Episode #197: Giving Yourself Grace The Homecoming Podcast with Dr.Thema 2025-01-14 | Dr. Thema describes what it means to give yourself grace and the importance of self kindness, patience, and understanding. She provides strategies to increasing your graciousness with yourself. Poem read by Ife Davis and written by Rev. Dr. Cecelia Bryant. Intro and Outro music by Joy Jones.
Episode #270: Reparenting Yourself with Shenikka Moore-Clarke The Homecoming Podcast with Dr.Thema 2026-09-13 | Shenikka Moore-Clarke joins Dr. Thema to speak honestly about the ways in which she has reparented herself and gives us practical tools to help us in the process of reparenting ourselves.Shenikka Moore Clarke is a holistic therapist and coach. She is also a wife and proud mother of a spicy 8 year old daughter. With over two decades of experience, she is passionate about helping women to heal from trauma and reclaim their authentic self. She also supports couples to repair and strengthen their bond. Her work also explores the intersections of healing, embodiment, relationships, identity, and liberation, helping people move beyond survival and into a more authentic and connected way of living.As a Black immigrant woman of Caribbean heritage, Shenikka is passionate about challenging harmful narratives, breaking intergenerational cycles, and creating spaces where people can reclaim their voice, trust themselves, and take up space unapologetically.
Wisdom Wednesday: Being Multi-Gifted The Homecoming Podcast with Dr.Thema 2026-09-09 | On today's Wisdom Wednesday, Dr. Thema shares a clip from her discussion with physician, singer, linguist, and poet Dr. Joy Jones regarding the challenges of being multi-gifted. Check out the full episode for more! Dr. Joy Jones is a recording artist, anthropologist, urban farmer, and medical doctor. She is board certified in Family Medicine and Psychiatry as well as Functional Medicine and Lifestyle medicine. She is also the CEO and Founder of Whole Village Health, A global wellness firm deeply rooted in liberation medicine. Locally, she works with individuals impacted by the correctional system (both incarcerated and in the community) to help them redefine and achieve personal liberation. Globally, she has travelled to all 7 continents and can often be found leading medical missions to communities most in need. In her leisure she can be found in the community organizing, in the studio creating or in her garden cultivating. In all her work her personal goal is to help all who she comes in contact become “healthier, happier and more whole”.
Episode #269: Self Betrayal and Abandonment with Candyss Love The Homecoming Podcast with Dr.Thema 2026-09-06 | Author and retreat facilitator, Candyss Love joins us to share her powerful testimony of healing from self abandonment and self betrayal. She shares honestly about her experience with addiction, people pleasing, and manipulation. Candyss shares the healing paths of selective abstinence, silence, solitude, time in nature, self reflection, faith, and eventually a loving relationship.Candyss Love is an Army veteran, retired police officer, former criminal justice teacher, author, meditation teacher, emotional trauma retreat facilitator, podcast host, solo female van-life traveler, and wife of 7 years from Houston, Texas.With 15+ years devoted to studying psychology, archetypal identities, esoteric wisdom, quantum theory, and spirituality. she is largely known for teaching licensed mental health professionals how to thoughtfully integrate spiritual, metaphysical, and mystical teachings into their work to support deeper healing.After 8 years of sobriety and through her own deep healing journey, Candyss is dedicated to helping people remember their innate power and capacity to heal reminding them that God has already equipped them with what they need to become their own healer.Yet beyond every title, role, and identity, she cherishes the freedom to return home, rest in the presence of God and become NOBODY, the great return to nothingness.
Wisdom Wednesday: We Are All Flowers The Homecoming Podcast with Dr.Thema 2026-09-02 | This Wisdom Wednesday, Dr. Thema offers guidance on how to carry our success. Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast today!
