
She's So Lucky
She’s So Lucky is a chart-topping weekly podcast dedicated to women who create their own luck against all odds. Join host Les Alfred and special guests for compelling conversations that will inspire you to live life on your terms. Les and her guests are giving you a sneak peek into the minds and habits of successful women sharing their wins, losses, and lessons that you can apply to your own life. From entrepreneurs, to creatives, to wellness experts, She’s So Lucky is a space for women to feel free and inspired to live up to their fullest potential. Each episode will help you uncover new ways to create your own luck and harness the magic you already have.
Latest episodes

Dec 6, 2022 • 36min
Rest and Digest: Reset Your Circadian Rhythm and Winter Self-Care to Feel Happy and Whole
For me and so many others, Winter can be draining and leave us feeling disconnected from ourselves and our communities. So as we move toward the end of 2022, I find myself thinking of ways to be prepared for the holiday season and Winter blues.In this solo episode, I encourage you to think of Winter as a call to rest, set the stage to call in your manifestations, and channel the energy of the Winter Solstice to prepare for the bloom. I share my favorite ways to stay balanced, set boundaries, and be financially well.I also talk about…
Why winter is the perfect time to focus on extra self-care
What winter represents spiritually and how we can apply this to how we take care
Ways to reflect without dwelling
The importance of taking a break from doing “the work”
Resources:
Healing Through Rest: Creating Balance for Your Nervous System — Balanced Black Girl
Winter, sleep and your circadian rhythms — The American Association of Sleep Medicine
Exercising for better sleep — Johns Hopkins Medicine
Sleep Toolkit: Tools for Optimizing Sleep & Sleep-Wake Timing — Huberman Lab
Does the High Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency in African Americans Contribute to Health Disparities? — National Library of Medicine
Benefits of Vitamin D — Harvard School of Public Health
Is Vitamin D deficiency causing your depression? — Healthline
The Synergistic Interplay between Vitamins D and K for Bone and Cardiovascular Health — National Library of Medicine
The Physical and Mental Benefits of Getting Outside in the Winter — University of Utah
Sponsors:
Open | If you’re looking for a mindful meditation, breath work, and movement app I can’t recommend Open enough. They have a beautifully curated collection of guided meditation, breath work, and movement exercises to support you in your practice. Try Open for 30 Days free. Visit open-together.com/**BALANCED.**
BetterHelp | This episode is sponsored brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/BBG and get on your way to being your best self.
balancedblackgirl.com ◉ IG: @balancedblackgirlpodcast @balancedles 〆Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/balanced-black-girl/donationsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacyOur Sponsors:* Check out Babbel: http://babbel.com/balancedSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/balanced-black-girl/donationsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dec 1, 2022 • 35min
Finding Work that Fulfills You with Abena Antwi of Burt’s Bees [BONUS]
It’s so important to balance life, family, friends and your career, but it can be challenging — especially during the holidays.In this episode, I’m joined by Abena Antwi, a Chemist and Associate Product Designer at Burt’s Bees. She shares how she balances her career in chemistry and cosmetics, making time for her family, and taking care of herself.We Also Talk About…
Why Abena wanted to become a chemist & how she ended up in cosmetics
The challenges of being a working mother and being passionate about your work
How community makes our careers and lives possible
The importance of Black women & women of color working in the cosmetics industry
How Burt’s Bees shea butter products support women in Ghana
Our favorite Burt’s Bees lip tints & shimmers
Resources:
Follow Burt’s Bees on Instagram @burtsbees
Shop Burt’s Bees lip tints & shimmers
Learn more about how Burt’s Bees uplifts women in shea
Sponsor:This episode is presented by Burt’s Bees. By Nature. For Nature. For All.balancedblackgirl.com ◉ IG: @balancedblackgirlpodcast @balancedles 〆Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/balanced-black-girl/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacyOur Sponsors:* Check out Babbel: http://babbel.com/balancedSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/balanced-black-girl/donationsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Nov 29, 2022 • 1h 5min
How to Start, Grow, and Monetize a Podcast with Nakia Swinton
Podcasting is a growing industry with so much room for Black creators to share themselves, their views, and their brands. That’s probably why Black people make up 12% of the total population, but 15% of the podcast host population. But how do you get started? And how do you help your podcast be heard?Today I’m joined by Nakia Swinton, Supervising Producer at iHeart Radio, Co-host of Sufficiently Black, freelance producer for Balanced Black Girl podcast, and general podcast wizard. Together, we talk all things podcasts — from creation, to marketing, to community building and monetization. We even answer some thought-provoking listener questions!We Also Talk About…
