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July was a big travel month. And I must say that it feels so good to get the fuck out of New York City. As much as I love my hometown, traveling to other places is good for the soul. The summer is rolling on and the blessings are coming through. My love/hate relationship with change is being tested. I am constantly fighting against my impulsive free spirit side with the side that is a creature of habit…
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By Patricia Rogers | Posted Saturday, June 11, 2022
This is a milestone edition! Late, but still here. And I can not help but appreciate that timing… is going to do what it is going to do. And you know what? We should be thankful to even be on this ride called life.
Yes, Patricia the Optimist is back and it feels good. Although I know it is temporary. You can plan. You can prep. You can wish for the best. But sometimes, it is what it is. You take things day by day and roll with the punches.
Roll with the punches — this is absolutely easier said than done. But when you actually can do this when things don’t go as planned, it is life-changing.
I say, ride the wave!
My family always wanted me to go to a Historically Black College/University, but I did not. And I must say that is one of my regrets.
However, I am glad that my choices have led me to where I am now. And I have been blessed to have had so many amazing people in my life that have gone to HBCUs. It has been a pleasure to see the work that my friends have been doing in the community.
I caught up with Doc, a lifelong wrestling fan who hosts a wrestling panel every year for the HBCU Con, and his nephew Corey, who was on this year’s panel.
This year’s HBCU Con took place on April 29 - May 1, 2022.
Doc: It took a dope Black woman in the form of my friend and fellow Blerd (black nerd) named Chauna "CC The Geek" Lawson (who is an HBCU alumni from Bowie State University) to create a convention that mixes pop culture, comics, anime, etc. with an HBCU theme to it. You not only get the feel of expressing your fandom in whatever your interests are but you get the experience of what HBCU campus life could look like for those who could be potential prospective students interested in attending an HBCU. It could open that dialogue and network between those individuals and a variety of HBCU alumni that were a part of this very special convention. Not to mention, what pop culture convention do you know of that has a step show? Dare I say, HBCU Con was indeed "A Different World" than where you come from.
Doc: I am a proud alumni of Coppin State University in Baltimore, MD (since graduating in 2001) in which I am currently 2nd Vice President of our alumni association. Plus, my fellow Coppin alumni named Wendell Smith is the Vice President of HBCU Con.
Doc: Well, other than my wrestling panel (lol), I enjoyed the outdoor Yardfest Performances where a host of great musical talents who blend their mixture of R&B/Hip Hop & Pop with a Blerd feel to it. For instance, the group Mako Girls give you those Destiny Child/TLC vibes, but they blend that with their love for nerdom and it shows in their dope costumes. Another one in which I admit of being bias to is my friend Roquois (pronounced like Iroquois but without the "i") who is a cosplayer extraordinaire and a very polished independent artist that mixes pop with nerdom but also with fashion in which she herself has done many runways throughout the country. Not to mention Roquois co-runs Plus Value Entertainment which puts on so many nerd events in the DMV.
Corey: My favorite part of HBCU Con is honestly seeing everyone enjoying themselves. From the different informational panels and discussions to seeing everyone dressed up as their favorite characters from different movies, comics, TV shows, etc., HBCU Con shows the creativity and passion from everyone involved, and I think that is such a cool thing to see.
Corey: I think what makes HBCU Con special is the camaraderie and unity amongst the fans of a community coming together and enjoying themselves in possibly the most pivotal time of their young adulthood. Making this event available at a time where someone could be looking for some common ground in their life with peers that they may not even have known existed in their same class or dormitory, especially with being away from home, for some, could be just the kind of positive balance they need in their life at this time.
Corey: I attended 2 HBCUs for my educational career. I received my Bachelor’s Degree from University of Maryland Eastern Shore and I received my Master’s Degree from Bowie State University.
I have always been obsessed with my career and what I wanted that to look like. My career ambitions always topped things like wanting to be a mother or be married.
So at various points in my life, there was a “dream job” I was pursuing. And I was so rigid about it and really put myself through the ringer when I felt like the course does not match that.
And then I realized in the past year that maybe your idea of a dream job, is something totally different. You think you want a specific thing, but when you get there it looks nothing like you imagined. Now it is time for something different, because you know what, this ain’t it.
Over the past year I have been presented — no, actually blessed — with a couple of opportunities that I thought was my “big break.” On paper, these roles were perfect for me. I don’t want to mention the roles or companies, but there were jobs that mixed wrestling, media, and more. But it was not aligned with my mission, etc.
Haha yes, I got cancelled. Well, this was the first time where I ever thought, oh shit, did I get my podcast cancelled over a misread tweet?
So y’all know how much I love Twitter. I have been on the platform, I am kind of ashamed to say, since 2009. It is a space where I express myself, and I never want to be in a position where I need to defend anything I tweet. Although I have nearly 3,000 Twitter followers, I still use it for me. So I don’t ever feel the need to stop myself from tweeting whatever the fuck I want or feeling the need to explain myself.
However, when you have a brand that you represent on social media, you kind of have to be mindful of what you say. Anything you post, like, and share on whatever app you are on is a reflection of the brand. This is a lot of pressure especially when it comes to wrestling which is already known to have a passionate fan base.
While watching a wrestling documentary, I tweeted something in my sarcastic tone from our brand page and it got misconstrued. When the documentary aired, I live-tweeted it as I always do and commented on a person’s reaction to Twitter cancelling him for some really fucked up shit he said about woke culture. People took it as me supporting him, when it was me noting that he actually didn’t care about wrestling Twitter “cancelling” him because he is a shitty human being.
