Conversations Magazine July/August 2026

Conversations Magazine July/August 2026

Wednesday, April 8, 2020

25 Women Changing the World, 2020

For the 7th year Conversations is excited to share 25 Women Changing the World*, making strides in all areas of our lives, showing all of us what is possible.

From music, books, business, entertainment and inspirational content, these women are making their mark, and deserve not just our recognition but thanks.

25 Women Changing the World... (listed in no particular order)

...Through Music

  1. Celine Dion
  2. Julie Geller
  3. Alicia Keys
  4. G. L. O. (God's Love Only)
  5. Lauren Daigle




...Through Books

  1. Holli Kenley 
  2. Tiffany James
  3. Rachel Renee Russell
  4. Val Walker
  5. Camille Pagan 


...Through Business

  1. Jasmine Star 
  2. Makeda Smith
  3. Mari Smith
  4. Ashley Ann
  5. Jacqueline Lulu Brown

...Through Inspiration 

  1. Pauline Rogers
  2. Mary Ellen Ciganovich
  3. Patrice Tanaka 
  4. Shari Alyse
  5. Dr. Teresa A. Smith

...Through Entertainment

  1. Meosha Bean 
  2. Luenell
  3. Ohavia Phillips
  4. Shanti Lowry
  5. Viola Davis
* Logo designed by Talamieka Brice


Saturday, January 11, 2020

[To You, From Me] Why Your Story Matters

We've all heard the saying that "Everyone has a story". I have definitely found that to be true.

This special edition of Conversations Magazine, our first issue of 2020 really sets the stage for what I hope will be another inspiring year for you, our reader. We want you to know that everyone---yourself included---has a story that deserves to be told.

I loved putting together this issue as it showcases that no matter where we come from or how others might see us, there is so much we have to offer the world. I look at my life, the highs and the lows, and realize that it all has helped me to be the person I am today.

I know what it's like to feel invisible. I know what it's like to not realize that my voice mattered. When I was able to embrace my power, however, and start sharing with the world it changed everything for me. The same can be true for you, too.

As you go through this magazine think about yourself. Try to see yourself in the stories of those that we profile. That is sure to encourage you to realize that your story is just as valuable. All you have to do is recognize that and then take the steps necessary to share it.

Lots of great things are happening for Conversations this year, for our radio show, the magazine, book club and other projects. Stay connected with us along the way, and please feel free to share with us how you are going to make 2020 the year that you let your voice be heard.



Cyrus Webb, Editor-In-Chief
Conversations Magazine
www.cyruswebb.com

Author Donjala Smith-Thomas: Letting Go of the Pain through Words

by Cyrus Webb

It's not easy to move past events in our life that have been traumatic and left a scar of any kind, but with her book NEVER LET THEM SEE YOU SWEAT author Donjala Smith-Thomas shows that it can be done.

First she is able to honestly and openly share the mistakes she made in life and relationships, and then we are able to see how she has been able to move forward, not to allow the mistakes of the past to define her. This book is not just her testimony but also an opportunity for the reader to add their own journey to its pages. This forms a connection with Donjala and a way for others not feel alone in their experiences.

If you are looking for an example of what is possible and how you can move forward past your pain, then this inspiring book is for you.

I had a chance to talk with Donjala on Conversations LIVE the radio show about the book and her journey. Here is a part of our conversation.

Donjala, thanks for the time. What has it been like for you to see the way people have responded to the book? 
It has been an amazing experience just to see how many lives I have touched. You never know who's hurting and who's bottling up their feelings and emotions within.

I am glad I read the book. It really gives us some great motivation for ourselves but also insight into your own life and life lessons. Did you know going into writing the book knowing you were going to share so much about yourself? 
When I first started writing I didn't really think I would be so transparent and honest until I really got into it. Tears were rolling down my face. I knew that in order to help someone and inspire someone, you must be honest with yourself. It makes no sense to put out something that's not really true, because it won't help anyone. The more you can help and inspire someone you can also heal yourself.

One of the things that you're able to share is what you were able to see in your own home for over a decade when it came to the treatment of your mother. How did that impact you, Donjala? What was it like for you to reflect on that abuse and the impact it had on you?
Well, I must say this first. My book was not intended to bash my mother or my father. It was just the fact of what actually happened to me. Initially growing up, I never wanted to be like my mother, because I saw that she didn't love herself. And as I grew up, I ended up almost becoming like her and following the same footsteps. But I had to realize that I had to step back a minute and reflect on what my past was in order to not follow the same footsteps. I knew there was something missing. It was self love. You have to love yourself first, because if you truly don't love yourself, you're going to go out there and try to find love with someone else who might not love you.

How has that helped you to realize the importance of you and taking that time for yourself? 
When it comes to self love I struggled with it for years. It's very important to take time with yourself and not just doing things as far as work and hanging out. I mean really getting to know who you are. This could be through practicing meditation or writing. Just getting near a peaceful place to actually think about yourself and listen to yourself. Look in the mirror. Mirror talks are necessary and amazing. You have to really get to know yourself, because people are out here walking around and living life not knowing who they actually are. How can you love someone else when you don't love yourself? 

Last thing I want to talk with you about is forgiveness. How important has forgiveness been for you? 
Forgiveness is very important. It's not for the person that treated you wrong. It's for yourself. At the end of the day, if you're holding on to who's hurt you, they still have control over you. You have to let that hurt go. Let it go. Forgive, not saying forget it, but just forgive and release that negative energy and just to be a peacefully.

Stay connected with Donjala at www.thomasdiaries.com.

Friday, December 20, 2019

10 Tips to Love Yourself Happy by Shari Alyse

Stop beating yourself up.
Stop taking everything so seriously.
Love more. 
Laugh more. 
Forgive yourself more. 
Worry less. 
Trust more. 
Screw regrets!

We hear these words of truly sage advice and know them to ring true within our hearts, yet we still find ourselves worrying about how much we worry.

Why is it so hard to stop being so hard on ourselves? Why is it so hard to simply allow ourselves to be happy?

Pressure? Discomfort? The unknown? What if we do all the things we’ve been told to ‘do’ to be happy and yet we still find ourselves unhappy? That is why I believe so many play the lifelong chase of this elusive happiness.

In my recent bestseller, Love Yourself Happy, I write:

I know most of us are waiting for happiness. Waiting for that ‘thing’ to happen before that elusive happy shows its face. You know what I’m talking about. The ‘I’ll be happy when’ disease. I’ll be happy when I lose weight. I’ll be happy when I have more money, when I am in a relationship, when my health improves... when, when, when. 

If you’re like most of society, you’ve put your happiness on hold for what seems like an eternity because the majority of the time you’re so busy trying to achieve those things that by the time you do, you’re so freaking exhausted and mentally worn out that you forget that this is even what you wanted in the first place and had convinced yourself that it was the magic elixir to happiness. Now, you’ve discovered there’s actually something else you need that will make you happy. Phew!”

I’d like to share something with you that I find very interesting. In the most recent ‘World Happiness Report’, only about one third of the population says they are happy. Seriously! One third! That means 70% of the world is unhappy. When I really dug into this, what I came to find is that most people base their happiness (or unhappiness) on external things. And truth be told, if you’re going to put all of your ‘happy’ eggs into one basket based on something that is not secure and stable, those eggs are bound to break and you’re bound to feeling unhappy once more.

But, what if your happiness isn’t reliant on anyone or anything? What if happiness comes from one thing and one thing alone - your love for yourself?  Yes, self-love. What if you choose each and everyday to love yourself through it all? Through the ups, downs, detours and roundabouts. What if you choose to really take a deep dive within and choose to see your beauty, your power, your potential and your enough-ness. What if you choose to stop determining your worth and value based on achievements and external validation? I can tell you this - you would have a lot smoother and happier of a ride here in your life.

For today, I wanted to share 10 simple practices that you can do that will help strengthen this self-love muscle. Like anything, the more you consistently work on this, the stronger it becomes. 

10 Tips to Love Yourself Happy 

1. Accept where you are
2. Accept how you feel
3. Accept that there will be hard times
4. Pat yourself on the back
5. Do something each day that lights you up within
6. Remind yourself how far you’ve come
7. Say (at least) one loving thing to yourself every day
8. Take a risk looking silly / have more fun
9. Remember you’re human
10. Give yourself a hug (I have a self-hug practice I do 2x a day!)

Now, while these tips might seem frivolous to some, I promise you that if you choose one to focus on each day, you will begin to notice a lightness within. Perhaps even some joy rising. You see, when you’re able to create a life that feels good and you are the one responsible for it, you come to find that no matter what hardships you might journey through, what disappointments might arise, what challenges might meet you around the corner, you will always have the tools and the foundation to not only move through it, but to also love yourself through it.

