It's Thanksgiving Day here in the U.S. and this episode is for anyone who may not be feeling especially grateful.  With the holiday season among us, this time of year is even harder for those who are struggling with feelings of sadness, disappointment, grief, or loneliness. Yet, our culture stresses gratitude during this and we often find ourselves guilting ourselves into 'gratitude'. If you were raised in the Christian tradition, you were likely taught to be thankful in every circumstance and that 'things could always be worse'.  In this episode, I talk about my own struggles with gratitude during this time of year and help provide an alternative perspective for those who are struggling.  Sending you all so much love - especially if this time of year is particularly painful.      Be Well, Sis Partners: Switch Research: use code BEWELLSIS20 for 20% off peer-reviewed Mental Health resources  Athletic Greens: Redeem your offer of 1 free year of high quality Vitamin D + 5 free travel packs by visiting athleticgreens.com/bewellsis  _____  Join the tribe on IG!  Sign up for our newsletter!   Be Well, Sis. *Affiliate link: By purchasing this book (or any other book on our bookshop storefront, the podcast earns a small commission that helps support the production of this podcast. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Is there something in the world that you wished existed? Imagine how different things would be if you trusted yourself enough to lean into that?  Today’s conversation features the insightful and incredibly warm spirit that is Olivia Charmaine. She is the creative genius and founder of Black Monarch Entertainment as well as “The Tea” which is an IGTV original series that will be moving to televisions near you at the top of 2022.  I have been a fan of “The Tea” because has been a  breath of fresh air, authenticity, and a pause to a platform that is often overwhelmed with empty content. Guest Feature: Olivia’s professional resume includes "The Last OG" starring Tracy Morgan and Tiffany Haddish, Lena Waithe's "Twenties," and Seth MacFarlane's "American Dad," among others. Olivia has worked with TNT, TBS, Kerry Washington's production company, Sullivan Street. Her full-service production company, Black Monarch Entertainment, recently celebrated its first year. Their goal is to diversify the industry, bring new voices into the fold, and elevate the stories of marginalized individuals who are imagining and telling new narratives.   In our conversation, we discussed: creating your own opportunities,  how to trust your intuition as well as your own expertise,  not being afraid to not have all the answers,  The importance of community, and so much more.    Olivia’s book recommendation: Children of Blood and Bone by Temi Adeyemi How to reach Olivia:  Follow her on Instagram Check out her website   Be Well, Sis Partners: Switch Research: use code BEWELLSIS20 for 20% off peer-reviewed Mental Health resources  Athletic Greens: Redeem your offer of 1 free year of high quality Vitamin D + 5 free travel packs by visiting athleticgreens.com/bewellsis  _____  Join the tribe on IG!  Sign up for our newsletter!   Be Well, Sis. *Affiliate link: By purchasing this book (or any other book on our bookshop storefront, the podcast earns a small commission that helps support the production of this podcast.   See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Is the life you’re living the one that you’ve envisioned for yourself? Do you feel like your life is meaningful and purposeful? Have you ever felt like ditching the conventional and traditional in pursuit of your dreams? Wanda Duncan is doing exactly that. She’s thriving, instead of just surviving, and living her life with intention and full of purpose. In my discussion with Wanda, we chat about Wanda’s unconventional but meaningful life as a digital nomad and what inspired her to live her life on the road. She shares her journey from her failed attempts at digital nomad life, difficult and traumatic experiences, and navigating culture shock to ultimately thriving as an entrepreneur and full-time traveler. Wanda also explains how she stays connected with her community while not being physically present and close to her loved ones. However, she also shares how she manages to connect with a community of like-minded Black women travelers and independent entrepreneurs through her Facebook group. Aside from Wanda’s travels around the world, she has a wealth of knowledge and experience as a successful entrepreneur. Through our conversations, Wanda opens up about her experience with internal and external work as an entrepreneur, and how she has been intentional about her growth and evolution. And for aspiring digital nomads and entrepreneurs, Wanda dives into the several ways in which you can sustain a lifestyle on the road and on your own terms. This episode is for the dreamers and doers out there who strive for a life off the beaten path. Tune in as Wanda shares her wisdom about purpose, community, entrepreneurship, and living a full and sustainable life as a full-time digital nomad and entrepreneur. A Closer Look at the Episode [7:46] What prompted Wanda to live life as a digital nomad [13:51] Thriving, not surviving, and living a life full of meaning and purpose [16:00] How Wanda stays connected while not being physically present with her community [18:19] Wanda’s community for Black women digital nomads and travelers [19:21] The internal and external work of entrepreneurship as a Black woman [22:16] Evolving and working on yourself intentionally [24:36] How Wanda provides for herself as a digital nomad [27:33] Wanda’s upcoming conferences [30:42] Wanda’s book recommendations Episode Resources: Free one-year supply of vitamin D and 5 free travel packs with your first purchase (use code BEWELLSIS): https://athleticgreens.com/ Self-love Journal  (use code BEWELL20 for 20% off) International Black Women Travel Jubilee  Black Women Travel Website  Black Women Travel Pod  Black Women Digital Nomad Entrepreneurs Facebook Be Well Sis Patreon  Be Well, Sis Partners: Join our FREE text community for more wellness info between episodes + to speak directly to me. Text ‘Hey Sis!’ to 973-832-1684.  Get your free Audible trial here! *** The above contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, we earn a modest commission which helps support the production of this show. More-- Join the tribe on Instagram!   Be well, Sis. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Last week was my birthday and I had some time to reflect. In this episode, I get vulnerable as I share 5 reminders from this past year that I'm confident will be helpful to you too. As we near the end of the year, many of us take inventory of our year and I provide the following questions as journal prompts to help guide your reflections. They are: In what ways have you grown this year?  What lessons have you learned? In what ways have you impressed yourself? In what ways have you let yourself down? Additionally, there are some things brewing behind the scenes that I'm very excited to share with you! Join our Inner Circle membership community!!! Sign up here! Don't forget to leave a 5-star rating and review! Be sure to include show topics in the review :)    Stay connected on Instagram! Be Well, Sis Partners: Athletic Greens: Redeem 1 year supply of Vitamin D + 5 free travel packs when you visit my link (www.athleticgreens.com/bewellsis)  Self-love journal (+other clinically backed mental health resources): Use code BEWELLSIS20   See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

One of the things that I’ve said (and will continue to say) is that while Western medicine has its benefits, it’s not the end all be all when it comes to your overall health and wellness. And while I’m grateful for Western medicine, it doesn’t quite get to the root cause of an ailment the way that Eastern medicine does. On my journey to decolonizing my mind when it comes to being more intentional with my wellness, I’ve been doing what I can to learn about traditional and alternative medicine. That’s why I’m so excited to introduce you to Francesca Isaac, a licensed Acupuncturist and fellow island girl. Francesca fell in love with the philosophy of Traditional Chinese Medicine while receiving treatments for severe menstrual cramps. After graduating with her bachelor’s degree in biology, she spent 3 years studying acupuncture at the Tri-state College of Acupuncture in New York City. Today, Francesca is here to share her expert knowledge on acupuncture and how it pertains to your wellness. We discuss how acupuncture can aid your menstrual cycle. She also shares some tips and tricks that you can easily implement at home to alleviate your menstrual cramps and discomfort. Francesca walks us through the importance of learning and acknowledging the history of Chinese medicinal practices, especially in a world where these practices are becoming more widely available. If you’re interested in the therapeutic, physical, and cosmetic benefits of acupuncture and you’re ready to incorporate it into your wellness routine, this episode is for you. Listen in to this incredibly insightful episode with Francesca and pick up some pointers on the benefits of adding acupuncture into your wellness routine. A Closer Look at the Episode [5:16] How Francesca got into the field of acupuncture [7:23] Why acupuncture can aid your menstrual cycle and alleviate your menstrual cramps [8:56] Tips for keeping your pelvis warm [10:11] The benefits of using castor oil in the days leading up to your cycle and tips for using it [14:00] What is cosmetic acupuncture and acknowledging the history of Chinese medicinal practices [17:37] The benefits of Guasha and how it alleviates stress [18:30] Is cupping painful? [19:37] The evolution of Francesca’s business during the pandemic [21:22] Embracing the benefits of Eastern medicine [23:23] Francesca’s top book recommendations   Episode Resources: Athletic Greens Free is offering a one-year supply of vitamin D and 5 free travel packs with your first purchase (use code BEWELLSIS) Self-love Journal: (use code BEWELL20 for 20% off) Francesca’s Website Francesca’s Instagram Be Well Sis Patreon  Be Well, Sis Partners: Join our FREE text community for more wellness info between episodes + to speak directly to me. Text ‘Hey Sis!’ to 973-832-1684.  Get your free Audible trial here! *** The above contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, we earn a modest commission which helps support the production of this show. More-- Join the tribe on Instagram!   Be well, Sis. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It’s no secret that we live in a hustle and grind culture. Pop on to Instagram on any given day, search the term “entrepreneur” or the hashtag #girlboss, and you’ll get flooded with posts about “rising and grinding”. On the other hand, there’s also the online culture of self-care that flaunts bubble baths, mud masks, and pampering. Needless to say, neither of those images are accurate to what truly takes place in real-life entrepreneurship and self-care. This is why I want you to meet Dawn Fitch. Dawn is a health advocate, speaker, author, and the founder and CEO of the award-winning bath and body company called Pooka Pure and Simple. Her story of wellness and entrepreneurship is one with many dramatic twists and turns. But at the end of the day, it is one that teaches us all important lessons about building a business from the ground up, navigating life-changing challenges, being an advocate for yourself and your health, and becoming and finding a strong support system both for you and others. Dawn shares her story from receiving the difficult news of her diagnosis. She also details how she navigates her life with an autoimmune disease (multiple sclerosis), how she prioritizes and optimizes her health and wellness, and the power of community in supporting her through this journey. On top of her health and wellness, Dawn also shares her 20-year (and counting) entrepreneurship journey. She opens up about leaving her traditional 9 to 5 job, building her business from the ground up, and the incredibly humbling experience of being an entrepreneur. And if you’re a budding entrepreneur yourself, you’re in luck! Dawn imparts some of her wisdom as well as her biggest advice for up and coming entrepreneurs. This is a conversation about business and wellness that is real, unfiltered, and honest. Dawn doesn’t sugarcoat her journey. Instead, she offers real-life advice for some hard-to-navigate situations. Tune in and be prepared to feel inspired as Dawn shares her story and the important lessons she’s learned along the way. Closer Look at the Episode [7:48] The origin of the name Pooka Pure and Simple [9:01] Being diagnosed and dealing with MS [11:58] Coping with the diagnosis [15:06] Leaving her 9-5 and building her business from the ground up [17:51] The humbling journey of entrepreneurship [19:25] Dawn’s biggest advice for new entrepreneurs [22:06] Navigating a diagnosis and the power of community [24:12] How to become a strong support system for your friends and family with a diagnosis [25:17] Why you are your best advocate [28:56] Dawn’s best tips for optimizing your wellness and health [33:51] The importance of giving yourself some grace [34:53] Dawn’s book recommendation for entrepreneurs [35:40] What’s bringing Dawn joy these days? Episode Resources: Athletic Greens Free is offering a one-year supply of vitamin D and 5 free travel packs with your first purchase (use code BEWELLSIS) Pooka Pure and Simple Website Pooka Pure and Simple Insagram Dawn Fitch Instagram The E-Myth Book The Best Life Tribe Be Well, Sis Partners: Join our FREE text community for more wellness info between episodes + to speak directly to me. Text ‘Hey Sis!’ to 973-832-1684.  Get your free Audible trial here! *** The above contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, we earn a modest commission which helps support the production of this show. More-- Join the tribe on Instagram!   Be well, Sis. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

If you too have been seeing CBD shops, tinctures, salves, teas, and all sorts of other products sprout up and you aren’t sure of the benefits and how they actually work- this is the perfect episode for you! I believe it’s important to be an educated consumer so I decided to reach out to one of my favorite CBD companies. In full transparency, this episode is NOT sponsored by Reset Bioscience- however, I’ve been using their products for about a year now and have decided to have a conversation with someone from their team. In this episode we discuss: what is the endocannabinoid system who might benefit from the use of CBD products the difference between CBD, CBG, and CBG targeted products CBD vs THC what sets Reset Bioscience products apart  tips on managing anxiousness to avoid spiraling Reset Bioscience is giving the BWS tribe 40% off your purchase when you enter code BEWELLSIS40 at checkout. So this is a great opportunity for you to try their CBD product. Again, visit resetbioscience.com and enter code BEWELLSIS40 to save! To get a copy of the notes on this episode, TEXT: RESET to 973-832-1684.    Be Well Sis Partners- Shop Athletic Greens for a free 1-year- supply of Vitamin D! *Start your Audible trial now!  Shop our Bookshop Store Front.  MORE-- Join the tribe on IG!  Support us on Patreon! Sign up for our newsletter. Be Well, Sis. **Some of the links above are our affiliate partners. By shopping those links, we earn a modest commission that helps cover the cost of production.**    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

I’m in my mid-thirties. At this point in life, I’m quite familiar with the ebbs and flows of friendships. Over the years, we’ve outgrown childhood friends and made new ones throughout high school and college. But one of the skills we seem to lose a grasp on in adulthood is how to make new friends and navigate friendship breakups. Enter Danielle Bayard Jackson. Danielle is a friendship expert on a mission to help women create and maintain better friendships. Today, we’re diving into an open and candid conversation about how we can make new friends as adults.   We discuss the balancing act of prioritizing friendships while juggling the responsibilities of adult life. Danielle gives us a new perspective of viewing friendships through the lens of wellness, and why not having anyone to vibe with can have the same harmful effects as other unhealthy habits As a self-proclaimed introvert, I couldn’t wrap up this episode without picking Danielle’s brain on how I can take on the scary task of starting new friendships and finding new friends outside of my already existing circles. Danielle is here to help you navigate adult friendship breakups, transitions, and expanding your friendship circle. Because at the end of the day, we all get by with a little help from our friends.   