THE CHAIR
I built an AWARD WINNING Podcast called THE CHAIR to highlight hair journeys. I’m a Black woman, an educator and newly minted tech entrepreneur. As people sit in THE CHAIR, you will be immersed into stories surrounding education, entrepreneurship, identity, and magic. I have built THE CHAIR platform dedicated to supporting Black and Brown people on their hair journey. Enjoy as you listen to the voices in THE CHAIR. Learn More About THE CHAIR:Join THE CHAIR Community for FREE:https://growinghands.wpengine.com/Join THE CHAIR Newsletter for FREE:https://growinghands.wpengine.com/newsletter/
I Went Back to Work
On this episode, I had the honor of speaking with seven Black women who have spent decades in the Navy. They allow me into their world to begin to understand what a hair journey looked like in the Navy for them. We get the opportunity to hear stories about their time in bootcamp, on the ship, and shore duty. Additionally, we learn how these women advocated for the change of hair regulations for the betterment of the Navy. Enjoy!
Their Bios (The ones provided and shorten for word count purposes):
Michele (she/her) - Michele...
We are NOT Islands
On this episode, I had the honor of speaking with seven Black women who have spent decades in the Navy. They allow me into their world to begin to understand what sisterhood and mentorship looked liked to them in the Navy. Enjoy!
Their Bios (The ones provided and shorten for word count purposes):
Michele (she/her) - Michele Robinson Ewing is a retired naval officer with 27 years of distinguished service, who now channels her extensive experience in leadership, people development, and strategic planning into her work as a Holistic Health and Wealth Coach. She specializes...
I Love to Sparkle
On this episode, Shai paints the picture of her hair journey and how it has intersected with her identity of growing up as a biracial (Black and white) person, what hair has to do with confidence and self love, and falling in love with the process of getting to know yourself. Enjoy!
Her Bio:
Shai is a 31-year-old flight attendant with a globe-trotting spirit and a deep love for travel, sports, and the outdoors. I bring a unique perspective on adventure, and living life on the move.
THE CHAIR (S2/Ep34) — I Lov...
Your Safety Over a Coke
On this episode, Shai gives the ins and out of what it means to be a flight attendant. She highlights the the oddities that flight attendants do on layovers, how compassion and empathy are necessary traits in customer service, and reminding all that are interested in this profession to understand that you are alone a significant amount of time. Enjoy!
Her Bio:
Shai is a 31-year-old flight attendant with a globe-trotting spirit and a deep love for travel, sports, and the outdoors. I bring a unique perspective on adventure, and living life on the move.
My Antennas
On this episode, Aaleyah takes us on a hair journey. She shares stories from the perm to the big chop, to falling in love with her curls, leading to a disaster at the salon, which led to her finding her way to having a beautiful head full of locs. Enjoy!
Her Bio:
Aaleyah is a dynamic therapist, creative, and healer specializing in Dance/Movement Therapy. With a strong academic and clinical foundation, she brings a culturally responsive, trauma-informed lens to her work with children, adolescents, and families. Her approach integrates movement, expressive arts, and somatic...
Credentials in My Spirit
On this episode, Aaleyah allows us openly on her journey of becoming a dynamic therapist specializing in dance and movement therapy. She takes us on a rollercoaster of emotions though career changes, illnesses, and accidents. It is an absolute honor to be able to hold space of stories of this magnitude. Enjoy!
Her Bio:
Aaleyah is a dynamic therapist, creative, and healer specializing in Dance/Movement Therapy. With a strong academic and clinical foundation, she brings a culturally responsive, trauma-informed lens to her work with children, adolescents, and families. Her approach integrates movement, expressive arts...
The Mirrors & The Stereo
On this episode, Aaleyah allows us openly on her journey of becoming a dynamic therapist specializing in dance and movement therapy. She takes us on a rollercoaster of emotions though career changes, illnesses, and accidents. It is an absolute honor to be able to hold space of stories of this magnitude. Enjoy!
Her Bio:
Aaleyah is a dynamic therapist, creative, and healer specializing in Dance/Movement Therapy. With a strong academic and clinical foundation, she brings a culturally responsive, trauma-informed lens to her work with children, adolescents, and families. Her approach integrates movement, expressive arts...
Give Yourself Wings
On this episode, Devenia, Periana and I talk what it means to navigate PWI (predominantly white spaces) as Black people, advice given about our hair as young girls into our adolescence and how it evolved, and what is one of our favorite things about being Black. Enjoy!
Their Bios:
Devenia Cordette (she/her) is an ever-proud black womyn from the south side of Chicago. She is deeply passionate about the black experience of where they’ve been, as a collective, and where they will go. Since she was younger, she’s been an avid writer, read...
A Bowl of Gumbo
On this episode, Devenia, Periana and I talk mentorship. We dig into a conversation unpacking what mentorship looks like, redefining it, and how Professor Dr. Dozier poured into us as students and shaped us for the better helping us define what mentorship should look like. Enjoy!
Their Bios:
Devenia Cordette (she/her) is an ever-proud black womyn from the south side of Chicago. She is deeply passionate about the black experience of where they’ve been, as a collective, and where they will go. Since she was younger, she’s been an avid writer, reader, musi...
Bigger Fish to Fry
On this episode, Devin Tyler a friend from college gives us a glimpse through stories into the world of entrepreneurship as the founder and CEO of Tenacity which connects college students to paid project-based work at startups. We also get the chance to hear about his hair journey. Come along and learn about the recent story of falling in love with his bald head and full beard. Enjoy!
His Bio:
Devin Tyler is the founder and CEO if Tenacity, a marketplace that connects college students to project-based work at startups. Born and raised in Chicago...
Thinking in Spreadsheets
On this episode, Devin Tyler a friend from college gives us a glimpse through stories into the world of entrepreneurship as the founder and CEO of Tenacity which connects college students to paid project-based work at startups. We learn how he thinks about creativity and what that has to do with the number of pivots he's taken. Enjoy!
His Bio:
Devin Tyler is the founder and CEO if Tenacity, a marketplace that connects college students to project-based work at startups. Born and raised in Chicago, Devin spent several years in mangement consulting before earning his...
Now, I'm Mr. Clean
On this episode, AL is the co-founder and director of Mike & Al's Basketball League. AL has known me since I was a teenager and he has been running the league since then. AL tells the connection between Bone Thugs -N-Harmony and his hair journey. He shares what it felt like to go bald so early and what its like parenting and helping his children along their hair journeys. Enjoy!
His Bio:
Aljemall Peeples serves as the co-founder and director of Mike & Al's Basketball League and successfully continues the legacy established 25 years ago. Their organization transcends...
Not Always About the Court
On this episode, AL is the co-founder and director of Mike & Al's Basketball League. AL has known me since I was a teenager and he has been running the league since then. He deep dives into how he picked up the mantel, what it means to care for community, and to do it ALL on limited resources with doubters looming overhead. Enjoy!
His Bio:
Aljemall Peeples serves as the co-founder and director of Mike & Al's Basketball League and successfully continues the legacy established 25 years ago. Their organization transcends the typical scope of a basketball program...
Trappings of Masculinity
One this episode, Mitch dives into what he believes are the trappings of masculinity and ways to consider expanding our view points when looks at youth, especially boys. He shares stories about his male friend group breaking apart with his bachelor party being the central example unraveling masculinity into tangible ways of looking at manhood and opening up conversation surrounding youth development. Enjoy!
His Bio:
Mitch Gayns is a 35 year old content creating contrarian from just north of Boston. Often described as "the guy you'd least want to argue with" he's doing his best these...
A Version of You for Every Moment
On this episode, Mitch lays out his identity map and holds the hands of the audience along the journey of explaining how he has thought deeply about various elements of his identity and how they have shaped him. Hair being a significant part of his journey. Enjoy!
His Bio:
Mitch Gayns is a 35 year old content creating contrarian from just north of Boston. Often described as "the guy you'd least want to argue with" he's doing his best these days to put his powers of persuasion (and occasional annoyance) to good use as a psuedo-parent...
