S10E10 - From Divorce on Zoom to a Mic and a Movement: How She Turned Healing into Culture, Growth & Community <Part-2>!!

Doors don’t open by accident, they open when you show up, help out, and let people see you do the work. We dive into the long game of volunteering your way into the room, why the front desk is a secret networking engine, and how consistency with energy and integrity turns a wave into a welcome. From moderating panels to being invited back as press, these stories map the trail from access to opportunity and remind us that generosity, sharing invites, forwarding links, paying it forward... has a way of circling back with interest.

We also get candid about creative evolution. Rebrands can feel risky when your community loves what they already know, but innovation keeps the work alive. Think Outkast-level reinvention and Erykah Badu’s fearless style: same soul, sharper edge. We unpack moving between podcast networks and independence, why uncertainty doesn’t have to be scary, and how to communicate change so your audience comes with you. The takeaway: update the look to reflect who you are now, not who you were two years ago, and keep the mission front and centre.

On the practical side, we celebrate sustainable style and real-world logistics. Rewear the fit, restyle the silhouette, and catch the bus with a tee in your bag and heels for later. It’s not about budget; it’s about creative operations that let you move through multiple rooms in one day. We close with rapid-fire gems—self-awareness as the most overlooked growth hack, music that fuels momentum, and the reminder that growth feels like stretching: uncomfortable, intentional, and worth it.

If this resonated, tap follow, share with a friend who needs a nudge to show up, and leave a review so more listeners can find the conversation. Your support helps us keep innovating, inviting, and opening doors for each other.

For more Colah detz... https://linktr.ee/blackinthegarden?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=776b5939-9543-4597-9d27-0bfab035250c

Chapters

• 0:00 Part Two Kicks Off
• 1:01 The Long Game And Volunteering
• 2:32 Front Desk Networking Power
• 4:22 From Volunteer To Paid Roles
• 5:50 Learning Podcasting And Free Masterclasses
• 6:39 The Power Of Showing Up In Person
• 7:31 First Impressions And Consistency
• 9:40 Moderating Panels And Authentic Branding
• 12:05 Sharing Access And Paying It Forward
• 16:02 Rebranding Fears And Audience Reactions
• 18:03 Networks, Independence, And Uncertainty
• 20:04 Innovating Like Outkast And Badu
• 22:20 Personal Style, Sustainability, And Rewearing
• 24:12 Public Transport Logistics And Quick Switches
• 26:02 Remove Your Limits And Keep Showing Up
• 27:00 Rapid Fire: Pivots, Music, Growth Hacks
• 28:30 Sell Yourself: Platforms, Merch, Coloring Book
• 30:00 Gratitude, Sign-Offs, And Season Ten CTA

Transcript

SPEAKER_02: 0:00

Hey shit talkers, before you continue, just a little reminder. This is part two of our part one conversation. Part one dropped on Wednesday, November 12th. So if you haven't listened to part one yet, please go listen to that and then come back and continue with part two. And if you're getting caught up because you already listened to part one, then enjoy. Hi Chick Talkers! Welcome to Talking Whippy. And I'm your spoiler, the shit talker.

SPEAKER_04: 0:37

Shit talking, always talking. Shit Talkers come on in dropping. Shit talk is the always talking. Talk to sit with pain.

SPEAKER_02: 0:49

I mean, don't we all like to be shit anyways? Should we please the podcast for me?

SPEAKER_04: 0:58

Copy sit with paid. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02: 1:01

A person who plays the long game, like I'm not a now-no person. This way I volunteer, this way I I work events instead of attending them. This way, this because I get more out of that. I get a lot from attending.

SPEAKER_00: 1:15

That's the pro tip. From volunteering. You get a lot more from volunteering. That's what I'm saying. You get a lot from volunteering. I've been doing this for years.

SPEAKER_01: 1:25

The first thing you think you get a lot from attending.

SPEAKER_00: 1:28

But that's I have to fix it. Yeah, first thing always. I just remember as far back as like 15 years ago, figuring out I knew that there was something that I wanted to participate in and just not having the means to like buy a ticket. And so I realized when you volunteer, you get even more access than you would.

SPEAKER_02: 1:53

Everything. If you were an agenda at Niti, you can only be in the agenda. But when you have one, everything.

SPEAKER_00: 2:02

And then because I volunteered at a really cool event that was hosted by a really cool organization, then I'm seeing like these premium perks, like, oh, well, we're having a mixer after, we're having a nice meal, we're we're gonna take care of you in these types of ways. So it was just like, sure, yeah. It's not something that I do all of the time, but I just know when you have a like if you have that. And I really want to engage. And it's also a uh a pro tip for marketing. Not marketing, that's not what I'm gonna say. It's a pro tip. Well, it can work for marketing. It's a pro tip for networking.

SPEAKER_02: 2:40

Very much. Um, I remember the first podcast when I went and I was just randomly believing a lot of people through virtually because they really know virtually, but on the second time I've decided to volunteer and I volunteered on the front desk, and then they kept me in the line. So I was talking to people who probably I would have not even seen because we are talking about conference of 2000. Um when you're checking people in, that's such a you get to read their labels, you get to know their podcasts, you're like, yeah, yeah, yeah. And then people also see your strength.

SPEAKER_03: 3:11

Yes.

SPEAKER_02: 3:12

So podcasts saw my strength, they're like, yo, Paula is good with people. Paula because there's a long line, Paula entertains people where they don't feel like the line is long. Right. So they would always put me in places where there's lines and people, and I don't mind talking about it. Because you're mitigating me. And then I went from that to being an ambassador to winning our community heroes award to becoming a mayor and a governor of court first.

