Marvell L. Terry II (he, him, his) is a powerhouse educator, grassroots activist, and cultural organizer from Memphis, Tennessee. HIV advocacy and cultural organizing are personal for him; It was the moment he received a positive diagnosis of HIV that jump-started his more than decade-long career that has had a local, state, and national impact. Marvell was passionate about improving the health outcomes of Black gay and queer men in Memphis, that’s why he started his advocacy work by co-leading ...
Jun 27, 2024•24 min
In observance of Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness month, Dr. P and Kellee Bacote discuss the impact of cognitive illness in African American communities. Ms. Bacote is the Lead Community Outreach & Recruitment Project Manager at the Cleveland Clinic’s Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, Cleveland Alzheimer's Disease Research Center.
Jun 20, 2024•30 min
Julius Turner is an Audio & Recording Engineer, Sound Designer and Music Producer based in Richmond, VA. He is the Founder of TWOTL Music Productions.
Jun 13, 2024•32 min
In observance of Memory Sunday on June 9th, which draws attention to the impact of Alzheimer's in our communities, Dr. P talks with Denisha DeLane. Ms. DeLane has 20+ years of community engagement experience on a variety of social justice, health advocacy and social service initiatives. She is a serial entrepreneur and creative who enjoy mediums that support educating underserved communities and addressing socio economic conditions. Denisha is the Founder of Faith in the Bay – the leading faith-...
Jun 06, 2024•27 min
Salathiel DeLoach is the President and CEO of the DeLoach Lupus Foundation Savannah, GA Inc. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in business and is currently a member of leadership in the capacity of a Human Resources manager. She enjoys the ability to change the stigma that most people have about those that work in this role. She believes it’s important to remember the basics of the title “Human Resource”. We are all humans and with this accepted assignment, we are tasked with being a resource t...
May 23, 2024•31 min
In recognition of HIV Vaccine Awareness Day on May 18th, Dr. P and Louis Shackelford discuss the search for an HIV vaccine. Louis Shackelford is the Director of External Relations in the HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN) Leadership and Operations Center at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, WA. As External Relations Project Manager, Louis’ primary focus is implementing stakeholder engagement strategies in HIV vaccine clinical trials domestically and globally....
May 16, 2024•21 min
Lady Takeisha Brown serves as the Assistant Pastor of Ablaze Church in Richmond, VA with her husband, Bishop Marvin Brown, Sr. She is a Marriage and Family Counselor with over 17 years of Pastoral Counseling serving individuals and couples seeking pre-marital counseling, relationship counseling, and marriage counseling. These services are offered to assist those seeking pastoral assistance find the peace and fulfillment desired in their relationship. Her passion to counsel people into their life...
May 09, 2024•32 min
In observance of Mental Health Month, Dr. P is joined by Dr. Pervis Taylor III for an in-depth discussion of Black men's mental health concerns. He and Dr. P discuss real-time challenges and solutions for Black men and the women who love them. Dr. Taylor, an award-winning celebrity life coach, holds a master's degree in psychology from Columbia University. He is the author of the best-selling "Pervis Principals 1 & 2," "Surthrival Mode," and "Healing Forward." Dr. Taylor states that his purp...
May 02, 2024•33 min
In observance of Stress Awareness Month, Dr. P. sits down with Cary Goodman, founder of Black Men's Wholeness, an initiative to heal the impact of stress on Black men's lives. Cary L. Goodman, a native of Richmond, VA, has a sincere passion to empower faith communities to operate at their fullest capacity in areas of health promotion, advocacy programs, outreach and development. For over 16 years, he has been dedicated to establishing and expanding health programs across the United States by bui...
Apr 25, 2024•33 min
Natasha Aldridge is a Perinatal Health Justice Equity Advocate and Family Support Professional with a mission to ensure that every pregnant, postpartum, and birth family has access to and receives safe, equitable, high-quality care. Ms. Aldridge has served over 70 families with Full Spectrum Community Doula Support and assisted over 400 women with holistic wrap-around services, within the last four years. She brings a broad array of expertise. Starting her business Natural Queen Essentials with ...
