Every good season has a finale and we sure are cominng out of a SEASON! Sometimes you just need to take a break. A time to pause & reflect on where you are on your journey. A time for you. So with that in mind, I have decided to take a light pause. Chauvin's been convicted. Trump's been ousted. Vaccines are a pumpin' & Spring babies are a bumpin'. My brain & heart are exhausted. So its time for a refuel & an expansion. Come on in, hear some thoughts about all that shhh(it)!
#ImOuttaHere but #IllBeBack
https://youtu.be/dkF1fFGUNoM

What a blessing it is when you come across humans that connect to your SPIRIT. I have the pleasure of having a few of these humans in my life. Today we chat with one of my favs, Ms. Haneefah Wood. From the day I peeped her kick-ball-changing on a Syracuse University stage, marching to the beat of her own drum (which she still does), I knew I needed to know this human! A few years later God brought us together on the RENT tour and its been a pleasure to watch this woman's journey ever since. Recorded on Easter Sunday; join us as we discuss topics ranging from the business of religion & side jobs that made us cry (who hasn't found a secret spot at a catering event to eat hors d'oeuvres out of their pocket) to that time she woke up from a surgery gone wrong without the ability to speak, move, communicate or BREATHE! Haneefah is on a journey to use her art as a means to feel and defeat unconscious self sabotage. She WILL make you smile. Come on in learn more. Mmk? Mmk! Gday.

That Moment You Realize You Could Die

Marijuana. Weed. Pot. Cannabis. Grass. Ganja. Whatever you wanna call it, I am a fan! Today I celebrate this beautiful gift that literally COMES. FROM. THE. EARTH! Marijuana has been stigmatized for ages & WHY is that? Did you know that this treasure of an herb only became illegal in the last 100 years. Also, its illegalization is tied to politics, racism & xenophobia. Imagine that? In the USA? No way (HUGE eyeroll). Mary J has been used for THOUSANDS of years by scores of culture & civilizations as a tool for healing, spiritual practice & commerce. In moderation, as with ALL things, this sweet nectar provided by Mamma Nature can be a game changer. Y'all its time to change yo' brain. Do or don't, but honesty I think you're missing out. Happy 420! Puff puff pass. #GoGREEEEEEEEN! https://www.history.com/topics/crime/history-of-marijuana

Well this Ponderling took off on a journey ! It began as a short conversation about how as artists, sometimes to keep our sanity & spirit, we must pivot to create our own structures. We recently reconnected when we each became enflamed watching our black, gay mutual friend & Broadway artist, basically be ignored by the Broadway community for his GREAT accomplishment. In case you missed it; singer, songwriter, artist & activist Mykal Kilgore has made history as the first openly gay, male artist to earn a nomination in the Grammy's Best Traditional R&B category. I mean even Cardi B shouted him out! This slowly turned into a longer converstaion about racsim in the enertainment industry, specifically Broadway & our thoughts on shifting that. And that's how 15 miutes turned into 50. Curious? Come on in! #CardiBKnowsBest ❤️

Mykal Kilgore: First Openly Gay Male Artist to Earn 'Best Traditional R&B' Grammy Nod

Vasthy's Friends

The Broadway Boys

As we round out Women's History Month, I sit down with VFILES Founder & all around badass, Julie Anne Quay! Julie Anne has made it her life's mission to connect "the kids in the line" with resources & opportunities to help get them to the front. Through the power of media, fashion & music, VILES creates a world that is set on empowering those who don't have access by finding ways to get them into the room. Access, it is what can make or break a life. Both Julie Anne & I firmly believe in the power of working your way up, communication & community. This is one of my favorite conversations. Come on in & learn more. Mmk? Mmk! Gday.

For more on Julie Anne Quay:

https://linktr.ee/vfiles

https://www.vfiles.org

https://www.instagram.com/julieannequay

For every up, there is a down. If there is dark, then there WILL be light. There are many universal signs that point us back to the overarching intention of balance. Of course there are many human factors that mess with the universal laws of equality, but for today, let's avoid THOSE ponders. With that in mind, it only makes sense that for every contraction there is an equal & opposite EXPANSION! It's science, DUH! I believe we've been in a great collective contraction. It has been a year of reflection, loss, solitude, recalculation & more. It is only fair that the universe hands us a reset & a redistribution of the energetic flow. I believe we are heading into that moment & we should celebrate that! Wanna hear more? Come on in. Mmk? Mmk! Gday. #Newtowns3rdLaw

Hopefully we all have those amazing humans in our lives that allow us to be ourselves, to feel free and to help us face & push past our fears. They make us better people. I am SO blessed to have this in my life. Today I sit down with one of my nearest & dearest; Ms. Sarah Johnson, my sista from another mista! We've traveled near & far together; from the beaches of Mexico & the DR, to the winter mountains of the Catskills. My Sarita is always up for an adventure and I am always up to join her on one! We've laughed together, we've worked together (Alice's Tea Cup), we've celebrated together, we've had emotional MO-MENTS together, we've conjured the spirits of our Johnson grandmothers together. This special human loves like none other & she sure is MAGIC! Oh, AND she's a badass woman working daily to change the world as an ally & supportor of social justice. Come on in and learn more about my Sarita Johnson. Mmk? Mmk! Gday.

TODAY'S TRIVIA: KEANU REEVES

March is Women's History Month. But did you also know that March is (MS) Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month? What better way to celebrate both these phenomenal directives than with my guest today? On today's Ponderling, my special guest & badass female friend with MS, Nicole Nasca, gives us a brief download on what its like living with MS. Oh, we also laugh a lot & recount our many travels together as work mates who opened new stores together. #FromCannesToAspenAndBeyond #CorporateCreditCardLife.

Multiple sclerosis is a disease of the central nervous system. It's believed to be an autoimmune condition, in which the immune system mistakenly attacks normal tissues. It's not clear what causes the onset of this immune reaction, and most people diagnosed with MS have no known risk factors. Come on in & learn more! #MSWomenAreFierce

Please visit myMSAA.org for more information.