The Journey to Wellness: Therapy, Trauma, and Triumph

Friends have a powerful conversation about "The Cost Of Healing In Silence" with Marina Franklin and guests Ashley McGirt and Nonye Brown-West on the latest episode. Ashley McGirt is a psychotherapist,TEDxinternational speaker, author, and the founder and CEO of theTherapy Fund Foundation, a nonprofit focused on eliminating barriers to mental health care in Black and historically excluded communities. She specializes in trauma, racial trauma, leadership, healthequity, mental health, and self-care. Ashley holds a Master of Social Work from the University ofWashington and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology,operating a private practice where she addresses racial trauma, depression, and anxiety. Featured in Forbes, MSNBC, and HuffPost, Ashley also serves as the NAACP State Area Conference Health Chair. Through her speeches, workshops, and consultations,she empowers individuals and organizations to unpack emotional burdens, prioritize self-care, and foster healing and equity. Her forthcoming book, The Cost of Healing in Silence: Navigating RacialTrauma and the Call for Culturally Responsive Care(March 31, 2026, Wiley), blends research, personal narrative, and clinical insight to challenge systemic inequities and inspire collective healing. It serves as an effective roadmap for culturally responsive mental health care that acknowledges, understands, and begins to heal the ways racial bias and stereotypes infiltrate counseling. Connect with Ashley further at https://www.ashleymcgirt.com Nonye Brown-West is a New York-based Nigerian-American comedian and writer. She has been featured in the Boston Globe's Rise column as a Comic to Watch. She has also appeared on Amazon, NPR, PBS, ABC, Sway In The Morning on Sirius XM, and the New York Comedy Festival. Check her schedule on nonyecomedy.com or Instagram to see when she's coming to a city near you. Always hosted by Marina Franklin - One Hour Comedy Special: Single Black Female ( Amazon Prime, CW Network), TBS's The Last O.G, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Hysterical on FX, The Movie Trainwreck, Louie Season V, The Jim Gaffigan Show, Conan O'Brien, Stephen Colbert, HBO's Crashing, and The Breaks with Michelle Wolf. Writer for HBO's 'Divorce' and the new Tracy Morgan show on Paramount Plus: 'Crutch  

This Friends Like Us Podcast, Host Marina Franklin talks with Leeanet Noble  and Lauretta Noble about rich narratives and legacy embedded in their new book:  'BLACK, WHITE, COLORED: The Hidden History of an Insurrection, a Southern Town, and Identity in America.' Join me in conversation with its passionate authors. Lauretta Malloy Noble is a critically acclaimed performer, writer, vocalist, musician, and producer. She studied psychology, music and liberal arts extensively at Howard University and holds a BSc degree. She is certified in Genealogy Research from the University of Strathclyde and in film making and script writing from The National Film and Television School. BLACK, WHITE, COLORED: The Hidden History of an Insurrection, a Southern Town, and Identity in America (on sale November 18, 2025; Amistad) is an absorbing investigation into a little-known historical tragedy—an insurrection at the turn of the twentieth century which upended post-Reconstruction gains made by Black residents in a small North Carolina town. LeeAnét Noble is a critically acclaimed multifaceted artist. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Howard University with her BFA in Theatre and is certified in Organizational Behavior/Psychology from IESE Business School. She played in the award-winning shows Stomp and Drumstruck. She currently teaches Black history for George Washington University's MFA graduate studies program. BLACK, WHITE, COLORED: The Hidden History of an Insurrection, a Southern Town, and Identity in America (on sale November 18, 2025; Amistad) is an absorbing investigation into a little-known historical tragedy—an insurrection at the turn of the twentieth century which upended post-Reconstruction gains made by Black residents in a small North Carolina town. Always hosted by Marina Franklin - One Hour Comedy Special: Single Black Female ( Amazon Prime, CW Network), TBS's The Last O.G, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Hysterical on FX, The Movie Trainwreck, Louie Season V, The Jim Gaffigan Show, Conan O'Brien, Stephen Colbert, HBO's Crashing, and The Breaks with Michelle Wolf. Writer for HBO's 'Divorce' and the new Tracy Morgan show on Paramount Plus: 'Crutch  

