Roots and Rhythm Podcast
At Roots and Rhythm, we are dedicated to sharing the rich tapestry of our lived experiences. Through heartfelt stories about marriage, relationships, and parenting, we aim to create a space where listeners can find connection, understanding, and inspiration. Our mission is to celebrate the diverse journeys that shape our lives, fostering a sense of community and belonging for all. Join us as we explore the rhythms of life, one story at a time.
The Ingredients of a Long-Term Loving Relationship | 20 Years of Marriage, Trust & Real Love | Episode #30
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Marriage doesnât survive on vibes alone.
In this Valentineâs weekend episode â and the final episode of Season 1 â Vlad and Angie break down the real ingredients that make a relationship last.
As Angie celebrates 14 years of marriage, we explore what actually sustains love long-term â not just butterflies, not just chemistry, but the deeper foundations that keep couples rooted through lifeâs shifts.
From raising kids and moving statesâŚ
 To learning how to trust, forgive, and communicate betterâŚ
 To why friendship might be the most underr...
2016 in 2026: Pokemon Go, Bodybuilding, Pop Culture & Personal Growth | Episode #29
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In Episode #29 of the Roots & Rhythm Podcast, Vlad and Angie take a deep, reflective trip down memory lane to revisit one of the most defining years of the last decade. From Snapchat, Vine, PokĂŠmon Go, and iconic music, to personal turning points, political shifts, and cultural moments that reshaped how we experience the world today â 2016 was a year that left a mark.
Vlad opens up about major life transitions, including relationship struggles that ultimately strengthened his marriage, his bodybuilding journey, career pivots, and the moment that set him...
All is NOT Fair in Love | Navigating Healthy Conflict in Marriage | Roots and Rhythm Podcast | Episode #28
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In this episode of the Roots and Rhythm podcast, hosts Vlad and Angie delve into the complexities of fighting fair in relationships. They discuss the inevitability of conflict, the importance of communication, and the foundational role of emotional safety. The conversation highlights strategies for navigating disagreements, the psychological aspects of conflict, and the four relationship killers: criticism, contempt, defensiveness, and stonewalling. The hosts emphasize the need for sincere apologies and commitment to repair after conflicts, encouraging listeners to prioritize their partnerships while maintaining healthy communication.
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New Year's Revolutions | The Problem With Resolutions and How to Make Lasting Behavior Change | Episode # 27
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Summary
In the 2026 premiere episode of the Roots and Rhythm podcast, hosts Vlad and Angie reflect on the holiday season, discuss the effectiveness of New Year resolutions, and explore the importance of sustainable change in personal growth. They delve into the all-or-nothing mentality, the significance of accountability, and the role of communication in relationships. The conversation emphasizes the need for long-term thinking and planning in achieving personal and relational goals, while also addressing the challenges of modern life and the importance of self-awareness.
...
All I Want for Christmas is Peace | Navigating Holiday Gatherings, Conflicts, & Self-Care | Episode 26
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The holidays are supposed to be joyful⌠but for many of us, they bring tension, grief, unresolved family dynamics, and unspoken expectations.
In Episode 26 of the Roots & Rhythm Podcast, Vlad and Angie sit with the truth of the season and ask a powerful question:
 What would it look like to choose PEACE this Christmas?
In this episode, we explore:
The emotional weight of family dynamics during the holidaysParenting pressures and gender roles that show up at family gatheringsHow social media fuels com...Runaway Love: Responsibility & Real Talk | Diddy, IPV, & Modern Relationships | Episode #25
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â ď¸ DISCLAIMER:
This episode contains graphic language and discussions of violence, intimate partner violence (IPV), and domestic violence (DV). Viewer and listener discretion is strongly advised.
If you or someone you love is experiencing DV/IPV, please use the resources listed at the bottom of this description.
This week on Roots & Rhythm, Vlad and Angie dive into the cultural conversations shaking the internet â starting with âDiddy: The Reckoningâ and the larger implications for intimate partner violence, masculinity, accountability, and power dynamics<...
Why Does She Stay? Life After Divorce, Why We Leave, & What No One Tells You | Episode #24
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In this weekâs episode of Roots & Rhythm, Vlad and Angie dive deep into the alarming realities of modern divorce: why people stay longer than they should, why they eventually leave, and what life looks like after the paperwork is signed.
