Codie Elaine Oliver is a master builder of culture, community, and visibility. As the co-creator of the Black Lovedocuseries and founder of BlackLove.com, Codie has dedicated her life to amplifying stories that show the full spectrum of Black love, family, healing, and entrepreneurship.
In this soul-stirring episode of Culture Raises Us, host Astor Chambers sits down with Codie to unpack the movement behind the media. From navigating ownership in Hollywood to balancing motherhood, wellness, and entrepreneurship, Codie shares how storytelling became her calling—and why she refuses to water anything down for comfort.
This is a conversation about love as a cultural cornerstone, mentorship as responsibility, and authenticity as a non-negotiable. Whether she’s leading retreats, producing podcasts like The Mama’s Den, or helping shape safe spaces for Black families to be seen and celebrated, Codie is living proof that storytelling is not just art—it’s a public service.
You’ll learn:
Codie leaves us with three timeless seeds for future stewards of culture: take up space, mentor those behind you, and lead with love.
This episode is a masterclass on creating from a place of purpose and leading from the heart.
Chapter Markers:
00:00 – Culture, Wisdom & the Power of Story
01:22 – Creating Space for Black Love Stories
03:10 – From Howard to Hollywood: Owning the Vision
05:05 – Leaving Journalism to Pursue Joy
07:12 – Discovering the Power of Black Romcoms
09:00 – From the Obamas to the Black Marriage Myth
11:18 – The Birth of Black Love Series
13:31 – Navigating Insecurity and Delays in Creation
15:05 – Meeting Tommy & Creating the Docuseries
17:12 – The Importance of Black Ownership
19:48 – Why Black Love Took Two Years to Build
22:10 – Choosing a Licensing Deal with OWN
24:19 – Monetizing the Platform: Merch, FAST Channels, and Spin-offs
26:44 – Expanding the Brand: BlackLove.com & The Mama’s Den
28:16 – Creating Safe Spaces for Motherhood
30:17 – Transparency Over Clickbait: Choosing Depth
32:21 – Staying Grounded in a Microwave Culture
34:12 – Mental Health, Empathy & Holding Space
36:55 – Allyship, DEI Backlash & Standing Up for Each Other
39:27 – Faith, Humanity & the Politics of Love
42:02 – Codie’s 3 Seeds: Take Up Space, Mentor, Lead With Love
🏷️ YouTube Keywords (500 character max):
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#CodieElaineOliver #BlackLove #CultureRaisesUs #BlackStorytelling #LeadWithLove #BlackOwnership #BlackCreatives #TheMamasDen #BlackWomenInFilm #SafeSpaces #BlackCultureMatters #AuthenticVoices #CulturalRepresentation #DEI #MentorshipMatters
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