Shades of Strong® | Strength Without Struggle for Black Women

Latest Episodes
Finding Support in the Pause
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Learning to Hold Yourself When No One Else Does
What do you do when you need to fall apart but theres no one there to hold you? This Support Snippet is me sitting with that exact question and remembering what emotional care looked like back whe
Hot Combs, Safe Spaces, and Growing Up Black
For so many Black women, emotional safety started in the kitchen. The smell of Blue Magic, the sizzle of a straightening comb, the sound of Hold your ear those werent just routines. They were rit
You Don't Owe Struggle Your Loyalty
When we talk about loyalty, most of us think about relationships, family, or friendships. But theres another kind of loyalty we dont talk about enough our loyalty to struggle. As Black women, wev