhomme, herself of Haitian descent, discusses how plagues—both microbial and structural—have shaped the contours of our world, disproportionately impacting African and African descendant communities across the globe.  Listen in as they discuss the histories of epidemic and exploitation, from colonial-era plantations to modern-day medical apartheid, and how health justice is deeply entwined with global Black liberation movements. Production credit: @Masauko. Episode sponsored by @Give Black Alliance and @Get Konnected!  Available on all podcast platforms. Share and Follow on IG: @BelongingToBlackness_Podcast & @ProfYndia. Visit website: www.yndialorickwilmot.com Listen to episodes directly at: https://yndialorickwilmot.com/talking-journeysb2b-a-podcast-episodes/talking-journeysb2b-a-podcast-episodes/ The post S6, Ep 058 with Edna Bonhomme, historian, global public intellectual and author of A History of the World in Six Plagues first appeared on Yndia Lorick-Wilmot, PhD.

In this episode, Dr. Yndia is in conversation with guest, Devin McCourty on always being a champion—in the NFL, on television and to our communities.  Delving into the topic of social impact leadership, Devin shares his passion and inspiration for being a servant-leader and making a difference in the lives of so many through his philanthropy, social justice and health advocacy, and legislation efforts for youth.  They also discuss the afterlife of professional football players, television sports commentary and what lies ahead. Production credit: @Masauko. Episode sponsored by @Give Black Alliance and @Get Konnected!  Available on all podcast platforms. Share and Follow on IG: @BelongingToBlackness_Podcast & @ProfYndia. Visit website: www.yndialorickwilmot.com Listen to episodes directly at: https://yndialorickwilmot.com/talking-journeysb2b-a-podcast-episodes/talking-journeysb2b-a-podcast-episodes/ The post S6, Ep 057 with 3x-Super Bowl Champion and TV sports commentator Devin McCourty on being a champion and advocate for our communities first appeared on Yndia Lorick-Wilmot, PhD.

In this episode, Dr. Yndia is in conversation with guest, Dr. Shadan Deleveaux, Google global recruiter and co-founder of the nonprofit, Technologies for Families in Need (TechFIN).  Delving into the topic of representation of Blackness in tech, Shadan shares his over two decades-long career journey as coach/consultant/leader at global companies and the significance of amplifying diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) in tech and beyond.  They also discuss the current climate for staff recruitment and funding for nonprofits like TechFIN that are focused on bridging the digital divide for communities in need. Production credit: @Masauko. Episode sponsored by @Give Black Alliance and @Get Konnected!  Available on all podcast platforms. Share and Follow on IG: @BelongingToBlackness_Podcast & @ProfYndia. Visit website: www.yndialorickwilmot.com Listen to episodes directly at: https://yndialorickwilmot.com/talking-journeysb2b-a-podcast-episodes/talking-journeysb2b-a-podcast-episodes/ The post S6, Ep 056 with Shadan Deleveaux, Google global recruiter and co-founder of TechFIN, on representation of Blackness in tech: bridging the divide first appeared on Yndia Lorick-Wilmot, PhD.

Spring forward with Dr. Yndia in this episode with her guest, Pulitzer Prize winning author Mitchell Jackson.  Delving into the topic of re-visioning Black life through stories, Mitchell shares his journey as a writer whose real life may mirror story lines typically found in a Walter Dean Myers or Kwame Alexander book and how he uses storytelling to inspire and transform the lives of others. Listen in as they discuss the various representations of Black masculinity and womanhood as explored in Mitchell’s memoir, Survivor Math, and in the context of sports, civil rights, and fashion with his latest book, Fly: The Big Book of Basketball Fashion. Production credit: @Masauko. Episode sponsored by @Give Black Alliance and @Get Konnected!  Available on all podcast platforms. Share and Follow on IG: @BelongingToBlackness_Podcast & @ProfYndia. Visit website: www.yndialorickwilmot.com Listen to episodes directly at: https://yndialorickwilmot.com/talking-journeysb2b-a-podcast-episodes/talking-journeysb2b-a-podcast-episodes/ The post S6, Ep 055 with Mitchell Jackson, Pulitzer Prize winning author on Re-visioning Black life through stories first appeared on Yndia Lorick-Wilmot, PhD.

It’s #BHM365 and Dr. Yndia is excited to be in conversation with Tawny Chatmon, award-winning photographic artist, on the topic of art and the regal reflection of Black life. Serious collectors of all backgrounds, including celebrities such as Beyoncé, Alicia Keys and Carol Christine Pounder, deeply appreciate Tawny’s portraits of Black children/families, often overlayed with layers of paint and 24-karat gold leaf, semi-precious stones, glass, and other mixed media. Listen in as they discuss Black representation in contemporary art, the politics and identity of Black women creatives, and the legacy of Black portraiture. Production Credit: @Masauko. Episode Sponsored by @Give Black Alliance. Available on all podcast platforms. Share and Follow on IG: @ProfYndia & @BelongingToBlackness_Podcast. Visit website: www.yndialorickwilmot.com Listen to episodes directly at: https://yndialorickwilmot.com/talking-journeysb2b-a-podcast-episodes/talking-journeysb2b-a-podcast-episodes/ The post S6, Ep 054 with Tawny Chatmon, photographic artist, on the art and regal reflection of Black life first appeared on Yndia Lorick-Wilmot, PhD.

