Roots and Rhythm Podcast
By: Vladimir Louissaint and Angie Thomas
Language: en-us
Categories: Education, Self Improvement, Society, Culture, Relationships, Kids, Family
At Roots and Rhythm, we are dedicated to sharing the rich tapestry of our lived experiences. Through heartfelt stories about marriage, relationships, and parenting, we aim to create a space where listeners can find connection, understanding, and inspiration. Our mission is to celebrate the diverse journeys that shape our lives, fostering a sense of community and belonging for all. Join us as we explore the rhythms of life, one story at a time.
Episodes
New Year's Revolutions | The Problem With Resolutions and How to Make Lasting Behavior Change | Episode # 27
Jan 09, 2026Share your thoughts with us!
Summary
In the 2026 premiere episode of the Roots and Rhythm podcast, hosts Vlad and Angie reflect on the holiday season, discuss the effectiveness of New Year resolutions, and explore the importance of sustainable change in personal growth. They delve into the all-or-nothing mentality, the significance of accountability, and the role of communication in relationships. The conversation emphasizes the need for long-term thinking and planning in achieving personal and relational goals, while also addressing the challenges of modern life and the importance of self-awareness.
...
Duration: 01:00:06All I Want for Christmas is Peace | Navigating Holiday Gatherings, Conflicts, & Self-Care | Episode 26
Dec 23, 2025Share your thoughts with us!
The holidays are supposed to be joyful… but for many of us, they bring tension, grief, unresolved family dynamics, and unspoken expectations.
In Episode 26 of the Roots & Rhythm Podcast, Vlad and Angie sit with the truth of the season and ask a powerful question:
What would it look like to choose PEACE this Christmas?
In this episode, we explore:
The emotional weight of family dynamics during the holidaysParenting pressures and gender roles that show up at family gatheringsHow social media fuels com... Duration: 01:06:18Runaway Love: Responsibility & Real Talk | Diddy, IPV, & Modern Relationships | Episode #25
Dec 12, 2025Share your thoughts with us!
⚠️ DISCLAIMER:
This episode contains graphic language and discussions of violence, intimate partner violence (IPV), and domestic violence (DV). Viewer and listener discretion is strongly advised.
If you or someone you love is experiencing DV/IPV, please use the resources listed at the bottom of this description.
This week on Roots & Rhythm, Vlad and Angie dive into the cultural conversations shaking the internet – starting with “Diddy: The Reckoning” and the larger implications for intimate partner violence, masculinity, accountability, and power dynamics<...
Duration: 01:14:02Why Does She Stay? Life After Divorce, Why We Leave, & What No One Tells You | Episode #24
Dec 05, 2025Share your thoughts with us!
In this week’s episode of Roots & Rhythm, Vlad and Angie dive deep into the alarming realities of modern divorce: why people stay longer than they should, why they eventually leave, and what life looks like after the paperwork is signed.
Drawing from their own childhood experiences as products of divorce, they unpack:
Why 40–50% of first marriages end in divorceWhy second and third marriages fail at even higher ratesThe emotional, financial, and psychological reasons people stayWhy women often leave mentally years before they leave physicallyThe role of childhood trauma, iden... Duration: 01:01:54Grief and Gravy: How to Embrace New Traditions While Healing Your Holiday Wounds | Episode 23
Nov 28, 2025Share your thoughts with us!
In this heartfelt post-Thanksgiving episode, Vlad and Angie dive into the complex emotions many of us carry into the holiday season—especially those who grew up in chaotic or unstable households. As the holidays approach, old wounds, unmet expectations, and complicated family patterns can resurface. This conversation reminds listeners that healing is possible and that new traditions can be created with intention, love, and emotional awareness.
Vlad and Angie open up about:
Childhood holiday experiences marked by chaos, grief, or uncertaintyHow unresolved childhood wounds show up during the holidaysThe em... Duration: 01:11:48It Takes a Village: How We Intentionally Created Our Family & Why It's Important | Episode 22
Nov 21, 2025Share your thoughts with us!
EPISODE 22: “From Acquaintances to Family — Choosing Our Village, Raising Our Kids, and Protecting Our Values”
This week on Roots & Rhythm, Angie returns to join Vlad for a heartfelt, hilarious, and deeply grounding conversation about how they went from acquaintances… to family.
