In this episode, you’ll find that a griot is a storyteller; the keeper of oral tradition and the one who helps to pass the culture forward. We take a trip down memory lane to share some of our own stories and the lessons we’ve learned along the way. We also get to sit down NPR's Chief Diversity Officer, Keith Woods Sr., who's also Keith’s dad. Listen as we tap into a century's worth of his stories!

Woods spent 16 years inspiring people to feel through the stories he wrote and edited for the Times Picayune in New Orleans. A former sports writer, he then worked his way up to become the first Black city editor. At the Poynter Institute for Media Studies in St. Petersburg, he trained professional journalists on ethics and diversity in reporting and personal essay writing. Woods is also a podcast lover and contributor on the NPR podcast, Code Switch.

Here is a preview of the lessons we share in this episode:

Lessons Learned

Lesson #1: Start taking advantage of the ease and access that technology gives in respect to preserving your story. Woods says, “As human beings we don’t start appreciating the value of this until significantly later in life. And at the point that you start thinking, ‘Oh! That might have been important to preserve’, then it’s too late”.

Lesson #2: Everyone has a story worth telling. One of my favorite quotes from him on this is, “How many people have written a story about teaching their child to ride a bike?...Everybody. But nobody has ever written mine.”

Lesson #3: Don’t take the ordinary moments for granted. Not every experience worth telling is rooted in trauma. As we learn to notice and tell the ordinary stories, we begin to see how much more fulfilling and satisfying our lives really are.

Lesson #4: “The more personal a story becomes, the more universal the lesson.” If you can get down close enough to the details of your own story, not only will it liberate you, but it will also inspire others to do the same.

You’re going to walk away with so much inspiration and insight from this episode.

You’re going to walk away with so much inspiration and insight from this episode.

Subscribe & Review

Are you subscribed to our podcast? If you’re not, we want to encourage you to do that today. We don’t want you to miss an episode.

Now if you’re feeling extra loving, we’d be really grateful if you left us a review over on iTunes, too. Those reviews help other people find our podcast and they’re also fun for us to go in and read. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you!

Links mentioned in this episode:

Write Your Heart Out personal story writing course

www.jomilbell.com

www.keithmarcel.com

Follow us on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/theamericangriot

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

BTS… Black Traumatic Stress! Yea, we said it. We’re going there. In this episode, we break down the misconceptions around stress, trauma and the undeniable impact they have in shaping our stories. We explore the various definitions of trauma, our unique experiences with it as Black people, and then dive into the ways we personally navigate the daily microaggressions that trigger stress in our lives.

Lessons Learned

Lesson #1: Stress is something that prevents you from functioning in the way you used to. It’s a chronic disruption of connectedness; impacting how you experience and embrace the world around you.

Lesson #2: Contrary to popular belief, we all have choices in how we process and move through stress. Your very first step is mindfulness. Pay attention to how you presently respond to stress so that you can determine whether those responses still serve you and if they are habits you want to continue.

Lesson #3: We have to give ourselves permission to feel because there are no bad feelings; and all of them are necessary to our evolution as humans. When we develop our emotional toolbox, we can equip ourselves to cope with and overcome trauma.

Lesson #4: We discuss the paradigm shift from “dis-order” to “response” because we are not broken just because our stories carry trauma in them.

Lesson #5: The things you see in your relationships that you want to change are often the things you need to change within yourself. Our internal reality creates our outer form.

Lesson #6: Handle yourself with compassion and patience as you open yourself up to your story so that you can fully experience and appreciate the odyssey that is your life.

You’re going to walk away with so much inspiration and insight from this episode.

Subscribe & Review

Are you subscribed to our podcast? If you’re not, we want to encourage you to do that today. We don’t want you to miss an episode. Now if you’re feeling extra loving, we’d be really grateful if you left us a review over on iTunes, too. Those reviews help other people find our podcast and they’re also fun for us to go in and read. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is.

Links mentioned in this episode:

> Mastin Kipp Podcast

> Dr. Vessel Van Der Kolk

> www.jomilbell.com

> www.keithmarcel.com

Follow us on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/theamericangriot

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

If you’ve ever “eaten your feelings”, picked fast food over home-cooked meals; flavor over nutrition, or have struggled to stay consistent with any “new” diet, this episode is for you. We’re going to get to the truth behind why we eat what we eat and why it can be so challenging to change. Then we’ll share some practical tools and resources that can help us to make healthier eating a consistent and convenient part of our daily lives.

