Love Letters to Our Bodies

What does it mean to feel beautiful after cancer? In this episode, we sit down with visionary cosmetologist and community leader Dr. Leia’ Love to explore her remarkable journey from salon owner to paramedical tattoo artist specializing in 3D areola tattooing for breast cancer survivors. Dr. Love has more than two decades of experience in the beauty industry and a heart for healing. Known as the “Head-2-Toe Beauty Pro,” Dr. Love co...

Wellness doesn’t need to be an extravagant vacation or trip to the spa. Instead, it can be as simple as taking a moment to breathe in the day and center yourself. This is especially true for people with cancer, and today on Love Letters to Our Body, we are joined by the director for Wellness Programs at Unite for HER, Melissa Christie, to discuss mind, body, and spirit wellness in cancer care. 

In this conversation, you’ll hear all ...

Rest as resistance? In a culture that profits from our exhaustion, reclaiming deep rest becomes a radical act of healing. Join us as we welcome Tracee Stanley, yoga practitioner of 28 years and author of Radiant Rest, for a transformative conversation about Yoga Nidra.

Discover how this powerful practice helps us access our authentic selves, heal generational trauma, and reconnect with our bodies through love. Tracee shares her jour...

What if your body, despite illness or injury, could still be a powerful ally in your healing journey? In this episode of Love Letters 2 Our Bodies, we’re joined by Valencia Balkcom, a nationally certified athletic trainer and cancer exercise specialist, for a moving conversation on reclaiming health and confidence through movement. Diagnosed with breast cancer the day before her wedding, Valencia shares how she used her expertise a...

In a healthcare system that often fails to fully care for Black women, self-advocacy can be a critical lifeline. In this episode of the Love Letters 2 Our Bodies podcast, Gwendolyn Mitchell is joined by Dr. Chiquita Tuttle, a healthcare consultant, cancer care advocate, and lifelong leader in community-based support. Our conversation explores the systemic disparities Black women face when it comes to healthcare, the urgent need for...

What if healing could bypass language entirely and reach you through vibration alone? In this episode of Love Letters 2 Our Body, we are joined by Dr. Ivy Shadiah Hylton, master of Sound Vibronics and Sonic Mind Streaming, to explore how sacred sound technology is transforming holistic healing. Ivy shares how her journey began, how sound vibronics differs from traditional sound therapy, and how she integrates it into her practice. ...

Episode 15: Show Notes

What if the key to healing isn’t just physical, but rooted in ancient wisdom, elemental balance, and even mathematics? Today we’re joined by Stephanie Mwangaza Brown, a licensed acupuncturist and Reiki master. With a background in mathematics and a passion for traditional Chinese medicine, Stephanie brings a unique perspective to holistic healing, bridging logic and intuition, science and spirit. In this episo...

So much of cancer treatment is focused on curing the patient physically, but what about healing the emotional, spiritual, and psychological effects that a cancer diagnosis has on them? When healing and curing meet, miracles are created! Today on Love Letters 2 Our Bodies, we welcome Lisa Simms Booth, executive director at Smith Center for Healing and the Arts to discuss art and creative expression during cancer and the transformati...

Welcome to season two of Love Letters 2 Our Bodies! The founder of MOYO Institute, Gwendolyn Mitchell, is on a mission to offer heart-centered educational experiences by, for, and about African American women, and in season two, she plans on mixing it up a little bit! Gwendolyn will be interviewing a variety of guests and focusing on holistic support for wellbeing, including arts and creativity, sound and vibrational healing, acupu...

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the Black community, and we need to be about helping to save these lives. Today’s guest, Starla Gay, believes that she was born a community health advocate because she has been standing up for what is right since childhood! Starla is a health insurance specialist, community health activist, and BLACC activist. In this conversation, you’ll hear about Starla’s life and what led her to h...

Self-love in times of physical and mental challenges is the best medicine.’ This powerful quote comes from today’s guest, Ms. Delorme McKee-Stovall, in her letter that was part of our first Love Letters to Our Bodies booklet. An ordained minister, peace and social justice advocate, and retired human rights and healthcare administrator, Delorme brings a wealth of wisdom and experience. In this episode, we delve into her career and e...

Show Notes

 What if cancer care could go beyond managing symptoms to help patients truly heal in mind, body, and spirit? Joining us today is Melbra Watts, Executive Director of Charlotte Maxwell Clinic, a women’s health clinic in Oakland, California, offering free integrative care to under-served, low-income women with cancer. Melbra shares how this clinic goes beyond conventional care to deliver acupuncture, energy healing, nutriti...

There are many ways in which your health and nutrition affect your chances of getting cancer and how your body recovers from a cancer diagnosis. Today on Love Letters 2 Our Bodies, Assistant Professor of the Department of Nutritional Sciences at Howard University, Dr. Linda Thompson joins us to discuss food and nutrition in relation to cancer. In this conversation, you’ll hear all about our guest and what inspired her to work in nu...

Episode 8: Show Notes
Could the beauty products you're using be silently harming your health? In this powerful episode of the Love Letters 2 Our Bodies podcast, we’re joined by Dr. Astrid Williams, Director of Programs and Initiatives for the California Black Health Network, to reveal a disturbing truth: many of the beauty products marketed to Black women contain toxic chemicals linked to cancer and other serious health i...

Today’s episode shows how a cancer diagnosis is not the end of one’s life. We are joined by Talaya Dendy, a renowned cancer doula (and 12-year cancer thriver!) who in her daily life and work, goes above and beyond to provide guidance & support. Talaya discusses what she prioritized before and after her cancer diagnosis.  We learn about her diagnosis and how her view of her body has changed, how she processed the trauma of her d...

What if setting a simple intention could transform your life? In this powerful episode, Gwendolyn Mitchell sits down with Astrid Richardson-Ashley, a licensed clinical social worker and Reiki practitioner, to explore the profound impact of intention and sacred space in healing and personal growth. Together, they delve into how the Love Letters 2 Our Bodies workshops create safe, transformative environments for Black women to heal, ...

Show Notes

When a woman receives a breast cancer diagnosis, it can feel earth-shattering. However, as today’s incredible guest demonstrates, it can also serve as a powerful wake-up call to reevaluate and make meaningful changes that lead to a more authentic and fulfilling life. In this episode, we’re joined by Dee Manuel Cloud, an empowerment coach, author, speaker, and two-time breast cancer survivor. Her book, Beauty in the Breakd...

According to the International Myeloma Foundation, African Americans in the US make up 20% of all multiple myeloma patients, despite comprising only 14% of the country’s population. While science has yet to find a cure, today’s guest, Valarie Traynham, is undeterred. A multiple myeloma thriver, breast cancer survivor, and patient leader, Valarie sheds light on health disparities and advocates for those who cannot speak for themselv...

What if your greatest challenge became the key to unlocking your true purpose? In this inspiring episode, we’re joined by internationally renowned motivational speaker, personal trainer, and triathlete Erin “Bionic” Brown, who turned a life-altering tragedy into a story of triumph. After losing her leg to cancer at a young age, Erin embarked on a journey that propelled her into a life of empowerment and advocacy. Today, she is a pa...