BEING The World According To Us

Here we are again, addressing the pervasive disrespect of appropriation. This time, we unpack the controversy of white scholars writing about Black women, namely the very public shutdown of the recent published work of Jennifer M. Buck, a Caucasian professor of practical theology at Azusa Pacific University who thought herself qualified to set her hand to the topic of trap feminism. Because "antiracist work is the work of white people to do". Ma'am??? Tap in and share this episode with friends, this is the one right here!

So, it's 2022. Two plus years plus inside of a pandemic, and we are living with a "new normal". Add to the mix, political and social unrest. We are not okay.....okay? The Doctors dive in and discuss coping in these still yet uncertain times. Self care? Yes, please. But what let's dig deeper and unpack just what it means.

To quote iconic comedian Chris Rock, are you single and lonely, or married and bored? This week, we flashback to a previously unreleased episode of BEING, when The Doctors discuss love during covid. How does a global pandemic affect how we operate in relationships? What happens when you're NOT home alone for a year straight? What's your first move when you're finally vaxxed and waxed?? Does the cutie in the produce section get your number, or nah? Jump in and get some comic relief with The Doctors and their covid dating chronicles.

There is a saying in the mental health services community that, "...recovery is about progression, and not perfection!" In this episode, The Doctors tackle the epitome of imperfection, the polar opposite of recovery...the issue of addiction. Addiction has many faces. It is not just substance use, and it does not just affect the lower socioeconomic class. Recovery can be just as nuanced. Listen in as The Doctors give insight, and call out (as only they can) the unhealthy mechanisms that many choose to get through this thing called life.

May 25, 2021 marked one year from the tragic death of George Floyd - and the spark of racial reckoning here in the United States. A recent study published by the Journal of Epidemiology and Public Health documents the undeniable fact of racial disparity in deaths resulting at the hands of police in America. Black people are shot and killed by police at 2.6 times the rate of white people. Among unarmed victims, Black people are killed at three times the rate of whites. Worse, the average age of Black people killed by police is 30, and this very year we witnessed teenagers as young as 15 lose their life in a police encounter. So after approximately 241 Black people being shot to death by police in 2020, and 62 by the end of April 2021...we are tired, to say the least. Mentally exhausted. What do you do, and how do you cope when the cutting down of Black life in the streets of America has become public entertainment phenomena? The Doctors weigh in on the existence, the impacts, and the ripple affects of Black trauma, and how important it is to preserve your peace in such a time as this.

It's May. A big time of year for parents all over the country, celebrating their sons and daughters transitioning from teens and students to full grown adults. A beautiful thing to watch. When it is. Sometimes the family dynamic is not so pretty. Sometimes it's downright toxic. And damaging. And the outcomes are not so polished, but rather raw and yes, even irreparable. Cue in Kirk Franklin, and the situation we all witnessed on social media. We had a whole session on it. Since it's Mental Health Awareness Month, and we've been covering the topics of trauma and blurred lines, it's only right that we share this previously unreleased episode and air our perspectives on what happens when the parent-child relationship is in breakdown.

We've all seen the fallout on social media pertaining to self-professed relationship influencer Derrick Jaxn and his "situation". But can we talk about that for a minute? Because as mental health professionals, we see clear and present danger when someone takes to The Gram in a bonnet and declares their loyalty to someone who clearly has issues with being loyal to them. Is his a case of someone maintaining and exhibiting their faith in the midst of a difficult situation? Or is Sis in need of an intervention? All memes, jokes and shade aside, what does her public response say, from The Doctors' perspective? Let's talk about it!

We've gone through so much over the last year. A worldwide pandemic. School and business shutdowns. Economic and political turmoil. Social unrest. Survival mode is a natural defense mechanism, but is it healthy? The Doctors do a deep dive into trauma to help us understand what it is, and how to recognize it. Do you operate out of trauma? What about your children? Your friends? Your co-workers? Let's talk about it, and see what the behaviors we see on a regular basis are actually telling us.

Can we talk about this Malcolm and Marie movie?! There is so much to unpack, so many layers of narcissism, insecurity, and attachment. The Doctors offer their perspectives on the many unhealthy behaviors portrayed by Malcolm, the coping mechanisms used by Marie, and the how this explosive portrayal of toxicity in a relationship so perfectly demonstrates why you don't waste your time or your peace in an unhealthy relationship.

In previous episodes, we've touched on the taboo of therapy in the Black community, so we thought we'd tackle the subject head on to shed some light on what therapy is, what it isn't, and what benefits it offers to one's overall quality of life. Join The Doctors in this enlightening conversation, and evaluate for yourself if maybe perhaps the proverbial therapy couch is a viable option.

After nearly a year, with two vaccines in distribution here in the U.S., it seems we are now on the brink of recovery from the coronavirus...or are we? Most Americans have hope that the vaccine is prayer answered. Black Americans have serious apprehension, remembering past governmental transgressions like the Tuskegee Experiment, and vexed by current inequities that stifle quality of life for many in our communities. The Doctors have a moment of transparency, and dig into this multifaceted issue.

January 6th, 2021 will forever be seared into our memory. An insurrection on the White House? Two weeks before a presidential inauguration??? Shocking to watch unfold, but were we really surprised? We've long maintained that there are two Americas, a double reality. So where do we go from here? And how do we now engage? Or do we? Because someone said this is not our mess to clean up. Let's talk about it!

2020 was, in short...a lot. A whole lot. More than a lot of us could handle. And here we are at the end of it, in the thick of holiday season, dealing with layers of trauma. Some still denying the very existence of the monstrosity that has turned the entire world upside down. The Doctors discuss how covid has impacted our holiday experience this year, and the cultural components that factor into the perceptions and beliefs that lend themselves to what we're seeing as we try to get through this unprecedented time.

The stigma of mental health is not just an issue within the Black community, how to deal with it has historically been a straight conflict of interest for many within the Black church. Is it hypocrisy to seek a therapist if you're a person of faith and having issues? And if so, how do you account for faith without the work? How, then, do we break the struggle cycle? Dr. LaToya, Dr. Nakia and Dr. Taj examine this nuanced discussion and peel back several layers from the social, cultural, and clinical perspectives.

Black culture has long been a revolutionary influence on American pop culture. Our music, our art, our look, our vibe has often been hijacked, and yes, stolen for profit by others who do not look like us. Today, appropriation of Blackness has gone to a whole other level, which is ironic because in this racially charged time, bigotry has reared its ugly head with such disdain for anything unapologetically Black. The Doctors come to the roundtable to discuss this controversial behavior, and the racial fetishism from which it often emanates. Let's get into thisssss!!

Tuesday, November 3rd will be a very challenging day for many of us to get through. Because we're literally at a crossroad. Race, gender and class are heavily impacting our views and perspectives this election season, and causing our heads to spin as we struggle to understand the recent antics of public figures we thought we knew. How do we manage our emotions in the midst this chaos? How do we exercise self care so we can keep it together as we watch Election Night unfold? The Doctors have answers for you, let's get into it!

Social media has undeniably taken precedence in our daily lives. One way or another. Especially now, in these covid times. But it is also commonly a place of contention, where the opinions, ideals and beliefs of many are scrutinized, argued, and even attacked. How does this impact one's mental well-being? Just how do you protect your peace when triggered by keyboard thugs? When is enough enough? Let's get into it.

In this episode, the doctors engage in an insightful discussion about the largest disruption to the education system in our nation's history, covid-19, delving into the nuanced issues of remote learning and the adverse impacts it has had on both students and their parents, as well as the teachers who are now essential frontline workers. How do we deal with the psychological break and social/emotional damage that the pandemic will have on this generation? Let's talk about it.

The doctors are back with a side-tickling yet introspective lesson in self-awareness, sharing how a mountain climbing experience yielded teachable moments on boundaries, fixation, and the ability to recognize and value opportunities to change course while trying to accomplish goals. This is an excellent conversation to partake in during this unprecedented time, when change is inevitable and the ability to pivot is a very necessary survival skill.

In this episode of BEING, the doctors contextualize one of the most controversial songs to date by female artists Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion...WAP. Some view the song as a vehicle of female empowerment. Others say it's too much. And then there's the issue of Meg Thee Stallion's recent situation with Tory Lanez. Have we normalized gender privilege? Have we created an intersection of biases? And why do Black women feel the need to protect Black men, even when not being protected by Black men? Let's get into it.

The Doctors come 'round the table to chop it up about dating...yes, dating! How the digital age has shaped behavior, impacted expectations, and changed the playing field altogether. Do courting principles apply anymore? And how do you flip the script to get what you want? Let's get into it!

Dr. Taj, Dr. LaToya and Dr. Nakia broach the very unsettling discussion of the intersection between being Black and being a woman. How do you find safety in a society that doesn't value your life? How do you process and react to aggression without fulfilling the stereotypical depiction of the angry Black woman? The doctors share the lessons they took away from recent current events, namely the controversial showdown involving U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Dr. Taj, Dr. LaToya and Dr. Nakia discuss the crossroad between passion and anger, and through their lens as Black professionals explore how to self-regulate when difficult situations laced with implicit bias can trigger thug tears and unfairly invoke stereotyping.

In this episode, the doctors have an honest discussion about being Black mental health professionals operating in spaces that don't always understand how to handle them. What do you do when confronted with microaggression? How do you self-regulate when triggered? How do you initiate change to prevent personality clashes? Let's talk about it!

Introducing Doctors LaToya Gaines, Nakia Hamlett and Tajhma Burroughs, mental health practitioners, and hosts of this provocative and engaging roundtable on the life from the Black experience...and the therapist's office!