Get Free Fam,

Happy Sunday! I am SO excited about this week’s Get Free - we’re launching something new so we’re going to jump right in.

GFFs, you’ve been asking for a way to listen to the newsletter and get a little behind the scenes on the topics you read, so here it is! The Get Free Convo is a casual YouTube conversation series (it's giving group chat, or a no-frills catch-up with friends) where we hear from people on their Get Free journeys and what we can all learn from them - because you know we don't gatekeep here. If you have a story or a question for a guest, reach out to [email protected] with "Convo Idea" in the subject line.

So… drumroll, please!!!

This week, I sat down with storyteller, audio creative, and social commentator Keisha "TK" Dutes. She made a pivot from nursing to audio production, and I've long been a fan of her work. She has done (and is doing!) all the things: visual artist, voiceover artist, co-founder of a radio station, you can hear her on NPR's Life Kit, and she's the founder of Philo's Future Media. But it's this line from the trailer of her latest work that made me stop:

"I want to learn how to be so free, but guess what? The world ain't free to me."

Slay me, why don't you.

This is from TK's new podcast series, "The Secret Life of TK Dutes" - an audio memoir exploring: "What happens when you stop doing what is expected of you and start doing YOU?"

On building a curriculum to find yourself: "I gave myself a curriculum over time, learning new skills, going places, trying things out. And I learned the world is bigger than my bedroom — and there's a lot to go see. So I started to go see it. And then I was like, I think I have something to say."

On lessons from our cats: "This cat — Mrs. Peabody — taught me what I would stand for. If a certain person was over at the house and she ain't like them, she wouldn't come out. She would be very clear about what she wanted. And I'm like, 'am I learning from you? Is it to be clear and have boundaries?' As our relationship deepened, I started learning about myself through this damn cat — realizing I have a lot of grief and a lot of things I need to process, and that I'm running away from."

On trying new things: "I think a lot of people just don't believe that finding something they enjoy is something they have time for — and they want to be perfect at it the first time. I'm like, 'Nah, babe, it's gonna be ugly. It's gonna be broken.’ The jam is in the journey, man. Let's party."

Listen to The Secret Life of TK Dutes here and be sure to follow TK on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tastykeish/

If you have a Get Free story to share, hit us up! [email protected] - thanks for reading … and watching!

🚀Get Your Life: Things to read, listen to, enjoy!

🎵 Soundtrack for the week: Walking on the Moon by Thundercat

Heard Thundercat on the radio talking about his new album, Distracted (which we all are.) This track seems very fitting in honor of the Artemis II crew (even though they didn’t actually WALK on the moon. Close enough…)

✨ If you’ve got a recommendation drop me a line. ✨

If you got something out of this issue of The Get Free Guide, give us a follow or a shout out on Instagram and share the love with a friend. We don’t gatekeep around here!

See you next week!