Race, Womanhood, and Belonging: Discussing Discomfort with Dravon Rangel and Melissa June

In this heartfelt episode of Let's Get Naked, Dravon Rangel and Melissa June explore the layered realities of womanhood, motherhood, and cultural identity through deeply personal stories. They unpack the discomfort of navigating race and belonging, from Dravon’s son questioning his Black identity to Melissa’s reflections on raising a biracial daughter with confidence. The conversation dives into the psychological toll of gaslighting, the emotional labor of protecting children from societal biases, and the introspection required to raise them with clarity and strength. Together, they challenge ideas of protection, redefine what it means to be a “good man,” and offer raw insight into the complexities of modern womanhood.

Dravon Rangel and Melissa June are two powerful women from vastly different backgrounds, united by a shared mission: to explore the messy, magical, and meaningful journey of womanhood, femininity, race,social justice, and radical truth. 

Dravon Rangel brings grounded wisdom, spiritual insight, and a deep commitment to helping women reclaim their power. Melissa June is a voice that’s both fiery and feminine, Melissa invites women to live fully, even through life’s hardest chapters.

Together, they co-host The Roots, a bold and unfiltered podcast that gets to the heart of it all—identity, motherhood, trauma, healing, and what it really means to grow. Each episode digs into the stories that shaped them and the truths that set them free, creating space for raw conversations, laughter, and powerful breakthroughs. 

The Root isn’t just a podcast—it’s a reclamation. It’s about pulling up the weeds of conditioning, getting honest about what’s no longer serving us, and nurturing what’s true, strong, and sacred within.

This podcast dives deep into real, raw topics—think vulnerability, triggers, and childhood trauma. But just so we're super clear: I’m not a licensed therapist, mental health professional, or anything close. I’m just a human sharing stories, lessons, and life hacks based on personal experience and a whole lot of curiosity.

So, while you might find some golden nuggets here, this is not therapy and should never replace professional mental health care. If you or someone you love is going through it, please—seriously—reach out to a licensed therapist or healthcare provider. You deserve the real deal.

Need Help Now?
Here are a few amazing resources:

· 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (U.S.): Call or text 988
· NAMI HelpLine: 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or nami.org/help
· Therapy Directory: psychologytoday.com
· Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741

The opinions expressed on this show are ours and ours alone—no official organizations are responsible for what we say (or how much we overshare).