The Unfolding: Presented by The Loveland Foundation

The Loveland Foundation
  • 5.0 (16)
  • Mental Health
  • Updated Semimonthly

A network of conversations grounded in identifying abundance in us all. At the heart of these dialogues, two people are meeting, in a distilled moment, and process, with gratitude. Showing up for the journey to receive and give— showing up for reciprocity— knowledge that we do not always emphasize in Western cultures but need to in order to fully divulge and embrace the complicated nature of self. It is in these rituals of nourishing the spirit that we can also prioritize community, compassion, and responsibility. The Unfolding is a gift to embrace wholeness, together.

  1. 1d ago

    High Functioning, Low Battery with Nina Westbrook

    In this episode of The Unfolding: Presented by The Loveland Foundation Podcast, host Rachel Keener is joined by licensed marriage and family therapist, entrepreneur, and Nebbi founder Nina Westbrook for a conversation about what it means to be "high functioning, low battery." Drawing from her experiences as a therapist, mom, and caregiver, Nina explores the often-overlooked signs of burnout—especially among Black women who are expected to keep going no matter the cost. She explains why real recovery isn't found in quick fixes, but in small, sustainable habits, honest emotional check-ins, and learning to ask for help. Together, Rachel and Nina discuss setting boundaries without guilt, redefining strength, and making mental health support more accessible through tools like Nebbi. Their conversation offers practical insights for anyone trying to care for themselves while caring for everyone else. Listen in for a thoughtful discussion on burnout, self-awareness, and building a more sustainable approach to mental wellness. More about Nina Westbrook: As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, entrepreneur, and advocate, Nina is deeply passionate about erasing the stigma around mental health. She has been featured in The New York Times, Goop, Oprah Daily, BET, ESSENCE, Marie Claire, and SHAPE, and has shared her expertise on TED, The Jennifer Hudson Show, and The Tamron Hall Show. Beyond her clinical work, Nina creates opportunities for connection and reflection. She is the co-founder of Nebbi, a wellness app designed for the emotional grey zone—the space between crisis and wellness where most of us live. Nebbi offers 60-second check-ins using evidence-based tools to support high-functioning individuals in navigating everyday emotional challenges. She is also the creator of the Do Tell! Conversation Card Game, designed to spark meaningful discussions on relationships, intimacy, and self-awareness. Additionally, she hosts the Do Tell Relationship Podcast and the Bene Moments of Mindfulness Podcast, where she offers evidence-based insights on cultivating happiness, personal growth, and deeper human connections. Her shows have featured thought-provoking and candid conversations with esteemed guests, including Gabrielle Union, Kevin Hart, Dr. Ramani Durvasula, Tamera Mowry-Housley, Jennifer Fisher, Malin Åkerman, Kier Gaines, and many more. In addition to her professional endeavors, Nina is a dedicated wife and mother of three, balancing her commitment to family with her mission to support others in their wellness journeys. She also serves on the Advisory Board of The Russell Westbrook Why Not? Foundation and most recently became a member of the UCLA Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital board. – The Unfolding: Presented by The Loveland Foundation podcast is an additional resource not only to the public but also to our therapy fund cohort members. The Loveland Foundation therapy fund and resources are only made possible through support from our community.  At The Loveland Foundation, we are committed to showing up for communities of color in unique and powerful ways, with a particular focus on Black women and girls. Our resources and initiatives are collaborative and they prioritize opportunity, access, validation, and healing. Since our founding, the Therapy Fund has provided financial support for therapy to over 26,936 Black women, girls, and non-binary individuals across the country. Links: Join The Abundance Collective: https://thelovelandfoundation.org/abundanceSupport the show: https://thelovelandfoundation.org/donorbox/Follow Nina on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ninawestbrookFollow The Loveland Foundation on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelovelandfoundation/Visit the Loveland Foundation’s website: https://thelovelandfoundation.org/Support the show

  2. Jun 4

    Healing Through Rage & Is God Is with Aleshea Harris

    In this powerful episode of The Unfolding: Presented by The Loveland Foundation Podcast, host Rachel Keener sits down with playwright and director Aleshea Harris to discuss her film adaptation of Is God Is and the stories Black women are rarely given space to tell. Aleshea shares how the film became a way to explore rage, grief, justice, and healing through the lives of twin sisters on a mythic journey. Drawing inspiration from Greek tragedy while centering Black voices and experiences, she creates a world where Black women can be complex, vulnerable, angry, and fully human. Rachel and Aleshea also discuss the role of humor alongside pain, the challenges of releasing deeply personal work, and the importance of protecting mental health as an artist. Together, they reflect on how rage can become a catalyst for self-advocacy, change, and liberation, and why community remains essential through it all. Listen in for a thoughtful conversation on storytelling, creativity, mental health, and the power of making space for the full range of Black women’s experiences. More about Aleshea Harris: Aleshea Harris is an award-winning playwright, T.V. writer and filmmaker. Her critically-acclaimed play, Is God Is, premiered at Soho Repertory Theatre, won the Relentless Award, an OBIE award for playwriting, and the Helen Merrill Playwriting Award. A film version adapted and directed by Harris is slated for wide release on May 15, 2026 under Amazon MGM’s prestigious Orion label. Her ritual response to anti-Black violence, What to Send Up When It Goes Down, was featured in American Theatre Magazine and received a special commendation from the Blackburn Prize. After a successful New York city run, the piece toured to D.C. and Boston. On Sugarland, a sprawling adaptive response to the ancient Greek play, Philoctetes, was a Pulitzer Prize Finalist and winner of the Kesselring Prize. Harris has also been awarded the Windham-Campbell Literary Prize, Hermitage Greenfield Prize, Alpert Award, Horton Foote Award, Samuel French Award and an Arts and Letters Award in Literature from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. She is a two-time MacDowell Fellow and has enjoyed residencies at the Hermitage Artist Retreat, Hedgebrook, SPACE on Ryder Farms and Casa Ecco on Lake Como via the HawthorndenFoundation. She’s been featured in VOGUE and the NEW YORKER.  – The Unfolding: Presented by The Loveland Foundation podcast is an additional resource not only to the public but also to our therapy fund cohort members. The Loveland Foundation therapy fund and resources are only made possible through support from our community.  At The Loveland Foundation, we are committed to showing up for communities of color in unique and powerful ways, with a particular focus on Black women and girls. Our resources and initiatives are collaborative and they prioritize opportunity, access, validation, and healing. Since our founding, the Therapy Fund has provided financial support for therapy to over 26,936 Black women, girls, and non-binary individuals across the country. Links: Join The Abundance Collective: https://thelovelandfoundation.org/abundanceSupport the show: https://thelovelandfoundation.org/donorbox/Follow Aleshea on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aleshea.harris/Follow The Loveland Foundation on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelovelandfoundation/Visit the Loveland Foundation’s website: https://thelovelandfoundation.org/Support the show

  3. May 15

    Urgent and Important with Stacey Abrams

    In this episode of The Unfolding: Presented by The Loveland Foundation Podcast, host Rachel Keener sits down with author, political leader, and voting rights advocate Stacey Abrams for a thoughtful conversation on creativity, worry, and the mental health of Black women. Stacey reflects on how reading and writing became tools for processing emotion, exploring ideas, and imagining new possibilities from an early age. She shares how fiction, from romance novels to legal thrillers, gives her space to work through anger, heartbreak, and complexity while pushing back against the expectation that Black women must always be perfect, resilient, and responsible. Rachel and Stacey also discuss what Stacey calls being a “professional worrier,” reframing worry as both reflection and action in service of change. From using creativity as emotional release to finding grounding in small daily rituals, Stacey offers an honest look at what it means to care for yourself while carrying the weight of leadership and responsibility. Listen in for a grounded conversation on storytelling, mental health, creativity, and making space for imperfection. More about Stacey Abrams: Stacey Abrams is a New York Times bestselling author, entrepreneur and political leader. She served as Minority Leader in the Georgia House of Representatives, and she was the first Black woman to become gubernatorial nominee for a major party in United States history. Abrams has devoted her career to democracy protection, voting rights, and effective public policy. She has also co-founded successful companies, including a financial services firm, an energy and infrastructure consulting firm, and the media company, Sage Works Productions, Inc. – The Unfolding: Presented by The Loveland Foundation podcast is an additional resource not only to the public but also to our therapy fund cohort members. The Loveland Foundation therapy fund and resources are only made possible through support from our community.  At The Loveland Foundation, we are committed to showing up for communities of color in unique and powerful ways, with a particular focus on Black women and girls. Our resources and initiatives are collaborative and they prioritize opportunity, access, validation, and healing. Since our founding, the Therapy Fund has provided financial support for therapy to over 13,000 Black women, girls, and non-binary individuals across the country. Links: Join The Abundance Collective: https://thelovelandfoundation.org/abundanceSupport the show: https://thelovelandfoundation.org/donorbox/Follow Stacey on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/staceyabramsFollow The Loveland Foundation on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelovelandfoundation/Visit the Loveland Foundation’s website: https://thelovelandfoundation.org/Support the show

  4. Apr 17

    Motherhood Is a Hot A** Mess: Sophia Roe on identity shifts, Black maternal health, and the reality of the fourth trimester

    In honor of Black Maternal Health Week, host Rachel Keener sits down with chef and storyteller Sophia Roe for a raw, necessary conversation on the systemic neglect of Black mothers. Sophia pulls back the curtain on the "fourth trimester," contrasting the medical system’s singular focus on "saving the baby" with the pervasive lack of support for a mother’s physical and mental recovery.  From the hurdles of finding trusted Black providers and navigating insurance barriers to the realities of postpartum anxiety, she reframes the journey of motherhood as a site for radical self-love and informed advocacy. By rejecting the pressure of perfectionism and embracing the "village", including doulas, midwives, and partners, Sophia encourages Black women to prioritize their own safety and rest, proving that being honest and "a hot mess in public" is its own powerful form of resistance. Take a moment to listen for an unfiltered look at the journey of Black motherhood. More about Sophia Roe: Sophia Roe is a James Beard Award winning chef, writer, founder of Apartment Miso and Emmy-Award nominated TV host known for her distinct focus on honesty, diversity and inclusivity. Her passion for food has always been connected to an understanding that some people have access to nutritious foods, while others simply and problematically do not. This duality is the foundation for Sophia’s work: celebrating the beauty and art within her cooking, while creating resources to advance food justice, building more sustainable and equitable systems, while combatting the systemic structures that leave so many without the resources they so desperately require. – The Unfolding: Presented by The Loveland Foundation podcast is an additional resource not only to the public but also to our therapy fund cohort members. The Loveland Foundation therapy fund and resources are only made possible through support from our community.  At The Loveland Foundation, we are committed to showing up for communities of color in unique and powerful ways, with a particular focus on Black women and girls. Our resources and initiatives are collaborative and they prioritize opportunity, access, validation, and healing. Since our founding, the Therapy Fund has provided financial support for therapy to over 13,000 Black women, girls, and non-binary individuals across the country. Links: Join The Abundance Collective: https://thelovelandfoundation.org/abundanceSupport the show: https://give.thelovelandfoundation.org/give/436656/#!/donation/checkoutFollow Sophia on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sophia_roe/Learn more about Sophia’s work:https://iamsophiaroe1.substack.com?utm_source=navbar&utm_medium=webhttps://www.iamsophiaroe.com/https://carriagehousebirth.com/https://www.tinyhood.com/category/expectinghttps://birthsmarter.com/nycFollow The Loveland Foundation on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelovelandfoundation/Visit the Loveland Foundation’s website: https://thelovelandfoundation.org/Support the show

  5. Mar 20

    Pleasure as Medicine: Self-Love, Cannabis, and Healing in Community with The Weed Auntie aka Solonje Burnett

