Today, we’re discussing ways to heal from and cope with racial trauma with our guest, Jacquelyn Ogorchukwu Iyamah.

Jacquelyn is a Nigerian American Storyteller and User Experience Designer in the wellness space. She has a degree in Social welfare, where her focus was on making wellness more accessible to overlooked communities. She also has a degree in UX design, where she spent a year researching what it would take to design a platform that reduced the barriers of therapy for Black, Indigenous and People of Color.

In 2018, Jacquelyn published The Geometry of Being Black, a poetic body of work that provides a glimpse into prominent experiences of the Black community.

In this episode, we talk about…

•       The difference between coping and healing.
•       Defining racial trauma, and understanding its signs and symptoms.
•       Understanding The Four Bodies of healing.
•       Identifying and coping with racial battle fatigue.
•       Activism as an act of hope.

RESOURCES:

•       Follow Jacquelyn on Instagram: @ogorchukwuu
•       Read The Four Bodies: A Toolkit for Healing Racial Trauma
•       Follow Jacquelyn on Facebook: @ogorchukwuu
•       Follow Jacquelyn on Twitter: @ogorchukwuu
•       Order Jacquelyn’s book The Geometry of Being Black
•       Register for the Unapologetic Retreat and use code LES10 for $10 off
•       Take the Balanced Black Girl Listener Survey

Balance Black Girl Partners:

•       BLK+GRN | Use code BBG20 for 20% off at blkgrn.com
•       Methodology | Use code BALANCEDBLACKGIRL for 20% off your first Methodology shipment
•       Organifi | Use the code BBG for 15% off Organifi supplements
•       Peak and Valley | Use the discount code balancedblackgirl for $5 off your order of adaptogen blends

This episode is sponsored by Cantu Beauty.

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.

In this solo episode, Les will dive into the topic of worthiness. While each of us is born inherently worthy, we receive messages that lead us to believe our worthiness is transactional or something we have to earn back.

Les will discuss her own struggles with worthiness, along with a guided meditation and journaling exercise that will help you reclaim your worthiness no matter what life throws your way.

In this episode, we talk about…

• Les’s reflections on questioning her own worthiness.
• Examining your personal definition of what it means to be worthy.
• How to focus on being instead of doing.
• Take part with me in a guided journaling meditation to reclaim your worthiness.

RESOURCES:

• For show notes and episode information go to com
• Follow Balanced Black Girl on Instagram @balancedblackgirlpodcast
• Meditation music is The Healing by Sergey Cheremisinov

Balanced Black Girl Partners:

• BLK+GRN | Use code BBG20 for 20% off at com
• Methodology | Use code BALANCEDBLACKGIRL for 20% off your first Methodology shipment
• Organifi | Use the code BBG for 15% off Organifi supplements
• Peak and Valley | Use the discount code balancedblackgirl for $5 off your order of adaptogen blends

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.

Today, we’re talking to Dr. Sara C. Flowers. She became the Vice President of Education at PPFA in 2018. An advocate for evidence-informed practice and emotional intelligence in sex education, Sara’s research focuses on fidelity and adaptation of sex education curricula, dismantling sexual and reproductive health disparities, serving the youth of color, and strengthening reproductive health access. In this role, Sara sets the vision, priorities, and strategy for sex education and training at Planned Parenthood. She is the spokesperson for sex education, providing contextualization and grounding for the nuanced ways sex education works to support and progress the federation’s vision and mission.

Sara holds a Doctorate in Public Health from The Graduate School and University Center, CUNY, as well as a BA in Psychology and a Master of Public Health degree, both from The George Washington University. She currently serves on the board of directors for SIECUS: Sex Ed for Social Change.

In this episode, we talk about…

• How COVID impacts our sexual health and relationships
• Evolution of sex education over the years
• How to initiate honest conversations with your partner or potential partners
• Communicating and connecting with others during this pandemic
• Consent conversations, not just in a sexual context
• Communicating with teenagers in this pandemic
• Reproductive health care and how black women can advocate for themselves

RESOURCES:

• Connect with Dr. Sara through PPFA’s website
• Follow Dr. Sara on Linkedin: @drsaracflowers
• Article about consent by Dr. Sara C. Flowers. Practicing What I Preach: Consent, Young People, and Respecting a No
• Ask Roo, a sexual health chatbot from PPFA

Balance Black Girl Partners:

• BLK+GRN | Use code BBG20 for 20% off at blkgrn.com
• Methodology | Use code BALANCEDBLACKGIRL for 20% off your first Methodology shipment
• Organifi | Use the code BBG for 15% off Organifi supplements
• Peak and Valley | Use the discount code balancedblackgirl for $5 off your order of adaptogen blends

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.

Today, we’re talking to Adunola Adeshola, a career strategist and Forbes contributor. She teaches flourishing and unfulfilled corporate professionals how to secure new positions they love at companies they love. 

Her clients have landed interviews and job offers at Tiffany & Co., Macy's, CBS, BP and other amazing Fortune 500 companies in their industries. Her expertise has also been featured in Bloomberg, Fast Company, Business Insider and other publications.

In this episode, we talk about…

• How to overcome imposter syndrome in the workplace.
• Transitioning to remote work.
• Advice for navigating a toxic company culture.
• How to navigate career changes during a time of uncertainty.
• Stress management and maintaining balance while job seeking. 

RESOURCES:

• Check out Adunola’s Website Employee Redefined
• Follow Adunola on Instagram: @thenewemployees
• Download Adunola’s free guide, How to Go from Zero Interviews to Dream Job Offers
• Read Adunola’s Forbes column

Balanced Black Girl Partners:

• BLK+GRN | Use code BBG20 for 20% off at blkgrn.com
• Methodology | Use code BALANCEDBLACKGIRL for 20% off your first Methodology shipment
• Organifi | Use the code BBG for 15% off Organifi supplements
• Peak and Valley | Use the discount code balancedblackgirl for $5 off your order of adaptogen blends

This episode is sponsored by Cantu Beauty.

Balanced Black Girl is edited by Bex Be Casting.

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.

Today’s guest is Dr. Kristamarie Collman, a double board certified family medicine doctor. Leveraging her professional background in medicine paired with a natural flair for beauty and style, Dr. Kristamarie takes a holistic approach in helping women to live healthier lives. 

She empowers women of all ages with tools and tips to “glow up” and ultimately feel their best.  Dr. Kristamarie graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Health from Rutgers University – New Brunswick and continued her education at the New York Medical College in Valhalla, NY, earning a Doctor of Medicine. She later joined the ranks of Halifax Health Medical Center as a resident physician in Daytona Beach, FL, where she was also nominated to serve as Chief Resident. 

She currently resides in Charlottesville, VA, where she practices in acute care and outpatient Family Medicine. Beyond the doctor’s office, Dr. Kristamarie shares engaging social media content focused on inspirational messages, healthy lifestyle and wellness advice. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her fiancé, their dog and trying out new food recipes in the kitchen. She is also the author of “Glow Up Your Life: The Rx for Looking and Feeling Good from the Inside Out.” 

In this episode, we talk about…

• Ways we can advocate for ourselves and loved ones when receiving medical care.
• What to look for when searching for healthcare providers.
• Incorporating holistic medicine with western practices.
• Managing stress and anxiety around COVID-19.
• Navigating a fibroid diagnosis.

RESOURCES:

• Download Glow Up Your Life by Dr. Kristamarie
• Follow Dr. Kristamarie on Instagram: @drkristamarie
• Like Dr. Kristamarie’s page on Facebook

Balanced Black Girl Partners:

• BLK+GRN | Use code BBG20 for 20% off at blkgrn.com
• Organifi | Use the code BBG for 15% off Organifi supplements
• Peak and Valley | Use the discount code balancedblackgirl for $5 off your order of adaptogen blends

This episode is sponsored by Cantu Beauty, available at Wal-Mart and walmart.com. Balanced Black Girl is edited by Bex Be Casting.

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.

We are now in the middle of a global pandemic and cultural revolution at the same time. It’s a lot (to say the least).

In this solo episode, Les is discussing the importance of setting boundaries and protecting your energy so you can channel it into the areas of life that make most sense for you.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed with responding to everyone wanting to check in with you because you’re their go-to “Black friend”, if you’re being put in the position to educate others and are trying to figure out how to navigate it, and if you’re looking for ways to set clear boundaries so you can take care of yourself during this critical time, this episode is for you. 

In this episode, we talk about…

• Defining the role you want to take on in our current state.
• Listening to your body and redefining what self care means at this time.
• How to respond to emotionally taxing conversations. 
• Guided journal prompts for clarity.

RESOURCES:

• Check out #ProtectYourEnergy, an extensive doc with canned responses to racial gaslighting and taxing conversations.
• Visit the Balanced Black Girl Community Healing Resource Guide for an extensive list of Black-focused virtual healing events, mental health resources, and Black-owned self care businesses. 
• Follow @balancedblackgirlpodcast on Instagram.
• Like Balanced Black Girl on Facebook.
• Follow @balancedblkgirl on Twitter. 

This episode is sponsored by Cantu Beauty.

Balanced Black Girl Partners:

• BLK+GRN | Use code BBG20 for 20% off at blkgrn.com
• Organifi | Use the code BBG for 15% off Organifi supplements
• Peak and Valley | Use the discount code balancedblackgirl for $5 off your order of adaptogen blends

Balanced Black Girl is edited by Bex Be Casting.

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.

Today’s guest is Jasmine Offor-Verville. Jasmine is a writer, speaker and truth-teller empowering us to unearth our individual Divine Destiny through the lens of Human Design. 

Her provoking conversations and practice pioneer a new way of being that will allow each of us to see our divine nature. Through her resources, workshops and writing, Jasmine is changing the way we see ourselves so that we no longer have to look out for validation but return back within.

In this episode, we talk about…

• What the different Human Design types are, and how they differ from one another.
• How Human Design differs from, and works with astrology.
• Ways to customize your self-care practices for your Human Design type.
• How our Human Design impacts how we approach relationships, career, and purpose.

RESOURCES:

• Visit Jasmine’s Website
• Follow Jasmine on Instagram @moondustourmother
• Book a Soul Session with Jasmine and use the code “BalancedBlack” for 10% off
• Listen to Jasmine’s Podcast, Divinely Human

Balanced Black Girl Partners:

• BLK+GRN | Use code BBG20 for 20% off at blkgrn.com
• Methodology | Use code BALANCEDBLACKGIRL for 20% off your first Methodology shipment
• Organifi | Use the code BBG for 15% off Organifi supplements
• Peak and Valley | Use the discount code balancedblackgirl for 15% off your order of adaptogen blends

Balanced Black Girl is edited by Bex Carlos .

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.

Today’s guest is Alina Brown, Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner co-founder of WellnessCon, and creator of the Aligned Life Planner. 

Alina creates video content for her Wellness YouTube channel called ‘Alina Alive,’ where she helps her 23,000+ subscribers take practical steps to deepen their wellness journeys.

In 2019, Alina co-founded WellnessCon, an annual outdoor wellness conference dedicated to promoting diversity in the wellness space while fostering community for wellness lovers, wellness influencers, and conscious companies. ⁣

This year Alina launched the Aligned Life Planner, a 2020 planner focused on seasonal intention-setting and key astrological events.

Alina truly believes that just as nature works synergistically to foster diverse rainforests and deep sea life, we as humans can best thrive and achieve optimal health synergistically through working together.⁣

In this episode, we talk about…

• Creating wellness habits you can stick to by using the three pillars of wellness.
• Healthy eating on a budget.
• Why seasonality is important for goal-setting and for our wellness practices.
• How to incorporate astrology into your wellness practice.

RESOURCES:

• Follow Alina on Instagram @heyalinalive
• Check out the Wellness Con website for updates: https://www.wellnesscon.co/
• Subscribe to Alina’s YouTube Channel
• Check out the Aligned Life Planner
• Smudge Kit: Heritage Apothecary

Balanced Black Girl Partners:

• BLK+GRN | Use code BBG20 for 20% off at blkgrn.com
• Black Girl Sunscreen | Use code BBG20 for 20% off at blackgirlsunscreen.com
• Methodology | Use code BALANCEDBLACKGIRL for 20% off your first Methodology shipment
• Organifi | Use the code BBG for 15% off Organifi supplements
• Peak and Valley | Use the discount code balancedblackgirl for 15% off your order of adaptogen blends

This episode is sponsored by Cantu Beauty. Pick up Cantu’s Shea Butter collection at Walmart and walmart.com.

Balanced Black Girl is edited by Bex Carlos.

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.

Today’s bonus episode is a candid conversation with Les’s mom Trina in honor of Mother’s Day. 

This episode is a special one, as they talk about navigating motherhood through the different stages of life, and how their mother/daughter relationship has evolved over time.

In this episode, we talk about…

• Trina’s experiences as a teen mom.
• Breaking generational cycles through intentional parenting.
• Establishing parent/child relationships well into adulthood.
• Identities outside of motherhood.

Balanced Black Girl Partners:

• BLK+GRN | Use code BBG20 for 20% off at blkgrn.com
• Black Girl Sunscreen | Use code BBG20 for 20% off at blackgirlsunscreen.com
• Methodology | Use code BALANCEDBLACKGIRL for 20% off your first Methodology shipment
• Organifi | Use the code BBG for 15% off Organifi supplements
• Peak and Valley | Use the discount code balancedblackgirl for 15% off your order of adaptogen blends

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.

Today’s guest is Kathleen Booker. She is an effervescent native New Yorker whose energy is infectious. Kathleen is passionate about Conscious Connected Breathwork therapy and knows first-hand the energy, healing, peace, and joy it creates in one’s life. 

As a certified and insured Breathwork Coach, she has worked with many masters in the field of Conscious Connected Breathwork therapy. For over 10 years, Kathleen has used her Breath coaching and intuitive skills to support individuals in clearly identifying areas in need of growth, healing and focused goal creation. 

