Calm Your Grits

In this episode of Calm Your Grits , host Joei Allen introduces her Permission Slip Project — a movement born from her own pageantry journey where she learned to stop chasing external validation and start trusting herself. She shares how years of coaching, self-doubt, and trying to be "more" led to a pivotal moment of freedom: showing up fully as herself and placing higher than ever. Equ...

In this episode of 'Calm Your Grits,' Joei Allen chats with Aftan Garrett, a passionate maternal health advocate and pageant queen. Aftan shares her personal experiences with infertility, loss, and severe postpartum preeclampsia, which spurred her to advocate for maternal health and women empowerment. She discusses her journey in the Mrs. North Carolina, South Carolina America pageant, the...

Mothers, Advocates, and Queens: Interview with Aftan Garrett Part 1 In this episode of the Calm Your Grits podcast, host Joei Allen welcomes Aftan Garrett, a nurse practitioner, mother, and advocate for women's rights and maternal mental health. Aftan shares her personal journey to motherhood, discussing her struggles with infertility, a heartbreaking loss, and her eventual success with IVF tr...

Healing Together - Laura's Journey of Resilience  In this episode of Calm Your Grits Podcast, host Joei Allen welcomes her dear friend Laura to share her powerful journey battling postpartum depression. Laura, a mom of three, business owner, and fitness enthusiast, opens up about her experiences with anxiety, depression, and the severe postpartum depression she faced after her pregnancies. The...

Overcoming Postpartum Depression: A Personal Journey | Calm Your Grits Podcast Guilt, Grit, and Grace: Overcoming Postpartum Depression and Healing in the Midst of Chaos. The Not-So-Glamorous Side of Postpartum Depression or as its call now, Perinatal mental health disorders aka PMHD. From Pinterest Dreams to Postpartum Realities… In this episode of Calm Your Grits Podcast, host Joei Allen opens u...

Understanding Postpartum Depression: An In-Depth Discussion with Dr. Judith Thorne Postpartum Realities: What Every Mom Needs to Know Special Guest!!! Dr. Judith Thorne Psychologist, MA, MS, PsyD Licensed in: NC SC VA PA MA Telephone number: (704) 607-7742 Email: drjmt1001@outlook.com In this episode of the 'Calm Your Grits Podcast,' host Joei Allen is joined by Dr. Judith Thorne, a licens...

From Sparkles to Spirit: Joei's Journey Through Faith, Friendship, and Family. Backstory part 2! In this episode of the Calm Your Grits podcast, host Joei Allen shares her multifaceted life, from being a 'Pinterest Mom' and diving into pageantry, to her profound experiences with faith and church support at Elevation Church. Joei recounts her poignant journey through multiple pregnancie...

Navigating Grief and Finding Strength: Joei's Raw Backstory (Part 1) Tune in as Joei Allen, host of Calm Your Grits podcast, shares her raw and emotional backstory in this first part of a two-episode series. From moving to the Carolinas at 18, dealing with unexpected pregnancies, the loss of her children, and how grief shaped her relationships and personal growth. Joei opens up about the tough...

The Struggles of Starting a Podcast: A Raw and Real Rant... Join host Joei Allen in this candid episode of the Calm Your Grits podcast where she dives into the chaotic journey of launching a podcast. Joei, a self-proclaimed Pinterest mom and recent pageant enthusiast, discusses the hurdles she's faced with technology, editing, and overcoming her ADHD challenges. From selecting the right equipm...

Join host Joei Allen on the very first episode of the Calm Your Grits podcast. Joei, a self-proclaimed Pinterest Mom, dives headfirst into conversations about her life as a stay-at-home mom, DIY enthusiast, and recent pageant competitor. From tackling the challenges of pageantry to sharing vulnerable moments about postpartum depression, Joei's journey is relatable, inspiring, and sprinkled wit...