A lot of planning and thought go into publishing The Hats Podcast. We have a LOT of ideas. Some of the episodes from Season 7 have been brewing for years, others a few months. But, they are all topics co-hosts Kerri and Melissa have been passionate about bringing to the listeners. What a rich season it has been! Here's a recap you can listen to and see if your highlights are the same as ours! Connect with us: Facebook Twitter Instagram thehatspodcast@gmail.com Thank you for listening! We tip our hats to you!

What most of us know about incarceration comes from television shows and movies. As we all know, things are not always as Hollywood would have them seem. Prison rights activist Yolanda Williams gives us an up close and personal look at life behind bars - how a preacher's kid could end up there and redemption that can be found in the act of wrongdoing. Yolanda's story is fascinating and inspiring. Connect with us: Facebook Twitter Instagram thehatspodcast@gmail.com Thank you for listening! We tip our hats to you!

It's a presidential election year. So, it is only right that we hear from a politician, right? The Hats Podcast is excited to welcome Pasadena School Board Member Patrice Marshall McKenzie to the show to discuss the transition from supporting elected officials to becoming one. Patrice shares with us how politics can be conciliatory and practical, and serve the best interests of all constituents. Her calm confidence and kindness will make you think "hunh, maybe I should consider a run myself!" Maybe not; but, she will make you have a little more faith in the folks running our government. Connect with us: Facebook Twitter Instagram thehatspodcast@gmail.com

The Brady Bunch. The most iconic American blended family. With a few bumps in the road smoothed over by a loving mom and dad, they made combing two families into one all look so easy. But, navigating stepparenting, disciplinary styles, new spouses, new siblings and many other issues that arise in the course and scope of creating a new family where one previously existed can be extremely challenging. Listen to our guest RaShawn Vogelzon share how she created a blended family that incorporated her children, her second husband's children, her first husband and her new husband's second wife. Wow! Seems impossible, right? Well, it isn't. Listen in to find out how she did it and get tips on how to make all households, blended or not, happier, more peaceful places to be. Connect with us: Facebook Twitter Instagram thehatspodcast@gmail.com

If you are going to wear many hats in life, you will have to hold yourself accountable to yourself and others. Accountability to yourself allows you to set boundaries that prevent you from becoming overwhelmed. Accountability to others opens the door to trust and relationship building. Listen to this episode which answers the following questions about accountability: What does it mean to be accountable? In what contexts is accountability most important? How do you deal with people who are not being accountable for their actions? Tips to make sure you are being accountable to yourself and others. Connect with us: Facebook Twitter Instagram thehatspodcast@gmail.com Thank you for listening! We tip our hats to you!

What is the little thing that makes you speak a little softer, kinder, or more gently? How does that little thing interact with the impulse to drive hard to get results and advocate forcefully? Some say that we are describing the competing energy forces inside of all of us - feminine versus masculine energy. This was not a topic co-hosts Melissa and Kerri knew much about. So, unbeknownst to them, they wisely used their feminine energy instincts to ask for help from guest expert Dr. Zerri Gross. Listen to this episode to learn about how both types of energy reside within all of us and how we can balance them as needed depending on what we are facing each moment. Connect with us: Facebook Twitter Instagram thehatspodcast@gmail.com Thank you for listening! We tip our hats to you!

Are you driven to always be number one? Do you jump through hoops to be the best of the best? If you answer either of these questios yes, you may have a strong competitive spirit. But, does being competitive mean always going against others? Does it also mean detracting from the success of others who inevitably beat you sometimes? Find out the answers to these questions and consider whether your competitive spirit is a positive driver or negative alienator. Connect with us: Facebook Twitter Instagram thehatspodcast@gmail.com Thank you for listening! We tip our hats to you!

People of color have mixed experiences with law enforcement. Rarely do we get an insider's perspective behind the badge. And, even less frequently do we hear the voices of women officers. The Hats Podcast wanted to have this conversation, and former Secret Service Agent Holli Draines agreed to have it with us! Holli's story of life in law enforcement is inspiring, and a wonderful reminder of those "behind the blue wall" who truly honor their duty to protect and serve. Explore Holli's Security Company Connect with us: Facebook Twitter Instagram thehatspodcast@gmail.com Thank you for listening! We tip our hats to you!

If you are listening to this episode, then you may not be in the middle of a digital detox because you have to find us digitally! But, we hope that what you get out of this episode is that a digital detox, while necessary from time to time, can take many different forms. You can go cold turkey and sequester away in a cabin in the woods with no electricity, keep everything the same but reduce social media posts from 10 to 5 per day, and many other things in between. If you've been wanting to change the way you engage digitally, listen to this episode for tips and tricks for how to make it work. The benefits of a digital detox can be life altering! Connect with us: Facebook Twitter Instagram thehatspodcast@gmail.com Thank you for listening! We tip our hats to you!

Pioneering podcaster Dr. Joy Harden Bradford of the wildly successful podcast Therapy For Black Girls joins The Hats Podcast to talk about how women can heal through sister relationships. There is nothing quite like that moment when passing another woman and receiving the smile and nod that say "Sis, I see you!" And, those laughs and tears shared over brunch? Whole television series have been rooted in those sisterly occasions. Listen to co-hosts Melissa and Kerri discuss the unique bond between sisters (blood-related or chosen) and how we can heal through these deep and lasting relationships. Buy Dr. Joy's book: Sisterhood Heals Connect with us: Facebook Twitter Instagram thehatspodcast@gmail.com Thank you for listening! We tip our hats to you!

Hope is the fuel that keeps us charging forward during the most difficult circumstances. When we consider the state of world - or, even our own lived experiences - living in a state of hope can feel naive. This episode of The Hats Podcast helps you see why hope is not naive, but necessary. And, co-hosts Kerri and Melissa give tips to move through the inevitable bouts of hopelessness you will encounter along the way. Why the World Needs Hope Connect with us: Facebook Twitter Instagram thehatspodcast@gmail.com Thank you for listening! We tip our hats to you!

