This is more than an episode. This is a milestone.

Episode 100 of Speaking With Gravity celebrates 100 conversations centered on Black mental health, self-awareness, and growth—and it marks the release of Undrafted and Purposed, the debut book by our executive producer and founder, Kervin Searles.

If you were drawn to Shannon Sharpe’s conversation with Dr. Cheyenne Bryant, this episode creates a unique lane—real talk about reflection, purpose, emotional growth, and healthy relationships in the African-American community, grounded in lived experience and clinical insight.

In this episode, the hosts reflect on what it means to feel “less than,” how early experiences shape adulthood, and how self-awareness, connection, and commitment can change how we live, love, and lead. While this episode celebrates longevity and consistency, it also invites you into the why behind the work—and the book born out of it.

🎉 100 episodes in. Still standing. Still growing. Still purposed.

• Honest reflections on feeling overlooked, underestimated, and “undrafted”

• How childhood experiences quietly shape adult identity and relationships

• Why self-awareness is foundational to healing, especially for Black men

• The difference between healthy growth and unhealthy comparison

• How connection and community protect mental health

• Why commitment—not motivation—sustains purpose

• The story and message behind Undrafted and Purposed

Rooted in real experiences and clinical insight, Undrafted and Purposed explores how men—and especially Black men—can reclaim identity, build healthy relationships, and lead intentionally without needing external validation. The book is structured around Self-Awareness, Connection, and Commitment, themes deeply explored throughout this episode.

00:00 — Welcome to Episode 100
Celebrating the journey, the growth, and the purpose behind Speaking With Gravity

01:50 — The People Want To Know: Feeling “Less Than”- Where It Starts
Personal stories of being overlooked, underestimated, and internalizing identity

08:20 — The Meaning Behind the Title “Undrafted and Purposed”
How early experiences quietly shape adult decisions and self-worth

14:45 — Reaching 100 Episodes: How does it feel?
Not just longevity but consistency first. The initial purpose, the current purpose and how it connects to Black mental health advocacy.

18:30 — Self-Awareness: Knowing Who You Are
Why awareness is the foundation of growth and not perfection.

25:40 — Connection: Why Healing Doesn’t Happen Alone
Knowing the difference between healthy vs. unhealthy and the myth of isolation

32:30 — Boundaries, Triggers, and Emotional Intelligence
How self-awareness shows up in relationships and conflict

38:55 — Commitment: Staying the Course When Life Happens
Discipline, purpose, and finishing what you start—even during hardship. Personal story of staying the course.

43:20 — Undrafted and Purposed: The Book
Where to find this book.

46:30 — Final Reflections
100 down. Still building. Still becoming.

While our listeners numbers may fluctuate, the community continues to grow because conversations like this meet people where they are. This episode isn’t chasing algorithms; it’s serving people.

If you’re navigating purpose, emotional growth, or healing within your community—this episode is for you.

📖 Undrafted and Purposed is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble (online), WalMart, and at gravitycounselinggroup.com

🎙️ Follow Speaking With Gravity on Spotify, YouTube, and Facebook

🧠 For counseling and support: Gravity Counseling Group

Episode 99 is here — “Invisible Battles: When Smiles Hide the Struggle.” In this powerful conversation, Joshua, Hannah, and Terance unpack the quiet realities so many people carry: anxiety, depression, grief, and trauma that get hidden behind “I’m good,” overworking, humor, or staying busy. They talk about why masking feels safer, how psychological safety matters not just at work but in families and relationships, and what it looks like to move from survival mode into healing mode.

If you’ve ever felt like you had to be strong all the time… this one’s for you.

What you’ll hear in this episode:

• The phrases we use to convince people we’re okay when we aren’t

• How “invisible battles” show up as busyness, achievement, avoidance, or silence

• Why safe spaces and psychological safety are essential for mental wellness

• The cost of masking: burnout, loneliness, and emotional spillover

• Learning to recognize the signs of masking and start unmasking

• Building a plan for hard days before they arrive

• Encouragement to seek therapy, support, and community care

Whether you’re a returning listener or new to Speaking With Gravity, this episode reminds us: hiding doesn’t help you heal — confronting the truth does.

