I’ve always been inclined to “look back.” As of late, I’ve decided that’s more than allowed — as long as it’s productive.

I look back to audit. I also look back to celebrate.

Because I’m proud of the numbers since launching Stella two years ago:

• 34 guests

• 1 virtual event

• 5 giveaways

• LOADS of perspective on topics ranging from career pivots to brand building to important inner and outer relationship work

I look back to remember I created something from the ground up. The seeds for Stella were planted while I was on faculty for the Columbia Publishing Course during the summer of 2023. Supporting a room full of future media professionals who spent a week mocking up impressive publications made me want to own something myself. To point at a thing and say: I built that.

A lot has happened since. Stella was my anchor through a pivot from full-time to freelance, a move across the pond, and some deep identity recalibrations. It’s been my outlet. Reading through the content has helped remind me of the things I released, the things I took on, the things that shaped me without me even noticing at the time. How did I feel pre-Stella? What did it feel like to hit publish on the first episode? What did burnout feel like then, compared to how I feel now?

Reflection is a productive mixture of nostalgia and reckoning. It earns its keep if it moves you forward. Done right, it has nothing to do with regret or regression.

It’s simply a reason, a reminder, to raise the bar.

In the words of Vogue writer Marie Bladt, “Before you continue building even more, make sure that what you are building rests on roots deep enough to support everything that is yet to come.”

Which brings me to Stella’s latest featured guest…

Stella Podcast: The (Hot) Sauce To Building Community

Featuring Alex Hill

Stella’s latest podcast guest is the incredible Alex Hill, founder of Just Add Hot Sauce and soon-to-be cookbook author. I asked Alex to reflect on who she was 10 years ago, and her answer was refreshingly honest — exactly the kind of vulnerability that has become her platform’s throughline. Nine years into building Just Add Hot Sauce, she’s learned that food is the medium for the beautiful community she’s built around making people feel less alone in their kitchens, their breakups, their bad days. Her cookbook releases Spring 2027. In the meantime, listen to our conversation below, where we also dive into her thriving business model (including a buzzing Substack), and so much more.

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST EPISODE

Stay In The Groove

Upcoming events for your calendar:

• Why Not You Summit (July 24, London)

• Teen Vogue Fest (July 25, Brooklyn)

• Wine & Culture Fest (July 25, Philly)

• The Black Ballad Weekender (July 31-August 1, London)

• FoundHER Summit (August 28, NYC)

• Sip N’ Slay (August 29, NYC)

Some job opportunities I’m seeing:

• Social Media Associate - The Obama Foundation

• Producer, The Journal - Spotify

• Social Media Manager + Content Creator - Brown Butter Supper Club

• Editorial Manager - Typeform

• Head of Content - Thrive Global

• UK Staff Reporter - ARTnews

• Creator Talent Manager - Kensington Grey

Stella Selects:

• Off Worque’s Cristina Jerome on The Hard Launch Podcast

• Alicia Richardson on getting in the Cannes conversations without the Cannes budget - HubSpot (written by yours truly)

• If I Ruled the World by Amy DuBois Barnett

Till next time x

Bri

1:12: Deep in the cookbook trenches and the multiple truths about the process

2:52: Who is Alex right now?

4:03: Zodiac signs, Saturn Return and reflecting on Alex now versus 10 years ago

8:03: On starting Just Add Hot Sauce in 2017 and how its goals have evolved since

14:15: On building a community through food

17:55: On the creative process for developing recipes and themed series

21:44: On scaling and monetizing her brand, including the granular breakdown of her various revenue streams

26:05: On Substack entering the mix — and the advice Alex has for someone wanting to start one

30:59: On how being vulnerable and personal storytelling has worked in her favor

35:12: On how she stays in her groove

Hey Stella fam,

ICYMI, Bola and I talked money, mindset, and what it actually takes to build wealth on your own terms. If you haven’t listened yet, you can do so here.

As a thank you for being a paid subscriber, you’re getting first access to this: I’m giving away a copy of Bola’s new book, Clever Girl Millionaire.

Want in? Simply reply to this email to en…

Read more

I bought it on a layover, and it was without a doubt the most expensive fashion item I’ve ever purchased for myself. I wanted to move in abundance. I wanted to put out the energy I sought to get back. And I don’t regret it. That’s the thing about me and money: When I need to spend it to unlock a new experience — typically travel but it also manifests in ways like this milestone purchase — it’s usually a yes. That used to make me feel guilty and irresponsible; I’ve stopped letting that be the case.

I try to think of money as energy — time, decisions, experiences, the return of a choice made with intention. I think about this a lot now that I’m living in London, converting dollars and pounds (bless the calculator app feature), filing two sets of taxes as a dual citizen, tracking every invoice as a freelancer who knows the circulation of her money better than most. I save on coffee with a pour-over at home. I just cancelled my Descript subscription after realizing that Riverside, which I was already paying for, does the same thing. And when I knew I wanted to get to Rio for my bestie’s birthday last November, I aligned things with a summit that was happening the same week and built the trip around both. One decision yielded two incredible returns.

