BACKTalk Podcast by Successful Black Parenting Magazine

Black maternal mortality is not a poverty problem. Black mothers in the US are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white mothers — and for Black women, that risk goes UP as income goes up.Khiara M. Bridges is a law professor at UC Berkeley and author of Expecting Inequity: How the Maternal Health Crisis Affects Even the Wealthiest Black Americans (MIT Press). She has testified before the U.S. Senate on this. In this episode, she explains why wealth doesn't protect Black mothers, what racism looks like inside a delivery room, and what would actually have to change.What you'll learnWhy wealth does not protect Black mothers during pregnancyHow racial disparities in maternal outcomes actually grow with incomeWhy blaming Black culture for these deaths is both wrong and dangerousWhat racism looks like inside hospitals and delivery roomsWhy naming racism out loud mattersWhat would actually have to change to save Black mothers' livesWhy this mattersThis is a family issue. If you are raising Black children, or you love someone who is pregnant, this is something you need to know.About BACKtalkBACKtalk is the interview series from Successful Black Parenting Magazine, where Janice Robinson-Celeste speaks with experts about the issues affecting parents raising Black children and the families who support them.If this episode gave you something you needed, follow the show and leave a rating. It is how other parents find us.Watch the full video conversation: https://youtu.be/znd164NzsEsMore parenting resources, expert interviews, and articles: successfulblackparenting.comFree parent tools and printables: successfulblackparenting.com/free-parent-tools-printablesInstagram: @successfulblackparentingLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/successful-black-parenting

Behind every confident child is someone who believed in them first. At just 10 years old, King Moore earned national attention on America's Got Talent. In this episode, we explore the family, support, and mindset behind his remarkable journey—and what parents raising Black children can learn from it.Host Janice Robinson-Celeste sits down with King Moore and his family to talk about his journey, from a little boy with a big dream to a young performer earning national recognition. They talk about the moments that tested the family, the belief that carried them through, and what it really takes to support a child who moves boldly.Behind every successful child is a family who showed up early and kept showing up. Whether your child dreams of performing, inventing, leading, or creating, this conversation reminds parents that recognizing a child's gifts early—and encouraging them along the way—can make a lasting difference.In this episode, you'll learn:How King Moore's family supported his journey to America's Got TalentHow parents can build confidence in a child's unique giftsThe mindset shift parents raising Black children can learn from this storyHow to spot and nurture your own child's gift earlySimple ways families can encourage children to pursue big dreams🎙️ Follow BACKtalk on Spotify so you never miss a conversation that matters, and stay connected with Successful Black Parenting Magazine for more stories about raising Black children with confidence and pride. Find us on Instagram and YouTube at @successfulblackparentingmagazine for daily insights, clips, and resources.

Some lessons stay with a child for life, planted by nothing more than a Saturday morning show and a few gentle songs. Long before streaming, a children's show called The New Zoo Revue was teaching kindness, feelings, and friendship to families across America. In this episode, we look at why that show still matters for parents raising Black children today as they choose media that helps children learn, grow, and see positive lessons reflected.Host Janice Robinson-Celeste talks with the creators of The New Zoo Revue about how the show blended music, humor, and emotional lessons for young viewers, and why a simple format from the 1970s still connects with families decades later.Parents often wonder how to teach big lessons, like kindness and emotional honesty, in ways children actually remember. This conversation is a reminder that some of the most lasting lessons come from the simplest moments: a song, a character, a few minutes of undivided attention each morning.In this episode, you'll learn:Why The New Zoo Revue became part of childhood memory for so many familiesHow the show used music and character to teach kindness and emotional learningWhat made its lessons stick with kids for decadesSimple ways parents can use media today to teach the same lessonsHow childhood memories can help parents connect with their children today🎙️ Follow BACKtalk on Spotify for more conversations that connect the past and present of raising Black children, and stay close to Successful Black Parenting Magazine on Instagram and YouTube at @successfulblackparentingmagazine for daily insights, clips, and resources.

Many moms are carrying more than anyone sees. This episode explores why traditional self-care advice often fails real mothers — especially Black mothers who are running on empty. Elisha Beach, founder of The Mom Forum and author of Balance Is Bullsh*t, isn't here to hand you another to-do list. She's here to give you permission to stop, breathe, and let go of the guilt that keeps so many mothers stuck doing everything for everyone but themselves.Host Janice Robinson-Celeste talks with Elisha Beach about what self-care actually looks like for moms who have four minutes and zero help. They dig into simple ways to feel calmer during a busy day, and why guilt has no place in a mother's rest.Raising Black children comes with its own joys and pressures, and mothers often carry an extra invisible weight while showing up for everyone else first. This conversation is a reminder that rest is not a reward to earn — it's part of raising a healthy, grounded family.In this episode, you'll learn:What "micro self-care" looks like when you only have a few minutesSimple ways to help your body and mind feel calmer during a busy dayHow to let go of guilt around taking time for yourselfWhy traditional self-care advice often fails real momsHow caring for yourself helps you show up better for your childrenConnect with Elisha Beach at TheMom-Forum.com or on Instagram at @themomforum and @mylifeisabeach.🎙️ Follow BACKtalk on Spotify for new conversations like this one every week, and stay connected with Successful Black Parenting Magazine on Instagram and YouTube at @successfulblackparentingmagazine for daily insights, clips, and resources.

What if the narrative is wrong… and Black families are already doing more right than they’re given credit for?On this episode of BACKtalk Podcast by Successful Black Parenting Magazine, Dr. Iheoma Iruka unpacks powerful insights from the Black Family Census Study, shifting the conversation from deficits to strengths.This isn’t about fixing Black families. It’s about recognizing what’s already working and building on it with intention.Grounded in research, culture, and lived experience, this conversation explores how Black parents are raising children who are confident, loved, and thriving… often in spite of the systems around them.In this episode, you’ll learn how to:✨ Recognize and affirm what you’re already doing right as a parent✨ Turn everyday moments into confidence-building opportunities✨ Protect your child’s joy while nurturing identity and self-worth✨ Use real data to guide intentional, empowered parentingThis episode is a reminder that your presence, your care, and your culture already hold power.🎧 Press play and see your parenting through a new lens… one rooted in truth, not deficit.#BACKtalkPodcast #SuccessfulBlackParenting #BlackFamilies #PositiveParenting #BlackParenting #ChildDevelopment #ParentingWithPurpose #BlackExcellence #FamilyStrengthsFollow, like, share, and subscribe to BACKtalk Podcast for more real conversations that empower and uplift. Stay connected and explore more at SuccessfulBlackParenting.com.

What happens when children never see themselves in the stories they read?In this powerful episode of BACKtalk, we dive into why representation in children’s books is not just important; it is life-shaping. From joyful picture books like Sounds Like Joy and Stella's Stellar Hair to showcasing artwork at the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts, this conversation explores how art, culture, and storytelling help children see their beauty and power.When a child sees themselves reflected in a story, it does more than entertain them; it connects them to the story. It tells them they belong in every room and every world.We talk about why joyful stories featuring Black and Latina children matter, how books shape identity, and what parents can do to build home libraries that affirm culture and confidence. If you care about raising kids who feel seen, valued, and limitless, this episode is for you. 💛✊🏾This is bigger than books. It’s about raising children who know their value before the world tries to define it for them.🎧 Press play and start building a bookshelf that reflects your child’s brilliance.#BACKtalkPodcast #SuccessfulBlackParenting #RepresentationMatters #BlackChildrensBooks #DiverseBooks #LatinaVoices #ParentingPodcast #ChildrensLiterature #KidsBooksMatterFollow, like, share, and subscribe to BACKtalk Podcast for more real conversations that empower and uplift. Stay connected and explore more at SuccessfulBlackParenting.com.

Why are so many Black women emotionally exhausted right now?Many Black women are balancing motherhood, careers, relationships, and community expectations while also navigating generational trauma and the pressure to always be strong. In a world that often feels overwhelming, protecting your mental health has never been more important.In this episode of BACKtalk, mental health expert Dr. LaNail R. Plummer joins us to discuss why so many Black women feel emotionally drained and what it takes to begin reclaiming peace.Drawing from her book The Essential Guide for Counseling Black Women, Dr. Plummer shares insights on generational trauma, emotional exhaustion, and the importance of setting boundaries that protect both your mental health and your family.This conversation offers practical guidance for Black women who want to break unhealthy cycles, protect their peace, and create healthier emotional environments at home.#BlackWomensMentalHealth#ProtectYourPeace#BlackWomenHealing🎙️ New to streaming or looking to level up? Check out StreamYard and get $10 discount! 😍 https://streamyard.com/pal/d/6718473823059968

Before a Black child leaves high school, there are money conversations that must happen, yet many of us were never taught them ourselves.In this BACKtalk episode, Dr. Paris Woods breaks down the real reason Black teens struggle financially as young adults, and it is not a lack of motivation or discipline. It is a lack of systems.Together, we unpack the costly traps Black teens fall into, the five foundational skills every Black child needs to build generational wealth, and how parents can teach financial freedom without shame, pressure, or perfection.This episode is not about lecturing kids or forcing them to plan decades ahead. It is about helping them build agency, confidence, and the ability to choose again later.If you are raising a middle schooler, high schooler, or young adult, this is a conversation you cannot afford to skip. 🖤🎧 Press play and start the conversations that change financial futures.#BACKtalkPodcast #SuccessfulBlackParenting #BlackWealth #FinancialLiteracy #BlackTeens #MoneyTalk #GenerationalWealth #ParentingTeens #FinancialFreedom #BlackFamiliesFollow, like, share, and subscribe to BACKtalk Podcast for more real conversations that empower and uplift. Stay connected and explore more at SuccessfulBlackParenting.com.

How to Co-Parent Without the Chaos: Building Peace With Your Ex So Your Children Can ThriveCo-parenting after divorce is not about being friends. It is about being grown and choosing peace for your children's future.About the Episode:In this episode of BACKtalk, we sit down with clinical social worker and educator Darlene Taylor. She breaks down how parents can build a healthy, cooperative co-parenting relationship—even when emotions run high, trust feels broken, and history is heavy.This conversation goes beyond theory. We dive into practical tools, mindset shifts, and real-life strategies for reducing conflict, protecting your children’s emotional health, and choosing peace without erasing your boundaries.Key Topics CoveredThe BIFF Method: How to communicate effectively (Brief, Informative, Friendly, and Firm).The High Road Strategy: Why someone has to choose peace first to break the cycle of conflict.Internalization: Understanding that when you tear down your co-parent, you are speaking to half of your child.Emotional Boundaries: How to handle a co-parent who still triggers you.Practical Tools: Mindset shifts that change everything for your family’s dynamic.Watch until the end for the mindset shift that changes everything.🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED:Darlene Taylor’s Book: "It’s Not About Us: A Co-parenting Survival Guide to Taking the High Road" (Available on Amazon & Barnes & Noble).Co-Parenting Coaching: Visit darlenetaylor.com for more information.StreamYard Discount: Looking to level up your stream? Get a $10 discount here! 😍 https://streamyard.com/pal/d/6718473823059968📱 JOIN THE COMMUNITY:Subscribe to Successful Black Parenting Magazine for more conversations that shape our families, our culture, and our future.Have you struggled with co-parenting triggers? What strategy helped you find peace? Let’s discuss in the comments below. 👇#CoParenting #DivorceSupport #HealthyParenting #DarleneTaylor #BACKtalk #ChildMentalHealth #PeacefulParenting #HighRoadCoParenting #BlackParenting

When your child looks you dead in the eyes and asks, “Is Santa real?” 🎅🏾… what do you say?On this episode of BACKtalk Podcast by Successful Black Parenting Magazine, we dive into one of parenting’s most unexpected plot twists: the Santa talk. And no, there’s no “perfect age” or script. It’s about timing, trust, and knowing your child.Joined by Tanyell Cole, a mother of 14, Marriage and Family Therapy expert, and founder of Jumpin’ Jellybeans Boutique Play Space, this conversation unpacks how to handle those big holiday questions without dimming your child’s sense of wonder.We explore:✨ How to tell when your child is ready for the truth✨ What to say (and what to avoid) in the moment✨ How to preserve holiday magic while being honest✨ Creating meaningful, culturally rooted traditions for Black familiesThis isn’t about “ruining” Santa. It’s about evolving the magic into something even deeper: trust, connection, and joy that lasts beyond the holidays.🎧 Press play if you want to handle this moment with confidence instead of panic.#BACKtalkPodcast #SuccessfulBlackParenting #BlackParents #SantaTalk #HolidayMagic #ParentingTips #FamilyTraditions #IntentionalParentingFollow, like, share, and subscribe to BACKtalk Podcast for more real conversations that empower and uplift. Stay connected and explore more at SuccessfulBlackParenting.com.