They break down:
How intentional friendship became a village rooted in love, accountability, and shared valuesWhat it took to integrate their spouses and wider circle into a healthy, supportive community for their kidsWhy “Parents Night Out” turned into... Duration: 01:14:52Bloodline |Breaking the Cycle: Healing from Generational Dysfunction | Episode 21
Nov 14, 2025Share your thoughts with us!
This week on Roots & Rhythm, Vlad and Angie tackle one of the most important conversations yet — how to break free from generational dysfunction. From questioning faith and parental influence to learning empathy and setting emotional boundaries, this dialogue explores the layers of healing required to change the narrative for future generations.
🔑 Top Takeaways:
Understand where your parents’ pain came from.Break patterns of dysfunction with intention.Practice compassion as a form of self-healing.Don’t pass down what you never healed.🎧 Available on all major podcas...
Duration: 01:00:51Many Men | Vulnerability, Masculinity & the Patriarchy with Cordan James Haveron | Episode 20
Nov 07, 2025Share your thoughts with us!
In this powerful episode of Roots & Rhythm, we sit down with Cordan James Haveron (@cordanjamesspeaks) to explore what it truly means to be a man in today’s world. Together, we unpack themes of male vulnerability, the impact of the patriarchy on masculinity, and how healing from childhood trauma can lead to authentic leadership and wholeness. Cordan opens up about his experience as a transracial adoptee, navigating out-of-home care, and reclaiming his identity as a Black man adopted into a white family—forging resilience through dislocation, service, and purpose.
We dive...
Duration: 01:19:48The Healing Trap: When Self-Work Becomes Self-Sabotage | Episode 19
Oct 31, 2025Share your thoughts with us!
In this week’s episode of the Roots & Rhythm Podcast, hosts Vlad & Angie explore a question that many of us avoid asking: How much healing is “enough” before entering a relationship?
They dive deep into the modern obsession with “doing the work,” unpacking how the healing journey can either prepare us for love — or become an excuse to avoid vulnerability altogether. 💔✨
Topics include:
Is healing a destination or a lifelong process?How “I’m still healing” can be a form of self-protectionThe difference between solitude and is... Duration: 00:49:58Me, Myself & I: Balancing Individuality and Togetherness in Love| Episode 18
Oct 24, 2025Share your thoughts with us!
In this week’s episode of the Roots & Rhythm Podcast, hosts Vlad and Angie explore the real talk behind love, sacrifice, and individuality in relationships. 💞 They unpack how to balance giving and gaining, why healthy boundaries matter, and how ego and societal pressures can quietly sabotage connection.
From moms needing more personal time away from responsibilities, to couples navigating finances, self-discovery, and timelines, Vlad and Angie bring their signature humor, honesty, and cultural perspective to the mic...
Duration: 01:02:50Love is Therapy | Self-Awareness, Confidence & Dating: Is Cockiness a Turn-On? | Episode #17
Oct 17, 2025Share your thoughts with us!
EPISODE 17: “Love Is Therapy” — Roots & Rhythm Podcast
This week, Vlad and Angie explore how self-love and acceptance are key ingredients to confidence in any committed relationship. Drawing inspiration from Edmond and Kalybriah’s journey on Love Is Blind: Season 9, they unpack what we can learn about self-awareness, emotional compatibility, and the healing power of love.
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YouTube: Roots... Duration: 00:47:32
Banderas Rojas 🚩 | Relationships Red Flags: Are We Getting Better at Spotting Red Flags, or Becoming Them? | Episode 16
Oct 10, 2025Share your thoughts with us!
This week, Angie and Vlad unpack one of the most viral relationship topics — red flags. 🚩 They share how they used to define them in their early 20s vs. how marriage, healing, and parenthood have transformed their perspective today.
Is it a red flag… or a reflection of your own unhealed story?
Join us for laughter, honesty, and insight on what it truly means to grow through love, not just in it.
✨ Listen • Reflect • Share Your Story
🎙️ Where we explore the rhythms of life, one beat at a time.
Faith, Family & Drugs | How Culture, Religion & Upbringing Shaped Our Experiences | Episode 15
Oct 03, 2025Share your thoughts with us!
