Dripping in Love, Film, and Healing featuring Tamala Baldwin

Timestamps are not accurate

Mr. Al Pete (00:01.267)
Good day, good afternoon, good evening to my peoples. It's Mr. Al Pete with the mighty NPN network. And we are back, back is how we say in Jacksonville, Florida, Duval County is where I'm from, but we say back for the world. So thank you for tapping in. We are in season six of Dripping in Black podcast. Thank you to the Dripping in Black podcast production company and the family for having me on here. I am one of the many hosts, co-hosts.

for this season and I was that for the last season. So you're going to see a few changes, but with all that being said, please expect to see some black excellence when we doing this. All right. So a couple of announcements before we get into our guests today, make sure you go to dripping the black.com. Make sure you put in your favorites, make sure you subscribe to it so you can get the latest on all the good episodes that are there from the past and the present and definitely make you lucky for the future. All right. So dripping the black.com.

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that just love to see black excellence in its greatest form. So before we get into, I guess, Ms. Tamela Baldwin. I'm going to read a little bit about her and then we'll get into this conversation. So Tamela Baldwin, MBA, is a filmmaker, storyteller, and cultural architect whose work uses the power of story to heal, transform, and reimagine in what is possible. She is the founding chair of the Becoming Love Project

which is a nonprofit media organization dedicated to the bold belief that love when expressed through story can spark personal and collective transformation. Her artistry lives at the intersection of narrative and liberation, which credits spanning HBO, Disney slash ABC, Hulu, BT plus and more. man, she, I'm sorry, in 2024,

Mr. Al Pete (02:21.737)
She made her directorial debut with Blended Christmas starring Jennifer Freeman, Victoria Rowell, and Anthony Dalton, now streaming on Paramount X. I'm sorry. We'll that line one more time. You cut it out. All right. In 2024, she made her debut in directing with Blended Christmas starring Jennifer Freeman, Victoria Rowell, and Anthony Dalton, now streaming on Paramount Plus.

All right. So she has so much more going on, but we finna get into this conversation. She's going to inform us of what she got going on. She has a very detailed, very robust, robust work that she's done. So Ms. Baldwin, how are you feeling today?

Tamala Baldwin (03:09.142)
gosh I'm feeling on top of the world! Thank you so much for having me. It's gonna be so much fun.

Mr. Al Pete (03:16.659)
Yeah. So speaking of top of the world, you have a major project that you're currently into now, Becoming Love Fest, that is around the corner. Tell me how you feel about that.

Tamala Baldwin (03:32.014)
I feel exhausted.

Mr. Al Pete (03:33.577)
Don't be so direct, why don't you?

Tamala Baldwin (03:36.322)
It is, I mean, I wanna be transparent all the time. This festival is definitely something that I have been called to do by God, but gee golly whiz, I had no idea it was gonna be such a heavy lift, but I'm having so much fun. It's right around the corner. It's gonna be just great. I'm so excited.

Mr. Al Pete (03:57.787)
Indeed. and correct me if I'm wrong, but is this the first, first one that you, like festival that you're putting together? Okay.

Tamala Baldwin (04:05.559)
Yes, yes, the first becoming love fest.

Mr. Al Pete (04:09.295)
So before we get into the questions about becoming LoFace, how different is it from directing? Because that's the sole aspect of what you got going on, like creating stories and stuff like that. But doing it in a festival term, how different is that from directing?

Tamala Baldwin (04:32.063)
It's really not that different. It's very much project management. It's being able to communicate your ideas to different parties from the speakers to the honorees to your volunteers. So it is very similar. And it's just as much like work involved, like managing all of those stakeholders. So it's not very different. I think that's why I was like, let's do it now. Let's not wait a year and plan. I might just go for it.

like we could do it. So it's definitely in my wheelhouse of things I like to do. It's just, you know, a lot similar with directing movies. It's always a lot, no matter how much you prepare in advance when it's time to like get ready to shoot. It's always like there's so much going on.

Mr. Al Pete (05:16.849)
And then the reward that you have outside of that is telling a magnificent story. Like that's the thing where you see the story come to life. think that's rewarding, correct?

Tamala Baldwin (05:26.965)
Yeah, thank you. Especially now, you know, there's so much happening in the world and it's coming at us every single day. Like messages of fear and confusion and chaos that I think that my, what I want to contribute is helping people to really anchor in and stay centered in the truth, which is love. Love is always true and everlasting. Everything else is a distraction and an illusion.

Mr. Al Pete (05:54.225)
Indeed, Definitely respects on that. So with this fest, I'm seeing that it's mindfulness. mean, if that's a safe word to use, but definitely has a little flair to it where it might be kind of eventful, but it's still centered in on mindfulness, correct?

Tamala Baldwin (06:15.413)
It's mindfulness with a little bit of filmmaking attached to it. It really is about how our inner narratives or the stories that we want to tell can be perfected to...

Shape our experiences. So so it's so let's say you've had a story that you wanted to write and share But you don't know how it's about that. It's also about your inner dialogue So if you're like, I'm not good enough my stories aren't good enough or for to make a movie to get married Whatever, whatever that inner story is we're talking about that as well So it's every area of your life really reflecting on the stories that you're carrying

and just shifting it because we need people to stand up and be in assignment right now.

Mr. Al Pete (07:01.129)
Indeed, indeed. So some of the programming that you have, one in particular is the story as medicine, how narrative heals and transforms. So I see how that narrative story, medicine, those key words definitely gives an idea to somebody that...

Tamala Baldwin (07:12.343)
you

Mr. Al Pete (07:24.807)
There is this like directorial type of feel to it as well as like being mindful of how you approach these things. Right. Yeah.

Tamala Baldwin (07:32.482)
Yes. So with story as medicine, it's definitely really taking a look at.

your inner dialogue because dis-ease a lot of times comes from stress, it comes from resentment, it comes from you know not healing past trauma. So it really is about taking a moment to reflect about where we're carrying those kinds of narratives and how to transmute it so our bodies can definitely feel. Our bodies are not meant to carry those kinds of things, otherwise you know when we're stressed out or experiencing trauma it wouldn't react the way it does. So our bodies are here to be

the bridge between the divine and earth. So we're talking about those things so that we can actually just you know heal our bodies without always automatically going to a pill. I do believe in science, I do believe in medicine, but there is also a mindset shift that plays a part in a lot of the things that happen to us.

Mr. Al Pete (08:25.097)
Definitely. So let's back up a tad and good luck with the festival. I know it's going to be great. This is a great purpose. Definitely when you mentioned about the ways of the world and stuff like that and just being tactful of how we mentally and physically and spiritually walk on in this earth. This event definitely sounds like a place that people can get some healing as well as some information in regards to starting up your dreams. And if you thought about this idea.

Tamala Baldwin (08:53.239)
Yes.

Mr. Al Pete (08:55.169)
how to approach it. So I appreciate you and applaud you for doing something like that for your community and great luck with that. You're welcome. You're welcome. So let's back up a little bit. Let's talk about where this passion came about. Was this something that you experienced when you were younger or when you was going through your finding your way or did this come up when you was doing your writing and

Tamala Baldwin (09:01.645)
Thank you all. Thank you.

Tamala Baldwin (09:11.916)
Mmm.

Mr. Al Pete (09:24.317)
Where did this come about? Where did this start?

Tamala Baldwin (09:27.135)
So that's a long story, so I'll definitely try to be brief. So when I was a little girl, I used to love writing. I was the little girl that would write her own episodes to the Cosby show, and they'd be like, come on, guys, let's act it out. But then when it came time to go to college, I was like, no.

I can't pursue that. I don't know where the idea came from because my parents encouraged me. I had teachers giving me applications to film school, but I was like, no, I can't. And so.

Fast forward, I went to business school and started working in an office and I didn't like that. So fast forward to like my early 30s, I was experiencing a heartbreak and therapy wasn't working, prayer wasn't working, meditation wasn't working. And I remember praying to God to be like, please like help me, give me like new spark. And God gave me a story. And I was like, I don't have no money for this.

to do this story and I said if you're a faithful person Tiamala just write the story and see what God will do and this was in 2018 so not too long ago and so I did my first project and it was amazing but what happened after that was

I started to write stories where I reimagined the ending that I wanted. So instead of us breaking up, I would have stories where we actually got together or we healed or fixed whatever was causing this loop in my mind. And it rewired my brain. It transformed my life. I sold the first script I wrote, like a few years later. People write for their entire years, like lifetime and never sell scripts. I...

Mr. Al Pete (11:06.377)
Mm-hmm.

