Behind the Magic

Liberation as Legacy: Carrying Our Stories Forward with Anneshia Hardy

In this episode, we see what's Behind the Magic of powerhouse Anneshia Hardy—narrative strategist, movement builder, and truth-teller from Montgomery, Alabama. From her days navigating the overwhelmingly white world of finance to becoming the founding executive director of Alabama Values and Alabama Values Progress and co-founder of Blackyard LLC, Anneshia has lived the tension between brilliance and bias—and chose to turn her story into fuel for liberation. We talk about the blueprint her mother gave her, what it means to name and resist harmful narratives, and how she’s using storytelling as both a survival strategy and a tool for reimagining democracy. This conversation is real, layered, and full of wisdom about leadership, resilience, and why Black women’s stories are sacred. If you’ve ever struggled with carrying the weight of being “the only” in the room, or wondered how to protect your joy while pushing for change, this one will feed your spirit.

Resilience, Roots & Reinvention: A Conversation with Tarnia Gonzo

In this conversation across the pond, I sit down with Tarnia Gonzo, change management AI expert and founder of T&S Consulting in London. Tarnia opens up about her journey from Zimbabwe to the UK at age seven, navigating identity, stereotypes, and perfectionism as an immigrant and Black woman in male-dominated industries. She shares how family influences: her grandmother’s resilience, her mother’s determination, and her own role as a mother, shaped her approach to leadership and entrepreneurship. Tarnia discusses the challenges of working in white- and male-dominated consultancies, the power of building authentic community, and the pivotal moment when she chose to create her own firm rooted in human-led transformation. With warmth and candor, Tarnia reflects on resilience, belonging, imposter syndrome, and what it means to lead authentically while building a legacy for her daughter.

What If Choosing Yourself Was the Revolution? A Love Letter to Black Women with Ameshia Arthur

In this powerful and heartfelt episode, I sit down with licensed therapist and author Ameshia Arthur to unpack her new book, You Are Not Selfish (available on Amazon) — a love letter to Black women everywhere. Together, we dive into what it really means to center yourself in a world that constantly tells you not to. Ameshia shares her personal healing journey, growing up with a revolutionary mother in Oakland, and how the lessons of care, community, and self-prioritization led her to create work that challenges generational expectations. This episode is for every Black woman who has ever been told she was "too much" or "not enough" — for those carrying the weight of community, children, and change-making while being told to rest only once the fight is over. You’ll hear: Why the idea of being “selfish” is radical, necessary, and overdue How unlearning begins with allowing ourselves to take up space The deep tension between care for community and care for self And why reclaiming softness isn’t weakness, but wisdom Whether you’re a quiet observer, a fierce advocate, or somewhere in between, this episode is your reminder that wholeness is not a reward — it’s your right.

DeUnna Hendrix: Leading, Healing, and Everything In Between

I had the pleasure of sitting down with a new friend, DeUnna Hendrix, former Division I head women’s basketball coach turned leadership coach for other coaches and founder of HendriX to Y Coaching. From the outside, her story looks like a lot of wins, titles, rising fast. But what we talked about? The truth underneath it all—what it means to be a Black woman navigating leadership, visibility, and vulnerability in spaces that weren’t built for us. DeUnna shared about coming out at 15, being the “only” in so many rooms, and having to learn early how to “fawn” to survive—say the right thing, keep the peace, make everyone comfortable, even when you’re unraveling on the inside. During our conversation, we talked about the R word - resilience - and what it costs when grace isn’t extended to you, especially in high-pressure roles where one loss erases years of wins. And what happens when you finally admit: I’m not okay. I don’t even know who I am anymore. What I walked away with is this: DeUnna is proof that it’s possible to rebuild—not just your career or reputation—but your sense of self. And not because someone saved her, but because she paused, got still, asked the hard questions, and started writing a new story from the inside out. This conversation is for any of us who’ve been labeled, boxed in, or told to shrink. For those doing the work, holding it all together, and wondering when we get to feel held, too.

Brittany Buford: Refining Expectations and Pushing Forward

I sat down with Brittany Buford, managing partner at Partners In Democracy, the morning after the 2024 election loss—and the energy was heavy. We talked about that gut-punch feeling so many Black women had waking up like, WTF?” Brittany didn’t sugarcoat a thing. She reminded us that nobody is coming to save Black women—but we’ve never needed saving. We've always been the ones to rebuild, regroup, and get back in the fight. She shared her journey from being a young single mom to becoming a major voice for democracy reform. Her path wasn’t linear—it was messy, powerful, and real. Every detour made her who she is. She talked about redefining success, resisting other people’s expectations, and raising her daughter to live without bounds. One line that shook me? “I refuse to wallow while it burns.” That’s how she’s moving into what’s next. If you’re feeling exhausted but still determined—this episode is for you.