Went to London. Saw Coldplay. Ate everything and cancelled it out with 25,000 steps everyday (that never happens). Played tourist. Life was light. Then I came home and America really made strides in going to hell in a handbasket. In this episode, I’m recapping the trip and talking about the absolute sh*t show of tragic events that followed. I’ll say this clearly: I condemn every act of violence, no matter who it’s aimed at, and I’m tired of living in a country that treats this kind of tragedy like background noise. At some point, something has to change. We’re at some point.

This week, I sat down with Jasmine Johnson: one of my best friends and one of the most kick ass people I know. At just 22, after losing her mom to cancer, she became the legal guardian of her younger siblings—while finishing school, working in higher ed, and staying deeply plugged into her community. Now at 24, she talks about what that transition actually looked like, how grief has reshaped her life, and the ways her mom’s legacy lives on through her every day. Jasmine is grounded, hilarious, and painfully wise for someone her age, and this conversation is one I’ll carry with me for a long time. You’ll definitely be hearing from her again.

This week I’m unpacking the tension between craving connection and avoiding the work it actually takes to build it. I’ve been thinking about how often we say we want community, but still cancel plans, skip the hard conversations, and choose comfort over effort. I’ve caught myself doing it too. It’s not about blame, but it is worth asking: if we want community, are we really doing what it takes to create it for ourselves?