00:00 — Welcome back + Road to Episode 100
02:00 — “The people want to know…”: What do you say when you’re not okay?
06:30 — Patterns, safe spaces, and why we keep it surface-level
10:15 — Psychological safety beyond the workplace
12:50 — Inner work, self-awareness, and emotional freedom
16:15 — QD of the Hour: stats on stigma, masking, burnout
19:10 — Why masking feels easier… until it doesn’t
22:40 — Survival mode vs. healing mode in our community
26:30 — “Push in public, coach in private” and what that teaches us
30:45 — Unaddressed struggles becoming physical and visible
33:45 — Entertainment diet, social media, and avoidance
40:15 — When is the best time to stop masking? Build your plan now
46:40 — Personalized healing plans + recognizing your masking signs
49:05 — Final takeaways: hiding doesn’t heal

Connect with us:
Follow @speakingwithgravity for clips, reflections, and community.
Need support? Gravity Counseling Group is here for your mental health journey.

Listen, share, and subscribe — because everything affects everything.

Welcome back to Speaking With Gravity, where everything affects everything.
In Episode 98, Joshua, Hannah, and Terance dive deep into how media, music, social platforms, and entertainment shape our emotions, mental health, habits, identity, and even cultural norms. From hip-hop and gospel to TikTok and reality TV, the crew unpacks how our entertainment diet influences the way we show up every day—often without us even realizing it.

This episode is perfect for listeners struggling with social comparison, emotional triggers, stress, or unhealthy media habits—and for anyone wanting to be more intentional about the content they allow in their mind and space.

00:00 – Welcome to Episode 98
Joshua, Hannah, and Terance set the stage and shout out Executive Producer Kervin Searles and Winston Stewart of Winston J. Stewart Photography.

01:28 – “What You Wanna Know?” Icebreaker: One Artist Forever
The hosts share which single artist they’d keep if they had to delete every other from their playlist—and why. From John Coltrane to Lauryn Hill to Sounds of Blackness, their answers say a lot.

04:23 – QD of the Hour: What Research Says About Media & Mental Health
Hannah shares APA research showing how TV, music, and social platforms impact stress, sleep, and self-esteem. The team breaks down how even subconscious exposure affects us.

06:07 – Social Comparison: The Hidden Consequence of Scrolling
A conversation about comparing real life to others’ highlight reels—and how it creates feelings of inadequacy and burnout.

10:19 – Emotional Triggers & Consuming Content While Sad
The hosts explore how media triggers emotions, especially during hard moments, with examples like the George Floyd video and the rabbit-hole effect of TikTok.

14:31 – Cultural Norms, Messaging & Intergenerational Trauma
From hip-hop lyrics to gospel music, the crew discusses how media creates cultural expectations and even reenacts trauma across generations.

18:21 – How Entertainment Shapes Daily Behavior
Music that sparks fights, songs that stir sadness or joy—Joshua and Terance explain how content subconsciously influences our moods and decisions.

20:03 – Entertainment as a Tool vs. Entertainment as a Mask
Is content helping us grow, or helping us hide? The hosts break down how people use media personas to cope with insecurity.

24:39 – Fun Segment: Top Five Artists (and Comedians!)
A lighthearted moment as the hosts name the artists and performers who shaped their worldview—from Maxwell and Kirk Franklin to Bernie Mac and Dave Chappelle.

31:18 – Beyond Music: Media Also Includes Photography & Art
Shoutout to Winston J. Stewart and how visual media also influences identity and creativity.

32:17 – Takeaways: Intentional Consumption & Setting Boundaries
A powerful closing message about monitoring your entertainment diet, modeling healthy habits for children, and setting limits online.

34:51 – The Positive Side of TikTok & Being Yourself
Hannah highlights how TikTok encourages authenticity over perfection.

35:54 – Closing & What’s Next: Chapter 99 on the Road to 100
The hosts remind listeners: everything affects everything—and tease the milestone episode ahead.

Follow @speakingwithgravity on all platforms for clips, updates, and new episodes.