Healing Ourselves Heals Our Hoods

“Legacy in Motion” takes listeners inside the remarkable journey of Nsimba Webster—an Antioch, California native whose path from Deer Valley High School standout to professional athlete is defined not only by records and highlights, but by grit, loss, resilience, and purpose. Interviewing him, is his own family Johnnie Hines who facilitates this discussion as it relates to the LLL Collective Theory.Raised in the heart of Antioch, Nsimba’s early years were shaped by community, competition, and an unwavering belief that his story mattered. At Deer Valley, he shattered expectations and set new standards, leaving a legacy that still echoes through the halls and the stadium lights. But behind the stats and school records lies the real story, one built on challenges powerful enough to reroute a life.In each episode, Nsimba opens the door to the moments that tested him most: the losses that humbled him, the setbacks that forced him to grow, and the lessons that ultimately propelled him closer to his calling. With honesty and heart, he breaks down how each experience, good or bad, became a stepping stone toward his impact both on and off the field.This podcast is more than a sports story. It’s a journey into identity, perseverance, community, and the pursuit of legacy. Join Nsimba Webster as he unpacks the truth behind his rise and invites listeners to discover their own power in the process.Follow Nsimba Webster Here: Instagram: @nsimbawebster, @ambition4freedom, @ononesock 

Special guest Becca Ferguson returns for a powerful and honest update on her journey into motherhood, this time navigating postpartum life with her newborn baby girl. In this episode, Becca reflects on how far she has come since her first appearance—offering a grounded look at healing, growth, and the lessons motherhood continues to teach her.She speaks candidly about the importance of a supportive partner and the power of a true village—people who show up with open arms, practical help, and unwavering love. From emotional recovery to learning how to receive support, Becca’s story highlights what becomes possible when no one has to carry postpartum healing alone.Listeners will hear the evolution of her voice, her confidence, and her capacity to hold both the challenges and the beauty of new motherhood—making this episode a testament to resilience, community, and the legacy we build when we allow ourselves to be supported.

In this episode, we sit down with Estephanie Fuentes, a powerful voice in youth mentorship and motherhood. With 15 years of service dedicated to guiding young people, Estephanie has built a legacy rooted in resilience, compassion, and lived experience. As a mentor, she has poured into countless youth, helping them discover their potential beyond the labels and limits placed on them. As a mother, she has navigated the complexities of single parenthood, turning her own struggles with identity and boundaries into lessons that now uplift other women walking a similar path. Estephanie opens up about the challenges and triumphs of balancing motherhood, healing through self-discovery, and creating safe spaces where mothers can reclaim their voices and their power. Her story is a reminder that our journeys—no matter how heavy—can become blueprints of strength for others.

In this powerful episode of Healing Ourselves Heals Our Hoods, host Deziana Torres (Confi_Dez) shares a true story from her upcoming book When The Chains Fall. “Solve for X, X = 2500 – 24 Hours” takes listeners back to Deziana’s 9th grade year in algebra class — a space where numbers on the board collided with the unprocessed weight of trauma. Behind the equations, there was a deeper calculation: how can a young person learn when their mind is still fighting the wars they see outside the window? This episode doesn’t just tell a story — it issues an invitation. For educators, policymakers, and all who work with youth in urban cities: listen to lived experiences, humanize our struggles, and create curricula and policies that hold space for processing, healing, and resilience. Because the answer to “X” isn’t only found in math — it’s found in building classrooms and communities where survival doesn’t silence learning.

