Mind Ya Mental Podcast

In this insightful episode of "Mind Your Mental," we delve into the powerful themes of self-awareness, gratitude, and the transformative journey of personal discovery. Drawing on profound personal experiences and expert insights, we uncover the essential lessons that shape our understanding of ourselves and our capacity for gratitude, even in the face of life's challenges.

Key Takeaways from Our Conversation:

• Self-Discovery through Life's Challenges: The journey to self-discovery often begins in moments of adversity. Our discussion reveals how personal crises can catalyze a deeper exploration of our true selves, leading us to shed layers of conformity and embrace our authentic identities.

• The Power of Gratitude in Healing: Gratitude emerges as a cornerstone of healing and personal growth. We're reminded of the importance of cherishing life's simple blessings, such as the ability to perform everyday tasks that others may no longer be able to do, reinforcing gratitude's role in fostering resilience and contentment.

• Navigating Identity Beyond Roles: Many struggle to define themselves outside of their roles in relation to others. Our conversation emphasizes the importance of understanding oneself independently, highlighting the common struggle of articulating personal identity without reference to these roles.

• Embracing Selfishness as Self-Care: Contrary to negative connotations, selfishness can be an integral part of self-care. Prioritizing time for self-reflection and personal needs is crucial for wellbeing, challenging listeners to reconsider their perspectives on selfishness in the context of nurturing their mental health.

• Gratitude Amid Social Comparison: In an era dominated by social media, it's easy to fall into the trap of comparison. However, the practice of gratitude can ground us, reminding us to appreciate our ability to engage with the world around us, even in the digital age.

Tabitha Brown, also known as "America's Mom," has gained over 13 million followers through her engaging vegan lifestyle content and uplifting persona. The Emmy-winning actress from North Carolina is also a successful author, with three New York Times bestsellers, multiple NAACP Image Awards, and an honorary doctorate from Savannah College of Art and Design. She has appeared in notable TV shows like "The Chi" on Showtime, produced and hosted "It's CompliPlated" on Food Network, and created the children's show "Tab Time." As a businesswoman, she co-founded Donna's Recipe, a healthy haircare line, collaborated with Target, and launched her own line of McCormick seasonings. Brown inspires with her messages on faith, perseverance, and authenticity.

Join the Movement: Dr. Martin invites listeners to become part of the Mind Ya Mental community, offering exclusive access to webinars, book clubs, podcasts, and a platform for connection and growth among like-minded individuals.

You can follow Dr. Martin on Social Media at Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, and at her website www.raquelmartinphd.com

In today's episode, we're diving deep into the essence of hope, faith, and the power of believing in something greater. We explore the significance of holding onto hope, even when it feels like you're the last "good sucker" out there. It's about reminding ourselves that we're not alone in striving for light, love, and positivity in the world.

We'll discuss:

• The importance of hope and belief in something greater than ourselves.
• How to cling to hope in our families, friendships, colleagues, and romantic relationships.
• The idea that we're not the only ones trying to make the world a better place.
• The power of borrowing hope from those around us when ours is running low.
• The role of the church in our lives and how it can be both a source of solace and struggle.

Candice Marie Benbow is a theologian, essayist, columnist, baker, and educator whose work gives voice to Black women's shared experiences of faith, healing, and wholeness. Named by Sojourners as one of "10 Christian Women Shaping the Church in 2020," she has written for Essence, Glamour, The Root, VICE, Shondaland, Madame Noire, and the Me Too Movement. Candice created the "Lemonade Syllabus" social media campaign, founded the media boutique Zion Hill Media Group, and, in memory of her mother, established The LouiseMarie Foundation to support HBCU nursing students and community mental health projects. A member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Candice holds degrees from Tennessee State University, North Carolina Central University, and Duke Divinity School.

If you're interested in hearing more from Candace Benbow (and you should be), you can check her out on Instagram, X, and Threads

Join the Movement: Dr. Martin invites listeners to become part of the Mind Ya Mental community, offering exclusive access to webinars, book clubs, podcasts, and a platform for connection and growth among like-minded individuals.

You can follow Dr. Martin on Social Media at Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, and at her website www.raquelmartinphd.com

In this episode, we dive into the world of hostile workplaces, reflecting on how our interactions mirror our beliefs about the divine. It's vital to correct our wrongs, recognizing the divine spark in each of us.

We're covering:

• The church's influence on the Black community, acting as a sanctuary for many but also a source of pain for some.
• The unique challenges Black women face in religious and broader community spaces.
• The importance of confronting and healing from personal and shared wounds.
• The danger of spiritual bypassing within our community.
• And how embracing God through love and compassion urges us to treat everyone with dignity and respect.

