Audiobooks narrated by A'rese Emokpae

The Five Blessings of Ifá: Reclaiming Black Futures Through Afro-Indigenous Spirituality

"A fierce and inspirational guide to Black resistance, resilience, and healing, using the principles of Afro-Indigenous spiritual practices Understanding where you came from is crucial to understand where you are going. The Five Blessings of Ifá explores how Black communities across the diaspora draw strength from ancestral wisdom, family, community care, and mutual aid, using the principles of Ifá-a West African spiritual tradition-as a guiding framework. Gabrielle Felder provides a blueprint for living a more fulfilled and abundant life through the blessings of Aiku (longevity), Aje (wealth), Aya and Oko (relationships), Omo (children), and Isegun (victory over negative forces), providing practical examples of how Black folks have built resilience and learned to thrive in the face of oppression. - Longevity exists in ancestral traditions that we cultivate over generations, which Felder explores through practices of traditional herbalism as well as contemporary sustainability and food sovereignty movements. - Wealth, in Felder's interpretation, has to do with the richness created by community, including cultural traditions of food, dance, and music that connect seemingly disparate African diasporic cultures. - Partnership, traditionally understood in Ifá as husband and wife, is reconsidered by Felder to include a wide variety of relationship structures, including familial bonds and queer families. - To explore the blessing of children, Felder dives into the important history of doulas and midwives in Black communities, and their crucial role in combatting the high maternal mortality rate among Black women in the US. - Finally, Felder draws out the meanings of the blessing of victory through a wide range of examples of Black autonomy: slave rebellions; the rejection of Euro-centric beauty standards; mutual aid practices among Black revolutionary groups; and the contemporary Black witch movement. As a collective, Black folks have managed to usher in the five blessings of Ifá into our lives despite all odds. This book is a love letter to those who have come before us, and a guide to the possibilities that lie in our collective future."

Gabrielle Felder (Author), A'rese Emokpae (Narrator)

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Outgrowing Modernity: Navigating Complexity, Complicity, and Collapse with Accountability and Compas

"The inevitable is coming fast. We know it in our bones-and it's past time to face it. The highly anticipated follow-up to Hospicing Modernity: how we activate responsibility, nurture care, and grow up in the face of collapse-includes reflections, exercises, and prompts Climate collapse, social crisis, the decline of modernity: colonialism, capitalism, and our full-faced denial have ushered in an urgent new era. Hospicing Modernity asked us to grow up, step up, and show up for our communities and the living Earth. Outgrowing Modernity helps us make sense of where we're going-and deepen what's possible-in a time of endings. Vanessa Machado De Oliveira helps us face the logics and workings of modernity, bringing us to clear-eyed terms with its expiration. She explores the impacts of colonialism as neurocolonization: an oppressive function of modernity that rewires how we think, act, imagine, and adapt. These impacts are wide-ranging and run deep: they cut us off from our natural ways of building community and seeking pleasure. They choke our ability to cope with trauma and embrace complexity. And they trap us in a state of artificial comfort and denial that keeps us from collectively growing up-even when our existence demands it. This book invites you to interrupt 5 lies that neurocolonization instills in us-beliefs (and behaviors) that have condition us to think we're owed the following, regardless of others or the planet: - Moral and epistemic self-righteous authority - Unrestricted, unaccountable autonomy - Arbitrating truth, law, and common sense - Affirming one's virtues, innocence, and purity - Exploitative appropriation and accumulation of various forms of capital In moving away from these ingrained worldviews, we can choose instead to develop 4 capacities necessary to our-and Earth's-survival: sobriety, maturity, discernment, and responsibility. Machado De Oliveira moves beyond critique into a praxis of strategic disinvestment: one that invites us to recognize what no longer serves us and reinvest in nurturing structures and lifeways that restore our knowledge in the value of life for life's sake."

Vanessa Machado de Oliveira (Author), A'rese Emokpae (Narrator)

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The Princess and the P.I.

"An amateur online sleuth must enlist the help of a jaded PI to clear her name while taking down a shady tech start-up in this exhilarating romantic suspense novel. Fiona Addai is ready to set her plan in motion. To honor the anniversary of her brother's death, she's going to steal back his brilliant invention from the ruthless corporation that stole and claimed it as their own. As a famed Reddit detective known as @Princess_PI, Fiona has used her online connections and sleuthing skills to time every step down to the minute. But with one disastrous misstep, instead of getting justice, Fiona finds herself accused of murder. Maurice Bennett is no stranger to insomnia. These days, he's not losing sleep over the cases he's solving-but running from the one he couldn't. Instead, he's been settling for small-time scandals that don't stir up the guilt he's buried. But when he spots Fiona Addai at the center of a murder investigation, something clicks. And for the first time in a long while, Maurice feels that old spark of intrigue. However, Fiona is not the helpless damsel she appears to be. Sure, she needs Maurice's help to clear her name, but she's got conditions of her own: she wants a crash course in real-world detective work. Maurice isn't exactly thrilled. With every late-night stakeout and tension-filled interrogation, their partnership, rife with tension and unexpected chemistry, unravels a dangerous web of corporate crime and familial secrets. To bring the real killer to light, they'll need to trust each other and that might be the most dangerous gamble of all."

Nikki Payne (Author), A'rese Emokpae, Jaime Lincoln Smith (Narrator)

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What Your Comfort Costs Us: How Women of Color Reimagine Leadership to Transform Workplace Culture

"Leading for survival, leading for liberation-how to uplift women of color, transform cultures of complicity, and upend white supremacy culture at work Workplace leaders: white comfort comes at the safety of women of color-and it costs lives and livelihoods. Microaggressions, structural barriers, unpaid emotional labor: WOC in leadership disproportionately bear the burdens of white supremacist work cultures, even as they're expected to take charge of reforms. But building better workplaces-less toxic, racist, and misogynistic workplaces-is everyone's responsibility and for everyone's benefit. And letting it fall solely to women of color is causing real harm. The stakes are high, and it's past time for change. What Your Comfort Costs Us offers essential reading and transparent advice for leaders who are ready to address structural inequity at work. With chapters like "Talking About Racism is Hard," "Checking the Boxes," and "Uncovering the Added Burden and Toll of Unpaid and Unseen Emotional Labor," anti-supremacist philanthropic and nonprofit leader and author M. Gabriela Alcalde challenges us to rethink how we engage power-and take radical action toward reorienting it toward collective liberation. You'll learn: - Research-backed analysis and practical solutions to transform workplace culture - How systemic racism and structural violence shows up at work (in ways you may not expect) - What happens when workplaces shift to prioritizing WOC's material safety over white comfort - Real stories and insights from 10 women of color in leadership - How white allies and accomplices can show up and step up authentically Interwoven with Alcalde's own experiences, professional expertise, and proven recommendations on how to do better, this book is a necessary guide to nurturing empathy, challenging complacency, and activating meaningful allyship. Alcalde awakens your potential to transform workplace cultures beyond business-as-usual bandaids, offering critical wisdom for systemic change and authentic collective empowerment at work."

M. Gabriela Alcalde (Author), A'rese Emokpae (Narrator)

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Run Like a Girl

"Dera Edwards knows her life is over when she's shipped off to live with her estranged father in the middle of White Suburbia. To make matters worse, Dera learns that her new school doesn't have a girls' track team, shattering her dreams of getting a track scholarship and, one day, competing in the Olympics. Not one to give up easily, Dera joins the boys' team instead. But while she has the school administration's blessing, her new teammates and classmates are less than welcoming. Between that and her frustratingly distant father, Dera is positive her junior year is ruined. Just as she starts to accept her status as an outsider, Dera's approached by her classmate Rosalyn, who wants to feature Dera's story in her blog. Eager to change the narrative and spend more time with Rosalyn's gorgeous cousin Gael-also known as one of the few teammates who will talk to her-Dera agrees. But when she goes viral and gains attention across the state, Dera's new notoriety opens the door for trolls both online and at school. Paired with her deteriorating relationship with her father, she soon finds everything to be too much. Will Dera be able to keep outrunning her problems, or will her dream be the very thing that derails her?"

Amaka Egbe (Author), A'rese Emokpae (Narrator)

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Bend, Don't Break: A Novel

"'An absorbing, thought-provoking, emotionally engaging, and deftly scripted multi-generational historical novel.'–Midwest Book Review 'Bend, Don't Break is a powerful, evocative novel that honors the resilience of Black women throughout history...Brown has crafted a novel that does not just recount history—it breathes life into it, making it feel immediate, urgent, and deeply personal.'—Seattle Book Review Timely and unforgettable, Bend, Don't Break spans two centuries of American history and is a captivating testament to women's ambition and the unbreakable bond between Black mothers and their daughters. Drawing strength from their ancestor, Aisha, a slave born free on the west coast of Africa, four Black women will do whatever is necessary to succeed—and will do even more to protect their daughters. Aisha's granddaughter, Dinah, a plantation slave, fends off the advances of the master's son and vows to prevent the same mistreatment of her daughter, Sarah. During the Harlem Renaissance, Augusta, an aspiring teacher, falls in love for the first time. Her mother, Julia, is determined to prevent her from getting hurt. Attorney Olivia and her news producer daughter, Nicole, both seek success and equality in the white man's world of 1980s corporate life. And in the present day, Sha, a tech company chief information officer, turns amateur detective after her daughter's assault. Throughout the generations, these women encounter similar challenges but face them in different ways and survive and thrive through all of it, because they bend but do not break. They demonstrate that although generational trauma can be passed down like an inheritance, so, too, can healing and resilience."

Julie L. Brown (Author), A'rese Emokpae (Narrator)

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The Unshaming Way: A Compassionate Guide to Dismantling Shame--Heal from trauma, unlearn self-blame,

""In this astute work, David Bedrick provides a deep investigation of shame, the most debilitating of our mind states, and offers a workable, practice-based, and accessible path to divesting ourselves from it." -Gabor Maté, MD, New York Times best-selling author of In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts An empowering, stigma-free approach to dismantling shame-a trauma-informed guide to restoring our authentic self Shame affects us all…often in ways we might not expect. Author, mental health expert, and professor David Bedrick helps us understand how shame shows up-and offers a revolutionary, stigma-free model to help us unshame and release its hold on our happiness. Shame is more than feeling guilty, sad, or responsible. It develops when we experience a trauma but can't access the tools or freedom to express how we feel-or are denied the ability to ask for the care we need. It shows up when we aren't witnessed-whether by a loved one, our community, our culture, or anyone from whom we need to hear: whatever happened to you, these parts of you that you think are unlovable or wrong-you're not broken. I see you. Bedrick helps readers bring shame out of the shadows, inviting us to get to know it and listen to its wisdom without minimizing our traumas or pathologizing our experiences. He helps us move from seeing shame as a feeling toward holding it as an internal viewpoint-and offers us practical tools and exercises to dismantle the narratives that hold us back from living our lives whole, free, and in alignment with our most authentic selves."

David Bedrick (Author), A'rese Emokpae (Narrator)

Audiobook

Movement for Every Body: An Inclusive Fitness Guide for Better Movement--Build mind-body awareness,

"With humor, empathy, and expertise, a Black, femme, disabled, and neurodivergent physical therapist retraces their journey through a weaponized fitness culture, sharing an alternative path to honor all bodies and needs. An inclusive, full-color guide to improving mobility, building strength, and increasing flexibility for every body and any size, shape, and ability Here's an idea: exercise should be enjoyable-not punishing, elitist, or overly competitive. Nor should gym work cause us harm or bring us shame. Part exercise manual and part workbook, Movement for Every Body celebrates this approach and champions an inclusive movement practice for anyone who doesn't fit the 'typical' fitness mold and doesn't wish to- who refuses burdensome narratives that tell them they're broken and need to be fixed, cured, or mended to be whole. With journaling and reflective prompts and activities; helpful tips covering accommodations, mobility aids, and self-advocacy strategies; and highly adaptable exercise demonstrations reflecting a broad range of body types, physical abilities, and mobility aids, Movement for Every Body provides the instruction and validation needed to redefine our approaches, goals, and pleasures around exercise and ability."

