Black Women North of 50

In this insightful interview, Tamela Floyd, LCSW explores the transformative power of Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy, its relevance to intergenerational trauma, and its impact on Black women's mental health. Discover how understanding parts, healing ancestral wounds, and cultivating curiosity can lead to profound personal growth.

As we come to the close of 2025, some conversations deserve to be revisited. This episode, originally published earlier this year, returns as our final episode of the year. In this episode, Wynn talks with therapist and author Stevon Lewis about the inner bully. This is that critical, relentless voice that questions our worth, our choices, and our right to rest or succeed. In this episode, they al...

Some conversations stay with you long after the microphone turns off. This is one of them. Originally released on June 1, 2025, this powerful episode returns for the holiday season on December 9, 2025, because the truths shared here about depression, silence, stigma, and healing continue to matter deeply, especially for Black women navigating life north of 50. In this encore episode, psychiatrist...

What makes a story worth telling? In this solo episode of Black Women North of 50, Wynn opens up about what she truly wants this podcast to be: a home for real stories told by real women north of 50. As we're approaching the New Year, Wynn reflects on what it means to live with authenticity, curiosity, and courage as a black woman navigating life beyond 50. This episode is about the messy, beautif...

What does it take to believe there’s still more waiting for you, even after life has thrown every curveball imaginable? In this episode of Black Women North of 50, Wynn chats with Dana Bell, Licensed Professional Counselor and founder of "Let’s Talk with Dana Bell". Dana shares her experiences in her early days as a welfare fraud investigator and real estate agent, to her years serving as a parole...

What does it really mean to tell the truth, especially when the truth is messy, uncertain, or still unfolding? In this solo episode, host Wynn Helms reflects on her 30-day journey to rediscover the deeper purpose behind Black Women North of 50 . Wynn opens up about her own creative crossroads, the fear of vulnerability, and her desire to move beyond surface-level success stories. Instead, she’s cr...

What if the very pain you’ve been running from is the thing that can heal you? In this episode of Black Women North of 50, Wynn sits down with Denise James, psychotherapist and author of Back to Love , to explore how looking into our own story—without fear—can open the path to transformation. Denise shares her deeply personal journey from a childhood marked by absence and survival to a woman who r...

What does spirituality look like when you stop trying to define it—and simply live it? In this candid solo episode of Black Women North of 50 , host Wynn Helms opens up about a deeply personal topic she’s kept quiet for years: her spiritual journey. From a childhood home where religion wasn’t part of daily life, to discovering her own faith through curiosity, books, and lived experience, Wynn shar...

Before social media and before hashtags, there was Soul. In this episode of Black Women North of 50, host Wynn Helms sits down with Regina Jones, a true trailblazer who carved out her place in history as the first Black woman to publish an entertainment newspaper about black artists in the U.S. Through her work with Soul, Regina became a voice for Black music and culture in the 1970s, spotlighting...

Let's reframe menopause as the beginning of a whole new stage of life! In this episode of Black Women North of 50, host Wynn Helms talks with Dr. Rashida N’gouamba, a gynecologist and obstetrician, to break down the facts, myths, and real-life experiences of menopause. From hot flashes and mental fog to bone density and belly fat, Dr. N’gouamba explains why menopause is a process as powerful and c...

What happens when you pause, look around at life after 50, and wonder, “What’s next?” In this solo episode of Black Women North of 50 , host Wynn Helms shares her own story of starting the podcast and the deeper “why” behind it. How the idea started? Over brunch with lifelong friends, Wynn felt the whisper of something missing—a desire for connection with other Black women navigating midlife and b...

What if being single wasn’t something to “fix” but something to celebrate? In this episode of Black Women North of 50, our host Wynn Helms interviews Dr. Kris Marsh, a tenured professor and sociologist at the University of Maryland, to unpack what it really means to be single, Black, and thriving in today’s world. Throughout her years of research and most recent publication, "The Love Jones Cohort...

From the church plays of St. Louis to the sets of Hollywood, Pam Trotter’s story is one of grit, faith, and determination. In this episode of Black Women North of 50, Pam opens up to our host, Wynn Helms, about what it really takes to carve out space in an industry that hasn’t always made room for Black women, especially those over 50. Pam reflects on the influence her sister had, who first inspir...

What if everything you’ve heard about diabetes only told half the story? In this episode of Black Women North of 50 , host Wynn Helms is joined by Abio McCray—a registered nurse and diabetes expert—to separate myth from truth about one of the most misunderstood health conditions in our community. From A1C confusion to dietary conversations, this episode is a real talk guide to reclaiming your heal...

What if grief isn’t something to “get over”, but something to make room for? In this episode of Black Women North of 50 , our host Wynn Helms welcomes Dr. Loree Johnson, a seasoned psychotherapist and expert in reproductive mental health, to explore the many faces of grief. From fertility struggles to caregiving burnout, Dr. Loree shares personal and professional insights on how grief shows up in...

What if joy isn’t something you find, but something you have to reclaim as a birthright? In this episode of Black Women North of 50, host Wynn Helms is joined by psychotherapist Dr. Beverley Boothe to explore the deep well of joy that lives within us, especially as we navigate the shifting terrain of being women north of 50. Together, they unravel the myths that confuse joy with happiness and talk...

What if the first step to building generational wealth isn’t budgeting, but healing your money stories? In this episode of Black Women North of 50 , Wynn Helms sits down with Ruby Taylor, founder of Financial Joy School, to unpack the emotional and cultural roots of our financial decisions as a black community. Ruby's story is quite inspirational: From surviving a traumatic brain injury to teachin...

What if the heaviness you carry isn’t "just life"—but a silent thief stealing your joy, sleep, and voice? In this episode of  Black Women North of 50 , psychiatrist Dr. Rhonda Williams sits down with host Wynn Helms to dissect depression’s grip on Black women over 50. In this episode, our experts talk from a deeply human and clinical perspective about why "pushing through" when experiencing depres...

What if the loudest voice holding you back is your own? In this raw, deeply personal episode of Black Women North of 50 , host Wynn Helms sits down with psychotherapist and imposter syndrome expert Stevon Lewis to confront the  inner bully —that relentless voice whispering,  “Who do you think you are?” —and how to reclaim your unshakable truth. Stevon Lewis, author of  Silencing Your Inner Bully ,...

What if caring for a loved one with dementia means grieving them while they’re still here? In this raw and deeply personal episode of  Black Women North of 50 , host Wynn Helms sits down with dementia care expert Denese Taylor to unpack the invisible battles of caregiving—and how to find strength in the storm. Denese Taylor, a seasoned memory care coordinator, pulls back the curtain on dementia’s...

What happens when society’s norms for Black women—marriage, motherhood—don’t fit your life? In this episode of  Black Women North of 50 , host Wynn Helms sits down with  Meta King , a former  Soul Train  dancer turned educator, to unpack the unspoken truths of being a Black woman north of 50 with no husband and no kids. From battling societal shame (“Why aren’t you married yet?”) to navigating dat...

In this unfiltered conversation, Wynn Helms sits down with her nephew, Noah Wiggins, to explore the beautiful, messy, and sometimes frustrating dance between generations in our tech-driven world. This episode isn’t just about smartphones or AI—it’s about us. It’s about the love, patience, and resilience required to bridge gaps, protect our communities, and honor our stories in an era where screens...

In this episode of Black Women North of 50, I sat down to get my hair done with Roni Jones, Professional Hair Stylist, Specializing in Curly Hair. Roni is based in Pasadena, CA and together we talked about some of the complexities, history, and the cultural significance of Black hair. Roni shared her path to becoming a curly hair specialist, the challenges Black women face in hair care, and the im...

 In this conversation, I speak with Dr. Zoe Shaw about the complexities of navigating divorce and co-parenting, particularly focusing on the challenges faced by Black women over 50. We discuss the importance of viewing co-parenting as a business transaction, the social stigmas surrounding single motherhood, and the necessity of self-care during and after divorce. She emphasizes the significance o...

Life keeps happening, and I keep learning - twists, turns, and lessons along the way. Thanks for joining me on this journey. Be sure to come back for the next episode - I can't wait to keep exploring with you! And if there are any topics you'd like discussed, drop it in the comments below. In the meantime, let's keep it real, embrace the joy and find the funny. Thanks for joining me on Black Women...