Unapologetically Black Unicorns

Dr. Sarah Y. Vinson, MD (she/her) is the Founder and Principal Consultant at Lorio Forensics and she is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Dr. Vinison talks about her journey into psychiatry, her work supporting Black and Brown communities and why understanding a person's full story and circumstances matters when they enter the courtroom. They also discuss structural trauma, access to mental health care and the importance of making sure people are actually heard before the system decides what happens next. About Dr. Sarah Y. Vinson: https://drsarahvinson.com/   Lori Forensics: https://lorioforensics.com   The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Contact the show: UBU@UnapologeticallyBlackUnicorns.info Transcripts are available on Apple Podcasts.

Rebecca Neusteter (she/her), PhD, is an author, the executive director of the University of Chicago Health Lab and she is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Dr. Neustadter explores the history of 911 and the complicated relationship between 911, mental health crises and policing. They discuss implementing a stronger support system for 911 professionals, how emergency response systems developed and bringing people with different perspectives together to improve emergency response systems. “911, What's Your Emergency? The Promise and Peril of Crisis Response”: https://thenewpress.org/books/911-whats-your-emergency/   The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Contact the show: UBU@UnapologeticallyBlackUnicorns.info Transcripts are available on Apple Podcasts.

Haben Girma (she/her) is a disability rights advocate, the first deafblind graduate of Harvard Law School and she is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Haben discusses her book, Haben: The Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law, as well as the importance of accessibility, advocacy, and recognizing the many dimensions of disability identity. They discuss the importance of inclusive communication, multisensory experiences and learning from people with different disabilities and backgrounds. Haben: The Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law, by Haben Girma: https://habengirma.com/book/ More about Haben Girma: https://habengirma.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/habengirma/   The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Contact the show: UBU@UnapologeticallyBlackUnicorns.info Transcripts are available on Apple Podcasts. Word format:  https://bit.ly/WordVersionDescriptiveTranscriptHabenGirma   Descriptive Transcript: [Music intro  the theme music is piano, electric guitar with strong brass and horn melody with a funk beat and becomes softer when Keris starts her intro] KERIS: Welcome, and welcome back to Unapologetically Black Unicorns. I am so excited that today I have a guest who is… and people know I make up words. So these are the words that I'm making up for this guest. She is splendiferous. Magnificent, that is not a made-up word. Wonder Fluidus. [keris laughing] Yeah, she's amazing! Okay, that's not… that's not a made-up word either, but she's amazing, and I've had the pleasure of meeting her a couple of times. I've read her book, and we'll talk maybe a little bit about her book. But before we get into all of that, Um, many people know I'm Keris, I'm your host of UBU, but many people might not know what the heck I look like unless they happen to already know me, but I'm African American and Indigenous, I have long black hair that also has a natural gray undercut. Yeah, okay, I'm naturally gray at this point, what can I say? I'm wearing glasses that have a rainbow rim to them. Have a little bit of lipstick on, and I have on my Disability is Not a Bad Word shirt on today. And my background is blurred out because we are on Zoom. Also, people know, relative to this podcast, I don't do bios. I ask my guests to introduce themselves. So, Haben, I'm gonna turn it over to you. Would you like to introduce yourself? [SILENCE- DELAY] HABEN: Hello, everyone! My name is Haben Girma. It's delightful to be here and connecting with everyone over this podcast. And audio is a fascinating way for me to connect with people. Because I don't listen to podcasts personally. Since I'm deafblind, And during this conversation, what we're doing is we're using technology, specifically a braille computer and keyboard. You will notice a delay! Between the questions and the answers. Part of accessibility is patience. Making time for all kinds of places. My voice is coming from the Bay Area in California. I am a woman in my 30s. With Eritrean and Ethiopian ancestry. And…I have lived in different places, but I keep coming back to the Bay Area, because I love…[speaking with enthusiasm] the wealth of food and cultures and beautiful parks we have over here in the community that I've built up over here. So, what…is important to me is building community. And I do that through…Education. Creating legal advocacy and writing. I published a book that talks about how…Ableism, racism, and sexism, show up in different aspects of our world. And the things we could do to remove them from our community. KERIS: Thanks for that introduction, Haben. And speaking of your book, um, I think before I met you the first time in San Francisco, at a library event you were doing with our friend Mychal Threats, I read your book, and I read it via audiobook, And to be clear, audiobook is a way of reading a book. And I laughed. I cried, I clutched my pearls, I have no pearls, but if I had them, I would have clutched them. I, um… Oh, I don't know, I had… I went through all the emotions in that book, and I just love that book. And I saw and heard your sense of humor. So when I got to meet you, um, in order to communicate with you, I had to type on a, um, keyboard that communicated with your Braille device. And I had to tell you, I'm a horrible typist, that I actually type backwards because I have a form of, I guess, like, a spatial dyslexia. So, um, but I remember we had a lot of fun, um, having conversation And I also remember later, when I saw you at the Disability Rights California Gala, because I had read your book, I know, uh, that you love to dance. And there was music playing, and I asked you, hey, would you like to dance? And we got up and, um, you wore me out. We weren't dancing that long, but again, you wore me out. You are the dancing queen. So, tell me a little bit about your book, um, Haben, because the name of the book is what? Haben! [KERIS LAUGHING] Go figure. But the name of the book is Haben, um, the Deaf Blind Woman Who Graduated from Harvard, um, Law School. So, can you tell us a little bit about the book? [SILENCE- DELAY] HABEN: I'd love to, but first, I would love to comment on all you've shared. That event where we met! with Mychal Threads. Fabulous! Mychal is such a powerful advocate for literacy, for community, I hope more people read Michael's new children's book. And follow him on social media. That's Michael Threats, the library ambassador. And you were also mentioning You were typing to me. And you jokingly commented that your typing…is… is not great [HABEN SAYS WITH A SMILE IN A VOICE]. And I want to reassure you…And everyone that my goal is connection. Not perfection. I don't notice most of the typos. Because I'm focused on connecting with someone. I don't care about the typos. I can understand it 99% of the time. So, I want to reassure you, the next time we meet up in person, Don't worry about spelling. I… I have lots of friends with dyslexia and different kinds of learning disabilities, Or even physical disabilities that make typing difficult. And we adapt, we find ways If someone can't type, we can have someone else type for them, like an interpreter. So, we… we adapt. We… we find….., we ways to make things work. And then you also were talking about So, while reading my book, You clutched her pearls! But then mentioned you don't actually wear pearls. So, for you, personally, When you are physically reacting to something that stuns you, or shocks you, How do you physically react? What do you do in that situation?   KERIS: Um, yeah, thanks for the question. I mean, I think it depends on what it is. Um, when I…Touch my pearls, if there were, you know, my imaginary pearls. It's almost like clutching my heart for me, where something has touched me. Um, and…I think throughout the book, there were so many different points that, first of all, felt somewhat familiar for me as an African American woman. And as an African-American woman with a disability, there were, um, parts of the book that felt very familiar, And those might have been… clutch my pearl moments. Um, the biggest clutch-my-pearl moment…or that kind of, like, shock or heartfelt was, um, in the book when you were talking about being on the plane. Um, and your father, I think, was pulled off the plane, and there you are. Um, you know, Deaf and Blind, trying to figure out exactly what was going on and how frightening that was for you. I mean, that was a…That was… yeah, serious, um, moment of…just wanting to know what's gonna happen. I know you're gonna be okay, because clearly, you know, you wrote the book, you…You're here to talk about it, but just the mere fact of going through something like that,and not, um, knowing what's going on around you. Um, yeah, I just was really, uh, had a lot of emotion around that part of your story, too. [SILENCE- DELAY] HABEN:  [speaking with passion] That was such an emotional experience. And for most of my life, I tried to forget it. It was so traumatic, I did not want to remember it. And I came very close to not even putting that in the book. But… We are seeing an increase in family separations…Caused by governments. The U.S. government and other governments around the world. And it is…Horrible. It is so painful. And I thought it was important to show that this impacts disabled people, too. And we really need to be mindful of what we're doing to families. When they separated me and my dad, it was…It was temporary, But I didn't know at the time it would only be temporary. I was about 6 years old. And…As you said, DeafBlind, so I couldn't see or hear everything that was happening. And that is scary, Do children without disabilities. So, it's…Yeah, it's… it's definitely a pearl-clutching moment.   KERIS: Yeah, thank you so much for including it in the book, and, you know, um… having to relive the trauma, and now I feel kind of bad because I brought it up, but at the same time, I'm glad we're here to talk about it, because it does need to be… We do need people to understand the impacts of some of what these governments are doing around, um, family separation and…Um, you know, how it impacts, um, the children, And the families writ large, that it's not a…it's not imaginary, it's not something that's on a piece of paper, it's real, and it impacts real people. So, you know, thank you so much for being vulnerable, to share that, uh, and for it to, uh, remind, um, everybody who reads the book, and also folks who are listening into the podcast or reading the transcript of the podcast. Um, to, um, have that information about that part of your story in your life. [SILENCE- DELAY] HABEN: I wanted people to understand that disabled people are multi-dimensional. We have so many different aspects to our identities. And it is customary for society to try to flatten us. To just disabled people. But we're much more than that. And your podcast is also teaching people that.   KERIS: Oh, thank you, Haben, and I could not agree with you more. I mean, um, you know, just in you talking about that story, You know, a lot of times, and people do know that I live with a mental health condition and other disabilities, but, um, there's been this segregation between, um, the mental health, um, advocacy community and the disability rights community, even though both communities have access to the same rights, um, because we have disabilities, but over the years, I've been working hard. to bring those two communities together. And, you know, as I was listening to you just tell a little bit more about, um, the trauma that you experienced. I always want people to know that everybody has mental health. Everybody has it, have it. Um, it goes not so well that your mental health can be impacted. And, um, you know, trauma is one of those things that impacts our mental health and well-being. Whether we get a diagnosis or not, so it is this intersectional issue. Um, and I don't know, what are your thoughts about how we could better, um, bring our communities together to, um, advocate to preserve our rights, especially now, because in the U.S., lots going on right now in the U.S. [SILENCE- DELAY] HABEN: Some of the most powerful advocacy experiences for me were cross-disability experiences, different organizations, for example, Mobility International USA, Disability Rights California, will bring in groups of disabled people, very different disability experiences, different backgrounds. [HABEN SPEAKING WITH A SMILE IN HER VOICE] And you learned things you never thought you'd learn. Because everyone has their own wisdom. They've had challenges, and they've come up with unique solutions. And when you have these spaces where people can share their ideas, There's solutions, their experiences, We all grow from that, and learn from that. So, it would be great if the mental health community had more cross-disability, cross-disability…Cross-community experiences! to share wisdom and learn from each other.   KERIS: So what I say to that is snaps, claps, thumbs up, um, which is… comes from a show called In Living Color, which basically means I agree, I agree.” Y-A-S-S-S-S-S-S”, yes, [KERIS GIGGLES]  kind of thing. So that's what that means. And I couldn't agree more, and I'm glad you're… you're on the same page with that. And…you know, as you were talking about learning from each other and our work, Um, one of the things that I've been learning from you, of course, is the importance of accessibility and how, in my work, whether it's this podcast, Which is a passion project. Um, I'm not funded, um… Yeah, I don't get any money for doing this, and I've been doing it for 5 years, but I do it because of community and relationships and connections and education. And, um, I've always wanted to ensure it's as accessible as possible. So, when I met you about a year ago, I… the first thing I said is, I want you to be on my podcast, knowing full well it was not fully accessible, and I was working towards that goal. Took me a year to get there, but, um…One of the things thatI had to think about was, as a solo person, I have a producer, but um, as the solo person who does the podcast. how to do audio transcriptions, and so I took a course, actually,  from Think Outside the Vox around, um, culturally competent audio descriptions. And the closest I've gotten to is…just a straight…um, transcript from the, um, podcast. But I'd love it to be far more rich, like, Um, when I say audio descriptions, and you can correct me if I'm… if I've got it Got it? If I'm on point, um, is…that as we're talking, Closed captions or descriptions just put out the words. And what they might not hear is…If your voice sounds happy or stressed, or if we're laughing, Um, and that's what I want to include in my podcast transcripts, is something that is far more descriptive. What are your thoughts on that? [SILENCE- DELAY] HABEN: I sometimes call those descriptive transcripts. So, traditional transcripts actually lack the emotional information of someone's tone.[HABEN SPEAKS WITH SMILING VOICE] It can tell you so much about whether this is a joke, whether someone's laughing, Whether someone's angry and irritated, you want to know all those things. So, a descriptive transcript…That's that emotional information in there. So, you might have…The word laughing in parentheses, to communicate that there's laughter on the podcast. Or you might put in parentheses, awkward pause. Lots of potential to… to share this emotional information, so that it's coming through in the podcast In the written podcast.   KERIS: Thank you, I'm, um, trying to do that, and, um, I have more time. I'm trying to spend more time. With the, um, podcast from each recording. I post every week, so, um, what I'm trying to do now is take the transcripts And, um, take the raw transcripts, and while I'm listening, to the recording, be able to parenthetically or appropriately put in, oh, by the way, the podcast actually starts with music, so I need to indicate that the music is upbeat, funky, um, with a…fast beat to it, and then say, that I'm talking, and then maybe…put parenthetically, if there is laughter, or whatever emotion is there. I also talked to you about, um, doing something a little bit creative with the podcast that I've not seen before, and it has to do with Uh, when I watched a video of you, I think you were at the… Braille Museum in France, maybe? And, um, they gave you these little vials that had aroma in it. So, there was another sense that you could tap into to experience the exhibit beyond the braille and feeling the items, or, um, you could actually smell the leather book beyond just feel the leather book. There was a vial with, I think, a smell of leather in it. Um, can you talk a little bit about that experience at the museum? [SILENCE- DELAY] HABEN was the Louis BRY [Braille [pronounced in French BRY] Museum in Cupre, France. Braille in French is pronounced ‘bry'. So, that's why I said Louis Briy Museum. And in the museum, they have leather products, because Louis Bryce's father was A leather harness and saddle maker so that was part of his…childhood, and…the museum wanted to…communicate the museum experience. For people who are not physically at the museum, so they created…Fragrance…Jars, vials, capsules… And they're little jars with labels on the top, there's print, And there's braille, and you open it up, and you could smell…different aspects of the museum. So, for example, the rose from the garden…The leather from the saddle and harness workshop. Candles…Lots of different…unique sense to that specific…place. And it was a very thoughtful souvenir to be able to…experience with the sense of touch and smell… especially for someone who can't see pictures. of the museum. A lot of people, when they travel and they come back home, they look at pictures or videos from their trips. I can't do that, but now I have… Smelling jars! With bry labels! to remember Cupre, France.   KERIS: That is so very cool. And so I'm always thinking about, um, how to add a dimension, a sensory dimension, Um, to my work. When…For example, when I, uh, was in seminary, I wanted people to experience music, not just with their ears, but with what they could feel, so I passed out balloons so people could hold the balloon. And, um, get close to, um, the speakers where the music was, so they could actually, um, feel the music, um, and realize that Music is more than just what you hear with your ears. You can feel it. Um, and that was a way to help them understand that, um, beyond how maybe they were even thinking about it, probably people know they can [KERIS GIGGLING], but they don't recognize, I don't think. The power of being able to tap into that sense. And, you know, that makes me think about you and dancing. And when I was reading about you dancing. So, um, yeah, share a little bit about, uh, how you got into dancing. [SILENCE- DELAY] HABEN: I love dancing, I got into it through a dance instructor who was blind. And she taught us that we can access music in so many different ways. She was teaching a class of…mostly blind students. Blindness is a spectrum, so different kinds of vision. And those who were low vision and learned best visually, she invited them to come…welcome to the front of the class so they could more easily see her different dance movements. She also described what she was doing for those who learned best through listening. And then, for people who learn best through touch, She allowed us to touch her feet, And she used her hands to represent her feet and would physically move her hands to represent what her feet are doing during the different steps, In salsa, swing, morengue… She was a wonderful teacher. She still is a wonderful teacher. Her name is Denise Bansell. She's here in California. still teaching, and it inspired me to continue taking dance lessons. And I still love dancing. And I'm glad you and I were able to dance up in Sacramento. You were talking about how you love…multi-sensory experiences. And how you can… Bring that to these conversations on your podcast.   KERIS: I like them. And, you know, as we're talking about this, this… this reminds me of… this idea of the work that we do, um, you know, in our advocacy, and maybe in our lives sometimes can be hard, it can be tedious, it needs to be done. Um, sometimes for me, um, you know, I think you may have heard of the spoon theory. I'm out of my spoons by 12 o'clock, but I still have work to do at by 5 o'clock, so I gotta figure out how to get through. And one of the things that, um, you know, I hoped we would talk a little bit about is joy and the power of joy. And, um, you know, I'm so, um, happy that you're sharing some of your experiences. Because, um, I'm hoping they give you joy. I know they give me joy when I see you doing them. Especially the most recent one. Um, I know I'm supposed to call you Queen Harben, Knightly Haben….I am supposed to kiss your knight ring… I don't know what I'm supposed to do, but I know you were just recently knighted. Um, as in K-N-I-G-H-T-E-D, not nighted, N-I-G-H-T-E-D. But, um… Yeah, talk a little bit about joy, and this, um, wonderful, uh, honor that you received, And some of the things that you just like doing in your life that you're sharing with others on your platforms.   [SILENCE- DELAY] HABEN: It's just appointed me a knight of the Order of Arts and Letters. And in France knighthoods are honors, [HABEN SPEAKING WITH A SMILE AND LAUGHS So, there's no…Ring-kissing. There's no calling me any… kind of title.[KERIS LAUGHS]  So, it's… it's just an honor for helping to advocate for Braille. Because some people… Today, I think that braille is not necessary. They think, oh, everyone could just listen to audio, and no one needs to learn braille anymore. Braille is still very much needed. And it evolves with the technology we have. Digital Braille. I'm using Refreshable Braille on a Braille computer. And it will connect with laptop and smartphones. We can type braille on touch screens, So, braille can appear instantly with a glass. It's very much still alive and still needed. So that is one of the things I advocate about. And… you mentioned spoon theory.  Spoon theory is a way to describe how…everyone has different energy levels and some people, due to disabilities, fluctuating energy levels, and may start the day with less spoons, less energy, compared to, say, non-disabled people. And it's a reminder to be flexible, an adaptive in… how we schedule, how we think about time…Uh, we make space for… all the different bodies and minds in our communities.   KERIS: Yeah, so, um, how are you doing that for yourself, and how are you finding joy in the midst of all of the, you know, different things that you're doing relative to advocacy and work.   [SILENCE- DELAY] HABEN: There are so many depressing and frustrating things happening in our world right now, And it is really critical for me to take time to go into nature. So, we were talking about flowers and gardens. That's another way I recharge my energy so I can get back into advocacy. I like to make a regular practice of walking around nature, And we're very blessed to have many great parks, including accessible parks, in the San Francisco Bay Area. So, that's one of the things I do. I also have a dog, a guide dog. spending time with him is… is… [HABEN SPEAKING EXITEDLY} Lovely. He recharges me, gives me so much energy.   And… food is another one. I love delicious food, and I'm always learning about new flavors and new cuisines.   KERIS: Amazing. I'm a bit of a… I'm not a foodie, but I do like, um, my comfort food. That gives me joy, is finding some comfort food, which is peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Which is no good for me, because it's lips to hips, and I'm not a small person. Um, however, um, when I need a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, I'm gonna have a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. That brings me joy. and your dog, Milo, oh my gosh, so cute, Milo. Um, how do people interact with Milo? Just want to make sure that folks are mindful. about, um, and I know how you would want people to interact is one way, and how other people with their service and or guide dogs would want them to interact might be another way, but for you, What's important for people to do when they see you with Milo?   [SILENCE- DELAY] HABEN: The good principle is to ask…a person with…a service animal if you can, interact with that service animal. So, if you're interested in petting the dog,  ask first if you can pat the dog. And if it looks like they're working, like they're trying to get somewhere, they're in the middle of an important meeting, It's probably best that you don't interrupt them and as to pet the dog. Um, but if it looks like…They're just hanging out. Um, then…There's a good chance that someone will welcome the opportunity to connect and get to know you, as well as you learning about their dog. Because service dogs are with people, and the people are just as interesting as the dogs. [HABEN SPEAKING WITH LAUGHTER]   KERIS:  [Keris laughing] That's the truth. I have seen more often than not, people talk to the dog and totally ignore the person, and it's like… You do know there's a person there, right? [KERIS LAUGHING] Um, so thank you for, uh, saying that, yes, the dogs are quite interesting, and… guess what? Their people are just as interesting, too. HABEN: Right, just as interesting, equally as interesting. KERIS: And sometimes, I don't know, maybe even more interesting,  [KERIS LAUGHING] you never know. HABEN: Depends on the dog. KERIS: Yeah, yes, thank you, it does depend on the dog.   KERIS: I have a little dog, she's not a service dog. I have had a psychiatric service dog in the past, I've had two. My first psychiatric service dog was Eleanor Roosevelt. And she was a little Tibetan Spaniel, she was amazing. Um, and then my second service dog was Steinbeck. Uh, he was amazing, and um… I got a little nervous about getting another dog, actually, so it took me a while, and I just… thought, let me see what I can do without a dog for the moment, and um… so now I have another dog, it's not a service dog, is, um, Obama, or Obi for short. So one thing you can learn from me about my dogs, um, is don't have me name them for you, because they will not get… it won't be Spot, it won't be Socks, it won't be anything like that. I come up with kind of, sort of funny names. [KERIS LAUGHING] HABEN: Oh, you come up with… presidential, uh…  [HABEN SPEAKING WITH JOY] Wonderful! memorable names!   KERIS: Yeah, yeah, uh, Eleanor Roosevelt was because, you know, I hate to say it, she wasn't the cutest dog on the face of the earth, she was a bit homely. And that's what people said about Eleanor Roosevelt. Um, and again, I don't…I don't go by looks, I don't care about stuff like that. The biggest thing for me about Eleanor Roosevelt was she was like a first lady. Um, and she had the biggest heart for me. She did not like other people. That was not like Eleanor Roosevelt, now that I think about it. But we did name her Eleanor Roosevelt. And, um, Steinbeck…Which, just because the dog told me that was his name. Steinbeck is my favorite author, but uh…the dog just looked at me, and I called the dog Steinbeck, and that's all there was to that. And Obi, or Obama, um, her name is, um, Obama because she has enormous ears. Sorry, President Obama, [keris laughing] but she has very big ears. And she's very pretty, like Michelle, so that's how we come up with some of the names. It's… it's weird. It's weird. I'll admit. I'll admit it.   [SILENCE- DELAY] HABEN: I think that's a good way to come up with names, a bit about their character, a bit about their physical appearance, and a bit about their heart and personality.   KERIS: Yeah. Does… does Milo… did Milo come with his name? Some service dogs come with their name from, uh… where the service dog is trained. So did Milo have the name Milo, or…? Did you give him that name?   HABEN: I gave him that name. So many people find my name. hard, and difficult to remember. So I wanted a super, super easy name. KERIS Okay, I don't find the name Haben' so hard to remember, but I will, um, not be judgmental of other people who may find it so! Alright, so, um, as we wrap up Haben one of the things that I like to do with all of my guests is to take a moment to do what we call wisdom dropping. Um, it's kind of like drop the mic, but now you're gonna drop some wisdom. And this is your time to share anything that you would like to share with our listeners. It could be a call to action, it could be an affirmation, it could be something that you wanted to talk about that we didn't talk about during our time together. So I'm going to turn it over to you for your wisdom dropping.   [SILENCE- DELAY] HABEN: In this conversation, you've been making space for silence, And the pauses between our different sides of the conversation. That is really beautiful. My call to action is for everyone to learn to feel comfortable with silence. Feel comfortable with pauses. In those pauses, you are giving yourself time to process, reflect. And… settle in more deeply into the conversation and where you are in space and time. So that is my little bit of wisdom. KERIS: snaps, claps, thumbs up again. Which is the Y-A-S-S-S-S, yes, uh, to that piece of wisdom. Thank you so much. if Milo's in the room, Milo, thank you for joining us on Unapologetically Black unicorns.   [SILENCE- DELAY] HABEN: Oh my goodness, thank you so much for having me! And thank you to all your listeners for sharing your time with us today. My book is called Haben. The DeafBlind woman who conquered Harvard Law. People were saying to me that I overcame my disability to go to Harvard. No, I'm still disabled. It was Harvard that had to overcome ableism. And they still have more work to do, and we all still have more work to do. To remove ableism from our communities.   KERIS: Thank you for that, and we will be putting links to, uh, whatever you'd like us to link to, Haben in our, um…description and show notes, it can be links to the book, links to your social media. So thank you again for joining us, and as my producer Garrett likes to remind me to say at the end of each podcast, Please like, comment, and subscribe. Okay, Garrett, I've said it. But the most important thing, and we both agree about this, is to share this episode. We never know who needs to hear these messages and these wisdom dropping. So make sure to share the episode, and until next week, we will see you on Unapologetically Black unicorns. [Soft theme music increases volume and podcast ends]

Keris dives into the real history of Labor Day, exploring the lives, struggles and exclusions of workers from the 1800s to today. From unsafe factory floors and the Haymarket Affair to modern gig work and systemic inequities, this episode examines who has been included, and who has been left out, of labor protections. Join Keris for a discussion on dignity, equity, mental wellbeing and why honoring rest is an act of resistance. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Contact the show: UBU@UnapologeticallyBlackUnicorns.info Transcripts are available on Apple Podcasts.

Yolo Akili Robinson (he/him) is an award-winning writer and Executive Director of BEAM (Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective) and Kelechi Ubozoh (she/her) is a writer and mental health consultant and they are Unapologetically Black Unicorns. Kelechi and Yolo discuss their new book, What I Wish My People Had Known: The Psychiatric Green Book: A Guide for Black Folks created to help Black families navigate psychiatric care systems and mental health emergencies. They share the personal experiences and community needs that inspired the book, while also highlighting the power of community-driven resources and collective care. The Psychiatric Green Book: https://beam.community/green-book/ BEAM event - September 9th, 2026 3-5pm PDT: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/prepared-not-powerless-psychiatric-crisis-planning-for-black-folks-tickets-1998376853965   The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Contact the show: UBU@UnapologeticallyBlackUnicorns.info Transcripts are available on Apple Podcasts.

Jonathan Russell (he/him) is the Director of Housing and Homelessness for Alameda County and he is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Jonathan challenges common misconceptions about homelessness while exploring the systemic forces that push people into homelessness. They examine autonomy, the power of saying no and why listening to what people are communicating can lead to more effective and compassionate support. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Contact the show: UBU@UnapologeticallyBlackUnicorns.info Transcripts are available on Apple Podcasts.

Michael Chrzan (he/him) is a Data Scientist at the Center for Educational Data Science and he is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Michael talks about the importance of approaching AI with curiosity while also recognizing its limitations and potential consequences. They explore the benefits and risks of AI, including access and equity, mental health applications and they consider what responsible AI use could look like as the technology continues to evolve. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Contact the show: UBU@UnapologeticallyBlackUnicorns.info Transcripts are available on Apple Podcasts.

Ellis Gordon Jr. (he/him) is treasurer of NAMI Urban Los Angeles and he is the former husband of Bebe Moore Campbell. Ellis shares the story of how he met Bebe Moore Campbell and why it was so important to name the month of July after Bebe. They talk about the inception of NAMI Urban Los Angeles, how NAMI is community-centric and community-centered and continuing the goal of erasing the stigma.   This episode is sponsored by Janssen Neuroscience and Supported by The Painted Brain, a California based Peer Run Organization. https://paintedbrain.org/ubu-black-mental-health/   The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Contact the show: UBU@UnapologeticallyBlackUnicorns.info Transcripts are available on Apple Podcasts.

Dr. Raquel Martin (she/her) is a licensed Psychologist, Professor, Scientist and she is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Dr. Martin shares insights from her research on how identity and community influence the mental health of Black youth. They talk about the importance of culturally informed research and investing in the next generation's mental health. This special five-part series on Black Youth Mental Health is supported by Hopelab, a non-profit operating foundation focused on supporting the mental health and wellbeing of Black, Brown and Queer young people. https://hopelab.org/programs/hbcu-fellowship   Check out the Black Youth Mental Health Playlist on Youtube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHkjY1zXSaEc&si=6woxdHMcLi_vb6yP   The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Contact the show: UBU@UnapologeticallyBlackUnicorns.info Transcripts are available on Apple Podcasts.   Music for the podcast performed by “A New Deal For Youth”:    For 'New Deal'   Primary Artist(s): A New Deal for Youth Featured Artist(s): Aaron Mack Original Composer(s) Aaron Mack Producers: Diego Montidiego, National Collaborative for Transformative Youth Policy Engineer:  Kingmakers of Oakland Studio   For 'Capitalism Be Like'    Primary Artist(s): A New Deal for Youth Featured Artist(s): DayoneNotDayTwo, Aaron Mack Original Composer(s): Aaron Mack Producers: Diego Montidiego, National Collaborative for Transformative Youth Policy Engineer: Kingmakers of Oakland Studio   Links to include:    https://artists.landr.com/057914034898 https://newdealforyouth.org

Dr. Danielle Hairston (she/her) is a Double-Board Certified Psychiatrist, the Psychiatry Residency Program Director at Howard University College of Medicine and Hospital, a Hope Lab HBCU Translational Science Fellow and she is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Dr. Hairston talks about creating wellness experiences for Black youth that promote mental health, belonging and community. They discuss meeting young people where they are and how social connection, life skills and shared experiences can reduce isolation and support emotional well-being. This special five-part series on Black Youth Mental Health is supported by Hopelab, a non-profit operating foundation focused on supporting the mental health and wellbeing of Black, Brown and Queer young people. https://hopelab.org/programs/hbcu-fellowship   The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Contact the show: UBU@UnapologeticallyBlackUnicorns.info Transcripts are available on Apple Podcasts.   Music for the podcast performed by “A New Deal For Youth”:    For 'New Deal'   Primary Artist(s): A New Deal for Youth Featured Artist(s): Aaron Mack Original Composer(s) Aaron Mack Producers: Diego Montidiego, National Collaborative for Transformative Youth Policy Engineer:  Kingmakers of Oakland Studio   For 'Capitalism Be Like'    Primary Artist(s): A New Deal for Youth Featured Artist(s): DayoneNotDayTwo, Aaron Mack Original Composer(s): Aaron Mack Producers: Diego Montidiego, National Collaborative for Transformative Youth Policy Engineer: Kingmakers of Oakland Studio   Links to include:    https://artists.landr.com/057914034898 https://newdealforyouth.org

Dr. Breonte Guy (he/him) is Professor and Interim Chair in the Department of Psychological Sciences at Winston-Salem State University and he is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Dr. Guy talks about G.A.M.E. (Gamified Activities for Mental Empowerment), a culturally responsive digital mental health platform co-created with Black and Brown youth. They talk how gaming, helps create a sense of belonging and community and how that can help address loneliness, strengthen mental wellness and create accessible pathways of support for young people. This special five-part series on Black Youth Mental Health is supported by Hopelab, a non-profit operating foundation focused on supporting the mental health and wellbeing of Black, Brown and Queer young people. https://hopelab.org/programs/hbcu-fellowship   The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Contact the show: UBU@UnapologeticallyBlackUnicorns.info Transcripts are available on Apple Podcasts.   Music for the podcast performed by “A New Deal For Youth”:    For 'New Deal'   Primary Artist(s): A New Deal for Youth Featured Artist(s): Aaron Mack Original Composer(s) Aaron Mack Producers: Diego Montidiego, National Collaborative for Transformative Youth Policy Engineer:  Kingmakers of Oakland Studio   For 'Capitalism Be Like'    Primary Artist(s): A New Deal for Youth Featured Artist(s): DayoneNotDayTwo, Aaron Mack Original Composer(s): Aaron Mack Producers: Diego Montidiego, National Collaborative for Transformative Youth Policy Engineer: Kingmakers of Oakland Studio   Links to include:    https://artists.landr.com/057914034898 https://newdealforyouth.org

Dr. Billie Castle (she/her) is Assistant Professor of Public Health at Xavier University of Lousiana and she is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Drawing on her work with the HopeLab HBCU Translational Science Fellowship, Dr. Castle shares how young people are transforming lived experiences into meaningful action. They talk about the power of youth leadership, community-engaged research and creating space for the next generation to shape the future. This special five-part series on Black Youth Mental Health is supported by Hopelab, a non-profit operating foundation focused on supporting the mental health and wellbeing of Black, Brown and Queer young people. https://hopelab.org/programs/hbcu-fellowship   The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Contact the show: UBU@UnapologeticallyBlackUnicorns.info Transcripts are available on Apple Podcasts.   Music for the podcast performed by “A New Deal For Youth”:    For 'New Deal'   Primary Artist(s): A New Deal for Youth Featured Artist(s): Aaron Mack Original Composer(s) Aaron Mack Producers: Diego Montidiego, National Collaborative for Transformative Youth Policy Engineer:  Kingmakers of Oakland Studio   For 'Capitalism Be Like'    Primary Artist(s): A New Deal for Youth Featured Artist(s): DayoneNotDayTwo, Aaron Mack Original Composer(s): Aaron Mack Producers: Diego Montidiego, National Collaborative for Transformative Youth Policy Engineer: Kingmakers of Oakland Studio   Links to include:    https://artists.landr.com/057914034898 https://newdealforyouth.org

Julie Tinker (she/her) is Principle at Hopelab and she is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. This is the launch of a series highlighting Black Youth Mental Health and the groundbreaking work of the HopeLab HBCU Translational Science Fellowship. They discuss how HBCU researchers are turning research into practical solutions that improve the lives of Black youth. This special five-part series on Black Youth Mental Health is supported by Hopelab, a non-profit operating foundation focused on supporting the mental health and wellbeing of Black, Brown and Queer young people. https://hopelab.org/programs/hbcu-fellowship   The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Contact the show: UBU@UnapologeticallyBlackUnicorns.info Transcripts are available on Apple Podcasts.   Music for the podcast performed by “A New Deal For Youth”:    For 'New Deal'   Primary Artist(s): A New Deal for Youth Featured Artist(s): Aaron Mack Original Composer(s) Aaron Mack Producers: Diego Montidiego, National Collaborative for Transformative Youth Policy Engineer:  Kingmakers of Oakland Studio   For 'Capitalism Be Like'    Primary Artist(s): A New Deal for Youth Featured Artist(s): DayoneNotDayTwo, Aaron Mack Original Composer(s): Aaron Mack Producers: Diego Montidiego, National Collaborative for Transformative Youth Policy Engineer: Kingmakers of Oakland Studio   Links to include:    https://artists.landr.com/057914034898 https://newdealforyouth.org

Dr. Andre Johnson (he/him) is the Founder/CEO of the Detroit Recovery Project (DRP), and he is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Dr. Johnson talks about the ideas in his book “The Recovery Ecosystem: A Wholistic Approach to Recovery” which is a guide for healing and progress in the journey of addiction recovery. They talk about the organization being a peer-run Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic, (CCBHC) the significance of supportive housing and the components of the recovery ecosystem. For more information on Dr. Andre Johnson and his book “The Recovery Ecosystem: A Wholistic Approach to Recovery” visit: www.DrAndreJohnson.com For more information on the Detroit Recovery Project visit: www.recovery4detroit.com   The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Contact the show: UBU@UnapologeticallyBlackUnicorns.info For a direct transcript of this episode visit: https://bit.ly/ubu195AudioTranscript Transcripts also available on Apple Podcasts.

Enola Aird is the Founder and President of the Community Healing Network and an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Enola shares how she is mobilizing Black people to heal from the lie of white superiority and Black inferiority. They talk about the impact of Marcus Garvey, making the Emotional Emancipation Circles a safe space for Black people and defying the lie and embracing the truth. To learn more about Emotional Emancipation Circles visit: https://communityhealingnet.org/ The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Contact the show: UBU@UnapologeticallyBlackUnicorns.info Transcripts are available on Apple Podcasts.

Gaelynn Lea is a musician, author, public speaker, disability advocate and an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Gaelynn shares her journey as a violinist, the winner of a Tiny Desk Contest and writing her book “Wasn't Meant to Be Perfect.” They talk about representation, Medicaid and disability rights, and the powerful reminder that you may not always see the people whose lives are being changed by your work. Websites: Gaelynn Lea Music and Linktree and Substack   Instagram: @gaelynnlea YouTube:  @gaelynnlea Music:  Bandcamp | Spotify | Apple Music | Tidal   The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Contact the show: UBU@UnapologeticallyBlackUnicorns.info Transcripts are available on Apple Podcasts.

Happy Birthday UBU! In this interactive episode of Unapologetically Black Unicorns, Keris transforms complex policy into “The Medicaid Maze”, a storytelling board game that reveals the real-life challenges of navigating Medicaid. Through dice rolls and card draws, she explores how small policy shifts and everyday barriers can drastically affect people's health coverage and stability. Blending empathy and advocacy, this episode invites listeners to rethink what it really means to survive and stay covered within America's healthcare system. FREE Medicaid Maze game materials:  https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1PrbuCwEnQJj4HpZSymmutg9kawgkpGC-   The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Contact the show: UBU@UnapologeticallyBlackUnicorns.info Transcripts are available on Apple Podcasts.

From the beautiful view at Niagara Falls, Keris reflects on the people whose support, encouragement and belief helped shape her mental health recovery and her career. Keris shares stories about her mentors, friends and some unexpected connections. She explores the value of support and it serves as a reminder to reach out and let people know how much they have meant in your life. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Contact the show: UBU@UnapologeticallyBlackUnicorns.info Transcripts are available on Apple Podcasts.

Kelechi Ubozoh (she/her) is a peer supporter, a Black Liberatory Coach, co-editor of “We've Been Too Patient: Voices from Radical Mental Health,” a contributor to the anthology “Trauma, Tresses, and Truth: Untangling Our Hair Through Personal Narratives” and she is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Keris and Kelechi reflect on why they decided to rethink the nuances of talking about Black hair and when and why they “hair code-switch”. Kelechi reads her chapter in the anthology, how she uses her hair strategically and the trauma and celebration through hair. “TRAUMA, TRESSES, & TRUTH: 2nd Virtual Conference Interrogating Black Women's Natural Hair” - August 4th - 6th: https://trauma-tresses-truth-conference-interrogating.heysummit.com/   The Anthology “Trauma, Tresses, and Truth: Untangling Our Hair Through Personal Narratives”: https://www.chicagoreviewpress.com/trauma--tresses--and-truth-products-9781641606707.php   The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

Charlotte Blease, PhD (she/her) is an Academic, Author, Public Speaker and an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Charlotte talks about what influenced her to write a book about AI in health care and the pros and cons of technology in the health care system. They talk about how AI could combat built in biases, how generative AI is already appearing with doctors and patients and truly working on getting the patient the best care possible.   Dr. Bot: Why Doctors Can Fail Us―and How AI Could Save Lives:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/0300247141   Charlotte Blease: https://web-cdn.bsky.app/profile/crblease.bsky.social https://bleaseondrbot.substack.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlotte-blease-phd-207806134/   The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Contact the show: UBU@UnapologeticallyBlackUnicorns.info Transcripts are available on Apple Podcasts.

Reid Davenport (he/him) is an award-winning documentary filmmaker and he is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Reid talks about disability rights, medical ableism and the things that shape how society values disabled lives. They talk about Reid's powerful film “Life After” and the issues it raises about the value of a person's autonomy, the intersectionality of race and disability and the supports people need to live meaningful lives. To learn more about Reid Davenport visit: https://www.reiddavenport.com/   The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Contact the show: UBU@UnapologeticallyBlackUnicorns.info Transcripts are available on Apple Podcasts.

Wendy White Tiegreen (she/her), MSW, is the former Director of Medicaid and Health System Innovation for the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities and she is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Wendy shares how she became part of the movement that reshaped mental health services nationwide. They talk about policy battles, the long-term impact of embedding peer specialists into the system and how advocacy, relationships and persistence drive meaningful change. To learn more about Wendy and her work:  Wendy White Tiegreen — Lexicon Strategies   The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Contact the show: UBU@UnapologeticallyBlackUnicorns.info Transcripts are available on Apple Podcasts.

Taina Martinez (she/her/Ella) is the CEO of Baltic Street Wellness Solutions and she is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Tiana shares her powerful journey from a small retail program to one of the largest peer-led organizations in the country. They talk about education and lived experience, challenging ideas about what it means to belong in peer spaces and emphasizing growth, connection and self-advocacy. To learn more about Baltic Street Wellness Solutions, visit: www.balticstreet.org     You can also connect with Taina on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/taina-borinquen-martinez-msw   Taina's Substack:  https://open.substack.com/pub/tainaborinquen   The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Contact the show: UBU@UnapologeticallyBlackUnicorns.info Transcripts are available on Apple Podcasts.

Rhonda Smith (she/her) the Executive Director of the California Black Health Network and Yolanda Whittington LCSW (She/Her), is a member of the California Black Health Network's Behavioral Health Peer Network and they are Unapologetically Black Unicorns. Rhonda and Yolanda discuss the fight for better health outcomes and equity for Black Californians. They discuss an upcoming virtual conference focused on black mental health, share their own health journeys and how they inspired them to serve their communities and build meaningful support systems across the state, the power of collaboration and creating spaces where Black health and wellness remain the priority. To find out more about the CBHN Virtual Mental and Behavioral Health Conference on May 13, 2026 visit: https://yourcbhn.org/hidden-crises/   The Black Healthcare Bill of Rights: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hqWSHxfKxG4oRtyaE8E_38USUA-KfdC_/view   The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Contact the show: UBU@UnapologeticallyBlackUnicorns.info Transcripts are available on Apple Podcasts.

