Black bookstores were once the heartbeat of our communitiesspaces of knowledge, culture, resistance, and liberation. In this episode of The Lifestrong Project, we sit down with the filmmakers behind the upcoming documentary They Said Niggas Dont Read: The Rise & Fall of Black Bookstores. Together, we break down: How Black bookstores shaped political thought & cultural identity Why these spaces were systematically removed across the U.S. COINTELPROs role in targeting Black intellectual hubs The legacy these stores left behindand why their story matters now more than ever If you care about culture, truth, and preserving our history this is the episode you need to hear. Listen, subscribe, and share. Lets keep the legacy alive.

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In this episode of The Lifestrong Project, AyeCee sits down with Adaku Mbagwu, The First Daughter Coach, to break down the pressure placed on high-achieving first-born daughters. Adaku shares how generational expectations lead to burnout and how women can reclaim their power, heal deeply, and lead with ease.

If youve ever carried the family, this ones for you!

Divorce hits different when youre a Black man.

In this episode of The Lifestrong Project, were joined by Daviddivorce survivor, author, and professional WTF just happened? analystto unpack what really goes down when a Black mans marriage ends.

We get into:

• The emotional fallout Black men are never taught to talk about

• How culture, pride, and man up expectations make the pain even heavier

• Co-parenting, courts, and the quiet fears most brothers never say out loud

• Why its okay to be angry, hurt, and confusedand still be healing

• Real strategies to rebuild your life, identity, and joy after the papers are signed

If youre a Black man going through a breakup, know someone who is, or just want to understand the unseen weight divorce puts on men in our community, this ones for you.

Congrats, youre divorced. Now what? 

Press “Play” and lets talk about it!

If dating apps feel like a second job, youre not alone. In this episode, certified matchmaker and single mom Felicity Morgan explains why more matches isnt the answerand how focusing on fewer, better matches can change everything.

As the founder of Elite Rendezvous and creator of the relationship app Door2, Felicity helps busy adults stop repeating the same dating cycles and start choosing relationships that truly fit their lives.

In this interview, we cover:

• The real reasons modern dating feels overwhelming

• How to move from guessing to dating with intention

• What makes matchmaking different from swipe-based apps

• Practical tips for single parents who want to date without chaos

• How to create a privacy-first dating experience

• Spotting consistency early as a key green flag

• Exiting a situation earlykindly and guilt-free

On this episode of The Lifestrong Project, were digging into what it really means to pursue excellence without losing yourself. Depression, anxiety, and suicide are rising among Black youth and college students, often fueled by intense pressure to succeed. At the same time, more high-achieving Black students are gaining access to elite spaceswhile silently battling burnout, isolation, and unspoken mental health struggles. Our guest, Nicole Olaniyi, is the founder of Lionheart Coaching Academy and co-creator of Black Founders Formula. Shes a Princeton admit, author, and nonprofit leader whose life checks every success box on paperbut behind the scenes, she wrestled with depression, anxiety, and an eating disorder she didnt yet have the language for. In this conversation, we explore:

• Why external achievement doesnt guarantee internal peace

• How the pressure on Black high achievers is showing up as burnout and breakdown

• What elite achievement looks like in a postaffirmative action landscape

• Practical ways families can redefine success to include mental health, identity, and wholeness

• Tools to help Black students pursue big opportunities and protect their well-being

This episode is for parents, students, educators, and anyone who believes success should never cost you your sanity, your story, or your soul.

If youve ever told yourself, I cant make a movie because I dont live in LA, I dont have money, or I dont know where to start, this episode is for you.

Filmmaker Julian Vaughan Hampton (Vaughanworks LLC) has spent the last 15 years proving you can create anyway. From the Midwest to Los Angeles to the Southwest, hes made action films, crime dramas, thrillers, and family filmsoften handling nearly every job on set himself.

In this conversation, we cover:

• How he learned filmmaking by doing every job on an indie set

• Being a Black indie filmmaker and what that really looks like day-to-day

• Going from songwriter and author to screenwriter and director

• How to make movies in your hometown, not just LA or New York

• The making of Fighting Olympus and the upcoming thriller The Fear of It

• The story behind his award-winning short Blacked Box

• Practical advice for staying motivated when you want to quit

Whether youre a filmmaker, writer, or any kind of creator, youll walk away with real, usable inspiration and strategies.

Actress and Author Gina Dobson explains the origins, signs, and effects of Scapegoating and how it affects our communities.

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Esther and Enoch Alabi Obafemi discuss the differences in culture between their birth home of Lagos, Nigeria and their new home, Atlanta, Georgia.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lifestrong-project–4260319/support (https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lifestrong-project–4260319/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss) .