This Cannabolish Ad Features Cannabis Consuming Moms

Watch this responsible cannabis consuming mom find an odor solution when she realizes that her book club friends are due any minute after she has been "relaxing"! We love the twist at the end and the take on cannabis consumption by everyday people. This spot does a great job highlighting how hard it can be to come forward about cannabis consumption. The days of the stigma surrounding cannabis consumers are over and this video is the perfect example of responsible adult cannabis usage. Now that more states than ever have ended the prohibition on recreational and medicinal cannabis consumption, a new trend is emerging of Mom's harnessing the plant's power of relaxation. Soon the "Wine Mom" will be replaced by the "Weed Mom".

This ad for Cannabolish, a scent eliminating odor spray, asks the viewer to re-image the people who may need an all natural smoke scent remover. Cannabolish is sold at Amazon.com & Bed Bath & Beyond and was created by the team at OMI Industries. This funny video shows how the candle and spray from Cannabolish can help to freshen the air when unexpected company arrives. This is the future of cannabis media and comedy and we love that this ad reflects what a diverse range of consumers there actually are. The less stigma surrounding this plant and the more facts we can uncover will only help to move the conversation forward. De-stigmatizing consumption is one of the first steps to normalization of cannabis use.

If you liked this commercial and want to see what kind of content High Herstory can create for your brand, visit our Work with Us Page to learn more.

This post and the ad was made in partnership with Cannabolish.

Canna Culture: The Healing Herb-Story of RXMaryJade

It’s time I come out of the canna-closet. My story began when I was 15 years old. That’s when I started using cannabis recreationally, but I never paid attention to any potential medicinal effects until age 22.

At this point in my life, I felt I wanted to change my life to become “healthy”. I was in the process of losing weight and thought that by eliminating all sugar, carbs, and intoxicants I was doing myself a great justice. One hundred pounds and one year later, I began to incorporate these unhealthy foods and alcohol back into my life. However, not cannabis.

Around this time I had moved into an apartment with my ex-boyfriend in New York City. Things were great until I started getting sick. It was so bad at one point that I was sent to the ER after returning to work the day after Thanksgiving. But they were unable to tell me what issues I was having with my stomach.

Shortly after that I began experiencing tremors so intense I would collapse to the floor, unable to move freely. The episodes between stomach illness and uncontrollable tremors became closer and closer together until it drove a wedge in our relationship.

I don’t remember what influenced me to start utilizing cannabis again, but it was exactly what I needed. I would call the delivery service as much as possible, trying to buy the strongest strains they had available. This was when I began to realize that cannabis was an essential part of my well-being; it was a biological need.

Time passed and I moved back to New Jersey to begin my single life and continue my massage therapy education. While in massage school I completed a case study on fibromyalgia. From this study, I was led to believe that I may be dealing with this condition. My diagnosis of fibromyalgia was confirmed by my doctor in 2013. Fibromyalgia does not have a rhyme or reason to it. My body will shake uncontrollably from tremors due to any type of stress. Days can go by without eating. I also collapse to the floor from fatigue which takes away my ability to walk. For four years I tried to use street cannabis to maintain my condition. It is nearly impossible to get the correct strain on the street. Unknowingly, I would get sativas that would spiral my tremors out of control.

At this point, I decided to really educate myself about the medicinal virtues of cannabis. It took 3 years out of a 4 year span of trial and error until I decided to take a trip to Denver. Prior to my trip, I did not have the capabilities to be able to successfully walk more than 5 minutes without pain. I used ONE Mary’s Medicinal 1:1 CBD/THC patch and that same day I was able to walk 5 miles. From this discovery, I knew I needed CBD and began purchasing Charlotte’s Web (a high CBD/low THC strain of cannabis) regularly.

The majority of my symptoms had significantly decreased and I was working more regularly without pain and flare ups.

I received my medical marijuana card from the state of New Jersey in 2017. I have never been so grateful for anything in my life. Cannabis has given me the ability to work for myself. Cannabis has given me my life back and for this I am willing to give my life to cannabis. My mission is to help as many patients and non-patients with this plant as possible. I want to spread education in reference to cannabis and to help to provide empowerment to others. It is important for me to remove the stigma. This IS medicine, this medicine gives lives back.

Let us live.

Follow RXMaryJade Sancho-Duser on Instagram.

