Hair! How I Grew It

On today’s show I interview Comedienne and Musician Rita Brent. Rita embraced her natural five years ago. Her viral videos are the humor we need during this unprecedented time. The Mississippi native’s Quarantine Shuffle features Rita dancing with her family while she sings about washing hands, staying indoors and other precautions we should take to protect ourselves from COVID-19. Rita’s A Prayer for Trump, which has more than one million views on Facebook, is laugh out loud political commentary. Here’s an excerpt. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/HairHowIGrewIt/message

On today’s show I interview Karla Redditte. Karla is a TV anchor and reporter at NBC 12 in Richmond, Virginia. The Memphis, Tennessee, native is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. See, told y’all, this Delta is all about spreading Greek love. Karla embraced her natural 12 years ago, and five years ago this month she debuted it on air. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/HairHowIGrewIt/message

You know the saying, don’t judge a book by its cover? Well, it applies to today’s guest, Ashley Moore. A Georgia peach, who now lives in Las Vegas, Nevada, Ashley is a Cardiac Clinical Specialist with one of the top medical device companies in the world. Her job is to help electrophysiologists implant cardiac devices. She’s also a natural hair enthusiast, lifestyle blogger and my Delta Sigma Theta Sorority sister. Looking at Ashley, you’d never guess this beautiful, bubbly and outgoing chocolate sistah, who models part time, lost her mother to domestic violence. Ashley was just 12 at the time. Later in the show, she talks candidly about how that tragedy devastated her hair life. First, we talk hair texture. Hers is soft with wavy curls, and a little kinky in the back. Living in a dry climate, Ashley doesn’t have to worry about hair shrinkage. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/HairHowIGrewIt

On today's show I interview my stepsister, Stefanie Graddic. Born and raised in Beaufort, South Carolina, Stefanie is a medical device sales representative based in San Francisco, California. Stefanie wore weaves a lot. So much so, they became a crutch, and she didn’t truly embrace her natural hair until a few years ago. Find out why she finally did later in the show. First, we talk hair texture. Hers is soft, light, dry and a bit schizophrenic. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/HairHowIGrewIt/message

On today's show I interview my fellow Clevelander and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Sister, Janelle Coleman, who is one of the busiest people I know. Janelle is the Executive Vice President, External Affairs for the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, one of the top zoos in the country. Her community life includes serving on the board of trustees for Ohio University, YWCA Columbus, and KIPP Foundation. She’s married to the former four-term mayor of Columbus, Ohio, who by the way is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, so her social calendar is always full. And, she is training for a two-day bike race called Pelotonia, which has raised more than 200 million dollars in cancer research. Needless to say, getting Janelle on the phone was not easy, but she made time for the podcast because she’s proud to be a part of the natural hair movement. Janelle hopes the ups and downs of her hair journey, which includes her ongoing struggle with hair loss, will help sistahs, who are dealing with the same issues. --- This episode i

On today's show I interview my fellow Clevelander, Artist and Preschool Teacher Adrian Lane. Adrian is designing the cover of Cleveland’s Crown Angels, my first fiction book, that’s coming soon. During the podcast, I’ll share a few excerpts from this over-the-top supernatural, natural hair adventure. Thank you, Hair! Hair How I Grew It guest Keturah Bobo for recommending Adrian. Listen to episode five to hear Keturah share how her artwork often embodies young black girls’ natural hair struggles. Adrian has worn a natural for nearly 10 years. I asked her to describe her hair texture. She compared it to an art tool she’s used, which made me smile. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/HairHowIGrewIt/message

On today's show I interview Digital Content Creator Victoria Davis. Victoria and I have a lot in common. We were born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. We attended predominantly white colleges with little to offer in black haircare. We’re Greek. I’m a Delta, and she’s an AKA. We worked in television newsrooms, and Victoria’s ClassyCurlies.com includes my mom’s first name, which is Curlie, spelled C-U-R-L-I-E. Speaking of ClassyCurlies.com, it’s the reason why I wanted to interview Victoria. She is the creator and CEO of the website that started as a diary and is now a thriving natural hair online community for sistahs. I asked her how she came up with the domain name. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/HairHowIGrewIt/message

