Naked + Unashamed
By Tega Faafa
Episodes uploaded every Monday.
Naked + UnashamedMar 27, 2023
18. The "Maze" to Marriage (Pt 2) With Emily Buchanan
It has been a whole MONTH since our last episode, but man am I excited for you to hear this one! We're back with PART TWO of this specific Maze to Marriage collection and this is always one of my favorite series that I get to do because there's SO much to learn from the stories and experiences of others.
Marriage - the thing society tells us to aspire to and the thing that is a lot more complicated than the world likes to tell us. Marriage is something that has been portrayed as a destination. To the outsider, life is a maze, and in your singleness, you're navigating the confusing path we call life. At the end of the path is your person and then you get married and you've exited the "maze" to marriage!
That isn't the slightest bit true.
In reality, marriage exposes your singleness and in this episode, we sit with Emily Buchanan as she shares her story of navigating love, fighting through relational hurt and tension, as well as what redemptive love looks like. We get REAL real in this episode as Emily shares candidly on how her relationship with God has been magnified through the process of loving and being loved. I learned an incredible deal through sitting with Em and I can't wait for how the Lord meets you in this space too.
To keep up with all things Emily, her endeavors, and more, follow her @emilybethbuchanan!
17. The "Maze" to Marriage (Pt 1) with Camilo Buchanan
HAPPY MONDAY! On today's episode - we're back with the Maze to Marriage series with a new couple! This is always one of my favorite series that I get to do because there's SO much to learn from the stories and experiences of others.
Marriage - the thing society tells us to aspire to and the thing that is a lot more complicated than the world likes to tell us. Marriage is something that has been portrayed as a destination. To the outsider, life is a maze, and in your singleness, you're navigating the confusing path we call life. At the end of the path is your person and then you get married and you've exited the "maze" to marriage!
That isn't the slightest bit true.
In reality, marriage exposes your singleness and in this episode, we sit with Camilo Buchanan as he shares his story of what his singleness looked like, how singleness affected his love life, as well as how when God has his hand something, it can be fully redeemed and made new and whole. In this funny and impactful episode, we'll learn more about Camilo, his journey and redeemed relationship with his now wife Emily, and how God has moved in every step.
Stick around for next week's episode where I sit with Camilo's wife, Emily!
To keep up with all things Cam, his travels, speaking, and more, follow him @iamkingcam!
16. Candid Conversations on Dating with London Taylor
Continuing on in the month of all things Black History and LOVE, today we're talking about a stage of relationships that often gets overlooked or glossed over -- dating. Over the years, I've heard a lot of amazing advice on singleness and marriage, but less content on dating relationships and the tensions that come with dating intentionally in today's age. What does it look like to date with longevity in mind and date seriously today? What are the fallacies social media portrays versus our own experience?
In today's episode, I sit with my boyfriend of 2+ years to talk about our dating experience, what we've learned, what's grown us, and some of the growing pains we've experienced. Whether you're single, dating, or even married, I hope this episode brings a sense of normalcy to your view of dating and reminds you that to everything, there's a time.
To keep up with all things London Taylor and know about the guy that I'm am head over heels for, follow him on Instagram @londontaylour!
15. To Be Black and Christian with Jordyn Gilbert
It's officially the month of all things love and Black History Month and I could think of no better way to kick off the month of February than with this amazing and growing conversation with my good sis, Jordyn. Oftentimes in discourse about black history and black present, we center our minds and hearts on what has been achieved in the past and the advancement of black people in American contexts. We get to sit and talk through our experiences as black women, black women in the Church, and what we can all take away when it comes to loving and listening to one another better.
Jordyn's insight and perspective on the world and her place in it challenged and encouraged me greatly, and I hope it does the same for you!
To keep up with Jordyn, follow her on Instagram @jordynkgilbert!
14. Being Your Own Worst Enemy
Being in a new year warrants reflection time and sometimes, what you see in your reflection isn't all too pretty. Sometimes, you see that the very person keeping you from healing, from community, from love, from taking risks, from experiencing life in FULL...is you.
