Untying Knots: Minds and Souls Untethered

This week, I sit down with hiphop artist Ken$on to talk about masculinity and Hip Hop. We discuss the definition and history of Hip hop, toxic masculinity, and Ken$on's approach to music. Oakland born and Berkeley raised lyricist and activist Emmanuel “Ken$on” Williams blends authentic, skillful lyricism with street-level social commentary to tackle the root causes of systemic inequities. By tracing the dubious links between the financiers behind the world’s most exploitative industries, Ken$on stands as a compelling example of true independence. Ken$on’s grassroots journey has enabled him to create his own musical architecture—from passing out demos on Dropbox to launching immersive digital album experiences and his own streaming app. Unfazed by the mainstream media’s constraints, Ken$on carves his own path, confident that his vision will attract a dedicated following. Ken$on’s dynamic stage presence energizes the Oakland First Fridays $MOAK Cypher at the Alan Bluebird Center for Justice, a showcase he curates, hosts, and performs with the $MOAK Collective—empowering the next wave of Bay Area independent artists. To learn more or support Ken$on’s grassroots movement, visit copsshouldntmurderpeople.com. $moak Collective https://linktr.ee/smoakcollective

On this episode, Mercedes Samudio joins me to talk about the limited-run Marvel series Eyes of Wakanda. Mercedes Samudio works with parents around the world in developing a healthy parental identity with her revolutionary Parental Identity Development Model and incorporating her Shame-Proof Parenting philosophy to help reduce the shame parents experience as they raise healthy children. Mercedes is also trained in trauma-informed modalities which she uses in her work with parents to help them heal the past traumas that can influence the ways parents interact with themselves and their children. Links: Silver Screams (on The Old Ways Podcast): https://directory.libsyn.com/shows/view/id/5wspodcast Reunion of Threads: https://youtu.be/1RhfiWKzn3Q?si=INcumBDFbO60Ahi1 The Black God's Drums: https://www.amazon.com/Black-Gods-Drums-Dj%C3%A8l%C3%AD-Clark/dp/1250294711 "The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas" by Ursula K. Le Guin : https://www.ursulakleguin.com/the-ones-who-walk-away-from-omelas "The Ones Who Stay and Fight" by N.K. Jemisin: https://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/the-ones-who-stay-and-fight/ The Dark Fantastic by Ebony Elizabeth Thomas: https://www.marcusbooks.com/book/9781479806072

Mercedes Samudio and I sit down to discuss the new Marvel film The Fantastic Four. Mercedes Samudio works with parents around the world in developing a healthy parental identity with her revolutionary Parental Identity Development Model and incorporating her Shame-Proof Parenting philosophy to help reduce the shame parents experience as they raise healthy children. Mercedes is also trained in trauma-informed modalities which she uses in her work with parents to help them heal the past traumas that can influence the ways parents interact with themselves and their children.

This week, Mercedes Samudio and I discuss the latest Superman film. Mercedes works with parents around the world in developing a healthy parental identity with her revolutionary Parental Identity Development Model and incorporating her Shame-Proof Parenting philosophy to help reduce the shame parents experience as they raise healthy children. Mercedes is also trained in trauma-informed modalities which she uses in her work with parents to help them heal the past traumas that can influence the ways parents interact with themselves and their children.

This week I sit down again with Mercedes Samudio to discuss the Marvel show Ironheart. Mercedes works with parents around the world in developing a healthy parental identity with her revolutionary Parental Identity Development Model and incorporating her Shame-Proof Parenting philosophy to help reduce the shame parents experience as they raise healthy children. Mercedes is also trained in trauma-informed modalities which she uses in her work with parents to help them heal the past traumas that can influence the ways parents interact with themselves and their children.

This week, I sit down with Ritchie Nkana. We talk about his professional journey, finding alignment with where we want to be in our lives and our values, minimizing regret, and his book Body and Band Connection. Ritchie Nkana is the award-winning author of Body and Bank Connection, founder of The Operator's Edge™, and a high-demand speaker known for bridging peak performance with sustainable success. A former Chartered Accountant with over 20 years of experience leading transformation in the banking industry, Ritchie now empowers high-achieving founders, executives, and professionals to scale without burnout. With certifications in personal training, sports nutrition, metabolic conditioning, and pain-free performance, Ritchie brings a rare blend of boardroom insight and performance science. His work helps leaders optimize physical vitality as a lever for business growth, longevity, and legacy. Links: https://mybodyvitality.com/newsletter/

On this episode, I talk with Stephen Wall of Delapore Media. We discuss grief, his work in the TTRPG space, and Kult: Divinity Lost. Stephen Wall holds a Ph.D. in Folklore from Memorial University of Newfoundland. He is a contributing author to the forthcoming publications Broken Reflections and The Illusion and the Borderlands for Kult: Divinity Lost as well as the author of the Miskatonic Repository scenario "Somebody Think of the Children" for the Call of Cthulhu Role-Playing Game. Delapore Media, his sole proprietor imprint, is focused on creating resources that bring well-researched horror and verisimilitude to tabletop role-playing. He has a growing collection of essays, scenario hooks, and short fiction available at delaporemedia.com.

Celebrating LGBTQ+ Pride Month. As we wrap up Pride month, I chat with Queer Cartoonist, Educator, and Scholar, Justin Hall. Justin and I discuss the history of comics, Queer comics, and their work in creating True Travel Tales, Hard to Swallow, and Theater of Terror: Revenge of the Queers, as well as their work chronicling some of the Queer history of San Francisco. We also discuss the education of future Comic Creators, and the Myth & Realities of Mental Health. Listen, and share. Links: https://www.justinhallawesomecomics.com https://www.instagram.com/justinhallcomics/ California College of the Arts https://www.cca.edu

I chat with Rupert Kinnard (he/him), who is a BIPOC & LGBTQ identified Cartoonist and Creator of Cathartic Comics. His collective work has been gathered together and is being release by StackDeck Press as OOOPs, I just Catharted! 40 years of Cathartic Comics. Please listen, check it out, and support this part of our BIPOC & LGBTQ History. Links: OOOPs, I just Catharted! 40 years of Cathartic Comics Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/stackeddeckpress/ooopsi-just-catharted-50-years-of-cathartic-comics?ref=user_menu https://stackeddeckpress.com

Today I chat with Cassie Walker (they/them) of the Woke Mental Wellness podcast. We talk about their journey to becoming a mental health professional and to becoming a tabletop games player and streamer. Lamia (Cassie) is a Black Queer Social Worker, Trauma Therapist, Streamer, Storyteller, Death Doula, Consultant, Activist and generally your mysterious neighborhood mental health cryptid. They enjoy podcasting and playing games for fun and professionally. Woke Mental Wellness is their podcast. Their clinical work focuses on the intersections of trauma, mental wellness, and identity and uses a holistic liberatory and decolonial approach to helping people find healing for themselves and their communities. Lamia has also written for the upcoming Into the Mother Lands tabletop roleplaying game. Links: bio.link/mentalwoke https://witch-and-craft-games.itch.io/xii-inner-demons

I am once again joined by Mercedes Samudio as we discuss the recent Marvel movie Thunderbolts. Mercedes works with parents around the world in developing a healthy parental identity with her revolutionary Parental Identity Development Model and incorporating her Shame-Proof Parenting philosophy to help reduce the shame parents experience as they raise healthy children. Mercedes is also trained in trauma-informed modalities which she uses in her work with parents to help them heal the past traumas that can influence the ways parents interact with themselves and their children.

Today I chat with game designer Sylvan Lawrence. We talk about how they got into game designing, their new game Before the Flood, Gravemire and the concept of "play to grow", as well as the other games, including solo journaling games, they've worked on. Sylvan Lawrence (they/them) is a librarian and the director of Clawhammer Games. They are the co-author and creator of Before the Flood, and the creator of Gravemire, bestselling solo journaling game Athanor, two-player TTRPG Singularity, and more. They are an avid indie tabletop fan, and can often be found grubbing about on solitary corners of the internet for new and strange games to play with their friends. When not making or playing TTRPGs, they can be found at your local library, yes, YOUR local library! Don’t believe me? Go visit for yourself! Links: Bluesky: @lonelamplighter.bsky.social clawhammergames.itch.io

