On this episode, I had the honor of speaking with seven Black women who have spent decades in the Navy. They allow me into their world to begin to understand what a hair journey looked like in the Navy for them. We get the opportunity to hear stories about their time in bootcamp, on the ship, and shore duty. Additionally, we learn how these women advocated for the change of hair regulations for the betterment of the Navy. Enjoy!

Their Bios (The ones provided and shorten for word count purposes):

Michele (she/her) - Michele Robinson Ewing is a retired naval officer with 27 years of distinguished service, who now channels her extensive experience in leadership, people development, and strategic planning into her work as a Holistic Health and Wealth Coach. She specializes in guiding her clients toward physical, emotional, mental, and financial wellness, recognizing the interconnected nature of these aspects of life.

Coy Landrum (she/her) - YN1 Coy Landrum United States Navy 1989-2007 Little Creek, USS PUGET SOUND AD38, DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER CVN 69, Fleet Training Center Norfolk, Naval Marine Corps Reserve Center Battle Creek MI, and Naval Operations Center Saginaw MI

Tracy (she/her) - Tracy Brown was commissioned as a Naval Officer after graduating from college in the mid 1980's. She served 20 years of honorable military service and retired with the navy rank of Commander.

Diane (she/her) - LCDR Diane Bauckman, a native of Arlington, Virginia, enlisted in the United States Navy in 1993. She earned her commission through the Old Dominion University consortium in 2000, graduating with a BA in Pre-Law. LCDR Bauckman holds a Master’s Degree in Administration of Criminal Justice from the University of Phoenix. Her personal decorations include six Navy Commendation Medals, three Navy Achievement Medals, the Battle E, and the Navy Expeditionary Ribbon.

THE CHAIR (S2/Ep36) — I Went Back to Work

I’m Your AWARD WINNING Host Dreme.

I’m a Black woman, an educator turned tech entrepreneur but still an educator. Building a platform called THE CHAIR is a Black and Brown centered tech platform dedicated to supporting people on their hair journey. You can design hairboards, connect to hair stylists, and share hair care tips all in one space for

Send a text

Host & Exec Producer: Dreme Flynt, M.Ed, MBA
Editor: Lila Woodbridge
http://www.lilawoodbridge.com/
Music Creators: Your Host Dreme & Seoul (@xSeoulMusicx)

Learn More About THE CHAIR:
Join THE CHAIR Community for FREE:
https://growinghands.wpengine.com/

Join THE CHAIR Newsletter for FREE:
https://growinghands.wpengine.com/newsletter/

Commercial Credits:
Visionary: Your Host Dreme
Animator: Ahmad Merhi
https://amerhifilm.com/film
Voice Actor: D. Ruff (@d_ruff3), The Poet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFAH2cqo64U

My Book:
From Nowhere & Everywhere: Captured Emotions of a Beautifully Broken Love Story
My explorations through poetry, diary entries and photography as a Black woman, an educator in Guangzhou, China.
Website - https://www.lulu.com/en/...

On this episode, I had the honor of speaking with seven Black women who have spent decades in the Navy. They allow me into their world to begin to understand what sisterhood and mentorship looked liked to them in the Navy. Enjoy!

Their Bios (The ones provided and shorten for word count purposes):

Michele (she/her) - Michele Robinson Ewing is a retired naval officer with 27 years of distinguished service, who now channels her extensive experience in leadership, people development, and strategic planning into her work as a Holistic Health and Wealth Coach. She specializes in guiding her clients toward physical, emotional, mental, and financial wellness, recognizing the interconnected nature of these aspects of life.

Coy Landrum (she/her) - YN1 Coy Landrum United States Navy 1989-2007 Little Creek, USS PUGET SOUND AD38, DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER CVN 69, Fleet Training Center Norfolk, Naval Marine Corps Reserve Center Battle Creek MI, and Naval Operations Center Saginaw MI

Tracy (she/her) - Tracy Brown was commissioned as a Naval Officer after graduating from college in the mid 1980's. She served 20 years of honorable military service and retired with the navy rank of Commander.

