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    Explore "black girls" with insightful episodes like "Breaking the Silence: Malcolm Newsome's Journey in Addressing Miscarriage and Loss", "Episode 126: Black Mermaids", "Episode 16 - Is Chris Rock the Real MVP?", "85. When their ignorance is challenged" and "How To Identify Your Core Values and Learn From Them! \/\ Disrupting PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT" from podcasts like ""Dads With Daughters", "Gossiping Heifers", "Queens of a Feather", "Caligynephobia Chronicles" and "Voices of Disruption with Deborah Olatunji"" and more!

    Episodes (29)

    Breaking the Silence: Malcolm Newsome's Journey in Addressing Miscarriage and Loss

    Breaking the Silence: Malcolm Newsome's Journey in Addressing Miscarriage and Loss

    In this episode of the Dads With Daughters podcast, we welcome Malcolm Newsome, a children's book author from the Chicago area to the show. We discuss Malcolm's diverse background in software consulting and cybersecurity. They dive into Malcolm's children's book Dear Star Baby, which is inspired by the loss of two unborn children and reflects his personal journey as a father of five.

    The conversation explores Malcolm's experiences as a father, especially when it comes to parenting daughters. He shares his initial excitement upon learning he would be a father to a girl and his mental and emotional preparations. They discuss the fears fathers often have when raising daughters and the significance of fostering a unique bond with each child.

    The episode delves into how Malcolm balances his busy life, including work, writing, and being a father to five children. He emphasizes the intentional decisions he's made to prioritize family time and be present in their lives.

    Malcolm shares his approach to building unique relationships with his daughters and how he embraces their individuality. He highlights the importance of letting them be themselves and supporting their interests, whether they align with traditional gender norms or not.

    The conversation takes a heartfelt turn as Malcolm discusses the grief he experienced after the loss of two unborn children and the societal pressures fathers face when dealing with such tragedies. He acknowledges the need for more open conversations about pregnancy loss and offers insights into how he processed his own grief and found support in unexpected places.

    Malcolm introduces his forthcoming children's book, Sydney's Big Speech, which tackles the issue of shattering stereotypes and empowering young girls, especially black girls, to speak their minds confidently. He shares the inspiration behind the book and how he's using it to create a positive legacy for his own daughters and young readers alike.

    Finally, the episode concludes with a glimpse into the author's personal connection to his books, sharing touching moments when his children experienced and embraced the stories he wrote. Malcolm reflects on the emotional impact of writing these books and how they've strengthened his bond with his family.

    If you've enjoyed today's episode of the Dads With Daughters podcast, we invite you to check out the Fatherhood Insider. The Fatherhood Insider is the essential resource for any dad that wants to be the best dad that he can be. We know that no child comes with an instruction manual, and most are figuring it out as they go along. The Fatherhood Insider is full of valuable resources and information that will up your game on fatherhood. Through our extensive course library, interactive forum, step-by-step roadmaps, and more you will engage and learn with experts but more importantly with dads like you. So check it out today!

    TRANSCRIPT

    Christopher Lewis [00:00:06]:

    Welcome to Dads With Daughters. In this show, we spotlight dads, resources, and more to help you be the best dad you can be.

    Christopher Lewis [00:00:16]:

    Hey, everyone. This is Chris, and welcome to Dads with Daughters where we bring you guests to help you be active participants in your daughters' lives, raising them to be strong independent women. We're excited to have you back again this week. And as always, every week, you and I are on a journey together. We have a great opportunity every week To be able to talk and walk on this path together of raising daughters. It's not always easy. It's not always going to be that Straight and narrow path, but it's important it's important to have these conversations, to talk, to know that you're not alone, And to know that there are other dads just like you that are struggling through it, that are working through it, that are working to be the best dad that they can be, and that's what this podcast is all about. I love being able to talk with you every week and bring you different guests Bring you different guests, different people with different experiences that can help you to be that better dad That you can learn from what they've gone through because every father's journey is just a little bit different, And there's no one right way to father.

    Christopher Lewis [00:01:24]:

    So being able to listen to other dads and to connect with other dads is definitely something that All of us need to be able to be the best dad that we want to be. So today, we've got another great dad with us. Malcolm Newsom is with us. And Malcolm's a children's book author from the Chicago area, and he has worked in a lot of different areas. He used to be a vice president of a software consulting firm and now works in cybersecurity. But on top of that, like I said, he's a children's author. We're going to be talking about 1 book that he wrote called Dear Star Baby, and that book is a book that was written After the experience that he had with the loss of 2 unborn children. And we're also going to talk about that.

    Christopher Lewis [00:02:13]:

    On top of this, we're going to talk about another book that he has coming out in the near future, and we're going to be learning, of course, more about his own journey as a Father of 5. I'm really excited to have him here. Malcolm, thanks so much for being here today.

    Malcolm Newsome [00:02:27]:

    Yeah. Thank you. Thank you. I really love that intro. So much of what you said is true and resonates with me.

    Christopher Lewis [00:02:33]:

    Now I know you've got 5 kids, 3 boys, 2 girls. And I'm gonna focus on those girls because, you know, this is the Dads with Daughters podcast. So I want to turn the clock back in time And go to that 1st moment, that first moment when you found out that you're going to be a father to a daughter. What was going through your head?