And let me tell you, it's incredibly humbling.
Today we're kicking off Season Two and 2023 talking about how ALL OF US are actually are own worst enemy in some way, shape, or form -- the actual villain in our character arc. There's a reason why we self-sabotage and it's a lot less morbid than you think. What would 2023 look like if we were self-aware enough to realize when we're hurting ourselves and fix our eyes and heart on the only One who can truly help us?
To keep updated with all things Naked + Unashamed, feel free to follow the Instagram @nkdandunashamed. To keep up with the things going on in my life and how I'm doing, follow me on my personal Instagram @totallytega!
Hello to Season Two!
WE! ARE! BACK! New look, new theme song, and a new season! After what feels like 73 years, Season 2 is finally here and I am SO excited for all to come! This trailer is a brief update on where I've been, what I've been up to, and where we're headed this season. The biggest update? WEEKLY EPISODES EVERY MONDAY STARTING JANUARY 30TH!
To keep up with all the things in my own life and my qUiRkY adventures, feel free to follow my personal Instagram @totallytega. To keep up with all things Naked + Unashamed, please follow @nkdandunashamed!
13. Girls Struggle Too // Tega Talks
LET'S TALK ABOUT SEX BABY!
....and pornography. And masturbation. And lust. And sexual appetite. And sexual cravings. And the fact that girls struggle with this a lot more than people like to mention.
And because these things have not been mentioned in public settings, many girls grow up to be women who hide in shame of sexual sin and are in bondage to their own desires. The reality is, these conversations are necessary. These conversations are necessary for freedom and bringing light to a type of sin that leaves many, especially women, feeling left in the dark.
In this episode, we get real about what each of these terms are, what they're rooted in, and ask some important questions in order to reflect on how we can take a practical step in pursuing freedom from sexual sin. In this, I also get transparent and share some of my own struggles in all of these categories and make things as plain as I possibly can.
To keep up with all things Naked + Unashamed, follow the Instagram @nkdandunashmed. To keep up with me personally, follow me on my personal Instagram @totallytega!
12. Set Back, Set Up, Set Apart with Blake Eason
We're now officially more than halfway through the month of July and in the second half of 2020. What a TIME!
Here's the reality - all of us have experienced a set back in some capacity. Whether it was a financial set back, a job, a relationship, family dynamics, school, or whatever it may be, we can all attest to the fact that the set back doesn't always feel the best.
Often times, we get into a place of questioning and wondering why and what the purpose behind the setback is. But ultimately, God's purpose prevails. As Romans 8:28 reminds us, "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." The things that may seem to be a set back are actually factors that propel us forward in purpose.
In this episode with Blake Eason, we sit and chat about the set backs he's experienced and how ultimately, those set backs set him up to be set apart.
To keep up with all things Blake, follow him @blakeeason and check out his website: https://www.blakeeason.com/
11. Open Heart Surgery with Reed Moore
Here's a fact: we're all flawed people.
Here's another fact: we all have the capability of becoming better.
The hard part about that? The process of being better involves picking at and stitching up our open wounds, and that, more often than not, is always painful. With this process of becoming better, there isn't any anesthesia to sedate us or a way to numb out the pain that comes with processing and digging through our past.
We must be fully awake, fully aware, and fully attentive to understanding our past, how it's shaped our current patterns, and how it could impact our future tendencies.
Often times, the hard work we must do to understand ourselves involves us doing heart work. It means pushing towards comprehension, pushing to do the difficult things, and pressing towards healing.
In this episode with Reed Moore, we sit and unravel his story and how that shaped his current ministry and calling. Reed's story reminds us that in the midst of the difficulty of pursuing healing, the Lord's steady hand redeems, resurrects, and repurposes our story for others.
To keep up with Reed, follow him on Instagram @reedmoore07!
Safe Spaces + Transparency // Tega Talks
A safe space is beyond a place that "feels like home."
A safe space is beyond a place that makes you feel comfortable.
I define a safe space as an environment where you can shed the layers that are calloused. An environment where you can be honest in the pain, the joy, the stretching, and everything else in between. A safe space isn’t supposed to make you feel comfortable, but you should be comfortable in sitting in one.
