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 wel

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 y

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

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 called too much?Yeah me too.In this episode, Im naming

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 when I didnt have to ask for itIm reflecting on what em

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 rituals. In that chair by the stove, we found connection,

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, weve been taught that struggle is part of who we are. That

We love to romanticize Ruth and Boaz like its the ultimate love story but what if its really a story about being supported… for once? In this first episode back after my summer break, Im digging into the part church never talked about: the quie