Problematic Takes

Summary

Gettin’ Grown – “Problematic Takes” Podcast: Gettin' Grown
Hosts: Jaden (Jade) and Dr. Kia (Takia)
Episode: "Problematic Takes"
Date: July 21, 2026

---

Episode Overview

In this candid, laughter-filled episode, Jade and Dr. Kia embrace their “angsty” moods for a Kitchen Table Talk episode that’s lighter on structure but heavy on realness. As proud, hard-working Black women figuring out adulthood, they riff on everything from contaminated lettuce recalls and food poisoning horror stories, to the nuances of modern parenting, generational shifts, and the chaotic joy of concert experiences. True to form, they celebrate Black achievement through heartfelt graduation shoutouts and offer lessons in self-care and community. Expect unfiltered commentary delivered with their trademark wit, warmth, and honesty.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Opening Vibes: Climate Woes and Petty Moods

[02:03–04:13]

• Jade and Kia open with banter about the hazy, smoky air (“I blame Canada”), climate change, and how they cope with today’s chaos, summarizing their strategy as, “Chuckle. That’s all we can do.” [03:07]
• Jade laments missing a Mavis Staples concert due to air quality (“Summer Stage was canceled because of the fires. Good Lord, we can’t have nothing nice.” [03:18])
• Both admit to being “very petty, silly, stupid” this week due to hormones and irritability, promising a more unfiltered episode:
  • “Views expressed in this show are not the views that we hold when our hormones are not raised.” – Jaden [04:13]
• Touch on needing Dr. Joy (therapist/author) in their lives as a grounding figure.

2. Tales of Food Poisoning, Parental Wisdom & Tangled Health Trends

[05:20–15:59]

• Discussion of recent food safety scares — specifically a cyclospora outbreak traced to contaminated iceberg lettuce at Taco Bell:
  • “It’s a parasite found in human feces. So that means somebody was out working, wiping their ass...” – Jaden [08:36]
• Reflect on their mothers’ food safety obsessions (“My mother… should have stock in Wet Ones” [05:49]) and how that wisdom is often validated by modern outbreaks.
• Share personal stories of food poisoning and lasting food aversions:
  • Kia recalls her traumatic scrambled egg episode in 8th grade English class [13:24–16:23]
• The conversation is laced with nostalgia and humor, highlighting the strong familial and cultural connections around food and safety.

3. Graduation Announcements: Joyful Community Rituals

[17:41–44:22]

• Jade and Kia read a series of listener-submitted graduation shoutouts — a beloved annual tradition.
  • Celebrate milestones from pre-K to Ph.D., uplifting Black girls, family excellence, and communal achievement.
  • Notable stories include a 5th-grade promotion, a “miracle baby” pre-K grad with advanced reading skills, a polyamorous Black queer throuple supporting each other’s educational journeys, and first-generation doctoral and bachelor’s achievements.
• Standout Quote:
  • “Thank you, Jaden Kia, and that is with love from Zakiya.” [27:27]

4. Kitchen Table Talk: Navigating Parenting, Balance, and Healthy Boundaries

[47:04–72:55]

• The hosts catch up on personal life, especially Jade’s reflections on parenting her daughter Noah:
  • “She tells me the other day… I want my first drink to be an espresso martini. And I’m like, girl, say less. I can make that happen.” – Jaden [49:32]
  • They discuss the importance of modeling healthy friendships and social interactions, especially for Black girls, in a world obsessed with the male gaze.
• Address generational changes in parenting styles:
  • “If I’m honest, I don’t remember my mom hanging out with her girlfriends… My mom didn’t do a lot of squirrel friends… I think it’s dope that Noah hangs out with us and it’s completely normal and I think it is very healthy…” – Kia [51:58]
• Tackle “gentle parenting” vs. real-world readiness:
  • Kia argues, “I do fear that we are raising a generation of very vocal and entitled children who cannot fight.” [60:11]
  • Both stress the need for kids to learn self-defense and experience consequences (“Some people need… There is some character building in getting your attention. I know y’all don’t want to hear that.” – Takia [61:26])
  • They call for balance: promoting empathy and boundaries, but not shying away from physical or verbal confrontation when necessary.

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Coping:
  • “What the fuck else are we going to do?” – Jaden [02:30]
• On Parenting Changes:
  • “There’s value… in getting your chin checked one time.” – Jaden [61:44]
• On Friendship and Village:
  • “I love that she said it to me. I was like, listen, I smoked my first blunt at 14. I don’t want that for you... I think us leaving open conversations such as these will keep you from doing less.” – Jaden [57:01]
• On Graduations & Black Achievement:
  • “Sending love to you and your family. Congratulations, Camila. Continue to be brilliant, girl.” – Takia [27:39]
• On Modern Event Chaos:
  • “That was not just being… That is what is characterized in the event space as a security breach.” – Takia [81:13]
• On Petty Frustration:
  • “Nobody should be anywhere at 3am anymore. The only thing open after 3 is legs.” – Jaden [87:51]

---

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Timestamps | |-----------------------------------------------|-----------------| | Opening Vibes & Petty Mood | 02:03–04:13 | | Food Poisoning & Parental Health Wisdom | 05:20–15:59 | | Graduation Announcements | 17:41–44:22 | | Parenting, Friendships, & Generational Shifts | 47:04–72:55 | | “Problematic Parenting Takes” | 58:52–72:28 | | Jay Z Concert Recap & Petty Peeves | 79:00–87:28 | | Collective Self-Care Shout-out | 73:10–78:55 |

---

Self-Care Highlight

• Jade and Kia spotlight Black women in business and promote the upcoming “She Did That: Brilliance in Motion” event in collaboration with Shopify, uplifting entrepreneur Renee Blewett’s continued impact on the Black business community [75:39–78:55].

---

Petty Peeve: Event Security & Concert Chaos

• Takia’s “petty peeve” centers on the chaos at a recent Jay Z concert at Yankee Stadium, where a security breach and poor planning left thousands locked in/out, with the show starting hours late:
  • “I also want you to know that the aunties and uncles were in there sleeping and nodding… You were quite literally waiting before the show.” – Takia [86:09]

---

Closing Thoughts

• The episode wraps playfully, encouraging listeners to drink water, mind their business (in the right ways), and keep skin moisturized. Jade and Kia affirm the importance of real talk, community, and embracing even the “problematic takes,” while highlighting the beauty and messiness of Black womanhood and adulthood.
• “I just fear that we’re losing recipes… You could tell when y’all did not have the opportunity… to understand the consequences of you saying something you ought not should have said. Right?” – Takia [67:58]

---

Summary by section to help you navigate the best moments, gems, and laughs in this episode of Gettin’ Grown. Perfect for fans and newcomers alike!

Transcript

[Jaden]

Oregon parks make an Oregon summer.

[Guest/Advertiser]

But what makes an Oregon park well,

[Jaden]

Oregon Lottery gameplay helps. No matter the game megabucks, video lottery or keno, funds from lottery games help support parks projects across the state, ensuring they stay safe, accessible, and open for all. In fact, Discover State park scratches are in stores now. It's the perfect way to put a little bit of Oregon's parks in your pocket. The Oregon Lottery. Together we do good things. Must be 18 or older to play. Lottery games are based on chance and should be played for entertainment only.

[Guest/Advertiser]

Okay, imagine a honeybee is out here doing her thing in an orchard, lands on a mystery apple blossom, then carries that pollen over to a honeycrisp tree. Fast forward a few months and no exaggeration, something amazing is the sugar bee apple. Packed with notes of honey, caramel and molasses, plus an extra crisp crunch, Sugar bee apples are perfect for snacking, baking, and everything in between. Download our new free recipe book and find a store near [e-mail] Sugar Bee apples naturally sweet from bee to you

[Jaden]

two step two step two, step two step two step two, step. I know a place yes, maybe Ain't nobody crying Ain't nobody worried no Ain't no smiling faces Lying to the races that's it. Help me. Somebody help me now. Take you there.

[Guest/Advertiser]

Look at you.

[Jaden]

I don't know what place, y'.

[Guest/Advertiser]

All.

[Jaden]

It's the smog outside. I blame Canada.

[Takia]

Oh, my gosh. And you know what? I was driving this morning, I was like, is it creeping down here into the dmv? Because I. There's the haze. I don't know if it's just heat and, and. And you know, our usual climate change, terrible air quality and conditions, but.

[Jaden]

Well, you know, it's all related, but

[Takia]

the world, it's not funny. Why are we laughing? Christ?

[Jaden]

Because what the fuck else are we going to do?

[Takia]

What?

[Jaden]

I know, I'm tired. I'm smoke. No digger, I'm laughing nigga. I'm chuckling nigga. And I'm holding you niggas accountable. I'm doing all this and what the fuck I'm supposed to do with it? Niggas a trillionaire. He's named his baby X to the pie. Pie equals 3.14. Like, what the fuck I'm supposed to do? Hateful ass crackers are running around here making laws. They said, I hate trans people. I hate. I hate gays. I hate you if you're from the wherever. I hate you. I hate you if you're not white and blonde. Like I'm. What am I the supposed to do?

[Takia]

Chuckle. That's all we can do.

[Jaden]

Exactly. And I'm not going to be guilty. I refuse.

[Takia]

That's all we could do is just a te sometimes and a he hell. Okay.

[Jaden]

I was supposed to see Mavis Staples yesterday. That's why I sang the fucking song. You know why we didn't see Mavis Staples? Cuz Summer Stage was cancelled because of the fires. Good Lord, we can't have nothing nice. I'm lol hemming. Hawing, hawing. I'm roaring. Not to be mad at you, y'.

[Takia]

All.

[Jaden]

I don't care. Well, praise the Lord, my parents. But to come dang.

[Takia]

Okay, this is a disclaimer. Okay, y', all, listen. We're all family here at the kitchen table. So Jade and I, we're always synced up because that's. That's how it goes. The both of us are irritable.

[Guest/Advertiser]

Yeah.

[Takia]

Very angsty. Attitudes is bad. So we're gonna have a very petty and. And. And silly, stupid show because that's what we need. Yeah. Okay.

[Jaden]

Yeah.

[Takia]

So welcome.

[Jaden]

Views expressed in this show are not the views that we hold when our hormones are not raised. Control.

[Takia]

Correct.

[Jaden]

You know, we suppress them better. I don't know.

[Takia]

But we have more. Yeah, yeah.

[Jaden]

Dr. Joy, you will shake your head a few times. Oh, we need.

[Takia]

I need Dr. Joy in my life, big sister.

[Jaden]

I do. I love how Dr. Joy looks at me.

[Takia]

You'd be like, oh, Jade.

[Jaden]

I'm like, I love you too, girl.

[Takia]

Yes.

[Jaden]

I love Jade.

[Takia]

Dr. Joy looks at Jade like, oh, Jade. Meanwhile, to be like, Mr. Be like.

