Ayana Explains It All

Ayana R. Fakhir

1 Creator

A sharp, insightful podcast where host Ayana tackles life’s complexities with humor, honesty, and intelligence. From societal norms and politics to relationships and mental health, Ayana breaks down big ideas into relatable, thought-provoking conversations. Blending personal anecdotes, cultural critique, and expert insights, the podcast empowers listeners to challenge assumptions, embrace growth, and navigate life with clarity. With a mix of wit and wisdom, Ayana delivers raw, real, and often funny commentary, making this podcast a must-listen for anyone seeking understanding and inspiration.

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Top 10 Ayana Explains It All Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Ayana Explains It All episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Ayana Explains It All for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Ayana Explains It All episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

Ayana Explains Ramadan: The Re-Explained and Reuploaded

Ayana Explains It All

03/22/23 • 101 min

Ramadan Mubarak! Sit back, stand up, run, walk to this re-examined, re-explained, reuploaded episode from Season 1 all about Ramadan. It is the holiest month of the Islamic calendar, and when the new moon drops on the 9th month, every bodily desire and distraction decreases but the spiritual duties increase. Don't mind the audio, this episode pre-dated my fine tuned era.

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Ayana Explains The Keys to Healthy Romantic Relationships

Ayana Explains It All

08/01/22 • 90 min

There are smart cars, smart refrigerators, and smart-mouth kids. Why not smart relationships? Find out how you can get yours back to healthy!*

*results not guaranteed

Fed Up Talk: Trump, Executive Orders, and the Art of Government Zen

Ayana Explains It All

01/28/25 • 48 min

Spilling the tea on navigating life as a civil servant, particularly when your boss doesn't like you. Someone shook the federal government's snow globe, and now there's a blizzard. Let's get into it!

Ayana Explains Health Inequity in the US

Ayana Explains It All

04/25/23 • 73 min

Happy Hollandaise! It's Minority Health Month, that special time of year again when families gather round the fireplace, embrace, sing songs, and compare A1C numbers. Sugar, we are not well. Health inequities in the United States work hard to keep racial minorities from achieving wellness, harder than we do at losing those stubborn 100 pounds. Can we fix the problem before this country runs out of people who look like me? Anything is possible. Sources used in this episode: “How Insurers Can Advance Health Equity Under the Affordable Care Act,” Katie Keith, To the Point (blog), The Commonwealth Fund. August 10, 2021. Available at: https://doi.org/10.26099/818t-pz60. Also available at: https://www.commonwealthfund.org/blog/2021/how-insurers-can-advance-health-equity-under-affordable-care-act. “Hospitals, Insurers Invest Big Dollars to Tackle Patients’ Social Needs.” Phil Galewitz, KFF Health News. June 22, 2021. Available at: www.kffhealthnews.org/news/article/social-determinants-health-care-vulnerable-populations-hospitals-insurers-patient-assistance/. “Strengthening Marketplace Network Rules for Essential Community Providers Is a Matter of Health Equity.” Sara Rosenbaum, Caitlin Murphy, and Rebecca Morris. To the Point (blog), The Commonwealth Fund. January 25, 2023. Available at: https://doi.org/10.26099/rgsv-4523. Also available at: www.commonwealthfund.org/blog/2023/strengthening-marketplace-network-rules-community-providers-health-equity. “How the Affordable Care Act Narrowed Racial Ethnic Disparities.” Jesse C. Baumgartner, Sara R. Collins, David C. Radley, Susan L. Hayes. The Commonwealth Fund. January 16, 2020. Available at: https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/2020/jan/how-ACA-narrowed-racial-ethnic-disparities-access#:~:text=Research%20also%20indicates%20that%20the,%2C%20Hispanic%2C%20and%20white%20adults. “The Affordable Care Act 13th Anniversary Marks Advancement in Health Equity.” Irv Randolph, The Philadelphia Tribune. March 16, 2023. Available at: www.phillytrib.com/commentary/editorial-the-affordable-care-act-13th-anniversary-marks-advancement-in-health-equity/article_e3af65b4cd7a-53d8-b7bc-29e9850dc592.html. “Health Disparities Stem from Racism in Medicaid and Society: Color of Health Panel Discusses Inequities in Healthcare.” Julie Washington, Cleveland.com. Originally published on February 25, 2021; updated March 7, 2023. Available at: www.cleveland.com/coronavirus/2021/02/health-disparities-stem-from-racism-in-medicine-and-society-color-of-health-panel-discusses-inequities-in-health-care.html. “What is Health Equity?” CDC.gov. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/healthequity/whatis/index.html#:~:text=Across%20the%20country%2C%20people%20in,compared%20to%20their%20White%20counterparts. “Health in the Segregated City.” Mariana C. Arcaya and Alina Schnake-Mahl. October 2017. NYU Furman Center. Available at: https://furmancenter.org/research/iri/essay/health-in-the-segregated-city.

STOP! In the Name of Self-Love!

Ayana Explains It All

01/29/24 • 91 min

Until dating apps come with a coupon for a free therapy session, you'll settle for this podcast episode that'll help you find the greatest love of your life--YOU!

Works used in the making of this episode: just one!

"The Gifts of Imperfection" by Brené Brown.

E7: Teaser

Ayana Explains It All

03/17/22 • 0 min

Equality anyone? We'll see.

Ayana Explains the Decline of the East Cleveland, Ohio Police Department

Ayana Explains It All

04/05/23 • 62 min

East Cleveland, Ohio is a city of a bygone era. The stretch of city along Euclid Avenue reveals dilapidated 19th Century mansions, hallmarks of a town with a storied past, but now desperate and dreary future from decades of fiscal mismanagement and feckless law enforcement. Teeming with civic corruption and a police force that can't make roll call, what once was will never be.

The following sources were used in the making of this episode:

1. “Some attorneys refuse to sue cash-strapped city because it can’t pay damages to victims: East Cleveland police chases.” John Caniglia, Cleveland.com. March 7, 2023. Available at: https://www.cleveland.com/court-justice/2021/09/cut-to-the-chase-some-attorneys-refuse-to-sue-cash-strapped-east-cleveland-because-it-cant-pay-out-damages.html.

2. NAACP Criminal Justice Fact Sheet. Available at: https://naacp.org/resources/criminal-justice-fact-sheet

3. “11 E.C. police officers indicted on civil rights violations after video captures shocking brutality.” John H. Tucker, Cleveland.com. March 10, 2023. Available at: https://www.cleveland.com/crime/2023/03/11-east-cleveland-police-officers-indicted-on-civil-rights-violations-after-video-captures-shocking-brutality.html.

4. “In E.C., history of police officer wrongdoing raises questions about the department’s culture, experts say.” Cory Shaffer, Cleveland.com. 09/26/2022. Available at: https://www.cleveland.com/crime/2022/09/in-east-cleveland-history-of-police-officer-wrongdoing-raises-questions-about-the-departments-culture-experts-say.html&subscribed=google-oauth2%7C104906410223504022205.

5. “Six Cleveland officers sacked after 137 shots killed two unarmed black people.” The Guardian.com. January 26, 2016. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jan/27/cleveland-fatal-shooting-timothy-russell-malissa-williams-officers-fired.

6. Quick Facts East Cleveland, Ohio. US Census. Available at: https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/eastclevelandcityohio

7. “East Cleveland, Ohio” entry on Wikipedia.

8. “Tamia Chappman Law sought to limit police pursuits. Instead, it did nothing: East Cleveland police chases.” John Caniglia, Cleveland.com. October 1, 2021. Available at: https://www.cleveland.com/news/2021/10/tamia-chappman-law-sought-to-limit-police-chases-through-east-cleveland-instead-it-did-nothing-east-cleveland-police-chases.html.

9. “Former East Cleveland police officer sentenced to nearly four years in prison.” Press Release, US Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Ohio. 04/12/2016. Available at: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndoh/pr/former-east-cleveland-police-officer-sentenced-nearly-four-years-prison.

10. “Former East Cleveland detective sentenced to nearly six years in prison, last of three corrupt officers sent to prison.” Press Release, US Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Ohio. 04/19/2016. Available at: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndoh/pr/former-east-cleveland-detective-sentenced-nearly-six-years-prison-last-three-corrupt.

11. “Three Former E.C. Police Officers Charged with Fabricating Evidence, Stealing Cash.” Press Release, US Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Ohio. 10/8/2015. Available at: https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/cleveland/news/press-releases/three-former-east-cleveland-police-officers-charged-with-fabricating-evidence-stealing-cash.

12. “Former E.C. police sergeant sentenced to nine years in prison.” Press Release, US Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Ohio. 04/5/2016. Available at: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndoh/pr/former-east-cleveland-police-sergeant-sentenced-nine-years-prison.

13. “11 E.C. police officers indicted on civil rights violations after video captures shocking brutality.” John H. Tucker, Cleveland.com. March 10, 2023. Available at: https://www.cleveland.com/crime/2023/03/11-east-cleveland-police-officers-indicted-on-civil-rights-violations-after-video-captures-shocking-brutality.html.

The Chronicles of an Unelected Bureaucrat: Laugh or Cry?

Ayana Explains It All

03/10/25 • 66 min

In this candid and eye-opening episode (where she may cuss a lil) of 'Ayana Explains It All,' join Ayana Fakhir as she navigates through the labyrinth of the backlash against the federal government’s bureaucracy. From her firsthand experience as a federal employee to her personal musings on the current sociopolitical climate, Ayana dives deep into the challenges, misconceptions, and harsh realities faced by federal employees, alongside highlights about her life, and the ongoing struggle for equity and recognition in public service. Tune in for an engaging show that bridges the gap between current events and human behavior, all while Ayana attempts her first video podcast in the comfort of her personal workspace.

The One Where Ayana Explains Narcissism

Ayana Explains It All

03/01/22 • 91 min

Putin, your dad, your boss, your girlfriend--Narcissistic personalities have invaded Earth and like roaches they won't go away on their own, you have to spot them and exterminate them from your life.