Shaping Freedom With Lisane Basquiat

In this episode of Shaping Freedom, Lisane Basquiat is joined by married creative duo Jevin and L. Marie Smith for a real and honest conversation about love, partnership, and building a life together. From meeting as actors in a play to raising a family and creating together, they share their journey with humor and openness. They talk about the importance of clear communication, learning how to grow through conflict, and what it means to truly choose each other every day. Jevin and L. Marie also reflect on the challenges they’ve faced, including financial struggles and moments that tested their faith, and how those experiences strengthened both their relationship and their perspective on life. This conversation is about more than marriage. It’s about growth, honesty, and building something real together. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Shaping Freedom, Lisane Basquiat sits down with Grammy Award–winning songwriter, producer, and vocal coach Autumn Rowe to explore the journey of finding your voice and using it with purpose. Raised in the South Bronx, Autumn shares how music became both an outlet and a path forward, eventually leading her to write and produce songs for artists like Dua Lipa, Diana Ross, and Jon Batiste. She reflects on the persistence, faith, and inner work required to build a creative career, and how moments of doubt and challenge can shape a deeper understanding of freedom. Together, Lisane and Autumn talk about creativity as a spiritual practice, the responsibility that comes with influence, and why mentorship and community matter in an industry that often overlooks the people behind the music. This conversation is about more than songwriting. It’s about resilience, self-belief, and learning to trust the voice inside that knows who you are meant to be. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Shaping Freedom, Lisane Basquiat sits down with Taylor Cassidy, creator of the viral series Fast Black History, to explore how storytelling, imagination, and courage can transform the way we understand history. Taylor shares how a moment in her high school history class sparked a mission to fill the gaps in how Black history is taught. What began as a 15-second video filmed on her bedroom floor grew into a widely followed platform that introduces millions of people to the people, ideas, and contributions often left out of traditional classrooms. Together, Lisane and Taylor talk about the power of affirmations, the influence of family in shaping confidence, and why imagination is essential for creating a better future. They also discuss the discipline behind creating meaningful content, how curiosity can lead to deeper learning, and why Taylor believes that what you already have is enough to start making change. This conversation is about more than social media or history. It’s about using your voice, trusting your creativity, and recognizing that even small actions can shape the future. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Shaping Freedom, Lisane Basquiat sits down with Malcolm Regisford, founder of Tapped In Wellness, holistic wellness advocate, former Division I athlete, and plant-based cook. Malcolm shares how an injury during his college basketball career forced him to rethink identity, success, and what it really means to take care of the body and mind. Drawing from his journey as an athlete and creator, Malcolm explains why wellness starts with awareness before diet or fitness. He talks about the importance of listening to your body, paying attention to what you consume physically, mentally, and emotionally, and creating space to reconnect with yourself in a world full of constant stimulation. Together, Lisane and Malcolm explore how discipline can evolve into alignment, how food can be an entry point to deeper self-awareness, and why learning to slow down and “tap in” to your own experience can transform the way you move through life. This conversation is about more than health. It’s about consciousness, ownership, and building a life that feels balanced, intentional, and true to you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Shaping Freedom, Lisane Basquiat sits down with Alphonzo “Phonz” Terrell, co-founder and CEO of Spill, to talk about building community in a digital world that often feels anything but safe. After being laid off from Twitter, Alphonzo chose to build something new — a platform rooted in belonging, cultural ownership, and real connection. Together, Lisane and Alphonzo explore leadership, inner work, the loneliness epidemic, and why safety is essential to freedom. This conversation is about more than tech. It’s about purpose, courage, and creating spaces where people can truly feel at home. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What does it mean to honor the past while creating your own path forward? In this episode, Lisane Basquiat sits down with Ayanna Gregory, singer, dramatist, and activist, to reflect on growing up in a family rooted in the civil rights movement and how those experiences shaped her journey. Ayanna shares stories about her father Dick Gregory, the values of courage and compassion she carries with her, and how she expresses healing and purpose through her creative and community work. Together, they explore legacy, resilience, and the ongoing practice of finding freedom within yourself. This conversation invites listeners to slow down, listen deeply, and consider how their own lives can be shaped with intention. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Shaping Freedom, host Lisane Basquiat is joined by Simone Adams, founder and executive director of Color My Outdoors, for a deeply reflective conversation about legacy, nervous system regulation, and the courage it takes to live outside inherited expectations. Simone shares her journey from hustle-driven life and people-pleasing into a slower, more intentional rhythm rooted in nature, self-trust, and spiritual alignment. Together, they explore how freedom is shaped not through addition, but through subtraction—letting go of urgency, redefining success, and reconnecting with what truly sustains us. The conversation also highlights Simone’s work with Color My Outdoors, a grassroots nonprofit expanding access, visibility, and belonging for people of color in outdoor spaces across the South. This episode is an invitation to give yourself permission to live differently, to listen to what your body already knows, and to remember that personal healing often becomes collective leadership. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this powerful conversation, host Lisane Basquiat sits down with Dr. Karmetria Burton to explore how inherited rules, limiting beliefs, and unexamined patterns quietly shape how women live, lead, and wait. Centered around Dr. Burton’s forthcoming book Never Wear Red Lipstick, the discussion moves far beyond symbolism into self-awareness, emotional intelligence, faith, leadership, and the courage required to stop organizing life around rules that were never designed to serve you. Together, they unpack the “hard work” of confronting internalized beliefs, the difference between awareness and action, and why leadership always begins with leading yourself—right where you are. This episode challenges listeners to stop waiting, give themselves grace, and take responsibility for turning limiting beliefs into limitless truths. A grounded, reflective conversation about identity, healing, sisterhood, and what it really means to step into leadership now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Shaping Freedom, host Lisane Basquiat sits down with cultural strategist, creator, and former global head of multicultural communications at TikTok, Shavone Charles. Together, they explore authenticity, leadership, and the power of owning your value in rooms not built for you. Shavone reflects on her journey through Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok, the responsibility creatives have to their communities, and why the room becomes special when you walk into it. The conversation also touches on collective well-being, cultural accountability, and what it means to leave a chapter at its peak to build something new. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As 2025 comes to a close, Lisane Basquiat and Billy Johnson reflect on a year marked by growth, challenge, and transformation. This special wrap-up episode revisits some of the most impactful conversations of the year, exploring what it truly means to shape freedom in our lives, families, and communities. Drawing from powerful guest insights, the episode invites listeners to examine citizenship as an active practice, emotional honesty, boundaries, grief, legacy, and the courage required to evolve.Throughout the conversation, Lisane highlights recurring themes from the season: regulating emotions instead of suppressing them, recognizing burnout before it takes hold, setting boundaries with love, and doing the internal work necessary to break generational cycles. Guests share wisdom on grief as a lifelong companion, the power of telling the truth in relationships, and the importance of pairing faith or intention with meaningful action Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this powerful conversation, Lisane Basquiat sits down with Ingrid Best—founder of IBest Wines, global brand builder, mother, grandmother, and a woman who has carved her path with courage, culture, and authenticity. Ingrid shares how her journey began as a young mother navigating adulthood and responsibility at the same time, and how an early message from her own mother—that she was “a star”—became the internal compass that guided her through uncertainty, setbacks, and reinvention.Ingrid opens up about her unexpected entry into the wine and spirits industry, from street promotions in Oakland to becoming a global marketing leader at some of the world’s largest luxury portfolios. She explains how the lessons that came from being overlooked, under-titled, and underestimated ultimately shaped her vision for building something of her own. This episode explores how her travels across the African continent, particularly South Africa, unlocked a new sense of identity and purpose that inspired her to create IBest Wines.The conversation expands into themes of authenticity, community, and self-forgiveness, as both women reflect on their experiences as teenage mothers and the unique resilience that grows from raising a child while still growing up yourself. Ingrid’s transparency creates space for anyone questioning their path—at 18 or at 48—to see that greatness can still unfold in unexpected ways.Finally, Ingrid shares how IBest Wines became not just a brand, but a love letter—to South Africa, to the women who invested in her, to the communities she serves, and to her younger self. She discusses where the company is headed next and how listeners can support her mission of building a global brand rooted in culture, representation, and creative freedom. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Lisane Basquiat sits down with global fitness coach, content creator, and mother Britany Williams for an honest conversation about identity, motherhood, wellness, and the pressure women face to “bounce back.” Britany opens up about her journey—from being diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at 13, to becoming a competitive runner, climbing the corporate ladder at Under Armour, and eventually stepping into fitness and content creation full-time.Together, they explore the realities of postpartum healing, the emotional weight of life transitions, and the importance of listening to your body. Britany shares her philosophy on consistent, realistic habits over perfection, the misconceptions around fitness motivation, and the power of meeting yourself exactly where you are.This episode is a grounding reminder that identity evolves, that motherhood is a chapter—not a replacement—and that true wellness lies in honoring your needs without guilt. A must-listen for women navigating change, self-expectations, or the journey back to themselves. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this inspiring episode of Shaping Freedom, Lisane Basquiat sits down with Jasmine LeFlore—an aerospace engineer, MBA, nonprofit founder, community advocate, and beacon of representation in STEM. Growing up in Flint, Michigan, Jasmine transformed early curiosity and powerful affirmations from her family into a career that bridges engineering, leadership, and impact.Jasmine shares her journey from watching airplanes above her childhood home to earning engineering degrees from the University of Michigan and Purdue, and ultimately leading applied research at Collins Aerospace. She opens up about navigating identity, representation, and resilience while carving out space as a woman of color in a highly technical, male-dominated field.The conversation also explores Jasmine’s nonprofit, Greater Than Tech, which equips underserved youth—especially girls—with STEM and entrepreneurship skills that empower them to build solutions, not just compete in them. With honesty and heart, Jasmine reflects on unlearning rigid systems, embracing intuition, compassionate leadership, and the importance of creating opportunities for the next generation.Filled with insight, vulnerability, and purpose, this episode highlights what it truly means to lead with humanity, authenticity, and vision. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this powerful follow-up conversation, Lisane Basquiat sits down once again with author,speaker, and coach Antonio Neves to explore what life looks like after an awakening moment. Antonio shares the deeply personal story of losing his home in the California wildfires and how this unexpected tragedy forced him to redefine success, re-evaluate his priorities, and truly live one day at a time.Together, they dive into themes of emotional safety, vulnerability—especially among men—and the importance of intentional community. Antonio opens up about navigating fear, rebuilding resilience, and discovering unexpected gifts within hardship, including deeper family connection and long-awaited personal dreams finally being realized.The conversation also explores silence as a healing tool, the impact of digital overload on our nervous systems, and why analog living, presence, and slowing down matter now more than ever. Antonio shares his “One Day Method” and the five daily practices that help him create meaningful, grounded days even in challenging seasons. This episode is an authentic, heartfelt dialogue about truth-telling, healing, presence, and thecourage it takes to design a life aligned with who you are becoming.Learn how to set boundaries without guilt. Join Lisane's next Protect Your Peace Shaping Session today: https://shapingfreedom.com/boundaries-workshop Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Lisane Basquiat speaks with Dr. Dawna Ballard—associate professor, chronemics expert, and author of Time by Design—about the truth behind our culture’s fixation on speed. Dr. Ballard explains how urgency culture impacts our communication, our bodies, and our relationships, and why slowing down is essential for clarity, connection, and sustainable progress.They explore the difference between fast and slow communication design, the physical cost of rushing, and practical steps for redesigning your relationship with time. If you’ve ever felt overextended or stuck in “go mode,” this conversation offers grounded insight on how slowing down can actually help you move forward more effectively. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this powerful episode of Shaping Freedom, host Lisane Basquiat sits down with Dr. ShantaQuilette Develle — a wellness educator, content creator, and heart health advocate whose journey of resilience has inspired millions. After surviving a heart attack and multiple strokes, Dr. ShantaQuilette transformed her pain into purpose, using humor, honesty, and faith to spark conversations about healing, self-advocacy, and joy.Dr. Develle opens up about the ego-driven version of her former self and how life’s hardest moments forced her to listen deeply and realign with her divine purpose. Through heartfelt storytelling, she shares lessons on letting go of control, embracing gratitude, and recognizing that true purpose isn’t what we do — it’s who we do it for. Her perspective invites listeners to reframe adversity as an invitation to grow closer to God and themselves.The conversation dives into the importance of women, especially Black women, becoming active participants in their own rescue — in health, faith, and life. Dr. ShantaQuilette stresses that “treatment doesn’t always take place in hospitals; it takes place in habits,” urging listeners to advocate fiercely for their wellness, listen to their bodies, and take accountability for their healing.Closing on a message of empowerment, Dr. Develle reminds us that reinvention is always possible. Healing isn’t perfect — it’s a process. By extending grace to ourselves, setting boundaries, and finding joy in small things, we can live fully and intentionally. As she says, “You have to be a participant in your rescue and in your reinvention.”Learn how to set boundaries without guilt. Join Lisane's next Protect Your Peace Shaping Session today: https://shapingfreedom.com/boundaries-workshop Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this inspiring episode of Shaping Freedom, host Lisane Basquiat sits down with award-winning journalist, producer, and host Shameika Rhymes — the creative force behind Check the Rhymes TV and Soul Liberation on BlackDoctor.org. Together, they dive into what it means to build your own table in media, stay authentic in storytelling, and embrace wellness while pursuing purpose.Shameika shares her journey from working in traditional newsrooms to creating platforms that amplify underrepresented voices in entertainment. She opens up about balancing creativity and health, her experiences with self-care and recovery, and how vulnerability can create community and healing. The conversation also explores redefining success, the importance of mentorship, and finding freedom through authenticity and storytelling.Learn how to set boundaries without guilt. Join Lisane's next Protect Your Peace Shaping Session today: https://shapingfreedom.com/boundaries-workshop Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this inspiring episode, Nigerian-born artist Jeremiah Onifadé joins Lisane Basquiat to share his extraordinary story of resilience, faith, and creative transformation. From surviving religious conflict as a teenager to discovering art as a means of healing and expression, Jeremiah’s journey reveals how adversity can shape purpose. His path from Nigeria to the U.S. and into the art world is a testament to survival through creativity and the power of believing in possibility.Together, they explore how Jeremiah’s installations — like his recent Boat Project — serve as living metaphors for life’s journey, courage, and rebirth. The conversation dives deep into themes of displacement, emotional identity, and spiritual freedom, offering listeners an honest look at what it means to turn pain into purpose and struggle into art.Represented by Nicole Plantin at Sœur Consulting Agency, Jeremiah continues to create work that bridges cultures and conversations, inspiring audiences to find beauty and strength in their own stories.Learn how to set boundaries without guilt. Join Lisane's next Protect Your Peace Shaping Session today: https://shapingfreedom.com/boundaries-workshop Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this heartfelt and inspiring episode of Shaping Freedom, Lisane Basquiat sits down with legendary photographer and cultural archivist Johnny Nunez, whose lens has defined how the world sees hip-hop and modern Black excellence. Johnny opens up about his childhood in Brooklyn, facing racism, learning empathy, and how those lessons shaped the integrity and heart he brings to every photograph.Together, Lisane and Johnny explore themes of faith, resilience, love, and legacy — from life-changing encounters and divine guidance to the discipline of never betraying trust for fame. This conversation is more than a look behind the camera; it’s a masterclass in grace, gratitude, and purpose. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Shaping Freedom, Lisane Basquiat sits down with award-winning actor, author, and activist Hill Harper for an intimate conversation about purpose, legacy, and the courage to live with intention. From Harvard Law to Hollywood to his recent political endeavors, Hill shares the evolution of his mission—to create positive impact that outlives the man.Together, they unpack themes of fatherhood, emotional wealth, and the pursuit of meaningful work, exploring what it means to move from success to significance. Hill opens up about his philosophy of “sequential mastery,” his belief in seeking out failure as a form of growth, and his desire to build both impact and legacy through art, service, and action.This heartfelt dialogue reminds us that legacy isn’t reserved for the famous—it’s built every day through presence, courage, and the willingness to live fully aligned with our purpose. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices