My Blunt Truth

In this FINAL episode of My Blunt Truth, Candi takes a quick trip down memory lane on her journey from beginning to end of this podcast.

In this episode of, My Blunt Truth: Candi will be speaking with Denise Harrington (Advocacy Chair of the LWV-VA) and Heather Booth (Organizer of The JANE Movement) about women’s reproductive health. Denise Harrington has a BS in Music Education., and began her teaching career in York County, Virginia. In 1993, where she obtained an endorsement in applied linguistics specifically in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages , and began working with English Learners while continuing to teach Music. After teaching in York County for 16 years, she taught in a Title One school for 19 years in Henrico County Virginia. Denise obtained her MA in Administration and Supervision, and implemented an Action Research Project that improved the Social Studies scores for the school a Positive Behavior Intervention Plan. Prior to retiring, she obtained her MS, a second Masters in Diagnostic Reading (with an emphasis on Dyslexia and Diverse Learners), and began her Doctorate specializing in Teacher Leadership at Walden University. Throughout her career, she continued to be an Advocate for children and public education and served the Virginia Education Association (VEA) in the following capacities: Vice-President of the York Education Association, Board member for 2 years of the Henrico Education Association, and the Executive Political Action Committee(15 years). Also served, for 15 years as the State Legislative Liaison for the Virginia Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (VATESOL). Both experiences allowed her to Lobby the Virginia General Assembly and Congress. At present, she is serving as the State Director of Advocacy of the League of Women Voters of Virginia. She is a recent graduate of the Minority Political Institute Leadership Institute (MPLI) from Virginia Commonwealth University’s Doug Wilder School of Government ‘s, Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute (GEHLI). Heather Booth is one of the leading strategists about progressive issue and electoral campaigns. She has been an organizer starting in the civil rights, anti-Vietnam War and women’s movements of the 1960s and continuing through today. She created JANE, an underground abortion service started before Roe.She was the founding Director and is now President of the Midwest Academy (http://www.midwestacademy.com/), training social change leaders and organizers. She has been involved in political campaigns and was the Training Director of the Democratic National Committee. In 2000, she was the Director of the NAACP National Voter Fund, which helped to increase African American election turnout by nearly 2 million voters. She was the lead consultant, directing the founding of the Campaign for Comprehensive Immigration Reform in 2005.In 2008, Heather was the director of the Health Care Campaign for the AFL-CIO. In 2009, she directed the campaign passing President Obama’s first budget. In 2010, she was the founding director of Americans for Financial Reform, fighting to regulate the financial industry. She was the National Coordinator for the coalition around marriage equality and the 2013 Supreme Court decision. She was strategic advisor to the Alliance for Citizenship (the largest coalition of the immigration reform campaign). For More Info On Heather: (http://www.democracypartners.com/).(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heather_Booth) Grab your drinks, and LET’S TALK!! A free documentary screening will be shown on September 12th at the Williamsburg Library. This film is Directed by Oscar-nominee Tia Lessin (HBO’s Trouble the Water) and Emmy-nominee Emma Pildes (HBO’s Jane Fonda in Five Acts), The Janes gives first-hand accounts from the women, speaking on the record for the first time. To Get Your Ticket For The Viewing of The JANES Click: https://thejanes-williamsburglibrary.eventbrite.com/ To Learn More About The League of Women Voters of Virginia Click: https://lwv-va.org/

(Recorded February 10, 2023) HAPPY EARLY JUNETEENTH!! You don’t know who you are until you know where you came from. In this episode Candi and her co-host Gaynell Brady the creator of Our Mammy’s, discuss the importance of researching your own family tree and history. Gaynell Brady is an educator and museum professional who is passionate about learning, genealogy,  and museums.  She currently serves as the Owner/Educator at Our Mammy’s LLC, where she teaches families about genealogy and African American history. In her role at Our Mammy’s, she develops and implements hands-on history and genealogy lessons for children using historical research from her own family tree.  Past professional experiences include The National World War II Museum, National Park Service Jean Lafitte National Historical Park & Preserve and New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park, Louisiana State Museum, and River Road African American Museum. Gaynell holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and a Master of Arts degree in Museum Studies from Southern University at New Orleans.  She is currently a PhD candidate at Capella University. -- Gaynell Brady, Our Mammy’s, www.ourmammys.com Grab your drink and let’s talk! Merch: https://www.vividalchemistapothecary.com/ Let’s Talk: [email protected]

It’s time to look within and ask ourselves, why do we allow the word of God to be used to vindicate hate and fear? When we can take politics out of religion that’s when spirituality is found. In this episode Candi and her co-host of the week, Fushia Deville speak about the art of Drag, and the laws that have come out in Tennessee banning Drag in public places; and how can we be an ally in the LGBTQ community. It’s time to know your rights. Fushia DeVille has been a professional Drag Queen for almost 26years.She has hosted, co hosted, special guested and volunteerd in shows within our 757 community as well as dc, New York and North Carolina within those 26years and has been a strong advocate for the lgbtq community . Fushia is a graduate of the Governor’s School of arts as well as our own local Bayside High School. And Kee business collage. She is an accomplished artist having designed logos for security companies, working with the little theater of vabc and painting murals for the little creek amphibious base, as well as competing queens for parents, she also runs her own righnstoneing business DeVilke Designs and has a growing Drag Brunch at Dave & Buster in Va Beach at Lynhaven mall. Grab your drink and let’s talk! (Please excuse the non-editing in this episode.) Check out the Merch: https://www.vividalchemistapothecary.com/ Let’s Talk!: [email protected]

In this episode of My Blunt Truth, Candi and her co-hosts this episode, Tara and Christina speak about how they have overcome breast cancer and how your mindset is the most important key. These ladies are the EPITOME of women empowerment! Both of this ladies and myself are about of Here For The Girls Organization which supports women during their diagnoses. Tara Council is a 38 year old Navy wife and mom to her 6 year old daughter. An educator- she writes immersive adventure curriculum for Hampton roads and is a reading interventionist. In her free time, she loves everything Disney, playing Dungeons and Dragons, lifting weights and practicing yoga. A native to South Florida, the navy brought Tara and her family to Virginia Beach in 2018. A mere 3 months later, at the age of 33, she was diagnosed with invasive breast cancer. Since her diagnosis she has become a fierce advocate for breast cancer awareness and empowerment. Christina Miner is a native of Eastern North Carolina. She is married to a retired United States Marine and they have two beautiful children and two gorgeous grandchildren. Currently, they reside in the Tri-City area of Virginia. She graduated with honors with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of Arizona Global Campus. Presently, she is continuing her education with Liberty University in the Master of Clinical Mental Health Counseling program. Additionally, she is a wellness coach, minister, Qualified Mental Health Professional for adults, Co-Faciliator for the Newly Diagnosed Group with Here for Girls, Inc. and calendar ambassador (Ms. January 2023), podcaster for Our Scars Speaker, and an ally with multiple breast cancer organizations. Christina received a breast cancer diagnosis on 12/6/2019, which led to a double mastectomy. Complications from reconstruction caused her to remain flat and fierce as she continuously advocates for women and men contending with this dreaded disease. She has been known to advocate in interviews for Women’s Health Magazine, local news stations, and BlackDoctor.Org. Above any title or achievements, Christina’s ultimate passion and mission are to share her life stories and expertise with people who need assistance as they contend with various challenges. She hopes to be a vessel to remind people they are not alone but loved and supported.

In this episode of My Blunt Truth, Candi and her co-host of the week Charles Gates, talk about how mentality plays a huge part in human progression as a collective and in the world. Charles S. Gates is a high-energy, award winning, no-nonsense speaker, presentation coach, emcee and author. He is a former Marine with 30 years as corporate trainer. He helps business leaders bottle their messages in 15 words or less and deliver with power and poise. His goal is to create better workplace presenters—one word at a time. Charles is passionate about inspiring and equipping individuals to become the best presenters they can be. His interactive talks and workshops are designed to change your thought process through enjoyable, easy to implement strategies. His success is determined by your willingness to say, “I can do that.” He has spoken at Dollar Tree, Capital One, National Storytelling Network, American Association of Government Accountants, the American Society of Military Comptrollers and the Help Desk Institute, to name a few. He is a frequent guest on podcasts, television and radio shows. His e-book: Bring the Zing—5 Keys for Powerful Presentations, Briefings and Meetings, is available on Amazon Kindle https://a.co/fAmGZvI. Charles has always been active in his community. Currently he serves as the 2nd VP and Community Coordination Committee chair with YJCW NAACP, is an inaugural member of the Williamsburg Citizen Advisory Committee, the FBI Roundtable and is a past District Director and Region Advisor with Toastmasters International. He is married to the lovely Lei Lana. They have four children, Tania, Tiffany, Chris and Zeke, a German Shepard puppy.

A famous quote by Mike Tyson that holds so much weight. In this episode of My Blunt Truth, Candi and her co-host of the week Sandi Santiago break down how taking accountability in one’s own actions can help to break the negative mindset of why it is that we as people play small when it comes to our dreams and passions in life. Evolution is a choice only you can make; Grab your drink and let’s talk!

In this episode of My Blunt Truth, Candi and her friends/hosts from the hit podcast shows Paranormal Talk 2 (Tim Hopper and Buffy) and The Soul Sister’s Table (Kulunyahawi Traveler and Tina Eden) talk about the beauty of Spirituality through others eyes and experiences. And some life changing wisdom that was learned along the way. Grab your drink and let’s talk!

Time to get Paranormal with hosts of the hit podcast Paranormal Talk 2, Tim and Buffy! We talk about how it was like growing up as a Medium and a Sensitive and how Tim and Buffy use their Gifts with Spirit to help people all over the world. Grab your drink and let’s talk! Please be sure to check out their AMAZING podcast Paranormal Talk 2, Live, every Thursdays at 7 p.m.!

On this episode of My Blunt Truth, Candi and her co-hosts Anne Zattiero and her daughter, Riley Zattiero talk about how being Mercury Poisoned changed Anne’s whole life and inspired her to live a chemical free life and open up their amazing Mother & Daughter store Ginger Voodoo; using nothing but healing ingredients from nature, No Fragrance only Organic Essential Oils or Organic Extracts. Grab your drink and let’s talk!