Joy Melody Woods Bennett, Ph.D. is a scholar and strategist in interpersonal communication that empowers brands, organizations, athletes, and creatives of color to cultivate impactful cultural capital. Outside of work, she dedicates her time and expertise to advocating for Black women and reproductive health. Through speaking engagements at conferences, consultancy work for various organizations, and serving on nonprofit boards focused on addressing health disparities, she strives to make a positive impact in this critical area.

The episode delves into Dr. Woods Bennett's struggles with undiagnosed learning disabilities and the impact they had on her academic journey. She candidly discusses the challenges she faced in school, the pressure to excel, and the revelation of her learning disabilities later in life, which provided clarity but also raised questions about her perception of her intelligence and identity.

Dr. Woods Bennett also shared her experiences with mental health struggles, including being diagnosed with bipolar II disorder, and spoke openly about the impact of these diagnoses one her life her career, and how she viewed her younger self.

Despite challenges she is determined to make a positive impact and help others. She describes herself as a sponge, eager to learn and grow, and inspire others to seek help.

Dr. Joy Melody Woods Bennett's story of resilience, honesty, and commitment to self-discovery is deeply moving, and serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of self-acceptance, and seeking support.

Thank you for listening to Joy's story, and for being a part of our community. Tune in next week for episode 3 of season 1, and please subscribe. You can learn more about us at www.senseofselfpod.com and follow us for updates on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/sense.of.self.pod/.

You can follow and get in touch with Joy here:

LinkedIn | X | Instagram

She is the founder of Plus TwentyThree

Episode Credits:

Produced by Andrew Coles, Elizabeth Rose, Allison Keeley, and Dr. Gowri Aragam
Edited by: Ben Montoya
Mixed by: Aja Simpson
Music from: Blue Dot Sessions
Logo, branding, and graphic design by: Melanie Kwan

Sense of Self is a podcast from The Mission Entertainment.

A note on ethics, process, and safety:

• The individuals in this podcast have graciously shared their stories and it's important to note that while these discussions are enriching and enlightening, they are not a substitute for therapy or mental healthcare.
• Please note that each guest has given their consent to participate, had full control over what aspects of their journey were shared, and either currently engages in therapy or has done so in the past.

Thanks from all of us at Sense of Self and The Mission Entertainment.