PODCAST · arts
Dear Melanin KD
by Khady Sarr
Welcome to Dear Melanin KD, a raw, honest, and deeply personal podcast where I, Khady Sarr, take you on a journey through my experiences navigating race, identity, self-worth, love, and growth as a 25-year-old Black woman with West African roots. From overcoming the challenges of being a tall, dark-skinned woman in a society that constantly tries to define beauty standards, to confronting the impact of texturism, colorism, and Black oppression, this podcast explores the complexities of being Black and the emotional, mental, and social hurdles we face every day. In each episode, I dive into the layers of my life, offering real-life reflections on the struggles and triumphs that come with being a first-generation American with Senegalese heritage, who was sent to live in Senegal at a young age. I share intimate stories of the trauma I experienced there, the challenges of adjusting to a new culture, and how returning to America as a pre-teen was a pivotal moment that shaped my se
Episodes
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The Push and Pull of Disorganized Attachment - Breaking the Cycle
In this episode of Dear Melanin KD, I dive deep into the raw reality of living with a disorganized attachment style—the constant push and pull between craving love and running from it. I unpack how my childhood experiences, shaped by emotional starvation and inconsistent caregiving, still affect…
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Columbia, Power, and the Weight of Silence
Being Black at Columbia has always been isolating, but the case of Mahmoud Khalil makes it clear just how disposable we are in these institutions. In this episode, I unpack what it means to exist in a space that was never built for us, to be welcomed for diversity but punished for dissent.…
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“Featurism – The Politics of Our Faces”
From childhood, many of us were made to feel that certain Black features were more “acceptable” than others. It wasn’t just about skin tone—it was about the size of our noses, the fullness of our lips, the shape of our cheekbones. Featurism, like texturism, is rooted in proximity to whiteness,...
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“Texturism – The Politics of Our Roots”
Growing up, I didn’t just learn how to style my hair—I learned what was considered “good” and “bad” hair. I felt it in the backhanded compliments, in the pressure to tame my curls, in the unspoken message that my texture needed to be “fixed.” In this episode, I dive deep into texturism—where it...
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To My Future Husband
This episode of Dear Melanin KD is a deeply personal letter to my future husband, where I reflect on my own journey and the love I hope to share. I open up about the complexities of who I am, acknowledging that I’m a work in progress, still healing from past experiences. I share my desire for a...
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A Letter to My Future Child
In this deeply personal episode of Dear Melanin KD, I open my heart in a letter to my future child—someone I have yet to meet but have already loved for so long. I reflect on my journey through loss, healing, and self-forgiveness, sharing the struggles I faced after making one of the hardest...
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"Microaggressions: Words Hold Weight, Holding People Accountable with Compassion"
In this episode of Dear Melanin KD, I’m diving deep into the topic of microaggressions—those subtle yet harmful comments and actions that can leave a lasting impact. I’ll talk about how these moments have shaped my mental and emotional well-being, and how I’ve been learning to confront them with...
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Why I Chose to Become a Therapist Through Social Work- My Journey, My Purpose
In this deeply personal episode of Dear Melanin KD, I open up about my journey to becoming a therapist through social work. I reflect on my childhood experiences, struggles with identity, and the moments that led me to choose a career where I could help others heal. I talk about the emotional...
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The Selflessness of Sisterhood: Loving, Sacrificing, and Finding Myself
In this episode of Dear Melanin KD, I reflect on the journey of being a big sister to ten younger siblings. I share my experience of sacrificing my own needs and desires to ensure my siblings always had someone to lean on, often putting their well-being before my own. I open up about growing up...
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Ticking Time Bomb: The Pressure to Be Married at 25
In this episode of Dear Melanin KD, I open up a little about the pressure to be married by the age of 25, a societal expectation that feels like a ticking time bomb. As a West African woman, I share how cultural norms and family expectations can weigh heavily on personal choices, especially when…
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"A Daughter's Understanding-Healing My Relationship with My Mom"
Mother-daughter relationships are often painted as unbreakable, built on love and understanding. But what happens when that bond is complicated, when love feels distant, when wounds run deep, and when years of unspoken pain shape how we see each other? In this deeply personal episode, I take you…
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"Dear Younger Me: A Letter to My Younger Self"
In this deeply personal and reflective episode of Dear Melanin KD, I sit down with my younger self, the little girl who once felt lost, the teenager who struggled with identity, and the young woman who faced heartbreak, rejection, and self-doubt. Through a heartfelt letter, I offer her the words…
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"Unlearning Survival: Navigating Love, Affection, and Mental Health in the Black Community"
In this deeply personal episode of Dear Melanin KD, we explore a little of what it means to grow up in a home where love is present but never spoken, where emotions are dismissed, and where survival takes precedence over softness. Many of us in the Black community have been taught to equate love...
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"When They Don't Show Up: Learning to Let Go"
You give your all, your love, time, and energy believing that the people you pour into will do the same for you. But when they don’t? That kind of disappointment can shake you to your core. In this episode of Dear Melanin KD, we’re sitting in the raw reality of feeling unseen, unappreciated, and...
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“Fighting Against All Odds – Keeping My Head Above Water”
This episode talks about the battles no one sees, when drowning feels like the only option, learning to tread water, finding peace in the chaos, and a message to those who are still fighting. If you take nothing else from this episode, I want you to remember this: You are not just surviving—you…
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“Code-Switching: Finding My Voice in Spaces Where I’m Uncomfortable”
This episode speaks on the unspoken survival skill, what is code-switching?, the shock of entering white spaces, the fear of not belonging, finding my voice in uncomfortable spaces and how you don't have to fit in. Here’s what I want you to take from this episode: You don’t have to fit in. You...
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“White Supremacy is in Everything—And I Feel It Every Day”
This episode talks about ways to push back against white supremacy while centering healing and empowerment. We name it. We talk about it. We refuse to let it go unnoticed. Because white supremacy thrives in silence. And we are not alone in this. So if you have ever felt the weight of it, if you...
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The Black Girl Who Cried Wolf
This episode explores the struggle of being disbelieved and minimized as a Black woman, the emotional toll it takes on our mental health, and how we can begin to break free from the cycle of silence and invalidation. It’s an invitation to reflect on the power of our voices, the importance of...
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Black Girl, It’s Okay to Cry
This episode explores the complexities of bottling up emotions, the impact it has on mental health, and the power of vulnerability. It encourages listeners to reflect on their own struggles with emotional expression, urging them to embrace their feelings and heal at their own pace. This episode...
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Black Girl, It’s Okay to Breathe
This episode is a follow up to episode 8 because I believe that it goes hand in hand. This episode talks about living in survival mode, the weight of always being "strong", rest as resistance, rest as healing, releasing the guilt of rest, and learning to breathe again. I want you to take this…
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"Becoming Melanin KD - Protecting My Inner Child"
This is a short episode deep diving into Identity, Healing, and Self- Protection. If you’re listening and you’re struggling with this too, just know—you are not alone. It’s okay to be scared. It’s okay to take your time. It’s okay to have boundaries and still want to be seen. But don’t let fear...
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"Passing Faces"
This episode is all about deep self-reflection, healing, and learning to let go while appreciating every person's role in our lives. This episode speaks on the lessons people bring, grieving people who are still alive, the risk of vulnerability and moving forward with gratitude. So if you’re...
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Healing, Love, and Divine Timing
These themes of love, self-sabotage, divine timing, and personal growth, creating a rich and vulnerable narrative for the podcast episode. This dialogue will expand on the emotions, fears, and realizations, weaving them into a deeper journey of healing and empowerment. We are all on this journey…
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Healing Through Faith and Patience
This episode has themes of self-sabotage, divine timing, faith in Allah, and the ups and downs of life, all from your personal perspective. It touches on the struggle, reflection, and growth, offering space for listeners to reflect and connect with their own journey. This is where I want to leave...
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The Journey to Loving My Hair
This journey to loving my hair? It’s still ongoing. There are still days where I struggle, still moments where I catch myself falling into old patterns. But I remind myself—this isn’t just about hair. It’s about identity. It’s about reclaiming the parts of ourselves we were taught to reject. And…
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“Beyond Chocolate: My Journey to Loving My Skin”
What would it feel like to love yourself without hesitation? To take every compliment—not just the ones about your skin—but the ones about your intelligence, your presence, your energy? And if you’re already there, I ask you—how are you passing that love forward? How are you making sure the next...
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Welcome to Dear Melanin KD
This is just the beginning of Dear Melanin KD. This podcast is about reflection, about healing, about truth. And I want you to walk away from each episode with something to think about. So today, I leave you with this: How much of yourself have you dimmed to make others comfortable? And what…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Welcome to Dear Melanin KD, a raw, honest, and deeply personal podcast where I, Khady Sarr, take you on a journey through my experiences navigating race, identity, self-worth, love, and growth as a 25-year-old Black woman with West African roots. From overcoming the challenges of being a tall, dark-skinned woman in a society that constantly tries to define beauty standards, to confronting the impact of texturism, colorism, and Black oppression, this podcast explores the complexities of being Black and the emotional, mental, and social hurdles we face every day.
In each episode, I dive into the layers of my life, offering real-life reflections on the struggles and triumphs that come with being a first-generation American with Senegalese heritage, who was sent to live in Senegal at a young age. I share intimate stories of the trauma I experienced there, the challenges of adjusting to a new culture, and how returning to America as a pre-teen was a pivotal moment that shaped my se
HOSTED BY
Khady Sarr
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Dear Melanin KD have?
Dear Melanin KD currently has 27 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Dear Melanin KD about?
Welcome to Dear Melanin KD, a raw, honest, and deeply personal podcast where I, Khady Sarr, take you on a journey through my experiences navigating race, identity, self-worth, love, and growth as a 25-year-old Black woman with West African roots. From overcoming the challenges of being a tall,...
How often does Dear Melanin KD release new episodes?
Dear Melanin KD has 27 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Dear Melanin KD?
You can listen to Dear Melanin KD on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Dear Melanin KD?
Dear Melanin KD is created and hosted by Khady Sarr.
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