From the Root: Recent Episodes
From the Root
A discussion-based podcast between Michelle Emile and Serena Sankofa that explores holistic wellness through their lived experiences as Black Queer people.
Follow us on Instagram: @fromtherootpod
Michelle and Serena continue discussing their New Years' "roadmaps" and shift their focus from what they want to leave and what they gained in 2021, towards where they are headed in 2022.
Topics: music anthem for the year, themes, what they are both calling and what they are changing from 2021.
Shine Theory: Body Butters by Michelle; visit @michellescauldron on instagram or email michelleinflux@gmail.com
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It's a New Lunar Year! Serena and Michelle share what they plan to leave behind, their reflections on their past year, and cycles/habits they plan on breaking.
Shine Theory:
TikTok: @JasminesGarden23
IG: @JasminesGarden
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This meditation was originally created by Serena as part of a series of events called Healing Session for Black Liberation, which Michelle and Serena helped facilitate (with two others) during the summer of 2020.
Unfortunately, grief is an on-going emotion. We hope this offering will help you release and transmute any lingering grief you're still holding onto from 2021 and beyond.
The meditation incorporates creative visualization and conscious connected breathing.
You can view the audio transcript here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1s_Uw4F8MHP8BTF-Q9Xk8wuyPxdvoT-TKiG6sGHFNb_0/edit?usp=sharing
Credit: background ocean wave audio, ZapSplat.com
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In this episode Michelle and Serena discuss how to get re-grounded after moving somewhere new. Serena moved from Rochester, NY to Brooklyn, NY 6 years ago (and moved 4 additional times within Brooklyn), and Michelle moved from NJ/NY to Arizona 3 years ago. The two discuss changes in cost of living and financial costs to consider, food deserts and food utopias, social changes and challenges, experiencing culture shock like encountering Black people that don’t know Black culture and the struggles of finding Black Queer and Trans community. They consider the impact of the spaces we choose to enter and the people we choose to be around, how home is where our heart is/with the people who hold our heart. Questions that are explored:
- To what extent do we hold the power to intentionally choose surroundings that will help us ground and flourish in an environment?
- How can our values help inform us to make better choices?
- When do we decide that it’s time to move?
- How does one heal in the same environment that harmed us?
Terms:
ATRs = African Traditional Religions
Shine Theory:
Crisp US Thrift (based in AZ) A thrift organization - Offers sewing classes, and discusses the social and racial impacts of the fashion industry; repurposes worn vintage items as everyday house-hold items. Black-owned and queer-owned. Visit: https://www.crispthrift.us/
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In episode 6 part 2, Serena & Michelle talking about how they protect their autonomy, what they look out for, and what nudity can look like beyond the sexual perception.
Shine Theory: @blackqueerdom @Flowerchildbruja https://www.theflowerchildbruja.com/
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In episode 6, Michelle and Serena cover the following topics:
- Spankings
- Bullying
- Sexual Harassment
- Body Validation
- Eating disorders
Trigger warnings: There are no graphic descriptions, but there are multipe mentions of the following
- spankings
- child sexual abuse/assault
- verbal/physical abuse
- domestic violence
- bullying
- slut-shaming
- sexual harassment
This episode was cut short due to technical difficulties. Check out "What is Mine?" Part 2 in October, where we will continue the conversation discussing boundaries, our bodies outside of sexual perception, and what we do to reclaim and show our bodies love.
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...Queer Joy, NonBinary Joy! We're embracing all of it! This is a prerecorded episode made back in May of this year, but there is still info, gems, and joy to be collected! This month Serena & Michelle take a break from all things heavy to center joy and gratitude in how it shows up in their identities. Please don't forget to reach out on their platforms to share how you've been experiencing joy lately or within your identities.
Email: FromTheRootPod@gmail.com
IG: @FromTheRootPod
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In this episode Michelle and Serena Discuss:
What is toxic positivity?
How is it harmful?
Toxic Positivity vs Optimism
How to manage our mental health during difficult times?
Shine Theory Spotlight:
Brown Girl Jane www.browngirljane.com
"Get Good with Money" by Tiffany Aliche The Budgetnista
Dryland Wilds www.drylandwilds.com
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In this episode of From the Root, Serena and Michelle discuss the ego. The positive and negative ways it has impacted their lives. The lessons they've learned from the ego as well as narratives they had to let go of.
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Maria Sabina
Shine Theory:
Brown Girl Jane
Momentum: A Shadow work guide & Journal by Quinn Barbour
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This is the last half of the second episode. In the second half, Serena and Michelle discuss sexuality beyond gender including kink, fetiches, sexuality changing with social norms, the importance of sexual fluidity, and the difference between prejudice, preference, and preservation.
References in the show:
BDSM test & Yes, No, or Maybe
Shine Theory: Insight Timer App (instructors mentioned are Dora Kamau & Mooji) & Liberate App
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Send questions to FromTheRootPod@gmail.com
Just a reminder this show is biweekly! <3
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This second episode is broken out in two parts, in this first part Michelle and Serena discuss coming out stories, sexual orientation and attraction to different genders, definitions of “Queer” and “sexual fluidity”, and thoughts on the phrase “trans-attracted” (as stated by Malik Soba).
Gender & Sexuality Center at University of Rhode Island “*Trans Identities and Lives Glossary”
https://web.uri.edu/gender-sexuality/resources/lgbtqa-glossary/trans-101-glossary/
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In episode 1, Michelle and Serena introduce themselves and talk about why they both decided to start a podcast and how they ended up coming together to create From the Root. They dive headfirst into a discussion on "Are you more Black, Queer or a Gender," to share their identities, and whether or not they identify with one part of their identity more than others.
Shine Theory:
Skin Alchemy @skinalchemynyc on instagram
Marsha's Plate - @marshasplate on instagram
Contact Us:
Fromtherootpod@gmail.com
@fromtherootpod on Instagram
Citations:
"Intersectionality" (1989, Kimberlé Crenshaw)
"Evidence" by Alexis Pauline Gumbs (essay included in Octavia's Brood)
Erika Alexander interview on The Nod: https://gimletmedia.com/shows/the-nod/o2h99z
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