On today’s show I interview Dr. Eddith Dashiell. In May, she became the Director of the E. W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University. Dr. Dashiell is the first woman and the first African American to hold the position. I met her in the early 1990s when I was a journalism student at OU. She was one of my favorite professors. About a decade after I graduated, she embraced her natural because OU, a predominantly white campus in rural Athens, Ohio, has never had much black hair care support. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/hairhowigrewit/message

Hair! How I Grew It

Ep. 24: Eddith Dashiell

On today's show I interview my beautiful and talented cousin, Tanikka Charraé. I wanted Tanikka to be a part of Hair! How I Grew It’s first season, but she couldn’t because before COVID, she was traveling around the world singing backup for Lauryn Hill. She’s been doing that for nearly 11 years. I’m so proud of Tanikka. The first time I saw her on one of the late-night shows with Ms. Hill, I cheesed so hard, my cheeks hurt. Now, grounded like most us, Tanikka made time to share her journey to natural hair. She’s been rocking hers for about 12 years. I know I’ve mentioned Ms. Hill a few times already, but I assure you, this is not a show about her. This is about Tanikka Charraé, but I started the interview talking about the Grammy-award winning artist because of her natural vibe. I still remember Ms. Hill’s glorious locs from back in the day, and those iconic lyrics from her song Doo Woop. "Look at where you be in, hair weaves like Europeans." She’s calling sistahs out. So, I asked Tanikka what impact has being around that energy had on her natural hair life. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/hairhowigrewit/message

Ep. 23: Tanikka Charraé

On today’s show I interview my family doctor, Sabine Paul-Yee. She’s a CentraState physician, who embraced her natural six years ago. Dr. Paul-Yee is the best doctor I’ve ever had. Her bedside manner is impeccable, and she always makes me feel like my health really matters, so of course I had to interview her because on this show, black hair matters. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/hairhowigrewit/message

Ep. 22: Sabine Paul-Yee

On today’s show I interview LaWanda Toney. LaWanda is a Communications Director for a nonprofit based in the Washington, D.C. metro area. A South Carolina native, she is also a graduate of Howard University. We spoke less than 24-hours after former Vice President Joe Biden announced he picked Senator Kamala Harris as his running mate. Harris is also a Bison, so of course, I had to get LaWanda’s thoughts on her HU sister making history. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/HairHowIGrewIt/message

Ep. 21: LaWanda Toney

On today’s show I interview Comedienne and Musician Rita Brent. Rita embraced her natural five years ago. Her viral videos are the humor we need during this unprecedented time. The Mississippi native’s Quarantine Shuffle features Rita dancing with her family while she sings about washing hands, staying indoors and other precautions we should take to protect ourselves from COVID-19. Rita’s A Prayer for Trump, which has more than one million views on Facebook, is laugh out loud political commentary. Here’s an excerpt. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/HairHowIGrewIt/message

Ep. 20: Rita Brent

On today’s show I interview Karla Redditte. Karla is a TV anchor and reporter at NBC 12 in Richmond, Virginia. The Memphis, Tennessee, native is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. See, told y’all, this Delta is all about spreading Greek love. Karla embraced her natural 12 years ago, and five years ago this month she debuted it on air. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/HairHowIGrewIt/message

Ep. 19: Karla Redditte

You know the saying, don’t judge a book by its cover? Well, it applies to today’s guest, Ashley Moore. A Georgia peach, who now lives in Las Vegas, Nevada, Ashley is a Cardiac Clinical Specialist with one of the top medical device companies in the world. Her job is to help electrophysiologists implant cardiac devices. She’s also a natural hair enthusiast, lifestyle blogger and my Delta Sigma Theta Sorority sister. Looking at Ashley, you’d never guess this beautiful, bubbly and outgoing chocolate sistah, who models part time, lost her mother to domestic violence. Ashley was just 12 at the time. Later in the show, she talks candidly about how that tragedy devastated her hair life. First, we talk hair texture. Hers is soft with wavy curls, and a little kinky in the back. Living in a dry climate, Ashley doesn’t have to worry about hair shrinkage. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/HairHowIGrewIt/message

Ep. 18: Ashley Moore

On today's show I interview my stepsister, Stefanie Graddic. Born and raised in Beaufort, South Carolina, Stefanie is a medical device sales representative based in San Francisco, California. Stefanie wore weaves a lot. So much so, they became a crutch, and she didn’t truly embrace her natural hair until a few years ago. Find out why she finally did later in the show. First, we talk hair texture. Hers is soft, light, dry and a bit schizophrenic. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/HairHowIGrewIt/message

Ep. 17: Stefanie Graddic

On today's show I interview my fellow Clevelander and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Sister, Janelle Coleman, who is one of the busiest people I know. Janelle is the Executive Vice President, External Affairs for the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, one of the top zoos in the country. Her community life includes serving on the board of trustees for Ohio University, YWCA Columbus, and KIPP Foundation. She’s married to the former four-term mayor of Columbus, Ohio, who by the way is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, so her social calendar is always full. And, she is training for a two-day bike race called Pelotonia, which has raised more than 200 million dollars in cancer research. Needless to say, getting Janelle on the phone was not easy, but she made time for the podcast because she’s proud to be a part of the natural hair movement. Janelle hopes the ups and downs of her hair journey, which includes her ongoing struggle with hair loss, will help sistahs, who are dealing with the same issues. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/HairHowIGrewIt/message

Ep. 16: Janelle Coleman

On today's show I interview my fellow Clevelander, Artist and Preschool Teacher Adrian Lane. Adrian is designing the cover of Cleveland’s Crown Angels, my first fiction book, that’s coming soon. During the podcast, I’ll share a few excerpts from this over-the-top supernatural, natural hair adventure. Thank you, Hair! Hair How I Grew It guest Keturah Bobo for recommending Adrian. Listen to episode five to hear Keturah share how her artwork often embodies young black girls’ natural hair struggles. Adrian has worn a natural for nearly 10 years. I asked her to describe her hair texture. She compared it to an art tool she’s used, which made me smile. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/HairHowIGrewIt/message

Ep. 15: Adrian Lane

On today's show I interview Digital Content Creator Victoria Davis. Victoria and I have a lot in common. We were born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. We attended predominantly white colleges with little to offer in black haircare. We’re Greek. I’m a Delta, and she’s an AKA. We worked in television newsrooms, and Victoria’s ClassyCurlies.com includes my mom’s first name, which is Curlie, spelled C-U-R-L-I-E. Speaking of ClassyCurlies.com, it’s the reason why I wanted to interview Victoria. She is the creator and CEO of the website that started as a diary and is now a thriving natural hair online community for sistahs. I asked her how she came up with the domain name. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/HairHowIGrewIt/message

Ep. 14: Victoria Davis

On today's show I interview Technology Consultant and Life Coach Tonya Brewington. Tonya is the CEO and founder of TBrewing Consulting and Courageously Alive. The latter helps people learn how to live and love again and create a life filled with courage, forgiveness and growth, particularly after experiencing trauma or tragedy. A Fayetteville, North Carolina native, Tonya has worn a natural for nearly 25 years. Shout out again to my Delta Sigma Theta Sorority sister and Hair! How I Grew It guest Tamika Felder. As I said in the beginning of the show, Tonya is the third person Tamika has put on my radar for this podcast. Listen to Hair! How I Grew It episode seven to hear Tamika share her journey back to natural hair. During our conversation, I learned Tonya did the big chop twice, which really impressed me because I haven’t had the courage to do it once. She did it both times to help her reboot her life. More on that later in the show. First, we talk texture. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/HairHowIGrewIt/message

Ep. 13: Tonya Brewington

On today's show I interview Fitness Entrepreneur Kimberly Turner. Everyone calls her Kim. Born and raised in Gary, Indiana, Kim has rocked her natural for nearly 25 years. She likes the look because it’s versatile, healthy and fits her fitness lifestyle. At 51, her sculpted body and flat abs put most twentysomethings to shame. When I saw her wearing workout gear in a photo she emailed to me for this program, I thought, I need to sign up for a gym membership ASAP. Kim is the owner of Fitness Snob Studio in Washington, D.C. She describes her business as a high-end boutique fitness studio for independent instructors and concepts, like Vixen and other workouts. Kim provides the space and gym amenities, and the instructors book her location by the hour and run their own classes there. She works with some of the best in the business. For example, Michelle Obama’s trainer, the one who helped the former first lady get those amazing toned arms, taped an on-demand series at the studio. I didn’t know Kim until Hair! How I Grew It guest Tamika Felder said the fitness entrepreneur would be a great guest for the show. Thank you, Soror, for another awesome recommendation. Check out Hair! How I Grew It episode seven to hear Tamika’s laugh out loud and sobering journey back to natural hair. Tamika is my Delta Sigma Theta Sorority sister. Kim is Greek too but a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. I had to mention that at the beginning of our conversation. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/HairHowIGrewIt/message

Ep. 12: Kimberly Turner

On today’s show, I interview A’Lelia Bundles. She is African American haircare royalty. I spoke to A’Lelia just days before the 152nd birthday of her great-great grandmother, Madam C. J. Walker. I’d heard of Madam Walker, the first documented, self-made black millionaire, who built a haircare empire in the early 1900s. What self-respecting black person hasn’t? But, I didn’t know about A’Lelia until my Delta Sigma Theta Sorority sister and Hair! How I Grew It guest, Tamika Felder, suggested I reach out to her.  Thank you, Soror! Listen to Hair! How I Grew It episode seven to hear Tamika share her journey back to natural hair, which includes lots of laughs, some lowcountry history and sobering cancer and hair talk.   Born in Chicago and raised in Indianapolis, A’Lelia has been natural for most of her life.  She is a journalist, historian and Madam C. J. Walker biographer.  Even though we’d never met before I contacted her, she didn’t hesitate to say yes to sharing her hair journey, and I am so grateful.  So far, Hair! How I Grew It has featured sistahs typically talking about traumatic childhood hair experiences, like hot comb and chemical relaxer burns. A’Lelia didn’t go through any of that. Early on in our conversation, she fondly recalled her mom’s gentle touch. Photo credit: Que Duong --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/HairHowIGrewIt/message

Ep. 11: A'Lelia Bundles

On today’s show I interview my cousin, DaNotta Jackson. She’s a retired United States Marine Corps Company First Sergeant. A Beaufort, South Caroline native, DaNotta’s been sporting her natural for more than 20 years. When I asked her to be a guest on Hair! How I Grew It, she, of course, said yes. I mean, saying no to family, her blood – not really an option. Love you cousin! But, DaNotta didn’t think anyone would care about what she had to say because she’s been natural for a while. I explained why she was wrong. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/HairHowIGrewIt/message

Ep. 10: DaNotta Jackson

A podcast with sistahs sharing their hair-raising natural hair journeys. A production of Drakeel Enterprises. New episodes every other Monday.

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Hair! How I Grew It

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