Beyond My White Mother's Protection with Lisa Williamson Rosenberg

Black Writer Therapy Podcast

Description: Welcome to the debut episode of Black Writer Therapy, where we dive into the stories and experiences that shape the voices of Black women writers. In this powerful session, join host Ella Shawn as she engages in a candid conversation with Lisa Williamson Rosenberg, a licensed psychotherapist and debut author who identifies as a Black Jew. Lisa takes us on a journey through her unique upbringing as a biracial child in a predominantly white environment, and how her writing became a source of healing and self-discovery.

Discover the challenges Lisa faced, from navigating the loss of her Jewish mother's protective whiteness to being the only Black woman in her ballet company. Explore the complexities of living, writing, and working as a Black woman in predominantly white spaces, and how these experiences influenced the creation of her powerful novel, "Embers on the Wind." Delve into the sensitive topic of colorism and the fear that Black women face, as Lisa shares her personal reflections on the societal pressure to conform and the potential threat of having their biracial children taken away if they are not deemed "worthy" or too "other."

This episode is a compelling exploration of identity, resilience, and the transformative power of writing. Join us as we unpack the layers of Lisa Williamson Rosenberg's journey, offering insights and perspectives that will resonate with listeners who crave authentic conversations on race, identity, and the pursuit of self-expression.

Guest Bio: Lisa Williamson Rosenberg is an author and psychotherapist specializing in depression, complex trauma, and racial identity. She is also a former ballet dancer, having performed with the Boston, Pennsylvania, and Pacific Northwest Ballet companies.

A born-and-raised New Yorker, Lisa now lives in Montclair, New Jersey with her husband and dog. She is the mother of two college students.

Lisa graduated from Princeton University, got her master's from Hunter College School of Social Work, and her post-master's certification in family therapy from the Ackerman Institute. Before becoming a therapist, Lisa was a ballet dancer with the Pennsylvania and Pacific Northwest Ballet Companies.

All her life, Lisa has been writing – essays and attempts at novels–becoming published for the first time in 1998, when Social Work In Healthcare accepted one of her graduate school papers. Several years later, Lisa published a talk she did at a Synagogue on Multiracial Jewish Identity.

Lisa is Black, biracial (African American and Ashkenazi Jewish), and an only child of her parents' very happy interracial marriage. It was a progressive, yet strangely traditional home, where her parents created a joint cultural environment where race and politics were part of the family dialogue.

As a Black Jew – a ballerina turned shrink – dual identity is part of Lisa’s life and central to her writing.

Lisa’s debut novel, Embers on the Wind was released on 8/1/22 by Little A Books. She has two others in progress. She is represented by Dr. Uwe Stender, founder of TriadaUS Literary Agency. Lisa has published articles in Longreads, Narrative.ly, Grok Nation, The Common, Social Work in Healthcare and Interfaith Families Online, New Jersey Jewish News, and The Defenders Online. A Pushcart Prize nominee, Lisa’s fiction has appeared in Literary Mama and The Piltdown Review, where she won 2nd Prize in the Winter Short Story Contest.

Connect with Lisa Williamson Rosenberg

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Thank you for joining us on the Black Writer Therapy Podcast! We hope you enjoyed today's episode and found inspiration in the stories and insights shared. If you loved what you heard, please leave us a review and recommend the show to your family and friends. Your support helps us continue to uplift and amplify the voices of Black women writers.

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Until next time, remember writing is an intentional act of healing. Thanks for listening!

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Black Writer Therapy is affiliated with the Authentic Connections Network. This podcasting network was founded to amplify the voices that are missing from the landscape of podcasting.

The goal of the network is 37 by 27—increasing the number of women-hosted podcasts to 37% by 2027.

Over 65% of podcasts launched by the Authentic Connections Network have reached the top 10% of podcasts globally in their first month.

This network provides a community of support and mentoring to ensure that each show within its fold thrives and achieves longevity and success.

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