The Summer of Yes: Reclaiming Rest, Joy, and Radical Ease

Jun 4, 2025

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This week on the Black Girl Burnout podcast, Kelley kicks off June with a powerful declaration: this is the Summer of Yes. In this deeply affirming episode, she explores what it means to embrace radical rest, joy, and ease, especially for Black women who are often taught that they must hustle to be worthy. As she reflects on grief and healing, Kelley also reminds listeners that joy is not the absence of struggle, but the resistance to it. This episode is both a soft invitation and a bold call to action: to reclaim summer not as a season of over-productivity, but as a sacred space to say YES to softness, delight, boundaries, and fun.

What You’ll Learn

How to shift from survival mode into intentional joy.
Why rest is not optional—it’s essential.
Ways to say "yes" to joy and "no" to energy drainers.
The radical act of celebrating yourself without guilt or apology.

Key Takeaways & Timestamps:

[04:00] Say YES to Radical Rest: Instead of hustling through summer, Kelley challenges listeners to redefine rest as a revolutionary act—and make space for true rejuvenation in everyday moments.

[07:03] Joy Is Resistance: Kelley reframes joy as an act of defiance in a world that conditions Black women to glorify struggle. She invites us to consider how delight can coexist with grief.

[08:11] Boundaries Are Beautiful: Whether it’s people, places, or obligations, Kelley emphasizes the power of saying no to what drains you—and yes to what restores you.

[10:55] Design Your Summer With Intention: Listeners are guided to reclaim their time, whether that’s through slower mornings, sacred Sundays, or committing to just one restful ritual each week.

Support This Show

Are you creating your Summer of Yes?

Whether it’s sleeping in, brunching solo, or finally saying no to that thing—you deserve joy without permission or guilt.

✨ Snap a pic or video of how you're saying YES to joy, rest, and ease

✨ Tag @blackgirlburnout

✨ Use the hashtag #SummerOfYes

📩 Subscribe to the newsletter: blackgirlburnout.com

📱 Follow on socials: IG + TikTok: @blackgirlburnout

🎥 Watch the episode on YouTube and show some love. Don’t let Kelley’s mama be the only one dropping hearts!

STAY IN TOUCH

If you’re looking for more ways to connect with the Black Girl Burnout community, we’ve got you covered:

Join our Substack family! Think of it as a modern-day online magazine (Tumblr-coded for the millennial hearts). We share weekly reflections, tips, tools, and deeper insights into each podcast episode—plus personal notes from Kelley’s life.
Become a paid Substack subscriber for just $8/month (about the cost of a fancy latte) and access exclusive content like digital tools, apps, and free resources that are valued far beyond that.
Work with Kelley directly: If you’re in New York State, Kelley is also accepting short-term therapy clients with select insurance and private pay options. Sessions are designed to be focused and transformational within 90 days. Book a Consultation.

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