Black Oxygen

In discussing the Will Smith and Chris Rock incident at the Oscars, Rudy Bankston says, "success and celebrity do not negate one's humanity." In this episode of Black Oxygen Rudy and I cover a lot topics including the now infamous Oscars incident, the lessons that we can learn individually and locally regarding leadership and healing, leadership beyond wearing the mask of performance, and grief. There was so much packed in this conversation - it's a deep one. Enjoy! #BlackOxygenPodcast #BlackInWisconsin #BlackGrieving #BlackSorrow #BlackJoy #BlackGrief #CollectiveGrief #DopeBlackPodcasts #BlackPodcasts #BlackMentalHealth #BlackTherapy #GriefAwareness #GriefAndLoss #HoldingSpace  #BlackHealing #BlackResilience #BlackSelfLove #LifeIsAGift #SharedHumanity #MirrorWork #Belonging #celebrityhumanity https://www.iamweclassics.com/ https://www.iamweglobalvillage.org/

Lacouir Yancey, owner of Y-Massage, is a massage therapist, bodyworker and musician based in Fitchburg, Wisconsin. In this episode of Black Oxygen, Lacouir talks about where emotions reside in the body, the grief he has carried after losing loved family members, and how his experience of grief caused him to move his body differently. As a healer, Lacouir reminds that each of us has the power to be conduits of healing. #BlackOxygenPodcast #BlackInWisconsin #BlackGrieving #BlackSorrow #BlackJoy #BlackGrief #CollectiveGrief #DopeBlackPodcasts #BlackPodcasts #BlackMentalHealth #BlackTherapy #GriefAwareness #GriefAndLoss #HoldingSpace #BlackMassageTherapists #BlackHealing #AncestralWisdom #NaturalFitness Y-Massage - http://www.y-massage.net/

Dana Sonnenberg, born in Texas, adopted and raised in rural Wisconsin by white parents believes in the ability for people to change and in the power of people showing up for her. In this episode of Black Oxygen, Dana, Project Activator of CREATE Portage County, discusses what it meant for her to be a Black woman raised by white parents, the love she has for her father, what it's to be a woman of color living Central Wisconsin, and much more. Her experiences of grief are profound - both as it relates to her individual and ongoing process of racial reckoning and healing and missing her father. #BlackOxygenPodcast #BlackInWisconsin #BlackGrieving #BlackSorrow #BlackJoy #BlackGrief #CollectiveGrief #DopeBlackPodcasts #BlackPodcasts #BlackMentalHealth #BlackTherapy #GriefAwareness #GriefAndLoss #HoldingSpace #BlackDaughters #BlackInStevensPoint #BlackInCentralWisconsin #CREATEPortageCounty

Suzanne Johnson, First Vice President of Branch Banking for Park Bank, has experienced deep grief. In this episode of Black Oxygen, Suzanne discusses the various types of loss and grief that she's experienced including losing her brother to gun violence and just recently learning more about her biological family through an ancestry analysis. Throughout her different experiences Suzanne eventually learned to prioritize her needs and learned to trust others for support during times of grief. Towards the end of our conversation she says, "the only way to healing is through the emotion." #BlackOxygenPodcast #BlackInWisconsin #BlackGrieving #BlackSorrow #BlackJoy #BlackGrief #CollectiveGrief #DopeBlackPodcasts #BlackPodcasts #BlackMentalHealth #BlackTherapy #GriefAwareness #GriefAndLoss #HoldingSpace #BlackMothers #BlackDaughters #BlackInMadison

For Dr. Michelle Robinson her mom was the single most important person in her world. In remembering her mother she says, "my mom was the closest thing to an angel here on earth." The experience of loss that 
Michelle experienced with her mother and other family members has fundamentally changed her. In this episode of Black Oxygen, Michelle shares the experience of losing her mother, what it's like to experience chronic death and suffering, the need for researchers to center humanity in their work, and how, despite loss, her heart continues to remain open to love and to life. #BlackOxygenPodcast #BlackInWisconsin #BlackGrieving #BlackSorrow #BlackJoy #BlackGrief #CollectiveGrief #DopeBlackPodcasts #BlackPodcasts #BlackMentalHealth #BlackTherapy #GriefAwareness #GriefAndLoss #HoldingSpace #BlackMothers #BlackDaughters #BlackInMadison

