❤️ ARE WE IN LOVE WITH WHO SOMEONE REALLY IS… OR WHO WE WANT THEM TO BE?

On Episode 124 of The Core Queen Chat, host Dee Dee Legette welcomes talented writer, producer, and actress Denise Yolén for an honest, thought-provoking conversation about love, relationships, identity, storytelling, and the power of representation in film.

Denise, a graduate of NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, shares insights into her creative journey, including her first feature film, Sundays in July, and her second feature, A Story About You, which premiered at the 2026 Slamdance Film Festival and screened at the American Black Film Festival and Essence Festival of Culture.

But this conversation goes far beyond filmmaking!

💎 In this episode, we explore:

- Love vs. Illusion: Are we falling in love with someone's true character or the potential we've imagined?

- Dating Red Flags: Why listening, observing, and recognizing patterns matter in relationships.

- Black Love & Representation: Challenging the belief that Black relationships must always involve struggle and hardship.

- Healthy Relationships: Understanding emotional connection, communication, and how we navigate conflict.

- The Power of Storytelling: How Denise uses film to explore identity, intimacy, and the complexities of human connection.

- Creative Purpose: The journey of bringing authentic stories to the screen as an independent filmmaker.

Denise challenges us to examine the stories we tell ourselves about love and the stories we see represented on screen.

❤️ Sometimes the greatest relationship lesson is learning to see people for who they are—not who we hope they'll become.

🎙️ Whether you're navigating relationships, discovering your creative purpose, or simply looking for an authentic conversation, this episode offers something to reflect on.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION: Have you ever fallen in love with someone's potential instead of who they actually were?

👑 Hosted by: Dee Dee Legette, The Core Queen

🎬 Guest: Denise Yolén — Writer | Producer | Actress

🎧 Subscribe to The Core Queen Chat for inspiring conversations about entertainment, culture, relationships, personal growth, and real-life experiences.

#TheCoreQueenChat #DeniseYolen #DeeDeeLegette #BlackLove #Relationships #IndependentFilm #BlackFilmmakers

On Episode 123 of The Core Queen Chat, host Dee Dee Legette sits down with nationally recognized HIV advocate, speaker, and case manager Dominique Grant for a powerful conversation about breaking the silence, confronting stigma, and choosing to live out loud.

Diagnosed with HIV in 2015, Dominique spent years navigating her diagnosis privately before stepping boldly into advocacy. In 2024, she broke her silence and launched Walking In My Reality, transforming her personal journey into a platform for education, empowerment, faith, and hope.

Dominique shares what it took to move from silence to purpose, why HIV stigma remains such a major barrier—particularly in Black communities—and how churches and faith communities can become safer spaces for honest conversations about HIV.

As one of the women featured in the documentary Beyond the Diagnosis, Dominique is helping change the narrative of what living with HIV looks like. Her message is clear: a diagnosis does not define your worth, your future, or your ability to thrive.

🎙️ The Core Queen Chat – Episode 123

👑 Hosted by Dee Dee Legette

🎤 Guest: Dominique Grant

Topics include: HIV awareness, HIV stigma, women and HIV, faith, Black communities, advocacy, knowing your status, living out loud, purpose, and Beyond the Diagnosis.

#TheCoreQueenChat #DominiqueGrant #BeyondTheDiagnosis #WalkingInMyReality #HIVAwareness #HIVAdvocacy #EndHIVStigma #WomensHealth #BlackWomensHealth #LivingWithHIV

What happens when you stop allowing a diagnosis to define your identity and finally find the courage to live in your truth?

On Episode 122 of The Core Queen Chat, host Dee Dee Legette sits down with Millicent Foster, community advocate, public speaker, family educator, and HIV criminalization reform advocate, for an intimate conversation about living with HIV, breaking the silence, self-acceptance, and discovering purpose through personal transformation.

After spending seven years navigating her diagnosis privately, Millicent found her power when she shared her story publicly for the first time. What began as a journey marked by stigma, silence, and difficulty embracing her own reflection evolved into a mission of helping others find their voices, protect their peace, and love themselves wholeheartedly.

We also dive into the powerful documentary Beyond the Diagnosis, narrated by Santia Bailey, which follows Millicent alongside Dr. Joyce Turner-Keller and Dominique Grant as they challenge misconceptions surrounding HIV and highlight the lives of Black women who are not simply surviving their diagnosis—they are THRIVING.

In this episode, we explore:

• Living with HIV and overcoming internalized stigma.
• The emotional journey from silence to self-love.
• HIV criminalization and the importance of education and advocacy.
• Why knowing your HIV status matters.
• The importance of sisterhood, chosen family, and safe spaces.
• The impact of Beyond the Diagnosis and changing the narrative surrounding women living with HIV.
• Finding your voice and using your story to empower others.

Millicent's journey reminds us that your diagnosis is not your identity, your past does not determine your future, and your story may be exactly what someone else needs to hear.

🎙️ The Core Queen Chat — Episode 122 👑 Host: Dee Dee Legette ✨ Guest: Millicent Foster 🎬 Documentary: Beyond the Diagnosis

Know your status. Protect your peace. Live in your truth. Thrive beyond the diagnosis.

Follow, subscribe, rate, and share The Core Queen Chat for more authentic conversations about purpose, healing, resilience, and personal growth.

#TheCoreQueenChat #MillicentFoster #BeyondTheDiagnosis #HIVAwareness #EndHIVStigma #HIVAdvocacy