Shaping Freedom With Lisane Basquiat

Hosted by Lisane Basquiat

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146

Latest episode

Aug 2026

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About the show

Shaping Freedom is a podcast about emotional leadership and legacy; examining the inherited patterns shaping how we live, create, relate, and build.I’m Lisane Basquiat - a legacy healing strategist, creator of the Shaping Freedom framework and a steward of a global cultural legacy. I sit with founders, leaders, creatives, and cultural voices to examine the emotional strategies we learned early and how they still drive our decisions and shape relationships.Most high-capacity adults operate under the assumption that they’re responding to the present. Often, we operate from patterns formed in early family systems and reinforced by culture, until we become aware of what is driving us.Emotional leadership is how you handle yourself; how you respond under pressure, how you handle conflict, what you tolerate, and what you model in ordinary moments. That becomes culture – in the spaces we frequent, in our homes, at work, and across generations.Our legacy is built from our daily emotional decisions. If you’re ready to interrupt inherited patterns and lead your life and work consciously, you’re in the right place.

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60 recent

August 30, 20261 hr 2 min

The Dark Side of Always Pushing Through with Giveton Gelin

What happens when always pushing through becomes the very thing keeping you from slowing down and facing what you feel? In this episode, Lisane sits down with Bahamian jazz trumpeter and composer Giveton Gelin to talk about his journey, his Haitian-Bahamian roots, and the pressure to keep moving forward even when something deeper needs attention. Giveton opens up about becoming a “functional depressive,” staying busy to avoid dealing with what was happening internally, and learning to slow down, listen to himself, and live more intentionally. They also discuss his song I Solemnly Swear to Live, a personal vow to fully embrace each day and keep choosing life. A conversation about the dark side of perseverance, the importance of self-reflection, and what it really means to give yourself permission to live. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

August 24, 20261 hr 3 min

You’re Raising Your Kids From Wounds They Never Had with Phill Branch

What happens when the unspoken rules of a family force a child to carry secrets they never agreed to keep? In this episode of Shaping Freedom, Lisane Basquiat catches up with repeat guest Phill Branch , an Emmy Award-winning filmmaker, storyteller, and founder/creative director of the Baltimore Story Fest. In an intimate, candid conversation , Lisane and Phill dive into his memoir, The Double Dutch Fast. Phill reflects on growing up as a young Black boy in Newark, New Jersey , under the watch of a father with rigid models of masculinity . He opens up about the emotional labor children often absorb when adults haven't processed their own pasts , the weight of conditional love , and how he developed a protective instinct to observe and speak truth even when it made others uncomfortable . Lisane and Phill explore how we perform our lives versus truly living them , the myth that we have to be "superstars" just to be worthy of acceptance , and the shift from "trying to prove" to simply being present. They also discuss the complexities of parenting—how we often parent in direct contrast to what we lacked growing up , and why freeing our children means doing the internal work ourselves so they can start with a blank canvas. This is a grounded, deeply human conversation about breaking silence , redefining success , and realizing that when one person does the work, the entire world around them changes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

August 17, 202657 min

The Legacy You Carry Was Never Just Yours Part 2

What does it take to carry a historic legacy forward without being crushed by the weight of expectation? In Part 1 of this special two-part episode of Shaping Freedom, host Lisane Basquiat sits down with Kenneth B. Morris Jr., Dr. Paulette Brown-Hinds, and Teri Ijeoma . The conversation turns into an unscripted celebration when the room receives live news that Teri’s book, A Risk Worth Taking, just debuted at #3 on the New York Times bestseller list . Together, they reflect on the responsibility of honoring the past while making space for new possibilities. They explore what it means to inherit history, find purpose in your own journey, and discover that freedom often begins with choosing how you'll carry your story forward. This is a thoughtful conversation about legacy, identity, and the quiet courage to shape a future that reflects who you truly are. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

August 10, 202647 min

The Legacy You Carry Was Never Just Yours Part 1

July 27, 20261 hr 11 min

The Family Healing Conversation Nobody Wants to Have with Tania Khazaal

What happens when the story you've told yourself about your family isn't the whole story? In this episode of Shaping Freedom, Lisane Basquiat sits down with relationship educator Tania Khazaal for an honest conversation about family estrangement, generational healing, and the courage it takes to see the people we love and ourselves with fresh eyes. Drawing from her own experience of cutting off contact with her mother before ultimately rebuilding that relationship, Tania shares why true healing didn't begin when she walked away, but when she started looking inward. Together, Lisane and Tania explore the tension between personal accountability and parental responsibility, the stories we create from childhood experiences, and why healing doesn't require excusing the past. They discuss the pressures facing today's families, how social media and therapy culture have shaped the way we talk about trauma, and why learning to communicate with empathy can change the trajectory of a relationship. This is a thoughtful conversation about breaking generational patterns, embracing nuance over blame, and discovering that freedom isn't found in waiting for someone else to change. It's found in changing how we choose to show up. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

