When We Speak

On today’s episode I am with my friend Marta Sierra and we are discussing what’s changed in her life since her previous conversations on the podcast. Marta is discussing her recent divorce plus the impact of abandonment trauma on her grief process. Marta and I also discuss: her support system how she connects with pleasure her expression of queerness post-divorce what she tells herself to get through the pain of the divorce Marta has been immersed in IFS since 2013, she was legally trafficked from Colombia as an infant and now specializes in helping her community move through healing from adoption trauma, racial trauma and CPTSD. She is passionate about adopted and displaced people having the tools they need to be able to build and maintain healthy relationships, most importantly with themselves and all their parts. T0 reach out to Marta, contact her at [email protected].

In this episode, I speak with Kaity Rodriguez about how she embodies self-love and self-confidence. We discuss when and how she found her voice which led to her working with her clients on developing more assertive communication. We also discuss: Kaity’s blog series “100 Dates in Houston” Kaity’s journal, “The Confidence Project” Kaity’s guide, ” Welcome To the Couch” Kaity’s IFS parts that are activated during the dating journey Kaity Rodriguez, LCSW, is a psychotherapist, author, and media expert with a passion for educating and inspiring women and minorities to live amazing lives. Her virtual group counseling practice, Serenity Wellness and Therapy Services, specializes in treating individuals with anxiety and stress disorders, as well as self-esteem and self-confidence issues. Kaity is a former Miss New Jersey USA and the author of “The Confidence Project Journal: 52 Journal Prompts to uncover personal strength and stop self-doubt”, as well as “Welcome to the Couch: a Beginner’s Guide to Therapy.” She has been featured on outlets such as FOX News, News 12 NJ, and NBC. Read Kaity’s Blog Purchase Kaity’s Journal Follow Kaity on Instagram Take the Archetypal Quiz here Purchase “Women Who Run With the Wolves” here Purchase the Nonviolent Communication book here

In today’s episode I am with my chosen sister and friend Marcie. We dive right into her book, ” Everybody Come Alive”. We also discuss: Recognition of the Divine inside of her Marcie’s process for honoring Blackness in her book Microaggressions and barriers for Black writers/authors The national book ban In praise of ” Everybody Come Alive”, the reception of Marcie’s book by family and friends Our fun ideas for creating a Black Utopia Marcie Alvis-Walker is a writer and the creator of the blog and Instagram feed, Black Coffee with White Friends and the author of EVERYBODY COME ALIVE: A MEMOIR IN ESSAYS. She is passionate about what it means to embrace intersectionality, diversity and inclusion in our spiritual lives. She recently moved to Chicago, Illinois with her husband, daughter, and their dog Evie where she reads a lot of books, watches a lot of movies, and drinks a lot of tea and coffee. Visit Marcie’s website : https://www.marciealviswalker.com/ Follow Marcie on Instagram @ Blackcoffeewhitefriends Subscribe to Marcie’s newsletter @ https://blackeyedstories.substack.com/

In today’s episode, I speaking with my sister, my friend, and fellow sojourner, Natalie Gutierrez. In this heart-lead, soulful conversation we discuss: Her book, ” The Pain We Carry: Healing from Complex PTSD for People of Color” The parts of her that she is embracing today We talk about the importance of love The ancestral work that is calling her today How Natalie is staying true to her calling Her truest ” I Am” Natalie is a Boricua trauma therapist and space-holder in New York and Author of The Pain We Carry: Healing from Complex PTSD for People of Color. She has spent 15 years supporting BIPOC in her trauma counseling practice that were hurting from the soul wounds of Complex Posttraumatic Stress. She has worked to help people on the healing journey navigating racial trauma, attachment trauma, generational trauma, and sexual trauma. She is a certified internal family systems therapist. Her individual and group decolonial healing work blends the intersections of psychotherapy, activism, intuitive and ancestral wisdom and connection. She is a mother of two beautiful spirits and works intentionally everyday to disrupt cycles of legacy wounding. Buy Natalie’s Book ” The Pain We Carry” Listen Natalie and I discuss ” The Pain We Carry” at Cafe con Libros Bookstore here Learn more about Natalie and her work : traumacounselingnyc.com Read Women Who Run With The Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estés Follow Natalie on Instagram

This episode is everything— such a beautiful conversation with my friend Tommy Allgood. We discuss intersectional identities, queerness, sacred earth medicine, what is inspired our connection with each other.  “Thomas Garvin (They/he), better known as Tommy Allgood, is a Registered Nurse turned Care Director doing work with community and organizational development based in Charlotte, NC. What is colloquially known as Charlotte and the surrounding area is the land stolen from the Sugaree, Catawba, Cheraw, and Waxhaw people. He/They have a passion for helping people navigate mental, emotional, and spiritual roadblocks by developing grounding practices centered in self and community that foster co-creation and resiliency in the face of adversity and resistance. Tommy works with organizations to facilitate cultural shifts that are people-centered and compassion oriented, breaking down what it means to be in authentic service of self and communities. Tommy’s current work includes: Educating and transforming organizational visions + missions to meet the modern day challenges of diversity, inclusion, equity, and anti-racism principles and practices Spiritual care rooted in personal + collective discovery utilizing tools that center a holistic perspective + embodied self Knowledge sharing and strategy building with organizations so that they foster healthy people and healthy environments. Exploring + Advancing Bodily Liberation at the intersections of the Black and Queer experiences. To connect with Tommy visit his website @ www.teamallgood.com Dr. Hillary McBride The Wisdom of Your Body Tina Strawn Are We Free Yet? The Black Queer Guide To Divorcing America Resmaa Menakem My Grandmother’s Hands bell hooks all about love Elizabeth Wurtzel Bitch: In Praise of Difficult Women Gabor Maté Myth of Normal Adrienne Marie Brown Pleasure Activism Rupa Marya and Rajeev Patel Inflamed

Today’s episode is with Faitth Brooks. we discuss her book ” Remember Me Now:A Journey Back to Myself and a Love Letter to Black Women”. Faitth shares the following with listeners: What her faith in God looks like present day The parts of herself she’s still working on embracing What liberation looks like today What’s changed about her community and close-knit relationships Who and what is inspiring her liberation today Faitth Brooks is a writer, speaker, social worker, activist, and co-host of the Melanated Faith podcast. She engages in activism by working with nonprofits to find sustainable solutions to systemic issues, as well as by being a strategist and consultant for brands and influencers. Faitth leverages her speaking and social media platforms to enliven collective liberation centered on the sisterhood of Black women, crafting a communal space where Black sisters can explore rest, tenderness, and softness. Order Faitth’s book “Remember Me Now” To check out more of Faitth’s work go here Follow Faitth on Instagram

In today’s episode which was recorded February 2023, I speak with Tina Strawn (she/they). Tina is a joy and liberation advocate, activist, author of “Are We Free Yet? The Black, Queer Guide to Divorcing America” (Row House Publishing, January 2023). Tina is also the owner and host of the Speaking of Racism podcast and she is the co-founder of the movement to ban guns and buy them back, Here 4 The Kids. The heart of Tina’s work is founding and leading Legacy Trips, immersive antiracism experiences where participants visit historical locations such as Montgomery and Selma, AL, and utilize spiritual practices as tools to affect personal and collective change. Tina has three adult children, an ex-husband, an ex-wife, and an ex-country. She has been a full-time minimalist nomad since February 2020 and currently lives in Costa Rica. Tina travels the globe speaking, writing, teaching, and exploring where on the planet she can feel safe and free in her queer, Black, woman-identifying body. During our conversation we discuss Tina’s book, ” Are We Free Yet? The Black Queer Guide to Divorcing America.” We discuss anti-Blackness and how it shows up. Tina shares how and where she has found love, belonging, and community. To show appreciation for Tina’s work: CashApp $TinaStrawn Register and Support Here 4 The Kids Learn about Black history and take part in Tina’s Legacy Trips  Purchase a copy of “Are We Free Yet? The Black, Queer Guide to Divorcing America”

On today’s episode I am with Dr. Philip Butler. We discuss his introduction to IFS and what he’s learned about himself and others, the Seekr App, his hope for IFS and the Black community, our faith evolution, and so so much more. This is such a breathtakingly truthful conversation and I feel honored to have had the opportunity. Philip Butler is an international scholar whose work primarily focuses on the intersections of neuroscience, technology, spirituality and Blackness. He uses the wisdom of these spaces to engage in critical and constructive analysis on Black posthumanism, artificial intelligence and pluriversal future realities. He is also the founder of the Seekr Project, a distinctly Black conversational artificial intelligence with mental health capacities. Philip has theorized artificial cognitive architectures for synthetic evolving life forms (SELF), presented on emotionally regulating and spiritual experience inducing brain computer interfaces, and has constructed block chain protocols and conceptual logistics infrastructures for a world leader in the industrial hemp space.   Connect with Seekr on Instagram  Connect with Philip on Instagram Purchase  Philip’s book Black Transhuman Liberation Theology Purchase James H. Cone’s Book ” God of the Oppressed” Purchase Barbara A. Holmes ” Crisis Contemplation”

Today’s episode is with Chris Burris and we discuss all things IFS and his new book, Creating Healing Circles: Using the Internal Family Systems Model in Facilitating Groups. During the conversation we also discuss the two types of healing that must take place in a person’s life how Chris learned to navigate difficult stages that occur within group dynamics  what Chris wishes people understood about IFS how he creates safety in Black and Brown-centered training spaces Chris Burris (M.Ed, LCMHCS, LMFT) is a Senior Lead Trainer for the Internal Family Systems Institute where he provides Level I, II, and III trainings in the IFS model. He has been an IFS Therapist since 1999 and a practicing psychotherapist since 1987. Chris is trained as a Marriage and Family Therapist and uses a mind-body approach to psychotherapy. He has worked extensively with children, adolescents, couples, individuals, and organizations. In addition, he has facilitated groups on topics such as men’s issues, sacred activism, rite of passage, couples, healthy relationships, performance enhancement for artists, and bullying. Since 1990, he has been an active participant with men’s groups and rites of passage programs. He also facilitates consultation and supervision groups for trained therapists. In addition to being a psychotherapist, Chris has trained in many nature bases models with Animus Valley institute, School of Lost Borders, The Foundation for Shamanic Studies, and The Center for Conscious Eldering. Chris has been featured on multiple podcasts such as “IFS Talks”, “The One Inside: An Internal Family Systems Podcast”, “Truth, Love, and Beauty”, and “Bossy, Brilliant, and Badass”. He currently lives in Asheville, NC with his wife, Deena, and their daughters where they enjoy being active in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. Follow Chris on IG @ Burris.Counseling Visit Chris’ website @ https://burriscounseling.com Purchase a copy of Chris book here

In this week’s conversation I am back with one of my closest friends, Monica DiCristina, LPC as we share personal stories in the form of heart talk.  In this episode, Tasha and Monica combine their years of training and therapeutic practice to address this all too often oversimplified question: What does it really mean to love yourself? It is  our way of answering the questions stemming from one of the most foundational parts of mental health – loving and accepting yourself. I also briefly discuss Internal Family Systems and what it means to connect with Self during the healing process. Monica DiCristina is a therapist with over fifteen years of experience in mental health. She runs a private practice in Atlanta, GA serving individuals and couples in therapy. Monica walks with people as they process difficult experiences, helping to bring healing to their relationship with themselves and others. She became a therapist after one changed her life in her early twenties, deciding she wanted to pass along the same hope and healing she experienced. The intersection of her years of therapy experience, her personal journey, and her faith inform her perspective. In addition to her work in the therapy office, Monica carries out her heartfelt mission to collaborate with others in their process of healing, hope, and becoming through her Still Becoming podcast, writing, speaking, and as co-creator of the here app. Monica lives in Atlanta with her husband and three children, as well as their dog Sweetie. Website: https://monicadicristina.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/monicadicristina/