- Why We Need Hobbies for Self-Care
Today, we’re closing out our book club series talking about a very underrated form of self care— hobbies—and how Black women, specifically, need to embrace them for their own wellbeing.
Tune in to learn about the research-backed benefits of hobbies and how regardless of your age or skill level, there are so many hobbies out there for you.
I also talk about…
- Re-evaluating why we’re seeking out another degree or business
- Digging deeper to see what areas we’re truly dissatisfied with
- The slippery slope from hobby to side-hustle
- Reading as an accessible and deeply beneficial hobby
- Reading what makes you feel joy, not just what you think you should
Resources:
- Real-Time Associations Between Engaging in Leisure and Daily Health and Well-Being
- Reading Is Self-Care
Sponsors:
- ZocDoc | Zocdoc | Find and book a top-rated doctor in your area today with Zocdoc. Visit zocdoc.com/balanced to download the app for free.
- Alo Moves | Reach your fitness and wellness goals with Alo Moves. Visit alomoves.com and use the code BALANCED for a free 30-day trial and 50% off an annual membership.
- Hers | At Hers, you can get access to real medical providers who can prescribe trusted anxiety and depression treatment if it’s right for you. Visit forhers.com/spring to get started for $25 off if prescribed.
Keep in touch with Balanced Black Girl:
- Visit our website at balancedblackgirl.com
- Join Club Balanced, our community on Geneva
- Subscribe to our newsletter, Mirror Notes
- Follow on IG: @balancedblackgirlpodcast @balancedles
- Follow on TikTok @balancedblackgirl @balancedles
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/balanced-black-girl/donations
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/balanced-black-girl/donations
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy26m | Mar 28, 2023 - Trusting the Timing of Your Life and Embracing Your Divinity with Lyvonne Briggs
Continuing our Black author's book club series, this week I’ve invited Lyvonne Briggs back to the show. Lyvonne is the author of the book Sensual Faith: The Art of Coming Home to Your Body. She's an Emmy Award winner, a body and sex-positive womanist, preacher, spiritual life coach, and speaker. She is the host of the Sensual Faith podcast and co-host of Sanctified, a faith-based Spotify exclusive podcast on Jamel Hills’ Unbothered network.
Together, we have an incredibly rich and powerful conversation about decolonizing our faith, building our spiritual team, and navigating our personal evolutions.
We also talk about…
- Seeing ourselves in one another’s stories and knowing we aren’t alone
- How the smallest things can be big shifts toward healing
- The fact that God doesn’t require our suffering to prove our devotion
- Letting go of invisible milestones and trusting the timing of your life
- Unlearning the inclination to earn our self-love
- Embracing African cosmology and the Black woman as divine
- The truth about writing a book and getting it published
Resources:
- Visit Lyvonne’s website
- Read Lyvonne’s Book, Sensual Faith: The Art of Coming Home to Your Body
- Follow Lyvonne on Instagram
- Listen to the Sensual Faith Podcast
- Listen to the Sanctified podcast
Sponsors:
- LMNT | LMNT is my favorite no-sugar electrolyte mix. Get a free sample pack with your order at drinklmnt.com/balancedles.
- Alo Moves | Take wellness and fitness classes from anywhere on-demand with Alo Moves. Visit alomoves.com and use the code "BALANCED" for a free 30-day trial and 50% off your annual membership.
- Hers | Visit forhers.com/spring to get your first month of treatment for just $25 if prescribed.
- Zocdoc | Visit zocdoc.com/balanced and download the Zocdoc app for free and find a trusted healthcare provider in your area.
Keep in touch with Balanced Black Girl:
- Visit our website at balancedblackgirl.com
- Join Club Balanced, our community on Geneva
- Subscribe to our newsletter, Mirror Notes
- Follow on IG: @balancedblackgirlpodcast @balancedles
- Follow on TikTok @balancedblackgirl @balancedles
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/balanced-black-girl/donations
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/balanced-black-girl/donations
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy1h 3m | Mar 21, 2023 - How to Feel More Liberated In Your Body with Chrissy King
We’re continuing our book club series with another conversation with the very first Balanced Black Girl guest, Chrissy King.
In celebration of Chrissy’s new book The Body Liberation Project, we have an honest, vulnerable conversation about what body liberation is and how we can work towards it individually and collectively. We also talk about reading and writing as an act of self care.
Chrissy King is a writer, speaker, former strength coach, and educator with a passion for creating a diverse and inclusive wellness industry. She empowers individuals to stop shrinking, start taking up space, and use their energy to create their specific magic in the world.
We Also Talk About…
- What diet culture is and what it entails
- How food is for pleasure, not just fuel
- The myth that Black women and girls don’t struggle with body image
- The intersection of racism and diet culture
- The difference between body liberation and body positivity
- Reading and writing as an act of self care
Resources:
Sponsors:
- ZocDoc | Zocdoc | Find and book a top-rated doctor in your area today with Zocdoc. Visit zocdoc.com/balanced to download the app for free.
- Alo Moves | Reach your fitness and wellness goals with Alo Moves. Visit alomoves.com and use the code BALANCED for a free 30-day trial and 50% off an annual membership.
- Clay | Organize your digital connections with Clay. Clay is offering a free 60-day trial to Balanced Black Girl listeners at clay.earth/partners/balanced.
Keep in touch with Balanced Black Girl:
- Visit our website at balancedblackgirl.com
- Join Club Balanced, our community on Geneva
- Subscribe to our newsletter, Mirror Notes
- Follow on IG: @balancedblackgirlpodcast @balancedles
- Follow on TikTok @balancedblackgirl @balancedles
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/balanced-black-girl/donations
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/balanced-black-girl/donations
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy58m | Mar 14, 2023 - Healing Through Humor and Cultivating Media Literacy with Clarkisha Kent
It’s a new month, so we have a new theme—Book Club! For the next few weeks you can look forward to conversations with amazing authors from the Balanced Book Club.
Today I'm joined by Clarkisha Kent to celebrate the launch of her new book Fat Off, Fat On: a Big Bitch Manifesto. Clarkisha is a Nigerian-American writer, culture critic, former columnist and author. She is also the creator of the Kent Test, an immediate litmus test designed to evaluate the quality of representation that exists for Black women and women of color in film and other media.
Together we discuss her new book, how she handled writing such a vulnerable story, the ways humor can support our healing, and why media literacy is a critical skill.
We Also Talk About…
- The value of the public library
- The dynamic nature of being human
- How no one knows what they’re doing with their life
- The many flavors of exploitation
- The effectiveness of getting mad sometimes
- The necessity of being critical of the media you’re consuming
Resources:
- Visit Clarkisha’s Website
- Follow Clarkisha on Instagram
- The Kent Test
- Fat Off, Fat On: A Big Bitch Manifesto by Clarkisha Kent
Sponsors:
- ZocDoc | Zocdoc | Find and book a top-rated doctor in your area today with Zocdoc. Visit zocdoc.com/balanced to download the app for free.
- Alo Moves | Reach your fitness and wellness goals with Alo Moves. Visit alomoves.com and use the code BALANCED for a free 30-day trial and 50% off an annual membership.
- LMNT | LMNT is a tasty electrolyte drink mix with everything you need and nothing you don’t. Right now LMNT is offering my listeners a free sample pack with any purchase. Get yours at drinklmnt.com/balancedles.
Keep in touch with Balanced Black Girl:
- Visit our website at balancedblackgirl.com
- Join Club Balanced, our community on Geneva
- Subscribe to our newsletter, Mirror Notes
- Follow on IG: @balancedblackgirlpodcast @balancedles
- Follow on TikTok @balancedblackgirl @balancedles
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/balanced-black-girl/donations
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/balanced-black-girl/donations
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy1h 12m | Mar 7, 2023 - Self-Intimacy: Prioritizing Pleasure and Connecting with Yourself with Kamil Lewis
We’ve had some incredible episodes on intimacy these past few weeks, and today we're wrapping up the series with licensed marriage and family therapist Kamil Lewis.
Kamil’s work focuses on sex therapy and examines intersectional identity specifically with race, sexuality, and gender. She’s the CEO of the therapy practice The Expansive Group and co-host of the podcast Safe Word.
In this episode, we discuss ways to connect with ourselves and how the ability to connect with others really starts within. Kamil also shares some great tactical advice to help you build your connection skill set.
We Also Talk About…
- The experience of intimacy as a Black Femme
- Replacing the narrative that putting yourself first is selfish
- Creating small, sustainable, moments of care in your life and giving your routines room to change
- Cultivating a curious and playful relationship with masturbation
- Having healthy conversations about pleasure with children and not just the dreaded “talk”
- Kamil’s favorite self-care practices
Resources:
- Visit Kamil’s Website
- Follow Kamil on Instagram
- Listen to the Safe Word Podcast
- Follow Sex Positive Families on Instagram
Sponsors:
- Clay | Clay is an app to help you organize your digital relationships. Clay is offering a free 60-day trial to Balanced Black Girl listeners. Go to clay.earth/partners/balanced to start your free trial.
- Alo Moves | Reach your fitness and wellness goals with on-demand classes from Alo Moves. Visit alomoves.com and use the code BALANCED for a free 30-day trial and 50% off an annual membership.
Keep in touch with Balanced Black Girl:
- Visit our website at balancedblackgirl.com
- Join Club Balanced, our community on Geneva
- Subscribe to our newsletter, Mirror Notes
- Follow on IG: @balancedblackgirlpodcast @balancedles
- Follow on TikTok @balancedblackgirl @balancedles
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/balanced-black-girl/donations
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/balanced-black-girl/donations
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy54m | Feb 28, 2023 - Embracing Your Sacred Sensuality with Krystal Taylor
All too often, our formative experiences with our bodies and sensuality are tied to shame. That can lead to us feeling disconnected from ourselves and confused about what we want or need from intimacy.
In this episode, we’re continuing our series on intimacy as we delve into the topic of physical intimacy with Krystal Taylor. Together, we talk about unpacking sexual shame and feeling more comfortable in our bodies and relationships.
Krystal is a certified tantra yoga instructor who specializes in educating and supporting individuals towards sexual wholeness. Her unique coaching approach involves sharing ancient yogic philosophy, ancestral practices, as well as her own sensual, get down to earth techniques.
We Also Talk About…
- Working through learned shame around sexuality and pleasure
- Why sex and intimacy are two different things
- Reconnecting with your body, intuition, and voice
- What Tantra really is
- How to begin exploring your sensuality
Resources:
- The difference between sex and intimacy: https://www.instagram.com/p/CmxFg4wBdCl/
- Visit Krystal’s Website (and sign up for her newsletter!)
- Follow Krystal on Instagram
- Watch & Learn from Krystal on YouTube
- Join Krystal for Tantric Training
Sponsors:
- LMNT | LMNT is a tasty electrolyte drink mix with everything you need and nothing you don’t. Right now LMNT is offering my listeners a free sample pack with any purchase. Get yours at drinklmnt.com/balancedles.
Keep in touch with Balanced Black Girl:
- Visit our website at balancedblackgirl.com
- Join Club Balanced, our community on Geneva
- Subscribe to our newsletter, Mirror Notes
- Follow on IG: @balancedblackgirlpodcast @balancedles
- Follow on TikTok @balancedblackgirl @balancedles
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/balanced-black-girl/donations
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/balanced-black-girl/donations
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy1h 1m | Feb 21, 2023 - Intimacy in Friendships: Having Healthier Friendships and Making Friends As An Adult with Dr. Marisa Franco
As adults, building and maintaining friendships is a challenge. What felt so easy as kids, now feels like an overwhelming task full of rejection, uncertainty, and confusion. But connection plays a huge role in our overall health and well-being. Studies show that it’s even more important than regular exercise!
So in today’s episode, we’re diving into platonic intimacy with Dr. Marisa Franco. Dr. Franco is a psychologist, international speaker, and professor. She’s also the author of The New York Times best seller Platonic: How the Science of Attachment Can Help You Make and Keep Friends.
Together, we discuss the importance of friendship, the science behind our need for platonic connection, and how simple it can be to make friends as an adult.
We Also Talk About…
- How friendship is acted out across gender lines
- Loneliness as a stress experience & critical longevity indicator
- Treating our friendships with as much care, excitement, and celebration as our romantic partnerships
- How healthy conflict in relationships can lead to deeper intimacy and understanding
- Friendships throughout times of transition
Resources:
- Platonic: How the Science of Attachment Can Help You Make – and Keep – Friends by Dr. Marisa Franco
- Visit Dr. Marisa Franco’s Website
- Follow Dr. Marisa Franco on Instagram
Sponsors:
- Zocdoc | Find and book a top-rated doctor in your area today with Zocdoc. Visit zocdoc.com/balanced to download the app for free.
Keep in touch with Balanced Black Girl:
- Visit our website at balancedblackgirl.com
- Join Club Balanced, our community on Geneva
- Subscribe to our newsletter, Mirror Notes
- Follow on IG: @balancedblackgirlpodcast @balancedles
- Follow on TikTok @balancedblackgirl @balancedles
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/balanced-black-girl/donations
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/balanced-black-girl/donations
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy54m | Feb 14, 2023 - Understanding the Four Types of Intimacy and How They Impact Your Health
It’s February, and around here that means celebrating Black History Month, Aquarius season, and (at least in this episode) very reluctantly love.
If you’ve been listening to Balanced Black Girl for a while, you know I loathe talking about modern dating and the way relationships are discussed online right now. However, we can’t talk about living a healthy lifestyle without talking about building and maintaining healthy relationships.
Join me in this safe container, free from discussions about who’s fixing whose plate, to explore the connections between relationships and our wellbeing.
I also talk about…
- The hurtful marketing strategy that relationship content thrives on
- Recognizing connection as a skill
- Why relationships are so important to happy, healthy lives
- Emotional intimacy, physical intimacy, mental intimacy, and spiritual intimacy
- The value in not being defensive to questioning
Resources:
- Physical Contact and Loneliness: Being Touched Reduces Perceptions of Loneliness
- Spiritual Intimacy: Talking as "Soul Mates"
- Strengthen relationships for longer, healthier life
Sponsors:
- Zocdoc | Find and book a top-rated doctor in your area today with Zocdoc. Visit zocdoc.com/balanced to download the app for free.
- Open | Move, meditate, and breathe in community with Open. Get 30 days free when you go to go.o-p-e-n.com/balancedles.
Keep in touch with Balanced Black Girl:
- Visit our website at balancedblackgirl.com
- Join Club Balanced, our community on Geneva
- Subscribe to our newsletter, Mirror Notes
- Follow on IG: @balancedblackgirlpodcast @balancedles
- Follow on TikTok @balancedblackgirl @balancedles
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/balanced-black-girl/donations
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/balanced-black-girl/donations
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy28m | Feb 7, 2023 - Improve Your Focus: The Art of Managing Your Attention featuring Tara from Open
It seems like there’s always something new to distract us and keep our attention spans ever-shrinking. So today, we’re wrapping up our Reframing the Reset series by talking with Dr. Tara Zinnamon about de-commoditizing our attention spans to regain agency and awareness of where our attention is going.
Dr. Tara Zinnamon is a neuroscientist, yoga, breathwork, and meditation teacher who has a unique perspective as she balances her knowledge of neuroscience and yoga in her personal and teaching practices. If you can’t visit her studio, you can find her classes on Open where she hosts a range of yoga classes.
We Also Talk About…
- The four types of attention
- The damage overworking and overextending ourselves can do to our attention
- Capitalism’s impact on our ability to focus on ourselves
- Leaning into adjustable practices and goals that flow with your phases of life
- Why we start the year in January (hint: like most things, it’s made up)
- The benefits of even just a few minutes of meditation and breath work
- Being “woo” adjacent
Resources:
- Follow Dr. Tara on Instagram
- Take a Class with Dr. Tara on Open (free for 30 days with this link)
- [Your Attention Is Your Most Precious Resource](https://medium.com/the-ascent/your-attention-is-your-most-precious-resource-663c6ffbc0ba#:~:text=It guides our future.&text=This is what makes the,of truth — ideas are powerful.)
- Defining the focus of attention: effects of attention on perceived exertion and fatigue
- Theories of Selective Attention
- Acute coordinative exercise improves attentional performance in adolescents
- The yin and yang of sleep and attention
- Increased dopamine tone during meditation-induced change of consciousness
- How to Get Healthier Dopamine Highs
Keep in touch with Balanced Black Girl:
- Visit our website at balancedblackgirl.com
- Join Club Balanced, our community on Geneva
- Subscribe to our newsletter, Mirror Notes
- Follow on IG: @balancedblackgirlpodcast @balancedles
- Follow on TikTok @balancedblackgirl @balancedles
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/balanced-black-girl/donations
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/balanced-black-girl/donations
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy1h 11m | Jan 31, 2023 - Reframing Our Relationship with Alcohol: Exploring Sober-Curiosity
For this week’s Reframing the Reset episode, we’re talking about alcohol, and exploring this sometimes-sensitive subject in a non-judgmental, open, and educational way.
Join in as I share my personal journey with alcohol consumption — from my not-so-inspiring first drinking experience to my somehow less inspiring last. We’ll also dive into some pretty surprising heath information and the cultural connotations of drinking for women.
I also talk about…
- The false sense of confidence alcohol can provide
- The art of sneaking kombucha into the club
- The dreaded Saturn Return and why it’s really nothing to be scared of
- Getting comfortable sitting in your discomfort
- The actual science behind wine’s health benefits
Resources:
- No Level of Alcohol Consumption Improves Health — The Lancet
- Alcohol’s Effects on the Body — https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohols-effects-health/alcohols-effects-body#:~:text=Drinking too much can weaken,do not drink too much.
- How Alcohol affects your sleep patterns — https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/facts/health-effects-of-alcohol/effects-on-the-body/alcohol-and-sleep#:~:text=Regular drinking can affect the,drinking disrupts your sleep cycle.&text=Some people may find alcohol,sleep quality through the night.
- Alcohol and Anxiety — https://www.healthline.com/health/alcohol-and-anxiety#consequences
- More young women are drinking to cope — https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2021/06/09/1003980966/women-now-drink-as-much-as-men-and-suffer-health-effects-more-quickly
- Sex differences in alcohol-related alcohol use — https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6430711/
- Women’s response to alcohol suggests need for gender-based alcohol programs — https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/womens-response-alcohol-gender-specific-treatment/
- Substance Abuse Treatment Entry, Retention, and Outcome in Women: A Review of the Literature — https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3532875/#FN1
Keep in touch with Balanced Black Girl:
- Join the Reframing the Reset Challenge
- Visit our website at balancedblackgirl.com
- Join Club Balanced, our community on Geneva
- Subscribe to our newsletter, Mirror Notes
- Follow on IG: @balancedblackgirlpodcast @balancedles
- Follow on TikTok @balancedblackgirl @balancedles
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/balanced-black-girl/donations
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/balanced-black-girl/donations
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy42m | Jan 24, 2023 - Reframing Exercise: The Importance of Building and Maintaining Muscle
Starting a new year often gets people interested in improving or revisiting their exercise regimens. But workout culture is so fraught with harmful weight loss narratives that the critical benefits of movement often get overshadowed.
In this episode, I share my knowledge of cardio, mobility, and strength training, and my own life-changing fitness journey. I also explain my strategy for building a health-focused routine rooted in building strength and longevity as an act of kindness to your future self.
I also talk about…
- The unique benefits of strength training for women
- What a healthy fitness routine could look like
- Understanding basal metabolic rate
- Nutrition and sleep basics
- Some tactical tips for understanding your strength workouts
Resources:
- Join the Reframing the Reset Challenge
- Check out these physical activity guidelines for Americans
- Hormonal responses and adaptations to resistance exercise and training: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15831061/
- Exercise programming for Insulin Resistance: https://journals.lww.com/nsca-scj/fulltext/2011/10000/exercise_programming_for_insulin_resistance.5.aspx#:~:text=Resistance
- Muscle Mass Index As a Predictor of Longevity in Older Adults: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0002934314001387
- Get ClassPass for two weeks free and try workout classes in your area
- Alive App by Whitney Simmons: https://aliveapp.co/
- Uplift with Jibby: https://uplift.plankk.com/
- Nike Training Club: https://www.nike.com/ntc-app
- Alexis Moore, flexibility coach: https://instagram.com/stretchwithlex?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
Sponsors:
- Open | Open is a mindfulness app built to transform your life. Experience the power of combining breathwork, meditation, sound, and movement to strengthen your mind-body connection. Visit https://go.o-p-e-n.com/balancedles for 30 days free.
- Zocdoc | Finding a doctor you trust doesn’t have to be hard. Check out Zocdoc’s free app to find patient-recommended care providers in your area.
- Nuuly | Nuuly is a subscription clothing rental service that I absolutely love. Get $20 off your first month when you sign up with the code BALANCED20.
Keep in touch with Balanced Black Girl:
- Visit our website at balancedblackgirl.com
- Join Club Balanced, our community on Geneva
- Subscribe to our newsletter, Mirror Notes
- Follow on IG: @balancedblackgirlpodcast @balancedles
- Follow on TikTok @balancedblackgirl @balancedles
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/balanced-black-girl/donations
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/balanced-black-girl/donations
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy58m | Jan 17, 2023 - How to Practice Digital Self-Care: Knowing When to Unplug + Tending to Your Digital Spaces
Screen time has a way of sneaking up on us, and before we know it, our time for the things we really want to do is gone. So this week, we’re continuing the Reframing the Reset series with a topic we’ve all struggled with at some point — digital self-care.
In this episode, I discuss some best practices to help keep you in the driver’s seat on your devices. And I share some tools I’ve used to help organize my digital world that I hope will be helpful to you as well.
I also talk about…
- Cultivating awareness of how you spend your time
- Curating your social media feeds
- Staying out of the comments section of toxic posts
- Having creative outlets to get you out of constant consumption
- Strategies for healthier screen time management
Resources:
- Join the Reframing the Reset Challenge
- Get the Smart Cleaner App
Sponsors:
- Nuuly | Nuuly is a subscription clothing rental service that I absolutely love. Get $20 off your first month when you sign up with the code BALANCED20.
- Zocdoc | Zocdoc is the only FREE app that lets you find and book doctors who are patient-reviewed, take your insurance, and are available when you need them. Visit zocdoc.com/balanced to download the app and find a care provider near you.
Keep in touch with Balanced Black Girl:
- Visit our website at balancedblackgirl.com
- Join Club Balanced, our community on Geneva
- Subscribe to our newsletter, Mirror Notes
- Follow on IG: @balancedblackgirlpodcast @balancedles
- Follow on TikTok @balancedblackgirl @balancedles
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/balanced-black-girl/donations
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/balanced-black-girl/donations
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy34m | Jan 10, 2023 - Spacious Productivity: How to Improve Your Habits and Be More Consistent
Happy New Year, and welcome to our first episode of 2023! To kick off the year, I’m revisiting last year’s Reframing the Reset series with even more clarity and actionable items.
We’ll be exploring ways that we can reset in the new year to feel our best all year long. This week, I focus on the idea of strengthening our habits in sustainable and stackable ways that affirm us as the version of ourselves we want to be.
I also talk about…
- Investing time upfront to free you up for what’s most important to you
- Directing your energy
- Choosing when to face inevitable discomfort
- Making decisions with the best version of yourself in mind
- The big impact of small, incremental steps
Resources:
- Join the Reframing the Reset Challenge
- Order the Almanack of Naval Ravikant
- Join Club Balanced on Geneva
Sponsors:
- Open | Join me in the Meditation + Breathwork Challenge on Open - it’s totally free for the month of January, go to www.withopen.com/balancedles to sign up.
Keep in touch with Balanced Black Girl:
- Visit our website at balancedblackgirl.com
- Join Club Balanced, our community on Geneva
- Subscribe to our newsletter, Mirror Notes
- Follow on IG: @balancedblackgirlpodcast @balancedles
- Follow on TikTok @balancedblackgirl @balancedles
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/balanced-black-girl/donations
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/balanced-black-girl/donations
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy40m | Jan 3, 2023 - Get ready to Reframe the Reset
Join us for the Reframing the Reset series and challenge kicking off on January 2, 2023. Each week in January we'll be releasing a new episode to inspire you to refresh your habits. As a community, we'll be participating in weekly challenges for accountability to help you apply what you hear on the podcast.
Visit balancedblackgirl.com/reset to sign up for the challenge, and join Club Balanced, our community in Geneva to connect with other Balanced Black Girl listeners.
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/balanced-black-girl/donations
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy0m | Dec 27, 2022 - How to Conduct A Life Audit for Reflection and Goal-Setting
Before we start talking about 2023, I think it’s important to look back and reflect on 2022.
So in this solo episode, I’m sharing my process for conducting a life audit. I explain what a life audit is, why you might benefit from doing one, and how it can help you find deeper satisfaction next year.
I also talk about…
- Our upcoming Reframing the Reset series + challenge
- Checking in with how you feel vs how you want to feel
- Celebrating the areas of life where you feel satisfied
- Showing love to the parts of your life where there’s a gap between how you feel & how you want to feel
- Implementing changes for the year ahead
Resources:
balancedblackgirl.com ◉ IG: @balancedblackgirlpodcast @balancedles 〆
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/balanced-black-girl/donations
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/balanced-black-girl/donations
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy12m | Dec 20, 2022 - How to Heal with Alex Elle
In this week’s episode, we are continuing our end-of-year rest and digest series with the incredible, Alex Elle. Together, we have an honest talk about healing — the good, the challenging, and everything in between.
Alex also shares what it’s like to heal your inner child while raising children, the importance of taking time for reflection, and even the joys of her walking practice. This conversation is packed with wisdom, thoughtfulness, and stunning truths.
Alex Elle is a New York Times best selling author and wellbeing teacher who helps others find their voice and create clarity in their lives and relationships. She just released her latest book How We Heal, which guides us on a life changing journey to begin again, grow, and heal not only ourselves, but the generations after.
We Also Talk About…
- Opening the box and being with the mess
- Giving ourselves grace and permission to be soft
- Empowering children to share when their feelings are hurt
- Healing as an act of community care
- Common misconceptions about healing
- Embracing emotional rest and allowing space to be present with joy
- The most powerful tools for healing — walking and writing
- The stunning beauty of the truth
Resources:
- Visit Alex’s Website
- Buy How We Heal
- Follow Alex on Instagram
- Join Alex on Substack
- Join Club Balanced on Geneva
balancedblackgirl.com ◉ IG: @balancedblackgirlpodcast @balancedles 〆
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/balanced-black-girl/donations
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Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/balanced-black-girl/donations
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy50m | Dec 13, 2022 - Rest and Digest: Reset Your Circadian Rhythm and Winter Self-Care to Feel Happy and Whole
For me and so many others, Winter can be draining and leave us feeling disconnected from ourselves and our communities. So as we move toward the end of 2022, I find myself thinking of ways to be prepared for the holiday season and Winter blues.
In this solo episode, I encourage you to think of Winter as a call to rest, set the stage to call in your manifestations, and channel the energy of the Winter Solstice to prepare for the bloom. I share my favorite ways to stay balanced, set boundaries, and be financially well.
I also talk about…
- Why winter is the perfect time to focus on extra self-care
- What winter represents spiritually and how we can apply this to how we take care
- Ways to reflect without dwelling
- The importance of taking a break from doing “the work”
Resources:
- Healing Through Rest: Creating Balance for Your Nervous System — Balanced Black Girl
- Winter, sleep and your circadian rhythms — The American Association of Sleep Medicine
- Exercising for better sleep — Johns Hopkins Medicine
- Sleep Toolkit: Tools for Optimizing Sleep & Sleep-Wake Timing — Huberman Lab
- Does the High Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency in African Americans Contribute to Health Disparities? — National Library of Medicine
- Benefits of Vitamin D — Harvard School of Public Health
- Is Vitamin D deficiency causing your depression? — Healthline
- The Synergistic Interplay between Vitamins D and K for Bone and Cardiovascular Health — National Library of Medicine
- The Physical and Mental Benefits of Getting Outside in the Winter — University of Utah
Sponsors:
- Open | If you’re looking for a mindful meditation, breath work, and movement app I can’t recommend Open enough. They have a beautifully curated collection of guided meditation, breath work, and movement exercises to support you in your practice. Try Open for 30 Days free. Visit open-together.com/**BALANCED.**
- BetterHelp | This episode is sponsored brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/BBG and get on your way to being your best self.
balancedblackgirl.com ◉ IG: @balancedblackgirlpodcast @balancedles 〆
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/balanced-black-girl/donations
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Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/balanced-black-girl/donations
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy35m | Dec 6, 2022 - Finding Work that Fulfills You with Abena Antwi of Burt’s Bees [BONUS]
It’s so important to balance life, family, friends and your career, but it can be challenging — especially during the holidays.
In this episode, I’m joined by Abena Antwi, a Chemist and Associate Product Designer at Burt’s Bees. She shares how she balances her career in chemistry and cosmetics, making time for her family, and taking care of herself.
We Also Talk About…
- Why Abena wanted to become a chemist & how she ended up in cosmetics
- The challenges of being a working mother and being passionate about your work
- How community makes our careers and lives possible
- The importance of Black women & women of color working in the cosmetics industry
- How Burt’s Bees shea butter products support women in Ghana
- Our favorite Burt’s Bees lip tints & shimmers
Resources:
- Follow Burt’s Bees on Instagram @burtsbees
- Shop Burt’s Bees lip tints & shimmers
- Learn more about how Burt’s Bees uplifts women in shea
Sponsor:
- This episode is presented by Burt’s Bees. By Nature. For Nature. For All.
balancedblackgirl.com ◉ IG: @balancedblackgirlpodcast @balancedles 〆
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/balanced-black-girl/donations
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Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy34m | Dec 1, 2022 - How to Start, Grow, and Monetize a Podcast with Nakia Swinton
Podcasting is a growing industry with so much room for Black creators to share themselves, their views, and their brands. That’s probably why Black people make up 12% of the total population, but 15% of the podcast host population. But how do you get started? And how do you help your podcast be heard?
Today I’m joined by Nakia Swinton, Supervising Producer at iHeart Radio, Co-host of Sufficiently Black, freelance producer for Balanced Black Girl podcast, and general podcast wizard. Together, we talk all things podcasts — from creation, to marketing, to community building and monetization. We even answer some thought-provoking listener questions!
We Also Talk About…
- Building a community through your podcast marketing
- Keeping your SEO clear and easy to understand
- The importance of consistency above all else
- The fabulous Issa Rae and her little-known (but amazing) podcast
- The pros and cons of each type of podcasting and reading contracts thoroughly
- Having passion for more than the money
Resources (contains affiliate links):
- Visit Nakia’s Website
- Follow Nakia on Instagram
- Listen to Sufficiently Black
- Follow Sufficiently Black on Instagram
- Article: The Ultimate Guide to Starting A Podcast
- RedCircle, the hosting and monetization platform we use
- Podcasting gear we use to record
- Riverside: the online recording software we use
- Acuity Scheduling: the software we use to book interviews with guests
- Softer Sounds: who we work with for editing support
Sponsor:
- Willmaker | Protect your financial assets with Willmaker. Visit willmaker.com to take their free quiz and use code BALANCED10 for 10% off your first document.
- POM Wonderful | Get your fill of antioxidant goodness with delicious POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice. To find delicious recipes and learn more about the antioxidant goodness of POM, visit pomwonderful.com.
balancedblackgirl.com ◉ IG: @balancedblackgirlpodcast @balancedles 〆
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/balanced-black-girl/donations
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
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Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/balanced-black-girl/donations
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy1h 4m | Nov 29, 2022 - How to Get Funding for Your Business, Qualities of Successful Entrepreneurs, and Building the Damn Thing with Kathryn Finney
Black women have been the fastest-growing group of entrepreneurs in the US for the past few years with 17% of us in the process of starting new businesses. But in 2020—a record-breaking year for venture capital investment—less than 100 Black women raised $1 million or more for their businesses, which is very small in the VC world.
In this episode, I’m joined by Kathryn Finney, Founder and Managing General Partner of Genius Guild, a $20 million venture fund that builds and invests in scalable companies led by diverse founders. She's also the founder of the Duni fund, the founder and former CEO of Digital Undivided, the mastermind of the widely acclaimed project Diane Research, the author of Build the Damn Thing, and a Yale-trained epidemiologist.
Together, we discuss the ins and outs of Venture Capital and business funding as well as Kathryn’s expertise as a successful entrepreneur and her favorite wellness practices.
We Also Talk About…
- Seeing entrepreneurship as a tool that lets you live a creative life
- Focusing on executing an idea, not just the idea itself
- How not to waste $30k on a business
- The importance of knowing yourself and having a solid foundation as a leader
- Not waiting for permission from the entitled
- The differences between startups, small businesses, and hobbies
Resources:
- Black women are the fastest growing group of entrepreneurs. But the job isn’t easy— JP Morgan
- Build The Damn Thing: How to Start a Successful Business if You're Not a Rich White Guy by Kathryn Finney
- Visit Kathryn’s Website
- Submit Your Pitch to the Genius Guild
- Listen to the Build the Damn Thing! Podcast
- Follow Kathryn on Instagram
- Connect with Kathryn on LinkedIn
Sponsor:
- Open | If you’re looking for a mindful meditation, breath work, and movement app I can’t recommend Open enough. They have a beautifully curated collection of guided meditation, breath work, and movement exercises to support you in your practice. Try Open for 30 Days free. Visit open-together.com/**BALANCED.**
balancedblackgirl.com ◉ IG: @balancedblackgirlpodcast @balancedles 〆
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/balanced-black-girl/donations
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/balanced-black-girl/donations
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy43m | Nov 22, 2022
