Truth's Table

In this special episode, Celai West, pronounced “sah-LAY”, joins Ekemini at the table. Celai is a quirky ten year old STEMgirl who is making waves in the fashion, runway, vlogging and acting industry, all while proving you can never be too cool for school. She began print modeling when she was five, doing runway shows when she was six, started acting and became the CEO of her own t-shirt line, TheChattyChick.com, at seven, walked in NYFW for the first time at eight, had her first viral video at nine and co-authoring her first book at ten. Celai has worked with major brands such as Target, Walmart, Amazon, Gap, Disney and Allstate and was the leading lady in Willy Williams’ music video “The Voodoo Song” that has been viewed over 18 million times! She also appeared in “I Am My Own Mother” which was selected to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in 2018. She is looking forward to doing more acting and challenging herself on set. Celai West has appeared on ten magazine covers, published inside several magazin

The ladies are back at the table y’all! In this episode, Ekemini, Michelle, and Christina talk about their favorite R&B Divas. What makes a diva? Who is and is not a diva? Get ready to cackle along with them and make sure to tweet them your diva picks. Grab your teacup and make sure it’s not too hot because you will spill the tea on yourself! Pull up a chair and have a seat at the table with us!

In this final episode of the You Okay, Sis? Series, Ekemini and Christina are joined by the one and only, Anowa Adjah to discuss, “You Okay, Sis?: Anowa Adjah, Fix Our Fitness Lives!” Anowa Adjah is the first Nationally Recognized 200-pound Curvy Fit Master Trainer and Group Instructor. Along with her groundbreaking accomplishments in the Health & Wellness realm, she is also the creator of a successful line of Workout DVDs catered to women of all shapes and sizes. Professional, Influencer, Entrepreneur, and mother of twin boys, Anowa has solidified herself as an inspiration to millions around the world. Anowa’s transparency and relentless efforts to motivate and encourage women all over the world has helped her generate a following of over 2 million men and women. Today Adjah continues to advocate self-love, acceptance, and optimal health. Anowa is also a well-respected motivational speaker who continues to encourage her audience to overcome adversity and pursue their dreams. Anowa’s company “Anowa Adjah

In this episode of “You Okay, Sis?: But Them Loans Tho! with Sonia Lewis, ‘The Student Loan Doctor.’” Ekemini and Christina are joined by Sonia Lewis. Sonia Lewis, is CEO of an award-winning business, The Student Loan Doctor LLC. Sonia is considered the people’s expert for all matters related to student loan debt repayment. She has over 9 years of practical higher education and financial aid experience. The Student Loan Doctor LLC has been recognized as the first African American and woman owned student loan repayment company in the country. The business has also received a citation by the City of Philadelphia because of the business’s impact within the Philadelphia community. The company was designed to educate others about their student loan debt and provide assistance in making a tangible plan for repayment. The social impact goal of the business is to help a generation of borrowers become free of debt to promote social mobility and wealth building. Sonia is an expert speaker across all audiences regardle

In this episode of Truth’s Table, Morgan takes a seat at the table with Christina and Ekemini. Morgan Harper Nichols is a writer, artist, and musician who makes her work around people and their stories. In 2017, Morgan started a project where she invites people to submit their stories to her website. From there, she creates art inspired by what they send her, and then, sends them the art, for free. As an artist, Morgan has collaborated with publications and brands including Coach, Darling Magazine, Esquire Singapore, Jungalow, and more. Originally from Atlanta, Ga. and she and her husband Patrick currently reside just a little south of Los Angeles in Orange County, California. Pull up a chair and have a seat at the table with us. Follow Morgan Harper Nichols on Social Media: Instagram: instagram.com/morganharpernichols Twitter: twitter.com/morganhnichols Pinterest: pinterest.com/morganharpernichols Website: morganharpernichols.com

In this episode, You Okay, Sis?: Misogynoir & Mental Health with Jeremiah Hopes. Ekemini and Christina are joined by Jeremiah Hopes M.S., LPC, LCAS, CAADC is a solution-focused thinker, professional counselor, speaker, and author. Jeremiah holds a Master of Science degree in Counseling and he is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist. In 2005 he founded, The Center of Hopes,™ a counseling, speaking, and training organization. In 2015 he co-authored Facing Our Future: Building Strong Black Men in the 21st Century. Jeremiah provides counseling services to individuals and families and provides professional training to groups and organizations. Jeremiah is a powerful speaker and an engaging storyteller and his trainings are both interactive and informative. Jeremiah has consulted with the award-winning GAP program and has provided services to a variety of groups and organizations including: the School Nurse Association of North Carolina, the Virginia Department of Alc

Trigger Warning: Due to sensitive and upsetting information shared in this episode. In this episode, You Okay, Sis?: Black Midwives & Mamas Matter with Cessilye R. Smith, Christina and Ekemini are joined by Cessilye R. Smith. Cessilye is a racial and maternal justice activist committed to tearing down walls of oppression and division to build bridges that lead to solution-based practices. Her journey began with her struggle with infertility and lack of awareness of her own body and then the eventual healthy, safe and beautiful births of her own children. Over the years she has witnessed time and time again the devastating impact systemic failures in healthcare, housing and economics have had on the human condition. Constantly bearing witness to the impact of structural racism and the violence of our collective inaction, while also being active in activism and faith circles has given her the ability to see the overlap in these structures and the drive to pursue justice in an unconventional way. She is

In this episode, You Okay, Sis?: Infertility & Infant Loss with Erica M. McAfee, Ekemini and Michelle are seated at the table with Erica M. McAfee. Erica M. McAfee is the founder of Sisters in Loss, LLC, a Faith based Grief and Pregnancy Loss coaching company that helps black women turn their pain into their purpose after loss. Sisters in Loss provides birth and bereavement doula services, infertility and grief coaching services to help women step beyond anxiety and fear and into trust and peace after loss. Sisters in Loss goal through courses, retreats, and conferences is to help women Minimize regrets, Maximize memories, and Manage their path forward after loss. It’s self titled podcast spotlights faith filled black women who share miscarriage, infant loss, and infertility stories and testimonies to heal, gain clarity and peace, find hope, and an empowering path forward after loss. Launched in August 2017 the podcast has a community of 10,000+ sisters in loss.

In this episode, Natasha joins Ekemini and Christina at the table. Natasha Sistrunk Robinson is an international speaker, leadership consultant, diversity and mentoring coach with nearly 20 years of leadership experience in the military, federal government, church, seminary, and nonprofit sectors. She is the author of A Sojourner’s Truth: Choosing Freedom and Courage in a Divided World, Mentor for Life and its accompanying leader’s training manual, and the Hope for Us: Knowing God through the Nicene Creed Bible study. She is the Visionary Founder and Chairperson of the 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Leadership LINKS, Inc. Natasha is a doctoral student at North Park Theological Seminary, and a graduate of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary Charlotte (cum laude, M.A. Christian Leadership) and the U.S. Naval Academy. She has served as a Marine Corps officer and employee at the Department of Homeland Security. Natasha is also the host of A Sojourner’s Truth: Conversations for a Changing Culture podcast. Pull up a chair, g

In this episode, You Okay, Sis?: Medical Apartheid, Ekemini and Christina are seated at the table with Harriet A. Washington. Harriet A. Washington wrote Infectious Madness: The Surprising Science of How We "Catch" Mental Illness while the 2015-2016 Miriam Shearing Fellow at the University of Nevada's Black Mountain Institute. She is a science writer, editor and ethicist who has been a Research Fellow in Medical Ethics at Harvard Medical School, Visiting Fellow at the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, a visiting scholar at DePaul University College of Law and a senior research scholar at the National Center for Bioethics at Tuskegee University. She has also held fellowships at Stanford University, holds a degree in English from the University of Rochester, an MA in journalism from Columbia University and in 2016 was elected a Fellow of the New York Academy of Medicine. She is a lecturer in bioethics at Columbia University. Ms. Washington has written widely for popular and science public

Ekemini, Michelle, and Christina are back with Truth’s Table Season 3! The women are kicking off this season with a series entitled, “You Okay, Sis?” In this series, they will explore the holistic health of Black women. Since this is the first episode of the You Okay, Sis? Series, the women of Truth’s Table assess their own spiritual, mental, and physical health. Pull up a chair and have a seat at the table. Don’t forget your teacups! Hosts: Michelle Higgins (twitter.com/AfroRising) Christina Edmondson (twitter.com/DrCEdmondson) Ekemini Uwan (twitter.com/sista_theology) Producer: Joshua Heath (twitter.com/J_DotMusic4) Executive Producer: Beau York (twitter.com/TheRealBeauYork) Special Thanks To: The Witness: A Black Christian Collective - www.TheWitnessBCC.com (twitter.com/TheWitnessBCC) Podastery - www.podastery.com (twitter.com/Podastery)

