
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

2 days ago
2 days ago
Dr. Jonathan Edwards (he/him) and Rita Cronise (She/Her) are editors for the book “What it Takes: Wisdom from Peer Support Specialists and Supervisors” and they are Unapologetically Black Unicorns. Jonathan and Rita explain how the book came about and the history of Peer Support. They talk about who the target audience is for the book, why this book is needed and remembering their colleague Steve Harrington.
For more information about the book “What it Takes: Wisdom from Peer Support Specialists and Supervisors” visit: https://www.peersupportworks.org/naps-members-author-guide-to-peer-support/
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

Tuesday May 30, 2023
Tuesday May 30, 2023
Rev. Dr. Najuma Smith-Pollard (she/her) is the Founding Pastor of Word of Encouragement Community Church (WOECC) in Los Angeles, California. Rev. Najuma talks about the marriage of mental health and the faith community. They talk about being a first responder for the church community, empowering the village and going from building to bonding.
This episode is sponsored by Janssen Neuroscience and Supported by The Painted Brain, a California based Peer Run Organization.
https://paintedbrain.org/unapologetically-black-unicorns-podcast
For more information about Rev. Dr. Najuma Smith-Pollard visit: https://linktr.ee/Rev.Najuma

Tuesday May 23, 2023
“Recovery is Real and Recovery is Possible” with Dr. Miriam E. Delphin-Rittmon
Tuesday May 23, 2023
Tuesday May 23, 2023
Dr. Miriam E. Delphin-Rittmon, Ph.D. (she/hers) is the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Administrator of SAMHSA and an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Dr. Delphin-Rittmon reflects on her roles before joining SAMHSA and some of her mentors through the course of her career. They talk about mental health promotion and early intervention, the data behind the increase in use of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, equity focus work including the Black youth suicide summit and why SAMHSA offers hope with their funding of support and services.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
Links:
SAMHSA Interim Strategic Plan: https://www.samhsa.gov/about-us/interim-strategic-plan
Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator: https://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/

Tuesday May 16, 2023
“Oppression Hides in Ambiguity” with Carolina Valle
Tuesday May 16, 2023
Tuesday May 16, 2023
Carolina Valle, MSW, (She /Hers) is the Senior Policy Director at the California Pan-Ethnic Health Network and she is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Carolina unpacks the impact of her family history and what inspired her to become a social worker. They talk about the diversity of how communities are defining mental health and wellness, some concerns with the CARE Court framework and fighting stereotypes in the field of policy.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
For more information about CPEHN visit: www.cpehn.org

Tuesday May 09, 2023
“Providing Humane and Compassionate Care” with Dr. Rupi Legha
Tuesday May 09, 2023
Tuesday May 09, 2023
Dr. Rupi Legha (she/hers) is a psychiatrist focused on anti-racism and providing humane and compassionate care and she is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Dr. Legha walks us through her path to becoming a psychiatrist and how she was not convinced by the biomedical approach. They talk about safety concerns in mental health, community-oriented care and working to not problematize a child and their mental health.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
For more information on Dr. Rupi Legha visit: www.rupileghamd.com

Tuesday May 02, 2023
”100 Episode Celebration”
Tuesday May 02, 2023
Tuesday May 02, 2023
Keris has done over one hundred episodes of Unapologetically Black Unicorns and she is here to celebrate. She shares what the milestone means to her and she reflects on what she’s learned throughout all these episodes. Keris explains the next steps for the podcast and shout-outs are her guests that have contributed to the show’s success.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
UBU Playlists on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@UBUPodcast/playlists

Tuesday Apr 25, 2023
“Black Lives Matter: Crisis and Black Mental Health” with Taun Hall
Tuesday Apr 25, 2023
Tuesday Apr 25, 2023
Taun Hall (she/her) is the Executive Director of the Miles Hall Foundation. Taun shares the heart-breaking story of her son Miles who was killed by the police and how it’s led to her advocacy work. They talk AB 988 – “The Miles Hall Lifeline Act,” doing the prevention work in our Black communities and taking care of your self-care.
Mental Illness Is Not A Crime: The Miles Hall Foundation: https://www.themileshallfoundation.org/
This episode is sponsored by Janssen Neuroscience and Supported by The Painted Brain, a California based Peer Run Organization.
https://paintedbrain.org/unapologetically-black-unicorns-podcast

Tuesday Apr 18, 2023
Tuesday Apr 18, 2023
Crystal L. Brandow, PhD (she/hers) is the founder of clb strategies, LLC, Hakim Asadi, LMSW (he/him) is the founder of Beyond Living and Lawrence Hines (he/him) is a Marketing and Branding Consultant and a Mental Health Advocate and they are all Unapologetically Black Unicorns. They share why they developed this well-being model for Black people created by Black people. They talk about the nine domains for the well-being model, taking inventory on if your being is well and continuing to heal out loud.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
The Well-Being Model for Young Black Adults: https://www.meetclb.com/black-well-being

Tuesday Apr 11, 2023
“Empowering Ourselves for Our Future” with LaVerne Miller, JD
Tuesday Apr 11, 2023
Tuesday Apr 11, 2023
LaVerne Miller (she/her) is an attorney with a focus on the employment of people with lived experience and she is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. LaVerne shares her experience starting the first forensic peer specialist training program and how proud she is of its expansion. They talk about the peer workforce movement and the importance of Estate Planning, taking advantage of employee benefits and empowering ourselves for our future.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

Tuesday Apr 04, 2023
“You Are Magical AF”
Tuesday Apr 04, 2023
Tuesday Apr 04, 2023
Keris goes solo to share a critical email she received and goes on to focus on the common experience of all the negative self-talk that follows. She explains how someone else’s perception can really affect you and ways to try to move past it. Keris talks about how she was able to go to an event with friends to help refocus her energy but how it really comes down to feeling appreciated, feeling a connection and a sense of community plus how your vulnerability is your superpower.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline