Authentic Shameless Self

What is love really? Is it something we feel, something we do, or something we choose every day?

In this episode of Shameless Love, we break love down as both a noun and a verb, exploring its meaning beyond clichés and romantic fantasies. We dive into how love is perceived in today’s society and how cultural perspectives shape the way we express, withhold, and redefine love around the world.

I share my honest thoughts on the state of love in modern times—and a powerful story about how a single conversation can change a life forever. Sometimes, it’s not grand gestures that transform us, but the courage to speak from the heart.

To close, I leave you with two challenges: one reflective and one action-oriented designed to push you to rethink how you give and receive love, and maybe even change the way you show up in your relationships.

Because love isn’t just something we talk about. It’s something we practice...shamelessly.

Sources:

https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/love

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/love

https://www.archaeological.org/when-eros-met-psyche-love-in-ancient-greece/

In this episode, we explore the fascinating world of religion—how it began, why it exists across cultures, and what it means to navigate faith in today’s world. From ancient traditions to modern spiritual movements, we touch on the wide variety of belief systems that have shaped human history and continue to influence millions of lives today.

I also share a personal story from my own journey—growing up in a Christian household and eventually beginning to question the beliefs I was raised with. That experience opened the door to deeper curiosity about other religions and a more spiritual (rather than strictly religious) way of understanding life, purpose, and connection.

This episode is for anyone who has ever wondered why we believe what we believe. It’s an open-minded, non-judgmental space to reflect on how our experiences shape our faith—and how our faith can evolve as we grow.

Sources:

https://www.britannica.com/topic/religion

https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/

https://aarweb.org/membership/types-of-membership/

https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/concept-religion/

https://www.npr.org/sections/religion/

https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2012/12/18/global-religious-landscape-exec/

https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2015/04/02/religious-projections-2010-2050/

https://www.gordonconwell.edu/blog/christianity-is-fragmented-why/

https://www.worldchristiandatabase.org/

https://www.divinelyinterrupted.com/blog/2019/10/5/greatest-prayer

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37781.Things_Fall_Apart

In this episode of Authentic Shameless Self, we’re diving into the deep waters of masculine energy—through the lens of single motherhood. For years, I carried the belief that as a woman, I couldn’t teach my son how to be a man. But over time, that mindset shifted. I realized I didn’t need to teach him masculinity—I needed to teach him how to be a good, grounded human being.

This episode is broken down into four honest and impactful segments:

1. Facts First (The Foundation) We begin with a breakdown of what masculine energy truly is—beyond gender roles. I explore the traits often associated with masculine energy (like structure, discipline, and assertiveness), the psychological roots of these traits, and how both men and women embody them in different ways. This sets the stage with clarity and context.

2. My Take (Personal Perspective) I share my personal opinion on how society has misunderstood masculine energy—especially when it comes to parenting as a single mother. We unpack the pressure to “make a man out of your son” and what that really means when you step back from the noise and trust your instincts.

3. Storytime (The Real Moment) This is where I get personal. I talk about the moment I sat with the thought, “I can’t teach my son to be a man,” and how that belief made me feel like I was falling short. I walk you through how I reframed that narrative, and the freedom that came with realizing my job is to raise a good human being, not perform both masculine and feminine roles.

4. The Challenge (Your Turn) I leave you with a thought-provoking challenge: Reflect on the traits you're modeling—regardless of gender. What kind of human are you raising, mentoring, or becoming? Are you leading with balance, or are you stuck in outdated expectations?

🎧 Tune in, reflect deeply, and walk away feeling grounded in your truth—no matter what role you're playing in someone else's life but especially in your own! Stay Shameless! Stay authentic! Much loveeee

Sources I referenced during this episode!

https://www.dictionary.com/e/gender-sexuality/masculine-energy/

https://www.bwellcoach.com/the-well/the-power-of-masculine-energy

https://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/09/fashion/masculinities-studies-stonybrook-michael-kimmel.html

https://www.malestudies.org/

https://nomas.org/history-mens-studies-association/

https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/stereotypes/how-stereotypes-of-men-affect-all-genders/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/shelleyzalis/2019/01/22/the-future-of-masculinity-overcoming-stereotypes/

Welcome to the Authentic Shameless Self podcast! In this episode, we dive into the captivating world of feminine energy. Join me as I explore the concept through research and personal perspective, unraveling its depth and meaning. I'll share a storytime to highlight how feminine energy shows up in everyday life and leave you with a thought-provoking challenge: Define for yourself the traits you associate with femininity, then play devil's advocate—are they truly feminine, or are they simply human? Tune in for an enlightening and empowering conversation!

Sources:

https://www.dictionary.com/e/gender-sexuality/feminine-energy/

https://www.carladacosta.com/post/copy-of-the-importance-of-being-in-our-feminine-energy-within

https://wgsp.georgetown.edu/

https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/what-is-feminine-energy?srsltid=AfmBOop2vOnkzxZRfq0QirsUEE_-6riGC6Pg444m5FA0Kf9hYxjMUET1

https://www.iup.edu/womens/courses/course-descriptions/soc-410-men-and-masculinities.html

Let's connect on Socials !

IG: @dayjamona

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In this episode we explore the exciting thoughts and research behind Manifesting! Is it real? Are billions of people just on a trending fad and so delusional about what they can achieve in their lifetime? Or is there a testable and repeatable science behind manifestation? Let's talk about it!!

Always remember to keep an open mind and provide a safe space for yourself and others around you to discuss their honest thoughts.

Connect with me on Instagram, Youtube, and TikTok! My username is always DayJa Mona =)

Sources:

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/manifestation

https://www.oprahdaily.com/life/a30244004/how-to-manifest-anything/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37421301/

https://www.bps.org.uk/research-digest/manifestation-believe-and-achieve

https://www.mentalhealth.com/tools/science-of-manifestation#:~:text=While%20manifestation%20is%20popularized%20as,in%20bringing%20about%20desired%20outcomes.

https://news.stanford.edu/stories/2024/05/james-doty-on-the-neuroscience-of-manifestation

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/click-here-for-happiness/202009/what-is-manifestation-science-based-ways-to-manifest

In this episode we talk about spirituality! There has been a shift in the collective of people following along a spiritual journey and not being as bound to religion as previous generations. This can be seen in all religions, across all cultures, and ethnicities! Let's talk about it!

Always remember to keep an open mind and provide a safe space for yourself and others around you to discuss their honest thoughts.

Connect with me on Instagram, Youtube, and TikTok! My username is always DayJa Mona =)

Sources:

Merriam-Webster Dictionary: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spirituality

Psychology Today: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/spirituality

Royal College of Psychiatrists: https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/docs/default-source/members/sigs/spirituality-spsig/what-is-spirituality-maya-spencer-x.pdf?sfvrsn=f28df052_2

Bible Reference: https://www.biblestudytools.com/john/4-24.html#:~:text=24%20God%20is%20spirit%2C%20and%20those%20who%20worship%20him%20must,true%20selves%2C%20in%20adoration.%22

National Cancer Institute: https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/spirituality

Pew Research Center: https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2023/12/07/spirituality-among-americans/

Hey everyone!!! We talked a bit about marriage in episode eight, now let us discuss the unfortunate life experience of divorce. It is something hopefully many people will never have to experience but the emotions that occur during a divorce have very little difference to a romantic relationship ending (just a lot more paperwork and money involved)! So I want to get a little personal with you all and share my thoughts on divorce, my own experiences, and of course some facts! As usual, I leave you all with a challenge at the end of the episode to start a conversation with a loved one in your own life! So be sure to listen to the entire episode and complete the challenge!

Here are the articles I reference throughout the episode:

https://www.datingnews.com/industry-trends/marriage-stats-by-age-race-state-generation/

https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/divorce-rate-by-state

https://www.brides.com/how-long-do-average-u-s-marriages-last-4590261#toc-average-length-of-marriage-in-the-us

https://www.wf-lawyers.com/divorce-statistics-and-facts/

Instagram: @dayjamona

TikTok: @dayjamona

Hey everyone! No matter if you believe in marriage or not, I wanted to talk about this very Taboo topic with you! Of course, I give you some worldwide facts, discuss my opinion, give a storytime and challenge you in the end! Please take note of the websites I researched and pulled facts from as follows:

Number, Timing, and Duration of Marriages and Divorces; https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2021/marriages-and-divorces.html

Marriages and Divorces ;

https://ourworldindata.org/marriages-and-divorces

Arranged Marriage Countries 2022 ;

https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/arranged-marriage-countries

What is the average length of a marriage in the UK? ;

https://www.rainscourt.com/average-length-marriage/

Marriage Stats by Age, Race, State & Generation ;

https://www.datingnews.com/industry-trends/marriage-stats-by-age-race-state-generation/

I hope yall enjoyed this episode! Please be sure to reach out on other social media platforms with topics you would like me to research and discuss!

Instagram: @dayjamona

TikTok: @dayjamona

Youtube: dayjamona

Hello everyone! Today we are discussing friendships! Did you know that your best friends could possibly share 1% of your DNA? This would make them your fourth cousin! There are so many great things that can occur in our lives when we have healthy, meaningful friendships! So let's talk about it! Make sure you listen to the end to complete the challenge for this episode!

10 True Facts About Friendship: What Scientists Have To Say: https://mentalflow.co/mentalhealth/2020/11/26/10-true-facts-about-friendship-what-scientists-have-to-say

33 Psychological Facts About Friendships: https://gkaim.com/psychological-facts-of-friendship/

Let's Connect on Social Media!

TikTok: @dayjamona

Instagram: @dayjamona

Youtube Channel: DayJa Mona

For business inquiries please email: [email protected]

New Youtube Channel Coming Soon, Just for Authentic Shameless Self!! If you enjoy the audio version be prepared to actually see me as I record the audio in Season 2 of the show!

Thank you all for your love and support

XOXO,

DayJa Mona