Vulnerability, Faith, and Living the Impossible Dream with Anna DeShawn

Written By Nikita Burks-Hale

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Trust and vulnerability are essential parts of creating meaningful connections and building a safe space for conversations. On Episode 23 of Headphones and Crayons, I explore how to build trust and create an atmosphere of safety and vulnerability for authentic conversations with Anna DeShawn, a streaming platform creator who centers and celebrates Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) and Queer Trans People of Color (QTPOC). Anna shares her story of rediscovering trust in her life and business and the importance of creating safe spaces for vulnerable conversations. Anna DeShawn dives into the different layers of trust, from superficial to deep, and how we can actively prioritize trust-building.

Listen to the Episode 023 with Anna DeShawn

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Anna DeShawn has always held a determination to follow her passion, but in order to do so, she has had to lean into trust and vulnerability. With her father's 46-year career as an educator in the background, she chose to live her life “red”, representing unapologetic boldness and permanence. With her tattoo of 'Trust Your Faith', Anna knows that working with communities of Color is sacred and requires trust from everyone involved. Through her journey, she is reminded how much representation truly matters and has committed to creating spaces for others to experience inclusion, support, possibility, and beyond. With her angels, ancestors, and the power of her own imagination, Anna is living her impossibly revolutionary dream.

In this episode we explore:

  • How Anna DeShawn uses vulnerability to build trust and create meaningful connections with the people she serves. 

  • The importance of showing up, advocating, and listening in order to build trust in a community.

  • How Anna DeShawn's revolutionary existence as an OUT Black, Queer, Masculine-of-Center Woman is guided by her ancestors, angels, and the belief that she can achieve the impossible.

Meet the Artist - Anna DeShawn

Anna, pronouns anything respectful, is a Chicago-born social entrepreneur who builds streaming platforms that center & celebrate BIPOC & QTPOC creatives. Media has always been her passion and in 2009 she turned that passion into a reality when she founded E3 Radio, an online radio station playing Queer music & reporting on Queer news with an intersectional lens. Most recently, she co-founded The Qube, a curated app where you discover the best music & podcasts by BIPOC & QTPOC creatives. Anna is determined to ride media into its next era by utilizing digital media streams to tell the stories and play the music that deserves to be heard. 


Learn more about her work here.


Connect with Anna


ColorFULL Episode Quotes:

  • “It's not just about words, and it's also just not about money. It's about showing up. It's about advocating.”

  • “Big risk leads to big rewards. It also leads to bigger roller coaster rides.”

  • "Red is real, unapologetic. You get it in anything, and it's just going to stay. It's going to stay in the whole situation. My hope is that the work that I do can have that type of impact on the people that I care about and the work that we do."

  • "The magic happens in the vulnerability, because that is where people can relate to you."

  • "I am living the impossible dream. As an out Black, Queer, Masculine of Center Woman, my existence is a revolutionary act."


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