James Harris was supposed to be just another statistic in the foster care system. At the age of sixteen, he decided the best plan for his future was to emancipate himself and take control of his life so he could be the support system for his siblings who he was separated from when they entered the Virginia foster care system. Today, Tedx speaker, husband, and father James Harris goes Man to Man with David to discuss how he took the necessary steps to heal his child hood trauma by educating himself about mental health. He discusses how this played a huge part in how he created his program, Men to Heal, that helps other black men to be vulnerable so they can have autonomy over their feelings.

Knowledge, plain and simple, is POWER! Being informed about today’s society is essential, and can be the difference between thriving or just getting by. James Nicholas Kinney is one who chose to survive, learn and thrive when the universe gave him a choice that he couldn't say no too. Now, he's here to go Man to Man with David to discuss how he pulled himself out of a very deep depression and battled his agoraphobia after almost losing his life. Listen as America’s Mental Health Motivator speaks on how you can change your life just by reading, meditating and so much more.

What do you do when you lose it all? When you think you know your life plan, and then suddenly that changes? Dominic Lawson knows all about change and loss. He wouldn't tell you that there is some magical cure all on the other side. What you would learn from him, is that he is a man of service, a man who loves his community, and a champion of mental health who is STILL on his own journey. Through storytelling, he is finding his own healing AND success. In going Man to Man with David, Dominic shares about growing up in the Lamar Terrace projects in Memphis, Tennessee, his time in the Army, and being an Angel parent, but they also share what it means to find the joy in the margins.

Get your air horns ready because today, David goes man to man with actor, producer, husband, father and of course New Yorker, Alimi Ballard. David and Alimi dive into why he credits his mother as the most influential person in his early life and how he takes those lessons and teaches them to his children so they have the tools to navigate a world, that can be very cruel, with grace, confidence, and humility as a young person of color.

Narcissism is defined as a self-centered personality style characterized as having an excessive preoccupation with oneself and ones own needs, often at the expense of others. Sometimes people want a narcissist to be more engaged in the things going on around them rather than themselves. What happens when a narcissist decides to seek the genuine help they need to be become a better man for the people around them? David goes Man to Man with Lee Hammock a self-aware narcissist who chose to do the work and go to therapy to be a better partner and father. Now, Lee inspires others through his podcast Baldy and the Beast, TIKTOK, Facebook and other social media platforms to be honest with your self and do the work, not just for others but for you!

Forgiveness is something we all struggle with. However, studies have found that the act of forgiveness can reap huge rewards for your health, lowering the risk of heart attack; improving cholesterol levels and sleep; and reducing pain, blood pressure, and levels of anxiety, depression and stress. Today, David is going Man to Man with an influencer, father, and skateboarder who knows all about the power of forgiveness, Lheighton Cook. The two talk about what it took for him to forgive his father. The importance of it on one's mental health, and how it all ties into being the man he is today.

As we all know, being different than what people think Black men should be gets you straight mocked, being vulnerable is not something we expect from Black men. Whether that comes from wearing "feminine" colors, not being fit, to enjoying certain hobbies, there are some things that Black men avoid because they don't want to be talked about. For body positive, model and NAACP Image Award nominated author Kelvin Davis, that was an afterthought. He's been rocking his style since childhood. As a girl dad and a dapper gentleman Kelvin spreads joy just by being him, but where does he pull his confidence from? David and Kelvin go Man to Man to discuss not only where he pulls his confidence from, but societal standards for men, body positivity, and health.

Welcome back fam! Today David goes man to man with an actor, and comedian but also a father and overall good dude Jermaine Fowler. The two discuss how comedy was truly a way for Jermaine to make something of himself when everything seemed hopeless, how much of one's self it takes to make others laugh, and the intersection of religion and wellness.

Today we are starting out Black History Month right with this brother right here! Hosea Chanchez is an actor and producer who has been in the entertainment industry for over 20 years and is probably best known for his role in The Game which you can catch on Paramount+ but his talents don't stop there - Hosea is also a passionate advocate for mental health awareness and support within the Black community. As David and Hosea sit down for a chat on what's happening in The Game, his wishes for Malik, and he reveals something he's never shared before.

If you know anything about these Black Love streets, then you know Sean Patrick Thomas is a favorite around here. He's a loving husband, a great dad, and a phenomenal actor, and today he's sitting with David to talk about Till the heartbreaking true story of the historic lynching of 14-year-old Emmett Till through the eyes of his mother Mamie Till-Mobley in which he plays Gene Mobley. David and Sean chat about what (if any) similarities he finds he has with Gene Mobley. Plus are there any parallels in what Mamie taught Emmitt and what he's trying to instill in his children? Plus listen in to hear how his routine helps keep him on track with his wellness goals. Sean is an amazing brother who just gets it, and this is a conversation that has gems all the way through!

Hey Black Love fam! Today David is back with a legend in the music game. He has worked with all the big names like Kanye and Rihanna (and a bunch more), but he is also an entrepreneur, a family man, and a brand new author. We're talking about Benny Pough! Benny is back to talk about his new book On Impact which is full of lessons on living a life of impact, rising through the leadership ranks, and having to overcome a near-death car crash that almost took it all. It is a testament to not only his perseverance and his life journey, but how he values success and his mission to help uplift others. Listen in as he shares more of how he got to this place in his life where he's trying to find his new version of success, what true wellness is to him, and what motivates him to keep going.

It's International Podcast Day 🥳 and we're celebrating a full year of Man to Man with a conversation on toxic masculinity. What is it? Is it really an issue or is it some buzzword? We brought in two brothers to have a conversation about masculinity in all forms, but especially centered around being Black men: Karega Bailey, artist, educator, and angel father, and King Jay Barnett, author, speaker, and mental health therapist. Perhaps more important than the question of what is toxic masculinity is “how do we acknowledge behavior that is toxic that seems to be consistently perpetrated by men”? Honestly, there are so many questions and points asked that this is only one piece of the framework necessary for healing. But we have to start somewhere and this is a great start with two phenomenal brothers.

Ray Singleton is a lot of things, but you might know him as America's Husband. He first stole a lot of hearts as he started sharing his wife, Roslyn's, cancer journey. Or You might have met him for the first time on the latest season of Black Love Doc. OR This might be your first introduction to Ray in which case you are late to the party! Ray is positivity personified. David and Ray discuss just how masculinity intertwines with being more than being a provider, how Roslyn has helped him grow as a man, and how happiness is key to his life.

Steve Harris is a multi-hyphenate to the nth degree. He's a producer, an entrepreneur, an Emmy winner, a documentarian, a network executive, and he and David happened to cross paths at his latest project, Sneakertopia. But perhaps just as interesting as all the things that Steve has managed to do and create and work on, are the paths he had to take to get there. From his early days at Howard University, to being a young father and navigating college and parenthood at the same time, to trying to chase a dream and rejection, Steve has experienced it all. Plus how has all of this tied into his own wellness journey and making time and finding balance with doing everything and doing what you need to do for yourself?

David is back with Bryan to finish their conversation and this round they're going into more of what exactly Bryan does as an ICF Accredited Leadership Coach. Surprisingly enough, leadership is so much more than just the being the person in charge. It encompasses a doubt, and stress, and performances and humility and want. Listen in as Bryan and David reflect on their growth, development and what their journey from adolescence to manhood has looked like for them.

Sometimes you just have to chop it up with an old friend. This week David is going Man to Man with Bryan Winston who is not only an old friend, but an ICF Accredited Leadership Coach, NLP Master Practitioner & Ericksonian Hypnosis Practitioner. Listen in as the two discuss the meaning of masculinity in today's world, how fatherhood has helped shaped them today, and how doing things well is so much different than just doing.

What's it like to go from nothing, to everything, back to nothing and finally living your best version of you? From a near death experience as a child to modeling and record deals, to prison, nothing about Garrain Jones' story is typical. Most stories like his do not have a happy ending. So what makes Garrain different? Listen in as he shares his story and the one thing that truly changed his life. Plus Garrain gives us the inside scoop on Artist Power and how we all need to be investing in ourselves.

It's not every day you get to chat with a man who is known as Mr. Hype. Adedayo "Dayo" Kosoko is a photographer, and creator who exudes joy. Everyone who has met him, or worked with him knows that Dayo is going to bring it all the way up. In this conversation David and Dayo chat about what it means to be a first generation American, repping for his people, and the joy that is Black joy.

In this episode David goes Man to Man with the founder of Fit Men Cook, Kevin Curry. The two discuss how mental health led to a wellness revolution, how religion in the Black community can make it hard to transition to mindfulness, and how your mama's sweet potato pie isn't that special.

Against all odds. That's what you'll be thinking after hearing Chris Slate's story. The fitness coach and wellness specialist has been through so much to get to where he is today. Listen in as he shares how he arrived at his now, how he is always evolving, and the intersection of mental wellness always crosses with physical wellness.