Unapologetically Black Unicorns

Dr. Danielle Hairston (she/her) is a Double-Board Certified Psychiatrist, the Psychiatry Residency Program Director at Howard University College of Medicine and Hospital, a Hope Lab HBCU Translational Science Fellow and she is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Dr. Hairston talks about creating wellness experiences for Black youth that promote mental health, belonging and community. They discuss meeting young people where they are and how social connection, life skills and shared experiences can reduce isolation and support emotional well-being.

This special five-part series on Black Youth Mental Health is supported by Hopelab, a non-profit operating foundation focused on supporting the mental health and wellbeing of Black, Brown and Queer young people.

https://hopelab.org/programs/hbcu-fellowship

Check out the Black Youth Mental Health Playlist on Youtube:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHkjY1zXSaEc&si=6woxdHMcLi_vb6yP

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

Contact the show: [email protected]

Transcripts are available on Apple Podcasts.

Music for the podcast performed by “A New Deal For Youth”: 

For 'New Deal'

Primary Artist(s): A New Deal for Youth

For 'Capitalism Be Like' 

Primary Artist(s): A New Deal for Youth

Engineer: Kingmakers of Oakland Studio

Links to include: 

https://artists.landr.com/057914034898

https://newdealforyouth.org

Dr. Breonte Guy (he/him) is Professor and Interim Chair in the Department of Psychological Sciences at Winston-Salem State University and he is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Dr. Guy talks about G.A.M.E. (Gamified Activities for Mental Empowerment), a culturally responsive digital mental health platform co-created with Black and Brown youth. They talk how gaming, helps create a sense of belonging and community and how that can help address loneliness, strengthen mental wellness and create accessible pathways of support for young people.

This special five-part series on Black Youth Mental Health is supported by Hopelab, a non-profit operating foundation focused on supporting the mental health and wellbeing of Black, Brown and Queer young people.

https://hopelab.org/programs/hbcu-fellowship

Check out the Black Youth Mental Health Playlist on Youtube:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHkjY1zXSaEc&si=6woxdHMcLi_vb6yP

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

Contact the show: [email protected]

Transcripts are available on Apple Podcasts.

Music for the podcast performed by “A New Deal For Youth”: 

For 'New Deal'

Primary Artist(s): A New Deal for Youth

For 'Capitalism Be Like' 

Primary Artist(s): A New Deal for Youth

Engineer: Kingmakers of Oakland Studio

Links to include: 

https://artists.landr.com/057914034898

https://newdealforyouth.org

Dr. Billie Castle (she/her) is Assistant Professor of Public Health at Xavier University of Lousiana and she is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Drawing on her work with the HopeLab HBCU Translational Science Fellowship, Dr. Castle shares how young people are transforming lived experiences into meaningful action. They talk about the power of youth leadership, community-engaged research and creating space for the next generation to shape the future.

This special five-part series on Black Youth Mental Health is supported by Hopelab, a non-profit operating foundation focused on supporting the mental health and wellbeing of Black, Brown and Queer young people.

https://hopelab.org/programs/hbcu-fellowship

Check out the Black Youth Mental Health Playlist on Youtube:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHkjY1zXSaEc&si=6woxdHMcLi_vb6yP

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

Contact the show: [email protected]

Transcripts are available on Apple Podcasts.

Music for the podcast performed by “A New Deal For Youth”: 

For 'New Deal'

Primary Artist(s): A New Deal for Youth

For 'Capitalism Be Like' 

Primary Artist(s): A New Deal for Youth

Engineer: Kingmakers of Oakland Studio

Links to include: 

https://artists.landr.com/057914034898

https://newdealforyouth.org

Julie Tinker (she/her) is Principle at Hopelab and she is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. This is the launch of a series highlighting Black Youth Mental Health and the groundbreaking work of the HopeLab HBCU Translational Science Fellowship. They discuss how HBCU researchers are turning research into practical solutions that improve the lives of Black youth.

This special five-part series on Black Youth Mental Health is supported by Hopelab, a non-profit operating foundation focused on supporting the mental health and wellbeing of Black, Brown and Queer young people.

https://hopelab.org/programs/hbcu-fellowship

Check out the Black Youth Mental Health Playlist on Youtube:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHkjY1zXSaEc&si=6woxdHMcLi_vb6yP

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

Contact the show: [email protected]

Transcripts are available on Apple Podcasts.

