Episode 27: From Marvel Comics to Life Mastery: The 3 Words That Rewrote Success

What does it take to truly excel while staying true to yourself? This episode explores the transformative power of Roxane Gay's wisdom on ambition, resilience, and authentic success.

IN THIS EPISODE:

Host Alicia Thomas challenges conventional thinking about resilience and ambition, revealing how true strength comes from within and how you can achieve excellence without compromising your values.

KEY TOPICS DISCUSSED:

• Redefining resilience as innate strength, not just survival
• The historical context of Black women's resilience
• How small actions create massive ripple effects
• Aligning ambitions with core values
• The inspiring story of fashion designer Ann Lowe

EPISODE TIMESTAMPS:

00:01 - Introduction and episode overview

00:57 - Roxane Gay's groundbreaking work with Marvel Comics

02:14 - Resilience as revealed inner strength

03:19 - Historical perspective on Black women's resilience

04:23 - Your obligation to be your best self

05:34 - The ripple effect of positive impact

06:06 - Being relentless in character development

07:20 - Excellence in everyday actions

08:31 - Success without moral compromise

09:31 - Ann Lowe's story of unrecognized excellence

12:01 - Weekly challenge: Values alignment check

WEEKLY CHALLENGE:

Reflect on your core values and ask yourself: Do your ambitions align with your values? Compare yourself to your past self, not to others.

FEATURED INSPIRATION:

Ann Lowe - The Black fashion designer who created Jackie Kennedy's wedding dress but received no public credit due to segregation. Despite discrimination and being underpaid, she remained committed to excellence in her craft.

BOOK RECOMMENDATION:

"Hunger: A Memoir of My Body" by Roxane Gay - A powerful memoir about accepting oneself and pursuing excellence while overcoming personal trauma and societal expectations.

ABOUT THE KNOWLEDGE GUMBO PODCAST:

Where timeless wisdom meets thought-provoking stories, featuring quotes and passages primarily by Black women. Hosted by Alicia Thomas, each episode serves up nourishing insights for mind and soul.

CONNECT WITH US:

Rate and review us on your favorite podcast platform

Subscribe on YouTube for video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@aliciatsays

Share with friends - there's always room for more at our gumbo table

Episode 026: "You Learn How to Cut Down Trees by Cutting Them Down" - A Congolese Proverb

What if mastering any skill comes down to one simple truth: just start doing it?

Host Alicia Thomas dives deep into a powerful Congolese proverb that challenges everything we think we know about learning. This episode explores why hands-on experience beats theoretical knowledge every time and how traditional apprenticeship models can transform your approach to skill-building.

Episode Highlights:

• The lost art of apprenticeship and why we need to bring it back
• How humility becomes your greatest learning tool
• David Goggins' "cookie jar" method for building confidence through action
• The beautiful tradition of communal learning in Congo culture
• Why teaching others reinforces your own knowledge
• Breaking the cycle of cultural knowledge loss

Key Moments: 00:56 - Congo's apprenticeship tradition

01:14 - The decline of master-craftsman relationships

02:29 - Step-by-step skill mastery

03:21 - Action vs. theory in learning

04:41 - The role of elders in knowledge transfer

06:00 - Teaching with love, not superiority

07:17 - Preserving cultural wisdom

08:26 - This week's reflection challenge

Weekly Challenge: Think of one mistake you made that caused you to give up. What was the lesson you missed? The biggest lesson might be that you CAN do hard things - but you'll only discover this through practice, not theory.

About Knowledge Gumbo: Join us weekly as we mix timeless wisdom with thought-provoking stories using quotes, sayings, and proverbs, primarily by Black women. Every episode serves practical insights for immediate application.

Episode Resources:

• Reference to David Goggins and his "cookie jar" concept
• Recorded with Ecamm Live: https://aliciatsays.link/ecamm

Connect: Leave a 5-star review on your podcast platform and subscribe on YouTube. Share this episode with someone who needs to hear that they can accomplish hard things.

