This episode wasn’t planned… but it was necessary.

Fresh off a job interview (and still in my feelings about it), I hit record and let it all out—from second-guessing myself, to almost talking myself out of a blessing, to that one moment when a friend’s words washed over me and reminded me that what’s for me is already mine.

If you’ve ever felt stuck in your own head, constantly overthinking instead of just doing the damn thing, let this episode wash over you.

We’re talking surrender, trust, taking action, and finally giving yourself permission to move like it’s already yours. No fancy outline. No perfect plan.

Just me, you, and the truth.

• That interview that almost didn’t happen
• How fear and anxiety make you forget you’re worthy
• When advice actually hits different
• Surrendering control vs. sabotaging your shot
• The moment I decided to stop waiting and start moving
• Why it’s time to stop thinking about it and be about it

Pick one thing you’ve been sitting on. Not thinking about. Not planning for

Just pick it...and move.

Record the video. Send the email. Make the call. Hit publish.

Then tag me and tell me you did it. #damnchallenge

🔗 Follow me on all platforms: @DaWholeDamnShow

🎧 Follow It’s About DAMN Time: @ItsAboutDamnTimePod

💥 Cop the DAMN University merch right here → Shop now

There comes a time when you gotta stop shrinking, stop explaining, and just start being.

On this episode of It’s About DAMN Time, I’m joined by the unapologetic truth-teller herself, Cookie Brown, host of The Dirty Bag Podcast.

We talk about what it really looks like to live in your truth—even when it makes people uncomfortable.

From people-pleasing patterns to the fear of being misunderstood, Cookie and I dig into the raw, unfiltered reality of choosing yourself over approval.

If you’ve ever struggled with being “too much,” if you’ve ever felt drained trying to make others comfortable with your shine… this one’s for you.

We’re not preaching.

We’re not performing. We’re speaking from the inside of the storm—just two folks who’ve had to unlearn the BS and find freedom in authenticity.

• The trap of seeking validation
• Letting go of people-pleasing
• What “living your truth” actually looks like
• The emotional toll of being misunderstood
• Setting boundaries and filtering access
• Embracing freedom even if it’s uncomfortable

Cookie Brown

🎧 Host of The Dirty Bag Podcast

📲 @thedirtybagpodcast

🎙️ Listen to the show: The Dirty Bag Podcast on Spotify

Cookie tells us why it’s about damn time to stop needing folks to cosign your calling—and why owning your truth will always be worth it.

Pick one area of your life where you’re still playing small to make others comfortable. This week, make ONE unapologetic decision just for you. No explanations. No disclaimers. Then hit me up and let me know what shifted.

🔗 Follow me on all platforms: @DaWholeDamnShow

🎧 Follow It’s About DAMN Time: @ItsAboutDamnTimePod

💥 Cop the DAMN University merch right here → Shop now

But here’s the real: if you ain’t giving that energy to yourself first, how you expect somebody else to?

In this solo episode, I’m breaking down the other side of the soft life. The stuff folks don’t always post about. The part where you realize that before you get the dream partner or the “you don’t have to work if you don’t want to” lifestyle… you gotta learn how to treat you first.

Because wanting peace and actually being ready for it...are two different things.

This one’s for anybody who’s ever said “I deserve more” out loud—but maybe hasn’t started giving more to themselves yet.

• What “soft life” really means beyond social media
• The difference between wanting to be spoiled and knowing how to receive it
• The law of attraction (and why it starts with how you treat yourself)
• Why preparing for what you want is part of actually getting it
• A reminder that baby steps still count—especially when it comes to self-care

🔗 Follow me on all platforms: @DaWholeDamnShow

🎧 Follow It’s About DAMN Time: @ItsAboutDamnTimePod

💥 Cop the DAMN University merch right here → Shop now

Ever wanted to help someone who's struggling—but didn’t know what to say or do?

In this episode of It’s About DAMN Time, I get real about what support actually looks like when you're dealing with depression, burnout, and emotional exhaustion.

Spoiler alert: it’s not always a phone call or a “let me know if you need anything” text.

I open up about where I’ve been the past few weeks, how isolation became a lifeline, and why asking “what do you need?” can sometimes feel like another weight on our chest. This is for the ones who are in it, and for the people who love them but feel helpless.

Whether you're the one struggling or the one trying to show up—this episode is for you.

