Afros and Knives

Hey everyone,
What a way to close out the season! For our final episode, I had the absolute honor of sitting down with a true history-maker, Queen Victoria Butler, the master blender behind the incredible Uncle Nearest whiskey.
If you’ve ever sipped on Uncle Nearest, you know it’s more than just whiskey—it’s joy, history, and legacy in a bottle. This conversation was everything I hoped for and more, and I walked away feeling so inspired.
Here are a few things from our chat that I can’t stop thinking about:
From the Department of Justice to Master Blender: Can you imagine leaving a long, successful career to step into a world you’ve never known? Queen Victoria shared her incredible journey of how she went from a stable government job to blending the first batch of Uncle Nearest 1884 whiskey just 60 days after joining the team. It’s a powerful reminder that our lives have many chapters, and it’s never too late to embrace a new calling.
Whiskey is in Her Blood: Queen Victoria is the great-great-granddaughter of Nathan "Nearest" Green, the first-ever African American master distiller. She talked about how this legacy flows through her veins. While she didn’t have formal training, she trusted her palate, her curiosity, and the support of her team to grow into her role. It really makes you think about the gifts we inherit from our ancestors.
Leading with Joy: We talked about how Black women are so often portrayed through a lens of struggle. But the Uncle Nearest brand is built on joy, pride, and community. It’s a space where Black women are thriving, leading, and creating something beautiful. That joy is their secret ingredient, and you can truly feel it.
Building a Lasting Legacy: What does it mean to carry a legacy forward? Queen Victoria isn’t just preserving her great-great-grandfather’s story; she’s adding her own chapter as the first African American female master blender. We talked about what she hopes people will remember 100 years from now and how the family is already preparing the next generation to continue the tradition.
This conversation was the perfect blend of history, inspiration, and, of course, fantastic whiskey. It will challenge you to think about your own legacy and the magic you bring to the world.
Pour yourself a glass of something nice and tune in to the season finale. I promise you’ll love it.
Thank you so much for being part of the Afros and Knives community this season. It’s an honor to hold this space and share these sacred stories with you. I can’t wait to be back with you for the next one.
Take care, Tiffani
 
Episode Sponsor: Ten Speed Press

Hey everyone,
This week on the Afros and Knives podcast, I sat down with the incredible Jamila Norman, the founder of Patchwork City Farms and the star of Magnolia Network's "Homegrown."
Jamila is an urban farmer in Atlanta, but that title barely scratches the surface. She's a former environmental engineer, a community builder, and one of the most resilient people I've ever met. Her story is a powerful reminder of what it means to reclaim our connection to the land.
We talked about so much, but here are a few things that have been circling in my mind ever since:
The Fight for an Inch of Soil: Jamila started her farm on a one-acre plot at a middle school in a historically Black neighborhood. She transformed blighted land into a thriving source of fresh food. But after four years of building soil, planting orchards, and feeding her community, the land was paved over for a parking lot. We get into the deep pain of that loss and what it reveals about gentrification and who gets to decide what a community needs.
From Jamaica to Georgia: How does a girl with Jamaican and Trinidadian roots, raised in NYC on stories of her grandparents living off the land, end up becoming a leading voice for urban farming in the South?
Jamila’s journey from engineering to agriculture is a masterclass in following your purpose, even when the path isn't clear.
Food is Freedom: Jamila broke down why farming isn't just about growing vegetables—it's about sovereignty. When we control our food, our clothing, and our shelter, we control our destiny. It’s a powerful idea that connects directly to the legacy and future of Black land ownership.
From Farm to TV: How did she end up with her own show on the Magnolia Network? Jamila shares the story of finding a production team that respected her vision: to demystify farming and show people—especially us—that we can grow our own food and reconnect with the earth, right in our own backyards.
This conversation is for anyone who has ever planted a seed, fought for their community, or wondered how we can build a more just and sustainable future. Jamila’s story is one of resilience, vision, and the radical act of putting down roots.
I can’t wait for you to hear it.
Connect with Jamila:
Instagram: @patchworkcityfarms
Website: patchworkcityfarms.com
 
Talk soon,
TiffaniHost, Afros and Knives

She Built a Tequila Brand. They Told Her She Couldn't.
Hey everyone,
This week on Afros and Knives, I had a conversation that truly lit a fire in me, and I knew I had to share it with you.
I sat down with the incredible co-owner of Antioch Tequila, a brand she built from the ground up in an industry that wasn't exactly rolling out the welcome mat. She is one of the first Black women to own a tequila brand, and her story is a masterclass in resilience, vision, and legacy-building.
This isn't just about spirits; it's about spirit. Here are a few things from our chat that I can't stop thinking about:
Why Tequila? A Health-Conscious Choice. Forget what you think you know about tequila. For my guest, a pancreatic cancer survivor, choosing this spirit was a deeply personal and health-driven decision. We talked about how tequila, made from the agave plant, can be a cleaner, more natural option (when done right!). It’s a perspective that completely changed how I view the spirit.
Building Without a Blueprint. How do you launch a tequila brand when the spirit has to be made in Mexico and you're navigating two governments' regulations? She quite literally created her own path. She shared the nitty-gritty of going from a "crazy idea" to holding that first bottle in her hands. It’s a powerful reminder that sometimes, the path is made by walking it.
"You Have to Prove Yourself 10 Times Over." We got real about what it’s like to be a Black woman in a white, male-dominated space. She shared stories of being dismissed and patronized, while her husband was given immediate credibility. Her journey of earning respect through pure expertise and persistence is something so many of us can relate to, and it’s a story that needs to be heard.
Legacy is an Action Word. This conversation went beyond business. We talked about intentionally building generational wealth and teaching our kids financial literacy from day one. Her 13-year-old daughter already has her own LLC! It was a powerful discussion about creating options for the next generation, so they can build lives centered on passion, not just a paycheck.
This episode is for anyone who has ever been told their dream was too big, for every entrepreneur carving out their own lane, and for all of us who believe in building something that lasts.
Her story is a testament to what happens when passion meets purpose. I left our conversation feeling so inspired, and I know you will too.
Grab your favorite drink, get comfortable, and tune in.
 
Talk soon,
Tiffani Rozier
 

All of Christilisa’s jobs and skills lead her to help people craft the best dang cookbook with the best stories and recipes anyone can write.The Cookbook of You Project is available for presale. It officially starts on May 15th, 2021. This project guides people through 12 themes and teaches them to write a cookbook in a year. More details can be found at project.christilisa.co

Jinji is a Baltimore, Maryland native, and alumni of Indiana University. She spent her earliest professional years working in the Non-profit sector and Retail before working as a nutrition counselor in 2012. Shortly thereafter, Jinji studied the craft of chocolate making, opening Pure Chocolate by Jinji with her father; tapping into a decades old ancestral calling she continues to explore today through travel, writing and production. Jinji lives in Baltimore City with her husband, Paul, and son, Stokely Ashe.Bio Linkn/aAnything you want to add? (promos, events, new products)Chocolate & Justice is a web series we do at our shop that's accessible from anywhere via zoom. We interview various people across our industry, and outside of what we do as well to understand how justice and liberation play in our everyday lives as Makers.

Porshae' was a peculiar child, who stayed up late to read in the dark after her bedtime, preferred being in her grandmother's New Jersey kitchen, and remembers the Food Network Premier (November 23, 1993). Her father confirmed that she came running through the house, saying a channel only showed food, which he did not believe. A few days later, he walked past her room and confirmed this was a real thing; that was the start.

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.

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.

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.

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.