Killing It Softly

In this episode of the show, I speak with fellow mental health professionals in a panel discussion, which focuses on the effects of intergenerational trauma specifically in the African American community. My guests include Karla Lewis, NCC and LPC resident, Trey Taylor, LCSW, Antaysia Nance, LCSW, and previous guest Erika Wormeley, LPC. In our discussion, we talk about the history and insurmountable pain of the African American experience that began four hundred years ago, and still persists in our society today. We also talk about the residual effects of those complex traumas, and how they are relevant to the current state of civil unrest, injustice, and systemic racism in America.

In this episode of the show, I interview my guest Tim about the current racial climate from his perspective as a Bengali American. Tim is a father, a husband, and a professional photographer. He worked for the Virginia State police in the emergency management division, and has since transitioned into a career as an IT consultant for the VA. Our discussion in this episode focuses on how Tim's experience as a Bengali American has shaped his view of himself within America's racial hierarchy. Tim also helps me better understand my own racial identity and how it has influenced me in very unique ways. We also talk briefly about some ways that employers can work to remove systemic racism from their hiring processes.

In this episode of the show, I interview my friend Erika, whom I previously worked with for 3 years at the crisis stabilization unit. Erika is a mother, a wife, and a mental health clinician in the Fredericksburg area. Overall, she has been in the field for 12 years, and most recently passed her LPC exam for licensure in the state of Virginia. Our discussion in this episode focuses on the details of a documentary called Cracking the Codes, which was created by Shakit Butler. She is the president and founder of the World Trust Organization for social justice in Oakland, California. The full 1 hour film can be found on YouTube, Amazon Prime video, and the World Trust website. We get into some of the history regarding systemic racism, how it's impacting us today, and how we can work together to dismantle it.

In this episode of the show, I interview my good friend Ivy about her experiences as an African American woman in America. In our discussion, we provide a breakdown of some basic vocabulary to help people identify the difference between prejudice, discrimination, racial bias, and implicit bias. We also focus on unpacking stereotypes, beauty discrimination, and issues related to implicit bias in the medical field.

In the first episode of the show, I interview my previous supervisor John Butler. John is a husband, a father, and now a delegate for District 7 in Virginia. In this episode, we discuss what's going on in our country, why it's going on, and why people should care. 

Before jumping into discussions about one of the most challenging topics known to man, Kimberly provides the listeners with background information on her life and how it has influenced her desire to promote racial awareness in America. She provides encouragement and reassurance that not only can we come together to heal the divisiveness in our country, but we can also create a version of America that is inclusive for all.

Welcome to Killing It Softly, I'm your host Kimberly Lovell, licensed mental health therapist and social justice advocate. This podcast was created to promote racial awareness through honest, educational dialogue with White allies and People of Color. Episodes will alter between discussions with White allies about issues related to systemic racism and candid conversations with People of Color as they share their experiences of life in America. We are all coming together to learn how to shift toward anti-racist ways of thinking, so we can create a more honest, authentic version of America for all. Thanks for choosing to answer the call for change. Now let's get to work!