Podcast
Culture Lit
Hosted by Octavia Marie · EN
Culture Lit is where Black women’s love stories, healing journeys, and cultural brilliance take center stage.
Every week, host Octavia Marie dives deep into the romance novels, authors, and conversations that are reshaping how we see Black love — on the page and in real life. From body-positive heroines to soft life living, from second-chance love to the rise of Black romance adaptations hitting our screens, we’re exploring what it means to be seen, celebrated, and loved on your own terms.
This isn’t just a book podcast. It’s a space for Black women who are ready to reclaim joy, prioritize peace, and say yes to the stories that make us feel whole.
Beyond the episodes, there’s a membership space — The Intentional Edit — for the women who want to go deeper: more reads, more recs, and a community that actually gets it.
Whether you’ve been reading Black romance for years or you’re just finding your way in — welcome home. Grab your tea, get cozy, and let’s get into it.
24episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Your Spark Is Still There: Finding Your Way Back to Joy
1w ago00:14:10Tap to summarizeSome seasons feel dim. Not broken — just quiet. Like the thing that used to light you up has gone somewhere you can't quite reach.That's where Octavia has been. And in this episode, she gets honest about coming out of a season that knocked her sideways — physically, emotionally, all of it. She talks about what it really means to lose your spark, why it happens to women who are doing everything right, and the small, unglamorous ways you start coming back to yourself.Plus — April was a moment for Black romance. She's reviewing two reads that helped her recenter: Big Girl Blitz by Danielle Allen (the perfect series closer) and The Art of Loving You by Natasha Bishop (a slow burn second chance romance about grief that will leave you feeling it all).In this episode:Why your spark going quiet isn't a breakdown — it's a messageThis week's affirmation for anyone in a season of reconnectionA full breakdown of Big Girl Blitz — the community, the angst, and the Aunt Addie scenes that will have you in shamblesWhy The Art of Loving You is its own emotional experience and deserves to be met that wayBooks mentioned:Big Girl Blitz by Danielle AllenThe Art of Loving You by Natasha BishopCurvy Girl Summer by Danielle Allen (Curve series, book 1)Plus Size Player by Danielle Allen (Curve series, book 2)If Only for the Week by Natasha Bishop (Forever Falling series, book 1)Find this and other recommendations at The CultureLit online BookShop and support independent bookstores at Visit my bookshop!Sponsor: Jayne + BloomIf you've been looking for a way to make your daily routine feel more intentional, check out my Clean Beauty Gifts With Purpose collection on Jayne + Bloom. Thoughtfully chosen sets for you and the women in your life — clean ingredients, real care, no compromise. Visit JayneandBloom.com.Culture Lit is a community celebrating black women and black love, and a reminder that black women deserve joy, love success, second chances, and all the beautiful magic the world has to offer.Subscribe to the Culture Lit Podcast Community here: CultureLitPodcast.comPlease follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you listen to your podcasts!Let me know what you’re reading, what you’re thinking, and what you’re thinking about what you’re reading.STAY CONNECTEDInstagram: becomingoctaviaThreads: becomingoctaviaFB: BecomingOctaviaMarieMusic credit: Cool Jazz Beat by FASOL PRODA Subito Media production
Transcribe →What Your Body Already Knows with Aycee Brown on Embody Your Magic, Intuition & Healing
Apr 900:52:31Tap to summarizeWhat if your body already knew the truth — before the doctors, before the diagnosis, before the breakdown — and you just weren't listening?In this episode, Octavia sits down with psychic medium, astrologer, Human Design expert, and author Aycee Brown to talk about her debut book Embody Your Magic (HarperOne, 2026). What starts as a deep dive into spiritual tools becomes one of the most personal conversations.They cover Human Design, the 80/20 soul blueprint framework, why religion is keeping Black women locked in the wrong 20%, what self-rejection looks like, and why honest desire — not vision boards — is the actual key to creating the life you want.In this episode you will:Learn Aycee's 80/20 framework and why most of us are spending all our energy in the wrong 20%Understand how self-rejection piles up in the small everyday moments — and how to stop adding layersWalk away with one honest question that can shift everything: What does your body already know that you