Supermodel, actress and activist Adwoa Aboah on her journey, mental health, addiction and finding community and hope in the darkest moments

In this raw and heartfelt conversation, Jean sits down with her close friend, supermodel, actress and founder of Gurls Talk, Adwoa Aboah. Together, they dive deep into the complexities of pain – both visible and invisible. Adwoa opens up about her personal struggles with mental health and addiction, sharing how pain manifested in her life from a young age, how it felt isolating, and the powerful journey to learning how to cope.

Adwoa discusses the importance of acknowledging pain, the role shame plays in mental health, and how she ultimately found solace in community and self-awareness. They explore the challenges of being vulnerable, the healing power of connection, and the lessons learned from pain, including how it can shape resilience and compassion.

This episode is an intimate look at overcoming internal battles, growing from dark places, and the importance of finding hope, even in the most difficult moments. Whether you're facing your own struggles or supporting someone who is, Adwoa's insights offer a powerful reminder that healing is possible and you're never alone in your journey.

Key Topics:

• Adwoa’s personal story of pain, boarding school, and feeling isolated.
• The role of shame in mental health and how it affects healing.
• How finding community and speaking out can be transformative.
• Overcoming addiction and embracing sobriety.
• How to hold on to hope and redefine what healing looks like.

Gurls Talk is a community-led non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the mental health and wellbeing of adolescent girls and young women*. Following Adwoa Aboah’s personal experience with mental health, Gurls Talk was formed with the goal of creating safe spaces – both on and offline – where gurls can access mental health resources, share their experiences and support each other so they never feel alone or have to reach a breaking point.

You can follow Adwoa on Instagram @adwoaaboah 

You can learn more about Gurls Talk by heading to www.gurlstalk.com 

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Host: Jean Campbell

Guest: Adwoa Aboah

Executive Producer: Jean Campbell

Producer: Wicked Child Studio, Hailey Rovner Malach

Composer: Eduardo Vella