Black Oxygen

Madison365
  • 5.0 (12)
  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT

Angela Russell is a Black woman who loves Wisconsin. That said, with so few Black folks in the state, sometimes she needs a little extra dose of Black oxygen. A place where she can breathe, connect, restore by hearing and listening deeply to Black folks in this shared journey of life. This podcast will feature and highlight the Black voices in Wisconsin and a little beyond. We hope that these conversations will lift your spirits and give you a few moments to breathe. Get your candles lit and your incense burning. It's time for Black Oxygen.

  1. MAR 30

    Opal Tomashevska: Welcoming vs Belonging

    Angela welcomes back the very first Black Oxygen guest, Opal Tomashevska — a Madison native, credit union leader, poet, and newly elected board president of the Lussier Community Education Center — for a rich conversation on community care as resistance. Rooted in Opal's story of growing up in Wexford Ridge and coming of age through community institutions, they explore how the cooperative model of credit unions, Black professional affinity spaces, and tight-knit circles of accountability have sustained Black women through systems that were never designed with them in mind. The conversation takes a deeper turn as Angela and Opal examine what it truly means to belong — not just to be welcomed — and the quiet cost of spending years hustling for worthiness in corporate spaces. Against the backdrop of an alarming and underreported wave of Black women's displacement from the workforce, they reflect on codependency, self-abandonment, and what it looks like to finally stop making yourself smaller to stay safe. Opal's closing vision: a Black Women's Renaissance is already underway — and it is being built on belonging to oneself first. Key Themes Community care as resistance · Welcoming vs. belonging · The cooperative finance model and credit unions · Black professional affinity spaces and ERGs · Hustling for worthiness · Self-abandonment and reclaiming agency · Black women and workforce displacement · Modeling self-care for our children · Intergenerational community impact · The Black Women's Renaissance #BlackOxygenPodcast #BlackPodcasts #Wisconsin #BlackInWisconsin #UpperMidwest #Diversity #Inclusion #Belonging

    1h 6m

  2. MAR 16

    Dr. Danielle Hairston Green: Authoring your own story

    What if the story you've been afraid to tell is the exact story someone else needs to hear? New episode of Black Oxygen is live, and this conversation with Danielle Hairston-Green hit different. Danielle is a Moth Story Slam winner, host, storyteller, and director at UW-Madison Extension. She came to Wisconsin from Philadelphia by way of Texas. Eight years later, she's still here, and she has things to say. We talked about community care, shame, healing, and what it means to stop being the subject of someone else's narrative and become the author of your own. Her mentor told her: tell your stories from your scars, not your wounds. This one will stay with you. #BlackOxygen #BlackOxygenPodcasts #Storytelling #CommunityCare #BlackInWisconsin #TheMothMadison  Embracing Arms - https://www.embracingarms.com/our-team  LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/hairstongreen/

    58 min

  3. MAR 2

    Governor Jim Doyle: On Talent, Tokenism, and American Democracy

    In this episode of Black Oxygen, host Angela Russell is joined by former Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle for a wide-ranging conversation about diversity, race, leadership, and democracy.  Governor Doyle reflects on the formative experiences that shaped his values. We dig into the mechanics of building diverse teams without tokenism, the current fragility of American democracy, Wisconsin's outsized role as a swing state, and why the arc of history — while long — still bends toward justice. This is a conversation about hope, accountability, and the kind of courage it takes to keep showing up for what's right, even when the moment feels discouraging. I learned so much from Governor Doyle when I worked in his administration, and I think you're about to understand why.  #BlackOxygenPodcast #BlackPodcasts #GovernorJimDoyle #Wisconsin #BlackInWisconsin #Democracy #UpperMidwest #Diversity #Inclusion  #WisconsinGovernment

    56 min

  4. FEB 16

    Judge Everett Mitchell: Who is your neighbor?

    The Hon. Rev. Everett Mitchell opens this Black Oxygen conversation with a sobering analysis of our current constitutional crisis, where unchecked executive power and Christian nationalism intersect to manipulate communities. But the heart of this conversation centers on what it means to truly care for our neighbors. Drawing from Dr. Howard Thurman's question, "What does the Bible have to say to people whose backs are against the wall?" Judge Mitchell shares powerful stories from Dane County Drug Court's 30-year history. He introduces the concept of "trauma translation"—listening through pain without judgment—and tells the story of Rodney, a participant who began celebrating everyone who showed up, teaching that "showing up is a part of what community care is." Mitchell challenges us to expand our definition of neighbor and reveals how treating people with dignity transforms lives.  This episode offers a masterclass in building neighborhood, finding hope in hard places, and understanding that authentic community care requires difficult work—but the promise is transformative. #BlackOxygenPodcast #BlackOxygen #DaneCountyDrugCourt #BlackInWisconsin #BlackPodcasts #HowardThurman #BlackInMadison #DrugCourt  Resource: Justice Point - https://justicepoint.org/

    52 min

  5. FEB 2

    Dr. Courtney Hayward: Poverty does not have to exist

    This season is all about community care. And, quite frankly, how community and collective care is a part of the resistance.  Community care is not a charity model—it's a model of solidarity. This season will be amplifying people and organizations that are examples of community care. I have a broad definition of community care—my personal definition includes systems work, democracy, policies, mutual aid, neighborhood centers, meal delivery, caregiving, respite care, and more. During this season I will invite guests to share their personal definition of community care, what they think is important in this particular moment in time, and provide thoughts and advice on how to get active in community care. This week, I'm in conversation with Dr. Courtney Hayward, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Community Action Program Association—WISCAP. Courtney, originally from South Florida, shares her journey from being a Head Start kid who grew up using the very programs she now supports, to becoming a registered lobbyist fighting to eradicate poverty across Wisconsin. We dig into some hard truths about covert racism in the Midwest, the shocking reality that 35% of Wisconsinites fall into the ALICE threshold—the working poor who can't meet basic needs despite being employed—and why poverty doesn't have to exist if we actually fund the programs that work. Courtney also breaks down why nonprofits need to stop being afraid of advocacy and her mantra for community care: use your life to make a positive impact on the lives of those who need it most. This is a masterclass in policy, proximity, and the power of showing up for your community. Key topics in this episode include:     •    The reality of poverty in Wisconsin: 11% poverty rate, but 35% of Wisconsinites fall into the ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) threshold     •    Covert racism in the Midwest versus overt racism in the South     •    The critical role of Community Action Agencies in fighting poverty across 68 of Wisconsin's 72 counties     •    Why the "benefits cliff" keeps working families trapped in poverty     •    Policy threats facing anti-poverty programs: Community Service Block Grant (CSBG), Head Start, and weatherization funding     •    The importance of nonprofit advocacy and holding elected officials accountable     •    Community care as collective action, not just individual self-care #BlackOxygenPodcast #BlackOxygen #PovertyinWisconsin #WISCAP #CommunityAction #CollectiveCare #CommunityActionPrograms #BlackInMadison #BlackWomen #Leadership #MadisonWisconsin #DaneCountyWisconsin #NonProfitLeadership  Resources and links: WISCAP - https://wiscap.org/ Dr. Courtney Hayward - https://madison365.com/courtney-hayward-named-new-executive-director-of-wiscap/ United for ALICE - https://www.unitedforalice.org/home The State of ALICE in Wisconsin - https://www.unitedforalice.org/introducing-ALICE/wisconsin

    51 min

  6. JAN 19

    Black Oxygen Beyond Wisconsin feat. Ayris Scales

    In this Beyond Wisconsin episode, Angela sits down with Ayris Scales, a tri-sector executive who has navigated government, nonprofit, and corporate worlds with intention and wisdom. Ayris currently serves as SVP of Social Responsibility and Global Initiatives at NAREIT, where she works to expand access to real estate investment opportunities, and runs Able Vision Enterprises, her highly selective consulting practice. This conversation tackles the urgent realities facing Black women professionals in 2025—particularly the 300,000+ who have been pushed out of the workforce in recent months. Ayris doesn't hold back as she discusses the erosion (not just attrition) of Black women in DEI and social impact roles, the importance of knowing when to stop caring, and why our survival has taught us to see the "mud puddles" others refuse to acknowledge. Key themes include: Understanding REITs as an accessible wealth-building tool The truth about "high-performance work" and organizational politics Why balance is a myth, but harmony is achievable The difference between a coach who tries to change you and one who helps you get clear Transitioning with purpose, plan, and priorities Recalibrating your specialty and knowing your value Ayris also shares the origin story of her viral Tipsy Tuesday series (tips, not drinks!), her journey through unemployment and burnout, and why this moment requires Black professionals to invest in themselves differently. Connect with Ayris on LinkedIn and Instagram @AyrisScales, and learn more about Able Vision at ayrisscales.com. Featured songs: "Millionaire" by Kelis ft. André 3000, "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" by Nina Simone, "The Man I Need" by Olivia Dean

    1h 2m

  7. JAN 5

    Ali Muldrow - All Things Beautiful - Rebroadcast

    This week, I'm rebroadcasting a conversation with my dear friend Ali Muldrow. This conversation is all about beauty, joy, and friendship. As we start off 2026, the world continues to feel so heavy and overwhelming. This conversation is all about reclaiming the good in life despite the overwhelm, the noise, the comparison, and the seduction of numbness. It's an invitation to each of us to pause, slow down, to notice and to savor. Noticing beauty isn't about creating new years resolutions - it's not about the performative nature of "new year, new you." It's about noticing beauty as an act of resistance against the pressure to produce, perform, and define ourselves by metrics and outcomes. Noticing beauty is about reminding ourselves that abundance exists all around. I hope that this conversation fills your heart. Our producer, Nate Chappell, hosts a comedy interview podcast called Several Questions.  He's doing a live benefit show at Gamma Ray Bar on Wednesday, January 21st, with ticket sales going to the Autism Society of South Central Wisconsin. Nate is an autistic dad to autistic kiddos, and for this 'Oops! All Autistics!' show, all four guests are also autistic. It's going to be a silly celebration of autistic joy. Follow @severalquestionspod on Instagram for details, and get tickets here: https://gammaray.bar/show/several-questions-w-nate-chappell-oops-all-autistics/ Come support autistic folks and autistic art on January 21st! #BlackOxygenPodcast #BlackInWisconsin #BlackWomenInWisconsin #BlackWomenDroppingGems #BlackWomen #Madison365 #DopeBlackPodcasts #AliMuldrow #BlackLeadership #BlackLeadershipInWisconsin #BeautifulWisconsin #WisconsinIsBeautiful #Doula

    1 hr

  8. 12/22/2025

    Defining freedom with Dr. Shakkiah Curtis

    Dr. Curtis shares her complicated relationship with Wisconsin—a "love and hate" dynamic shaped by leaving Milwaukee at 17, experiencing HBCUs and the East Coast, and returning multiple times before finally seeing the opportunity hidden in her home state. She now runs Taylor Nicole Wine and Cupcakes in Madison's Black Business Hub, creating the cultural space she couldn't find as a young woman in the city. Research on Black Women's Success Dr. Curtis's doctoral research followed 14 Black women at CEO level or higher in Fortune 500 companies for two and a half years, uncovering the SCALE framework—five foundational elements these women needed to succeed and sustain success for 10+ years:     •    Support Systems (mentors, networks, village)     •    Capital Management (resources, allocation)     •    Assets and Investing (wealth-building)     •    Learning and Knowledge (continuous professional development)     •    Enabling Technology (staying current with industry trends) A striking finding: 90% of successful Black women she studied had never had another Black woman as a mentor in their workplace. The Superpower Nobody Wants Dr. Curtis describes being a Black single mother as "a superpower nobody wants"—the exhausting reality of working harder because "no one was giving me handouts," of always being both woman and Black woman in corporate spaces, and of constantly asking "who's saving her?" when Black women are expected to save everyone else. From Pain to Healing In a vulnerable moment, Dr. Curtis shares hitting a breaking point during COVID—scoring 50 out of 50 on a stress assessment, meaning "you can break at any moment." Her journey to therapy, initially for her daughters, became her own path to asking a fundamental question: "Do I want success from pain, or do I want success from a healing space?" The Energy Economy Dr. Curtis speaks candidly about being "energy-led" rather than simply social—giving deeply in every interaction, which means protecting her capacity fiercely. She's retired from being "the strong friend" and encourages other Black women to ask daily: "Did you do anything selfishly for you?" Honest Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs Rather than romanticizing entrepreneurship, Dr. Curtis asks the hard questions: What do you actually want? Can you live in uncertainty? Can you handle anxiety? Can you go into deficiency for a long time? She emphasizes that stability doesn't come from entrepreneurship and that sometimes the answer is investing in someone else's business or keeping your 9-to-5 while building—whatever serves the life you actually want, not the one you think you should want. Defining Freedom The conversation closes with Dr. Curtis's challenge to listeners: What would you define as freedom? What kind of life do you really want? For her, it's "an unimaginable life"—and getting there requires the honesty to say no to many things to say yes to what matters most.     •    LinkedIn/Instagram: @DrShakkiahCurtis     •    Email: shakia@thepinkhustle.com (mailto:shakia@thepinkhustle.com)     •    Visit: Taylor Nicole Wine and Cupcakes (Madison's Black Business Hub)

    53 min
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5
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

Angela Russell is a Black woman who loves Wisconsin. That said, with so few Black folks in the state, sometimes she needs a little extra dose of Black oxygen. A place where she can breathe, connect, restore by hearing and listening deeply to Black folks in this shared journey of life. This podcast will feature and highlight the Black voices in Wisconsin and a little beyond. We hope that these conversations will lift your spirits and give you a few moments to breathe. Get your candles lit and your incense burning. It's time for Black Oxygen.

Information

  • Creator
    Madison365
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Show Website
    Black Oxygen

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