The Homecoming Podcast with Dr. Thema

Епизоде

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  Episode #265: Rebuilding after Betrayal and Breakups with Brittainy Noel 19.09.2026 31мин

  Brittainy Noel shares her heartbreaking, but ultimately transformative, testimony of healing from betrayal and a much needed breakup. She shares her inner journey to reclaiming herself and making her way home. Brittainy Noel is a licensed therapist, speaker, author, and the founder of The Daily Fix, a global personal development community helping people heal, grow, and live with intention. Known for her ability to blend clinical expertise with heartfelt storytelling, Brittainy has inspired audiences across the country through her live events, workshops, and transformational conversations. Her work focuses on emotional wellness, relationships, self-worth, and helping people break free from the patterns that keep them stuck. Remember to like, subscribe, and share this video! Mixed & Edited by Next Day Podcast [email protected]
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  Episode #264 Surviving Hate and Thriving in the Spotlight with April Ryan 16.09.2026 27мин

  Dr. Thema sits down with White House Correspondent April Ryan to discuss her personal journey of what it is like living in the spotlight and surviving and thriving in the midst of political attacks and political pressure. White House Correspondent April Ryan has a unique vantage point as the only Black female reporter covering urban issues from the White House – a position she has held for 28 years, since the Clinton era. She is now the longest-serving Black tenured White House Correspondent in the History of the United States. Her position as a White House Correspondent has afforded her unusual insight into the racial sensitivities, issues, and attendant political struggles of our nation’s past presidents. April can be seen on MSNBC as a Political Contributor. In addition, April is the Host of Contrarian’s “The Tea With April Ryan,” where she sits down each week with political leaders and activists shaping the future in real time. She has been featured in Essence, Vogue, Cosmopolitan and Elle magazines – to name a few. April Ryan has served on the board of the prestigious White House Correspondents Association. She is one of only three African Americans in the Association’s over 100-year history to serve on its board. She is also an esteemed member of the National Press Club. In 2015, Ms. Ryan was nominated for an NAACP Image Award (Outstanding Literary Work - Debut Author) for her first book. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and share. Mixed & Edited by Next Day Podcast [email protected]
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  Episode #263 Matriarchal Wisdom and Leadership 01.09.2026 25мин

  Dr. Thema describes the principles of matriarchy and shares her personal evolution with becoming a matriarch. Dr. Thema Bryant is a psychologist, author, professor, sacred artist, and minister who is leading the way in creating healthy relationships, healing traumas, and overcoming stress and oppression. Her life changing books include Matters of the Heart, Homecoming, Reclaim Yourself: The Homecoming Workbook, and The Antiracism Handbook: Practical Tools to Shift Your Mindset and Uproot Racism in Your Life and Community and they empower readers to connect with themselves and to others, exploring topics such as: control issues, emotional unavailability, practical activation activities, case studies, and teaching how to shift mindset and patterns around mental health, relationships, and liberation. Dr. Thema Bryant completed her doctorate in Clinical Psychology at Duke University and her post-doctoral training at Harvard Medical Center’s Victims of Violence Program. Upon graduating, she became the Coordinator of the Princeton University SHARE Program, which provides intervention and prevention programming to combat sexual assault, sexual harassment, and harassment based on sexual orientation. She is currently a tenured professor of psychology in the Graduate School of Education and Psychology at Pepperdine University, where she directs the Culture and Trauma Research Laboratory. Dr. Thema is an ordained elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church and leads the mental health ministry at First A.M.E. Church in Los Angeles. Most recently, she was the 2023 president of the American Psychological Association (APA) and is the host of The Homecoming Podcast. Mixed & Edited by Next Day Podcast [email protected]
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  Episode #262 The Truth About Leadership with Dr. Jamal Bryant 15.08.2026 28мин

  Dr. Thema's brother, Pastor, author, and activist Dr. Jamal Bryant joins her to discuss the personal and professional challenges of leadership. He shares his insights on thriving, making mistakes, and evolving. Dr. Bryant explores leadership as something we can learn, study, and grow into. Dr. Jamal Bryant embodies the rare balance of spiritual gifts and practical educational experiences that connects pastoral leadership and discipleship teaching with prophetic preaching and courageous social action. Dr. Bryant is equipped and poised to initiate theological revival, decisive commitment and rededication to the teachings of Jesus the Christ as the foundation for personal living, family stability and community development. Dr. Bryant is not only known as a riveting speaker but has earned a reputation as a social justice activist. Prior to pastoring, he served as the national youth and college director of the NAACP for six years, leading about 70,000 young people worldwide on non-violent campaigns. Dr. Bryant earned his Bachelor’s Degree from Morehouse College and a Masters of Divinity from Duke University. He studied at Oxford University in Great Britain and earned a doctorate from The Graduate Theological Foundation. Mixed & Edited by Next Day Podcast [email protected]
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  Episode #261: Reclaim Your Body with Alishia McCullough 13.08.2026 28мин

  Therapist and author, Alishia McCullough joins Dr. Thema to share what disconnects us from our bodies and how to reclaim our bodies. They explore embodiment as an act of liberation. Alishia McCullough (LCMHC) is a millennial Licensed Clinical Mental Health Therapist and owner of Black and Embodied Consulting PLLC. She specializes in somatic therapy, trauma healing, and eating disorder treatment with a focus on cultivating embodiment and fostering anti-oppression. Alishia currently runs the self-paced online course Reimagining Eating Disorders 101. She was awarded the 2023 Alumni Award from the Department of Psychology for the noteworthy contributions she has made to the field. An accomplished writer, she is the author of a collection of poems called Blossoming, and Reclaiming the Black Body now available in bookstores nationwide. Alishia's work has been featured in Bustle, WordInBlack, STAT News, BlackGirlNerds, Essence, Reckon, Wondermind, Pen America and Forbes. Don’t forget to subscribe and share. Mixed & Edited by Next Day Podcast [email protected]
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  Episode #260 Loving Yourself with poet Jasmine Mans 03.08.2026 29мин

  Jasmine Mans joins Dr. Thema to speak honestly about the ways we abandon ourselves in relationships and the importance of choosing and loving ourselves. Jasmine Mans is a queer Black poet and performance artist from Newark, New Jersey. Jasmine’s debut poetry collection, Black Girl, Call Home (Berkley Penguin Random House) published in 2021 to critical and commercial acclaim, and was named one of the most anticipated books of the season by Oprah, TIME, Vogue, Vulture, Essence, Elle, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, Refinery 29, Shondaland, Bustle, and Reader’s Digest. The collection went on to receive the prestigious Stonewall Honor Award, as well as a BCALA Award in the Poetry category. Jasmine most recently collaborated with the Brooklyn Ballet at the storied Brooklyn Academy of Music, setting her poetry to ballet and classical scores. Jasmine was also a contributor to Nikole Hannah-Jones’s The 1619 Project and has co-hosted The Kennedy Center’s Arts Across America series alongside renowned author Jason Reynolds. Jasmine began her creative journey with the acclaimed Strivers Row poetry collective, and she continues to perform to sold-out crowds, like the Sundance Film Festival, Broadway’s New Amsterdam Theater, and BAM, among many others. Jasmine can currently be heard as the voice of Ulta Beauty’s national “Muse” campaign, honoring Black women in the hair and beauty industry. Mixed & Edited by Next Day Podcast [email protected]
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  Episode #259 Decolonizing Your Nervous System with Dr. Jennifer Mullan 28.07.2026 30мин

  Dr. Jennifer joins Dr. Thema to provide practical strategies for decolonizing our nervous system. Rooted in culture, somatics, and psychological science, the resources she provides empower us to reconnect and come home to ourselves. Dr. Jennifer Mullan, PsyD is a founder, speaker, and best-selling author. As the founder and CEO of The Center for Decolonizing Therapy and author of the best-selling book, Dr. Mullan, known as “the Rage Doctor,” is a bold, leading voice in reimagining mental health through the lens of colonization, generational trauma, and systemic harm. Her work is both embodiment and invitation—awakening the wisdom of sacred rage and ancestral healing through somatics, neuroscience, and psycho-spiritual practice. On a mission to radicalize and democratize mental health, it is Dr. Mullan’s life's work to support individuals and communities in reclaiming their wholeness. She lives on Lenape land in Northern New Jersey and is the author of the forthcoming book Sacred Rage. Mixed & Edited by Next Day Podcast [email protected]
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  Episode #258 Dr. Thema Answers Your Questions - Part 2 24.07.2026 28мин

  In this week's episode, Dr. Thema is back to answer the questions you have submitted about relationships, connection, and healing. To get insights for your questions and concerns in a future episode, send your questions to [email protected]. Don't forget to like, subscribe, share, and comment. Mixed & Edited by Next Day Podcast [email protected]
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  Episode #257 Faith, Family, and Loss with MissTerious Janette..Iks 23.07.2026 30мин

  Spoken word artist Janette...ikz shares with us her journey back home to herself after the loss of her mom. She describes the roles alcohol and faith played in her attempts to cope with and eventually heal from the pain and disconnected caused by grief and trauma. MissTerious Janette…ikz (pronounced mysterious genetics) is a globally recognized spoken word poet and musical artist whose Christ-centered creativity has inspired audiences for more than 25 years. Known for her unmistakable blend of poetry, music, and storytelling, she brings a rare authenticity that captivates listeners and invites them into deeper reflection, healing, and hope. Her viral piece “I Will Wait for You”—with millions of views across YouTube and Facebook—introduced her to a worldwide audience and established her as a leading voice in faith-driven artistry. She has since been featured on The 700 Club, BET, and the covers of Testify Sister and Spoken Vizions Magazine, while sharing stages with Chris Tomlin, Lecrae, Francis Chan, Kirk Franklin, Kierra Sheard, Jonathan McReynolds, and many more. Having overcome significant adversity from a young age, Janette…ikz now uses both her music and poetry as vessels of restoration, reminding audiences that God can transform every storm into purpose. Her performances carry a unique combination of passion, vulnerability, and spiritual depth that continues to resonate across generations and cultures. Don't forget to subscribe. Mixed & Edited by Next Day Podcast [email protected]
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  Episode #256 When Your Father is the Father of Your Children Surviving with Aziza Kibibi 02.07.2026 28мин

  Aziza Kibibi, an author and survivor of molestation, courageously shares with Dr. Thema her homecoming journey after years of molestation by her father. She describes the strategies her father, who is now incarcerated, used to control and manipulate all of the members of the family. Aziza tells of her brave escape and the healing work she is done and continues to do to live more fully. When she was eight years old, Aziza Kibibi was molested by her biological father, MTV award winning video director Aswad Ayinde. By the time she was twelve he deemed her his sex slave and refused to continue her homeschool education. At fifteen she became pregnant with her first child for her father and over the years Aziza bore four children for him; two of whom have genetic disorders. After living with physical, emotional, mental and sexual abuse for most of her life, at 24 years old, Aziza finally liberated herself from the harrowing existence she knew. Now a top selling published author, the CEO of a nonprofit organization, an advocate for women’s rights, a multimedia journalist and personality, and a Magna Cum Laude graduate holding two bachelors degrees in media, Aziza Kibibi is a testament of resilience, endurance, triumph. As the founder and CEO of Precious Little Ladies Inc. (PLL), a social progression organization that combats child molestation and abuse, domestic violence, incestuous abuse and sexual assault by strengthening the bond between mother and daughter, Aziza has helped thousands locally, nationally and internationally through the organization’s programs, events and awareness raising campaigns. Don't forget to subscribe, like, and share. Mixed & Edited by Next Day Podcast [email protected]
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  Episode#255 Fertility Journey Testimony with Dr. Raquel Martin 02.07.2026 29мин

  Psychologist Dr. Raquel Martin transparently shares her inspiring motherhood journey. She also raises awareness about the racial disparities Black women face while seeking maternal care. Dr. Raquel Martin, PhD is a licensed clinical psychologist, professor, and speaker committed to advancing culturally responsive mental health care. Rooted in liberation psychology, her work centers Black mental health, healing, and systemic change. She is the host of the Mind Ya Mental podcast and a leading voice in anti-racist, community-based wellness and advocacy. Don’t forget to subscribe and like. Music by Joy Jones. Mixed & Edited by Next Day Podcast [email protected]
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  Episode #254 Testimony Therapy with Dr. Makungu M. Akinyela 01.07.2026 30мин

  Psychologist and author, Dr. Akinyela joins Dr. Thema to explore identity, culture, and healing. Based on African American culture, this narrative approach empowers people to build lives of liberation and resilience. Dr. Makungu M. Akinyela is a leading authority on cultural democracy, narrative practice, anti-racist resistance and mental health. He is a licensed psychotherapist practicing in Atlanta, Georgia and an Associate Professor of Africana Studies at Georgia State University. He is the creator of the African Centered approach to narrative practice called testimony therapy. He is the author of the book Culture, Politics, Spirituality and Practice: A book of resistance and critical theory for disturbing times published by Dulwhich publications, as well as the author of the forthcoming book on his clinical ideas entitled Testimony therapy: Decolonizing Mental Health for Black Therapists and Clients, published by W.W. Norton. As a scholar activist and a therapist. Dr. Akinyela is a lifelong committed social justice organizer with a focus on struggles for human rights and justice for Black people in the United States and the African diaspora. His research and writing include such subjects as cultural democracy and mental health care; cultural domination and therapeutic resistance; reparations and the role of mental health workers in repairing oppressions wounds and African centered family therapy. He is a Clinical Fellow and an Approved Supervisor of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT). Don’t forget to subscribe and share. Music by Joy Jones. Mixed & Edited by Next Day Podcast [email protected]
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  Episode #253: Remembering Our Divine Identity with Prentis Hemphill 08.06.2026 26мин

  Therapist and author, Prentis Hemphill joins Dr. Thema for an honest conversation about loneliness and divine identity. They explore family, sexuality, embodied living, and the need to break draining cycles. Prentis Hemphill is the bestselling author of What It Takes to Heal, a groundbreaking exploration of healing, justice, and transformation. A therapist, somatics teacher, facilitator, political organizer, and writer, Prentis is also the founder of The Embodiment Institute and a leading voice in embodied leadership and collective healing. For over a decade, Prentis has worked with individuals and organizations through their most challenging moments of change—navigating leadership transitions, conflict, and the alignment of practice with values. Grounded in an embodied approach, their work ensures that our intentions aren't just ideas, but are fully lived, felt, and practiced. Before founding The Embodiment Institute, Prentis served as the Healing Justice Director at Black Lives Matter Global Network and was a lead somatics teacher with generative somatics and Black Organizing for Leadership and Dignity (BOLD). They hold an M.A. in Clinical Psychology and have provided therapeutic services in low-cost mental health clinics, centering marginalized communities. Don't forget to subscribe and share. Mixed & Edited by Next Day Podcast [email protected]
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  Episode #252 Healing and Justice Work with Yolo Akili Robinson 31.05.2026 34мин

  Founder and Executive Director of BEAM (Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective), Yolo, joins Dr. Thema and shares his thoughtful insights on womanist and anti-patriarchal therapy. Yolo also reflects on his homecoming journey and the context of identity and expectations for boys and men. For over two decades, Yolo Akili Robinson has served as a counselor, organizer, facilitator, and community healer working at the intersections of mental health, womanism, spirituality, and collective care. A Ford Foundation Global Fellow and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Equity Award recipient, Yolo is the founder of the Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective (BEAM)—a national grantmaker for healing justice and mental health organizations that has designed evidence-based interventions centering radical wellness and collective care. His work bridges clinical, community, and movement spaces, with experience spanning Men Stopping Violence, NYU Langone Medical Center, and national initiatives with the CDC and NIH—helping to design and implement community-based mental health and wellness interventions nationwide. Recognized by U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy for his leadership in advancing emotional well-being and social connection, Yolo’s areas of specialization include anti-patriarchal counseling and healing work with Black men and boys, collective and community-based curricula and interventions, mental health and HIV/AIDS in Black queer communities, and body-centered healing practices. Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe. Mixed & Edited by Next Day Podcast [email protected]
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  Episode #251 Healing Childhood Racial Trauma with Ashley McGirt-Adair 31.05.2026 27мин

  Ashley joins Dr. Thema and shares her homecoming journey from childhood wounds and empowering ways to heal. She also reads a moving narrative of racial trauma from her bestselling book: The Cost of Healing in Silence: Navigating Racial Trauma and the Call for Culturally Responsive Care. Pick up your copy today. Ashley McGirt-Adair is a psychotherapist, TEDx international speaker, author, and the founder and CEO of the Therapy Fund Foundation, a nonprofit focused on eliminating barriers to mental health care in Black and historically excluded communities. She specializes in trauma, racial trauma, leadership, health equity, mental health, and self-care. Ashley holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Washington and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, operating a private practice where she addresses racial trauma, depression, and anxiety. Featured in Forbes, MSNBC, and HuffPost, Ashley also serves as the NAACP State Area Conference Health Chair. Don't forget to subscribe and share. Mixed & Edited by Next Day Podcast [email protected]
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  Episode #250 Epstein Files and The Truth About Serial Offenders 31.05.2026 26мин

  In this week's special episode, Dr. Thema shares a powerful and helpful message on the psychology of serial offenders as it relates to The Epstein Files. Remember to like, subscribe and share. Dr. Thema Bryant is a psychologist, author, professor, sacred artist, and minister who is leading the way in creating healthy relationships, healing traumas, and overcoming stress and oppression. Her life changing books include Matters of the Heart, Homecoming, Reclaim Yourself: The Homecoming Workbook, and The Antiracism Handbook: Practical Tools to Shift Your Mindset and Uproot Racism in Your Life and Community and they empower readers to connect with themselves and to others, exploring topics such as: control issues, emotional unavailability, practical activation activities, case studies, and teaching how to shift mindset and patterns around mental health, relationships, and liberation. Mixed & Edited by Next Day Podcast [email protected]
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  Episode #249 High Functioning Depression with Dr. Judith Joseph 16.05.2026 26мин

  Dr. Judith shares with Dr. Thema her journey with high functioning depression. She provides keys to recognizing it and addressing it with knowledge and self compassion. Dr. Judith Joseph, M.D., M.B.A., is a Board-Certified Psychiatrist, Award Winning Researcher, author of the national bestselling book High Functioning, which was named a Top 10 Audible Well-Being Book of 2025 and top 8% shared books on Spotify 2025. She chairs Columbia University’s Women in Medicine Initiative and is a clinical assistant professor at NYU School of Medicine where she teaches doctors how to educate the public using social media. A renowned speaker, Dr. Judith has presented at the White House, Fortune 500 companies, and the United Nations. Named a 2024 NAACP Mental Health Champion, an Official Masterclass Instructor, a LinkedIn Top Voice and LinkedIn Learning Instructor, she advocates for mental health through research, media, and education. In 2026 she was nominated for a 2026 NAACP Image Award for her contribution in literature and mental health. Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast today and get your copy of Dr. Judith’s book! Mixed & Edited by Next Day Podcast [email protected]
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  Episode #248: Remembering Yourself with Dr. Jaiya John 30.04.2026 29мин

  Poet, author, and social psychologist, Dr. Jaiya John shares his journey of being separated from his mother at birth. With tenderness and transparency, he provides powerful insights from his latest book entitled Wild Flowers Praying at Midnight. Integrating indigenous wisdom, cultural truths, and sacred practices, he provides guidance on how we can remember the truth of who we are. Dr. Jaiya John was orphan-born on ancient Indigenous Anasazi and Pueblo lands in the high desert of New Mexico, and is an internationally recognized freedom worker, poet, novelist, author, and speaker. Jaiya is the founder of Soul Water Rising, a global rehumanizing mission to eradicate oppression. The mission has donated thousands of Jaiya’s books in support of social healing, and offers grants to displaced and vulnerable youth. He is the author of numerous books, including Daughter Drink This Water, We Birth Freedom at Dawn, Fragrance After Rain, and Freedom: Medicine Words for your Brave Revolution. Jaiya writes, narrates, and produces the podcast, I Will Read for You: The Voice and Writings of Jaiya John, and is the founder of The Gathering, a global initiative and tour reviving traditional gathering and storytelling practices to fertilize social healing and liberation. He is a former professor of social psychology at Howard University, and has spoken to over a million people worldwide and audiences as large as several thousand. Jaiya holds doctorate and master’s degrees in social psychology from the University of California, Santa Cruz, with a focus on intergroup and race relations. As an undergraduate, he attended Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon, and lived in Kathmandu, Nepal, where he studied Tibetan Holistic Medicine through independent research with Tibetan doctors and trekked to the base camp of Mt. Everest. He is a Lewis & Clark College Distinguished Alumni Award recipient. His Indigenous soul dreams of frybread, sweetgrass, bamboo in the breeze, and turtle lakes whose poetry is peace. Dr. John’s book titles include We Birth Freedom at Dawn, Volumes One and Two, Dear Artist, All These Rivers and You Chose Love, No Man Came, Fragrance After Rain, Freedom: Medicine Words for Your Brave Revolution, Your Caring Heart: Renewal for Helping Professionals and Systems, Daughter Drink This Water, Calm: Inspiration for a Possible Life, Sincerity of Sunlight, Fresh Peace, Legendary: A Tribute to Those Who Honorably Serve Devalued Children, Beautiful: A Poetic Celebration of Displaced Children, Reflection Pond: Nurturing Wholeness in Displaced Children, Clear Moon Tribe, The Day Jumoke Found His Name, Father to Son: Ode to Black Boys, Habanero Love: A Poem of Sacred Passion, Lyric of Silence: A Poetic Telling of the Human Soul Journey, and Black Baby White Hands: A View from the Crib. Don’t forget to like, comment, subscribe, and share. Mixed & Edited by Next Day Podcast [email protected]
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  Episode #247: Overcoming Perfectionism and Life as a Single Mother with Glory Edim 29.04.2026 24мин

  Author, Glory Edim joins Dr. Thema to share her homecoming journey in understanding the roots of her perfectionism and the path to self acceptance and worthiness. Glory talks about the role of books as a coping strategy, imagination activator, and source of comfort and liberation. From the departure of her father to her experience as a single mother, Glory shares a powerfully transparent testimony. Glory Edim is a writer, literary advocate, and the founder of Well-Read Black Girl (WRBG), a nationally recognized community and literary imprint dedicated to celebrating and publishing the voices of Black women writers. Founded in 2015, WRBG has grown from a book club into a cultural platform that amplifies diverse narratives and fosters dialogue at the intersection of literature, identity, and social change. Edim is the editor of the Well-Read Black Girl anthology and the author of the memoir Gather Me (2024), a reflective exploration of self-discovery and the transformative power of books. Through her writing and editorial work, Edim continues to champion literacy, representation, and Black literary traditions. Don't forget to get her book and like, subscribe, comment, and share.
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  Episode #246 The Art of Healing with Keenan Chapman 19.04.2026 37мин

  Visual artist, Keenan Chapman, joins us for an inspiring and heartfelt conversation about the role of art in healing his heart in the aftermath of his father's death. He shares the importance of receiving both talk therapy and opportunities for artistic expression. He has continued to use the arts and his creativity to give voice to his experiences and reflection