Apr 11, 2024•29 min
Phil Gee was first diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease (PD) in 2015, one year after retiring from a very successful thirty-three-year career holding a number of engineering, manufacturing and supply chain senior level positions. Since his PD diagnosis, Phil and his wife, Julia ( who first met in the 1st grade & have been married for 36 years), have become active advocates for others living with PD and their care partners. In 2017, they moved from metro Atlanta to Hilton Head, and immediately ...
Apr 11, 2024•32 min
A life long social activist, Obery Hendricks is one of the foremost commentators on the intersection of religion and political economy in America. He is the most widely read and perhaps the most influential African American biblical scholar writing today. His recent book, Christians Against Christianity: How Right-Wing Evangelicals Are Destroying Our Nation and Our Faith (Beacon Press, 2021) has gathered wide acclaim. Cornel West calls him “one of the last few grand prophetic intellectuals.” A w...
Mar 28, 2024•31 min
Jay Ell Alexander is motivated by her passion for sparking a change in the minds and bodies of others through her entrepreneurial spirit. As owner and CEO of The Vaughn Strategy, a branding and public relations firm and Black Girls RUN!, a national running organization, she leads a powerful movement that has resonated with a huge audience. Over the last decade, she has established herself as a communications professional with a true commitment to community engagement through her passion for heal...
Mar 21, 2024•22 min
Don't miss The Balm In Gilead's Multiple Myeloma Spotlight on our website ! This week's guest, Dr Joseph Mikhael MD, MEd, FRCPC, FACP, leads the M-Power project in the African American community for the International Myeloma Foundation (IMF). Dr. Mikhael is a Professor in the Applied Cancer Research and Drug Discovery Division at the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), an affiliate of City of Hope Cancer Center. He is the Chief Medical Officer of the IMF and Director of Myeloma res...
Mar 14, 2024•24 min
Marvell L. Terry II (he, him, his) is a powerhouse educator, grassroots activist, and cultural organizer from Memphis, Tennessee. HIV advocacy and cultural organizing are personal for him; It was the moment he received a positive diagnosis of HIV that jump-started his more than decade-long career that has had a local, state, and national impact. Marvell was passionate about improving the health outcomes of Black gay and queer men in Memphis, that’s why he started his advocacy work by co-leading ...
Mar 07, 2024•29 min
In this episode, Dr. P is joined by lawyer and activist Dafina Ward, JD. Dafina Ward, J.D. is an attorney and non-profit strategist with nearly fifteen years of experience addressing HIV and health equity issues in the southern United States. Working in partnership with a range of advocates—from grassroots leaders to federal decision-makers—she is a trusted voice in regional and national spaces. With nearly twenty years of experience in community grantmaking, Dafina is an expert in place-based f...
Feb 29, 2024•38 min
In this episode, Dr. P has a stimulating discussion with two insightful guests: Pastor Gerard Duncan and Jude Ngang. Pastor Gerard Duncan is the senior pastor of Prayers By Faith Family Ministries in Gainesville, Florida. He works closely with faith leaders to increase awareness of health and wellness within their churches and the communities they serve. Additionally, Pastor Duncan is the CEO of Community Partners and Engagement Consultants, and the executive director of the Pleasant Street Soci...
Feb 22, 2024•29 min
A charismatic praise & worship leader, Washington, D.C.-based Dr. Stephen Hurd wears all the hats one can possibly wear as a contemporary gospel artist. He has done spoken word pieces, sung many more, directed choirs and arranged vocals, led countless praise & worship workshops, and written several songs that are regularly sung at Sunday services, including "Undignified," "Great Praise," and "Zion Is Calling," all while attending to his first calling as a Baptist minister....
Feb 15, 2024•33 min
Victoria A. Smalls, a native of St. Helena Island, SC, serves as President & CEO at Smalls Cultural Resources, championing Gullah Geechee communities across the southeastern United States. With a focus on climate, land, and ocean justice, Smalls Cultural Resources is dedicated to preserving Gullah Geechee heritage through history, art, language, and culture. With two decades of experience, Victoria has held significant positions including former federal Commissioner on the Gullah Geechee Cul...
Feb 08, 2024•32 min
Fitness and nutrition expert Michelle D. Hare shares how we can succeed on our path to a healthier lifestyle. Born and raised in Buffalo, New York, Michelle is a longtime dance and exercise enthusiast. She obtained a B.S. and M.S. from the State University of New York at Buffalo and also received a second B.S., with honors, from the City University of New York at Queens College, where she majored in nutrition and exercise sciences. Michelle is a certified group exercise instructor with the Ameri...
