For 35 episodes, Emili Johnson has asked the questions. She’s created space, held silence, and honored the stories of Black women and community members across Iowa. But for the Season One finale of Black. Girl. Iowa., the mic gets turned — literally and figuratively — back to the voice behind it all.
In Episode 36, guest host Erika flips the script, inviting Emili to reflect on what it means to be the storyteller instead of the story, the host instead of the highlight, and the healer in her own narrative.
What follows is part recap, part love letter, and part rebirth — a rich conversation about identity, voice, vulnerability, grief, friendship, and the sacred work of choosing yourself.
The Birth of a Podcast — and a Rebirth of Self
Emili didn’t launch Black. Girl. Iowa. with a massive media budget or a production team. She launched it with a question: “What would happen if we told our stories here — in the Midwest — without shrinking or censoring ourselves?”
“I had no idea how far it would go. I just knew I wanted to create something that gave Black women in Iowa space to be heard, seen, and celebrated.”
That simple desire — to hold space — grew into a vibrant first season featuring 36 episodes and conversations with educators, creatives, policymakers, entrepreneurs, doulas, sisters, and survivors. Each story contributed a thread to the tapestry of what it means to be Black, brilliant, and becoming in a place like Iowa.
The Power of Voice: Finding It, Using It, Trusting It
Throughout Season One, Emili passed the mic — but in doing so, she found her own voice again. Episode by episode, she became more comfortable not just asking questions, but offering her own answers. “The biggest thing I gained from this podcast was confidence. I started off shaky, unsure, quiet. Now, I know my voice matters.”
This confidence didn’t come overnight. It came through practice, presence, and peeling back layers of self-doubt. Emili speaks openly about the imposter syndrome that crept in early — and how naming it helped dismantle it. “Podcasting showed me that my perspective is valuable. That my story deserves to be told, too — not just facilitated.”
Personal Stories, Public Healing
Black. Girl. Iowa. was never just a podcast. It was a mirror. And for Emili, it became a critical part of her healing.
In this episode, she opens up about leaving a 17-year relationship, living with her parents, navigating divorce, rebuilding from scratch, and rediscovering joy in her 30s. These weren’t just life events — they were defining moments of release, redirection, and rebirth. “I left with nothing but George [my dog] and a car. I had to figure it all out again. I had to become someone I hadn’t been before — someone free.”
Through the show, Emili didn’t just process grief, she transformed it. She turned pain into purpose, loss into leadership, and stillness into storytelling.
Episode 4: Fathers and Daughters — A Full Circle Moment
When asked to name her most powerful episode, Emili immediately points to Episode 4: her conversation with her father, Larry Johnson. “It was the first time I really heard my dad reflect on being a Black father of daughters. We’ve had so many conversations over the years — but this one was different. It was intentional. It was documented.”
One quote from her father stood out:
“When you stop having opportunities, you stop dreaming. And when you stop dreaming, you stop thriving.”
That moment wasn’t just special. It was spiritual. It underscored the very heartbeat of the show: Black voices. Black families. Black futures.
The Beauty of Black Girlhood in Iowa
There’s a particular kind of magic that comes with being a Black girl in Iowa — one Emili describes as “the best-kept secret in the Midwest.” It’s about resilience and visibility, but also softness, joy, and care.
“We grew up with pressure to be perfect, to perform, to survive. But now, I see Black women in Iowa creating spaces where we can just be. That’s revolutionary.”
From podcast guests to Etsy customers to Instagram followers who send DMs with heart emojis and thank-yous, the community that’s grown around Black. Girl. Iowa. is tender, powerful, and deeply rooted in mutual care.
The Sister Circle: On Friendship, Realness, and Crash-Outs
Guest host Erika brings out a different side of Emili — the side that belly laughs, cries in the car, and sends chaotic voice notes when life gets too real. Their friendship is the heartbeat of this episode. “You don’t get the crash-outs unless you know me.”
They talk about boundaries, dating, romantic grief, ambition, and the softness that comes from finally giving yourself permission to rest. It’s a sacred sisterhood — one that reflects what Emili has been quietly building through this podcast. “I’m not putting my cape on for anyone but me. And even then? Only if I feel like it.”
Looking Ahead: Season Two + The Word “Restore”
The word Emili chose for the next season is RESTORE.
After 36 episodes of giving voice to others and excavating her own story, she’s entering a new season with clarity, calm, and purpose. Season Two will bring more interviews, more solo storytelling, and more reflections on life, love, health, purpose, and culture.
“I want to come back with joy. I want to come back grounded. And I want to tell the truth — even when it’s uncomfortable.”
Season Two will premiere July 7th, 2025 — and you can expect episodes on everything from Real Housewives to resilience, Black girl dating (again), wellness, and the legacy of Iowa Black leaders.
Final Words: A Toast to Season One
To wrap the episode — and Season One — Emili shares this final truth:
“If there’s one thing I’ve learned this season, it’s this: you don’t need 100 reasons to wait. You only need one reason to start.”
So here’s to 36 episodes.
To Black women reclaiming rest.
To storytelling as survival.
To Iowa as more than flyover country.
To you, for listening — and for believing.
✨ Want More Black. Girl. Iowa.?
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