On this episode, this was my first ever Live Roundtable in June 2025 hosted at Just Bookish Bookstore with the lovely guests from the House of Calypso. The House of Calypso includes the mother, Neon Calypso and children Killah Croc, Lavender, Izzy Ready, and Hazel Afrodite. Boston based drag artists of color creating and perform in various arts medium who took the time to sit down with me in THE CHAIR to talk about their experiences in drag, discussing how their identities appear, their views on freedom in art, representation in educational spaces, and their hair journeys. Enjoy!

Bios:

Mother, Neon Calypso (she/her) : She is an internationally known trans drag artist who explores the intersectionality of what it means to be queer, Black, femme, and disabled with performances reflecting on life experiences through song, dance, and spoken word. She’s a core cast member of Sasha Velour’s Nightgowns @neoncalypso

Killah Croc (they/them) : They are a Boston based drag artist who has made a name for themself in the Boston drag scene since February 2023. Their command of the song and stage will leave you full but also wanting more. Killah uses their platform to uplift their fellow Black & Brown Trans Artists of Color. @killahcrocdrag

Izzy Ready (she/her) : She is a trans woman of color from Boston whose been performing for two and a half years! She loves to spread joy, laughs, and kindness any way she can. Her performances often blend burlesque, comedy, and dance to create an unforgettable experience! @izzyready_

Hazel Afrodite (she/they) : They are a multi-Instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, dancer, producer, and drag queen that makes Alternative R&b Music. Her drag is the embodiment of late 60’s early 70’s Black glamour with a modern edge. Her performance style is very high energy with lots of camp, fashion, and beauty. @hazelafrodite

Lavender (she/they) : She is the purple princess of Boston. Her drag is very inspired by Black women and their fashion. They are more of a comedic style performer, but will always make sure to highlight the beauty that her Black skin has. @lavender_the_queeen

THE CHAIR (S2/Ep11) — Drag is Freedom

I’m Your AWARD WINNING Host Dreme.

Send us a text

Host & Exec Producer: Dreme Flynt, M.Ed, MBA
Editor: Lila Woodbridge
http://www.lilawoodbridge.com/
Music Creators: Your Host Dreme & Seoul (@xSeoulMusicx)

Learn More About THE CHAIR:
Join THE CHAIR Community for FREE:
https://growinghands.wpengine.com/

Join THE CHAIR Newsletter for FREE:
https://growinghands.wpengine.com/newsletter/

Commercial Credits:
Visionary: Your Host Dreme
Animator: Ahmad Merhi
https://amerhifilm.com/film
Voice Actor: D. Ruff (@d_ruff3), The Poet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFAH2cqo64U

My Book:
From Nowhere & Everywhere: Captured Emotions of a Beautifully Broken Love Story
My explorations through poetry, diary entries and photography as a Black woman, an educator in Guangzhou, China.
Website - https://www.lulu.com/en/...

On this episode, I had the absolute pleasure of interviewing Porsha O. the author, poet, and co-founder of Just Bookish Bookstore where I hold my Live Roundtables. She takes us on an explorative hair journey discussing her current loc journey, navigating barbershops, poetry in conversation with identity, and activism in the creations of the "third space." Enjoy!

i shimmer sometimes, too:

https://www.porshaolayiwola.com/book-1

Tangled (Spoken Word Poem):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXrMEHYpm0U

Her Bio:

Porsha Olayiwola is a native of Chicago who writes, lives and loves in Boston. Olayiwola is a writer, performer, educator and curator who uses afro-futurism and surrealism to examine historical and current issues in the Black, woman, and queer diasporas. She is an Individual World Poetry Slam Champion and the founder of the Roxbury Poetry Festival. Olayiwola is Brown University's 2019 Heimark Artist -In -Residence as well as the 2021 Artist-in-Residence at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. She is a 2020 poet laureate fellow with the Academy of American poets. Olayiwola earned her MFA in poetry from Emerson College and is the author of i shimmer sometimes, too. Olayiwola is the current poet laureate for the city of Boston. Her work can be found in or forthcoming from with TriQuarterly Magazine, Black Warrior Review, The Boston Globe, Essence Magazine, Redivider, The Academy of American Poets, Netflix, Wildness Press, The Museum of Fine Arts and elsewhere.