July 20, 20261 hr 10 min

The Truth About Why Families Keep Repeating the Same Pain with Lee Hawkins & P. Frank Williams

Why do families keep passing down the same struggles—and how do we finally break the cycle? In this episode of Shaping Freedom, Lisane Basquiat sits down with Pulitzer Prize finalist Lee Hawkins and Emmy Award-winning producer P. Frank Williams for a powerful conversation about generational trauma, financial literacy, identity, and the stories we inherit. Together, they explore how history shapes the way we parent, work, build wealth, and define success. They discuss why emotional healing is just as important as financial education, the courage it takes to ask difficult family questions, and how changing one generation can transform the next. This conversation is an invitation to stop surviving, start healing, and create a new legacy rooted in freedom, purpose, and possibility. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

July 13, 202649 min

Why So Many People Are Quietly Falling Apart Right Now with Shanti Das

In this episode, Lisane Basquiat welcomes back Shanti Das, founder of Silence the Shame, for an honest conversation about where we are today when it comes to mental health, community, and the importance of choosing joy in difficult times. Together, they explore how economic uncertainty, burnout, and growing division are affecting our collective well-being, why conversations about mental health are more important than ever, and what it takes to create spaces where people feel safe asking for help. Shanti shares how Silence the Shame continues to support vulnerable communities through education, partnerships, and storytelling while reflecting on the organization's ten-year journey and the work that still lies ahead. The conversation also explores the difference between happiness and joy, the importance of caring for those who care for others, and why healing begins when we make space for ourselves and for one another. This episode is a reminder that freedom isn't just about surviving. It's about creating lives rooted in compassion, connection, and the courage to seek—and share—hope. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 26, 20261 hr 8 min

You Can Have Money…And Still Be Losing Everything with Ricco Ross

In this episode of Shaping Freedom, Lisane Basquiat is joined by actor, activist, and ZERO Prostate Cancer ambassador Ricco Ross for a conversation about identity, emotional resilience, health, and what it truly means to live a grounded life. Ricco reflects on the experiences that shaped him, from growing up in a working-class family in Chicago to traveling the world, losing his father at a young age, and building a decades-long career in entertainment without losing his sense of self. Together, Lisane and Ricco explore masculinity, forgiveness, patriotism, mental wellness, and why so many men struggle to talk openly about their health. The conversation also examines generational healing, emotional discipline, social division in America, and the importance of choosing empathy over fear. Throughout the episode, Ricco returns to one powerful idea: true wealth is not money, but health: mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 19, 202654 min

How Kids Are Learning Peace Before the World Teaches Fear with Jill McManigal

In this episode of Shaping Freedom, Lisane Basquiat is joined by Jill McManigal, co-founder of Kids for Peace, for a heartfelt conversation about kindness, emotional responsibility, and what becomes possible when we teach peace early enough to shape future generations. Together, they explore how children naturally lead with compassion when given the opportunity, and why creating spaces rooted in empathy, curiosity, and connection can change the way young people see themselves and the world around them. Jill shares the story of how Kids for Peace began in her backyard after 9/11 and grew into a global movement reaching millions of children through acts of kindness, leadership, and community action. The conversation also touches on parenting, gratitude, joy, and the ripple effect that even small acts of kindness can have within families, schools, and communities. They discuss why joy is something we must actively practice, and how helping children stay connected to their humanity may be one of the most important forms of peacebuilding we have. This episode is about more than kindness. It’s about raising children who believe in themselves, care for others, and understand the power they have to shape a better world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 13, 20261 hr 6 min

We’re Losing Them… And Don’t Even Realize It with Jared Baisley, Haskel Jackson & Sean Lewis

In this episode of Shaping Freedom, Lisane Basquiat is joined by Haskel Jackson Jr., Jared Baisley, and Sean Lewis from Music for Your Mental Health for a powerful conversation about music, healing, and emotional connection. Together, they explore how music can become a bridge to self-awareness, communication, and mental wellness, especially for young people who may not yet have the language to express what they’re feeling. Drawing from backgrounds in music production, education, and therapy, they share how their work creates safe spaces where creativity becomes a tool for healing and growth. The conversation also touches on the emotional weight many young people are carrying today, the importance of truly listening, and how music can help people feel seen, understood, and connected to themselves and others. This episode is about more than music. It’s about presence, vulnerability, and using creativity to help people reconnect with who they are. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices