Okay, okay—Happy Monday! I just got off a call with my bestie Tandy Gutierrez after recording an episode for her podcast, The Magic Spark. It was such a juicy conversation that it got me thinking about something I wanted to share in real time.

But first, let me give y’all the rundown because whew, this week is packed:

✨ Tuesday: The Mediocre Black Woman Podcast

Tomorrow, I’m dropping an episode with Lexie Forbes an astrologer and social media strategist I met on Substack. And let me tell you—the conversation? Spicy. The title says it all: Black Women & The Burden of Holiness: Does It Have to Hurt?

We’re unpacking religious upbringings, spiritual paths, and the ways spirituality has shaped us—for better or worse. We get deep, and I know a lot of you will feel this one.

✨ Wednesday: The Magic Spark Podcast

Then on Wednesday, Tandy is releasing our episode, where we talk about my healing journey, the things I’ve let go of, and what transformation really looks like. We touched on integrity with self, making aligned decisions, and asking, “Is it pleasing to me?"

We even got into Goddesses—Aphrodite, Venus, Lilith—and how their archetypes show up in our lives. It was so rich.

And in the midst of this recording, another subject came up and it actually seemed to be the theme of conversations that I’ve been having today. Which is the difference between uncomfortable and unsafe

The Difference Between Unsafe & Uncomfortable

And this is what I really wanted to share today.

Tandy and I had a powerful conversation about what it means to hold space—as creators, as community builders, as people showing up for each other. But we also talked about the difference between a safe space and a comfortable one.

A lot of people confuse the two.

Safe doesn’t mean comfortable.Uncomfortable doesn’t mean unsafe.

And this is something I’ve been wanting to drive home for The Mediocre Black Woman. This space is for Black women—that’s my lens, that’s who I’m speaking to. But that doesn’t mean others aren’t welcome. The real question is: How are you showing up? If something makes you uncomfortable, maybe that’s a sign to lean in, not pull away.

Growth is uncomfortable.Healing is uncomfortable.Transformation? Uncomfortable.

But the discomfort is where the work happens.

And let’s be real—right now, connection is stifled. People are so afraid of messing up that we’re avoiding the conversations that could actually bring us closer. But here’s the thing: We will mess up. That’s being human. The magic is in how we recover. How we learn. How we repair.

We’re gonna unpack all of this in our next conversation because this is the work. In the meantime, I encourage you to sit with the places that feel uncomfortable—because they might be revealing something important.

That’s what was sitting with me tonight, and that’s why I started sharing these voice notes—to give you these thoughts in the moment instead of waiting to make a full episode (though that might still happen too!).

So—tune in this week, stay open, and let me know what resonates. I can’t wait to hear your thoughts.

xoxo,

Goddess Thea

Mediocre Black Women, gather ‘round—this one’s for us. I recorded this voice note on a whim, and now it's here for you to listen to in all its raw, unfiltered, slightly chaotic glory.

The message? Can we just do things for the sake of the plot? Can we stop overthinking, over-policing, and over-editing ourselves into exhaustion? Because let’s be real—no matter what we say or do, somebody out there is going to perceive us however they want. So why not have some fun with it? Why not say what we need to say, for the sake of the plot?

I get it—Black women are constantly navigating perception, trying to avoid the stereotypes, trying to be received as our full, complex, talented, and human selves. But if folks are gonna be obsessed with how we move regardless…might as well move how we want to.

So, this is your permission slip. Let’s stop taking ourselves so damn seriously. Let’s say some shit just to say it. Let’s push the story forward, not by playing it safe, but by living.

Let me know in the comments—what’s one thing you’re doing or saying this week for the sake of the plot?

Welcome to a special collaboration between Black Women Get To Be and The Mediocre Black Woman! I’m Theadora, joined by Qubilah, as we dive into Severance, a dystopian series that eerily reflects Black women’s workplace experiences.

First, let’s acknowledge something: we butchered several character names. And honestly, that says a lot—because if they had made a real impact on us, we would’ve remembered them. That alone speaks volumes about the roles Black women are given in this series.

In Severance, Black women exist primarily in supporting roles—either as caretakers, enforcers of the system, or part of the resistance. That raised two major questions for me: Are Black women perceived as too aware to opt into something like the severance procedure? Or is our absence simply a reflection of who’s in the writer’s room?

Either way, while the show itself is intriguing, we can’t help but wonder—how could these stories truly include us? Where do we fit? One of my favorite moments in this conversation was imagining a different version of this world—one where Black women’s presence is fully realized. What would it look like if we were severed? And more importantly, what kind of workplace freedom would we create for ourselves?

