No Crystal Stair Podcast

In this episode of No Crystal Stair Podcast, host Habeebah engages in a profound conversation with Kyonna F. Brown, The Forgiveness Expert. Kyonna's inspiring story encompasses multiple roles in her life as a mother of a son, suicide survivor turned advocate, pastor, author, and owner of Pooch Styles pet care salon. Kyonna reveals the mental imprisonment she endured before finding herself behind bars for a challenging four-yea...

In this episode, host Habeebah sits down with Tiffany Lewis, a remarkable woman who wears multiple hats: mother of three, community servant, Army Veteran, and the Founder of TJL Collections. Tiffany's brand caters specifically to tall women, providing fashion that combines style, fit, and length.

Tiffany opens up about the unique challenges faced by tall women when it comes to self-confidence. She shares her personal journey an...

Habeebah sits down with Alta Felix, a mother of three plus two step-children, mother-daughter relationship expert, and founder of Sacred Heart Circle Experience, a space for mothers and preteen daughters to recreate the terms of their relationship. Alta shares how she overcame the challenges of creating a friendship with her mother and their relationship in the present moment along with how the role of other maternal figures has in...

Habeebah sits down with Gloria Ware, the mother of a free-thinking adult son and founder of two successful businesses: Get The Bag and GTB Advisors. Gloria shares her personal story of setting boundaries as a working mother, which was a first step toward liberating herself from the limiting beliefs that work life so often demands. She cautions listeners about the cost of holding a scarcity mindset and explains how the path of entre...

Habeebah sits down with Rabbi Tamar Manasseh, an ordained Rabbi, a mother of two, and founder of MASK (Mothers and Men Against Senseless Killings), an organization focused on interrupting violence and crime by building a sense of community and shared responsibility that teaches children to grow up as friends rather than enemies.

Rabbi Tamar shares that as a Jewish person of faith and Black mother she is uniquely positioned to act in...

Habeebah sits down with Attorney Corey Minor Smith, a mother of two sons, mental health advocate, and author of #Driven, a personal memoir of caregiving for a loved one (her mother) with severe mental illness and the “drive” to propel forward through the obstacles.  Corey shares the challenges of mental health advocacy and the importance of boundaries in the relationship with her sons along with her mother. Corey offers listeners h...

Habeebah sits down with Rennee Hubb Johnson, a mother, grandmother and author as she tells the story of how she went from "bound to found." Rennee shares her experiences after becoming a mother during her teenage years and she describes the challenges she had to overcome in order to find peace and fulfill her purpose as she raised her children and younger sister. Rennee offers listeners her testimony as to how healing her...

Habeebah sits down with Carleeka Basnight-Menendez, a mother to two sons and international consultant, speaker and author who offers her wisdom on navigating menopause and the many physical, emotional, and psychological changes that accompany this period of women's development. Carleeka encourages listeners to remember that they are are the experts when it comes to their bodies and minds and she urges women to define beauty fo...

Habeebah sits down with Trina Jones, a mother of three, who is using her personal knowledge of special education to assist parents and caregivers who need help navigating the public eduction system when their children have unique learning needs. Trina shares the story of building her own, and her children's advocacy skills so that both her children, and especially her daughter would get the support they needed. She also shares...

Habeebah sits down with Rachel Socorro, a SurThriver and mother to two sons as she shares her powerful story of overcoming. Rachel describes how she survived human trafficking, began her healing journey and helped her sons to heal, and ultimately began to live a life of faith and service. Rachel also shares her passion for supporting other people to achieve wellness.  She is a sits on the Survivor Advisory Council of The Greater Cl...

Habeebah sits down with Kori E. Whisenant a mother to two boys and licensed attorney in the State of Ohio who has spent her career in the fields of Estate Planning, Probate Administration, and Guardianship. She shares her passion and urgency for Black mothers to prepare for the unanticipated as well as the inevitable through legal estate planning and protection.

Listeners can learn more about estate planning and probate ad...

Habeebah sits down with De'iona Monay, a mother and entrepreneur who is using and sharing her knowledge of critical financial skills in service to the economic well-being of teens and adults. De'iona describes how doing inner work has helped her overcome limiting beliefs and she shares how being intentional in relationship to her businesses and to herself, her own mother, and her son has helped her find peace and build a ...

Habeebah sits down with Derrica and Natalie Wilson who are mothers, sisters-in-law, and founders of Black and Missing Foundation, a transformational organization bringing national attention to the plight of Black families whose loved ones are missing. Derrica and Natalie share what inspired them to create an organization dedicated to making sure that when Black children, adolescents, and adults are missing, their cases receive  ade...

Habeebah sits down with Phyllis "Seven" Harris, a fierce advocate for the LGBTQ+ community and transformational non-profit leader. Seven has over 25 years of non-profit experience and is the executive director of the LGBT Center of Greater Cleveland. She is also the co-founder of Sage and Maven, a consulting business that specializes in equity and inclusion, social justice, non-profit management, and leadership developmen...

Habeebah sits down with author, personal growth coach, and consultant, Carmen Hall, to discuss her work and experiences as she stepped fully into her purpose, navigating  uncertainty and discomfort but guided by God, to respond to her calling to use her gift of writing to empower others. She candidly shares how mothering her three sons and two daughters influences and is influenced by her work in the mental health wellness space. A...

Habeebah sits down with Marlia Hall whose story of faith and obedience to her calling brought her through a season of despair to the point of fulfilling not only her own dreams, but helping other women to fulfill their dreams as well. Marlia and her team at her consulting agency, M Bryonne LLC,  "show women how to obtain daily peace, live in purpose, and have prosperity."

Marlia and Habeebah talk about what it t...

Habeebah sits down with Meryl Johnson, a retired teacher, member of the Ohio Board of Education and a fierce advocate for young people, particularly who are marginalized and facing the most difficult of circumstances. Meryl's life of service and activism is a testimony to the cultural tradition of "othermothers" who nurture and protect children who are not biologically their own. This cultural tradition of people of ...