In this episode of Shaping Freedom, Lisane Basquiat is joined by Darren Waller, former NFL Pro Bowl tight end, musician, and mental health advocate, for a powerful conversation about identity, healing, and redefining success.

They explore how chasing external validation can lead to disconnection, and how Darren’s journey through addiction, sobriety, and recovery forced him to confront the deeper patterns shaping his life. He shares how practices like therapy, journaling, and meditation helped him reconnect with himself and begin building a new foundation rooted in self-awareness.

Together, they discuss the emotional legacies we inherit, the courage it takes to face what’s beneath the surface, and how choosing yourself can transform the way you live and relate to others. This conversation is about growth, alignment, and the ongoing process of becoming who you truly are.

In this episode, Lisane Basquiat sits down with Shawn McClendon, author of Understanding Each Other: The Blueprint for a New America and founder of the Sister Cities Project, for a timely conversation about communication and division.

They explore how many of today’s conflicts stem not just from poor communication, but from how we interpret each other through past experiences and assumptions. Shawn shares how his upbringing shaped his perspective and led him to create spaces where people can have honest, often uncomfortable conversations.

Together, they discuss the power of listening, the importance of discomfort in growth, and how real understanding can begin to shift the way we see one another. This conversation is about connection, awareness, and the possibility of something better when we choose to truly engage.

In this episode of Shaping Freedom, Lisane Basquiat sits down with filmmakers Lin Que Ayoung and Rashad Frett, the creative forces behind Ricky, a powerful film that goes far beyond one person’s story.

Together, they explore how identity is shaped early, how roles get assigned, and what it takes to break free from patterns that no longer serve us. Drawing from their own lived experiences and communities, Lin Que and Rashad share why it was so important to give voice to people who are often misunderstood or overlooked, and how storytelling can shift perspective and challenge stigma.

In this episode of Shaping Freedom, Lisane Basquiat is joined by Glenn and Yvette Henry, creators of How Married Are You?, for a real and honest conversation about marriage, identity, and the work it takes to grow together. They open up about therapy, family patterns, and learning to do the inner work that builds a real partnership.

In this episode of Shaping Freedom, Lisane Basquiat is joined by married creative duo Jevin and L. Marie Smith for a real and honest conversation about love, partnership, and building a life together.

From meeting as actors in a play to raising a family and creating together, they share their journey with humor and openness. They talk about the importance of clear communication, learning how to grow through conflict, and what it means to truly choose each other every day.

Jevin and L. Marie also reflect on the challenges they’ve faced, including financial struggles and moments that tested their faith, and how those experiences strengthened both their relationship and their perspective on life.

This conversation is about more than marriage. It’s about growth, honesty, and building something real together.

In this episode of Shaping Freedom, Lisane Basquiat sits down with Grammy Award–winning songwriter, producer, and vocal coach Autumn Rowe to explore the journey of finding your voice and using it with purpose.

Raised in the South Bronx, Autumn shares how music became both an outlet and a path forward, eventually leading her to write and produce songs for artists like Dua Lipa, Diana Ross, and Jon Batiste. She reflects on the persistence, faith, and inner work required to build a creative career, and how moments of doubt and challenge can shape a deeper understanding of freedom.

Together, Lisane and Autumn talk about creativity as a spiritual practice, the responsibility that comes with influence, and why mentorship and community matter in an industry that often overlooks the people behind the music.

This conversation is about more than songwriting. It’s about resilience, self-belief, and learning to trust the voice inside that knows who you are meant to be.

In this episode of Shaping Freedom, Lisane Basquiat sits down with Grammy Award–winning songwriter, producer, and vocal coach Autumn Rowe to explore the journey of finding your voice and using it with purpose.

Raised in the South Bronx, Autumn shares how music became both an outlet and a path forward, eventually leading her to write and produce songs for artists like Dua Lipa, Diana Ross, and Jon Batiste. She reflects on the persistence, faith, and inner work required to build a creative career, and how moments of doubt and challenge can shape a deeper understanding of freedom.

Together, Lisane and Autumn talk about creativity as a spiritual practice, the responsibility that comes with influence, and why mentorship and community matter in an industry that often overlooks the people behind the music.

This conversation is about more than songwriting. It’s about resilience, self-belief, and learning to trust the voice inside that knows who you are meant to be.

In this episode of Shaping Freedom, Lisane Basquiat sits down with Malcolm Regisford, founder of Tapped In Wellness, holistic wellness advocate, former Division I athlete, and plant-based cook. Malcolm shares how an injury during his college basketball career forced him to rethink identity, success, and what it really means to take care of the body and mind.

Drawing from his journey as an athlete and creator, Malcolm explains why wellness starts with awareness before diet or fitness. He talks about the importance of listening to your body, paying attention to what you consume physically, mentally, and emotionally, and creating space to reconnect with yourself in a world full of constant stimulation.

Together, Lisane and Malcolm explore how discipline can evolve into alignment, how food can be an entry point to deeper self-awareness, and why learning to slow down and “tap in” to your own experience can transform the way you move through life.

This conversation is about more than health. It’s about consciousness, ownership, and building a life that feels balanced, intentional, and true to you.

In this episode of Shaping Freedom, Lisane Basquiat sits down with Alphonzo “Phonz” Terrell, co-founder and CEO of Spill, to talk about building community in a digital world that often feels anything but safe.

After being laid off from Twitter, Alphonzo chose to build something new — a platform rooted in belonging, cultural ownership, and real connection. Together, Lisane and Alphonzo explore leadership, inner work, the loneliness epidemic, and why safety is essential to freedom.

Tune in to hear how intentional leadership shapes culture, how belonging is built on purpose, and what it takes to create spaces where people can participate without bracing themselves.