    Malcolm Newsome [00:02:53]:

    I actually did not find out Until she was born, and this was very intentional because at the time that she was born, Was just as the gender reveals were gaining popularity, they've been around, but they were really starting to become a much bigger thing where people were doing these much more elaborate gender reveals. And my wife and I made an a very intentional decision in that we did not wanna find out prior to. And This was, I I think, an important decision because as we'll get into, I always saw myself as A dad to girls, and I always wanted a daughter even from my high school days. And so we fast forward. We're in that moment. My wife gives birth, and, you know, it's just it's the it's it's almost those that moment of, like, feeling like Time is slowing down. Everything's in slow motion because I'm waiting for the doctor to say, you have a And it's it's a baby girl. You know, it's one of those that it's it's hard to capture the feeling.

    Malcolm Newsome [00:04:08]:

    It's hard to capture the emotion and all of that, But I can see it. You know? I can play it over and over again in my mind, and it's so vivid, but it's also, yes, in slow motion.

    Christopher Lewis [00:04:18]:

    Oh, I know that the first 3 kids that you had were boys, and you've now had 2 girls as well. Talk to me about the difference And what you had to do to parent and father and maybe a little bit of a different way for your daughters Dan, you may have had to have done with your sons.

    Malcolm Newsome [00:04:41]:

    One of the things that I told myself fairly early on is that I really wanted to kind of avoid the sort of stereotypical or typical mode of raising a girl, like, You know? So I very intentionally would never call her princess, for example. I was not super into, like, Oh, we're gonna do a bunch of girly things. I really did not wanna do that. And To that end, I decided also early on that so when my first son was born, I gave him the nickname mister chairman. And Then my so when my 2nd child was born, I was like, okay. What's what's that nickname gonna be? And so that ended up being mister president. The third one ended up being mister Monarch. And so now we have this this trend of nicknames, and I and I wanted them to have nicknames that were ones that where they could see themselves in positions of leadership and influence and all that.

    Malcolm Newsome [00:05:45]:

    And so I I made the decision early that I there like, no. There would be no princess. Like, I'm not using that. And I gave my first daughter The nickname, miss director. And throughout her growing years, I started to realize it doesn't matter what I say because she ends up being girly girl, all about princesses, All about pink and glitter and shiny things and stars, and I'm like, she is who she is, and that was none of my doing because I really tried the hardest I could to to give a different perspective. So, nevertheless, it's fun. In terms of how I parent them differently, I don't know. I it's a hard question to answer From the standpoint of I really have tried my best to mirror what they show me in terms of who they are, even from early ages.

    Malcolm Newsome [00:06:45]:

    And so if they're into you know, like I just mentioned with my daughter, if, you know, she's into dolls and stuff like that. So, alright, let's Support that, but she will run outside and play in dirt and play in mud and pick up bugs and all that. And so I'm like, alright. I'm here for that too. Right? And She loves gymnastics and flipping and stuff like that. Alright. I'm here for that. And and so what I try to do is let them be who they are and encourage Who they are to the best of my ability.

    Christopher Lewis [00:07:16]:

    Thanks so much for sharing that. You know, one of the things that a lot of dads have daughters tell me is that When they have their daughters, especially if it's a first time dad, but sometimes if it's a first time father of a daughter, that there's some fear, some fear That goes along with raising daughters and stepping into that new role of being a father to a daughter. What would you say has been your biggest fear In raising

    Malcolm Newsome [00:07:41]:

    daughters. My biggest fear is knowing that they're growing up in a world in a Society, that is going to devalue them. My biggest fear is evil lurking around the corner. Unfortunately, I rehearse all of the Potential terrible things that happen to women. Everything from cat calls to harassment. And that's not just women, that's girls too. Right? And so that starts at an early age. Those are my biggest fears with regard to raising girls, and so I don't know that that will ever go away, but a lot of the way I parent is to try to plant seeds in them Such that such that they can navigate the cruelties of this world.

    Christopher Lewis [00:08:25]:

    Now I mentioned the fact that you're a children's author. You work in cybersecurity. You're a busy guy. You've got A lot of things going on, and you've got 5 kids. You're balancing that. You're you're wearing a lot of different hats. Talk to me about balance And what you had to do to be able to balance all of these things that you do with also being able to be that engaged Father that you want to be.

    Malcolm Newsome [00:08:50]:

    Balance is a hard thing for me. I think that ultimately though, usually, the way I answer that question is The way I think about balance is that often means that there's a lot of things I don't do and there's a lot of things that I cannot do, and so I'm I feel like I'm kind of Often or have often, at least in the past, made intentional decisions to preserve family time, to preserve Creative time to preserve reading time, like those sorts of things. And so that means that I don't regularly go out for night Nights on the town just hanging out with buddies. That that means certain things. That means I don't watch a whole lot of TV or spend a whole lot of time on social media So that I can be present, things like that. So these are intentional trade offs that I make. That means I needed to say no to certain opportunities, Again, to preserve family time and preserve the priorities that I have in my life.

    Christopher Lewis [00:09:45]:

    Now you mentioned you have 5 kids. I said you have 3 boys and 2 girls. And one of the things that comes to my mind is that every father has to be able to find ways to build those unique relationships with their kids. You've got your 3 boys and 2 girls. Talk to me about what you had to do with your daughters to be able to build those unique relationships With each of them knowing that every child is a little bit different.

