We had the good fortune of connecting with Michel Roy and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Michel, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I’m not sure I had a choice, I believe that things are designed before we even realize we’ve got a physical voice. I think when I came to this place it was to create something that would help aid in sharing and showing love during this crazy time in our lives. When I started Between Us Girls The Podcast with my girl friends in 2016 I didn’t know what it was going to be, I just wanted to talk and I knew I needed somewhere to do it. I was tired of having to hold my tongue for the fellas online, or for the ones I was dating and I wanted a place where I could express myself without someone telling me what I said was incorrect or that I should try it the way they preferred. It was so interesting that over the course of running that show how MANY times a man said “y’all need a male perspective” and every time I thought, well this show is for everyone, it’s not just for women and also, do we need a male perspective? Do we not have enough life experience to share the truth of relationships and life simply from our perspective? Are we wrong to own our femininity? Even if the vision we had was skewed at the time it was ours and we were entitled to it. I started a Creative Consulting firm called #CreativeAF to help men tell their stories as well, but this platform is for us. It’s for us to explain what we’re going through and how we’re growing through it. I don’t want that to be taken away from us. Without this place to share my message and to be safe in my space I would never have found my magic, I would never have understood that if I say I want to do something and I go after it then it will come to me. No man (or thing) comes to me unless I draw him. That means whatever I see for myself I can absolutely have, and when I said to myself that I wanted to reach a certain number of listeners per month, I would soon see that number on my screen. A lot of people say don’t look at your stats, but I love numbers and I love seeing the proof of my manifestations through them.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
It can be tough in this arena to really do what you want to do because there are so many who will tell you this is what works for the pro’s so you need to do it this way and following those instructions might lead you to become less than authentic, which is always my biggest concern in this business. I never want to model my platform after anything I’ve ever seen before, I really like the things I do to come from my spirit, that way I know it’s true to me and to my voice. In the beginning I didn’t feel confident in speaking out on certain topics and issues that affect my community, whether it be the Black community, or our community of Black Women, or just women or Americans in general. I had a lot of fears associated with being ridiculed for my honesty, and so when I started I wanted to make sure I had my friends with me. As we moved forward and became more successful it was apparent to me that it was my dream that I needed to see through and it wasn’t really fair that I kept dragging them along with me, and so as The Universe designed we took our leave right on time. I needed to have that growth experience so that I could find my voice and be able to stand on my own as who I am and to do what I felt led to do. I really want this platform to be one that reaches all sexes and helps the men on this earth come to realize that it’s OK to be in touch with nature, and creativity, and to accept that there is some tenderness in you. There’s no shame in softness, it’s part of who we are, and that’s something I also had to learn. I spent a lot of time trying to be hard when I didn’t need to be as a defense mechanism and this journey has really done that for me, it has allowed me to see myself as able to love others and especially Black Women. As we grow we are taught to compete with each other and to expect the worst from our sisters and my hope is that through the use of my podcast platform I can change that in some way. I’d like to be able to big up and promote other Black Women as a means to say “We’re all in this together and we have the power to change the wave. Simply by loving one another better.” I’d really like to see some women run their shows through my feed, I want to share it with everyone. I think it’s a beautiful time we’re in, Black women are moving more and more into their Spiritual center and they are finding their gifts and healing each other and their men and I think that’s where we need to be. So, I just want to share that love with the collective. It’s too often we’re seen as angry, disagreeable, and disgruntled. It’s just not true, and our experience may have taught us to be hardened in some ways but we but that’s not all that we are, we’re some straight up stars. We can be strong, as we were designed, and still love others and do our part in healing. For me, I think we have some of the deepest feelings. I truly love us.

Any great local spots you’d like to shoutout?
For music and vibes: Boi Dru Music, Shy The Vibe Charmer, Richelle Gemini, and Mallory have all made a huge impact and are some of the most creative artists I have heard. Production by BandGeek because his tracks will set it off and make your soul scream with joy, Vibe modulation with DJQwiet, because he will always get you right and you will never want to leave one of his parties, for a bomb outdoor set up check out DjReggieP and The Perfect Vibe. If you find yourself in the mood for some poetry visit M’eye Art Gallery and maybe pick up some Jewels from Sapphire Speaks. For drinks and snacks Goud Drinks and Goud TeaCakes, this husband and wife team will help you set your house party all the way off. Fulfill your food truck fantasy with EaDeaux’s Boudin Nachos, and Chitalian Pizzeria, their wings have been a popular favorite among my friends for years. For the Best BBQ and Burgers go say hello to Mr. Don at Blake’s BBQ. After eating all of that good food go and grab a unit from Xodus Fitness Apparel and visit Joy at Digg Deep Fitness for a bomb full body workout before you head to HealThySelf Fitness for a deep tissue massage and primal stretching. If you look and feel that well physically after your body work and stretching but you don’t know if your emotional energy is quite right you should definitely get with The Bruja Barbee for some Spiritual Blessings and visit with OcuLaurel for some sound bowl and healing before you hit up Graced Esthethics for some handmade natural skincare. Then stop by Lady Ayri natural’s salon to get your face and hair together, and don’t forget to pick up a few bottles of Fro’ Fruit from Erika to keep it tight when you head back home. Before you go don’t forget to call Warren with JussFresh Media or Patrick at Pics By PB to take your shots at the Mercer Arboretum in your custom fashion designs by Rocky Boston with your Xavier Von Designs cosmic jewels. If you get lost, follow Fezia’s Foodventures and Finds, a great guide to what to do, eat, and where to be around town.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d like to shout out to my Mom, Jackie. Your sweetness is unmatched, and as I have come to realize your love is the foundation for my own softness–I would have no other example of unconditional love if it were not for you. Like I’m always saying, it’s not by accident that you were chosen for this. I love you so much, and I thank God that you were here to teach me how to pray. My Dad, Albert for seeing the vision and respecting the process, although he couldn’t be here to see it manifest he set his intention and for that I’m grateful. It has been such a long road from me back to you and I’m in supreme gratitude that I can still make time and space move in order to speak with you–if you don’t share time with your ancestors then you are not honoring yourself, and you should absolutely do that. To my sister, you are the dragon slayer, thank you for helping me become who I AM, layer by layer. My son and daughter for choosing me, and for being open to learning with me, for their efforts in changing the way we love in our home. I know it’s not so easy, stepping out of your comfort zone. <3 There are a host of others I would like to thank, to begin The Girls, thank you for being a part of such a great show and for sticking in there with me for as long as you could. I’m forever grateful for the experience, and I love you guys. To Brian, you are legit the only FOTY and will always be good with me, you supported me up and down and listened to me go on and on and ran all around town with me. Forever grateful. To all of the people who inspired my creativity, keep doing your work, it takes all kinds. To my friend Fernando, my teacher, without your guidance I would still be walking in the woods. As well as, Ms. Kesha Wa, Grace Mae, Aset Rising, ParisShantel, Moonraven, KaTia Goudeau, Bruja Barbee (that road opener though!!), DIVAS, The moon sisters, Mad juice, Sapphire, The Sister Circle, and To the Book Club, you are a Queen, every single one of you. Each of these people played a huge role in the transition period of BUG Pod Productions and you will be forever blessed for your service and input as I went through the shadow to find my authentic voice. I love you all.

Website: www.betweenusgirlspodcast.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/betweenusgirlspodcast
Twitter: www.twitter.com/girltalkandwine
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BetweenUsGirls/
Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAJgTOsaJ4vbOtkPbChgDvg/featured

Image Credits
David Simon Photography

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