About the Eighth Episode

This episode features Dr. Alicia Williams, a leader with expertise across multiple public agencies including education, social services, and prisons. Our conversation with Dr. Williams offers insights about what it takes to create and implement trauma-informed, healing systems for our most vulnerable populations including youth, women, and communities of color. This episode will be released on May 26, 2026; listen to the episode here or wherever you stream your podcasts.

About the Seventh Episode

This episode features the work of two community leaders – Christie Ketchum, founder of Sacramento Sister Circle, and behavioral health specialist and author, Gentamu (Jen) McKinney.  Christie and Jen share their efforts to build and sustain community as a tool to achieve health equity. Christie and Jen explore the role of community connectors and how anti-blackness prevents access to life-saving overdose prevention services and products such as Narcan. This episode will be released on May 12, 2026; listen to the episode here or wherever you stream your podcasts.

About the Sixth Episode

In this episode, we talk about preventing opioid overdose.  What does overdose look like? What can we do when we suspect someone is experiencing overdose? Will I get in trouble if I help? These are some of the questions we explore with guests Grace King and Sandie Burgess. We’ll break down the facts and myths about using Narcan, a life-saving medication that reverses the impact of overdose. Our guests also help us better understand why the Black community continues to experience increasing rates of opioid overdose despite the availability of known treatment options. Listen to the episode here or wherever you stream your podcasts.

About the Fifth Episode

In this episode, we explore perspectives from young black women. Olivia Sapp and Dominique Boyd, both in their early 20s, led efforts to launch getLIFTED (Living in Faith to Elevate Dreams). The getLIFTED program works to prevent youth substance use and misuse through education and public awareness campaigns. As young leaders in the community, they share important insights about the intersections of age, race, and gender. Listen to the episode here or wherever you stream your podcasts.

About the Fourth Episode

In this episode, we explore how faith influences the lives of Black women, especially as they navigate issues impacting their mental health. We talk about perceptions of the changing nature of the Black church and its work to navigate today’s complex social and political challenges. Our guests are two amazing leaders in the community, Deborah Mitchell and Denisha “Coco” Bland, who share a belief in the power of faith and spirituality to heal and restore community. Listen to the episode here or wherever you stream your podcasts.

About the Third Episode

This episode features the experiences and stories of Javon Williams and Terena Small. Both women experienced loss due to opioid overdose – Javon who lost her son to fentanyl poisoning and Terena who lost a student from opioid overdose. Both women share how they use their grief to prevent other young people from losing their lives and to empower families and communities to take action. Listen to the episode here or wherever you stream your podcasts.

About the Second Episode

Stephanie Yancey, Co-Founder of Yancey Recovery Services, part of Yancey Recovery International, shares about her work as a recovery counselor for youth and adults experiencing substance use and mental health crises. Our conversation focused on her insights and observations as a behavioral health provider, particularly the joy she receives when she can help someone find their way to health, as well as the struggles she faces as a provider from the Black community. Stephanie breaks down for us what it means to provide trauma informed and culturally appropriate care amid stigma, lack of trust, and historical injustices in how we handle substance use disorders. Listen to the episode here or wherever you stream your podcasts.

About the First Episode

Dr. Flojaune Cofer is a public health advocate and a champion for health equity. She believes in the importance of community and taking care of each other and has worked throughout her personal and professional life to improve people’s lives. In this episode, Dr. Cofer helps us to better understand the cultural and community contexts that put Black women at risk for opioid use as well as opportunities to improve access to and use of proven tools and resources. Listen to the episode here or wherever you stream your podcasts.