A safe space is designed to challenge you by letting go of the mask that you hold tightly to your face.
A safe space is supposed to be inviting, energizing, and encouraging to be in.
And through this interactive episode, I hope that we get to sit in a safe space together by reflecting on Jesus, Judas, Jerusalem, and Jericho.
Want to share your reflection? Feel free to DM @nkdandunashamed!
10. The "Maze" to Marriage (Pt 2) with Kaila Parker
We're back with EPISODE 10! We're ten whole episodes into this podcast. What an absolute dream.
On today's episode - we're back with the second part of this installment of Maze to Marriage!
Marriage - the thing society tells us to aspire to and the thing that is a lot more complicated than the world likes to tell us. Marriage is something that has been portrayed as a destination. To the outsider, life is a maze, and in your singleness, you're navigating the confusing path we call life. At the end of the path is your person and then you get married and you've exited the "maze" to marriage!
That isn't the slightest bit true.
In reality, marriage exposes your singleness and in this episode, we sit with Kaila Parker as she shares her story of what her singleness looked like, how divorce and constant pursuit of goals affected her love life, and how the "maze" to marriage and post marriage is full of constantly growing, stretching, and becoming.
To keep up with Kaila and her life, follow her @kaiii.parks!
9. The "Maze" to Marriage (Pt 1) with Will Parker
Well it's been QUITE some time since we last had an episode, hasn't it? Since then, I've graduated college, gotten more vision and purpose for this podcast, and gathered up some amazing guests for us to listen and learn from!
On today's episode - we're back with the Maze to Marriage series with a new couple!
Marriage - the thing society tells us to aspire to and the thing that is a lot more complicated than the world likes to tell us. Marriage is something that has been portrayed as a destination. To the outsider, life is a maze, and in your singleness, you're navigating the confusing path we call life. At the end of the path is your person and then you get married and you've exited the "maze" to marriage!
That isn't the slightest bit true.
In reality, marriage exposes your singleness and in this episode, we sit with Will Parker as he shares his story of what his singleness looked like, how singleness affected his love life, as well as how when God has his hand something, it can be fully redeemed and made new and whole. In this funny and impactful episode, we'll learn more about Will, his journey to meeting his wife Kaila, and how God has moved in every step.
Part two features Will's wife, Kaila!
To keep up with Will, his music, and life, follow him @willl.parks!
8. We All Fall Down // Tega Talks
Ring-a-round the rosie,
A pocket full of posies,
Ashes! Ashes!
We all fall down!
Sound familiar? Oh the days of simple nursery rhymes, holding hands, and collectively falling down.
What's interesting is that the song holds true -- the reality is, we all really DO fall down. As humans, we gravitate towards the fall. When you really think about it, falling is just the human tendency to move in the same direction of gravity. It's almost as if we were wired to move in a downward motion naturally, isn't it?
We naturally fail.
We naturally lose.
We naturally deal with disappointment.
We naturally all struggle.
And yet when we're faced with the reality of a fall, we're surprised. Surprised that we're not as invincible as we thought. Surprised that we're not as in control as we thought we were. Surprised that our plans or our wants didn't go as planned.
And even though it reigns true that we all in fact fall down, and in many cases, we all walk expecting a fall of some sort, we never hold the same anticipation for the rise. We all expect death, but rarely do we anticipate resurrection. We all know the comfort of the floor all too well, but it takes more to have the will to get up. Here's the deal: there’s no shame in falling and going in the direction of gravity. However, there’s power in pushing against the grain and getting up.
And you CAN get up.
To keep updated with all things Naked + Unashamed, feel free to follow the Instagram @nkdandunashamed. To keep up with the things going on in my life and how I'm doing in quarantine times, follow me on my personal Instagram @totallytega!
7. Grieving, Filling, Fueling // Tega Talks
Everyone, everywhere is grieving in some way, shape, or form. We grieve what we failed to fully relish in. We grieve what we failed to accomplish. We grieve the activities we took advantage of. We grieve the opportunities that were beginning to rise. We grieve the budding relationships and the established friendships. We grieve for what was and what was supposed to be. For some, we grieve for who we’ve lost and the fear of losing more.
