My strong is practicing self-compassion by embracing kindness and understanding towards myself. Welcome to Day 8 of our ‘me-first’ journey! Today, we’re diving deep into self-compassion. It’s about embracing kindness and understanding toward ourselves, especially when we face challenges and don’t meet our own expectations. We’ve all been there, pla…

My strong is finding quiet moments when life is loud, creating a space for peace and serenity Welcome to Day 7 of our “me-first” journey! Today, we’re getting real about finding quiet moments when life is loud. We’re talking about how making space for peace and tranquility can change everything—bringing more balance, calm, and clarity, even when li…

My strong is letting go of control to find freedom and create a life of flow. Hey there, welcome to Day 6 of our “me-first” journey! Today, we’re getting real about letting go of control. We’re talking about how releasing the need to control every aspect of your life can change everything—bringing more freedom, peace, and flow, even when things don…

My strong is embracing vulnerability to build deeper connections and authentic relationships. Hey there, welcome to Day 5 of our “me-first” journey! Today we’re getting real about embracing vulnerability. We’re talking about how letting your guard down and being your authentic self can change everything—making those connections deeper and life more…

My strong is embracing self-care rituals that protect and nurture my peace. Hey there, welcome to Day 4 of our “me-first” journey! Today, we’re diving into the world of self-care rituals. We’ll explore how these rituals can really make a difference in your life—bringing you peace and stability when things get hectic. Embracing self-care rituals isn…

My strong is creating a lifestyle where my boundaries protect my peace. Welcome to Day 3 of our “me-first” journey! Today, we’re diving into a topic that hits home for so many of us… Setting Boundaries that Stick. We’re exploring how to reclaim our time, energy, and sanity by setting boundaries that are pillars of self-respect. Setting boundaries i…

My strong is building a life where my priorities align with my passions and purpose. Welcome to Day 2 of our “me-first” journey! Today, we’re talking about identifying priorities. We’re diving into the heart of prioritization and aligning your actions with what truly matters most to you. Identifying priorities isn’t just about listing tasks; it’s a…

My strong is saying yes only when it aligns with the life I’m creating for myself. Welcome to Day 1 of the :me-first'” series! Today, we’re tackling the dark side of saying yes. Ever felt overwhelmed and exhausted from always being the go-to person? I know I have. In this episode, I share my personal journey of learning to say no and the impact it …

My strong is choosing me-first! Introducing “Me-First,” a life-changing 30-day series designed to help you create the best “me-first” life ever. We’re not waiting until December to start making changes. It’s time to prioritize your happiness and well-being right now. Join us as we dive into daily tips and encouragement to move yourself back to the …

My strong is sacred Join us for this enlightening episode with Deneen Tyler as we dive into the heart of healing, focusing on the feminine experience. We explore the nuances of Black womanhood, discussing how to reclaim your power, nurture your emotions, and finding balance in feminine and masculine energy. Deneen’s insights and wisdom will inspire…

My strong is finding healing and wholeness Join us for a profound episode with Dr. LaSondra Barnes, a life and spiritual coach specializing in the effects of rejection and self-image, as we dig into the complexities of the father wound. Dr. LaSondra guides us through understanding the origins of the father wound and its lasting effects on daughters…

My strong is grace, healing and forgiveness.Join us for a deeply insightful episode with Tigest Beyene, as she bravely shares her journey from hurt to healing. Tigest's story is one of 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞, having endured domestic gun violence and the long-lasting effects of trauma. What makes Tigest's story so remarkable is her realization, eig…

My strong is revealing the truth about mental health.Today, we're joined by Donnita Hathaway, daughter of the legendary musician Donny Hathaway and founder of the Donny Hathaway Legacy Project, for a thoughtful conversation about navigating the many faces of mental health. In this episode, we discuss the complexities of mental health, focusing on u…

My strong is priotizing my mental health.Today, we're joined by Aubri McKoy for a thoughtful conversation about navigating the intersection of mental health and the Black female experience. As Black women, we understand the unique challenges and pressures we face when it comes to mental health. Get a glimpse into how we navigate societal expectatio…

My strong is vulnerability and acceptanceHey, sis! Shirl and Natty here! Today, we're joined by Traci Neal for an impactful conversation about navigating life on the spectrum. Traci shares her experience of being diagnosed with ADHD and Autism at the age of thirty-four and how she's leaning into vulnerability to support her in embracing the labels,…

My strong is confronting the mother wound with resilience and grace.Heeeeyyy!!! Shirl and Natty here! Today, we're joined by Alyson Brown for a deep dive into a topic that deeply resonates with a lot of Black women, the mother wound.Alyson walks us through what it is, how it impacts us, and strategies for healing.We know that navigating the complex…

My strong is acknowledging my mistakes and holding myself accountable.Hey there, it's Shirl and Natty! In this episode, we dive deep into a topic that hits close to home: acknowledging our vulnerabilities and mistakes, and the importance of taking accountability, especially within our Black female community.We know how challenging it can be to navi…

My strong is my belief that Black women are sick of riding and dyingWe're thrilled to welcome award-winning author and advocate Shanita Hubbard to our show for an enlightening discussion. Shanita shares her unique perspective on the “Ride or Die” narrative in hip-hop and its profound impact on Black women, drawing from personal experiences and a de…

My strong is humanizing myself.In a world that often demands Black women to be strong at all costs, there is a growing recognition of the need to humanize ourselves — to acknowledge our vulnerabilities, set boundaries, and prioritize self-care.In this episode of Shades of Strong Podcast, hosts Shirley Hubbard and Natalyn Bradshaw delve into the imp…

My strong is empowering Black women.Get ready for a powerful new season of Shades of Strong! Hosted by Shirley Hubbard and Natalyn Bradshaw, this podcast empowers Black women to embrace their authentic selves and challenge societal stereotypes.Launching on April 9th, this season features compelling conversations with inspiring guests. From discussi…

My strong is soft, feminine, and receptive. Long gone are the days when Black women are overextending and back bending all in the name of being strong, because contrary to poplular belief, Black women get to be be soft and strong. Tap in to this week's encore episode for a conversation with Ivory Benneet on how she's one of many Black women embraci…

My strong is creating an emotioanlly safe space.One of the most harmful things about having emotional walls is missing out on great experiences with those you love and care about. We build these walls with the hope of keeping harmful things out, not realizing that walls not only shut others out, they shut you in. Tap in to this week's encore episod…

My strong is "resolute and standing firmly in my truth" Angela Bassett. They tell us to take risks – take lots of them. They tell us not to settle for mediocrity – fight for the life we want. So, we do! We fight with everything in us – not being easily intimidated. Not letting people walk all over us. We boldly speak up against unfairness and injus…

My strong is not strong all the time and I’m okay with that. I cry. I feel. I heal.Letting go of the past and healing from trauma is challenging in and of itself, but when the trauma is a result of unhealthy parental relationships, it becomes even more challenging. In today's episode I chatted it up with Angela Roulette as she shared her journey of…

My strong is knowing what I bring to the table.Unlearning people pleasing behavior is challenging, not only because it's a part of the Black female's social fabric, but also because as Black women often existing in predominantly white spaces, pleasing others first is [undoubtedly] a survival mechanism. Hello code switching and shape shifting!The on…

My strong is honoring the sacredness of friendships.Have you ever found yourself in the middle of friendhsip or sisterhood that suddenly became toxic? Are you able to accept responsibility for the role you played in it? You don't have to answer that (outloud), but the truth is we all play a role (in one way or another) in the toxcity we sometimes f…

My strong is healing in a way that feels right for me.We gotta stop telling people that they can choose to be happy when they're in the thick of a traumatic event because sometimes CHOOSING happiness is not possible in that moment.Though well intentioned, our words can be harmful when we're not sensitive to the emotional needs of those we're trying…

My strong is NOT sociaiizing Black girls to be strong.We're on summer break, but we didn't want to leave you with no SOS, so for the next several weeks we'll be dropping some of our most listened to episodes. Unlike Beyonce most Black women didn't wake up like this. Before we were strong Black women we were little Black girls being socialized to be…

"My strong is honoring my full body yeses, and trusting even the quietest whispers of my no's" In today's episode Tšhegofatšo Ndabane shares how she spent so much time caring for others til she didn't know how to care for herself. She goes on to share how a bout with extreme burnout not only isolated her from her community, but also sat her down an…

"I don't know who needs to hear this, but check on your strong friends." How many times have you seen this statement floating around social media?How many times did you actually check on your strong friend?How many times did she say, "I'm good." ... and how many times did you hear I'm good and kept it moving? Listen, we're not here to judge because…

"What if you're having a tough day and you manage to get out of bed? That's worth celebrating."In today's episode Paballo Rampa gives us a peek inside her journey to healing from the Strong Black Woman Syndrome. She paints us a picture of how she spent years dismantling the label that had been thrust upon her and how she is now showing herself love…

Mothers, they're human, they're flawed, and they have their own stories. But their stories don't have to dictate how we live our lives. Mother's Day is peeking over the horizon which means we'll soon be flooded with commercials, social media posts and Hallmark card images of the perfect mother-daughter relationships, but the reality is that's not e…

It kinda feels like we've been living in a pandemic state of mind for decades now, when the reality is it's only been about three years. The world around us seems to be crumbling both on the inside and the outside and some days it feels like it's impossible to pull yourself out of that sunken place. All of your wants and desires suddenly feel meani…