More About RXMary Jade

In 2017, I received my New Jersey Medical Marijuana card and my life  changed for the better. Now I live my life as a fibromyalgia fighter and not a victim.  If you aren't aware, Fibromyalgia is a condition that displays as musculoskeletal pain accompanied by extreme fatigue, mood, and cognitive issues. I would endure long periods of solitude because it seemed the pain was never ending. The fatigue would not allow me to walk nor hold even a glass of water. Now I enjoy regular hikes and even decided to use my collective knowledge to help others.

As a Licensed Massage Therapist who specializes in Trigger Point and Neuromuscular Therapy, I study the body. I study the pain. I listen and pay attention because most of us ignore our bodies. I study both eastern and western theories to help formulate care plans to both prevent and decrease symptomatic discomfort of various pathologies. From this a great idea came to fruition: RXMaryJade.​

The name RXMaryJade was born from the love of both of my Grandmothers, both named "Mary". Each Mary taught me valuable life lessons. On my mothers side I was taught how through random acts of kindness and mindfulness one person can better the lives of many. From my father's mother, I saw the value in opening your home to people from all walks of life and making sure they never go hungry and without a place to rest their head.

​With these two strong female influences, I knew I was bound on the path of the caregiver. However not only do I help others heal in my travels, I teach them the valuable skills that they can use to heal themselves. I like to think of myself as a Modern American Shaman, a realistic holistic, if you will.

Interview: Filmmaker Shirley Cruz

Shirley Cruz is a bilingual multimedia content creator based in NYC. She is a Cinematographer, Photographer, Director, and FAA Certified Pilot in Command. She currently shoots, directs, edits, and produces for digital, television, film, commercial, print, and new media content. Her clients include: NBC Universal, Woodridge Productions, DIRECTV, AT&T, Soze, Bare Necessities, XXL Mag, ATTN, Spotify, Gibson Guitars, Tic Tac, Make Up For Ever, Flag Award, Asana Rebel, K+12, Conde Nast and more. In Season One of High Herstory, Shirley brings an anarchist and orator, Lucy Parsons, to life. You will spy her playing many supporting characters throughout the season, and she also ran camera or was shooting BTS on almost every single episode. We could not have done it without Shirley Cruz! 

She chatted with us about what she’s passionate about, our fun times on set, and her production company, Extra Syrup.

High Herstory: Tell us about yourself, what are your passions? 

Shirley Cruz: I am a bilingual multimedia content creator based in NYC. I am a Cinematographer, Photographer, Director, and FAA Certified Pilot in Command. I currently shoot, direct, edit, and produce for digital, television, film, commercial, print, and new media content.

I was born and raised in New York City and have been able to call this my home my entire life. I am first generation American and grew up in a bilingual household. I was an only child and spent a lot of time in front of a television screen (aka my informal babysitter). It’s how I learned and taught myself and my mother English. The hours spent watching TV from a young age shaped my interest in film, photography, directing and storytelling. I knew that I wanted to be in that world, but I wasn’t exactly sure in what capacity. I attended Frank Sinatra School of the Arts as a Double Major in Drama and Music. My time there really piqued my interest in writing and shooting short films driven by strong characters based on real life stories. During my college years I started working in the fashion realm during the inception of the social media boom for Gucci, Burberry, and Custo Barcelona. 

After college I leveled up and started working in television, commercial work, documentaries, and films. In 2015 I started working for DIRECTV Latin America as a Producer/Shooter/Editor and worked on the Rio Olympics, World Cup, and launched HBO’s streaming services to the US Hispanic and Latin American countries. I also worked in the camera department for Season 2 and 3 of Orange is the New Black, and day played on a variety of TV shows shot in NYC, such as Blue Bloods, Law and Order SVU, The Knick, The Blacklist, The Following and more. I later joined Condé Nast Entertainment as their first unofficial female and BIPOC staff Studio Videographer and Coordinating Studio Producer and worked across all their brands. In 2019 I launched my own full scale production company Extra Syrup. I currently reside in Astoria, Queens. 

Motto: Stick to the side roads. 

High Herstory: Tell us what it was like to play Lucy Parsons? 

Shirley Cruz: It was fun exploring and developing her character since she predates film and there weren’t many things to reference her on. I shaped her character around literature and photographs that I found of her— specifically her infamous quote “ I am an Anarchist” I literally thought of the Sex Pistols Song “Anchary in the UK” and got transformed into my punk rock self of kicking ass and giving no fucks, flipping the bird and not caring. #Unapologetic #NotSorry

High Herstory: You play supporting characters, were a camera operator, and were an all-around pivotal contributor on Season One. Do you have a favorite moment from on set? 

Oh gosh, where do I begin! I mean, getting into costume is probably the funnest. Seriously the moment someone puts on a wig you see a huge personality shift. You see everyone around you slowly transform into their character. I loved twinning with Annette, I loved playing Kendall’s wife, I loved the times that the dogs would walk into frame. 

High Herstory: What was the funniest moment?

Shirley Cruz: Probably Jenny giving birth and Zombie Iman delivering it haha!

High Herstory: As an actress and crew member what made you want to be a part of a project that is pro-cannabis? 

Shirley Cruz: So many reasons. What drew me first was the fact the High Herstory provided a platform for women created by women. As a Cannabis advocate myself, I love pushing the boundaries in a space that’s predominantly male. 

High Herstory: How has the prohibition of cannabis affected your life? 

Shirley Cruz: The hoops and ladders people have to go through to get a good connect. I think it’s really dumb how neighboring states sell recreational weed, but yet NY hasn’t stepped up to the plate. It will   just encourage people to head across the river as soon as it’s legal in NJ.

High Herstory: You were boots on the ground this summer during the protests in NYC. Can you tell us a little about that experience? 

Shirley Cruz: I don’t want to say it was eye opening because, as a minority this is a constant reality to my life. If anything from this experience, I have learned to sympathize instead of getting angry at people with white privilege that are just discovering the atrocities that plague our communities of color. 

Actress and Transgender Advocate: Pooya Mohseni

Pooya Mohseni is an Iranian American actor, writer, filmmaker, and Transgender activist. You may recognize her from roles in Big Dogs and Madam Secretary.  We were so honored to work with her on High Herstory where she tells the powerful story of transgender pioneer Lucy Hicks Anderson. In her mission to spread love and the awareness of every human being’s innate worthiness, Pooya has found a voice as an advocate as well as actor & writer. She talks to us about Lucy, her new feature film, and her journey to advocacy.

High Herstory: Tell us about yourself, what are your passions? 

Pooya Mohseni: I’m an actor, a story teller, a trans advocate and activist, an immigrant, a woman, a human. I want to touch the world. I want to reach inside people’s hearts and hug them. I have a need to feel that I’m doing something to make the world a bit kinder, a bit more self aware, a bit brighter and definitely more inclusive for all people, not just some. That’s what gets me up in the morning and helps me through ups and downs.

High Herstory: You tell the Story of Lucy Hicks Anderson in Season One. Why do you feel her story needs to be told? 

Pooya Mohseni: Lucy is a trailblazer. She knew who she was, even when the world kept telling her that she was wrong. She persevered, even when all she had was that feeling in her gut, telling her, pushing her to keep going. That is strength. That is resolve. That is a human being who is not being seen and respected for who she is, but she doesn’t give up her fight and now, decades after her passing, she’s an inspiration, a role model. People like that should always be looked at and studied, because in their journey, we can find the strength to follow our truth, our path.

High Herstory: Do you have a favorite moment from being on set with High Herstory? What was the funniest moment?

Pooya Mohseni: I loved every moment of it, so I won’t pick just one! I was among people I love and respect. People who inspire me, support me and extend their friendships to me. That has great value to me. I don’t know what the funniest moment was, but the funnest moment was when I looked into the camera and could feel Lucy running through my thoughts as I directed the court with her truth, her strength and her humanity. Did I say Sass? That Too! That was incredible!

High Herstory: As an actress and storyteller what made you want to be a part of a project that is pro-cannabis?  

Pooya Mohseni: I believe in the magic of cannabis and its healing powers. There has been so much propaganda around cannabis and political legalities around it, that most people don’t see the amazing things it can do. Also, as someone who has survived trauma and eating issues, I personally know the benefits I have felt, so it felt like a great fit for me as a storyteller and a human being!

High Herstory: How has history wronged the transgender community? How can representation help? 

Pooya Mohseni: History has tried to erase us or portray us as villains, or victims that are somehow ill or confused. But, when we show people members of this community who embody resolve, determination and humanity, we humanize our community and we change the message from “them” to “us”. Through representation, good representation, we can change the narrative from “those people we’ve never met” to “our neighbors, our friends, our family members, co-workers and lovers”. In short, we TAKE DOWN THE WALL!

