Today, we’re talking to Clarissa Rodriguez, founder of She Rocks at College. Clarissa is a college study skills expert, Part-time Labor and Delivery Nurse and proud AfroLatina who helps college women earn better grades and minimize the stress and overwhelm that comes with being a busy, working college student. Clarissa is a first generation Dominican-American and was a first generation college student who started her schooling with dreams of working in medicine. After her college career got off ...
Apr 16, 2019•42 min•Ep. 287
Feeling like a Burned-Out Black Girl instead of a Balanced Black Girl these days? You aren’t alone. Burnout is very real, and when you’re dealing with prolonged stress from your career, family obligations, and relationships while also experiencing microaggressions and adversity, eventually something has to give. In this Feel Good Friday episode, we are discussing ways to navigate and avoid burnout. RESOURCES: From Buzzfeed: This Is What Black Burnout Feels Like Like Balanced Black Girl on Facebo...
Apr 12, 2019•16 min•Ep. 260
Today, we’re talking to Sage Ke’alohilani Quiamno. Sage is the co-founder of Future for Us, a company dedicated to accelerating the advancement of women of color through community, culture and career development. Sage has been mentioned in Forbes, The Seattle Times and more. She is a passionate pay equity advocate and diversity, equity and inclusion champion. She has provided over 4,000+ women with salary negotiation tools and resources they need to advocate for themselves at work. Sage has spok...
Apr 09, 2019•54 min•Ep. 246
Today’s Feel Good Friday episode is all about leaning into discomfort and giving much-needed advice to your younger self. Les shares what advice she would give her younger (teenage and early 20’s) self, what advice she still needs to hear, and asks you to share what advice you would give your younger self and why. RESOURCES: Balanced Black Girl Website Follow Balanced Black Girl Podcast on Instagram: @balancedblackgirlpodcast Like Balanced Black Girl on Facebook Follow Balanced Black Girl on Twi...
Apr 05, 2019•12 min•Ep. 296
Today, we’re talking to Irie Love. Irie is a talented singer, fitness Instructor, activist, child mentor and empowerment coach. Irie is new to Seattle, and determined to use different platforms to empower women and youth worldwide through her love of music, health and wellness. Irie started her music career in 1999, and spent nearly two decades working in the entertainment industry. After a series of life-changing events in 2017, she fell in love with cycling and transitioned to a career in well...
Apr 02, 2019•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 308
You have probably seen memes, quotes, graphics, and merch all over the internet the past few years with the phrase “I am enough.” While we have all liked, shared, and retweeted it, when will we start believing we are in fact, “enough?” Furthermore, what does being “enough” mean? In this Feel Good Friday episode of Balanced Black Girl Podcast, we are tackling the idea of being enough, and are discussing how to actually start believing it. Because you are enough already. If you like this episode, ...
Mar 29, 2019•7 min•Ep. 293
Today, we’re talking to Briana Owens, founder of Spiked Spin. Briana Owens is a Health and wellness Influencer, entrepreneur and empowerment coach committed to improving the negative stigma surrounding generational health and wellness in minority communities. Briana wanted to create an experience specifically with women of color in mind, while still attracting a diverse crowd. In that vein, Spiked Spin was created. In an industry where boutique fitness feels exclusive or is seen as a luxury, Spi...
Mar 26, 2019•41 min•Ep. 306
In today’s Feel Good Friday episode, we are diving into the importance of self-talk. It can be so tempting to fall down the rabbit hole of negative self-talk. But often times, the language we use to speak to ourselves is far more harsh, and less compassionate than what we would ever say to anyone else. We’re going to dive into why positive self-talk is so important, how to decode and understand the negative self-talk we frequently engage in and how to engage in positive self-talk (without feelin...
Mar 22, 2019•13 min•Ep. 297
Today, we’re talking to Nkenji Clarke, a Bronx, New York native pursuing her calling in the helping field of Counseling. An HBCU graduate, from Spelman College, it was there that she fully embraced her purpose and connected it to her passion of working with youth and women in Black communities. She is committed to service and understands the importance of eradicating mental health stigma in the Black community. She pursued her graduate degree in Counselor Education (M.Ed) and is now a Nationally...
Mar 19, 2019•50 min•Ep. 325
In today’s Feel Good Friday episode we’re talking all about therapy. Have you been curious about going to therapy but aren’t sure if you need it? Unsure how to find a good therapist? Don’t know what questions to ask when talking to potential therapists? We’re breaking down all of those points to help you make an informed decision to determine if therapy is right for you. RESOURCES: Psychology Today Therapist Directory Therapy for Black Girls Therapist Directory Attune App - Find a Therapist Near...
