What does spiritual wellbeing really mean—beyond church walls, social media platitudes, or “positive vibes only”?

In this episode of Reimagining Black Health, Dr. Melicia Whitt-Glover explores spiritual wellbeing as a lived, relational practice rooted in meaning, purpose, connection, and care. Joined by Dorothy McGuire, pastor and retired registered nurse, and Jacqueline Mattis, researcher and psychologist, the conversation moves past abstract definitions and into how spirituality actually shows up in daily life—especially in Black communities.

Together, they unpack how faith, forgiveness, joy, community, and dignity have historically sustained Black people through collective trauma—and why those same practices still matter now. They also examine the tension between spiritual depth and modern culture, from isolation and burnout to performative vulnerability and reality-TV conflict.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Why spiritual wellbeing is practiced in relationship, not isolation
• How faith and spirituality have shaped Black resilience and survival
• The difference between feeling good and truly being well
• Why forgiveness—including forgiving yourself—is essential to healing
• How joy, laughter, and human connection are indicators of spiritual safety
• Simple, practical ways to begin strengthening spiritual wellbeing this week

This episode is a reminder that optimal Black health isn’t just physical or emotional—it’s about feeling whole, grounded, and connected to something larger than yourself and to each other.

💡 Connect and Learn More

Visit councilbh.org to learn more about the Council on Black Health and its mission to advance health equity and reimagine what wellness looks like in Black communities.

Follow us for future episodes, resources, and conversations that center healing, joy, and thriving.

Join us in achieving equity for generations. Donate to help the Council on Black Health drive lasting impact!

https://councilbh.app.neoncrm.com/forms/donate

Financial wellbeing isn’t just about how much money you make — it’s about stability, security, and freedom of choice. In this episode of Reimagining Black Health, Dr. Melicia Whitt-Glover explores the dimension of financial wellbeing, examining what it truly means for Black individuals and families to move from surviving to thriving.

Guests Stephanie Yates, Executive Director of the UAB Regions Institute for Financial Education, and Darrius Peace, master hairstylist, entrepreneur, and community leader, unpack the real barriers to financial health — from systemic racism and the racial wealth gap to everyday challenges around education, access, and generational wealth.

Together, they examine:

● What it means to financially thrive beyond income alone
● How historic and systemic exclusion created today’s racial wealth gap
● Why Black Wall Street mattered — and what it teaches us today
● The role of land ownership, estate planning, and generational transfers
● How fear, lack of information, and missing paperwork lead to asset loss
● Why community, collective action, and shared knowledge are essential to financial liberation
● Practical steps individuals can take this week to strengthen their financial wellbeing

This episode is a call to reclaim financial agency — through education, community connection, and intentional planning — and to reimagine financial wellbeing as a collective pathway toward freedom, dignity, and long-term health.

EPISODE CHAPTERS — Financial Wellbeing

00:00 — Financial Wellbeing Defined: Surviving vs. Thriving
01:00 — Meet Stephanie Yates & Darrius Peace
02:00 — Stability, Flow, and Financial Confidence
05:00 — The Racial Wealth Gap Explained
09:00 — Redlining, Exclusion, and Predatory Lending
12:30 — Black Wall Street and Lessons from the Past
17:00 — Why Fear and Policy Block Rebuilding
19:00 — Keeping Wealth in the Community
22:00 — Land Ownership and Generational Transfers
26:00 — Estate Planning and Lost Assets
30:00 — Community, Trust, and Financial Conversations
35:00 — Education as Empowerment
41:00 — One Action You Can Take This Week
48:00 — Closing

💡 Connect and Learn More

Visit councilbh.org to learn more about the Council on Black Health and its mission to advance health equity and reimagine what wellness looks like in Black communities.

Follow us for future episodes, resources, and conversations that center healing, joy, and thriving.

Join us in achieving equity for generations. Donate to help the Council on Black Health drive lasting impact!

https://councilbh.app.neoncrm.com/forms/donate

Emotional wellbeing is more than “being okay.” It’s about how we process stress, set boundaries, heal generational trauma, and find peace in a world that often demands constant resilience from Black communities.

In this episode of Reimagining Black Health, Dr. Melicia Whitt-Glover explores the dimension of emotional wellbeing and why it’s foundational to thriving, not just surviving. She’s joined by Jahkazia Richardson, a clinician specializing in ancestral and decolonized therapy practices, and Malik Washington, a mental health advocate encouraging Black men to engage with therapy and emotional care.

Together, they have an honest, grounded conversation about rest, healing, and what it really takes to support emotional health in everyday life.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• What emotional wellbeing actually means beyond clinical definitions

• The “soft life” conversation and why rest can be an act of resistance

• Healing generational trauma and letting go of survival-based behaviors

• Why traditional, Eurocentric therapy models often fall short for Black communities

This episode is an invitation to slow down, reflect, and rethink what emotional health looks like when it’s rooted in truth, culture, and care.

Episode Chapters — Emotional Wellbeing
00:00 — What Is Emotional Wellbeing?
01:00 — Meet Jahkazia Richardson & Malik Washington
02:30 — The “Soft Life” and Choosing Rest
04:45 — Generational Trauma and Survival Mode
07:30 — Black Men and Mental Health Stigma
10:00 — Therapy, Fit, and Finding the Right Support
14:00 — Decolonized Therapy and Ancestral Healing
18:30 — Emotions, Expression, and Cultural Expectations
22:00 — Stress, Policing, and Everyday Trauma
27:00 — Community, Culture, and Belonging
31:00 — Coping Skills and Healthy Release
35:00 — What Thriving Emotionally Really Looks Like
38:00 — One Simple Step to Support Emotional Wellbeing
41:00 — Closing Reflections

💡 Connect and Learn More
Visit councilbh.org to learn more about the Council on Black Health and its mission to advance health equity and reimagine what wellness looks like in Black communities.

Follow us for future episodes, resources, and conversations that center healing, joy, and thriving.

Join us in achieving equity for generations. Donate to help the Council on Black Health drive lasting impact!
https://councilbh.app.neoncrm.com/forms/donate