Season 2 of Living For We: Keep Ya Head Up dives into the real-life struggles of gun violence in communities of color—stories that don’t always make the headlines. 

In Episode 1, we sit down with Black men who are deep in the streets, a community leader fighting to break the cycle, and Jor-El Caraballo, a licensed therapist and author of Self-Care for Black Men: 100 Ways to Heal and Liberate. He shares tips on healing, self-care, and moving forward.

 Plus, host Marlene Harris-Taylor introduces a new co-host, Myesha Watkins, executive director of the Cleveland Peace Makers. Get ready for real talk, real stories, and real solutions.

Have you or someone you know been impacted by gun violence? Or do you have any thoughts about what was shared in today’s episode? Share your story for a chance to be featured on the show!

Click here to access the resources/organizations mentioned in this episode!

The wait is over! On February 11th, we'll be releasing the first episode of season two, titled Living For We: Keep Ya' Head Up.

This season, we're asking what can be done to reverse cycles of violence and retaliation when shooters value their reputation over their own lives. We know where this violence occurs, we know what drives it. How can we start Living For We and decrease the violence? 

We'll talk with people who are navigating streets where gun violence is normalized – seen as no big deal, while at the same time ruining lives. We'll listen to those fighting for their children and their communities, putting in work to uplift their neighborhoods and create meaningful change. This is more than a podcast, it's a resource for communities tired of chaos and ready to build peace.

We're excited to share that this season will also include video! The video version of the podcast will be posted on the Ideastream Public Media YouTube Channel, so make sure to check it out on the 11th! Episodes will release on all platforms every other Tuesday.

In the meantime, want to hear from you! If you have been personally impacted by gun violence, or are working to solve this problem in your community, please leave us a message here. Or, please share this link with anyone in your life who has a story to tell. We might use the voicemail on the show, or call you for a full interview!

We're thrilled to share this new season with you. See you next month, and Keep Ya' Head Up!

Hey, Living for We listeners, long time no see! We're gearing up for season 2, which will focus on the gun violence epidemic in the Cleveland area. We want to hear from you! If you have been personally impacted by gun violence, or are working to solve this problem in your community, please leave us a voice message at https://www.speakpipe.com/LivingForWeSeason2. Or, please share this link with anyone in your life who has a story to tell. We might use the voicemail on the show, or call you for a full interview!

In a conversation led by creative director HeyFranHey, go behind the scenes of “Living For We" with the production team– host and executive producer Marlene Harris-Taylor, lead producer Hannah Rae Leach, and our in-pod therapist Dr. Angela Neal-Barnett.

Learn more about Living For We here.

Donate to Ideastream Public Media here!

Leave us a voicemail at (216) 223-8312 letting us know your thoughts on the season!

Read our foundational research, Project Noir by Enlightened Solutions, here.

Check out photos from Enlightened Solutions’ Living For We: Live event here!

Is there anything more beautiful than Black love? From sister-friends and treasured co-workers to devoted husbands and boyfriends, love makes life worth living, especially in a city where it can be so tough. How can we use the power of love to make Cleveland a better place for all of us, and how can we shape its future through the act of “living for we?”

If you are someone you know doesn’t feel safe at home, Dr. Angela recommends the below resources:

Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233

Text “START” to 88788

Visit http://thehotline.org/get-help/ for support via chat

Learn more about Living For We here.

Donate to Ideastream Public Media here!

Leave us a voicemail at (216) 223-8312 letting us know your thoughts on the podcast.

Read our foundational research, Project Noir by Enlightened Solutions, here.

Check out photos from Enlightened Solutions’ Living For We: Live event here!

Today, we’re sharing an episode of When Magic Happens, a new podcast from WBEZ Chicago, where intergenerational convos of love and laughter collide.

In this episode, we’re discussing body-ody-ody-ody. Slim-thick, bean pole, pear, apple – how has your body been categorized? Cheryle, Jennifer and Taylor discuss body image and their relationships to their bodies over time. Then, we hear from Michaela Duerson, a plus-size model, talent agent, photographer and former gymnast, who explains the importance of appreciating our bodies at their many stages and why everyone is wrong.

Find When Magic Happens from WBEZ Chicago wherever you listen to podcasts.

In the classroom, even the best and brightest of Black women are often encouraged to think small and aim low. Chronic underfunding of public schools in Black neighborhoods, steering of Black girls away from honors classes in suburban schools, and abundant microaggressions from preschool to graduate school make learning a challenge. Despite it all, Black women are finding ways to shine.

If you’re a Black woman in Cleveland and want to share your thoughts, leave us a voicemail at (216) 223-8312 and you may just hear yourself on the podcast!

Learn more about Living For We here.

Read our foundational research, Project Noir by Enlightened Solutions, here.

Check out photos from Enlightened Solutions’ Living For We: Live event here!

When a Black woman becomes the first of her kind to receive a sought-after title or high-powered role, it’s a cause for celebration– but these breakthroughs have always hinged upon a lineage of elders forging thorny paths for those coming up behind them. In this episode, we trace that lineage from 94 year old former nurse Miss Arnell Hendricks all the way to Metrohealth’s new CEO, Dr. Airica Steed.

Learn more about Living For We here.

If you’re a Black woman in Cleveland and want to share your thoughts, leave us a voicemail at (216) 223-8312 and you may just hear yourself on the podcast!

Read our foundational research, Project Noir by Enlightened Solutions, here.

Check out photos from Enlightened Solutions’ Living For We: Live event here!

Cleveland is allegedly a healthcare mecca. There should be an abundance of quality care right here in town, but why can't Black women seem to find it? Dr. Carla Harwell of University Hospitals and Dr. Linda Bradley of the Cleveland Clinic, two Black woman doctors, join us to unpack that very question.

Learn more about Birthing Beautiful Communities here.

Learn more about Living For We here.

Read our foundational research, Project Noir by Enlightened Solutions, here.

Check out photos from Enlightened Solutions’ Living For We: Live event here!

When their lives are placed into the hands of white doctors and nurses, Black women’s basic needs can quickly evolve into life-threatening ordeals. Medical professionals’ lack of empathy demands that Black women prioritize advocating for themselves and their families over self-care. How can Black women be healthy when doctors refuse to really hear them?

Learn more about Birthing Beautiful Communities here. 

Learn more about Living For We here.

Read our foundational research, Project Noir by Enlightened Solutions, here. 

Check out photos from Enlightened Solutions’ Living For We: Live event here!