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S2.E16. Black Pride - Extending The Black Liberation Movement To Include Our LGBTQ+ Family
Amerikan Therapy
07/01/20 • 58 min
June is Pride Month and while we can't celebrate like want to due to the pandemic, we can continue having amazing and thought-provoking discussions. The Amerikan Therapy team sits down with two powerhouses in the black LGBTQ+ advocacy space to talk about how the revolution and resistance this time around must openly embrace our queer family. We learn how Black LGBTQ+ advocates have always stood up for the liberation of black peoples everywhere, even when their own community may not have embraced them. The intercommunity discrimination against LGBTQ+ members of the black community is a nuance tail illustrating how systems of oppression function at all levels. This show illustrates the Amerikan Therapy team's dedication to continuing to grow our own understanding and definition of what black liberation looks like in all its forms.
Xaria James - LGBTQ+ Advocate:
Xaria James is a Hospitality Graduate of Johnson and Wales University and in 2020 became Certified in Executive Hospitality Management. She is a Transgender Professional and avid activistic. Her goals and ideals are to lead & inspire each and everyone around her in all positive facets of professional life and all-around well being. Xaria is a 2013 Cheer & Dance World Champion Recipient, a fitness enthusiast, and an all-around badass.
- National LGBTQ Task Force (Winter Party) Volunteer Relations Coordinator ' 2019 & 2020
- Pridelines, Colors Under The Rainbow Fundraiser’ 2020
- Key Note Speaker for FIU Transgender Day Of Remembrance ' Nov 2019
- Committee member of Miami Beach Pride' Dec'2019
David Johns - Executive Director of National Black Justice Coalition:
David J. Johns is known for his passion, public policy acumen, and fierce advocacy for youth. He is an enthusiast about equity—leveraging his time, talent, and treasures to address the needs of individuals and communities often neglected and ignored. A recognized thought leader and social justice champion, David’s career has focused on improving life outcomes and opportunities for Black people.
On September 1, 2017, David Johns began his next life chapter as the executive director of the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC)—a civil rights organization dedicated to the empowerment of Black lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) people, including people living with HIV/AIDS. NBJC’s mission is to end racism, homophobia, and LGBTQ bias and stigma.
In 2013, Johns was appointed as the first executive director of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans (Initiative) by President Barack H. Obama and served until the last day of the Obama Administration in January 2017. The Initiative worked across federal agencies and with partners and communities nationwide to produce a more effective continuum of education and workforce development programs for African American students of all ages. Under his leadership, the Initiative studied the experiences of students—leveraged a partnership with Johnson Publishing Company (EBONY Magazine) to produce a series of African American Educational Summits (AfAmEdSummits) at college campuses throughout the country, where the only experts who sat in front of the White House seal were students as young as elementary school. The recommendations that students made at AfAmEdSummits have been used to improve policies, programs, and practices, including curriculum, designed to ensure that students thrive—both in school and in life.
Prior to his White House appointment, Johns was a senior education policy advisor to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) under the leadership of U.S. Senator Tom Harkin (D-Iowa). Before working for the Senate HELP Committee, Johns served under the leadership of the late U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA). Joh
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S2.E15. Moving From Incarceration to Entrepreneurship; Amerikan Therapy Sits Down With The Georgetown Pivot Program
Amerikan Therapy
06/16/20 • 73 min
The Georgetown Pivot Program is a new, non-credit-bearing certificate in business and entrepreneurship created specifically for formerly incarcerated individuals. Designed in partnership with the DC Department of Employment Services and delivered by Georgetown faculty, the Pivot Program is a one-year transition and re-entry program centered on a blend of academic work and supported employment.
