In this episode, we welcome Dr. Shaquinta Richardson of Audre’s Den (a nonprofit mobile bookstore) and Nik Stephney of Voyage Farm and Tea Bar (a backyard farm turned pop-up tea bar) to discuss our trio’s collaboration in Columbia. We share how we connected through pop-ups, chose collaboration over competition, and navigated pivots while building community-centered events such as our upcoming November event featuring Ashante Reese’s Gather. We discuss rejecting competition, especially among Black businesses, and describe our shared vision for a future cultural hub with books, food, gathering, creativity, and care that centers Black people.
Books Mentioned in this Episode
Where is Home?: Lost, Found, Made published by Liberation is Lit Press (and features Dr. Shaquinta Richardson)
Gather: Black Food, Nourishment, and the Art of Togetherness by Ashanté M Reese
Praise Song for the Kitchen Ghost: Stories and Recipes from Five Generations of Black Country Cooks by Crystal Wilkinson
Writer in Residence by Rhonda McKnight
The Thing About Home by Rhonda McKnight
Timeline
00:00 Welcome and Introductions
00:45 Meet Nik and Voyage Farms
01:26 How the Trio Connected
05:03 Meet Shaquinta and Audres Den
08:09 Collaboration Over Competition
11:51 Nik on Books and Hospitality
14:36 Upcoming Events and Shared Vision
15:26 Building a Cultural Hub
17:44 Feeding People and Pleasure Portal
22:36 Book Picks and Inspirations
26:13 Follow and Closing Thanks
