The SALT TALK with Jermine Alberty

Ever notice how certain invites feel shiny at night but heavy the next day? We pull apart the familiar idea of a “booty call” and rebuild it as any low-intent request that extracts your time, talent, compassion, or peace without offering respect, reciprocity, or responsibility. From emotional check-ins that vanish when you need support to “opportunities” that siphon focus from your mission, we name the patterns that turn your purpo...

When the world calls it a midlife crisis, what if it’s actually a midlife realignment? We open the door to a different narrative—one where your wake-up isn’t a breakdown, it’s a spiritual audit that says what got you here won’t carry you where you’re going. With honest, grounded guidance, we explore why people who benefited from your overfunctioning often label your healing as chaos, and how to stop carrying expectations that were ...

This holiday special skips the wrapping paper and goes straight for the heart.

In Part I of a two-part series, Jermine Alberty sits with his father, Jimmie Jones, for a raw, unvarnished father–son conversation about what we inherit, what we choose, and how faith and responsibility can rewrite the story. From 1960s Kansas City streets to a modern kitchen table, they explore temperament and trauma, the sting of denial, inherited anger...

Some stories don’t need a spotlight—they need a steady hand.

In Part II of this two-part series, Jermine Alberty sits down with his brother Jimmie Marks for an unfiltered conversation about childhood trauma, family fragmentation, and the slow, daily work of rebuilding love, trust, and identity. This episode builds on Part I’s interview with their father, Jimmie Jones, moving the story forward through a sibling lens shaped by shared ...

What if the “wicked” one was never wicked at all—just named that way by people who needed a villain? We take Wicked beyond the big screen to explore how labels form, why difference scares us, and how narrative power shapes who gets believed. Through the SALT lens—service, affirmation, love, and transformation—we unpack how stigma attaches to mental health, neurodiversity, race, gender expression, poverty, ability, and the trauma re...

What if the kindest thing you could say is the clearest thing you’ve been avoiding? We explore how to make your words instruments of healing—especially during a season that calls for gratitude and courage. Drawing on Don Miguel Ruiz’s be impeccable with your word and Brene Brown’s clarity is kindness, we get practical about speaking truth without cruelty, and warmth without pretending. If holiday conversations feel tense, this guid...

Eight years ago,  Antoine Roston Sr. survived a shooting that changed his life forever.

 In this powerful conversation, he shares his journey from pain to purpose—the nights of questioning, the sustaining power of faith, and the long road to recovery that led to renewed vision for life and hope.

Antoine describes life after a brachial plexus injury and the form of music therapy he created for himself. With his left arm barely respons...

Welcome back to The SALT Talk with Rev. Jermine Alberty. In Part I of this special Make A Difference Day 2025 edition, we celebrated the life and legacy of our beloved mentor, Rosemary Davis Kelly—a woman whose compassion, leadership, and unwavering commitment to service have shaped generations of changemakers. Her example reminds us that making a difference begins with seeing the divine potential in others and nurturing it through...

One mentor can reset a life’s direction—and sometimes an entire community’s. We celebrate Make a Difference Day 2025 by telling the story of Rosemary Davis Kelly, the woman who turned teen volunteers into leaders and taught us to live service as identity, not a task. With my brother-in-purpose, Houston educator Dr. Bryan Williams, we revisit the Octagon Club years where food drives, senior visits, and real leadership training forme...

Have you ever felt like you were drowning—not in water, but in life's overwhelming challenges? That suffocating feeling when bills, expectations, grief, or addiction seems to pull you under?

Swimming becomes the perfect metaphor for life's journey in this deeply personal exploration of recovery and healing. From childhood trauma at the hands of a well-meaning uncle to the symbolic power of shallow versus deep wat...

Fifty years of life brings with it a tapestry of memories, lessons, and moments that shape who we become. In this deeply personal episode, I open my heart to share the journey that has brought me to this milestone birthday and the vision that pulls me forward into the decades ahead.

My path has taken unexpected turns as I've served as pastor, mental health advocate, author, trainer, and founder of the SALT Initiative....

World Friendship Day (International Day of Friendship), celebrated on July 30th, is a reminder of the power of genuine connection in addressing today’s loneliness epidemic. In this episode, we’ll explore the Four A’s model for building authentic friendships: Accessibility, Assurance, Affection, and Accountability.

True friendship means more than casual connection—it’s about carrying one another’s burdens, loving deeply, and sharpeni...

Pain isn't always a crucible for growth; sometimes it's an unbearable prison from which people desperately need escape. During National PTSD Awareness Month, we confront both the value and burden of suffering, especially the kind of trauma that makes people just want it to stop.

• Approximately 20% of adults globally live with persistent pain
• PTSD affects 6-8% of U.S. adults during their lifetime, impacting...

In this episode of The SALT Talk, host Jermine Alberty and co-author Rose Jackson-Beavers delve into the critical issue of depression among African American teens, drawing insights from their book, Bottled Up Inside: African American Teens and Depression. Together, they illuminate the unique challenges faced by Black youth, aiming to dismantle stigma and foster understanding within families and communities.

Content Advisory: This ep...

In this powerful episode of The SALT Talk with Jermine Alberty, we explore what it means to truly release the emotional weight we carry. Jermine breaks down S.T.U.F.F.—Stress, Trauma, Unrest, Fear, and Frustration—those invisible burdens that silently hold us back from living with purpose and peace.

Timed perfectly with National Stress Awareness Month, this episode invites listeners to reflect, reset, and let go of what no longer se...

Welcome to another episode of The SALT Talk with Jermine Alberty!  We are thrilled you have joined us for this special episode on International Happiness Day! 

Today, we’re talking about something that touches all of us—happiness. But more than just feeling good, we’re diving deep into the idea of having power over your happiness—how to attain it, sustain it, and protect it from the pressures of life and the expectations of others.

H...

Welcome to another episode of The SALT Talk with Jermine Alberty! As we celebrate love and relationships this month, we’re diving into a conversation that goes beyond the surface. We’re exploring how unconditional and reciprocal love can be blended to create a more compassionate, balanced, and transformative world.

What happens when we merge the boundless generosity of unconditional love with the mutual respect and shared responsibi...

In this episode of The Salt Talk with Jermine Alberty, we dive into the powerful truth behind the timeless message: A Change is Gonna Come. Inspired by Sam Cooke's iconic words, we explore the essence of real, meaningful, and lasting change. 

Change is inevitable, but how can we embrace it as a path to growth, service, and transformation? Join Jermine as he unpacks his change model theory, focusing on three key elements: Awaren...

As we approach the new year, many of us start thinking about resolutions—those promises we make to ourselves to grow, improve, or do better. But let’s be honest: sticking to resolutions can be hard, right?

We want to introduce a fresh approach to setting goals for the new year. It’s inspired by the three R’s we often hear about in environmental sustainability: Reuse, Reduce, and Recycle. But what if we applied these principles to ou...