Black At It: The Next Adventure Gayle and Tia

Today, we dive into the unique experiences of celebrating birthdays during the holiday season. We’re Gayle and Tia and today we’re talking all about our unique birthday experiences. Our birthdays, intriguingly, fall during the busiest time of the year: Gaye’s on December 30, just before New Year's Eve, and Tia's on Christmas Day, December 25. Throughout our lives, we've often felt overlooked, as our special days were overshadowed by the hustle and bustle of the holiday season.
In this episode, we'll explore how we've adapted to celebrating our birthdays amidst holiday festivities, and the adjustments we've made to ensure our days feel special. We understand that organizing birthday parties during this time can be challenging, with friends and family often busy with their own holiday plans. This reality has led us to find unique and meaningful ways to celebrate, focusing more on the significance of the day rather than large gatherings or extravagant gifts. We'll also discuss how these experiences have shaped our perspectives on celebrations, family, and the joy of giving.
As we enter a new phase of our lives, where our responsibilities have shifted, we’re approaching our birthdays differently. It’s time for us to get what we want, so we are just going for it. If we don’t spoil ourselves a little bit now, we may never get the chance.
Are we being selfish? Or are we long overdue for a bit of spoiling? Join us and decide for yourself. And if you’re really serious - join us in going for it too!
Show Highlights:
Self-care and spoiling oneself during the holiday season.A different kind of birthday celebration this yearGuilt and indulgence in a 20-year pursuit of a luxury purse.Prioritizing personal goals during this season of life.It’s time to go for it - if not now, when?New events will be coming up in January - stay tuned!
Resources:
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Vibe Tribe members, we challenge you to post a solo adventure and show us how you are out and about, enjoying your own company!
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Visit our new website:  www.blackatitpodcast.com

Why do we struggle to be treated with respect in the workplace? Why do we, as Black women, feel like we have to constantly prove our worth, expertise, and value? It is a constant fight for us against being disrespected, devalued, unseen, and unheard. Using DEI language is just not enough! Let’s talk about it.
Show Highlights:
Why the myth of the “Angry Black Woman” is because we are covering up our hurt, frustration, and annoyanceWhat it feels like to be micromanaged and questioned in the workplace–day after dayHow disrespectful comments about our hair, and even attempts to touch our hair, catch us off guardWhy the extra stress of dealing with disrespect causes our physical illnesses The value of fun and self-care routines to help us deal with “life”Why we need to immediately call out people for their offensive and disrespectful behaviorsHow daily positive affirmations can help us realize that the problem isn’t with usJoin us for our next adventure in Annapolis, Maryland, on October 7: Chillin’ on the ChesapeakeWhy we have started BAI Entertainment, LLC, a Black- and woman-owned company to promote adventures and positive, uplifting interactions and events 
Resources:
Our first show sponsor is Dr. J. Brown at Progressive Dental Solutions in Glenn Dale, Maryland. Schedule your appointment today at www.smilesofbowie.com. 
Visit Eventbrite, search for Chillin’ on the Chesapeake, and sign up to join us on October 7! Early-bird pricing is available NOW!  
Want more Gayle and Tia? Join our Vibe Tribe on Facebook.
Vibe Tribe members, we challenge you to post a solo adventure and show us how you are out and about, enjoying your own company!
Find us on Instagram.
Visit our new website:  www.blackatitpodcast.com



Quotes:

Whether you are preparing for a momentous occasion, a formal event, or a night out on the town, we all want to look good. We want our hair, skin, and overall appearance to look as beautiful as when we were younger, and it is tough keeping up with all that maintenance as the years keep rolling by. We not only want to look good, but we want the energy and vibrancy to enjoy our lives and feel good. Let’s learn more with our two guests for this episode!
We are joined by two sisters, Dr. Onyeka Ihezie and Dr. Amaka Ugbome. They are pharmacists by day who have a passion for all things natural by night. Their interest comes from their bloodline and their commitment to natural hair care. They found little information and products on the market that catered to our natural tresses, so they began doing extensive research and educating themselves on how to create amazing products for our delicate strands. Their love of hair care blossomed into a passion with a mission to create quality, natural, healthy products–but they didn’t stop there. They spend time and resources educating women to care for their hair and skin, and they volunteer in various capacities to help others. At one time, they partnered with the Black Girl Tribe, a nonprofit organization aimed toward empowering and developing young black women. They even supplied over $2000 worth of handmade products to support the women in this organization. Their online store makes products available in many different countries around the world, and we are thrilled to have them on the show!
Show Highlights:
How they bridged the gap between pharmacy and skin/hair careHow their personal hair experiences led them to rethink “good hair” and “bad hair”Why everyone has to come to the point on their own to embrace their natural hairWhat to consider about safe/unsafe productsHow their products are unique, natural, and formulated especially for black hair, using ingredients from nature and avoiding harmful chemicalsThe sisters’ advice about a hair care regimen and what products are the most essentialWhy your skin care regimen should include a good hydrating cleanser, toner, moisturizer, and serumHow to fight aging skin, aging hair, hair thinning, and hair lossWhy aging hair, processed hair, and gray hair have drastic changes in textureHow to approach hair care and skin care with consistent changes over timeThe sisters’ take on trendy ingredients, such as hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, collagen, and retinolsHow supplements (a multivitamin, calcium, vitamin D, vitamin E, and Omega-3s) can support healthy hair and skinHow to find their products

No matter how diverse a workplace may be, we are always working on these issues and fighting for inclusion—and sometimes that is really tough. Our guest today has firsthand experience in these challenges as she works in a field in which there are not many black women. Join us for the conversation!
Jehnae Linkins is the Chief Technology Officer at Breezeshare, Inc and is a proud graduate of Lincoln University with a degree in physics. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in mechanical engineering. Outside of her educational pursuits, she also volunteers in her community, always believing in the importance of giving back and making a difference in the world around her. Through some difficult challenges, she has found great comfort in advocating for inclusive, equitable, and diverse spaces for women in historically underrepresented communities. Jehnae competes in beauty pageants and promotes a platform entitled, “Don’t Adjust Your Crown.” She also sings in her church’s gospel choir and plays the drums and percussion in the First State Symphonic Band. 
Show Highlights:
Why Jehnae adopted the platform, “Don’t Adjust Your Crown”Why so many black women “dim their lights” and struggle to have confidence in themselvesWhy Jehnae found the courage to remove herself from situations that tried to dim her lightHow to react when someone dishonors who you are because of the color of your skinWhy Jehnae wants to help young black students not have to go through what she enduredWhy it’s important to advocate for yourself and use your voiceHow Jehnae went through health challenges in a healthcare system that wasn’t built for herHow she got into pageantry as another opportunity to present her platform Jehnae’s best lessons learned
Resources:
Connect with Jehnae: Email
Our first show sponsor is Dr. J. Brown at Progressive Dental Solutions in Glenn Dale, Maryland. Schedule your appointment today at www.smilesofbowie.com.   
Want more Gayle and Tia? Join our Vibe Tribe on Facebook.
Vibe Tribe members, we challenge you to post a solo adventure and show us how you are out and about, enjoying your own company!
Find us on Instagram.

As we age gracefully, it’s important to keep our energy and fitness levels up for optimal health and wellness. We can’t be there for our loved ones if we don’t feel good and have good health. Don’t you want to be a strong and healthy woman even as the years pass? Join us to learn more from today’s guest! 
We are excited to be joined by Anissa McCall Wilson, a true lover of health. As a certified health coach, she helps women create and sustain healthier lifestyles. She shares highlights of her ten-year fitness journey that began with a simple walking routine and developed into a holistic lifestyle that allows her to be the best version of herself. Her overall message is one of bio-individuality, meaning that each person is on a health journey to find what works best for them.
Show Highlights:
How Anissa got into health and fitness–and found mental health and peaceWhy Anissa began lifting weights in addition to her running routine to become stronger and take care of her “temple”How your WHAT and WHY can motivate you to be fit and keep up with a healthy diet and lifestyleHow working with a personal trainer helped Anissa know how to lift weights and prevent injury while becoming a stronger personWhy exercise has become an essential part of Anissa’s life–for both physical fitness and mental healthHow Anissa has learned to prioritize her self-care for physical health, mental wellness, and spiritualityHow Anissa learned about nutrition, which accounts for about 80% of your health and fitnessHow eating theories can help with certain aspects of life as we ageWhy it’s important in nutrition and fitness to find what works best for YOUWhy it’s valuable to find accountability and realize that good health is a journeyHow drinking water and tracking nutrition and fitness can make things easier
Resources:
Connect with Anissa: Instagram
Our first show sponsor is Dr. J. Brown at Progressive Dental Solutions in Glenn Dale, Maryland. Schedule your appointment today at www.smilesofbowie.com.   
Want more Gayle and Tia? Join our Vibe Tribe on Facebook.
Vibe Tribe members, we challenge you to post a solo adventure and show us how you are out and about, enjoying your own company!
Find us on Instagram.
Visit our new website:  www.blackatitpodcast.com

As women in our 50s who have both just celebrated birthdays and the rollover to a new year, we realize that the focus on wellness, well-being, and mental health is crucial. We are having to pay more attention and be more intentional in taking care of ourselves now that we have reached this phase of life. Because we want to stay as active as we can for as long as we can, we remain committed to trying new things and saying YES to new adventures as we kick off this new season of the podcast. We hope you’ll join us for all the Season 3 shows where we will talk to amazing women about taking on life with energy, confidence, and more fun! Join us! 
Show Highlights:
Why we are in awe of “women of a certain age” like Cher, Angela Bassett, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Michelle Yeoh, Jane Fonda, Sally Field, and more—because they look fantastic and are still working and achievingWhy it is important to keep moving forward and learning new things to stimulate your brainWhat we miss when we don’t take advantage of new opportunities and new connectionsHow it energizes our bodies and minds when we create new memoriesWhy our focus for 2023 is on wellness, mental health, preserving cognitive abilities, skincare/haircare, physical health, etc.Why it is important to accept our aging with grace
Resources:
Our first show sponsor is Dr. J. Brown at Progressive Dental Solutions in Glenn Dale, Maryland. Schedule your appointment today at www.smilesofbowie.com.   
Want more Gayle and Tia? Join our Vibe Tribe on Facebook.
Vibe Tribe members, we challenge you to post a solo adventure and show us how you are out and about, enjoying your own company!
Find us on Instagram.
Visit our new website:  www.blackatitpodcast.com