noseyAF: Conversations about Art, Activism, and Social Change

Ep 146: Your Customers Are Doing Economics Whether You Are or Not with Dr. Kristi-Warren Scott Bishop of Verity ConsultingPart of noseyAF's 31 Days of Black Business series 🖤She was going to call herself the corniest economist. Her friend said no, you're the baddest economist I know. She was terrified to use it. Her friend said do it scared.Dr. Kristi-Warren Scott Bishop is a PhD economist and the founder of Verity Consulting, which she launched in fall of 2025 after spending over a decade doing economics across the federal government. She started it because she was tired of watching businesses make what she could plainly see were bad decisions.What We Talk AboutWhat an economist actually does for a business, and why there's no wrong time to bring one in, whether you're just starting or something just feels offWhat supporting Black business actually looks like from an economic perspective, at both the micro and macro levelHow Hump Day Economics started, and why she couldn't find a credentialed economist explaining why the eggs cost what they costThe unexpected turn: she's not a subject matter expert in your field and doesn't try to be. She brings the tool. You bring the business.If you love a conversation that makes something big feel usable, this episode is for you.Chapters:00:07 - Celebrating Black Business Month05:08 - Understanding Consumer Economics13:20 - Understanding the Role of Data in Consumer Behavior23:31 - Engaging Economists: Timing and Strategies for Entrepreneurs32:21 - Understanding Consumer Values in the Black Community46:34 - Transitioning to Business InsightsAll about Kristi BishopYou're gonna love Kristi. Dr. Kristi-Warren Scott Bishop translates how economics shows up in ordinary decisions, from why the gas tank waits until morning to why grocery prices feel different than the receipt says. Under the banner The Baddest Economist You Know, she turns ideas like present bias and revealed preference into weekly conversations her audience actually finishes watching. She's spent over a decade in federal economics work, including at the CDC and the Social Security Administration, and now runs Verity Consulting, a boutique economic consultancy helping consumer-facing organizations understand the economics driving their customers' behavior. Verity offers two tiers of monthly subscription with a three-month minimum, plus larger project engagements. Their first big one wrapped in April for a Black-owned spirits brand in Prince George's County.Things We MentionedVerity Consulting → verityconsultingllc.com · [email protected] Day Economics, her weekly Instagram seriesCourtney Walden of Chicago Massage, her best friend and one of her clientsThe K-shaped economy, and what it explains about the airlinesThis series is supported by Off the Grid, a podcast for small business owners who want to leave social media without losing their clients. Find them at offthegrid.fun 🖤Connect with Kristi BishopWebsite: verityconsultingllc.comEmail: [email protected]: @verityeconStay Connected📬 Get the noseyAF Dispatch → Subscribe here 🏡 Grab the Good Neighbor Playbook → Download it freeMore ways to connectEmail: [email protected] on IG: @stephaniegrahamListen to more episodes: noseyaf.comSupport & FeedbacknoseyAF is listener-supported; thank you for being here. 💛🫶🏾⭐ Rate & Review the Show 📣 Share noseyAF with a friend who needs to hear thisEpisode CreditsProduced, Hosted, and Edited by Stephanie GrahamLyrics: Queen LexInstrumental: Freddie Bam FamCover Art: Emma McGoldrick

Ep 145: Leadership Without Burnout with Janelle Alba Garner of Tanglaw AdvisoryPart of noseyAF's 31 Days of Black Business series 🖤How do you keep a mission alive without burning out the people carrying it?Janelle Alba Garner is the founder of Tanglaw Advisory. She spent years supporting founders doing genuinely great work and watched them sacrifice themselves to do it. She doesn't think that's the deal. Tanglaw is a Tagalog word meaning guiding light, and that's roughly the job.What We Talk AboutWhat regenerative leadership actually means, and why she shows up to meetings in a hoodie rather than a three-piece suitWhy an outside advisor hears things from your staff that you never will, and what that unlocksHow hard it is to slow down when everybody around you seems to be moving fasterThe unexpected turn: this is her third business, and the one that finally felt right started when a client made her dread Mondays until she remembered she could just fire herIf you love a conversation about building something that doesn't cost you everything, this episode is for you.All about Janelle Alba GarnerYou're gonna love Janelle. She's a strategic advisor working on a version of social impact where organizations can sustain both the mission and the people serving it. Her point of view comes from a decade inside mission-driven organizations and from becoming a founder herself, which is how she learned what it costs to carry a mission that's outgrown the structure holding it. Alongside the advisory practice she runs Tanglaw Collective, the community and philanthropic arm, offering pro bono and low-cost support to community-based organizations on Chicago's South and West Sides: office hours, quarterly partnerships, workshops, monthly volunteer days, and resources.Things We MentionedTanglaw Advisory → tanglawadvisory.com · [email protected] Collective, the community armMonthly community volunteer days, third Saturday, with partner organizationsHer monthly small-group conversations on a single topic, unrecorded, open to whoever shows upShe's on LinkedIn, where she describes herself as yelling into the void about taking a lunch breakThis series is supported by Off the Grid, a podcast for small business owners who want to leave social media without losing their clients. Find them at offthegrid.fun 🖤Connect with Janelle Alba GarnerWebsite: tanglawadvisory.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janelle-jasmine/Stay Connected📬 Get the noseyAF Dispatch → Subscribe here🏡 Grab the Good Neighbor Playbook → Download it freeMore ways to connectEmail: [email protected] on IG: @stephaniegrahamListen to more episodes: noseyaf.comSupport & FeedbacknoseyAF is listener-supported; thank you for being here. 💛🫶🏾⭐ Rate & Review the Show📣 Share noseyAF with a friend who needs to hear thisEpisode CreditsProduced, Hosted, and Edited by Stephanie GrahamLyrics: Queen LexInstrumental: Freddie Bam FamCover Art: Emma McGoldrick

Ep 144: Ten Toes Down and Chasing Goals with Rob Marley of Stay Focus SocietyPart of noseyAF's 31 Days of Black Business series 🖤Self-motivated. Determination. Commitment. Those are the three stars on the logo, and they're not decoration.Rob Marley was going through the worst of it around 2010. No support system, no outlet. He kept telling himself two words to get through the day, and then figured a whole community of people probably needed them too. He didn't know graphic design or computers. He started by painting the words on t-shirts by hand.What We Talk AboutThe trip that started it: he got on the bus at 119th, rode downtown to an art school he'd never seen, and asked strangers for directions the whole wayWhat happened when he tried to sell his first shirts to family and friends, and what Instagram taught him about who his customers actually wereWhy he says be careful who you tell your ideas to, and what a real community around your business looks like insteadThe unexpected turn: he's building a workout community now too, running activations in the park, because losing his focus physically taught him something about keeping it everywhere elseIf you love origin stories that don't skip the scary parts, this episode is for you.All about Rob MarleyYou're gonna love Rob. He's a father, a creator, and a visionary who built a Chicago clothing line on focus, positivity, and persistence. He had a Hyde Park store from late 2019 through early 2024, which means he opened it weeks before the pandemic and kept it going anyway. He's spent years doing pop-ups and meeting people directly, block by block, in West Pullman, Chatham, South Shore, and Pilsen. He's now relocating to a new appointment-only showroom called 5113, with a new website to match.Things We MentionedStay Focus Society5113, the new appointment-only showroom, coming soonThe goal chasing shirtHis coat drive, collecting coats, hoodies, socks, and hatsHis upcoming workout activation in the parkThis series is supported by Off the Grid, a podcast for small business owners who want to leave social media without losing their clients. Find them at offthegrid.fun 🖤Connect with Rob MarleyIG: @robmarley_stayfocussocietyWebsiteStay Connected📬 Get the noseyAF Dispatch → Subscribe here 🏡 Grab the Good Neighbor Playbook → Download it freeMore ways to connectEmail: [email protected] on IG: @stephaniegrahamListen to more episodes: noseyaf.comSupport & FeedbacknoseyAF is listener-supported; thank you for being here. 💛🫶🏾 ⭐ Rate & Review the Show 📣 Share noseyAF with a friend who needs to hear thisEpisode CreditsProduced, Hosted, and Edited by Stephanie Graham Lyrics: Queen Lex Instrumental: Freddie Bam Fam Cover Art: Emma McGoldrick

Ep 143: Coaching Is Not a Meritocracy with Serena HicksPart of noseyAF's 31 Days of Black Business series 🖤Heads up: this conversation touches on grief and family loss right up front.You might have a life coach. Your life coach also has a life coach. Serena is who the coaches call.Serena Hicks got pushed out of a corporate job at 40. Two weeks later her older brother died of cancer, thirteen months from diagnosis. She was broke, grieving, and living paycheck to paycheck after what she calls a phenomenal career. Then she found coaching. She's made over $3 million in the six years since, and $400,000 of that came before she was ever certified.What We Talk AboutHow she found her first coach by Googling "how do you know how to charge people," and what she said to get in the door with $1,500 she barely hadWhy the low barrier of entry into coaching is a feature, not a bug, and what she thinks would happen if it required a licenseWhy 85% of coaches are doing consultations wrong, and what a container actually isThe unexpected turn: she filed bankruptcy in 2008 and thought it disqualified her from being a business coach. Then she realized it's exactly why she's good at it.If you love a conversation with somebody who will tell you the whole truth about money, this episode is for you.All about Serena HicksYou're gonna love Serena. She's a business coach who mostly coaches other coaches, and she's direct in a way that's rare on this subject. She'll tell you her private coaching is $20K and her programs start at $3,000. She'll tell you she borrowed from family who didn't understand what she was doing. She'll tell you people default on payment plans and that's just part of it. Her whole philosophy: business as a game to play and a spiritual experience, not a scoreboard where revenue decides whether you're successful. She helps people recognize how good they already are and then monetize it.Things We Mentionedserenahicks.com — spelled like the tennis playerConsultation Closer Camp, her program on sales calls and discovery callsThe Life Coach School and the modelAbraham Hicks, no relation, but an early influenceHer book in progress, about her father's brain injury and the legal fight that followedChapters:00:22 - Celebrating Black Business Month: An Entrepreneur's Journey00:57 - Turning Points: From Grief to Growth21:01 - The Journey into Coaching23:31 - Exploring Money Mindset and Its Implications33:00 - The Journey of Business Coaching: From Bankruptcy to EmpowermentThis series is supported by Off the Grid, a podcast for small business owners who want to leave social media without losing their clients. Find them at offthegrid.fun 🖤Connect with Serena HicksWebsite: serenahicks.comIG: @xoxoserenahicksStay Connected📬 Get the noseyAF Dispatch → Subscribe here 🏡 Grab the Good Neighbor Playbook → Download it freeMore ways to connectEmail: [email protected] on IG: @stephaniegrahamListen to more episodes: noseyaf.comSupport & FeedbacknoseyAF is listener-supported; thank you for being here. 💛🫶🏾 ⭐ Rate & Review the Show 📣 Share noseyAF with a friend who needs to hear thisEpisode CreditsProduced, Hosted, and Edited by Stephanie Graham Lyrics: Queen Lex Instrumental: Freddie Bam Fam Cover Art: Emma McGoldrick

Ep 142: Sustainable Swimwear That Actually Fits with Tiffany Asamoah of BOLD SwimPart of noseyAF's 31 Days of Black Business series 🖤She went looking for a swimsuit before a vacation. Nothing past a size large. Nobody in the marketing looked like her.Tiffany Asamoah found a tailor, watched her make one, and started asking better questions. BOLD Swim is sustainable swimwear designed to fit and feel good in and out of the water, and it's since expanded into underwear, accessories, and a scarf collection with an exclusive print. She's been in Madewell, Macy's online, and Walmart online.What We Talk AboutWhat sustainability actually means in manufacturing, what greenwashing looks like, and why a four dollar shirt costs somebody somethingWhy there's a size ten and a twelve but never an eleven, and what it takes technically to change thatHow her customers taught her the swimwear was also underwear and shapewear, and how that changed the brandThe unexpected turn: the biggest thing new business owners get wrong is thinking the website and the product are the businessIf you love a conversation that changes how you shop, this episode is for you.All about Tiffany AsamoahYou're gonna love Tiffany. She's a former child model turned sustainable fashion founder, a yogi, and a July Fourth baby who grew up with a pool in the backyard. She came up through a corporate sales and leadership career before starting BOLD Swim, and she built the brand around a simple standard: as many bodies as possible, materials that aren't chemically treated, and a supply chain she can actually account for. Her Substack documents the unglossy version of founding a swimwear company.Things We MentionedBOLD SwimHer Substack, on the misadventures of a swimwear founderTheir Instagram, restarted after the original got hackedLaw Roach on repeating outfitsUN sustainability goals for the fashion industryAvailable at Madewell, Macy's online, Walmart online, and retailers in the UKChapters:00:00 - Introduction to the Black Business Month Series00:43 - Tiffany Asamoah and Bold Swim: A Journey into Sustainable Fashion11:26 - The Journey of Bold Swim: From Concept to Reality16:38 - The Evolution of Swimwear Design22:34 - Representation in Fashion: A New Approach to Inclusivity34:07 - The Journey of Entrepreneurship42:46 - Sustainable Fashion: The Impact of Consumer Behavior44:22 - Sustainable Fashion PracticesThis series is supported by Off the Grid, a podcast for small business owners who want to leave social media without losing their clients. Find them at offthegrid.fun 🖤Connect with Tiffany AsamoahWebsite: www.BOLDSwim.comIG: @bold_swimSubstackStay Connected📬 Get the noseyAF Dispatch → Subscribe here🏡 Grab the Good Neighbor Playbook → Download it freeMore ways to connectEmail: [email protected] on IG: @stephaniegrahamListen to more episodes: noseyaf.comSupport & FeedbacknoseyAF is listener-supported; thank you for being here. 💛🫶🏾⭐ Rate & Review the Show📣 Share noseyAF with a friend who needs to hear thisEpisode CreditsProduced, Hosted, and Edited by Stephanie GrahamLyrics: Queen LexInstrumental: Freddie Bam FamCover Art: Emma McGoldrick

Ep 141: Split Ends Are the Devil with Charita Golden of Golden TressesPart of noseyAF's 31 Days of Black Business series 🖤She wants you to love the hair you have, not the hair you wish you had.Charita Golden is the natural hairstylist behind Golden Tresses here in Chicago, and full disclosure, she is my actual hairstylist. So I went into this a little nervous, because if I mess it up I still have to go sit in her chair. She's been natural for over 25 years, since before it was a movement, and she's been in somebody's hair since she was about ten.What We Talk AboutThe hair myth she wants dead: that you don't need your ends trimmed. No product is going to do the work a haircut does.How to tell which hair advice on social media is for you, and the one thing to check before you try anything you saw in a videoWhy your relationship with your stylist should be a partnership, and what happens when either side treats the other like the helpWhy she won't put a relaxer in anybody's hair, ever, and what she says to clients who askThe unexpected turn: her advice to young stylists isn't about technique at all. It's customer service, and she'll tell you why mediocre stylists stay booked while talented ones can't keep a client.If you love a conversation that changes how you take care of yourself, this episode is for you.All about Charita GoldenYou're gonna love Charita. She's a Chicago native, a mother, a licensed natural hair care professional, and an educator. She comes from a long line of women with natural hair down their backs, and she's been braiding and pressing since she was a kid because her mama kept sending her little sister outside with ratty ponytails. She didn't go pro until her thirties, and now she specializes in natural hair because she wants there to be a space that's actually built for it. She wants us to let our hair be great in its own lane, technical term texture, and she wants us to love hard on it rather than tolerate it.Things We MentionedGolden Tresses → book at goldentresses.booksy.comHer advice on hair videos: only take it if the hair looks like yours when it's wetThe word "nappy," and why she says naps are just curls that haven't been combedSatin bonnets, satin-lined hoods, and the satin roller she wishes she'd inventedChapters:00:07 - Introduction to the 31 Days of Black Business Series04:08 - Understanding Natural Hair Care09:34 - Understanding Hair Care Misconceptions19:45 - The Complexity of Natural Hair Care29:35 - Customer Service in the Beauty Industry40:54 - Embracing Natural Beauty: A Conversation on Hair Care and Self-LoveThis series is supported by Off the Grid, a podcast for small business owners who want to leave social media without losing their clients. Find them at offthegrid.fun 🖤Connect with Charita GoldenBook an consultation or appointment: goldentresses.booksy.comStay Connected📬 Get the noseyAF Dispatch → Subscribe here 🏡 Grab the Good Neighbor Playbook → Download it freeMore ways to connectEmail: [email protected] on IG: @stephaniegrahamListen to more episodes: noseyaf.comSupport & FeedbacknoseyAF is listener-supported; thank you for being here. 💛🫶🏾⭐ Rate & Review the Show 📣 Share noseyAF with a friend who needs to hear thisEpisode CreditsProduced, Hosted, and Edited by Stephanie GrahamLyrics: Queen LexInstrumental: Freddie Bam FamCover Art: Emma McGoldrick

Ep 140: Private Investing Is Not What You Think with Victoria Watkins of InrichmintPart of noseyAF's 31 Days of Black Business series 🖤I learned a new term recording this one: family office. I was today years old.Victoria Watkins is a lawyer and the founder of inrichmint, where she helps people invest in companies that aren't on the stock market. She'll tell you private investing is not the gated thing you think it is, and that your friend's flower shop counts. She's also the author of Little Valarie and Her Big World of Options and runs Joy and Magic Tea.What We Talk AboutPrivate investing explained from the beginning, including what a friends and family round is and what "sweat equity" actually meansWhat a family office is, why the structures are attainable for way more people than think they qualify, and who should have oneWhy she watches American Greed as informal due diligence trainingThe unexpected turn: she went to law school to become a fashion lawyer, ended up in the mayor's office, then became chief of staff at a mutual fund companyIf you love a conversation that hands you the keys, this episode is for you.All about Victoria WatkinsYou're gonna love Victoria. She's a multi-hyphenate who has always had more than one thing going, and she'll tell you why: we should all have more than one source of income, and she doesn't want to get to the end having left anything in her. Founder of inrichmint, where she and her business partner bridge investors and privately held companies, she came up through the Illinois House Democrats legal team, the Emanuel administration, and four years as chief of staff at Ariel Investments. She still writes, which is how Little Valarie and Her Big World of Options happened, named for her mother and inspired by watching the 2016 Olympics.Things We MentionedInrichmintLittle Valarie and Her Big World of Options (afflliate link)Joy and Magic TeaRachel Gadson of ILA Creative Studio, her illustratorAmerican Greed, her informal due diligence educationPastor Mike Todd and "I'm going to die empty"Chapters:00:07 - Introduction to Black Entrepreneurship00:59 - Transitioning to Private Investing23:22 - Understanding Family Offices and Their Importance34:20 - The Importance of Networking in Entrepreneurship39:15 - Introducing Little Valarie and Her JourneyThis series is supported by Off the Grid, a podcast for small business owners who want to leave social media without losing their clients. Find them at offthegrid.fun 🖤Connect with Victoria WatkinsWebsite: https://inrichmint.com/Her blog, which has tutorials on family office structuresTiktok InstagramYouTube Stay Connected📬 Get the noseyAF Dispatch → Subscribe here🏡 Grab the Good Neighbor Playbook → Download it freeMore ways to connectEmail: [email protected] on IG: @stephaniegrahamListen to more episodes: noseyaf.comSupport & FeedbacknoseyAF is listener-supported; thank you for being here. 💛🫶🏾⭐ Rate & Review the Show📣 Share noseyAF with a friend who needs to hear thisEpisode CreditsProduced, Hosted, and Edited by Stephanie GrahamLyrics: Queen LexInstrumental: Freddie Bam FamCover Art: Emma McGoldrick

