Codie Elaine Oliver is a master builder of culture, community, and visibility. As the co-creator of the Black Lovedocuseries and founder of BlackLove.com, Codie has dedicated her life to amplifying stories that show the full spectrum of Black love, family, healing, and entrepreneurship. In this soul-stirring episode of Culture Raises Us, host Astor Chambers sits down with Codie to unpack the movement behind the media. From navigating ownership in Hollywood to balancing motherhood, wellness, and entrepreneurship, Codie shares how storytelling became her calling—and why she refuses to water anything down for comfort. This is a conversation about love as a cultural cornerstone, mentorship as responsibility, and authenticity as a non-negotiable. Whether she’s leading retreats, producing podcasts like The Mama’s Den, or helping shape safe spaces for Black families to be seen and celebrated, Codie is living proof that storytelling is not just art—it’s a public service. You’ll learn: How Black Love became a platform and not just a series Why ownership matters more than virality How motherhood shaped her as a leader Why transparency and vulnerability are at the root of impact The power of Black women creating space for each other How to nurture culture while protecting your own peace Codie leaves us with three timeless seeds for future stewards of culture: take up space, mentor those behind you, and lead with love. This episode is a masterclass on creating from a place of purpose and leading from the heart. Chapter Markers:00:00 – Culture, Wisdom & the Power of Story01:22 – Creating Space for Black Love Stories03:10 – From Howard to Hollywood: Owning the Vision05:05 – Leaving Journalism to Pursue Joy07:12 – Discovering the Power of Black Romcoms09:00 – From the Obamas to the Black Marriage Myth11:18 – The Birth of Black Love Series13:31 – Navigating Insecurity and Delays in Creation15:05 – Meeting Tommy & Creating the Docuseries17:12 – The Importance of Black Ownership19:48 – Why Black Love Took Two Years to Build22:10 – Choosing a Licensing Deal with OWN24:19 – Monetizing the Platform: Merch, FAST Channels, and Spin-offs26:44 – Expanding the Brand: BlackLove.com & The Mama’s Den28:16 – Creating Safe Spaces for Motherhood30:17 – Transparency Over Clickbait: Choosing Depth32:21 – Staying Grounded in a Microwave Culture34:12 – Mental Health, Empathy & Holding Space36:55 – Allyship, DEI Backlash & Standing Up for Each Other39:27 – Faith, Humanity & the Politics of Love42:02 – Codie’s 3 Seeds: Take Up Space, Mentor, Lead With Love 🏷️ YouTube Keywords (500 character max):Codie Elaine Oliver, Black Love series, BlackLove.com, The Mama’s Den, Astor Chambers, Black storytelling, Black ownership in media, motherhood and leadership, women in film and TV, Black female creators, DEI in Hollywood, culture podcast, creating safe spaces, leading with love, authenticity in media, inspirational Black women, black romcoms, faith and humanity, black marriage myths, transparency in storytelling, mentorship, entrepreneurship, cultural representation, Culture Raises Us #CodieElaineOliver #BlackLove #CultureRaisesUs #BlackStorytelling #LeadWithLove #BlackOwnership #BlackCreatives #TheMamasDen #BlackWomenInFilm #SafeSpaces #BlackCultureMatters #AuthenticVoices #CulturalRepresentation #DEI #MentorshipMatters See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