keep ignoring?Books mentioned:Embody Your Magic: Create the Life of Your Dreams Through Astrology, Numerology, Mediumship, Metaphysics, and Human DesignFind this and other recommendations at The CultureLit online BookShop and support independent bookstores at Visit my bookshop!Episode LinksFollow Aycee on InstagramFollow Aycee on TikTokListen to Aycee's podcast "Is My Aura on Straight?" Order Aycee's new book "Embody Your Magic" out now:Loved this episode? Subscribe to Culture Lit and leave a review on Apple Podcasts — it helps more Black women find this community.Subscribe to the Culture Lit Podcast Community here: CultureLitPodcast.comPlease follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you listen to your podcasts!Let me know what you’re reading, what you’re thinking, and what you’re thinking about what you’re reading.CONNECT WITH OCTAVIA MARIEInstagram: becomingoctaviaThreads: becomingoctaviaFB: BecomingOctaviaMarieMusic credit: Cool Jazz Beat by FASOL PRODA Subito Media productionMentioned in this episode:You can find all the books I've reviewed in this podcast in my Bookshop! Visit https://bookshop.org/shop/CultureLitPodcast to get your copy!Visit my bookshop!If you're enjoying the show, join our community at culturelitpodcast.com.Visit my bookshop!
Transcribe →RE-RUN: What Jahquel J Knew All Along
Apr 201:01:20Tap to summarizeOctavia Marie talks with Jaquel, a prolific author in Black romance. They discuss Jaquel's extensive literary universe, the personal connections readers have with her work, and the dynamics of her characters, particularly in her latest release, Heart of a Goon. The conversation delves into reader reactions, character development, and the marketing strategies that have contributed to Jaquel's success. Additionally, they touch on the importance of self-care for writers and the authenticity of dialogue across different storylines. In this engaging conversation, Jahquel J. and Octavia Marie delve into the intricacies of character development, the writing process, and the balance between realism and hope in storytelling. Books Mentioned:Staten Island Love StoryCapone10,000 Hours with a Rich Menace (Caselli Family Book 1) Don Caselli (Caselli Family Book 2)Heart of a GoonCapri Find these and other recommendations at The CultureLit online BookShop and support independent bookstores at Visit my bookshop!Culture Lit is a community celebrating black women and black love, and a reminder that black women deserve joy, love success, second chances, and all the beautiful magic the world has to offer.Subscribe to the Culture Lit Podcast Community here: CultureLitPodcast.comPlease follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts, or wherever you listen to your podcasts!Let me know what you’re reading, what you’re thinking, and what you’re thinking about what you’re reading.STAY CONNECTEDInstagram: becomingoctaviaThreads: becomingoctaviaFB: BecomingOctaviaMarieMusic credit: Cool Jazz Beat by FASOL PRODA Subito Media production
Transcribe →More Room: Taking Up Space and the Books That Remind You How
Mar 1900:17:20Tap to summarizeOctavia Marie gets into what it actually means to take up space — not just in a room, but in the life you're building. Taking up space means letting your dreams have room, saying yes to what lights you up, and holding the line on your time and energy. And sometimes it means turning to stories when the world gets heavy.Books MentionedKin by Tayari JonesBeautiful Broken Love by Shanora WilliamsOne More Shot by Anise StarreOne Week in Paradise by Anise StarreIf I Don't Have You by Sareeta DomingoBehind the Scenes by Christina C JonesThe Full Picture by Jessica CarmichaelFind these and other recommendations at The CultureLit online BookShop and support independent bookstores at Visit my bookshop!Culture Lit is a community celebrating black women and black love, and a reminder that black women deserve joy, love success, second chances, and all the beautiful magic the world has to offer.Subscribe to the Culture Lit Podcast Community here: CultureLitPodcast.comPlease follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you listen to your podcasts!Let me know what you’re reading, what you’re thinking, and what you’re thinking about what you’re reading.STAY CONNECTEDInstagram: becomingoctaviaThreads: becomingoctaviaFB: BecomingOctaviaMarieMusic credit: Cool Jazz Beat by FASOL PRODA Subito Media productionMentioned in this episode:You can find all the books I've reviewed in this podcast in my Bookshop! Visit https://bookshop.org/shop/CultureLitPodcast to get your copy!Visit my bookshop!If you're enjoying the show, join our community at culturelitpodcast.com.Visit my bookshop!
Transcribe →Pen Pals to Pop Stars: Breaking Down All Three Books in Kristina Forest's Greene Sisters Series
Mar 600:24:51Tap to summarizeThis episode is a look into Kristina Forest's beloved series: The Neighbor Favor, The Partner Plot, and The Love Lyric. Three sisters. Three completely different love stories. One beautifully layered portrait of Black women navigating ambition, family, and modern romance without apologizing for any of it.Octavia breaks down all three books — Lily's sweet, bookish pen-pals romance, Violet's crackling second-chance fake marriage story, and Iris's tender, slow-burn love story with an R&B star who pines for her with his whole heart. And we're talking about what it means that Felicia Pride, showrunner of Netflix's forthcoming A Different World sequel, is the one bringing these sisters to screen.Felicia Pride just optioned the Greene Sisters trilogy — and if you know her work, you already know we are in very good hands.In this episode:Walk away knowing exactly which Greene Sisters book to start with — and why each one hits differentlyUnderstand what makes Kristina Forest's writing stand out in contemporary Black romanceBooks Mentioned:The Neighbor Favor by Kristina ForestThe Partner Plot by Kristina ForestThe Love Lyric by Kristina ForestThe Perfect Find by Tia WilliamsThe Skyland Series by Kennedy RyanThe New Haven Series by JL SeegerSavvy Sheldon Feels Good as Hell by Taj McCoy Find this and other recommendations at The CultureLit online BookShop and support independent bookstores at Visit my bookshop!Culture Lit is a community celebrating black women and black love, and a reminder that black women deserve joy, love success, second chances, and all the beautiful magic the world has to offer.Subscribe to the Culture Lit Podcast Community here: CultureLitPodcast.comPlease follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you listen to your podcasts!Let me know what you’re reading, what you’re thinking, and what you’re thinking about what you’re reading.STAY CONNECTEDInstagram: becomingoctaviaThreads: becomingoctaviaFB: BecomingOctaviaMarieMusic credit: Cool Jazz Beat by FASOL PRODA Subito Media productionMentioned in this episode:If you're enjoying the show, join our community at culturelitpodcast.com.Visit my bookshop!You can find all the books I've reviewed in this podcast in my Bookshop! Visit https://bookshop.org/shop/CultureLitPodcast to get your copy!Visit my bookshop!
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The Shift: How One Single Mom Moved to Mexico Sight Unseen
Feb 1200:49:52Tap to summarizeWhat would you do if you woke up one day and decided to leave everything behind—your city, your career, your entire life as you knew it—and move to a country you'd never even visited?That's exactly what Diamond Polk did. And she's never looked back.Diamond is a former Los Angeles realtor, a USC grad, a single mom, and now a relocation guide helping women move from the United States to Mexico. But this isn't just about changing addresses—it's about relocating your mind, your energy, and your entire relationship with freedom, safety, and what's possible.In this episode, Diamond shares the real story of why she left LA, how she chose Puerto Vallarta sight unseen, what the transition was actually like as a Black woman and single mother, and how she's now building a business helping other women do the same through her retreat, The Shift, and her coaching programs.If you've ever fantasized about leaving it all behind, starting fresh somewhere beautiful, or just giving yourself permission to imagine a different kind of life—this episode is for you.Listen now, and then visit @citizendip_ on Instagram to learn more about Diamond's June 2025 retreat, The Shift, and her February group coaching program, Safe Passage.Diamond Polk is a former Los Angeles realtor, USC graduate, and single mother who made the bold decision to leave the United States and move to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico—sight unseen. Now, she helps women transition from the United States to Mexico through soulful real estate guidance, her signature retreat The Shift, and group coaching program Safe Passage. Diamond's work is rooted in empowerment, spiritual alignment, and helping women relocate not just their homes, but their minds. She believes in making healing and relocation accessible, offering tiered pricing and pay-what-you-can options for hypnotherapy sessions.Culture Lit is a community celebrating black women and black love, and a reminder that black women deserve joy, love success, second chances, and all the beautiful magic the world has to offer.Subscribe to the Culture Lit Podcast Community here: CultureLitPodcast.comPlease follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you listen to your podcasts!Let me know what you’re reading, what you’re thinking, and what you’re thinking about what you’re reading.STAY CONNECTEDInstagram: becomingoctaviaThreads: becomingoctaviaFB: BecomingOctaviaMarieMusic credit: Cool Jazz Beat by FASOL PRODA Subito Media production
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Soft Life is Not Luxury-It’s Safety
Feb 600:22:17Tap to summarizeWhat if the soft life isn't about luxury at all? What if it's about survival?In this episode I explore the soft life as a practice of safety, resistance, and self-preservation for Black women — and why choosing ease is one of the most radical acts we can make.I'm unpacking why softness feels so dangerous for Black women, exploring the cultural conditioning that taught us to perform strength at all costs, and breaking down what it actually looks like to choose ease in a world that profits from our exhaustion.Plus, I'm discussing Where the Wildflowers Grow by Terah Shelton Harris—a stunning novel about a woman who stumbles into sanctuary and discovers she's not too broken to heal.Books MentionedWhere the Wildflowers Grow by Terah Shelton HarrisFind this and other recommendations at The CultureLit online BookShop and support independent bookstores at Visit my bookshop!Resources & ThemesThe myth of the “Strong Black Woman”Nervous system regulationRest as resistanceSoft life as sustainabilityCulture Lit is a community celebrating black women and black love, and a reminder that black women deserve joy, love success, second chances, and all the beautiful magic the world has to offer.Subscribe to the Culture Lit Podcast Community here: CultureLitPodcast.comPlease follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you listen to your podcasts!Let me know what you’re reading, what you’re thinking, and what you’re thinking about what you’re reading.STAY CONNECTEDInstagram: becomingoctaviaThreads: becomingoctaviaFB: BecomingOctaviaMarieMusic credit: Cool Jazz Beat by FASOL PRODA Subito Media productionMentioned in this episode:If you're enjoying the show, join our community at culturelitpodcast.com.Visit my bookshop!You can find all the books I've reviewed in this podcast in my Bookshop! Visit https://bookshop.org/shop/CultureLitPodcast to get your copy!Visit my bookshop!
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If I Ruled the World by Amy DuBois Barnett | Ambition, Culture & Taking Up Space
Jan 2700:14:48Tap to summarizeWhat happens when a young Black editor walks away from the glossy magazine world to save a struggling hip hop publication? Everything.In this episode, I'm talking about into If I Ruled the World by Amy DuBois Barnett—a novel that took me straight back to 1999 and the era that shaped so much of who we are. This isn't romance, but it's absolutely about Black women finding their voice, claiming their power, and building the culture that the world tries to erase us from.We're talking late-90s NYC media, hip hop journalism, navigating toxic workplaces, and what it costs to be young, Black, brilliant, and ambitious in rooms that weren't built for you.If you were a Vibe or Honey Magazine subscriber, if Nas and Lauryn Hill were your soundtrack, if you've ever had to choose between fitting in and being free—this one's for you.Hit play, and let's talk about what it really takes to rule your own world.Find this and other recommendations at The CultureLit online BookShop and support independent bookstores at Visit my bookshop!Culture Lit is a community celebrating black women and black love, and a reminder that black women deserve joy, love success, second chances, and all the beautiful magic the world has to offer.Subscribe to the Culture Lit Podcast Community here: CultureLitPodcast.comPlease follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you listen to your podcasts!Let me know what you’re reading, what you’re thinking, and what you’re thinking about what you’re reading.STAY CONNECTEDInstagram: becomingoctaviaThreads: becomingoctaviaFB: BecomingOctaviaMarieMusic credit: Cool Jazz Beat by FASOL PRODA Subito Media productionMentioned in this episode:If you're enjoying the show, join our community at culturelitpodcast.com.Visit my bookshop!You can find all the books I've reviewed in this podcast in my Bookshop! Visit https://bookshop.org/shop/CultureLitPodcast to get your copy!Visit my bookshop!
