Unapologetically Black Unicorns

Ellis Gordon Jr. (he/him) is treasurer of NAMI Urban Los Angeles and he is the former husband of Bebe Moore Campbell. Ellis shares the story of how he met Bebe Moore Campbell and why it was so important to name the month of July after Bebe. They talk about the inception of NAMI Urban Los Angeles, how NAMI is community-centric and community-centered and continuing the goal of erasing the stigma.  ...

Emily Dossett, MD is a Reproductive Psychiatrist and Michele Nguyen, MD is a Maternal-Fetal Medicine physician and they both are Unapologetically Black Unicorns. Dr. Dossett and Dr. Nguyen share the purpose of Reproductive Psychiatric Advance Directives (Repo PAD) and how it’s in an opportunity and tool to empower the person receiving services. They discuss the intersection of reproductive justice...

Elizabeth Morrison PhD, LCSW, MAC (she/her) is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, a certified Master Addiction Counselor, the Co-Creator of the LCA and she is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Elizabeth talks about the Lay Counselor Academy and why lived experience is key. They talk about tapping into people’s core gift, supporting employee mental health and why we don’t need to fix people when t...

On the eve of Independence Day, the House passed the “One Big Beautiful Bill”, a $4.5 trillion package. Inside that bill…over $1 trillion in cuts to Medicaid and Medicare over ten years. So Keris has a conversation with ‘Medicaid’ to see how it felt about the bill passing. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Contact the show: UBU@UnapologeticallyBlackUn...

Keris celebrates a birthday, her late father’s birthday. Keris shares how she found a journal that she got her dad for a Father’s Day in 1997 and she reads a story that her dad wrote in that very journal on his birthday June 22, 1997. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Contact the show: UBU@UnapologeticallyBlackUnicorns.info Transcripts are available o...

Elizabeth Morrison PhD, LCSW, MAC (she/her) is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, a certified Master Addiction Counselor, the Co-Creator of the LCA and she is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Elizabeth talks about the Lay Counselor Academy and why lived experience is key. They talk about tapping into people’s core gift, supporting employee mental health and why we don’t need to fix people when t...

Lauren Clark (She/Her), PhD, RN, FAAN, is a Professor of Nursing at UCLA, a teacher in the Disability Studies Department, and an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. In this episode, Lauren shares insights from her work and reflects on the groundbreaking legacy of Judy Heumann, a trailblazer in disability advocacy. She discusses how they aim to continue Judy’s work through their community partnership p...

Keris celebrates a birthday, along with her birthday triplets, which also marks the anniversary of the release of the podcast. This episode is about the hauntings of the ghost network and how we can fight back against its evil ways. Tell your story about ghost networks: PERSONAL (patient and or family members): https://app.storyprompt.com/reply/VNszzRw78dtaNiOfWw3atp     PROVIDER: https://app.stor...

Dr. Jonathan Edwards (he/him) and Rita Cronise (She/Her) are editors for the book “What it Takes: Wisdom from Peer Support Specialists and Supervisors” and they are Unapologetically Black Unicorns. Jonathan and Rita explain how the book came about and the history of Peer Support. They talk about who the target audience is for the book, why this book is needed and remembering their colleague Steve...

Keris talks about living in an overwhelming world and the importance of implementing the quiet part of the work. This episode is about just listening and pausing but more importantly getting the rest you need and the rest you deserve. Keris pulls cards for the collective all of which pushes against the grind culture narrative. Rest is Resistance A Manifesto (audiobook): https://tinyurl.com/mr3pmd8...

Dr. Jei Africa (he/his/him) is the first openly transgender county behavioral health director in California and an Unapologetically Black Unicorn.  Dr. Africa shares his experience being raised in the Philippines and the disparities he saw when he came to the United States. They talk about bringing people together to create change, cultural humility and the importance of being visible. The Nationa...

Following the Met Gala, Keris talks about why fashion interests her and who influenced her style. She speaks on the origin of the Met Gala’s theme this year – “Black Dandyism” and how it was a tool of rebellion, joy and self-definition. Keris’ Met Gala “Look Book” - bit.ly The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Contact the show: UBU@UnapologeticallyBlackUn...