Kathleen’s instinctive sense of what will motivate and empower her clients is the impetus for their transformation. In this conversation we touch on challenging subjects, including sexual assault.

In this episode, we talk about…

• Why connecting with your breath is so important.
• What conscious connected breathwork is, and how to experience its benefits.
• The importance of asking for help.
• Ways to create more calm in your life. 
• Practices to feel grounded and fulfilled.

RESOURCES:

• Visit Kathleen’s Website
• Follow Kathleen on Instagram: @iamkathleenbooker
• Connect with Kathleen on LinkedIn 

This episode is sponsored by Cantu beauty. Check out their Natural Hair Collection at Walmart and walmart.com.

Balanced Black Girl Partners:

• BLK+GRN | Use code BBG20 for 20% off at blkgrn.com
• Black Girl Sunscreen | Use code BBG20 for 20% off at blackgirlsunscreen.com
• Methodology | Use code BALANCEDBLACKGIRL for 20% off your first Methodology shipment
• Organifi | Use the code BBG for 15% off Organifi supplements
• Peak and Valley | Use the discount code balancedblackgirl for 15% off your order of adaptogen blends

Balanced Black Girl is edited by Bex Carlos.

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.

Today, we’re talking to Adriana Jean Louis, doula and founder of Doula Philosophy.

In her final year of college, Adriana submitted a thesis on the Black Maternal Mortality Crisis in the Developed United States through the lens of public policy. In her professional life she runs a private practice, Doula Philosophy and also works jointly with non profit organizations that specifically cater to vulnerable women and families. 

When working with these organizations, Adriana works directly with adolescent mothers, mothers of Haitian descent, women of color and women with a history of trauma. In private practice Doula Philosophy offers birth, postpartum and home doula services to families in Massachusetts and parts of Rhode Island. 

Her passion in Black maternal health and mortality, hospital intervention and the power of informed and autonomous decision making is the hallmark of her practice. Adriana has had the pleasure of being invited to speak at TeamBirth a hospital quality improvement conference, Harvard University, Boston College Law and UMass Dartmouth to name a few on the fundamental difference of doula care in birth outcomes and welcomes the opportunity to educate further whenever possible. 

In this episode, we talk about…

• What doulas do, and why expecting parents should consider working with a doula.
• The state of the Black Maternal Health Crisis in America.
• Ways Black folks who intend to have biological children can advocate for themselves.
• Why Black mothers are less likely to breastfeed, and how we can better support Black mothers who want to breastfeed.
• Resources for aspiring doulas.

RESOURCES:

• Visit the Doula Philosophy Website
• Follow Adriana on Instagram @adrianathedoula
• Follow Pump Mama Pump on Instagram @pump_mama_pump
• Visit the Evidence Based Birth Website

Balanced Black Girl Partners:

• BLK+GRN | Use code BBG20 for 20% off at blkgrn.com
• Black Girl Sunscreen | Use code BBG20 for 20% off at blackgirlsunscreen.com
• Methodology | Use code BALANCEDBLACKGIRL for 20% off your first Methodology shipment
• Organifi | Use the code BBG for 15% off Organifi supplements
• Skinny Dipped | Use the code BBG for 15% off your order at skinnydipped.com
• Peak and Valley | Use the code balancedblackgirl for 15% off your order at peakandvalley.co 

Balanced Black Girl is edited by Bex Carlos.

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE. 

Today’s guest Patty Dean, also known as Patty Pilates, has been teaching classical Pilates for 20 years. Through her teaching, she has worked with celebrity clients, athletes, children of all abilities and everyone in between. 

Patty Pilates Style actually started when she was a fashion stylist assistant for a celebrity stylist and fell in love with the method. After being a stay at home Mom she decided to go back to teaching Pilates by making it a little more affordable to Black folks and my Inglewood community. 

Her motto is,  “if you have a spine, a stomach and breath you can do Pilates...I can work with you”. She has witnessed endless life-changing testimonies when a client is committed to the Pilates method. She has worked with a vast spectrum of bodies and is grateful to continue working with more -- especially with Black folks.

In this episode, we talk about…

• Building community through genuine connections.
• The origins, mental, and physical benefits of Pilates.
• Making Pilates accessible.
• Modeling self-care for our children and communities.

RESOURCES:

• Follow Patty on Instagram to stay updated on her virtual class offerings: @pattypilatesstyle
• LA-Area Folks: Contact Patty at pattypilatesstyle@gmail.com for special pricing on private Pilates sessions. 

Balanced Black Girl Partners:

• BLK+GRN | Use code BBG20 for 20% off at blkgrn.com
• Black Girl Sunscreen | Use code BBG20 for 20% off at blackgirlsunscreen.com
• Methodology | Use code BALANCEDBLACKGIRL30 for 30% off your first Methodology shipment
• Organifi | Use the code BBG for 15% off Organifi supplements
• Skinny Dipped | Use the code BBG for 15% off your order at skinnydipped.com

Balanced Black Girl is edited by Bex Carlos.

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.

Today we’re talking to Bridget Todd, political strategist, media personality, and co-host of AFROPUNK’s Solution Sessions Podcast where she focuses on amplifying Black stories globally.

Bridget has had an extensive career in media, education and politics. The former Howard University educator is a trained human rights activist and coordinated digital strategy for organizations such as MSNBC, Planned Parenthood, and the Women's March. She also facilitated a training program for political operatives that the Washington Post called “the Hogwarts of the Democratic Party.”

Bridget joined the podcast world as a producer for MoveOn.org’s flagship podcast in 2012. She also cohosted iHeartMedia’s “Stuff Mom Never Told You” podcast, where she discussed feminist issues and activism to over 2 million subscriber’s month.

Paper Magazine named Bridget as one of their top women in Politics to follow, and she received a Webby Award nomination for her role on AFROPUNK’s Solution Sessions Podcast. Her work has been featured in Teen Vogue, Refinery 29, Policy Mic, The Daily Show, The Atlantic, the Huffington Post, BuzzFeed, and more.

In this episode, we talk about…

• The importance of telling Black stories in a loving, authentic way.
• How to get comfortable using our voices.
• Owning and protecting our creative ideas and contributions to popular culture. 
• Navigating burnout, and why rest is essential.

RESOURCES:

• Check out AFROPUNK Solution Sessions. 
• Follow Bridget on Instagram: @bridgetmarieindc
• Follow Bridget on Twitter: @bridgetmarie

Balanced Black Girl Partners:

• BLK+GRN | Use code BBG20 for 20% off at blkgrn.com
• Black Girl Sunscreen | Use code BBG20 for 20% off at blackgirlsunscreen.com
• Methodology | Use code BALANCEDBLACKGIRL for 20% off your first Methodology shipment
• Organifi | Use the code BBG for 15% off Organifi supplements
• Skinny Dipped | Use the code BBG for 15% off your order at skinnydipped.com

Balanced Black Girl is edited by Bex Carlos.

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE. 

Today’s guest is Nadine Joseph, founder and CEO of Peak and Valley, a conscious company that combines ancient wisdom and modern science to make everyday wellness essentials. 

Nadine has a unique background entrenched in both the worlds of wellness and that of the scientific community. She combines the experiences gleaned from her time studying and conducting neuroscience research at both Johns Hopkins and UCSF with her holistic wellness upbringing.

In this episode, we talk about…

• How stress impacts the body.
• Practical tips for managing stress.
• What adaptogens are, and how they can help us manage stress.
• Ways to make exercise nourishing, not stressful. 

RESOURCES:

• Visit the Peak and Valley Website
• Peak and Valley Adaptogen Blend -- use the discount code “BBG”
• Follow Peak and Valley on Instagram: @peakandvalleyco
• Follow Nadine on Instagram: @itsanadine

Balanced Black Girl Partners:

• BLK+GRN | Use code BBG20 for 20% off at blkgrn.com
• Black Girl Sunscreen | Use code BBG20 for 20% off at blackgirlsunscreen.com
• Methodology | Use code BALANCEDBLACKGIRL for 20% off your first Methodology shipment
• Organifi | Use the code BBG for 15% off Organifi supplements
• Skinny Dipped | Use the code BBG for 15% off your order at skinnydipped.com

Balanced Black Girl is edited by Bex Carlos.

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.

Today’s guest is Toya Coleman, creator of Toya from Harlem. Toya From Harlem is an online platform for millennials of color who want to learn more about Locs, history, art and culture without boring pretentious language.

Born and raised in Harlem, with a BA in African-American studies, Toya was inspired to create her platform as a way to capture the historical places in Harlem that were being erased in the name of gentrification. Currently, she lives in LA and has expanded her message from Harlem to cover black history nationwide. 

One of her proudest accomplishments was her feature on BET.com titled,“See This Artist's Recreations of Iconic Imagery For Black History Month” where she recreated iconic photos of Black men in history. 

In this episode, we talk about…

• Underrated moments in Black history.

• The best social media accounts to follow to learn about Black history.

• Black women’s stories that aren’t often told.

• Gentrification’s impact on Black history. 

RESOURCES:

• Visit Toya’s Website

• Follow Toya on Instagram: @toyafromharlem

• Subscribe to Toya’s YouTube Channel

• Sign up for Toya’s Newsletter

• Follow Blvck Vrchives on Instagram: @blvckvrchives

• Follow Blk Mkt Vintage on Instagram: @blkmktvintage

• Learn about The Heroines of American Black Press

Balanced Black Girl Partners:

• BLK+GRN | Use code BBG20 for 20% off at blkgrn.com

• MBlack Girl Sunscreen | Use code BBG20 for 20% off at blackgirlsunscreen.com

• Methodology | Use code BALANCEDBLACKGIRL30 for 30% off your first Methodology shipment

• Organifi | Use the code BBG for 15% off Organifi supplements

• Skinny Dipped | Use the code BBG for 15% off your order at skinnydipped.com

Balanced Black Girl is edited by Bex Carlos. This episode was recorded with Inclusive Media Podcasting Network. 

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE. 

In today’s episode, Les is holding it down solo discussing listener-submitted topics. Starting off with some reflection on 2019 and a renewed mindset for 2020, this episode gets deep down and personal about family, relocating, dating, manifestation, and more. 

Whether you’re considering a relocation and are afraid to take the leap, you’re feeling stuck in a situation that you aren’t sure how to navigate, or you’re interested in creating a meditation routine, this episode has something for you!

The tea is hot today. 

In this episode, we talk about…

• Goal setting for 2020. 
• Relocating to a new city: preparing financially, taking the leap, building community.
• How to get unstuck. 
• The single life and dating in a new city. 
• Creating a meditation routine.
• Overcoming the winter blues.
• Manifestation and how to get out of your own way. 

RESOURCES:

• Get the show notes for all episodes at balancedblackgirl.com
• Follow Les on Instagram: @balancedles
• Follow Balanced Black Girl Podcast on Instagram: @balancedblackgirlpodcast
• Liberate Meditation App 
• Calm App
• Episode 54: Wholehearted Living with Shirin Eskandani

Les’ Top Reads from 2019:

• The Game of Desire by Shan Boodram
• The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
• Eloquent Rage by Brittney Cooper
• More than Enough by Elaine Welteroth
• The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown

Balanced Black Girl Partners:

• BLK+GRN | Use code BBG20 for 20% off at blkgrn.com
• Black Girl Sunscreen | Use code BBG20 for 20% off at blackgirlsunscreen.com
• Methodology | Use code BALANCEDBLACKGIRL30 for 30% off your first Methodology shipment
• Organifi | Use the code BBG for 15% off Organifi supplements
• Skinny Dipped | Use the code BBG for 15% off your order at skinnydipped.com

Balanced Black Girl is edited by Bex Carlos.

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.

Today’s guest is Sinikiwe Dhliwayo, a creative and public speaker who for the last decade has made a home at the intersection of wellness and publishing. Sinikiwe has worked in all facets of the photo and magazine publishing industry and oversees photo and video shoots from inception and conception to execution and delivery. Her skills include casting, producing and art direction as well as creative problem solving and most importantly, creating meaningful and impactful connections with target audiences.

Sinikiwe is also the founder of NAAYA, which roots people of color in their wellness. Whether making yoga accessible to those who need the practice most or telling the stories of marginalized folx through elevated photo and video, Sinikiwe is dedicated to changing the conversation around what it looks and feels like to be well. Her work and efforts to make the wellness space more equitable. 

At the start of 2020, Sinikiwe kicked off NAAYA’s first 200-hour yoga teacher training, created specifically for people who identify as BIPOC.

In this episode, we talk about…

• The importance of mindfulness practices for people of color.
• Cultural appropriation in yoga.
• The intersection of wellness and media.
• Advice for beginning your yoga journey.

RESOURCES:

• Visit the NAAYA Website to subscribe to the newsletter
• Follow NAAYA on Instagram: @naaya.wellness
• Follow Sinikiwe on Instagram: @sinikiwe.stephanie

Balanced Black Girl Partners:

• BLK+GRN | Use code BBG20 for 20% off at blkgrn.com
• Black Girl Sunscreen | Use code BBG20 for 20% off at blackgirlsunscreen.com
• Methodology | Use code BALANCEDBLACKGIRL30 for 30% off your first Methodology shipment
• Organifi | Use the code BBG for 15% off Organifi supplements
• Skinny Dipped | Use the code BBG for 15% off your order at skinnydipped.com

Balanced Black Girl is edited by Bex Carlos.

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.

Today, we’re talking to Jennifer Sterling, Registered Dance/Movement Psychotherapist and Holistic Nutritionist.

She is also the Creator of Bodyful Healing, a wellness platform that offers body-based, holistic support to Black women living with depression.

In 2019, Jennifer’s book Dear Strong Black Woman: Letters of Nourishment and Reflection from One Strong Black Woman to Another was published. Dear Strong Black Woman is a collection of 31 letters of nourishment and connection from one strong Black woman to another.

In this episode, we talk about…

• The importance of safe spaces for Black women living with depression.
• Breaking down the myth of the strong Black woman.
• Learning about dance/movement psychotherapy.
• How nutrition and mental health are interconnected.

RESOURCES:

• Check out Jennifer’s book, Dear Strong Black Woman
• Jennifer’s Website: bodyfulhealing.com
• Follow Bodyful Healing on Instagram: @bodyfulhealing
• Like Bodyful Healing on Facebook
• Follow Bodyful Healing on Twitter: @bodyfulhealing

Balanced Black Girl Partners:

• BLK+GRN | Use code BBG20 for 20% off at blkgrn.com
• Black Girl Sunscreen | Use code BBG20 for 20% off at blackgirlsunscreen.com
• Methodology | Use code BALANCEDBLACKGIRL30 for 30% off your first Methodology shipment
• Organifi | Use the code BBG for 15% off Organifi supplements
• Skinny Dipped | Use the code BBG for 15% off your order at skinnydipped.com

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.

Today we’re talking to Shena Tubbs, a Relational Trauma and Attachment Specialist, Licensed Professional Counselor, and Love Addiction Coach based out of Houston, TX. 

She is the founder of Black Girls Heal, an online community dedicated to helping women of color break the cycles of unavailable relationships and feeling not enough by healing what's within. 

In addition to Black Girls Heal, Shena has a private practice where she specializes in helping women heal from unresolved childhood relational trauma, love addiction, and changing relationship patterns. She also hosts the Black Girls Heal podcast which talks about all things intimacy, attachment and healing internal wounds. 

In this episode, we talk about…

• How we repeatedly get into unhealthy relationships and how we can break the cycle.
• Understanding and overcoming love addiction.
• Learning your attachment style, and the origins of your attachment style. 
• Unpacking relationships with unavailable people.

RESOURCES:

• Visit Shena’s Website, BlackGirlsHeal.org
• Check out the Learn to Thrive course
• Check out the Healed and Loved Woman Mentorship program
• Follow Black Girls Heal on Instagram: @blackgirlsheal_
• Like Black Girls Heal on Facebook

Episode Sponsor:

• Skinny Dipped | Use the code BBG for 15% off your order at skinnydipped.com

Balanced Black Girl Partners:

• BLK+GRN | Use code BBG20 for 20% off at blkgrn.com
• Black Girl Sunscreen | Use code BBG20 for 20% off at blackgirlsunscreen.com
• Methodology | Use code BALANCEDBLACKGIRL30 for 30% off your first Methodology shipment
• Organifi | Use the code BBG for 15% off Organifi supplements

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

Today, we’re talking to Sojourner White. Sojourner is a traveling scholar whose experiences as a Fulbright Fellow in Spain and service year as a Pubic Ally with AmeriCorps led her to become an International Social Worker. 

Born and raised in Milwaukee, WI, her travel journey started in the U.S. with her family, however studying Spanish opened her eyes to the world of international travel. Since studying abroad in 2015, she has traveled from Mexico to Morocco and many European countries in between. 

Sojourner is living up to her name all while pursuing her Master’s degree and writing her way through the world on her blog “Sojournies.” She offers tips and resources to other students, professionals, or anyone interested in making travel part of their lives too. Her adventures have shaped her views of Blackness, womanhood, and wellness, no matter where she may be in the world.

In this episode, we talk about…

• How Sojourner’s study abroad experience sparked her love for travel.
• Ways Black women can benefit from traveling internationally.
• Travel tips for Black women.
• Practicing self-care and prioritizing wellness as a grad student. 
• The importance of crafting your own life journey. 

RESOURCES:

• Download Sojourner’s travel guide: 5 Things You Should Never Forget Before Your First Trip Abroad
• Visit Sojourner’s website, Sojournies
• Follow Sojourner on Instagram @thesojournies
• Like Sojournies on Facebook
• Follow Sojourner on Instagram Twitter @sojournies
• Self Explored, Self Restored Journal
• Becoming Journal

Episode Sponsor:

• Skinny Dipped | Use the code BBG for 15% off your order at skinnydipped.com

Balanced Black Girl Partners:

• BLK+GRN | Use code BBG20 for 20% off at blkgrn.com
• Black Girl Sunscreen | Use code BBG20 for 20% off at blackgirlsunscreen.com
• Methodology | Use code BALANCEDBLACKGIRL30 for 30% off your first Methodology shipment
• Organifi | Use the code BBG for 15% off Organifi supplements

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.

Today, we’re talking to Shirin Eskandani, life coach, public speaker, and writer who specializes in mindfulness and mindset work.

She has been a featured wellness expert on the Today Show and Cosmopolitan Magazine. Certified by the International Coach Federation, her holistic approach to transformation is influenced by her background in guided meditation, spirituality, and the arts.

Prior to building her successful coaching business, she was an award-winning opera singer, performing at Carnegie Hall and The Metropolitan Opera. She is the co-founder of Brown Girl Brunch and has been a featured speaker at ALT Summit, Well Summit, the Assemblage, and Soho House.

In this episode, we talk about…

• Overcoming feelings of perfectionism.
• Figuring out what comes next after reaching your goals.
• How to perform mindset work.
• The importance of practicing self-compassion.
• Living wholeheartedly.

RESOURCES:

• Join the waitlist for Shirin’s Wholehearted Women Program
• Visit Shirin’s Website
• Follow Shirin on Instagram: @wholeheartecoaching
• Like Wholehearted Coaching on Facebook

Balanced Black Girl Partners:

• Skinny Dipped | Use the code BBG for 15% off your order at skinnydipped.com
• BLK+GRN | Use code BBG20 for 20% off at blkgrn.com
• Black Girl Sunscreen | Use code BBG20 for 20% off at blackgirlsunscreen.com
• Methodology | Use code BALANCEDBLACKGIRL30 for 30% off your first Methodology shipment
• Organifi | Use the code BBG for 15% off Organifi supplements

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.

• How to create your own definition of financial wellness.
• Initial steps you can take to build financial wellness.
• Strategies for eliminating debt.
• How to stick to a budget without feeling deprived.
• Wealth-building for Black women.
• Finding affordable ways to practice self-care. 

• Visit Tonya’s Website
• Follow Tonya on Instagram: @myfabfinance and @tonya.rapley
• Like My Fab Finance on Facebook
• Follow Tonya on Twitter: @myfabfinance
• Check out the My Fab Finance Blue Ribbon Club

• Check out BECU.org
• Learn more about BECU’s free Financial Health Check
• Learn more about BECU’s online budgeting app, Money Manager

• 5 Ways I Cut My Budget to Build Emergency Savings
• Money Management Tips for Side Hustlers
• Planning for a Summer Vacation: How to Achieve Travel Goals
• Adding Financial Wellness to Your Wellness Routine in the New Year: How to Set Realistic Financial Goals and Add Financial Wellness As A Key Pillar to Your Wellness Routine

Today, we’re talking to Shayla Varnado. Shayla is a serial entrepreneur, entertainer, side hustle queen and the founder of Black Girls Wine.

Black Girls Wine, affectionately known as BGW, is a lifestyle brand that celebrates Black girl magic by curating exclusive experiences for women who love wine. With over 11 chapters in 10+ cities, the brand is growing and the world is taking notice.

A decade of creating businesses has led Shayla to her passion for teaching women how to increase their income by monetizing their gifts with online + offline strategies that actually move their business forward. She is the author of 44 prayers for the Christian Entrepreneur. And she is the host of a weekly podcast called "The Business Besties" where she shares the real deal of what it takes to run a business.

In this episode, we talk about…

• The importance of creating community and experiences for Black women.
• The backstory of Black Girls Wine.
• Wine education tips for beginners.
• Knowing when to pivot in business.
• Favorite Black-owned wine companies. 

RESOURCES:

• Visit the Black Girls Wine Website: https://www.blackgirlswine.com/
• Join the Black Girls Wine Society: https://www.blackgirlswine.com/society
• Follow Black Girls Wine on Instagram: @blackgirlswine
• Like Black Girls Wine on Facebook
• McBride Sisters Wine: Black Girl Magic Rosé
• The Lotus and the Vines
• Divine Wineries
• Shoecrazy Wine

Balanced Black Girl Partners:

• This episode is sponsored by Skinny Dipped Almonds. Use the code “BBG” for 15% off your first order at skinnydipped.com. 
• Organifi | Use the code “BBG” for 15% off Organifi supplements at balancedblackgirl.com/organifi. 

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.

Today’s episode is a special one - it is the one year anniversary of Balanced Black Girl Podcast! To celebrate the first year of the show, we are diving into our favorite question: what does being a Balanced Black Girl mean to you? 

Host Les is sharing what being a Balanced Black Girl means to her, and we are revisiting some of the most powerful responses to this question from previous episodes of the show, including:

• Episode 11: Creating Your Own Lane with Falesha Johnson
• Episode 17: Buying Black and Living Green with Dr. Kristian Henderson
• Episode 18: Making Self-Care Accessible with Michelle White
• Episode 25: Creating a Foundation of Mindfulness with Nkenji Clarke
• Episode 36: Let Your Fears Make You Fierce with Koya Webb
• Episode 47: Healing from Burnout with Davia Roberts
• Honorable Mention: What being a Balanced Black Girl means to Michelle Obama (from our book club meeting with her in March 2019) - 

RESOURCES:

• Our Website: balancedblackgirl.com
• Follow us on Instagram: @balancedblackgirlpodcast
• Like Balanced Black Girl on Facebook
• Follow Balanced Black Girl Twitter: @balancedblkgirl

Balanced Black Girl Partners:

• BLK+GRN | Use code BBG20 for 20% off at blkgrn.com
• Black Girl Sunscreen | Use code BBG20 for 20% off at blackgirlsunscreen.com
• Methodology | Use code BALANCEDBLACKGIRL30 for 30% off your first Methodology shipment
• Organifi | Use code “BBG” for 15% off supplements at balancedblackgirl.com/organifi

This podcast is edited by Bex Carlos of Explain to Me Podcast. 

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.

Today’s guest is Jasmine RaShae, founder of Soulful Flow Yoga. Jasmine is a native of Baton Rouge, LA who currently resides in Seattle. She is a yogi, storyteller and a brand alchemist. 

Her platform is used to authentically connect with her following and cultivate a sense of community. She achieves this through a three-prong approach, the creation and practice of Soulful Flow Yoga, custom curated content on her lifestyle blog, “Do It For the Story" and brand storytelling for an array of clients, as the female founder of a boutique consulting agency, The J. RaShae Project.

In this episode, we talk about…

• Ways anyone can benefit from yoga. 
• Making yoga more accessible to communities of color and children.
• Why telling and sharing our stories is so important.
• Helpful tips for balancing self-care and still showing up for others. 

RESOURCES:

• Visit Jasmine’s website: www.jasminerashae.com
• Follow Jasmine on Instagram: @jasminerashae
• Follow Soulful Flow Yoga on Instagram: @soulfulflowyoga
• Take Jasmine’s Class (Seattle area)

Balanced Black Girl Partners:

• BLK+GRN | Use code BBG20 for 20% off at blkgrn.com
• Black Girl Sunscreen | Use code BBG20 for 20% off at blackgirlsunscreen.com
• Methodology | Use code BALANCEDBLACKGIRL30 for 30% off your first Methodology shipment
• Organifi | Use code BBG for 15% off supplements from Organifi. Go to balancedblackgirl.com/organifi

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.

Today’s guest is Adrienne Thomas. Adrienne is an unapologetically Black educator who hails from the city of Chicago. She is a passionate social advocate with a focus on Black liberation. 

While Adrienne is also a powerlifter and musician, her passion lies within classroom education, where her goal is to create inclusive curriculum that truly supports the lived experiences of our diverse students and children.

In this episode, we talk about…

• How the US school curriculum can be more inclusive. 
• Why it is so important for all students to learn from diverse curriculum.
• Tangible ways to support educators. 
• How inclusion has evolved in the powerlifting space. 

RESOURCES:

• Support Adrienne’s classroom library
• Follow Adrienne on Instagram: @adriennewhoo
• Episode 24: Elevating Marginalized Communities Through Fitness with Maria Rodriguez
• Organic Bath Co Body Butter
  

Favorite of the Week:

• Organic Bath Co Body Butter
  
  

Balanced Black Girl Partners:

• BLK+GRN all-natural products from Black artisans | Use code BBG20 for 20% off at blkgrn.com
• Black Girl Sunscreen | Use code BBG20 for 20% off at blackgirlsunscreen.com
• Methodology Prepped Meals | Use code BALANCEDBLACKGIRL30 for 30% off your first Methodology shipment
• Organifi | Use the code BBG for 15% off supplements from organifi.com

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.

Today, we’re talking to Kimjoy Long, esthetician at Spruce Apothecary in Seattle. Kimjoy specializes in sugar hair removal and offers high-quality holistic skincare and green beauty services. 

Through her training to become an esthetician, she realized many beauty and skincare treatments are not designed with the needs of women of color in mind. She strives to provide products and services that are safe for melanated skin. 

Kimjoy is a mother of three who is passionate about helping women, especially mothers, prioritize their own self-care. As an esthetician, she not only cares for clients’ skin concerns but strives to cultivate a loving safe space for them to thrive in.  

In this episode, we talk about…

• Why you should consider visiting an esthetician. 
• Unique skin care considerations for Black women and other women of color. 
• How the beauty education space overlooks the needs of those with melanated skin. 
• Creating space for self-care as a mother. 

RESOURCES:

• View Kimjoy’s services and book an appointment with her at Spruce Apothecary (Seattle area)
• Follow Kimjoy on Instagram: @lovesprucekimjoy
• Follow Spruce Apothecary on Instagram: @spruce.apothecary

Balanced Black Girl Partners:

• BLK+GRN | Use code BBG20 for 20% off at blkgrn.com
• Black Girl Sunscreen | Use code BBG20 for 20% off at blackgirlsunscreen.com
• Methodology | Use code BALANCEDBLACKGIRL30 for 30% off your first Methodology shipment

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.