Feb 01, 2024•30 min
Rev. Dr. Sande Bailey-Gwinn is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Foundations for Living, based in Jefferson, GA. Foundations For Living is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating Transformational Moments through Inspiration and Education that will empower Low to Moderate Income families and all clients to envision, discover, implement and achieve personal/professional goals. Foundations For Living focuses in four areas of service: Mental Health; Career Development, Domestic Violenc...
Jan 25, 2024•28 min
Yolanda Reed is the Owner, President and CEO of Eudora Enterprises, LLC where she functions in the knowledge, understanding and workings of the Proverbs 31 woman. She purchases real estate and invests in other capital ventures. “She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night. In her hand she holds the distaff and gras...
Jan 18, 2024•24 min
Dr. P looks back on 2023 and The Balm In Gilead's many accomplishments during the year. She expresses special appreciation for the amazing faith and health professionals who have helped make the organization's programs successful.
Nov 30, 2023•25 min
Life expectancy for Black Americans is four years shorter than it was 20 years ago. In this episode, Dr. P delves into this sobering statistic. She identifies youth suicide as well as maternal and infant mortality among the factors that contribute to the overall decline in Black Americans' lifespans. Dr. P urges concerned listeners to attend the Healthy Churches 2030 Conference, which will feature expert presentations on these topics, including steps we can take individually and collectively in ...
Oct 27, 2023•31 min
Many Black Americans are not aware of the problematic government policies that affect our lives and communities. In this episode, Dr. P welcomes Pamela D. Price for a discussion about policy issues having immediate impact on our health and well-being, including drug prices and digital equity. Pamela D. Price currently serves as the Deputy Director for The Balm In Gilead, managing the health programs and policy initiatives of the organization. Mrs. Price holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Publ...
Oct 20, 2023•30 min
During the summer, the Balm In Gilead conducted events in five cities as part of the Healthy Churches 2030 Roadmap Tour. In this episode, Dr. P and Cary Goodman discuss the importance of providing vital information about diseases and conditions affecting African Americans. Looking ahead, they preview the 10th Anniversary Healthy Churches 2030 Conference, which will take place November 13-16, 2023. Cary Goodman is a Program & Strategic Development Consultant for The Balm In Gilead. An ordaine...
Oct 05, 2023•27 min
Dr. P and Dr. Saraswathy Nochur discuss why it is imperative that people of diverse backgrounds participate in clinical trials. Dr. Nochur explains what happens before, during, and after a clinical trial and notes that people can find a clinical trial for which they may be qualified by visiting www.clinicaltrials.gov. Saraswathy Nochur is Chief DE&I Officer at Alnylam Pharmaceuticals in Cambridge, MA where she works with various stakeholders to increase diversity, promote equity and foster i...
Aug 24, 2023•32 min
Hereditary ATTR amyloidosis, or hATTR amyloidosis, is a rare, inherited condition that has an increased prevalence among people of African descent. This week, Dr. P is joined by Alnylam Patient Education Liaison (PEL), Valerie Graham, and Cece, who is living with hATTR amyloidosis, to learn more about the condition. We’ll talk about the importance of discussing health history within families and the role genetic testing can play in helping to determine someone’s risk for developing a disease. Fo...
Aug 10, 2023•21 min
As Minority Mental Health Awareness Month draws to a close, Dr. P and her guest, Dr. Maha Radhakrishnan , discuss the high rates of depression among African Americans. They share thoughts on the connection between COVID and depression and Dr. Radhakrishnan provides advice on what to do if you or a loved one is struggling with depression. Dr. Radhakrishnan is Group SVP and Chief Medical Officer, responsible for the Worldwide Medical function since rejoining Biogen in January 2020. Previously, fro...
Jul 27, 2023•22 min
Dr. P and guest Geneva Watford discuss why we MUST find time to embrace REST for mind and body. Sister Geneva gives practical steps and tips on getting REST in the midst of today's on-the-go lifestyle. Geneva M. Watford is a holistic, well-being advocate and activist with a dedication to cultivating spaces for community, conversation, creativity, and healing. Ms. Watford is the owner of GMW Living based in Montgomery, AL.
Jul 20, 2023•36 min