In this episode of Unapologetically Black Unicorns, Keris tackles a tough and complex subject that requires her to be vulnerable in sharing her thoughts, experiences, research and observations over the years about mental health panels. Keris unpacks the history and harm behind labels like “Serious and Persistent Mental Illness (SPMI)” and “Serious Mental Illness (SMI),” challenging how language can shape fear, stigma and public policy. Keris explores how these terms influence the way people with mental health diagnoses are treated and how they often reinforce barriers instead of supporting recovery. Keris advocates for more compassionate language, community-based care and a full continuum of support that honors people's humanity and potential. Note: NIMBY = Not In My Back Yard The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Contact the show: UBU@UnapologeticallyBlackUnicorns.info Transcripts are available on Apple Podcasts.

Dr. John Torous (He/his), MD is a Psychiatrist, Director: digitalpsych.org at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, an expert in “mobile mental health technologies” and an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Dr. Torous shares the concept behind MindApp.org and the connection between technology and mental health. They talk his tech background, how to navigate the privacy settings through your apps, the oversight of the digital mental health space and he the need for digital literacy.   The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Contact the show: UBU@UnapologeticallyBlackUnicorns.info Transcripts are available on Apple Podcasts.

Keris is joined by Vesper Moore, Meghann O'Leary and Rupi Legha to talk about the launch of Soteria House Las Cruces in New Mexico. They share how Soteria Las Cruces is a home-like residential community program where adults experiencing psychosis or extreme states can find belonging, dignity, respect and healing. They discuss why they want to challenge traditional models of treating psychosis and how approaches like Soteria House are important because they focus on healing, autonomy and understanding rather than labels and hospitalizations. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Contact the show: UBU@UnapologeticallyBlackUnicorns.info Transcripts are available on Apple Podcasts.

Vesper Moore (they/elle) is a mad liberation and disability justice activist, and they are an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Vesper defines mad liberation and neurodiversity and how they got involved in the field. They talk about opening Respites and the complications with funding, using advocacy in their peer training and learning lessons in everything and everyone. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline   For more information visit: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@vespermoore Book Drop The Disorder: Second Edition - https://adisorder4everyone.com/ Website: www.vespermoore.com Kiva Centers: www.kivacenters.org Madness Network News: www.madnessnetworknews.com

Reid Davenport (he/him) is an award-winning documentary filmmaker and he is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Reid talks about disability rights, medical ableism and the things that shape how society values disabled lives. They talk about Reid's powerful film “Life After” and the issues it raises about the value of a person's autonomy, the intersectionality of race and disability and the supports people need to live meaningful lives. To learn more about Reid Davenport visit: https://www.reiddavenport.com/   The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Contact the show: UBU@UnapologeticallyBlackUnicorns.info Transcripts are available on Apple Podcasts.

Keris goes solo to share a critical email she received and goes on to focus on the common experience of all the negative self-talk that follows. She explains how someone else's perception can really affect you and ways to try to move past it. Keris talks about how she was able to go to an event with friends to help refocus her energy but how it really comes down to feeling appreciated, feeling a connection and a sense of community plus how your vulnerability is your superpower.   The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Contact the show: UBU@UnapologeticallyBlackUnicorns.info Transcripts are available on Apple Podcasts.

Isaac Lara (he/him) is a youth well-being activist, lived experience researcher, peer support advocate and he is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Isaac shares how pets, especially his beloved Yorkie Kiseki, can become lifelines during trauma, depression and recovery. They talk about anticipatory grief, the anxiety of loving a pet whose life span is shorter than our own, and how naming grief can help you begin to cope with it. “You're Still Alive, so why am I Already Grieving? by Ernesto Isaac Lara : https://www.calameo.com/criscoladesign/read/004070067e80bd2461ef2?authid=cKD2xkljsfeR   The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Contact the show: UBU@UnapologeticallyBlackUnicorns.info Transcripts are available on Apple Podcasts.

Keris is joined by Joe Powell and Dr. Janer Hernandez and they share their extensive histories in addiction recovery and community leadership. Joe Powell shares stories of his early life as a child performer in Harlem and how the civil rights movement and military service influenced his journey toward becoming a pioneer in the peer recovery movement. Dr. Hernandez advocates for the transition from "safe spaces" to "brave spaces," arguing that true collectivism requires addressing internalized oppression and systemic racism. They talk about working toward a shift in preventative strategies and community-led solutions to dismantle cycles of mass incarceration and poverty. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Contact the show: UBU@UnapologeticallyBlackUnicorns.info Transcripts are available on Apple Podcasts.

On this episode Keris shares a glimpse into her weekend adventures around Los Angeles, starting with a powerful visit to LACMA to experience Tavares Strachan's exhibit “The Day Tomorrow Began.” She reflects on art, history and the stories that shape us. Keris talks about inspiration, creativity, those moments that remind you why culture and representation matter and so much more. Fountain Theater Poetry for the People: The June Jordan Experience: https://www.fountaintheatre.com/events/poetry-for-the-people Tavares Strachen – “The Day Tomorrow Began”:  https://www.lacma.org/art/exhibition/tavares-strachan-day-tomorrow-began   The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Contact the show: UBU@UnapologeticallyBlackUnicorns.info Transcripts are available on Apple Podcasts.

Laura Evans (she/hers) is the Director of Public Policy and Government Affairs at Vibrant Emotional Health and she is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Laura shares how she got involved in policy and some of the color lines she observed in this field. They talk about reading between the lines when breaking down a bill, being strategic with public policy and the focus on climate and climate justice issues. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Contact the show: UBU@UnapologeticallyBlackUnicorns.info Transcripts are available on Apple Podcasts.

Keris is joined by Dr. Chyrell Bellamy, Dr. Felecia Pullen, Dr. Rupi Legha, Taina B. Martinez and Vesper Moore for an honest, emotional conversation about what it means to be people of color navigating spaces that are often led by white leadership. Together, they reflect on lived experiences of silencing, grief, resilience and the deep frustration of not being heard. They talk about how they want to see more accountability, community and what it will truly take to build movements rooted in trust, equity, and liberation rather than performative unity. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Contact the show: UBU@UnapologeticallyBlackUnicorns.info Transcripts are available on Apple Podcasts.

Emma Hunt (she/her) founded Signed By Stories and she is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Emma shares why she started Signed By Stories to bring public attention and awareness to the lack of effective, linguistically accessible and culturally affirmative mental health services for deaf and hard of hearing people. They talk about the experiences of growing up a child of a deaf person (CODA), always improving accessibility and trusting that you know what you need to make yourself feel whole. To learn more about “Signed By Stories” visit: https://www.signedbystories.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tv/CfhMprMDcBt/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@signedbystories?_t=ZT-8zj7QRlScaD&_r=1   The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Contact the show: UBU@UnapologeticallyBlackUnicorns.info Transcripts are available on Apple Podcasts.

