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HER With Amena Brown Episode 28: HER Favorite Things (featuring Bunmi Laditan)

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This week’s episode is full of some much needed Black girl joy as I talk with author and award winning, Webby nominated writer Bunmi Laditan. We talked about Black girl hair, her favorite Beyoncé songs, how she keeps it REAL with her kids, and more of her favorite things.

You can follow Bunmi on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @honesttoddler and you can check out her website Bunmiladitan.com. Make sure you grab a copy of her latest book Dear God: Honest Prayers to a God Who Listens from your favorite bookseller!

Show Notes:

Confessions of a Domestic Failure by Bunmi Laditan 

Dear God: Honest Prayers to a God Who Listens by Bunmi Laditan 

Poetic Justice

Formation by Beyonce

Listen by Beyonce

Dreamgirls

Bless Roll (Korean cafe owner prepares drinks on YouTube)

Listening For God: A Ministers Journey Through Silence And Doubt by Dr. Renita Weems

Give Her A Crown: Dr. Renita Weems

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HER With Amena Brown Episode 27: That Time I…Met a Celebrity

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There are a few times in my life where I don’t know how to act. In this episode, I’m taking you through a couple of these stories. If you want to know about the time I commandeered a limo to get India.Arie vegan food, why I yelled “YOU’RE MY COUSIN” at Brené Brown and why I considered becoming a groupie after meeting Common, then check out this episode for all of the celebri-tea.

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HER With Amena Brown Episode 26: Behind the Poetry: Margaret

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Yes I wrote a poem inspired by Judy Blume’s book Are You There God It’s Me, Margaret? Yes I auditioned for America’s Next Top Model and that also inspired this poem. And yes I actually met Judy Blume and got to perform my poem “Margaret” for her in the Before Times. AND YES I AM STILL FREAKED OUT ABOUT IT. Listen in to this episode to hear me tell y’all all the things!

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HER With Amena Brown Episode 25: Snacks, Music and Traveling Heat (featuring MILCK)

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This week I am in our HER living room with singer/songwriter MILCK and we are talking about everything from snacks to the proper way to eat a Subway sandwich to how to get in tune to your own inner voice. MILCK and I both wrote essays in the Hungry Hearts anthology edited by Jennifer Rudolph Walsh. Listen in as we talk about the writing process and why traveling heat can be a really good thing. 

To learn more about MILCK follow her at @milckmusic on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter and stream her music on your favorite streaming platform. 

Get your copy of Hungry Hearts featuring MILCK’s essay “Traveling Heat” and my essay “Period Playlist” here or at your favorite bookseller.

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HER With Amena Brown Episode 24: HER Favorite Things featuring Rea Ann Silva

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Rea Ann Silva went from entertainment industry makeup artist to creating a makeup and skin product that revolutionized the beauty industry. As CEO, creator and founder of BeautyBlender, Rea Ann Silva is sharing a few of her favorite things with us this week. Rea Ann is dropping gems on the resources that helped her business journey as well as the music that keeps her motivated and the food that reminds her most of home. 

To learn more about BeautyBlender visit BeautyBlender.com and follow BeautyBlender on instagram @beautyblender. To learn more about Rea Ann, follow her on instagram @reaannsilva.

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HER With Amena Brown Episode 23: She Funny featuring Jenny Yang

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This week I am talking and laughing with standup comedian, writer, actor and one of Variety’s 10 Comics to Watch for 2020, Jenny Yang! Jenny shares how she discovered comedy and how she uses her funny to fight for justice through social media and video games. 

You can find more info on Jenny at her website JennyYang.tv or on Twitter and Instagram @jennyyangtv!

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HER With Amena Brown Episode 22: Behind the Poetry: Key of G

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If you want to know how Sam Cooke, my dad, The Fugees and the Red Hot Chili Peppers helped me write a poem, then you are gonna dig this episode. I’m taking you behind the poetry of my poem Key of G and in the process I’m talking you through a lot of music I LOVE. 

In this episode I share some information about the Hungry Hearts anthology featuring my essay “Period Playlist.” The book is OUT NOW. Get your copy here: http://penguinrandomhouse.com/hungryhearts.

Show Notes:

Key of G by Amena Brown

Southern Fried Poetry Slam

A Change is Gonna Come by Sam Cookie

One Night in Miami

Hungry Hearts anthology, edited by Jennifer Rudolph Walsh

James Brown

Shining Star by Earth, Wind, and Fire

Do You Want More by The Roots

The Fugees

John Coltrane

My Favorite Things by John Coltrane

Under The Bridge by Red Hot Chili Peppers

Breaking Old Rhythms by Amena Brown

Jodeci

Live at Java Monkey by Amena Brown

Amena Brown Live by Amena Brown

Give Her A Crown: Grandma Bertha Lee

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HER With Amena Brown Episode 21: HER Favorite Things featuring Meeee

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This week we are in the HER living room talking about a few of my favorite things...which was mostly me talking about food. LOL I share with you my favorite food cities, my mojo city, necessary pizza toppings and who wins the Pizza Battle between NYC and Chicago.