Building a community through your podcast marketing
Keeping your SEO clear and easy to understand
The importance of consistency above all else
The fabulous Issa Rae and her little-known (but amazing) podcast
The pros and cons of each type of podcasting and reading contracts thoroughly
Having passion for more than the money
Resources (contains affiliate links):
Visit Nakia’s Website
Follow Nakia on Instagram
Listen to Sufficiently Black
Follow Sufficiently Black on Instagram
Article: The Ultimate Guide to Starting A Podcast
RedCircle, the hosting and monetization platform we use
Podcasting gear we use to record
Riverside: the online recording software we use
Acuity Scheduling: the software we use to book interviews with guests
Softer Sounds: who we work with for editing support
Sponsor:
Willmaker | Protect your financial assets with Willmaker. Visit willmaker.com to take their free quiz and use code BALANCED10 for 10% off your first document.
POM Wonderful | Get your fill of antioxidant goodness with delicious POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice. To find delicious recipes and learn more about the antioxidant goodness of POM, visit pomwonderful.com.
balancedblackgirl.com ◉ IG: @balancedblackgirlpodcast @balancedles 〆Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/balanced-black-girl/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacyOur Sponsors:* Check out Babbel: http://babbel.com/balancedSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/balanced-black-girl/donationsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Nov 22, 2022 • 43min
How to Get Funding for Your Business, Qualities of Successful Entrepreneurs, and Building the Damn Thing with Kathryn Finney
Black women have been the fastest-growing group of entrepreneurs in the US for the past few years with 17% of us in the process of starting new businesses. But in 2020—a record-breaking year for venture capital investment—less than 100 Black women raised $1 million or more for their businesses, which is very small in the VC world.In this episode, I’m joined by Kathryn Finney, Founder and Managing General Partner of Genius Guild, a $20 million venture fund that builds and invests in scalable companies led by diverse founders. She's also the founder of the Duni fund, the founder and former CEO of Digital Undivided, the mastermind of the widely acclaimed project Diane Research, the author of Build the Damn Thing, and a Yale-trained epidemiologist.Together, we discuss the ins and outs of Venture Capital and business funding as well as Kathryn’s expertise as a successful entrepreneur and her favorite wellness practices.We Also Talk About…
Seeing entrepreneurship as a tool that lets you live a creative life
Focusing on executing an idea, not just the idea itself
How not to waste $30k on a business
The importance of knowing yourself and having a solid foundation as a leader
Not waiting for permission from the entitled
The differences between startups, small businesses, and hobbies
Resources:
Black women are the fastest growing group of entrepreneurs. But the job isn’t easy— JP Morgan
Build The Damn Thing: How to Start a Successful Business if You're Not a Rich White Guy by Kathryn Finney
Visit Kathryn’s Website
Submit Your Pitch to the Genius Guild
Listen to the Build the Damn Thing! Podcast
Follow Kathryn on Instagram
Connect with Kathryn on LinkedIn
Sponsor:Open | If you’re looking for a mindful meditation, breath work, and movement app I can’t recommend Open enough. They have a beautifully curated collection of guided meditation, breath work, and movement exercises to support you in your practice. Try Open for 30 Days free. Visit open-together.com/**BALANCED.**balancedblackgirl.com ◉ IG: @balancedblackgirlpodcast @balancedles 〆Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/balanced-black-girl/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacyOur Sponsors:* Check out Babbel: http://babbel.com/balancedSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/balanced-black-girl/donationsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Nov 15, 2022 • 54min
Why You Need Community, Not An Audience with Kim Johnson
There is a big difference between building an audience that’s watching you and building a community that’s engaging with you. So how do we build strong, engaged communities that connect people rather than simply entertaining them?This week, I’m joined by Kim Johnson, head of community at Geneva, a New York based messaging app. Geneva helps creators, brands and leaders build communities from the ground up. So in this episode we dive deep into all things connection, conversation, and community.We Also Talk About…
Building organic community that is engaged and passionate about you and your work
The changing landscape of the content creation and audience interaction
How people are getting good at sniffing out inauthenticity
Having your community build content with you
The imperative value of mutual exchange
I am also very excited to announce that we have launched a brand new Balanced Black Girl community on Geneva! Yes, we now have a free community called Club Balanced that you can join to connect with other listeners. The links to download Geneva and join the community are below.And if that’s not exciting enough, the book club is back and also hosted on Geneva. We will have monthly book picks, share recommendations, and we'll chat about them in the community.Resources:
Follow Kim on Instagram
Join the Balanced Black Girl community on Geneva
Download the Geneva App
Follow Geneva on Instagram
Sponsors:
BetterHelp | This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/BBG and get on your way to being your best self.****
Framebridge | Visit Framebridge.com and use the code “BALANCED” for 15% off your first framing order.
balancedblackgirl.com ◉ IG: @balancedblackgirlpodcast @balancedles 〆Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/balanced-black-girl/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacyOur Sponsors:* Check out Babbel: http://babbel.com/balancedSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/balanced-black-girl/donationsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Nov 8, 2022 • 1h 2min
Making Big Career Changes and Building a Business from the Ground Up with Anicia Anya
Asking for help and leaning on your community can be intimidating, especially when you’re an entrepreneur. So this week in our Black Women in Business Series, we're focusing on what it looks like to make big career changes, bring physical products into the world, and bootstrap a startup.In this episode, I’m joined by my friend, Anicia Anya. She is the founder, chef, and CEO of Kid’s Table, New York City's only meal delivery service for kids which she launched in 2021. Her mission is to help parents create adventurous and confident eaters in a way that’s accessible and convenient.Join in as we discuss Anicia’s unique and remarkable journey from the tech industry, to nannying, to private chef, to entrepreneur. Her inclination to lean on her community and ask for help are as inspiring as her passion for her business.We also talk about…
Working for high-profile celebrities and CEOs
How the little, mundane things make us better leaders and business owners
The joy in always acquiring new skills
How asking for help can build community in beautiful, unexpected ways
Helping kids explore ethnic food and expand their palates beyond Lunchables
Winding down before AND after your day (seriously, try it!)
Embracing the soft life and the hard life simultaneously
Resources:
Check Out Kids Table NY
Follow Anicia on Instagram
Follow Kids Table NY on Instagram
Sponsors:BetterHelp | This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/BBG and get on your way to being your best self.Open | If you’re looking for a mindful meditation, breath work, and movement app I can’t recommend Open enough. They have a beautifully curated collection of guided meditation, breath work, and movement exercises to support you in your practice. Try Open for 30 Days free. Visit open-together.com/BALANCED.Framebridge | Visit Framebridge.com and use the code “BALANCED” for 15% off your first framing order.Healthy Happy Hippie | Try their high-quality herbal blends to supplement your lifestyle. Visit healthyhappyhippie.com/balanced for 50% off your first subscription.Luna | Get better rest with Luna Weighted Blanket. Visit lunablanket.com/balanced to get 20% off your first order.Willmaker | Protect your financial assets with Willmaker. Visit willmaker.com to take their free quiz and use code BALANCED10 for 10% off your first document.balancedblackgirl.com ◉ IG: @balancedblackgirlpodcast @balancedles 〆Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/balanced-black-girl/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacyOur Sponsors:* Check out Babbel: http://babbel.com/balancedSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/balanced-black-girl/donationsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Nov 1, 2022 • 57min
What It’s Really Like Being a Content Creator, Launching a Product Line, and Prioritizing Yourself with Alexis Barber
It’s challenging to stay balanced and relevant as a Black woman content creator and business owner with a full-time job. That’s why in today’s episode we’re continuing our discussion of side hustles with Alexis Barber.Alexis is a full-time tech industry employee, content creator, and owner of Too Collective luxury robes. She’s also the host of the podcast Too Smart for This and lives a bi-coastal lifestyle between New York City and Los Angeles. And even with all that on her plate, she reminds us that it’s imperative to put yourself first.Join us as we discuss the realities of transitioning from content creator to business owner and how to practice self-care and setting boundaries in the digital realm.We Also Talk About…
The shifts in how content is consumed.
Quality vs. Quantity in your follower count.
How to get brand deals that are aligned and successful.
Launching a physical product as an influencer.
Resources:
Follow Alexis on IG
Follow Too Collective on IG
Follow Alexis on TikTok
Preorder your Too Cozy Robe
Check out Norby
Watch Alexis’ YT video the truth about becoming an INFLUENCER and getting PAID deals in 2022
Listen to Alexis' podcast Too Smart for This
Sponsors:
Framebridge | Visit Framebridge.com and use the code “BALANCED” for 15% off your first framing order.
Healthy Happy Hippie | Try their high-quality herbal blends to supplement your lifestyle. Visit healthyhappyhippie.com/balanced for 50% off your first subscription.
Luna | Get better rest with Luna Weighted Blanket. Visit lunablanket.com/balanced to get 20% off your first order.
Willmaker | Protect your financial assets with Willmaker. Visit willmaker.com to take their free quiz and use code BALANCED10 for 10% off your first document.
balancedblackgirl.com ◉ IG: @balancedblackgirlpodcast @balancedles 〆Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/balanced-black-girl/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacyOur Sponsors:* Check out Babbel: http://babbel.com/balancedSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/balanced-black-girl/donationsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Oct 25, 2022 • 50min
How to Stay Balanced When You Have A Side Hustle
Today I’m kicking off our business and entrepreneurship series sharing my experiences having various side hustles. From podcasting, to personal training, to working in retail and corporate at the same time, I’ve done it all and I’ve learned a lot about how to find your balance while juggling multiple careers.If you’re interested in having your own business and don’t know where to start, or want to run and grow a business without burning yourself out, this episode is for you.In this episode I talk about…
My experiences having different side hustles over the years.
How I transitioned into podcasting.
How to decide if having a side hustle is right for you.
Tips for growing a sustainable side hustle.
Ways to prioritize your wellness as an entrepreneur.
Links from this episode:
Human Design 101: Understanding the Energy Types
Follow Balanced Black Girl on Instagram @balancedblackgirlpodcast
Follow Les on Instagram @balancedles
Visit our website
Sponsors:
Open | If you’re looking for a mindful meditation, breath work, and movement app I can’t recommend Open enough. They have a beautifully curated collection of guided meditation, breath work, and movement exercises to support you in your practice. Try Open for 30 Days free. Visit open-together.com/**BALANCED.**
Framebridge | Visit Framebridge.com and use the code “BALANCED” for 15% off your first framing order.
Cariloha | The softest, most sustainable sheets. Cariloha is giving you 25% off your order by using code BALANCED. Visit cariloha.com and use the code BALANCED for 25% off.
Going Wild | Add Going Wild with Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant to your podcast lineup. ****You can listen ****on Apple Podcasts, NPR One, or your favorite listening app.
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/balanced-black-girl/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: advertising@redcircle.comPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacyOur Sponsors:* Check out Babbel: http://babbel.com/balancedSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/balanced-black-girl/donationsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Oct 18, 2022 • 1h 2min
Overcoming Money Trauma and Redistributing Wealth with Nafasi Ferrell
We’re wrapping up our Money and Abundance series with an important conversation about working through financial trauma and redistributing wealth to support our community.How we feel about and manage our money is often influenced by our early experiences with money, and some of these experiences can have a lasting impact. Our guest today is Nafasi Ferrell. Nafasi is a Financial Coach certified in the Trauma of Money Method (TOM) where she proudly serves on faculty as a Racial Wealth Gap Educator and facilitator of Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) Affinity Spaces. She is the founder and owner of Narratives Unbound which she founded in 2019 after the passing of her father and after getting her and her husband out of over $30,000 in consumer debt.Episode Topics:
How generational trauma impacts our relationship with money.
The relationship between hoarding and scarcity mindset.
How to move through financial trauma and embrace abundance.
The importance of redistributing wealth, and ways we can redistribute wealth in our communities.
Resources:
Follow @narrativesunbound on Instagram
Check out Nafasi’s website to learn more about coaching and wealth distribution circles
Reach Nafasi at info@narrativesunbound.net
Learn more about the Trauma of Money method
Take the Money Disorder Assessment
Sponsors:
Framebridge | Visit Framebridge.com and use the code “BALANCED” for 15% off your first framing order.
Cariloha | The softest, most sustainable sheets. Cariloha is giving you 25% off your order by using code BALANCED. Visit cariloha.com and use the code BALANCED for 25% off.
The Good Stuff | Amazing goodies to add to your coffee. Visit forwellness.com/podcast and enter code BALANCED at checkout for 20% off and a free starter kit.
Going Wild | Add Going Wild with Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant to your podcast lineup. ****You can listen ****on Apple Podcasts, NPR One, or your favorite listening app.
balancedblackgirl.com ◉ IG: @balancedblackgirlpodcast @balancedles 〆Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/balanced-black-girl/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacyOur Sponsors:* Check out Babbel: http://babbel.com/balancedSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/balanced-black-girl/donationsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Oct 11, 2022 • 57min
How to Get Paid What You’re Worth: Salary Negotiation and Managing Career Pivots with Mandi Woodruff-Santos
For most people, work and money go hand-in-hand, and it’s hard to build wealth when we’re being underpaid. That’s why in today’s episode we’re talking about how to use the skills you have to increase your pay with Mandi Woodruff-Santos.Mandi Woodruff-Santos is an inclusive wealth-building advocate, career coach, and co-host of the popular award-winning podcast Brown Ambition. She’s a regular contributor to Yahoo Finance Live and her personal finance and career advice has also been featured on The Dr. Phil Show, The New York Times, CNBC, CNN, Business Insider, Essence, Teen Vogue, and U.S. News & World Report.Mandi is a master negotiator who has helped thousands of women navigate career crossroads, plan their next move, and negotiate higher salaries. This episode is packed with gems and is like sitting down for a coaching session with Mandi.We Also Talk About…
How Mandi was able to 10x her net worth by quitting jobs.
Navigating career transitions when the economy is down.
How to negotiate a higher salary.
Other perks and benefits you can negotiate in addition to base salary.
How to use the skills you have to make more money.
Resources:
Listen to the Brown Ambition podcast, hosted by Mandi and Tiffany “The Budgetnista” Aliche
Follow Mandi on Instagram @mandimoney
Follow Mandi on TikTok @mandimoney
Book a 1-on-1 Coaching Session with Mandi
Join the MandiMoney Makers community
Sponsors:
Open | If you’re looking for a mindful meditation, breath work, and movement app I can’t recommend Open enough. They have a beautifully curated collection of guided meditation, breath work, and movement exercises to support you in your practice. Try Op e n for 30 Days free. Visit open-together.com/BALANCED.
Framebridge | Get your photos and artwork framed with Framebridge. Visit Framebridge.com and use the code “BALANCED” for 15% off your first framing order.
Going Wild | Add Going Wild with Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant to your podcast lineup. You can listen on Apple Podcasts, NPR One, or your favorite listening app.
balancedblackgirl.com ◉ IG: @balancedblackgirlpodcast @balancedles 〆Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/balanced-black-girl/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacyOur Sponsors:* Check out Babbel: http://babbel.com/balancedSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/balanced-black-girl/donationsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.