Dr. P welcomes Project Nana, Inc. Founder, Vanessa L. Hill to the podcast for "real talk" about gynecological care for women aged 55 and older and how culture shapes health care options for seasoned women.  

Project Nana Inc., is a nonprofit with an innovative approach to advancing health equity for post-menopausal women. Through creative workshops, advocacy, training, research and community engagement, the organization seeks to reduce late-stage diagnoses of women’s cancers and sexually transmitted infections.

The founder and executive director of Project Nana, Vanessa L. Hill, holds a Master of Fine Arts in Film from Howard University, a Master of Public Health from George Washington University, and a Bachelor of Science in Marketing. Ms. Hill sits on the patient education committee for the Society of Gynecologic Oncology.

The Tuskegee Syphilis Study is often mentioned when discussing the deep mistrust many Black Americans feel regarding the healthcare system. In this episode first broadcast in 2021, Dr. Warren gives the facts about the Tuskegee Syphilis Study and why it continues to affect our decision-making about  health.   

Dr. Reuben C. Warren is the Director of the National Center for Bioethics in Research and Health Care and Professor of Bioethics at Tuskegee University in Tuskegee, AL. From 1988-1997, Dr. Warren served as Associate Director for Minority Health at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Dr. P enjoys a candid discussion with Reiki Master and Sacred Shaman Priestess Julia Jovone in this replay of one of our most popular episodes.

Through their conversation, they share their unique struggles with self-care while acknowledging the power of knowing the connectedness of God as the source of all life, which dwells within each of us.

About Our Guest:
An Intuitive Reiki Master, Sacred Shaman Priestess and Spiritual / Wellness Coach, Julia Jovone operates Julia Jovone Studio in New York City, which offers full- service Reiki sessions, energy healing, and spiritual life coaching to clients globally.  She represents an underrepresented number of black women pioneering the practice of healing across the globe. Julia teaches that as humans, we must take care of the inside of our bodies in order for the outside to glow. Julia is also an Emmy Award Winning Makeup Artist.

There is no question that mortality -- whether our own or that of a loved one -- is a difficult topic. Yet, it is essential that  individuals and families make  important legal and medical decisions related to wills, hospice care, and estate transfer before a crisis occurs. In this episode, Dr. P and Ms. Zeena Regis define advanced care planning and discuss why it is difficult for many of us to start the process. Ms. Regis points to resources for information and describes how faith leaders and congregations can start the conversation within their communities.

 Zeena Regis serves as the Faith Engagement Manager at Compassion & Choices, the nation’s oldest, largest, and most active nonprofit working to improve care, expand options and empower everyone to chart their end-of-life journey. Prior to her role with Compassion & Choices, Zeena served as a hospice chaplain and grief care coordinator for almost a decade.  

Zeena also serves on the faculty of Columbia Theological Seminary's Older Adult Ministry Certification program. Her training includes a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Agnes Scott College and a Master of Divinity from Columbia Theological Seminary. Zeena is also a playwright and her latest work, A Free Black Woman's Guide to Death & Dying, was selected for the Synchronicity Theatre's arts incubator project and premiered in May 2022.

Dr.  Seele and her guest,  marketing pro JT Logan, discuss the role fatherhood plays in Black communities.  JT shares how his faith guides and sustains him through the challenges and joys of raising his daughter.

In addition to being a great dad, JT is a serial entrepreneur, business coach, author, musician, and  minister.

Given the significant impact of cognitive illness on Black families, Dr. P and Maya Lynn Harris discuss Alzheimer's from the caregiver's perspective.

Ms. Harris , of Richmond, VA, is a caregiver for her mother, who was diagnosed with dementia, and subsequently, Alzheimer's.  Ms. Harris is the Founder of WOMB (Women-Owned Minority Business), a coaching organization that helps women of color build sustainable businesses. 

In observance of Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness month, Dr. P and Kellee Bacote discuss the impact of cognitive illness in African American communities. Ms. Bacote is the Lead Community Outreach & Recruitment Project Manager at the Cleveland Clinic’s Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, Cleveland Alzheimer's Disease Research Center.

With the approach of  Men's Health Month in June, we're rebroadcasting one of our most popular episodes. Dr. P is joined by Dr. Pervis Taylor III for an in-depth discussion of Black men's mental health concerns. He and Dr. P discuss real-time challenges and solutions for Black men and the women who love them.

Dr. Taylor, an award-winning celebrity life coach, holds a master's degree in psychology from Columbia University. He is the author of the best-selling "Pervis Principals 1 & 2,"  "Surthrival Mode," and "Healing Forward."  Dr. Taylor states that his purpose in life is "to help men maximize their potential, master their emotions, and thrive in the lives of their dreams."

When it comes to bladder cancer, African Americans are often diagnosed at an advanced stage, which results in worse outcomes. In this episode, Dr. P and her guests discuss the facts about bladder cancer, its symptoms, and why it frequently is misdiagnosed, especially among women.   

Dr. Samuel Washington is Assistant Professor of Urology and holds the Goldberg-Benioff Endowed Professorship in Cancer Biology at the University of San Francisco. He was a 2019 John Quale Travel Fellow at the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network. Dr. Washington's research has focused on healthcare disparities in medical care, specifically bladder and prostate cancer.

Jim Scott is an entrepreneur, business manager, and bladder cancer survivor from the Detroit area. As a volunteer with the Black Men's Cancer Action Council, Mr. Scott encourages men to overcome their reluctance to visit the doctor and urges them to get screened for bladder cancer.

In observation of Mother’s Day, Dr. P and her guest Sanya Simmons candidly dialogue about the joys and challenges of raising Black sons. Ms. Simmons shares practical tips from her book,  A Single Moms Guide to Raising Black (Gentle) Men. 

Sanya Simmons is a mother, author, voice actor, and Reiki Master. She is passionate about the social issues affecting our sons, and believes that we must do everything within our power to set them up for success. You can purchase her book wherever books are sold.