Today’s guest is Davia Roberts.  As a certified yoga teacher and licensed mental health therapist, Davia uses her background to make mental health resources accessible. She is the voice and brains behind the AFFIRM podcast, a mental health and wellness podcast for women of color and founder of the wellness platform, Redefine Enough.

Now based in Washington, DC, Davia travels the country bringing mental health and wellness education to millennials and corporate professionals. Her mental health work has been featured on stages like SXSW and major publications such as Bustle, NaturallyCurly, and Mash.

She's using her expertise to help people get into therapy and teaching businesses how to use mental health education to erase burnout from the workplace.

In this episode, we talk about…

• Common misconceptions believed about therapy.
• Why talk therapy isn’t for everyone and other types of therapy to consider.
• Healing from workplace burnout.
• How companies and organizations can support the mental well-being of their employees. 

RESOURCES:

• Visit Davia’s Website: https://www.justdavia.com/
• Follow Davia on Instagram: @justdavia
• Follow Davia on Twitter: @justdavia
• Listen to Davia’s podcast, AFFIRM
• Psychology Today Therapist Directory
• Open Path Collective Therapist Directory
• Therapy for Black Girls Therapist Directory

Balanced Black Girl Partners:

• BLK+GRN | Use code BBG20 for 20% off at blkgrn.com
• Black Girl Sunscreen | Use code BBG20 for 20% off at blackgirlsunscreen.com
• Methodology | Use code BALANCEDBLACKGIRL30 for 30% off your first Methodology shipment

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.

Today, we’re talking to Klarke Foreman. Klarke is an energetic, God-fearing teen advocate, and businesswoman. The Houston-native is Founder and CEO of Kween to Queen, a mentoring organization for teen girls.

Additionally, she is the Chief Operating Officer of Pink Productions, a platform dedicated to providing opportunities for women worldwide. She is also the co-founder of Foundation First, a digital marketing production company that helps entrepreneurs build a solid business foundation. She’s been featured in Teen Vogue, 979 The Box, Fox 26 and more for her efforts.

In this episode, we talk about…

• What inspired her to create her mentoring organization Kween to Queen.
• The importance of role models for the next generation.
• Creating your own definition of what a “role model” is.
• Why queens have no size.

RESOURCES:

• Klarke’s Website
• Follow Klarke on Instagram: @kweenklarke
• Follow Kween to Queen on Instagram @kweentoqueen
• Follow Klarke Twitter: @kweenklarke
• Read Klarke’s feature in Teen Vogue

This episode is sponsored by Sound Craft Seltzer - the perfect drink for summer!

To unlock exclusive Balanced Black Girl content including weekly bonus episodes, support Balanced Black Girl on Patreon. 

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE. 

Today’s guest is Minda Harts, author of The Memo: What Women of Color Need to Know to Secure a Seat at the Table, which is out today.  

Minda is a well connected, sought after speaker and thought-leader, frequently speaking on topics of Advancing Women of Color, Leadership, Diversity, and Entrepreneurship. In 2018, Minda was named as one of the 25 Emerging Innovators by American Express. 

Minda is an assistant professor of public service of NYU’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service and the founder of The Memo LLC, a career development company for women of color. Minda was also chosen by General Assembly to serve as one of their Dream Mentors, alongside women like Cindy Gallop. Secure The Seat is her weekly career podcast for women of color. Minda is originally from Southern California and currently resides in New York City.

In this episode, we talk about…

• Minda’s most valuable career lessons.
• Why we need to talk about race in the workplace.
• How Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts can better us.
• Advice for those looking for upward mobility in their careers.

RESOURCES:

• Check out Minda’s new book, The Memo: What Women of Color Need to Know to Secure a Seat at the Table. 
• Follow Minda on Twitter @mindaharts
• Listen to Minda’s podcast, Secure the Seat

Today’s episode is sponsored by Sound Craft Seltzer, the drink of summer. 

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.

In today’s summer rewind episode, we’re revisiting this conversation with Dr. Kristian Henderson of BLK+GRN.

Dr. Kristian Henderson is a professor of public health, a natural lifestyle enthusiast, and the founder of BLK+GRN, an all-natural marketplace by all Black artisans. BLK+GRN curates products that are sold in categories like skincare, home, bath and body to meet the needs of wellness seekers who want to buy Black and live green.

In the U.S. black women buy nearly twice as many body care and beauty products, with nearly 75% of the products marketing to black women containing toxic ingredients that can have a negative impact on our health. Through the creation of BLK+GRN, Dr. Kristian is tackling this issue head-on. She is an unshakable optimist who is passionate about helping women cultivate a lifestyle that’s free of artificial ingredients, toxins, and harmful chemicals. She believes that doing so is the only way to foster true happiness.

In this episode, we dive into the importance of understanding what ingredients are in our body care products, and how doing so can have a profound impact on our health. 

She and her team are leading their community into a Toxic-Free 2019 when it comes to products, mindset, and lifestyle. We had an inspiring, insightful conversation that will have a positive takeaway for everyone. We’re so grateful for the opportunity to share her story and mission. 

In this episode, we talk about…

• How to make the switch to non-toxic products.
• Toxic ingredients we should avoid. 
• The importance of supporting Black-owned businesses.
• What inspired her to start BLK+GRN.

RESOURCES:

• Stay up to date on Dr. Kristian’s Recovery
• Send support to Dr. Kristian’s family
• BLK+GRN Website: www.blkgrn.com 
• Follow BLK+GRN on Instagram: @blkgrn
• Follow Dr. Kristian on Instagram: @drkristianh
• Follow Facebook: BLK+GRN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BLKandGRN/ 
• Follow BLK+GRN on Twitter: @blkgrn
• From the BLK+GRN Blog: The Black Girl’s Guide to Self Care

Use the code ‘BBG20’ for 20% off your BLK+GRN order!

To unlock weekly bonus episodes, support Balanced Black Girl on Patreon.

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.

Time to take it back to an earlier interview! In this rewind episode, we’re sharing the first-ever interview on Balanced Black Girl featuring Chrissy King. 

Chrissy King is a Milwaukee-based ISSA Certified Personal Trainer, lifestyle coach, fitness blogger, and truth-teller. While on her own fitness journey, Chrissy was introduced to strength training and powerlifting, which helped her build confidence and inner strength. Chrissy shows her clients that fat loss and weight management don’t have to be cumbersome or restrictive. She also encourages women to love their body in every stage, regardless of size or body fat percentage. 

In this episode, we talk about... 

• Ways the wellness community can be more inclusive and representative for all 
• True self-care that doesn’t feel like a commodity
• How to hold ourselves and each other accountable when we miss the mark with diversity and inclusion
• Why it is important for women to feel comfortable taking up space.

Resources:

• Visit Chrissy’s Website
• Follow Chrissy on Instagram @iamchrissyking
• “Is Fitness Only for Thin, White Women?” 
• “Words That Don’t Belong to Us: Why It’s Time to Say Goodbye to Using the World ‘Savage’”

This episode is sponsored by Sound Craft Seltzer - the perfect drink for summer!

To unlock exclusive Balanced Black Girl content including weekly bonus episodes, support Balanced Black Girl on Patreon. 

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.

Today, we’re having an open, honest conversation with Shan Boodram about sex, dating, and relationships. 

Shan Boodram is a sexologist, popular YouTube personality, intimacy expert and author of The Game of Desire. Published by HarperCollins, The Game of Desire will teach you the self and social awareness to make dating your new favorite hobby. Shan analyzed the competitive dating landscape and the common pitfalls women face in the pursuit of passion, then developed a five-phase workshop to help down-on-love daters achieve romantic success. She has appeared on The View, MTV, E!, The Rachael Ray Show, The Steve Harvey Show, and CNN Radio, and has been featured in the New York Times, Forbes, and Time magazine. 

We talked about how women can have more ownership over their dating lives instead of leaving it up to chance or in the hands of others.

In this episode, we talk about…

• How women can be in the driver’s seat of their dating lives and romantic relationships. 
• The importance of understanding your attachment style.
• How we can all become relationship experts.
• Creating your ideal relationship related to your commitment style. 

RESOURCES:

• Get Shan’s new book, The Game of Desire
• Check out Shan’s websites: shanboodram.com and thegameofdesire.com
• Follow Shan Instagram @shanboody
• Watch “The Disappointments of Dating as a Black Woman” on YouTube
• Find Your Attachment Style
• Find Your Commitment Style

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

Want to unlock weekly bonus episodes? Support Balanced Black Girl as a patron on Patreon. 

PS: If you really want to take your year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.

In this episode, we’re talking to Monique Melton, host of the Shine Brighter Together Podcast. Monique is an anti-racism educator, published author, and international speaker. She is also the founder of Shine Brighter Together, which is a community dedicated to healthy relationships & diverse unity.

She travels the world speaking at conferences and events on topics related to anti-racism, personal growth, diversity, and relationships. She’s been published in magazines, featured in blogs and podcasts and has touched the lives of people all over the world.

She is a natural big-bold dreamer and a deeply rooted woman of faith. She is a proud Navy wife to her high-school sweetheart and she is a loving mother to two little ones. She has a BA in social science with an emphasis in sociology & psychology and two years of graduate school education in Clinical Counseling from Johns Hopkins University.

In this episode, we talk about…

• Why being “not racist” isn’t enough.
• Practicing self-care after performing intense emotional labor.
• Understanding internalized racism.
• Dismantling problematic beliefs and behaviors.

RESOURCES:

• Register for the SHINE Seattle Class
• Monique’s 10-Week Anti-Racism Course, Unity Over Comfort
• Follow Monique on Instagram @moemotivate
• Listen to the Shine Brighter Together Podcast

Support Balanced Black Girl on Patreon for exclusive episodes and content. 

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.

Today’s guest is Kristin Iris. Kristin is a Film Producer, Speaker, and Coach who helps Black creatives cultivate liberation, joy, and power through deep personal work and Black creative expression. Her work centers on helping Black folx dismantle their internalized oppressions and stand in their power she works in particular on healing “The Oreo Complex” or the idea that an individual isn’t Black enough. 

As a creative she shares powerful messages through her writing (currently working on a novel and a screenplay), videos, and her podcast Melanated Rising which is meant to inspire, uplift, and ignite Black creatives all while changing the narratives around Blackness. She is also a Producer at MegaMind Media, a Black-owned feature film and television production company.

Her mission, whether in her art, coaching, or speaking, is to challenge and break down oppressive power dynamics and systems by inspiring and igniting Black folx into their greatness and their capacity to make great change in the world. 

We had a great conversation about the unique challenges Black entrepreneurs and creatives face, and how we can unlock our creative power to achieve success. 

In this episode, we talk about…

• How everyone can unlock their creativity.
• Being a Black woman in the online coaching space. 
• Unique obstacles Black entrepreneurs and creatives face. 
• Understanding and dismantling The Oreo Complex.

RESOURCES:

• Visit Kristin’s Website: www.kristiniris.com
• Listen to Kristin’s Podcast Melanated Rising.
• Check out Kristin’s course, From Oreo to Empowered.
• Follow Kristin on Instagram: @kristiniris

Want to support Balanced Black Girl? Join our community on Patreon to unlock Feel Good Friday episodes and bonus content. 

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.

Today, we’re talking about sexual health, effective sexual education for Black and brown students, and how to create our own individual definitions of what it means to be sex-positive with Michelle Hope. Michelle is a dedicated Sexologist, educator and activist with a Master’s degree in Human Development and extensive post graduate training in sexuality. As a veteran speaker, Michelle has over 15 years of experience delivering impactful informative lectures and trainings across the nation. She believes as though her work, in marginalized urban communities, has provided her with deep insight and comprehension of the holistic implications of sexuality on one’s life.

Michelle has dedicated her career to understanding and communicating to the masses the complex intersections of various social identities: race, class, gender, and sexual orientation, through a Reproductive Justice lens. She has taken deliberate actions in exploring and developing a unique language to speak to communities of color. Michelle feels as though her experience in working with marginalized urban communities, and understanding holistic sexuality, has shaped her perspectives on the direct connections between sexuality and generational poverty in those communities. 

Her passion and commitment to the work has provided her with a unique style that has the ability to captivate and educate across various populations; with a proven track record of developing, implementing and evaluating dynamic and creative programming for individuals.

In this episode, we talk about…

• The implications of how our community views, talks about, and teaches about sex.
• How being overly sexualized and fetishized impacts Black women.
• Understanding where feelings of shame around sex and sexuality come from.
• How consent and pleasure are deeply intertwined.
• Helping individuals define what being sex positive means for them. 

RESOURCES:

• Michelle’s Website: http://www.mhsexpert.com/
• Follow Michelle on Instagram: @mhsexpert
• Follow Michelle on Twitter: @mhsexpert

PARTNERS:

• Get 20% off your order on BLK+GRN using the code 'BBG20'
• Get 20% off Black Girl Sunscreen using the code 'BBG20'
• Get 30% off Methodology Meals delivered to your doorstep using the code 'BALANCEDBLACKGIRL30'

Support Balanced Black Girl on Patreon for weekly bonus episodes. 

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.

Today, we’re talking to Moji Igun. Moji is the founder of Blue Daisi Consulting, a sustainability consulting company that helps small businesses reduce waste and implement sustainable practices.

After pursuing a career in engineering and realizing it wasn’t the right fit, Moji channeled her passion for sustainability to create meaningful work for herself.

Climate change is creating a state of crisis that impacts us all. Moji is sharing her expertise in low-waste living and shares practical advice we can all take to make our planet a better place.

In this episode, we talk about…

• Simple ways to adopt a lower-waste lifestyle.
• How sustainable practices are rooted in the Black community.
• Using your interests and skillset to create the job of your dreams.
• How to create a foundation of sustainability when starting a new business.

