On this episode of Badass Black Girl, M.J. speaks with Michelle Duster, author, speaker, and public historian, about her new book, Ida B. the Queen: The Extraordinary Life and Legacy of Ida B. Wells. M.J. asks what it means to be descended from legendary Journalist and Civil Rights Activist Ida B. Wells. They discuss how Michelle came to write the book, and where her confidence comes from. They talk about Michelle’s childhood and how her city informed her career and who she is today. They discuss people and characters from books that inspired her. M.J. asks Michelle what the reaction to her new book has been so far and what it was like to publish it during the pandemic. Michelle talks about her research and what she has discovered that surprised her. She also gives some insight into her research process. Michelle Duster is an author, speaker, professor, public historian, and champion of racial and gender equity. She has written, edited and/or contributed to sixteen books. Her most recent is Ida B. the Queen: The Extraordinary Life and Legacy of Ida B. Wells. She also co-wrote the popular children’s history book, Tate and His Historic Dream. She has co-edited Impact: Personal Portraits of Activism, Shifts: An Anthology of Women's Growth Through Change, and Michelle Obama’s Impact on African American Women and Girls. Her many awards include the 2019 Multi-Generational Activist Award from the Illinois Human Rights Commission and the 2019 Martin Luther King Jr. Social Justice Award from Dartmouth College. Find out more about Michelle Duster on her website.

On this episode of Badass Black Girl, M.J. speaks with Rose François, author of A Generational Cry: Based on a True Story of the Haitian Revolution. M.J. asks her what the appeal was of writing about the Haitian Revolution. Rose was born in Haiti and raised in Jacksonville, Florida, so M.J. asks her how she sees Haiti, and how she maintains her connections with the country and culture. They talk about Rose's career and Rose shares time management tips and explains how she finds time for creativity. They discuss her writing process, her research process, and some surprises she encountered while researching her book. They also discuss issues in Haiti that lead to division and the power of Creole. Rose also talks about her upcoming book tour and where to find out more information about her and her book. Rose François was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti and raised in Jacksonville, Florida. She is the founder of A RISING UP, a racial justice community advancing racial justice and making anti-racism a lifestyle. She is the author of A Generational Cry: Based on a True Story of the Haitian Revolution. You can find out more about her on her website.

On this episode of Badass Black Girl, M.J. speaks with writer, activist, and storyteller Mia Birdsong, author of the book How We Show Up: Reclaiming Family, Friendship, and Community. They discuss her book and the ideas of individualism vs. interdependence, the trope of the strong Black woman, the need for meaningful connections, and how people react to her when she talks about it. M.J. asks Mia what we can do on a daily basis to help reclaim family, friendship, and community. Mia talks about the ideas of freedom and accountability, and sustaining and tending to relationships. M.J. also asks what educators can do to make sure that children understand interconnectedness. They discuss her journey to becoming a writer and an activist and her parent’s role in her upbringing. Mia shares tips on how to become an activist, and explains that we all authentically belong to the earth no matter who we are. Mia Birdsong is an activist, facilitator and storyteller. She is author of the book How We Show Up: Reclaiming Family, Friendship, and Community. A Senior Fellow of the Economic Security Project, she was also an inaugural Ascend Fellow of both The Aspen Institute and New America California. She was founding Co-Director of Family Story and Vice President of UpTogether (formerly Family Independence Initiative). Mia speaks widely at conferences and gatherings across the country. She lives with her loved ones on the occupied land of the Chochenyo Ohlone people (a.k.a. Oakland, CA). Read more about her work here.

On this episode of Badass Black Girl, M.J. speaks with Rebecca N. Carmant, an Haitian-American author, educator, and mother to an autistic son. They discuss how her son, Cyril, got his diagnosis and the challenges she faced when dealing with the school and medical systems. They talk about what keeps her going when things become difficult, and about her son’s typical routine for a day. They also discuss the support system she has built outside of the school system and her self-care routines. Rebecca talks about those closest to her, the people she calls on when things become overwhelming. They discuss Cyril’s needs for a circle of friends and his prospects for the future. Lastly, M.J. asks Rebecca, "If you could talk to your younger self, which lessons would you share with her?" Rebecca N. Carmant is the author of Sunshine on Stormy Seas, a poetry collection that gives voice to the battles the Haitian-American writer faces as a woman of color, a person of faith, and the mother of an autistic child. Carmant holds a Master’s degree in Education and is pursuing a doctoral degree in Leadership. She advocates for many causes, including but not limited to autism and social justice.