On today's show I interview Technology Consultant and Life Coach Tonya Brewington. Tonya is the CEO and founder of TBrewing Consulting and Courageously Alive. The latter helps people learn how to live and love again and create a life filled with courage, forgiveness and growth, particularly after experiencing trauma or tragedy. A Fayetteville, North Carolina native, Tonya has worn a natural for nearly 25 years. Shout out again to my Delta Sigma Theta Sorority sister and Hair! How I Grew It guest Tamika Felder. As I said in the beginning of the show, Tonya is the third person Tamika has put on my radar for this podcast. Listen to Hair! How I Grew It episode seven to hear Tamika share her journey back to natural hair. During our conversation, I learned Tonya did the big chop twice, which really impressed me because I haven’t had the courage to do it once. She did it both times to help her reboot her life. More on that later in the show. First, we talk texture. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The

On today's show I interview Fitness Entrepreneur Kimberly Turner. Everyone calls her Kim. Born and raised in Gary, Indiana, Kim has rocked her natural for nearly 25 years. She likes the look because it’s versatile, healthy and fits her fitness lifestyle. At 51, her sculpted body and flat abs put most twentysomethings to shame. When I saw her wearing workout gear in a photo she emailed to me for this program, I thought, I need to sign up for a gym membership ASAP. Kim is the owner of Fitness Snob Studio in Washington, D.C. She describes her business as a high-end boutique fitness studio for independent instructors and concepts, like Vixen and other workouts. Kim provides the space and gym amenities, and the instructors book her location by the hour and run their own classes there. She works with some of the best in the business. For example, Michelle Obama’s trainer, the one who helped the former first lady get those amazing toned arms, taped an on-demand series at the studio. I didn’t know Kim until Hair! How

On today’s show, I interview A’Lelia Bundles. She is African American haircare royalty. I spoke to A’Lelia just days before the 152nd birthday of her great-great grandmother, Madam C. J. Walker. I’d heard of Madam Walker, the first documented, self-made black millionaire, who built a haircare empire in the early 1900s. What self-respecting black person hasn’t? But, I didn’t know about A’Lelia until my Delta Sigma Theta Sorority sister and Hair! How I Grew It guest, Tamika Felder, suggested I reach out to her.  Thank you, Soror! Listen to Hair! How I Grew It episode seven to hear Tamika share her journey back to natural hair, which includes lots of laughs, some lowcountry history and sobering cancer and hair talk.   Born in Chicago and raised in Indianapolis, A’Lelia has been natural for most of her life.  She is a journalist, historian and Madam C. J. Walker biographer.  Even though we’d never met before I contacted her, she didn’t hesitate to say yes to sharing her hair journey, and I am

On today’s show I interview my cousin, DaNotta Jackson. She’s a retired United States Marine Corps Company First Sergeant. A Beaufort, South Caroline native, DaNotta’s been sporting her natural for more than 20 years. When I asked her to be a guest on Hair! How I Grew It, she, of course, said yes. I mean, saying no to family, her blood – not really an option. Love you cousin! But, DaNotta didn’t think anyone would care about what she had to say because she’s been natural for a while. I explained why she was wrong. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/HairHowIGrewIt/message

On today’s show I interview Doreen Hodge. I met Doreen more than a decade ago, when her husband, who has worked with me on media productions, introduced us, and we hit it off right away. A Queens, New York native, Doreen worked in media for years and did a stint as a fifth-grade elementary school teacher. Now, a stay-at-home mom, who refers to herself as a Domestic Engineer – love, love, LOVE that title -- Doreen has worn a natural for 12 years. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/HairHowIGrewIt/message

On today’s show I interview Christian. She is the daughter of my friend and Hair! How I Grew It guest, Caroline Brewer. Caroline, as Christian mentioned in the beginning of the show, is a pioneer. She was one of just a few black women, who wore a natural in her native home of Fort Wayne, Indiana, in the early 1990s. Listen to episode four of Hair! How I Grew It to hear Caroline share her hair journey, which is filled with courage, some mean girls, hate mail, love and deep natural hair wisdom. Christian, who was born in Fort Wayne, and spent her primary years there, has been sporting locs for about 20 years. I wanted to interview her because natural hair became her side gig. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/HairHowIGrewIt/message

Normally, I introduce my guest, but today, I’m letting my guest introduce herself because quite frankly, she does it a hell of a lot better than I would. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/HairHowIGrewIt/message