Tamala Baldwin (11:07.551)
did this in less than five years just because I wanted to heal myself. And since it was such a profound experience for me where it healed me emotionally but also all the doors I was knocking on.

opened, I wanted to show people for free that this tool is available to them. They say that there's power in our words. And so it's my way of really getting people to tap into the power of the imagination and their words to not only heal themselves, but also to create the life that they want.

Mr. Al Pete (11:39.421)
Love it, love it, love it, love it. That's pretty cool how, for a better phrase, successful, how these things transpired in a short period of time. Because when you're thinking about directing movies, I saw on your website, script writing, directing, project management, budget planning, production, all of those are very...

Those are a lot of things that you could do. So for you to implement all of these things with the work that you're doing, that's commendable, man. There's definitely a calling on God for you to be able to manage those types of things.

Tamala Baldwin (12:17.825)
Thank you. And all when I got into Lime, all is all this is 2018. So.

Mr. Al Pete (12:22.505)
Yeah. Yeah. Which when we look at it like that in 2018, it's not too far from like, I mean, we look at it and on paper and it might seem like it's a long time, but for, mean, ideally you're directing movies. know what saying? Ideally you are directing movies that are on like these major platforms. That's a very good, that's very good. Like that's a good track record.

Tamala Baldwin (12:28.685)
No.

Tamala Baldwin (12:38.797)
Yeah.

Tamala Baldwin (12:48.749)
And that's all God and that's all me again reimagining what I wanted for myself and using storytelling as a way to cultivate that. I think it's a superpower and I think everyone should know about it. It's just another tool to have in your spiritual toolkit, I guess.

Mr. Al Pete (12:58.152)
near.

Mr. Al Pete (13:05.961)
Nah, know. Yeah, that's the past the collection pedal played around. Yes. So let's talk about some of the projects that you've been working on. Like I'm interested to know about how the Christmas movie came about. First off, I'm sure you y'all did not film this in December, right?

Tamala Baldwin (13:29.887)
No, we filmed it like in February, February.

Mr. Al Pete (13:33.075)
Yeah, yeah.

Tamala Baldwin (13:33.986)
but I got the call that there was a producer interested around Thanksgiving. So I'm like kind of sitting on my butt. It's, know, once November hits, I'm not really pushing that much, you know? And so I'm kind of like, yeah, whatever. And then I get this call that this guy wants to film and he wants to shoot it ASAP. And I was like, holy moly. So he wanted to shoot it in January. And I was like, wait a minute, let's do it right. And so we pushed it to February. So of 2020.

Mr. Al Pete (13:52.168)
Hmm.

Tamala Baldwin (14:03.437)
three. So I remember I wrote my first thing in 2018 and I sold this in 2022.

Mr. Al Pete (14:09.513)
Indeed, indeed. Now, is there, what's your projects? Is there, I want to say a demographic or whatnot, but is there a certain type of audience that you're looking to shoot for or even have in the movies?

Tamala Baldwin (14:25.993)
Absolutely, absolutely. I want to show Black women and Black men

experiencing their happily ever after. And I watch certain movies around Christmas time, and we make it like one or two, but there is other channels that have like a multitude of movies where people just that are not black have these like cheesy, very light, very fairy tale like stories. And that plays a role in your consciousness, you know, I really believe that. And so I want to create movies that are just very light, very, you know, fairy tale esque, because we just

our happily ever after as well.

Mr. Al Pete (15:05.02)
Yeah, I agree because the stereotype when it comes to, I mean, anyone, but specifically black people, especially when it comes to love or whatever, it's always one sided. So it is very appreciative when we see that both parties are experiencing happiness and love and that can exist. So I appreciate you having projects like that to show a good representation of what.

what it could be.

Tamala Baldwin (15:36.342)
Yeah, and like I know there's a place and time for everything. I just feel like right now there really isn't a balance. And so I just want to help contribute to the balance. When we were growing up, like in the 90s and 80s, I think there was definitely a balance in the type of content and the stories that you saw with us. Whereas I think now it's not really quite balanced. I just want to do my part to add a little bit of, you balance.

Mr. Al Pete (15:39.485)
you

Mr. Al Pete (15:51.432)
Yeah, yeah.

Mr. Al Pete (15:58.663)
I appreciate it because the narrative sometimes is, I mean, I know I've seen plenty of movies and I'm like, I know good and well people are not living like this. Like this has to be some type of fantasy and people, know, some people's fantasies are definitely like realities and know, and television, music, know, the field that we're in.

