Strength looks different for every survivor. When Cassie took the stand to testify against Diddy, when Halle Bailey sought a restraining order against DDG, when Megan Thee Stallion refused to be silenced—they showed us courage in action while facing relentless victim-blaming.

Why do we ask "Why didn't she leave?" instead of "Why was he violent?" The answer reveals our society's persistent tendency to hold everyone accountable for a man's violence except the man himself. Drawing from personal experience with psychological abuse, I share a frightening moment when an ex threatened suicide to prevent me from ending our relationship. The truth? Until you've been trapped in the fog of manipulation where your own reality becomes questionable, you cannot know what choices you would make.

Those who publicly blame victims aren't just hurting celebrities they'll never meet. They're sending clear messages to the one in four women and one in nine men in their actual lives who have experienced intimate partner violence: "I am not safe to confide in." Our words have consequences beyond our screens.

The contrast becomes even starker when examining cases like Adriana Smith's—a brain-dead pregnant woman in Georgia kept on life support against her family's wishes due to restrictive abortion laws. We're witnessing real-life scenarios that mirror dystopian fiction, where women's bodies become vessels, their autonomy sacrificed on the altar of control.

This episode celebrates women's resilience while acknowledging how exhausting the fight continues to be. For anyone reliving their trauma through these public cases, remember that how you navigated your situation was valid. You survived, and that alone is victory.

Cancel Zues Network, Cancel the cookout, CANCEL EVERYTHING!!!!! I had an entirely different thing to talk about today, but my morning scroll through social media revealed content that demanded immediate attention—a reality where Emmett Till's name is carelessly used as an insult while others demonstrate complete ignorance about his historical significance. This cultural disconnect ignited a passionate exploration of how historical awareness shapes our present understanding.

Through an unfiltered examination of American history's whitewashing, from misconceptions about Abraham Lincoln to the ongoing exploitation of harmful stereotypes, I challenge listeners to recognize how historical ignorance enables oppression. When we allow our history to be misused or forgotten, we become complicit in our own marginalization.

My frustration extends to problematic trends like claiming white people with ginger hair are somehow "Black" - a bizarre assertion that trivializes actual Black identity while real Black and biracial individuals often have their Blackness questioned. This pattern of simultaneously appropriating and rejecting Blackness reveals troubling contradictions in our cultural conversations about race.

This episode stands as both personal reflection and urgent call to action. It's time to lock in—to educate ourselves, challenge harmful representations, and sometimes, to close ranks until we've strengthened our foundations. As I declare near the episode's end: the cookout is canceled until further notice. Not as rejection, but as a necessary pause for reflection and recalibration. Join me in this honest conversation about finding joy in simple pleasures while confronting the complex realities that demand our attention and action.

Have you ever wondered what would happen if you faced your biggest fear? That's exactly what I did when I finally shaved my head after years of anxiety and hesitation. What followed was nothing short of transformative.

Growing up as a Black woman, my relationship with my hair was complicated. I received compliments only when my natural 4C hair was braided, straightened, or permed - leading me to get chemical treatments every six weeks until my hairdresser refused to continue damaging my hair. When she suggested "the big chop," I couldn't imagine being bald. The idea terrified me.

After years of transition and still hiding behind protective styles, I found myself in a period of stagnant personal growth. Following what felt like divine signs - including a dream about having my head shaved and mysteriously encountering videos of bald women on social media - I finally made the appointment.

The moment the barber's razor touched my scalp, something magical happened. With each stroke, I could feel weights and shackles falling away. Standing before the mirror afterward, I experienced a profound liberation that words can barely describe. Everything clicked into place - how little hair actually matters and how much unnecessary pressure I had placed on myself because of it.

Being bald helped me realize that I am beautiful exactly as I am. My hair had been my way of conforming to society's beauty standards, and without it, I could clearly see how none of that matters. The only perception that truly counts is my own. I am powerful, strong, beautiful - exactly who I think I am.

Ready to embrace your authentic self? Join me on this journey of self-discovery and liberation. Check out my merch at shopdaijnebriell.com, and let me know if this episode inspires you to make a bold change in your own life!

The beautiful arrival of spring weather and the healing power of a stranger's psychic reading set the stage for our deeper dive into a troubling conflict dividing Black communities online. As my palm reader wisely noted that my defensive walls might be keeping out more good than bad, I couldn't help but see the parallel to what's happening between Black Americans and South Africans over the controversial Zulu parade in New Orleans.

When South African Zulu people voiced concerns about cultural appropriation and blackface in this Mardi Gras tradition, the response should have been simple: listen and learn. Instead, dismissal spiraled into a full-blown diaspora war with both sides hurling increasingly harmful stereotypes. From mocking American slavery to perpetuating colonial myths about Africa, these exchanges reveal something deeply troubling – we're fighting each other using the very weapons created by white supremacy to keep us divided.

What's most heartbreaking is watching how these conflicts strengthen the systems designed to oppress all Black people globally. Every time we aim hurtful stereotypes at each other, we're doing the work of white supremacy for free. These diaspora wars – whether between Black Americans and South Africans, light-skinned versus dark-skinned, or any other division within our community – follow the same destructive pattern. They drain our collective energy while reinforcing harmful narratives that benefit no one except those who wish to see us remain divided and conquered.

True liberation requires us to recognize when we're being played against each other. Can we start by simply acknowledging when something is offensive without justification or deflection? Can we redirect our passion toward dismantling the real enemy – global white supremacy – rather than tearing each other down? I'm convinced we're infinitely stronger together than apart, but getting there means breaking down walls between us, not building them higher. What walls might you need to examine in your own life and community?

Ever felt like you're screaming into the void while the walls keep closing in? That's exactly what it's like being a Black creator trying to combat racism on platforms designed to silence you.

When I started creating content in October 2022, I never imagined that simply responding to racist comments on my videos would lead to multiple account bans and being kicked out of TikTok's Creator Fund. The pattern became painfully clear: I would call out racism, my content would be flagged as "violating community guidelines," yet the original racist content remained untouched despite numerous reports.

The breaking point came when I changed my profile picture to an AI-generated image of myself as a white woman—and suddenly my banned account was restored within an hour. This wasn't coincidence; it was confirmation of what many Black creators have long suspected: that "community guidelines" function more like "Black people guidelines," applied selectively to silence those challenging the status quo.

What makes this struggle especially exhausting isn't just fighting the racism itself, but simultaneously battling the platforms supposedly designed to protect users. It feels like running repeatedly into a brick wall while being told to just keep going. And when I expressed needing a break for my mental health, I was met with well-intended but harmful comments urging me not to stop fighting—often from those not actively in the struggle themselves.

Finding your voice only to have it systematically silenced is triggering, especially after doing the internal work to overcome being talked over. That's why I'm shifting my energy to spaces where my voice can truly flourish: this podcast, YouTube, and Instagram. It's not about giving up the fight; it's about fighting smarter on battlegrounds where Black voices aren't automatically penalized.

Join me in these spaces where we can continue these important conversations without constantly being silenced. And remember: supporting Black creators means respecting their boundaries and understanding when they need to prioritize their wellbeing in hostile digital environments.

Sam Champagne sits down with us to pull back the curtain on her multifaceted career as a producer, sound engineer, singer, and songwriter. With disarming honesty, she reveals how her musical journey began at just 8 years old, experimenting with FL Studio on the family computer—a passion that would eventually become her calling.

The conversation takes fascinating turns as Sam discusses navigating the music industry as a dark-skinned woman in a field dominated by men. Rather than viewing this solely as a challenge, she explains how she strategically used digital platforms where her work could initially be judged purely on talent: "They'd all assume I'm a man... I didn't try to hide, it just doesn't matter. If you have the skill, it shouldn't matter." This refreshing perspective highlights her focus on craftsmanship above all else.

What truly sets this discussion apart is Sam's reflection on finding peace in an industry obsessed with manufactured excitement. "One thing I don't see these days is peace," she observes. "When the stage light is off, when you're by yourself—do you have the peace for your mind to not go a million miles a minute?" This wisdom extends to her approach to creativity, where she values authentic expression over chasing viral moments or fitting into prescribed boxes.

Sam also shares the story behind her new book "Collab Bro"—a resource for music-producing artists who struggle with collaboration or confidence in their creative process. The title playfully references the messages she'd receive from people assuming she was male, turning what could be frustrating into something empowering.

Whether you're an aspiring creative, music lover, or simply appreciate authentic conversations about navigating professional landscapes while staying true to yourself, this episode delivers insights that resonate far beyond the recording studio. Follow Sam @samchampagnenyc on social platforms to connect and explore her music on all streaming services.

TW: THERE IS MENTION OF MISCARRIAGE IN THIS EPISODE!! VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED!!!! Also, sorry the audio is a little crispy, I like to think it was the spirit of Eric Mays with us on the pod. RIP to a real one.

What happens when we misidentify our true adversaries? The sun is shining, dogs are playing, and somehow we've found ourselves in a culture war between mothers and child-free women that completely misses the point.

In today's episode, we dive deep into the recent social media trend of women celebrating their child-free status and the puzzling backlash from mothers who've personalized these celebrations as attacks. Why are we fighting each other instead of focusing on the real threats to women's autonomy? When child-free women dance to "21 with no kids," they're celebrating their own choices – not criticizing yours.

The real attack on motherhood isn't coming from TikTok. It's happening in places like Georgia, where 24-year-old Selena Chandler Scott faces up to 13 years in prison for disposing of a miscarried fetus. These laws that criminalize natural pregnancy outcomes while simultaneously cutting support for living children reveal where the true battle lies.

By fighting amongst ourselves, we're playing directly into a system designed to divide us while stripping away fundamental rights. The sooner we direct our anger at the correct targets, the sooner we can make meaningful progress toward reproductive justice.

It's time to stop demonizing women making different choices and start questioning a system that values controlling women's bodies over supporting mothers and children. Let's dilly dally less with infighting and focus more on the laws that truly threaten all women's freedoms.

Family can be our greatest source of love or our most painful source of hurt. In this candid episode, I dive into my recent Atlanta trip to celebrate my Nephew's 12th birthday – a milestone that's left me emotional as I watch the little boy who gave me my Auntie nickname "Nene" grow taller than me.

Between reflecting on my driving anxiety (seriously, we're controlling several-ton machines with just our feet and a wheel!) and stepping outside my comfort zone at an airport bar, I explore how my perfectionism often keeps me from experiencing life fully. The conversations I had with strangers reminded me that we're all living vastly different stories on this "floating rock in space" – so why waste time worrying about others' perceptions?

The heart of this episode tackles a powerful listener question in our first "What Would Daijné Do?" segment. Michelle shares her struggle to get her father a headstone after 18 years, facing resistance from her siblings. When family members make their conditional love evident, how do we honor our boundaries while still accomplishing what matters to us?

I leave you with this truth: blood relation was forced upon us without our consent, but choosing who deserves space in our lives is entirely within our control. You deserve to live authentically without anyone diminishing your peace – and sometimes that means letting people go, regardless of their relation to you. Your one precious life shouldn't be spent trying to earn acceptance from those unwilling to give it freely.

Have a question for the WWDD segment? Email thenapkininbetweenpodcast@gmail.com and share your story. I'm honored to be part of your journey toward living your fullest, most authentic life.