    In this episode of The Unfolding: Presented by The Loveland Foundation Podcast, host Rachel Keener is joined by Solonje Burnett, also known as the “Weed Auntie,” for a conversation on care, grief, and community. Solonje shares how the “auntie” archetype shapes her work, grounded in nonjudgment, guidance, and collective care, and how her experience in the cannabis industry centers education, advocacy, and destigmatization. Together, they challenge individualistic wellness culture and explore what it means for self-care to extend into community care. Rachel and Solonje also reflect on the loss of a parent, speaking to how grief reshapes connection, ritual, and daily life. Solonje shares the practices that support her, journaling, honoring family traditions, and staying connected to both solitude and community, while also making space for pleasure, boundaries, and more sustainable relationships. Throughout the episode, they name the realities Black women continue to navigate and the importance of showing up in tangible ways. Listen in for a thoughtful conversation on grief, care, and building community that holds. More about Solonje Burnett: Specializing in brand development, intersectional community building, pleasure activism and holistic wellbeing, Solonje Burnett is the Weed Auntie and Marketing Director at SASS. Weed Auntie centers cultivating moments of plant infused mindful connection + experience centric education. Here for people, plants and planet, her foray into eco-fashion launched in Spring 2025 with a limited edition, NYC produced hemp jumpsuit encouraging people to wear their weed. She has sat on the Advisory Board of CUNY’s workforce development program, From Cannabis to Culinary as well as the board of Broccoli Magazine’s Floret Coalition, anti-racist cannabis collective. Solonje has been featured in publications like the New York Times, them, Marie Claire, Forbes, High Times, Instyle, PAPER, Refinery29, Girl Boss, Black Enterprise, Atmos, Well+Good and VICE. – The Unfolding: Presented by The Loveland Foundation podcast is an additional resource not only to the public but also to our therapy fund cohort members. The Loveland Foundation therapy fund and resources are only made possible through support from our community.  At The Loveland Foundation, we are committed to showing up for communities of color in unique and powerful ways, with a particular focus on Black women and girls. Our resources and initiatives are collaborative and they prioritize opportunity, access, validation, and healing. Since our founding, the Therapy Fund has provided financial support for therapy to over 13,000 Black women, girls, and non-binary individuals across the country. Links: Join The Abundance Collective: https://thelovelandfoundation.org/abundanceSupport the show: https://give.thelovelandfoundation.org/give/436656/#!/donation/checkoutFollow Solonje on Instagram: http://instagram.com/solonjeburnettFollow The Loveland Foundation on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelovelandfoundation/Visit the Loveland Foundation’s website: https://thelovelandfoundation.org/Support the show

  6. Feb 20

    Stop Silencing Yourself: Self-Love Starts Here

    In this episode of The Unfolding: Presented by The Loveland Foundation Podcast, host Rachel Keener sits down with Denise Francis, Founder and CEO of The Self Love Organization, for a conversation that challenges the way we talk about self-love. Denise shares how her journey began with going natural more than a decade ago. What started as a hair transition quickly exposed deeper insecurities and led her toward inner child work and intentional healing. She reframes self-love as more than surface-level care, describing it as an umbrella that includes self-trust, self-worth, self-acceptance, and mental, spiritual, and physical wellness. Together, Rachel and Denise unpack the cultural weight of hair for Black women, the pressure of beauty standards, and how anxiety often hides beneath expectations to be “strong.” Denise shares the rhythms that ground her—rest, faith, gratitude, and small daily rituals that make her a softer place for herself. She also explains why healing shouldn’t happen in isolation and how that belief led her to build spaces from retreats to digital platforms, where Black women can heal together. Listen in for a thoughtful discussion on redefining self-love, building community, and doing the deeper work that lasts. More about Denise Francis: Denise Francis is the Founder and CEO of the HEAL SIS App, a mental wellness platform built for Black women to heal and thrive through affordable therapy and community. She is also the founder of The Self Love Organization INC., creating healing tools rooted in self-love, therapy, and wellness to help end cycles of trans-generational trauma. A TEDx speaker, author, and educator, Denise is on a mission to transform the narrative of the “strong Black woman” into the healed Black woman. She has spoken before Congress, developed a course on The Psychology of Self-Care and Wellness at The City College of New York, and created therapist-approved tools like her Soul Study Journal. Through Black Girl Healing Socials and Self-Love Healing Retreats, she builds spaces for women to heal in community. – The Unfolding: Presented by The Loveland Foundation podcast is an additional resource not only to the public but also to our therapy fund cohort members. The Loveland Foundation therapy fund and resources are only made possible through support from our community.  At The Loveland Foundation, we are committed to showing up for communities of color in unique and powerful ways, with a particular focus on Black women and girls. Our resources and initiatives are collaborative and they prioritize opportunity, access, validation, and healing. Since our founding, the Therapy Fund has provided financial support for therapy to over 13,000 Black women, girls, and non-binary individuals across the country. Links: Join The Abundance Collective: https://thelovelandfoundation.org/abundanceSupport the show: https://give.thelovelandfoundation.org/give/436656/#!/donation/checkoutFollow Denise on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livenaturallylove/Follow The Loveland Foundation on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelovelandfoundation/Visit the Loveland Foundation’s website: https://thelovelandfoundation.org/Support the show

