In this powerful first episode of Open Mic, four voices come together to unpack the shared weight of childhood trauma. From neglect and emotional suppression to the pressure of surviving in homes that lacked conversation, compassion, and choice, this panel doesn’t hold back.

We begin by calling out the pain: what we lacked, what we feared, and how silence shaped us. But this isn’t just a trauma dump, it’s a movement toward healing. We open up about the importance of therapy, breaking generational cycles, and redefining what it means to raise children in today’s world.

This episode is a call to action for parents, caregivers, and communities:

Let kids speak. Create safe spaces. Choose conversation over control.

Because survival isn’t enough, our kids deserve to live, feel, and be heard.

In this debut episode of the MyStory segment on Savage Unfiltered, host Jamal Savage opens up like never before.

From growing up in a conservative Muslim home in The Gambia to navigating silence, emotional restraint, and cultural pressure, this is more than just background. It’s a deep dive into how family, culture, and suppression shaped his voice… and why he’s using that voice now.

Jamal answers real questions, the kind we’re usually afraid to ask:

• What was your childhood really like?

• Were you allowed to express yourself?

• How did your family structure affect your mental health?

• Would you raise your kids the way you were raised?

This episode is the origin story behind the mic, and an invitation to others to speak the truth they’ve been carrying too long.

If you’ve ever felt silenced by culture, family, or fear, this one’s for you.

Listen. Reflect. And remember: Your story is worthy too.