RESOURCES:

• Blue Daisi Consulting
• Follow Moji on Instagram: @hippiemoji
• Follow Blue Daisi on Instagram: @bluedaisiconsulting 
• Support Balanced Black Girl on Patreon to unlock weekly bonus podcast episodes.

This episode is sponsored by Sound Craft Seltzer. Fermented on unprocessed, whole, and organic ingredients, Sound Craft Seltzer Co. elevates hard seltzer to another level. 

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.

Today’s episode is a special one - it is from our first LIVE recording of Balanced Black Girl Podcast. We hosted our first live podcast at The Collective in Seattle and had an open, honest conversation about the importance of community, and how we can build more authentic connections and relationships. Get to know our amazing guests.

Michaela Ayers is the founder of Nourish, a social impact organization that drives cultural change through human connection and experiential learning. Through the lens of social justice, she designs meaningful moments that embrace diversity and foster a culture of belonging.

Trina Baker co-leads the Seattle chapter of GirlTrek, the largest public health nonprofit for African-American women and girls in the United States. With nearly 100,000 neighborhood walkers nationwide, GirlTrek encourages women to use walking as a practical first step to inspire healthy living, families, and communities.

Falesha Johnson is the founder of Felite Performance where she works as a speed and agility coach for young athletes. She is also a seasoned public speaker, and the Associate Director of Development at the Michael G. Foster School of Business at the University of Washington.

In this episode, we talk about…

• The need for consistent sisterhood, and why it is so important for our health.
• How to take online connections offline.
• Finding community when you move to a new city.
• Overcoming feelings of competition with other women.
• Connecting with people from different cultural backgrounds.

RESOURCES:

• Learn more about The Collective Seattle.
• Connect with GirlTrek in your city.
• Check out future events with Nourish.
• Support Balanced Black Girl Podcast on Patreon for exclusive podcast episodes.

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.

In today’s episode, Les is flying solo answering all of your burning questions about fitness, wellness, entrepreneurship, mental health, and more. The tea is hot today.

In this episode, we talk about…

• Current favorite workouts and why.
• Tips for navigating post-grad life, and finding your purpose.
• Staying organized when it comes to wellness, fitness, and life.
• Future Balanced Black Girl events and meet-ups.
• ...and more

SUPPORT THE SHOW - Become a Balanced Black Girl patron on Patreon to unlock Feel Good Friday episodes and exclusive podcast content. https://www.patreon.com/balancedblackgirl

LIVE PODCAST - Join us on June 21st for the first live recording of Balanced Black Girl in Seattle. RSVP here - only a few tickets left! 

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.

In today’s rewind episode, Balanced Black Girl host Lestraundra is in the guest chair. This interview is originally from Let’s Talk About It with Taylor Nolan. Learn more about the why behind Balanced Black Girl.

In this episode, we talk about…

• Les’ origin story as a Black girl in the Pacific Northwest.
• Early experiences with passive racism and going to therapy.
• How Balanced Black Girl got started.
• Going natural, and the impact of curly hair.

RESOURCES:

• Balanced Black Girl Website
• Support Balanced Black Girl on Patreon for weekly “Feel Good Friday” episodes.
• Listen to Taylor’s podcast, Let’s Talk About It.
• Join us on June 21 for the first Balanced Black Girl Live Podcast in Seattle.

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.

Today’s guest is Koya Webb. Koya is an internationally recognized yoga teacher, personal trainer, holistic health and wellness coach, author, motivational speaker, and professional fitness model revolutionizing the holistic living landscape.

She is the creator of Get Loved Up, a platform that encourages people to “love yourself, love others, and love the planet” by practicing environmental sustainability, plant-based nutrition, and mindful movement.

Koya is gearing up for the release of her latest book, Let Your Fears Make You Fierce: How to Turn Obstacles Into Seeds for Growth, an insightful guide sharing the ways she has lived in fear and the tools she's used to get herself to a more confident and fierce place, moving through life in alignment with everything she believes in.

We had an inspiring conversation about overcoming obstacles and finding triumph over limiting beliefs. Get ready for some serious inspiration.

In this episode, we talk about…

• Turning obstacles into inspiration.
• Listening to your body as an important form of self-care.
• The importance of diverse yoga training programs.
• Why love should play a major role in your wellness routine.

RESOURCES:

• Get Koya’s new book, Let Your Fears Make You Fierce: How to Turn Obstacles Into Seeds for Growth
• Sign Up for Koya’s Get Loved Up Yoga Teacher Training
• Follow Koya on Instagram: @koyawebb
• Follow Get Loved Up on Instagram: @getlovedup

Join us for our first live show in Seattle on June 21st all about creating community. RSVP here.

This episode is sponsored by Black Girl Sunscreen. Finally, a sunscreen designed to protect your melanin without the white residue. Use the code “BBG20” for 20% off your order at blackgirlsunscreen.com, or grab Black Girl Sunscreen at your local Target!

Like the show? Want to see it thrive? Support Balanced Black Girl Podcast on Patreon for exclusive benefits and perks!

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.

In today’s Feel Good Friday episode, we’re talking about incorporating rest and recovery into your fitness routine. While moving your body is important, in order to make progress, the magic is in the rest. If you don’t adequately recover from your workouts, your body isn’t able to repair and become stronger. This episode breaks down what signs to look for to help you decide when to recover, and how to determine when it’s time to take your fitness routine down a notch.

RESOURCES:

• To hear future Feel Good Friday episodes, support Balanced Black Girl Podcast on Patreon.

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.

Today’s episode is a solo one, with host Lestraundra doing a recap of the April/May 2019 Balanced Black Girl Book Club pick, Eloquent Rage: A Black Feminist Discovers Her Superpower. Released in 2018, Eloquent Rage is authored by Brittney Cooper, Associate Professor of Women’s and Gender Studies and Africana Studies at Rutgers University and co-founder of the Crunk Feminist Collective.

The book is considered a Black feminist’s manifesto, and challenges the idea of Black women’s anger being a detriment to the nation. In fact, in the book it is suggested that Black women’s anger can be a source of power that can help us all.

In mid-May, several members of the Balanced Black Girl Book Club met in Seattle to discuss the book, and it was a lively, powerful discussion. Today’s episode serves as a discussion point for anyone who wants to continue the conversation, or who wasn’t able to meet IRL.

RESOURCES:

• Get your copy of Eloquent Rage HERE
• Sign up for book club updates: https://www.balancedblackgirl.com/book-club/
• Get your copy of our June/July book club pick Queenie HERE

This episode was sponsored by Sound Craft Seltzer Co. Sound Craft Seltzer Co. elevates hard seltzer to another level. Find your local Sound Craft Seltzer Co. retailer here.

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.

In today’s Feel Good Friday episode, we are talking about getting back into a workout groove after taking time off. Whether you took a step back from fitness because of an injury, lack of time, or you just weren’t feeling it, you can definitely get back at it. Here are five tips to keep in mind (including a mindset tip that is essential).

These tips were inspired by my own fitness journey. After taking the first few months of the year off from consistently exercising, I recently got back in the swing of things using the five steps outlined in the episode.

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.

Kayla A. Greaves is an award-winning journalist who currently works at Bustle as the fashion & beauty features editor. She was previously a lifestyle editor at The Huffington Post, and her work has appeared in BuzzFeed, Teen Vogue, ELLE, Blavity, FASHION magazine, Upscale magazine, S/magazine and more.

Using an intersectional and inclusive approach, her pieces focus mainly on women's issues, culture, beauty, and fashion. Kayla has interviewed the likes of Academy award-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o, Naomi Campbell, TIME 100’s Most Influential People and women’s rights activist Jaha Dukureh, Kelly Rowland, and Tess Holliday among others.

Earlier this year, Kayla created a series for Bustle called “Good Hair” which explored the joys of having 4C hair. Though the natural hair movement is alive and well, it hasn’t necessarily been inclusive of all textures. We discuss hair texture discrimination in the natural hair space and celebrate the beauty of 4C hair.

In this episode, we talk about…

• The importance of representation in journalism and media.
• Kayla’s natural hair journey.
• Why representation and celebration of 4C hair is so important.
• The history of hair texture discrimination.

This episode is sponsored by Black Girl Sunscreen. Finally, a sunscreen designed to protect your melanin without the white residue. Use the code “BBG20” for 20% off your order at blackgirlsunscreen.com.

RESOURCES:

• Kayla’s Good Hair series on Bustle
• From Bustle: How Black People Came to Believe 4C Hair Was A “Bad Hair" Texture
• Follow Kayla on Instagram: @KaylaAGreaves
• Visit Kayla’s website
• Follow Kayla on Twitter: @KaylaAGreaves

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.

Today’s Feel Good Friday episode is about a topic nearly everyone has struggled with at some point: making friends as an adult.

When you’re a kid, making friends is all about proximity, but as you get older it gets a little more complicated. After you finish school and are no longer surrounded by people your same age, or from your same area, how’s a Balanced Black Girl supposed to make friends? Let’s discuss some tips to help you meet an amazing squad.

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.

Today, we’re talking to Harmony Tamaalevea, the founder of The Literacy Lounge. The Literacy Lounge is a monthly subscription box that highlights Black literature while promoting reading as a means to a less stressful life.

Getting diagnosed with Lupus at age 18 shaped her outlook on life, and helped her shift her perspective on all things health and wellness. This episode will inspire you to see self-care in a whole new way.

In this episode, we talk about…

• The importance of promoting and celebrating Black literature.
• How an autoimmune diagnosis inspired The Literacy Lounge.
• Why reading is so important for self-care.
• How to make your business idea come to life (even if you’re young!)

RESOURCES:

• The Literacy Lounge Website
• Follow The Literacy Lounge on Instagram: @literacyloungebox
• Like The Literacy Lounge on Facebook
• Follow The Literacy Lounge on Twitter: @litloungebox
• Join the Balanced Black Girl Book Club

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.

In this Feel Good Friday episode, we’re talking about a hot topic: side hustles. The internet is constantly telling us we all need to start side hustles and seek entrepreneurship - but do we really? Entrepreneurship isn’t a glamorous path to take, especially while you are working another job to pay the bills. If you’re on the fence about side hustling, or have a side hustle and want to take it to the next level, this episode is for you.

In this episode, we talk about…

• How to know if side hustling is or isn’t for you.
• Time management tips for side hustlers.
• Delegation tips for side hustlers.
• How to make time for self-care while balancing multiple hustles.

RESOURCES:

• Follow Balanced Black Girl Podcast on Instagram: @balancedblackgirlpodcast
• Like Balanced Black Girl on Facebook
• Follow Balanced Black Girl onTwitter: @balancedblkgirl

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

Today, we’re talking to Mary Vin Rose, host, producer, and actor based in New York City. Mary is best known for her limited talk cable series Healthy Living in The Bronx, where she highlights people and organizations that are helping Bronx residents live a healthier life. Mary is a self-love and mental health advocate who is dedicated to promoting wellness through art and media.

We had an inspiring conversation about the power of promoting healthy living in marginalized communities, practicing self-care when we need it the most, and overcoming the obstacles life throws our way.

In this episode, we talk about…

• How Healthy Living in the Bronx started.
• The intersection of wellness and art.
• The importance of representation in wellness and media.
• Self-care for introverts.

RESOURCES:

• Visit Mary’s Website
• Follow Healthy Living in the Bronx on Instagram: @healthylivinginthebronx
• Watch Healthy Living in the Bronx

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.

In this week’s Feel Good Friday episode, we’re talking about letting go of things that no longer serve you. For many of us, the main thing holding us back is our mindset, and the limiting beliefs we repeat to ourselves over and over.

Limiting beliefs are thoughts or stories we repeat to ourselves that constrain or hold us back in some way. Today we’re breaking down what five limiting beliefs you can let go of to live your best life.

RESOURCES:

• Listen to Feel Good Friday #12: You Are Enough
• Visit our website, balancedblackgirl.com.
• Join the Balanced Black Girl Book Club.
• Like Balanced Black Girl on Facebook.
• Follow Balanced Black Girl on Twitter.

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.

Conversations around mental health are always a top request, and this episode delivers. Today, we’re talking to Alicia Tetteh. Alicia is a mental health therapist practicing in Charlotte who sincerely believes in the power of change. She completed her education at Virginia Commonwealth and Howard University.

She is a new mom of twins and loves learning how to best nurture them. Alicia owns Building Endurance, where her focus is decreasing the stigma around mental health and recently created a mental health mobile application, ATTUNE. Additionally, Alicia teaches social work at the collegiate level and co-hosts a podcast with a friend and colleague, 2 Elephants in the Room. She loves laughing, silence, books and anything outdoors.

In this episode, we talk about…

• How to decide if therapy is right for you.
• What strengths-based therapy entails.
• How to overcome common barriers to entry when it comes to seeking mental health services.
• How to find the right therapist.

RESOURCES:

• Check out Alicia’s app, Attune: https://getattune.com/en/
• Follow Alicia on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_aliciaoctavia
• Follow Building Endurance on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buildingendurancepllc
• Listen to Alicia’s Podcast, 2 Elephants in the Room

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.

In today’s Feel Good Friday episode, we are talking about the importance of alone time. Spending time alone can seem intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. In fact, having time to yourself can be one of the best things you can do for your health. Whether you have a packed calendar and never have a moment to yourself, you intentionally fill your time to avoid spending time alone, or if you’re in a season of having a lot of alone time and you’re ready for a change, this episode has useful insight to help you make the most of your time to yourself.

RESOURCES:

• Balanced Black Girl Website
• Follow Balanced Black Girl Podcast on Instagram @balancedblackgirlpodcast
• Follow Les on Instagram @balancedles
• Like Balanced Black Girl on Facebook
• Follow Balanced Black Girl on Twitter @balancedblkgirl

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.

Today, we’re talking to Wendy Lopez and Jessica Jones, Registered Dietitians, Certified Diabetes Educators, and the creators of Food Heaven Made Easy.