[Jaden]

And I see that. I'll be like, that's not healthy, Dr. Joe. She'd be like. And I'm like, okay, all right. I went to school to learn how to kill a lobster. I don't know. I don't know. I can filet whoever. I can filet a down, but I. I don't know how to debone.

[Takia]

We're going to debone this fish, but don't ask me to have emotional intelligence. Ok?

[Jaden]

No, no. Hard stop. And on top of that, the cyclosporia or whatever the. We are like, you can't eat anything.

[Takia]

Y' all have to be very patient with me because I can't have a Caesar salad. What am I supposed to do? Okay, I.

[Jaden]

Okay, I think update. I think you might be able to now because I think they found the source. It's Taylor Farms, which was iceberg lettuce.

[Takia]

Okay.

[Jaden]

And Taco Bell was one of the primary corpor vehicles. And let me tell you all something. My mother, you know, we talked like, we clowned my mother a lot. And I should apologize to her as children, especially as my husband and my child clowned me. I'm like, damn, we should have, like, laid up off of you just a little bit. Because that lady was. She was a little bit like, she should have stock and wet ones, but she didn't do that.

[Takia]

Oh, same my mom. You know, she was skin so soft and.

[Jaden]

Oh, same Lord Jesus. A classic smell.

[Guest/Advertiser]

I love it.

[Takia]

That's what I'm saying. If you go to my mother's house, it's just in the air. It's probably in the furniture. If you go into my mother's house, at any given point, you're going to smell some skin so soft.

[Jaden]

That little sheen.

[Takia]

Yes.

[Jaden]

That little powdery she.

[Takia]

Yes. And you know, Rhonda used to be an Avon lady. And she was like, until she, until her, until her Donna wasn't right. And then she used to, you know, my mom, until her introversion took over. And, you know, she was like, I can't be talking to these people.

[Jaden]

I, I, I, no, my mother's not an introvert. She's just a hustler. So that lady sold Mary Kay. She sold. She saw Mary Kay and Avon come both. She did pampered chef.

[Guest/Advertiser]

She did.

[Takia]

Go ahead.

[Guest/Advertiser]

Everything.

[Takia]

Everything.

[Jaden]

And you know what? She was good at all of it. So I got to let her have it. But she was like kind of Jack Nicholson, as good as it Gets. Like, we would go to ihop. She checked underneath to make sure the pancake, she's like, the pancake is broken apart. Why are you all hiding? Why are you all hiding my broken pancake underneath this pancake? What have you been doing in the kitchen? She wants the plastic utensils. Like, it was embarrassing growing up, right?

[Takia]

Plastic utensil. That's crazy. Yes.

[Jaden]

Let me tell you to carry them in the purse. That lady also, you or she was the hot water with the, you know, let me soak them in the hot water.

[Takia]

Like, girl, okay.

[Jaden]

Like, it didn't cover. That cup didn't come from the same place the silverware came from.

[Takia]

The silverware I washed is very same thing.

[Jaden]

Me and my father, my sister, like, we were also cautious, but we were also like, girl, let go and let God. Like, you can't control all of this.

[Takia]

Say grace. We're going to ask the Lord. We're going to give it to God, please.

[Jaden]

That lady told me always, they ask you if you want lettuce on that burger at fast food, you say no. And she was a very green on the plate at all times.

[Takia]

Girly. Yes.

[Jaden]

Fast food lettuce. Don't do it. And lo and behold. Look at it.

[Takia]

Look at it. She wasn't.

[Guest/Advertiser]

What?

[Takia]

Wrong.

[Jaden]

She wasn't wrong. No. And also, Taylor Farms. What are y' all doing out there? Because, psych. However you say this. Okay, Cyclone.

[Takia]

Let me look it up, because I feel cyclospores.

[Jaden]

Is it. Is it is a. It is a. Is a. It's a parasite from human feces.

[Takia]

Cyclospora.

[Jaden]

It's human feces. It's a parasite found in. It's not. It's a parasite found in human feces. So that means Nick is. Was out working, wiping their ass. See, this is why.

[Takia]

You know, that's why y'.

[Jaden]

All.

[Takia]

It boils down to y' all not washing them nasty hands. And that's always.

[Jaden]

And you don't clean them nails. Y' all don't clean them properly. You don't clean it between your fingers. You're not going up the wrist. Wash your hands like Jesus.

[Takia]

Shredded iceberg lettuce sold at Taco Bell linked to the cyclospora outbreak. My God.

[Jaden]

Today, look. Had niggas throwing out their blueberries, their blackberries, their grapes.

[Takia]

So I can return to my Caesar salads. God be praised. Cause you know where I be on work, travel. I'm real good for a Caesar salad with. With. With a. With the protein. Cause, you know, girl, it's just easy. We eat at a lot of steakhouses. The steakhouses typically do a good Caesar. You see what I'm saying?

[Jaden]

Yeah, they do. With a healthy amount of parm.

[Takia]

Healthy amount of parm. Real anchovies. Okay.

[Jaden]

Real anchovies.

[Takia]

Real anchovies.

[Jaden]

So my issue with. I got food poisoning off Caesar salad one time, but you did. Finally passed it. I can eat it. Yeah.

[Takia]

Oh, yeah.

[Jaden]

It was definitely some cross contamination. No, no, no, no, no. This was. I was in college, and I went on my lunch break. I called myself. You know, we were doing 700 diets at the time.

[Takia]

Yes, Lord.

[Jaden]

I was like, I'm gonna. I'm gonna go to Cheddar's and I'm gonna get a vegetable plate. So come on. I would go on lunch to go get my vegetable plate. I call myself. I'm like, I have a Caesar salad, the broccoli, the blah, blah, blah. And I was sick in 20 minutes. I went back to my office, and I was.

[Takia]

And that's the thing. Heaven. That's food poisoning. Things will catch up for you. This makes me think of my grand. Me and my grand. One time. Okay, so this was back in the day when. Now. Now church is different, right? But we used to have, you know, morning service. Used to have afternoon service, right? So one time me and my grandma went to afternoon service. And, you know, we went. You usually eat Sunday dinner early. Like, we would eat before afternoon service. So at coming home, it's six, seven o', clock, and me and grandma is hungry again. So we stopped over to the KFC and got us a couple pieces of chicken. And so we, me and Grandma sitting there, we just, you know, wrapping it up, chopping it up, talking, having a good time over our chicken. And both of us looked at each other like, it got quiet. Both of us looked at each other. It was. Grandma said, I don't feel so good. I said, girl, me neither. Me neither. Let me tell you something. Grandma was in the kitchen and I was in the bathroom. She was in the trash can. She was at the trash can right there. I was young, so I could run. And I made it to the. To the downstairs bathroom to handle my business. But Grandma, I mean, right there, right there. I mean, seconds, I would say within 30 minutes of consuming said chicken, both of us was. Yeah, down bad.

[Jaden]

First of all, y', all, Frieda chicken. What the are you doing?

[Takia]

I don't know. And ddot came upstairs as both of us were heave hoeing.

[Jaden]

Exactly did.

[Takia]

I came upstairs like, what in the world is wrong?

[Jaden]

What is going on? He thought, and y' all are just like, the crap.

[Takia]

Yeah, yeah. I mean, he would talk about. He talked about. He said he coming in from the garage and he could hear both of. Of us. And he can hear both of us. He came up the stairs like, what is happening? So then Brian came in.

[Jaden]

Y' all are both wretching. You're wretched, Brian.

[Takia]

Right? Brian came in and went straight for the chicken. That was. It was sitting on the oven. Both of us was like, no, no,

[Jaden]

please throw it out, please. That was me in that season. And let me tell you, sister, for like nine years, I couldn't eat a salad. I get it.

[Takia]

I couldn't eat scrambled.

[Jaden]

I got back to the.

[Takia]

I got sick off of scrambled eggs in eighth grade and threw up in my English class. And I didn't eat eggs again until I was an adult.

[Jaden]

So I've never liked scrambled eggs as a kid.

[Takia]

I don't really care for them. I feel like now I eat Them out of, like, obligation. I feel like there is this little bit of a social pressure, but I also feel like, you know, it's fine. And I have like, you know, I'm real black and niggery. So I'll load the eggs up. Ketchup, cheese, all the things. So.

[Jaden]

So mother covered and fried.

[Takia]

Mother really just a. It's just a vehicle for the condiments at this point. So. So. But it took me many years to eat them again because I got sick. And I remember, I think I told the story I was trying to leave out of the of English class. And it was a pull door and I was pushing. We supposed to pull the door open. I was pushing, just frantic. I couldn't get my together.

[Jaden]

Hurled all over the door.

[Takia]

It was terrible. Oh, no, girl, it was bad.

[Jaden]

It was really. Okay, now here's my question, because, you know, I am. I do like a runny as much as I don't like scrambled eggs. I'll eat a runny yolk. It's very stupid but very nonsensical. It creates a sauce with whatever you're.

[Takia]

I understand that. And so this I'm. I don't get into the runny eggs, but I see the people, especially the people have them on the burgers and

[Jaden]

things thinks, yeah, see, I'm not an egg on burger person. But yes, yes, yes, I get the appeal. I am a, you know, I love a runny egg. A hollandaise, like, you know, a breakfast potato. Let it all blend together and create some delicious flavors. Howsomever scrambled eggs? Maybe it's because one time we saw chick. You know, we saw baby chickens in an incubator. And I did not get the. I was like, so these are scrambled chickens, which again, nonsensical with everything else. I just said that I consume, but I just. Scrambled eggs are not my jam. I can't with them. Now here's my question, though. How did you get sick off the scrambled. Were they just bad eggs?

[Takia]

I just remember. I don't even know what. And you know, I just believed it was the eggs because I. I couldn't think. I didn't eat anything else. And that's all that came up. That's what it was like. It was like, you know what I mean? So. And seeing it, like, it was just. It was. It was like more like you. Like. It took me a long time to just get over that feeling because I was sitting in class, like, trying to tell myself that I wasn't gonna be sick until. I couldn't tell myself until You.

[Jaden]

Yeah.

[Takia]

And I remember. I will never forget it. I was in Mrs. Glenn's eighth grade English class. Now, Ms. Glenn. Ms. Glenn was a tall. Ms. Glenn had to be at least six.

[Guest/Advertiser]

Two.

[Takia]

Black woman. Black woman.

[Jaden]

Yes. And this was in with two ends, right?

[Takia]

I mean, Ms. Glenn with two ends. And she. Yeah, she very fair skinned and she wore her hair naturally, but she had like a real, like a looser. A looser curl. So. And she would wear it back in a little, you know, pin it back. And she talked really slowly and had this moment.

[Guest/Advertiser]

So.

[Takia]

And so I'm like, Ms. Gwen, I got to go to the bathroom. Oh, well, I mean, Takiya, if you.

[Jaden]

And I just like.

[Takia]

And I'm just like, great. I didn't even let her finish. I ran. She saw me struggling at the door, like, well, I. What? Wait a minute.

[Guest/Advertiser]

Wait.

[Takia]

And then it was just too late. I threw up on the floor and it was real bad. I felt terrible.

[Jaden]

And they came in and threw that sawdust all over that door.

[Takia]

And I felt bad. I was so embarrassed because it was the door, so everyone had to like drop. Jump over it to get out the classroom.

[Jaden]

Oh, no.

[Takia]

Yeah, it was. It was horrible. It was horrible. And so I remember this was back when you had to call your mama to come and get you. This was before cell phone. You have to call your mama at her desk and say so. Yeah. So I called my mom and I was so sick. The nurse called my mother and so here go Rhonda. Takiya is not sick. Yes, yes, yes, she is.

[Jaden]

Yeah, she is.

[Guest/Advertiser]

She.

[Takia]

She is sick. She is sick all over the floor.

[Jaden]

You must.

[Takia]

You must come and retrieve her. You have to get her.

[Jaden]

Now listen, I know all the games we played, and I also know when we were sick and all those things. So I really try that, to apply that in the way that I parent now. Like, there are times where I know that nurse called me more than a few times last year and I'll be like, all right, break. Break me down a few facts before I make a whole trip over.

[Takia]

Yeah, like, I need.

[Jaden]

What's going on with her? It's headache. I give permission for Tylenol. What's going on, child? You know, the city is hot today. The city is city. Oh, my God. But I know we have just been babbling. That's what we're going to pretty much do today, guys.

[Takia]

That's where we are.

[Jaden]

We're going to wrap up our graduation announcements.

[Takia]

It is time. Thank you guys for your patience. And these are the last of the of this season. And so we're going to get them all in today. And. And thus concluding one of our favorite times of the year. So we're excited to do that. And you know, then Jade and I are just gonna catch up.

[Jaden]

Yeah, you know, we're just gonna catch up.

[Takia]

I've been traveling.

[Jaden]

Yeah, you've been trying. She went to the, to the Hazy concert. So I want to hear more about that.

[Takia]

Oh, and what an experience. What an experience.

[Jaden]

So I heard.

[Takia]

So I heard. I mean, sister. I feel like I'll be 92 telling the story to Yalls kids about how I almost spent the night at Yankee Stadium. It's gonna be a time. It's gonna be a time.

[Jaden]

And then children, valid questions about this.

[Takia]

And I'm like, yes. And then they locked the doors.

[Jaden]

It was terrible.

[Takia]

Yes, we can go through it because I too have. I have some observations and y' all know now that I am good and grown and I think, think about work, the events and things that I have planned. I have. This is terrible. Events management.

[Jaden]

Yeah.

[Takia]

And, and multiple.

[Jaden]

Yes. On multiple fronts. We're going to talk about it because I feel like we're going in a really bad direction when it comes to the service industry. When it comes to event spaces. We're getting into a territory of like we can't even have fun while we're slowly crumbling on this place. Listen.

[Takia]

And yes. And so, and, and, and yeah, it's bad. We'll get into it. So you want to do the graduation announcements first and then we'll wrap a table.

[Jaden]

Yeah, let's take a little break, come back, do some graduation announcements and then let's. Let's chat.

[Takia]

Okay.

[Jaden]

I'm not a full time teacher, but shout out to you all. Truly the real MVPs of our society. I have been teaching podcasting though part time and, and I have to tell you all these kids are just so absolutely fascinating and brilliant in their own ways. They get to research and express in all the ways that feel right for them individually with things that they are interested in and imagine that energy, but in the grand scheme of their overall education. For families that are looking for a new path to help their child succeed, K12 could be the perfect fit. K12 powered schools offer tuition free accredited online public education for students in kindergarten through 12th grade. They know learning is a one size fits all and they'll meet your child where they are. K12 has been a leader in online education for over 25 years. They provide everything a student needs to feel safe, motivated and thrive. In their learning environment with flexible education options tailored to each child's needs, interests and goals for the future. K12? S dedicated teachers are trained in virtual instruction and provide real time support. Plus, students will belong to a vibrant online community with opportunities for extracurricular activities to help them connect with peers and explore interests. You know, oftentimes when we think about these types of alternative learning settings, we get concerned, right for their social aspect, but not with K12. There's so many options for them to be able to connect. This is all in a setting that works for your family. So see how K12 powered schools can help unlock your child's full potential. Enroll online [e-mail] grown that's the letter K the number 12.com grown k12.com grown you know I'm not one for the can't be caught in the same outfit rhetoric. Alright, Contrary to popular belief, the best summer pieces are the ones you end up wearing on repeat. All right, Comfortable, versatile, and somehow correct. No matter the occasion, no matter where you end up in the city, Quince makes it easy to create a summer wardrobe that you'll love with elevated essentials made from premium materials like European linen, organic cotton and washable silk. Keyword without the traditional retail markup, Quince's 100% European linen pants, dresses and tops are the pieces that you will reach for all summer long. Because they are so mix and match, you can do so many things with them. And it's not just apparel, baby. No. Quint also offers elevated essentials for your home, from bedding and bath to kitchen essentials and furniture. I told you all that I have gotten a couple of wonderful stainless steel pieces to cook with. Okay, some cookware from Quince, but that's not what I'm here for. I feel like I find a new staple every season from Quince, which feels like a quarterly gift to myself, which I deserve. And my latest treasure is the tinsel rib knit maxi slip dress. Let me tell you all, I like to accessorize based on my mood, so I need things that I can mix and match. I can throw this dress on with sneakers, sandals, heels. I can do a snapback, a scarf, wear my hair up, down, out. I have so many options, so much versatility. I think the hardest decision, honestly was figuring out which color I wanted to go with because there's such a cute selection. I ended up going with the navy. But this dress, all right, this tinsel rib knit maxi slip dress, she's made from a biodegradable fabric made from cellulose found in wood poles pulp. It's softer, it's more breathable, and it uses 10 to 20 times less water and production compared to cotton. What's better than looking great, feeling good, and feeling great make your summer wardrobe feel easier. Go to quince.com grown for free shipping on your order. And 365 day returns. Now available in Canada too. That's Quincy. And 365 day returns. Quince.com grown all right. We are wrapping up the most wonderful time of the year.

[Takia]

Yeah.

[Jaden]

And our first announcement comes from Carm. Carm says Hi, Chef Jaden. Dr. Kia. I hope I didn't miss the cutoff. You didn't. I'm back with another announcement. Last time I was before you, I was shouting myself out for finishing my master's degree. Today, I am honored to be writing you with an announcement for my oldest niece and goddaughter, Kasima. Baby girl celebrating her fifth grade promotion ceremony. And we have a middle schooler on our hands and shout out to her mama, my older sis, for raising such a star. Our girl is the moment. And I cannot wait to see how she shines in middle school. And that's from auntie Carm.

[Takia]

Yes.

[Jaden]

Congratulations, Cassima.

[Takia]

Very proud of you. Very proud of you.

[Jaden]

Middle school is such an interesting year, but you're gonna. It's. It's a new leaf for you, so we're sending you all the love.

[Takia]

Very excited about your new chapter, girl. Keep us posted. The next announcement reads, greetings and salutations, Dr. Kia and Chef Jade. My name is Zakiyah. Rhymes with Takiya.

[Jaden]

Hey, girls.

[Takia]

I pulled up to the kitchen table in 2022, and I have been a loyal fan every week. I consider you all an extension of my for real life girlfriends and ones I can count on to be honest with me when these intrusive thoughts need a good scolding. Okay. Cause that happens to all of us.

[Guest/Advertiser]

Listen.

[Jaden]

We need it. We all need it.

[Takia]

A little parenting Graduation announcements is my favorite time of year since my first year of listening. I must admit, I have missed many opportunities to shout out members of my family going back to school, pursuing higher education. My sister in law getting her master's degree in elementary education in child psychology in 2022. My own sister receiving her Ph.D. in 2025 in special education. I know they don't listen to the show, but I sincerely hope they forgive me. But today I'm here to shout out my miracle baby, Camila, who graduated from pre K last week. Camila is a Charismatic and brilliant five year old who thrived in her first year of big big school. Every teacher and staff member at her school adore her. I hear about it every day at pickup and or drop off. My husband and I come from strict Jamaican and Guyanese parentage and so education is numero uno in our household. As her mother, I take my job very seriously and making sure she is ahead of all of her educational standards even at a young age. Camila reads at an almost second grade level. She's learning kindergarten and first grade math. And that's solely from the work I challenge her with while sitting at our dinner dining room table. Our village gets her workbooks and reading books for every gift giving occasion because that's what I ask of them. Camila gave the opening speech at her graduation, memorized it without any assistance from her teacher. Spoke with pride, confidence and not a single stutter. I screamed a la Claire Huxton, my baby.

[Jaden]

My baby. And gave her the biggest hug when

[Takia]

she came off the stage. Proud is an understatement. She is the pride of our small family but huge village. Camila wants to be a SC this when she grows up. Women in stem. I know that's right. Like her favorite black girl leads Ada twist scientist on Netflix and Moon girl and Devil dinosaur on Disney. Camila, Big mommy. That's what she like to call me when she's being cheeky. Big mommy loves you, honey. I pray big sandals and your ancestors continue to protect keep you protected and grounded as you grow into the free black girl you are meant to be. Thank you, Jaden Kia. And that is with love from Zakiya.

[Jaden]

Oh my God.

[Takia]

Zakiya and Camila. Look at these photos.

[Jaden]

Okay. She better have one. See, this is how you wear white shoes.

[Takia]

Thank you. The only white shoe that's acceptable.

[Jaden]

Oh, I love it.

[Takia]

Congratulations, darling baby. Thank y' all for. Come on. And you got your houndstooth on down to the graduation. I know that's right. Okay. Sending love to you and your family. Congratulations, Camila. Continue to be brilliant girl. Okay.

[Jaden]

Yes. Even though I know you're not listening to this. As you shall better not be. Thank you, Zakiya.

[Takia]

Yes.

[Jaden]

All right. Our next announcement says hello Dr. Kia and Chef Dirt. Hey, Jasmine here. I love when I like when people start things off like that. Firstly, I want to thank you both for all that you do and create a community amongst the utter that world we needed to. I am in a poly relationship with two wonderful women who mean the world to me. We would like to congratulate Our girlfriend, Janae Stones for graduating with her master's in special education from Eastern University.

[Takia]

Very good. Very good.

[Jaden]

Although we had not met her when she started her graduate degree, we are immensely proud of her accomplishment. We made her a bouquet, designed her cap, and of course, matched her outfit to the tip of scale. To the. Excuse me. To tip the scales of the gayest ever. Honey bear. We're so proud of you and love you you so much. And that's from Jasmine.

[Takia]

And congratulations.

[Jaden]

Congratulations.

[Takia]

Come on.

[Jaden]

Yes. Look at this beautiful black throuple. Y' all better thrive.

[Takia]

Yes. Oh, I know.

[Jaden]

Let's get it on tonight. You know that came party. Come on. Did I ever tell you about the time I met Jean and I was like, no, girl. Oh, my God. It's when I worked at Dizzy's.

[Takia]

I was.

[Jaden]

And her husband's in a jazz band sometimes, you know, she. She performs too. So she was there. And I just. I did have to do like a triple take. I was like, so many celebrities coming here, I pay them no mind. But I was like, I have to give you your flowers. My family is huge. Jeanette fans.

[Takia]

Some of the original bald headed baddies of the world.

[Jaden]

The OG Bald headed baddies. I was like, we.

[Guest/Advertiser]

We.

[Jaden]

We played you all. All the way on our family road trip to Myrtle Beach. Like, we so good. So I just. Congratulations, Janae. I'm so sorry that we did all of that during your announcement, but, you know, you have a magical name. Yeah. And thank you, Jasmine and Nia. All right.

[Takia]

Congratulations. I'll. The next one reads, greetings, my millennial sister. Yes, I was listening to the June 23 episode and said, let me write about these here accomplishments to celebrate with my play cousins. So here it goes. Goes. I want to shout out myself and my son. I successfully defended my dissertation on June 10, 2025, after a six year long experience at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro School of Education, Department of Educational Studies and Cultural Foundations. My research marries my reproductive justice work with the site of ongoing social quandary schools. The title is Remembering Our Ecologies, Remembering Ourselves Being Black Girls in School. It explores how black girls and women have experienced systemic oppression in their bodies and how the accumulation of those experiences through interactions with adults, peers, et cetera, may accumulate into toxic stress which weathers the body. I argue that the cumulative stress compounded by the social sphere of schooling has critical implications for reproductive justice. Check me out. I got hooded in December 2025. I could go on, but let's talk about my son. Congratulations, my son.

[Jaden]

Congratulations.

[Takia]

To Ray Getro Moore. Getru.

[Jaden]

Yes.

[Takia]

Toure. Toure. Getrur. I think it's Getru. Getru.

[Jaden]

Sorry.

[Takia]

Hey, Ture. I had when I was a sophomore at the illustrious North Carolina Agriculture and Technical State University. Aggie pride. Thank God in my village for all we have come to be together. Ture has journeyed with me and evolved beautifully into a young man about his MF in purpose. Okay, okay. Terra graduated in May 2026 from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke with a bachelor's of arts in history focusing on African American studies and pre law. He will teach honors high school social studies in the fall in our local school district. Congratulations to us.

[Jaden]

We did it.

[Takia]

And that is from Dr. Jasmine Getrue.

[Jaden]

Yes.

[Takia]

Congratulations, Jasmine. Dr. Jasmine.

[Jaden]

Congratulations, educator Torre.

[Takia]

Yes.

[Jaden]

Better do it.

[Takia]

You guys down. Y' all better go ahead.

[Jaden]

Okay. Come on. Y' all better be a learned family.

[Takia]

I love this for us.

[Jaden]

I do. Oh, glasses. Okay, hold on.

[Takia]

I see. Need the readers. Hello.

[Jaden]

Wow. All right. Hey, my cousins. Hey, thank you. Or hey, person. I was scrambling trying to get this in at the last minute, and I hope I made the deadline. Lord Jesus, please make a way. My best friend. I'm sorry. Y' all took over. My best friend, Crystal graduated in December with her bachelor's degree from the Texas Southern University. Hey, that was my first school. It was Texas Southern University and I've been waiting for six months to write to y' all about her. Side note. The main reason why I forgot is because she is all. She also turned 40 on Wednesday. So my girl has had me in the the streets of Houston all week long. Auntie is exhausted, but she deserves it all. I hope y' all enjoyed every bit of it. My best friend Crystal is one of the most amazing women on the planet. She has built a successful background in human resources and worked her way up to a thriving position at one of the biggest hospital systems in the country. This past year, she endured some personal setbacks, but my girl powered through things that probably would have broke me. And I don't think she knows just how inspiring she actually is. Is while also making time to be there for everyone else. Never married, no kids. Yes, fellas, she is single, gorgeous, and brilliant, but you have to go through me first.

[Guest/Advertiser]

Good.

[Jaden]

That's right, because you are raggedy. She is the only friend in my 42 years who shows up to support my son at his basketball games. She's always there for any scatterbrained event or any performance of mine. Cheering loud from the audience. And when I can't find a dog sitter, she says, says, pack my nephew's bag. I'm coming to get him, period. She is literally always there. As a kid, I prayed for friendships like this. It can be hard to maintain solid connections as you get older, but I have to say that God did his big one bringing us together. She doesn't like a lot of attention in public, and she's gonna let out a big Alicia Keys scream if she hears guess what? That's too damn bad. I'm the embarrassing friend who's gonna always shout from the mountaintops for the people I love, love. Hello, gang. Gang, Period. And I waited six months to write this letter, damn it. Don't ask me why I waited till the last minute, because that's not the point. I'm going to diagnose you even though I am not a doctor. I bet. I bet it's your adhd, though. But for real, though, my bestie for the Rusty from the seventh ward of New Orleans. Okay. To. To the third ward of Houston. The Laverne. To my Shirley. The Tanisha. To my Rhonda. My favorite karaoke partner. The best Halloween costume buddy. My emergency contact. My ride or die. My girl. My shishta. Shishta. Never know how much I missed you. I love you so much, and I'm so proud of you every day. And the way you move through this world with so much grace, you already know. We ride until the wheels fall off. I hope you had the best 40th birthday and may the next 40 be even better. This week was all about you, baby girl. But don't ask me to go nowhere for at least a month.

[Takia]

I know that is.

[Jaden]

Is tired.

[Takia]

Exhausted. Are you?

[Guest/Advertiser]

Me?

[Takia]

Yes.

[Jaden]

I hope I was able to squeeze this letter in time. And thank y' all so much. Chef Jaden, Dr. Takia. All caps necessary for always making space to celebrate each other as a community. Oh, and that is from Megan.

[Takia]

Yes, Megan.

[Jaden]

Oh, Megan. Hold on. Let me look at these pictures because.

[Takia]

Come on. Oh, congratulations, Crystal.

[Jaden]

Yes, Crystal. Crystal, I hope you know you are loved. You are so, so loved. You are loved beyond. And I love every bit of it. Oh, I love it. Yes, baby. Anyway, happy birthday and congratulations. That was my terrible attempt at a New Orleans accent. My family's gonna eat me up.

[Takia]

Okay, we actually have. We have two more because. Shout out to Dr. Doucet. Fabian Doucet. Remember Dr. Doucet from NYU?

[Guest/Advertiser]

Yes.

[Jaden]

Love Dr. Doucet.

[Takia]

Dr. D. He sent me a DM on threads. And she said, lord have mercy. I'm so tired of being old, she sent her graduation announcement to the old Gmail, so I had to dig it up. No, but no problem. I'll read hers after I read this one and then we'll. We'll wrap up there. So. Greetings, Chef Jaden, Dr. Takia. Praise the Lord, niggas. I've been an avid listener of getting grown since shortly after the podcast launched, thanks to my sister. To Tava Tavaya.

[Jaden]

Tava Tavaya. I think it's Tavaya or Tava girl.

[Takia]

We love you, girl. In fact, my sister lives in Brooklyn and she and I attended Mikosa Cookout at our. At our. With you lady and Jay. You catered. Girl, the food was so good. Fast forward about five years. Fast forward about five years. I was surprised to run into you, Dr. Takia. As my best friend and I were headed to the Woman Evolve Conference interest in Dallas in 2024. We snapped a photo together. Oh, okay. Okay. I'd like to submit a graduation announcement for my incredible niece, Madison Paris Maurice. On May 9th in the year of our Lord 2026, Madison graduated Magna Cum Laude from Claflin University, located in Orangeburg, South Carolina, with a Bachelor's of Science in Marketing and a minor in Mass Communications. Amen. While her academic accomplishments are impressive, including being a four time Dean's List scholar, a Colonial Life Scholar, intern, and a World Bank Group Summer Institute completer, what makes us most proud is the leader she has become. During her time at Claflin, Madison served as Ms. Asbury Hall, Ms. Orange and Maroon, Ms. 1869, Ms. Claflin University, and most recently, Ms. CIAA 2026, a pageant queen. Go off.

[Jaden]

Okay.

[Takia]

She also served as Soprano section leader for the Dream Gospel Choir and consistently embodied the values of service, excellence, excellence and leadership, both on and off campus. Madison arrived at Claflin as a young woman with ambition and determination. And despite overcoming significant health challenges, she persevered and left as a visionary, a servant leader, and a proud HBCU graduate prepared for the next chapter. Her journey is a beautiful reminder that crowns may symbolize achievement, but true leadership is found in service. As her aunt, I could not be more proud of the woman she has become. And I'm excited to watch her continue making her mark in the world of marketing and beyond. Congratulations, Madison. Your family loves you, celebrates you, and is cheering you every step of the way. I'd also like to celebrate a few more incredible scholars in our family. Congratulations to Madison's little sister, Natalie Sophia, on her promotion from the eighth grade at W.G. sanders Middle School in Columbia, South Carolina. We're so excited to watch Natalie begin to high school. A huge congratulations to my oldest daughter, Harper Reese, who officially completed lower school and Charlotte Preparatory School in Charlotte, North Carolina and is headed to middle school in the fall. Y', all, my baby is getting a locker. Go ahead. Changing classes.

[Jaden]

They'd be so excited.

[Takia]

And somehow I'm not. Okay, while we're celebrating, shout out to my youngest daughter, Aubrey Fallon, who wrapped up an amazing second grade year and is officially a rising third grader. Also at Charlotte Prep. We are unbelievably proud of both of our girls. And finally, congratulating congratulations to my brilliant cousin, Dr. Markita Fleming, who successfully defended her dissertation and earned her doctorate in educational leadership and administration from National Louis University in Tampa, Florida. Watching these remarkable women and girls pursue excellence at every stage reminds me that God's faithfulness truly spans generations. We are beyond proud of each of you. Thanks so much for allowing me to big up their achievements. Love you ladies. Here is the link to the scholars pictures. Come on a Google Drive. Go ahead.

[Jaden]

Come on drive.

[Takia]

And that is from Melissa. Melissa Stedman. Thank you, Melissa.

[Jaden]

Thank you, Melissa. This is lovely. Thank you for sharing the the photos as well. Congratulations to literally everybody. Harper, Madison, Marquita. Yeah, everybody. Yeah, y' all are. This is. I love this.

[Takia]

A yes. Okay, so let's read Dr. Doucet really quickly. Hello, hello, hello. My dear nieces, Kia and Jay. Picture the meme of Devon Rogers sauntering out of the big brother house. The two of you continue to make me also very proud. Making the world better by your presence in it every day. Even while navigating so much loss and grief. You have both been on heavy rotation on my prayer list. Life has been life and hard on my end too. But we are still standing. Hallelu. I'm delighted to rejoice in yet one more graduation season with the gettin grown family. This year I'm celebrating so many awesome graduates at every level, from Pre K stepping up ceremonies to PhD hoodings. But I'm especially proud to highlight two special young people. And all our family and friends will be celebrating at their joint graduation party this weekend. First, my baby cousin Max graduated from NYU with his Bachelor's in Integrated Design and Media. And next year we'll be getting a Master's degree in Creative writing from the University of Newcastle in the uk. He is so kind, so smart, and so talented. I just cannot wait to see what his future holds. Second, and I hope you're sitting down for this one. My only and infant daughter yesterday. Wow. Sariah graduated from high school. Oh, my God.

[Jaden]

What?

[Takia]

I remember.

[Guest/Advertiser]

What?

[Jaden]

I feel like I remember. Whoa.

[Takia]

I feel like I remember. I feel like I remember either. When Sariah was just born. Wow. Okay. Holy God.

[Jaden]

Even though I met Dr. Doucet later, I'm putting it, like I remember her being pregnant because she had. They were not young. They were. But they were like elementary, middle school age. When I. Yeah, when I. I think. I think elementary school age because. No, remember Noah was like four when you did your first. Yeah. When you did the.

[Takia]

I remember the one in New York that was like 2018. Yes. Wow. Yeah. Saraiyah graduated from high school. She completed her four years at the Berkeley Carroll School with a language immersion semester in France her junior year. And like her cousin, she too will be crossing the pond to attend Falmouth University, where she'll be majoring in interior architecture. I am delighted to see my gifted. I know. I'm delighted to see my gifted, artistic, book loving, bohemian dreamer girl spread her wings and leave the nest. Even as I wonder where all the years went. Me too. Just as an aside, Sariah has always wanted to attend college abroad, so this was not a surprise. But with this country swirling so violently down the toilet with no sign of stopping, I am real glad both Sariah and Max will have a chance to be away from the US's particular brand of toxicity for a while, Saying, oh, anyway, I digress. I'm sending photos of my baby girl at graduation and throwing one in from prom just for fun. Congratulations to the class of 2026. Here is to all that awaits you. All the highs and even the lows, because they're all a part of this beautiful, chaotic journey called life. With love and affection. Fabienne.

[Jaden]

Oh, my God. Fabian, you're always so supportive. Like, I feel like there's not a graduation season we don't hear from her. And I'm just, just.

[Takia]

I can't deal with.

[Jaden]

I'm just so grateful for our extended community. That's so good.

[Takia]

Come on, prom dress. All of it. I. I sent you the email so you can see the. Yeah, so I can see everything is amazing. Congratulations to Sariah and max. Thank you, Dr. G, for our. That you love and support us. And thanks for being a part of our village here at the kitchen table. And that, ladies and gentlemen, concludes all things. Graduation announcement officially wrapped. Thank you.

[Jaden]

We apologize for the little bit of confusion. And you know, miss, we in the midst of traveling and, and you know, us working around. We just wanted to make sure we were able to honor every announcement and so correct. Now we're able to sit down today and do so. So thank you all for your patience. We'll see you all for the next graduation season. And maybe there are some large corporations out there who want to help us actually celebrate people in a real way way.

[Takia]

Wouldn't that be amazing?

[Jaden]

Email us. Yes, hello

[Takia]

for sure. All right, let's have some fun at the kitchen table.

[Jaden]

Yeah, let's do it. Chimes Changing the way that people bank, they offer the most rewarding fee free banking. This is fee free banking built for you. They're not like traditional old banks that charge you overdraft fees and maintenance fees. What are we maintaining, child? Is my account a hedge? They have thousands of fee free ATMs because why pay to get your own money? Duh. Built for you. Not the 1%. Chime members can benefit from up to $1,150 in annual rewards. Fee free direct deposit unlocks the most rewarding way to bank at Chime. And chime is rated five stars by USA Today for customer service with real humans. 24 7. What a prayer. You're not just switching banks, you're upgrading to America's number one choice for banking with a Chime checking account. Baby, the way an overdraft fee used to tear me up. What do you mean $5? So if I deposit my last $500 bill into my account, I'm going to be at $0. I really could have used Chime in my youth. Chime is not just smarter banking. It's the most rewarding way to bank. Join the millions who are already banking fee free today. Today head to chime.com grown that is chime.com grown. It only takes a few minutes to sign up.

[Takia]

Chime is a fintech, not a bank. Banking services for MyPay and Chime card

[Jaden]

provided by Chime's bank partners.

[Guest/Advertiser]

Optional products and services may have fees or charges. Stated annual percentage yield and cash back

[Jaden]

for Chime prime only.

[Guest/Advertiser]

No minimum balance required. For more information on APY rates, MyPay,

[Jaden]

Spot Me and travel perks, go to

[Guest/Advertiser]

Chime.com disclosures okay, imagine this. A honeybee is out here doing her thing in an orchard, lands on a mystery apple blossom, then carries that pollen over to a honeybee crisp tree. Fast forward a few months and no exaggeration, something amazing is born. The Sugar Bee Apple. Packed with notes of honey, caramel and molasses, plus an extra crisp crunch, Sugar Bee apples are perfect for Snacking, baking, and everything in between. Download our new free recipe book and find a store near [e-mail] Sugar Bee apples naturally sweet. From bee to you.

[Jaden]

We don't have a real kitchen table this week.

[Takia]

We're just talking. Guys, guys.

[Jaden]

It's been a while chatting at the kitchen table. Yeah.

[Takia]

Sit with us. Sit with us. Where should we begin?

[Jaden]

Shout out to our guest last week.

[Takia]

Yes.

[Jaden]

Noah.

[Takia]

Noah. Asap. Noah.

[Jaden]

Noah is so funny to me.

[Takia]

Like, she's really so good. I love Noah so much. It's so. It's so amazing to. To see her develop into this. Like, she's always been exactly who she is, and she's like a real person. That feels weird to say, but, like, to, like. It's like, look at how. Look at Noah being Noah.

[Jaden]

She is. I know. And she's like. I'm like, damn, you really. Like, I really enjoy you. I really enjoy.

[Takia]

She's a good time.

[Jaden]

Like, you're funny. She's a good time.

[Takia]

She's a good time.

[Jaden]

She's a little too. She tells me the other day, and, you know, some just reserve your judgment. So we're out to eat. We go out with. We go to see Bilal for summer stage.

[Takia]

Good times.

[Jaden]

And I made her and her cousin come because I was like, hey, y' all need to be out of the house. You need to be doing stuff. And whether. I was like, you used to love Bilal's music when you were little, and you're just gonna come and be a part. So then we go eat afterward, and we're at the restaurant, and she turns and she goes, first of all, this orders like a pro, which. All my nerves and my know. So it's like, can I have.

[Takia]

I'm consistently impressed.

[Jaden]

Pork dumplings. Yes, yes. The patsy. You. Yes. Like, you know, she want to. She want the whole gambit. So she turns to me and she goes, can we come here when I turn 21? And I said, what? Like. Like, it's gonna happen in three weeks from now. That's so far off. First of all, you just turned 13. Also. Why do you want to come here when you turn 21? I was just looking at all these drinks, and they look really tasty, but I can't have any of them. And I was like, no, you can't. So then she says, you can't. Do you know what I want my first drink to be when I turn 21? And I said. I said, clearly, you've been sitting on this. What do you want? I would like an espresso martini. And I was like, oh. I was like, girl, say less. I can make that happen. But I was like, it's like, you've

[Takia]

come to the exact right place.

[Jaden]

I am your girl. Girl, you don't even know. But I also was like, where the hell did this? Where did this come from?

[Takia]

13. And it's already preparing for her first drink. Okay.

[Jaden]

Oh, wait. So she's like, okay, I have a confession. I said, wait a minute.

[Takia]

It.

[Jaden]

We went out to eat one time, and you turned and I took a sip of your espresso martini, and I said, oh, man, that's really good. She's like, I did it really fast. And I was like, first of all, I keep telling you, you try that in public, I'm going to jail.

[Takia]

Quit.

[Jaden]

I was like, second of all, I'm so thoroughly impressed because my espresso martini had mescal. Because I know exactly where you said you did this. And the fact that you like the smoky coffee flavor.

[Guest/Advertiser]

Her.

[Jaden]

I didn't say it to myself.

[Takia]

She is exactly your child.

[Jaden]

So then Santana. Santana's visiting her mom, right? Stay tuned for an announcement soon, guys, by the way. Anyway, so Santana's visiting her mom, and, you know, that's my girl. And so. And they be kicking it, okay? When I go there, I kick it with her mother. Her mother shows us a good time. Time. She cooks down, we have cocktails. You know, we roll a little something. Like, it's a good time. So her mom makes gumbo. And she's like, tonight, me and my mama making pink pennies. And she was like, I remember when I was little and my mom would have her girlfriends over. She's like. And they would be cackling. It would be very. Waiting to excel. Ish. And they would just be chatting, and I just would watch them. And they'd be drinking peak panties. And I would say, I can't wait till I get over to have those pink pants panties. And now I'm doing it with my mom. W, w, w, w, w, w. Right? And her and our other home girl, Chanel, connected over watching their mother drink pink panties. And they were like, yes, now we're drinking pink panties with our girlfriends. So when I saw Santana's story right after that happened, and I was like, you know, somebody may look at this and be like, you need to watch her. No, like, they watch us. And I noah around me and my girlfriends exactly what healthy relationships look like exactly in community. And. And I'm like, if that comes along with it, like, we're going to talk about control and all of those things too. But I love that she like feels safe and.

[Takia]

Absolutely.

[Jaden]

And that's what she wants to do when she gets older. Because I'm very intentional with the community that I choose and how I engage with them. You know what I mean?

[Takia]

And it's so important because, you know, I love that even Santana and Chanel can reminisce on that because if I'm honest, I don't remember my mom hanging out with her girlfriends. Like my mom didn't do a lot of. My mom didn't have a lot of squirrel friends, you know what I'm saying? Like there were no, like there were no car parties. There were no, like, you know what I'm saying? My mom, my mom was, you know, and I think that that, and I mean she had community of course, but you know, I. Bridal shower, we did things, but I don't recall my mom. I think it's dope that Noah hangs out with us and it's completely normal and I think it's, I think that is very healthy. I think that models balance that little girls need because in this world where the patriarchy is all around and all this messaging is encouraging them to sort of center men in the male gaze. Like it's important for them to know that, you know, you can have loving and meaningful reciprocal relationships with your girlfriends and they feel good and they're enjoyable and you guys can have experiences together and yeah, like so, yeah, I think this is into the point of like you're gonna have to watch her. Don't like, excuse me. Like I just feel like people get real high and uppity upon a horse. Right?

[Jaden]

They do. And that's. Listen, that's a projection because a. Because I know there are a small batch of people who get high and mighty. I'm sure the majority of the people who get who listen to this for sure our ilk, you know what I'm saying?

[Takia]

I just feel like you don't have to see stuff. You know, it's very natural for 13 year old children to be curious about anything.

[Jaden]

About anything.

[Takia]

About anything. Especially things that they see their parents doing. So it's not like, I just, I don't think that it's fair to sort of. Yeah, I, I don't like that we label our kids in that way for them doing things that kids do. Like you're gonna have to watch her.

[Jaden]

I think that there's a lot of nuance lost with people in general supposed

[Takia]

to do when you was 13. So relax yourself.

[Jaden]

You know, you did. Either you didn't and you're deeply repressed, or you did and you're ashamed. I don't fucking know what your bag is, but it's not mine.

[Takia]

It's like, calm down, everybody. I mean, it's a part of life. Everyone. When you was 13, you did something you wasn't supposed to do. That's a part of growing up. That's how you learn. You know what I'm saying? And it created the conditions for you to have a conversation with Noah about, like you said, things like control.

[Guest/Advertiser]

Yeah.

[Jaden]

Safety. Because I'm not gonna stop you from. I can't stop you from doing everything I like to. You know, I. I can't stop you from trying things in this world, but I can give you warnings. I can give you alignments.

[Takia]

Yeah.

[Jaden]

You know what I'm saying? These things to always think about. About. She also has the example. Her father don't drink, so she got that too. Like, you know what I'm saying? It's a whole balance.

[Guest/Advertiser]

And.

[Takia]

And I think things should be normal. Right? So, like, there. And I think the things that we sort of make super bad it. That does not abate any child's curiosity. Like, all the ways that you tell a child they're not supposed to do anything, that doesn't make them want to do it any less. A lot of times it fosters more curiosity. And so here's the thing. I would rather Noah try alcohol with you, then. Then to just be outside drinking randomly with some other. Other child that it ain't been raised.

[Jaden]

Hello. You see what I'm saying? Or one of these little raggedy. Your body. My choice. Like, I. You know what I mean? So. No, I would. And. And you want to know what also stood out to me in all of that? I said, she asked me when she did 21. Can we.

[Takia]

Exactly.

[Jaden]

So I'm like, yo, you want to kick it with me?

[Takia]

Exactly.

[Jaden]

And I love that because.

[Takia]

Kick it now. So kicking it is normal. That's what I'm saying. Like, we have to normalize it being okay to enjoy time, you know what I'm saying? Each in each other's company. And Noah, being a part of your village and your circle now, there are spaces where, you know, it's not appropriate for her to be around. So she's not. But it's not like, you know what I'm saying? Like, she should know that it's completely cool. Like, I would want her to want to hang out with me, like, to know That I would be invited to your. When you turn 21. Exactly. Because let me tell you who wasn't invited to my 21 year old anything. Rhonda. And that don't mean that I love her any less. But that's just. We did not cultivate that kind of relationship, you know, for better or for worse. But I just feel like. Everyone cool your jets. Okay, Calm down, calm down.

[Jaden]

Calm nons. Calm down. I told you When I turned 21, my parents asked me.

[Takia]

Absolutely.

[Jaden]

Took me bar hopping. But we, you know, we have, we have our balance of our relationship.

[Takia]

Yeah.

[Jaden]

And. And we kicked it a little bit. We still kick it a little bit. My dad likes to kick it. He likes to go listen to live music. We go have a drink.

[Takia]

Like I love that.

[Jaden]

I imagine that's how. How Noah and I will be. Absolutely. And so I, you know, I did. It didn't. It didn't give me any pause. But I love that she said it to me. I was like, listen, I smoked my first blood at 14. I would much. I'm not. I don't want that for you. And you're not going to do that. But I think us leaving open conversations such as these will keep you from doing less.

[Takia]

Absolutely.

[Jaden]

You know what I'm saying? And wanting to talk about it more before you just go off.

[Takia]

Yes.

[Jaden]

Also, the 90s was wild, man. It was just a wild time.

[Takia]

We were in. No, truly, truly the kind of autonomy that we had as youth. You know what I'm saying? Like you could look back now. We've talked about before, like some of the things even throughout the 90s, into the early 2000s. If I look back now and think about the ways in which I was traipsing about the city, it. Completely unsafe conditions, just doing so many places.

[Jaden]

I didn't have any business.

[Takia]

Reckless behavior.

[Jaden]

People I didn't have no business being with.

[Takia]

I didn't have no business over. Over there.

[Guest/Advertiser]

None.

[Takia]

Zero.

[Jaden]

But you know what we do have? Charisma. You need this nerve. And talent because

[Takia]

we live. And talent because sometimes, yeah. I mean, so all things, all things balance, all things in. In moderation. Everything has its place in terms of teaching you something about yourself and how to move in the world. And I think that's something that we shouldn't lose. That's something we shouldn't cultivate. Actually makes me think of something that we would talk about at. Before we started recording. Because here's my unpopular take, sister. And I'm gonna say this very humbly, fully acknowledging that I'm not raising nothing but my Praise and my 401k. You understand what I'm saying? I'm not raising anybody's children.

[Jaden]

How's Maurice? How's Maurice, by the way?

[Takia]

Doing well? Thriving okay. Just as tall as I am. Wonderful.

[Jaden]

Oh, God, it happens so fast.

[Guest/Advertiser]

It.

[Takia]

I mean, growing up. So here's what I want to say. I love to observe and be in community with my friends who are parenting. It teaches me so much about, you know, what it means to be a parent from a different perspective. Because, you know, to date, I only have seen. I've only can speak from the experience of the ways that I were parent. I was parented. So it's been a very rich experience to see people parent different, differently. If you'll allow me to be problematic for just a moment, though, here's my concern. I am not advocating for, you know, people being harmed. Violence that is reckless. I do, however, believe that we have erred on the side of the other extreme.

[Jaden]

And, oh, yeah, some of y' all kids ain't had their asses beat.

[Takia]

Here's the thing. Here's the thing.

[Jaden]

And I don't mean by adults.

[Takia]

Here's the thing. Yes. I'm not saying I'm not advocated for abuse or anything like that.

[Jaden]

I am not.

[Takia]

But I do fear that we are raising all that.

[Guest/Advertiser]

Yes.

[Takia]

I feel like we are raising a generation of very vocal and entitled children who cannot fight. And we. Okay, so we're gonna pay for this in one way or another. Okay. And I just wonder where, like, there's got to be some healthy exposure to instances where you can cultivate skills and practices for defending yourself and knowing how to move in those situations. Because whether we like it or not, violence is a part of our existence as human beings. It is very much a currency.

[Jaden]

If you live on this stolen land, especially.

[Takia]

Especially as black and brown people and people negotiating various intersecting identities of marginality. I do feel like we have got to be able to operate in violence because violence is all around us to a certain degree. Now, I'm not saying I'm not advocating for beating people, but I do think

[Jaden]

that this ain't about jumping people. No. Find the like.

[Takia]

Come on. There's value. I think there is value.

[Jaden]

This is not about bullying. This is not about corporal punishment. It's not about abuse.

[Takia]

You have to teach.

[Jaden]

This is about shooting a fair one when a nigga is running the reckless flaps.

[Takia]

Listen, and I. And I have. I will contend. I feel like there are many, many people in the world you could tell when you Moving about the world who has never gotten their clock clean. Some people need. There is some character building in getting your attention. I know y' all don't want to hear that. Y' all don't want to receive that message. But.

[Jaden]

But maybe because you got your chin

[Takia]

checked one time, but I bet you won't do it again. This is the thing. Listen, you see what I'm saying? So I fear and I wonder, you know what. What we gonna do about that? Because y', all, it didn't. I know you don't hit. I know violence is not the answer, but sometimes it is a little bit, at least as far as I'm concerned. Concern.

[Jaden]

I. I'm trying to find this balance, right? In this healthy and. Excuse me, in this gentle parenting. You know what I'm saying? Bullying is bad because it is. There's a fine line between bullies and vigilantes at time. Anyway, bullying is bad. You know, we, We. Nobody should be putting their hands on anybody else. All of the.

[Takia]

Correct.

[Jaden]

All of the rules that should be in society. Right?

[Takia]

Correct. Absolutely.

[Jaden]

And also, people be wilding. So I remember, I think I told you, Told you all this story, but I'll just give a refresh. When Noah was like five or six and there was a little kid in the class who was doing the most, and she would have these tantrums and it would distract the rest of the kids.

[Takia]

Yes.

[Jaden]

And it was. It was, you know, it was troublesome for the whole class. The mother was ineffective, active. The school was too gentle. And they can only do but so much, you know, with that too. And so, you know, the kids would be sick of the. And they would say it. So one day she was wilding and Noah was like, oh, you need to chill. Like essentially in whatever five year, five year old lake. Relax, easy. So this is after school or this is after or before school? I think it was. I think it was drop off or pickup. And I'm there and Noah tells me about this little girl or whatever little girl hits her. So it's. So we have this conversation and I go up to it. So I've talked to the mother and I was like, listen, you gotta teach your kid to chill out a little bit. You need to give some healthy, effective ways to like, channel. Channel whatever is happening there. And she's like, oh, yeah, we're doing the. The pillow method. She's gonna. When she gets very frustrated, she takes it out on the pillow and she gonna bring that pillow to school and all this kind of. Right. So the girl starts Having a wild out one day. And Noah was like, you need to calm down. And the girl hits Noah. Okay, I got a coat on. But she hit Noah. And Noah's looked. She looked because it didn't phase her none. And she was like, you still need to calm down. Now, at Noah's age, I. I probably would have smacked that little girl right now.

[Takia]

I mean, knocked her down.

[Jaden]

Didn't do that. Evolved.

[Takia]

Like, this is what I'm saying. This is what I'm saying.

[Jaden]

But who's not involved? Her mother. And so I said, listen here, listen here. I taught my daughter to hit back. And she may not do that in her spirit, but I'm not going to take too kindly to your kid putting her hands on my kid. And we're going to have to shoot the fair one if you can't get it together. And you don't want to do that.

[Takia]

Why?

[Jaden]

Because she was an elderly white mother. You already know what to do. The situation was. But I.

[Takia]

You have to.

[Jaden]

I'm not. I'm not quite there yet. I may never be.

[Takia]

Yes. And I feel like. Because you have had conversations with Noah and if I may, because Noah has observed things happen to you and see you respond in a certain way. Right?

[Jaden]

Because Noah's very much like my mother. Don't play. Period.

[Guest/Advertiser]

Right.

[Takia]

So.

[Jaden]

So.

[Takia]

So because she has had that exposure, she was not rattled by this situation. You see what I'm saying? And she was able to stand within herself and know what to do. My fear is that we are not preparing the children for certain inevitabilities. Right. There's going to be someone. How do you prepare someone to manage interaction where the other person is not managing themselves? And how. How do you. You know what I'm saying? How do you. How do you cultivate that? And sometimes you're gonna get it wrong. And so you know what I'm saying?

[Jaden]

Yeah.

[Takia]

And these. These are.

[Jaden]

We can only do so much therapizing talk.

[Takia]

This is what I'm seeing. These are experiences that we all need to have at some point within the safe confines of our villages so that we can get the teachable moments. Me, right?

[Jaden]

Yes. Yes.

[Takia]

We're not leveraging the village in ways that give people the reality. And that's my concern, because using your words is the best thing. Right? But sometimes I don't have none.

[Jaden]

Sometimes your words lead to other things. Listen, I think I told you, sis, but fifth grade, this girl, Christina. Christina was talking to me. She just talking, talking, talking. And I'm like, yo, I'm Sick of you. But I'm ignoring her.

[Takia]

Yes.

[Jaden]

All right, whatever. She still keep going, right? She like. I'm not even going to go there. Yes, she kept going or whatever. So she does some generic, you know, your mother, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. Well, I. Mine, my comeback was not generic. I was like. It was very specific and targeted because I'd had enough of her. And I said, your mother rings up my mother's groceries, so you need to shut the up. Class is an egregious. Sure. But. But I was sick of her mouth. Do you know what happened after we got out of that class? Me and Christina had to shoot the fair one. Why? Because I knew that once I said that thing about her mother, she was going to be ready to. She was going to be ready to tusk hustle. And that was what. That was the consequence.

[Takia]

And that's the teachable moment.

[Jaden]

Me saying that was the consequence of her talking.

[Takia]

Absolutely.

[Jaden]

And antagonizing.

[Takia]

Absolutely.

[Jaden]

So like. Absolutely. But these were dynamics we needed to have.

[Takia]

I just. And listen. And I know that the girls are going to jump down in the comments with all of their angry typing. And listen, I get it. I understand that this is not probably the most politically correct take. How so?

[Jaden]

We already said it at the beginning. Don't waste your time.

[Takia]

I just fear that we're losing recipes. Right. And we could tell now that I am an adult. I could tell when y' all did not have the opportunity or the occasion to understand the consequences of you saying something you ought not should have said. Right? Okay. And now you big and grown and when somebody do knock you down, you don't know what to do.

[Jaden]

You don't know what to do. You either go either reactive such as myself, or you are one of those people that goes. And you stew on it and you think about all the 15 things you should have said in a moment, but you didn't really have a chance to say it because you're. You don't know how to express. I don't waste your time with the comments. We don't care. We're PMSing and we're talking and it's fine. Your kids can't fight. My kid can't fight. Me and my husband even talked about it the other day. We were like, you know what? This can't fight. Like we came from a fighting generation. That's a lovely thing. We need to put her in some self defense class.

[Takia]

She say what she want to say, though. You know what I'm saying? My kids say whatever she want to Say, but she can't fight. It's a wild thing to rec realize it is.

[Jaden]

We have to have an honest conversation about it. We were like, we got to put her in self defense classes. Not so she could run around letting that those jibs run recklessly. But also she needs to be able to hold her own in this world.

[Takia]

Correct? Correct. Now I feel like that is proper parenting. The girls may not agree, but this is what I believe. This is what I believe.

[Jaden]

Well, I don't care cuz the girls,

[Takia]

yeah, this is what I believe. This is what I believe. And I don't know, I just feel

[Jaden]

like we can respectfully. We can respectfully.

[Takia]

And that's the be, that's the beautiful thing, right? We don't got to disagree and throw each other away. Like we could just see the situation differently and still be all right. Right. It still be like, well, what you want on your cheeseburger girl?

[Jaden]

Because I don't want my kid to jump up and fight first either. No, I don't want that. I want you to be able to protect yourself.

[Takia]

Correct.

[Jaden]

Defend yourself.

[Takia]

Absolutely.

[Jaden]

That's what I also teach her very avidly though about respecting other people. And that's why she's an empathetic human. She cares about people. And I think that balance is true humanity. But trying to like, I don't know, steer these niggas into one little hole of, of, of all of the ideals that society, that we think society should have is cute, but is it reality? Why don't we find like the balance between the two? Yeah, we weren't raised right. Yeah, we were running the streets of mucking and nobody knew where we were for hours at a time. And there were no cell phones and there's no tracking and now there's too much tracking and just find the nuance and the balance and also raise your kid how you want to like and let other raise their kids how they want to. But just know if you raise your kid to run that mouth recklessly, there is somebody raising their kid,

[Takia]

period. And we just gonna have to see how that go. Okay?

[Jaden]

Exactly. We just don't have to see how that goes. Balance for the babies. They're like, now how did you all read these uplifting graduation announcements? It's just be like fight,

[Takia]

shoot.

[Jaden]

The fair one. It's called the fair one for a reason.

[Takia]

I just want us to be prepared for all possible outcomes. And I just, sometimes I sit around and I think about this. Even looking in the comments, even saying, you know people, it just feels like there's a level of comfort that people have because there, there's no longer a consequence. Right. And we need to bring some consequences back. Yeah, we need to bring some consequences back. Okay.

[Jaden]

Timothy and his friends are all getting online with their little dirty cut up skid mark draws over their faces because they want to hide the bottoms of their faces because they're but they want to talk about and everything else what happens when your kid runs into one of them and then they take it too far. They need to know how to shoot the fairway and, and not the fair one with them, not the fair one with. You got to learn how to fight dirty because they fight dirty.

[Takia]

I, I, I'm just, these are the things that come, you don't have to. Sometimes

[Jaden]

we live in a world of this is a reality. It is, this is crumbling and you might have to knock a out in the face. That's all I'm saying first that's

[Takia]

we don't start the fights but we want to be prepared to finish them.

[Jaden]

You understand?

[Takia]

Finish them.

[Jaden]

Yeah, I'm just with it. So that was our productive kitchen table talk as we are, you know, just negotiating hormones and rage and frustration and such a lord, such a society. Maybe it's just a component of frustration. Just let be frustrated.

[Takia]

It's a healthy, it's a healthy emotion.

[Jaden]

You want to move on.

[Takia]

Oh, I do have a. I know that's right.

[Jaden]

Okay, let's, okay, let's do a self care. I know that's right. And then we'll do the petticoats.

[Takia]

Okay.

[Jaden]

You know, a lot of what shapes your health isn't anything that you can see, taste or feel. A little contaminated light bulb went off in my head when I learned that I had have essentially drank a debit card last year. My God. And then it doesn't matter if I carry this big stainless steel jug with me everywhere, if the water's been stored in 5 gallon plastic containers and sitting in warehouses. You know what I mean? And in my nearly 41 years of life, how many debit cards have I actually consumed? Heavy metals and everyday toxins are just a part of modern life. And most of us have never actually measured where we stand. Here's what's worth noting. Exposure is normal now. Things like BPA from plastic and receipts and PFAs from water resistant fabrics and food packaging show up in everyday life for literally almost everyone. The good news is that exposure is almost measurable. And once you can see it, you can do something about it. Two markers give you a clear starting Point lead, which reflects exposure to a common neurotoxin, and mercury, which shows whether fish or environmental sources are added. Adding up. Knowing your levels turns guesswork into simple informed choices. That's why I use function. Over 160 lap tests a year, including heavy metals like lead and mercury that you would never catch on your own. Not guessing. Just a clear read on where things stand so you can make smart adjustments. You know what I mean? I don't know about you, but outside of drinking debit cards, I purchased at least 30 coffee mugs in my life and that's at minimum. Mama loves a store where you can buy buy comforting things for the home. You know what I mean? But do you know what a lot of those mugs have in them? Lead reasons like these are why I use Function Health. Check your health the way that I do. Function provides over 160 lab tests for a dollar a day and member pricing on advanced imaging. [e-mail] grown and use code grown25 for a $25 credit.

[Guest/Advertiser]

Okay, imagine this. A honeybee is out here doing her thing in an orchard. Lands on a mystery apple blossom, then carries that pollen over to a honeybee crisp tree. Fast forward a few months and no exaggeration, something amazing is born. The Sugar Bee Apple. Packed with notes of honey, caramel and molasses, plus an extra crisp crunch. Sugar Bee apples are perfect for snacking, baking and everything in between. Download our new free recipe book and find a store near [e-mail] Sugar Bee apples. Naturally sweet. From bee to you.

[Jaden]

I deserve.

[Takia]

I know that's right. Jade and I are going to do a collective. I know that's right. Very exciting times. And I would like to shout out and give a big. I know that's right. To the brilliant Renee Blewett. Renee Bleu Blewett. Okay, the genius behind all of the amazing black women business events. What is it? The bazaar that. The Holiday Bazaar.

[Jaden]

She did that Holiday Bazaar. She did that documentary.

[Takia]

She did that documentary. Available down to Netflix. I think it's also available on Apple Music. And as we know, August is Black Business Month, right? And each year that she did that community that Renee leads has a Black Business Month event. She's had some really cool partnerships. I know that she's done done something with Shea Moisture. I believe that she did one with the New York Liberty last year. This year she's partnering with Shopify for the she did that Brilliance in motion event on August 4th there. She did that. Is taking over the Shopify space In soho for a full day of black business big ideas, new connections and shopping with some of our favorite brands. This is a moment for founders at every stage, aspiring entrepreneurs and people who understand that where we spend our dollars matters. So you can expect a curated marketplace of black owned businesses, a Shopify focused workshop, honest conversations, new connections and plenty of reasons to spend some time with the she did that community at Shopify in Soho, New York City. There'll be brands featured and one of my favorite brands, be iconic, Ashley by be iconic is going to be a part of the event. Event and it's going to be on Tuesday, August 4, 131 Green Street, New York, New York. I'll make sure to put the ticket link and all the things in our description box. So if you are in the New York area, I strongly encourage you to check this out. It's always a good time. Yes. And we just love Renee over here and all the things that she does. She is a champion of community and commerce and just.

[Jaden]

And black women.

[Takia]

That's what I'm saying.

[Jaden]

Yeah.

[Takia]

Really positioning black women business owners to thrive. And we love that for her and we love that for us. So y' all make sure y' all go to brilliance in motion. The black business month experience is going to be in Soho on August 4, 2026.

[Jaden]

August 4th. Oh, how exciting.

[Takia]

Come on.

[Jaden]

I love Renee and I love what Renee does for black women in business. We need a space like that. You know what I mean? Because we can't help the world that we live in, the society that we live in, but we can figure out how to function within it and. And hold each other up in that way too, for sure that we need. So I love the work that Renee does. So make sure you all check it out. Link is in the description box and it's free. I'm going to try to be there myself.

[Takia]

Yes. Admission is complimentary. Don't we love that?

[Jaden]

Yes. I'm so excited.

[Takia]

Yeah.

[Jaden]

And also make sure you always check out that she did that Hollywood holiday bazaar because it's fantastic. Shopping for the holidays.

[Takia]

Oh, yes.

[Jaden]

Even if for nobody else, yourself, period. All right, shall we head on over to the petty Peas?

[Takia]

Let's do it. Let's close it out. Country Petty, petty, petty. All the same to me playing Jane Spaghetti. Let's get petty and let's close it out. And so I mentioned that I was going to share a bit about my experience at the Jay Z concert. I had a time, make no mistake. Right. And so I had the great fortune of not only attending the Blueprint 25 on Saturday. I went back for the extra innings. Now, let me just say this very quickly. Blueprint 25. I've been seeing a lot of conversation down to the threads about why, you know, people feeling like Saturday night was not as good. You guys just had to be there. Okay? And you guys can shut up all that bullish talking. Okay?

[Jaden]

Yeah, okay. Was the time all reasonable?

[Takia]

Reasonable doubt was absolutely my preference. But, you know, the girls who who were there also had an amazing time. I just want to commend. I feel like Jay Z had a different show every night. And so that is to be committed.

[Jaden]

That's what it looked like.

[Takia]

The catalog is cataloging, okay? And so if you have the opportunity to see Jay Z anytime soon, you should run and do that very quickly because you're going to have a great time. And the music speaks for itself. Okay? You get transport. It transported me back. I said on Instagram, I had a good old undergraduate time. Okay? It's a bunch of. We all had our rap. Hands in.

[Guest/Advertiser]

Was great.

[Takia]

It was great. It was great. And we got to see Eminem. Okay. Eminem did Renegade live, sister.

[Jaden]

And they did Renegade.

[Takia]

Just about passed out. Quite literally lost it, Lost it.

[Jaden]

Cause I'm a Renegade.

[Takia]

Too good. It was too, too, too, too good. And then. So I'm going back Sunday. I'm very excited. Y' all know, Sunday was Brian's birthday. And so I felt like, like in. In. In a world. In a world where, you know, none of the terrible things that happened, happened, this would be something that we would do together. And so I went on with him. He was there. I felt it. And we had a. We had a good time. However, here's the thing. As I'm sure you guys have seen, there were a select number of derelicts that rushed one of the entrances and got past no tickets.

[Jaden]

That's what the. Huh?

[Takia]

They got past security. And so that was not just being. That is what is characterized in the event space as a security breach. You see what I'm saying?

[Jaden]

Why would you want. What was the plan after. We're gonna rush this and steal seats, and nobody's ever gonna be the wiser. Like, what was the plan?

[Takia]

Now, I think. Now, this is. Listen. Now, I don't believe that the people that were managing crowds and tickets and that. I don't think that these were regular employees of Yankee Stadium. I think this. That. I think that the Rockefeller team outsourced and got some random company to do that. And I think that they did a terrible Job because there was absolutely no crowd management right off the, right off the D train. You know, there's a, there's Gate six. And so everyone comes off the train and everyone just sort of clusters there. I mean, completely disregarded the fact that there are six, seven other gates all around. Like, if, you know, if, if they would have had some means of guiding people to other gates or even, you know, having designated gates for designated sections of the arena would have made way

[Jaden]

more sense, like many events do. Yes.

[Takia]

Because it's like, have you guys never done this before?

[Jaden]

If that's Capital One, blah, blah, blah. Are you a clear member? Come on, come on, come on. What are we doing?

[Takia]

It's very simple science, but it felt like there was absolutely no infrastructure, no order. And so the security breach happened. This happened at the height of people sort of gaining access to the state of. Right. Doors open at 6, the show open at 8, typically Friday and Saturday. Jay Z was out by 9:30. So this was happening around 8 o', clock, 8:15. So there were people still coming in, Thousands of people still coming in. And so when a security breach happens, they have to shut down all of the exits.

[Jaden]

Were you already in by this point?

[Takia]

I was in. I was in.

[Jaden]

Thank the living Lord. Very good. See aunties coming so they can get their chicken.

[Takia]

Listen, at our station, you remember when

[Jaden]

we went to Beyonce, we got there before they even opened the gates. We were like, when they open, we want to walk in, casually grab snacks,

[Takia]

get our drinks, get our merch, use

[Jaden]

the bathroom, get merch, get, sit down,

[Takia]

you know what I'm saying?

[Jaden]

Breathe.

[Takia]

Because we are women of a particular age, as are most of the people we're not talking about. There were not hordes of young people in this space. We're talking about people who are in their 30s and 40s. That's who Jay Z's audience is. These young kids, you know what I'm saying?

[Jaden]

Yeah.

[Takia]

So especially for this occasion.

[Jaden]

But rushing a, a, A entrance sounds

[Takia]

like rushing the entrance. And so like a Y activity. Exactly, exactly. And so though they had to shut down the entrances, there was still thousands of people outside those. It was hot, hot. Again, there was no order, there was no communication. And people were, you know, afraid, like unsure of what was going on. Lines weren't moving, everything was shut down. People were getting rowdy. And so outside, chaos ensued, which did not lead them to open the doors any sooner. And so what I also want y' all to know is that when they seal the, the, the doors, they sealed them. Not only for people getting in, for people going out. So we were all quite literally hell high hostage in, in that bitch. Lock the doors, get those chains up.

[Guest/Advertiser]

Like

[Takia]

get those chains off the door. So, so it was. And, and again, very little communication. Here's the thing, you have to let people know what's going on. Because when people don't know what's happening, you know, especially people like me, I am worst case scenario, Wanda. I'm going all the way to the most awful, terrible thing. Right. And so I felt like a. Were doing that every. Ancient anxieties were running high. People were stressed and the people that were inside were drinking. Hello. And so, so it was just, it was very chaotic.

[Jaden]

I saw those chicken tenders in those boots.

[Takia]

I mean it was kind of, it was kind of genius marketing.

[Jaden]

But that's another conversation I was hating. I was hating.

[Takia]

It was very, it was, it was

[Jaden]

from outside of the club.

[Takia]

It was such a, all of that to say, I just feel like we have got to do better at like, like, like somebody needs, somebody needs to run some money back. I never once in a thousand years thought that I would at this age and stage of great big age in my life, stage of my life be down to somebody's concert that did not begin until midnight. I also want you to know that the aunties and uncles were in there sleeping and nodding.

[Jaden]

We was all down bad.

[Takia]

No, I mean before. Because you were quite literally waiting before the show.

[Jaden]

Because you were waiting.

[Takia]

Yeah.

[Jaden]

And this was the show. Rihanna came out.

[Takia]

Yes. And so I.

[Jaden]

And her leather pedal push, I loved it.

[Takia]

And also Jay Z had to warm us up now, you know, we was also like now. Cuz when Jay Z came out, it was not. No, the crowd was not on our feet. You know, we was all looking at him like. And he knew it. He was like, I understand, I understand. And he apologized and he handled it very graciously and we was all easy. By the time the third song in, we was over it. But, you know, but okay, okay. But it was, it was just so. It was quite an experience. And my, my pain, y' all didn't

[Jaden]

get out that till 3am Girl, let me tell you.

[Takia]

And I don't think my body is right yet. Yeah, I've been right all week. I'm down bad. I'm down real, real bad. But it was a concert of a lifetime. But my petty peeve is for whoever that, that half ass security. I don't even know what to call them. I mean, they were the most useless people I've ever Seen in all of my life.

[Jaden]

Craig and Dae Dae and them.

[Takia]

Oh, it was terrible.

[Jaden]

Him we're in charge and I'm.

[Takia]

I mean, Yankee Stadium don't got to

[Jaden]

worry about ass derelicts who rush the. Like. Why would you ruin the night for everybody else?

[Takia]

You have not been raised, May you

[Jaden]

have for the next 12 years. No, it doesn't.

[Takia]

It doesn't make any sense.

[Jaden]

Well, I'll share your petty peeve then because nobody should be anywhere at 3am anymore. And the only thing I'm open after 3 is legs. But anyway,

[Takia]

we're. Listen, I'm still trying to catch up on my rest. My body was anxious. I'm still coming down. But either way, thank y' all for listening to getting grown. Yes, we appreciate y' all for enduring our angst and petty this week and, you know, just kicking at us. This is a good old sitting around the kitchen table talking session. And sometimes you just.

[Jaden]

Yeah, you know, and sometimes you talk spicy. You know what I'm saying? Like, and it just be like that. So, you know, I hope you all are in the same spirits and we love you very much. A little this week. Talk a little this week. It's good for your spirit. Get on your salsa. You know what I mean?

[Takia]

Like, get it on out.

[Jaden]

Get it on out. Sometimes you gotta get a little hateful

[Takia]

little, you know, but in the process

[Jaden]

of doing that, make sure you drink your water. Water. Because you can't be getting spicy with a dry mouth like that.

[Takia]

No, you can't. Or dry skin. Or dry skin, yes. Or ashy mind. As. As ashy mind. Yes.

[Jaden]

You know, I know. It's also a juxtaposition to tell your. Should I say con. Hypocritical. To tell you to mind your business while we're telling you to talk a little bit of. But, you know, mind your business in the ways that matters.

[Takia]

That's right.

[Jaden]

You know what I mean? We don't need to be a part of their business. Their dirty draws on their faces and all in their hateful marches. Washington, D.C. six members in attendance anyway. And then lastly, you know, it's still summertime and I understand that it's nasty outside. But still moisturized.

[Takia]

Absolutely.

[Jaden]

Even if you sweat a little more, you don't want to sweat over ash. You want to sweat over moisturized skin. For you, it makes you dewy and absolutely. You know what I'm saying? Absolutely. Soak it up and that's it. We love you all. We'll see you next week.

[Takia]

Bye.

[Jaden]

Bye. In the US there's a break in every 26 seconds. But when intruders step near, Simply safe Home security steps up.

[Takia]

Stop.

[Jaden]

This is. This is Simplisafe. Police are on the way. Using AI alerts, US based live agents help deter break ins. SimpliSafe no long term contracts.

[Guest/Advertiser]

Save 50% on your new system with

[Jaden]

professional monitoring at simplisafe.com sxm or with promo code sxm.

[Takia]

Outdoor deterrence requires a Simplisafe Active Guard Outdoor Protection plan starting at $49.99 a month. Visit simplisafe.com licenses for alarm license information. Tennessee 2012.