In this episode, MacArthur Genius and Chicago-based artist Tonika Lewis Johnson joins host Dr. Yndia for a deeply moving conversation on reparations as reclaiming home, dignity, and neighborhood life. They explore Tonika’s groundbreaking projects Unblocked Englewood and The Folded Map Project, and how she uses photography as a tool for social justice and collective memory. Tonika reflects on growing up in a household filled with artists and how that foundation shaped her commitment to community, place, and storytelling. This episode centers the power of Black neighborhoods and why honoring them is essential to maintaining thriving communities for generations to come. Production credit: @Masauko. Episode sponsored by @Give Black Alliance. Share and Follow on IG: @BelongingToBlackness_Podcast & @ProfYndia. Listen to episodes directly at: https://yndialorickwilmot.com/belonging-to-blackness/ and wherever you listen to your podcasts.

The post S7, Ep 063 with Tonika Lewis Johnson, MacArthur Genius and Chi-Town Artist Reimagining Reparations as Reclaiming Home, Dignity, and Neighborhoods first appeared on Yndia Lorick-Wilmot, PhD.

It’s December and this month offers an opportunity to prioritize our wellness in ways that feel nourishing, restorative, and empowering for entering the new year! In this episode, Dr. Yndia sits with Sherece Brown, the founder of Dr. Pabs, Pineapple is a Berry—a natural food and wellness brand for families. Listen in as they discuss how Sherece’s Jamaican immigrant family influenced her entrepreneurial spirit, and passion and concern for children’s overall wellbeing that led to the development of high-quality, plant-based multivitamins, Dr. Pabs. Sherece also shares lessons learned as a Black woman navigating obstacles in a competitive wellness industry and her drive to create products that support our future generation’s growth and development. Production credit: @Masauko. Episode sponsored by @Give Black Alliance and @Get Konnected! Share and Follow on IG: @BelongingToBlackness_Podcast & @ProfYndia. Listen to episodes directly at: https://yndialorickwilmot.com/belonging-to-blackness/ and wherever you listen to your podcasts.

The post S7, Ep 062 with Sherece Brown, founder of Dr. Pabs, Pineapple is a Berry on the importance of all natural, plant-based wellness on Black family health and prosperity first appeared on Yndia Lorick-Wilmot, PhD.

In this episode, Dr. Yndia sits with award-winning luxury event designer Ieasha James, founder and creative director of Endless Flair Events, a Boston-based event-design firm nationally recognized for immersive, luxury, story-driven installations. Listen in as Ieasha shares her journey as a former healthcare professional who leaned into her creative and entrepreneurial vision to become a highly sought-after creative known for crafting unforgettable, high-end experiences for celebrities, politicians and everyday people. Her story of artistry, mental health resiliency, and faith-based purpose-driven leadership will inspire you to dream bigger and boldly. Production credit: @Masauko. Episode sponsored by @Give Black Alliance and @Get Konnected!

Share and Follow on IG: @BelongingToBlackness_Podcast & @ProfYndia. Listen to episodes directly at: https://yndialorickwilmot.com/belonging-to-blackness/ and wherever you listen to your podcasts.

The post S7, Ep 061 with Ieasha James, award-winning luxury event designer, visionary founder and Creative Director of Endless Flair Events, on aligning faith and purpose in design and visual storytelling first appeared on Yndia Lorick-Wilmot, PhD.

In celebration of UK’s Black History Month, this episode Dr. Yndia features award-winning British-Grenadian visual artist, photographer, and filmmaker Simon Frederick, one of the 100 Most Influential Black Britons in Media & Entertainment. In this powerful conversation, Simon Frederick and Dr. Yndia discuss visual storytelling, identity, and the important transformative role art plays in reclaiming Black representation in the British postcolonial narrative and beyond. Simon Frederick also reflects on why “Blackness is a privilege,” the significance of his works, from his portraits representing the largest acquisition of African and Caribbean photographs in the National Portrait Gallery to his Netflix/BBC films Black is the New Black and They’ve Gotta Have Us, and the ways his Caribbean diasporic sensibilities informs the lens. Production credit: @Masauko. Episode sponsored by @Give Black Alliance and @Get Konnected!

Share and Follow on IG: @BelongingToBlackness_Podcast & @ProfYndia. Listen to episodes directly at: https://yndialorickwilmot.com/belonging-to-blackness/ and wherever you listen to your podcasts.

The post S7, Ep 060 with visual artist, photographer, filmmaker, and broadcaster Simon Frederick on Redefining Black Representation in British Art and Media first appeared on Yndia Lorick-Wilmot, PhD.

WE ARE BACK! In this Season 7 premiere, Dr. Yndia is in conversation with Dr. Eddie S. Glaude, Jr., scholar, T.V political commentator, and NYT bestselling author. In this deeply personal and thought-provoking episode, they discuss his latest and riveting book, We Are The Leaders We Have Been Looking For–a work that challenges us to reckon with the moral crises of democracy, the soul of Black America, and our own responsibilities in this era of transformation. They explore his personal journey, his evolving scholarship, and the urgent politics of Black belonging–locally and globally. Production credit: @Masauko. Episode sponsored by @Give Black Alliance and @Get Konnected!

Share and Follow on IG: @BelongingToBlackness_Podcast & @ProfYndia. Listen to episodes directly at: https://yndialorickwilmot.com/belonging-to-blackness/ and wherever you listen to your podcasts.

The post S7, Ep 059 with Eddie S. Glaude, Jr., scholar, political commentator and NYT author of We Are The Leaders We Have Been Looking For first appeared on Yndia Lorick-Wilmot, PhD.

It’s June and Caribbean American Heritage month! In this Season 6 finale, Dr. Yndia is in conversation with historian of science, writer, and global public intellectual, Dr. Edna Bonhomme about her new book A History of the World in Six Plagues. Bonhomme, herself of Haitian descent, discusses how plagues—both microbial and structural—have shaped the contours of our world, disproportionately impacting African and African descendant communities across the globe. Listen in as they discuss the histories of epidemic and exploitation, from colonial-era plantations to modern-day medical apartheid, and how health justice is deeply entwined with global Black liberation movements. Production credit: @Masauko. Episode sponsored by @Give Black Alliance and @Get Konnected! Available on all podcast platforms.

Share and Follow on IG: @BelongingToBlackness_Podcast & @ProfYndia. Visit website: www.yndialorickwilmot.com

Listen to episodes directly at: https://yndialorickwilmot.com/talking-journeysb2b-a-podcast-episodes/talking-journeysb2b-a-podcast-episodes/

The post S6, Ep 058 with Edna Bonhomme, historian, global public intellectual and author of A History of the World in Six Plagues first appeared on Yndia Lorick-Wilmot, PhD.

In this episode, Dr. Yndia is in conversation with guest, Devin McCourty on always being a champion—in the NFL, on television and to our communities. Delving into the topic of social impact leadership, Devin shares his passion and inspiration for being a servant-leader and making a difference in the lives of so many through his philanthropy, social justice and health advocacy, and legislation efforts for youth. They also discuss the afterlife of professional football players, television sports commentary and what lies ahead. Production credit: @Masauko. Episode sponsored by @Give Black Alliance and @Get Konnected! Available on all podcast platforms.

Share and Follow on IG: @BelongingToBlackness_Podcast & @ProfYndia. Visit website: www.yndialorickwilmot.com

Listen to episodes directly at: https://yndialorickwilmot.com/talking-journeysb2b-a-podcast-episodes/talking-journeysb2b-a-podcast-episodes/

The post S6, Ep 057 with 3x-Super Bowl Champion and TV sports commentator Devin McCourty on being a champion and advocate for our communities first appeared on Yndia Lorick-Wilmot, PhD.

In this episode, Dr. Yndia is in conversation with guest, Dr. Shadan Deleveaux, Google global recruiter and co-founder of the nonprofit, Technologies for Families in Need (TechFIN). Delving into the topic of representation of Blackness in tech, Shadan shares his over two decades-long career journey as coach/consultant/leader at global companies and the significance of amplifying diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) in tech and beyond. They also discuss the current climate for staff recruitment and funding for nonprofits like TechFIN that are focused on bridging the digital divide for communities in need. Production credit: @Masauko. Episode sponsored by @Give Black Alliance and @Get Konnected! Available on all podcast platforms.

Share and Follow on IG: @BelongingToBlackness_Podcast & @ProfYndia. Visit website: www.yndialorickwilmot.com

Listen to episodes directly at: https://yndialorickwilmot.com/talking-journeysb2b-a-podcast-episodes/talking-journeysb2b-a-podcast-episodes/

The post S6, Ep 056 with Shadan Deleveaux, Google global recruiter and co-founder of TechFIN, on representation of Blackness in tech: bridging the divide first appeared on Yndia Lorick-Wilmot, PhD.