Blacktivities is where Black women gather to talk about life, history, and everything in between. It’s a celebration of Black culture, Black perspectives, and the shared experiences that shape how we move through the world.
With the perfect balance of humor and depth, Blacktivities connects Black America’s past to the present through conversations that are thoughtful, relatable, and sometimes nostalgic. We talk about everyday life, current issues, and cultural moments the way they’re actually discussed off-mic.
Hosted by Shannon, Lisa, and Karen, the show centers Black women’s voices while showing that no two experiences are the same. Different viewpoints, real dialogue, and honest reactions all live here.
If you enjoy smart conversations that don’t feel preachy, cultural commentary that still knows how to laugh, and a podcast that feels like home, welcome to Blacktivities.
Press play. Stay awhile.
Why Black Women Are Still Dying in Childbirth — The Truth About Black Maternal Health
Black women are 2–3x more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women — and that gap exists regardless of income, education, or celebrity status. In this episode of Blacktivities, we trace the roots of the Black maternal health crisis from the experimental surgeries performed on enslaved women in the 1840s to the racial bias still showing up in delivery rooms today.
Hosts Shannon and Mona Lisa are joined by Tanessa, a certified full-spectrum doula, for an honest, culturally grounded conversation about why Black women aren't being heard in healthcare — and what we can do about it.
In this episode:
The disturbing history of J. Marion Sims, the "father of modern gynecology," and the enslaved Black women his career was built on
The weathering hypothesis — why Black women's bodies age faster biologically due to the cumulative stress of racism
Why a college degree won't protect you: how provider bias affects Black women at every income level
What a doula actually does — and why having one can reduce your C-section risk by up to 39%
Lotus births, home births, water births, and birthing centers — your options beyond the hospital
How to advocate for yourself if you can't afford a doula (hint: know your state's birth rights)
Why going to the hospital alone is one of the biggest risks Black women face
How herbalism and ancestral healing practices connect to modern holistic care
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Follow our Guest: Tanessa
@HarmoniaSanctuary
@MavenProductions423
@Tavernobeauty
@mysticmaven33
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About the Hosts (https://blacktivitiespod.com/hosts/)
Blacktivities is a Black Panache original production - a podcast network with a lineup of black-hosted shows sharing black stories and tackling black issues. For more information on shows like our newest production, Fat Lies Matter (https://fatlies.captivate.fm/listen), visit blackpanache.com (https://blackpanache.com).
Continue the Conversation on Social Media:
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Follow Shannon - @justshanofficial (https://instagram.com/justshanofficial)
Follow Lisa - @monalisathepoet (https://instagram.com/monalisadapoet)
Follow Karen - @theekkroberts (https://instagram.com/kkrobertsgrissom)
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The Weathering Effect: How Racism Contributes To Poor Health Outcomes | Henry Ford Health - Detroit, MI (https://www.henryford.com/blog/2024/02/the-weathering-effect)
Racial Disparities in Maternal and Infant Health: Current Status and Key Issues (https://www.kff.org/racial-equity-and-health-policy/racial-disparities-in-maternal-and-infant-health-current-status-and-key-issues/)
Black Women Excluded from Critical Studies Due to ‘Weathering’ | Yale School of Medicine (https://medicine.yale.edu/news-article/black-women-excluded-from-critical-studies-due-to-weathering/)
“Weathering” and Age Patterns of Allostatic Load Scores Among Blacks and Whites in the United States - PMC (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1470581/)
Racial bias in pain assessment and treatment recommendations, and false beliefs about biological differences between blacks and whites - PubMed (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27044069/)
The ‘Father of Modern Gynecology’ Performed Shocking Experiments on Enslaved Women (https://www.history.com/articles/the-father-of-modern-gynecology-performed-shocking-experiments-on-slaves)
Medical Exploitation of Black Women (https://eji.org/news/history-racial-injustice-medical-exploitation-of-black-women/)
Copyright 2022-2026 Black Panache, LLC
13 Apr 2026TRANSCRIPT
From Minstrel Shows to Memes: The History of Blackface in America
From minstrel shows to modern politics — Shannon and KK break down the deep history of blackface in America, why it was never just entertainment, and why whiteface is not the mirror image people claim it is.
This past week, a blackface photo of a sitting Georgia state representative surfaced, and it sparked a response that hit every note of the classic "I'm not racist" playbook. The receipts are read and the hosts give their thoughts on his response.
In Big Facts, Shannon traces blackface from its roots in 1828, when Thomas Dartmouth Rice stole a dance from an enslaved man and built a minstrel empire, all the way through Hollywood's golden age, the birth of Jim Crow laws, and the documented ways minstrel stereotypes still shape how Black people are perceived today.
Then the conversation opens up: Druski's conservative woman skits, the Wayans Brothers' White Chicks defense, Jack Harlow going full R&B, and the difference between resistance and racism.
No Lisa this week, but Shannon and KK hold it down.
*Referenced Episode - Mandingos Mammies, and Jezebels (https://player.captivate.fm/episode/e76fa770-ebf6-4a9b-bbca-98723815181b/)
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Other Ways to Join in the Blacktivities:
Share (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/blacktivities/id1619365163) this episode with a friend. Word of mouth is the best tool for growth.
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Follow (https://instagram.com/blacktivitiespod) us on social media.
Donate (https://blacktivitiespod.captivate.fm/support) to the cause and help amplify more black voices.
Hear more episodes - Blacktivities website (https://blacktivitiespod.captivate.fm)
About the Hosts (https://blacktivitiespod.com/hosts/)
Blacktivities is a Black Panache original production - a podcast network with a lineup of black-hosted shows sharing black stories and tackling black issues. For more information on shows like our newest production, Fat Lies Matter (https://fatlies.captivate.fm/listen), visit blackpanache.com (https://blackpanache.com).
Continue the Conversation on Social Media:
Instagram - @blacktivitiespod (https://instagram.com/blacktivitiespod)
Follow Shannon - @justshanofficial (https://instagram.com/justshanofficial)
Follow Lisa - @monalisathepoet (https://instagram.com/monalisadapoet)
Follow Karen - @theekkroberts (https://instagram.com/kkrobertsgrissom)
Threads - @blacktivitiespod (https://www.threads.net/@blacktivitiespod)
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This is why blackface is offensive (https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/02/us/racist-origins-of-blackface)
Who Was Jim Crow? - Jim Crow Museum (https://jimcrowmuseum.ferris.edu/who/index.htm)
How the History of Blackface Is Rooted in Racism | HISTORY (https://www.history.com/articles/blackface-history-racism-origins)
Blackface: The Birth of An American Stereotype (https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/blackface-birth-american-stereotype)
Copyright 2022-2026 Black Panache, LLC
6 Apr 2026TRANSCRIPT
Black Men’s Mental Health: Why So Many Suffer in Silence
In this episode of Blacktivities, the conversation shifts to something deeper—Black men’s mental health and the silence that often surrounds it.
Why don’t more Black men talk about what they’re going through?
Is it cultural… generational… or something bigger?
The hosts unpack the layers behind emotional suppression, stigma, and the expectations placed on Black men to always be strong. Also, Dr. Camillia Harris, founder of justUs, HM, shares how her father's death prompted her to create the organization and host black men's mental health conferences nationwide.
This isn’t just a conversation—it’s a call to understand, to listen, and to create space.
What We Discuss
Why many Black men struggle to express emotions
The cultural expectation of strength vs. vulnerability
How silence becomes survival—and isolation
The role of community, family, and relationships
What it actually looks like to create safe spaces for Black men
Bring Blacktivities to your inbox (https://mailchi.mp/93b4fa7d6b10/bp) - stay posted on what's happening with the pod... more black culture, black history, black perspectives, and black panache!
Meet Our Guest:
Dr. Camilla Harris, Founder of justUs, MH
justUs, MH - https://www.bmmhc.com (https://www.bmmhc.com)
Instagram - @bmmhc1
@camillia_milly
Other Ways to Join in the Blacktivities:
Share (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/blacktivities/id1619365163) this episode with a friend. Word of mouth is the best tool for growth.
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Donate (https://blacktivitiespod.captivate.fm/support) to the cause and help amplify more black voices.
Hear more episodes - Blacktivities website (https://blacktivitiespod.captivate.fm)
About the Hosts (https://blacktivitiespod.com/hosts/)
Blacktivities is a Black Panache original production - a podcast network with a lineup of black-hosted shows sharing black stories and tackling black issues. For more information on shows like our newest production, Fat Lies Matter (https://fatlies.captivate.fm/listen), visit blackpanache.com (https://blackpanache.com).
Continue the Conversation on Social Media:
Instagram - @blacktivitiespod (https://instagram.com/blacktivitiespod)
Follow Shannon - @justshanofficial (https://instagram.com/justshanofficial)
Follow Lisa - @monalisathepoet (https://instagram.com/monalisadapoet)
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Threads - @blacktivitiespod (https://www.threads.net/@blacktivitiespod)
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Sources
ScienceDirect — The Impact of Racism on Black American Mental Health https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2215036623003619 (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2215036623003619)
PMC / NIH — The Traumatic Impact of Structural Racism on African Americans https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8352535/ (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8352535/)
American Counseling Association — The Historical Roots of Racial Disparities in the Mental Health System https://www.counseling.org/publications/counseling-today-magazine/article-archive/article/legacy/the-historical-roots-of-racial-disparities-in-the-mental-health-system (https://www.counseling.org/publications/counseling-today-magazine/article-archive/article/legacy/the-historical-roots-of-racial-disparities-in-the-mental-health-system)
PMC / NIH — How Masculinity Impedes African American Men from Seeking Mental Health Treatment https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11409296/ (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11409296/)
Talkspace — Why Black Men Face Greater Mental Health Challenges https://www.talkspace.com/blog/black-men-mental-health-challenges-therapy/ (https://www.talkspace.com/blog/black-men-mental-health-challenges-therapy/)
CarePlus NJ — Black Men and Mental Health https://careplusnj.org/black-men-and-mental-health/ (https://careplusnj.org/black-men-and-mental-health/)
PMC / Johns Hopkins — Achieving Mental Health Equity in Black Male Suicide Prevention https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10098101/ (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10098101/)
KFF — Suicide Deaths: National Trends by Demographics https://www.kff.org/mental-health/suicide-deaths-national-trends-and-variation-by-demographics-and-states/ (https://www.kff.org/mental-health/suicide-deaths-national-trends-and-variation-by-demographics-and-states/)
U.S. Office of Minority Health — Black/African American Mental Health https://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/mental-and-behavioral-health-blackafrican-americans (https://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/mental-and-behavioral-health-blackafrican-americans)
Crisis & Support Resources
Therapy for Black Men — Therapist Directory https://therapyforblackmen.org (https://therapyforblackmen.org/)
Black Men Heal — Mental Health Treatment Access https://blackmenheal.org (https://blackmenheal.org/)
Mental Health America — Black & African American Communities https://mhanational.org/issues/black-and-african-american-communities-and-mental-health (https://mhanational.org/issues/black-and-african-american-communities-and-mental-health)
SAMHSA National Helpline — Free, Confidential, 24/7 https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline (https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline)
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — Call or Text 988 https://988lifeline.org (https://988lifeline.org/)
Copyright 2022-2026 Black Panache, LLC
Inside a recent episode
Why Black Women Are Still Dying in Childbirth — The Truth About Black Maternal Health
Published 20 Apr 2026 · Transcript excerpt
[…] And those false beliefs directly affected how they treated their patients. Physicians and separate research underestimated the pain of black patients at a significantly higher rate than they did for non-black patients. And that history has a name now. So in 1992, public health researcher Dr. […]
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