How I Ally

It’s time to say it out loud—vagina—and stop the shame. Lucinda Koza talks with Saundra Pelletier, CEO of Evofem Biosciences, about why accurate language saves lives, the first non-hormonal, on-demand birth control, and how to raise informed, empowered daughters and sons. Plus—the surprising link between weight-loss drugs and birth control.
Listen, learn, and join the movement to reclaim women’s health and equality.

In this powerful conversation, Lucinda Koza talks with her longtime friend Melissa Gillis — caregiver, mom of twins, and therapist — about navigating life after a decade of caring for her mom with Huntington’s Disease. They share honest reflections on anticipatory grief, meeting loved ones where they are, finding your “tribe,” and letting go of toxic positivity.
With equal parts humor, raw truth, and hope, they explore how to:
Accept your loved one’s changing abilities without forcing the past
Hold both love and frustration in caregiving
Rebuild your identity after your role shifts
Prepare your kids to handle life’s messiness
Whether you’re deep in the caregiving trenches or on the other side, this episode will remind you: it’s possible to feel balanced, fulfilled, and whole again.
🎧 Listen now for real stories, laughter, and life-changing perspective.
Contact Melissa Gillis for caregiver coaching services: [email protected] 

What does it mean to truly show up for someone? In this powerful episode, Lucinda Koza speaks with psychologist and trauma specialist Dr. Kirsten Viola Harrison about her decade-long friendship with Sean/a—an intersex woman who overcame the hardest obstacles of homelessness and schizophrenia to become a beacon of strength and joy.
Together, they explore what happens when we take a chance on one another. From daily Starbucks chats to a worldwide Pride tour, this is the story of two women who changed each other’s lives—and a whole community in the process.
Topics We Cover:
Sean/a’s resilience and life as an intersex woman living unhoused
The emotional and spiritual power of allyship
Post-traumatic growth and surviving the “dark night of the soul”
Living with schizophrenia without medication
Finding hope, dignity, and connection in unexpected places
Guest:
Dr. Kirsten Viola Harrison is a psychologist with 35+ years of experience in trauma work. She is the co-author of I, Sean/a: The Story of a Homeless Intersex Woman Who Inspired a Community.
Resources & Mentions:
📖 I, Sean/a — Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Goodreads
🌐 Learn more about Sean/a’s story on TikTok (1M+ views!)
🗺️ Pride around the world: Sean/a’s first international journey at age 59
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Guest: Dr. Isabel Morgan, Senior Advisor of Maternal Health at the Black Women’s Health Imperative
Episode Summary:
In this powerful and necessary conversation, Dr. Isabel Morgan shares hard truths and hopeful pathways forward in the fight for Black maternal health. As an epidemiologist and anthropologist, she brings both data and deep cultural insight to the conversation—breaking down how racism, medical models, and policy choices converge to create a maternal health crisis in the United States.
Together, we discuss:
Why the U.S. has the worst maternal mortality rates of any high-income country
The racial disparities in cesarean section rates and postpartum outcomes
The midwifery model vs. obstetric care—and why it matters
How implicit bias and structural racism shape healthcare experiences
Why storytelling, data, and advocacy are all critical tools for justice
The importance of the “fourth trimester” and postpartum care
What legislative changes—like the Black Maternal Health Momnibus—can actually save lives
This episode is a call to action—and a reminder that we can fix this.
📣 Resources & Mentions:
Black Women’s Health Imperative (BWHI): https://bwhi.org
Earth App by Kimberly Seals Allers: https://birthplacelab.org/earth-app
Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act
My Sister’s Keeper & BWHI’s doula training programs
💡 Quote of the Episode:
“Eighty percent of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable. This is something we can fix.” — Dr. Isabel Morgan
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Follow & Support:
🎧 Subscribe, rate, and review How I Ally
📲 Follow Lucinda Koza on Instagram: @lucindarogerskoza
📰 Join our newsletter for updates and advocacy tools i-ally.com 

In this episode of How I Ally, host Lucinda Koza sits down with Beth Giannobile, a peer support specialist with Mom2Mom, a New Jersey-based helpline for caregivers of individuals with disabilities. Beth shares her powerful journey from caller to counselor and explains how peer support can break the cycle of isolation so many parents feel after a diagnosis.
 
