Couched in Color

From the young age of thirteen, Juan Acosta started his mental health advocacy for kids at the intersection of the LGBTQ+ and Latinx communities. Now a fully-fledged mental health advocate and contributor to the new book from Lady Gaga's Born This Way Foundation, CHANNEL KINDNESS, Juan continues his fight for equality, awareness, and rights for marginalized youth. Join Dr. Alfiee and Juan as they discuss the stigma of mental illness in Latinx communities, what inspired him to begin his mental health advocacy, and the biggest challenges he has had to overcome in his journey!

KEY POINTS / MAIN TAKEAWAYS:

• Thriving at the intersection of the LGBTQ+ and Latinx communities.
• The driving force behind Juan's mental health advocacy.
• What can children and parents do when dealing with bullying?
• How to have intentional conversations about mental health.
• About the Channel Kindness project and book.
• The struggles and pressures of mental health advocacy.
• How to practice self-care and ground yourself.
• The power of owning your truth.
• What to do when you're dealing with mental health concerns.

QUOTABLES:

"There's so much more to one person's identity than just one thing. We all have different layers to ourselves that we need to address and I feel like that's something that needs to be addressed within the mental health system."

"I am more than one moment. And for me, that means I am more than one moment of success and I am more than one moment of me feeling unwell or feeling like I failed at something. So I am more than the success and I am more than any failure that I could ever undergo because there's so much more to it."

"I'm going to go after what I set myself out to do regardless of those who will oppose it, regardless of those who like it or not, because this is my truth. And when you own your truth, that's what will propel you to those heights."

PRODUCTS / RESOURCES:

Follow Juan Acosta on social media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juanacosta__/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/JUANACOSTA__ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/acostajuann/about/ Visit Juan Acosta's website at https://www.juanacostaofficial.com/ Visit the Channel Kindness website at https://www.channelkindness.org/ Get your copy of the CHANNEL KINDNESS book here: https://www.channelkindness.org/book/

Like what you're hearing? Follow Dr. Alfiee on social media and show some love! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dralfiee Twitter: https://twitter.com/dralfiee Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dralfiee Visit Dr. Alfiee's website at https://dralfiee.com

Find out more about the AAKOMA Project here: https://aakomaproject.org/

Couched in Color is edited by Instapodcasts (visit at www.instapodcasts.com)

In this three-part episode, Dr. Alfiee chats with the authors of the book African American Families: Research, Theory, and Practice Faye Z. Belgrave, Ph.D., Trenette Clark Goings, Ph.D., and Heather A. Jones, Ph.D.

We invited the authors to the show to share a traditional academic perspective on best practices in supporting the emotional development of Black youth. As Dr. Alfiee discusses this new book with each of the authors, she uncovers the motivation behind their work and how their unique areas of expertise were woven into the publication. Listen and learn more about the term racial socialization is, why it matters for Black youth and how crucial it is in the upbringing of Black children. You'll also gain new insights into important conversations to have with children of diverse backgrounds.

Tune in now so you can learn more about how you can best support and nurture your child in the fight toward dismantling racism, improving equity and inclusion, and promoting social racialization. This episode is one of our more academic leaning features but the authors make their material highly accessible and relevant for teens, parents and families.

KEY POINTS / MAIN TAKEAWAYS:

Faye Z. Belgrave, Ph.D.

• Dr. Belgrave's work in the mental health field.
• About the book African American Families: Research, Theory, and Practice
• What is racial socialization and why is it so important?
• How does racial socialization support mental health for African American youth?

Trenette Clark Goings, Ph.D.

• Dr. Going's work in identifying and preventing health disparities.
• How to reach out and get involved with the community and research on health disparities.
• Studying the coping among essential workers amidst COVID.
• How to help Black youth cope with the effects of the pandemic.

Heather A. Jones, Ph.D.

• Dr. Jones' work in improving the well-being of BIPOC communities.
• The story behind African American Families: Research, Theory, and Practice
• What racial socialization looks like in Black families.
• How a colorblind society can be harmful.
• What BIPOC parents can do to take care of their mental health.

QUOTABLES:

"When somebody says a racial slur, I don't internalize it. It keeps my self-esteem intact. So I'm not internalizing the negativity. I am proud of who I am in spite of the negativity."

PRODUCTS / RESOURCES:

Like what you're hearing? Follow Dr. Alfiee on social media and show some love!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dralfiee

Twitter: https://twitter.com/dralfiee

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dralfiee

Visit Dr. Alfiee's website at https://dralfiee.com

Find out more about the AAKOMA Project here: https://aakomaproject.org/

Couched in Color is edited by Instapodcasts (visit at www.instapodcasts.com)

We've all experienced growing pains in our lives. The struggles of fitting in, overcoming fears, even navigating insecurities can oftentimes be too much to bear, especially for young people. But therapist, life coach, and mentor Jason Phillips is a living example to BIPOC youth of how to wear confidence loud and proud! In this episode, Jason shares what sparked his passion for mental health in Black boys and men and teaches us about the importance of helping Black boys find their self-confidence. Dr. Alfiee and Jason also chat about their college experiences and the key sponsors and mentors in their lives growing up. Tune in now to join the conversation!

KEY POINTS / MAIN TAKEAWAYS:

• Jason Phillip's mental health and mentoring journey.
• The difference between mentorship and sponsorship.
• The sponsors and pillars of Jason's life.
• What is a life coach, what to look out for in a life coach, and can kids benefit from them?
• How to fit in by standing out.
• The importance of positive racial socialization for youths.
• About the Peace and Prosperity Podcast.

QUOTABLES:

"Teens that I work with, they don't want to always fit in, from a mental health standpoint, they want to be understood. And that's the part where I think we kind of fall short because we want them to be like us and think like us."

PRODUCTS / RESOURCES:

Visit Jason Phillip's website at https://www.pnpcoach.com/

For more information on his upcoming webinars, visit https://www.wearconfidenceseries.com/

Follow Jason Phillip on Instagram @jphillipsmsw - https://www.instagram.com/jphillipsmsw/

Visit and like his Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/jphillipsmsw

Like what you're hearing? Follow Dr. Alfiee on social media and show some love!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dralfiee/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/dralfiee

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dralfiee/

Visit Dr. Alfiee's website at https://dralfiee.com/

Find out more about the AAKOMA Project here: https://aakomaproject.org/

Couched in Color is edited by Instapodcasts (visit at www.instapodcasts.com)

In this episode, published author Brittney Morris joins us to chat about her latest novel The Cost of Knowing with your host, Dr. Alfiee. The Cost of Knowing is a celebration of Black men and shines a spotlight on the uniqueness of Black manhood and masculinity. This is an especially poignant conversation and celebration of Black boyhood, given the racial trauma all around us in this time of the loss of young #DaunteWright. Find out what motivated Brittney to write about young male relationships in the Black community, and why there is a strong need for more variation in how Black male interpersonal relationships are portrayed in storytelling. Brittney also shares what sparked her passion for writing, and how her experience as a writer has influenced her personal life and vice versa.

KEY POINTS / MAIN TAKEAWAYS:

• The inspiration and motivation behind The Cost of Knowing.
• Exploring other types of male relationships.
• What is Demisexuality?
• Navigating the pressures on youths and children.
• What sparked Brittney's passion for writing.
• Writing as therapy.

QUOTABLES:

"We need actual conversations about mental health that are accessible and meet Black men where they are because the struggles of Black men are unique to Black men."

