In The Deep: Stories That Shape Us

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Latest Episodes:

That Forever Kind of Love: A Conversation with Vincent Perez Dec 01, 2022

Imagine you’re deeply in love with a person. You’ve purchased a home together; you’ve picked out your furniture but before you even open the first box, the love of your life is taken from you by a stray bullet that ends their life.

In this episode, meet Vincent Perez, who had to find meaning to life after losing his fiancée, Shane Colombo to gun violence. Because despite losing the man he loved in such a tragic way, it’s this same fairytale romance - one that survived distance and unique circumstances - that keeps giving him purpose. Because regardless of how imperfect or difficult the situation may be or who we love - be it he, she, or they - everyone is deserving of being seen, being understood, and being loved.

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Don’t hurt me no more: A Conversation with Ts Madison Nov 17, 2022

You’ve probably heard of Ts Madison through her iconic videos on social media, her TV show The TS Madison Experience, or even through her latest feature on Cozy, a track off the new Beyonce album. But before she became known for her content and out-of-this-world confidence as a trans woman, she was a sex worker that was battling stigmas within the same community that was meant to protect her.

In this episode, listen as Maddie shares her struggles in becoming unapologetically herself. Because although she’s always been very sure of who she is and what she stands for, it was the outside world - filled with transphobia and homophobia – that always made her feel like was inadequately representing womanhood and the trans community. Find out how Maddie overcame these comparisons and societal pressures to make herself happy - becoming the truest version of herself through radical self-love.

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Redefining Queer Masculinity and Healing: A Conversation with Yolo Akili Robinson Nov 03, 2022

Why is it that men, straight Black men, are so afraid of being seen as “soft?” Why is it that so many in this country have learned that the most damaging thing you can be is queer or trans and that to see that in another triggers a wound so deep that it results in violence?

In this episode meet Yolo Akili Robinson, who shares his story of manhood – and the experience of being in relationships that were mentally, sexually and physically abusive. Because despite being raised in a home that taught him how to be a man’s man – repressing his true authentic self – he was able to unlearn the culture of femininity seen as something wrong and overcome the homophobia and self-hatred that runs so deep within his community. Through his work, he’s been able to reach people far beyond his community, proving that the experiences of trauma can be binding across human beings, and that the healing journey can be somewhat universal as well.

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Making His ‘Enemy’ an Ally: A Conversation with Leon Ford: Part 2 Oct 20, 2022

We’ve all heard the unfortunate stories of police and Black Americans in our country. From misconduct to miscommunication, we often hear about victims of police abuse through memorials and services. But Leon Ford lived to tell the tale. At the young age of 19, he was left paralyzed after being shot by police. But, instead of allowing resentment and anger drive him, he decided to take control of the narrative – and his healing – to mend the relationships between his community and the authorities.
In this two-part Season 2 opener, Leon explains how he’s been able to create content and spaces to humanize both sides through “The Hear Foundation”, an organization dedicated exclusively to collaborating with community leaders, Pittsburgh Police, residents and the City to create a safe, thriving community for all. Listen to how he found unlikely allies for his own healing – and the healing of the larger community.

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Making His ‘Enemy’ an Ally: A Conversation with Leon Ford: Part 1 Oct 20, 2022

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Season 2: The Return of In The Deep: Stories That Shape Us Oct 06, 2022

Dealing with the growing pains of becoming ourselves - a glorious, unapologetic version of us - can be painful and uncomfortable. And sometimes, life gets really messy even when you’re in the company of your own tribe. We’ve heard from some incredible people on how they’ve dealt with the blows and twists that life can throw our way. And now, we’re back for Season 2, digging deeper to understand that feeling of otherness we often feel on the road to becoming ourselves, in all our complicated glory.
Join Zach Stafford as he explores the topics of discrimination, family and religion that Black and Latinx people often face. Through these conversations, we continue moving forward with a better understanding of our entire truths - no matter how complex they might be. We move onward to redefine what it means to be ourselves, creating space for others to follow. Listen to the first-hand accounts of people that have overcome extreme hardships, and yet remind us that no matter how difficult the journey, there’s always hope, clarity and health on the other side.

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Tapping Into Your ‘Bigness’: A Conversation with Bishop O.C. Allen III Mar 09, 2022

Before becoming a religious leader, human rights activist, and entrepreneur, Bishop O.C. Allen III worked vigorously to gain access to prolific institutions - the ones that teach young men to be the best they can be.

And despite loving these places and their overall mission, he quickly realized that these institutions accepted only part of him - rejecting portions of himself that were too special to hide. And after trying to fit in, he quickly found himself remodeling the walls of these ‘safe spaces,’ instead painting them to the color of his own identity.

In this season finale, listen as he explains how he was able to amplify his mission via The Vision Church - creating an inclusive environment that teaches others to lean into their vulnerability, turning it into a superpower – one that encourages people to live in their truth, rather than die in a lie. Bishop Allen teaches us that the space within ourselves is the most important – because regardless of status, sexuality or circumstance, we are powerful and already enough, exactly as we are.

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Hair & Healing: A Conversation with Lorenzo Lewis Feb 23, 2022

Imagine a world where your favorite barber, the one you go to every few weeks and talk to about pretty much everything, was also a licensed therapist. As an entrepreneur and mental health advocate, Lorenzo P. Lewis did just that. After spending so much of his childhood in his Aunt’s beauty salon, he saw the opportunity within these neighborhood gems and created “The Confess Project,” providing a tool to heal his community. In this episode, learn more about the project, and how he’s been able to turn a familiar place into a useful resource for people that want to transform into an unapologetic version of themselves.

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Singing For Representation: A Conversation with Alexander Lloyd Blake Feb 09, 2022

Dr. Alexander Lloyd Blake found his passion for music singing in a gospel choir in his church as a young boy. But as a gay Black man, he found a lack of representation for his community and the gospel genre as a whole. In this episode, learn more about Dr. Blake’s story and his choral group Tonality, which tells the untold stories of Black lives through song as a tool for healing.

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Healing at Our Own Pace: A Conversation with Tony Morrison Jan 26, 2022

Tony Morrison has spent much of his professional life telling stories. Through the years, he’s shared countless anecdotes about a number of topics through the lens of many. But the most difficult story to share became his own when he made the brave decision to trust his public at Good Morning America with his private HIV diagnosis during the COVID pandemic. In this conversation, hear more about Tony’s story, the shaping of his identity as a gay Filipino American, and how he learned to heal on his own terms, but most importantly, on his own timeline.

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Finding Self-Love and Community: A Conversation with Anthony Delgado Jan 12, 2022

Anthony Delgado took a hit of what he thought was a cigarette and suddenly found himself in a 12-year addiction. But, even in the deepest points of his addiction and finding himself unhoused, he was able to find a community that he still connects with to this day. In this episode, find out how Anthony leveraged the love he found for himself - and for others - to build a network through iCare Atlanta, a non-profit that helps the community find peace, health and healing.

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Finding Forgiveness and Redemption: A Conversation with Ian Manuel Dec 29, 2021

Ian Manuel made a bad choice as a young teen that cost him his freedom for over 20 years. But despite having a childhood filled with trauma and solitude he was able to keep his imagination alive, reading books, writing poetry - keeping in touch with the things that made him feel human. In this episode, find out more about Ian's book "My Time Will Come," and how he spent his time in prison seeking his justice and a better future: one with forgiveness for others, the people he hurt along the way, and himself.

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Breaking Borders, Creating Identity: A conversation with John Paul Brammer Dec 15, 2021

For John Paul Brammer, there is no one right way to be yourself. Growing up in the South, he lived the complexities of being Mexican American in a society that wanted him to choose one culture over the other. In this episode of “In the Deep: Stories that Shape Us,” we hear how John Paul rejects this idea and proves that identity is less tethered to borders and stigmas, and instead focuses on the premise that people should be free to be themselves. As an author, editor and journalist, John Paul stresses the importance of building safe spaces that take the best parts of ourselves and multilayered experiences - creating an identity that leaves pain behind and instead, fosters health and healing.

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Trauma: The Adversary of Love: A conversation with Frederick Joseph Dec 01, 2021

In the first episode of “In the Deep: Stories that Shape Us,” host Zach Stafford sits with author and activist Frederick Joseph to talk about the power of stories, both told and untold. As a young man growing up between the northeast and the South, Frederick isn’t a stranger to heartbreak, sharing how stigmas and traumas couldn’t define his life’s trajectory. And, despite these moments of deep sadness, he lives a life where he’s actively choosing love - which he calls the adversary to trauma. Frederick walks us through his journey, filled with the stories that defined his life - and others that he didn’t allow to shape the outcome of his personal and professional road to happiness and health.

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