Tea with Meek & Nique Monique Hibma and Meka Harrell

00:40 - We back! The ladies are ready for a new season and are going to push their conversations to the next level to address and reflect on what is happening in the world.
 
2:20 - Meka gives a life update about her career and catches us up on changes that she has been through in recent months. She made plans to leave her job in June, but Covid came through and changed everything. 
 
6:15 - The ladies reflect on how Covid has impacted their lives, how it has been a humbling experience, and how it has been a strangely positive opportunity for true rest. They speak on how they have been able to reconnect and be involved more deeply in their children’s lives (even though it can make you crazy sometimes).
 
9:00 - The theme of today’s episode is grounded in real, honest talk about being Black in America, how Black Lives Matter and how that applies to Black women and mothers, and how to find courage through all that is happening in this country right now. 
 
11:20 - Meek shares about explaining to her son about slavery and their ancestors, about the strength of Black history, and how nothing has meaningfully changed since then. More needs to be done.
 
12:40 - Meek and Nique reflect on how they coped with the heartbreaking murders of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd, and how deeply it impacted them as individuals, as Black women, and what action they began to see around them as a reaction to these crimes. 
 
15:50 - Nique shares her frustration around the white women who reached out on social media after George Floyd’s murder, that those messages felt disingenuine because they had never reached out before, didn’t follow any other Black people on socials, and it seemed more like a “am I a good white person” check.
 
18:06 - Meek shares an experience about picking up her son from daycare (pre-Covid) where another mother asked who she was and why she was there… because she had never seen Meek before. It’s incredibly infuriating to have people question Black parents who are simply just parenting, or doing anything else!
 
22:40 - Meek shares a quote: “Look at Black people, learning stocks, buying plants, saving money, prioritizing health, exercising, uniting, progressing. Rest looks so good on us.” This quote is so perfect for what they need right now, and encapsulates what the ladies are so excited for this season. 
 
24:21 - Nique reflects on balancing the work and the rest, in combination with her husband who is working hard to tackle Covid, and teaming up to ensure that there is Covid testing accessibility in black communities that need it!
 
27:45 - “It’s not an if, it’s a when.” Meek and Nique discuss what it’s like to live every day in this world as a Black person, as a Black woman, and a Black mother. The fear that they carry every day is not right and needs to change, but it has made them strong. We will come back to this all season long, this is the real and raw work.
 
29:05 - But here’s the tea for today! Nique is sipping on Rosehip and Camomile to help with the zen needed to address the topics in today’s episode. Meek is sipping on her go-to of Peach, Ginger, and Mint tea, because when she finds something she likes, she sticks with it.
 
31:11 - What do you call Drive Tracks in the time of Covid? Mommy Mood Makers? We’ll come up with a new name... Meek and Nique have been listening to Triggered by Jhene Aiko and Black by Buddy. Give these a listen until next time!
Make sure to follow Meek and Nique on social media! 
Meka’s blog is Hanging with the Harrells and her instagram is @xomekaharrell.
Nique can be found at White Coat Wifey and followed at @whitecoatwifey!
 
Follow the show at @teawithmeekandnique on Insta to see behind-the-scenes and more content, say hello to your fearless hosts at meekandnique.com, and tune in for the next episode!

1:12 - This episode, we’re starting with the tea. Meka is sipping on her trusty Peach, Ginger, and Mint tea, and Nique has a Hibiscus Berry with a dash of agave. Good tea for today’s episode.
 
2:30 - The ladies dive into the fun things that they and the kids have been doing while in Covid lockdown. Meek shares about how she took her family to a drive-through farm to see and feed all the different animals, which was so fun for the kids (but expensive for mama)! Video on that coming soon.... 
 
6:30 - Hellman’s Mayonnaise or Miracle Whip? There’s no debate on this podcast. It’s gotta be Hellman’s!
 
7:30 - Nique talks about how their family has been riding bikes together, seeing her eldest teach the youngest how to ride without training wheels, and seeing her kids truly bond with each other in this time of Covid.
 
9:05 - The ladies talk about Family Night Fridays - finding the right movie, gotta get the pizza! Meka talks about watching Babysitter’s Club on Netflix and how it’s so different from what they used to watch, because it addresses real topics like divorce, LGBTQ+, racism, and other important social topics that children and pre-teens have to navigate. 
 
12:00 - Meek and Nique go through their other Netflix recommendations and how both their households are obsessed with The Floor is Lava! Are your kids obsessed too? Who would be on your team?
 
17:25 - Nique is appreciating spending time with her husband and being outside more. They reflect on the Saharan dust storm that came through and appreciate the calm of the summer nights, even though it’s hard to be grounded and not travelling right now. 
 
