Épisodes

  • Soulful Sunday | This Week Feels Like Letting Go

    Soulful Sunday | This Week Feels Like Letting Go
    Feb 9 2025
    Letting go isn’t always easy—especially when you’ve poured so much of yourself into something. But gripping tightly to an outcome that’s already shifting away will only leave you stuck, frustrated, and drained. This week, we’re releasing the need to control every outcome. No more forcing. No more fighting for what’s already walking away. Instead, we’re making peace with the unfolding and trusting that what’s meant for us will always find us. What You’ll Get in This Episode: A few reasons letting go of outcomes feels so hard Why trying to force what’s already shifting only leads to more struggle A shift in perspective that will help you breathe a little easier this week Takeaway: There is peace in letting go. Holding on too tightly—whether to plans, people, or expectations—can feel like security, but often, it just keeps us stuck. This episode is an invitation to loosen the grip, trust the unfolding, and find peace in what’s already shifting. Because sometimes, the freedom we’re searching for isn’t in getting what we want—it’s in releasing what was never ours to hold. Affirmation for the Week: "This week, I release the need to control every outcome. I trust that what’s meant for me will find me. I find peace in the unfolding." Take a deep breath and press play. Resources to Support You: Take the Support Language™ Quiz. Take this quick, insightful quiz to uncover how you best receive support. It’s the first step to shifting from struggle-based strength to strength that centers rest, play, and ease. Follow @shadesofstrong on Instagram for you daily dose of affirmations, reminders, and empowering conversations. It’s where sisterhood meets support, helping you release the weight of doing it all alone. www.shadesofstrong.com
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  • The See What You Do, But Do They See YOU?

    The See What You Do, But Do They See YOU?
    Feb 4 2025
    Black women are often celebrated for their strength, their ability to handle everything, and the way they show up for everyone else. But what happens when you’re left feeling unseen as a Black woman—recognized for what you do, but never for who you are? In this episode of Shades of Strong, we’re unpacking the emotional toll of being unseen and exploring what it means to reclaim your visibility. From the exhaustion of always “being on” to the importance of recognizing yourself first, this episode offers tangible ways to step into a space where you’re valued beyond what you give. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: Why Black women are often seen for their strength but not their softness. How the emotional weight of always “being fine” impacts your well-being. Why being seen starts with recognizing yourself before others can. Simple ways to reclaim your visibility and let others see you, not just what you do. Key Takeaways: Being seen isn’t just about how others treat you—it’s about how you treat yourself. Strength is only part of who you are—you deserve to be seen in your fullness, including your softness and needs. The first step to making sure others see you is ensuring that you see you. Why This Episode Matters: Feeling unseen as a Black woman isn’t just about external validation—it’s a deeply ingrained pattern rooted in generations of being celebrated for labor instead of humanity. This episode is about unlearning the belief that you have to earn your worth and stepping into a space where you are seen, supported, and valued for who you are. Resources to Support You: Take the Support Language™ Quiz. Follow Shades of Strong on Instagram for daily inspiration. www.shadesofstrong.com
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    14 min
  • Soulful Sunday | This Week Feels Like Wholeness

    Soulful Sunday | This Week Feels Like Wholeness
    Feb 2 2025
    Releasing the pressure to be more means letting go of the idea that you have to earn your worth. The constant striving to do more, be more, or fix yourself only leaves you feeling drained and disconnected. That weight was never yours to carry. It’s time to put down the pressure of chasing, proving, or fixing. Instead, let’s take a moment to regroup and connect with what’s already here. Wholeness isn’t something you achieve - it’s something you remember. What You’ll Get in This Episode: Why releasing the pressure to be more changes everything How groundedness helps you reconnect with your truth A simple way to walk through this week feeling lighter Takeaway: When you release the pressure to be more, you make space to connect with yourself in a deeper, more meaningful way. Wholeness isn’t something you achieve; it’s something you embrace. Nothing is missing, and nothing needs to be earned. Affirmation for the Week: "This week, I walk in my wholeness. I embrace my enoughness. I am complete, just as I am." Take a deep breath and press play. Resources to Support You: Take the Support Language™ Quiz. Follow Shades of Strong on Instagram for daily inspiration. www.shadesofstrong.com
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  • Stop Pushing Through. Reclaiming Space and Support