On today’s show, I interview Kamara Douglas. The natural hair discrimination she experienced on a job helped change the law in Cincinnati, Ohio. Now, Cincy is the second U.S. city to ban natural hair discrimination at work. New York is the first. Even though I’d never met Kamara, I knew in my gut after reading about her, she would be a great guest, so I called her and asked for this interview. She didn’t hesitate to say yes despite a busy schedule. Kamara is a full-time student at Northern Kentucky University where she’s pursuing her master’s degree in Public Administration. She also works full time as the Administrative and Community Affairs Director for Councilmember Chris Seelbach. And it’s while working for him that her hair story helped make history. Councilman Seelbach hired Kamara in April 2019. After hearing about Kamara’s and other black women’s natural hair struggles, he proposed adding natural hair and hairstyles to the city's discrimination policy. On October 9th, council approved the addition by

On today’s show, I interview Artist-Entrepreneur Keturah Bobo. Her work often embodies young black girls’ natural hair struggles. The Toledo, Ohio, native has rocked her natural for nearly a decade. Thanks so much, Carla Moore for putting this talent on my radar. If you haven’t already, check out episode three of Hair! How I Grew It to hear Carla share her story, where she talks about the thoughtful hair choices she had to make when she was a judge. When I was looking for an artist to design the cover of my first fiction book, which is rooted in my natural hair journey, (and by the way, is coming soon), Carla asked me, “Have you heard about the woman who did the illustrations for I Am Enough?” Carla said she bought copies of the picture book for her grandkids.  I Am Enough, I thought, never heard of it, until I did a Google search. When I saw the New York Times bestseller written by Fox’s Empire star Grace Byers, I instantly recognized the cover I’d seen in stores. It prominently features a beautiful bla

On today’s show I interview my friend, Communications Professional and Children’s Book Author Caroline Brewer. Caroline is busy gearing up for the November release of her 12th book called Darius Daniels: Game On!, so I’m grateful, she took some time to talk to me. Years ago, when I asked some sistahs to write their natural hair stories for a collection of essays I wanted to publish, Caroline was the first one to say yes, so I knew I had to interview her for this podcast. We met in the mid-1990s in her hometown of Fort Wayne, Indiana. She was an editorial columnist for the Journal Gazette, one of the city’s local newspapers, and I was a TV reporter at the CBS station. Caroline wore her very tight curly coils in a high-top fade. I remember thinking, wow, when I saw it. While natural hair wasn’t on my personal radar back then -- in fact, I didn’t see the beauty in it for years -- I did recognize the courage it took to wear it. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. htt

On today’s show, I interview my Delta Sigma Theta Sorority sister, Carla Moore. Born and raised in Akron, Ohio, Carla is the second Delta featured on the program.  Don’t worry, this won’t turn into a DST podcast, but a few more of my Sorors will probably stop by. My father introduced me to Carla in the mid-1990s when I was a cub reporter covering crime and courts in Indiana, and she was a judge in the Akron Municipal Court. Aware of my beats, she gave me the opportunity of a lifetime.  She let me sit next to her on the bench while she presided over cases, so I could see everything going on in the courtroom from her vantage point.  The experience enriched my reporting, and I’ll always be grateful to her for that. Carla’s job as a judge is the reason why I wanted to share her natural hair journey.  Before retiring, she sat on the bench for 15 years in the Akron Municipal Court and 13 years on the Ohio Ninth District Court of Appeals.  She was the first black female judge elected to both

On today’s show, I interview my sistah from another mistah, Estee Irby.  I wanted to talk to Estee because she’s my natural and silver hair twin.  Like me, she has course, very tight coily curls.  But, unlike me, she’s a natural newbie.  After relaxing her hair for nearly 30 years, she stopped chemically straightening it about two years ago, which I did not see coming.  But, what surprised me even more was her decision to stop dyeing.  She got her first gray strand before she was a teenager, so coloring had been a part of her life for years.           --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/HairHowIGrewIt/message

In this HHIGI bonus clip, my Delta Sigma Theta Sorority sister, Jennifer Jones, explains why she'll never wear wigs and weaves, but she has considered sporting braids.  Braids pic courtesy of Meghan Linehan at https://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanl/. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/HairHowIGrewIt/message