18:47 - The ladies discuss strategizing long car rides and travel during Covid with kids who need to stop all the time! There are so many useful tools for travel so you don’t have to stop. Get you some gel cups :)
 
22:55 - Drive Tracks Time! This week, we’re listening to Chloe X Halle Ungodly Hour album, especially the song ROYL, and Ciara’s Girl Gang from her Beauty Marks album. Listen up and let us know what you’re listening to!

Make sure to follow Meek and Nique on social media! 
Meka’s blog is Hanging with the Harrells and her instagram is @xomekaharrell.
Nique can be found at White Coat Wifey and followed at @whitecoatwifey!
 
Follow the show at @teawithmeekandnique on Insta to see behind-the-scenes and more content, say hello to your fearless hosts at meekandnique.com, and tune in for the next episode!

00:80 - And we back, and we back, and still black! Are you sipping with us, communitea? Today, Meka is sipping on her fave Peach Ginger and Mint tea, and Nique is changing it up with some peppermint. Christmas in July, anyone?
 
2:20 - This episode is all about how we are doing; like really, how are you? What sparked this was a sentence in a Bible plan - “we walk through life with our masks on” - that captures how we have to change our authentic selves. If you’re wearing your mask and I’m wearing mine, how are we ever going to know each other? Today, we’re going to show up authentically and really see each other, pain, flaws, and all.
 
4:05 - Being authentic and honest with ourselves is so valuable, especially now, because it allows us to find the support we need. As mamas, Meek and Nique know how much they’re doing for their children, and that there are other mothers out there doing 100% for their kids by themselves. Being with our kids 24/7 in this pandemic is hard!
 
7:85 - Yes, we love and care for our kids, but you bet we are gonna take our time for ourselves! Taking time for you allows you to re-energize and come home stronger for your family and for yourself. 
 
8:95 - The ladies talk about how they’re doing - like, how they’re really doing. Meek talks about how she’s really feeling more stress free, sleeping in, living life as a night hawk. Nique describes feeling a deeper inner peace, a gratitude for where she is in life, being amazed at how her children are growing into their own lives. 
 
12:30 - The ladies talk about how the changes the pandemic has brought this year has also invited a new calmness and a scaled-back approach to life, while wrestling with a feeling of nostalgia and longing for going to do things. Meek and Nique talk about how the new adaptations COVID has forced on us has made them more creative, more appreciative, and helped them realize that the little things are so big and important.
 
17:96 - The conversation turns to taking ourselves too seriously, especially growing up in a black household where that behavior was definitely side-eyed by our elders. Let’s live life, kids, and let’s learn how to let go a little bit, adults. 
 
20:20 - Mental health is so important, especially right now, for the mamas who are home and taking care of the kids and getting ready for virtual school. We have to use the resources around us, whether that is therapy or a spiritual director, we have to have someone who we can talk to as a sounding board to cope with all of the things that we as black women, black mothers, have to live with each day. It’s okay to not be okay, and it’s okay to get help!
 
25:96 - Monique reflects on an experience she had with an acquaintance that made her realize: what would happen if two people showed up as their authentic selves? If we could introduce ourselves truly and authentically… what would we even say?? Our life circumstances make us who we are, it doesn’t hold us back, so we need to learn how to own it. 
 
30:85 - We’re going to leave it there with some Drive Tracks. Meek’s track is Freedom by Beyonce because it makes her feel empowered to be free from the stress and anxiety of Corporate America. Nique is listening to India. Aire’s Strength, Courage & Wisdom because it’s a great song that features all black artists
Make sure to follow Meek and Nique on their updated socials! 
Meka’s blog is Hanging with the Harrells and her instagram is @xomekaharrell.
Nique’s website is Monique Hibma and follow her @moniqueimanhibma.
 
Follow the show at @teawithmeekandnique on Insta to see behind-the-scenes and more content, make sure to use the #teawithmeekandnique so we can see what you’re sipping on, and say hello to your fearless hosts at meekandnique.com, and tune in for the next episode!
 
Are you looking for someone to talk to? Check out Therapy for Black Girls for resources!

00:42 - The ladies are back! We have an exciting topic today - fitness! Monique is the fit momma and Meka has just started her own “sweat-xy” fitness journey, so we’re talking from every perspective. Remember, the kids are always watching, so let’s be good examples. There are so many ways to incorporate exercise into family time and it makes it so much more fun! 
 
4:44 - Meek talks about taking the plunge and buying herself the Peloton bike. Make sure to check out her blog post about the reasons why it’s worth that investment, because she’s already feeling and seeing the benefits. Nique has been a Peloton member for a while, so if you want to be Team Peloton with the communitea, hit up the ladies for referral codes and get some money off on your bike accessories!
 
7:50 - We have to sweat for our health. The CDC cites that the leading cause of death for black women is heart disease, so we have to do the work to keep our bodies strong and healthy. If you don’t want to spend the money on a Peloton, download a fitness app to get you going or simply go out for a walk! It also just makes you feel good, so get out and do it.
 
10:45 - Technology today helps so much too! The ladies talk about the different exercises that you can add to your Apple watch, the motivation of closing your activity rings, and taking on challenges with your friends. 
 
14:45 - Just like jump rope, we gotta jump in at the right time with what we’re sipping on today. Meka’s got her signature staple, her Ginger Peach and Mint tea, while Nique is trying something new, a Japanese green tea called gyokuro.
 
15:42 - And we’re jumping back into fitness! From jump ropes to hoola hoops, some of our childhood favorites can be fun or just plain ridiculous.
 
18:00 - Fitness and health go hand in hand, and a big part of health is staying hydrated. Drink that water and get some sunshine, because we’re basically plants. 
 
18:37 - Let’s talk yoga. Yoga is so great for your body because it’s all bodyweight strength exercise, it’s about mindfulness and focusing on yourself. We know Monique is the yoga queen, so check out her practice and even schedule a flow session with her on her website!
 
24:21 - Fitness is a journey and it’s a process. No, we’re not always in the best shape ever all the time, but we’re going to be working out to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Try some of the things that Meek and Nique have - crossfit, weights, spinning, and get you some new kicks to look good too!
 
25:50 - Fit Chiks Omi and Nicki have inspired Meka so much recently by making Black Girls Skating go viral! They look fire and rollerblading is definitely some work. Being physically active doesn’t have to be super strenuous or boring - it can be fun! Go ice skating, involve the family, challenge yourself to do a little more every day. We have so many opportunities to get our bodies moving.
 
28:55 - Need some fit-spiration? Follow our friends Omi and Tiffany and find other people who are doing the dang thing and motivate you to do more for yourself! We all need that positive encouragement.
 
30:00 - Drive Tracks have a workout theme today. We’re listening to Kanye West’s Workout Plan and Brand New Me by Alicia Keys. Add these jams to your workout playlist, then let us know what you’re listening to!
Make sure to follow Meek and Nique on their updated socials! 
Meka’s blog is Hanging with the Harrells and her instagram is @xomekaharrell.
Nique’s website is Monique Hibma and follow her @moniqueimanhibma.
Follow the show at @teawithmeekandnique on Insta to see behind-the-scenes and more content, make sure to use the #teawithmeekandnique so we can see what you’re sippin on, and say hello to your fearless hosts at meekandnique.com, and tune in for the next episode!

00:45 - We’re back! We all made it through another day of virtual learning at home in this crazy pandemic. And that’s what this episode is about - how we’re making it through distance learning, what we’re learning while our kids are in school at home, and what our escapes are looking like now. Who else has personal time in the car or at the Target drive-thru?
 
04:56 - So, what have been the biggest challenges of school-at-home so far? For Meka, she’s in the first week of kindergarten and it is a struggle to get Jagger out of bed and motivated to do schoolwork. But, the ladies applaud that the kids are able to function and even try going to school right now - it’s a lot of work and they’re struggling too! 
 
08:55 - Speaking of challenges, virtual school also means that our schedules, routines, and structures have changed. Workouts can’t happen whenever we want, the living space has changed to accommodate school, and we are literally living in the living room. We’ve all just become more adaptable and adjusted our spaces so we can live, work, play, and chill. 
 
12:02 - Monique talks about the challenges of living downtown and navigating the city when they get the kids outside for “recess” - avoiding fast cars and narrow sidewalks, but this also creates the opportunity to have new outdoor adventures.
 
12:40 - However, there are some highlights! Meek loves not having the daily early rising and long commute to get to school. Nique includes an imaginary “commute” to school every day, so the kids can feel set up and ready for school. We’ve all got some more time in our mornings to get creative (or sleep more)!
 
14:33 - Speaking of time, it’s tea time. Meka is sipping on The Meka, her peach, mint, and ginger classic. Maybe she’ll find a mango tea next time. Nique has got a citrus green tea, a good mid-morning tea to keep you going!
 
15:37 - The ladies talk about how lunchtime has changed for the better. With all the extra time we have with the kids now, Meek and Nique are feeding them hot, nutritious lunches and trying new things (air fryer fish sticks, anyone?). Making new menus and giving lunch fun, fancy names is definitely another highlight of virtual school right now. 
 