This is Part II, a continuation of Keris reading an excerpt from her father’s book “Protect and Defend: the U.S.’ Promise and Performance (In an Age of Uncertainty).” Howard A. Myrick took an oath upon being commissioned as a young U.S. Army officer, pledging to “…protect and defend the Constitution of the United States … against all enemies – foreign and domestic” and here is a portion of his acc...

Keris reads an excerpt from her father’s book “Protect and Defend: the U.S.’ Promise and Performance (In an Age of Uncertainty).” Howard A. Myrick took an oath upon being commissioned as a young U.S. Army officer, pledging to “…protect and defend the Constitution of the United States … against all enemies – foreign and domestic” and here is a portion of his account read by his daughter. This is Pa...

Preston Mitchum (he/him) is the Director of Advocacy and Government Affairs with The Trevor Project and he is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Preston shares what The Trevor Project does as an organization and how they try to reach and support LGBTQ young people. They talk about how Preston  always wanted to support people and fight for their access, how The Trevor Project crisis counselors are...

Nicole Kwan (she/her) is a mental health advocate and she is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Nicole talks about how mental health was stigmatized in her own culture and how she found people to talk to and support her. They talk about the focus on immigrant mental health, getting more young people to the table and the importance of compassion, kindness and empathy. Listen to the "Youth on Mental...

Nandini Nema (she/her) is a gap year student who is making an impact in mental health and she is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Nandini shares the work she’s done as a youth representative with UNICEF by help building child friendly cities. They talk about how mindfulness is a process, working in tech as a Google summer scholar, what they would do encourage people to get into the field of ment...

Keris had a dream about this thing called “CADRE” and her dream has become a reality. CADRE stands for Collective Action Democratized by Relevant Experience, and it is both a policy academy and it is a movement. Keris speaks on where the CADRE Policy Academy will be housed and we’ll hear from some participants who talk about their personal experience with the program.   To access the online CADRE...

200 episodes! Keris started the podcast wanting to only do 15 episodes capturing people’s stories and it has grown into a movement. She shares some highlights over 200 episodes and where the podcast is going to go from here. We want to hear from you. What ideas or topics do you have for the next 200 episode? Contact the show: UBU@UnapologeticallyBlackUnicorns.info   The National Suicide Prevention...

Fajr DeLane (she/her) is the CEO of F^3: Fun. Fit. Fabulous! Health & Wellness Mentoring Program and she is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Fajr shares her inspiration for starting the “Fun. Fit. Fabulous!” program and how her camp was about inspiring the girls/women in her community. They talk about making time for self-care, how her work intersects with mental health and taking the time t...

Kana Enomoto (she/her) is the director of brain health for the McKinsey Health Institute and Reina Chiang (she/her) is a college student and a mental health advocate and they are Unapologetically Black Unicorns. Kana and Reina discuss their personal experiences when crisis showed up in their home and why the emergency room could do more to support mental health crisis. They talk about why mental h...

Jose Caballero (he/him) is a mental health advocate, blogger and an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Jose talks about his “why” and his experiences growing up in Nicaragua and immigrating to the United States. They talk about having conversations about mental health with their families and in their communities, the impacts of emotional intelligence, trying to incorporate mental health education int...

Ayaan Moledina (He/Him) is the Federal Policy Director at SEAT and he is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Ayaan shares how he knew he wanted to get into the advocacy space at a young age and how it led to him getting in front of Congress to discuss mental health and suicide prevention. They talk about why it’s important to discuss suicide with students in schools and colleges, ways in which stud...

Dr. Andre Johnson (he/him) is the Founder/CEO of the Detroit Recovery Project (DRP), and he is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Dr. Johnson talks about the ideas in his book “The Recovery Ecosystem: A Wholistic Approach to Recovery” which is a guide for healing and progress in the journey of addiction recovery. They talk about the organization being a peer-run Certified Community Behavioral Heal...

Keris talks about an experience that profoundly affected her and her family and that is navigating the hospice care system in the final days of her father’s life. She talks about the system defaulting to medication, no consideration for a death doula and reimaging hospice care with more mental health support. To hear the episode with Jess Stohlmann Rainey on her experience as a death doula, listen...