Shades of Strong® | Strength Without Struggle for Black Women

Shades of Strong® | Strength Without Struggle for Black Women


Latest Episodes

A Black Woman’s Dream, Delayed but Still Divine
November 04, 2025

At 56 years old, Im walking into a Black womans dream Ive carried for decades sitting in New York, preparing to speak with agents and an editor from one of the Big Five publishing houses about m

Have You Checked On Your Strong Friend?
October 24, 2025

We say it all the time check on your strong friend but do we really know what that means? In this Support Snippet, Shirl goes deeper than the surface-level reminder and speaks directly to what it

Tired of Being the Strong One? The Hard Truth Behind Letting Go
October 21, 2025

Are you tired of being the strong one? The one everyone depends on but rarely checks in with? That's what we're getting into today... ewhat happens after you finally lay that weight down when you st

Finding Support in the Pause
October 07, 2025

Sometimes the support we need doesnt come with a loud arrival or a clear answer. Sometimes, it shows up in the in-between. The pause. The waiting. The quiet moments where nothing feels certain but

Why Self-Care Sundays and the Soft Life Aren’t Enough
October 03, 2025

Youve put down strong. Youve tried the self-care Sundays, the soft life rituals, the silence and the scented candles. But somehow, you still feel like youre holding it all by yourself. In this epis

When a Black Woman is Well, Everybody’s Well with Dr. Cecily Moore
September 30, 2025

This week on Shades of Strong, were going all the way in. I'm sitting down with Dr. Cecily Moore for a raw, layered conversation about what it really costs to carry the strong Black woman narrative

When "Support" is Present But You Still Feel Alone
September 26, 2025

So earlier this week I talked about what it feels like when you dont have anybody to reach for. But what about when folks are around and you still feel alone? Thats a whole different kind of grief

When You're All You've Got | Feeling Unsuppoted As A Black Woman
September 23, 2025

What does receiving support as a Black woman look like when theres no one to call, no one to reach for, and no one checking in on you? In this episode, we're getting real about what it means to be yo

When Everything Feels Heavy
September 12, 2025

The world is a lot right now. Some weeks feel heavier than others, and this has been one of those weeks. I wasnt about to just move like nothing was happening, so I came to the mic to sit with it for

You Give a F*ck Way Too Much | The Emotional Labor of it All
September 09, 2025

Have you ever rewritten the same text five times just to make sure it didnt sound too harsh? Ever softened your no so it wouldnt feel like rejection? Ever held back your truth to avoid being calle