#REALTALK with Emma G and Dinah

Emma G Music
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Mental Health
  • Updated Weekly

REALTALK: Honest Conversations for High-Functioning Humans REAL TALK began as a response to a traumatic event that swept the globe. In the early days of the pandemic, when the world felt uncertain and disconnected, Emma G used her platform as a singer-songwriter, coach, and speaker to keep people inspired, grounded, and mentally well. What started as a simple idea — let's talk honestly about how we're really doing — quickly became something more. REAL TALK evolved into a space for curious, compassionate conversations about resilience, creativity, leadership, and mental health — especially for people who are often expected to "hold it together." At its core, the show brings together people from different backgrounds, beliefs, and lived experiences to explore wellness with integrity, nuance, and heart. Season One: Holding Space During the Pandemic Season One was hosted solo by Emma G and featured conversations with creatives, leaders, and thinkers navigating their inner worlds while continuing to show up publicly. Guests included fashion designer Kenny "Kas" Flanagan, motivational speaker Billy Alsbrooks, politician Laila Harré, hip-hop artist King Kapisi, and the Punk Rock Doc herself, Dr. JJ Kelly, among many others. These were conversations about staying human in an inhuman moment — about mental health, meaning, identity, and how we care for ourselves when everything familiar is stripped away. Season Two: Mental Health Sounds Like This In 2025, REAL TALK returned with a new chapter. Season Two was co-hosted by Rawinia Judson (Ra) — authenticity and leadership coach — and leaned more deeply into what mental health actually sounds like for high-functioning humans: leaders, entrepreneurs, creatives, and changemakers. Together, Emma and Ra explored burnout, self-trust, purpose, nervous system health, and authenticity through conversations with guests like Andrew Buerger, Robert Heath, Stephen Warner, and Sam Harvey. Season Two wasn't about quick fixes. It was about naming what's real, reducing stigma, and reminding listeners they weren't alone. Season Three: Raising the Vibration Season Three marks a natural evolution — not away from mental health, but into integration. Co-hosted by Emma G and Dinah Simpson, founder of High Ki Living, this season expands the conversation into holistic wellness — mind, body, and spirit — while staying grounded, practical, and deeply human. Emma's bold, expressive "rockstar-meets-mindful" energy is balanced by Dinah's calm, nourishing presence. Together, they create a space that is both activating and regulating — honest without being heavy, elevated without bypassing reality. This season features conversations with guests such as Dr. Dave Snell, Angela Kingdon, Molly Ruland, and Dr. Robb Kelly — people working at the intersection of mental health, leadership, healing, culture, and systems change. Season Three is about raising the vibration not by escaping life — but by meeting it with awareness, embodiment, and intention. Season Four: Live, In Studio, Unfiltered Season Four brings REAL TALK into its most unscripted form yet. Co-hosted by Emma G and Dinah Simpson, this season is recorded live, in person, in Emma's home studio, streaming simultaneously on YouTube, Facebook, and LinkedIn before reaching all major podcast platforms. Every Monday, Emma and Dinah sit down with executives, healers, creatives, and entrepreneurs for real, honest conversations, no scripts, no teleprompters, just what actually gets said when the mics are on and the cameras are rolling. Season Four opened with rapper, filmmaker, and entrepreneur Erie Ave, exploring the mindset behind "Before The Deal" and what it means to stay grounded through fast, unexpected success. What REAL TALK Is Really About REAL TALK exists because: High-functioning humans struggle too Wellness isn't one-size-fits-all Healing doesn't always look quiet Growth shouldn't come at the cost of your nervous system An

  1. 2d ago

    S4 Ep8: Joey Jenkins (Silence Echoez) on Grounding, Identity, and the Power of Listening

    Singer-songwriter and teacher Joey Jenkins, known as Silence Echoez, joins Emma G and Dinah Simpson for a conversation about the discipline of silence, both as a musical philosophy and a way of staying grounded in who you actually are. Joey shares the dual meaning behind his stage name, how Taoism and Joseph Campbell's work on myth shaped his sense of identity, and his own songwriting process, including the story behind his song "Don't Say Anything." The conversation closes with his best advice for aspiring songwriters: find something you feel strongly about, and don't let perfectionism stop you from writing it down. Topics covered in this episode: - songwriting process - identity and groundedness - Taoism - mindfulness - music and mental health - teaching creativity - perfectionism - self-expression.

  2. Aug 10

    S4 Ep6: Emma G & Dinah on Healing, Grief, and Learning to Pour Back Into Yourself

    Halfway through Season 4, Emma G and Dinah Simpson skip the guest chair and get real with each other. Emma opens up about her mother's passing this year and the kintsugi philosophy that's helped her heal, putting the broken pieces back together with gold. Dinah shares her framework for daily self-assessment, and together they explore masculine and feminine energy, the "spoon theory" of emotional capacity, and simple, repeatable ways to reset: breath, senses, and coming back into the body. Topics covered in this episode: - healing - grief - self love - self care - kintsugi philosophy - masculine and feminine energy - spoon theory - meditation - breathwork - nervous system regulation - mental health.   Connect with Emma G: 🌐 emmagmusic.com 📸 @emmagmusic 📧 info@emmagmusic.com Connect with Dinah Simpson: 📸 @highkiliving Follow REALTALK: 📸 @realtalkwithemmaganddinah Subscribe so you never miss an episode.

  3. Aug 4

    S4 Ep6: Eli Lev on Indie Folk Poptimism, the Four Directions, and Songwriting as a Way Home

    Singer-songwriter and touring artist Eli Lev joins Emma G and Dinah Simpson for a conversation about music as more than performance, it's a vessel for healing and presence. Eli shares how three years teaching on the Navajo Nation shaped his "Four Directions" project, why he built songwriting workshops around writing for yourself instead of an audience, and the grounding practices that keep him steady through the demands of life on tour. Topics covered in this episode: - songwriting as healing - touring musician lifestyle - mindfulness and grounding practices - indigenous teachings and the four directions - music community building - creative wellness - indie folk music Connect with Eli Lev: 🌐 eli-lev.com 📸 @elilevmusic Connect with Emma G: 🌐 emmagmusic.com 📸 @emmagmusic 📧 info@emmagmusic.com Connect with Dinah Simpson: 📸 @highkiliving Follow REALTALK: 📸 @realtalkwithemmaganddinah Subscribe so you never miss an episode.

  4. Jul 27

    S4 Ep4: Pete Kimbis on Diplomatic Aggression, Advocacy & Coming Home to Yourself

    What if speaking up when it's uncomfortable wasn't aggression, but the most caring thing you could do for someone? This week on REALTALK, Dinah is back from Bali and joins Emma G for a conversation with attorney and nonprofit strategist Pete Kimbis, who coined a phrase that reframes advocacy entirely: diplomatic aggression. Not conflict for its own sake, but the discipline of preparing so thoroughly, and caring so much, that you're willing to say the hard thing when silence would cost someone their dignity, their voice, or their choice. We get into what it actually means to advocate for people who don't have access to legal representation, why humility (saying "I don't know" or "you're right") is its own kind of strength, and how Pete stays grounded while carrying the weight of work that matters this much: nature, morning prayer and meditation, and knowing exactly who in his community to call when he needs help. Pete also shares a reframe on the Odyssey that stuck with us long after we stopped recording: the whole point was never to leave and keep going. It was to go out, learn what you need to learn, and come home changed. We've built a culture that glorifies the leaving and forgets the returning. This is not a highlight reel. This is real talk. In this episode: ⚖️ What "diplomatic aggression" really means, and why it's not what it sounds like 🗣️ The power of speaking the hard truth, and the power of saying "I don't know" 🌲 Grounding practices for people carrying heavy, meaningful work 🤝 Why coopetition (not competition) is the only thing Pete has seen actually work 📖 A reframe on the Odyssey: the goal was always to come home, not just to leave REALTALK with Emma G and Dinah is a long-form podcast exploring what mental health, leadership, creativity, and well-being actually sound like for people who carry responsibility, visibility, and pressure, often without space to process any of it. 28 minutes. No scripts. No fluff. Just real talk. Connect with Pete Kimbis: 🌐 kidronlaw.com  Connect with Emma G: 🌐 emmagmusic.com 📸 @emmagmusic 📧 info@emmagmusic.com Connect with Dinah Simpson: 📸 @highkiliving Follow REALTALK: 📸 @realtalkwithemmaganddinah Subscribe so you never miss an episode.