This week, host Marina Franklin is joined by Von Decarlo and Ant Pruitt, and we discuss life, faith and finding purpose at every age. Von's new book, 'Fine Over Fifty' is not just a book title; it's a vibe!  Von Decarlo is an introspective stand-up comedian and entertainment professional who has transformed a life of hardship into purpose. From Clairton, Pennsylvania, to a thriving career in New York City, she is known for her bold humor and unshakable authenticity. A graduate of The Art Institute of Pittsburgh, Von uses her platform to inspire inner strength—often declaring that even in the hardest times, with faith, you will be fine.  With her new book Fine Over Fifty, she aims to reshape the narrative around aging from one of fear and shame to power and purpose. Ant Pruitt Ant Former IT guy from back in the day. Now a freelance photographer and content creator that has more recently spent more time in front of the camera as a model and commercial actor. antpruitt.com Always hosted by Marina Franklin - One Hour Comedy Special: Single Black Female ( Amazon Prime, CW Network), TBS's The Last O.G, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Hysterical on FX, The Movie Trainwreck, Louie Season V, The Jim Gaffigan Show, Conan O'Brien, Stephen Colbert, HBO's Crashing, and The Breaks with Michelle Wolf. Writer for HBO's 'Divorce' and the new Tracy Morgan show on Paramount Plus: 'Crutch    

This Friends Like Us, host Marina Franklin talks to Nourbese Flint and Leighann Lord about the battle for reproductive justice and community building.  Nourbese Flint  is President of All* Above All and All* In All Action Fund, leading All* Above All's work to achieve abortion justice and build the political power of voters of color.  She previously served as Vice President of Strategy. Prior to coming to All* Above All, she was the Senior Director of Black Engagement at Planned Parenthood Federation of America, where she worked on the strategic partnership to strengthen Planned Parenthood's relationships within existing racial justice, reproductive justice, Black serving and civil rights organizations. Before coming east, Nourbese served as the founding Executive Director of Black Women for Wellness Action Project, the first Black women's reproductive justice 501c4 organization in the country, and successfully led campaign efforts to get progressive candidates into office. She also served as policy director and led civic engagement efforts for Black Women for Wellness Action Project's sister organization, Black Women for Wellness. Nourbese is a founding member of Trust Black Women, a national coalition dedicated to increasing respect and support of Black Women, and is one of the founding members of the Black Women's Democratic Club. Leighann Lord is a seasoned standup comedian who has appeared on HBO's Def Comedy All Star Jam, Comedy Central, The View, Netflix, and Showtime's Even More Funny Women of a Certain Age. She has performed for the troops and her Dry Bar Comedy special has had over one million views. Always hosted by Marina Franklin - One Hour Comedy Special: Single Black Female ( Amazon Prime, CW Network), TBS's The Last O.G, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Hysterical on FX, The Movie Trainwreck, Louie Season V, The Jim Gaffigan Show, Conan O'Brien, Stephen Colbert, HBO's Crashing, and The Breaks with Michelle Wolf. Writer for HBO's 'Divorce' and the new Tracy Morgan show on Paramount Plus: 'Crutch    

Host Marina Franklin and young star Nonye Brown-West talk with Allie Redhorse Young as they celebrate Native American Heritage Month. They discuss the siginficance of preserving cultural narratives like cowgirl culture!   Allie Redhorse Young is a powerhouse Diné organizer, storyteller, and founder of Protect the Sacred, where she's educating and empowering the next generation of Native youth and allies to lead with courage and sovereignty. Through Protect the Sacred, she's registered thousands of Native voters, mobilized young people to the polls on horseback and skateboards, and turned grassroots action into national movements with the backing of cultural icons. Her work shines a light on the ways Indigenous communities carry democracy and cultural survival when federal systems fall short. As both a storyteller and organizer, Allie is building Native power and representation that will last for the next seven generations. Nonye Brown-West is a New York-based Nigerian-American comedian and writer. She has been featured in the Boston Globe's Rise column as a Comic to Watch. She has also appeared on Amazon, NPR, PBS, ABC, Sway In The Morning on Sirius XM, and the New York Comedy Festival. Check her schedule on nonyecomedy.com or Instagram to see when she's coming to a city near you. Always hosted by Marina Franklin - One Hour Comedy Special: Single Black Female ( Amazon Prime, CW Network), TBS's The Last O.G, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Hysterical on FX, The Movie Trainwreck, Louie Season V, The Jim Gaffigan Show, Conan O'Brien, Stephen Colbert, HBO's Crashing, and The Breaks with Michelle Wolf. Writer for HBO's 'Divorce' and the new Tracy Morgan show on Paramount Plus: 'Crutch

October, we're spotlighting Breast Cancer Awareness Month with powerful stories of resilience and advocacy. Tune in to hear from Marina Franklin's incredible friends Jenny Saldana and Christina Bernard as we discuss survival, hope, and healthcare challenges. Christina Bernard, a stage 4 cancer thriver, chaplain, and motivational speaker, utilizes her global platform to convert pain into purpose and empowerment. She enables women to overcome adversity by embracing resilience, faith, and the healing power of love, advocating for emotional wellness, spiritual growth, and hope during life's most trying moments. Christina's life journey extends beyond survival, and she inspires others to thrive with purpose. Her book/journal, Conversations as We Pray for Your Healing, available on Amazon, features profound conversations and biblical principles to guide individuals through challenging times. Jenny Saldaña is a writer, actress, and stand-up comedian and a Breast Cancer Rock STAR and all around hotness. She wrote, produced and starred in Happy Cancer Chick, a web series inspired by her own battle with breast cancer. She recently appeared in HBO's High Maintenance. Her video series, The Little Brown Girl Show can be found on Youtube and Facebook Live. Always hosted by Marina Franklin - One Hour Comedy Special: Single Black Female ( Amazon Prime, CW Network), TBS's The Last O.G, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Hysterical on FX, The Movie Trainwreck, Louie Season V, The Jim Gaffigan Show, Conan O'Brien, Stephen Colbert, HBO's Crashing, and The Breaks with Michelle Wolf. Writer for HBO's 'Divorce' and the new Tracy Morgan show on Paramount Plus: 'Crutch