I’m always running the math; I’m just not letting it eclipse my life. I’ve decided that discipline and enjoyment were never meant to be in competition. That said, I know that’s easier said than done, and I know the world doesn’t make it simple. Seasons change. Emergencies happen. The economy is doing what it’s doing. Layoffs are happening left and right. And not everyone is working with the same financial reality. Mine, admittedly, is a massive work in progress right now.

But as Stella’s latest podcast guest puts it: if you can’t find moments of joy in the process, what are you actually building toward? For me, money without a quality of life isn’t the goal. Our conversation really helped me reflect on that. We get into all of it, including the fact that wealth-building looks different for everyone depending on where they’re at.

Now without further ado…

Stella Podcast: This Clever Girl Knows Money

Featuring Bola Sokunbi

Stella’s latest podcast guest is the incredible Bola Sokunbi, founder of Clever Girl Finance and author of seven books, her latest being Clever Girl Millionaire. I’ve known Bola since I pitched her for one of my first Forbes stories back in 2019. Her whole ethos is that financial empowerment shouldn’t come at the cost of actually living, and that the wealth-building conversation has gone on long enough without women, particularly women of color, at the center of it. Bola saved her first $100k on a $54k starting salary — and built a million-dollar portfolio from there. She’ll be the first to tell you about every stumble along the way.

Stay tuned, because we also have a giveaway coming your way. In the meantime, check out our convo:

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST EPISODE

Stay In The Groove

Upcoming events for your calendar:

• HUE Affair (May 30, NYC)

• Black Food & Wine Experience (June 18–21, Napa)

• Girls Link Up Gala (June 27, London)

• Wine & Culture Fest (July 25, Philly)

• The Black Ballad Weekender (July 31-August 1, London)

• Sip N’ Slay (August 29, NYC)

Some job opportunities I’m seeing:

• UK Staff Reporter - ARTnews

• Creator Talent Manager - Kensington Grey

• Editorial Director - Vox

• Director, Social Media - Bon Appétit

• Audience Editor, Dining - Eater

Stella Selects:

• Without Community, Who Is Setting Up Single Black Women? by Dontaira Terrell

• The real cost of content: She’s So Lucky podcast host (Les Alfred) on community and creativity

• The Music Is Black: 125 Years of Black British Music, Legacy, and Cultural Influence

• The Complicated Intersection of Digital Creators and Journalists by Dominique Fluker

• Heritage tourism is leading to an African travel boom – here’s why Black travellers are embracing the trend by Vivienne Dovi

• How to Overcome Social Anxiety & Build Real Confidence - First episode of Tai Beauchamp’s The SHIFT

• Tia Williams, Renae Bluitt, & Tricia Lee On The Friendship Rules Ambitious Women Live By - Her Agenda

BEFORE YOU GO: I’m working on story for HubSpot exploring how AI has impacted the creator economy — for better or for worse. If this is relevant to you, I’d love to hear from you here.

Till next time x

Bri

1:53: Who is Bola Sokunbi right now? (Including some very fun fun facts)

3:53: Navigating book launches and social environments as an introvert & the importance of setting boundaries

6:53: Why her seventh book doubles down on being an accessible financial book for women and, in particular, Black women — rooted in Bola’s origin story.

9:13: Redefining the wealth creation conversation; Nobody comes for men when they hype their success — so why is it the case for women?

13:43: Setting flexible goals for financial success; and the difference between having a vision and having a goal

16:55: Learning from past mistakes — Bola gets candid about some of hers

17:57: Balancing enjoyment and financial discipline

21:56: Understanding that there are different financial realities, and how to foster financial stability regardless of income.

30:03: Building Clever Girl Finance to be a community rooted in accountability without shame

During the panel I co-hosted last month, The Networking Groove, Lois referenced the symbolism of an airplane mask in a way that’s stuck with me. “Everything flows from you. Put on your own mask first. Don’t keep on performing when you have nothing left.”

Damn. I needed to hear that. Because I’ve spent most of my life being the last person to put on her own mask. The need to please has plagued me for as long as I can remember. The notion that every interaction needs to be perfect, that any misstep is somehow my fault, follows me. I’m terrified of making mistakes. And yet, the past few weeks have dropped me into more back-to-back uncomfortable social settings than I’ve navigated in a long time. The probability of everything going right? Zero.

There was a gala I almost didn’t go to, squarely outside my comfort zone because I didn’t have a plus one; a Women’s History Month event I was anxious about after a super stressful day; a work retreat in Atlanta that asked more of me than I anticipated but gave me more than I could have ever asked for; the end of a contract that was unexpected yet amicable and aligned.

What a gift it is to be in rooms where showing up as you are is enough. To accept that gift, though, is to fully honor and trust yourself, your body, and your becoming. My default is to feel defeated in moments that don’t go exactly as I had hoped. But I want to be able to trust there’s a reason for it rather than blaming myself for what I could have done better.

One of the things I said on The Networking Groove panel — something I needed to hear myself say out loud — was this: I don’t want to control the room. I want to trust myself to show up as the best possible version of me that day.

So I’ll keep going to the galas and the retreats and the events. With the best of intentions, but zero expectations. I’ll stay home when I need to without regret. I’ll go home early if the energy is off. I’ll voice an issue without worrying I’m doing too much. I’ll try to connect without the fear of being imperfect.

I’m practicing — slowly, imperfectly — the art of putting on my own mask first.

Till next time x

Bri

(P.S. We’re back next edition with the regular Stella Podcast & Stella Selects!)

World leaders are exercising dystopian-level violence and inhumanity. We’re in the midst of another Mercury retrograde. Throw in a bout of ongoing seasonal depression. For some of us, Saturn returns.

It’s a heavy time. I feel off, and I can’t be the only one struggling to keep my footing.

My nervous system is in shambles. I haven’t even been able to read like I used to, one of my biggest forms of solace. I’ve been reading the same book since before Christmas.

Not to be existential on this International Women’s Day, but what is life?

Because lately, I’m running on fumes toward a destination I can’t even quite make out. But if the only thing I can actually control is my next step, my footing, the least I can do is slow down. Smell the roses — or the flowers on my living room coffee table I’ve committed to refreshing weekly. Stay a while. Be grateful. The prospect of exercising agency is equal parts frightening and empowering, but necessary, especially in these times.

So in the spirit of taking back some of the power the world feels like it’s constantly stripping away, here are the small choices I’m making to center and ground myself:

Choice 1: I went to the English countryside and indulged in hours of uninterrupted reading, waterside strolling, sipping tea and whisky, and stoking warm fires. Will absolutely be doing more of this!

Choice 2: Slow mornings. Coffee at some point, probably, but first supplements, water, and sometimes a little Celtic salt for electrolytes.

Choice 3: I have a dear friend in town. We sat on the couch, hit record, and talked through what we want 2026 to look and feel like, and how we can support each other in manifesting it all.

We’re all just out here trying to stay upright.

Now, onto this week’s featured guest. It’s someone I just so happen to be co-hosting a virtual event with this upcoming Saturday, March 14th — all about organic relationship building, wherever you are in life or in the world. Because the people we keep in our circle also shape how we think and move. Register for this free gathering here! We’re also powering a special giveaway you should check out, too!

Stella Podcast: The “BBB” Building Up Women

Featuring Chai Thia Anderson

I met Chai at an event last summer and the first thing I thought to myself was, this woman is on a mission and I want to know more. We had approached the same speaker simultaneously post-panel and rather than handle the moment with tension and awkwardness, we laughed it off. Introductions followed naturally, the way they do when two people instantly recognize something familiar in each other. She’s building HERspire, “a community-led media and events company dedicated to sharing the real, raw, and powerful stories of women of colour,” with the same kind of integrity as that first encounter I had with her.

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST EPISODE

Stay In The Groove

Upcoming events for your calendar:

• HERspire & Stella Present: The Networking Groove (March 14, Virtual)

• Draw Your Life: A Powerful 4-Week Guided Experience to Tell Your Story (March 15, Virtual)

• Your Turn to Host: Supper Clubs & Events Workshop with Amber Hewett (March 18, Virtual)

• Truth As Source: Writing Toward What’s Real (April 11, Columbus)

• HERspire’s Brush & Bond (April 11, London)

• Black Women in Food Summit (April 23-25, Washington D.C.)

• Black Girls in Media: Lights, Camera, Influence Summit (May 3, Dallas)

Some job opportunities I’m seeing:

• Associate Director, Global Head of Content Strategy & Publishing, Owned Editorial Channels - Spotify

• Writer/Editor - TODAY Digital

• Content Manager - CultureCon

• Editor-in-Chief - GROWN Magazine

• Program coordinator, fellowships - The 19th

• Culinary Producer - The Kitchn

Stella Selects:

• “Influencers Make Money Posting About Their Lives. The Taxes Can Get Messy.” by Oyin Adedoyin

• “Is gatekeeping holding your marketing back?” Featuring Business Insider’s Tameka Bazile; Written by yours truly

• History That Binds: Carried Forward featuring Anna Cobb, Founder of O’kra Sparkling Water

• “Running a Business is Humiliating. But Would You Rather Be Cringe or Broke?” - via

• Tobi Oredein’s Messy Middle CEO Series

• Crystal-Angelee Burrell is seeking nominations for Hard Launch, an interview series centering women entrepreneurs who are building (or who have built) businesses alongside full-time 9-5 work. Submit here.

• Caitlyn Kumi: “If you want to be an influencer you need to start treating yourself like a media company.”

Till next time x

Bri

00:45: Chai’s definition of busy — and not to be confused with burned out

2:09: Who is Chai right now?

3:51: What is HERspire — and what gap is it filling in media?

8:31: Running HERspire whilst having a full-time job

12:06: Why financial gain isn’t part of HERspire’s mission right now

15:02: On how Chai builds a team and grows HERspire (via events, video series etc.) without breaking the bank

18:48: On how Chai measures success in HERspire’s first year

21:33: What she learned from a previous entrepreneurial experience — and why she believes you don’t have to monetize every single passion

23:08: Exciting things to come in 2026 including a collaboration with Stella…

When I relocated to London, the thing I wanted most wasn’t a bigger network — it was an intentional one. Connections that felt genuine, unrushed, and made space for me to grow into who I was becoming.

That’s exactly what The Networking Groove is built around.

On Saturday, March 14, I’m co-hosting a free virtual event with the incredible Chai Thia Anderson, founder of HERspire Media, and we’ll be in conversation with two sharp minds in relationship building to help you do just that.

Candace Stephens is a strategist, storyteller, and igniter for women doing big things across cultures. Her work lives at the intersection of intercultural communication, magnetic branding, deep coaching, and community design. She’s also the co-founder of , a global network of over 1,400 Black and Brown femmes building thriving lives abroad.

Lois Wilson is the award-winning co-founder of Saint Aymes, an internationally recognised luxury lifestyle brand featured by the BBC, ITV, Marie Claire, and The Times. She’s known for pioneering multisensory experiences that turn everyday moments into something unforgettable.

Together, we’ll be covering how to build a network rooted in intention —and how to do it across borders, time zones, and industries.

📅 Saturday, March 14

⏰ 5–6:30 PM (GMT)

🎟️ Free virtual event - we’ll open the floor for Q&A, so bring your questions.

This moment feels especially meaningful because it marks the beginning of Stella’s event journey. I couldn’t imagine a better way to start!

If you’re growing your career, building something of your own, or just looking for your people, this is your room.

🔗 Spots are limited. RSVP here to save yours.

Bri x

Resolution came by way of support from some amazing people in my life, multiple recorded conversations (it’s legal if you only use it for your records), and identifying the parts of my lease that were in breach: namely that my landlord violated my right to “quiet enjoyment.” That was an understatement. Ultimately, things panned out: The landlord was compliant. The lease was prematurely terminated. I’m out of there — and fortunately have found a super cute new place that better suits my needs. Where I can work in peace. All because I read and referenced the fine print.

By now, the story is more funny than sad, mainly because I’m on the other end of it. A new lease has been signed. For a place I’ve triple vetted and then some. I’m excited to move in soon. February feels like the refresh that January was supposed to feel like. Happy New Year to me and all those who agree that January was a doozy.

I don’t regret any of it though. It reinforced something that’s universally important, whether it’s a lease, a letter of employment, or any other agreement put in front of us. I’m now hyperconscious of all the contracts I sign and the ways in which I can protect myself. A few examples have surfaced that I’m taking heed of even more now: A friend of mine, for instance, mentioned how she puts an anti-bullying clause in her contracts. That gets me thinking about the important questions we should all ask: Is your IP being protected? Do you have a clear termination clause? Are payment terms spelled out? What are your rights if the other party breaches? And with the constant reality of publications shuttering left and right, sadly, the work produced within them often becomes collateral damage; in some cases it’s permanently removed from the Internet, which opens up new conversations around ownership and access. (Side note: keep PDF records, or similar, of your work when you can!).

Above all, trust your gut. Don’t wait to address the red flags taking shape, the noise building up. In my case, quite literally. You are always going to be your biggest advocate.

Now onto this week’s featured guest…

Stella Podcast: Designing Her Next Edition

Featuring Bianca Gracie

Bianca knows the value of self-advocacy very well. As we cover on this podcast episode, her bylines go crazyyy and so does her resume — she’s written everywhere from Harper’s Bazaar to The Recording Academy to Vulture and was Editor in Chief of EDITION by Modern Luxury. But when layoffs reached her, she was forced to reevaluate the brand she was building for herself and ultimately what it is she wanted. With lots of grace, gratitude, and grit, Bianca’s actively welcoming the opportunity to design her next chapter intentionally.

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST EPISODE

Stay In The Groove

Upcoming events for your calendar:

• EatOkra’s O’kra & the History That Binds (February 12, Brooklyn)

• Femmeland at Sea (February 20-23, Miami to Nassau, Bahamas)

• Babes on Waves’ Matchmaking Party for Ambitious Creatives, Founders, Freelancers (February 26, London)

• HERspire’s Brush & Bond (April 11, London)

• Black Women in Food Summit (April 23-25, Washington D.C.)

Some job opportunities I’m seeing:

• Junior Insights & Editorial Producer - Word on the Curb

• Digital Platforms Producer - Capital B

• Social Video Editor (Part-time) - Her Campus Media

• Content Marketing Manager - Range

• Social Media Manager - Vocal Media

• Frances Ellen Watkins Harper Fellowship - The 19th

• Health Writer - Blavity

• Associate Manager, Social Media - Vogue

I’m back at it with supporting Forbes 30 Under 30 — we're in Europe season right now and I would love your recs! Send me a note directly with your thoughts, or submit your nomination here. (FYI: I'm co-reporting on the Art & Culture, Retail & Ecommerce, and Social Impact categories, specifically.)

Stella Selects:

• “You have more power than you think.” - Jayde I. Powell on the role creators play within the current state of the world

• “How Losing My Limbs Turned Me Into a Different Kind of Cook” by Yewande Komolafe

• “For This Influencer, Rejection Is the New Perfection” by Megan Farokhmanesh (featuring Gabby Beckford)

• DonYé Taylor: “I don’t avoid rooms just because I am the outlier”

• Cree Myles on “reading to failure”

• Shola West: “The hot girls are on LinkedIn”

Till next time x

Bri

1:06:  How do you define yourself in this very moment?

