Young Christian host finds stepping ‘Stone’ exploring taboo topics

“ The stone which the builders refused is to become the head stone of the corner.” If the Scripture reading taken from Psalms 118 verse 22 is true to its words, then Taheera Stone is well on her way to becoming a leading host and media personality with her new life-changing initiative.

The vibrant Stone is the host of Tee Talk Tuesdays, an online show geared towards navigating young Christians on their spiritual journey to knowledge, understanding and enlightenment. Telling it like it is while inviting guests to share their stories, she explores several themes that are typically ignored by those walking in faith. These gray areas include the truths about relationships, marriage, porn addiction, and other topics that are considered taboo within the Church.

So, what inspired this young wife and mother of two to embark on this adventure? Believe it or not, her bout with anxiety and depression. After losing a dear friend and dance mate from the One Body One God Dance Company Ministry, she was thrust into new territory.

Compounded by her own health concerns and finding her personal path to God, she felt driven by divine intervention to be the very change she yearned for in the world. “I started to work that muscle called faith and prayer, and I started to pursue my purpose,” she said. The Jamaican, now living in New York, quickly put plans into motion to start Tee Talk Tuesdays.

Stone set sail at the start of the pandemic in 2020, when everybody was at home. As a former dance educator, teaching girls ranging from age 13 to 16, a major issue that her students brought to light was the fact that parents spoke at them and not to them. She kept that nugget in mind and ensured that during her own conversations, the lines of communication remained open.

She shared that all of her guests so far have been memorable, because all of the conversations were unique to their experiences. We have taken the liberty of listing a few: ‘Dollars and Sense’ with fashionenira; ‘Women: The Secret of Porrn Addictions’, featuring make-up artiste Charissa Zoe; ‘A Story of the Phrase: ‘Still I Rise’’ with dancer and performer Samantha Strachan; ‘Bad Marriage for Life?’ with musician Joel Grant, and ‘The Things that Christians Don’t Do that They Should’ with Kathryn Edwards, ‘Racism in America’, and others.

RACISM

Seeing her husband experience racism in the hands of law enforcement, Stone recalled the feelings of helplessness. Pregnant at the time of the incident, she watched the video that he sent to her in panic and sheer fear.

Owing to the climate of the time, with so many black men not being able to express themselves and losing their lives in the process, it was a scary ordeal.

“My imagination was running wild. But thank God, the police officer he came across was different. Even though the racist individual told a blatant lie, saying a weapon was in his vehicle, I’m so happy for the positive outcome. He has a law degree, so he knows the law and he was a police officer in Jamaica before we migrated. He knows the law and he was able to be articulate and speak up for himself,” she explained.

The biggest lesson that this journey has taught Stone is “to begin”. Clouded by doubt and raining on her own parade, she noted that the only difference between herself and megastar hosts like her mentor, Oprah Winfrey, is that she started. “I made a step and persons would message me after a live and say they were blessed by the message, expressing gratitude for the perspective. So that has been my biggest take away.”

At the end of 2021, she fell off course due to her pregnancy, balancing a baby, her husband’s new job prospect and the hunt to find another apartment. She missed her avenue of communication and expression, connecting audiences and guests living within the diaspora and those home in Jamaica.

Now Stone is back, reviving Tee Talk Tuesdays with revised format. These fresh weekly videos taking on a pre-recorded approach while focusing more on relationships.

What keeps her motivated is that she has used, invested and added onto her gifting that God has bestowed upon her. “I want to know that in how I’m parenting, partnering my spouse or making new career moves in real estate, I’m always making progress,” she added.

This jovial and passionate people person hopes for her show to grow wings and become more than she could ever dream of. “The world is in a runaway train. So I’m focused on stirring up conversations among young people and young adults, to set free those who are being held captives by various situations. I want Tee Talk Tuesdays to become a community and a worldwide ministry,” declared Stone, who says she is “putting is all in God’s hands”.

Taheera Stone is on Instagram, @mrsteestone.

krysta.anderson@gleanerjm.com