Afros and Knives - Tiffani Rozier

Latest Episodes:

In The Mean Time-Let's Catch Up! Jun 30, 2026

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Host and creator of the Afros and Knives podcast, Tiffani Rozier, shares the status and plans for herself and the podcast.

Toasting to Legacy: Victoria Butler and the Art of Tennessee Whiskey Dec 21, 2023

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A Conversation with Victoria Butler

In the season finale of the Afros and Knives podcast, host Tiffany Rozier sits down for an insightful chat with Victoria Butler, the Master Blender at Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey. The conversation explores Victoria's extraordinary path, moving from the Department of Justice to spearheading whiskey production at one of Tennessee's top-notch distilleries. It beautifully interweaves her great-great-grandfather Nearest Green's legacy into every blend.

Listeners are treated to captivating stories of tradition, the remarkable influence of Black women in the whiskey industry, and the celebratory reopening of the Uncle Nearest distillery on Juneteenth. Victoria divulges personal stories and sheds light on the intricate art of whiskey blending. The discussions traverse a range of themes, including joy, resilience, and the crucial importance of sourcing top-tier grains, painting a vibrant image of the craft behind Uncle Nearest.

This episode stands as a tribute to the substantial influence of Black women in the whiskey industry and Victoria's unique contributions to her family's legacy. It's filled with inspiring and enlightening content, making it a must-listen episode for anyone interested in the art of whiskey-making, the legacy of Nearest Green, and the impact of Black women in the whiskey industry.

Jamila Norman's Quest for Equity and Sustainability in the Urban Food System Dec 21, 2023

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Join us on a profound journey with Jamila Norman, an urban farming pioneer and television host, in this inspiring episode of our podcast. Jamila's story is one of resilience, hope, and the transformative power of urban agriculture in the heart of Atlanta's food deserts. As an environmental engineer turned urban agriculture advocate, she has founded Patchwork City Farms, where she not only grows vegetables but also nurtures a movement for food sovereignty and racial equity. This episode delves into the systemic challenges that Jamila faces, from the struggles of keeping school gardens amid land disputes to the broader fight for green spaces against the ever-encroaching urban landscape. We celebrate the victories that come with community support and perseverance, and reflect on the historic struggles of Black farmers—a tale of resistance and empowerment in pursuit of sustainability. Our conversation takes an uplifting turn as Jamila recounts her entrance into television with "Homegrown" on the Magnolia Network, showcasing the surprising opportunities that arise when we align with our purpose. Jamila shares her insights on the critical roles of education and representation in agriculture, planting seeds of hope for a future where the farm-to-table lifestyle is accessible to all. Listeners are encouraged to follow Jamila's remarkable journey on Instagram and to tune into "Homegrown," where the narrative of sustainable urban living comes alive. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the intersections of urban farming, community building, and environmental justice. Subscribe and listen now on Apple Podcasts.

The Check In with Jnee Hill Mar 29, 2022

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The Check-In is a monthly episode that focuses on fine-tuning our mental health and well-being with the support of Afros and Knives' therapist in residence, Jnee Hill. This month I introduce you to Jnee Hill and we touch on just a few topics you can expect to dive deeper into in upcoming episodes. Black women have worked tirelessly to improve their communities. Their activism has led to a more just and equal society, but they still face systematic oppression that prevents them from achieving full equality. One of the most pervasive forms of oppression that black women face is mental health. Even though only about 9% of the U.S. population suffers from a serious mental illness, 51% of black women deal with one or more diagnosable mental disorders. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) reports that the number of Americans with a mental illness is growing and that many of these patients are minorities. This is because of the increased stress that accompanies the changing roles of women in our society and the social isolation that comes with it.

This series will spend time looking at a space Black women often occupy--entrepreneurship. Being an entrepreneur is hard. Really hard. It can be lonely, isolating, and stressful. But the rewards can be great, too. Once you’ve made the decision to take the plunge and start your own business, you’ll find yourself facing many challenges. However, with persistence and hard work, the rewards can be tremendous. You may also find it difficult to discuss your struggles as an entrepreneur, especially with friends and family. Anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues can make it difficult for you to reach out for help. Don’t feel like you are alone. Many successful entrepreneurs have dealt with similar struggles, and they overcame them to become successful.

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Farm to Grow with Dr. Gail Myers Mar 10, 2022

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In this bonus episode of the Afros and Knives podcast, host Tiffani Rozier chats with cultural anthropologist and documentarian Dr. Gail Myers. They discuss the work Dr. Myers has done with her organization, Farm to Grow, as well as her documentary film Rhythms of the Land. This film project will spotlight an array of farmers, rice growers, hog ranchers, dairy ranchers, barefoot farmers, sharecroppers, basket-weavers, shrimp farmers, vegetable farmers, and gardeners, each sharing their memorable stories with us for the first time.

Dr. Gail Myers is a cultural anthropologist who earned the Doctorate in Anthropology from Ohio State University, the Masters in Applied Anthropology from Georgia State University, and the Bachelors in English from Florida State University. She is also the Co-founder of Farms to Grow, Inc, and has been advocating for African American farmers for more than 20 years. Dr. Myers began researching African American farmers while at Ohio State University in 1997. Her passion for Black farmers developed as a result of hearing stories of their loss and struggles without recognition for their contributions. Myers is considered an expert in the anthropology of African American farming. In 1920, there were 920,000 black farmers in the United States, although many of those were sharecroppers and tenant farmers. Today there are 42,000. Dr. Myers' overarching goal is to preserve the stories and honor the legacy and the lives of African American farmers.

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Culinary Futures with Chayil Hylane and Hasanah Sabree Mar 10, 2022

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This episode is a chat with recent Food and Finance High School Alums and Co-Creative Directors of Pass the Spatula Magazine Volume 1--Chayil Hyland and Hasanah Sabree.

