Therapy for Black Girls

Cree Summer has played Freddie Brooks since 1988, and in Netflix's A Different World sequel, Freddie is back at Hillman as a professor. This week, Dr. Joy talks with Cree and Kennedi Reece, the Howard musical theater student Debbie Allen discovered and cast as Hazel, about what Freddie and Hazel share and what it took to bring a beloved show back for a new generation. Cree revisits filming the original "No Means No" episode at a time when date rape was just getting a name, and Kennedi talks about playing Hazel's friendship with Amir as a queer Christian herself. They also discuss the sisterhood that has lasted more than 30 years among the original cast, the dorm life that bonded the new one, and why Black girls deserve to be a little messy on screen. A Different World is now streaming on Netflix. About the Podcast The Therapy for Black Girls Podcast is a weekly conversation with Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, a licensed Psychologist in Atlanta, Georgia, about all things mental health, personal development, and all…

Welcome back to our minisode series, "I Have Some Thoughts." These short episodes are designed to contextualize the pop culture moments we're currently paying attention to through a mental health lens. Pop culture isn't just fun to chat about, it can reveal important information about how we relate, cope, and understand ourselves. Join us each Friday to hear Dr. Joy share her thoughts about the happenings of the week. This week, we're chatting about Chris Rock's regret over not paying for a friend's lawyer, Zendaya not standing to greet the First Lady of France, and Druski's new skit about child stars. Stay Connected​ Wanna chat more about the pop culture hot topics of the week? Join us inside our Patreon community. Is there a topic you'd like covered on the podcast? Submit it at therapyforblackgirls.com/mailbox. If you're looking for a therapist in your area, check out the directory at https://www.therapyforblackgirls.com/directory. Make sure to follow us on social media: Instagram: @therapyforblackgirls…

This week Dr. Joy talks with Kerry Washington about her new Netflix thriller Animals, where she plays Abigail, a therapist and mother who believes her son has been abducted. They get into how fear shapes our decisions, what Kerry has learned from individual, group, couples and family therapy, and how her family worked through the secret at the center of her memoir, Thicker Than Water. Kerry also shares why she's drawn to messy characters and how she lets them go when the cameras stop. Animals is now streaming on Netflix. About the Podcast The Therapy for Black Girls Podcast is a weekly conversation with Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, a licensed Psychologist in Atlanta, Georgia, about all things mental health, personal development, and all the small decisions we can make to become the best possible versions of ourselves. Resources & Announcements Want to reflect on this conversation in community? Join us inside our Patreon community where we’re unpacking this episode together. You can now catch episodes of the…

Welcome back to our minisode series, "I Have Some Thoughts." These short episodes are designed to contextualize the pop culture moments we're currently paying attention to through a mental health lens. Pop culture isn't just fun to chat about, it can reveal important information about how we relate, cope, and understand ourselves. Join us each Friday to hear Dr. Joy share her thoughts about the happenings of the week. This week, we're chatting about the expectations for Savannah James to pay for friends' travel, what the Cornell sexual assault case reveals about groupthink, and Da'Vinchi's comments about independence in childhood. Stay Connected​ Wanna chat more about the pop culture hot topics of the week? Join us inside our Patreon community. Is there a topic you'd like covered on the podcast? Submit it at therapyforblackgirls.com/mailbox. If you're looking for a therapist in your area, check out the directory at https://www.therapyforblackgirls.com/directory. Make sure to follow us on social media:…

Your menstrual cycle is about so much more than your period. This week, Dr. Joy talks with Dr. Charis Chambers, aka The Period Doctor, about PMS, PMDD, hormones, period tracking, and understanding what’s actually happening in your body throughout the month. They also discuss how to advocate for yourself when something doesn’t feel right and why there’s no such thing as a “normal” period that looks the same for everyone. About the Podcast The Therapy for Black Girls Podcast is a weekly conversation with Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, a licensed Psychologist in Atlanta, Georgia, about all things mental health, personal development, and all the small decisions we can make to become the best possible versions of ourselves. Resources & Announcements Want to reflect on this conversation in community? Join us inside our Patreon community where we’re unpacking this episode together. You can now catch episodes of the Therapy for Black Girls podcast on YouTube. Be sure to subscribe to get new episodes every week. Did you…

Welcome back to our minisode series, "I Have Some Thoughts." These short episodes are designed to contextualize the pop culture moments we're currently paying attention to through a mental health lens. Pop culture isn't just fun to chat about, it can reveal important information about how we relate, cope, and understand ourselves. Join us each Friday to hear Dr. Joy share her thoughts about the happenings of the week. This week, we're chatting about the exclusion of Black winners in this year's VMA's, the Migos AI trend going too far, Kirk Franklin & Glorilla's new song, and the reboot of A Different World. Stay Connected​ Wanna chat more about the pop culture hot topics of the week? Join us inside our Patreon community. Is there a topic you'd like covered on the podcast? Submit it at therapyforblackgirls.com/mailbox. If you're looking for a therapist in your area, check out the directory at https://www.therapyforblackgirls.com/directory. Make sure to follow us on social media: Instagram:…

