“You damn right I pray to get home safe when I fly. And thanks to these two skilled pilots. I did—just like thousands of passengers do every day. Prayers and condolences are sent to those recently impacted by tragic plane crashes. Let’s remember that aviation safety depends on the expertise, training, and dedication of ALL professionals in the industry. Diversity in aviation isn’t just about representation—it strengthens the field, ensuring we have the best and brightest at the controls. Black excellence in aviation is not new, and it’s not up for debate. Periodt!” #BlackHistoryMonth (24/7 365) #BlackExcellence #RepresentationMatters #AviationDiversity #HonoringLivesLost #AviationSafety #BestAndBrightest

🗓️ July is Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month! Bebe Moore Campbell used the power of storytelling to break silence, fight stigma, and demand better mental health care for communities of color. Get to know the trailblazer who helped spark a national movement—and join us in pushing for care that’s not just available, but equitable and rooted in lived experience.

🎙️Pod Drop!!🎙️ Reproductive Justice Meets Psychiatric Advance Directives on #UnapologeticallyBlackUnicorns. What if your voice could still be heard when you're at your most vulnerable? What if your values around reproductive health and mental health could guide your care, even when you're unable to speak for yourself? In this power-filled episode, I sit down with Dr. Emily Dossett and Dr. Michelle Nguyen to talk about a groundbreaking tool—Reproductive Psychiatric Advance Directives (Repro PADs)—designed for people navigating mental health conditions and reproductive decisions, especially during pregnancy or planning. We unpack: What makes a Repro PAD different from a traditional PAD Why standard PADs often fail to address the realities of reproductive mental health care How peer support, community feedback, and lived experience were central to developing this tool The importance of grounding this work in Reproductive Justice (yes we define Reproductive Justice) Practical takeaways for people in care (patients), providers, peer supporters and policymakers alike Even though Repro PADs aren’t yet recognized legally, they’re already shifting the conversation—toward autonomy, respect, and values-centered care. Tune in to hear about our research, work, reflections, and next steps for building a more just and person-centered approach to care. You can find the podcast on your fav pod platform or easily here: linktr.ee/UnapologeticallyBl… Access to our PDF presentation here: bit.ly/4ktuaIl Access our Research paper "Reproductive psychiatric advance directives: promoting autonomy for perinatal people with serious mental illness diagnoses" (OPEN ACCESS) here:  bit.ly/44KvAZ6 💬 Drop a comment with your thoughts or share how you’re using PADs and talking about reproductive mental health for yourself, in your practice  and or community. #MentalHealth #ReproductiveJustice #AdvanceDirectives #PeerSupport #Psychiatry #ReproPADs #LivedExperience #MaternalMentalHealth #HealthEquity

Double Header Drop today! 🎙️Pod Drop!🎙️ and 🧠 Wisdom Drop! 💖   In the wake of recent political actions that impact medicaid—we know that these actions strip away critical supports for people with mental health and substance use conditions—this episode is the antidote we need. We talk about the radical, accessible, and often-overlooked practice of lay counseling: a model rooted in human connection, trust, and cultural wisdom. Elizabeth Morrison PhD, LCSW, MAC drops knowledge  about  Lay Counselor Academy and how it deepens skills of participants and helps those being served. We also chat about how everyone—yes, everyone especially those with the heart and core gift—can become a healing presence in their community. You don’t need a PhD or a fancy title to support someone’s  healing and path toward recovery. You need compassion. You need listening. You need the will to show up. This is how we rise. Together. ✨ This is collective elevation. 🎧 Tune in for a powerful conversation that reminds us healing isn’t top-down. It’s community-grown. You can find the podcast on your favorite pod platform or easily here: linktr.ee/UnapologeticallyBl… Learn more about the Lay Counselor Academy here: emorrisonconsulting.com/serv… And the evaluation report here- chcf.org/resource/strengthen… I am so glad that this week's new episode pod drop is also part of this week’s Wisdom Drop series—daily reflections rooted in legacy, policy, and possibility. Words I’m holding onto as we fight for what’s right. #UnapologeticallyBlackUnicorns #MentalHealthEquity #LayCounseling #CommunityHealing #SubstanceUseRecovery #PeerSupport #WisdomDrop #PolicyWithPeople #CollectiveCare #DisabilityJustice #CultureIsCare #MentalHealthForAll