Articulate That
On this episode, Mitch dives into his explanation of the word articulation and its importance to him and his belief system. Articulation is the foundation of Mitch's way of making sense of the world and the people in it. Come listen as Mitch helps the audience understand how articulation is central to all his interactions and how that moves into the conversation of identity. Enjoy!
His Bio:
Mitch Gayns is a 35 year old content creating contrarian from just north of Boston. Often described as "the guy you'd least want to argue with" he's doing his...
Can't Hold Me Back
BeYouT (pronounced Beauty) takes us on her hair journey. This multilayered journey encompasses all facets of hair, an evolution with her relationship with water, and what a hair journey looks like after going through chemotherapy, beating cancer, and thriving on the otherside as a survivor.
Her Bio:
BeYouT (pronounced Beauty) is a poet who was born and raised in the suburbs of Boston. She had been writing since she was given her first journal at the age of 9 years old. In 2012 she was introduced to spoken word and has been writing and performing off and on...
I Put Me First
BeYouT (pronounced Beauty) opens up her heart and shares how anxiety is a compass to be aware of something greater that is to come. Along her many customer service facing jobs BeYouT has developed a spiritual menu and shares stories of her medium practices and how her grandfather is the "doorman" between her and the spirit world. Come listen and learn as I have this episode. Enjoy!
Her Bio:
BeYouT (pronounced Beauty) is a poet who was born and raised in the suburbs of Boston. She had been writing since she was given her first j...
Personal Protection
On this episode, I had the honor of interviewing 3 Black women who are in the field of healthcare, specifically nursing. They allow me into their world and share stories of what a hair journey looks like in nursing for a Black nurse, personal examples of microagressions and bias, thoughts on representation and diversity initiatives, and the reasons they stay in nursing through all the madness.
Their Bios:
Na'Blahge (she/her)
At 28 years old, Na'Blahge is dedicated Licensed Practical Nurse with four years of frontline healthcare experience, including Long Term Care and Skilled Rehabilitation fa...
This is Real Life
On this episode, I had the honor of interviewing 3 Black women who are in the field of healthcare, specifically nursing. They allow me into their world and share stories of what it is really like being a Black nurse, what sisterhood looks like in nursing, and areas of change that need to happen for the betterment of the profession.
Their Bios:
Na'Blahge (she/her)
At 28 years old, Na'Blahge is dedicated Licensed Practical Nurse with four years of frontline healthcare experience, including Long Term Care and Skilled Rehabilitation facilities in the north shore or Ma...
Pick a Square
On this episode, Dr. Tee, a data scientist allows us into her world of data science. Dr. Tee and I became friends in college. Dr. Tee highlights the importance of letting people explore to find their passions, especially when they do not fit traditional pathways, how storytelling is what drew her into data science, and a hair journey that keeps evolving. Enjoy!
THE CHAIR (S2/Ep16) — Pick a Square
I’m Your AWARD WINNING Host Dreme.
I’m a Black woman, an educator turned tech entrepreneur but still an educator. Building a platfor...
An Electric Moment
On this episode, Dr. Tee, a data scientist allows us into her world of data science. Dr. Tee and I became friends in college. She shares the road of how she got into data science with a background in neuroscience and biology and shares stories educating us on what BIG Data looks like today. Enjoy!
THE CHAIR (S2/Ep15) — An Electric Moment
I’m Your AWARD WINNING Host Dreme.
I’m a Black woman, an educator turned tech entrepreneur but still an educator. Building a platform called THE CHAIR is a Black an...
Tastes like Sunshine
On this episode, Vic, a multi - hyphenate creative and has also been trained in birthwork. I had the opportunity to get to know in college shares stories working as a Black nonbinary person supporting safe birthing practices in Chicago and brings us into their hair journey from the big chop to the excitement and feel of beard and belly hair. Enjoy!
Their Bio:
Vic (they/them) is a Chicago-based nonbinary producer of intentional experiences. With a passion for bringing people together, Vic believes every person’s presence in a space is integral to the vib...
Choose to Do Something Different
On this episode, Vic, a multi - hyphenate creative and who has been trained in birthwork. I had the opportunity to get to know in college shares stories surrounding their current passion projects critiquing corporate America and choosing to do something different in a world hugging and holding on to capitalism. Enjoy!
Their Bio:
Vic (they/them) is a Chicago-based nonbinary producer of intentional experiences. With a passion for bringing people together, Vic believes every person’s presence in a space is integral to the vibrancy of the experience itself. Vic weaves their experiences into ins...
Hair Creates Community
On this episode, this was my first ever Live Roundtable in June 2025 hosted at Just Bookish Bookstore with the lovely guests from the House of Calypso. The House of Calypso includes the mother, Neon Calypso and children Killah Croc, Lavender, Izzy Ready, and Hazel Afrodite. Boston based drag artists of color creating and perform in various arts medium who took the time to sit down with me in THE CHAIR to talk about their experiences in drag, discussing how their identities appear, their views on freedom in art, representation in educational spaces, and their hair journeys. Enjoy!
...
Drag is Freedom
On this episode, this was my first ever Live Roundtable in June 2025 hosted at Just Bookish Bookstore with the lovely guests from the House of Calypso. The House of Calypso includes the mother, Neon Calypso and children Killah Croc, Lavender, Izzy Ready, and Hazel Afrodite. Boston based drag artists of color creating and perform in various arts medium who took the time to sit down with me in THE CHAIR to talk about their experiences in drag, discussing how their identities appear, their views on freedom in art, representation in educational spaces, and their hair journeys. Enjoy!
...
Writing in Conversation
On this episode, I had the absolute pleasure of interviewing Porsha O. the author, poet, and co-founder of Just Bookish Bookstore where I hold my Live Roundtables. She takes us on an explorative hair journey discussing her current loc journey, navigating barbershops, poetry in conversation with identity, and activism in the creations of the "third space." Enjoy!
i shimmer sometimes, too:
https://www.porshaolayiwola.com/book-1
Tangled (Spoken Word Poem):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXrMEHYpm0U
Her Bio:
Porsha Olayiwola is a native of Chicago who wr...
Here I Am
On this episode, my mother, Nicole Flynt is back to kick off the 2nd Annual Living Black History Series where I release an episode every day of the month of February to highlights various living Black voices showing that we are making history and continue to be part of history one moment at a time. My mother talks about how practicing yoga saved her life, raising Black girls on their hair journey, and advice she gives to other Black mothers on hair journeys with their child and/or children. Enjoy!
Her Bio:
I have worked in...
Door Open
On this episode, my mother, Nicole Flynt is back to kick off the 2nd Annual Living Black History Series where I release an episode every day of the month of February to highlights various living Black voices showing that we are making history and continue to be part of history one moment at a time. My mother talks about her hair journey walking us through her childhood being plagued by eczema, evolving through the jheri curls, the creamy crack, and her weaves and wigs era. We end with my mom explaining how her hair journey intersects with her yoga j...
My Hot Comb Vignette
On this episode, I read a hair vignette that I wrote inspired by a student’s brainstorming session I worked with at the current nonprofit I work at focused on empowering students’ voice through literacy. Enjoy!
THE CHAIR (S2/Ep7) — My Hot Comb Vignette
I’m Your AWARD WINNING Host Dreme.
I’m a Black woman, an educator turned tech entrepreneur but still an educator. Building a platform called THE CHAIR is a Black and Brown centered tech platform dedicated to supporting people on their hair journey. You can design hairboards, connect to...
Redhead
On this episode, I share the story of the first time I dyed my hair. Red was the color but it turned out not the red I imagined. 18 year old Dreme had some feelings about that and also learned some lessons. Enjoy!
THE CHAIR (S2/Ep6) — Redhead
I’m Your AWARD WINNING Host Dreme.
I’m a Black woman, an educator turned tech entrepreneur but still an educator. Building a platform called THE CHAIR is a Black and Brown centered tech platform dedicated to supporting people on their hair journey. You can desi...
Influence
Happy New Year! 🎈🎊 On this episode, I talk about Black hair influence in my home and my thoughts on future commentary I would have with Beyonce and Rihanna when I have the opportunity to discuss their hair influence on the industry.