Join Marina Franklin on the latest Friends Like Us podcast with special guests Jon Laster & Marlon Nichols as they dive into the world of venture capital, diversity in tech, and the untapped potential in Africa. Don't miss this insightful episode!  Jon Laster is known for One Bedroom (2018), No More Mr Nice Guy (2018) and The 2019 ESPY Awards (2019) and check out his new series An Astute Woman Web Series. He is the Founder and C.E.O. of Blapp. Blapp is a Google-based, geo-located app that will tell you all the Black businesses that are right around you. Marlon Nichols is the co-founder and managing general partner of MaC Venture Capital, a leading seed-stage firm renowned for backing visionary founders who redefine industries. Under his leadership, MaC has grown into one of North America's largest seed-stage venture firms, surpassing $600 million in assets under management (AUM). In October 2024, the firm announced the closing of its third fund ($150 million), further solidifying its influence in the early-stage investment landscape. Marlon's portfolio includes industry-defining companies such as Airspace, Blavity, FINESSE, Gimlet Media, MongoDB, Pipe, Purestream, Thrive Market, and Shekel Mobility, among others. His keen eye for transformative opportunities has earned him widespread recognition, including consecutive placements on Los Angeles Business Journal's LA500 (2022–2025) and Business Insider's Seed 100 (Top Early-Stage Investors) for four years. Additionally, he ranks 25th on the Kauffman Fellows Fund Returners Index and has been featured in PitchBook's 25 Black Founders and VCs to Watch for six years. His expertise is frequently sought by top media outlets such as Axios, CNBC, Fortune, and more. A passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion, Marlon serves on the board of Kauffman Fellows, working to expand representation for underrepresented minorities in venture capital. With a unique blend of technology acumen and leadership principles shaped by his athletic background, he actively mentors CEOs, fosters strategic partnerships, and helps founders scale their businesses into market leaders. Always hosted by Marina Franklin - One Hour Comedy Special: Single Black Female ( Amazon Prime, CW Network), TBS's The Last O.G, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Hysterical on FX, The Movie Trainwreck, Louie Season V, The Jim Gaffigan Show, Conan O'Brien, Stephen Colbert, HBO's Crashing, and The Breaks with Michelle Wolf. Writer for HBO's 'Divorce' and the new Tracy Morgan show on Paramount Plus: 'Crutch  

This Friends Like Us, join your host Marina Franklin, Shang Forbes, and Hollie Harper. They weave humor into today's most pressing topics - Like, is Marjorie Taylor Green not so Maga anymore? Tune in now for laughs and insights. SHANG, a transplanted New Yorker whose carefully nurtured evolution from stand-up comedy to socio-political satire gives heavy flight to the spoken and outspoken word. SHANG has been seen on CBS'S The Late Late Show 2X BET's Comic View Grand Stand Winner HBO 's Def Jam & Def Poetry, Gotham LIVE, STARZ 1st Amendment, Si TV, Mun2 Comics Unleashed, Comedy Central's Jamie Foxx Laffapaloolza ,Premium Blend &  Gotham Comedy LIVE. Shang Also Has Guest Starred On NBC'S "Heroes", CBS'S "CSI" & NCIS & Shang recently Co-starred for Honda their Commercial Campaign & the Movie "Devine Intervention" & "Trunked!" Check out his Amazon Prime comedy special, 'SHANG is SHANGRY! LIVE IN NEW YORK'. It's the comedian That if you don't know, Now you know. Shang is not angry he's SHANGRY. Hollie Harper is a comedy nerd from South Jersey. She is currently the creator and co-exec producer of Hella Late! with Hollie Harper on BRIC TV and a co-host of the nationally trending Twitter Storytelling Chat "BlerdDating." Hella Late! with Hollie Harper was recently in the 2021 NYC Web Fest where she was nominated as Best Actress. Hollie was a semi-finalist in the 2019 NBC Standup Competition and has been featured on NY1, and in Black Enterprise Magazine, Thrive Global, Confessional Magazine and Black San Diego Magazine. Her popular sketch comedy show AMERICAN CANDY has played the Comic Strip, Gotham Comedy Club, BAM Café as well as the Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival. Time Out Chicago named them one of the five groups to watch. Hollie is a regular host for West Side Comedy Club in NYC and works with Gold Comedy and Stand Up Girls, two programs that empower young women by teaching them standup comedy. She was recently the talent coordinator and casting for "Blood Lassi" on Spotify, written by Pratima Mani, and moderated the panel for the Emmy Award winning, WOC editing team of Black Lady Sketch Show for The Black TV and Film Collective. She is also the Creative Consultant for the very successful Black Women in Comedy Laff Fest. Always hosted by Marina Franklin - One Hour Comedy Special: Single Black Female ( Amazon Prime, CW Network), TBS's The Last O.G, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Hysterical on FX, The Movie Trainwreck, Louie Season V, The Jim Gaffigan Show, Conan O'Brien, Stephen Colbert, HBO's Crashing, and The Breaks with Michelle Wolf. Writer for HBO's 'Divorce' and the new Tracy Morgan show on Paramount Plus: 'Crutch    

 Dive into comedic genius with Keith Robinson and Ian Edwards on the latest episode of "Friends Like Us." Don't miss their hilarious takes and Ian's new comedy special "Untitled" on YouTube! Keep those laughs coming!  Ian Edwards is a stand-up comedian, actor, and writer, recognized for his sharp wit, dark humor, and provocative content. His new special "Untitled" is available on YouTube. Untitled" is Ian Edwards at his sharpest — taking on everything from gender reveals and Michael Jackson to racism in tech, missing submarines, and why hotels will never be sh*t. Filmed with raw honesty and amazing timing, this special proves why Ian has been one of the most respected voices in stand-up for decades. Ian released a stand-up special titled IanTalk: Ideas Not Worth Spreading on Comedy Central, produced by Bill Burr. His television appearances include multiple spots on Conan, Bill Burr's Friends Who Kill on Netflix, and Friends From College on Netflix. Keith Robinson: Born and raised in South Philadelphia, Keith Robinson, is considered a comic's comic. He has captivated audiences around the world with his straightforward humor. He was a regular on Comedy Central's Tough Crowd; and the co-host of The Wanda Sykes Show (Fox), His first hour special; 2014's Kevin Hart Presents: Back of the Bus Funny can still be streamed on Amazon Prime, Peacock and Tubi. Keith has been featured in films such as Trainwreck and King of Staten Island. After two strokes, and an extended hospital stay, during COVID, Keith marched right back to the stage to create his latest and most personal work yet, Different Strokes; his second hour special, picked up and to be released in 2024 by Netflix.  Always hosted by Marina Franklin - One Hour Comedy Special: Single Black Female ( Amazon Prime, CW Network), TBS's The Last O.G, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Hysterical on FX, The Movie Trainwreck, Louie Season V, The Jim Gaffigan Show, Conan O'Brien, Stephen Colbert, HBO's Crashing, and The Breaks with Michelle Wolf. Writer for HBO's 'Divorce' and the new Tracy Morgan show on Paramount Plus: 'Crutch      

 This week on Friends Like Us, host Marina Franklin talks with Memo Salazar and Lorre Fisher.  We dive into the new, reimagined Hamilton! Discover the untold stories and truths behind the legendary figure through a powerful hip-hop lens. Tune in for insightful discussions and revolutionary perspectives!  Lorre Fisher is a Jamaican-born NY resident. She is an aspiring creative and community builder. She is excited to play the role of James Madison in this production.  She was a part of the October 2022 cast of A Sketch of New York as well as a cast member in a local production of The Vagina Monologues in 2019.  As an admitted attorney, she seeks ways to integrate her love of art with her penchant for human rights and liberation. Memo Salazar is a Mexican-born DGA director, writer, and activist… and a longtime resident of Queens, New York. As a director, his work ranges from Public Enemy music videos to Elmo tackling homelessness on Sesame Street. He has collaborated with theoretical physicist Brian Greene on a Ted Talk, won 3 Emmy awards, and produced an animated series for Rohingya refugee children exiled from their home country of Burma. As an activist, he is a recipient of Arena's Five Borough Future fellowship and the 2019 Queens Latinx leadership award for his community work. He is also the current co-chair of Western Queens CLT, which brings truly affordable housing and community-owned land to New York City.. Tickets to see Hamilton Oct. 22nd Always hosted by Marina Franklin - One Hour Comedy Special: Single Black Female ( Amazon Prime, CW Network), TBS's The Last O.G, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Hysterical on FX, The Movie Trainwreck, Louie Season V, The Jim Gaffigan Show, Conan O'Brien, Stephen Colbert, HBO's Crashing, and The Breaks with Michelle Wolf. Writer for HBO's 'Divorce' and the new Tracy Morgan show on Paramount Plus: 'Crutch'.