After a hiatus filled with international exploration and life-changing decisions, Octavia returns to share why she disappeared—and what happened when she spent 60 days living in Portugal as a 54-year-old cancer survivor testing what international life could look like.

Recording from the Algarve region, she opens up about her 8-year dream of exploring life abroad, how a stage 3 colorectal cancer diagnosis delayed everything, and the physical transformation that happened when she finally spent two months living like a local in Portugal.

This episode is raw, honest, and deeply personal about what happens when you survive something that forces you to ask: "If I get through this, what do I actually want my life to look like?"—and then having the courage to explore that answer.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

- The backstory: Why Portugal has been calling for 8 years and what finally made it possible

- Physical transformation: How 30 days reduced inflammation, improved LARS syndrome symptoms, and reset her nervous system

- The Puerto Vallarta chapter: Why she fell in love with Mexico too, and how astrocartography explained being pulled to two different places

- "Safe and free" decoded: What those words mean practically for Black women living outside the U.S.

- The visa reality: Digital Nomad Visa process and what's actually involved

- Culture Lit's evolution: How the podcast is expanding to include wellness, entrepreneurship, and international living while still centering Black romance

BOOKS MENTIONED:

Can't Get Enough - Kennedy Ryan

Plus Size Player - Danielle Allen

Quasim Series - Jahquel J

Tender Offer - Tanvier Peart

Works by Regina Black, Tati Richardson, Mea Monique

RESOURCES:

🗺️ Astrocartography: astro-seek.com

Find this and other recommendations at The CultureLit online BookShop and support independent bookstores at Visit my bookshop!

Culture Lit is a community celebrating black women and black love, and a reminder that black women deserve joy, love success, second chances, and all the beautiful magic the world has to offer.

Please follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you listen to your podcasts!

Let me know what you’re reading, what you’re thinking, and what you’re thinking about what you’re reading.

If this episode resonated:

✨ Leave a 5-star review

✨ Share with someone considering a big life change

✨ Tag @becomingoctavia with your takeaways

Culture Lit celebrates Black romance novels, Black women's wellness, and the courage to write your own story—on the page and in real life.

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Music credit: Cool Jazz Beat by FASOL PROD

A Subito Media production

Mentioned in this episode:

If you're enjoying the show, join our community at culturelitpodcast.com.

Visit my bookshop!

Octavia shares a moment of pure alignment - discovering Tracee Ellis Ross's solo travel series while living her own Portuguese adventure. This episode is about the courage to travel alone, living fully at any age, and trusting that your dreams don't have expiration dates. Plus, an emotional deep-dive into "August Lane" by Regina Black - a devastating and beautiful second-chance romance set in the country music world.

August Lane" by Regina Black

The Art of Scandal" by Regina Black

Find this and other recommendations at The CultureLit online BookShop and support independent bookstores at Visit my bookshop!

Culture Lit is a community celebrating black women and black love, and a reminder that black women deserve joy, love success, second chances, and all the beautiful magic the world has to offer.

Please follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you listen to your podcasts!

Let me know what you’re reading, what you’re thinking, and what you’re thinking about what you’re reading.

STAY CONNECTED

Instagram: becomingoctavia

Twitter: xooctaviamarie

FB: BecomingOctaviaMarie

Music credit: Cool Jazz Beat by FASOL PROD

A Subito Media production

Mentioned in this episode:

You can find all the books I've reviewed in this podcast in my Bookshop! Visit https://bookshop.org/shop/CultureLitPodcast to get your copy!

Visit my bookshop!

As you may know, I've had to start over at the age of 54 and I want to share something that's been on my heart. Today, I want to delve into the profound impact of storytelling and the many ways that the stories we talk about here shape our culture. Your story might be the most radical thing you've been keeping to yourself. We know resilience, we know authenticity, and we know how to live.

What is really exciting is that we're seeing a surge of black romance novels being adapted for screen, featuring titles like Tia Williams' 'The Perfect Find' and 'Seven Days in June,' Kennedy Ryan's 'Skyland' series, and JL Seeger's 'New Haven Romance Series.' Never underestimate the importance of visibility and representation in media! Reclaim your narrative and invest in self-care as acts of visibility and political resistance.

To help with this, I'd like to introduce the Wellness Ritual Bundle and Skin Ritual Bundle at https://jayneandbloom.com/collections/gift-guide. These bundles are an invitation to show up for yourself daily,  to invest in your comfort and beauty, and to create space for the fullness of who you are.