Drawing from their own childhood experiences as products of divorce, they unpack:
Why 40â50% of first marriages end in divorceWhy second and third marriages fail at even higher ratesThe emotional, financial, and psychological reasons people stayWhy women often leave mentally years before they leave physicallyThe role of childhood trauma, iden...Grief and Gravy: How to Embrace New Traditions While Healing Your Holiday Wounds | Episode 23
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In this heartfelt post-Thanksgiving episode, Vlad and Angie dive into the complex emotions many of us carry into the holiday seasonâespecially those who grew up in chaotic or unstable households. As the holidays approach, old wounds, unmet expectations, and complicated family patterns can resurface. This conversation reminds listeners that healing is possible and that new traditions can be created with intention, love, and emotional awareness.
Vlad and Angie open up about:
Childhood holiday experiences marked by chaos, grief, or uncertaintyHow unresolved childhood wounds show up during the holidaysThe em...It Takes a Village: How We Intentionally Created Our Family & Why It's Important | Episode 22
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EPISODE 22: âFrom Acquaintances to Family â Choosing Our Village, Raising Our Kids, and Protecting Our Valuesâ
This week on Roots & Rhythm, Angie returns to join Vlad for a heartfelt, hilarious, and deeply grounding conversation about how they went from acquaintances⌠to family.
They break down:
How intentional friendship became a village rooted in love, accountability, and shared valuesWhat it took to integrate their spouses and wider circle into a healthy, supportive community for their kidsWhy âParents Night Outâ turned into...Bloodline |Breaking the Cycle: Healing from Generational Dysfunction | Episode 21
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This week on Roots & Rhythm, Vlad and Angie tackle one of the most important conversations yet â how to break free from generational dysfunction. From questioning faith and parental influence to learning empathy and setting emotional boundaries, this dialogue explores the layers of healing required to change the narrative for future generations.
đ Top Takeaways:
Understand where your parentsâ pain came from.Break patterns of dysfunction with intention.Practice compassion as a form of self-healing.Donât pass down what you never healed.đ§ Available on all major podcas...
Many Men | Vulnerability, Masculinity & the Patriarchy with Cordan James Haveron | Episode 20
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In this powerful episode of Roots & Rhythm, we sit down with Cordan James Haveron (@cordanjamesspeaks) to explore what it truly means to be a man in todayâs world. Together, we unpack themes of male vulnerability, the impact of the patriarchy on masculinity, and how healing from childhood trauma can lead to authentic leadership and wholeness. Cordan opens up about his experience as a transracial adoptee, navigating out-of-home care, and reclaiming his identity as a Black man adopted into a white familyâforging resilience through dislocation, service, and purpose.
We dive...
The Healing Trap: When Self-Work Becomes Self-Sabotage | Episode 19
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In this weekâs episode of the Roots & Rhythm Podcast, hosts Vlad & Angie explore a question that many of us avoid asking: How much healing is âenoughâ before entering a relationship?
They dive deep into the modern obsession with âdoing the work,â unpacking how the healing journey can either prepare us for love â or become an excuse to avoid vulnerability altogether. đâ¨
Topics include:
Is healing a destination or a lifelong process?How âIâm still healingâ can be a form of self-protectionThe difference between solitude and is...Me, Myself & I: Balancing Individuality and Togetherness in Love| Episode 18
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In this weekâs episode of the Roots & Rhythm Podcast, hosts Vlad and Angie explore the real talk behind love, sacrifice, and individuality in relationships. đ They unpack how to balance giving and gaining, why healthy boundaries matter, and how ego and societal pressures can quietly sabotage connection.
From moms needing more personal time away from responsibilities, to couples navigating finances, self-discovery, and timelines, Vlad and Angie bring their signature humor, honesty, and cultural perspective to the mic...
Love is Therapy | Self-Awareness, Confidence & Dating: Is Cockiness a Turn-On? | Episode #17
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EPISODE 17: âLove Is Therapyâ â Roots & Rhythm Podcast
This week, Vlad and Angie explore how self-love and acceptance are key ingredients to confidence in any committed relationship. Drawing inspiration from Edmond and Kalybriahâs journey on Love Is Blind: Season 9, they unpack what we can learn about self-awareness, emotional compatibility, and the healing power of love.
