The Heart of the Matter
The Heart of the Matter is a podcast that promotes self-care, healing and wellness through exploring internal well-being, relationships and connection to others, and social issues.
- Update frequency
- every 13 days
- Average duration
- 92 minutes
- Episodes
- 61
- Years Active
- 2018 - 2021
#41 - What Is White Privilege?
Chrissy Hunter is a licensed professional clinical counselor in Beaumont, Texas. She is also a return guest to THOTM (episode 7). Chrissy joined us for a discussion on white privilege, answering ques…
#40 - Racist Policing in Black Communities
Khalid Alexander is an English professor at San Diego City College, activist and co-founder of Pillars of the Community in Southeast San Diego. Khalid talks about racist policing of Black communitie…
#39 Violence Against Blacks, Racial Trauma, and Activism
On episode #39, our guests are Dr. Ngonzi Truth Chrushshon and Dr. Mychal Odom. Dr. Truth is a PhD candidate in clinical psychology, with a private practice in Atlanta, Georgia. Dr. Odom, is a histor…
#38 Maintaining Wellness During The Pandemic
Episode 38 is a continuation of our last conversation, which we addressed self-care and social distancing. This week we touch on the COVID-19 impact on mental health, parenting, and creating new habi…
#37 Self-Care and Social Distancing
Self-care has become one of those pop culture terms that’s used so often and loosely, that it can easily lose it’s value.
So...what is self care? Why is it important? How do we apply it while in se…
#36 - When Life Puts You On Pause
Welcome back to THOTM! This is our recording since taking a two month hiatus. In this episode, Michael describes the near death experience that put life and the podcast on pause. We also share our re…
#35 Nobody’s Free Until Everybody’s Free
In honor of the MLK holiday, THOTM is highlighting Dr. Kyra Greene, Executive Director of the Center on Policy Initiatives. She was selected as a civil rights speaker for the San Diego Women’s March …
#34 The Power of Not Knowing
Gabrielle Gosselin is a counselor, instructor, and program coordinator of the CalWORKS program at Grossmont Community College in San Diego. Gabrielle talked with us about her unique upbringing, whic…
#33 Year-In-Review (Part 2)
Episode #33 is part 2 of our year-in-review, where we listen to clips from previous episodes and reflect on how we were impacted and inspired by some of our guests.
We truly appreciate the love we’ve…
#32 Year-In-Review (part 1)
Year-In-Review (part 1)
The Heart of the Matter podcast launched on November 19, 2018. However, our journey creating this podcast started over 3 years ago. Episode #32 is a part 1 of 2, year-in-revie…
#31 Having the Courage for Tough Conversations
Mario Espitia is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker specializing in palliative care, and a doctorate student at USC.
Mario is also an expert in having difficult conversations. From coming out to his …
#30 Mental Health, “The Collective Good”, and Systemic Change
Haile Wright and Micheala Whaley are clinical social workers providing intensive outpatient treatment in San Diego. They joined THOTM for a discussion about mental health stigma and misconceptions, h…
#29 A Therapist Couple: Balancing Marriage, Family and Career
Ernesto “Tito” Camacho and Analee “Lee” Phang are both marriage and family therapists...they’re also husband and wife. Tito and Lee join THOTM and share their experience as a therapist couple, parent…
#28 Promoting Wellness through Public Policy and Community Engagement
For episode #28, THOTM welcomed Camila Ceren. She is studying public policy and psychology at UCSD. We discuss the connection between public policy and mental health, the importance of culturally inf…
#27 Counseling Students, Coming Out, and Coping with Grief
Agustin Orozco is Associate Dean of Student Services and Special Programs at Cuyamaca College in San Diego County. He has an extensive history as a counselor, educator, and mentor. Agustin joined THO…
#26 Foster Care, Adoption and Building Healthy Attachments
Rachael Parsons Svendsen is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in Santa Clarita, CA. She specializes in trauma informed care and has specific training in foster care and adoption related issues. …
#25 The Healing Power of Art
Marquise Anderson is an artist, historian and high school teacher for LAUSD. He talked an early teaching job led to his passion for art, the healing power of art, and using his creativity to engage y…
#24 Curtis Howard on Gangs, Prison, and Trauma
Returning guest, Curtis Howard, is a writer, public speaker, and educator on gang and prison culture. He’s the author of Cellmates and Cellouts and several articles in the San Diego Reader. In this c…
#23 Living with Sickle Cell Disease
Tanya Gentry, is the president/CEO of the Sickle Cell Disease Association San Diego chapter. She describes her experience living with Sickle Cell Disease, the physical, social, and emotional impact o…
#22 Becoming Better Men
Sometimes our best conversations happen before we press “record”. This time, we just pressed the button and let an organic conversation become the episode. We had a great conversation about doing dee…