Rants And Randomness With Luvvie Ajayi

On this episode of Professional Troublemaker, Luvvie is talking to the Founder & CEO of Uncharted Power,  award-winning scientist Jessica O. Matthews. Her list of accolades is amazing. Jessica has two degrees from Harvard, Forbes 30 Under 30, Harvard Scientist of the Year, listed on over 12 patents and patents pending, including her first invention of the SOCCKET – an energy-generating soccer ball she invented at the age of 19. But Jessica is a professional troublemaker, not just for all she’s accomplished, but that she is committed to solving big problems and refuses to let people suffer or live a life that is less than if there is a way to solve the problem.During their conversation, Jessica and Luvvie are talking about what pushed Jessica to start down this path of working to revolutionize energy and infrastructure, why she considers God to be the biggest investor in her life and career, and why Black women will save the world if they’ll step up and start taking the risks they need to take.***Follow @L

Welcome to the Professional Troublemaker podcast. As we’ve been preparing to launch Luvvie’s new book Professional Troublemaker into the world, we’ve been auditing and examining everything we do. We want to make sure that the content we create and the things we offer are the best of what you need to do better. In this episode, Luvvie talks all about where this new name comes from, defines what a professional troublemaker is, and why it is so needed right now. You’ll get a peek into the kinds of interviews we’ll be bringing you and what you’ll be learning alongside Luvvie as we dive into these amazing conversations.We’re here to bring you thought-provoking conversations with amazing people who have taken action, caused good trouble, and consistently shown up with the courage and confidence they needed to become the fear-fighters they are today. You’ll get the inspiration and action steps you need to take up space and stand in who you are so you can step out into the world and do big things.***Follow @Luvvie ev

Every week, Luvvie interviews guests like Bozoma Saint John, Gabrielle Union, Glennon Doyle, Donna Brazile, Sarah Jakes Roberts, Tarana Burke and Elsa Majimbo - people who are committed to disrupting what is unjust for the greater good. People who take up the call of the late, great John Lewis, who charged us to “Get in good trouble, necessary trouble.”Luvvie Ajayi Jones is a TED speaker, 2x New York Times bestselling author and podcast host who thrives at the intersection of humor, technology and justice. Known for her trademark wit, warmth, perpetual truth-telling, and ability to put into words the thoughts few dare to say, Luvvie has graced stages around the globe for some of the world's most innovative companies and conferences, including Google, Facebook, Amazon, Twitter, MAKERS, SXSW and the Obama White House. Her wildly popular TED talk "Get comfortable with being uncomfortable" has over 6 million views and climbing. The conversations and stories you’ll hear on the Professional Troublemaker podcast wil

On this episode of Rants & Randomness, we’ve got a big announcement. As we’ve been preparing to launch Luvvie’s new book Professional Troublemaker into the world, we’ve been auditing and examining everything we do. We want to make sure that the content we create and the things we offer are the best of what you need to do better. When we looked at the podcast, we realized something. Rants & Randomness had grown up too. We weren’t doing the rants anymore. And the interviews have become more and more focused on dope people who are out there trying to leave the world better than they found it. They’ve made the choice to be professional troublemakers, and we were diving deep on what that means and how they did it.So… ANNOUNCEMENT. Rants & Randomness is adulting. Same dope interviews, still Luvvie learning alongside her guests in these amazing conversations, but we’re giving it a new name. Starting January 5, 2021 – on Luvvie’s birthday – this podcast will be called Professional Troublemaker. If you’re

This week on Rants & Randomness, Luvvie is talking to veteran TV journalist and host Cari Champion. After working for nearly a decade at ESPN where she served as a SportsCenter anchor and host of ESPN Two's First Take, Cari made history earlier this year with her move to VICE TV, working alongside co-host and former guest of this podcast, Jemele Hill, as the first Black women to host a late-night cable show. Cari is also the host of her own podcast, called The Brownprint and she co-hosts The Titan Games, an athletic competition show with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.During their conversation, Luvvie and Cari talking about her growing up, how she got her start in journalism and then moved up the ranks and got to ESPN, how she learned that sometimes the thing you’ve worked so hard for isn’t what you hope it will be, and how she shows up being a Black woman who embraces other Black women in a world that's often not doing that.Follow @Luvvie everywhere – Instagram, Facebook, Twitter. Check out her New York Times

In this episode of Rants & Randomness, we’re talking all about Election Day in the United States. We’re talking about the importance of voting, what to watch for and be aware of today as you go vote, and why we need to be patient and vigilant today and for the next few weeks.Follow @Luvvie everywhere – Instagram, Facebook, Twitter. Check out her New York Times best-selling book I’M JUDGING YOU: The Do-Better Manual! And be sure to pre-order PROFESSIONAL TROUBLEMAKER: The Fear Fighter Manual, Luvvie’s second book, wherever books are sold.Have thoughts about the episode? Share on social media using the hashtag #RantsandRandomness. Also, follow the podcast on Instagram and Twitter! Email LuvvieRants@gmail.com with feedback or questions!

This week on Rants & Randomness, Luvvie is talking to Abby Wambach, two-time Olympic gold medalist and FIFA World Cup champion. Abby was the US leading scorer in the 2007 and 2011 Women’s’ World Cup tournaments and the 2004 and 2012 Olympics. She’s the New York Times bestselling author of Forward: A Memoir and Wolfpack: How to Come Together, Unleash Our Power and Change the Game, as well as the author of the recently released young readers edition of Wolfpack.During their conversation, Luvvie and Abby discuss how she grew up in a household of 10 people and became a professional athlete basically at the age of five, how getting sober changed everything for her, and what she has learned post-retirement that she walks with now. Follow @Luvvie everywhere – Instagram, Facebook, Twitter. Check out her New York Times best-selling book I’M JUDGING YOU: The Do-Better Manual, and make sure you pre-order her upcoming book PROFESSIONAL TROUBLEMAKER: The Fear-Fighter Manual.Have thoughts about the episode? Share on so

On this episode of Rants & Randomness, Luvvie’s guest is Stephanie L. Young. Stephanie serves as chief officer for culture, communications, and media partnerships at When We All Vote, a nonpartisan voting initiative launched by Michelle Obama. She has years of communication experience in the public and private sectors with organizations such as the Obama White House, where she worked for years, Congressional Leadership, NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment, and BET. During her time in the White House, Stephanie served in two critical roles as associate communications director and then as the senior public engagement advisor. In these roles, she led the press strategy around domestic policy announcements and created and managed critical relationships for the president in the African-American community.During this conversation, we discover what Stephanie’s childhood was like, about how she started her career, how she was able to get a job at the Obama White House, and what she's doing now that has traces to wha

In this episode of Rants & Randomness, Luvvie is talking to storyteller and photographer Brandon Stanton - the man behind Humans of New York. After being fired from his job as a bond trader in Chicago, Brandon moved to New York City to start Humans of New York in 2010. The website and social media accounts feature portraits of people in New York City and their stories. He's the author of two number-one New York Times bestselling books, Humans of New York, and Humans of New York: Stories, and his latest book, Humans, comes out on October 6, 2020.As of this airing, Brandon just finished up a week of sharing Tattletales from Tanqueray - a series of stories and images following up with Stephanie, aka Lady Tanqueray after his photos of her went viral last year. Luvvie and Brandon are talking about all that series and talking to Brandon about his story, how he started doing this work, and when he decided to use this platform in this way. Follow @Luvvie everywhere – Instagram, Facebook, Twitter. Check out her Ne

On this episode of Rants & Randomness, Luvvie is talking to wellness expert, author, podcaster (and according to Luvvie) magical unicorn Devi Brown. Devi is the Chief Impact Officer at Chopra Global, and is certified in Primordial Sound Meditation, Spiritual Psychology and Energy Healing. She regularly teaches in LA, as well as leads retreats and events internationally. After over a decade of working in hip hop entertainment as a radio and TV host, she answered her calling to become an advocate for women of color in the wellness space. Devi’s company KARMA BLISS is devoted to spiritual connection meant to aid in the healing of generational trauma. Through her best-selling book Crystal Bliss and her podcast Dropping Gems, Devi’s work is rooted in sharing tangible healing modalities with millennial and generation Z women of color in support of whole-life enhancement.This is a healing and beautiful conversation where Luvvie and Devi are talking all about how Devi transitioned from a huge career in hip-hop ra

