Today we’d like to introduce you to Janelle Dawsey and Oprah Zeon.
Janelle and Oprah, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
We met in our Master’s program at Mercer University School of Medicine. When we initially met, it felt as if we’ve known each other forever; our friendship just clicked. We would be the two in-class cracking up or knowing what the other was thinking. However, we both were very focused and driven. Though we cracked up and made jokes during class, our education was not a joke. We both graduated from our Master’s program with a 4.0 GPA, while building a friendship that extended outside of school. At the end of 2017, Janelle had an idea of starting a private practice. Being that we are both Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists and based on the relationship we had during and after our Master’s program, becoming partners was a “no-brainer.” We began to collaborate on different ideas about how we wanted to develop our business and work towards building an audience and discussed the idea of creating our own podcast. Although we knew the idea of a podcast was possible, it took a while before we moved forward.
In December of 2018, Oprah heard a message from God telling her that we needed to start doing the podcast in January. Literally, on January 1st, 2019, we met and discussed what we wanted the premise of our show to be and planned out the first few episodes. We wanted our show to highlight and bring awareness to mental health and Christianity because the interconnection between the two topics can be seen as taboo, especially in church settings. We have personally experienced and witnessed the dismissal of mental health in churches and wanted to encourage and normalize mental health concerns amongst Christians as opposed to the idea that having a mental illness is a weakness of your spirituality. Based on these ideas, the name The Imperfect Couch was birthed and we began our journey of podcasting in January.
Has it been a smooth road?
We would not say it has been a smooth road; however, it has not been hard either. We believe that when you are obedient to what God is telling you to do, things do not seem so difficult. We knew nothing about podcasting, so the challenge was figuring out how to get started; what equipment to buy, how to get on Apple Itunes, etc. It started to become a bit overwhelming; however, we knew this was exactly what God wanted us to do, so we did not stop. We did research, a whole lot of research. All we knew was that we had a laptop, with Garageband on it, and Amazon. We searched Amazon for the right equipment and when we found it, we purchased it, and literally just started. No more procrastinating or waiting for the right time. We knew we needed to start recording in January and that is exactly what we did. January 26, 2019, we recorded our first episode of The Imperfect Couch Podcast and have never looked back. Putting your work out to the world is not the easiest thing to do. Not everyone is going to agree with or like what you put out. However, we do not focus on that. We welcome all feedback because that helps us to grow.
The best advice we can give a younger woman on their journey is to just start. Stop waiting for the right time, because it will never come, and do not let “nay-sayers” try to stop you in your tracks. Many times, doubt and fear interfere with the action. Often times, people give into the idea that you aren’t good enough, but the reality is, you are good enough to carry out whatever it is that God has placed in your heart. Be bold, step out in faith, and just do it, believe in yourself! Have you ever heard that saying, “She believed she could, so she did?” That quote sums up our journey to podcasting.
We’d love to hear more about The Imperfect Couch Podcast.
We are two mental health professionals, who want to educate, yet entertain those who listen to our podcast. We discuss relatable and everyday topics for the purpose of helping our listeners be knowledgeable in issues that can affect their mental health, as well as, ways in which their spirituality can be incorporated. We have a great time on our podcast; we laugh, we joke, we try to be as genuine as possible with our audience by sharing bits and pieces of our own lives, but also encourage the idea of seeking professional help. We recently started a Facebook group, The Imperfect Couch, to create a larger community for our listeners to further engage with us and other listeners of the podcast. We realize the importance of community and connection and want those who come across our show to feel and believe that they are not alone in any issue they may be going through.
Do you feel like there was something about the experiences you had growing up that played an outsized role in setting you up for success later in life?
As a kid, my mother loved giving my siblings and I quotes/poems/bible verses to memorize, that we can use throughout our lives. One poem that stuck with me most was, “Live for something, have a purpose, and that purpose keep in view.” Another scripture that stuck with me is “write the vision; make it plain,” which is found in Habakkuk 2:2. I’m not sure why these two pieces were the ones that I have always remembered, but the idea behind them have been and continue to be so important for me in my life today. This year specifically, I have purposely written down every idea that God gives me and try to keep it in plain sight, so I am constantly reminded of the life intended for me. Writing things down makes the idea more real and gives me the opportunity to create actionable steps towards success. – Janelle
My journey to mental health began with my journey through physical illnesses. Growing up, I knew I wanted to be a dancer. Anytime music came on I felt my happiest. I lived for the joy and rhythm that music gave my heart. However, my dream was deferred when I was diagnosed with two autoimmune disorders. No longer able to pursue my heart’s desire, I felt devastated and depression began to set in. Although my illnesses have altered some of my abilities, they have taught me determination, perseverance, and adaptability. My faith in God kept me assured that His plan was better than mine; and the strength of my parents gave me the ability to keep going. My success is pillared in God’s grace, the strength of prayer, and understanding that I am not my illness. – Oprah
Contact Info:
- Website: http://theimperfectcouchpodcast.libsyn.com
- Email: theimperfectcouch@gmail.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/theimperfectcouch
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/groups/896730097377004?ref=bookmarks
- Facebook Group: The Imperfect Couch
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