This is the magic of happiness. It’s found in the lightness of your soul, the love in your heart and the peace you discover when you realize that you will always be there for you and you will always have your back!


Shari Alyse is the best selling author of the book, Love Yourself Happy. She is also a motivational speaker and self-love coach. If you’d like to work with Shari, you can find out more about her at www.ShariAlyse.com

[FOOD] Summer Squash Pie by Deborah Hunter

There are few things I enjoy more than a casual gathering of friends and family on a beautiful Sunday morning for brunch.

What an absolute joy to have my home filled with the aroma of kindness love and laughter as we wash away the cares of the week with  warm cups of flavored coffee, cold glass of orange juice and chilled glasses strawberry champagne and indulge ourselves with a array of delicious bites of foods that rest on a table filled with fresh cut flowers and fruits served on platters of beautiful brightly colored dishes.

My menu is both elegant and simple, and the crowd favorite is my “Summer Squash Pie”. This dish is not only one of my favorites, but it’s everything that a Sunday brunch dish should be: light, beautiful, fresh, delicious, satisfying, and inviting.

SUMMER SQUASH PIE
This dish is prepared in a large cast-iron skillet which easily transposition to your table  making it a perfect centerpiece;

• 1 cup of asparagus cut into tiny pieces
• 1 yellow or red bell pepper seeded and cut into small pieces
• 5 to 6 small yellow squash
• 4 large eggs ( whip your eggs until there’s no streaking/without adding salt or pepper)
• 1/2 Cherry tomatoes cut in half’s
• 1/2 freshly grated Parmesan cheese
•1 medium red onion chopped
• 1/2 cup Green onions finely chopped
• sea salt
• freshly ground pepper corn pepper
• less 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons Olive oil

INSTRUCTIONS
(Note this dish is prepared on top of the stove and finished in the oven and as always make sure all of your ingredients are properly prepared prior to starting this recipe)
Let’s get started!

(Preheat your oven to 355°)
on medium high heat place your cast iron skillet on top of your  stove
Add  less 1/4 cup of olive oil to your cast iron skillet also add a small amount of salt and pepper to your oil
Next add your asparagus and bell pepper and allow them to  cook for about 2 minutes *Reduce your heat to medium low now layer your squash tomatoes and onions interchanging layers
Once your vegetable layers have been set in place add 2 tablespoons Olive oil sprinkle on a small amount of salt and pepper  pour your egg mixture covering your vegetables well 
*Reduce the heat once again to low heat and allow your egg to lightly firm up about (2 minutes)
add your Parmesan cheese place in the oven for 18 -20 minutes
serve and enjoy this delicious dish!

Looking for more delicious dishes to add to your menu? Don’t forget to get your copy of
MY DELICIOUS MISSISSIPPI LIFE COOKBOOK by Chef Deborah L.Hunter.

TAKE TEN with Award-winning Author T.M. Brown

by Cyrus Webb

It has been so much fun watching award-winning author T. M. Brown rise over the past few years. We have never met in person, however, I am glad to call her not just a colleague as well as a friend. 

She is ending 2019 as author who has introduced her books to the world and is not showing any signs of slowing down any time soon. In this Take Ten you'll get a feel of who she is, her work and what's to come. 

Tina, excited about the opportunity to share your story with our readers. First, what has it been like for you this year to see the way that readers have responded to your work?
It appears suddenly, readers are finding me like never before!  I credit a lot of this to the networking that I’ve been able to do over the years.  Folks like you Cyrus, Meredith Hammond, Cruz Sherman and many of my author friends have been providing unbelievable support to me and my books.

Have you always known that you were a storyteller?
Honestly, I did not.  As a kid, I truly thought that everyone had the ability to make up stories.  Story-telling came easy to me although I rarely shared my gift with anyone.  I was a shy kid and would have been just fine blending in with my peers.  I had enough stuff going on in my life at that time.  I did not want any attention drawn on me. 

When did it become clear that sharing stories was going to be part of your journey?  
For many years, I was happy just carrying my manuscript around with me and not sharing it with a soul.  There was comfort in doing the work that later became A Life Not My Own.  The competitive side of me started to blossom as I gained self-confidence.  I felt like my memoir was just as good as many others that I had read.  I also felt like my story would reach those who maybe didn’t have a voice or the ability to write.  I wanted people who had experiences similar struggles to know that there is light at the end of the tunnel.  They are not alone.

