Season 3 Trailer

Website: https://dralfiee.com

Find out more about the AAKOMA Project here:

Season 3 Produced By: https://socialchameleon.us

More Couched in Color: https://dralfiee.com/podcast

Music Produced by: Mark “King” Batson (Super Producer of your favorite artists and Grammy award-winner for albums with Eminem and Beyoncé)

enNovember 24, 2022

S3E15: Expanding the Narrative for Black Men Featuring Shaka Senghor

In this episode, guest Shaka Senghor shares his inspiring story from incarceration to becoming a two times bestselling author, influencer and one of Oprah’s “SuperSoul 100” – teaching lessons of redemption and vulnerability to the masses.

He grew up spending 19 years in prison, seven of them in solitary confinement. Through reflection and writing, he later came to understand his story of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). At age 17, he was shot multiple times, and also has two brothers who were shot, one of whom ended up paralyzed.

At the same time, he takes full responsibility for the death of another, which sent him to prison. Shaka is grateful for the many “incredible mentors” who believed in him, and offered suggested readings for moving forward.

Topics covered in this interview:

The reflective time in solitary confinement that helped him create his first bestseller, Writing My Wrongs, Life, Death, and Redemption in an American Prison
https://www.amazon.com/Writing-My-Wrongs-Redemption-American/dp/1101907312.
How being a father impacted his second book that just came out in January, 2022, Letters to the Sons of Society: A Father's Invitation to Love, Honesty, and Freedom
https://www.amazon.com/Letters-Sons-Society-Fathers-Invitation/dp/059323801X. Here is a review of that book by The Chicago Tribune: “If you want to peer into a heart, if you want a story of brokenness and healing and fury and redemption and humanity, if you want to envision a different, better way forward, Senghor’s letters are a beautiful place to begin.”
Changing the narrative for Black men, into worthiness, beyond being a provider and protector. Dr. Alfiee also noted research showing that Black men are the single most present ethnic group to their children even when they are the non-custodial parent.
Shaka being “an authentic survivor,” loved up by “brothers” who saw value in him in prison, and how he now mentors other “young brothers”--living what he talks about, and challenges them while winning.
Shaka shares three ways to instill a greater sense of self-love:
- Journaling, and start by asking: “How did I get here, to this point in life?”
- ”Meditate to get it straight,” which can be “horrifying” at first to sit with one’s self.
- Personal affirmations, to think into existence what you desire.
Running “a unicorn startup,” that went from $0 revenue to $7 billion valuation in 20 months, by helping build culture in corporations.
Closing words, his mantra, which he contributed to in the song “Composure” by Nas (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-gYa5dk-8M): “Keep your composure. And believe in the magic of who we are. 'Cause what you believe is everything. And what someone believes about you, is nothing. Keep your composure.”

About Shaka Senghor:

New York Times bestselling author, speaker and influencer; one of Oprah’s “SuperSoul 100”

Shaka Senghor is the Head of Sales and Success Culture at TripActions. He is also the President of Shaka Senghor, Inc., and Founder of Redeemed Sole.

His memoir, Writing My Wrongs: Life, Death and Redemption in an American Prison, debuted on The New York Times and The Washington Post Best Seller Lists. Shaka’s widely anticipated sophomore book, Letters to the Sons of Society, was released in January 2022.

Shaka is a former MIT Media Lab Director’s Fellow and a former Fellow in the inaugural class of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s Community Leadership Network. His 2014 TED Talk was featured in their “Year in Ideas” roundup and has over 1.7 million views. In 2021, he was featured on the Nas track Composure.

Shaka is the recipient of numerous awards, including the 2012 Black Male Engagement (BME) Leadership Award, the 2015 Manchester University Innovator of the Year Award, the 2016 FORD Man of Courage Award, and the 2016 NAACP Great Expectations Award. He was recognized by OWN (the Oprah Winfrey Network) as a “Soul Igniter” in the inaugural class of the SuperSoul 100. He has taught at the University of Michigan and shares his story of redemption around the world.

Today, Shaka’s priority is shifting societal narratives through storytelling and developing workshops with high entertainment value and deep social impact.

Follow Shaka:

Website: https://www.shakasenghor.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaka-senghor-3b869934/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/shakasenghor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shakasenghor/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/ShakaSenghor

Follow Dr. Alfiee:

Website: https://dralfiee.com

Website: https://dralfiee.com

Find out more about the AAKOMA Project here:

Season 3 Produced By: https://socialchameleon.us

More Couched in Color: https://dralfiee.com/podcast

Music Produced by: Mark “King” Batson (Super Producer of your favorite artists and Grammy award-winner for albums with Eminem and Beyoncé)

enNovember 03, 2022

S3E14: Building Bridges Featuring Kheira Bekkadja

In this episode, guest Kheira Bekkadja, a Muslim Algerian American college student making an impact in mental health, inspires listeners with her insights on grounding in self-care and positive affirmations.

As an example, she shares the Muslim practice of praying five times, at set times during the day, as challenging as it can be to stay persistent. There are movements that go with the prayer, including putting the forehead on the floor, which helps release negative energy and connect with God. “My faith is what rejuvenates me,” Kheira says.

Surrounding oneself with good people is another way she recommends staying grounded.

Topics covered in this interview:

Kheira juggles being a college student, majoring in civil engineering, and doing mental health advocacy work. The importance of finding ways to “fill your cup” as it’s very easy to get burned out and saturated working in mental health.
The ways she builds bridges structurally (through civil engineering) and by de-stigmatizing mental health.
Kheira’s selection for, and later participation in, the MTV Youth Action Forum sponsored by the Biden-Harris administration. The goal of the Forum is to “share and tell everyone healing is within you.”
She continues working on creating culturally relevant campaigns for MTV.
She and Dr. Alfiee both share poignant moments of what it was like to be at the White House that day, when the Forum came together, and meeting the president and his wife, and being in the nation’s capital.
Kheira’s desire to be a role model, especially after not seeing herself fully reflected back with other Muslim Algerian Americans in the audience- as beautifully diverse and culturally rich as it was.
She shares many inspiring quotes of self-talk and how she empowers herself, and listens to others with empathy versus judgment.

About Kheira Bekkadja:

Kheira Bekkadja is a second-year student at George Mason University, working to build bridges [literally] by studying civil & infrastructure engineering and [figuratively] de-stigmatizing mental health and youth empowerment.

Through her experiences as being a Muslim Algerian American Woman, Kheira worked alongside Our Minds Matter (OMM) which has enabled her with the courage to openly speak up about her challenges in hopes of inspiring others to be the healthiest versions of themselves. She has also had the chance to share her story at Harvard University’s National Muslim Women’s Summit 2020, The Global Health Leaders Conference at Johns Hopkins University, and advocate with VOICE-IAF, This is My Brave, and Promote Care Prevent Harm. This past May, Kheira had the incredible and life-changing opportunity to be selected as one of the mental health youth action forum participants where she and the #HiddenHealers team are working to cultivate creative mental health campaigns to help inspire culturally-relevant healing and action. Kheira finds great joy in making others smile and helping them to believe in their best selves!

Follow Kheira:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kheirabekkadja/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kheirabekkadja/

Follow Dr. Alfiee:

Website: https://dralfiee.com

Website: https://dralfiee.com

Find out more about the AAKOMA Project here:

Season 3 Produced By: https://socialchameleon.us

More Couched in Color: https://dralfiee.com/podcast

Music Produced by: Mark “King” Batson (Superproducer of your favorite artists and Grammy award-winner for albums with Eminem and Beyoncé)

enOctober 27, 2022

S3E13: Spreading Hope Through Content Creation Featuring Gigi Robinson

In this episode, 24-year-old guest Gigi Robinson, a master content creator, graduate student and model, shares insights for living with chronic illness and addressing mental health issues, inspired to use her story to move the masses through her highly successful social media channels.

She calls the Internet “an oyster” for Gen Zers to see beyond the corporate world and live their dreams, based on their unique passions and dreams.

Topics covered in this interview:

Sharing the vulnerabilities that come with chronic illness and mental health issues to help others (and letting go of the stigmas related to getting therapy).
Gen Z opportunities to create new careers for themselves on the Internet, as guest Gigi did, with an average of 100K TikTok views daily. The Internet has become “a game changer” for work and also for sharing chronic illness and mental health challenges.
The “Elder Millennial” as described by Stand-Up Comedian Iliza Shelsinger on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWsJPr3ML4M and her related Netflix Show: https://www.netflix.com/title/802136582.
The burnout that comes from being an influencer, and “saying yes to everything.”
Gigi’s contract with Spotify for “Everything you need is within” podcast (link below at end), which is Gigi’s mantra.
Gigi’s selection for consideration as a model for the first “chronically ill” person to be represented in Sports Illustrated’s swimsuit edition–as a 5’4” inch, 165-pound model of “empowerment.”
Brands heavily female-dominated giving “everyone a seat at the table.”
Struggle through college is “very normal”–mental health and weight will fluctuate, with this time period being the first time many are on their own. Know where to look for help, follow influencers and mental health resources.

About Gigi Robinson:

Gigi Robinson is a digital artist, health & wellness advocate, current M.S. Candidate, and graduate of the University of Southern California with a Bachelors in Fine Arts, Design, and Photography. She has strong presences across TikTok (100k views on average)and Instagram (15.5k+ followers), and, as of this year, she has been developing her YouTube and Podcast content.

Living with chronic illnesses, she has been challenged in many ways with everyday tasks, such as showering, cooking, walking, and even sitting down. Despite all of the physical and psychological challenges that threatened the path to becoming who she is today, she has challenged adversity and dedicated a majority of her life to become a master content creator, always keeping her values of creating positive and impactful messages to her diverse audience as a priority.

Follow Gigi:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsgigirobinson/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@itsgigirobinson

Twitter: https://twitter.com/itsgigirobinson

Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/everything-you-need-is-within/id1584177000

Follow Dr. Alfiee:

Website: https://dralfiee.com

Website: https://dralfiee.com

Find out more about the AAKOMA Project here:

Season 3 Produced By: https://socialchameleon.us

More Couched in Color: https://dralfiee.com/podcast

Music Produced by: Mark “King” Batson (Superproducer of your favorite artists and Grammy award-winner for albums with Eminem and Beyoncé)

enOctober 20, 2022

S3E12: When You Hear Me, You Hear Us Featuring Brooke Simpson

In this episode, singer-songwriter Brooke Simpson, who just made her Broadway debut in the revival of 1776, shares the impact her culture as an Indigenous woman has had on her creativity.

From her early days dressing and dancing for her tribe’s “pow wow” ceremonies, she learned “to bleed creativity” into the foundation of who she is today.

She has been a finalist for both The Voice and America’s Got Talent, and she also represents Nike's N7 campaign for Indigenous youth, supporting their mental health by promoting movement. Brooke sees her style of movement as being on stage singing, and her message in the campaign is “When you hear me, you hear us.” She loves shining her light as an example for other Indigenous people, to see someone who looks like themselves successfully performing.

Topics covered in this interview:

–Brooke “camouflaging” herself as one of five people of color growing up to fit in, while in school.

–The power of her culture and community –from the trauma many moved through that is still “in the bones”–to their strength, resilience, passion and heart that manifests in her life in a different way today.

–Her regret at not trying out to be “princess” in her tribe.

–When performance anxiety shows up, Brooke remembers that she is a model for the next generation to look up to, so they know there is a space for them to succeed as well.

–Representing the Nike N7 campaign and changing the slogan for the song she sings. She got introduced to Nike from Taboo of The Black Eyed Peas, who is also Indigenous.

–Getting the part portraying Sir Roger Sherman in the revival of the Broadway musical 1776, which was like moving from “black and white to color, opening a whole new world of possibilities for creative sparkle.”

–A poignant moment when she shares the piece of clothing she wears in the musical that belonged to her father, and was created by a cousin at age 12.

–The excitement, fun, and power of being part of a racially diverse cast.

About Brooke Simpson
Singer-songwriter, actor, creative, dancer and actor

From recording her first song at the age of two years old to charting Top 10 in the iTunes and Billboard charts, Brooke Simpson is no stranger to music. She is a powerhouse vocalist who is passionate about music, people and her culture. Brooke is a full blooded Native American and is a member of the Haliwa Saponi Tribe of North Carolina.

Brooke has had the opportunity to work with artists such as Miley Cyrus, Sia, Taboo (of The Black Eyed Peas), Bishop Briggs, Allen Stone and more. She also was a Top 3 finalist on Season 13 of NBC’s The Voice and even more recently was a Top 4 finalist on Season 16 of America’s Got Talent, where Simon Cowell compared her vocals to legendary singers Kelly Clarkson and Fantasia!

While touring, writing, and recording her upcoming album, Brooke has released multiple singles including "Little Bit Crazy", "Stick Like Honey", and her newest release, "Haliwa." Brooke, as well as her new single, were recently featured in a global Nike7 campaign for Indigenous youth. https://www.nike.com/n7-native-american-indigenous-heritage.

Brooke is now in the midst of making her Broadway debut in the revival of the Tony Award-winning musical 1776, directed by Diane Paulus and Jeffrey Page.

Follow Brooke:

Website: https://brookesimpsonmusic.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brookesimpsonofficial

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/brookesimpsonofficial/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/brookesimpson

Follow Dr. Alfiee:

Website: https://dralfiee.com

Website: https://dralfiee.com

Find out more about the AAKOMA Project here:

Season 3 Produced By: https://socialchameleon.us

More Couched in Color: https://dralfiee.com/podcast

Music Produced by: Mark “King” Batson (Superproducer of your favorite artists and Grammy award-winner for albums with Eminem and Beyoncé)

enOctober 13, 2022

S3E11: Creating the Right Parenting Mindset Featuring Dr. Ann-Louise T. Lockhart

Couched In Color | Season 3 | Episode 11

In this episode, guest Dr. Ann-Louise Lockhart, a pediatric psychologist, parent coach and widely followed social media expert, shares profound insights on ways to create a healthy mindset that takes the blame off the child. This mindset empowers parents and primary caregivers.

Many parents come to the role without a plan, based on what they saw growing up, not understanding that it is normal to experience both positive and negative sides to parenting. “If I knew parenting was going to be this hard, I wouldn’t have signed up for it,” is one of the most common phrases she hears.

With compassion, and her own understanding as a mother of a 9- and 12-year-old, she talks openingly about her own parenting journey..

Raised as “an Island girl,” by a single mom in St. Croix, in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Dr. Lockhart grew up in a culture where you did not talk about your feelings or problems, and “everything was swept under the rug.” In later life, she was drawn to psychology after witnessing disadvantaged groups and seeing they needed help.

She has a passion for intervening with children at an early age, which can have a huge impact.

Topics covered in this interview:

–The power of social media in allowing Dr. Lockhart to educate and inform in direct and real ways, versus all the “overprocessing” sometimes done in mental health. Here is an example of a recent Instagram post: “Five ways to restore your relationship with your tween/teen.”

–The parents’ unmet needs are often the cause of their reactions, such as getting mad or yelling, not the child’s behavior, according to Dr. Lockhart.

--Parents should ask: “What is this behavior from a child triggering for me?”

–Overwhelmed parents need to have a goal. They can be on different pages with each other, but they need to be on the same team, so they can better understand their kids/teenagers.

–You can influence your child, but It’s not good or bad parenting that creates good or bad kids. “They are a separate being with a free will just like we are,” she says.

–Two takeaways that parents of teenagers need to hear:

Teenagers often feel misunderstood. Helping them feel understood opens doors “to a lot of personal stuff” they normally wouldn't tell the parent.

Don’t take their behavior personally.

–The importance of mindset. All expectations of children–about why they’re supposed to obey, or stay in bed, when they are supposed to potty train, what kinds of grades they're supposed to get, and how athletic they are–are all mindset.

–Being “thoughtful, mindful and vigilant” as a parent is important, according to Dr. Alfiee.

–It’s often the parents who need to be educated, not the kids who need “to be fixed.” Parents sometimes use the child as a shield for their own issues, afraid of the stigma around mental health to seek help for themselves.

About Dr. Ann-Louise T. Lockhart, PsyD, ABPP:

Dr. Ann-Louise Lockhart is president and owner of A New Day Pediatric Psychology in San Antonio, TX. She is a pediatric psychologist, parent coach, wife of 23 years, a mom of two kids and has more than 16 years of experience in her field.

She serves as a parent coach for those who have kids and teens with behavioral and emotional regulation concerns, or been diagnosed with ADHD and anxiety, or who are highly sensitive.

Dr. Lockhart has spoken nationally at schools, conferences, online podcasts, summits, and corporate workshops for topics about ADHD, anxiety, executive functioning, emotional dysregulation, and racism.

She has been interviewed and quoted in multiple online and print publications, including ABC News, the New York Times, New York Post, Pure Wow, MSN, Fatherly, Essence, HuffPost, San Antonio Magazine, Veronica Beard, Parents Magazine, and Therapy for Black Girls podcast. She is a freelance writer for PBS Kids for Parents, PureWow, and a contributor for The Gottman Institute and 4Moms.

