Therapy for Black Girls

With so much happening this year, from the presidential election to rap beef, we could all use an explanation for why things went the way they did. More importantly, what’s next as we look to 2025? Helping us to answer that question is returning guest Mecca Woods. Mecca is a New York City-based astrologer and author who works to help others create a life they truly want using their natural-born gifts. Her writing and Astro-guidance have appeared in places like Bustle, Essence, and TLC. During our conversation we go back to 2023 to see how many of Mecca’s predictions about 2024 were accurate, discuss how astrology can be used to guide the success of businesses and companies, and lastly, share some of the major astrological events and transits that will influence our lives in 2025. About the Podcast The Therapy for Black Girls Podcast is a weekly conversation with Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, a licensed Psychologist in Atlanta, Georgia, about all things mental health, personal development, and all the small decisions we can make to become the best possible versions of ourselves. Resources & Announcements Grab your copy of Sisterhood Heals. Where to Find Mecca Website Instagram Books Stay Connected Is there a topic you'd like covered on the podcast? Submit it at therapyforblackgirls.com/mailbox. If you're looking for a therapist in your area, check out the directory at https://www.therapyforblackgirls.com/directory. Take the info from the podcast to the next level by joining us in the Therapy for Black Girls Sister Circle community.therapyforblackgirls.com Grab your copy of our guided affirmation and other TBG Merch at therapyforblackgirls.com/shop. The hashtag for the podcast is #TBGinSession. Make sure to follow us on social media: Twitter: @therapy4bgirls Instagram: @therapyforblackgirls Facebook: @therapyforblackgirls Our Production Team Executive Producers: Dennison Bradford & Maya Cole Howard Senior Producer: Ellice Ellis Producer: Tyree Rush Associate Producer: Zariah Taylor See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we continue to explore the experiences of Black women from several religious backgrounds, this week I’m in dialogue with Dr. Pamela Ayo Yetunde, who shares her journey of becoming a practicing Buddhist. Dr. Yetunde is a pastoral counselor and the author of several books, including "Casting Indra's Net" and the forthcoming "Dearly Beloved: Prince, Spirituality, and This Thing Called Life." During our conversation today, we explore some of the basic principles of Buddhism, how Buddhism as a philosophy can inform our practice of other religions, and the significance of mindfulness activities such as yoga and meditation within Buddhism. About the Podcast The Therapy for Black Girls Podcast is a weekly conversation with Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, a licensed Psychologist in Atlanta, Georgia, about all things mental health, personal development, and all the small decisions we can make to become the best possible versions of ourselves. Resources & Announcements Grab your copy of Sisterhood Heals. Where to Find Dr. Yetunde Website LinkedIn Instagram Stay Connected Is there a topic you'd like covered on the podcast? Submit it at therapyforblackgirls.com/mailbox. If you're looking for a therapist in your area, check out the directory at https://www.therapyforblackgirls.com/directory. Take the info from the podcast to the next level by joining us in the Therapy for Black Girls Sister Circle community.therapyforblackgirls.com Grab your copy of our guided affirmation and other TBG Merch at therapyforblackgirls.com/shop. The hashtag for the podcast is #TBGinSession. Make sure to follow us on social media: Twitter: @therapy4bgirls Instagram: @therapyforblackgirls Facebook: @therapyforblackgirls Our Production Team Executive Producers: Dennison Bradford & Maya Cole Howard Senior Producer: Ellice Ellis Producer: Tyree Rush Associate Producer: Zariah Taylor See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are lots of stereotypes that come with being a member of Gen Z, but few are truer than the idea of us having a poor attention span, being obsessed with TikTok, and hating to consume media if it’s not in a short-form package. On her way to solve this crisis of media illiteracy that has consumed our generation is self-proclaimed “media literate hottie,” and today’s guest, Kelsey Russell. Kelsey is an entrepreneur, influencer, and podcaster with a goal of using print media as the vehicle for promoting better emotional regulation when interacting with news. This mantra comes to life on her TikTok page of nearly 100K followers, where she dynamically reads different newspapers and magazines to her audience. In our conversation today, Kelsey and I discussed how to peep which news outlets are credible and which ones aren’t, why it’s important to continue to engage with print media as opposed to all digital, and why it may not be wise to