Welcome to our 6th iteration of the ⁠Black Girl's Guide to Surviving Menopause⁠ podcast: the Season of Orisii. Building on our international diasporic tour from last year, this season's theme is Orisii, or 'pairs' in the Afric language of Yoruba. We've invited different types of pairs to explore the through-line between menarche and menopause. You will hear parent/child, partner/lovers and siblings to offer their reflections and observations about this journey as individual and as Orisii. We, as people capable of menstruation, understand that each experience is unique and impacts both ourselves and the connections we have with our loved ones.

For this fourth episode of our Season of Orisii, we have life partners, Jasiatic and Elsworth Usher.

In this episode, we time-traveled, grounded in the here and now, dipping back to the past and stretching towards the future, where taking risks lands us in infinite possibilities and love grows. In numerology, the number 4 represents practicality, loyalty, knowledge, and dependability. It seems very fortunate for us to explore the journey from menarche to menopause through the lens of the intergenerational love partnership between Jasiatic and Elworth.

Many astrologers agree that Virgo and Capricorn are one of the most auspicious pairings, platonically, romantically--creatively.

Mercury and Saturn

Pragmatism and Vigour

Earth and Earth

They seem to get each other...

Jasiatic and Elsworth also share a love connection between the American South and the Global South, with Jasiatic heralding from Charlotte, North Carolina, and Elsworth a first-generation American from Belize. In this episode, we explore:

Reflections of first periods (menarche) from the first person perspective and bearing witness to it
Southern vs. Caribean mothers
August Virgos
Intergenerational love and care
Unexpected death
Grief
Menstrual blood
What it means to be sure and risk it all

Meet Jasiatic and Elsworth:

Jasiatic Anderson Usher, @jasiatic, resides at the cultural and philosophical crossroads of world travel, radical taste making, “artist as art”, and foodie meets chef.

She is the creator of the Liberation Dinners and has hands in plant based pop ups, food history classes, transitional plant based coaching, along with food writing.

Elswoth Usher, @iamelz, is a creative writer, digital content creator, sous chef, photographer, thinker, lover, partner, and Capricorn stelium.

Together, they co-host "Su Casa," Charlotte’s longest-running dance party for the culturally starved, which Jasiatic manifested over 10 years ago.

*No menstrual blood was used to coerce Brother Elsworth. This is a deep soul love. Pure and unabiding.

To learn more, check out https://jasiatic.com/

Show Notes:

Produced by Mariah M., Creative Director at BGG2SM

Hosted by Omisade Burney-Scott, Founder & Chief Curatorial Officer at BGG2SM

Edited by Kim Blocker of ⁠⁠TDS Radio⁠⁠

Theme music by Taj Scott

Season 6 Artwork by Assata Goff, artist & in-house Iconographer of BGG2SM

Season 6 of is sponsored by ⁠⁠The Honey Pot Company⁠⁠

Learn more about Black Girl's Guide to Surviving Menopause at ⁠www.blackgirlsguidetosurvivingmenopause.com⁠