We have found ourselves in a topsy-turvy 2020 thus far, and to top it all off, it's an election year. There is a lot at stake this year, so we cannot afford to opt out. We must accept our current reality and take the next best step to rebuilding our communities and revitalizing our national morale. In this episode, I share my take on the election, the importance of voting, and I discuss some of the forms of voter suppression on the BIPOC community. This situation we find ourselves in is very unfortunate, but I believe that we as a nation can come together to help advocate for equal rights and equal opportunities for each other. In fact, we must own our responsibility in co-creating the reality we want to live in. If you need help voting, reach out or look online! There are so many resources out there! www.vote.org

While things in the external world seem like they are way out of our control, it's helpful to remember that we do have control over some parts of our lives. The choice we make in our perception of the reality we experience is something we have control over, though we may not always realize it. Whether it is a conscious or unconscious choice, we have the enormous power of where we focus our attention. Accepting this as our choice becomes our responsibility if we want to choose the best possible reality for ourselves. We can find comfort in knowing that we have complete control over our internal experience even when it seems like our lives are spinning out of control.

2020 is just a year for the books. We've been taken on this rollercoaster of a year without any warning, and my emotions have been all over the place. It's really hard to find inspiration when you are constantly coming up for air. I've been feeling down for a couple of weeks, but I know I'm not alone. When you find yourself in this state, it's hard to find that motivation you need to keep pushing forward. I share some tips I've been clinging on to (for dear life) that have helped me find my strength and power in continuing my journey. It's not easy, but I believe in us!

This week, we get silly and spiritual! My friend Dennis Ross joins us this episode to share his journey, his goals, and his experience with abundance and manifesting his reality before his very eyes. He shares his humble beginnings growing up in poverty, pursuing higher education at University of Kentucky, and eventually his time in the US Navy. Dennis shares gems upon gems of wisdom and power, as well as his dreams of becoming a baller vegan chef. Throughout his interview, you can tell he is confident in his power as a human and as a spiritual being, calling himself a "vessel" to share love and compassion with those around him. Listen as we discuss abundance, the power of mindset, music festivals, and getting clear on your dreams.

I've been feeling burned out and uninspired and trying to remember it comes and goes. It's hard though! I took a quick moment to think about my productivity, my burnout, and how I've been navigating all of it coming together. I also remembered that it was Labor Day, and what better way to contemplate my place in this world than a day founded on respect and rest.

It's been a minute since I've shared a little bit about my life, where I'm at personally, and what steps I'm taking to keep my sanity while I spend most of my time at home! My Patreon launches next week, September 2, and so I wanted to take it easy this week. I reflect on time during the pandemic and living in the world over the last few months. And how my dreams are coming true :)

ETM gets a mini history lesson! As police brutality continues in America, it brings up an interesting point in regards to the responsibilities of the organization. I did some research so I could learn for myself the history of the police department in America and how that evolved into what it is today. After reading a few accounts from historians and police reformers, I learned a lot about the initial roots of the organization and was surprised to know that very early on, it became a way to protect the wealthy and keep control of minority populations. Understanding the complete history of this "prestigious" American institution can aid us in our discussion about next moves for policing in America. This brings up another important topic of authority and why we were conditioned to never question it. These ideals bleed into our own individual lives, where we sometimes police ourselves and others due to this imaginary authority figure that we must obey. It's necessary to educate ourselves so that we can create an informed and cohesive community with which to create new traditions and standards that embrace diversity and respect our citizens. If you are interested in reading the articles I found, here are some links! The History of Policing in the United States by Dr. Gary Potter The Evolving Strategy of Police: A Minority View by Hubert Williams and Patrick V. Murphy

This week, we're sharing our top tips for how to stay grounded and calm AF right now. It seems like social media is at an all-time drainfest, and this can be a huge leech in our time and energy. It's mega important to be mindful of these circumstances and their negative effects on our lives. When we can find ourselves centered, we are in tune with our bodies and hearts, and we can live our lives fully and authentically. We find ourselves compassionate towards the suffering in the world, but not so overwhelmed that we melt into that suffering. PATREON COMING SEPTEMBER 2, 2020 : patreon.com/embracethemadness

The summer of 2020 has definitely been one for the books. It seems like each day brings a new crisis to give our attention to, but how healthy is it for us to constantly be in a state of fear and anger? It's important that we keep a grounded perspective so that we can stay calm and think critically about how we can take action. By building our emotional strength, we can fully take care of ourselves and have energy to extend a helping hand to those around us. Even though the future seems hopeless, we still have the power to create abundance in our lives. Patreon coming September 2020!

Mental health is something still stigmatized today in 2020, and the way we can address this is by creating dialogue, educating ourselves, and spreading awareness. Ingram Stovall joins us this week to share her journey into the world of mental health and what inspired her to join the social work field. She passionately reflects on her experiences in New Orleans as the first student from Southern University to intern at NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, learning first-hand about the gentrification and disenfranchisement post-hurricane Katrina, and how she went from wanting to assimilate into White culture to fully embracing her Blackness. Ingram describes some of the challenges the Black community faces today, both in the mental health world and the regular world, and how we must create loving, safe spaces with which to share dialogue and truly listen to one another.