Hey family! Welcome back to another powerful episode of Speaking with Gravity. Since it's Mental Health Awareness Month, we are diving deep into a topic that affects our peace, our joy, and our healing: Friendship.

As Black men and women, we are often taught to carry the world on our shoulders, but life is meant to be done in community. This week, hosts Kervin Searles, Sherika Anderson, and Terance Dawkins are joined by a very special guest: powerhouse trauma therapist, TikTok creator, and author Dr. Jaquinda Jackson!

Together, we’re unpacking the myths, the boundaries, and the beautiful realities of adult friendships. Are your friends pouring back into your cup? Are you picking your inner circle with intentionality, or just letting whoever sit at your table? We're getting real, raw, and hilarious about what it means to build an authentic, safe support system.

Grab your tea, your headphones, or your walking shoes, and let’s get into it! 🎧✨

• [00:00] Welcome to Speaking with Gravity! Meet the team and our special guest, trauma therapist Dr. Jaquinda Jackson, as we kick off Mental Health Awareness Month.

• [01:36] The Friendship "Performance Review" If your friendship was a career this month, would you get a promotion, a PIP (Performance Improvement Plan), or straight-up fired? The hosts give their hilariously honest answers.

• [05:04] "Don't Call Me on Monday Night!" Why therapists secretly hate talking on the phone after work, and how life stages change our availability.

• [07:14] Boundaries & Priority Lists How to vocalize your boundaries so your friends know exactly when and how to show up for you.

• [09:12] The Red Flags vs. Green Flags Are you the only one pouring into the relationship? The crew breaks down one-sided dynamics and why a real friend respects your marriage and family boundaries.

• [12:06] Staying "In Alignment" Through Life's Seasons Navigating the shifts when some friends are single, some are married, and some are just going through a hard season.

• [14:29] How Do You Define a True Friend? Looking past proximity to find people who share your common goals, entrepreneurial mindsets, and personal growth paths.

• [18:40] Psychological Safety & Accountability If your friend can't look you in the eye and tell you that you're making a bad decision, are they really a good friend?

• [29:39] Healing the Strong Black Woman Dr. Jaquinda Jackson introduces her actionable workbook, discussing how trauma impacts the Black community, why Black women are facing high stress rates, and how to build a chosen community that heals.

• [38:44] Reconnecting and Overcoming Regret Kervin shares a personal story about a spontaneous road trip to Georgia to reconnect with an old friend, proving that true friendships shouldn't be complicated.

• [41:53] Main Takeaways & Closing Out The final gems: Choose your friends, protect your table, and remember that you have the power to create your own chosen family.

  🌟 Key Gems from the Episode

  "Be careful who you let sit at your table, because not everybody deserve a seat." — Terance Dawkins

  "Your friendships are the people that you have the opportunity to not think about how you was brought up, not think about your blood, but you can be intentional about who you allow to be able to create that safe space with." — Sharika Anderson

• Dr. Jaquinda Jackson: Follow her on TikTok and all social platforms @DrJaquindaJackson for amazing mental health content, and check out her book Healing the Strong Black Woman.

• Speaking with Gravity: Subscribe on all major podcast platforms and follow us on social media at @speakingwithgravity. Check the show notes for individual contact info!

Don't forget to Like, Share, and Subscribe! Drop a comment below: Based on this month, are you getting a promotion or a PIP in your friendships? 👇🏾🔥