PRODUCTS / RESOURCES:

Books by Brittney Morris:

The Cost of Knowing

Slay

Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales - Wings of Fury

Together, Apart

The Jump

Order them on her website at https://www.authorbrittneymorris.com/books1

Follow Brittney Morris on Instagram @brittneymmorris - https://www.instagram.com/brittneymmorris/

Like what you're hearing? Follow Dr. Alfiee on social media and show some love!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dralfiee/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/dralfiee

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dralfiee/

Visit Dr. Alfiee's website at https://dralfiee.com/

Find out more about the AAKOMA Project here: https://aakomaproject.org/

Couched in Color is edited by Instapodcasts (visit at www.instapodcasts.com)

Founders and creators Ali Gates and Evans Anyanwu of the U; Good? app have been making waves in the mental health space with their platform. Find out how they are breaking intergenerational chains as Black men by not only being open with their feelings, but by creating a platform that encourages others to do the same without judgment. Their incredible platform is straightforward and deeply engaging all at the same time allowing users to check in on their loved ones with ease. Tune in to see what exactly this app is all about and uncover the process behind turning this simple idea into an ingenious platform creating equity in the mental health space. Ali, Evans, and Dr. Alfiee also chat about boundaries, mental health in the Black community, among our young people and future hopes for the U; Good? app.

KEY POINTS / MAIN TAKEAWAYS:

• The inspiration behind U Good?
• Placing emphasis on mental health for the Black community amidst the pandemic.
• Design Sprints: The process of turning the idea into an app.
• The story behind the red, yellow, and green colors.
• Biggest needs and opportunities at U; Good?
• The importance of setting boundaries and knowing yourself.

QUOTABLES:

"Relationships are these emotional banks, and we have to keep putting in deposits. Oftentimes we know there's strife because people come to this emotional bank and they want to make a withdrawal, but they never put in any deposit."

PRODUCTS / RESOURCES:

Download the U; Good? app here: https://ugood.app/

Want to join the U; Good? team? Email [email protected] or [email protected] for more information.

Like what you're hearing? Follow Dr. Alfiee on social media and show some love!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dralfiee/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/dralfiee

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dralfiee/

Visit Dr. Alfiee's website at https://dralfiee.com/

Find out more about the AAKOMA Project here: https://aakomaproject.org/

Couched in Color is edited by Instapodcasts (visit at www.instapodcasts.com)

In this episode, we invite medical expert and cancer scientist, Dr. Russell Ledet to discuss his life's work and the moments leading up to his achievements as a Black man in the field of academic medicine. Tune in as Dr. Alfiee and Dr. Ledet discuss the countless systemic issues that Black students face in the academic space and how they navigate and overcome these hurdles through the support of sponsors and, more importantly, knowing their worth. Dr. Ledet also opens up about the most vulnerable yet pivotal moments in his life and the biggest epiphanies that they brought him. This is an episode you do not want to miss - tune in now and join the conversation!

KEY POINTS / MAIN TAKEAWAYS:

• The inspiration behind The 15 White Coats.
• The costs of being Black in the academic and medicine space.
• Systemic issues faced by Black graduate students.
• The importance of showing up as a disruptor or sponsor for the Black community.
• The story and process behind Bootless.

QUOTABLES:

"I always say that we don't need more Black people in medicine, we need more Black people in medicine who are worried about Black people."

"Younger people need to see that who you are, and the fullness of who you are, there is a space for you in this thing called science, in this thing called medicine, in this thing called medical school or graduate school or any professional school because they don't have a lock on brilliance."

PRODUCTS / RESOURCES:

Follow Dr. Russell Ledet on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drrussellledet/?hl=en

Visit The 15 White Coats website at https://www.the15whitecoats.org/

Follow The 15 White Coats on social media:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the15whitecoats/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/the15whitecoats/

Twitter:https://twitter.com/the15whitecoats?lang=en

Personal perspectives: bootless - read it here: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41588-020-00720-y

Like what you're hearing? Follow Dr. Alfiee on social media and show some love!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dralfiee

Twitter: https://twitter.com/dralfiee

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dralfiee/

Visit Dr. Alfiee's website at https://dralfiee.com

Find out more about the AAKOMA Project here: https://aakomaproject.org/

Couched in Color is edited by Instapodcasts (visit at www.instapodcasts.com)

Did you know that 9% of the U.S. population (that's 28.8 million Americans!) will have an eating disorder in their lifetime? Yet many people struggling with it fall under the radar, especially among Black and diverse communities. In this episode, we invite mental health expert and clinical psychiatrist Dr. Dzirasa to educate us on eating disorders and clear up any misconceptions we may have about them. Dr. Alfiee also discusses the prevalence of harmful body image among Black youth and children with Dr. Dzirasa, as well as the more nuanced causes of eating disorders. There's so much more than meets the eye when it comes to mental health and eating disorders, tune in now to unveil what you may have been missing so that you identify the signs of a possible eating disorder and provide the right support and resources for your loved ones.