Show Notes:

Famous Fat Dave tours in NYC

Gourdough’s in Austin

The Busy Bee in Atlanta

Gino’s East in Chicago

Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria in Chicago

Give Her A Crown: poet, playwright and novelist Ntozake Shange

For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow Is Enuf

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HER With Amena Brown Episode 20: #40AF featuring Kristy Gomez

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When I turned 40 last year I was dreaming up a way that I could interview other women of color about their journey into their 40s and the lessons they are learning. This year I decided to bring this dream of an idea to our HER living room. This week I’m talking to artist, creative director, illustrator, and strategist Kristy Gomez and y’all Kristy is dropping gems this whole episode! Listen in as Kristy shares why it’s important to return to what we want not just what’s expected of us and how we can shift the narratives we have about ourselves. 

To get connected to Kristy and her work, follow her at https://www.instagram.com/bkmagnolia/. 

To learn more about the creative work Kristy, her husband and son are doing at That Gomez Life, visit https://thatgomezshop.square.site.

Show Notes:

CreativeMornings Atlanta

Regina Hall birthday video

Fran Lebowitz Netflix show: Pretend It’s A City

Olay campaign

Instagram @thatgomez.life

Give Her A Crown: actress Tasha Smith

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HER With Amena Brown Episode 19: She Funny featuring Sabrina Jalees

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This week I’m talking with stand up comedian and comedy writer Sabrina Jalees about all things funny! Sabrina shares what inspired her to become a comedian, her comedic writing process and what is good for the funny. 

To get more info on Sabrina and her work, check out her website https://www.sabrinajalees.com.

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HER With Amena Brown Episode 18: That Time I...Quit My Job

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In 2007 I quit my corporate job to pursue writing and performing full time...and promptly went broke. Over the years I learned some hard lessons on what it means to be an artist and an entrepreneur. Listen in to the episode to hear my rough and tumble journey to where my career is today and my tips for how to pursue your dreams whether you are working your dream job or not.

Show Notes:

Spelman College

Alice Walker

Toni Morrison

Stephen King

Graduation by Kanye West

Give Her A Crown: my mom Jeanne Brown

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HER With Amena Brown Episode 17: Behind the Poetry: Here Breathing

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This is one of my most vulnerable episodes to date. I’m giving you a Behind the Poetry look at my poem “Here Breathing” as I tell you the really difficult time in my life that inspired me to write the poem. I talk about what it means to survive hard things, how therapy helped me heal, why it’s important to remember we are still here and why I’m happy you are here too.

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HER With Amena Brown Episode 16: Curvy, Cut, Cool (featuring Anowa Adjah)

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Normally this time of year there’s a lot of talk about fitness, exercise, and dieting and a lot of this talk can get unhealthy pretty fast by encouraging us to have unhealthy relationships with food and our bodies. Someone who has been a good model for me on how to engage fitness while loving the body I’m in is nationally recognized 200-pound curvy fitness professional and pioneer and founder of the Curvy and Cut app, Anowa Adjah. In this HER archives episode Anowa shares how to make your health and wellness a priority and how to access your power and gratitude. 

For more information about Anowa Adjah, visit https://anowaadjah.com/.

To check out Anowa’s app, Curvy and cut, visit https://curvyandcut.plankk.com.

Show Notes:

GooGoo on Instagram

Anowa’s YouTube channel

Anowa’s workout DVDs

How To Fix A Broken Record Podcast episode 2 featuring hairstylist Giselle Grant

Follow Anowa on Instagram and Twitter

Give Her A Crown: Candace Reels, founder of Female Collective

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HER With Amena Brown Episode 15: Music, Rebirth and Black Love (featuring Tanya Trotter)

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If you watched Sister Act 2 and you remember the scene where Lauryn Hill and another student were singing a duet of His Eye is On the Sparrow, you may remember the other singer in that duet as Tanya Blount. She is now Tanya Trotter and half of rock and roll, country soul duo The War and Treaty and I had so much fun talking all things music with her for this week’s episode! Listen in to hear how Tanya found her voice and to hear her share some of her musical favs! 

For more information about The War and Treaty, visit https://www.thewarandtreaty.com.

To check out Tanya’s line of vintage apparel, visit https://www.shelovesvintage.com.

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HER With Amena Brown Episode 14: Best TV of 2020 (featuring Kelundra Smith)

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2020 brought us a lot of things: good, bad and ugly. One thing a lot of us had more time to do is watch TV. This week, I’m discussing some of the best TV of 2020 with writer, theater critic, arts journalist and playwright, Kelundra Smith. Kelundra shares her journey as a journalist and why storytelling was even more important this year during the pandemic. We talk about the TV we loved and the TV we loved to hate! 

For more information on Kelundra Smith visit https://kelundra.com.

