LIFE UNSCRIPTED WITH DANI MARIE FEAT ANGELA SMITH

LIFE UNSCRIPTED WITH DANI MARIE 5:30 AM (angela smith) (02/20/2024)

Quick recap

Dani and Queen discussed Queen's digital projects and initiatives, including a podcast, magazine, and a project to raise awareness about wrongfully incarcerated individuals. They also touched on the importance of collaboration and the need for clear agreements and expectations. The conversation then shifted to personal experiences and perspectives on storytelling, including the impact of mental health issues and loss. Queen also shared her plans to improve the education system and advocate for domestic violence survivors, and Dani expressed concern about the rise in looting and carjacking incidents among youth.

Summary

Queen's Digital Projects and Tour Updates

Dani and Queen discussed Queen's digital presence and creative projects. Queen shared about her involvement in a podcast, a magazine, and a project to bring awareness to wrongfully incarcerated individuals. She also mentioned a group she co-founded in 2016 to promote diversity in the literary world. Issues with the functionality of Queen's podcast and magazine links were acknowledged and planned to be addressed. Queen also announced the return of their "Chasing a Dream" group tour after a pandemic-induced hiatus, with the tour set to begin in Dallas Fort Worth and make stops across the US.

Queen's Journey to Overcoming Adversity                                                          Angela Thomas Smith, also known as Queen, shared her personal journey of overcoming adversity and promoting collaboration. She discussed her experiences with domestic violence and suicide attempts, her faith, and her journey from starting an after-school program to becoming an author, podcast host, and magazine owner. Queen emphasized the importance of self-initiative and faith in achieving one's goals and expressed her commitment to helping others, especially those in dark places. Dani acknowledged Queen's significant contributions to collaboration and her humility.

Collaboration and Passion: Queen's Advice to Dani

Dani sought advice from Queen on the topic of collaboration, especially concerning the selection of suitable partners. Queen underscored the importance of shared passion and vision, understanding individual contributions, and being willing to let others shine. She highlighted the potential for finding support in unexpected places, like strangers, and the necessity of letting people get to know oneself. The conversation then shifted as Dani introduced a new topic related to a collaborative project in the podcasting space.

Collaboration and Trust Issues

Dani expressed her frustration about feeling excluded from the benefits of a collaborative book project she had contributed significantly to. Queen suggested that clear agreements and expectations should be established at the beginning to prevent such situations. Queen also shared her own experience about a young lady who uploaded her book on a platform under her name and later used the content as her own, which led to Queen paying for the book's sale and the lady charging her for it. Queen highlighted the importance of caution when dealing with people who use titles to gain trust.

Storytelling, Promises, and Community Reflections

The Queen and Dani discussed their experiences and perspectives on storytelling. They expressed their frustration towards someone who was not fulfilling their promises in an anthology project. They also emphasized the importance of sharing stories and how they can inspire hope and courage. The Queen shared her experiences of guiding someone else through content creation and they both agreed that everyone has a story worth sharing. Additionally, The Queen reflected on her childhood in the Carolinas, sharing positive memories of her time on a farm and the sense of community there.

Queen's Emotional Journey With Mother's Illness

Queen shared her emotional journey about her mother's passing, the impact it had on her life, and her experiences during her mother's deteriorating health. She expressed gratitude for her mother's support and guidance, and her coach, Monica D. Davis, who recognized her potential in basketball and supported her during her mother's illness. Queen also shared a traumatic dream she had about her mother's passing, which led to a discussion with Dani, who responded empathetically to Queen's story.

Queen and Dani's Personal Journeys

Queen and Dani had a candid conversation about their personal experiences. Queen shared her struggle with depression and her first suicide attempt, which she linked to her brother's college. She also discussed her recurring dreams that often foreshadowed loss in her life. Dani opened up about her own losses, including a miscarriage, and emphasized the importance of family support. They further discussed the lessons Queen's mother had taught her, with a focus on kindness and treating others as one would wish to be treated. Queen shared how her mother's advice has influenced her actions and interactions with others.

Queen's Mental Health and Youth Empowerment

Queen shared her personal experiences, including struggles with mental health and family issues, and her decision to seek professional help. She emphasized the importance of seeking help for mental health issues and the positive impact it had on her life. Queen also discussed her involvement in a youth program she started in 2016, called the E. 3 Experience, aimed at educating, empowering, and encouraging children. She shared the program's success stories and her motivation behind starting it - to be the change she wanted to see in the world. Dani responded with empathy and understanding throughout the conversation.

Queen's Education and Domestic Violence Advocacy

Queen voiced her concerns over South Carolina's educational ranking and domestic violence issues and shared her plans to improve the education system and advocate for domestic violence survivors. She highlighted the importance of individuals finding their purpose and destiny. Queen also discussed her decision to work with the prison system, inspired by individuals she encountered who had been wrongfully incarcerated. She emphasized the school-to-prison pipeline and the need for early childhood education. Queen also brought attention to the construction of new prisons across the US, including a billion-dollar prison system in Alabama that will be operated by robots. She suggested that investment in education and spending time with children, rather than just sending them to school, was necessary. Dani agreed with Queen's points.

Storytelling, Slavery, and Social Justice

Queen and Dani discussed the importance of accurate storytelling and the impact of YouTube's control over the narrative. They also touched on the trauma caused by slavery and the need for more awareness about it. Queen emphasized the need for change, suggesting the possibility of starting their own government if necessary. She drew a parallel to the French Revolution and highlighted the need for persistence in the fight for fairness. Queen also expressed her concerns about wrongful incarceration cases, criticizing the treatment of juveniles and the denial of parole to those who have served their time. Dani did not contribute significantly to the discussion.

Youth Crime, Parenting, and Brown Author Promotion

Dani expressed concern about the rise in looting and carjacking incidents among youth, attributing it to a lack of guidance and peer pressure. Queen advised parents to be selective about their children's social circles and to maintain involvement in their lives. She also emphasized the importance of monitoring children's activities. Furthermore, Queen shared about the upcoming "Chasing Your Dream" book tour, aiming to promote awareness for brown authors worldwide and focusing on literacy and entrepreneurship. She expressed concern over South Carolina's declining education rankings and planned to incorporate workshops focused on entrepreneurship, marketing, and networking in the tour.

Queen's Plans for Networking, Education, and Nigeria Visit

The Queen discussed her plans for an upcoming event focused on networking and education, featuring local news reporters, an acclaimed Dallas opera singer, and Councilman Chris Nettle. The Queen announced her plans to visit Nigeria in October 2025, with the goal of empowering women and children through poetry and other arts. She also expressed her willingness to speak at community events and her desire to inspire and uplift others.

Next steps

• Queen will kick off the Chasing Your Dream book tour and host events in various cities, including Dallas, Los Angeles, and Lagos. She plans to donate books to schools in the Virgin Islands and may speak at events in Nigeria.