Roots and Rhythm Podcast
At Roots and Rhythm, we are dedicated to sharing the rich tapestry of our lived experiences. Through heartfelt stories about marriage, relationships, and parenting, we aim to create a space where listeners can find connection, understanding, and inspiration. Our mission is to celebrate the diverse journeys that shape our lives, fostering a sense of community and belonging for all. Join us as we explore the rhythms of life, one story at a time.
Episodes
35 episodes
Mental Health, Military Life & Finding Purpose 🎖️🧠 with Dhiny Mercedes (RCSWI, MSW) Season 02 Episode 05
In this episode, we sit down with Dhiny Mercedes, Army Sergeant and Clinical Social Work Intern (RCSWI, MSW), to talk about mental health, service, and purpose. We explore: Mental health in the military...
From Corporate Burnout to Purpose-Driven Entrepreneurship 💼➡️🔥with Desiree Whitehead | Season 02 Episode 04
In this powerful episode of the Roots & Rhythm Podcast, we sit down with marketing strategist and entrepreneur Desiree Whitehead, who shares her journey from corporate America to building a purpose-driven marketing business ...
Healing Generational Trauma & Building Legacy 🌱 with Dr. Gayl Crump-Swaby | Season 02 Episode 03
In this deeply impactful episode, we’re joined by Dr. Gayl Crump Swaby, therapist, professor, and author, to explore generational healing and emotional legacy.We discuss: How trauma is passed down &n...
From Self-Doubt to 19 Books: Walking in Purpose ✍🏽🔥with Author Dorian Stewart | Season 2 Episode 02
In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Dorian Stewart, author, speaker, and founder of Dorian Inspires, who shares her journey from self-doubt to publishing 19 books.We also dive into: Her adoption journey as...
Addiction, Recovery & Redemption: A Real Conversation with Joshua Kephart | Season 2 Episode 01
In this raw and honest episode, we sit down with Joshua Kephart, a recovery coach and father, who shares his journey through addiction and what it truly takes to rebuild your life. We explore: What addi...
The Ingredients of a Long-Term Loving Relationship | 20 Years of Marriage, Trust & Real Love | Episode #30
Marriage doesn’t survive on vibes alone.In this Valentine’s weekend episode — and the final episode of Season 1 — Vlad and Angie break down the real ingredients that make a relationship last.As Angie celeb...
2016 in 2026: Pokemon Go, Bodybuilding, Pop Culture & Personal Growth | Episode #29
In Episode #29 of the Roots & Rhythm Podcast, Vlad and Angie take a deep, reflective trip down memory lane to revisit one of the most defining years of the last decade. From Snapchat, Vine, Pokémon Go, and iconic music, to personal t...
All is NOT Fair in Love | Navigating Healthy Conflict in Marriage | Roots and Rhythm Podcast | Episode #28
In this episode of the Roots and Rhythm podcast, hosts Vlad and Angie delve into the complexities of fighting fair in relationships. They discuss the inevitability of conflict, the importance of communication, and the foundational role of emoti...
New Year's Revolutions | The Problem With Resolutions and How to Make Lasting Behavior Change | Episode # 27
SummaryIn the 2026 premiere episode of the Roots and Rhythm podcast, hosts Vlad and Angie reflect on the holiday season, discuss the effectiveness of New Year resolutions, and explore the importance of sustainable change in person...
All I Want for Christmas is Peace | Navigating Holiday Gatherings, Conflicts, & Self-Care | Episode 26
The holidays are supposed to be joyful… but for many of us, they bring tension, grief, unresolved family dynamics, and unspoken expectations.In Episode 26 of the Roots & Rhythm Podcast, Vlad and Angie sit with the truth of the...
Runaway Love: Responsibility & Real Talk | Diddy, IPV, & Modern Relationships | Episode #25
⚠️ DISCLAIMER: This episode contains graphic language and discussions of violence, intimate partner violence (IPV), and domestic violence (DV). Viewer and listener discretion is strongly advised. If you or someone y...
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Why Does She Stay? Life After Divorce, Why We Leave, & What No One Tells You | Episode #24
In this week’s episode of Roots & Rhythm, Vlad and Angie dive deep into the alarming realities of modern divorce: why people stay longer than they should, why they eventually leave, and what life looks like after the paper...
