Us with Dr. Crystallee Crain - Critical Conversations On The Challenges & Opportunities Of Our Time

US with Dr Crystallee Crain

Real change takes root in our values and actions. I encourage my guests and listeners to lean into what it means to be stewards of justice, hope and liberation. Rooted in on the promise of self determination your host, Dr Crystallee Crain engages in questions about human rights, spiritual and political problems, and the ever present need to protect our planet. Choose liberation with your host, Dr. Crystallee Crain, and unite together so that we can learn from one another and respect each other as experts of our own realities.

  1. On Stepping Into Your Purpose with Geremy Johnson

    3d ago

    On Stepping Into Your Purpose with Geremy Johnson

    What does it take to turn a prison conversation into a life's mission? In this episode, Dr. Crystallee Crain sits down with Geremy Johnson — justice-informed strategist, peer-led innovator, and Founder of Turning 365, Inc. — for a conversation that is equal parts reckoning and revelation. Geremy doesn't come with talking points. He comes with truth. Born in New York City, rooted in Virginia, and shaped by over two decades of lived experience and long-term recovery, Geremy has spent his life building what others said couldn't be built: real pathways for people the system was designed to forget. In this conversation, he takes us back to the beginning — not the programs, not the frameworks, but the moment inside a prison where he realized his story had the power to help someone else survive. He gets honest about what re-entry actually felt like in those early years, what almost pulled him back, and how he made the quiet, grueling shift from surviving to leading. He talks about what he says — not from the curriculum, but from the soul — when he's sitting across from someone who just came home and isn't sure they believe change is real for them. And he closes with the words he wishes someone had said to him. Whether you're in the work, just getting out, or still trying to believe that a different life is possible — this episode is for you. Topics explored: Life before recovery and the moment everything shifted — the early, unvarnished reality of re-entry — navigating credibility without erasing your story — the Foundations of Recovery and the P.E.E.R. Workbook — what peer leadership looks like when it's grounded in honesty — and a direct message to anyone still fighting to believe transformation belongs to them too. Learn more: www.turning365.com

    37 min
  2. Slated - I Am She Poetry Album Closing Track

    May 28

    Slated - I Am She Poetry Album Closing Track

    A long awaited compilation of poetry by dr crystallee crain, her debut poetry album I Am She explores over 10 years of talent, triumph and tragedy in prose that provoke emotion and truth in the experience of women of color, and in particular, black women in the United States. It's not a work of perfection but to express and show process and growth. The last track of the project - SLATED - is the best tool to share that progress. It is shared on US with Dr Crystallee Crain to promote the album and invite others to continue to tell the truth and be free of the abuses we know of the world - so we can create the joy and love we all deserve. SLATED is a moment in time of release from abuse and neglect, the release of it is healing and provocative for the healing hearts of the world - as we stand the test of time. Thank you. Much love.

    3 min
  3. Book Announcement - Superfluous Pains: A Life Given Without Consent But Lived With Intent

    Mar 26

    Book Announcement - Superfluous Pains: A Life Given Without Consent But Lived With Intent

    What happens when private pain is finally spoken aloud? In her powerful new memoir, Superfluous Pains: A Life Given Without Consent, But Lived with Intent, Dr. Crystallee Crain turns lived experience into testimony, healing, and action. This is not just a book of memories. It is a courageous collection of essays, poems, micro-nonfiction, and reflections that confront trauma, family wounds, race and identity, intimate-partner violence, and the failures of systems that are meant to protect survivors. Through spare, lyrical, and unflinching prose, Dr. Crain transforms suffering into a public tool for healing and communal repair. With honesty and compassion, Superfluous Pains asks us to reconsider the stories too often dismissed as “superfluous” — the ones people are told to hide, minimize, or endure in silence. Dr. Crain names harm without hesitation, then offers a path forward through somatic grounding, healing-centered leadership, and community accountability. As the press release notes, this book is both a witness and a tool — an act of public vulnerability designed to de-stigmatize suffering and invite readers into the hard work of repair. Listeners will find thematic sections such as “Why We’re Here,” “Shame,” “Victim Defendant,” and “Beyond the Body,” along with practical insights, terminology, and resources for advocates, clinicians, educators, survivors, and anyone seeking language for healing and justice. Dr. Crystallee Crain brings decades of experience as an interdisciplinary public-health scholar, human-rights advocate, and practitioner of healing-centered leadership to every page. Her work bridges personal narrative, research, and real-world practice — making Superfluous Pains an essential read for anyone interested in trauma, resilience, and transformation. Superfluous Pains: A Life Given Without Consent, But Lived with Intent — a memoir of courage, truth, and healing. To learn more, request media materials, or connect with the author, visit crystalleecrain.org.

    3 min
  4. Community Conversations with The Liberation Caucus & Mayor Daniel Mahoney (Jackson, Michigan)

    Mar 26

    Community Conversations with The Liberation Caucus & Mayor Daniel Mahoney (Jackson, Michigan)

    In this episode of Community Conversations with The Liberation Caucus & Mayor Daniel Mahoney of Jackson, Michigan, Dr. Crystallee Cain hosts a powerful discussion on the challenges of our time, centering Black liberation, community advocacy, and the work of dismantling systems of oppression. Featuring our amazing guest hosts Brandon Jessup, Dr. Stacey Deering they join Dr. Crystallee in a conversation that explores collective action, impact of the state of the world, and building a more just future for Jackson and beyond. Sound citation: Epidemic Sound: Diamond Heist, by Christoffer Moe Ditlevsen

    48 min
  5. National Minority Quality Forum in Flint - Revisiting the Water Crisis

    Feb 9

    National Minority Quality Forum in Flint - Revisiting the Water Crisis

    Where the Flint Water Crisis Stands in 2026. This episode of US with Dr. Crystallee Crain revisits the Flint water crisis more than a decade later, summarizing the history, weighing current infrastructure and policy progress, and explaining the ongoing public‑health and social consequences for residents and clinicians. What you’ll hear: a recap of the 2014–2015 contamination and its disproportionate impact on a majority-Black, low-income city; an update on federal, state, and municipal actions to replace lead service lines and strengthen transparency; and a review of recent research and monitoring efforts (including the Flint Registry) that track long-term health and developmental outcomes. The episode also examines remaining gaps — from unfinished pipe replacements and internal plumbing concerns to persistent needs for developmental services, adult health monitoring, and trust-building with the community. Flint residents can sign up for the research study here.Music: Epidemic Sound; Loyae - Title: Quick Guests: Mayor Sheldon Neeley; City Council Candidate Dionne Freeman, and Shalanda Griffin with the Gift of Life.

    20 min

  6. 10/28/2025

    How Post Incarceration Syndrome Kills Access to Love (Personal Essay)

    In this deeply personal episode, Dr. Crystallee Crain shares her powerful essay exploring love, loss, and emotional abuse through the lens of supporting a man recently exonerated after decades in prison. She reveals the complex effects of incarceration trauma, the challenges of intimate relationships post-release, and the collateral damage for loved ones. A raw, honest reflection on healing, freedom, and resilience. Special thanks to Flintside.com for publishing this essay on October 20, 2025. See essay here. Thank you for listening. Sound Credits Epidemic Sound Even Good Things (Instrumental Version) Katori Walker

    16 min
  7. Protecting the Social Sector from Project 2025 with Dr Crystallee Crain

    06/27/2025

    Protecting the Social Sector from Project 2025 with Dr Crystallee Crain

    Welcome to a pivotal episode of US with Dr. Crystallee Crain. As we stand on the cusp of what could be a transformative shift in how we're able to serve our communities, I invite you to listen closely to the profound implications of Project 2025—a Presidential Transition Plan upending the very foundations of community based, nonprofit, and human service work nationally. Review the Protecting the Social Sector Memo. Project 2025 is not just a policy proposal; it is a coordinated effort to dismantle the institutional frameworks, funding sources, and legal protections that have supported our crucial work in the nonprofit and social sectors. As a collective community, we must recognize the depth and breadth of these proposed changes and how they aim to dismantle our ability to lead and serve. Our most vulnerable communities are facing significant threats to their rights and access to basic needs—threats that, if and when realized will erase decades of hard-fought progress. But this is not just about understanding the threats; it’s about mobilizing an urgent, powerful response that is consistent and intersectional. We need each other more than ever. I am calling on you to unify, repair, and defend our capacity to lead, honor, and uplift the communities we so desperately love to serve. It is our collective responsibility to forge resilient partnerships, enhance our infrastructures, and prepare for immense challenges ahead. In this episode, we will walk you through the pathways for counteraction—proactive strategies that involve coalition building, securing alternative funding mechanisms, and reinforcing our legal and technical capabilities to withstand pressures. We must innovate beyond traditional boundaries and unite under a shared vision for the future - a reimagined sector and space to heal and lead - in order to do that we have to collaborate. We had to change and grow. This is your invitation to be part of a transformative movement. Let us channel our dedication and determination to ensure that our organizations not only survive but thrive against these challenges. We can protect our ability to lead and continue serving those who count on us, ensuring our work's enduring impact. Email me with your thoughts or needs: consulting@preventionagenda.org.

    19 min

  8. 06/26/2025

    An Invitation to Henry Ford Health System - And All Health Systems

    In my work I'm living with the overwhelm of the unknown from the federal government - and beyond. In this space, I have chosen to co-create solutions and lean into possibility to prevent future harm. A Tiered Consent Model allows us to protect ourselves from the weaponization of our experiences by the federal government. We are reaching out to the Henry Ford Health System with a simple yet meaningful request: embrace the role of giving agency back to patients in managing their healthcare data. In our current social and political context, it’s imperative that patients have the autonomy to choose when—and if—they share their personal health information.Why is this crucial? Because protecting our healthcare data isn’t just logical—it’s essential. It’s not about imposing barriers; it’s about enhancing trust and security. By allowing patients to opt-in and opt-out of data sharing, you provide a safeguard, inviting us to engage in our healthcare journey with confidence and peace of mind. Remember, in the face of the unknown, lies a realm of possibilities we are yet to discover. We are our best allies. Keep imagining, keep questioning, and most importantly, keep creating. Review the full document here. Sign the petition - ask to protect your health care data. In solidarity, Dr Crystallee Crain

    27 min
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About

Real change takes root in our values and actions. I encourage my guests and listeners to lean into what it means to be stewards of justice, hope and liberation. Rooted in on the promise of self determination your host, Dr Crystallee Crain engages in questions about human rights, spiritual and political problems, and the ever present need to protect our planet. Choose liberation with your host, Dr. Crystallee Crain, and unite together so that we can learn from one another and respect each other as experts of our own realities.

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