Drppodcast

In observance of Mental Health Month,  Dr. P is joined by Dr. Pervis Taylor III for an in-depth discussion of Black men's mental health concerns. He and Dr. P discuss real-time challenges and solutions for Black men and the women who love them.Dr. Taylor, an award-winning celebrity life coach, holds a master's degree in psychology from Columbia University. He is the author of the best-selling "Pervis Principals 1 & 2,"  "Surthrival Mode," and "Healing Forward."  Dr. Taylor states that his purpose in life is "to help men maximize their potential, master their emotions, and thrive in the lives of their dreams."

In observance of Stress Awareness Month, Dr. P.  sits down with Cary Goodman, founder of Black Men's Wholeness, an initiative to heal the impact of stress on Black men's lives.   Cary L. Goodman, a native of Richmond, VA, has a sincere passion to empower faith communities to operate at their fullest capacity in areas of health promotion, advocacy programs, outreach and development. For over 16 years, he has been dedicated to establishing and expanding health programs across the United States by building the capacity to address health disparities that greatly impact congregations and the communities they serve by strategically leveraging faith-based and community partnership to impact sustainability. Currently, Cary is a Program & Strategic Development Consultant for The Balm In Gilead, Inc. where he works diligently at the intersection of faith and public health nationally to address the burden of various diseases the impact African American communities.   A highly skilled strategist and nationa

Phil Gee was first diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease (PD) in 2015, one year after retiring from a very successful thirty-three-year career holding a number of engineering, manufacturing and supply chain senior level positions. Since his PD diagnosis, Phil and his wife, Julia (who first met in the 1st grade & have been married for 36 years), have become active advocates for others living with PD and their care partners. In 2017, they moved from metro Atlanta to Hilton Head, and immediately joined the local Rock Steady Boxing program, an intensive boxing/exercise program that has proven to slow the progression of  Parkinson’s Disease, which is  incurable.They began to look throughout the South Carolina Lowcountry and didn’t really see other Black people who said that they had PD. That started their journey to become PD advocates, helping others with PD and their care partners to learn more about PD and how to live a better life with the disease. Phil has served four years on the Parkinson’s Foundation Peop

Natasha Aldridge is a Perinatal Health Justice Equity Advocate and Family Support Professional with a mission to ensure that every pregnant, postpartum, and birth family has access to and receives safe, equitable, high-quality care. Ms. Aldridge has served over 70 families with Full Spectrum Community Doula Support and assisted over 400 women with holistic wrap-around services, within the last four years. She brings a broad array of expertise. Starting her business Natural Queen Essentials with being an ambassador and guidance coach for Endometriosis, she then began assisting clients with preconception wellness which then led her to becoming a Doula. After becoming a Full SpectrumDoula, she began to collaborate with local collectives, non-profits and volunteering in the local jail. In the jail she found her passion with assisting with weekly peer support, prenatal yoga, and justice births and separation visits along with the facilitation of justice involved lactation. Becoming a prison doula, led her to mater

A life long social activist, Obery Hendricks is one of the foremost commentators on the intersection of religion and political economy in America. He is the most widely read and perhaps the most influential African American biblical scholar writing today. His recent book, Christians Against Christianity: How Right-Wing Evangelicals Are Destroying Our Nation and Our Faith (Beacon Press, 2021) has gathered wide acclaim. Cornel West calls him “one of the last few grand prophetic intellectuals.”A widely sought lecturer and media spokesperson, Dr. Hendricks’ appearances include CNN, MSNBC, CBS, Fox News, Fox Business News, the Discovery Channel, PBS, BBC, NHK Japan Television and the Bloomberg Network. He has provided running event commentary for National Public Radio, MSNBC, and the al-Jazeera and Aspire international television networks. Dr. Hendricks has served in the Religion and Foreign Policy Working Group at the U. S. Department of State under Secretaries of State Hillary Clinton and John Kerry; was a membe

Jay Ell Alexander is motivated by her passion for sparking a change in the minds and bodies of others through her entrepreneurial spirit. As owner and CEO of The Vaughn Strategy, a branding and public relations firm and Black Girls RUN!, a national running organization, she leads a powerful movement that has resonated with a huge audience. Over the last decade, she has established herself as a communications professional with a true commitment to community engagement through her passion for health and fitness. She is also the Founder/Executive Director of the BGR! Foundation and the co-owner with her husband of C+J Alexander Investments. Black Girls RUN! has helped shift the consciousness of culture for over 250,000 African American women, encouraging them to adopt a healthy, active lifestyle through running, movement and community. It has also transformed the running community and aided in the diversification and increased participation in the sport of endurance distance running. Alexander has received natio