On this episode of Badass Black Girl, M.J. talks with Lynell George, a journalist, essayist, and researcher, about her new book A Handful of Earth, A Handful of Sky: The World of Octavia Butler. They start by discussing her journey to becoming a writer. Lynell shares her favorite Octavia Butler anecdote and why she chose Butler’s life to write about. M.J. asks why creativity is important. She also asks Lynell what about Butler’s life surprised her when she was researching the book. Lynell shares how she finds time to work on her passion projects, given the demands and challenges of being a journalist. They discuss how the location she grew up in influenced her professional choices and what she discovered about herself while writing the book about Butler. You can learn more about Lynell on her website. Lynell George is an award-winning journalist and essayist. She is the author of three books of nonfiction including No Crystal Stair: African Americans in the City of Angels and the Los Angeles Times bestseller, After/Image: Los Angeles Outside the Frame. She is a former staff writer for the Los Angeles Times and L.A. Weekly. Her writing has appeared in various collections, including Speculative Los Angeles, Writing Los Angeles, and Another City: Writing from Los Angeles. Her liner notes for Otis Redding's "Live at The Whisky A Go Go: The Complete Recordings" won a 2017 GRAMMY award. Her latest book, A Handful of Earth, A Handful of Sky: The World of Octavia E. Butler, is a finalist for a 2021 Hugo Award in the Related Work category.

On this episode of Badass Black Girl, M.J. speaks with Shawandra Ford, the owner and founder of Brwnsknyoga. They discuss Shawandra’s journey to yoga and what it’s like to teach yoga to children. M.J. asks her about what it was like to open her own yoga studio. They discuss Shawandra’s childhood in Memphis and the emotional needs of the children she teaches. They discuss Shawandra’s role models growing up and the overall physical and mental health benefits of having a yoga and meditation practice. They also discuss the idea that yoga is an activity meant only for women, and Shawandra dispels the myth that men can’t practice yoga too. Shawandra Ford is the owner and founder of Brwnsknyoga, located in Memphis, Tennessee. She teaches affirmations to children between the grades of kindergarten to fifth grade in underserved communities in Memphis and she runs a yoga studio. You can find out more about her work here.

In this episode of Badass Black Girl, M.J. talks with Brittany Conley, the founder and creator of Black Girl Affirmed, a blog and website that that provides affirmations and positive blog posts to edify Black women. They discuss what affirmations are and why they are used, along with how Brittany utilizes them. M.J. asks Brittany how the blog has changed her perceptions and helped her build community. Brittany talks about her role models and the lessons she’s learned from them. They discuss other physical and mental strategies for refocusing during trials and adversity. They also discussed her website and its online shop that carries products to help keep you grounded and to help you feel powerful. Brittany Conley is the founder and creator of Black Girl Affirmed, a website and blog that provides resources for Black women and seeks to edify their daily lives with inspirational affirmations, positive blog posts, and products designed to uplift.

A Cat Named Sam is ready for the holidays—Or is he??? It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Unless you’re A Cat Named Sam. Scaredy-cat Sam wants to enjoy the Christmas season, but Liza’s plans for Christmas Eve dinner have spoiled his holiday cheer. Join Sam on this adventure and find out why it is so important to listen closely to others. If you love kittens, then you’ll love the adorable Cat Named Sam who takes us on a journey throughout his festive house. Cuddle up with your kids and your pets this holiday season and read A Cat Named Sam! Indiebound- https://bit.ly/ACatnamedsam Indigo- https://bit.ly/ACatnamedSam Amazon- https://bit.ly/ACatNamedSam Bookshop- https://bit.ly/acatnamedsam Barnes and noble- https://bit.ly/ACatNamedsam #kidstories #shortstoriesforkids #littlestorieskidsphotography #moralstoriesforkids #storiesinenglishforkids #kidsstorybook #mummysofinstagram #childrenslearning #dragonfruitkids #storybookforkids #storybooksforkids #kidsstorybooks #kidsstorybookstore #kidsstorybooksreadaloud #kidsstorybooksinenglish #kidsstorybookspeak #kidsstorybookbible #kidsstorybookillustartions #kidsstorybookillustration #catbooksforkids #catbooks #catbookclub #catbookstagram #holidaybooks #childhoodbooks #littlebookworms #kidslovebooks #christmasbooks #christmaskid #kidbook

