Accident or Design? Why Your Library System Might Be Failing You” with Christopher Fleming

Getting to Carefree: Anayo Awuzie on Building a Global Community for Black Women’s Stories

Black in the Stacks is back!! On this episode, I chat with Anayo Auwzie, the brilliant mind behind Carefree Magazine, a digital platform that is both a mirror and a window into the lives of Black Women across the diaspora, sharing stories of life, love, adventure and everything in between. We also discuss how Anayo is turning her platform into a physical coffee table book called "Black Women in Bloom." The book features 30 essays from women sharing their compelling stories, including one from Anayo herself. Anayo Awuzie is the founder and editor-in-chief of Carefree Magazine, a digital platform that publishes personal essays by Black women around the world—exploring the in-between spaces of Black womanhood where healing, identity, and everyday life unfold. Anayo Awuzie is the founder and editor-in-chief of Carefree Magazine, a slow storytelling platform publishing personal essays by Black women around the world—exploring the in-between spaces of Black womanhood where healing, identity, and everyday life unfold. You can pre-order "Black Women in Bloom" by visiting www.carefreemag.com/book [https://www.carefreemag.com/book]. To learn more about Black in the Stacks and purchase merch, visit www.blackinthestacks.com [https://www.blackinthestacks.com].

Beyond Pigment: Finding a Friend Like Me in a World of Difference with Author Megan Cauthen

What happens when the stories we read fail to reflect the skin we live in? On this episode of Black in the Stacks: Where the Culture is Kept, we explore the vital necessity of representation in literacy and the journey of navigating the world with a rare condition. Marquita chats with Megan Cauthen, the founder of The Golden Impact and author of the children's book Nellie & Ollie: A Friend Like Me. Megan shares her firsthand perspective on growing up with albinism and how her personal history inspired her to write for the next generation. We discuss: -The transition from lived experience to the written word. -Why diverse characters are essential for childhood development. -The reality of life with albinism and the power of reclaiming your own narrative. Megan believes that our differences are our greatest strengths. This conversation is an honest look at how we can use storytelling to foster confidence and intentional growth.   Click to View Pod Merch [https://www.etsy.com/shop/blackinthestacks]   📲 Be sure to follow Megan on one or ALL of her social media platforms below for updates on the release of her book: FB: https://www.facebook.com/share/1HdcnehcpS/?mibextid=wwXIfr [https://www.facebook.com/share/1HdcnehcpS/?mibextid=wwXIfr] IG: https://www.instagram.com/the_golden_impact_?igsh=bzNneGU5YjkzbDR6&utm_source=qr [https://www.instagram.com/the_golden_impact_?igsh=bzNneGU5YjkzbDR6&utm_source=qr] TT: https://www.tiktok.com/@megan.cauthen?_r=1&_t=ZP-953Hav1nRS2 [https://www.tiktok.com/@megan.cauthen?_r=1&_t=ZP-953Hav1nRS2]

Farming Freedom: a Documentary Discussion with Kayla Turner Thomas

On this episode of Black in the stacks, Marquita chats with Kayla Turner Thomas about her film debut, "Framing Freedom: The Inspiring True Story of Black Landownership in Mississippi. It's a gripping feature length documentary told through the lens of Thomas’ grandfather, Henry Harris, a retired second-generation farmer whose father, John Harris, managed to buy and keep farmland while Jim Crow laws were still in effect. The film combines interviews from historians that give insight into what factors and events contributed to massive Black land loss like mob violence, federal loan discrimination, and the impact of the Great Migration. Aiming to enlighten and inspire, Farming Freedom also looks ahead to the opportunities for closing the wealth gap between non-Black and Black landowners today. Kayla Turner Thomas, a producer and 2x Emmy-nominated creative services professional, has worked in local television for nearly 15 years. Raised on family land in the Mississippi Delta, Thomas is a proud product of Bolivar County public schools. She studied Media and Communication Arts at Pace University, Westchester, and is a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. Shop: www.etsy.com/shop/blackinthestacks Connect: www.blackinthestacks.com Film: https://filmfreeway.com/FarmingFreedom

Recovering and Reconnecting After Library Workplace Harm: Recognizing Low Morale and Other Hard Truths

On this episode of Black in the Stacks, Marquita chats with Kaetrena Davis Kendrick about the systemic causes of low morale and workplace harm within library environments, recognizing and naming instances of workplace harm, and practical strategies for personal recovery after such experiences.  Kaetrena Davis Kendrick is a dynamic and uplifting researcher, leader, consultant, and coach. Her mission is to inspire authentic collegiality, and to promote well-being, share the gifts of creativity, and cultivate empathetic, engaged leadership in the workplace. She also helps people who are struggling in dysfunctional workplaces recognize, reconcile, and begin to recover from their experiences. Learn more about Renewals by visiting www.renewalslis.com [http://www.renewalslis.com/].   Listen & Subscribe: blackinthestacks.podbean.com [https://blackinthestacks.podbean.com]  Connect: www.blackinthestacks.com [http://www.blackinthestacks.com/] Shop: www.etsy.com/shop/blackinthestacks [https://www.etsy.com/shop/blackinthestacks]

Accident or Design? Why Your Library System Might Be Failing You” with Christopher Fleming

On this episode, Marquita chats with Christopher Fleming, aka "The People's Librarian", about his idea that libraries don't fail because people don't care, but because the systems (how they talk, work, and move) aren't built with intention and how poor institutional design can lead to both poor patron engagement and staff frustration. Christopher Fleming is a public library leader and librarian with over a decade of experience in community engagement, access, and organizational improvement. Rising from frontline service into management, he applies systems thinking, data-informed strategies, and is the creator of the "Library Systems Persuasion Model", which examines how people, processes, and institutional design influence engagement and outcomes.