When I tweeted it the night of, I muted it because I knew it would get a lot of traction because it was a polarizing topic. However, I did not think that it would get the hate that it got. I only found out when I was on my personal page and came across tweets questioning us and shaming us. We lost followers, people were throwing hate at us from all directions. I tried to explain what I meant in a thread, but most people didn’t give a fuck or chose to hate us even more.
Now, we have had major disagreements with other fans about various things. Especially during the Black Lives Matter times, and just having to defend female athletes’ honour on a daily basis. And Krista B. and I really don’t care if people don’t agree with us because it is fucking wrestling. It is all scripted and really, to each its own. Who cares if you think Becky Lynch is better than Charlotte Flair? Like in the bigger picture, is it really that deep?
However, this particular tweet has a lot to do with the Me Too movement so it was a little deeper than that. And it hurt that people would think that our brand would be anything but being an ally for women. So I had to get off Twitter for a couple of days, which was a first for me, and really detach myself from everything so that I did not take things personally. And that is when I was like, oh shit, is that what it feels like to be cancelled?
For 4 years, TWG has been a beloved brand. In wrestling terms, you would call us “baby faces.” So this was the very first time that I even belied or cared that we might actually get shunned and have to go into obscurity over one fucking tweet.
But I reached out to some of my friends and family in the wrestling media community, and they assured me that everything was going to be fine and to just keep doing my thing. It was such a blessing in disguise to almost get cancelled because it actually showed me who were my real friends and who had my back.
By Patricia Rogers | Posted Monday, May 16, 2022
Seeing yourself how other people see you
My sister and I have been joking about how in the last 3 years time has become a "mind fuck". Things that happened in 2019 feel like 3 weeks ago and things that happened last year feel like it was years ago. It is mind-blowing how much the world has changed in such a short time.
In my orbit, I have experienced a lot of loss. And because of how I am built, I try to just pick my head up, swim forward, and try not to look back. But I do have to take a second and accept that life has been fucking hard, and I have been doing all I can to get through.
This edition is dedicated to the loved ones I have lost since the pandemic started: my creative writing teacher Ms. Bremmer, my Grandmother, Cousin Sameemah, Natalia, Kenny, and my high school love Deshon. There is not a day that goes by that I don't think of all of you and what you meant to my life. Your friends, family, students, and loved ones are forever in my thoughts and prayers.
If you are reading this I urge you to please let people know what they mean to you while you can. You never know when it will be the last time you hear from them.
I am normally a pretty nostalgic person, but I have to admit that the heartbreak of loss led me to want to go back in time when things in my life seemed perfect.
One of those safe spaces for me growing up besides wrestling was always Harry Potter. What made HP special to me growing up was being able to get lost in the wizarding world. Learn lessons about the hard choices in life between love and hate, good and evil, easy and right, and countless others.
So my sister and are in the middle of rereading the series, it would be her first time and my third or fourth. The big thing for me is the message of bravery and pushing through the hardships for the greater good. If you love watching the Harry Potter movies (I mean, come on, when is it not on TV) then I highly recommend reading the book series. JK Rowling can be problematic, but the magic she delivered with the books can be considered life-changing.
One of the most influential voices in our lives is the ones that are inside our heads. The one that speaks to us and determines how we see ourselves. I think that is why people loved Issa Rae's bathroom mirror raps where she would motivate herself to be the best person that she could be for herself.
I recently lost my high school love who since the day we met put me on a pedestal. He thought I was the prettiest, smartest, flyest, and the most amazing girl he ever knew. And I loved that at the time when we were both teenagers. We broke up 14 years ago and he never changed his view of me. I hadn't seen him since high school graduation but we kept in touch by a phone call a few times a year. And he still talked about the positive impact I had on his life, and how much he wished he’d had it all this time.
I have to admit, I took him and this light he saw me in for granted. I used to be annoyed that my ex was still trying to get with me or saw me as the 15-year-old girl he fell in love with. But now, that he is gone and I have dealt with so much emotion over the years, I would give anything to hear his voice tell me how perfect I am. Losing Deshon has been understandably heartbreaking but it did come with a lesson for me, to never take people for granted.
At his funeral, I was reunited with high school friends. Sucked that it takes a funeral to bring us back together but it was nice to see them. It was comforting to me when we all went back to the same dynamic of friendship, and we all had the same personalities even all these years later. We all claimed to make sure we kept in touch after the service, and well knew that probably wasn’t true. However, it was nice to come together in Deshon’s memory and it was just like it would have been back in high school.
“Sex sells” I have been hearing that since I was younger, and grew up through sex tape scandals, and the birth of OnlyFans. As a woman, there is this pressure to appeal to the male gaze for success. It is unfair and yet it is also a way that women have been able to feel empowered. I have been glad to see society start to change its views on sex work, strippers, and women being naked because they like being naked. But then there is that thin line of, how much is too sexy?
My tip for social media and brand marketing when it comes to sex appeal is to do what makes you feel comfortable. I personally use the motto that I dont post or engage in content that I would not be proud to show my Dad. But that is me. Obviously, there will be influencers who pose in lingerie for work and must have parents that are okay with it, which is why I say it depends on each individual’s comfort level.
Your followers appreciate and follow you for the authenticity of your account. If you do not feel comfortable being “sexy” it will not resonate. So when you do take that step just make sure it is something you want to do
4/20 this year, I went outside to Brooklyn for Battle Club Pro’s Women Crush Wednesday wrestling show. The all-female card featured some of indie wrestling’s darlings like Trish Adora and Willow Nightengale. The highlight for me however was being able to see Big Swole in another main even title match defending her Battle Club Pro championship. After the hard-hitting match against Trish, Swole cut a promo that nearly brought tears to my eyes. There have been many moments in the last couple of months that made me so incredibly happy to be a wrestling fan, and this was one of them.
Swole is a black woman in wrestling who has always been outspoken, and unapologetic about the experience of being a black female wrestler. Her well-known departure from All Elite Wrestling & falling out with owner Tony Khan allowed showed us just how hard it can be. Swole however has always held her head high and been a voice for those that need it in the industry.
Here is some of her groundbreaking promo:
“I’ll be champ forever
Can’t Nobody can come in here and take what I take
Can’t Nobody can come in here and do what I do
Can’t nobody come in here and wrestle how I wrestle
OKAY
Except for Trish Fucking Adora
You want to talk about a diamond in the rough?
You want to talk about a woman that’s paid her dues?
You want to talk about a woman that cares for this business?
That was just one
When it comes to winning and defending this
Here as ya’ll champion
I’m going to give the people that have no say
I’m going to give the people that have been loyalty
The ones that whose not trying to turn their back or change
We are icons
We are woman
We are idols to the younger generation, the children who are watching us
We will be the change because that is what battle club is all about
Please give it up to Trish Adora
I’m going to say this
Battle Club is one of the only places that actually believed in me
Joakim is one of the only promoters that flew me out and gave me the time and day
I owe so much to this man.
I owe my career to this man
If it wasn't for God putting me in his ear, I would not be here
So I thank Joakim,
I thank (Hard to hear)
I thank my all-mighty father
Ya’ll have a good night”
I am excited to see what Big Swole continues to teach and bring to all women in wrestling.
By Patricia Rogers | Posted Monday, May 9, 2022
"Wrestling is a love story,” - Cody Rhodes
I am back from Dallas and feeling better than ever. I had the pleasure of going to Texas for WWE Wrestlemania as a part of my women’s wrestling podcast, Those Wrestling Girls.
If I had one word to describe what wrestling fans call “Mania Week” is passion.
When hoards of fans travel to the host city of the biggest wrestling events in the world, the streets are filled with people dressed in t-shirts adorned with their favorite stars, and championship belts.
It is almost like everyone there is buzzing with excitement. There is love in the air because we are all there for the same reason, the love of pro wrestling.
This was the first time my friend and co-host Krista B. and I were able to travel outside of New York for Mania Week. The entire trip was one of firsts, and I can say it was the best weekend of my life. I got to meet a lot of friends that I have known online for years for the first time. Including other black wrestling podcasters, and tastemakers in the industry. We were able to have fun, network, and make unforgettable memories including working out of the press box, floor seats to see my all-time favorite, WWE Hall of Famer and Texas native Stone Cold Steve Austin (TWICE!), and the bonding that took place at the after after-parties.
I am already planning the next trip to Los Angeles, California for 2023.
KIPP AMP School teacher, musician, & Wrestling Club founder Mr. Perry. Okay, his name is Victor but I was introduced to him by my mother as that so for my sister and me, he will always be Mr. Perry.
He is a great sixth-grade teacher and one that many of us wish we had when we were younger. Like myself, he grew up a wrestling fan and there were times that he did not have other people with whom he was able to talk about it. My mother introduced us, and we have been good friends ever since.
I was honored when he sent me his proposal to start a wrestling club in his school, KIPP AMP Brooklyn. Students can come to his classroom on lunch breaks to watch matches and documentaries. After the club was approved by the school he posted pictures and videos of his students enjoying marquee matches and it soon went viral. Everyone praised the young teacher for bringing wrestling to his students, and how fans of all ages and backgrounds wished they had a teacher like Mr. Perry.
Not only were other fans inspired by what Mr. Perry was doing, but so were WWE superstars themselves. It was not long before one of the biggest WWE superstars in the world reached out to Mr. Perry asking to visit his club. She is someone who has had a passion for wrestling since watching WWE for the first time at 10 years old. Sasha Banks had to face many obstacles growing up and has been very vocal about how much wrestling has saved her life and given her a purpose. So I can only imagine what it meant to her to see Mr. Perry’s students enjoying a club like that.
“One day while I was in the middle of class teaching, I got a Twitter notification and I briefly looked and saw that it was from WWE. I had to keep calm while in class and after class, I read the message and saw that Sasha really wanted to come to see The Wrestling Club… Never did I actually think that could happen. From that interaction on we made it happen. I have so much love for WWE for working with me and the school to create such a beautiful moment that will live forever in the lives of my students. I've gotten phone calls, text messages, emails, from students telling me how much it meant to them,” says Victor Perry.
The students lost their minds and were so moved by her visit. Banks answered questions from the kids who were eloquent, respectful, and filled with joy. I think the most memorable part for me was seeing how much it meant to the kids but also what it meant to Sasha Banks. She kept thanking Mr. Perry and the entire moment was genuine and emotional.