"You'll change your mind." "Who's going to take care of you when you're older?" Black women who say they don't want children hear some version of this constantly, and the decision often gets treated as a betrayal of family and community. Today we're joined by licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Lana Holmes to talk about why a personal choice draws so much outside commentary. Dr. Lana and I chatted about the difference between being child free and being childless, how the legacy of chattel slavery and domestic work still shapes what's expected of Black women's bodies, what dating looks like when you know kids aren't part of your plan, and the missing supports (childcare, perinatal care, safety) that have more people questioning whether parenthood is for them. She also shares what being child free has made room for in her own life. In this episode: Why "I don't want kids" gets heard as a personal attack, and how cisheteropatriarchy and misogynoir feed that reaction What gets lost when we collapse child free and…

Welcome back to our minisode series, "I Have Some Thoughts." These short episodes are designed to contextualize the pop culture moments we're currently paying attention to through a mental health lens. Pop culture isn't just fun to chat about, it can reveal important information about how we relate, cope, and understand ourselves. Join us each Friday to hear Dr. Joy share her thoughts about the happenings of the week. This week, we're chatting about Tisha Campbell's recent AuDHD diagnosis, Nikole Hannah-Jones' decision about schooling for her daughter, and whether bringing iced coffee to an interview is unprofessional. Stay Connected​ Wanna chat more about the pop culture hot topics of the week? Join us inside our Patreon community. Is there a topic you'd like covered on the podcast? Submit it at therapyforblackgirls.com/mailbox. If you're looking for a therapist in your area, check out the directory at https://www.therapyforblackgirls.com/directory. Make sure to follow us on social media: Instagram:…

This week we're back with another Ask Dr. Joy episode and today all of your questions are about the unspoken gaps in how many of us were raised to think about love. Dr. Joy discusses getting back into dating after years away, feeling a quiet disconnect with your spouse, and finally naming why relationships often feel so hard to navigate. These are the kinds of realizations that can sit with you for years before you find the words and today's conversation is about giving yourself the grace to learn what you didn't know you were missing. About the Podcast The Therapy for Black Girls Podcast is a weekly conversation with Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, a licensed Psychologist in Atlanta, Georgia, about all things mental health, personal development, and all the small decisions we can make to become the best possible versions of ourselves. Resources & Announcements Want to reflect on this conversation in community? Join us inside our Patreon community where we’re unpacking this episode together. You can now catch…

Welcome back to our minisode series, "I Have Some Thoughts." These short episodes are designed to contextualize the pop culture moments we're currently paying attention to through a mental health lens. Pop culture isn't just fun to chat about, it can reveal important information about how we relate, cope, and understand ourselves. Join us each Friday to hear Dr. Joy share her thoughts about the happenings of the week. This week, we're chatting about Kandi Burruss & Todd Tucker's divorce, the tragic passing of Raz B & Mona Li's son, Karmelo Anthony's past, and the job market for new college grads. Stay Connected​ Wanna chat more about the pop culture hot topics of the week? Join us inside our Patreon community. Is there a topic you'd like covered on the podcast? Submit it at therapyforblackgirls.com/mailbox. If you're looking for a therapist in your area, check out the directory at https://www.therapyforblackgirls.com/directory. Make sure to follow us on social media: Instagram: @therapyforblackgirls Threads:…

Dr. Marisa Franco is back, and this time she's turning her attention from friendship to something underneath it: self-worth. Her new book, Worth: The New Science of Self-Esteem and Secure Attachment, starts with a confession. While her relationship was falling apart, she was performing security, saying all the right things, staying calm, doing everything the books tell you to do, while quietly abandoning what she actually felt. She and Dr. Joy talk through why that kind of self-abandonment is so familiar to Black women in particular, and what it costs us. The conversation moves through what Dr. Franco calls the difference between the good twin and the bad twin of high self-esteem, both of whom say they feel good about themselves, but only one of whom can sit with a hard feeling instead of pushing it away. She explains why insecurity isn't a flaw so much as a coping strategy our brains developed to protect us from repeat harm, and introduces memory reconsolidation, the idea that revisiting an old memory with…

Welcome back to our minisode series, "I Have Some Thoughts." These short episodes are designed to contextualize the pop culture moments we're currently paying attention to through a mental health lens. Pop culture isn't just fun to chat about, it can reveal important information about how we relate, cope, and understand ourselves. Join us each Friday to hear Dr. Joy share her thoughts about the happenings of the week. This week, we're chatting about influencer behavior at the U.S. Open, Raven Symone's relationship to Blackness, and Vic Mensa & Chance the Rapper's friendship challenges. Stay Connected​ Wanna chat more about the pop culture hot topics of the week? Join us inside our Patreon community. Is there a topic you'd like covered on the podcast? Submit it at therapyforblackgirls.com/mailbox. If you're looking for a therapist in your area, check out the directory at https://www.therapyforblackgirls.com/directory. Make sure to follow us on social media: Instagram: @therapyforblackgirls Threads:…

What happens when you combine psychedelics with the therapeutic process? Psychedelic-assisted therapy is gaining attention as more people look beyond more familiar approaches to mental health, but there’s still a lot we’re learning about how it works and what it actually feels like to experience. In this conversation with Dr. Sierra Carter, an Associate Professor of Psychology and Director of the Center for Family Research at the University of Georgia, we’re unpacking the science behind psychedelics in therapy, the ways it may affect the brain and body, and what to consider before deciding whether this approach is right for you. Resources & Announcements Want to reflect on this conversation in community? Join us inside our Patreon community where we’re unpacking this episode together. You can now catch episodes of the Therapy for Black Girls podcast on YouTube. Be sure to subscribe to get new episodes every week. Did you know you can leave us a voice note with your questions for the podcast? If you have a…