Ep 139: Your Credit Report Shows Your Stress with Cierra Michelle Jones of The Credit SchoolPart of noseyAF's 31 Days of Black Business series 🖤She got denied on her first house, couldn't afford a credit repair company, and went to Google instead. She calls herself her own first client.Cierra Michelle Jones is the Founder and Executive Director of The Credit School. She joined the Army at 17, spent years running from her credit problems, and got denied and scammed trying to buy a house in 2015. Now she has zero debt except her house and her car, and she's teaching millennial families and underserved communities how she did it.What We Talk AboutWhy the biggest military misconception is that you're automatically set, and what actually happens after the bonus is spentWhat she can see on a credit report that has nothing to do with numbers, including your stress spendingWhy credit repair takes 18 months and not 30 days, and how to spot someone who doesn't know what they're talking aboutThe unexpected turn: an election year is the best year to buy a house, and here's whyIf you love a conversation that hands you something you can actually use, this episode is for you.All about Cierra Michelle JonesYou're gonna love Cierra. She's a self-described bookworm and history buff who reads financial news like other people read gossip. She's the Founder and Executive Director of The Credit School, helping millennial families and underserved communities demystify credit education and build toward home ownership and generational wealth. A retired Army veteran and single mom, she built the platform after learning the hard way that the problem isn't a lack of effort, it's a lack of clarity. She's the author of The Military Credit Blueprint, with more books and a children's book featuring Penny the Pig and Sam the Scammer on the way. Her whole thing: she made the hard mistakes so you don't have to.Things We MentionedThe Credit School → IG @thecreditschool · TikTok @thecreditschooloneThe Military Credit Blueprint, her book (affiliate link)The Color of Law, on redlining and Black home ownership (affiliate link)The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), and why to watch what happens to itArnita Johnson-Hall, her credit coach, and the Credit Consultants AssociationClass action settlements, which she says are worth checking your junk folder for also check classaction.org and the consumer database.Debt Free Gonna Be, for student loan newsChapters:00:09 - Introduction to Black Business Month03:42 - The Journey to Financial Empowerment26:24 - Understanding Credit Challenges32:53 - Understanding Financial Choices and the Pressure of Appearance42:09 - Expertise and Growth in BusinessThis series is supported by Off the Grid, a podcast for small business owners who want to leave social media without losing their clients. Find them at offthegrid.fun 🖤Connect with Cierra Michelle JonesIG and Threads: @thecreditschoolTikTok: @thecreditschooloneStay Connected📬 Get the noseyAF Dispatch → Subscribe here🏡 Grab the Good Neighbor Playbook → Download it freeMore ways to connectEmail: [email protected] on IG: @stephaniegrahamListen to more episodes: noseyaf.comSupport & FeedbacknoseyAF is listener-supported; thank you for being here. 💛🫶🏾⭐ Rate & Review the Show📣 Share noseyAF with a friend who needs to hear thisEpisode CreditsProduced, Hosted, and Edited by Stephanie GrahamLyrics: Queen LexInstrumental: Freddie Bam FamCover Art: Emma McGoldrick

Ep 138: Two Introverts Built a Wine Bar on the South Side with Charlette Stanton and Jacare Thomas of Park Manor 75Part of noseyAF's 31 Days of Black Business series 🖤Recorded live on Lumpen Radio 105.5 FM on August 21, 2026. No edits, no retakes.What happens when the people who've spent decades bringing everybody together finally create a place of their own?Charlette Stanton and Jacare Thomas met as teenagers and have been building community for more than two decades: social clubs, arts organizations, events, trips. Now that's a physical space. Park Manor 75 is a Black-owned wine and charcuterie bar on 75th Street, and they call it a third space, and they mean it.What We Talk AboutWhy they say the business plan is the thing you avoid because you're afraid of what it'll reveal, and why you should write it anywayHow they found the building on a whim, in pajamas, and closed on it within thirty daysWhat they wish they'd known in 2003, when an alderman told them no and they took no for an answerThe unexpected turn: SSAs, and why where you spend your money decides which neighborhoods get street cleaning, lights, and beautificationIf you love a conversation about what it actually takes to open a door, this episode is for you.All about Charlette Stanton and Jacare ThomasYou're gonna love these two. A husband-and-wife team of 23 years who are both, improbably, introverts. Charlette runs operations, Jacare runs strategy and community engagement, and their whole approach is asking people what they want to do and then figuring out how the space can serve it. The bar is two rooms: the Park is light and open, the Manor is a dark speakeasy in the back. As Charlette puts it, you can have your grandma in the front and your boo in the back.Things We MentionedPark Manor 75 → parkmanor75.com · @parkmanor75 on all socialsNoir Urban Arts Collective and See Black Social Club, their earlier venturesThe Neighborhood Opportunity Fund, the City of Chicago grant that helped fund the buildSSAs, or Special Service Areas, and why they matter for neighborhood developmentSensory Oasis with DJ Dave Mays, monthly on SundaysWhat to order: the Park Manor (lamb sausage and Italian beef with mild sauce), the Greek Town if you don't eat meat, the collard green dip, and the sweet potato hummusThe Inner Guide podcast, which you heard during the breakChapters:00:00 - Introduction to the Episode01:11 - The Journey to Community Building and Entrepreneurship13:56 - Navigating the Challenges of Business Planning28:34 - The Importance of Mentorship36:40 - The Journey to Owning a Business48:31 - Community Engagement and Business Synergy56:01 - Navigating Community and Business RelationshipsThis series is supported by Off the Grid, a podcast for small business owners who want to leave social media without losing their clients. Find them at offthegrid.fun 🖤Connect with Park Manor 75Website: parkmanor75.comIG and TikTok: @parkmanor75Stay Connected📬 Get the noseyAF Dispatch → Subscribe here 🏡 Grab the Good Neighbor Playbook → Download it freeMore ways to connectEmail: [email protected] on IG: @stephaniegrahamListen to more episodes: noseyaf.comSupport & FeedbacknoseyAF is listener-supported; thank you for being here. 💛🫶🏾 ⭐ Rate & Review the Show 📣 Share noseyAF with a friend who needs to hear thisEpisode Credits Produced, Hosted, and Edited by Stephanie Graham Lyrics: Queen Lex Instrumental: Freddie Bam Fam Cover Art: Emma McGoldrick

Ep 137: Not Everybody's Life Is a Movie Scene with Adrienne Randle of Evryday Blk MagazinePart of noseyAF's 31 Days of Black Business series 🖤Not everybody's life is a movie scene. That's the whole idea.Adrienne Randle founded Evryday Blk Magazine, a bi-monthly publication in digital and print, because she wanted something that felt good to read. No gossip, no trauma, no celebrity culture. Just four-generation Black farms, a man who chases waterfalls, and the small local film festivals nobody's covering. It's the next chapter of her Black Owned Business Shopping Guide, which ran from 2023 to 2025, featured 1,175 businesses, and pulled over 3 million views.What We Talk AboutWhy she's a boundary queen: no work on weekends, no work at night, period, and how burnout at year five taught her thatHow she collaborates with other Black-owned businesses, why she pays them, and why "if you don't ask, the answer is no" is her whole approachDigital blackfacing, what it is, and how she verifies that every business in the magazine is actually Black-ownedThe unexpected turn: her doomsday case for physical media, and why she wants Black books, CDs, and magazines in the house for when the grid popsIf you love a conversation about building something on your own terms, this episode is for you.All about Adrienne RandleYou're gonna love Adrienne. She's a whole ball of joy, and she'll tell you if she doesn't have a smile on her face she's not leaving the house. A creative advertising grad and product-based business owner since 2014, she built Addy Rawr into a brand that sold over 100,000 products, including 10,000 journals. Her design mantra: people don't know how it was supposed to look at the end. Now she's putting that same energy into a magazine that goes straight to the source instead of the celebrity.Things We MentionedEvryday Blk Magazine, free digital subscription and print available for purchaseThe Black Owned Business Shopping Guide, 2023 to 2025, 1,175 businessesAddy Rawr, her artist name and previous brandThe magazine is self-funded, and there's a donation button on the site. A $10 monthly or $50 one-time contribution goes toward stock photos, software, printing, and eventually paying writers.Chapters:00:07 - Introduction to Black Business00:33 - Introducing Adrienne Randall and Evryday Blk Magazine05:42 - The Journey of Creativity and Business13:05 - The Importance of Collaboration in Entrepreneurship16:36 - The Importance of Work-Life Balance for Entrepreneurs26:51 - Highlighting Everyday Stories32:00 - The Importance of Representation and Transparency in Media37:46 - The Importance of Authentic Representation in Black Media41:44 - Future of Evryday Blk MagazineThis series is supported by Off the Grid, a podcast for small business owners who want to leave social media without losing their clients. Find them at offthegrid.fun 🖤Connect with Adrienne RandleWebsite and subscriptionIG: @addirerawrStay Connected📬 Get the noseyAF Dispatch → Subscribe here 🏡 Grab the Good Neighbor Playbook → Download it freeMore ways to connectEmail: [email protected] on IG: @stephaniegrahamListen to more episodes: noseyaf.comSupport & FeedbacknoseyAF is listener-supported; thank you for being here. 💛🫶🏾⭐ Rate & Review the Show 📣 Share noseyAF with a friend who needs to hear thisEpisode CreditsProduced, Hosted, and Edited by Stephanie GrahamLyrics: Queen LexInstrumental: Freddie Bam FamCover Art: Emma McGoldrick

Ep 136:Trades Aren't a Backup Plan: Building a Business With Your Hands with Shawn Ellis of Handyman Ellis, LLCPart of noseyAF's 31 Days of Black Business series 🖤His grandfather used to take his quarters and hand them back as tens. Called it magic. Then one summer he said, come work with me and I'll show you what the magic actually is. Shawn was thirteen.Shawn runs Handyman Ellis LLC in Chicago, providing professional services for homeowners and businesses: mounting, assembly, installations, repairs. About 80% of his work comes from word of mouth. I'm part of that word of mouth. So is my dad, who tells his entire friend group about this man.What We Talk AboutWhy he thinks the trades should be a first option and not a backup plan, and what he tells young people who don't know what to do nextWhat separates a professional from somebody who just knows how to fix things, and why the booties on his shoes are part of the answerHis advice for anyone with a skill who's scared to turn it into a business: do your homework, then startThe unexpected turn: the one thing in your house he wants you to stop putting off, and he's right, and you should go check it after thisIf you love a conversation about building something the honest way, this episode is for you.All about ShawnYou're gonna love Shawn. He shows up organized, in booties, with an old school playlist going. Mostly self-taught with some classes and certifications along the way, he treats every house he enters like it's his own, and plenty of his clients trust him enough to let him work while they're not home. He's driven by gaining knowledge and passing it on, and he talks about instilling forever skills in his son, who's already asked for his own Handyman Ellis shirt. His stepfather's line, which used to be on his business cards: if it's broke, he can fix it.Chapters:00:09 - 31 Days of Black Business02:25 - The Journey to Handyman Success11:02 - The Challenges of Being a Handyman19:57 - The Value of Trades in Modern Society29:43 - The Importance of Community for Business Growth34:31 - Entrepreneurship InsightsThings We MentionedHandyman Ellis LLC, professional services for homeowners and businesses. Booking siteEmail: [email protected] Chicago and surrounding suburbsServices: mounting, assembly, installations, repairs. As he puts it, send him your project and he'll tell you if he can make it come true.This series is supported by Off the Grid, a podcast for small business owners who want to leave social media without losing their clients. Find them at offthegrid.fun 🖤Connect with Shawnhttps://handymanellis.bestmate.us/Email: [email protected] Connected📬 Get the noseyAF Dispatch → Subscribe here 🏡 Grab the Good Neighbor Playbook → Download it freeMore ways to connectEmail: [email protected] on IG: @stephaniegrahamListen to more episodes: noseyaf.comSupport & FeedbacknoseyAF is listener-supported; thank you for being here. 💛🫶🏾 ⭐ Rate & Review the Show 📣 Share noseyAF with a friend who needs to hear thisEpisode CreditsProduced, Hosted, and Edited by Stephanie Graham Lyrics: Queen Lex Instrumental: Freddie Bam Fam Cover Art: Emma McGoldrick

Ep 135: From a Craft Class to Ten Years in Business with Ticina Williams of Creativiti Custom Designs and EventsPart of noseyAF's 31 Days of Black Business series 🖤Ticina Williams started designing her own party supplies because the licensed images never looked like her sons.She founded Creativiti Custom Designs and Events in Chicago — that's Creativiti with an i, because everybody calls her T and she's the T in Creativiti. It started with a craft class at Michael's she only took because she got dropped from her college courses one summer. Ten years later it's a full-service event planning, consulting, and party supply company, and she hand-makes every product herself.What We Talk AboutHow to actually think about budget when you're hiring an event planner, and why the question isn't meant to trigger youWhy every successful event needs a program, even a loose one, so your guests aren't sitting there wondering what's happeningWhen she started doing in-kind work for community organizations, and the expensive lesson that taught her what to ask for firstThe unexpected turn: her three-year-old asked for a Miami Heat LeBron James birthday party, and figuring out how to make one changed the direction of her whole businessIf you love origin stories that don't skip the scary parts, this episode is for you.All about Ticina WilliamsYou're gonna love Ticina — she's the hostess with the mostest and she will absolutely kick in at your party uninvited. A mom of four boys and a business school grad, she brings both sides to every event: the administrative planner who wants to know your timeline and your point person, and the creative who hand-crafts the favors, the treat boxes, and the centerpieces. Her online store sells digital party supply downloads featuring Black and brown characters — her NBA 2K favors went viral on Pinterest. Her goal is to pass Creativiti on to one of her sons, all four of whom are business majors.Chapters:00:08 - Introduction to Black Business Month02:07 - The Journey of Creativiti: From Hobby to Business09:20 - The Birth of a Creative Event Planning Business16:08 - The Evolution of Event Planning22:34 - Incorporating Community Impact in Business26:41 - Understanding Client Budgets33:14 - Successful Event Planning Essentials38:52 - Starting an Online Store: A Journey of Representation47:50 - Building a Legacy Through Creativiti51:53 - Navigating Entrepreneurship During the PandemicThings We MentionedCreativiti Custom Designs and EventsThe Creativiti online store, for digital party supply downloadsDara's Safari Shower, the 2015 event that started it allThe Economic Empowerment Summit and the Woodlawn and Washington Park SummitsSCORE, where she found her first business mentorThis series is supported by Off the Grid, a podcast for small business owners who want to leave social media without losing their clients. Find them at offthegrid.fun 🖤Connect with Ticina WilliamsFind her at Creativiti Custom Designs and Events on FacebookStay Connected📬 Get the noseyAF Dispatch → Subscribe here 🏡 Grab the Good Neighbor Playbook → Download it freeMore ways to connectEmail: [email protected] on IG: @stephaniegrahamListen to more episodes: noseyaf.comSupport & FeedbacknoseyAF is listener-supported; thank you for being here. 💛🫶🏾 ⭐ Rate & Review the Show 📣 Share noseyAF with a friend who needs to hear thisEpisode CreditsProduced, Hosted, and Edited by Stephanie Graham Lyrics: Queen Lex Instrumental: Freddie Bam Fam Cover Art: Emma McGoldrick

Ep 134: Semoine Boyer of CocoaLuxe: Routine to Ritual, and Fragrance for When You Can't Get AwayPart of noseyAF's 31 Days of Black Business series 🖤She started making these products because she needed somewhere to go when she couldn't actually go anywhere.Semoine Boyer is the founder of CocoaLuxe Home and Spa: candles, body butters, scrubs, oils, and body sprays, all made with fragrance blends she creates herself. She started making them because she needed downtime from being a wife, a mom to a son with special needs, and a full-time job in IT. She'll tell you plainly she's not a certified perfumer. She just made what she wanted and it worked.What We Talk AboutThe difference between a self-care routine and a self-care ritual, and why she thinks most of us are doing the first one on autopilotCaribbean Sunrise, and how a fragrance can take you somewhere you can't afford to flyWhat private label actually means, and how she'll build a whole product line under someone else's brand nameWhy she'd rather eat pork than deal with social media, and what she did about itThe unexpected turn: she paused this business three separate times for her family, and the year she finally took off to rest is the year it workedIf you love second-act reinventions that don't skip the hard part, this episode is for you.All about Semoine BoyerYou're gonna love Semoine — she's a full-transparency kind of person, and she'll say so herself before she tells you the thing. Founder of CocoaLuxe Home and Spa, she builds body care and home fragrance with high-quality ingredients and distinctive blends, creating sensory experiences meant to inspire calm, confidence, and connection. She has retail partnerships, private label clients, and wholesale on the way. Her father raised her to give back, and she's working on a way to do that for other small business owners in Prince George's County. Her definition of luxury: rest. Her one ritual she'll never skip: staying hydrated and moisturized, with her own body butter, every single night.Things We MentionedCocoaLuxe Home and Spa → cocoaluxehs.comFind her products at Creators Collective at The Stacks in Navy Yard, DC; Bohemian Black in Annapolis, MD; and Nectar Juice Bar in Crofton, MDPrivate label services — she'll make a product line under your brand"Golden" by Jill ScottThis series is supported by Off the Grid, a podcast for small business owners who want to leave social media without losing their clients. Find them at offthegrid.fun 🖤Connect with Semoine BoyerIG: @cocoaluxehsWebsite: cocoaluxehs.comStay Connected📬 Get the noseyAF Dispatch → Subscribe here🏡 Grab the Good Neighbor Playbook → Download it freeMore ways to connectEmail: [email protected] on IG: @stephaniegrahamListen to more episodes: noseyaf.comSupport & FeedbacknoseyAF is listener-supported; thank you for being here. 💛🫶🏾⭐ Rate & Review the Show📣 Share noseyAF with a friend who needs to hear thisEpisode CreditsProduced, Hosted, and Edited by Stephanie GrahamLyrics: Queen LexInstrumental: Freddie Bam FamCover Art: Emma McGoldrick

Ep 133: Type C Energy and Design With Soul with Sunni of Sunni Aesthetics.Part of noseyAF's 31 Days of Black Business series 🖤Only about 4% of designers in the US are Black. She named her podcast after that number, and it's gone down since.Sunni runs Sunni Aesthetics, a creative studio doing branding, creative direction, and visual storytelling. She came up through film production and set decoration in Atlanta, flunked out of design school right before the pandemic, spent quarantine drawing and painting, and taught herself the rest. Six years later, here she is.What We Talk AboutWhy she left set life behind, and what she means when she says money comes back but time doesn'tHow she uses AI as a resource rather than a replacement, and what happens to a brain you stop working outHer advice for anyone thinking about design: don't go to school for it yet, watch a YouTube course and see if it's actually for youThe unexpected turn: the 4% number that named her podcast has dropped to 3.86%, and she has thoughts on why designers are walking away from the fieldIf you love a conversation about building a creative career on your own terms, this episode is for you.All about SunniYou're gonna love Sunni — she's bold, intentional, and soul-aligned, and yes that's her own language for it. Through Sunni Aesthetics she partners with small business owners on branding, web and UX/UI design, graphics, social media, e-commerce, video editing, and email marketing. She also hosts The Four Percent Amplified, a podcast celebrating BIPOC designers and turning up the volume on voices the industry overlooks. Her logo puts her initials together with the sun and the moon, because the sun is identity and the moon is intuition, and she wanted both.Chapters:00:07 - Introduction to Black Business Month01:54 - Understanding Visual Storytelling11:46 - The Evolution of Storytelling in Design15:05 - Understanding the Emotional Labor in Creative Work22:51 - The Evolution of Design Philosophy31:09 - The Importance of Connection and CommunityThings We MentionedSunni AestheticsThe Four Percent Amplified podcast, also on YouTubeAIGA, where she found one of her mentorsConsultations are free — she wants to make sure it's a fit before anybody paysThis series is supported by Off the Grid, a podcast for small business owners who want to leave social media without losing their clients. Find them at offthegrid.fun 🖤Connect with SunniIG: @sunniaestheticsSunni AestheticsPodcast: The Four Percent AmplifiedStay Connected📬 Get the noseyAF Dispatch → Subscribe here🏡 Grab the Good Neighbor Playbook → Download it freeMore ways to connectEmail: [email protected] on IG: @stephaniegrahamListen to more episodes: noseyaf.comSupport & FeedbacknoseyAF is listener-supported; thank you for being here. 💛🫶🏾 ⭐ Rate & Review the Show 📣 Share noseyAF with a friend who needs to hear thisEpisode CreditsProduced, Hosted, and Edited by Stephanie Graham Lyrics: Queen Lex Instrumental: Freddie Bam Fam Cover Art: Emma McGoldrick

Ep # 132: Sun Food and Decolonizing What We Eat with Radius of RA's Natural Abundance (noseyAF Classic)Part of noseyAF's 31 Days of Black Business series 🖤This conversation originally aired on Lumpen Radio on July 28, 2025, as Ep #77. Bringing it back for the series.He'll tell you the box never existed.Radius is a musician, photographer, chef, and community builder out of Chicago's South Side. He runs ETC Records, publishes photo zines from his travels, co-founded The Love Fridge Chicago, and promotes sun-fired food through RA's Natural Abundance. He came on to talk about decolonizing through food, and we ended up somewhere much bigger.🍋 Radius is available for hire. Personal chef work, juices, meals, and holistic food guidance through RA's Natural Abundance. He's clear that this is about transitioning into a lifestyle, not a diet program — as he puts it, diet has "die" in it.What We Talk AboutSun food versus raw food, and why he says everything we need is already cooked by the sunHow he starts every day: giving thanks, stretching, and breaking his fast with the most hydrating fruit he can findHis practical advice for getting off recreational sugar, and why dates and figs do more than you'd thinkWhy he calls himself a cultural ambassador rather than an expat, and what it means to actually invest in a place instead of visiting itThe unexpected turn: what it means that "colon" is inside the word "decolonization," and why the food we eat is as revolutionary a front as any otherIf you've ever thought about food as more than something you eat, this one's for you.Chapters:• 00:07 - Celebrating Black Business Month• 02:46 - Introducing Radius: A Multi-Talented Creative• 08:50 - The Essence of Sun Food and Personal Transformation• 18:34 - Reflections on Travel and Cultural Identity• 27:01 - The Concept of Et Cetera in Music• 32:21 - Introducing Brooklyn Zoned: A New Project• 37:44 - The Importance of Honesty in Art and Life• 44:24 - Transitioning to Healthy Eating Habits• 47:11 - The Importance of Diet and Lifestyle• 51:48 - Exploring Hydration and WellnessAll about RadiusYou're gonna love Radius — he's a limitless-skies kind of person. The name started as a graffiti tag and became everything else. ETC stands for whatever he needs it to: Ear To Chicago, Educate The Children, Express Truth Consistently, Embrace The Circle, Empower The Community. He runs ETC Records, publishes photo zines under Ramón Etc including Brooklyn Zoned, promotes sun-fired plant-based living through RA's Natural Abundance, and co-founded The Love Fridge Chicago, a mutual aid initiative fighting food insecurity through community fridges. He studied with Dr. Aris Latham, the father of gourmet ethical raw food cuisine, in Panama.Things We MentionedRA's Natural Abundance → @rasnaturalabundanceETC Records → etcrecords.comBrooklyn Zoned, his photo zine, with Morocco and Mexico editions in the worksThe Love Fridge ChicagoDr. Aris Latham and sun-fired cuisineLumpen Radio, where this conversation originally airedThis series is supported by Off the Grid, a podcast for small business owners who want to leave social media without losing their clients. Find them at offthegrid.fun 🖤Connect with RadiusIG: @radiusetcPhotography: @ramonetcphoto · ramonetcphoto.comRA's Natural Abundance: @rasnaturalabundanceETC Records: @etcrecords · etcrecords.comStay Connected📬 Get the noseyAF Dispatch → Subscribe here🏡 Grab the Good Neighbor Playbook → Download it freeMore ways to connectEmail: [email protected] on IG: @stephaniegrahamListen to more episodes: noseyaf.comSupport & FeedbacknoseyAF is listener-supported; thank you for being here. 💛🫶🏾⭐ Rate & Review the Show📣 Share noseyAF with a friend who needs to hear thisEpisode CreditsProduced, Hosted, and Edited by Stephanie GrahamLyrics: Queen LexInstrumental: Freddie Bam FamCover Art: Emma McGoldrick

Ep 125: We Heal Together with Aya Nikole Cook of Haji Healing SalonPart of noseyAF's 31 Days of Black Business series 🖤Recorded live on Lumpen Radio 105.5 FMWhat happens when the person who built the healing space finally has to heal herself?Aya Nicole Cook built Haji Healing Salon because everything she needed growing up on the South Side required leaving the South Side to find. Ten years later, she's in the middle of what she calls a death portal, undoing a decade of go-go-go and rebuilding the space and herself at the same time.What We Talk AboutWhy the healing at Haji happens out in the open instead of behind private doors, and how watching a stranger nap through acupuncture lowers the barrier for everybody in the roomWhat she gave up all at once — caffeine, meat, dairy, gluten, sugar, cannabis — and what being fully present made possibleThe new tea salon: a tech-free space where you check your phone at the door and journal, nap, daydream, or just sitThe unexpected turn: ten years as a one-woman show nearly took her out, and she wants you to hear the cautionary partIf you love origin stories that don't skip the scary parts, this episode is for you.All about Aya Nicole CookYou're gonna love Aya — she's a plant whisperer and sacred spacemaker. Ten years into building Haji Healing Salon in Bronzeville, she's an artist, mother, community herbalist, reiki master, yoga nidra priestess, and death doula who has made acupuncture, herbalism, reiki, and yoga accessible on Chicago's South Side.Things We MentionedHaji Healing Salon → hajihealing.com — 4448 S Cottage Grove Ave, ChicagoThe Healing Wisdom of Africa by Malidoma Patrice SoméLumpen Radio 105.5 FM → @lumpenradioChapters:00:23 - A New Beginning in Chicago01:35 - Building a Business Around Care and Community11:27 - Creating Inclusive Healing Spaces16:33 - Creating Sacred Spaces: The Journey of a Yoga Teacher23:34 - Healing Spaces and the Role of Plants29:55 - The Importance of Community in Healing40:02 - The Vision of a New Space45:00 - Creating a Healing Space: The Design of Haji49:17 - The Healing Space: A New Paradigm53:17 - Transitioning into Elderhood and BalanceThis series is supported by Off the Grid, a podcast for small business owners who want to leave social media without losing their clients. Find them at offthegrid.fun 🖤Connect with Aya Nicole CookIG: @hajihealingsalonWebsite: hajihealing.comStay Connected📬 Get the noseyAF Dispatch → Subscribe here🏡 Grab the Good Neighbor Playbook → Download it freeMore ways to connectEmail: [email protected] on IG: @stephaniegrahamListen to more episodes: noseyaf.comSupport & FeedbacknoseyAF is listener-supported; thank you for being here. 💛🫶🏾⭐ Rate & Review the Show📣 Share noseyAF with a friend who needs to hear thisEpisode CreditsProduced, Hosted, and Edited by Stephanie GrahamLyrics: Queen LexInstrumental: Freddie Bam FamCover Art: Emma McGoldrick

Ep 131: From Black and White to Living in Color with Alexis "Lexi" Williams of Aloha GlamourPart of noseyAF's 31 Days of Black Business series 🖤A Black woman from Mississippi became a Queen Mother in Ghana. It was not on her bingo card.Alexis "Lexi" Williams founded Aloha Glamour after losing her daughter Lauren Taylor, who was born and died in Hawaii in 2015 while Lexi was stationed there. Everything was black and white for a long time after. When she started seeing color again, she started the business. Every head wrap and every pair of earrings is handmade by artisans in Ghana she's known for years and calls family.What We Talk AboutWhere the name comes from: aloha means both hello and goodbye, and glamour is the confidence you find after life knocks you downHer beginner's guide to African fashion — take 80% of what you already wear and add 20% new, and no, you don't have to start with a three-piece suitHow her artisan relationships started with African print masks during COVID and turned into sewing machines, hired staff, and her picture on the wall as their CEOThe unexpected turn: what happens when you stop visiting Africa as a tourist and start investing in a community, and what being responsible for a village of 10,000 people actually meansIf you love origin stories that don't skip the scary parts, this episode is for you.Chapters:00:08 - Celebrating Black Business: Aloha Glamour02:47 - The Story Behind Aloha Glamour11:43 - Living in Color: A Journey of Personal Style and Heritage25:54 - The Journey of Aloha Glamour36:28 - Cultural Connections: Bridging Communities39:01 - Transitioning Aloha Glamour: The Next ChapterAll about Alexis "Lexi" WilliamsYou're gonna love Lexi — she's a veteran turned Queen Mother who will tell you to just start with the earrings. She serves as Nkosuohemaa, Development Queen Mother of Pokrom Nsabaa village in Ghana, and founded the Healing Crown Alliance Foundation, a grief support and diaspora cultural development nonprofit. She's the creator of Protect Your Crown, a cultural education program running in schools, churches, and corporate spaces, and holds the title of Ms. Black Ghana International Ambassador 2026, competing at the MBIA International Pageant in Belize this August. Aloha Glamour has been featured by Forbes and Oprah and received funding from Beyoncé. She describes the brand as a love letter to Black women who have survived something, and asks: what's the color of your story?Things We MentionedAloha GlamourHealing Crown Alliance FoundationProtect Your Crown cultural education programPokrom Nsabaa, Ghana, where she serves as NkosuohemaaMBIA International Pageant, Belize, August 2026This series is supported by Off the Grid, a podcast for small business owners who want to leave social media without losing their clients. Find them at offthegrid.fun 🖤Connect with Alexis "Lexi" WilliamsIG: @alohaglamourAloha GlamourStay Connected📬 Get the noseyAF Dispatch → Subscribe here🏡 Grab the Good Neighbor Playbook → Download it freeMore ways to connectEmail: [email protected] on IG: @stephaniegrahamListen to more episodes: noseyaf.comSupport & FeedbacknoseyAF is listener-supported; thank you for being here. 💛🫶🏾⭐ Rate & Review the Show📣 Share noseyAF with a friend who needs to hear thisEpisode CreditsProduced, Hosted, and Edited by Stephanie GrahamLyrics: Queen LexInstrumental: Freddie Bam FamCover Art: Emma McGoldrick

Ep 130: Day 13 Explaining Investing Through a TJ Maxx Run with Nadia C. Vanderhall of Brands + BandsPart of noseyAF's 31 Days of Black Business series 🖤She lost her job in the Great Recession and drained her 401(k) before she knew the first thing about money.Nadia C. Vanderhall learned it the hard way, then learned it the real way working in product marketing at a bank, where she kept noticing the products weren't built for the people who needed them most. She started posting what she was learning on Facebook. The first big one explained how to invest by walking through building a wig. Now she runs The Brands + Bands Strategy Group and calls herself the girl in the finance bro lane.What We Talk AboutWhy the 50/30/20 budgeting rule doesn't work when housing eats your whole budget, and what to do insteadThe Dash: the roadmap between the wallet you have now and the wealth on your vision board, and why financial planning should really be life planningWhy she says stop calling money hard, and how to reframe budgeting as expense planningThe unexpected turn: she was an overdraft queen too, and she breaks down exactly how to stop — push notifications, splitting your accounts, and money dates with your own appIf you love a good analogy and a plan you can actually follow, this episode is for you.All about Nadia C. VanderhallYou're gonna love Nadia — she's a marketer's brain in a financial planner's chair. Founder of The Brands + Bands Strategy Group, she's been featured in Good Morning America, The Wall Street Journal, and Essence, and she's gone from working in financial services to becoming one herself. She builds budgets for people who hate building them, audits the ones that aren't budgeting, and answers your one-off money questions without shaming you. She was making $10.71 an hour when she got laid off, so when she says she's been there, she means it.Things We MentionedThe Brands + Bands Strategy GroupThe wig video that started it allHer budgeting workshop, active now, and her budgeting workbookThe Dash method, available through her retainer serviceHer budget build, budget audit, and Ask Me Anything servicesHer emergency fund plan and guide workbookHer newsletter, which she describes as a voice memo in written formHer YouTube video on her own money fumblesChapters: • 00:10 - Introduction to Black Business Month • 00:57 - Navigating the Financial Landscape: A New Perspective • 15:42 - Navigating the Birthday Dinner Trend • 21:53 - The Importance of Financial Planning • 33:11 - Navigating Overdrafts and Financial AwarenessThis series is supported by Off the Grid, a podcast for small business owners who want to leave social media without losing their clients. Find them at offthegrid.fun 🖤Connect with Nadia C. VanderhallIG: @thebrandsandbandsBrands and Bands WebsiteStay Connected📬 Get the noseyAF Dispatch → Subscribe here🏡 Grab the Good Neighbor Playbook → Download it freeMore ways to connectEmail: [email protected] on IG: @stephaniegrahamListen to more episodes: noseyaf.comSupport & FeedbacknoseyAF is listener-supported; thank you for being here. 💛🫶🏾⭐ Rate & Review the Show 📣 Share noseyAF with a friend who needs to hear thisEpisode CreditsProduced, Hosted, and Edited by Stephanie GrahamLyrics: Queen LexInstrumental: Freddie Bam FamCover Art: Emma McGoldrick

Episode # 129 Dark Fantasy, Black Authors, and a Toxic Hottie or Two with Cheryl Hodges of The Obsidian ArchivePart of noseyAF's 31 Days of Black Business series 🖤She decided to write a book. Then figured she should probably start reading again. Then opened a bookstore.Cheryl Hodges kept watching the girlies on Instagram open romance-only bookshops and realized nobody had built one for dark fantasy and speculative worlds. So she did, in January of this year, while writing her own novel, working a full-time job, and raising a kid. Indie authors and Black authors in the genre are the whole point.What We Talk AboutWhat dark fantasy actually is, why Maleficent counts, and why all our millennial fantasy obsessions trace back to DisneyHow she decides which books to carry, what she's looking for in author submissions, and why she'll point you to a different bookstore if you're not a fitWhat indie authors are still fighting for against publishers with real marketing budgetsThe unexpected turn: her nonprofit plans are about literacy as comprehension, shaped by teaching her own son to read and by knowing a grown man who can'tIf you love origin stories that don't skip the scary parts, this episode is for you.Chapters:00:10 - Celebrating Black Business Month03:27 - The Journey to Opening a Bookstore18:01 - The Struggle of Indie Authors in Today's Market25:55 - Literacy Initiatives and Challenges34:24 - Launching a Bookstore and Publishing House38:44 - The Vision for the Future BookstoreAll about Cheryl HodgesYou're gonna love Cheryl — she's a Brooklyn library kid turned bookstore owner. Founder of The Obsidian Archive, an online bookstore for dark fantasy and speculative worlds, and author of Crown of the Morning Star, a dark mythic fantasy that follows Lucifer after the fall. She reads six books a month on her Kindle and listens to four or five more. Book two, a vampire duology following Lucifer's son Cain, drops at Halloween. Where she's headed: a brick and mortar with a cafe, a nonprofit running book drives and book clubs, and the biggest selection of indie titles she can build.Things We MentionedThe Obsidian Archive → theobsidianarchive.orgCrown of the Morning Star by Cheryl Hodges, available on Kindle and paperbackLegendborn by Tracy Deonn, her beginner's guide to fantasy pickThe Daggermouth pre-order campaign, and Lee RiversHer banned books section, including Animal Farm and 1984This series is supported by Off the Grid, a podcast for small business owners who want to leave social media without losing their clients. Find them at offthegrid.fun 🖤Connect with Cheryl HodgesIG: @the_obsidian_archive_bookshopWebsite: theobsidianarchive.orgStay Connected📬 Get the noseyAF Dispatch → Subscribe here🏡 Grab the Good Neighbor Playbook → Download it freeMore ways to connectEmail: [email protected] on IG: @stephaniegrahamListen to more episodes: noseyaf.comSupport & FeedbacknoseyAF is listener-supported; thank you for being here. 💛🫶🏾⭐ Rate & Review the Show📣 Share noseyAF with a friend who needs to hear thisEpisode CreditsProduced, Hosted, and Edited by Stephanie GrahamLyrics: Queen LexInstrumental: Freddie Bam FamCover Art: Emma McGoldrick

Ep 128: Neurodiversity in Black Families with Rosemary Sanders-Price of Rose in Bloom TherapyPart of noseyAF's 31 Days of Black Business series 🖤She spent twenty years in retail management. Then a friend asked her one question in church.Rosemary Sanders-Price went back to school to become a therapist because when her son was diagnosed with autism, she couldn't find anyone in her corner with the information she needed. She figured other mothers were in the same place. Now she runs Rose in Bloom Therapy and wrote a book about raising him.What We Talk AboutWhy she wishes people understood that neurodiversity in Black families isn't a curse and isn't something to cureWhat effective advocacy actually looks like day to day, including what it means to give a kid a place where they don't have to maskWhat shadow work really is, why it's not a witchcraft girlies thing, and how to forgive the version of you who didn't know better yetThe unexpected turn: she was sitting in church listening to a pastor tell mothers that autism was their fault, and she started thinking about every woman who went home carrying thatIf you love second-act reinventions that don't skip the hard part, this episode is for you.All about Rosemary Sanders-PriceYou're gonna love Rosemary; she's a straight-shooter with a wise voice. A licensed mental health therapist, author, and mom, she founded Rose in Bloom Therapy to make mental health support more accessible, affirming, and culturally responsive. She works with individuals, couples, and families, specializing in trauma, anxiety, depression, neurodiversity, personality disorders, eating disorders, and LGBTQIA+ affirming care. Her belief: healing happens when people feel seen, supported, and empowered to bloom at their own pace.Things We MentionedRose in Bloom TherapyHer book, Different Not Deficient: Raising a Black Son on the Spectrum, available directly through her websiteHealing Spaces, the group she co-founded, and their restorative justice projectPsychology Today, where she's also listedInternal Family Systems (IFS) therapyCarl Jung and shadow workChapters:00:09 - Introduction to Black Business Month01:03 - Introduction to Rosemary Sanders Price12:37 - The Journey of Advocacy and Understanding Neurodiversity19:38 - Challenges of Community Health and Entrepreneurship25:44 - Navigating Mental Health in the Community28:42 - Understanding Shadow Work32:32 - The Impact of Motherhood on Therapy37:30 - Healing and Grief: A Continuous JourneyThis series is supported by Off the Grid, a podcast for small business owners who want to leave social media without losing their clients. Find them at offthegrid.fun 🖤Connect with Rosemary Sanders-PriceIG: @rose_in_bloom_therapyWebsite: Roseinbloom.comStay Connected📬 Get the noseyAF Dispatch → Subscribe here🏡 Grab the Good Neighbor Playbook → Download it freeMore ways to connectEmail: [email protected] on IG: @stephaniegrahamListen to more episodes: noseyaf.comSupport & FeedbacknoseyAF is listener-supported; thank you for being here. 💛🫶🏾⭐ Rate & Review the Show📣 Share noseyAF with a friend who needs to hear thisEpisode CreditsProduced, Hosted, and Edited by Stephanie GrahamLyrics: Queen LexInstrumental: Freddie Bam FamCover Art: Emma McGoldrick

EP # 127- Empowering Women Through Firearm Safety with Javondlynn Dunagan of JMD DefensePart of noseyAF's 31 Days of Black Business series 🖤She cried and left her first firearms training early. Now she's taught hundreds of women to shoot.Javondlynn Dunagan spent 25 years as a US probation officer, retired at 49, and built JMD Defense around a thing she used to be terrified of. Her Ladies of Steel Gun Club® has grown from seven members to 760, ages 20 to 80, and a documentary about them is making its way through film festivals right now.What We Talk AboutWhy she wants you using your brain before anything else, and how to actually build situational awareness — where you park, why she recommends dusk to dawn lights over motion detectors, and what she's watching during church serviceWhy your partner can't teach you to shoot, and what she noticed watching men and women train differently at the rangeWhy firearm education can't stop after one concealed carry class, and the once-a-month practice she recommendsThe unexpected turn: when her male instructors would introduce her as the owner, she'd watch the energy in the room shift and men walk awayIf you love origin stories that don't skip the scary parts, this episode is for you.All about Javondlynn DunaganYou're gonna love Javondlynn she's prepared and paranoid, in her own words. She founded JMD Defense in November 2016 and The Ladies of Steel Gun Club® the following April, and she teaches from her own testimony: she was scared of guns first, so she walks people through the fear at their pace and never rushes anybody. Over 600 five-star reviews and not a single safety incident.Things We MentionedJMD Defense → jmddefense.com — classes held at 111th and KedzieThe Ladies of Steel Gun Club®JMD Defense Safety Academy, her foundationThe Ladies of Steel documentary, currently submitted to film festivals across the countryServices offered: situational awareness training for organizations and corporations, intro to firearms, concealed carry, gun cleaning, how to purchase a firearm, draw from concealment, private lessons, and a service for families who find a firearm after a loved one passesChapters:00:08 - Celebrating Black Business Month02:17 - Transitioning from Law Enforcement to Firearm Education18:01 - The Rise of the Ladies of Steel Gun Club31:20 - The Importance of Ongoing Firearm Education41:37 - Embracing Fear and Leadership in a Male-Dominated Field47:29 - Understanding Value and Pricing in BusinessThis series is supported by Off the Grid, a podcast for small business owners who want to leave social media without losing their clients. Find them at offthegrid.fun 🖤Connect with Javondlynn DunaganTikTok: @jmddefensellcWebsite: jmddefense.comStay Connected📬 Get the noseyAF Dispatch → Subscribe here🏡 Grab the Good Neighbor Playbook → Download it freeMore ways to connectEmail: [email protected] on IG: @stephaniegrahamListen to more episodes: noseyaf.comSupport & FeedbacknoseyAF is listener-supported; thank you for being here. 💛🫶🏾⭐ Rate & Review the Show📣 Share noseyAF with a friend who needs to hear thisEpisode CreditsProduced, Hosted, and Edited by Stephanie GrahamLyrics: Queen LexInstrumental: Freddie Bam FamCover Art: Emma McGoldrick

Ep 126: From CFO to Venue Owner with Nadia S. Anderson of Lavender HillPart of noseyAF's 31 Days of Black Business series 🖤What do you do when you buy the building, follow every rule they gave you, and then they change the rules?Nadia S. Anderson left her CFO job at lunch one day and never went back. Ten years later she runs Virginia Grace Event Management and owns Lavender Hill, a 1934 brick colonial in Richmond she turned into an event venue with garden grounds and a coworking space. She's fighting her city right now over whether she's allowed to gather people outside on her own property.What We Talk AboutWhy she walked out that day, and what she heard that made it feel like permission rather than quittingHow a cake decorating class turned into catering, then event planning, then a buildingWhere the name Lavender Hill comes from, and what Black excellence and everyday luxury mean to herThe unexpected turn: she spent $3,000 on a fence and $600 restriping a parking lot to satisfy zoning rules that changed right after, and the fight she's in now started with one night of live music and a neighbor looking over the fenceIf you love second-act reinventions that don't skip the hard part, this episode is for you.Chapters:00:08 - Introduction to the 31 Days of Black Business03:58 - The Journey to Event Planning09:38 - The Journey to Embracing Uncertainty19:37 - Navigating Bureaucracy in Commercial Real Estate23:46 - Creating a Cozy Coworking Space35:23 - The Challenges of Zoning and Community Gatherings37:55 - The Importance of Community Spaces44:18 - Navigating Entrepreneurship Challenges🎉 Two anniversaries. Virginia Grace turned ten in December, and Lavender Hill turned five in June. Nadia has commemorative merchandise and a social membership in the works. Sign up for her newsletter to catch the details as they drop.All about Nadia S. AndersonYou're gonna love Nadia — she's a calm problem solver with a taste for everyday luxury. Equal parts creative and analytical, she's a CPA who provides comfortable space for folks to celebrate and collaborate with ease. Beyond Virginia Grace and Lavender Hill, she shares her accounting and management expertise with small business owners through The Anderson Accounting and Advising Group. She's a champion for Black-owned businesses, and she says she's noseyAF too.Things We MentionedLavender HillVirginia Grace Event ManagementThe Anderson Accounting and Advising GroupSupport Nadia's legal feesBoomerang (1993), and Eartha Kitt's Lavender HillBeats and Blockbusters, her outdoor music and movie series🙋🏾‍♀️ Nadia is looking for a land use attorney in Virginia. If that's you or someone in your network, reach out to her or email me at [email protected] and I'll connect you.This series is supported by Off the Grid, a podcast for small business owners who want to leave social media without losing their clients. Find them at offthegrid.fun 🖤Connect with Nadia S. AndersonIG: @experiencelavenderhillWebsite: Experience Lavender HillStay Connected📬 Get the noseyAF Dispatch → Subscribe here🏡 Grab the Good Neighbor Playbook → Download it freeMore ways to connectEmail: [email protected] on IG: @stephaniegrahamListen to more episodes: noseyaf.comSupport & FeedbacknoseyAF is listener-supported; thank you for being here. 💛🫶🏾⭐ Rate & Review the Show📣 Share noseyAF with a friend who needs to hear thisEpisode CreditsProduced, Hosted, and Edited by Stephanie GrahamLyrics: Queen LexInstrumental: Freddie Bam FamCover Art: Emma McGoldrick

Ep #124 — Closing the Health Literacy Gap with Dr. Madalyn McKnight of Project HealthvocatePart of noseyAF's 31 Days of Black Business series 🖤Did you know 9 out of 10 people don't understand basic health information, and that the fix might just be talking like real people talk?Dr. Madalyn McKnight built Project Healthvocate to close the gap between complex medical language and the way people actually speak, born out of her time in the Southern Poverty Law Center's Advocacy Institute. What started as a summer project has grown into a nonprofit, a podcast, a newsletter, and a published journal.What We Talk AboutHow a lifelong journaling habit (inspired by Moesha, if you're wondering) turned into a doctorate, a nonprofit, and a published author careerWhy Dr. Madalyn believes health literacy is a community issue, not just a patient problem, and how she's working to train providers in cultural competency, not just patients in self-advocacyThe unexpected turn: the sobering stat that only 18% of new doctors received culturally competent training last year, and what that means for Black maternal health outcomes in Mississippi specificallyIf you love origin stories rooted in real research and real stakes, this episode is for you.All about Dr. Madalyn McKnightYou're gonna love Dr. Madalyn. She's a data analyst, nonprofit founder and executive director, author, and media entrepreneur dedicated to advancing health, wellness, and community impact. As founder and executive director of Project Healthvocate and founder of MadalynMedia LLC, she combines data-driven insight, storytelling, and advocacy to educate and empower communities through her writing, speaking engagements, and media platforms.Things We MentionedProject Healthvocate, projecthealthvocate.com (free resources, a Substack newsletter, and provider training/CEU coursework in the works)Improving Perfection: A Black Girl's Guide to Being Better, Dr. Madalyn's journal/self-help book, available at Madalynmedia.com Amazon, and major retailersDo You Hear Yourself, Dr. Madalyn's podcast on health, wellness, and community impactSix Dimensions, a Mississippi-based organization Dr. Madalyn partners with to address health disparitiesChapters:00:07 - Introduction to the Black Business Series00:26 - Introduction to Project Health and Holistic Approaches15:15 - Advocating for Health Equity29:22 - Navigating the Challenges of Perfection43:20 - The Importance of Sleep and Wellness PracticesThis series is supported by Off the Grid, a podcast for small business owners who want to leave social media without losing their clients. Find them at offthegrid.fun 🖤Connect with Dr. Madalyn McKnightWebsite: Project Healthvocate (contact form for speaking requests)Website: Madalyn MediaProject Healthvocate on InstagramMadalyn Media on InstagramEmail Dr. MadalynStay Connected📬 Get the noseyAF Dispatch → Subscribe here🏡 Grab the Good Neighbor Playbook → Download it freeMore ways to connectEmail: [email protected] on IG: @stephaniegrahamListen to more episodes: noseyaf.comSupport & FeedbacknoseyAF is listener-supported; thank you for being here. 💛🫶🏾⭐ Rate & Review the Show📣 Share noseyAF with a friend who needs to hear thisEpisode CreditsProduced, Hosted, and Edited by Stephanie GrahamLyrics: Queen LexInstrumental: Freddie Bam FamCover Art: Emma McGoldrick

Ep #123 — From Camera Gift to Creative Empire with Rhonda Nunn of Just Keep Smiling ProductionsPart of noseyAF's 31 Days of Black Business series 🖤What happens when you refuse to pick just one lane — camera, director's chair, mic, or sewing pattern?Rhonda Nunn got her first camera from her dad in sixth grade, walked onto Chicago State's campus determined to be known as "the photographer," and built that into Just Keep Smiling Productions — an apparel line, photography and videography business, and independent film studio, all rooted in a philosophy she landed on one night in prayer at 18 years old.What We Talk AboutHow Just Keep Smiling started as a clothing line in 2013 before growing into photography, videography, and directing — and the three words that came to Rhonda during a moment of prayer that became the whole philosophyWhy Rhonda refuses to niche down, and how being a "one-stop shop" — from weddings to music videos to short films — actually funds her own creative projectsThe unexpected turn: Rhonda's honest talk about difficult clients, the wedding where she had to refund a couple after a hard drive dropped, and how she's learned to protect her time and ratesIf you love origin stories about turning a childhood gift into a full creative practice, this episode is for you.All about Rhonda NunnYou're gonna love Rhonda — she's a visionary creative from the South Side of Chicago who leads with faith and purpose. She's an independent director, producer, writer, photographer, videographer, and music producer, and the founder of Just Keep Smiling Productions, where she brings powerful stories to life. She's also an active professional in the film industry and a dedicated humanitarian, hosting an annual charity basketball event, Just Keep Giving Day, each November.Things We MentionedJust Keep Smiling Productions — photography, videography, directing, and apparelDaniel McKnight (The Dreamer Who Manifested Love) — Rhonda's short film, written, produced, and directed by her, starring Julian Williams and Bria Jackson, currently in post-production and on the film festival circuit. Filmed at Chemistry in Hyde Park.Just Keep Giving Day — Rhonda's annual charity basketball event held each November at Dalton Park DistrictChapters:00:12 - Introducing Rhonda Nunn00:26 - The Journey of Becoming a Photographer12:00 - Transitioning from Passion to Professionalism in Photography18:45 - Navigating Client Relationships in the Creative Industry23:30 - The Creative Journey: Embracing Versatility in Art29:21 - The Importance of Community Service33:59 - Building a Legacy: Reflections on Kindness and AuthenticityThis series is supported by Off the Grid, a podcast for small business owners who want to leave social media without losing their clients. Find them at offthegrid.fun 🖤Connect with Rhonda NunnBusiness: Just Keep Smiling ProductionsRhonda’s InstagramIG: @justkeepsmilingproductionsStay Connected📬 Get the noseyAF Dispatch → Subscribe here🏡 Grab the Good Neighbor Playbook → Download it freeMore ways to connectEmail: [email protected] on IG: @stephaniegrahamListen to more episodes: noseyaf.comSupport & FeedbacknoseyAF is listener-supported; thank you for being here. 💛🫶🏾⭐ Rate & Review the Show📣 Share noseyAF with a friend who needs to hear thisEpisode CreditsProduced, Hosted, and Edited by Stephanie GrahamLyrics: Queen LexInstrumental: Freddie Bam FamCover Art: Emma McGoldrick

Ep #122 — Building Community for Autism Moms with Sabrina Bonaparte of Monochromatic Mommies Part of noseyAF's 31 Days of Black Business series 🖤What do you do when you love your child fiercely, but no one around you understands what your life actually looks like now?Sabrina Bonaparte built Monochromatic Mommies — a nonprofit supporting mothers of children with autism and special needs — after her son Aiden was diagnosed at age two and she realized there were plenty of resources for him, but almost none for her. What started as a Facebook post looking for other moms who understood has grown into a nonprofit spanning 15 states, with a recent grant to match.What We Talk AboutHow a Facebook group of 25 moms turned into a nonprofit, and the story behind the name — pulled straight from a dream and the surprising biology of flamingosWhy "maternal wellness" looks completely different depending on each family's needs, and how Sabrina works to integrate rest into moms' lives in five-minute increments, not spa daysThe unexpected turn: Sabrina's own burnout story, including the panic attacks that led her to a psychiatrist, and how she's learned to set — and defend — real boundariesIf you love origin stories that don't skip the scary parts, this episode is for you.All about Sabrina BonaparteWe love Sabrina and you will too! She's a storyteller, creative visionary, and founder of Monochromatic Mommies, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting mothers raising children with autism and special needs. Her work centers on maternal wellness, healing through storytelling, and creating spaces for women to feel connected, empowered, and understood — turning her own experience with her son Aiden's diagnosis into a mission to make sure caregivers get care too.Things We MentionedMonochromatic Mommies — monochromaticmommies.com (free to join; donation and partnership info on the site)The Spectrum Story Series — Sabrina's storytelling initiative for moms to share their journeys (currently being moved to the blog section of the website)Chapters00:09 — Celebrating Black Business Month02:08 — The Birth of Monochromatic Mommies09:43 — Supporting Mothers in Need15:27 — Establishing Boundaries and Community Support19:31 — The Need for Community Support and Expansion25:41 — Navigating Maternal Burnout35:13 — The Importance of Storytelling in Motherhood37:04 — Understanding Autism: Awareness and Diagnosis44:29 — Navigating Sensory Needs and Early Development46:14 — The Vision for Monochromatic MommiesThis series is supported by Off the Grid, a podcast for small business owners who want to leave social media without losing their clients. Find them at offthegrid.fun 🖤Connect with Sabrina BonaparteWebsite: monochromaticmommies.comIG: @monochromaticmommiesStay Connected 📬 Get the noseyAF Dispatch → Subscribe here 🏡 Grab the Good Neighbor Playbook → Download it freeMore ways to connectEmail: [email protected] on IG: @stephaniegrahamListen to more episodes: noseyaf.comSupport & Feedback noseyAF is listener-supported; thank you for being here. 💛🫶🏾 ⭐ Rate & Review the Show 📣 Share noseyAF with a friend who needs to hear thisEpisode Credits Produced, Hosted, and Edited by Stephanie Graham Lyrics: Queen Lex Instrumental: Freddie Bam Fam Cover Art: Emma McGoldrick

Ep #121 — From Coloring Books to Culture Trips with Tiffany Heard of Hues of AfricaPart of noseyAF's 31 Days of Black Business series 🖤What if the way we learn about Africa has been broken this whole time — and the fix is a coloring book?Tiffany Heard built Hues of Africa, coloring and activity books plus culture immersion trips after a six-week study abroad trip to Ghana left her crying because she didn't want to leave. What started as one book has grown into three, with group trips to Ghana, Tanzania, and Thailand and nearly 100 travelers taken across the world.What We Talk AboutWhy Tiffany chose coloring books, not a novel, as her entry point for teaching African history and culture — and how her social work background shaped that choiceHow a chance conversation in a Target parking lot turned into five years of hosting group trips to Ghana, Tanzania, and ThailandThe unexpected turn: what a naming ceremony actually feels like, and why Tiffany believes you should never host a trip somewhere you haven't been yourselfIf you love origin stories that turn a personal obsession into a business, this episode is for you.All about Tiffany HeardYou're gonna love Tiffany; she's a proud Howard University graduate, author, social worker, and world traveler who has explored more than 20 countries. As the founder of Hues of Africa LLC, she creates books and experiences that use coloring, culture, and conversation to inspire learning, connection, and exploration. She also speaks at schools and organizations about culture, travel, and entrepreneurship.Things We MentionedHues of Africa - (books: Hues of Africa, Hues of HBCUs, and the newest release, Hues of Love, which pairs coloring and conversation cards to talk through love, grief, self-love, and more)Culture immersion trips: Tanzania (late October), Thailand (November 9), Ghana (December 28–January 5)Sweet Tiffys- Tiffany's personal travel pageInternational Interludes Tiffany's podcast on love and dating abroadChapters00:07 — Introduction to Black Business Month03:31 — The Impact of Travel on Cultural Understanding11:22 — Cultural Immersion and the Spirit of Travel20:19 — Misconceptions About Group Travel Costs27:02 — The Journey of Hosting Trips34:22 — The Journey of Entrepreneurship42:40 — Navigating Dietary Preferences on TripsThis series is supported by Off the Grid, a podcast for small business owners who want to leave social media without losing their clients. Find them at offthegrid.fun 🖤Connect with Tiffany HeardIG: @hues_of_africaTravel page IG: Sweet TiffysWebsite: huesofafrica.comStay Connected 📬 Get the noseyAF Dispatch → Subscribe here 🏡 Grab the Good Neighbor Playbook → Download it freeMore ways to connectEmail: [email protected] on IG: @stephaniegrahamListen to more episodes: noseyaf.comSupport & FeedbacknoseyAF is listener-supported; thank you for being here. 💛🫶🏾 ⭐ Rate & Review the Show📣 Share noseyAF with a friend who needs to hear thisEpisode CreditsProduced, Hosted, and Edited by Stephanie GrahamLyrics: Queen LexInstrumental: Freddie Bam FamCover Art: Emma McGoldrick

Ep #120 — Building a Green Space for Youth with Ted Gloster of The Forgin InitiativePart of noseyAF's 31 Days of Black Business series 🖤What happens when you come home during a pandemic and realize the community that raised you is stuck in survival mode?Ted Gloster left Detroit's District 2 in 2018 and came back during the pandemic — and instead of leaving again, he built The Forgin Initiative, a green space and after-school program teaching young people economic literacy, civic engagement, and emotional intelligence. This is a conversation about healing yourself before you can lead anyone else, and what it actually takes to build something from nothing.What We Talk AboutWhy coming home during the pandemic forced Ted to confront generational poverty, financial illiteracy, and a disconnect from ancestral history in his own communityHow he built the Forgin Initiative from a 2017 idea into a physical green space and after-school program with three pillars: economic literacy, civic engagement, and emotional intelligenceThe unexpected turn: Ted's raw account of the personal breakdown that led him to therapy, prayer, and healing — and why he believes leaders can't pour into a community without doing that inner work firstIf you love origin stories that don't skip the scary parts, this episode is for you.Chapters:00:07 - Introduction to Black Business Month04:35 - Understanding Community and Identity13:10 - Healing and Growth: A Journey to Self-Discovery25:01 - Challenges of Building Community Programs33:40 - Understanding Leadership and Community BuildingAll about Ted GlosterTed is our new best friend(he never confirmed this though LOL) he's a multidisciplinary entrepreneur: investor, lifestyle brand designer, mentor, and opportunity economist, among other things. He's in year three of running The Forgin Initiative, and what sets the program apart isn't just its diverse, hands-on approach to teaching economics — it's that it stays youth-led, holding both the organization and the young people it serves accountable to that principle.Things We MentionedThe Forgin Initiative — theforgin.org (application for fall after-school programming opening soon)The Forgin Neighborhood Coalition green space — 15720 Alden St, Detroit, MI 48238Sevir — Ted's clothing brandThis series is supported by Off the Grid, a podcast + resource for small business owners who want to leave social media without losing their clients. Find them at offthegrid.fun 🖤Connect with Ted GlosterIG: @theforgininitiative or @theforgin_ncWebsite: theforgin.orgStay Connected📬 Get the noseyAF Dispatch → Subscribe here🏡 Grab the Good Neighbor Playbook → Download it freeMore ways to connectEmail: [email protected] on IG: @stephaniegrahamListen to more episodes: noseyaf.comSupport & FeedbacknoseyAF is listener-supported; thank you for being here. 💛🫶🏾⭐ Rate & Review the Show📣 Share noseyAF with a friend who needs to hear thisEpisode CreditsProduced, Hosted, and Edited by Stephanie GrahamLyrics: Queen LexInstrumental: Freddie Bam FamCover Art: Emma McGoldrick

Ep #119 — From Loss to Home Care Business with Que Maxwell of Two Caring HeartsPart of noseyAF's 31 Days of Black Business series 🖤What do you do with your grief when you couldn't save the people you loved most?Que Maxwell built 2Caring Hearts — a home care and wellness business serving elderly, disabled, and post-hospital clients — after losing her father and her husband suddenly, within years of each other, and feeling the weight of not being able to do anything for them. Now she and her sister run a home care agency that's grown to 14 families in just five months, built entirely on word of mouth.What We Talk AboutHow losing her dad at 13 and her husband years later turned personal grief into a calling to advocate for the elderly and disabledWhy she says "get a mentor" is the single best piece of advice for anyone entering home care — and the trial-and-error year it took her to learn that lessonThe unexpected turn: the client case that taught her to strengthen her intake questionnaire — and why she says families should never lie on the formIf you love origin stories that don't skip the scary parts, this episode is for you.All about Que MaxwellYou're gonna love Que! Que Maxwell is an entrepreneur, wellness leader, minister, and founder dedicated to helping women grow spiritually, personally, and professionally. Through her businesses, mentorship, and the Fly Girls Pray community, she empowers others to walk in faith, purpose, and resilience while navigating life’s challenges with grace and determinationThings We Mentioned2Caring Hearts Home Health — serving the Tri-County area of South Carolina (Berkeley, Dorchester, Charleston, Lexington counties)Building While Bleeding — Que's book, first of a three-part series, available on Amazon/KDP and Barnes & NobleHome care funding options: long-term care policies, MCOs like UnitedHealth/Humana, Medicaid waiver programs, and VA aid & attendance benefits for veteransChapters:00:08 - Launching the Black Business Series01:51 - The Journey of Two Caring Hearts08:52 - Leading a Team: Insights from Entrepreneurship22:56 - Transitioning into Caregiving28:41 - Balancing Work and Family LifeThis series is supported by Off the Grid, a podcast for small business owners who want to leave social media without losing their clients. Find them at offthegrid.fun 🖤Connect with Que MaxwellIG: Que_da_coachWebsite: https://tchhomehealth.com/Que’s Book Building While BleedingStay Connected📬 Get the noseyAF Dispatch → Subscribe here🏡 Grab the Good Neighbor Playbook → Download it freeMore ways to connectEmail: [email protected] on IG: @stephaniegrahamListen to more episodes: noseyaf.comSupport & FeedbacknoseyAF is listener-supported; thank you for being here. 💛🫶🏾⭐ Rate & Review the Show📣 Share noseyAF with a friend who needs to hear thisEpisode CreditsProduced, Hosted, and Edited by Stephanie GrahamLyrics: Queen LexInstrumental: Freddie Bam FamCover Art: Emma McGoldrick

Ep #118 — "Start With What You Have" Denzel Turner on Building Black Fridays PodcastPart of noseyAF's 31 Days of Black Business series 🖤What if the podcast you started on Zoom during 2020 became the reason you're now running black-owned business bus tours through Detroit?Denzel Turner built Black Fridays — a podcast with 200+ conversations with Black entrepreneurs — out of a need to get civically engaged after George Floyd's murder, and it's since grown into brand deals, a coaching business, and a literal bus full of people spending money at Black-owned shops. This is the episode that kicked off the whole 31 Days series — Denzel is the one who put me ontoBlack Business Month in the first place.What We Talk AboutHow Denzel went from doing Instagram Live in 2020 to building a 200+ episode podcast library, starting with nothing but Zoom and a free audio hostWhy he started the Black Friday Bus Tour — a day-after-Thanksgiving event that's routed $7,000+ directly into Black-owned businesses across three toursThe unexpected turn: his "cheat code" theory of podcasting — that the show itself is marketing, and the real business lives on the back end (coaching, consulting, brand deals, speaking)If you love origin stories that start with "I just used what I had," this episode is for you.All about Denzel TurnerYou're gonna love Denzel he's a Detroit-rooted, self-taught, community-first media guy. He's been podcasting for almost six years, interviewed 200+ Black business owners, and still edits, hosts, and grows Black Fridays with the same "start with what you have" mentality he started with.Things We MentionedBlack Fridays Podcast — blackfridayspod.comThe Black Friday Bus Tour (Detroit, held day after Thanksgiving, Feb, and April)Glamaholics (Detroit-based beauty brand founded by Mia Ray)My Fav Episode of Black Fridays Podcast (so far!)Chapters:00:11 - Introduction to Black Business Month06:07 - Spotlighting Black Entrepreneurship08:35 - Exploring Black-Owned Businesses: The Birth of Black Fridays20:08 - The Importance of Marketing and Self-Promotion for Business Owners27:04 - Leveraging Technology for Business Growth29:40 - The Business of Podcasting37:26 - The Importance of Black-Owned Businesses in Our Communities41:10 - Community Building and Podcasting InsightsConnect with Denzel TurnerIG: @blackfridayspodcastWebsite: blackfridayspod.comYouTube: Black Fridays PodcastnoseyAF Black Business Series is supported by:Off the Grid- grow your business with no social media, y’all!! Thanks for supporting the project! Off the GridStay Connected :📬 Get the noseyAF Dispatch → Subscribe here 🏡Grab the Good Neighbor Playbook → Download it freeMore ways to connectEmail: [email protected] on IG: @stephaniegrahamListen to more episodes: noseyaf.comSupport & FeedbacknoseyAF is listener-supported — thank you for being here. 💛 ⭐Rate & Review the Show📣 Share noseyAF with a friend who needs to hear thisEpisode Credits: Produced and Hosted by Stephanie GrahamLyrics: Queen Lex | Instrumental: Freddie Bam FamCover Art: Emma McGoldrick

This episode was recorded live at Lumpen Radio on Saturday, July 11, 2026Ep 117: More Than a Movie: Building Community Through Black Film with Troy and Chi of Black Film Club CollectiveWhat happens when a love of movies turns into a movement?This week, Stephanie sits down with Troy and Chi of Black Film Club Collective, a Chicago-based platform creating spaces for people to gather, watch films, and have the conversations that happen after the credits roll. From apartment screenings to citywide events, they share how film became a catalyst for community, connection, and cultural preservation.What We Talk AboutHow Black Film Club Collective grew from living room conversations into a thriving cultural communityWhy film creates a unique space for connection, dialogue, and deeper understanding across culturesHow screenings became a way to rebuild community after the pandemicThe power of discussing movies instead of just watching themWhat makes a film "Black" — even when people don't immediately think of it that wayHow their Fine Lines exhibition evolved into a larger storytelling and archival projectWhy community, memory, and family stories matter in preserving neighborhood historyThe unexpected joy of becoming artists, curators, and filmmakers along the wayIf you love film, culture, community building, or thoughtful conversations, this episode is for you.Chapters00:00 - Introduction to noseyAF02:18 - The Origins of Black Film Club Collective20:23 - Exploring the House of the Collective25:56 - The Evolution of Screenings and Audience Engagement32:24 - Introduction to Fine Lines Project44:12 - The Journey of Artistic Discovery47:48 - Transitioning from Artists to Curators54:43 - Discussion on Black FilmsAll about Troy & ChiYou're gonna love Troy and Chi, they're thoughtful, joyful, and deeply committed to creating spaces where people can gather around Black storytelling. As the co-founders of Black Film Club Collective, they've built a Chicago-based platform centered on screenings, exhibitions, conversations, and cultural programming that celebrates Black film and visual culture. Their work brings together audiences, artists, filmmakers, and community members to engage with stories that inspire connection, reflection, and dialogue.Things We MentionedBlack Film Club CollectiveFine Lines ExhibitionChicago Film SymposiumLove JonesMississippi MasalaAtlanticsBanel & AdamaMy Father's ShadowLove BrooklynSinnersHouse of the Collective (gotta be picked for this link , i dont even have this plug yall) LOL!Connect with Black Film Club CollectiveIG: @blackfilmclubcltvWebsite: https://blkfilmclub.comStay Connected📬 Get the noseyAF Dispatch — all the month's episodes, straight to your inbox once a month. → Subscribe here🏡 Grab the Good Neighbor Playbook — practical ways to build stronger connections in your neighborhood. → Download it freenoseyAF is a project of Stephanie Graham's art practice — photography, film, and documentary work rooted in community, culture, and everyday stories. → See the workMore ways to connectEmail: [email protected] on IG: @stephaniegrahamListen to more episodes: noseyaf.comSupport & FeedbacknoseyAF is listener-supported — thank you for being here. 💛⭐ Rate & Review the Show📣 Share noseyAF with a friend who needs to hear thisEpisode CreditsLyrics: Queen Lex | Instrumental: Freddie Bam Fam | Cover Art: Emma McGoldrick

Thank you for listening to noseyAF! So happy to have your ears!Join the noseyAF Dispatch 📬At the end of the month, your inbox gets a little happier all the month's noseyAF episodes sent straight to you.Ep. 116: Detroit WiFi Energy: Building 31 Days of Black BusinessSummaryI'm checking in from Detroit with a little voice note from the middle of things.In this episode, I share an update on 31 Days of Black Business, the audio series I'm producing for Black Business Month featuring Black entrepreneurs from around the world. We talk about what it's like to build a large creative project as a team of one, what I've learned from interviewing business owners, and how a power outage, scheduling hiccups, and a trip to Detroit have all become part of the process.I also share reflections from the MDW Summit, where artists, organizers, and cultural workers from across the Midwest gathered to exchange ideas, build community, and imagine what's next.If you've ever wondered what happens behind the scenes of a creative project—or what it looks like to keep going when life keeps life-ing—this one's for you.What We Talk About:An update on 31 Days of Black BusinessProducing, scheduling, editing, and fundraising as a one-person teamHow Threads unexpectedly helped me find participantsLessons from the MDW Summit in DetroitMy ongoing Prom Season photography projectPower outages, missed interviews, and creative problem-solvingWhy marketing your work matters just as much as making itThings We Mentioned:31 Days of Black BusinessMDW Summit (Midwest artist convening)ThreadsBlack Business MonthSponsor Shoutout 💖Interested in sponsoring 31 Days of Black Business?I'm currently looking for sponsors who want to connect with a community of artists, entrepreneurs, and curious listeners. Reach out if you'd like to learn more.noseyaf.com/31dayspartnerMore Ways to ConnectEmail: [email protected] to the noseyAF DispatchCheck out my workFollow me on Instagram @stephaniegrahamListen to more episodesSupport & FeedbacknoseyAF is listener-supported—thank you for being here. 💛⭐ Rate & Review the Show — it gives the show street cred and helps new listeners find the show.📣 Share noseyAF with a friend who needs to hear this.Episode CreditsProduced, Hosted, and Edited by Me, Stephanie Graham (teaching myself audio editing!)Lyrics: Queen LexInstrumental: Freddie Bam FamCover Art: Emma McGoldrick

Introducing: The Art Biz with Alison StanfieldToday's feed drop comes from a podcast that has had a meaningful impact on how I think about building a sustainable art practice: The Art Biz with Alison Stanfield.If you've ever struggled to title your artwork—or wondered whether titles matter at all—this conversation is for you.In this episode, Alison Stanfield sits down with artist, writer, and educator Fran Gardner to explore why titling artwork is much more than an administrative task. Together they discuss how titles help artists understand their own work, deepen their connection to the creative process, and communicate more effectively with viewers.One idea that stayed with me is Fran's belief that a title is the first step toward a work's independence. Long after a piece leaves the studio, its title continues to carry meaning, offering viewers a way into the work when the artist isn't there to explain it.As someone who loves titles and thinks of them as containers that give shape to ideas, I knew I had to share this conversation with the NoseyAF community.In this episode:Why titling artwork is a creative practice, not an afterthoughtHow titles help artists better understand their own workThe relationship between writing and visual artDeveloping a personal process for naming artworkWhy artists should resist outsourcing titles to AI or social mediaThe role titles play in communication, marketing, and audience connectionHow thoughtful titling can strengthen an artist's professional practiceNotable Quotes"A title is the first step toward your artwork's independence.""The writing is your studio work.""Your artwork is going to have a life beyond you."About Alyson StanfieldAlyson Stanfield has spent more than two decades helping artists build sustainable, professional creative careers. Through coaching, classes, writing, and The Art Biz podcast, she helps artists develop the systems, confidence, and visibility needed to thrive.Links referenced in this episode:artbizsuccess.com/essentialsartbizsuccess.com/spotlightfrangardnerart.comFran Gardner's Artists Will Find a Way book series affliate linkChapters:00:08 - Introduction to the Podcast05:27 - The Importance of Titling in Art18:26 - The Process of Creating and Understanding Art28:20 - Understanding Personal Symbols in Art34:51 - The Importance of Titling in Art44:41 - The Interconnection of Creativity and TeachingConnect with Alyson:Website: artbizsuccess.comPodcast: https://artbizsuccess.com/podcasts/Connect with Fran:Website: frangardnerart.comInstagram: @frangardnerart

Ep #114: Sheri Rush — a life in art, big paintings, and staying creatively alive (noseyAF Classic)Summary This one's for every artist who's ever wondered how to keep the fire going — through decades, through doubt, through life just getting in the way. Chicago-based painter Sheri Rush has been making art since childhood, and she brings a rare honesty to this conversation. We get into what it actually looks like to sustain a creative practice long-term, the residencies that changed her, how nature shows up in her work, and what's coming with her enchanted forest exhibition.Chapters:00:39 - Introduction to Memorial Day Weekend10:33 - Exploring the Artistic Journey19:40 - Transitioning Artistic Perspectives28:06 - The Impact of Art Residencies on Artistic Growth40:15 - The Upcoming Art Show and Its Themes45:34 - Exploring Liminality and Transformation in ArtWhat We Talk AboutHow Sheri has kept a painting practice alive from childhood all the way through a full careerWhat artist residencies actually do for you — and why they're more than just a studio vacationHer upcoming exhibition centered around enchanted forests (yes, it's as magical as it sounds)The art of taking critique without losing your voiceWorking big: the logistics and the feeling of large-scale paintingAll about Sheri Rush You're gonna love Sheri — she's a Chicago-based painter and total force of nature who's been deep in her craft her whole life. Her work lives at the intersection of landscape, memory, and big feelings on even bigger canvases.Sponsor Shoutout 💖 This episode is brought to you by Artist Admin HourConnect with SheriInstagram: @sherilrushWebsite: sherirush.comhttps://www.thomasmccormick.com/More ways to connect:Subscribe to the noseyAF DispatchCheck out my work: http://missgraham.comFollow me on Instagram: @stephaniegrahamListen to more episodes: http://noseyaf.comSupport & Feedback noseyAF is listener-supported — thank you for being here. 💛 ⭐ Rate & Review the Show — it gives the show street cred and helps new listeners find it 📣 Share noseyAF with a friend who needs to hear this: https://www.noseyaf.com/follow/Episode CreditsProduced, Hosted, and Edited by Me, Stephanie Graham (teaching myself audio editing!) Lyrics: Queen Lex Instrumental: Freddie Bam Fam Cover Art: Emma McGoldrick

Thank you for listening to noseyAF! So happy to have your ears!Join the noseyAF Dispatch 📬 At the end of the month, your inbox gets a little happier — all the month's noseyAF episodes sent straight to you. → Subscribe to the noseyAF DispatchThis conversation was recorded Live at Lumpen Radio on Saturday May 9th, 2026Ep #113: Doing Both: Art, Film, and Building Worlds with Aaliyah ShaeSummaryThis episode is for everyone who's ever looked at a film set and wondered who put that there, and why it matters. Aaliyah Shae is a Chicago-based production designer, photographer, and painter whose work is all about building worlds that feel lived in and deeply human. We talk about production design, what it actually means to create a "false reality" on screen, and how the small details, a hair tie on a nightstand, height markers on a door frame, are what make a story real. We also dig into Aaliyah's community work with the People's Panther Party, a Pilsen-based mutual aid organization she helped launch just before Halloween, and what it looks like when art and activism melt into one.Chapters00:00 — Introduction to the Episode00:36 — Exploring Design and Creativity20:33 — The Art of Storytelling Through Design33:55 — Community Engagement and Activism53:16 — People's Panther Party Updates & Free People's Press LaunchWhat We Talk AboutHow Aaliyah figured out she could do both : design and film and why "pick a lane" is not the only way to build a creative careerWhat production design actually is and why every single thing on a film set has been accounted for (yes, even the books on the shelf — don't judge the books)"Life layers" — the small details that make a set feel real — hair ties, kids' drawings on the fridge, height markers on door framesHow travel sparked her design eye — from a high school architecture program in Kentucky to France and Barcelona with her French classThe film Portrait of a Lady on Fire — Aaliyah's go-to visual inspiration and why she says just Google the imagesWorking in indie film vs. studio projects — and why she encourages every filmmaker to just write something and design the heck out of a roomHow the People's Panther Party got started — collective exhaustion, a plane ride back to Chicago the day before Halloween, and the realization that some kids were going to sit inside while everyone else trick-or-treatedWhat they've done in just a few months — reverse candy drive, holiday grocery deliveries to 30 families, a bi-weekly grocery program, a grant win, and now the launch of Free People's Press, a quarterly community newspaperHer advice for anyone who wants to start showing up for their community — it starts with listening, not with having it all figured outPilsen as a neighborhood — why she loves it and what it gets right about communityThe crossover between film and activism — and how craft nights became a sneaky good way to build communityThings We MentionedPeople's Panther Party — Pilsen-based mutual aid organizationFree People's Press — their new quarterly community newspaper, available at Foxglove Coffee in PilsenFoxglove Coffee — woman-owned coffee shop in PilsenAaliyah Shae's WebsitePortrait of a Lady on Fire — French queer period film, Palme d'Or winner at Cannes; Aaliyah's visual inspo pickCUSP — Chicago United Solidarity Project — organization that helped People's Panther Party secure a grantPilsen Arts & Community House — one of the few free creative spaces in Chicago Aaliyah mentionsLiberate Your Business — book by Becky MollenkampAll about... Aaliyah ShaeYou're gonna love Aaliyah Shae — she's a world-builder in the truest sense. A Chicago-based production designer, set decorator, photographer, and painter, Aaliyah creates spaces on screen that feel like real people actually live in them. She also co-founded the People's Panther Party, a Pilsen-based mutual aid org doing bi-weekly grocery deliveries, community events, and now a neighborhood newspaper — all born out of the belief that you don't have to be a professional organizer to show up for your community. She started making outfits out of paper for her little brother. She hasn't really stopped creating since.Connect with Aaliyah ShaeInstagram: @aaliyahshaeWebsite: aaliyahshae.comPeople's Panther Party Instagram: @peoplespantherpartyPeople's Panther Party Website: peoplespantherparty.orgMore ways to connectEmail: [email protected] to the noseyAF DispatchCheck out my workFollow me on Instagram @stephaniegrahamListen to more episodesSupport & FeedbacknoseyAF is listener-supported — thank you for being here. 💛⭐ Rate & Review the Show — it gives the show street cred and helps new listeners find the show📣 Share noseyAF with a friend who needs to hear thisEpisode CreditsProduced, Hosted, and Edited by Me, Stephanie GrahamLyrics: Queen LexInstrumental: Freddie Bam FamCover Art: Emma McGoldrick

Thank you for listening to noseyAF! So happy to have your ears!Join the noseyAF Dispatch 📬 At the end of the month, your inbox gets a little happier — all the month's noseyAF episodes sent straight to you. → Subscribe to the noseyAF DispatchEp #112: Mutual Aid Isn't Charity with Eric Von Haynes (noseyAF Classic)This is a noseyAF classic — a conversation originally recorded in 2024 with Eric Von Haynes that was edited and reshaped to air live on Lumpen Radio (WLPN Chicago 105.5 FM). Eric is a printmaker, designer, publisher, and co-founder of Love Fridge Chicago, and he brings real clarity to what mutual aid actually means — and what it doesn't. We dig into how it differs from charity, why reciprocity is the whole point, and how his community fridge network Love Fridge Chicago puts those values into practice across the city. Plus we get into his art, why print is a political act, and why he believes the strongest groups — not individuals — survive.What We Talk AboutWhat mutual aid actually is and what it's NOT (hint: posting a Venmo link is probably just fundraising)Reciprocity as the heart of real community care, and why transparency mattersHow Love Fridge Chicago works, what it takes to maintain a fridge site, and why community buy-in is everythingThe difference between mutual aid and charity — and why Love Fridge isn't a nonprofitHorizontality, anarchist philosophy, and why Eric believes no one should be a billionairePhotographing people receiving food and why that's straight-up otheringPrintmaking as a democratic and political act — especially as a Black man in AmericaFlatlands Press and why getting ideas into physical multiples mattersThat time a yoga studio started leaving flyers at a fridge site 🙄Things We MentionedLove Fridge ChicagoFlatlands PressMutual Aid by Dean Spade (affiliate link)Artist Admin Hour (Stephanie's sponsor shoutout)Tiger Strikes Asteroid Chicago (where Eric had a exhibition)The Joan Flasch Artist Book CollectionChapters:00:00 - Introduction to Eric Von Haynes and Love Fridge02:21 - The Power of Mutual Aid20:29 - Exploring Mutual Aid and Community Support29:58 - The Importance of Community Engagement in Resource Distribution38:26 - Exploring the Differences Between Mutual Aid and Charity49:50 - Creating Diverse Spaces for Black VoicesAll about... Eric Von HaynesYou're gonna love Eric he's a printmaker, designer, publisher, community builder, and co-founder of Love Fridge Chicago. He's also the president of the Chicago Printers Guild and the founder of Flatlands Press, where he creates and publishes artist books and printed matter for artists he believes should exist in the world. His work is rooted in anarchist philosophy, horizontality, and a deep belief that the strongest groups survive not the strongest individuals.Sponsor Shoutout 💖 This episode is brought to you by Artist Admin Hour.It's a weekly Zoom session (Wednesdays, 7–9 pm Central) for artists to tackle the admin stuff they've been putting off — grant apps, residency applications, budgets, invoices — with body doubling, structure, and real community. Plans start at $65–$95/month, but if that's not doable, email Stephanie because getting this done matters. Check them out here: artistadminhour.comConnect with Eric Von HaynesWebsite: flatlandspress.comLove Fridge Chicago: thelovefridge.comEric’s Instagram: @manny_suenaMore ways to connect:Email: [email protected] to the noseyAF DispatchCheck out my workFollow me on Instagram @stephaniegrahamListen to more episodesSupport & FeedbacknoseyAF is listener-supported — thank you for being here. 💛⭐ Rate & Review the Show — it gives the show street cred and helps new listeners find the show📣 Share noseyAF with a friend who needs to hear thisEpisode CreditsProduced, Hosted, and Edited by Me, Stephanie Graham (teaching myself audio editing!)Lyrics: Queen LexInstrumental: Freddie Bam FamCover Art: Emma McGoldrick

This episode is a quick update about what’s coming next for noseyAF.In August, I’m launching a new series called 31 Days of Black Business — 31 conversations with Black business owners throughout Black Business Month. The idea came after hearing about the month from Denzell Turner of the Black Fridays podcast and getting inspired to try an everyday podcast challenge.Throughout August, I’ll be talking with Black business owners about how their businesses got started, what they do, and how we can support them.If you’re a Black business owner (or know one), applications to be part of the series are open through April 30.In the meantime, the feed may look a little different while I work on recording and producing the series. Expect a few solo episodes and occasional feed drops while I get everything ready.Thanks for listening, and I can’t wait to share this series with you.Apply for 31 Days of Black Business HereCheck out Denzell Turners Podcast "Black Fridays'Chapters:00:13 - Season Seven Reflection00:30 - 31 Days of Black Business: A New Series01:07 - Launching a New Initiative for Black Business Month02:33 - Transitioning to New Content02:53 - Reflections and Feedback03:07 - Farewell and Future ConversationsMore ways to connect:Email: [email protected] to the noseyAF DispatchCheck out my workFollow me on Instagram @stephaniegrahamListen to more episodes

Ep 110: What We Owe Each Other: Season 7 Reflections (22 Conversations Later)SummarySeason 7 of noseyAF is officially wrapped — and what a season it’s been. In this reflection episode, host Stephanie Graham looks back on 22 conversations with artists, activists, filmmakers, educators, and community builders and the themes that kept showing up again and again.From redefining success and practicing care as infrastructure, to documenting the people and stories that matter, this season became something bigger than expected. In this episode, Stephanie reflects on the biggest lessons from Season 7, shares how these conversations sustained her through a difficult year, and explores why the season ultimately became a meditation on what we owe each other — in art, community, and creative life.What We Talk AboutThe five big themes that emerged across 22 conversations this seasonRedefining success and building creative lives on your own termsWhy care is structural — not softArchives, storytelling, and who gets rememberedEnvironmental grief, creativity, and community workThe messy middle of making art and showing up anywayWhat hosting Season 7 taught me during a challenging yearChapters: • 00:11 - Closing Season Seven • 01:24 - Reflecting on a Challenging Year • 10:50 - Exploring the Themes of the Season • 15:27 - The Importance of Care in Community • 24:52 - Theme Exploration: What We Owe Each Other • 26:59 - Reflecting on the JourneyThings We MentionedLumpen Radio — 105.5 FM ChicagoThe Change Collective FellowshipAvalon Park Film House (the micro cinema project I'm dreaming up)Black Business Month (coming up in Season 9 👀)More ways to connect:Email: [email protected] to the noseyAF DispatchCheck out my workFollow me on Instagram @stephaniegrahamListen to more episodesSupport & FeedbacknoseyAF is listener-supported — thank you for being here. 💛⭐ Rate & Review the Show to give the show street cred and helps new listeners find the show.📣 Share noseyAF with a friend who needs to hear thisEpisode CreditsProduced, Hosted, and Edited by Me, Stephanie Graham (teaching myself audio editing!)Lyrics: Queen LexInstrumental: Freddie Bam FamCover Art: Emma McGoldrickSegment Music By: Matrika “**On Vacation:”**Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/matrika/on-vacation License code: QGILSAQGSFMCX3KU

Ep #109 : Neighbors, Strangers, and the Stories Between Us with Ann RosenSummary:It's our season finale, y'all! 🎉 We made it to the end of Season 7 of noseyAF — AND we crossed 100 episodes! I still can't believe it. None of this happens without you, so thank you for being nosey right along with me all season long. I am so grateful. In this episode, I sit down with Ann Rosen, a Brooklyn-based portrait photographer and activist whose decades-long practice sits at the intersection of art, social justice, and human dignity. We talk about her evolution from abstract portraiture to her current project On Being Seen — an ongoing photography and writing workshop series with women in New York City shelters and transitional housing programs. Anne opens up about her own personal struggles, including surviving addiction and emotional trauma, and how those experiences shaped her deep empathy for the women she photographs. If you've ever wondered how art can truly serve a community — and what it means to really see someone — this one's for you.Topics discussed:Ann's artistic journey from abstract photography to intimate portrait work, including her In the Presence of Family series documenting diverse NYC families at street fairsThe On Being Seen project — photographing and collecting the stories of women in NYC shelters, and how the diptych format combines portraits with the subjects' own handwritingAnn's personal history with addiction and trauma, and how it informs her empathy-driven approach to social justice photographyThe ethics and logistics of photographing vulnerable populations — model releases, privacy, and consentWhat photography can do that other forms of activism can't, and advice for photographers wanting to do community-centered workChapters:• 00:24 - End of an Era: Season Finale• 01:26 - The Journey of Ann Rosen: From Painting to Photography• 15:40 - Empathy Through Photography: A New Perspective• 28:33 - Understanding Homelessness and Resilience• 37:51 - The Journey of Recovery and Art• 45:50 - The Importance of Community and Neighborly RelationsAll About Ann: Ann Rosen (b. Brooklyn) is a New Jersey-based artist known for her social justice projects using portrait photography as a tool for empowerment and empathy. In Rosen’s current project, Being Seen, she teaches art and photography workshops with women from marginalized communities such as shelters, formerly homeless Veterans, recovering addicts, formerly incarcerated.Rosen graduated from SUNY at Buffalo (BFA) and the Visual Studies Workshop (MFA), studying with Nathan Lyons, Joan Lyons and John Wood. Her influences are stark B&W and color portraits by Irving Penn, Paul Strand, and Catherine Opie.Resources mentioned in this episode:Housing Plus — organization supporting women experiencing homelessness and those transitioning out of incarcerationFive Myles Gallery, BrooklynCEPA Gallery, Buffalo, NY — upcoming solo show in NovemberBrooklyn Arts Council — grant funding source for Ann's workVisual Studies Workshop, Rochester, NY — Ann's graduate schoolNoteworthy quotes from this episode:"I think that everybody has the right to be seen and everyone has the right to be respected.""Photography is a universal language. You don't need to know English or any other language.""I realized I was giving to others what I had experienced the joy of gaining after a traumatic lifestyle.""Nobody wants to be sitting on the street. But the gestalt of seeing a person who is homeless — they're going to harm me? No, they're not going to harm me."Connect with AnnInstagram: @annrosenphotographyWebsite: annrosen.comConnect with StephanieInstagram: @stephaniegrahamEmail: [email protected] out my art and projectsEnjoy my work? Join my studio newsletterMore Episodes at noseyaf.comPlease leave me feedback or send me a message:Support the ShowRate and Review the show:Share noseyAF with your friends:Buy a pinBuy a printJoin the noseyAF DispatchEpisode Credits:Produced and Hosted by Me, Stephanie (teaching myself audio editing!)Edited by: Risha BrownLyrics: Queen LexInstrumental: Freddie Bam FamCover Art: Emma McGoldrick

Ep # 108: Your Calm Calendar: Rest, Burnout Recovery, and Resisting Hustle Culture with Nicole HavelkaWelcome back to another episode of noseyAF on Lumpen Radio!! We have Nicole Havelka joing us, a burnout recovery coach, mindfulness teacher, former pastor, and host of the podcast Just Rest: Burnout Tips for Everyday Radicals — to talk about what it actually takes to stop running on empty. Nicole gets into how she went from a self-described "recovering grind culture addict" to building a whole business around helping high-achievers and everyday radicals reclaim their time and energy. She introduces her Calm Calendar Club, a program built around planning your life in a way that actually honors your energy — not just squeezes more out of it. If you've ever felt like you're dropping the ball, this conversation will remind you: you're not dropping balls, you're just carrying too many.What We Talk AboutOkay, so pull up a chair — this one goes places.How Nicole went from overachiever to burnout recovery coach (and what growing up in Omaha, Nebraska had to do with it)Why hustle culture is literally designed for you to fail — and why that's not your faultBurnout in ministry and why being "on call 24/7" is just not humanWhat COVID quietly taught us about the power of saying noThe seven types of rest from Sacred Rest by Sandra Dalton-Smith — sleep is just ONE of themHow planning your calendar with your values first changes everythingWhy ADHD and neurodivergent folks need planning systems that actually work for their brainsThe Calm Calendar Club: what it is, how it works, and who it's forWhy "you're not failing the system — you're just trying to do too much"The radical act of rest as resistance, especially for Black women (shoutout to Tricia Hersey's Rest Is Resistance)Doing your part in activism and community work — without burning yourself all the way downThings We MentionedCalm Calendar Club — Nicole's program for planning your life around your energy and values → defythetrend.com/calm-calendarJust Rest: Burnout Tips for Everyday Radicals — Nicole's podcastRest Is Resistance by Tricia Hersey (affiliate link)Sacred Rest by Sandra Dalton-Smith (the seven types of rest: physical, mental, sensory, creative, social, emotional, and spiritual) (affiliate link)Artist Admin Hour — Stephanie's weekly co-working session for artists tackling the admin work that makes the work work → artistadminhour.comChapters: • 00:33 - Introduction to noseyAF Conversations • 04:36 - The Pressure of Hustle Culture • 13:21 - The Challenge of Self-Care in Ministry • 16:54 - Navigating Burnout and Community Engagement • 23:50 - The Culture of Exhaustion • 29:50 - The Importance of Rest and Reflection • 37:30 - Addressing Time Management Challenges • 44:55 - Planning for Success: Reflecting on Your Values • 47:03 - Exploring Priorities and Planning Strategies • 54:45 - Exploring the Importance of Rest • 01:01:21 - Finding Balance: The Importance of Rest and HobbiesAll About... Nicole HavelkaYou're gonna love Nicole — she's a burnout recovery coach and certified mindfulness teacher who spent years in ministry before turning her hard-won lessons into a whole business helping people resist hustle culture and build sustainable lives. Her whole thing is that rest isn't lazy — it's the foundation for everything.More about Nicole: Nicole Havelka is a burnout recovery coach, mindfulness teacher, clergy person, and recovering grind-culture addict who helps people and organizations resist hustle and reclaim rest. A clergy person turned entrepreneur, she brings bold honesty and a healthy dose of play to help changemakers prevent burnout and build sustainable lives and workplaces. Nicole hosts the podcast Just Rest: Burnout Tips for Everyday Radicals and leads a community of Rest Rebels on Substack. → defythetrend.com | defythetrend.substack.comSponsor Shoutout 💖This episode is brought to you by Artist Admin Hour The admin work that makes the work work. Every Wednesday, 7–9pm Central, artists show up on Zoom to tackle residency apps, grant applications, budgets, invoices — whatever you've been avoiding. Body doubling, no shame, real community. 25–45/month, but email Stephanie if that's not doable. → artistadminhour.comConnect with Nicole HavelkaWebsite: defythetrend.comCalm Calendar Club: defythetrend.com/calm-calendarPodcast: Just Rest: Burnout Tips for Everyday RadicalsSubstack: https://defythetrend.substack.com/More ways to connect:Email: [email protected] out my workFollow me on Instagram @stephaniegrahamListen to more episodesSupport & FeedbackShare noseyAF with friendsRate & Review the ShowBuy Pins & Prints | Shop ArtEpisode CreditsProduced, Hosted, and Edited by Me, Stephanie (teaching myself audio editing!)Lyrics: Queen LexInstrumental: Freddie Bam Fam

Ep #:107 The Introvert’s Guide to Speaking Up with Mahlena-Rae JohnsonSummary of the episodePublic speaking can be intimidating—especially for introverts. In this episode of nosey AF: conversations about art, activism, and social change, Stephanie talks with speaker, comedian, and author Mahlena-Rae Johnson, who calls herself the Professor X for introverted edtech CEOs with stage fright.For more than two decades, Mahlena has helped leaders learn how to communicate clearly and confidently, whether they’re pitching ideas, presenting on stage, or navigating everyday professional conversations. In this conversation, we explore what it means to be an introvert in leadership, why public speaking is so challenging for so many people, and how preparation, self-awareness, and practice can transform presenting into something much more enjoyable.Mahlena also shares insights from her book Speak Anyway, which encourages people to use their voices—even when fear or self-doubt shows up.If you’ve ever felt nervous about speaking in front of people, this conversation will remind you that finding your voice is a skill you can learn.What we talk aboutWhat introverted leadership looks like in practiceWhy public speaking anxiety is so commonHow preparation and self-awareness improve communicationCultural identity, citizenship, and how they shape how we show upPersonal branding and navigating competitive job marketsRethinking genius, education, and how people learnChapters00:28 – Understanding Introverted Leadership09:12 – The Art of Speaking: Overcoming Fear and Finding Your Voice19:22 – Navigating Cultural Identity and Citizenship32:56 – Navigating Personal Branding in a Competitive Job Market46:09 – Exploring Genius and EducationThings We MentionedSpeak Anyway by Mahlena-Rae Johnsonhttps://mahlenaspeaks.blogspot.com/2023/11/speak-an.htmlAll about… Mahlena-Rae JohnsonSpeaker, comedian, and six-time author Mahlena-Rae Johnson describes herself as the Professor X for introverted edtech CEOs with stage fright. For more than two decades, she has helped leaders hone the superpower of public speaking and communicate their ideas with clarity and confidence.Her work focuses on helping founders and professionals—especially in the education technology space—develop communication skills that make pitching, presenting, and everyday leadership conversations easier and more authentic.Mahlena has been featured on CBC Kids, The Great Canadian Woman Podcast, BusinessBecause, and more.Connect with Mahlena-Rae JohnsonInstagram: @mahlenasguidetolife Website: https://mahlenaspeaks.blogspot.com/ Book: Speak AnywayConnect with StephanieJoin the Good Stuff Only NewsletterListen to more episodesSupport & FeedbackShare Nosey AF with friendsRate & Review the ShowBuy Pins & Prints | Shop ArtEpisode CreditsHosted by: Stephanie Graham Edited By Risha Brown Lyrics: Queen LexInstrumental: Freddie Bam Fam Cover Art: Emma McGoldrick

Ep # 106: Consistency Over Perfection: Briana Clearly on Making 12 Films in a YearThis episode was recorded live on Saturday February 28th, 2026 at Lumpen Radio.Summary of the episodeIn this live, unedited episode recorded at Lumpen Radio 105.5 FM in Chicago, I sit down with Chicago filmmaker Briana Clearly to talk about what it really means to choose consistency over perfection.Briana took on the ambitious challenge of making 12 films in 12 months — and then turned that experiment into a community-driven initiative called Filmmakers Mixtape. In this conversation, we unpack how committing to one film a month transforms not just your craft, but your mindset.We talk about creative blocks, releasing work before it feels “ready,” building artistic community without ego, and why making good films is actually a side effect — not the point.If you’re an artist stuck in perfectionism, a filmmaker craving momentum, or someone who needs a reminder to just make the thing anyway, this episode is for you.What we talk about (you know… casually)Making 12 films in 12 months (and why you don’t need money to do it)Why consistency beats perfection every timeBuilding Filmmakers Mixtape from a personal challenge into a cohortHow community makes better art (and better artists)Briana’s journey from the Navy to film schoolMentorship, vulnerability, and learning to take feedbackThe dream of friendship-centered dramediesReleasing work publicly — even when it feels scaryThings We MentionedFilmmakers MixtapeLeague of Their Own ChicagoBrain StudiosLumpen RadioAll about... Briana ClearlyYou’re gonna love Briana Clearly — she’s a collaborative director, community builder, and the creative force behind Filmmakers Mixtape, a 12-month filmmaking challenge designed to help artists prioritize process over perfection.A former Navy sailor turned Chicago-based filmmaker, Briana is deeply committed to telling stories centered on Black women, friendship, and lived experience — always inviting audiences into conversation rather than spectacle.She believes filmmaking is a practice, not a performance. And honestly? That energy is contagious.Chapters: • 00:00 - Introduction to noseyAF• 09:02 - Exploring Filmmaking and Personal Storytelling • 20:54 - Exploring the Dynamics of Friendship in Storytelling • 31:56 - The Birth of Filmmakers Mixtape • 41:32 - The Importance of Vulnerability in Filmmaking • 50:41 - Exploring New Art Practices • 59:01 - The Art of FilmmakingSponsor Shoutout 💖This episode is brought to you by Artist Admin Hour.Every Wednesday from 7–9pm CT, artists gather on Zoom to tackle the admin we’ve all been avoiding — grant applications, budgets, residency forms, invoices, all of it.Because behind every exhibition is a clear budget.Admin is the flex.Join us at: artistadminhour.comConnect with Briana ClearlyInstagram: @brianaclearlyFilmmakers Mixtape: @filmmakersmixtapeWebsite: https://www.brianaclearly.com/More ways to connect:Email: [email protected] out my workFollow me on InstagramListen to more episodesSupport & FeedbackShare noseyAF with friendsRate & Review the ShowBuy Pins & Prints | Shop ArtEpisode CreditsProduced, Hosted, and Edited by Me, Stephanie (teaching myself audio editing!)Lyrics: Queen LexInstrumental: Freddie Bam Fam

Episode 106: Why Welcoming Everyone Gets Complicated with Garland FullerWhat this episode is about:What does it actually take to build a space where people feel like they belong? Garland Fuller — culture consultant and founder of Third Space Academy — has made it her life's work to answer that question. We get into the gap between what organizations say they value and how they actually operate, why "I want everyone to come" is a lot trickier than it sounds, and what intentional community building really looks like in practice.This one hit close to home — I share what I've been learning building my pop-up cinema project on Chicago's south side through the Change Collective fellowship, and Garland brings the strategic clarity to help it all click.Let's get into it:What is a culture consultant, actually? Garland breaks down the "people, place, program" framework and why culture is often the unseen force shaping how organizations actually operate — not just what's on the mission statementValues: aspiration vs. reality — Why integrity and service are on everyone's list, what it actually means to walk the talk, and when it might be time to update values that no longer fit who your org has becomeThird spaces are disappearing (or getting expensive) — From libraries to record shops to country clubs, Garland explains the spectrum of third spaces and who's really being invited inThe "I want everyone to come" trap — Why all-ages, all-inclusive spaces are aspirational but tricky, with real examples from Stephanie's micro cinema project (Poetic Justice vs. Disney night, anyone?)Building the Community Impact Collective — Garland's digital sanctuary for femmes who are done fitting into boxes, why she built it for community over solo learning, and the Show and Tell Mondays that keep it realAdapt or die: organizations that are going stale — A real talk about churches, legacy orgs, and what happens when your next generation isn't in your current membershipPractical strategies: surveying, focus groups, and why anonymous mattersLeadership advice that hits: People are watching you in the small moments more than the big keynotesChapters: • 00:08 - Introducing the Guest • 07:20 - Understanding Culture and Values in Organizations • 16:55 - Creating All-Age Spaces: Building Community Connections • 19:00 - Exploring Community Engagement • 31:27 - Building Community and Support in Creative Spaces • 36:14 - Facilitation and Empathy in Group Dynamics • 44:21 - Facilitation and Engagement in Education • 48:21 - Creating Third Spaces: Starting from Your WhyThings We MentionedThird Space Academy — Garland's coaching program for leaders building intentional community spaces Community Impact Collective — Garland's digital community for femmes and changemakers The Change Collective Fellowship — the civic leadership fellowship Stephanie participated in that sparked her pop-up cinema projectSoho House — referenced as an example of an exclusive, membership-based third spaceRay Oldenburg's concept of "third spaces" — the sociological framework underlying this whole convo (optional — confirm if mentioned explicitly)All about... Garland You're gonna love Garland — she's an award-winning People Strategist with over 15 years of expertise in HR, talent acquisition, employee engagement, and training. She's also an adjunct professor at the USC Price School and Principal Consultant at Fuller Circle Consulting, where she helps organizations build optimal, inclusive workplaces. Oh, and she founded Third Space Academy — so yeah, she's been busy.Connect with Garland InstagramWebsiteCommunity Impact CollectiveConnect with StephanieCheck out my workFollow me on InstagramJoin the Good Stuff Only NewsletterListen to more episodesSupport & FeedbackShare noseyAF with friendsRate & Review the ShowBuy Pins & Prints | Shop ArtEpisode CreditsProduced, Hosted, and Edited by Risha BrownLyrics: Queen LexInstrumental: Freddie Bam Fam

Thank you for listening to noseyAF! So happy to have your ears!This Conversation was recorded live for Lumpen RadioEp #104: Joe Schupbach: Care Is the CurriculumSUMMARYWhat does care really look like — beyond Valentine's Day chocolates and heart-shaped cards? In this episode of noseyAF, Stephanie Graham sits down with Joe Schupbach, a mission-driven educator, theater maker, and instructional coach with over two decades of experience in public education, nonprofits, and community-centered theater. Together they explore care as a daily practice: in classrooms, in collaborative creative spaces, in our neighborhoods, and in ourselves.Joe shares how he stumbled into creative leadership, what trauma-informed teaching really means in practice, and why experiential learning matters more than ever in today's schools. The conversation moves through faith and identity, the joys of cooking as connection, and ends with a rallying call to get nosy about your local schools — and to support live, in-person art.WHAT WE GET INTO 💬You know when a conversation just goes everywhere in the best way? That's this one. Here's a taste of what Joe and Steph cover:00:26 — Introduction to noseyAF01:15 — Care as a daily ritual: not just something you perform on Valentine's Day, but how it shows up in classrooms, rehearsal rooms, and community spaces every single day08:35 — How Joe accidentally fell into creative leadership — starting as a teaching artist right out of college and slowly becoming the person leading the room18:06 — What trauma-informed teaching actually looks like on the ground, and why instructional coaches like Joe are changing the game in Chicago high schools27:02 — Art-making during and after COVID-19 — how the pandemic forced a reckoning with what live, communal performance means and why it still matters32:29 — Faith, identity, and how the personal bleeds into the professional for educators and artists alike41:43 — Cooking as a love language: a genuinely delightful tangent about how preparing food for people is one of the most caring acts you can do53:11 — How non-parents and non-teachers can meaningfully support local educators — including the surprisingly powerful role of Local School Councils (LSCs)THINGS WE MENTIONED 🔗Embarc Chicago — Joe's organization, working with 17 high schools in the Chicago area → embarcchicago.orgjosephschupbach.com— Joe's personal site for artistic work, directing, and collaborationsChange Collective Fellowship — the leadership program Joe and Stephanie both participated inLooking Glass Theatre — one of Joe's longtime artistic collaboratorsPlayMakers Laboratory, The Neo-Futurists, The Ruffians, Salonathon, The Paper Machete — Chicago theater orgs Joe has worked withDonorsChoose — mentioned as a way to directly support classroom supply needsLocal School Councils (LSCs) — the elected, community-based governing bodies of every Chicago Public School (and yes, you can be on one even if you don't have kids in the school!)ALL ABOUT JOE SCHUPBACH 🎭You're gonna love Joe — he's a two-MFA-having, theater-making, trauma-informed teaching wizard who genuinely believes care is the foundation of everything.Joe Schupbach is an educator, writer, and director with 22 years of experience in public education, experimental community-based theatre, and nonprofit administration. He is a facilitator and instructional coach and currently serves as Head of Experiential Coaching at Embarc. Joe has been a frequent artistic collaborator with The Midwives, The Neo-Futurists, The Paper Machete, PlayMakers Laboratory, Pocket Guide To Hell, The Ruffians, and Salonathon. Joe holds two MFAs and is a proud Chicago Public Schools graduate. He was a 2024 fellow with Change Collective and is currently leading the Chicago Cohort of Change Collective fellows.SPONSOR SHOUTOUT 💖Come work with us at Artist Admin Hour , and get your work done.CONNECT WITH JOEWebsite: josephschupbach.comInstagram: @joeschupbachMore ways to connect:Email: [email protected] out my workFollow me on Instagram @stephaniegrahamListen to more episodesSupport & FeedbackShare noseyAF with friendsRate & Review the ShowBuy Pins & Prints | Shop ArtEpisode CreditsProduced, Hosted, and Edited by Me, Stephanie (teaching myself audio editing!)Lyrics: Queen LexInstrumental: Freddie Bam Fam

Ep #103: Mental Health for Expats — Building Community Abroad with Moved With PeaceSummary of the EpisodeWhat really happens after you move abroad and the honeymoon phase wears off?In this episode of noseyAF, host Stephanie Graham sits down with writer and community-builder Stephanie Rubinato to talk honestly about mental health for expats, postpartum depression, and the emotional realities of building a life far from home. Living abroad is often portrayed as dreamy and effortless—but this conversation pulls back the curtain on what’s usually left out.Stephanie shares her personal experience navigating postpartum depression after moving to Italy, the isolation many immigrants and expats feel, and why community care is just as important as cultural immersion. Together, they unpack slow living, creative burnout, friendship shifts, and what it really takes to build meaningful support systems abroad.This episode is a grounding, honest reminder that moving overseas doesn’t magically solve everything—and that seeking help, sharing resources, and building community is part of the journey.What We Talk About(aka: the real stuff you don’t see on Instagram 🇮🇹)Mental health challenges for immigrants, expats, and digital nomadsPostpartum depression while living abroadThe gap between “aesthetic expat life” and realityBuilding community through Moved With PeaceSlow living, self-trust, and creative rhythmsFriendship shifts, boundaries, and nourishmentWhy vulnerability is a form of survival (not weakness)Chapters00:08 – Introduction to the Guest03:07 – Navigating Mental Health Challenges as an Expat22:32 – Navigating the Creative Chaos35:51 – Building Community Abroad39:51 – Navigating Friendships and Family DynamicsThings We MentionedMoved With Peace – Stephanie’s community-centered project for immigrants and expatsTherapy resources & finding culturally aligned mental health support abroadSlow living, journaling, affirmations, and grounding practicesThe upcoming Italian Reset Retreat (launching 2027)All about… Stephanie RubinatoYou’re gonna love Stephanie Rubinato — she’s a writer, community-builder, and calm-in-the-chaos type of creative.Stephanie Rubinato is a writer and content strategist living in Italy, creating honest, grounded stories through Moved With Peace and Stephanie Rubinato Media. Her work centers slow living, self-trust, mental health, and building community—especially for immigrants and expats navigating life far from home. Through her writing, video projects, and upcoming retreats, Stephanie reminds us that we don’t have to do it all—we just have to do what’s real.Connect with Stephanie RubinatoInstagram: @movedwithpeaceWebsite: movedwithpeace.comYouTube: Moved With PeaceConnect with StephanieCheck out my workFollow me on InstagramJoin the Good Stuff Only NewsletterListen to more episodesSupport & FeedbackShare noseyAF with friendsRate & Review the ShowBuy Pins & Prints | Shop ArtEpisode CreditsProduced, Hosted by Me, StephanieEdited By: Risha BrownCover Art + Branding: Emma McGoldrickLyrics: Queen LexInstrumental: Freddie Bam Fam

Ep #102: Getting Dressed Is Identity Work How Personal Style Opens Doors with Stylist KylaSummary of the episodeEver had a full-blown meltdown trying to figure out what to wear? Personal stylist Kyla gets it—and she's here to tell you that your closet struggles go way deeper than just "not having the right clothes." In this episode, we're diving into the psychology of personal style, why taking your image seriously is actually a power move (not vanity), and how getting dressed every single day is identity work in disguise.Kyla shares her journey from tech career to personal styling, breaks down why smart women absolutely DO care about their appearance, and explains how your closet might be signaling things about you that you didn't even realize. We talk about the "sexy Trinity," why you should only shop four times a year (yes, really), and how showing up ready to be seen has opened doors Kyla never expected. If you've ever felt invisible, stuck in leggings, or like your wardrobe doesn't match who you're becoming, this conversation is for you.What we're getting intoWhy correcting people on your name is actually about claiming your presence (and how Kyla turned it into a whole brand)The connection between personal style and leadership—and why the "charismatic guy" gets ahead while brilliant women stay in the backgroundHow your closet reveals your mental state (spoiler: if it's cluttered, your mind probably is too)The three S's of feeling sexy: skin, support, and subject (aka the sexy Trinity)Why you should NEVER shop more than four times a yearThe difference between transactional styling and transformational stylingHow to build a mix-and-matchable wardrobe that actually serves youWhy talent isn't enough—and how Kyla's style helped her land opportunities she never saw comingThe real reason you have a closet full of clothes but "nothing to wear"Chapters: • 00:18 - Introducing Kyla: A New Perspective on Fashion• 06:01 - The Journey of Identity and Image• 19:12 - The Psychology of Personal Style• 28:27 - Understanding Consumerism and Personal Style• 45:11 - The Power of Style and PresenceThings We MentionedKyla's Closet Essentials Checklist - $2 resource with styling lesson (available at kylanotkayla.com)Master Class on Feeling Sexy - Kyla's course on the three S's of sexy styleThe Sexy Trinity: Skin, Support, SubjectCapsule Wardrobe concept - Cyclical seasonal approach to your closetFashion Psychology - The real psychological impact of what you wearTech industry & remote work culture - Kyla's background before stylingThe Caribbean - Where Kyla spent two years before returning to the USAll about KylaYou're gonna love Kyla—she's a personal stylist, former tech professional, and the woman behind "It's Kyla Not Kayla." She's equal parts practical systems guru (Virgo Moon energy) and woo-woo manifestation queen, and she truly believes your style is the biggest manifestation tool you have at any price point. Kyla helps creative women show up ready to be seen through transformational styling that goes way beyond just picking out cute outfits. She's all about identity work, closet psychology, and making sure you're the subject—not the object—in your own life.Connect with KylaWebsite: kylanotkayla.comInstagram: @itskylanotkaylaNoteworthy Quotes"You can be wildly successful at something you were never meant to do.""Smart women don't avoid caring about their appearance—they're strategic about it.""Every day when you get dressed, it is the daily practice of identity work. Who am I being? Who am I becoming?""If your closet is cluttered, your mind is cluttered. If you are hiding in dull or shapeless clothing, you're trying to hide.""Style is not supposed to be a costume. It's supposed to be something that supports you through your life.""Your style is the biggest manifestation tool that you have at your disposal at any price point, at any stage in life.""Stay ready so you don't have to get ready.""Nobody should be shopping more than four times a year. It's a hill I'm willing to die on."Connect with StephanieCheck out my workFollow me on InstagramJoin the Good Stuff Only NewsletterListen to more episodesSupport & FeedbackShare noseyAF with friendsRate & Review the ShowBuy Pins & Prints | Shop ArtEpisode CreditsProduced and hosted by me!Edited by Risha BrownLyrics: Queen LexInstrumental: Freddie Bam FamCover Art and Branding: Emma McGoldrick

Ep #101: Freedom, Flexibility, and Filling the Gap: How Melquea Smith Built a Creative Life Through Children's Book IllustrationSummaryIn this episode, I sit down with Melquea Smith, a children's book illustrator, author, and world traveler who's redefining what it means to build a creative life on your own terms. Fresh off five weeks in Belgium (with cats and a chicken!), Melquea shares how losing her nonprofit job became the catalyst for going full-time as an illustrator, why representation in children's books matters deeply, and how she's scaling her art through Brown Sugar Graphics—a clip art membership celebrating Black and Brown kids in all their beautiful diversity.We get into the nitty-gritty of how picture books actually get made, what authors should look for when hiring an illustrator, and why visual storytelling is so much more than "just drawing." Plus, Melquea drops gems on building a sustainable creative business, navigating perfectionism, and finding alignment between your work, your values, and your joy.If you've ever wondered what goes into those gorgeous picture books, dreamed of going location-independent as a creative, or just need permission to imagine a different way of living—this one's for you.Chapters00:19 - Introducing Melquea Smith: A Visionary in Children's Literature10:13 - Navigating Change: Embracing Freedom and Creativity20:00 - Transitioning to Children's Illustration35:06 - The Importance of Representation in Children's Literature56:41 - The Journey of Creating Diverse Clip Art01:02:01 - The Creative Journey of Brown Sugar GraphicsWhat We Talk AboutHow Melquea networked like a pro at the American Library Association Conference with custom postcards and a manuscript wish listLosing a job in the nonprofit world and choosing full-time illustration instead of going back to corporateLiving and working abroad: five weeks in Belgium, falling in love with the Netherlands, and becoming a global citizenThe actual process of illustrating a children's book—from thumbnails to color scripting to final artWhy illustrators aren't just "drawers"—they're visual storytellers, marketers, and business ownersThe severe lack of diverse, high-quality clip art featuring Black and Brown kidsHow Brown Sugar Graphics is filling that gap with joyful, authentic representations of kids with different skin tones, hair textures, body types, abilities, and moreWhat authors should know before hiring an illustrator (hint: it's not just about the art)The power of email lists, the exhaustion of social media, and showing up where it matters mostThings We MentionedAmerican Library Association (ALA) Conference – A major event for librarians, publishers, and children's book creatorsManuscript Wish List (MSWL) – A tool agents, editors, and illustrators use to share what kinds of projects they're looking forRoom to Read – An organization fighting illiteracy globally; Melquea illustrated Two Homes in Omar's Heart for themThe Biggest Gift of All – Picture book illustrated by Melquea, written by Luda Goglushko, published by Cluedus PressThe Time Machine – Picture book illustrated by Melquea, written by Pauline David Sachs, published by Cardinal Rule PressDeviantArt – An early online platform for artists (nostalgic vibes for millennials!)Dream Machine Course by Chris Oatley – The course that helped Melquea choose her creative pathLiz Wilcox's Email Marketing Membership – The inspiration behind Melquea's membership modelBrown Sugar Graphics – Melquea's clip art membership featuring diverse illustrations of Black and Brown kids ($9/month)IngramSpark – A self-publishing platform for authorsTeacher Pay Teachers – A marketplace for educational resourcesLittle Women Atlanta – Reality TV show Stephanie loves (and a great example of representation mattering!)All About Melquea SmithYou're gonna love Melquea—she's a children's book illustrator, author, full-time creative, and certified world traveler who's all about Black and Brown joy, imagination, and possibility on the page. With over two decades of illustration experience and a background in nonprofit fundraising, she brings storytelling, strategy, and serious skill to every project. She's illustrated multiple picture books, co-founded a local cosplay group, rocks blue box braids and piercings with pride, and is currently plotting her move to the Netherlands. Basically, she's living proof that you can build a creative life that's aligned with your values, your body, and your joy.Connect with Melquea SmithWebsite: prettykittypaintings.com (click the pink "Surprise" button for 3 free illustrations!)Brown Sugar Graphics: Join the membership for $9/month and get weekly diverse clip art featuring Black and Brown kidsInstagram: Follow Melquea for behind-the-scenes illustration work, travel stories, and creative business insightsCome to the Studio? 🪑✨Good Stuff Only 💅🏾Fresh art, messy ideas, tiny victories, wild inspirations, candid stories, fun secrets, and the occasional surprise—straight from my studio to your inbox.Join artists, curators, gallerists, and art lovers getting first looks at new work 1-2x a month.Good Stuff Only subscribers get:👀 First Looks — New artwork, pins, films, and projects before anyone else📖 Studio Stories — The messy, honest behind-the-scenes of making art IRL🎉 Good Vibes Only — Candid updates and occasional treats📅 What's Next — Exhibition invites, screenings, releases, and art happenings→ Subscribe to Good Stuff OnlyMore Ways to ConnectEmail: [email protected] out my work: missgraham.comFollow me on Instagram: @stephaniegrahamListen to more episodes: noseyAF.comSupport &amp; FeedbackShare noseyAF with friends<a...

This conversation was recorded live at Lumpen Radio in Chicago on Saturday, January 10, 2026.Ep # 100: Chicago Artist Deirdre Fox on Turning Plastic Waste into Environmental Art &amp; Visual PoetrySummary of the episodeChicago-based artist Deirdre Fox joins noseyAF for a live, unedited conversation from 105.5 FM Lumpen Radio about art, plastic waste, and environmental consciousness. Deirdre’s practice transforms discarded consumer packaging into drawings, fiber works, and installations that challenge how we think about disposability, permanence, and material value.In this episode, host Stephanie Graham talks with Deirdre about her artistic journey, the idea of visual poetry, and how mindfulness—both in making and consuming—shapes her work. Together, they explore the tension between organic and synthetic materials, the limits of recycling, and the role artists play in addressing environmental responsibility through creative practice.This conversation invites listeners to slow down, look closer, and reconsider the materials that move through their everyday lives.What we talk aboutTransforming plastic consumer packaging into drawings, fiber works, and installationsVisual poetry and storytelling through materialMindfulness, consumption, and environmental responsibilityThe evolution of Deirdre’s artistic practice from representational to abstract workMaking art that lives in the tension between permanence and disposabilityChapters: • 00:00 - Introduction to noseyAF• 02:30 - Deirdre's Artistic Journey with Plastic Waste • 15:20 - Reflecting on Pouch Cove • 29:36 - Finding One's Voice in Art • 42:56 - Balancing Time and Creativity • 52:13 - Exploring Artistic Processes and Sustainability • 58:43 - Exploring Artistic CollaborationsAll about… Deirdre FoxYou’re gonna love Deirdre they’re a Chicago-based artist turning everyday plastic waste into visually refined, quietly radical works of environmental reflection.Deirdre Fox crochets and weaves plastic consumer packaging into drawings, fiber pieces, and drawing installations. Her work functions as personal gestures of environmental consciousness, rooted in the understanding that plastics made for convenience—like single-use bags—last far longer than intended, and that recycling alone is not an adequate solution.Her practice questions systems of built-in obsolescence and accumulated waste, while creating visual poems that hold time, care, and material awareness. Deirdre has exhibited at FlexSpace Riverside Art Center, Hyde Park Art Center, Boundary Chicago, Evanston Art Center, the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley, Koehnline Museum of Art Gallery, and the Swedish American Museum, among others. She has received multiple grants from the City of Chicago and the Illinois Arts Council and maintains her studio at Mana Contemporary Chicago.Sponsor Shoutout 💖This episode is brought to you by Artist Admin HourGet your work done with structure, with company. Check out Artist Admin Hour at missgraham.com/artistadminhourConnect with Deirdre FoxInstagram: @deirdre_fox_artWebsite: http://www.artbydado.com/Connect with StephanieCheck out my workFollow me on InstagramJoin the Good Stuff Only NewsletterListen to more episodesSupport &amp; FeedbackShare noseyAF with friendsRate &amp; Review the ShowBuy Pins &amp; Prints | Shop ArtEpisode CreditsProduced, Hosted, and Edited by Me, Stephanie (teaching myself audio editing!)Recorded Live at Lumpen RadioLyrics: Queen LexInstrumental: Freddie Bam FamCover Art + Branding: Emma McGoldrick

EP# 99 The Rise of Women’s Sports, NIL Money, and the Power of the Everyday Athlete with Angela Hollowell✨ Episode SummaryWomen’s sports are having a moment — and it’s about time.In this episode of noseyAF, Stephanie Graham sits down with filmmaker, writer, and Melanin MVP founder Angela Hollowell to talk about the rise of women’s sports, the impact of NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) money, and why the idea of the “everyday athlete” might change how we think about movement altogether.We get into how women athletes, especially women of color, are finally getting visibility, how branding and social media have reshaped college and pro sports, and why athleticism doesn’t have to look one specific way. From glam on the court to cycling for joy, this conversation explores how creativity, confidence, and culture show up in sports — and in life.If you’ve ever thought “sports aren’t really for me,” this episode might change your mind.🗣️ What We Get IntoWhy women’s sports are finally getting real attentionHow NIL money changed the game for college athletesWhat an “everyday athlete” actually is — and why it mattersGlam, femininity, and breaking outdated ideas of athleticismThe pressure young athletes face in the age of social mediaFilmmaking, creativity, and finding balance without burning out⏱️ Chapters00:11 — Welcome &amp; setting the scene00:35 — The rise of women’s sports + NIL money11:22 — How Melanin MVP came to be17:06 — Everyday athletes &amp; redefining movement23:19 — Reality TV, Alabama, and cultural detours27:30 — Documentary filmmaking &amp; creative process37:14 — Balance, focus, and doing less better46:03 — Sports relationships &amp; team dynamics48:24 — Melanin MVP Awards brainstorm 👀55:54 — The yearbook idea &amp; what’s next🔗 Things We MentionedMelanin MVP – Newsletter + podcast spotlighting women athletes of colorThe Melanin MVP Cross-Training Quiz (not for the weak, apparently 😭)NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) legislation🌟 All About Angela HollowellYou’re gonna love Angela — she’s thoughtful, hilarious, deeply intentional, and casually changing how we think about sports and storytelling.Angela Hollowell is the founder of Rootful Media, a creative documentary film production company based in Durham, North Carolina. She’s also the host of the video podcasts Honey &amp; Hustle and Melanin MVP.Her work centers Southern voices and explores the outdoors, health equity, environmental justice, and social impact — all through a thoughtful, culture-forward lens. Beyond filmmaking, Angela helps visual storytellers and creative entrepreneurs grow their audience and build meaningful creative businesses.When she’s not working, you can find her outside, on a bike, or enjoying a fruity beer or margarita with friends 🍹.🔌 Connect with AngelaInstagram: @honeyhustlepodWebsite: https://www.angelahollowell.com/Newsletter / Podcast: Melanin MVP👋🏾 Connect with Stephanie✨ Check out my work📸 Follow me on Instagram💌 Join the Good Stuff Only Newsletter🎧 Listen to more episodes🫶🏾 Support the ShowShare nosey AF with a friendRate &amp; Review the ShowBuy Pins &amp; Prints | Shop Art🎬 Episode CreditsProduced, hosted, by me, StephanieLyrics: Queen LexEpisode Edited by: Risha BrownInstrumental: Freddie Bam Fam

Ep #98: Print Your Legacy: Lawrence Nalls on Multi-Generational Photography and PrideSummary of the episodeLawrence Nalls, managing photographer of Forty Photography, shares the profound journey of building a multi-generational Chicago photography studio rooted in legacy, storytelling, and community service. In this conversation, Lawrence reveals how his father's Vietnam War documentation sparked a family tradition that's now entering its third generation. We explore the emotional weight of photography as both art form and responsibility, the importance of print over digital, and why Lawrence believes every photograph should make you feel something. From learning to "figure it out" with his first camera to teaching his sons the business, Lawrence offers candid insights on building trust with clients, the hard lessons of running a creative business (yes, take deposits!), and how to help people see past their insecurities to capture pride. This episode is a masterclass in intentional photography, sustainable creative practice, and the power of printed images to preserve family legacy.What we're getting intoYou know how some conversations just feel like sitting down with someone who's lived it and learned it? That's this whole episode.The origin story of Forty Photography - from Vietnam War footage to a thriving multi-generational studioWhy prints matter more than digital files - and how Lawrence shifted his entire practice around this philosophyThe business side of photography - storage systems, deposits, redundancy, and the stuff nobody talks aboutBuilding trust and managing client insecurities - including Lawrence's "word bank" technique for portrait sessionsKeeping enthusiasm alive after 19 years - the daily present philosophy and why relationships are wealthFilm vs. digital and intentionality - how shooting film shaped Lawrence's approach to digital photographyParenting, sports, and passing down the legacy - raising two sons in the family businessFolks and Things We MentionedForty Photography - Lawrence's multi-generational Chicago photography studioJohn H. White - Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer and church friend who inspired LawrenceGordon Parks - Legendary photographer and director of ShaftAnnie Leibovitz - Renowned portrait photographerRichard Avedon - Fashion and portrait photographerSarah Oliphant - Artist who hand-paints canvases for photography backgroundsChicago Alliance of African American Photographers (CAAAP) - Organization focused on documenting Black life with prideRainbow Beach - Lawrence's "happy place" on Chicago's South SideArtist Admin Hour - Stephanie's Wednesday accountability sessions for artists (artistadminhour.com)Chapters:• 00:00 - Introduction to the Conversation• 06:49 - The Legacy of 4D Photography• 12:36 - The Transition to Digital Photography• 15:50 - Documenting Family Memories• 22:50 - Capturing Moments: The Art of Photography and Trust• 34:11 - Managing a Photography Business: Insights from Experience• 42:12 - Lessons Learned from Hard Experiences• 44:32 - The Importance of Sports in Parenting• 49:44 - Exploring Photography and Relationships• 56:15 - Reflections on the Podcast JourneyAll about Lawrence You're gonna love Lawrence—he's a third-generation photographer, cigar enthusiast, devoted father, and the kind of creative who believes every photo should evoke a sense of pride. His studio, Forty Photography (named after doctors told his father he'd be lucky to live to 40 after Vietnam War injuries—he's turning 80 next month!), serves families, schools, and organizations across Chicago. Lawrence approaches photography with intention, encouraging clients to think beyond social media and put their memories on the wall. He's also the guy who will absolutely not participate in your negative self-talk during a photo session—instead, he'll have you build a word bank of how you want to feel, then help you embody it.Connect with Lawrence NallsInstagram: @fortyphotographyWebsite: fortyphotography.comLocation: Bridgeport, ChicagoCome to the Studio? 🪑✨Want more? Good Stuff Only subscribers get:👀 First Looks — New artwork, pins, films, and projects before anyone else📖 Studio Stories — The messy, honest behind-the-scenes of making art IRL🎉 Good Vibes Only — Candid updates and occasional treats📅 What's Next — Exhibition invites, screenings, releases, and art happenings→ Join artists, curators, and art lovers getting Good Stuff OnlyMore ways to connect:Email: [email protected] out my workFollow me on Instagram: @stephaniegrahamListen to more episodesSupport &amp; FeedbackShare noseyAF with friendsRate &amp; Review the ShowBuy Pins &amp; Prints | Shop ArtEpisode CreditsProduced, Hosted, and Edited by Me, Stephanie (teaching myself audio editing!)Theme Music Lyrics: Queen LexTheme Music Instrumental: Freddie Bam FamRecorded Live at Lumpen Radio, ChicagoThis episode was recorded live on Saturday, December 27, 2025, at Lumpen Radio in Chicago.

Ep #97: OUTCRY Project: How Collective Scream Sessions Create Radical Empathy and Healing with Whitney BradshawThank you for listening to noseyAF! So happy to have your ears!This conversation was recorded live at Lumpen Radio on Saturday, December 13, 2025Summary of the episodeWhat does it look like to be out loud together? In this powerful episode, artist and activist Whitney Bradshaw shares the story behind OUTCRY—her groundbreaking social practice project that brings women, non-binary, and genderqueer people together for collective scream sessions centered on healing, resistance, and radical empathy.Born from the intersection of the MeToo movement and the 2016 election,OUTCRY creates intentionally intersectional spaces where participants practice speaking up and out for themselves, release trauma held in their bodies, and build unexpected community with strangers. Over seven years, Whitney has facilitated nearly 80 sessions in 14 states, photographing more than 530 participants in moments of raw emotional power.We get the skinny on what actually happens during these two-hour sessions, the science behind why screaming makes us 7% stronger, and how radical empathy can transform both personal healing and collective action. Plus, we talk about the new documentary film OUTCRY: Alchemists of Rage, somatic therapy, scream boxes, and why our culture desperately needs more spaces for collective grieving.Key Takeaways:The OUTCRY project serves as a transformative platform for collective healing and empowerment, particularly for marginalized communitiesScreaming is not merely an act of expression; it serves as a therapeutic mechanism that fosters resilience, emotional release, and literally makes you 7% strongerWhitney Bradshaw's work emphasizes the importance of radical empathy, encouraging participants to engage deeply with diverse experiences across intersectional identitiesThe sessions facilitate a unique environment where individuals can practice voicing their truths in front of strangers, contributing to personal and communal growth and often forming lasting friendships and activist networksResources &amp; Links:The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk21C Museum Hotel Louisville (current exhibition through end of December 2025)Chapters00:09 - Introduction to Motivation and Self-Reflection01:38 - Introducing OUTCRY: A Collective Healing Experience17:14 - Voices Unleashed: The Power of Sharing Stories22:50 - The Importance of Expressing Anger27:11 - Introduction to Radical Empathy41:41 - The Evolution of OUTCRY51:10 - The Evolution of OUTCRY: A Journey of Healing and Art55:57 - Exploring Artistic Identity and New ProjectsAll about Whitney You're gonna love Whitney she's a powerhouse artist, activist, and the kind of person who invites neighbors over to scream in her living room (and bakes banana bread for the occasion).Whitney Bradshaw is an artist, activist, educator, curator, former social worker, and documentary film producer whose practice is dedicated to healing and empowerment while boldly confronting the social systems that marginalize and oppress. She is the creator of OUTCRY, an ongoing social practice project that has been exhibited widely across the United States, with solo shows at Atlanta Contemporary, the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive, the DePaul Art Museum, Villanova University Art Gallery, Moreau Galleries at St. Mary's College, the 21c Museum Hotel Louisville, and Wave Pool Contemporary Art Fulfillment Center.Her photographs are held in prominent collections including the Museum of Contemporary Photography, the DePaul Art Museum, Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, the Hall Art and Technology Foundation, and the Sara M. and Michelle Vance Waddell Collection and have been featured in Ms. Magazine, The New York Times, The Chicago Tribune, NewCity Magazine, and Vogue.Both Whitney and OUTCRY are the subject of a short documentary film titled OUTCRY: Alchemists of Rage directed by Clare Major and produced by Frankly Speaking Films. The film premiered at the Frameline Film Festival in San Francisco in June 2024 and was shortlisted for the International Documentary Association's Best Short Film Award of 2024.In Fall 2023, Whitney was named one of NewCity Magazine's "50 Chicago Artists' Artists." She currently serves as curator at the Lubeznik Center for the Arts in Michigan City, Indiana, following earlier roles as chair of the visual arts conservatory at the Chicago High School for the Arts, curator of the esteemed LaSalle Bank Photography Collection, and adjunct professor of photography at Columbia College Chicago. Before her curatorial and educational career, she worked as a social worker supporting survivors of sexual abuse and assault, families of children with disabilities, and adults with disabilities.Whitney holds an MFA in Photography from Columbia College Chicago and a BA in Sociology and Women's Studies from Eastern Illinois University, where she helped establish the interdisciplinary Women's Studies program in 1988 and became its first graduate in 1991.Recent Press on Whitney:Ms. Magazine: "Screaming for Change"NewCity: "Feminine Gaze Feminine Rage OUTCRY" by Zara Yost (August 8, 2024)NewCity's Top 50 Chicago Artists' ArtistsMs. Magazine: "Whitney Bradshaw's OUTCRY"Sponsor Shoutout 💖This episode is brought to you by Artist Admin HourEvery Wednesday, 7 to 9pm Central, artists show up on Zoom to tackle what we've been avoiding: residency applications, grant apps, budgets, invoices, whatever's on your list. Two hours of body doubling with structure, no shame, and real community. $25 to $45 a month gets you in. But if that's not doable, email me—getting this done is very important, and we will make it work.Stop letting admin sabotage your practice. Join us today at Artist Admin Hour.Connect with WhitneyWebsite: WhitneyBradshaw.comInstagram: @thewhitneybradshawFilm Website: OUTCRYfilm.comWhitney's Linktree : For upcoming screenings, exhibitions, and sessionsComing Up: The Feminist Art Project's Special Session at the College Art Association National Conference in Chicago on Feb&nbsp;21More ways to connect:Email: [email protected] out my workFollow me on Instagram: @stephaniegrahamListen to more episodesSupport &amp; FeedbackShare noseyAF with friendsRate &amp; Review the ShowBuy Pins &amp; Prints | Shop ArtEpisode CreditsProduced, Hosted, and Edited by Me, Stephanie (teaching myself audio editing!)Lyrics: Queen LexInstrumental: Freddie Bam FamPhoto of Whitney by Jamie Kelter Davis for&nbsp;Seriously Badass Women