Ray Bridging Humans Podcast

I sit down with the amazing Leodess Houston on this episode. He's a Memphis native and staple in community. He's an elder in the Q Plus community and a hair stylist for over 30 years. Leodess walks me through his life story and his history with family, church, abuse, and the evolution of who he has become. His story is one of resilience and a reminder to never give up on you. Come dive into this c...

How do you view discretion in your life? How are you with disclosing your personal information to others? On this episode I break down discretion, what it means, and what it looks like. Using the wisdom to be vulnerable really takes a level of discernment. Come listen as a break down the intricacies of boundaries and how important they should be in making decisions in your life.

How we do you humanize Pastors? So many times, so many of them live in isolation because of scrutiny they receive from just simply being human. I sit down with my friend Bishop Darrel Petties to navigate this topic. We discuss his personal faith, intimacy, grief, leadership, and so much more. Come on the journey with me as I do the work of closing the gap between what people get and what's really...

Whats your outlook on privacy? If you're from the Bible Belt, how do you specifically apply it to your world? This will be my first installment of the series "surviving the bible belt". I break down privacy and what it looks like if you live in or are raised in south. I break down the difference between privacy, discretion, hiding, and being loud. Come unpack this with me as we all move, own, and...

Black. gay. father. That almost sounds like an oxymoron! It's a real lived experience for my guest today. We navigate growing up in the Bible Belt, as well as being raised in Memphis TN. We sit for a thought provoking conversation on fatherhood and navigating queer life. Marcus Banks is a native Memphis. and now is a resident of Houston TX. Come join this conversation with us!

Do you feel a college degree is needed to be successful in this world today? Is your ability to succeed based around a co9llege education? In this episode I unpack the case for the degree and the case against the degree. Where do I land? What do I deem important? Come join this conversation with me!

I sit down with one of the most talented musicians in this city. Timothy Mason is an incredible musician and all around person. We discuss being a husband, father, minister of music, and musician. We also discuss his faith in God and personal battles he's had to overcome. Come join this thoughtful conversation with us.

Have you ever found yourself giving way to the pressures of social media? We all are apart of an algorithm. A lot of people allow this very thing to dominate and control their lives. Learn how to be able to zoom out from this make believe world and take back control of your life. I do this one alone and i'm excited to dialog with the bridges.

Fathers, father figures, mentors, uncles, coaches, and big homies we need you. There are so many reasons why black men do and also don't show up in community. I sit down with two of my brothers to unpack this. Dr. Moss works in education as well as lead the Non-Profit Gentleman's League. Paul Claxton works in education as well as one of the most talented musicians in this city. Collectively all th...

How do you navigate anger as a Black Man? Specifically as Q plus black man. I sit down with two queer men as they navigate their lives with managing anger. Come hear stories specifically from two Q+ brothers as they give first hand accounts on how they deal with and handle anger. How do you manage anger? How do you process or bury years of hurt and pain. Let's unpack this on this episode.

As a black man, do you know when to insert your leadership and when to insert your dominance? In this episode, we break down what It looks like to differentiate between the two. There's a fine line between the two and me and my brothers spend this session unpacking what these two things look like. Come unpack the conversation with us,

So many see Black men as angry and dangerous. Often times people see anger on us before they see what hurt us. On this episode I have a conversation about anger with two of my bros. We navigate anger, self awareness, relationships, and some of the earliest traits we learned about anger. Come join the conversation with us!

In this powerful episode of the Ray Bridging Humans Podcast, Coach RaymondBrian sorts down with DP Lawrence and DJ Woods for one of the most honest and self aware conversations about Black male ego this podcast has ever had. Come dialog with us!

I sit with therapist Timothy Terry to navigate this topic. He breaks down how domestic abuse could come out as more than physical abuse. we even navigate how we self abuse as Black men. There's definitely some pivotal information for all men on this episode.

In the Bible Belt South queer men and women are not expected to pay much attention to intimate relationships. On this episode, we explore what relationship looks like for us intimately, platonically, relationship with self, and family. Come explore what these relationships look like for us.

Do you or someone you know struggle with homophobia? I sat down with four of my heterosexual brothers and one of my queer brothers to unpack this one. We laugh, we get deep, and we don't agree on it all but I can assure you that we move forward with this conversation. You don't want to miss this breakdown of manhood, brotherhood, respect, and love. Come join the convo.

A few friends and I went to Montgomery Alabama to the voting rights march. We all came back with some depth and we wanted to share our experience. Doing this episode was so fun and also very informative. We break down the disconnect in community where civics is concerned and the larger temperature in the city of Memphis.

Have you ever stopped to realize how many years you gave trying to please people in religious spaces? Semaj, Jenson, and CaDarius tall about how they took their lives back.,This group of men sit for a conversation dialoging about the years they gave away. To ministry, to people, and ultimately to have a strong sense of belonging. Come journey and navigate with us as we break down people pleasing,...

Do you struggle with people pleasing? On this episode, I give 5 tools to get through people pleasing. I also walk through my journey of battling with it in my life. Yeah I pull out of my coaching bag on this one! Come sit with me and check your bag to see if people pleasing is apart of it.

I sit down for an exclusive interview with Pastor Jarvis Jones. We talk about his indictment and federal charges and how he's navigating the process of public exposure, faith, and redemption. Pastor Jones takes us through the journey of transparency and truth as he deal with the realities of being a convicted felon and Pastor.

This episode is a journey through manhood and being able to grow through a space of humility. My guest and I discuss ways we effectively deflate our egos so we can operate from healthy spaces. We discuss everything from relationships to leadership to the power of staying curious. Come joint the conversation Bridger! Im joined by my friend and brother Samone Bradford.

Have you ever wondered what the thought process is for a young black church boy growing up in the Bible Belt South? Adding on singing in the choir, understanding identity, and fighting your way thru nay-sayers and people who question your manhood frequently, this is the episode. I sit down with a local Memphis Artist Trevor Keys. he dive into the intricacies of his story, Amazing conversation!

BIG BOY JOY! This episode explores the world of plays sized black men. We look at it from a straight and gay perspective. We look into what confidence and self esteem look like for them. Two of my good friends came to have this conversation with me. Come listen to both these men break their worlds down from a thoughtful and hilarious perspective.

Where has Ray been!?!?!? On this episode I catch up with the Bridgers. Then I break down the plights and standards we're held to just to be respected as men. I reveal harmful things that has caused us to spiral out and lose focus on what we should be focused on. From emotional mask, to hyper-sexuality, to what the church got wrong, and then I go into the rebuilding of real manhood. Come check out...

I follow up the last episode with another one with the beautiful women. They express their hearts from a deep place on this one. These women walk us thru their journeys of growing up singing in the church choir. They discuss the double standards, the biases where women are concerned, and so much more. Come listen to and experience healing in a real way thru our conversation. Listen and enjoy.