Pivot Program fellowships are full-time commitments. Approximately half of their time is spent in class and training at Georgetown’s downtown campus and the Georgetown Venture Lab at WeWork White House, and half in internships. At the end of the academic year, fellows choose between one of two transition phase tracks: incubation or employment. Those opting to create their own business are provided with a workspace, business coaching, legal support, and access to resources; those seeking permanent employment are placed in off-campus internships with local employers. For the duration of the program, Pivot Program Fellows receive a weekly internship stipend from the D.C. Department of Employment Services (DOES), providing a strong incentive to complete the program.
The principal goal is employment readiness – and the program is designed to prepare participants for a range of post-program outcomes: sustainable employment, owning and operating their own businesses, and/or continuing their education. The curriculum provides both training in the fundamentals of business and entrepreneurship, as well as general knowledge and liberal arts courses (literature, economics, philosophy, and civic engagement). The program also includes modules on professional and life skills, such as personal finance, career planning, business communications and business etiquette, public speaking, self-advocacy, and conflict resolution.
The emphasis on entrepreneurship is intentional – while fellows are not required to start a business, they are taught how to adopt and apply an entrepreneurial mindset and to feel a greater sense of empowerment. We believe this increased confidence will result in a more positive career trajectory and an enhanced ability to respond to social and regulatory barriers.
Link: https://pivot.georgetown.edu/
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S2.E14. Swirl Girl - Finding Identity As A Black Mixed Race Person In America w/ TaRessa Stovall
Amerikan Therapy
06/09/20 • 70 min
If you love the Amerikan Therapy Podcast send us a text and join us on the couch. Text us at +1 (202) 800-2355 and let us know what topics you want us to cover. Be ready because we might ask you to be a guest on the show.
The Amerikan Therapy team sits down with TaRessa Stovall, author of Swirl Girl a coming of age story of finding identity in America as a mixed-race person amidst rising racial tensions. TaRessa Stovall was born a Jazz Baby in Seattle, Washington. An author since the age of seven, she has written several poems, books, and plays on various topics, including racial identity. TaRessa is also an award-winning journalist and blogger whose works have been featured in USA Weekend, the Courier-Post, The Montclair Times, The Defenders Online, and several other platforms. TaRessa is the proud mother of a son and a daughter, both multi-talented writers, and creatives. She lives in Atlanta and stirs things up on social media.
Purchase Swirl Girl, by TaRessa Stovall: https://taressastovall.com/

S2.E13 Helping Our Children Express Their Feelings During The COVID-19 and Racial Violence Pandemic w/ Alexis Alton
Amerikan Therapy
06/03/20 • 42 min
If you love the Amerikan Therapy Podcast send us a text and join us on the couch. Text us at +1 (202) 800-2355 and let us know what topics you want us to cover. Be ready because we might ask you to be a guest on the show.
The Amerikan Therapy team sits down with Alexis Alton. Alexis has been working with children, adults, and families for more than 15 years to improve behaviors and relationships while educating and providing therapeutic support. Alexis’ journey began at West Chester University where she received a bachelor's degree in social work and then went on to further hone her skills at Howard University, earning a master's degree in social work. Her passion is to reach and help as many people learn to control their lives and focus on their life’s purpose. In 2018, she created an activity workbook, called "How I Can Control My Feelings In 30 Days" to teach young people self-control in a fun and creative way.
How I Can Control My Feelings In 30 Days (Available On Amazon): https://www.amazon.com/Therapeutic-Management-Discipline-Emotional-Intelligence/dp/0578597411

05/26/20 • 62 min
If you love the Amerikan Therapy Podcast send us a text and join us on the couch. Text us at +1 (202) 800-2355 and let us know what topics you want us to cover. Be ready because we might ask you to be a guest on the show.
The Amerikan Therapy team sits down with Gerald A Griggs, Esq. to discuss the most recent killings of unarmed black people in America, most notably Auhmed Aubrey and Breonna Taylor. These cases are two of so many unarmed black people who have been murdered at the hands of whites in the last 8 years since the brutal murder of Trayvon Martin in 2012.