Any time we discuss death, the subject is emotional. This time it's emotional and controversial. The law in California changed some years ago to make the state one of the 11 that allow doctors to give people a lethal dose of medicine to end their lives. There are rules and circumstances that must be followed and exist, respectively. Returning to the show for a third time, guest therapist Thomas Pier walks us through the entire process. It's no exagerration to say listening to this episode could be a matter of painful life or peaceful death. Connect with us: Facebook Twitter Instagram thehatspodcast@gmail.com Thank you for listening! We tip our hats to you!

"Girl, did you know that ...." Anytime a conversation starts this way, there is a good chance you are gossiping. But, what exactly is gossip, what are its consequences, and are there moments when gossip is a good thing? These are the issues Kerri and Melissa explore in this episode, while sharing personal stories about how gossip has impacted their lives. Connect with us: Facebook Twitter Instagram thehatspodcast@gmail.com Thank you for listening! We tip our hats to you!

Foreplay is not what you think it is. Well, it probably includes things that automatically come to mind. But, it can (and, arguably should) be so much more than something that leads to sex. If you've never thought of vacuuming as a form of foreplay, this episosde is a must-listen for you! Sex therapist and radio show show Dr. Jeshana Avent-Johnson schools us on many of the ways foreplay extends beyond the bedroom and into daily moments of you and your intimate partner's lives! Meet Dr. Avent-Johnson Connect with us: Facebook Twitter Instagram thehatspodcast@gmail.com Thank you for listening! We tip our hats to you!

Happy 50th Anniversary hip hop!! Tracing the roots, trunk and branches of hip hop music in one podcast episode is an impossible task. Festivals, documentaries, movies, articles and so much other media has been produced this year alone to celebrate this iconic, unapologetically Black art form. Co-hosts Kerri and Melissa could not think of a better way to usher in the next 50 years of hip hop than to invite their husbands - ultimate, hard core hip hop fans - to wax poetic on this true love of theirs. Listen in to their lively and in depth discussion of the topic. But, wait ... you will hear at the end ... there are so many words left unspoken! So, here are words of hip hop wisdom from them both: Sanford says: There are a host of incredible MCs from coast to coast (and the continent) who were not mentioned by name in this episode. Nonetheless, their contributions to the advancement of the hip hop art form is just as important. We hope you enjoy! Khalel top 10 favorite Hip Hop Artists of all time: Nas Rakim Jay-Z KRSOne Kool G Rap GZA Pharaoh Monch Snoop Dogg Ice-T Beanie Siegel No order.

In the past 159 episodes, co-hosts Kerri and Melissa may have led you to believe that they are living the dream of perfectly balanced lives. Not so much! In this episode, the co-hosts explore the idea of whether true "balance" is possible; and, if it is how do we get there; and, if it isn't, how do we reconcile with not showing up 100% in every area all the time. Their discussion is enriched by the commentary, feedback and insights of guest expert therapist, world traveler and tech innovator Tiffany Green. This is an episode that will leave you feeling lighter, more empowered and ready to say yes ... and no ... a lot more often! Connect with us: Facebook Twitter Instagram thehatspodcast@gmail.com Thank you for listening! We tip our hats to you!

Drugs. Gambling. Food. Pleasure. Thinness. We can become addicted to anything. In this episode, guest therapist Gali Barak gives us an inside view into her own struggle and recovery from addiction, insights on how to help loved ones seized by addiction and help understanding and responding to the humanity behind addiction. Co-host Kerri, a self-proclaimed sweet treats addict (she explains this in the episode), has been especially anxious to talk about addiction. This is an episode you do not want to miss. Meet Gali Barak - An Expert on Addiction Connect with us: Facebook Twitter Instagram thehatspodcast@gmail.com Thank you for listening! We tip our hats to you!

Apologizing has become an art form everyone needs to master. It used to be that apologies were about preschoolers hitting each other on the yard, a spouse betraying a spouse, a boss being overly critical. Now, an apology can be the difference between international humiliation, death threats and losing you entire livelihood. Cancel culture is real. In this episode co-hosts Kerri and Melissa talk about the art of the apology and how you can hone this crucial skill for issues large and small. Connect with us: Facebook Twitter Instagram thehatspodcast@gmail.com Thank you for listening! We tip our hats to you!

Having been personally touched by suicide death, co-hosts Kerri and Melissa have been wanting to talk about suicide for quite some time. The word suicide gives rise to so many emotions - fear, shame, guilt, remorse, frustration and more. Listen to two bold and beautiful Black women discuss their lifelong and ongoing struggles with mental illness and suicidal thoughts. Together, T-Kea Blackman and Jordan Scott bravely and candidly share the difficult journeys that brought them together and led them to found Black People Die By Suicide Too. Their voices and stories are riveting. Meet T-Kea and Jordan Connect with us: Facebook Twitter Instagram thehatspodcast@gmail.com Thank you for listening! We tip our hats to you!

Finals are coming up. Tomorrow is your BIG INTERVIEW. Your kid is having a hard time with math. Yesterday your mother had a biopsy and you are waiting for results. The list of stressful situations in any Hatter's life is infinitely long and varied. It can be very tempting to eat your way through these difficult times. In fact, there is science behind why we do so. Listen to this episode with guest experts and founders of The Eatwell Exchange, Ashley Carter and Jasmine Westbrooks. They share insights on why we stress eat and how we can break the habit! Discover Eatwell Exchange Connect with us: Facebook Twitter Instagram thehatspodcast@gmail.com Thank you for listening! We tip our hats to you!