Black Girl Burnout

• Joy is the Thread: Finding Purpose in Every Pivot

  In this episode of Black Girl Burnout, Kelley Bonner sits down with branding expert, content creator, and former pageant queen Mackenzie Green for a conversation that will resonate with every multi-passionate Black woman who’s ever felt stuck or pressured to follow a rigid plan.From junior Olympic swimming to Ivy League business school to sitting at the table with Gabrielle Union and Tia Mowry, Mackenzie shares how she’s zigzagged through careers, passions, and identities — not despite the chaos, but because of it. This episode is all about embracing your evolution, following your curiosity, and letting joy guide your decisions. If you've ever felt behind or boxed in, Mackenzie offers a refreshing reminder: there’s no deadline on your dreams, and every pivot has purpose.Key Takeaways:Your path doesn’t have to make sense to others — it has to feel aligned to you. Mackenzie’s journey proves you can thrive without a traditional roadmap.Skills stack across seasons. From athletic discipline to personal branding, every part of your story equips you for what’s next.Joy and curiosity are strategy. You don’t have to hustle your way to success — you can follow what lights you up and still reach your goals.Episode Highlights (with Timestamps):[00:03:05] – From Olympics to Pageants: Mackenzie reflects on her elite athletic background and how that discipline shaped her mindset — and her unexpected pivot into the world of pageantry.[00:06:00] – Miss Universe Dreams & the Power of Belief: How her family rallied behind her wildest vision — and why unwavering self-belief matters when your goals seem “unrealistic.”[00:16:45] – The Myth of the 10-Year Plan: Kelley and Mackenzie dig into the toxic expectation of linear success — and why being multi-passionate is not only valid, but valuable.[00:23:20] – How to Follow Your Curiosity Threads: Mackenzie introduces her favorite concept for growth and self-discovery — and how letting curiosity lead the way built her dream life.[00:54:15] – Final Word: Why Joy is the Real Strategy: Kelley and Mackenzie close with a message for every listener who’s afraid to pivot — reminding us that your path is valid even if it’s not linear.Connect with Mackenzie GreenInstagram: @missusa2mbaSupport the ShowAre you following your curiosity, or just following the plan? This week, we’re inviting you to pause and honor the unexpected pivots — the career detours, the creative sparks, the dreams you almost didn’t say out loud. Joy isn’t just a reward at the end of the journey — it's the thread that connects every version of who you’ve been and who you're becoming. So, take a moment to reflect: Where has curiosity led you lately? Snap a pic, share a story, or drop a voice note about the path you're carving for yourself — and tag us @blackgirlburnout so we can cheer you on.📱 @blackgirlburnout📧 Subscribe to our newsletter: www.blackgirlburnout.com📺 Watch the episode on YouTube💌 Show some love—don’t let Kelley’s mama be the only one dropping hearts!Have a question for July's Q &A episode click here to submit your questions.Stay In TouchIf you’re looking for more ways to connect with the Black Girl Burnout community, we’ve got you covered:Join our Substack family! Think of it as a modern-day online magazine (Tumblr-coded for the millennial hearts). We share weekly reflections, tips, tools, and deeper insights into each podcast episode—plus personal notes from Kelley’s life.Become a paid Substack subscriber for just $8/month (about the cost of a fancy latte) and access exclusive content like digital tools, apps, and free resources that are valued far beyond that.Our Sponsors:Check out Global Healing: https://globalhealing.com/healAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacyOur Sponsors:* Check out Global Healing: https://globalhealing.com/healAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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• Opt Out of Accidental Burnout: What No One Tells You About Building a Business