In the final episode of Truth’s Table Season Two, Ekemini and Christina reflect on Truth’s Table Season Two. The women discuss their favorite episodes and they invite you to listen in on how you can support Truth’s Table financially. The Truth’s Table ladies have great plans for 2019, but they need your help to make this a reality. Pull up a chair and listen in as the women of Truth’s Table reflect on season two. You can watch this special video podcast at their YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLx9c5JFZF8_E4HM20QLitw/videos?view_as=subscriber How to support Truth’s Table via PayPal or Patreon PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/truthstable Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TruthsTable Hosts: Michelle Higgins (twitter.com/AfroRising) Christina Edmondson (twitter.com/DrCEdmondson) Ekemini Uwan (twitter.com/sista_theology) Producer: Joshua Heath (twitter.com/J_DotMusic4) Executive Producer: Beau York (twitter.com/TheRealBeauYork) Special Thanks To: The Witness: A Black Christian Collective - www.The

SPOILER ALERT: Do not listen to this episode if you haven’t seen BlacKkKlansman yet. In this episode, Ekemini, Michelle, and Christina discuss their thoughts on Spike Lee's BlacKkKlansman. This movie is based on a true story set in the 70s about an African-American police officer played by John David Washington who went undercover in the 70s to infiltrate the Ku Klux Klan in Colorado Springs by joining it over the phone. Pull up a chair and have a seat at the table with us! Stay tuned until the end for a special message from Michelle. Reference: Boots Riley's Critique of Spike Lee's BlacKkKlansman Hosts: Michelle Higgins (twitter.com/AfroRising) Christina Edmondson (twitter.com/DrCEdmondson) Ekemini Uwan (twitter.com/sista_theology) Producer: Joshua Heath (twitter.com/J_DotMusic4) Executive Producer: Beau York (twitter.com/TheRealBeauYork) Special Thanks To: The Witness: A Black Christian Collective - www.TheWitnessBCC.com (twitter.com/TheWitnessBCC) Podastery - www.podastery.com (twitter.c

In this episode, Christina and Ekemini are joined by Jackie Hill-Perry to talk about her new book, Gay Girl, Good God. The hosts attempt to engage Jackie’s book and her life story with an open ear and critically discerning questions. Jackie Hill Perry is a writer, poet, and artist whose work has been featured on the Washington Times, The 700 Club, Desiring God, The Gospel Coalition, and other publications. Since becoming a Christian in 2008, she has been compelled to use her speaking and teaching gifts to share the light of the gospel of God as authentically as she can. At home she is a wife to Preston and Mommy to Eden and Autumn. Pull up a chair and have a seat at the table. Hosts: Michelle Higgins (twitter.com/AfroRising) Christina Edmondson (twitter.com/DrCEdmondson) Ekemini Uwan (twitter.com/sista_theology) Producer: Joshua Heath (twitter.com/J_DotMusic4) Executive Producer: Beau York (twitter.com/TheRealBeauYork) Special Thanks To: The Witness: A Black Christian Collective - www.TheWitnessBCC.com (tw

In this episode, Ekemini explains what social media is, the good, the bad, and the ugly. She challenges us to examine the ways that we have gossiped and slandered others online. Additionally, she conducts a mini-Twitter autopsy on her own Twitter profile. Truth’s Table is going LIVE in Grand Rapids, MI on August 16, 2018! They will be joined by musical guests Shuree and Sharon Irving. Tickets are only $15 through August 1st. Buy early and save! Buy your tickets here: https://grcmc.org/theatre/node/34171/truth-s-table-live-pop-up-podcast-show This episode of Truth’s Table is brought to you by InterVarsity Press, whose vision is to catalyze redemption, restoration, and revival in our divided and broken world. Follow IVP on Twitter @ivpress and visit IVP’s website at www.ivpress.com. Purchase Natasha Robinson’s book, A Sojourner’s Truth and use the code TRUTH18 to save 30% plus free shipping. This discount is available until January 1, 2019!

