Trauma – whether emotional, physical or psychological – we’ve all experienced it at some points of our lives – some more traumatic than others. And whether it's left you struggling with upset emotions and memories, or feeling numb and disconnected – we can heal from it.   

In this week’s episode, we explore acupuncture as a modality for healing from emotional and physical trauma with Carine Camara – Acupuncturist, Energy Healer and Spiritual Wellness Coach.  During our conversation Carine shares her personal experiences of trauma and the ways it manifested in her body, including ovarian cysts, and how the use of acupuncture as an alternative to surgery created a pathway of healing and becoming a healer.

In this episode we discuss:

• What acupuncture is and how it works
• How emotions and trauma get lodged in the body and can affect our physical health
• Forgiveness as a source of overcoming emotional and physical trauma 
• What it’s like working with an energy healer 
• Ways to work on emotional trauma that is stored in the pelvic region
• Unravelling and undoing stories that no longer serve us in order to learn how to love ourselves
• What it feels like to heal and be able to let go of emotional pain 
• Using the Hawaiian Ho'oponopono prayer to facilitate forgiveness
• What’s in Carine’s wellness toolkit
• …and more! 

Content Warning: This interview includes sensitive content that may be triggering, including, but not limited to suicide ideation, sexual assault and sexual abuse.

How you can connect with Carine Camara:

• Website https://carinecamara.com/
• IG: https://www.instagram.com/carinejcamara/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carinehealing
• Infinite Love Podcast: https://carinecamara.com/infinite-love-podcast/

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

The Empath’s Survival Guide by Judith Olaf, MD 

Heal Your Body by Louise Hay

Anatomy of the Spirit by Carolyn Myss 

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EPISODE OVERVIEW:  While missing from most wellness conversations, this episode is centered around vaginal and sexual health. I ask all of the questions you may be embarrassed or afraid to ask, but also things you may not even think to ask as it relates to your vagina and optimizing your sexual health.  Whether you have a vagina or are raising someone with one - this episode is for you!  

I have the pleasure of sitting down with Janelle King, a Registered Nurse, public health educator, and blogger over at The Nurse Note.  Her mission is to simplify information related to vaginas, periods and sex and deliver it in a straightforward way so that we can learn what our normal is and when we need to seek advice.  I ask her all the questions you may be too ashamed, embarrassed or didn’t even know you should ask about your vaginal and sexual health.  

In this episode we talk about:

• Knowing and recognizing the symptoms of, and differences between, bacterial vaginosis, a yeast infection or UTI
• How HPV can cause several types of cancer, namely, cervical cancer
• Why your partner should “freshen up” before sex too - especially if uncircumcised
• Condom negotiation and how to have conversations with a partner to protect your sexual health
• What might be causing your vaginal pH balance to be off 
• Conversations to have with your daughters about vaginal and period health 
• Unpacking the why behind the upward tick in STI rates 
• What to expect during a pelvic exam vs. pap smear 
• The implications of untreated STDs 
• Self-advocacy with STI screening and more!

How you can connect with Janelle: 

On all social media platforms - @thenursenote

Website - www.thenursenote.com

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

The Vagina Bible by Dr. Jen Gunter - https://amzn.to/3DHmgXL

The Period Doctor - @theperioddoctor 

Doctor Heather’s Advisory Cervix IG - @advisorycervixpod

Sex Ed in Color Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sex-ed-in-color/id1439204319

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EPISODE OVERVIEW: Disclaimer: This interview includes sensitive content that may be triggering, including, but not limited to suicide ideation and mental illness. 

This episode is in honor of World Bipolar Day.  I have the pleasure of interviewing Lindsay Anderson, who shares her personal experience of living with and managing multiple mental health conditions, including bipolar disorder, generalized anxiety disorder and PTSD.  She delves into the complexities of being misdiagnosed for years, navigating the mental healthcare system, and the importance of self-advocacy, amongst other topics.

In this episode we discuss:

• How Lindsay started her blog, Consciously Coping, after searching YouTube for black mental health providers and not finding any
• Lindsay’s mental health journey, which began in middle school with extreme bullying 
• The symptoms of bipolar disorder and how different episodes can feel
• How getting the right diagnosis and right meds made a world of difference in managing her symptoms
• Her 30 day stay in the psych ward and what the experience was like
• Having a stroke and being paralyzed for 3 months
• Lindsay’s toolkit for managing her mental health
• ..and much more!

ABOUT THE GUEST: Lindsay (she/her/hers) is a mental illness advocate, writer, and scientist with 20+ years of lived experience. She is well known for her raspy, yet powerful voice and honesty about the mental health system in America. 

