Empathy and Eyebrows Podcast

 Mad Momma: One Night in a Psych Ward. It chronicles how media, motherhood and mental health struggles landed me in the psych ward for one night. How 14 years in media and living so publicly (listeners and followers have followed my first heartbreak, marriage, children, infidelity, divorce and the sexual rumspringa of my post-divorce months) has been my life but has impacted my mind, heart and spirit. It's also impacted my family who believe I should live a more private, less public life. But how do you unbecome yourself? How do give so much of yourself for over a decade and then just say, "Hey thank you for helping me become who I am, the success etc., but I'm done?" The episode details how that one night in the psych ward taught me, what I already knew, that we as a society are failing people with mental health issues. I spent so many years covering celebrities and their stints in rehab for "exhaustion" that I romanticized what a mental health facility would be like, and let me tell you it was not what I had envisioned. 

This episode is dedicated to anyone who has ever loved an alcoholic/addict. The range of emotions felt when you are emotionally invested in someone who just can't kick the habit is a journey that impacts everyone who loves that person. Come with me as I introduce you to my dad Andre. 

Love, it's complicated and after you'v been hurt it can be so difficult to love again. Music, movies and my own experiences gave me a lot of unrealistic expectations of love, and just as I was ready to give up...this fine ass man walked up to me in a fast food restaurant and even though I didn't want it to, love won. I'm glad it did. 

Intuition, trusting your gut and listening to your inner voice can be immensely helpful IF you learn to listen and pay attention to the signs. From everyday things to life or death situations, your intuition can be your superpower. Learn to use, trust, and master it!

Shoutout to all the moms! In honor of Mother's Day, episode 5 is dedicated to you and all your magic. Special guests: Munchie and Smooch, my daughters 

Step into the darkness. 1 in 7 women suffer from a perinatal mood disorder. I was 1 in 7. In support of Mental Health Awareness month, come on a journey with me through postpartum depression and anxiety. It's not pretty, but it was my reality and IS the reality of many women. Listen, learn, and ask the new Mommas in your life how they are doing.    Documentary Audio: Credit to HealthZette News Report by Alex Miller  Audio Clips taken from 'Dark Side of the Full Moon' Trailer by North Florida Women's Care ,, Published on May 2, 2016  

I have decided to sell all my belongings and hit the road with my family. This is gonna be very interesting but I KNOW it's something I have to do. I am excited, scared, but more determined than anything. Listen to me and Momma Kathy ( my mom) as we talk about how the idea came about and how I am gonna make it actually happen. Here's to living your best life! 

I’m a huge believer in therapy. Get you a therapist! Talk it out, don’t let your heaviest thoughts weigh you down. You don’t have to fight those battles alone! Get you a therapist... and meet mine, Beth Nelson, she joins me today to talk about our relationship, how to find a good fit for you and how to protect your energy. 

I have lived in fear for the majority of my life. I'm sure a lot of us do, but this week... I stepped out on faith! I walked away from a career that I have spent 15 years dedicated to. I am hanging up my headphones and becoming my own boss. It's easy to say everything is gonna be ok, but when you really start believing it, it changes everything. Strip away the fear with me and walk by faith. 

On this podcast we discuss the way adverse childhood events or ACEs affect our health over the course of our lifetime. I recently learned about the very real connection between childhood adversity and trauma and the leading illnesses that eventually kill us. Best friend Claire and I talk about ACEs, the science of toxic stress and how we can help ourselves and the children in our lives. 

Meet Jeff, my partner who let me interview him about all the things! Love, life, sex...some of his answers surprised me

My friend Lelita Cannon (www.listentolita.com) joins us for Episode 13 of Empathy and Eyebrows: Giving Yourself Permission.  The longest, most potent lunar eclipse of the century is upon us, and it’s time to shift the focus: to YOU, your self-preservation, protecting your mental clarity and spirit. Say no to what no longer benefits you and YES to what does!  We define self-care, while reminding you that you are enough, and it’s okay to give yourself permission to put your oxygen mask on first, preserve your joy and cultivate your own happiness.

Money! Most of us have a weird relationship with it. We want more, can't save enough, fear it or love it. Let's talk about Money! My financial advisor Whitney joins me on this episode as we discuss money. How to make more, save more and stop fearing it! 

My Partner Jeff joins the podcast as we discuss the past year, our anniversary, and having a relationship contract that works for us. Plus, his listening to R. Kelly is a deal breaker for me...will we make it?

 After spending a summer without my two favorite tiny humans, my baby girls are back and are joining me as my special guests on the podcast. Get ready for lots of giggles, random fun facts and a whole lot of black girl magic. #munchieandsmooch

Conversations with strangers can change our lives, shift our perspective and help us grow... Meet Linda Mercer: Christ believer, Wife, Mom, Grandma, Community mom, Activist for workers rights for fairness, SURVIVOR!  She has a story that everyone should hear. 

I am not afraid anymore so I am pulling back the curtain and I am sorry to the women I could have helped by telling my story sooner.

This week our family had to say goodbye to our beloved Sir Gavin unexpectedly. This episode is dedicated to him and anyone who has ever loved and lost a fur family member.

It’s way easier said than done! But when you learn to do this, it changes everything! It’s the one year anniversary of the release of my first book and it’s reminded me so much of how we really have no idea what is planned for us. I could have never imagined that my divorce would lead me to a best selling book, and the man I always wanted and deserved. You better believe I’m trusting the process now.

No their names are NOT Munchie and Smooch. So why did I decide against publicly sharing their names their names for so long? The first answer is Wildcat - a prison inmate who fell in love with me and called me as a character witness at his trial. Let's talk about it.

Meet Rabbi Avi Olitzky. His parents were married at the Tree of Life Synagogue, where on Oct. 27th a gunman killed 11 members of their congregation. We discuss cultural trauma, anti-semitism and how to be better allies

Miss Smoochie lets us into the world of what goes on in the mind of a four year old. We discuss her allergies, experiencing her first big loss with the death of Sir Gavin, if me being 33 is considered old and how she views the world.

Mystic Michaela is a fourth generation psychic medium who specializes in reading auras - the colorful life force energies around individuals. We delve deep into how knowing our auras is beneficial, life changing and even a protective measure. Plus, understanding soulmates, twin flames, and how to protect yourself from narcissists. We dive deep! Come along on the journey with us!

I recently got a chance to sit down with my shero Nora McInerny. She's been through some shitty situations... but she's used her trauma to launch some amazing thing. A hugely insane podcast: TERRIBLE Thanks for Asking, a book: It's Okay to Laugh (Crying is Cool Too), and a non-profit: Still Kickin. When Nora asked me to be the opening speaker at her Still Kickin In Real Life retreat I didn't hesitate to say yes. So we sat down and discussed the shitty things that have happened to me. Now I love being the interviewer, but if I'm gonna be interviewed... there's no one I'd rather be interviewed by than Nora McInerny ( okay, and Oprah, but I'm sure Nora would be cool with that)

This week Best friend Claire and Be the Match donor Savannah join me to talk about the immense need for people to join the registry and especially to push for minority donors. Savannah's story is incredible. By joining the national registry she saved a complete stranger's life. She walks us through her experience and how she knew she would be changing someone else's life, but had no idea how much it would change her own. Nurse Claire adds a medical professional perspective as well her own personal accounts of caring for children who needed and or received transplants. If you've ever thought about becoming a donor this episode will help you make an educated decision. We hope you help us save some lives by joining the registry!

 Resiliency is my Super Power

 This week Best Friend Claire is cohosting the podcast as we work through the aftermath of my miscarriage and talk about the future! She's just graduated from grad school and I'm launching my own program. There's so much to unpack but mostly, there's hope even within trauma.

Author, motivational coach and overall good guy Jesse Ross joins the podcast to talk about how to know if you're dealing with a male or a man. He intimately shares his own progression and drops gems on self love, self awareness, and striving to be a stage 5 man or woman.Let

Rashida McKenzie spent 22 weeks on a strict bed rest with her pregnancy. She had a lot of time to think. She never could have imagined that this unfortunate circumstance would wind up changing her life and sparking the idea for her now flourishing business. Hear her story.

Unfortunately after losing my baby, I am once again suffering from postpartum depression. I'm very sick, but I beat it before. I want to raise awareness for this awful thing. I have incorporated my 'This is My Brave' Bethesda 2018 talk with audio from 'Terrible, Thanks for Asking' Podcast. These clips remind me of the pain I endured, but bring me solace knowing I've overcome those dark times