What if one of the cartoons we grew up watching was actually teaching us how the world works?

In this episode, Shyian revisits the childhood show Recess—but through a different lens. What once looked like a simple playground full of kids and games starts to reveal something deeper: power structures, hierarchy, favoritism, and the quiet rules that decide who gets protected and who gets punished.

Through storytelling, Shyian walks listeners through the world of the playground—King Bob, Miss Finster, the Ashleys, the Core Five, and the new kid Gus. But halfway through, the blindfold comes off. Because the playground isn’t just a cartoon. It’s a reflection of the real world.

This episode explores how history has a way of repeating itself, how systems of power operate, and why solidarity matters when communities recognize familiar patterns of fear and control.

Black History Month isn’t only about remembering the past—it’s also about recognizing the present.

Sometimes the lessons were always there.

We just didn’t realize we were watching them at recess.

Postpartum is often spoken about through the lens of struggle, exhaustion, and survival — and while that experience is real and valid, it isn’t the only one.

In this episode, I share my personal postpartum experience — one rooted in peace, joy, and deep support. I talk openly about the fear-based narratives surrounding postpartum, how constant “warnings” can shape expectations, and why having a truly supportive partner changed everything for me.

This conversation is not meant to dismiss postpartum depression or the very real challenges many mothers face. It exists to widen the narrative — to make space for joy, softness, and the possibility that postpartum doesn’t have to be something we survive.

If you’re a new parent, an expecting parent, or someone navigating life after a major transition, this episode is an invitation to breathe, reflect, and remember that more than one truth can exist at the same time.

Coming back to the mic looks different now — because I’m different.

In this season premiere, I talk about returning to podcasting after becoming a mother, navigating the tension between giving my daughter all of me while still honoring who I am, and learning how to hold both identities without losing myself.

This episode isn’t about having it all figured out — it’s about acknowledging the shift, embracing the growth, and allowing myself to evolve out loud.

Welcome to The Soft Rebirth.

This is me, becoming myself again… as someone new.