Let’s explore that together.

One of the things I absolutely love about the work I do is the conversations I get to have—the deep, layered connections I make with people. Today, I had one of those conversations with a Black woman I was meeting for the first time. And as I was telling her about The Mediocre Black Woman podcast and publication, she was like, “Girl.” And I was like, “I know.”

But here’s the real spill on what we spoke about: We are under attack. Because of how powerful we are.

I know when we were kids, we’d hear that whole “They’re just jealous of you” speech from our parents when someone was bullying us. But as adults, let’s be real—it’s not just some childhood lesson. It’s the truth. People come for us because they know what we got. They see our power, our magic, our influence, even when we forget it ourselves.

And I know this world does everything in its power to make us feel otherwise. Some of us feel powerless sometimes. Some of us have moments where we forget just how dynamic, innovative, and necessary we are. But hear me when I say this: If we were truly powerless, we wouldn’t be attacked the way we are.

So now is the time—more than ever—to get tapped in. To strengthen your spiritual practices. To ground yourself. To separate your voice from the world’s noise. To find home within yourself so you don’t get swept up in the chaos.

Because we are the prototype.

We are the prototype. The blueprint. The beginning, middle, and end, honey.

So remember who you are. And if you forget, don’t worry—I’m gonna keep reminding you. Because it’s time to stop just hearing it and start internalizing it. It’s time to shift the stories we tell ourselves.

Think about it—the best stories are about the protagonist stepping into their power. The journey wouldn’t be interesting if they had it all figured out from the start. You are in your own hero’s journey, and the time has come to step up. To believe.

If we were as obsessed with ourselves as everyone else already is? Whew. The progress we’d make.

So let this be your reminder: You are powerful. You are the prototype. Fall madly, deeply in love with yourself. Even in the small ways, in the things you do so effortlessly that you don’t even acknowledge. Start seeing what they see.

Believe in yourself. Because I believe in you.

Good morning, y’all. It’s almost 8:30 AM central as I record this, and I’ve been thinking about how I ease into my mornings—especially Mondays.

I have this little trick I do: I set my alarm a full two hours before I actually need to get up. Not because I’m getting up right away, but because it gives me this feeling of resistance, like I could get up, but I don’t have to yet. It makes me feel like I’m getting extra rest, even if I’m really just laying there. Most days, I’m up and moving pretty quickly, but Mondays? Mondays are for taking my time.

I try not to schedule too many meetings on Mondays. Instead, I use them to catch up—admin work, files, systems, anything that got left behind last week. It’s my reset day. And part of that reset is moving slowly, letting my body ease into the day instead of forcing it. Watching the sun come up. Listening to voice notes from my friends (because y’all know that’s how we communicate in voice notes). Taking my vitamins. Just doing little things for myself before the day starts pulling me in different directions.

It’s funny—last night in Soul Session, I was talking about one of the themes that came up in the cards: making every moment feel like a ceremony. And I really think that starts with finding ways to turn your everyday routines into something that feels good, something you actually enjoy.

So, I’m curious—what little rituals do you have that make your Mondays feel a little more luxurious? Something that sets the tone for the rest of your week? Let me know.

Alright, that’s your second official TMBW voice note. Wishing you a beautiful start to the week.

xoxo,

Goddess Thea

So, here’s the thing—I love voice notes. My friends and I communicate this way 90% of the time, and it just makes sense to bring that same energy to The Mediocre Black Woman Podcast. So consider this your first official voice note from me to you! No fancy editing, no overthinking—just real-time thoughts, updates, and whatever I feel like dropping in the moment.

March is about to be packed with juicy interviews and conversations, kicking off a brand-new series: The Intersection. We’re diving into identity, healing, and the things that bring us joy—across different backgrounds and experiences. I want to publish everything right now, but patience (and a publishing schedule) is key.

Speaking of juicy convos, I just wrapped up part two of an interview with Lexie Forbes of The Sacred Social, and whew… we got into astrology, religion, spirituality, and our collective liberation. And next week? An episode with Qubilah from Black Women Get to Be, where we’ll break down Severance and the placement of Black women characters in the show.