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Banderas Rojas đŠ | Relationships Red Flags: Are We Getting Better at Spotting Red Flags, or Becoming Them? | Episode 16
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This week, Angie and Vlad unpack one of the most viral relationship topics â red flags. đŠ They share how they used to define them in their early 20s vs. how marriage, healing, and parenthood have transformed their perspective today.
Is it a red flag⌠or a reflection of your own unhealed story?
 Join us for laughter, honesty, and insight on what it truly means to grow through love, not just in it.
⨠Listen ⢠Reflect ⢠Share Your Story
đď¸ Where we explore the rhythms of life, one beat at a time.
Faith, Family & Drugs | How Culture, Religion & Upbringing Shaped Our Experiences | Episode 15
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In this episode of Roots and Rhythm, hosts Vlad and Angie discuss the complex topics of faith, family, and substance use, particularly focusing on drugs like cannabis and psilocybin. They share personal experiences, cultural attitudes, and the impact of the war on drugs on communities. The conversation emphasizes the importance of open discussions about substance use within families, the need for education and awareness, and the changing perceptions surrounding drugs in society. They also explore how to navigate conversations with children about these topics, aiming to create a supportive environment for honest...
21 Questions | The Answers Couples Need Clarity for | Infidelity, Intimacy, Money & Boundaries | Episode 14
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his week on the Roots & Rhythm Podcast, Angie and Vlad sit down for one of their most honest and vulnerable conversations yet. While the episode title is inspired by 50 Centâs legendary track 21 Questions, this isnât a literal Q&Aâitâs a deep dive into the real issues that shape marriages and long-term relationships.
From infidelity and sex, to personal ideologies, parenting, and even tattoos, we go there. This is raw, unfiltered conversation about what couples really wrestle with when building a life together.
đĄ For Reflection:
â Is c...
Praying For You | Navigating Faith, Peace & Personal Values | Episode #13
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Inspired by Grammy Award-winning Rapper Lecrae's 2007 hit, on this week's episode of Roots & Rhythm Angie and Vlad share their personal journeys with faith and organized religion. From childhood church experiences to the ways they embrace spirituality today, they explore how belief systems have shaped their identities, relationships, and outlook on life.
The discussion turns to mainstream Christianity, politics, and the modern churchâinviting listeners to reflect on where faith fits in todayâs world and how it influences us all.
⨠Letâs keep growing together:
Order The Embrace Me...Across the Lines | Racism, Parenting, and Identity: First Encounters | Roots & Rhythm Podcast Episode #12
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This week, Vlad and Angie dive deep into the realities of racism as immigrants, as parents, and as people still shaping their identities in America.
Vlad shares his very first encounter with racism in schoolâan experience that revealed more about the system than the students around himâand how that moment shaped his understanding of support and resilience. Angie reflects on how racism has influenced her perspective as both a parent and a woman of Caribbean heritage.
Together, they explore how early experiences of prejudice ripp...
No New Friends | Navigating New Relationships, Learning How and When To Let Go | Episode 11
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đď¸ In this weekâs episode of Roots & Rhythm, Vlad and Angie dive into the complexities of building and maintaining friendships in adulthood.
As parents in their thirties, they reflect on what truly qualifies as friendship, what happens when we outgrow certain relationships, and how to navigate the painful reality of drifting apart from people we once held close. Vlad opens up about one of his most important friendshipsâa bond that began to unravel after he met his wife, leading to heartbreak, mistakes, and the tough decision to move on. Angie sha...
Shawty is a Ten | Celebrating 100 Downloads, Countless Mistakes & Important Lessons | Episode 10
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đ Episode 10 of Roots & Rhythm is here, and weâre celebrating over 100 downloads! In this milestone episode, Angie and Vlad reflect on the journey through our first ten episodesâcomplete with trial and error, lessons learned, and hours of footage that didnât make the cut. This is a celebration of growth, resilience, and the community that continues to support us.
⨠This episode also features a special advertisement for Vladâs book, The Embrace Method (Second Edition)âa guide to healing, resilience, and leadership.
đ Grab your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Emb...
Where Did We Go Wrong? | Are Women Better Off Without Men? | Episode 9
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đĽ HEATED DEBATE: Are Women REALLY Happier Without Men & Kids?
 A YaleGlobal study asks: Should Women Stay Single?âsuggesting single, child-free women are healthier and happier than their married counterparts (Read the study here). Angie breaks down the findings, but Vlad pushes backâcalling out bias and defending men who try their best in relationships doomed from the start.
This episode gets spicy as they unpack marriage, fulfillment, and how cultural expectations shape modern love. Expect laughs, sharp insights, and some serious âdid they just say that?â moments.
...I Love the 90's | Living in a Different World | Episode 8
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Bright colors, cassette tapes, TV jingles, and that unforgettable dial-up toneâAngie and Vlad are taking it all the way back! In this throwback episode, we talk about what it was really like growing up in the 1990s. From Saturday morning cartoons to the early days of AIM and AOL, we explore how the era shaped our childhood and how much has changed since.
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Get it Together | Work-Life Balance & Personal Development | Episode 7
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In this episode of Roots and Rhythm, Angie and Vlad get personal about what they do for workâand how they donât let work do them. From setting boundaries to prioritizing self-care, they unpack the importance of creating harmony between career and personal life. Tune in for candid insights on how to define your own version of success, set achievable growth goals, and apply practical tips for achieving work-life balance without burning out.
Whether youâre an entrepreneur, a 9-to-5er, or juggling multiple roles, this episode will help you ge...
Lean on Me | Mental Health, Systems, & Recovery | Ep. 6
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â ď¸ Trigger Warning: This episode discusses mental illness, trauma, and recovery. If you are struggling, know that you are not alone. Support and healing are within reach. â¤ď¸
In this honest and emotional episode, Vlad and Angie dive into their personal experiences with mental health, share how their family histories influence their healing, and offer insights on raising children through a trauma-informed lens.
Tune in for:
Living through and healing from mental illnessThe generational weight of unspoken mental health strugglesHow we are breaking cycles as parentsWhere to find sup...Cater 2 U | Traditions, Teamwork & Talking It Out | Ep. 5
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This week on Roots & Rhythm, Angie and Vlad explore how cultural expectations and traditional roles shape relationships. From what they saw growing up to how they navigate partnership today, this episode dives deep into balancing responsibilities, advocating for yourself, and building a stronger marriage.
đ Whether you're dating, married, or figuring it all out, this convo is filled with real-life gems and honest insights.
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Can We Talk? | Modern Love & Marriage | Ep.4
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In this episode of Roots & Rhythm, Vlad and Angie dive deep into the dynamics of modern loveâfrom married life to what dating would look like if they were single in todayâs world. They reflect on how relationship expectations have shifted, the impact of culture and communication, and why setting clear standards is essential in both new and established relationships.
Whether youâre navigating love for the first time or figuring out how to keep the fire alive in a long-term commitment, this episode offers grounded insights, humor, and a whol...
No Money, More Problems | Ep. 3
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đ Overview:
On this weekâs episode of Roots & Rhythm đ§, Vlad and Angie take an intimate look at how money shapes our livesâboth then and now. Drawing on their family histories and hard-won lessons from married life, they reveal:
Family Business | Ep. 2
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In this episode of Roots & Rhythm, Vlad Louissaint and Angie Rodriguez explore the lifelong bond between siblingsâand what happens when family lines get crossed.
What Youâll Hear:
Childhood Reflections: Heartfelt stories of growing up with siblings and the roles they played in shaping Vlad and Angieâs lives.Evolving Relationships: How those early bonds have transformed as theyâve become spouses, parents, and friends.Conflict in the Family: Practical guidance on what to do when siblings and in-laws...The Debut | Ep. 1
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Get ready to vibe with us on the first day of summer as we go LIVE for Episode 1 of Roots & Rhythm! Join your hosts, Vlad & Angie, for an authentic, heart-centered conversation.
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We hope todayâs episode resonated with you. Letâs keep the conversation goingâconnect with us online and join the R&R community!
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