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Every good season has a finale and we sure are cominng out of a SEASON! Sometimes you just need to take a break. A time to pause & reflect on where you are on your journey. A time for you. So with that in mind, I have decided to take a light pause. Chauvin’s been convicted. Trump’s been ousted. Vaccines are a pumpin’ & Spring babies are a bumpin’. My brain & heart are exhausted. So its time for a refuel & an expansion. Come on in, hear some thoughts about all that shhh(it)! #ImOuttaHere but #IllBeBackhttps://youtu.be/dkF1fFGUNoM

What a blessing it is when you come across humans that connect to your SPIRIT. I have the pleasure of having a few of these humans in my life. Today we chat with one of my favs, Ms. Haneefah Wood. From the day I peeped her kick-ball-changing on a Syracuse University stage, marching to the beat of her own drum (which she still does), I knew I needed to know this human! A few years later God brought us together on the RENT tour and its been a pleasure to watch this woman's journey ever since. Recorded on Easter Sunday; join us as we discuss topics ranging from the business of religion & side jobs that made us cry (who hasn't found a secret spot at a catering event to eat hors d'oeuvres out of their pocket) to that time she woke up from a surgery gone wrong without the ability to speak, move, communicate or BREATHE! Haneefah is on a journey to use her art as a means to feel and defeat unconscious self sabotage. She WILL make you smile. Come on in learn more. Mmk? Mmk! Gday. That Moment You Realize You Could Die

Marijuana. Weed. Pot. Cannabis. Grass. Ganja. Whatever you wanna call it, I am a fan! Today I celebrate this beautiful gift that literally COMES. FROM. THE. EARTH! Marijuana has been stigmatized for ages & WHY is that? Did you know that this treasure of an herb only became illegal in the last 100 years. Also, its illegalization is tied to politics, racism & xenophobia. Imagine that? In the USA? No way (HUGE eyeroll). Mary J has been used for THOUSANDS of years by scores of culture & civilizations as a tool for healing, spiritual practice & commerce. In moderation, as with ALL things, this sweet nectar provided by Mamma Nature can be a game changer. Y'all its time to change yo' brain. Do or don't, but honesty I think you're missing out. Happy 420! Puff puff pass. #GoGREEEEEEEEN! https://www.history.com/topics/crime/history-of-marijuana

Well this Ponderling took off on a journey ! It began as a short conversation about how as artists, sometimes to keep our sanity & spirit, we must pivot to create our own structures. We recently reconnected when we each became enflamed watching our black, gay mutual friend & Broadway artist, basically be ignored by the Broadway community for his GREAT accomplishment. In case you missed it; singer, songwriter, artist & activist Mykal Kilgore has made history as the first openly gay, male artist to earn a nomination in the Grammy’s Best Traditional R&B category. I mean even Cardi B shouted him out! This slowly turned into a longer converstaion about racsim in the enertainment industry, specifically Broadway & our thoughts on shifting that. And that's how 15 miutes turned into 50. Curious? Come on in! #CardiBKnowsBest ❤️ Mykal Kilgore: First Openly Gay Male Artist to Earn ‘Best Traditional R&B’ Grammy Nod Vasthy's Friends The Broadway Boys

As we round out Women's History Month, I sit down with VFILES Founder & all around badass, Julie Anne Quay! Julie Anne has made it her life's mission to connect "the kids in the line" with resources & opportunities to help get them to the front. Through the power of media, fashion & music, VILES creates a world that is set on empowering those who don't have access by finding ways to get them into the room. Access, it is what can make or break a life. Both Julie Anne & I firmly believe in the power of working your way up, communication & community. This is one of my favorite conversations. Come on in & learn more. Mmk? Mmk! Gday. For more on Julie Anne Quay: https://linktr.ee/vfiles https://www.vfiles.org https://www.instagram.com/julieannequay

For every up, there is a down. If there is dark, then there WILL be light. There are many universal signs that point us back to the overarching intention of balance. Of course there are many human factors that mess with the universal laws of equality, but for today, let’s avoid THOSE ponders. With that in mind, it only makes sense that for every contraction there is an equal & opposite EXPANSION! It’s science, DUH! I believe we’ve been in a great collective contraction. It has been a year of reflection, loss, solitude, recalculation & more. It is only fair that the universe hands us a reset & a redistribution of the energetic flow. I believe we are heading into that moment & we should celebrate that! Wanna hear more? Come on in. Mmk? Mmk! Gday. #Newtowns3rdLaw

Hopefully we all have those amazing humans in our lives that allow us to be ourselves, to feel free and to help us face & push past our fears. They make us better people. I am SO blessed to have this in my life. Today I sit down with one of my nearest & dearest; Ms. Sarah Johnson, my sista from another mista! We’ve traveled near & far together; from the beaches of Mexico & the DR, to the winter mountains of the Catskills. My Sarita is always up for an adventure and I am always up to join her on one! We’ve laughed together, we’ve worked together (Alice’s Tea Cup), we’ve celebrated together, we’ve had emotional MO-MENTS together, we’ve conjured the spirits of our Johnson grandmothers together. This special human loves like none other & she sure is MAGIC! Oh, AND she's a badass woman working daily to change the world as an ally & supportor of social justice. Come on in and learn more about my Sarita Johnson. Mmk? Mmk! Gday. TODAY'S TRIVIA: KEANU REEVES

March is Women's History Month. But did you also know that March is (MS) Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month? What better way to celebrate both these phenomenal directives than with my guest today? On today’s Ponderling, my special guest & badass female friend with MS, Nicole Nasca, gives us a brief download on what its like living with MS. Oh, we also laugh a lot & recount our many travels together as work mates who opened new stores together. #FromCannesToAspenAndBeyond #CorporateCreditCardLife. Multiple sclerosis is a disease of the central nervous system. It's believed to be an autoimmune condition, in which the immune system mistakenly attacks normal tissues. It's not clear what causes the onset of this immune reaction, and most people diagnosed with MS have no known risk factors. Come on in & learn more! #MSWomenAreFierce Please visit myMSAA.org for more information.

A few years back I was in a room where I had the great opportunity AND duty to speak up & out about the huge effects of racial stigmas on corporate marketing. I didn’t know this then, but my buddy Ritesh Rajan was the straw catalyst that broke the camel’s back for me of “ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!” Often times society thinks it NEEDS to present a certain picture to consumers in order to sell whatever wares it’s peddling. Guess what?? False. People shop where they see themselves. I’m still not clear why that is such a hard concept to grasp. Oh I know why, institutional racism. DUH! Today I chat with Tesh about everything from being brown & growing up in NYC post 9/11 to what its like being an Indian man on TV in today’s America. FACT: Brown actors can be more than taxi drivers, nerds, doctors & convenience store workers. Among many projects; Tesh currently voices the iconic All-American doll Ken, on Mattel’s animated Barbie series, where he is helping to shift the narrative from within! Come on in, there’s lots to talk about. Mmk? Mmk! Gday. TODAY'S TRIVIA: VIDEO GAMES Follow Tesh: @teshrajan

For those of you who don't know, I have been given the magical gift of being born on a disappearing day, 2/29- LEAP YEAR! 3 out of every 4 years I celebrate my birthday on 2/28 AND 3/1. So never fear, you have 2 CHANCES to send me love, winky face emoji. For my birthday, all I am asking you to do is to ponder this thought of sharing. Years ago as a NYC commuter, I would often come across the same homeless people. This inspired me to carry snacks to share. One day I came across a homeless man who helped me realize something. Not everyone has teeth! AH HA moment y'all. This led me to starting my personal initiative to be more inclusive with my snack choices, and thus the Banana Project was born. Come on in and learn more! A banana a day can change someone's way. Carry a banana in your bag & give it away. Let's spread some banana love. Ooh PS. No pressure OF COURSE, but I do accept monetary birthday presents (venmo- @Miles-Johnson-4)- again winky face emoji. #AskAndYouShallReceive

Once upon a time Hillary found out she was pregnant. In true Hillary fashion, although not expecting this big news at this current point in her life, she welcomed this spontaneous gift. Cue her routine sonogram when she discovered not one, but THREE babies chilling in her womb! Hillary is now raising 3 black boys at the same time in today's racially unstable & unequal America. This is just one part of the many missions that Hillary is dedicated to on her journey through life. This doula, yoga teacher, dancer with a background in holistic health & a degree in communications, is on a mission to focus the world on the importance of POC health education. Why? Because we are DYING at much higher rates! FACT. Let that sink in & come on in to learn more. Mmk? Mmk! Gday. TODAY'S TRIVIA: TRIPLES https://www.hillarylopes.com  https://www.instagram.com/everyones_mama_/  https://www.instagram.com/blackswell_birth/   

Do you ever feel like you are "too much" for people? What if we took that thought & flipped it? What if our new stance was that others may just "not be enough"? Today I share a story I wrote a few years ago inspired by my summer at the beach. My friend Denis & I would contemplate life each evening as we sat by the bay & watched the sunset. It was here that I thought to myself, "What if the Sun & the Moon were in love? What would that look like?" Well come on in & hear my take on that.... #NeverDimYourLightForANYONE

We've been in the land of COVID for about a year & life STILL feels quite Topsy-Turvey! Conversations around mental health are FINALLY coming to the forefront of our daily priorities. If it hasn't yet for you, I highly recommend you make that a focus. I believe in order to survive, self care should not be an option. It should be a necessity. Today I speak with Dr. Jen; a nationally recognized child, adolescent & family psychologist based in NYC. Jen is a frequent contributor on NBC’s The Today Show & a core expert on The Dr. Oz Show. Dr. Jen is also the author of Princess Recovery: A How-To Guide to Raising Strong Empowered Girls Who Can Create Their Own Happily Ever Afters. Yeah, She's a badass! Come on in & listen as Jen takes us on an educational journey, offering best practices & tools to help us keep it movin. Parents, she also offers you some hot pockets of wisdom in this time of extreme societal exhaustion. Mmk? Mmk! Gday. TODAY'S TRIVIA: 80s MUSIC, NAME THAT TUNE! Order Jen's book here: https://amzn.to/3dcBqJy 

As we head into Valentine's Day tomorrow, I wanted to take a moment to call out a type of love in our on lives that can for most people, often go unspoken. The love of & for our pets. Today I dedicate this episode to the memory of our family dog Milo, named after the Disney film Milo & Otis (yes I know Milo was the cat, I tried to tell my mom that). Milo left us right after the New Year & he gave our family over 12yrs of licks, sniffs & cuddles, even when we didn't want them. Thank you for your unconditional love you little beaver bear, according to my brother he looked like a cross between a beaver & a baby bear. We raise a glass to ye Milo Johnson (yes I am aware that his name is VERY close to mine, something I also tried to tell me mom lol). #LoveISAllAroundUs

Anyone who knows me well, knows about my interest in (OBSESSION) with digestion & ultimately the schedule of my poop life. As someone who grew up with personal waste managment challenges, I went on a joureny to remedy that as soon as I realized how important it was for my health. Studies show that as human, we often hold stress in different parts of our bodies. These stressors can ooften affect the function of that body part. My personal woes & anxieties have always effected my gut. Let's literally talk about SHIT y'all! Come on in & learn about about my daily cleansing tools, my thoughts on gut health & the time(s) I pooped my pants on my journey to belly nirvana. #EverybodyPoopsSoGetOverIt

It is no secret that we live in a society obsessed with body image. Over Christmas I was FEELING MYSELF. I had been on a pretty consistent workout regime, paired with a healthy well balanced diet & daily evening stretches. I felt strong & confident, that is until I saw a picture of myself enjoying the holidays & then... I stepped onto a scale. My heart sank... FAST! I went into a spiral as that former husky department segregated child was immediately transported to December 2020. As a NYer who was walking on average about 3 to 5 miles a day pre-pandemic, my body has begun to catch up. Throw in aging and I just wasn’t ready for that beeping number staring back at me. What if we could throw every scale away & pay attention to what some say really matters, the way our body truly & authentically feels. Guess what?!? WE CAN! In our interview, Ms. Emilie Battle helped me see that. That the beeping number staring at me from that demonic tool of self inflicting judgement & shame, that MF scale, had no power over me. Throwing off the projected desire to look a certain way & starting to reprogram ourselves to pay attention to how we FEEL, is what Battle Body is all about. Well boom, Ah ha moment, no more scales for me. I mean it takes more obvs, but as Whitney & TGIF once preached, it’s “step by step, day by day” that makes change happen. Come on in & learn more. Mmk? Mmk! Gday. TODAY'S TRIVIA: MUSICAL THEATER

As someone who has worked in the customer service industry for almost 25yrs, I have a PSA to share. Somewhere in time there was an expectation created that the "cusotmer is always right". I am sorry (that I am not sorry) to say, I do not believe this to be correct. What I believe & train on is that the customer always deserve to get what IS right. In this heightened time of emotions during our current climate, the customer service industry has often defaulted to society's whipping post. I challenge you as consumers to think about the other side of the coin today. Don't understand the difference? Come on in & learn more. #CustomerServicePeopleAreHumanToo

Meet Rad! Join us as we discuss his journey from that timid little boy from the boogie down Bronx to rising fitness star leading the masses with the intention of community & connection. In my experience, it is not often you meet a leader in the fitness community who actually gets the purpose of their mission. The boutique fitness world is over saturated with privilege. That is a fact. I mean, who else can afford it (insert your favorite Bernie in gloves meme)? I often find the best leaders are people who start from the foundation of an organization or craft & work their way up through the ranks with diligence & hard work. I believe struggle often makes the best leaders. Rad started as a maintenance team member at a NYC gym & now leads a multitude of people on their fitness journeys. In my observations, I have seen a pattern when it comes to "rising to the top". With increased power, we can often see an increase in unnecessary ego & a detachment from the original mission. Rad understand the importance of human connection & individual empowerment. He also understands the importance of using your voice & platform as a mouthpiece for change. Come in & meet my guy, Radicheeeeeeeell Lopez. Mmk? Mmk! Gday. TODAY'S TRIVIA: WHAT HAPPENED IN 1991 (THE YEAR OF THE GOAT)?

Clean out yo’ shiiiiiiiiiit. The minimalistic approach is always my intention. We live in a consumeristically focused world where we seem stuck in a constant battle between buying and selling. It seems to be at the crux of what people deem as power. We as a human race have become collector, collectors of nouns (people, places & what most deem THINGS). What I want to encourage you to really think about today is: What you have? Why you have it & most importantly, DO YOU NEED IT? We all have a little bit of hoarder in our spirit. This hoarding comes from the fear that we will eventual run out, and that we must be on top if and when that happens. Well as a reminder y’all, the universe is abundant, so if it no longer sparks joy, emotionally &/or physically #MarieCondoThatShit theminimalists.com amazon.com/Life-Changing-Magic-Tidying-Decluttering-Organizing/dp/1607747308/

Eileen and I met almost 20 years ago when we were performing at the Hershey Park Christmas show. Yup you heard it right! Join us as we regale our holiday adventures, our commitment to accenting in red, our transitions into other directions and most importantly our continued friendship full of laughter. Today’s conversation is my first real look at the very important and stigmatized conversation around miscarriages and IVF. As I head into my middle life years, I’ve noticed many people in my life have had issues and are suffering from the ability to easily conceive. This is a very normal and horribly stigmatized conversation. Join Eileen and I as she walks us through the emotions of 2 years of miscarriages (7 of them), one round of IVF (producing only 1 viable egg) and miraculously, the birth of her amazing daughter (in a pandemic) little Miss Livie Liz. NOTE: Livie Liz is one of the sweetest faces I have ever seen and her social media antics are often the highlight in my collection of daily joy. Come on in friends & learn more. Mmk?Mmk! Gday.