Marcia Dernie (Author), A'rese Emokpae (Narrator)

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Modern Tantric Buddhism: Embodiment and Authenticity in Dharma Practice

"This essential guide to socially engaged Tantric Buddhism reveals how modern practitioners can use the wisdom of the Vajrayana to confront systems of power and abuse. Today, a new generation of Buddhists searches for ways to adopt Vajrayana while staying true to its historical legacy. Modern Tantric Buddhism unpacks the principles and applications of this esoteric practice in an accessible and meaningful manner, connecting its roots to a socially engaged, modern-day dharma. Taking a traditional Tibetan pedagogical approach, Lama Justin von Bujdoss divides the book into 3 thematic sections: • Body, as it applies to physicality and embodiment • Speech, or ethical action • Mind, the context of awakening Von Bujdoss challenges assumptions about what it means to be a socially engaged Buddhist, and presents Tantra as an ideal vehicle for critically examining today's most pressing social issues while confronting the structural inequities of patriarchy, sexism, colonialism, and racism within Buddhist institutions."

Justin Von Bujdoss (Author), A'rese Emokpae (Narrator)

Audiobook

Hollow Voices

"Following her husband’s death from cancer, Dr. Julia Toussaint rebuilt a comfortable life with her son, Evens. But when he’s murdered, she’s devastated. Months of psychiatric treatment leave her confused and alienated from her former life. With the support of friends and family, she recovers, but things have changed. Her aging parents want her to return home to North Carolina, but Julia has unresolved business in California. After resigning as chief of pediatrics for a position at a new medical center, Julia makes new friendships. However, the past refuses to be ignored. Suddenly, a police officer blackmails her about the suspicious death of the woman who killed her son. Using Julia’s relationship with a former drug addict, he increases the pressure, forcing Julia to re-examine her past. Now, a narcissistic boss has Julia considering if murder can solve problems. With the happiness of the people she loves at stake, Julia fights to retain her sanity and keep others from dying. "

Michelle Corbier (Author), A'rese Emokpae (Narrator)

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Encounters through Ancient Doors: Book 1: The Beginning

"Looking back at her encounters over the past fifty years, the author has put the events of her life together that seem to fit like a grand puzzle. She realized that she has been walking through Ancient Doors that were being opened and directed by the Ancient One Himself. Now He has called Jean to publish her witness for such a time as this ~ a time when myriads of His angels are being released to help accomplish His plans and purposes for mankind. When an Ancient Door opens for you, will you recognize it? Will you have the understanding, faith, and courage to walk through that door? After walking through these encounters with the author, hopefully you will be able to discern when an Ancient Door is opening in your life, so you can be at peace amid a world in chaos. Observe your circumstances closely. Know when your moment has come ~ for such a time as this."

Jean Burleson (Author), A'rese Emokpae (Narrator)

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Behind The Face: As for my baby girl, rest in peace until we meet again.

"A mother's triumphant journey from darkness to light after suffering a traumatic loss. Behind the Face 'is a heart-wrenching story that will inspire you as Toranj Irani embarks on her path toward healing. Toranj allows the reader insight into her journey from wondering why her life included so much suffering and why she was being punished to the realization that not everything is happening to you and into the knowing that things are always happening for you. With this new awareness, she was able to move from bitter to joyful. Toranj then went on to develop a connection with her daughter-although no longer in physical form but is very much a part of her everyday life which includes 'out of the blue' magical surprises. This is a powerful story of her awakening and transformation.'"

Toranj Irani (Author), A'rese Emokpae (Narrator)

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Audiobooks Narrated by A'rese Emokpae