On this episode, it is a live recording of my Trappings of Masculinity Roundtable where I had the opportunity to discuss with five Black men from various sectors of youth work and community activism about the trappings of masculinity within the patriarchy and how they redefine it for themselves and the youth they serve.

Their Bios:

D.Ruff is a 2 time Boston Music Award Spoken Word Artist Of The Year nominee. D is a Roxbury-bred artist, performer, educator, artivist, and host. He co-hosted ”if you can Feel It, you can Speak It” Open Mic movement for 16 years. Most of his poems stem from personal experiences and observations, ranging from love and heartbreak to inequality and culture.

Kyle Umemba, cofounder of Let It Fly Classic and passionate community advocate. After 8 years at PwC, he transitioned to full-time entrepreneurship, focusing on creating opportunities for underserved communities through youth programs, scholarships, and mentorship.

Mitch Gayns is a 35 year old content creating contrarian from just north of Boston. Often described as "the guy you'd least want to argue with" he's doing his best these days to put his powers of persuasion (and occasional annoyance) to good use as a psuedo-parent to two teens, youth basketball referee and social media commentator from time to time.

Aljemall Peeples serves as the co-founder and director of Mike & Al's Basketball League and successfully continues the legacy established 25 years ago. Their organization transcends the typical scope of a basketball program; it functions as a violence prevention initiative designed to provide a constructive and positive outlet for youth between the ages of 10 and 21. He dedicates himself to ensuring the safety and protection of the young people in Grove Hall advocating for a cultural ethos that extends beyond athletics.

Thaddeus Miles is a community-centered leader with more than 30 years of experience advancing equity, wellness, and opportunity in the affordable housing sector. His work has always been rooted in this core belief: people thrive when they feel valued, connected and supported to live full and healthy lives. Additionally, he photographs Black life in moments of thriving and writes stories and heart whispers that honor the courage to keep going.

Send us Fan Mail

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, it is a live recording of my Black Educators Roundtable where I had the opportunity to bring together educators from various touch points of our systems. We have views from social worker lens, consultants, poets, former administrators, nonprofit EDs and Founders to talk about the holes and opportunities within and around education. Enjoy Part 2 of this 2 Part conversation!

Their Bios:

Cyndi Weekes Bradley has over 20 years of data-driven experience in equity including racial equity and co-creating spaces for educators that matter most to them. She has served in many education roles from teacher to administrator; and is even the Founder of her boutique equity firm - The Equity Process. She is also the co-founder and creative mind of Cynergi Healing Center.

Alia is a social worker earning her MSW at Bridgewater. She holds a BA in criminology and focuses on supporting BIPOC populations through community development, policy advocacy, and post incarceration support. As a clinician, Alia works with multicultural, multilingual individuals, especially those most affected by systemic and institutional oppression.

Porsha Olayiwola is a native of Chicago who writes, lives and loves in Boston. Olayiwola is a writer, performer, educator and curator who uses afro-futurism and surrealism to examine historical and current issues in the Black, woman, and queer diasporas. She is an individual World Poetry Slam Champion, the founder of the Roxbury Poetry Festival, and author of i shimmer sometimes, too.

Abdi is a curriculum designer, classroom teacher and a former district administrator in the Boston Public Schools with almost three decades of experience. Trained in educational ethnography under the mentorship of Dr. Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot at the HGSE.

D.Ruff is a 2 time Boston Music Award Spoken Word Artist Of The Year nominee. D is a Roxbury-bred artist, performer, educator, artivist, and host. He co-hosted ”if you can Feel It, you can Speak It” Open Mic movement for 16 years. Most of his poems stem from personal experiences and observations, ranging from love and heartbreak to inequality and culture.

Send us Fan Mail

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, it is a live recording of my Black Educators Roundtable where I had the opportunity to bring together educators from various touch points of our systems. We have views from a social worker lens, consultants, poets, former administrators, nonprofit EDs and Founders to talk about the holes and opportunities within and around education. Enjoy Part 1 of this 2 Part conversation!

Their Bios:

Cyndi Weekes Bradley has over 20 years of data-driven experience in equity including racial equity and co-creating spaces for educators that matter most to them. She has served in many education roles from teacher to administrator; and is even the Founder of her boutique equity firm - The Equity Process. She is also the co-founder and creative mind of Cynergi Healing Center.

Alia is a social worker earning her MSW at Bridgewater. She holds a BA in criminology and focuses on supporting BIPOC populations through community development, policy advocacy, and post incarceration support. As a clinician, Alia works with multicultural, multilingual individuals, especially those most affected by systemic and institutional oppression.

Porsha Olayiwola is a native of Chicago who writes, lives and loves in Boston. Olayiwola is a writer, performer, educator and curator who uses afro-futurism and surrealism to examine historical and current issues in the Black, woman, and queer diasporas. She is an individual World Poetry Slam Champion, the founder of the Roxbury Poetry Festival, and author of i shimmer sometimes, too.

Abdi is a curriculum designer, classroom teacher and a former district administrator in the Boston Public Schools with almost three decades of experience. Trained in educational ethnography under the mentorship of Dr. Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot at the HGSE.

D.Ruff is a 2 time Boston Music Award Spoken Word Artist Of The Year nominee. D is a Roxbury-bred artist, performer, educator, artivist, and host. He co-hosted ”if you can Feel It, you can Speak It” Open Mic movement for 16 years. Most of his poems stem from personal experiences and observations, ranging from love and heartbreak to inequality and culture.

Send us Fan Mail

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, Jayde takes us on a scenic ride of what it looks like on her hair journey where every change is significant from ending the relationship with the creamy crack, doing Dominican blowouts, getting braids, and then eventually chopping it all off. She lets us in on how social media played a role in going natural and what her advice would be to Black girls everywhere. Enjoy!

Her Bio:

Jayde Umemba is a digital strategist, community organizer, and all-around creative connector. By day, she leads digital content strategy, helping brands grow and engage their audiences through content development and smart strategy on social media—helping clients turn insights into action—and likes into loyal communities.

Outside of work, she’s deeply rooted in community. She proudly supports and organizes with the Chelsea Black Community, co-creates vibes with Friday Five to Nine, and helps coordinate the Let It Fly Classic—a basketball tournament that’s as much about culture and community as it is about competition. Whether online or in real life, she's passionate about bringing people together, amplifying voices, and making an impact.

THE CHAIR (S2/Ep43) — It Is Time, On Repeat

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 us Fan Mail

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, Jayde takes us on a journey of how she became a digital strategist. We learn what her formative years in college truly looked like and how all the twists and turns set her up to express herself creatively to support businesses now on social media. Enjoy!

Her Bio:

Jayde Umemba is a digital strategist, community organizer, and all-around creative connector. By day, she leads digital content strategy, helping brands grow and engage their audiences through content development and smart strategy on social media—helping clients turn insights into action—and likes into loyal communities.

Outside of work, she’s deeply rooted in community. She proudly supports and organizes with the Chelsea Black Community, co-creates vibes with Friday Five to Nine, and helps coordinate the Let It Fly Classic—a basketball tournament that’s as much about culture and community as it is about competition. Whether online or in real life, she's passionate about bringing people together, amplifying voices, and making an impact.

THE CHAIR (S2/Ep42) — Her Digital Blueprint

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 us Fan Mail

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, Bernie, a film and television Mexican American producer from East LA shared the importance of his views on the power of storytelling and why we need more representative stories. He also explains what it’s like to meet his heroes that he manifested in working with before entering film school and how a fresh cut and a line up changed his confidence.

His Bio:

Bernardo Duran Jr. is a film and television producer and writer from East Los Angeles with over 15 years of experience. He served as Co-Producer of Transformers: Rise of the Beasts and Associate Producer of Creed II, and consultant on the upcoming Man on Fire for Netflix. Starting his career on Diego Luna’s Cesar Chavez, Bernardo specializes in writing genre with a Latino lens, creative producing, and production oversight across studio features, television, and other media.

THE CHAIR (S2/Ep41) — Go Take A Lap

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 us Fan Mail

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, Bernie a film and television producer born and raised as a Mexican American in East LA shares how he entered into the world of film by way of finance and extra work, how identity helps him choose and shape his projects, and what collaboration looks like in the film industry. Enjoy!

His Bio:

Bernardo Duran Jr. is a film and television producer and writer from East Los Angeles with over 15 years of experience. He served as Co-Producer of Transformers: Rise of the Beasts and Associate Producer of Creed II, and consultant on the upcoming Man on Fire for Netflix. Starting his career on Diego Luna’s Cesar Chavez, Bernardo specializes in writing genre with a Latino lens, creative producing, and production oversight across studio features, television, and other media.

THE CHAIR (S2/Ep40) — Narcotic Lego Pieces

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 us Fan Mail

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, Brittany McCray brings us along on her hair journey. She gives us a peek into her world of wig creation, caring about her natural hair while doing the bare minimum, and falling in love with herself through her hair. Enjoy!

Her Bio:

Brittany McCray is a powerhouse in Chicago real estate, blending bold ambition with deep authenticity. As a licensed realtor and the founder of BRITTANY REALTY LLC, Brittany helps buyers, sellers, and investors navigate the market with confidence and clarity. Her passion lies in making real estate feel accessible—especially for first-time homebuyers—and she brings a signature mix of style, strategy, and substance to every deal.

Raised on the West Side of Chicago and educated at Loyola Academy, and Lake Forest College Brittany knows firsthand the power of opportunity and perseverance. She’s not only building her own real estate portfolio but also helping others create generational wealth through property ownership. Outside of real estate, she’s in the field of aviation, a wellness enthusiast, and an advocate for Black excellence in business and beyond.

Whether she’s hosting seminars, showing homes, or sharing insights online, Brittany leads with purpose and empowers others to do the same.

THE CHAIR (S2/Ep39) — Your Hair is Worthy

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 us Fan Mail

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...