

Grown and Growing Podcast
Sonia Hamlin
Welcome to Grown and Growing — your favorite podcast for women who know that life in your 40s (and beyond) is just getting started! This is your safe, relatable space where we talk about it all: relationships, kids, health, career, sex, travel, and everything in between.Join two vibrant, unapologetic Black women as we share fun, candid conversations about navigating life’s ups and downs while owning every stage of our growth. Think of us as your girlfriends who keep it real, laugh hard, and remind you that you’re never too grown to keep growing.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 19, 2025 • 37min
86. Summer Check-in (and we want to hear from you)
✨ We want to hear from you! ✨Take our 2-minute listener survey and tell us what you love, what you'd like more of, and how we can keep growing together.👉 LINK TO SURVEY 👈We’re still on hiatus, but summer’s moving fast. We’re popping in for a quick check-in. In our last episode back in June, we shared all our big summer plans... but did we actually follow through? Tune in and find out.Like. Follow. Share. Website: grownandgrowingpodcast.comFacebook: @GrownandgrowingpodcastInstagram: @GrownandgrowingpodcastYouTube: Grown and Growing PodcastEmail: grown.growingpodcast@gmail.com

Jun 24, 2025 • 43min
85. Embracing a Soft Life in a Hard World
It’s the last episode of this season, and we’re discussing a tough question as we enter the summer months. With everything going on in the world, is a “soft life” realistic? Is it responsible? We wrestle with what it means to pursue peace and rest in a world that feels anything but soft. We explore how Black women, in particular, can give themselves permission to step back without ignoring the reality around them. Is it possible to protect your peace and still stay engaged in the world? We don’t have all the answers—but it offers a thoughtful, honest look at the balancing act.Like. Follow. Share. Website: grownandgrowingpodcast.comFacebook: @GrownandgrowingpodcastInstagram: @GrownandgrowingpodcastYouTube: Grown and Growing PodcastEmail: grown.growingpodcast@gmail.com

11 snips
Jun 10, 2025 • 58min
84. Alternative Relationships: Exploring Ethical Non-Monogamy
Deb Dennis, an attorney and the moderator of the DMV chapter of Black and Poly, shares her insightful journey into ethical non-monogamy and polyamory. She dismantles common myths, emphasizing that it’s not just about sex but involves deep emotional maturity. Deb discusses the importance of communication and consent in navigating complex relationship dynamics. She also highlights the supportive community around polyamory and how it empowers individuals, particularly women in their forties, to explore love and connection beyond traditional norms.

May 27, 2025 • 1h 10min
83. Spirituality: Unpacking Tradition and Finding Your Truth Part 2
In part two of this conversation, we dive deeper into spirituality, ancestors, and the personal beliefs that shape our journeys. We’re unpacking what it truly means to connect with our ancestors and exploring how these personal experiences redefine faith. We also chat openly about questioning long-held beliefs, pushing beyond the boundaries of organized religion, and why embracing our roots and community is key to growth. It’s all about finding what resonates deeply and staying true to ourselves.Like. Follow. Share. Website: grownandgrowingpodcast.comFacebook: @GrownandgrowingpodcastInstagram: @GrownandgrowingpodcastYouTube: Grown and Growing PodcastEmail: grown.growingpodcast@gmail.com

May 13, 2025 • 1h 4min
82. Spirituality: Unpacking Tradition & Finding Your Truth Pt.1
In this wide-ranging conversation, Sonia and Roberta are joined by long-time friends Yadira and Emanuel to unpack their evolving relationships with faith and spirituality. They reflect on what it was like growing up in the church, how their beliefs have shifted over time, and the ways culture, community, and personal experience have shaped their spiritual paths. They explore the role of the Black church—both its deep cultural roots and its limitations—and why so many are rethinking what it means to be “religious” versus “spiritual.” It’s a thoughtful look at how faith grows and changes as we do.Like. Follow. Share. Website: grownandgrowingpodcast.comFacebook: @GrownandgrowingpodcastInstagram: @GrownandgrowingpodcastYouTube: Grown and Growing PodcastEmail: grown.growingpodcast@gmail.com

Apr 29, 2025 • 1h 7min
81. Am I Too Grown for This?
In this fun episode, Sonia and Roberta ask the question: Am I too grown for this? They talk about the trends, habits, and guilty pleasures they’ve outgrown — and the ones they’re proudly holding onto. From fashion and concerts to dating and slang, they break down what’s still a vibe and what’s getting left behind.Like. Follow. Share. Website: grownandgrowingpodcast.comFacebook: @GrownandgrowingpodcastInstagram: @GrownandgrowingpodcastYouTube: Grown and Growing PodcastEmail: grown.growingpodcast@gmail.com

Apr 15, 2025 • 1h 8min
80. The Weight of What If: How Regret Transforms Us
Dive into the emotional maze of regret, where it transforms from a burden to a catalyst for growth. Discover how regret contrasts with disappointment and learn from shared personal stories. Explore financial lessons tied to past decisions while navigating motherhood and the challenges of fertility. The conversation emphasizes that regrets can be reframed as opportunities for growth, highlighting that life's missteps often lead to self-discovery and fulfillment, encouraging listeners to embrace their 'what ifs'.

Apr 1, 2025 • 54min
79. Looking Back: Words of Wisdom to Women in Their 30s
In this reflective and heartfelt episode, Roberta and Sonia dive into all the things they wish they'd known back in their 30s—a decade Sonia's calls "The Great Unlearning." It was Inspired by Søren Kiekegaard's quote, "Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards." Sonia and Roberta share relatable stories of divorce, motherhood, career pivots, and self-discovery, they wonder aloud how much smoother life might've been with some timely wisdom from women who've been there.Like. Follow. Share. Website: grownandgrowingpodcast.comFacebook: @GrownandgrowingpodcastInstagram: @GrownandgrowingpodcastYouTube: Grown and Growing PodcastEmail: grown.growingpodcast@gmail.com

Mar 18, 2025 • 1h 22min
78. You're a Pal and a Confidant: Grown & Growing Friendships
Friendship in adulthood isn’t always as effortless as it once was. Sonia and Roberta talk about navigating friendships in adulthood—through life changes, busy schedules, and shifting priorities. They reflect on their own 20+ year bond, the role of honesty, the reality of drifting apart, and whether jealousy has a place in friendship (looking at you, Oprah). Plus, they ask: Who’s your Golden Girls match? Grab your beverage of choice and hit play on this convo.What Roberta is drinking in this episode: Finca Torremilanos Montecastrillo Tempranillo 2020Like. Follow. Share. Website: grownandgrowingpodcast.comFacebook: @GrownandgrowingpodcastInstagram: @GrownandgrowingpodcastYouTube: Grown and Growing PodcastEmail: grown.growingpodcast@gmail.com

Mar 4, 2025 • 52min
77. Anti-Aging vs Aging Gracefully: Exploring Both Sides
Aging—it’s happening whether we like it or not, so why not talk about it? In this episode of The Grown and Growing Podcast, we dive headfirst into all the things that come with getting older—the good, the bad, and the laugh-out-loud moments.We’re breaking down what it really means "age gracefully" (and whether we even want to), how society tries to tell us what aging should look like, and the ever-blurry line between making tweaks and "doing the most." So grab your beverage of choice (Roberta’s is wine) and join us for a fun and honest conversation!Like. Follow. Share. Website: grownandgrowingpodcast.comFacebook: @GrownandgrowingpodcastInstagram: @GrownandgrowingpodcastYouTube: Grown and Growing PodcastEmail: grown.growingpodcast@gmail.com