The BLK + GRN Podcast Kristian Henderson

Rachel Zeigler’s journey is a testament to walking in one's purpose, where the resounding echoes of her heart's desires drown out doubt and settling becomes a distant notion. As the visionary founder of Naked Chemistry, Rachel transforms challenges, from navigating microaggressions in the corporate world as a Black woman to pivoting her career as a licensed cosmetologist during the pandemic.
Beyond its initial focus, her vegan skincare brand, born out of a keen concern for ingrown hairs, has blossomed into a testament to Rachel's dedication to quality, sustainability, and multifunctionality. The core message is clear: prioritize quality over quantity, view self-care as non-negotiable, and embrace the transformative power of turning personal challenges into purpose-driven ventures.
 Quote from interviewee for callout box: “I realized at the end of the day, you have to make success your own and put your own determination on what is success to you.”
Biggest Takeaways You Don’t Want to Miss:
In the realm of skepticism and discouragement, let unwavering self-belief in both your personal worth and the potential of your business be the guiding light that propels you forward. It’s important to give yourself grace and recognize that self-compassion is essential for personal well-being and for positively interacting with others. Seeking investments and aligning with platforms that champion and support Black businesses can be crucial for growth in the entrepreneurial landscape. Check Out These Highlights:
Rachel shares her dissatisfaction with the corporate environment, pursuit of beauty school, and skepticism from her traditional Black parents and societal expectations (3:40) Rachel emphasizes the significance of using vegan skincare and talks about the ingredients in her products (19:49) Rachel passionately delves into the art of weaving self-care seamlessly into the fabric of her life. (26:00) Quotes:
 “Vegan skin care helps, and you know everything that we put in our body and on our body matters.” “I'm happy that I'm living a life that's authentic to me and I'm living a life that's true to me and I think that that's more important than having what you're supposed to have or having accolades that people want you to have” “Taking care of yourself is in vanity. Beauty is in vanity. Because when you look good, you feel good. When your hair is done, or when your skin looks good you feel good and when you feel good, you project that onto other people.”

Linda embarks on a deeply resonant journey, one that mirrors the intricate tapestry of our own lives. Linda, the visionary founder of Malkia, exudes an unwavering commitment to natural skincare, bringing forth a remarkable vision where every individual, especially Black people, can experience the beauty of healthy, glowing skin naturally.
Her mission extends beyond products; it's about fostering a genuine connection to the community, leading to the powerful potential of giving back. Linda's story is a beacon of authenticity, reminding us that we can instigate profound change when we choose to invest in our well-being and the betterment of our world. It's a testament to the transformative magic that personal choices and intentional endeavors can wield, proving that each step we take can be a profound stride toward lasting and impactful transformation.
Quote from interviewee for callout box: "This is your life, this is your health, this is your wellness. Take that extra time to understand what natural means and what these companies are putting in their products."
Biggest Takeaways You Don’t Want to Miss:
"Malkia" means queen in Swahili, and the brand's logo features a stylized double M, originally named Malkia Mweusi, meaning the Black Queen. Linda's commitment to authenticity and intentionality in her brand's growth demonstrates the value of staying true to one's vision and being purposeful in business decisions. It’s important to be diligent in reading labels, researching product ingredients, and understanding what goes into your skincare items for the sake of your overall health and wellness. Check Out These Highlights:
Linda sparks an impactful conversation on the importance of traveling and share valuable insights on embracing the diversity and richness of other cultures (14:11) Linda discusses the misrepresentation of Africa and the need to challenge stereotypes and misconceptions about the continent (17:20) Linda shares her vision for her brand and emphasizes the importance of helping people see that they can have healthy, natural, and beautiful skin without resorting to expensive and chemically loaded products (25:10) Quotes:
 “You become such a well-rounded open person but so receptive to other cultures and other types of people and other types of circumstances when you travel.”  “I do feel like over the last 10 years or maybe like 5 to 8 years, there's been a paradigm shift and especially the African American community in wanting to understand more about their roots.” “Really take your time and read the labels and understand what natural means. It's not a regulated term, so really anyone can claim their natural and what they're using is not natural or naturally derived.”

Step into the realm of inspiration with Lori and Lauren, the unstoppable mother-daughter team driving the vision of Vitavate dietary supplements. Their journey is a testament to the extraordinary, where backgrounds in food science and procurement merge to craft a product that transcends the ordinary - a vegan, gluten-free, and sugar-free marvel that bestows sustained energy without the dreaded crash.
Their passion for empowering women to "fill their cup first" and their affiliation with the game-changing platform, Black and Green, beckons listeners to a community of thriving black artisans and visionary entrepreneurs. It's a narrative of unwavering support, tenacity, and the transformative force of Black entrepreneurship that promises to leave you both captivated and inspired. 
Quote from interviewee for callout box: We're looking to create a Fill Your Cup First universe. We want to be the go-to supplement for women as they try to fill their cup first. It's central to our brand." – Lauren
Biggest Takeaways You Don’t Want to Miss:
Prioritizing self-care and filling your own cup first is the vital foundation for offering genuine and sustainable support to others, ensuring you can give from a place of abundance, rather than depletion. The dynamic mother-daughter duo showcases the strength of working together, emphasizing that collaboration can lead to remarkable achievements. The natural energy boost in the Vitavate energy supplements are achieved through ingredients like green tea extract, ginger root, and magnesium. Check Out These Highlights:
Lauren reveals the driving force behind diversifying their product range with custom powdered formulas to meet the ever-changing needs of women (7:40)  Lori and Lauren discuss the challenges of getting people to try their product and the importance of attending events and getting their product in people's hands. (13:30) Lori discusses her background in food science and her experience in the food quality and food safety industry (17:35) Quotes:
"The biggest challenge, as an entrepreneur, is just getting people to try the product. Once they try it, they love it. But getting the product into people's hands." – Lori "The vision is to continue to expand our product line with specific powdered formulas to address the needs of women as they go throughout the various stages of their lives." - Lori "The physical aspect, whether that be exercise, the spiritual aspect, meditation, prayer, and then the mental aspect, you know, making sure we're mentally sound and making sure we're taking care of our mental health as well." - Lauren

Dr. Melodie Davis Bundrage, the visionary founder of LUV + CO, delves into the transformative world of clean beauty and entrepreneurship. Driven by a profound mission to inspire confidence and unity among Black women, Dr. Melodie identified a glaring need for accessible, high-quality organic products in underrepresented communities.
Dr. Melodies’ unwavering commitment to empowering Black women ignited a journey that led her to establish her flagship store in the heart of a thriving, melanated suburbia. Furthermore, her personal story as a SCAD heart attack survivor underscores the significance of self-care in entrepreneurial success. It's a powerful reminder that in the pursuit of purpose-driven business, nurturing our own well-being is the cornerstone of creating lasting, meaningful change.
Quote from interviewee for callout box: "We don't have the neighborhood clean beauty store that services Black women. I wanted to create that, and so that's what we did."
Biggest Takeaways You Don’t Want to Miss:
Recognizing the importance of accessibility in the beauty industry, particularly in underserved communities, and the need for more high-quality cosmetic options for Black women There is power in embracing contentment and finding peace in various life situations, whether it's a high-profit day or a low-profit day. The significance of being aware of health disparities and conditions like SCAD (Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection) and taking care of one's overall well-being Check Out These Highlights:
Dr. Melodie passionately articulates her vision of promoting greater circulation of financial resources within the Black community, recognizing that Black women wield significant purchasing power, particularly within the beauty industry (7:19) Dr. Melodie talks about her plans for the future, which include expanding partnerships and spreading clean beauty awareness (16:27) Dr. Melodie shares her self-care journey, emphasizing the need to slow down, delegate, and take care of her health (21:15) Quotes:
“I did it based on my research and my dissertation, and to make sure that we eliminated all of the toxic ingredients that were linked to health disparities in black women in particular in the medical journals.”  "There comes a time where you just have to delegate and let go. You can't control everything in your business." "In all things, just be content."

Christine Martey-Ochola, founder of NUELE, shares her remarkable journey of creating a beauty brand that embodies the perfect blend of effectiveness and health-consciousness. After reflecting on childhood memories of witnessing chemical treatments and feeling the societal pressure to conform to a specific beauty standard as a Black woman, Christine and her co-founder Anne Cheatham, drawing on their backgrounds in biochemistry, research, medicine, and food science, spent four years developing their flagship product, NUELE hair serum.
Their unwavering dedication to patience, relentless research, and innovation shines brightly, underlining the profound significance of crafting clean, sustainable, and non-toxic products that will leave a lasting impact on the well-being of both present and future generations. Their tireless devotion to serving Black women with nothing less than exceptional, clean beauty products is bound to ignite your own passion. It's an inspiration to embrace a slower, more deliberate approach, to prioritize health, and to become an agent of positive change in the world.
Quote from interviewee for callout box: “You know what really drives us right, I’d say on a fundamental level is having healthy options. When we are looking at care. Health is a critical component for us.”
Biggest Takeaways You Don’t Want to Miss:
NUELE is committed to sustainability and environmental responsibility. They work with farmers, participate in tree-planting initiatives in Africa, and use recyclable packaging materials. Benzene and formaldehyde are considered harmful ingredients in hair products due to their potential carcinogenic and irritant properties, posing health risks to users. Christine's unwavering patience paved the way for her to craft a product that embodies health, sustainability, and versatility, all while breaking free from conventional beauty norm Check Out These Highlights:
Christine shares how her and her co-founder Anne's unwavering passion for delivering all-natural and non-toxic hair care options took precedence over their pursuit of funding for their brand (10:44) Christine discusses NUELE’S commitment to being a part of the solution, providing customers with all-natural and healthy haircare options (14:50) Christine discusses the versatility of the NUELE hair serum and the challenges of creating a product that is both non-toxic and effective (20:54) Quotes:
 “We realize that a core thing that we do every single day is use hair care products, but we don't always know what's in them and we don't always realize what the impact is.”
“And so, for us a key driver is how do we ensure that if we are going to play in this space, that we will be on the right side of that story, that we are on this side of positive health outcomes, no matter what.”
“We only want accord around the importance of developing products that we all can be proud of, and if it takes a while so be it. We’ll have to invest that.”

Ashley Harmon, the visionary founder behind Mela Vitamins, takes us on her personal wellness journey through the realm of wellness. Her college years were marked by a challenging battle against PCOS and a deficiency in vitamin D, setting her on a determined path to develop supplements tailored specifically for Black women. Mela Vitamins stands apart with its holistic approach, forged through extensive research and enriched by insights from consumer focus groups and healthcare experts to address specific needs.
With an eye on the future, Mela Vitamins aims to be the go-to wellness brand for communities of color, expanding their product line and fostering education and community engagement. Ashley’s unwavering commitment to health empowerment shines through as she encourages us to reconnect with our bodies, advocating for self-awareness, step-by-step changes to take charge of our wellness journey and embrace the power of holistic, personalized health.
Quote from interviewee for callout box:
 "It's all a journey, and a very personal journey. And I think that we have to stop comparing ourselves to others. What works for someone else may not work for us."
Biggest Takeaways You Don’t Want to Miss:
The normalization of pain and discomfort can hinder individuals from recognizing when something is wrong with their health and seeking the necessary care or making positive changes. Listening to one's body involves making incremental changes, allowing time for effects to occur, and regularly checking in on energy levels, sleep quality, and other indicators of well-being. Small steps can have a significant impact on health, such as improving sleep quality which impacts energy levels, hormone balance, and cognitive health. Check Out These Highlights:
Ashley sparks and impactful conversation on how Black people often normalize not feeling well (6:21) Ashley explains the power behind making daily progress and healthy choices rather drastic, unattainable changes (8:40) Ashley provides some strategies to help people learn how to listen to themselves and their bodies when it is speaking to you (16:44) Quotes:
"It's daily progress. It's daily healthy choices, daily wellness choices versus this big huge goal or these really unattainable things." "I think that there's a lot of information that needs to be spread, but also, just for people to feel empowered to ask questions and speak up if they're not feeling well and that they don't have to feel like that." "The more you get used to it, the better you'll get at kind of learning what your body needs."