The Sound Bath

Abolitionism is an important tool that can help us repair and move towards healing and justice. The American lawyer, organizer, and author of Becoming Abolitionist, Derecka Purnell joins aja in conversation about what it means to be an abolitionist, how racial capitalism is killing Black people, and the importance of dismantling the systems that caused the violence in the first place. They also discuss cultivating a space of learni...

American conceptual artist Hank Willis Thomas joins aja in conversation about what it means to be an artist, the creative process, and the power of branding and advertisements. They also talk about democratizing art for the people and For Freedoms, an artist collective he co-founded that focuses on using art and creativity as a catalyst for liberation.

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It’s always important to be gentle and kind to yourself when you slip, but you should also know when to invite moments of discomfort, confrontation, and conflict to heal. Harm reductionist and psychedelic explorer Charlotte James joins aja in conversation about Sacred Earth Medicines, respecting these indigenous practices, and the impact of understanding our own ancestry. They also laugh and share fond memories about the cleansing ...

Although chasing your dreams can be very rewarding, it can also be a real challenge and that’s exactly how Hannibal Buress felt when he decided to start rapping under the pseudonym Eshu Tune. The comedian and rapper joins aja in a conversation about the meaning behind his pseudonym, the sense of real community care that he's building around live-events with family and friends, the influence that his daughter had on his music career...

Raw foodist and celebrity chef Lauren Von Der Pool joins aja in conversation about how a violent experience pushed her into a path of healing through food, choosing positivity over negativity when approaching veganism, and the importance of a mental diet so you have other tools to utilize when you hit some glitches in your healing journey.

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Trigger Warning: This episode contains mention of sensitive subjects, including sexual assault, rape and violence.

There’s so much pressure and fear around discovering and exploring who you are when it should be a fun and joyful journey. Sexuality doula, author, and educator Ev’yan Whitney joins aja in conversation about the importance of sexual liberation, the connection between sex and power, the importance of approaching each ot...

Award-winning singer, songwriter, and cultural worker, Kehlani joins aja in an intimate conversation filled with laughter and moments of reflection about her relationship with spirituality, therapy and social media—and why you shouldn’t be scared of love even if sometimes it turns you into a clown. They also dive into how her healing journey shaped her latest album Blue Water Road.

This episode contains strong language that ...

Hurt is an inescapable fact of life that many people don’t understand which makes healing all the more difficult. The New York Times Bestseller and doula adrienne maree brown joins aja in conversation about the different types of hurt, liberating ourselves from living inside the boundary that a capitalistic society has imprisoned us in, and the gift that is aging and how it allows us to understand ourselves and appreciate our fleet...

People who can become pregnant should have the right to choose when and if they want to become a parent. This decision should be defended as a basic human right. Sharmin Hossain is a Bangladeshi queer Muslim activist, political organizer and Campaign Director for Liberate Abortion—fighting for everyone's right to choose. Sharmin joins aja to discuss her experience as a reproductive rights activist growing up in New York and how she...

New York Times Bestseller, award winning author, speaker, and Critical-Race practitioner, Ijeoma Oluo joins aja for an intimate and emotional conversation about the state of the world, our place in it, and how we might think and act differently in respect to each other and our environment. They discuss the connection between comedy and absurdity, processing trauma, and why taking action early on is necessary especially after the Su...

We live in confusing, challenging times – and Dr. Thema (A.K.A The Lioness) aims to guide us through them by encouraging qualities of love, healing, acceptance, compassion and creativity. The licensed psychologist, ordained minister, sacred artist, and president-elect of the American Psychological Association joins aja in conversation to discuss hearing your calling, solidarity, therapy, the art of listening, and the rise of women'...

Welcome back to The Sound Bath, a Lush Cosmetics podcast that explores what personal, social, and environmental care and wellbeing really mean in today's society.

In thought-provoking and intimate discussions with some of her favorite authors, artists, activists and experts, surrealist blues poet and host aja monet dives deep into ideas that transform and reveal us. 

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For our second bonus episode, we’re revisiting some of the previously un-released segments from aja’s interview with Hope Giselle - national organizer, Author, Diversity and Inclusion specialist, and Trans Activist. From what it takes to be in dialogue with someone on the opposing side of the ideological spectrum, to answering the question that nobody ever asks about what it really takes to make your dreams happen, Hope Giselle is ...

In our first bonus episode, we revisit some of the previously un-released segments of aja’s interview with Naomi Klein - climate justice activist, professor, and author of The Shock Doctrine and This Changes Everything. From the reasons why she’s decided to live in rural so-called ‘British Columbia’, to the choices we make about how we spend our time and how those choices are either replenishing or diminishing our personal energy a...

That’s a wrap on our first season of The Sound Bath — thank you all for joining us on this journey! We’ll be taking a short break while we put together the lineup for an amazing season two. 

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In the meantime, stay tuned for bonus episodes in the coming weeks and be sure to like and follow us whereve...

Mohammed El-Kurd was named one of TIME100’s most influential people in the world in 2021, but he grew up in a constant state of war and displacement. The Palestinian poet joins aja for a conversation about how he’s found dignity, self-respect, solace, and solidarity in words and freedom of expression. Followed by meditative sound bath music from The Dojo Upstate.

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Abiodun Oyewole is a talented poet, teacher, as well as member of African-American music and spoken-word group The Last Poets. He joins aja in conversation about the power of community, how creativity is more than just poetry, art, and music, and how caring for one another is caring for oneself. Followed by meditative sound bath music from The Dojo Upstate.

Please note that this episode contains discussion of mental illness ...

Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah, the author of The Sex Lives of African Women, joins aja to talk about African women’s sexuality, feminism across the African diaspora, and the idea that caring for your community is integral to self-care. Followed by meditative sound bath music from The Dojo Upstate.

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Oludara Adeeyo, the author of Self-Care For Black Women works with the unhoused population of Los Angeles as a psychiatric social worker. She shares her thoughts on being in-relationship with people suffering from mental illness, and how the system might be changed to better care for all. Followed by meditative sound bath music from The Dojo Upstate.

We invite you to leave us a voice memo and answer some of the same questions we as...