THE CHAIR (S2/Ep10) — Writing in Conversation

I’m Your AWARD WINNING Host Dreme.

I’m a Black woman, an educator turned tech entrepreneur but still an educator. Building a platform called THE CHAIR is a Black and Brown centered tech platform dedicated to supporting people on their hair journey. You can design hairboards, connect to hair stylists, and share hair care tips all in one space for a more joyous and streamlined experience. AND built a AWARD WINNING podcast to share hair stories and stories surrounding identity, education, and entrepreneurship.

Send us a text

Host & Exec Producer: Dreme Flynt, M.Ed, MBA
Editor: Lila Woodbridge
http://www.lilawoodbridge.com/
Music Creators: Your Host Dreme & Seoul (@xSeoulMusicx)

Learn More About THE CHAIR:
Join THE CHAIR Community for FREE:
https://growinghands.wpengine.com/

Join THE CHAIR Newsletter for FREE:
https://growinghands.wpengine.com/newsletter/

Commercial Credits:
Visionary: Your Host Dreme
Animator: Ahmad Merhi
https://amerhifilm.com/film
Voice Actor: D. Ruff (@d_ruff3), The Poet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFAH2cqo64U

My Book:
From Nowhere & Everywhere: Captured Emotions of a Beautifully Broken Love Story
My explorations through poetry, diary entries and photography as a Black woman, an educator in Guangzhou, China.
Website - https://www.lulu.com/en/...

On this episode, my mother, Nicole Flynt is back to kick off the 2nd Annual Living Black History Series where I release an episode every day of the month of February to highlights various living Black voices showing that we are making history and continue to be part of history one moment at a time. My mother talks about how practicing yoga saved her life, raising Black girls on their hair journey, and advice she gives to other Black mothers on hair journeys with their child and/or children. Enjoy!

Her Bio:

I have worked in the field of Human Services for over twenty-five years; I worked for DSNI, Project RIGHT Inc and Nuestra Comunidad Community Development Corporation. I have obtained a Bachelors of Science Degree in Human Services from Springfield College; while working full time and I am dedicated to Social Justice with a targeted interest in Community Engagement and Trauma Healing.

A #notyouraverageyogateacher bringing Yoga to untraditional spaces. Changing the face of Yoga to represent EVERYBODY! Strength and strengthen the body and the mind. To support and treat the on going trauma that exist in communities of color throughout the Boston area. Making Yoga as normal part of everyday life. Bringing it to men, women, and children who live, work and play in these neighborhoods

THE CHAIR (S2/Ep9) — Here I Am

I’m Your AWARD WINNING Host Dreme.

I’m a Black woman, an educator turned tech entrepreneur but still an educator. Building a platform called THE CHAIR is a Black and Brown centered tech platform dedicated to supporting people on their hair journey. You can design hairboards, connect to hair stylists, and share hair care tips all in one space for a more joyous and streamlined experience. AND built a AWARD WINNING podcast to share hair stories and stories surrounding identity, education, and entrepreneurship.

Send us a text

Host & Exec Producer: Dreme Flynt, M.Ed, MBA
Editor: Lila Woodbridge
http://www.lilawoodbridge.com/
Music Creators: Your Host Dreme & Seoul (@xSeoulMusicx)

Learn More About THE CHAIR:
Join THE CHAIR Community for FREE:
https://growinghands.wpengine.com/

Join THE CHAIR Newsletter for FREE:
https://growinghands.wpengine.com/newsletter/

Commercial Credits:
Visionary: Your Host Dreme
Animator: Ahmad Merhi
https://amerhifilm.com/film
Voice Actor: D. Ruff (@d_ruff3), The Poet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFAH2cqo64U

My Book:
From Nowhere & Everywhere: Captured Emotions of a Beautifully Broken Love Story
My explorations through poetry, diary entries and photography as a Black woman, an educator in Guangzhou, China.
Website - https://www.lulu.com/en/...