When We Speak is a podcast where we have inspirational, candid, and empowering conversations. It’s a place where we share insight into how we cope, heal, and find meaning in a wide range of experiences. Hosted by mental health therapist, speaker, and author of “What Children Remember”, Tasha Hunter, MSW, LCSW.
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58. Compassionate Conversations with Monica DiCristina, LPC
In this week's conversation I am back with one of my closest friends, Monica DiCristina, LPC as we share personal stories in the form of heart talk. In this episode, Tasha and Monica combine their years of training and therapeutic practice to address this all too often oversimplified question: What does it really mean to love yourself? It is our way of answering the questions stemming from one of the most foundational parts of mental health - loving and accepting yourself. I also briefly discuss Internal Family Systems and what it means to connect with Self during the healing process.
Monica DiCristina is a therapist with over fifteen years of experience in mental health. She runs a private practice in Atlanta, GA serving individuals and couples in therapy.
40: Aundi Kolber
In today's interview I speak with Aundi Kolber about her books Try Softer and newly released, The Try Softer Guided Journey. Aundi and I discuss some of the most painful seasons of her life, the healing journey, what it means to be an authentic therapist, how we show empathy and compassion in our work, honoring your pain, and building a relationship with your younger self.
35. Bonus Episode: Suicide and How to Save a Life
Today's bonus episode is in honor of Suicide Awareness Month and the one person every eleven minutes who decides to end their life. I start this episode by sharing my own story of being a Black woman who struggled with suicidal thoughts since the age of ten years old. I also discuss some of the thoughts and experiences that led to my attempt to end my life. I believe that we heal when we tell our story. We heal when we're honest about our experiences, about our pain, and about our trauma. I also discuss the following:
—the importance of confronting fear, discomfort, and uncertainty
—how to have hard, uncomfortable conversations
—how to care for yourself
—the importance of community care
—how we save a life
—showing intentional love
—radical love/radical self-care
It's my hope that after listening to this episode you're able to have hard conversations with you loved ones and hopefully practice loving the people in your life and decreasing suicide rates.
26. Bonus Episode : Barriers to Safe Bodies, Trusted Relationships, and Healthy Sex
Trigger Warning: I discuss childhood sexual abuse, sexual trauma, and other forms of childhood maltreatment.
This episode is inspired by Glennon Doyle's podcast " We Can Do Hard Things". I listened to her most recent episodes which pertain to sex. It made me realize the importance of speaking out and why we must do everything possible to de-stigmatize the topic of sex and sexuality. It also prompted me to want to discuss some of the barriers that we face that prevent us from having healthy sexual relationships with others and why at times we feel unsafe in our bodies. As many of us know, it is often due to child abuse. As long as I have a voice, I will never grow tired of advocating for abused children and anyone living with PTSD due to childhood abuse, neglect, and abandonment. I will never get tired of speaking about how we heal. If you would like to listen to those episodes here they are:
—Silent Sex Queen
—Sexy Qs, Farewell to Faking It & Vouching For Vibrators
23. Self-Harm and Finding Love Within Yourself with Grace Kingsley Miller
"Hey I see this pain. I see it. I'm willing to sit with you in it. I don't want to drag you out of it. I don't want to tell you it's going to be ok. I see you. And that pain is valid, but that pain won't last forever."
On today's episode we are hearing from Grace Kingsley Miller as she shares her journey healing from self-harm. Grace reveals what it was like growing up and being unable to express her feelings at a young age. During this conversation, Grace bravely shares past family difficulties that led her to protect herself by becoming a people-pleasure at an early age. While coping with painful and unexpressed emotions, Grace details the impact of not having any safe people or spaces.
21. Travel Can Heal with Jackie Roby
"I know what real looks like and as a trauma survivor...I also know what healing looks like."
Today's interview is with Jackie Roby. Jackie details her story of surviving childhood sexual trauma, coping with family secrets, PTSD, and her journey to finding freedom from the shame and secrecy. Jackie's career in the travel industry led her to the world of wellness travel and healing retreats. Jackie shares how travel can heal those who suffer with depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Jackie also started a movement called #TravelCanHeal to support those in need of healing.
10. Growing Up in the Foster Care System and Church Trauma with Heidi Lara
Heidi came from a home of severe abuse with her brother and three sisters were moved into the child welfare system. After 14 years of the foster care system she experienced her share of early childhood trauma. As an adult and mother of two daughters she uses her story to encourage others that they too can heal from trauma and live beautiful fulfilling lives.
Listen as we discuss Heidi's experience with child abuse/neglect, growing up in the foster care system, church-related trauma, her faith journey, and how she is thriving today as a single mom.
9. Healing from Sexual Trauma with Annette Maria
No matter what has happened to you or what you have gone through, you have the ability to change that. You don’t have to remain that person who has been suffering.
Annette is a Purpose Embodiment Coach, Intuitive Facilitator of Healing, Channel for Multi-dimensional Beings, Host of Sacred Dance Podcast, Published Author & Bhakti Yogi. Her work supports women to step into their soul's purpose, reclaim their inner goddess & manifest their deepest desires. She wants to see the planet as a place that supports everyone feeling wildly expressed in their soul's purpose, reminded of their limitless potential & able to fully feel their humanness. Listen in as we discuss being your own best lover, reclaiming your virginity, and getting started on your healing journey.
5. Bullying and Mental Health with Patrick Monette
Sometimes it can be hard to be your true self especially in the world we are living in. Today I am talking to Patrick Monette about having faith in yourself and loving yourself because you are worthy.
Patrick is a licensed Mental Health Counselor. He was raised in a large Catholic family and had a difficult time with the messages that the church was giving him which caused him to question his life.
In this episode, we talk about depression, bullying, and the importance of speaking up for yourself.
3. West African Spirituality with Iya Osunponmile Fayemi
Have you ever been interested in spirituality and how it can help you?
Iya Ifasola Osunponmile Fayemi Karen Langston is the founder of Alake Creations. Alake means one that should be taken care of, as this is her approach to creating space for others to heal and grow in their personal spiritual journeys. Iya Osunponmile’s mission is to assist others in embracing their will to move forward by using spiritual tools, divination, and rituals. Her work also focuses on decolonizing the mind and misconceptions about African Traditional Religions.
Iya Osunponmile was initiated as a Priest/Iyanifa in the West African indigenous tradition of Ifa in Abeokuta, Ogun State Nigeria by Oluwo Ifasola Akanbi in 2018. Ifa is an ancient spiritual system that is defined as the wisdom of nature.
Listen in as Iya takes us through the history of religion and spirituality, understanding generational trauma, and how ignoring things doesn’t make them go away.
2. Experiencing Domestic Violence with Tereska Muishond
In this episode, we are diving into the impact that growing up with domestic violence can have on you and your relationships.
Today I am talking to Terska Muishond. Tereska is a single mother, writer, poet, and activist. She grew up experiencing domestic violence and fear but was able to find her release through poetry and putting her feelings into words. Tereska and I go deep into experiencing domestic violence, overcoming shame, and how healing takes a lifetime.
Listen is as you are in for a treat as Tereska reads two of her poems during this interview.