When We Speak

Today's guest is Melissa Guttman. We met via Instagram and bonded over Internal Family System (IFS). We discuss how she found her voice and helps others to do the same, her work with creatives, performers, and singers, how we validate our own voice, and how music evokes memory. Melissa Guttman is a music therapist and IFS trained psychotherapist, with degrees from Berklee College of Music and New...

In today's interview I speak with Aundi Kolber about her books Try Softer and newly released, The Try Softer Guided Journey. Aundi and I discuss some of the most painful seasons of her life, the healing journey, what it means to be an authentic therapist, how we show empathy and compassion in our work, honoring your pain, and building a relationship with your younger self. Aundi Kolber is a licens...

In today's episode and am speaking with my one of the funniest, and most intelligent Black women in my community, Joquina Reed. We discuss: Institutional racism Joquina's superpower and kryptonite The Triad (white supremacy, patriarchy, and capitalism) How whiteness and white supremacy harms Race being a social construct The importance of intellectual humility Divesting from Whiteness My name is J...

In today's episode I am speaking with my guest, Amber Webb Sims. This is one of the most powerful episodes I've recorded. Amber and I discuss her career as an attorney and how she uses her voice to demystify information. Amber shares what it means to divest from white supremacy, how racial capitalism affects Black people, Black pain being profitable, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) bein...

Today's episode is all about honoring Oprah Winfrey. I am joined by my friends Andrea Kingsley-Miller, Cha Sears-Barefield, Marcie Alvis-Walker, and Monica DiCristina. I wanted a fun episode with some of my closest sisters and what better way to spend time with them than on a podcast talking about someone we all admire and have looked up to since childhood. We each share our earliest memories, wha...

Today's episode was inspired by Black Women Woes Part I but with a new group of beautiful, inspiring, powerful, and passionate women. This discussion felt like love,  family, strength personified, and spiritual. We laughed, held space for each other, snapped fingers, and said amen more than once. Having these heart talks are why my podcast exist  In today's discussion we talk about faith...

Today's bonus episode is in honor of Suicide Awareness Month and the one person every eleven minutes who decides to end their life. I start this episode by sharing my own story of being a Black woman who struggled with suicidal thoughts since the age of ten years old. I also discuss some of the thoughts and experiences that led to my attempt to end my life.  I believe that we heal when we tel...

Today's episode is with peacemaker, author, speaker, and advocate Diana Oestreich and we discuss her book " Waging Peace" and why this book spoke to me. I select some of my favorite passages of her book that resonated with my experience and is the story of so many active duty and veterans across the world. We discuss how we met and what it's like leaving the wilderness and connecting with others w...

Today I am speaking to Sonja Price-Herbert about racism in the fitness industry. Sonja shares what ignited her to specialize in anti-racism in fitness industry and how racism has personally impacted her. Sonja discusses the importance of having diverse voices from the Black community to speak on this topic and the need to create safety for Black people in fitness/wellness spaces. Sonja also delves...

In today's episode I am speaking with Ashley Easter and we discuss what it was like for her growing up in a cult, experiencing various types of abuse, and how her intuition played a major part in her own awakening and courage to leave the only faith and family that she knew. Ashley explores how her family reacted to her change, how she grew into her full self, and how she found support from others...

Today's episode is with my closest friend Andrea Kingsley Miller. We recorded this episode at Andrea's home during the weekend of my birthday weekend and it was easily one of the BEST birthdays I've ever celebrated. Having Andrea as a friend has honestly been the gift I didn't know I needed. She is one of the kindest, most empathetic people I've ever met and I am so glad that we both took a chance...

Today's episode is by request and I'm speaking about the people pleasing. I am discussing some of what I believe is the root cause of people pleasing behavior, symptoms of people pleasing behavior, Internal Family Systems perspectives as the behavior being a protector, and the long-term impact of people-pleasing, and ways to address the behavior and speak up without allowing fear to stop you. Foll...

Today's episode was birthed from an idea that I had several months ago. So Cha, Lettie, Marcie, and Patricia all said yes to speaking about the power of being a Black woman and some of what we deal with on a regular basis.  I wanted to utilize the month of August to talk to feature all of us together. This episode is more than I could have dreamed. They represent healing, love, courage, authe...

Lettie Shumate is a historian, educator, and facilitator in Wilmington, NC. She is also the host and owner of her podcast "History Shows Us" where she educates about history and bridges the past to the present, she discusses racial and social issues, and she doesn’t hold back the truth. Her gift and ability to "connect the dots" is something that is critical to learning from the past. The love she...

Trigger Warning: I discuss childhood sexual abuse, sexual trauma, and other forms of childhood maltreatment. This episode is inspired by Glennon Doyle's podcast " We Can Do Hard Things". I listened to her most recent episodes which pertain to sex. It made me realize the importance of speaking out and why we must do everything possible to de-stigmatize the topic of sex and sexuality. It also prompt...

" What I know for sure is, it's never too late and it's never over."My friend Monica DiCristina joins me for today's show where we discuss anxiety, grief, fear, and common barriers to becoming the person you were always meant to be. Monica shares her experience with anxiety which is sure to encourage and inspire listeners to keep going even with fear. Monica also shares the following: Identity vs...

" If I have to modify myself for you to value, see, or hear me--- then that means I'm not seen, valued, or heard." Cha Sears- BarefieldOn today's episode, I get to talk with my friend and sister Cha Sears-Barefield. I first became acquainted with Cha while listening to her the Still Becoming podcast with Monica DiCristina, Episode 65 for anyone who would like to listen to this powerful, loving, an...

"Hey I see this pain. I see it. I'm willing to sit with you in it. I don't want to drag you out of it. I don't want to tell you it's going to be ok. I see you. And that pain is valid, but that pain won't last forever." On today's episode we are hearing from Grace Kingsley Miller as she shares her journey healing from self-harm. Grace reveals what it was like growing up and being unable to express...

On today's episode we listen to Diamond Williams as she shares why we need more Black professionals in the STEM ( science, technology, engineering, mathematics) field. Diamond works in the engineering field and shares her professional journey. She delves into some of the barriers that prevents so many people from entering the STEM field and how they can move past those barriers. Diamond also discu...

" I know what real looks like and as a trauma survivor...I also know what healing looks like."Today's interview is with Jackie Roby. Jackie details her story of surviving childhood sexual trauma, coping with family secrets, PTSD, and her journey to finding freedom from the shame and secrecy. Jackie's career in the travel industry led her to the world of wellness travel and healing retreats. Jackie...

"If one is committed and married to systems, structures, and any forms of hatred, oppression, and violence, it's probably not going to work for you here. You might want to keep it moving." Today we are speaking with Reverend Felicia Parazaider about her Revolution of Love Ministry. We discuss what prompted her to create this community and why community is important. Rev. Felicia also shares her th...

"When you love you, nothing someone says will make you think differently about you." Today we are speaking with Candace Joseph about her mental health diagnosis and the impact PTSD, depression, and anxiety has had on her life and entrepreneurial  journey. Candace shares her story with honesty and strength as she gives listeners insight on how trauma impacted her daily life activities and abil...

"You still have to live. You still have to figure out what you were put her for..." Today we are speaking to Michele Johnson, MHS, PA-C about her own journey with chronic pain and how she found ways to cope despite her medical diagnosis. Michele shares tips with listeners regarding what helped her to continue to thrive and how she now uses what she's learned to help others. Michele covers the foll...

"God will love us right where we are, but I didn't really feel I was worthy."On today's episode Chandra Moyer shares her story of growing up in a military family in a predominantly White community. She details what it was like becoming aware of the abuse after more than thirty years of dissociative amnesia, shame, and her family's denial and abandonment. Chandra also discusses the following topics...

" Diet culture isn't happy to see you feel satisfied with yourself." In today's episode I'm speaking with Jess Brock-Pitts about her journey to weight neutral fitness and body positivity. Jess brilliantly explores the following: —How food shaming sends a message of who is worthy and who is loveable —How we attach moral value to food —How diet culture sends the message that if you're  in a big...