This week, I’m joined by cultural critic, researcher, and creator Tahirah (@sincerelytahiry) for a conversation on what counts as knowledge, burnout, and why Black women are often expected to be everything for everyone.

We talk about Tahirah’s own spiritual and intellectual journey into this work. The conversation is grounded in her recently published, gorgeously written, and deeply vulnerable piece, “A Dying Star,” and explores what using the sun as a metaphor for Black women’s lived experiences reveals about care, labor, and exhaustion.

Our convo moves between questions at the heart of religious studies, Black feminist thought, and Islamic intellectual traditions: Are feelings a form of knowledge? What does it mean to trust your intuition? And who gets to decide what is considered “real” knowledge?

Follow the brilliant Tahirah on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and Substack @sincerelytahirah and read "A Dying Star" here!

Chapters

00:00 Opening & Introducing Tahirah

00:28 Where Are You Finding Grounding Right Now?

07:07 From Pre-Law to Purpose (Where it Started)

16:00 Trusting Your Intuition and Inner Voice?

26:30 “Identity Politics” or Real Knowledge? Who Gets Dismissed

39:10 The Inspiration Behind “A Dying Star”

42:54 Why Are Black Women Expected to Be the Sun for Everyone Else?