Fear is one of the things that stop so many creatives from doing what they love. Have you ever had to deal with that as to whether you thought others would appreciate your gift? 
It still plagues me!  With every new book, I feel the pressure that comes from wanting it to be received as well as the previous. 

A LIFE NOT MY OWN is without a doubt a personal book for you. What is it like to reflect on the woman you were and who you are today? 
I feel like the woman that was in the past is totally different person from who I am today. I did a lot of work to get to where I am.  Life presented me with challenges, and I took them on, fighting my way through.  I’m also very proud to have survived it all.  I know I didn’t do it on my own.  I thank the Lord for all the folks that he placed in my path back then.  Some kept me safe when I didn’t even know I needed saving. 

The only time my previous self shows up is when I’m angry!  It’s the weirdest thing.  Those survival skills that I learned will kick and then, whew!  Look out!

History is also a part of your work. Is history something you have always been a fan of? 
For me, studying history is about studying people and the events that occurred.  Human behavior has always fascinated me.  It becomes even more interesting when people are faced with adversities. 
Some excel, while others seem to fall apart.  Even when I was in the Army, I found this to be true.

Strong women are also a big part of your fiction. How have you benefited from the examples of strong women? 
I was raised by my grandmother who is a very strong woman.  She’s in her 90’s and still lives on her own, only recently requiring a little help.  She raised my sister and I to be strong, independent women.  When I look back on my life, I know without a doubt that the lessons she taught me have served me well.

Social media has been a big way all of us have stayed connected. How has that helped you in sharing your stories with the world? 
Connecting with folks through social media is something that I’m still trying to master.  I feel like the game keeps changing as more sites become available and its users find different ways to connect.  My followers are awesome.  I don’t have to ask them to support me.  They just do!  It’s a good feeling to know that my words have touched people around the world.

Tina, I’ve noticed you have also been making yourself available for authors to reach out to for advice and direction. Why has that been important for you? 
It's important to me to help my literary colleagues whenever I can.  I gladly assumed the responsibility of sharing what I’ve learned along this walk.  I truly wish that someone would have taken me by the hand and provided me guidance when I first started this walk.  Maybe I would have gotten more sleep!  I didn’t sleep for days before my first book signing!

An obvious question would be what’s next for you? Got a new book you’re working on?
It feels like its time share what my Christian walk is like for me now.  I think some will be surprised.  I did not grow up in the church.  My relationship with the Lord is very personal and probably somewhat unconventional.  The words are pouring out of me!

Thanks again for your time, friend. How can our readers stay connected with you?
My website is www.authortmbrown.com.  Email authortmbrown@yahoo.com  I’m also on Facebook, Instagram. LinkedIn, Goodreads, etc.. :)

Conversations' Top 15 Books for Young Readers in 2019

Conversations is excited to share it's Top 15 Books for Young Readers in 2019 as chosen by book club President and founder Cyrus Webb. As in the past the list features established authors as well as those who are rising stars.



Conversations' Top 15 Books for Young Readers in 2019 (listed in no particular order)


  1. Ballpark Mysteries Super Special #4: The World Series Kids by David A. Kelly (Random House)
  2. Almanac 2019 (National Geographic Kids)
  3. Child of the Dream by Sharon Robinson (Scholastic Press)
  4. The Little Dragon by Sheri Fink (Whimsical World Books)
  5. Dork Diaries:Tales from a Not-So-Best Friend Forever by Rachel Renee Russell (Aladdin/Simon and Schuster)
  6. Something Like Gravity by Amber Smith (Aladdin/Simon and Schuster)
  7. Vengeance Is Mine: The Reaping by Calogero Bradley (BlaqRayn Publishing)
  8. Mo's Bows: A Young Person's Guide to Start-Up Success by Moziah Bridges (Running Press Kids/Hachette Book Group)
  9. Oh, The Things I Can Be When I See Me by Valerie J. Lewis Coleman (Pen of the Writer, LLC)
  10. Kidz Biz Book 3: Making All the Kidz Biz Rules by Gwen Richardson (Cushcity Communications)
  11. But Mommy It's Not Fair! I Am Not Alone by Sherria L. Elliott (4Elliott Publishing)
  12. Ginger's Neighborhood by I. Krystal Smith & Sharon T. L. Jackson (Get-Success Publishing)
  13. That's Me by Donna Marie Leonard (Donna Marie Leonard)
  14. Summer Camp Fun with Grandson by Lisa W. Beckwith (Shero Publishing)
  15. Mother of Many by Pamela M. Tuck (Mascot Books)