You’re going to walk away with so much inspiration and insight from this episode.

Subscribe & Review

Are you subscribed to our podcast? If you’re not, we want to encourage you to do that today. We don’t want you to miss an episode.cNow if you’re feeling extra loving, we’d be really grateful if you left us a review over on iTunes, too. Those reviews help other people find our podcast and they’re also fun for us to go in and read. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you!

Links mentioned in this episode:

> What the Health Documentary on Netflix

> GameChangers Documentary

> Shae’s Cafe on IG @shaes.cafe

> www.jomilbell.com

> www.keithmarcel.com

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

How you ever felt crowded by your own stuff? People, ideas or things that seem to have piled up and gotten in the way of you moving forward? Sometimes, you just need to declutter and move some things out of your way. In this episode, you’ll see that decluttering isn’t just for cleaning! You can use this ninja tip practically anywhere. And once you do, you’ll start to see exactly how to make more room for your dreams.

Subscribe & Review

Are you subscribed to our podcast? If you’re not, we want to encourage you to do that today. We don’t want you to miss an episode. Now if you’re feeling extra loving, we’d be really grateful if you left us a review over on Apple Podcasts. Those reviews help other people find our podcast and they’re also fun for us to go in and read. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you!

Links mentioned in this episode:

> Black National Anthem by @ceresiasworld on Youtube

> Marie Kondo – KonMari Decluttering Method

> Jomil’s Coaching Program: Total Energy Transformation 90-Day Intensive

> Keith’s New Business Launch Kit: keithmarcel.com

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Today, we’re talking about how to find your purpose. Many people struggle with this either because they are burned out and just don’t have the energy to think about it. Others simply don’t know where to start. We have an amazing guest, Dr. Tammi Green, who shares her story about how to find and fight for your purpose. In surviving the heartbreaking loss of her mother, she gained the courage and clarity she needed to chase her true passion and build her legacy in ways she had never imagined before.

Subscribe & Review

Are you subscribed to our podcast? If you’re not, we want to encourage you to do that today. We don’t want you to miss an episode. Now if you’re feeling extra loving, we’d be really grateful if you left us a review over on Apple Podcasts. Those reviews help other people find our podcast and they’re also fun for us to go in and read. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you!

Links mentioned in this episode:

> Today’s intro featured “Roses” by Meagan McNeal. Check her Greatness out on IG @meaganmcneal or download this amazing piece from her site.

> Nicole Williams’ article, S/o to The Griots was featured in our Gratitude Jar! Read the full piece on her blog, Dancing Over 30 and find more of her amazing stories and life lessons for how to live your life without losing your passion!

> Climbing Poetree does the type of poetry that makes you reconsider your entire LIFE! They have been writing, speaking, and changing lives for almost 20 years. You have to check them out at http://www.climbingpoetree.com/ or on IG @climbingpoetree.

> Dr. Tammi Green, our featured interview dropped so much knowledge and inspiration, it’s ridiculous. Follow her work and access her support either by going to any of these places: FB: Get Fit Sis // Youtube: Get Fit Sis // Website: embracetoempowerwellness.com

> Ready for a reboot or want to some 1-on-1 coaching to get unstuck and find your passion? Register for a complimentary session with Jomil. Go to jomilbell.com to register.

> Do you want to turn your passion into profit? Contact Keith by going to: keithmarcel.com.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Last episode, we talked about the road to discovering your passion. Today, Keith and I go back in the day and share our own stories and the lessons we’ve collected along the way. With hindsight being 20/20, we are going to highlight the paradigm shifts we've had to make—some we needed to release and some we needed to embrace. In our coaching and consulting, we find that most people hold on to outsized or outdated ways of engaging the world simply because they haven't been offered a new perspective. So we're going to share the tools and insights that we've found to be most effective in navigating, and enjoying life so you can feel more healthy, happy and whole.

Subscribe & Review

Are you subscribed to our podcast? If you’re not, we want to encourage you to do that today. We don’t want you to miss an episode. Now if you’re feeling extra loving, we’d be really grateful if you left us a review over on Apple Podcasts. Those reviews help other people find our podcast and they’re also fun for us to go in and read. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you!

