The Check-In is a monthly episode that focuses on fine-tuning our mental health and well-being with the support of Afros and Knives' therapist in residence, Jnee Hill. This month I introduce you to Jnee Hill and we touch on just a few topics you can expect to dive deeper into in upcoming episodes. Black women have worked tirelessly to improve their communities. Their activism has led to a more just and equal society, but they still face systematic oppression that prevents them from achieving full equality. One of the most pervasive forms of oppression that black women face is mental health. Even though only about 9% of the U.S. population suffers from a serious mental illness, 51% of black women deal with one or more diagnosable mental disorders. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) reports that the number of Americans with a mental illness is growing and that many of these patients are minorities. This is because of the increased stress that accompanies the changing roles of women in our society and the social isolation that comes with it.

This series will spend time looking at a space Black women often occupy--entrepreneurship. Being an entrepreneur is hard. Really hard. It can be lonely, isolating, and stressful. But the rewards can be great, too. Once you’ve made the decision to take the plunge and start your own business, you’ll find yourself facing many challenges. However, with persistence and hard work, the rewards can be tremendous. You may also find it difficult to discuss your struggles as an entrepreneur, especially with friends and family. Anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues can make it difficult for you to reach out for help. Don’t feel like you are alone. Many successful entrepreneurs have dealt with similar struggles, and they overcame them to become successful. 

In this bonus episode of the Afros and Knives podcast, host Tiffani Rozier chats with cultural anthropologist and documentarian Dr. Gail Myers. They discuss the work Dr. Myers has done with her organization, Farm to Grow, as well as her documentary film Rhythms of the Land. This film project will spotlight an array of farmers, rice growers, hog ranchers, dairy ranchers, barefoot farmers, sharecroppers, basket-weavers, shrimp farmers, vegetable farmers, and gardeners, each sharing their memorable stories with us for the first time.

Dr. Gail Myers is a cultural anthropologist who earned the Doctorate in Anthropology from Ohio State University, the Masters in Applied Anthropology from Georgia State University, and the Bachelors in English from Florida State University. She is also the Co-founder of Farms to Grow, Inc, and has been advocating for African American farmers for more than 20 years.  Dr. Myers began researching African American farmers while at Ohio State University in 1997.  Her passion for Black farmers developed as a result of hearing stories of their loss and struggles without recognition for their contributions.  Myers is considered an expert in the anthropology of African American farming. In 1920, there were 920,000 black farmers in the United States, although many of those were sharecroppers and tenant farmers.  Today there are 42,000.  Dr. Myers' overarching goal is to preserve the stories and honor the legacy and the lives of African American farmers.

This episode is a chat with recent Food and Finance High School Alums and Co-Creative Directors of Pass the Spatula Magazine Volume 1--Chayil Hyland and Hasanah Sabree.

Hasanah is a brilliant young chef that will be attending a post-secondary Culinary school in September. She is equally passionate about fashion as she is about cooking and loves to express herself through social media, preferably Instagram and YouTube. Chayil is an equally brilliant young leader, a lover of all things green tea, and passionate about food and hospitality. 

Elle Simone Scott is a culinary maverick. Always drawn to creative food culture, Elle has been dazzling the culinary world since 2003, quickly becoming a highly sought-after Food Stylist and Culinary Producer. Elle has collaborated and contributed her unique styling abilities most recently to America’s Test Kitchen. Also Food Network, Food Network Magazine, The Cooking Channel, CBS, ABC’s The Chew, and Bravo.

Her specialties don’t stop with styling and production. As the Founder and CEO of SheChef Inc., a professional networking organization for women chefs of color and allies. Elle shares her passion by mentoring, resource building, business development, and most importantly, Food Social Justice.

Elle continues to inspire others and break glass ceilings, as she is currently the resident Food Stylist & On-Air Talent on America’s Test Kitchen on PBS, the host of the food podcast The Walk-In, and the first African-American woman to do so.

Most recently she created a beautiful book titled Boards--in which she shares tips for creating photo-worthy spreads, letting you in on trade secrets ranging from plating techniques to how she keeps things looking fresh on set (and all party long). Across 35 boards you’ll find over 150 of ATK’s foolproof recipes to build your board around or add that special homemade touch, from platter-worthy Steak Frites to better-than-storebought dips, and everything in-between.

Founder of bespoke event brand To Be Hosted and independent lifestyle magazine While Entertaining, Amber Mayfield. Amber is a consummate tastemaker and is shaping how Black folks celebrate and entertain now and in the future. To Be Hosted has produced events and experiences for brands like Equinox, Facebook, Nestle, Netflix, Bumble, Tinder, Patron Tequila, Bulleit  Bourbon, Bain & Company, and more. To learn more, check out www.tobehosted.com. Founded in March 2020, While Entertaining Magazine is a yearly magazine that highlights Black food and beverage experts, and provides resources for people cooking and gathering at home. Amber began her work when she was twenty-three years old. She had worked in television as a corporate assistant and noticed is that events and productions utilized the same resources—caterers, lighting technicians, designers, and artists, and none of them looked like her.  What started as a self-funded side hustle grew into creating custom events that used the talents of Black creatives and Black professionals— her gorgeous work offered an intimate and safe experience for Black people to dine.

“I'm sure all of us, especially in New York, has no shortage of stories, of feeling comfortable in certain spaces and not feeling like that fine dining experience of that luxury experience or whatever, wherever you want to go and feel like somebody is specifically catering to and thinking about you.”

Yahshimabet Sellassie, Founder & CEO of Yahshi Bakes, developed her culinary interest at the tender age of four. Born in Oakland as a vegetarian to entrepreneur parents in fine arts, design, bodywork, radio journalism, and the restaurant business, she naturally blossomed into her creative energy field. From an early age, she gravitated towards the arts, later developing a passion for cooking and baking. Yahshimabet is influenced by her Jamaican father and her mother's Ethiopian roots, incorporating traditional spices into her cuisine. Her passion for representing her heritage stems from exposure to spices' medicinal properties and how her ancestors cultivated them. Korerima (Ethiopian cardamom) is freshly ground to infuse into her pastries, such as orange cardamom coffeecake and almond cardamom shortbread cookies providing a warming and floral note. At age twelve, Yahshimabet competed for eight rounds in the Kid's Baking Championship on Food Network and landed the series's runner-up position, gaining media attention worldwide. People began to request her products on an international level, desperate to try Yahshi Bakes, "A Taste of Heaven." Yahshimabet began hosting monthly pop-ups at Piedmont Avenue in Oakland, where crowds gathered in lines out the door with reusable containers to experience her sweetness. Rich chocolate salted caramel cupcakes, lemongrass raspberry cake, and ginger spice cookies simply tantalize the taste buds. Yahshimabet's high standards coupled with her devotion to quality naturally led to Yahshi Bakes' growth. Yahshimabet is currently working part-time at As Kneaded Bakery, navigating online college classes, managing Yahshi Bakes full time. Her future plans include: Investing in a commercial kitchen space, curating a team of employees to fulfill orders on a larger scale, traveling the world, opening a cafe and more greatness! Learn more about us by visiting yahshibakes.com.

Brittany Towers (@theblackfoodscientist) has her BS & MS degree in Food Science from The Ohio State University, Certified Culinary Science degree from the Research Chef Association and has been in the food industry for 8 years and has worked on over 30 food & beverage products you see on the store shelves today including brands like Gatorade, Tropicana & Propel. Her love for food and science propelled her to start her science-focused Instagram page @theblackfoodscientist where she teaches her followers science concepts that everyone can understand by relating them back to foods and beverages. She also pushes healthy (and sometimes indulgent) eating on her page by posting Meatless Monday recipes each week to get people out of their comfort zones with healthy vegetarian/vegan meals that will help save people money, improve overall health and help save the environment. With a passion for teaching, she is also involved in many non-profit organizations teaching students about food science and careers in STEM. An Ohio native now living in Chicago, Brittany lives in the city with her husband Brandon and dog Basil. When she is not teaching others she is trying out new recipes, ordering out delicious food Chicago has to offer, running outside with her family, and teaching Pure Barre in Chicago

Jinji is a Baltimore, Maryland native, and alumni of Indiana University. She spent her earliest professional years working in the Non-profit sector and Retail before working as a nutrition counselor in 2012. Shortly thereafter, Jinji studied the craft of chocolate making, opening Pure Chocolate by Jinji with her father; tapping into a decades-old ancestral calling she continues to explore today through travel, writing, and production. Jinji lives in Baltimore City with her husband, Paul, and son, Stokely Ashe.

Chocolate & Justice is a web series we do at our shop that's accessible from anywhere via Zoom. We interview various people across our industry, and outside of what we do as well to understand how justice and liberation play in our everyday lives as Makers. New episodes are available now!

Christilisa is an Alabama girl who went to high school in Ohio and ended up in New Orleans for college and decided to stay. My first job was at Cici's Pizza in Massillon, Ohio where she began as and worked her way to prep. Once she made her way to New Orleans, she did what most students do when they are there, work at a bar.  She chose a spot on Bourbon Street, of course, because she wanted to be where the action was. She found a job at a daiquiri shop, where she made...you guessed it, pizza (and calzones)! After a few years of working the nightlife, she moved into the world of tourism and worked for a tour and steamboat company in the French Quarter. The Steamboat is also a cruising restaurant, so she found herself working in proximity to food. This is where she learned about selling, storytelling, and crafting stories. Before jumping back into the business world, she tried her hand at writing. with an online publication, NolaDefender (now defunct), and started her journey as an unpaid journalist. She learned how to interview people, research, and write some compelling stories about music, food, and the culture of New Orleans. When she left the Steamboat, she found a job that changed everything. Starting as a sales assistant she learned about every aspect of the business.  She wrote and edited recipes, was the occasional sous chef for Iron Chef-style competitions and sold cooking classes and special events. The biggest lesson was how the right story will bring the right people and situations into your life. All of those jobs and skills have led her to this moment, helping people craft the best dang cookbook with the best stories and recipes anyone can write.

Sponsored by Ten Speed Press/Clarkson Potter 

Joining the show this week is co-founder and coo of Detroit-based, award-winning tequila brand Anteel Tequila, Nayana Ferguson. Anteel is the only tequila brand led by a Black woman and received recognition from Forbes, Wine Enthusiast, Cosmopolitan, and more. Be sure to visit the Anteel Tequila website to learn more about the brand and to find a location near you to purchase a bottle or two. Follow Nayana and Anteel on Instagram to stay updated on new releases and all news Anteel related. 

Key points in this episode:

• Why did Nayana choose tequila over other options
• Nayana's life after surviving cancer
• How Anteel came to be
• How Nayana and her husband use their previous experience in corporate work to build a successful brand
• The other way Nayana is reaching back into the community.