In this episode, Kara talks with Shereese Floyd about how past trauma can leave us stuck in a character and not know who we are.

Belonging is something that many of us hope for. We need to feel like there is a place for us. Sometimes though the places we are in are not the places that offer us the freedom to be ourselves

As a woman who experienced childhood sexual abuse, Tenishia Lester knew what it was like to feel silenced, not trust herself, and experience a lack of self-worth. Over the course of time Tenishia knew there was more that life had to offer, so she started to fight for herself and her worth.

Grief is something that makes us extremely uncomfortable, but is a part of our life where it can be an intimate partner. Kara and Edy talk about how we need to invite grief in for a conversation. It’s a place where if we interact with the uncomfortable, we can be transformed.

Kara talks with Joanne Spence on how trauma impacts our body and the way it can show up in our relationships with ourselves and others. It takes a while to work through our trauma and one of the first steps is to acknowledge where it shows up in our body by listening, paying attention, and breathing.

In this episode, you’ll hear from Crystal and her journey of understanding her sexuality and healing former trauma through the art of crocheting.

Kara and Justine talk about her experience as a sex educator at a private New York school where complaints about her teaching were sent to the New York Post. Justine describes how that impacted her and why it is not stopping her from doing this work, but it does change how she does it. Justine has a passion for making lives better and that is evident from her life as a math teacher and how being with those 8th grade kids everyday led her into public health.

In this episode Kara takes a deep dive into consent with the author of the book, Creating Cultures of Consent, Dr. Laura McGuire. Dr. Laura is a Sexuality Health Educator, Adjunct Professor, Consultant and Speaker for The National Center for Equity and Agency, a Doula, Yoga instructor, and a survivor.

There is so much richness in this episode around relationships. Kara and Francesca start their conversation with BDSM and end with how to talk to your inner child and how relationships mirror the unmet expectations and trauma of childhood. Francesca talks at great length about the way our brain plays a role and how we can learn how to care for ourselves to have an enriching sex life with ourselves and or partners.

My good friend Sara Johnson does amazing racial equity work as a Founding Partner with The Truth & Titus Collective. Trigger warning for listeners -- in this episode, we talk about the death of a child. We also discuss church, fear, risk and learning to be uncomfortable. These are hard subjects for many, so please do what you need to do and care for yourself.