Sit With Us

Summary

Gettin' Grown – “Sit With Us”
June 23, 2026
Hosts: Jade & Dr. Kia (Loud Speakers Network)

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Episode Overview

In this celebratory and candid episode, Jade and Dr. Kia invite listeners to “sit with us” for an honest, affirming conversation about Black womanhood, community, growth, and the rollercoaster of adulting as 30-somethings. The episode centers on joy and pride in Black achievement—with special attention to New York’s basketball victory—while also holding space for grief, systemic injustice, self-care, and the importance of collective healing.

Listeners are invited into the “Kitchen Table Talk,” where themes of community, resilience, celebration, and Black self-care are explored with humor, vulnerability, and tender accountability. The episode is a love letter to their listeners and the wider Black community, packed with laughter, real talk, gratitude, and the signature irreverence and warmth that define Gettin' Grown.

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Key Discussion Points

1. Big Wins & New York City Joy

• NYC Basketball Win: Both hosts reflect on 53 years since the last championship. The win is culturally significant for New York’s Black community.
  • “It is monumental time here in the city...The energy is palatable.” – Jade (02:22)
• Generational Fandom: Discussing iconic Knicks moments and rooting for the home team. Reminiscing about players like Charles Oakley, Patrick Ewing, Latrell Sprewell, and the cultural weight of the Knicks for Black New Yorkers.
• Criticism for Gentrifiers & City Ownership: A thread about being proud of New York and how former residents—no matter where life takes them—carry home in their hearts.

2. Holding Multiple Truths: Celebration & Social Justice

• Addressing Systemic Injustice: Jade and Dr. Kia pause to honor progress and joy but also address ongoing tragedies and injustices affecting Black youth, including reflections on the Carmelo Anthony case.
  • “We gotta stop calling this a justice system, because there’s no justice in this justice system. It doesn’t serve us well.” – Jade (16:17)
• Duality of Experience: The hosts frequently name how celebration and grief, hope and struggle, coexist for Black people.
  • “Two things can be true at the very same time.” – Dr. Kia (15:44)

3. Parenting, Schools & The Importance of Community

• Thoughtful School Choice: Jade shares her experience as a Black parent choosing a school for her daughter, reflecting on staff, student body, and safety. She emphasizes the importance of community-based education.
• Advocacy for Black Kids: Advice for parents/aunties on school visibility, engagement, and holding schools accountable for student safety.
  • “You need to know me. You need to know my face. You need to know who I am, ‘cause I’m gonna be in this.” – Jade (26:26)
• Reflecting on Generational Shifts: Both hosts reminisce about earlier fashion trends (sunflower hats, combat boots), showing how styles and issues cycle back, sometimes to their chagrin.

4. Navigating Grief & Uncertainty as Black Women

• Personal Vulnerability: Dr. Kia shares openly about her own season of grief, loss, and navigating unemployment, change, and instability—while holding onto her faith and community support.
  • “I’m grateful that even we...continue to move through times that are volatile and uncertain...I’m grateful because Getting Grown has been a part of that community.” – Dr. Kia (37:37)
• Religion, Faith, & Humanity: The hosts discuss their faith, and the challenge of negotiating fear and faith in difficult times; highlighting the need to allow oneself to be human.
  • “God doesn’t expect us to not be human. He doesn’t expect us to be God. He expects us to be human.” – Dr. Kia (40:51)

5. Community Celebration: Graduation Announcements

• Annual Graduation Shout-Outs: Listeners’ emails highlight graduations from pre-K to graduate school, with the hosts lavishing love, pride, and encouragement on each. Black women, single parents, and queer youth are celebrated.
  • Notable graduation segment begins: [54:13]
  • Heartfelt encouragement for a bullied queer 8th grader: [61:11]
  • Inspirational academic stories of resilience, sometimes after personal loss, marriage challenges, delayed dreams, or against systemic barriers.

6. Kitchen Table Talk: Real-Life Check-Ins

• Jade and Dr. Kia check in with each other about summer chaos, anniversaries, parenting, events, and work. Jade announces upcoming pop-up events in Brooklyn and a student podcast project.
  • “June kicks my ass every year and somehow I forget it until it becomes June again.” – Jade (44:52)
• Both reflect on the intensity of transitions, collective exhaustion, and the replenishing power of community.

7. Self-Care, Black Women’s Health, and Rest

• Jade shouts out a fellow Black chef’s new cookbook (“Cooking from Scratch” by Toya Bodhi) and highlights the importance of health monitoring for Black women.
• Dr. Kia shares her own self-care—connecting with friends and community—to get through tough weeks.
  • “I was intentional about connecting, and it paid off. It made the days bearable.” – Dr. Kia (89:43)

8. Petty Peeves: Humor & Realness

• Jade rails against summer break making home life chaotic and shares a pointed critique of gentrification, especially around disrespect to cherished city parks and disregard for Black community spaces. [91:21]
  • “You have none [respect]. You don’t speak. You don’t frequent the businesses...You all walk around with an entitlement, and I’m sick of it.” – Jade (93:09)
• Dr. Kia complains (with comedic frustration) about the glut of unnecessary apps and tech for everything.
  • “Everything don’t need an app. Why does my refrigerator have an app?” – Dr. Kia (95:06)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “We grew up in a time...this is embedded in our history as deeply people, particularly as Black people in New York City. This is who we have been.” – Dr. Kia (03:17)
• “Two things can be true at the very same time.” – Dr. Kia (15:44)
• “You need to know me...I’m gon’ pop up on you.” – Jade (26:31)
• “It’s so hard in this system. But we praying for him. We praying for his family. And, yeah, we're praying for all of our children because they deserve better than what?” – Jade (28:06)
• “I think this has been one of the parts of adulting that I am...it’s kind of surreal, but I’m enjoying it in a way, because you see things come back around, and it’s just like, wow. I remember that.” – Dr. Kia (13:13)
• “Your ups really continue to encourage us. And we really do this not just for our community, but for ourselves as well...it does something for our spirits.” – Jade (82:45))

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• [02:22] – NYC basketball celebration & Black cultural pride
• [16:17] – On the justice system & the Carmelo Anthony case
• [26:26] – School/community involvement, Black parental advocacy
• [37:37] – Community, grief, and gratitude in uncertain times
• [54:13] – Graduation Announcements begin (stories, advice, affirmations through ~80:05)
• [86:36] – Self-care shout-out for Chef Toya Bodhi’s cookbook
• [91:21] – Jade’s Petty Peeve: summer chaos, gentrifiers, and disrespect to Black spaces
• [95:06] – Dr. Kia’s Petty Peeve: “Everything don’t need an app”
• [101:24] – Signature Getting Grown advice: “moisturize your mind” and “drink water”

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Tone & Language

• Warm, joyful, irreverent, sometimes profane, always affirming.
• Black cultural references, candid language, generous use of “y’all,” and explicit celebration of Blackness.
• Directly addressing listeners as “family” or “community.”
• Jokes about faith, generational trauma, and “petty” gripes mixed with vulnerability and depth.

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Conclusion

Episode “Sit With Us” is a loving check-in at the heart of Gettin' Grown: celebrating Black excellence, holding each other up in hard times, and keeping it real about the complexities of adulthood. Whether giving flowers to graduates, calling out gentrification, or talking through the challenges of faith and grief, Jade and Dr. Kia model honest self-reflection, radical love, and the transformative power of Black community.

Listeners leave with a sense of encouragement, togetherness, and gentle motivation to hydrate, celebrate, advocate, and keep “moisturizing your mind.”

Transcript

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[Jade]

I got a hundred clips from New York, New York. I got a semi automatic that's fits. Next time if you talk, you talk. I got a honey from New York, New York, New York. I got a semi automatic. That's next time if you talk.

[Dr. Kia]

Shout out to J.

[Jade]

Young Is punani vagina very misogynistic?

[Dr. Kia]

Very, very, very.

[Jade]

But you know, shout out to this punati vagina.

[Dr. Kia]

It's the worst.

[Jade]

It's terrible. As I giggle. As I giggle.

[Dr. Kia]

Shout out to Ja Rule because that had a good week. Okay, the streams is up. Yeah.

[Jade]

Okay. The people are back. It is monumental time here in the city. The. The. The energy is palatable.

[Commercial Announcer]

Look at us.

[Dr. Kia]

We're wearing our blue and orange. Look at us.

[Jade]

You. You see it? Look, look. I love it. 53 years. Listen, even if you're not a lifetime a huge basketball fan. It's 53 years. That's a full life and it's longer than I would like.

[Dr. Kia]

Exactly. I remember, like this is for people who are born in New York. Like this is, this is deeper than just being a sports fan. Okay. This is culture. We grew up in a time. We were, we're a part of the, we've been a part of this. This is embedded in our history as deeply people, particularly as black people in

[Jade]

New York, New York City.

[Dr. Kia]

This is who we have been. You know what I'm saying? We, I, I was a young lass during the time. Charles Oakley on the Knicks. You know what I'm saying, sister?

[Jade]

First of all, the last time again they won a championship. We were not born. Hey, it was 1979 and we've made

[Dr. Kia]

it to the finals, I believe. But in my lifetime, I do recollection.

[Jade]

Oh yeah, twice.

[Dr. Kia]

Yes, twice.

[Jade]

92 or 93, which I remember that's when Patrick was playing.

[Dr. Kia]

Very clearly remember.

[Jade]

And that was the game against the Rockets. Cuz it was big like Patrick. Yeah. Hakeem. And then 99. Yeah, 99 was the other year. I don't. We lost to.

[Dr. Kia]

Was it the.

[Jade]

I don't remember. No, I'm about to be.

[Dr. Kia]

I'm about to.

[Jade]

I don't remember. It's sad that I remember the, the 9293 game more than I remember the, the 99 game. Finals.

[Dr. Kia]

99. It was, it was the spurs again. It was the Spurs.

[Jade]

It was the spurs, which I will. I give I. It was a good first of all. Game four, Game four don't exist. Game five always was a good game.

[Dr. Kia]

Yeah.

[Jade]

Not only was it, not only was it celebratory, but it, there's something that hits a little bit different when it is a good game. When you win a game where you down, you come back up like. So I'm going to give the spurs their credit for the team that they, that they were. But Tim Duncan days, Tim Duncan days, terrible lineup. Those were the days that I watched basketball more and that's where I felt I had kind of like fell out of touch a little bit because you know, you get to a point where you get grown and you're busy and you're, you know, you start working and I'm like, I can't keep up with all these. I don't know who's all in this. I remember this but the Tim Duncan

[Dr. Kia]

David Garner, David Robinson and Tim Duncan. David Robinson, that little short country. Ava Richardson. Ava Richardson. And he spoke with all of his teeth. Ava Richardson. Yes, it was Ava Rich Johnson. And that was when the Knicks featured a one Latrell Sprewell.

[Jade]

Honey Sprewell.

[Dr. Kia]

Yes, indeed.

[Jade]

What a time to be alive. But we still didn't win. But we finally did 53 years later. It was beautiful to see. It was really nice to see Patrick.

[Commercial Announcer]

Yeah.

[Dr. Kia]

Because Patrick, in 99 had tore his Achilles during the finals, and he missed the whole championship series. So it was such a blessing to see him there and just really getting his life. I mean, he was celebrating as if he had play ball, and I just

[Jade]

love to see every ounce of that, and deservedly so.

[Dr. Kia]

Yes, he did. Yes.

[Jade]

And, you know, I was not happy to see that little troll of an owner up there, you know, getting his just due. But we're gonna just breeze right past.

[Dr. Kia]

Yeah.

[Jade]

Because this is for the city.

[Dr. Kia]

Exactly.

[Jade]

For the city. You know what I'm saying? We are officially living in the time of Mandana Son.

[Dr. Kia]

Oh, yeah.

[Jade]

You know what I'm saying? And what a time to be alive. Like I said, it's a palatable energy.

[Dr. Kia]

Absolutely.

[Jade]

Palatable energy.

[Dr. Kia]

Absolutely. And although I'm not there, I am carrying that energy throughout the streets of the.

[Jade]

Everybody is. Everybody who has moved.

[Dr. Kia]

Oh, yes.

[Jade]

Is carrying.

[Dr. Kia]

Oh, yes.

[Jade]

The. The. The. Carrying the energy of New York City. And what a time to do so. You deserve to do so. And it just feels good. We need this, right? Like, this is not just about. Because I know some. You know, listen, am I aware of all of the. The problematic. How could we not be systems. Yes, absolutely. Absolutely. That's why I had to make sure I mentioned that nasty little owner who invited that nasty orange loogie, which is why Game 4 is not a real game.

[Dr. Kia]

Exactly.

[Jade]

It just didn't count under dot, you know what I mean?

[Dr. Kia]

And it's not lost on me. And that's the only one that we lost.

[Jade]

The only one. All right. But that's okay. It is. It was because we were. We. We got the ability to say Nixon 5, which sounds better than Nixon 4.

[Commercial Announcer]

It does.

[Jade]

It just. It flows better. It flows with other things. So we're gonna take it. The parade is happening. Well, as you all are listening to this, the parade happened last Thursday. Yes, yes. As we are recording is this. The parade is happening in a few days. And while I will not be in the city, because what fandom also brings, that gets on my last serv. Is excuses for different individuals who are not true fans or people who intend good to wild to wild out. You know what I mean? And it's really disgusting to see. They used it the minute. The minute that we won. They used it to destroy school buses.

[Dr. Kia]

School buses. Unbelievable. Did you see that nigga who was

[Jade]

slamming his body against the windshield of the school bus?

[Dr. Kia]

The people are unwell, sis. I mean, that was just what I took away from this. The pathology is just on a different level. And I just want to, you know, I think we just all have to be safe out here. Okay.

[Jade]

Which is why I will be in Brooklyn as somebody's watch parade.

[Dr. Kia]

Correct, Correct.

[Jade]

You know what I'm saying? Like, I don't need to be in the thick of the. Especially at this time of. I just don't need to be in the thick of the thick, you know what I'm saying? I don't need to do that. It's celebratory from all angles of the city. And I'm really grateful for that.

[Dr. Kia]

You gotta stay safe. I mean, not. It's not the same energy. It's actually the opposite energy, but you know, that, that they had that God awful UFC, that display in.

[Jade]

In D.C. this weekend. Yeah. Yes.

[Dr. Kia]

And what a terrible, tragic time it is to be alive. But I would say that, you know, all of those people have descended upon Washington D.C. in A. In a way

[Jade]

that they do.

[Dr. Kia]

That they do. And so it's similar to your. You going to stay inside? I have. I have vowed to remain within the boundaries of my county.

[Jade]

Yes. Yeah.

[Dr. Kia]

Because it's just safest here. You. You understand what I'm saying?

[Jade]

Especially in that at least this energy is good. You just got chaotic in the, you know, chaos, goblins, violence running around.

[Dr. Kia]

It's actually a very violent energy out here. It gives insurrection very much, very much criminal behavior,

[Jade]

domestic terrorists.

[Dr. Kia]

Awful. And so, yeah, I mean, either way, I'm grateful and welcome the victory. Celebrating the victory of our New York Knickerbockers.

[Jade]

Knickerbocker. I just said the other day, I was like, why didn't we get a good, classic Knickerbocker shirt? You know what I'm saying?

[Dr. Kia]

Like, why didn't we get Knickerbocker on it?

[Jade]

Exactly like, oh, maybe we shall create that. Maybe we shall. And then get sued.

[Dr. Kia]

Because that's exactly what will happen immediately.

[Jade]

Like blue, orange. Like, y' all just mad you didn't do it. Because I told xd, I said, I hate those tacky championship shirts.

[Dr. Kia]

And you know, I got one of the New York or Nowhere, I got one of the final shirts, and I actually preferred that one over the championship one. And I was like, I know that it's not. It doesn't say, like, championship on it, but I just prefer this one.

[Jade]

Like, it's about the representation that championship shirt was giving. No limit album covers.

[Dr. Kia]

It was very much like. I wondered. I'm like, did y' all generate this with the AI? Because it could have been so much better.

[Jade]

I was like, oh, it's be dazzled. You know, I hate something be dazzled.

[Dr. Kia]

Yeah, we should really talk about that, because the bedazzles are having a. A resurgence amongst the young people, and

[Jade]

the quite concerned is having a research von Dutch words on the butt of a velour.

[Dr. Kia]

That's like. I feel like this is my. I'm aged out. Like, the trends are coming back around in our lifetime, and I needed to die.

[Jade]

Stay buried hats.

[Dr. Kia]

I'm like, y', all, come on.

[Jade]

That was a horrible era. That was, like, one of our first TV strikes. So that's when we got the. The New Yorker nowhere. Y. They said, can we come through and represent for a moment for the city? That's where we got, like, terrible reality television. Because all of the good shows, those were the bad. That was the good life, the Simple Life. Simple life, simple lifetimes. When Nicole Richie threw that bleach all over that pool hall, I remember. And those were milking those cows. I remember that was Tommy Hilfiger's daughter running around the city in her. In her hot, funky feet. Uggs, let me tell you. I hated Ugg.

[Dr. Kia]

Those Uggs. Wow. What a time.

[Jade]

I mean, we have what a time, man.

[Dr. Kia]

It's just interesting, and I think this is. This has been one of the parts of adulting that I am. It's kind of surreal, but I'm enjoying it in a way, because it's like, you see things come back around, and it's just like, wow. I remember that, like, the girls. Girls just walk around here dressed like six from Blossom, and they think they were being innovative. It's like, girl, we were doing that in 1994.

[Pharmaceutical Advertiser]

Please.

[Jade]

Literally had the sunflower hat.

[Dr. Kia]

What?

[Jade]

The dress with all the sunflowers.

[Dr. Kia]

Come on.

[Jade]

The baby.

[Dr. Kia]

The empire waist. The baby.

[Jade]

The empire waist. Okay.

[Dr. Kia]

The combat boots, the Doc Martens. You guys have not created one thing.

[Jade]

Did all of that. I actually wore mine. I wore mine with. Well, they weren't. They weren't retro at the time, but with some Jordan Elevens. Oh, I remember.

[Dr. Kia]

Yes.

[Jade]

Yes. I went to the church house with my grandparents, of course, and I had on. That's what I had on.

[Dr. Kia]

What color 11 did you have?

[Jade]

The black and white and blue.

[Dr. Kia]

With the blue Bottoms.

[Jade]

No, no, no. Classic black and white.

[Dr. Kia]

That did not have the blue. The blue bottoms were a real. That's right.

[Jade]

That was a. Yeah, that was a real. Because, remember, the originals were the black and whites. And then we got the black, white, red. Then we got the Carolina blues.

[Dr. Kia]

Oh, yeah.

[Jade]

And then we got the black, white reds, which is like a whole. So I didn't have the Carolina. And then we got the cool grays, which I also never had. But at the time when they came out, the original releases, I had the original black and white elevens. And then I had the black. The black and reds, which were my favorite. Which were my favorite.

[Dr. Kia]

Black, white, reds were absolutely a favorite.

[Jade]

That was the time.

[Dr. Kia]

I do remember that.

[Jade]

Oh, that was a time. Oh. But, yes, it's. It's just a glorious time in the city. And I really feel. And. And I feel it's permeating out. Right. Like, people are excited everywhere and on some, like, faux. But just like, damn, I'm happy for you all.

[Dr. Kia]

Absolutely.

[Jade]

I can feel your energy. People are talking to me from other states about how they're happy to see the work Mom Donnie is doing in the city. They're like, yo, y' all are up. I'm like, no, we really up, though. Like, we're really up right now, and we deserve to be up. We are conti. I don't. I don't want to take away from the fact that there are still ongoing genocides happening. Well, no, there's work to be done,

[Dr. Kia]

but we can acknowledge progress.

[Jade]

So much work to be done.

[Dr. Kia]

And acknowledge that there is still work that needs to be done. Like that. That is those.

[Jade]

We need progress, because that's what inflicts a little bit of hope. You know what I'm saying?

[Dr. Kia]

Yes.

[Jade]

So, yes.

[Dr. Kia]

Yes, those two things are true at the very same time.

[Jade]

Yes, we're grateful.

[Dr. Kia]

We're grateful. And I'm grateful because I think, you know, we deserve some celebration. We deserve absolute celebratory times. We do.

[Jade]

I also want to make sure. I don't want to bring the energy down, but in the vein of. Of two things can be true. I want to acknowledge what. How sad the case around Carmelo Anthony is.

[Dr. Kia]

Oh.

[Jade]

And how we've got to stop calling this a justice system because there's no justice in this justice system. It doesn't serve us well. And. And, yeah, I don't. I know that there's many opinions that are flying around about this particular case, but it's never. It never feels good when one of our. Our use Falls. Falls to this system.

[Dr. Kia]

No.

[Jade]

And is put in positions where they, where, where they have to be put in those positions. You know what I'm saying?

[Dr. Kia]

Yeah. It's just a reminder of the systemic unfairness, inequity, injustice that remains. Right. That continues to be pervasive, the ways in which the rules don't apply in the same ways for everybody. And that's just undeniable. That's not an allegation. That is the truth. There is evidence to that effect. And so it's hard and it's heavy to continue to see and experience these injustices and hold on to hope and the will to keep going, to keep working, to keep fighting. But I think that, you know, this is a long game and you know, the ways in which we can continue to show up and speak truth to power and call things things and do all, all the necessary work, you know, we have to continue to try to leverage those levers in the ways that we can. But, you know, just naming, you know, I've been thinking a lot about that young man, about his family.

[Jade]

About his family. Yeah, yeah.

[Dr. Kia]

About his friends, everyone that's like connected to him, all of us. I mean, it's just a lesson. And to me, I'm hope. I'm not hopeful. Well, I was my. I'm just thinking about all the ways in which this should facilitate conversation in our families, amongst our kids, as aunties, as parents. Like this should make us move differently.

[Jade]

Yeah.

[Dr. Kia]

As a people, we should think about our decision. We should make decisions together, you know, as family units about, you know, what these things signify and what are the ways we're going to move in response to them. And I think that is one thing that, you know, I don't want to say I hope can come out of this, but, you know, because I feel like it's. I'm not. I don't want to suggest that this is a necessary evil, but given the circumstances, I do feel like, at minimum, it should prompt us to always reflect on and use this information to empower ourselves moving forward. I'm hoping, you know, I've been having conversation with the young people I'm in proximity to saying this young man's name, explaining the circumstances and empowering them to like, you know, make choices, you know, make smart choices, pay attention, don't be by yourself. Stay around us. Stay, stay around us.

[Jade]

And keep, keep yourselves out of these situations.

[Dr. Kia]

Yeah. As much as you can.

[Jade]

As much as we understand that.

[Dr. Kia]

Yeah, I want to make.

[Jade]

This is not a blame. I don't Want you all to feel like I am by. I want to make sure that I'm very clear that I'm not blaming this young man for the circumstances he was in. This is just more of like a proactive, you know what I'm saying? Preventative. Keep yourself as safe as you possibly can where you don't have to enact your defenses, you know what I'm saying?

[Dr. Kia]

Because, yeah, I think to me it warrants a larger conversation around why we work so hard to be in their spaces when we have our own

[Commercial Announcer]

or

[Dr. Kia]

when we can create our own. I think, you know, there's a lot of. I think this is really important, particularly around, like, parents as we think about choices around which schools we send our kids to and all of that, you know what I'm saying? Like, all of that stuff matters. And, you know, this idea of better schools, higher quality schools, like, you know, we have to consider the criteria for quality is not for everyone. Right.

[Jade]

Yeah.

[Dr. Kia]

Quality should be dependent upon what your, what your values are for you and your kids. And you ought to be, you ought to be collecting evidence, you know what I'm saying, And investigating these spaces very clearly, knowing where you sending your kids, knowing who's around, knowing all of that. And I say this humbly as somebody who's not raising somebody, but as someone who thinks very deeply around, you know, schools as spaces for learning and what are the conditions that of safety that are required for all students to be successful. So I just, I just hope that this empowers us to take a little bit more initiative and ownership and responsibility for keeping our kids safe. Because you used to be able to, or at some point there was a time where you could relatively rely on school leaders and, and folk to do the right thing. But, you know, it's clear that, you know, we don't know. You know what I'm saying? It's hard to know what people really think or believe anymore.

[Jade]

You know, it's so interesting. This is. Yeah, I think, yes, to your point. This is a very necessary conversation. And I, I was just having it recently in the sense where I love Noah's school. Right. We chose Noah's school because she has a black principal who. Not. That's not the reason. It's like, I love it because it's a black principal, period. No, that's crazy. But she has a black woman principal who actually happens to be the niece of a good friend of my mother in law.

[Commercial Announcer]

Okay.

[Jade]

Which is how we learned about the school. The staff is really diverse in the direct, in the Direction that I prefer. You know what I'm saying? There's a lot of black teachers, a lot of Latino teachers, Latina teachers, Latinx. I use Latinx, the gender form, not because I believe in that term. Overall, black deans, like, I really am. I love the staff at her school. One of the teachers, you know, they talk about Velcro students. This, Noah is the Velcro student for one of the teachers who happened to teach with Tristan at one of his old schools.

[Pharmaceutical Advertiser]

Okay.

[Jade]

And I was just there the other day for one of her performances because the. The student body itself is diverse, but it is not as diverse as I would prefer it to be. So the staff paints one picture and student body paints another picture, and a lot of that has to do to proximity of location, public transportation, etc. Etc. Right. But when I was talking to the principal the other day, she was. We had not actually officially met. I know one of the deans, I'm friends with him, and a lot of her teachers I have great relationships with. But this was my first time actually meeting the principal. And she was like, you know, his mom. And I was like, yeah, she told me who she was and I was like, oh, it's so good to meet you. And I turned to her immediately and I was like, girl, how we get some more black kids up in here? And she was like, tell your friends. And I was like, I, I am. And I. And I understand that. But so, but one of the things that keeps me comfortable with the student body, it's not, it's not always because I don't think that that's doing her any services either. Remember when we were going to move to Portland? There's a reason why that didn't happen. But one of the things that keeps me comfortable is that a. She has a very, very diverse staff that really looks after her. I. She's got teachers that I've had good. I have good relationships with and I know that they're holding her down and helping to keep her grounded on that side of things over here. That's not her school friends. While in many settings for us, our school friends were our friends because of neighborhood proximity, etc, etc. Her school friends are not who she sees on, like she sees them at school.

[Dr. Kia]

Yeah.

[Jade]

She's got other communities that we pour into intentionally, you know, family, friends over here and things like that. So the exposure that she gets to her different communities and different parts of herself, I think are what's pouring into her. But I think it's a really important note and what you're saying of being intentional about choosing those spaces. Yeah, sometimes you don't have the choice for the. For the school to be all black, or you may not prefer the academics or the enrichment of this particular. And your kid needs this kind of setting. And it's so much to consider. But, yeah, that exposure to all of these community. That intention into the exposure to all of these different types of communities is essential, for sure.

[Dr. Kia]

And that's what I'm saying. I'm just hoping that at minimum, it prompts us to sort of pause and think about what kinds of questions we should be asking, what kinds of conversations we need to be having with our families, with our kids, with school leaders, with teachers exploring, you know what I'm saying? Like, you know, I remember when I was in middle school or high school, like, you know, me and my brother. My brother was involved with more sort of sports than I was, but even in any. All extracurricular activities, like, it wasn't uncommon for my mama to just pop up and see, like, what's going on down there. Like, you know what I'm saying? Like, how much of it is, you know, these kids off by themselves, like, how much supervision is going on. You know, these are the kinds of things that, you know, can get kind of lax. And. Yeah, we don't, you know, we just. We need to know. We need to know what's happening and how many eyes and who's on to be responsible and watch and look out for our kids and what are the ways that we are equipping and empowering them to look out for each other and for themselves.

[Jade]

And you need to know me. You need to know my face. You need to know who I am, because I'm gonna be in this.

[Dr. Kia]

Absolutely.

[Jade]

Okay.

[Dr. Kia]

I'm gonna pop up on you. I'm not gonna tell you every time I. Hello. Because my mama was the queen of the guest book. It was so triggering. But it was nothing very common for me to look up and see my mama standing in the doorway with her keys in her hand, like, hey, girl, what's going on?

[Jade]

Don't pay you no attention.

[Dr. Kia]

Yeah, don't pay me no attention. Just want to see what y' all doing around here. Just want to see. Just want to check and make sure things are on the up and up. You know what I mean?

[Jade]

It's like, girl, that's me. That's me.

[Dr. Kia]

Very much like, I saw your mom, girl. Yeah, she's always here, huh?

[Jade]

Yeah, look, I. I did that. So. But no, that. This likes it. She likes it. She's like, yeah, she's like, my mom's coming today. Can you come on Wednesday?

[Dr. Kia]

Exactly. But that's how it should be. That's how it should be. And I think, you know, you know, schools at one time were community spaces. We need to not lose that.

[Jade]

Yes, yes, yes, yes. And.

[Dr. Kia]

And they, they ought to be safe havens for our kids. And that requires a communal effort. It's not one person that can make a space of safe haven. That's something that we all got to lean into and take very seriously. So, like you said, continual thoughts, prayers, but also thinking about ways in which we can learn and leverage this most unfortunate situation with Carmelo Anthony in terms of making sure that we can do everything we can to prevent it from happening ever again.

[Jade]

So hard in the system. But we praying for him. We praying for his family.

[Dr. Kia]

Yeah.

[Jade]

And, yeah, we're praying for all of our. Our children because they deserve better than what?

[Dr. Kia]

Especially this summer. Going into this summer. Yeah. You know, stay on.

[Jade]

Stay, stay on it.

[Dr. Kia]

Stay on it.

[Jade]

Y', all, why don't y' all work on being safe? Tired of it. Like, why don't y' all work on being safe people? And if you feel like you're a safe person, then work on your cousins. Because I'm over it. I really am. It's a wild fucking time. Y' all know I'm in my method man year. I've said it time and time again with my health. Is it going right or is it going left? What are we doing? What's the plan? And I've been thinking a lot about heart health lately. Not. Not because I felt like anything was wrong, you know, everybody relax. But because stress is one of the number one villains for black women, like the OG villain. And what caught me off guard is how much can be happening quietly with markers that most people have never had tested. So here's the thing about heart health. You ready to have your mind blown? Feeling fine and being fine are not the same thing. Insane. Most of us track the basics, maybe ldl, maybe blood pressure, and assume that covers it. But there's markers that paint a much more specific picture of cardiovascular risk. Apob, which directly counts the particles in your blood that can build up in the arterial walls. Lpa, a genetically driven risk factor that most people have never been tested for. Ever. Ever. Alright. Hscrp, which signals how much systemic inflammation is quietly running in the background like apps. And you know those will kill your phone. So these are not obscure numbers. They're just the ones that most standard physicals don't check and that's why I use Function. Function has over 160 lab tests a year, including the cardiovascular markers that actually tell a more complete story. Not a guess, not a maybe. A real true look at where things stand. That's what taking your heart health seriously actually looks like. And I'm excited about Function like as a platform because honestly, as I continue to raise my child, it's so, so so important to me more than ever to not only take better care of myself as I've talked about before, but to catch potential health issues early so that I get to truly continue enjoying her and being present and experiencing all stages of her life. That is really my number one. That's my North Shape star. Check your health the way that I do. Function provides over 160 lab tests for a dollar a day in member pricing on MRI and CT scans. [e-mail] grown or use gift code grown25 for a 25 credit toward your membership.

[Dr. Kia]

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[Jade]

But anyway, how are you feeling, sister? This was a monumental week.

[Dr. Kia]

Yeah, I'm safe. I have what I need. And, you know, it's been, you know, sis knows on top of, you know, negotiating grief, there's just a lot of ways that I'm walking through change and, you know, facing, like, uncertainty, facing, you know, instability. And I know that I'm not the only one. You know, as we are lots of people, we're dealing with the largest unemployment rates among black women, like historic unemployment rates among black women. We know that. That our audience is constituted primarily of black women. So we know that this is something that, you know, it will resonate, you know, with our community. And so I know I'm not alone in sort of negotiating the workforce in that, aside from just sort of like the political uncertainty, the volatile climate that we find ourselves in. And, you know, we are still having to sort of move through the responsibilities of our lives and livelihoods and just general adulting while it seems like all the world around us is in a state of what. What the actual hell is happening.

[Jade]

But, oh, God, it's all in Indiana.

[Dr. Kia]

It's all so crazy, but, you know, we just walk through it one day at a time and I'll talk a little bit more about it, but, you know, some changes happening at my job and we were sort of faced with some conversations that we had to sort of walk through, and we're still walking through that and, you know, just sort of dealing with the. All that comes with that, you know, surviving change and figuring out, well, you know, how to sort of maintain and find some stability when all the conditions are moving around it, around you, and then managing grief on top of that. It was a heavy week, but I'm grateful. And God's faithful, keeps his promises. And, you know, I've got a lot of messages and reminders this week that prayer still works. And more importantly, you know, the same ways that Graham and DD's prayers have covered me and taken care of me for my entire life, you know, they are still active and still doing that work, even though they have transition.

[Jade]

Absolutely.

[Dr. Kia]

And I still believe, for what it's worth, you know, Brian kept his promise. I asked him not to leave me. There are times when I've called for him to help me and I have felt helped. And so, you know, just not lost

[Jade]

on me that it's 10 years this year. And, you know, everything that you were facing and how it worked out. You know, if your grandmother knits you a blanket, it don't disappear when she. When she passes in the physical. And so it's there to continuously give you warmth and keep you covered and remind you of her love in some form. And so, you know, allow that blanket to permeate you energetically and prayerfully, spiritually.

[Dr. Kia]

And I'm grateful. I'm grateful that, you know, and when you get in these situations, you know, the. The enemy and the voices in your head can come. Can start to talk loudly and try to talk you out of what you know to be true, saying that, you know, you know, you gotta bear this responsibility on your own, that you gotta figure it out by yourself. But, you know, I'm grateful to have to be planted in the community. And I reached out to everyone last week. We were sort of entering the season where we. Where Of. Of the anniversary of Brian's passing. And. And I said, you know, you know, just to acknowledge and appreciate all the people that God has connected me to before Brian's passing, during, you know, the grief of that. I'm grateful that in spite of the loss, and, you know, this is not to say that things, you know, nothing can replace the loss, but in spite of the loss, you know, I have been planted amongst people who in so many ways, you know, help and hold me up.

[Jade]

Yeah.

[Dr. Kia]

And that makes me, you know, helps me to know that, you know, I'm covered in more ways than one. And I just appreciate all of you for, you know, being a listening ear, for helping me to sort of process and talk through things, for holding space for me to be honest about how complicated and difficult all these feelings are at one time and to help keep me grounded in remembering that, you know, I'm gonna be all right.

[Jade]

Yes. Yes.

[Dr. Kia]

And I'm grateful that even we. Even though we continue to move through times that are volatile and uncertain, it's just reminder of community. And I'm grateful because getting grown has been a part of that community, and I hope that it exists. That community exists not just for me. So, you know, all the ways that if anybody listening to this is also negotiating grief or uncertainty or fear, trying to find a balance of, like, fear and faith, you know, we. I'm in it too, and you not any by yourself. And Jay suggested that, you know, I talk about it on the show today just. Just to be honest about what it is.

[Jade]

Yeah.

[Dr. Kia]

And I'm hoping that it will help somebody, help other people to feel comforted even though things are crazy all around us.

[Jade]

Absolutely. You're not the only person in the world who.

[Dr. Kia]

No.

[Jade]

Has faith and is dealing with very scary things. And I think. Yeah, I think there is a comfort and being reminded. Right. Because.

[Dr. Kia]

Yes.

[Jade]

When you. When you live in your own echo chamber, sometimes you start beating yourself up.

[Pharmaceutical Advertiser]

Right.

[Jade]

Well, maybe I don't have that much faith because, you know, I'm so scared. Or, you know, like, you could be telling yourself all kinds of things. And two things can be true. We say that all the time. And two things can very much exist within you at the same time. And we are negotiating ridiculous times right now.

[Dr. Kia]

Yeah.

[Jade]

And also there is a belief system that many people have, whatever that may be, that keeps them grounded and holds them down and both. There is space for both of those things at the same time.

[Dr. Kia]

And it's necessary to sort of name it. Right. So I've been listening to a lot of good teaching and. And doing a lot of my own sort of study and reflection and. And thinking about, you know, to your point, a lot of the programming and even just societal sort of cultural practices and values tend to put things. Frame things in ways that are transactional that. That will call for us to put unnecessary pressure on ourselves. Yes. You know, my pastor is preaching a series right now that is like, you know, talking about humanology. And it is about. It's highlighting the ways in which the life of Jesus doesn't just prepare us for the afterlife, but Jesus, this practice also help us to be human because Jesus was human. So it's talking about the humanity of Jesus, the times in which he was afraid, the times in which he was frustrated. Like the human things. Right. So not necessarily the. It's not about being perfect or flawless or holding yourself to these standards, but because. Because. And the thing, the message that keeps driving home, it's like God doesn't expect us to not be human. He doesn't expect us to be God. He expects us to be human.

[Jade]

This had mobs, rows of Running him down.

[Dr. Kia]

Absolutely.

[Jade]

I don't. Screaming. And there he was a liar.

[Dr. Kia]

Exactly.

[Jade]

Nailed his hands.

[Dr. Kia]

If he.

[Jade]

You can't get a paper cut without crying.

[Dr. Kia]

Serious pain. He experienced loss. He cried. He got mad. Like, these are the mad.

[Jade]

He flipped tables.

[Dr. Kia]

He called you all selfish. He was petty. All right? He knew how to be petty. So. But all of that helps us to. I think that eases the pressure. And for me, a lot of times when the Bible tells us not to fear, it can feel like it's not an indictment. That doesn't mean that if you fear, you're doing something wrong. I am learning and choosing to not reframe that to mean that we are often reminded. We are reminded to fear not and don't fear in the Bible, not because we were failing at doing it, but because God knows that we're going to be scared. He knows that we're going to be scared. And he tells us over and over again, not because he's frustrated with us, but because he recognizes that feeling fear, it's a human thing. And he expects us to be human. And when we are in scary situations, it's okay to be scared. And to name that you're scared, it doesn't make you weak. It doesn't. And Jay had to remind me even yesterday, like, you, you as a person of faith, just because you scared, it doesn't mean that your faith is failing.

[Pharmaceutical Advertiser]

Yeah.

[Jade]

I was like, you're not unfaithful, girl. You scared. That's crazy.

[Dr. Kia]

Yeah. And I mean, I know that and I've heard that, but it's good to have people around you that can say, hey, girl, I know you panic right now, but remember, look, and this is

[Jade]

a who don't go to church. And I'm like, listen, lean in to the word. Word. I love it. I know that's what holds you down. It's what keeps you grounded. So, you know, it's your. It's your oil and vinegar or whatever. The Bible says frankincense and myrrh. So. I'm hungry.

[Dr. Kia]

No. Yes. So I. I'm appreciative and just wanted to sort of just have some honest conversation today at the kitchen table in case anybody else is sort of as we are entering the summer month, like, you know, going into another season of Girl.

[Jade]

What? What the what? Yes, as the what? The turns.

[Dr. Kia]

Yeah.

[Jade]

I'm sorry. The bold and the bastardly.

[Dr. Kia]

But no. Yeah. Hang in there, guys. We have. We are in this fight together. And yeah, it's. It's just. It's a time to just be honest about that. And I had a real life example to work through this week. And I'm grateful to have community and relationships and friendships and family that help to remind me of the truth. Despite the facts, there are things going on that appear factual. But we have to remember the truth. And the truth is, God, don't play about me.

[Jade]

And no. And I pray that, you know, my prayers over you were helpful because in those same prayers, I also prayed for the downfall of many. But anyway, I did pray is up. Prayers down.

[Dr. Kia]

No, but that was me rambling on how Are you sister? What's going on? I know it's end of the year time. End of the school year time.

[Jade]

You know, I real. I was like, I never really realized how busy Summer. Summer becomes my season to be busy. June kicks my ass every year and somehow I forget it until it becomes June again.

[Dr. Kia]

You got a lot going on. And you know, before we get into that, let's all say happy anniversary to Jade and Tristan,

[Jade]

11 years old to my brother outside. Isn't that crazy? I love.

[Dr. Kia]

It's. Wow. And I still.

[Jade]

15 years.

[Dr. Kia]

I remember that day, sister. I remember. I remember your wedding. I still remember it all. And it's just wild to see. It's like, you know, time has passed, but it's just.

[Jade]

It really has.

[Dr. Kia]

You know, it's just like. That's crazy. It doesn't feel like that long ago is what I mean.

[Jade]

It doesn't. It doesn't. I was like. When I looked up and realized that we have been together for 15 years, I said, I don't think I've done anything that long that's outside of live. Like, yeah, that's so crazy. And then I just never saw, you know, one in my hole forever of like I was like 15 years. Same dick. That's nuts. I'm not even tired. Like I love that.

[Dr. Kia]

Revolutionary.

[Jade]

Revolutionary. But yes, we. We celebrated 11 years married. And then Father's Day is coming. Father's Day is coming or just passed?

[Dr. Kia]

Yeah, just passed.

[Jade]

And then it's turning 13. Oh my goodness. Crazy, crazy, crazy. So I am throwing her a garden. She wants to cook out, but I'm throwing her a garden party. Garden. So you know, you know, that's my little water. I gotta make it ethereal for it. So I'm gonna put up the fairy lights and Flower. Flower, yeah. You know, and barbecue. So. Oh, I guess I might as well plug myself really quickly.

[Dr. Kia]

Yes, please do that.

[Jade]

Trying to do better. You know what I'm saying? I know I told you all six months ago that I would be doing more content on the Internet. I'm working on that. But in the meantime and in between time.

[Dr. Kia]

Yeah.

[Jade]

I am hosting a pop up.

[Dr. Kia]

Hey.

[Jade]

Here in Brooklyn on July 5th. It will be a Juneteenth extended where you all can pull up and get some. Get some of Uncle Jade's grilling and. And side dishes that will make your heart very happy.

[Dr. Kia]

Do you know what the newest already or. We're still in the. In the lab on that.

[Jade]

I think. I think because I was really. I was like, I don't Want to over complicate. Right. It's at my homeboy's bar. All of the info will be in the description. It's at deep dive bar now.

[Dr. Kia]

Okay.

[Jade]

Hours and for you all yet. But you know, go support them anyways. Yeah, but I'm thinking I was like, I don't want to over complicate, but you know, like I don't pop out often. I said, but why not? It's the dead middle of summer at that point.

[Dr. Kia]

Point.

[Jade]

Not really. It's the beginning. But still, why not give a proper delicious brisket sandwich in honor of Galveston, Texas and Juneteenth, you know, with a homemade pickled red onion situation. And I think I want to do a homemade peach barbecue sauce, like a peach bourbon, but I want to make it. And then proper southern potato salad, of course. And a proper. I want to do something red because of Juneteenth. And so I said I was going to do like a red baked bean to accompany. Baked beans and potato salad go together like.

[Dr. Kia]

Yes, of course.

[Jade]

You know what I mean?

[Dr. Kia]

Yes.

[Jade]

But I want to do a good homemade baked bean with a red bean. And then I'm going to do a little black eyed pea corn salad situation, you know, just as a little accompaniment.

[Commercial Announcer]

Yeah.

[Jade]

And I think that's what the menu will be actually. So exciting. Oh, and also a smoked chicken sandwich for those who don't beef.

[Dr. Kia]

Yeah.

[Jade]

So either a smoked chicken with the, with the butter or the brisket. So yeah, I think that's the menu. Well, I guess I announced it, so there you go.

[Dr. Kia]

Hey, you know, other things, you know, we might, you know, it might change. Subject to change. But just this is what your initial thinking might be.

[Jade]

I think this is good though. It kind of locks me in and it keeps me from waffling too much with decisions, you know what I'm saying? I shared it with you all. It's out there. Stay tuned to my social media for all of the details. So yeah, that's what I got going on.

[Dr. Kia]

Like, excellent.

[Jade]

Just. Oh, and I'm teaching. I just wrapped up the spring semester.

[Dr. Kia]

Yes.

[Jade]

The girls did their podcast. You could listen to it called. It's called Young Yappers and you can listen to it on Apple podcasts or Spotify or wgrl, which is the girls club radio station. I will have the link in the description box.

[Dr. Kia]

Oh, I, I can't wait. I'm locked in.

[Jade]

Also, I will be teaching a high school summer podcast course as well. And then I'll be back for middle school for the fall semester. So I don't know who let Ms. Jade educator. I'd be cursing at your kids. I just want you to know like I'm like put it all. You're starting to get on my damn nerves. And they just be like, they laugh harder. It's so disrespectful.

[Dr. Kia]

We love.

[Jade]

But it's a good time. I enjoy, I enjoy it. And educate. We stand sister. But we have some graduation announcements to get to. That was our kitchen table, by the way. Intro, Kitchen table. All in one.

[Dr. Kia]

All in one.

[Jade]

We just came to talk to you all for a taste, a little chit chat.

[Dr. Kia]

We've had some good guests. We'll have some more guests coming up but you know, it's just the time for Jade and I to just reconnect and check in with each other. But yeah, we got a few graduation announcements we can read through and then we'll close it on out.

[Jade]

Let's roll.

[Dr. Kia]

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[Pharmaceutical Advertiser]

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[Commercial Announcer]

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[Jade]

All right, it's time for the graduation announcement.

[Dr. Kia]

Hey yay.

[Jade]

Remember that graduation announcements will be wrapping here soon. We'll pro again. We're probably going to go through the very end of June and so make sure you get all of your graduation announcements in. Actually, let me look at the calendar and give you all a date. That's important, right? As you're listening to this, get all of your graduation announcements in by June 30th. Yes, the last batch will be read right after that. So anything that's sent after June 30th will be on the next graduation announcement season. But in the meantime, let's get started here.

[Dr. Kia]

Let's do it.

[Jade]

Praise the Lord.

[Dr. Kia]

Praise him.

[Jade]

That's how I imagine that was written because it's a lot of G's in the N. Let me be the one to try to make the deadline. Hey, look at you. And shout out my sister, Kalina Arnold. Sometimes you want to shout out your graduate, but to be honest, I want to shout us all out because we all earned honorary juris doctorate fooling with her. I know that's right. Pre. All right. I know this right because I too, have an honorary.

[Dr. Kia]

That is correct.

[Jade]

PhD. Thank you so much. She got a word from the Lord 20 years later and did a huge career change and went from agriculture to now jurors doctorate no shade. More like a blackout because ain't no Cheyenne here. Yo, what is happening in this email?

[Commercial Announcer]

Okay.

[Jade]

My sister earned hers and I was present to watch. Sometimes you got to show them hoes better than you can tell them. But no, seriously, I want to sincerely give my sister her flowers. And I'm glad she believed our God provides. We were all happy to see her and got there in time to celebrate with her as she graduated from Southern University Law center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Yeah, I know that's right. Jade Kia. She start tuning into y' all because I was listening to the podcast as I was getting ready in the morning, and she just so happened to be visiting at that time. And it was on the Brian McKnight flashback Jade had, and she'd been hooked ever since that horse face ass. Okay. And his terrible fatherhood. May he have the days, the years, and the lifetimes that he deserves. Anyway, love y'.

[Pharmaceutical Advertiser]

All.

[Jade]

Please keep it going. I appreciate everything, y'. All. God bless. And that's from Pre Y. Thank you. I love this auntie ass photo you sent us at.

[Dr. Kia]

It's so good. It's so good.

[Commercial Announcer]

So good.

[Dr. Kia]

Thank you and thank you and congratulations to.

[Jade]

Congrats, Kalina.

[Dr. Kia]

Proud of you, girl.

[Jade]

Congratulations.

[Dr. Kia]

Very proud of you. All right, Right. Who we got next? I will read the next one. Hello, sisters. I hope this announcement finds you rested, hydrated, full and whimsical.

[Jade]

2 out of 3 ain't bad for exactly.

[Dr. Kia]

You two have been. You two have been an integral part of my mental health. And I literally not deep dive into it because not only am I already tearing up. Oh, no, don't cry. But we do not have time for it all. I simply would like to thank you both from the very bottom of my heart for all you do and share in this safe space with us. It greatly improves my life and well being. That means a lot to us. Thank you. I would like to first shout out my four amazing boys for graduating this school year. It was really Pause I'd like to

[Jade]

first shout out you for having four boys.

[Dr. Kia]

Outrageous. It was a really really tough year for us but my boy stayed focused and didn't let our personal life interfere with their academics. Timothy graduated pre preschool. Just the cutest, most ridiculous thing. Ezra graduated from kindergarten. He will be GT student next year. Cyrus graduated fifth grade and excel getting the President's Award and straight A's all year and straight A's for the last three years of elementary eating a few period. My Judah who graduated 8th grade despite being bullied every single day for being a queer kid in a county. Judah got straight A's all year, straight A's all three years of junior high excellence in theater, choir and ELA and was inducted into the National Thespian Society. I'm so proud of these four boys who maintain academics Wait a minute. And sports, theater, running our community garden. Oh come on. Serving at church and keeping me together. Mama loves you four with all of me keep pushing for excellence. And last but certainly not least, I, Kenda Hill, have completed my program and am now officially a certified postpartum doula. I feel so blessed to be I feel so blessed to have truly found my calling in supporting mothers, especially postpartum with my wide array of what I thought was useless knowledge. Honey with four boys, never useless, but now finds out it's extremely useful and beneficial to others. When I finally found what I wanted to go to school for after 13 years of being a stay at home wife and mother, my entire life changed. And although I supported my husband through school for five years, he was unable to support me. His direct quote was I don't want my lifestyle to change. Long story short, this graduation has come full circle and I'm both exhausted and empowered. I completed this journey with truly the grace of God, my kids, my community and my damn self. While my husband came barely in and out of our lives fighting his ego. Not only did I train in my field, but I started my business, maintained my involvement in all four of my kids lives, barely missed a game, never missed a play show concert field day. I also learned new skills with the absence of my husband that made me feel like a total badass cutting and edging the grass. Come on. I bought a toolkit and hung my own pictures. A drill to make my own small projects. I maintain My car, All things I just haven't had to think about or do in a decade. I truly feel like a blessed bad bitch. And after years of being encouraged by announcement season, I'm proud to send mine in. Shout out to my oldest son, who was a huge cheerleader of mine and even designed my business logo. I'm passionate about helping mothers, especially black mothers, during the most healing period of pregnancy right after birth. My job is about taking care of mama, not baby. Using my skills to help mama be her best self and stay nurtured and taken care of as she heals and bonds with her partner and baby. And it's not a luxury. It's for us, too. I'm in Houston at Graceful Healing Postpartum care. Find me on the gram. And since I'm soon to be a single mom, let me go ahead and push my little business. I'm also 40. It's never too late. And find and follow your passions. Call me certified sisters. I love y'. All.

[Jade]

Oh, my God, I love you.

[Dr. Kia]

That is from Kenda. Kenda, thank you for all of your pictures and your kind words. Thank you for sharing your family with us and your personal journey. Oh, my God, we are so stinking proud of you, girl.

[Jade]

First of all, I want to say this, Kenda. Whenever I come and do another dinner or pop up in Houston, you got a ticket on me, period. So you just. That's like. That's. That's. I mean, that. Next. I don't think you let Judah listen to this, but I'm gonna go ahead and ask that you give him the speaker for just a second. And I'm gonna warn you, I'm gonna cuss. Okay? All right, Great. Okay, Judah, Judah, listen here. Judah, Judah. Yeah, Judah, Judah. Them, period. Them pale faced children, okay? You, those nasty right wing little fly maggots, them. All right? You have an aunt who was happy to cuss out children because I came from a mother who used to also cuss out children. There's a line. But I will custom little out for you. Do you understand me? You are enough. You are whole. You are loved. You are more than enough. You are so much more interesting and full than those other empty vessels of children that are around you. And anybody who has anything to say to you has a problem with themselves and their cousin, parents, okay? You could tell them. And if you ever need a slur, if you ever need anything to say to them, tell them that their mother and father are brother and sister, all right? And that's from me, incest. But I want you to know that you are more than enough and you're going to thrive and you're going to pass those children like. Like it's going to be a great time for the rest of your life because you are better than them.

