This week, Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, professor, prolific writer, cultural critic, political commentator, Baptist minister, and one of the country’s leading authorities on race and racism, joins for a fascinating and wide-ranging Addy Hour conversation on Race, Community & Mental Health. Dr. Dyson shares keen insights on the nuances of topics like belonging, safe spaces, vulnerability, self-care, care for others, and our commitment to society. The conversation also gets personal and practical, as we consider daily discernment in our lives, and how it impacts our decision making and how we align our gifts, goals and passions. We also delve into individualistic and community attitudes towards Black people in the U.S., especially around stereotypes, trauma, racism, and mental health, but also around our talents, success, and impacts on society. A dynamic episode!

We all have personal experience with sleep, likely good and bad! This week Dr. Obo Addy, father of Dr. Nii Addy, joins for an informative and practical conversation on good and poor sleeping habits, how to address sleep challenges, and how sleep impacts our emotional wellness, mental health and overall health. We discuss topics like sleep deprivation, insomnia, daytime sleepiness, sleep apnea and more. Dr. Addy also shares his life story and the Addy family journey, including how he developed a passion for sleep medicine & psychiatry. And of course, we’ll also discuss important topics such as the consequences of sleep-related health disparities, the benefit of holistic approaches for addressing sleep challenges, and the impact of faith.

Conversations about science and society have somehow become more divisive as of late, even as we continue to battle a global pandemic. But what about the scientists from various disciplines who’ve continued in their training, research endeavors and leadership in the midst of everything we’ve endured as a society? This week, two scientific leaders from the National Institutes of Health join for a refreshing conversation about wellness, work-life balance, community and thriving amongst our scientific trainees, researchers, staff, administrators and leaders. Come hear Dr. Amy Newman, Scientific Director at NIDA, and Dr. Luigi Ferrucci, Scientific Director at NIA, share about flexibility in the midst of challenges, support amongst our scientific teams as we deal with stress, ongoing investments in diversity and inclusion, and the necessity of improving relationships and trust between research communities and the general public.

For students, faculty, administrators, staff and family members across the country, there’s so much for us to consider as we embark on another unique college and university semester. This week, Chaplain Sharon Kugler, Pastor Orlando Yarborough III, and Imam Omer Bajwa join for a timely, rich, honest and compelling conversation about campus life, mental health and faith amidst an ongoing pandemic. Join us to hear insights from their roles and personal experiences with students on campus. We also discuss how to navigate our expectations and desires for normalcy, what it means to return, the realities of our hustle culture, and the importance of pausing and resting. Amidst all of the uncertainty, unease, and anxiety, our guests also share about sources of joy, the strength we can draw from being in spiritual community, and our tremendous opportunities for growth in this moment. A powerful and moving episode!

Far too often, the crisis around maternal health and maternal mental health support in the United States is underappreciated and even ignored, especially for women of color. This week, March of Dimes President and CEO, Stacey D. Stewart, and comedian and “accidental activist” Angelina Spicer join for a conversation that can truly be a matter of life or death. Join in, as we share and hear stories of those who have walked through postpartum depression and other maternal health challenges. We also discuss societal pressures on women and black women in particular, the true definition of a strong black woman, and the reward of risk taking and vulnerability in order to walk in your purpose.

We seem to be living in a culture where so many are speaking as instant experts on almost everything. But how do we navigate the noise and find truth, while also cultivate the disciplines of listening and sitting with silence? This week, distinguished professor, scholar & author Eddie Glaude Jr., and author and filmmaker A.D. Thomason join for an honest, wide-ranging conversation on these topics and the realities of brokenness, growth through pain, true hope, and much more. We’ll also discuss whether our nation is in a true moment of racial reckoning. Join the conversation and hear personal insights from both guests on how they maintain balance, approach emotional health, and stay true to their purpose in today’s complex world.

What’s our perspective as we all deal with challenges and traumas in our lives and the lives of those around us? How do we find balance between giving to and caring for our communities, while not spreading ourselves too thin? And how do we meet people where they are, with sincerity, empathy and compassion, without being dismissive? This week, NYC Pastor, Shino Prater, and Psychologist, activist, and urban education expert, Dr. R. Kweku Smith, join for an honest, challenging, refreshing and relatable conversation about their mental, physical and spiritual health journeys over the last year, both in their personal lives and professionally. Join us, as we also consider practical ways we can all strive for balance, perspective, & holistic health in our current moment.

This week, influencer, mental health & body image advocate, and former D1 athlete, Victoria Garrick, joins for an honest conversation about life as a competitive student athlete and high performing individual. We’ll chat about the differences between mental health and mental toughness, and wrestle with the line between pushing forward towards peak performance versus stepping back, in athletic pursuits and in life. Join in, as we also talk through the differences between sadness and depression, nervousness and anxiety and chat about our life perspectives as we emerge from the pandemic.

As we continue to emerge from the pandemic, many of us have felt a need to reprioritize and reevaluate what matters most. And yet, it can still be difficult to honestly acknowledge personal challenges along the way, especially when it comes to emotional wellness and mental health. This week, veteran entertainment executive and best-selling author, Tara Schuster, joins for a deeply honest conversation with Dr. Addy, where they discuss self-care, vulnerability, life balance & accountability in their own lives, along with principles that apply to us all.

How do we strike a balance between addressing larger societal issues and meeting our own needs? Is balance even realistic, or is it selfish to focus on personal emotional wellness, when others are suffering and struggling? Additionally, what’s the personal cost of activism when it comes to self-care, mental health and organizational health? This week, March for Our Lives Co-founder, Parkland survivor, and activist David Hogg joins for a candid conversation about these topics and more, in his efforts to end gun violence. Join us as we grapple with the tensions between activism, self-care, and social change, and how to apply helpful practices in our daily lives.