Unheard Voices: Navigating Health as a Black Woman

Black Women and Femmes: Safety, Survival, and the Systemic Harm of Domestic and Intimate Partner Violence

In this episode of Unheard Voices: Navigating Health as a Black Woman, we center the lived realities of Black women and femmes navigating domestic and intimate partner violence (DV/IPV)—often while fighting to be believed, protected, and safe. Hosts Robyn Bussey and Dominique Mack reflect on current events and how systemic failures—from policing to public health—compound harm for Black survivors. We hear from Caila Coleman, Esq., who shares her own personal journey with domestic violence and the legal and emotional barriers she encountered. Domestic violence expert Yolanda Richardson joins us to break down the patterns of abuse, the historical silence surrounding Black femmes, and the urgent need for culturally grounded interventions. This episode dives deep into the policy, environmental, and structural inequities that allow violence to thrive—and offers pathways to healing, advocacy, and collective safety. 🔎 Topics Covered: * The intersection of race, gender, and IPV * Barriers to justice and safety for Black survivors * Legal, policy, and environmental context * Survivor-led resources and community-based solutions 💜 Because safety should never be a privilege—it should be a birthright.

Behind the Anger and the Smile: High-Functioning Depression and Black Women's Mental Health

In this episode of Unheard Voices: Navigating Health as a Black Woman, we turn our attention to the often-unseen toll of trauma and mental health challenges in Black women—particularly high-functioning depression. Hosts Robyn Bussey and Dominique Mack begin with a timely reflection on how current events are compounding stress, isolation, and unprocessed grief in our communities. We hear a powerful personal story from Jordan Lovelace, who shares her lived experience of surviving trauma while performing strength and success on the outside. Licensed clinical social worker Janel Holland, LCSW offers professional insight into how trauma manifests, how high-functioning depression often goes undetected, and what healing can look like—especially when cultural stigma and systemic barriers stand in the way. This episode explores the environmental, social, and policy-level conditions that influence mental health for Black women—and the importance of equity, culturally competent care, and rest as resistance. 🔎 Topics Covered: * The mental health crisis and trauma in Black women * Understanding high-functioning depression * Navigating therapy, diagnosis, and access * Policy and environmental contributors to mental health * Community resources and strategies for collective healing 🧠 Mental health is health. And for many Black women, survival has come at a cost. Let’s talk about it.

The Black Maternal Health Crisis: Stories of Survival and Resistance

In the premiere episode of Unheard Voices: Navigating Health as a Black Woman, hosts Robyn Bussey and Dominique Mack confront the urgent and deeply personal realities of the Black maternal health crisis. They open with a reflection on current events and the systemic neglect that puts Black birthing people at disproportionate risk. Charmaine Richardson shares her powerful personal story—one marked by medical bias, resilience, and survival. Maternal Health and Parent advocate Courtney Lucas joins to unpack the failures and historical context that fuel the crisis. Together, they explore the intersection of race, gender, health, and environmental injustice—while also offering real-time resources, advocacy tools, and hope for change. 🔎 Topics Covered: * Black maternal mortality and systemic neglect * Environmental injustice and reproductive outcomes * The emotional toll and trauma of care systems * Policy gaps and advocacy strategies * Resources for healing and organizing 🎧 Listen in as we name the crisis—and fight for a future where Black mothers and birthing people not only survive, but thrive.

Introducing Unheard Voices: Why Black Women Health Stories Matters

Welcome to Unheard Voices: Navigating Health as a Black Woman, a limited-series podcast from the Partnership for Southern Equity and produced by the Southern Environmental Health Initiative (SEHI). In this special teaser, hosts Robyn Bussey and Dominique Mack give a glimpse into what’s to come—stories rooted in truth, data, and lived experience. You’ll hear how Black women and femmes across the South are navigating systems of care, resilience, and resistance at the intersection of health, race, gender, and environmental injustice. This isn’t just a podcast—it’s a call to listen deeper, advocate louder, and reimagine what healing can look like in our communities.