Cultivating H.E.R. Space: Uplifting Conversations for the Black Woman

Ayyyyeee!!! Today is a special day...It’s our anniversary! One year ago today Terri and Dom met for dinner and decided H.E.R Space podcast needed to happen. Check out this bonus episode with clips that got left on the editing room floor.    Resources: Melanin and Mental Health Therapy for Black Girls  Psychology Today   Where to find us: Twitter: @HERspacepodcast Instagra...

Welcome to Season 3 of the H.E.R Space Podcast! The beginning of Season 3 also coincides with National Minority Mental Health Month. One of the ways in which our mental health is impacted is by our relationship with sleep. Lady, are you someone who has trouble falling asleep? Or maybe you fall asleep easily but can’t stay asleep? What’s your relationship with sleep? In this week’...

2019, where have you gone? We are halfway through the year which means we're at the end of season two. This season brought us guest co-hosts who are experts in sex, sexuality, sexual orientation and queer identity. It also showed us to trust the process as the order of the episodes, while most were not intentional, all built upon one another. In this week’s episode Terri and Dom recap all of...

In this week’s episode, Terri and Dom talk about an often polarizing conversation...socioeconomic status and class. Being middle class and/or college-educated is often equated with being bougie. Well, what does bougie even mean? Is it wearing expensive shoes? Staying at four-star hotels? Going to acupuncture? Terri and Dom share their experiences with when and why people call someone bougie....

In today’s episode, Dom and Terri discuss hair. Now, this is not just a discussion on “Good vs. Bad Hair”, though the ladies briefly touch on it. This is a conversation that begins with a quick history lesson on the Tignon Laws of New Orleans and then moves into modern ways in which our hair is policed, judged, politicized, and criticized. The words we use to describe someone&rsq...

In honor of Black Music Month, Terri and Dom open up the discussion of music. Who are your favorite artists? What are your favorite songs? What did music mean in your household growing up? Dom and Terri answer all of those questions and share some of their memories and emotions that remind us of the power of music. Make sure you queue up your favorite music platform and look up the songs and artis...

Have you been considering seeing a mental health professional? Well, then today’s episode is just for you. Dom acknowledges that as a mental health professional she is biased so she turns to Terri to share her experience with therapy. Through Terri’s sharing of her varied experiences with therapy Dom asks her questions to help listeners determine things to look for; questions to ask; a...

Anxiety is the number one mental health diagnosis in America and Black women experience it in ways that we often ignore...  In this week's episode, Terri shares that she has been in a reflective space and unapologetically experiencing ALL of her feelings. One of the things she noticed was anxiety. Terri notes that she wasn't able to acknowledge the experience until she knew what it meant. Dom...

“Girl, if I knew then what I know now.” How many times have you heard this or said this? In today’s episode, Terri and Dom address what they would tell their younger selves in regards to relationships, sexuality, career, finances, self-esteem, and womanhood. “Trust your gut” “Monetize your passion” “Your network determines your net worth” &ldqu...

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “When we face pain in relationships our first response is often to sever bonds rather than to maintain commitment.” “For me, forgiveness and compassion are always linked: how do we hold people accountable for wrongdoing and yet at the same time remain in touch with their humanity enough to believe in their capacity to be transformed?” - bell hooks   I...

In today’s episode, Terri and Dom are joined by Dr. Ja’Nina Garrett-Walker from the University of San Francisco. They engage in a conversation about how as a Black community we can all be better accomplices for the Black queer community. Dr. Garrett-Walker gives us some information on what it means to “deconstruct the binary” and the damage it does to the entire community w...

Tension, pain, frustration, sadness, heart racing, butterflies in your stomach, sweaty palms, stress. Any of those things sound familiar? Those are some of the feelings that come up when we experience conflict. Lady, you’re going to want to grab something to take notes because Teacher T steps into H.E.R Space and helps us to explore what is conflict resolution and why is it important. In today’s e...

Lady, you are ENOUGH. Let that sink in. Say it out loud. “I AM ENOUGH.” Now take a deep breath in, slowly let it out and get ready to dive into today’s episode. This week Dom and Terri discuss the narratives that reverberate in our brains that influence our confidence and self-esteem. Our confidence is situational and subjective. It's also different from self-esteem and both may...

Research has shown that there can be healing in humor. Belly laughs from way down deep can be so good for our souls. Lady, when was the last time you laughed? Not that polite laugh, but the real authentic one. When was the last time you tapped into your imagination and chaired the fun ministry? With so much sadness and seriousness, Terri and Dom take a break from the heaviness to have a lightheart...

In today’s episode we’re diving into a topic that’s taboo for many but oh so necessary to a fulfilling and joyful existence...S-E-X. Joining Terri and Dom is the first of many expert guests in H.E.R Space.  Eliza Boquin, is a licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, Relationship Therapist, and Sexuality Expert. She’s the owner, founder, and primary psychotherapist of...

Lady! We did it! We made it through 13 episodes! That means we have finished the first quarter of 2019! Can you believe it? Whether you've been rocking with Terri and Dom since Day 1 or just tuning in...know that this week's episode will give you a quick recap of each episode and shout out some folks. Also, Dom and Terri offer additional insights, commentary and follow-ups. But wait...if you enjoy...

We all know what it feels like when someone violates our boundaries but how do we know when we are the boundary violator? Have you ever... offered unsolicited advice? Gossiped? Said what you would do if you were in someone’s situation? Asked personal questions? Interrupted someone in the middle of a conversation? Touched someone’s hair? Touched someone on the shoulder? Asked a coworker...

Ever wonder, “How did I get here? I’m not as good as everyone else here. What’s going to happen to me when they find out I’m not as smart as them?” If you answered, “yes” then chances are you have experienced Impostor Phenomenon or Imposter Syndrome. This experience was initially coined to describe the experiences of White women who believed their achievem...

Terri and Dom switch things up a bit in this episode. Dom starts us off with a quick story about how she came to realize she has a team. If we want to live our best life then having a team will get you there. Who do you need on your team? How can you create a team with limited finances? Terri and Dom share with us some of the people they have on their teams and how they navigated finding coaches w...

Life is good...like REALLY good. In fact, it’s LIT. You’re “blessed and highly favored.” To the casual observer, everything on the outside appears to be wonderful. But on the inside...you feel empty. Lady, is this you? If so, you may be experiencing depression. What we know for sure is that ALL of us will experience symptoms of depression related to many normal life events...

No! In case you were wondering, no is a complete sentence. Use it without hesitation. Nike! (Just do it!) Know that using it is an act of self-care. Can you think of a time when you’ve had to say no or struggled to say no? Who have you had to say no to? How do you feel when you have to say? These situations are boundary testers and using “No” is a way for us to outline our rules...

It’s the day after Valentine’s Day. How did you spend the day? Were you focused on others or did you take time to care for yourself? Or was it just another day for you? Hopefully, you did something that made you feel good. In this week’s episode, Dom and Terri dive into the importance of self-care...doing the things (whatever they are) that make you feel good. While self-care is...

In this week’s episode, Terri and Dom invite you to join them for a live recording they held with several amazing women at the Womxn of Color Conference at the University of San Francisco. Just in time for Valentine's Day, this episode focuses on dating and relationships. No matter your current relationship status, ask yourself the questions Dom asked the live audience: “What are three...

On the first day of Black History Month, Dom asks us to examine what it's like to be Black in America. Terri and Dom dive into a discussion about colorism, good hair vs. bad hair, representation, how we talk, and lots of other factors that could tear down one’s self-esteem depending on how we perceive it. Dr. Dom drops some knowledge about the Clark doll study, the original experiment that i...

Terri is scrolling down her social media timeline and noticed everyone else’s life was lit while hers seemed stagnant. She felt overwhelmed instead of inspired. Dr. Dom reminds Terri of her #BlackGirlMagic but noted a bigger issue...what happens when we don’t reach certain adulting milestones? We tend to engage in negative social comparison (your day 1) based on the highlights of someo...