    Stop Pushing Through. Reclaiming Space and Support
    Jan 28 2025
    Reclaiming support for Black women isn’t just about breaking free from society’s expectations—it’s about creating space for what you truly need in your life, relationships, and daily experiences. In this episode of Shades of Strong, we’re diving into the top two Support Languages™ that Black women are craving right now: Room to Breathe and Mindful Care. These results from our Support Languages™ quiz are more than just numbers—they’re reflections of the weight we’ve been carrying for far too long. They’re saying, “We deserve space. We deserve care. We deserve to feel human again.” In This Episode, You’ll Learn: Why Room to Breathe is about more than just a quiet moment—it’s about emotional, mental, and spiritual space. What Mindful Care looks like in real life and why it’s more than grand gestures. How knowing your Support Language™ helps you build better boundaries and relationships. Why reclaiming support starts with naming what you need and teaching others how to show up for you. Key Takeaways: Support isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity. Naming your needs is the first step to reclaiming your space and care. Room to Breathe and Mindful Care are about more than society—they’re about how the people closest to you show up (or don’t). Why This Episode Matters For generations, Black women have been the backbone of everything—families, communities, movements. But holding everyone else up often comes at the cost of our own well-being. This episode is an invitation to unlearn the lie that says, “You have to carry it all alone,” and to start reclaiming the support you’ve always deserved. Resources Mentioned in This Episode: Take the Support Language™ Quiz. Follow Shades of Strong on Instagram for daily inspiration. www.shadesofstrong.com
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    13 min
  • Soulful Sunday | This Week Feels Like Play

    Soulful Sunday | This Week Feels Like Play
    Jan 26 2025
    Reclaiming joy as a Black woman is about remembering that you’re not too grown to laugh, play, and feel light again. When’s the last time you laughed so hard you couldn’t breathe? Or did something just for the joy of it - no agenda, no productivity, just pure fun? Sis, if it’s been a minute, this episode is for you. Life has a way of keeping us busy, stressed, and always on the grind, but that doesn’t mean it has to steal your joy. In this short and sweet Soulful Sunday episode, we’re calling in play. Because play isn’t just for kids - it’s a necessary part of life, especially for Black women who are so used to holding it all together. What You’ll Get in This Episode: Why reclaiming joy as a Black woman starts with letting yourself play How reconnecting with joy can refill your cup and lighten your spirit A simple challenge to invite laughter, lightness, and fun back into your life this week Takeaway: You’re not too grown to play, sis. Joy is your birthright, and play is how we remind ourselves that life is meant to be enjoyed—not just endured. Affirmation for the Week: “This week, I choose joy. I invite laughter, lightness, and play into my life. I deserve to feel free, happy, and whole.” Resources to Support You: Take the Support Language™ Quiz. Follow Shades of Strong on Instagram for daily inspiration. www.shadesofstrong.com
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    Moins d'une minute
  • What Happens When You Let Go of "I’ve Got It"

    What Happens When You Let Go of "I’ve Got It"
    Jan 21 2025
    Emotional support for Black women hits differently when you let go of the "I got it" mindset. Black women carry so much—juggling careers, families, and life while often telling themselves, “I’ve got it.” But what happens when we hold onto the “I can handle it all” mindset for too long? In this week’s episode of the Shades of Strong Podcast, we unpack the emotional toll of doing it all alone and explore how making space for support can transform the way we live, love, and show up in the world. Inspired by the stories passed down through generations of Black women, this episode dives into: Why many of us resist asking for help, even when we need it most. The cost of carrying expectations we were never meant to bear. How letting go of hyper-independence creates room for the support we’ve always deserved. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: The generational roots of the “I’ve got it” mindset and how it shows up today. The emotional, physical, and relational costs of trying to do it all. Why naming your needs is a radical act of self-care and liberation. How the Support Languages™ framework helps Black women communicate their needs and build meaningful, supportive connections. Key Takeaways: Just because you’ve been doing it all doesn’t mean you have to keep doing it. Asking for help doesn’t make you less capable—it makes space for the support you deserve. Knowing your Support Language™ empowers you to guide others in showing up for you in ways that truly matter. Why This Episode Matters: Black women have often been conditioned to be the “strong one,” but strength isn’t about doing it all alone—it’s about knowing when to let go and let others in. This episode highlights the importance of emotional support for Black women and how Support Languages™ offers a culturally relevant way to name your needs and invite deeper connections. It’s an invitation to release the “I’ve got it” mindset and rewrite the story of strength—because, sis, you were never meant to carry it all alone. Resources Mentioned in This Episode: Take the Support Language™ Quiz. Follow Shades of Strong on Instagram for daily inspiration. www.shadesofstrong.com
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    13 min
  • Why Black Women Need Friends Who Truly See Them