In this episode, Lisane Basquiat sits down with Ayanna Gregory, singer, dramatist, and activist, to reflect on growing up in a family rooted in the civil rights movement and how those experiences shaped her journey. Ayanna shares stories about her father Dick Gregory, the values of courage and compassion she carries with her, and how she expresses healing and purpose through her creative and community work.

Together, they explore legacy, resilience, and the ongoing practice of finding freedom within yourself. This conversation invites listeners to slow down, listen deeply, and consider how their own lives can be shaped with intention.

In this episode, Lisane Basquiat sits down with Simone Adams, founder of Color My Outdoors, for a conversation about inherited patterns, nervous system regulation, and what it takes to build a life on your own terms.

Simone shares how she went from people-pleasing and grinding to a slower, more intentional life rooted in nature and self-trust. The episode explores how freedom comes through subtraction – letting go of urgency, redefining success, and reconnecting with what actually sustains you.

Lisane also digs into Simone's work with Color My Outdoors, a grassroots nonprofit creating access and belonging for people of color in outdoor spaces across the South. This one is for anyone ready to listen to what their body already knows.

In this insightful episode of Shaping Freedom, I sit down with Dr. Karmetria Burton — senior leader at McDonald's, founder of the Paint Your Lips Red Foundation, and author of "Never Wear Red Lipstick" — to explore what happens when inherited rules start running your life without permission.

Dr. Karmetria breaks down how limiting beliefs quietly become the new normal, why waiting for external validation keeps people stuck, and what she calls "the heart work" — the courage to examine patterns that no longer serve.

We also talk about why leadership begins wherever you're standing right now, how to stop waiting for someone else to save you, and what it actually takes to turn old limitations into new possibilities.

In this inspiring episode of Shaping Freedom, I sit down with Shavone Charles — cultural strategist, creator, and former global head of multicultural communications at TikTok — to talk about what it means to own your value in rooms that weren't built for you.

Shavone reflects on her journey through Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok, the responsibility creatives have to their communities, and why the room becomes special when you walk into it.

We also get into collective well-being, cultural accountability, and what it takes to leave a chapter at its peak to build something new.

In this episode, Lisane Basquiat sits down with global fitness coach, content creator, and mother Britany Williams for an honest conversation about identity, motherhood, wellness, and the pressure women face to “bounce back.” Britany opens up about her journey—from being diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at 13, to becoming a competitive runner, climbing the corporate ladder at Under Armour, and eventually stepping into fitness and content creation full-time.

In this episode of the Shaping Freedom podcast, Lisane Basquiat and Ingrid Best explore how teenage motherhood shaped extraordinary purpose. From Oakland streets to global wine portfolios, Best reveals how Africa unlocked her identity, birthing IBest Wines. Both women share young motherhood experiences and refusing to shrink.

As 2025 comes to a close, Lisane Basquiat and Billy Johnson reflect on a year marked by growth, challenge, and transformation. This special wrap-up episode revisits some of the most impactful conversations of the year, exploring what it truly means to shape freedom in our lives, families, and communities. Drawing from powerful guest insights, the episode invites listeners to examine citizenship as an active practice, emotional honesty, boundaries, grief, legacy, and the courage required to evolve.

Throughout the conversation, Lisane highlights recurring themes from the season: regulating emotions instead of suppressing them, recognizing burnout before it takes hold, setting boundaries with love, and doing the internal work necessary to break generational cycles. Guests share wisdom on grief as a lifelong companion, the power of telling the truth in relationships, and the importance of pairing faith or intention with meaningful action.

In this episode of Shaping Freedom, Lisane Basquiat sits down with Jasmine LeFlore—aerospace engineer, MBA, nonprofit founder, and beacon of representation in STEM. Growing up in Flint, Michigan, Jasmine transformed childhood curiosity and family affirmations into a career bridging engineering, leadership, and impact.

Jasmine shares her journey from watching airplanes above her home to earning degrees from Michigan and Purdue, and ultimately leading applied research at Collins Aerospace. She opens up about navigating identity and resilience while carving space as a woman of color in a male-dominated field.

The conversation explores Jasmine's nonprofit, Greater Than Tech, which equips underserved youth—especially girls—with STEM and entrepreneurship skills to build solutions, not just compete. With honesty, Jasmine reflects on unlearning rigid systems, embracing intuition and compassionate leadership, and creating opportunities for the next generation.

This episode reveals what it truly means to lead with humanity, authenticity, and vision.

In this powerful follow-up conversation, Lisane Basquiat sits down once again with author, speaker, and coach Antonio Neves to explore what life looks like after an awakening moment.

Antonio shares the deeply personal story of losing his home in the California wildfires and how this unexpected tragedy forced him to redefine success, re-evaluate his priorities, and truly live one day at a time.

In this episode, Lisane Basquiat speaks with Dr. Dawna Ballard—associate professor, chronemics expert, and author of Time by Design—about the truth behind our culture’s fixation on speed. Dr. Ballard explains how urgency culture impacts our communication, our bodies, and our relationships, and why slowing down is essential for clarity, connection, and sustainable progress.

They explore the difference between fast and slow communication design, the physical cost of rushing, and practical steps for redesigning your relationship with time. If you’ve ever felt overextended or stuck in “go mode,” this conversation offers grounded insight on how slowing down can actually help you move forward more effectively.

In this powerful episode of Shaping Freedom, host Lisane Basquiat sits down with Dr. ShantaQuilette Develle — a wellness educator, content creator, and heart health advocate whose journey of resilience has inspired millions.

She talks openly about facing a heart attack and multiple strokes, the ego she had to shed, and the moment she chose to listen to her body and her faith instead of pushing through the pain.

Her message is clear: healing happens through habits, boundaries, accountability, and the courage to participate in your own rescue.