Brown Heart Wellness Podcast

Finish What You Started (Without Burning Yourself Out) w/ Patrice Dawkins Jackson What do you actually have the capacity for right now? In this episode, I sit down with Patrice Dawkins Jackson, host of Finish What You Started , and we talk about what it really means to follow through without running yourself into the ground. We explore: • The difference between discipline and depletion • How to ch...

In a season where everything feels loud, heavy, and urgent, many of us are exhausted while still expecting ourselves to function at full capacity. In this episode, Samantha Edu explores one of the most damaging lies about self-compassion and how it quietly fuels burnout. What many people are calling “stress” right now is often a threat response. When the world feels unstable, our nervous systems s...

What happens when your capacity changes but your identity doesn’t? In this season-opening episode, Samantha reflects on a powerful metaphor. The difference between being a teacup and being a vase . Same purpose. Different capacity. After a difficult professional interaction, she realized something important. She wasn’t a teacup because she was weak. Her capacity had shifted. And the real harm come...

As this year comes to a close, I’m being honest about where I am. Q4 took more out of me than I expected. My brain felt short-circuited, my body felt tired, and the idea of “finishing strong” just wasn’t realistic. So in this episode, I talk about what it means to simply finish. Not perfectly. Not impressively. Just with compassion. I reflect on why one season doesn’t define an entire year, why en...

This week on The Brown Heart Wellness Podcast , I’m joined by Kali Fields Williams a holistic wellness practitioner and author of Renewable You , helping women reconnect with their inner wisdom and live with intention and balance. We talk about what it really means to heal the whole woman,mind, body, and spirit, and how to move from simply setting intentions to fully integrating them. Kali shares...

After a beautiful, intentional break to bring the Positioned to Pause Retreat to life, Samantha returns with reflections on the power of community, compassion, and rest. This episode is a love letter to the women who showed up, the ones who helped make it happen, and the reminder that you don’t have to recreate the same oppressive systems inside the business you’re building. “Rest isn’t what happe...

A gentle reset before the pour. I open with a short intro, then Dr. Nicole Pertillar and I dig into what a real pause looks like and why it matters. Episode overview: Today I’m sharing our co-live conversation with Dr. Nicole Pertillar as we partner her Sip from the Well: 10 Days of Pause (Oct 1–10) with my Positioned to Pause mini-retreat (Oct 11). We talk about rest as a brave choice, how to pau...

In this episode of the Brown Heart Wellness Podcast, Samantha sits down with Khalia Davis Philp and Demetrius Philp, co-founders of Smooth September. They share the inspiration behind their wellness beverage company rooted in Caribbean healing traditions, the role of tea as a daily ritual, and the “One Brave Thing” guiding their journey as entrepreneurs. Samantha also shares her own experience wit...

What does it take to reinvent your career and life in midlife with confidence? In this powerful conversation, I sit down with Neca Smith—Midlife Career Strategist, coach, and founder of The Great Big Life —to talk about career reinvention after 40, overcoming self-doubt, and finding fulfillment in your next chapter. Neca shares her journey of redefining success, the mindset shifts that helped her...

In this mini episode of the Brown Heart Wellness Podcast , I share what I learned from two back-to-back experiences: Woman Evolve , a transformative faith and personal growth conference, and the Podcast Summit , a gathering of creators learning how to amplify their voices and grow with courage. Both events reminded me of one truth: bravery shows up in different ways depending on the season. Someti...

Hey y’all, welcome back to the Brown Heart Wellness Podcast. This week’s episode is tender, grounding, and exactly what we need to remind ourselves that healing doesn't always have to be loud or performative—it can be quiet, consistent, and found in the everyday. I’m sitting down with Ebony Fleming , mama of three, intuitive teacher, and creator of the Cook Like a Mother program. Her story is...

🎧 In this episode: What happens when you’re not at the beginning, but definitely not at the end? This week, I’m joined by Jae Washington—creative strategist, digital curator, and truth-teller—as we talk about what it means to live in the messy middle . The in-between. The stretch. The space where clarity is forming, but confidence hasn’t fully caught up. This episode is a soft place to land if yo...

Sometimes stuck isn’t stuck. It’s just uncomfortable. In this episode, we explore what it really means to practice self-discipline and stretch our emotional tolerance when life feels heavy, chaotic, or just plain messy. If you've been waiting to feel ready, this one's for you. We’re also kicking off the One Brave Thing Challenge for July , and this episode sets the tone for choosing discom...

Are you really resting… or just stuck? In this season opener, I’m reflecting on the difference between intentional stillness and fear-based stuckness. We’re kicking off Season 2 with clarity, courage, and a little softness too. This episode is for you if you’ve been: Second-guessing your next step Calling it “stillness” but feeling anxious underneath Ready to move with intention, not pressure We’l...

Hey y’all, welcome to the Season 1 finale of the Brown Heart Podcast! I’m Samantha Edu, and today we’re celebrating 20 episodes of bravery, creativity, consistency, and community. This season has been a journey of planting seeds, showing up imperfectly but intentionally, and creating a space where we can be brave together. In this episode, I’m reflecting on how far we’ve come—and where we’re heade...

In this soulful episode, I sit down with a special guest, Dr. Jeanette Mayse, to share the story behind Brown Heart Wellness and talk about the limiting narratives that often keep us stuck—perfectionism, scarcity, the Strong Black Woman trope, and imposter syndrome. Together, we reflect on how these stories show up in our lives and how we can begin to release them. As we prepare for Q2, this episo...

Welcome back to the Brown Heart Podcast! This week marks a special episode—my first unscripted reflection of the season. We're closing out the first quarter of the year with intention, reflection, and celebration. In this episode, I’m walking you through what it looks like to pause, process, and pour from a place of truth. Using the ROOT Framework , I reflect on personal and collective brave m...

Life moves in seasons, and just like nature, we experience shifts in our personal and professional journeys. In this episode, we’re talking about recognizing seasons of growth, release, and opportunity. Whether you’re in a season of sowing, waiting, or reaping the benefits of past work, this conversation is about embracing where you are while preparing for what’s ahead. I’m also reflecting on how...

The One Brave Thing a Week Challenge may be ending, but bravery is just beginning! This week, we’re celebrating courage —your wins, my reflections, and the deeper journey of uncovering our bravest selves. But let’s be real—what keeps us from being brave? Fear? Imposter syndrome? Systems that tell us we’re not enough? I’ll dive into how our conditioning makes us hesitant, what I learned about brave...

In this episode, we’re diving into what it means to protect your vessel during uncertain times. As we face new challenges in leadership, DEIB advocacy, and personal growth, I reflect on the importance of staying grounded, managing our nervous systems, and leaning into bravery through intentional action. I also share highlights from my recent She Leads workshop, where we explored mindfulness and ti...

Hey y’all! Welcome to the first Brown Heart Podcast episode of 2025! 🎉 I’m Samantha Edu, and today, we’re diving deep into vision, intention, and my word of the year: vessel . This episode is all about exploring what it means to be a vessel—what we carry, how we prepare for overflow, and how we can create a lifestyle rooted in love, grace, and abundance. What to Expect in This Episode: Reflecting...

Hey y’all! As we close out 2024, we’re taking a heartfelt look back at the journey we’ve been on together this year. In this special end-of-year episode, we’re recapping highlights from our 12 episodes, sharing listener favorites, and reflecting on the lessons that stood out most. We’ll also introduce my word for 2025: vessel . I’ll share how this word came to me, what it means for my vision, and...

Hey y’all! This week on the Brown Heart Podcast, we’re continuing last week’s conversation on accountability—this time focusing on the importance of cleansing as we move into 2025. It’s about releasing toxic relationships, negative self-talk, and unrealistic pressures, creating space for what truly matters. I also share a personal story about feeling overwhelmed by self-imposed January 1 deadlines...

Hey y’all, welcome to the Brown Heart Podcast! This week, we’re diving into a powerful conversation about accountability and purpose as we prepare for 2025. Inspired by the movie Wicked, we’re unpacking themes of power, privilege, and resilience—and how they show up in our lives, especially during times of reflection and transition. In this episode, we explore: The lessons from Wicked: How movies...

Hey y’all! Welcome back to the Brown Heart Podcast. This week, we’re talking about the power of reflection and resetting as we prepare to close out 2024. It’s a busy season, and if you’re feeling the pressure to wrap everything up perfectly, trust me—you’re not alone. But here’s the truth: the way we end the year sets the tone for how we step into the next one. Last year, I made the mistake of pre...