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Blacktivities

Blacktivities

By: Shannon Chatmon Talisa Hale and Karen Roberts
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About this listen

 Blacktivities is where Black women gather to talk about life, history, and everything in between. It’s a celebration of Black culture, Black perspectives, and the shared experiences that shape how we move through the world. With the perfect balance of humor and depth, Blacktivities connects Black America’s past to the present through conversations that are thoughtful, relatable, and sometimes nostalgic. We talk about everyday life, current issues, and cultural moments the way they’re actually discussed off-mic. Hosted by Shannon, Lisa, and Karen, the show centers Black women’s voices while showing that no two experiences are the same. Different viewpoints, real dialogue, and honest reactions all live here. If you enjoy smart conversations that don’t feel preachy, cultural commentary that still knows how to laugh, and a podcast that feels like home, welcome to Blacktivities. Press play. Stay awhile.Copyright 2022-2026 Black Panache, LLC Social Sciences World
Episodes
  • Why Black Women Are Still Dying in Childbirth — The Truth About Black Maternal Health

    Why Black Women Are Still Dying in Childbirth — The Truth About Black Maternal Health
    Apr 20 2026
    Black women are 2–3x more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women — and that gap exists regardless of income, education, or celebrity status. In this episode of Blacktivities, we trace the roots of the Black maternal health crisis from the experimental surgeries performed on enslaved women in the 1840s to the racial bias still showing up in delivery rooms today.Hosts Shannon and Mona Lisa are joined by Tanessa, a certified full-spectrum doula, for an honest, culturally grounded conversation about why Black women aren't being heard in healthcare — and what we can do about it.In this episode:The disturbing history of J. Marion Sims, the "father of modern gynecology," and the enslaved Black women his career was built onThe weathering hypothesis — why Black women's bodies age faster biologically due to the cumulative stress of racismWhy a college degree won't protect you: how provider bias affects Black women at every income levelWhat a doula actually does — and why having one can reduce your C-section risk by up to 39%Lotus births, home births, water births, and birthing centers — your options beyond the hospitalHow to advocate for yourself if you can't afford a doula (hint: know your state's birth rights)Why going to the hospital alone is one of the biggest risks Black women faceHow herbalism and ancestral healing practices connect to modern holistic careBring Blacktivities to your inbox - stay posted on what's happening with the pod... more black culture, black history, black perspectives, and black panache!Follow our Guest: Tanessa@HarmoniaSanctuary@MavenProductions423@Tavernobeauty@mysticmaven33Other Ways to Join in the Blacktivities:Share this episode with a friend. Word of mouth is the best tool for growth.Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts.Follow us on social media.Donate to the cause and help amplify more black voices.Hear more episodes - Blacktivities websiteAbout the HostsBlacktivities is a Black Panache original production - a podcast network with a lineup of black-hosted shows sharing black stories and tackling black issues. For more information on shows like our newest production, Fat Lies Matter, visit blackpanache.com.Continue the Conversation on Social Media:Instagram - @blacktivitiespodFollow Shannon - @justshanofficialFollow Lisa - @monalisathepoetFollow Karen - @theekkrobertsThreads - @blacktivitiespodFacebook - BlacktivitiesThe Weathering Effect: How Racism Contributes To Poor Health Outcomes | Henry Ford Health - Detroit, MIRacial Disparities in Maternal and Infant Health: Current Status and Key IssuesBlack Women Excluded from Critical Studies Due to ‘Weathering’ | Yale School of Medicine“Weathering” and Age Patterns of Allostatic Load Scores Among Blacks and Whites in the United States - PMCRacial bias in pain assessment and treatment recommendations, and false beliefs about biological differences between blacks and whites - PubMedThe ‘Father of Modern Gynecology’ Performed Shocking Experiments on Enslaved WomenMedical Exploitation of Black WomenCopyright 2022-2026 Black Panache, LLC
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    1 hr and 6 mins
  • From Minstrel Shows to Memes: The History of Blackface in America

    From Minstrel Shows to Memes: The History of Blackface in America
    Apr 13 2026

    From minstrel shows to modern politics — Shannon and KK break down the deep history of blackface in America, why it was never just entertainment, and why whiteface is not the mirror image people claim it is.

    This past week, a blackface photo of a sitting Georgia state representative surfaced, and it sparked a response that hit every note of the classic "I'm not racist" playbook. The receipts are read and the hosts give their thoughts on his response.

    In Big Facts, Shannon traces blackface from its roots in 1828, when Thomas Dartmouth Rice stole a dance from an enslaved man and built a minstrel empire, all the way through Hollywood's golden age, the birth of Jim Crow laws, and the documented ways minstrel stereotypes still shape how Black people are perceived today.

