Cocoa Butter and Communion

Accessing a Cry Space

Happy all the things y'all. This week's guest is Erin Walker, she is the founder of The C.R.Y. Space. In June of last year, Erin lost her younger sister Jessica to a fentanyl overdose. Erin and I talk about how her grieving has found purpose. 
For more information about her organization, the C.R.Y. Space, contact her at couragereallyisyours@gmail.com 
Follow the show on IG @cocoabutterandcommunion 
I have a website!! www.cocoabutterandcommunion.com or drop me a line at cocoabutterandcommunion@gmail.com 
 

Hope and Healing: Suicide Prevention and Advocacy with Kevin Berthia

Kevin Berthia stopped by the village to share his story of a suicide attempt, depression and what his life looks like now. We talk about his journey to the Golden Gate Bridge, the picture that captured his dark day and his mission to save others. Depression is not always darkness. Sometimes depression can look like the smiling face that greets you at your local coffee shop or your best friend that always has the tea and provides the great times.  Depression is real. Anxiety is real and suicide happens in our community. Suicide deaths are increasing among Black folks and the highest rate of death is among Black Americans aged 25-34 years of age. It is not weak to get help. It is not weak to talk to someone. You do not have to continue to push forward because it is within our culture to do so. 
To reach out to Kevin, get information about his speaking engagements or to donate to The Kevin Berthia Foundation, please go to his website www.kevinberthiafoundation.org
 

Accessing Spiritual Tools with Mama Laiwah

This week's episode features the wonderful Mama Laiwah who is in these spiritual streets. She is a spiritist, spiritual counselor, a tarot reader, and an overall badass. She works with folks dealing with life’s daily crisis so if this is you, go ahead and contact her. Her work connects y'all to your inner power through the use of spiritual tools and by spiritual tools, she means tarot reading, spiritual baths/cleansing, candle work, incense work, meditation, prayer/affirmations and spiritual counseling. She is such a delight to work with and talk to! 
Mama Laiwah is reading "Prayers New and Old" (I learned that some of us are not praying right lol) 
Mama Laiwah is listening to Deon Cole spinning the 1s and 2s and Rahsaan Patterson 
I just paid for some Anita Baker tickets for NEXT YEAR (I thought the concert was this year) but it gives me something to look forward to :).
You can get more information about her and her work at www.mamalaiwah.com 
She is on the Tik Tok and the IG @mamalaiwah (she hosts a Sunday Check In on IG)  
You can schedule time with her at www.calendly.com/mamalaiwah
 

Difficult Conversations with My Brother

In this episode, my brother and I discuss growing up in a multigenerational household, the love of our grandparents, the community we were raised in, parenting, and our relationship. Hopefully this episode is a start to a larger conversation that needs to happen to begin a healing process. Y'all will also see what I have to deal with on a regular basis by being the little sister (it has been like this my entire life). 
Nate is currently listening to West Coast hip hop, as always. He is reading "Four Hundred Souls" by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi and "The Freedom Walkers: The Story of the Montgomery Bus Boycott" by Russell Freedman with his daughters. 

Love and Loss

This week I talk with my lovely and entrepreneurial sister-in-law, Rosalind Grevious. Over 13 years ago, Rosalind and her siblings lost their mother from a battle with breast cancer and over 20 years ago, they lost their father. We talk about the loss of parents, stories of love and Luther Vandross, and self discoveries. Oh and she shares a little about her new business. 
Rosalind is reading books on business management. I am still sifting through Rest is Resistance by Tricia Hersey and we are both still stuck in the 90s music wise. 
Support her and follow Rosalind on IG @unravel_rva 
Follow the show on IG @cocoabutterandcommunion or email us at cocoabutterandcommunion@gmail.com

Defining Blackness

This week, the village welcomes my friend, Kenyon Hill, father, soccer aficionado, coach, and trainer; history buff, music connoisseur and so much more. He was one of the first people I met that shared a similar upbringing, which we have talked about several times. On this episode, he shares about his upbringing in a predominately white space, his Tennessee roots and the greatness of his parents. 
Kenyon is reading: The Fall of the House of FIFA: The Multimillion-Dollar Corruption at the Heart of Global Soccer by David Conn 
Kenyon is listening to his own playlists. Follow him on Spotify. His latest creation is "85 Kareem". A playlist inspired by hip hop greats that have released new music lately, greats like Nas, Jay-Z, Masta Ace, Black Thought and others. 
Chioko loves Boyz II Men and names her favorite songs from Michael Jackson's Thriller album, Lady in My life, Baby Be Mine and The Girl is Mine. 
Follow Kenyon on IG @fttsoccer 

The Complexities of Forgiveness

Hey Village! Guess who's bizaack? Jessica is! Nothing gives me greater joy than laughing but to laugh with my bestie is one of the best feelings. This episode, Jessica and I are talking about the complexity of forgiveness and what that truly means to us. We also share songs that we were singing, at a young age, that we had NO business singing (where were our mamas?) 
Make sure to follow the show on IG @cocoabutterandcommunion 
Email for comments or questions cocoabutterandcommunion@gmail.com 
Visit the NEW website (thanks THERESA!!!!) www.cocoabutterandcommunion.com 
I look forward to hearing from y'all. Enjoy the show. 

Ouch... When the Church Hurts

We are discussing church hurt this week. Hear me out... many of us have been hurt by the church. Maybe you felt the sting if you had a baby in your adolescent years, or maybe you started to embrace who you fully were and came out as gay or trans... maybe you wore red fingernail polish and the church mothers whispered behind your back. Or maybe your church has failed to address the value of Black lives and have preached sermons to smile when a victimizer harms you and others that look like you... all of this and other stories have led to many folks in the community being hurt by the church. 
This week, I am talking to my friend, Lamar J. Pringle, former pastor about being hurt by the church. He shares his insight and wisdom, the acknowledgment of church hurt, growing up in the church, what he is up to now and his journey to healing. 
 

The Beauty of a Sisterhood

In my Shug Avery voice (sing it with me)
"Sister,you've been on my mindSister, we're two of a kindSo sister,I'm keepin' my eyes on you... "
This is what I hum to myself every time I think of the sisterhood I am fortunate to have. This week's episode I am fortunate to have chatted with my dear sister girlfriends, Jessica and Shannon. We are broadcasting LIVE ya'll at Shannon's hair salon, Naturalistic Hair Salon and Spa! We talk sisterhood, growing, heartbreak and the joy of being in community with one another. 
Shannon and Jessica are both listening to Beyonce's Renaissance album. 
Chioko is listening to Shirley Murdock "Go on Without You" (Shirley was always cutting up and I LOVE it) 
Shannon is reading: Marriage Be Hard by Kevin and Melissa Fredericks 
Jessica is reading: Sacred Woman: A Guide to Healing the Feminine Body, Mind, and Spirit by Sister Afua 
Chioko is reading: Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler
 
Follow Naturalistic Hair Salon and Spa on IG at @naturalisticsalon 
Follow Talya's Sweet Treats @talyas_sweet_treats to order your holiday deliciousness 

Healing and Redemption

This week, I am chatting with my cousin, Dion (with the good hair) about incarceration, the fighter spirit, healing and joy. Our conversation was enlightening and needed. I hope you all enjoy. 
Dion is reading text for a promotion and I am reading articles on betrayal trauma for class. Dion is listening to Bay Area (Yayyyy Arrreeeaaaa) rap and I am listening to Tevin Campbell's "I'm Ready" album (Tevin was my 10 year old dream husband). 
Let me know your thoughts! Send me an email at cocoabutterandcommunion@gmail.com and follow me on IG @cocoabutterandcommunion 
 
For mental health providers near you, please visit: 
Clinicians of Color www.cliniciansofcolor.org
Therapy for Black Girls www.therapyforblackgirls.com 
TherapyDen www.therapyden.com