For the Black community, the impact of centuries of unaddressed trauma still manifests today. And while part of that is certainly due to ongoing social injustice, some of the impact might very well be inherited. Today’s guest is Natalie Patterson, a poet, teaching artist, mental health advocate, and diversity, equity, and inclusion leader. She uses her dynamic range and expertise to masterfully make abstract concepts tangible, bridging personal experience with larger cultural occurrences using art, performance, talking circles, and custom workshops. Natalie is known for her integrity, passion, social activism, and her ability to work with people of all ages, genders, races, and cultures by showing up fully and inviting folks to remember that who they are is enough. In today’s deeply personal episode, we address intergenerational trauma through the lens of a trip that Natalie took to Cape Coast Castle in Ghana, one of the most famous trading posts in Ghana’s dark history of slavery. Natalie shares her candid reflections on the delusion of the human spirit, why knowing where you come from should be a birthright, not a privilege, and the relationship between generational trauma, disenfranchisement, and belonging, as well as how she seeks to deconstruct and humanize these experiences through her work. This is a deeply insightful and difficult conversation, but one that is critically important for understanding the blueprint of historical cruelty that still exists in our systems today, so make sure to join us for part one of our discussion with Natalie Patterson.

Key Points From This Episode:

•    What led Natalie to take an ultimately extraordinary trip to Ghana.

•    The deep, visceral impact of the tour she took of Cape Coast Castle.

•    Natalie shares her experience of the rooms where slaves were held before being shipped off.

•    The immense grief and overwhelm she felt while bearing witness to the inconceivable horror of what occurred in these spaces.

•    Our reflections on the intolerable and mind-blowing cruelty that occurred in the castle.

•    Why Natalie believes that returning to the place of your ancestors should be a birthright.

•    What the water led her to understand about Black intergenerational trauma and swimming.

•    Hear about her experience of being othered by a local in a bustling, outdoor market.

•    Generational trauma, disenfranchisement, and belonging; how Natalie fights for comfort.

•    Understanding the blueprint for this kind of horror that still exists in our systems today.

•    How Natalie seeks to deconstruct and humanize these narratives through her work.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Natalie Patterson

Natalie Patterson on Twitter

Natalie Patterson on Instagram

Natalie Patterson on YouTube


Zoë Kors’ Links:

Zoë’s Website

Zoë’s Book: Radical Intimacy

The Radical Intimacy Podcast

Coral: Sexual Wellness App