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Friends! How many of us have them? Friendships are crucial for our well-being yet making friends as an adult can be difficult. Luckily, Dr. Marisa G. Franco’s book, Platonic: How The Science of Attachment Can Help You Make—and Keep—Friends, provides practical applications for how to make friends, including how to overcome our own relationship insecurities and defense mechanisms. On this episode, SunAh sits down with Dr. Franco to learn more about the importance of friendships and how to put some of her insights into practice. Dr. Marisa G. Franco is an Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of Maryland, a licensed counseling psychologist, and friendship expert.

Children often feel pressured to live up to their parents’ dreams, but for the children of immigrants this pressure is particularly acute. So, what happens when who you are and what you desire conflicts with your parents’ visions of success that are constrained within heteronormative constructions of family, children, and career? On this episode, SunAh chats with Dr. Anthony Christian Ocampo whose latest book is titled _Brown and Gay in LA: The Lives of Immigrant Sons._Dr. Anthony Christian Ocampo is a Professor of Sociology at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, an Academic Director of the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity, and the co-host of the podcast Professor-ing.

What are some key events, places, or people in Asian American history? If you struggle to come up with an answer, you’re not alone. Asian American history is a history of erasure and not-knowing. On this episode, SunAh is joined by Dr. Catherine Ceniza Choy, whose latest book, Asian American Histories of the United States, brings to the forefront the many stories of Asian American history – past and present. Through skillful storytelling, Dr. Choy connects historical moments to present events while weaving in vignettes of Asian American activists, artists, entrepreneurs, trailblazers, and everyday people. Dr. Choy is Associate Dean of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging, and Justice in the University of California, Berkeley’s Division of Computing, Data Science, and Society.

“Birth control” is for women and condoms are for men, or at least that’s the general approach to contraceptives. These gendered expectations around types of birth control methods put the primary responsibility for preventing pregnancy on women with crucial consequences for women’s reproductive health, women’s bodily autonomy, and gender inequality. On this episode, SunAh sits down with Dr. Krystale Littlejohn, an Assistant Professor of Sociology at the University of Oregon and the author of Just Get on the Pill: The Uneven Burden of Reproductive Politics to talk about how this framing limits everyone’s understanding of reproductive health and impacts contraceptive use.

Colleges and universities provide more than an academic curriculum. For many students, college serves as a crucial space shaping ideas of who they are and how they fit into the world. For the men who graduate from Morehouse College, the nation’s oldest historically Black college for men, they not only attain college degrees but they become Morehouse Men. But what happens when manhood is constructed against an unattainable and narrow ideal? On this episode, SunAh talks with Dr. Saida Grundy, an Assistant Professor of Sociology, African American Studies, and Women’s and Gender Studies at Boston University, about her book, Respectable: Politics and Paradox in Making the Morehouse Man. Dr. Grudy discusses the far-reaching effects of an institution, like Morehouse, socializing students into a specific set of racialized gender expectations.

Jokes are meant to be funny, and studies show the multiple mental benefits of laughter. But, what happens when jokes target marginalized jokes? On this episode, SunAh sits down with Dr. Raúl Pérez, Assistant Professor of Sociology at the University of La Verne and author of _The Souls of White Jokes: How Racist Humor Fuels White Supremacy. _Dr. Pérez shares some of the ways that humor is used in different organizations from political interest groups to police departments in ways that are no laughing matter.

On this episode, SunAh is joined by Dr. Victor Ray, Associate Professor in the Departments of Sociology and Criminology and African American Studies at the University of Iowa and author of On Critical Race Theory: Why It Matters & Why You Should Care. Over the past year, we’ve seen a moral panic around “critical race theory” resulting in changes to K-12 curriculum and legislation around divisive concepts in higher education. But, what exactly is critical race theory? Dr. Ray breaks it down in easy to understand language with real world applications.

On this episode, SunAh sits down with Michelle Pegues, a certified life coach specializing in happiness and fulfillment and the host of “Real Talk with Michelle,” the podcast about purpose. Earlier this year a Gallup poll found that only 38% of Americans say they are happy. Even with all the massive changes happening in our society and perhaps personal lives as well, there are still ways for us to create happiness. Michelle details the main contributors to personal happiness, key barriers, and tips for examining our own beliefs around happiness. To learn more about Michelle, visit NewVibeCoaching.com or on Instagram at @realtalkwithmichelle

On this episode, SunAh welcomes Audrey S. Geyer, a Fertility Awareness Method Educator & High-Performance Women's Health Coach. Audrey details the hormonal changes that happen throughout your menstrual cycle and how that knowledge can help folks who menstruate to use their hormones to their advantage so they can achieve more of their health, personal, or professional goals with less stress. Audrey also breaks down some common myths and misconceptions about the menstrual cycle. To learn more about her programs, you can find Audrey on Instagram @audreysgeyer or AudreySGeyer.com

June is Men’s Health Month and mental health is one crucial component of health, though often a taboo topic. On this episode, SunAh is joined by Dr. Justin K. Dodson, licensed therapist and founder of Navigating Courage counseling and consultation. Dr. Dodson talks about some of the misconceptions around seeking mental health services, particularly for men. He also describes some of the benefits of therapy. To learn more about Dr. Dodson’s therapeutic services, visit navigatingcouragecac.com. You can also find him on Instagram and Twitter @itsdrjkeith