Healthy and Black

Finally, a guest! Dr. Jarik Conrad sits down with Kham Ward, founder and CEO of Black Men in Tech, former Ultimate Software/UKG colleague, and Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity brother, for a candid conversation about the real cost of the grind and of being "the only one" in the room. Kham shares why he started Black Men in Tech in 2020 and how it grew into a community that reaches more than 80,000 people and has helped over 500 people get hired, all built on three pillars: convene, connect, and care. He and Jarik talk about why Black professionals still make up only about 8% of the tech workforce despite years of STEM focus, and how AI is changing the game for those willing to learn it. Then it gets personal. Kham opens up about the health scare that put him in the hospital after months of ignoring the warning signs while running his company at full speed. He talks about what he learned lying in that hospital bed, why convenience is his biggest health challenge, and the routines he's built since then to keep from ending up back there. In this episode: -Why Black Men in Tech was created and how it works -Why representation in tech is still so low -How AI is reshaping opportunity -The hidden mental and physical stress of being "the only one" -Kham's wake-up call and the habits he's built since -Culture, cost, or convenience: which one drives your health choices? -Why you need a few like-minded people in your corner, and why they don't all have to look like you If you've been running on hustle and ignoring what your body is telling you, this one's for you. Connect with Black Men in Tech Website: www.blkmenintech.com Social: @blkmenintech on all platforms Thrive '26 Conference: October 11–13, 2026, Dallas, Texas Like, subscribe, and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it. #HealthyAndBlack #BlackMenInTech #BlackHealth #MensHealth #TechCareers #HustleCulture #Entrepreneurship #StressAndHealth #KappaAlphaPsi #Thrive26

Most of us have been handed the same advice for decades: eat the salad, skip the fries, try harder. And most of us have failed at it, not because we're weak, but because we've never had a system for balancing what tastes good against what's good for us. We know what we like. We know what's healthy. What's missing is a way to make those two things work together. In this episode, Dr. Jarik Conrad walks through the Q-Grid, a simple nine-box tool that puts taste and nutrition on the table at the same time. When you lay them side by side, your plate sorts itself into three moves. Anchor the foods you love that also love you back. Retire the ones that aren't tasty enough to earn their spot. And get honest about the Balance cells, where taste and nutrition disagree and the real work lives. Jarik explains how the Q-Grid grew out of his own health reversal, why it works across various diets, and how filling in your own Taste Map turns a generic diet into a plan you can actually live with. If you're in that sandwich-generation stretch, caring for kids and parents while trying to keep yourself upright, this one's for you. No shame, no blame. Just a system.

Your birth certificate tells you one number. Your body tells you another. In this episode of Healthy and Black, we get into the gap between the two, why it matters more than the candles on your cake, and what actually moves it. Body age reflects how your systems are functioning right now: metabolism, cardiovascular health, strength, recovery, and more. The encouraging part is that it responds to what you do. Small, consistent changes show up in the measurement. So we are running a challenge. Measure your body age now, put in the work over the summer, and re-measure on Labor Day. Track what shifts. No crash plans, no extremes, just a real window to see what consistency does. What we cover: -What body age is and how it differs from chronological age -How to get a baseline measurement -The daily inputs that influence it most Subscribe so you do not miss the Labor Day follow-up episode where we look at results. #HealthyAndBlack #BodyAge #HealthChallenge

What separates humans from machines in an AI-powered world? In this episode, I unpack The Last Human Advantage — a framework for thriving in an era when artificial intelligence can outperform us at nearly every task that once defined human work. We're fighting two battles right now. The external one: human vs. AI. The internal one: our mature self vs. our immature self. And the internal battle is the one that decides whether we win the external one. If you've felt the ground shifting under you at work, in your relationships, or in how you show up in the world, this one's for you. Subscribe for more conversations on leadership, well-being, and what it means to be fully human in the age of AI. Learn more: www.jarikconrad.com #TheLastHumanAdvantage #emotionalintelligence #EmotionalMaturity #AIandLeadership #FutureOfWork

In this eye-opening conversation, Dr. Jarik Conrad sits down with retired ophthalmologist and living legend in medicine, Dr. Gordon Montgomery, to break down what most people don't know — and can't afford to ignore — about sugar. From the science of glycation and insulin resistance to the gut bacteria that hijack your brain's cravings, Dr. Montgomery explains exactly how chronic sugar consumption silently damages nearly every organ in your body, including your eyes, brain, liver, heart, kidneys, and skin. The two also explore why sugar is more addictive than most people realize, how the food industry is designed to keep you hooked, and why Black Americans face disproportionate risks from conditions like diabetes and kidney disease. But this episode isn't just a warning — it's a roadmap. Dr. Conrad and Dr. Montgomery discuss practical, realistic steps anyone can take to begin reversing the damage and reclaiming their health — at any age. Dr. Montgomery also shares insights from his book, Increasing Healthspan: Midlife Choices for Senior Health. If you eat food, this conversation is for you.

My guest, Keena Lampkins, and I talk about the keys to holistic health.

We need to shift our conference culture.

In this episode, I share some surprising insights about people I have gleaned while working on the WholeQ Health start-up.

You don't have to suffer from diabetes and other chronic health issues. Catch the latest episode of Healthy & Black to learn about the WholeQ Mind/Body Detox, which is based on a clinically proven approach to restoring your health and vitality.

More than 129 million people in the U.S. live with at least one major chronic disease. In this episode, I review study results regarding impact of diet on chronic health issues.

Discussion about the health impact of having a variety of different interests.

In this episode, I explore some commonly accepted statements and ideas that are actually sabotaging your progress towards your health goals.

In this episode I discuss the positive and negative impact of relationships on overall health and wellness.

In this episode, I interview Dr. Ted Thomas about Kidney Health and the uniques challenges experienced by Black people.

In this episode, I discuss the main culprits behind our chronic health challenges.

In this episode, I discuss how we can more effective cope with the challenges we are experiencing as we shift administrations in the U.S.

In this episode, I speak with renown cardiologist Dr. Columbus Batiste about Heart Health.

In this episode of Healthy & Black, I share my Adolescent Adult theory.

In this episode of Healthy & Black, I discuss the secret to success at work and at home.

In this episode I share some sobering statistics around the emotional and physical challenges people face during the holidays, and what you can do about it for yourself and your family.

In this episode, I am interviewing Dr. Rodney Hood, past president of the National Medical Association. We discuss important aspects of the mind-body connection, including the harmful effects of toxic stress.

Get the basic facts about exercise, and what you can do to increase the likelihood you can get it done.

In this episode, I explore some very fundamental questions we need to ask ourselves about nutrition.

Learn more about me and why I decided to launch Healthy & Black.

Black people are less likely to survive to 1 year of age, when we do we endure a whole host of health issues throughout our lives, and on top of that have a shorter life expectancy than almost every other group of people. I will share the latest information about the state of Health of Black America across 7 categories - physical, emotional, professional, family, social, mental, and financial health. More importantly, I'll offer insights to help us changed that story. I’ll offer no miracle cures or magic potions, just science, evidence, and practical strategies you can adopt right away. My first episode will be September 16th. Until then, don’t let culture, cost, or convenience ruin your health!”