Dr. Lockhart also serves as a board member for the Verywell Review Board and Dadditude.

Follow Dr. Ann-Louise Lockhart:

Website: https://www.anewdaysa.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.annlouise.lockhart/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dr.annlouise.lockhart

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlockhart/

Follow Dr. Alfiee:

Website: https://dralfiee.com

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dralfiee

2Website: https://dralfiee.com

Find out more about the AAKOMA Project here:

Season 3 Produced By: https://socialchameleon.us

More Couched in Color: https://dralfiee.com/podcast

Music Produced by: Mark “King” Batson (Superproducer of your favorite artists and Grammy award-winner for albums with Eminem and Beyoncé)

https://www.amazon.com/How-Sneakers-Saved-Life-Entrepreneurial/dp/1777524504

enOctober 06, 2022

S3E10: How Sneakers Saved and Ruined My Life Featuring Trent Out Loud

In this episode, guest Trent Out Loud, founder and CEO of Exclucity, a multi-million-dollar footwear and apparel company, shares his story of seeking therapy after losing $2.3 million dollars in his sneakers’ business.

That loss came when he forgot to tend to his own mental health during the ups and downs of his business, including the shifts occurring in the sneaker industry. As a result, he said started making wrong decisions.

His therapist helped him deal with issues related to hypomania, mania and bipolar, and trained his brain to work in ways that benefited him. He continues to go to therapy weekly, as an act of self-care, and teaches others--particularly Black men and youth--about the ways it is transformative and empowering to get mental health support.

Trent is also an author of two books, How Sneakers Saved My Life and How Sneakers Ruined My Life, (links at bottom of show notes), a youth mentor and a mental health advocate. The books are written in language, with hashtags, geared to pre-teens and young adults. He has a third book In the works about “how the quarantine saved my life” that he completed in 1.5 months.

Growing up a “delinquent kid,” who left home at age 17 feeling lost, “which gets you into trouble,” Trent says he always knew he wanted to be successful. He had five failed businesses before creating Exclucity, with its first brick and mortar site in the basement of a tattoo parlor. When the pandemic hit, he transformed his business into an online store, resulting in the business recently having its most profitable years ever.

Topics covered in this interview:

—Trent’s West Indian background and growing up in Canada, where only 3 percent of the population is Black versus 12 to 13 percent in the United States.

—Trent’s journey from start-up to successful business owner, now celebrating his company’s 15th year anniversary.

—Ways he self-medicated (through drinking alcohol which he later learned is a depressant), before accepting and appreciating help.

—Why Trent chose cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) for his approach to healing.

—Some like CBT, which focuses on the problem, the behavior, the emotions, and the solution. Others may prefer different approaches such as psychodynamic therapy, which focuses on the psychological roots of emotional suffering.

—The importance of choosing the right therapist and asking that professional to share what approach he or she uses and see if it aligns with your needs.

—The freedom of the entrepreneurial life, with both Trent and Dr. Alfiee sharing the joys it brings them to fully express themselves.

—The power of using video podcasts, which Dr. Alfiee likes because “you can’t hear what people look like on audio.” Seeing others who look like themselves on camera is important role modeling.

—Dr. Alfiee acknowledges Trent’s “persistence and courage” in continuing his commitment to therapy.

—She also praises him for the ways he mentors youth on mental health issues, helping them see they are no different than someone as accomplished as Trent who has struggled.

—The importance of any entrepreneur having someone, whether he or she be a therapist or life coach, to check in with weekly, monthly, or as often as needed.

ABOUT TRENT OUT LOUD:

Founder and CEO of Exclucity

Trent Out Loud’s multi-million-dollar footwear and apparel business, Exclucity, laid the groundwork for sneaker culture in Canada. His autobiographical debut as an author, How Sneakers Saved My Life: Book 1 and How Sneakers Ruined My Life: Book 2, gives you an up close and personal look at the man behind the brand.

A child of Jamaican immigrants, Trent Out Loud went from being on welfare to CEO of one of the most successful brands in Canadian history. From selling Long Tees and Du-rags out of the trunk of a car to ten store fronts that have employed more than 800 people, people were curious how he achieved such success.

Today, he shares his “unfiltered truth” beyond just money and success. He talks openly about the toll it can take on your soul to reach these new levels, while also inspiring us with his story of innovation, creativity, resilience, self- discovery, wins, losses and love for culture and community.

