On this episode of Do Tell, Nina sits down with Dr. Raquel Martin to unpack the difference between boundaries vs. rules, why “ignoring my ‘no’ is aggression”, and how to rebuild community without cutting everyone off.

They also talk parenting (respect > control), friendship “bat signals,” and Dr. Raquel’s Burn the Cape movement creating mental-health spaces for Black women. If you’re navigating conflict, consent, or capacity in relationships, this one’s for you.

👤 Guest: Dr. Raquel Martin — Licensed psychologist & founder of Burn the Cape, building practical tools and community for Black mental health.

🎯 You’ll learn:

• A simple test for boundaries vs. rules (and why most people confuse them).

• Why “no” doesn’t mean “convince me” (consent at home, work, and online).

• How to downgrade a one-sided friendship without burning bridges.

• Practical ways to build community as a mental-health resource.

• Parenting reframe: respect builds relationships; obedience builds resentment.

Conflict doesn’t have to be scary—or destructive. In this solo episode, licensed marriage & family therapist, Nina Westbrook shares a practical, therapist-backed playbook to turn conflict into connection across romantic partnerships, parenting, family, and work. You’ll learn why conflict often triggers fight/flight, how your family history shapes your responses, when to let things go vs. stand your ground, and a simple 3-step framework to repair and move forward—without resentment.

What you’ll learn

• The hidden upside of conflict (why reps build resilience & trust)
  

• How to “serve the relationship,” not your ego
  

• Timing, tone, and language that lower defenses (“I feel…”> “You always…”)
  

• Active listening made easy (reflect, validate, then respond)
  

• A clear litmus test for what to address vs. what to release
  

Nina’s 3-Step Conflict Playbook

• 1. Get grounded before you go in (self-awareness regulates the room)
  2. Communicate to connect, not to win (seek to understand first)
     
  3. Repair & move forward (what you do after the talk matters most)

Resources & links

• • Nina’s emotional wellness app Nebbi: available in the App Store.
  • Contact the show: [email protected] or Follow on @benexnina

Entrepreneur + investor Sharndre Kushor (Crimson Education co‑founder; NZ unicorn) joins Nina Westbrook on the Do Tell Relationship Podcast to talk about building purpose‑driven tech, co‑creating the Nebbi emotional wellness app, and leading with clarity, courage, and compassion.

We get into founder decision-making, values‑aligned investing, designing simple tools that actually help, and why privacy and safety matter in mental health tech.

You’ll hear:

⚪️ How Sharndre’s upbringing during post‑apartheid South Africa shaped her lens on equity, access, and impact

⚪️ The whirlwind story behind partnering with Nina to build Nebbi

⚪️ Simple, daily practices for emotional self‑efficacy (checking in, naming feelings, and taking small actions)

⚪️ Why Nebbi is not built to keep you on your phone—and what real success looks like for wellness apps

⚪️ A pragmatic approach to copycats, misaligned investors, and holding your vision through scale

⚪️ Concrete steps Nebbi takes to protect user data and earn trustIf you’re launching something new, navigating fast growth, or trying to stay grounded while you build—this one’s for you.

Download Nebbi on iOS & Android: open your app store and search “Nebbi – Emotional Wellness”

Subscribe: @DoTellRelationshipPodcast

Follow Nina: @DoTellPodcast @ninawestbrook & @benexnina

Ever wondered how an NBA superstar and a licensed marriage & family therapist keep their relationship thriving amidst crazy schedules, three kids, and constant travel? In this candid sit-down, Russell Westbrook and Nina Westbrook peel back the curtain on:

Why open communication and vulnerability are the real MVPs in dating and marriage

The difference between providing for your family and actually connecting with them

Setting boundaries with flaky friends, toddler meltdowns, and spoiler-happy partnersHow childhood examples shape our adult relationships—and what to do if you didn’t have one

Practical “reset” rituals that keep you sane

Whether you’re single and swiping, newly engaged, or ten years deep like the Westbrooks, you’ll leave with actionable tips for nurturing a partnership that wins on and off the court.

Like, comment, and subscribe for more real-talk on relationships, mental health, and personal growth.

🔔 Hit the bell so you never miss an episode!Social & Resources

Follow Nina: @ninawestbrook

Follow Russell: @russwest44

Podcast IG: @dotellpodcast

Discover how bestselling author Kennedy Ryan is transforming lives through the power of romance fiction. In this raw and inspiring interview, Kennedy opens up about how her newest book Can’t Get Enough has inspired real-life breakups, radical self-love, and relationship revelations.

Women everywhere are re-evaluating their standards and walking away from emotionally unavailable partners. Why? Because Kennedy’s novels go beyond fantasy, they reflect what women truly deserve in love and life.

✨ In this conversation, we dive into:

• How Kennedy’s books sparked a wave of breakups

• The truth about emotional evolution in men (and why it matters)

• Why “dating yourself” is essential before dating anyone else

• Her thoughts on boundaries, reconnection, and friendship dynamics

• The non-negotiable standards women should stop apologizing for

Drop a comment:

What’s a moment - book, movie, or convo; that made you realize you were settling?

🔗 Kennedy Ryan’s latest novel, Can’t Get Enough — Available now wherever books and audiobooks are sold!
🎧 Available on Audible, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and more.

Actor, activist, and WalkGood LA founder Etienne Maurice joins Nina Westbrook for a raw conversation on trauma, purpose, and building a wellness movement for communities of color.

From surviving gun violence to launching LA’s biggest Black-led yoga collective, Etienne shares how breathwork, therapy, and community turned pain into purpose. Nina opens up about couples therapy, app entrepreneurship, and the realities of public versus private love.

What you’ll learn

✅ How WalkGood LA was born out of the 2020 protests and grew to 500+ person yoga gatherings.

✅ Practical tips for Black men’s mental health, sobriety, and setting boundaries.

✅ Why couples therapy before marriage can save relationships.

✅ Managing burnout when your work is mission-driven.

✅ Etienne’s “You Good?” healing circles and advice to his younger self.

#YogaInThePark #CommunityWellness #BlackYoga #WalkGoodLA #HealingTogether#OutdoorYoga #BreatheGood #LAEvents #MindfulMovement #YogaCommunity #SocialImpact#EtienneMaurice

Meet Ron Robinson, the cosmetic chemist who left med-school, pumped $400 K of his own cash into one patented idea, and turned it into BeautyStat - one of the most trusted vitamin C brands on the planet.

What you’ll learn:

✅ Credibility vs. celebrity: Why ingredient science converts repeat buyers while celebrity launches often stall.

✅ Patent power: How stabilizing pure vitamin C won him retail shelf space and press love.

✅ Funding realities: The brutal truth of hearing “no” 100+ times - and the traction metrics that finally unlocked capital.

✅ Listening loops: His system for mining consumer frustration to spot the next million-dollar gap.

✅ Founder fitness: The 2-hour daily routine that keeps him innovating at 60.

💬 Let us know your favorite moment from this episode in the comments, and don’t forget to share it with a friend who needs a little encouragement today.

🔔 Subscribe for more raw, real conversations about relationships, motherhood, personal growth, and mental wellness.

Career breaks for moms don’t stall your career, they can supercharge it.

Nina Westbrook sits down with Neha Ruch (Mother Untitled, author of The Power Pause) to reveal how a strategic pause after kids unlocks new skills, confidence, and flexible income pathways.

What you’ll learn:

● ROI of a well-planned pause: translate “invisible labor” into résumé-ready leadership skills

● Re-entry playbook: craft a 2-day workweek, freelance platform, or phased return that fits 2025 hiring trends

● Money, identity & mental health: crush mom-guilt, negotiate real support, and protect your earning power

● Build your “mom brain-trust”: curate mentors, sponsors, and peer networks that propel your next chapter

Feeling like you don’t belong or burned-out from saying “yes” too often?

Designer & ME-brand founder Melody Ehsani joins host Nina Westbrook for a candid sit-down

on The Do Tell Relationship Podcast, unpacking the mental work behind success, motherhood

and crystal-clear boundaries. Drawing on personal stories, quietly declaring “I have no

competitors”  , the rapid-fire “Walk Away or Walk Through It” boundary game  , and the shock

of losing her creative spark after childbirth. Melody shows how reframing identity can turn self-

doubt into decisive action.

What You’ll Learn:

1. Boundary Mastery – Melody’s real-time answers to scenarios where money, deadlines

or copycats test her integrity .

2. Motherhood-Driven Focus – why nursing fatigue forced her to guard time and energy

and to say “no” without guilt.

3. Imposter Syndrome Reframed – journaling & spiritual practice that help her own rooms

where she once felt “out-matched”.

4. Choosing Reciprocal Community – spotting agendas, cultivating give-and-take

friendships, and teaching that lesson to her child.

5. Mental & Physical Discipline – lessons she borrows from Russell Westbrook’s “every

minute counts” lifestyle to scale her own mission.

Are smartphones rewiring our need for real connection? In this episode, futurist & UN speaker Sinead Bovell joins Nina Westbrook to expose the hidden links between AI “companions,” the loneliness epidemic, and today’s explosion of deepfake scams. You’ll leave with five boundary rules you can start tonight.What we cover:AI girlfriend apps: why they top the App Store and what they’re doing to empathy.240 notifications a day: the data behind screen-induced anxiety in teens.Sinead’s “no-phone-until-breakfast” routine that resets your dopamine cycle.How deepfake voices & video avatars are weaponized in dating and business scams plus four instant red-flag checks.Simple privacy settings that cut your scam risk by 80 %.