What a perfect way to end out FTG season 2 with this conversation with Gia Peppers.  Gia is an entertainment journalist/on-air talent (you may have seen her on NBC's The Today Show, Essence, BET, VH1, etc)  and fellow podcaster on Black Girl Podcast and More Than That with Gia Peppers.  Gia and I dive into Gia's path to being a journalist, Black women in media, how Gia  stays motivated and how she battles negative self-talk by what she calls "watering herself".   Gia also shares her vision for social justice, the power of her faith  and why community is vital to professional and personal success. 

Leave this Feel the Good conversation feeling motivated to follow your passion, feeling ready to follow the signs and feeling inspired to believe in yourself.

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#feelthegoodpodcast
Follow Shawl on Instagram/Twitter: @shawlinivmh
Website: https://www.shawlinivmh.com/
Transcripts Available: https://www.shawlinivmh.com/ftg-transcripts

Follow Gia Peppers  
Instagram/Twitter: @giapeppers
Instagram:@morethanthatshow
https://www.giapeppers.com/
https://www.giapeppers.com/give-you-the-game

*Spread the Good- Gia's Charitable Organizations Mentioned in this Episode:

*Black Girls Rock: https://blackgirlsrock.com/

*Black Girl Freedom Fund: https://1billion4blackgirls.org/

*Boys & Girls Club of America: https://www.bgca.org/

Stay curious. Build empathy. Raise hell.  That's the motto behind co-founders, Cristen Conger's and Caroline Ervin's, Unladylike Media.  It was really exciting diving into chatting about feminism, intersectional feminism and the important women's issues and conversations that Cristen and Caroline tackle on their podcast and through their digital media.  Plus, as fellow professional podcasters and University of Georgia grads,  we chat about the podcasting space, how we see it needs to change and how our time in college influenced our career paths now. 

Leave this Feel the Good conversation feeling inspired to be open to new perspectives,  feeling ready to ask questions/ be curious and realizing the importance of being seen.  

.....
#feelthegoodpodcast
Follow Shawl on Instagram/Twitter: @shawlinivmh
Website: https://www.shawlinivmh.com/
Transcripts Available: https://www.shawlinivmh.com/ftg-transcripts

Follow Unladylike Media 
Instagram/Twitter: @unlaydlikemedia 
https://unladylike.co/
Cristen Conger Instagram/Twitter: @cristenconger
Caroline Ervin Instagram/Twitter: @thecarolineerv 

*Spread the Good- Unladylike's Charitable Organizations Mentioned in this Episode:
*Fair Fight - https://fairfight.com/
*Lost N Found Youth Atlanta - https://lnfy.org/

I absolutely loved diving into chatting friendship and relational dynamics with friendship coach from Friend Forward, Danielle Bayard Jackson. Want to figure out how to deepen your friendship bonds, understand when to "opt in and opt out" of a friendship and when to check in with yourself when it's time for a friendship to end? Then, this FTG conversation is for you.  Listen as we discuss ways in which communication is key, how conflict resolution is sometimes the answer and what are the three essentials for a friendship to thrive. 

Leave this conversation feeling hopeful about friendship, feeling inspired to create deeper bonds and feeling motivated to make new friends.   

.....
#feelthegoodpodcast
Follow Shawl on Instagram/Twitter: @shawlinivmh
Website: https://www.shawlinivmh.com/
Transcripts Available: https://www.shawlinivmh.com/ftg-transcripts

Follow Danielle Bayard Jackson 
Instagram: @daniellebayardjackson
Instagram:@friendforward 
Friend Forward: https://www.betterfemalefriendships.com/
Friend Forward Podcast: https://www.betterfemalefriendships.com/podcast

*Spread the Good- Danielle's Charitable Organizations Mentioned in this Episode:
Support children's literacy organizations however you can.  

Relationship and Friendship Expert, Dr. Melanie Mills aka Dr. Mel gives me some insight into what makes a strong bond, why bonding and friendship is so important and what makes for healthy relationships.  We also explore how to make new friends and how to socialize post pandemic.  Plus, she does her really fun foundational word exercise with me that was very illuminating. Don't know what I mean, you'll have to listen to find out.  

Leave this FTG conversation feeling ready to strengthen the bonds you already have, be intentional about your connections and feel confident in what you bring to any type of relationship. 

.....
#feelthegoodpodcast
Follow Shawl on Instagram/Twitter: @shawlinivmh
Website: https://www.shawlinivmh.com/
Transcripts Available: https://www.shawlinivmh.com/ftg-transcripts

Follow Dr. Melanie Mills 
Instagram: @drmelaniermills
Instagram: @lifebonds_

https://www.melanierossmills.com/

*Spread the Good- Dr. Mel's Charitable Organizations Mentioned in this Episode:

*New Friends New Life - https://www.newfriendsnewlife.org/

*The Human Trafficking Institute - https://www.traffickinginstitute.org/

I am such a fan of RomCom Pods that I'm thrilled to chat with the creators, Becca Freeman and Rachael King.  We chat about how they got started, feelings of imposter syndrome, their female partnership and of course, all things rom-coms.  Plus, as longtime professional podcasters, they give some advice on how to start a successful  podcast. 

Leave this conversation feeling brave, feeling creative and feeling inspired to make courageous choices.  

.....
#feelthegoodpodcast
Follow Shawl on Instagram/Twitter: @shawlinivmh
Website: https://www.shawlinivmh.com/
Transcripts Available: https://www.shawlinivmh.com/ftg-transcripts

Follow RomCom Pods 
Instagram/Twitter: @romcompods 
https://www.facebook.com/groups/romcompods/

Follow Becca Freeman: 
Instagram/Twitter: @beccamfreeman

Follow Rachael King: 
Instagram/Twitter: @rachaelgking

Follow Pod People 
Instagram/Twitter: @podppl, @pod_ppl 

*Spread the Good to your local animal shelter and support teacher wishlists. 

Dating as an act of self care.  It sounds strange doesn't it? I don't think I would ever think of dating in that way, but meet Lily Womble, former top matchmaker and dating coach who firmly believes that not only should we start thinking of it like that, but in fact, dating should feel good.  In this conversation, we chat strategies and ways in which single women can build successful, fulfilling and joyful dating lives on their own terms and ways in which we can all give ourselves the permission to be the leaders in our own lives. 

Get ready to start asking courageous questions, getting comfortable with what you want and pursuing joy in your relationships.  Leave this Feel the Good conversation feeling empowered, feeling confident and feeling liberated.
.....
#feelthegoodpodcast
Follow Shawl on Instagram/Twitter: @shawlinivmh
Website: https://www.shawlinivmh.com/
Transcripts Available: https://www.shawlinivmh.com/ftg-transcripts

Follow Lily Womble 
Instagram: @datebrazen
https://www.datebrazen.com/
Date Brazen Podcast: https://www.datebrazen.com/blog

Spread the Good to Lily's Charity Mentioned in this Episode: 
The Loveland Foundation 
https://thelovelandfoundation.org/

I am so happy that I got a chance to chat with celebrity makeup artist and friend, Rachel Pagan.  Rachel has spent 15 years in the beauty industry and is the Founder, CEO and inspiration behind the The CoLab Beauty Group.  With a background in both makeup and skincare, Rachel has worked on a variety of television and film productions, fashion and editorial shoots, and has built a considerable roster of celebrity clients. The CoLab Beauty Group is a testament to Rachel’s passion, where she has created a dedicated team that lives and breathes beauty, professionalism and collaboration.

In this conversation, we dive into what beauty/makeup represents, Rachel's path as an artist and female business owner and the importance of self-care rituals.  She also shares some beauty tips and skincare essentials.   Leave our chat feeling focused on how you can be a connector and what human connections you rely on, inspired to rise to a challenge and empowered to slowdown and ask yourself "what do I need?" 

.....
#feelthegoodpodcast
Follow Shawl on Instagram/Twitter: @shawlinivmh
Website: https://www.shawlinivmh.com/
Transcripts Available: https://www.shawlinivmh.com/ftg-transcripts

Follow Rachel Pagan 
Instagram: @rachelnicolepagan
https://www.rachelpagan.com/

Follow The Colab Beauty Group: 
Instagram: @thecolabbeautygroup 
http://thecolabbeautygroup.com/

Sara Cunningham is an author, activist and founder of the non-profit organization Free Mom Hugs.  Free Mom Hugs' mission is empowering the world to celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community through visibility, education and conversation.  In this episode,  Sara shares how Free Mom Hugs got started, the personal and deeply moving story of how she as a mother reacted when she found out she had a gay son and her journey from "the church to the Pride parade. " Sara shares her passion to make the world a kinder, safer place for the LGBTQUIA+ community.  We chat about all the ways Free Mom Hugs is helping the community and the  partnership with Jamie Lee Curtis who will release a movie based on Sara's book, How We Sleep at Night. We discuss allyship, what being a stand-in Mom means and why going beyond the hug is so important. 

This conversation will show you the power of change, the impact of love and education and how you can show up for LGBTQUIA+ individuals, youth and their families that  need your support. 

.....
#feelthegoodpodcast
Follow Shawl on Instagram/Twitter: @shawlinivmh
Website: https://www.shawlinivmh.com/
Transcripts Available: https://www.shawlinivmh.com/ftg-transcripts

Follow Free Mom Hugs
Instagram/Twitter: @freemomhugs

Sara's Memoir
How We Sleep at Night. A mothers memoir https://www.amazon.com/How-We-Sleep-At-Night/dp/1499725388 

*Spread the Good:
Go to freemomhugs.org find your state chapter, resources, FMH merch and donate