  In this empowering episode of Black Girl Burnout, Kelley sits down with venture capitalist and tech trailblazer Shalanda Armstrong to break down what it really takes to build a successful, scalable business. This isn’t just an inspiring conversation—it’s the essential business wisdom we wish someone told us sooner.Whether you're dreaming up your first idea, growing your side hustle, or already in the entrepreneurial trenches, this conversation is your blueprint. Shalanda shares the truth about venture capital, how to know if your business is fundable, and why women’s health tech—and Black women’s ideas in particular—deserve to be seen, funded, and scaled.This episode is for every Black woman who’s ever asked:“Is my business enough?”“How do I make real money without burning out?”“Where are the people funding ideas like mine?”Here’s your answer.Key TakeawaysYou don’t need to chase every investor—not all great businesses are venture-backed (or should be).Founders must understand the business model they're in—before seeking money or mentorship.Women’s health, joy, and ease are worthy of innovation and investment—especially by us, for us.Mindset clarity and financial alignment are non-negotiable for building sustainable businesses.Episode Highlights[04:30] Shalanda breaks down what venture capital is—and what it’s not.[12:17] The real criteria for venture-backed businesses and why most founders aren’t told the full truth.[21:44] Kelley and Shalanda discuss the dangers of “accidental burnout” and being overcommitted.[28:06] The myth of speed: why scaling fast isn’t always better, and how to define your version of success.[35:51] How to build your business around your mission and your lifestyle—without compromising either.[41:28] A powerful closing reflection: trust your instincts, slow down, and get honest about the business you actually want to build.🔗 Connect with Shalanda ArmstrongInstagram: @100kmventureswww.100kmvc.comLinkedIn Support the ShowAre you stepping into a “Summer of No”? Whether you're canceling plans for rest, setting fresh boundaries, or saying no to what drains you, you don’t owe anyone guilt. Take a moment this week to capture what freedom looks like for you. Snap a pic or video of your joy and tag us:📱 @blackgirlburnout📧 Subscribe to our newsletter: www.blackgirlburnout.com📺 Watch the episode on YouTube💌 Show some love—don’t let Kelley’s mama be the only one dropping hearts!Have a question for July's Q &A episode click here to submit your questions.Stay In TouchIf you’re looking for more ways to connect with the Black Girl Burnout community, we’ve got you covered:Join our Substack family! Think of it as a modern-day online magazine (Tumblr-coded for the millennial hearts). We share weekly reflections, tips, tools, and deeper insights into each podcast episode—plus personal notes from Kelley’s life.Become a paid Substack subscriber for just $8/month (about the cost of a fancy latte) and access exclusive content like digital tools, apps, and free resources that are valued far beyond that.Our Sponsors:Check out Global Healing: https://globalhealing.com/healAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacyOur Sponsors:* Check out Global Healing: https://globalhealing.com/healAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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• Opt Out of Hustle Worship: Why I No Longer Make Hard Look Holy

  In this unfiltered and vulnerable episode of the Black Girl Burnout podcast, Kelley shares her personal experience of hitting an emotional and physical wall—and choosing not to push through. Recording from a space of softness, Kelley opens up about caregiving for her mother, work exhaustion, and the long-standing cultural pressure for Black women to "keep going no matter what."Kelley challenges the toxic belief that struggle is a badge of honor, and that doing things the hard way is the most admirable path. She invites listeners to opt out of hustle worship and instead opt into softness, rest, and sacred ease.If you’ve ever felt guilty for resting or struggled with letting go of your “strong Black woman” armor, this episode will speak directly to your soul.KEY TAKEAWAYSHard doesn’t equal holy – You don’t need to earn your peace or prove your worth through struggle.The glamorization of hustle is harmful – Constantly pushing through burnout isn’t strength, it’s unsustainable.Rest is a radical choice – Saying no and choosing ease is a powerful act of self-love and resistance.Letting go makes space for new you – Releasing the “old version” of yourself is necessary for real joy and healing.EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS00:42 – Kelley records in real-time from a space of softness and transparency02:10 – Balancing professional demands with a family emergency05:40 – Letting go of the version of self that pushes through everything08:15 – Naming and rejecting the myth of “holy hardness”12:45 – How pop culture glamorizes Black women’s pain and struggle17:20 – Why “pushing through” is no longer virtuous or sustainable22:58 – An invitation to release the performance of strength26:10 – Closing: Choosing rest and presence over perfectionSUPPORT