With Báyò Akómoláfé: Noisy Circles and Other Patterns of a Promiscuous World

With Angel Acosta: Grief, Turbulence, and Brilliance in Braided Form

In this episode, Dr. Kia and Aaron talk to Dr. Angel Acosta about thriving through his grandmother’s house parties, being truly seen, and fugitive futures in AI, among other things. This conversation was pleasantly chill. Let us know how it resonates! Read this episode's transcript here [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1z_A_YNHKwhIIhoGWtEmE-q8lr9k0bnqU/view?usp=drive_link]. Learn more about Dr. Acosta on his website: https://www.drangelacosta.com/ [https://www.drangelacosta.com/] Learn more about Dr. Kia:  * Website: https://drkiadh.com [https://drkiadh.com] * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drkiadh/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/drkiadh/] * IG: https://www.instagram.com/drkiadh/ [https://www.instagram.com/drkiadh/] Learn more about Aaron:  * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aarongrayson/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/aarongrayson/] * Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/zen_ra [https://www.patreon.com/zen_ra] Explore the Bridge to Thriving Framework: https://drkiadh.com/thriving-framework [https://drkiadh.com/thriving-framework]  Subscribe to the Ratcheteer newsletter: https://drkiadh.substack.com/ [https://drkiadh.substack.com/]

With Ed Brockenbrough: Monsters, Vogueing, and Dandy Aesthetics

In this episode, Aaron and Dr. Kia talk to Dr. Ed Brockenbrough about thriving through interior design, vogueing on the train, dandy aesthetics, and Dr. Brockenbrough’s powerful teaching, among other things. The conversation was an absolute delight. Let us know how it resonates! Read this episode's transcript here [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Zv-30cKPYt8huVEOD-AQRln9_pRv062O/view?usp=drive_link]. Learn more about Dr. Ed Brockenbrough on the Penn GSE website: https://www.gse.upenn.edu/faculty/ed-brockenbrough [https://www.gse.upenn.edu/faculty/ed-brockenbrough] And check out his new book Learning While Black and Queer [https://hep.gse.harvard.edu/9781682539071/learning-while-black-and-queer/]! Learn more about Dr. Kia:  * Website: https://drkiadh.com [https://drkiadh.com] * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drkiadh/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/drkiadh/] * IG: https://www.instagram.com/drkiadh/ [https://www.instagram.com/drkiadh/] Learn more about Aaron:  * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aarongrayson/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/aarongrayson/] * Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/zen_ra [https://www.patreon.com/zen_ra] Explore the Bridge to Thriving Framework: https://drkiadh.com/thriving-framework [https://drkiadh.com/thriving-framework]  Subscribe to the Ratcheteer newsletter: https://drkiadh.substack.com/ [https://drkiadh.substack.com/]

With José Lizárraga: Reclamation, Rasquachismo, and Traveling in Time

In this episode, Dr. Kia and Aaron talk to Dr. José Lizárraga about thriving through embracing rasquachismo, reclaiming our families, and the power of art, among other things. The conversation was a mix of salty and sweet. Let us know how it resonates! Read this episode's transcript here [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1f9qY4nztYAGS81JZ8Ip_ZjfHNRtQuejO/view]. About Our Guest: José Ramón Lizárraga, PhD (aka Dr. ThemBot), is a Webby Award-winning artist, scholar, educator, and innovator in digital learning, instructional design, and equity-driven education technology. Their projects range from immersive virtual learning experiences to AI-driven educational interventions. Rooted in their upbringing as the child of resilient Mexican immigrants, José’s work reflects a deep dedication to creativity, ingenuity, and the transformative power of education. Beyond academia, they are passionate about music, cooking, and exploring the cultural intersections of digital and social spaces. They are also the parent and creator of the world-famous RuPawl, the World's First Doggie Drag Queen [https://www.instagram.com/rupawl_official/?hl=en]. Learn more about José: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joserlizarraga/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/joserlizarraga/] Learn more about Dr. Kia:  * Website: https://drkiadh.com [https://drkiadh.com] * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drkiadh/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/drkiadh/] * IG: https://www.instagram.com/drkiadh/ [https://www.instagram.com/drkiadh/] Learn more about Aaron:  * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aarongrayson/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/aarongrayson/] * Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/zen_ra [https://www.patreon.com/zen_ra] Explore the Bridge to Thriving Framework: https://drkiadh.com/thriving-framework [https://drkiadh.com/thriving-framework]  Subscribe to the Ratcheteer newsletter: https://drkiadh.substack.com/ [https://drkiadh.substack.com/]

With Báyò Akómoláfé: Noisy Circles and Other Patterns of a Promiscuous World

In this episode, Aaron and Dr. Kia talk to Dr. Báyò Akómoláfé about thriving through intelligent noise, a 7-year-old’s wisdom, human patterns, and queering neurotypical expectations, among other things. (The conversation kind of broke our brains, tbh. Let us know how it resonates!) Read this episode's transcript here [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xYzYqLRjTqBe-YT_yl1xHys5R-fnlX6O/view?usp=sharing]. Learn more about Dr. Akómoláfé on his website: https://www.bayoakomolafe.net/ [https://www.bayoakomolafe.net/] Learn more about Dr. Kia:  * Website: https://drkiadh.com [https://drkiadh.com] * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drkiadh/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/drkiadh/] * IG: https://www.instagram.com/drkiadh/ [https://www.instagram.com/drkiadh/] Learn more about Aaron:  * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aarongrayson/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/aarongrayson/] * Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/zen_ra [https://www.patreon.com/zen_ra] Explore the Bridge to Thriving Framework: https://drkiadh.com/thriving-framework [https://drkiadh.com/thriving-framework]  Subscribe to the Ratcheteer newsletter: https://drkiadh.substack.com/ [https://drkiadh.substack.com/]

With Tez Files: Mothers, Mending, and Megan Thee Stallion

In this episode, Aaron and Dr. Kia talk to Dr. Tez Files about thriving through twerking in traffic, mothering, Megan Thee Stallion, and letting shit go, among other things. This conversation had us hyped. Let us know how it resonates! Read this episode's transcript here [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_y97FKd9UxHKz1XryZe1sCWZLd35ZFiK/view]. Learn more about Dr. Files on the U. Pittsburgh School of Education website: https://www.education.pitt.edu/faculty/directory/martez-files/ [https://www.education.pitt.edu/faculty/directory/martez-files/] Learn more about Dr. Kia:  * Website: https://drkiadh.com [https://drkiadh.com] * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drkiadh/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/drkiadh/] * IG: https://www.instagram.com/drkiadh/ [https://www.instagram.com/drkiadh/] Learn more about Aaron:  * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aarongrayson/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/aarongrayson/] * Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/zen_ra [https://www.patreon.com/zen_ra] Explore the Bridge to Thriving Framework: https://drkiadh.com/thriving-framework [https://drkiadh.com/thriving-framework]  Subscribe to the Ratcheteer newsletter: https://drkiadh.substack.com/ [https://drkiadh.substack.com/]