I read Behold the Dreamers in 2018 and loved it so much that I wrote a reaction essay to process my thoughts and feelings about the story. Every so often I re-read the essay, and decided to record it and turn it into an episode. The story follows characters Jende and Neni, and married couple from Cameroon who come to the states with their six year old son with hope for a better future in the US. But things prove much more challenging than they anticipate and they find themselves in situations that force them to make decisions they never thought they would have to make.As always, please share and recommend, and thank you so much for the support!EMAIL: contact@thelettersandlayers.com-OR-DM me through my social media handles! IG: @amaka_agI appreciate you!

Happy February!We're kicking off the new month by reflecting on Kerry Washington's memoir, Thicker Than Water. I've been an admirer of Kerry's work for a long time, and since she is known to be very private, I was curious about what she had to share and was not disappointed. She was very open and shares so many gems and lessons she's learned in her personal life and her acting career.I talk about her how her relationship with her parents has evolved, her challenges with an eating disorder, and how acting was a safe place and means of escaping her reality without knowing the truth about herself. I hope you listen to the end.I'm starting a YouTube Channel! It will be the secondary platform for my podcast alongside videos specifically for the channel that will focus on books, wellness and lifestyle insight just like the podcast. Follow here!As always, please share and recommend, and thank you so much for the support!EMAIL: contact@thelettersandlayers.com-OR-DM me through my social media handles! IG: @amaka_agI appreciate you!

Happy New Year!In this episode I begin by sharing how I spent the holiday season, before talking about my 2024 Ins and Outs, which was a popular topic on social media as we approached the new year (06:54). Finally I discussed an experience I had after seeing the Beyonce concert film that moved me to unfollow almost all the celebrities I followed on Instagram (24:49). I hope you listen to the end.I'm starting a YouTube Channel! It will be the secondary platform for my podcast alongside videos specifically for the channel that will focus on books, wellness and lifestyle insight just like the podcast. Follow here!As always, please share and recommend, and thank you so much for the support!EMAIL: contact@thelettersandlayers.com-OR-DM me through my social media handles! IG: @amaka_agI appreciate you!

Happy New Year!While on break from new episodes, I thought it might be timely for listeners looking to use the new year as a fresh start or new opportunity to re-release this podcast episode from April 2022. I shared my thoughts about the book Atomic Habits by James Clear (3:30), and in preparing for this re-release, I listened to the episode again and am so glad I did. I think I needed to hear some of the takeaways again myself as I think about everything 2023 was for me and how I want to move in 2024. I touch on the concept of motion vs. action, the expectation of linear progress, how to establish habits as easily as possible, and much more. It's a great listen and I hope you enjoy it.As always, please share and recommend, and thank you so much for the support!EMAIL: contact@thelettersandlayers.com-OR-DM me through my social media handles! IG: @amaka_ag; @mylettersandlayersCheck out my podcast page and blog at aagpsychiatry.comI appreciate you!

The end of the year often comes with sentiments around where we are in the moment, and hopes for the future. Opportunities to try again. Second chances. A black page. A new chapter. A clean slate.On this episode I look back on what 2023 meant for me and my thoughts around the transition to a new year. I talk about refocusing, particularly around this podcast, and what I got right this year that I want continue in 2024. I hope you listen to the end.This is our last new episode of the year! I will be back with new episodes of Letters & Layers Podcast on Monday, January 15th. Thank you to all my listeners this year. The support means more than you know.As always, please share and recommend, and thank you so much for the support!EMAIL: contact@thelettersandlayers.com-OR-DM me through my social media handles! IG: @amaka_ag; @mylettersandlayersCheck out my podcast page and blog at aagpsychiatry.comI appreciate you!

Hey everyone! It. Is December. Where did the year go? I truly can't believe we're already here. I start this episode sharing my thoughts on heading back to the east coast for the first time since our move out to the mid-west and how I'm feeling ahead of my travels. I spend the majority of this episode discussing how hormones we may not otherwise consider as contributors to our mental and emotional health can impact how we feel (07:30). I hope you listen to the end. If you're interested in reading the article in it's entirety, you can find it here. As always, please share and recommend, and thank you so much for the support! EMAIL: contact@thelettersandlayers.com  -OR- DM me through my social media handles! IG: @amaka_ag; @yourmentalhealthnp I appreciate you!

Hey everyone! It's hard to believe we're halfway through November. Thanksgiving is literally around the corner. It felt good to talk about surprising my mom for her birthday at the top of the podcast, then chat a bit about how my fitness journey is going and a milestone I hit recently that I'm proud of (10:26). I also talk about how voice notes offer a means of self-accountability as they have for me the past few months (21:27), and lastly I discuss my major takeaways from the book Dopamine Nation by Anna Lembke (26:49). I hope you listen to the end. As always, please share and recommend, and thank you so much for the support! EMAIL: contact@thelettersandlayers.com  -OR- DM me through my social media handles! IG: @amaka_ag; @yourmentalhealthnp I appreciate you!

Hey everyone! Happy November! As we near the holiday season, I am so excited to share the first interview conducted on The Letters & Layers Podcast with Dr. Jeannelle Perkins-Muhammad. Dr. Jeannelle is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, owner of private practice TMI Counseling, and author of Into-Me-See: Mastering Black Intimacy for the Relationship You’ve Always Wanted. We dive deep into this conversation and discuss her inspiration for writing the book, how it has changed her as a therapist, the impact of mental health on intimate relationships, and what she would love her readers to take away. It was great to talk to Dr. Jeannelle and I hope you all enjoy the interview! Want to reach out to Dr. Jeannelle? Personal website: Drjeannelle.com Private Practice Website: Tmicounselingandcoaching.com Instagram: drjeannelle Private Practice Instagram: tmi.counseling Tik Tok: dr.jeannellelmft   As always, please share and recommend, and thank you so much for the support! EMAIL: contact@thelettersandlayers.com  -OR- DM me through my social media handles! IG: @amaka_ag; @yourmentalhealthnp I appreciate you!

Y'all! It has been a morning. Recording on publishing day because of my schedule, coupled with technical issues and experimenting with video for the first time resulted in a not so smooth recording experience for my 50th (!!!) official episode, but the show goes on. Leaning hard on consistency today and less on timing as I love to get these episodes out early in the day for you all, but today was not that day. Nevertheless, you're getting me almost in real time, which I hope adds to your listening experience. Thank you for your patience! I start this episode with talking about my language learning journey that I'm actively on with becoming conversational in Spanish, and how I want to incorporate how we approach English to Spanish fluency long term (08:55). I talk later on about the prevalence of Seasonal Depression going into the fall and winter months, and offer some recommendations I hope will make the transition smoother (21:32). Finally I discuss chapter four in All About Love which tackles self-esteem, and what were my most important takeaways (33:40). As always, please share and recommend, and thank you so much for the support! EMAIL: contact@thelettersandlayers.com -OR- DM me through my social media handles! IG: @amaka_ag; @yourmentalhealthnp I appreciate you!

Hey everyone! The past couple of weeks have been eventful to say the least. From going to Beyonce's Dallas show which I rave about at the top of the podcast, to meeting Victoria Monet, last weekend was all about music and appreciating some of the artists I love. Later on in the podcast I open up about my current fitness journey, and how I work on staying consistent by depending less on motivation and leaning into generating momentum to keep me going (16:50). I hope you listen to the end. As always, please share and recommend, and thank you so much for the support! EMAIL: contact@thelettersandlayers.com -OR- DM me through my social media handles! IG: @amaka_ag; @yourmentalhealthnp I appreciate you!

Hey Everyone! I recorded this episode right after seeing my panel of patients that morning, one of which made a major life decision that we have been working towards over the past few months. I talk about the process with the patient and how it feels to support her on this journey. I also talk about a Tik Tok/podcast episode with Mel Robbins and KC Davis who wrote the book How to Keep House While Drowning. This conversation sparked some introspection about my childhood, and how it impacted how I see myself in relation to the current state of my physical environment (23:14). I really enjoyed recording this episode, and I hope you listen to the end. Link to the Mel Robbins & KC Davis Episode here! As always, please share and recommend, and thank you so much for the support! Send me an email: btbwpodcast@gmail.com -OR- DM me through my social media handles! IG: @amaka_ag; @yourmentalhealthnp I appreciate you!

Hey Everyone! Happy September! Today's episode marks two years since the first episode of what is now known as The Letters & Layers Podcast. In this episode I discuss why I changed the name and what the new title means for me personally. I also talk about having a "come to Jesus" moment with myself last week, and needing to make changes when it comes to my level of comfort. I also talk about not giving up on your day just because it feels like it started off on the wrong foot. It can very well turn around for the better. This episode is particularly special to me, and I hope you listen to the end. I recorded the bulk of it while sick! But it came out so much better than expected. Happy Anniversary to The Letters & Layers Podcast! As always, please share and recommend, and thank you so much for the support! Send me an email: btbwpodcast@gmail.com (e-mail change coming soon!) -OR- DM me through my social media handles! IG: @amaka_ag; @yourmentalhealthnp I appreciate you!

Hey everyone! I'm recording this episode off the heels of a great weekend I had with one of my closest friends. During the episode I give a quick recap of what we did and how I felt considering my philosophies around friendship and how has matured over time. I also share my initial thoughts on the show Painkiller on Netflix with Uzo Aduba, and later on, my intentions around curbing my social media consumption by building a more intentional relationship with it through specific tools and strategies (15:49). I hope you listen to the end. Also, keep an eye out for changes to the podcast! A trailer with the new name and thumbnail will be out before September 1st along with other tweaks, but I promise to continue sharing with you content that's always been my focus and what you guys love to hear. As always, please share and recommend, and thank you so much for the support! Send me an email: btbwpodcast@gmail.com -OR- DM me through my social media handles! IG: @amaka_ag; @yourmentalhealthnp I appreciate you!

Hey everyone, I’m really happy to be bringing you a new episode on the first of this month, talking about overcoming recent setbacks, success with sobriety, and the next chapter in All About Love chapter three. I’ve had to deal with a pretty unfortunate situation recently that I talk more in depth about in the episode, but ultimately I’m happy to be on the other side. I highlight one of my favorite entertainers Ari Lennox, who recently shared about her journey toward sobriety, and we get back into All About Love by discussing chapter 3, which focuses on truth and honesty. I hope you listen to the end. As always, please share and recommend, and thank you so much for the support! Send me an email: btbwpodcast@gmail.com -OR- DM me through my social media handles! IG: @amaka_ag; @yourmentalhealthnp I appreciate you!

Hey everyone! I was so happy to fire up the mic and kick off the second half of the year with a new episode. I'm easing back in by sharing details about my experience driving from NYC to Chicago, and how conquering that challenge has impacted me mentally. In the second half of the episode I discuss what I call anchors: places, tools and strategies that I've counted on to help me successfully transition to a new place. Having lived in six states in my 20's, it's been so important to develop a plan of how to quickly move past the anxiety of moving to a new place and start feeling at home. I hope you listen to the end. As always, please share and recommend, and thank you so much for the support! Send me an email: btbwpodcast@gmail.com -OR- DM me through my social media handles! IG: @amaka_ag; @yourmentalhealthnp I appreciate you!

