InnerViews

In this powerful season finale, Ivory reflects on a transformative year—motherhood through kinship adoption, buying her first home, navigating love, and preparing for preventive surgeries after testing BRCA2+. Joined by spiritual healer and author Lorna J. Hines, she explores faith, ancestry, and healing beyond appearance. This conversation offers gentle truth: you can struggle and still be sacred. You can ache and still be anointed. And you, too, deserve good things.

In this episode of InnerViews, Ivory sits down with Realtor Joy Hill and Mortgage Banker David McGowan to discuss her journey to becoming a first-time homeowner—while navigating adversity, foster care advocacy, and single motherhood. Together, they unpack the realities of accessible homeownership, financial literacy, and breaking generational cycles. This episode is both informative and deeply personal, reminding us that building a home isn’t just about property—it’s about planting roots for possibility.

This special episode celebrates a major milestone in Ivory’s story: becoming a first-time homeowner. Joined by her realtor, Joy Hill, and loan officer, David McGowan, Ivory reflects on what it meant to buy a home as a new foster mom overcoming systemic challenges. Together, they discuss the importance of financial readiness, community connections, and redefining stability on your own terms. Ivory also shares how she was introduced to Joy and David through lived expert Donnie Black, who hosted a free first-time homeownership seminar. The trio emphasizes that buying a home doesn’t mean you’re “stuck”—it’s a tool for empowerment and financial freedom.

In this powerful episode of InnerViews, Destiny Jackson shares her journey of navigating foster care, homelessness, and life with Type 1 diabetes—all while pursuing her dreams at Spelman College. From overcoming systemic barriers to advocating for healthcare equity and child welfare reform, Destiny’s story is one of courage, resilience, and unapologetic hope.

In this episode of InnerViews, we sit down with Lakievia to explore her powerful story of resilience, transformation, and advocacy. From navigating the juvenile justice system to becoming a fierce champion for youth, she reveals how cycles can be broken through restorative justice, trauma-informed care, and community support. Tune in for an inspiring conversation on healing, hope, and rewriting the narrative for the next generation.

In this deliciously deep episode, we sit down with Nancy Konjo—author of From Jollof to Sweet Potato Pie and a faith-rooted justice advocate. We talk food as healing, faith as resistance, and what it means to build bridges across the African diaspora. Nancy shares how her Cameroonian roots, her spiritual journey, and her cultural creativity have shaped her commitment to community and justice.

 Resources Mentioned:

• Digital Cookbook – From Jollof to Sweet Potato Pie
• Book a 1:1 Cooking Class
• Website: nancygoesdigital.com
• Instagram: @nancy.konjo

In this deeply personal and profoundly moving episode, host Ivory Bennett is joined by mental health professional Dr. Alison Davis for a candid conversation about the emotional toll and transformative lessons of caregiving. From the complexities of single motherhood and fostering to the importance of emotional regulation, healing, and support systems—this conversation will resonate with anyone navigating life, loss, and love in the margins of care.

Guest Bio:
Dr. Alison Davis is a licensed mental health professional with plenty of experience supporting families, children, and youth impacted by trauma. With a deep understanding of grief, attachment, and systemic inequities, she brings a trauma-informed and heart-centered lens to everything she does. Dr. Davis is a sought-after speaker, consultant, and community leader passionate about breaking generational cycles through accessible, holistic mental health care.

In this powerful episode, changemakers Isabel Stasa, Erica Hickey, and Lily Colby share how they transformed personal pain into public purpose through advocacy. They discuss the founding of the National Network for Fostering Sibling Connections and their fight to preserve sibling bonds in foster care. This is a masterclass in lived expertise, policy change, and healing.

Guest Bios: 

Isabel N. Stasa is the Head of Community Engagement & Public Affairs at Foster Greatness. A former foster youth, Isabel channels her seven years in the system into bold advocacy. She’s served on the National Foster Care Youth & Alumni Policy Council, contributed to federal legislation, and leads digital initiatives to elevate lived experience.

Erica Hickey is a seasoned policy strategist with over a decade of impact across research, legislation, and community organizing. Her lived foster care experience fuels her mission to create family-first policies—especially around preserving sibling bonds in adoption and beyond.

Lily Colby, Esq. is the founder of the National Network for Foster Sibling Connections. A Yale and Berkeley Law grad, Lily blends legal expertise with lived experience to drive national reform around sibling rights. She co-founded advocacy orgs like With Lived Experience and is a force for justice, empathy, and change.

In this episode, Ivory Bennett and special guest Theron Ogedengbe, a licensed therapist and powerhouse lived expert, unpack the delicate balance between healing, advocacy, and humanity. Together, they spill the tea on national advocacy, accountability, and why healing must come before hustle. Tune in for real talk, restorative wisdom, and a celebration of Black excellence in action.

In this powerful episode of InnerViews, Ivory Bennett sits down with Chaplain Dr. Kay Kizer — a trailblazing advocate and author — to discuss the realities of growing up in foster care, overcoming childhood trauma, and embracing the healing journey. Dr. Kizer shares her personal experiences navigating multiple foster homes and how those experiences led her to establish K's Carry On, a nonprofit dedicated to ensuring foster youth receive essential items and emotional support during transitions. This episode is a heartfelt exploration of resilience, faith, and the transformative power of purpose.

In this episode of InnerViews, host Ivory Bennett sits down with Montina Myers-Galloway, a licensed clinical mental health counselor, TEDx speaker, and advocate for Black women healing from parentification. Together, they explore the impact of adultification and emotional burdens placed on Black youth in foster care and juvenile justice. Montina shares how professionals can create trauma-informed spaces, support mental well-being, and empower youth to reclaim their narratives. This conversation is a must-listen for those committed to breaking cycles and fostering emotional healing in child welfare.

Guest Bio: 

“Montina Myers-Galloway is a licensed clinical mental health counselor, speaker, workshop facilitator, and consultant for women who have carried the weight of parentification throughout their lives. Her notable TEDx talk, “Why Black Women Should Stop Being Responsible,” has challenged the silence around parentification and mental health within the community, opening up essential conversations. She has been featured on Fox46 Charlotte, appeared on various podcasts, and partnered with organizations to provide attendees with relatable yet transformative experiences. As the owner of Myers-Galloway Counseling, she specializes in educating and empowering women to take charge of their mental health and well-being.”