Behind The Story

jelani gonzalez

Step inside the stories that shape today's culture and innovation. In Behind the Story, host Jelani sits down with extraordinary people-from an American Music Award-winning songwriter to entrepreneurs reinventing skincare, from a sharp-witted comedians and actors to politicians Each conversation uncovers the turning points, challenges, and creative sparks that define their journeys. Whether they're making music, building businesses, or shaping policy, these guests share candid insights on resilience, purpose, and what it really takes to create lasting impact. If you love authentic conversations that inspire and connect, this is the podcast you won't want to miss.

  1. 4D AGO

    Healing Desire & Intimacy with Dr. Tiffany Stanley

    What does it really mean to feel desired, safe, and fully alive in your relationships? In this powerful episode of Behind the Story, Jelani sits down with Dr. Tiffany Stanley, licensed psychotherapist, AASECT Certified Sex Therapist, and author of Nothing Is Off the Table, to explore the psychology of desire, intimacy, trauma, and self-trust. With over 20 years of clinical experience, Dr. Stanley breaks down why so many women struggle with sexual desire, emotional connection, and self-expression—even in loving relationships. She explains how attachment styles impact intimacy, how trauma lives in the nervous system, and why healing sexual shame is essential for reclaiming pleasure and authenticity. In this episode, we discuss: Why sexual desire often disappears—and how to reconnect with itThe difference between performing intimacy and experiencing real pleasureHow trauma and the nervous system affect relationshipsRebuilding self-trust after years of self-abandonmentAttachment styles and their impact on love and sexMoving from shame and performance to presence and authenticityWhat “Nothing Is Off the Table” really means for modern relationshipsThis conversation goes beyond surface-level advice. It’s an honest exploration of emotional healing, feminine empowerment, boundaries, and what it truly takes to create deep connection. If you’ve ever struggled with intimacy, burnout, mismatched desire, relationship anxiety, or feeling disconnected from yourself—this episode will resonate deeply. 🎧 Listen now and discover how healing begins when nothing is off the table.

    42 min
  2. FEB 6

    Mazarine Memon – Art, Grief, and the Courage to Continue

    What happens when art becomes more than expression — when it becomes a space for reflection, dialogue, and healing? In this episode of Behind The Story, Jelani sits down with Mazarine Memon, visual artist, facilitator, and founder of The Art Brewery, to explore how creativity can open conversations that leadership, language, and structure often cannot. Mazarine’s work lives at the intersection of art, human connection, and inquiry. Through immersive experiences in schools, organizations, and communities, she creates environments where people feel safe enough to pause, reflect, and truly see one another. This conversation is also deeply personal. After the sudden loss of her husband and creative partner — who spent over four decades in advertising and taught entrepreneurship and small business marketing — Mazarine made the decision to continue and evolve the work they built together. While carrying grief, she has been training facilitators, collaborating with experts, and developing a powerful new body of art of her own. Together, we explore: How art can function as a container for meaningful conversationThe role of creativity in leadership and organizational cultureBuilding continuity after loss — without erasing griefTraining others to hold space with integrity and careWhat it means to keep creating when life changes everythingThis is a quiet, honest, and expansive conversation about creativity, resilience, partnership, and meaning — and an invitation to consider how art can help us navigate both personal and collective transformation.

    44 min

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Step inside the stories that shape today's culture and innovation. In Behind the Story, host Jelani sits down with extraordinary people-from an American Music Award-winning songwriter to entrepreneurs reinventing skincare, from a sharp-witted comedians and actors to politicians Each conversation uncovers the turning points, challenges, and creative sparks that define their journeys. Whether they're making music, building businesses, or shaping policy, these guests share candid insights on resilience, purpose, and what it really takes to create lasting impact. If you love authentic conversations that inspire and connect, this is the podcast you won't want to miss.