BACKTalk Podcast by Successful Black Parenting Magazine

Being a single Black mom is rarely framed as powerful or successful, but Dr. Vicki Wright-Hamilton is here to change that. In this inspiring episode of BACKtalk, host Janice Robinson-Celeste speaks with Dr. Vicki about her groundbreaking book and documentary Diary of Successful Black Single Mothers. They dive into the truth behind single motherhood, breaking stereotypes, and how to define success on your own terms. From launching a skincare line to creating a board game and founding a certification program for single moms, Dr. Vicki shows that success isn’t one-size-fits-all. 🎧 Listen in for wisdom, motivation, and the reminder that your story is still being written and it's powerful. �� Episode Timestamps – Diary of Successful Black Single Mothers 00:00 – Intro and welcome to BACKtalk 01:00 – Meet Dr. Vicki Wright-Hamilton and her background 03:00 – What inspired the anthology and documentary project 06:00 – Breaking the stigma around Black single mothers 09:00 – Stories that moved her most in the project 12:00 – Why redefining success is essential 15:00 – The Emory-backed certification program for single moms 18:00 – From tech executive to author: Vicki’s career journey 21:00 – Launching a skincare line and a board game 24:00 – Balancing ambition and wellness 27:00 – What true success looks like for Black single moms 30:00 – How to support the movement and get involved 33:00 – Final words of encouragement and wrap-up

Impostor syndrome doesn’t start in adulthood. For many Black children, the seeds of self-doubt are planted early. In this powerful episode of BACKtalk, host Janice Robinson-Celeste speaks with Drs. Lisa and Richard Orbe-Austin—renowned psychologists, executive coaches, TEDx speakers, and authors of Your Child’s Greatness: A Parent’s Guide to Raising Children Without Impostor Syndrome (Ulysses Press, 2025). They break down how parents can spot early warning signs, affirm identity, and help their children develop lasting self-confidence. 🎧 You’ll learn: • How impostor syndrome shows up in children • Ways to build identity-affirming spaces at home • What parents can do to stop self-doubt early • Tools to raise confident, self-assured kids 📚 Get the book: https://amzn.to/3Ez6Cmx [https://amzn.to/3Ez6Cmx]

What does a name really mean? For many Black and immigrant children, it means identity, heritage, and pride. But what happens when the world tells them their name is too different? In this special episode of BACKtalk by Successful Black Parenting Magazine, host Janice Robinson-Celeste talks with bestselling author and “Professional Troublemaker� Luvvie Ajayi Jones about her powerful new children’s book Little Troublemaker Defends Her Name. Inspired by her own story of growing up Nigerian-American, Luvvie shares how parents can help kids stand tall in who they are, starting with their names. 🎧 Topics include: • Why names matter and how they shape confidence • How to help kids respond to microaggressions • The emotional impact of never seeing your name on a keychain • Tips for parents raising bold, unapologetic children • Luvvie’s movement to get 10,000 books into classrooms Find Little Troublemaker Defends Her Name on Amazon: https://amzn.to/42XFl5j [https://amzn.to/42XFl5j] Follow Luvvie everywhere @Luvvie Follow us @SuccessfulBlackParenting TIMESTAMP 00:00 – Intro and welcome 02:45 – Luvvie explains the meaning of her name 05:30 – Why she calls herself a “Professional Troublemaker� 12:10 – Story behind *Little Troublemaker Defends Her Name* 18:35 – How mispronouncing names becomes a microaggression 25:00 – Advice for parents raising bold kids 31:20 – Where to get the book and join the sponsorship train

Why are Black women still three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes in the U.S.? In this powerful episode of BACKtalk, host Janice Robinson-Celeste speaks with OB-GYN and advocate Dr. Faith Ahuba during Black Maternal Health Week. They discuss systemic racism in healthcare, personal stories of survival, implicit bias, and what real advocacy looks like for moms, dads, and communities. 🎧 Dr. Ahuba shares her own postpartum experience, the role of doulas, and how faith and mindset can help us heal. This is more than a conversation—it's a wake-up call. 🔗 Learn more at SuccessfulBlackParenting.com 📘 Get Dr. Ahuba’s book Peace Rx on Amazon 📲 Follow us @SuccessfulBlackParenting �� Episode Timestamps – Black Maternal Health Awareness Week 00:00 – Intro and launch of Black Maternal Health Awareness Week 01:00 – Why Black maternal mortality is a crisis 03:00 – Guest intro: Dr. Asoha Faith Ahuba shares her background 05:00 – Icebreaker: What most people don’t know about Dr. Faith 07:00 – Why Black women are still dying at higher rates in 2025 10:00 – Root causes: systemic racism, empathy, and provider education 13:00 – Patient self-advocacy and the CDC’s ‘Hear Her’ initiative 16:00 – Janice shares her personal story of being mistreated during labor 20:00 – What providers can do differently and why implicit bias training matters 24:00 – Fear of retaliation: Why some Black patients stay silent 27:00 – How to strategically escalate complaints during birth care 30:00 – Why advocacy should be taught in birthing classes 33:00 – Should you find a Black OB-GYN or just an empathetic one? 36:00 – Preconception health and planning for safer pregnancies 39:00 – Dr. Faith’s message to scared Black moms: Faith over fear 42:00 – How generational trauma shows up during pregnancy 45:00 – Dr. Faith’s book Peace Rx and the role of faith in healing 48:00 – What policies would Dr. Faith implement if she had the power 51:00 – Should hospitals publish maternal mortality data? 53:00 – How to advocate effectively and where to find Dr. Faith’s work 55:00 – Closing thoughts and thanks from Janice Robinson-Celeste #BlackMaternalHealthWeek #BACKtalk #BlackMomsMatter

In this heartfelt episode of BACKtalk, host Janice Robinson-Celeste sits down with Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock to discuss his new children’s picture book, We’re In This Together: Leo’s Lunchbox. Inspired by the biblical story of the Feeding of the Five Thousand, this modern parable follows a young boy named Leo who learns that sharing—even when you don’t have much—can lead to unexpected abundance. Together, they dive into topics like food insecurity, the threats to free lunch programs and SNAP benefits, the importance of early childhood education like Head Start, and why faith, compassion, and community must guide the way we raise our children, especially in today’s divided climate. Senator Warnock also opens up about his inspiration for Leo’s story, his memories as a “free lunch kid,� and how parenting his two young children shapes his values and vision for the future. Tune in for a conversation full of truth, tenderness, and purpose. �� Episode Timestamps – Leo’s Lunchbox with Rev. Raphael Warnock 00:00 – Welcome and introduction to the episode 00:50 – The reality of food insecurity for children in America 02:00 – Senator Warnock joins the show and introduces himself 03:40 – Signature icebreaker: the parenting lesson that shaped his life 05:15 – The inspiration behind Leo’s Lunchbox and the biblical roots 07:40 – Why the book centers a child facing poverty and scarcity 10:20 – Discussion on child poverty, SNAP, Head Start, and public policy 13:30 – How storytelling can influence national values and compassion 15:00 – Dr. King’s “Beloved Community� and the message of giving 17:30 – A real-life memory that inspired Leo’s character 19:00 – The importance of inclusive, diverse children’s literature 21:00 – Being a dad: how parenting reshaped how he communicates big ideas 23:30 – Writing for children vs. writing for adults 25:20 – Why “second chances� is a core message in the book 27:00 – The role of faith-based values in parenting today 28:45 – Final thoughts and where to find the book and follow Rev. Warnock 30:00 – Outro and call to action from Janice Robinson-Celeste