19:27 - Meek and Nique talk about the processes of learning schoolwork, submitting assignments, and teaching the kids technical skills they need to participate wholly in virtual school so they can continue to learn and grow. But, it can be hard to keep up with everyone’s different schedules and calendar reminders - remember to give yourself some grace, teach self-sufficiency to your kids, and allow your kids to also figure out how to navigate their day.
 
24:33 - Meka talks about how virtual school has also given her perspective of what she has, and what she’s able to give her kids. Two of Jagger’s classmates have to do school from a daycare center instead of from home because parents still have to work, juggle life, and figure out how to give their kids a safe place to learn. We all have to do whatever we can to make it work for our families during this time. 
 
29:50 - In all this, though, we all still struggle, including the kids. They’re missing their friends, missing their routines, and the extracurriculars that got them out of the house. Meek and Nique discuss how their kids all cope differently and how they channel their frustrating moments into creative outlets and socially distant activities.
 
38:08 - Of course we have to wrap up with our Drive Tracks (for those pretend commutes right now). Meka is listening to Lucky Me by Vic Shawn, which is grounded in his personal experience with a medical scare that turned out to be nothing. Nique has been feeling nostalgic, listening to Lauryn Hill’s Nothing Even Matters, and the whole Miseducation of Lauryn Hill album. 
Make sure to follow Meek and Nique on their updated socials! 
Meka’s blog is Hanging with the Harrells and her instagram is @xome

00:40 - Hey mamas, welcome back! We back and still Black and excited to be here with you! Don’t forget your tea. You know what Meka is sippin on - her peach, mint, ginger classic with honey mixed in. Monique is changing it up today by sipping on some matcha.
 
04:32 - This year of 2020 has been something else for us all. The ladies reflect on how they brought in 2020 and how different the start of the year was from our current situation. We’ve all learned so much since the pandemic hit, but what exactly have these lessons been? Meek feels she’s gained perspective on how short and special life really is, as we’ve all gone through so much loss this year. Let’s use every talent and ounce of energy we have to put into living a rich and good life.
 
08:45 - Nique adds to that sentiment, realizing she’s at the “ma’am” stage of her life and she wholly embraces it! Let’s give love to each other while we’re here, not just when we lose someone or are faced with pain.
 
12:32 - Anybody else have that creeping feeling that the other shoe is gonna drop? Sometimes, it can be hard to enjoy all the good things in life because we’re so conditioned to expect and prepared for bad things - thinking about what happens if a partner dies, where are all the important documents, what happens to the family dynamic, having all these hard conversations!
 
14:55 - One of the biggest lessons of 2020 is that we can do better, we can do so much better and we have the capacity to elevate the work that we’re doing to do more for ourselves, our minds, our kids, our communities. Monique talks about the simple joy of having a bathtub and time to think and gain perspective, of up and moving to a new city and understand what is really needed in life.
 
17:20 - Meka adds that she is more present, more grateful for what she has and her journey to this point in her life, and the fact that there is more growth in her future. She is learning to love what she has, is letting go of the junk, and reshaping what home means to her.
 
19:57 - The ladies encourage the listeners, if there’s somewhere else that you’re being called to be, take the leap and watch the doors open up for you. Even when you’re scared, you can do it and create change in your life! What would your excellent day and excellent life look like?
 
22:53 - Even though this year has been challenging, with so much loss and so many changes, there is good still happening! Marriages and celebrations, job growth and babies being born; remember to focus in on the good.
 
25:45 - Meek and Nique reflect on how the pandemic has grounded their travel plans and remember back on their last plane trips. There’s so much about traveling that we miss, but maybe there are some changes we can make when we are able to travel again - travel less, stay longer, be more present and thankful for being able to be somewhere new.
 
28:24 - We always gotta end with our Drive Tracks. Meka is listening to the whole Detroit 2 album by Big Sean but is especially loving Harder Than My Demons. Monique is listening to Stevie Wonder’s Don’t You Worry Bout a Thing, which is especially fitting for the present time. 
 
Make sure to follow Meek and Nique on their updated socials! 
Meka’s blog is Hanging with the Harrells and her instagram is @xomekaharrell.
Nique’s website is Monique Hibma and follow her @moniqueimanhibma.
Follow the show at @teawithmeekandnique on Insta to see behind-the-scenes and more content, make sure to use the #teawithmeekandnique so we can see what you’re sipping on, say hello to your fearless hosts at meekandnique.com, and tune in for the next episode!