Long before launching her hit podcast The Brain Truth, Allison Jordan was already on a journey learning to live in her own truth.
“Our family saying is ‘Do what you have to do, so you can do what you want to do,’” Allison said.
This mantra stuck with Allison who began her career in Chicago as a producer for events like Taste of Chicago and the Chicago Blues Festival. Despite finding success in special events, Allison knew her passion was elsewhere.
During a visit to Los Angeles, Allison was introduced to the executive producers of Johnny Carson Productions. Impressed with her resume and energy, she was hired as a production assistant and moved out west.
From production assistant to producer, Allison made her way up in Hollywood by wearing many hats. She broke barriers in the sports industry as the General Manager of the Chicago Condors, becoming the first Black woman to lead a professional sports franchise. Family also remained close as her robust career includes managing her own sister, Real Housewives of Atlanta star, Drew Sidora.
During the 2020 pandemic, Allison began writing a book about her experiences in Hollywood. However, reflecting and writing about her past brought up unaddressed trauma from her youth. With forgotten wounds reopened, Allison spent a period in a psychiatric hospital, where she was diagnosed with PTSD, anxiety, and depression.
After her hospitalization, Allison returned to Chicago and was at a loss for what to do next. Then, a friend in the industry asked if she could fill in as a host for his podcast on iHeart radio. Reluctant at first, Allison agreed, and following the episode, iHeart asked if she was interested in having her own show.
In 2021, The Brain Truth released its first episode. To Allison’s surprise, the episode garnered over 15,000 views of the stream on YouTube. After receiving messages from listeners who resonated with her experiences, Allison realized her calling: to teach others to care for their own mental health or as Allison prefers ‘brain health.’
“The key is we are more alike than we are different,” shared Allison. “I think our experiences can help us be a better body of humans.”
Originally created to address the lack of mental health resources in the African American community, The Brain Truth has since grown into a show for everyone. Through what she calls the ‘Brain Gang,’ Allison assembled a team of clinicians and launched a bridge program to help people get connected to the therapy they need. Her website also provides resources like healthy eating guides and online support groups.
However, scaling a mental health-focused business proved challenging, and Allison struggled to secure proper funding.
In 2024, she received an A4CB line of credit which allowed her to pay her producer who performs tasks like managing social channels and platforms for streaming.
“They (A4CB) didn’t just look at my credit score; they looked at my story,” said Allison. “They saw my passion, my track record, and the lives that have been impacted.”
In 2025, Allison received another line of credit from A4CB, which helped her update her podcasting equipment and branding and pay for streaming platforms, and the first formulation of her upcoming line of wellness products called Blissed Balance.
Today, Allison is gearing up for season three of The Brain Truth. She leads a team of twelve who ensure each episode of The Brain Truth is quality programming and done with care. In addition to wellness products, Allison also plans to incorporate music, dancing, and cooking segments into her podcast, creating a comprehensive experience to help people heal, one episode at a time.