Hasanah is a brilliant young chef that will be attending a post-secondary Culinary school in September. She is equally passionate about fashion as she is about cooking and loves to express herself through social media, preferably Instagram and YouTube. Chayil is an equally brilliant young leader, a lover of all things green tea, and passionate about food and hospitality.

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The importance of being authentic- a conversation with Elle Simone Feb 25, 2022

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Elle Simone Scott is a culinary maverick. Always drawn to creative food culture, Elle has been dazzling the culinary world since 2003, quickly becoming a highly sought-after Food Stylist and Culinary Producer. Elle has collaborated and contributed her unique styling abilities most recently to America’s Test Kitchen. Also Food Network, Food Network Magazine, The Cooking Channel, CBS, ABC’s The Chew, and Bravo.

Her specialties don’t stop with styling and production. As the Founder and CEO of SheChef Inc., a professional networking organization for women chefs of color and allies. Elle shares her passion by mentoring, resource building, business development, and most importantly, Food Social Justice.

Elle continues to inspire others and break glass ceilings, as she is currently the resident Food Stylist & On-Air Talent on America’s Test Kitchen on PBS, the host of the food podcast The Walk-In, and the first African-American woman to do so.

Most recently she created a beautiful book titled Boards--in which she shares tips for creating photo-worthy spreads, letting you in on trade secrets ranging from plating techniques to how she keeps things looking fresh on set (and all party long). Across 35 boards you’ll find over 150 of ATK’s foolproof recipes to build your board around or add that special homemade touch, from platter-worthy Steak Frites to better-than-storebought dips, and everything in-between.

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Setting the Table with Amber Mayfield, founder of While Entertaining Feb 03, 2022

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Founder of bespoke event brand To Be Hosted and independent lifestyle magazine While Entertaining, Amber Mayfield. Amber is a consummate tastemaker and is shaping how Black folks celebrate and entertain now and in the future. To Be Hosted has produced events and experiences for brands like Equinox, Facebook, Nestle, Netflix, Bumble, Tinder, Patron Tequila, Bulleit Bourbon, Bain & Company, and more. To learn more, check out www.tobehosted.com. Founded in March 2020, While Entertaining Magazine is a yearly magazine that highlights Black food and beverage experts, and provides resources for people cooking and gathering at home.
Amber began her work when she was twenty-three years old. She had worked in television as a corporate assistant and noticed is that events and productions utilized the same resources—caterers, lighting technicians, designers, and artists, and none of them looked like her. What started as a self-funded side hustle grew into creating custom events that used the talents of Black creatives and Black professionals— her gorgeous work offered an intimate and safe experience for Black people to dine.

“I'm sure all of us, especially in New York, has no shortage of stories, of feeling comfortable in certain spaces and not feeling like that fine dining experience of that luxury experience or whatever, wherever you want to go and feel like somebody is specifically catering to and thinking about you.”

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Building a baking legacy with Yahshimabet Sellassie Feb 03, 2022

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Yahshimabet Sellassie, Founder & CEO of Yahshi Bakes, developed her culinary interest at the tender age of four. Born in Oakland as a vegetarian to entrepreneur parents in fine arts, design, bodywork, radio journalism, and the restaurant business, she naturally blossomed into her creative energy field. From an early age, she gravitated towards the arts, later developing a passion for cooking and baking. Yahshimabet is influenced by her Jamaican father and her mother's Ethiopian roots, incorporating traditional spices into her cuisine. Her passion for representing her heritage stems from exposure to spices' medicinal properties and how her ancestors cultivated them. Korerima (Ethiopian cardamom) is freshly ground to infuse into her pastries, such as orange cardamom coffeecake and almond cardamom shortbread cookies providing a warming and floral note. At age twelve, Yahshimabet competed for eight rounds in the Kid's Baking Championship on Food Network and landed the series's runner-up position, gaining media attention worldwide. People began to request her products on an international level, desperate to try Yahshi Bakes, "A Taste of Heaven." Yahshimabet began hosting monthly pop-ups at Piedmont Avenue in Oakland, where crowds gathered in lines out the door with reusable containers to experience her sweetness. Rich chocolate salted caramel cupcakes, lemongrass raspberry cake, and ginger spice cookies simply tantalize the taste buds. Yahshimabet's high standards coupled with her devotion to quality naturally led to Yahshi Bakes' growth. Yahshimabet is currently working part-time at As Kneaded Bakery, navigating online college classes, managing Yahshi Bakes full time. Her future plans include: Investing in a commercial kitchen space, curating a team of employees to fulfill orders on a larger scale, traveling the world, opening a cafe and more greatness! Learn more about us by visiting yahshibakes.com.

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Talking Food Science with Brittany Towers Feb 03, 2022

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Brittany Towers (@theblackfoodscientist) has her BS & MS degree in Food Science from The Ohio State University, Certified Culinary Science degree from the Research Chef Association and has been in the food industry for 8 years and has worked on over 30 food & beverage products you see on the store shelves today including brands like Gatorade, Tropicana & Propel. Her love for food and science propelled her to start her science-focused Instagram page @theblackfoodscientist where she teaches her followers science concepts that everyone can understand by relating them back to foods and beverages. She also pushes healthy (and sometimes indulgent) eating on her page by posting Meatless Monday recipes each week to get people out of their comfort zones with healthy vegetarian/vegan meals that will help save people money, improve overall health and help save the environment. With a passion for teaching, she is also involved in many non-profit organizations teaching students about food science and careers in STEM. An Ohio native now living in Chicago, Brittany lives in the city with her husband Brandon and dog Basil. When she is not teaching others she is trying out new recipes, ordering out delicious food Chicago has to offer, running outside with her family, and teaching Pure Barre in Chicago

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