I have a confession. I can be quite stubborn at times. People that know me who may be reading this are probably saying, “Yeah he is”. However, as I launched The Water Bearer Podcast, I began to find deeper reasons why I’m stubborn. My zodiac sign is Aquarius (read about us or tune in to the podcast to learn more), which is one of four “fixed signs”. Those four fixed signs include my own, Taurus, Leo and Scorpio. Although I don’t treat zodiac signs as the Bible by any means, I do believe there is a lot of truth in them.
Fast forward to me finding out that my rising sign is Leo (another fixed sign). Basically, I have the makings of more stubbornness. I pride myself in my part of my stubbornness – it’s kept me out of trouble and given me an immense amount of drive. On the flip side, it has also been the cause of me missing opportunities and being too close minded. Thankfully, I’m not alone.
Tonight’s episode, “Untameabull Drip”, features one of my great Taurus friends, Britany Lewis. We talk about the most recognizable Taurus traits, her marriage and compatibility to my friend Skylar Lewis (a Capricorn) and her biggest pet peeve. You don’t want to miss this amazing episode. Plus, if you missed last week’s “Going for a Swim” episode, highlighting Pisces, check it out below.
Many of you have likely seen the new SWV & Xscape: The Queens of R&B reality show by now. Both groups are no strangers to the charts, reality TV and their share of drama. However, it seems like Xscape may be the group that ruins chances of a joint tour before it even gets off the ground. Ironically, SWV was in that same hot seat when they had a reality show with Salt N Pepa (remember Ladies Night?) a few years ago.
Nonetheless, it’s International Women’s Day, so we’ll focus on the positive. I’m a fan of both groups and the show brings back 90s nostalgia from their respective hey days. Here are three of the best album deep cuts that never made it as singles from each group.
Xscape:
Hard to Say Goodbye: A quintessential breakup song from their sophomore album, Off the Hook, this song showcases the vocals of each member fluidly. They were really going through it and made the fans feel it to the point that they almost wanted to be in a relationship just to experience this level of pain.
Softest Place on Earth: Pure sexiness from their third studio album, Traces of My Lipstick. How can you not like this song? Their vocals coo like warm honey down your neck and…..other places. Yep, the softest place on earth indeed and honestly one of the best songs in their entire catalog.
Work Me Slow: I understand why this song wasn’t a single from Off the Hook. After all, Do You Want To? has a similar groove and features Tiny on lead (a rarity). However, this song could have easily been released as a single and killed on the charts. Xscape was on fire at this time. This song could have kept the fire going in more ways than one.
SWV:
Fine Time: Lifted from their sophomore album, New Beginning, this track trudges through the mud of heartbreak in a way that only SWV can deliver. Somehow, they seem hurt but not too shook up about the end of the relationship. The last 30 seconds of the song really does it for me with the layered background vocals.
Do Ya Feat. Brianna Perry: SWV is known for their uptempo hits as much as some of their ballads. I Missed Us kept this hidden gem under wraps. The track is bubbly and reminiscent of their early days, with a sample of Rufus & Chaka Khan’s “Do You Love What You Feel”. My guess is this one wasn’t chosen as a single because it may have been compared to The Pussycat Dolls’ hit, “Don’t Cha”.
Blak Pudd’n: If you’re a longtime SWV fan, you know Taj has spit a few rap bars over the years. She wasn’t half bad either. This song is one of the more comical ones in their catalog. It’s lighthearted, fun and full of 90s flare. It was a smart decision to not release this one as a single. TLC and Salt N Pepa were driving well in the R&B/Hip Hip fusion lane. It’s About Time had plenty other hits to choose from anyway.
Also, whether you’re a woman or man, don’t forget to pick up the presale bundle for my new book on independent publishing, Can I Pick Your Brain?
Have you ever noticed that people focused on forging their own path don’t worry about yours? I’ve found that often times, people don’t try to keep you in a box if they’re living outside of one. This was exactly the case with Ali Carter, my guest on the latest episode of The Water Bearer Podcast. I met Ali about five years ago. I remember her telling me of her aspirations to leave the United States even back then. Fast forward a couple of years ago, and she did just that.