2:56: A budding plan to relocate to Paris, the active manifestation practices that are making that happen, and the desired impact to be made on the ground.

5:55: The journey to thinking beyond the journalist title, navigating layoffs, and eventually creating a multihyphenate path.

7:36: On her EIC role at EDITION by Modern Luxury, how she grappled with the publication she worked so hard to build later no longer existing, and what it ultimately taught her.

11:37: On the value of bringing a personal build even while working in a corporate setting.

13:49: On the process of overcoming being pigeonholed.

16:44: Going from the editors seat to then writing for and working with new editors — and coming to important realizations about journalism and next steps professionally.

20:32: On why journalists “the definition of adaptability” and the importance of bragging about the experience people might not otherwise know about.

24:45: On some of the courses and certifications that have helped inform next professional steps.

26:22: On what’s exciting her these days (that’s not work related!).

The idea of spending hours, days, months digging through minuscule pieces and jamming them together only to fail 34,597 times before finally finding their limb mates isn’t appealing. Some say it’s cathartic. I call it stressful.

I do, however, appreciate that the finished result is a tangible work of art to show for the time and effort put in. Though IDK what people actually do with completed puzzles…!? I guess that’s not the point.

Despite my personal aversion to them, I found myself surrounded by puzzles during the holiday break. My mom got one. She set it up on the table across from the kitchen, enthusiastically inviting anyone who walked through the door to contribute to the project. It was a cute gesture. I’ve admittedly not added one single piece.

“It may take me the rest of 2026 but I’m going to do this,” she laughingly declared.

Then, upon visiting dear friends in Brooklyn on New Year’s Eve, I discovered they were working on a puzzle as well. Their progress was quite impressive: in just a couple days, I could start to see the image of an enchanted living room come to life. And though I promise you I also didn’t touch a piece of that WIP, somehow one of the pieces made its way into my overnight bag — a realization I didn’t come to until I was back on Long Island. Luckily I was able to return the coveted missing piece to its rightful owners. A couple days later, they sent me a photo sans one other piece that was apparently also missing. That one was eventually found, too.

Somewhere between my mother’s slow but steady commitment and my friends’ complete picture, I realized the value of puzzles, even if I myself will never be a fan of actually doing them (but maybe that can change?).

They’re about patience. Trusting that something exists even when all you can see are fragments. There’s also something beautiful in knowing you might only ever place a few pieces — or none at all (lol) — and yet still be a contributor to someone’s story.

Puzzles remind us that progress is steady. They are a signal of momentum (even when it seems like little progress is being made), and a reminder to trust the process. Scattered pieces across the table are evidence that work is happening, even if the picture isn’t clear yet.

And, usually, what’s missing will eventually turn up.

A great reminder for 2026, I’d say.

Now onto this week’s featured guest…

Stella Podcast: Fan Fiction To First Book

Featuring Ashley Jordan

Speaking of trusting the journey, Ashley went from fan fiction to her debut novel “Once Upon a Time in Dollywood,” a path she credits heavily to her experience with LitUp by Reese’s Book Club, during which she gained Jasmine Guillory as a mentor and a whole lot of insight about the intricacies of the publishing industry. Above all, she looks back at writing her first book with appreciation and associates it with necessary healing and self-worth work (which also happen to be big themes of the novel itself).

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST EPISODE

Stay In The Groove

Upcoming events for your calendar:

• HERspire’s Brush & Bond (January 17, London) - *Use code HSBB10 for 10% off*

• Curator Summit (January 24, Atlanta)

• Fundhership: The Connectionship (January 25, London)

• Femmeland at Sea (February 20-23, Miami to Nassau, Bahamas)

• Black Women in Food Summit (April 23-25, Washington D.C.)

Some job opportunities I’m seeing:

• Director, External Communications - Hinge

• News Editor - The 19th

• Senior Manager, Influencer Marketing - Expedia

• Newsletter Strategy & Growth Manager - Condé Nast

• Consumer Communications Manager - Substack

• Brand Content Partner - Opal

• Creator Host - The Washington Post

• Director, Social Media - Tinder

• Senior Social Media Journalist - Betches

• Home Projects Editor - Apartment Therapy

Stella Selects:

• Nominations are open for the 9th Annual Black Women in Food Awards

• EBONY Voices: Building a Home in Altadena Was Their Ancestor’s Legacy, Choosing To Stay is Theirs

Till next time x

Bri

00:18: How Ashley is feeling off the heels of her debut book launch

00:54: Why, at the start of the book, Ashley prefaced Once Upon a Time in Dollywood by clarifying that it isn’t a rom-com

2:57: How the idea for this debut book was conceived and picked up by a publishing house — from starting off as fan fiction to becoming a vessel for real-life experiences to securing Jasmine Guillory as a mentor via  Reese’s Book Club

7:13: The value of Reese’s Book Club’s LitUp in helping to secure an agent and book deal.

10:33: The process and inspiration for the book’s characters — and some of the beautiful character-driven realizations that came after writing the book

14:20: Who would play Eve and Jamie in a book adaptation? (Plus a nod to a sequel…)

15:22: The process of writing from the perspective of a white man

17:51: How a degree in  psychology and an ongoing career in public health has shaped her author journey

19:37: Book writing as a cathartic release

21:16: On how she measures success

23:38: On how she stays in the writing groove — and gets it back

Hey Stella fam!

If you haven’t already, I hope you’re minutes away from shutting your laptop. And if that means you don’t see this until the new year, I won’t be offended.

For all my romance lovers who happen to see this, Stella’s got a holiday giveaway up for grabs: one copy of Ashley Jordan’s debut novel, Once Upon a Time in Dollywood. Paid subscribers get first dibs for the first 24 hours (the first to claim it is the lucky reader!)—after that, it’s first come, first served for everyone.

Want in? Simply reply to this email to enter.

What’s more: I’ve got a juicy Stella Podcast episode with Ashley coming soon…

Happy holidays! Wishing you a joyful and restorative rest of the season. See you back here in 2026!

Bri x

Part of that fullness is because I’m still processing the magic that was my first trip to Rio. I was there for my first Black Travel Summit — an experience that’s hard to summarize in a few bullets, but here goes. Some standout moments were:

• Taking a food tour centering culinarians and their very Afro-centric approaches to food and experiences. We stopped at Casa Omolokum, Dida Bar e Restaurante, and AGÔ, plus this really cool bar and retail shop in one called Favela Hype. Shoutout to our amazing guide, Gustavo!

  

• Getting humbled by the content creator life (being a one-woman show is no joke, but I was grateful for a friend’s support when she was able to lend it).
  

• Getting humbled again when I realized samba is… kind of extremely challenging to pick up.
  

• Bonding with other attendees building new lives abroad — from couples to solo travelers — and feeling so seen in my own journey.
  

• Meeting incredible leaders across the travel space — and finally getting to hug people I’ve only ever known online, including Tenille Clarke (also a past Stella guest). My girl took home the Public Relations of the Year Award!!

• Experiencing an all-women set of artists at Casa Black Rio.
  

• Celebrating my dear friend’s milestone birthday in a city (also Rio) that she handpicked for its unabashed energy and Blackness, which did not disappoint.

And I should mention: I was in Rio in part to represent EatOkra and capture content and interviews for its growing editorial platform. Joining the EatOkra team has genuinely been one of the best professional decisions. In case you didn’t already know, it’s a Black-owned restaurant directory in the form of an award-winning app helping you find eats at home and while traveling but also shaping stories and resources across the Black culinary community. I’m grateful to the team — and honestly, to myself, for sliding into EO’s DMs in the first place.

So yes, this Thanksgiving looked different. But the gratitude remained. I hope you’re also finding your way back to the things — and people — you’re grateful for, including yourself.

Now onto this week’s featured guest…

Stella Podcast: Blackstage Gives Pole Dancing’s Origins The Floor

Featuring Leila Davis

Pole dancing has a rich history that Leila Davis is intent on bringing to the global stage. Through Blackstage, which she founded in 2020, Leila is building a community that centers artists of color and reclaims an art form that’s too often stripped of its truth.

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST EPISODE

Stay In The Groove

Upcoming events for your calendar:

• She Did That. 2025 Holiday Bazaar (December 6, Brooklyn)

• Miss EmpowHer IT Girl Walk (December 6, Brooklyn)

• Girls Link Up Winter Pop-Up Shop (December 6, London)

• HERspire’s Brush & Bond (January 17, London) - *Use code HSBB10 for 10% off*

• Fundhership: The Connectionship (January 25, London)

• Femmeland at Sea (February 20-23, 2026, Miami to Nassau, Bahamas)

Some job opportunities I’m seeing:

• Freelance Graphic Designer - Miss EmpowHer

• Multiple roles - Liberation Ventures

• Senior Editor - MadameNoire

• Senior Strategic Partner Manager & Growth Partner Manager - Patreon

• Senior Copywriter - Aritzia

• Associate Social Media Editor - Delish

• Lead Digital Communications Strategist - Wells Fargo

• Content Creator - Cécred

• Director of Podcast Subscription and Memberships - Vox Media

• Digital Marketing and Audience Editor - The TRiiBE

• Creator Management Lead - LinkedIn

Circling back to Vivienne’s presentation at LCC yesterday: It truly felt like this seamless bridge between the traditional journalism I was taught in school some years ago and the new media landscape we are all navigating now. She broke down everything — from how to pitch to PR with integrity to how to show up ethically in an era shaped by social media, press trips, and brand partnerships. The rules have shifted so much but she managed to take a complex, ever-changing ecosystem and make it digestible, honest, and hopeful.

I’d be remiss not to mention that Vivienne isn't just a skilled lecturer, she’s also the founder of Akovi Comms, a consultancy for “the ones doing meaningful work but struggling to get the visibility they deserve” — and she’s got some openings for new clients heading into 2026.

Some standout reads this month were:

• We’re All Working for the Algorithm Now by Taylor Crumpton

• All I Ever Wanted Was to Beat My Grandmother at This Card Game by Brooklyn White

• Topicals’ first Community Business Letter by Olamide Ayomikun Olowe

In other interesting news, Bon Appétit, helmed by editor-in-chief Jamila Robinson, is opening a two-level restaurant and market at JFK’s new Terminal One next year.