High Herstory: You are a fierce advocate for transgender right, immigrants, and women tell us about that journey?  

Pooya Mohseni: I never set out to be an advocate. I didn’t think I was the right person for it, because I’m just me. But as I keep moving forward and finding myself, as we all do, I have come to realize that what I have gone through is not that unique, as a woman, as an immigrant or as a trans individual. So, if my lived experiences and what I’ve learned can help anyone, then it brings me great joy and pride to be able to use my knowledge and talents to make sure that others feel a little better about who they are and know that they are worthy of love and respect, regardless of their journey or their color.

High Herstory: What advocacy work are you focusing on now?

Pooya Mohseni: I’m a member of the advisory board for Ackerman Institute’s Gender and Family Project, which focuses on giving support, community and education to families with gender variant children. I believe that children from our community are most vulnerable, especially with all the legal arguments about bathroom use or sports in schools. However, I invite people to find what is true to them. I love children and want to protect trans and non binary kids from people who want to make them disappear. That’s me. But if you feel more strongly about immigrant support or transgender equality, by all means, support them. If we all follow our hearts and do what is right, then the world can be better. This is what is important to me. I invite you to find yours.

High Herstory: As an actor & writer tell us about what you are working on now? How can we support your work? 

Pooya Mohseni: Our feature film See You Then, written by Mari Walker & Kristen Uno, directed by Mari Walker and co-starring the amazing Lynn Chen just made its premiere at SXSW. The reviews are great, but this is just the beginning. For an indie film to have life, we need word of mouth. There are going to be more festivals down the line, like: DisOrient, Atlanta FIlm Festival and more. I believe in this movie, its message and everyone who worked on it. I want people to see it and hopefully they will love it and connect with it. Then I ask you to tell your friends about it and share it with your network. That’s how you can support our movie and other indie filmmakers who want their message heard.

High Herstory: Who is an important woman to you, that we would all benefit from knowing more about?

We’re always looking for celebrities, but I find we can find inspiration from everyone. Our mothers, aunts, neighbors, friends. I find the stories of the women in my family inspiring. I don’t want to be them or even be like them, but I have found things in their journeys that give me strength. Their hurdles, their regrets, their resolve. I love people who don’t give up in the face of adversity. If I was going to mention one woman who is well known, it would most probably be Michelle Obama. Her combination of strength, resolve, grace and intelligence is for the books! She inspires me with one single quote “When they go low. We go high”. That is the essence that I try to carry in all I do. Maybe that resonates with you, maybe it doesn’t. Again, I invite you to seek the light that rings true for you. Our truths don’t have to be the same, so long as our truth brings us strength, clarity and contentment. Much love.

Follow Pooya on Instagram.

Netflix Star: Leah Kreitz

Did you see Netflix’s “Dash & Lily”? During the Christmas holiday season, two teenagers living in NYC develop mutual romantic feelings as they open up to each other by trading messages as well as dares in a notebook around a multitude of locations. Along the way, they deal with how their blossoming romance affects and is impacted by friends, family members, and previous love interests. Leah Kreitz, who plays Aryn, a member of Lily's caroling group.

Born in Los Angeles, she was first seen on screen while her mother was pregnant on the family's annual holiday special as "The Gomez Family Singers." After living in sunny California, Leah's family moved to even sunnier Las Vegas. She graduated from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas with her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Stage & Screen Acting and has since moved to Brooklyn, where she currently resides with her husband Gabe Quiroga and their cat Cecilia.

In addition to acting, Leah and her twin sister Dana Kreitz are developing projects under their production company, Hapa Media, and she is also a Resident Artist with New Light Theater Project. When not working, Leah can usually be found with her nose in a book, bent backwards in a yoga class, flying trapeze at TSNY, or hitting the slopes either upstate or back on the west coast.

When we met Leah Kreitz, it was an instant bond surrounded by laughter and that electric excitement of a new friendship with a like minded soul. She can sing like an angel, dance like a fever, and even flies through the air on a trapeze, all with an intelligence and presentness that will knock your socks off.

She is currently appears in Season One of High Herstory.

High Herstory: Tell us about yourself, what are your passions? 

