Welcome to a gathering for our souls! A place where we whisper to our ancestors, honor their strength, represent our culture, and claim our birthright to joy, healing, and abundance.

About the Episode

Alright fam! Gather around for the very first episode kicking off The BLACKprint Show! 

In this episode, I get to the heart of why and how The BLACKprint Show came about. It was a tender and profound experience that me here to you. I speak on the significance of ancestral healing and liberation and importance of reclaiming our identity and ancestral wisdom.

To me, THE BLACKprint Show is NECESSARY! We’re here to heal, to remember, to reclaim what was taken, and to build something sacred for us, by us, and about us. This episode is an invitation to root down, honor our people, and speak truth to power with love, with tears and laughter and with real talk. 

Ain’t no code switching here. Just come as you are, beloved.

Step into this sacred space, family. Let’s honor our ancestors and breathe life into our stories. This episode of THE BLACKprint Show calls us to remember, heal, and thrive on our terms. 

Listen in as I take you on a journey and share the profound experience that inspired me to create this space for us, by us, and about us. So turn it up, pass it on, and lets liberate our mind, body and soul together.

What Went Down (Episode Highlights)

• Standing on plantation ruins in this present day and age, and the revelation (and tears) that hit my spirit
• Reflections on ancestral connection, traumatic inheritance, and why Black People need sanctuary
• The power of reclaiming rest, play, abundance, and taking up every inch of space we deserve
• Parenting Black girls in a world that still teaches them to hate their hair and hide their names—and what we gon’ do about it
• A call to honor our ancestors, claim our lineage, and break the spells that have held our people too long

Full Episode Transcript

Below is the full transcript of this episode, formatted for clarity and ease. Shared to support accessibility and to honor the spoken word as archive.

Healing, Liberation, and Ancestral Connection: Welcome to The BLACKprint Show

Introduction

Greetings! Peace and blessings. I am Jovhannah Tisdale, the Sacred Wellness Alchemist™ and your host of The BLACKprint Show. 

On this podcast, we delve into black liberation, ancestral knowledge, and connection. 

The idea for this show came to me after a profound reading that solidified my role as a bodyworker and healer in helping to heal black bodies. 

I discovered that this work was deeply rooted in my paternal lineage, which was a significant revelation.

Embracing Our Ancestry

When we consider our lineage and ancestry, we often focus on our mother’s side. 

However, this experience helped me build a connection with my father’s side and feel more rooted in my identity as a Black Woman in America. 

Alongside my work as a bodyworker, I am also a spiritual channel and engage in spiritual healing work. 

During this time, I received messages about the trauma experienced by Black Men, and issues they may not even be aware of or address. This inspired me to create a platform dedicated to discussing these important topics. 

The BLACKprint is a show for us, by us, and about us.

Creating a Space for Black People

While I acknowledge that anyone can listen and seek understanding as allies, The BLACKprint show centers Black Melanated beings. 

It is essential to establish a safe space where we can openly discuss our experiences, challenges, and triumphs. 

Recognizing that the podcast reaches a diverse audience, I take care to foster an environment that celebrates Black Voices and perspectives.

The Birth of The BLACKprint

Initially, I questioned the need for a separate show and considered incorporating these topics into my existing podcasts. 

However, I recognized the unique value and significance of creating a dedicated space for these conversations. I pondered on how this show would grow, how it would be nourished, and what its purpose would ultimately be. 

It was during a Sunday morning walk by the river, where I discovered my answer.

A Profound Revelation

As I embarked on my familiar trail, I turned off my phone to tune into the energy around me. 

I stumbled upon the remnants of a structure, bricks and cinder blocks buried in the ground. A plaque stood amidst these remnants, bearing the words “do not touch the ruins.” 

Intrigued, I read deeper into its history and learned that it was the ruins of the Buchoi plantation from the 17th-18th century, a place where black bodies were forced to endure unimaginable suffering. 

The existence of this plantation in modern times struck me profoundly, at the ease in which I could just come upon it. All I could think about was the blood that soaked into the soil that I stood and walked on.

It reminded me that the impact and effects of slavery continue to permeate our communities today.

Unveiling the Hidden Stories

Plantation ruins were transformed into parks, greenways, and even residential neighborhoods and “fancy inns for romantic getaways”. 

It is not uncommon in North Carolina for neighborhoods to bear plantation names. 

As I reflected on this history, tears welled up within me. I contemplated the black bodies who labored, suffered, and perished on this land. 

I thought about the children who never had the chance to play or thrive. In this sacred space, where alligators now roam, I sensed the horrors and atrocities that took place. 

The remnants of suffering and enslavement serve as a solemn reminder of how far we have come and the work that still lies ahead.

Claiming Our Legacy

The experience at the plantation reignited a deep sense of responsibility within me. 

It is up to us to bring about the change, evolution, and healing of our people. 

Our actions as individuals matter. 

We must reclaim our lineage, knowledge, and sacred wisdom. 

We must educate ourselves, question the narratives presented to us, and uncover the truths hidden from view. 

Breaking the cycle is an act of liberation. 

It is time to live fully, taking up space without the need for code-switching or conforming to societal expectations. 

It is time for us to be empowered, to understand and celebrate the legacy we hold.

In Closing

Welcome to The BLACKprint, a Sacred Wellness Alchemy space dedicated to black liberation, ancestral connection, and knowledge. 

I am Jovhannah Tisdale, the Sacred Wellness Alchemist™ and your host. As a Black American and Central American, a mother, a healer, and a spiritual teacher, I bring my experiences and insights to this show. 

Join me as we delve into the stories, struggles, and triumphs of the Black Community, uncovering the wisdom that lies within us all. 

Let us embark on this journey of healing, liberation, and ancestral connection together.