Show Notes:

I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

The Brothers Size by Tarell Alvin McCraney

Moonlight

We See You, White American Theater movement

Tina — The Tina Turner Musical on Broadway

Interface: An Evening of New Virtual Plays

Adrienne Warren

Amina McIntyre

Marium Khalid

Elliott Dixon

Lovecraft Country 

The Bitter Southerner: The Southern Women Who Shaped Aunjanue Ellis by Kelundra Smith

The Good Lord Bird on Showtime

Sneakerheads on Netflix

The Chi

Sistas on BET

The Game

The Parkers

Girlfriends

#blackAF

Angie Tribeca

Euphoria

Power

I May Destroy You

Chewing Gum

P-Valley

Katori Hall

90 Day Fiancé

Married At First Sight

Call The Midnight

Belgravia

The Crown

Real Housewives of Potomac

Real Housewives of Atlanta

Iyanla: Fix My Life

Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath

Black Love on OWN

Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Reunion special on HBO

Good Times

Family Matters

The Office

The Photograph

Tenet

Hamilton on Disney+

The Forty-Year-Old Version

Second Act

Good Trouble documentary

Most Likely To Succeed documentary

A Perfect 14 documentary

Michelle Buteau

Sam Jay on Twitter

Sam Jay: 3 in the Morning

Ms. Pat

The Cabin with Bert Kreischer on Netflix

Gentefied 

The Expanding Universe of Ashley Garcia 

Vida 

On My Block

Selena

One Day At A Time

Queen of the South

Olay MAX campaign

Give Her A Crown: Christelle De Castro, director

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HER With Amena Brown Episode 13: All Things Christmas (featuring Melinda Doolittle)

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I have never wanted a Christmas onesie as much as I did while talking to singer, author, actress, American Idol finalist, and Christmas enthusiast, Melinda Doolittle! Melinda tells me why there is no judgment for leaving Christmas decorations up all year round and dishes on her favorite Christmas songs and traditions. Grab some hot cocoa, get dressed in your favorite holiday pjs, and join me in our HER living room! 

For more information about Melinda Doolittle, visit http://melindadoolittle.com. Follow Melinda on Instagram and Twitter!

Show Notes:

Before I Let Go by Frankie Beverly and Maze

All I Want For Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey

Silent Night by The Temptations

Give Love At Christmas by The Temptations

This Christmas by Donny Hathaway

Drummer Boy by Justin Bieber and Busta Rhymes

Handel's Messiah: A Soulful Celebration

Leaders of the New School

The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You) by Nat King Cole

Christmas With PJ Morton

Do You Believe by PJ Morton and featuring Yolanda Adams

What You Want For Christmas by Quad City DJ’s, 69 Boyz, and K-Nock

Cider & Hennessy by Jordin Sparks

Trapmas Melody by Jordin Sparks

Jesus Is The Reason For The Season by Kirk Franklin and the Family

Principles of Kwanzaa

Melinda Doolittle’s albums

Beyond Me: Finding Your Way to Life's Next Level by Melinda Doolittle

Give Her A Crown: all the listeners

Toni Braxton

Christmas Time Is Here by Toni Braxton

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HER With Amena Brown Episode 12: The Gospel Music Truth (featuring Peggy Britt)

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I love gospel music and I’m so happy to talk with gospel great and vocal coach on Netflix show, Voices of Fire, Peggy Britt. Executive produced by Pharrell Williams, Voices of Fire is an inspirational show following the journey of singers and vocal coaches as they form a diverse, gospel choir in Hampton Roads, VA. Listen in as Peggy and I talk about her journey in gospel music and why it’s important to preserve gospel music tradition. 

For more information on Voices of Fire, visit www.netflix.com.

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HER With Amena Brown Episode 11: Behind the Poetry: Roots & Wings

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Every poem has a story. In each Behind the Poetry episode I share one of my poems, the real life story behind one of my poems, what it was like performing it for the first time and how I feel about the poem today. This week, I’m sharing my poem Roots & Wings and the very first time I ever performed my own poetry. Listen in to hear how the movie Love Jones and the legacy of my ancestors helped me to write this poem.

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HER With Amena Brown Episode 10: Recovery, Creativity and Disability Visibility (featuring Alice Wong)

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Is it just me or are y’all TIRED?! This week I get real about how exhausting 2020 has been and how we can take some time this month to rest and recover. I’m also talking with disabled activist, podcaster, and founder/director of the Disability Visibility Project, Alice Wong. Listen in as Alice talks about how her creative work informs her activism and why it’s important to preserve disabled history and follow the lead of the disabled community.

For more information about Alice Wong, the Disability Visibility Project®, and the Disability Visibility book visit https://disabilityvisibilityproject.com/.

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HER With Amena Brown Episode 9: That Time I...Got Sick on Thanksgiving

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It’s Thanksgiving week, which for me is usually a cookapalooza, but for this week’s episode I’m telling you about my first time cooking for Thanksgiving and the shenanigans that ensued quickly from there. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

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