Groove with Portia

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

Grief and healing often begin with the smallest daily choices. In this heartfelt conversation about gratitude, mental wellness, resilience, and healing through storytelling, we explore how one mother's darkest season became the inspiration for helping families build hope together.

In this episode of Groove with Portia, I sit down with Katie Wood, author of A Simple Seed, to discuss how her daughter's life-saving brain surgery transformed the way she viewed gratitude, parenting, and emotional resilience.

Together, we explore how gratitude became an anchor during uncertainty, why creating meaningful moments with our children matters more than ever, and how parents can help kids build confidence and emotional strength in a world filled with distractions.

In this episode, we discuss:
• Katie's daughter's life-saving brain surgery
• Finding gratitude during life's most difficult seasons
• Helping children build emotional resilience
• Parenting in the age of technology and social media
• Creating magical mornings as a family
• The inspiration behind A Simple Seed
• What children can teach adults about gratitude
• How small daily habits create lasting change

Whether you're navigating grief, raising children, or simply looking for ways to bring more peace into your everyday life, this conversation is filled with practical encouragement and hope.

Connect with Katie Wood

Grab a copy of the book:
https://www.amazon.com/Simple-Seed-Five-Minute-Gratitude-Goodness/dp/B0DT3Y5RP5

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

Healing through storytelling often begins with the people who leave an imprint on our lives. In this heartfelt conversation about grief, legacy, resilience, and turning pain into purpose, we explore how one grandfather's influence inspired a mission to bring creativity back into childhood.

In this episode of Groove with Portia, I sit down with Kaz Shiomi, founder of the sustainable toy company kiko+ & gg, to discuss how her late grandfather's craftsmanship and belief that "nothing is impossible" became the foundation of her life's work.

Together, we explore why imagination matters in a world filled with screens, how meaningful relationships shape the people we become, and why honoring those we've loved can inspire future generations.

In this episode, we discuss:
• Honoring the legacy of a loved one through meaningful work
• How grief can inspire creativity and purpose
• Why imagination is essential for childhood development
• The impact of technology on today's children
• Building confidence through play
• The importance of sustainability and mindful design
• Why the people who raise us continue to shape our lives
Whether you're a parent, educator, entrepreneur, or someone navigating grief, this conversation is a reminder that the people we love continue to leave fingerprints on our lives long after they're gone.

Connect with Kaz Shiomi:
https://www.instagram.com/kazshiomi/
https://www.us.kikoandgg.com/
https://www.instagram.com/kikoandgg

Grief and healing often change the direction of our lives in ways we never expected. In this conversation, we explore child loss, healing through storytelling, resilience, and how one family transformed heartbreak into purpose and advocacy.

I sit down with Dr. Matt Goldstein and Myra Sack to discuss the life and legacy of their daughter, Havi, who passed away from Tay-Sachs disease at the age of two. Together, they share how they navigated unimaginable grief, preserved their marriage, and found ways to honor Havi's impact on the world through storytelling, movement, community, and service.

Myra shares insights from her book Fifty-Seven Fridays, while Matt discusses the inspiration behind JScreen, a nonprofit dedicated to expanding access to genetic testing and preventing hereditary diseases. Together, they offer a powerful perspective on grief, healing, public health, and the importance of living fully in the face of uncertainty.

In this episode:
• Honoring the life and legacy of Havi
• Healing through storytelling and shared experiences
• Preserving a marriage after the loss of a child
• The role of movement, community, and ritual in grief
• Turning pain into purpose and advocacy
• Expanding access to genetic testing and healthcare
• What families should know about preventive genetic screening
• Finding meaning after profound loss

Connect with Dr. Matt Goldstein and Myra Sack:

JScreen: https://jscreen.org

E-Motion: https://emotion-mc.org