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We’re switching things up this week with a special update from Behind the Mic: Powered by REVOLT Podcast Network.

As Season One winds down, I’m sharing what’s next: Behind the Mic is taking a break starting at the end of June, but we’re not disappearing. Starting in July, tune in for our new summer series: Behind the Mic Bytes. Each week, we’ll revisit standout moments from past episodes, with a monthly focus on themes like Disability Pride, Back to School, Wellness, and Fashion & Culture.

🔊 To give you a taste of what’s coming, I pulled a few of my favorite clips:
— NeAndre Broussard on showing up with light and purpose
— Lynae Vanee on finding clarity at Spelman and redefining Black history
— Freddie on how HBCUs shaped her confidence and career
— And a throwback from our “Attitude Era” with Krista B talking wrestling and growing up in Bed-Stuy

Let’s close this season strong, June is both Black Music Month and Pride Month, so trust me, we’re going big with these final guests. Then catch me all summer with a few bonus drop-ins and updates. Hit subscribe, leave a review, and share your favorite Behind the Mic moments with us.

Chapters

00:28 Special Episode Announcement
00:50 Upcoming Content Overview
01:28 Personal Reflections and Inspirations
02:15 HBCU Experiences and Impact
04:44 Career and Personal Growth
05:45 Wrestling Memories
06:35 Season Recap and Future Plans

🎧 Host: Wize Grazette
🎙 Powered by: REVOLT Podcast Network
🎛 Produced by: The Indie Creative Network and Storytime Studios

Subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, wherever you get your fix.
Follow me @TheRealWize on X and Instagram.

Sober soldiers, we’re going on a parade today, a championship parade. We got the iconic Larry O’Brien Trophy and special guest Norman Nhlapo in the studio. We delve into the essence of championship glory, from the NBA Playoffs to the upcoming BAL Finals. But before that, we touch on some music, events, and sneakers. It’s a pseudo-parlay, but on a championship level. Enjoy!

Check out @nbafinalstrophy @nbaafricaofficial for more info.
#NBAPlayoffs #NBAAfrica

In this special 2.0 edition, we dive deep with digital griot and cultural truth-teller Lynae Vanee. From viral “Parking Lot Pimpin’ monologues to her upcoming show on Revolt TV, Lynae continues to challenge minds and shift narratives. We discuss her creative journey, academic roots, and what it means to keep it “Black, but brief.” And because this is a CFGB 2.0… it’s games, gems, and good vibes all around.

Hey y’all, welcome back to the CareFreeBlackGirl podcast—where Black girls are carefree on purpose! It’s your host Dr. Phoenix  and we’re coming at you with a 2.0 episode that’s giving intention and hot girl intellect! Today we’re celebrating a voice that’s redefining cultural commentary with poetry, power, and purpose. Welcome, Lynae Vanee!”

Topics + Questions:
“Let’s talk about the lot…”What inspired you to start Parking Lot Pimpin’? Did you ever expect it to go viral the way it did?
Academic Meets ActivistYou have degrees from Spelman and BU. How do your academic roots influence your storytelling and activism?
Revolt TV’s ‘The People’s Brief’Congratulations on your new show! What can we expect from The People’s Brief on Revolt?How does this new format allow you to dig deeper into culture, politics, and pop culture?
Production ModeWhat’s it been like creating your own production company, From the Lot?Do you feel like the industry is finally ready for conscious content creators like you?
Self-Care + BalanceYou pour so much into your audience—what are the ways you pour into yourself?

On this episode of Behind the Mic, I sit down with poet, educator, and storyteller Lynae Vanee—whose voice hits like a sermon and a cipher at once. You’ve seen her on Parking Lot Pimpin’, but now she’s stepping into a new lane with her REVOLT show The People’s Brief, premiering May 20th.

B-Sides Track of the Week:
Lynae shares a slept-on gem from Cameo’s Word Up album “You Can Have the World.” It’s her daily reminder that dreaming big is never too much.

From there, we talk about the woman who changed everything for her, Coach Ray and how Spelman sharpened not just her skills, but her sense of self. She opens up about what HBCUs really teach you and why her EARTHGANG feature was both unexpected and unforgettable.

“We shouldn’t be teaching Black kids how to plug into the real world—we should be teaching them how to disrupt it.” – Lynae Vanee

Chapters
00:44 – Introducing Today’s Guest: Lynae Vanee
00:59 – Lynae Vanee’s New Show on REVOLT
02:18 – Lynae’s Inspirational Playlist Pick
03:43 – Coach Ray: A Key Influence in Lynae’s Journey
05:38 – Choosing Spelman and the HBCU Experience
09:37 – EARTHGANG Collaboration: A Poetic Journey
11:38 – Rapid Fire Round of Rank It

If you’re feeling the episode, subscribe, rate us five stars, and watch The People’s Brief on REVOLT.

📱 Follow Lynae Vanee: @LynaeVanee
🎧 Tap into the B-Sides Track of the Week playlist on Spotify.

🎙️ Behind the Mic is hosted by Wize Grazette.
🎛️ Produced and edited by The Indie Creative Network and Storytime Studios

What does success look like for us Caribbean Island Women now?
For those of us who’ve walked the corporate path but stepped away, how can we still fuel our big ambitions?
In this week’s episode, I reflect on:
– Growing up in a house of strong women
– Why financial independence was non-negotiable
– The hidden cost of “success” as we once knew it
– Why more of us are saying no to sacrificing health, reputation, family, or respect
– What a new version of success looks like — built on our terms

Are we still ambitious? Always. But the rules are changing.

This is about walking the path to a BIG, simple life where financial freedom and contentment coexist.

👉🏽 Share this with a woman who is rethinking success.
💬 Let me know in the comments: What does your version of financial independence look like these days?
🔔 Like, share and subscribe if this resonated and you’re up for a path to a Big and simple life
#IslandWomanPodcast #CaribbeanWomen #FinancialFreedom #WomenEmpowerment #LeakyPipeline #RedefiningSuccess #GlassCeiling #WomenInLeadership
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Watch other episodes of the Island Woman podcast:

➡️50 Not Too Late To Change – https://youtu.be/LyPZZhZCRBc
➡️Buy Less, Use it More: Responsible Consumption – https://youtu.be/ktpo-61Ii3Q
➡️Staying Well As An Island Woman – https://youtu.be/3Voy04HFwfE
➡️Island Woman Freedom – https://youtu.be/dFvMPooEiZ0
➡️Stay-at-home Work my Island Woman Way – https://youtu.be/gle1PvTS6A8?si=WmXKUSWLQNYzhlAH
➡️Nature Nostalgia – https://youtu.be/OD9pGZkQS0w
➡️Why Saying No Can Lead to a Better Life – https://youtu.be/jcna4-435jQ?si=C6lrchbU9kpcFj70