In this episode of Heard! Afros & Audio Interview Series, host Talib Jasir sits down with Tamika Carlton, creator and host of The Real Connect, for an honest conversation about connection, care, and what it means to build relationships in a time defined by distance and distraction.

Tamika reflects on how her life across Seattle, Chicago, and Atlanta shaped her perspective on community and belonging. Together, Talib and Tamika explore why meaningful connection is a human need, how podcasting creates space for vulnerability, and why showing up with intention matters more than chasing visibility or metrics.

The conversation moves through loneliness, leadership, creative burnout, trusting intuition, and the pressure creators feel to follow trends around video, AI, and constant output. Tamika also shares how she is expanding The Real Connect beyond audio through live experiences, including her upcoming brunch tour, as a way to bring people back into shared physical spaces.

This episode speaks to podcasters, creatives, community builders, and anyone thinking deeply about how to stay grounded, connected, and human while navigating modern media.

Episode Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 05:00 Disconnection, Community, and Shared Responsibility 10:00 Leadership, Care, and Why Connection Matters 15:00 Creating Honest Conversations Through Audio 20:00 Audience Size, Impact, and Representation 25:00 Trusting Energy, Burnout, and Creative Pauses 30:00 Expanding Podcasts Beyond Audio 35:00 Final Reflections and Afros & Audio Experience

To learn more about Tamika visit: https://tamikacarlton.com/

Listen to The Real Connect podcast visit: https://open.spotify.com/show/0PnxPVcDa4Yng9o3lralbc

Follow on http://www.Instagram.com/tamika_carltonjbp

Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred streaming platform.