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 Mar 22, 2022
Tuesday Mar 22, 2022
Jay Austin (he/him) is an advanced communications strategist and creative director, an advocate for decarceration and an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Jay shares how RLENTLSS came to be and how our ideas are informed by our life experiences. They talk about how Jay is trying to do his part to improve the diversion programs, looking for applicants with different backgrounds including a criminal record and the intersections of mental health and the criminal legal system.
If you or someone you know is in a mental or substance use disorder crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255.
Tuesday Mar 15, 2022
Tuesday Mar 15, 2022
Stefanie Lyn Kaufman-Mthimkhulu (they/she) is the Founder & Executive Director of Project LETS and they are an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. They both confess why they have become tired of trying to educate people and how separate is never equal. They talk about Project LETS, what’s missing with 988 and that there are places where you can make a difference.
If you or someone you know is in a mental or substance use disorder crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255.
If you’d like to volunteer to help build non-carceral crisis response systems, visit Project LETS: https://projectlets.org/
Tuesday Mar 08, 2022
Tuesday Mar 08, 2022
Lorenzo Lewis (he/him) is the Founder of the Confess Project; America’s First Mental Health Barbershop Movement and he is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Lorenzo explains how the Confess Project meets people where they are and how he’s trying to make the barbershop a place for support. They talk about how Lorenzo saw opportunity at the other end of what he thought were failures, trying to spread the new “988” number through the barbershops and the important areas they train their barbers in including: active listening, validation, positive communication and stigma reduction.
If you or someone you know is in a mental or substance use disorder crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255.
Tuesday Mar 01, 2022
Tuesday Mar 01, 2022
Brenda Vaca (she/hers) is a published poet, the Founder of Riot of Roses Publishing House and she is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Brenda talks about her debut collection of poetry “Riot of Roses” and the origin of the title. They talk about how they had to fight for themselves in school, sharing the backstory of Brenda’s Aunt and her schizophrenia diagnosis, their religious ties and why it’s important to keep telling your stories.
If you or someone you know is in a mental or substance use disorder crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255.
Tuesday Feb 22, 2022
Tuesday Feb 22, 2022
Dr. Curley Bonds (he/him) is the Chief Medical Officer for the Los Angeles Country Department of Mental Health. Dr. Bonds talks about his experience as a psychiatrist and the events that influenced his decision to become a psychiatrist. They talk about collaborative care, being mindful of the protective measures we use for our metal health and motivating more future psychiatrists of color.
This episode is sponsored by Janssen Neuroscience and Supported by The Painted Brain, a California based Peer Run Organization.
Tuesday Feb 15, 2022
Tuesday Feb 15, 2022
Tanya DePass (she/her) is a journalist, activist, streamer and she is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Tanya speaks on the RPG (Roll Playing Games) she created “Into The Motherlands” and how she’s telling a story through a Black lens. They talk about the tools for safety and consent while gaming, they talk about Tanya’s mental health work with the nonprofit “Take This” and creating things and spaces that speak to the Black experience.
If you or someone you know is in a mental or substance use disorder crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255.
Tuesday Feb 08, 2022
Tuesday Feb 08, 2022
For Black History Month, we go back to an earlier episode to hear from a black woman who is doing amazing things! Chyrell Bellamy (she/her/they), PhD is an Associate Professor of Yale School of Medicine's Department of Psychiatry, a Director of Peer Services & Research and an Unapologetic Black Unicorn. Chyrell speaks on her background in the work of HIV and her transition to mental health. They share their experiences about being black in the mental health field, the importance of sharing your lived experience and they offer hope for those struggling with mental health conditions.
If you or someone you know is in a mental or substance use disorder crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
Tuesday Feb 01, 2022
Tuesday Feb 01, 2022
Asantewaa Boykin (she/hers) R.N MICN, is an Emergency RN and the co-founder of APTP (Anti Police - Terror Project), helped developed Mental Health First and she is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Asantewaa speaks on why we should minimize police contact with those who are in the midst of a mental health crisis and working on divorcing danger from mental health. They talk about how to contact Mental Health First, the concerns that we are creating a “crisis system industrial complex”, mental health crisis response and the damaging outcomes especially for communities of color and understanding that the boxes aren’t real.
If you or someone you know is in a mental or substance use disorder crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255.
Tuesday Jan 25, 2022
Tuesday Jan 25, 2022
Courtney Billington (he/him) is the President of Janssen Neuroscience, a Mental Health & Wellness Advocate, veteran and community volunteer. Courtney shares his journey with Janssen Neuroscience and Johnson & Johnson and how his father’s dementia made him want to be part of the change. They talk about the political and social events that shape their approach on how Janssen Neuroscience relates to patients and providers of color, how Courtney wants his legacy to be about lives changed and the importance of mental health and wellness across the continuum of care for the Black community especially those with the greatest mental health needs.
This episode is sponsored by Janssen Neuroscience and Supported by The Painted Brain, a California based Peer Run Organization.
Tuesday Jan 18, 2022
Tuesday Jan 18, 2022
Henry Zhu (he/him) is the Chief of Staff at The Jed Foundation and he is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Henry shares how he got involved with the JED Foundation and how he found mentors along the way. They talk about youth mental health and finding a voice that youth can resonate with, men’s mental health, trying to advance BIPOC leadership and advocates as well as some of their wellness strategies.
Henry Zhu’s report – “A Call to Strengthen Men’s Mental Health”:
https://jedfoundation.org/news-views/a-call-to-strengthen-mens-mental-health/
If you or someone you know is in a mental or substance use disorder crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255.