Diane (she/her) - LCDR Diane Bauckman, a native of Arlington, Virginia, enlisted in the United States Navy in 1993. She earned her commission through the Old Dominion University consortium in 2000, graduating with a BA in Pre-Law. LCDR Bauckman holds a Master’s Degree in Administration of Criminal Justice from the University of Phoenix. Her personal decorations include six Navy Commendation Medals, three Navy Achievement Medals, the Battle E, and the Navy Expeditionary Ribbon.

THE CHAIR (S2/Ep35) — We are NOT Islands

I’m Your AWARD WINNING Host Dreme.

I’m a Black woman, an educator turned tech entrepreneur but still an educator. Building a platform called THE CHAIR is a Black and Brown centered tech platform dedicated to supporting people on their hair journey. You can design hairboards, connect to hair stylists, and share hair care tips all in one space for a more joyous and streamlined experience. AND built a AWARD WINNING podcast to share hair stories and stories surrounding identity, education, and entrepreneurship.

Send a text

Host & Exec Producer: Dreme Flynt, M.Ed, MBA
Editor: Lila Woodbridge
http://www.lilawoodbridge.com/
Music Creators: Your Host Dreme & Seoul (@xSeoulMusicx)

Learn More About THE CHAIR:
Join THE CHAIR Community for FREE:
https://growinghands.wpengine.com/

Join THE CHAIR Newsletter for FREE:
https://growinghands.wpengine.com/newsletter/

Commercial Credits:
Visionary: Your Host Dreme
Animator: Ahmad Merhi
https://amerhifilm.com/film
Voice Actor: D. Ruff (@d_ruff3), The Poet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFAH2cqo64U

My Book:
From Nowhere & Everywhere: Captured Emotions of a Beautifully Broken Love Story
My explorations through poetry, diary entries and photography as a Black woman, an educator in Guangzhou, China.
Website - https://www.lulu.com/en/...

On this episode, Shai paints the picture of her hair journey and how it has intersected with her identity of growing up as a biracial (Black and white) person, what hair has to do with confidence and self love, and falling in love with the process of getting to know yourself. Enjoy!

Her Bio:

Shai is a 31-year-old flight attendant with a globe-trotting spirit and a deep love for travel, sports, and the outdoors. I bring a unique perspective on adventure, and living life on the move.

THE CHAIR (S2/Ep34) — I Love to Sparkle

I’m Your AWARD WINNING Host Dreme.

I’m a Black woman, an educator turned tech entrepreneur but still an educator. Building a platform called THE CHAIR is a Black and Brown centered tech platform dedicated to supporting people on their hair journey. You can design hairboards, connect to hair stylists, and share hair care tips all in one space for a more joyous and streamlined experience. AND built a AWARD WINNING podcast to share hair stories and stories surrounding identity, education, and entrepreneurship.

Send a text

Host & Exec Producer: Dreme Flynt, M.Ed, MBA
Editor: Lila Woodbridge
http://www.lilawoodbridge.com/
Music Creators: Your Host Dreme & Seoul (@xSeoulMusicx)

Learn More About THE CHAIR:
Join THE CHAIR Community for FREE:
https://growinghands.wpengine.com/

Join THE CHAIR Newsletter for FREE:
https://growinghands.wpengine.com/newsletter/

Commercial Credits:
Visionary: Your Host Dreme
Animator: Ahmad Merhi
https://amerhifilm.com/film
Voice Actor: D. Ruff (@d_ruff3), The Poet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFAH2cqo64U

My Book:
From Nowhere & Everywhere: Captured Emotions of a Beautifully Broken Love Story
My explorations through poetry, diary entries and photography as a Black woman, an educator in Guangzhou, China.
Website - https://www.lulu.com/en/...

On this episode, Shai gives the ins and out of what it means to be a flight attendant. She highlights the the oddities that flight attendants do on layovers, how compassion and empathy are necessary traits in customer service, and reminding all that are interested in this profession to understand that you are alone a significant amount of time. Enjoy!

Her Bio:

Shai is a 31-year-old flight attendant with a globe-trotting spirit and a deep love for travel, sports, and the outdoors. I bring a unique perspective on adventure, and living life on the move.

THE CHAIR (S2/Ep33) — Your Safety Over a Coke

I’m Your AWARD WINNING Host Dreme.

I’m a Black woman, an educator turned tech entrepreneur but still an educator. Building a platform called THE CHAIR is a Black and Brown centered tech platform dedicated to supporting people on their hair journey. You can design hairboards, connect to hair stylists, and share hair care tips all in one space for a more joyous and streamlined experience. AND built a AWARD WINNING podcast to share hair stories and stories surrounding identity, education, and entrepreneurship.

Send a text

Host & Exec Producer: Dreme Flynt, M.Ed, MBA
Editor: Lila Woodbridge
http://www.lilawoodbridge.com/
Music Creators: Your Host Dreme & Seoul (@xSeoulMusicx)

Learn More About THE CHAIR:
Join THE CHAIR Community for FREE:
https://growinghands.wpengine.com/

Join THE CHAIR Newsletter for FREE:
https://growinghands.wpengine.com/newsletter/

Commercial Credits:
Visionary: Your Host Dreme
Animator: Ahmad Merhi
https://amerhifilm.com/film
Voice Actor: D. Ruff (@d_ruff3), The Poet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFAH2cqo64U

My Book:
From Nowhere & Everywhere: Captured Emotions of a Beautifully Broken Love Story
My explorations through poetry, diary entries and photography as a Black woman, an educator in Guangzhou, China.
Website - https://www.lulu.com/en/...

On this episode, Aaleyah takes us on a hair journey. She shares stories from the perm to the big chop, to falling in love with her curls, leading to a disaster at the salon, which led to her finding her way to having a beautiful head full of locs. Enjoy!

Her Bio:

Aaleyah is a dynamic therapist, creative, and healer specializing in Dance/Movement Therapy. With a strong academic and clinical foundation, she brings a culturally responsive, trauma-informed lens to her work with children, adolescents, and families. Her approach integrates movement, expressive arts, and somatic practices to help clients navigate anxiety, grief, trauma, and identity exploration particularly within communities that have historically been underserved. Guided by the belief that the body holds deep wisdom, Aaleyah creates spaces where emotional expression and healing can unfold organically.

Beyond her clinical work, Aaleyah embodies holistic wellness in her everyday life. She is a certified yoga practitioner and offers cupping and acupressure therapy rooted in Meridian principles. She finds joy and grounding in hiking, swimming, dancing, and traveling activities that both nourish her and reflect the values she brings into her practice. A lifelong learner, she is deeply interested in the intersection of psychedelics and rehabilitation sciences, particularly as it relates to developmental and intellectual disabilities, depression, and anxiety. Through all that she does, Aaleyah is committed to embodied liberation, community care, and making healing accessible and culturally meaningful.

THE CHAIR (S2/Ep32) — My Antennas

I’m Your AWARD WINNING Host Dreme.

I’m a Black woman, an educator turned tech entrepreneur but still an educator. Building a platform called THE CHAIR is a Black and Brown centered tech platform dedicated to supporting people on their hair journey. You can design hairboards, connect to hair stylists, and share hair care tips all in one space for a more joyous and streamlined experience. AND built a AWARD WINNING podcast to share hair stories and stories surrounding identity, education, and entrepreneurship.

Send a text

Host & Exec Producer: Dreme Flynt, M.Ed, MBA
Editor: Lila Woodbridge
http://www.lilawoodbridge.com/
Music Creators: Your Host Dreme & Seoul (@xSeoulMusicx)

Learn More About THE CHAIR:
Join THE CHAIR Community for FREE:
https://growinghands.wpengine.com/

Join THE CHAIR Newsletter for FREE:
https://growinghands.wpengine.com/newsletter/

Commercial Credits:
Visionary: Your Host Dreme
Animator: Ahmad Merhi
https://amerhifilm.com/film
Voice Actor: D. Ruff (@d_ruff3), The Poet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFAH2cqo64U

My Book:
From Nowhere & Everywhere: Captured Emotions of a Beautifully Broken Love Story
My explorations through poetry, diary entries and photography as a Black woman, an educator in Guangzhou, China.
Website - https://www.lulu.com/en/...

On this episode, Aaleyah allows us openly on her journey of becoming a dynamic therapist specializing in dance and movement therapy. She takes us on a rollercoaster of emotions though career changes, illnesses, and accidents. It is an absolute honor to be able to hold space of stories of this magnitude. Enjoy!

Her Bio:

Aaleyah is a dynamic therapist, creative, and healer specializing in Dance/Movement Therapy. With a strong academic and clinical foundation, she brings a culturally responsive, trauma-informed lens to her work with children, adolescents, and families. Her approach integrates movement, expressive arts, and somatic practices to help clients navigate anxiety, grief, trauma, and identity exploration particularly within communities that have historically been underserved. Guided by the belief that the body holds deep wisdom, Aaleyah creates spaces where emotional expression and healing can unfold organically.

Beyond her clinical work, Aaleyah embodies holistic wellness in her everyday life. She is a certified yoga practitioner and offers cupping and acupressure therapy rooted in Meridian principles. She finds joy and grounding in hiking, swimming, dancing, and traveling activities that both nourish her and reflect the values she brings into her practice. A lifelong learner, she is deeply interested in the intersection of psychedelics and rehabilitation sciences, particularly as it relates to developmental and intellectual disabilities, depression, and anxiety. Through all that she does, Aaleyah is committed to embodied liberation, community care, and making healing accessible and culturally meaningful.

THE CHAIR (S2/Ep31) — Credentials in My Spirit

I’m Your AWARD WINNING Host Dreme.

I’m a Black woman, an educator turned tech entrepreneur but still an educator. Building a platform called THE CHAIR is a Black and Brown centered tech platform dedicated to supporting people on their hair journey. You can design hairboards, connect to hair stylists, and share hair care tips all in one space for a more joyous and streamlined experience. AND built a AWARD WINNING podcast to share hair stories and stories surrounding identity, education, and entrepreneurship.

Send a text

Host & Exec Producer: Dreme Flynt, M.Ed, MBA
Editor: Lila Woodbridge
http://www.lilawoodbridge.com/
Music Creators: Your Host Dreme & Seoul (@xSeoulMusicx)

Learn More About THE CHAIR:
Join THE CHAIR Community for FREE:
https://growinghands.wpengine.com/

Join THE CHAIR Newsletter for FREE:
https://growinghands.wpengine.com/newsletter/

Commercial Credits:
Visionary: Your Host Dreme
Animator: Ahmad Merhi
https://amerhifilm.com/film
Voice Actor: D. Ruff (@d_ruff3), The Poet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFAH2cqo64U

My Book:
From Nowhere & Everywhere: Captured Emotions of a Beautifully Broken Love Story
My explorations through poetry, diary entries and photography as a Black woman, an educator in Guangzhou, China.
Website - https://www.lulu.com/en/...

On this episode, Aaleyah allows us openly on her journey of becoming a dynamic therapist specializing in dance and movement therapy. She takes us on a rollercoaster of emotions though career changes, illnesses, and accidents. It is an absolute honor to be able to hold space of stories of this magnitude. Enjoy!

Her Bio:

Aaleyah is a dynamic therapist, creative, and healer specializing in Dance/Movement Therapy. With a strong academic and clinical foundation, she brings a culturally responsive, trauma-informed lens to her work with children, adolescents, and families. Her approach integrates movement, expressive arts, and somatic practices to help clients navigate anxiety, grief, trauma, and identity exploration particularly within communities that have historically been underserved. Guided by the belief that the body holds deep wisdom, Aaleyah creates spaces where emotional expression and healing can unfold organically.

Beyond her clinical work, Aaleyah embodies holistic wellness in her everyday life. She is a certified yoga practitioner and offers cupping and acupressure therapy rooted in Meridian principles. She finds joy and grounding in hiking, swimming, dancing, and traveling activities that both nourish her and reflect the values she brings into her practice. A lifelong learner, she is deeply interested in the intersection of psychedelics and rehabilitation sciences, particularly as it relates to developmental and intellectual disabilities, depression, and anxiety. Through all that she does, Aaleyah is committed to embodied liberation, community care, and making healing accessible and culturally meaningful.