In this episode of Healing Ourselves Heals Our Hoods, we’re joined by Dr. Jose Gutierrez — educator, Principal, and CEO of Resilient Roots — whose story reminds us that transformation is possible when we honor both the struggle and the seed it plants.Through the lens of the 3L Collective Theory — Losses + Lessons = Legacy — Dr. Gutierrez reflects on the challenges and setbacks that shaped his path. From personal battles to professional crossroads, each loss became an invitation to grow, each lesson a root of resilience that grounds his leadership today.His legacy? To create authentic spaces for young leaders to rise — not just with titles, but with genuine support, purpose, and vision. Dr. Gutierrez embodies the belief that when we plant seeds in struggle, we grow leaders who carry legacy forward for generations to come.Tune in for a conversation about resilience, faith in community, and the power of building legacies that last.Resilient Roots Website: Resilientrootsed.org

In this inspiring episode of Healing Ourselves Heals Our Hoods, transformational leader Sylvia High shares her journey of building a legacy rooted in service, healing, and faith. Through the lens of the 3L Collective Theory — Losses + Lessons = Legacy — Sylvia opens up about the failures that became her greatest teachers, and how her unwavering belief in something greater carried her through seasons that could have broken her. Her work has transformed countless lives across the globe, including deeply influencing host Deziana Torres, whose upcoming book carries threads of Sylvia’s wisdom woven throughout its pages. Together, they explore how faith fuels resilience, how failure forges clarity, and how transformation is not just personal — it’s a gift to humanity. 🎧 This conversation is for anyone standing at the crossroads of doubt and destiny. Be reminded: your legacy is built one brave step at a time. #3LCollective #LossesLessonsLegacy #SylviaHigh #TransformationWork #Healing

In this episode of Healing Ourselves Heals Our Hoods, we sit down with C. Lee — a man whose story is proof that faith can carry you through the deepest valleys and toward the brightest horizons. Through the lens of the 3L Collective Theory — Losses + Lessons = Legacy — C. Lee opens up about the personal battles that shaped him: the heartbreaks, the hard decisions, and the moments where faith was the only thing keeping him standing. From navigating loss to uncovering lessons that changed his direction, his journey is a powerful reminder that legacy isn’t just what we leave behind — it’s how we live in the now, guided by belief, purpose, and resilience. This conversation is raw, real, and rooted in hope. Whether you’ve been in the fire or you’re still walking through it, C. Lee’s testimony will remind you: with faith, every setback can be a step toward legacy. #3LCollective #LossesLessonsLegacy #FaithAndHealing #TestimonyTuesday #HealingOurselvesHealsOurHoods #UrbanHealing #Commun

In this powerful premiere episode of Healing Ourselves Heals Our Hoods, host Deziana Torres, MSW, breaks down the theory that’s been shifting hearts and healing communities: Losses + Lessons = Legacy. Joined by Johnnie Hines, the two dive deep into how the 3L Collective Theory was born — from personal pain, professional practice, and the urgent need to transform how we show up for our youth, our neighborhoods, and ourselves. Expect real stories, raw truths, and radical hope — because legacy doesn’t start when we die. It starts the moment we decide to live different.

In this episode, Deziana speaks about a moment she and her father were able to hold a needed and tough conversation about their relationship and barriers that impact their bond. After not speaking for close to two years, she shares how the conversation began full of shouting as anger lead the confrontation. Listen in to hear how grace was able to exist from this conversation. There's a long road of healing for them both; however, Deziana highlights  this experience being a place of breakthrough with her father. This is just the start of a long healing journey, but it requires honesty, clarity, and an exchange of perspectives. That is the importance of storytelling. 

Deziana is starting this new series of "Talk about it Tuesdays" where she opens up about random topics that are on her mind and other than the theme of the month. In this episode, Deziana shares how the young adults she empowers at work are often faced with suicide ideation. She deeply unravels her own experience battling depression and her own attempt. She advises a Trigger Warning and encourages folks to seek help if they are relating to the material on this episode. Tune in as she sheds light to the struggles many experience silently and isn't talked about enough publicly. 

During Deziana's healing journey, she began to recognize all the things she once ignored... Those bright red flags! She gives us an example of how she was able to recognize them and create a boundary to honor herself and her self worth. She reminds folks that when people show you who they are, believe it. Listen for the full episode now. 

In this episode, Deziana openly shares how heartbreak due to infidelity, impacted her emotionally and physically. In her past, she describes how she would party and drink to distract herself from the pain and it never truly assisted in her healing. She provides wisdom on how she was able to transform how she dealt with heart break and begin to work on her dating behaviors and boundaries needed to protect her heart. Listen to the full episode for details on how she was able to accomplish this. 