Lastly, what an honor it was being featured by ESSENCE GU alongside other incredible voices in media. Some new platforms were put on my radar, and I’m grateful for that, too!

Till next time x

Bri

2:10: Who is Leila in this very moment?

4:55: How her Virgo tendencies show up with work

6:10: The impetus for launching Blackstage in 2020

10:02: Breaking down the origins of pole, how the industry has “sanitized” this history, and the process of reclaiming

16:02: Where does pole dancing currently fit in the world of the arts, fitness and beyond and how does it evolve with integrity?

20:10: Expanding Blackstage into global territory and how this plays a role in its evolution

24:51: The undeniable challenges in raising money

29:47: Is the future of pole dancing bright?

Do you sense a pattern here? Life has challenged my mind to accept the concept of two (or multiple truths)—to embrace how two seemingly opposing things can coexist, even harmonize. What once felt contradictory now feels complementary.

It tracks, considering the kind of student I used to be: I always hated multiple-choice exams. The idea of boiling something down to one out of four answers? Reductive. Written assessments painted a fuller picture. Life feels easier to grasp when I’m not chasing a single “right” answer, but rather embracing the multitudes.

I feel this way professionally, too—and I know many of my peers do as well. A few varied cases in point come to mind:

• Some of the most successful consultants I know are strengthening their core services and experimenting with new offerings to meet the needs of new and prospective clients.

• I 100% agree with Tabitha Brown’s recent claim that there’s nothing wrong with working a full-time or part-time job and pursuing entrepreneurial goals.

• For previous Stella Podcast guest and creatorpreneur Gabby Beckford, embracing multitudes—including creating content geared towards both corporate professionals and entrepreneurs—has led to nine different income streams.

Don’t let one truth hold you back from another.

Now, onto this week’s featured guest…

Stella Podcast: Influencing Digital Media

Featuring Adriana Lacy

With Influencer Journalism, one of various brands under her parent company Field Nine Group, Adriana Lacy is playing media matchmaker for two very different sectors of the industry that are often pitted against each other. She’s empowering traditional newsrooms to work directly with influencers to create the digital-first storytelling vital to their success and sustainability.

Her two truths at play here: media organizations can benefit from the engagement strategies mastered by influencers and influencers can respect and align with the editorial integrity of these media organizations.

If there’s anyone equipped to foster these relationships ethically, it’s Adriana. Before launching her own ventures, the Forbes 30 Under 30 lister and adjunct journalism professor worked across newsrooms and organizations including The New York Times, Axios, and the Nieman Foundation. A formal J-school education was helpful, but much of what she learned—and later mastered—was on the job.

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST EPISODE

Stay In The Groove

Upcoming events for your calendar:

• Black Girls in Media’s 6-Part Webinar Series (October 9-December 18, Virtual)

• AfroTech (October 27-31, Houston)

• BBR Creator Summit (November 6, Los Angeles)

• The Black Girls Tech Summit (November 13, Berlin)

• Black Travel Summit (November 13-16, Rio de Janeiro)

• Femmeland at Sea (February 20-23, 2026, Miami to Nassau, Bahamas)

Some job opportunities I’m seeing:

• Chief of Staff - Field Nine Group

• 2026-27 New York Times Fellowship

• Freelance Content Associate Manager - Betches Media

• Audience Editor, Video - The New York Times

• Multiple roles for The Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival

• Part-time Editorial Production Assistant - The 19th

• “Hot Takes” Travel Pitches - Fodor’s

• Senior UX Writer - Oura

• Reporter, Race & Equity - The Guardian

• Social Operations Lead - Apple

• Marketing Manager - Fenty

• Director of Editorial Operations - The Cut

• Influencer Manager - Cécred

• Intern, Social Media - e.l.f. Beauty

• Lifestyle Writer - Vogue

• Community Manager - L’Oréal

• Internal Communications Partner - TikTok

• Content Director - Allure

• Senior Social Media Strategist - Chime

• Director, Corporate Editorial and Storytelling - Chime

Standout good news of the week: South London-born designer Grace Wales Bonner is the new Creative Director of Hermès Menswear, making her the first Black woman to lead a major fashion house.

Is flirting just banter with a goal? I always considered flirting to require a romantic agenda, but I found this hot take from a recent CultureCon Uncut episode—diving into the act as it relates to business—to be interesting.

Karima Williams is the founder of a budding AI-powered platform called Crash Out Diary aimed at helping people navigate stress and seek emotion regulation with the help of energy-releasing exercises and support from “response friends.” An app is on the way and I’m intrigued. Especially given a post of hers I recently came across on LinkedIn where she writes: “I’m going to be real with you, chatgpt is NOT a safe place to vent or have a mini therapy session. I built Crashout Diary because I wanted a safe space to process my worst moments—and I knew that couldn’t happen if my data wasn’t actually private.” I’ll be watching this space…

Till next time x

Bri

00:26: Who is Adriana in this very moment?

