Desire Dialogues with Dr. Donna

Relationships And Accountability feat: Jessie Woo

STRANGER FRUIT UNIVERSE — Thu, 14 Aug 2025 05:55:00 -0400

Dr. Donna along with artist, comedian, actress, and host, Jessie Woo, are back for Part 2, and this time, it’s about the accountability we dodge. From protecting people who’ve harmed us to avoiding the hard truths we owe ourselves, this conversation doesn’t let up. Jessie shares how ignoring her intuition cost her peace, and Dr. Donna breaks down how ego, trauma, and survival modes show up in love. This episode pulls no punches.

Dr. Donna: https://www.instagram.com/dr.donnaoriowo/

Jessie Woo: https://www.instagram.com/thejessiewoo/

Pick Up Dr. Donna's Book: https://linkin.bio/dr-donnaoriowo/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAad58YxrrN-tm3lZU3FgfQ3YhXxeQtqU2AOM2XVrPZWuoVRSnz48lHc4Su98Ow_aem_qQHxd3RofjAVRItMR0v9TA

Dating and Relationships: Power vs Partnership feat: Jessie Woo

STRANGER FRUIT UNIVERSE — Thu, 07 Aug 2025 05:55:00 -0400

Dr. Donna Oriowo is joined by artist, comedian, actress, and host, Jessie Woo for a candid conversation about the mess and magic of dating while healing. They get into the tension between power and partnership, why many of us are performing relationships instead of building them, and how trauma, ego, and survival mode show up when love is on the line. From gender roles and submission to pleasure, desire, and what we really want but are afraid to admit, this episode challenges the performance and gets to the heart of connection.

Dr. Donna: https://www.instagram.com/dr.donnaoriowo/

Jessie Woo: https://www.instagram.com/thejessiewoo/

Pick Up Dr. Donna's Book: https://linkin.bio/dr-donnaoriowo/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAad58YxrrN-tm3lZU3FgfQ3YhXxeQtqU2AOM2XVrPZWuoVRSnz48lHc4Su98Ow_aem_qQHxd3RofjAVRItMR0v9TA

What Is Woke?: Freedom vs. Liberation feat: Donovan Thompson

STRANGER FRUIT UNIVERSE — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 05:55:00 -0400

In Part 2 of this powerful conversation, Donovan and Dr. Donna unpack what it really means to be “woke” and why the word was weaponized against Black communities. From the difference between freedom and liberation to the cultural cost of handing over Black art and identity for survival, they trace the long fight to reclaim consciousness in a world that profits from Blackness while policing it. This episode is a call to remember, to resist, and to redefine what staying woke truly means.

Dr. Donna: https://www.instagram.com/dr.donnaoriowo/

Donovan Thompson: https://www.instagram.com/i_am_donovan/

Buy Dr. Donna's Book: https://linkin.bio/dr-donnaoriowo/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAad58YxrrN-tm3lZU3FgfQ3YhXxeQtqU2AOM2XVrPZWuoVRSnz48lHc4Su98Ow_aem_qQHxd3RofjAVRItMR0v9TA

Who Gets To Be Black? feat: Donovan Thompson

STRANGER FRUIT UNIVERSE — Thu, 24 Jul 2025 05:55:00 -0400

Donovan and Dr. Donna get into it—what is Blackness, who gets to claim it, and why it still divides us.

From diaspora beef to cultural theft, they break down how whiteness, colonization, and survival have shaped our understanding of Black identity—and how chasing “freedom” might be costing us real liberation.

Join Dr. Donna and creator, producer, and entrepreneur Donovan Thompson for a very special episode.

Dr. Donna: https://www.instagram.com/dr.donnaoriowo/

Donovan Thompson: https://www.instagram.com/i_am_donovan/

Buy Dr. Donna's Book: https://linkin.bio/dr-donnaoriowo/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAad58YxrrN-tm3lZU3FgfQ3YhXxeQtqU2AOM2XVrPZWuoVRSnz48lHc4Su98Ow_aem_qQHxd3RofjAVRItMR0v9TA

Drink Water And Mind Your Boundaries, Desires and Self-Esteem feat: Dr. Shamyra Howard

STRANGER FRUIT UNIVERSE — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0400

This time, Dr. Donna’s on the other side of the mic. Dr. Shamyra Howard sits down with her to unpack the heart behind Drink Water and Mind Your Business— Dr. Donna's new book that calls out the lies, shame, and silence Black women are taught to carry.

They talk self-esteem without sugarcoating, the cost of people-pleasing, and what it really means to stop performing for love you already deserve. No cliches. No cute answers. Just the clarity and conviction behind the boundaries we need, the desires we’ve buried, and the self-worth that’s always been waiting.

If you’ve been wondering where to start your healing, start here.

Dr. Donna: https://www.instagram.com/dr.donnaoriowo/

Dr. Shamyra: https://www.instagram.com/sexologistshamyra/

Buy Dr. Donna's Book: https://linkin.bio/dr-donnaoriowo/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAad58YxrrN-tm3lZU3FgfQ3YhXxeQtqU2AOM2XVrPZWuoVRSnz48lHc4Su98Ow_aem_qQHxd3RofjAVRItMR0v9TA

What is "The Trans Agenda"? feat: Hope Giselle

STRANGER FRUIT UNIVERSE — Thu, 10 Jul 2025 05:55:00 -0400

Dr. Donna Oriowo is joined by author, organizer, and activist Hope Giselle to call out the fear-mongering and lies behind the so-called trans agenda. They break down how religion, media, and respectability politics are weaponized to silence and erase trans people, especially Black trans women. This is not a debate. It’s a truth-telling session about harm, survival, and the right to exist without apology.

Follow Dr. Donna on social media:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.donnaoriowo

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.donnaoriowo

Follow Hope Giselle on social media:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hopegiselle

Diaspora Wars: Capitalism, Competition and The Cost of Belonging feat: Dr. Tracie Gilbert

STRANGER FRUIT UNIVERSE — Thu, 26 Jun 2025 05:55:00 -0400

Dr. Donna is back with Dr. Tracie Gilbert for Part 2 of their conversation on what’s really fueling the infighting across the Black diaspora. They get into the role of capitalism, trauma, and ego in shaping how we show up for each other, and how we don’t.

From checking "Black cards" to chasing proximity, this episode looks at the cost of trying to belong in systems never built for us. If you’ve ever been in a comment war or caught yourself asking, “Who gets to speak for us?”—this one’s for you.

*We will catch you next time on July 10th with a new podcast episode.

Follow Dr. Donna on social media:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.donnaoriowo

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.donnaoriowo

Follow Dr. Tracie on social media:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tracieg_the_phd/

Diaspora Wars: Trauma, Ego, and The Algorithm feat: Dr. Tracie Gilbert

STRANGER FRUIT UNIVERSE — Thu, 12 Jun 2025 05:55:00 -0400

What happens when cultural wounds meet the comment section? In this thought-provoking episode of Desire Dialogues, Dr. Donna Oriowo sits down with Dr. Tracie Gilbert to untangle the roots of Diaspora Wars, and it’s deeper than you think. From historical traumas and cultural gatekeeping to the ways the algorithm rewards outrage, this conversation gets into the mess of how ego, identity, and survival play out online and off.

Join us today for part one and we will see you back here the week after Juneteenth for Part 2!

Follow Dr. Donna on social media:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.donnaoriowo

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.donnaoriowo

The Cost of Good feat: Stevon Lewis

STRANGER FRUIT UNIVERSE — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 05:55:00 -0400

Dr. Donna Oriowo is back with part two of her conversation with therapist and speaker Stevon Lewis, and they’re getting into the hard stuff: how ego, imposter syndrome, and respectability show up when we hurt people and how we deflect, justify, or perform instead of taking true responsibility.

This episode breaks down why “I didn’t mean to” isn’t enough, and what real growth actually looks like.

If you’ve ever caused harm (and you have), this one’s for you.