How you can connect with Lindsay:

• Email: coping.consciously@gmail.com
• Facebook
• Instagram  
• YouTube 

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

• Imade Nibokun (Depressed While Black)
• Dr. Joy (TherapyforBlackGirls) 
• The Okra Project 
• TKO Alabama 
• Dr. Amber Thorton (Balanced Working Momma) 

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EPISODE OVERVIEW: I interview Dr. Shemeka Thorpe, an award-winning sexuality educator and researcher at the University of Kentucky, to discuss all things sexual well-being.  We talk about everything from sexual function and orgasms, to normalizing the use of lube prior to menopause and reasons your partner may not be initiating sex.This is the conversation that as women, we’ve all been waiting for, and Dr. Shemeka delivers a wealth of information (and it’s based on research) on how to explore and get more of, the big “P” -  PLEASURE!

In this episode we talk about:

• How to feel empowered to figure out what brings you pleasure and try new things
• Dr. Shemeka’s research, which focuses on the sexual well-being of Black women – including pleasure, sexual function, desire, and more
• Reasons why women fake orgasms
• The 6 components of female sexual function
• Causes of pain during sex, and why women don't mention it to partners or doctors 
• How Black women and men define pleasure (the results will blow your mind!)
• The orgasm gap between Black women and their partners
• Methods to have constructive conversations with your partner about your sexual needs and desires.

ABOUT THE GUEST: Dr. Shemeka Thorpe is an award-winning sexuality educator and researcher at the University of Kentucky. She obtained her PhD from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in Community Health Education. Her research focuses on the sexual well-being of Black women using sex-positive and intimate justice frameworks. Dr. Thorpe strives to make research relevant for Black communities by integrating sex research and community health education.

How you can connect with Dr. Shemeka:

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Website

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

• Kimbritive - the sexual wellness home for Black women providing content, community, and expert care where we are seen, heard, and celebrated 
• Brittany Broaddus @theintimacyfirm 
• Goody Howard @AskGoody 
• Use Your Mouth Cards 
• Sexologist Shamyra - www.onthegreencouch.com 
• @Afrosexology_ or www.afrosexology.com

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EPISODE OVERVIEW: I interview Dr. Firlande Volcy, a licensed naturopathic physician with more than 15 years of experience in natural medicine. She serves as a leading expert in her field, and specializes in weight management, digestive health, thyroid disorders, depression, and anxiety.

During our conversation Dr. Firlande breaks down all the things you need to know about how to lose weight - from the effects of stress on your hormones, when and what to eat to achieve maximum weight loss results, to exercise tips to optimize workouts and so much more!  It was like talking to one of my favorite girlfriends who has an engaging way of breaking down complex concepts into consumable, bite-sized pieces.  I walked away with so many “Ah-Ha” moments, and am sure you will do the same!

ABOUT THE GUEST:  Dr. Firlande Volcy is a licensed naturopathic physician. Having more than 15 years of experience in natural medicine, she serves as a leading expert in her field. She specializes in weight management, digestive health, thyroid disorders, depression, and anxiety. She is a nationally recognized speaker, bestselling author, consultant and sought-after expert appearing frequently on the lecture stage, print, podcasts, and radio.

Dr. Firlande consistently educates her patients via her personalized concierge and telemedicine visits, weight loss coaching program, and her various online masterclasses. 

She earned her Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine from Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine (SCNM), a four-year accredited Naturopathic Medical School in Tempe, AZ. She completed an additional year-long study in Classical Homeopathy at the American Medical College of Homeopathy (AMCH) in Phoenix, AZ. 

She is dedicated to her patients. She is ready to help you with all your diverse health concerns. She is comprehensive in her care. She is the doctor who listens and gets to the root cause of your health issues.

How you can connect with Dr. Firlande:

• Available on all social media platforms @DrFirlande 

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

• Book: Courage to Lose 
• 10 Ways to lose 10 lbs in 10 days Ebook PDF 

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EPISODE OVERVIEW: I interview Kirsten Walker, the Founder and Creator of Sober Brown Girls, a safe online community for sober-curious and sober women of color. During our conversation we talk about how Kirsten’s relationship with alcohol spiraled out of control, and after being unable to take her mom to a doctor’s appointment after a night of drinking, she decided to do something about it and quit in January of 2020.  We also talk about how alcohol is often used as coping mechanisms for untreated mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety, the joys and challenges of sobriety, and so much more!

