Join Dr. Toni Alvarado for an empowering podcast conversation with Judge Penny Brown Reynolds at the Harmonize Your Life Shades of Green Mother's Day Brunch. Listen as Judge Penny shares how her mother's story inspires and empowers her work in civic, community, government, and ministry leadership. This conversation will make you laugh, cry and celebrate the value of mothers, grandmothers, daughters, aunties, mentors, teachers, sisters, girlfriends, and women who lead us through lessons of survival, hope, self-care, soul-care and harmony. Join Dr. Toni Alvarado for an empowering podcast conversation with Judge Penny Brown Reynolds at the Harmonize Your Life Shades of Green Mother's Day Brunch. Listen as Judge Penny shares how her mother's story inspires and empowers her work in civic, community, government, and ministry leadership. This conversation will make you laugh, cry and celebrate the value of mothers, grandmothers, daughters, aunties, mentors, teachers, sisters, girlfriends, and women who lead us through lessons of survival, hope, self-care, soul-care and harmony. Join Dr. Toni Alvarado for an empowering podcast conversation with Judge Penny Brown Reynolds at the Harmonize Your Life Shades of Green Mother's Day Brunch. Listen as Judge Penny shares how her mother's story inspires and empowers her work in civic, community, government, and ministry leadership. This conversation will make you laugh, cry and celebrate the value of mothers, grandmothers, daughters, aunties, mentors, teachers, sisters, girlfriends, and women who lead us through lessons of survival, hope, self-care, soul-care and harmony. 

Join Dr. Toni for a special edition of the HYL Podcast Live from the Harmonize Your Life Women's Self-Care Retreat in Los Cabos, Mexico! This podcast conversation features a dynamic panel of retreat speakers discussing the theme, Black Girl Joy.  Dr. Toni Alvarado, Ariel Alvarado, Sheila Agnew-McCoy, Freida McCullough, Dr. Cheryl Polote-Williamson and Dr. Jaime Eaddy curated a candid conversation for the women who gathered in Los Cabos for a retreat experience that centered on rest, relaxation, recreation, empowerment and sisterhood. Listen as the panel shares personal experiences, perspectives and strategies for creating, cultivating and celebrating Black Girl Joy.

Grab your sisters or girlfriends and gather with me and the women who attended the Tending to Your Garden Book Conversation and Brunch. Listen, as Licensed Clinical Mental Health Therapist, Grief & Trauma Specialist, Dr. Sarah Williams, and founder of Raven’s Project and Everybody At The Table Podcast, Yolonda Griffin Johnson, and I reflect upon who we have become as a result of our grief journeys. Be inspired by our transparency and discover the power of crying, laughing, healing, moving forward, blooming and flourishing like a well watered garden. 

Join me in a soulful conversation with Dr. Sarah Williams, Licensed Clinical Mental Health Therapist, Grief & Trauma Specialist and Yolonda Griffin Johnson, founder of Raven’s Project and Everybody At The Table Podcast. Each of these women has contributed greatly by sharing their stories, insights and wisdom in the foreword and epilogue of my new book, Tending to Your Garden: Moving Through Grief with Intentional Self-Care and Soul-Care. Sit, cry and laugh with us in this inspirational conversation around loss, grief, healing, community and the joy that comes as we move through grief with intentional self-care and soul-care.

Dr. Cheryl Polote-Williamson is a trailblazing global media executive, transformational speaker, and multi-best-selling author. Renowned for her visionary leadership, Dr. Cheryl has made a profound impact across industries. As an award-winning filmmaker, she earned an Executive Producer credit and an HBO Max award for the acclaimed documentary, "Twenty Pearls: The Story of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority," and contributed to the powerful film "The Invitation," chronicling the history of The Links, Incorporated.

A seasoned speaker and workshop presenter, Dr. Cheryl has captivated audiences at prestigious events like the Black Enterprise Women of Power Summit, Hallmark Mahogany Summit, The Potters House, and the National Action Network, to name a few.

A prolific writer, Dr. Cheryl has authored 19 best-selling books, such as "The Art of Influence" and "Affirmed: 365 Positive Thoughts & Actions to Start Your Day." As Editor-In-Chief of Cheryl Magazine, she curates a 120-page publication that serves as a love letter to Black women, inspiring them to embrace their power and purpose, for which I and the Harmonize Your Life Women’s Self-Care Retreat was a feature story in the 2025 Spring Issue.

Episode Credits:

Dr. Toni G. Alvarado, Podcast Host

Paula Burch Jackson, PBJ Premier Realty 

Ricky Howell, Video Production & Editing

John Alvarado Music & Production Assistance

Enjoli Bland-Reed, Momentum Events Brand & Social Media Content Specialist

Ashaki Stinson, Executive Administrative Assistant

Michele Johnson, Get Dressed for Life & Social Media Content CreationMUA: Yolanda Stewart

Kellie James is Professional Facilitator & Cycle Enthusiast. With a background and professional career in Project Management, Kellie is now the owner of Drenched Cycle Studio located in the center of Old Fourth Ward and Midtown Atlanta. A cycle studio that features cutting-edge equipment and a dynamic atmosphere. With dimmed infrared lights and pulsating music, Drenched creates an energetic ambiance, perfect for high-intensity spin workouts with expert instructors who guide you through an immersive experience that combines rhythm-based choreography with performance-tracking technology, ensuring you get the most out of every ride.

We're back with Season 16 of the Harmonize Your Life Podcast!

Dr. Chanequa Walker-Barnes is a research psychologist, focusing on ethnic minority families, African American adolescent development and health disparities, professor of practical theology and pastoral counseling at Columbia Theological Seminary, author of Too Heavy a Yoke, I Bring the Voices of My People and Sacred Self-Care. Dr. Chanequa is a 2-time breast cancer survivor who empowers women through her life stories, research, writing, healing journey, lifestyle of harmony and sacred self-care.

Chandra Jarrett is an executive leadership coach and consultant with a broad base of experience in automotive engineering, leadership, training, business and non-profit development, president of Joy Consulting Group, and author of How Cancer Saved My Life: (Re) Discovering Life in a Deadly Place. Chandra is a breast cancer survivor and a dynamic speaker who empowers women through her healing journey, life stories and Christian witness in the church and marketplace. 

Dr. Nicole Robertson is an Assistant Professor and Director of Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Christian Theological Seminary, in Indianapolis, Indiana. Join me with Dr. Robertson as she offers our listeners creative coping strategies that can be employed when psychological distress, grief and seasonal depression is encountered. Dr. Robertson also leads listeners in a deep breathing exercise and shares how deep breathing can be used as a coping strategy for distress, grief and depression, especially during the holidays.