Mon Rovîa on Alchemizing Pain and Finding Where You Belong

Singer-songwriter Mon Rovîa joins host Dr. Mike Friedman on Going There with Dr. Mike  to explore the profound and painful feeling of not belonging. The conversation begins with Mon unpacking the concept of reassuring ourselves that we are "meant to be here," set against the backdrop of his own life story. Born in the second Liberian Civil War and adopted by missionaries, Mon details his journey of navigating trauma and racism in America, which often led him to question his identity. The episode explores the weight of being a "token black kid," the silent anger that builds from microaggressions, and the danger of suppressing one’s feelings in an attempt to assimilate.

The conversation delves into Mon’s candid experience with finding a path toward healing and self-acceptance. He shares how music became a form of "alchemy"—a way to take the broken pieces of his past and glue them together into something beautiful and strong. Mon discusses how reconnecting with his history in Liberia and reading authors like James Baldwin helped him build the confidence to "wear the cracks" of his trauma. The episode explores how this journey is reflected in his "Afro Appalachian folk" music, which aims to take the "nutrients" from painful experiences to create a new, authentic identity.

Listen to Mon Rovîa talk with Dr. Mike about identity, racism, trauma, healing, and more. Then, make sure to follow Going There with Dr. Mike via your favorite podcast provider to hear all the new episodes from Season 6. You can also follow the Consequence Podcast Network for updates on all our shows.

Season 6 of  Going There with Dr. Mike is brought to you by Johnson & Johnson who believes that health is everything. Their strength in healthcare innovation empowers them to build a world where complex diseases are prevented, treated, and cured, where treatments are smarter and less invasive, and solutions are personal. Through their expertise in Innovative Medicine and MedTech, they are uniquely positioned to innovate across the full spectrum of healthcare solutions today to deliver the breakthroughs of tomorrow, and profoundly impact health for humanity. Learn more at www.jnj.com, on the JanssenUS and JNJInnovMed on X.