Stop Weaponizing Our Emotions with Guest Malik Isasis

Host Hollis warmly welcomes filmmaker/storyteller/social worker and amazing human Malik Isasis to the Open That Door podcast!

Hollis and Malik met three decades ago as college students when they made a film together—Malik's first feature. Malik has gone on to make many award-winning films (his latest Öte is currently streaming throughout Europe) all while working as a social worker in the NYC school system.

Malik grew up in the south and experienced poverty, racism, and the loss of his mother who was killed by police officers. He met his father just three times growing up, and learned to steel up and withhold his emotions, anger especially, as a form of weaponization against others. It was only after Malik met a social worker in his late teens that he learned how to share his emotions and be vulnerable in order to gain a deeper connection with himself and those he cares about—a tough order for boys-to-men influenced by patriarchal role-modeling.

Listen in as Malik so expertly shares why change can be so hard when we are, by nature, always trying to return to our equilibrium, our normal, even when that baseline no longer works for us. Change is possible, though—and Malik is a testament to that truth. It's through the awareness that we have a choice, our vigilance, and repeated practice that new beliefs and habits become our new lifestyle.

Malik is one of those beautiful humans who tells his friends he loves them, and looks people in the eye to let them know he sees them whether they are advantaged or disadvantaged. The world needs more compassion, and Malik is a goldmine of it. Settle in and give this wonderful conversation a look and listen! Then, head over to https://malik.nyc/ and check out a sampling of Malik's auteur films.

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