Keywords:

self-discovery, mental health, support, depression, anxiety, personal struggles, healing, emotional well-being, men's health, mental health awareness

🔗 Follow me on all platforms: @DaWholeDamnShow

🎧 Follow It’s About DAMN Time: @ItsAboutDamnTimePod

💥 Cop the DAMN University merch right here → Shop now

We always hear about resilience. About being strong. About pushing through.

But what if that strength is silently breaking us down?

In this powerful and deeply personal episode, I sit down with podcast legend and mental health advocate Dominic Lawson to have the kind of raw, honest conversation two Black men rarely get to have in public.

We unpack what it really means to be “the strong one,” why so many of us suffer in silence, and how checking in with ourselves has to become a daily act of survival.

Dominic shares how his work in behavioral health shaped his new podcast Mental Health Rewritten, and we dive into everything from burnout and boundaries to the lies hustle culture tells us about healing.

If you've ever felt like you're carrying too much, showing up for everyone else, and losing yourself in the process—this one's for you.

• The myth of “being strong” and how it harms us
• The real cost of being everyone’s Calvary
• Understanding recovery as daily work—not a destination
• Black men, emotional suppression, and the 8-crayon box
• Boundaries, burnout, and why the hustle ain’t always healing
• The origin and mission of Mental Health Rewritten
• Choosing yourself without apology

Dominic Lawson

Host of Mental Health Rewritten

🎧 Listen May 14th on all podcast platforms

📱 IG: @therealdominiclawson

🔗 Website: Mental Health Rewritten

🔗 Follow me on all platforms: @DaWholeDamnShow

🎧 Follow It’s About DAMN Time: @ItsAboutDamnTimePod

💥 Cop the DAMN University merch right here → Shop now

In this raw and unfiltered episode of It's About DAMN Time, Jarratt opens up about the silent struggle of being "everyone's person"—the strong friend who holds it all together while feeling like the world is crumbling underneath.

He shares his personal battle with mental health, the burnout that comes with always being the go-to support system, and how the constant weight of expectations can leave you running on empty.

Jarratt talks candidly about what it means to prioritize yourself during Mental Health Awareness Month, even when it feels selfish. He reflects on the importance of setting boundaries, learning to say "no," and understanding that sometimes, being strong isn't enough.

If you've ever felt overwhelmed by the expectations of others, stretched too thin, or found yourself neglecting your own well-being for the sake of everyone else, this episode is a must-listen.

Key Topics:

• The reality of being everyone's person
• The emotional and mental toll of being "strong" for everyone
• Setting boundaries without guilt
• Prioritizing mental health even when the world demands more
• Learning to say "no" and protect your energy

#MentalHealthAwareness #BoundarySettings #SelfCareIsntSelfish

🔗 Follow me on all platforms: @DaWholeDamnShow

🎧 Follow It’s About DAMN Time: @ItsAboutDamnTimePod

💥 Cop the DAMN University merch right here → Shop now

Mentioned in this episode:

The Bridge Club: A Play in One Act

Join us for the first-ever staging of The Bridge Club

Ever feel like you and your partner speak totally different relationship languages?

In this It’s About DAMN Time classic, I sit down with licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Jannis Moody to break down attachment styles—how they’re formed, how they show up, and what they mean for your relationships.

Whether you’re Secure, Anxious, Avoidant, or Disorganized… this one will have you reflecting and rethinking how you show up for love.

I’ve been revisiting some of my own relationship patterns lately, and this conversation still hits. So if you missed it the first time—or need the reminder like I did—tap in.

In this episode, we cover:

• How childhood experiences shape your attachment style
• The signs and patterns of each style in relationships
• What to do when your style doesn’t match your partner’s
• Communication strategies for navigating emotional differences
• Tools for building stronger, more secure connections

This episode is packed with insights, lightbulb moments, and practical tools to help you understand yourself and your relationships better.

🎧 Listen. Reflect. Heal. Repeat.

🔗 Follow Dr. Moody on IG → HERE

🔗 How to Figure Out Your Attachment Style → HERE

🔗 Visit Dr. Moody's Site → HERE

🔗 Follow me on all platforms: @DaWholeDamnShow

🎧 Follow It’s About DAMN Time: @ItsAboutDamnTimePod

💥 Cop the DAMN University merch right here → Shop now

Mentioned in this episode:

The Bridge Club: A Play in One Act

Join us for the first-ever staging of The Bridge Club

It’s about DAMN time we talk about something that’s been running my life for way too long—people-pleasing in relationships.

Y’all, I’ve said it a million times, I’m a habitual people pleaser.

But today, I’m sitting down with sex and relationship therapist Jazmyne Thomas, who is a recovering people pleaser, and we’re getting real about how to break free, set boundaries, and stop losing ourselves in love.

We’re diving into:

✔️ How to recognize when you’re people-pleasing in relationships (hint: it’s not just about saying yes all the time)

✔️ The emotional and sexual toll of always putting your partner first

✔️ Why people-pleasing is actually about control (yep, we’re flipping the script on that one!)

✔️ How to start asking for what you want without guilt

✔️ How to tell your partner that you’re done sacrificing yourself

✔️ And why saying ‘no’ doesn’t mean the relationship is over—it might actually make it stronger

Plus, y’all KNOW I had to throw in some personal stories about how this has played out in my own love life

(I was NOT ready for these realizations, but here we are 😅).

And of course, Jazmyne came through with some game-changing insights that will have you rethinking everything you thought you knew about keeping the peace in love.

If you’ve ever found yourself shrinking, compromising, or doing things just to keep your partner happy while ignoring your own needs, this episode is for YOU.

Follow Jazmyne on IG → here

Visit her site, 3P Therapy → here

Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, IG, & more @DaWholeDamnShow

Follow this on Facebook, Twitter, IG, & more @ItsAboutDamnTimePod

Damn University Merch now available click link → Here

Are you surviving… or actually living?

In this raw and relatable episode, I’m joined by the bold and brilliant Leigh LaRie from Dirty Roses Podcast to unpack what survival mode really looks like—and how to break free from it.

We get vulnerable about our own experiences:

▶️ Losing jobs

▶️ Divorce

▶️ Hustle culture

▶️ Functioning depression

▶️ Generational conditioning (especially in the Black community)

…and how survival mode can quietly become a default setting that keeps you stuck.

Together, we explore:

– What survival mode actually is

– The mental, emotional, and physical symptoms that go unnoticed

– Why we confuse grinding with growth

– How we’ve coped (and sometimes just masked it)

– Steps we're taking to really heal and reclaim our lives

🎯 Because it’s about DAMN time we stop living to survive and start living to LIVE.

Whether you’re in survival mode or just came out, this one is for you.

Follow Leigh on IG → here

Follow The Dirty Roses Podcast on IG → here

Visit The Dirty Roses Podcast Website → here

Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, IG, & more @DaWholeDamnShow

Follow this on Facebook, Twitter, IG, & more @ItsAboutDamnTimePod

Damn University Merch now available click link → Here

Ever feel like you’re the emotional support system for your entire world?

Like everybody depends on you for motivation, guidance, and advice—but when it comes to you, there’s nothing left in the tank? Same.

In this solo episode, I break down the hard truth: if you aren’t the rock for yourself, you will erode.

This week, I share my personal breaking point, the moment I realized how much energy I was giving away, and what happened when I finally poured into myself instead.

From setting boundaries to reclaiming your time and energy, we’re talking about how to still show up for others without losing yourself in the process.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✔️ Why being everyone’s go-to person can drain you more than you realize

✔️ The breaking point that forced me to prioritize myself

✔️ The power of pouring into YOU first (and what happened when I finally did)

✔️ How to recognize when you’re overextending yourself

✔️ Practical ways to set boundaries and take your time back

✔️ Why prioritizing yourself isn’t selfish—it’s necessary

Related Episode:

🎧 If you enjoyed this episode, check out Living in Your Truth: Embracing Authenticity to Strengthen Connections for more on prioritizing yourself and staying true to who you are.

It’s About DAMN Time:

👉🏾 It’s about damn time I put myself first without guilt. To stop waiting until burnout to take care of me. My dreams matter just as much as the people I help.

This Week’s D.A.M.N Challenge:

💡 Do ONE thing for yourself this week—no guilt, no excuses. Prioritize YOU. Then hit me up and tell me what it was!

Let’s Connect:

📲 DM me on Instagram, Facebook, or Threads and tell me how you’re putting yourself first this week!

Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, IG, & more @DaWholeDamnShow

Follow this on Facebook, Twitter, IG, & more @ItsAboutDamnTimePod

Damn University Merch now available click link → Here

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