THE SHOWAre you stepping into a “Summer of No”? Whether you're canceling plans for rest, setting fresh boundaries, or saying no to what drains you, you don’t owe anyone guilt. Take a moment this week to capture what freedom looks like for you. Snap a pic or video of your joy and tag us:📱 @blackgirlburnout📧 Subscribe to our newsletter: www.blackgirlburnout.com📺 Watch the episode on YouTube💌 Show some love—don’t let Kelley’s mama be the only one dropping hearts!Have a question for July's Q &A episode click here to submit your questions.STAY IN TOUCHIf you’re looking for more ways to connect with the Black Girl Burnout community, we’ve got you covered:Join our Substack family! Think of it as a modern-day online magazine (Tumblr-coded for the millennial hearts). We share weekly reflections, tips, tools, and deeper insights into each podcast episode—plus personal notes from Kelley’s life.Become a paid Substack subscriber for just $8/month (about the cost of a fancy latte) and access exclusive content like digital tools, apps, and free resources that are valued far beyond that.OUR SPONSORSCheck out Global Healing: https://globalhealing.com/healAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacyOur Sponsors:* Check out Global Healing: https://globalhealing.com/healAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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• Healing is a Story Away: How Bibliotherapy Can Help You Reclaim Joy

  In this powerful and tender episode of Black Girl Burnout, Kelley is joined by licensed clinical social worker and bibliotherapist Emely Rumble for a deeply affirming conversation about the healing power of stories. As part of our “Summer of Yes,” this episode explores what happens when we slow down, find ourselves in fiction, and use storytelling as a path to emotional integration and liberation.Kelley and Emely talk about the role of literature in Black healing, how stories help us reclaim fragmented parts of ourselves, and why culturally rooted narratives matter in the therapeutic process. This episode is your invitation to reflect on the books that shaped you, the characters who gave you language, and the stories that helped you survive. If you’ve ever felt healed by a page, this one’s for you.Key TakeawaysStories are mirrors and medicine. Literature offers language, validation, and emotional integration when we’re navigating trauma or transformation.Healing must be culturally grounded. For Black women, therapy and story must reflect our lived experiences—not just clinical frameworks.You don’t need to be a therapist to use stories to heal. From poetry to journaling, storytelling is a tool we all have access to.Reclaiming your narrative is radical healing. Naming your truth through story is a form of resistance and restoration.Episode Timestamps00:00 – Setting the Summer ToneKelley opens the episode with reflections on the Summer of Yes—and why Emely’s work in bibliotherapy is the perfect fit for a season rooted in ease, healing, and affirmation.02:00 – What is Bibliotherapy?Emely defines bibliotherapy and explains how literature can support emotional healing, identity exploration, and personal growth.05:30 – Books as Emotional CompanionsA heartfelt discussion about how fiction and poetry can give us language, belonging, and connection—especially when we’ve never had the words ourselves.09:00 – Real-Life Impact: From Prison to PoetryKelley shares her early experience introducing poetry in the prison system and the unexpected healing that followed.13:30 – Representation in StorytellingEmely and Kelley reflect on why representation in literature matters and how seeing ourselves in books shifts our inner narratives.17:15 – Fragmentation and IntegrationEmely explains how trauma fragments the self and how storytelling helps us piece ourselves back together.21:00 – Language as LiberationThey explore how reading and storytelling give Black women a powerful framework for naming emotions, setting boundaries, and reclaiming joy.25:00 – Books That Healed UsKelley and Emely share the characters and books that shaped them—and how those stories continue to guide their healing journeys.29:00 – Reflection + ClosingThe episode ends with a loving invitation for listeners to reflect on the books that helped them heal and how storytelling might be the next step on their path to wholeness.Support the ShowAre you stepping into a “Summer of No”? Whether you're canceling plans for rest, setting fresh boundaries, or saying no to what drains you, you don’t owe anyone guilt. Take a moment this week to capture what freedom looks like for you. Snap a