THE BOUGIE BALDIE PODCAST | SEASON 2

Season two of the Bougie Baldie Podcast premieres with guest Erica Hill, a poet, social justice advocate, social entrepreneur, blogger, and author of the alopecia anthology chapter “Finding Joy After Alopecia.” The host announces the Bougie Baldie Show is now available on the Zondra TV Network (Apple TV, Amazon Fire, and Roku) and shares that this season will feature guests focused on women’s hair loss. Erica discusses her alopecia areata journey beginning during the stress of her father’s cancer diagnosis (2016) and his passing (2017), her experiences with locs falling out, dermatologist visits, ointments and injections, a 30-day JAK inhibitor clinical trial with negative side effects, and her decision to embrace being bald. 

She explains triggers tied to grief and stress, ongoing scalp irritation, and strategies for coping such as journaling, meditation, music, and finding “childlike joy.” Erica shares why she contributed to the anthology to increase awareness and support children—especially Black girls—living with alopecia, and she reads an excerpted poem from her chapter. The conversation also covers her work as CEO of Vision Street Research, LLC, providing project management, workforce development training, market research, and data analysis for Black-led businesses and community organizations, including internships for youth focused on soft skills, career exploration, and self-care during the pandemic, plus financial empowerment work on Long Island. 

Erica highlights advocacy through NAAF as a legislative liaison, including education around wig coverage and using data to broaden understanding that alopecia is more than “just hair.” She previews upcoming Joy After Alopecia merch and tools and directs viewers to joyafteralopecia.com.