🎙️Exclusive - Pod Drop! 🎙️ I Talked to Medicaid (Because I Had To)! Sometimes when the sadness, frustration, and righteous anger get too heavy, you have to talk it out. So in this latest episode, I imagined what it would be like to sit across from Medicaid—yes, that Medicaid—and ask: “How are you feeling?” “How are you holding up after the House vote to cut you by $1 trillion?” “What do you want us to know?” And "Medicaid" as I imagined it and crafted as a personified AI Voice had plenty to say. 🗣️ We talked about the over 34 million people losing care. 🗣️ About disabled folks and people with mental health conditions getting cut off. 🗣️ About the deadline of July 4th is supposed to represent—and how these cuts take us backward. And then we offered something else: A meaningful call to action. Not performative. Not just performative outrage. But practical steps we can take right now to protect what actually works. Medicaid said it best: “I’m not a budget line item. I’m a lifeline.” This episode is for everyone feeling worn down but still in the fight. Listen. Share. Act. Because we’re not just watching history—we’re shaping it. You can find the podcast on your favorite pod platform or easily here: linktr.ee/UnapologeticallyBl… Remember to like, subscribe and comment. Most importantly though is to share , we never know who needs to hear this message. #Medicaid #PolicyMatters #MentalHealth #DisabilityJustice #CareIsFreedom #UnapologeticallyBlackUnicorns #HealthEquity #Advocacy

Americans are already grappling with a mental health crisis and an affordability crisis -- now is not the time to take away health insurance from more than 17 million people. It's not too late. 🛑@SenThomTillis and @SenRandPaul are voting NO on the #BBB. 2⃣We just need two more NO votes to stop this bill. ☎️ Please call your Senator one more time -- especially if your Senator is @lisamurkowski @JerryMoran @SenSusanCollins @SenCapito #medicaidismentalhealth #votearama

#VoteARama — a marathon session of rapid-fire votes on amendments, where senators vote one after another with limited debate — is happening right now. It will be followed by the final Senate vote. Time is running out to contact your senators. Call now and tell them: Cutting Medicaid will devastate mental health care in America.

Today, Inseparable Action moved its Medicaid is Mental Health campaign into a new phase — launching a $1M ad campaign in five states and releasing a 50-state report highlighting how proposed cuts would impact mental health in each state. “For the past few years, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have talked about the importance of addressing youth mental health, the opioid epidemic, and suicide prevention. Now is the time. This is it. Protecting Medicaid is how we advance mental health, ripping care away from people is how we destroy it,” said Bill Smith, Founder & CEO of Inseparable Action Read more about the campaign in The Hill: insact.us/medicaidcampaign

#FF @EleshaJD @JayRuderman @emony21 @V_a_nessa_Ramos @nikasoonshiong @nicaprincessa @LexStepp @pplwillbefree @Tuesdaywithliz @KidsPartnership @RollWithRussell @FarinhaShe74765 @Momvocatemills @Debbieke @KerisWithaK @DrSeciahAquino @BonnieSwenorPhD @Conchitahdz @DisabilityCA

#FF @KerisWithaK @katherinewolf @emony21 @Debbieke @V_a_nessa_Ramos @nicaprincessa @LexStepp @nikasoonshiong @DrSeciahAquino @pplwillbefree @BonnieSwenorPhD @ClaudiaLGordon @RollWithRussell @JayRuderman @EleshaJD @Tuesdaywithliz @zoyathexplorer @Rylin_Rodgers @JessicAccess

#FF @HabenGirma @emony21 @Debbieke @KerisWithaK @xoSheri @AngelaMSWinCA @Momvocatemills @zoyathexplorer @TaryninDC @RW_Intl @tapinedo @THEREALDEAFDOPE @LClarkUofU @RollWithRussell @vance_taylor @Rylin_Rodgers @jennylayfluffy @JessicAccess @kprindiville1 @chanpuichung @striano

#FF @V_a_nessa_Ramos @emony21 @Debbieke @KerisWithaK @AngelaMSWinCA @JayRuderman @AsieduEdmund @BonnieSwenorPhD @ClaudiaLGordon @DrSeciahAquino @EleshaJD @Conchitahdz @mihaeiscurious @nicaprincessa @nikasoonshiong @Momvocatemills @LexStepp @katherinewolf @AAPD

🎙️ Pod drop! 🎙️ A special LIVE episode of #UnapologeticallyBlackUnicorns recorded at the @Alliance4RR Alliance for Rights and Recovery Conference is now available! 🎙️ Timely then and even more relevant now, I’m joined by the incredible Dr Chyrell Bellamy, @Felecia Pullen Ph.D, and Rupinder Legha, MD —rockstar #MentalHealth and #SubstanceUse activists and advocates—discussing how to address and abolish #antiracism in our lives, community, and organizations. Together, we share personal stories and actionable steps we can all take to drive meaningful change. 🌟 You don’t want to miss this power-filled conversation! 🔗 Listen on your favorite #podcast platform or easily here : linktr.ee/UnapologeticallyBl… 🔗 Image description and transcript: bit.ly/UBU190 Please share with anyone who can benefit from this transformative dialogue. Let’s keep the momentum going! ✊🏾 #livedExperience #Recovery #peers