Lynn Borton (she/her) is a producer and host of nationally-syndicated radio show and podcast CHOOSE TO BE CURIOUS and she is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. They come together to explore how we can all be more curious and they share why “fake it until you make it” is a good curiosity practice. They talk about connecting with the meaning, purpose and what excites you, why the helpers need to help themselves and being storytellers of hope. CHOOSE TO BE CURIOUS: https://lynnborton.com/   The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Contact the show: UBU@UnapologeticallyBlackUnicorns.info Transcripts are available on Apple Podcasts.

Keris returns for 2026 not with fireworks or resolutions, but with honesty about grief and the quiet loss of her creative spark. She reflects on pulling the cards of the Dreamer and the Quilt Maker, exploring what happens when creativity goes into self-protection mode in a world that feels draining. 2026 is a year of finding and not forcing.

Carolina Valle, MSW, (She /Hers) is the Senior Policy Director at the California Pan-Ethnic Health Network and she is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Carolina unpacks the impact of her family history and what inspired her to become a social worker. They talk about the diversity of how communities are defining mental health and wellness, some concerns with the CARE Court framework and fighting stereotypes in the field of policy. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline For more information about CPEHN visit: www.cpehn.org

Keris tells a story about a typewriter that's been passed down through the family and the memories it holds. She talks about the significance of the typewriter to her family, how it brings her joy whenever she looks at it and she discusses the positive impact memories can have on your mental health. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Contact the show: UBU@UnapologeticallyBlackUnicorns.info

Keris recorded this podcast on Christmas and shares a Christmas memory from her childhood. She shares the struggles people have during the holiday season and the magic of a picture she saw of a Black Santa when she was young. Keris remembers the sacrifices her dad made and she wants you to know that it gets better. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Contact the show: UBU@UnapologeticallyBlackUnicorns.info Transcripts are available on Apple Podcasts.

Chacku Mathai (he/him) is an activist in the human rights movement for people with psychiatric histories and he is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Chacku shares his journey through immigration, racism, mental health systems, peer support and activism, weaving together his lived experience, cultural wisdom and resistance to oppressive systems. They talk about how they explore what it means to build healing spaces where people do not have to shrink themselves to belong and how liberation, storytelling and collective care are key components of their work.   The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Contact the show: UBU@UnapologeticallyBlackUnicorns.info Transcripts are available on Apple Podcasts.

In this interactive episode of Unapologetically Black Unicorns, Keris transforms complex policy into “The Medicaid Maze”, a storytelling board game that reveals the real-life challenges of navigating Medicaid. Through dice rolls and card draws, she explores how small policy shifts and everyday barriers can drastically affect people's health coverage and stability. Blending empathy and advocacy, this episode invites listeners to rethink what it really means to survive and stay covered within America's healthcare system. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Contact the show: UBU@UnapologeticallyBlackUnicorns.info Transcripts are available on Apple Podcasts.

Neil Gong (he/him) is an assistant professor of sociology at UC San Diego, where he does research on psychiatric services, homelessness, and how communities seek to maintain social order and he is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Neil explains the genesis of his book “Sons, Daughters and Sidewalk Psychotics” which focuses on mental illness and homelessness in Los Angeles. They talk about the complexities around quality of care and harm reduction, the benefits of using ethnography and covering the three broad problems for US mental health policy from the book. “Sons, Daughters, and Sidewalk Psychotics: Mental Illness and Homelessness in Los Angeles”: https://a.co/d/iOHrgWB   The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Contact the show: UBU@UnapologeticallyBlackUnicorns.info Transcripts are available on Apple Podcasts.

In this episode Keris invites us to gather around The Truth-Giving Table, a reimagined Thanksgiving ceremony rooted in truth-telling, mourning, gratefulness and freedom. As attacks on diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility continue to threaten honest conversation, Keris shares personal reflections as an African American and Mvskoke  (Muskogee) on what it means to hold gratitude and grief at the same time. Through four powerful movements, each with sensory prompts, reflections and moments of stillness, this episode offers a path toward healing, remembrance and collective liberation. The Truth Giving Table Guidebook.pdf The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Contact the show: UBU@UnapologeticallyBlackUnicorns.info Transcripts are available on Apple Podcasts.

Keris opens up about grief, political turmoil and the unexpected ways community keeps us grounded when systems fail. In this emotional episode, she reflects on carrying her father's ashes through a government shutdown and finds hope in collective care. Keris shares a deeply personal story about loss, resilience and how love and community help us move forward even in turbulent times. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Contact the show: UBU@UnapologeticallyBlackUnicorns.info Transcripts are available on Apple Podcasts.

Dr. Ikwunga Wonodi (he/him) is a psychiatrist, an Afrobeat Poet and he is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Dr. Wonodi talked about what afrobeat poetry represents and his personal journey in becoming an afrobeat poet. They talk about pidgin, how afrobeats has been used as a vehicle for change, his poem and songwriting process and his message on homelessness and mental illness. To listen or purchase Dr. Woondi's music check out: "Calabash: Afrobeat Poems by Ikwunga Vol.1": https://music.apple.com/us/artist/ikwunga/30240928 “Deep Sleep”: https://music.apple.com/us/album/deep-sleep/270004179   The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Contact the show: UBU@UnapologeticallyBlackUnicorns.info Transcripts are available on Apple Podcasts.

Dr. Jorge Partida del Toro is a Curandero, a Psychologist with international experience working with child soldiers and building intentional communities and he's an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Dr. Partida Del Toro gives the backstory for how he got into psychology and how his grandmother played a significant role. They talk about institutional and structural racism, mixing Curanderismo Healing and Western Psychology and valuing the connection to our communities. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Contact the show: UBU@UnapologeticallyBlackUnicorns.info Transcripts are available on Apple Podcasts.

In this interactive episode of Unapologetically Black Unicorns, Keris transforms complex policy into “The Medicaid Maze”, a storytelling board game that reveals the real-life challenges of navigating Medicaid. Through dice rolls and card draws, she explores how small policy shifts and everyday barriers can drastically affect people's health coverage and stability. Blending empathy and advocacy, this episode invites listeners to rethink what it really means to survive and stay covered within America's healthcare system. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Contact the show: UBU@UnapologeticallyBlackUnicorns.info Transcripts are available on Apple Podcasts.

Alvin Lee (he/him) is the Executive Director of GENup and he is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Alvin shares the backstory of how he got into student activism and what it is like being a young person in a space with older adults. They talk about why education is a fundamental issue for everyone, how his work in education impacts BIPOC communities and why representation matters in school curriculum. For more information visit: https://www.generationup.net/ The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Contact the show: UBU@UnapologeticallyBlackUnicorns.info Transcripts are available on Apple Podcasts.

In this reflective episode of Unapologetically Black Unicorns, Keris shares a powerful piece of writing she discovered from her late father titled “The Pursuit of Happiness in Angry Times.” Through his reflections on finding peace and balance amid chaos, Keris explores how his words resonate with today's world of uncertainty. It's a reminder to embrace nuance, open-mindedness and the “shades of gray” needed to find happiness in our current environment. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Contact the show: UBU@UnapologeticallyBlackUnicorns.info Transcripts are available on Apple Podcasts.