Unapologetically Black Unicorns
Have you ever chatted with an Unapologetically Black Unicorn- someone who symbolizes freedom, power, strength and is a true force of nature and thought, ‘WOW people need to hear this’? Now you can and learn how to be a U.B.U. too! Join the weekly conversation with host Keris Jän Myrick, an unapologetically Black unicorn in their own right, and nationally recognized mental health advocate chatting with amazing U.B.U. folk who are advancing all things mental health, racial justice, and anything cool to enhance human existence.
- Update frequency
- every 7 days
- Average duration
- 29 minutes
- Episodes
- 112
- Years Active
- 2023 - 2025
#BlackMentalHealth with Ellis Gordon Jr.
Ellis Gordon Jr. (he/him) is treasurer of NAMI Urban Los Angeles and he is the former husband of Bebe Moore Campbell. Ellis shares the story of how he met Bebe Moore Campbell and why it was so import…
“Mindfuling” with Nandini Nema
Nandini Nema (she/her) is a gap year student who is making an impact in mental health and she is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Nandini shares the work she’s done as a youth representative with U…
“The Family Royal”
Keris tells a story about a typewriter that’s been passed down through the family and the memories it holds. She talks about the significance of the typewriter to her family, how it brings her joy wh…
“Providing Humane and Compassionate Care” with Dr. Rupi Legha
Dr. Rupi Legha (she/hers) is a psychiatrist focused on anti-racism and providing humane and compassionate care and she is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Dr. Legha walks us through her path to bec…
“Conquering the Mickey”
Keris talks about how her birthday’s used to be a time where she isolated but describes how she was able to break out of it. Keris lists some alarming statistics about the life expectancy of those wi…
“Caring Responses instead of Scaring Responses” with Dr. John Draper
Dr. John Draper (he/him) was the Chief Officer of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Dr. Draper helps us understand the genesis of the new 988 Suicide & Crisis L…
“Value The Connection to Community” with Dr. Jorge Partida del Toro
Dr. Jorge Partida del Toro is a Curandero, a Psychologist with international experience working with child soldiers and building intentional communities and he’s an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Dr…
“Changing the Institutional Mindset” with Michelle Kotval
Michelle Kotval (she/her) is the Senior Attorney at Disability Rights California (DRC) and she is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Michele gives some background on DRC, their “Stuck“ report and the…
“What They Never Tell You”
Keris spent the last couple of weeks with her father. During their visit, Keris had to help navigate her father’s health benefits as a veteran so for Memorial Day there was some reflection on her fat…
“Recovery Means Liberation” with Haner Hernández
Haner Hernández (he/him) Ph.D., CPS, CADCII, LADCI has worked for 34 years in the health and human service field developing, implementing, and evaluating culturally and linguistically intelligent you…
“Thriving on Wheels” with Candis Welch
Candis Welch (she/hers) is a DEI (A) Practitioner, Disability Advocate, Ms. Wheelchair of California and she is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Candis speaks on why she got into the advocacy and a…
“Homelessness is Solvable and Preventable” with Jeff Olivet
Jeff Olivet (he/him) is the executive director of the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) and he is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Jeff shares how housing is healthcare, and…
“Prioritize Play in your Life” with Mihae Jung Lozano
Mihae Jung Lozano (she/her) is a social worker, advocate and an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Mihae talks about being curious, creative and a creator. They talk about the benefits of growing up as …
“Nothing About Us, Without Us” with Helen “Skip” Skipper
Helen “Skip” Skipper (She/Her/Queen) is the Senior Manager of Peer Services at New York City Criminal Justice Agency and she is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Skip shares about who she is by star…
“People Aren’t Social Problems” with Neil Gong
Neil Gong (he/him) is an assistant professor of sociology at UC San Diego, where he does research on psychiatric services, homelessness, and how communities seek to maintain social order and he is an…
“Release, Refresh, Restart, Rest & Celebrate”
Keris is here to talk about the excitement of the solar eclipse but also what it represents. She talks about the symbolism of the eclipse and setting intentions. What do you need to release? What do …
“What it Takes: Wisdom from Peer Support Specialists and Supervisors” with Dr. Jonathan Edwards and Rita Cronise
Dr. Jonathan Edwards (he/him) and Rita Cronise (She/Her) are editors for the book “What it Takes: Wisdom from Peer Support Specialists and Supervisors” and they are Unapologetically Black Unicorns. J…
“Housing First is All About People” with Sam Tsemberis
Sam Tsemberis (he/him) is a community psychology practitioner, the Founder/CEO of the Pathways Housing First Institute and he is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Dr. Tsemberis shares how Housing Fi…
“Priced Out: The Affordable Housing Crisis for People with Disabilities” with Kevin Martone and Lisa Sloane
Kevin Martone (he/him) is the Executive Director at the Technical Assistance Collaborative (TAC) and Lisa Sloane (she/her) is the Director at the Technical Assistance Collaborative (TAC) and they are…
“Divorcing Danger from Mental Health” with Asantewaa Boykins
Asantewaa Boykin (she/hers) R.N MICN, is an Emergency RN and the co-founder of APTP (Anti Police - Terror Project), helped developed Mental Health First and she is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. …