TSOB w/ Dr. G--The Sex Ed of Blackfolk Dr. Tracie Q. Gilbert: Sexuality Educator and Podcaster

**Originally Recorded September 2022**
This episode continues the theme "Sex Ed & The Spirit", by having Dr. G speak with Dr. Shaakira Abdullah, creator of the Halal Sexpert brand, and a trained educator whose work centers on individuals and families of the Muslim faith. During the conversation the two Drs. discuss similarities between growing up sexually within Christianity and Islam, as well as how healing is an essential aspect of education that go overlooked with in the sex ed space, yet is integral to future work not only within the African-American Muslim community, but with African Americans as a whole. Another awesome conversation!
NOTES:
This episode is the second of a two-part series that was originally entitled Sex Ed and the Spirit, which is alluded to at the beginning of the episode. The present title represents an inspired change that was made during the editing process. This original conversation was recorded some time ago; however, the content in it is still quite timely and relevant for the present day. _______________________________________________
Dr. Shaakira Abdullah, also known as the Halal Sexpert, is a Sexologist with a Masters degree in
Human Sexuality, and a Family Nurse Practitioner with a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree. She is
passionate about providing sexuality education to the Muslim community from an Islamic
Perspective. Dr. Shaakira Abdullah is a former Nursing Professor for Widener
University. She will earn a PhD in Human Sexuality from Widener in 2024.
Dr. Abdullah's website: https://halalsexpert.com

**Originally Recorded August 2022**
In this episode, Dr. G takes on perhaps her most sensitive conversation yet, chatting with Brittany Broaddus-Smith of The Intimacy Firm about her work helping Christians achieve greater access to their authentic sexual selves. The pair discuss the historical intersections of White Supremacy and Christianity as it impacts sex in Black America, and how deep exploration of the faith can, in some cases, create a more expanded understanding of sex that resists some of those continually oppressive norms. While this conversation presents food for thought for the educator working with highly-religious learners, it is also a look into the broader question of how faith could be used to accentuate the possibilitites of life-affirming sex ed, sexuality and/or one's understanding of the sexual self.
NOTES:
This episode is the first of a two-part series that was originally entitled Sex Ed and the Spirit, which is alluded to at the beginning of the episode. The present title represents an inspired change that was made during the editing process. This original conversation was recorded some time ago; however, the content in it is still quite timely and relevant for the present day. _______________________________________________
Guest Bio:
Brittany Broaddus-Smith is an international Christian Sexologist, creator of the My Vulva & Me brand, and the founder of The Intimacy Firm. The Intimacy Firm is an intimacy coaching and sexuality education agency.  Brittany is an accomplished licensed social worker, sex(uality) educator, trainer and speaker.  Brittany earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and master’s degrees in both social work and clinical human sexuality. Working in the intersection of sexuality and faith, Brittany travels internationally facilitating Daring Discussions around those typically “taboo” subjects via comprehensive sex education, consulting, training and coaching. The Intimacy Firm's mission is to empower individuals to discover, embrace, and navigate their sexual selves without compromising their values.

 
IG/TW/TikTok: @TheIntimacyFirm
Website: https://www.theintimacyfirm.com/
 
 
 

**Originally Recorded Summer 2021**
It is argued that the most effective sex education is rooted in evidence collected from the habits and behaviors of the populations for which that education is created. What happens, however, when that evidence does not reflect the community's lived experience--and does that even matter? For this episode, Dr. G. speaks with sexuality researchers Drs. Candice Hargons and Shemeka Thorpe, and future Dr. Gabrielle Evans about their work in advancing both credible research speaking to the real-time life-affirming experiences of Black & Indigenous American populations, and high-quality evidence-based education for those same groups. The resulting conversation is food for thought for all educators in the profession--definitely not one to miss!
NOTE: While this original conversation was recorded some time ago, the content in it is still quite timely and relevant for the present day.
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Guest Bios:
Dr. Candice Hargons is an award winning associate professor of counseling psychology at the University of Kentucky, where she studies sexual wellness and healing racial trauma, all with a love ethic. She is a licensed psychologist, providing individual and couples sex therapy. She is also the founding director of the Center for Healing Racial Trauma.
 
IG: @Dr.CandiceNicole
 
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Gabrielle S. Evans, MPH, CHES (she/her) is a sexuality educator and researcher and co-founder
of The Minority Sex Report, LLC, an award winning platform, whose mission is to provide
representation in sexuality education. The Minority Sex Report, LLC also addresses barriers to
achieving optimal sexual health for communities of color as well as intersectional inequalities faced by Black and Native communities. Gabrielle has taught comprehensive sexuality education for over five years, facilitating programs for faith-based organizations, providers, and Native American adolescents. Gabrielle is also a doctoral student at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston pursuing her Ph.D. in Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences. Her research focuses on reducing sexual health disparities among Native American populations and analyzing the impact of historical and present traumas on Native sexual health. As a sexuality educator and researcher, Gabrielle hopes to expand research on Native sexual well-being.
 
Shemeka Thorpe, PhD (she/her) is an Assistant Professor at the University of Kentucky. She obtained her PhD in Community Health Education from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Her research focuses on the sexual well-being of Black women utilizing sex-positive and intimate justice frameworks. Understanding the importance of translating research into practice, Dr. Thorpe co-founded the Minority Sex Report, LLC an award-winning platform designed to provide representation in sexuality education to Black and Native American women. She currently serves on the editorial board for the American Journal of Sexuality Education and Journal of Counseling Sexology and Sexual Wellness. Her research has been published in national and international peer-reviewed journals.
 
IG: @TheMinoritySexReport

**Originally Recorded Summer 2021**
Happy Black History Month, Everybody!
It’s always a good time when we can get out new episodes—and this moment is one that is LONG overdue! In this episode, Dr. G sits down to talk all things gender-expansive parenting with friends and scholars Monique Walker, Shane'a Thomas, and Jeanae Hopgood. The trio share their experiences with both childbirth and childrearing, sharing both expertise and insights on how we might create a world in which Black children feel free to evolve as their Divinely known selves, without interruption. 
NOTE: While this original conversation was recorded some time ago, the content in it is still quite timely and relevant for the present day. Please note while you listen that while there were some technical difficulties in recording this interview, the final product is our best attempt at salvaging audio quality. Your grace in advance, is sincerely appreciated.
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Guest Bios:
Dr. Shanéa Thomas, LICSW(He/She/Dr.) is a seasoned scholar-practitioner with more than 15 years of professional social work experience in the Washington D.C. metro area. His main commitment is training and strategizing with social workers, educators, and service providers around building safer therapeutic and educational spaces for all people. This is especially for those working in communities who are underserved and under-resourced, and those identifying as Black, Indigenous, people of color, and LGBTQI+ folks. Dr. Thomas has facilitated over 80 workshops centering DEI needs, grief and loss, mental health, sex and gender, and LGBTQI+ populations. When creating organizational change through strategic planning, Dr. Thomas' work unapologetically centers marginalized voices with community organizations and healthcare institutions to help shift power, privilege, and organizational accountability. Dr. Thomas has been a Senior Lecturer within the University of Southern California's Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work for the last 10 years, and has recently been appointed as the LGBTQ+ Training Specialist and Assistant Clinical Research Professor at the University of Maryland School of Public Health’s Prevention Research Center.
IG: @drkchocolatenoir
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Jeanae M. Hopgood, LMFT, M.Ed, PMH-C is an individual, couple & adult-family therapist, clinical sexologist, perinatal mental health specialist, blogger, speaker, and author in the Philadelphia area.  Her private practice, JHJ Therapy, LLC centers individuals, couples and partners of marginalized identities addressing communication challenges, fertility challenges, perinatal loss, family-of-origin dynamics, sexuality concerns, and reconnecting to one's sexual energy.  Jeanae has created several resources to support those healing after perinatal loss including the Black Angel Mom Guided Journal; a support journal for loss-parents and professionals who work with them, as they move through their grief journey, and the Little Feet, Big Footprints: BAM Card Deck; a conversation deck for individuals, support people, and partners. She is also the creator of www.BlackAngelMom.com - a blog and virtual community focusing on perinatal loss and healing while centering the Black experience; inclusive of all sexual orientations and gender identities.
IG: @jhjtherapy
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monique d. walker (aka dr. mo, she/her/hers) is a southern + black+ queer + femme presenting licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT), MD board approved supervisor, and AAMFT approved supervisor candidate. she understands the unique healing path necessary to overcome racial, gender, and sexuality-based oppression because of her own personal + professional experiences navigating these challenges, as well as her own healing journey. dr. mo works from an eclectic + integrative + culturally humble perspective, utilizin

Happy Holidays! Dr. G's been away for a bit, but slid back in before the end of the year by checking in with Dr. Hope Crenshaw and Patrina Williams of Teen Health Mississippi. The three embark on a powerful conversation centered on community, Southern authenticity and the generational healing that can come from honest, "loving accountability".
 Plus: Check out Dr. G's new website: https://drtracieg.com, as well as her new book, Black and Sexy: A Framework of Racialized Sexuality, available now at Routledge.com!

So, by now we've talked to sex educators from the South, and sex educators who live IN the South...for our Season Three opener we're upping the ante and talking about sex ed IN the south, with sexual health educator and unapologetic "country girl" Dr. Rena Dixon, Director of Health Services for Fact Forward, out of Charleston, South Carolina. Dr. G & Dr. D get into a candid, lively conversation about representation in sex ed, Dr. Dixon's gift of gab, and what it means to experience progress in more conservative areas like the Southeastern United States. An absolutely PERFECT way to kick off a brand new season!
Episode Transcripts are delayed, but will be forthcoming as soon as possible.
Guest Bio: Dr. Rena P. Dixon joined the Fact Forward staff in 2010. She oversees training for community partners and all work with health care providers including the Collaborative for Reproductive Education and Wellness. She has extensive experience providing technical assistance to health centers across South Carolina on providing quality reproductive health services for adolescents and young adults. Dr. Dixon hails from the Peach State, growing up in Augusta, Georgia. She graduated with honors and cum laude from Armstrong Atlantic State University, in Savannah, Georgia with a Bachelor’s of Science in Health Sciences and a minor in Latin American studies. Dr. Dixon also holds her Master of Public Health from Armstrong and a PhD in Public Health with a focus on Health Promotion and Health Education from Walden University. She has a passion for public speaking, sexual health, and social justice.