He went on to share with me, “Meeting Sasha I realized quickly that she was like the sister I never had. She's so easy to talk to. She was so warm and inviting and you could see the joy all over her face. I think this moment not only meant a lot for my kiddos but it also meant a lot to her. She got to dance and sing to her iconic theme song, answer and give some insightful words of wisdom and take the best photos ever with The Wrestling Club. She's inspiring a whole generation, the future. Not many people can say that! I'm really happy we could make this possible. I hope we can continue to have others stop by and hang out with the kids in the club. I want The Wrestling Club to be the coolest club ever."
Relive the entire experience with me exclusively on Those Wrestling Girls Patreon. Thank you, Sasha Banks, WWE, KIPP AMP Brooklyn, and Mr. Perry for making that moment happen for those kids. Glad I was able to experience that.
The University of Orange, the free-people university and non-profit organization based in Orange, New Jersey is gearing up for its annual music festival this month.
The 6th annual Music City Festival takes place from May 13-15 at eight different outdoor venues around the city. Over 50 musicians will be performing in partnership with the following restaurants: D’3Fold, Reddz Bistro & Grill, Sarrah’s Cafe Trinbago, Inner City Cafe, Four City Brewery, Benji’s Taqueria, and Hat City Kitchen.
Performers include Alexandra & Real Music, Asad & King Sykes, Big Naut, Jazz Millionaire, Paul Lombardo & Juliana Carr, Voices in Harmony, Orange All-City Chorus, Orange Concert Choir, and Mighty Marching Tornadoes.
Music has always been a part of the fabric of Orange, New Jersey. The diversity is showcased at this festival every year bringing the city together in harmony. The festival is sponsored by lead sponsors HANDS Inc., M&T Bank, DAAB Kids, co-sponsors Four City Brewery, NAACP of the Oranges & Maplewood, and Missing Link Music.
You can sign up to volunteer at the University of Orange’s Music City Festival here.
Great Love is Never Easy
Growing as a person and learning lessons in life along the way is probably one of my favorite things about life. It kind of makes it all makes sense to me. One thing that I have learned and accepted for the better is that nothing worth having in life will come easy. And this could not be more true when it comes to love. I don’t know if there is such thing as true love, but I do believe that we all have great loves out there that will strike you like a thunderbolt when you least expect it. It will feel intoxicating, and it will be all-consuming. However, it will not be easy. It will feel big, destructive, exuberant, dangerous, and inescapable.
As a writer, I like to think that the storm great love brings into your life is worth it because great love stories are the best stories. And whether we like it or not, the best stories make us laugh, cry, angry, sad, and happy. In real life, not so much. But I will always say that experiencing love in life is a blessing and believe that it is better to have love and loss than to never have loved at all.
It’s Okay to Rebrand
The tip this week is probably a little hypocritical as I tend to preach about how important branding is. This means your brand’s tone, voice, colors, logos, and even the font. But I learned that social media is always changing and you have to evolve with the ever-changing strategies. I think it is important to find the balance between trying new things to see what works and also keeping up the brand loyalty you have built with your followers and listeners.
These tips are for those who have not gone to college for social media marketing but for those who are creative up-starts and were brave enough to utilize the free tools at our disposal to start their own brands and companies. We are real people, we change our minds, and a lot of creative fields are fluid. Think about fashion, every year the new It color or fit or length changes with the times. And I think the way we approach social media marketing with our brands should be the same thing.
So if in your soul, or during a meditation you want to change your logo from yellow to pink or want to start featuring different guests on your show to cater to different communities. This is okay because we all change. That is what is exciting about life.
By Patricia Rogers | Posted Sunday, August 1, 2021
Lately, I have been thinking a lot about happiness. I read somewhere that it is not a destination, that happiness is an ongoing journey. But for some reason, it has been feeling like a battle. There are so many aspects of life that lead to this pursuit. There is your personal/social life, physical/mental health, professional, and family. I can go on and on. This is why it is important to take care of yourself from the inside and out. Is there peace and happiness in your orbit?
I met Mike, aka Nisho, via social media when he joined our wrestling Twitter community. He was nice, funny, and I learned that he was multi-talented. He is a musician and podcaster. His friends would describe him as laid back, stubborn, and caring.
He hosts a podcast called The Cole and Soul Podcast:
“Alongside my cohost Nicole Learner, we highlight artists, entrepreneurs, and business owners (we emphasize Black/people of color) within the DC, Maryland, and Virginia areas. (Commonly referred to as the DMV).
We offer a mix of humor, introspective conversation, and a safe space for the people we interview to really dive deep into the person behind the art. On top of that, I am the sole wrestling fan among us haha. Nic handles all of the technical sides of the podcast as far as editing audio and visual, I handle the booking of our guests and some social media across FB and Twitter.”
Keep your finger on the pulse of your field. One thing that is important about thriving in the digital space is finding an audience and community. There are billions of people online that you need to find that will be dedicated and engaged in your content. And you also have to be able to provide the information they seek. This means you have to always have your finger on the pulse. For example, once I realized I wanted to start a wrestling podcast, I listened to the most popular wrestling podcast that was out at the time. I also consumed all of the wrestling I could and followed other fan groups and communities. Soon we became the go-to place for women’s wrestling news, and opinions.
By Patricia Rogers | Posted Wednesday, July 14, 2021
Welcome back to Words with P.R.! This is such an interesting time in my life. Grateful to have this as an outlet.
This edition is inspired by tennis player Naomi Osaka’s choice to take a break from tennis to take care of her mental health. I think it is important to motivate my readers to opt to swim and not sink, but it is also important to emphasize that when feeling you are going to sink… it is okay to not be okay. It is okay to reach out for help.
