Ep 40 - Grassroots Comedy

Jackie's an all around incredible human being that wears all the hats that can be fit on a cranium. Give this episode a listen to learn about her work in the LGBTQ+ space in LA - from politics to business - to see what you can do in your own community, and find out how to help support her work! We love Jackie. You're gonna love Jackie, and you're going to love this episode!! Follow Jackie on IG @fivefootmonsterxo PRETTY PLEASE SUBSCRIBE, RATE IT, AND TELL SOMEONE TO TELL SOMEONE ABOUT THE NON PROPHETS!!

Comedians making a social impact - we LOVE to see it! Jon Laster is a phenomenal comedian you can catch at the Comedy Cellar any night of the week, AND he has an app that allows you to find which businesses are Black owned so you can patronize them! It's called BLAPP and you should get it. We talk gentrification, and ways we can take it upon ourselves to help marginalized communities. Also it's funny?! STFU, THERE'S NO WAY IT CAN BE FUNNY AND INFORMATIVE?!?! IT IS!!!

Hawk and Chivona are the brother / sister team what started Black Lives Matter of Greater New York. We talk about how to create a more equitable New York, what is next for BLM and hear a bunch about how BLM of Greater New York started from a dinner table in the Bronx!

Chris Blackwood fundraises in Washington, DC with comedy shows. We fundraise with comedy shows in New York! Isn't that just the craziest?? It is always weird standing in front of a room full of people who genuinely improve the planet with their work, earnestly hoping to make a marginal contribution with a joke about your genitalia. It's a mindset few people know about and it was nice talking with Chris about how we can use comedy shows to support your favorite cause!

We talk to author, speaker, and activist from Australia, Tofe Evans about the mental health of people talking to people about mental health. There is a whole industry of people telling us what is best for us - whether they are nutritionists, mental health experts, or mega church pastors. The reality often is that the more certain they are of what they are teaching, the less you should listen to them. Franqi and Stephen are being asked to talk more and more about mental health while simultaneously going through some mental health spills themselves. Talking with Tofe made that seem alright. He's a warm dude that is navigating through life like the rest of us, and sometimes that's who we need to be talking to much more than self-proclaimed "experts" LIKE, SHARE, SUBSCRIBE, OR TELL YOUR MOM ABOUT US!! ALSO CHECK OUT TOFE'S BOOK!!

This episode continues to be relevant especially as those familial conversations heat up around the dinner table. What does it mean to be an ally, and how can we do our damndest to be create a more equitable society for Black people? We have some incredible guests on the episode - Alice Wetterlund, Jackie Steele, Rae and Tim Clinton - coming from all different spaces - show business to law. And discussing allyship in those different spaces, and the fatigue that can come from being an ally.

Franqi and Stephen are talking mental health and some big plans they have in the not too distant future!

Kaprece James sits down with Franqi and Stephen to talk about her work with women all over the world - from Japan to Liberia. Kaprece builds communities and courses to help young women with their personal growth, education, social change initiatives, leadership development. It was a treat chatting with Kaprece and you're gonna love listening to it!

Franqi and Stephen talk to Rue Parkin, from Help NYC; a resource center for homeless people in New York, and a provider of all sorts of services! We talk about Rue's experience with homelessness, some solutions to combat homelessness, and of course; trucker drugs! We always believe that humanizing people will reduce fear and increase empathy. This is a great episode to learn how people can slip into homelessness and how we can use compassion to begin to remedy this structural issue. Subscribe, share and give us some love in the comments!! If you'd like to learn how to better assist the homeless in New York City, go to the Help NYC site right here!

WOCC is making sure women of color have a seat at the table during the legalization process in New York, AND they're creating equitable opportunities in the cannabis industry. Give this episode a listen to learn a little bit about what equitable legalization can look like, manifestations, and some strategic planning for the future. Come learn a little bit about a lot!