Beauty in the Beast Podcast

Shuhari Podcast Network

“Black men have been called many things—beast, menace, threat—but the truth is, we are a tapestry of strength, compassion, and beauty.” This podcast is committed to challenging stereotypes and reshaping the Black male narrative. Through in-depth conversations, we highlight the compassion, resilience, and courage of Black men, showing how they navigate societal pressures while maintaining their humanity."

  1. You Don’t Fit the Mold_ Ron Rimko_ Ep. 23

    12/25/2025

    You Don’t Fit the Mold_ Ron Rimko_ Ep. 23

    "I already didn't feel wanted. I didn't feel the love, ...I was never accepted. Where was I getting the acceptance at? You know what I mean? Was everywhere outside of the house.” - Ron Rimko Ron grew up as one of the only white kids in his school and neighborhood, feeling more comfortable in Black spaces than in his own home. In this episode of Beauty in the Beast, he opens up about being dropped off at his dad’s house for a “month-long vacation” that secretly became 13 years, the depression that followed, and what it meant to be the “piece of salt in a pepper shaker” in metro Atlanta. Ron talks about growing up with a military father who didn’t talk about emotions, losing daily contact with his mother, and having to “mentally and emotionally raise” himself. He shares how he found warmth and protection in the homes of his Black friends and their single mothers, why he felt more accepted in those spaces than with his own family, and how he learned to wear a mask around white folks just to avoid being judged. We get into his move to small-town Ohio, the shock of Oxy-infested neighborhoods, dealing weed to try to pay for college, catching charges, and the moment in jail when his grandmother’s disappointment and a sergeant’s blunt, “You don’t fit the mold here,” forced him to choose a different life. From there, Ron walks us through basketball as his escape, the barbershop as his sanctuary, and how cutting hair for Black men showed him the weight they carry every day. Finally, we ask Ron directly: What do you think about Black men being seen as the beast in this world? His answer is honest, emotional, and unapologetically clear: it’s unfair, unbalanced, and Black men have it a lot harder than most people admit. If you care about race, belonging, cross-cultural friendship, addiction, masculinity, abandonment, mother wounds, and barbershop truth, this conversation is for you. #beautyinthebeast #blackmeninamerica #barbershoptalk #whiteskinblackspaces #motherwound #maskedmasculinity #oxycrisis #addictionrecovery #blackmenhealing #emotionalintelligenceformen

    50 min
  2. 12/18/2025

    Let It Breathe: Kevin Bentley on Rage, Healing & Manhood_ Ep. 22

    “You cannot control your emotions. You have to control the reaction to the emotion.” – Kevin Bentley Kevin Bentley returns to Beauty in the Beast for a deeper, more revealing conversation about masculinity, fatherhood, emotional suppression, and what growth actually requires of men. In this episode, Kevin reflects on the pressure Black men carry to appear confident while quietly battling fear, self-doubt, and emotional restraint. He opens up about suppressing emotions, wearing masks to survive, questioning himself as a father, and the unexpected power of hearing affirmation from his own father. This conversation explores why men struggle to talk honestly, how ego becomes armor, and why professional coaching, counseling, and intentional support are not weaknesses but necessities. As a returning guest, Kevin brings added clarity, self-awareness, and depth—showing how growth evolves when men are willing to confront what they’ve been avoiding. This episode is not about having it all figured out. It’s about learning how to stop hiding, stop retreating, and start choosing help. If you’re navigating masculinity, fatherhood, emotional intelligence, therapy, confidence, or the pressure to always be “strong,” this episode will resonate deeply. #KevinBentley #BeautyInTheBeastPodcast #BlackMenHealing #MensMentalHealth #EmotionalIntelligenceForMen #FatherhoodJourney #MasculinityRedefined #TherapyForMen #BlackMaleIdentity #VulnerabilityIsStrength #MenAndGrowth #ReturningGuest #football #nfl

    57 min
  3. Healing Is a Grown Man’s Job_K.D. Bowe_ Ep. 19

    11/27/2025

    Healing Is a Grown Man’s Job_K.D. Bowe_ Ep. 19

    I’m my primary caretaker.” - K.D. Bowe There are moments in a man’s life when the mirror stops being glass and becomes a witness. K.D. Bowe walked into this conversation carrying years of survival on his shoulders - the saint and the savage living in the same body, both of them shaped by a world that never asked whether he was ready. He speaks about faith not as doctrine, but as a battlefield where the people we trust sometimes fail us in ways our souls cannot forget. He speaks about love not as romance, but as a life that died in his hands - and the burial he had to attend alone. Divorce, he says, is its own kind of funeral. And the man who walks away is never the man who walked in. But the heart of this story is quieter. It is the moment he meets a boy he did not know he had abandoned. A small boy. Glowing. Starving. Waiting on the grown man who left him behind. When he asks, “Who wouldn’t feed you?” - the question is not for the child. It is for the man who finally sees him. And in that moment, K.D. discovers what Baldwin always knew: a man cannot become whole until he tells himself the truth. From there, he rebuilds his understanding of strength - not as violence, not as bravado, but as discipline, timing, and the courage to refuse becoming the very beast the world expects him to be. “I can touch the beast,” he says, “but I’m not the beast.” This episode is not an interview. It is a reckoning. A study in the soul of a man learning to love himself after the world - and his own choices - tried their best to unmake him. Watch this with your whole chest. It might call something awake in you too. #BeautyInTheBeastPodcast #KDBowe #BlackMenHealing #EmotionalIntelligence #InnerChildWork #MasculinityRedefined #SelfLoveJourney #SoulWork #HealingForMen #GrowthMindset #KDBowe #divorce #preaching #pastor #church

    1h 10m
  4. Why Black Men Wear Emotional Armor_ Dr. Michael Turner_Ep. 16

    11/06/2025

    Why Black Men Wear Emotional Armor_ Dr. Michael Turner_Ep. 16

    "You can’t expect people to see you if you’re always hiding.” Michael Turner What happens when a licensed Black male therapist breaks down in therapy himself—and redefines what strength means for men? Episode Summary: In this transformative episode of Beauty & the Beast, we sit down with Michael Turner—licensed therapist, trauma specialist, and one of the few nationally board-certified Black male counselors in the U.S. Michael gets real about breaking stereotypes in mental health, unpacking emotional armor, and what hypnotherapy really feels like. This isn’t just another discussion on mental health—it’s a vulnerable deep dive into how men carry their pain, protect themselves, and unlearn inherited trauma. From decoding why Black men are seen as “unicorns” in the therapy world, to confronting cultural pressures around identity, leadership, and authenticity, this episode delivers emotional revelations and societal insights you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you’re navigating your own healing journey or just want to understand the weight Black men carry, this conversation is essential. Key Questions Answered: What is emotional armor, and when does it protect vs. harm? How does hypnotherapy work, and is it safe? What does authentic leadership look like for Black men? How can you set emotional boundaries without guilt? What happens when you no longer feel like you belong “back home”? Guest Bio: Michael Turner is a licensed professional counselor in Georgia and Florida, credentialed in clinical hypnotherapy, DBT, and trauma-focused therapy. A proud Alabama A&M alum, Michael is among the top 10% of Black male therapists in the U.S.—often referred to as a “unicorn” in his field. His mission: to dismantle stigma and make space for Black men to be vulnerable, powerful, and whole.

    1h 13m

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

“Black men have been called many things—beast, menace, threat—but the truth is, we are a tapestry of strength, compassion, and beauty.” This podcast is committed to challenging stereotypes and reshaping the Black male narrative. Through in-depth conversations, we highlight the compassion, resilience, and courage of Black men, showing how they navigate societal pressures while maintaining their humanity."

You Might Also Like