Tamala Baldwin (16:09.557)
Run!

Mr. Al Pete (16:25.577)
This is somebody's first representation of what it looks like. You know what saying? So yeah, I mean, you have to be very responsible and careful on how that is portrayed. But again, thank you for looking on the other side of that and being like, hey, this is the representation that we would like to see.

Tamala Baldwin (16:44.565)
Yeah, and I really feel like, you know, art can reflect life, you know, but I also think that art can shape life. And so I want to help shape our experience. It's because, you know, like we've been dehumanized forever. Like I just I'm tired of seeing it as a form of entertainment as well. Like enough, you know.

Mr. Al Pete (16:49.031)
Yeah. Yeah.

Mr. Al Pete (17:01.449)
Love it, love it, love it. So other projects that I was exploring on a website, Bubbly Brown Sugar.

Tamala Baldwin (17:13.601)
That's my baby. That's my first child.

Mr. Al Pete (17:16.297)
Yeah, the way that you just swoon right there, was like, yeah. So talk to me about that. Like how did you feel completing your, you know, that first project, the baby?

Tamala Baldwin (17:32.429)
I felt like all of my ancestors were with me. I felt the presence of God. I mean, we wrapped. I remember just getting on my knees and bawling in the production studio.

these happy tears because it wasn't me. I told you I didn't have any money to do this. I'm like, God, why are you giving me this story? But I just felt the presence and this hand on me pushing me every step of the way. Everything I needed was given to me. I didn't have any equipment. I didn't have any gear. I didn't have a team. And everything just came to me. And it was such a wonderful experience, one of the highlights of my life. And I'm just so grateful. I'm so grateful for that experience.

Mr. Al Pete (18:12.041)
Indeed, indeed. And you have some other ones as well. We have Our Love, we have Fade, Without You. So there's a good list of films that you have that you have produced and stuff. So would you like to maybe mention the second baby that you like out of that list?

Tamala Baldwin (18:19.297)
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.

Tamala Baldwin (18:34.989)
Bubbly is like my first baby and I love her and especially with her because she was my first one and I was able to get licensing, which means I was able to get some money from it. And for those not in the film industry, that's like part of the key is like, do I make a return on my investment in this? And I was able to like, not sell it, but you know, I was able to get some money for it, some nice money. And I was like, holy, holy moly. Like, know, so it just, that to me will,

Mr. Al Pete (19:01.641)
Right, right.

Tamala Baldwin (19:04.943)
always be so memorable. And all of my other movies that you mentioned were short films that I was just writing, you know, while I was waiting for the next thing to happen. I believe that while you're waiting for something, always create, know, create your own opportunities. And so these movies like Fade, I collaborated with one of my partners, Lovaro, that was his project, I just helped him to produce it. Our Love, again, another story about me and my heartbreak, just...

just amazing. And then the feature, I was like, let's write some features and get those sold and bam.

Mr. Al Pete (19:39.175)
Love it, love it. So is there like a crew of people that you work with? Or do you take submissions from other people and you y'all do the audition situation? Or do you have like a crew of artists or a crew of actors and actresses that you y'all kind of stick together and work with those?

Tamala Baldwin (19:56.951)
So with producing, there's definitely people that I like to work with because...

When you're like working 12 hours a day with somebody, you want to make sure that you're that you get along. It matters. And also that you guys communicate and speak the same language. And it's art and art is very collaborative. So once you kind of get into a groove with somebody, you kind of want to work together over and over as opposed to like having to like learn as somebody new. But I'm noticing on bigger productions that is not going to be the case. Like I really tried to like bring my people online. But when it's not my

money. There's only so much I could say, you know, it's like, okay, whatever you want.

Mr. Al Pete (20:42.313)
Understood, understood. So with that, so we're talking about that, we're talking about licensing, we're thinking about the platforms that you have to deal with. You're talking about BET +, we're talking about Paramount +, Hulu, those type of deals. On top of the fact that you have SoulKiss's production, right? So that's a whole production powerhouse that you have.

Mr. Al Pete (21:08.237)
Is there any difficulty sometimes when you have to deal with these other platforms or are there, how does that business part, you don't have to get too deep into it, but like, how, how is it navigating that spot? And I'm asking that because of the climate of the world. So we have, you know, the DEI situations, we have, situations where you can't really say these things or you don't want to offend nobody, but how, how do you get that to a middle ground?

Tamala Baldwin (21:39.063)
So on an independent level, you could do whatever you want. There's nobody you have to report to. And so with my first film, with Blended Christmas, that's when I was introduced to really having to compromise on things. Because you're dealing with these big corporations, and they definitely have a say. For them, it's about the bottom line. And so for me, it's about the art in my story, especially as a writer. Like I wrote Blended Christmas too. So it's like my baby that came to me from God and out of my...

energy.

But you have to learn to let go. Like even right now, I'm getting ready to go into my next project. And I've had to like change some things to get the actors that I want attached, you know? And at this level, you just kind of have to put your big girl panties on, as the producer told me, and figure it out and get it done, you know? And I've learned that. I've learned to kind of, that I have to compromise when it comes to my art to an extent. And I will, and I will on certain

things because the stories that I write are my stories so I'm flexible in certain things.

Mr. Al Pete (22:46.099)
Sounds like some good representation there. As well as you're dealing with the artists. I keep saying artists. I'm sorry, I'm in the music world. But the actors, the actresses, even the producers and the people that help you create these masterpieces. It sounds like a great representation type of situation with that.

Tamala Baldwin (23:08.62)
And that's something that I prayed for. I do not like to deal with like negativity too much. I kind of like to avoid it. And I remember praying like, God, like if I do this again, I really want to be around people that are like nice. And this, the producer that I'm working with now, she saw me on a panel and she goes,

God is telling me to help you with your next project. There's something about your energy and God won't let me sleep. So I wanna work with you on your next movie. So all that's happening in the world with the DEI and the administration, I don't focus on it. I focus on God and I trust that God will provide an open door for me because God's my best friend. So.

Mr. Al Pete (23:47.241)
What'd say? What'd you say? God is the home, you know?

Tamala Baldwin (23:51.42)
Guys, I'm homey!

Mr. Al Pete (23:55.091)
So do you want to speak on any other, well, speak on the upcoming projects you got? I know you mentioned that you're working on something that's currently, but, and I know that you have, you know, the festival that's about to occur, but it sounds like you're still in the midst of, you know, in trenches with the work. So would you like to speak on anything that's upcoming?

Tamala Baldwin (24:15.252)
No, I'm just writing. I mean, I haven't actually written anything all year. So once the festival is done and after you all come out, that'll be my next pivot to just write something and create something. But then hopefully in Q1, I'll be shooting my next project and you'll have to hear about that. I'll have to come back next year and talk about more detail with Michelle.

Mr. Al Pete (24:33.659)
Absolutely. Yeah, you're definitely welcome when you have, are, are, listen, you are alumni of the, of the dripping the black family. So anytime you feel like you want to come back and share some information with us, we will be glad to have you come back and definitely talk about the beautiful word that you're.

Tamala Baldwin (24:50.368)
Thank you, Al.

Mr. Al Pete (24:51.453)
Yeah, no problem. So a couple more questions and then we'll wrap this thing up. Definitely been enjoying this insightful stuff. I love the work that you're doing. I love the testimonies that you have. So hopefully everybody that's listening and watching is really getting some information for this and something that they can take in their lives and be able to use as well. So what do you do?

when you're not doing all the things, are your fun things to do? Do you have a mindfulness type of regimen that you do? Like what do you do in the, as they would say, the off time?

Tamala Baldwin (25:34.358)
I like to take naps. I like to sleep.

Mr. Al Pete (25:36.361)
Well, all the work that you're doing definitely requires some napping and some sleeping. So I just do it completely.

Tamala Baldwin (25:48.663)
When I'm out working, I'm resting. You know, I do like the occasional glass of wine. I'm an outdoorsy girl. I like to go on the occasional hike, but I have not been doing that. I've been doing a lot of resting, a lot of talking to myself and talking to God. Yeah, that's pretty much it. Very simple, very simple life.

Mr. Al Pete (26:10.305)
Well, I mean, that's why I know for me, sometimes the simple things slip away from me. learning how to like rest and relax is, means the world for people like us that work in our brains are moving accordingly. know, when you're doing the work of God, you know, the mind is going and going. So the simple things are like the best things.

Tamala Baldwin (26:17.099)
Hmm?

Tamala Baldwin (26:33.044)
And when God is involved, it's kind of like, for me, it's very constant until I finish the task that I have to finish. And so I like to finish it so I can get a little bit of respite. And also as a creative, I can't create when I'm tired. Like I have to, I'm working on a rewrite now and I cannot write when I'm exhausted. So I kind of have to make sure that I'm rested to do what I have to do. Like some folks can create music and I can't, I need to be like, I need a nap.

Mr. Al Pete (26:39.849)
Yeah.

Mr. Al Pete (27:00.201)
Need to nap. Love it. Love it. Love it. All right. So, let's play a quick game. If you could pick which one that you love the most out of like script writing, project management. I feel like I know the answer to this, but I'm just going to ask it anyway, but script writing, directing, producing.

Project management and funding planning. Which one is a favorite?

Tamala Baldwin (27:37.921)
Definitely not funding or planning. I would say writing for sure. I direct because I want to have a voice in my work, but it's not like my first love. would say writing is something I love to do. also like secondly, it'd be product management. I like the process of like making ideas come together. Yeah.

Mr. Al Pete (27:59.474)
Yeah.

Yeah, project management is definitely important. That and development, which the funding, the planning of the funding will fall upon the development part of which I would think, because you got to make sure you have, well, you got to make sure that your stakeholders and your shareholders are okay with, you know, supporting the dream as well as supporting the dream. So yeah.

Tamala Baldwin (28:08.352)
Mm-hmm. Yes.

Tamala Baldwin (28:15.87)
Okay.

Tamala Baldwin (28:27.072)
Yep. Yes.

Mr. Al Pete (28:29.959)
Yeah. But that project management has been fun too, man. It's just cool to kind of get all the resources together. Like get this one person to understand that person. And then when it comes together, it's like the beautiful thing. It makes your job easy.

Tamala Baldwin (28:35.36)
Mm-hmm.

Tamala Baldwin (28:42.72)
Yes, yeah, I agree.

Mr. Al Pete (28:45.383)
Yeah, definitely. where, they can look at it in a lot of places, but specifically, do you want to tell people where they can look at these short films? Do you want them to go to the website or do you want to go to a streaming service? What would you recommend?

Tamala Baldwin (29:02.988)
So you can watch Bubbly Brown Sugar on Tubi. check it out, grab a glass of wine or whiskey and watch it please. And Blended Christmas, my first feature that I wrote and directed is on Paramount Plus right now. So you can watch that too. And the others are not out anywhere right now. So they're like short films that are off screen. But yeah, those are two to munch on until my next project comes out.

Mr. Al Pete (29:31.197)
Indeed, indeed, indeed. Another question. Give me one word for your festival, Become a Love Festival. Like what? Give me one word, the first word that comes up.

Tamala Baldwin (29:46.497)
The first word was community that came to my mind. feel like right now we're going to need each other more than anything. Like kind of like how our parents, you know, had to rely on each other during like the sixties and stuff. think that we're going to have to really rely on each other to really get through what's on the horizon. So would say community. Yeah.

Mr. Al Pete (30:10.131)
Yeah, definitely feel the community part because that is very important for us right now. Like I preach this a lot and I state that we need community a lot. And I feel like people need to find their tribes and find their communities and get with it and give as well as receive, but like just really get in community.

Tamala Baldwin (30:32.926)
us.

Mr. Al Pete (30:37.043)
this people, well the festival that you're doing, can just imagine the people that are going to be like blessed and enriched when they, when they leave this one, because it's full of information and it's definitely parallel to all the beautiful work that you're doing with the, with the directing and all that stuff. And I just want to state as well too, and this is to my people that's watching, but the fact that the community, like you're providing like all these resources for the people like,

Tamala Baldwin (30:49.003)
Yes.

Mr. Al Pete (31:06.749)
You're giving these people chances to be, you know, to live their dreams out, to become like one with themselves and their thoughts, to be able to like understand and like step into like love and really understand what love is. that's so many ways that you're like empowering people. And I think that's just a very like beautiful thing that you're doing for sure.

Tamala Baldwin (31:16.202)
Yes.

Tamala Baldwin (31:32.747)
And love isn't just a romantic thing. I'm not talking about the romantic like love. I'm talking about the love that is eternal and everlasting that sustains us, that is the true us. And we have to stay connected to it. Like now we have to, we have to. So.

Mr. Al Pete (31:37.049)
Absolutely,

Mr. Al Pete (31:48.265)
Definitely, definitely, definitely.

Tamala Baldwin (31:50.401)
I have to mention, we're also having the Heart Awards. So Saturday is like the actual conference type of event or festival. But then on Sunday, we have the Heart Awards, where we are recognizing people that are using their gifts to make a difference in the lives of others. So we have...

all kinds of people at the Rising Star, people that are like healing, people that are the storyteller of the year, but they're using their stories to uplift the community. So that's happening on Sunday and we have amazing people that are coming out for that.

Mr. Al Pete (32:21.073)
Now, are you throwing that award show or is it tied in with somebody else?

Tamala Baldwin (32:25.566)
No, it's all me. My first award show. I'm like, what am I doing?

Mr. Al Pete (32:32.713)
Listen, listen, God is your homie, right?

Tamala Baldwin (32:40.268)
I'm like, God, are we doing?

Mr. Al Pete (32:43.273)
God said, got you. God said, I got you and he's going to protect you. But people need to be acknowledged. People need to be acknowledged for their work. That is a form of us, I want to say self-care, but that's form of community. People need to be rewarded for the works that they do and people need to feel appreciated. And I feel like that you're doing a magnificent job, making people feel like they're...

Tamala Baldwin (32:51.307)
That is...

Tamala Baldwin (33:06.528)
Yes.

Mr. Al Pete (33:12.327)
they're being heard and being understood and all the things. So yeah, it's very, very important. think people.

Tamala Baldwin (33:15.614)
It's so important.

And we're not honoring celebrities. It's not about celebrities. We're honoring Nikki Crawford, who has a nonprofit where they actually give free showers to the unhoused population. We're honoring Dr. Nicola, who helps girls that were sex trafficked. She provides literacy and other tools for them and also gives them a day to feel like little girls. It's like a red carpet event, and they play and dress up and have a good time. So we're honoring people like that, that are doing the work to really help each other, because we are all one.

for all one.

Mr. Al Pete (33:51.498)
Anything special that's going to happen at the award show any performances or

Tamala Baldwin (33:56.126)
Yes! Yes! I needed someone to perform and this amazingly talented singer saw a post on Instagram and was like, I would love to perform and sow a seed. Her name is Teeya Stringer. Google her. She is phenomenal and she will be there performing.

Mr. Al Pete (34:16.913)
Okay. Special music guests. All right. Cool. Well, this sounds good. So it'll be a festival going on and then after that it'll be the award show. A good weekend, a good weekend. So my people that are in the, this is going to be in Atlanta area, correct? Okay. So my people that's in Atlanta area outside of Atlanta, or if you feel like traveling that you can travel, Atlanta is

Tamala Baldwin (34:19.486)
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.

Tamala Baldwin (34:28.182)
Yes, yes.

Tamala Baldwin (34:37.472)
Yes, yes.

Tamala Baldwin (34:45.1)
Mm-hmm.

Mr. Al Pete (34:45.513)
especially for my people in the South, know, it ain't too far from Atlanta. So that's a decent drive to go get some love and get some understanding and learn how to like project manage your dreams. And to get to see, be in a community that's getting rewarded. So you can be in that number two.

Tamala Baldwin (34:58.709)
Yes!

Tamala Baldwin (35:05.898)
Yes, yes. Can you imagine the energy? all about the intention is all about love and just amplifying it within yourself and in the world. So I really pray that it's going to be just inspiring and an uplifting space to even just be in.

Mr. Al Pete (35:20.019)
Definitely, definitely, definitely, definitely. All right, so as we wrap up, thank you so much for the people that are watching. We greatly appreciate it. Real quick plug, please make sure you subscribe to the YouTube channel. Please make sure you go to drippinblack.com, subscribe to that and all the things in between, all right? Miss Baldwin, so I was looking at your website and it had some press that was written up. Have you been in front of...

a magazine before like have you been on the front cover one before?

Tamala Baldwin (35:54.316)
Maybe, I don't even remember, but maybe, I'm sure, maybe, perhaps.

Mr. Al Pete (35:57.262)
my, was that a flex? Wow.

Tamala Baldwin (36:01.715)
No, it wasn't. wasn't. just, you know, my mind is like, I don't even know what's on that website. I'm glad it's still open and like, you know, there's no spam on it. Jeez.

Mr. Al Pete (36:10.993)
Nah, but you're being acknowledged from your work. yeah, I was asking because just as Noah said, have you ever been in front of a cover? I know we get write-ups here and there, but being in front of an actual representation of a magazine cover.

