The Transformation Stories Podcast
Episodes are available now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts and Youtube.
We have a podcast!! The Transformation Stories podcast is a space for us to dive deeper and learn from each other. We know the importance of a space to discuss Black womxn, femme and NB/GNC mental health and holistic wellness. We also deeply believe in the transformative nature of storytelling. Each week we will share with you stories from real people, journeying and committing to transformation.
Each year we host our Transformation Stories event filled with community and a panel of peers sharing their journey to personal transformation and evolution. After each event we are approached by a community of folks excited to have a space to discuss and dive deeper, learning from both mentors and peers. We are very excited to announce we have heard your feedback. This weekend we start a new cohort of training and wanted to offer our virtual community an educational space as well. The "Transformations Stories" podcast will be a series of conversations from peers, leaders and folks who have found tools to transform and the lessons they learned along the way. We offer you this space with love in hopes to keep the inspiration and growth flowing.
Episode 1: Personal Transformation
What is personal transformation? On the very first episode, Tanya discusses her work cultivating spaces for people to fall in love with themselves.
Guest: Tanya Turton
To find out more about Tanya and her work, visit her websites: tanyaturton.com, niazamar.com, adornmentstories.com/the-team. You can also follow her on instagram at @trapmystic and twitter at @trapmystic1.
Episode 2: Transformative Make Up
Is make up a form of storytelling? This week, we discuss the transformative process of make up with Sade Petlele. They discuss using their focus in makeup and ink drawings to express cultural identity and history.
Guest: Sade petlele
Sade is a non-binary multidisciplinary artist based in Toronto. Sade is an alum of Adornment Stories, and continues to work as an intern for both Adornment Stories and NiaZamar. You can reach Sade on instagram and also check out their blog post QnA, virtual art exhibits from 2018 and 2019 and their Afrofuturism video essay.
Episode 3: Transformative Writing
How is writing used to reclaim and transform the narrative for black folks? With vulnerability and authenticity, Yvvana Duku shares her personal experiences and how she learned to channel pain into different creative forms.
This episode has a TRIGGER WARNING for sexual assault. Please be mindful of your mental journey. A list of Canadian resources and contacts for those who have experienced sexual assault can be found here.
GUEStS: JUANITA MUWANGA AND NELIE DIVERLUS
Juanita is a recruitment, marketing and communications specialist who coordinated and conducted the interviews with the mothers. Juanita can be found on Linkedin, Instagram (@nicegirlnita), and email at juanitamuwanga@gmail.com.
Nelie is a film student who worked to edit the final footage for the documentary. You can reach Nelie on Twitter (@ndiverlus) and via email at neliediverlus@gmail.com.
Episode 4: CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT
In May of 2020, we released a Mother’s Day Documentary in order to celebrate the diverse spectrum that is black motherhood. This project would not have been possible without the work of Juanita Muwanga and Nelie Diverlus. We sit down to converse about the development process and why black stories need to be told.
Be sure to check out the Mother’s Day Documentary for context with this episode.
Episode 5: Quotes and queries: personal transformation
This episode has a TRIGGER WARNING for self harm. Please be mindful of your mental journey. A list of resources about self harm and who to contact can be found here.
In the last episode of our pilot season, Fonna brings along some powerful quotes that spark dialogue about personal development and vulnerability.
GUEStS: Fonna seidu
Fonna Seidu is the Project Manager for Adornment Stories. You can find Fonna on Instagram, Twitter and her website, fonnatasha.com.
These are the books Fonna mentioned:
GUESt: Marwa Ahmed
Marwa Ahmed is the Curriculum and Training Coordinator for the Opening Doors Project at the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Toronto. You can reach Marwa through CMHA by email (openingdoors@cmhato.org) and through Twitter (@openingthedoor).
BOnus Episode: mental health awareness
In honour of Mental Health Awareness Week, we sit down with Marwa to discuss mental health in the black community. This episode has a TRIGGER WARNING as we dive into intense topics such as police brutality. Please be mindful of your own mental health journey.