In this episode of Roots and Rhythm, hosts Vlad and Angie discuss the complex topics of faith, family, and substance use, particularly focusing on drugs like cannabis and psilocybin. They share personal experiences, cultural attitudes, and the impact of the war on drugs on communities. The conversation emphasizes the importance of open discussions about substance use within families, the need for education and awareness, and the changing perceptions surrounding drugs in society. They also explore how to navigate conversations with children about these topics, aiming to create a supportive environment for honest...
Duration: 01:11:0221 Questions | The Answers Couples Need Clarity for | Infidelity, Intimacy, Money & Boundaries | Episode 14
Sep 19, 2025Share your thoughts with us!
his week on the Roots & Rhythm Podcast, Angie and Vlad sit down for one of their most honest and vulnerable conversations yet. While the episode title is inspired by 50 Cent’s legendary track 21 Questions, this isn’t a literal Q&A—it’s a deep dive into the real issues that shape marriages and long-term relationships.
From infidelity and sex, to personal ideologies, parenting, and even tattoos, we go there. This is raw, unfiltered conversation about what couples really wrestle with when building a life together.
💡 For Reflection:
– Is c...
Praying For You | Navigating Faith, Peace & Personal Values | Episode #13
Sep 12, 2025Share your thoughts with us!
Inspired by Grammy Award-winning Rapper Lecrae's 2007 hit, on this week's episode of Roots & Rhythm Angie and Vlad share their personal journeys with faith and organized religion. From childhood church experiences to the ways they embrace spirituality today, they explore how belief systems have shaped their identities, relationships, and outlook on life.
The discussion turns to mainstream Christianity, politics, and the modern church—inviting listeners to reflect on where faith fits in today’s world and how it influences us all.
✨ Let’s keep growing together:
Order The Embrace Me... Duration: 01:03:28Across the Lines | Racism, Parenting, and Identity: First Encounters | Roots & Rhythm Podcast Episode #12
Sep 05, 2025Share your thoughts with us!
This week, Vlad and Angie dive deep into the realities of racism as immigrants, as parents, and as people still shaping their identities in America.
Vlad shares his very first encounter with racism in school—an experience that revealed more about the system than the students around him—and how that moment shaped his understanding of support and resilience. Angie reflects on how racism has influenced her perspective as both a parent and a woman of Caribbean heritage.
Together, they explore how early experiences of prejudice ripp...
Duration: 01:04:45No New Friends | Navigating New Relationships, Learning How and When To Let Go | Episode 11
Aug 29, 2025Share your thoughts with us!
🎙️ In this week’s episode of Roots & Rhythm, Vlad and Angie dive into the complexities of building and maintaining friendships in adulthood.
As parents in their thirties, they reflect on what truly qualifies as friendship, what happens when we outgrow certain relationships, and how to navigate the painful reality of drifting apart from people we once held close. Vlad opens up about one of his most important friendships—a bond that began to unravel after he met his wife, leading to heartbreak, mistakes, and the tough decision to move on. Angie sha...
Duration: 01:06:28Shawty is a Ten | Celebrating 100 Downloads, Countless Mistakes & Important Lessons | Episode 10
Aug 22, 2025Share your thoughts with us!
🎉 Episode 10 of Roots & Rhythm is here, and we’re celebrating over 100 downloads! In this milestone episode, Angie and Vlad reflect on the journey through our first ten episodes—complete with trial and error, lessons learned, and hours of footage that didn’t make the cut. This is a celebration of growth, resilience, and the community that continues to support us.
✨ This episode also features a special advertisement for Vlad’s book, The Embrace Method (Second Edition)—a guide to healing, resilience, and leadership.
📚 Grab your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Emb...
Duration: 00:39:08Where Did We Go Wrong? | Are Women Better Off Without Men? | Episode 9
Aug 15, 2025Share your thoughts with us!
🔥 HEATED DEBATE: Are Women REALLY Happier Without Men & Kids?
A YaleGlobal study asks: Should Women Stay Single?—suggesting single, child-free women are healthier and happier than their married counterparts (Read the study here). Angie breaks down the findings, but Vlad pushes back—calling out bias and defending men who try their best in relationships doomed from the start.