    Malcolm Newsome [00:10:14]:

    Yeah. That's such a good question. Unfortunately, that my wife Also values that, and we both value this, like, individual connection and individual time With our children, and we and so that is something that we think a lot about. And so what we have done is and we really honestly should do it more than we do, but, Usually, it works out to be a couple times a year. We'll we'll do, like, daddy daughter dates or Mom son dates or whatever or just daddy child date sort of thing where even if it's just going to get like, an intentional going to get ice cream With just one of the kids or something like that that set apart something that we don't normally do to try to have individual alone time with our Kids, and I feel like that's probably been the most helpful thing is because once you sort of get Them away from the normalcy of life, you see different sides of them too. They show up in a different way, and it's it's really kind of fascinating to see. So, yes, we try to do that. Things with my daughters, I've done you know, I mentioned ice cream.

    Malcolm Newsome [00:11:23]:

    We've done daddy daughter dances, stuff like that, Pedicure pedicure dates or just going mini golfing, things like that. Just going out to have some fun.

    Christopher Lewis [00:11:32]:

    Mentioned at the beginning of the show that you are a children's author. You have a book called Dear Starbaby that you wrote after the loss of 2 unborn children. And I guess first and foremost, What I'd like to do is go back and turn things back just a little bit to have you give me the story. Tell me about the impetus for the book, why you decided you wanted to step into the realm of writing a children's book, But then let's talk about this topic. It's a painful topic. It's a topic that that everybody talks about. Why did you delve into this topic And move into this area to write about this painful topic.

    Malcolm Newsome [00:12:16]:

    The moment where I put it together that I feel like I have something to say On this topic was when a fellow publishing colleague posted on Twitter just that She had been struggling with her miscarriage, and it was this sort of, we need to talk about this more, and she was kind of Making a bold stance and sharing about it, and it was that sort of like, yeah, you know, nobody talks about this. And That was true of my own experience where when we suffered our 1st major miscarriage, it was Kind of like all of a sudden, I started to find out, like, oh, this person's experienced that too. Oh, this person. Oh, this person. And then But you don't find out until you're going through it. And hopefully, you've you know? And not everyone finds out like that, but and so it was like, wow. There's this whole mystery To this horror that's happening, estimates of, like, 1 in 4 people. And so I had since our first miscarriage, I had done so much processing and had talked to folks here and there that had also lost babies and struggle to mostly men, and I felt like I had at least in those conversations, I felt like I had a perspective that I wanted to share.

    Malcolm Newsome [00:13:35]:

    And where this Also is important as it relates to the daddy-daughter conversations because our first miscarriage was After our 3rd son was born, and the thing that I struggled with the hardest again, going back to the fact that I always wanted A girl. The thing that I struggled with the hardest was, what if that was my daughter? What if that was her and I never get to meet her? And so through that Pain and that grieving process, that processing, I started to realize that for myself, the hardest part of this whole thing was Confronting the fact that I had an expectation of a future reality that now was not going to be that, Now I had to kind of rectify because, at least for me, when I got the news my wife is pregnant, I'm like, okay. It's a done deal. Pregnancy loss was nowhere on my radar, And so so I start organizing my life around these hopes and dreams, this sort of to me, in my mind, it was like an automatic thing. And yeah. So then I had to regroup. And so a lot of that for me is also representative book, the Kind of wondering and wishing the hopes, the dealing with, I wonder what this could have been, but it's not going to be that anymore. That was the hardest thing for me, and that's what I also try to represent in the book, where which I felt like maybe others Would resonate with as well.

    Christopher Lewis [00:15:03]:

    No. You're completely right that when you talk about this topic, it's not something that many men talk about. I've heard women talk about it, and it seems like there is community around women that they can find and support for women as they go through That process for themselves, but a lot of men seem to bottle it up. And they don't always Surround themselves with support in that regard. For you personally, as you were going through that for yourself, how did you find support? And how did you find that support and balance that support for yourself while at the same time your wife was dealing with her own loss And you were dealing with that together. So in all of that, you and your wife were grieving.

    Malcolm Newsome [00:15:50]:

    I think the reality is I probably would not have done it very well had it not been for a couple of really good folks That I had in my life. And because, let's face it, one of the things about our society is that most of us are taught as men To just like, you gotta move forward. You gotta take care of everything. You gotta make sure the family's good. You gotta make sure there's a sort of sentiment that, at least, I grew up with That that you don't you don't buckle under pressure. You just need to keep going. Right? And I think, at least in my experience personally and my experience talking with other men, is that they've Felt similarly and that it's almost this sort of sentiment that we grew up with that there's no time for grieving. You gotta push through and be the support, And like I said, fortunately, it worked out for me in that the job I had at the time, the woman who was running our HR, I let her know because, you know, I go into work, and I'm like, alright.

    Malcolm Newsome [00:16:50]:

    This is what's happening. I need a little bit of time off here, and She recognized correctly, and she asked me if she could connect me with another guy who at the company who had experienced Loss as well. And she got my approval for that. I said, sure. Yeah. I'm happy to check with him and see if he's willing to share all this. And So almost right away, I had another male and somebody that I respected and trusted that I could connect with. He provided resources.

    Malcolm Newsome [00:17:21]:

    He he was a sounding board. He was somebody that I could talk to, connect with. And so I felt like I was kinda lucky in that regard Because it's so much the norm that, to your point, men are sort of left out of the equation even today that Men are sort of forgotten about. No one really checks on them, see how you're doing, etcetera, etcetera. But, yes, my experience was kind of, In many ways, the opposite of that, in that I had the I had the good fortune of connecting with this, another man who had dealt with it, and he checked in on me for For some length of time, and that was a beautiful thing.

    Christopher Lewis [00:17:58]:

    Now as you and your wife were grieving, you're also a family. And as parents, You're grieving the loss of your child, but you're also parenting your other kids. And they may or may not understand what's going on Depending on how much they knew about the pregnancy upfront. So talk a little bit about that. So talk a little bit about that And how you and your wife had to help your kids process this. And it might be that it was this book that helped you process and help them to be able to understand what was going on. But how did you deal with this And help your kids through that loss.

    Malcolm Newsome [00:18:38]:

    It was one of those things that we did the best we could because we went Looking for resources, and there were none in terms of how do you address this with kids. None that we found anyway. And The the the the sort of the premise of the book is taken exactly from that experience of us sharing With our young boys at the time, they had been asking for a new sibling. As a part of their Christmas gifts That year, let them know, like, that's how we announced it to them, was on Christmas. And Then we fast forward, you know, about a month, and that's when the loss occurred. And so now we had to we it was basically, like, taking we had to, like, Take their Christmas gift back. And so the conversation is hard on its own, but when you layer it When you layer on that sort of excitement that we had built up, that additional excitement, there was no playbook for us. There was no playbook, and that set the stage for the premise or plot of this book of, hey, child's excited, And then all of a sudden, we've gotta break the news to them.

    Christopher Lewis [00:19:53]:

    Now you also mentioned that you found resources for yourself, some of which had been shared with you from your colleague at your work. I'm sure there were some other resources that your wife found for herself. Were some of the most beneficial resources that you found for your wife, for your kids, for you that existed and maybe still exist?

    Malcolm Newsome [00:20:14]:

    You know, the funny thing is I don't remember the titles, and largely because they were not resources for me. They were mostly resources for my wife that I kind of read bits and pieces of. And the biggest help for me at that point in time was The connection with this other guy that we got a chance to talk through it. But, yeah, the unfortunately, I don't remember titles, all that. It ended up being this thing where I had to for me, it was the conversation. And then just for me, it was Recognizing that I needed to process, and I remember making a very intentional decision to Not push it down, but to really sort of work my way through it mentally to keep it there and to Try to figure out, okay, what what are my big struggles here? And, again, that came out through the conversations. So While I would not call it therapy, it sort of filled that void, or I suppose helped in a way that, like, therapy would.

    Christopher Lewis [00:21:19]:

    Now I mentioned at the beginning of this book that you have a new book coming out called Sydney's Big speech, and that book, as you told me, is very tied into being a dad to a daughter. Tell me more about the book, and what What made you decide to move into another children's book in a completely different topic?

    Malcolm Newsome [00:21:37]:

    What folks will probably see of me as they follow my kind of publishing journey is that many of my early books are sort of like family, daddy daughter sort of themed, or at least There's these sort of there's these sort of overlays between, like, the dad and daughter relationship, and that's coming out of a couple places. That's coming out of this, My love for children, that's coming on my love for family and especially being a girl dad, but they're also still young. My youngest Right now I was 4, and I learned early that the time that it takes to publish a picture book from from when that book is acquired is typically about 2 years. And so a lot of my early inspiration or that first story well, motivation for For even pursuing publishing in the 1st place was that I wanted my kids to have I wanted my kids to have access to some things that I've That felt like was not entering the world and probably would never enter the world. And so I'm kind of writing for them, but I'm writing also for Those that might be similar to them in some ways, or I'm writing for this sort of projection of what if They are this way. What sort of message do I wanna leave for them? And that was Sydney's big speech. That's where Sydney's big speech came from. It came from this place of Girls, especially black girls, tend to be put into this place of, like the Stereotype is that typically they're loud, boisterous, and then from there, there's a sort of Projection in terms of what they might do in their lives.

    Malcolm Newsome [00:23:22]:

    This is a societal kind of thing that I'm speaking to. I wanted to cut through that, And I grew up with and around, like, my mom and my sister, for example, that were not boisterous. They were very quiet, Much more introverted, but yet they'd still did phenomenal things, and I wanted to show that. And also the backdrop, I'm thinking I don't know what my daughters are gonna be like. I don't know if they're gonna be more quiet or introverted or if they will struggle with public speaking or anything like that. So on the chance that they do, I want them to have this story. And that's effectively what the story is about. It is Sydney who is, on her 1st day of school.

    Malcolm Newsome [00:24:09]:

    She needs to stand up and introduce herself. She freezes, and the words won't come out. Right? And so then the story then becomes about she gets she gets this assignment to give a speech, And the story then becomes about her process of, like, she knows what she wants to say, but will she be able to say the things That she really wants to say, and they're very big things. Where where the dad part comes in is She and her dad have this special bond, and he's the one who encourages encourages her and presents her with some famous luminaries and shows them their speeches. These are speeches from Carol Moseley Braun, Condoleezza Rice, Shirley Chisholm and vice president Kamala Harris. So it's a way of taking inspiration from These phenomenal black women who have transcended who have left marks indelible marks on America's history, but along the way, they They sort of also had to overcome certain things as well. So that's the premise, and we don't see other parts of their They're family in this. It's really just Sydney and her dad and the special relationship that they have.

    Christopher Lewis [00:25:34]:

    Love the concept. Love the perspective as well. One of the things that I wonder when I think about this is for this book as well as your previous book. You have your own sounding board right there at home to share the stories with. What kind of response have you gotten in from your kids For both of the stories that you are putting out into the world.

    Malcolm Newsome [00:25:57]:

    Some stories I share with them and some I don't. The Dear Star Baby, I did not share with them while it was in development, but I did share it with them after we got the physical copies. And This was very instrumental for my older daughter because we also had not really talked to her about miscarriage and about our the loss of the children that we had. And so this was also Her first introduction to pregnancy loss and the reality that she's got some siblings in the stars. And the way that she experienced the book, internalized it, and then would Talk about it would bring me to tears because it's like, okay, she got it. And I remember one moment where we were leaving a restaurant, and this was After I had the book maybe for about a month or so, and I had to read read the story to her several times. But We're leaving a restaurant. She points up to a star in the sky, and she's like, that's our star baby right there.

    Malcolm Newsome [00:27:04]:

    And I was like, oh, man. Like, you almost took me out. You know? Like, I was almost out for the count right there, but so that was Amazing. Sydney's big speech, this is another one that I know I shared it with them. Once I got the the digital work, I did read it to them, and they enjoyed it. I think it's also gonna be one that when they have that book in their hands, they'll be able to experience it in a different way. Kids oftentimes are very tactile, so it's a little bit different, like, when you're reading something on a screen versus holding in the hands, and they can flip through it and they Take time and point to the thing and all that. But a part of this experience that they don't really know and that I'll be able to share with them is that in my early drafts of writing this story, I would I would be holding 1 of them or 2 of them, whatever, would be, like, in my lap doing whatever, watching TV or whatever, and I'm, like, drafting it on my phone While I'm with them and so there was one moment in particular with my youngest who was still an infant at the time where I'm, like, holding her in my lap, and this was the very 1st draft.

    Malcolm Newsome [00:28:17]:

    I finished the story. It's like the last line, and I just start weeping, sobbing. And this is not something that she'll remember necessarily because she was an infant at the time, but that's how much the story meant to me. And this is now a sort of legacy that I'll be able to share with her because I was thinking of her As I was writing this, every line was for them, and that conclusion was like, okay. There it is. And I can't wait to share that story with them, like, when we get the physical copies, and then I read it to them.

    Christopher Lewis [00:28:55]:

    Oh, this book sounds like a book that is definitely going to be a special one for the family. I appreciate you sharing that. And I look forward to seeing the new book hitting the shelves and being able to encourage others to read this for their families, for their kids, Because I know it's going to help them in many different ways. Now we always finish our interviews with what I like to call our fatherhood five, where I ask you 5 more questions to delve deeper into you as a Dad, are you ready?

    Malcolm Newsome [00:29:23]:

    Alright. I'm ready.

    Christopher Lewis [00:29:24]:

    In one word, what is fatherhood? Love. When was the time that you finally felt like you succeeded at being a father to a daughter? Haven't. Now if I was to talk to your kids, how would they describe you as a dad? Silly. Who inspires you to be a better dad?

    Malcolm Newsome [00:29:41]:

    My dad.

    Christopher Lewis [00:29:42]:

    Now you've given a number of pieces of advice, number of things that you've learned along the way. As you think about all dads out there, What's one thing that you'd want to leave with every dad?

    Malcolm Newsome [00:29:54]:

    I think probably 2 things come to mind, and that is the first is I believe what our families need the most from us is the real, True vulnerable us, and when we show up that way, they get to see our love, our passion, But they also get to see where we struggle. They also get to see our fears, those sorts of things. Patience is another thing that I'm kind of I feel like I'm constantly working on, but that I encourage and exhort other males just patience, especially with young kids. Well, all kids, Patient. And then the 3rd is pursue wisdom, and the reason why I say that is because Our world is loaded with so much. Our perceptions have been shaped, you know, really by the world mostly, right, our society. And The only way that I think we can really combat that is to spend time with that and, like, dissect. Okay.

    Malcolm Newsome [00:30:56]:

    Where did this come from? Does this have to be true? Does this have to be true of my children or my family And all that. And so that, I think, comes from pursuing wisdom.

    Christopher Lewis [00:31:06]:

    Malcolm, I just want to say thank you for sharing what you've shared today, for putting it out there. If people wanna find out more about you, where's the best place for them to go?

    Malcolm Newsome [00:31:16]:

    You can find me on most of the socials, primarily Instagram And now threads. I'm not as active on x, but you can also and that's just Malcolm Newsom at any of those, malcolm.newsom. I also have a website, malcolmnewsom.com, which is also very easy to find me there. And If nothing else, then you could either Google Dear Star Baby or Sydney's Big Speech, and you'll find me as a result of those. And I should mention too that Sydney's Big Speech will be out will officially release in February, but presales Are available now anywhere books are sold.

    Christopher Lewis [00:31:57]:

    Again, I just wanna say thank you. Thank you for being here, for sharing all that you've gone through as a father, And I wish you all the best.

    Malcolm Newsome [00:32:04]:

    Alright. Thank you. Thank you for having me.

    Christopher Lewis [00:32:06]:

    If you've enjoyed today's episode of the Dads with Daughters podcast, we invite you to check out the Fatherhood Insider. The fatherhood insider is the essential resource for any dad that wants to be the best dad that he can be. We know that no child comes with an instruction manual, and most dads are Figuring it out as they go along. And the fatherhood insider is full of resources and information that will up your game on fatherhood. Through our extensive course library, interactive forum, step by step road maps, and more, you will engage and learn with experts, But more importantly, dads like you. So check it out at fathering together.org. If you are a father of a daughter and have not yet joined Dads with Daughters Facebook community, there's a link in the notes today. Dads with Daughters is a program of fathering together.

    Christopher Lewis [00:32:55]:

    We look forward to having you back for another great guest next week, all geared to helping you raise strong, empowered daughters and be the best dad that you can be.

    Malcolm Newsome [00:33:04]:

    We're all in the same boat, and it's full of tiny passengers. We spend the time. We give the lessons. We make the meals. Astronauts and firemen, carpenters, and musclemen. Get out and be

    Episode 16 - Is Chris Rock the Real MVP?

    Episode 16 - Is Chris Rock the Real MVP?

    Chris Rock and Will Smith! Let’s talk about it! 

    We share our thoughts on the slap heard around the world at the Academy Awards. Who is the real MVP? Chris Rock or Will Smith? Get into this episode! You will not be disappointed. 

    Thank you for tuning in and please LIKE, COMMENT, SHARE and SUBSCRIBE!

    Queens of a Feather podcast is available to watch on YouTube or listen on any major podcast platform.

    Visit our Instagram: 

    https://instagram.com/queensofafeather.podcast

    Link to our content and social media pages: 

    https://linktr.ee/queensofafeather

    How To Identify Your Core Values and Learn From Them! \/\ Disrupting PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

    How To Identify Your Core Values and Learn From Them! \/\ Disrupting PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
    What does personal development look like for you? If you could describe yourself in 5 words, what would they be?

    I've been talking about self-awareness and core values all season long! What's all the hype about? The answer is finally here.

    In this episode, I share the steps to creating a culture code for your life and core values to understand yourself better. I breakdown my own core values, explain the definitions behind them, and discuss the importance of defining these words in a context that encourages growth.

    If you're looking for a way to start the new year on the right foot, take the time to give this episode a listen! There's a special announcement inside as well.

    Join and connect with the community led by Deborah Olatunji on Instagram @deb_olatunji and the podcast page https://www.deboraholatunji.com!

    Be sure to leave a rating and written review so that we can share the stories of how fellow disruptors are being connected and empowered all over the world. Let’s disrupt together now!

    Zoë Jenkins \/\ Disrupting CIVIC EDUCATION and DIVERSITY

    Zoë Jenkins \/\ Disrupting CIVIC EDUCATION and DIVERSITY
    How many times have you heard the phrase “college and career ready?” Would you say that your education experience has made you “life-ready?” What skills do you wish you were taught in high school? How well do you know yourself?

    There are key skills that we should have learned like personal development, cultural awareness, civic engagement, and self-advocacy. In this heartfelt episode, Deborah sits down to chat with Zoë Jenkins, an education activist from Kentucky, NatGeography Young Explorer, and high school drop out. Yes, you read that right! After spending time with the Civics Unplugged program this summer, a fellowship designed to teach students about democratic theory, personal development, and systems thinking, Zoë founded DICCE, a diversity, inclusion, cultural competency, and equity program for Gen Z by Gen Z. They talk about how to talk about race with younger students and how to tackle systemic inequalities in the education system They also discuss the skill of parenting yourself, how to choose a community that chooses you back, and what it really means to be civically engaged.

    They also talk about how education is supposed to prepare students for life skills, what it looks like to amplify young people’s voices, how to elevate (and pay) Black people in the art of storytelling. Zoë is making quite a number of disruptions in the education space, but emphasized the fact that you can still be unstoppable while taking the time to rest, “bad people” are a product of bad education, and that you can control your time in a way that allows for creativity, curiosity, and exploration. They chat about core values, Black girlhood, and rocking the boat.

    You can find Zoë Jenkins on Instagram @thezoejenkins and on her website https://zoe-jenkins.com!

    Join and connect with the community led by Deborah Olatunji on Instagram @deb_olatunji and the podcast page https://www.deboraholatunji.com!

    Be sure to leave a rating and written review so that we can share the stories of how fellow disruptors are being connected and empowered all over the world. Let’s disrupt together now!

    S2E11: Adjusting Our Crowns With Miss America 2019, Nia Franklin!

    S2E11: Adjusting Our Crowns With Miss America 2019, Nia Franklin!

    [Originally aired on: December 16, 2019] Nia Franklin aka Miss America 2019 had an awesome convo with Sophia and Rechelle about all things self-esteem, beauty pageants, and faith in this inspiring sit-down! All your misconceptions about beauty pageants will be shattered and you can grab some of the best advice about building your self-confidence like the queen that you are and encouraging others around you too! Get ready to adjust your crown, sis! Use #MagicUPodcast to tell us what you think of the episode!


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    S2E10: You Can Change Career Paths...And It Won’t Kill You!

    S2E10: You Can Change Career Paths...And It Won’t Kill You!

    Life is too short for us NOT to do what we really want to do! That’s Ashlee Wisdom’s (@ashleejwisdom) story. She pivoted in her career path (against what her family wanted her to pursue - shout out to first geners!)  and is now a leading Black woman in public health technology as founder of HealthInHerHue and she’s not even 30 yet! What does it take to do that? Ashlee breaks down her passion for what she does and what it took for her to bet on herself. Also? She drops MANY gems about healthcare that EVERY Black woman and girl needs to know! Use #MagicUPodcast to let us know what your dream career path is!


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    S2E9: Justine Skye Is Not Here For Your Boxes!

    S2E9: Justine Skye Is Not Here For Your Boxes!

    [Originally aired on 12/2/2019] We ignore glass ceilings over here. We're all about cutting our own path and rejecting anything that boxes us in. At ESSENCE's own Fashion House - Rechelle and Sophia chopped it up with singer Justine Skye ( @justineskye) about everything from finding yourself as a young artist to smashing the boxes and labels that hold so many of us hostage. Jump into this convo and let us know what you think using #MagicUPodcast!



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    S2E8: Limits Don’t Exist When You Know What You Bring To The Table! w/Isa Watson

    S2E8: Limits Don’t Exist When You Know What You Bring To The Table! w/Isa Watson

    Have you ever felt like everyone else in the room knew something you didn’t? Have you ever been interested in a field that seemed completely unrelated to what you knew or where you were? Do you feel more disconnected from people than ever even with so many social media platforms? Most people stick near and dear to their comfort zones but then there are others who break free from comfort to create the life they want. That’s Isa Watson’s story. With a background that spans finance, engineering, and music, she’s broken through her comfort zone to live life on her own terms - and she’s not even 30 yet! She’s the founder of Squad -a platform that allows young people to make genuine connections regardless of job title, location, etc. She's also a classical pianist, and multi-degreed engineer with lots of gems to share with Gen Z. Get into it. Use #MagicUPodcast to let us know what you think of the episode.





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    S2E7: Teen Activist, Nupol Kiazolu, Is About That Life

    S2E7: Teen Activist, Nupol Kiazolu, Is About That Life

    [This episode originally aired on 10/21/2019] Gen Z is tired of being silenced politically and no one represents this truth better than today’s guest, Nupol Kiazolu (@nupol_justice). She’s Miss Liberia 2019-2020; listed on Teen Vogue’s 21 Under 21; the President of Black Lives Matter Greater New York; Founder/CEO of Vote 2000, and a Hampton ℅ 2022 student. On this episode, Nupol gets all the way real about the trauma and triumphs of putting action into activism. She details how the death of Trayvon Martin pushed her into activism and what it was like to be on the front lines of the historic Charlottesville protests. She also gives the best advice to other young people who want to get involved and stand up for what they believe in. Check out Nupol on @bet’s CopWatch America. Use the #MagicUPodcast hashtag and @ us: @essencegu_ to let us know what you think of the episode!



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    S2E6: Periods Shouldn't Hurt So Badly and We're Going To Talk About It.

    S2E6: Periods Shouldn't Hurt So Badly and We're Going To Talk About It.

    [This episode originally aired on 11/18/2019] It's taboo to talk about periods but guess what. We're going to talk about it today! They shouldn't hurt as badly as they do and many of us are suffering in silence. How do we make sure that every girl and woman who needs menstrual products get them?How do we make sure we're armed with the information we need to make good decisions about our menstrual health? Ileri Jaiyeoba (@ileri_jaiy14), NYU student and founder of Code Red Co., stopped by Magic Unfiltered to talk about the importance of breaking the taboo and the important work she's doing to provide menstrual products to homeless women and girls. Let us know what you think of the episode using #MagicUPodcast and follow ESSENCE's Girls United platform on Instagram: @essencegu_.



    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    S2E5: Teen, Marley Dias aka BadGalReadRead Is Making Black Girl Books Famous!

    S2E5: Teen, Marley Dias aka BadGalReadRead Is Making Black Girl Books Famous!

    What do you do when you don’t see yourself in ANY of the books you read? 14-year-old Marley Dias (@iammarleydias) created the #1000BlackGirlBooks hashtag and is making books with Black girl protagonists! Rechelle (@rechellealyse) and Sophia (@phiadennis) kick back with Marley and learn all about how she created a social media movement that has gained international fame! Listen to the episode and hit us up using #MagicUPodcast to let us know your favorite Black Girl Book! We’ll feature our favorites on our social media!



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    S2E4: 17-Year-Old Rapper Young Devyn Got The Nicki Minaj Stamp Of Approval!

    S2E4: 17-Year-Old Rapper Young Devyn Got The Nicki Minaj Stamp Of Approval!