Today, I chat with Liam Steven. Liam is a Maori game designer and consultant descended from the Ngāti Kahungunu ki Te Wairoa iwi. His works are always framed through a cultural lens and his credits include Tomb Raider: Shadows of Truth, Death Match Island, Monster of the Week, and Hull Breach. He has provided cultural consultation on many projects, including Candela Obscura and Ironsworn's Sundered Isles. We talk about KiwiRPG, projects Liam is working on, the Toa Tabletop Podcast, why people are drawn to tabletop role-playing games, and the mental health work Liam does. Links: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/toatabletop/line-of-enquiry-zinequest/ https://www.toatabletop.com/

I chat once more with Mercedes Samudio, DSW, licensed clinical social worker, bestselling author, international speaker, and visionary entrepreneur. We dissect Ryan Coogler's new horror film Sinners and the use of imagery, metaphors, and history to explore the African-American experience. Mercedes works with parents around the world in developing a healthy parental identity with her revolutionary Parental Identity Development Model and incorporating her Shame-Proof Parenting philosophy to help reduce the shame parents experience as they raise healthy children. Mercedes is also trained in trauma-informed modalities which she uses in her work with parents to help them heal the past traumas that can influence the ways parents interact with themselves and their children.

I speak with Steven Sawyer LCSW, CSAC. Steven is a dual-licensed psychotherapist filled with passion and knowledge surrounding the Interventlon and change process. Steven is a trainer of Brainspotting, HeartMath, and Wellbriety modules, as well as Co-founder of New Vision Wildness Therapy. We discuss trauma, Brainspotting and HearthMath, and the Power and Control Dynamic found in many levels of our world as we work to heal, including the Myths and Realities around mental health. Links: Www.SteveSawyerLCSW.net Steve Sawyer LCSW CSAC Senior Clinical Consultant/ Co-founder New Vision Wilderness Therapy www.newvisionwilderness.com

I chat with Amber Ontiveros, who is the author of Heal The Four Woundings: A Guide to Ending Discord and Discrimination. We discuss the 4 wounds, as well as the blend of mental health and spirituality. Please listen, enjoy, and share Links: healthefourwoundings.com linkedin.com/in/amberontiveros

I chad with Mercedes Samudio, DSW, licensed clinical social worker, bestselling author, international speaker, and visionary entrepreneur. She works with parents around the world in developing a healthy parental identity with her revolutionary Parental Identity Development Model and incorporating her Shame-Proof Parenting philosophy to help reduce the shame parents experience as they raise healthy children. Mercedes is also trained in trauma-informed modalities which she uses in her work with parents to help them heal the past traumas that can influence the ways parents interact with themselves and their children. We talk about the new Marvel film "Captain America: Brave New World", Black stories in the MCU, and the positioning of Sam Wilson as the first Black Captain America and how his identity impacts his story and his actions. Links: http://shameproofparenting.com

I chat with Susanne Mariga, author of Profit First : Minority Business Enterprises (MBE). We discuss the Profit First system for managing money in a business, as well as some of the mental health concerns of being a Minority Business Owner.

I chat with Dxtr Spits, Spoken Word Artist, Entrepreneur, and Creator of "#HowMenCry". We talk about Black Men's mental health and expression and how "#HowMenCry" can support men. Dxtr also shares several pieces of their work about their life experience.

I chat with Dr. Stanford W. Carpenter, a Cultural Anthropologist, sometime comic creator, former archaeologist. His forthcoming book for Fantagraphics Press explores the cultures and histories of Black comics, creators, and characters. We talk about his experiences as a Black man in comic creation and his working process, as well as the concept of the Ethno-Gothic. Links: https://www.wglt.org/local-news/2023-09-19/from-horror-hope-normal-theater-screens-ethnogothic-film-series https://www.comicpalooza.com/ https://www.wglt.org/local-news/2024-01-19/theres-no-ripley-without-pam-grier-blaxploitation-film-series-connects-pop-culture-dots https://wciu.com/videos/26north/cultural-anthropologist-and-comic-book-guru-dr-stanford-carpenter-gives-us-an-insiders-re-cap-of-the-historic-50th-anniversary-of-san-diego-comicon