Content Warning: This episode briefly discusses suicide and suicidal thoughts. Listener discretion is advised. If you’re struggling, you can call or text 988 in the U.S., or find local support at https://findahelpline.com/.
On this episode of Seen In Full, Dr. Desai sits down with comedian and Steve Harvey Morning Show co-host Kier “Junior” Spates. Kier opens up about the emotional weight he’s carried while living with sickle cell disease and how the experience has fueled his desire to advocate for others. He shares how chronic pain, stigma, and a lifetime of medical mistrust shaped his identity, his mental health, and his dreams. In this raw and revealing conversation, Kier reflects on lost ambitions, surviving two suicide attempts, the power of compassionate care, and the purpose he’s found in destigmatizing and demystifying a life-altering condition. It’s a powerful reminder of the unseen struggles professionals shoulder behind the facade, and the healing that begins when we’re finally allowed to be seen in full.