Together, they explore the emotional toll of caregiving, the unique magic of connecting with someone who’s “been there,” and the importance of centering caregiver wellness. With insights from Rutgers Behavioral Health’s Matthew Buragina, this conversation shines a light on a model of care that’s quietly transforming lives.
 
If you’ve ever felt unseen, unheard, or alone in your parenting journey—this episode is for you.
 
In This Episode:
How Mom2Mom matches callers with peers who truly understand
What happens when the village shrinks—and how to rebuild it
The power of lived experience in support services
Why self-care is more than solo grocery runs
The ripple effect of a single phone call
 
Resources Mentioned:
Learn more: www.mom2mom.us.com
Call the helpline: 1-877-914-MOM2 (6662)
Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care: https://ubhc.rutgers.edu
 
Funded by:
New Jersey Department of Children and Families
Division of Developmental Disabilities

Claudia Charles-Sardine is a powerhouse appellate court attorney, but her most personal case? Advocating for her son, Justin, who is on the autism spectrum. In this deeply moving and inspiring conversation, Claudia shares how her legal training, faith, and Afro-Caribbean roots shape the way she mothers, fights systems, and builds community. From winning appeals to make sure her son gets the support he needs, to creating inclusive spaces in school and church, Claudia’s story is a masterclass in grace and grit.
 
Whether you’re a parent, professional, or both—this one will stay with you.
🔑 Topics We Cover:
What it means to be an Afro-Caribbean woman in the legal field
Navigating the special education system as a parent and attorney
How advocacy begins at home—and extends to every child
Letting go of shame and asking for help
Creating access to faith, friendship, and belonging for neurodivergent kids
The importance of sharing knowledge: “Each one, teach one”
🕰️ Timestamps:
00:00 – Meet Claudia Charles-Sardine: attorney, mother, advocate
02:00 – Growing up in Brooklyn in an Afro-Caribbean family
06:30 – Inside the appellate court system—and how it works
10:15 – Justin’s autism diagnosis: fear, faith, and fierce advocacy
14:45 – Winning an appeal for occupational therapy services
17:30 – The unseen burdens parents carry—and why we need safe spaces to vent
22:00 – A powerful moment of divine reassurance
26:00 – Why she celebrates the smallest milestones
30:00 – Empathy for all parents—and how her perspective has changed
34:00 – The social power of inclusion: from after-school to sacraments
42:30 – Building trust and support with your child’s school
46:00 – Her favorite mantra: “If I want my child to talk, I have to give him something to talk about”
👂 Listen If You’re…
Parenting a child with disabilities
Feeling overwhelmed in the IEP or therapy maze
A professional learning to hold space for families
Looking for real talk, spiritual grounding, and radical hope
📝 Connect with Claudia:
Want to reach out to Claudia? She welcomes connections from fellow parents and advocates.
📧 Email: [email protected]

In this powerful and deeply personal episode, Lucinda Koza is joined by Dr. Lisa De La Rue—licensed psychologist, trauma specialist, and Chief Education and Research Officer at Urban Alchemy—for a candid conversation about parenting through trauma, the stigma surrounding formerly incarcerated mothers, and how healing becomes possible when we give ourselves permission to stumble.
Together, they explore the realities of reparenting yourself while raising children, the hidden mental health crisis in the fourth trimester, and the need to normalize delayed postpartum anxiety and depression. Dr. De La Rue also shares how Urban Alchemy is redefining community care—employing people with lived experience to lead the work of transformation in their own neighborhoods.
Whether you’re a parent, a survivor, or simply someone trying to understand the invisible barriers others face, this episode will move you, ground you, and remind you of the radical power of compassion.
🔑 Topics Covered:
Reparenting while parenting: breaking generational cycles
Trauma, addiction, and the incarceration pipeline
The long shadow of postpartum anxiety
Fatherhood and the subtle stigma against involved dads
How Urban Alchemy is led by people with lived experience
Creating systems rooted in dignity, not judgment
What post-traumatic growth really looks like

Lucinda Koza welcomes Will Acuff—entrepreneur, author, and co-founder of Corner to Corner—for a rich conversation about parenting, purpose, and what it means to truly ally with your community. From playing the Apollo to launching 1,600+ small businesses, Will’s journey defies the expected—and reveals the radical power of showing up with curiosity, compassion, and a theology of neighbor.
Will also opens up about parenting a son with disabilities, his wife’s journey with trauma, and how personal healing has reshaped everything from their marriage to their mission. This episode is a masterclass in turning hardship into joy, over-functioning into empowerment, and burnout into deep, grounded presence.
🔑 Key Topics Covered:
Will’s transition from rock musician to nonprofit co-founder
The power of proximity: what it means to “do life together”
Starting a movement for underestimated entrepreneurs
Parenting a child with autism and rare disease
Trauma work and healing within a marriage
How to stop over-functioning and let others own their journey
Creating space for joy—even when life feels like Everest
📚 Mentioned in This Episode:
Will’s book: No Elevator to Everest (available on Amazon)
Corner to Corner nonprofit: cornertocorner.org
📌 Memorable Quotes:
“When people have the tools to thrive—they thrive.”
“You don’t know what kind of seed you’re holding until you nurture it.”
“Joy and suffering are not opposites—they’re companions.”
🔗 Connect with Will Acuff:
Instagram: @willacuff
Website: cornertocorner.org
Book: No Elevator to Everest
🎧 Listen + Subscribe:
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In this candid and eye-opening episode of How I Ally, Lucinda Koza is joined by relationship coach and therapist Rich Heller, founder of Rich in Relationship. With decades of experience—and deep personal insight—Rich helps parents navigate high-conflict relationships, rekindle emotional connection, and restore safety within their homes.
Together, they explore:
Why new parenthood often becomes a flashpoint for relational stress
How childhood wounds resurface in marriage—and what to do about it
The evolution of modern masculinity and the need for emotional fluency
Practical tools for fighting fair and building connection (hello, “I” statements!)
The deep and often unspoken fear women carry in emotionally unsafe homes
What real emotional safety feels like—and why it’s essential for healthy parenting
This conversation is raw, validating, and essential listening for any couple trying to stay connected in the midst of sleep deprivation, identity shifts, and unhealed emotional baggage.
Favorite quote:
“We pick our partners because we feel safe enough to unpack our stuff around each other. But the problem is—we didn’t give each other that heads up.” – Rich Heller
Connect with Rich:
Website: www.richinrelationship.com
Instagram: @richinrelationship
Podcast: Rich in Relationship – Available on all major platforms
Resources mentioned:
“I” statements framework
The concept of emotional fluency in relationships
Postpartum rage, hormone detox, and parenting dynamics
✨ If this episode resonated with you, please leave a review or share it with someone in the early stages of parenting or partnership. You’re not alone—and you deserve safety and support.

In this deeply resonant episode of How I Ally, Lucinda Koza is joined by Navi Hughes—a board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, therapist, and emotional intelligence coach. Navi opens up about her journey from teen motherhood and widowhood to becoming a fierce advocate for mental health and emotional literacy.
Together, they explore:
How emotional intelligence transforms parenting, relationships, and self-worth
The dangers of ego-led parenting and the myth of the “mini-me”
Raising children—especially neurodivergent children—with emotional safety instead of control
What true empowerment looks like (and how to teach it to your kids)
Why Navi created an emotional intelligence blueprint for those navigating trauma, overwhelm, or autism
How stigma and fear are setting back progress in autism diagnoses and care
The value of saying “I don’t know,” even as a parent or professional
This conversation is an emotional masterclass—equal parts grounding and galvanizing. Whether you’re a parent, practitioner, or simply someone who wants to live with more clarity, this episode is a must-listen.
Guest:
Navi Hughes
Board-Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Emotional Intelligence Coach
Instagram: @thenavihughes
Connect with Lucinda Koza:
Instagram: @lucindarogerskoza
Website: www.i-ally.com
Resources Mentioned:
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
Myers-Briggs Personality Indicator
Navi’s Emotional Intelligence Program (coming soon to her website)
Takeaways:
💡 Emotional intelligence isn’t a trend—it’s the foundation for peace, presence, and power.
🧠 Our children don’t need us to be perfect—they need us to be emotionally aware.
❤️ Real connection happens when we show up without an agenda.
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If this episode moved you, please subscribe, rate, and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your support helps How I Ally reach more people who are navigating big feelings, big changes, and big growth.