Mental Dialogue

Guest co-host, CHER'DON REYNOLDS, Sheo of She Prints It, and our special guests, both of European descent, MARK CARMAN, former police officer, and JOHN COSTINO, former co-host of the Race Haven podcast return for this open and honest discussion about WHITE ALLIES.   As America is under PROTEST, many WHITES are finally seeking an understanding of what it truly means to be BLACK IN AMERICA. However, many AFRICAN-AMERICANS are asking why now, why this time, as we witness POLITICIANS foolishly donning Kente cloth as they present a POLICE REFORM bill that many AFRICAN-AMERICANS have been seeking for a lifetime. Is this truly reconciliation or simply a ploy to gain the BLACK VOTE through symbolism? Do all whites understand racism enough to end it? Should the President play in bringing the country together? MENTAL DIALOGUE asking the questions ALL I ASK IS THAT YOU THINK

A couple a weeks ago on the MENTAL DIALOGUE talk show we discussed how our BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES were surviving during the COVID-19 PANDEMIC.  Now imagining how beauty salon owners, RHONDA WILKINS & SONIA BOOKER felt after being closed during the SHELTER IN PLACE measures, only to end up with their salons as targets of LOOTING & VANDALISM in the aftermath of the GEORGE FLOYD protest here in ATLANTA. Both are very active business leaders in the AFRICAN-AMERICAN community, so please tune-in to hear their stories and see what measures we as a community can take to help their businesses thrive again. Will insurance cover most of the damage?  What about their employees?  Did they receive any stimulus money?  How do they feel about the protest?  MENTAL DIALOGUE asking the questions AMERICA'S afraid to ask. ALL I ASK IS THAT YOU THINK

Award winning PSYCHOLOGIST, DR. ROSELYN AKER-BLACK, visits the show to discuss the effects of watching videos of BLACK people being killed on the BLACK PSYCHE.  Are these videos TRAUMATIZING for BLACKS?  Do these videos inspire some BLACKS to become activist? Why do we share these videos on social media repeatedly, and does it help?  Are these videos MODERN DAY LYNCHINGS?  When these videos don't lead to a conviction, then what? MENTAL DIALOGUE asking the question America's afraid to ask. ALL I ASK IS THAT YOU THINK

Special guests, Maria Richards & LaTrice Ross, drop by to discuss the psyche of African-Americans finding themselves under the construct of race where the concept of whiteness is the gold standard in America. When PRESIDENT TRUMP campaigned to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, many AFRICAN-AMERICANS could only ask when exactly that was and who's standard are we judging by?  Unlike other groups our ancestors were stripped of a great portion of their culture and fought long and hard to be counted as natural citizens of this country. In their efforts to be GOOD AMERICANS they ultimately tried to meet that standard, and we, as their descendants, subconsciously strive to meet that standard today.  Unfortunately for the last 400 years that standard has been WHITE, and while the idea of COLOR BLINDNESS sounds good, it can be quite detrimental when one race is completely celebrated throughout American history and the others basically reduced to HIDDEN FIGURES in that same history. Is it time finally time for BLACKS to learn how to be AMERICANS without chasing the standard of WHITENESS? MENTAL DIALOGUE asking the questions America's afraid to ask. ALL I ASK IS THAT YOU THINK

Are AFRICAN AMERICANS still victims of AMERICA'S OPPRESSION or do we PLAY THE VICTIM and hold ourselves back from America's opportunities?  Special guest co-host, JANELLE KING, also co-host of TV's Georgia Gang, helps us moderate the discussion with returning guests, CBS Radio host, ROBERT PATILLO, and, SHELLEY WYNTERS, host of the Shelley Wynters Show.  If the VICTIM MENTALITY is true, how does it hold us back as AFRICAN AMERICANS?  If it is not true, what can we do about SYSTEMIC OPPRESSION beyond protest?  MENTAL DIALOGUE asking the questions America's afraid to ask. ALL I ASK IS THAT YOU THINK

CALLING ALL BLACK-OWNED BUSINESS OWNERS!!!! Special guests, tax accountant & CARES ACT consultant, RONICA BROWN, along with Urban Grind Owner (coffee shop), CASSANDRA INGRAM drop by to discuss the impact of the PANDEMIC, specifically on BLACK BUSINESSES; and what can be done to survive now and beyond. BROWN's agency specializes in helping small business's navigate the CARES ACT, so business owners especially, call in to get her expertise. INGRAM's shop, Urban Grind, located in the midtown area of ATLANTA is a long-time staple on the poetry, music, and arts scene, especially for the BLACK COMMUNITY; hosting weekly events is still open, but limited hours during the PANDEMIC. Tune-in to hear what adjustments she's had to make and what she anticipates the future of her business going forward will look like. What can consumers do to ensure our BOBs remain open? How can BOBs assist one another during the PANDEMIC? MENTAL DIALOGUE asking the questions America's afraid to ask. ALL I ASK IS THAT YOU THINK

HOW MANY OF US TRULY LIVE OUT OUR DREAMS? This week our special guest co-host is actress/make-up artist, ELYSE DAVIS, and our featured guests are music producer/artist, JOE BLEEZ and tech entrepreneur, ELI MARKUS, as both are at different stages of LIVING OUT THEIR DREAMS. Five years ago, BLEEZ, gave up a SIX-FIGURE income to return to his 1st Love, music, but the journey took longer than expected and now he is on the verge of truly living out that dream. On the other hand, ELI MARKUS, aka THE DIGITAL SNIPER, found his expertise in the TECHNOLOGY field early, and as a young man lives a life many of us only dream of.  BEYOND MOTIVATION, we want to hear the PSYCHOLOGICAL battles and willpower it took to stay the course towards living out their dreams?  How did they find and commit to their DREAM?  Did their DREAM conflict with family time, work, etc? Are there any financial trip ups along the way, and how do they handle them? Did unintentional naysayers ever sway their decision to follow their dreams, or was their biggest battle with self? MENTAL DIALOGUE asking the questions America's afraid to ask. ALL I ASK IS THAT YOU THINK SIDENOTE: This show will also premier SQUARE BUSINESS ENTERTAINMENT & JOE BLEEZ's hot new single ALL DAY LONG!!!

While the political left and right go back and forth about SHELTER IN PLACE orders, there are many who were already suffering from ANXIETY & DEPRESSION prior to the SOCIAL DISTANCING guidelines; and now many more will be faced these very serious MENTAL HEALTH issues. Psychotherapist, DR. KATRINA PITTMAN, owner of Paradigm Shift, brings her 17+ years of experience in MENTAL HEALTH on the show to discuss what people may be experiencing during this COVID-19 PANDEMIC. What does she recommend for those who are anxious about these uncertain times? How do you know if your anxiousness or sadness has turned into full blown ANXIETY or DEPRESSION?  How do you remain mentally strong if you are the breadwinner for your family, but your job or financial future is in jeopardy?  Even if you are not experiencing any issues, you may have loved one who is, so tune-in to better understand what they are experiencing and how to help them. MENTAL DIALOGUE asking the questions America's afraid to ask. ALL I ASK IS THAT YOU THINK

Whenever America catches a cold, it often said BLACK AMERICA catches the flu. This sentiment holds true as AFRICAN AMERICANS by far have been hit the hardest by the CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC. Initially there was an urban legend that BLACKS could not contract the virus, but as it spreads across the U.S. some BLACKS are now asking are AFRICAN AMERICANS being targeted. Many AFRICAN AMERICANS say they will refuse a VACCINE for COVID-19, if one comes online, amidst past fears that VACCINES have been used to give BLACK boys AUTISM. BLACKS will often site conspiracies such as the TUSKEGEE EXPERIMENT, HIV & AIDS, or the WAR ON DRUGS and POLICE BRUTALITY as more proof that America has a death wish for the AFRICAN AMERICAN community. Is America trying to kill us, or is this fear driven by America's history of racism leaving OUR community stagnate and mentally impotent? MENTAL DIALOGUE asking the questions America's afraid to ask. ALL I ASK IS THAT YOU THINK