In this episode of Rants & Randomness, Luvvie is talking with the brilliant Austin Channing Brown. Austin is a speaker, writer, and media producer providing inspired leadership on racial justice in America. She is the author of New York Times' bestselling I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness - recently chosen as a Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick -and the Executive Producer of web series The Next Question.This is an amazing and energetic conversation, talking about everything from how Austin grew up, how she got her first name, what she does to make sure that she’s finding rest in this stressful world, and how she became this voice, this person that ended up writing a book that hit the New York Times bestseller list two years after it came out.Follow @Luvvie everywhere – Instagram, Facebook, Twitter. Check out her New York Times best-selling book I’M JUDGING YOU: The Do-Better Manual!Have thoughts about the episode? Share on social media using the hashtag #RantsandRandomness. Also,

In this episode of Rants & Randomness, Luvvie is talking to Nigerian pop star and Afrobeats queen Tiwa Savage. With more than two decades in the music industry, Tiwa is having a huge moment right now. She wrote and performed a song on Beyoncé's The Lion King: The Gift album and the Black is King visual album, made her US television performance debut, and just dropped her latest studio album, Celia. Named after Tiwa's mom, Celia is packed full of songs you want to listen to and dance to, and that will help you feel better about the world. Listen in as Luvvie and Tiwa talk about the ups and downs in the music world, how motherhood has affected her music, and how moving from Nigeria to London as a child changed her entire life.Follow @Luvvie everywhere – Instagram, Facebook, Twitter. Check out her New York Times best-selling book I’M JUDGING YOU: The Do-Better Manual, and pre-order her new book, PROFESSIONAL TROUBLEMAKER: The Fear-Fighter Manual now!Have thoughts about the episode? Share on social media usin

In this episode of Rants & Randomness, Luvvie is talking with her friend Sophia Bush. In June, Luvvie was one of four founding members of an online initiative called Share the Mic Now where 50 Black women took over the accounts of 50 white women for the day, getting billions of views around the world. Sophia shared her IG account with Luvvie that day, and this episode is taken from a live conversation that they had the next day on IG Live.This episode is an excerpt from that IG Live conversation, which so many who saw it loved because it was a peek into Luvvie and Sophia’s relationship and how they work together from their respective platforms to do good in the world. Luvvie and Sophia are talking about getting over the paralysis of perfection, speaking up, what spending your privilege looks like, and why these conversations about privilege could actually save lives if we’re paying attention, and why we gotta commit to standing up for each other in more visible ways. And if you love this conversation, don

On this episode of Rants & Randomness, we’re sharing an excerpt of an IG Live Luvvie did last week on fear and imposter syndrome. Luvvie had a recent conversation with her boo Bozoma Saint John (@badassboz) on how imposter syndrome changes and shifts during your career and the LuvvCousins in LuvvNation and folks who saw the live on Instagram had a lot of follow up questions about it.This bonus episode goes into those follow up questions and has Luvvie preaching on how imposter syndrome is something you always need to fight, why you need to accept your calling before you get shamed into it, and how find the confidence to share your dreams with others.After you listen, don’t miss the chance to sign up for a follow up class on Thursday, August 20 at 6:00 pm Central. Visit FearFighterClass.com for more information.Follow @Luvvie everywhere – Instagram, Facebook, Twitter. Check out her New York Times best-selling book I’M JUDGING YOU: The Do-Better Manual! And be sure to pre-order PROFESSIONAL TROUBLEMAKER: Th

On this episode of Rants & Randomness, we’re sharing an excerpt of a Chat and Chill Luvvie had with Dr. Yaba Blay. Chat and Chill is a gathering Luvvie will hold with her community on LuvvNation on Friday nights. Everyone grabs their snacks, shows up at the computer in their coziest auntie robe, and hangs out for great conversation. This episode is an excerpt from one of those great conversations. We’re bringing you Luvvie’s chat with Dr. Yaba Blay (@fiyawata). She’s a scholar, Professional Black Girl (@professionalblackgirl) and in this conversation, Yaba and Luvvie talk about exploiting our privilege for the greater good, sisterhood as a verb, and giving ourselves the permission to succeed.Follow @Luvvie everywhere – Instagram, Facebook, Twitter. Check out her New York Times best-selling book I’M JUDGING YOU: The Do-Better Manual!Have thoughts about the episode? Share on social media using the hashtag #RantsandRandomness. Also, follow the podcast on Instagram and Twitter! Email LuvvieRants@gmail.com wit

On this episode of Rants & Randomness, we’re sharing a recent IG Live where Luvvie is diving into the behind the scenes of getting the book deal for her second book, getting it written in the middle of a pandemic, why a book proposal is the most critical thing you need when it comes to writing a book, and is answering questions on the tools and processes that helped her get it done. If you have something you want to get done, and it’s sitting on your heart (whether it’s writing a book or not), make sure you listen to this episode.Write your book with Scrivener: https://luvvie.me/scrivluvvFollow @Luvvie everywhere – Instagram, Facebook, Twitter. Check out her New York Times best-selling book I’M JUDGING YOU: The Do-Better Manual!Have thoughts about the episode? Share on social media using the hashtag #RantsandRandomness. Also, follow the podcast on Instagram and Twitter! Email LuvvieRants@gmail.com with feedback or questions!

In this episode of Rants and Randomness, Luvvie is having a conversation with Gabrielle Union - actress, activist, and author. She's been speaking out about injustice throughout her career, as a leader and advocate for inclusion in the Entertainment industry. She is also a champion of breast health and combating sexual violence. Gabrielle talks about being a Black woman in Hollywood – why those big hit movies early in her career didn’t change much for her career trajectory and what her experience as a judge on America’s Got Talent taught her about the projects she will choose going forward. Luvvie and Gabrielle also talk about what it’s like to be a parent and stepmom and how Gabrielle is crushing that role.You can follow Gabrielle on Twitter (@itsgabrielleu) and Instagram (@gabunion)Follow @Luvvie everywhere – Instagram, Facebook, Twitter. Check out her New York Times best-selling book I’M JUDGING YOU: The Do-Better Manual!Have thoughts about the episode? Share on social media using the hashtag #RantsandRand

A white woman feels challenged or uncomfortable about something a Black person said or did. Instead of using her words, she cries. Instantly. No matter what the initial catalyst of the situation is, she ends up being appeased, pacified, and pampered.In this bonus episode of Rants and Randomness, Luvvie is revisiting a previously published piece that starts getting shared on social every time another Becky weaponizes her tears against a Black person.READ: About the Weary Weaponizing of White Women TearsFollow @Luvvie everywhere on social – Instagram, Facebook, Twitter. Buy her New York Times best-selling book I’M JUDGING YOU: The Do-Better Manual.Have thoughts about the episode? Share on social media using the hashtag #RantsandRandomness and follow the podcast on Twitter and Instagram. Email LuvvieRants@gmail.com with thoughts and questions!Recorded at: Chicago Recording Company

In this episode of Rants and Randomness, we’ve got a little bit of a twist. Instead of Luvvie doing the interviewing, she’s the one begin interviewed. After being a guest on his Influential Personal Brand Summit and podcast, Luvvie wanted to share this interview from Brand Builders Group Co-Founder Rory Vaden. Rory and his team at Brand Builders Group specialize in helping people get clarity on their purpose and uncover their uniqueness so they can use that to serve the world. Luvvie is talking all about her 17 year journey as a writer and speaker and shares all the things she has learned with Rory and with you.If you want to take your personal brand to the next level, take Rory and his team up on their special offer for Rants listeners for a FREE brand strategy call. Visit freebrandcall.com/luvvie and get signed up for your free call to get clear on how to build more influence, impact and income.Follow @Luvvie everywhere – Instagram, Facebook, Twitter. Check out her New York Times best-selling book I’M JUDGI

In this episode of Rants and Randomness, we’re sharing an interview that was so good, it needed to stand on its own. Today, Luvvie is talking with Courtney A. Kemp. Courtney is a television writer and producer. In 2014, she created the Starz series, Power, the most-watched original series on Starz with millions of viewers. She was also a writer on shows like The Bernie Mac Show, The Good Wife, and Beauty and the Beast. Courtney is one of the most powerful women in television. In this conversation with Luvvie, Courtney dropped so many gems that this interview needs to stand alone. Be sure to listen and share.So, also check out our other standalone interviews that I've done on this podcast. Rich Dennis (Episode 20), Yvette Noel Shure (Episode 23), and Thasunda Brown Duckett (Episode 29).You can follow Courtney on Twitter (@courtneykemp) and Instagram (@courtneyakemp)Follow @Luvvie everywhere – Instagram, Facebook, Twitter. Check out her New York Times best-selling book I’M JUDGING YOU: The Do-Better Manual!Have