Shows
The Practice of a Hoodoo BaptistForgiveness, Boundaries & Spiritual Maturity.Forgiveness is sacred. But it’s not a shortcut. Not a performance. Not a requirement for healing. Some of us were taught to forgive too quickly — out of fear, out of guilt, out of the pressure to be “good.”Especially as Black women.Especially in the church. Especially when we were never given space to grieve what was taken.But here’s the truth: I didn’t forgive you for you. I did it for my spirit.Forgiveness doesn’t always mean calling them back. It means cutting the cord. Releasing the weight. Clearing the a...
2025-10-3126 min
The Practice of a Hoodoo BaptistBlack Girlhood as Sacred TextThere are voices that don’t just speak — they shift the room.This week on The Practice of a Hoodoo Baptist, I sit down with EbonyJanice, Hip Hop Womanist scholar and author of All the Black Girls Are Activists. For those that may not know, EbonyJanice is a dynamic lecturer, transformational speaker, and Womanist scholar committed to decolonizing authority and centering Black women’s freedom dreams. Her latest book, All The Black Girls Are Activists, explores Black girlhood, ancestral reverence, and radical wholeness as pathways to liberation.Our conversation is a love letter to the...
2025-10-271h 28
The Practice of a Hoodoo BaptistOYA at the Crossroads: Mawiyah Kai EL-Jamah Bomani on Hoodoo, Writing, and LiberationThere are certain conversations that feel like ceremony—where words, laughter, and memory become offerings. This one with Mawiyah Kai EL-Jamah Bomani is exactly that.A New Orleans native, award-winning playwright, priestess of OYA, and 8th-generation witch, Mawiyah carries both fire and tenderness in her voice. She joins me on The Practice of a Hoodoo Baptist to talk about what it means to live as OYA’s child—standing at the crossroads, creating art from the storm, and conjuring liberation through story.In this episode, we explore:* The sacred chaos of OYA and the sp...
2025-10-171h 23
The Practice of a Hoodoo BaptistWorking with Plants, Roots & the Land.Before I had language for “rootwork,” I had land. I had fresh mint by my great-grandmother’s steps. I had mason jars filled with leaves I wasn’t supposed to touch. I had herbs steeped into tea that tasted like prayer. I wasn’t taught by books. I was taught by the Earth. And the Earth never needed to explain herself.In Hoodoo, plants are not props. They’re not ingredients. They’re not trendy.They’re elders. They’re teachers. They’re spiritual collaborators.When I work with basil, I’m calling in peace. When I steep...
2025-10-1035 min
The Practice of a Hoodoo BaptistThe Scholar and the Spirit: Why Studying Hoodoo Still MattersHappy Hoodoo Heritage Month! It’s also my birthday month! Shout out to all of my Libras and Scorpios. In celebration of my favorite time of the year, I’m dedicating these last few episodes of this season of the podcast to the tradition. What happens when you study Hoodoo not as superstition, but as sacred practice — a living, breathing tradition of survival, healing, and power?This week on The Practice of a Hoodoo Baptist, I’m joined by Dr. Yvonne P. Chireau, historian, author of Black Magic: Religion and the African American Conjuring Tradition, and one...
2025-10-031h 01
The Practice of a Hoodoo BaptistFaith Unbound: Reimagining Belief with Kristian A. SmithWhat happens when faith refuses to stay in the narrow pews it was handed, and instead begins to stretch, breathe, and move in the rhythm of liberation?This week on The Practice of a Hoodoo Baptist, I sit down with Kristian A. Smith — pastor, public theologian, and the voice behind Holy Smokes: Cigars and Spirituality. Kristian is a thought leader who challenges us to rethink the boundaries of belief, asking how faith can serve as a tool for healing, justice, and radical imagination. He’s also the founder of The Faith Community, an intersectional inclusive space, rooted in t...
2025-09-271h 15
The Practice of a Hoodoo BaptistPractices of Ancestor Veneration for Grief.Someone incredibly special to me recently passed away tragically. It’s still shocking. I’m taking my time to mourn and process. Grief has a way of reshaping us. It takes us apart, piece by piece, until all that’s left is what’s most true. In this episode of The Practice of a Hoodoo Baptist, I sit down with my partner, comedian and creative spirit Nore Davis to talk about grief, ancestors, and the ways our rituals can hold us when the world does not.This conversation is about more than mourning — it’s about remembering. We talk abou...