Living while black has never seemed so dangerous for so many. The mere threat of calling the police on a black person in America is a life and death situation in most cases. Given the statistics and the heightened racial tension in the country, the team sits down with a brilliant legal scholar and litigator to understand where do we go from here. How do we take action to prevent these types of cases from happening in the future? What can every black person in America do to protect themselves and their family? What are our constitutional rights and what laws do we need to push our State and Federal legislatures to enact?
This interview is a masterclass on how to use the principles of Martin and Malcolm to demand justice and live free. This is truly a must listen to episode for all.

S2.E11. White Allies and Black Lives - Initiating The Conversation On White Supremacy With White America
Amerikan Therapy
05/18/20 • 59 min
If you love the Amerikan Therapy Podcast send us a text and join us on the couch. Text us at +1 (202) 800-2355 and let us know what topics you want us to cover. Be ready because we might ask you to be a guest on the show.
The Amerikan Therapy team takes a brave new step and announces a major change in the show. While we will ALWAYS bring a uniquely black perspective, because that's just what we are, we have decided to expand our show to include "ALL" people. We are taking this important step because we see that our reach goes well outside of our own community and there is a need for our voices across the entirety of the mental health landscape. Knowing that we are bringing our brand of "Black Girl Magic" to help inspire healing for all peoples means we are going to go even "harder in the paint". That also means we are expanding the scope of our guests and topics. Now that said, America's persistent problem of racism will always be on our menu and at the forefront of our show. IF we can't speak about it and bring it out of the dark, then we certainly can't heal it.
So this week's episode of Amerikan Therapy brought some new "white" voices to our virtual therapist couch. We connected with two woke white women (they hate that term by the way) to discuss being a white ally for social and racial justice. We talk about Karen and them and even get into what white people can do to begin their own healing. This is the first of many cross-community conversations. We know it wasn't perfect, but we think we are all trying to find our way in this work. We recognize that these are very difficult conversations and appreciate you all as listeners and guests for continuing to ride hard for us.
Amanda Hambrick Ashcraft: A student of Anti-Racism and the works of BIPOC, the founder of Raising Imagination, a platform that encourages social change and civic engagement, and the Executive Minister of Justice and Movement Building at Middle Collegiate Church, an inclusive anti-Racist movement of love and justice in NYC. She's written and spoken about activism and raising three white kids on numerous platforms including CNN, the Wall Street Journal, Refinery29, SheKnows Media, Bust, the Revolutionary Love Conference, the Resistance Prays, and on the podcasts Parenting and Politics, Pray with Your Feet, and Existential. She and her husband Graham live in the East Village of Manhattan with their three children Zane (6) Levi (6) and Skyler (4).
http://raisingimagination.com/
Nicole Devereaux: After reading Ta-Nehisi Coates' "Between the World and Me" in 2017, Nicole realized that she had been complicit in white supremacist systems of oppression. Her Christian faith compelled her to begin an active anti-racism journey, where she strives to listen to, amplify, and financially support the wisdom from black, indigenous, and people of color communities while confronting racism in her own life. She is determined to make mistakes and show up anyway.

05/14/20 • 73 min
If you love the Amerikan Therapy Podcast send us a text and join us on the couch. Text us at +1 (202) 800-2355 and let us know what topics you want us to cover. Be ready because we might ask you to be a guest on the show.
The Amerikan Therapy did a special YouTube "LIVE" with the powerbrokers of the black maternal health movement. This show we brought in Stacey Stewart the CEO of March of Dimes (MOD) as our guest co-host. Stacey brought the fire and information along with our guest panelist. Get your pen and pad, and make yourself comfortable on our couch for some Amerikan Therapy.
Stacey Stewart - CEO of March of Dimes:
Stacey D. Stewart, President and CEO, joined March of Dimes as its fifth President on January 1, 2017. In this role, Stewart heads the organization leading the fight for the health of all moms and babies. She is responsible for all aspects of the organization's strategy, vision, and operations. Stewart came to March of Dimes from United Way Worldwide, where she held several positions, most recently serving as U.S. President of United Way, the nation's largest nonprofit organization. There she provided strategic direction for more than 1,000 local United Ways. Stewart was also responsible for United Way's national efforts in education, financial stability, and health as well as guiding efforts to enhance the brand and grow revenue. Stewart spearheaded the transformation of United Way from a pass-through fundraiser to a leading organization for local community impact. Prior to becoming U.S. President, Stewart served as Executive Vice President, Community Impact Leadership and Learning. In this role, Stewart developed global partnerships to advance community impact in more than 40 countries.
A business veteran, Stewart has also held a number of senior roles, including Chief Diversity Officer and Senior Vice President for the Office of Community and Charitable Giving at Fannie Mae, as well as President and Chief Executive Officer for the Fannie Mae Foundation. Additionally, Stewart has an extensive background in finance and investment banking, having served as Vice President for Pryor, McClendon, Counts & Co., and as a senior associate for Merrill Lynch, specializing in financings for state and local governments.
Stewart has a master's of business administration in finance from the University of Michigan and a bachelor of arts in economics from Georgetown University. She also holds honorary degrees from Trinity University, Morgan State University, Texas Southern University, Lincoln University, and Alabama A&M University. She currently serves on several boards nationally and in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.
Stewart is married to Jarvis C. Stewart, the Chairman and Managing Partner of I + R Media, LLC, a strategic communications firm based in Washington, D.C. The Stewarts have two children, Madeleine and Savannah.
Angela Doyinsola Aina - Interim CEO of Black Mamas Matter Alliance:
Angela Doyinsola Aina, MPH is the Interim Director of the Black Mamas Matter Alliance, where she works to convene Black Maternal Health professionals and community-based organizations to develop training, programs, quality improvement initiatives, research projects, and black feminist advocacy strategies to advance holistic maternity service provision, policy, and systems change in global public health. She has over 14 years of public health experience, working in different capacities on projects focused on: incorporating health equity strategies into reproductive and maternal health initiatives; strengthening strategic planning and community-based workforce development, and data collection.

05/11/20 • 30 min
If you love the Amerikan Therapy Podcast send us a text and join us on the couch. Text us at +1 (202) 800-2355 and let us know what topics you want us to cover. Be ready because we might ask you to be a guest on the show.
In this episode of Amerikan Therapy, the team sits down with psychologist Dr. Rheeda Walker to discuss her new book "THE UNAPOLOGETIC GUIDE TO BLACK MENTAL HEALTH". This groundbreaking work is an exploration of Black mental health in today’s world, the forces that have undermined mental health progress for African Americans, and what needs to happen for African Americans to heal psychological distress, find community, and undo years of stigma and marginalization in order to access effective mental health care.
This breakthrough book will help you:
- Recognize mental and emotional health problems
- Understand the myriad ways in which these problems impact overall health and quality of life and relationships
- Develop psychological tools to neutralize ongoing stressors and live more fully
- Navigate a mental health care system that is unequal
Pre-Order: https://www.rheedawalkerphd.com/book
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04/28/20 • 64 min
If you love the Amerikan Therapy Podcast send us a text and join us on the couch. Text us at +1 (202) 800-2355 and let us know what topics you want us to cover. Be ready because we might ask you to be a guest on the show.
Against doctors’ predictions, Charita Cole Brown has been living in bipolar I recovery for more than twenty-five years. The Amerikan Therapy team has a virtual sit down with Charita to understand how she defied the verdict given to her by doctors over 30 years ago regarding her Bipolar I diagnosis. Her life story and memoir represent an inspirational story of how tribe and self-acceptance have allowed Charita to live a full and impactful life while managing life with a serious mental disorder.
