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
Tuesday Sep 20, 2022
Tuesday Sep 20, 2022
Dr. Nzinga Harrison (she/her) is a physician, educator, the Chief Medical Officer and Co-Founder of Eleanor Health and an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Dr. Harrison shares the “r’s” of trauma-informed care and how racism is a predictor for health disparities. They talk about Eleanor Health’s mission, how substance use disorders are mental health issues and how there are an infinite number of paths to addiction which means there are also an infinite number of paths to recovery.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
Tuesday Sep 13, 2022
Tuesday Sep 13, 2022
Vesper Moore (they/elle) is a mad liberation and disability justice activist, and they are an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Vesper defines mad liberation and neurodiversity and how they got involved in the field. They talk about opening Respites and the complications with funding, using advocacy in their peer training and learning lessons in everything and everyone.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
For more information visit:
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@vespermoore
Book Drop The Disorder: Second Edition - https://adisorder4everyone.com/
Website: www.vespermoore.com
Kiva Centers: www.kivacenters.org
Madness Network News: www.madnessnetworknews.com
Tuesday Sep 06, 2022
Tuesday Sep 06, 2022
Dr. John Draper (he/him) was the Chief Officer of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Dr. Draper helps us understand the genesis of the new 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and what he hopes gets accomplished through the new lifeline. They talk about geolocation, how to serve people where they are and building trust and making others feel empowered.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
For more info:
Tuesday Aug 30, 2022
Tuesday Aug 30, 2022
Dr. Ruby Mendenhall (she/her) is an Associate Professor at the University of Illinois and she is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Ruby talks about her family and where she came from. They talk about Ruby teaching at a predominately white institution, creating a wellness store, youth community health workers, youth citizen/community scientists and racial microaggressions.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
Tuesday Aug 23, 2022
Tuesday Aug 23, 2022
Shonique Williams (she/her) is the Founder of the Ezekiel’s Project and No CARE Court Coalition, Asantewaa Boykin (she/her) R.N MICN, is an Emergency RN and the co-founder of APTP (Anti Police - Terror Project), Andreya Garcia-Ponce De Leon (she/her) is the Executive Director of San Bernardino Free Them All and Project Amiga and they are all Unapologetically Black Unicorns. They discuss Senate Bill 1338 - CARE Court and all of its shortcomings. They talk about how they all got involved in the No CARE Court Coalition, their experiences speaking during the hearings and reactions from some assembly members and holding our elected officials accountable.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
Tuesday Aug 16, 2022
Tuesday Aug 16, 2022
Keris goes solo to reflect on some personal meaning behind the artwork of a few Tarot cards. There was one card in particular that resonated with her, the Tower card, and she draws the parallels between the card and her personal experiences. She talks about the old LA county general hospital, being involuntarily hospitalized and she ties it all together by sharing when she had her Tower Card moment.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
Tuesday Aug 09, 2022
Tuesday Aug 09, 2022
Zak Williams (he/him) is a Mental Health Advocate, the son of the late actor/comedian Robin Williams and an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Zak shares how mental health advocacy has been a way to manage his process of healing and discovering how service was a path to happiness. They talk about how Zak got started teaching at San Quentin State Prison, his work on lifestyle interventions and being open to opportunities.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
Tuesday Aug 02, 2022
Tuesday Aug 02, 2022
Denise Soler Cox (she/her) is an author, film director and an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Denise shares the concept for “Project Eñye” and how screening #44 changed everything about her film. They talk about “Los Trapos Sucios Se Lavan En Casa” and how Latinx families speak about mental health, how her film sparked something within the viewers to share their secrets and the power of our individual experience.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
Tuesday Jul 26, 2022
Tuesday Jul 26, 2022
Lorenzo Lewis (he/him) is the Founder of the Confess Project; America’s First Mental Health Barbershop Movement and Kelechi Ubozoh (she/her) ) is a mental health consultant, advocate, author and they share the importance of talking about Black Mental Health. They both talk about how they got inspired to do the work they are doing and how representation matters. This discuss pushing forward community crisis response, creating opportunities for the communities to be healers for our Black mental health and the concerns with 988 but also what an opportunity it could become if done right.
This episode is sponsored by Janssen Neuroscience and Supported by The Painted Brain, a California based Peer Run Organization.
Tuesday Jul 19, 2022
Tuesday Jul 19, 2022
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.