Episodios

  • When You Realize Your Homeboy Was Never Your Homeboy

    When You Realize Your Homeboy Was Never Your Homeboy
    Jul 17 2025
    Season 9, Episode 13 of PSA: The Mental Health Podcast marks Izzy Baker’s return to the mic solo for the first time since the premiere, diving headfirst into a conversation most people are too afraid to have: what happens when you realize your homeboy ain’t your homeboy? Blending personal reflection, social media trends, and biblical truth, Izzy explores the emotional and spiritual toll of betrayal between friends, especially among men.

    Using the story of Jonathan and David from 1 Samuel 19–20, he breaks down what true loyalty looks like and how covenant friendship can’t be confused with trauma bonding. Drawing on insights from resources like Psychology Today, Mental Health America, Calm, and Headway, the episode outlines clear signs of toxic friendships: emotional exhaustion, manipulation, subtle competition, and spiritual misalignment. Izzy makes it clear—just because you’ve known someone for years doesn’t mean they’re assigned to your future. He challenges listeners to stop calling jealousy loyalty and to stop mistaking gossip for concern. Throughout the episode, he reflects on times when he ignored the signs, offers perspective on taking accountability, and provides a blueprint for knowing when to make amends—and when to walk away.

    Whether you’ve outgrown someone, been disrespected too many times, or are struggling to hear God through the noise of familiar voices, this episode is for you. You weren’t built to maintain friendships that drain you. You were built to discern, to grow, and to protect your peace. Izzy invites listeners to be honest with themselves and ask: is this really my homeboy—or just someone who’s comfortable with my dysfunction?

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    49 m
  • Justin Bieber, Love Island & Why Young Men Choose the Wrong Type

    Justin Bieber, Love Island & Why Young Men Choose the Wrong Type
    Jul 15 2025
    In this episode, Izzy is rejoined by Jessie Holly of Everyone Can’t Go Podcast for a spicy and surprisingly insightful livestream. They start off with a recap of the latest PSA: The Mental Health Podcast episode about relationship types — diving into the question of whether your “type” is actually your downfall. Jessie and Izzy clash (respectfully) over prenups, trial marriages, and whether the expectations placed on Black love are even realistic anymore.

    From there, the conversation takes an unexpected turn into pop culture, beginning with a playful but pointed debate: should a man be watching Love Island? Is it just entertainment — or is it reshaping how young men view love, masculinity, and their own emotional needs? Jessie’s reaction to the show’s STD testing policies might be one of the funniest moments of the night. But it’s not all jokes.

    The episode ends with a deep reflection on Justin Bieber, who just dropped a new album but appears to be under major distress. Is it burnout? Industry pressure? Or is there something darker at play? Izzy doesn’t shy away from asking the hard questions, including whether or not this is another Diddy-adjacent conspiracy unraveling in plain sight.

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/p-s-a-the-mental-health-podcast--5520511/support.
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    1 h y 1 m
  • Here's Why YOU Keep Picking the Wrong Woman Fam Feat. Nick Brancato

    Here's Why YOU Keep Picking the Wrong Woman Fam Feat. Nick Brancato
    Jul 10 2025
    In Season 9, Episode 12 of PSA: The Mental Health Podcast, Izzy Baker sits down with Nick Brancato — a personal development and relationship coach, former teacher, and creator of the Total Difference Score framework — for a brutally honest look at why so many men keep choosing the wrong partners. Nick opens up about how a crisis in his own marriage pushed him to develop Prioritize Us, his practical system for helping couples align their values and expectations before misalignment turns into heartbreak.

    From teaching web development to coaching high-stakes poker players on decision-making, Nick demonstrates how the same self-discipline applies to love. If your daily actions don’t align with your intentions, your relationships will drift quickly. Together, Izzy and Nick break down the biggest red flags that men ignore, why so many keep trying to “fix” broken relationships instead of choosing wisely from the start, and the harsh truth about what happens when your spiritual life doesn’t guide your love life. They dig into real strategies for communicating your priorities without constant conflict, the risk you take when you avoid hard conversations, and why God’s design for love and sacrifice works — if you actually follow it.

    From Ephesians to Philippians, they connect biblical truth to modern dating struggles, including your first marriage being your trial marriage, and a candid conversation about prenuptial agreements that reminds men that commitment and sacrifice aren’t old-fashioned — they’re the only way to build something that lasts. If you’re tired of toxic patterns, endless situationships, and waiting for God to do what you won’t do for yourself, this conversation is your wake-up call.

    Nick Brancato's Social Media '
    Instagram: @personaldevcoach
    YouTube: ⁨@CognitiveAnthemics⁩
    Website: https://www.nickbrancato.com/

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/p-s-a-the-mental-health-podcast--5520511/support.
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    1 h y 5 m
  • God Didn’t Delay You — You Did. Feat. Andrei D. Nicholes II

    God Didn’t Delay You — You Did. Feat. Andrei D. Nicholes II
    Jul 3 2025
    In this new episode of PSA: The Mental Health Podcast, Izzy Baker sits down with Andrei D. Nicholes II — known to many as Mr. Duffy — for a powerful conversation about what it really means to stop living passively and start moving with purpose.

    Together, they break down why so many men get trapped letting life just “happen” instead of building strategy, setting boundaries, and partnering with God to shape their path. Andrei shares how growing up in Detroit shaped his resilience and why his parents kept him active, invested, and community-minded — lessons that still guide his work today as the founder of Duffy Enterprise, Just Create, and Kingdom Nights.

    This episode doesn’t shy away from the spiritual truth: your goals mean nothing if they don’t align with God’s will. Izzy and Andrei reflect on Proverbs 16:3 and talk practical steps — refining your plans, seeking wisdom in Scripture, praying over every move, and staying humble and teachable when God redirects your path. They unpack why therapy, mentorship, and faith all work together to help men protect their mental health and become stable lights in dark places.
    For any man feeling stuck, distracted, or spiritually stale — this is your reminder that delays aren’t denials, your dreams need discipline, and true legacy is built when you move with Him, not just for you.

    Mr. Duffy's Social Media
    Instagram: @nmrduffyyy
    Website: mrduffy.org

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/p-s-a-the-mental-health-podcast--5520511/support.
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    54 m
  • The Orphan Spirit, Male Vulnerability & True Brotherhood Feat. Nate Evans Jr.

    The Orphan Spirit, Male Vulnerability & True Brotherhood Feat. Nate Evans Jr.
    Jun 26 2025
    This week on Mental Man Monday, Izzy Baker is joined by Nate Evans Jr. — speaker, mentor, and resilience coach — for a powerful and transparent conversation about what it truly means for men to lean on one another.

    Together, they explore how the orphan spirit keeps men isolated, why men often struggle to be vulnerable even with their closest friends, and how faith and therapy can help break those cycles. Nate shares his own journey and his work with “The Refinery,” where he coaches men to process their emotions, overcome rejection, and embrace a new spirit of sonship rooted in acceptance and purpose.

    From practical steps for becoming more emotionally open to unpacking the damaging myths around male independence, Nate and Izzy challenge every listener to go deeper. They also discuss the spiritual cost of competition, the power of celebrating your brothers’ success, and what it means to truly heal your identity. This episode is for any man who’s tired of pretending he’s fine and is ready to embrace the freedom that comes with real community. Listen. Reflect. Break the cycle.

    Nate Evan's Social Media
    Instagram: @nateevansjr
    TikTok: @nateevansjr
    Website: Nate Evans Jr. | Instagram, Facebook | Linktree


    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/p-s-a-the-mental-health-podcast--5520511/support.
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    56 m
  • Lawrence C. Harris Recap, R. Kelly’s Overdose, and David Banner’s “No Devil” Debate

    Lawrence C. Harris Recap, R. Kelly’s Overdose, and David Banner’s “No Devil” Debate
    Jun 25 2025
    After a much-needed week off to celebrate his birthday, Izzy Baker is back solo for this week’s Mental Man Monday. Raw, unfiltered, and glitchy as ever, this episode hits the ground running.

    Izzy opens with a heartfelt recap of the most recent episode of The Mental Health Podcast, featuring Lawrence C. Harris, where they unpack fatherhood, generational wounds, and Lawrence's current relationship with his dad. It’s a powerful conversation to kick off Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month, because healing as men is never overnight.

    Next up, Izzy takes on one of the most shocking headlines of the week: R. Kelly’s jail overdose. Was this a calculated setup to move him to a more secure facility, or is someone working behind the scenes to take him off the chessboard for good? Izzy breaks down the conspiracy theories and what this might mean going forward.

    And finally, Izzy addresses David Banner’s controversial remarks that “there is no devil.” Izzy isn’t buying it. He challenges the idea that rewriting spiritual reality somehow erases the consequences of sin, especially for Black men. Personal responsibility matters, but so does acknowledging that the fight for your soul is real. This episode is more than pop culture commentary—it’s a reminder that your mental, emotional, and spiritual health all matter. Especially right now.

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/p-s-a-the-mental-health-podcast--5520511/support.
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    27 m
  • Disowned. Chosen. Delivered. Feat. Lawrence C. Harris

    Disowned. Chosen. Delivered. Feat. Lawrence C. Harris
    Jun 12 2025
    In Season 9, Episode 9 of PSA: The Mental Health Podcast, Izzy Baker sits down with speaker, youth mentor, and resilience advocate Lawrence C. Harris for a raw, emotional deep dive into legacy, identity, and survival. This is a Father's Day episode like no other, and a salute to Men's Mental Health Awareness Month. Disowned by his father at just 13, Lawrence opens up about the trauma of abandonment, the cycles we unconsciously repeat, and the emotional cost of being “the one” chosen to break generational curses. But he also shares the grace in it — the strength he found through therapy, the healing power of forgiveness, and the spiritual perspective that helped him reclaim his story.

    Together, Izzy and Lawrence unpack what it really means to build something new without burning down what came before. From the burden of unspoken family expectations to the myth of being a “strong Black man,” this episode explores how inherited trauma, cultural programming, and religious pressure often shape men more than we realize. Lawrence opens up about the moment he realized he had been operating from CTSD (Complex Traumatic Stress Disorder) rather than PTSD, and why that distinction matters. They also touch on pop culture references like Tyler Perry and the movie The Cookout to reflect on how media mirrors our messy family legacies.

    From spiritual reflections on Abraham leaving his father’s house (Genesis 12:1) to confronting the difference between honoring your family and enabling dysfunction, this episode is a wake-up call for every man silently carrying the weight of his last name. Lawrence and Izzy ask the hard questions: Can you forgive your abuser? Are you living your assignment, or your ancestor’s regret?

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/p-s-a-the-mental-health-podcast--5520511/support.
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    1 h y 21 m