Links mentioned in this episode:

> Ready for a reboot or want to some 1-on-1 coaching to reverse the effects of stress and heal your whole you? Register for a complimentary session with Jomil. Go to www.jomilbell.com to register.

> Do you want to turn your passion into profit? Let Keith show you how. Connect with him on LinkedIn.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

We’re back ya’ll! We missed you so much! We’re sorry for the long break, but it was necessary and in this episode, we catch you up as to why. Being Black in America in 2020 has been a whole trip! This episode is about seeing all that we’ve survived and finding the stories that give us hope and healing so we can continue pressing forward. Finding those stories doesn’t only mean focusing on the ones that make us “feel good”, but rather, opening ourselves up to the full complexity of our whole story and deciding what we’re going to make it mean for ourselves.

Subscribe & Review

Are you subscribed to our podcast? If you’re not, we want to encourage you to do that today. We don’t want you to miss an episode. Now if you’re feeling extra loving, we’d be really grateful if you left us a review over on Apple Podcasts. Those reviews help other people find our podcast and they’re also fun for us to go in and read. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you!

Links mentioned in this episode:

> Chris Webber gives his insight on the real life responses that Black people are having to trauma as a result of the “COVID bubble” and the constant televisation of Black killings.

> Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had a lot more to say in his last speech than what has been commonly promoted. He reminds us of our right to protest for right!

> Nurture Your Divine Spirit with 12 Spiritual Tools and Practice https://www.unity.org/resources/practices. Let’s take one per week and explore how it might recharge us! We’ll be sure to share our experiences and definitely look forward to hearing about yours!

> You can always find us at www.thegriotspodcast.com.

> Ready for a reboot? As a Whole Wellness Coach, Jomil can help you get unstuck and find your path to whole health. Our listeners are invited to receive a complimentary coaching session by going to www.jomilbell.com.

> Do you want to turn your passion into profit? Keith consults with startup founders to design and deploy experiences that engage and convert. Learn how he can help your business at www.culpergroup.co or connect with him on LinkedIn.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Why do we vote? Does our vote really count? Is voter suppression really still a thing? These are all questions we’ve heard over the last few months. During a time like this, when we are less than 30 days out from a historic and critical election, we dedicate this episode to answering them and many more. We break down an easy to understand timeline of the Black voting experience, pitfalls to look out for as you prepare to vote this November, and we help to clear up a lot of confusion that can leave voters feeling stuck or unsure of how to protect their vote. We're going to share a ton of resources to help you navigate the mess and make sure you are able to make your sacred vote count!

Subscribe & Review

Are you subscribed to our podcast? If you’re not, we want to encourage you to do that today. We don’t want you to miss an episode. Now if you’re feeling extra loving, we’d be really grateful if you left us a review over on Apple Podcasts. Those reviews help other people find our podcast and they’re also fun for us to go in and read. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you!

Links mentioned in this episode:

> Representative John Lewis was a Veteran Georgia Congressman who was a dedicated career pioneer in the Civil Rights in Movement in America. He tells his first hand experience at the 2012 Democratic Convention. Our stories have a lot to teach us because they remind us of what to look for as we continue on our journey for growth and innovating.

> Ballotready.org is a one stop shop voting resource that allows you to check your registration, request your ballot, and research the candidates and amendments on your ballot. If you plan to early vote, but want to confirm your early voting dates and polling location, go here → https://www.vote.org/polling-place-locator/

> RollingStone magazine interviewed Spike Lee, Public Enemy and Branford Marsalis as they reflected on the relevance and impact that ‘Do The Right Thing’ still has 25 years later.

> Nurture Your Divine Spirit with 12 Spiritual Tools and Practice https://www.unity.org/resources/practices. This week we reflected on the therapeutic and impactful nature of the spiritual tool, Social Action. It looks different for everyone, but we all have a voice that matters. We invite you to explore your most authentic and meaningful ways to keep showing up.

> The Running Anthropologist is a podcast dedicated to exploring the culture of running and movement as therapy and is hosted by our good friends, Mark & Meghan Lane-Holbert. They are showing up for the practice of social action by dedicating a “5k A Day” run to the lives of those who we’ve lost in 2020. Each day during the month of October, they will be requesting names and dedicating a day of running to meditate on the lives of those loved ones as a way to reflect on how they might embody change as a running community. We will be running (Jomil will be bike riding) in honor of her father, Milton Wells, on Oct 30th! Join us in the spirit or offer your own name to the list here → ...