Tamala Baldwin (36:30.579)
Maybe one or two. Maybe one or two.

Mr. Al Pete (36:32.265)
OK. OK, OK. Well, we have something for you. So a present. One second.

Tamala Baldwin (36:38.409)
Present.

Tamala Baldwin (36:47.179)
Cool.

Yes! What is this? Let's go! Yes!

Mr. Al Pete (36:52.841)
So this is the Dripping in Black magazine. So we put you in front of that because we want to honor you for all the work that you do with your community, just being in pure Black excellence when it comes to the arts, entertainment, as well as mindfulness and wellness space. So we want to honor you with your cover. We're going to be sending this to you so you'll have a physical copy so you can put it in when you're directing something or something that you can look at and just remind yourself of all the great work.

Tamala Baldwin (36:58.379)
my gosh!

Mr. Al Pete (37:22.693)
you're doing. Or when you wake up from a nap, you can be like, there's my cover and my picture right there.

Tamala Baldwin (37:23.851)
Thank you so much.

Tamala Baldwin (37:30.879)
Thank you so much for seeing me. Thank you so much for seeing me. Thank you.

Mr. Al Pete (37:34.611)
Nah, no problem, no problem. And we definitely wish you like the best when it comes, well, before I say that, is there anything else that you would like to share with the community or any projects or anything that you would just like to share with us before we close out?

Tamala Baldwin (37:48.938)
No, just connect with Becoming Love Project. I would love to offer some free tickets to those listening to Dripping Black Community. So if you want, I will give you guys a promo code, because it really is just about learning about our work and coming out and meeting us. That's pretty much it.

Mr. Al Pete (38:06.707)
missing people. She mentioned about the promo code. You know, we love those promo codes, And let the people know how they can register for the events.

Tamala Baldwin (38:09.964)
Hahaha!

Tamala Baldwin (38:19.211)
So we are a 501c3 nonprofit, so we're selling tickets or donations through givebutter.com forward slash becoming love best. So even if you can't come, you can make a donation and you'll get the promo code as well from Dripping Black as well.

Mr. Al Pete (38:37.415)
Nice, nice, nice. And then, social medias, Instagrams, anything that they need to follow or should. Okay.

Tamala Baldwin (38:43.349)
So I am Tamala Baldwin. So follow me, Tamala Baldwin, on social media, and then also becoming Love Project on social media as well.

Mr. Al Pete (38:51.891)
Sounds good, sounds good. Well, thank you so much for taking your time out for this. Again, we honor you, we appreciate you. We thank you so much gratitude and blessings to you for giving to the community like how you do, providing that type of space for the arts and entertainment world. The arts and entertainment world, it's a world. It's a world within the world, within the world. So having the wellness and the mindfulness aspect added to it,

Definitely like it is a great combination. So I appreciate you and my people Please make sure you're following this Baldwin on everything and if you're in the area of Atlanta If you want to travel to it, this is happening October 16th through the 18th 19th

Tamala Baldwin (39:37.739)
the 18th and the 19th.

Mr. Al Pete (39:39.719)
My, okay, my apologies. October 18th and October 19th. So please make sure you go grab your tickets and make sure you're there. Okay. All right. Don't go nowhere. I'm going to close out real quick. So I don't mean, I'm not yelling at you, but yeah, My apologies.

Tamala Baldwin (39:43.53)
Yes.

Tamala Baldwin (39:51.594)
Okay.

Stop yelling at me, I'm just kidding. No, you weren't. I'm dismissing you.

Mr. Al Pete (40:01.619)
All right, so my people, thank you so much. Hopefully you enjoyed this interview. We greatly, greatly appreciate you hitting play and hopefully you got some nuggets from it. Please make sure you share this with your folks so they can understand what the work is happening. like all this black excellence and all the work that's happening within the black excellence is just so tremendous. And we want to make sure that you get it to your people and make sure that you're receiving it as well. All right, so closing thoughts.

Go to drippintheblack.com, make sure that you subscribe to it, make sure that you get the information and check out this interview as well as other interviews from the past, present and be able to look out for the interviews in the future. And while you're there, go to dibkdripshop.com and go and get a mug, go get a t-shirt, get something and you know, the holidays are coming up, so make sure you grab something you can give it to your folks. All right, so I am done. We are good. Be good to others.

and be good to yourselves. It's Mr. Al Pete signing off and keep it black to the top.

Mr. Al Pete (41:08.857)
All right.