The Melanin Initiative

NEW MILESTONE ALERT! We are absolutely thrilled to share that The Melanin Initiative Podcast community on LinkedIn has officially reached 2,000 FOLLOWERS! 🥳

To every single person who has hit that 'Follow' button, engaged with our content, and shared our mission: Thank you. Your support is what fuels our commitment to creating accessible, crucial conversations around healthcare, wellness, and the specific challenges faced by the melanin community.

This isn't just a number! It’s 2,000 people dedicated to better health education and advocacy.

Will you help us reach the next level of impact?

👉 Here’s how you can help us educate even more people:

Share this post with your network to spread the word about our mission.

Repost your favorite TMI content, whether it's an episode clip or a helpful graphic, to help others in your circle learn something new about their health.

Let's keep the conversation going and make quality healthcare education the standard, not the exception!

2 months ago | [YT] | 1

The Melanin Initiative

🎉 We hit 600 YouTube subscribers! 🎉

We’re beyond grateful for every single one of you who watches, likes, comments, and shares our videos. Your support helps us reach more people, amplify more voices, and keep creating meaningful health literacy content that empowers our communities. 💜

A huge thank you to our amazing guests and subscribers who made this milestone possible, we couldn’t have done it without you! 🙌🏾

🚀 Next goal: 700 subscribers!
Help us get there by liking, commenting, and sharing your favorite episodes with friends and colleagues. Let’s keep spreading knowledge, empowerment, and excellence together!

🎥 Subscribe now: youtube.com/@themelanininitiative

3 months ago | [YT] | 2

The Melanin Initiative

🎧✨ New Episode this week! ✨🎧

📢 Calling all nurses, NPs, DNPs & healthcare educators! Ever feel like there’s something more waiting for you beyond 12-hour shifts and bedside care? 👀

This week on The Melanin Initiative Podcast, we’re unlocking the blueprint 🔑 for transitioning from clinical practice to academia — and trust us, it’s a conversation you didn’t know you needed. 👩🏾‍⚕️📚

💡 What’s inside:
🔥 How to translate your nursing skills into a classroom leadership role
🔥 The mistakes new educators make (and how to avoid them)
🔥 How to build confidence and OWN your educator voice 🎤
🔥 Real talk about mentorship, orientation gaps, and why YOU belong in academic spaces

If you’ve ever whispered to yourself, “Maybe I could teach one day…” — this is your sign. ✨

👉🏾 Tune in now: https://youtu.be/tKMHuWzNtkk

Let’s build the next generation of nurse leaders together.

Drop a 💜 in the comments if you’re claiming your seat at the educator’s table!

8 months ago | [YT] | 2

The Melanin Initiative

🚨 Are You Struggling to Balance Life, Work, and Personal Challenges? 🚨

If you’ve ever faced loss while juggling a demanding career, you are NOT alone. This episode of The Melanin Initiative Podcast will help you navigate grief, self-advocacy, and mental wellness—especially if you’re a nurse, healthcare worker, or someone who supports others while managing personal pain.

🔥 What This Episode Will Do for You:
✔️ Help You Understand Pregnancy Loss & Its Impact – Whether you’ve experienced it yourself or want to support a loved one, this episode breaks down the emotional, physical, and mental aspects of miscarriage.
✔️ Give You Tools to Advocate for Yourself at Work – Learn how to set boundaries, ask for support, and protect your mental health in high-stress work environments.
✔️ Help You Overcome the Silent Struggles of Grief – You don’t have to suffer in silence. We’re talking about real ways to heal, cope, and move forward while still showing up for yourself and others.
✔️ Show You How to Build a Support System – Whether in the workplace, at home, or through online communities, we’ll help you find and create the network you need.

💡 You Deserve to Be Heard, Understood, and Supported. If you’ve been looking for guidance, validation, or even just a sign that things can get better—THIS is it. Hit play now and take the first step toward healing and empowerment.

💬 Drop a comment: What’s one thing you wish more people understood about grief? Let’s support each other!

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The Melanin Initiative.
We are a health literacy podcast offering our nursing perspective. By watching on YouTube or listening on your favorite podcast app, we hope you feel:
Empowered to ask questions,
Educated on managing your health,
Confident to navigate the healthcare system.

You’re Invited:
Subscribe for updates.
Give us a thumbs up and comment—it helps us help you and ensures this content reaches those who need it.

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Resources Mentioned:
www.alightafternine.org

Connect with Rachell Dumas, RN, BSN, MSN(c):
Email: rdumas@alightafternine.org
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/rdumasrn
Instagram: instagram.com/alightafternine


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Subscribe to our channel for more engaging content!
Watch & Share our videos to help us continue growing!

Stay Connected with The Melanin Initiative Podcast:
✨ Mahogany Dermatology Shop: www.etsy.com/shop/MahoganyDermatology
✨ YouTube: youtube.com/@themelanininitiative
✨ Instagram: www.instagram.com/tmi.melanin
✨ Facebook: www.facebook.com/people/The-Melanin-Initiative/100…
✨ Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/the-melanin-initiative-po…
✨ TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@themelanininitiative
✨ Podcast: www.buzzsprout.com/2186156
✨ Email Us: tmi.melanin@gmail.com
✨ Increase your Health Literacy IQ: Caring For Us: www.caring4us.org

9 months ago | [YT] | 0

The Melanin Initiative

🚨 Feeling stuck in your nursing career? Wondering how to break into leadership? 🚨

What if you could step into confidence, authority, and purpose in your nursing career? Imagine being the kind of nurse that commands respect, leads with impact, and influences change in healthcare.

This episode is for YOU if you’ve ever thought:
👉 “I want to grow in my career, but I don’t know where to start.”
👉 “I feel stuck at the bedside—how do I transition into leadership?”
👉 “I wish someone had taught me how to lead, negotiate, and manage in nursing.”

🔥 This episode is your guide to transforming your career. 🔥

What You’ll Gain from This Episode:
✅ A Clear Path to Leadership – Understand exactly what steps to take to move up in your nursing career
✅ Why Leadership Training Matters – Learn why you need leadership skills to increase your salary, authority, and career options
✅ How to Position Yourself for Promotions – Find out what nurse executives and hiring managers are REALLY looking for
✅ The Power of Mentorship – Discover how to find the right mentor and accelerate your career growth
✅ How to Stop Feeling Overlooked – Strategies to stand out, own your expertise, and get recognized

💡 You don’t have to figure this out alone! This episode will give you the roadmap to step into leadership, take control of your career, and thrive in nursing.

Tune in this Sunday, March 23, 2025, at 12 noon EST:
🎥 Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/DFJ1IDDD7m4

🎧 Listen on Your Favorite Podcast App (Premieres 5am EST): www.buzzsprout.com/2186156/episodes/16857257

💬 Drop a comment below: What’s the biggest barrier holding you back from leadership? Let’s talk about it!

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Subscribe to our channel for more engaging content!
Watch & Share our videos to help us continue growing!

Stay Connected with The Melanin Initiative Podcast:
✨ Mahogany Dermatology Shop: www.etsy.com/shop/MahoganyDermatology
✨ YouTube: youtube.com/@themelanininitiative
✨ Instagram: www.instagram.com/tmi.melanin
✨ Facebook: www.facebook.com/people/The-Melanin-Initiative/100…
✨ Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/the-melanin-initiative-po…
✨ TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@themelanininitiative
✨ Podcast: www.buzzsprout.com/2186156
✨ Email Us: tmi.melanin@gmail.com
✨ Increase your Health Literacy IQ: Caring For Us: www.caring4us.org

9 months ago | [YT] | 1

The Melanin Initiative

Thinking about getting Botox or fillers? Overwhelmed by skincare trends that don’t center YOU? 😩👀
Let’s talk about what really works—especially for melanin-rich skin. 💁🏾‍♀️💆🏽‍♂️

This week on The Melanin Initiative Podcast, we’re helping YOU take the guesswork out of aesthetic care. Whether you’re new to cosmetic treatments or just want natural-looking, glow-up results, this is your guide to making informed, confident decisions.

💉 Learn the real difference between Botox & fillers
🧖🏾‍♀️ Know how to find a legit, qualified provider
💡 Discover how aesthetics, wellness & mental health connect
❤️ Understand why personalized treatment plans are non-negotiable

🎧 Tune in NOW to learn how to enhance your natural beauty without losing yourself in the process.
✨ You deserve to feel good, look refreshed, and age on your terms.



Watch here: https://youtu.be/ANq3LtcLJaQ
Listen here: www.buzzsprout.com/2186156/episodes/16833452

9 months ago | [YT] | 0

The Melanin Initiative

🚨 NEW PODCAST EPISODE: WATCH NOW 🚨

🎙️ The Melanin Initiative
"Breaking Barriers in Healthcare: The Inspiring Story of Caring 4 Us" ft. Dr. Shafonya Turner

Are you ready to take charge of your health and show up confidently in medical spaces? 💪🏽 This episode is your blueprint for self-advocacy, health literacy, and empowerment—especially for Black and Brown communities.

✨ Special Guest: Dr. Shafonya Turner, anesthesiologist + founder of @caring_4_us, shares real talk on:
✅ How to ask the right questions in the doctor’s office
✅ Why health literacy literally saves lives
✅ Tips for decoding medical info
✅ What inspired her journey into medicine

Whether you're a future healthcare pro or just want to feel more confident at your next appointment—this one’s for YOU.

🎧 Tap the link in bio or watch now on YouTube!
🔗 https://youtu.be/ZNfVZuKacBY
🎙️ www.buzzsprout.com/2186156/episodes/16741901


👇🏽 Drop a comment with your biggest takeaway!

9 months ago | [YT] | 1

The Melanin Initiative

🚨 New Episode of the Week! 🚨 🎙️

We’re back with another powerful conversation on The Melanin Initiative Podcast, and this time we’re joined by Dr. Phindile Erika Chowa, MD, an expert in personalized healthcare and postpartum care!

✨ What You’ll Learn:
✅ The benefits of concierge medicine and how it prioritizes patient dignity and accessibility.
✅ How Dr. Chowa’s practice supports postpartum moms, addressing critical issues like postpartum preeclampsia and maternal mortality.
✅ Practical tips for advocating for yourself in the healthcare system and managing chronic conditions with confidence.
✅ The importance of building a support system for postpartum recovery and how to plan for the "fourth trimester."

💡 Whether you're a new mom, a healthcare professional, or someone looking to take control of your health journey, this episode is packed with actionable insights and inspiring stories. Dr. Chowa’s passion for patient-centered care will leave you feeling empowered to make informed decisions about your health.

Watch here: https://youtu.be/Kn8pvX6d8Ks
Listen to you favorite podcast apps here: www.buzzsprout.com/2186156/episodes/16699625

10 months ago | [YT] | 1

The Melanin Initiative

This week on The Melanin Initiative Podcast, we’re diving into a topic that’s often overlooked but so important: Sexual Health.



Join us as we sit down with Jayden Aubryn, MSW, LICSW, NCSF-CPT, to discuss:

✅ How to define sexual health and feel empowered in your body

✅ The difference between sex and intimacy

✅ Trauma-informed care and its impact on sexual wellness

✅ Queer-inclusive sex education and breaking down myths



🎧 Listen now on YouTube: https://youtu.be/DKbo7eVfy68

🎧 Or your favorite podcast app: www.buzzsprout.com/2186156/episodes/16612230



Let’s break the stigma and start the conversation about sexual health together. 💬



Follow us on all of our Social Media Channels!

✨ Mahogany Dermatology Shop: www.etsy.com/shop/MahoganyDermatology

✨ YouTube: youtube.com/@themelanininitiative

✨ Email Us: tmi.melanin@gmail.com

10 months ago | [YT] | 0

The Melanin Initiative

✨ Unlock Healing with Somatic Therapy ✨

Join us for an eye-opening episode of The Melanin Initiative Podcast, where we explore the transformative power of Somatic Therapy with Jayden Aubryn, LICSW, CSSW, CDBT, CIMHP, NCSF-CPT.

Discover how movement, mindfulness, and body awareness can help you:
✅ Heal from trauma
✅ Build a stronger mind-body connection
✅ Foster sustainable wellness

🎥 Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/7jvvR0vPc9M
🎧 Listen on Podcast Apps: www.buzzsprout.com/2186156/episodes/16483275

Resources Mentioned:
🌟 TISE Consulting and Therapy: tiseconsultingandtherapy.com
🌟 Patreon for Chaotic Healing: patreon.com/TISEConsultingandTherapy
🌟 Instagram: @tiseconsultingandtherapy

Connect with Jayden Aubryn:
📧 Email: tiseconsultingandtherapy@gmail.com
🌐 Website: tiseconsultingandtherapy.com
📸 Instagram: instagram.com/tiseconsultingandtherapy
🔗 LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jayden-aubryn-794550178/

Stay Connected with The Melanin Initiative Podcast:
✨ Mahogany Dermatology Shop: www.etsy.com/shop/MahoganyDermatology
✨ YouTube: youtube.com/@themelanininitiative
✨ Instagram: www.instagram.com/tmi.melanin
✨ Facebook: www.facebook.com/people/The-Melanin-Initiative/100…
✨ LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/the-melanin-initiative-po…
✨ TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@themelanininitiative
✨ Podcast: www.buzzsprout.com/2186156
📧 Email Us: tmi.melanin@gmail.com
✨ Increase your Health Literacy IQ: Caring For Us: www.caring4us.org

#SomaticTherapy #TraumaHealing #MentalHealthPodcast #BodyAwareness #JaydenAubryn #TheMelaninInitiative #HolisticHealing

11 months ago | [YT] | 0