This episode gets spicy as they unpack marriage, fulfillment, and how cultural expectations shape modern love. Expect laughs, sharp insights, and some serious “did they just say that?” moments.
... Duration: 00:54:07I Love the 90's | Living in a Different World | Episode 8
Aug 08, 2025Share your thoughts with us!
Bright colors, cassette tapes, TV jingles, and that unforgettable dial-up tone—Angie and Vlad are taking it all the way back! In this throwback episode, we talk about what it was really like growing up in the 1990s. From Saturday morning cartoons to the early days of AIM and AOL, we explore how the era shaped our childhood and how much has changed since.
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🛍️ Affiliate Links with Perks
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Get it Together | Work-Life Balance & Personal Development | Episode 7
Aug 01, 2025Share your thoughts with us!
In this episode of Roots and Rhythm, Angie and Vlad get personal about what they do for work—and how they don’t let work do them. From setting boundaries to prioritizing self-care, they unpack the importance of creating harmony between career and personal life. Tune in for candid insights on how to define your own version of success, set achievable growth goals, and apply practical tips for achieving work-life balance without burning out.
Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a 9-to-5er, or juggling multiple roles, this episode will help you ge...
Duration: 00:55:57Lean on Me | Mental Health, Systems, & Recovery | Ep. 6
Jul 25, 2025Share your thoughts with us!
⚠️ Trigger Warning: This episode discusses mental illness, trauma, and recovery. If you are struggling, know that you are not alone. Support and healing are within reach. ❤️
In this honest and emotional episode, Vlad and Angie dive into their personal experiences with mental health, share how their family histories influence their healing, and offer insights on raising children through a trauma-informed lens.
Tune in for:
Living through and healing from mental illnessThe generational weight of unspoken mental health strugglesHow we are breaking cycles as parentsWhere to find sup... Duration: 00:41:35Cater 2 U | Traditions, Teamwork & Talking It Out | Ep. 5
Jul 18, 2025Share your thoughts with us!
This week on Roots & Rhythm, Angie and Vlad explore how cultural expectations and traditional roles shape relationships. From what they saw growing up to how they navigate partnership today, this episode dives deep into balancing responsibilities, advocating for yourself, and building a stronger marriage.
🎙 Whether you're dating, married, or figuring it all out, this convo is filled with real-life gems and honest insights.
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🌿 Boost your energy & confidence with The Natural E-Man → https://www.naturaleman.com/get-in-th...
Duration: 01:02:04Can We Talk? | Modern Love & Marriage | Ep.4
Jul 11, 2025Share your thoughts with us!
In this episode of Roots & Rhythm, Vlad and Angie dive deep into the dynamics of modern love—from married life to what dating would look like if they were single in today’s world. They reflect on how relationship expectations have shifted, the impact of culture and communication, and why setting clear standards is essential in both new and established relationships.
Whether you’re navigating love for the first time or figuring out how to keep the fire alive in a long-term commitment, this episode offers grounded insights, humor, and a whol...
Duration: 01:10:51No Money, More Problems | Ep. 3
Jul 04, 2025Share your thoughts with us!
🔍 Overview:
On this week’s episode of Roots & Rhythm 🎧, Vlad and Angie take an intimate look at how money shapes our lives—both then and now. Drawing on their family histories and hard-won lessons from married life, they reveal:
Family Business | Ep. 2
Jun 28, 2025Share your thoughts with us!
In this episode of Roots & Rhythm, Vlad Louissaint and Angie Rodriguez explore the lifelong bond between siblings—and what happens when family lines get crossed.
What You’ll Hear:
Childhood Reflections: Heartfelt stories of growing up with siblings and the roles they played in shaping Vlad and Angie’s lives.Evolving Relationships: How those early bonds have transformed as they’ve become spouses, parents, and friends.Conflict in the Family: Practical guidance on what to do when siblings and in-laws... Duration: 00:48:51The Debut | Ep. 1
Jun 20, 2025Share your thoughts with us!
Get ready to vibe with us on the first day of summer as we go LIVE for Episode 1 of Roots & Rhythm! Join your hosts, Vlad & Angie, for an authentic, heart-centered conversation.
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