Charita Cole Brown was diagnosed with a severe form of bipolar disorder while finishing her final semester as an English major at Wesleyan University . Doctors predicted she would never lead a “normal” life. Despite that pessimistic prognosis and because she sought treatment, Charita went on to marry, raise a family, earn a master's degree in teaching and enjoy a fulfilling career in education. Her powerful story is chronicled in her award-winning debut book, Defying the Verdict: My Bipolar Life (Curbside Splendor Publishing, 2018).
Bipolar disorder (formerly known as manic depression) is highly treatable. However, of the estimated 5.7 million Americans living with the disorder, over 50% won't seek treatment. The fact that the US suicide rate for people who have bipolar disorder is 12 times higher than that of the general population is even more sobering.
Charita Cole Brown earned a BA in English from Wesleyan University and an MAT in Early Childhood Education from Towson University in Maryland. A retired educator, she is now a member of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Maryland Board of Directors and is also active in the local affiliate, NAMI Metropolitan Baltimore.
Brown’s mission is to help cure mental healthcare stigma by sharing her story. She has given keynote presentations for the Morgan State University Psychology Department and the Alpha Phi Sigma Criminal Justice Honor Society.
Besides her active involvement in mental health education, she currently manages assisted living style care for her elderly parents and serves on the Baltimore City Women's Commission.
To learn more about Charita Cole Brown and Defying the Verdict: My Bipolar Life, visit www.charitacolebrown.com
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S2.E17. Black and Blue - What Black Cops Need The Community To Know During This Time Of Social Unrest
Amerikan Therapy
07/06/20 • 81 min
Amerikan Therapy sits down with three black male police officers from around the country to understand what their experiences are like in this new social climate. We ask the tough questions regarding seemingly unending cases of unarmed black people being murdered by the police and those acting in a policing capacity. We don't hold back and neither do these black police officers. This episode will have you on the edge of your seat and ready to jump on the Amerikan Therapy virtual couch to weigh in. Get ready to hear both sides of a very tough debate on policing in America.
Keenon M. James serves as Deputy Director for the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) where he oversees the organization’s mission to enact and impart fairness in policing and the criminal justice system. Mr. James combines over 15 years of experience and expertise in criminal justice research, public safety policy, and community engagement to address the pressing issues related to community-police relations, civil rights, and the integrity of policing. Prior to joining the leadership team at NOBLE, Mr. James led the team at the US Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services Collaborative Reform Initiative which engaged communities and police departments following high profile officer use-of-force incidents including Ferguson, Missouri (Michael Brown), St. Anthony, Minnesota (Philando Castile), North Charleston, South Carolina (Walter Scott), and San Francisco, California (Mario Woods). A graduate of North Carolina Central University, in addition to numerous service awards from local and federal law enforcement agencies, Keenon James has received honors from his alma mater for Excellence in Law Enforcement and the university’s 40 Under 40 alumni award.
Taj Beaufort was born in 1986 in Newark, New Jersey. He completed college with a degree in Public Administration from Virginia State University. Post-college, Taj became a Deputy Sheriff with the Loudoun County Sheriffs Office in the Corrections Division. After serving Loudoun County for three years, Taj transferred to Fairfax County Police Department where he spent seven years doing patrol work and numerous plainclothes assignments. Taj is currently serving as a Detective in the Personnel Division which handles recruiting, background investigations, physical abilities, testing, and more.
Bo Braxton is a husband and a father of two going into his 10th year as a Law Enforcement Officer. Bo has been featured on ABC’s Channel 7 News with Nancy Chen, highlighting Public Safety Personnel who make positive impacts on their community outside of their normal work duties. Bo was recognized for his work as a mentor to at-risk youth in Southeast DC. Most recently, Bo has been working closely with community outreach officers throughout Fairfax county in order to create greater community engagement. Bo's goal is to continue to assist with bridging the gap between police officers and the communities they serve. His passion is motivating young like-minded individuals to consider a career in law enforcement in order to continue to drive positive change.
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The episode title 'S2.E16. Black Pride - Extending The Black Liberation Movement To Include Our LGBTQ+ Family' is the most popular.
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