    Why Black Women Need Friends Who Truly See Them
    Jan 14 2025
    Black women friendships are powerful, but sometimes the support we give and receive doesn’t fully meet our needs, leaving us feeling unseen and unheard. In this week’s episode of the Shades of Strong Podcast, we explore why supportive friendships matter, and what to do when the support isn't giving what it's supposed to give. Black women deserve friendships that truly see them. Inspired by a powerful scene from Being Mary Jane, we explore: The emotional labor many of us carry alone The gaps in mismatched support The importance of safe spaces where we can let our guard down and just be In This Episode, You’ll Learn: The emotional toll of being “the strong one” and why it leaves us drained. How mismatched support keeps Black women feeling isolated. The importance of safe spaces where you’re seen, heard, and held. Why naming your needs through Support Languages™ is the first step toward real connection. Key Takeaways: Most people mean well but don’t know how to support you in the ways you need. Knowing your Support Language™ closes the gap between the care you give and the care you receive. Black women deserve relationships that feel like home—where support is mutual and meaningful. Why This Episode Matters: This episode shines a light on the unique struggles Black women face when it comes to support while offering a culturally relevant solution in Support Languages™. It’s not just about pointing out the gaps—it’s about empowering you to close them, name what you need, and start asking for the support you truly deserve. It’s a call to action to stop settling for surface-level support and start building relationships that feel like home. Because every Black woman deserves to feel seen, heard, and held—without judgment, without struggle, and without being dismissed. This conversation is a powerful step toward creating that reality. Resources Mentioned in This Episode: Take the Support Language™ Quiz. Follow Shades of Strong on Instagram for daily inspiration. www.shadesofstrong.com
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    13 min
  • Support for Black Women That Actually Supports

    Support for Black Women That Actually Supports
    Jan 7 2025
    Support for Black women isn’t just a concept—it’s a necessity, especially for those of us who feel like the weight of the world is always on our shoulders. So, let’s talk about the kind of support for Black women that uplifts —the kind you actually need, not the kind that leaves you feeling drained, unseen, and unheard. In this episode of Shades of Strong, we’re diving deep into why the help you’ve been getting isn’t landing and how you can start asking for support that truly serves you. As Black women, we’ve been conditioned to carry the weight of the world, holding it all together while quietly struggling under the pressure. But that narrative stops here. This week, I’m introducing you to Support Languages™, a culturally relevant framework designed to help you name your unique support needs. Tune in to learn: Why surface-level support feels so unfulfilling. How to identify your Support Language™ and what it reveals about how you receive care. Practical steps to stop settling for less and start getting the help you deserve. If you’ve ever felt like you’re carrying it all alone, this episode is for you. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: The emotional toll of hyper-independence on Black women. How Support Languages™ can help you communicate your needs effectively. The transformational power of knowing what kind of support actually works for you. Why This Episode Matters: For too long, Black women have been the backbone of their families and communities, expected to give endlessly without asking for anything in return. This episode shines a light on the invisible burdens we carry and offers a pathway to reclaiming support that feels like care, not obligation. Resources Mentioned in This Episode: Take the Support Language™ Quiz. Follow Shades of Strong on Instagram for daily inspiration. www.shadesofstrong.com
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    13 min