Leah Kreitz: I’m a Filipino-American actor & storyteller based in Brooklyn, New York. I’m passionate about intersectional feminism, representation in the media, yoga, flying trapeze, equity in storytelling, sustainability, crop tops, and Harry Potter (like a true millennial) but JK Rowling doesn’t get any more of my money.

High Herstory: We love Hapa Media!  Tell us about your production company and why “fuck underrepresentation” is such an important stance to take as story tellers? 

Leah Kreitz: And Hapa Media loves High Herstory! Hapa Media was born out of a desperate need to see more people who look like me in front of and behind the camera. Hapa means mixed Asian or mixed race, and our focus is on telling stories through a mixed lens. I’m half filipino & fall into a category that’s not easily defined, so people frequently have no idea what to do with me. We’re interested in bringing to the forefront of cinema people who previously haven’t fit into the “right boxes” in this industry.

We as a society have been conditioned to see through the lens of white cis male protaganists, which clearly has a colossal impact on the real world and our default heightened empathy for white cis males. They are not the only category of humans whose stories matter (nor are they the only people who can work a camera & a boom mic).

Even in my own writing, I have found myself initially assuming that my lead character is a white man and needing to actively re-frame in order to adjust. This is learned. And I truly believe that we as humans and consumers of stories can, through seeing it on screen, learn to shift our defaults and begin to identify with and empathize with previously marginalized people and their experiences.

High Herstory: You joined us on set to play a warrior and one of Mulan’s friends, as well as the Emperor.  What was it like to be on set with High Herstory to help tell the story of Mulan?  

Leah Kreitz: What a fun day! I was on set with my twin Dana Kreitz, and Mulan was played by an old friend of mine, Celia Au, who I hadn’t seen in ages and she is just absolutely the coolest and funniest lady out there. The High Herstory sets are my favorite because there’s no bullshit – we’re there to tell a story. You always feel like you can collaborate and have a wild idea & it will get heard & and it will be fucking fun.

High Herstory: What was the funniest moment?

Leah Kreitz: When I put on the emperor mustache. I looked just like my uncle.

Also, Dana and I on horseback. I can’t stop laughing just thinking about it.

High Herstory: As an actress and storyteller what made you want to be a part of a project that is pro-cannabis? 

The war on drugs is racist. Affecting the public opinion of cannabis in a positive way is a fight against that racism.

High Herstory: How will  representation help combat racism against the asian community? 

Normalize viewing Asian-Americans as  part of America. Asian people as people. Humanize everybody.

High Herstory: What are you working on now? 

Hapa is currently in post-production on a collection of short films titled “On Death & Dying” which the team is really excited about. We shared our pilot “Coming Out” on vimeo at the start of the pandemic & used its uncanny similarities to current times to fundraise with City Harvest, which helps feed people in need of food in NYC.

Covid-times has been hard on live theater. The  New Light Theater Project , where I am a resident artist, has begun creating radio dramas, utilizing dialogue, music, and sound effects. They just shared “Invincible Ones”, a new play about badass women dealing with grief, in which I play the lead Zoe.

Me personally? “Dash & Lily” premiered on Netflix over the winter and I was stoked to have a recurring role in such an awesomely diverse cast. I’ve also been partnering with the Women of Color Conference  (coming up this March 20-21) to help bring attention to the powerful work that they’re doing. Other than that, I’m mostly just chilling, singing, and working on throwing a layout at Trapeze School New York. It’s been a stressful year, so I’m working on being okay with the downtime and not feeling like I need to write “Hamlet”.

Who is an important woman to you that we would all benefit from knowing more about? 

Dana Kreitz! My sister is the tits. The  Women of Color Conference  get exposure to industry leaders through engaging panels, training them to see the power in both others and themselves.

Follow Leah’s career on Instagram and keep posted on The Upcoming collection of short films “On Death & Dying” from Hapa Media.

Interview: Actress Celia Au

Born in Hong Kong & raised in Brooklyn, Celia grew up playing sports and having a huge imagination. Film and television consistently inspired her childhood career aspirations- first, she wanted to become a lawyer, then a police officer, then a marine, then a Kung Fu master. . . and then even a Power Ranger!

It wasn't long before Celia realized that it would be impossible for her to have all these professions. The only way to bring these professions to life was to go onscreen and become the best Actor she could be. You may have seen actress Celia Au kicking ass on Netflix’s Wu Assassins, living out her Power Ranger dreams! You can also her on the High Herstory series playing legendary warrior Hua Mulan.