Episode #268: Mental Health for Prophetic People with Bishop Sinegal The Homecoming Podcast with Dr.Thema 2026-08-30 | Author and mentor, Bishop Sinegal shares how he became aware of the importance of mental health. Using personal experiences and Christian teachings, he explains mental health concerns for prophetic people from isolation to depression as well as practices that have been helpful on his journey. For more than 29 years Bishop Sinegal has dedicated his life to the work of Jesus Christ through his powerful ministry. He is a churchman and second generation episcopate. Recognized by President Barack Obama as “Bishop of the Year” in 2011, his reach has transcended both social and religious boundaries. Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast today!
Wisdom Wednesday: Slow Down The Homecoming Podcast with Dr.Thema 2026-08-26 | This Wisdom Wednesday, Dr. Thema reminds us of the importance of slowing down. Remember to like, subscribe, and share!
Episode #267: Navigating Relationships as a Highly Sensitive Person with Maryam Hasnaa The Homecoming Podcast with Dr.Thema 2026-08-23 | As a highly sensitive person and medicine carrier, Maryam Hasnaa describes the gift of high sensitivity. She explores her journey and insights about building relationships with self awareness and clarity. Maryam Hasnaa is an intuitive, a channel, an energy healer, and a lover of all things that create a feeling of being connected to something bigger than ourselves. Maryam is the creator of New Earth Mystery School and Resonance Apothecary. The key elements of her work include knowledge and experience within a diverse range of esoteric spiritual traditions, cosmic cosmology, and energy work.Raised by two parents who are spiritual teachers, Maryam has been immersed in a world of mysticism, ceremony, and celebration since before she was born. An initiated priestess, energy worker, medicine woman, and flower practitioner, she has found her calling in offering training and mentorship for those with the trait of high sensitivity.Maryam uses her own highly sensitive gifts to remind other beings of the energetic nature of this universe. She is experienced in working with subtle plant medicine, metaphysics, universal and spiritual law, the Akashic records, embodied ceremony, ritual, meditation, sound healing, and a keeper of sacred medicine.
Wisdom Wednesday: Try Something Different The Homecoming Podcast with Dr.Thema 2026-08-19 | On today's Wisdom Wednesday, Dr. Thema shares a message for us to dare to try a different path. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and share!
Episode #266: Decolonize Your Parenting with Leslie Priscilla The Homecoming Podcast with Dr.Thema 2026-08-16 | Author and parenting expert, Leslie Priscilla, shares indigenous wisdom regarding understanding how you were parented shows you how you can choose to parent. With insight, compassion, humility, and care, Leslie transforms our understanding of parenting that honors and liberates our children.Leslie Priscilla is a first-generation, non-Black Xicana with Rarámuri lineage and the daughter of two Mexican immigrants. She is mother to three bicultural children and stepmother to one, and a certified Parent Coach with nearly two decades of experience working with families. Through her organization Latinx Parenting, she offers coaching, workshops, support, training, and advocacy for Latinx/Chicanx families and the professionals who serve them, locally, nationally, and internationally. Her vision is a movement rooted in children's rights, social and racial justice, and the individual and collective practice of nonviolence and reparenting. It's a vision grounded in intergenerational and ancestral healing, cultural sustenance, and the active decolonization of oppressive practices in our families, toward liberation. She is the author of the book CHANCLA: Healing Our Families, Ourselves, and Our Culture and is born, raised, and remains based in Santa Ana, CA.
Wisdom Wednesday: Express your Emotions The Homecoming Podcast with Dr.Thema 2026-08-12 | This Wisdom Wednesday, Dr. Thema and Yolo Akili Robinson discuss the importance of expressing your emotions. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and share!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.
Episode #265: Rebuilding after Betrayal and Breakups with Brittainy Noel The Homecoming Podcast with Dr.Thema 2026-08-09 | 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!
Wisdom Wednesday: I Speak Life Over You The Homecoming Podcast with Dr.Thema 2026-08-05 | On this Wisdom Wednesday Dr. Thema shares a very special blessing. Share it with someone who needs it today.
Episode #264: Surviving Hate and Thriving in the Spotlight with April Ryan The Homecoming Podcast with Dr.Thema 2026-08-02 | 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.
Wisdom Wednesday: What Would Change If You Truly Loved Yourself? The Homecoming Podcast with Dr.Thema 2026-07-29 | On today's Wisdom Wednesday, Dr. Thema asks the important question: What Would Change If You Truly Loved Yourself? Remember to like, subscribe, and share this video!
Episode #263: Matriarchal Wisdom and Leadership The Homecoming Podcast with Dr.Thema 2026-07-26 | 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.
Wisdom Wednesday: Forgive Yourself The Homecoming Podcast with Dr.Thema 2026-07-22 | On today's Wisdom Wednesday, Dr. Thema reminds us of the importance of forgiving ourselves and trusting ourselves. Remember to like, subscribe, and share this video!
Episode #262: The Truth About Being a Leader with Dr. Jamal Bryant The Homecoming Podcast with Dr.Thema 2026-07-19 | 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.
Wisdom Wednesday: Get Free The Homecoming Podcast with Dr.Thema 2026-07-15 | On today's Wisdom Wednesday, Dr. Thema invites us to get free and to live to our fullest potential. Leave a comment and share with our community how you are living your life to the fullest!
Episode #261: Reclaim Your Body with Alishia McCullough The Homecoming Podcast with Dr.Thema 2026-07-12 | 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.
A Poem on Grief for Marginalized People The Homecoming Podcast with Dr.Thema 2026-07-08 | Dr. Thema shares a poem she wrote on grief for oppressed people. Our grief is a reflection of our love, humanity, and sacredness. Don’t forget to subscribe and order Dr. Thema’s books Homecoming and Matters of the Heart.
Episode #260: Loving Yourself with poet Jasmine Mans The Homecoming Podcast with Dr.Thema 2026-07-05 | 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.
Wisdom Wednesday: Turn the Page The Homecoming Podcast with Dr.Thema 2026-07-01 | On today's Wisdom Wednesday, Dr. Thema reminds us to turn the page and to not limit ourselves.
Episode #259: Decolonizing Your Nervous System with Dr. Jennifer Mullan The Homecoming Podcast with Dr.Thema 2026-06-28 | 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.
Wisdom Wednesday: Be a Truth Teller The Homecoming Podcast with Dr.Thema 2026-06-24 | On today's Wisdom Wednesday, Dr. Thema shares the importance of being a truth teller. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and share!
Episode #258: Dr. Thema Answers Your Questions - Part 2 The Homecoming Podcast with Dr.Thema 2026-06-21 | 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 support@drthema.com. Don't forget to like, subscribe, share, and comment.
Wisdom Wednesday: You Are Already Enough The Homecoming Podcast with Dr.Thema 2026-06-17 | On this Wisdom Wednesday, Dr. Thema reminds us that we are already enough, already worthy, and already sacred. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and share!
Episode #257: Faith, Family, and Loss with MissTerious Janette...ikz The Homecoming Podcast with Dr.Thema 2026-06-14 | 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 and comment.
Wisdom Wednesday: Break Free The Homecoming Podcast with Dr.Thema 2026-06-10 | On today's Wisdom Wednesday Dr. Thema shares that after a break up you need to break free! Don't forget to like, subscribe, and share!
Episode #256: When Your Father is the Father of Your Children: Surviving with Aziza Kibibi The Homecoming Podcast with Dr.Thema 2026-06-07 | 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.
Wisdom Wednesday: Protect Your Peace The Homecoming Podcast with Dr.Thema 2026-06-03 | Dr. Thema shares a truth nugget for this "Wisdom Wednesday" on how to protect your peace. Share with our community a strategy that helps you protect your heart and your peace. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and share!
Episode #255: Fertility Journey Testimony with Dr. Raquel Martin The Homecoming Podcast with Dr.Thema 2026-05-31 | 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.
A Collective Breath; Join Dr. Thema on this Healing Film Project The Homecoming Podcast with Dr.Thema 2026-05-27 | Dr. Thema is the Executive Producer of a film in production entitled A Collective Breath. We invite fiscal support for the editing of this therapeutic project. If you would like to be a sponsor email support@drthema.com for guidance on making your contribution. Check out these captivating "Behind the Scenes" shots from this past weekend in Washington D.C. Director/Producer: Malkia LydiaDirector of Photography/Producer: Garland McLaurinProducer: Mike Brown
Wisdom Wednesday: Learn Your Story The Homecoming Podcast with Dr.Thema 2026-05-27 | This Wisdom Wednesday Brittney Moses shares a message to help us learn our story and shed false narratives. Remember to like, comment, and share with your community!Brittney Moses is a liberatory thinker, meaning-maker, and compassionate voice exploring the intersection of psychology, identity, and culture with a deep reverence for human complexity. She holds a Bachelor's in Psychology from UCLA and a Master's in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University. For the past decade, Brittney has contributed to the community and online space through writing, content, and public dialogue, sharing not only psychology and insight, but also a deeply human and relatable approach, with room for both humor and honesty. Her lens is narrative, humanistic, existential, and liberation-oriented, and her values are rooted in compassion, curiosity, and inclusivity. She's a proud Los Angeles native, a lifelong theater kid at heart, wife to Jason, mom to her teenage son Austin, and proud human of her pup Lily. In a world that feels increasingly disconnected, Brittney is committed to creating spaces that help us slow down, return to ourselves, and find one another again.
Episode #254: Testimony Therapy with Dr. Akinyela The Homecoming Podcast with Dr.Thema 2026-05-24 | 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.
Wisdom Wednesday: Finding Peace with Dr. Joy Jones The Homecoming Podcast with Dr.Thema 2026-05-20 | On today's Wisdom Wednesday, Dr. Thema and Dr. Joy Jones discuss the benefit of finding peace. Dr. Joy Jones is a recording artist, anthropologist, urban farmer, and medical doctor. She is board certified in Family Medicine and Psychiatry as well as Functional Medicine and Lifestyle medicine. She is also the CEO and Founder of Whole Village Health, A global wellness firm deeply rooted in liberation medicine. Locally, she works with individuals impacted by the correctional system (both incarcerated and in the community) to help them redefine and achieve personal liberation. Globally, she has travelled to all 7 continents and can often be found leading medical missions to communities most in need. In her leisure she can be found in the community organizing, in the studio creating or in her garden cultivating. In all her work her personal goal is to help all who she comes in contact become “healthier, happier and more whole”.
Episode #253: Remembering Our Divine Identity with Prentis Hemphill The Homecoming Podcast with Dr.Thema 2026-05-17 | 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. Prentis has contributed to Atlas of the Heart (Brené Brown), The Politics of Trauma (Staci K. Haines), You Are Your Best Thing (edited by Brené Brown & Tarana Burke), and Holding Change (adrienne maree brown). They are also the creator and host of the acclaimed podcasts Finding Our Way and Becoming the People, which have surpassed over a million downloads. At its core, Prentis’ work challenges the complacency of mainstream therapeutic models, infusing healing with the rigor of justice, repair, and accountability. They believe that reclaiming feeling and relationship creates space for true transformation—in ourselves, our movements, and the world.Don’t forget to like, subscribe and share.
Wisdom Wednesday: Relationship Guidance The Homecoming Podcast with Dr.Thema 2026-05-13 | For this Wisdom Wednesday, Dr. Thema Bryant and special guest, bestselling author Lalah Delia, share important relationship guidance. Lalah Delia is a spiritual writer and practitioner, meditation poet, and bestselling author of Vibrate Higher Daily: Live Your Power. Having alchemized her own journey from crisis and survival into empowered healing and spiritual transformation, she now walks alongside those called to rise into their own power, purpose, alignment, and courage.Through her virtual platform, Vibrate Higher Daily School, she nurtures and guides a global community of seekers devoted to empowered healing and spiritual transformation. The school offers sanctuary, teachings, and tools for living in divine alignment with one’s most optimal self, energy, and life path.Guided by divine intervention, self-determination, and relentless and magnetic devotion to her higher potential, Lalah has reclaimed her voice, well-being, gifts, calling, and courage, and now empowers others to do the same.Discover her transformational work and community at VibrateHigherDaily.com and @lalahdelia on Instagram. She also shares reflections and sacred writings on Substack through her publication, Embodiment Chronicles.Lalah’s new Audible Original meditation series marks her latest body of work, a 3-part spiritual offering of restoration and spiritual empowerment, now available exclusively on Audible.
Episode #252: Healing and Justice Work with Yolo Akili Robinson The Homecoming Podcast with Dr.Thema 2026-05-10 | 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.
Wisdom Wednesday: Processing Trauma The Homecoming Podcast with Dr.Thema 2026-05-06 | Dr. Thema shares a truth nugget for this "Wisdom Wednesday" on the ways in which to process trauma in a healthy way. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and share!
Episode #251: Racial Trauma Wounds in Childhood with Ashley McGirt-Adair The Homecoming Podcast with Dr.Thema 2026-05-03 | 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. Through her speeches, workshops, and consultations, she empowers individuals and organizations to unpack emotional burdens, prioritize self-care, and foster healing and equity. Her new book, The Cost of Healing in Silence: Navigating Racial Trauma and the Call for Culturally Responsive Care (March 2026, Wiley), blends research, personal narrative, and clinical in sight to challenge systemic inequities and inspire collective healing. It serves as an effective roadmap for culturally responsive mental health care that acknowledges, understands, and begins to heal the ways racial bias and stereotypes infiltrate counseling. Connect with Ashley further at ashleymcgirt.com//.
Wisdom Wednesday: What is Prayer? The Homecoming Podcast with Dr.Thema 2026-04-29 | This Wisdom Wednesday, poet, author, and social psychologist, Dr. Jaiya John shares a message of what prayer means to him. What does prayer mean to you? Share with our community!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 andliberation. 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.
Episode #250: The Epstein Files: The Psychology of Serial Offenders The Homecoming Podcast with Dr.Thema 2026-04-26 | 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. 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.
Wisdom Wednesday: Leaving Toxic Relationships The Homecoming Podcast with Dr.Thema 2026-04-22 | Dr. Thema shares a truth nugget for this "Wisdom Wednesday" on the importance of leaving toxic relationships. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and share!
Episode #249: High Functioning Depression with Dr. Judith Joseph The Homecoming Podcast with Dr.Thema 2026-04-19 | 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!
Wisdom Wednesday: Pay Attention to the Patterns The Homecoming Podcast with Dr.Thema 2026-04-15 | Dr. Thema shares a truth nugget for this "Wisdom Wednesday" on the importance of paying attention to patterns. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and share!
Episode #248: Remembering Yourself with Dr. Jaiya John The Homecoming Podcast with Dr.Thema 2026-04-12 | 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 andliberation. 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.
Wisdom Wednesday: The Epst3in Files Message to Survivors and Bystanders The Homecoming Podcast with Dr.Thema 2026-04-08 | On this Special Edition of "Wisdom Wednesday" Dr. Thema shares a powerful message for survivors and bystanders. Remember to like, subscribe and share.
Episode #247: Overcoming Perfectionism and Life as a Single Mother with Glory Edim The Homecoming Podcast with Dr.Thema 2026-04-05 | 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.
Wisdom Wednesday: Be Still: Slow Down. The Homecoming Podcast with Dr.Thema 2026-04-01 | Dr. Thema shares a reminder for this "Wisdom Wednesday" to be still and to slow down. It will be well. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and share!
Episode #246: The Art of Healing with Keenan Chapman The Homecoming Podcast with Dr.Thema 2026-03-29 | 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 reflections.