About Danielle Bayard Jackson: Danielle Bayard Jackson is a friendship expert on a mission to help women create and maintain better friendships. As a former high school teacher and certified women's coach, (as well as a podcast host, author, and speaker) Danielle uses her knowledge and training to help women better understand the impact and importance of strong platonic relationships between women through her unique platform, FriendForward. Recently featured in the NBC News article “I hired a friendship coach to make friends. Here’s what happened”, Danielle is sought after by various media outlets to shine a light on the complexities of female friendship and to provide actionable strategies for overcoming some of the most common hurdles to sustaining meaningful friendships. Closer Look of the Episode: [2:45] How to make new friends as adults [6:17] Balancing adult life while prioritizing friendships [10:20] Viewing friendships through the lens of wellness [12:28] Taking the first step to new friendships as an introvert [17:43] Tips for finding new friends as an adult [25:11] Navigating friendship breakups [28:09] Danielle’s top reading recommendation   Episode Resources: Self-love Journal:   (use code BEWELLSIS20 for 20% off) Friend Forward Website Friend Forward Podcast Friend Forward Instagram  Deborah Tannen Books Shasta Nelson Books Be Well, Sis Partners: Join our FREE text community for more wellness info between episodes + to speak directly to me. Text ‘Hey Sis!’ to 973-832-1684.  Get your free Audible trial here! *** The above contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, we earn a modest commission which helps support the production of this show. More-- Join the tribe on Instagram!   Be well, Sis. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

You hear the word “self-love” being tossed around the internet. So much so that it has become a trigger word for so many people. But having compassion and kindness for yourself is crucial to living a kind, peaceful, and fruitful life. So in today’s episode, I’m diving deep into how you can foster self-compassion so that you can have better relationships with others and have a healthy relationship with yourself. First, I dive into an explanation of what self-compassion is and what that can look like. I also share what experts in psychology have said about the importance of self-compassion and how it affects our lives. Then, we’ll discuss Dr. Kristin Neff’s 3 main components of self-compassion, what they mean, and examples of how they show up in my own life. We’ll take a look at what it means to be mindful, and how to simply observe your thoughts while letting them pass, so as to not assign meaning and weight to them. Lastly, I talk about journaling and share my framework for falling into this healthy habit. This is an important episode that will reshape the way you approach self-compassion. So tune in, take notes, and give yourself permission to be kind to yourself. Many thanks to Switch Research for partnering with me to bring you this episode. Time Stamps: [7:10] What is self-compassion [8:15] Why it’s important for us to have self-compassion [10:49] Self-kindness vs. self-judgment [13:42] Taking a non-judgmental approach to your thoughts and emotions [14:45] Observing your thoughts and letting them pass [15:47] What you need to know about journaling [16:29] A framework for approaching journaling Resources: Self-love Journal  (use code BEWELLSIS20 for 20% off) Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen  Clubhouse App  Dr. Neff Definition of Self Compassion Article   Be Well, Sis partners: Join our FREE text community for more wellness info between episodes + to speak directly to me. Text ‘Hey Sis!’ to 973-832-1684.  Get your free Audible trial here! *** The above contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, we earn a modest commission which helps support the production of this show. More-- Join the tribe on Instagram!   Be well, Sis. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

 “It is not enough for alternative narratives of Black, Brown, and Native women simply to exist; they must actually influence the content and the course of the movement for gender parity. And before this call can happen, white women must reckon with just how much white privilege has influenced feminist movements and continues to influence the agenda of feminism today". - Rafia Zakaria  Although we've moved to a bi-weekly schedule, I had to pop-in and share this BONUS episode with you featuring the author of the newly released book called Against White Feminism: Notes on Disruption.   In this episode, we have a great conversation on the many ways that feminism upholds white supremacy and why many Black and Brown women identify as Womanists instead. She shares her own stories and shares insight on how women of color can navigate toxic systems of oppression and maintain their sense of self and sanity.  Purchase the book here!   Be Well, Sis Partners:  Shop Athletic Greens for a free 1-year- supply of Vitamin D! *Start your Audible trial now!  Join the tribe on IG!  Support us on Patreon! Join our text community at 973-832-1684 :)    Be Well, Sis. *Some of the links above are our affiliate partners. By shopping those links, we earn a modest commission that helps cover the cost of production.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.