Let's Try This Again with B. Simone

• Owning Your Story: Comedy, Identity & Truth with Zainab Johnson

  This week on Let’s Try This Again, I’m your host B Simone, and I’m sitting down with the hilarious and inspiring Zainab Johnson. From the moment I discovered Zainab on social media—rocking her Bantu knots and dropping truth with every punchline—I knew I had to have her on the show. In this episode, we get real about what it’s like to break into stand-up comedy as a Black Muslim woman, and how sometimes the things that make us different become our superpowers.Zainab shares how she never saw women like herself represented in comedy or on TV growing up, and how that inspired her to become the role model she wished she’d had. She opens up about her first time on stage, admitting she thought she’d fail but wanted a good story to tell—only to discover she was actually good at it and wanted to try again the very next day. We laugh about the wild journey from open mics at hookah lounges to touring internationally, and how being brutally honest about her life—like growing up with 13 siblings, wearing a hijab as a kid, or experimenting with hair—became the heart of her comedy.We also dive into real talk about identity, faith, and self-acceptance. Zainab breaks down why she chose to stop wearing her hijab as a teen and how, as an entertainer, she’s on a mission to affirm the existence of young girls who don’t see themselves reflected in the media. We even get into the stigma around Black women and hair, and how owning your truth—whether it’s a flip-over weave or a shaved head—can be freeing and funny.If you’ve ever felt like the odd one out, doubted your path, or needed a reminder that your story matters, this episode is for you. Tune in for laughter, wisdom, and a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to keep showing up and trying again, no matter what the world expects. And don’t forget—every Monday we drop audio on all platforms, and every Tuesday you can catch the visuals on YouTube. Let’s grow together!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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• Sobriety, Healing and Second Chances feat Vic Mensa

  This week on Let’s Try This Again, I sit down with the multi-talented artist Vic Mensa for a raw, honest conversation about sobriety, healing, and what it really takes to break free from addiction. I open up about my own struggles with food addiction, and Vic shares his journey of letting go of drugs, alcohol, and even unhealthy relationships with sex-getting real about the moments that forced him to change. He talks about the night he crashed his car while drunk and high on Molly, and how that wake-up call, paired with a powerful moment of prayer in a mosque, led him to finally listen when God gave him a second chance.Vic breaks down what sobriety means for him-not just abstaining from substances, but rebuilding his relationship with himself and others, including getting involved with Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous. We talk about the concept of anhedonia, or the inability to feel pleasure, and how years of chasing extreme highs left him feeling numb to everyday joys. Vic gets vulnerable about the guilt, shame, and darkness that came with addiction, and how, over time, he’s learned to find happiness in the simple moments again.If you’ve ever battled addiction in any form-or just felt stuck in a cycle you couldn’t break-this episode is for you. Vic’s story is motivating and relatable, reminding us that real change takes honesty, support, and a willingness to listen when life (or God) gives you a sign. Tune in for a conversation full of laughter, wisdom, and hope for anyone ready to try again.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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• Manifesting and Mindset feat Jamie Lee Ruiz

  This week on Let’s Try This Again, I’m your host B Simone, and I’m joined by my girl Jamie, a life coach who specializes in manifesting and mindset. In this episode, we get real about what it actually takes to manifest the life you want-whether it’s more money, a thriving business, or deep, meaningful relationships. Jamie breaks down her step-by-step approach to manifestation, starting with the most important question: What do you truly want? So many of us don’t even let ourselves dream big, or we get stuck chasing “ego desires” instead of the heart-led dreams God placed inside us.We talk about how your beliefs shape your reality, and Jamie shares how she helps clients identify the limiting beliefs that hold them back-like wanting a faithful partner but secretly believing “all men cheat.” I even walk through some of my own examples, like getting up at 6 a.m. to work out because I’m stepping into the version of myself who runs a multi-million-dollar business. Jamie’s process is practical and motivating: write down your desires, get honest about your limiting beliefs, and then ask yourself if those beliefs are really the ultimate truth. Spoiler: they never are!This episode is packed with actionable steps-like choosing new beliefs, taking inspired action, and tuning in to what God is telling you in prayer and meditation. Jamie also opens up about her own spiritual journey, finding balance between faith and the universe, and how she learned to trust her intuition again. If you’re ready to break through old patterns and become the person who actually lives the life you dream about, this conversation is for you. Grab a notebook-Jamie even gives us a free mini coaching session right on the podcast! Let’s keep growing, manifesting, and trying again-together.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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• God's Timing: feat Teresa Celeste

  Hey y'all! Welcome back to another episode of Let's Try This Again, I'm your host B Simone! This week, get ready for a powerful conversation with my special guest Teresa Celeste. We might even call ourselves the LTT Ayers now, thanks to Tyler! We talk about Teresa's first big break, God's timing, seeking Jesus, fasting and honestly, God really took the wheel on this one. There were so many other things I wanted to chat about, but the direction we went? Absolutely perfect.I'm so excited for you to hear this episode. Trust me, you don't want to miss it. And hey, if you're just listening, make sure to head over to YouTube for the weekly vlog.Thanks for tuning in every Monday for the audio and Tuesday for the visuals. Let me know in the comments if you want to hear more from our amazing guest. Don't forget to leave a review on Apple Podcasts (five stars would be amazing!), and go comment, rate, subscribe, and share the love.Remember, keep pushing forward, keep smiling, and never, ever give up. Stay resilient, and I love you guys so very much! See you next week!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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• Forgiveness vs. Healing with Dr. Anita Phillips

  This week on Let’s Try This Again, I’m your host B Simone, and I’m joined by the incredible Dr. Anita Phillips-a trauma therapist, powerhouse speaker, and someone whose wisdom has truly changed my life. In this episode, we get real about what healing actually looks like, and why forgiveness and healing are two separate journeys.I open up about my own process: how forgiving someone doesn’t mean the pain is instantly gone-just like if someone broke your leg, you could forgive them right away, but your leg would still need time to heal. That analogy hit home for me, and I know so many of you can relate. Sometimes the hurt lingers long after we’ve chosen to let go, and that’s okay.We also talk about the “mother wound,” and I share how hearing Dr. Anita break down this topic on the Woman Evolve stage brought me to tears. She explains how mother wounds aren’t just a women’s issue-they can affect anyone, and they run deep, sometimes all the way back to the original story of Adam and Eve. The way Dr. Anita brings grace to both mothers and daughters, and encourages us to have compassion for each other, is something I wish everyone could hear.This episode gets personal. I even take a moment to publicly apologize to anyone who met me during a darker, more broken season of my life-because when you’re hurting, you show up differently, no matter how hard you try to hide it. Dr. Anita helps us understand how trauma impacts our nervous system, why we might feel stuck in “fight or flight,” and how true healing isn’t about quick hacks, but about daily practices: rest, nourishing your body, using your voice, and spending time in safe spaces.We talk about practical steps-like setting boundaries, speaking up for yourself, and even how being in nature or near the ocean can help reset your nervous system. Dr. Anita shares that healing is a process, not a destination, and encourages us to look back a year from now to see how far we’ve come.If you’ve ever struggled with anxiety, felt stuck in old pain, or wondered why healing takes so long, this episode is for you. It’s honest, motivating, and packed with wisdom you can use right now. Let’s keep growing, healing, and trying again-together.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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