Nurah Speaks

We are back with another LIVE streamed episode of Nurah Speaks with this week’s guest Dr. Nicole Muhammad, founder of Sew Elevated. Sew Elevated is a luxury women’s fashion brand created to empower and elevate the women who wear her designs. In this conversation Dr. Nicole Muhammad discusses developing a consciously driven brand, the diverse partnerships needed to launch her line and a behind the scenes look at developing Sew Elevated. She shares important insights that will benefit listeners no matter what their vocation, interests or goals.  This episode was streamed live on Facebook and can be viewed on the Nurah Speaks Facebook page. Be sure to follow Sew Elevated on Instagram @SewElevated and Facebook to stay up to date with the brand and definitely visit the website SewElevated.com. If you would like to engage with the Nurah Speaks podcast, submit your listener questions to info@NurahSpeaks.com.  Listeners can also learn more about Nurah by visiting her website: NurahSpeaks.com or reading

Angela Lewis is this week’s phenomenal guest on the Nurah Speaks Podcast! Angela hails from St. Louis and is a former pro basketball player, championship coach, international speaker and author. Angela is the founder of Ignite Her Game Academy where she teaches girls about more than basketball. She delivers life skills using the game as an analogy for life. As basketball opened a world of opportunities for Angela, she wants the same for the girls in her programs. She has been featured on the Black News Channel, in the St. Louis Business Journal and on over 20 podcasts. Angela is committed to helping prepare the next generation of young women to lead the next and she started Ignite Her Game Academy to ensure they have the life skills to conquer any challenge. Visit her website angelarlewis.com and follow Angela on Twitter and IG @angela_r_lewis and on Facebook @angelalewisbasketball. If you would like to engage with the Nurah Speaks podcast, submit your listener questions to info@NurahSpeaks.com.  Lis

Jamil Muhammad is the Executive Producer and Host at C.R.O.E. Television Productions, based in Chicago, Illinois. He hosts the signature programs Muhammad & Friends and the Munir Muhammad Show. C.R.O.E. Television Productions was created by the Coalition for Remembrance of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad (CROE), a non profit organization whose aim is to deliver informative political, social and economic programming to the public. Jamil Muhammad walks in the footsteps of his father, Munir Muhammad, a previous guest on the Nurah Speaks Podcast and co-founder of CROE. Brother Munir served as the Executive Producer and Host for nearly 30 years. C.R.O.E. TV has programs that air daily in Chicago and Jamil Muhammad can be relied upon to share relevant and meaningful content with viewers. He welcomes guests with insights in various matters including local and national politics, policing and mass incarceration, physical and mental healthcare, business and economics, education, international relations and so much

Welcome to the Black History episode that nearly wasn’t!  I decided right after the new year, I would not be doing a 2021 Black History episode. Frankly, I really dreaded another month coming in where we pretended at having cultural pride in our Blackness. Coming from a year of national unrest following the tragic killings of countless Black men and Black women by state actors, we have asked for little more than love from those who so obviously object to our very existence. Our tactics include demonstrable outrage, eloquent chiding, drafting of legislation and extreme affection. Yet none of these has been convincing to halt the exclusion of us from civil freedoms and the withholding of our human rights. Instead I propose we cease with our vain efforts and direct this unconditional love to ourselves, where the real change needs to start. If we want genuine respect and true freedom, justice and equality, it will only be ours once we enjoin love and unity with self. Love and honor from others is not pos

This week’s Nurah Speaks guest is Sister Colette Muhammad of ‘Canning with Colette.’ Sister Colette is a registered member of the Nation of Islam and learned the proper canning of foods in the Sisters’ class and now she provides these classes to others. In this episode, Sister Colette shares why canning is an important food preservation technique that benefits both our physical and financial health. Her mission is to take away the stigma, anxiety and fears associated with canning in the black and brown community specifically. She wants others to embrace this skill not only as a necessity as it relates to the time and what must be done, but also as a joyous experience of self accomplishment in doing for self. This was an informative conversation especially in light of the recent pandemic and economic hardship of many across this nation. Be sure to follow Sister Colette on Facebook SisterColette Muhammad and Instagram @SisterColette and visit her website KitchenSplendor.co where you can register for her cann

