All the Layers Podcast

Sometimes life changes the conversation. This week, we're simply checking in. 🤍 After a heavy few weeks filled with grief, unexpected challenges, and a much-needed pause, we're catching up, asking each other, "How are you...really?" and inviting you to do the same. Join us for an honest sister conversation about protecting your peace, practicing self-love, finding gratitude in d...

This week on All the Layers, Mattea is sitting down for our very first solo episode. Over the past few weeks, life has felt heavy. Between loss, disappointment, uncertainty, and the everyday challenges that come with being human, I’ve found myself thinking a lot about hope; what it is, where it comes from, and how we hold onto it when nothing feels worth it. In this episode, we’re having an honest...

First things first: sorry for the delay on this one 😭 We ran into some technical issues that set us back, but it's finally here!  Welcome to Episode 11 🎙️ After celebrating the milestone of 10 episodes, we wanted to take this opportunity to answer questions directly from our audience. In this special Q&A episode, we're responding to your thoughtful questions, sharing our perspectives,...

Most of us think we know what love looks like—but a lot of us were raised on chaos, not healthy connection. In this episode, we talk about the difference between love and attachment, why chemistry can be misleading, and how we end up falling for potential instead of reality. We get into red flags we ignore, patterns we repeat, over-giving too early, and why healthy love can feel unfamiliar (or eve...

Most of us think we know what love looks like—but a lot of us were raised on chaos, not healthy connection. In this episode, we talk about the difference between love and attachment, why chemistry can be misleading, and how we end up falling for potential instead of reality. We get into red flags we ignore, patterns we repeat, over-giving too early, and why healthy love can feel unfamiliar (or eve...

A softer, shorter sister conversation… with a little depth woven in. This episode is a “This or That” that turns into something more—exploring the in-between spaces of instinct and overthinking, clarity and letting go, closure and acceptance. Just two sisters unpacking the quiet decisions we make every day—how we process, how we move on, and how we sit with what isn’t always resolved. Which one fe...

In Episode 8, we’re getting real about code-switching—what it is, why we do it, and how it impacts the way we show up in different spaces. From classrooms to workplaces to social settings, we unpack the pressure to adjust our language, tone, and identity just to feel accepted or safe. We also talk about the emotional weight that comes with constantly shifting yourself, and ask the question: what d...

This week, we tried something different. A shorter, rapid-fire episode where we move through real-life “this or that” questions—no overthinking, just honest, in-the-moment answers. From boundaries to relationships to personal growth, this one gets real quickly. Sometimes the first answer says the most. Tune in and see where you land 🎙️

Balance isn’t about doing less—it’s about losing less of yourself in the process. In this episode, we’re talking about the tension between achievement and identity. What happens when what you do starts to feel like who you are? When productivity becomes self-worth? When you’re constantly showing up—but slowly disconnecting from yourself? This is a real-time conversation about navigating demanding...

Social Media — Friendship, Comparison & The Pressure to Keep Up In Part 2, we explore how social media has reshaped friendships, comparison, and our sense of timing in life. From the emotional weight of likes and reposts to the feeling of being “behind” online, we unpack how curated timelines and algorithm-driven feeds influence what we want, how we measure success, and how we see ourselves. W...

Social Media — Identity, Performance & Pressure In this episode, we unpack why social media felt like an important topic to address — and how it’s shaping the way we communicate, present ourselves, and measure success. We explore the tension between authenticity and performance, the pressure to be palatable, and what it means to live in moments that are always one step away from being posted....

Episode 4, Part 2 | Sports 🎙️ In this episode, we continue the conversation — but this time we get more reflective. We talk about the dream of going pro, when that dream shifted, and whether we truly locked in the way we could have. We open up about injuries, playing through physical and mental pain, and how much pressure athletes carry behind the scenes. We also dive into what happens when the sp...

In this episode, we take it back to the beginning and walk through our full sports journeys — from starting at very young ages to competing in college. We talk about what it was like growing up as athletes, how deeply sports became tied to our identity, and the pressure that came with constantly performing. We get into the expectations, the emotional weight behind the scenes, and what our college...

Episode 3, Part 2 is LIVE! 🖤 Join us as we continue our conversation on HBCUs, reflecting on our experiences and the role these institutions play in shaping identity, confidence, and belonging. This episode builds on the themes from Part 1 and expands the discussion to include our experiences navigating PWIs in contrast to HBCUs.

Embracing your Blackness is more than pride.  It’s history, legacy, and the future all happening at once 🖤 Episode 3 (Part 1) is officially OUT, and this week we’re diving deep into HBCUs : what they mean to us, the spaces they’ve created, the opportunities they’ve protected, and the generations of excellence they continue to produce.  From culture and community to resilience and impact, HBCUs ar...

Welcome to Episode 2 of All the Layers Podcast 🎙️ In this episode, we’re diving into friendships—the good, the complicated, and the deeply formative ones. As sisters, we reflect on our experiences with friendship over the years, the roles we play, how we handle conflict, and how our relationships have evolved as we’ve grown. We talk about expectations, communication, outgrowing people, repairing b...

Welcome to Episode 1 of All the Layers Podcast 🎙️ In this first episode, we’re going back to the beginning. As sisters, we talk openly about our upbringing, background, childhoods, school experiences, identity, and the moments that shaped who we are today. This conversation is about growth, reflection, and understanding the layers that make us who we are—both individually and together. If you enjo...

Sisters Akilah and Mattea introduce All the Layers—a podcast about peeling back the layers behind titles, achievements, and success. They share why they started the show, what the name means, and the real conversations to come around identity, culture, mental health, and navigating life as Black women. No filters. Just the full story.