    Then the conversation opens up: Druski's conservative woman skits, the Wayans Brothers' White Chicks defense, Jack Harlow going full R&B, and the difference between resistance and racism.

    No Lisa this week, but Shannon and KK hold it down.

    Bring Blacktivities to your inbox - stay posted on what's happening with the pod... more black culture, black history, black perspectives, and black panache!

    Other Ways to Join in the Blacktivities:
    1. Share this episode with a friend. Word of mouth is the best tool for growth.
    2. Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts.
    3. Follow us on social media.
    4. Donate to the cause and help amplify more black voices.

    Hear more episodes - Blacktivities website

    About the Hosts

    Blacktivities is a Black Panache original production - a podcast network with a lineup of black-hosted shows sharing black stories and tackling black issues. For more information on shows like our newest production, Fat Lies Matter, visit blackpanache.com.

    Continue the Conversation on Social Media:

    Instagram - @blacktivitiespod

    Follow Shannon - @justshanofficial

    Follow Lisa - @monalisathepoet

    Follow Karen - @theekkroberts

    Threads - @blacktivitiespod

    Facebook - Blacktivities

    Copyright 2022-2026 Black Panache, LLC
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    41 mins
  • Black Men’s Mental Health: Why So Many Suffer in Silence

    Black Men’s Mental Health: Why So Many Suffer in Silence
    Apr 6 2026
    In this episode of Blacktivities, the conversation shifts to something deeper—Black men’s mental health and the silence that often surrounds it.Why don’t more Black men talk about what they’re going through?Is it cultural… generational… or something bigger?The hosts unpack the layers behind emotional suppression, stigma, and the expectations placed on Black men to always be strong. Also, Dr. Camillia Harris, founder of justUs, HM, shares how her father's death prompted her to create the organization and host black men's mental health conferences nationwide.This isn’t just a conversation—it’s a call to understand, to listen, and to create space.What We DiscussWhy many Black men struggle to express emotionsThe cultural expectation of strength vs. vulnerabilityHow silence becomes survival—and isolationThe role of community, family, and relationshipsWhat it actually looks like to create safe spaces for Black menBring Blacktivities to your inbox - stay posted on what's happening with the pod... more black culture, black history, black perspectives, and black panache!Meet Our Guest:Dr. Camilla Harris, Founder of justUs, MHjustUs, MH - https://www.bmmhc.comInstagram - @bmmhc1@camillia_millyOther Ways to Join in the Blacktivities:Share this episode with a friend. Word of mouth is the best tool for growth.Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts.Follow us on social media.Donate to the cause and help amplify more black voices.Hear more episodes - Blacktivities websiteAbout the HostsBlacktivities is a Black Panache original production - a podcast network with a lineup of black-hosted shows sharing black stories and tackling black issues. For more information on shows like our newest production, Fat Lies Matter, visit blackpanache.com.Continue the Conversation on Social Media:Instagram - @blacktivitiespodFollow Shannon - @justshanofficialFollow Lisa - @monalisathepoetFollow Karen - @theekkrobertsThreads - @blacktivitiespodFacebook - BlacktivitiesSourcesScienceDirect — The Impact of Racism on Black American Mental Health https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2215036623003619PMC / NIH — The Traumatic Impact of Structural Racism on African Americans https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8352535/American Counseling Association — The Historical Roots of Racial Disparities in the Mental Health System https://www.counseling.org/publications/counseling-today-magazine/article-archive/article/legacy/the-historical-roots-of-racial-disparities-in-the-mental-health-systemPMC / NIH — How Masculinity Impedes African American Men from Seeking Mental Health Treatment https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11409296/Talkspace — Why Black Men Face Greater Mental Health Challenges https://www.talkspace.com/blog/black-men-mental-health-challenges-therapy/CarePlus NJ — Black Men and Mental Health https://careplusnj.org/black-men-and-mental-health/PMC / Johns Hopkins — Achieving Mental Health Equity in Black Male Suicide Prevention https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10098101/KFF — Suicide Deaths: National Trends by Demographics https://www.kff.org/mental-health/suicide-deaths-national-trends-and-variation-by-demographics-and-states/U.S. Office of Minority Health — Black/African American Mental Health https://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/mental-and-behavioral-health-blackafrican-americansCrisis & Support ResourcesTherapy for Black Men — Therapist Directory https://therapyforblackmen.orgBlack Men Heal — Mental Health Treatment Access https://blackmenheal.orgMental Health America — Black & African American Communities https://mhanational.org/issues/black-and-african-american-communities-and-mental-healthSAMHSA National Helpline — Free, Confidential, 24/7 https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — Call or Text 988 https://988lifeline.orgCopyright 2022-2026 Black Panache, LLC
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    1 hr and 5 mins
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