Although racism is a terrible and cruel thing, it is not the most pressing of our present challenges. Our greatest and gravest issues since Emancipation and Jim Crow have been a destructive and self deprecating mindset that inhibits our desire to meets the needs of our people. Our tee-shirts and caps claim “Black and Proud,” however a great measure of our political and social activism does not demonstrate pride and confidence in our own abilities which makes the sting of racism that more painful.  Racism would be much less a factor in our lives if we capitalized on our skills and know-how and the trillions of dollars passing through our hands annually. If you would like to engage with the Nurah Speaks podcast, submit your listener questions to info@NurahSpeaks.com.  Listeners can also learn more about Nurah by visiting her website: NurahSpeaks.com or reading her blog by clicking this link. Follow Nurah Speaks @NurahSpeaksPodcast on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. To bring Nurah as a

I am joined this week by Sister Aquila Ali.  Aquila is a member of the Coalition for Remembrance of Elijah Muhammad (CROE) and is an integral part of their media production team.  Unfortunately for black women in media, the bar has been set very low in terms of image and content.  However Aquila continues to endure as an example of character and integrity In this conversation, Aquila chronicles her journey in becoming a member of CROE and a student of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad, her role within the media production team and she shares what she believes black women must understand about the root of our confidence. You are going to enjoy this conversation and it will surely enlighten listeners to the unexplored prominence that women have in the Nation of Islam. To learn more about CROE and the Honorable Elijah Muhammad visit CROE.org.  Make sure you watch and subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC--UCt5LqFF3IW5fLn5lH2g and follow on facebook @CROETV.   Email

On this MLK Day of Service be reminded of the fullness of Dr. King’s movement.  We cannot let him be another figure we memorialize in distortion.  He was more than his passive resistance.  He was a fierce opponent of injustice, standing in full defiance to racism, poverty and unjust war. On this 26th MLK Day of Service, 53 years after his tragic assassination, be reminded that the justice he sought then, we still seek today.  The work must continue and it must continue with us. If you would like to engage with the Nurah Speaks podcast, submit your listener questions to info@NurahSpeaks.com.  Listeners can also learn more about Nurah by visiting her website: NurahSpeaks.com or reading her blog by clicking this link. Follow Nurah Speaks @NurahSpeaksPodcast on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. To bring Nurah as a speaker at your next event, email info@NurahSpeaks.com. Remember, don’t just Join the Movement, Be the Movement!

In an era popular with youth task forces and social programs serving ‘at risk’ youth, we must ask what we can do to head off delinquent behaviors in our young people. In this episode, I suggest that ‘Family Is The Best Social Program’ and I have research that I share to support this assertion.  The research indicates that, “Children born to unmarried mothers generally receive lower human capital investments because the contractual partnership between the parents is less stable, and sometimes nonexistent (**Becker, 1981).” In other words, we increase the likelihood of unfavorable outcomes for our children when we do not anchor them in families to provide them the needed moral, social and economic supports.  Frankly, we cannot reasonably expect to make a healthy community when a large segment of our children are conceived by people who dislike their child's other parent or with whom they do not want to create a family. Families are the beginning of life lessons that cultivate us to interact within

In this week’s episode we hear from Dr. Sandra West.  Dr. West is an optometrist having over 27 years of practice. She also happens to be my own personal physician. I met Dr. West several years ago when I scheduled a routine vision exam and to my surprise and pure delight the doctor was a Black woman.  Interestingly enough, when I attended a business conference in New Orleans several months later, we found ourselves meeting again as attendees of the same conference. I invited Dr. West to the show not because she is my personal physician but because of what I knew she could offer Nurah Speaks listeners.  Not only does Dr. West explain when we should begin vision checks, but also what our doctors are checking for and some of the latest technology aiding optometrists today.  Additionally she shares insights into her own childhood, how she was raised by dynamic parents and what parents can do today to prepare children for future success.   Dr. West is an advocate for STEM and vocationa