Don't miss The Balm In Gilead's  Multiple Myeloma Spotlight on our website!This week's guest, Dr Joseph Mikhael MD, MEd, FRCPC, FACP,  leads the M-Power project in the African American community for the International Myeloma Foundation (IMF). Dr. Mikhael is a Professor in the Applied Cancer Research and Drug Discovery Division at the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), an affiliate of City of Hope Cancer Center. He is the Chief Medical Officer of the IMF and Director of Myeloma research at the HonorHealth Research Institute. Dr Mikhael specializes clinically in plasma cell disorders, namely multiple myeloma, amyloidosis, and Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia. He is the PI of many clinical trials, primarily in relapsed multiple myeloma, and his other clinical research interests include pharmaco-economics, communication skills, and media relations. Dr. Mikhael also serves as the Treasurer on the executive board of the American Society of Hematology. Dr Mikhael has published over 200 p

Marvell L. Terry II (he, him, his) is a powerhouse educator, grassroots activist, and cultural organizer from Memphis, Tennessee. HIV advocacy and cultural organizing are personal for him; It was the moment he received a positive diagnosis of HIV that jump-started his more than decade-long career that has had a local, state, and national impact.Marvell was passionate about improving the health outcomes of Black gay and queer men in Memphis, that’s why he started his advocacy work by co-leading an HIV ministry at Christ Missionary Baptist Church, being an HIV tester and EIS at Christ Community Health Services, and volunteering on community task forces. Not long after, he answered a higher call to leadership by founding his own organization: The Red Door Foundation (2010). Marvell was recognized as the only Black gay man living with HIV to found and lead an organization for HIV awareness and engagement at the time in Shelby County. Doubling down on his commitment to community, he started the Saving Ourselves Sy

In this episode, Dr. P is joined by lawyer and activist Dafina Ward, JD.Dafina Ward, J.D. is an attorney and non-profit strategist with nearly fifteen years of experience addressing HIV and health equity issues in the southern United States. Working in partnership with a range of advocates—from grassroots leaders to federal decision-makers—she is a trusted voice in regional and national spaces. With nearly twenty years of experience in community grantmaking, Dafina is an expert in place-based funding strategies, coalition-building, and capacity building for emerging organizations and leaders. Dafina currently serves as Executive Director of the Southern AIDS Coalition (SAC), an organization of regional focus and national reach, with a mission to end the HIV epidemic in the South. Through a range of programs and initiatives across the sixteen southern states and Washington, DC, SAC utilizes community-centered policy advocacy, grantmaking, leadership development, and capacity building trainings to support trans

In this episode, Dr. P has a stimulating discussion with two insightful guests: Pastor Gerard Duncan and Jude Ngang.   Pastor Gerard Duncan is the senior pastor of Prayers By Faith Family Ministries in Gainesville, Florida.  He works closely with faith leaders to increase awareness of health and wellness within their churches and the communities they serve.  Additionally, Pastor Duncan is  the CEO of Community Partners and Engagement Consultants, and the executive director of the Pleasant Street Social Justice and Cultural Arts Center.Paston Duncan is a member of Florida’s Statewide Faith and Community Advisory Council within the Executive Office of the Governor, and he participates in the Alachua County Christian Pastors Association, Florida Department of Juvenile Justice's Faith and Community Network, the Santa Fe College Community Advisory Board and the Gainesville Thrives.  He travels extensively both nationally and internationally speaking on topics on health equity, health disparities and mental we

A charismatic praise & worship leader, Washington, D.C.-based Dr. Stephen Hurd wears all the hats one can possibly wear as a contemporary gospel artist. He has done spoken word pieces, sung many more, directed choirs and arranged vocals, led countless praise & worship workshops, and written several songs that are regularly sung at Sunday services, including "Undignified," "Great Praise," and "Zion Is Calling," all while attending to his first calling as a Baptist minister.   

Victoria A. Smalls, a native of St. Helena Island, SC, serves as President & CEO at Smalls Cultural Resources, championing Gullah Geechee communities across the southeastern United States. With a focus on climate, land, and ocean justice, Smalls Cultural Resources is dedicated to preserving Gullah Geechee heritage through history, art, language, and culture. With two decades of experience, Victoria has held significant positions including former federal Commissioner on the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission and Executive Director of the Gullah Geechee Corridor National Heritage Area. Her impactful leadership extends to organizations such as Penn Center National Historic Landmark District, International African American Museum, and the National Park Service. Passionate about community advocacy and service, in 2022 Victoria received The President’s Lifetime Achievement Award. 

Fitness and nutrition expert Michelle D. Hare shares how we can succeed on our path to a healthier lifestyle.Born and raised in Buffalo, New York, Michelle is a longtime dance and exercise enthusiast.  She obtained a B.S. and M.S. from the State University of New York at Buffalo and also received a second B.S., with honors, from the City University of New York at Queens College, where she majored in nutrition and exercise sciences.Michelle is a certified group exercise instructor with the American Council on Exercise® and personal trainer via the American Council on Exercise and Applied Academy of Personal Training Education®. She also holds kickboxing,  Zumba® and Silver Sneakers® instructor certifications. She is also a Balm In Gilead Lifestyle Coach.Currently residing in Atlanta, GA, Michelle is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.  She is a former board member of the Georgia Diabetes Coalition, Urban League of Rochester, NY, Wilson Commencement Park and the National Sales Network – New Jersey/New

Rev. Dr. Sande Bailey-Gwinn is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Foundations for Living, based in Jefferson, GA.Foundations For Living is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating Transformational Moments through Inspiration and Education that will empower Low to Moderate Income families and all clients to envision, discover, implement and achieve personal/professional goals.Foundations For Living focuses in four areas of service: Mental Health; Career Development, Domestic Violence, and HIV Prevention.

Yolanda Reed is the Owner, President and CEO of Eudora Enterprises, LLC where she functions in the knowledge, understanding and workings of the Proverbs 31 woman. She purchases real estate and invests in other capital ventures. “She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night. In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers”.Yolanda is the Owner, President and CEO of Credential America, Inc.  Credential America is a nationally recognized Credentials  Verification Organization that assists healthcare facilities with their credentialing and enrollment needs.She is currently a member of the Medical Staff State Associations of Florida, Maryland, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York and her home state of Virginia and the National Association.  Yolanda is a co-founder and member of the National Coalition of 100 B

Dr. P looks back on 2023 and The Balm In Gilead's many accomplishments during the year. She expresses special appreciation for the  amazing faith and health professionals who have helped make the organization's programs successful.

Life expectancy for Black Americans is four years shorter than it was 20 years ago.  In this episode, Dr. P delves into this sobering statistic. She  identifies youth suicide as well as maternal and infant mortality among the factors that contribute to the overall decline in Black Americans' lifespans. Dr. P urges concerned listeners to attend the Healthy Churches 2030 Conference, which will feature expert presentations on these topics, including steps we can take individually and collectively in response.Register for the Healthy Churches 2030 Conference at hc2030.org.

Many Black Americans are not aware of the problematic  government policies that affect our lives and communities. In this episode, Dr. P welcomes Pamela D. Price for a discussion about  policy issues having immediate impact on our health and well-being, including drug prices and digital equity.Pamela D. Price currently serves as the Deputy Director for The Balm In Gilead, managing the health programs and policy initiatives of the organization.  Mrs. Price holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Health and has more than 20 years of experience in public health, epidemiology, and healthcare. She has served as a member of the U.S. Army Nurse Corp and excelled in leadership at government and non-government agencies in the areas of program management, quality improvement, and project development.   

During the summer, the Balm In Gilead conducted events in five cities as part of the Healthy Churches 2030 Roadmap Tour. In this episode, Dr. P and Cary Goodman discuss the importance of providing  vital  information about diseases and conditions affecting African Americans. Looking ahead, they preview the 10th Anniversary Healthy Churches 2030 Conference, which will take place November 13-16, 2023.Cary Goodman is a Program & Strategic Development Consultant for The Balm In Gilead. An ordained minister, Cary works  at the intersection of faith and public health, with an emphasis on building coalitions and relationships in order to strengthen congregations and communities.

Dr. P and Dr. Saraswathy Nochur discuss why it is imperative that people of diverse backgrounds participate in clinical trials. Dr. Nochur explains what happens before, during, and after a clinical trial and notes that  people can find a clinical trial for which they may be qualified by visiting www.clinicaltrials.gov.Saraswathy Nochur is Chief DE&I Officer at Alnylam Pharmaceuticals in Cambridge, MA where she works with various stakeholders to increase diversity, promote equity and foster inclusion at Alnylam, and also co-leads initiatives to increase diversity in clinical trials.  She previously was Head, Global Regulatory Affairs at Alnylam for 14 years, enabling the development and approval of four RNA interference therapeutics for rare diseases.  She has been in the Boston biotechnology industry since 1989.  Sara holds a Ph.D. in Biochemical Engineering from MIT.  Sara is on the Board of Marinus Pharmaceuticals, a company developing innovative therapeutics to treat rare seizure disorders and of Decib