We talk a lot about what it means to be a good friend. But what happens when the support were giving doesnt match what the other person actually needs?In this episode of Shades of Strong, Im joined by best friends Alyson Brown and Mia Brinson for a he

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 my book.This moment didnt come fast, but it came faith

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 looks like when strong Black women go quiet. When the o

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 stop over-functioning, stop fixing, stop pretending your

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 youre still held.In todays reflection, we explore wh

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 episode of Shades of Strong, Shirl unpacks why self-care an

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 and what it actually takes to start living well, for

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.This episode is about that space. The space where peo

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 your own support system when youre literally all youve

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 a minute.So let's pause, take a deep breath, and remi