In this episode, Deziana shares a vulnerable experience being cheated on by someone she dated. Here, she shares her initial reaction after the discovery as well as her response after. Deziana's heart has been both impacted and shaped by these moments of infidelity. Listen to hear how she was able to navigate around these experiences and protect her heart.  

In this solo episode, Deziana opens up about her experience witnessing domestic violence in her parent's relationship and how it heavily influenced the way she perceived love. In her first relationship, she expresses the abuse she endured as well as the mental toll it held on her to date someone who was manipulative and narcissistic.  Tune in and learn about her own experience and the ways she was able to understand that she needed help. If you are someone who struggles dating a narcissist, Deziana encourages you to reach for help. 

On this episode, Deziana Torres opens up alone to utilize this space to share her own struggles with mental health. She opens up about the pressures of being the oldest sibling in a single-parent household as well as her own struggles with suicide ideation. She inspires all to hang in there as life will bless us with experiences that remind us why it was worth the fight. Listen and get to know your own host for this podcast. 

A QUEEN blesses us with her testimony that covers the topics of domestic abuse, violence, suicidal attempts, sexual abuse, as well as sharing self care tips that have been helpful along her journey. Tajanee Ford- Whelan is a wife of almost 7 years and a mom of 4, a step-son who is 16, an 11 year old and twins who are 6. Tajanee reminded me of the ultimate sacrifice of a mother and the pressure to stay afloat mentally while navigating motherhood. 

(T.W) In this episode, we are granted the space to hear about the life experiences and impacts on mental health from Molimau Fatu who is a Samoan self published poet and spoken word artist from Long Beach California. He is also a first generation graduate from CSUDH. He is a newlywed and first generation homeowner. He has also mentored the youth in cities like Compton, Watts, Long Beach, Hawthorne and all over L.A. county. Together we discuss the impacts of sexual assault as well reliving some moments from our childhood. Tap in for some validation, strength, and a surprise spoken word from Molimau himself.  

OUT THE MUD!! This episode was powerful!!! Shout out to Shorty for showing up and sharing her life testing of growing up in the hood, struggles with parents fighting addiction and the impact of grief!! Listen and be inspired by such a valuable life testimony! Remember, we ALL have a story that is worth sharing ! 

 Navigating breast cancer and pregnancy at the same time with Olivia Turner. She shares the journey of how she found strength when battling cancer as well as describing the joy her daughter brings into her life. We are also empowered to be in tune with our bodies and to check in with ourselves when we feel off, feel lumps, or feeling sick. Investing in our health and wellness is critical for the way we wish to exist in the world. Listen to the full episode for Olivia's advice for those going through something similar. 

On this episode, we are met with Raychel Homen and Estephanie Fuentes who openly share about their relationships during parenthood. Both exchange their unique relationships and the ways they each create similar experiences that others can relate too. Reflective conversations about the impacts incarceration has on the bond between a parent and child and the emotional toll it can hold on all involved. Listen in and live through their life experiences for just a moment.   

On this episode, we are joined with a special guest named Rebecca Ferguson who openly shares her experience during and after a miscarriage. Rebecca highlights the emotional impact it holds on one during the grieving process as well as providing insight on her relationship with postpartum depression. Listen for validation or for awareness of some of the struggles many women suffer with in silence. 

Join us as we welcome our special guest Anna Creighton who is a mother of two and a wife. Listen as Anna shares her experience navigating through healing and showing up for her family as a mother. Through Anna, we recognize why being gentle with ourselves during motherhood is so critical in the way we show up for our selves and our kids. 

Together we shared a real conversation about the history of implementing ethnic studies into our courses as well as the benefits held for student success! Topics ranging from identity, intersectionality, oppression and resistance are taught in David's curriculum. Listen as we also discuss some barriers and ways we as a community can get involved and hold our school systems accountable for the “equity, diverse, and inclusive” agenda they proudly proclaim! Pleasure having you as an educator for 200+ students David, and we know that the work only continues. 