2025-09-191h 05
The Practice of a Hoodoo BaptistMenstruation and Mojo!Say it with me: Menstruation. Periods!They taught us to hide it. To be ashamed of it. To treat it like something dirty, something to pray away. We don’t talk about this enough. About how spiritual menstruation really is.How the body sheds what’s no longer needed—and how that’s likely a holy act.How the womb speaks in cramps and cravings, in silence and blood.But the truth is — blood is sacred. Menstruation is a monthly initiation. A reminder that your body is a temple, and your cycle is a...
2025-09-1248 min
The Practice of a Hoodoo BaptistRemembering Blood: Menopause, Memory, and Ancestral WisdomHave you had the “M” talk? You know, that talk. About menopause!In this conversation with Omisade Burney-Scott, I have the opportunity to explore the intersections of ancestral wisdom, spirituality, and the experiences of Black women, Black bodies navigating menopause. Omisade shares her ancestral led journey into advocacy for reproductive justice and the importance of community support in understanding and normalizing menopause. Just in case you don’t know, Omisade Burney-Scott (she/her) is a seventh-generation Black Southern feminist, storyteller, and reproductive justice advocate. She is also the Founder and Chief Menopause Steward of The Black...
2025-09-051h 30
The Practice of a Hoodoo BaptistMojos in Our Bag: Black Women’s Magic Across GenerationsWhat’s in your mojo bag?! You know about mojo bags right?It’s not limited to just a gris gris bag or pouch made of flannel. Mojo bag represents the personal magic you have. The magic of Black women has been felt and reached globally for centuries.In this episode of The Practice of a Hoodoo Baptist podcast, I chat with Dr. Lindsey Stewart to explore the rich tapestry of Black women's spirituality, focusing on the legacy of hoodoo, the significance of community, and the importance of honoring ancestral wisdom. Dr. Lindsey Stew...
2025-08-291h 01
The Practice of a Hoodoo BaptistDivination for Liberation: Prophecy as a political act in Black resistanceGrowing up, many of us were told prophecy belonged to the Bible, to men in pulpits, or to faraway “chosen ones.” But what if I told you prophecy has always lived in us—passed through the mouths of grandmothers, whispered in dreams, traced in the stars, shuffled in tarot decks, and carried in our bones?This week on The Practice of a Hoodoo Baptist, I’m sitting down with Dayna Lynn Nuckolls—The People’s Oracle—to talk about prophecy not just as spiritual guidance, but as political fire. Dayna calls her work Divination for Liberation, skillfully using sidereal...
2025-08-221h 25
The Practice of a Hoodoo BaptistWe Been Belonging — Black Creeks & the Right to RememberI identify as Afro Indigenous. Specifically I am a Black Creek. My Great Grandmother, Claretha Williams-Lynum taught me that I’m a child of the Natives of this land as well as Africa, and that being both made me unique, and it was nothing to be ashamed of. After 46 years of exclusion, the Muscogee Nation’s Supreme Court ruled that Black Creeks are citizens. Descendants of Creek freedmen, like myself can now apply for tribal citizenship.My ancestors are rejoicing with me.This successful win for tribal recognition is something my Creek elders dream...
2025-08-1537 min
The Practice of a Hoodoo BaptistHaint Stories and Holy Ghosts: When the Spirit World Comes Knocking.In this soul-stirring episode of The Practice of a Hoodoo Baptist, spiritual activist and land steward Kat Niambi (aka The Hungry Medium) takes us to the edge of the seen and unseen.We talk haints, holy ghosts, and the spirits that show up when the veil thins—and how Black folks have always known the difference between a haunting and a homecoming.In this episode:— Growing up with spirits: Kat’s earliest haint encounters— How land carries memory, grief, and ancestral presence— Spiritual boundaries: when to welcome the dead, and when t...
2025-08-081h 39
The Practice of a Hoodoo BaptistWhen the Tongue is a Wand: The role of writing and prayer in survivalGrowing up in the Yoruba tradition, Dr. Ayoka Wiles learned early that words are never just words—they’re power, protection, and prophecy.Dr. Ayoka Wiles is a scholar, spiritual practitioner, and author of I Hear Olofi’s Song: A Collection of Yoruba Spiritual Prayers for Egun and Orisa—a heart-deep offering of ancestral prayers. With a PhD in Public Policy and two decades in nonprofit and arts leadership, she amplifies the voices of Black women through writing and prayer as survival and liberation tools.In this episode, she joins The Practice of a Hoodoo Baptist...
2025-08-021h 03
The Practice of a Hoodoo BaptistYou Can’t Practice What You Don’t LiveRootwork is not a costume. It’s not a candle collection. It’s not a feed full of rituals you don’t actually follow. You can’t practice what you don’t live. And you shouldn’t.Because Hoodoo isn’t about looking powerful — it’s about being in alignment.I don’t do this for aesthetics. I do this because my spirit needs covering. Because my ancestors walk with me. Because my great-grandmother, Ma’dear, taught my Mother about discernment. My practice lives in how I move. How I make decisions. How I say no. How I protec...
2025-07-2529 min
The Practice of a Hoodoo BaptistBlack Girls and the Bible Belt.I was raised in the church. Not just on Sundays — but in the culture.In the clothes. In the fear. In the expectations stitched into every sermon and skirt hem. Black girls raised in the Bible Belt know what it means to carry shame before we even understand our own bodies.We were taught to be nice — not discerning. To be obedient — not intuitive. To be godly — but never powerful.The rules were loud: Don’t feel too much.Don’t ask too many questions. Don’t trust your gut. Don’t ever speak spirit unl...
2025-07-1834 min
The Practice of a Hoodoo BaptistSpiritual Baths, Cleansing, and Everyday Protection.Protection is a practice. Not every spell starts with a flame. Before I speak, I honor the ones who spoke before me.Before I write, I call on the ones who wrote in spirit.May these words carry their wisdom, their warnings, their protection.May what needs to be heard, be heard.May what needs to be held, be held.Not every spell starts with a flame. Sometimes it starts with a bath. With salt, with prayer, with intention poured into water. Protection doesn’t begin when danger shows up — it begins with preparation.Sp...
2025-07-1119 min
The Practice of a Hoodoo BaptistWhat Makes a Hoodoo Baptist?Before I ever called it hoodoo, I called it faith.Before I knew it was conjure, I knew it was prayer.Before I had words for it, I had my granny’s hands, my mama’s oil, and a God who never needed a building to show up.Before I learned rootwork, I watched my grandma rub oil on our foreheads and sing the blood of Jesus into our skin.This ain’t new. It’s remembered.In this episode of The Practice of a Hoodoo Baptist I’m sharing th...
2025-07-0426 min
The Practice of a Hoodoo BaptistAncestors Speak — Dreams, Signs, and Spiritual VisitationsIn this very special episode, I’m joined by my partner, Nore Davis. Grief can be hard, especially when you experience multiples losses in a short period of time. Nore shares how he navigates grief through his new understanding of ancestral veneration.The ancestors don’t stop speaking just because they’ve crossed over. If anything — they finally have room to speak louder. Through dreams, signs, and sudden knowing.Please understand, I don’t worship my ancestors. I honor them. I stay in relationship with them. And they stay in relationship with me.The ways t...
2025-07-0155 min
The Practice of a Hoodoo BaptistThe Work of the Doula Is Rootwork Too!I’ve been a full spectrum doula for over a year now. I’ve been a doula concentrating on menstruation since the inception of my charity’s programming. Every time I show up as a doula, I’m practicing rootwork. I’m not just holding space for periods, fertility, or birth — I’m standing at a spiritual threshold.The womb has been undervalued and underestimated for too long. Where new life enters. Where blood moves. Where ancestors whisper. Where protection is required. The womb holds more than life. It holds memory. It holds spirit. It holds every woman who came...
2025-06-2728 min
The Practice of a Hoodoo BaptistWhen The Bible Sits Next To The Jar.I never had to choose between the Bible and the jar, or prayer and rootwork.Between the cross and the candle. Both live in me. And both lived in the women and men who came before me. The truth is: Hoodoo was never separate from the Black church — it was woven into it.The lie that you can’t hold both? That was taught. That was imposed. That was colonized thinking trying to make us forget how we survived.The church mothers knew. The deacons’ wives knew. The grandmothers with florida water in their...
2025-06-2032 min
The Practice of a Hoodoo BaptistDiscernment Is The First Rootwork!Before there was a candle lit or an oil blended. Before the roots were gathered. There was discernment.That was my great-grandmother Madear’s greatest spiritual gift. She didn’t trust everybody. She didn’t speak on everything. She moved when Spirit told her to move — not a moment sooner.And that’s how she kept herself, her children, and her family covered.In Hoodoo, discernment is rootwork. It’s knowing who to pray for and who to pray against. It’s reading energy before words are even spoken. It’s knowing which rooms you don’t...
2025-06-1328 min
The Practice of a Hoodoo BaptistHoodoo Ain’t Evil.They’ve called it evil for centuries. But the only evil was how they tried to separate us from it. Hoodoo is not evil, it’s not the devil, and t’s not something to be feared. It’s survival. It’s a way of being. My great-grandparents, especially my maternal great-grandmother practiced Hoodoo with discernment and protection. They were not conjuring demons — they were protecting the family from a world that was designed to harm us.The demonization of Hoodoo was never about what we were doing — it was about control.Enslaved Africans broug...
2025-06-0632 min
The Practice of a Hoodoo BaptistThe Practice of a Hoodoo Baptist: An IntroductionI was born into this. Not through books, but through blood.One of my great-grandmothers was an Alabama Creole woman. A descendant of enslaved Black Americans and Native Americans, who practiced what the world tried to demonize: Hoodoo.She lived it with discernment. Quiet power. Protection. Spirit and blood guided her hands. And now, it guides mine.I am an Afro Indigenous woman, because I am both of African descent and Creek descent. I am a Hoodoo Baptist — simply because I am both.The church didn’t cancel the root. The root...
2025-05-3032 min
Chaos & ControlEpisode 09: Visions for the FutureIn our final episode, we’re looking to the future.You’ll hear once again from sociologist Dr. Krystale Littlejohn, philanthropist Chelsea VonChaz, body literacy educator Sarah Bly, and others about their visions for the future. Together, their wisdom charts a course towards creating a future which is empowering, supportive, and liberatory for all.Find body literacy resources hereYou can find all the sources & references for this episode hereQuestions or comments? You can reach us by email at sabrina@currentsmedia.coFollow along:Chaos & Control webs...
2025-05-0733 min
UNRULY WITH SHELAH MARIEAdvocate for Yourself, Like Your Life Depends On It ft. Chelsea VonChazWhy is it so hard to get the medical care we deserve? In this episode, Shelah sits down with Chelsea VonChaz to explore how to advocate for yourself in medical spaces, navigate healthcare biases, and finally understand your menstrual cycle. Get ready for a conversation that will leave you informed, empowered, and ready to take charge of your health.
Want Shelah to answer your question? Record your question at: https://www.speakpipe.com/unruly and it could be featured on an upcoming episode.
2024-12-171h 01
There's Moore to SexThere's Moore to Sex | Ep 9 Massage Envy w/ Chelsea VonChaz & D'sean Ross"There's Moore to Sex" is here to help you understand the experiences behind what turns you on and off.
Tune in to join Farren Moore and guests as they delve into the corners of their sexual memories and discover something new.
Guests: Chelsea VonChaz & D'sean Ross
Objectify Me: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BSNXKM8?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
Follow me: @farrenmoore @theresmooretosex
Contact: info@theresmooretosex.com
Producer: Mark Wesley Watson
Music: Simitre
2023-11-0236 min
The Ebb & Flow Podcast w/ Ebonee DavisPERIODJoined by Chelsea VonChaz, Founder of #HappyPeriod, this episode touches on a myriad of menstrual related topics such as what prompted the need for #HappyPeriod, ways to combat medical gaslighting, and inequity in period education.
2023-03-1245 min
Areva Martin in Real TimeThe Black Reproductive Health MovementAreva speaks with legendary activist, co-founder of SisterSong, Dr. Loretta Ross, and the founder of Happy Period, Chelsea VonChaz about the movement to protect women’s reproductive health against the barrage of attacks from Republicans. Also, Political Analyst and Columnist for Newsweek, Dr. Jason Nichols and L.A. Times Columnist Sandy Banks discuss the latest political and news headlines.
2023-02-171h 27
human2human with Stacy IkeChelsea VonChaz On Healthy Relationships with Your Period and How Lifestyle Changes Can Help Your Period FlourishOn this week’s episode of human2human with Stacy Ike, we have: philanthropist, educator, and founder of Happy Period, Chelsea VonChaz who is changing the way we experience our bodies and the relationships we have with our periods. Chelsea and Stacy dive deep into discussing the shame associated with buying period products, journaling about your menstrual cycle to learn your body better, and helping girls and women create healthy habits for a healthier period.
SHOW NOTES | KEY TAKEAWAYS:
00:00 - Intro
01:24 - Song of the week
01:28 - Book of the week
01:35 - Reflection Question - How can I...
2022-10-121h 15
The Menstruality PodcastHow to End Period Poverty and Create Menstrual Equity (Chelsea VonChaz)Period poverty has a huge impact on women, girls and people who menstruate all over the world. Too many people don’t have access to menstrual products, safe, hygienic spaces in which to use them. This isn’t just a potential health risk - it can also affect their education, well-being, and sometimes their entire lives.One in 10 girls in Africa miss school because they don’t have access to menstrual products, or because there aren’t safe, private toilets to use at school. In India, approximately 12 percent of its 355 million menstrua...
2022-03-3159 min
Moore to the StoryMoore To The Story Ep 69 - Fruit Ninja w/ Ryan Davis, Patrick Cloud & Chelsea Vonchaz
2022-03-0154 min
Warrentine Podcast104: Happy. Period. w/ Chelsea VonChazA deep dive about self worth from Warren kicks off a rockin' episode with Founder of Happy Period, Chelsea VonChaz. She talks all about entrepreneurship and creating something for those who so many look past. Eye opening and inspiring. Not to be missed.
Subscribe, rate, and review wherever you listen.
Warrentine Podcast is sponsored by Chicago French Press.
Head over to www.chicagofrenchpress.com and save 15% on your next order with the promo code - "WARRENTINE".
Follow us on Instagram @WarrentinePodcast
Any questions or comments, email Warrentinepod@gmail.com
2020-10-011h 19
UNSUGARCOATED with AaliaE15:Go with the Flow w/ Chelsea VonChazEPISODE 15: Disclaimer: This episode heavily features conversation on a natural bodily function that may make some listeners uncomfortable. If a woman’s period makes you uncomfortable and you wish to remain uncomfortable, this episode may not be for you. But if you want to become comfortable and educated on the subject of menstruation, Aalia, Alex and this episode’s guest, creator of HashtagHappyPeriod.org, Chelsea VonChaz(@chelseavonchaz) have got you covered. The women set out to destigmatize periods with conversations on menstrual education(12:25), sustainable menstruation products and potential solutions for homeless women(26:45), and tampons for the youth(29:30). As always, ther...
2020-03-2645 min
True Stories of Good PeopleChelsea VonChaz: #HappyPeriodIn 2015, Chelsea VonChaz was out in town with her mother when the two witnessed something that broke their hearts -- they saw a homeless woman crossing the street while wearing blood stained undergarments. After some research, Chelsea learned that pads and tampons are rarely donated items and are not even required to be included in any shelter's operations budget. Chelsea and her mom knew they wanted to help so they gathered some friends and got to work -- and hashtag Happy Period was born.
2020-03-0554 min
Directionally Challenged“#HappyPeriod” with Chelsea VonChazThe inspiring Chelsea VonChaz joins us this week to share how she founded #HappyPeriod, an organization that helps homeless women by supplying period products. Find Chelsea:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chelseavonchaz/?hl=enTwitter: https://twitter.com/MadameMenarche Join the Movement:https://hashtaghappyperiod.org/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wearehappyperiodTwitter: https://twitter.com/HappyPeriodOrg Follow Us:Instagram: www.instagram.com/candicekayla/ Twitter: www.twitter.com/CandiceKayla Website: www.candicekayla.comSee omnys...
2020-02-1759 min
WomankindChelsea VonChaz of Happy Period | Woman 55.0In this episode, Chelsea VonChaz, founder and “She-EO” of Happy Period, discusses menstrual equity and the ways her organization is working to ensure that all women have access to menstrual products.
2019-08-0500 min
#BTSPodcast#5: Establishing & operating a non-profit with #HappyPeriod founder Chelsea Vonchaz#HappyPeriod founder Chelsea VonChaz discusses the ins and outs of founding and running a non-profit. #HappyPeriod aims to eliminate the stigma and reshape the conversation around periods. Chelsea shares tools and resources for those looking to gain 501(c)3 status, running a small business, and discusses the loneliness that comes with being an entrepreneur at times.
Chelsea dives in to how she pushed forward with #HappyPeriod to make an impact. In short: you don't need anyone's permission to help people. When you see a need, you can take an action. To support #HappyPeriod, gather your friends to put together care packages...
2018-12-151h 40
Ellevate Network: Conversations With Women Changing the Face of BusinessEpisode 113: Removing Stigmas, with Chelsea VonChazWhen Chelsea VonChaz was walking the streets of Los Angeles, she saw a homeless (or “houseless” as she calls it) woman having her period with no proper menstrual hygiene products. The woman’s blood stained undergarments were a sign for Chelsea to take action, so she did some research and started a nonprofit, #HappyPeriod, that soon became a nationwide movement. In this episode, Chelsea talks about the stigma surrounding menstruation, lack of access to proper menstrual hygiene products among certain populations, and The Pink Tax. Tune in to hear all about how Chelsea works to remove stigmas and how she tu...
2018-06-0531 min