Session 489: The Revelation of Dionne Daphne with Mara Brock Akil

From Therapy for Black Girls · 55:10

Show by iHeartPodcasts and Joy Harden Bradford, Ph.D.

Mara Brock Akil spent 30 years building worlds on screen, and her debut novel asked her to go somewhere screenwriting never did. Mara joins Dr. Joy to talk about The Revelation of Dionne Daphne, the story she first tried to tell in the ’90s, and what it took to give a character her own experience with childhood sexual abuse. She also gets into the friendships that hold us until we can hold ourselves, the urgency that comes from facing your own mortality, and how compartmentalizing went from a survival skill to something she’s learning to put down. Dr. Joy and Mara discuss: Moving from screenwriting to a novel, and why the book left her nowhere to hide How she supported herself while writing, from weekly therapy to her mother who always picks up the phone Fasting during her last major writing stretch and promising herself she’d give the advance back if she didn’t love the book Why she wanted readers to look at their shame and put it down The two-week wait for an HIV test in the ’90s and how it shaped Dionne’s story Why she calls girlfriends our surrogate parents, and what she understands now about Girlfriends that she didn’t 25 years ago What she thinks women her age gained from a generation that paused for their mental health The readers who wished the book had a trigger warning, and why she sees it differently Compartmentalizing as a survival skill and learning presence instead Her relationship with God and creating as co-creation What’s coming in season two of Forever Content note: This episode includes discussion of childhood sexual abuse. About the Podcast The Therapy for Black Girls Podcast is a weekly conversation with Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, a licensed Psychologist in Atlanta, Georgia, about all things mental health, personal development, and all the small decisions we can make to become the best possible versions of ourselves. Resources & Announcements Want to reflect on this conversation in community? Join us inside our Patreon community where we’re unpacking this episode together. You can now catch episodes of the Therapy for Black Girls podcast on YouTube. Be sure to subscribe to get new episodes every week. Did you know you can leave us a voice note with your questions for the podcast? If you have a question you'd like some feedback on, topics you'd like to hear covered, or want to suggest movies or books for us to review, drop us a message at memo.fm/therapyforblackgirls and let us know what’s on your mind. We just might share it on the podcast. Grab your copy of Sisterhood Heals. Connect with Dr. Joy on Instagram. Where to Find Our Guest Instagram Grab your copy of The Revelation of Dionne Daphne Stay Connected​ Is there a topic you'd like covered on the podcast? Submit it at therapyforblackgirls.com/mailbox. If you're looking for a therapist in your area, check out the directory at https://www.therapyforblackgirls.com/directory. Grab your copy of our guided affirmation and other TBG Merch at therapyforblackgirls.com/shop. The hashtag for the podcast is #TBGinSession. Make sure to follow us on social media: Instagram: @therapyforblackgirls Facebook: @therapyforblackgirls Our Production Team Executive Producers: Dennison Bradford & Gabrielle Collins Director of Podcast & Digital Content: Ellice Ellis Producer: Ndeye Thioubou Production Assistant: Bria MosleySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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