Black Girl Burnout

Episoade

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  When Your Body Changes the Plan: Michelle Young on Chronic Illness, Rest & Redefining Success 22.07.2026 49min

  Michelle Young joins Kelley for an honest conversation about what happens when life changes in ways you never expected. From navigating sudden public attention after The Bachelor and The Bachelorette to living with POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome), Michelle shares how she's learned to redefine strength, embrace rest, and let go of the belief that productivity determines worth.Together, they explore burnout, chronic illness, boundaries, activism, community, and the courage to build a gentler life. Michelle also reflects on finding new purpose through her foundation, supporting underserved students, and discovering that slowing down doesn't mean giving up—it creates space to live with greater intention, joy, and authenticity.Key TakeawaysRest is not something you earn—it's essential to healing. True strength isn't always pushing through; sometimes it's leaving a little energy in the tank.Your worth isn't measured by your productivity. Healing often requires redefining success and learning that who you are matters more than what you accomplish.A meaningful life is built through intentional choices. Whether it's protecting your energy, setting boundaries, or nurturing relationships, small daily decisions create lasting change.Episode Highlights & Timestamps00:00 – When life changes overnight: Michelle reflects on staying grounded through sudden fame, remaining true to herself, and navigating life in the public eye.17:45 – Living with POTS and redefining strength: Michelle explains POTS, shares how chronic illness transformed her relationship with rest, and why pushing through is no longer the goal.33:20 – Finding purpose after burnout: Michelle discusses building her foundation, discovering a new way to make an impact, and embracing seasons where purpose evolves instead of disappears.49:30 – Leaving a little energy in the tank: Michelle and Kelley explore what it means to measure success differently, embrace intentional living, and find joy in slowing down.See You SoonLeave a Little Energy in the TankThis week, notice where you're treating exhaustion as proof that you've done enough. Instead of giving every ounce of yourself away, experiment with ending one day with a little energy left. Rest before you're depleted, be fully present with someone you love, and remember that your value isn't determined by how much you produce—it's already yours.Support the ShowIf you'd like to make a one-time gift in honor of this milestone and support the continued work of Black Girl Burnout, you can donate through Ko-fi at ko-fi.com/blackgirlburnout. Thank you for being part of this community.Like, follow, and subscribe across all platforms. Find us @blackgirlburnout.Subscribe to our newsletter at blackgirlburnout.com. Watch on YouTube. Drop a review — your words make a real difference, and they warm Kelley's whole heart every single time.Stay in TouchJoin our Substack family for weekly reflections, tools, and behind-the-scenes notes from Kelley.Become a paid subscriber ($8/month) for exclusive resources and monthly workshops.Our SponsorsAdvertising Inquiries: RedCircle | Privacy & Opt-Out: RedCircleOur Sponsors:* Check out Super.com and use my code super.com/credit for a great deal: https://super.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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  Reclaiming Your Body, Joy & Capacity with Jayden Aubren 15.07.2026 45min

  Healing isn't another achievement to unlock—it's a relationship we cultivate with ourselves over time. In this conversation, Kelley sits down with therapist, trauma-informed movement specialist, and holistic health coach Jayden Aubren to explore why lasting healing begins with honoring our capacity instead of pushing past it. Together they unpack the connection between trauma, movement, nervous system regulation, and intentional living, offering practical ways to build sustainable habits that support healing without burnout. If you've ever felt pressured to "fix yourself" faster, this episode is an invitation to embrace a softer, more sustainable path.Key TakeawaysHealing becomes more sustainable when we honor our body's capacity instead of chasing perfection or quick fixes.Small, consistent practices—like mindful movement, breathwork, quality rest, and intentional routines—create lasting transformation over time.Building a healing lifestyle means shifting from solving isolated problems to nurturing your whole ecosystem: body, mind, relationships, and daily habits.Episode Highlights & Timestamps00:00 — What does healing on your own terms actually look like?Kelley introduces Jayden Aubren and explores why healing should honor our whole humanity—not just our productivity.15:45 — Why your body needs less, not moreJayden explains trauma-informed movement, the nervous system, and why slowing down often creates better long-term results than pushing harder.39:30 — Building a healing lifestyle through small daily habitsThe conversation turns toward practical ways to reconnect with your body through sleep, movement, food, breathwork, and mindful routines.59:10 — "What brings you joy?"Jayden shares a memorable answer about finding joy in themselves, followed by Kelley's reflections on nurturing the relationship we have with ourselves.Gentle InvitationThis week, choose one small practice that helps you reconnect with yourself. Maybe it's taking three intentional breaths before your next meeting, eating one meal without distractions, going for a short walk, or simply allowing yourself to rest without trying to earn it. Notice how that one small act shifts the way you move through your day. Healing doesn't have to be rushed to be real.Support the ShowIf you'd like to make a one-time gift in honor of this milestone and support the continued work of Black Girl Burnout, you can donate through Ko-fi at ko-fi.com/blackgirlburnout. Thank you for being part of this community.Like, follow, and subscribe across all platforms. Find us @blackgirlburnout.Subscribe to our newsletter at blackgirlburnout.com. Watch on YouTube. Drop a review — your words make a real difference, and they warm Kelley's whole heart every single time.Stay in TouchJoin our Substack family for weekly reflections, tools, and behind-the-scenes notes from Kelley.Become a paid subscriber ($8/month) for exclusive resources and monthly workshops.Our SponsorsAdvertising Inquiries: RedCircle | Privacy & Opt-Out: RedCircleOur Sponsors:* Check out Super.com and use my code super.com/credit for a great deal: https://super.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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  You Don't Need Perfect Conditions to Create a Beautiful Life Ft. Morgan Harper Nichols (REPLAY) 08.07.2026 53min

  What happens when you stop trying to fit into expectations and start building a life that actually fits you?In this deeply affirming conversation, Kelley sits down with artist, bestselling author, and creative visionary Morgan Harper Nichols to explore the intersection of creativity, neurodivergence, boundaries, and self-advocacy. Morgan reflects on receiving diagnoses of autism, ADHD, and sensory processing disorder in adulthood, and how having language for her experiences gave her freedom—not because it erased challenges, but because it gave her a framework for understanding herself with compassion.Together, Kelley and Morgan unpack the hidden ways burnout shows up, especially for Black women who are often praised for being capable, adaptable, and endlessly giving. They discuss why boundaries must become a practice—not just a theory—and how asking "What's in it for me?" is an essential act of self-preservation.The conversation also dives into creativity as a way of reclaiming yourself. Morgan shares how building her creative career started with nothing more than an iPad and a corner of a kitchen counter, proving that creativity isn't about having the perfect space—it's about giving yourself permission to begin where you are.Finally, they explore legacy, community, and joy, reminding listeners that our greatest impact often lives not in what we create, but in how we inspire others to create for themselves.Key TakeawaysNaming your experience creates freedom. Having language for your challenges doesn't erase them—it gives you the tools to understand yourself with greater compassion and build a life that supports your needs.Boundaries become powerful when they're practiced. Moving beyond people-pleasing requires asking whether relationships, opportunities, and commitments are truly reciprocal and life-giving.Creativity doesn't require perfect conditions. You don't need more space, more time, or more permission to begin. Creativity grows when you make room for it with whatever you already have.Episode Highlights & Timestamps00:04 – Finding Freedom Through DiagnosisMorgan shares how receiving her autism, ADHD, and sensory processing disorder diagnoses helped her replace confusion with clarity and compassion.17:45 – Why Boundaries Must Become a PracticeA conversation about burnout, reciprocity, and learning to ask the transformative question: "What's in it for me?"31:40 – Creativity Doesn't Need Perfect ConditionsMorgan explains how her entire creative career began with an iPad and a small corner of her kitchen counter—and why creativity is about permission, not perfection.57:10 – Building a Legacy Through Community & Protecting JoyMorgan reflects on creating work that lives on through other people and shares the practical rituals she uses to protect her own joy and creative energy.This Week's Gentle InvitationTake ten uninterrupted minutes this week to make space for something that brings you joy—not because you're productive, talented, or trying to achieve something, but simply because it makes you feel more like yourself.Then ask yourself:What would my life look like if I gave myself permission to create, rest, and receive without earning it first?Support the ShowAs we celebrate over 500 episodes of Black Girl Burnout, thank you for being part of this incredible community.If the podcast has encouraged you, inspired you, or supported your healing journey, one of the best ways you can help us continue this work is by supporting the show through our Ko-fi community. You can support the podcast here:ko-fi.com/blackgirlburnoutLike, follow, and subscribe across all platforms. Find us @blackgirlburnout.Subscribe to our newsletter at blackgirlburnout.com. Watch on YouTube. Drop a review — your words make a real difference, and they warm Kelley's whole heart every single time.Stay in TouchJoin our Substack family for weekly reflections, tools, and behind-the-scenes notes from Kelley.Become a paid subscriber ($8/month) for exclusive resources and monthly workshops.Our SponsorsSuper.com: super.com/creditSavvy Ladies Free Financial Helpline: https://www.savvyladies.org/Advertising Inquiries: RedCircle | Privacy & Opt-Out: RedCircleOur Sponsors:* Check out Super.com and use my code super.com/credit for a great deal: https://super.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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  500 Episodes Later: What Burnout, Grief & Healing Have Taught Me 01.07.2026 20min

  In this deeply personal milestone episode, Kelley celebrates 500 episodes of Black Girl Burnout by reflecting on the journey that brought her here—and the one she's stepping into next. She begins by honoring the incredible team behind the podcast before sharing how laying her father to rest at Arlington National Cemetery became an unexpected invitation to slow down, remember, and reconnect with herself.Kelley explores the idea that healing is not a destination but a lifelong practice, and that waiting until we're "fully healed" before embracing joy keeps us from fully living. Instead, she invites listeners to make room for delight, whimsy, and softness alongside grief, growth, and ambition.She also offers an honest look at the current state of podcasting, particularly for Black women creators, and explains why she's committed to building Black Girl Burnout in a way that doesn't recreate the very burnout it's designed to help people overcome.Finally, Kelley shares exciting news about the future of the podcast, announces an eight-week behind-the-scenes creative sabbatical, and invites listeners into the next chapter of Black Girl Burnout—a chapter centered on healing, community, delight, and becoming more fully ourselves.Key TakeawaysHealing isn't a finish line—it deserves companions. Joy, whimsy, rest, and delight don't belong at the end of your healing journey; they belong alongside it.You can't teach people not to abandon themselves while abandoning yourself. Sustainable work requires creating boundaries and building a life that aligns with your values.Our lives are meant to hold more than survival. The goal isn't simply recovering from burnout—it's creating a life spacious enough for wonder, connection, and joy.Episode Highlights & Timestamps00:00 – Celebrating 500 Episodes & Gratitude for the VillageKelley reflects on the milestone of reaching 500 episodes and honors the people who helped build Black Girl Burnout behind the scenes.08:30 – Honoring Her Father & Rediscovering Herself Through GriefA moving reflection on laying her father to rest and how remembering his life inspired Kelley to reclaim forgotten parts of herself.20:15 – Healing Needs Delight, TooKelley introduces a powerful new philosophy: healing isn't something to finish before experiencing joy—healing and delight belong together.33:45 – The Future of Black Girl BurnoutKelley shares why she's taking an intentional eight-week creative sabbatical and unveils her vision for the next evolution of the podcast.Gentle InvitationThis Week's Gentle InvitationAsk yourself one simple question:What part of yourself have you been waiting to bring back until life feels "better"?Instead of waiting for the perfect moment, choose one small act of delight this week—something that reminds you you're more than your productivity, your healing, or your responsibilities. Let joy walk beside you, not behind you.Support the ShowAs we celebrate 500 episodes of Black Girl Burnout, we'd love to celebrate with you.Share the journey by sending us a DM and telling us about your favorite episode or a moment that truly moved you.You can also email us at info@blackgirlburnout.com to share your reflections, and if you haven't already, leaving a review is one of the most meaningful ways to help others discover the show.If you'd like to make a one-time gift in honor of this milestone and support the continued work of Black Girl Burnout, you can donate through Ko-fi at ko-fi.com/blackgirlburnout. Thank you for being part of this community and for helping us make the next 500 episodes possible.Like, follow, and subscribe across all platforms. Find us @blackgirlburnout.Subscribe to our newsletter at blackgirlburnout.com. Watch on YouTube. Drop a review — your words make a real difference, and they warm Kelley's whole heart every single time.Stay in TouchJoin our Substack family for weekly reflections, tools, and behind-the-scenes notes from Kelley.Become a paid subscriber ($8/month) for exclusive resources and monthly workshops.Our Sponsors:* Check out Super.com and use my code super.com/credit for a great deal: https://super.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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  The Quiet Growth That Changes Everything 24.06.2026 24min

  We often think expansion should look loud, visible, and impressive. More followers. More money. More accomplishments. More proof that we're growing. But what if the most important growth happens where no one else can see it?In this episode, Kelley uses the metaphor of roots and blooming to explore a different path to expansion. She challenges the idea that success requires constant striving and invites listeners to embrace seasons of quiet growth, deeper self-trust, and intentional living. Through personal reflections and practical examples, Kelley shares how community, joyful movement, financial peace, and self-acceptance can become powerful forms of expansion that nourish you long before anyone notices the bloom.Key TakeawaysThe most transformative growth often happens out of sight. Just as roots develop underground before a plant blooms, your quiet seasons may be building the foundation for sustainable expansion.You can desire more without rejecting who you are today. Growth becomes healthier when it's rooted in self-acceptance rather than self-criticism.Expansion doesn't have to be performative. Deepening community, embracing joyful movement, and pursuing financial peace can be powerful expressions of growth that don't require external validation.Episode Highlights & Timestamps02:09 – The Growth No One SeesKelley introduces the concept of rooted expansion and explains why the most important growth often happens beneath the surface before any visible bloom appears.17:03 – Wanting More Without Rejecting YourselfA powerful reflection on holding ambition and self-acceptance at the same time, rather than using growth as a reason to criticize yourself.21:57 – Rooting Yourself in Community Instead of PerformanceKelley shares practical ways to deepen relationships through presence, connection, and community care rather than social media performance.36:20 – You Don't Need to Earn Your BloomA moving closing reminder that joy, celebration, and expansion don't have to wait until you've achieved the next milestone.A Gentle InvitationThis week, ask yourself:Where am I being called to root instead of rush?Choose one area of your life where you've been measuring growth by visibility, productivity, or achievement. Then experiment with a quieter form of expansion—deepening a friendship, taking a joyful walk, creating a budget that supports peace, or simply giving yourself permission to pause.Your roots matter just as much as your bloom. And sometimes the most meaningful growth is happening long before anyone else can see it.Support the ShowLike, follow, and subscribe across all platforms. Find us @blackgirlburnout.Subscribe to our newsletter at blackgirlburnout.com. Watch on YouTube. Drop a review — your words make a real difference, and they warm Kelley's whole heart every single time.Stay in TouchJoin our Substack family for weekly reflections, tools, and behind-the-scenes notes from Kelley.Become a paid subscriber ($8/month) for exclusive resources and monthly workshops.Our SponsorsSuper.com: Visit Super.com for more details.Sista Afya Community Care: www.sistaafya.comAdvertising Inquiries: RedCircle | Privacy & Opt-Out: RedCircleOur Sponsors:* Check out Super.com and use my code super.com/credit for a great deal: https://super.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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  What Outrage Is Costing Us? 17.06.2026 29min

  Over the past several weeks, Kelley has been exploring the idea of thawing—what happens when you move from survival mode into a space where you can finally feel again. In this episode, she examines another form of freezing that often goes unnoticed: outrage.Through reflections on social media discourse, cultural conversations, and personal experiences, Kelley explores how outrage can offer certainty in uncertain times while simultaneously limiting curiosity, connection, and healing. She invites listeners to consider the difference between accountability and punishment, certainty and nuance, and asks a powerful question: What life might be waiting on the other side of anger?Key TakeawaysOutrage can become a freeze response. While anger provides important information, living in a constant state of outrage can limit curiosity, growth, and emotional freedom.Healing requires nuance. Real life exists in complexity, and thawing often begins when we become willing to ask questions instead of rushing to certainty.Accountability and punishment are not the same thing. We can address harm, seek truth, and hold people accountable without losing our humanity or engaging in cruelty.Episode Highlights & Timestamps04:30 — How Outrage Can Become a Frozen StateKelley explores the difference between healthy anger and chronic outrage, and why certainty can feel safer than curiosity during uncertain times.12:15 — Projection, Social Media, and the Emma Grede ConversationA discussion about cultural discourse, assumptions, and what happens when we stop seeing people as individuals and start treating them as symbols.28:40 — Accountability Versus PunishmentUsing public conversations around Cheyenne Bryant as an example, Kelley examines the difference between addressing harm and participating in public cruelty.46:50 — Returning to Softness and the ThawKelley closes with a reflection on vulnerability, nuance, and the possibility of creating a fuller life beyond outrage and reactivity.A Gentle InvitationWhat Are You No Longer Available For?Take a moment this week to notice where certainty may be keeping you stuck.Ask yourself:"What might become possible if I chose curiosity over certainty in one area of my life?"You don't have to abandon discernment or ignore harm. Instead, consider one place where you can create space for nuance, softness, or a deeper question. Sometimes healing begins when you stop reacting long enough to listen to what your heart is trying to tell you.SUPPORT THE SHOWLike, follow, and subscribe across all platforms. Find us @blackgirlburnout.Subscribe to our newsletter at blackgirlburnout.com. Watch on YouTube. Drop a review — your words make a real difference, and they warm Kelley's whole heart every single time.STAY IN TOUCHJoin our Substack family for weekly reflections, tools, and behind-the-scenes notes from Kelley.Become a paid subscriber ($8/month) for exclusive resources and monthly workshops.OUR SPONSORSSuper.com: Visit Super.com for more details.Sista Afya Community Care: www.sistaafya.comAdvertising Inquiries: RedCircle | Privacy & Opt-Out: RedCircleOur Sponsors:* Check out Super.com and use my code super.com/credit for a great deal: https://super.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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  Opt Into Success Without Self-Abandonment with Sarah Boyd 10.06.2026 56min

  What does it look like to pursue ambition without abandoning yourself in the process?In this powerful conversation, Kelley sits down with Sarah Boyd, founder of The Formation, to discuss how Black women can navigate workplace challenges while protecting their wellbeing. Together, they unpack extraction culture, invisible labor, workplace boundaries, self-advocacy, and the difference between excellence and self-sacrifice. Sarah shares practical tools for making your contributions visible, reclaiming your voice, and building a career that supports the life you actually want to live.KEY TAKEAWAYSExcellence should never require self-betrayal. When your success consistently comes at the expense of your boundaries, you've likely moved from excellence into extraction.Visibility isn't about proving your worth. It's about confidently documenting, communicating, and standing on the value you've already created.Your career should support your life. Sustainable ambition starts with defining the life you want and making career decisions that align with it.EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS & TIMESTAMPS06:42 — Making Invisible Labor VisibleSarah explains why documenting your contributions is essential and how Black women can advocate for their work without feeling like they're proving their worth.22:18 — The Difference Between Excellence and ExtractionA powerful discussion about boundaries, overwork, and recognizing when workplace expectations have crossed the line into harmful extraction.39:55 — Why Your Career Should Fuel Your LifeSarah shares how shifting from "What can I give my job?" to "What does my job give me?" can transform your relationship with work.57:40 — Building Joyful Resilience and Reclaiming AmbitionThe conversation explores how Black women can pursue success, protect their peace, and create careers rooted in abundance rather than survival.A GENTLE INVITATIONBefore starting your next workweek, take ten minutes to reflect on this question:Is your current approach to work helping you build the life you want—or simply helping you survive your job?Write down one boundary you need to strengthen and one contribution you want to make more visible this month. Small shifts in self-advocacy can create more space for both success and wellbeing.SUPPORT THE SHOWLike, follow, and subscribe across all platforms. Find us @blackgirlburnout.Subscribe to our newsletter at blackgirlburnout.com. Watch on YouTube. Drop a review — your words make a real difference, and they warm Kelley's whole heart every single time.STAY IN TOUCHJoin our Substack family for weekly reflections, tools, and behind-the-scenes notes from Kelley.Become a paid subscriber ($8/month) for exclusive resources and monthly workshops.OUR SPONSORSSuper.com: Visit Super.com for more details.Sista Afya Community Care: www.sistaafya.comAdvertising Inquiries: RedCircle | Privacy & Opt-Out: RedCircleOur Sponsors:* Check out Super.com and use my code super.com/credit for a great deal: https://super.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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  Healing, Identity & the Questions I'm Asking Myself Now 03.06.2026 24min

  Last week, Kelley shared that she had entered a season of thawing—a period of finally feeling safe enough to stop bracing for impact. This week, she returns with an unexpected discovery: healing hasn't brought certainty. Instead, it has brought questions.Drawing inspiration from Zora Neale Hurston's reminder that "there are years that ask questions and years that answer," Kelley reflects on the deeper inquiries emerging in this season of her life. From reconsidering what she truly needs to thrive to redefining what she wants to be proud of, she explores the difference between performing healing and integrating it. Through personal stories, field notes, and honest observations, this episode offers a glimpse into what happens when you stop chasing answers and start listening to yourself.KEY TAKEAWAYSHealing isn't always about finding answers—it can be about learning to ask better questions.Thriving requires honoring what you actually need, not what you've been taught should make you happy or successful.Integration matters more than performance. Becoming whole is different from appearing healed.EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS & TIMESTAMPS04:56 – The Paris Question That Changed EverythingKelley shares the moment she realized that authenticity, creativity, and passion mattered more to her than the dream she had spent years pursuing.12:42 – What Do You Want to Be Proud Of?A reflection on moving beyond external achievement and redefining success based on the quality of your life, not just what you produce.20:31 – What People Think of Me Is None of My BusinessKelley unpacks one of her most important field notes from this season and explores the freedom that comes from releasing the burden of others' opinions.31:47 – Becoming Reachable to Yourself AgainA powerful closing reflection on thawing, healing, and the realization that growth may not be about becoming someone new—but returning to yourself.A GENTLE INVITATIONThis week, choose one question instead of searching for one answer.Ask yourself: What do I actually need to thrive right now?Resist the urge to solve everything at once. Write down whatever comes up, even if it's incomplete. Sometimes healing isn't found in certainty. Sometimes it's found in creating enough space to hear yourself tell the truth.If this episode resonated with you, consider sharing it with someone who may be navigating their own season of questions. You don't have to have everything figured out to keep moving forward. Sometimes curiosity is enough.SUPPORT THE SHOWLike, follow, and subscribe across all platforms. Find us @blackgirlburnout.Subscribe to our newsletter at blackgirlburnout.com. Watch on YouTube. Drop a review — your words make a real difference, and they warm Kelley's whole heart every single time.STAY IN TOUCHJoin our Substack family for weekly reflections, tools, and behind-the-scenes notes from Kelley.Become a paid subscriber ($8/month) for exclusive resources and monthly workshops.OUR SPONSORSSuper.com: Visit Super.com for more details.Sista Afya Community Care: www.sistaafya.comAdvertising Inquiries: RedCircle | Privacy & Opt-Out: RedCircleOur Sponsors:* Check out Super.com and use my code super.com/credit for a great deal: https://super.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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  You Don’t Have to Wait for the Crash-Out: Community Care & Black Women’s Mental Health 29.05.2026 28min

  In this Mental Health Month bonus episode, Kelley sits down with Ashlee Edwards, founder and CEO of MindRight, to discuss community-centered mental health support for Black women. Together, they explore why healing shouldn’t begin only in crisis, how community care helps protect our capacity for joy, and what it looks like to build more human-centered systems of support through technology, intention, and connection.Key TakeawaysMental health support should begin before burnout or crisis, not only after things fall apart.Community care is a powerful tool for healing, resilience, and protecting Black women from systems that demand overextension.Technology can support emotional wellness when it is used to deepen human connection rather than replace it.Episode Highlights & Timestamps00:01 – Why Black women deserve support before the “crash-out”Kelley and Ashlee discuss shifting mental health care from crisis intervention to everyday support and community care.05:20 – Protecting our capacity for joyAshlee shares why conversations about mental health must include intergenerational wisdom, joy, and abundance—not just trauma.11:17 – Can technology support healing without replacing humanity?A nuanced conversation about AI, trust, emotional support, and why MindRight prioritizes real humans on the other side of the screen.23:00 – What joy looks like in practiceAshlee reflects on spirituality, nature, intentional living, and the decisions she makes to actively protect her wellbeing.Gentle InvitationThis week, consider one small way you can support your emotional wellbeing before you reach exhaustion. Maybe that looks like asking for support, spending time near something that grounds you, or letting yourself receive care instead of always being the one giving it. The goal isn’t perfection—it’s consistency and remembering that staying human is the work.Connect with Ashlee EdwardsInstagram: @IYA_AshleeMindRight Website: MindRightText MindRight for support: Text 886-886Learn more about MindRight’s community-centered emotional support platform for Black communities and Black women.Support the ShowLike, follow, and subscribe across all platforms. Find us @blackgirlburnout.Subscribe to our newsletter at blackgirlburnout.com. Watch on YouTube. Drop a review — your words make a real difference, and they warm Kelley's whole heart every single time.Stay in TouchJoin our Substack family for weekly reflections, tools, and behind-the-scenes notes from Kelley.Become a paid subscriber ($8/month) for exclusive resources and monthly workshops.Our SponsorsSuper.com: Visit Super.com for more details.Savvy Ladies Free Financial Helpline: https://www.savvyladies.org/Advertising Inquiries: RedCircle | Privacy & Opt-Out: RedCircleOur Sponsors:* Check out Super.com and use my code super.com/credit for a great deal: https://super.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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  You Cannot Optimize Your Way Out of Grief 27.05.2026 26min

