The He's Just Podcasts

Alia Dastagir a former USA Today reporter whose powerful work on gender and mental health has earned some of journalism’s top honors, including the Rosalynn Carter Fellowship for Mental Health Journalism. Her reporting was recognized with a National Headliner Award and the American Association of Suicidology’s first Public Service Journalism Award, Alia has been featured on CNN, NPR, and C-SPAN.”“Today we’re talking with Alia about her new book, To Those Who Have Confused You To Be a Person: Words as Violence and Stories of Women’s Resistance Online. It’s a profound exploration of how languag...

As a young boy, Dr. Emilio M. Justo fled Fidel Castro’s oppressive regime with his family, carrying nothing but hope and the determination to build a better life. That journey shaped the values that define him today—resilience, discipline, and a deep belief in the power of delayed gratification. By the age of 23, Dr. Justo earned his medical degree, from the University of Michigan, completed his ophthalmology and oculoplastic surgery training by 27, and soon after opened the doors to his own practice.Now a two-time TEDx speaker with a global following, Dr. Justo’s talks… “Delayed Gratificat...

Lisa Morgan, Breakthrough & Empowerment Coach whose work goes far beyond traditional life coaching. With a background as a Certified Professional Coach, Board-Certified Music Therapist, with three decades of personal life-experiences, Lisa digs deep into inner healing, She helps her clients release subconscious blocks, heal from past trauma, and reclaim their voice. Lisa's methods of trauma-informed, spiritually grounded techniques, are rooted in somatic wisdom. Lisa doesn’t just talk about transformation, she facilitates soul-level breakthroughs, that are felt in the body, rewired in the nervous system, and anchored in the heart. Today we talk to Lisa about a book she co...

Despite his many accolades, Dean Tolson counts learning to read and write—something he didn’t achieve until the age of 33, as his greatest accomplishment.A former NBA player and motivational speaker, Dean’s journey began in the ghettos of Kansas City, Missouri. From humble beginnings, he rose to become one of the top high school basketball players in the nation. He went on to play at the University of Arkansas and served honorably in the U.S. Army during his college years.Dean’s dream of going pro came true when he was drafted by the S...

Kathy Allan is a Board-Certified Holistic Nurse with 60 years of experience in nursing. She is a retired Healing Touch Certified Instructor, and Somatic Experiencing Practitioner. Kathy has extensive training in energy medicine. Her trauma expertise includes Somatic Experiencing International, where she assists in PTSD practitioner training, as well as Touch Training for Psychotherapists, NARM, and NeuroAffective Touch. Kathy is also the founder of The Gutsy Nurse (www.thegutsynurses.com), a platform dedicated to transforming the nursing profession. Her mission is to reignite passion, increase aliveness, and restore balance and harmony in nurses and the systems in which they work—cr...

Corinna Barrett Lain is the S. D. Roberts & Sandra Moore Professor of Law at the University of Richmond School of Law. She is one of the nation’s leading authorities on the death penalty, presenting her work at national and international conferences and publishing in the top law journals in the country. Lain is also one of the leading voices on criminal justice in Virginia more broadly, serving as the principal co-author of a four-volume treatise on Virginia criminal law and procedure, and regularly lecturing at annual conferences for the Virginia bench and bar. She is a former prosecutor, a...

Women in business continue to face diverse challenges and opportunities. Dr. Marina Gerner, an award-winning financial journalist and columnist, has contributed to The Economist, The Wall Street Journal, The Times, Financial Times, The Guardian, and Wired. She is also an adjunct professor at NYU’s Stern School of Business and holds a PhD from the London School of Economics.In her latest book, “The Vagina Business, The Innovative Breakthroughs that Could Change Everything in Women's Health." Gerner explores groundbreaking innovations in femtech health— that have the potential to transform medicine, science, and business. Backed by research grants from t...

We all face life-changing moments that test our resilience and drive us toward change. For Deborah Mallow—better known as the ‘Ray of Sunshine' these moments fueled her mission to help others transform negative habits into positive ones.Deborah is a dynamic motivational speaker, success coach, and author of “6 Steps to Fewer Days That Suck.” Listen in to Mallow’s journey and her inspiring message of resilence. After earning a degree in Textile Design and Business from Syracuse University, she built a thriving design and licensing company before making a bold pivot into biotech sales—where she became the...

In this episode, we sit down with Susan Sturm, Columbia Law professor and author of What Might Be: Confronting Racism to Transform Our Institutions. Susan received Columbia’s Presidential Teaching Award and co-authored Who’s Qualified with Lani Guinier. A passionate advocate for equity and inclusion, Susan challenges us to rethink how we build fair and welcoming spaces in our communities, workplaces, and beyond. She shares powerful insights on the foundational pillars of justice and how we can take meaningful action to drive lasting change. Join us for an inspiring conversation about whats possible when we commit to transformation. What...

Aaron Johnson is a public speaker, facilitator, and touch activist who practices closeness as a way to break down barriers between people. His Ted Talk Chronically Under Touched- “Why I waited 12 months to get a hug, speaks to the power of touch and how it correlates with our Mental Health, history, and identity. Aaron is the co-founder of both Holistic Resistance and Grief to Action, He takes the time to hold the stories of Black people around homophobia, transphobia, internalized racism, and those that are Chronically UnderTouched. Today we discuss Aarons’ short film "Dark and Tender" which follows ten Blac...

John Lee Hooker Jr., the son of blues legend John Lee Hooker, grew up immersed in music but struggled with drug addiction and crime for decades, leading to multiple stints in prison, including Soledad, Santa Rita and San Quentin. Despite surviving shootings and stabbings, he eventually turned his life around, becoming a successful blues artist. His first album, Blues with a Vengeance, was released in 2004, nominated for a Grammy Award, and won the W. C. Handy Award for Debut Artist. His third album, All Odds Against Me, released in 2008, also received a Grammy nomination. In 2019, he fully embraced his...

The David Crespi case is a tragic story of mental illness, family devastation, and a system that failed to prevent a crisis. On January 20, 2006, Crespi, a Charlotte bank executive, called 911 and confessed to fatally stabbing his 5-year-old twin daughters, Samantha and Tessera.Award-winning writer Edward L. Jones III joins us to discuss his first book, “Medication, Mental Illness, and Murder: What Really Killed the Crespi Twins” (Rowman & Littlefield, March 2025). Through a compassionate lens, Ed examines the Crespi family’s painful journey, the role of psychiatric medication, and the broader failures in mental health care. Was this murder, or a p...

Season 8, Episode 2 of The He's Just Podcast is a deeply personal and eye-opening solo project, diving into the inescapable truths that life throws our way. In this episode, I share my own experience of exposure to and survival from a narcissist, offering raw insights into the emotional toll and lasting impact of such encounters. Through a mix of storytelling and practical advice, I break down how to recognize red flags, set firm boundaries, and embark on a path toward healing. No one walks away from these situations unchanged, but with the right strategies and techniques, survival turns into growth...

Season 8 He’s Just Premiere, we are joined by Dr. Alyson J. McGregor, a leading expert in sex and gender differences in medicine. Alyson is a Professor of Emergency Medicine and Associate Dean at the University of South Carolina School, Greenville. Dr. McGregor has dedicated her career to addressing how male-centric medical research impacts women’s health. McGregor has published over 100 peer-reviewed articles, co-founded the Division of Sex and Gender in Emergency Medicine at Brown University, and is an international advocate for women’s health equity. Her TEDx talk, Why Medicine Often Has Dangerous Side Effects for Women, has two mi...

Season 7 Finale, Jordan Grumet physician, author and podcast host with expertise in both medicine and personal finance. Doc G’ passion for financial independence led to the launch of the Earn & Invest Podcast in 2018 which won the Plutus Award for Best New Personal Finance Podcast 2019 while receiving additional nominations in 2020 and 2021. As an author his debut book “Taking Stock: A Hospice Doctor’s Advice on Financial Independence, Building Wealth, and Living a Regret-Free Life" was published in 2022. Today we talk about his new book “The Purpose Code” where he speaks to and explores the intersectionality of wealth, and living a meaningful...

Eric Drooker, is a visionary artist whose work bridges street art, fine art, and graphic novels. Eric’s creations have earned a place in renowned institutions like the Whitney Museum, MoMA, the Brooklyn Museum, and the Library of Congress.Eric’s groundbreaking Flood!: A Novel in Pictures won the American Book Award, and his follow-up, Blood Song, is being adapted into a major motion picture. Now, after eight years in the making, he’s back with Naked City: A Graphic Novel, a masterful work that tells the story of three bohemians—a painter, a street dancer, and an aspiring musician...

As a society, we strive for equitable outcomes and inclusive models to create structures that support everyone. Karen Catlin, an acclaimed author and speaker, has written four influential books, including her most recent work, Better Allies: Everyday Actions to Create Inclusive, Engaging Workplaces. Join us for an insightful conversation with Karen as she shares her knowledge and experiences, offering practical strategies to help us build diverse and inclusive environments. Her weekly 5 Ally Actions newsletter, reaching over 40,000 subscribers, equips individuals and organizations with actionable tools to foster belonging and drive meaningful change. Through her writing, speaking, and coaching, Karen inspires...

Burnout- Is the driving force behind emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion. It affects everything from our productivity to our relationships and even leading to substance abuse, job loss, and worse.Finding our balance and maintaining positive energy isn’t easy, especially for high-achieving professionals. Meet Dr Jessi Gold Chief Wellness Officer for the University of Tennessee System, Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, and author of the national bestseller How Do You Feel? One Doctor’s Search for Humanity in Medicine. Dr. Gold is on a mission to explore the truths we often avoi...

Dr. Rebecca Winthrop is a senior fellow and Director of the Center for Universal Education at the Brookings Institution. With a focus on global education, she works to equip young people with the skills they need to thrive in work, life, and civic engagement. Co-author of The Disengaged Teen: Helping Kids Learn Better, Feel Better, and Live Better, she explores innovative strategies to improve education, particularly for marginalized youth using her four learning modes. Winthrop advises governments and organizations worldwide and lectures at Georgetown University, driving efforts to make education more inclusive and impactful. In this powerful conversation Rebecca...

Lynette Watkins is an acclaimed artist and author of the thought-provoking book, Can it be that Some Chains Are Mere Shadows? A Visual Journey From Darkness to Light. Renowned for her lifelong passion for music and the arts, Lynette’s work reflects a deep connection to emotional and spiritual exploration.Her illustrative and painted works have been exhibited across the United States and Europe, captivating audiences with their vivid storytelling and evocative imagery. With a career marked by numerous exhibitions, Lynette’s art has found homes worldwide, blending universal themes of struggle, transformation, and hope.<p...