Going to a job you hate is a dreadful experience most of us are all to familiar with. You wake up every morning miserable, frustrated, and unmotivated. You know you need to make a change -- you want to quit without notice, but you're not financially able to without having another opportunity lined up. In today's episode we share our own expereinces…

Safe spaces for Black women matter because sometimes we need to be around other Black women who get it.In today's episode we talk about the importance of Black women having a safe space to gather and chat it up about the unique challenges we face as a culture and how those challenges are often overlooked and unheard.Having a space where we can pour…

Being independent [in the Black female community] seems to be giving strong Black woman vibes and we think it's time to have a conversation. Listen sis, you CAN indeed do all the things. You've undoubtedly proven that time and time again, but the gag is you don't have to. When you try do everything on your own, you may find yourself gradually slipp…

Creating space for vulnerability is a magical thing, but that magic can only happen when Black women are brave enough, courageous enough to become one with their bodies. In today's episode we talk about why we're seeing so much discourse around the phrase strong Black woman and how that phrase contributes to how challenging it can be for Black wome…

Checking in with yourself requires "asking all them questions" and truth be told, some of y'all ain't ready for that. But no worries that's why we're here -- to help you get ready and stay ready. Come on in and get comfortable, sis because we got things to say about the importance of Black women checking in with themselves and how asking yourself a…

Nancey B. Price, collage artist, writer and performance story teller joined us in the virtual studio to chat it up with us about all things Strong Black Woman and why she doesn't live her life from that space. In today's episode, Nancey gets real about why she hates being called strong and how she's not rocking with the term Queen either. Trust! Yo…

Black History Month, the one month some of us love and hate simultaneously -- love because we get to shine a light on the greatness that is Black History and hate because it really didn't have to be this way.In today's episode we BRIEFLY talk abou WHY it didn't have to be this way, how Black history was intentionally and deliberately left out of Am…

Godly love dictataes that we show others what God is like, but is exemplifying such love causing Black women to dehumanize themselves? Today's conversation is a toucy one, but definitley one worth having. According to Biblical passage Godly love shows up in how we treat each other, but how does it show up in how we treat ourselves? Before you go cl…

Loving yourself FIRST opens the door for you to unlearn the things people have told you about who you are. Happy Valentine's Day, sis! In today's episode, we're talking about all things LOVE -- self love that is. If you've ever strugggled with loving ALL of you, you absolutley MUST tune in to this episode.Today we're sharing our experiences of how …

Cultivating healthy girlfriendships is about creating a culture of trust — a culture where honesty is appreciated and reciprocated.Today's episode is an early celebration of Galentines Day, so in honor of the same we thought it would be fun to write a love letter of sorts to each other and we're sharing those letters with you. So go ahead and tap i…

Wins, challenges, and revelations oh my! It's the last day of the first month of the year and things have happened that need to be talked about.... and we're talking about all of them -- well not all of them, but it's still a pretty dope conversation. In this episode we share how we're GROWING into our "my strong is" declarations since we declared …

Doing the most (for the purpose of this episode) is when a Black woman does WAY more than required or gives WAY more (energy) than she has to give to people, places, or things.... either way she's doing too much, and in today's episode Shirl and Natty are saying, "you don't have to do that sis." But to be sure you're NOT doing the most, you need ot…

Nurture yourself isn’t the buzz word that “self-care” is, but it definitely should be because Black women doing life from a place of exhaustion and overwhelm has been the running theme since our ancestors were stolen from Mother Africa and if anyone deserves nurturing it's Black women. And before you come for us, yes we [Shirl and Natty] know that …

Fuck being strong is the era of doing strong differently. Do you ever feel like you’re done with trying to live up to the expectations of errbody, sis? Like you’re tired of trying to be and do all the things for all the people all the time? Tired of trying to hold back the tears when your heart is breaking with each breath you take? Do you feel lik…

Setting clear and healthy intentions is a powerful way to strategically align with the person you want to become. By now some of you undoubtedly have already set your intentions for the new year and are probably patting yourselves on the back for successfully making it through a few days, and you should because every step you take towards doing lif…

The rise of the Black Woman... I am she. She is me! And she is YOU sis!!! This year brought about change for many of us. Some good, some not so good. But all of it was NECESSARY for us to start becoming the women we were born to be. When you’re born in the land of the free as a Black woman, you’re born into a world where freedom and opportunity are…

Accepting yourself fully is the REAL glow up… The world got us out here believing that a glow up is some major transformation in our careers, our appearance, our finances, etc. – you know, all the tangible stuff, but contrary to what they have led us to believe, the real glow up is internal. But what does it really mean to accept yourself? What doe…