Who gets to tell Black stories, and who gets to decide which ones are worth funding, promoting, and seeing?

Dr. Antija Allen and Justin Stewart sit down with filmmaker, novelist, and Black Film Space co-founder Lande Yoosuf to talk about Black storytelling, representation, identity, and creative ownership. They explore the myth that Black films don’t sell, the pressure to make stories more palatable for mainstream audiences, the challenges facing independent filmmakers, and how AI may reshape the future of storytelling.

Plus, Lande shares how her Nigerian-American identity shaped her work and why culturally specific stories can still connect with audiences everywhere.

Connect with Lande & Black Film Space: @Blackfilmspace @LandeYoosuf

Website www.blackfilmspace.com

YouTube www.youtube.com/BlackFilmSpace

Connect with the hosts: ⁠⁠Dr. Antija Allen & Justin Stewart⁠

We’re back for a new season!

In our season premiere, we welcome Dr. Seanna Leath, Associate Professor of Psychological & Brain Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis and director of the Fostering Healthy Identities and Resilience (FHIRe) Collaborative.

Dr. Leath’s work centers the lives and well-being of Black girls, women, and families. Together, we explore misconceptions about Black girls’ development, psychological safety and the freedom to be yourself, building confidence in underrepresented spaces, and the impact of adultification.

We also discuss friendship as a source of healing and belonging, the emotional labor Black mothers carry in preparing their daughters for the world, and the power of community—the reminder that sometimes, it truly takes a village.Connect with the hosts, ⁠Dr. Antija Allen & Justin Stewart

Closing out the phenomenal sixth season of We're Not OK, we're proud to introduce Yashmine Cooper—educational leader, mindset coach, speaker, and founder of Leading with Love Consulting.

With nearly two decades of experience in K–12 education, Yashmine joins the conversation to unpack the realities of burnout among women leaders and the hidden emotional, mental, and personal costs that often come with constantly showing up for others. We explore how leadership rooted in overwork can lead to exhaustion, disconnection, and even the loss of identity beneath professional titles and expectations.

Yashmine shares how her frameworks, including Power Pause and LeadHER, help leaders reclaim their time, regulate their energy, establish boundaries, and move from survival mode toward more sustainable and aligned leadership. The conversation also highlights real stories of transformation and what becomes possible when leaders prioritize well-being without abandoning their purpose.

This season finale is an honest and healing discussion about redefining success, challenging toxic leadership norms, and creating lives that feel as good as they look on paper.

Connect with Yashmine.

Connect with the hosts, Dr. Antija Allen & Justin Stewart.