Desire Dialogues is a bold podcast where author and certified sex and relationship therapist, Dr. Donna Oriowo, explores the political, cultural, and personal dimensions of love, lust, and relationships in the digital age. From the power dynamics of desire to the intersection of gender, race, and sexuality, Dr. Donna unpacks how societal forces shape our connections, while offering unfiltered advice, historical context, and candid conversations. Desire Dialogues challenges conventional views on relationships, identity, and self-worth, empowering listeners to rethink how they relate to themselves and each other in an increasingly more challenging world.
IG: www.instagram.com/dr.donnaoriowo
TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@dr.donnaoriowo
Dr. Donna Oriowo and artist Jessie Woo discuss dodging accountability in relationships, exploring how ego and trauma impact love and personal truth.
7 Aug 2025
Dating and Relationships: Power vs Partnership feat: Jessie Woo
Jessie Woo discusses the complexities of modern dating and relationships with Dr. Donna Oriowo, exploring the balance between power and partnership and how past traumas impact our ability to form genuine connections in this interview.
31 Jul 2025
What Is Woke?: Freedom vs. Liberation feat: Donovan Thompson
Donovan Thompson and Dr. Donna Oriowo explore the true meaning of being "woke," discussing its weaponization against Black communities and the fight to reclaim consciousness in a world that profits from Blackness in this interview.
24 Jul 2025
Who Gets To Be Black? feat: Donovan Thompson
Donovan Thompson and Dr. Donna Oriowo explore the complexities of Black identity, examining how historical forces shape its understanding and impact the pursuit of liberation in this interview.
17 Jul 2025
Drink Water And Mind Your Boundaries, Desires and Self-Esteem feat: Dr. Shamyra Howard
Dr. Shamyra Howard interviews Dr. Donna Oriowo about her new book, exploring themes of self-esteem, boundary setting, and reclaiming desires for Black women, offering insights into healing and self-worth.
10 Jul 2025
What is "The Trans Agenda"? feat: Hope Giselle
Hope Giselle and Dr. Donna Oriowo dismantle the myths surrounding the "trans agenda," exposing the harmful tactics used to silence trans individuals, particularly Black trans women, in this interview.
26 Jun 2025
Diaspora Wars: Capitalism, Competition and The Cost of Belonging feat: Dr. Tracie Gilbert
Dr. Tracie Gilbert discusses the impact of capitalism, trauma, and ego on Black diaspora infighting with Dr. Donna Oriowo, exploring the cost of belonging in exclusionary systems in this interview.
12 Jun 2025
Diaspora Wars: Trauma, Ego, and The Algorithm feat: Dr. Tracie Gilbert
Dr. Tracie Gilbert discusses the complex origins of Diaspora Wars with Dr. Donna Oriowo, exploring the roles of historical trauma, cultural gatekeeping, and algorithms in online and offline conflicts in this interview.
5 Jun 2025
The Cost of Good feat: Stevon Lewis
Therapist Stevon Lewis discusses ego and imposter syndrome with Dr. Donna Oriowo, exploring how these issues impact taking responsibility when causing harm in this interview.
29 May 2025
Intention vs Impact feat: Stevon Lewis
Dr. Donna Oriowo interviews Stevon Lewis, therapist and speaker, about the critical differences between intention and impact, particularly regarding accountability and personal growth.
22 May 2025
How Slapping My Aunt Lead To Self-Worth
Oh, you’re about to hear a story. Dr. Donna takes us back to a moment in her childhood that flipped everything on its head—a time when she slapped her aunt (yes, really) and didn’t just survive to tell the tale, but walked away with a powerful lesson in self-worth. From a single bed in her parents’ house to a first-gen Nigerian-American experience, Dr. Donna opens up about how the pressure to be the “perfect child” almost suffocated her, but that one rebellious moment cracked something wide open.
If you’ve ever felt like you weren’t living your own life or like you had to shrink yourself to meet someone else’s standards, this episode will hit you right in the heart. It’s time to stop pretending, stop shrinking, and start loving who you really are. Get ready to hear about the aunties (literally or metaphorically) who hold you back, and how to smack them out of the way for good.
Follow Dr. Donna on social media:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.donnaoriowo (https://www.instagram.com/dr.donnaoriowo)
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.donnaoriowo (https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.donnaoriowo)
15 May 2025
You Can’t Heal Without Accountability feat: Nikki Valentine
In the second part of Dr. Donna Oriowo’s conversation with Nikki Valentine, the discussion goes deeper into the work of breaking free from generational patterns. Nikki talks about how the journey to healing starts with accountability, and why so many of us get stuck in cycles of blame without ever recognizing our own role in breaking the pattern.
They touch on how emotional awareness and accountability can be the keys to reclaiming your life, breaking old wounds, and growing into your most authentic self. Nikki shares how she shifted her mindset, taking ownership of her choices instead of staying in familiar yet unhealthy dynamics. This episode is a must-listen for anyone ready to stop repeating past patterns and take control of their own healing and growth.
Don’t miss out on this powerful conversation that will push you to rethink how you show up for yourself, and how you can take real action to heal and thrive.
Follow Dr. Donna on social media:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.donnaoriowo (https://www.instagram.com/dr.donnaoriowo)
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.donnaoriowo (mailto:https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.donnaoriowo)
Follow Nikki Valentine on social media:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inikkivalentine (https://www.instagram.com/inikkivalentine)
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@inikkivalentine (https://www.tiktok.com/@inikkivalentine)
8 May 2025
Healing Parental Wounds feat. Nikki Valentine
Dr. Donna Oriowo sits down with Nikki Valentine (https://www.instagram.com/inikkivalentine/) to unpack the complicated dance between living for your parents and living for yourself. They talk about the emotional cost of trying to meet expectations that don’t align with who you truly are. Nikki opens up about her journey of breaking free from the path her parents envisioned for her and finding her own way. In this conversation, you’ll hear how to recognize the limits of parental influence and how to embrace your own desires without guilt. If you’ve ever felt like you’re not living your own life, this episode will make you rethink what truly matters. Get ready for a fresh perspective on how to honor your desires while maintaining love for your family.
Follow Dr. Donna on social media:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.donnaoriowo (https://www.instagram.com/dr.donnaoriowo)
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.donnaoriowo (mailto:https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.donnaoriowo)
Follow Nikki Valentine on social media:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inikkivalentine (https://www.instagram.com/inikkivalentine)
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@inikkivalentine (https://www.tiktok.com/@inikkivalentine)
1 May 2025
The Black Church, Sex and Self-Love feat: Kristian A. Smith
Dr. Donna Oriowo returns with Kristian A. Smith (https://www.instagram.com/thekristianasmith) for a bold conversation about desire, self-love, and the Black church’s historical grip on sexuality. Kristian, a disruptor and advocate for spiritual freedom, unpacks how the church’s pathologization of desire has stunted true sexual liberation within the Black community. From the shame surrounding sexuality to the impact of oppressive theology, they discuss how unlearning harmful narratives can empower Black individuals to embrace their sexual autonomy. They also dive into the responsibility of the church to move away from fear-based teachings and into a world where harm reduction and self-love reign supreme. As they dissect how our relationship with God, ourselves, and our bodies has been shaped by generations of religious control, the conversation calls for a radical shift—one that encourages healing, self-discovery, and the freedom to live out our desires without shame. If you’ve ever wondered about the intersection of faith, sexuality, and liberation, this episode is for you.
Follow Dr. Donna on social media:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.donnaoriowo (https://www.instagram.com/dr.donnaoriowo)
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.donnaoriowo (mailto:https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.donnaoriowo)
24 Apr 2025
Religion, Shame and Sexuality feat: Kristian A. Smith
Dr. Donna Oriowo is back with Kristian A. Smith (https://www.instagram.com/thekristianasmith) for part 1 of an eye-opening discussion that challenges the intersection of religion, sexuality, and shame in the Black church. Kristian, a disruptor in his own right, shares his journey from a fifth-generation preacher to questioning the restrictive theology of sin and shame that still plagues so many. Together, they explore how fundamentalist teachings shape our desires, how the church’s obsession with control stifles true sexual liberation, and how the Black community has been conditioned to shame their natural desires. From “don’t wear that” to “don’t do that,” the conversation tackles how we can finally break free from the church’s grip on our pleasure, redefine sin as harm, and create space for sexual freedom in our faith journeys. If you’re ready to unlearn harmful theology and reclaim your pleasure, this episode is a must-listen.
Follow Dr. Donna on social media:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.donnaoriowo (https://www.instagram.com/dr.donnaoriowo)
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.donnaoriowo (mailto:https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.donnaoriowo)
17 Apr 2025
Setting Social Media Boundaries feat: Dr. Joy Harden Bradford
Dr. Donna Oriowo is back with Dr. Joy (https://FollowDr.Donnaonsocialmedia:Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/dr.donnaoriowoTiktok:https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.donnaoriowo) for a powerful conversation on setting boundaries in the age of social media. They dive into the mental health impact of endless scrolling, the importance of translating online connections into real-life interactions, and the necessity of engaging in activities that truly bring joy. From playfulness to the complexities of power dynamics in therapy, this episode will help you reclaim your peace in a digital world that constantly promotes the “fix-it” mindset.
Listen now and remember: You’re not a DIY project – you're already enough.
Follow Dr. Donna on social media:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.donnaoriowo (https://www.instagram.com/dr.donnaoriowo)
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.donnaoriowo (mailto:https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.donnaoriowo)
10 Apr 2025
Mental Health: Social Media, Beauty Politics and Power Dynamics
In this episode of Desire Dialogues with Dr. Donna, we dive into the complicated intersection of social media, beauty standards, and mental health. Joining Dr. Donna is Dr. Joy Harden Raffert, who will discuss how constant exposure to curated lives and idealized beauty standards on social media impacts our self-worth and mental well-being.
Dr. Donna and Dr. Joy explore the psychological strain caused by the pressure to conform to social media’s beauty politics, and how these unrealistic portrayals of perfection can lead to stress, anxiety, and feelings of inadequacy. They also discuss the rise of parasocial relationships with online influencers and how these one-sided connections influence our expectations of real-world relationships.
The conversation will also highlight how mental health is framed on social media, with a focus on the oversimplification of issues like narcissism and gaslighting, and the dangers of self-diagnosing based on trends. Dr. Donna provides insight into how individuals can set boundaries, protect their peace, and reclaim their sense of self in the digital age.
Key Topics:
• The psychological impact of social media’s curated realities.
• Beauty politics, self-esteem, and mental health in the digital age.
• Parasocial relationships and their effect on real-life connections.
• The oversimplification of mental health issues online and the risks of self-diagnosis.
• Practical advice on managing social media exposure and cultivating mental health in the digital age.
Follow Dr. Donna on social media:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.donnaoriowo (https://www.instagram.com/dr.donnaoriowo)
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.donnaoriowo (mailto:https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.donnaoriowo)
Who has been a guest on Desire Dialogues with Dr. Donna
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Jessie Woo
Donovan Thompson
Dr Shamyra Howard
Hope Giselle
Dr Tracie Gilbert
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
55,751
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
9 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
3 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 55 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
40
Social presence
94
YouTube
76
Engagement
51
Contact Desire Dialogues with Dr. Donna
Guest appearances
Does not typically book guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
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