This week I sat down with Devin C. Hughes—author, speaker, and happiness advocate who knows that joy isn't luck, it's practice. We dove deep into his raw memoir Contrast: A Biracial Man's Journey To Desegregate His Past and why feeling like "the other" can become your superpower.

Devin breaks down how he transforms toxic workplace cultures and why "happiness hygiene" isn't woo-woo—it's survival. We talked about breaking generational cycles, raising kids who trust you with their truth, and why he's writing children's books to plant self-worth in young minds.

👉🏾 Ready to ditch survival mode for intentional joy? This conversation will shift how you show up in the world.

This week on the Shaping Freedom podcast, I spoke with Baratunde Thurston—Emmy-nominated host of America Outdoors on PBS, bestselling author, and fearless cultural critic—about why true freedom lives in embracing your flaws, not hiding them. We unpacked how vulnerability fuels real strength and why showing up authentically is the boldest move you can make.

This week on the Shaping Freedom podcast, I sat down with Dr. Napatia T. Gettings to talk about why brain health—not just talk therapy—is the real foundation for emotional intelligence. We covered everything from sleep and screen time to how we model regulation through our own choices.

We often think boundaries are about what we say to others—but what about the voice in your own head? In this soul-stirring episode Carmella Johnson reminds us that true healing starts internally. You can demand respect from others, but if you’re speaking to yourself with shame, doubt, or self-criticism, the cycle won’t break.

Recording the 100th episode of the Shaping Freedom® podcast wasn’t just a milestone—it was a moment of truth. Sitting down with longtime collaborators Billy Johnson Jr. and Ryan Tillotson, I found myself reflecting on everything this show has taught me: about vulnerability, alignment, and the quiet courage it takes to be fully seen.

In this episode’s conversation with Shanti Das, founder of Silence the Shame. After tragedy struck Shanti’s personal life, her public life became one of health and healing. She dives into the way this tragic has guided her, how her work within the hip hop community has bled out into wide reaching groups, and how it’s time that men finally talk about their feelings in a more honest and real way.

In this episode’s conversation with Antonio Neves, we explore some of the most pressing issues affecting modern men–and women. We talk about how to get out of that comfort zone that’s leaving you unfulfilled and find alignment through community, self-exploration, and a little time in nature.

In this two-part episode of Shaping Freedom, Lisane interviews Kevin Powell, a poet with Jersey roots and a Grammy nomination tucked under his belt, about family, resilience, and his album, "Grocery Shopping with My Mother," birthed from real-life trips to the store with his ailing mom. Listen as we explore love, health, and his surprise Grammy nomination. In the second part of this powerful conversation, Liasane and Kevin both look at the responsibilities and influences that creatives and their works have regarding the world and society around them. They later transition into why the creative’s journey is so important to shaping them and their works.

In this two-part episode of Shaping Freedom, Lisane interviews Kevin Powell.

A poet with Jersey roots and a Grammy nomination tucked under his belt, about family, resilience, and his album, “Grocery Shopping with My Mother,” birthed from real-life trips to the store with his ailing mom. Listen as we explore love, health, and his surprise Grammy nomination. In the first part of this series, Lisane and Kevin focus heavily on what it means to break the shackles of toxic masculinity and what it means to find love in a heartless society. 

This week I speak with Stephanie Mitchell, a wellness and fitness instructor and founder of The Rolling Mat, a corporate yoga wellness program that works with companies to improve employee wellness.

In this episode of Shaping Freedom, host Lisane Basquiat interviews Dr. Salvatore Forcina, an accomplished doctor and author of The American Doctor.

Dr. Forcina shares his inspiring story of overcoming obstacles and achieving the American Dream through education, hard work, and resilience. 

In this week’s conversation with Hannah Summerhill, we explore her insights on how we can all work to overcome the barriers that prevent us from having conversations on race, inequity, and how to best navigate these issues while creating more inclusive and equitable communities.

This week I spoke with Ruby Warrington, a self-published author coming from over 20 years in publishing and journalism including working for Style Magazine and Harper-Collins Publishers.

After leaving a career in publishing, Tai decided to pursue her entrepreneurial heart and follow her desire to help women of color to connect and care for themselves.

Oliver Chittenden, the founder of Head Talks, a site that gathers hundreds of educational and inspirational stories about the different ways people care for their mental and emotional well-being…

Steve and I discuss the best way to shift energy, priorities, and guidance on personal and family relationships, difficulties, and how to overcome these struggles through making these more emotionally manageable while maintaining personal, inspirational growth.

Listen to the conversation with Stephanie Singleton for some simple strategies to relieve stress and maximize your potential.

In this episode, Stu Massengill joins Lisane Basquiat to discuss how important it is to reflect inward, find solutions when personal issues arise, and ensure we all achieve what’s possible…

In this episode, Lisane Basquiat chats with Deepa Purushothaman on Life After Corporate, unlocking your potential, re-imagining and re-evaluating what she needed to feel healthy and whole…

In this episode, Destinee Macklin joins Lisane Basquiat to delve into her story and gain insight into her journey from being a detective in the Baltimore Police Department to a motivational coach and fashion designer.