Gettin' Grown – "Favorite Things, Luther’s Version, Not Julie’s"

Podcast: Gettin’ Grown
Hosts: Keia (Dr. Friesbrick) & Jade (Takiya)
Episode Date: November 25, 2025
Episode Theme: Annual “Favorite Things” episode – a celebration, review, and shoutout of the best Black women-owned and Black-owned brands, authors, and makers of the past year, rooted in intentionality and self-care.

Episode Overview

In this beloved annual tradition, Keia and Jade (two Black women in their 30s, loving, laughing, and learning through adulthood) trade their favorite finds from the year—clothing, beauty, books, wellness products, and more—with a signature blend of humor, realness, and Black girl joy. They center community, emphasize supporting Black and women-owned businesses, and deliver both practical tips and deep laughs.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Reflecting on the Year: 2025’s Vibes

• The hosts joke about how quickly the year flew by and personify 2025 as a "messy club guest" they're ready to see gone.
  • “You came here just ripping things up… you’re not a girl's girl.” – Takiya (06:33)
  • “Very much Mona Scott Young about the situation, up to no…generate some chaos and turn the cameras on.” – Keia (06:43)
• Both express gratitude for making it through and excited anticipation for the year ahead.

2. Intentional Spending: Black Women-Owned Everything

• Lists are curated intentionally to showcase Black-owned and especially Black women-owned brands as economic resistance.
  • “This is another form of resistance—being very particular and purposeful about where we spend.” – Keia (08:01)
• No big box retailers featured; emphasis is on community and ethical consumption.

3. Body Positivity & Fashion For Real Bodies

• The hosts get candid and comedic about body-positivity, tall girl/big booty struggles, and finding clothing that fits well.
  • “There’s hippie girls, curvy girls, big ass girls, tall girls… sometimes the intersection of many of those at once.” – Takiya (11:12)
  • Long butt cracks and tricky low-rise jean era discussed with hilarious vulnerability.
  • "The low-rise Jean era was a personal Middle Earth place." – Takiya (12:35)
  • Discussion on investment in high-quality clothing vs. fast fashion.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Wig/Head Size Hilarity:
  "Do they see me in my front-facing camera as the bald-headed scallywag?" – Keia (Dr. Friesbrick), riffing on social ads targeting her (03:01)
  "Justice for the pixie wigs!" – Takiya (03:12)
• Holiday Music:
  The “My Favorite Things” song is referenced; hilarious confusion over whether Will Downing or Luther Vandross sang it.
  “I think it’s Luther’s version...It’s on rotation every season in this house.” – Takiya (20:33)
• Pop Culture Side-Eye:
  “You know, I boycott Wanye…oh, now, which one has allegations? Smokey Robinson.” – Takiya (21:14) [On Brian McKnight]: “What a nasty, vile creature.” – Takiya (22:38)
• Community Building:
  “We are not Oprah Winfrey, so we’re not giving away anything freely. Manage your expectations from top.” – Keia (07:46) “It’s one of our favorite times of year, outside of graduation season.” – Jade (Takiya) (08:28)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Opening Vibes & 2025 Recap – 04:44 to 08:33
• Intentional Favorite Things Setup – 07:46 to 09:11
• Body Positivity & Fashion Sizing Woes – 10:17 to 13:39
• Favorite Things Introduced – 19:18 to 23:13
• Clothing Brand Awards (Tall Girl & Curvy Girl Friendly) – 27:20 to 31:30
• Streetwear, Holiday Bazaars, and Shopping Tips – 31:30 to 33:50
• Jewelry & Accessories (Black-Owned Favorites) – 34:39 to 39:57
• Glasses as Statement Pieces – 39:57 to 41:46
• Durags & Lingerie for Everyone – 43:29 to 44:52
• Nail Care and Press-On Innovation – 45:27 to 47:41
• Book Recommendations: Black Women, Africa & Self-Growth – 48:37 to 54:21
• Self-Care (Touch Therapy, Body Products) – 58:26 to 60:31
• Makeup Tips! Fenty, Lipbar, Danessa Myricks & Pat McGrath – 60:34 to 79:22
• Final Thoughts on Moisturizing & Self Care – 84:26 to End

Favorite Things: Brand Highlights & Key Recommendations

Fashion & Accessories

• The Sable Collective: Black woman-owned lifestyle boutique (23:18)
• Hair Brella: Tracy Pickett’s waterproof, satin-lined hair protectants (24:18)
• Shop Icon & Rock and Remix: Tall-girl & booty-friendly fashion brands (27:24)
• Olar’s Grace (Nigeria): Custom, curvy, and tall-friendly sets (28:23)
• Hanifa Label & Fe Noel: Luxe, Black-women-designed looks (29:24)
• MACC Clothing: Street & gymwear started in homage to the creator’s father (31:35)
• NL Makeup/Nikki Brows: Houston-based microshading/makeup specialists (33:06)
• Black Room/Black And Ugly: Brooklyn-based Black cultural fashion (33:59)
• Shop Koi & Garnished in Gold: Stunning Ghanaian/DMV jewelry (35:01, 37:47)
• Alisa Johnson, Be Iconic, Pop Specs Brixton: Statement eyewear (39:57, 40:39)
• Cashmere Thompson: Artful, statement T-shirts & accessories (40:58)
• M & J Creative Durags: Unique colors & styles for durags (43:33)
• Iris Lingerie Brooklyn: Black-owned lingerie line (44:52)
• Lined Out Watches: Affordable luxury watches (44:52)

Beauty & Self-Care

• Nail Yeah: High-quality press-on nail brand (45:37)
• Topicals: Under-eye patches, hyperpigmentation treatments, soothing lip balms (72:58)
• Danessa Myricks: Skin tints, glowing/blur serums, pigment-loaded makeup (75:31)
• Pat McGrath: Setting sprays, world-class makeup innovations (76:28)
• Fenty Beauty: Under-eye powder, lip liners, glosses, moisturizing body butters (60:45, 67:28, 79:27)
• The Lip Bar: Rich glosses & influencer collabs (74:11)
• Napoli Natural Apothecary: Herbs, teas, tinctures, luxurious skin/hair oils (81:10)
• Billie Jean Body: Cheeky, moisturizing body oils (58:26)
• Wellt(h) House (San Antonio): Black-woman owned touch therapy studio (58:26)

Books & Reflection

• Tears of the Desert (Halima Bashir): Memoir of survival in Darfur (48:37)
• Undoing Resistance (Ruba El Malik & Rima Boss): Sudanese perspectives (48:49)
• Sudan’s Unfinished Democracy, A Poisonous Thorn in Our Hearts
• Jito’s Garden (Janan Matari): Palestinian cultural children’s book (48:50)
• High-Functioning (Dr. Judith Johnson): Hidden depression and joy (50:23)
• Pedagogy of Hope (Paul Freire): Cultivating transformative hope (52:42)
• Your Purpose is Calling (Dr. Darius Daniels): Purpose-driven self-development (53:03)
• Peril and Promise (Beverly Daniel Tatum): Black women’s leadership in higher ed (54:21)
• Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? (Tatum) (56:08)
• Confident in This Journal (Jasmine Sivan): Black-woman life coach & reflective journal (57:29)

Practical Takeaways

• Moisturize your mind, body, and spirit—keep your boundaries, hydrate, and find joy where you can, especially during tough years.
  • “Moisturize your mind by attending to the business that is yours and yours alone…Moisturize your insides by drinking water…and moisturize your skin, whether you’re going to Denver or not!” – Dr. Friesbrick (84:29)
• Invest in quality over quantity. The hosts encourage listeners, especially 30- and 40-somethings, to invest in well-made, ethical items—especially from Black businesses.

Tone & Language

• Warm, witty, and deep: The hosts offer a dynamic, sisterly back-and-forth, blending Black cultural references, self-deprecating humor, and shoutouts with affirmations and real talk about life, self-care, and community.

Closing Wisdom

• On Community Support:
  “If we are recycling these dollars, we’re putting them into our own community…not capitalists, just pouring our dollars back into our community.” – Takiya (82:49)

• On Surviving 2025:
  “I’m looking forward to the new year, because 2025 can get the fuck…You didn’t want to be right here. We didn’t want you here, sister. So you could just go on about your merry way. I wish you well, please.” – Takiya (83:52)

Quick Reference – Brand List & Resources

Clothing/Fashion: Sable Collective, Shop Icon, Rock and Remix, Olar’s Grace, Hanifa, Fe Noel, MACC Clothing, Black and Ugly, The Chemist, Cashmere Thompson
Accessories/Jewelry: Shop Koi, Garnished in Gold, Alisa Johnson, Be Iconic, Pop Specs Brixton, Lined Out Watches, Iris Lingerie
Beauty: Hair Brella, NL Makeup, Nikki Brows, Nail Yeah, Fenty Beauty, The Lip Bar, Topicals, Danessa Myricks, Pat McGrath, Billie Jean Body, Napoli Natural Apothecary
Wellness/Self-Care: Wellt(h) House
Books/Affirmation: Multiple Black authors listed above
Events: She Did That Holiday Bazaar

Full links and details are provided in the episode description and on the Gettin’ Grown platforms.

Episode in a Sentence:
A richly Black, joy-filled gift guide, wellness check, and sisterly circle for grown women (and those who love them)—packed with practical picks, deep laughs, and affirming reminders about intention, self-care, and community strength.