Tales From The Shaker

Davia Williams Stevenson
  • 5.0 (16)
  • Mental Health
  • Updated Biweekly

Join Davia and her guests for honest conversations about the elements of a successful life. We’ll talk about the good, the bad and everything in between. We’ll celebrate achievements and come alongside in the tough spaces. What has shaken you up? What life lessons, love lessons, relationship and spiritual lessons moved you forward? This is a podcast about real life people and the stuff of life that stops you in your tracks, shakes you up, teaches you and inspires you.Welcome to an authentic conversation with me, in my living room. We may even shake up a cocktail or mocktail. I hope you’ll feel connected and leave inspired to shake it up in your own life. Cheers!

  1. 3d ago

    Beyond the "Likely Voter": Morgan Harper on Opportunity, Community and the Power of Participation

    This week on Tales from the Shaker, I sit down with attorney, community organizer and former political candidate Morgan Harper for a candid conversation about civic engagement, economic opportunity, community and the power of showing up. Morgan brings a particular passion to the disparities in economic opportunity—the reality that where you start, where you live and what resources you can access can profoundly shape the opportunities available to you. We talk about what those disparities mean for individuals, families and communities, and why economic participation and political participation are often connected. One of the most important things I’ve taken from Morgan’s work is simple: don’t count people out. What about the young voter? The first-time voter? The person who has become disillusioned with politics? The neighbor who doesn’t believe their vote will make a difference? Perhaps the work isn’t simply identifying likely voters. Perhaps it’s creating more of them. Morgan shares her journey from law to community organizing and politics, what she’s learned along the way, and why reaching people at the grassroots level still matters. This is about opportunity, access and making sure more of us understand that our voices belong in the process. Pull up a chair. We’re talking community, participation, economic opportunity—and what can happen when more people have a chance to show up and be heard.

  2. Sep 11

    Beyond the Building: Hip Hop Artist Taelor Gray on Faith, Culture, and Living Community

    On this episode of Tales from the Shaker, I sit down with Christian hip-hop artist, creative and community voice Taelor Gray for a thoughtful and refreshingly honest conversation about faith, religion, culture and community. We talk about what it means to question and deconstruct some of the religious ideas we’ve inherited without abandoning the deeper questions of faith and purpose. Taelor shares his perspective on reaching individuals that traditional institutions have too often struggled to reach—and in communities of color Black men in particular.  Relationship has to come before  rhetoric.

  3. Aug 31

    Watch Your Words: The Power to Activate Your Life | Demia Kandi

    Demia is a brilliant strategist, inspirational speaker, and the creator of the spoken album Words of Activation. In this episode, we explore the power of intentional words—not simply as affirmations, but as tools that shape our purpose, identity, beliefs, and choices. This conversation is filled with truth, wisdom, laughter, and the ease that comes from sitting across from someone who knows you well. We talk about what it means to speak life over ourselves, challenge the stories that limit us, and use our voices to activate what is already within us. Pull up a chair and join us at the Shaker.

  4. Aug 14

    Wellness as Worship: Faith, Grief & the Sacred Work of Caring for Yourself

    What if caring for yourself isn’t separate from your faith—but a sacred expression of it? In this episode of Tales from the Shaker, I sit down with Taylor Dunlap: wife, mother, creative, and co-pastor of Garden City Church East alongside her husband. At the time of our conversation, Taylor was more than 30 weeks pregnant with her fourth child, Asher, whom she joyfully welcomed just a few weeks ago. Taylor speaks candidly about navigating the grief of losing her father, nurturing a growing family, co-leading a church, and making space for her own creativity and well-being. At the heart of our conversation is her powerful belief that wellness can be worship—that tending to our minds, bodies, spirits, and emotional lives can be an act of gratitude and reverence. This is a tender and life-giving conversation about grief and new beginnings, ministry and motherhood, and learning to honor both what we carry and what we need.

  5. Jul 31

    Tales From The Shaker Featuring Sean Walton Jr, Esq

    Sean Walton, Jr. Esq:  Some people practice law. Others redefine justice. This week on Tales from the Shaker, I sit down with Columbus attorney Sean Walton—a nationally respected civil rights and personal injury attorney whose work has helped shape accountability in some of the region’s most significant cases. But this conversation goes far beyond the courtroom. Sean shares how purpose, family, and community have shaped his life as a husband, father, entrepreneur, and advocate. Through his philosophy of the Five Ts, he challenges us to think differently about stewardship, leadership, and using our gifts to create lasting impact. This is a conversation about courage, conviction, and legacy. Whether you’re passionate about justice, building a business, leading your family, or serving your community, you’ll leave challenged to think differently about about the legacy you're building inspired to live with greater purpose.

  6. Jul 17

    Tales From The Shaker Featuring Caroline Inspires.

    Walking in Freedom: Choosing the Life You Were Meant to Live with Caroline Bennett. What does it really mean to live free? In this inspiring episode of Tales from the Shaker, I sit down with the incomparable Caroline Bennett—motivational speaker, cultural artist, singer, and two-time TEDx presenter—for a conversation that will challenge you to rethink purpose, identity, and the courage to become who you were created to be. Caroline shares the experiences that shaped her journey and the mindset that has empowered her to lead with authenticity rather than approval. Together, we explore what it means to embrace your uniqueness, break free from expectations, and discover that true freedom begins with intentional choices.

  7. 11/29/2025

    Love, Laughter & the Long Game: A conversation about love that grows, gratitude that guides, and a journey still unfolding.

    In this special season 4 finale of Tales from the Shaker, Davia is joined by her husband, Eric, for an honest and heartfelt conversation about their life together. They revisit their first date as college freshmen and reflect on how their relationship has grown through different stages of life—raising children, navigating loss and health challenges, and supporting each other’s dreams.  Their discussion touches on what commitment really looks like over time, the comfort of deep friendship, and the importance of being present for  the ordinary days, the dark times, and the milestone moments. They share favorite memories from their travels, the lessons learned along the way, and the gratitude they feel for the life they’ve built. With openness and hope for the years ahead, this episode offers a warm look at partnership and the beauty of continuing to grow together.

  8. 11/15/2025

    From Survival to Advocacy: Angela Clark Boykin's fight for victim's voices

    In this gripping episode of Tales from the Shaker, Angela Clark bravely shares her journey from survivor to advocate. She recounts the terrifying experience of being kidnapped at gunpoint and assaulted by her estranged husband—an ordeal that could have stolen her future but instead fueled her purpose. After surviving unimaginable violence, Angela earned degrees in criminal justice and now fights for victims’ rights and awareness. Our conversation explores resilience, recovery, and the power of reclaiming your voice. Angela’s story is a reminder that even in the darkest moments, healing and hope are still possible.

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
16 Ratings

About

Join Davia and her guests for honest conversations about the elements of a successful life. We’ll talk about the good, the bad and everything in between. We’ll celebrate achievements and come alongside in the tough spaces. What has shaken you up? What life lessons, love lessons, relationship and spiritual lessons moved you forward? This is a podcast about real life people and the stuff of life that stops you in your tracks, shakes you up, teaches you and inspires you.Welcome to an authentic conversation with me, in my living room. We may even shake up a cocktail or mocktail. I hope you’ll feel connected and leave inspired to shake it up in your own life. Cheers!

Information

  • Creator
    Davia Williams Stevenson
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    52
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Tales From The Shaker
  • Show Website
    Tales From The Shaker