SPEAKER_00: 3:36

So you better when people see you, I want a little bit of yours.

SPEAKER_02: 3:41

So people, people you also end up finding your skills in what you can do because when you're volunteering, you don't know necessarily where they're putting you, right? And they can shift you around every time. This is good. I'm listening. I mean, though. You decided to buy a small ass bottle for me.

SPEAKER_01: 4:07

It was not like that.

SPEAKER_02: 4:12

And I'm drinking on big glass, I still have three big glasses of mine.

SPEAKER_00: 4:16

I didn't know it was like you're going to just pass for me yours.

SPEAKER_02: 4:19

So, anyhow. But they see you, they give you opportunities, they connect you with people. Now I get paid to do events in certain places, and they they require me. And somebody was even telling me, right, yo, Paula, do you know whenever we're planning events, your name constantly keeps coming up? But because when you go out there and you just do you, your strength, people watch and they see. I've also said rooms where people tell the owners, like, next year, fan speaking, can Paula be the host of my room? Because she really got people going. I got ended up being invited to be the press for the Ambies for my first year attending the Ambies. And I've never done press red carpet or anything, but it was like people notice you exactly. Like it's not credentials. And to me, I always think like I'm just adding shit on my on my regime. And when I say everything is figured out about, I use this work was like you say you can. I feel like if you really want to do something, even if you're new at it, you can figure it out if you really want to.

SPEAKER_00: 5:34

I didn't know how to do a podcast.

SPEAKER_02: 5:35

Exactly. Me neither. I started out, I was I was googling, I was YouTube watching, I was watching the PRX videos for how to start a podcast. But at that time in 2020, remember the we we used to call it Instagram College because everybody was doing free courses. Oh my god, the masterclasses? Oh my god.

SPEAKER_00: 5:57

I took so many masterclasses. I'm not seeing these screenshots and notes. Like, as soon as I got to the part where they start selling, I'd just be like, oh my god, this was so nice. Thank you. I'm gonna go, but like, thank you for the free game. But I a lot of the shit that I know that is part of my core.

SPEAKER_02: 6:14

And this is why shout out to the Hi-Half Clubhouse. Uh and I mean sorry, the High Half Breakfast Club, which is Chris, uh, Dominic and Walter, they keep me straight. Shout out to the Mopad boys, Joe, uh, Mike and Chase, they keep me straight. Shout out to Gordon who makes sure my my paperwork is right because he's an entertainment lawyer. Two episodes back, go listen to it. But um again, it also comes back to the power of showing up. Because yes, we you know people virtually, you can easily meet people virtually, but there's a difference between feeling somebody's energy virtually than in real life.

SPEAKER_00: 6:53

Oh, it's a big difference. It felt a lot easier and faster if I could touch you, baby. And I don't mean that in no kind of way, I just mean if we in person. You said that you said if we're in person and you can feel the authenticity that is radiating from me.

SPEAKER_02: 7:11

And you can also easy. And you can also easily call out bullshit compared to butchering. You can smell the energy, you can smell the motion. So you know exactly how it is. And um, speaking of that, I'm gonna ask the question that I asked everybody. But most people have known me longer, so for you it might be a little bit different because it's just been a few months. But this is one of our biggest questions for season 10 because again, I believe in giving people flowers, and this this season is giving myself flowers because 10 bitch, I did that. Season 10, five years we've been doing this shit. Cheers. Yes, congratulations. Thank you. So um, your impression of me when you first met me, and let the people know when you met me. Okay, and then to now that I feel like our relationship has really gone, we've all been in each other's houses. We have you know, yeah, we have we have many secrets. We talk a lot, so and from now where now you really know me, what's your impression? Now it's the it's the same. It's funny you say that almost everybody says that like they may just have like that was so easy. That's such an easy question, and I can elaborate. Okay, but yeah, when you first met me, what's the first? Because when you say it's the same, because what what what are people relating it to being the same?

SPEAKER_00: 8:34

Let me break it down for you, because I'm good at this. Okay. Um I'm I'm a nice way into this wine, but I'm still articulate, okay? She knows her words. When I first met you, energy was high, enthusiasm was high, the connecting, it was just happening just right off the rip. Um I don't know how to explain it, but it it was just like I'm very big on when I meet somebody. I need you to stay consistent with integrity. I need you to stay consistent with energy. Those are the big things. And as long as because like when it comes to me connecting people, especially connecting deeply, that is the my preferred way of connecting. I'm not interested in those surface level connections. Me neither. And so we can't yeah, yeah. So that was how it started. It was very much me being interested in what is she talking about? I met you, I think, the morning of or the day before you did your talk at PRX. And I said, I need to go see what she's talking about. I'm pulling up. I pull up, your presentation is wonderful, I'm enjoying what I'm seeing. And I had talked to you before your talk, and then that was, and it goes back to everything we've been talking about, showing up. I said, I'm coming to your talk, and I come to your talk, like for real.

SPEAKER_02: 10:01

Yeah, because we met the night before, drinking, drinking, and it's funny because I'm doing that's the thing about showing up because remember the visitina, the lady who was sitting next to me at the table. We also walked with that at PRH drinking at the after party.

SPEAKER_01: 10:21

I didn't tell them to open up that bar, you know, but I wasn't gonna tell them to close it. Exactly.

SPEAKER_02: 10:25

But appreciate that. Yeah. So we met at night, and she really said I was like, I'm presenting tomorrow. She's like, I'm definitely gonna come. What time is your presentation? And then I told her the title, she's like, Oh, I actually wanted to come to that, I was already gonna come to that one.

SPEAKER_00: 10:39

In my agenda. So I come through, she's presenting, the information is quality. I'm loving her.

SPEAKER_02: 10:47

I was wondering. Shout out to Bree, Casey, and Walter. By the way, as of today, I know we are recording on October 2nd, so I'm sorry, Bri, but Bree just turned party today and even a best price for everybody. So happy birthday, Bree. So many toasts. That's what I said. This is long is the longest, but Bree was one of my panelists. Uh-huh. I was moderating it with Bree. Water was the only man holding it down.

SPEAKER_00: 11:14

The great walks. So, in that experience of seeing you moderate the panel, I love a good panel. I love a good moderator. You did your thing. Um, I like how you showed up with all the branding. Like you were very serious and very, you were serious, and we can tell everybody who meets you can tell is you're serious about your shit, but not in a way where it's like you take yourself too seriously. That's a very specific balance. Not everybody can maintain that, not everybody can achieve that. I like to think that I do that, but I think that you are great at that. And so, in all of the authenticity coming through, the way that it does, the way that it did, and you very making it very clear from a jump, I'm a connector. I'm not a gatekeeper, I'm a connector. That's gonna resonate with me because that's me. I just want everybody to know about what's available based on what I know. I don't know everything, I don't know everybody, I can't get you in all the rooms. I I don't know if I can necessarily get you to the top, but I'm willing to at least be like, let me hand you this brick and maybe you can add this to your foundation, add this to your wall. I just like to know that I was able to contribute to that. And so I felt that same spirit in you. And so when you were starting to invite me to stuff, which was basically right away, I was like, cool, I'm coming. Because like it means a lot to me to know that someone thought enough of me to make sure that I was in that room. So yeah, it's it's your my experience with you has been you were how you was initially, and it has been consistent. And as long as you maintain that, then I know that I made a good pick, and that's how I am. And so maybe it's a little bit of you know, not narcissism, but it's like you appreciate having the access to similar qualities that you possess in somebody that you call a friend.

SPEAKER_02: 13:26

So I love that. I love that.

SPEAKER_00: 13:29

I thought you were gonna give me one. That's how I love that.

SPEAKER_02: 13:33

And and it's funny because even um Mark today told me about that panel. Like you you were there and he said, like, yo, um, because initially Mark was supposed to moderate that panel. Oh, but he made sure to chew it. Yeah, he was like, because we were hosting Atlanta Podcast was hosting the after party that night, meaning Mark would have to be active, was like Paul and you know my people want, I can't do both. So, and I'd rather do the party because it's drinking, like I can easily talk to people when exactly open bar, baby.

SPEAKER_01: 14:08

Atlanta, a podcast Atlanta came through for that. Low-key or like hey, everybody's getting along every time.

SPEAKER_02: 14:16

That morning we did a workshop where we presented to a couple people share up to Patch of Cherry, and then in the afternoon I did my panel. So I felt like I deserved that however much drinking I was doing. But anyway, when when today Mark um told me, I was like, Paula, they came back with feedback. Like, we're really grateful that you recommended, you recommended a good uh like the right person. And and that's why I say sometimes you don't you're not unsure of what you you're doing, but you're doing it so to get those feedback really helps you keep pushing. But um, everything that you said, right? And uh I'm a person who one thing, one of the reasons why I share stuff with uh the people, and I will share, but if you're never gonna show up, I'm gonna eventually stop sharing. But if you're showing up and every now and then you miss because life happens and shit happens, I'll still keep sharing. But um, I'm a person who believes that it's stayed. Yeah, uh you know that there you go. But I'm a person who believes that the algorithm works in its way and we are not all following the same people. And sometimes we assume everybody knows us or everybody knows things, but people know you. The people who know you know you, but the rest of the people don't know you. Or the rest uh or you might not know what everything has happened. So whenever things are happening, I don't care if it's something you're interested in or not, I might share it because in my head as well, you might not be interested, but you might know somebody who I don't know in yourself or who might be. So even when it comes to job offers, whatever, like I just share when when it's something that I know it makes sense. I share, I'm like, I'm just sharing to whoever it might work for you or your your your community or your people.

SPEAKER_00: 16:01

Can I give you a specific example of how that worked with the last event that we went to together? First of all, we got free laptops, period. We have three laptops, like, come on.

SPEAKER_02: 16:12

After that event called, I was like, bitch, you better keep inviting me to all this shit because I'm coming out. And I was like, I was already pulling up, but I was like, I don't know if I'm ever gonna be able to talk this one.

SPEAKER_00: 16:25

But it was so lit though, because it was my birthday month. I celebrate my birthday all month, so it was just like happy birthday to me. Your girl got a free Capruda. But I invited someone to your point. And we're just uh thank you, time, thank you, time. Oh, and Square Readers. So this event was sponsored by Square. Shout out to Square and Business. And um the event was specifically uh geared towards food entrepreneurs.

SPEAKER_02: 16:57

Food and beverage, because Infa is coming to Atlanta 2026.

SPEAKER_00: 17:03

Where I had, you know, just when I when I received the invitation, I was like, cool, let me, what is the term that we use? Pay it forward. Who can I invite to this that will make sense? I don't like to just randomly invite people to stuff, make it make sense. So I invited a good friend of mine, Patricia, who is a gardener, you know, because we we all up in this gardening and plant gang. And I said, hey girl, um, this is what it is. She signed up for it. Baby, it was like three, four weeks out. We pull up to the event. I see her. I forgot that I have invited her. I was like, oh, it's so great to see you here. I invited you. Anyway, the point being, I invited her because that's just how much life was lifing. I invited her and forgot that I invited her.

SPEAKER_02: 17:53

She didn't forgot that event was happening because she was inviting me to another event that was happening, but then I was like, baby, I'm going to this event. She was like, Oh, she did forward this.

SPEAKER_00: 18:03

I was like, hey, girl, it was a Wednesday night.

SPEAKER_02: 18:06

Imagine if you'd have gone to your this and knew how much you're cheap.

SPEAKER_00: 18:11

I would have missed that laptop trying to check. No, it's not everybody was gonna be in place except for me. So I invited Patricia. Then it was a Wednesday, that Monday, I said, Hey, Paula, you should come up here to this other event on Wednesday. She's talking about, well, I'm going to this event. I said, you know what, babe? That's what we said. All right, let me fix my calendar. So yeah, saying all that to say.

SPEAKER_02: 18:41

And she did say she was like, I thought I had something I just wasn't sure. And this is why calendars work like me myself, if it's not on the calendar, I can listen from it. Yeah. And sometimes when people just text you times or whatever, and it doesn't, I I like when she comes to your email and says add to calendar. Add to calendar. Even though you're coming, add to calendar, it's like you kind of forget. Like, even you remember when you were talking about us recording this on October 2nd, I was like, excuse me, you're like, when am I coming on your show? I'm like, well, when are you free? Oh, yeah, yeah. So you were going through your calendar and you're like October 2nd, and I was like, shit, I think I have something. I was supposed to record it 11.

SPEAKER_00: 19:22

But I had something with Mark, but because I personally didn't put it on my calendar, that reminds me of a scripture from the New Testament where I I can't remember if it was Mark, Luke, James, or Paul, but he said, Isn't this great? Your flight leaves at 8, my flight lands at nine. That's not New Testament, which y'all finally read.

unknown: 19:52

I know.

SPEAKER_00: 19:54

It depends on which version of the KJV.

SPEAKER_02: 19:57

I don't know what testament that is, but let's wrap it up.

SPEAKER_00: 19:59

Let's wrap it up. So it's the unofficial, official takeover of talk shit with P. It's your girl. Nicola be talking. Talking shit with P. I love talking. Talking shit. Just shit. It happens to be a specialty of mine. So it's a good time. No shit was missed. Drinks was drinked. Drunk drinked. Drinked. And um everybody's winning. Feel me?

SPEAKER_02: 20:49

No, that's fine. It's a Thursday night. Well, for Porter, Thursday is drinking ready for her. So when people decide to when people decide to do shit with me on Thursday, that means you're gonna drink regardless. Okay, listen up, y'all. I'm about to give you all a great ass tip, okay? Y'all know I barely read my DMs and God don't get me started on tracking my links. But now I'm low-key organized. And you wanna know why? You wanna know what the secret is? Stamp it social. So Stamp It Social, it's like um if Instagram, Linktree, and your favorite social media intern had a baby. But with boundaries and vibes, lots of vibes, you get a full dashboard that tracks what people are actually clicking on. Now, wouldn't you like to know that? Like I do, and I enjoy it. I've been obsessed with it. Like for once I know which post made y'all run to my link and which ones flopped harder than my exes mixtape. Sorry. Yes, here's a kicker. Get this right? There's a seven-day free trial because we don't do commitments without a test drive, y'all. And if you're feeling spicy, or should I say extra spicy, use code POLA20. Yes, that's P-A-U-L-A 20 for 20% of a plan every month for life. Yes, forever, ever, ever, ever, forever, ever, ever. So if you're a content creator, podcaster, or just tired of shouting into the void, go check out StampX Social because your content deserves better than linking bio with zero context. Again, that's Paula20 P A U L A 20. Because I love you, but I love organized chaos even more. Don't say I didn't tell you, don't say I didn't share, don't say I didn't give you the good good. Don't come back to me complaining because it's right there. Go on now. Go get your seven-day free try. Thank me later.

SPEAKER_00: 23:02

Alright, and take a picture. Take look, let's do it again. You ready? And take drink. We're gonna be numbers.

SPEAKER_02: 23:16

No again. You're supposed to as soon as you do that, you're supposed to see.

SPEAKER_00: 23:19

You're right. Okay, and take drink.

SPEAKER_02: 23:25

Because I'm gonna say drink and then not do you. But yeah, what's up? What's up? Okay, so it's been kind of an end of this. As much as I'm enjoying this so much, I don't want to pretend.

SPEAKER_00: 23:37

Really go for another hour.

SPEAKER_02: 23:39

I feel like we we we we might end up setting a show together, but it will be a live show. We are live.

SPEAKER_00: 23:45

I've been wanting to do a show with the co-host just to have this kind of fun. Yeah, but we don't live, no editing. I don't give a shit if it's live. I prefer that it's live because it's easier that way. I don't want to script the shit. Like, let's talk our shit.

SPEAKER_02: 23:58

I feel like one week every week will be too much, but once a month.

SPEAKER_00: 24:03

Every other week.

SPEAKER_02: 24:04

Oh, yeah, or every other week.

SPEAKER_00: 24:06

Once a month is not enough.

SPEAKER_02: 24:07

Yeah, once a month feels too long and it might too much. Yeah, every other week. What can you hear first? Y'all vote. Oh, y'all reach out to us after listening to this episode. Do you think we should start a live show? Every other week.

SPEAKER_00: 24:24

We're twinning. We're winning. The future is so bright, we gotta wear sunglasses. So before y'all even answered.

SPEAKER_02: 24:32

Every other week, yes. Alright, what's up?

SPEAKER_00: 24:34

What you got for me?

SPEAKER_02: 24:37

As you know, this um season for me is all about uh growth, cavertine, and rebranding. And we have talked about growth for you. Yeah. And um personally, it yeah. Um so let's talk. Um, I'm curious with um Black in the Garden. If you ever had in six years in, um I know we talked she would be in two years we rebranded because the logo changed from I had a normal lip logo, and then I went to my face logo. I'm wondering if you ever rebranded or and if you have, what does that what did that look for you? Um, are you if you haven't, are you planning to look for you?

SPEAKER_00: 25:28

Well, um, my rebranding happened so early in the podcast that you couldn't even it was hard to call it a rebrand because like, let me see, I started the podcast on November 19th, 2019, and by March I had uh professional rebranding. Uh shout out to Paula Champagne, aka at Maker Channel.

SPEAKER_02: 25:55

Wait, did you say Paula Champagne? Do you know Paula Champagne?

SPEAKER_00: 25:58

No, I just said my name, Paula. Oh why? Because what would I tell you? All the Paula's that I know are legit and lit. So how did that not crazy? I don't know. I don't know. Because, like, just like bomb ass women. So another Paula who was, you know, just as dope, but in in the visual storytelling department. So she rebranded my show. She created the imagery and the logo that you associated with it for those of you who are familiar with the visual branding of Black in the Garden. Um, she also illustrated all of the guests that I had, had a a customized, personal, personalized illustration for about two years. And so that is what makes up the content of the Black in the Garden coloring experience. And so it's been a really amazing time with that. And there's still a lot of more merch that I'm gonna put out that is um emphasizing that, those aesthetics. But as far as the rebranding, oh my gosh, I'm excited to do that. I like a lot of the core elements of Black in the Garden, especially like the text, um, what do you call it? The text logo. Um, the trademark is pending, but it's already been applied for. And so what I would like to do with rebranding is just um currently my illustration of my like Black in the Garden cover art avatar is me in illustrated form. Do you have an illustrator? Paula. Yeah, yeah. But I would like in the future iteration of the show, um, the future rebranding of it, I would like for it to be more like me. I'm thinking, oh, I gotta do a cute photo shoot, I gotta, you know, maybe make it kind of sexy or something like that. I'm not really sure yet, because unfortunately, one of the side effects of being a hyper creative is so many ideas. Too many ideas. And then you're just kind of getting this overwhelm of like, well, what do I actually do? So just it's important to take time, quiet, get the clarity in order to say, all right, this is this is what I should do to move it forward. But I definitely want to um in as I've been having events over the last month, I've been considerate of like, okay, how do I promote and market these? What is the scheme for the aesthetics that I put out? And it's definitely clean, sexy, minimal. So that's pretty much what I can tell you as far as where it's going when it comes to like promotional things and and just the way the aesthetics are are presented. But when it comes to the rebrand, yeah, I don't freaking know. I'm I'm literally in transition. My podcast right now is going from one network to independent or potentially on another network. And so what that looks like for me is because I am divorced and I have been through the full marriage and divorce process. What it feels like for me right now, as far as the Black in the Garden business goes, is I'm separated and I'm not divorced yet, so I gotta make sure that I get all the the T's crossed and the I's dotted, and then I move into an independent space where I'm just single for a while. Or I go at one of these suitors who wants to marry the show as in bring it to their network. So that's where I'm at. Does that scare you? No, I like change. Like I I've been through a lot. No, I'm gonna answer your question. It does not scare me. To have unanswered questions because I'm always excited about like, okay, well, what is this gonna look like? How is it gonna feel? What's next? But yeah, it is exciting to me to know. I don't like uncertainty. I'm not saying that I like it, but something about the way my humanity is set up is I'm just like sometimes you just don't know what's happening next. So you just gotta look forward to like, well, how is this gonna, how's this gonna land? People like to know stuff.

SPEAKER_02: 30:29

Yeah, but knowing is not always good anyways. But um my my my my my my ride on this was with uh rebranding, right? My question was personally on the on the rebranding, because I remember when I rebranded and changed the logo when you already have fans who are used to things a certain way, right? Yeah, and most people don't like change, however, much we encourage change, you know, because people love their comfort zones, people like knowing what they know, people like being in the that's why there's some people like the comfort, that's where there's people still in their hometown, not because there's it's doing anything for them, but because it's comfortable, yeah, that's what they know. Exactly. So what else? Even though you know you're better than those kids, they're a little too big, too grown, too aesthetic. I was so scared. Really? And nervous to show the new logo. As much as I loved it and I knew deep down, no matter what, I made the right decision. But then again, I wish the podcast was just for us. And and I always tell people the podcast is for me, but eventually you wanted to help somebody or touch somebody, right? So at the end of the day, it was like just like constructive criticism. You wanna hear it, but you don't also want to hear it. Like, I want to hear it. But I don't want you to tell me what I'm doing wrong. Like, you know, that so that's that's where I was, but then it got delivered so well because of the local people felt like yo, this actually used to get you. Like we see you. Yeah, but it was still one type of me was like nerve-wracking, like wondering how like how are people gonna take it? I'm so scared, I'm so one if people don't like it and I lose. Because mind you, it's not like I had that much fun, right? It's literal when you have a thousand, a million, how you have like 10, 15, 20, you're like if I lose even five.

SPEAKER_03: 32:40

It's real.

SPEAKER_02: 32:41

Even one, it's definitely so every one of them mattered, but um, to be able to see them, everybody tell me that it was the best decision and it's better than the first, and like this makes sense. But you don't expect that when you're going in because you don't know what the reactions will be, and people can be mean, like especially on the internet, especially on the internet, because right on your face. Yeah, but that's that's where you're promoting it, right? You're you're premiering it to the internet, it's not like you're premiering live, even when you're doing live. But so I was asking, are you scared in that sense when you make changes to um something, especially when you already build a community of fans, right? And pivoting, rebranding growth comes with a lot of changes. So when you make that, are you scared and nervous of how the community might react or how you might lose a few because they don't affect which direction you win?

SPEAKER_00: 33:52

The first thing that came up in consideration of how to answer that is outcast. I am a huge fan of outcast. Outcast is really my favorite. Yeah, one thing about outcast when it comes to authenticity and innovation in the creative process for putting out something that is, you know, it's in this genre, but it is also very much like pushing the the innovative boundaries of that child. When I think of outcasts and how it was always the standard for them to innovate creatively. And they did. And that has been what I just naturally adopted because I'm just like, well, if that's blueprint for me, if that's who has always resonated with me since I was a child, um, into adulthood and and having the great uh uh privilege to be able to just be in Atlanta where they was, you know, really doing their thing and coming to be as creative. I'm like, nah, I ain't scared about no innovation, I ain't scared about changing nothing because uh every change that you see happening in the things that I put out in the work that I am um producing creatively, it is for the sake of innovation. It is for the sake of adding something very unique and very relevant to the canon of the black cultural conversation. So whatever it takes to make sure that y'all are paying attention and that y'all understand the significance, I'm gonna keep going. I'm gonna keep innovating. If I gotta rebrand, I gotta rebrand. If it's changing the look in order to make sure that everybody gets it and everybody's continuing to pay attention, I just I took after Alcat.

SPEAKER_02: 35:44

And I like that because Erica Bandu always walks his own bottom. Oh my god.

SPEAKER_00: 35:50

Erica Badu don't play, baby. One thing she's gonna do is show up for that show and give you the show.

SPEAKER_02: 35:55

I love her.

SPEAKER_00: 35:57

And she will innovate.

SPEAKER_02: 35:58

She will give you something new every time. Like the teeth, the the headsets, the outfits.

SPEAKER_00: 36:06

She is that you said that you brought Erica Bandu to the conversation.

SPEAKER_02: 36:10

Because when the when we're talking about, whenever I think about art cast, I always also think about Erica Bandu for some reason.

SPEAKER_00: 36:17

It's a familiar connection there. It was a baby mama and daddy connection.

SPEAKER_02: 36:22

Yeah, but also the um the fashion sense, because I don't dress as normal people. Like I I I grew up as I grew up a tomboy and then I became chic. Like I've never been a gully girl or whatever. Like I don't dress to look pretty, I dress to the comfort of the event. So I always have and I always try to. Oh, I get it. I like to I like to put out the stuff out and I like to mix that tombboy with cheek instead of looking sexy because I prefer, you know, personal styles. Exactly. So with Erica Baggy and Outcast, they do that, especially in the black community when it comes to we are talking about back in the people who we I literally used to admire them for their style, the grills, the hats, the the like even 100, 300.

SPEAKER_01: 37:16

3000. At a zero, out of zero.

SPEAKER_02: 37:20

This shit is starting to hit because imagine if we've done this a little bit, oh yeah.

SPEAKER_00: 37:25

I told you it was for the best, and all we had was and she said one over the other.

SPEAKER_02: 37:31

This uh whichever one was yeah, but um it proves that the fashion statement also stays true to your authentic self. Like it it brings that authentic self, it brings, and the more we keep growing and pivoting, it also grows and pivot with us. We understand our body much better, we understand our style much better, we have tried different shape, we are, you know, and and and I love that. And speaking of that, a lot of the creators are there is just starting up and building and and and doing things. And um, I don't want them to think we are all living this lifestyle that we are not. Me and I use the matter, I I change shoes in in the bag in my matter. Like, so I want to make sure, and because we both do that and we're both here and we have seen each other do that. Like, how does that affect your wide robe tracing? Really?

SPEAKER_00: 38:28

This is oh, nobody ever asked me about style. Let's go for it. How do you pick your my style is more so like a look, a silhouette, textures, but most importantly, it is an expression of how do I say this? It's it's it's a way to express myself. When I'm dressing, when I'm determining what I'm gonna wear, it is it's definitely focused on like some kind of expression. Um, I'm also very much into the sustainability aspect of style. And so what that means for me is baby, you're gonna see me wear the same stuff a few times. I don't care if I've taken pictures in it, I don't care if I was at such and such event, this or that or whatever. You gonna see that dress again, you're gonna see that shirt, then pants, them glasses.

SPEAKER_02: 39:19

What and if I like it, then like I'm a waitress because I paid for it motherfucking.

SPEAKER_00: 39:25

I can name so many people who I appreciate for emphasizing like wear your clothes. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02: 39:30

So sometimes people just buy them to wear them one time, but you're always thinking if I like it, I'm like saying it different or I'm a weight the same. It doesn't match about it's gonna get worn.

SPEAKER_00: 39:42

It's not about but it's not purely about frugality for me. I'm definitely a frugal girly, but at the same time, my when it comes to style and wearing the same thing, the same pieces multiple times, especially when I know I'll be photographed, I am considering, oh, every opportunity, not let me rephrase that. Every time I wear these pieces, again, there's an opportunity to style it in a different way. So it's just kind of showing the versatility of it. And it's the opportunity, yeah, it's the opportunity to emphasize, okay, there is creativity here when it comes to how I'm deciding on how to wear something. So that's what it is.

SPEAKER_02: 40:28

It's not about what you're wearing, it's how you style. It is how you style it. And yeah, because you can wear an expensive shirt and still look like this before. Oh, maybe you can look you can wear Ross, and I'm here for Ross, they should have a Ross. I'm a Rose Man, but I'm fine. Yeah, you know, goodwill. I've bought some good shoes and cross at Google, like you know, a lot of the stuff you send me on. But it's how you you you switch it up and dress it up. But um my necessary point was on us using public transport and having to switch in the between. That was that was where the question was going on.

SPEAKER_00: 41:05

Because it's all about logistics. It's not just the logistics of like how am I getting around when it comes to the public transportation aspect of getting around, using that mode of transportation. But it's also like if I know that I'm doing multiple things, how am I switching it up? Like when I first came up on you, and as the seasons are changing right now, so we are at the middle of the beginning of October. So when I left the house today, earlier when the temperature was in the early 70s, I said, cool, I'm wearing my little cutoff um crop shop, crop shop shop, what is a crop shop? That is wine. What is a crop shop? That is wine. I wear my crop shop. My crop shop sweatshirt, but I've packed a t-shirt, this t-shirt that I'm currently wearing. So that's um beyond cowboy card to the mat. Um we're not gonna talk about it. But when I put on my crop shop hoodie, sweatshirt, and then I know that I might get hot and I need to change it to a t-shirt, then I'm just prepared to be versatile. But yeah, I appreciate I really appreciate that question.

SPEAKER_02: 42:25

Yeah, because um I feel like social media has made people seem like everybody's on that budget, but fuck that.

SPEAKER_00: 42:33

I'm here to give anybody who needs permission. Baby, if you feel like you want to wear that again, wear it again, wear it five times.

SPEAKER_02: 42:42

And we also show up by using the like the public transport. We don't drive cars. I seen it live off the other day.

SPEAKER_00: 42:50

I wear this. I said, look, there's an opportunity there to potentially become an ambassador.

SPEAKER_02: 42:57

So the reason I asked this question was to let you all know that if you're putting those limits on yourself, you're just blocking your own blessings. Because if you really can shop, whether it's by bus, by train, by boat, by line, by bicycle, shop. Put your backpack, put your shit in. There's always like I switch shoes, like I might dress, or sometimes I'll be like, you know what? I can wear this and then to be comfortable because I don't want to be too short in the whatever I'll put ties, and then when I get to the place I'm going, remove the tights and the sandals and put on the heels and quick little switch. Like the visa. Yeah, she saw pictures of me earlier. I had sneakers.

SPEAKER_01: 43:40

I didn't need though. You didn't even need the heels.

SPEAKER_02: 43:43

I I didn't need to, but also it was like because when people say business, you know, even feels yeah, but but if if it was like a podcast meetup, I'd have showed up with that dress and the and the sneakers. And the sneakers. It was done. So I wasn't uns I wasn't well when you're unsure, you just coming that way. That's why it's like if if I felt like off, I would have used to go into the bathroom and change, but but it works, and especially with the pictures we ended up taking. Because, you know? So don't put limits on yourself. And as we come to an end, right? I have some rapid questions for you. Let's do it. All right. Uh fire. Biggest pivot you've made in life that nobody saw coming. Don't tell me zoom divorce. Biggest pivot, shit, I don't know.

SPEAKER_00: 44:36

I moved a lot. Like, I just I've had to just be quick on my feet in in in making sure that me and my family was good when it came to housing. Ciao, Atlanta, uh, a few states. Oh my god, like, don't get me started with that. Okay, it's it's a lot, but just being quick on my feet and knowing that if some shit go down, I gotta make sure that me and my kids are good.

SPEAKER_02: 45:00

Alright. What song defines your energy right now?

SPEAKER_01: 45:04

Oh, right now. Um, hey by Iman Omari. I don't know the. If you know, you know, just go look it up. It's a beautiful song. I love it. High energy.

SPEAKER_02: 45:15

Gross talk that actually works, but most people overlook.

SPEAKER_00: 45:20

Self-awareness.

SPEAKER_02: 45:21

Very true.

SPEAKER_00: 45:22

Yeah, you you don't get further when you know what the fuck is going on with you.

SPEAKER_02: 45:27

One podcast everybody should listen to besides their own.

SPEAKER_00: 45:32

I'm gonna say the friend zone. Who's that? Oh my god, because you're gonna get something out of that one way or the other. It's cultural, it's self not self-help.

SPEAKER_01: 45:45

What is the word? So much wine. Self-awareness.

SPEAKER_00: 45:51

What is it called? Personal development? Self-awareness. Personal development. You want to ask me rapid fires after like one.

SPEAKER_02: 46:00

Okay, last one. If you you could title this episode with our friendship, what would the title of this episode be? Will it we live, baby?

SPEAKER_01: 46:12

For multiple reasons.

SPEAKER_02: 46:13

Um before we leave, let the people know who you are, what you do, uh what you got going on, when they can find you, and all those good stuff. This is the sell yourself portion.

SPEAKER_00: 46:33

Hello everyone. I am Cola B. Talkin, the hostess with the Most Us of the Black in the Garden podcast. And you can find me on all of your favorite podcast platforms at Black in the Garden, or rather, just look for Black in the Garden. Um, you can find me on the socials. I make most use out of Instagram at Black in the Garden. You can also find me at Cola Be Talking on Instagram. You can find me at Black in the Garden on pretty much all the socials that I do use. If you don't find me, it just wasn't me. But uh I have a website, blkinthegarden.com. I just want y'all to listen to the podcast real bad. Like just listen and and tune in and and and support.

SPEAKER_02: 47:18

But you can tell the people what you do.

