S3E8: Carson Daly Feels Your Pain: A Special Conversation on Couched in Color
Release Date: 09/15/2022
S3E16: Empowering Gen Z to Explore Their Passions Featuring Morgann Noble
Couched in Color
In this episode, guest Morgann Noble, daughter of Dr. Alfiee and an intern at The AAKOMA Project, gives unique insights for parents about the challenges that children of color experience. With a passion for bringing ideas to life, Morgann calls herself “a dreamer” at The AAKOMA Project, with a long list of people of influence she would like to engage in the non-profit’s mental health initiatives. Topics covered in this interview: The anxiety that arose for Morgann growing up affluent as a person of color with well-educated parents in what was considered a progressive...
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S3E15: Expanding the Narrative for Black Men Featuring Shaka Senghor
Couched in Color
In this episode, guest Shaka Senghor shares his inspiring story from incarceration to becoming a two times bestselling author, influencer and one of Oprah’s “SuperSoul 100” – teaching lessons of redemption and vulnerability to the masses. He grew up spending 19 years in prison, seven of them in solitary confinement. Through reflection and writing, he later came to understand his story of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). At age 17, he was shot multiple times, and also has two brothers who were shot, one of whom ended up paralyzed. At the same time, he takes full...
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S3E14: Building Bridges Featuring Kheira Bekkadja
Couched in Color
In this episode, guest Kheira Bekkadja, a Muslim Algerian American college student making an impact in mental health, inspires listeners with her insights on grounding in self-care and positive affirmations. As an example, she shares the Muslim practice of praying five times, at set times during the day, as challenging as it can be to stay persistent. There are movements that go with the prayer, including putting the forehead on the floor, which helps release negative energy and connect with God. “My faith is what rejuvenates me,” Kheira says. Surrounding oneself with good people...
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S3E13: Spreading Hope Through Content Creation Featuring Gigi Robinson
Couched in Color
In this episode, 24-year-old guest Gigi Robinson, a master content creator, graduate student and model, shares insights for living with chronic illness and addressing mental health issues, inspired to use her story to move the masses through her highly successful social media channels. She calls the Internet “an oyster” for Gen Zers to see beyond the corporate world and live their dreams, based on their unique passions and dreams. Topics covered in this interview: Sharing the vulnerabilities that come with chronic illness and mental health issues to help others (and letting go of the...
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S3E12: When You Hear Me, You Hear Us Featuring Brooke Simpson
Couched in Color
In this episode, singer-songwriter Brooke Simpson, who just made her Broadway debut in the revival of 1776, shares the impact her culture as an Indigenous woman has had on her creativity. From her early days dressing and dancing for her tribe’s “pow wow” ceremonies, she learned “to bleed creativity” into the foundation of who she is today. She has been a finalist for both The Voice and America’s Got Talent, and she also represents Nike's N7 campaign for Indigenous youth, supporting their mental health by promoting movement. Brooke sees her style of movement as...
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S3E11: Creating the Right Parenting Mindset Featuring Dr. Ann-Louise T. Lockhart
Couched in Color
Couched In Color | Season 3 | Episode 11 In this episode, guest Dr. Ann-Louise Lockhart, a pediatric psychologist, parent coach and widely followed social media expert, shares profound insights on ways to create a healthy mindset that takes the blame off the child. This mindset empowers parents and primary caregivers. Many parents come to the role without a plan, based on what they saw growing up, not understanding that it is normal to experience both positive and negative sides to parenting. “If I knew parenting was going to be this hard, I wouldn’t have signed up for it,” is one...
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S3E10: How Sneakers Saved and Ruined My Life Featuring Trent Out Loud
Couched in Color
In this episode, guest Trent Out Loud, founder and CEO of Exclucity, a multi-million-dollar footwear and apparel company, shares his story of seeking therapy after losing $2.3 million dollars in his sneakers’ business. That loss came when he forgot to tend to his own mental health during the ups and downs of his business, including the shifts occurring in the sneaker industry. As a result, he said started making wrong decisions. His therapist helped him deal with issues related to hypomania, mania and bipolar, and trained his brain to work in ways that benefited him. He continues...
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S3E9: Mental Health Advocate, Mom, Veteran, Latina: A Hidden Healer Featuring Ayanna Kelly
Couched in Color
In this episode, guest Ayanna Kelly, an Afro-Latina advocate, disabled veteran and mom, shares an inside look at her mental health journey from burnout to standing at the White House as a leader of the Mental Health Youth Action Forum. () That forum, which took place in May 2022, was created in partnership with MTV Entertainment Group and coordination with the Biden-Harris Administration. In a “surreal” moment, Ayanna found herself standing next to President Joe Biden and U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy, and other highly accomplished people. She saw herself as...
