When we set out on this journey to put words to the emotional journey of black gay men, we knew it would be complicated. What we did not know, is how cathartic it would be to express out loud the trauma we carried since we were little boys with big secrets. In this final episode of the series, we explore what we’ve learned, what it means, and where we must continue to grow. Featuring Akim Bryant, Dan Hollaway and music by Lakey Inspired.

For black gay men, the intersections of race, sexual orientation and gender—among many other descriptive identities—often leaves us feeling deeply undervalued and uncertain about our future. In this episode, we finish exploring our final three core concerns we personally believe black gay men must confront if we are to heal ourselves and reclaim our future. Featuring Akim Bryant, Dan Hollaway and music by Lakey Inspired.

For black gay men, the intersections of race, sexual orientation and gender—among many other descriptive identities—often leaves us feeling deeply undervalued and uncertain about our future. In this episode, we continue exploring our core concerns we personally believe black gay men must confront if we are to heal ourselves and reclaim our future. Featuring Akim Bryant, Dan Hollaway and music by Lakey Inspired.

For black gay men, the intersections of race, sexual orientation and gender—among many other descriptive identities—often leaves us feeling deeply undervalued and uncertain about our future. In this episode, we explore three of nine core concerns we personally believe black gay men must confront if we are to heal ourselves and reclaim our future. Featuring Akim Bryant, Dan Hollaway and music by Lakey Inspired.

Codependency is generally defined as the preoccupation and extreme dependency, emotionally, socially and sometimes physically on a person or object. In this episode, we explore how under-functioning, over-functioning and codependency work together to create relationships that leave us feeling separated from others and ourselves. Featuring Akim Bryant, Dan Hollaway and music by Lakey Inspired.

According to psychotherapist, M. Formica, “Attempting to manage the emotions of others engenders our relationships with a complex dynamic of power and control.” In this episode, we explore how and why we over-function and people-please and what it ultimately does to ourselves and our relationships. Featuring Akim Bryant, Dan Hollaway and music by Lakey Inspired.

The statement: “Just be yourself.”, sounds promising, but without the expertise to do it, what good is it? For many of us, being ourselves means intentionally going against long-standing social norms. In this episode, we explore the frustrations of attempting to be one’s self in a world that would rather have you fit in. Featuring Akim Bryant, Dan Hollaway and music by Lakey Inspired.

If love is what we truly want, the only way to get it is by moving away from the people, places and things that keep you locked in moments, circumstances and situations that render love impossible. In this episode, we explore toxic relational cycles, why they’re so difficult to escape and if we’re at a place in our lives where walking away is possible. Featuring Akim Bryant, Dan Hollaway and music by Lakey Inspired.

All of us have an intense desire to love and be loved. But our experience of love at an early age, and the confusion that follows over the course or many relationships leaves us believing we could live our lives without love. In this episode, we explore the relationship black gay men have with love, the archetypes we use to justify love and how cultural norms, pressures and expectations work to extinguish our love. Featuring Akim Bryant, Dan Hollaway and music by Lakey Inspired.

We’ve all been there. In the middle of a conversation at work with colleagues, out for a night on the town with friends, or at home with family, and suddenly you’re overcome by a sudden, intense emotional reaction to a joke, a comment or a suggestion. Your thinking escalates and feelings of fear and anger overwhelm and threaten to overtake you. In this episode, we explore what triggers us and how we respond. Featuring Akim Bryant, Dan Hollaway and music by Lakey Inspired.