[Dr. Kia]

Don't forget it.

[Jade]

You're better than anybody who has anything negative to say to you. And as for you, Kenda, that and good on you. Okay. We don't even need to give him any more energy because I love the way that you did not compromise and how you poured into yourself. And it is evident the way that you are loving on yourself in all the ways that you need, which is only going to be a more whole person for yourself and for your children. Absolutely. So you all are actually better off. You're better off. And I'm sending you immense love. And I'm holding all of you all in my. I would think it's a physically big bosom, but it's actually not. It's actually really kind of small, but I. It's like energetically big.

[Dr. Kia]

Right.

[Jade]

So I'm holding all of you there. Like I said, my next dinner or pop up or whatever in Houston, your ticket is on me. And I've got nothing but so much love for you.

[Dr. Kia]

Same here, Kenda.

[Jade]

I didn't mean to do that.

[Dr. Kia]

No, you didn't know. Don't apologize. I feel the very same way. Very proud of you, Kenda. And. And don't be a stranger. If there's any ways that we can be a listening ear or continue to support you guys, we're happy to do that. Thank you for being such an amazing part of our community.

[Jade]

Absolutely. I want to be a doula, too. So you all are just responsibility models when you send these in. Truly. All right, our next listener letter says, hey, Dr. Kia and Jade. First, I have to share that the past few episodes, especially featuring Dr. Shantae Holly, have been simply amazing. Thank you all. We do have incredible guests. Yes. Please continue these conversations and lift the rugs that we often have our business swept under. Amen. Now on to my high school graduate shout out. I'm back again to wish my second goddaughter/ niece, Ms. Kayla Jordan, a huge congratulations on graduating from Bethel High School and choosing to continue her education by enrolling in Virginia Peninsula Community College and then transferring to Virginia Tech University, majoring in business administration.

[Dr. Kia]

Yeah.

[Jade]

Auntie Keisha is beyond proud of you and admires you for being true to. True to you and loving yourself while you are on this new journey. Love you so much, my beautiful niecy. Pooh. That's from Aunt Keisha. And of course, we got the. Oh, the photo. Yeah. Oh, my God. Look at her. What a doll baby.

[Dr. Kia]

What a doll baby.

[Jade]

Look at this skin. I cannot.

[Dr. Kia]

Precious.

[Jade]

I can't.

[Dr. Kia]

Couldn't be.

[Jade]

Thank you so much, Auntie Keisha. Thank you, thank you, thank you. And Kayla, you about to do big things, boo.

[Dr. Kia]

I know that's right.

[Jade]

Congratulations indeed.

[Dr. Kia]

All right, the next announcement reads. Hello, chef Jade and Dr. Kia. First and foremost, praise the Lord, niggas. My name is Mary J. Thy, and I'm a faithful listener.

[Jade]

Please.

[Dr. Kia]

I have written in before to give graduation announcements for my friend Sierra in 2023, my eldest niece, Cameron, last year. But now it is my time to shine. I am very pleased to announce that I will be graduating on July 24, 2026, from a dual master's program. I will be receiving my Masters of Health Administration and my Master's of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix. This program has to right. This program has turned me every which away but loose, especially after suffering the loss of my daughter in August of 2024 at 21 weeks, and my grandfather this past September. Wow.

[Jade]

So much love to you.

[Dr. Kia]

I press through grief because I know they both would not have wanted me to quit. With these two degrees, I now will have four degrees in total. And as a true black woman, I do plan on continuing my education and collecting more degrees like they are infinity stones. Either a Ph.D. or a J.D. not sure yet. Take your time, sis. You deserve a bit of a break. But for now, I will be taking the next year. There you go. To live my best life before resuming my journey for world domination and keeping my foot on these niggas necks. Shout out to myself and all of the 2026 graduates from pre K to doctoral programs. I made sure to write that correctly because I know Jesus and Dr. Kia would not be placed if I said doctorial. And you are correct. Hello. Please see my attached graduation pictures. No wrinkled regalia. I love y' all down to the kitchen table. Sincerely, Mary J. Thy. Mary J. We are proud of you, sis. Come on.

[Jade]

You better pose on these steps.

[Dr. Kia]

Be perched upon these steps. Hello.

[Jade]

Yes, sweetheart. Neckline. I love it.

[Dr. Kia]

You look good and we are proud of you.

[Jade]

You do? We are. Oh, congratulations. Congratulations. Okay, our next one says, Dear Chef Jada, Dr. Kia, I hope you both are safe and have what you need. Every year around this time, I've gotten so much encouragement. Encouragement and motivation listening to y' all share announcements from the girls celebrating themselves and their loved ones. And since I've been working on this degree, I have quite literally been counting down until I too could pop out and show. Period. So all that to say, I'm elated to share that on May 21st I graduated with my Doctor of Public Health degree from the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health with a concentration in Health Equity and Social Media Social Justice. I knew that when I got to the dissertation phase of my program, I wanted to do research that centered Black women, that said in the context of this absolute hellscape hell that we're all navigating and negotiating and Black women's unique position and experiences within it. I'm especially proud of my dissertation entitled Childbearing in Such a Time as this, exploring Black women's attitudes towards having children within the contemporary American political environment.

[Dr. Kia]

Oh yeah.

[Jade]

Oh necessary work as a 36 year old black woman who is not yet a mom but is open to motherhood one day. This research was deeply personal to me and allowed me to gain deeper insight into a lot of the dynamics that me and my girlfriends with and without children talk about all the time. I'm so honored to have been able to do this work in dedication to them and in recognition of all the Black girls, Black women and Black birthing people who are questioning, claiming and redefining what family, motherhood and freedom mean on their own terms in a landscape that does not always feel supportive, safe or free. Yeah, I would also be remiss if I didn't shout out my gym sis, Dr. Kia for her support throughout this journey. Beyond so graciously sharing my survey with her network and being a source of encouragement. Her journey and openness and sharing it have been a true inspiration as I've navigated this season. Love you today and thank you both for creating a space that continues to make us laugh and think, question, learn and keep pushing toward our goals. This community is needed and appreciated and by you all walking in your purpose and calling to cultivate and nurture this community, you empower so many of us to accept the callings over our own lives. Oh my God. Beautiful words. Getting grown is truly the gift that keeps on giving and I'm so grateful to be counted among this year's graduating girlies. I see you. You did that. And congratulations to you you all with so much love and appreciation. Dr. Jana Johnson. Oh Dr. Johnson, Dr. Jana, I love you. What beautiful, beautiful, beautiful words that I'm going to carry. Like same. My God, I got a little. You all don't know right? Like this community does so much for us, and it's so reciprocal. And so when we get to actually hear from you all in that way, it's overwhelming, but it's also so affirming.

[Dr. Kia]

It means.

[Jade]

Yeah, it makes, like, all of the hardships of it absolutely worth it. So thank you all so much, and congratulations. God, I love you all. I love you all. I really.

[Dr. Kia]

Congratulations, Dr. Johnson. We appreciate you. You know, you my sister forever.

[Jade]

Forever.

[Dr. Kia]

Forever.

[Jade]

Greg Abbott. Sorry. Oh, he exists. He's. He exists. That's what he did.

[Pharmaceutical Advertiser]

Anyway.

[Jade]

Okay, continue.

[Dr. Kia]

Hey, Chef Jaden. Dr. Kia, thank you for creating an amazing and necessary ecosystem for us. I've been a long time listener. Y' all got me through my pandemic grad school experience. Apologies for my first email. Oh, yeah, I sent another one. Girl, this is about my little homie nephew, Pooh. You're celebrating a preschool graduation. Congratulations are in order for my nephew. That's my twin. For real? For real. Samir has been an early head start. Head start for three years. And he started his school year off nonverbal, baby. The way this cherished blessing went up on that stage and grabbed a mic to speak, you would not believe it. This little yapper is a natural born speaker and entertainer. But the flowers. The flowers are for his mama. My big sis has been advocating for her son to get the support he needs. And he was finally able to receive his autism diagnosis, get the additional out of school support covered by insurance. I'm talking occupational and speech theory. I'm speech. Speech therapy. I'm proud of you, sis. Watching her be the type of mother we wish we had has healed so many parts of me. So honored to be her sister and his aunt. And finally, shout out to the baby daddy. It takes a special type of. Wait, wait, wait.

[Jade]

Oh, my God.

[Dr. Kia]

She said it takes a special type of diggity to be a present. Debbie. Daddy. What?

[Jade]

I know, I know, I know. A few I don't know with the face.

[Dr. Kia]

Ciao. Keep up the amazing work. Y' all are inspiring with love, Auntie Lou. Thank you, auntie. Okay, shout out to Samir and to

[Jade]

your big shout out to you.

[Dr. Kia]

Okay. We're proud of and so grateful. Has continued to advocate for his support needs. Thank you, little girl. Thank you, thank you. We do.

[Jade]

All right, our next announcement. Dr. Kia and Chef Jade. I promise I won't fan girl for too long. But I love y' all and I grateful to see myself in each of you. Oh, yes, we do. Both of you are an inspiration and I'm stronger black woman. Advocate, parent, daughter and friend because of getting grown. Thank you. My God, y', all, really. I don't know what y' all are on, but I. It is so sweet. It's so sweet. So back in 2006, I didn't get into the counseling graduate program I applied to. So I gave up on my dream. In 2018, I miscarried, and I was in the wrong field, and I was just miserable. I couldn't do anything with the mounting rage. So I finally called the lady. With some encouragement from Crystal and Kid Fury, and thanks to Dr. Joy's therapy for Black Girls podcast and website, I know that's right. I found an amazing therapist that I've worked with ever since we worked through all the mess. We tried again. My son was born during COVID in our bathtub. Oh, my God. Yes, please send the story. I do want it, actually. That's for sure, she said. And I kept coming back to the dream of being a therapist. So in 2023, I applied to two master's programs with baited breath. The rejection letter from 2006 had me thinking enrollment wasn't in the cards for me, but I got in. I spent almost three years parenting three. So many beautiful children.

[Dr. Kia]

Oh, gosh.

[Jade]

Especially to a like me maintaining a marriage. Shout out to our couple's therapist because who child. Continuing to work as an early childhood director and completing a year and a half of internship hours while handling whatever else life threw at me. My partner was and is my biggest supporter. I didn't do it alone. I presented my capstone on the unseen burdens of the invisible load in black motherhood. I know that's right. Which there should be so much more research on. I agree. By the way, I plan to do more with my research. Stress is killing black women.

[Dr. Kia]

Correct?

[Jade]

Please talk about it. I finished in December with academic distinction, maintaining a 4.0 for the duration of the program. Over the weekend, I graduated with my Master of Arts and Counseling from Northwestern University. Yes, I am now a licensed clinical mental health counseling associate and a nationally certified counselor.

[Dr. Kia]

Come on.

[Jade]

My internship site hired me and I'm practicing already. Yeah, I can see anyone in the state of North Carolina, virtually or in person, if they're in the Durham, Chapel Hill, Carboro area. My work is dedicated to black women, mothers, LGBTQIA plus community and marginalized communities. Yes, society has created systems that exclude us, and I want to make sure there's always a safe place for our inclusivity. I'm sharing graduation season with my bookins. My son, my baby. Oh, in my CL voice. Exactly. That's why I was like. Once I read that after I was like. Graduated from Pre K on 66 and my eldest daughter had her 5th grade promotion children on 6 11. My 44th birthday was on the 12th and I graduated on the 13th of June. Has been a really busy girl.

[Dr. Kia]

I know.

[Jade]

I wrote this to celebrate me. I didn't even think I could get into a graduate program. I didn't think I was smart enough raised to make myself smaller. I didn't think it was possible. And once I got in, I didn't know if I could survive it. But I did.

[Dr. Kia]

Yeah.

[Jade]

And to have my children bear witness to their mom's accomplishment means everything. Their little waves and cheers in the weekend. This weekend warmed my heart. I won't have to tell them, you can do whatever you put your mind to because I've shown them.

[Dr. Kia]

That's it.

[Jade]

I'm insanely proud of myself. Yes. I love to hear that. Thanks for celebrating with me. And thank you again for making making the walk through the worst hood a lot less lonely. Love, y'.

[Pharmaceutical Advertiser]

All.

[Jade]

And that's from Shanika of our geese. M, A, L, C, M, H, C, A, N, C, C, period.

[Dr. Kia]

All the Alphabet.

[Jade]

Of course there's pictures. Okay. I was like, yes.

[Dr. Kia]

Pictures.

[Jade]

Yes. Large black family.

[Dr. Kia]

Come on.

[Jade]

Oh, my God.

[Dr. Kia]

Amazing. Thank you so much for sharing this.

[Jade]

Thank you.

[Dr. Kia]

So this is what the people need to hear. Okay.

[Jade]

What a beautiful, beautiful black family. You better do it because every.

[Dr. Kia]

No, it's not a no. Some nos are. Not yet. Keep trying. Keep trying. And you know what is for you will be yours. This is so good. Thank you so much for writing in and congratulations to you and to your beautiful children. All right.

[Jade]

Your whole lovely family.

[Dr. Kia]

So good. Okay. Hey, y', all, I have been a listener since day one. Come on. Getting grown is the same age as my daughter Reagan. And the first episode came out a week after she was born. So y' all helped me survive them newborn days. Terroristic toddlerhood, pandemic preschool days. And now we're in our sassy school kid days. As you can see in the email from 2022 below, she was just a 5 year old graduating from pre K. And now she's a rising fourth grader. Oh. For this year's graduation announcement, I would like to shout out my best friend, my big sister of 12 years, Nicole Michelle Martin, on receiving her master's degree of science and criminal justice from the Fayetteville State University on May 7, 2026. Nicole, I have looked up to You. Since the day we Met back in 2014, you have always been a constant in my life. But ever since my divorce, you have stepped up and stood 10 toes down behind me. Everybody knows you don't play about me. I could not be more proud of you for not only being a super mom to my three amazing nieces, you managed to run a business that was not your own, navigate a layoff, get a new job, get your first baby, through high school graduation and through her first year of college at South Carolina State, all while remaining a true inspiration to everyone who knows you. I tell you any chance I get how truly wonderful you are, but now the world gets to hear and see it, too. I love you so, so much. And I'm ready for the next part of your journey in criminal justice. If you know, you know, this time next year, I hope to be riding in to celebrate my own achievements of receiving my bachelor's degree in psychology from East Carolina University, a dream deferred 18 years ago. When the time comes, I will share my story with you and the rest of the get and grown community. Thank you, Jade and Kia, for allowing us the space to give our loved ones their very deserved flowers. May y' all continue to be blessed and highly favored. And she attached videos of herself and Nicole, as well as little Reagan Maria, and that is her twin, Mercy Perry. Thank you, Mercy. Oh, my God. Thank you, Mercy. Congratulations to Nicole.

[Jade]

Yeah, Congratulations, Nicole. I love a good sisterhood. You know what I'm saying? This is good.

[Dr. Kia]

We all. We got.

[Jade]

It's very important. True. Truly. I can't believe there were babies born when we were. That's not.

[Dr. Kia]

Anyway. Outrageous.

[Jade]

Oh, I think that was actually our last announcement for the day.

[Dr. Kia]

Oh, wait. Okay. Yes. Okay.

[Commercial Announcer]

Yes.

[Dr. Kia]

My bad.

[Jade]

Yes. No, all good. So thank you all so much for writing in. Make sure you all are getting your graduation announcements in by June 30th. Remember, that's the last day. And all of those announcements will be read. The last of those will be read that week. And we love you all. We're so great. Like these words, especially this week. You all always send such beautiful words. Let me be clear. But there's just something about getting loved on by your community in a time where you really need love from your community.

[Dr. Kia]

No, seriously.

[Jade]

You all really affirm us as we go through so many transitions.

[Dr. Kia]

I'm sorry, sis, in my add.

[Jade]

No, keep going. You good. You good.

[Dr. Kia]

Especially given some. You know how we started off the. The conversation at the kitchen table just sort of talk about how hard it could be and, you know, getting grown. This is, as, you know, as many of you have said, like, it's bigger than just a podcast, a job. It does feel like something we were called to create. And we've gone through a lot of changes, and we're still trying to figure out, you know, how to keep all the trains moving. So messages like these really do inspire us to keep persevering and pushing through despite changes that we are even experiencing on the show. So to know that our intention and our efforts to keep showing up for y' all matters to you really does mean a lot to me. So. We love y'. All and I'm grateful. You know, I never knew that we would ever create something like getting grown, and it was never on my bingo card, but it has been one of God's biggest blessings to me. And I mean.

[Jade]

Yeah. And I'm grateful that you, you know. Yeah. You all are so accepting. You know what I'm saying? You're so welcoming. You have welcomed us into your lives. And, you know, I have not been able to filter much for you. I filtered some because if I told you everything, I. You might cancel me. But. But I. I don't have to feel too much, you know what I'm saying? And. And we've been able to be transparent and really go through all of our ups and downs with you all in very true ways. And so we love reading your ups.

[Dr. Kia]

Yeah.

[Jade]

Your ups really continue to encourage us. And we really do this not just for our community, but for ourselves as well.

[Dr. Kia]

Yeah.

[Jade]

Like, it does something for our spirits to do this every single year. And we say that every single year. We mean it more and more every single year. So I'm just grateful for the space to be able to celebrate our communities in the ways that we deserve. And I hope everybody's taking a minute to love on themselves. I love the theme of getting raggedy up out of here. And I will also, you know, those who. Who gave their partners credit because I am a lady who is married. I hate men, but I love mine. And so I don't hate men, just some of you.

[Dr. Kia]

But.

[Jade]

But no, we love you all and we're so grateful for you and all these nieces and nephews and. And Thesis and the use and.

[Commercial Announcer]

And.

[Jade]

And everybody in between. I don't know, know, like, we're gonna have a non bear. You know, we're gonna have a non binary niece and nephew. So we have to probably call them a feast or something. Right? You know, I gotta make sure this is my theft view. You know, this is my thin view.

[Dr. Kia]

What's the.

[Jade]

What's the. I want to make sure you know, it's pride month. We're learning every day.

[Dr. Kia]

Find that out.

[Jade]

We. Oh, that's a good question. This is. Oh, what? This is adhd, ladies and gentlemen. Real time.

[Dr. Kia]

This is how we do.

[Jade]

What's the non binary pronoun for niece? Oh, Toni Braxton or nephew? Nibbling.

[Dr. Kia]

Nibbling.

[Jade]

Wouldn't that be a. I guess sibling is okay, so it's a. It's a nibbly. I love that it's. That goes along with nigglet. And you know, nigglet has never left my vocabulary. That is a little. Oh, I love that. A nibbling. Okay, so our nibblings. Well, that makes them sound like corn bites. All right. We're still workshopping anyway. Thank you all. We love you so much. That just went all the way left. Get your graduation announcements, of course. Everything else, let's go. Let's go to our self care.

[Dr. Kia]

Let's do it.

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[Dr. Kia]

Oh no.

[Jade]

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[Jade]

I deserve. So instead of a self care this week, I'm actually going to do. And I know that's right.

[Dr. Kia]

Yeah, I know that's right.

[Jade]

And it's for someone else. So while we're in the vein of shouting others out for their accomplishments and things, I want to shout out a fellow chef. She is from New Orleans, Louisiana. Her name is Chef Toya Bodhi and she released a cookbook called Cooking from Scratch. I went to on publishing day, she had a talk and you know, you go and get your book signed and all that at BIM Books and more. Who you know, I love them books and more. I interviewed them for the Black Kitchen series. Two Black Two Sisters, Black Owned Bookstore, specifically focus in the culinary realm of things. And so I just wanted to shout out Toya, make sure you all go check out her cookbook Cooking from Scratch. And it is a compilation of useful recipes for you. And yeah, I just wanted to shout out one of my fellow chefistas. So yeah, that's Chef Toya Bodhi and that's a B, O, U, D, Y spelled by the way, but I'll put it in the description box. What you got this week, sister?

[Dr. Kia]

Okay. This weekend self care was very simple. It was, you know, kind of, kind of links back to what we were talking about at the kitchen table. I would say given, given how difficult the last few days have been, I was very intentional on connecting with people, you know, in the past, you know that I have had a tendency to sort of stay in the room in the dark watching television and you know, there's time and space for that, right? Absolutely. But I was really intentional and I talking to my mom, you know, we both agreed that, you know, Brian would want us to live, Brian would want us to live. And so, you know, I went out to dinner with Lillian and Janae on Friday. I, you know, spent some time with, you know, my church siblings. I had to sing this weekend. So it was good to, you know, you know, just sort of pray and praise through, you know, as I have. And it was really just good to sort of just reconnecting that because, you know, the Sunday that I learned what happened to Brian. I had to sing. So, you know, just being intentional about, you know, doing the things that me and Brian grew up doing felt good, you know, and then I served people. Yeah. I served in church on Sunday. We went to get some food afterwards, and then I went to the o' Connors for dinner. So I was. I was intentional about, you know, connecting. And it paid off. It made the. It made the days bearable. And I'm grateful, like I said, for you and for all of y' all that have been my community.

[Jade]

Yes.

[Dr. Kia]

And, you know, we'll continue to just sort of be my family. I love y'. All.

[Jade]

Yeah.

[Dr. Kia]

And thank y' all for everything.

[Jade]

Absolutely. We love you. Shout out to Janae and Lillian, both phenomenal women. Phenomenal women.

[Dr. Kia]

Phenomenal women.

[Jade]

I gotta work on my Maya Angelou, but shout out to you all.

[Pharmaceutical Advertiser]

Yeah.

[Jade]

You're just the beautiful, beautiful, supportive black women who I. I know have been in your corner. And Janae is good. And Janae's been around for a minute, too.

[Dr. Kia]

Quiet.

[Jade]

Quiet. Mighty. Quiet. Mighty. You know what I'm saying over here? So, yeah, I'm glad that you. And shout out to the o', Connors, because they are loud and mighty, you know what I'm saying? I love the. Okay.

[Dr. Kia]

We love those.

[Jade]

You need all the energy around you

[Dr. Kia]

and, you know, just, just, just having that good sort of.

[Jade]

Yeah.

[Dr. Kia]

Family connection. And they always welcome me.

[Jade]

Yeah.

[Dr. Kia]

With open arms. And so I just am grateful for all of that.

[Jade]

Good. I love that. I love that you were surrounded. I love that you broke up. You know what I'm saying? How you take care of yourself during that time. Because like you said, any, any way that you choose is valid. But I'm glad that you went and surrounded yourself in love, you know what I mean? So good for you, sister.

[Dr. Kia]

Thank you, sister.

[Jade]

All right, well, let's take it down, get negative. Right this thing out.

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Okay.

[Dr. Kia]

Let's do it.

[Commercial Announcer]

Country.

[Dr. Kia]

Petty, petty, petty. All the same to me playing Jane Spaghetti. Okay.

[Jade]

I have two petty peeves, actually.

[Dr. Kia]

Yeah.

[Jade]

One of them super petty. I might have said it before. I'll probably say it again. As a lady married to an educator with a school age child, there is a particular dread that comes over me this time of year as I am preparing for both of them to be

[Dr. Kia]

here all the time anyway, around the clock.

[Jade]

And that's petty as hell, because those things live here.

[Dr. Kia]

Listen, but I'm sure that there are many, many people that can relate to what you have just shared.

[Jade]

Thank you so much. I Know you all feel me?

[Dr. Kia]

Exactly.

[Jade]

Secondly, you know, there wasn't. I'm gonna use Von King park here in Brooklyn, in Bed Stuy as an example. Y' all have these parks for. I'm so sick of gentrifiers. I'm over it with my whole heart, my whole ass, my whole mind and my whole soul. Why are you over here? And they're coming out in droves now, and they're not respecting the spaces. They're not partaking in the spaces and in the neighborhoods. So Von King Park Park, y' all have let your. It is a dog free, but there is a portion of the park that is specifically for your pooches. I'm not anti animal. You know that. Take your dog to the part of the park that is intended for it. They've let their. Their pink dogs with their pink spirits come and piss all over the lawn to the point where they had to mulch the whole lawn. And this is for people to come and sit and lay and enjoy. There was a period of time where Von King park was filled with who were having barbecues, birthday parties. You could find. Sometimes you could find six birthday parties on different parts of the park at one time. Cooking out and having a good time. Now it looks like Iowa State University.

[Dr. Kia]

Oh, God.

[Jade]

And y' all come in, you lay and you do whatever you want. And mo. First and foremost, you do not respect the community that was already there. You have none. You don't speak. You don't frequent the businesses the way that you need to. You all walk around with an entitlement. And I'm sick of it. I'm sick of it. The gentrification has amped up. Like, it's interesting to watch it. Like you. We have watched it in stages and phases, and it's interesting to watch it enter a new phase and to hear these people talk about, oh, my God. You know, where you need to look is flat bush. No, you don't need to look in these flat bush. You don't. You don't need to look over here. Don't move here anyway.

[Commercial Announcer]

Do not.

[Jade]

And you call me whatever you want to call me, but, But I mean this. I mean this so, so sincerely. And if you want to have a debate about it, let's have a debate about it. Let's talk about it. But I'm sick of it. I'm tired of seeing y' all come over here droves. I'm sick of. I. I looked out the other night.

[Pharmaceutical Advertiser]

I to went.

[Jade]

Go take a stroll down a sidewalk. I was the only out of nine. That was me. That was really layered, huh? Because it was about Von K parking your dogs originally. But I realized gentrification is when you watch it and when you watch it expand. Out, out, out, out, out. I have been displaced in so many neighborhoods at this point that I can't afford to go back and live in. And y' all just keep coming further out.

[Dr. Kia]

Go away.

[Jade]

Anyway, that's it. What you got?

[Dr. Kia]

Here's the thing. And this is probably extremely petty, but I. And I. This is also not me knocking anybody's hustle. I understand that this is now a very active and lucrative market, and when it works, it works. But I will say this. Everything don't need an app.

[Jade]

No. Oh, sister.

[Dr. Kia]

Everything don't need it. Again, like, why does my refrigerator have an app? What?

[Jade]

Surveillance?

[Dr. Kia]

What? Why? You know what I'm saying? Why. Why do my appliances come with apps? And I'll take you one further when you go, you know, when I'm traveling for work and I'm going to your conference, I'm going to your convening. You know, it used to be like, you know, there were one or two different apps that people would use for convenings, and you would just have to put in your meeting id and then you can pull up the meeting materials on these one or two apps. Now, the organizations, the conferences want to have their own apps. And so I just beg of you, like, we don't want to have to log in and download things to attend your stuff, because if I'm attending your meeting for just a day and a half, what I'm gonna do with this app after that, you know what I mean? You know, I just wanted the first

[Jade]

apps to piss me off, so knows

[Dr. Kia]

it's just getting out of hand. I just feel like there are. So we are inundated now. Like, this is not me saying, like, there are some apps that provide convenience and streamline things. And, you know. You know, there are. I'm not. I'm not hating on those. I'm just saying it seems like some of y' all is just creating an app for app sake. And it's not a flex, like, you know what I'm saying? App. To what end? How do you want us to engage? What do you want us to do.

[Jade]

An app is for. That's something that you use frequently. Oh, my God.

[Dr. Kia]

It's okay.

[Jade]

You know, I have another petty peeve now who have those stupid engines and set off car alarms because it's little dick energy in a big car.

[Dr. Kia]

Yeah, they Just want to make all of these. They want to make all of. They want to make themselves known. It is a lot of.

[Jade]

Okay, listen here, four inches. Go find another way to overcome.

[Dr. Kia]

It's the very.

[Jade]

Instead of big energy disrupting the full.

[Dr. Kia]

It don't even take all of that. That. It don't even take all of that. Well, who do you think you are driving down this very residential street making all that noise? But yeah, functions. Apps need to have a practical utility. Why you got to have an app if you have to really sit and think, do I really need this app beyond this one event? Like you like, come on.

[Jade]

But yeah, I don't like that. I really feel like maybe that's my,

[Dr. Kia]

you know, maybe that's my Tennessee between the events appliances. I just feel like, okay, do I. I need an app for everything? You know what I'm saying? It's like, girl, I know I don't need to have 337 apps on my phone. That's just too much to wade through every day.

[Jade]

I also don't need everything to be electronic. Like how they have those electronic. Like that. You need an app. Whiteboards for your refrigerator where you can like, do the digital calendar. Yeah, it's cute. Also, they're monitoring everywhere that you're going. Why can't you get some dry erase markers?

[Dr. Kia]

We just are also losing, like, we're losing those functionalities. The children can't read cursive. Like, and these are very like, like, come on. These are very basic things and we should have a more. I want to have a deeper conversation at some point around tech dependence and how it is just. Just degrading the quality of basic human functionality. More most importantly, like, critical thinking skills. Like, you know, there's just an absence of like, not even critical thinking, but just like engaging your brain. Like, like the convenience is getting out of hand. Okay.

[Jade]

People are like regular comprehension.

[Dr. Kia]

Yeah. They don't have their. People are negotiating life absent very basic skills.

[Jade]

AI. These AI overviews will just like, I understand if I look up something right now, like, like I just did where I was like, oh, is this mini Blah, blah, blah. But if you don't know how to research and everything is at your disposal. Disposal for like, the answer is right there. You're never going to go and do a deeper dive into this information. It's like you're taking everything at face value and then these people are malicious and nefarious. So they don't. You don't know what they're putting behind these computers to tell you what it is in that moment, how that's warping your brain.

[Dr. Kia]

And that's exactly what it's doing. It is warping your brain. It is shrinking it. The brains are getting smoother. They're just getting smooth.

[Jade]

Not in a good way. Like balls where they shave those little hairs off and they don't look like Christopher Walken anymore. You know what I mean? It's. Your brain should not be smooth. It should.

[Dr. Kia]

It should not be. But that is another episode again Grown. And we are very appreciative of all of you for joining us yet again around the kitchen table and just catching up with us for the week. We will be back next week with with another exciting guest and excited to sort of get into the summer content. We'll let you know. I think, sister, we're going to, we need to sit and think through exactly, you know, when and how we're going to create some time for a little rest in the summer. Yes, yes.

[Jade]

And we will, we will do that.

[Dr. Kia]

So we'll think about that. And yeah, if, as always, if there are conversations that you want us to have or folks you want us to talk to, drop us an email, send us a line at. Hello, Getting Grown Co. Continue to send your graduation announcement. As Jay said, we will be reading them through June 30th. Well, June 30th will be the cutoff, so we'll read the ones that we receive up until June 30th. And as always, we just love you guys so, so much and thank you for sitting with us.

[Jade]

All right, make sure you check out the Patreon where you get the video version of this podcast along with. It's really just the best way to support us here over at Getting Grown as we are independently operating. Yes, we are so thankful for each and every one of you. And sis, take them out, tell them, tell them all the things for sure.

[Dr. Kia]

Make sure that you are moisturizing your mind. And the best way to do that is by minding your own business. Okay. Keep your brain hydrated by worrying about yourself. You want to then keep your body hydrated by drinking just as much water as your body can sustain.

[Jade]

Every.

[Dr. Kia]

Every day.

[Jade]

Every day.

[Dr. Kia]

That's every day. Every other day, every day. And then you want to moisturize your skin, which is your largest organ because your black will crack if it's dry.

[Jade]

Even in the summertime.

[Dr. Kia]

Especially in the summertime. Bye Tata.

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