Ep. 07 | NY: Afro-Latinx identity is more than a label - it is geography, culture, history, and lived experience all at once. Our guest, Diva Green of I Got Your Black, breaks down the misconceptions around being Afro-Latinx, why Haiti belongs in that conversation, and how mindful Black travel can become a powerful form of activism.Growing up in Brooklyn with Panamanian and Jamaican roots shaped the way Diva sees place, community, and belonging.

From Crown Heights and the Panama Parade to the West Indian Day Parade and the evolving Caribbean enclaves across New York City, she shares how culture is preserved, transformed, and sometimes threatened by gentrification - and why that makes community organization more urgent than ever.In this episode, you’ll discover:📌 What Afro-Latinx actually means, and why it is not a race or just a language category📌 Why Haitian identity is so often misunderstood in discussions of Latinidad📌 How Brooklyn, Panama, and the wider Caribbean diaspora shaped Diva’s worldview📌 The story behind I Got Your Black and how a trip to Paris sparked a mission to support Black communities around the world📌 What mindful Black travel looks like in practice, from respecting local customs to spending money intentionally📌 How immersive group trips create deeper connections by putting local people, artists, and business owners at the center

📌 Afro Latino-Owned / Black Owned Businesses to Support in NYC Diva also shares the neighborhood-by-neighborhood guide to Afro-Latinx New York, from Flatbush and Bushwick to Queens, Washington Heights, El Barrio, and the Schomburg Center. Along the way, she names the food spots, bookstores, creators, and cultural institutions that make these communities vibrant, colorful, and unforgettable.If you care about Black travel, Afro-Latinx history, or finding better ways to experience a city without extracting from it, this conversation will change the way you move through the world. Essential listening for travelers, culture lovers, and anyone ready to explore with more intention.In this episode, I sit down with Diva Akira Green, a destination storyteller, content creator, and the Founder of I Got Your Black. Driven by the belief that mindful travel is both her ministry and chosen form of activism, she uses her platform to serve as a conduit, connecting travelers to underrepresented Black and Brown communities globally.______________________________________________

CONNECT WITH DIVA GREEN OF I GOT YOUR BLACK

• Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/igotyourblack_/
• Follow on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@igotyourblack
• Website: https://lnk.bio/Igotyourblack_

CONNECT WITH DR. FRANNY

Website → https://frannythetraveler.com/

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/franny_the_traveler/

YouTube → ‪@frannythetraveler

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/princess-francois

ADDITIONAL LINKS

📧 SUBSCRIBE to Unlock Black Journeys: The Newsletter

https://unlock-black-journeys-with-dr-franny.kit.com/9e3080bde9

🎙️CHECK OUT all episode recaps: https://frannythetraveler.com/post/category/podcast-episode/💜 Enjoying my content? LEAVE A TIP here

https://unlock-black-journeys-with-dr-franny.kit.com/products/unlock-black-journe

📗 PURCHASE my Support BLACK Greenbook & Framework

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NOTE: This contains affiliate links. If you book through my links, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you!

Ep. 06 | Solo: How much of the United States can you actually see without a car? Do you really need a car to travel the United States?

This episode is for you if you hate driving or can't drive!

I’ve traveled to 40 states without a driver’s license, and in this special solo episode of Unlock Black Journeys: The Podcast, I’m sharing how I travel the U.S. without a car.

If you’ve ever wondered how to travel without a car, how to get around if you don’t have a car, or what you can use instead of a car, this episode is for you. I’m breaking down the car-free travel strategies that have helped me explore 40 states, including trains and buses, public transportation, rideshares, walking, guided tours, and help from friends.

Inspired by my recent experience at the All Fifty Club Convention, I’m sharing what I’ve learned from years of traveling across the country without driving.

PODCASTS MENTIONED IN THIS VIDEO:

• She Choose Trains Over Planes: https://frannythetraveler.com/post/ep-002-she-chooses-trains-over-planes/

• Journey to 50 States & 50 Countries: https://frannythetraveler.com/post/episode-1-chased-50-states-and-50-countries/

In this episode, I cover:

• How to travel the U.S. without a car: The transportation options I use to get between cities and explore destinations without driving.

• How to get around if you don’t have a car: Using trains, buses, public transportation, rideshares, walking, and guided tours depending on the destination.

• What to use instead of a car: How I mix and match different transportation options rather than relying on just one.

• How to plan a car-free trip: Choosing walkable urban home bases, grouping nearby destinations, and planning transportation before I go.

• How to make car-free travel work: Why flexibility, community, and a willingness to plan differently have helped me reach 40 states without a driver’s license.

_______________________________________________________

CONNECT WITH DR. FRANNY

Website → https://frannythetraveler.com/

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/franny_the_traveler/

YouTube → ‪@frannythetraveler

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/princess-francois

ADDITIONAL LINKS

📧 SUBSCRIBE to Unlock Black Journeys: The Newsletter

https://unlock-black-journeys-with-dr-franny.kit.com/9e3080bde9

🎙️CHECK OUT all episode recaps: https://frannythetraveler.com/post/category/podcast-episode/💜 Enjoying my content? LEAVE A TIP here

https://unlock-black-journeys-with-dr-franny.kit.com/products/unlock-black-journe

📗 PURCHASE my Support BLACK Greenbook & Framework

https://amzn.to/4vskd3R

NOTE: This contains affiliate links. If you book through my links, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you!

Ep. 05 | NJ: What if your next travel adventure did not require taking a single day off from work? What if your workday could take you somewhere new?

Have you ever looked at your workday and thought, “I could be somewhere else right now?”

In this episode of Unlock Black Journeys: The Podcast, we are unlocking the idea of work and wander: using the flexibility of remote work, hybrid work, and/or working from home to turn an ordinary workday into an opportunity to explore. Whether you work from home once a week or work a fully remote job, there are ways to make room for travel without needing to take the day off.

We talk about how to take advantage of the freedom that comes with working remotely and strategies for balancing work and exploration.

Since our podcast guest, Ugo (founder of Ugo Went There), is from New Jersey, this takes center stage as we unpack why the state deserves more love, the areas you may not hear about when people talk about New Jersey, and the Black-owned businesses and communities worth seeking out. We also talk about the differences between growing up in North Jersey and Central Jersey, and how those experiences shape the way we understand place, identity, and home.

If you have ever thought, “I would love to explore, but I have to work,” this episode is for you.

Because sometimes you do not need to take time off to travel. You just need to make room to wander.

In this episode, we cover:

• How to work remotely and travel without using PTO by turning a workday into a day trip
• The importance of building community instead of waiting for community to find you
• How where you grow up shapes the way you experience and understand place, including the differences between North Jersey and Central Jersey
• Why New Jersey deserves more love, including the destinations and places you may not hear about
• The Black-owned businesses, communities, and experiences worth exploring across New Jersey, and why meaningful travel can happen close to home

_______________________________________________________

CONNECT WITH UGO

Follow on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/ugowentthere/

Follow on TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@ugowentthere

CONNECT WITH DR. FRANNY

Website → https://frannythetraveler.com/

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/franny_the_traveler/

YouTube → ‪@frannythetraveler

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/princess-francois

ADDITIONAL LINKS

📧 SUBSCRIBE to Unlock Black Journeys: The Newsletter

https://unlock-black-journeys-with-dr-franny.kit.com/9e3080bde9

🎙️CHECK OUT all episode recaps: https://frannythetraveler.com/post/category/podcast-episode/💜 Enjoying my content? LEAVE A TIP here

https://unlock-black-journeys-with-dr-franny.kit.com/products/unlock-black-journe

📗 PURCHASE my Support BLACK Greenbook & Framework

https://amzn.to/4vskd3R

NOTE: This contains affiliate links. If you book through my links, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you!