Groove with Portia

Imagine being told your child might not live past 18.

For Richard Williams, that wasn't a hypothetical. After losing Trevor's twin brother, Nigel, before birth, Richard nearly lost Trevor as well because of severe Hemophilia A. Years later, Trevor's mother died from cancer when Trevor was only five.

On this episode of Groove with Portia, Richard sits down with me in person to share what it meant to become a father determined to give his son as much life as possible—no matter how long that life might be.

Richard describes a reality most families never see. Trevor's clotting factor alone could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars each year. With insurance policies carrying lifetime caps, Richard learned to monitor how much treatment had been covered, update his résumé and change employers before his son's medical expenses exhausted the available insurance coverage. He did this for approximately 20 years while helping support a household of seven children.

But Richard's story didn't end when Trevor grew up.

Through Save One Life, Richard learned about children with bleeding disorders living in countries where families may have little access to treatment, medical expertise or financial resources. Today, he sponsors children internationally, serves on the organization's scholarship committee and is taking his advocacy on the road.

At 75, Richard is riding his vintage motorcycle nearly 5,000 miles across the United States to raise awareness and help other families.

This conversation is about more than hemophilia.

It's about what a parent will sacrifice for their child, the healthcare resources we often take for granted, the loved ones we continue carrying with us after they're gone, and what can happen when we decide our adversity will not be the end of our story.

Connect with Richard: https://saveonelife.net/

In this powerful episode of Groove with Portia, host Portia Booker welcomes Ellen Lubensky, a patient advocate and founder of the Mental Health Choice Project, for a vulnerable and important conversation about mental health treatment, misdiagnosis, psychiatric medication, medication withdrawal, informed consent, and patient rights.

Ellen shares her personal experience of being diagnosed after a brief psychiatric evaluation while attending Stanford University and the lasting impact that diagnosis had on her life. She opens up about navigating years of treatment, experiencing serious physical challenges, questioning the care she received, and finding the strength to advocate for herself.

Together, Portia and Ellen explore what it means to feel pressured into treatment decisions while experiencing fear, anxiety, grief, or emotional distress. They discuss the importance of asking questions, getting second, third, or even fourth opinions, and remembering that patients deserve to understand their options before agreeing to a treatment plan.

In this episode, they talk about:
Why a quick diagnosis can have long-term effects on a person’s life and medical records
The importance of informed consent in mental health and all areas of healthcare
Why signing paperwork is not the same as truly understanding a treatment plan
How to ask questions about medication risks, benefits, alternatives, and possible side effects
Why it can be helpful to bring a trusted friend, family member, or advocate to medical appointments
How to slow down and take a pause before making non-emergency healthcare decisions
Why getting a second opinion can be an act of self-advocacy, not disrespect
The role of trust, communication, and collaboration between patients and providers
The grief, loneliness, and friendship challenges that can arise during difficult health experiences
The importance of building a support system when you are struggling emotionally

Ellen’s work through the Mental Health Choice Project to promote patient choice and awareness
One of the central messages of this conversation is simple but powerful: you have choices. You are allowed to ask for clarity. You are allowed to request time to think. You are allowed to seek another provider. And you are allowed to say no when something does not feel right for you.

Ellen also shares information about her advocacy work through the Mental Health Choice Project, which seeks to encourage more compassionate, transparent, and patient-centered mental healthcare.
To connect with Ellen Lubensky, visit her professional website at ellenlubensky.com and learn more about the Mental Health Choice Project at mentalhealthchoiceproject.org.

If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of self-harm or suicide in the United States, call or text 988 to connect with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. If there is immediate danger or a medical emergency, call 911 or contact local emergency services.

This episode is intended for educational and awareness purposes only. It is not medical, psychiatric, legal, or therapeutic advice. Do not start, stop, or change medication without speaking with a qualified healthcare professional.

If this conversation resonates with you, please like, comment, share, and subscribe to Groove with Portia for more conversations about grief, healing, mental health, advocacy, and navigating life’s most difficult moments.

We have more ways to communicate than ever before. We can text, chat, connect through social media and even turn to artificial intelligence when we need someone—or something—to talk to.
So why are so many people still feeling alone?

On this episode of Groove with Portia, I sit down with Dena Trujillo, CEO of Crisis Text Line, to explore how the mental health conversation is changing and what we may be missing when it comes to loneliness, connection and asking for help.

Dena shares her perspective from leading an organization providing free, 24/7 mental health support through text, chat and WhatsApp. Together, we talk about the role technology can play in making support more accessible, while also asking an important question: How do we embrace innovation without losing the human connection people need?

We also explore what Crisis Text Line can teach us about listening without immediately trying to fix someone, the role volunteers play in creating meaningful connection, and what it takes to sustain the people and organizations doing emotionally demanding, mission-driven work.

At the heart of this conversation is something much simpler than technology: people need to feel heard.

And sometimes asking for help doesn't begin with a phone call.

Sometimes it begins with a text.

Connect with Dena and learn more about Crisis Text Line: https://www.crisistextline.org/

Connect with Portia: https://linktr.ee/portiabkr

Interested in being a future guest on Groove with Portia?
Send your story or interview pitch to [email protected]

We’re finally talking about menopause. But are we really listening to what women are experiencing?

On this episode of Groove with Portia, I welcome back my longtime friend and menopause expert Carleeka Basnight Menendez for a conversation about where the menopause conversation is today—and the work that still needs to be done.

We’ll talk about the symptoms women still aren't prepared for, advocating for yourself at the doctor's office, creating menopause-inclusive workplaces, and the emotional, personal, and spiritual changes that can come with this season of life.

Connect with Carleeka: https://www.insoinc.org/

Connect with Portia: https://linktr.ee/portiabkr

Interested in being a future guest on Groove with Portia? Send your story or interview pitch to: [email protected]

On this episode of Groove with Portia, I sit down with Erica Baccus, author of A Promise Kept, to talk about her love story with her husband, John, his Alzheimer's diagnosis, and their deeply personal decision to travel outside the United States so John could choose how his life ended.

We discuss grief, faith, love, Alzheimer's, dying with dignity, and why conversations about our end-of-life wishes need to happen long before a crisis forces our families to make difficult decisions.

Connect with Erica Baccus: https://ericabaccus.com/

Connect with Portia: https://linktr.ee/portiabkr

Interested in being a future guest on Groove with Portia?
Send your story or interview pitch to: [email protected]

What happens when the life you envisioned for yourself doesn’t happen according to plan?

On this live episode of Groove with Portia, I sit down with Dr. Marline C. Duroseau, affectionately known as “Dr. Mar,” for a deeply personal conversation about infertility, pregnancy loss, grief, motherhood, and the hidden struggles women can carry behind professional success.

Dr. Mar opens up about navigating infertility while building her career, losing her daughter Angel, and grieving more than a pregnancy—the expectations, timelines, and version of life she once imagined.
We’ll also explore her research on the lived infertility experiences of women in leadership roles and what workplaces need to better understand about women navigating fertility challenges while maintaining demanding careers.

Her journey ultimately became part of the inspiration behind her memoir, It’ll Happen By 30: A Relentless Journey of Faith | Delayed But Not Denied. We’ll talk about what happens when 30 comes and goes, life takes a different direction, and you have to redefine what success, motherhood, and fulfillment look like for yourself.

This conversation is about infertility, but it’s also about something many of us understand: grieving the timeline we thought our lives would follow and learning how to embrace the life unfolding in front of us.

Connect with Portia: https://linktr.ee/portiabkr

Connect with Dr. Mar: https://mcdbe.com/

Join us for The Colors of Our Grief at Kent State: https://www.kent.edu/cci/colors-our-grief
Interested in being a future guest on Groove with Portia?

Send your story or interview pitch to: [email protected]

Leaving an abusive relationship is often described as the end of the story. For many survivors, it's only the beginning of another journey—healing from what happened, rebuilding an identity, supporting children who experienced the trauma, and grieving the life they once imagined.

On this episode of Groove with Portia, I sit down with domestic violence survivor and author Yolanda Cope for an honest conversation about what it really takes to break free from abuse.

Yolanda shares her experience of leaving her abuser, the impact domestic violence had on her children, and the misconceptions that continue to surround women who stay in abusive relationships. We also explore a side of leaving that isn't always discussed: grieving the relationship, family, future, and version of yourself you once believed you would have.

Yolanda also shares how she began separating her identity from what happened to her and how her journey is now inspiring her upcoming book.

This conversation isn't just about leaving. It's about what happens when survival is no longer the destination and you begin discovering who you are on the other side.

Connect with Portia:
https://linktr.ee/portiabkr

Join us for The Colors of Our Grief at Kent State:
https://www.kent.edu/cci/colors-our-grief

Interested in being a future guest on Groove with Portia?
Send your story or interview pitch to: [email protected]

Grief and healing don't discriminate. Even the people we call during our darkest moments experience heartbreaking loss, mental health struggles, and the challenge of rebuilding after tragedy.

In this episode of Groove with Portia, I sit down with Larry "LP" Penton Sr.—former firefighter, paramedic, mental health advocate, consultant, and podcast host—to discuss the heartbreaking loss of his son, the emotional toll first responders carry, and why talking openly about grief can save lives.

Together, we explore the unique challenges first responders face, the impact of addiction and loss on families, breaking the stigma surrounding men's mental health, and how sharing our stories can become part of the healing process.

In this episode, we discuss:
• Honoring Larry Penton Jr.'s life and legacy
• The grief of losing a child
• Mental health in the first responder community
• Addiction, recovery, and supporting families
• Why asking for help is a sign of strength
• The emotional weight carried by firefighters and paramedics
• Turning personal tragedy into purpose
• Healing through storytelling and honest conversations

Whether you're a first responder, have experienced the loss of a loved one, or are supporting someone through grief, this conversation is a reminder that healing begins when we allow ourselves to be seen and heard.

Connect with Larry "LP" Penton Sr.: https://www.pentonpending.com/

Grief and healing often begin with telling the story we've been afraid to share. In this heartfelt conversation about child loss, domestic violence, mental health, and healing through storytelling, we explore how one mother transformed unimaginable pain into purpose.

In this episode of Groove with Portia, I sit down with Kia Wallace, domestic violence survivor, advocate, and spoken word artist. Kia opens her heart about the loss of her 15-year-old daughter, Jordan, to a fentanyl overdose, surviving domestic violence, and discovering that poetry became a pathway toward healing.

Together, we discuss the realities of grief after losing a child, the misconceptions surrounding domestic violence, rebuilding faith after tragedy, and why survivors deserve compassion instead of judgment. Kia also shares how spoken word gave her the courage to reclaim her voice and encourage others to do the same.

In this episode, we discuss:
• Honoring Jordan's life and legacy
• The impact of fentanyl on families
• Life after domestic violence
• Healing through poetry and spoken word
• Rebuilding faith after profound loss
• The stigma survivors continue to face
• Finding strength through storytelling
• Turning pain into purpose

Whether you're grieving the loss of a loved one, healing from trauma, or supporting someone through a difficult season, this conversation is a reminder that hope can still be found, even after life's darkest moments.

Connect with Kia Wallace: https://www.facebook.com/ksade.savage
Email: [email protected]

Grief and healing don't always begin after the loss of a loved one. Sometimes they begin when we decide to let go of shame, forgive ourselves, and rewrite the story we've been carrying for years.

In this episode of Groove with Portia, I sit down with Matilde Hernandez, author of Beyond These Walls and founder of Dare 2 Lift It. After experiencing incarceration, separation from her children, and the difficult journey of rebuilding her life, Matilde now helps others move beyond survival and into intentional living.

Together, we explore what it means to release the labels that keep us emotionally imprisoned, why healing takes time, and how resilience is built one decision at a time. We also discuss the stigma surrounding incarceration, rebuilding family relationships, forgiveness, faith, and finding purpose after life's hardest chapters.

In this episode, we discuss:
• Healing after incarceration
• Breaking free from shame and limiting beliefs
• Rebuilding life after adversity
• The grief of separation from family
• Why an "incarcerated mindset" affects more people than we realize
• Self-forgiveness and emotional healing
• Finding purpose after trauma
• Turning pain into purpose through storytelling

No matter what chapter you're in, this conversation is a reminder that your past may shape your story, but it doesn't have to define your future.

Connect with Matilde Hernandez
https://www.dare2liftit.com
https://www.instagram.com/dare2liftit