On this episode of Badass Black Girl, M.J. speaks with Writer and Professor Dr. LaTanya McQueen, author of the just released novel When the Reckoning Comes. MJ asks her what it’s like to live in Iowa, where the idea for her novel came from, and what it’s about. LaTanya talks about what it’s like to tour plantations in the South and the disconnect white people have from the Black experience. They talk about her journey to becoming a writer and what she read growing up. They also discuss her role models and the difficulties she’s faced in the writing life. LaTanya shares more about her collection of essays, And It Begins Like This, and the impetus for writing that book. She talks about her upcoming projects and offers advice for beginning writers. Dr. LaTanya McQueen has an M.F.A. from Emerson College, a PhD from the University of Missouri, and was the Robert P. Dana Emerging Writer Fellow at Cornell College. She is an assistant professor of English and Creative Writing at Coe College in Iowa. She is the author of a collection of essays, And It Begins Like This and the novel, When the Reckoning Comes.

On this episode of Badass Black Girl, M.J. speaks with Dr. Francesca Fajinmi, who has worked in corporate America in finance for more than 30 years. She was born in England, grew up in Nigeria, and emigrated to the United States, so she has a global perspective. She started her podcast, Reimagining Black Relations, after the murder of George Floyd and the global media coverage of the #BlackLivesMatter protests. M.J. asks Dr. Fajinmi what initially piqued her interest in mathematics and accounting and asks her about life lessons she picked up along the way. Dr. Fajinmi talks about the importance of speaking up and about the difficulties Black women face globally. M.J. asks her how she nourishes her intellect and which conversations Dr. Fajinmi most enjoyed on her podcast. Dr. Fajinmi also discusses colorism within Africa and the importance of having a contingency plan. Dr. Francesca Fajinmi is a business practitioner and corporate executive with over three decades of experience in corporate finance. Her academic qualifications culminated in a doctoral degree in business from Walden University, where she specialized in International Business. She started the work on Your Black Matters, her website featuring her podcast and blog, as the host of Reimagining Black Relations podcast, where she engages leaders in business and social or spiritual settings to explore solutions to issues faced by Blacks. Her podcast is downloaded across all continents. You can listen to her here. In 2020, she convened a global conference themed Black Esteem—the first Black Affair hosted by Your Black Matters.

In this episode of Badass Black Girl, M.J. speaks with Morgan Jerkins, a three-time author and Cultural Editor at ESPN’s The Undefeated. They talk about what makes New Jersey a special place and discuss what it means to be a Black woman in America and in the world. They discuss her newest book, Caul Baby, and what her process of writing it looked like. They also discuss how her environment affects her writing and the special place Harlem has in her heart. They talk about her writing routine, and what makes her happy in the world. They also talk about her role models, and how she finds her center when she’s having a bad day. M.J. asks Morgan what’s next for her, and what needs to happen to make the world a better place. Morgan Jerkins is the New York Times bestselling author of This Will Be My Undoing: Living at the Intersection of Black, Female, and Feminist in (White) America, and Wandering In Strange Lands: A Daughter of the Great Migration Reclaims Her Roots. Her third book, Caul Baby: A Novel, was released by Harper Books in April 2021. Jerkins holds a B.A. in Comparative Literature from Princeton University and an M.F.A. from the Bennington Writing Seminars. A recently named Forbes 30 under 30 Leader in Media and a 2021 ASME Next Award winner, Jerkins regularly teaches at Columbia University’s School of the Arts in the Nonfiction department.