Follow Dr. Donna on social media:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.donnaoriowo

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.donnaoriowo

Intention vs Impact feat: Stevon Lewis

STRANGER FRUIT UNIVERSE — Thu, 29 May 2025 05:55:00 -0400

Intentions don’t erase impact — especially when the harm lands.

In this episode of Desire Dialogues, Dr. Donna Oriowo sits down with therapist and speaker Stevon Lewis for a sharp, honest conversation about accountability, growth, and the stories we tell ourselves to dodge both.

They unpack how imposter syndrome, respectability, and unchecked ego creep into our relationships and why “I didn’t mean to” doesn’t clean up the mess it made.

Whether you’ve been harmed or you’re ready to own the harm you’ve done, this one holds up a mirror.

Follow Dr. Donna on social media:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.donnaoriowo

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.donnaoriowo

How Slapping My Aunt Lead To Self-Worth

STRANGER FRUIT UNIVERSE — Thu, 22 May 2025 05:55:00 -0400

Oh, you’re about to hear a story. Dr. Donna takes us back to a moment in her childhood that flipped everything on its head—a time when she slapped her aunt (yes, really) and didn’t just survive to tell the tale, but walked away with a powerful lesson in self-worth. From a single bed in her parents’ house to a first-gen Nigerian-American experience, Dr. Donna opens up about how the pressure to be the “perfect child” almost suffocated her, but that one rebellious moment cracked something wide open.

If you’ve ever felt like you weren’t living your own life or like you had to shrink yourself to meet someone else’s standards, this episode will hit you right in the heart. It’s time to stop pretending, stop shrinking, and start loving who you really are. Get ready to hear about the aunties (literally or metaphorically) who hold you back, and how to smack them out of the way for good.

Follow Dr. Donna on social media:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.donnaoriowo

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.donnaoriowo

You Can’t Heal Without Accountability feat: Nikki Valentine

STRANGER FRUIT UNIVERSE — Thu, 15 May 2025 05:55:00 -0400

In the second part of Dr. Donna Oriowo’s conversation with Nikki Valentine, the discussion goes deeper into the work of breaking free from generational patterns. Nikki talks about how the journey to healing starts with accountability, and why so many of us get stuck in cycles of blame without ever recognizing our own role in breaking the pattern.

They touch on how emotional awareness and accountability can be the keys to reclaiming your life, breaking old wounds, and growing into your most authentic self. Nikki shares how she shifted her mindset, taking ownership of her choices instead of staying in familiar yet unhealthy dynamics. This episode is a must-listen for anyone ready to stop repeating past patterns and take control of their own healing and growth.

Don’t miss out on this powerful conversation that will push you to rethink how you show up for yourself, and how you can take real action to heal and thrive.

Follow Dr. Donna on social media:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.donnaoriowo

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.donnaoriowo

Follow Nikki Valentine on social media:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inikkivalentine

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@inikkivalentine

Healing Parental Wounds feat. Nikki Valentine

STRANGER FRUIT UNIVERSE — Thu, 08 May 2025 05:55:00 -0400

Dr. Donna Oriowo sits down with Nikki Valentine to unpack the complicated dance between living for your parents and living for yourself. They talk about the emotional cost of trying to meet expectations that don’t align with who you truly are. Nikki opens up about her journey of breaking free from the path her parents envisioned for her and finding her own way. In this conversation, you’ll hear how to recognize the limits of parental influence and how to embrace your own desires without guilt. If you’ve ever felt like you’re not living your own life, this episode will make you rethink what truly matters. Get ready for a fresh perspective on how to honor your desires while maintaining love for your family.

Follow Dr. Donna on social media:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.donnaoriowo

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.donnaoriowo

Follow Nikki Valentine on social media:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inikkivalentine

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@inikkivalentine

The Black Church, Sex and Self-Love feat: Kristian A. Smith

STRANGER FRUIT UNIVERSE — Thu, 01 May 2025 05:55:00 -0400

Dr. Donna Oriowo returns with Kristian A. Smith for a bold conversation about desire, self-love, and the Black church’s historical grip on sexuality. Kristian, a disruptor and advocate for spiritual freedom, unpacks how the church’s pathologization of desire has stunted true sexual liberation within the Black community. From the shame surrounding sexuality to the impact of oppressive theology, they discuss how unlearning harmful narratives can empower Black individuals to embrace their sexual autonomy. They also dive into the responsibility of the church to move away from fear-based teachings and into a world where harm reduction and self-love reign supreme. As they dissect how our relationship with God, ourselves, and our bodies has been shaped by generations of religious control, the conversation calls for a radical shift—one that encourages healing, self-discovery, and the freedom to live out our desires without shame. If you’ve ever wondered about the intersection of faith, sexuality, and liberation, this episode is for you.

Follow Dr. Donna on social media:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.donnaoriowo

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.donnaoriowo

Religion, Shame and Sexuality feat: Kristian A. Smith

STRANGER FRUIT UNIVERSE — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 05:55:00 -0400

Dr. Donna Oriowo is back with Kristian A. Smith for part 1 of an eye-opening discussion that challenges the intersection of religion, sexuality, and shame in the Black church. Kristian, a disruptor in his own right, shares his journey from a fifth-generation preacher to questioning the restrictive theology of sin and shame that still plagues so many. Together, they explore how fundamentalist teachings shape our desires, how the church’s obsession with control stifles true sexual liberation, and how the Black community has been conditioned to shame their natural desires. From “don’t wear that” to “don’t do that,” the conversation tackles how we can finally break free from the church’s grip on our pleasure, redefine sin as harm, and create space for sexual freedom in our faith journeys. If you’re ready to unlearn harmful theology and reclaim your pleasure, this episode is a must-listen.

Follow Dr. Donna on social media:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.donnaoriowo

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.donnaoriowo

Setting Social Media Boundaries feat: Dr. Joy Harden Bradford

STRANGER FRUIT UNIVERSE — Thu, 17 Apr 2025 05:55:00 -0400

Dr. Donna Oriowo is back with Dr. Joy for a powerful conversation on setting boundaries in the age of social media. They dive into the mental health impact of endless scrolling, the importance of translating online connections into real-life interactions, and the necessity of engaging in activities that truly bring joy. From playfulness to the complexities of power dynamics in therapy, this episode will help you reclaim your peace in a digital world that constantly promotes the “fix-it” mindset.

Listen now and remember: You’re not a DIY project – you're already enough.

Follow Dr. Donna on social media:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.donnaoriowo

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.donnaoriowo

Mental Health: Social Media, Beauty Politics and Power Dynamics feat: Dr. Joy Harden Bradford

STRANGER FRUIT UNIVERSE — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -0400

In this episode of Desire Dialogues with Dr. Donna, we dive into the complicated intersection of social media, beauty standards, and mental health. Joining Dr. Donna is Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, who will discuss how constant exposure to curated lives and idealized beauty standards on social media impacts our self-worth and mental well-being.

Dr. Donna and Dr. Joy explore the psychological strain caused by the pressure to conform to social media’s beauty politics, and how these unrealistic portrayals of perfection can lead to stress, anxiety, and feelings of inadequacy. They also discuss the rise of parasocial relationships with online influencers and how these one-sided connections influence our expectations of real-world relationships.

The conversation will also highlight how mental health is framed on social media, with a focus on the oversimplification of issues like narcissism and gaslighting, and the dangers of self-diagnosing based on trends. Dr. Donna provides insight into how individuals can set boundaries, protect their peace, and reclaim their sense of self in the digital age.

Key Topics:

• The psychological impact of social media’s curated realities.

• Beauty politics, self-esteem, and mental health in the digital age.

• Parasocial relationships and their effect on real-life connections.

• The oversimplification of mental health issues online and the risks of self-diagnosis.

• Practical advice on managing social media exposure and cultivating mental health in the digital age.

Follow Dr. Donna on social media:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.donnaoriowo

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.donnaoriowo