Mark your calendars! We’re doing a Substack Live on Sunday, March 2nd, where we’ll set the tone for the month and bring our Soul Sessions to a live format for the first time. If you’re on Substack, make sure you’re tuned in:

🕑 2 PM PT | 4 PM CT | 5 PM ET

More voice notes, more convos, and more goodness coming your way soon. Have a beautiful Friday! ✨

Hey everyone, it’s Thea here. I’m back with a brutally honest episode that dives deep into the complex—and often painful—dynamics between black women in corporate spaces. If you’ve ever felt torn between striving for “black excellence” and battling internal competition, this episode is for you. This time, I’m turning the lens inward to examine the somet…

Y’ALL. We are expanding. We are taking up space. When I recorded this episode on February 5th, we had just hit 500 subscribers. And now, as I’m writing this? We’re already over 600! In just under 60 days on Substack, we’ve reached listeners in 18 countries, and every new episode is pulling in triple-digit downloads. That’s not just numbers—that’s community.

And let’s be clear—this didn’t just happen. This has been years in the making. The roots have been growing underground, stretching deep, getting stronger. And now? Now, we’re breaking through. 🌱✨

That brings me to today’s topic: Why do I wake up?

Last week, Dhylles Victoria posed a question in her Substack chat that hit me right in the chest: What keeps you moving forward despite the obstacles you may face?

My first reaction? Damn. That’s deep. And honestly? I wasn’t sure. I’ve spent years waking up for others—for community, for survival, for duty. But what if my reason for waking up had nothing to do with anyone else?

I want us all to sit with that. Because we are expected to wake up for duty, for service, for sacrifice. But what if we woke up just for joy? Just for ourselves? What if we didn’t feel the need to justify our existence by how much we give?

In this episode, I invite you to reflect, journal, and challenge yourself. If you take obligation away, what’s left? If you didn’t have to be responsible for anyone else today, what would get you out of bed?

I don’t have a clean answer yet. And that’s okay. Because the question itself is powerful.

What’s Inside This Episode?

✨ Reflections on why we wake up (and who we’re waking up for)✨ The bamboo plant analogy: why unseen growth matters✨ Breaking the cycle of Black women being celebrated for endurance but not enjoyment✨ My own process of sitting with this question ✨ A loving challenge: Do one thing today just because you want to. Not because you have to.

Resources & Mentions

Qubilah Huddleston of Black Women Get To Be – a fellow Substack creator and someone you need to be following. She and I are doing an episode together this month (Feb 25th) on Severance and rewriting what it means to be a Black woman who doesn’t have to think about race every day.

Dhylles Victoria – the Hype Woman & No-Fucks-Given leader on Substack whose question inspired this episode. And it’s her birthday today (Feb 5th), as I’m recording this!

Atomic Habits by James Clear – a book on small but consistent changes over time.

Journaling Apps:

* SoundOff (for voice journaling)

* Your phone’s voice memo app

* Or just grab an old-school notebook and pen

Past Substack Posts Mentioned:

* Sunday Soul Sessions – the origin of “put a love spell on yourself”

* Worship Yourself – living for the love of you

Final Reflection

Maybe today, your reason for waking up is obligation. Maybe tomorrow, it’s survival. But one day, I hope your reason is you.

So tell me: Why do you wake up? Subscribe to us on substack and drop your thoughts in the comments.

And if you’re feeling this episode, share it with a bestie who needs a reminder to put themselves first. ❤️

This week’s episode of The Mediocre Black Woman Podcast is raw, real, and straight from the depths of my spirit. I came home from an event—one of those inspiring networking spaces where people throw around big ideas—and instead of feeling energized, I felt drained. Not because the ideas weren’t good, but because I’ve been here before. We’ve been here before.

That moment when you realize, yet again, that you’re tired of fighting to be heard. Tired of doing the mental gymnastics of self-advocacy. Tired of being the one constantly carrying the weight, seeing the solutions, and having to push them through layers of resistance. Tired of workplaces that expect brilliance but refuse to make space for it. Tired of advocating—not just for yourself, but for everyone else in the room who won’t say it out loud. Sis, I know I’m not alone in this.

Thanks for rocking with The Mediocre Black Woman! This post is public so share it with your bestie and tell them to share it with their bestie too.

In this episode, I take you inside my head, inside the Uber ride home where my mother’s song came on at just the right moment—reminding me that I needed to record, to process, and to share this exhaustion that so many of us feel.

💨 The exhaustion of always being the one to speak up.💨 The exhaustion of pushing for change in spaces that don’t want to change.💨 The exhaustion of managing your work, your emotions, and their resistance—all at once.

I don’t have all the answers today. But I do have the truth. And I know some of y’all are going to hear this and feel it deep in your bones.

Like, comment, and share the post. And let me know in the comments—where are you feeling this exhaustion the most right now? Work? Family? Friendships? Let’s get into it.

Resources:

Book Recommendation: The Body Keeps The Score

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xoxo,Goddess Thea

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