“Couch Conversations” has always been a platform for authentic and entertaining discussion. The YouTube series’ new reiteration, “Couch Conversations for Two,” takes those conversations to new heights, thanks to an array of card games designed to deepen connections and explore themes of Black love. The Love Deck, Actually Curious, and Do Tell! offer a unique platform for couples and pairings to engage in meaningful discussions and foster a stronger bond.
BlackLove.com is delving into the heart of these games and the innovative Black entrepreneurs who created them. Keep reading for a closer look at Nina Westbrook, Coach Cass, and Michael Tennant, and their commitment to healthy relationships through fun, conversational gameplay. Make sure to subscribe to Black Love’s YouTube channel to watch “Couch Conversations For Two.”
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Nina Westbrook and Do Tell!
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At the heart of Do Tell! is Nina Westbrook, a multifaceted entrepreneur and licensed marriage and family therapist. Nina’s passion for wellness and mental health, combined with her personal journey as a mother and wife to NBA star Russell Westbrook, inspired the creation of Do Tell! under her wellness brand, Bene by Nina. Her holistic approach to well-being is evident in every card, inviting players into deeper conversations and connections.
Westbrook says she discovered her passion for learning at a young age. She grew up in a “very vocal family” who pushed for open communication on a wide range of topics. Her “eagerness to understand others and the experiences that make us all so unique” led her to become a LMFT therapist.
“My parents always encouraged me to be a free thinker and, after many ‘spirited debates,’ I learned how to be open, vulnerable, and honest,” Westbrook explained on her website. “The feeling that I got from having those open (and sometimes brutally honest) conversations, gave me a sense of peace and enlightenment.”
“I believe that the fastest way to connect with another person is through exploration and I’m happy to be sharing a collection of questions that I’ve used to encourage that exploration throughout the years,” she continued. “My hope is that Do Tell! serves as a starting point in your journey towards gaining a deeper understanding of yourself, strengthening your relationships, and sharing those wonderful parts of who you are that we sometimes hide from those we know best.”
Within “Couch Conversations For Two,” Do Tell! emerges as a transformative card game, crafted to enhance openness and vulnerability among players. With its two editions – the Standard Edition and the Couples Edition, along with a comprehensive Bundle option, Do Tell! invites players into a world of intimate, revealing discussions.
Dr. Casandra “Coach Cass” Henriquez and The Love Deck
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Dr. Cassandra “Coach Cass” Henriquez is an intuitive love coach and matchmaker, known for her ability to help successful women navigate the complexities of relationships and capture the essence of Black love.
Through her platforms Inspire Many, Coach Cass provides a space for women embarking on the journey from single to soulmate. Coach Cass is an in-demand speaker and TedX presenter, a weekly radio host in South Florida, as well as the visionary behind the Wanted Woman movement and The Love Deck card game.
The Love Deck, featured on “Couch Conversations For Two,” is a set of cards designed to spark meaningful connections and facilitate authentic communication. This deck, available on Amazon, comprises 60 thought-provoking questions and daily affirmations. It’s designed with the dual purpose of fostering open dialogue and strengthening relationships. Ideal for new couples or those seeking to deepen their bond, The Love Deck serves as a conversation starter, making it a must-have for date nights.
“[The Love Deck] is a love letter of mine to the world,” Coach Cass told Black Love. “[The game was created] for couples to have more meaningful conversations and to relate. I just watched the first episode of ‘Couch Conversations For Two,’ and it was just so beautiful to see people interact and react in real time. I use them with my husband; my clients use them. To see your work used the way it was intended to…it was just beautiful.”
Coach Cass’s expertise has garnered widespread recognition, with features in publications like Black Enterprise. The entrepreneur finds comfort and joy in the company of her family, husband Andy and daughter Ava.
Michael Tennant and Actually Curious
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Michael Tennant sees himself as a catalyst for change with his creation, Actually Curious. As the founder and CEO of the innovative card game, Tennant embarked on a journey to foster empathy and connection among people from all walks of life.
Tennant’s entrepreneurship began in the summer of 2018 amid the midterm elections. Motivated by a desire to bridge gaps and cultivate trust, he delved into research on emotional connection, trust-building, and vulnerability.
Tennant’s commitment to spreading empathy led him to create the Actually Curious game and pursue various avenues for funding and exposure. He went on a cross-country drive from coast to coast, engaging strangers in conversations about the importance of emotional connection.
“I drove from New York to Florida, Florida to L.A., asking strangers to join this movement to spread empathy. We managed to get the game into over 70 stores across the country,” Tennant explained in a Verizon video about his journey. “Then comes Memorial Day and the stakes get higher. I wake up the morning after [Memorial Day] to the Central Park situation and the death of George Floyd.”
“You start to realize that the country needs these tools more than ever before. We started to change the narrative on our social media feed to really speak out on the divisiveness in this country and the empathy that’s needed for us all to move forward together.”
Actually Curious uses four colors that represent varying levels of intimacy and serve as a roadmap for meaningful dialogue. Starting with the blue level, which asks questions suitable for strangers, participants gradually dive into deeper topics as they progress through green, yellow, and pink cards. These questions prompt reflection on values, backgrounds, personal experiences, and even the most intimate aspects of life.
Do Tell!, The Love Deck, and Actually Curious, featured on “Couch Conversations For Two” on Black Love’s YouTube channel, show how games can bring connection, understanding, and love.
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