THE CHAIR (S2/Ep30) — The Mirrors & The Stereo

I’m Your AWARD WINNING Host Dreme.

I’m a Black woman, an educator turned tech entrepreneur but still an educator. Building a platform called THE CHAIR is a Black and Brown centered tech platform dedicated to supporting people on their hair journey. You can design hairboards, connect to hair stylists, and share hair care tips all in one space for a more joyous and streamlined experience. AND built a AWARD WINNING podcast to share hair stories and stories surrounding identity, education, and entrepreneurship.

Send a text

Host & Exec Producer: Dreme Flynt, M.Ed, MBA
Editor: Lila Woodbridge
http://www.lilawoodbridge.com/
Music Creators: Your Host Dreme & Seoul (@xSeoulMusicx)

Learn More About THE CHAIR:
Join THE CHAIR Community for FREE:
https://growinghands.wpengine.com/

Join THE CHAIR Newsletter for FREE:
https://growinghands.wpengine.com/newsletter/

Commercial Credits:
Visionary: Your Host Dreme
Animator: Ahmad Merhi
https://amerhifilm.com/film
Voice Actor: D. Ruff (@d_ruff3), The Poet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFAH2cqo64U

My Book:
From Nowhere & Everywhere: Captured Emotions of a Beautifully Broken Love Story
My explorations through poetry, diary entries and photography as a Black woman, an educator in Guangzhou, China.
Website - https://www.lulu.com/en/...

On this episode, Devenia, Periana and I talk what it means to navigate PWI (predominantly white spaces) as Black people, advice given about our hair as young girls into our adolescence and how it evolved, and what is one of our favorite things about being Black. Enjoy!

Their Bios:

Devenia Cordette (she/her) is an ever-proud black womyn from the south side of Chicago. She is deeply passionate about the black experience of where they’ve been, as a collective, and where they will go. Since she was younger, she’s been an avid writer, reader, music lover & critic. She is currently a teacher within the private sector of education, who loves her students deeply, and takes their well-roundedness seriously. As she navigates through life, she continues to educate herself, those around her, and uplift her community every chance she gets. Her future plans include graduate degrees, and continuing to climb within education to reach the level of a tenured collegiate professional. As Devenia always says, “it’s a great day to have a great day, and an even better day to be black.”

Periana resides in the DFW area, but was born and raised on the west side of Chicago. She is a wife, a mama to two beautiful girls (Kai and Kobe), a foodie, and so much more. Periana spent the bulk of her career in higher education, supporting and advocating for first generation, low income, and underrepresented student populations. Currently, she is working to improve maternal health outcomes, especially for Black and Brown mamas who are disproportionately affected by the maternal healthcare crisis, and she plans to become a full spectrum doula within the next year or so.

THE CHAIR (S2/Ep29) — Give Yourself Wings

I’m Your AWARD WINNING Host Dreme.

I’m a Black woman, an educator turned tech entrepreneur but still an educator. Building a platform called THE CHAIR is a Black and Brown centered tech platform dedicated to supporting people on their hair journey. You can design hairboards, connect to hair stylists, and share hair care tips all in one space for a more joyous and streamlined experience. AND built a AWARD WINNING podcast to share hair stories and stories surrounding identity, education, and entrepreneurship.

Send a text

Host & Exec Producer: Dreme Flynt, M.Ed, MBA
Editor: Lila Woodbridge
http://www.lilawoodbridge.com/
Music Creators: Your Host Dreme & Seoul (@xSeoulMusicx)

Learn More About THE CHAIR:
Join THE CHAIR Community for FREE:
https://growinghands.wpengine.com/

Join THE CHAIR Newsletter for FREE:
https://growinghands.wpengine.com/newsletter/

Commercial Credits:
Visionary: Your Host Dreme
Animator: Ahmad Merhi
https://amerhifilm.com/film
Voice Actor: D. Ruff (@d_ruff3), The Poet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFAH2cqo64U

My Book:
From Nowhere & Everywhere: Captured Emotions of a Beautifully Broken Love Story
My explorations through poetry, diary entries and photography as a Black woman, an educator in Guangzhou, China.
Website - https://www.lulu.com/en/...