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Representation in Romance: Why Young Black Girls Deserve to See Themselves in Love Stories
Jan 1600:18:29Tap to summarizeWhat happens when the romance books your teen loves don't feature characters who look like them? This episode is a love letter to young Black girls who deserve to see themselves as the heroine—not the sidekick.Octavia Marie shares seven powerful Black YA romance novels that center Black teens in stories of love, identity, and self-discovery.Find this and other recommendations at The CultureLit online BookShop and support independent bookstores at Visit my bookshop!Culture Lit is a community celebrating black women and black love, and a reminder that black women deserve joy, love success, second chances, and all the beautiful magic the world has to offer.Subscribe to the Culture Lit Podcast Community here: CultureLitPodcast.comPlease follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you listen to your podcasts!Let me know what you’re reading, what you’re thinking, and what you’re thinking about what you’re reading.STAY CONNECTEDInstagram: becomingoctaviaThreads: becomingoctaviaFB: BecomingOctaviaMarieMusic credit: Cool Jazz Beat by FASOL PRODA Subito Media productionMentioned in this episode:You can find all the books I've reviewed in this podcast in my Bookshop! Visit https://bookshop.org/shop/CultureLitPodcast to get your copy!Visit my bookshop!If you're enjoying the show, join our community at culturelitpodcast.com.Visit my bookshop!
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Manifest Like a Romance Heroine:Vision Boards, Manifestation & Choosing Yourself
Jan 900:29:42Tap to summarizeWhat if you approached your life the way romance heroines approach love — with clear standards, unwavering belief in your worth, and refusal to settle?In this episode, Octavia Marie breaks down how to create a vision board that actually works, using principles from Genevieve Behrend's 1921 classic "Your Invisible Power." Learn the five intentions that are guiding 2026, example affirmations that feel authentic (not cringe), and why manifesting your dream life is an act of rebellion for Black women. Plus: how Hendrix Bell, Nina, and Eva Mercy are basically vision board queens. This isn't just pretty Pinterest boards — this is about choosing yourself, every single day.📚 BOOKS MENTIONED:"Your Invisible Power" by Genevieve Behrend (1921)"Can't Get Enough" by Kennedy Ryan (Skyland Series #3)"Plus Size Player" by Danielle Allen"Seven Days in June" by Tia WilliamsFind these and other recommendations at The CultureLit online BookShop and support independent bookstores at Visit my bookshop!Culture Lit is a community celebrating black women and black love, and a reminder that black women deserve joy, love success, second chances, and all the beautiful magic the world has to offer.Subscribe to the Culture Lit Podcast Community here: CultureLitPodcast.comPlease follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you listen to your podcasts!Let me know what you’re reading, what you’re thinking, and what you’re thinking about what you’re reading.STAY CONNECTEDInstagram: becomingoctaviaThreads: becomingoctaviaFB: BecomingOctaviaMarieMusic credit: Cool Jazz Beat by FASOL PRODA Subito Media productionMentioned in this episode:You can find all the books I've reviewed in this podcast in my Bookshop! Visit https://bookshop.org/shop/CultureLitPodcast to get your copy!Visit my bookshop!If you're enjoying the show, join our community at culturelitpodcast.com.Visit my bookshop!
Transcribe →