  5. Jul 20

    S4 Ep3: DJ Stephens on Self-Defense, Fear, and Becoming Comfortable Being Uncomfortable

    Third-degree black belt and Krav Maga CDK founder DJ Stephens joins Emma G for a conversation that starts with self-defense and goes much deeper into mindset, fear, and community. DJ shares why Krav Maga isn't about becoming a fighter, why real fear shouldn't be talked away, and why the goal is learning to be comfortable being uncomfortable rather than eliminating discomfort altogether. He also talks about intentionally building community instead of leaving it to chance, and the journey that led him from writing poetry as a kid to publishing his first book. Topics covered in this episode: - self-defense - Krav Maga - fear and mindset - building community - confidence - resilience - physical and mental well-being - author journey - DC/DMV entrepreneurship.   Connect with DJ Stephens: kravmagacdk.com REALTALK with Emma G and Dinah is a long-form podcast exploring what mental health, leadership, creativity, and well-being actually sound like for people who carry responsibility, visibility, and pressure, often without space to process any of it. New episodes every week. #REALTALK #MentalHealthSoundsLikeThis #realtalkwithemmaganddinah

  6. Jul 13

    S4 Ep2: Kimberly Shires on Building Safe Spaces for Women in Music

    Producer and songwriter Kimberly Shires, founder of Hear Me Roar Studio in DC, joins Emma G solo for a conversation on what it actually takes to build a safe, judgment-free space for creativity. Kimberly shares how she noticed the lack of women in the audio production world and built a studio designed specifically to change that experience, why she treats the artist, not the producer, as the true voice of a song, and how sound and frequency genuinely affect the brain and nervous system. She also shares three simple ways anyone can use music as a tool for their own mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Topics covered in this episode: women in music production safe creative spaces music and mental health sound frequency and the brain collaboration over competition songwriting The Washington DC music scene Hear Me Roar Studios

  7. Jul 6

    S4 Ep1: Erie Ave on Before The Deal, Rick Ross, and Rewriting Your Mindset

    Rapper, filmmaker, and entrepreneur Erie Ave joins REALTALK with Emma G and Dinah for the Season 4 kickoff, live in studio. Erie shares the story behind his mindset "Before The Deal," how writing poetry helped him process emotion as a young Black man growing up in the DMV, and the wild true story of linking up with Rick Ross on the song "We The Ones." He also opens up about a simple mirror affirmation practice that's become part of his daily routine, and the three tools he leans on to stay mentally, physically, and spiritually grounded. Topics covered in this episode: mental health for men self-affirmations hip hop and healing DMV music scene mindset coaching entrepreneurship Rick Ross Maybach Music Before The Deal self-worth, and success.

  8. Mar 16

    From Pain to Power: Identity, Healing, and Reclaiming Your Voice with Marya Kazmi

    In this episode of REALTALK with Emma G and Dinah, hosts Emma G and Dinah Simpson sit down with Marya Kazmi, writer, educator, and the voice behind Brown Girl Interrupting. Marya shares her deeply personal journey navigating identity as the daughter of immigrants from Pakistan and Bangladesh, growing up in America while balancing the expectations of family, culture, and faith. From becoming a young mother during college to later finding the courage to leave a difficult marriage after 17 years, Marya’s story is one of resilience, reflection, and ultimately choosing herself. Through writing, storytelling, and honest conversation, Marya began dismantling the beliefs she once held about who she was supposed to be. That process of healing eventually grew into her podcast and talk series Pain to Power, where she amplifies stories of individuals who have transformed personal struggles into leadership and purpose. In this conversation, we explore: • Navigating identity between cultures • The courage it takes to rewrite your life story • Healing through storytelling and community • Turning pain into purpose and leadership • Why authenticity and honest dialogue are essential to personal growth We also discuss Marya’s course Empowerment Unlocked: A Journey to Healing and Growth, a five-session program designed to help participants explore identity, unpack limiting beliefs, regulate emotions, and communicate needs with authenticity. At its core, this episode is about reclaiming your voice—and discovering the power that comes from telling your story on your own terms. Subscribe to REALTALK with Emma G and Dinah for conversations at the intersection of identity, music, healing, and personal transformation.

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About

REALTALK: Honest Conversations for High-Functioning Humans REAL TALK began as a response to a traumatic event that swept the globe. In the early days of the pandemic, when the world felt uncertain and disconnected, Emma G used her platform as a singer-songwriter, coach, and speaker to keep people inspired, grounded, and mentally well. What started as a simple idea — let's talk honestly about how we're really doing — quickly became something more. REAL TALK evolved into a space for curious, compassionate conversations about resilience, creativity, leadership, and mental health — especially for people who are often expected to "hold it together." At its core, the show brings together people from different backgrounds, beliefs, and lived experiences to explore wellness with integrity, nuance, and heart. Season One: Holding Space During the Pandemic Season One was hosted solo by Emma G and featured conversations with creatives, leaders, and thinkers navigating their inner worlds while continuing to show up publicly. Guests included fashion designer Kenny "Kas" Flanagan, motivational speaker Billy Alsbrooks, politician Laila Harré, hip-hop artist King Kapisi, and the Punk Rock Doc herself, Dr. JJ Kelly, among many others. These were conversations about staying human in an inhuman moment — about mental health, meaning, identity, and how we care for ourselves when everything familiar is stripped away. Season Two: Mental Health Sounds Like This In 2025, REAL TALK returned with a new chapter. Season Two was co-hosted by Rawinia Judson (Ra) — authenticity and leadership coach — and leaned more deeply into what mental health actually sounds like for high-functioning humans: leaders, entrepreneurs, creatives, and changemakers. Together, Emma and Ra explored burnout, self-trust, purpose, nervous system health, and authenticity through conversations with guests like Andrew Buerger, Robert Heath, Stephen Warner, and Sam Harvey. Season Two wasn't about quick fixes. It was about naming what's real, reducing stigma, and reminding listeners they weren't alone. Season Three: Raising the Vibration Season Three marks a natural evolution — not away from mental health, but into integration. Co-hosted by Emma G and Dinah Simpson, founder of High Ki Living, this season expands the conversation into holistic wellness — mind, body, and spirit — while staying grounded, practical, and deeply human. Emma's bold, expressive "rockstar-meets-mindful" energy is balanced by Dinah's calm, nourishing presence. Together, they create a space that is both activating and regulating — honest without being heavy, elevated without bypassing reality. This season features conversations with guests such as Dr. Dave Snell, Angela Kingdon, Molly Ruland, and Dr. Robb Kelly — people working at the intersection of mental health, leadership, healing, culture, and systems change. Season Three is about raising the vibration not by escaping life — but by meeting it with awareness, embodiment, and intention. Season Four: Live, In Studio, Unfiltered Season Four brings REAL TALK into its most unscripted form yet. Co-hosted by Emma G and Dinah Simpson, this season is recorded live, in person, in Emma's home studio, streaming simultaneously on YouTube, Facebook, and LinkedIn before reaching all major podcast platforms. Every Monday, Emma and Dinah sit down with executives, healers, creatives, and entrepreneurs for real, honest conversations, no scripts, no teleprompters, just what actually gets said when the mics are on and the cameras are rolling. Season Four opened with rapper, filmmaker, and entrepreneur Erie Ave, exploring the mindset behind "Before The Deal" and what it means to stay grounded through fast, unexpected success. What REAL TALK Is Really About REAL TALK exists because: High-functioning humans struggle too Wellness isn't one-size-fits-all Healing doesn't always look quiet Growth shouldn't come at the cost of your nervous system An

Information

  • Creator
    Emma G Music
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    72
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2020 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    #REALTALK with Emma G and Dinah