Music for the podcast performed by “A New Deal For Youth”: 

For 'New Deal'

Primary Artist(s): A New Deal for Youth

For 'Capitalism Be Like' 

Primary Artist(s): A New Deal for Youth

Engineer: Kingmakers of Oakland Studio

Links to include: 

https://artists.landr.com/057914034898

https://newdealforyouth.org

Dr. Andre Johnson (he/him) is the Founder/CEO of the Detroit Recovery Project (DRP), and he is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Dr. Johnson talks about the ideas in his book “The Recovery Ecosystem: A Wholistic Approach to Recovery” which is a guide for healing and progress in the journey of addiction recovery. They talk about the organization being a peer-run Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic, (CCBHC) the significance of supportive housing and the components of the recovery ecosystem.

For more information on Dr. Andre Johnson and his book “The Recovery Ecosystem: A Wholistic Approach to Recovery” visit: www.DrAndreJohnson.com

For more information on the Detroit Recovery Project visit: www.recovery4detroit.com

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

Contact the show: [email protected]

For a direct transcript of this episode visit: https://bit.ly/ubu195AudioTranscript

Transcripts also available on Apple Podcasts.

Enola Aird is the Founder and President of the Community Healing Network and an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Enola shares how she is mobilizing Black people to heal from the lie of white superiority and Black inferiority. They talk about the impact of Marcus Garvey, making the Emotional Emancipation Circles a safe space for Black people and defying the lie and embracing the truth.

To learn more about Emotional Emancipation Circles visit: https://communityhealingnet.org/

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

Contact the show: [email protected]

Transcripts are available on Apple Podcasts.

Gaelynn Lea is a musician, author, public speaker, disability advocate and an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Gaelynn shares her journey as a violinist, the winner of a Tiny Desk Contest and writing her book “Wasn't Meant to Be Perfect.” They talk about representation, Medicaid and disability rights, and the powerful reminder that you may not always see the people whose lives are being changed by your work.

Websites: Gaelynn Lea Music and Linktree and Substack  

Instagram: @gaelynnlea

YouTube:  @gaelynnlea

Music:  Bandcamp | Spotify | Apple Music | Tidal

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

Contact the show: [email protected]

Transcripts are available on Apple Podcasts.

Happy Birthday UBU!

In this interactive episode of Unapologetically Black Unicorns, Keris transforms complex policy into “The Medicaid Maze”, a storytelling board game that reveals the real-life challenges of navigating Medicaid. Through dice rolls and card draws, she explores how small policy shifts and everyday barriers can drastically affect people’s health coverage and stability. Blending empathy and advocacy, this episode invites listeners to rethink what it really means to survive and stay covered within America’s healthcare system.

FREE Medicaid Maze game materials:  https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1PrbuCwEnQJj4HpZSymmutg9kawgkpGC-

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

Contact the show: [email protected]

Transcripts are available on Apple Podcasts.

From the beautiful view at Niagara Falls, Keris reflects on the people whose support, encouragement and belief helped shape her mental health recovery and her career. Keris shares stories about her mentors, friends and some unexpected connections. She explores the value of support and it serves as a reminder to reach out and let people know how much they have meant in your life.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

Contact the show: [email protected]

Transcripts are available on Apple Podcasts.

Kelechi Ubozoh (she/her) is a peer supporter, a Black Liberatory Coach, co-editor of “We've Been Too Patient: Voices from Radical Mental Health,” a contributor to the anthology “Trauma, Tresses, and Truth: Untangling Our Hair Through Personal Narratives” and she is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Keris and Kelechi reflect on why they decided to rethink the nuances of talking about Black hair and when and why they “hair code-switch”. Kelechi reads her chapter in the anthology, how she uses her hair strategically and the trauma and celebration through hair.

“TRAUMA, TRESSES, & TRUTH: 2nd Virtual Conference Interrogating Black Women's Natural Hair” -

August 4th - 6th:

https://trauma-tresses-truth-conference-interrogating.heysummit.com/

The Anthology “Trauma, Tresses, and Truth: Untangling Our Hair Through Personal Narratives”:

https://www.chicagoreviewpress.com/trauma--tresses--and-truth-products-9781641606707.php

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline