As Brown girls, hair is a symbol of strength and a connection to our ancestral roots. And for many people, hair is also tied to identity and phases of life. We are talking with Amy’s hairstylist/hair therapist, Priya, in a special episode. When a client is in her chair, she isn’t simply trimming away split ends; she’s helping people release their worries, concerns, and stories they long to change. And we even talk hair tips! You won’t want to miss this one. In this episode, we discuss: The biggest bag of Bugles, ever! “Chop, chop!” Welcoming our guest, Priya (Amy’s secret keeper) How hair changes parallel with life transitions The hairstylist “radar” You can’t rush a great hairstyle Beauty and the break-up How Priya helped Amy get her proposal “Just try it out” Hair as a way to express yourself Amy’s bold hairstyles over the years Priya’s hair freedom Accidental therapy A client Priya helped “You just never know what people are going through.” Crown chakra Creating mental space  Hairstylists being there for the journey as a safe space Tips to be a better listener Worst parts of the job Everything you wish you knew about hair and getting your hair done Taking care of your hair Find us at justchai.podbean.com Friendly disclaimer: This podcast and its hosts are not endorsing any of brand names you may hear. Any product names mentioned are simply to add fun, lively color for the conversation. Opinions reflected are our own.

As we have spent the longest time at home since childhood, nostalgia has taken hold of our entertainment options. And we are also looking for new and interesting stories to captivate our attention. Yes, we are talking television. Your two favorite brown girls are dishing what we are watching and the throwback TV that keeps us smiling during tough times. Prepare for lots of laughter. In this episode, we discuss: Amy’s Zen vibe Making it to the end of the week Way back when we waited for Netflix DVDs Overheards from Amy’s Mom “Sex and the City” stands the test of time The show that makes Amy laugh so much, she can’t watch it during the workday The staples in your TV diet Period pieces and a moment for Rege Jean-Page Outlander accents and characters The importance of chemistry between characters “Some days I’m clearly Frankie, and other days, I’m so Grace” The satisfaction of transformational shows Witches, demons, and vampires Getting recommendations from friends and family The magic of Mindy Kaling and the importance of representation Women’s vs. dude’s shows? Yes to Henry Cavill Suspending disbelief and the escapism of TV Tell us your favorite shows! Find us at justchai.podbean.com Friendly disclaimer: This podcast and its hosts are not endorsing any of brand names you may hear. Any product names mentioned are simply to add fun, lively color for the conversation. Opinions reflected are our own.  

We all have a relationship with our stuff, but as we spend more time than ever living amongst our stuff in pandemic times, the change of seasons welcomes a refresh in the form of spring cleaning. Your two favorite brown girls are discussing how to deal with sentimental attachments to your things, our approach to cleaning, and how to reinvent your space from inside out. In this episode, we discuss: Cinder-Amy Child of the 80s and free weekend labor Not having one’s own “stuff” or space The fear of scarcity Amy’s sacred utility box The great purge of notecards Holding on to things for the sake of holding on to them Marie Kondo has changed our folding forever Sentimental items Making rules about acquiring new stuff “Money was spent on this, and therefore I must keep it!” Giving things away Swap parties for unused, unloved stuff Sultana’s struggle with books Dealing with someone’s stuff after… Merging lives with someone’s stuff The power of Feng Shui in understanding the energy of your space The legacy of our stuff Reinventing your space Our steps to spring cleaning Find us at justchai.podbean.com Friendly disclaimer: This podcast and its hosts are not endorsing any of brand names you may hear. Any product names mentioned are simply to add fun, lively color for the conversation. Opinions reflected are our own.

We have all said or heard “I’m sorry” before, but forgiveness goes beyond an apology. In this conversation, we are going deep on forgiveness--how to do it well and why it matters (that includes giving yourself grace on the things you didn’t accomplish during quarantine). Your two favorite brown girls dish the advice and stories on forgiveness, with a dose of laughter. In this episode, we discuss: Why do we have lawns in the first place? Finishing projects you start Movie and a song What we didn’t accomplish during the pandemic Sound effects Sultana’s music and Amy’s crouton-making adventure It’s easy to spiral into shame How we learn forgiveness (forced sibling apology?) The barriers in the way of forgiveness The environment we grew up in The adage of “forgive but don’t forget” Spiraled growth and healthy detachment Going to the site of impact and getting clear for yourself “True forgiveness is when you can say ‘thank you for that experience’” - Oprah Winfrey Learning from ending relationships and getting clarity Limiting beliefs that are holding you back The influence of family “We can see two versions of a situation and they can both be right” Repeating patterns from childhood and generational trauma Amy’s love language quiz with her parents The power of asking open-ended questions Your "forgiveness starter pack" How to know if you need to forgive someone Ho’oponopono healing technique (from Hawai’i) Find us at justchai.podbean.com Friendly disclaimer: This podcast and its hosts are not endorsing any of brand names you may hear. Any product names mentioned are simply to add fun, lively color for the conversation. Opinions reflected are our own.  

Feeling ready, or not ready, for a change? As the seasons change and we move into Spring, your two favorite brown girls are talking about all the things: mercury retrograde (a little woo-woo for you), finding closure (or not) as seasons shift in life, avoiding burnout, meditation, letting go of perfection, and examining our thoughts. In this episode, we discuss: Checking in Mercury retrograde (and its effects) “Take it all back!” “I’ve got the power” Vaccine update The illusion of control Inspiration of gardening shows (and a good nature analogy) What the pandemic is teaching us Dealing with unexpected change Giving ourselves permission to rest Cultural influences on being “all the things” The benefit of a meditation practice The spiritual matrix The power of suggestion Metacognition Checking implicit bias “Your thoughts are optional” Email anxiety Letting go of perfection and embracing the beautiful mess Find us at justchai.podbean.com Friendly disclaimer: This podcast and its hosts are not endorsing any of brand names you may hear. Any product names mentioned are simply to add fun, lively color for the conversation. Opinions reflected are our own.

We upgrade this week from two brown girls to three when our friend, Felicia Dhanani, joins us. We chat about her cultural heritage, what traditions she is passing along to her daughter, her take on cultural appropriation (and what that means in places like the yoga studio), her journey to heal, and how she’s living her best life as a single Mom (you will want to check out her “Lioness Pride” community for single mothers). In this episode, we discuss: Felicia’s quiet space (and cool floor desk!) Her cultural identity -- an Indian girl born in America with a Spanish name whose parents are from East Africa with a more progressive mindset Differences from traditional Indian culture and how she feels about it today Bringing an openness and freedom to raising her daughter when it comes to culture (rather than conflict) Code-switching and connection Meme culture When culture goes mainstream (yoga) -- intention matters “We are grasping for something more” Amy’s experience in yoga classes “Yoga instructors make beautiful, magical things happen (but be authentic)” First generation American experience as an Indian The mind-body connection Expectations vs. reality and authenticity Yoga, ayurveda, and asafoetida (and Amy’s childhood) Felicia's yoga practice Meditation can show up in different ways "Knowing something doesn’t make you better than anyone else" What Felicia is passing on to her daughter (cultural generational connection) A water break Conscious parenting - “having the love of family while ensuring the things she’s learning are the things I want her to keep” What motivated Felicia to start a community (“Lioness Pride”) for single mothers following her divorce “We worked on being divorced...how to get to a good place with ourselves, and with eachother” Getting clear so you can focus on what’s most important Creating a space for other women struggling with conflict and committed to healing Find us at justchai.podbean.com Friendly disclaimer: This podcast and its hosts are not endorsing any of brand names you may hear. Any product names mentioned are simply to add fun, lively color for the conversation. Opinions reflected are our own.

Prepare to be inspired to think about parenting from a different perspective---and to think about your own childhood and how you would “re-parent” yourself if you could. We talk with Devin Jae Wilber---photographer, entrepreneur, and Mom to two beautiful children, one with autism--about how showing up authentically as a parent and releasing perfection has given her greater joy and the opportunity to contribute to others. And, we laugh a lot too! In this episode, we talk about: Katy Perry and lions Introducing Devin Jae Wilber -- “Mom extraordinaire” + photographer + entrepreneur The “Mom” expectations “If I can’t keep a plant alive”  Make up your own rules about parenting The belief that mothers are supposed to be the CEOs of the house Blue hair for picture day Trusting the process of exploration for children “If you’re going to fall, learn how to fall the right way” Shame and growth Dealing with different parenting philosophies The fallacy of “Pinterest Mom” Having a special needs daughter “Give everyone a break” Showing up imperfectly The origins of Devin’s passion for advocacy Her daughter’s autism diagnosis Doing something meaningful with your anger The “First Words Project” at FSU Formulating a plan matters---so does gut instinct Managing anger -- part of the grief process Being a realist and dealing with people that make uninformed remarks Protecting parents’ mental health  “There’s no playbook” Coping with grief Devin’s new plan - not taking “no” as no We have to be our own advocates Find us at justchai.podbean.com Friendly disclaimer: This podcast and its hosts are not endorsing any of brand names you may hear. Any product names mentioned are simply to add fun, lively color for the conversation. Opinions reflected are our own.

We’ve all heard the adage, “you are what you eat,” but what does that really mean? We discuss how our childhood and culture shaped our food habits, vegetarianism, and how to add intention to your daily diet with some humor, stories, and sass. In this episode, we talk about: Amy’s morning oatmeal How our eating in childhood shaped our eating as adults The scarcity mindset The origin story of Sultana’s vegetarianism “How did we not know that chicken came from chicken?” The celebratory aspects of meat How parents felt about our food choices Amy’s Long Island food memories “Who cares...eat what you want, be happy” It’s easier to eat less meat now Ancestry and vegetarianism Book recommendation Eating meatless at restaurants Giving up soda Sharing food in relationships Becoming intentional about sugar consumption The relationship between exercise and food Quarantine and overeating Making small changes in the diet to see how your body responds Suggestions for late night snacking Amy's intermittent fasting experience The value of breakfast Advice for those looking to change food habits Combatting quarantine weight Find us at justchai.podbean.com Friendly disclaimer: This podcast and its hosts are not endorsing any of brand names you may hear. Any product names mentioned are simply to add fun, lively color for the conversation. Opinions reflected are our own.

On this most strange and special of holidays, we are going beyond the greeting card, and supporting our listeners by answering your challenging questions about love and relationships. Your love gurus are here for you! Grab a cup of chai (or coffee or tea) and join us. In this episode, we discuss: Amy’s hair + Valentine’s Day plans Reversing roles on Valentine’s Days (single to coupled, and coupled to single) How Amy made Valentine’s Day special when she was single Remembering our “Valentine’s Day Sux” party from college Managing Valentine’s Day expectations The power of friendship to fill the void Fill up your own bucket Can love overcome political differences? Masters vs. disasters (dealing with minefield topics) The 3 ways you can show up in discussions Setting an intention for difficult conversations  Considering what happened in a person’s life that might inform their strong views Recalling Amy’s father’s experience from 1984 and its impact Should I stay or should I go? You have to invest in yourself Look at the things that are easiest to solve Happiness doesn’t look the same to every person Even though you think things cannot change, things inevitably change How have you abandoned yourself? The process of journaling as a feedback loop Engage in a conversation with yourself Struggling with identity issues The “Four Horsemen” - considering toxic dynamics in a relationship You teach your partner how to treat you Dissecting codependency Boundaries are necessary to have healthy relationships Geometry as an analogy for relationships “You have to know where your ‘no’ is” Carving out an independent persona True love is made up of two individuals The body is a messenger Everything can change Find us at justchai.podbean.com Friendly disclaimer: This podcast and its hosts are not endorsing any of brand names you may hear. Any product names mentioned are simply to add fun, lively color for the conversation. Opinions reflected are our own.

For our first book club selection, we read Glennon Doyle’s memoir, “Untamed.” Direct, compelling, and unapologetic in its delivery, this collection of life snapshots call attention to deeper issues that exist in society, particularly in the way women are taught to behave and move in the world. With Glennon’s strong narrative voice, she delivers a powerful punch to all those who seek to have more life in their life. Whether you’ve read it or not, you will gain a nugget of wisdom from the discussion. In this episode we cover: The structure of the book How the book is inspiring Amy to write Unlearning what isn’t working for you A whole family vs. having a specific structure Using the cheetah as symbolism for our “taming” Reframing our relationship with anger  The benefit of listening to an audiobook, especially when it’s a memoir Announcing our next book club selection: “The Millionaire Next Door: The Surprising Secrets of America's Wealthy” by Dr. Thomas J. Stanley and William D. Danko Find us at justchai.podbean.com Friendly disclaimer: This podcast and its hosts are not endorsing any of brand names you may hear. Any product names mentioned are simply to add fun, lively color for the conversation. Opinions reflected are our own.