Black. Loved. Free. Podcast

Brendane
  • 4.6 (25)
  • Spirituality
  • Updated Biweekly

black. loved. free. is a spiritual-political podcast that explores the intersections of Black feminist political theory, Black resistance and revolution, and spiritual healing. Here we remember that collective liberation begins with the self, so we explore how our healing brings forth the worlds we want. Join the host anthropologist and certified energy healer Brendane biweekly as we learn new ways to heal ourselves and our communities.

  1. 1d ago

    I choose to live

    I’m so glad I chose to live. It’s Hoodoo Heritage Month and Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and I am celebrating my life.  Won’t you witness me and celebrate with me that I am still living? Even if you choose not to, I still choose to be seen. I am hiding no more. I am invisible no more. I choose to share my wounds and to allow those who care for me to care for me. If you find my pain, my beauty, my needs are too much, that’s okay–that means I am occupying the space Black women always already take up in this world. In today’s episode we define Life as a white supremacist capitalist construction and redefine life using Tying the Spiritual Knot: African Cosmology of the Bantu-Kongo Principles of Life and Living by Kimbwandende Kia Bunseki Fu-Kiau, PhD.  In our testimony section, Brendane shares about the decision she made to live when she found out in January 2024 that she was being sued by a former classmate for $750,000 for 3 tweets she made about her experience being stalked and harassed by him. (Content warning: In this section, gender violence and suicidal ideation are mentioned. Please take care while listening.) Finally, in our Living in Alignment section, we draw inspiration as we endure Hoodoo struggle from Baba Arthur Rickydoc Flowers’ The Hoodoo Book of Flowers.  Affirm: I choose to live. Join our Patreon to receive exclusive access to more content. Paid tiers start a $1/month and include access to video episodes and more. Want to book a live reading with me? Book here.  If you are looking for personalized guidance for your own journey in ruthless self-devotion, I’m opening up a transformative group container that starts in 2027. The work we’ll do together will help you integrate your spiritual, political, and creative practice through the process-practice of ruthless self-devotion. Interested?  Book a call with me.  Resources Mentioned “Black Love and Black Power: An Intersectional Analysis of Gender Violence and Political Activism”  Telling Our Own Stories Reader Telling Our Own Stories Full (Purchase) black. loved. free. Surrendering to Death

  2. Aug 19

    f*ck forgiveness. be a menace

    f*ck forgiveness.yeah, I said it.  forgiveness is a tool of oppression, and it’s time we unlearned forgiveness so that we can live truly self-determined lives. In today’s episode we are redefining “forgiveness.” In our testimony section, we’re tussling with bell hooks’s Sisters of the Yam: Black Women and Self-Recovery. In our Living in Alignment segment, Brendane reviews The Polygamist (spoilers 1:06:46 - 1:10:49) and gives some practices to cultivate the primary form of forgiveness that matters: self-forgiveness. By the end of this episode, I hope that you will be inspired to forgive on your own terms. Affirm: I will be a menace to my enemies. Interested in diving deeper into your practice of Ruthless Self-Devotion? Book a call with me here. Want to book a live reading with me? Book here.  Join us on Patreon. Get 50% off your first month using this code: 0D8FC Resources Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy Entry on Forgiveness Russell, Luke and Brandon Warmke, "Forgiveness", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Spring 2026 Edition), Edward N. Zalta & Uri Nodelman (eds.), URL = . bell hooks. Sisters of the Yam: Black Women and Self-Recovery Marimba Ani. Yurugu: An Afrikan-Centered Critique of European Cultural Thought and Behavior

  3. Jul 30

    it's not too late to take your life back

    “I am who the world and I have never seen before.” Are you feeling overwhelmed? Like life is unlivable, untenable, and truly just not it? Perhaps you have been giving too much of your time and energy to everything and everybody else, at the expense of your own bodyspiritmind. Enough! You cannot do the work of empire by destroying your own life, or worse, submitting your destiny to fear. It's time to take your life back. Your destiny awaits you. Your ancestors and spirit guides want to assist you in this journey. Allow them. In today's episode we are redefining "reclamation" using Marimba Ani's Let the Circle Be Unbroken. In our testimony section, we're learning about the process of pain faith labor and loving, the tool Audre Lorde used to reclaim her life in the face of fear and rage while she battled cancer. In our Living in Alignment segment, Brendane gives practical prompts and strategies for reclaiming your life and destiny in apocalypse. By the end of this episode, we hope that you will be inspired to take on the new beginning in your life with strength and power. Affirm: I will not lay my destiny at my enemies' feet. If you'd like to see the video podcast or listen to the extended episode, join us on Patreon. Subscribe to our YouTube.

