The Self-Abandonment Series: Welcome Home, The Path to Self-Reclamation Part 2

Part 2: Conversations on Identity, Race, and Belonging with Shawn "Kool Aid" Brown

This conversation is an invitation to stay. To stay in the discomfort, in the nuance, in the parts of ourselves we’d rather bypass. In Part 2, I name something I’m still actively working through: my own bias. Not as a performance. Not as a checkbox. But as a lived, ongoing process of noticing, unlearning, and sitting with the discomfort that comes with it. This isn’t easy work. And it’s not supposed to be. Shawn and I move through identity, belonging, and the layered realities that shape both. He shares the story of his grandfather, a World War II veteran who served his country, and returned home to a system that denied him access to the very benefits that built generational wealth for others. We talk about how discriminatory banking practices and redlining didn’t just impact individuals. They shaped entire family trajectories, creating gaps that are still very much present today. We also zoom out. We talk about the legacy of “manifest destiny,” not just as history, but as a mindset that still shows up in how we move through the world, how we relate to land, power, and each other. And we ask a harder question: How do we hold all of this truth, and still choose kindness? Not a passive, dismissive kindness. But an active, grounded one. The kind that doesn’t bypass harm, but also doesn’t dehumanize. The kind that requires accountability and humanity. This episode is not about arriving at answers. It’s about expanding our capacity to sit in the questions. In this episode, we explore: * Recognizing and naming personal bias without defensiveness * The emotional labor of staying in discomfort instead of avoiding it * The long-term impact of redlining and discriminatory lending on generational wealth * The disconnect between military service and access to opportunity for Black veterans * Manifest destiny as both history and ongoing narrative * What it means to hold people accountable without stripping away their humanity * The tension between truth-telling and compassion This is a conversation that asks something of you. To listen differently. To reflect honestly. To stay. Simply Heard, The Space Between is a podcast produced by Simply Centered Psychological Services, in Raleigh, NC. Simply Heard, The Space Between is for educational and informational purposes, and not to be used as a replacement for therapy.

Conversations on Identity, Race, and Belonging with Shawn "KoolAid" Brown

In part one of this mini-series, Dr. Jess Hayden sits down with Shawn Brown, a longtime friend and public servant, to talk about growing up as a Black kid from the city navigating predominantly white suburban schools through Rochester’s Urban–Suburban program. Shawn reflects on high school experiences shaped by race, class, sports, and conditional belonging — what it meant to fit in, stand out, and move between worlds where the rules weren’t the same for everyone. The conversation follows those early lessons into adulthood, where Shawn now works inside the very systems that once shaped his access to opportunity. This episode centers on belonging, identity, and how early experiences in school echo into work, leadership, and how we understand ourselves years later. Find Dr. Jess Hayden at Simply Centered Psychological Services [www.simply-centered.com] Instagram: @Dr.JessHayden

Welcome Home: The Path to Self-Reclamation with Dr. Randie London.

In this conversation, Jessica Lynne and Randie London explore the profound journey of reclaiming the self amidst the complexities of relationships, emotional regulation, and personal growth. They discuss the importance of building a home within oneself, the challenges of self-abandonment, and the necessity of setting boundaries. Randie shares her personal experiences of healing and the transformative power of community, while emphasizing the significance of self-acceptance and authenticity in navigating life's challenges. Find Dr. Randie London @lotusholistichealing [https://www.instagram.com/lotusholistichealing/#] Register for her series: The Holistic Center For Soulful Living Smithtown, NY [https://www.soulfullivingcenter.com/] Find Dr. Jess Hayden, Raleigh NC @dr.jesshayden [https://www.instagram.com/dr.jesshayden/] Simply Centered Psychological Services [www.simply-centered.com]

The Self-Abandonment Series: Welcome Home, The Path to Self-Reclamation Part 2

In Part 2 of Welcome Home: The Path to Self-Reclamation, Dr. Jess Hayden and Dr. Randie London continue a grounded, real conversation about what it actually looks like to come home to yourself—especially after heartbreak, loss, or years of over-functioning. Together, they explore how self-abandonment shows up in everyday moments (the subtle “self-editing” we normalize), why control can masquerade as care, and how reclaiming your inner “yes” and “no” becomes the beginning of self-trust. This episode holds space for the messy middle: grief you don’t bypass, discomfort you don’t escape, and the practice—over time—of choosing yourself with compassion. Work with Dr. Randie London Dr. Randie London offers in-person workshops through The Holistic Center for Soulful Living [https://www.soulfullivingcenter.com/]in Smithtown, NY. Find Randie on Instagram: @lotusholistichealing Connect with Dr. Jess Hayden Instagram + TikTok: @dr.jesshayden Website: Simply Centered Psychological Services [www.simply-centered.com] This podcast is for education and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for therapy, mental health treatment, diagnosis, or medical care. If you’re experiencing significant distress or need support, please reach out to a licensed mental health professional in your area.

The Self Abandonment Series: Welcome Home A Path to Self Reclamation

Simply Heard: The Space Between Welcome Home — A Path to Self-Reclamation (Part 1)-Audio Story Teller Version https://www.soulfullivingcenter.com/workshops/ [https://www.soulfullivingcenter.com/workshops/] This begins our mini-series on self-abandonment and what it truly means to come back to yourself. Not fixing. Not performing. Not becoming a “better” version. But noticing where we learned to leave ourselves — and slowly, gently, learning how to return. In this conversation, Dr. Randie London and I talk about identity, loss, collapse, and the brave work of saying: “I want to come home to me.” Holistic Center for Soulful Living (Smithtown, NY) Workshop: Welcome Home — A Path to Self-Reclamation Learn more / stay connected: Dr. Randie London – Instagram @lotusholistichealing https://www.instagram.com/lotusholistichealing https://www.simply-centered.com [https://www.simply-centered.com] Instagram @dr.jesshayden https://www.instagram.com/dr.jesshayden TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@drjesshayden [https://www.tiktok.com/@drjesshayden] More parts of this series are coming — stay with us.