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In this episode of Middle Fingers Up, host Kiran Randhawa sits down with community consultant, speaker, and Catalyst podcast host Nike Aurea for a deep dive into what it truly means to build and belong in community—beyond convenience and into real responsibility. As a first-generation daughter of West African immigrants, Nike shares how her upbringing in Atlanta shaped her unapologetic approach to advocacy and self-advocacy. "I always knew where I was from. I always knew about the food, the culture, language and with that also the history," she reflects, crediting her parents for instilling a strong sense of self through intentional storytelling and exposure to global histories, like films on South African apartheid.

The conversation explores the intersections of education, care, and strategy, challenging listeners to rethink belonging. Nike disrupts common narratives around "mammification"—the expectation placed on Black women to carry endless emotional labor.

Tune in for an inspiring discussion on unlearning stereotypes, setting boundaries with grace, and why "clarity is care" in fostering thriving spaces. If you've ever questioned your role in community or felt the weight of unspoken expectations, this episode will leave you empowered to show up authentically.

Instagram: nikeaurea

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In the spirit of reconciliation, we acknowledge that we live, work and play on the traditional territories of the Blackfoot Confederacy (Siksika, Kainai, Piikani), the Tsuut’ina, the Îyâxe Nakoda Nations, the Métis Nation (Region 3), and all people who make their homes in the Treaty 7 region of Southern Alberta.