  4. Apr 1 ·  Bonus

    please go to hell

    As long as we set the bar for “real” womanhood and “real” manhood to be what our oppressors have, we will never be free. Black liberation will never be found by letting Black men be violent as white men are. Black liberation will never be found through the patriarchy. No matter how allegiant you are to the ideals, people, and institutions that oppress you–no matter how many trinkets they give you to cover up your chains–it doesn’t change the reality that you are still in chains. It doesn’t change the reality that you are still burdened. Let’s not choose oppression, people! In today's episode Brendane unpacks misogynoir and the centuries long battle of Black women addressing misogyny, abuse, and mistreatment in Black communities. She also responds to some of the online harassment she has received. Timestamps Misogynoir Defined 5:37 Tracing Misogynoir through the centuries Anna Julia Cooper 11:06Michele Wallace 38:29Courtney Desiree Morris 1:06:18Exploring the Tweets 1:21:25 Resources Dr. Kalyn Coghill On Misogynoir: Citation, Erasure, and Plagiarism Dr. Feminista Jones bell hooks, The Will to Change: Men, Masculinity, and Love Michele Wallace, Black Macho and the Myth of the Black Superwoman Johnetta B Cole and Beverly Guy-Sheftall, Gender Talk: The Struggle for Women’s Equality in African American Communities, Anna Julia Cooper Biography Courtney Desiree Morris, Why Misogynists Make Great Informants,

    please go to hell

  5. Feb 27

    you are worthy of grace

    The world-that-is is crumbling. You’ll need your own good grace to survive. We are back with another episode on grace. First, we clear the air by defining grace, distinguishing it from mercy, clemency, and leniency. The grace we need to survive is the opposite of the grace offered to us in Christianity. That is what makes it life-saving.   In our Testimony section, we read Sara Makeba Daise’s “Be Here Now: The South is a Portal” as a Black and African guide on cultivating grace through presence.  In our Living in Alignment section, we talk about the ways we can cultivate grace in our lives (for ourselves and those who deserve it).  If you need to incorporate more grace into your life, this episode is for you! Happy Black History Month and Happy Lunar New Year! BLF turned 2 on February 24th! Read more about the journey here. Follow us on Instagram at blacklovedandfree. Subscribe to our Substack. Subscribe to our YouTube. Donate to our podcast. Resources Sankofa Shadow Work: Diaries of a Diasporic Diviner by Sara Makeba Daise being black: zen and the art of living with fearlessness and grace by Angel Kyodo Williams Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents

    you are worthy of grace

  6. Jan 25

    Survival is Enough

    I desire to survive. Happy Gregorian New Year! In today's episode, we explore the spiritual-political meaning of desire at the end of empire. Brendane read Audre Lorde's The Uses of the Erotic and discuss how now is the time to identify the truths of the worlds we aim to build and to commit to our survival by any means necessary. Finally, we end with some meditations on aligning with our destinies and desires. Chapters Introduction & Thank Yous 0:00 Brendane's 2026 Ins and Outs + Channeled Message for 2026 3:37 Clear the Air: Desire 16:47 Testimony 21:52 Living in Alignment 58:35 Resources Brendane's Channeled Message for 2026 Saint Xolani's Message The Shape of My Impact by Alexis Pauline Gumbs Support us! Become a paid subscriber on Substack. Subscribe to our YouTube Donate here!

    Survival is Enough

  7. 11/18/2025

    We Must See You to Survive

    You were never meant to survive, so now that you know that truth, what will you do? How will you choose to fight for yourself, your needs, and your communities? What will you refuse to fight for?  In today’s episode of black. loved. free., Brendane discusses the vulnerability and visibility we need to survive the apocalypse. We do this by reading Audre Lorde’s Transformation of Silence into Language and Action and Assata Shakur’s autobiography. Brendane ends with some reflections and advice on how to survive these harrowing times.  Content Warning: Assata Shakur's autobiography has brief, but not graphic, discussions of sexual violence. If this is disturbing, please take care while listening. Time Stamps Introduction and Thank Yous 0:00 Clear the Air: Vulnerability and Visibility 3:44 Testimony 27:04 To My People Statement 53:18 Rhinoceros Woman 1:08:56 Leftovers--What is Left? 1:46:35 To My Momma 2:03:28 Living in Alignment 2:14:22 Resources Ayana Zaire Cotton, What Is Your Creative Offer?  Beyoncé is not your savior It’s impossible to vote like a black feminist Black. Loved. Free. Season 1 “Surrendering to Death” AfroCubaWeb, collection on Assata Shakur https://afrocubaweb.com/assata2.htm Assata Shakur’s Autobiography The Transformation of Silence into Action, Audre Lorde this is the only way to save the Black "community" Donate to the podcast. Follow us on YouTube. Subscribe to our Substack.

    We Must See You to Survive

  8. 09/23/2025

    my grief cannot resemble my oppressors'

    "My grief is black." In this episode, Brendane explores the intricate relationship between grief, oppression, and transformation. Through personal anecdotes and ancestral wisdom, the conversation delves into how grief is often dismissed in oppressive systems, yet is essential for healing and liberation. The discussion emphasizes the importance of embracing death as a natural part of life, recognizing the complexities of personal grief, and understanding the role of community in navigating these emotions. The episode also highlights the significance of Mami Wata as a spirit guide for healing and the necessity of confronting darkness to achieve true transformation. Keywords grief, oppression, death, transformation, community, ancestral connections, healing, Mami Wata, spirituality, black liberation Takeaways Grief is often seen as an impediment to progress in oppressive systems. Embracing death is crucial for understanding the cycle of life. Personal grief can be complex and multifaceted, often tied to societal expectations. Community plays a vital role in navigating grief and loss. Grief can be a powerful catalyst for transformation and healing. Ancestral connections provide insight into our relationship with grief. Mami Wata symbolizes the importance of embracing darkness for healing. Oppression often requires individuals to carry the grief of their community. Rejecting the grief of oppressors is essential for maintaining sovereignty. True transformation comes from acknowledging and integrating grief into our lives--and from refusing the grief of our oppressors. Chapters 00:00 Understanding Grief: A Collective Breath 07:10 Reclaiming Grief: Love Beyond Loss 12:11 Oppression and Grief: A Complex Relationship 16:29 Seeking Wisdom: Elders and Ancestors 23:50 Integrating Death into Living: A Path Forward 29:29 The Intersection of Grief and Spirituality 40:31 Rejecting Oppression: A Personal Stand 47:34 The Cycle of Grief and Destruction 52:57 Heaven, Grief, and Transformation 53:37 The Complexity of Personal Grief 59:29 Understanding Oppressor's Grief 01:06:33 Darkness, Transformation, and Liberation 01:13:17 Embracing Grief for Self-Devotion Donate to the Podcast! Subscribe to our YouTube Subscribe to our Substack References Saidiya Hartman, "Litany for Grieving Sisters" Audre Lorde, The Cancer Journals Zenju Earthlyn Manuel, Opening to Darkness: Eight Gateways for Being with the Absence of Light in Unsettling Times Beyoncé is not your savior

    my grief cannot resemble my oppressors'
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black. loved. free. is a spiritual-political podcast that explores the intersections of Black feminist political theory, Black resistance and revolution, and spiritual healing. Here we remember that collective liberation begins with the self, so we explore how our healing brings forth the worlds we want. Join the host anthropologist and certified energy healer Brendane biweekly as we learn new ways to heal ourselves and our communities.

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