Find this and other recommendations at The CultureLit online BookShop and support independent bookstores at Visit my bookshop!

Culture Lit is a community celebrating black women and black love, and a reminder that black women deserve joy, love success, second chances, and all the beautiful magic the world has to offer.

Please follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you listen to your podcasts!

Let me know what you’re reading, what you’re thinking, and what you’re thinking about what you’re reading.

STAY CONNECTED

Instagram: becomingoctavia

Twitter: xooctaviamarie

FB: BecomingOctaviaMarie

Music credit: Cool Jazz Beat by FASOL PROD

A Subito Media production

Mentioned in this episode:

You can find all the books I've reviewed in this podcast in my Bookshop! Visit https://bookshop.org/shop/CultureLitPodcast to get your copy!

Visit my bookshop!

If you enjoyed "Ella Gets the D," "Miles Apart," or "The Seven Month Itch," by Tanvier Peart. In this episode, we sit down with Tanvier Peart, indie romance author and creator of Tender Offer, to explore Madison’s unforgettable redemption arc. Once considered the villain in The Seven-Month Itch, Madison’s full-circle journey reveals the messy, layered beauty of second chances, knowing your worth, and letting love heal.

We talk about:

✨ Writing spicy, kinky romance that centers Black women’s joy and agency

✨ Why Preston is the ultimate “cinnamon roll hero with alpha tendencies”

✨ The power of rest, resistance, and self-love in Peart’s stories

✨ How her policy background sneaks into her novels (climate change billionaires? Check.)

If you love emotionally charged storytelling, “if he wanted to, he would” energy, and Black women embracing their soft life, this episode will have you swooning and reflecting in equal measure.

🎧 Hit play and join us as we unpack love, liberation, and the unapologetic layers of Tanvier Peart’s world.

"Tender Offer" releases on July 29th, so preorder on Burn Bright Books or The Frenchy Press now!

Find this and other recommendations at The CultureLit online BookShop and support independent bookstores at Visit my bookshop!

Culture Lit is a community celebrating black women and black love, and a reminder that black women deserve joy, love success, second chances, and all the beautiful magic the world has to offer.

Please follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you listen to your podcasts!

Let me know what you’re reading, what you’re thinking, and what you’re thinking about what you’re reading.

STAY CONNECTED

Instagram: becomingoctavia

Twitter: xooctaviamarie

FB: BecomingOctaviaMarie

Music credit: Cool Jazz Beat by FASOL PROD

A Subito Media production

Mentioned in this episode:

You can find all the books I've reviewed in this podcast in my Bookshop! Visit https://bookshop.org/shop/CultureLitPodcast to get your copy!

Visit my bookshop!

 Today I bring you my top reads so far of 2025! The struggle was real trying to narrow this list down. What I love about this collection is the variety. We've got traditional publishers, indie authors, different sub genres, characters at various life stages, young adult and adult romance. This is what Black Romance is all about, showing the full spectrum of our love stories.

• Church Girl by Naima Simone
• The Love Syllabus by Lauren Lacey
• And Then Life Was Beautiful by Asia Monique
• Audra & Bash Are Just Friends by Tia Williams
• The World Around Us by Lauren Lacey
• Plus Size Player by Danielle Allen
• Quasim I & Quasim II by Jahquel J
• Can’t Get Enough by Kennedy Ryan

Find these and other recommendations at The CultureLit online BookShop and support independent bookstores at Visit my bookshop!

Culture Lit is a community celebrating black women and black love, and a reminder that black women deserve joy, love success, second chances, and all the beautiful magic the world has to offer.

Please follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you listen to your podcasts!

Let me know what you’re reading, what you’re thinking, and what you’re thinking about what you’re reading.

STAY CONNECTED

Instagram: becomingoctavia

Twitter: xooctaviamarie

FB: BecomingOctaviaMarie

Music credit: Cool Jazz Beat by FASOL PROD

A Subito Media production

Mentioned in this episode:

You can find all the books I've reviewed in this podcast in my Bookshop! Visit https://bookshop.org/shop/CultureLitPodcast to get your copy!

Visit my bookshop!

One of my newest favorite authors is Danielle Allen, author of "Curvy Girl Summer," among many other titles. Danielle is a life and relationship coach and her insights into the dynamics of healthy relationships shine through in the way she writes her characters and their interactions. It is very important to her that her characters are loved as they are, and that they interact with each other in an emotionally mature way.

Her newest romance, "Plus Size Player," follows the story of Nina, best friend of the heroine in "Curvy Girl Summer." Nina is curvy, confident, and sure about who she is and what she wants. Get ready for a spicy romance featuring plus size black women with natural hairstyles who aren't interested in changing themselves for anyone. The final book in the series is coming out in April 2026, but you can get "Plus Size Player" now!

Find this and other recommendations at The CultureLit online BookShop and support independent bookstores at Visit my bookshop!

Culture Lit is a community celebrating black women and black love, and a reminder that black women deserve joy, love success, second chances, and all the beautiful magic the world has to offer.

Please follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you listen to your podcasts!

Let me know what you’re reading, what you’re thinking, and what you’re thinking about what you’re reading.

STAY CONNECTED

Instagram: becomingoctavia

Twitter: xooctaviamarie

FB: BecomingOctaviaMarie

Music credit: Cool Jazz Beat by FASOL PROD

A Subito Media production

Mentioned in this episode:

You can find all the books I've reviewed in this podcast in my Bookshop! Visit https://bookshop.org/shop/CultureLitPodcast to get your copy!

Visit my bookshop!

I'm coming to you from Puerto Vallarta on a solo adventure to talk about self-discovery and treating yourself.  If it's been a while since you've done something solo or you've been feeling a little anxious or hesitant about taking yourself on a date or planning a solo trip, I hope this episode will be the gentle nudge you need to push you past that hesitation and do the damn thing. There are some experiences in life that teach us profound lessons about ourselves, and solo adventures are absolutely one of them.

Reading transports you to different places and different times, but there's nothing like spending time with yourself to really unwind and get to know who you really are and what really makes you tick.

In my TBR bag for this trip, and this episode, are:

• Revive Me by JL Seegars
• No Ordinary Love by Myah Ariel
• Capone I-III (Season one: Delgato Family Book 1-3) by Jahquel J
• Quasim : King Inferno (Season Four: Inferno Gods Book 1) by Jahquel J
• Work Song by Danielle Allen
• Plus Size Player by Danielle Allen

Find this and other recommendations at The CultureLit online BookShop and support independent bookstores at Visit my bookshop!

Culture Lit is a community celebrating black women and black love, and a reminder that black women deserve joy, love success, second chances, and all the beautiful magic the world has to offer.

Please follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you listen to your podcasts!

Let me know what you’re reading, what you’re thinking, and what you’re thinking about what you’re reading.

STAY CONNECTED

Instagram: becomingoctavia

Twitter: xooctaviamarie

FB: BecomingOctaviaMarie

Music credit: Cool Jazz Beat by FASOL PROD

A Subito Media production

Mentioned in this episode:

You can find all the books I've reviewed in this podcast in my Bookshop! Visit https://bookshop.org/shop/CultureLitPodcast to get your copy!

Visit my bookshop!

Today I'll be focusing on themes of healing, self-love, and resilience inspired by my personal journey over the last two and a half years. I delve into Kennedy Ryan's novel 'Can't Get Enough,' the final installment in the Skyland series, highlighting its portrayal of black love, complex family dynamics, and authentic representation of a plus-sized, confident heroine, Hendrix Barry. Through the lens of Hendrix Bell and Maverick's love story, we discuss themes of healing, caregiving, mental health, plus-size representation, and the powerful sisterhood among Black women. This episode is a celebration of resilience, self-love, and the kind of romance that honors our true selves. Join us as we reflect on the transformative journey of the characters and the profound questions they raise about our own lives.

A main theme that hit me personally was caregiving for aging parents, the emotional and financial impact of such roles, and how love can be both supportive and liberating.

Find this and other recommendations at The CultureLit online BookShop and support independent bookstores at Visit my bookshop!

Culture Lit is a community celebrating black women and black love, and a reminder that black women deserve joy, love success, second chances, and all the beautiful magic the world has to offer.

Please follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you listen to your podcasts!

Let me know what you’re reading, what you’re thinking, and what you’re thinking about what you’re reading.

STAY CONNECTED

Instagram: becomingoctavia

Twitter: xooctaviamarie

FB: BecomingOctaviaMarie

Music credit: Cool Jazz Beat by FASOL PROD

A Subito Media production

Mentioned in this episode:

You can find all the books I've reviewed in this podcast in my Bookshop! Visit https://bookshop.org/shop/CultureLitPodcast to get your copy!

Visit my bookshop!