Soul Conversations with Z: Healing in The Raw

In Soul Conversations with Z - Episode 21: A Journey Back to You: A Conversation About Freedom, Zachyra Rodriguez, LCSW, sits down with Dr. Rekishia McMillan and Pastor Thumbelina Newsome for a candid conversation about identity, healing, and what it really means to feel free in who God created you to be.
They reflect on the moments that forced them to pause, reevaluate, and begin finding their way back to themselves. If you have ever felt disconnected from who you are, questioned your purpose, or wondered what freedom could look like in your own life, this conversation is for you.
 
Reserve your spot today for the Freedom Experience --> https://forms.gle/zEgmjgVo3Yc644Sk7
 
Additional Resources:
View more from Dr. Rekishia McMillan: https://linktr.ee/rekishiamcmillan
View more from Pastor Thumbelina Newsome: https://www.thumbelinanewsome.com/

In Soul Conversations with Z – Episode 20: More Than What Happened, Zachyra Rodriguez and guest Michelle Koroseta explore the powerful journey of discovering identity beyond trauma, roles, and societal labels. Together, they unpack how life experiences, expectations, and even personal narratives can shape, but not define, who we are at our core. This episode invites listeners to break free from limiting identities and embrace a deeper, more authentic sense of self.

In Soul Conversations with Z – Episode 19: When Trauma Steals a Child’s Voice, Zachyra Rodriguez sits down with Dr. Rowena Moore to unpack the powerful connection between trauma and a child’s ability to communicate. Together, they explore how trauma, beginning as early as the womb, can impact language development, emotional expression, and a child’s ability to process and share their experiences . This eye-opening conversation brings awareness, compassion, and practical insight into helping children find their voice in the midst of pain.

In this episode of Soul Conversations with Z, Zachyra Rodriguez and Christian DiMola address a deeply hidden and often unspoken battle many men face. With honesty and compassion, they explore the intersection of pornography, shame, and faith, and how silence within the church can intensify the struggle. This episode creates space for truth, healing, and accountability, reminding listeners that freedom begins where secrecy ends.
 
Additional Resources from Christian:
Connect with Christian: Christian DiMola, Licensed Professional Counselor, Knoxville, TN, 37938 | Psychology Today
Codependents Anonymous - Christian based support group https://coda.org/
Celebrate Recovery - need to be in a Christian based 12 step program, this groups covers all addictions, need to find a sponsor/accountability partner https://celebraterecovery.com/
Emotional Recovery Clinic - Christian based, this is not focused on porn, but it addresses the emotional/trauma issues that can trigger porn use https://emotionalrecoveryclinic.org/
Codependent No More by Melody Beattie  -  https://amzn.to/4uKfF82 Christian based, at the root of all dysfunctional and addictive behaviors is codependency. IMHO, if you do not deal with codependency you will not be truly sober, a foundational book.
Boundaries by Townsend and Cloud -https://amzn.to/3ScAThn Christian based, addicts typically do not have boundaries, they need to learn how to create boundaries for themselves and their recovery, and within their relationships, a foundational book.
The White Book for SA -https://amzn.to/4gtYNic  a must read for recovering addict
 

In this episode of Soul Conversations with Z, Zachyra Rodriguez dives into the emotional roots of eating habits with Rekishia McMillan, revealing how food often becomes a coping mechanism for unresolved pain, stress, and trauma. Through an honest and insightful conversation, they explore how emotional eating is less about hunger and more about what’s “eating at you,” highlighting the connection between trauma, control, and the body’s response to stress . This episode invites listeners to reflect on their relationship with food, confront underlying emotional triggers, and begin the journey toward healing from the inside out
Additional Resources:-Rock Your World Naturally: 7 Divine Keys to Unlock Extraordinary Health: https://amzn.to/3OQwuPX
-Integrative Medicine for Energy and Health | Weight Loss, Energy, Natural Medicine, Hormones:
https://tr.ee/aKdE6bMoen-Eat Right 4 Your Type: The Individualized Blood Type Diet Solution by Dr. Peter J. D'Adamo
https://amzn.to/437tGRI

In this episode of Soul Conversations with Z, Zachyra Rodriguez explores how the responses of others can unintentionally complicate the grieving process. She unpacks the ways people minimize, rush, or misunderstand grief, and how these “grief blockers” can leave us feeling unseen and unsupported. This episode offers insight, validation, and gentle guidance on honoring your grief while navigating the expectations of others.
Additional Resources:-Through the Eyes of a Lion: Facing Impossible Pain, Finding Incredible Power by Levi Lusko https://amzn.to/4v5IV9Z 
-A Grief Observed by C.S. Lewis https://amzn.to/3PV9sHZ
-GriefShare Grief & Loss Support Groups: https://www.griefshare.org/
 

Have you ever felt off but couldn't explain why — even when the bloodwork came back fine? In this episode of Soul Conversations with Z, Zachyra Rodriguez sits down with integrative medicine provider and Air Force veteran Rekishia McMillan, who shares her own seven-year journey of being dismissed, overmedicated, and unheard — until she found answers through both prayer and holistic health. Together they explore the connection between mental, physical, and spiritual wellness, unpacking what your body is actually trying to tell you when it speaks. From blood type nutrition to the overlooked power of sleep, this conversation challenges women to stop powering through and start tuning in — because healing the whole you means leaving nothing outside the room.
 
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Rock Your World Naturally: 7 Divine Keys to Unlock Extraordinary Health: https://amzn.to/3OQwuPX
Integrative Medicine for Energy and Health | Weight Loss, Energy, Natural Medicine, Hormones: https://tr.ee/aKdE6bMoen
Eat Right 4 Your Type: The Individualized Blood Type Diet Solution by Dr. Peter J. D'Adamo https://amzn.to/437tGRI 

Are you reacting to your partner or to the younger version of them? In this episode of Soul Conversations with Z, Zachyra Rodriguez unpacks the deeper meaning behind relationship conflict, exploring the dynamic between the pursuer and the avoider and how past wounds shape present reactions. She reveals how our bodies respond to what feels familiar, not always what’s right, and invites listeners to look beyond the moment to what’s being protected underneath. Through the art of listening well, this episode challenges you to move from reacting to truly understanding.

In this episode, we celebrate women in social work and therapy, exploring the strength, compassion, and resilience it takes to carry both personal and professional responsibilities. Through heartfelt stories, the conversation reveals the unseen emotional labor behind the work and how identity, culture, and lived experiences shape the way women show up to heal others.

In this episode of Soul Conversations with Z, Zachyra Rodriguez introduces her powerful Relationship Basket Framework, a practical way to understand where people truly belong in our lives. She explores how misplaced expectations create heartbreak and how shifting relationships into the right “basket” can bring clarity, peace, and healthier boundaries.