Some may wonder why I close each show with the words ‘Stay in peace!’   As peace is literally my religion and my way of life, it is also my message. And in such a trying time as this-it is more important than ever that we focus on efforts to increase or maintain our peace by focusing on self care. So - as we close out 2020 with Episode 146, I share ways in which we can attend to our own self care needs. Manage Your Stress-Take on COVID stress with activities that can give you relief and enjoyment. Be sure to avoid increased alcohol consumption and never use it to manage stress. If you need to, seek professional counseling. You are not alone. Do Not Overtax Ourselves or Our Children with Remote Learning-Remote learning certainly has its challenges for parents who are either working outside the home or inside the home. If there are concerns or limitations, be sure to communicate with your child’s teacher or school administrators, if necessary. In cases where you see your or your child’s stress r

When the world settles into its new normal, Nurah Speaks will still be here!   Therefore, I am actively preparing for the 2021 season of the podcast.    I have several goals for the upcoming year including:  featuring 13 insightful guests, refining the podcast, increasing listener engagement, and more. If you have ideas, show topics, or guests you'd like featured, please feel free to email me info@NurahSpeaks.com.   If you have questions, submit your listener questions to info@NurahSpeaks.com.   Listeners can also learn more about Nurah by visiting her website: NurahSpeaks.com or reading her blog by clicking this link. Follow Nurah Speaks @NurahSpeaksPodcast on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. To bring Nurah as a speaker at your next event, email info@NurahSpeaks.com. Remember, don’t just Join the Movement, Be the Movement!

We cannot be on the fence forever being neither this nor that, never having made a commitment or obligating ourselves to one direction or another.  Indecisiveness is obstructive to our personal development. It is time now to make a choice. If you would like to engage with the Nurah Speaks podcast, submit your listener questions to info@NurahSpeaks.com.  Listeners can also learn more about Nurah by visiting her website: NurahSpeaks.com or reading her blog by clicking this link. Follow Nurah Speaks @NurahSpeaksPodcast on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. To bring Nurah as a speaker at your next event, email info@NurahSpeaks.com. Remember, don’t just Join the Movement, Be the Movement!

Real ‘Juvenile Justice’ is having a culture that promotes stability and wellness for our most vulnerable population, our children.  The injustice is that the modern norms of our culture promote dysfunction that we expect social workers, clinicians, judges and juvenile justice staff to repair. Studies show that most children within the juvenile justice systems have experienced adversity in their childhood as evidenced by ACEs (Adverse Childhood experiences) surveys. Adverse Childhood experiences are preventable. But unless we promote stability and safety to the families in our communities we will keep relinquishing our children to the care of the state to fix what could have been prevented by advocating for strong families. If you would like to engage with the Nurah Speaks podcast, submit your listener questions to info@NurahSpeaks.com.  Listeners can also learn more about Nurah by visiting her website: NurahSpeaks.com or reading her blog by clicking this link. Follow Nurah Speaks @NurahSp

Do not let your guard down with COVID-19. Although we are nearing a year with this pandemic, it is no less severe an illness. We should continue employing the preventative measures to maintain our protection from the virus. •Wear a mask •Maintain physical distancing •Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water •Avoid crowds and confined spaces. To learn more about COVID 19 visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.htmlPrevention If you would like to engage with the Nurah Speaks podcast, submit your listener questions to info@NurahSpeaks.com.  Listeners can also learn more about Nurah by visiting her website: NurahSpeaks.com or reading her blog by clicking this link. Follow Nurah Speaks @NurahSpeaksPodcast on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. To bring Nurah as a speaker at your next event, email info@NurahSpeaks.com. Remember, don’t just Join the Movement, Be the Movement!