In this episode of Badass Black Girl, M.J. talks with Shaneé Yvette Murrain, who builds and promotes online collections that reflect our shared cultural heritage with the 4,000+ libraries, museums, and archives across the country. Shaneé also designs technology to make collections available through the Digital Public Library of America (DPLA). She stewarded partnerships and curation for the Black Women’s Suffrage Digital Collection. M.J. asks Shaneé how she faces the challenges of making sure that more than one story is told. She asks Shaneé about the process of selecting materials for libraries, and how the pandemic has challenged librarians to reach those who may not have digital access during quarantine. They also discuss what Shaneé is reading, and the moment she knew she wanted to become a librarian. They also talk about the special skills a librarian needs and what’s next for her. They end the conversation by discussing what Shaneé thinks makes a badass Black girl. Shaneé Yvette Murrain leads outreach to promote DPLA’s unique value and engage over 4,000 cultural heritage institutions to make millions of materials from a national network of state/regional digital libraries, bringing together digitized and born-digital content from across the country to a single access point for end-users and an open platform for developers. Shaneé stewards partnerships with sub-grantees and the curation of educational content for the Black Women’s Suffrage Digital Collection, funded by Pivotal Ventures, a Melinda Gates company.

In this episode of Badass Black Girl, M.J. speaks with journalist, marketer, emcee, writer and the host of the Black Island Girl podcast, Jael Joseph. They talk about where she gets her confidence, parenting, and time management secrets. They discuss the brands she represents and how she knows they are a good fit. They talk about her birth country, Dominica, her childhood and how growing up in the Caribbean affected her view of life. They also discuss life in Canada, colorism, racism, and how to best dismantle it. M.J. also asks her what’s next for her and what makes a badass Black girl. Jael Joseph is a radio and television content producer, brand ambassador, talent composer and coordinator as well as emcee. Her services also range from creation to execution of commercial advertisements used on various platforms and working with brands and companies as a creative director as well as an influencer. She has over 10 years of experience in hosting on-air shows both live and pre-recorded.

In this episode of Badass Black Girl, M.J. talks with Joanne Hillhouse, writer and educator, and author of seven books of fiction. They discuss which genre(s) she prefers, her writing process, and the moment she knew she had talent as a writer. They also discuss imposter syndrome, and how it can be a driving force. M.J. and Joanne talk about their individual notions of success and what that means to them and the value of networking. They discuss Joanne’s connection to Antigua and how it grounds her writing. This leads to a far-reaching discussion of books they both read as children and what they are both reading right now, as well as the importance and emergence of global Black literature. M.J. also asks Joanne what’s next for her in terms of projects she is looking to complete. Antiguan and Barbudan author Joanne C. Hillhouse is the author of seven books of fiction – children’s picture books Lost! A Caribbean Sea Adventure, With Grace, and The Jungle Outside; teen/young adult books Musical Youth and The Boy from Willow Bend; and adult contemporary novels Dancing Nude in the Moonlight and Oh Gad!. Joanne has also been published in numerous journals and anthologies including NAACP Image award-nominated New Daughters of Africa, critically acclaimed Pepperpot: Best New Stories from the Caribbean, and African American Literary Award winning Letter for My Mother. Also check out her literary blog here, home of the Wadadli Pen writing program for young people that Joanne started in Antigua and Barbuda in 2004.

In this episode of Badass Black Girl, M.J. talks to legendary poet and activist Nikki Giovanni. They discuss why self-doubt is a bad idea, and Nikki gives advice to new writers. M.J. asks Nikki, "If you could speak to your younger self, what would you say to her?" They discuss Black Lives Matter and the Civil Rights Movement, and talk about contemporary writers Nikki is reading right now. They also discuss what makes her happy, ancestors and their importance. M.J. asks her who her role models were and what they taught her. Nikki talks about the importance of friendship and tells a story about finding a hog’s head in her mother’s refrigerator. She gives advice for young people who want to celebrate their roots. Nikki talks about the United States, its current situation, and the January 6 attack on the Capitol. M.J. asks her which, out of all the poems she’s written, is her favorite and Nikki talks about the importance of nature. Nikki Giovanni is one of America’s foremost poets. Over the course of a long career, Giovanni has published numerous collections of poetry—from her first self-published volume Black Feeling Black Talk (1968) to New York Times bestseller Bicycles: Love Poems (2009)—several works of nonfiction and children’s literature, and multiple recordings, including the Emmy-award nominated The Nikki Giovanni Poetry Collection (2004). Her most recent publications include Make Me Rain: Poems and Prose (2020), Chasing Utopia: A Hybrid (2013) and, as editor, The 100 Best African American Poems (2010). A frequent lecturer and reader, Giovanni has taught at Rutgers University, Ohio State University, and Virginia Tech, where she is a University Distinguished Professor.

