In this meeting, Sherella and Sierra, the CEO of the Mckissick Podcast Network, discussed their journey and the importance of community and love. They reminisced about their first meeting at a conference and how their friendship has grown over the years. Sierra shared her passion for writing and her role as a behavioral health specialist, aiming to help people live well and practice better habits. They also discussed the significance of creating spaces for healing and love, particularly for black women. The conversation ended with Sherella expressing her appreciation for the opportunities they have to come together and reflect on their journeys in regard to love.

Drs. Kyle Brooks and Edwin Lee, co-hosts of the podcast, Black Men Unlearning, joined Dr. Sherella Cupid for a crossover episode, together they discussed the theme of love, its various meanings and experiences, and the challenges of balancing work and personal life. They emphasized the importance of self-care, rest, and community in maintaining their energy and ability to love and connect with others. The conversation also touched on the need for accountability, grace, and empathy in personal development and relationships, and the importance of recognizing the interconnectedness of their actions and the labor of others.

Follow the Black Men Unlearning podcast on IG (@BlackMenUnlearning) and contact the hosts at [email protected].

Brutha Kyle...

Kyle Eugene Brooks, Ph.D., a native of Detroit, MI, serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Theology & Religious Studies and the Program in Africana Studies at the University of San Diego. His work broadly explores the communicative conditions of religion, politics, and black expressive cultures. His in-progress book, Chasing Ghosts: The Politics of Black Religious Leadership (under contract with Georgetown University Press) examines the recurring historical and contemporary roles of black clergymen in social movements through the conceptual lenses of haunting and hauntology, ultimately disputing the mythology of black male charisma and rhetorical performance as the core mechanisms of sociopolitical change. His work has been published in various print and digital venues, including the Journal for Feminist Studies in Religion, Fire! The Multimedia Journal for Black Studies, the Black Perspectives blog of the African American Intellectual History Society, and the Political Theology Network.

Brutha Edwin...

Edwin W. Lee II, PhD is a son, brother, friend, mentor, and educator from Baton Rouge, LA. His work focuses on empowering students to learn and problem solve by showing them the value of using failures as opportunities to grow, and encouraging them to design career paths that align with their passions. He currently serves as a Science and Technology Policy Fellow with the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Edwin is also a two-time TEDx speaker.

ABOUT THE SHOW

Discusses the journeys of Black women in various contexts and serves as a digital sister circle, a support group for and by Black women. We create community and conversation with the aim of thriving. Subscribe to the Lirae Journey mailing list on https://podcast.mckissickhealth.com. Follow the show on social media platforms at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @liraejourney. DISCLAIMER The topics, views, and opinions expressed on McKissick Health & Wellness are those of the speaker, host, and guest and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of McKissick Health & Wellness or any affiliated brand (One Choice Magazine, the Experience, or SFM Design Studio). Any tips, suggestions, or content provided by our speaker, host, and guest are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual or anyone or anything. Read more https://bit.ly/MHPodNet

In this episode, Dr. Sherella Cupid talks with Dr. Shawndaya Thrasher and Cristina Perez to discuss self-love, communication, and the ongoing process of defining love in relationships. They also detail the importance of personal growth, self-care, and understanding oneself before entering into relationships or making career decisions with an emphasis on intergenerational communication and learning. Lastly, the group shared their experiences with self-love, the role of faith, and their social media presence, highlighting the importance of community and the pursuit of personal fulfillment.

About SistaDoc Daya Thrasher...

Dr. Shawndaya Thrasher, LSU School of Social Work Assistant Professor, research explores racial/ethnic differences in bullying victimization outcomes. She holds a Doctorate from University of Kentucky, a Master of Social Work from the University of Georgia, and a Master of Science in Criminology from University of West Georgia. She has over 8 years of direct practice with children and families in school, residential, and community settings. Her research interests broadly include bullying risks and protective factors, and effects of child bullying involvement on child welfare and development. Outside of research, she enjoys writing poetry, traveling, and spending quality time with family and friends.

About Sista Cristina Perez...Cristina Perez is currently a Medical Billing Specialist for a Mental Health company in Rosedale, MD and a Special Education Reading Interventionist at a High School in Prince George's County. A proud graduate of Gettysburg College, where she earned a Bachelor's of the Arts in English with a Writing Concentration. She was inspired to join the education field during the Covid Pandemic where she rediscovered her love for reading and writing. She has more hobbies than fingers and loves to learn and experience new things. Follow her on social @black_beauty1102.

ABOUT THE SHOW

Discusses the journeys of Black women in various contexts and serves as a digital sister circle, a support group for and by Black women. We create community and conversation with the aim of thriving. Subscribe to the Lirae Journey mailing list on https://podcast.mckissickhealth.com. Follow the show on social media platforms at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @liraejourney. DISCLAIMER The topics, views, and opinions expressed on McKissick Health & Wellness are those of the speaker, host, and guest and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of McKissick Health & Wellness or any affiliated brand (One Choice Magazine, the Experience, or SFM Design Studio). Any tips, suggestions, or content provided by our speaker, host, and guest are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual or anyone or anything. Read more https://bit.ly/MHPodNet

In this episode, Dr. Sherella Cupid and Dr. Michelle C. Sermon discussed the themes of love, self-care, and community, emphasizing the importance of vulnerability, communication, and understanding in relationships. They also addressed societal issues, particularly in the Black community, and the need for proactive solutions and community engagement. Lastly, they highlighted the importance of self-expression, individuality, and the pursuit of knowledge, focusing on utilizing their talents to help others.

About Sista Michelle...

Discusses the journeys of Black women in various contexts and serves as a digital sister circle, a support group for and by Black women. We create community and conversation with the aim of thriving. Subscribe to the Lirae Journey mailing list on https://podcast.mckissickhealth.com. Follow the show on social media platforms at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @liraejourney.

In this episode, Dr. Sherella Cupid, PJ Pierre-Jerome, and Dr. Michelle Taylor discuss their seasons, the importance of continuous learning, and the evolution of their perspectives on love, freedom, and self. The conversation also touched upon the intergenerational dynamics within their families and communities, the importance of curiosity, critical thinking, and story sharing, and the guests' recent projects and personal reflections.
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About Sista PJ...

PJ Pierre-Jerome, M.A. (she/her) is a first-year Communication, Culture, and Media Studies (CCMS) PhD scholar at Howard University. Her curiosity about Black female archetypes in the U.S. context has expanded to an interest in exploring Black female communal communication practices within and among the Haitian community. Her professional aspirations include contributing towards research rooted in intersectionality awareness that facilitates, highlights, and advances equity within the Black diaspora.

About Sista Michelle...

Michelle D. Taylor holds a PhD in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies. Rooted in the Akan philosophical concept of Sankofa (looking back to advance forward), she centers her research on the socio-historical experiences of Black women in the afterlife of slavery in the United States Her dissertation research explores the surveillance of Black women in higher education through a critical examination of Foucault’s panopticism. She also holds an MA in Linguistics with a focus on language evolution within the African diaspora. Her work is grounded in Black Political Thought and Black Feminism.

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In this episode, Dr. Sherella Cupid welcomes Dr. Shawntay Stocks. Dr. Shawntay shares her experiences, beliefs, and practices related to love, self-care, and art, emphasizing the importance of intergenerational dialogue and learning. She also discusses her journey as a writer and her current work, underscoring the need for Black women to share their stories and experiences without fear.

Shawntay Stocks, Ph.D., is a native Baltimorean, mother, wife, poet, and community-engaged JEDI scholar-practitioner. A lover of Black history, literature, and culture, she utilizes this passion in her poetry and scholarship. She obtained her Bachelor’s degree in History from Guilford College, her Master’s degree in English and African-American literature from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, and her Ph.D. in the Language, Literacy, and Culture program at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County where her dissertation focused on faculty diversity within higher education.

ABOUT THE SHOW

In this episode, Dr. Asha Winfield and Dr. Sherella Cupid discuss the importance of mutual support, authenticity, and vulnerability in building meaningful relationships. They also shared their personal journeys of unlearning unhealthy behaviors around love and health, and the significance of self-care, community support, and storytelling in healing and connection. Lastly, Dr. Winfield introduced his "Storytellers Lab" at LSU, a space for scholar and student engagement in visual and research storytelling, and invited those interested in supporting his work to reach out.

About Sista Asha...

Asha S. Winfield, Ph.D., is an assistant professor at LSU’s Manship School of Mass Communication. Winfield is a critical/cultural media scholar with a focus on the stories (creation, rituals and practices) of Black individuals and groups occurring in the media, culture and society. As a researcher and filmmaker, she aims to use intersectionality, counternarratives, critical race theory and Black feminist thought to frame and center the experiences of Black people as they relate to audience reception through meaning-making and identity-making. Winfield is also the founder and director of the research group ⁠The Storytellers Lab⁠ at LSU. This group of academic storytellers utilizes qualitative research (community-based, participatory, photovoice, and video voice research) in concert with documentary filmmakers to share the cultural and historical narratives of everyday people in different contexts.

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In this episode, Dr. Anglesia Brown and Dr. Sherella Cupid discussed the importance of self-care, emotional expression, and personal boundaries in achieving inner peace, especially in the face of societal and academic pressures. They also explored the concept of love as an active force, emphasizing its role in intergenerational relationships and the need for intentional and quality time with loved ones. Lastly, they addressed the significance of challenging the culture of overworking and exhaustion and the value of learning to work with different academic scholars and personalities.

About Sista Anglesia....

She grounds her work in Endarkened Feminisms and Black Feminist Thought, specializing in decolonizing methodologies to examine the intricate dynamics of race, gender, and academia. Follow her on LinkedIn at Anglesia Brown, Ph.D. and Instagram @anglesia313.

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In this episode, psychologist Dr. Teairra Evans joins Dr. Sherella Cupid to explore expressions of love within various sacred spaces. She discusses her research and calls for single people to enjoy being present with people who honor their presence.

About Sista Teairra...

ABOUT THE SHOW

In this episode, Dr. Sherella Cupid discusses generational love practices and simple ways to better love ourselves with Renee Lucas and Kourtney Janeau.

Meet Sista Renee...

Renee Lucas is a strategic communication professional with over five years of experience in the field, specializing in public relations, graphic design, and social media management. As the Strategic Communications Specialist at The PR Alliance, Renee supports clients with everything from media relations and partnership outreach to social media strategies and graphics/design services.

Renee received her Master's in Mass Communication with a focus on strategic communication from LSU. Prior to pursuing her Master's, Renee graduated from LSU with a B.A. in Mass Communication with a concentration in Public Relations. She is also a member of the Public Relations Association of Louisiana. Follow Renee @_itsnaeee

Kourtney Janeau, M.M.C. is a dynamic Public Relations and Strategic Communications professional based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She holds a Master’s degree in Strategic Communication and a Bachelor's in Public Relations from the LSU Manship School. With over 5+ years of experience in Strategic Communications/Public Relations, Kourtney has a deep passion for multicultural storytelling. Driven by impact, community, and culture, Kourtney thrives in creating integrative campaigns that are necessary and impactful for the community. By blending her secondary education and professional experiences, Kourtney possesses an incredibly strategic mind bringing a holistic and creative approach to client campaigns. As a seasoned PR and Comms professional, she has lent her talents to organizations such as BET , the Recording Academy and the GRAMMYS, the Storytellers Lab at LSU and more.
@kourtneyyymarie on Instagram.

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