Today marks the third anniversary of Nurah Speaks!  I am extremely humbled and grateful to have been blessed with such a special opportunity for the last three years. Although my studio has had some changes, my equipment has changed, the goal of this production has not. Love is still the foundation and the goal remains to tug on the soul and consciousness of the Black Community. In these quick three years, I have learned so much and I hope that you, my listeners, have been learning along the way with me. “Thank you” for all of your support and encouragement. It has been an honor to serve you in this way and I am eager for what the next three years will bring. If you would like to engage with the Nurah Speaks podcast, submit your listener questions to info@NurahSpeaks.com.  Listeners can also learn more about Nurah by visiting her website: NurahSpeaks.com or reading her blog by clicking this link. Follow Nurah Speaks @NurahSpeaksPodcast on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. To bring Nurah as

What a clever, clever trick it was to convince the dominant that the dominant is recessive and that the recessive is dominant!  And as a result, we witness the dominant having with a recessive mindset and functioning with recessive behaviors. What is the evidence of our recessive mindset?  Low Self Esteem.   Insecurity.   Dependency.   Apathy.   Self Hatred. If we do not unlock our latent genius for the purpose of self love and self service, our progress will forever be limited.  It is through education and learning the knowledge of self that we will recognize our own excellence and begin functioning with the distinction that is rightfully ours. If you would like to engage with the Nurah Speaks podcast, submit your listener questions to info@NurahSpeaks.com.  Listeners can also learn more about Nurah by visiting her website: NurahSpeaks.com or reading her blog by clicking this link. Follow Nurah Speaks @NurahSpeaksPodcast on Facebook, Twitt

Now that we have decided who is going to Washington D.C., let’s get to the business of solving problems closer to home.   What is our agenda?  What plans are we making for our own communities?   Have we given this any thought? In whatever plans we make, I believe we should begin with these four steps: Love One Another: We need to discharge of ego and self hatred and return to Black Love. Clean Up: We should throw away the garbage that distorts our reality, physically and mentally. Create Institutions that serve our Common Good: We need healthcare providers who care, listen and treat us with dignity.  We need schools wherein we are not concerned that our children are learning to be inferior. Support One Another Economically: We should be conservative in our spending and do business with each other.  We shouldn't look for others to do for us what we can do for ourselves. If you would like to engage with the Nurah Speaks podcast, submit your listener questions to info@NurahS

Gossip is toxic and impacts the growth potential of your organization and its members.  If you want your organization, company or group to flourish, you must root out gossip.  In this episode, I share four reasons why people gossip.  Understanding a gossip's motivation can help leaders target the character building a member needs to become an essential agent rather than a source of disruption.  However, since character is an inside job, a leader can only have so much impact.   At some point, a gossip must be isolated from doing irreversible damage to the group's overall success.   If you would like to engage with the Nurah Speaks podcast, submit your listener questions to info@NurahSpeaks.com.  Listeners can also learn more about Nurah by visiting her website: NurahSpeaks.com or reading her blog by clicking this link. Follow Nurah Speaks @NurahSpeaksPodcast on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. To bring Nurah as a speaker at your next event, email info@NurahSpeaks.co

Some say, “I am not my ancestors!”  Often this suggests weakness or complicity in our ancestors in their own suffering.   However, I say, you are right -  you are not your ancestors because in fact some of us are our ancestors’ worst fears come true. In projecting their thoughts to the future, surely they’d never have imagined the complacency some of us have in our condition, our willful assassination of our own, our disunity, our selfishness or our manifest self hatred. I imagine they'd expect the pain of our existence to eventually end but who could have predicted we would be the greatest source of our own harm? If you would like to engage with the Nurah Speaks podcast, submit your listener questions to info@NurahSpeaks.com.  Listeners can also learn more about Nurah by visiting her website: NurahSpeaks.com or reading her blog by clicking this link. Follow Nurah Speaks @NurahSpeaksPodcast on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. To bring Nurah as a speaker at your next event, e