In Episode 51 Carole sits down with the brilliant and compassionate Rev. Dr. Thema Bryant for a conversation that resonates deeply with listeners navigating life, love, and purpose. With authenticity, insight, and grace, Dr. Thema unpacks the transformative themes from her new book, Matters of the Heart: Healing Your Relationship with Yourself and Those You Love—offering wisdom on relationships, healing from trauma, setting boundaries, and reclaiming your personal joy.
As the Past President of the American Psychological Association, a clinical psychologist, ordained minister, and professor at Pepperdine University, Dr. Thema brings a wealth of knowledge grounded in experience, spirituality, and scholarship. She speaks candidly about being raised in a legacy of liberation theology, the powerful influence of her family, and the importance of community engagement in turbulent political times.
Carole and Dr. Thema explore the weight carried by "the strong one" in families, the role of women in society, and the necessity of healing and self-affirmation. With heartfelt storytelling, they highlight the profound need to step out of people-pleasing roles and into lives of peace, balance, and agency.
Listen to this episode to learn:
- How healthy relationships impact your mental wellness
- Why it’s okay to say no and protect your peace
- The importance of mutuality in all forms of connection
- How to break patterns of over-responsibility in family systems
- How self-love differs from companionship—and why both matter
- Why creating a joyful life now (not waiting for “your person”) is a radical act
- How to turn wounds into wisdom
About Rev. Dr. Thema Bryant:
Rev. Dr. Thema Bryant is one of today’s most influential voices on healing, mental health, and spiritual wholeness. A licensed clinical psychologist and ordained elder in the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, she is the former president of the American Psychological Association and a leading advocate for trauma recovery and liberation-centered mental health practices.
She hails from a remarkable lineage of faith and justice. Her father, Bishop John R. Bryant, and mother, Rev. Dr. Cecilia Williams Bryant, are respected leaders within the AME Church. Her brother, Rev. Dr. Jamal Bryant, is the Senior Pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Georgia and a prominent voice in civil rights and social justice.
Learn more about Dr. Thema at:
Dr. Thema’s Website
New Book: Matters Of The Heart
https://drthema.com/matters-of-the-heart
The African Methodist Episcopal Church
The Late Rev. Cecilia Bryant (1946 - 2024) Dr. Thema’s Mother
https://afro.com/cecelia-williams-bryant-homegoing/
https://www.washingtoninformer.com/cecilia-williams-bryant-eulogy/
Bishop John Bryant, Dr. Thema’s Father (1943 - Present) Retired Bishop of the AME Church
https://www.ame-church.com/leadership/bishops-of-the-church/
https://chapel.howard.edu/node/1031
Rev. Dr. Jamal Bryant, Dr. Thema’s Brother. Former AME Pastor, Now Pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church
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