Mar 15, 2019•16 min•Ep. 312
Today, we’re talking to Maria Rodriguez, founder of Fear Her Fight Athletics, a company that reinforces the lense of intersectional feminism in the strength space. Maria is a competitive powerlifter and a strength and conditioning coach based in Tacoma Washington. She coaches individuals remotely on a sliding scale and personal trains all levels. She aims to make training more accessible for the LGBTQ+ community at her gym and offers an inclusive space on Friday nights to lift. Her work is deepl...
Mar 12, 2019•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 314
Happy Feel Good Friday! Today’s episode is tackling an important topic - body image. At some point, we have all been impacted by our sense of body image - good or bad. But in this episode we’re talking about the standards for body image in our society, questioning their power, and figuring out where these standards do or don’t align with our personal values. Get ready to start thinking of body image in a totally different way. If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes ...
Mar 08, 2019•11 min•Ep. 294
In today’s episode, we’re sitting down with Milan Durham, founder of Cultured Kombucha. With a background in architecture and a love of wellness, Milan built Cultured Kombucha. She created Cultured Kombucha not only because she is a kombucha lover, but because she also wants to tackle barriers to wellness including representation and access to healthy products. Cultured Kombucha is really the story of one woman looking to affect positive change in minority communities through driving awareness t...
Mar 05, 2019•40 min•Ep. 307
It’s Feel Good Friday, and today we’re tackling imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is the feeling of self-doubt about one’s accomplishments and abilities, and a fear of being exposed as a “fraud.” Imposter syndrome is common for a lot of people - and in this episode, we are talking about simple ways you can deal with imposter syndrome so it doesn’t get the best of you or stop you from living your full potential. In this episode, we talk about… Common places imposter syndrome may show up in you...
Mar 01, 2019•10 min•Ep. 295
Our guest today is Shanna Tyler. Shanna Tyler is a life + biz coach for entrepreneurial women and podcast host of The Self Soul Sport Podcast . Based in New York City, she loves connecting with fellow girlbosses and owning the concrete jungle. Shanna believes that you can do it and have it all -- from pursuing a life of passion, cultivating a supportive network, and making money doing what you love! In 2016, she launched Shanna Tyler blog with categories like yoga, mental health, and lifestyle. ...
Feb 26, 2019•50 min•Ep. 29
In this Feel Good Friday episode, we're getting real with ourselves about the loads and burdens we carry in everyday life and how they impact us. What are you carrying with you each day? How is it impacting you? Let's create a safe space to talk about it. If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes . Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles , follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast , and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook. PS: If you rea...
Feb 22, 2019•9 min•Ep. 301
Today we’re joined by Sonja Herbert. Sonja lives in New York where she is a Pilates instructor, writer, speaker, competitive powerlifter and a former social worker. She is the founder of Commando Fitness Collective and the Black Girl Pilates community on Instagram and Facebook. Sonja is committed to Black female representation in fitness, as well as improving the health and wellness in the Black community through writing, speaking and curating health and wellness events for Black women. She is c...
Feb 19, 2019•52 min•Ep. 313
It’s Feel Good Friday, and this week we’re talking about self-love. Not in a cheesy way - in a realistic way. In a compassionate way. Tune in for three simple steps to start showing yourself a little more love - because if you don’t love you, who will? Get your self-love journal sheets: https://www.balancedblackgirl.com/self-love If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes . Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles , follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast , an...
Feb 15, 2019•17 min•Ep. 310
Today, we’re talking to Shontay Lundy, founder of Black Girl Sunscreen. She was inspired to create Black Girl Sunscreen by her love of the outdoors, and dissatisfaction with sun protection products available on the market. She often hikes practices yoga and walks her bulldog on the beach. Unfortunately, she couldn’t find a sunscreen that would protect her from the sun without cramping her style. Like many women with dark skin tones, applying sunscreen meant dealing with the white residue left be...
Feb 12, 2019•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 314
A few weeks back on Feel Good Friday we talked about creating a morning self-care routine. Today, we’re talking about creating a night time routine. Having a solid night routine can help you get more rest, properly recover from workouts, and improve your focus for the next day. Tune in for three simple tips to help you create a relaxing nighttime routine that works for you! Mentioned in this episode... Sunday Night Slow Jams Playlist If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on ...
Feb 08, 2019•12 min•Ep. 309
Today we are talking to Michelle White, self-care blogger and author of the guided self-care journal, Self Explore, Self Restore. Michelle created her website gmichelle.com to offer space for folks to practice self-care regularly and strengthen their self-love. Michelle is a licensed social worker in the states of Illinois and Georgia. From her experiences in providing clinical services, technical assistance and trainings on interpersonal trauma, domestic violence and child abuse, Michelle under...
Feb 05, 2019•50 min•Ep. 323
In today’s Feel Good Friday episode, we’re sharing tips to help you stay healthy at your J-O-B. Let’s be real, most of us spend more time at work than anywhere else so it’s important to still take care of yourself even while you’re at the office. Tune in for seven super simple, actionable tips to help you feel your best at work. If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes . Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles , follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast , and...
Feb 01, 2019•14 min•Ep. 298
Today, we’re talking to Taylor Nolan, Licensed Mental Health Counselor and host of the Let’s Talk About It Podcast. Taylor's provides a unique perspective on the topic of mental health from her studies in psychology and counseling, as well as her time spent on The Bachelor and Bachelor in Paradise reality TV shows. On her platform, she focuses on candid conversations about mental health, relationships, personal development, and life. In this episode, we talk about… Wellness practices beyond phys...
Jan 29, 2019•1 hr 24 min•Ep. 320
In today’s Feel Good Friday episode, we’re addressing one of my favorite topics: how to create a morning self-care routine. I’m breaking down what my morning self-care routine looks like, why it can be short and sweet (I promise you don’t need to wake up at the crack of dawn for a solid morning self-care routine), and how you can customize it to make it work for you. Generally speaking, I break my morning routine into three categories: things that take care of my mind, body, and spirit. Dependin...
Jan 25, 2019•17 min•Ep. 20
Today, we’re talking to Luca Page, the founder of Radically Fit Oakland. Radically Fit is the Bay Area's body positive community gym for all queer, trans, POC, big bodied and fat identified folx and their allies, regardless of experience or ability. Luca first got into fitness while grieving the loss of a close friend. With physical movement being such an important part of their healing, they wanted to share it with others through their training. They created Radically Fit to build a safe space ...
Jan 22, 2019•47 min•Ep. 321
It’s time for another Feel Good Friday mini-episode, and today we are talking about financial wellness. When talking about health and wellness, we often get very stuck in the physical, however, our mental and financial health are incredibly important too. In fact, your financial health can really impact your physical and mental health. So let’s start taking baby steps at becoming financially fit this year, and at taking the stigma out of talking about money. RESOURCES: 5 Ways to Improve Your Fin...
Jan 18, 2019•12 min•Ep. 299
Today, we’re talking to Dr. Kristian Henderson, professor of public health, a natural lifestyle enthusiast, and the founder of BLK+GRN, an all-natural marketplace by all Black artisans. BLK+GRN curates products that are sold in categories like skincare, home, bath and body to meet the needs of wellness seekers who want to buy Black and live green. In the U.S. black woman buy nearly twice as many body care and beauty products, with nearly 75% of the products marketing to black women containing to...
Jan 15, 2019•50 min•Ep. 316
Introducing Feel Good Friday! On Fridays, we’ll be sharing mini episodes with actionable wellness tips empowering you to live well. This week, we’re talking about creating space for healthy habits. It’s the time of year when a lot of people are trying to create better habits. While we’re all for creating healthy habits, it’s important to create space in your life so these healthy habits can stick. Tune in for advice on how to create space so you can implement better habits in 2019. If you like t...
Jan 11, 2019•10 min•Ep. 310
Today, we’re talking to Deanna Belleny, MPH, RDN, co-founder of Diversify Dietetics - an organization dedicated to increasing diversity in the field of nutrition by empowering students and young professionals from underrepresented minority groups to join the next generation of nutrition experts. Deanna completed her bachelor's degree, dietetic internship, and masters degree in Houston, Texas and has loved working in such a diverse city (ranked as the most diverse city in the nation but who's cou...
Jan 08, 2019•45 min•Ep. 304
In our final episode of 2018, Les is sharing a personal, candid recap of the year. No topic is off limits. We touch on the highs and lows of 2018, what’s next for Balanced Black Girl, the real deal on setting goals that stick, and the question constantly in Les’ DM’s - when can we get more workouts? Tune into this intimate conversation to celebrate a year full of growth, challenges, and community. We break down: 2018 Highlights (Personal and in the Wellness Space) Lessons Learned What’s Next for...
Dec 31, 2018•53 min•Ep. 317
