365 Amplified

According to James Edward Mills, the author of the Adventure Gap and Founder of the Joy Trip Project, “everyday is a daring adventure, a trip into the joyful pursuit of our own full human potential.” In this episode of Black Oxygen, James and I chat about the relationship of Black folks and the outdoors. He talks about how his relationship with the outdoors began at a young age and how he navigates the outdoors as a Black man. James emphasizes three corrective measures that are needed throughout the United States to get more Black folks actively engaged in the outdoors. We also chat a bit about some of the unknown history of Black folks in nature. This conversation is authentic, engaging, and a bit challenging at times. James’ key piece of advice, “get outside.”

Here are some links on featuring the work of James Edward Mills:

The Joy Trip Project - https://joytripproject.com

The Adventure Gap: Changing the Face of the Outdoors - https://joytripproject.com/the-adventure-gap/

These people of color transformed US national parks - https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/2020/08/people-of-color-who-transformed-us-national-parks/

How can the National Park Service work to be anti-racist? https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/national-parks/more-diversity-how-to-make-national-parks-anti-racist/

The tables are turned on this episode of Black Oxygen. On December 23, Ali Muldrow interviewed Angela Russell - the creator and host of Black Oxygen - for WORT’s live recording of A Public Affair. This Black Oxygen episode features this live recording. Ali and Angela cover many topics including the genesis story of Black Oxygen, what it means for Black leaders to be fully human, reflections and learnings from the podcast, and so much more.

Fitchburg alder Joe Maldonado announced last week that he’s running for the Assembly to represent Fitchburg, Stoughton, parts of McFarland and rural areas in between. He joins the show today to talk about what his legislative priorities would be if elected – leading with youth services and development. We also talk velour, braids, and Norwegian food. Then, we chat with Derek Nhieu and Emma Lazaroff about POC-IT, a group convened on the online platform Discord to provide a social space for Madison’s people of color, which grew out of a Reddit thread. Finally, we get a taste of OuttaDeeBox, the newest podcast on the 365 Network; learn what goes into reporting on a vice presidential visit; and name the outdoor activities we’re looking forward to – or avoiding – as the weather warms up.

Useful links:

https://madison365.com/fitchburg-alder-joe-maldonado-announces-bid-for-state-assembly/

https://madison365.com/poc-it-new-group-provides-place-and-space-for-madisons-bipoc-residents-to-socialize-together/

To join POC-IT, email [email protected] or [email protected].

https://madison365.com/in-visit-to-madison-vice-president-kamala-harris-touts-apprenticeship-programs-creating-good-paying-union-jobs/

This week’s election marks an intense inflection point in our nation’s history. No matter the outcome of the election, we are all feeling a bit on edge and ungrounded. Collectively, we’ve lost our breath. In this week’s episode of Black Oxygen, LaCouir Yancey tells us to, “sit the bleep down and find your quiet space.” Owner of Y-Massage Bodywork and Natural Fitness, LaCouir is a massage therapist, personal trainer, musician, urban dance and movement specialist, and an instructor at the East-West Healing Arts Institute. We talk about a lot of topics on this episode including masculinity, life as a small business owner during 2020, and how we are holding fear and anger in our bodies. At the end of our conversation, he calls on us to create the “head space to love each other again.”

To learn more about LaCouir Yancey or to book an appointment with him visit his website: http://www.y-massage.net

The week’s episode of Black Oxygen features the Black Oxygen Panel conversation that was held at the 2020 Wisconsin Leadership Summit. This panel included several guests from previous Black Oxygen episodes including Opal Tomashevaka, Angela Lang, Ranell Washington and Everett Mitchell. In this episode, Rev. Mitchell says, “sometimes it is the screaming that allows for the healing.” During this conversation we chatted about so many things including: the guests' Black Oxygen experience, what it is like to be a Black leader in 2020, what it would be like if we didn’t have to hustle for our worthiness, and what emotional and spiritual healing looks like when racial trauma wounds are continually re-opened.

Sometimes we all need a space to let go and scream. For more information and reading on screaming and healing check out this piece - Love Rests in the Scream published on the Feminist Wire in 2015. I’ve come back to this article again and again and again.

https://thefeministwire.com/2015/02/college-feminisms-love-rests-scream/