THE CHAIR (S2/Ep5) — Influence
I’m Your AWARD WINNING Host Dreme.
I’m a Black woman, an educator turned tech entrepreneur but still an educator. Building a platform called THE CHAIR is a Black and Brown centered tech platform dedicated to supporting people on their hair journey. You can design hairboa...
What Was Your Major?
On this episode, I discuss the journey that led me to decide to go get my Master of Education and Teaching Credential from UCLA even through I swore I was determined to be a Heart Surgeon.
THE CHAIR (S2/Ep4) — What Was Your Major?
I’m Your AWARD WINNING Host Dreme.
I’m a Black woman, an educator turned tech entrepreneur but still an educator. Building a platform called THE CHAIR is a Black and Brown centered tech platform dedicated to supporting people on their hair journey. You can design hairboards, connect t...
Something Special About You
Dr. Ashleigh and I met in Johannesburg at a Fulbright meetup and ever since then we have had many laughs, deep conversations, and adventures together. On her episode, we dive into her world of research, higher education, HBCUs, and hair. Enjoy!
Her Bio:
Dr. Ashleigh Brown-Grier is a higher education expert specializing in internationalization at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). She holds a Ph.D. in Higher Education Leadership and Policy Studies from Howard University, where she studied international student experiences at HBCUs during COVID-19.
As founder of International HBCU xc...
Why that Name?
Hey Beautiful People,
In this episode you learn how the name THE CHAIR came to be, where my love for storytelling developed, and why the smell of a hair salon makes me smile. Enjoy!
THE CHAIR (S2/Ep2) — Why that Name?
I’m Your AWARD WINNING Host Dreme.
I’m a Black woman, an educator turned tech entrepreneur but still an educator. Building a platform called THE CHAIR is a Black and Brown centered tech platform dedicated to supporting people on their hair journey. You can design hairboards, connect to hair st...
A Different World
Welcome to Season 2! We are launching Season 2 of THE CHAIR, an AWARD WINNING Podcast with the first episode featuring my grandmother on her birthday! I call her Nana. Nana talks about her childhood being raised in rural Alabama, moving to Boston at 18 years old, and working in the field of dialysis for over 30 years.
THE CHAIR (S2/Ep1) — A Different World
I’m Your AWARD WINNING Host Dreme.
I’m a Black woman, an educator turned tech entrepreneur but still an educator. Building a platform called THE CHAIR is a Black and Brow...
I Miss You Uncle Donald
Welcome to the final episode of Season 1. Episode 100!
I dedicate this episode to my Uncle Donald. He is the voice you hear when I open the podcast and his voice intermingles with my mothers when I close out. In this episode I share a poem, a letter, and the full audio of the last time we were altogether that I chopped up for the podcast. It is a moment to capture my love as I continue to move on in this world without him. Enjoy!
THE CHAIR (S1/Ep100) — I Miss You Uncle Donald<...
Play Chess?
*Ian Lin's episodes were the VERY first I recorded on my podcast journey. Please excuse the rough audio*
Ian and I met our freshman year in college. He a science major and I an anthropology major we never crossed paths in a classroom. It was laughing on the quad. It was jamming on the dance floor. It was always asking the question, are you free for dinner? Even though we do not live on the same continent anymore we make it job to see each other when we are. We saw each other in Taiwan...
A River with Stones
*Ian Lin's episodes were the VERY first I recorded on my podcast journey. Please excuse the rough audio*
Ian and I met our freshman year in college. He a science major and I an anthropology major we never crossed paths in a classroom. It was laughing on the quad. It was jamming on the dance floor. It was always asking the question, are you free for dinner? Even though we do not live on the same continent anymore we make it job to see each other when we are. We saw each other in Taiwan...
A New Layer
I met Kelly over 3 years ago two days before I left to complete my Fulbright in South Africa. My high school guidance counselor Mrs. Gayman introduced us as Kelly was looking to interview people for her series unpacking the importance and significance of a liberal arts education. I said I was down and that led to me being on my very first podcast episode ever. That beautiful conversation led into another conversation a year later where I was invited back to be on her PBS Special in New York City, which was another first.
When I started m...