Huge thanks to the support that the last edition has gotten, where I talk about my journey towards self-love, acceptance, and body image.
Birdiebee is a brand that I have supported for a couple of years now. And at first, it was just because it was WWE Hall of Famers Nikki and Brie Bella’s clothing line. But once I started to purchase clothing, I loved the fit, fabrics, and designs. The biggest thing for me, though, was how inclusive the pieces are for all body types. I shared my story about it in the 4th edition of Words with P.R., but it really is life-changing when you can feel confident in your own skin. So far I have purchased dresses, activewear, t-shirts, and sweaters. And I recommend it all. You can use code BBAMBASSADOR20 to save site-wide at this link.
SHOUTOUT TO 400 YEARS OF INEQUALITY
I want to share immersive multimedia projects from the University of Orange educating the public on 400 Years of Inequality aka Juneteenth:
A Call Answered: Observing History -- Reclaiming the Future + People's Pathway to Equality
A Call Answered spotlights the change-inspiring work of 5 community-based 400 Years “observances”, events unearthing and acknowledging America’s timeline of inequality, and setting the stage for a new century of recovery.
Art Direction, Media & Digital Content: Gahlia Eden
Creative Producer, Media & Digital Content: Aubrey Murdock
Creative Direction, Marketing Strategy: Stephanie Leone
Editorial Direction, Marketing Strategy: Ricky Tucker
Creative Team: Timothy Nottage, Jacqueline Castaneda, Molly Kaufman, Robert Sember
People's Pathway to Equity provides multimedia activities and the key concepts most critical to understanding and dismantling the ecology of inequality in your community. Across four chapters, you’ll explore the many insights gathered by the 400 Years of Inequality coalition over five years of learning and organizing together, introducing you to people from a range of places who have boldly answered the call for equality, and helping you embark on your own pathway to equity.
Art Direction: Aubrey Murdock
Creative Producer: Timothy Nottage
Creative Team: Aditi Nair, Jacqueline Castaneda, Timothy Nottage
Media + Digital Content: Gahlia Eden
Editorial Direction: Ricky Tucker
Marketing Strategy: Stephanie Leone
I had the chance to talk to some of the amazing team involved in the creation of these amazing educational experiences:
"The website was inspired by the covid-19 shutdown... Aubrey Murdock, Head of School at University of Orange, which was one of the founding partner organizations of 400 Years introduced me to this work. I invited local photographers and videographers to join me in attending and documenting observances." — Gahlia Eden
"I’d want folks to walk away from A Call Answered... with an impressionistic view of the hard work, love, and thoughtful activism it takes to acknowledge everything we’ve been through in this country—and that’s just an acknowledgement. Then comes the hard work of rebuilding, recovering. Our coalition and these websites can be a template for how communities can honor their own historical context—and recovery collectively. The Peoples Pathway site in particular maps out the tools for them to get started." — Ricky Tucker
CHECK IT OUT HERE: 400YEARSOFINEQUALITY.ORG
Consistency is key
When I wanted to start a podcast, I did as much research as I could about what makes these successful. Having the right equipment, topics, and the audience is important. But the number one note I saw everywhere was BE CONSISTENT. This is how you earn dedicated listeners/viewers. You have to be consistent on every aspect of your brand. This means your brand identity, release schedule, social media marketing, everything. Your fans will not even realize how much they are getting used to your content and will engage with it. Most successful podcasts and YouTube channels don’t have the best quality, but their success comes from being consistent.
By Patricia Rogers | Posted Friday, June 18, 2021
What is the saying? You make plans and God laughs? I have been coming to terms with this for years. I’ve learned: don’t take it personally. You’re not “doing life wrong.” I’ve realized that the ups, downs, uncertainty, and mistakes we will all ultimately make, are just... life. When I started to take my struggle with anxiety and depression seriously I made a vow not to let it ruin my life. I ask myself: are you going to swim or sink?* As hard as it is, I always choose to swim. And this is only possible with the love and support of my friends, family, and the continued pursuit towards living a full life.
I recently chose to swim:
My twin sister Letty and I had been planning a trip to Las Vegas for Memorial Day weekend. For the first time, I was going away, paid vacation days, money in my savings account, and ahead on rent. Proud adult moment. And then, two weeks before the trip I get a severe toothache. And a very long and uninteresting story short, I had to get a tooth extracted. Booooo.
I am now depressed during the week leading up to this fun trip. I hate the dentist, I hate dealing with medical shit, I had to stop eating and enjoying my vices. And of course, my shitty insurance didn’t cover everything so I had to spend all of the money in my savings account that I was so proud of. I was very close to canceling the trip but didn’t want to let my sister and friend down. Glad I didn’t just because it was not the perfect trip I had in mind, doesn’t mean I should sink and not go.
So I swam and went to Vegas anyway. Yeah, I couldn’t eat real food, or smoke legalized weed, but so what? I went and it was fucking awesome. I actually stayed offline from work and the podcast to truly escape and have a good time. We met some of the coolest people (other black travelers) and made unforgettable memories.
My Las Vegas recommendations are the SAHARA Hotel, ReLeaf Weed Dispensary (my sister loved it), and definitely walking the strip. And I can not stress enough, even my melanin queens and kings WEAR FUCKING SUNSCREEN! So I hope this inspires you to push through even when things do not go as planned. While in Vegas, missing teeth and all, I rediscovered a piece of myself and learned that just because something isn’t perfect doesn’t mean it’s not worth it. Literally, nothing in life will go completely as planned. And that is perfectly okay.
I went to high school with Whitney, and she was one of my best friends. We shared a love and respect for each other I still feel ‘til this day. She was always a great writer and could honestly do anything she set her mind to (as corny as that sounds).
In her words, “Whitney Chanel Clark is a stand up comedian in New York City pushing the boundaries of comedy in what's now a politically correct world. I’d say Whitney Chanel is the entertainer and Clark is the business woman. All together, it’s the total package”.
In the last few years I have watched her try her hand at comedy, and go on to be the leader of Clark House Comedy, as well as a mentor for queer comedians. When I asked her about those boundaries in comedy she has pushed she said, “My brand of comedy impacts the LGBTQIA+ community by encouraging the more aggressive/dominant women to embrace their femininity. I’m that old school gay, don’t ask don’t tell gay, I think it’s fine to dress like a man and not want to turn into one. My brand of comedy is about making regular gay cool again.”
She has weekly shows around the country and has been featured on Bravo, VH1, and BuzzFeed.
When building your social media presence, no matter that platform: INTERACT AND ENGAGE WITH EVERYTHING. I think something that people forget when it comes to social media is that everyone on it are real people. Actual humans who are taking their time to engage with your platform. Acknowledge them. It is not about the follower count — in my opinion that is important — it's the amount of real (not bots) humans that react to your content.
By Patricia Rogers | Posted Saturday, May 1, 2021
WELCOME BACK!
I am back for the 2nd edition, and guess what? It will only get better! I have gotten such amazing feedback, and am excited to keep going.
This edition is dedicated to the memory of DMX. I grew up listening to his music and his tragic story always had an effect on me, and I always prayed that he would eventually overcome his demons. We love you X, thank you for what you brought to the world. He was such a talented artist who touched many.
And congratulations to the University of Orange and HUUB for getting the grant for the Ben Jones Community Garden.
Welcome back to Words with PR! Powered by Jersey Indie.
Words with PR is a bi-monthly lifestyle blog where I share a short interview, recommendations, marketing tips, and everything in between!
Some of you may already know Krista B. She is my co host for our women’s wrestling podcast Those Wrestling Girls. But like myself, she has a lot more going on than that. I met Krista when we were both writing for and was featured on a bloggers panel.
We soon found out we both loved wrestling, and the rest was history. She is also a writer, video producer, media specialist at Hot 97, and so much more.
She owns the brand Unapologetically Eclectic (UE) “a website created as an outlet to let readers know who I am and things that I love. It includes news and entertainment from all aspects and genres as well as interviews from people from all walks of life.” says Krista.
Earlier this month, Krista hosted the very first event powered by UE. A female driven brunch and panel called, “Take Up Your Space, Sis”.
The brunch event was “inspired by all of the dope women that I know who are really taking up their spaces without being afraid to do so.”
The phrase ‘taking up space’ means commanding the metaphorical room you are in and being unapologetic about the value you are bringing to the table. A powerful message, and one that black women are taking seriously.
“The brunch was amazing. It was very informative and inspiring to everyone who attended.” says Krista B. She hosted a panel of women featuring brand manager Asia Golden and Avery Watson who works as an entrepreneur in public relations. The two women spoke on what it is commanding spaces in your respective fields, what advice they would give to others who are trying to make it and what motivates them to keep going.
Krista B. is known for living unapologetically and always supporting Black women. In addition to UE she is a media specialist at Hot 97. She often writes about black culture and even the Black Girl Magic in WWE.
How she describes herself: “I am a very eclectic person. I try to be real and honest not only to other people but also to myself. I’m passionate about what I do and I wear many hats. I am a journalist, a podcast host, producer, and so much more.”
Check out the video recap from the “Take Up Your Space, Sis” brunch and pictures. Also follow Unapologetically Eclectic!
Staycations!
I have had reasons in the past to take Staycations, booking a hotel room in New York City or New Jersey and getting away for a couple days.
I sort of abandoned them once I moved back into my own apartment in 2019, but due to the pandemic and new people in my life, Staycations have returned.
Not sure what anyone’s budget is, but I do know that the quarantine has not been easy on any of us. Some of us were forced to stay home with family,or people they normally would not have but had to comply with government regulations.
And let’s just face it, after a while you need to just get away. New scenery, walls, and just waking up in a room that is not the same room you have grown used to over the past year. So I say, plan ahead in the next three months, the sooner ahead you book a hotel room, (the cheaper it is).
It can be in your same city to a nearby city to cut transportation costs, and just spend a night or two away. I promise, you will not regret it. Just make sure that you and the hotel are practicing all the right protocols to protect guests from COVID.
The WeWork Story!
I am obsessed with the rise and fall stories of business and industries. And one story has caught my attention over the past few months and that is the extraordinary tale of the co-working company WeWork and its founder Adam Newman.
My fascination with this story is layered, and has a lot more to do than just my love of business stories. I worked at a startup and very close to its founder for two years. And it was one of the most bizarre experiences I have ever been a part of.
I could not help but watch the recent Hulu documentary, and feel triggered by a few things. One, is knowing the feeling of working at a growing company and believing the hype and the kool aid. Believing that you are being underpaid to work overtime hours for this shared goal. And us all reaching that goal meant having equity and making millions of dollars.
Needless to say, I did not make millions, and I am not sure what ended up happening to that company. But the story of the founder Adam Newman, his wife, the blank check given to Newman from one of the prominent investors in the world, the roller coaster that was WeWork’s rise and fall is one you just have to watch.
Streaming from Hulu, and let me know if you want me to write about my experience working at a wellness start up company.
I read somewhere that it is possible for people’s personality to change after being in quarantine.
I found that interesting and it caused me to reflect.
Just like everyone in the world the pandemic was not easy one me.
However, it did put me in a position to grow as a person, which in turn grew the brands that I work with.
Being a podcaster, and having an online presence is important. The more you put yourself out there, usually the greater the return.
Most people don’t know that I am actually a shy and introverted person, so sometimes believe it or not, this is not easy for me.
I remember how nervous I would get before we recorded every episode, or how terrifying it was to go live on social media.
When everything closed down here in New York City, including our podcast studio, it forced us to find new ways to record and engage our audience.
During last summer the ‘don't rush’ challenge went viral, which saw women look bad, and then are thrown a makeup brush and their look turns glamorous.
A lot of these viral challenges happened in 2020 because people were bored at home with not much to do.
The one that caught my eye was one that was done by a group of female wrestling influencers, and suddenly I got FOMO.
That is when I realized, I need to put myself out there more. I already have people who listen to the podcast and support me,
Get out of your comfort zone...learned during quarantine
Sometimes social media can be toxic but sometimes it can connect you to some amazing people. One of those people is Shanitra, who is a women’s wrestling fan but also a basketball coach who enjoys basketball.
She is currently a writer/reporter for Queen Ballers. When talking to Shanitra about her new gig.
Queen Ballers is “a club founded to grow the love for lady hoopers and invested in lifting up women, by giving our queens the spotlight they deserve.”
Her and team over at QB are preparing to create tons of content as they join WNBA in celebrating the organization’s 25th anniversary. “I look forward to writing more articles about WNBA players and providing information about them on and off the court. Basketball is not all they do!”
Similar to my brand Those Wrestling Girls, QB is also “a platform to showcase female athletes” and it is “very important because for some reason the media does not feel that women athletes generate any revenue and no one cares about female athletes.” says Shanitra.
She went on to talk about her own background with basketball, “My history with basketball runs deep since I was a kid, I would play with my older cousins and that is when I fell in love.” She
played the sport in middle school, high school, and college. She became a coach after abandoning her dream of being in the WNBA.
Say hi to Shanitra on Twitter and make sure you check out the Queen Ballers website.
Hashtags! I can not think of an easier way to market yourself and your brand on social media. I can not even begin to tell you how much growth my partner and I have seen using them. It is a way to get people out there who are searching for what your brand offers to find you.
I suggest you use 5-10 relevant hashtags. Everything from super general, all the way to specific words. Put the block of hashtags in the comments on Instagram, or underneath the text on Twitter.
Look on TWG Instagram for an example:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CNgXQk7pu6d/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Stay tuned for the next edition of Words with P.R. powered by Jersey Indie!
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By Patricia Rogers | Posted Friday, April 2, 2021
Hi! Welcome to my blog
Hello! You may remember me as Valley Girl NJ or the Zine Editor from Orange, NJ. I used to run a blog called Masconsumpion (ran from 2012-2017), and throw cool events in the Valley Arts District. I had fun living and working in Orange. I got to meet and interview artists, musicians, community leaders, and recap art and music shows, political debates, and so much more.
Now, I go by Queen P.R. and am back home in New York City. I am working as a content creator, brand marketing manager, and podcaster. I have learned a lot, and want to share my lessons (learned from mistakes) with you all. So I hope you can come along for this ride twice a month!
Powered by Jersey Indie, I will share Words with PR, a bi-monthly lifestyle blog where I share a short interview, recommendations, marketing tips, and everything in between!
MEET CAROL PADBERG
I was connected to Carol via Molly Rose Kaufman, my friend and the Provost & Program Director at the University of Orange. I was excited to talk to the woman who led the Lunch and Learn workshop titled, “A Mushroom Walks into a Bar...”. I mean, can you think of a more classic joke? And Carol is about all things mushrooms! (Her favorite being the oyster mushroom).
For the University of Orange’s 2021 Jan Term, Carol taught a workshop on how much mushrooms can teach us, answering questions like: What can we learn from mushrooms about undoing toxic individualism and affecting regenerative social change?
For the Lunch and Learn seminar, Padberg spoke about how to weave mushrooms, and also what it can teach us about radical world changes, urban neighborhoods, and more. It was inspired by a graduate program, NOMAD MFA, she designed herself. This was interesting to me because you tend to think about college programs as already established, but this was something new!
I wanted to learn all about the NOMAD MFA program, because to me it felt like one that filled a void. It combined art, creativity, and ecology. And as someone who did community organizing through art & creativity, I was all ears..
The relatively new graduate program offered by the University of Hartford, was inspired by an art project by Padberg, who is also an interdisciplinary visual artist. A few years ago Carol created a 1,000 square foot quilt made of compost, and the fascination of the life and connection that happened to the quilt is what made Padberg consider mushrooms. She realized she could teach art, and ecology, by building creative experiences. The guiding philosophy behind the NOMAD graduate program is “one of connection.”
When speaking with Carol, who is one of the loveliest women I have had the pleasure to speak to, she was able to inform me on mushrooms and climate collapse, regeneration, and more. The more Carol and I spoke, the more I realized just how needed her program was. I also could not help but think about how glad I was that she was able to meet and work with the wonderful folks over at the University of Orange.
The University of Orange is a free people’s university where the learning doesn’t end. I have had the pleasure of graduating twice, and even taught a blogging workshop. Founded in 2007, The University of Orange is a community organization and free people’s urbanism school that builds collective capacity for people to create more equitable cities. You can teach a class as well as take a class and it is open to all people, you can graduate more than once.
My friend, artist, and U of O’s Head of School and lead designer Aubrey Murdock was one of Carol’s students in the NOMAD MFA program. She says about the program, “I had an inkling that I wanted to devote more energy to my individual creative practice, and to understand my work with U of O as a type of socially engaged art practice. I was not actively looking at MFA programs, but came across an article about NOMAD MFA. What drew me in was an attention to human ecology — the ways that social, cultural and technological systems are inextricably linked with landscapes, food systems and watersheds.”
Aubrey’s interest in the program was something Carol and I talked about, how it is important for artists doing community work to understand systems, and how to come into one with care. “I was interested if the program really embraced a critical analysis around compounding issues like structural racism, environmental inequity and the linkages between capitalism and ecological crisis,” says Murdock.
Carol’s ”conviction around why she started the program and her transparency around some of the difficulties of navigating these ideals within an institution like a university” is what sold Aubrey, and the same for me as well. In addition to being a wonderful person, Carol is smart, kind, real, and funny. In other words just the right person we need to build a better future. “Collectively [Carol] brings cohorts of interdisciplinary artists into conversation around regenerative culture, and what is ours to do in this critical moment.”
Also, Carol was nice enough to share an amazing mushroom tea and risotto recipe. Tag us on the @wordswithpr social media for the recipe. ;)
Get to know Carol Padberg more by checking out her website.
Want to learn more about the NOMAD MFA graduate program click here.
Watch and learn from her “A Mushroom Walks into a Bar...” Jan term Lunch & Learn workshop here.
Learn more about the University of Orange here.
QUEEN P.R.’S RECOMMENDS...
My Early AM Self-love routine
I learned back in 2017 that exercise was the best way to help with my anxiety and depression. So, I began doing what I call my “self love” journey every morning starting at 5:00 AM. This time of the day is so quiet and peaceful. Great for clarity and self-reflection.
For my Self Love routine, I pray, Thank God for waking me up, stretch, exercise, meditate, jump in a hot shower, and start my day. I can not express enough what this has done for my energy and focus levels (gave up coffee months ago!), clarity, and anxiety. I understand everyone is not a morning person, so whenever you can squeeze in some self care, do it!
Movo Podcast mic
So for those who don’t know, I am the co-host of Those Wrestling Girls podcast. My co-host Krista B. and I started back in 2018, and were lucky enough to be able to record in a professional studio. All of this changed when the pandemic hit (we don’t feel comfortable recording there yet), so we were forced to make it work from home. Thanks to a friend, we have found a fun way to record via Stream Yard, which has helped us stream live from our social media channels like YouTube, and our Facebook Discussion group. Recording from home meant that I needed to get actual professional equipment to help with quality. So as a birthday gift, I got a MOVO mic that I highly recommend. The set up was easy, the sound quality is amazing (especially during live shows), the instructions were easy to follow as well. So to all my podcasters out there, the MOVO computer USB mic is TOTALLY WORTH IT.
I HAVE LEARNED THAT...
Always reach out to your friends. This first edition of Words with P.R. is dedicated to the loving memory of one of my best college friends Natalia Cordova. She sadly passed away this month. Her death has been super hard on me because we grew distant over the past few years. I did not get a chance to reminisce with her on our college memories, or tell her how much meant to me and how much she impacted my life. So I urge you all: LOVE ON YOUR LOVED ONES. Life is short. You never know when it is going to be too late. A random text or DM saying, “Hi I am thinking of you and I love” you does the trick.
SHOUTOUT TO...
Breaking Through Glass Ceilings with Brian H. Waters
Anyone that knows me, knows that I am a workaholic. And I am very hard on myself. There are very few times when I take a step back and reflect and be proud of myself. Well, I was able to finally do that on Brian H. Water’s podcast Breaking Through Glass Ceilings, where he interviews people that have been successful in media. Check out my episode here.
I was able to chat with Brian (who is also a wrestling content creator) about what inspired Breaking through Glass Ceiling:
“Producing this podcast gives me fulfillment because, in a day and age where we are disconnected and only talk to our friends through text and tweets, the time I spend talking to them while recording this show allows me to have a raw and authentic conversation about their career. This also allows me to learn more about them and their journey, but also provides listeners with lessons they can use forever. One day I was in Atlanta and as I was talking to my manager about networking, I was reminded how blessed I was to be connected to a wealth of smart people. From there I decided I wanted to share my network with the world.”
Check out Brian’s podcast Breaking Through Glass Ceilings here.
SOCIAL MEDIA/MARKETING TIPS
Building your personal brand: Always be proud of your passion, you never know where it will lead you.
So, I am a shy person and would always hide my extra curricular activities and accomplishments from my classmates and friends growing up. I was easily embarrassed and didn't like attention to myself. But one thing I have learned is the only way to get ahead in life and career is to be proud of who you are, what you do, what you love, and be strong in your convictions. I am a wrestling fan, and have a women’s wrestling podcast, and an abundance of wrestling tees. So I style them for work, which I would have been too afraid to do before, but now I like standing out. Me wearing these shirts have been a conversation starter and have led me into rooms I would never have been in before.
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