In this episode we talk about:

• What started as an after work wind down activity, turned into an unhealthy relationship with alcohol that spiraled out of control
• The telltale signs of possibly having an unhealthy relationship with alcohol, and the shame that comes along with it
• The importance of taking a step back and assessing our behaviors
• How COVID caused a lot of people to relapse and binge drink
• Why it’s important to have constructive tools and activities to fill your time with after becoming sober
• The importance and impact of talking openly and honestly about your mental health with your children
• How in Kirsten’s search for a sober community, there were too few for Women of Color, which led her to create her blog and platform, Sober Brown Girls
• What it means to be “Sober Curious”
• The importance of sharing your story as a means to help yourself and others
• …and so much more!

ABOUT THE GUEST:

• Instagram 
• Website

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

• Quit Like a Woman
• This Naked Mind 
• Tempest: Online Alcohol Recovery and Support to Quit Drinking
• More Than Curious - The Ultimate Guide to Surviving Early Sobriety

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EPISODE OVERVIEW: I interview ADHD advocate, coach and psychotherapist, IngerShaye Colzie. During our conversation we discussed how her son’s ADHD diagnosis led to her own diagnosis later in life, the importance of community and how it led to the creation of her Facebook group for Black women executives and entrepreneurs, the struggles of ADHD, benefits of coaching, and so much more!

In this episode we talk about:

• How her son’s diagnosis led to her own diagnosis later in life
• The unique challenges of Black professional women with ADHD
• The importance of practicing self-love and compassion
• The why behind creating a Facebook group for Black women executives and entrepreneurs with ADHD
• The often complex path to getting an ADHD diagnosis and the importance of finding a culturally competent provider
• Whether or not to disclose your condition at work
• How coaching for ADHD can benefit you, and,
• So much more!

ABOUT THE GUEST: Inger Shaye Colzie is an ADHD Coach and Psychotherapist specializing in making a difference for Black women executives and entrepreneurs. She has successfully run her practice, Alchemy Coaching & Counseling, as a therapist and Licensed Clinical Social Worker for 15 years in spite of being undiagnosed until in her 50s. She offers the benefits of professional expertise with a lifetime of experience.

How you can connect with IngerShaye:

• Website: www.ingershaye.com
• Instagram: @IngerShaye
• Email: ingershaye@ingershaye.com
• Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/blackwomenwithadhd

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

• InStyle article "Imposter Syndrome about Mental Illness”  
• Black Girl Lost Keys
• ADHD is the New Black
• Translating ADHD
• ADHD Essentials
• ADHD Love Parent Talk

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“Women everywhere should know that they have reproductive choices….and that fertility is an outpouring of our vitality.  So if fertility is not happening it usually means that something is happening under the surface that needs to be addressed.”

- Dr. Aumatma

EPISODE OVERVIEW: I interview Dr. Aumatma, an award-winning naturopathic endocrinologist and holistic fertility doctor, as well as the best-selling author of, "Fertility Secrets: What Your Doctor Didn't Tell You About Baby-Making."  During our conversation, Dr. Aumatma shares some great naturopathic fertility secrets, as well as resources and tools to support individuals and couples during their fertility journey.

In this episode we talk about:

• How traditional lab tests used by western practitioners don't always tell the whole story about your potential to conceive
• The truth of how age really impacts fertility
• The importance of addressing the underlying conditions that can impact fertility
• Her four step approach DDRR (discover, detox, rebalance, receive) to achieve pregnancy
• How to reverse the impact of hormones from birth control through detoxing
• What markers and indicators are most important in your fertility journey
• How to proactively extend and enhance your fertility life
• The benefits of an integrative approach to Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART)
• How lifestyle factors such as smoking, toxin exposure and more can impact the health of both eggs and sperm
• The effects of sleep deprivation and melatonin have on your fertility health
• How what you put in and on your body impacts your reproductive outcomes; and,
• …so much more!

ABOUT THE GUEST: Dr. Aumatma is a double board-certified Naturopathic Doctor & Endocrinologist, in practice for 15 years. Her holistic approach addresses the roles that lifestyle, diet and “state of mind” affect fertility.  She is also the best-selling author of Fertility Secrets: What Your Doctor Didn't Tell You About Baby-Making, and has been featured on ABC, FOX, CBS, KTLA, MindBodyGreen, and The Bump as the Holistic Fertility Expert.

How you can connect with Dr. Aumatma:

• Instagram
• Twitter

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

• Reach out to work/train with Dr. Aumatma: www.holisticfertilityinstitute.com

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