Trent is the recipient of the he 2022 RBC Royal Bank Young Entrepreneur x BBPA Harry Jerome Award: .https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyP1uLffBJQ

Follow Trent Out Loud:

Website: https://www.trentoutloud.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trentoutloud

Twitter: https://twitter.com/trentoutloud

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/discover/Trent-carter

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trent-out-loud-6b4746234/

Business site for Exclucity: https://shop.exclucitylife.com/

Business Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/exclucity

Book links:

(Book one—which is about how sneakers saved his life)

(Book two—which is about how sneakers ruined his life) https://www.amazon.com/How-Sneakers-Ruined-Life-Entrepreneurial/dp/1777524512

Follow Dr. Alfiee:

Website: https://dralfiee.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dralfiee

Twitter: https://twitter.com/dralfiee

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dralfiee/

Website: https://dralfiee.com`````

Find out more about the AAKOMA Project here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvTKmYKi24I

Season 3 Produced By: https://socialchameleon.us

More Couched in Color: https://dralfiee.com/podcast

Music Produced by: Mark “King” Batson (Superproducer of your favorite artists and Grammy award-winner for albums with Eminem and Beyoncé)

(https://www.mentalhealthishealth.us/youth-action-forum/)

enSeptember 29, 2022

S3E9: Mental Health Advocate, Mom, Veteran, Latina: A Hidden Healer Featuring Ayanna Kelly

In this episode, guest Ayanna Kelly, an Afro-Latina advocate, disabled veteran and mom, shares an inside look at her mental health journey from burnout to standing at the White House as a leader of the Mental Health Youth Action Forum.

That forum, which took place in May 2022, was created in partnership with MTV Entertainment Group and coordination with the Biden-Harris Administration.

In a “surreal” moment, Ayanna found herself standing next to President Joe Biden and U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy, and other highly accomplished people. She saw herself as a model of “being that one person that other people can see themselves in.”

Before reaching such a significant milestone, Ayanna had been known for speaking of mental health challenges of intergenerational issues and the additional pressures of being an Afro-Latina woman, where sometimes it felt like “there was no space for me.”

Topics covered in this interview:

–Breaking away from being an enabler to regaining mental health, Ayanna talks of learning to make herself a priority.

–Often asked to speak of dealing with children’s mental health, she shares a poignant story of teaching her son to express the range of all his feelings. She talks of “letting the light shine in all the dark places.”

–Dr. Alfiee recommends Happy to Be Nappy, a great book for teaching self-concept and self-image to children through the eyes of a young brown child:
(https://www.amazon.com/Happy-Be-Nappy-Board-Book/dp/1484788419)

–Commended by Dr. Alfiee for her “openness, vulnerability and perseverance,” Ayanna shares challenges with postpartum depression after her daughter was born, when she didn’t want to get out of bed or even shower.

–The power of learning from others is detailed, including “The Hidden Healers,” which is a group of advocates dedicated to providing accessible mental health resources for communities of color and other marginalized groups. Some teach culturally relevant mental health concepts, from praying five times a day, as shared by two Muslim women, to volunteering.

–Ayanna explains the way poderistas (Latinas) help. She is an active Poderistas Power Squad member where she helps uplift the Latina community through civic engagement, social justice initiatives, and mental health roundtables.

–The launch of Ayanna’s new podcast, “Sazonycorazan,”is revealed, where people share stories from real life, and what they learned from others, including the Hidden Healers’ group. The title means: “Seasoning in Heart.” She discloses her wish list of dream guests, the top one being Dr. Brené Brown.

About Ayanna Kelly:

Ayanna (she/her/ella) is a proud Afro-Latina residing in the DMV area with her family where she earned her master's degree in Human Resource Management after serving eight years in the military.

Ayanna is an advocate for DEIBA (Diversity, Equity, Inclusivity, Belonging, and Accessibility) )and mental well-being for people in the workplace. She uses her lived experiences as an Afro-Latina, mother, and disabled veteran to breathe life into her HR, DEIBA, and advocacy work. She teaches organizations how to create psychologically safe workplaces that foster belonging.

Ayanna is an MTV Mental Health Youth Action Forum leader where she curated mental health campaigns to address the inequities which limit BIPOC youth from accessing mental health services.

Ayanna truly believes in the inter-connectivity of mental health, anti-racist practices, and true belonging in the workplace and in society.

In her spare time, you'll catch her at the soccer field with her first born, tending to her houseplants, walking her dogs, and reading as many books as possible. Words to live by:

"You can't get to courage without rumbling with vulnerability." - Dr. Brené Brown

Follow Ayanna Kelly:

Website: https://www.ayannaskelly.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ayannakelly/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ayannakelly/

Podcast: “Sazonycorazon” with Ayanna Kelly

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/saz%C3%B3n-y-coraz%C3%B3n/id1630800362

https://open.spotify.com/show/6VCC10D8JyZQjcdXGTPObG

Follow Dr. Alfiee:

Website: https://dralfiee.com

Website: https://dralfiee.com

Find out more about the AAKOMA Project here:

Season 3 Produced By: https://socialchameleon.us

More Couched in Color: https://dralfiee.com/podcast

Music Produced by: Mark “King” Batson (Superproducer of your favorite artists and Grammy award-winner for albums with Eminem and Beyoncé)

https://www.today.com/mind-matters

enSeptember 22, 2022

S3E8: Carson Daly Feels Your Pain: A Special Conversation on Couched in Color

In this episode, Carson Daly, co-host of “The Today Show” and creator of its “Mind Matters” digital series, and producer/host of Emmy-award winning “The Voice”, openly shares his mental health struggles.

He discusses the trauma of losing his father unexpectedly at age 5 and the subsequent night terrors he experienced.

Later diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder, Carson believes environment alone is not the cause of his mental health challenges. Rather, he sees them as a combination of both “nature and nurture.”

Using his story to help others, Carson is passionate that all segments of the population be represented in getting the right help.

He especially likes sharing stories, what he calls “mini movies,” in his Mind Matters series showcasing people from all walks of life–from a veteran with PTSD (post traumatic stress syndrome) who is now making bracelets, to a homeless couple.

Dr. Alfiee also was moved by his story of a superstar Peloton bike instructor who was steps away from taking her life before her mother intuitively felt something was off. She checked her daughter’s phone, which ended up stopping her from jumping when the light kept popping up.

Topics covered in this interview:

–The role of faith in dealing with mental health challenges, and Carson’s belief “God made me this way.”

–The “niche business” of mental health over the spectrum so each segment is represented according to their needs. Carson cites that Latino teens, for example, are at the highest risk for suicide in their age group.

–Carson’s ongoing struggles with generalized anxiety disorder and panic attacks, including the time he wanted to run off the stage of “The Voice” when struck by one of these moments of suddenly feeling terror: https://www.today.com/health/mind-body/carson-daly-panic-anxiety-voice-rcna32140

–His involvement as a board member of Project Healthy Minds (check out #CouchedInColor S3E7 for Dr. Alfiee’s interview with Phillip Schermer, founder and CEO of Project Healthy Minds) which focuses on:

Breaking the stigma of mental health.
Helping corporations take a “deep dive” and offer mental health services to their employees.
Creating a tool to find tailor-made help as everyone’s mental health needs are different.

–The message Carson has for young people struggling with mental health issues is for them to know that they are not alone, that they are OK. Carson sees himself as an example of humbling himself to share his struggles.

–His passion for connecting with “real people,” which he calls his “Red Carpet,” not the more glamorized celebrity version. He loves “meeting everyday human beings who struggle, or don’t, and have a shared experience of the truth.”

About Carson Daly:

Carson Daly is a popular and well-loved American television host, radio personality, producer, and television personality. Prior to 2003, Daly was a VJ (video jockey) on MTV's Total Request Live (TRL), and a DJ for the Southern California-based radio station 106.7 KROQ-FM. He has won multiple Emmys, PGA and OFTA awards for the music show, “The Voice,” where he has served as producer and host.

He is also co-Host of “The Today Show” and creator of its “Mind Matters” digital series, sharing powerful mental health stories of everyday people and how they cope:
https://www.today.com/carson-daly

On the personal front, Carson is a champion of mental health and cancer awareness. He lost his father to cancer when he was five-years-old and his mother was a breast cancer survivor. He is vocal and actively works towards causes in which he believes.He serves on the Board of Directors for Project Healthy Minds:
https://app.projecthealthyminds.com/

https://www.projecthealthyminds.com/

A doting dad and loving husband, Carson is constantly seen surrounded by his loving family. He has big plans for the future and does not shy away from putting in the hard work, seeing himself as serving God’s will.

Follow Carson:

https://www.instagram.com/carsondaly

Follow Dr. Alfiee:

Website: https://dralfiee.com

Website: https://dralfiee.com

Find out more about the AAKOMA Project here:

Season 3 Produced By: https://socialchameleon.us

More Couched in Color: https://dralfiee.com/podcast

Music Produced by: Mark “King” Batson (Superproducer of your favorite artists and Grammy award-winner for albums with Eminem and Beyoncé)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kb24RrHIbFk

enSeptember 15, 2022

S3E7: Phillip Schermer’s Mastermind Approach to Mental Health for the Masses

In this inspiring episode Dr. Alfiee interviews guest Phillip Schermer, founder and CEO of Project Healthy Minds, a non-profit created for a new era of mental wellness.

Phillip, who was previously a Vice President & Chief of Staff to the Vice Chairman at BlackRock, the world's largest asset management firm, was so moved by the story of Logic, a rapper and record producer, he started the non-profit to more impactfully bring together mental health resources.

Logic shed light on mental health challenges by writing a song with the phone number of the

US National Suicide Prevention Lifeline as its title. Called 1-800-273-8255, the song has dramatically increased calls for help and been known to save lives:

With 65 million people in the U.S. alone dealing with mental health challenges, Phillip is focusing on three primary drivers:

1. The stigma.

Where to get help.
Lack of access to mental health resources.

TOPICS COVERED IN THIS INTERVIEW:

–Bi-racial struggles with having a sense of identity.

–”Generational loneliness.”

–Applying to mental health an “aggregate model on scale” (like Expedia, OpenTable and other companies do) by creating one place on the Internet for all mental health services to be part of a hub.

–Even the smartest and most savvy people have difficulty finding what they are looking for, Phillip explains. And, others don’t know the difference between a therapist, a psychologist and a psychiatrist.

–His goal also is to fill in the gaps, with data showing where there is a mismatch between demand and supply.

–COVID has escalated the mental health crisis significantly, with one out of four 18 to 24 years olds having seriously considered suicide. COVID also has brought to the surface mental health issues that have been overlooked for a long time.

–Mental health is now on “the same glide” as climate change has been for the past decade.

–”We have to prove that employee mental health is material to the long-term financial performance of corporations,” Phillip says. Project Healthy Minds partners with some companies, and targets those who have CEOS and members on the leadership team who make mental health a priority, and who can be vulnerable about their own challenges.

Phillip says an ideal partner would be Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, who in 2014 courageously became the first chief executive of a Fortune 500 company to publicly come out as gay.

–The shift from a manual labor economy, where physical strength was important, to a knowledge-based economy means we need workers who are mentally strong and resilient now.

Dr. Alfiee: “I love the imagery and idea that we have to take care of people because the economy is shifting and we want to be able to move in the direction that this economy is going.”

Phillip shares three observations since starting Project Healthy Minds:

How people hide from full view who they are, and the trauma and pain they have encountered. And, when high profile people like Logic share their mental health journeys, it reveals “the shared humanity we all have.”
The shocking stigma around mental health that is also harmful and discriminatory.
The hope of younger people from Gen X and millennials who have a different view of mental health and its priority.

ABOUT PHILLIP SCHERMER
Founder and CEO of Project Healthy Minds

Phillip is also Vice President and Chief of Staff to the Global Chief Marketing Officer at BlackRock.

In his current role at BlackRock, Philip is focused on a range of initiatives relating to the future of purpose-driven capitalism, brand strategy, content creation & distribution model, and strategic growth priorities for the business.

Before joining BlackRock, Phil worked in the Obama White House as an intern for the National Economic Council, for Warner Brothers Entertainment on the movie set of The Dark Knight Rises, for Summit Entertainment on the movie set of Perks of Being a Wallflower, and for Live Nation on U2’s 360 tour.

While in college, Phil founded MUSIC Matters, a student-run non-profit at the University of Michigan that hosts one of the largest social impact lifestyle festivals in the US. Business Insider recognized Phil for his work while on campus by naming him one of “The Most Impressive Students at the University of Michigan”. Today, Phil serves on the MUSIC Matters Board of Advisors.

Phil graduated from the University of Michigan’s Honors Program with a B.A. in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics (PPE).

Follow Phillip Schermer:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pschermer/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/philschermer

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phillip-schermer-45007934/

Website: https://www.projecthealthyminds.com/

Follow Dr. Alfiee:

Website: https://dralfiee.com