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S3E8: Carson Daly Feels Your Pain: A Special Conversation on Couched in Color
Couched in Color
In this episode, Carson Daly, co-host of “The Today Show” and creator of its “Mind Matters” digital series, and producer/host of Emmy-award winning “The Voice”, openly shares his mental health struggles. He discusses the trauma of losing his father unexpectedly at age 5 and the subsequent night terrors he experienced. Later diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder, Carson believes environment alone is not the cause of his mental health challenges. Rather, he sees them as a combination of both “nature and nurture.” Using his story to help others, Carson is...
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S3E7: Phillip Schermer’s Mastermind Approach to Mental Health for the Masses
Couched in Color
In this inspiring episode Dr. Alfiee interviews guest Phillip Schermer, founder and CEO of Project Healthy Minds, a non-profit created for a new era of mental wellness. Phillip, who was previously a Vice President & Chief of Staff to the Vice Chairman at BlackRock, the world's largest asset management firm, was so moved by the story of Logic, a rapper and record producer, he started the non-profit to more impactfully bring together mental health resources. Logic shed light on mental health challenges by writing a song with the phone number of the US National Suicide Prevention Lifeline...
info_outlineIn this episode, Carson Daly, co-host of “The Today Show” and creator of its “Mind Matters” digital series, and producer/host of Emmy-award winning “The Voice”, openly shares his mental health struggles.
He discusses the trauma of losing his father unexpectedly at age 5 and the subsequent night terrors he experienced.
Later diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder, Carson believes environment alone is not the cause of his mental health challenges. Rather, he sees them as a combination of both “nature and nurture.”
Using his story to help others, Carson is passionate that all segments of the population be represented in getting the right help.
He especially likes sharing stories, what he calls “mini movies,” in his Mind Matters series showcasing people from all walks of life–from a veteran with PTSD (post traumatic stress syndrome) who is now making bracelets, to a homeless couple.
Dr. Alfiee also was moved by his story of a superstar Peloton bike instructor who was steps away from taking her life before her mother intuitively felt something was off. She checked her daughter’s phone, which ended up stopping her from jumping when the light kept popping up.
Topics covered in this interview:
–The role of faith in dealing with mental health challenges, and Carson’s belief “God made me this way.”
–The “niche business” of mental health over the spectrum so each segment is represented according to their needs. Carson cites that Latino teens, for example, are at the highest risk for suicide in their age group.
–Carson’s ongoing struggles with generalized anxiety disorder and panic attacks, including the time he wanted to run off the stage of “The Voice” when struck by one of these moments of suddenly feeling terror: https://www.today.com/health/mind-body/carson-daly-panic-anxiety-voice-rcna32140
–His involvement as a board member of Project Healthy Minds (check out #CouchedInColor S3E7 for Dr. Alfiee’s interview with Phillip Schermer, founder and CEO of Project Healthy Minds) which focuses on:
- Breaking the stigma of mental health.
- Helping corporations take a “deep dive” and offer mental health services to their employees.
- Creating a tool to find tailor-made help as everyone’s mental health needs are different.
–The message Carson has for young people struggling with mental health issues is for them to know that they are not alone, that they are OK. Carson sees himself as an example of humbling himself to share his struggles.
–His passion for connecting with “real people,” which he calls his “Red Carpet,” not the more glamorized celebrity version. He loves “meeting everyday human beings who struggle, or don’t, and have a shared experience of the truth.”
About Carson Daly:
Carson Daly is a popular and well-loved American television host, radio personality, producer, and television personality. Prior to 2003, Daly was a VJ (video jockey) on MTV's Total Request Live (TRL), and a DJ for the Southern California-based radio station 106.7 KROQ-FM. He has won multiple Emmys, PGA and OFTA awards for the music show, “The Voice,” where he has served as producer and host.
He is also co-Host of “The Today Show” and creator of its “Mind Matters” digital series, sharing powerful mental health stories of everyday people and how they cope:
https://www.today.com/carson-daly
https://www.today.com/mind-matters
On the personal front, Carson is a champion of mental health and cancer awareness. He lost his father to cancer when he was five-years-old and his mother was a breast cancer survivor. He is vocal and actively works towards causes in which he believes.He serves on the Board of Directors for Project Healthy Minds:
https://app.projecthealthyminds.com/
https://www.projecthealthyminds.com/
A doting dad and loving husband, Carson is constantly seen surrounded by his loving family. He has big plans for the future and does not shy away from putting in the hard work, seeing himself as serving God’s will.
Follow Carson:
https://www.instagram.com/carsondaly
Follow Dr. Alfiee:
Website: https://dralfiee.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dralfiee
Twitter: https://twitter.com/dralfiee
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dralfiee/
Website: https://dralfiee.com
Find out more about the AAKOMA Project here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvTKmYKi24I
Season 3 Produced By: https://socialchameleon.us
More Couched in Color: https://dralfiee.com/podcast
Music Produced by: Mark “King” Batson (Superproducer of your favorite artists and Grammy award-winner for albums with Eminem and Beyoncé)