💬 Meet Uncle Forrest — The Creative With a Heart for Our Sugars Hey sugars! 💕 Y’all know I love when we bring a fresh face to the purple table — and this week, Auntie M sat down with Uncle Forrest Givens , a true DMV creative. He’s a photographer, videographer, designer, and middle school teacher (yes, he really does it all 👏🏾). From growing up in every corner of D.C. to teaching the next generation of storytellers, Forrest is proof that you can turn childhood imaginati

Auntea: Morgan Renee Sills ☕ Topic: Confidence, balance, and redefining beauty 💌 Sugar Q: “Auntea, can I really do both — be smart and stylish?” Morgan laughed. “Yes, baby — and don’t let anyone tell you different!” She’s living proof. 👏🏾 A Howard Law graduate and model , Auntea Morgan’s journey flows between fashion and activism — and she’s rocking both lanes like a pro. She started modeling at 13 (shoutout to Barbizon girls 💅🏽), took a detour into basketball,

Auntea: Buffy Sheard ☕ Topic: Faith, Friendship, and Protecting Your Energy 💌 Sugar Q: “Which voice should I listen to?” Hey Sugar 💕, Auntea Buffy says the world is loud — but God’s voice is love, not noise. “The loudest voice isn’t always the right one. God’s voice might come quiet, but it’s always real — it’s always love.” She shared a story about hearing God tug at her heart when she was younger — and being scared at first. But over time, she realized that voice wasn’

Auntea: Angela Rani Terrell ☕ Topic: Faith, purpose, healing, and walking boldly in who you are 💕 Meet Auntie Angela Sugars, today’s tea is extra special . We’re talking to Auntie Angela Rani Terrell — filmmaker, mama bear, prayer warrior, and yes, big sister to Auntie M herself! She’s a true D.C. girl who grew up in Southeast and is now living that Maryland life. But more than anything, Auntie Angela is proof that your faith can fuel your purpose — no matter where lif

Uncle: Rev. Dr. James E. Terrell Topic: Faith, forgiveness, and learning to listen for God’s voice ☕ Meet Great Uncle James Yes, sugars — this episode’s tea comes from a real OG: Rev. Dr. James Terrell , educator, minister, and father of our very own Auntie M (Marisa Terrell)! 💕 He’s proof that wisdom never goes out of style. From growing up in a big family in Akron, Ohio, to becoming a Rhodes Scholar–level thinker, Uncle James has seen things and lived to tell the sto

Guest: Uncle Xavier Epps 👔 Topic: Money, mindset, and making choices that set you up for success 💬 Meet Uncle X Hey Sugars 💕 — you already know Ask Your Auntea isn’t just for the aunties. This week, we’re flipping the script and letting an uncle drop some serious gems. Meet Uncle Xavier Epps — financial advisor, author, DC native, and proud dad of three girls (and three nieces!). He’s here to spill the tea on money, choices, and what it really means to grow up wise.

Auntea: Chelly Jones ☕ Topic: Confidence, College Dreams & Standing Strong 💌 Sugar Q: “Why won’t my mom help me with my college applications?” Hey Sugar 💕, Auntea Chelly gets this one — because she lived it. “I was the oldest and first in my family to go to college. My parents didn’t know how to help — they just knew I was going .” Sometimes, your mom isn’t holding back on purpose. She might not know what steps to take. But that doesn’t mean she doesn’t care. 💡 The Tea:

Auntea: Ashleigh Demi ☕ Topic: Reality TV Dreams, Self-Worth, and Choosing Wisely 💌 Sugar Q: “Do I need college to be a reality star?” Hey Sugar 💕, Auntea Ashleigh’s answer? “College isn’t required—but education is essential.” She’s seen both sides of fame, from TV One to The Real Housewives of Potomac , and she wants you to know the truth: “You can make it without college, but you’ll struggle without education.” Why? Because when those big contracts land in your inbox,

Auntea (well, Unc!): Melvin "Uncle Mel" Witten ☕ Topic: Choices, discipline, and bouncing back from setbacks 💬 Meet Uncle Mel Uncle Mel grew up right here in Southeast DC and went from HD Woodson High to Hampton University , then Howard Law — but the road wasn’t straight. He got kicked out his first year of college, worked full-time, and went to UDC at night to finish strong. 👏🏾 Now? He’s done work with Motown Records , BET , and the DC Commission on the Arts & Huma

Auntea: Tammi Nicole Carrington ☕ Topic: Discernment, self-love, and choosing peace wherever you are ✈️ Auntie Tammi’s Passport to Peace Hey sugars 💖 — meet Auntie Tammi Carrington , a DMV native who’s turned her curiosity into a global lifestyle. From Panama to Puerto Rico to maybe even Nigeria, Auntie Tammi’s not just traveling — she’s transforming. “I find peace outside of the States now.” She’s part of a growing number of Black women exploring life abroad, building

Auntea: Kizzy Dogan ☕ Topic: Staying grounded, embracing growth, and slowing down when life moves too fast 💌 Sugar Q: “What’s so great about high school, anyway?” Auntea Kizzy didn’t even blink. “High school is a period that lets you discover who you are, what you like, and who you want to become. It’s a dress rehearsal for life — because after graduation, it’s showtime!” She reminded us that high school is your safe zone . You can make mistakes, learn from them, and sti

Auntea: Natasha Dupee ☕ Topic: Faith, Confidence, and Finding Community 💌 Sugar Q: “Auntea, should I take the AP class even if my best friend didn’t get in?” “Absolutely, sugar — go for it!” Natasha smiled. “Your path might look different, but that doesn’t mean you’re leaving your people behind.” She remembers her own crew from high school — four best friends, all headed in different directions. “We didn’t go to the same schools, but we shared everything — our wins, our

Auntea: Ramona Greene ☕ Topic: Community, faith, hard love — and protecting the girls in our neighborhoods 💌 Sugar Q: “Should I take AP even if my best friend didn’t get in?” “Absolutely, sugar — go for it!” Ramona smiles. Your path may look different, but that doesn’t mean you left your people behind. She remembers her crew from high school — friends who went different ways but still shared their wins and their lessons. 💡 The Tea: Don’t dim your light for someone el

Auntea: Tiffany Browne ☕ Topic: Healing, self-worth, and redefining beauty from the inside out 💋 From the Bronx to the DMV When Auntie Tiffany walks in a room, her energy says it all — calm, confident, and radiant. ✨ But that glow? It wasn’t always there. She grew up in the Bronx , the oldest of three, in a home that had love but also challenges. “I was a good student, but I was also a fixer. I wanted everyone around me to be okay,” she says. Now, she’s a licensed therap

Auntea: Tia Styles ☕ Topic: Discernment, self-love, and choosing peace wherever you are 💋 From Ridge Road to Runway Ready When Auntie Tia talks beauty, she means more than makeup — she’s talking about confidence . Growing up in Southeast DC , her mom ran a hair salon, so Tia’s first “job” was folding towels for $50 a week. “I was so hype about that 50 bucks,” she laughs. “I’d go buy sneakers right after.” 👟 By 12, she was shampooing hair. By 20, she’d found her passion

Auntea: Adia Coleman ☕ Topic: Confidence, Relationships, and Red Flags 💌 Sugar Q: “My boyfriend is 4 years older and doesn’t like me hanging out with other people. Is he too controlling?” Hey Sugar 💕, Short answer? Yes. Long answer? Let’s talk about how you even got there in the first place. Auntea Adia kept it real: “I met my boyfriend when I was a freshman at Morgan State — he was older, had a car, and seemed so mature. But I found myself saying yes to everything he

Auntea: Dr. Caryl Mussenden ☕ Topic: Sex, Health & Loving Yourself Enough to Wait 💌 Sugar Q: “My boyfriend told me he has an STD. Should I still date him?” Dr. Caryl didn’t hesitate: “You shouldn’t be intimate until you know what it is. Most STDs are contagious, and a lot of people don’t even show symptoms.” And if he’s already been with you? You’ve got to get checked too. 💡 The Tea: Protect yourself first. Love isn’t proof you’re healthy — honesty is. ✨ Sugar Q: “I’m t

Auntea: Lanaysha “Elle” Jackson ☕ Topic: Confidence, calling out bullies, and finding joy in your own name 💌 Sugar Q: “If I ignore a bully, will she disappear?” “Bullies are very fragile. Their power is fragile. And they don’t do well with change.” Auntea Elle learned that lesson back when she was 14. Standing tall at 5'8", she dealt with bullies who tried to shake her confidence. But here’s the thing — most bullies are battling their own insecurities. Elle found out her

Auntea: Denee “NaeNae” Davis ☕ Topic: DC Roots, Real Talk, and Staying Out of Trouble 💌 Sugar Q: “DC is crazy. My friend got shot. How do I stay out of trouble?” Whew, Sugar — that’s real. “You can’t hang with everybody, baby,” Denee said. “If you know somebody doing wrong, and you stay around ‘em, you’re gonna get caught up in the mess.” She remembers growing up around the same streets — the fights, the peer pressure, the chaos. “That’s why I stayed busy. I joined the da

Guest: Patricia Elam Walker, Ph.D. 🧠✨ Topic: The power of pivoting, self-belief, and staying true to your voice 🌸 Who Is Auntie Patricia? Hey Sugars 💕 — today we’re sipping tea with Dr. Patricia Elam Walker , a woman who’s lived many lives in one. She’s been a lawyer , a journalist , a college professor , and now a children’s book author — but through it all, she’s stayed true to one thing: her voice. “Every job I’ve had has been about storytelling,” she said. “I just