1:10: Settling and building a company based in Boston

3:14: How a background in journalism paved the way for emerging digital media roles (audience engagement, social media, and beyond) that weren’t taught in the classroom

5:06: The full-circle journey that now has her back in the classroom, this time teaching media students about digital roles beyond the traditional writing/reporting gigs

6:15: The biggest learning curves in learning on the job post-grad

8:30: How the idea to launch Influencer Journalism (part of Adriana’s company Field Nine Group) came to be — an initiative that trains influencers to work directly with newsrooms and journalists — and how it’s helping media brands foster deeper relationships with consumers.

12:14: How is credibility and integrity factored in here?

16:11: One of Adriana’s favorite newsroom-influencer collaborations to date (and why it’s actually not the platform with millions of followers)

19:32:  Projections (and hot takes) as it relates to the intersection of tech, journalism, and digital media

21:36: On the brands leaning really well into new media

23:08: Why mentorship continues to be a major pillar in her work (via her platform Journalism Mentors)

Case in point: I recently traveled to Jamaica for a friend’s wedding. Not too long after landing, we took a quick peek at the nearby beach before heading to our Airbnb to refresh. About 30 seconds later, my phone buzzed with a text:

It was Chef Lacey Williams. We’d mostly connected through calls, though we first met at EatOkra’s Culinary Creatives Conference last year and later collaborated on her Martha’s Vineyard Apple Guide (she’s global like that—Jamaica born and raised, with roots and reach spanning the States and the West Indies). We knew we had to seize the serendipity, which unfolded into a fun girls’ night out. What it evolves into from here is still to be determined, but I have no doubt it’ll parlay into more beautiful things. It’s also a reminder of the value of nurturing relationships—you never know when and how they’ll bear fruit.

Do you believe in serendipity? I certainly do. I’ve come to believe that when we’re intentional with life, that’s when the most fated, unexpected, beautiful moments find their way to us. There’s a certain duality in it: intention and surrender moving together, hand in hand. Fate lives in both the actionable and the unknown.

Which brings me to this week’s featured guest…

Stella Podcast: Never Tell Yourself No

Featuring Gabrielle Nicole Pharms-Barr

has had her fair share of curveballs in life. She wasn’t even active on social media when an editor at the publisher Quirk Books reached out about a potential book deal. “ She found my articles through American Whiskey Magazine’s website and then she said she went down the rabbit hole,” Gabby tells me. “She Googled my name and just started reading.” Now Gabby’s debut book, Stuff Every Whiskey Lover Should Know, releases in fall 2026.

Then there was another major life twist—getting misdiagnosed with Bipolar II (and years later learning she actually has ADHD)—which has led to using her platform for neurodivergent advocacy. Gabby is proof that very often it’s the unexpected moments that direct us toward our purpose.

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST EPISODE

Stay In The Groove

Upcoming events for your calendar:

• CultureCon (October 4-5, Brooklyn)

• Roadmap To Billions Conference (October 6, Toronto)

• Black Girls in Media’s 6-Part Webinar Series (October 9-December 18, Virtual)

• AfroTech (October 27-31, Houston)

• The Black Girls Tech Summit (November 13, Berlin)

• Black Travel Summit (November 13-16, Rio de Janeiro)

Some job opportunities I’m seeing:

• P/T Social Media Manager - Strangers in the City

• Internal Communications Partner (London) - TikTok

• Creator Partnerships Coordinator - Suno

• Content Director - Allure

• Director, Corporate Editorial and Storytelling - Chime

• Senior Social Media Marketing Specialist - Expedia Group

• Partner Manager, Digital Culture Creators - Spotify

• Social Media Manager - Partiful

• Senior Social Media and Community Manager - Hey Jane

“The Essentialisn’t rejects the insistence that Black people, namely Black women, must always deliver entertainment, comedy, pleasure, or catharsis to a waiting audience,” writes Asia Stewart in her review of Eisa Davis’ theatrical performance, which ran at HERE Arts Center through much of September. I didn’t get a chance to see it myself, but Asia’s thoughtful reflections captured so much of the work’s timely, striking message.

This “confidence heist” take—a refreshing spin on Imposter Syndrome—from Lois Aymes (she’s behind Saint Aymes) is definitely worth a watch:

Sundance Collab is now accepting applications for its 2026 Cultural Impact Residency—a six-month online residency supporting early-career, underrepresented storytellers whose work is rooted in creative, cultural, and social impact. Up to eight fellows will be selected across three tracks: screenwriting/TV writing, writer/directing, and documentary filmmaking.

Till next time x

Bri

00:55: Who is Gabby in this very moment?

1:29: Getting transparent about a “neurospicy” identity (an ongoing journey after being initially misdiagnosed)

3:29: Transitioning/navigating life and career after a later diagnosis

6:40: How writing serves as a cathartic process

8:54: Merging a variety of beats from spirits to fashion to music, which all began with writing about  skateboarding and surfing—and why she believes you don’t need to have just one niche

12:22: On never telling yourself no, and how that mantra has helped Gabby elevate

15:05: The art of crafting a pitch

17:36: On her forthcoming book, “Stuff Every Whiskey Lover Should Know,” and the fated way it came to be

21:50: How Gabby views goal-setting (and why flexibility is involved)

23:57: On what’s to come—including a column revival

25:24: Breaking down the dualities and multiple truths of media and journalism

26:20: How Gabby stays in the groove