Welcome back to our minisode series, "I Have Some Thoughts." These short episodes are designed to contextualize the pop culture moments we're currently paying attention to through a mental health lens. Pop culture isn't just fun to chat about, it can reveal important information about how we relate, cope, and understand ourselves. Join us each Friday to hear Dr. Joy share her thoughts about the happenings of the week. This week, we're chatting about Miguel's new relationship, Gladys Knight stepping away from performing, and the new Miss USA Justus Kelley. Stay Connected​ Wanna chat more about the pop culture hot topics of the week? Join us inside our Patreon community. Is there a topic you'd like covered on the podcast? Submit it at therapyforblackgirls.com/mailbox. If you're looking for a therapist in your area, check out the directory at https://www.therapyforblackgirls.com/directory. Make sure to follow us on social media: Instagram: @therapyforblackgirls Threads: @therapyforblackgirls Our Production Team…

Most of Kier Gaines’ therapy clients are women, many of whom are working through difficult relationships with their fathers. This week, Kier and Dr. Joy discuss what a father wound can look like, how it affects daughters in adulthood, and why receiving an apology may not resolve years of hurt. He also shares what he had to learn while raising daughters, from ordering underwear online to recognizing the parts of girlhood he could not anticipate. He and Dr. Joy discuss where attachment research falls short for Black families, how people respond to him as a big, dark-skinned Black man doing tender work in public, and why he is careful when people describe his content as “healing.” Kier’s new book, It All Starts When You Do, is out now. He shares why waiting can become a habit and what it takes to begin before you feel ready. Resources & Announcements Want to reflect on this conversation in community? Join us inside our Patreon community where we’re unpacking this episode together. You can now catch episodes of…

Welcome back to our minisode series, "I Have Some Thoughts." These short episodes are designed to contextualize the pop culture moments we're currently paying attention to through a mental health lens. Pop culture isn't just fun to chat about, it can reveal important information about how we relate, cope, and understand ourselves. Join us each Friday to hear Dr. Joy share her thoughts about the happenings of the week. This week, we're chatting the new Black brides, the NABJ Two Thumbs Down Award, and the endless food recalls. Stay Connected​ Wanna chat more about the pop culture hot topics of the week? Join us inside our Patreon community. Is there a topic you'd like covered on the podcast? Submit it at therapyforblackgirls.com/mailbox. If you're looking for a therapist in your area, check out the directory at https://www.therapyforblackgirls.com/directory. Make sure to follow us on social media: Instagram: @therapyforblackgirls Threads: @therapyforblackgirls Our Production Team Executive Producers: Dennison…

In the final episode of our Surviving Middle School series, we’re answering your questions about navigating this sometimes complicated stage of growing up. Dr. Russell Ledet joins us for a Q&A covering friendships, social media, and newly navigating independence. He shares practical advice and perspective for parents who want to better understand what their middle schoolers are experiencing and stay connected as they grow. Tune in for a thoughtful conversation filled with insight and guidance for navigating the middle school years. Resources & Announcements Want to reflect on this conversation in community? Join us inside our Patreon community where we’re unpacking this episode together. You can now catch episodes of the Therapy for Black Girls podcast on YouTube. Be sure to subscribe to get new episodes every week. Did you know you can leave us a voice note with your questions for the podcast? If you have a question you'd like some feedback on, topics you'd like to hear covered, or want to suggest movies or…

Welcome back to our minisode series, "I Have Some Thoughts." These short episodes are designed to contextualize the pop culture moments we're currently paying attention to through a mental health lens. Pop culture isn't just fun to chat about, it can reveal important information about how we relate, cope, and understand ourselves. Join us each Friday to hear Dr. Joy share her thoughts about the happenings of the week. This week, we're chatting about Maya Boyd being cast as the new Storm, Tyga's new album, and the University of Michigan's new grade policy. Stay Connected​ Wanna chat more about the pop culture hot topics of the week? Join us inside our Patreon community. Is there a topic you'd like covered on the podcast? Submit it at therapyforblackgirls.com/mailbox. If you're looking for a therapist in your area, check out the directory at https://www.therapyforblackgirls.com/directory. Make sure to follow us on social media: Instagram: @therapyforblackgirls Threads: @therapyforblackgirls Our Production Team…

Middle school changes kids in ways that can feel unrecognizable. Dr. Russell Ledet, child and adolescent psychiatrist and father of two Black girls, joins Dr. Joy to explain why. They walk through the psychological stages driving adolescence, industry versus inferiority giving way to identity versus role confusion. They talk through what's actually happening in the brain as the amygdala and prefrontal cortex develop on different timelines, a combination Dr. Ledet argues isn't cruel so much as an opening for parents to grow alongside their kids. Dr. Ledet talks through how friendships form in middle school and what anxiety can look like when it doesn't announce itself. He offers real-time guidance for common flashpoints, a first physical or verbal fight and a first heartbreak, along with how to tell the difference between normal adolescent worry and something that needs more support. He closes on the one thing he thinks most parents get wrong about middle schoolers. They assume kids aren't thinking things…

Welcome back to our minisode series, "I Have Some Thoughts." These short episodes are designed to contextualize the pop culture moments we're currently paying attention to through a mental health lens. Pop culture isn't just fun to chat about, it can reveal important information about how we relate, cope, and understand ourselves. Join us each Friday to hear Dr. Joy share her thoughts about the happenings of the week. This week, we're chatting about Jools Lebron's GoFundMe, Tee Grizzley's expungement, and Jacquees' decision not to sing backup for Chris Brown & Usher. Stay Connected​ Wanna chat more about the pop culture hot topics of the week? Join us inside our Patreon community. Is there a topic you'd like covered on the podcast? Submit it at therapyforblackgirls.com/mailbox. If you're looking for a therapist in your area, check out the directory at https://www.therapyforblackgirls.com/directory. Make sure to follow us on social media: Instagram: @therapyforblackgirls Threads: @therapyforblackgirls Our…

In the 1st episode of our “Surviving Middle School” series, we chat with Dr. Whitney J. Raglin Bignall about how to foster a balanced relationship between your middle schooler and technology in a world where tech is at our fingertips around the clock. We get into the real-life effects of group chats, how to integrate technology in a healthy way, and the major importance of building emotional resilience in a world where many children turn to tech for support. About the Podcast The Therapy for Black Girls Podcast is a weekly conversation with Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, a licensed Psychologist in Atlanta, Georgia, about all things mental health, personal development, and all the small decisions we can make to become the best possible versions of ourselves. Resources & Announcements Want to reflect on this conversation in community? Join us inside our Patreon community where we’re unpacking this episode together. You can now catch episodes of the Therapy for Black Girls podcast on YouTube. Be sure to subscribe to…

Welcome back to our minisode series, "I Have Some Thoughts." These short episodes are designed to contextualize the pop culture moments we're currently paying attention to through a mental health lens. Pop culture isn't just fun to chat about, it can reveal important information about how we relate, cope, and understand ourselves. Join us each Friday to hear Dr. Joy share her thoughts about the happenings of the week. This week, we're chatting about Tuskegee's dress code, Marvel shelving the new Blade movie, and Brittney Griner's recent divorce filing. Stay Connected​ Wanna chat more about the pop culture hot topics of the week? Join us inside our Patreon community. Is there a topic you'd like covered on the podcast? Submit it at therapyforblackgirls.com/mailbox. If you're looking for a therapist in your area, check out the directory at https://www.therapyforblackgirls.com/directory. Make sure to follow us on social media: Instagram: @therapyforblackgirls Threads: @therapyforblackgirls Our Production Team…

Today, Dr. Joy is breaking down the emotional journeys of each of the characters of the series, The Five Star Weekend. We’ll dive into their complicated friendship dynamics, how they navigate grief, and the patterns that drive their decisions throughout the series. Think of this as a therapy session for the characters, exploring the wounds, relationships, and reckonings at the heart of the show. Spoiler warning: we'll be discussing major plot points from start to finish. About the Podcast The Therapy for Black Girls Podcast is a weekly conversation with Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, a licensed Psychologist in Atlanta, Georgia, about all things mental health, personal development, and all the small decisions we can make to become the best possible versions of ourselves. Resources & Announcements Want to reflect on this conversation in community? Join us inside our Patreon community where we’re unpacking this episode together. You can now catch episodes of the Therapy for Black Girls podcast on YouTube. Be sure to…

Welcome back to our minisode series, "I Have Some Thoughts." These short episodes are designed to contextualize the pop culture moments we're currently paying attention to through a mental health lens. Pop culture isn't just fun to chat about, it can reveal important information about how we relate, cope, and understand ourselves. Join us each Friday to hear Dr. Joy share her thoughts about the happenings of the week. This week, we're chatting about Chadwick Boseman and Malcolm Jamal Warner's family disputes over their estates, Ryan Clark's departure from ESPN, and Gen Z's difficulty asking to be paid back. Stay Connected​ Wanna chat more about the pop culture hot topics of the week? Join us inside our Patreon community. Is there a topic you'd like covered on the podcast? Submit it at therapyforblackgirls.com/mailbox. If you're looking for a therapist in your area, check out the directory at https://www.therapyforblackgirls.com/directory. Make sure to follow us on social media: Instagram:…

Dr. Joy sits down with neuropsychologist Dr. Tanisha Hill-Jarrett, assistant professor at UCSF's Memory and Aging Center, to talk through what brain health means, why it's broader than mental health alone, and the daily habits that support it: cardiovascular exercise, a heart-healthy diet, stress management, social connection, and quality sleep. They dig into what our phones are doing to us. Dr. Hill-Jarrett breaks down how short-form video triggers a bigger dopamine response than a typical reward, why the unpredictability of a feed keeps us scrolling, and what that means for sleep, attention span, and memory. She shares her own strategies, including separate personal and professional Instagram accounts and the Pomodoro method for resetting focus without reaching for a screen. The conversation turns to her research on Black women and Alzheimer's disease. Black Americans face 1.5 to 2 times the risk of white Americans, and Black women carry the highest projected prevalence of any group, a gap that shows up…