SPEAKER_00: 47:20

What oh god, what do I do? I have things coming up, but I can't really tell you specifically right now because I don't have to do it. Not the website. That's I've not been doing the best at keeping the website updated with that. Follow on social media, Instagram is where you can definitely keep up to date with that. My link tree at Black and the Garden. But here's here's what's most important as far as the timing of when this episode will air, uh, which is right around the time, if not on the exact date of the anniversary, the sixth anniversary of the Black and the Garden podcast. Big eighty years, over 150 episodes. Like we are really still here. And so I'm grateful for that. You can, yeah, this is coming out after the conferences. So I don't want to say too much because as far as November goes, I don't know. Just celebrate with me on the anniversary, just follow me on the socials and go like some stuff and comment and engage and share some shit. Whatever you see there, go share it. Like it. Love it.

SPEAKER_02: 48:30

Follow our to celebrate uh sixth anniversary, but um, I think when people have sell them shit themselves, and I I I I think because some people are so used to being introduced in an uh in a traditional way, and I don't do that. So uh I thought we were gonna come to an end, but I have to question her on this because she's been saying, because you have coloring books, you have books, like everything. Like you should know when I tell you sell yourself, I mean sell your motherfucking self.

SPEAKER_00: 49:03

You won't ask me to sell myself.

SPEAKER_02: 49:04

No, no, you should have a bottle of wine. I feel like you should tell people that hey, I also have coloring books when you go my way.

SPEAKER_03: 49:13

Hold on, hold on. I can do it. Hold on, let me see.

SPEAKER_02: 49:16

It's not my fault she decided to drink. I don't tell people you need to drink to come on this show.

SPEAKER_00: 49:22

The Black Women are in coloring experience is a very special, specific, and customized offering that is for not just fans of the podcast, but for anybody because everybody likes color, great for mental health, mindfulness, and those types of activities. So I'm just saying all that to say that when you go to blk in the garden.com, you can learn more about how to get your own copy of that. Period.

SPEAKER_02: 49:53

Thank you. And while you're doing that, she has the playlist. Oh, yeah. So you can be coloring when listening to the playlist.

SPEAKER_00: 50:03

So you you did your research. So the playlist, I do have a playlist. I'm not sure exactly where it is, but I have a playlist. It's on YouTube all of the podcasts that I have been a guest on. On YouTube. That's on my Spotify. But I do have a playlist of all of the, if you look for Black in the Garden podcasts on YouTube, you can see all of these beautiful visual um podcasts that we've done. It's it's a lot, y'all. I like I said earlier in the interview towards the top, I just do the shit and I be on to the next. I'm not sitting up here like, oh, that was so great. I didn't really, I really did my big one. I be on to the next because I'm just ready to get the next thing out into the world.

SPEAKER_02: 50:47

All right. Well, thank you so much for hanging out with me. We have me. We had lunch, we drank some wine. Um probably shouldn't have smoked that shit. Oh my gosh. Because it it took us there, but um you're amazing. I have a last last attack. You kind of just have to one word. Go for it. Growth feels like fill in the blank. Growth feels like stretching. Oh my god, Mark said the same thing. Period. It sounds like stretching is hard, but it's wonderful when you come out of it. Oh my god, Mark said the same shit and for your fucking hoe, man. Growth is serious business. It was the mark. We were all chilling together for lunch today, but she was not part of the episode. She came later after we were recording. I just said the same thing. Yeah, but I said the same thing. What was it?

SPEAKER_00: 51:53

You gotta stretch. Yeah, and give what feels like going outside of your comfort zone with with intention and strategy. Amen.

SPEAKER_02: 52:04

Rebrand feels like no shit. Because she moved from our uh wine to my wine, that's new shit.

SPEAKER_00: 52:18

Period. It was good too.

SPEAKER_02: 52:20

And that's a pivot. Pivot can be anything, y'all.

SPEAKER_00: 52:23

Whatever it is.

SPEAKER_02: 52:24

So um, thank you all for hanging out with us, but I'm soil cousins.

SPEAKER_00: 52:30

That's my my audience, my supporters are my soil cousins. And when I sign off and I'm walking out or cutting off the microphone, I always like to wish you all love, light, and soil.

SPEAKER_02: 52:45

Rap shit with peace more than just a name. It's what we do. We make visions come alive from branding and match to curated gifting and virtual assistant services. We help creatives, entrepreneurs, and businesses show up bigger, bolder, and better. So if you're ready to level up your vision, connect with us on IG at wrapshit with p or wrapshitwithp at gmail.com and that's wrap s-h I t W I T H P RapshitwithP at gmail.com or wrapshit with P on Instagram. Rapshitwit P where access meets energy, where passion meets execution, and where every detail gets wrapped with love and excitement. So here's to season 10, the final season of Talk She We P. Oh shit. You believe it or no, I didn't end my recording with Mr. Recording. End recording, my four. Thank you, TikTokers, for tuning in and spending your valuable time with us. We appreciate it. To connect with us more, make sure you subscribe to our newsletter and catch all the TikTok involves before anybody else. You can subscribe to our newsletter through our website, www.toxic.com, and or our Micrones website www.toxict.com. And while you're there, feel free to chop away. Toxicrifty is available on all social media platforms with 100 Toxicrifty. Follow us and engage with us. Better yet, if you find general, give us a review on Apple Podcasts and our latest on Spotify. You can also share a beer with me. Well, my dear lovers, I mean, what better way to support the movement than sharing a beer with me by buying me a beer at buymecoffee.com. Thank you for listening, sharing, engaging, and supporting in any way that you do. Remember, new episodes are out every Wednesday, and for part two is ending on Fridays. Let's talk and all this episode.