  Sometimes grief doesn’t look like falling apart — sometimes it looks like becoming incredibly productive. In this episode, Kelley reflects on the realization that she had been producing healing instead of actually experiencing it, and how years of survival mode, caregiving, medical trauma, and loss shaped her relationship to grief. Through personal storytelling and thoughtful reflection, she explores how Black women are often culturally rewarded for over-functioning while quietly disconnecting from themselves emotionally.This conversation is an invitation to recognize the difference between narrating healing and truly inhabiting it. Kelley also introduces the idea of “the thaw” — the slow process of returning to yourself after prolonged survival mode — and shares why softness, embodiment, and emotional honesty matter now more than ever.KEY TAKEAWAYSGrief doesn’t always look emotional — sometimes it looks like productivity, over-functioning, and survival mode.Many Black women are taught to intellectualize pain and keep moving instead of fully feeling and processing loss.Healing may begin not with becoming “better,” but with becoming reachable to yourself again.EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS & TIMESTAMPS00:01:00 — When Productivity Becomes a Mask for GriefKelley explores the realization that she had been “producing healing” instead of fully experiencing it and reflects on the pressure to turn pain into purpose too quickly.00:05:00 — The Three Books That Cracked Everything OpenA conversation about art, grief, emotional release, and the moment Kelley realized how long it had been since she truly allowed herself to feel.00:11:20 — Survival Mode, Trauma, and the Black Woman Freeze ResponseKelley shares the cascade of events from the last several years — illness, caregiving, business instability, and loss — and how prolonged survival mode can disconnect us from ourselves emotionally.00:19:00 — What “The Thaw” Looks LikeKelley introduces the beginning of her thawing process: slowing down, reconnecting to her body, and learning how to return to herself gently after years of bracing for impact.A GENTLE INVITATIONTake a moment this week to ask yourself:Where have I been over-functioning instead of truly feeling?Maybe your nervous system has been protecting you. Maybe the numbness isn’t failure — maybe it’s survival. Give yourself permission to slow down long enough to notice what your body, heart, or spirit might be trying to say.And if this episode resonated with you, share it with another Black woman who may need the reminder that healing doesn’t have to be optimized to be real.SUPPORT THE SHOWLike, follow, and subscribe across all platforms. Find us @blackgirlburnout.Subscribe to our newsletter at blackgirlburnout.com. Watch on YouTube. Drop a review — your words make a real difference, and they warm Kelley's whole heart every single time.STAY IN TOUCHJoin our Substack family for weekly reflections, tools, and behind-the-scenes notes from Kelley.Become a paid subscriber ($8/month) for exclusive resources and monthly workshops.OUR SPONSORSSuper.com: Visit Super.com for more details.Savvy Ladies Free Financial Helpline: https://www.savvyladies.org/Advertising Inquiries: RedCircle | Privacy & Opt-Out: RedCircleOur Sponsors:* Check out Super.com and use my code super.com/credit for a great deal: https://super.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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  The Life You Worked For Might Be Exhausting You W/ Zerlina Maxwell 20.05.2026 49min

  In this episode, Kelley is joined by political analyst, writer, and speaker Zerlina Maxwell for a powerful conversation about visibility, truth-telling, and navigating the pressure of being a Black woman in public spaces. Together, they explore the emotional toll of constantly having to prove yourself, the importance of boundaries, and what it means to remain grounded while living and working in highly demanding environments.Zerlina shares reflections on ambition, identity, and protecting your peace while still pursuing meaningful work. This conversation is an honest reminder that you do not have to abandon yourself in order to be impactful, successful, or seen.Key TakeawaysVisibility comes with emotional weight. Being seen and heard—especially as a Black woman—often carries pressure, scrutiny, and exhaustion that require intentional care.Boundaries protect your humanity. Rest, limits, and stepping back are necessary practices for sustainability, not signs of weakness.You can pursue impact without self-abandonment. Success and meaningful work do not have to come at the expense of your well-being.Episode Highlights03:08 – Navigating Public Life as a Black WomanZerlina reflects on the challenges of visibility, criticism, and existing authentically in high-pressure spaces.07:42 – The Pressure to Constantly Prove YourselfA deeper discussion about overperformance, perfectionism, and the emotional labor many Black women carry in professional environments.14:19 – Protecting Your Peace With BoundariesKelley and Zerlina explore the importance of rest, emotional boundaries, and creating sustainable rhythms while doing impactful work.21:37 – Redefining Success Beyond ExhaustionA closing reflection on choosing fulfillment, alignment, and self-preservation over constant striving and burnout.A Gentle InvitationIf this episode resonated, take a moment to reflect on where you may be overextending yourself in order to feel worthy, successful, or accepted. Consider one boundary or act of self-preservation that could support you this week.Listen to the full episode, share it with someone navigating pressure or visibility fatigue, and leave a review if this conversation supported you. Choosing yourself alongside your ambitions is part of building a life rooted in sustainability, care, and truth.Connect with ZerlinaRadio Show: Mornings with Zerlina MaxwellInstagram: @ZerlinaMaxwellSubstack: Inner Work Dispatch (available wherever books are sold)Support the ShowLike, follow, and subscribe across all platforms. Find us @blackgirlburnout.Subscribe to our newsletter at blackgirlburnout.com. Watch on YouTube. Drop a review — your words make a real difference, and they warm Kelley's whole heart every single time.Stay in TouchJoin our Substack family for weekly reflections, tools, and behind-the-scenes notes from Kelley.Become a paid subscriber ($8/month) for exclusive resources and monthly workshops.Our SponsorsSavvy Ladies Free Financial Helpline: https://www.savvyladies.org/Advertising Inquiries: RedCircle | Privacy & Opt-Out: RedCircleOur Sponsors:* Check out Super.com and use my code super.com/credit for a great deal: https://super.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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  Breath, Mindfulness, and Black Joy with Oneika Mays 12.05.2026 49min

  In this grounding conversation, Kelley and Onieka Mays explore how breathwork, mindfulness, and intentional pauses can help Black women reconnect with themselves and reclaim joy. This episode is a gentle reminder that rest, presence, and softness are not luxuries—they are necessary practices for healing and sustainable well-being. Our Sponsors: * Check out Super.com and use my code super.com/credit for a great deal: https://super.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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  You’re Not Stuck, You’re Missing the Right Rooms 06.05.2026 23min

  Feeling stuck might not be about you—it might be about where you are. In this episode, Kelley explores how your environment, community, and proximity shape your growth—and how getting in the right rooms can unlock new possibilities with more ease and alignment. Our Sponsors: * Check out Super.com and use my code super.com/credit for a great deal: https://super.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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  You’re Not Bad With Money—You’re Carrying Old Stories 04.05.2026 38min

  In this episode, Kelley sits down with Ruchi Pinniger to unpack the emotional roots of financial avoidance. Together, they explore how childhood beliefs, shame, and subconscious patterns shape our relationship with money—and why high-achieving women often feel stuck despite earning well. Ruchi introduces practical tools like the RIR Method™(Recognize, Interrupt, Reframe™) method and a prosperity framework that centers on wellbeing, spirituality, and aligned relationships. This conversation invites you to move out of financial fog and into clarity, choice, and ease—without burnout.Key TakeawaysMoney isn’t just math—it’s memory, emotion, and inherited belief systems.Financial avoidance is often rooted in shame, not lack of intelligence or capability.Small, consistent actions (like 15-minute money check-ins) can dissolve financial fog.True prosperity includes wellbeing, relationships, and mindset—not just income.Episode Highlights & Timestamps00:02:00 — Ruchi’s turning point: learning how money feels vs. how it works00:04:00 — How childhood beliefs shape financial avoidance and burnout patterns00:12:00 — The “financial fog” explained—and how clarity begins00:25:00 — The RIR Method: a simple tool to shift your money mindset in real timeIf This Resonates…If you’ve been avoiding your numbers or feeling overwhelmed by your finances, start small.Set aside just 15 minutes this week to gently look at your bank account—no judgment, just awareness.Ask yourself:What story have I been carrying about money—and is it still serving me?You don’t have to fix everything today. You just have to begin.Connect with RuchiWebsite: https://watchherprosper.com/Workshop: Redefining Prosperity (90-minute live experience) 5/14/26Discount Code: BGB for $100 offInstagram: @watchherprosperRuchi also offers financial mentorship, bookkeeping support, and prosperity coaching through her company, Watch Her Prosper.Support the ShowLike, follow, and subscribe across all platforms. Find us @blackgirlburnout.Subscribe to our newsletter at blackgirlburnout.com. Watch on YouTube. Drop a review — your words make a real difference, and they warm Kelley's whole heart every single time.Stay in TouchJoin our Substack family for weekly reflections, tools, and behind-the-scenes notes from Kelley.Become a paid subscriber ($8/month) for exclusive resources and monthly workshops.Our SponsorsCheck out PharmaNutra and use code BGB: https://pharmanutra-us.comSavvy Ladies Free Financial Helpline: https://www.savvyladies.org/Advertising Inquiries: RedCircle | Privacy & Opt-Out: RedCircleOur Sponsors:* Check out Super.com and use my code super.com/credit for a great deal: https://super.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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  The Middle Way: Staying Soft While You Succeed 29.04.2026 23min

  You’ve likely been taught that success requires hardness—pushing through, tightening up, and leaving softness behind. In this episode, Kelley explores a different path: the middle way, where you can pursue success without abandoning your softness, your boundaries, or your humanity.This conversation challenges the belief that you must choose between ease and achievement. Instead, it offers a grounded perspective on how to move through life with both intention and gentleness, allowing success to coexist with rest, clarity, and self-trust.Key TakeawaysSoftness is not a weakness. You can be grounded, clear, and successful without hardening yourself or overriding your needs.Burnout is not the price of success. The belief that you must struggle to achieve keeps you stuck in cycles of depletion.The middle way is sustainable. Balancing ambition with care for your nervous system allows you to build a life that actually feels good to live.Episode Highlights01:42 – The Lie That You Have to Harden to SucceedKelley unpacks the belief that success requires toughness and emotional shutdown, and how that narrative leads to burnout.05:19 – What Softness Actually Looks Like in PracticeA grounded look at how boundaries, rest, and self-trust are expressions of strength—not weakness.09:27 – Finding the Middle Way Between Hustle and WithdrawalKelley explores how to stay engaged with your goals without slipping into overwork or complete disengagement.13:58 – Redefining Success on Your Own TermsA closing reflection on choosing a version of success that includes ease, alignment, and emotional well-being.Your Invitation This WeekIf this episode resonated, consider one place in your life where you’ve been equating hardness with success. What would it look like to approach that area with a little more softness this week—whether that’s setting a boundary, slowing your pace, or honoring your capacity?Listen to the full episode, share it with someone who may be feeling the pressure to push through, and leave a review if this conversation supported you. Each small choice toward softness creates a more sustainable way to succeed—one that honors both your ambition and your well-being.Support the ShowLike, follow, and subscribe across all platforms. Find us @blackgirlburnout.Subscribe to our newsletter at blackgirlburnout.com. Watch on YouTube. Drop a review — your words make a real difference, and they warm Kelley's whole heart every single time.Stay in TouchJoin our Substack family for weekly reflections, tools, and behind-the-scenes notes from Kelley.Become a paid subscriber ($8/month) for exclusive resources and monthly workshops.Our SponsorsCheck out PharmaNutra and use code BGB: https://pharmanutra-us.comSavvy Ladies Free Financial Helpline: https://www.savvyladies.org/Advertising Inquiries: RedCircle | Privacy & Opt-Out: RedCircleOur Sponsors:* Check out Super.com and use my code super.com/credit for a great deal: https://super.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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  Stop Waiting for Joy, Build It: How to Build A Soft Life With Real Systems 22.04.2026 21min

  In this episode, Kelley challenges the idea that joy should be spontaneous and effortless, introducing a powerful reframe: joy needs structure. She shares how good intentions alone often fall short without systems that make joy repeatable and accessible. Through personal examples and practical strategies, she walks listeners through how to schedule, automate, and protect joy in everyday life.Kelley also addresses the real-life barriers many Black women face—time, money, caregiving—and offers simple, flexible ways to begin, no matter your circumstances. This episode is a grounded, compassionate invitation to stop waiting for joy and start building it into your life in small, sustainable ways.Key TakeawaysJoy doesn’t happen by accident—it requires intention and infrastructure. Without systems, even the best intentions fade.Scheduling joy makes it real. Putting joy on your calendar transforms it from a wish into a commitment.Small systems create big shifts. Subscriptions, routines, and rituals remove decision fatigue and make joy easier to access.Protecting your joy matters just as much as creating it. Boundaries around time, energy, and habits are essential.Episode Highlights & Timestamps[00:02:00] — The realization: intentions aren’t enough: Kelley reflects on how years of valuing joy still left gaps—because there was no system to support it.[00:05:45] — “Put joy on your calendar” (practical application): A tangible walkthrough of how scheduling joy—appointments, connection, rest—changes everything.[00:11:33] — Identifying and blocking the enemies of joy: From social media to poor sleep habits, Kelley shares how protecting your energy is part of the system.[00:15:11] — How to start when life feels full, and resources are limited: A compassionate, realistic entry point: one small act, one calendar block, one moment that belongs to you.Your Invitation This WeekTake 15–20 minutes and choose one small way to give your joy structure.Put it on your calendar.Text the friend.Block the time.Not perfectly. Not forever. Just once.Then notice what shifts when joy isn’t something you hope for—but something you made space for.Support the ShowLike, follow, and subscribe across all platforms. Find us @blackgirlburnout.Subscribe to our newsletter at blackgirlburnout.com. Watch on YouTube. Drop a review — your words make a real difference, and they warm Kelley's whole heart every single time.Stay in TouchJoin our Substack family for weekly reflections, tools, and behind-the-scenes notes from Kelley.Become a paid subscriber ($8/month) for exclusive resources and monthly workshops.Our SponsorsCheck out PharmaNutra and use code BGB: https://pharmanutra-us.comSavvy Ladies Free Financial Helpline: https://www.savvyladies.org/Advertising Inquiries: RedCircle | Privacy & Opt-Out: RedCircleOur Sponsors:* Check out Super.com and use my code super.com/credit for a great deal: https://super.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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  I Will No Longer Break My Own Heart 15.04.2026 23min

  In this deeply reflective episode, Kelley introduces a life-changing mantra: “I will no longer break my own heart.” She explores how self-abandonment, internalized beliefs about suffering, and delayed joy have shaped her past—and how choosing softness and intentional joy became her path to healing. Through personal stories, including her time living in Europe and the creation of her “joy jar,” Kelley offers listeners a grounded, practical way to stop equating pain with worth and start building a life rooted in ease and self-respect.Key TakeawaysYou were likely taught that suffering makes you worthy—but that belief is a lie you can release.Joy is not something you earn later; it’s the practice that improves your life right now.You don’t need permission or a special occasion to choose yourself—you already are the occasion.Episode Highlights & Timestamps00:00 — The mantra: “I will no longer break my own heart” and what it really means02:00 — The UTI story: how self-neglect became a belief system about worth07:00 — Living in Europe: learning to hold joy and pain at the same time12:30 — The Joy Jar: a simple, tangible way to practice choosing joyA Gentle InvitationThis week, choose one small way to stop breaking your own heart.It doesn’t have to be dramatic. It might look like resting when you’re tired, buying something that brings you comfort, or creating your own version of a joy jar.Let it be simple. Let it be yours.Because the shift isn’t perfection—it’s direction.Support the ShowLike, follow, and subscribe across all platforms. Find us @blackgirlburnout.Subscribe to our newsletter at blackgirlburnout.com. Watch on YouTube. Drop a review — your words make a real difference, and they warm Kelley's whole heart every single time.Stay in TouchJoin our Substack family for weekly reflections, tools, and behind-the-scenes notes from Kelley.Become a paid subscriber ($8/month) for exclusive resources and monthly workshops.Our SponsorsCheck out PharmaNutra and use code BGB: https://pharmanutra-us.comSavvy Ladies Free Financial Helpline: https://www.savvyladies.org/Advertising Inquiries: RedCircle | Privacy & Opt-Out: RedCircleOur Sponsors:* Check out Super.com and use my code super.com/credit for a great deal: https://super.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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  Good Grief: Making Space for Joy After Loss ft. Angela Nissel 10.04.2026 41min

  In this deeply honest and unexpectedly joyful conversation, Kelley sits down with author and television writer Angela Nissel to explore the layered reality of grief, caregiving, and rebuilding a life after loss. Together, they unpack the quiet, everyday griefs that linger long after the funeral, the guilt and self-blame many Black women carry, and the emotional toll of being “the strong one.”Angela shares how losing her mother forced her to reimagine her relationship with work, success, and joy—leading her to choose freedom, presence, and connection over burnout and external validation. This episode is both a permission slip and a gentle guide for anyone navigating grief while trying to stay human in a world that asks them not to.Key TakeawaysGrief isn’t just about loss—it’s also about the stories we tell ourselves, including guilt and responsibility that were never ours to carry.Caregiving teaches presence in a way productivity never can—and those quiet moments often become the most meaningful memories.Loss can create clarity, helping you reevaluate relationships, work, and what truly matters.Episode Highlights & Timestamps00:03:30 – The Unexpected Weight of Grief: Angela shares how self-blame and guilt showed up after her mother’s passing—and why so many Black women internalize responsibility for loss.00:10:30 – When Grief Forces You to Feel: A powerful reflection on how grief disrupts emotional avoidance and reveals what no longer aligns in your life.00:14:00 – Redefining Work, Success, and Freedom: Angela opens up about leaving behind hustle culture and choosing a life centered on time, relationships, and joy.00:31:00 – Caregiving, Presence, and What Actually Matters: A moving conversation on caregiving, being present, and why small moments of connection become the memories that last.For You, ListeningIf you’re holding grief right now—big or small—try this: Take five minutes today to pause instead of pushing through. Reach out to someone you love, not to perform strength, but to be real. Or ask someone in your life a question about their story—something you’ve never asked before.Let yourself choose presence, even in small ways. That’s where the healing begins.Connect with AngelaWebsite: Angela Nissel Instagram: @angelanissel Pre-order the book: Good Grief, Pass the Bread, My Mom Is Dead, (available wherever books are sold)Support the ShowLike, follow, and subscribe across all platforms. Find us @blackgirlburnout.Subscribe to our newsletter at blackgirlburnout.com. Watch on YouTube. Drop a review — your words make a real difference, and they warm Kelley's whole heart every single time.Stay in TouchJoin our Substack family for weekly reflections, tools, and behind-the-scenes notes from Kelley.Become a paid subscriber ($5/month) for exclusive resources and monthly workshops.Our SponsorsCheck out PharmaNutra and use code BGB: https://pharmanutra-us.comSavvy Ladies Free Financial Helpline: https://www.savvyladies.org/Advertising Inquiries: RedCircle | Privacy & Opt-Out: RedCircleOur Sponsors:* Check out Super.com and use my code super.com/credit for a great deal: https://super.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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  Joy Is Resistance: Why You Can’t Wait for the World to Feel Good 08.04.2026 22min

  In this episode, Kelley explores the idea that joy is not something we wait for, but something we actively practice, especially in difficult times. Drawing from personal reflection, cultural history, and evidence-informed healing, she unpacks how constant exposure to outrage and hardship can disconnect us from our humanity.She reframes joy as both a survival tool and a form of resistance, rooted deeply in Black cultural traditions and ancestral wisdom. Through storytelling and practical insight, she invites listeners to build intentional “structures of joy” that are accessible, sustainable, and grounding.This conversation is a reminder that staying human in a harsh world requires choice, practice, and softness without losing awareness.Key TakeawaysJoy is not something you earn after things get better. It is something you practice to survive what is happening now.Constant outrage may feel productive, but it often disconnects you from your ability to rest, create, and love.Building simple, repeatable practices of joy makes it easier to access when you need it most.Episode Highlights & Timestamps00:00 – The mantra: “I’m not waiting for the world to be good to feel good”03:00 – The weight of current realities and how it impacts joy09:30 – Why outrage is not the same as action and how it changes you15:00 – Joy as resistance and how to begin building a practice of itA Gentle InvitationWhat would it look like to stop postponing your joy?This week, choose one small, repeatable practice that brings you back to yourself. It could be music, movement, rest, or laughter. Let it be simple, accessible, and yours.You are not waiting for the world to soften before you do. You are practicing staying human, right here, right now.Support the ShowLike, follow, and subscribe across all platforms. Find us @blackgirlburnout.Subscribe to our newsletter at blackgirlburnout.com. Watch on YouTube. Drop a review — your words make a real difference, and they warm Kelley's whole heart every single time.Stay in TouchJoin our Substack family for weekly reflections, tools, and behind-the-scenes notes from Kelley.Become a paid subscriber ($8/month) for exclusive resources and monthly workshops.Our SponsorsCheck out PharmaNutra and use code BGB: https://pharmanutra-us.comSavvy Ladies Free Financial Helpline: https://www.savvyladies.org/Advertising Inquiries: RedCircle | Privacy & Opt-Out: RedCircleOur Sponsors:* Check out Super.com and use my code super.com/credit for a great deal: https://super.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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  Honesty and Hope Are Enough: A Conversation with Marisa Renee Lee 01.04.2026 50min

  Marissa Renee Lee has been through it. Harvard. Wall Street. The White House. And also: her mother's MS diagnosis at 13, stage four breast cancer, a pregnancy loss, and now two years of long COVID. What she's learned isn't that grief has a silver lining. It's that grief has a through line, and if you're honest enough to follow it, it leads somewhere real.In this episode, Kelley sits down with Marissa, bestselling author of Grief Is Love and her newest book Waiting for Dawn, for a conversation that gets honest about what it actually costs to be the strong one. They talk about what happens to your identity when the thing you've always counted on, your strength, your body, your plan, disappears without asking permission. And what you reach for when it does.What you'll hear:Why grief isn't a detour from your life story, it is your life story, and what high-achieving Black women lose when they don't name itThe "Flake Permission Structure" — and why saying "I want to but I can't commit" is one of the most honest and loving things you can doWhat Marissa calls "good love" and why saying no to someone you love is sometimes the most caring thing you can offerThe two tools she swears by when the uncertainty isn't going anywhere: radical honesty about where you are, and practical hope for where you're goingEpisode Highlights & Timestamps00:04:22 — Achievement as armor: Marissa traces how her drive for success started as a survival strategy at 13, when her mom got sick and she decided the only thing she could control was how hard she worked00:22:11 — "Not everything can be fixed. Some things must be endured." Kelley and Marissa get honest about what it means to hold yourself together when the world isn't cooperating, and why shrinking your to-do list down to just two things is actually enough00:28:09 — The Flake Permission Structure: why saying "I want to but I can't commit" upfront is kinder, more honest, and way less anxiety-inducing than the last-minute text we've all sent00:34:00 — Good love and the hardest no: Marissa reframes saying no to someone you love not as a failure of care but as the fullest expression of it, and why learning to feed yourself first is how you actually show up for othersGentle InvitationSomewhere in your life right now, there's something you can't fix. You can only endure it.What would it look like to be honest about that, not performatively, just to yourself? And what's the smallest, most stubborn piece of hope you can hold alongside it?Start there. Build from there.Connect with MarissaGrab a copy of Waiting for Dawn wherever you buy your books — Marissa especially recommends your local indie bookstore.Find her on Substack at Holding Both and everywhere else on the internet as @MarissaRenee.Support the ShowLike, follow, and subscribe across all platforms. Find us @blackgirlburnout.Subscribe to our newsletter at blackgirlburnout.com. Watch on YouTube. Drop a review — your words make a real difference, and they warm Kelley's whole heart every single time.Stay in TouchJoin our Substack family for weekly reflections, tools, and behind-the-scenes notes from Kelley.Become a paid subscriber ($5/month) for exclusive resources and monthly workshops.Our SponsorsCheck out PharmaNutra and use code BGB: https://pharmanutra-us.comSavvy Ladies Free Financial Helpline: https://www.savvyladies.org/Advertising Inquiries: RedCircle | Privacy & Opt-Out: RedCircleOur Sponsors:* Check out Super.com and use my code super.com/credit for a great deal: https://super.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy