Daughter of American converts to Islam, Umm Zakiyyah is the internationally acclaimed author of the If I Should Speak trilogy and the novels Realities of Submission and Hearts We Lost.  Her novels have been used in universities in America and abroad including Indiana University-Bloomington, Howard University, University of D.C. and Prince Sultan University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. She writes about the interfaith struggles of Muslims and Christians, and the intercultural, spiritual, and moral struggles of Muslims in America. Umm Zakiyyah’s work has earned praise from writers, professors, and filmmakers and has been translated into multiple languages. Currently, her first novel If I Should Speak is being contracted for a movie. In 2008, Umm Zakiyyah was awarded the Muslim Girls Unity Conference Distinguished Authors Award. Umm Zakiyyah also writes under her birth name Ruby Moore.    Website: ummzakiyyah.com or themuslimauthor.com Facebook: facebook.com/ummzakiyyahpage Twitter: twitter.com/uzreflections YouTube: youtube.com/uzreflections The following music was heard in this episode: Deborah Bond - Say It Laura Mvula - Green Garden

In this episode, Kat chats with soul singer, Wayna (@waynamusic).  To check out more music from Wayna, head over to her Soundcloud page.    The following music was heard in this episode: Maimouna Youssef - We're Already Royal Laura Mvula - Green Garden Wayna - Amazing

In this episode, Kat chats with Amina Carter (@womansphere), CaShawn Thompson (@thepbg), Christine Johnson (@ChristineCelise) and Karen Parker (@LFAWorks) about 2013 stories, lessons and insights. 

Kat is back with another episode of More Music Wednesdays. Check out the tracks featured in this episode:   Quadron - [un]Average Fruit (Ahmed SirourRemix) Dezeray Dawn -Chameleon (Applejac's Sounds of Mecca Remix) Massé - Blick Bassey (DJ Stylus Sol Power Edit) Kenny Wesley - Feels Good Christiana Essien - Black Ladies Are Funky Ladies Amel Larrieux - A Million Sapphires Wayna - Echo Daniel Crawford - Summer Breeze B.J. Smith - Umi Says Deborah Jordan - You Could Be Here Julie Dexter - New Again (Mig's Steppers C)

In this episode, Kat chats with Renina Jarmon, author of "Black Girls Are From the Future: Essays on Race, Digital Creativity and Pop Culture."  Want to learn more about Renina? Follow her on Twitter  Check out her blog, New Model Minority    The following music was featured in this episode: All Cows Eat Grass - Daydream Eric Roberson - Mr. Nice Guy Carolyn Malachi - Orion

Here's another great set of music curated by Kat! The following songs were played in this episode: Chris Dave and the Drumhedz - Cosmic Slop Daniel Crawford - Dillafornia 4 Mix Zo! feat. Carlitta Durand and 1 O.A.K. - New in Town (Happy) Kenny Wesley - The Real Thing Asheru feat. Funk Ark and Sitali - Funky DC Joy Jones - Tell Me How (Applejac's Big Drums retouch) Wayna - Echo Quadron - [un]Average Fruit (Ahmed Sirour Remix) Janelle Monaé feat. Esperanza Spaulding - Dorothy Dandridge Eyes Wayna - Send it Away Dezeray Dawn - Chameleon (Applejac's Sounds of Mecca Remix)

*due to technical difficulties some portions of this podcast have been edited from the recording. Dezaray Dawn is an exciting new artist on the future soul scene, possessing a voice, which resonates with a wealth of bothemotion and experience. Combine that with the solid rhythms of bass and percussion and futuristic sounds of electronica, and you have one the most talented young artists of future soul.  Want to learn more about Dezaray Dawn? Check out her bandcamp page Follow Dezaray Dawn on Twitter

The following music was featured in this episode:   Positive Flow- Children of the Sun feat. Heidi Vogel Dezeray Dawn - Over It Fat Freddy's Drop - Clean the House Janelle Monàe - Dorothy Dandridge Eyes (feat. Esperanza Spaulding) Blick Bassey - Massé (DJ Stylus Sol Power Edit) Reel People feat. Tony Momrelle - Golden Lady J Dilla - Sounds Like Love (Instrumental) Frank Ocean feat. Andre 3000 - Pink Matter (Boddhi Satva Ancestral Soul Remix) Erykah Badu - 20 Feet Tall (Yoruba Soul Mix)  Positive Force- Phaedra's Flight Quadron + Ahmed Sirour - [un]Average Fruit (Ahmed Sirour Remix) Tiny Hearts- Snowcold The Foreign Exchange - Daykeeper (Instrumental)

Toronto born Nigerian Singer-Songwriter Artist TolumiDE is the Entertainment Director for FestAfrica – The largest African Festival hosted in Maryland (FestAfricaUSA.com) and a Art Director for her Graphic Design & Marketing company (tolumide.com) Connect with TolumiDE Learn more about FestAfrica. Follow FestAfrica on Twitter   The following music was heard in this episode:   Jose James - Trouble James Blake - Retrograde Chris Dave - Just The Thought Christiana Essien - Black Ladies Are Funky Ladies Moonchild - Back To Me Dare - Higher

Beatrice a former Marine and entrepreneur since 2008. After making candles and room sprays for a few years, her friends and family all wanted to know why she was keeping them hidden from the world! Kat talks with Bea about he growing company and what it means to be an entrepreneur. Get in touch with Bea! website url : www.senteurexotics.com facebook: https://www.facebook.com/senteurbrands Twitter: @senteurexotics