Healing Ourselves Heals Our Hoods

“Legacy in Motion” takes listeners inside the remarkable journey of Nsimba Webster—an Antioch, California native whose path from Deer Valley High School standout to professional athlete is defined not only by records and highlights, but by grit, loss, resilience, and purpose. Interviewing him, is his own family Johnnie Hines who facilitates this discussion as it relates to the LLL Collective Theor...

Special guest Becca Ferguson returns for a powerful and honest update on her journey into motherhood, this time navigating postpartum life with her newborn baby girl. In this episode, Becca reflects on how far she has come since her first appearance—offering a grounded look at healing, growth, and the lessons motherhood continues to teach her. She speaks candidly about the importance of a supporti...

In this episode, we sit down with Estephanie Fuentes, a powerful voice in youth mentorship and motherhood. With 15 years of service dedicated to guiding young people, Estephanie has built a legacy rooted in resilience, compassion, and lived experience. As a mentor, she has poured into countless youth, helping them discover their potential beyond the labels and limits placed on them. As a mother, s...

In this powerful episode of Healing Ourselves Heals Our Hoods, host Deziana Torres (Confi_Dez) shares a true story from her upcoming book When The Chains Fall. “Solve for X, X = 2500 – 24 Hours” takes listeners back to Deziana’s 9th grade year in algebra class — a space where numbers on the board collided with the unprocessed weight of trauma. Behind the equations, there was a deeper calculation:...

In this episode of Healing Ourselves Heals Our Hoods , we’re joined by Dr. Jose Gutierrez — educator, Principal, and CEO of Resilient Roots — whose story reminds us that transformation is possible when we honor both the struggle and the seed it plants. Through the lens of the 3L Collective Theory — Losses + Lessons = Legacy — Dr. Gutierrez reflects on the challenges and setbacks that shaped his pa...

In this inspiring episode of Healing Ourselves Heals Our Hoods, transformational leader Sylvia High shares her journey of building a legacy rooted in service, healing, and faith. Through the lens of the 3L Collective Theory — Losses + Lessons = Legacy — Sylvia opens up about the failures that became her greatest teachers, and how her unwavering belief in something greater carried her through seaso...

In this episode of Healing Ourselves Heals Our Hoods, we sit down with C. Lee — a man whose story is proof that faith can carry you through the deepest valleys and toward the brightest horizons. Through the lens of the 3L Collective Theory — Losses + Lessons = Legacy — C. Lee opens up about the personal battles that shaped him: the heartbreaks, the hard decisions, and the moments where faith was t...

In this powerful premiere episode of Healing Ourselves Heals Our Hoods, host Deziana Torres, MSW, breaks down the theory that’s been shifting hearts and healing communities: Losses + Lessons = Legacy. Joined by Johnnie Hines, the two dive deep into how the 3L Collective Theory was born — from personal pain, professional practice, and the urgent need to transform how we show up for our youth, our n...

In this episode, Deziana speaks about a moment she and her father were able to hold a needed and tough conversation about their relationship and barriers that impact their bond. After not speaking for close to two years, she shares how the conversation began full of shouting as anger lead the confrontation. Listen in to hear how grace was able to exist from this conversation. There's a long road o...

Deziana is starting this new series of "Talk about it Tuesdays" where she opens up about random topics that are on her mind and other than the theme of the month. In this episode, Deziana shares how the young adults she empowers at work are often faced with suicide ideation. She deeply unravels her own experience battling depression and her own attempt. She advises a Trigger Warning and encourages...

During Deziana's healing journey, she began to recognize all the things she once ignored... Those bright red flags! She gives us an example of how she was able to recognize them and create a boundary to honor herself and her self worth. She reminds folks that when people show you who they are, believe it. Listen for the full episode now. 

In this episode, Deziana openly shares how heartbreak due to infidelity, impacted her emotionally and physically. In her past, she describes how she would party and drink to distract herself from the pain and it never truly assisted in her healing. She provides wisdom on how she was able to transform how she dealt with heart break and begin to work on her dating behaviors and boundaries needed to...

In this episode, Deziana shares a vulnerable experience being cheated on by someone she dated. Here, she shares her initial reaction after the discovery as well as her response after. Deziana's heart has been both impacted and shaped by these moments of infidelity. Listen to hear how she was able to navigate around these experiences and protect her heart.  

In this solo episode, Deziana opens up about her experience witnessing domestic violence in her parent's relationship and how it heavily influenced the way she perceived love. In her first relationship, she expresses the abuse she endured as well as the mental toll it held on her to date someone who was manipulative and narcissistic.  Tune in and learn about her own experience and the ways she was...

On this episode, Deziana Torres opens up alone to utilize this space to share her own struggles with mental health. She opens up about the pressures of being the oldest sibling in a single-parent household as well as her own struggles with suicide ideation. She inspires all to hang in there as life will bless us with experiences that remind us why it was worth the fight. Listen and get to know you...

A QUEEN blesses us with her testimony that covers the topics of domestic abuse, violence, suicidal attempts, sexual abuse, as well as sharing self care tips that have been helpful along her journey. Tajanee Ford- Whelan is a wife of almost 7 years and a mom of 4, a step-son who is 16, an 11 year old and twins who are 6. Tajanee reminded me of the ultimate sacrifice of a mother and the pressure to...

(T.W) In this episode, we are granted the space to hear about the life experiences and impacts on mental health from Molimau Fatu who is a Samoan self published poet and spoken word artist from Long Beach California. He is also a first generation graduate from CSUDH. He is a newlywed and first generation homeowner. He has also mentored the youth in cities like Compton, Watts, Long Beach, Hawthorne...

OUT THE MUD!! This episode was powerful!!! Shout out to Shorty for showing up and sharing her life testing of growing up in the hood, struggles with parents fighting addiction and the impact of grief!! Listen and be inspired by such a valuable life testimony! Remember, we ALL have a story that is worth sharing ! 

 Navigating breast cancer and pregnancy at the same time with Olivia Turner. She shares the journey of how she found strength when battling cancer as well as describing the joy her daughter brings into her life. We are also empowered to be in tune with our bodies and to check in with ourselves when we feel off, feel lumps, or feeling sick. Investing in our health and wellness is critical for the w...

On this episode, we are met with Raychel Homen and Estephanie Fuentes who openly share about their relationships during parenthood. Both exchange their unique relationships and the ways they each create similar experiences that others can relate too. Reflective conversations about the impacts incarceration has on the bond between a parent and child and the emotional toll it can hold on all involve...

On this episode, we are joined with a special guest named Rebecca Ferguson who openly shares her experience during and after a miscarriage. Rebecca highlights the emotional impact it holds on one during the grieving process as well as providing insight on her relationship with postpartum depression. Listen for validation or for awareness of some of the struggles many women suffer with in silence. 

Join us as we welcome our special guest Anna Creighton who is a mother of two and a wife. Listen as Anna shares her experience navigating through healing and showing up for her family as a mother. Through Anna, we recognize why being gentle with ourselves during motherhood is so critical in the way we show up for our selves and our kids. 

Together we shared a real conversation about the history of implementing ethnic studies into our courses as well as the benefits held for student success! Topics ranging from identity, intersectionality, oppression and resistance are taught in David's curriculum. Listen as we also discuss some barriers and ways we as a community can get involved and hold our school systems accountable for the “equ...

Tune in as Karina Beltran and I engage in conversations about the impacts of poverty and food insecurity amongst college students. So many assume that once we make it into college, the oppression and systemic barriers are no longer experienced. It in fact continues to follow us and impacts our mental and physical health, our confidence, and our academic success. How can we advocate to bring forth...

Navigating through racist/oppressive systems with a forced resilience often times cost us our identity, our culture, our history, and so much more. There is often a sacrifice that comes with being a disrupter when you challenge systems in places that are designed to hold policies over people. Listen and tune in as Chino Contreras   @3rd.self_ and I share our experiences as experts in the hood navi...