Welcome back to our minisode series, "I Have Some Thoughts." These short episodes are designed to contextualize the pop culture moments we're currently paying attention to through a mental health lens. Pop culture isn't just fun to chat about, it can reveal important information about how we relate, cope, and understand ourselves. Join us each Friday to hear Dr. Joy share her thoughts about the happenings of the week. This week, we're chatting about Angel Reese and ongoing racism in the WNBA, Brandy being body-shamed, and Latto's response to unsolicited parenting advice. Stay Connected​ Wanna chat more about the pop culture hot topics of the week? Join us inside our Patreon community. Is there a topic you'd like covered on the podcast? Submit it at therapyforblackgirls.com/mailbox. If you're looking for a therapist in your area, check out the directory at https://www.therapyforblackgirls.com/directory. Make sure to follow us on social media: Instagram: @therapyforblackgirls Threads: @therapyforblackgirls Our…

If you've ever been curious about psychedelic-assisted therapy, this episode is for you. Our very own Director of Podcasts and Digital Content, Ellice Ellis, was invited to attend Beckley Retreat's Guided Sanctuary for Black Women Psilocybin Retreat in Jamaica—a week-long experience designed to support healing through guided psilocybin sessions. Ellice chats with Dr. Joy to reflect on her experience, sharing what surprised her, what challenged her, and how the retreat has shaped her understanding of herself and her mental health. They're also joined by Hanifa Nayo Washington, lead facilitator at Beckley Retreats, who breaks down what psychedelic-assisted care actually is, why preparation and integration are just as important as the medicine itself, and how creating a culturally affirming space specifically for Black women can transform the healing experience. Resources & Announcements Want to reflect on this conversation in community? Join us inside our Patreon community where we’re unpacking this episode…

Welcome back to our minisode series, "I Have Some Thoughts." These short episodes are designed to contextualize the pop culture moments we're currently paying attention to through a mental health lens. Pop culture isn't just fun to chat about, it can reveal important information about how we relate, cope, and understand ourselves. Join us each Friday to hear Dr. Joy share her thoughts about the happenings of the week. This week, we're chatting about Jay-Z & Blue Ivy, Nolan Wells, and the Love Island Finale. Stay Connected​ Wanna chat more about the pop culture hot topics of the week? Join us inside our Patreon community. Is there a topic you'd like covered on the podcast? Submit it at therapyforblackgirls.com/mailbox. If you're looking for a therapist in your area, check out the directory at https://www.therapyforblackgirls.com/directory. Make sure to follow us on social media: Instagram: @therapyforblackgirls Threads: @therapyforblackgirls Our Production Team Executive Producers: Dennison Bradford &…

The first half of the year may be behind us, but the cosmos still has plenty in store. This week, Dr. Joy is joined by astrologer Camille Michelle Gray to explore the major astrological themes that will shape the rest of 2026. Together, they chat about the biggest transits, retrogrades, and discuss how these cosmic movements may influence everything from our relationships and careers to our personal growth and our shared experiences. Whether you're someone who checks your birth chart regularly or you're simply curious about what astrology has to say, Camille breaks down the season ahead in a way that's insightful and accessible. She explains what these astrological shifts can teach us, how to navigate periods of uncertainty with intention, and why understanding the energy of the moment can help us make more empowered decisions. Plus, Camille shares sign-by-sign guidance for the remainder of the year, highlighting what each zodiac sign should prioritize, where opportunities for growth and transformation may…

Welcome back to our minisode series, "I Have Some Thoughts." These short episodes are designed to contextualize the pop culture moments we're currently paying attention to through a mental health lens. Pop culture isn't just fun to chat about, it can reveal important information about how we relate, cope, and understand ourselves. Join us each Friday to hear Dr. Joy share her thoughts about the happenings of the week. This week, we're chatting about Nara Smith sharing about her daughter's cancer diagnosis, Kennedy Ryan's pen name, and controversy about Young Miami's Spend Dat. Stay Connected​ Wanna chat more about the pop culture hot topics of the week? Join us inside our Patreon community. Is there a topic you'd like covered on the podcast? Submit it at therapyforblackgirls.com/mailbox. If you're looking for a therapist in your area, check out the directory at https://www.therapyforblackgirls.com/directory. Make sure to follow us on social media: Instagram: @therapyforblackgirls Threads:…

When Ambassador Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley first proposed a Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer role at the State Department, the response from HR was polite and dismissive. Years later, she came back and got the job done — on her own terms, with her own budget, her own staff, and a seat on the committee that assigns ambassadors. What she found when she got inside was not what most people assume. Dr. Joy sits down with Ambassador Abercrombie-Winstanley — thirty-year diplomat, former US Ambassador to Malta, and the State Department's first-ever CDIO — to talk about what DEI was designed to do, what it was never meant to be, and why so much of the backlash against it is built on a misreading. They get into the mechanics of how people really get hired and promoted in elite institutions — the secret handshakes, the drug deals, the posted job that was never really open — and what it looked like when the Ambassador's office forced those positions into open competition. She also talks about the psychological…

Welcome back to our minisode series, "I Have Some Thoughts." These short episodes are designed to contextualize the pop culture moments we're currently paying attention to through a mental health lens. Pop culture isn't just fun to chat about, it can reveal important information about how we relate, cope, and understand ourselves. Join us each Friday to hear Dr. Joy share her thoughts about the happenings of the week. This week, we're chatting about Lauryn Hill at the BET Awards, Muni Long's health concerns, and North West's appeals for individuality. Stay Connected​ Wanna chat more about the pop culture hot topics of the week? Join us inside our Patreon community. Is there a topic you'd like covered on the podcast? Submit it at therapyforblackgirls.com/mailbox. If you're looking for a therapist in your area, check out the directory at https://www.therapyforblackgirls.com/directory. Make sure to follow us on social media: Instagram: @therapyforblackgirls Threads: @therapyforblackgirls Our Production Team…

What do we actually get from following someone who will never know we exist? Dr. Maia Niguel Hoskin has spent her career studying that question, and on this episode she breaks down parasocial relationships: the one-sided bonds we form with influencers, celebrities, and increasingly, AI. Dr. Joy and Dr. Hoskin trace how these relationships move differently for Black women, who are often expected to show up as the loyal supporter for a celebrity the same way they're expected to show up for everyone else in their lives. They use the backlash against the owner and founder of the global luxury fashion brand Hanifa, Anifa Mvuemba, as a case study in what happens when that loyalty curdles into an expectation that a small business owner can never have an off day, and they revisit the moment writers suggested Kanye West simply needed "a Black woman" instead of a therapist. Dr. Hoskin also shares her own boundary-setting story, stepping away from news and social media for nearly five months when her nervous system…

Welcome back to our minisode series, "I Have Some Thoughts." These short episodes are designed to contextualize the pop culture moments we're currently paying attention to through a mental health lens. Pop culture isn't just fun to chat about, it can reveal important information about how we relate, cope, and understand ourselves. Join us each Friday to hear Dr. Joy share her thoughts about the happenings of the week. This week, we're chatting about Serena & Venus' return to Wimbledon, season 2 of Tracee Ellis Ross' Solo Traveling, and Lil Nas X's return from rehab. Resources Listen to Session 435: Breaking Down Sibling Dynamics Listen to How Traveling Alone Can Spark Self-Discovery Listen to Session 176: Exploring Bipolar Disorders Stay Connected​ Wanna chat more about the pop culture hot topics of the week? Join us inside our Patreon community. Is there a topic you'd like covered on the podcast? Submit it at therapyforblackgirls.com/mailbox. If you're looking for a therapist in your area, check out the…

When Dr. Allycin Powell-Hicks wanted to write her dissertation on Black women and beauty, her graduate program told her the topic wasn't serious. Her research went on to reveal something the field didn't expect: Black women reported a stronger sense of control over their bodies than white women, and the more connected a Black woman felt to her culture, the stronger that sense of control became. More than a decade later, that "unserious" research has become The Problem with Pretty (Hachette), a book about how beauty standards get wired into the brain — and how to get free of them. Dr. Joy sits down with Dr. Ally — psychofuturist, beauty and perception expert, and founder of Doux Consulting — to unpack what's happening to self-image in the social media era. They cover the looksmaxxing phenomenon pulling in Gen Z, how "Instagram face" is flattening the diversity of faces we see, why the confidence boost after a cosmetic procedure tends to fade within months, and the difference between beauty and glamour. Dr.…

Welcome back to our minisode series, "I Have Some Thoughts." These short episodes are designed to contextualize the pop culture moments we're currently paying attention to through a mental health lens. Pop culture isn't just fun to chat about, it can reveal important information about how we relate, cope, and understand ourselves. Join us each Friday to hear Dr. Joy share her thoughts about the happenings of the week. This week, we're chatting about the NY Knicks winning the NBA Championship, a UFC Fighter making disparaging remarks about Michelle Obama, and Zahara Jolie changing her last name. Resources Listen to Session 462: Going No Contact Stay Connected​ Wanna chat more about the pop culture hot topics of the week? Join us inside our Patreon community. Is there a topic you'd like covered on the podcast? Submit it at therapyforblackgirls.com/mailbox. If you're looking for a therapist in your area, check out the directory at https://www.therapyforblackgirls.com/directory. Make sure to follow us on social…

In honor of Black Music Month, Dr. Joy sits down with two women who experienced twenty years of Black music from opposite sides of the industry. Shanti Das spent over 25 years as a marketing executive at labels like LaFace and Universal Motown, working with artists from OutKast to Prince, before founding the mental health nonprofit Silence the Shame. Ivie Ani came of age alongside the music itself — a Bronx-raised teenager replaying The Beyoncé Experience on YouTube who grew into an award-winning journalist covering music and culture for The New York Times, Pitchfork, Okayplayer, and beyond. Together they trace the road from new music Tuesdays and 106 & Park to streaming, playlist culture, and fan communities millions deep. They revisit the albums that defined two eras — B'Day, In My Mind, Lemonade, Anti — and consider why 2016 feels like the last time we all listened together. The conversation turns to what emotional transparency costs Black women artists, how Rihanna became the blueprint for a new kind of…

Welcome back to our minisode series, "I Have Some Thoughts." These short episodes are designed to contextualize the pop culture moments we're currently paying attention to through a mental health lens. Pop culture isn't just fun to chat about, it can reveal important information about how we relate, cope, and understand ourselves. Join us each Friday to hear Dr. Joy share her thoughts about the happenings of the week. This week, we're chatting about Scary Movie 6, Latto's postpartum concerns, and Russell Wilson's retirement. Stay Connected​ Wanna chat more about the pop culture hot topics of the week? Join us inside our Patreon community. Is there a topic you'd like covered on the podcast? Submit it at therapyforblackgirls.com/mailbox. If you're looking for a therapist in your area, check out the directory at https://www.therapyforblackgirls.com/directory. Make sure to follow us on social media: Instagram: @therapyforblackgirls Threads: @therapyforblackgirls Our Production Team Executive Producers: Dennison…

If you listened to last week’s episode, we explored soul food as a living tradition. We talked about how it continues to evolve, and how we’ve used it as a tool of expression across generations.This week, we’re continuing that conversation by looking at soul food from a wider scope. I’m happy to be joined by one of the leading voices in Black food studies, Dr. Psyche A. Williams-Forson. She is an award-winning scholar and cultural historian whose work explores the connections between food, race, gender, and culture. She’s the author of ‘Eating While Black: Food Shaming and Race in America’ and ‘Building Houses out of Chicken Legs,’ where she invites us to look beyond just the food we’re consuming and ask deeper questions about who gets to define what we eat, and what those definitions say about us and our shared experiences. In this conversation she helps us understand the many ways that food can serve as a lens into cultural memory and how Black communities have created meaning and identity through what we…

Welcome back to our minisode series, "I Have Some Thoughts." These short episodes are designed to contextualize the pop culture moments we're currently paying attention to through a mental health lens. Pop culture isn't just fun to chat about, it can reveal important information about how we relate, cope, and understand ourselves. Join us each Friday to hear Dr. Joy share her thoughts about the happenings of the week. This week, we're chatting about Jay-Z at the Roots Picnic, a Love Island contestant being kicked out before the season airs, and MIA suing Kid Cudi. Stay Connected​ Wanna chat more about the pop culture hot topics of the week? Join us inside our Patreon community. Is there a topic you'd like covered on the podcast? Submit it at therapyforblackgirls.com/mailbox. If you're looking for a therapist in your area, check out the directory at https://www.therapyforblackgirls.com/directory. Make sure to follow us on social media: Instagram: @therapyforblackgirls Threads: @therapyforblackgirls Our…

When you think about the Black American experience, soul food is interwoven throughout its fabric. It carries stories and traditions across generations, and marks memories shared with people you love. And through the years, its definition has evolved and even been misunderstood by those who don’t understand its significance. Today, we’re unpacking all of that with Sierra Reece. Sierra is a culinary creator and entrepreneur focused on Black American foodways, soul food, and African diaspora cuisine. We talked about what soul food really means, how she balances tradition with experimentation, and why food can be such a powerful tool for preserving culture and identity. About the Podcast The Therapy for Black Girls Podcast is a weekly conversation with Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, a licensed Psychologist in Atlanta, Georgia, about all things mental health, personal development, and all the small decisions we can make to become the best possible versions of ourselves. Resources & Announcements Want to reflect on…

Welcome back to our minisode series, "I Have Some Thoughts." These short episodes are designed to contextualize the pop culture moments we're currently paying attention to through a mental health lens. Pop culture isn't just fun to chat about, it can reveal important information about how we relate, cope, and understand ourselves. Join us each Friday to hear Dr. Joy share her thoughts about the happenings of the week. This week, we're chatting about Love Island's Jalen Brown's recent wedding, Boosie's continued displays of homophobia, and Young Miami's recent thoughts on marriage. Stay Connected​ Wanna chat more about the pop culture hot topics of the week? Join us inside our Patreon community. Is there a topic you'd like covered on the podcast? Submit it at therapyforblackgirls.com/mailbox. If you're looking for a therapist in your area, check out the directory at https://www.therapyforblackgirls.com/directory. Make sure to follow us on social media: Instagram: @therapyforblackgirls Threads:…

What does it look like to build a creative career online without completely losing yourself in the process? Today I’m joined by creator and beauty influencer Toni Bravo for a conversation about creativity, visibility, rest, and the evolving relationship many of us have with work in the age of social media. During our conversation, Toni shares what it’s been like navigating visibility online, how she protects her mental health while working in such a public-facing industry, and why rest has become such an important part of her creative process. We also discuss representation in the beauty industry, the importance of darker-skinned creators being able to take up space online, and how Toni has learned to trust herself creatively as her career continues to grow. She also opens up about burnout, boundaries with social media, mindfulness practices, and the realities of building a career where work and play can sometimes feel impossible to separate. About the Podcast The Therapy for Black Girls Podcast is a weekly…

Welcome to our new minisode series, "I Have Some Thoughts." These short episodes are designed to contextualize the pop culture moments we're currently paying attention to through a mental health lens. Pop culture isn't just fun to chat about, it can reveal important information about how we relate, cope, and understand ourselves. Join us each Friday to hear Dr. Joy share her thoughts about the happenings of the week. This week, we're chatting about the 10 year anniversary of Insecure, the White House using Drake's Iceman cover art, James Charles' lack of empathy, and the need for credentials as a mental health professional. Stay Connected​ Is there a topic you'd like covered on the podcast? Submit it at therapyforblackgirls.com/mailbox. If you're looking for a therapist in your area, check out the directory at https://www.therapyforblackgirls.com/directory. Grab your copy of our guided affirmation and other TBG Merch at therapyforblackgirls.com/shop. The hashtag for the podcast is #TBGinSession. Make sure to…

