Mindfulness has long been celebrated for its ability to reduce stress, improve emotional balance, and support overall mental well-being. But while its benefits are well-documented, traditional mindfulness practices often fail to address the cultural realities, lived experiences, and systemic challenges that uniquely impact Black communities. Enter Blackfullness—a groundbreaking mindfulness app designed with intention and cultural relevance, Blackfullness offers a space for Black individuals to reclaim rest, stillness, and self-awareness in ways that feel authentic and affirming. By centering the Black experience, Blackfullness bridges the gap between traditional mindfulness and true, culturally responsive healing.

This episode features the founder of Blackfullness- Dr. Natalie Watson-Singleton. A licensed clinical psychologist, she is an Associate Professor of Psychology at Spelman College; and the Diversity and Inclusion Education Director with the Nia Project at Emory University Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences.

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It’s no secret that Black women are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications. Factors like implicit bias in medical settings, and social determinants of health contribute to this disparity. However, there’s an often untold part of this story- the importance of involving men in maternal health.

Fathers can play a crucial role in supporting Black women by advocating for their access to quality healthcare, assisting in navigating the frequently disjointed healthcare system, and challenging any biases that may occur. Unfortunately, conversations about maternal health are often isolated, and fathers might feel it’s not their role or lack the skills and knowledge to manage these emotionally charged areas.

In today’s episode, we’ll be exploring how fathers can be key advocates for maternal health with Dr. Valerie Newsome Garcia, Director of Programs and Grants for 4Kira4Moms.

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We've all seen the viral "Black Wife Effect" trend on social media—side-by-side photos of white men before and after marrying Black women, often showing a dramatic glow-up. While meant to entertain, this trend also reflects a deeper social shift: the number of Black women entering interracial relationships has increased. According to a national study by the Pew Research Center, 24% of Black women are now in interracial partnerships—a notable rise compared to past decades. Despite these trends, Black women in interracial relationships with white men often find themselves navigating a minefield of social complexities.

To get into the research examining these phenomena, we are talking with University of Georgia Assistant Professor of Sociology Dr. Vanessa Gonlin, a widely published expert on this topic. Her areas of expertise includes racial identity(ies), colorism, and interracial relationships- with a particular focus on Black peoples and bi/multiracials. Dr. Gonlin is an award-winning educator, and has shared her expertise with organizations including WebMD, Macmillan Learning, and the International Women’s Forum to facilitate knowledge and connection across communities.

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The ways Black women navigate the intersection of music, performance, and labor, all while dealing with the emotional and relational demands placed on them is complex. Black women rappers, in particular, are often at the crossroads of artistic expression and societal expectations. These women, who have gained significant social media followings, are also navigating platforms like OnlyFans, where they create sexually explicit content for a subscription-based audience.

In this episode, Dr. Jabari Evans-, an Assistant Professor of Race and Media at the University of South Carolina, takes us through the complex ideological tensions Black women face within a genre often steeped in racial stereotypes. Author of "Drill Rap, Sex Work, and the Digital Underground: (Clout)Chasing on Chicago’s Southside", Dr. Evans' research explores strategies youth use for self-expression on social media platforms as well as other digital media tools and technologies.

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Wendi Williams, Barbara “B.” Smith, and Rosa Parks- these are some Black women who publicly faced their experiences with cognitive decline. This is not surprising as women- no matter race or ethnicity- are twice as likely to develop dementia than men. And Black individuals are 2 to 3 times more likely to develop dementia than white individuals. This places Black women at a critical intersection of vulnerability. This episode features Dr. Tanisha Hill-Jarrett, PhD, discussing the intersecting factors shaping Black women's cognitive decline. A neuropsychologist and an Assistant Professor of Neurology at the University of California San Francisco Memory and Aging Center, her research applies intersectionality theory to understand how psychosocial stressors and structural racism and sexism impact Black women’s cognitive aging and confer risk for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD).

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In recent years, Black women have become increasingly visible in the world of strip clubs, with mainstream media and celebrity culture contributing to a shift in perception. Shows like P-Valley and high-profile figures like Cardi B, Nene Leakes, and Azealia Banks have brought the lives of Black dancers into the spotlight, portraying them as empowered, savvy businesswomen who take ownership of their bodies and their labor.

But beneath the surface of this newfound visibility lies a complex reality where race, sexual stereotypes, and commodification continue to shape the often inequitable experiences of Black and other women of color dancers in these “desire industries”. From wage gaps to violence, to the ways that dancers are pigeonholed into specific roles based on their racialized erotic capital, the commodification of race and desire shape the experiences of Black women across these spaces.

Unfortunately, few people have critically examined how Black women navigate, resist, and negotiate the powerful forces at play in this sex industry space. In this episode, we dive deep into Dr. Siobhan Brooks' groundbreaking research exploring the intersection of race, sexuality, and labor in strip clubs across New York City and Oakland, California. Dr. Siobhan Brooks is a Professor of African American Studies at California State University- Fullerton whose research examines Black feminism, Sex Worker Studies and Black LGBT Identity formation. She is the author of Unequal Desires: Race and Erotic Capital in the Stripping Industry (SUNY Press, 2010), and Everyday Violence against Black and Latinx LGBT Communities (Lexington Press, 2020).

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Disciplining children is an essential part of motherhood, and the methods used vary across cultures and families. Black mothers often face pressures to carefully examine their approaches due to stereotypes that portray them as overly strict or controlling.

he reality is that research has found Black mothers' discipline approaches often center discussion and intertwine cultural values and historical experiences. This episode features Dr. Carla Adkison-Johnson, a Professor in the Department of Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology at Western Michigan University. She is the current Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development, the official journal of the Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development (AMCD), a division of the American Counseling Association. Her 2021 book, African American Child Discipline: Culturally Responsive Policies critically examines the child disciplinary practices of African American mothers and fathers with school age children in the home.

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For many, issues like leaking and the heaviness of periods are just accepted as part of the deal, but they don’t have to be. Whether it’s worrying about leaks during exercise, at work, or while we’re out with friends, period-related anxiety can be exhausting. It’s something that many women experience in silence, feeling like they’re alone in dealing with these challenges. But the truth is, period knowledge — and access to the right resources — can make a world of difference in how we manage our cycles and feel about our bodies.

This is where SANXTUARY MD was born — a company with a mission to educate women of all ages about their bodies, provide products to manage their periods with confidence, and celebrate women breaking barriers in STEM. Today, we’ll talk to Dr. Amber Robins- Hickson MD, MB. She is a board certified family physician, lifestyle medicine doctor, and the creator of Sanxtuary MD-a period product that caters to girls and women with heavy periods.

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