Pregnancy and the year following childbirth are deeply transformative periods in a woman’s life, involving intense emotional, physical, and psychological shifts. While maternal mental health is vital for all women, Black women in particular face unique mental health challenges that often go unaddressed. Unfortunately, we are less likely to receive a diagnosis or adequate care. And cultural stigma, mistrust of medical systems, and underrepresentation in healthcare further widen the gap in support and understanding.

This episode features Dr. Lyneia Richardson, a mama, healer, psychologist, educator, author, and maternal health advocate. Her work is rooted in decolonizing therapy and education through a Mothering Praxis that centers care and aims to uplift the voices of those who have historically been marginalized and silenced. She is currently a professor of counseling at McDaniel College and the owner of Melanated Women's Therapy, LLC, where she provides therapy and support to Black women and mothers, addressing issues at the intersection of race, gender, and mothering.

For more information about this episode click here.

In conversations about social justice and equality, some of the most urgent and devastating issues remain under-discussed—among them, the epidemic of violence against Black transgender women. The statistics are harrowing: 56% of Black transgender women experienced intimate partner violence in their lifetime, 65% of transgender gun homicide victims were Black trans women, and nearly 75% of identified perpetrators in fatal attacks against Black trans women were Black cisgender men- with whom the victims often had a relationship with.

Understanding the roots of this violence involves delving into a complex web of societal factors, including entrenched racism, transphobia, and misogyny, which often manifest in harmful stereotypes and prejudices. This episode features Pamuela Halliwell (she/her), a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who specializes in working with transgender, non-binary and gender non-confirming individuals. She earned her master’s degree in counseling psychology from Argosy University and is the author of "Characterizing the Prevalence and Perpetrators of Documented Fatal Violence Against Black Transgender Women in the United States (2013–2021)"

For more information about this episode click here.

For decades, Black women have faced barriers to swimming. Much of this stems from historical segregation across swimming spaces, cultural myths about bodies of water, and a lack of access to swim instruction in Black communities. For many Black women, the added challenge of hair maintenance—given chlorine damage and ill-fitting swim caps—has made the water feel even more unwelcoming. In fact, nearly 70% of Black adult women have little or no swimming ability. Tragically, this contributes to the reality that Black individuals are five times more likely to drown than their white peers.

But the tide is turning. To discuss the ways in which Black women are reclaiming their spaces in the water, we are in conversation with Dr. Dawn Norwood. She is an associate professor and interim department chair at Queens University of Charlotte in the Department of Health and Human Performance.

For more information about this episode, click here.

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.

For more information ⁠click here⁠.

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.

For more information click here.

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.

To learn more about this episode click here.

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.

For more information click here.

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).

For more information click here.