In this week’s Episode 53 of We Are Out of Office, co-hosts Veteran Television Executive Producer Nikki T and Bestselling Author Jayne Allen clock in with a joy-fueled, culture-first episode that moves from unhinged internet hilarity to a real conversation about accountability, healing, and the cost of “just going along to get along.”

The ladies kick things off celebrating the chaotic brilliance of Threads (because Black History Month online is truly a different universe), then shout out their recent first-ever interview episode with Candice Marie—the woman behind the viral vertical series “Your Type Might Be the Korean Barista Who Don’t Speak English.” If you haven’t watched Episode 52 yet, they make the case: it’s a must.

From there, it’s I See You, Girl time: Jayne spotlights Alexis Barber and her real-world “alignment edit” experience blending ambition, community, and goals—while Nikki celebrates Charm La’Donna, the powerhouse choreographer/creative director behind major halftime show moments (The Weeknd, Kendrick, Beyoncé Bowl, and Bad Bunny).

Then the episode turns—Jesus Take the Wheel is supersized this week. Nikki breaks down why the America’s Next Top Model Netflix documentary stirred up real anger: the show shaped a generation, but the harm was real—and she’s calling out the difference between “it was a different time” and true ownership. Jayne adds her own lens, unpacking a viral roundtable clash as a case study in generational trauma, emotional triggering, and what happens when accountability shows up without safety or context.

In Health & Healing, both hosts get personal: Nikki reflects on moments she stayed silent in non-melanated spaces to feel “chosen,” and Jayne speaks on growth, past relationship patterns, and the journey of reclaiming full humanity beyond checklists. The through-line is clear: healing requires truth—but truth also needs space.

They wrap with what’s good (including an athlete shutting down a ridiculous interview question) and Jayne’s joyful Detroit love letter: the Wright Museum social content is giving mockumentary brilliance and Black culture excellence.

Final Word: “Own it.”

Questions? Comments? Email us at: weareoutofofficepod@gmail.com or Follow us on TikTok and Instagram at: @weareoutofofficepod

Show Links:

Charm La’Donna Interview w. The Grio

The Real Origins of Betty Boop

Darnell Davis The Wig Engineer

Eileen Gu, the most decorated female free skier, claps back!

Actor Clifton Powell Takes Accountability But Is Interrupted

Airbnb Does Experiences - Life Edit with Alexis Barber in NYC

In this week’s Interview Episode of We Are Out of Office, your co-hosts Veteran Television Executive Producer (The Night Agent) Nikki T and Bestselling Author Jayne Allen (Black Girls Must...trilogy) welcome their first-ever guest, Candice Smith (Candice Marie)—the creator behind the wildly popular vertical solo series: “Your Type is the Korean Barista Who Don’t Speak English.” If you’ve been on the timeline, you’ve seen the slow-burn, real-life K-drama unfolding in public—and yes, we’re just as seated as you are. (“If you know, you know.”)

But this conversation goes beyond the café.

Candice takes us all the way back—sharing how she first moved to Korea in 2005, what it was like to build a life overseas, and how she’s turned her lived experience into a platform and business helping others move abroad through Shy Girls Fly. She breaks down the difference between leaving to escape and leaving to choose joy, and why many of us don’t realize how much freedom is available on the other side of fear.

A major theme lands with clarity: permission isn’t something you receive—it’s something you decide. Candice shares a line that stopped us in our tracks:

“No one gave me permission… they just didn’t give me limits. So I allowed myself.” (00:41:48–00:42:32)

The conversation moves through community, dating, self-trust, and cultural contrast—especially what it feels like as a Black woman to be in environments where you’re not required to constantly prove your worth. Candice reflects on how energy changes when you’re not spending your life convincing people you’re capable—how that frees you to create, build, and live expansively.

This episode is about:

1. Not waiting to be chosen—choosing yourself
2. The courage it takes to move without consensus
3. Why transition can hurt even when it’s your dream
4. Building community abroad (especially among Black women)
5. A real-time reminder that Black women deserve soft, intentional love—and full lives

They close with a powerful image: when you stop waiting for permission and take the leap anyway, you may find yourself on the other side in “a whole garden” of freedom, acceptance, and possibility. (01:07:27–01:08:39)

Find Candice on Social Media:

@ShyGirlsFly on TikTok

@ShyGirlsFly on Instagram

And on the Web:

www.ShyGirlsFly.com

Questions? Comments? Email us at: weareoutofofficepod@gmail.com or Follow us on TikTok and Instagram at: @weareoutofofficepod

In this week’s Episode 51 of We Are Out of Office, your co-hosts Veteran Television Executive Producer (The Night Agent) Nikki T and Bestselling Author Jayne Allen invite listeners into a grounded, grown conversation about timing, agency, and the quiet power of choosing now.

With the out-of-office replies still firmly on, the episode centers on a liberating idea: you don’t need more information, permission, or perfect conditions to move forward—you need to recognize when the present moment is already enough. Nikki and Jayne explore how often we postpone peace, clarity, and action while waiting for things to feel safer, clearer, or more resolved, and how much power is reclaimed when you decide that now is your hour.

The conversation moves fluidly through relationships, work, creativity, and culture, naming how hesitation often disguises itself as preparation. Together, the hosts unpack the difference between patience and delay, reflection and avoidance, and how discernment sometimes sounds like a simple, internal yes.

In Health & Healing, the focus turns to nervous system regulation and self-trust. Jayne reflects on how choosing now reduces anxiety by ending endless internal negotiations, while Nikki speaks to the confidence that grows when you stop deferring your own authority. The episode reframes “right timing” as something you participate in—not something you wait to be granted.

The episode also includes:

1. Insight into why clarity often arrives through decision, not contemplation
2. Honest reflection on momentum, maturity, and emotional readiness
3. Cultural observations about productivity, control, and urgency
4. Reminders that power doesn’t always announce itself—it often whispers

They close with a resonant truth: the present moment becomes powerful the instant you choose it.

This is a calm, affirming, culture-forward episode about agency, self-trust, and the radical joy of deciding that now is enough.

Show Links:

Toni Bravo (@bonitravo) | TikTok

Gullah Geeche Wins!

New Life Working Dogs

Dee Starks aka "Granny Love" on Instagram

Non-Alcoholic Sensori (Black Woman Owned)

Usher and Big Sean Invest Big in Detroit's Kids

Questions? Comments? Email us at: weareoutofofficepod@gmail.com or Follow us on TikTok and Instagram at: @weareoutofofficepod

In this week’s Episode 50 of We Are Out of Office, your co-hosts Veteran Television Executive Producer (The Night Agent) Nikki T and Bestselling Author Jayne Allen reach a powerful turning point: the freedom that comes when you stop waiting for an apology that may never arrive.

This milestone episode centers on emotional closure without permission—what it means to move forward without acknowledgment, accountability, or validation from the people who hurt you. Nikki and Jayne explore how waiting on an apology can quietly tether you to disappointment, keeping your nervous system in negotiation long after the relationship, situation, or season has ended.

The conversation moves through work, relationships, creativity, and cultural dynamics, naming a truth many people avoid: not every harm will be named, and not every wound will be repaired by the person who caused it. But healing doesn’t have to wait.

Together, the hosts unpack how maturity often looks like releasing the fantasy of repair, choosing peace over resolution, and reclaiming energy that’s been stuck in expectation. They talk candidly about how apology culture can sometimes mask avoidance—and how closure is something you can give yourself.

In Health & Healing, the episode reframes forgiveness as a personal decision, not a public performance. Jayne reflects on how self-trust grows when you stop rehearsing conversations that will never happen, while Nikki speaks to the relief that comes from no longer needing someone else to “get it” before you move on.

The episode also includes:

1. Insight into why apologies aren’t always the healing we imagine
2. Honest reflection on grief, accountability, and acceptance
3. Cultural observations on emotional labor and expectation
4. Grounded reminders that peace doesn’t require agreement

They close with a liberating truth: you don’t need an apology to be free—you need clarity.

This is a deeply introspective, culture-forward episode about release, self-trust, and the radical joy of choosing yourself without waiting.

Show Links:

Scientists Prove Discrimination Shortens Lives

Questions? Comments? Email us at: weareoutofofficepod@gmail.com or Follow us on TikTok and Instagram at: @weareoutofofficepod

In this week’s Episode 49 of We Are Out of Office, your co-hosts Veteran Television Executive Producer ( The Night Agent ) Nikki T and Bestselling Author Jayne Allen keep the group chat open, honest, and culturally grounded—creating space for a conversation many of us feel but rarely name. With the out-of-office replies officially on, the ladies explore what it really means to say “ouch” in a world that often expects Black women to carry everything quietly.

Recorded on MLK Day, this episode moves with intention—blending pop culture, media critique, personal transparency, and community reflection to examine the human cost of silence, especially for Black creators, founders, and artists navigating under-resourced systems. From viral conversations about fashion brand shipping delays to broader industry contractions in publishing, fashion, and media, Nikki and Jayne unpack the difference between accountability and dogpiling—and why outrage so often lands hardest on those closest to us.

A central theme emerges clearly: saying something is hard is not complaining—it’s transparency. Jayne reflects deeply on the cost of being a Black woman creator in industries that benefit from our labor while underfunding our sustainability. She shares personal insight into the emotional, physical, and financial toll of creating work that matters—and how community support, particularly from Black women, has been the difference between burnout and continuation.

Nikki expands the lens, contextualizing current cultural moments—from luxury retail collapses to social media pile-ons—reminding us that not every frustration deserves collective rage, and not every mistake should become a referendum on someone’s worth. Together, they call for a do no harm era: one rooted in discernment, grace, and a healthier relationship to anger.

In Health & Healing, the conversation turns toward solutions. Jayne reframes transparency as a survival tool and a rallying cry, while Nikki introduces “vision boarding in real life”—practicing the life you want now, not waiting for permission later. From touring open houses to normalize abundance, to redefining what belonging actually feels like, the episode offers grounded ways to move forward without abandoning yourself.

The episode also delivers joy and discovery, including:

1. Celebrating innovative Black women founders and creators
2. A thoughtful breakdown of media consolidation and why it matters
3. Food, beauty, and wellness finds worth knowing about
4. Reflections on culture as a survival technology
5. And a reminder that community support has always been our quiet superpower

They close with a powerful truth: our “ouch” is not a complaint—it’s information, and it’s an invitation.

This is a politics-light, culture-forward episode, rooted in healing, discernment, and the radical act of telling the truth about what hurts—together.

Episode Links:

Get Mara’s iWig Here!

Jarrod Jenkins Puts You On!

In this week's Episode 48 of We Are Out of Office, your co-hosts Veteran Television Executive Producer (Night Agent) Nikki T and Bestselling Author Jayne Allen keep the group chat virtual and delusional as usual, catching you up, bringing food for thought and food for your soul. In this second episode of 2026, the ladies officially turn on their out-of-office replies and dive into what it really means to get things done without sacrificing joy, health, or healing.

From celebrating small wins (like New York’s new mayor delivering on childcare promises in just eight days) to shouting out women thriving after choosing themselves, the episode is a love letter to momentum, consistency, and doing the work that actually matters.

The conversation weaves through pop culture, politics, and personal growth—touching on viral moments, reality-TV romances, Black-owned beauty brands, and the ways women’s excellence is often undervalued in public life. Nikki breaks down why responsible political commentary matters more than ever, while Jayne reflects on how internalized bias can quietly shape who gets supported—and who gets sidelined.

In the Health & Healing segment, Jayne delivers a powerful reminder: it’s not about January—it’s about consistency. Whether you’re writing a book, rebuilding your body, or trying to change your life, the real transformation comes from showing up again and again, not from perfection. Nikki echoes this with stories of creators who’ve quietly transformed themselves over a year—proof that sustainable change beats crash-and-burn hustle every time.

The episode also brings joy with:

1. A swoon-worthy real-life K-drama about a Korean barista and a shy Black woman
2. A behind-the-scenes peek at Jayne’s new paranormal romance novel
3. Sharp, funny takes on celebrity culture, dating, and why some people stay mad instead of healing

They close with a powerful truth:

Some people aren’t your friends—they just don’t have the confidence to be your enemy.

And a reminder to stop chasing validation from systems that were never designed to recognize your greatness—and start building the life, body, and joy you actually want.

This is a politics-medium episode with some general mentions of politics from a cultural lens and contextualized call for healing! Nothing heavy, this episode is a safe space for self discovery and the personal pursuit of radical joy.

Episode Links:

Zohran Mamdani Delivers on Universal Childcare Promise

Meghan’s As Ever is a HUGE success!

Druski’s Megachurch Sketch got some folks upset

Miche Beauty Has a Viral Winner With Anti-Humidity Gel

Cam Newton Creates a New Word and Way to Spell

Maybe Your Type is a Korean Barista?