get all your news from TikTok. Where to Find Kelsey Instagram TikTok HOMEWORK Locate the nearest library to your house and consider registering for a library card! They’re free and a great way to begin re-engaging with physical media. Discover what’s important to you when it comes to what makes a good source. Consider making a list of these characteristics and using them to field any outlet you read moving forward. The next time a friend or family member posts some shady news, brainstorm how you might guide them into uplifting something more credible. Make sure to follow us on social media: Instagram TikTok Interested in being a part of a future TBG U episode or suggesting a topic for us to discuss, send us a note HERE. Order a copy of Sisterhood Heals for you and your girls HERE. Our Production Team Executive Producers: Dennison Bradford & Maya Cole Howard Producer: Ellice Ellis Associate Producer: Zariah Taylor TBG University Host: Jayna Ellis See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Whether it’s an essay on last night’s viral moment, a deep dive into a favorite celebrity’s career, or a hot take that sets social media on fire, cultural critique is something that helps us analyze, question, and understand the world around us. But what makes a good piece of criticism? And why do we sometimes embrace it—or resist it—so strongly? Joining us this week to talk intimately about the state of cultural criticism is journalist, writer, and care worker, J Wortham. You may know J as a staff writer for The New York Times Magazine, where they co-hosted the podcast ‘Still Processing — a weekly show about pop culture, television, films, books, music, and the internet. J is also a sound healer, reiki practitioner, and herbalist oriented towards healing justice and liberation. During our conversation, we discuss the role of the critic in our society, how to distinguish between a care-centered vs. a bad-faith critique, and the ways in which platforms like Twitter and TikTok have made criticism so accessible in both good and bad ways. About the Podcast The Therapy for Black Girls Podcast is a weekly conversation with Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, a licensed Psychologist in Atlanta, Georgia, about all things mental health, personal development, and all the small decisions we can make to become the best possible versions of ourselves. Resources & Announcements Grab your copy of Sisterhood Heals. Where to Find J Substack Website Instagram Twitter Stay Connected Is there a topic you'd like covered on the podcast? Submit it at therapyforblackgirls.com/mailbox. If you're looking for a therapist in your area, check out the directory at https://www.therapyforblackgirls.com/directory. Take the info from the podcast to the next level by joining us in the Therapy for Black Girls Sister Circle community.therapyforblackgirls.com Grab your copy of our guided affirmation and other TBG Merch at therapyforblackgirls.com/shop. The hashtag for the podcast is #TBGinSession. Make sure to follow us on social media: Twitter: @therapy4bgirls Instagram: @therapyforblackgirls Facebook: @therapyforblackgirls Our Production Team Executive Producers: Dennison Bradford & Maya Cole Howard Senior Producer: Ellice Ellis Producer: Tyree Rush Associate Producer: Zariah Taylor See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Social media has the ability to make running a business look glamorous, but the reality of being an entrepreneur is often a lot more complex. And as Black women, the pressure is always on to be excellent, magical, and do everything ourselves, often leading to an imbalance between our businesses and our mental health. Thus week we're diving into a discussion of entrepreneurship and mental health with returning podcast guest, Melissa Ifill. Melissa is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker serving clients in New York, Georgia, and Florida. During our conversation, we explored the ways in which our identities and traumas have the potential to show up in our businesses, how ideas of “Black excellence” can leave us stuck in a cycle of burnout, and learning how to ask and receive help from your community. About the Podcast The Therapy for Black Girls Podcast is a weekly conversation with Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, a licensed Psychologist in Atlanta, Georgia, about all things mental health, personal development, and all the small decisions we can make to become the best possible versions of ourselves. Resources & Announcements Grab your copy of Sisterhood Heals. Where to Find Melissa Website Instagram Facebook TikTok Stay Connected Is there a topic you'd like covered on the podcast? Submit it at therapyforblackgirls.com/mailbox. If you're looking for a therapist in your area, check out the directory at https://www.therapyforblackgirls.com/directory. Take the info from the podcast to the next level by joining us in the Therapy for Black Girls Sister Circle community.therapyforblackgirls.com Grab your copy of our guided affirmation and other TBG Merch at therapyforblackgirls.com/shop. The hashtag for the podcast is #TBGinSession. Make sure to follow us on social media: Twitter: @therapy4bgirls Instagram: @therapyforblackgirls Facebook: @therapyforblackgirls Our Production Team Executive Producers: Dennison Bradford & Maya Cole Howard Senior Producer: Ellice Ellis Producer: Tyree Rush Associate Producer: Zariah Taylor See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With its no-bars-held look into the insidious world of investment banking, many of us fell in love with the HBO MAX series INDUSTRY, and more specifically, its non-traditional lead character, Harper Stern. Harper’s brash and unapologetic maneuvering through the gritty political world set her up as a breakout character for the series and an interesting and unexpected deviation from the strong Black woman trope. Joining me this week for a deeper dive into Harper's character is Organizational Psychologist, Nchopia Nwokoma, who speaks to how relationships with organizations and communities impact how individuals show up in the workplace. During our conversation, we unpack Harper’s journey across three seasons, reflecting on what her victories and challenges at PeerPoint might teach us about our own workplaces. About the Podcast The Therapy for Black Girls Podcast is a weekly conversation with Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, a licensed Psychologist in Atlanta, Georgia, about all things mental health, personal development, and all the small decisions we can make to become the best possible versions of ourselves. Resources & Announcements Grab your copy of Sisterhood Heals. Where to Find Nchopia LinkedIn Instagram Stay Connected Is there a topic you'd like covered on the podcast? Submit it at therapyforblackgirls.com/mailbox. If you're looking for a therapist in your area, check out the directory at https://www.therapyforblackgirls.com/directory. Take the info from the podcast to the next level by joining us in the Therapy for Black Girls Sister Circle community.therapyforblackgirls.com Grab your copy of our guided affirmation and other TBG Merch at therapyforblackgirls.com/shop. The hashtag for the podcast is #TBGinSession. Make sure to follow us on social media: Twitter: @therapy4bgirls Instagram: @therapyforblackgirls Facebook: @therapyforblackgirls Our Production Team Executive Producers: Dennison Bradford & Maya Cole Howard Senior Producer: Ellice Ellis Producer: Tyree Rush Associate Producer: Zariah Taylor See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The future is here, and it looks like deepfakes of real people saying fake things, chatbots claiming to have human-level consciousness, and evil robots ready to take everyone’s jobs. Artificial Intelligence, while only just recently becoming widespread and accessible, is transforming our world in ways that make understanding it more crucial than ever. Joining me for today’s important conversation on the ethical implications of AI is Dr. Joy Buolamwini. She is the founder of the Algorithmic Justice League, an award-winning researcher, and poet of code. Dr. Joy is the author of the national best-selling book, Unmasking AI: My Mission to Protect What is Human in a World of Machines. During our conversation, we examined some of the basic definitions, players, and concerns associated with AI, how biases are transferred in the creation of AI and then reflected in its application, and lastly, the specific challenges AI poses particularly for communities of color. About the Podcast The Therapy for Black Girls Podcast is a weekly conversation with Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, a licensed Psychologist in Atlanta, Georgia, about all things mental health, personal development, and all the small decisions we can make to become the best possible versions of ourselves. Resources & Announcements Grab your copy of Sisterhood Heals. Where to Find Dr. Buolamwini Support the Algorithmic Justice League Read ‘Unmasking AI: My Mission To Protect What Is Human In A World Of Machines” Instagram Website Stay Connected Is there a topic you'd like covered on the podcast? Submit it at therapyforblackgirls.com/mailbox. If you're looking for a therapist in your area, check out the directory at https://www.therapyforblackgirls.com/directory. Take the info from the podcast to the next level by joining us in the Therapy for Black Girls Sister Circle community.therapyforblackgirls.com Grab your copy of our guided affirmation and other TBG Merch at therapyforblackgirls.com/shop. The hashtag for the podcast is #TBGinSession. Make sure to follow us on social media: Twitter: @therapy4bgirls Instagram: @therapyforblackgirls Facebook: @therapyforblackgirls Our Production Team Executive Producers: Dennison Bradford & Maya Cole Howard Senior Producer: Ellice Ellis Producer: Tyree Rush Associate Producer: Zariah Taylor See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.