On this episode of Badass Black Girl, MJ talks with Krystel Armand Kanzki, CPA and writer of La Petite Pétra series of children’s books. Krystel talks about her children’s books series and explains how she began writing them as a means to get her own children integrated into a multi-lingual education. Krystel discusses how her children weigh in on the writing process and how all of her books are written with her children’s input. She discusses the importance of her Haitian heritage and how it feels to be part of the diaspora after spending 26 years of her life in Haiti. She also discusses her career as an accountant, her family’s business back in Haiti, and a new healthcare initiative, Multi Med USA, that she is now working on to bring affordable healthcare to Haitian Americans, their families, and their business connections. You can find out more about Krystel’s books at lapetitepetra.com, and more about Multi Med USA at multimedusa.com. Krystel Armand Kanzki was born and raised in Haiti. She is a CPA, an entrepreneur, a wife and a mother of three children. She is the VP of Finance of Compagnie d’Assurance d’Haiti S.A. and Hertz—Thrifty Leasing & Car Rental in Haiti. Krystel uses her free time to teach entrepreneurs, professionals and teenagers through her platform www.xponential-learning.com. Krystel wrote a bilingual book series entitled La Petite Pétra, which was inspired by her children because she had noticed level 1 books in French were very rare. Her first books were published in 2018.

In this episode of Badass Black Girl, MJ talks with Genie Dawkins, author, international speaker and host of the podcast The Parenting Cipher. As the mother of special needs children, Genie discusses the school system and the difficulties of parenting special needs children within that system. She talks about how the system often fails special needs children, especially Black children who are often categorized as having behavioral problems, rather than being tested and diagnosed with learning disabilities. She talks about how confidence and preparedness is key to advocating for your special needs children, and she discusses how she stays connected to herself and her kids. They also discuss Genie’s book, Not My Child, and her journey to getting her children diagnosed. The book offers tips for parents with special needs children, or those who suspect their children may have special needs. Genie offers parenting classes through her website and you can check out her podcast here. Genie Dawkins is a multi-passionate author who delves into the topics of family & relationships, parenting, education, special needs, and education & teaching. Currently, she serves as a Health Insurance Specialist, Special Education Consultant, and Integrative Health Coach. Genie recently authored the book Not My Child and she is in the midst of working on a number of other publications. In addition to obtaining her Certification in Integrative Health Coaching, Genie holds an M.S. in Non-Profit Management and a B.S. in Social Sciences.

In this episode of Badass Black Girl, MJ speaks with Kimberly Gordon, author, visual artist, and educational content creator. Kimberly founded @addictionrecoverydiy and 5d Media Group. She also spearheads 100 Class for Black Kids. Her 9th book is coming out in May. They discuss her journey to becoming a writer, and her years working for a Fortune 500 company as a marketer. They also discuss motherhood and the intersection of writing. They discuss the themes in her books, particularly A Doll like Me, and Black Girl Boss, a coloring story book. Kimberly discusses the moment when she recognized she was talented as an illustrator and they discuss the process of becoming an author/illustrator. They also discuss her upcoming projects and when she finds quiet time during the day to create. Kimberly Gordon is a children's book author and illustrator. After graduating from Simmons College in Boston and studying creative writing at Harvard and Columbia, Kimberly entered the work force and climbed the corporate ladder to management positions in Fortune 500 companies. But one day on the verge of a promotion, she realized that all she truly wanted to do was have her own business, work when and how she wanted to, and make her own money doing what she loved doing. This is how she became a business owner.