KEY POINTS / MAIN TAKEAWAYS:

• The different types of eating disorders.
• Misconceptions and biases on eating disorders.
• How do you know if your child or loved one has an eating disorder?
• Navigating eating disorders and body image in Black communities.
• The causes of eating disorders.
• How to reinforce body positivity among Black children and youths.
• Practicing mindfulness and self-love through Yoga.

QUOTABLES:

"With any kind of mental health concern or illness, mental illness doesn't discriminate, so anybody can be subject to it."

"What I always try to tell people is your body is perfect for you; that you're the only standard that you need to meet."

"When we're thinking about eating disorders and how we want to see our body in the world, we want to honor our bodies and take care of our bodies."

PRODUCTS / RESOURCES:

Follow Dr. Dzirasa on Instagram @dr_e2k - https://www.instagram.com/dr_e2k/?hl=en

For more mental health resources and services from Dr. Dzirasa and her team, visit http://www.catalystnc.com/

Be sure to keep a lookout for her upcoming business launch: Black Body Beautiful.

NEDA (National Eating Disorders Association) website: https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/

Project HEAL website: https://www.theprojectheal.org/

Therapy For Black Girls website: https://therapyforblackgirls.com/

Like what you're hearing? Follow Dr. Alfiee on social media and show some love!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dralfiee

Twitter: https://twitter.com/dralfiee

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dralfiee

Visit Dr. Alfiee's website at https://dralfiee.com

Find out more about the AAKOMA Project here: https://aakomaproject.org/

Couched in Color is edited by Instapodcasts (visit at www.instapodcasts.com)

We are so excited to have Ryan Mitchell, host of the Channel Q radio show 'Let's Go There with Shira & Ryan', joining us today! Ryan is a bright, glowing, unapologetic light and he takes pride in bringing his full self into his mental health advocacy and public work. In this episode, Ryan shares his journey to self-discovery and more importantly, self-love as he came to own and claim his identity in the loudest and proudest way. Dr. Alfiee and Ryan also chat about the importance of self-care, managing anxiety as Black people, and how to bring yourself back to peace amidst stress and chaos. Tune in now to join the conversation with Ryan and Dr. Alfiee!

KEY POINTS / MAIN TAKEAWAYS:

• Intersectional identities and being a public figure.
• Adapting to professional spaces.
• Ryan's journey into mental health.
• On being Black and managing anxiety.
• How to bring yourself back to peace.
• Thoughts on Bridgerton and other Netflix shows as a balm during quarantine.

QUOTABLES:

"I think a lot of the time when you're talking about entertainment, people think it's just the top line stuff, right? It's nothing deeper. But I pride myself on having conversations that dig a little deeper and really touch on things like that and touch on mental health."

"If you don't take care of you, you can't be present for any other person in your life. If you can't be present for your work, you can't battle that imposter syndrome or battle that anxiety. You've got to show up for you first."

