Critical Reads Podcast

In this episode of Critical Reads, we will be discussing The Unapologetic Guide to Black Mental Health: Navigate an Unequal System, Learn Tools for Emotional Wellness, and Get the Help You Deserve by  Rheeda Walker, PhD. Here’s a brief summary of the book courtesy of the author/publisher: "An unapologetic exploration of the Black mental health crisis - and a comprehensive road map to getting the c...

In part two of our Modern Love episodes, we will be discussing an episode entitled, Take Me as I Am, Whoever I Am, from season one of Modern Love (Anthology TV Series) directed and produced by John Carney. Here’s a brief summary of the book courtesy of the producers: "An unlikely friendship. A lost love resurfaced. A marriage at its turning point. A date that might not have been a date. An unconve...

In part one of our Modern Love episodes, we will be discussing an episode entitled, Take Me as I Am, Whoever I Am, from season one of Modern Love (Anthology TV Series) directed and produced by John Carney. Here’s a brief summary of the book courtesy of the producers: "An unlikely friendship. A lost love resurfaced. A marriage at its turning point. A date that might not have been a date. An unconve...

In this episode of Critical Reads, we will discuss The Road Back to You: An Enneagram Journey to Self-Discovery by Ian Morgan Cron and Suzanne Stabile. Here’s a brief summary of the book courtesy of the author/publisher: "Ignorance is bliss―except in self-awareness. What you don't know about yourself can hurt you and your relationships―and even keep you in the shallows with God. Do you want help f...

In this episode of Critical Reads, we will be discussing Are u ok?: A Guide to Caring for Your Mental Health by Kati Morton LMFT. Here’s a brief summary of the book courtesy of the author/publisher: "Everyone struggles with mental health issues from time to time, but the greatest level of misunderstanding comes from knowing the difference between mental health and mental illness, figuring out whet...

In this bonus episode of Critical Reads,  I wanted to take some time to provide you all with more updates about my life. I know I tried to relaunch the podcast last year and that was an EPIC FAIL. This episode is the start of "Take Two." Like the last time, I figured it would be nice to let you know what is happening behind the scenes before sharing new episodes again. I really hope you enjoy this...

In this bonus episode of Critical Reads,  I wanted to take some time to provide you all with a few updates about my life. I will answer questions including: Where have you been? How are you doing emotionally and spiritually? Where are you at in your career? What are you wrestling with? Since I haven’t been able to post content in a while, I figured it would be nice to let you know what is going on...

In this episode of Critical Reads, we will be discussing the Musical Drama Film, Rent, directed and produced by Chris Columbus. Here’s a brief summary of the book courtesy of the author/publisher: "Set in New York City's gritty East Village, the revolutionary rock opera RENT tells the story of a group of bohemians struggling to live and pay their rent. 'Measuring their lives in love,' these starvi...

In this episode of Critical Reads, we will be discussing Bipolar Faith: A Black Woman's Journey with Depression and Faith by Rev Dr. Monica A. Coleman. Here’s a brief summary of the book courtesy of the author/publisher: "Monica A. Coleman’s great-grandfather asked his two young sons to lift him up and pull out the chair when he hanged himself, and that noose stayed in the family shed for years. T...

In part one of our Stamped From the Beginning episode, we will be discussing Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America by Ibram X. Kendi. Here’s a brief summary of the book courtesy of the author/publisher: "Some Americans cling desperately to the myth that we are living in a post-racial society, that the election of the first Black president spelled the doom of...

In part two of our Stamped From the Beginning episode, I continue my discussion about Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America by  Ibram X. Kendi. (As a refresher) Here’s a brief summary of the book courtesy of the author/publisher: "Some Americans cling desperately to the myth that we are living in a post-racial society, that the election of the first Black pr...

In part one of our Medical Apartheid episode, we will be discussing Medical Apartheid: The Dark History of Medical Experimentation on Black Americans from Colonial Times to the Present by Harriet A. Washington. Here’s a brief summary of the book courtesy of the author/publisher: "The first full history of Black America’s shocking mistreatment as unwilling and unwitting experimental subjects at the...

In part two of our Medical Apartheid episode, I continue my discussion about Medical Apartheid: The Dark History of Medical Experimentation on Black Americans from Colonial Times to the Present by Harriet A. Washington. (As a refresher) Here’s a brief summary of the book courtesy of the author/publisher: "The first full history of Black America’s shocking mistreatment as unwilling and unwitting ex...

In this episode of Critical Reads, we will be discussing Unbound: My Story of Liberation and the Birth of the Me Too Movement by Tarana J. Burke. Here’s a brief summary of the book courtesy of the author/publisher: "From the founder and activist behind one of the largest movements of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, the 'me too' movement, Tarana Burke debuts a powerful memoir about her ow...

In this episode of Critical Reads, we will be discussing #NotYourPrincess: Voices of Native American Women by Lisa Charleyboy and Mary Beth Leatherdale. Here’s a brief summary of the book courtesy of the author/publisher: "Native Women demand to be heard in this stunning anthology. Whether looking back to a troubled past or welcoming a hopeful future, the powerful voices of Indigenous women across...

In part one of our Promising Young Woman episode, my special guest, Dianne, and I discuss the Black Comedy-Thriller film, Promising Young Woman, written, co-produced, and directed by Emerald Fennell. Here’s a brief summary of the movie courtesy of Focus Features: "From visionary director Emerald Fennell ( Killing Eve ) comes to a delicious new take on revenge. Everyone said Cassie (Carey Mulligan)...

In part two of our Promising Young Woman episode, join Dianne and me as we continue our discussion about a great film written, co-produced, and directed by Emerald Fennell. (As a refresher) Here’s a brief summary of the movie courtesy of Focus Features: "From visionary director Emerald Fennell ( Killing Eve ) comes to a delicious new take on revenge. Everyone said Cassie (Carey Mulligan) was a pro...

In this bonus episode of Critical Reads, I am inviting you to listen to an interview conducted by my good friend Rosette Mamboleo. Rosette is a law student, a religious educator, and a mental health first aid instructor who is the founder of Elpida. Elpida is a faith-based low-profit limited liability company whose primary purpose is to spread hope and fight to see the total eradication of poverty...

In this bonus episode of Critical Reads, we will be discussing Without Sanctuary: Lynching Photography in America by James Allen. With essays by Hilton Als, John Lewis, and Leon F. Litwack. Here’s a brief summary of the book courtesy of the publisher: "The Tuskegee Institute records the lynching of 3,436 blacks between 1882 and 1950. This is probably a small percentage of these murders, which were...

In this episode of Critical Reads, we will be discussing The Cross and the Lynching Tree by James H. Cone. Here’s a brief summary of the book courtesy of the author/publisher: "The cross and the lynching tree are the two most emotionally charged symbols in the history of the African American community. In this powerful new work, theologian James H. Cone explores these symbols and their interconnec...

In this episode of Critical Reads, we will be discussing Stand Your Ground: Black Bodies and the Justice of God by Rev. Dr.  Kelly Brown Douglas. Here’s a brief summary of the book courtesy of the author/publisher: "On the Sunday morning after the acquittal of Trayvon Martin’s killer, black preachers across America addressed the questions his death raised for their communities: 'Where is the justi...

In this episode of Critical Reads, me and my special guest, Dianne, will be discussing the Animated Comedy Film, Inside Out, written by Pete Docter, Meg LeFauve, and Josh Cooley. Here’s a brief summary of the movie courtesy of Pixar: "Growing up can be a bumpy road, and it’s no exception for Riley, who is uprooted from her Midwest life when her father starts a new job in San Francisco. Like all of...

In this episode of Critical Reads, we will be discussing Changes That Heal: Four Practical Steps to a Happier, Healthier You by Dr. Henry Cloud. Here’s a brief summary of the book courtesy of the author/publisher: "Many of us struggle with anxiety, loneliness, and feelings of inadequacy. We know that God created us in his image, but how can we be loving when we feel burned out? How can we be free...

In this episode of Critical Reads, we will be discussing The Oxford Handbook of Feminist Theology by Sheila Briggs and Mary McClintock Fulkerson. Here’s a brief summary of the book courtesy of the author/publisher: "This innovative volume highlights the relevance of globalization and the insights of gender studies and religious studies for feminist theology. Beginning with a discussion of the posi...

In this episode of Critical Reads, we will be discussing Dimensions of Social Welfare Policy by Neil Gilbert and Paul Terrell. Here’s a brief summary of the book courtesy of the author/publisher: "Dimensions of Social Welfare Policy provides a comprehensive and widely-used framework for analyzing social welfare policies.  The text encourages readers to develop their own thoughts on social welfare...