    [This episode originally aired on 10/11/2019.] Young Devyn (@youngdevyn) is the 17-year-old Brooklyn-born rap phenom who is very clear on where she comes from and where she’s headed. Having BODIED the 2019 BET Hip Hop Awards Cypher, Devyn visited Magic Unfiltered to rap (no pun intended) with Rechelle (@rechellealyse) + Sophia (@phiadennis) about her career as a young M.C., how she got the nickname “Baby G.O.A.T.”, and that time Nicki Minaj shouted her out! And she's got a new video dropping this week for her single, "Drip Ain't Free". She’s #GOALS. Listen to the episode and hit us up on social media to let us know what you think using #MagicUPodcast! Don’t forget to subscribe, comment, and share!



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    S2E3: Black Girl Skincare Is In! w/Tips From Tiara Willis (@MakeupForWOC)

    S2E3: Black Girl Skincare Is In! w/Tips From Tiara Willis (@MakeupForWOC)

    Do you love makeup but you’re not really sure how to do your own? Do all the YouTube beauty gurus intimidate you and you don’t know where to start with a beauty routine? Well, Tiara Willis (@MakeupforWOC)is the 18-year-ol esthetician with over 200,000 followers who is schooling ER’BODY on how to look and feel beautiful the RIGHT way. No more glue masks, and you BETTER be using sunscreen! Tiara joins Rechelle and Sophia on this episode to blow up the beauty myths that are ruining skin and to drop some gems on how to get glowing, beautiful skin and awesome makeup techniques. You do NOT want to miss this episode! Let us know what makeup tips have been saving your skin lately using #MagicUPodcast! And Apple listeners: Don't forget to leave a review!




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    S2E2: We're Lovin' Our Curls, Kinks, & Coils With FIERCE Model, Ebonee Davis!

    S2E2: We're Lovin' Our Curls, Kinks, & Coils With FIERCE Model, Ebonee Davis!

    Ebonee Davis (@eboneedavis) is a POWERHOUSE. At Essence Fest 2019 we chatted her up the model, businesswoman, mother, activist, and friend-to-the-brand about creating space for ourselves and girls and women who look, think, and live like us. Ebonee gave a gooooood word about how she learned to accept herself as a Black woman and how she decided to make the modeling industry accept all her features - including her beautiful Afro. She also has words of affirmation for Black girls everywhere! Visit her organization: Daughter Org (daughterorg.com) to learn more about about her amazing initiative to mentor and bring girls to Ghana. What do you love most about your Blackness? About your natural hair? Let us know on social media using #MagicUPodcast!



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    S2E1: This Is For The Tall Girls All Over The World! How To Use Your Difference To Create Change

    S2E1: This Is For The Tall Girls All Over The World! How To Use Your Difference To Create Change

    What makes you different and how to do you celebrate it instead of being ashamed of it? Entrepreneur, Franci Girard, founder of The Sixes (@thesixes) knows all too well how to take what's made her stand out her whole life and use it to make space for those like her. At well over 5'10" feet by the time she was in the 4th grade, Franci has been very tall for most of her life. And she’s recently stepped into the role of founder at The Sixes, a brand that specializes in clothing for women 5’9” and taller. Get into this interview to learn the not-so-straight path that led her to her passion. Use #MagicUPodcast to let Rechelle and Sophia know what you think of the episode.




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    S1E10: Black Girls Need Therapy Too! Creating Safe Space For Black Girls w/Marline Francois-Madden, LCSW

    S1E10: Black Girls Need Therapy Too! Creating Safe Space For Black Girls w/Marline Francois-Madden, LCSW

    You’re not crazy. You’re not weird. There’s nothing wrong with you. Everyone needs someone to talk to and you, Black girl, do too. In order to help give all of our Black Girl Magic a little more room to shine through, we had an awesome convo with Marline Francois-Madden (@marlinefrancois) who is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and author of ‘The State of Black Girls’. Her insight is right on time as we dance out of one decade right into a brand new one. We want to be at our best, right? We talk about everything from vulnerability to getting over breakups to how to cope with not getting into your dream school. Chime in on social with your thoughts using #MUPodcast!



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    S1E9: Beauty Queenin’ With Miss America 2019, Nia Franklin!

    S1E9: Beauty Queenin’ With Miss America 2019, Nia Franklin!

    Nia Franklin aka Miss America 2019 had an awesome convo with Sophia and Rechelle about all things beauty pageants and it was EYE-OPENING! All your misconceptions will be shattered and you can grab some of the best advice from a young queen to all the Young Queens listening! Get ready to adjust your crown, sis! Check out the episode and let us know what you think using #MagicUPodcast!



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    S1E8: Justine Skye Is Not Your Purple Unicorn & She's Stepping Out Of The Box

    S1E8: Justine Skye Is Not Your Purple Unicorn & She's Stepping Out Of The Box

    We ignore glass ceilings over here. We're all about cutting our own path and rejecting anything that boxes us in. At ESSENCE's own Fashion House - Rechelle and Sophia chopped it up with singer Justine Skye ( @justineskye) about everything from finding yourself as a young artist to smashing the boxes and labels that hold so many of us hostage. Jump into this convo and let us know what you think using #MagicUPodcast!



    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.