Hosts Lala and Brian welcome Daniel Stoffel, a beloved family member, successful young businessman, and owner of West Oak Salon. Daniel shares his lifelong passion for the beauty industry—from styling Barbie heads to opening his own salon—and the profound impact his LGBTQIA+ identity had on building his business with the very "audacity to be me." He discusses the unique challenges and immense rewards of running a family business and offers insights on mentorship and leadership. Finally, Daniel addresses the current economic volatility affecting beauty supplies and his commitment to uncompromised quality and customer experience in the face of rising costs and societal challenges.

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Join Lala and Brian as they sit down with Nigerian-American psychotherapist and author Agatha Peters, founder of Beautiful Sunshine Therapy and author of Trapped in Their Script. Agatha shares her inspiring journey from working in the ER to starting her own culturally sensitive practice, focusing on helping people break free from the burden of cultural and family expectations. This eye-opening conversation deeply defines narcissism, distinguishing it from general conflict, and explores its devastating impact on family dynamics and mental health. Crucially, they discuss the unique complications of healing in collectivist cultures and offer practical first steps, like journaling, for reclaiming your life and self-worth from abuse.

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Hosts Lala and Brian welcome the incredibly multi-hyphenate artist Leslie Battle to the show. Leslie, a comedian, dancer, writer, and poet, discusses her diverse career journey, from singing at a Bengals game during her 26 years in the US Army to her latest creative endeavors. She shares insights on overcoming her tendency to bury the lead about her accomplishments, the power of embracing new skills through just following directions, and the importance of grace and healing in an increasingly tumultuous world. Leslie also details her exciting Five for 55 birthday showcase, which blended all her talents, and gives a sneak peek into her upcoming poetry book, Caution: Reconstruction Zone, which explores themes of grief and trauma to help others feel less alone.

Leslie Battle

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