There are a lot of reasons I continue to do Boss Barista, especially as the show has evolved and changed. One of the reasons is to connect with people I wouldn't have met otherwise. There are at least a handful of folks I know and consider my friends because of the show—people I've become closer to through interviews, through sitting down and having a really focused conversation.

Doing this show has also made me a better listener—I’m still learning how to listen, but I also listen for other listeners. That’s a little silly, I know, but I’ve learned a lot about how people listen by doing this show. It’s the moments where I hear others give people space to explore ideas, or repeat a question to make sure they really understand it. And I noticed all these things when I listened to another podcast featuring today's guest, Erica Jackson. Erica is a barista, originally from Birmingham, Alabama but currently based in Charleston, South Carolina, and she was recently a guest on a show called Nicole's Hen House. 

In this episode, we talk about Erica's journey into the world of coffee, but we also delve deep into how we communicate and how we remain present in our own lives. A lot of these themes are mimicked in our coffee work—being a good service worker requires being present, and many of us are drawn to coffee because of the potential to build community and make connections with others. I think, more than anything, this episode is an encouragement to remain present in your own life and notice what's happening around you. We talk about defining moments both big and small and how to connect deeply with coffee—beyond making it, beyond working behind the bar, but finding the way it speaks to you as an individual, and honoring its place in your life. Here's Erica.

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Donate to these organizations: 

BRAVE SPACE ALLIANCE

ASSATA’S DAUGHTERS

BLACK LIVES MATTER CHICAGO

LIST OF VENMO/CASHAPP OF BLACK COFFEE PROFESSIONALS

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ACTION PLAN FOR BOSS BARISTA TRANSCRIPTION