Both women transitioned into careers in nutrition after working in other fields, and launched Food Heaven Made Easy in 2011 to share their passion for nutrition and healthy eating with others. With their podcast, nutrition programs, and recipes, Wendy and Jess want to show others that healthy eating can be delicious, easy, and cost-effective without feeling restrictive.

Wendy and Jess are also fellow podcasters. They host the Food Heaven Made Easy Podcast, a show dedicated to sharing applicable lifestyle changes to help improve your health. Tune in for new episodes every Wednesday.

In this episode, we talk about…

• What inspired them to transition to nutrition after pursuing careers in other fields.
• Simple tips to help you improve your eating habits if you don’t know where to start.
• Meal prep hacks that won’t take over your whole Sunday.
• The importance of representation in nutrition.

RESOURCES:

• Food Heaven Made Easy Website
• Follow Food Heaven Made Easy on Instagram: @foodheavenshow
• Like Food Heaven Made Easy on Facebook
• Follow Food Heaven Made Easy on Twitter: @foodheavenshow

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.

This week, Beyoncé’s Netflix documentary Homecoming debuted, and we have to talk about it. The film was inspiration level 100, and provided some amazing takeaways. Homecoming gave us the boost we needed to reinvigorate our goals, and provided the energy to carry us through the rest of 2019.

RESOURCES:

• Balanced Black Girl Website
• Follow Balanced Black Girl Podcast on Instagram @balancedblackgirlpodcast
• Follow Les on Instagram @balancedles
• Like Balanced Black Girl on Facebook
• Follow Balanced Black Girl on Twitter @balancedblkgirl

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.

Today, we’re talking to Clarissa Rodriguez, founder of She Rocks at College. Clarissa is a college study skills expert, Part-time Labor and Delivery Nurse and proud AfroLatina who helps college women earn better grades and minimize the stress and overwhelm that comes with being a busy, working college student.

Clarissa is a first generation Dominican-American and was a first generation college student who started her schooling with dreams of working in medicine. After her college career got off to a discouraging start that made her question whether she could make it in the medical field, Clarissa dedicated herself to learning valuable study techniques and strategies that often aren’t taught to students from marginalized backgrounds. In addition to balancing her nursing career, she teaches women how to understand and unleash their brilliance in the classroom and beyond.

We had an insightful, inspiring conversation about the reality of being a first-generation college student, and how nontraditional students can thrive.

In this episode, we talk about…

• Life as a first-generation college student and first-generation American.
• Balancing dual identities as an AfroLatina.
• How to succeed in higher education as a nontraditional student.
• The importance of representation in the medical field.

RESOURCES:

• Clarissa’s Website: http://sherocksatcollege.com/
• Follow Clarissa on Instagram: @sherocksatcollege
• Follow Clarissa on Facebook
• Subscribe to Clarissa’s YouTube Channel

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.

Feeling like a Burned-Out Black Girl instead of a Balanced Black Girl these days? You aren’t alone. Burnout is very real, and when you’re dealing with prolonged stress from your career, family obligations, and relationships while also experiencing microaggressions and adversity, eventually something has to give. In this Feel Good Friday episode, we are discussing ways to navigate and avoid burnout.

RESOURCES:

• From Buzzfeed: This Is What Black Burnout Feels Like
• Like Balanced Black Girl on Facebook
• Follow Balanced Black Girl on Twitter: @balancedblkgirl

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.

Today, we’re talking to Sage Ke’alohilani Quiamno. Sage is the co-founder of Future for Us, a company dedicated to accelerating the advancement of women of color through community, culture and career development. Sage has been mentioned in Forbes, The Seattle Times and more. She is a passionate pay equity advocate and diversity, equity and inclusion champion. She has provided over 4,000+ women with salary negotiation tools and resources they need to advocate for themselves at work.

Sage has spoken at the Women’s March, Hired, Microsoft, Starbucks, and more.

Her drive and enthusiasm to fight for pay equity, especially for women of color, has launched her to the forefront of the women’s rights movement and she continues to advocate for the advancement for women in the workplace.

We have a candid conversation about the experiences women of color face in the workplace, and how we can make career advancement work for us.

In this episode, we talk about…

• The challenges women of color face in the workforce.
• How women of color can channel their ambition to create more opportunities.
• Ways women of color can make “leaning in” work for us.
• Advice for women of color who feel isolated or unsupported in their place of work.
• The importance of seeking sponsorship and mentorship for career advancement.

RESOURCES:

• Future for Us Website
• Follow Future for Us on Instagram: @futureforus.now
• Follow Sage on Instagram: @sageq
• Like Future for Us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/futureforus.now
• Follow Future for Us Twitter: @futurefor_us
• Register for the Future for Us Assembly on April 27

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.

Today’s Feel Good Friday episode is all about leaning into discomfort and giving much-needed advice to your younger self. Les shares what advice she would give her younger (teenage and early 20’s) self, what advice she still needs to hear, and asks you to share what advice you would give your younger self and why.

RESOURCES:

• Balanced Black Girl Website
• Follow Balanced Black Girl Podcast on Instagram: @balancedblackgirlpodcast 
• Like Balanced Black Girl on Facebook
• Follow Balanced Black Girl on Twitter: @balancedblkgirl 
• Subscribe to the Balanced Black Girl Newsletter

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

Today, we’re talking to Irie Love. Irie is a talented singer, fitness Instructor, activist, child mentor and empowerment coach. Irie is new to Seattle, and determined to use different platforms to empower women and youth worldwide through her love of music, health and wellness.

Irie started her music career in 1999, and spent nearly two decades working in the entertainment industry. After a series of life-changing events in 2017, she fell in love with cycling and transitioned to a career in wellness.

This episode will leave you feeling inspired and ready to take on any transitions you may be going through in your life.

In this episode we talk about...

• Navigating major career transitions.
• The power and importance of strong friendships and community.
• Making manifestation accessible.
• How to thrive when life doesn’t go according to plan.

RESOURCES:

• Irie’s Website: https://www.thisisirielove.com/
• Follow Instagram: @thisisirielove
• Take Irie’s class at BurnCycle (Seattle)
• Join the Balanced Black Girl Book Club https://www.balancedblackgirl.com/book-club/

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.

You have probably seen memes, quotes, graphics, and merch all over the internet the past few years with the phrase “I am enough.” While we have all liked, shared, and retweeted it, when will we start believing we are in fact, “enough?” Furthermore, what does being “enough” mean?

In this Feel Good Friday episode of Balanced Black Girl Podcast, we are tackling the idea of being enough, and are discussing how to actually start believing it. Because you are enough already.

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.

Today, we’re talking to Briana Owens, founder of Spiked Spin. Briana Owens is a Health and wellness Influencer, entrepreneur and empowerment coach committed to improving the negative stigma surrounding generational health and wellness in minority communities.  

Briana wanted to create an experience specifically with women of color in mind, while still attracting a diverse crowd. In that vein, Spiked Spin was created.

In an industry where boutique fitness feels exclusive or is seen as a luxury, Spiked Spin creates an inclusive full-body experience where people of all backgrounds feel welcomed, served, and empowered.

In this episode, we talk about…

• The Spiked Spin origin story.
• Making boutique fitness feel more welcoming, inclusive, and accessible.
• The significance of representation in the boutique fitness space.
• Building an unapologetically diverse business.

Resources:

• Spiked Spin Website: http://www.spikedspin.com/
• Follow Spiked Spin on Instagram: @spikedspin
• Follow Briana on Instagram: @bri.monee
• Like Spiked Spin on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SpikedSpin/
• Follow Spiked Spin on Twitter: https://twitter.com/spikedspin

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.

In today’s Feel Good Friday episode, we are diving into the importance of self-talk. It can be so tempting to fall down the rabbit hole of negative self-talk. But often times, the language we use to speak to ourselves is far more harsh, and less compassionate than what we would ever say to anyone else.

We’re going to dive into why positive self-talk is so important, how to decode and understand the negative self-talk we frequently engage in and how to engage in positive self-talk (without feeling cheesy).

RESOURCES:

• 10 Affirmations to Guide Your Glow Up

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.

Today, we’re talking to Nkenji Clarke, a Bronx, New York native pursuing her calling in the helping field of Counseling.

An HBCU graduate, from Spelman College, it was there that she fully embraced her purpose and connected it to her passion of working with youth and women in Black communities. She is committed to service and understands the importance of eradicating mental health stigma in the Black community. She pursued her graduate degree in Counselor Education (M.Ed) and is now a Nationally Certified Counselor (N.C.C) with a Professional School Counseling certification.

In the present moment, her purpose has her working with middle school scholars in New York City, where she works with them to learn mindfulness tools and increase their Self-awareness identity. She promotes the importance of Self-care through the 8 dimensions of wellness in both her personal and professional life. She is working toward creating more safe spaces for Brown and Black youth and women through education.

In this episode, we talk about…

• Working with youth to change the stigma of mental health in Black and brown communities.
• Mindfulness tools and techniques for Black and brown women and youth.
• Creating safe spaces for Black and brown women and youth.
• How mental health conditions are displayed differently for Black youth and young adults.
• The importance of self-care through the 8 dimensions of wellness.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Follow Nkenji on Twitter: @kenjikahmali
• Follow Nkenji on Instagram: @__kenjikahmali
• Test Used to Diagnose Depression May Not Work on Black People
• Get your Balanced Black Girl Mug: www.balancedblackgirl.com/shop
• Subscribe to the Balanced Black Girl Newsletter: www.balancedblackgirl.com/subscribe

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your new year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.

In today’s Feel Good Friday episode we’re talking all about therapy. Have you been curious about going to therapy but aren’t sure if you need it? Unsure how to find a good therapist? Don’t know what questions to ask when talking to potential therapists? We’re breaking down all of those points to help you make an informed decision to determine if therapy is right for you.

RESOURCES:

• Psychology Today Therapist Directory
• Therapy for Black Girls Therapist Directory
• Attune App - Find a Therapist Near You
• Affordable online therapy platforms: Better Help and Talk Space

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.

Today, we’re talking to Maria Rodriguez, founder of Fear Her Fight Athletics, a company that reinforces the lense of intersectional feminism in the strength space. Maria is a competitive powerlifter and a strength and conditioning coach based in Tacoma Washington.

She coaches individuals remotely on a sliding scale and personal trains all levels. She aims to make training more accessible for the LGBTQ+ community at her gym and offers an inclusive space on Friday nights to lift. Her work is deeply rooted in her community and uses her skills to elevate access to wellness for those around her.

On June 1-2 2019, Maria is hosting the second annual Womxns Strength Summit. The Womxns Strength Summit is a weekend where we can explore the monumental power of what it means to be strong. Register for the Womxns Strength Summit here. 

In this episode, we talk about…

• Making the strength space inclusive, safe, and accessible for all womxn.
• Creating opportunities for marginalized communities.
• Facing discrimination as a WOC yoga instructor.
• Building confidence and mental toughness from fitness.

RESOURCES:

• Womxns Strength Summit: https://wss2019.com/
• Fear Her Fight Athletics: https://www.fearherfight.com/
• Follow Fear Her Fight on Instagram: @fearherfightathletics 
• Follow Maria on Instagram: @marialiftstacoma 
• Follow Fear Her Fight Athletics on Facebook 
• Email Maria at hello@fearherfight.com

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your new year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.

Happy Feel Good Friday! Today’s episode is tackling an important topic - body image. At some point, we have all been impacted by our sense of body image - good or bad. But in this episode we’re talking about the standards for body image in our society, questioning their power, and figuring out where these standards do or don’t align with our personal values.

Get ready to start thinking of body image in a totally different way.

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.

In today’s episode, we’re sitting down with Milan Durham, founder of Cultured Kombucha.

With a background in architecture and a love of wellness, Milan built Cultured Kombucha. She created Cultured Kombucha not only because she is a kombucha lover, but because she also wants to tackle barriers to wellness including representation and access to healthy products.

Cultured Kombucha is really the story of one woman looking to affect positive change in minority communities through driving awareness to internal health and wellness. Milan strives to make the health and wellness scene in the District more diverse one fizzy bottle at a time.

In this episode, we talk about…

• Introducing kombucha to new communities.
• Gateways to make wellness more accessible.
• Running an unapologetically black business.
• Self-care for entrepreneurs, and how to avoid entrepreneur burnout.

RESOURCES:

• Visit Cultured Kombucha’s Website
• Follow Cultured Kombucha on Instagram: @theculturedkombucha 
• Like Cultured Kombucha on Facebook: @theculturedkombucha 
• Subscribe to the Cultured Kombucha Newsletter
• Where to find Cultured Kombucha if you’re in DC

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

Subscribe to the Balanced Black Girl newsletter and get your free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.

It’s Feel Good Friday, and today we’re tackling imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is the feeling of self-doubt about one’s accomplishments and abilities, and a fear of being exposed as a “fraud.”

Imposter syndrome is common for a lot of people - and in this episode, we are talking about simple ways you can deal with imposter syndrome so it doesn’t get the best of you or stop you from living your full potential.

In this episode, we talk about…

• Common places imposter syndrome may show up in your life.
• Tools for dealing with imposter syndrome.
• Mindset shifts to prevent imposter syndrome from getting in your way.

RESOURCES:

Join the Balanced Black Girl community for relatable self-care and wellness tips in your inbox every Tuesday: https://www.balancedblackgirl.com/subscribe

Episode 22: Mind, Body, and Soul Care with Shanna Tyler: https://www.balancedblackgirl.com/ep-22-mind-body-soul-care/

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

Our guest today is Shanna Tyler. Shanna Tyler is a life + biz coach for entrepreneurial women and podcast host of The Self Soul Sport Podcast.  Based in New York City, she loves connecting with fellow girlbosses and owning the concrete jungle. Shanna believes that you can do it and have it all -- from pursuing a life of passion, cultivating a supportive network, and making money doing what you love!

In 2016, she launched Shanna Tyler blog with categories like yoga, mental health, and lifestyle. It’s led to many amazing collaborations with big names like Blink Fitness and SELF Magazine.  Recently, Shanna launched her first e-book, the Get It Done E-Book - a guide with productivity hacks, tips, girlboss insights, and more.

In this episode, we talk about…

• Shanna’s journey with major depressive disorder.
• Mindset tips to help you boost your productivity.
• How to overcome imposter syndrome.
• Shanna’s experience as a black woman yoga teacher in New York City, and an open discussion about diversity in fitness clientele.
• Creating self-love pockets throughout your day.

Resources:

• Shanna’s Website
• Shanna’s E-Book, the Get It Done E-Book 
• Shanna’s Group Coaching Program - The Get it Done Program 
• Follow Shanna on Instagram: @shannatyler_ and @selfsoulsportpodcast
• Listen to Shanna’s Podcast, Self Soul Sport
• Shanna Interviewing Lestraundra on Self Soul Sport

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your new year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.

In this Feel Good Friday episode, we're getting real with ourselves about the loads and burdens we carry in everyday life and how they impact us. What are you carrying with you each day? How is it impacting you? Let's create a safe space to talk about it.

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your new year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.

Today we’re joined by Sonja Herbert. Sonja lives in New York where she is a Pilates instructor, writer, speaker, competitive powerlifter and a former social worker. She is the founder of Commando Fitness Collective and the Black Girl Pilates community on Instagram and Facebook.

Sonja is committed to Black female representation in fitness, as well as improving the health and wellness in the Black community through writing, speaking and curating health and wellness events for Black women. She is comprehensively certified in Pilates, and also holds TRX Level 1 and Kettlebell Concepts Level 1 certifications.

In this episode, we talk about…

• The importance of Black female representation in fitness.
• Speaking out against racism in the fitness space.
• Diversifying the Pilates space.
• Creating safe spaces for Black women in fitness.

RESOURCES:

• Follow Sonja on Instagram: @commandofitnesscollective
• Follow Black Girl Pilates on Instagram: @blackgirlpilates
• Black Girl Pilates Instructor Only Facebook Group 
• Black Girl Pilates Community Facebook Group  
• Sonja for Girls Gone Strong: Black Girl Pilates - My Catalyst for Strength 
• Sonja for Self Magazine: No, My Black Girl Pilates Group Isn’t Racist - It’s an Essential Way to Feel Represented in the Community 

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your new year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.

It’s Feel Good Friday, and this week we’re talking about self-love. Not in a cheesy way - in a realistic way. In a compassionate way. Tune in for three simple steps to start showing yourself a little more love - because if you don’t love you, who will?

Get your self-love journal sheets: https://www.balancedblackgirl.com/self-love

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

Today, we’re talking to Shontay Lundy, founder of Black Girl Sunscreen.

She was inspired to create Black Girl Sunscreen by her love of the outdoors, and dissatisfaction with sun protection products available on the market.  She often hikes practices yoga and walks her bulldog on the beach. Unfortunately, she couldn’t find a sunscreen that would protect her from the sun without cramping her style. Like many women with dark skin tones, applying sunscreen meant dealing with the white residue left behind by traditional products—and it wasn’t a good look.

Armed with an MBA and a personal vendetta against this unappealing residue, the New York-­‐raised businesswoman started looking for a solution. She discovered that there were natural ingredients that could boost melanin production, offer proper UV protection and be fully absorbed by the skin. So, she worked with skin care experts to create Black Girl Sunscreen.

In this episode, we talk about…

• Making skincare a pillar in your wellness routine.
• Why it is important for people of color to protect their skin from the sun (because Black can crack).
• Ingredients to look for vs. Ingredients to avoid when choosing skincare products.
• How to take your business from idea to trusted product.

RESOURCES:

• Order Black Girl Sunscreen from their website, and use the code 'BBG20' for 20% off: https://blackgirlsunscreen.com/ 
• Follow Black Girl Sunscreen Instagram: @blackgirlsunscreen
• Follow Shontay on Instagram: @shontay_a_lundy
• Like Black Girl Sunscreen on Facebook
• Follow Black Girl Sunscreen on Twitter: @blkgrlsunscreen
• Order Black Girl Sunscreen from BLK+GRN (use the code ‘BBG20’ for 20% off your first BLK+GRN order).

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your new year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.

A few weeks back on Feel Good Friday we talked about creating a morning self-care routine. Today, we’re talking about creating a night time routine. Having a solid night routine can help you get more rest, properly recover from workouts, and improve your focus for the next day. Tune in for three simple tips to help you create a relaxing nighttime routine that works for you!

Mentioned in this episode...

• Sunday Night Slow Jams Playlist

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your new year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.

Today we are talking to Michelle White, self-care blogger and author of the guided self-care journal, Self Explore, Self Restore. Michelle created her website gmichelle.com to offer space for folks to practice self-care regularly and strengthen their self-love.

Michelle is a licensed social worker in the states of Illinois and Georgia. From her experiences in providing clinical services, technical assistance and trainings on interpersonal trauma, domestic violence and child abuse, Michelle understands how difficult it can be to practice self-care on a regular basis. 

In this episode, we talk about…

• Simple ways to start a self-care practice.
• Overcoming guilt around practicing self-care.
• Practicing self-care in ways that are fulfilling for our needs.
• How to cultivate self-love through practicing self-care.

RESOURCES:

• Read Michelle’s Blog: https://gmichelle.com/
• Follow Michelle on Instagram @thegmichelle 
• Michelle’s Self-Care Journal, Self Explore, Self Restore 
• Download Michelle’s Free Self-Care Resource Guide: https://gmichelle.com/free-stuff/

Balanced Black Girl February Book Club Pick: Well-Read Black Girl by Glory Edim

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your new year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.

In today’s Feel Good Friday episode, we’re sharing tips to help you stay healthy at your J-O-B. Let’s be real, most of us spend more time at work than anywhere else so it’s important to still take care of yourself even while you’re at the office.

Tune in for seven super simple, actionable tips to help you feel your best at work.

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your new year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.

Today, we’re talking to Taylor Nolan, Licensed Mental Health Counselor and host of the Let’s Talk About It Podcast.

Taylor's provides a unique perspective on the topic of mental health from her studies in psychology and counseling, as well as her time spent on The Bachelor and Bachelor in Paradise reality TV shows. On her platform, she focuses on candid conversations about mental health, relationships, personal development, and life.

In this episode, we talk about…

• Wellness practices beyond physical health.
• Dealing with trauma in the public eye.
• Growing up biracial in a predominately white environment.
• Seattle favorites to check out if you’re ever in the city.

RESOURCES:

• Listen to Taylor's Podcast on iTunes
• Let's Talk About It Episode 58: Women of Color and Wellness Featuring Les
• Follow Taylor on Instagram @taymocha

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your new year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.

In today’s Feel Good Friday episode, we’re addressing one of my favorite topics: how to create a morning self-care routine. I’m breaking down what my morning self-care routine looks like, why it can be short and sweet (I promise you don’t need to wake up at the crack of dawn for a solid morning self-care routine), and how you can customize it to make it work for you.

Generally speaking, I break my morning routine into three categories: things that take care of my mind, body, and spirit. Depending on my season in life and what my priorities are, the amount of time I spend on each area, and what I do to support each area will vary. But I recommend you find a routine that works well for you! Because we all could use a little more practical self-care.

In this episode, we talk about…

• Why you shouldn’t use your phone first thing in the morning.
• Resources to help you take care of your mind, body, and spirit.
• Ideas for customizing your morning self-care routine to make it work for you.

RESOURCES:

Download our free glow-up guide for morning journal sheets, inspiring quotes, and affirmations to guide your morning self-care routine.

Join us at our Balanced Black Girl Seattle book club meet-up for Becoming on January 27. Register HERE. 

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

Today, we’re talking to Lindsey Page, the founder of Radically Fit Oakland. Radically Fit is the Bay Area's body positive community gym for all queer, trans, POC, big bodied and fat identified folx and their allies, regardless of experience or ability.

Lindsey first got into fitness while grieving the loss of a close friend. With physical movement being such an important part of her healing, she wanted to share it with others through her training.

She created Radically Fit to build a safe space for fitness, self-care, and well-being for those who need it most, but often don’t feel served or welcome in more traditional fitness spaces. We had an insightful, honest conversation about inclusivity across race, gender identity, sexuality, and physical ability in the fitness space, and we’re so grateful for the opportunity to share her story and mission.

In this episode, we talk about…

• Lindsey’s experiences working in the fitness industry, and not having a body type traditionally seen as “fit.”
• Creating fitness offerings geared towards POC, queer, trans, big bodied, and fat identifying folks.
• Ways the fitness industry relies on shaming as a key marketing tactic, and how we can change that.
• The significance of representation across intersectionalities in the fitness space.
• What being an ally truly means.

RESOURCES:

• Radically Fit Website: https://www.radicallyfitoakland.com/
• Follow Radically Fit on Instagram: @radicallyfitoakland
• Like Radically Fit on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RadicallyFitOakland/
  
• If you’d like to visit Radically Fit, reach out to Lindsey at info@radicallyfitoakland.com

If you're in Seattle, join us for our first Balanced Black Girl book club meet-up on January 27! RSVP HERE. 

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your new year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.

It’s time for another Feel Good Friday mini-episode, and today we are talking about financial wellness. When talking about health and wellness, we often get very stuck in the physical, however, our mental and financial health are incredibly important too. In fact, your financial health can really impact your physical and mental health.

So let’s start taking baby steps at becoming financially fit this year, and at taking the stigma out of talking about money.

RESOURCES:

• 5 Ways to Improve Your Financial Wellness in the New Year 

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your new year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.

Today, we’re talking to Dr. Kristian Henderson, professor of public health, a natural lifestyle enthusiast, and the founder of BLK+GRN, an all-natural marketplace by all Black artisans. BLK+GRN curates products that are sold in categories like skincare, home, bath and body to meet the needs of wellness seekers who want to buy Black and live green.

In the U.S. black woman buy nearly twice as many body care and beauty products, with nearly 75% of the products marketing to black women containing toxic ingredients that can have a negative impact on our health. Through the creation of BLK+GRN, Dr. Kristian is tackling this issue head-on. She is an unshakeable optimist who is passionate about helping women cultivate a lifestyle that’s free of artificial ingredients, toxins, and harmful chemicals. She believes that doing so is the only way to foster true happiness.

In this episode, we dive into the importance of understanding what ingredients are in our body care products, and how doing so can have a profound impact on our health.

She and her team are leading their community into a Toxic-Free 2019 when it comes to products, mindset, and lifestyle. We had an inspiring, insightful conversation that will have a positive takeaway for everyone. We’re so grateful for the opportunity to share her story and mission.

In this episode, we talk about…

• How to make the switch to non-toxic products.
• Toxic ingredients we should avoid.
• The importance of supporting black-owned businesses.
• What inspired her to start BLK+GRN.
• Self-care tips for black girls.

RESOURCES:

• BLK+GRN Website: www.blkgrn.com
• Follow BLK+GRN on Instagram: @blkgrn
• Follow Dr. Kristian on Instagram: @drkristianh
• Follow Facebook: BLK+GRN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BLKandGRN/
• Follow BLK+GRN on Twitter: @blkgrn
• From the BLK+GRN Blog: The Black Girl’s Guide to Self Care

SPECIAL OFFERS:

• Use the code BBG20 for 20% off your BLK+GRN order!
• Head to our Instagram @balancedblackgirlpodcast to enter to win a BLK+GRN gift card.

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your new year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.

Introducing Feel Good Friday! On Fridays, we’ll be sharing mini episodes with actionable wellness tips empowering you to live well. This week, we’re talking about creating space for healthy habits.

It’s the time of year when a lot of people are trying to create better habits. While we’re all for creating healthy habits, it’s important to create space in your life so these healthy habits can stick. Tune in for advice on how to create space so you can implement better habits in 2019.

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your new year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.

Today, we’re talking to Deanna Belleny, MPH, RDN, co-founder of Diversify Dietetics - an organization dedicated to increasing diversity in the field of nutrition by empowering students and young professionals from underrepresented minority groups to join the next generation of nutrition experts.

Deanna completed her bachelor's degree, dietetic internship, and masters degree in Houston, Texas and has loved working in such a diverse city (ranked as the most diverse city in the nation but who's counting!) Since her dietetic internship she noticed that the nutrition profession is not particularly diverse. It's quite the opposite. In fact, ONLY 9% of RDNs and NDTRs identifying as non-white. This is in stark contrast to the shifting demographic of the U.S.  

In the spring of 2018, Deanna connected with Tamara Melton, MS, RDN, and they created Diversify Dietetics out of a need they saw was not being met. They set out to create a community to attract, encourage and empower students and young professionals of color who were seeking careers in the field of nutrition and dietetics.

In addition to her work with Diversify Dietetics, Deanna works full-time at Harvard Medical School. We had such a great conversation about ways to solve the diversity problem in the nutrition field, and we’re so grateful for the opportunity to share her story and the mission of Diversify Dietetics.

In this episode, we talk about…

• Why it is so important to increase ethnic representation in the nutrition field.
• How many of our “healthy eating” principles are eurocentric and miss the mark for a lot of people.
• Common obstacles non-white students face when embarking on a career in nutrition.
• Why it’s so important to educate mentors, teachers and hiring directors to diversify the nutrition field.

...and more!

RESOURCES:

Diversify Dietetics Website: https://www.diversifydietetics.org/

Follow Diversify Dietetics on Instagram: http://instagram.com/diversifydietetics

Like Diversify Dietetics on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/diversifydietetics/

Subscribe to the Feed Me The Facts Podcast: https://www.diversifydietetics.org/podcast/

Our Idea of Healthy Eating Excludes Other Cultures, and That's a Problem by Tamara Melton, MS, RDN, co-founder of Diversify Dietetics

NOTES FROM LES:

Follow @curvycurl and @annaclausenfitness for Seattle community fitspo!

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your new year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.

In our final episode of 2018, Les is sharing a personal, candid recap of the year. No topic is off limits. We touch on the highs and lows of 2018, what’s next for Balanced Black Girl, the real deal on setting goals that stick, and the question constantly in Les’ DM’s - when can we get more workouts?

Tune into this intimate conversation to celebrate a year full of growth, challenges, and community. We break down:

• 2018 Highlights (Personal and in the Wellness Space)
• Lessons Learned
• What’s Next for Balanced Black Girl
• Real Talk on Goals and Resolutions

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your new year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.

In this bonus solo episode, Les is answering listener questions on everything from food, to fitness, to hair care, to racism in the wellness space. Questions include:

• What have been your experiences as a Balanced Black Girl doing outdoor activities (hiking, skiing, etc.)?
• What are some of your favorite breakfast/lunch/dinner options?
• What does your wash and go hair routine look like?
• How did you become comfortable talking about difficult subjects?

and more!

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook. 

Today, we’re talking to Dr. Pragati Gusmano, Florida-Based Functional Medicine Doctor and founder of Happy and Well.

Dr. Pragati offers her patients an alternative perspective on conventional healthcare and her approach emphasizes identifying the root cause of illness, eliminating nutritional deficiencies and the preventing disease and illness through diet and lifestyle modifications.

She was inspired to study Functional Medicine because she wanted to find a way of healthcare that really took a whole person approach to care vs looking at and addressing symptoms. After witnessing her father navigate preventable lifestyle illnesses, she became passionate about addressing lifestyle components of disease, instead of only focusing on a medication-only approach.

In addition to running her own practice, Dr. Pragati is also a wife and mother. We had an awesome conversation full of actionable advice to help you take charge of your health no matter where you are.

In this episode, we talk about…

• The differences between functional and conventional medicine, and how the two work together.
• Ailments and illnesses that disproportionately impact women of color, and how we can prevent and alleviate them.
• Important nutrients people of color specifically need to pay attention to.
• Easy lifestyle changes to make healthy living more accessible.  
• Tips for navigating cold and flu season.
• Cultural appropriation in the wellness space.

RESOURCES:

• Stay Healthy During Cold And Flu Season with the 5 Day Immune Boost Reset
• Dr. Pragati’s Website: https://www.happyandwellhealth.com/
• Dr. Pragati’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/happyandwell/
• Dr. Pragati’s Community Reset: https://mailchi.mp/242bcb772055/reset

Today, we’re talking to Bri Braggs, the founder of Fertile Alchemy. Bri is a Certified Holistic Health Coach who is passionate about educating women on the importance of preconception health and create a new narrative around their fertility.

Bri helps her clients take charge of their fertility and hormonal health, and helps women live more conscious, holistic lifestyles in an approachable, doable way. She has also developed her own Aromatic Oil (make sure you shoot Bri a DM @FertileAlchemy letting her know you tuned in - she’ll give you a special discount code).

Currently, Bri is working on expanding her line of products and writing her first book. She is currently enrolled in yoga teacher training and considers herself a “professional” at gluten free and dairy free baking. We had an incredible conversation about fertility and reproductive health for women of color, particularly black women, and know that you are going to find so much value in this episode.

In this episode, we talk about…

• Common fertility and hormone-related issues for women of color.
• How to start tracking your cycle to better understand your reproductive health.
• The spiritual, mental, and emotional aspects of fertility.
• The disproportionate risk level of pregnancy and birth-related complications for black women, and how we can prevent putting ourselves at risk.
• Breaking generational patterns.
• Being a black woman in the wellness space (check out Bri’s Instagram post on the topic here).

RESOURCES:

• Fertile Alchemy Website: https://www.fertilealchemy.com/
• Follow Bri on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fertilealchemy/
• Follow Fertile Alchemy on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fertilealchemy/
• Follow Fertile Alchemy on Twitter: https://twitter.com/FertileAlchemy
• Bri’s Aromatic Oil: https://www.fertilealchemy.com/aromaticoil/fertile-alchemy-aromatic-oil (Shoot her a DM letting her know you tuned into the show for a special discount code!)

Join the BBG Community:

• Join the Balanced Black Girl Community on Facebook.
• Subscribe to the Balanced Black Girl newsletter for diverse, curated content delivered to your inbox weekly.

Thanks for listening!

• Please take a moment to leave us a rating and review on iTunes.
  
  

Today, we’re talking to Falesha Johnson. Falesha is a former professional track athlete turned empowerment speaker, speed and agility coach, and philanthropic adviser.

Inspired by her personal love of track and field, Falesha saw a need for young athletes in her area to focus on speed and agility training. She then built her athletic training company Felite Performance, to help fill this void. She strongly believes that track and field have embedded characteristics in her such as resilience, adaptability, and time management skills that she continues to use in all aspects of life.

Falesha is also a talented public speaker who leads inspiring talks on perseverance and creating a strong, authentic personal brand.

In this episode, we talk about…

• Her background as a professional track and field athlete.
• How she balances working full-time as a philanthropic adviser with running her own business.
• The importance of representation when it comes to coaches (for youth and adults)
• Setting and achieving audacious goals.
• Self-care for side hustlers.

RESOURCES:

Falesha’s Website

Follow Falesha on Instagram

Follow Felite Performance on Instagram

Get your ticket to the Ignited Womxn Summit to hear Falesha and Les speak (register before December 10 for early bird pricing!).

Join the BBG Community:

Join the Balanced Black Girl Community on Facebook.

Subscribe to the Balanced Black Girl newsletter for diverse, curated content delivered to your inbox weekly.

Thanks for listening!

If you liked this episode, please take a moment to leave us a rating and review on iTunes.

Today, we’re talking to Abiola Akanni, of Yoga by Biola.

Abiola is a wellness entrepreneur best known for the Divine Feminine Workshop, and her unique yoga format Trap Vinyasa: A Body Positive Yoga Experience.

Her yoga journey started 10 years ago after a bad drug habit and scoliosis diagnosis. Once she began applying yogic philosophy to her life she created a process of self-examination called the 5 self healing benefits of yoga in order to identify areas of growth.

Currently, Abiola is focused on getting more yoga teachers of color teaching in their communities through her upcoming Trap Vinyasa mentorship program where she will be training the next generation of teachers to share the Trap Vinyasa format.

In this episode, we talk about…

• Her prior struggles with bullying and substance abuse
• How yoga helped her heal through trauma and reshaped her life’s purpose
• Making yoga more accessible for underrepresented communities
• Her experiences as a Nigerian-American woman in the predominantly white US yoga industry
• Ways to make yoga feel more inclusive and focused on body positivity

RESOURCES:

Abiola’s Website: https://www.yogabybiola.com/

Trap Vinyasa Website: https://www.trapvinyasa.com/

Abiola’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yogabybiola/

Yoga by Biola on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yogabybiola/

Yoga by Biola on Twitter: https://twitter.com/yogabybiola

Subscribe to the Balanced Black Girl Newsletter: https://www.balancedblackgirl.com/subscribe 

Today, we’re talking to Ashley McGirt, MSW, Licensed Mental Health Therapist and founder of Ashley McGirt Counseling Services.

Ashley is an accomplished speaker, author, hospice therapist, and entrepreneur running her own private therapy practice.

Ashley specializes in helping individuals through racial trauma, grief and loss, and navigating anxiety and depression. In her practice, she uses a holistic and interactive- multicultural approach that focuses on the needs of people of color. Her interest in mental health began when she began going to therapy, but struggled to find a therapist of color she could relate to and wanted to offer the kind of help to others she wanted to receive.  

She is also an avid traveler and wrote the book I Tried to Travel It Away: Mental Health Tips for Travelers to help folks create lives they don’t need a vacation from. We are so grateful for the opportunity to share her story and knowledge with the Balanced Black Girl community.

In this episode, we talk about…

• How women of color can prioritize their mental health when facing racial and gender inequalities
• How physical health ailments that often impact women of color can be avoided by prioritizing mental health
• Ways we can destigmatize mental health
• How women of color can release feelings of needing to be everything to everyone
• Mental health tips for travelers

RESOURCES:

Ashley’s Website: https://www.ashleymcgirt.com/

Ashley’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therapywithash/

Ashley’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/McGirtCounselingServices/

Ashley’s Book “I Tried to Travel It Away”: https://www.ashleymcgirt.com/new-products/i-tried-to-travel-it-away-mental-health-tips-for-travelers

Tuesdays With Morrie by Mitch Albom: https://amzn.to/2Kd3L1H

Letters to a Young Sister by Hill Harper: https://amzn.to/2S2oY0X

Today, we’re talking to fitness coach Allison Tenney.

Allison is known for her online fitness training programs and for founding the Ignited Womxn Summit, an annual wellness and leadership event that creates a space for learning through an inclusive lens.

Over the past two years, Allison has really dug into understanding the importance of diversity, inclusion, and intersectional feminism both within and beyond the fitness space. It all started after her first Ignited Womxn event that she held on the heels of the 2016 Presidential Election.

Currently, Allison is preparing for the 2019 Ignited Womxn Summit taking place in Seattle on February 9.

During this conversation, she gets incredibly candid discussing challenging topics, and we’re so grateful for her honesty and willingness to share.

In this episode, we talk about…

• How the Ignited Womxn Summit came to be
• Why diversity in the wellness space is so important
• How those who are not a part of marginalized groups can be more supportive of those who are
• What it means to do the work
• Resources that can help individuals be better allies

If you haven’t already, make sure you get your ticket to the Ignited Womxn Summit! You can register HERE (make sure you register before December 10 for early bird pricing). Yours truly will be a speaker - hope to see you there!

RESOURCES:

Allison’s Website: https://allisontenneyfitness.com/

Ignited Womxn Summit: http://ignitedwomxnsummit.com/

Allison’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allisontenney/

On Whiteness by Erin Brown: https://www.iamerinbrown.info/blog/2017/1/4/on-whiteness

Dr. Tee’s Foundations of Social Justice Course: https://imdrtee.com/foundationslivexxx/

White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo: https://amzn.to/2PYAHAF

In this episode, Balanced Black Girl Founder Lestraundra Alfred sits down with Brittany Love, Seattle-based health coach, personal trainer, and cycling instructor. Brittany has had a wide range of experiences in the world of fitness. From discovering fitness in her early 20’s, to competing in bodybuilding competitions, to becoming a trainer and helping her clients build self-confidence and create balance, Brittany shares valuable insight on what it’s like to be a woman of color in the fitness industry. In this episode, they talk about how Brittany uses her platform to diversify the Seattle wellness scene, how she makes her classes and training sessions feel welcoming and inclusive for all, and how fitness can be used as a tool to build more confidence and self-love for all women. This episode will make you feel like you’re laughing with girlfriends - press play and join in the conversation!

Connect with Brittany on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/curvycurl/

Workout with Brittany:

• University Village Athleta: http://stores.athleta.net/store-4867/
• CycleBar South Lake Union: https://southlakeunion.cyclebar.com/
• Belltown Strength and Conditioning: http://www.belltownstrength.com/schedule

"You're pretty, for a black girl." 

A back-handed compliment at best, these types of comments are often said to women of color. In this solo episode, Lestraundra is breaking down why this "compliment" is anything but, why our society's narrow definition of beauty needs to change, and ways we can all create inclusive definitions of beauty for ourselves. Whether you are a woman of color who is tired of being told you're pretty for a "____" (not true - you're just plain pretty), or you want to learn more about what women of color experience when it comes to beauty standards, you'll want to tune into this episode.

Connect with the Balanced Black Girl Podcast here:

Blog: https://www.balancedblackgirl.com

Instagram: @balancedles or @balancedblackgirlpodcast

Facebook Group: Confidence Over Comparison // BBG Podcast Community

Chrissy King is a Milwaukee-based ISSA Certified Personal Trainer, lifestyle coach, fitness blogger, and truth-teller. While on her own fitness journey, Chrissy was introduced to strength training and powerlifting, which helped her build confidence and inner strength. Chrissy shows her clients that fat loss and weight management don’t have to be cumbersome or restrictive. She also encourages women to love their body in every stage, regardless of size or body fat percentage.

In this episode, Chrissy and I discuss ways the wellness community can be more inclusive and representative for all, true self-care that doesn’t feel like a commodity, how to hold ourselves and each other accountable when we miss the mark with diversity and inclusivity, why it is important for women to feel comfortable taking up space, and so much more.

For more from Chrissy head to www.chrissyking.com, and follow her on Instagram (@iamchrissyking), Facebook (@chrissykingfitness), and Twitter (@iamchrissyking). 

From Chrissy’s Blog:

“Is Fitness Only for Thin, White Women?” 

“Words That Don’t Belong to Us: Why It’s Time to Say Goodbye to Using the World ‘Savage’”

Ever walk into the gym or a fitness studio and instantly feel overwhelmed? This episode will help you get past that feeling. Tune in for 8 simple, actionable tips to help you feel more confident working out in public no matter your fitness level. 

In this episode, we discuss the online wellness space's diversity problem, why representation is important for everyone, and ways we can all make the wellness space more inclusive and representative for all. 

Some Great Wellness WOC to Follow (not an exhaustive list! I'm sure I'm missing some great people)

• @iamchrissyking
• negharfonooni
• yogabybiola
• @falesha11
• @curvycurl
• @tach.j
• @fertilealchemy
• @tiffanyima
• @yoliouiya
• @foodheavenshow

Welcome to the Balanced Black Girl Podcast - a show dedicated to reimagining health, wellness, and self-care for women of color. 

In the very first episode, I (Les, your host) am introducing myself and am giving you the tea about the evolution from The Balanced Berry to Balanced Black Girl.

Thanks for listening! 

xo