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.
37episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Black Youth Mental Health: Dr. Billie Castle
Yesterday00:30:31Tap 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 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
1w ago00:12:27Tap 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 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
2w ago00:34:51Tap 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
3w ago00:31:52Tap 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
4w ago00:41:09Tap 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.
Transcribe →“The Trauma and Celebration through Hair” with Kelechi Ubozoh
May 2600:36:23Tap to summarizeKelechi Ubozoh (she/her) is a peer supporter, a Black Liberatory Coach, co-editor of “We've Been Too Patient: Voices from Radical Mental Health,” a contributor to the anthology “Trauma, Tresses, and Truth: Untangling Our Hair Through Personal Narratives” and she is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Keris and Kelechi reflect on why they decided to rethink the nuances of talking about Black hair and when and why they “hair code-switch”. Kelechi reads her chapter in the anthology, how she uses her hair strategically and the trauma and celebration through hair. “TRAUMA, TRESSES, & TRUTH: 2nd Virtual Conference Interrogating Black Women's Natural Hair” - August 4th - 6th: https://trauma-tresses-truth-conference-interrogating.heysummit.com/ The Anthology “Trauma, Tresses, and Truth: Untangling Our Hair Through Personal Narratives”: https://www.chicagoreviewpress.com/trauma--tresses--and-truth-products-9781641606707.php The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
Transcribe →“AI in Health Care” with Charlotte Blease
May 1900:45:27Tap to summarizeCharlotte Blease, PhD (she/her) is an Academic, Author, Public Speaker and an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Charlotte talks about what influenced her to write a book about AI in health care and the pros and cons of technology in the health care system. They talk about how AI could combat built in biases, how generative AI is already appearing with doctors and patients and truly working on getting the patient the best care possible. Dr. Bot: Why Doctors Can Fail Us―and How AI Could Save Lives: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0300247141 Charlotte Blease: https://web-cdn.bsky.app/profile/crblease.bsky.social https://bleaseondrbot.substack.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlotte-blease-phd-207806134/ 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 →“Who Decides the Value of a Disable Life” with Reid Davenport
May 1200:30:48Tap to summarizeReid Davenport (he/him) is an award-winning documentary filmmaker and he is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Reid talks about disability rights, medical ableism and the things that shape how society values disabled lives. They talk about Reid’s powerful film “Life After” and the issues it raises about the value of a person’s autonomy, the intersectionality of race and disability and the supports people need to live meaningful lives. To learn more about Reid Davenport visit: https://www.reiddavenport.com/ 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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