The Yard of Greatness Podcast

In this episode, I’m marking 16 years in recovery. Yay me!! Looking back to 2010, the person I was then had very specific ideas about what healing and racial sobriety would look like. The reality of my journey has been far more profound and wonderful than I could ever have imagined. Today, I’m opening up about living in the promises of recovery, the truth about racialised complex trauma, decolonis...

In this episode, I continue our conversation about jealous mothers and wounded daughters, exploring how the mother wound can quietly shape our professional lives, visibility, relationships, and relationship with money. In Part 1, I explored how maternal jealousy can impact a daughter's sense of self. In this follow-up episode, I focus on healing pathways and how these early experiences can sho...

When a girl grows up being punished for shining, it often follows her into adult life. In this first of a two-part series, I explore a painful but important topic: what happens when a Black mother’s unresolved wounds are taken out on her daughter? This episode was inspired by a viral TikTok video showing a Black mother aggressively cutting off her daughter’s hair while verbally abusing her and fil...

In this episode, I explore the concept of hiding at work and why it’s often misunderstood. Hiding doesn’t always look like avoidance. It can look like overworking, perfectionism, undercharging, or staying in preparation mode.  I share how these patterns are often protective responses shaped by early relational experiences, particularly the mother wound, and how they show up for Black women and the...

Unfortunately, having therapy still carries a lot of stigma in our community but many will not think twice about having coaching. So, what's wrong with that you might ask? It matters because your needs and timing will impact the results and could even cause more harm if not chosen wisely. So, this episode is for you if you: Want to know the difference between therapy and coaching. Felt unsure...

Do you feel safe with your mother? In this episode, I explore this tender topic that many Black women carry with shame because there is no safety for them, and often they end up blaming themselves. This is not just about being physically safe, but emotionally, culturally, spiritually, and relationally safe. I also speak honestly about estrangement, boundaries, and the complex grief that can exist...

Mother’s Day can be a beautiful celebration for many people, but for Black women who have painful, complicated, or estranged relationships with our mothers, it can also be one of the most emotionally difficult days of the year. In this episode, I talk openly about how to care for your inner child during Mother’s Day when your relationship with your mother carries grief, trauma, or distance.  Drawi...

In this deeply reflective episode, I talk about how the Black mother wound shows up in our romantic relationships. I share my personal experience and what I see working with clients over and over again: this kind of healing isn’t something you just “get over,” but a tender, lifelong commitment to compassionate care and self-parenting.  So many of us try to heal our Black mother wounds alone or unc...

As melanated folks, many of us were never taught to listen to our bodies, only to push through them.  In this episode, I share how creating intentional space for quiet, reflection, and stillness helps us move out of survival mode and into something more spacious and honest. I talk about how silence and solitude helped me reconnect with my body, my capacity, my sacred Self and why these practices a...

Finding the right therapist can feel overwhelming for black folks, but it doesn’t have to be.  In this episode, I share guidance on how to choose a therapist who is culturally competent, values-aligned, and capable of holding racialised trauma with care.  Learn how to: Clarify your therapy goals and priorities. Assess fit through research and online content Understand the importance of cultural co...

Last week I watched Oprah's podcast on family estrangement, which brought up a lot of difficult feelings.  I thought about the complexities of estrangement from my own family and the painful experiences of my clients trying to navigate the mindfu*k of layers around this topic.  So, in this weeks podcast, I respond to Oprah's session and share reflections that speak to the themes I see repe...

In this session, I’m breaking down the culturally affirming, trauma-informed methods I use to work with clients. This episode is an invitation to understand what healing looks like working with me. We’ll explore the process for melanated bodies, identities, and relationships, along with how liberation becomes possible when we work with all the parts of who we are.

Its International Women's Day today, so I'm reminding you how badass black women are! For more details about how to live a blacka licious life go to www.heal.juneallen.net

'Life's to short,' is a phrase we hear often when sickness and/or bereavement draws  close. We question our mortality and reflect on the regrets and  reconciliations we want to clean up in order to live our best selves with whatever time we have left. In this session June reflects on 3 layers to consider before you take any action around life being to short. For more details about racial...

Keep it simple is one of the classic slogans used in 12 step recovery when things get tough. In this episode June shares some tools to help you keep things super simple in the midst of overwhelm, frustration and limited time.  This episode is sponsored by the Yard of Greatness 'Living in Love' program. A healing support group and mentorship program for black women to dive deep, explore and ma...

Hey family, I could not let January slip by without sharing some step one racial sobriety. The adapted step 1 from AA translates to us as, 'We admitted we were powerless over the impact of racism (white supremacy), that our lives had become unmanageable.'  I am thrilled to be sharing the space with my sista in recovery Rineya who agreed to join me to share her experience strength and hope on...

In this podcast June shares the importance of play as part of our healing, recovery process. Living under the oppressive system of racism is traumatic, and if we were raised in homes that also were chaotic, play is going to be something the can feel foreign to us because these environments will consciously and unconsciously  keep us on high alert.   Play is the opposite of trauma, s...

With recovery and healing comes pain. Sometimes it hurts more than the original hurt because we now have to deal with the years of using the dysfunctional survival behaviors that helped you cope. I know it's not what you want to hear but that's the reality. I say this not to scare you but to let you know that despite the pain, you are not alone and there are tools you can use t...

In today's episode, June shares about racial sobriety within the context of recovery. She talks about the history, the blocks to racial sobriety and how to include it in your recovery process. For more details and tools about racial sobriety go to www.heal.juneallen.net This episode is sponsored by the Yard of Greatness 'Living in Love' program. A healing sista circle for black women to dive deep,...

Happy New Year! It's been a while but its good to be back! In this session I share about what to do when you've been in recovery a while and experience rock bottoms with each new layer of growth. I also share whats been happening in my recovery around realignment as I level up around the women I'm stepping into in 2020.  This episode is sponsored by the Yard of Greatness 'Living in Love' prog...

Many of us are stuck in our perfectionism, which often means that we give up on ourselves far too quickly. We should and could ourselves with shameful thoughts and then become afraid to try again. In this session, I share the power in giving yourself the freedom to restart, no matter how many times you've dropped the ball.   

'A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.' Marcus Garvey.  The 17th August is the Honourable Marcus Garvey's birthday. This grandfather of PanAfricanism mobilised millions of Africans around the world to stand in their power, build businesses and be proud of their history. In this session, I honour his legacy by sharing how doing t...

Do you feel guilty about focusing on your healing process? Many of us want to feel more empowered in our lives but also fear the isolation and feelings that often accompany letting go of our old lives. In this session, I share on whats really underneath our guilt and how to release it so you can move on.   This episode is sponsored by Self Love Rehab, A 12 week beginners course to learn the f...

This episode is recorded from Womad Music festival! I'm having an amazing time and check to remind you how to reignite joy!

Many of us are so use to surviving that we don't know what it means to thrive. Why are we willing to accept surviving as a way of life? What does it mean to let go of this deprivation? In this podcast, I talk about how recovery gave me permission to dream, hope and step into a vision of wholeness. Are you ready to claim yours?  This episode is sponsored by Self Love Rehab, A 12 week course to lear...