Cocoa Butter and Communion

Writing as a Medicine: A Conversation with Rowana Abbensetts-Dobson

Hey Village! Y'all know how much I love a good book and I love the people who know a great story to publish those good books. Black writers, writers of color, and other marginalized voices have had their stories silenced. It is so important to have these stories shared and luckily, there are people like Rowana, who see the value in those stories and does her absolute best to share them to the mainstream. 
This week, I am chatting with Rowana Abbensetts-Dobson,  a Guyanese-American writer, author of Departure Story, and founder of Spoken Black Girl, a publishing & media company that promotes mental health and wellness among Black women & women of color by amplifying emerging voices. Rowana has had fiction and poetry published in Moko Magazine, Obsidian: Literature & Arts in the African Diaspora, Culture Push, When We Exhale: Anthology of Black Women Rooted in Ancestral Medicine, and Free Verse Magazine. As a freelance health and wellness writer, Rowana has written for Insider, GoodRx, Well +Good, Bold Culture by Streamline Media, The Tempest, Insider, and Electric Lit.
Rowana is reading: "The Black Girls Guide to Financial Freedom" by Paris Woods 
Chioko is reading: "Get Good with Money" by Tiffany Aliche 
 
Follow Rowana on social media! 
Instagram: @Rowana_a and @Spokenblackgirlmag
Twitter: @Rowana_a
@Spokenblackgirl
Facebook:  @Spokenblackgirl
Website: Spokenblackgirl.com
Follow the Cocoa Butter and Communion Podcast on IG @groundedrootscollective 
 

In a 90s Kind of World, I'm Glad I Got My Girl: Chatting with Jessica Brown

Hey Village! THEE Jessica Brown is back and as always, we spend a lot of time key-keying. Jess just celebrated a birthday and y'all, it was a time to be had... not what she expected, not what anyone expected. Good news for y'all, we provide a synopsis. Jessica talks about online dating (some of y'all need coaches) and how to be the love you seek. 
Jessica is an all around amazing human being, mom of two BEAUTIFUL babies, a director of behavioral health, she is in school full time getting her SECOND master's degree, she raps, tells jokes, and she is gorgeous, of course (shout out to her mama for the genetics... hey mama J). 
Jessica is reading "How to be the Love you Seek: Break Cycles, Find Peace, and Heal Your Relationships" by Dr. Nicole LaPera 
When Jesica and I need to transition in parts of our life, we listen to gangsta rap and Sunshine Anderson 
Follow the show on IG @cocoabutterandcommunion 
Check out the Cocoa Butter and Communion on Facebook
 

Critical Elections and Healing: A Conversation with Malaika Hill-Jones

Hey Village! Another therapist is in the house and what an experience for us all :). Malaika Hill-Jones, LMFT is on the show, discussing her life as a student at Howard University, the importance of being in an environment that encompasses greatness, and how to take care of yourself during this tumultuous election cycle (no one is ready for this). 
Malaika, an east coast transplant with a myriad of roles, embodies the essence of resilience and holistic healing. A proud graduate of Howard University, she wears the hats of daughter, wife, boy mom (x4), and grandmother.
Malaika is currently immersed in the journey of doula training, weaving her passion for supporting others into every aspect of her life. As a licensed therapist, she operates her private practice in Sacramento under the name Abundant Healing Nyumba Marriage & Family Therapy Corp, affectionately known as The House of AHH (Abundant Holistic Healing).
At The HOA, Malaika blends traditional psychotherapy theories with interventions from ancestral healing communities, crafting an integrative approach to wellness that honors the complexities of individual experiences. She fosters community and connection through her facilitation of a local women of color support group, providing a safe space for collective healing and empowerment.
In addition to her therapeutic work, Malaika is dedicated to education and empowerment. She is preparing to lead a workshop centered around navigating the transitions of perimenopause and menopause, recognizing the importance of holistic support during these transformative phases of life.
As one-third of Nourish Well, a women-led collective offering healing workshops and experiences, Malaika continues to champion the power of community in the healing journey. She firmly believes that healing is not a solitary endeavor but a communal process, and she embodies this ethos in all aspects of her work and life.
Malaika is currently reading "Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents" by Lindsay C. Gibson and for fun, she is reading "Drunk in Love" by Jasmine Guillory.
I am still reading "Dust Tracks on a Road" by Zora Neale Hurston and a bunch of articles for school. 
To get in contact with Malaika, please visit her website, follow her on IG! 
www.houseofahh.com
@houseofahh
@womenofcolorgroup
@nourish_well_
 

Seeking a Therapist 101

Hey Village! This episode, it is just me. :) A little bit about me, I am Chioko Juliette Grevious, Licensed Marriage Family Therapist, Associate Professional Clinical Counselor, and a registered Psychological Assistant, all in the state of California (west siiiiide). In addition to those things, I am also the owner of a therapy practice, Grounded Roots Therapy Collective, Inc. (website is under construction). From the beginning of my journey as a therapist, I have truly believed that it is important for therapy to be decolonized and destigmatized. The oppressive practices of therapy needs to be dismantled. I want to make sure that the information is out there to find the therapist that is meant for you. Our healing is a collective experience. When the community is healed, we are all healed. 
This episode gives some tips on how to interview a potential therapist and some things to know about the different theoretical orientations of therapy (styles of therapy). 
I currently finished "Great Expectations" by Vinson Cunningham (finished most of it while waiting in the lines at Disneyland) and I am listening to The Above the Rim soundtrack. 
Here are some directories to begin your search for a therapist: 
Therapy for Black Girls www.therapyforblackgirls.com 
TherapyDen www.therapyden.com
Clinicians of Color www.cliniciansofcolor.org 
 
 

We Are Hip Hop: A Conversation with Ashley Autumn

Hey Village! Today, we are talking about hip hop with someone who knows it well. I was incredibly fortunate to speak with Ashley Autumn, Founder and CEO of Talented Tenth Entertainment. She is not only the CEO but she produces, consults, and so much more. I'll let her tell it :). We talk about the state of hip hop, women in hip hop, and the evolution of hip hop. 
Ashley is reading "Worthy" by Jada Pinkett Smith 
Songs that empower her is Rhianna's "Better Have My Money" and Beyonce's "Flawless" 
A woman MC's verse that empowers me is The Baddest, Trina's verse on "Nann" 
Follow Ashley on IG @talented10thent 
Follow Cocoa Butter and Communion on IG @cocoabutterandcommunion 

Black and Political: A Conversation with Mellonie Richardson

Hey Village! This week, I am chatting with Mellonie Richardson about Black women in politics, her role in the Black Women for Political Action (BWOPA) (she is the president, y'all), getting involved, our right to vote, her legacy, and so much more. 
A little about Mellonie, she is the Human Resources Director of Talent Acquisition for California State University, Sacramento, as well as the Principal Consultant of a private Human Resources and Organization Development consulting firm, Bene Consulting Group, supporting the work and efforts of Sacramento Area non-profit organizations.  Mellonie holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications Studies, with a concentration in Media Studies from California State University, Sacramento, and a Master of Arts degree in Human Resources and Organization Development from the University of San Francisco.
She works tirelessly in our community, supporting others and sitting on boards, including the Sacramento Black Chamber of Commerce. You can catch her supporting organizations such as, Sacramento Sister Circle, Mocha Mommy’s Club Sacramento, Black Women Organized for Political Action #BWOPASac, GirlTrek International Black Women’s Health Movement, Sacramento State University Black Staff and Faculty Association, Sacramento State University Legacy Black Women’s Community of Practice, and so much more. 
Mellonie is currently reading "Black Butterfly" by Addie Ellis and "Get Good with Money" by Tiffany Aliche 
Mellonie refused to pick a song that inspires her because there are so many :). 
The song that inspired me moving through a breakup was "Return of the Mack" by Mark Morrison and also "O-o-h Child" by the Five Stairsteps (gets me every time) 
Get involved in BWOPA!
Subscribe to the #BWOPASac Newsletter - https://tinyurl.com/BWOPASacNews
Join #BWOPASac FaceBook - https://www.facebook.com/BWOPASacramento/ (https://www.facebook.com/BWOPASacramento/) 
Check out Mellonie's consulting group, Bene Consulting www.benecg.com 
Follow the show on IG @cocoabutterandcommunion and find us on Facebook! @cocoa.butter.and.communion.podcast 
 

The Military and the Black Woman: A Conversation with Regina McGuire

Hey Village! Happy Black History Month! Happy month of love! This episode, I am chatting with my newest sister girl/colleague/classmate, Regina McGuire. Regina is a retired Navy woman who was running a ship like the bad ass she is. We discuss her life in the military, as a Black woman, the strong Black woman trope, motherhood, and this idea of humbleness. 
In addition to be a retired Navy Veteran, she is a mental health professional that is committed to breaking down the barriers of mental health care in Black and Brown communities. Regina brings a unique combination of military discipline, scholarly insight, and heartfelt dedication to her profession as a therapist. During her service in the United States Navy, Regina distinguished herself through leadership, resilience, and unwavering commitment to her peers and junior Sailors' mental and emotional welfare. During this service period, she honed her communication, teamwork, and crisis management skills, setting a solid foundation for her subsequent career in mental health counseling. Her current studies as a PhD in Clinical Psychology student further sharpens her clinical acumen, enabling her to tackle complex mental health issues with enhancedexpertise.
Regina specializes in working with a diverse clientele, including those with dual diagnoses of mental health and substance abuse, couples facing relationship challenges, children navigating developmental and emotional difficulties, individuals recovering from trauma, and individualsseeking personal growth through individual therapy. Her holistic approach is tailored to address each client's unique needs, drawing from evidence-based therapies and her rich background in sociology and psychology.
Regina is listening to 90s hip hop and R&B because like me, she is stuck in that era, musically. 
Regina is reading "Dust Tracks on a Road" by Zora Neale Hurston 
I am reading "ain't I a woman: Black Women and Feminism" by bell hooks 
Follow the show on IG @cocoabutterandcommunion
Y'all, we are on Facebook too!  @cocoa.butter.and.communion.podcast
Or send an email to cocoabutterandcommunion@gmail.com
 

Black Women Sh***: Chi Chi Anyanwu Stops By

Hey Village! We are kicking off Black History Month and what better way to kick off Black History Month with a woman who celebrates her Blackness everyday? I can answer that! There isn't anything better than Chi Chi stopping by the village to drop gems about getting your life together all while parenting amazing children and finding herself throughout. We talk about who she is, at her core, awareness, and parenting our own mothers (it is hard work, y'all). 
Chi Chi is reading "Lost Prophet: The Life and Times of Bayard Rustin" by John D'Emilo 
I am reading "Decolonizing Therapy: Oppression, Historical Trauma, and Politicizing Your Practice" by Dr. Jennifer Mullan
The song that represents Chi Chi is "Be Real Black For Me" by Thee Donny Hathaway and Thee Roberta Flack and the song that represents me is "Ms. New Booty" by Bubba Sparxx (you will hear why on the episode). 
Follow the show on IG @cocoabutterandcommunion or email cocoabutterandcommunion@gmail.com 
 
 
 
 
 

Finding Spirituality: A Conversation with Daniel Grevious

Hey Village! I am so lucky to have access to such a brilliant mind, day in and day out. Daniel is back! On this episode, him and I discuss spirituality and religion, the differences, his growth in both and what he wishes he knew. You get to know him a little more, which is always a beautiful thing. 
Dan is reading "Making it So: A Memoir" by Patrick Stewart 
I am reading articles for my classes. 
Follow the show on IG @cocoabutterandcommunion 
If you have any questions, contact the show cocoabutterandcommunion@gmail.com 

Reproductive and Birth Justice with Aresha Auzenne

Heeeyyyy, I am back! It has been a long time. Happy New Year Village! I hope your holiday season allowed rest. This week's episode can be triggering due to the content of talking about Black maternal deaths, the prevention, and the sharing of birth stories that can be traumatic for our listeners. Take breaks when you need or fast forward. Do what you need. We talk about being a doula, the history of doulas in Black communities, the maternal death crisis, and we even give some insight into our birthing stories. 
This week's guest is Aresha Auzenne is a San Francisco native, specializing in trauma informed birth work, placenta medicine, breastfeeding, and donor milk education. Having worked in the death care industry for several years, moving into the sacred space of birth work was a natural transition. Aresha is a full spectrum holistic doula and a mother to a vibrant 4 year old boy. She is most passionate about empowering women and mothers of color, building supportive maternal communities and fostering spaces of healing through motherhood. She credits her work, her passion, and h er healing to the many powerful women who held her and her son, during her own transition into the depths of motherhood-learning to crawl, to walk, to talk, to exist as a brand-new being. Aresha is currently working as a community researcher, investigating Black maternal health and birth outcomes amongst women and mothers of color. 
Aresha is reading "The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself" by Michael A. Singer and "The Fantasy Bond: Structure of Psychological Defenses" by Robert W. Firestone. 
Chioko is reading "A General Theory of Love" by Thomas Lewis, Fari Amini, and Richard Lannon