Bianca Shaw is a leader in state government, owns and runs the Black Equity & Policy Institute, hosts the podcast Bianca Talks Policy, Politics and Hip-Hop and homeschools her daughter. On this episode of Black Oxygen, Bianca and I cover a wide range of topics including being a Black woman, the difference between liberation and freedom, surviving and grieving a relationship after domestic violence, and the importance of being engaged in the public policy process. She says, "Where there is people there is power … we have to show up and be present the in the public policy process." She reminds us that our voices are powerful - we just have to engage." Black Equity & Policy Institute - https://blackequityandpolicyinstitute.com Bianca Talks Policy, Politics and Hip-Hop - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bianca-talks-policy-politics-and-hip-hop/id1551188952 Wisconsin Women's Network Policy Institute - https://wiwomensnetwork.org

Myra McNair, owner and founder of Anesis Therapy and recently named 2022 Woman to Watch by Brava Magazine, is the featured guest starting season 5 of Black Oxygen on grief, loss and mourning.  In this episode, Myra and I discuss the collective grief present as a result of the pandemic, grieving in the Black church, the role of social media in processing grief and so much more.  We also discuss the mental health pandemic that is happening concurrently with the coronavirus pandemic.  Her clinic, Anesis Therapy, had over 400 people on the waitlist this summer. In reaching out and seeking mental health support, Myra suggests to not wait until you are in a crisis - get on a waitlist as soon as possible. Towards the end of the episode Myra provides suggestions on how to hold space for each other, how to listen and a list of app that could be helpful on your grieving journey. #BlackOxygenPodcast #BlackInWisconsin #BlackGrieving #BlackSorrow #BlackJoy #CollectiveGrief #DopeBlackPodcasts #BlackPodcasts #BlackMentalHealth #AnesisTherapy #BlackTherapy Links & Resources: 2022 Women to Watch - https://bravamagazine.com/myra-mcnair-w2w/ Anesis Therapy Center - https://anesistherapycenter.com Journey Mental Health - https://journeymhc.org Liberate - https://liberatemeditation.com Headspace - https://www.headspace.com Calm - https://www.calm.com National Suicide Prevention Hotline - 800-273-8255 - https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org

On this season of Black Oxygen - we are going to discuss grief, loss and mourning. Author of the Wild Edge of Sorrow, Francis Weller says, "Grief work is soul work. It requires courage to face the world as it and not turn away …" In this season of Black Oxygen, we are going to do just that - face our grief together. In addition to sharing some of their stories around loss, our guests and I will explore the following questions: • It's been said that the condition of Black life is one of mourning - what does this quote by Claudia Rankine mean to you? • Sometimes we have a tendency to think of grief as a time bound linear process. What is your relationship to time and grief? How would you describe your process of grief and mourning? • We know that our times of grief are not necessarily mutually exclusive from moments of joy - During your experience of grief and sorrow were there moments of joy in the process? Is there anything that made you laugh during that time? • How has your experience of grief brought you closer to yourself? How has your experience with grief impacted your relationships? • How has your experience of grief impacted how you show up in the world day-to-day? • How do you think that tending to our collective grief could be a source of healing for our country's wounds? What would need to be in place to make this happen? • If you could create a grief playlist - what one or two songs should be on it? Resources: Grieving While Black: An Anti-racist Take on Oppression and Sorrow by Breeshia Wade Finding Refuge: Heart Work for Healing Collective Grief by Michelle Cassandra Johnson See No Stranger by Valarie Kaur The Wild Edge of Sorrow by Francis Weller The Condition of Black Life is One of Mourning by Claudia Rankine https://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/22/magazine/the-condition-of-black-life-is-one-of-mourning.html

Gigi Stahl is an equity, diversity and inclusion practitioner in Central Wisconsin. In this episode of Black Oxygen, we discuss the sounds and vernacular of Wisconsin, what belonging looks like in Central Wisconsin, and the power of the youth voice. Gigi emphasizes that with education we should be asking the question, "how do we facilitate learning as opposed to bestowing knowledge?" We also discuss the risk of burnout for EDI/DEI practitioners. Regarding rest for practitioners, Gigi says, "if there isn't permission to pause, there is only permission to break." #CentralWisconsin #StevensPoint #BlackOxygenPodcast #GigtStahl #BlackinWisconsin #MakingLoveSustianable #AbolitionistEducation #MulticulturalEducation #CulturallyResponsiveTeaching #BlackEducationinWisconsin #DaretoPause #BeloninginWisconsin #DopeBlackPodcasts #BlackPodcasts #BlackPodcasters #Madison365

Founding member of Milwaukee's Bronzeville Arts Ensemble and Artistic Association with Chicago's Congo Square Theatre, Malkia Stampley, is currently directing the theatrical performance of The Gift of the Magi for American Players Theatre. In this episode of Black Oxygen Malkia discusses Milwaukee as the place where she began her theatre career, the impact of the pandemic on her craft, and the power of theatre to either heal or harm communities. Towards the end of our conversation, she reminds us to dare to pause and take a moment to breathe and breathe together. #BlackOxygenPodcast #BlackTheater #BlackTheatre #AmericanPlayersTheatre #GiftsoftheMagi #DaretoPause #BlackProducers #MalkiaStampley #BlackinWisconsin #BlackintheMidwest #BlackWomeninWisconsin #BlackArtMatters #DopeBlackPodcasts #BlackPodcasts #BlackPodcasters #Madison365 For more information: Malkia Stampley https://malkiastampley.wixsite.com/malkiastampley American Players Theatre - The Gift of the Magi https://americanplayers.org/plays/the-gift-of-the-magi

This week on Black Oxygen we present a discussion featured at the first Black Oxygen Live event conducted in partnership with CREATE Portage County. Our guests on this panel are Letesha Nelson, Ali Muldrow, Winnie Karanja and Dr. Thomas Gibson. The conversation covers many topics including the educational background of our guests and their thoughts on how we can co-create educational experiences based on justice, love and anti-racism. #BlackOxygenPodcast #BlackInWisconsin #BlackLove #BlackHumanity #SharedHumanity #BlackOxygenPodcast #BlackInWisconsin #CentralWisconsin #Belonging #StevensPoint #CWES #CreatePortageCounty

This week on Black Oxygen we are rebroadcasting my conversation with Marc Young. Marc is now the Executive Director Recruitment, Marketing and Admissions. This particular episode is based on his time at UW-Stevens Point. Originally from Detroit, MI, Marc Young loves central Wisconsin. In this episode, we discuss Marc’s role as the Director of Admissions and Recruitment for UW-Stevens Point, the importance of relationships in his life, and what it is like being Black in central Wisconsin. In addition, Marc talks about how the reliance on technology has impacted the human element of relationships. At the end of our conversation Marc reminds us all to, “master the art of being yourself.” #BlackOxygenPodcast #BlackinWisconsin #DopeBlackPodcasts #2021 #BlackOxygenLove #LovingBlackness #AllAboutLove #BlackInCentralWisconsin

Born in Sudan, Nada Elmikasfhi has been working to adopt Wisconsin as her home since 2002. She is deeply guided by James Baldwin’s quote, “the place in which I’ll fit will not exist until I make it.” As Chief of Staff for Rep Francesca Hong and columnist for The Isthmus, Nada is not only working to create a sense of belonging for herself, but is working to uproot systemic white supremacy throughout our state so that Wisconsin can be a place where diversity can thrive and flourish. In this episode of Black Oxygen, Nada talks about boundaries, radical love, power and shared humanity. She reminds us that, “the human spirit is one that inherently trusts.” Towards the end of our conversation she tells us all, “you don’t need permission to lead.” The conversation is filled will love, tenderness and maps out how we each have a role to play in creating the beloved community. #BlackOxygenPodcast #BlackInWisconsin #BlackWomenRest #BlackWomeninWisconsin #Belonging #Boundaries #Power #RacialEquity #AccountabilityandLove #AccountabilityandBoundaries

In 2020, Winnie Karanja was recognized as one of Forbes 30 under 30 for creating Maydm. Created and based in Wisconsin, Maydm provides girls and youth of color in grades 6-12 with skill-based training for the technology sector. In this episode of Black Oxygen, Winnie discusses her educational journey, the connection of STEM education and economic development, and her hopes and dreams for Maydm as she transitions from leading the organization. Towards the end of the conversation, Winne reminds us that in teaching children STEM innovation, “you don’t know they world of wonder that you await you.” #BlackOxygenPodcast #BlackInWisconsin #Maydem #BIPOCSTEM #BIPOCInnventors #STEMEducationInWisconsin #STEMWorkforceDevelopment #FORBES30under30 #BIPOCCoding

Each year the Women Artists Forward Fund selects, honors, and awards two women visual artists in Dane County with a cash prize. Alice Traore, a Madison based artist, is one of the recipients of the 2021 Forward Art Prize from the Women Artists Forward Fund. In addition to being an artist, Alice is a learning communities facilitator and curriculum designer for the Division of Diversity, Equity and Educational Achievement at the University of Wisconsin - Madison. In this episode of Black Oxygen, recorded in Fall of 2020, Alice and I discuss what it is like being a Black women doing DEI work and the role of Black mermaids in the middle passage. Alice is phenomenal and my heart leaps every time I see her. I hope that you enjoy this conversation. #BlackOxygenPodcast #BlackinWisconsin #BlackArtists #EducationInWisconsin #BlackMermaids #ForwardArtPrize

Season 4 of Black Oxygen starts off featuring a conversation with Ann Terrell, current President of the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Ms. Terrell is an early childhood education professional serving 40 years in local, state and national leadership capacities. She has held a variety of positions and roles over her career including teacher, center director and administrator, child care licensing specialist, school district early childhood education director and higher education faculty. In 2018, Ms. Terrell authored and published her book Graceful Leadership in Early Childhood Education. In this episode we discuss the history of early childhood education in the United States, centering equity in early childhood education, what Black joy and love look like in the classroom and much more. Near the end of the episode Ann reminds us that we must, “acknowledge that early education is the start of education … learning begins at birth.” #BlackOxygenPodcast #BlackInWisconsin #MisEducationoftheNegro #EducationinWisconsin #AbolisionistEducationinWisconsin #EarlyChildhoodEducation #NAEYC

In this Beyond Wisconsin episode, Angela sits down with Ayris Scales, a tri-sector executive who has navigated government, nonprofit, and corporate worlds with intention and wisdom. Ayris currently serves as SVP of Social Responsibility and Global Initiatives at NAREIT, where she works to expand access to real estate investment opportunities, and runs Able Vision Enterprises, her highly selective consulting practice. This conversation tackles the urgent realities facing Black women professionals in 2025—particularly the 300,000+ who have been pushed out of the workforce in recent months. Ayris doesn't hold back as she discusses the erosion (not just attrition) of Black women in DEI and social impact roles, the importance of knowing when to stop caring, and why our survival has taught us to see the "mud puddles" others refuse to acknowledge. Key themes include: Understanding REITs as an accessible wealth-building tool The truth about "high-performance work" and organizational politics Why balance is a myth, but harmony is achievable The difference between a coach who tries to change you and one who helps you get clear Transitioning with purpose, plan, and priorities Recalibrating your specialty and knowing your value Ayris also shares the origin story of her viral Tipsy Tuesday series (tips, not drinks!), her journey through unemployment and burnout, and why this moment requires Black professionals to invest in themselves differently. Connect with Ayris on LinkedIn and Instagram @AyrisScales, and learn more about Able Vision at ayrisscales.com. Featured songs: "Millionaire" by Kelis ft. André 3000, "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" by Nina Simone, "The Man I Need" by Olivia Dean

This week, I'm rebroadcasting a conversation with my dear friend Ali Muldrow. This conversation is all about beauty, joy, and friendship. As we start off 2026, the world continues to feel so heavy and overwhelming. This conversation is all about reclaiming the good in life despite the overwhelm, the noise, the comparison, and the seduction of numbness. It's an invitation to each of us to pause, slow down, to notice and to savor. Noticing beauty isn't about creating new years resolutions - it's not about the performative nature of "new year, new you." It's about noticing beauty as an act of resistance against the pressure to produce, perform, and define ourselves by metrics and outcomes. Noticing beauty is about reminding ourselves that abundance exists all around. I hope that this conversation fills your heart. Our producer, Nate Chappell, hosts a comedy interview podcast called Several Questions.  He's doing a live benefit show at Gamma Ray Bar on Wednesday, January 21st, with ticket sales going to the Autism Society of South Central Wisconsin. Nate is an autistic dad to autistic kiddos, and for this 'Oops! All Autistics!' show, all four guests are also autistic. It's going to be a silly celebration of autistic joy. Follow @severalquestionspod on Instagram for details, and get tickets here: https://gammaray.bar/show/several-questions-w-nate-chappell-oops-all-autistics/ Come support autistic folks and autistic art on January 21st! #BlackOxygenPodcast #BlackInWisconsin #BlackWomenInWisconsin #BlackWomenDroppingGems #BlackWomen #Madison365 #DopeBlackPodcasts #AliMuldrow #BlackLeadership #BlackLeadershipInWisconsin #BeautifulWisconsin #WisconsinIsBeautiful #Doula

Dr. Curtis shares her complicated relationship with Wisconsin—a "love and hate" dynamic shaped by leaving Milwaukee at 17, experiencing HBCUs and the East Coast, and returning multiple times before finally seeing the opportunity hidden in her home state. She now runs Taylor Nicole Wine and Cupcakes in Madison's Black Business Hub, creating the cultural space she couldn't find as a young woman in the city. Research on Black Women's Success Dr. Curtis's doctoral research followed 14 Black women at CEO level or higher in Fortune 500 companies for two and a half years, uncovering the SCALE framework—five foundational elements these women needed to succeed and sustain success for 10+ years:     •    Support Systems (mentors, networks, village)     •    Capital Management (resources, allocation)     •    Assets and Investing (wealth-building)     •    Learning and Knowledge (continuous professional development)     •    Enabling Technology (staying current with industry trends) A striking finding: 90% of successful Black women she studied had never had another Black woman as a mentor in their workplace. The Superpower Nobody Wants Dr. Curtis describes being a Black single mother as "a superpower nobody wants"—the exhausting reality of working harder because "no one was giving me handouts," of always being both woman and Black woman in corporate spaces, and of constantly asking "who's saving her?" when Black women are expected to save everyone else. From Pain to Healing In a vulnerable moment, Dr. Curtis shares hitting a breaking point during COVID—scoring 50 out of 50 on a stress assessment, meaning "you can break at any moment." Her journey to therapy, initially for her daughters, became her own path to asking a fundamental question: "Do I want success from pain, or do I want success from a healing space?" The Energy Economy Dr. Curtis speaks candidly about being "energy-led" rather than simply social—giving deeply in every interaction, which means protecting her capacity fiercely. She's retired from being "the strong friend" and encourages other Black women to ask daily: "Did you do anything selfishly for you?" Honest Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs Rather than romanticizing entrepreneurship, Dr. Curtis asks the hard questions: What do you actually want? Can you live in uncertainty? Can you handle anxiety? Can you go into deficiency for a long time? She emphasizes that stability doesn't come from entrepreneurship and that sometimes the answer is investing in someone else's business or keeping your 9-to-5 while building—whatever serves the life you actually want, not the one you think you should want. Defining Freedom The conversation closes with Dr. Curtis's challenge to listeners: What would you define as freedom? What kind of life do you really want? For her, it's "an unimaginable life"—and getting there requires the honesty to say no to many things to say yes to what matters most.     •    LinkedIn/Instagram: @DrShakkiahCurtis     •    Email: shakia@thepinkhustle.com (mailto:shakia@thepinkhustle.com)     •    Visit: Taylor Nicole Wine and Cupcakes (Madison's Black Business Hub)

This week on Black Oxygen, host Angela Russell sits down with the extraordinary Lachrisa Grandberry—singer, actor, writer, speaker, and Milwaukee native whose journey from fifth-grade teacher to professional theater artist is nothing short of inspiring. Lachrisa shares the powerful story of how a fifth-grader named Daniel changed her life by challenging her to chase her own dreams. What started as a promise to audition for one show became a full-time career in theater, supported by a network of Black women mentors who helped her navigate the industry with remarkable success. From opening The Color Purple at Chicago's Goodman Theatre to becoming one of ten fellows selected from 792 applicants for the prestigious Dramatist Guild National Fellowship Program, Lachrisa offers profound insights on overcoming fear, betting on yourself, and the principle that has guided her career: "Don't let the no come from you first." This conversation explores the radical care found in theater communities, the responsibility we have to show up for each other, and the importance of breaking the brooms and shredding the rugs that keep us silent about our trauma. Lachrisa closes the episode with a stunning reading from her poetry collection, "Shredding Rugs: A Poetic Cleansing." Key moments include discussions of mentorship, the scariest thing being our own thoughts, finding your people to turn up the volume on positivity, and what it means to have both the strength to hold and the vulnerability to be held. #BlackOxygenPodcast #BlackInWisconsin #Mentorship #FollowingYourDreams #LachrisaGrandberry #WisconsinTheater #TheColorPurple #ForwardTheater #NorthernSkyTheaterCompany #Dreams Links for this episode: https://www.lachrisagrandberry.com/ (https://www.lachrisagrandberry.com/) https://northernskytheater.com/ (https://northernskytheater.com/) https://forwardtheater.com/ (https://forwardtheater.com/) https://www.goodmantheatre.org/ (https://www.goodmantheatre.org/)