This episode is sponsored by InterVarsity Press This episode of Truth’s Table is brought to you by InterVarsity Press, whose vision is to catalyze redemption, restoration, and revival in our divided and broken world. Follow IVP on Twitter @ivpress and visit IVP’s website at www.ivpress.com. Purchase Natasha Robinson’s book, A Sojourner’s Truth and use the code TRUTH18 to save 30% plus free shipping. This discount is available until January 1, 2019! Join Ekemini, Michelle, and Christina as they answers listeners’ questions. Hot tea is served and cackles galore as they answer some controversial questions. Pull up a chair and have a seat at the table with us! Truth’s Table is going LIVE in Grand Rapids, MI on August 16, 2018! They will be joined by musical guests Shuree and Sharon Irving. Tickets are only $15 through August 1st. Buy early and save! Buy your tickets here: https://grcmc.org/theatre/node/34171/truth-s-table-live-pop-up-podcast-show Hosts: Michelle Higgins (twitter.com/AfroRising) Christin

Benjamina Ebuehi is a London based baker and food stylist. She featured on the seventh series of the BBC's Great British Bake Off in which she finished as a quarter finalist and impressed the judges with her modern style and flavour combinations. She runs the food blog Carrot & Crumb where she regularly shares recipes and baking tips. She is also an ambassador for Luminary Bakery - a social enterprise working to empower and support disadvantaged women. Benjamina recently co-founded The Sister Table - a series of monthly brunch clubs and events for women, creating space for them to be part of a community and enjoy one another around the table over good food. Pull up a chair and have a seat at the table with us! Truth’s Table is going LIVE in Grand Rapids, MI on August 16, 2018! They will be joined by musical guests Shuree and Sharon Irving. Tickets are only $15 through August 1st. Buy early and save! Buy your tickets here: https://grcmc.org/theatre/node/34171/truth-s-table-live-pop-up-podcast-s

In this episode, Ekemini, Michelle, and Christina talk about Therese Patricia Okoumou’s courageous act of political resistance on behalf of the thousands of immigrant children who are locked in cages and separated from their children. There has been a lot of talk about Black women as “superheroes” and the women of Truth’s Table debunk that myth and show how harmful and deadly that narrative is for all Black women. Pull up a chair and have a seat at the table! Article: 'Are they going to shoot me?': Statue of Liberty ​climber on her anti-Trump protest https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/jul/07/statue-of-liberty-protester-patricia-okoumou-interview Truth’s Table is going LIVE in Grand Rapids, MI on August 16, 2018! They will be joined by musical guests Shuree and Sharon Irving. Tickets are only $15 through August 1st. Buy early and save! Buy your tickets here: https://grcmc.org/theatre/node/34171/truth-s-table-live-pop-up-podcast-show Hosts: Michelle Higgins (twitter.com/AfroRising) Christina

In this episode, Ekemini, Michelle and Christina talk about Trump’s zero tolerance immigration policy that caused the separation of over 2,000 immigrant children from their parents and locked in cages. Pull up a chair, grab your teacup because the tea they are serving is scalding hot. Truth’s Table is going LIVE in Grand Rapids, MI on August 16, 2018! They will be joined by musical guests Shuree and Sharon Irving. Tickets are only $15 through August 1st. Buy early and save! Buy your tickets here: https://grcmc.org/theatre/node/34171/truth-s-table-live-pop-up-podcast-show Hosts: Michelle Higgins (twitter.com/AfroRising) Christina Edmondson (twitter.com/DrCEdmondson) Ekemini Uwan (twitter.com/sista_theology) Producer: Joshua Heath (twitter.com/J_DotMusic4) Executive Producer: Beau York (twitter.com/TheRealBeauYork) Special Thanks To: The Witness: A Black Christian Collective - www.TheWitnessBCC.com (twitter.com/TheWitnessBCC) Podastery - www.podastery.com (twitter.com/Podastery)

In light of the #metoo and #churchtoo movement, Lisa Sharon Harper joins Christina and Ekemini at the table to discuss #SilenceIsNotSpiritual. From Ferguson to New York to Germany and South Africa Ms. Harper leads trainings and helps mobilize clergy and community leaders around shared values for the common good. A prolific speaker, writer and activist, Ms. Harper is the founder and president of FreedomRoad.us, a consulting group dedicated to shrinking the narrative gap in our nation by convening forums and experiences that bring common understanding, common commitment, and common action toward a just world. Ms. Harper is the author of several books, including: Evangelical Does Not Equal Republican...or Democrat (The New Press, 2008), Left Right and Christ: Evangelical Faith in Politics (Elevate, 2011), Forgive Us: Confessions of a Compromised Faith (Zondervan, 2014), and the critically acclaimed, The Very Good Gospel: How Everything Wrong can be Made Right (Waterbrook, a division of Penguin Random House, 2