Celia exudes creative energy and the glowing goodness of a person who walks the walk and leads the way! Celia let us know how she uses her superpowers to stop bullying, the value of representation, and what she’s working on now.

High Herstory: Tell us about yourself,  what are your passions? 

Celia Au: Hi, Sup! My name is Celia Au. I am an actress/producer. I feel that as storytellers we have a superpower to tell stories that can help change people’s perception of the world. So I want to use this superpower to tell inspiring stories that will promote love and empathy in the world. I feel like we are living in a time where there is so much hater-ade right now. If we can show people what it is like walking in the other person’s shoes so we have a better understanding towards one another. You check out some of my work on Netflix’s Wu Assassins, AMC’s Lodge 49 and I have a movie coming out this month called Shoplifters of the World!

High Herstory: What was it like to play Mulan in High Herstory Season One? Did the story of Mulan have any personal meaning to you? 

Celia Au: Playing Mulan was a ton of fun! It was so nice to be working with my friends. The High Herstory set  was a very friendly and fun environment to be in. Mulan is definitely personal to me because she is the FIRST ASIAN DISNEY PRINCESS!!!! Seeing an Asian on screen kicking butt was amazing! This is why representation  matters so we can see and relate to characters that look like ourselves.

High Herstory: What was the funniest moment on set? 

Celia Au: Man it’s been a while….. I think the fight scene. We were all bloody, laughing and cracking jokes but trying to keep a straight face once the camera rolls. Good times!

High Herstory: You brought the action to Mulan with such style!  What form of martial arts do you study?  Do you enjoy the action side of acting? 

Celia Au: Thank you! I like this being known as the stylish Mulan! 😉 I do love the action side of acting cause it is a lot of fun. It’s definitely a way to force me to workout and make my Sifu proud. As for the form of martial arts….I studied Chinese kung-fu, Tiger forms and Shaolin forms.

High Herstory: This year, we have seen an increase in prejudice & hate crimes against the Asian community. Do you want to speak to that?

Celia Au: STOP ASIAN HATE! For the last year, I’ve been part of different campaigns to raise awareness about asian hate incidents and why it is not okay. Ultimately, we are all Americans. Why are we discriminating against each other? We should learn from history and know that we work better together.

High Herstory: You do a lot of work to bring awareness to systematic hate and promote anti bullying. Tell us about the PSA video you made last year #washthehate? 

Celia Au: In the beginning of the Covid, I tweeted a video that I saw of an asian guy on the subway getting sprayed with a can or aerosol and getting called names. That video went viral on my platform and a lot of news outlets were reaching out to me about the video but I was telling them that I didn’t shoot it and redirect them to the owner of the video. Then a PR company that I am friends with the IW group reached out saying that my tweet inspired them to start a campaign to raise awareness and asked me to join them.  Literally the day they announced the campaign was the same day where our ex-president coined the term “Chinese Virus”.

High Herstory: How can representation and the elevation of Asian storytellers help in this current instance and beyond?

Celia Au: Tell more asian stories, make our stories into film and tv shows. If our stories are being seen and being heard we can fight against the term “model minority”. So the world doesn’t see us as these perfect ideals. We share the same struggles, experiences and face discriminations as well.

High Herstory: Who is an important woman to you that we would all benefit from knowing more about? 

Celia Au: I don’t think this woman is important to me per say. But she is important in Chinatown. Her name was Sister Ping, she was the “snakehead” of Chinatown. To the outside the story is that she is the ruthless head of the underground human trafficking ring. But when I heard her story from some of the people in Chinatown they said that she took them out of China when times were bad and gave them an opportunity in American and gave them an opportunity that they can’t have in China. So I think her story is pretty fascinating.

Follow Celia on instagram @itsceliaau and see her on Netflix’s Wu Assassins, AMC’s Lodge 49 and her new movie, Shoplifters of the World.



Interview: Actress and Astrologer Iman the Alchemist

Iman Richardson, who goes by Iman the Alchemist, is a New York based actress and astrologer. Her cosmic identity is comprised of a Capricorn sun, Cancer rising and Libra moon. Upon graduating from NYU, she decided to put her Journalism & Africana Studies degrees to good use by becoming an actor. When she isn’t performing spell work, you can see her acting in commercials for The Home Depot, Kohls, Dropbox, Verizon, & Olay and on TV in shows like “Crashing” (HBO), “Jack & Triumph” (NBC Universal/Cartoon Network). Web: Frank & Lamar (IFC), and of course High Herstory. She is featured in two episodes of Season One, in which she embodies the iconic Josephine Baker and also tells us the story of Stagecoach Mary.

High Herstory: Tell us about yourself, what are your passions? 

Iman the Alchemist: I am VERY passionate about Education. Had a career in it for 13 years but left recently to focus on acting and astrology. During that time I wrote grants, designed curricula, trained teachers, etc. As a result, my style as an astrologer is inherently didactic and experiential. I want clients to learn how the birth chart can be your bff in life. 

Right now I’m obsessed with The Cosmos, Quantum Physics, Egyptology, EATING BOOKS FOR BREAKFAST and Manifestation Ceremonies.

High Herstory: Tell us more about your astrology practice.

Iman the Alchemist: As an astrologer, my practice is SOUL-CENTERED, PRACTICAL & FUN. I harness my SUPERPOWER to CURATE spiritual-material FORMULAS that help you understand SELF and CO-CREATE with the stars rather than be directed by them.

High Herstory: Tell us what it was like to play Josephine Baker?

Iman the Alchemist: It was trippy because I’ve always loved her…but becoming her invited me to process the gravity of her contributions to art and to the world both in my mind and in body. This woman’s heart was ginormous. I still can’t believe she was a real person. It felt like the universe was teaching me about the power I have as a black female artist to be smart, courageous and weird AF without apology. And she made that platform.

High Herstory: You also tell the story of Stagecoach Mary in Season One. Why did you want to share her story?

Iman the Alchemist: It’s like my past self knew stories of her would matter in a way that they never have been allowed to in the history of this country until now. I strongly believe that it’s important for the psyche of women who look like me and for the psyche of the collective, to engage with narratives that highlight the ancestral roots of Black Girl Magic.

Nothing was more rewarding than being given the platform to tell the tale of a strong BLACK WOMAN who was both REVERED and FEARED by WHITE MEN.

High Herstory: Do you have a favorite moment from the High Herstory set?

Iman the Alchemist: To be honest, I know I had the best time of my life. I also know it was the highest I had ever been so my memories are a bit foggy. BUT I do remember having this super clear moment in which I was like in my body and out of it simultaneously. I just remember looking around and feeling so fulfilled. I was surrounded by a team of bad asssss lady humans (and Chase) of ALL ethnic backgrounds, and there was nothing but intelligence, love and competency in the air.  Powerful AF.

Also, THE COSTUME FITTING WAS PRETTY DOPE. It was eerie how everything fit so perfectly.  The team did a phenomenal job with the wardrobe. With everything, really.

I also remember being in awe of the woman who legit had the role of just rolling fast ass joints. Like what. I almost kidnapped her but i’m not into prison.

High Herstory: What was the funniest moment?

Iman the Alchemist: Attacking Jenny with fake human feces in my hands and random face sores.

High Herstory: What are you working on now? 

Iman the Alchemist: As an actress…auditioning. I’m also doing a lot of work to refine my Astrology Practice. Also…I’m working on managing my Energy Field. Trying to deprogram the thoughts and behaviors that keep my vibration low in service of ones that allow me to act in alignment with my higher self. 

High Herstory: As an actress what made you want to be a part of a project that is pro Cannabis? 

Both Cannabis and acting allow me to experience dimensions of reality in a way that is healing. So I saw working on this project as a much needed platform to explore where and how the two intersect. 

Also, sometimes I like to have fun.

High Herstory: Who is another important woman to you that we would all benefit from knowing more about? 

Kartina Richardson aka Mama Kar. And not just because she is my older sister-cousin. She’s truly a spiritual warrior and is dedicated to healing the trauma in our family and the trauma of the collective through her healing work as a Clairvoyant, Spiritual Detective and Ancestral Rootworker. 

Beyond our love of working with Iman as an actress, all of us here at High Herstory have had such incredibly informative and powerful astrology sessions with Iman. We could not recommend her more highly.  Working with Iman taps you into an ancestral plane, you can feel your vibration rise. To book a session and learn more about her work check out her website.

Video: A musical number about bongs - Watch "The Bong Song" Now