#FF @KerisWithaK @Debbieke @V_a_nessa_Ramos @nicaprincessa @emony21 @xoulwing @EleshaJD @JayRuderman @AsieduEdmund @BonnieSwenorPhD @Claudia_SF @DrSeciahAquino @ClaudiaLGordon @Conchitahdz @aijenpoo @katherinewolf @Tuesdaywithliz @mihaeiscurious @nikasoonshiong @sdpavithran @aapd

🎙️ Pod Drop!🎙️ Don’t miss this powerful episode of #UnapologeticallyBlackUnicorns! As we all know, with a new US president comes a wave of change across the administration. Political appointees and members of the outgoing cabinet  may step down, making way for new leadership and priorities. It’s a natural part of the process, but it’s also an important moment to honor the incredible work of those who’ve paved the way. In this special episode, we revisit our December 2022 conversation with Dr. Miriam Delphin-Rittmon, the Assistant Secretary of @samhsagov the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Dr. Delphin-Rittmon is a transformative force in mental health and substance use care—championing equity, compassion, and meaningful change. Her leadership has shown us what’s possible for ALL when dignity and recovery are at the forefront of policy and action. As we celebrate her contributions, we also challenge ourselves to carry her  and SAMHSA's vision forward—demanding accountability from future leaders and ensuring progress doesn’t stall (or go backwards). 💡 What inspires you most about leaders like Dr. Delphin-Rittmon, and how can we build on their legacy together? 👉 Tune in to this replay on your favorite pod platform or easily here: linktr.ee/UnapologeticallyBl…. Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe to amplify this important message! Back in 2022 this was episode 80! Now in 2025 it is episode 188 :) #MentalHealth #Leadership #SAMHSA #EquityInAction #RecoveryMatters #Podcast #UnapologeticallyBlackUnicorns

🎙️Pod Drop!🎙️ happy holidays (or is it?). Holidays can be hard. This year, they feel especially heavy for me after the recent passing of my father. As I reflect on my own journey, I’m revisiting a moment from my childhood that reminds me why the holiday season has always been challenging—and how those experiences shaped me. In this previously aired episode of #UnapologeticallyBlackUnicorns, I share a personal story about my dad, the complex emotions that come with the holidays, and how I’ve learned to find hope, even in the hardest times. For anyone struggling this season, you’re not alone—and together, we can find what we need to get through. 🎧 Listen here: linktr.ee/UnapologeticallyBl… or on your fav pod platform . Let’s keep the conversation going in the comments—how do you navigate the holidays? What message of #hope do you have for yourself and others?

🎙️Pod Drop!! 🎙️ Have you listened to the latest #UnapologeticallyBlackUnicorns podcast episode yet? This episode is a special re-release featuring a conversation with @jeffolivet , the outgoing Director of the @USICHgov U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness. Recently, Jeff shared his powerful farewell message reflecting on the challenges and progress in addressing homelessness during his tenure. You can read it here: usich.gov/news-events/news/m…. In this episode, Jeff and I discuss the critical work that has been done—Jeff shares how housing is healthcare, and that homelessness is solvable and it’s preventable. We talk about how homelessness is a cross-systems failure and how it requires cross-systems solutions, the importance of having the safety of a place to stay with a door that locks behind you in which you have the key. It’s a timely reminder of the collective effort required to tackle homelessness and the importance of continuing to push for equitable solutions especially as we head into a new administration. Thank you, Director Olivet, and everyone at USICH for your dedication and service! 🙏 💡 What steps do you think we should prioritize now and under the new administration? I’d love to hear your thoughts. 👉 Don’t forget to listen, like, comment, and subscribe—and most importantly, share this episode to spread the message. You can find the podcast on your favorite platform or listen directly here: linktr.ee/UnapologeticallyBl… Let’s keep the conversation going! #Homelessness #Recovery #Hope

Great meeting yesterday with ⁦@KerisWithaK⁩ and ⁦@RepPeteAguilar⁩! We discussed ⁦@DisabilityCA⁩’s work in mental health policy and cross-disability coalition-building. Keris is on our Board and chairs our policy committee.

🎙️Pod Drop!!🎙️ Life happens, and sometimes it’s heavy. The recent passing of my Dad makes sharing about these experiences not only cathartic but also deeply important. Caregiving, grief, and healing are universal journeys, yet they’re often carried in silence. In this episode of #UnapologeticallyBlackUnicorns, I open up about what it means to navigate these challenges and why it matters for workplaces to create cultures that support emotional wellbeing and mental health during such times. By sharing, I hope to spark conversations, provide validation, and remind others they’re not alone. Have you experienced something similar? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Take a listen on your favorite pod platform or easily here: linktr.ee/UnapologeticallyBl… . 💬🖤 #GriefJourney #MentalHealth #WorkplaceSupport”