Yemoja Speaks podcast artwork

PODCAST · society

Yemoja Speaks

Hey, my name is Shalonda, your host. This podcast is about foster care and our experiences growing up in custody. We want to highlight success stories to give the next generation tips on how they can survive foster care and thrive after. I share my experience and advice for what I did and didn't do while giving the lessons that I learned. I look forward to interviewing foster youth, foster parents, caseworkers, and biological families to understand the full story so we all can understand how to work together to create a better system.

  1. 73

    Emotionally Control

    This is a preview of emotional control. If you like this preview let me know and I’ll release the full episode sooner.

  2. 72

    I’m back!

    Just sharing that I have not abandoned my baby. I had to take a step back but I will be back.

  3. 71

    Relationship with self

    I have a hard time developing a relationship with myself becauee I care deeply about the relationships with others. I prioritize the emotions and actions of others as I hide my emotional struggles. However, developing a relationship with myself has become the most important thing to me. Let’s talk about the setback we have by prioritizing others over ourselves. If you like this podcast topic let me know. Leave a comment and share what you are doing to deepen the relationship with yourself.

  4. 70

    Temptations

    People make jokes about us reverting back to an old version of ourselves through habits or behaviors because they are uncomfortable with our change. They want us to stay at the level that they are comfortable with because they haven’t started their journey to change so our new energy disruption their spirit. Let’s discuss it!

  5. 69

    FASTING AND CLEANSING THE MIND

    When we fast the body, soul, and the mind we understand how we are responsible for our own happiness. Our negative experiences doesn’t define our joy but it helps to shape our identity. Let’s talk about it!

  6. 68

    Youth Summitp

    Foster youth have resources that need to be discussed and Ohio Action and YAB is hosting its annual youth summit to discuss the resources. If you would like to attend please visit the website at

  7. 67

    You are worth it

    Many times what holds us back is the belief that we aren’t worth it. We have been told that we aren’t good enough so we believe it and treat ourselves according to the thoughts of others. Don’t hold yourself back. You are worth it and you deserve it!

  8. 66

    Prospectives of youth in foster care

    You have rights and amazing perspectives to give. Listen to other foster youth and alum give their perspective and experience in foster care.

  9. 65

    Protect foster youth

    Unfortunately Darnell T. life was taken by his temporary foster mother February 2024. We are discussing his case.

  10. 64

    CONQUERING FEAR

    We want to be successful but sometimes the fear holds us back. We fear success, opinions, or failure but that doesn’t mean we cannot accomplish our goals. We can do it through the fear. Let’s talk about it. Follow me on Instagram @yemojaspeaks #facing fears, #understandingmyself, #authenticself

  11. 63

    THE TRUTH IS HARSH

    Many times we say we want the truth but honest can be hurtful and we want to resist it. I find myself resisting the truth when someone calls me out and holds me accountable. I want to become better but listening to my flaws is difficult. Let’s discuss it. Follow on Yemojaspeaks on IG.

  12. 62

    Announcement

    I deleted emotional regulation and uploaded affirming emotions in its place last week. If you haven’t listened to that episode please go listen. Bonus there is another episode being released today at noon. Thank you for listening and supporting this podcast.

  13. 61

    Affirming Our Emotions

    As we recognize how we feel we are able to affirm that we have those emotions to work through them. I deleted my previous episode about emotional regulation but within this episode we discuss social situations that we can find ourselves in where we need to regulate our emotions by naming them, or biting our tongue in intense emotions.

  14. 60

    Self-parenting

    Many of us have areas where we have been neglected by our caretakers but as we step into adulthood, we take on the responsibility to parent ourselves. I discuss 9 ways to start I. Your self-parenting journey.

  15. 59

    Adulting time!

    When we reach 18 years old we think we are grown and can do what grownups do. However, sometimes we aren’t prepared to really discipline ourselves like the adults have done. I talk about my experience with the adulting process.

  16. 58

    Support

    Talking about the supportive circle that I had to create around me which being in foster care and how it helped and hurt me.

  17. 57

    The space of others

    Being surrounded by

  18. 56

    Reflections from the daughter of an addict

    My parents decisions reflect their upbringing while mine reflect the endless possibilities because the overwhelming support given to me. We have moments in our lives that we can choose to take the advise from others or choose the same situations as our family. What is your decision?

  19. 55

    Get out of your comfort zone

    I don’t allow others to join in my quiet moments of reflecting but I decided to step out of my comfort zone. I invited someone to join me to reflect and plan our futures together. It turned out nice and it helps both of us to be accountable. Find someone to share your goals with so they can hold you to them.

  20. 54

    You are on your path

    Many times we don’t believe in our journey because we are too focused on others. I had to slow down and appreciate my journey and who I am becoming.

  21. 53

    Silent tears

    Silent tears poem. Sometimes our pain is what pushes us into our purpose. I have used writing as a way to express my pain and connect with others.

  22. 52

    The dirty secret

    Our mental houses are clutter while we look to find our missing shoe we thought we put in the closet. Organized chaos is a contradiction, attached to traumatic experiences. Diving deeper into my trama by addressing it by the name, my failed relationships with my siblings due to being in foster care. Being in foster care is traumatizing but not being able to share a connection with your family is more hurtful. Let’s talk about it. This episode is dedicated to Sharonda Swanson, my mother may she rest in peace. Nakupenda mama!

  23. 51
  24. 50

    You aren’t blood

    Have you felt that you were being rejected by your biological and foster family? Maybe you felt like you didn’t fit in their square box because you are a circle. I have too but didn’t know how I felt about until I became an adult. Rejection hurts but should be acknowledged. Follow me on Instagram and TikTok @yemojaspeaks

  25. 49

    Don’t quit!

    When difficult times come what do you do? I find myself on the verge of giving up until I remember my purpose. I reflect over my journey and all of my decisions. While I do not make excuses for my choices I do understand that my decisions were made based on my emotions and limit information. As I think about my future I know that my past will always be there to remind me of my decisions. However, I will be emotional mature to conquer my future reactions to the choices of my past.

  26. 48

    Emotional overwhelming

    When out physical environment is out of order our mental is usually in the same state. The first thing is to have a focus that is so strong that you don’t want to pull away from it. I had to clean my house and breathe to slow down. I needed to be still to find clarity.

  27. 47

    42. Emotional growth

    It requires us to look at ourselves in the mirror to be honest. We have allowed people to walk all over us but now we are taking our power back through reflecting.

  28. 46

    31. Quality foster parents

    Foster parents post COVID is difficult. Many foster parents were concerned about transmission of the virus but now we are still facing an issue with limited foster parents signing up.

  29. 45

    32. Being a foster parent is rewarding!

    The challenge of being a foster is rewarding.

  30. 44

    41. Emotional addiction versus Healthy emotional expression

    Did you know we can develop an emotional addiction? It is the emotional connection that we have with others knowing that the relationship is unhealthy but we stay because it is familiar.

  31. 43

    41. Emotional habits

    Emotional habits are unconsciously formed based on the freedom or restriction given to us. If our caretakers validated our feelings we develop healthy emotional habits, however, many times we need to learn it in adulthood. Follow us on social media [Yemoja Speaks Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/yemojaspeaks/) [Yemoja Speaks Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/YemojaSpeaks)

  32. 42

    40. Matching energy or walking away

    Too many times we hear about other people matching energy but we don’t hear how that might have gotten someone killed or harm. It might look cool but some people don’t stay at the same level they go to 100 real quick and expect to fight. Are you ready for a fight over something minor? Let talk about it.

  33. 41

    Love poem

    Love poem

  34. 40

    39. Non-mutual friendships

    Hamjambo? Sijambo Leo!  It can be hard when we realize that our friend that we have known over 10 years is really a long-time acquaintance instead. An acquaintance is a person that we share a surface level relationship with but really don’t have trust in establishing a real relationship. I have realized how private I am which means that I don’t share much of my personal information anyways, however, the people that I have had around me for years should have more personal stories. Many of the people I have known for 10 years, we don’t know personal details about one another. I figured out that our friendship was not mutual the hard way and now I am figuring out what I should do next. Follow us on social media Yemoja Speaks Instagram Yemoja Speaks Facebook

  35. 39

    38. They want access to you.

    Some people don’t care about what you are going through they only want to have access to you. Check to see if they are true or not. Do they tell you all the things wrong with you? Do they only talk to you when it is convenient for them? Do they not show up for you but want you to show up for them? Hmmmm 🤨 they are only there to use you.

  36. 38

    37. Notice Me poem written by Shalonda

    Poetry has helped me get through emotional traumas that I wanted to hold on to but have been able to release. Many of us find it hard to express our feelings in a traditional talking way but we use our art to express it all.  Art is not supposed to be understood by everyone, yet when people can relate we have find our tribe like us.  If you want me to figure your poem on Yemoja Speaks Podcast email it to [email protected] Follow us on social media Yemoja Speaks Instagram Yemoja Speaks Facebook

  37. 37

    36. Happy birthday Sharonda Rochelle Swanson

    Sharonda or Lolo as she was known as was my beautiful mother. Many people are surprised by me when they meet me and know my history of being in foster care but I give the award to my mother for the strong foundation she set for me. This is my open ended letter to my mother, thanks you for taking the pain so I could be free.

  38. 36

    35. Tame the Dragon

    “Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.” Neil Gailman, Coraline What are your dragon? Our dragons can be: toxic thinking habits, anxiety, procrastination, childhood trauma, emotional trauma, and relationship trauma. It is okay to cry to get through it. Although I have not tame all my dragons I am learning my emotions and how I can use them rather than them using me. How do you tame your dragon? Know your emotions Know your goals and where you are heading Find balance through; mediation, writing, poetry, dance, sewing, etc. If you liked this episode, let us know by leaving us a message or liking it. Please follow us on social media Yemoja Speaks Instagram Yemoja Speaks Facebook

  39. 35

    34. Becoming a Foster parent, interview with Zina K

    We have all had questions about the process of becoming a foster and adoptive parent. As a former foster youth, I have questioned the process due to my personal experience and hearing the experience of my friends. I also see in the news where the system fails the child, so I wanted to understand how foster parents are screened. Join the conversation with Zina K, a foster parent recruiter for Pressley Ridge.   

  40. 34

    33. Daily behavioral change

    What to do daily for behavioral change

  41. 33

    32. Change behavior

    Change behavior

  42. 32

    31. Mental Health should be treated like your annual physical

    Mental health discussion with Dr. Sonji Kenyatta, a licensed professional clinical counselor. Dr. Kenyatta practice cognitive behavioral talk therapy which means we do what we think. She has worked as a professional clinical counselor for well over 20 years and now has her own practice counseling individuals each day.  Therapy is becoming more popular in conversations because many of us understand the power of our trauma when used effectively. We discussed how some of us break the generational curses by bettering our lives, which impacts our relationships with family and friends. Join the conversation, how are your relationships impacted by you learning and healing? Follow us on social media Yemoja Speaks Instagram Yemoja Speaks Facebook 

  43. 31

    30. Being Opened

    Mental health is important yet many times goes unnoticed until a major event occurs. It is equally important to listen to people around us when they think that something can be corrected about our behavior.

  44. 30

    29. Are they hindering or helping you succeed?

    We must look at the relationships that we have to understand if they are hindering or helping us to succeed.

  45. 29

    28. It requires reflection to prepare!

    Our journey requires reflection and preparation. To prepare we must know what we have already done and what others have done so that we can try new attempts instead of repeating old habits.

  46. 28

    27. Say Congrats, you made it!

    Being okay that I have overcome so much in our lives. I thank myself and you should too because you made it!

  47. 27

    26. My daddy issues!

    Understanding how your dad impacted your emotional and mental well-being is important. Many people talk about daddy issues but don’t explain how their dad impacted them emotionally. I explain my complex relationship with my dad.

  48. 26

    25. Dear mom, I wish I could...

    I have been looking at my behaviors and journey so far. I have made many of mistakes but have come to realize that I share traits that my parents have or had that I want to get rid of. Some of the things that I do isn’t right and doesn’t make sense. Healing myself means that I must look at the behaviors that mom had and how I use them or release them. I know that some of my traits need to go but at least I was able to look at them. 

  49. 25

    24. Parental impact: you just like yo momma!

    Have you been told that you were just like one of your parents? Yes many of us have been told that once in our lives. I told the time to do an overview of my parents and understand the qualities that I have too.

  50. 24

    23. Stop re-traumatizing yourself, walk away

    Walk away from people who are intentionally triggering you and trying to bring you to their level. It prevents you from growing when you match the energy of others who aren’t aspiring to better themselves.

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ABOUT THIS SHOW

Hey, my name is Shalonda, your host. This podcast is about foster care and our experiences growing up in custody. We want to highlight success stories to give the next generation tips on how they can survive foster care and thrive after. I share my experience and advice for what I did and didn't do while giving the lessons that I learned. I look forward to interviewing foster youth, foster parents, caseworkers, and biological families to understand the full story so we all can understand how to work together to create a better system.

HOSTED BY

Shalonda Swanson

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Yemoja Speaks have?

Yemoja Speaks currently has 50 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.

What is Yemoja Speaks about?

Hey, my name is Shalonda, your host. This podcast is about foster care and our experiences growing up in custody. We want to highlight success stories to give the next generation tips on how they can survive foster care and thrive after. I share my experience and advice for what I did and didn't do...

How often does Yemoja Speaks release new episodes?

Yemoja Speaks has 50 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.

Where can I listen to Yemoja Speaks?

You can listen to Yemoja Speaks on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.

Who hosts Yemoja Speaks?

Yemoja Speaks is created and hosted by Shalonda Swanson.
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