Ali has traveled the world (check out her YouTube channel, Where’s Ali – Eccentric Nomad) – literally. When I asked her what people close to her thought about her journey, she stated that some people told her she needed to “sit down”. Her response was, “I’ve been sitting down for 48 years”. That was the most profound moment of the show for me because we all can relate to either sitting down or standing up.
How long will it take for you to stand up in your purpose and dreams? Will you allow the naysayers (including family and friends) convince you to suppress your freedom and sit down? Never let anyone tell you to sit down when your heart tells you otherwise.
Catch the full episode below and tune in to this week’s episode (highlighting the Pisces zodiac sign) on Thursday, at 7 pm CST!
In case you’ve missed it, The Water Bearer Podcast is about halfway through its first season. So far, I’ve spoken with two Capricorns, one Libra and of course, a handful of Aquarians. Next up is Leo. This sign holds a special place for me. Not only do I have several Leos in my family and close friends, I recently found out that Leo is my rising and moon sign.
This week’s guest, poet and author Chana Shinegba, is an unapologetically fiery lioness. We discuss the concept behind her first book, why she doesn’t favor Leo men and the one toxic Leo trait. Plus, we play another round of Dead in the Water, a this or that game where the guest says one of two choices they can do without.
Catch the Drip now and look out for next week’s episode with a Cancer and an Aquarius. Tune in every Thursday at 7 pm CST. Let me know your sign in the comments and what you feel is the best attribute of your sign.
It has started to become a tradition that I buy myself a pair of shoes every year for my birthday. I love shoes that not only look great but are also very unique. I found a pair of shoes from one of my favorite brands and used my loyalty coupons to get a great deal (over 50% off the original price). Treat yo self mode was in full effect (lol). However, there was one problem when the shoes arrived.
I opened the box in anticipation and hope that the shoes would fit. The fit of the shoes weren’t the issue. I was taken aback by a few smudges on random areas of the shoe. Ugh, this can’t be real. Oh, but it was. Immediately, I got upset and prepared to send a scathing note to the company scolding them for sending me smudged shoes. Then, it hit me: check the website again.
I returned to my order confirmation and found the image of the shoes. There they were, with their comic like pattern laid against an all white backdrop. See, these look clean. That was until I zoomed in. Then I saw the same random smudges strategically placed on the shoes. The smudges were in the same spot as the ones I had just removed from the box. Crisis averted.
How many times do we find ourselves in this kind of predicament in life? Have you ever prematurely accepted something that looked great on the surface, but you didn’t pay attention to the fine details? It could be merchandise or even people that appeared to be good to us on the surface. The reality is we all have defects, dirt and smudges because we’re human. Let’s remember to pay attention to the fine print but not be so quick to judge. Sometimes those smudges add character and extra sauce to an already impeccable design.
Also, you don’t need to read through the fine print to tune into The Water Bearer Podcast. If you missed last week’s episode, check it out below. Then, Catch the Drip this Thursday at 7pm CST for this week’s episode.
It’s about to get deep. Really deep. Are you ready? Hopefully you’ve seen the first two episodes of The Water Bearer Podcast. I’m taking a bit of a detour from the norm this week and diving into the pool of numerology. I met numerologist and hypnotist Rev. CR Meeks a few weeks ago, through a mutual friend. She has told me several things about myself that she didn’t know.
Now, you get to see some of these things first-hand. For instance, she told me that I shouldn’t eat meat. If you’ve been reading my blogs, then you know I have gout and eat mostly vegetarian now. I also learned what my life path number is and the meaning behind my birth day of the month.
“Can I Have Your Number?” is the one episode this season that will go much deeper than the surface. I’m sure you will find it interesting and possibly surprising. Plus, if you missed last week’s episode, “We’re Just Misunderstood”, check it out below. Catch the Drip on episode three tonight at 7 pm CST.
Today is an exciting day because I finally get to release the podcast I’ve been telling you about, The Water Bearer Podcast. I’ve been recording some great episodes and the first one just went live on YouTube. “Chasing Waterfalls, Not Feelings” addresses communication styles in relationships, traits of the Aquarius, Capricorn and Libra signs and a hilarious this or that style game. My guests Keshia Dawn and Skylar Lewis join me on the discussion as well. Trust me, you don’t want to miss it!
Not an Aquarius (or Capricorn or Libra)? Don’t worry, your sign is coming in future episodes. Feel free to comment, share your thoughts/experiences or even traits of specific zodiac signs. This podcast will tackle such topics as love, life, forgiveness, personality traits and more, through the lens of astrology (with an Aquarian tint).
Catch the Drip today and every Thursday on YouTube. Don’t forget to subscribe to the channel as well to get all of the latest updates! Thanks in advance for watching.
It’s the start of a new year. For some of you, it’s an attitude of “new year, new me”. For others, you may have already fallen off the bandwagon of your new year’s resolution. You’re not alone. I’ve been there before too.
A few days before the new year, a piece of furniture that I kept on my coffee table broke. I literally saw it split as I watched TV. I had one matching one on the other side of the table but decided to remove them both after one of them broke. I contemplated gluing the pieces back together. The break was created by a long but very thing hairline fracture. In fact, had I glued it, no one would have likely noticed that it broke.
That may be you reading this blog today. It’s been me many times. We often walk around with hairline fractures that no one else can see. All it takes is that one stranger to cut us off in traffic, an argument with a loved one or an unexpected financial setback that can break us for all to see. Unlike the piece of furniture that I was easily able to discard, we only have one of us. Treat yourself (and others) kindly and fix those hairline fractures before they become unrepairable breaks.
Also, don’t forget to subscribe to The Water Bearer Podcast (click here). The first episode airs on Thursday, January 19, 2023. My guests, Keshia Dawn and Skylar Lewis, and I discuss traits of Aquarius, Capricorn and Libra, along with discussions about communication in relationships and a heated food debate.
Life has a consistent way of inspiring art for me. True to form, life found its way to spark the idea for The Water Bearer Podcast, which launches on January 19, 2023. One of the final episodes of the Brown Liquor & Cigars podcast placed me in the hot seat. I was always looked at as the “nice”, “calm”, or “middle-of-the-road” guy on the show. Not that day.
I revealed that I may need some time to cool down from a heated moment in a relationship before I can fully express my feelings. The question arose, “Well, how much time do you need?” I responded and said, “It depends, maybe a few hours, a day, 5 days….” The words “5 days” barley escaped my lips before they read me my rights. I didn’t say I’d be mute for 5 days, but I did say that I wanted to avoid saying something I’d regret in the heat of the moment.
So, fast forward after that episode. I saw a lady’s post on social media about Aquarius men. She reveled on and on about how she loved Aquarius men. How could she not? I thought. If you haven’t guessed, that’s my zodiac sign. She threw me for a loop at the very end when she said, “But their one toxic trait is they don’t show their emotions well.” I sat up and took notice, as I’d heard that in relationships and dating more times than I’d like to admit.
Boom! That’s when it hit me. A podcast that explores the Aquarian mind. Plus, details on how it interacts with all of the other signs in the zodiac. Check out the teaser below. Also, don’t forget to subscribe to the YouTube channel. The first episode airs on Thursday, January 19, 2023. Catch the Drip every Thursday thereafter.
Many of you may know that I have affinity for coconut water. I’m a little picky on the brands I drink but recently decided to go out on a limb and try a new one. Coconut water has a wealth of health benefits including an excellent source of hydration, immune support, aid in lowering blood sugar and a great post-workout replenishment.
Koko & Karma is the brand of coconut water I tried. The flavor I tried was pineapple. There’s no strange after taste (regular coconut water drinkers know what I mean). The pineapple flavor is full without an artificial flavor. Plus, it’s infused with vitamins C and B12, both great immune defenses as we enter flu season I know you may have expected a hot drink today. However, I love bending the rules.
Overall, I loved this coconut water and probably would put it over some of the top brands I usually drink. Koko & Karma will surely be a coconut water staple in my home going forward. What’s your favorite fall or year-round drink?
