Are you looking for wisdom, courage, and guidance on your journey as a changemaker? Grab your headphones, a warm drink, and possibly a notebook (you’re going to want to take notes!). You’ve found your new favourite podcast.Welcome to Become a Good Ancestor, a podcast hosted by New York Times and Sunday Times bestselling author Layla Saad.Layla Saad is a passionate advocate and teacher on the topics of race, identity, leadership, personal transformation, and social change. She is the author of Me and White Supremacy, a groundbreaking book that brings these topics together. She is also the founder of Become A Good Ancestor: a podcast, a book club, and a learning community that combines inner work with social change. Each month on the podcast, Layla interviews writers of colour about their books, their journey, and what it means to them to become a good ancestor.Past books and authors include the NYT bestseller 'The Prophets' by Robert Jones Jr. 'Motherhood: On the choices of being a woman' by Dr. Pragya Agarwal. 'The Final Revival of Opal & Nev' by Dawnie Walton, named a best book of 2021 by Barack Obama. And 'See No Stranger: A memoir and manifesto of revolutionary love' by renowned civil rights leader Valarie Kaur.From memoirs to manifestos. Poetry to pop culture. Science to social justice. And everything in between, Layla dives deep with BIPOC authors who are showing us the way to healing and liberation. This is a place for people who want to help change the world: In honour of those who have come before us, and in service to those who will come after we are gone.
Ep010 Rest is Resistance with Tricia Hersey
Where does rest come into the picture on the journey of becoming a good ancestor?In this episode, Layla and Tricia Hersey, founder of The Nap Ministry and author of Rest Is Resistance, dive deep into why we need to prioritize rest in order to thrive.Tricia Hersey is a poet, performance artist, writer, theologian, and activist best known as the founder of the organization The Nap Ministry. She refers to herself as the Nap Bishop and advocates for the importance of rest as a racial and social justice issue. Rest is Resistance is a must-read for anyone dedicated to becoming a good ancestor.Together they explore: Why we are all struggle to restThe connection between white supremacy, capitalism, and restHow rest helped Tricia connect with her ancestors and intuition“The experimentation for these economic systems that we are under now came on the backs
03/11/2022 • 58 minutes 32 seconds
Ep009: Layla Saad's Changemaker Journey
How does one become a changemaker?In this episode, our book club facilitator, Reema Zaman interviews host Layla Saad, about the journey that led to her role as founder of Become A Good Ancestor. Layla Saad is a founder and CEO, educator, and best-selling author of the groundbreaking book, Me and White Supremacy. Layla is an East African, Arab, British, Black, Muslim woman who was raised in the West and lives in the Middle East. She combines her work as an educator with her unique intersection of identities to guide her audience on the topics of race, identity, leadership, personal transformation, and social change.Through her work, Layla has helped countless change-seekers tap into their power and pursue their purpose in service of liberation, healing, and joy for all. Together they explore: Answering the call to do the work.The unspoken downsides of going viral.How to move forw
20/10/2022 • 1 hour 3 minutes 22 seconds
Ep008: Woman of an Uncertain Age with Priya Malhotra
What are the characteristics of an “aunty” in your culture, and is it perceived as a label of endearment or exile?In this episode, Layla Saad interviews Priya Malhotra, the author of Woman of an Uncertain Age, which is a witty and poignant novel about a middle-aged widow during a time when the parameters and ideas of midlife are being challenged.Priya has been a writer and journalist in New York for over 20 years and has contributed to publications such as Newsday, Timeout New York, the Times of India, The Japan Times, Asian Art News, Cosmopolitan, and News India Times. She has a master's degree in journalism from Columbia University and a Bachelor's degree in English Literature, and she grew up in New Delhi, India.Together they explore: Love and intimate relationships as we age.Sharing about your private life with your children as adults.Negotiating the boundaries between selfhood, woma
06/10/2022 • 45 minutes 54 seconds
Ep007: Black Joy with Tracey Michae’l Lewis-Giggetts
Black joy is not just a weapon of resistance, it’s a tool for resilience, and it’s possible to use joy to access healing. In this episode, Layla Saad interviews Tracey Michae’l Lewis-Giggetts, the author of Black Joy: Stories of Resistance, Resilience, and Restoration, which has been critically acclaimed and lauded by celebrities like Kerry Washington, literary writers like Kiese Laymon and Deesha Philyaw, and media outlets like Good Morning America, Essence Magazine, and USA Today.Black Joy is a community offering in the form of a collection of lyrical essays about the way joy has evolved, even in the midst of trauma. Together they explore: The role of joy in becoming a good ancestor.How to appreciate vs appropriate and experience reading books by BIPOC authors without centering a white gaze.Tapping into joy amidst racial violence and trauma.Black Joy published by Simon &
01/09/2022 • 1 hour 4 minutes 35 seconds
Ep006: Patriarchy Blues with Frederick Joseph
The patriarchy hurts everyone, including men. Does that mean we need a man’s point of view on it? In this episode, Layla Saad interviews Frederick Joseph, a two-time New York Times bestselling author, the International Literacy Association’s 2021 Children’s & Young Adults’ Book Award recipient, a 2019 Forbes 30 Under 30 list-maker for marketing and advertising, an activist, and philanthropist.His book, Patriarchy Blues: Reflections On Manhood is a thought-provoking collection of essays, poems, and short reflections, explores issues of masculinity and patriarchy from both a personal and cultural standpoint. Together they explore: The importance of being in community and honoring the voices within our communitiesThe work people of color must engage in to dismantle oppressive systems of powerHow to talk to kids about the patriarchyPatriarchy Blues published by
04/08/2022 • 53 minutes 21 seconds
Ep005: Radical Friendship with Kate Johnson
Have you found your people? How have those relationships helped you love yourself more?In this episode, Layla Saad interviews Kate Johnson, writer, Buddhist meditation teacher, and facilitator, who leads courses and retreats integrating somatic movement, social justice, creativity, and the practice of wise relationships. Her book, Radical Friendship: Seven Ways to Love Yourself and Find Your People in an Unjust World, is an incredible piece of work chock full of stories and practical methods to nurture the relationships in your life.Together they explore: Mindfully building relationships as a spiritual and revolutionary practice.Holding space for both misalignment and intimacy in relationships with each other. Quieting the internalized voices of our critics and elevating our own voices in our work. Radical Friendship published by Shambhala is our July 2022 selection in the <a href='http://becomeagooda
07/07/2022 • 1 hour 14 minutes 57 seconds
Ep004: Claim Your Space with Layla Saad and Nina Everflow
Good Ancestors, you’re on a mission to do the work that actually makes a difference. We’re on a mission to show you how to map out your unique liberation journey.It’s time to transform from ‘change-seeker’ to ‘changemaker’. Learn to maximize your impact and prevent burnout while dismantling systemic oppression.Enter our premiere course, Claim Your Space, a self-study to uncover your next steps towards becoming a changemaker. In this bonus episode, Layla Saad interviews Nina Everflow, an extraordinary instructional design, and course creation consultant. This course simply wouldn’t exist without her so get ready for a behind-the-scenes listen to the story of how this course came to be.Together they explore: An approach to education where liberation is the goalCreating an inclusive learning experience The steps to Claim Your Space as a changemaker
27/06/2022 • 1 hour 4 minutes 26 seconds
Ep003 In Every Mirror She’s Black with Lola Akinmade Åkerström
What does your mind conjure when thinking of home? How does that feel?In this episode, Layla Saad interviews Lola Akinmade Åkerström, an award-winning visual storyteller, international bestselling author, and travel entrepreneur.Together they explore: Immigration and the meaning of home as people living outside their country of originThe privilege of individuality and the multidimensionality of Black womanhood The experience of being Black in Sweden (and other white-majority countries)Lola’s debut fiction book, In Every Mirror She’s Black published by Sourcebooks Landmark is our June 2022 selection in the Become A Good Ancestor book club. “Regardless of Kemi’s background or Brittany’s background or Muna’s backgro
02/06/2022 • 1 hour 3 minutes 41 seconds
Ep002: This Here Flesh with Cole Arthur Riley
“I am interested in reclaiming a contemplation that is not exclusive to whiteness, intellectualism, ableism, or mere hobby. And as a Black woman, I am disinterested in any call to spirituality that divorces my mind from my body, voice, or people.”– An excerpt from This Here Fleshby Cole Arthur Riley In Episode 002 of Become A Good Ancestor, Layla Saad interviews writer, liturgist, and speaker, Cole Arthur Riley.Cole’s NYT bestselling book, This Here Flesh: Spirituality, Liberation, and the Stories That Make Us is our May 2022 book selection in the Become A Good Ancestor Book Club. To find out more about the book and to join us in the book club click here. In her stunning debut, Cole weaves stories from three generations of her family with contemplative reflections to discover the necessary rituals that connect us with our belo
05/05/2022 • 1 hour 3 minutes 18 seconds
Ep001: Shoutin’ In The Fire with Danté Stewart
“To believe in the better, to believe in your future, to shout in the midst of a country on fire, to stare down the lions, to shake the foundations of the empire, to make meaning in the face of death, to fail, to create, to live, and to love–this is the stuff of hope.”– An extract from Danté’s Debut Book ‘Shoutin’ In The Fire: An American Epistle’In honor of the first Episode in the relaunch of The Good Ancestor Podcast, Layla Saad interviews Danté Stewart, an African-American speaker and writer on the intersecting topics of race, religion, and politics. Dante’s debut Book ‘Shoutin’ In The Fire: An American Epistle’ is our April 2022 book selection in the newly rebranded Become A Good Ancestor book club. To find out more about the book and to join us in the book club click here. Danté Stewart is a speaker and a writer
07/04/2022 • 1 hour 7 minutes 17 seconds
Become a Good Ancestor: Trailer
Welcome to the Become A Good Ancestor Podcast. A relaunch and rebranding of the Good Ancestor Podcast.A podcast hosted by Layla Saad.Layla Saad is a writer, speaker, teacher, and the CEO of Become A Good Ancestor - a company offering digital learning programs for people who want to change the world! Layla’s work has been featured in some of the world's biggest platforms including Oprah, Forbes, TIME, British Vogue, goop, and TEDx to name a few. She writes and teaches about race, identity, leadership, personal transformation, and social change.In 2020, Layla published the New York Times and Sunday Times bestseller 'Me and White Supremacy', which was one of the most widely read books of that year. As the author of what has been called a life-changing book, she believes in the power of books to help us change the world. Especially books written by Black people, Indigenous People, and People of Colour. In each episode Layla S
