Bring The Wine Podcast

What Are Your Thoughts On….

Creating during difficult times. Bring The Wine started during a time when the Black community was suffering; did you feel a sense of urgency to create something positive?

M: I definitely felt I needed an outlet for everything going on in my life personally along with everything in the Black community. I’m an empath, so I feel everything and deeply. I knew I needed something, but didn’t know what it would be to help keep me grounded. Then when Chelsea pitched the idea I jumped at the opportunity, but still not fully realizing the impact it’d have on my life. Nine episodes later, I can truly say Bring The Wine helped me get through 2020. These conversations were therapy, they were the closest thing we could have to a turn up at a point lol, and my hope is that for our 50+ consistent listeners, they provide a pocket of sunshine and comfort. 

C: This idea had been floating around in my head before the pandemic started, at any given point in time, I have like 500 ideas in my head. I didn’t initially plan to be one of the people on the mic. For those who know me, being at the front and center of a medium is not the most comfortable for me.  The pandemic forced me to sit still and give something uncomfortable a shot. A lot of people have been quarantined alone or without family and may have lost loved ones this year;  my hope is that there are people who can relate to the conversations Michelle and I are having and laugh with us, cry with us, debate us  and feel less alone during these hard times.

The importance of using our platforms to highlight the issues within our community. Do you think as Black creatives we have a responsibility that our counterparts do not?

C: Black creatives should do whatever they are comfortable with. The ability to create is an innate gift that I believe everyone is blessed to have somewhere inside of them.  Creativity shows up in different ways;  some people create to entertain, others create to inform and there are even those who create as a means of survival. For as long as it exists, this platform is going to do both because in everyday life, Michelle and I do both. I can’t speak for our counterparts, but I’m always going to highlight all things Black.

M: Absolutely. I’m all for taking mental breaks and allowing space and time to not be “woke” all the time, as we are deeply multifaceted people. However, I believe we need more voices in our community discussing the things that impact us most in a very intentional and thought provoking manner. Everybody’s experience counts and is valid. Everybody’s activism also doesn’t have to look the same...I’m not into respectability politics lol. But nobody is going to be our savior. We have to save ourselves. 

Black people thriving in spaces where we don’t have a huge presence, like the wine industry. What inspired you to be a bridge between our community and wine education?

C: I have always loved wine since my mom used to sneak me small glasses of wine during Christmas as a kid (shhhh, don’t tell my Dad).  We have discovered that the Black folk already in this community are already making strides (as we do in every industry) and would just like to add on to a positive way to the work that they are doing as we continue to learn more about the industry. Our first real look into the industry was actually on Episode 5 where we spoke to Chasity Cooper who is a wine journalist and also has her own wine brand, Wine with Chas. As we learn more about the industry, we will continue to showcase what we encounter.

M: Well that’s exactly it right? As I mentioned earlier, we are deeply multifaceted. We can’t be put into a box, contrary to some people’s beliefs. Black people should be taking up ALL THE spaces. We should be represented in every industry that we want to exist in. Wine is something I grew up on. Now I don’t mean I grew up drinking it all through childhood lol, I don’t want no problems. But wine was and is a HUGE part of my family dynamic. You don’t have to be this uppity wine head with all the technical lingo to be able to indulge in it and enjoy it either. While I personally have my own dreams for my journey in wine, I also want the community to know wine is INCLUSIVE. Wine is affordable. Wine is delicious. Wine is fun! The more we can spotlight Black-owned brands too, the more we can show all the options that are available that we can all feel comfortable and excited putting our money behind! 

Starting important conversations with a drink in the hand. How do you think that affects communication? 

C: The idea is to enjoy the wine, each wine has its own story to be told and experienced. People have been having important conversations over wine across many different industries. In my opinion, wine and conversation are a perfect pair. I think having a drink in hand allows us to be more open however we are adults with self control, I do not believe it’s a hindrance to a conversation.

M: Hmmm, this is a great question! So many things come to mind when I think about this. I can’t tell you the amount of times having a glass of wine nearby during an intense conversation immediately shifted the energy. If it’s my girls coming over and we’re talking through our life ish over wine, it’s like a subtle reminder in the midst of expressing frustration, pain, disappointment..etc, when you take each sip... “Everything is going to be ok…” Or if I’m with my family, it adds a layer of connection and community. Naturally though, as with any substance, without exercising self-control the effects on your communication can be unpleasant. So it’s important that as we recognize the numerous benefits wine brings to our conversations, we still continue to drink responsibly. 

The future of Bring The Wine. What topics do you plan on covering on the podcast?

C:I’d love to have  rotating male co-hosts to add to the vibe. I  think a man who is down to throw back some wine with us and engage in authentic conversation would be a blast to record with.  There are a lot of topics that we have not covered off on in Season 1, whatever is going on in our heads, you’re sure to hear at some point. I don’t want to give too much away but stay tuned, we’ll be back soon!

M: The beautiful thing is we started this truthfully not knowing what to expect, and our experience has only been more than we could have ever imagined. So going into this next season, we definitely want to put no limits on what we do and think big. So you can definitely expect to hear us dive deeper into Black love, millennial marriages/parenting, Faith and spirituality, unpacking and working towards dispelling toxic narratives that exist in our community and so much more! I’m excited to learn and  try new things with Chelsea in Bring The Wine. I know it will continue to be quite the adventure and I just want to thank our listeners for continuing to ride with us!