  7. Jan 30

    Astrology for Your Mental Health

    The 2026 season of The Unfolding: Presented by The Loveland Foundation Podcast kicks off with a profound shift in perspective. In our premiere episode, host Rachel Keener sits down with renowned astrologer and author Aycee Brown (whose highly anticipated book Embody Your Magic drops February 17, 2026). Forget the "fix-it" horoscopes of the past. Aycee and Rachel dive into astrology as a radical tool for self-inhabitation: learning to trust the person you already are rather than trying to "correct" your cosmic design. Aycee shares how astrology became a grounding language during her teen years and how she now reads charts through a mental health lens, focusing on the 6th, 8th, and 12th houses. Using Rachel’s chart as an example, they discuss family dynamics, grief, emotional processing, and ancestral connection. As we reflect on the collective grief that has lingered since 2020, this episode serves as a gentle call to return to trust and consistency. Whether you’re a seasoned practitioner or a cosmic skeptic, join us for a grounded, soul-stirring conversation on what it means to show up for yourself and your community. Listen in for a grounded conversation on astrology, mental health, and collective care. More about Aycee Brown: Aycee Brown is a psychic channel, medium, spiritual guide, and teacher dedicated to helping people unlock their most magical lives. Known as the “Voice of Truth” for her ability to connect individuals with their divine source, Aycee works with those at life’s crossroads, guiding them to find clarity, meaning, and a path forward. Aycee’s expertise on the role human design, spirituality, and astrology play in relationships has been featured in major outlets like Cosmopolitan, Brides, and Bustle. And in February 2026, she’ll share her profound insights with a wider audience through the release of her debut book, Embody Your Magic. The book will offer a powerful blueprint for breaking free from conditioning and embracing one’s most authentic self. – The Unfolding: Presented by The Loveland Foundation podcast is an additional resource not only to the public but also to our therapy fund cohort members. The Loveland Foundation therapy fund and resources are only made possible through support from our community.  At The Loveland Foundation, we are committed to showing up for communities of color in unique and powerful ways, with a particular focus on Black women and girls. Our resources and initiatives are collaborative and they prioritize opportunity, access, validation, and healing. Since our founding, the Therapy Fund has provided financial support for therapy to over 13,000 Black women, girls, and non-binary individuals across the country. Links: Join The Abundance Collective: https://thelovelandfoundation.org/abundanceSupport the show: https://give.thelovelandfoundation.org/give/436656/#!/donation/checkoutFollow Aycee on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ayceebrown/Follow The Loveland Foundation on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelovelandfoundation/Visit the Loveland Foundation’s website: https://thelovelandfoundation.org/Support the show

  8. 12/19/2025

    Joy: A Recap of 2025

    The 2025 season of The Unfolding: Presented by The Loveland Foundation Podcast closes with a recap episode centered on “Joy”. Host Rachel Keener reflects on a year of conversations about grief, money, self-care, and joy as both resistance and restoration. Drawing from personal growth and guest insights, this episode highlights how joy shows up in everyday rituals, community, and care—especially for Black women and girls. A thoughtful close to the season and an invitation to carry joy forward. – The Unfolding: Presented by The Loveland Foundation podcast is an additional resource not only to the public but also to our therapy fund cohort members. The Loveland Foundation therapy fund and resources are only made possible through support from our community.  At The Loveland Foundation, we are committed to showing up for communities of color in unique and powerful ways, with a particular focus on Black women and girls. Our resources and initiatives are collaborative and they prioritize opportunity, access, validation, and healing. Since our founding, the Therapy Fund has provided financial support for therapy to over 13,000 Black women, girls, and non-binary individuals across the country. Links: Join The Abundance Collective: https://thelovelandfoundation.org/abundanceVisit the Loveland Foundation’s website: https://thelovelandfoundation.org/Follow The Loveland Foundation on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelovelandfoundation/Follow Aseanté on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aseanterenee/Follow Dasha on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebrokeblackgirl/Follow Leah on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greengirlleah/Follow Jasmine on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jasminsavoyFollow Michelle on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skillinactionVisit Jamia Wilson’s website: https://www.jamiawilson.org/Follow Tatum on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tatumisms/Follow LaToya on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rootedandcrowned/Follow Sara on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarabareillesFollow Dr. Charmain on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/askdrcharmain/Support the show

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
16 Ratings

About

A network of conversations grounded in identifying abundance in us all. At the heart of these dialogues, two people are meeting, in a distilled moment, and process, with gratitude. Showing up for the journey to receive and give— showing up for reciprocity— knowledge that we do not always emphasize in Western cultures but need to in order to fully divulge and embrace the complicated nature of self. It is in these rituals of nourishing the spirit that we can also prioritize community, compassion, and responsibility. The Unfolding is a gift to embrace wholeness, together.

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