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Grief and Gravy: How to Embrace New Traditions While Healing Your Holiday Wounds | Episode 23
In this heartfelt post-Thanksgiving episode, Vlad and Angie dive into the complex emotions many of us carry into the holiday season—especially those who grew up in chaotic or unstable households. As the holidays approach, old wounds, unmet expe...
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It Takes a Village: How We Intentionally Created Our Family & Why It's Important | Episode 22
EPISODE 22: “From Acquaintances to Family — Choosing Our Village, Raising Our Kids, and Protecting Our Values”This week on Roots & Rhythm, Angie returns to join Vlad for a heartfelt, hilarious, and deeply grounding conv...
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Bloodline |Breaking the Cycle: Healing from Generational Dysfunction | Episode 21
This week on Roots & Rhythm, Vlad and Angie tackle one of the most important conversations yet — how to break free from generational dysfunction. From questioning faith and parental influence to learning empathy and setting ...
Many Men | Vulnerability, Masculinity & the Patriarchy with Cordan James Haveron | Episode 20
In this powerful episode of Roots & Rhythm, we sit down with Cordan James Haveron (@cordanjamesspeaks) to explore what it truly means to be a man in today’s world. Together, ...
The Healing Trap: When Self-Work Becomes Self-Sabotage | Episode 19
In this week’s episode of the Roots & Rhythm Podcast, hosts Vlad & Angie explore a question that many of us avoid asking: How much healing is “enough” before entering a relationship?They dive deep into the ...
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Me, Myself & I: Balancing Individuality and Togetherness in Love| Episode 18
In this week’s episode of the Roots & Rhythm Podcast, hosts Vlad and Angie explore the real talk behind love, sacrifice, and individuality in relationships. 💞 They unpack how to balance giving and gaining, why ...
Love is Therapy | Self-Awareness, Confidence & Dating: Is Cockiness a Turn-On? | Episode #17
EPISODE 17: “Love Is Therapy” — Roots & Rhythm PodcastThis week, Vlad and Angie explore how self-love and acceptance are key ingredients to confidence in any committed relationship. Drawing inspiration from ...
Banderas Rojas 🚩 | Relationships Red Flags: Are We Getting Better at Spotting Red Flags, or Becoming Them? | Episode 16
This week, Angie and Vlad unpack one of the most viral relationship topics — red flags. 🚩 They share how they used to define them in their early 20s vs. how marriage, healing, and parenthood have transformed their perspective today.
Faith, Family & Drugs | How Culture, Religion & Upbringing Shaped Our Experiences | Episode 15
In this episode of Roots and Rhythm, hosts Vlad and Angie discuss the complex topics of faith, family, and substance use, particularly focusing on drugs like cannabis and psilocybin. They share personal experiences, cultural attitudes, and the ...
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21 Questions | The Answers Couples Need Clarity for | Infidelity, Intimacy, Money & Boundaries | Episode 14
his week on the Roots & Rhythm Podcast, Angie and Vlad sit down for one of their most honest and vulnerable conversations yet. While the episode title is inspired by 50 Cent’s legendary track 21 Questions, this isn’t a lit...
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Praying For You | Navigating Faith, Peace & Personal Values | Episode #13
Inspired by Grammy Award-winning Rapper Lecrae's 2007 hit, on this week's episode of Roots & Rhythm Angie and Vlad share their personal journeys with faith and organized religion. From childhood church experiences to the ...
Across the Lines | Racism, Parenting, and Identity: First Encounters | Roots & Rhythm Podcast Episode #12
This week, Vlad and Angie dive deep into the realities of racism as immigrants, as parents, and as people still shaping their identities in America.Vlad shares his very first encounter with racism in school—an experience that reve...
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No New Friends | Navigating New Relationships, Learning How and When To Let Go | Episode 11
🎙️ In this week’s episode of Roots & Rhythm, Vlad and Angie dive into the complexities of building and maintaining friendships in adulthood.As parents in their thirties, they reflect on what truly qualifies as friendship, wh...
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