Iona Speaks about Defending Self-Justice

In the mind of our creator, Almighty God, we were perfect.  Yet because of one choice made, outside of His design, through manipulative and deceptive language, trauma entered into existence.   Therefore, we are perfect creations in imperfect bodies, living in an imperfect world, using restorative practices to heal from the trauma we were born into, the trauma we live in, and the trauma we have experienced. Since we all were created to be perfect, in the image of God and God is the ultimate leader of this universe, we were all created to be leaders. However, through time and free-will decision making, we lead through a capacity of trauma.  Thus, It is important for adults and youth to effectively and qualitatively lead through a posture of understanding individual, historical, and collective trauma. So in this final episode of “Iona Speaks about Defending Self-Justice,” in 2023, listeners are invited to a dynamic and insightful conversation with Dr. Durryle Brooks, CEO and founder of Love & Justice Consulting LLC (https://www.loveandjusticeconsulting.com/ ).  I am both honored and blessed to have this enlightening dialogue with Dr. Brooks, a native of Baltimore who leads through a posture of trauma with grace, knowledge, and healing.  Also, Dr. Brooks uses his education, heritage, and life experiences to provide executive coaching for individuals, corporations, governmental agencies, and non-profit organizations.  In this discussion he explains, “Emotional Emancipation,” and poses the question, “When we do take on self-care in a much more radical act, it invites us to consider what…part of my socialization has me not to want to be quiet and sit in silence…or to be present that I have to be so busy in doing something all of the time?”  Do not miss listening to this podcast, as we round the corner for 2023 and look ahead to Season 5 in 2024.  Let us be intentional about being the leaders God created us to be, exercising His dominion, as we learn about how there is value in trauma.  

Whether it be physical, mental, spiritual, or psychological, healthcare is essential to the lifestyle of every human being in this world.  For centuries there have been disparities in how adults and children, men and women, races and ethnicities, as well as chosen lifestyles, and forced lifestyles through abusive situations are provided healthcare.  When we speak about receiving emergency healthcare, there are a variety of emotions experienced across the spectrum of peaceful contentment to extreme anxiety.   Have you experienced one of these emotions?  In my lifetime, from an adolescent I have experienced different levels of anxiety when entering into an emergency room.  Therefore, I am honored and privileged to engage in an empowering conversation about emergent care with a world renowned and highly esteemed emergency care physician, Dr. Sharon Waters.  A native of New York, currently practicing in the Atlanta, Georgia region at Kaiser Permanente, Dr. Waters helps to dispel some of the myths of emergent care by explaining how emergency room care should be provided.  Listeners will receive vital information about expectations when entering a hospital emergency room as Dr. Waters expounds upon her 3 C's of care delivery, Check what's life threatening, Care and treat the situation, and Call for any additional care needed.    So as you listen to this podcast episode, be open-minded and open-hearted to what you will hear. 

There is a beautiful, complex, and transformative bond between daughters and their mothers. Some relationships are close, some are stagnant, some are distant, and some are even nonexistent.  In celebrating these unique relationships filled with triumphs, love, challenges, lessons, and a multiplicity of memories, the mother daughter relationship is to be cherished.   Through tough times and growing pains, healing in this powerful bond brings emotional validation.  The journey of this relationship lasts a lifetime.  In this episode, listeners will hear a remarkable story of how a mother risked everything, her family, her home, her life, for the safety of her daughter. Hear from Amy M. Le, CEO and Founder of Quill Hawk Publishing (https://quillhawkpublishing.com/) as she takes us through this beautiful journey of a Daughter’s Love.  Amy has received several Literary awards such as Firebird for the Snow Trilogy, while being a national and international bestselling author.   So sit back, take a deep breath, and open your heart as we delve into a descriptive journey of love through trauma from Saigon to Seattle. 

September is nationally recognized as Hispanic Heritage month.  The theme of 2023 is "Latinos: Driving Prosperity, Power, and Progress in America".  What a powerful dynamic it is for individuals to know and understand their culture in order to promote their contributions to the educational, economical, political, and social growth of the United States.  However, is culture limited to just a specific heritage?  As we enter into the Fall season, this episode wll be focused on how beautiful memories can set every human being onto a trajectory of making an impact within their sphere of influence and beyond that is connected to WHO and WHAT they were born to be.  These impacts are intergenerational and help add substance to the fabric of our nation as we continue to heal and grow into God's ordained creation.  Naomi Rudisill-Burrell is a Black woman of African American and Native American descent.  Her culture of identity is not just defined by her heritage but also through her choices.  She has a rich history with twists and turns that have led her to soar like an eagle as a professional woman.  Although she experienced abandonment as a child, this did not hinder her vision of life because she was covered with abundant love and support through a great community of extended family.  As you listen to this heartwarming episode, may you feel Inspired to be a Defender of Self-Justice as God has created you to be.  To see all that Naomi is doing you can connect with her through Facebook  MissBeInspired and Instagram missbeinspired  

In 2022 the Administration on Community Living (ACL) published a report on the National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers  2022 National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers.  This report was created to demonstrate the need for more bolstered and ethical practices to support the multimillions of caregivers in the world today, who are unpaid.    Increasing disabilities from sickness and disease can be debilitating for diagnosed individuals, their primary caregivers, immediate family members, and household members. During this episode, listeners will hear an intimate conversation with Karla Jackson, a primary caregiver for her husband of 30 years.  This vulnerable discussion brings enlightenment to how some legislative efforts and insurance plans, intentionally designed to be helpful have unfortunately become harmful.  Proverbs 13:12 declares "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but desire fulfilled is a tree of life." Listen how  Karla's testimony is a revelatory journey into becoming a Defender of Self-Justice. Her story is impactful, enlightening, encouraging, and inspiring to those with and without hope. 

Being a Defender of Self-Justice is not a "catch phrase" or an after thought but an intentional divine posture of identity.  A defender is someone who can be defined as a protector, a guardian, a steward, and a champion for what is right.  Simply put, the Defender of Self-Justice is a preserver of the righteuous gifts God has orchestrated within each of us that dictates how we should live, regardless of situations we might encounter.  In this episode, listeners will hear the blessed testimony of a connection between our guest, Ms. Tina Pollard and her twin sister.  This relationship is powerful and great that begins, ends and flows through one heartbeat.  Listen how Tina shares about the synthesis of the twin connection and the beauty of this relationship.  Even though she and her twin shared the same birth sac, she explains how they were also uniquely made to be the trustees of the gifts that God individually created within them.  

In the last episode, we unearthed another perspective of motherhood as it relates to infertility.  Since there is so much to discuss about this topic, we wanted to share more.  In this episode, we begin to delve into Michelle Browder's sculpture , "The Mothers of Gynecology," that was unveiled during the month of May in Montgomery, Alabama.  This sculpture highlights three emerging adults (Anarcha, Lucy, and Betsey https://www.anarchalucybetsey.org/), who were African Slaves in the 1800s and had their human rights stripped away from them to be grossly experimented on in the name of "Science" by Dr. James Marion Sims.  Listen to this rivoting conversation about how the unspoken testimonies of 3 identified "Divine Appointed Image Bearers" help to reframe the truth about historical patterns regarding the healthcare of Black Indigenous women of Color.  Kathy Bruce, a familiar guest of this podcast and host of "Kitchen Table Conversations with Kathy", uses her gift of navigating through the systemic weeds of racism to bring light and life to this story and other stories, whose silent testimonies birthed out of brutality, bless us today.

On September 24, 2021 in Montgomery, Alabama, a 15 foot high monument was unveiled entitled, "The Mothers of Gynecology", bringing enlightenment to and exposure of the  horrific and torturous true practices of Black enslaved women (Anarcha, Lucy, and Betsey: https://www.anarchalucybetsey.org/) by Dr. J. Marion Sims in the 19th century.  Nationally acclaimed artist, Michelle Browder, with contributions from nationally acclaimed artist, Deborah Shedrick used discarded, damaged, and recycled metal to design this monument, depicting the beauty and value of  Black, Indigenous Women of Color.  This monument, in the intricacies of its creation, reveals that although the physical body of a woman might be broken and discarded, their spiritual body is Full of life and reproduction.   In this episode you are invited to hear the expressive journey towards motherhood from an amazing woman, Jesaira L. Glover, owner and CEO of "Create Your Own Oasis" (https://www.createyourownoasis.com/)  as she shares pieces of her life. 

Grief is a journey that we will all experience in different capacities. 
Pain and joy can coexist in grief because when there is a loss of a relationship, a person, or even a situation that impacts individual functionality the intense emotions cannot be simply defined. Yvette Nicole Brown, award winning actress in speaking about the grief she experienced during the death of her mother says, “Grief is always equal to the love….It is an honor to be this destroyed.” This statement helps to explain the parralled power of joy and pain in grief. In this podcast, you will hear an uplifting and vulnerable conversation about the beauty of grief with Tobi Morris. Tobi is a best-selling author and certified life coach, who is the owner of "Inspired Quotables" https://inspiredquotables.com/. Tobi says, "If your loss is great, your love is great." Join me in this insightful and inspiring conversation.

"The breath is a river crashing into the mountainside until there is a hole large enough for history to come through." This poetic phrase written by Shanda Buchanan speaks volumes about the force and nature of the power we hold in our breath. Breathing in is just as important as exhaling. We can breathe in a multitude of emotions, scents, and ideas yet we can't forget to exhale our streghths, gifts, and purpose. In this 1st episode of season 4, you are invited to hear the vulnerable threads of one of my journeys that expresses the truth of who I am. We all have a journey that was expertly handcrafted just for us that is powerful and beautiful in the midst of pain. So take a deep breath as we go on this journey together throughout this season.  

There are so many stereotypes and stigmatizations on the greatness of Black Love because we don’t see it celebrated as much as it should be due to a variety of reasons related to historical trauma, false narratives, misrepresentations, and the choices of not shining the light.  In this episode, listeners will hear an open discussion on the beauty of Black Love and Friendships that will help women and mothers defend the covenant of their marriage, make the choice of how to enter into this covenant of marriage, and how to feel empowered in deciding what Black Love and Friendship means for them.   Invited to this episode are my husband, Ronald S. Rudisill and our good friends, John and Kathy Bruce, who have chosen to stay together in a healthy relationship for 45 years. 

From the beginning of time, women have been used to birth nations, settle establishments, pioneer new frontiers, be impactful influencers and bring forth life into the world. There is richness in the stories of women and mothers, who make achievements for their children not just for now but for generations to come through intentional movements in the midst of suffering and despair. Hagar is a woman of such richness that often has gone overlooked and misunderstood by scholars. Join me in a riveting conversation with Jeanna Byrd, a dedicated advocate for herself, her daughter, her family and hundreds of women who have been misunderstood. 

Children are not just our future but they are our now. They were created in the image and likeness of God for Greatness. Therefore, it is important for us as women and mothers to help craft their minds with accurate information that can help them see who they are, what they can accomplish and what can be accomplished through them, regardless of their circumstances and situations. Joining me in this discussion for September 2022, is renowned and best-selling author, Dorena Williamson.  Dorena is the author of many children's books such as her newly released masterpiece, "Brown Baby Jesus". She can be reached at www.dorenawilliamson.com 

There was just not enough time in last month’s episode that we had to have a part 2 in our discussion because there is so much depth to the definition of Pride, how it impacts trauma and what part does humility play.  Therefore, I will be joined again in this discussion with Keturah Fountaine, a Proprietor, and Consultant (https://keturahfountaine.com/).  Keturah is a conscientious influencer and thought leader who has a love for learning and goal of reaching children, youth and families beyond the normalized scopes of education.  Listeners will hear part 2 of an enriching conversation about pride and trauma with the added component of humility, receiving a greater understanding of being Defenders of Self-Justice as a lifestyle of purpose.  

Pride is not a word that is as easily understood as you might think because the definition of pride is broad.  Pride can be destructive and can also be a blessing in how it both influences and impacts through trauma.  In this episode, I will be joined in this discussion with Keturah Fountaine, a Proprietor, and Consultant (https://keturahfountaine.com/).  Keturah has a lifetime history of working with children, youth, and families across diverse spectrums of education.  Listeners will hear part 1 of an enriching conversation about the meaning of pride, the impact on trauma and how God gives us tools to be victorious in life, regardless of the suffering and pain experienced so that women and mothers can be Defenders of Self-Justice for themselves and their children.   

During this month of celebrating fathers and celebrating Freedom with “Juneteenth” we also learn of an impactful decision.  With the overturning of the Supreme Court Justice ruling of “Roe vs. Wade,” initially issued in 1973, there are many differing opinions on what this means for women and children, fatherhood and freedom. Therefore, to engage in a heart-to-heart conversation, my guest is my father, John E. Lewis.  John is a man of great character who has demonstrated over the years how a committed father and grandfather should love with dignity and grace.   In his 2nd appearance onto this platform, listeners will hear how a father and man of faith will share his wisdom on what we are currently experiencing, what impacts certain judgements made on African American families and how children of God could respond to life’s changes. 

Our heritage is linked to who we are because it is so much more than us preserving, excavating, displaying or restoring a collection of old things.  Heritage speaks to our legacy of what we have learned from previous generations that impact our present outcomes to reinforce how we influence our future.  In this episode, I will be joined in a rich discussion with Dr. Illana Lane, Vice President for  Academic Affairs at Holy Family University.  Dr. Lane is of African American and Native American descent, identifying as a Shinnecock Indian.  Listeners will hear how our heritage is part of our character, whether we learn traditions through the experiences of our extended family members, through our own experiences or by information from books and learned scholars.  These all serve an impact on how we can become Defenders of Self-Justice.

Forgiveness can be  a charged and ugly word because of how much it elicits vulnerability. There are some who celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, whose life epitomizes the power and authority of forgiveness.  People hurt others, oftentimes intentionally, without any understanding or accountability of the consequences, because they know not what they do.  During this episode, I will be joined by Candace Parrott, CEO and founder of Fresh Waters Consulting (https://fresh-waters.org/ ).  Listeners will hear a discussion on how beautiful this word can be when its meaning is understood and how it helps to shape us as women and mothers into becoming Defenders of Self-Justice. 

For the National Women’s History Month episode,   I have a discussion with Dr. Renee Murrell (40-year veteran of working with the Federal Bureau of Investigations) about one of the most influential women in this world, Harriet Tubman, who was born Araminta Ross.  Araminta Ross was born a slave during the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, who realized that God created her and others not to be bound, but to live in total freedom of spirit, soul, and body. Listeners will hear a discussion on how the life of Harriet Tubman has influenced  decision making for centuries on how to do what is right for one self, in the eyes of God, to be Defenders of Self-Justice. 

In this first episode of Season 3,  women-owned ventures will be highlighted, I begin  with Rohan Lindsay, Founder and CEO of “Something for The Journey”.  Listeners will hear the importance of how making a generational impact, results in transcending time so that we can walk in the power and authority of God to be Defenders of Self-Justice. Rohan Lindsay can be followed on FaceBook at Rohan Lindsay.