This week I’m joined by licensed psychotherapist Dr. Natalie Jones for a thoughtful conversation about what it really means to go “no contact” with people in your life who may be causing harm. Dr. Jones brings deep expertise in trauma, boundaries, and emotional wellness, and she shares from both her clinical work and her passion for helping people build healthier relationships. In this conversation we talk about how complicated this decision can feel, especially within families and tight-knit co...
May 06, 2026•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 462
This week, we’re talking all things ‘The Drama,’ and ‘You, Me, and Tuscany.’ For different reasons, both of these films, starring beloved Black women, have taken over the conversations we’re having on social and in our own circles. What do these new-age black rom-coms say about how we currently look at love and relationships? And who gets to tell those stories? We get into all of that and more in today’s episode. The conversation does contain spoilers. But first, we are desperately in need of an...
Apr 29, 2026•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 461
For this episode of TBG U, council member Mikayla Weary , who’s been dreaming of a career in storytelling and documentary work connects with someone who’s already blazing that trail—filmmaker Taylor Hosking . In their conversation, Mikayla and Taylor explore what it really looks like to build a creative career from the ground up, how Taylor found her voice as a filmmaker, and the behind‑the‑scenes realities of working in documentary film. They also talk about navigating identity, community, and ...
Apr 28, 2026•32 min
This week we’re back for another session of “Ask Dr. Joy, our exclusive Patreon segment where I answer questions submitted by our community members. Today, we’re talking about the journey of getting back to yourself. If you’ve ever wondered, “Who am I when I’m not performing?” If you’re learning to trust your voice, reclaiming your worth, or finally choosing you after years of everything from caretaking to code-switching, you’ll want to check it out. About the Podcast The Therapy for Black Girls...
Apr 22, 2026•13 min•Ep. 460
This week, I’m joined once again by Dr. Sharon Malone for an important conversation in honor of Black Maternal Health Week. We’re digging into the realities of Black maternal health—from the historical roots of medical bias to the ways those patterns still shape our experiences today. Dr. Malone and I talk about why Black women are so often left out of the center of maternal health conversations, what we need to know about preeclampsia and other cardiovascular risks, and why half of maternal dea...
Apr 15, 2026•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 459
Hair always seems to be a hot topic, doesn’t it? From what style is “acceptable” to wear at work, to the politics of what’s considered “going natural,” hair is, no pun intended, always on the brain. And as Black women especially, there is so much tied to our hair–it can dictate how we’re perceived in certain spaces, signal lifestyle choices, and can reflect much more than a simple aesthetic preference. Amidst all the hair discourse, it’s important that we reclaim the space we want (or don’t want...
Apr 08, 2026•47 min•Ep. 458
At the start of a new year, it’s common to see people vow to take a month-long break from alcohol. But as research continues to uncover the toll that alcohol can take on our overall health, Dry January has evolved from a yearly challenge into a full-on lifestyle change towards mindful drinking. Now, a lot more of us are asking, “What does it look like to invite more sober moments into everyday life?” This is where the idea of sober curiosity comes in. It’s not about adopting a complete anti-alco...
Apr 01, 2026•50 min•Ep. 457
Our Advisory Council members, Fatima, Jya, and Mikayla joined us this week for a lively and insightful group chat about what Spring Break really looks like at different stages of the college journey. They also discussed Black Spring Break Houston; the joy, the community, and the misconceptions; and how to approach it with safety, intention, and authenticity. We also talked about the financial realities of Spring Break, how to resist the pressure to keep up with social media aesthetics, and how t...
Mar 31, 2026•37 min
When we think about depression, there’s a common image that comes to mind–sleeping all day or not enough, withdrawing from responsibilities, and feeling an overall inability to function. And while that image is accurate, it doesn’t tell the whole story of what depression can look like. For many people, especially Black women, depression can show on the complete opposite end of the spectrum. Instead of withdrawing, we give too much, thrusting ourselves into our jobs, family responsibilities, and ...
Mar 25, 2026•48 min•Ep. 456
Lately, it feels like a lot of people are being asked to do more and more at work. Teams are stretched thin, responsibilities keep expanding, and many of us are finding ourselves carrying workloads that don’t always match the support, resources, or recognition we receive. For Black women in particular, these dynamics can show up in some very specific ways. One of them is the glass cliff, the tendency to be elevated to leadership roles during moments of crisis or instability, often when the stake...
Mar 18, 2026•38 min•Ep. 455
Black single mothers have long been the subject of stereotypes, political debate, and cultural criticism. For decades, narratives in media and public discourse have framed them as the root of social problems rather than recognizing the complex realities of their lives, families, and communities. Today’s guest is writer and cultural critic Jamilah Lemieux, whose work has helped shape conversations about race, gender, and culture for more than a decade. Beginning her career in the Black feminist b...
Mar 11, 2026•34 min•Ep. 454
The ability to express ourselves through speech remains one of the most important ways we communicate. It’s at the root of how we connect, understand each other, and even how we explore our own identities. From childhood, we learn that what we say and how we’re able to say it can impact how we move through the world. Speech pathologists help those of us who experience challenges in expressing our thoughts and processing language. And as important as this work is, there are still disparities in w...
Mar 04, 2026•47 min•Ep. 453
Where were you when the “Is Having A Boyfriend Embarrassing Now?” article dropped? Late last year when the piece dropped, it immediately took internet discourse by storm and had a lot of people in heterosexual relationships questioning and taking a deeper look into their relationships. This week we're joined by the woman behind the article, London-based writer and digital content producer Chanté Joseph, whose nuanced commentary on culture had all of us in a tizzy. Today, we’re unpacking the rea...
Feb 25, 2026•51 min•Ep. 452
Student loans have been a source of stress for many of us—but with recent policy changes, shifting repayment requirements, and proposed funding cuts to certain graduate programs, that stress has reached a new level. From confusion about repayment restarting, to fears about forgiveness programs disappearing, to conversations about “reclassifying” degrees like nursing, psychology, and social work, there’s a lot of information circulating—and not all of it is accurate. To help us sort through what’...
Feb 18, 2026•49 min•Ep. 451
Reproductive health is often discussed in terms of our physical bodies, but what about our mental and emotional well-being across the reproductive lifespan? In today’s session, I’m joined by Dr. MiMi Sanders, a board-certified psychiatrist specializing in reproductive psychiatry, to help us better understand the unique mental health needs that can show up during menstruation, pregnancy, postpartum, fertility challenges, pregnancy loss, and menopause. We explore what reproductive psychiatry is, w...
Feb 11, 2026•45 min•Ep. 450
From wellness products, to fragrances, to the haircare many of us grew up using, Black women are routinely exposed to harmful chemicals in products marketed directly to us. So what do we do when our everyday routines are shaped by systems that often put our health at risk? These exposures don’t happen in isolation; they build over time, contributing to serious and sometimes chronic health conditions that are deeply tied to environmental racism at a systemic level. But there are changes and solut...
Feb 04, 2026•45 min•Ep. 449
We hope you’ve enjoyed our January Jumpstart series so far, and that you’ve been able to step into the new year with ease and intention. To wrap up the series, we're excited to share a few conversations that we had with some amazing women. Today, we’re talking about identity. You’ll hear from Nina Westbrook, LMFT and Oludara Adeeyo, LCSW on what it looks like to ask yourself, “Who am I?” and begin to search for the answers. About the Podcast The Therapy for Black Girls Podcast is a weekly conver...
Jan 28, 2026•26 min•Ep. 448
Friendships are a life line for us. Friends keep our secrets, they celebrate our wins and hold us up during the difficult times. So when a friendship ends, for whatever reason there is an acute grief associated with no longer having this life line and sadly this grief is often misunderstood and minimized. Today I’m sharing some thoughts on why friendship breakups are so difficult to navigate, what kind of support you may need to get through one, and how you might know if it’s time for a friendsh...
Jan 21, 2026•14 min•Ep. 447
For many Black women, higher education has long been framed as both a pathway to security and a form of social currency. But when does the pursuit of another degree serve our growth—and when does it distract us from the work we actually want to do? In this episode, I'm joined by Melissa Ifill, LCSW for a thoughtful conversation about the “grad school urge,” credential collecting, and the complicated relationship Black women have with education, labor, and legitimacy. Together, we explore the emo...
Jan 14, 2026•53 min•Ep. 446
Whether you’re chronically online, or only log on to post a quarterly dump, it’s important that you know where and how the data you’re sharing on the internet is being used. Oftentimes, we accept, we say yes, and we check a box on the screen just to get to what we were looking for, but exercising choice in those moments is a crucial way to protect your identity and take control of your digital footprint. Here to talk with us today is Camille Stewart Gloster, an attorney and strategist working at...
Jan 07, 2026•41 min•Ep. 445
You may remember hearing from Dora Kamau and Devi Brown on the show, and we’re bringing back some beautiful end-of-year warmth and wisdom to help usher you into 2026 with ease. Consider this an invitation to slow down, breathe a little deeper, and gently close out the chapter of this year. Whether you’re listening on a walk, during your morning routine, or winding down at night, we hope these reflections inspire a renewed sense of possibility for the year ahead. Happy New Year from all of us at ...
Dec 31, 2025•33 min•Ep. 444
For so many, the holiday season can bring about feelings of depression, complicated family dynamics, grief, or the quiet ache of being alone when joy feels mandatory. In this solo episode, I’m talking about why loneliness can feel heavier this time of year, the many reasons we may find ourselves alone, and how to care for ourselves through a season that can be emotionally demanding. About the Podcast The Therapy for Black Girls Podcast is a weekly conversation with Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, a lic...
Dec 24, 2025•20 min•Ep. 443
Content Warning: There are mentions of racial violence in this episode. If you have sensitivities around this subject, I urge you to take breaks as needed, or step away if it becomes too difficult. In 2023, the murder of Ajike “AJ” Owens shook the country–another Black mother taken too soon in a moment of senseless and unnecessary violence. In the years since, AJ’s story as told on Netflix’s ‘The Perfect Neighbor’ has prompted a larger conversation around race, fear, Stand Your Ground laws, and ...
Dec 17, 2025•47 min•Ep. 442
For this conversation we're joined by singer-songwriter and actress Kiana Ledé for a deeply honest and heartfelt conversation about her journey with bipolar disorder, how she’s learned to navigate her diagnosis with compassion, and the ways therapy, boundaries, and connection have supported her along the way. Kiana and I also explored the emotional world of her deluxe album, Cut the Ties, and the themes of self-love, closure, and transformation that run throughout the project. She opened up abou...
Dec 16, 2025•30 min
It’s that time of year again where we reflect on all of the astrological insights we got heading into 2025 as well as get a sneak peak of what to look forward to in 2026. Our favorite Astrologer, Mecca Woods is back with her annual astrological report. From transits to retrogrades to major planetary shifts, she’s here to unpack it all. About the Podcast The Therapy for Black Girls Podcast is a weekly conversation with Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, a licensed Psychologist in Atlanta, Georgia, about al...
Dec 10, 2025•54 min•Ep. 441
It’s that time again. Today I’m kicking back with our wonderful producer team as we reflect on 2025–what we learned, what we’re leaving behind, and dive into what it looks like to balance rest during the holiday season. As the year comes to a close, I encourage you to check in with your own circle to reflect on your year. What moments stuck with you? What was your biggest lesson? How much did you actually rest? It’s important to pause, check in, and remember that after a long year, a recharge is...
Dec 03, 2025•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 440
The holidays can be beautiful, stressful, joyful, and overwhelming—sometimes all at once. As we step into this season, I wanted to revisit a conversation that so many of you have told me was helpful in years past. In this throwback episode, I'm talking about the holiday blues. I break down what it actually is, why it happens, and how to tell the difference between holiday blues and major depression. Most importantly, I'm walking through six practical tips you can use right now to help you move t...
Nov 26, 2025•14 min•Ep. 439
As we head into the holidays, many of us will encounter old memories and create new ones. You may spend time recounting stories from your childhood, learning a new line dance, or even taking orders in the kitchen on how to make a family recipe. Memory-keeping has long been a practice for humans across the globe, but for Black people, those traditions look different. And in the age of technology, the way memories are created, stored, and used introduce a new set of questions around who gets to ca...
Nov 19, 2025•47 min•Ep. 438
This week on the Therapy for Black Girls podcast, we’re wrapping up the Sibling Sit-Down limited series with a heartfelt and nostalgic conversation featuring Sarah Amos and Reverend Shawn Amos. We explored the depth of their sibling bond, how their shared history shaped their identities, and the ways they’ve supported one another through both grief and growth. The conversation also touches on themes of healing, creativity, and family legacy, reminding us of the ways siblings can both challenge a...
Nov 12, 2025•46 min•Ep. 437
Welcome back to another episode of our sibling sit-down series. I hope you’ve been enjoying it so far. We’ve answered sibling questions, broken down various sibling dynamics, so it’s only right that we sit down to chat with some actual siblings. This week, we're excited to welcome Skylar Marshai and Sunlyn Chiraya, a sister duo finding new ways to learn and love each other. We discuss the evolution of their relationship, the relationship with the rest of their siblings, explore how they resolve ...
Nov 05, 2025•56 min•Ep. 436