PRODUCTS / RESOURCES:

Follow Ryan Mitchell on Instagram @theslaygawd - https://www.instagram.com/theslaygawd/

Follow Ryan Mitchell on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheSlayGawd

Listen to Ryan Mitchell on Channel Q: https://www.radio.com/wearechannelq/listen

Catch Ryan on MTV's Sound Up on SnapChat: https://bit.ly/2PTPuhk

Like what you're hearing? Follow Dr. Alfiee on social media and show some love!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dralfiee/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/dralfiee

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dralfiee/

Visit Dr. Alfiee's website at https://dralfiee.com/

Find out more about the AAKOMA Project here: https://aakomaproject.org/

Couched in Color is edited by Instapodcasts (visit at www.instapodcasts.com)

In this episode, we are joined by the founders of the Sad Girls Club - Elyse and Brianne, to take a deep dive into mental health for BIPOC women and femmes who are part of their super inclusive Gen Z community. Driven by a strong passion for eliminating stigmas and smashing taboos behind mental illnesses, Elyse and Brianne created the Sad Girls Club as a safe space for people to discuss and maintain their mental health outside of traditional medicine. Find out how the Sad Girls Club came to be and how it has touched the lives of many since its inception. Dr. Alfiee and the duo also chat about toxic positivity, breaking cycles, recent events, and so much more - Join the club and tune in to this episode now!

KEY POINTS / MAIN TAKEAWAYS:

• Behind the Sad Girls Club's growth and success.
• How to overcome your hesitance to seek help.
• What are Soul Sessions and how do they work?
• Thoughts on January 6th and 20th.

QUOTABLES:

"You owe yourself the opportunity to live as free a life as possible. You owe yourself empowerment. You owe yourself love. You owe yourself dealing with generational or intergenerational trauma, and really trying to work through it so that you can have a freer, happier, and a more joyful life."

PRODUCTS / RESOURCES:

Visit the Sad Girls Club website at https://sadgirlsclub.org/

Access more of the Sad Girls Club resources here: https://linktr.ee/Sadgirlsclub

Follow the Sad Girls Club on social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sadgirlsclubNY

Twitter: https://twitter.com/sadgirlsclubirl?lang=en

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sadgirlsclub/?hl=en

Follow Brianne Patrice on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/briannepatrice/?hl=en

Like what you're hearing? Follow Dr. Alfiee on social media and show some love!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dralfiee/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/dralfiee

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dralfiee/

Visit Dr. Alfiee's website at https://dralfiee.com/

Find out more about the AAKOMA Project here: https://aakomaproject.org/

Couched in Color is edited by Instapodcasts (visit at www.instapodcasts.com)

Meet Madison, Ava, and Elle MacGregor - writers, actors, and mental health advocates! Tune in as they each share their journey as artists, creatives and as supporters of mental health with us. You will also uncover the different ways you can be of true support to your friends or loved ones who might be struggling with mental health issues. These young women are amazing and they definitely pack a punch with the big waves they are making in the creative and mental health worlds. Join in on the conversation to learn more about their work and see what's next for this fabulous Gen Z trio!

KEY POINTS / MAIN TAKEAWAYS:

• How to turn an idea into a reality.
• What it's like to open up about personal mental health issues online.
• How to truly support your loved ones.
• The story behind My TEAM.
• What's next for the MacGregor girls?

QUOTABLES:

"What I learned as far as what it takes to be able to do what you love and pursue these passions is also health. And how if you don't have health, mental or physical, it makes it a little bit more difficult to go after what you want. So I learned how to put just as much importance on my creative work, as I do on mental health. And that's not always easy, but it is a great lesson for sure."

"When you are support, [you need to be] open to being corrected, and open to learning from the person you're trying to support."

PRODUCTS / RESOURCES:

Access the Quarantine Planner and other free resources here: https://msha.ke/myteam.social/

Follow MY TEAM on Instagram @myteam.social - https://www.instagram.com/myteam.social/

(If you have any mental health stories you would like to share, or if you have anything you would like to see on the MY TEAM page, message them directly on Instagram!)

Visit the My TEAM website at https://www.myteam.org/

Watch Madison on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdOMuopKvtYxb9zMVRzkxFg

Like what you're hearing? Follow Dr. Alfiee on social media and show some love!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dralfiee

Twitter: https://twitter.com/dralfiee

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dralfiee

Visit Dr. Alfiee's website at https://dralfiee.com

Find out more about the AAKOMA Project here: https://aakomaproject.org/

Couched in Color is edited by Instapodcasts (visit at www.instapodcasts.com)