How has trauma shaped your identity? For Kat Rivas, the journey to understanding who she is started with healing a childhood trauma that followed her for over 20 years. Kat's vulnerability, self awareness and therapeutic support helped her release a lot of shame and pain associated with sexual assault. Today, Kat hopes that her story will help listeners feel less alone and supported in uncovering all that they are, despite the trauma that happened to them

Asking for support is difficult. Trusting others with your pain is hard. Staying in your depression and feeling the walls close in, is the hardest. The beautiful relief of support helps you manage the difficult spells and reminds you that the thoughts that say you aren't worthy, ARE LYING!! You are worthy of love, support and life. Hopefully this episode reminds you of this. For some support, check out this links:

https://therapyforblackgirls.com/

https://blackmenheal.org/

https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline

Stigmas associated with certain health conditions makes it so difficult for people to seek the support they need to manage and deal with their diagnosis. Youth Herpes Advocate, Shanaya Brigham, refuses to let people remain in shame after being diagnosed with herpes. Her vulnerability and fearlessness allows her followers to find important resources and tips for living and thriving with herpes.

This meditation wants to thank you for doing your best today. Take in the words, follow the prompts and offer yourself some grace and gratitude during this listen. You deserve it.

This episode will make you cry!! The conversation of scarcity mindset has such deep roots and when you start tugging, you realize how much of your self worth is wrapped around your experiences with abundance. Kemi Marie is a spiritual advisor, a healer and a powerful truth teller. They produce the kind of work that supports people on the journey to find themselves. This episode has tons of gems and I suggest you take notes!!!

This episode is beautiful and powerful. Poet, body positive activist and therapist Layla from @embraceimperfections_ is amazing at relaying her experience in the most healing way. If you've been look for a way to revolutionize your relationship with your body, this episode is a great start.

Meditations are a big part of Vulnerable City. Take some time today and acknowledge the amazing work that our bodies do everyday. Honoring your body is honoring the human experience that you are having. Enjoy and Welcome to Vulnerable City.

Implicit Bias is a condition that effects EVERYONE. Taking some time and recognize how your learned behaviors from upbringing, media consumption and community influence can negatively impact how you view others. This episode with Vulnerable City favorite, Dyna Tucker, takes listeners on an educational journey. Strap in and enjoy.

Meditations are a big part of Vulnerable City. As an end of the year treat, a meditation on self acceptance will help you enter a new chapter in your life with grace and love. 

In this episode, KettyJoe discusses the power of accepting yourself and how that act can change EVERYTHING. No matter what you are accomplishing in this life, if you do not accept yourself, you'll always feel like you aren't doing enough. Enjoy the episode and tell us in the comments how self acceptance has changed you.