Tune in as Karina Beltran and I engage in conversations about the impacts of poverty and food insecurity amongst college students. So many assume that once we make it into college, the oppression and systemic barriers are no longer experienced. It in fact continues to follow us and impacts our mental and physical health, our confidence, and our academic success. How can we advocate to bring forth the changes needed to address these struggles? Listen and find out what we suggested.  

Navigating through racist/oppressive systems with a forced resilience often times cost us our identity, our culture, our history, and so much more. There is often a sacrifice that comes with being a disrupter when you challenge systems in places that are designed to hold policies over people. Listen and tune in as Chino Contreras  @3rd.self_ and I share our experiences as experts in the hood navigating through an an MSW programs that uphold oppressive policies. May this conversation spark many to become advocates to highlight the work that is is still needed in our society!

Final conversation of this series granted Jocelyn Gama Garcia and I the opportunity to express the beauty and creativity that exists in our hoods. While we also experience oppression and lack of resources, we recognize that even what we have is just enough sometimes. Like roses that grow out of concrete, we flourish in spaces not meant for growth. Tune in here or on Healing Ourselves Heals Our Hoods podcast to listen in on this empowering conversation.

Hood Made: Systematic Oppression, Impacts on Mental Health and a hopeful Resilience with Johnnie Hines. Together, we talked about the struggles happening in our hoods that don’t exist in other communities of privilege. We advocate on the impacts it can and has held on many of our mental health and our ability/ lack thereof to cope and conquer through the unprocessed emotions. To end, we illuminate the power and importance of holding onto our dreams and hopes in the midst of it all to push for ourselves in the midst of all we go through and face. 

On this episode, we share this space with our guest speaker Shamawn Wright who illuminates the struggle being raised in East Oakland and Antioch. With his personal experience and he empowers folks to understand the hustle and its connection to poverty in our communities. Together we discuss code switching, impacts of professionalism on our authentic identities, and the importance of finding the beauty in our struggle instead of shame. Tune in and be inspired with real life stories from our own folks from the hood! 

With this new series, you find that this episode helps us to reflect on some of the experiences we had being raised in the hood. I share my experience with community violence, gun violence, police brutality, and the beauty/ creativity that comes from these communities. Sharing my own personal experiences with oppression faced here, might open up the conversations needed for us to begin to have as a community. The validation can help us to recognize that this internalized oppression, might be more of a systematic one. Listen to hear more. 

On episode four, we are hosting a valuable conversation about the generational parenting styles and the forms of harsh discipline experienced in our homes. We dig deeper to describe the long-term impacts on our ability to show up for ourselves as adults from these experiences. Our guest speaker Fabiola Arreola, who is a mother of two beautiful daughters aged 7 and 1 comes through to share her journey towards an approach very new for many of us; gentle parenting. Listen to hear how crucial it is to show up for ourselves and our children to help instill tools to help all become advocates for themselves. 

We are joined in this episode by Johnnie Hines who was raised in Antioch, CA. We engage in a deep and reflective conversation about the generational expectations of remaining silent when it comes to our trauma, our emotions, and much more. When we hear, "What happens in this house, stays in the house!" we are reminded of the years of invalidation many of us have endured. We explore the impacts this learned silence has on our mental health, our connection to ourselves, and our connection to others. Listen to learn tips on how to begin breaking the silence to become an advocate for yourself.  

On episode two (2) our guest speaker is in fact my mother; Mama Carmen. She vulnerably shares the impacts of generational trauma and the hardships faced when breaking those chains of trauma. She shares her struggles as a single mother as well as some of the sacrifices she was forced to make in order to raise her children. She is well known in her community for her parenting styles, her wisdom, and her faith.

There are many households where family dynamics play a major role in the way we deal and handle witnessed or experienced trauma. Trauma can impact individual family members differently, affecting their relationships with each other and the overall functioning of the family unit. Even if the same trauma is experienced in a household, it can impact all differently. Listen to hear real life testimonies of how family dynamics played a role in our household.