Today we wrap up season one of the podcast. Valarie and Emra take about the purpose behind this mission; why they chose to engage in this work of bringing unity among diverse peoples, and how it requires intentionality, compassion and empathy to see this work expand. In season 2, we invite you to join us as we will be interviewing guests around the…

This is the second part of a two-part conversation about the diverse ethnic roots of Savannah, Georgia, a city that has become a melting pot of African American, white, indigenous, Hispanic and Asian cultures. Emra and Valarie discuss why it is equally important to join people in their joy as in their pain. Courageous Conversations that Heal…

Today is the first of a two-part conversation about the ethnic roots of Savannah, Georgia—a city that has become a melting pot of African American, white, Indigenous, Hispanic and Asian cultures. Valarie and Emra talk about the beginnings of our great city and how, though we have come a long way in terms of racial equality and inclusion, we still h…

We're discussing firsts today—inspired by Ian article about General Michael Langley, the U.S. Marine Corps' first African American four star general. Emra and Valarie highlight more incredible achievements in technology, health care and the arts by people you may not have heard about before. What does it take to be first? How do we stand up in our …

This week our nation celebrated the 4th of July, and we thought it might be a good time to talk traditions. Whether drinking tea together or dancing the Samba, we can all agree that life would not be as rich or as meaningful without our family rituals. Storytelling, music, fireworks, dance, food—each ethnicity has a different take on how to celebra…

The topic is love: how do we hold boundaries and yet continue to love? How do we forgive and remain open to love when we've been deeply hurt? Valarie shares a little bit of her own powerful story of forgiveness in this episode. It's a must-listen for those of us who struggle with letting go of past hurt. Courageous Conversations that Heal…

Today our first guest, author, musician and co-founder of Marigold Press Books, Rebekah McLeod, asks the questions: "What are the actual markers of progress towards racial reconciliation? What actions steps do we take to build new bridges of trust and goodwill?" Also discussed is the three-step process of reconciliation and how each one can be appl…

Nelson Mandela said, "For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others." Why do we celebrate Juneteenth as a federal holiday, and what exactly does it mean to our nation? How does celebrating it respect the freedom of others? Also, do we know the whole story when it comes t…

Respect: How do we get back to it when our culture is hyper-focused on the individual—my needs, my thoughts, my opinions; when our media and our political system seems to divide us into right and left, and being moderate is no longer in vogue? How do we get back to the value of community; to remember that everyone has a story? How do we turn our me…

What does it mean to truly be an ally, to stand in solidarity with those who are treated unfairly around us? At critical moments in culture, when injustice rips the bandaid off old wounds, often the first response of the majority is blame shifting and finger-pointing, but as Valarie explains, there is another option for how to respond in a way that…

In this episode, our hosts, Valarie Grimes and Emra Smith, talk about privilege—some cultural and political sources of privilege and how we may differ in the ways we view our nation's history, our Founding Fathers, our Constitution, and even public monuments depending on whether or not we are part of a privileged group. Courageous Conversations tha…

In this episode, our hosts, Valarie Grimes and Emra Smith talk about prejudice, some of the stereotypes and myths that form the foundations of prejudice, and how we can experience a kind of cognitive dissonance when our prejudices are challenged by real-world experiences. They also explore the question, "Why should we make ourselves uncomfortable t…

Today our hosts, Valarie Grimes and Emra Smith, talk about what it feels like to be "othered," and the complex emotions that occur around this all-too-common human experience. Stick with this conversation through to the end, because the most poignant part happens when our hosts give us a real-life example of what it means to truly "see" the other, …

In this episode, you will be introduced to our hosts, Valarie Grimes and Emra Smith, two women in leadership who are on a mission to break down the walls that divide us as a human race. This first episode talks about the importance of believing, trusting and validating the negative experiences of others, even if we haven't experienced the same thin…