Mental Health Episodes

After losing her youngest son, Marquavies “Quay” Broughton, to nitazene poisoning, Frederica Roberson transformed her grief into a mission to save lives. In this powerful episode of Conversations with Karen and Cat, Frederica shares Quay’s story and the mission behind the Marquavies Bernard Broughton Foundation. She discusses the growing dangers of nitazenes, fentanyl, and other synthetic opioids; the signs of an opioid overdose; and why access to naloxone (Narcan) and overdose prevention ...

In recognition of August as National Minority Donor Awareness Month, former NFL player and kidney transplant recipient Bobby Howard joins Conversations with Karen and Kat for an important conversation about kidney health, organ donation, and second chances. Bobby is the Director of Multicultural Donation Education Program, LifeLink® of Georgia. He shares how kidney disease changed his life and inspired more than three decades of advocacy with LifeLink® of Georgia. Bobby also discusses the dis...

Can healing truly change your life? This week on Conversations with Karen and Kat, we welcome Eboni Caldwell, founder of Productive & Prosper-Us Empowerment, LLC. After surviving homelessness, domestic violence, divorce, and financial hardship, Eboni transformed her pain into purpose and now helps women heal emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. In this powerful conversation, she discusses healing trauma, inner-child work, setting healthy boundaries, journaling, faith, forgiveness, and d...

What if the behaviors we label as resistance, defiance, or laziness are actually signs of an untold story? In this powerful episode of Conversations with Karen and Kat, we welcome Dr. Erlange Elisme, behavioral health consultant, trauma-informed leadership strategist, author, and founder of Elisme Consulting Services. Drawing on more than 30 years of experience in behavioral health, education, and leadership, Dr. Elisme explores how trauma shapes our relationships, workplaces, and communit...

In this powerful and deeply affirming episode of Conversations with Karen & Cat, we welcome back renowned African-centered psychologist, educator, and author Dr. Kevin Washington (Mwata Kiari Emeka Sankara) to explore a transformative approach to mental health and healing. Grounded in the philosophy of Ubuntu — “I am because we are” — Dr. Washington introduces his groundbreaking work, Ubuntu Psychotherapy: Addressing the Transgenerational Trauma of Afrikan/Black People. Together, we unpack ho...

In this episode, we sit down with Atlanta-born Author and Advocate, Astrid Serika Ross, affectionately known as Sister Sayeedah. A mother, grandmother, suicide loss survivor, and fierce voice for mental health and education, Sister Sayeedah shares her journey of transforming personal tragedy into powerful advocacy. As Executive Director of the Mental Health Support Network and a 20-year leader at the City of Knowledge Islamic School, she has dedicated her life to breaking the stigma around me...

In this powerful episode, we sit down with humanitarian, advocate, and community transformer LaQuana “LA Pink” Alexander —First Lady of Street Groomers and CEO of The Community Boutique. From her personal journey through homelessness to becoming a force of change in Atlanta and beyond, LA Pink shares how her passion for service turned into a global mission. Through The Community Boutique, a nonprofit she founded, LA Pink provides critical support such as clothing, mental health services, ment...

In honor of Autism Acceptance Month, we sat down for a heartfelt conversation with two voices from the autism community. Join us for this discussion with Kenya Curtis, a parent advocate who’s dedicated to creating inclusive spaces, and Matthew Greene, a playwright, author, and college student with autism who shares his lived experiences navigating academia, identity, and self-advocacy. 🎧 In this episode: We discuss the challenges and triumphs of life on the spectrum in education and ...

In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Courtney Robinson, a Leadership Branding Strategist and Image Expert, to explore how women in executive roles, entrepreneurship, and leadership can elevate their brands to new heights. As an Executive Style Mentor, Author, and Speaker, Courtney shares her transformative Purpose Palette Persona framework, a powerful approach to aligning inner purpose with outward presence. Courtney dives deep into the fears that often hold high-achieving women bac...

Kelsha Weaver is a retired Army Major with over 24 years of service in the Medical Service Corps and a Doctor of Business Administration candidate at the University of Phoenix. Alongside her husband, a retired Command Sergeant Major, she runs a small farm in South Georgia, purchased in 2013 as part of their retirement plan. Kelsha, originally from Southern Louisiana, is a novice Black farmer whose passion for Black Agrarianism stems from her journey and experiences with systemic challenges in ag...

In this episode we have a conversation with Jamika Render, founder of The Graceful Futures Society, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering pre-teen and teen girls exposed to domestic violence. Drawing from her own experiences growing up in a home with domestic violence and surviving two suicide attempts, Jamika channels her deep passion for mental health advocacy into creating impactful SEL programs that provide the tools and support these young girls need to thrive. In addition to her nonprofit wo...

Ta’Lia and Tanya are the Co-presidents and founder of Mind Over Matter. Mind Over Matter was formed in February of 2023 to spread awareness of mental health among teenagers. The students discuss how they are helping to break down the stigma of mental health and the self-care practices they are sharing with their peers. If you have any young people in your life, please share this episode with them. If you would like to donate or learn more about Mind Over Matter, please follow them on IG @sghs...

Ketara Gray is a wife, mother, daughter and worshipper. After experiencing loss and learning how to overcome her fears and move past the grief, Ketara had a desire to work with others who need to step out of their comfort or uncomfortable zone. It became her life mission to inspire people to be brave and full of coverage. Ketara created the Brave Woman Academy to transform the fearful into fearless. Her goal is to help create healthy community and strong leadership! Join us for this conversat...

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. We are joined by mental health professional, Arlevia DeLoach of Building Brighter Futures, Inc to discuss how to talk about mental health, signs to look for in our loved ones, when and how to get assistance for yourself or someone that you love and gun safety. We can all help prevent suicide. If you or someone that you care about is experiencing a mental health crisis, please call or text 988 to talk to a professional. The 988 Lifeline provides...