BRAIDEd Season 1, Episode 5

Sustaining the Steward

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More From This Season

with Nia Kiara Cole

Episode 3

Inheriting the Harvest

with Cicely Garrett

Episode 4

Sowing Justice

with Dr. Connie Baptiste

Episode 5

Sustaining the Steward

About This Episode

In this episode of BRAIDEd, host Keionna Thomas returns to share exciting updates on the launch of the BRAID cohort before diving into a deeply grounded conversation with Dr. Connie Baptiste—fifth-generation farmer, veteran, and mental wellness advocate. Together, they explore the often-overlooked realities of farming, from the mental health crisis impacting agricultural communities to the systemic barriers faced by Black women in the field. Centering wellness as the foundation for sustainable agriculture, this episode challenges listeners to rethink what it truly means to care for the land by first caring for the people who steward it.

About Our Guest

Pictured: Dr. Connie Baptiste

Dr. Connie Baptiste is a U.S. Air Force retiree, fourth-generation farmer, educator, and social impact practitioner whose work bridges mental wellness, agriculture, veteran advocacy, and community education. With more than 20 years of military leadership and extensive experience in hospitality, instruction, and entrepreneurship, she brings a trauma-informed, culturally responsive approach to wellness programming and cohort-based support.