pic or video of your joy and tag us:📱 @blackgirlburnout📧 Subscribe to our newsletter: www.blackgirlburnout.com📺 Watch the episode on YouTube💌 Show some love—don’t let Kelley’s mama be the only one dropping hearts!Have a question for July's Q &A episode click here to submit your questions.Stay In TouchIf you’re looking for more ways to connect with the Black Girl Burnout community, we’ve got you covered:Join our Substack family! Think of it as a modern-day online magazine (Tumblr-coded for the millennial hearts). We share weekly reflections, tips, tools, and deeper insights into each podcast episode—plus personal notes from Kelley’s life.Become a paid Substack subscriber for just $8/month (about the cost of a fancy latte) and access exclusive content like digital tools, apps, and free resources that are valued far beyond that.Our Sponsors:Check out Global Healing: https://globalhealing.com/healAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacyOur Sponsors:* Check out Global Healing: https://globalhealing.com/healAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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• The Power of No: How to Reclaim Your Summer, Your Energy, and Your Peace

  In this energizing episode of Black Girl Burnout, host Kelley invites us into July with a powerful reminder: true freedom often begins with one simple word, no. As we continue embracing our "Summer of Yes," Kelley gets honest about what it really takes to say yes to joy, ease, and delight. Sometimes, that means first saying no to exhaustion, overcommitment, and emotional labor that’s not yours to carry. This episode sets the tone for a month of liberation by exploring boundaries as a daily freedom practice and encouraging listeners to opt into rest without guilt. If you’ve been feeling burnt out from being the go-to person or struggling to say no without guilt, this episode is your permission slip.Key TakeawaysFreedom requires boundaries. Saying "no" is not about rejection—it's redirection toward peace and personal capacity.Performative ‘yes’ leads to burnout. If your yesses are rooted in obligation instead of joy, it’s time to reevaluate.Permission to stop performing. You don’t have to do the most to prove your worth—freedom is choosing rest over performance.Episode Timestamps00:00 – Setting the Tone for JulyKelley introduces the theme “Freedom Looks Like This” and previews upcoming guests and topics.03:00 – Why “No” Matters More Than EverKelley reframes saying no as a form of freedom and empowerment rather than rejection.05:00 – Honoring CapacityShe challenges listeners to reflect on how often they override their emotional and physical limits out of obligation.07:00 – The Weight We CarryA discussion on the invisible labor Black women often bear and how it keeps us from freedom.10:00 – From Performer to TwirlerKelley shares a beautiful metaphor between performers and twirlers—those choosing rest, beauty, and softness.13:00 – The Cost of Saying YesA reflective moment about how past people-pleasing and overextension came at a high emotional cost.15:00 – Emotional Permission SlipKelley offers a loving call to opt out of guilt and into peace, giving listeners full permission to reclaim their energy.Support the ShowAre you stepping into a “Summer of No”? Whether you're canceling plans for rest, setting fresh boundaries, or saying no to what drains you, you don’t owe anyone guilt. Take a moment this week to capture what freedom looks like for you. Snap a pic or video of your joy and tag us:📱 @blackgirlburnout📧 Subscribe to our newsletter: www.blackgirlburnout.com📺 Watch the episode on YouTube💌 Show some love—don’t let Kelley’s mama be the only one dropping hearts!Have a question for July's Q &A episode click here to submit your questions.Stay In TouchIf you’re looking for more ways to connect with the Black Girl Burnout community, we’ve got you covered:Join our Substack family! Think of it as a modern-day online magazine (Tumblr-coded for the millennial hearts). We share weekly reflections, tips, tools, and deeper insights into each podcast episode—plus personal notes from Kelley’s life.Become a paid Substack subscriber for just $8/month (about the cost of a fancy latte) and access exclusive content like digital tools, apps, and free resources that are valued far beyond that.Our Sponsors:Check out Global Healing: https://globalhealing.com/healAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacyOur Sponsors:* Check out Global Healing: https://globalhealing.com/healAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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