Transforming Your Life with Dr. Malaika
By Malaika Brown
Transforming Your Life with Dr. Malaika is a weekly podcast that explores various topics from a social and personal level and focuses on helping you live your best in every season of life. Dr. Malaika is a mental health clinician, educator, motivational speaker and author who uses her personal experiences, social situations and education to help challenge others to be the best version of themselves.
Transforming Your Life with Dr. MalaikaJan 29, 2019
00:00
26:51
Season 3 - Episode 6: The Prison of Unforgiveness
Forgiveness is the foundation of any relationship and the cornerstone of having a healthy life. Join me on this episode as we explore what forgiveness is, why it matters and how it makes your life better.
Purchase my new book Free Indeed: A 30-Day Guide on the Journey to Forgiveness today by clicking this link: www.malaikambrown.com/store
May 05, 202130:24
Season 3 - Episode 5: Polishing Your Personality
We have been taught that personality is stable and consistent across the lifespan but is it possible to polish your personality in the areas that need improvement? What exactly does polishing your personality consist of and how you accomplish it? This episode will be a great way to personally develop and self-improve.
Apr 06, 202132:14
Season 3 - Episode 4: Toxic Positivity
Can being positive also be toxic? Toxic positivity is the belief that no matter how dire or difficult a situation is, people should maintain a positive mindset. It's a "good vibes only" approach to life and it's not healthy.
Join me this episode as we discuss toxic positivity and how to combat it when you are experiencing it.
Mar 30, 202132:10
Season 3 - Episode 3: Gaslighting
Gaslighting is a form of psychological manipulation in which a person or a group covertly sows seeds of doubt in a targeted individual or group, making them question their own memory, perception, or judgment.
This episode, we explore gaslighting in relationships and in society at large. If you are not sure if you have been gaslit, you need to listen to this episode.
Mar 16, 202132:18
Season 3 - Episode 2: The Forgotten - Black Women and the Mental Health Crisis
Covid-19 has exposed a pre-existing condition in the population of black women. Mental health among this group has been challenged due to a variety of factors, such as ‘the strong black woman syndrome’, racial issues, the stigma of seeking mental health services and navigating all of the unique roles that they occupy. The pandemic did not create these conditions, but it metastasized them and if that wasn’t enough, 2020 as a year leveled many women so that they were no longer able to avoid their challenges.
This episode, I dive in to the important issues being experienced by black women and offer some tips on how to manage mental health.
This episode, I dive in to the important issues being experienced by black women and offer some tips on how to manage mental health.
Feb 23, 202138:39
Season 3 - Episode 1: Rebounding from 2020
2020 was a year no one could imagine in their wildest dreams. The year started with the death of one of the greatest sports heroes Kobe Bryant and was dominated by a global pandemic and more loss. How do you rebound from a year like that? What is next?
Feb 10, 202138:17
Season 2 - Episode 12: Can You Hear Us Now?
The first African slave was brought to the United States in 1619. For over 400 years, African Americans have been fighting for freedom and equality. From slavery to Reconstruction to Jim Crow to modern day, every method has been used to achieve what Declaration of Independence claims, “that all men are created equal”.
But on May 25th, the world as we know it changed when George Floyd was killed on video by Minneapolis police officers. Civil unrest has exploded globally. Dr. Martin Luther King said, “Certain conditions continue to exist in our society, which must be condemned as vigorously as we condemn riots. But in the final analysis, a riot is the language of the unheard. And what is it that America has failed to hear?”
The question is can you hear us now?
But on May 25th, the world as we know it changed when George Floyd was killed on video by Minneapolis police officers. Civil unrest has exploded globally. Dr. Martin Luther King said, “Certain conditions continue to exist in our society, which must be condemned as vigorously as we condemn riots. But in the final analysis, a riot is the language of the unheard. And what is it that America has failed to hear?”
The question is can you hear us now?
Jun 02, 202040:27
Season 2 - Episode 11: Progress in Time of Crisis
Being in the middle of a global pandemic that has forced many to work from home, many believe they should be doing more with their extra time. Is this reality or pressure based on perception? Let’s discuss what you can do during this time to make progress for the stages to come after this unforeseen time.
Apr 28, 202026:52
Season 2 - Episode 10: Coping in the Time of COVID-19
Our reality has changed drastically and with these major changes, how we manage our emotions is key. COVID-19 has caused all of our worlds to be turned upside down with 43% of the nation in lockdown their homes. Navigating our new normal is important to make sure that if we are more vulnerable during this time, because of our baseline, that we get the tools we need to cope.
Please visit cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov for accurate updates on COVID-19.
For all Californians, you can also visit cdph.ca.gov for specific statewide updates.
Please visit cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov for accurate updates on COVID-19.
For all Californians, you can also visit cdph.ca.gov for specific statewide updates.
Mar 24, 202028:48
Special Edition Episode: The Psychological Impact of A Pandemic
On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the Coronavirus (COVID-19) a global pandemic. What does that mean and how does this impact us from a psychological perspective?
WHO Coronavirus Information: www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public
CDC Coronavirus Information: www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
WHO Coronavirus Information: www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public
CDC Coronavirus Information: www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
Mar 12, 202029:43
Season 2 - Episode 9: Red Brain, Blue Brain: Inside the Minds of Conservatives and Liberals
With such polarized views on political issues, are voters just superficially different or is it deeper? Let’s look inside the minds of conservative and liberals to see what truly makes them tick and influences their behavior at the polls.
Mar 10, 202027:15
Season 2 - Episode 8: The Psychology of Voting
It’s Super Tuesday! Research suggests that voting is an act of altruism. But is this why Americans head to the polls? We are tackling one of the biggest issues and most controversial topics currently in US society to understand the thought process behind voting.
Mar 03, 202027:55
Season 2 - Episode 7: Forgiving Yourself
Many of us know that forgiveness is a good thing, right? It frees us from bitterness and anger, two emotions that not only don’t feel good but can also disrupt our physical health and hold us back from all the good we might achieve and experience. Many of you have worked on forgiving others. But what about forgiving ourselves?
Feb 18, 202027:18
Season 2 - Episode 6: Forgiving the Unforgiveable
Sometimes what has happened is unforgivable. Someone murders your child, or steals your life savings or serially abuses children in their care – it's unforgivable. How do you move past this to true, authentic forgiveness? Is that even possible?
Feb 11, 202020:06
Season 2 - Episode 5: Selective Forgiveness: The Curious Cases of Michael Vick & Kobe Bryant
Why does America have no problem with forgiving white athletes and celebrities but black celebrities receive a life sentence of unforgiveness after making mistakes, regardless of if they have paid for them and become a better person? This episode we explore the selective forgiveness of America.
Feb 04, 202026:55
Season 2 - Episode 4: Emotional Numbness
Ask yourself:
Do you feel like the world around you is unreal?
Do you feel as though you are watching your life go by without being in it?
Do you struggle to know what you are feeling or cannot find the vocabulary for it?
Do you find yourself feeling disconnected from your body?
Maybe you are dealing with emotional numbness. Join us as we discuss what this is and what steps you can take toward healing.
Do you feel like the world around you is unreal?
Do you feel as though you are watching your life go by without being in it?
Do you struggle to know what you are feeling or cannot find the vocabulary for it?
Do you find yourself feeling disconnected from your body?
Maybe you are dealing with emotional numbness. Join us as we discuss what this is and what steps you can take toward healing.
Jan 28, 202023:12
Season 2 - Episode 3: Mommy Wounds
The "mother wound" is not a typical term you may hear in a counseling or therapy session, but it may be a factor that is influencing your relationship with partners. While the mother wound is most often associated with daughters, it is possible for sons to also have mother wound factors that influence their relationships. Let’s discuss how mommy wounds affect us and what steps can be taken to overcome and heal.
Jan 21, 202025:06
Season 2 - Episode 2: Wounded in the Church
In this episode, we discuss how a place that is meant to heal can also cause pain. The church is viewed as a place of tranquility, comfort and protection. But what happens when it no longer provides that? How do you recover and move on when the healing place becomes a painful place?
Jan 14, 202028:10
Season 2 - Episode 1: Epic Fail
Every year, people across the world create new year resolutions. Why do so many people fail to accomplish thse resolutions? Are they lazy and not willing to put in the work? Or are they just not ready to change? We will discuss the psychology behind failed resolutions and also give tips to help change the mentality to ones that will allow you set and accomplish new goals.
Jan 07, 202019:30
Season 1 - Episode 41: Holiday Mental Health Survival Kit
For many people, the holiday season is a time of joy with family and friends. But for some, it can be a stressful reminder of life’s challenges. Here are some tips to help navigate this time of year in a healthy manner.
Nov 26, 201927:15
Season 1 - Episode 40: Codependency
Have you ever known someone and their connection to others seemed a bit clingy and creepy? Do you expend all of your energy in meeting your partner’s needs? Do you feel trapped in your relationship? Are you the one that is constantly making sacrifices in your relationship? If you answered yes, this may be signs of codependency. Let’s talk about what it is and what can be done to improve the behavior.
Nov 19, 201930:19
Episode 39: Ghosting, What Does It Really Mean
All of us will find it necessary to exit a relationship at some point in our lives, whether it’s a romantic love interest, a friendship, or an acquaintanceship; people grow apart, reveal themselves to be different than we thought they were, or we simply discover that each of us wants different things. But if you always have your running shoes on, you might be a ghoster and there is a psychology that goes with it.
Nov 12, 201928:13
Episode 38: Normalizing A Toxic Society
The way society has normalized certain “toxic” behaviors was the subject of a popular thread on Reddit back in January. The tone of the current political season and even among church goers is just as toxic. What is this about and what can we do?
Nov 05, 201933:11
Episode 37: Cultural Appropriation or Nah?
So you are picking out your Halloween costume and decide to dress as an Indian. Is this cultural appropriation? This issue is a moral one and navigating it can be tricky. Let’s better understand cultural denigration, cultural appropriation and cultural appreciation.
Oct 29, 201931:31
Episode 36: Cutting Ties with Toxic People
Toxic people are draining but what do you do when the toxic person is family? It is easy to cut ties with someone you are not related to but how do you do it when it is a family member?
Oct 22, 201931:59
Episode 35: Boundaries
Boundaries are essential to healthy relationships and in turn a healthy life. Spotting unhealthy boundaries can be challenging but creating and maintaining healthy boundaries can be even more difficult.
Oct 15, 201930:41
Episode 34: Oh, the Drama!
We all have that friend that always has some crisis going on. But what is the cause of this and how do you deal with them and help them? I’ll provide some understanding and some tips on how to deal with drama kings and queens.
Oct 08, 201923:44
Episode 33: A Real Conversation About Suicide
Suicide affects all demographics of people. Every year, about 41,000 people die by suicide, 1.3 million adults attempt suicide, 2.7 million adults have had a plan for suicide and 9.3 million adults have had suicidal thoughts. This doesn’t even include numbers for the youth. We need to have This conversation and we need to have it often.
Sep 17, 201932:53
Episode 32: Back-to-School Mental Health Toolkit
The beginning of a new school year brings many positives but also challenges for the child and parent. These challenges can impact mental health of not attended to properly. Let’s discuss things to be aware of and tips for how to deal with stressors as they occur.
Aug 27, 201934:30
Episode 31: The Forgotten Generation - Youth and Mental Health
Youth are often the forgotten group when it comes to mental health issues. They are often disregarded and have their issues minimize. Let’s discuss how you can better understand their issues and become an advocate.
Aug 20, 201928:39
Episode 30: Why Am I Single?
Singleness is often viewed as a deficiency socially. Many question why they are still single, especially if they are over a particular age. Let’s talk about the myths of singleness and why you could still be single.
Aug 13, 201929:34
Episode 29: America, We Have A Problem
Two mass shootings in a span of thirteen hours in El Paso, TX and Dayton, OH committed by white Americans, one believed to have a white nationalist agenda, shows that there is a problem in America. The challenge is this problem has always been here. Radicalized racism is a cancer and we need to talk about it so change can occur.
Aug 06, 201928:38
Episode 28: Cheaters
With headlines like Nicole Murphy and Antoine Fuqua being caught in a compromising position in Italy, Prince William and Jay Z admitting to infidelity, cheating is a topic that needs to be discussed. What happens in the mind of a person that causes them to cheat?
Jul 30, 201931:33
Episode 27: A Prescription for Self-Love
Self-love is a popular term but what does that mean in practice? It is not a simply a state of feeling good but an appreciation for the self.
Jul 23, 201926:36
Episode 26: This is Your Brain on Love
When it comes to love, could your cognitive biases be keeping you from finding "the one"? “Use your head, not your heart." Many of us have been told that our brains will lead us down the right path. But are our brains really so wise in matters of love? Or do they lead us astray?
Jul 16, 201923:41
Episode 25: Imposter Syndrome
Many high achievers share a dirty little secret: Deep down they feel like complete frauds–their accomplishments the result of serendipitous luck.
This psychological phenomenon, known as impostor syndrome, reflects a belief that you’re an inadequate and incompetent failure, despite evidence that indicates you’re skilled and quite successful.
This psychological phenomenon, known as impostor syndrome, reflects a belief that you’re an inadequate and incompetent failure, despite evidence that indicates you’re skilled and quite successful.
Jul 09, 201930:23
Episode 24: It’s Above Me Now
Holding on to pain doesn’t fix anything. Replaying the past over and over again doesn’t change it, and wishing things were different doesn’t make it so. In some cases, especially when it comes to the past, all you can do is accept whatever it is you’re holding on to and then let it go. That’s how everything changes. You have to let go of what is hurting you, even if it feels almost impossible.
Jul 02, 201929:48
Episode 23: Is The Church Making You Sick?
Religion and spirituality are both rooted in trying to understand the meaning of life and, in some cases, how a relationship with a higher power may influence that meaning. While religion and spirituality are similar in foundation, they are very different in practice. Let’s discuss how both impact your overall health and wellbeing.
Jun 25, 201927:33
Episode 22: The Freedom of Forgiveness
Extensive research shows why you should forgive people who have offended or hurt you, even if they never ask. But what if there offense is extremely egregious? Is there a limit to what should be forgiven. Let’s discuss how freedom comes with forgiveness, and not to the forgiven.
Jun 11, 201926:03
Episode 21: Saying Goodbye and Doing It Well
People have developed various rituals around ending important life periods. They get together for a last meal, throw a good-bye party, or see their visitors off at the airport.
Why would people go through this effort in finding a round ending rather than moving on right away to what is coming next? Most research on life transitions has focused on the new beginning and on what helps once people have started their new life period. Ending a phase in a well-rounded way causally promotes positive affect and a constructive transition.
Why would people go through this effort in finding a round ending rather than moving on right away to what is coming next? Most research on life transitions has focused on the new beginning and on what helps once people have started their new life period. Ending a phase in a well-rounded way causally promotes positive affect and a constructive transition.
Jun 04, 201926:41
Episode 20: Hot Topics
Join me and my friends as we talk about some hot topics impacting how we interact with and treat one another.
May 28, 201933:38
Episode 19: Passive Aggressiveness
Instead of getting visibly angry, some people express their hostility in passive-aggressive ways designed to hurt and confuse their target. Most people will have to deal with passive-aggression from others in their personal and professional lives at one time or another. Let’s talk about it!
May 21, 201925:24
Episode 18: Control Freaks
Being a control freak seems to be annoying yet harmless, but that isn’t the case. Control freaks experience consequences ranging from constant irritability to uncontrollable anger. In addition to wreaking havoc on your mental health, being a control freak also wastes time and energy, both of which are finite resources. Let’s identify the symptoms and talk about ways to improve.
May 14, 201924:55
Episode 17: Toxic People
Do you know a toxic person? Even if you don't now, at some point in your life you're bound to have come across a person who fits the description. Dealing with such an individual can be difficult and draining, to say the least. In fact, it may challenge what you know about yourself and push you to the limits.
May 07, 201923:43
Season 1 - Episode 16: We Wear the Masks
In everyday life, we all wear masks. It’s part of the reality of living that we have different “masks” or personas we project to the public.
But what’s important is having some conscious awareness of what we’re doing and being able to see if the masks we wear interfere with healthy living.
But what’s important is having some conscious awareness of what we’re doing and being able to see if the masks we wear interfere with healthy living.
Apr 30, 201924:36
Season 1 - Episode 15: Is Social Media Making You Sick?
The rise of social media has meant that we as a global population are more connected than we have ever been in the history of time. However, our reliance on social media can have a detrimental effect on our mental health, with the average person checking their accounts a minimum of 28 times per day. Let’s talk about how this impacts mental health and changes that can be made.
Apr 23, 201925:44
Season 1 - Episode 14: When A Community Grieves
The untimely and tragic death of philanthropist, activist and rapper Nipsey Hussle has caused widespread grief for many who did not know him personally, not had a connection to the area he was from. Today we talk about him and the concept of mass grief, also known as mourning sickness.
Apr 16, 201926:12
Season 1 - Episode 13: The Power of Forgiving Yourself
“To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you.” — Lewis B. Smedes
Forgiveness does not erase the past, but looks upon it with compassion. To withhold forgiveness keeps alive emotions of hurt, anger and blame which discolour your perception of life. To forgive, avoid ruminating on thoughts of being wronged. Rather, trust the power of forgiveness to heal the hurt and pain.
Forgiveness does not erase the past, but looks upon it with compassion. To withhold forgiveness keeps alive emotions of hurt, anger and blame which discolour your perception of life. To forgive, avoid ruminating on thoughts of being wronged. Rather, trust the power of forgiveness to heal the hurt and pain.
Apr 10, 201923:42
Season 1 - Episode 12: Emotional Addiction
Addiction is usually associated with excessive and harmful behavior or substance abuse. The word addiction conjures up weakness and dependency. And the same can be said about emotional addiction. An emotional addiction, not only colors our world with its shades, but can also be our crutch. So it’s crucial to our mental and emotional wellbeing to examine how we feel most of the time and assess our negative emotional dependency.
Apr 02, 201926:47
Season 1 - Episode 11: Playing the Victim Game
"Victims" deal in judgments and "shoulds" in interactions with others. They operate on the basic assumption that the world should be fair: "I should have been loved by my parents." "My children should call me or write to me." "After all that I've done for her, the least she could do ..." This type of preoccupation with "rights" and "shoulds" is irrelevant to the real problems that we are all faced with. Let’s talk about ditching the victim role and playing the victim game and becoming accountable and adaptive in our behaviors.
Mar 26, 201921:42