Podcast
Unapologetically Black Unicorns
Hosted by Keris Jän Myrick · EN
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.
40episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Black Youth Mental Health: Dr. Raquel Martin
6d ago00:36:19Tap to summarizeDr. 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: https://artists.landr.com/057914034898 https://newdealforyouth.org
Transcribe →Black Youth Mental Health: Dr. Danielle Hairston
2w ago00:36:13Tap to summarizeDr. 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: https://artists.landr.com/057914034898 https://newdealforyouth.org
Transcribe →Black Youth Mental Health: Dr. Breonte Guy
3w ago00:37:20Tap to summarizeDr. 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: https://artists.landr.com/057914034898 https://newdealforyouth.org
Transcribe →Black Youth Mental Health: Dr. Billie Castle
4w ago00:30:31Tap to summarizeDr. 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: https://artists.landr.com/057914034898 https://newdealforyouth.org
Transcribe →Black Youth Mental Health: Julie Tinker
Jul 700:12:27Tap to summarizeJulie 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: https://artists.landr.com/057914034898 https://newdealforyouth.org
Transcribe →“Don’t Give In, Don’t Give Up and Don’t Give Out” with Dr. Andre Johnson
Jun 3000:34:51Tap to summarizeDr. 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.
Transcribe →“It’s Time for Us to Heal” with Enola Aird
Jun 2300:31:52Tap to summarizeEnola 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.
Transcribe →“You Can’t Hear the People Who Are Listening” with Gaelynn Lea
Jun 1600:41:09Tap to summarizeGaelynn Lea is a musician, author, public speaker, disability advocate and an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Gaelynn shares her journey as a violinist, the winner of a Tiny Desk Contest and writing her book “Wasn't Meant to Be Perfect.” They talk about representation, Medicaid and disability rights, and the powerful reminder that you may not always see the people whose lives are being changed by your work. Websites: Gaelynn Lea Music and Linktree and Substack Instagram: @gaelynnlea YouTube: @gaelynnlea Music: Bandcamp | Spotify | Apple Music | Tidal The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Contact the show: UBU@UnapologeticallyBlackUnicorns.info Transcripts are available on Apple Podcasts.
Transcribe →“The Medicaid Maze - A Simulation Game”
Jun 900:14:12Tap to summarizeHappy Birthday UBU! In this interactive episode of Unapologetically Black Unicorns, Keris transforms complex policy into “The Medicaid Maze”, a storytelling board game that reveals the real-life challenges of navigating Medicaid. Through dice rolls and card draws, she explores how small policy shifts and everyday barriers can drastically affect people’s health coverage and stability. Blending empathy and advocacy, this episode invites listeners to rethink what it really means to survive and stay covered within America’s healthcare system. FREE Medicaid Maze game materials: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1PrbuCwEnQJj4HpZSymmutg9kawgkpGC- The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Contact the show: UBU@UnapologeticallyBlackUnicorns.info Transcripts are available on Apple Podcasts.
Transcribe →“The Value of Support”
Jun 200:14:42Tap to summarizeFrom the beautiful view at Niagara Falls, Keris reflects on the people whose support, encouragement and belief helped shape her mental health recovery and her career. Keris shares stories about her mentors, friends and some unexpected connections. She explores the value of support and it serves as a reminder to reach out and let people know how much they have meant in your life. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Contact the show: UBU@UnapologeticallyBlackUnicorns.info Transcripts are available on Apple Podcasts.
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