Remember: Our stories and voices matter. You're always welcome at our table - the gumbo is hot and made with love!

Episode 025: From "She Tried" to "She Did It" - The Katherine Dunham Mindset

What's the difference between people who treat obstacles as roadblocks versus stepping stones? Today we dive deep into Katherine Dunham's powerful quote about moving from trying to actually doing.

Episode Highlights:

01:09 - Katherine Dunham's transformative quote that hits you "right where you live"

02:32 - Breaking free from the hamster wheel mentality

05:27 - The power of reverse engineering your biggest goals

06:35 - Why perfectionism keeps you stuck in "trying" mode

10:05 - Mary Seacole's inspiring story: Self-funding her mission to serve in the Crimean War

11:32 - Marie Van Britton Brown: The 1966 home security system pioneer

15:33 - Your weekly challenge: What will you stop trying and start doing?

18:42 - The Goggins 4x4x48 mental breakthrough moment

Key Insights:

• The crucial mindset shift from "trying" to "doing"
• How to break down overwhelming goals into actionable steps
• Why "doing it dirty" beats perfectionist paralysis
• Real examples of Black women who made the leap from intention to action
• Practical strategies for overcoming mental barriers

Featured Stories: Mary Seacole & Marie Van Britton Brown

Weekly Challenge: Write down one thing you've been "trying" to do and commit to taking the first concrete step today. Remember: assess, adjust, and keep moving forward.

Connect & Share: Your stories matter. What's one thing you're ready to move from "trying" to "doing"? Share your commitment and let's support each other in this journey from intention to action.

Website: www.aliciatsays.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aliciatsays/

Tip Jar: https://aliciatsays.link/tipjar

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@aliciatsays

THE QUOTE: "Nobody has a perfect anything. We don't have perfect lives. We're not perfect beings." - Gladys Knight

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

The Perfectionism Trap (01:05) Why perfectionism actually makes us freeze instead of excel, and how it kept this podcast from starting for over a year.

The "Do It Dirty" Philosophy (06:49) Sometimes you have to start messy. Learn why waiting for perfect conditions is the enemy of progress.

The Gumbo Method (07:35) Just like making gumbo, you need to start with the roux. You can always add more ingredients as you go, but you have to start somewhere.

Gladys Knight's Love Lessons (08:17) How the Empress of Soul's four marriages teach us about resilience and never giving up on what matters.

Reframing Perfection (15:01) What if perfection isn't a destination but a lifetime journey? This mindset shift changes everything.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Perfectionism is often fear dressed up as high standards
• "Done is better than perfect because perfect never gets done"
• Failing forward means learning from every mistake
• Progress over perfection creates lasting change
• You can't learn and grow without taking imperfect action

THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE: Create your own definition of success that prioritizes progress over perfection. What does 1% better each day look like in your life?

ABOUT GLADYS KNIGHT: Known as the "Empress of Soul," Gladys Knight's career spans decades, from her teenage years to her 80s. Her autobiography "Between Each Line of Pain and Glory" reveals a life of continuous growth, learning, and never giving up on love or dreams.

FAVORITE QUOTE FROM THE EPISODE: "Bring on the pain, bring on the glory. I will be in this fight to share my gifts, to enjoy my blessings, and to be loved." - Gladys Knight

MENTIONED SONGS:

• "Love Overboard" by Gladys Knight & The Pips
• "That's What Friends Are For" by Dionne Warwick & Friends (featuring Gladys Knight)

CONNECT:

Website: www.aliciatsays.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aliciatsays/

Tip Jar: https://aliciatsays.link/tipjar

Episode 23: The Greatest Gift a Father Can Give A Father's Day Special

What if the most powerful thing a father could do for his children had nothing to do with gifts, achievements, or even direct attention to them?

Host Alicia Thomas dives deep into a quote that challenges conventional parenting wisdom: "The greatest thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother" - Anageth Garcia Antelan.

Episode Highlights:

The Foundation Principle (01:13) Exploring why the husband-wife relationship forms the foundation of family, and how this Filipino cultural wisdom applies across all family structures.

The Ripple Effect (02:42) How a father's treatment of the mother impacts children whether parents are married, divorced, or co-parenting - and why this matters more than we realize.

Celebration vs. Crucifixion (04:37) Why Father's Day gets crickets while Mother's Day gets packed restaurants, and how celebrating good fathers might inspire more men to step up.

Beyond Blood Relations (06:01) Honoring fathers who extend themselves as coaches, mentors, and father figures to children beyond their own families.

Learning by Watching (09:40) How children absorb lessons about love, respect, and partnership by observing their parents' interactions - the good and the challenging.

The Cherish Factor (11:58) When was the last time we truly showed appreciation for the fathers in our lives beyond standard gifts and obligations?

TV Family Wisdom (15:25) Breaking down lessons from beloved shows like The Cosby Show and Parenthood about healthy partnerships and family dynamics.

Key Timestamps:

• 01:13 - Filipino cultural perspective on family foundations
• 03:35 - Why children need fathers present
• 05:35 - Inspiring change vs. trying to change people
• 08:10 - Rethinking Father's Day celebrations
• 12:30 - Honoring men who impact multiple lives
• 15:25 - Question of the Week: Favorite TV families

Question of the Week: Think about your favorite TV or movie family. What lessons about love and partnership can you take from them?

About Knowledge Gumbo Podcast: Your space for gaining knowledge through meaningful discussions about history, culture, and life lessons - mixing timeless wisdom with thought-provoking stories, primarily featuring quotes by Black women, all served with splashes of humor.

Technical Note: This episode was recorded using Ecamm Live. https://aliciatsays.link/ecamm

Remember: You are enough. Our stories and voices matter. There's always room for one more at the table.

Happy Father's Day to all the fathers making a difference!

📱 CONNECT WITH ALICIA:

Website: www.aliciatsays.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aliciatsays/

Tip Jar: https://aliciatsays.link/tipjar

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@aliciatsays

What if everything you've been taught about beauty is wrong?

This week on Knowledge Gumbo, we dive deep into civil rights pioneer Frankie Friedman's powerful insight: "Beauty comes from within. It's in your attitude, and it's in how you treat people."

Episode Highlights:

The History Beauty Forgot (01:06) From ancient Egyptian symmetry to Renaissance pale skin - every culture focused on the surface while completely ignoring what actually makes someone beautiful from within.

The Empathy Advantage (03:22)

True inner beauty starts with genuine empathy - understanding others without becoming a pushover. Learn how to maintain boundaries while still seeing different perspectives.

Values-Based Living (04:42) The peace that comes from actually living your values (not just talking about them). How to align your checkbook, relationships, and choices with what you truly believe.

The Learning Glow (05:07) Why continuous learning literally makes you more beautiful - expanding your mind changes how you engage with the world around you.

Kindness Without Strings (06:37) The art of giving without expecting anything back, and why this creates an inner lightness that radiates outward.

The Empty Soul Trap (09:27) A powerful warning about what happens when you use outer beauty as currency - and how it always leads to emptiness.

Never Too Late (12:01) An encouraging message for anyone who's made choices they're not proud of - change is always possible.

Meet Frankie Friedman (12:41) First woman to lead the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights for 16 years, first female attorney in Missouri, NAACP legal team member - a woman who lived these principles.

This Week's Challenge (14:00) Compliment someone on their character or actions, not their appearance. Notice how this simple shift changes everything.

The Modern Beauty Irony (15:28) How society mocks certain features on one group while paying to replicate them on another - and why inner security eliminates this toxic dynamic.

Key Takeaway: When you're secure in who you are, what you believe, and what you stand for, there's no need to put others down or steal what belongs to someone else.

Quote to Remember: "Beauty comes from within. It's in your attitude, and it's in how you treat people." - Frankie Friedman

Connect With Knowledge Gumbo:

• Subscribe for weekly wisdom
• Share with friends who need this message
• Leave a review to help others find us
• Follow on social: @aliciatsays

There's always room at the table. The gumbo is hot and made with love.

Episode 21: Break Free from the Chains of Imitation

"Trust yourself. Think for yourself. Act for yourself. Speak for yourself. Be yourself. Imitation is suicide." - Marva Collins

Episode Highlights:

What happens when you stop pretending and start being real? This episode unpacks educator Marva Collins' powerful words about the deadly cost of imitation and the freedom found in authenticity.

Key Discussion Points:

The Imitation Trap (01:28) Why social media personas create burnout and how pressure reveals who you really are underneath the facade.

Building Authentic Authority (02:43) How being genuine about both strengths and weaknesses actually builds trust and credibility, while inauthenticity destroys it.

The Courage to Be Real (04:57) Why speaking and acting as yourself requires bravery, and how authenticity removes the burden of remembering lies.

Strategic Sharing (07:30) Understanding that not every story is meant for every audience - how to be authentic while being wise about when and where you share.

Champions of Authenticity (09:17) Real examples from Simone Biles and Dawn Staley showing how authentic leaders build cultures and legacies.

Marva Collins' Educational Revolution (12:35) How one woman's authentic belief in children's potential transformed "unteachable" students with just $5,000 and unwavering faith.

This Week's Challenge: Share a quote about authenticity that inspires you! Help grow our Knowledge Gumbo community by contributing your wisdom.

Episode Timestamps:

00:00 - Welcome & Introduction

00:38 - Marva Collins Quote Breakdown

01:28 - The Danger of Imitation

04:57 - The Power of Authenticity

09:17 - Dawn Staley Example

12:35 - Marva Collins' Story

17:08 - Weekly Challenge

20:39 - Closing Thoughts

About Marva Collins: Educator, revolutionary, and twice-nominated Secretary of Education who chose grassroots teaching over politics. Founded Westside Preparatory School to prove every child can learn when met with authentic expectations.

Connect: Email: alicia@aliciatsays.com - Leave your authenticity quotes in the comments!

Recorded with Ecamm Live - https://aliciatsays.link/ecamm

Remember: You are enough. Your voice matters. There's always room at our table - the gumbo is made with love!

In this empowering episode, host Alicia Tomlin explores Tarana Burke's profound message about self-worth: "You deserve safety. You deserve protection. You deserve love. You deserve peace." Discover how Burke, the founder of the Me Too movement, transformed her personal trauma into global advocacy for survivors of sexual violence, with a focus on young women of color from low-income communities.

00:00 - Introduction to today's topic on self-worth and Tarana Burke

01:01 - How Burke's activism through the 21st Century Youth Leadership Movement shaped her path

02:03 - The historical context of Black women's protection in America

02:56 - Why whole individuals create stronger relationships

03:49 - Exploring the "let them" theory and finding personal peace

04:54 - The importance of internal validation vs. external validation

06:16 - Setting boundaries to protect your peace, time, and energy

08:36 - How Tarana Burke practices self-care while advocating for others

09:04 - The origin story of the Me Too movement

10:42 - Breaking the cycle of silence in the Black community

13:50 - How the Me Too movement evolved beyond its original purpose

15:57 - Weekly challenge: Finding what brings you peace

"We have to accept, especially as Black women, that we deserve good things. We deserve love. We deserve peace. We deserve safety. We deserve to be protected."

"We can't ask other people to give us what we won't give ourselves."

"What is internal is eternal and what is external is temporary."

Write down three things that bring you peace and commit to doing one this week. Share what helps you find calm in your life!

Book: "Unbound: My Story of Liberation and the Birth of Me Too Movement" by Tarana Burke Platform: Ecamm for recording and livestreaming: https://aliciatsays.link/ecamm

Website: www.aliciatsays.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aliciatsays/

Tip Jar: https://aliciatsays.link/tipjar