Hey everyone, I'm delivering to you guys my last episode for the first half of the year! I'll be taking a break from publishing for the next month, so I will be back before you know it with new episodes on July 15th. This episode is short, because I am leaning on consistency above all else in making sure I connect with you guys no matter how short a time, while managing the craziness that has been the past week, from me getting sick with a bad stomach bug and recovering, to prepping and packing for the move out west. Towards the end of the episode, I share a personal journal entry from last August where I was intentional about reminding myself of my past accomplishments and things I've overcome, in order to lift myself out of an emotionally low space I was in at the time. I think it helps to remember our past wins in order to believe in our ability to do it again. If you find yourself in a similar space, I hope this helps you too. As always, please share and recommend, and thank you as always for the support! Send me an email: btbwpodcast@gmail.com -OR- DM me through my social media handles! IG: @amaka_ag; @yourmentalhealthnp I appreciate you!

Hey everyone! Happy June! With this month comes major transitions for me that I am mentally preparing for, while being very excited for the summer! I decided to have this be a conversational episode where I talked about my holiday weekend to start, and gave an impromptu review of Tia Mowry's new hair care line 4U By Tia (6:00). I also talked more about the changes coming for the podcast. We are relaunching this September as part of the two year anniversary, ans I have so much in store for my listeners. I can't wait to share more (19:30). Later in the podcast I discuss the concept of good vs. bad anxiety that I've been thinking about and how that played out recently when considering a new job (25:58). Lastly, I'm letting you guys know that the mid-year break for the podcast is coming up! June 15th will be the last podcast for the first half of the year and there will be no new episode on July 1st. I'll come back and hit the ground running on July 15th with new episodes through the holidays. As always, please share and recommend, and thank you as always for the support! Send me an email: btbwpodcast@gmail.com -OR- DM me through my social media handles! IG: @amaka_ag; @yourmentalhealthnp I appreciate you!

Hey everyone! We're halfway through the month of May and I'm coming to you with thoughts about my adult friendships, and the work I've done to get here, where I feel I have deep, authentic, genuine friendships in my life (00:33). I also talk later on in the podcast about knowing your number, or the amount of time your brain registers positively when it comes to accomplishing tasks and increasing your productivity (13:04). Lastly, I talk about chapter 2 in All About Love by bell hooks which focuses on love for children, how love and abuse/punishment are conflated, and how I hope to take lessons from childhood into motherhood in the future (26:26). As always, please share and recommend, and thank you as always for the support! Send me an email: btbwpodcast@gmail.com -OR- DM me through my social media handles! IG: @amaka_ag; @yourmentalhealthnp I appreciate you!

Hey Everyone! Happy May! The weather is warming up, the days are getting longer, and Spring has sprung. I excited to talk to you guys about some things that have left an impression on me recently, which include the meditation/affirmation "I am Making Space," by Alex Elle in her most recent book, How We Heal (5:44), alongside the affirmation track Worth Ethic by Toni Jones I stumbled upon on Spotify (12:40). Listen here! I also discuss my thoughts on Netflix's The Light We Carry Special with Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey (16:05), and spend the majority of the episode breaking down some of chapter 1 in bell hooks' All About Love (27:09). We get deep! I end the episode with a journal prompt stemming from the book that I hope you will consider exploring. As always, please share and recommend, and thank you as always for the support! Send me an email: btbwpodcast@gmail.com -OR- DM me through my social media handles! IG: @amaka_ag; @yourmentalhealthnp I appreciate you!

Hey everyone! As you can see from the title of the episode, I'm throwing it back this week to one of my best performing episodes to date that was posted one year ago today. But before the episode starts, I give a quick update about the reason behind unexpectedly re-publishing this episode. If you just listen to the update, or listen to the whole episode, I appreciate you. Thank you for your support as always. Brand new episodes returning May 1st. As always, please share and recommend, and thank you as always for the support! Send me an email: btbwpodcast@gmail.com -OR- DM me through my social media handles! IG: @amaka_ag; @yourmentalhealthnp I appreciate you!

Hey everyone! Happy April! I’m kicking off the new month by sharing my initial thoughts on the book All About Love by bell hooks (8:29). I have barely scratched the surface with my thoughts on this book. The episode focuses on the introduction and first chapters, and I plan to continue the conversation on this book in segments on future episodes. There’s so much to cover and I do not want to rush. So that means tackling it a bit at a time. Before I dive into the book segment, I share some big transitions that are on the horizon for me personally and offer a glimpse into some plans I have for the podcast moving forward. I also share a journal prompt connected to the conversation about the book. I hope you enjoy. As always, please share and recommend, and thank you as always for the support! Send me an email: btbwpodcast@gmail.com -OR- DM me through my social media handles! IG: @amaka_ag; @yourmentalhealthnp I appreciate you!

Hey everyone! Halfway through March! And coming to you with an episode where I wanted to chat, share some updates, and offer some pieces of inspiration and motivation that's been helping me recently. I was feeling nostalgic last week so I took a drive back to my old childhood neighborhood and I talk about how it felt to go back. I also discuss a speaking engagement I did around mental health for Black History Month and talk about one of my new favorite shows, Shrinking on Apple TV+. Also, I share some nuggets of wisdom for overcoming doubt, and offer a journal prompt at the end of the episode focused on creativity. I hope you're able to listen to the end! As always, please share and recommend, and thank you as always for the support! Send me an email: btbwpodcast@gmail.com -OR- DM me through my social media handles! IG: @amaka_ag; @yourmentalhealthnp I appreciate you!

Hey everyone! Happy March! On this episode I wanted to talk about my personal journey with therapy. I thought listeners might find it interesting to hear about this from someone who is a mental health professional and provides supportive therapy to her clients in her work. I discuss the reasons why I decided to start it, some false starts and changes along the way, and where I am now on the therapeutic journey. I hope sharing my experiences will help others who may be considering therapy for themselves. I forgot to include a journal prompt! But for those who will read the show description, I want to ask: how did you view therapy growing up? Do you view it the same way now? Has any thing changed? Have you tried it for yourself? I'd love to hear about your therapy experiences, so if you're moved to share, please reach out through my email or social media handles below. As always, please share and recommend, and thank you as always for the support! Send me an email: btbwpodcast@gmail.com -OR- DM me through my social media handles! IG: @amaka_ag; @yourmentalhealthnp I appreciate you all!

Hey everyone!  We're halfway through February and I'm very happy to close out my two-part segment on Untamed by Glennon Doyle (8:42). I focus on two chapters in the second half of the book, Racists and Deliveries. I share my thoughts around Glennon's account of her journey towards becoming anti-racist, and how her experiences may help white women like her who are starting that journey for themselves. With Deliveries, I reflect on how her relationship with productivity and rest is similar to mine when it comes to beliefs we've grown up with and what we live by now. Before my segment on Untamed, I share how my weekend was which precipitated some thoughts around spontaneity versus communication and intentionality in relationships.  Also, I hope you're able to listen to the end for this episode's journal prompt, which highlights the importance of interpersonal connection.  As always, please share and recommend, and if this episode or past episodes have positively impacted you, please rate and/or review on your preferred listening platform. If you'd like a question answered on the podcast, or my insight on something going on in your life, please reach out! Send me an email: btbwpodcast@gmail.com  -OR-  DM me through my social media handles! IG: @amaka_ag; @yourmentalhealthnp  Thank you!

Hey everyone! One month down! January usually drags for me, but the last couple of years it's been flying by. Can't believe we're already in February. So happy to get back to the books by kicking off part one of sharing my thoughts about Glennon Doyle's, Untamed. I highlight specific quotes in the first half of the book that touch on expectations of women, motherhood, and the importance of allowing space to grow and evolve regardless of where you are in life (24:06). Before I dive into the book, I talk about a few themes I noticed in the last installment of The Best Man franchise, The Final Chapters. I appreciated how the show centered Black male friendships and how vulnerability among men shows strength and allows for deeper connection (8:52). I also share the first of many journal prompts I will begin including at the end of each podcast episode. I hope it allows for a moment of personal reflection for my listeners (50:57).   As always, please share and recommend, and if this episode or past episodes have positively impacted you, please rate and/or review on your preferred listening platform. I appreciate you! Any questions or comments you'd like to share with me, send me an email: btbwpodcast@gmail.com -OR- DM me through my social media handles! IG: @amaka_ag; @yourmentalhealthnp Thank you!

Hey everyone! Happy 2023! I appreciated having a short break to spend time with myself and my family, but happy to get back into the swing of things and reconnect! This episode a shorter one, as I'm trying not to put too much pressure on myself as I ease back into my routine. I'm sharing about how I spent my holidays, completing a health and fitness challenge, starting a new job (!!) and offering some tips and words of encouragement on how you can tackle the new year. I hope you're able to listen to the end to hear.  As always, please share and recommend, and if this episode or past episodes have positively impacted you, please rate and/or review on your preferred listening platform. I appreciate you! Any questions or comments you'd like to share with me. Send me an email: btbwpodcast@gmail.com -OR- DM me through my social media handles! IG: @amaka_ag; @yourmentalhealthnp Thank you!

Hey everyone! I'm really excited to talk to you guys and have a laid back chat with you all this episode. We're rounding out the end of the year and with that comes reflections in true "me" fashion. I'm talking about acceptance this episode as it's been a theme for me this month so far. We're also discussing books I didn't finish this year (haha), tapping into our creative side, and how some seemingly simple strategies can really help improve your mood. I was a guest on The Wellness Collective Podcast last month where we discussed mindfulness and why it's important for Black women to cultivate a mindfulness practice, no matter how small. If you're interested in listening, go ahead and follow this link! A quick reminder that this is last episode of the year! I will be taking a publishing break, and the next episode to air will be Sunday, January 15th. Thank you all so much for the support throughout 2022. We're still a small community but steadily growing and I thank you guys for deciding to come on this journey with me.  As always, please share and recommend, and if this episode or past episodes have positively impacted you, please rate and/or review on your preferred listening platform. I appreciate you! Email: btbwpodcast@gmail.com IG: @amaka_ag; @yourmentalhealthnp Thank you!

Happy December everyone! We're practically at the end of the year and I am looking forward to ending on a high note! We're talking Post Traumatic Stress Disorder on this episode, specifically within the context of the book Healing Trauma by Peter A. Levine. From what I've read so far, I recommend! You can find this book and other trauma related titles in this YouTube video published by the channel Therapy in a Nutshell.  Along with discussing points of the book I thought important to highlight, I also share a couple of personal experiences involving traumatic events and the aftermath. They were certainly a learning experience.  I have one more episode coming your way this year! I'll be taking a short break after the December 15th episode, and returning after the New Year with our January 15th episode.  Also, if this podcast landed on your top 5 of Spotify Wrapped podcasts, let me know! Email me, DM/tag me on Instagram, and I will repost. I am in awe of the support I received this year and it is all thanks to this community we're building one listener at a time, all over the world.  As always, please share and recommend, and if this episode or past episodes have positively impacted you, please rate and/or review on your preferred listening platform. I appreciate you! Email: btbwpodcast@gmail.com IG: @amaka_ag; @yourmentalhealthnp Thank you!

Hey y'all! Happy Mid-November! This episode discusses more somber subject matter: the topic of grief centered around the book, Notes on Grief by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. I have been an admirer of her work for a long time and felt privileged to read this personal account of her early experiences dealing with the grief of losing her father at the height of COVID. I integrate my thoughts of the book with my current understanding of grief taken from personal experiences so far, and what I have learned to be true about the process while working with patients dealing with the loss of a loved one.  We don't talk about this topic enough but we need to. I share some personal updates at the top of the episode, then dive into the main topic at (17:12). Despite the heavier nature of this episode's content, I hope it offers some insight on the topic that will help with your relationship to grief, or providing support to others who need it. As always, please share and recommend, and if this episode or past episodes have positively impacted you, please rate and/or review on your preferred listening platform. Also, feel free to reach out to me through my contact info below. Email: btbwpodcast@gmail.com IG: @amaka_ag; @yourmentalhealthnp Thank you!

It's November 1st y'all! This month is particularly special for me with the coming of the holidays, my dear mother's birthday and my wedding anniversary. A lot of things going on, but happy things nonetheless.  On this episode, I'm talking about friendships and the process of taking them to the next level. I also discuss seasonal depression and symptoms you can experience as a result of this time of year. Finally at the end of the episode I share a reminder I received related to choices we can always make. I hope you enjoy!  You can find my primary source for the seasonal depression segment of the episode here. Please share, recommend, and if this episode or past episodes positively impacted you, please rate and/or review on your preferred listening platform. And as always, feel free to reach out to me through my contact info below. Email: btbwpodcast@gmail.com IG: @amaka_ag; @yourmentalhealthnp Thank you!

Hey Everyone! For this episode I wanted to share an essay I wrote in reaction to Bassey Ikpi's book I'm Telling the Truth but I'm Lying. In the book, she talks about her experience with Bipolar Disorder and journey it took to get the support she needed. I read this book two years ago and still think about it every so often. I had never encountered a book like it: a detailed account of a Black woman's ups and downs with developing a mental illness and the work it took to get the proper diagnosis and help she needed. It speaks to the importance of her openness and transparency that may inspire others to pursue help for themselves as well and combat the stigma. I will be forever grateful to her for this book.  There is reference to suicide in the book and in the essay (6:30). Please listen and/or read with caution. Nonetheless, I hope it is positively impactful.  As always, feel free to reach out to me: Email: btbwpodcast@gmail.com; amaka.gratia@gmail.com IG: @amaka_ag; @yourmentalhealthnp Subscribe to my new monthly mental health and wellness newsletter here!  New editions sent to your inbox on the 15th of every month. Thank you!

Happy October! We are getting closer to the end of the year! On this episode, I'm taking about how nutrient deficiencies can impact our mental health, specifically one in particular based on a new study. Also, I talk about my observations and things I've found to be true working with my patients so far. I cannot overstate the importance of sleep and work/life balance! Listen to the episode to hear more. Read more about the study I discussed in the episode here. As always, feel free to reach out to me: Email: btbwpodcast@gmail.com IG: @amaka_ag; @yourmentalhealthnp Subscribe to my new monthly mental health and wellness newsletter here!  New editions sent to your inbox on the 15th of every month. Thank you!

Hey y'all! September is halfway done! Can you believe it? On this episode I'm taking about the results of my Myers-Briggs Personality test and how surprised I was at the accuracy of the results! If you haven't taken the quiz and are curious about what your outcome would be, click the accompanying link: https://www.16personalities.com/free-personality-test  I am also talking about what I've processed to be over-dependability as a trauma response - specifically, taking on responsibilities or doing things for others from a place of fear or trauma instead of love. If you relate at all to this, let me know! I want to hear from you. And I hope you enjoy the episode! As always, feel free to reach out to me: Email: btbwpodcast@gmail.com IG: @amaka_ag; @yourmentalhealthnp Subscribe to my new monthly mental health and wellness newsletter!  New editions sent to your inbox on the 15th of every month:  https://thoughtful-builder-3718.ck.page/0b2ee7a5ac

Today is the one year anniversary of publishing my first episode. As today approached, I felt moved to write about what I was feeling about this upcoming milestone a couple weeks ago. The thoughts that I've dealt with while pushing through, prepping, producing, and recording each episode.  I've committed to writing more frequently and the title "Write About Nothing" comes from the pressure to always write something amazing. That won't always be the case. Sometimes what you write will be shit. Sometimes it will be amazing. So I try to take the pressure of by telling myself to 'write about nothing.' On this particular day I was writing about nothing and in the middle of it I wrote 'keep going'. From there came this very short episode.  There is some explicit language at the end of this micro-episode. Regardless, I hope you enjoy. As always, feel free to reach out to me: Email: btbwpodcast@gmail.com IG: @amaka_ag; @yourmentalhealthnp Subscribe to my new monthly mental health and wellness newsletter! New editions sent to your inbox on the 15th of every month: https://thoughtful-builder-3718.ck.page/0b2ee7a5ac

It's a new month y'all! Happy September! To conclude our discussion of Life, I Swear, by Chloe Dulce Louvouezo, I'm highlighting a few essays that I really loved. We're talking productivity and self worth, being intentional with documenting life moments, and being more open about the realities of postpartum and mental health. Forever thankful to Chloe for spearheading this by sharing some of her most vulnerable moments in this book, and inspiring others to as well.  Please follow/subscribe, share and recommend! If you would like to share any thoughts with me, feel free! Send them to btbwpodcast@gmail.com  Subscribe to my new Mid-Month Mental Health Newsletter! On the 15th of every month I'll send my subscribers important information around mental health, therapy and wellness tools, content, tips and strategies, with some personal touches sprinkled throughout. Thank you for your support! Newsletter sign-up: https://thoughtful-builder-3718.ck.page/0b2ee7a5ac Follow me on social: Instagram: @amaka.ag; @yourmentalhealthnp Tik Tok: @yourmentalhealthnp

Hey y'all!  I apologize this episode is going live later than usual today due to my hectic schedule this weekend, but we're making it work! While listening to this episode, I encourage you to think about the question in the title: what does home mean to you? Is it a place specifically? Or something more?  In Life I Swear by Chloe Dulce Louvouezo, the theme of home and its potential meanings is a theme throughout the book. I discuss this theme in the book (11:30) by reflecting on what home means to me and how all the places I've lived so far have contributed to my life story. Please be advised that there is a brief conversation point where I talk about sexual assault (15:53) in this episode, but otherwise, I hope you enjoy. Please follow/subscribe, share and recommend! If you would like to share any thoughts with me, feel free! Send them to btbwpodcast@gmail.com  Follow me on social: Twitter: @uzoamakachinelo Instagram: @aag.wellness

Hey y'all! Happy new month! Kicking off the month of August with an episode about a topic that I am particularly passionate about, maternal mental health. I'm diving deep into the subject of baby blues (8:35), postpartum depression (19:05) and postpartum psychosis (47:29). We're talking causes, symptoms, statistics, risk profiles, treatments and helpful strategies that can assist in getting through this particularly sensitive time. I hope that you all take something helpful from this episode no matter how small.  Please follow/subscribe, share and recommend! If you would like to share any thoughts with me, feel free! Send them to btbwpodcast@gmail.com  Follow me on social: Twitter: @uzoamakachinelo Instagram: @ag_bibliotherapy

Hey everyone! As promised, I am rounding out my discussion on The Sex Lives of African Women part two with this episode starting at (15:08). I want to let you know that I do talk about sexual assault as it is a theme of the book, so if this is a sensitive topic for you as a listener, please do so with caution. Along with this subject topic I talk about the culture around sexual assault and how that needs to change.  Despite the heavier nature of parts of this episode, I hope you take something substantial from it. And as I mention earlier on, the link to the tiny home is here! If you're looking for a quick and quiet retreat and live in the northeast, it's a great experience.  Please follow/subscribe, share and recommend!  If you would like to share any thoughts with me, feel free! Send them to btbwpodcast@gmail.com  You can also reach out to me on social: Instagram: amaka_ag @ag.bibliotherapy

Hey y'all! No book this episode! So excited to be back from break. A lot has happened as you can see from the title of this episode. I talk about what led to the decision, along with other personal updates and what to expect with the next few episodes. I hope you enjoy! I want to also say welcome to everyone who has subscribed since May! I hope you are enjoying the content and will continue to listen. Also, thank you to everyone who's been a supporter from the beginning! I appreciate every single one of you. You guys keep me inspired! Please follow/subscribe, share and recommend! If you would like to share any thoughts with me, feel free! Send them to btbwpodcast@gmail.com  Follow me on social: Twitter: @uzoamakachinelo Instagram: @ag_bibliotherapy

Hey y'all! We are almost halfway through the year! I really can't believe it.  In this episode, we're having a quick conversation. I am taking a short break from posting episodes, but will continue recording behind the scenes in the meantime. And I'm discussing some timely reminders I need for myself that others may appreciate hearing as well. I will be back soon. Thank you as always for listening. I appreciate every one of you.  I hope you enjoy the episode! Please follow/subscribe, share and recommend! If you would like to share any thoughts with me, feel free! Send them to btbwpodcast@gmail.com  Follow me on social: Instagram: @amaka_ag; @ag_bibliotherapy

Hey y'all! In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, I wanted to talk about anxiety as a mental health condition and offer some information and statistics that may be helpful for anyone who listens to this episode. Many people experience anxiety but may not know it to be the case, so having a reference in the form of this episode and being able to name what you may be going through can foster a sense of empowerment and reduce feelings of shame and hopelessness. Know that you are not alone in dealing with anxiety, as many people are going through similar experiences whether they are open about it or not, and there are options to explore that can help improve your everyday life.   I discuss some general information about anxiety to start, and then dive deeper into the following conditions:  Panic Disorder (17:48)  Agoraphobia (21:31)  Specific Phobia (23:55)  Social Anxiety Disorder (28:11)  Generalized Anxiety Disorder (32:00)  If any questions arise about this topic that you'd like to ask me personally, feel free to reach out via my contact info below. Please follow/subscribe, share and recommend to those you feel it may help.  If you have been having suicidal thoughts, the National Suicide Hotline is accessible 24/7 at 1-800-273-8255.  Literature references for the episode:  Synopsis of Psychiatry, Sardock & Sardock  Contact email: btbwpodcast@gmail.com  Follow me on social: Instagram: amaka_ag; ag_bibliotherapy

Hey everyone! Happy May! I can't believe we're already this far into the year. To start the new month off, I'm talking about The Sex Lives of African Women by Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah. I share some thoughts on themes like marriage, relationship expectations, and what it often means to be a woman with sexual agency (23:40).  Before discussing the book, I talk about my "anchors" that I've established with my move and transition, and some realizations I've had in my journey to becoming a swimmer.  I hope you enjoy! Please follow/subscribe, share and recommend! If you would like to share any thoughts with me, feel free! Send them to btbwpodcast@gmail.com  Follow me on social: Twitter: @uzoamakachinelo Instagram: @ag_bibliotherapy

Happy Saturday y'all! I'm excited to share something a little different with you guys. I wrote this essay Summer 2020 at the height of the pandemic, when we were on lockdown with fewer options of how to spend our time. This was around the time where I tapped back into my love for reading, which has ultimately transformed into this podcast. After completing a class assignment where I had to write a reaction to a novel we were assigned, I continued on with my own reads after realizing how much I loved writing about my thoughts after finishing the book. Girl, Women, Other was the first book I wrote a reaction to, and I still think about it from time to time. It occurred to me to share the essay, and others in the future, so here we are. The essay begins at 06:05. If you'd like to read along while listening, the essay is below. I hope you enjoy! Please follow/subscribe, share and recommend! If you would like to share any thoughts with me, feel free! Send them to btbwpodcast@gmail.com Follow me on social: Twitter: @uzoamakachinelo Instagram: @ag_bibliotherapy   Reaction Essay: Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo I stumbled upon the novel, Girl, Woman, Other in the most organic way. Not scrolling through Amazon while looking at ‘frequently bought together’ packages and reading reviews. Not by a friend’s glowing recommendation. I was walking through the ‘books and movies’ aisles in a store when the bold title cover and the patchwork quilt of colors caught my attention. I picked it up and judged its weight. Turned its back and read its summary. Peered down and read about the author. ‘Oh, she’s Nigerian’ I thought, realizing this peaked my interest. Then I found myself in that space where one is deciding, “should I? shouldn't I?” There’s always a perceived risk to seeing a book nowadays, blind, not having been vouched for, because the praise printed on it can be taken with a grain of salt. But I felt a pull. My gut told me “yes, buy it.” And it did not disappoint. I began this book excitedly, then set it aside for a time. Evaristo wrote the stories in a style I was unfamiliar with. What would otherwise be paragraphs and new sentences on a page had no periods, few commas, and only capitalized letters in the case of a name, or an I, or when beginning a new story or chapter. There was an awkward phase of getting accustomed to her rhythm, but soon it felt familiar. I began to read the words with a mental cadence that lent to the impact the novel had on me personally. If it was written any other way, it wouldn’t have been the same.  The first half of the womens’ stories felt generally separate. Evaristo introduces you to each character, their world and the people living in it. Worlds that feel siloed, until you continue on, and with each new story, a new connection is discovered among the women in the novel. It often felt like finding a new clue to the mystery of how the lives of these women intersect.  I appreciated what I thought to be Evaristo’s intentions with how she wrote the stories. Poignantly and explicitly implicit with what she wanted the reader to take away. She drew you into their innermost thoughts and forced you to hold space for multiple truths at once. That yes, readers might judge Winsome for having an affair with Shirley’s husband, but Winsome, despite older in age, still loved men, and loved sex, and was not to be dismissed as no longer having the desire for passion or pleasure. Bummi, an older Nigerian widow, and the mother of Carole, is written to have had a very cultural view of her life and how she wanted Carole to live. Later on however, she begins an initially platonic relationship with her employee Omofe, that soon turns sexual. A woman like Bummi, traditionally, would never be encouraged to seek companionship again, let alone a romantic one, and with a woman no les

Hey y'all! I've had this book on my reading list for a long time, so I'm excited to have finally read Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice on Love and Life from Dear Sugar by Cheryl Strayed and share my thoughts on work ethic and boundaries with family members on this episode. It came highly recommended and was worth the read. I also give an update on my new podcasting routine and a new class I'm taking. I hope you enjoy! Please follow/subscribe, share and recommend! If you would like to share any thoughts with me, feel free! Send them to btbwpodcast@gmail.com Follow me on social: Twitter: @uzoamakachinelo Instagram: @ag_bibliotherapy    

Hey y'all! I’m really excited to get back to talking books and really enjoyed producing this episode. Many of us could always use more help with starting and maintaining habits, and I think this book is great to support you in that journey. I know there is a lot I took away personally that I will keep in mind with habits in the future. I hope you enjoy! Please follow/subscribe, share and recommend! If you would like to share any thoughts with me, feel free! Send them to btbwpodcast@gmail.com Follow me on social: Twitter: @uzoamakachinelo Instagram: @ag_bibliotherapy

Hey y'all! I've missed recording! With the move, starting work, and getting into a new rhythm, I took a break from recording but I'm back and really excited to get going again. In this episode I'm talking about how my work as a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner is going as a new graduate. I talk about the significant change of pace in my daily life, tracking small wins, and working not to internalize other people's energy. I also give a quick update at the end about books and upcoming episodes. I hope you enjoy! Please follow/subscribe, share and recommend! If you would like to share any thoughts with me, feel free! Send them to btbwpodcast@gmail.com Follow me on social: Twitter: @uzoamakachinelo Instagram: @bibliotherapy_pod

Hey yall! On this episode, I talk about my personal tools of mental hygiene and the strategies I use to re-regulate when I need to. I dive into the ways I use journaling, meditation, yoga, and audio voice notes to manage intense feelings on a day to day basis. I also briefly talk about hitting a milestone on this podcast journey at the beginning of this episode.  I hope you enjoy! Please follow/subscribe, share and recommend! If you would like to share any thoughts with me, feel free! Send them to btbwpodcast@gmail.com Follow me on social: Twitter: @uzoamakachinelo Instagram: @bibliotherapy_pod

Hey everyone! I've got my Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner hat on this episode and am putting my Yale degree to use by breaking down the clinical symptoms of Major Depressive Disorder (5:47). It delights me that we are taking mental health more seriously as a generation, and it's important to be equipped with the right language and information so listeners like you all are able to properly identify when you may need to seek help.  Also a warning that there is a brief discussion of suicidal ideation in this episode (22:25) as it can be a symptom of MDD. A list of episode timestamps are below: Symptoms (13:13) Statistics  (28:00) Comorbidities (34:10) Family History (37:11) Depressive Subtypes (39:37) If any questions arise about this topic that you'd like to ask me personally, feel free to reach out via my contact info below. Despite the heavier nature of this episode's content, I hope it is impactful. Please follow/subscribe, share and recommend to those you feel it may help. If you have been having suicidal thoughts, the National Suicide Hotline is accessible 24/7 at 1-800-273-8255. Literature references for the episode:  Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Psychiatric Disorders (V) ; Synopsis of Psychiatry Contact email: btbwpodcast@gmail.com Follow me on social: Twitter: @uzoamakachinelo Instagram: @bibliotherapy_pod

Hey yall! On this episode of the podcast, we're rounding out our two-part mini-series on The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz (starts at 2:52). I discuss the remaining three agreements in the book: Chapter 3:Don't Take Anything Personally Chapter 4: Don't Make Assumptions Chapter 5: Always Do Your Best I hope you enjoy! Please follow/subscribe, share and recommend! If you would like to share any thoughts with me, feel free! Send them to btbwpodcast@gmail.com   Follow me on social: Twitter: @uzoamakachinelo Instagram: @bibliotherapy_pod

As we venture full steam ahead into 2022, I'm discussing in this first episode of a two part series, the experience of reading this book ten years later (starting at 12:38) and focusing specifically on the following chapters: Chapter 1: Domestication and the Dream of the Planet Chapter 2: Be Impeccable with your Word I talk about internal agreements I have divorced, and also share a realization I had sometime ago that was literally life changing when it comes to my inner voice. This part of podcast gets a little emotional, just a heads up! Another note that this episode was recorded before "Discussing my Reads for 2021" as the idea for that episode succeeded this one, but made sense to publish first considering timing. Regardless, I hope you enjoy the episode! Please follow/subscribe, share and recommend! If you would like to share any thoughts with me, feel free! Send them to btbwpodcast@gmail.com Follow me on social: Twitter: @uzoamakachinelo Instagram: @amaka_ag

Happy New Year! On episode 9 of the podcast I'm reflecting on my reads of 2021. Hope you enjoy! A Promised Land - Barack Obama (13:10) Professional Troublemaker - Luvvie Ajayi Jones (23:50) What Happened to You - Dr. Bruce D. Perry & Oprah Winfrey (27:05) You Are Your Best Thing: An Anthology - Edited by Tarana Burke and Brené Brown (34:00) Set Boundaries, Find Peace - Nedra Glover Tawwab (39:47) The Four Agreements - Don Miguel Ruiz (44:00) If you have any book suggestions for the new year, please share! Send them to btbwpodcast@gmail.com or reach out to me via my social media below. Follow me on social: Twitter: @uzoamakachinelo Instagram: @amaka_ag

No book this episode! I felt moved to just turn on the mic, hit record, and talk to you guys. The end of the year is approaching, so in true "me" fashion, I am reflecting on the season, the year, and life in general. We're discussing realizations about work, adult friendships and living alone. Please share, follow/subscribe, and enjoy the episode! If you would like to share any thoughts with me, feel free! Send them to btbwpodcast@gmail.com Follow me on social: Twitter: @uzoamakachinelo Instagram: @amaka_ag

In the final installment of this 3 part series discussing the book Set Boundaries, Find Peace by psychotherapist Nedra Glover Tawwab, I share a recent experience around instituting boundaries at work, and talk about the importance of honoring boundaries with yourself. Discussion of the book begins around the 18:25 minute mark . Please share, recommend, and enjoy the episode! If you would like to share any thoughts with me, feel free! Send them to btbwpodcast@gmail.com Follow me on social: Twitter: @uzoamakachinelo Instagram: @amaka_ag

In part 2 of this 3 part series discussing the book Set Boundaries, Find Peace by psychotherapist Nedra Glover Tawwab, I share my thoughts about the importance of honoring children's boundaries and its impact as adults, along with the difficulty that can come from deciding to end a close relationship. Please share, recommend, and enjoy the episode! If you would like to share any thoughts with me, feel free! Send them to btbwpodcast@gmail.com Follow me on social: Twitter: @uzoamakachinelo Instagram: @amaka_ag

In episode 5 of the podcast, I embark on a 3 part series discussing the book Set Boundaries, Find Peace by psychotherapist Nedra Glover Tawwab. I share my reflections around my perception of boundaries from childhood to adulthood, the gems I have taken from the book so far, and what I find resonates with me the most. Please share, recommend, and enjoy the episode! If you would like to share any thoughts with me, feel free! Send them to btbwpodcast@gmail.com Follow me on social: Twitter: @uzoamakachinelo Instagram: @amaka_ag

On episode 4 of The Bibliotherapy for Black Women Podcast, I discuss some takeaways from a new experience I recently had, I share reflections about going through a transitional season in my life, and I discuss my thoughts on the book You Are Your Best Thing: An Anthology, edited by Tarana Burke and Brené Brown. Please share, recommend, and enjoy the episode! If you would like to share any thoughts with me, I'd love to hear from you! Send them to btbwpodcast@gmail.com Follow me on social: Twitter: @uzoamakachinelo Instagram: @amaka_ag

In episode 3 of the podcast, I recap my thoughts on the book "What Happened to You" by Dr. Bruce D. Perry and Oprah Winfrey. I share how my new insight from the book has influenced my daily life, and the importance of knowing what tools of re-regulation work for you. Please share, recommend, and enjoy the episode! If you would like to share any thoughts with me, I'd love to hear from you! Send them to btbwpodcast@gmail.com Follow me on social: Twitter: @uzoamakachinelo Instagram: @amaka_ag

On Episode 2 of The Bibliotherapy for Black Women Podcast, I discuss my takeaways from the book Professional Troublemaker by Luvvie Ajayi-Jones. I also share some personal reflections of how I've began to measure progress in my life, which have helped me keep things in perspective. Please share, recommend, and enjoy the episode! If you would like to share any thoughts with me, feel free! Send them to btbwpodcast@gmail.com Follow me on social: Twitter: @uzoamakachinelo Instagram: @amaka_ag

This episode of BTBW chronicles my journey towards graduating as a Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner from Yale University May 2021. It started in 2017 with a move to Philadelphia, where I would begin a season of challenges, triumphs, and immense self discovery. I hope you enjoy the episode. If you would like to share any thoughts, feel free! Send them to btbwpodcast@gmail.com Follow me on social: Twitter: @uzoamakachinelo Instagram: @amaka_ag

The Bibliotherapy for Black Women Podcast is a new podcast created and hosted by myself, Amaka Gratia - an early 30s, Black woman Psych/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, who recently graduated from Yale, with a passion for books and mental health. This trailer is an introduction to myself as the host and details a preview of what to expect from this podcast series. Episode 1 of this podcast will premier on Wednesday, September 1st. I hope you will join me!