Therapy for Black Girls

This week we’re celebrating two iconic albums that have shaped the sound and soul of a generation, Erykah Badu’s Mama’s Gun and Jill Scott’s Who Is Jill Scott? Words and Sounds Vol. 1, both turning 25 this year. Joining us for this nostalgic and soul-filled conversation is Taryn Finley, journalist and founder of the Unbothered platform. During this conversation, we explore how these albums captured the essen...

Seeing the world as a solo traveler pushes you to show up in a way only you can, as your most authentic self. And while the experience can be daunting, it welcomes opportunities for self-exploration and discovery. To be pushed out of your comfort zone in a place that’s not your home is a gift filled with moments that are sure to sharpen and evolve your mental health. 

In new and unfamiliar environments, you’re forc...

Today, we’re diving into a topic that’s transforming how we understand public health education in this country: childhood trauma and its lifelong impact on the brain and body. For decades, adverse childhood experiences, or ACEs, like abuse, neglect, or exposure to violence, were often seen as just social or emotional issues. But research has revealed the science of something much deeper: these experiences can rewire a c...

This season, we’re excited to bring you something brand new for TBGU. I’m so thrilled to introduce you to the inaugural TBGU Advisory Council. You’ll get to meet Jya, Fatima, and Mikayla, three brilliant young people who will be helping us shape the TBGU experience this year. We’ll hear about what excites them, the topics they’re passionate about, and how they hope to build meaningful conversations tha...

Group travel can create incredible memories and deeper friendships, but it also exposes relationship dynamics that usually stay hidden. When you're sharing rooms and splitting costs, those little friendship quirks get magnified. The indecisive friend becomes a bigger challenge when deciding dinner plans. Budget conversations can't be avoided anymore.

Here's the thing: when done thoughtfully, group travel can actually strengthen you...

This week we’re diving into a conversation about personality disorders with psychiatrist Dr. Tracey Marks. Dr. Marks breaks down what personality disorders are, how they differ from other mental health conditions, and some of the common misconceptions people have about them. We also talk about how personality disorders can impact relationships, what treatment can look like, and ways to show compassion for yourself or a loved ...

In this episode, Dr. Joy explores the cultural and societal messaging that tells Black women they must constantly prove their worth through productivity and self-sacrifice. She shares how travel, particularly solo travel, can be a radical act of self-care and joy. This episode is a reminder that rest is not something to be earned—it is a right. Whether you're planning your next trip or simply need a moment to breathe, this co...

This week we’re joined by cultural icons Erika Alexander and Kim Coles, two of the stars of the beloved 90s sitcom Living Single. Now co-hosts of the Re-Living Single podcast, Erika and Kim are taking a walk down memory lane, revisiting the episodes that made us laugh, cry, and feel seen.

During this conversation, they share what it’s been like to reconnect with their characters and each other, unpacking the highs and l...

When it comes to marginalized intersectional identities, Black women and women of color are no stranger. But if we zoom out, what does that experience look like across systems, access, and paychecks? Today we're excited to be joined by economist, advocate, and author Anna Gifty. She’s here to talk about her new book, ‘The Double Tax: How Women of Color Are Overcharged and Underpaid,’ a powerful, data-driven explor...

We can't let September go by without acknowledging Sex Positive September. Over the years, we've done dozens of episodes exploring sexual liberation, sexuality, and sexual health, so we wanted to pull from our archives to bring you this essential conversation.

In this episode, Dr. Pia Goff joins us to get real about what chips away at our sexual confidence, why some of us struggle with arousal and pleasure, and how to actually talk...

This week, we’re discussing a crisis that’s disrupting lives across the country: the escalating wave of deportations tearing families apart and dismantling the fragile sense of safety many immigrants cling to. For this conversation I’m joined by Catherine Labiran, a writer, organizer, and research manager whose work lives at the intersections of immigration justice, Black liberation, and mental health. Cather...

This week, Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford joins us for a compassionate conversation about weight, health, and healing. We're exploring why obesity should be understood as a chronic disease, not a moral failing, and discussing new treatment options like GLP-1 medications that are changing lives. 

Dr. Stanford is an obesity medicine Physician-Scientist at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. What makes her perspe...

Have you ever heard someone casually say “I’m so OCD” just because they like things neat and organized? That kind of language often oversimplifies a serious mental health condition and can make it harder for those living with OCD to be seen and understood. Today, we’re digging into what Obsessive Compulsive Disorder actually is and how it uniquely impacts Black women. Dr. Jameeka Moore joins us again fo...

This week we're bringing attention to a topic that doesn’t always get the space or care it deserves: the mental, emotional, and physical toll of living with a severe autoimmune condition. Joining me for this conversation is Dr. Martine Hackett, a public health expert and the host of the podcast "Untold Stories: Life with a Severe Autoimmune Condition". In her show, she shares her own experience navigating chronic illness...

Balancing a career and family life isn’t always easy, but it is possible. Today, I’m joined by actor, producer, author, and podcast creator Tika Sumpter. A true multi-hyphenate, her career continues to thrive. Since becoming a mother, she’s embraced her creativity even more, defying the societal expectation that women should scale back their ambitions after motherhood. Through her company Fort Sumpter, she has thr...

This week’s guest is Renée Bryan, a Licensed Professional Counselor and educator with a Master's in Education from Mercer University and a Master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Richmont Graduate University. What makes Renée's work particularly compelling is her role as a mental health co-responder with law enforcement. This growing field many mental health professionals may not even know exists. In ...

Nila Morton is a graduate of  Howard University where she earned her Masters in Social Work  and a passionate disability advocate born with Ullrich congenital muscular dystrophy, a rare condition that requires her to use a wheelchair. Her advocacy work focuses on challenging ableism and promoting inclusivity within the disability community. In this episode, Nila opens up about the struggles of fighting for accountability ...

This week, we are joined by Dr. Afiya Mbilishaka, a clinical psychologist, hairstylist, professor, and the founder of “PsychoHairapy,” an innovative approach that uses hair care as an entry point into mental health in the Black community. As Black women, our hair is more than just what’s at the surface. It shapes identity, signals care, and holds cultural memory. In our conversation, Dr. Afiya and I dig into the d...

This week we're joined by award-winning scholar, ethnomusicologist, and cultural anthropologist Dr. Kyra Gaunt to explore the powerful intersections of music, play, and identity in the lives of Black girls and women. Dr. Gaunt, author of The Games Black Girls Play: Learning the Ropes from Double-Dutch to Hip-Hop, offers a brilliant breakdown of how musical play, like hand games, cheers, and jump rope rhymes, does more than ent...