Racism is a Pandemic with Michael Ojo

*UPDATE: we have taken down our last episode with Shana Yao. We do not want to spread any misinformation regarding COVID. Can you believe we've made it to the end of season 2? We started this season because we were in a pandemic and sadly we end this season *STILL* in a pandemic. We've talked about a wide variety of topics in season 2 but the only thing they all have in common is that the government has failed us. How doom & gloomy huh? We don't know what the world will look like when we come back for season 3 but we do know that we'll definitely still be drinking. Cheers! Hungry? To receive $80 off & free shipping your first GreenChef box, use code 'heavytopics80'. Go to GreenChef.com/heavytopics80 to redeem and for more details. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform and remember to follow us on Instagram!

Today we are talking to our friend Megan Jackson about race relations in America. We originally wanted to speak to Megan about being in a multiracial relationship and how she's feeling raising her child in our current political climate but it quickly progressed into something so much more. We hope the horrible audio doesn't district you from this conversation because Megan is so open about accepting her own white supremacy and how she is learning from mostly Black women about the subject of racism. SHOW NOTES: The 1619 Project: Magazine Issue, Podcast Roots Miniseries Color of Law: A Forgotten History Of How Our Government Segregated America by Richard Rothstein "Multiplication Is for White People": Raising Expectations For Other Peoples Children by Lisa Delpit Other People's Children: Culture Conflict In The Classroom by Lisa Delpit Crips and Bloods: Made In America: documentary 13th: documentary If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform and remember to follow us on Instagram!

The interview we had with a sheriff didn't quite work out so today we drink! Laura gets very drunk on her Arizonian vacation and Aja gets drunk trying to get to Laura level drunk. We talk about ex boyfriends, our fun party days and what our new normal is.  *trigger warning* We do jump into the episode quite intensely with a conversation about pedophilia. Not about our personal experiences but how we've both been watching Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich documentary on Netflix. If this is a topic you're uncomfortable with, please skip forward a 10 minutes.. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform and remember to follow us on Instagram!

At Heavy Topics with Lighweights, we pride ourselves on talking to people with different life experiences and beliefs as us. Today we are so excited to talk to our friend and life coach, Jo Encarnacion. For the past two years, Jo has been involved in a polyamorous relationship with her husband Jon, and her boyfriend Chris.  We explore what ethical non monogamy is, how radical honesty transformed her relationship and what it means to redefine gender roles.  To follow Jo and her journey - connect with her on Instagram at @GoFitJo and @HellaMarried, listen to her podcast Hella Married.   If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform and remember to follow us on Instagram!

We work hard to graduate school, find a meaningful job and be in a fulfilling relationship but as we go on living our lives, our chances of getting pregnant decrease every year. Egg freezing... let's talk about it.  Whether we like it or not, some of us are at an age where this is a serious topic of conversation (and worry). We are so lucky to have our friend Rachel Rhee on this week's episode to talk about her experience, at age 36, of freezing her eggs. This conversation was so eye opening and Rachel did a fantastic job explaining and demystifying the process of egg freezing. For anyone who has additional questions about the process, please feel free to reach out to Rachel.  Connect with Rachel on Instagram, on her blog, and her wellness community.  show mentions: To try Care/Of, use our code HEAVYTOPICS50 for 50% off your first month at BetterHelp.com/Lightweights If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform and remember to follow us on Instagram!

The fact that Black people are STILL fighting this battle is absolute insanity. But we are currently in the middle of a movement towards changing the landscape to a more free and just society. Today we talk to Michael Ojo - a professional basketball player and photographer. Michael has been photographing the recent protests against police brutality in Los Angeles, and talks to us about why "Black Lives Matter" doesn't mean White lives don't, how he's more afraid of cops than gang members and the importance of voting. Check out more of Mike's photography here: @bellikemike To try BetterHelp, use our code LIGHTWEIGHTS for 10% off your first month at BetterHelp.com/Lightweights If you enjoyed this episode, please remember to subscribe and leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform and follow us on Instagram @heavytopics!

And in the most random podcast yet, we deep dive into how our parents shaped the way we look at relationships; Aja tries to convince Laura to dabble into the reality TV genre and we ask the question WHY WOULD YOU GET PLASTIC IF YOU CAN TELL IT'S PLASTIC SURGERY?! Basically the standard conversation ebb and flow of two drunk best friends.  To try BetterHelp, use our code LIGHTWEIGTHTS for 10% off your first month at BetterHelp.com/Lightweights If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform and remember to follow us on Instagram @heavytopics!

We've had many people on our podcast who have overcome tremendous odds, but no one like TJ. TJ is a spinal cord injury survivor. He was paralyzed from the neck down from a car accident and basically willed himself to walk again. We know millions of people are going through tough times right now but TJ proves that a positive mindset can change anything.  show mentions:  Offset Med, Athlete Care & Education The Movement Maestro, Dr. Shantee Cofield One Day At A Time, TJ's blog To try BetterHelp, use our code LIGHTWEIGTHTS for 10% off your first month at BetterHelp.com/Lightweights If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform and remember to follow us on Instagram @heavytopics!

Remember the times of spa days, date nights and dining in? Welcome to January 2020, when we recorded our original first episode of the season. We decided to still use this episode in the season because it updates you on whats been going on in our lives since last year. LOTS of updates and some tea. You'll definitely want to grab some wine for this one.  If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform and remember to follow us on Instagram and Facebook @heavytopics!

Today we are joined by one of our best friends Amanda Nguyen. Amanda is a health economist on the research team of GoodRX and is breaking down what COVID-19 means for our finances - both on a global and personal scale. Many of you sent in question for Amanda to answer and we did our best to get to all of them. Below you can find the resources we talked about in this podcast: How The Coronavirus Emergency Stimulus Package Impacts Your Healthcare Where Can I Get A Drive Thru COVID-19 Test Near Me Telemedicine Has Surged During COVID-19: How Are Americans Using It? If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform and remember to follow us on Instagram and Facebook @heavytopics!