It’s the second half of Season 6 and we are kicking off 2025 with a focus on storytelling. In this episode, host Dr. Yndia is in conversation with award-winning film writer, producer, and CEO of Auburn Avenue Films, Wendy Eley Jackson. Wendy reflects on her illustrious film and t.v career, developing and producing feature-length films, documentaries, screenplays and programming for major studios and networks, including Sony Pictures, Turner Broadcasting, Hallmark Channel, and Netflix. Listen in as they discuss the power of Black storytelling on big and small screens and why care and collaboration are critical to surviving and thriving in the industry. Production Credit: @Masauko. Episode Sponsored by @Give Black Alliance. Available on all podcast platforms. Share and Follow on IG: @ProfYndia & @BelongingToBlackness_Podcast. Visit website: www.yndialorickwilmot.com Listen to episodes directly at: https://yndialorickwilmot.com/talking-journeysb2b-a-podcast-episodes/talking-journeysb2b-a-podcast-episodes/ The post S6, Ep 053 with Wendy Eley Jackson on Black Storytelling and Producing for TV and Film first appeared on Yndia Lorick-Wilmot, PhD.

In this episode, host Dr. Yndia is in conversation with guest Charla Jones, founder and CEO of Eu2Be cosmetics brand. Eu2Be has garnered the attention of editors at Allure, Cosmo, InStyle, Self and other magazines for having the “Best Clean Skincare Line.” Utilizing her twenty-years+ entrepreneurial career and passion for illuminating the essential nature of beauty and wellness, Charla has created a collection of award-winning skincare products designed to honor all bodies and skin types to transform how we care for our skin. Listen in as they discuss how Eu2Be’s journey as an unconventional, purpose-driven and independently female-owned beauty brand by a Black woman is guided by the foremothers who’ve taught us that Black beauty is beyond skin deep. Prod. Credit: @Masauko. Episode sponsored by @Give Black Alliance. Available on all podcast platforms. Share and Follow on IG: @ProfYndia & @BelongingToBlackness_Podcast. Visit website: www.yndialorickwilmot.com Listen to episodes directly at: https://yndialorickwilmot.com/talking-journeysb2b-a-podcast-episodes/talking-journeysb2b-a-podcast-episodes/ The post S6, Ep052 with Charla Jones, founder/CEO of the award-winning skincare brand Eu2Be, on Black beauty as more than skin deep first appeared on Yndia Lorick-Wilmot, PhD.

Now, more than ever, the timeliness and significance of Black podcasting communities is critical to the sanctity and survival of the voice and perspectives of African descendants across the globe. In this episode, host Dr. Yndia is in conversation with Talib Jasir, the founder of the Afro & Audio Podcast Festival for Black indie podcast creatives and Vanguard Podcast Network, a podcast production company that produces original independent stories and social impact nonprofit podcasts. They discuss the importance of Black creators developing targeted content that centers the diverse experiences, perceptions, and worldviews of African descended people globally and why having F.U.B.U. (for us by us) support systems are critical to this work. Prod. Credit: @Masauko. Episode sponsored by @Give Black Alliance. Available on all podcast platforms. Share and Follow on IG: @ProfYndia & @BelongingToBlackness_Podcast. Visit website: www.yndialorickwilmot.com The post S6, Ep 051 with Talib Jasir, founder of Afros & Audio, on Black podcast communities and why they are important first appeared on Yndia Lorick-Wilmot, PhD.

Rebroadcast of Live Show recording: Belonging to Blackness Podcast x Give Black Alliance #CouchConversations speaker series (August 18 2024 on Martha’s Vineyard). In this episode, host Dr. Yndia facilitates an important conversation between two powerhouse journalists, political analysts and NYT bestselling authors Joy-Ann Reid and Goldie Taylor on the topic of “The Right to be Loved” and the power and wealth of Black Love in African descended communities. (Prod. Credit: @Masauko). Episode & Live Show event sponsored by @Give Black Alliance. Available on all podcast platforms. Share and Follow on IG: @ProfYndia & @BelongingToBlackness_Podcast. Visit website: www.yndialorickwilmot.com The post S6, Ep 050 with Joy-Ann Reid and Goldie Taylor on The Right to be Loved (Live Show) x Give Black Alliance first appeared on Yndia Lorick-Wilmot, PhD.

Season 6 debut!  Host Dr. Yndia is in conversation with guest Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) about the power of Black womanhood in 2024 U.S. politics.  Their discussion is not only timely but also important as U.S. citizenry gears up for their presidential elections in November and must contend with critical policy issues that deeply impact Black and Brown communities nationally and globally. (Prod. Credit: @Masauko).  Episode sponsored by @Give Black Alliance.  Follow on IG: @ProfYndia & @BelongingToBlackness_Podcast. Visit website: www.yndialorickwilmot.com The post S6, Ep 049 with Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley on the power of Black womanhood in 2024 U.S. politics first appeared on Yndia Lorick-Wilmot, PhD.