May is Mental Health Awareness Month. And in this episode, Narae and RJ open their minds to something that affects hundreds of thousands of people in the United States, and their friends, families, colleagues, and society. Mental Health is our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel and act. It also aids in determining how we handle stress, relate to others, and make healthy choices.

But there’s the stigma that’s attached to it which can be hard to overcome by some. This leads to the staggering reality facing Americans today: if people don’t realize it, or talk about their mental health, or communicate what they’re feeling, it can jeopardize their well-being.

We speak with Dr. Ilona Salmons, a licensed therapist, to help demystify the stigma and to empower people to invest in their mental well-being.

We’re a third through 2021, and already there have been 14 known transgender and gender non-conforming people murdered in the United States. Our trans friends are experiencing widespread prejudice, discrimination, and violence. And these actions limit the opportunities and access to critical resources and drives transphobia at all levels. We need to stand up and fight the stigma against transgender and non-binary people.

Whatever beliefs, religion or background, learning that sex is natural, accepted and a choice can help many people embrace their sexuality (and maybe even unlock more than just Pandora's Box). We get into a fun and comfortable discussion with Elena Gharbigi about the uneasiness of talking about sex in modern culture. And we pull up the veil of secrecy in order to become comfortable with our own bodies, pleasures and desires without judgment or shame. Let's talk about SEX!

Whether we intend to or not, we are always looking for acceptance. Acceptance from our family, friends, relationships, strangers...and even ourselves. How can we accelerate acceptance through representation: cultural representation, LGBTQ representation, community representation, gender representation, etc. Or, essentially, how can we as a people live without fear of discrimination and xenophobia in our daily lives? Does representation matter when you're embracing your "inner weirdo" and your own self? We speak with Judy Han, Professor of Gender Studies at UCLA, and Jeremiah Abraham, CEO of Tremendous Communications and AAPI Film Producer, for their insight and perspective.

Assaults on the Asian American community are rising. These hate crimes aren’t new, in fact, they are just picking up steam and using the pandemic as an excuse to fuel their baseless attacks. It has galvanized Asian Americans, including Narae and RJ, to increase volumes about the hatred on our family and friends. Time’s up! We demand accountability. We demand action.

Narae and RJ discuss privilege, discrimination, oppression, colorism, and racism. The world feels a little disjointed right now (BLM, inclusivity, the assaults on our Asian-Pacific Islander family & friends). One way to break down barriers is by talking about them as if they weren't! Thank You to our guest: Vincent Steele of GO Public Schools Oakland Advocates. Many Thanks to The Drum Yogi for our fabulous music!

Culturally Adjacent celebrates the differences and similarities of people, culture, life and love. We hope it serves as a platform for telling a diverse range of stories that, in the end, have a common connection to a wide spectrum of people.