In The Black Podcast

Join us on this empowering episode of In The Black Podcast as we sit down with Jasmine Bootle , a transformational leader, speaker, and advocate for personal growth. Jasmine shares her incredible journey of overcoming challenges, embracing her purpose, and creating lasting impact in her community. From navigating personal adversity to stepping fully into her power, this episode is packed with insi...

What does it really take to go from trauma to triumph? In this powerhouse episode of In The Black , we sit down with Kimberly Spencer, an award-winning high-performance coach, TEDx speaker, and bestselling author of Make Every Podcast Want You, who has overcome generational trauma, bulimia, sexual abuse, financial struggle, and entrepreneurial burnout… and built not one, but two thriving brands :...

What happens when your divorce leaves you emotionally shattered and financially broke, but you refuse to stay there? In this powerful episode of In The Black , we sit down with Brenda Bridges, a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst, Divorce Coach, Mediator, and Author, who transformed a soul-crushing divorce into a mission-driven career. After walking away with just $1,000 in the bank, Brenda start...

In this powerful episode, we sit down with A.E. Lee — author, educator, and survivor — to explore her courageous journey from the trauma of an abusive marriage to becoming a beacon of hope for others. As the writer of the gripping memoir One of the Lucky Ones and a fiction series about a domestic violence detective, A.E. Lee uses storytelling to inspire healing, connection, and strength for surviv...

How do you rebuild your life—and your art—after everything changes? In this episode of The Art of Becoming , we dive deep with nomadic muralist and multidisciplinary artist Sylvia Esol , whose life took a radical turn after a traumatic brain injury. From international walls to internal battles, Sylvia shares her journey of resilience, rebirth, and reclaiming creativity on her own terms. We explore...

Can a single moment of intuition change everything? Today’s guest, Sophia Demas, has lived a life guided by something she calls The Divine Language of Coincidence . From working with futurist Buckminster Fuller to designing couture dresses and becoming a counselor at age 50, Sophia’s story is a testament to courage, creativity, and divine timing. In this episode, she opens up about: The miracle th...

Beatriz Fritschler is an author, wellness advocate, and community leader whose story embodies resilience, transformation, and healing. In her memoir, Embody Joy: A Woman’s Journey of Reconnection with Her Body , Beatriz shares her powerful recovery from a brain aneurysm and the life-changing path it set her on toward mind-body wellness, deeper self-connection, and leadership with heart. As the fou...

EPISODE 32: Laura Nelson Finding Power in Sobriety, Purpose in Pain In 2020, Laura Nelson made a life-changing decision: to choose sobriety. What started as a deeply personal journey became Sober Life Rocks , a movement and mission to build spaces where people who don’t drink can feel seen, connected, and empowered . On this episode, Laura shares the raw, unfiltered truth about starting over, conf...

Today’s guest is a woman who embodies the phoenix rising from the ashes. Sharon Rolph is not only a behavioral scientist and Essence Coach, but also proudly known as the Queen of Courage . After facing the uncertain shadows of retirement, a stage of life that can feel more like an ending than a new beginning, Sharon turned her fear into fuel. She transformed her own path through post-retirement am...

Episode 30: 30 Things We've Learned Along the Way In this special 30th episode, we’re flipping the script and reflecting on our journey what it’s been like to build this podcast from the ground up. Join us for a laid-back conversation between your two co-hosts as we share roughly 30 lessons we’ve learned through creating this space. We also talk about what it means to hold space for women shar...

Today’s guest embodies transformation in its rawest, most inspiring form. After being diagnosed with terminal Pulmonary Fibrosis and Lupus, Dr. Xenia’s life took a dramatic turn, not toward despair, but toward purpose. Forced to leave behind a traditional career, she stepped into the world of healing and advocacy, using her own pain as fuel to guide others through theirs. Dr. Xenia is the author o...

This week, we’re joined by Michela — a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), trauma therapist, eating disorder specialist, and spirituality coach whose story is one of profound transformation. Raised in a conservative Christian fundamentalist community, Michela spent years “in the closet” about her loss of faith, afraid of rejection from the people closest to her. She eventually shut down her sp...

Meet Dr. Kelly "Kellfire" Barron, a certified powerhouse redefining women’s health. From breaking world records in powerlifting to competing on American Ninja Warrior , she brings unapologetic strength to every arena. As the founder of Tempesta , she’s on a mission to rewrite the rules of menopause and holistic wellness. Chiropractor, acupuncturist, menopause specialist, and fierce advoc...

On today's episode, we welcome Maria. Maria is a master shamanic healer, poet, and creative force who channels light language and codes to inspire and guide others on their spiritual and wellness journeys. Having triumphed over a history of addiction, abuse, and an eating disorder, she uses her life experiences as a testament to the resilience and strength of the human spirit. Maria is the aut...

We’re thrilled to have Michale Hartte with us. Michale is a passionate wellness expert who has turned her own health journey into a mission to help others achieve lasting wellness. Overcoming challenges like amenorrhea, osteoporosis, and weight issues, Michale has become a beacon of hope for those seeking to make long-term changes to their health. She’s the founder of Fit n Healthy Nutritional Con...

Today on In the Black , we are thrilled to welcome Jenn Greenhut, the founder of Love, Zero Negative and the nonprofit The Zero Negative Foundation . Jenn is a stage IV triple-negative breast cancer survivor who turned her challenging diagnosis into a powerful journey of healing and hope. After initially facing the uncertainty of her prognosis, she chose to embrace a positive mindset and even lear...

Today, we are joined by Jaime, an inspiring woman who's truly embodied resilience and strength in both her personal and professional life. Jaime is a partner in a successful commercial construction company and the founder of The Amaryllis Project, a leadership advisory firm that empowers high achievers and business owners. But her journey hasn’t been without its challenges. Jaime has navigated the...

This week, we have the privilege of sharing the inspiring and raw story of Elaine. Her childhood was shaped by mental illness, lack of family connection, and a chaotic environment. Raised without the guidance or support many take for granted, Elaine navigated her youth feeling untethered and untamed. Despite the odds, she grew into a woman of profound self-awareness, learning to forge her own path...

Today’s guest, Angie Harvey, is a true embodiment of strength and growth. Having faced unimaginable challenges, including childhood sexual abuse, familial trauma, and navigating toxic relationships, Angie has turned her struggles into a mission of helping others heal and thrive. As the author of Poetic Alchemy: The Seven Intentions of Healing, Growth, and Transformation , and the creator of the Co...

This week marks a special moment for us as we have reached Episode 20! 🎉 We’ve come so far, but this is just the beginning. It’s a reminder that every step we take plants the seeds for something bigger and better. ✨ The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now 🌳✨ We couldn't have reached our 20th episode without YOU, our amazing listeners and supporters! Your...

Welcome to today's episode of In The Black. We’re thrilled to have Christi Gmyr, a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Coach for Moms, joining us. As a mom of two,Christi understands firsthand the unique challenges of balancing motherhood with a demanding career. After experiencing the overwhelming pressures of juggling work, family, and self-care, she has dedicated her life to helping other stre...

This week on In The Black Podcast , we are honored to sit down with Elizabeth Jean Olivia Gagnon , a woman whose life story is a profound testament to resilience, healing, and purpose. From enduring unspeakable abuse to surviving the devastating loss of her child , Elizabeth shares how she rose from the depths of unimaginable pain to become a global advocate for mental health, trauma recovery, and...

In this powerful episode of In The Black Podcast , we sit down with Anne Marie Wells —award-winning poet, playwright, and memoirist—to explore the transformative power of writing through grief. Anne is the author of Survived By: A Memoir in Verse + Other Poems and Mother, (v) , winner of the Cinnamon Press Chapbook Contest. Anne shares her personal journey through loss and how she found healing th...

Today, we’re featuring an incredible guest who has truly walked through fire and emerged more powerful, grounded, and free than ever before. Through loss, addiction, and heartbreak, she chose not to break but to rebuild. Her story is a raw, honest, and uplifting testament to the power of inner healing , resilience , and radical self-love . This episode is for anyone who’s ever felt stuck, broken,...

Today we welcome the phenomenal LaShatá Marie Grayson , a woman whose story will inspire you to rise, even when life tries to weigh you down. From academic probation to TEDx speaker, from grief to growth, LaShatá has transformed her pain into purpose. As an Equity Strategist, Wellness Coach, and Executive Director of Carrying The Weight , she is shifting the conversation around leadership, inclusi...