Whether it's the job, school, seeing people, the internship, the travel plans, the wedding, the summer plans, going places, whatever it may be, we are all grieving once was.
But we all have a way in which we cope with those things and how we process where we are now. For some, we push to fill up the time we have now. For others, we have struggled with a lack of motivation to do much of anything.
What if I told you that it didn't and doesn't matter how much time you have. You can have all the time in the world, and still not be productive, or healthy for that matter.
It's less about filling up time and has everything to do with whether you're fueled enough to steward the time you have well.
To keep up with all the things in my own life and my qUiRkY adventures, feel free to follow my personal Instagram @totallytega. To keep up with all things Naked + Unashamed, please follow @nkdandunashamed!
6. The Waiting Room // Tega Talks
WELCOME TO THE SECOND TEGA TALKS OF THE SEASON! This episode is special and very timely as we all sit in our own level of a waiting room in one way or another. Whether you're stuck inside due to Miss Rona (also known to some as coronavirus), stuck in a mental block, stuck in a circumstance, stuck in a continuous pattern, stuck in wanting more, or too afraid to move from the comfort of where you are now, we've all experienced some level of what I call a "waiting room."
I've defined a waiting room as pretty much anything or anyone that blocks or prolongs your ability to go to the next. Anything that essentially limits your mobility to continue or move forward.
The waiting room is beyond just a place, but can also be a mindset that, if looked at in the wrong perspective, can be detrimental. In this episode, we get to sit together and have a bit of a laugh while also navigating why waiting rooms exist, what lies at the core of our waiting rooms, practical ways to get out of them, and practical ways to steward them well. Regardless of what or who you may be waiting on, the waiting room goes beyond the four-wall limitation you give it -- it can be fully freeing if you lean in, look up, look in, and allow what you've learned to help you in looking out.
To keep up with all the things in my own life, feel free to follow my personal Instagram @totallytega and follow the Naked + Unashamed Instagram @nkdandunashamed!
5. The "Maze" to Marriage (Pt 2) with Conor Thomas
Marriage - the thing society tells us to aspire to and the thing that is a lot more complicated than the world likes to tell us. Marriage is something that has been portrayed as a destination. To the outsider, life is a maze, and in your singleness, you're navigating the confusing path we call life. At the end of the path is your person and then you get married and you've exited the "maze" to marriage!
That isn't the slightest bit true.
This is the SECOND part of a two-part installment and in this episode, we get to sit with Conor Thomas, the husband of Lynsey Thomas and here his side of what the "maze" to marriage looks like. With Conor, we get to have the discussion of what manhood looks like, how brokenness is exposed in marriage, and how the way we love is passed on generation to generation. Marriage is complex, an act of constantly choosing, and the process of two people who've lived two separate lives coming together to build a life together and it's absolutely beautiful.
To keep up with Conor Thomas, follow him on Instagram @conorthomas_!
4. The "Maze" to Marriage (Pt 1) with Lynsey Thomas
Marriage - the thing society tells us to aspire to and the thing that is a lot more complicated than the world likes to tell us. Marriage is something that has been portrayed as a destination. To the outsider, life is a maze, and in your singleness, you're navigating the confusing path we call life. At the end of the path is your person and then you get married and you've exited the "maze" to marriage!
That isn't the slightest bit true.
In reality, marriage exposes your singleness and in this episode, we sit with Lynsey Thomas as she shares her story and what life looked like before her husband, how she met her husband, and what life looks like in marriage. Marriage is beautiful, and complex, and honoring, and difficult, and fun, and so much more. To those of you called to marriage one day, I hope that this episode encourages you with a new lens to how God uses all things to His glory.
Part two features Lynsey's husband, Conor Thomas!
To keep up with Lynsey, follow her on Instagram @lynsthomas!
3. Submission in Singleness // Tega Talks
WELCOME TO THE FIRST TEGA TALKS OF THE SEASON! In these episodes, they'll be shorter episodes full of things that God is showing me in my current season of life. These moments are just me, sitting, talking, and sharing.
In this Tega Talk, I'll be talking about singleness. With Valentine's Day coming up and pressures to be in a relationship spiking and rising, I figured it was the perfect time to sit and chat about what singleness has meant in these past four years as well as what I've learned from it. Whether you are single because you're called to be, single by choice, or single by circumstance, this episode is for you. Singleness is not just a phase of life, but an opportunity to learn and grow without bounds.
Singleness is beyond a relationship status -- it's a perspective shifter. I hope that for those of you in this season, especially with Valentine's Day coming up, you don't sit in longing for what others have. I hope you stand in the space of knowing that when or if it happens for you, God wants to shape you to be prepared.
2. It's More Than Color - Diversity & Inclusion with Norlina Tesfamariam
We're back with a new episode, new audio (shoutout to Brett P), and a new guest!
Here's something to reflect on: think about your inner circle. Think about the people that you're closest to -- the ones you're most vulnerable with. What does your circle look like? Who are you surrounding yourself with? What binds your friendship? What divides it?
Here's the truth of the matter:
If all of your closest friends look the same or have had the same experiences, there might just be a problem.
I know. Very direct and in some cases, controversial statement. In this episode of Naked + Unashamed, I get the absolute pleasure of sitting down with my friend Norlina and discuss her experience as a black woman as well as the vitality of diversity not only in the church, but beyond those doors. Norlina is a writer, blogger, and creative who attends Kennesaw State University and is infectiously passionate about diversity and inclusion in all spaces. I hope this conversation challenges you to seek and learn those who differ from you, as well as understand the dangers we pose to ourselves when we settle for personal comfort over challenging growth.
To keep up with Norlina and her work, check out her blog https://www.norlina.net/ and follow her on Instagram @norlina27!
1. God-Sized Dreams, Human-Sized Steps with Paul Taylor Smith
What a time! We've stepped into a new year, a new decade, and a new season of life, and although that can be refreshing and encouraging, it can also breed expectation and pressure to succeed. What do you do when there's something you want to step into, but don't know if you can? What do you do when you're at a crossroads and have no idea where to go? What do you do when the plans change? When you have something inside of you that you're not sure how to steward? When you want more for your life, but fear settling for less?
We all feel this tension. We all crave to do extraordinary things and have aspirations and places we desire to reach. In this premiere episode, I get the absolute pleasure of picking the brain of Paul Taylor Smith and what it looks like to have the faith and obedience to step into a God-Sized dream that is larger than you. Paul is the CEO and President of FRVR Free, a worship band based in Georgia, a father to two children, and a husband to his wife Lauren.
I hope that this conversation gives you the surge to start this year off with dreaming big, but stepping in accordance as well. In this space of vulnerability, I hope you are challenged that whatever has been put on your mind or in your heart, big or small, can no longer stay concealed. It's time to write things down, take action steps, and walk into the bigger that you've been equipped to step into. Resources or not, take the step.
To keep up with Paul and FRVR Free, follow their Instagram at @frvr_free and keep updated on their website https://www.frvrfree.com/#event!
Naked + Unashamed - The Intro
Let's face it -- it's super easy to be fake deep. It's easy to retweet, like, or favorite posts in which we feel seen and understood. It's easy to lean into zodiac signs and personality tests in hopes to be better understood. But what happens when our ability to be real with those around us is only skin deep? What happens when we stifle our growth process by only being 20% real with ourselves and others? What happens when we fail to steward our stories well?
In this introductory episode of Naked + Unashamed, I open up about why I started this podcast, as well as the tensions I feel living in a world where we are comfortable with only hearing the good and polished parts of our stories. My goal with this podcast is to heal through reflection and have a space where we can shed the layers that we tend to keep on. In our nakedness, we possess the ability to steward our stories well and help those around us in their growth process while also growing ourselves.
I'm super excited to go on this growth journey of hearing others' stories, processing together, and being reminded that we are all broken people -- it's just a matter of how you steward your brokenness.