When was the last time you really thought about your colon health? For many of us, conversations about digestion, gut health, and colorectal cancer can feel uncomfortable or easy to put off—but the reality is that colorectal cancer rates are rising among younger adults, and Black communities continue to face significant disparities when it comes to diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes. Today, I’m joined by gastroenterologist and health advocate, Dr. Sophia Balzora, to talk about what we all need to know about colon health. Dr. Balzora helps break down what the colon actually does, the warning signs we shouldn’t ignore, and why early screenings can be lifesaving. We also discuss the unique ways colorectal cancer impacts Black women, how stress and diet can affect gut health, and the importance of advocating for yourself in medical spaces when something doesn’t feel right. About the Podcast The Therapy for Black Girls Podcast is a weekly conversation with Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, a licensed Psychologist in…

Welcome to Episode 1 of our new minisode series, "I Have Some Thoughts." These short episodes are designed to contextualize the pop culture moments we're currently paying attention to through a mental health lens. Pop culture isn't just fun to chat about, it can reveal important information about how we relate, cope, and understand ourselves. Join us each Friday to hear Dr. Joy share her thoughts about the happenings of the week. This week, we're chatting about Latto's retirement announcement, Allyson Felix's return to racing, and the Hantavirus outbreak. Resources Mentioned Dr. Titanji Stay Connected​ Is there a topic you'd like covered on the podcast? Submit it at therapyforblackgirls.com/mailbox. If you're looking for a therapist in your area, check out the directory at https://www.therapyforblackgirls.com/directory. Grab your copy of our guided affirmation and other TBG Merch at therapyforblackgirls.com/shop. The hashtag for the podcast is #TBGinSession. Make sure to follow us on social media: Instagram:…

What does it mean to feel fully seen, valued, and loved—especially as a Black woman navigating relationships, ambition, and self-worth? In today’s conversation, I’m joined by journalist, political analyst, and author Tiffany Cross to discuss her new book, Love Me. Tiffany opens up about the inspiration behind the book, the complexities Black women face in dating and relationships, and the importance of reclaiming softness, joy, and vulnerability in a world that often asks us to be everything for everyone. We also explore how media narratives shape perceptions of Black women, what healthy partnership can look like, and why self-definition is such an important part of the journey toward love. About the Podcast The Therapy for Black Girls Podcast is a weekly conversation with Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, a licensed Psychologist in Atlanta, Georgia, about all things mental health, personal development, and all the small decisions we can make to become the best possible versions of ourselves. Resources &…

This week I’m joined by licensed psychotherapist Dr. Natalie Jones for a thoughtful conversation about what it really means to go “no contact” with people in your life who may be causing harm. Dr. Jones brings deep expertise in trauma, boundaries, and emotional wellness, and she shares from both her clinical work and her passion for helping people build healthier relationships. In this conversation we talk about how complicated this decision can feel, especially within families and tight-knit communities, and why more of us are finding ourselves considering distance as an act of self-preservation. About the Podcast The Therapy for Black Girls Podcast is a weekly conversation with Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, a licensed Psychologist in Atlanta, Georgia, about all things mental health, personal development, and all the small decisions we can make to become the best possible versions of ourselves. Resources & Announcements Want to reflect on this conversation in community? Join us inside our Patreon community where…

This week, we’re talking all things ‘The Drama,’ and ‘You, Me, and Tuscany.’ For different reasons, both of these films, starring beloved Black women, have taken over the conversations we’re having on social and in our own circles. What do these new-age black rom-coms say about how we currently look at love and relationships? And who gets to tell those stories? We get into all of that and more in today’s episode. The conversation does contain spoilers. But first, we are desperately in need of an emergency pop culture check-in. Dr. Joy weighs in with her thoughts on the Meg & Klay breakup, lessons from the Michael movie, and the Summer House goings-on. About the Podcast The Therapy for Black Girls Podcast is a weekly conversation with Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, a licensed Psychologist in Atlanta, Georgia, about all things mental health, personal development, and all the small decisions we can make to become the best possible versions of ourselves. Resources & Announcements You can now catch episodes of the…

For this episode of TBG U, council member Mikayla Weary, who’s been dreaming of a career in storytelling and documentary work connects with someone who’s already blazing that trail—filmmaker Taylor Hosking. In their conversation, Mikayla and Taylor explore what it really looks like to build a creative career from the ground up, how Taylor found her voice as a filmmaker, and the behind‑the‑scenes realities of working in documentary film. They also talk about navigating identity, community, and purpose while pursuing a path that isn’t always linear. Make sure to follow us on social media: Instagram TikTok Interested in being a part of a future TBG U episode or suggesting a topic for us to discuss, send us a note HERE. Order a copy of Sisterhood Heals for you and your girls HERE. Our Production Team Executive Producers: Dennison Bradford & Gabrielle Collins Director of Podcast & Digital Content: Ellice Ellis Producer: Tyree Rush & Ndeye Thioubou Production Assistant: Bria Mosley See omnystudio.com/listener for…