Candice Marie Benbow is a theologian, essayist, columnist, baker, and educator whose work gives voice to Black women's shared experiences of faith, healing, and wholeness. Named by Sojourners as one of "10 Christian Women Shaping the Church in 2020," she has written for Essence, Glamour, The Root, VICE, Shondaland, Madame Noire, and the Me Too Movement. Candice created the "Lemonade Syllabus" social media campaign, founded the media boutique Zion Hill Media Group, and, in memory of her mother, established The LouiseMarie Foundation to support HBCU nursing students and community mental health projects. A member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Candice holds degrees from Tennessee State University, North Carolina Central University, and Duke Divinity School.

If you're interested in hearing more from Candace Benbow (and you should be), you can check her out on Instagram, X, and Threads

Join the Movement: Dr. Martin invites listeners to become part of the Mind Ya Mental community, offering exclusive access to webinars, book clubs, podcasts, and a platform for connection and growth among like-minded individuals.

You can follow Dr. Martin on Social Media at Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, and at her website www.raquelmartinphd.com

In this episode, we delve into the complex relationship between spirituality and mental well-being, particularly within the Black community and for Black women in religious spaces. The conversation illuminates:

• The Church's dual role as both a sanctuary and a source of pain, exploring how it has shaped the Black community's spiritual and emotional landscape.
• The specific struggles Black women face within these sacred spaces, often bearing the brunt of systemic biases without the deserved support or recognition.
• The urgent need for collective healing, acknowledging the scars left by spiritual bypassing and institutional neglect.
• The transformative power of recognizing God's love in every interaction, urging a recommitment to treating one another with the dignity and compassion reflective of divine love.

Candice Marie Benbow is a theologian, essayist, columnist, baker, and educator whose work gives voice to Black women's shared experiences of faith, healing, and wholeness. Named by Sojourners as one of "10 Christian Women Shaping the Church in 2020," she has written for Essence, Glamour, The Root, VICE, Shondaland, Madame Noire, and the Me Too Movement. Candice created the "Lemonade Syllabus" social media campaign, founded the media boutique Zion Hill Media Group, and, in memory of her mother, established The LouiseMarie Foundation to support HBCU nursing students and community mental health projects. A member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Candice holds degrees from Tennessee State University, North Carolina Central University, and Duke Divinity School.

If you're interested in hearing more from Candace Benbow (and you should be), you can check her out on Instagram, X, and Threads

Join the Movement: Dr. Martin invites listeners to become part of the Mind Ya Mental community, offering exclusive access to webinars, book clubs, podcasts, and a platform for connection and growth among like-minded individuals.

You can follow Dr. Martin on Social Media at Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, and at her website www.raquelmartinphd.com

This episode is about sparking those challenging conversations, sometimes finding answers, and often, finding more questions. It's all part of our journey to becoming better humans and seeing the divine in everyone around us.

Here's what we're covering:

• The church's impact on the Black community: it's a sanctuary for many but has also been a place of pain for some.
• Black women's experiences in religious and community spaces.
• The necessity of confronting and healing from both individual and collective wounds.
• The concept of spiritual bypassing, and why it's particularly harmful within our community.
• And ultimately, how understanding God through the lens of love and compassion compels us to treat everyone with dignity and respect.

Candice Marie Benbow is a theologian, essayist, columnist, baker, and educator whose work gives voice to Black women's shared experiences of faith, healing, and wholeness. Named by Sojourners as one of "10 Christian Women Shaping the Church in 2020," she has written for Essence, Glamour, The Root, VICE, Shondaland, Madame Noire, and the Me Too Movement. Candice created the "Lemonade Syllabus" social media campaign, founded the media boutique Zion Hill Media Group, and, in memory of her mother, established The LouiseMarie Foundation to support HBCU nursing students and community mental health projects. A member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Candice holds degrees from Tennessee State University, North Carolina Central University, and Duke Divinity School.

If you're interested in hearing more from Candace Benbow (and you should be), you can check her out on Instagram, X, and Threads

Join the Movement: Dr. Martin invites listeners to become part of the Mind Ya Mental community, offering exclusive access to webinars, book clubs, podcasts, and a platform for connection and growth among like-minded individuals.

You can follow Dr. Martin on Social Media at Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, and at her website www.raquelmartinphd.com

Candice Marie Benbow is a theologian, essayist, columnist, baker, and educator whose work gives voice to Black women's shared experiences of faith, healing, and wholeness. Named by Sojourners as one of "10 Christian Women Shaping the Church in 2020," she has written for Essence, Glamour, The Root, VICE, Shondaland, Madame Noire, and the Me Too Movement. Candice created the "Lemonade Syllabus" social media campaign, founded the media boutique Zion Hill Media Group, and, in memory of her mother, established The LouiseMarie Foundation to support HBCU nursing students and community mental health projects. A member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Candice holds degrees from Tennessee State University, North Carolina Central University, and Duke Divinity School.

If you're interested in hearing more from Candace Benbow (and you should be), you can check her out on Instagram, X, and Threads

Spiritual Wounds In The Black Community ft Candice Benbow

This episode delves into the intricate dynamics of faith, community, and healing within the Black community, with a particular emphasis on the experiences of Black women in religious contexts. It critically examines the role of the church, acknowledging its significance in the lives of Black individuals while also addressing the harms inflicted within these spaces.

Highlighted Topics Include:

• The role of the church in the Black community: There is a deep connection between Black individuals and the institutional church. Our discussion acknowledges both the positive aspects and the significant harms that have been experienced within these religious spaces.
• Challenges faced by Black women in the church: There is a specific focus on the experiences of Black women in religious and community spaces, emphasizing how they continue to be a consistent and substantial force despite not receiving the care and consideration they deserve. This discrepancy is presented as something that leadership should feel accountable for.
• The importance of honesty and healing: The conversation touches upon the necessity of being honest about the wounds and harms inflicted within the community to engage in meaningful healing work. This includes confronting both personal and institutional sources of pain.
• Spiritual bypassing in the Black community: Spiritual bypassing, which is the idea that faith and prayer alone can prevent bad things from happening. This notion is critiqued for being particularly harmful within the Black community, where many have been raised in the church and might interpret personal misfortunes as a lack of faith.
• The intersection of faith, love, and healing: The dialogue includes references to the work of Bell Hooks and the concept of loving through communication and acknowledging harms. This approach is advocated as a means to address wounds within the community while maintaining spiritual and faith-based commitments.

Join the Movement: Dr. Martin invites listeners to become part of the Mind Ya Mental community, offering exclusive access to webinars, book clubs, podcasts, and a platform for connection and growth among like-minded individuals.

You can follow Dr. Martin on Social Media at Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, and at her website www.raquelmartinphd.com

In this episode we talk to THE Candice Benbow author of Red Lip Theology: For Church Girls Who've Considered Tithing to the Beauty Supply Store When Sunday Morning Isn't Enough.

Candice Marie Benbow is a theologian, essayist, columnist, baker, and educator whose work gives voice to Black women's shared experiences of faith, healing, and wholeness. Named by Sojourners as one of "10 Christian Women Shaping the Church in 2020," she has written for Essence, Glamour, The Root, VICE, Shondaland, Madame Noire, and the Me Too Movement. Candice created the "Lemonade Syllabus" social media campaign, founded the media boutique Zion Hill Media Group, and, in memory of her mother, established The LouiseMarie Foundation to support HBCU nursing students and community mental health projects. A member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Candice holds degrees from Tennessee State University, North Carolina Central University, and Duke Divinity School.

If you're interested in hearing more from Candace Benbow (and you should be), you can check her out on Instagram, X, and Threads

In this episode Dr. Martin discusses green flags in relationships!

Join me in an amazing discussion with Natasha Alford about her book American Negra, which is released today! Natasha Alford is an award-winning journalist, host and millennial media executive driven by the power of storytelling to inspire and change people's lives. She is also the Vice President and Anchor at the Griot and a political analyst at CNN.

Her book provides an amazing balance of story telling, history lessons, and inspiration that will have you immersed in this page turner. You can purchase American Negra by Natasha Alford at Bookshop.org, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, your local bookstore, basically anywhere that sells books!.

You can find Natasha Alford on Instagram, Twitter, and her website NatashaAlford.com.

Unlocking the Power of Black Identity

In this enlightening episode of "Mind Ya Mental," Dr. Raquel Martin delves into the critical topic of black identity development, drawing from her rich background as a licensed clinical psychologist, professor, and scientist specializing in Black mental health. Through personal anecdotes and professional insights, Dr. Martin illuminates the complexities of navigating Black identity in a world rife with stereotypes, systemic inequalities, and racism.

Key Takeaways Include:

• Understanding Black Identity: Dr. Martin explores the nuances of Black identity development, emphasizing its importance in fostering self-esteem, academic achievement, and resilience against racism's impacts.
• Navigating Racism-Related Stress: With compassion and clarity, she addresses the emotional toll of racism, offering strategies to manage stress and reclaim one's sense of self.
• The Power of Representation: Highlighting the significance of seeing positive black figures in media, education, and community, Dr. Martin champions the role of representation in strengthening black identity.
• Community and Connection: She stresses the value of creating supportive spaces where black individuals can share experiences, celebrate diversity, and build collective strength.
• A Call to Action: Dr. Martin encourages listeners to engage in self-reflection, seek educational empowerment, and actively challenge stereotypes to nurture a robust black identity.

Join the Movement: Dr. Martin invites listeners to become part of the Mind Ya Mental community, offering exclusive access to webinars, book clubs, podcasts, and a platform for connection and growth among like-minded individuals.

Empower Your Journey: This episode is more than a conversation; it's an invitation to embark on a personal journey of discovery, empowerment, and affirmation of one's black identity in the face of adversity. Dr. Martin has created a FREE ebook to help you with your Black identity develope which can be found at her website www.raquelmartinphd.com

You can follow Dr. Martin on Social Media at Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube