We're Not OK: A Community of Healing

Antija Allen and Justin Stewart
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Society & Culture
  • Updated Biweekly

We’re Not OK: A Community of Healing features honest, engaging conversations about mental health, relationships, wellness, identity, belonging, personal growth, leadership, and the issues shaping our lives. Hosted by TEDx speakers Dr. Antija Allen and Justin T. Stewart, co-editors of the award-winning book We’re Not OK, the show brings together experts, leaders, creators, and people with powerful lived experiences for real talk, practical insight, laughter, healing, and connection. You don’t have to do it alone.

  1. 1d ago

    Eating Disorders | The Messy Middle w/ Amparo Penny

    Eating disorders are often misunderstood because what we see on the surface rarely tells the whole story. Like an iceberg, the most visible signs may reveal only a small part of a much larger experience. In this episode of We’re Not OK: A Community of Healing, we sit down with Amparo Penny, LCMHC, C-DBT, a licensed clinical mental health counselor with more than 25 years of experience in the mental health field, to explore the complexities of eating disorders and what it means to look beyond the surface. Together, we unpack common misconceptions about eating disorders, the visible and invisible signs that can make them difficult to recognize, and the ways family influences and experiences with body image can shape our relationship with ourselves. Amparo also shares insight into recognizing when something isn't right, navigating the messy middle of healing, and supporting others with compassion rather than judgment. Because understanding the full picture requires looking beyond what is immediately visible. And sometimes, the first step toward healing is being willing to explore what lies beneath the surface. Connect with Amparo: ⁠Home | Amparo Penny, LCMHC, C-DBT, CCTPWorkbook-"When Fear Wants the Wheel" IG: ⁠@amparopenny Connect with the hosts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dr. Antija Allen & Justin Stewart⁠⁠⁠ IG, TikTok, and YouTube: @thenotokpodcast

  2. Oct 9

    ADHD, Masking & Being ‘Too Much’

    In recognition of ADHD Awareness Month, National Disability Employment Awareness Month, and Mental Illness Awareness Week, Dr. Antija Allen and Justin T. Stewart sit down with IngerShaye Colzie, MSW, LSW, ADHD coach, licensed psychotherapist, public speaker, and founder of Alchemy Coaching and Counseling. IngerShaye shares her experience as a late-diagnosed Black woman with ADHD and unpacks the exhaustion of masking, shame, rejection sensitivity, relationships, friendships, workplace expectations, and the pressure to make other people comfortable. Together, they explore what changes when we stop viewing ADHD only through deficits and start creating space for people to show up as themselves. From work-life integration and dating to finding community with people who simply “get it,” this conversation asks an important question: What could life feel like if you didn’t need to work so hard to hide your authentic self? Connect with IngerShaye: IngerShaye ColzieIG: @IngerShaye Connect with the hosts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Dr. Antija Allen & Justin Stewart⁠⁠ IG, TikTok, and YouTube: @thenotokpodcast

  3. Sep 25

    One Goal: Paths to Possibility w/ Dr. Alaina Harper

    What if we stopped asking young people, “What are you going to do?” and started asking, “What possibilities do you see for yourself?” We are joined by Dr. Alaina Harper, Executive Director of OneGoal in New York, for a conversation about education, career pathways, and helping young people envision their futures. OneGoal partners with schools and districts to make college and career planning an integral part of the high school experience, helping students explore their aspirations, discover their purpose, and navigate pathways toward college and career success. A lifelong educator with more than 20 years of experience, we explore Alaina’s journey in education, helping students discover career pathways, and the assumption that a four-year college degree is the only route to success. We also discuss trade school and other alternative pathways, and how an emphasis on grades, metrics, and traditional measures of achievement can sometimes limit how we see a student’s potential and future opportunities. Because there isn't just one path to a meaningful future — and every young person deserves the opportunity and support to discover their own. Connect with Dr. Alaina Harper & OneGoal: https://www.onegoalgraduation.org/ Connect with the hosts: ⁠⁠⁠Dr. Antija Allen & Justin Stewart⁠ IG, TikTok, and YouTube: @thenotokpodcast

  4. Sep 11

    Who Gets to Tell Black Stories?

    Who gets to tell Black stories, and who gets to decide which ones are worth funding, promoting, and seeing? Dr. Antija Allen and Justin Stewart sit down with filmmaker, novelist, and Black Film Space co-founder Lande Yoosuf to talk about Black storytelling, representation, identity, and creative ownership. They explore the myth that Black films don’t sell, the pressure to make stories more palatable for mainstream audiences, the challenges facing independent filmmakers, and how AI may reshape the future of storytelling. Plus, Lande shares how her Nigerian-American identity shaped her work and why culturally specific stories can still connect with audiences everywhere. Connect with Lande & Black Film Space: @Blackfilmspace @LandeYoosuf Website  www.blackfilmspace.com  YouTube  www.youtube.com/BlackFilmSpace  Connect with the hosts: ⁠⁠Dr. Antija Allen & Justin Stewart⁠

  5. Aug 28

    The Black Girl Magic Crew w/ Dr. Seanna Leath

    We’re back for a new season! In our season premiere, we welcome Dr. Seanna Leath, Associate Professor of Psychological & Brain Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis and director of the Fostering Healthy Identities and Resilience (FHIRe) Collaborative. Dr. Leath’s work centers the lives and well-being of Black girls, women, and families. Together, we explore misconceptions about Black girls’ development, psychological safety and the freedom to be yourself, building confidence in underrepresented spaces, and the impact of adultification. We also discuss friendship as a source of healing and belonging, the emotional labor Black mothers carry in preparing their daughters for the world, and the power of community—the reminder that sometimes, it truly takes a village.Connect with the hosts, ⁠Dr. Antija Allen & Justin Stewart

  6. May 8

    Leading with Love w/ Yashmine Cooper

    Closing out the phenomenal sixth season of We're Not OK, we're proud to introduce Yashmine Cooper—educational leader, mindset coach, speaker, and founder of Leading with Love Consulting. With nearly two decades of experience in K–12 education, Yashmine joins the conversation to unpack the realities of burnout among women leaders and the hidden emotional, mental, and personal costs that often come with constantly showing up for others. We explore how leadership rooted in overwork can lead to exhaustion, disconnection, and even the loss of identity beneath professional titles and expectations.   Yashmine shares how her frameworks, including Power Pause and LeadHER, help leaders reclaim their time, regulate their energy, establish boundaries, and move from survival mode toward more sustainable and aligned leadership. The conversation also highlights real stories of transformation and what becomes possible when leaders prioritize well-being without abandoning their purpose. This season finale is an honest and healing discussion about redefining success, challenging toxic leadership norms, and creating lives that feel as good as they look on paper. Connect with Yashmine. Connect with the hosts, Dr. Antija Allen & Justin Stewart.

    Leading with Love w/ Yashmine Cooper

  7. Apr 9

    Problk Health w/ Dr. Karleena Tuggle-McDaniel & Darian McDaniel

    Today, we are joined by Problk Health co-founders Dr. Karleena Tuggle-McDaniel —a board-certified bariatric surgeon—and Darian McDaniel—a marketing executive with 20+ years of C-suite experience— as they share the personal journey that led them to build a wellness brand rooted in purpose, prevention, and community impact to transform Black health.  Together, we explore the real impact of healthcare gaps in Black communities, the rise of preventable chronic conditions, and how Problk Health was created to offer solutions that meet those needs. From choosing the right vitamins and supplements to avoiding harmful or ineffective options, this conversation is both practical and eye-opening.   Grounded in purpose, D. K and Darian also discuss their commitment to reinvesting in organizations and initiatives that support health and healing—turning individual wellness into community impact.   This episode is a powerful reminder: if we don’t prioritize our health early, we’ll feel it later.  Connect with the Dr. K & Darian: Visit their website:Problk Health Vitamins - Black Doctor Owned Vitamin Company – PROBLK HEALTH Check out their mission: Our Mission – PROBLK HEALTH Follow them on Instagram Connect with the hosts: Follow the Book ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@notokbookproject⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow the Podcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@thenotokpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Dr. Antija Allen ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@antijaallen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Justin Stewart ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@justwrite_stewart87⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to our NEW YouTube Channel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.youtube.com/@thenotokpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Linktree: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linktr.ee/notokbookproject⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Book Us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dr. Antija Allen & Justin T. Stewart - Introductory Call | TidyCal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://tidycal.com/allenivyprep/introductory-meeting If you’re struggling, consider therapy with our sponsor. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://betterhelp.com/thenotokpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for a discount on your first month of therapy. If you have questions about the brand relating to how the therapists are credentialed, their privacy policy, or therapist compensation, here is an overview written by the YouTube creators behind the channel Cinema Therapy that goes into these topics: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.reddit.com/r/cinema_therapy/comments/1dpriql/addressing_the_betterhelp_concerns_headon_deep/⁠⁠⁠

    Problk Health w/ Dr. Karleena Tuggle-McDaniel & Darian McDaniel

  8. Mar 27

    Unmasking Brilliance: Black Women with ADHD w/ Drs. Chinyere Oparah and Loucresie Rupert

    In this powerful Women’s History Month episode, Dr. Antija Allen leads an intimate and affirming conversation centering the lived experiences of Black women with ADHD, stories too often overlooked, misunderstood, or misdiagnosed. Joined by Dr. Chinyere Oparah and Dr. Loucresie Rupert, this episode explores what it means to be brilliant in systems that were not built for you. Together, they unpack late diagnoses, the emotional weight of “what could have been,” and the invisible labor of navigating life through workarounds that were never named. Dr. Chinyere Oparah is an educator, author, and executive leadership coach who supports visionary leaders in navigating complex systems. As the founder of NeuroSpicy Leaders and the Center for Liberated Leadership, she brings more than 30 years of experience in higher education and nonprofit leadership, including roles as dean, provost, and vice president. Her work challenges deficit narratives and advances sustainable, courageous approaches to leadership. Dr. Loucresie Rupert is a child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist specializing in ADHD, autism, and neurodivergence. She is co-founder of Physician Women SOAR and a member of BLACK. Her work centers mental health, trauma, and equity across multiple identities, and she brings both clinical expertise and lived insight into this conversation. From hyperfocus to burnout, from misdiagnosis to self-discovery, this conversation reframes ADHD through a lens of strength, adaptability, and cultural context. You will hear how masking shows up in leadership, how success can coexist with struggle, and why community and collective care are essential tools for thriving. This is more than a conversation about ADHD. It is about identity, survival, and reclaiming the fullness of who you are. If you have ever questioned your capacity, your pace, or your path, this episode is a mirror, a validation, and a reminder. Your brilliance was never the problem. Connect with our guests: Dr. Loucresie Rupert www.insightfulconsultant.orgFacebook: Insightful Consultant LLCLinkedIn: Dr. Loucresie Rupert | LinkedInDr. Chinyere Oparah  https://www.neurospicyleaders.com/Follow @neurospicyleaders on IGResources Article on the power of ND leadership: https://www.neurospicyleaders.com/post/when-the-system-cracks-open-neurospicy-leaders-and-the-evolution-of-leadershipCoaching for ADHD/ND leaders and entrepreneurs: https://www.neurospicyleaders.com/FocusCafé Body doubling space for leaders, changemakers and entrepreneurs: https://www.neurospicyleaders.com/focuscafeAI FocusPartner -digital ally tailored to support ND professionals: https://www.neurospicyleaders.com/focuspartnerConnect with the hosts: Follow the Book ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@notokbookproject⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow the Podcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@thenotokpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Dr. Antija Allen ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@antijaallen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Justin Stewart ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@justwrite_stewart87⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to our NEW YouTube Channel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.youtube.com/@thenotokpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Linktree: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linktr.ee/notokbookproject⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Book Us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dr. Antija Allen & Justin T. Stewart - Introductory Call | TidyCal⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://tidycal.com/allenivyprep/introductory-meeting If you’re struggling, consider therapy with our sponsor. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://betterhelp.com/thenotokpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for a discount on your first month of therapy. If you have questions about the brand relating to how the therapists are credentialed, their privacy policy, or therapist compensation, here is an overview written by the YouTube creators behind the channel Cinema Therapy that goes into these topics: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.reddit.com/r/cinema_therapy/comments/1dpriql/addressing_the_betterhelp_concerns_headon_deep/⁠⁠⁠

    Unmasking Brilliance: Black Women with ADHD w/ Drs. Chinyere Oparah and Loucresie Rupert
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About

We’re Not OK: A Community of Healing features honest, engaging conversations about mental health, relationships, wellness, identity, belonging, personal growth, leadership, and the issues shaping our lives. Hosted by TEDx speakers Dr. Antija Allen and Justin T. Stewart, co-editors of the award-winning book We’re Not OK, the show brings together experts, leaders, creators, and people with powerful lived experiences for real talk, practical insight, laughter, healing, and connection. You don’t have to do it alone.

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