In this week's Episode 47 of We Are Out of Office, your co-hosts Veteran Television Executive Producer (Night Agent) Nikki T and Bestselling Author Jayne Allen keep the group chat virtual and delusional as usual, catching you up, bringing food for thought and food for your soul. After a two-week hiatus, the ladies are back in the New Year with their regular segments, centering a theme in this week's episode of choosing yourself in the New Year and making sure those resolutions bring you closer to the radical joy we've all been chasing.

In this heartfelt conversation filled with laughter and insights, Nikki T and Jayne Allen reflect on the new year, discussing personal growth, inspiration from successful figures, and the importance of self-care and recovery. They share stories of overcoming challenges, the significance of supporting black-owned businesses, and the value of mindfulness practices like Qigong. The discussion emphasizes the entrepreneurial spirit and the need for community support, making it a motivating and insightful episode for listeners looking to embrace 2026 with positivity and purpose.

The episode educates on the importance of supporting Black entrepreneurship and the challenges faced by Black-owned businesses, including the particular need for community support. They explore representation in various fields, including aviation, and the significance of embracing new opportunities. The conversation shifts to personal growth, navigating career transitions, and the lessons learned from achievements and dissatisfaction.

They emphasize the importance of choosing joy as a strategy and developing a healthy relationship with anger, ultimately encouraging listeners to reflect on their own journeys and aspirations.

Learn about:

1. Why it's important to take risks and put yourself out there
2. Investing in workout recovery
3. Mindfulness practices like Qigong and its role in emotional healing.
4. Why supporting black-owned businesses is crucial for community growth.
5. How Black-owned businesses face unique challenges in funding and resources.
6. Why Choosing joy should be a strategy, not just a reward.
7. How Developing a healthy relationship with anger is essential for self-awareness.

In this episode, like always, the ladies catch each other up on their life discoveries, what their "algorithm" has shown them, and their thoughts on the cultural happenings that we've all seen and desperately need to unpack. This is a politics-light episode with few uncomfortable topics, and a heavy dose of healing! A safe space for self discovery and the personal pursuit of radical joy.

Episode Links:

Kayla Rowe’s Her Fantasy Box

Continue and Win QiGong Exercises

Protect CurlMix Hair Care Product Bundles

Look Up Flight Academy

In this week's Episode 46 of We Are Out of Office, your co-hosts Television Exec Producer (Night Agent) Nikki T and Bestselling Author Jayne Allen keep the group chat virtual and delusional as usual, catching you up, bringing food for thought and food for your soul. Tune in for a heartfelt conversation filled with laughter and insights. The ladies are back with their regular segments, centering a theme in this week's episode of avoiding being what they call "Dysfunctionally Successful" after learning the lessons of the stunning fallout of Sherrone Moore's firing.

In this engaging conversation, Nikki T and Jayne Allen explore a variety of themes, from the joy of holiday music (and the disturbing history of one of our favorite songs) to the importance of long-form expression in today's media landscape. They discuss the historical context of "Jingle Bells," celebrate trailblazers like Jennifer Jones, and delve into the significance of supporting black-owned businesses. The conversation also touches on personal health, the challenges of success, and the need for healing in a fast-paced world. With humor and insight, they reflect on their experiences and share their hopes for the new year of 2026 to come.

Learn about:

• Robert Glasper's version of 'Joy to the World' is a favorite.
• The origins of 'Jingle Bells' that reveals an uncomfortable truth.
• Lizzo's new Substack in a brave move to long-form.
• How Jennifer Jones broke barriers as the first black Rockette.
• The Harlem Candle Company and its unique Holiday gift offerings.
• The Innovative dental care that can change our brushing habits.
• What to Expect in Season 2 of the Telepathy Tapes Podcast
• How Humming can stimulate the vagus nerve and promote calmness.
• What it means to be "Dysfunctionally Successful" and how to avoid it
• Thoughts on leaving behind dogma to lead to greater peace.

In this episode, like always, the ladies catch each other up on their life discoveries, what their "algorithm" has shown them, and their thoughts on the cultural happenings that we've all seen and desperately need to unpack. This is a politics-medium episode with some uncomfortable topics, but heavy on the healing! A safe space for self discovery and the personal pursuit of radical joy.

Episode Links:

Jingle Bells origins

Becoming Spectacular by Jennifer Jones

Harlem Candle Company

3-in-1 Toothbrush

Lizzo's Substack

Telepathy Tapes Season 2

Sherrone Moore