Have you ever chatted with an Unapologetically Black Unicorn? Someone who symbolizes freedom, power, strength and is a true force of nature and thought, ‘WOW people need to hear this’? Now you can and learn how to be a U.B.U. too! Join the weekly conversation with host Keris Jän Myrick, an unapologetically black unicorn in their own right, and nationally recognized mental health advocate chatting with amazing U.B.U. folk who are advancing all things mental health, racial justice, and anything cool to enhance human existence.
Episodes
4 days ago
4 days ago
36 min
Jonathan Russell (he/him) is the Director of Housing and Homelessness for Alameda County and he is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Jonathan challenges common misconceptions about homelessness while exploring the systemic forces that push people into homelessness. They examine autonomy, the power of saying no and why listening to what people are communicating can lead to more effective and compassionate support.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
Contact the show: UBU@UnapologeticallyBlackUnicorns.info
Transcripts are available on Apple Podcasts.
Aug 18, 2026
Aug 18, 2026
36 min
Michael Chrzan (he/him) is a Data Scientist at the Center for Educational Data Science and he is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Michael talks about the importance of approaching AI with curiosity while also recognizing its limitations and potential consequences. They explore the benefits and risks of AI, including access and equity, mental health applications and they consider what responsible AI use could look like as the technology continues to evolve.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
Contact the show: UBU@UnapologeticallyBlackUnicorns.info
Transcripts are available on Apple Podcasts.
Aug 11, 2026
Aug 11, 2026
32 min
Ellis Gordon Jr. (he/him) is treasurer of NAMI Urban Los Angeles and he is the former husband of Bebe Moore Campbell. Ellis shares the story of how he met Bebe Moore Campbell and why it was so important to name the month of July after Bebe. They talk about the inception of NAMI Urban Los Angeles, how NAMI is community-centric and community-centered and continuing the goal of erasing the stigma.
This episode is sponsored by Janssen Neuroscience and Supported by The Painted Brain, a California based Peer Run Organization.
https://paintedbrain.org/ubu-black-mental-health/
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
Contact the show: UBU@UnapologeticallyBlackUnicorns.info
Transcripts are available on Apple Podcasts.
Aug 4, 2026
Aug 4, 2026
36 min
Dr. Raquel Martin (she/her) is a licensed Psychologist, Professor, Scientist and she is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Dr. Martin shares insights from her research on how identity and community influence the mental health of Black youth. They talk about the importance of culturally informed research and investing in the next generation's mental health.
This special five-part series on Black Youth Mental Health is supported by Hopelab, a non-profit operating foundation focused on supporting the mental health and wellbeing of Black, Brown and Queer young people.
https://hopelab.org/programs/hbcu-fellowship
Check out the Black Youth Mental Health Playlist on Youtube:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHkjY1zXSaEc&si=6woxdHMcLi_vb6yP
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
Contact the show: UBU@UnapologeticallyBlackUnicorns.info
Transcripts are available on Apple Podcasts.
Music for the podcast performed by “A New Deal For Youth”:
For 'New Deal'
Primary Artist(s): A New Deal for Youth
Featured Artist(s): Aaron Mack
Original Composer(s) Aaron Mack
Producers: Diego Montidiego, National Collaborative for Transformative Youth Policy
Engineer: Kingmakers of Oakland Studio
For 'Capitalism Be Like'
Primary Artist(s): A New Deal for Youth
Featured Artist(s): DayoneNotDayTwo, Aaron Mack
Original Composer(s): Aaron Mack
Producers: Diego Montidiego, National Collaborative for Transformative Youth Policy
Engineer: Kingmakers of Oakland Studio
Links to include:
Jul 28, 2026
Jul 28, 2026
36 min
Dr. Danielle Hairston (she/her) is a Double-Board Certified Psychiatrist, the Psychiatry Residency Program Director at Howard University College of Medicine and Hospital, a Hope Lab HBCU Translational Science Fellow and she is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Dr. Hairston talks about creating wellness experiences for Black youth that promote mental health, belonging and community. They discuss meeting young people where they are and how social connection, life skills and shared experiences can reduce isolation and support emotional well-being.
This special five-part series on Black Youth Mental Health is supported by Hopelab, a non-profit operating foundation focused on supporting the mental health and wellbeing of Black, Brown and Queer young people.
https://hopelab.org/programs/hbcu-fellowship
Check out the Black Youth Mental Health Playlist on Youtube:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHkjY1zXSaEc&si=6woxdHMcLi_vb6yP
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
Contact the show: UBU@UnapologeticallyBlackUnicorns.info
Transcripts are available on Apple Podcasts.
Music for the podcast performed by “A New Deal For Youth”:
For 'New Deal'
Primary Artist(s): A New Deal for Youth
Featured Artist(s): Aaron Mack
Original Composer(s) Aaron Mack
Producers: Diego Montidiego, National Collaborative for Transformative Youth Policy
Engineer: Kingmakers of Oakland Studio
For 'Capitalism Be Like'
Primary Artist(s): A New Deal for Youth
Featured Artist(s): DayoneNotDayTwo, Aaron Mack
Original Composer(s): Aaron Mack
Producers: Diego Montidiego, National Collaborative for Transformative Youth Policy
Engineer: Kingmakers of Oakland Studio
Links to include:
Jul 21, 2026
Jul 21, 2026
37 min
Dr. Breonte Guy (he/him) is Professor and Interim Chair in the Department of Psychological Sciences at Winston-Salem State University and he is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Dr. Guy talks about G.A.M.E. (Gamified Activities for Mental Empowerment), a culturally responsive digital mental health platform co-created with Black and Brown youth. They talk how gaming, helps create a sense of belonging and community and how that can help address loneliness, strengthen mental wellness and create accessible pathways of support for young people.
This special five-part series on Black Youth Mental Health is supported by Hopelab, a non-profit operating foundation focused on supporting the mental health and wellbeing of Black, Brown and Queer young people.
https://hopelab.org/programs/hbcu-fellowship
Check out the Black Youth Mental Health Playlist on Youtube:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHkjY1zXSaEc&si=6woxdHMcLi_vb6yP
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
Contact the show: UBU@UnapologeticallyBlackUnicorns.info
Transcripts are available on Apple Podcasts.
Music for the podcast performed by “A New Deal For Youth”:
For 'New Deal'
Primary Artist(s): A New Deal for Youth
Featured Artist(s): Aaron Mack
Original Composer(s) Aaron Mack
Producers: Diego Montidiego, National Collaborative for Transformative Youth Policy
Engineer: Kingmakers of Oakland Studio
For 'Capitalism Be Like'
Primary Artist(s): A New Deal for Youth
Featured Artist(s): DayoneNotDayTwo, Aaron Mack
Original Composer(s): Aaron Mack
Producers: Diego Montidiego, National Collaborative for Transformative Youth Policy
Engineer: Kingmakers of Oakland Studio
Links to include:
Jul 14, 2026
Jul 14, 2026
30 min
Dr. Billie Castle (she/her) is Assistant Professor of Public Health at Xavier University of Lousiana and she is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Drawing on her work with the HopeLab HBCU Translational Science Fellowship, Dr. Castle shares how young people are transforming lived experiences into meaningful action. They talk about the power of youth leadership, community-engaged research and creating space for the next generation to shape the future.
This special five-part series on Black Youth Mental Health is supported by Hopelab, a non-profit operating foundation focused on supporting the mental health and wellbeing of Black, Brown and Queer young people.
https://hopelab.org/programs/hbcu-fellowship
Check out the Black Youth Mental Health Playlist on Youtube:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHkjY1zXSaEc&si=6woxdHMcLi_vb6yP
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
Contact the show: UBU@UnapologeticallyBlackUnicorns.info
Transcripts are available on Apple Podcasts.
Music for the podcast performed by “A New Deal For Youth”:
For 'New Deal'
Primary Artist(s): A New Deal for Youth
Featured Artist(s): Aaron Mack
Original Composer(s) Aaron Mack
Producers: Diego Montidiego, National Collaborative for Transformative Youth Policy
Engineer: Kingmakers of Oakland Studio
For 'Capitalism Be Like'
Primary Artist(s): A New Deal for Youth
Featured Artist(s): DayoneNotDayTwo, Aaron Mack
Original Composer(s): Aaron Mack
Producers: Diego Montidiego, National Collaborative for Transformative Youth Policy
Engineer: Kingmakers of Oakland Studio
Links to include:
Jul 7, 2026
Jul 7, 2026
12 min
Julie Tinker (she/her) is Principle at Hopelab and she is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. This is the launch of a series highlighting Black Youth Mental Health and the groundbreaking work of the HopeLab HBCU Translational Science Fellowship. They discuss how HBCU researchers are turning research into practical solutions that improve the lives of Black youth.
This special five-part series on Black Youth Mental Health is supported by Hopelab, a non-profit operating foundation focused on supporting the mental health and wellbeing of Black, Brown and Queer young people.
https://hopelab.org/programs/hbcu-fellowship
Check out the Black Youth Mental Health Playlist on Youtube:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHkjY1zXSaEc&si=6woxdHMcLi_vb6yP
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
Contact the show: UBU@UnapologeticallyBlackUnicorns.info
Transcripts are available on Apple Podcasts.
Music for the podcast performed by “A New Deal For Youth”:
For 'New Deal'
Primary Artist(s): A New Deal for Youth
Featured Artist(s): Aaron Mack
Original Composer(s) Aaron Mack
Producers: Diego Montidiego, National Collaborative for Transformative Youth Policy
Engineer: Kingmakers of Oakland Studio
For 'Capitalism Be Like'
Primary Artist(s): A New Deal for Youth
Featured Artist(s): DayoneNotDayTwo, Aaron Mack
Original Composer(s): Aaron Mack
Producers: Diego Montidiego, National Collaborative for Transformative Youth Policy
Engineer: Kingmakers of Oakland Studio
Links to include:
Jun 30, 2026
Jun 30, 2026
34 min
Dr. Andre Johnson (he/him) is the Founder/CEO of the Detroit Recovery Project (DRP), and he is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Dr. Johnson talks about the ideas in his book “The Recovery Ecosystem: A Wholistic Approach to Recovery” which is a guide for healing and progress in the journey of addiction recovery. They talk about the organization being a peer-run Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic, (CCBHC) the significance of supportive housing and the components of the recovery ecosystem.
For more information on Dr. Andre Johnson and his book “The Recovery Ecosystem: A Wholistic Approach to Recovery” visit: www.DrAndreJohnson.com
For more information on the Detroit Recovery Project visit: www.recovery4detroit.com
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
Contact the show: UBU@UnapologeticallyBlackUnicorns.info
For a direct transcript of this episode visit: https://bit.ly/ubu195AudioTranscript
Transcripts also available on Apple Podcasts.
Jun 23, 2026
Jun 23, 2026
31 min
Enola Aird is the Founder and President of the Community Healing Network and an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Enola shares how she is mobilizing Black people to heal from the lie of white superiority and Black inferiority. They talk about the impact of Marcus Garvey, making the Emotional Emancipation Circles a safe space for Black people and defying the lie and embracing the truth.
To learn more about Emotional Emancipation Circles visit: https://communityhealingnet.org/
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
Contact the show: UBU@UnapologeticallyBlackUnicorns.info
Transcripts are available on Apple Podcasts.