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What does it mean to work the word when your story holds so many layers?

Hosts Shani McIlwain and Jesy Littlejohn sit down with special guest Micheal J. Ivory Jr.—a proud queer Black man, first-generation college graduate, and Duke-trained writer and teacher—for a conversation rooted in truth, identity, and lived experience.

Raised in a Pentecostal tradition, Micheal brings a powerful perspective on how language, faith, and culture shape the stories we carry. Together, they explore how deeply held narratives influence the way we see ourselves and each other—while honoring the beauty, complexity, and brilliance within Black life.

This episode is thoughtful, real, and full of that undeniable Black excellence—where language isn’t just spoken, it’s worked. Where stories aren’t just told, they’re owned.

Because around here, words aren’t just words—they’re a little bit of magic.

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This week on Embracing Race, Shani and Jesy are taking it out the groupchat and straight to the mic.

In our brand-new segment, “Take It Out the Groupchat,” we’re saying the things that usually stay between besties — the spicy takes, the side-eyes, the “be so for real” moments.

We get into the current political chaos, racism in the NFL, and why Hitler’s name keeps popping up in today’s America (yeah… we’re going there). It’s bold, it’s honest, it’s a little messy — in the best way.

Tap in. It gets GOOD.

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Happy Black History Month! In this episode of Embracing Race: Conversations with Truth & Intention, we sit with the fabulous Dr. Tamisha A. Tyler — theologian, poet, cultural firebrand, and lifelong “lover of people.” Think theology with swagger, poetry with heft, and wisdom with a wink — all served with an Erykah Badu kind of sauce.

A proud Butler Scholar, Dr. Tyler brings her deep engagement with Octavia E. Butler’s work into conversation with her own creative and academic practice on he instagram and other social media. And if you’re hungry for more, she’s hosting a book club this April focused on Parable of the Sower — a space to dive deep, build community, and explore ideas that matter.

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