Today we’d like to introduce you to Janine Brianne Davis and Jerralyn Belinda Davis.
Janine and Jerralyn, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
The Tea With Qwns podcast started from the realization that the people that were giving advice to 20-somethings, were usually white, didn’t have the same background as we did and were not going through the same struggles. As mixed women of color, we did not feel that there was someone in media – especially in the podcast industry – that looked like us or had the same life experiences as we did. We wanted to create the Tea With Qwns podcast to serve as a safe space and community for people who are not usually represented in mainstream media to share their stories and have candid conversations about issues that matter to us and the Qwndom.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The Tea With Qwns podcast has been a lot of trial and error. At first, we wanted to start out as a YouTube channel but quickly learned that we did not have the right equipment, bandwidth or manpower to do the amount and quality of production that we wanted.
The biggest struggle that we’ve had thus far is balance. Sometimes the monotony of the 9-5 life gets to you and by the time you get home, the last thing that you want to do is to continue to work. What makes us go on and persevere is the fact that this project is entirely our own and we are the role models that we never had. We want our listeners to feel that they are not alone and they can look up to us, lean on us and the Qwndom for support and always know that the Qwns on the pod are sharing their story in the hopes that someone will learn from them and their journey will be easier.
Our definition of a Qwn is a fierce and fabulous individual who overcomes adversity and keeps their head held high while strutting every step of the way. When we’re “On Air,” we’re inviting our listeners into the Qwndom, sharing our heartbreak, struggles and obstacles but we’re also sharing our successes, dreams and aspirations. We truly view our listeners as our family – our brothers, our sisters, our Qwns – who are just trying to keep their head up and live a fabulous life.
Our biggest advice for other women, particularly young women who are just starting their journey is to know that no matter what life throws at you – whether you missed your exam, lost a loved one or were laid off from your dream job – that life is happening FOR you not TO you. Look at every situation, every person and everything that comes into your life as both a blessing and a lesson aka a “blesson.”
Please tell us about Tea with Qwns Podcast.
The Qwns are creative beings at heart and both work in the media industry. Janine works as a Social Media and Marketing Specialist at a digital and video production agency and Jerralyn works as a Public Relations Coordinator at a local nonprofit based in Liberty Station.
What sets the Qwns apart from other podcasters is that we have inclusive and representative conversations, even if it’s uncomfortable because those are the conversations that need to be had. We want to talk about what it means to navigate this period of constant growth, what it means to be values-aligned and live life most authentically. Sometimes, there’s this expectation that you only share the good things that are happening in life but if we only did that, we wouldn’t be true to ourselves. We want Qwns to know that they can overcome anything that life throws at them, regardless of their current circumstances. Life is tough but so is a Qwn.
What we’re most proud of is not the number of downloads, followers or comments we have but the fact that every week, we’re sharing stories that matter. We’re giving people a voice. We’re creating a community of Qwns that can lean on each other.
Who have you been inspired by?
The woman in our life that has inspired us the most is our mommy, Lucinda Kathryn Mesa Davis. She instilled in us at a young age that we could do anything, be anything and accomplish anything, as long as we had each other. Literally, as soon as we came out of the womb, we had the support of our family and the faith that we would become something great.
She also taught us to be self-sufficient and never rely on another human being for love, support, money or self-worth. Our mommy is the strongest, smartest and most beautiful woman that we have been blessed to have in our life. Without her, we would not be the Qwns we are today.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/teawithqwns
- Phone: 8056166970
- Email: teawithqwnspod@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teawithqwnspod
- Facebook: http://facebook.com/teawithqwnspod
- Twitter: http://twitter.com/teawithqwnspod
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/show/05vNaYTPu74pzuDfipaPZ8?si=WeXyhjiCSP-qdYRTE3POPQ
Image Credit:
Tea with Qwns Podcast
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