Hot & Bothered

On our Season Finale, I traveled to Washington, D.C. to sit down with Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley inside her office in the historic Cannon House Office Building — standing at the very center of American politics. Being in those halls carries a weight, and that gravity shaped our conversation.We spoke about her journey into politics, the responsibility she feels to her constituents, and how her roles as a wife and a mother inform the way she leads. Congresswoman Pressley also shared her experience as a survivor of sexual assault, and how she has transformed pain into purpose — using her platform to advocate for other survivors.This conversation is a reminder that policy is personal, and that real leadership is rooted in empathy, courage, and lived experience.

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In this powerful episode of Hot & Bothered with Melyssa Ford, Melyssa sits down with the family of Larry Hoover — his wife, who has remained loyal and by his side for over 50 years, and his son, Larry Hoover Jr.Larry Jr. grew up believing his father was simply “at work” or away, only to later face the painful reality that his dad was behind bars — and may never come home. Together, they share the emotional weight of that reckoning and the lasting impact of long-term incarceration on a family.This episode is deep. It’s raw. It’s serious.The conversation also breaks down an often-misunderstood legal reality: clemency does not automatically mean freedom. While Donald Trump recently granted Larry Hoover clemency at the federal level, he remains incarcerated in the state of Illinois, with an uncertain future.Despite decades of advocacy, rehabilitation efforts, and work inside prison — including helping other inmates earn their GEDs and pursue education — Larry Hoover’s infamous reputation continues to overshadow those efforts, raising difficult questions about justice, punishment, and what redemption really looks like in America.
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In this episode, I sit down in Chicago with media personality and dating powerhouse Kendra G for a real, hilarious, and inspiring conversation about betting on yourself — even when it means walking away from a steady paycheck. Kendra opens up about the courage it took to leave traditional career paths, build her wildly successful online dating show, and trust her vision when the path wasn’t always clear.We talk entrepreneurship, evolving identity, and what it really looks like to pivot when your life no longer fits who you’re becoming. From her move from Chicago to LA to navigating success, visibility, and womanhood in real time, this episode is packed with laughs, gems, and classic girl talk. It’s a reminder that growth can be scary, faith is louder than fear, and sometimes the biggest glow-up starts with a leap.
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This episode feels like the group chat came to life. Joined by my girlfriends, we talk about the holidays beyond the highlight reels—caregiving for parents, emotional burnout, family expectations, and the quiet sadness that can creep in this time of year. We laugh, we vent, and we remind each other (and you) that you don’t have to carry it all alone.
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The holidays are supposed to be joyful—but for many, they magnify grief, loneliness, financial stress, and unspoken family wounds. In this timely and deeply compassionate episode, we’ve invited Dr. Shanté Holley back to unpack why the most “wonderful time of the year” can feel anything but. Together, we explore how loss, life transitions, strained relationships, and unmet expectations can make the season especially heavy, and why it’s okay to acknowledge that reality without guilt or shame. Dr. Holley offers practical tools for protecting your mental health, setting boundaries, managing emotional triggers, and extending grace to yourself during a season that often demands too much.Most importantly, this conversation reframes the holidays as an opportunity—not for perfection, but for presence. A reminder that joy can coexist with sadness, healing can happen in small moments, and choosing yourself is not selfish—it’s necessary. No matter what you’re carrying into this season, you’re not broken, you’re not behind, and you’re not alone. And that, in itself, is something worth holding onto
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