It's About DAMN Time

Episode: No Matter What They Say: Embrace the Power of Not Giving a Fck (Featuring Paula Sima)

Originally aired: [8/27/2024]

This week’s Fan Favorite comes from Deanie in Atlanta, who fell in love with this episode because of Paula’s energy, her honesty, and her don’t-hold-back way of reminding you to be unapologetically yourself.

Deanie said it best: people are going to think and act how they want, so you might as well live your life on your terms with a happy heart and maybe a drink or two along the way.

You’ll hear Deanie’s take first, then the full replay. I’ll wrap things up with a short reflection on why this message still lands today.

• Why caring less about other people’s opinions creates more freedom
• How to shift your mindset when self-doubt tries to take over
• The balance between protecting your peace and knowing when to clap back
• Paula’s journey through self-improvement and mental health
• Finding your tribe and surrounding yourself with people who uplift you
• Living bold, loud, real, and unapologetically you
• Owning your creativity, your voice, and your damn truth

What’s your favorite It’s About DAMN Time episode?

Tag @DaWholeDamnShow and @ItsAboutDamnTimePod with your pick and why you might hear it next.

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Episode: The Weight of Being Everyone’s Person: Being Strong Isn’t Enough for Your Mental Health

Originally aired: [5/15/25]

This week’s Fan Favorite comes from Lara and Cely, (two for the price of one) who chose this episode because it’s one of the realest moments on the show.

This is the one where I finally said out loud what a lot of us feel but don’t admit: being “everyone’s person” will break you down if you don’t learn how to save yourself first.

You’ll hear both Cely and Lara’s reason for picking it, then the full replay. At the end, I’ll share a new reflection on how much this message still hits, especially after the year I’ve had.

• The emotional weight of being “the strong one”
• What burnout really looks like when no one sees it
• Why support systems break down when you never ask for help
• Setting boundaries without apologizing
• How to choose yourself even when it feels selfish
• Learning to say “no” without guilt
• Releasing the pressure to hold everybody together

What episode still sticks with you? Tag @DaWholeDamnShow and @ItsAboutDamnTimePod with your pick and why — you might hear it featured next.

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mental health, burnout, strong friend, emotional exhaustion, people pleasing, boundaries, self care, Black mental health, mindset shift, personal growth podcast, stress awareness, It’s About DAMN Time, DaWholeDamnShow

Episode: Show Them Who You Are: Reflecting on 2023 & Exploring New Possibilities

Originally aired: December 19, 2023

This week’s Fan Favorite comes from Jawanda. She chose this episode because it captures a real turning point: telling the truth about where you are, then choosing to show up as your full self.

You’ll hear her reason first and then the full replay.

• Honest reflection on 2023: wins, misses, and what mattered
• Seasonal depression, stress, and the weight of being “everyone’s person”
• Health goals, diabetes awareness, and getting back to basics
• Boundaries vs people-pleasing and why mid-course changes feel messy
• Building a podcast label, spreading yourself thin, and staying the course
• The core lesson: stop dimming. Show people who you are.
• Why authenticity beats performance in life and podcasting

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Episode: You Can’t Take Everyone With You

Originally aired: October 11, 2022

This week, we’re kicking off the Fan Favorite Series — 10 episodes handpicked by the DAMN Fam that left a real mark.

First up is Storm’s pick, “You Can’t Take Everyone With You.”

She shares why this one hit her the hardest and honestly, I get it. Sometimes growth means leaving certain people, patterns, and places behind… even when it hurts.

• Learning how to move forward without guilt
• Understanding when people have reached their “stop” on your journey
• Protecting your peace as you evolve
• Why letting go isn’t rejection — it’s redirection

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self growth, letting go, boundaries, personal development podcast, It’s About DAMN Time, DaWholeDamnShow, Black podcaster, mental health, mindset shift, emotional healing, toxic relationships

I wasn’t supposed to record this episode. I didn’t have notes. No outline. Just a moment.

A moment where I found out It’s About DAMN Time won Best Wellness Podcast at the Black Podcast Awards and I almost broke down because I almost quit this whole thing.

This episode is me, raw and unfiltered, recording in real time as the emotions hit. I talk about doubt, faith, and how showing up...even when nobody’s watching, can change everything.

• The exact moment I found out I won the award
• Why I almost quit podcasting after 5 years
• The hard truth about “doing the work”
• What people don’t see behind those short clips and late nights
• The D.A.M.N. Challenge for you to plan and chase your dream — right now

Take that dream that’s been sitting in your heart and make a plan.

Map out what the next 6 months will look like, write down every step, and get to work. No waiting for January. No perfect timing. Just start.

Because showing up beats giving up — every damn time.

To everyone who believed in this show from the beginning, to those who kept me from quitting, and to the Black Podcast Awards for this honor — this one’s for the DAMN Fam.

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Five years. Two Black Podcast Awards nominations. “Critically acclaimed.”

I’m grateful, loud, and smiling… but here’s the truth: that outside validation didn’t magically fix my self-doubt.

In this episode, I talk about the high of being recognized, the quiet shift that started before the nominations, and the mirror moment where I had to stop the negative self-talk and practice grace.

If you’ve been chasing proof that you’re enough, I get it—I’ve done it. Today, we’re building a different kind of proof: the kind that comes from keeping promises to yourself, receiving love without deflecting, and speaking to yourself like someone worth riding for.

It’s About DAMN Time: Believe what they already see in you.

D.A.M.N. Challenge: Write 5 things you love about yourself that have nothing to do with titles or accolades. Read them out loud every morning this week.

🔗 Follow me on all platforms: @DaWholeDamnShow

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In this episode, I sit down with my friend Dr. Cassandre Dunbar—physician, podcaster, and wellness advocate—for a vulnerable convo about what burnout really looks like.

We talk about the emotional exhaustion that sneaks in, the guilt and shame nobody talks about, and how burnout ain’t just about being tired, it’s your whole system shutting down.

I open up about how things got dark for me recently, how I crashed, and what I’m learning about boundaries, emotional rest, and what real recovery actually takes.

Cass brings the warmth and the wisdom, helping me unpack all of it in a way that’s raw, honest, and healing.

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, or like you're barely holding it together—this one’s for you.

🧠 Topics We Cover:

• What burnout really feels like (beyond just being tired)
• The shame of not “doing enough” even when you’re doing everything
• Guilt, people-pleasing, and feeling like you're letting folks down
• The truth about emotional overwhelm and how it affects creativity
• Why boundaries with yourself are the hardest to keep
• Tools for recovery and why it’s slower than you think
• The importance of community that pours into you

Cass says it’s about DAMN time we become obsessed with our own well-being—mentally, emotionally, and physically—without guilt.

Set one boundary with yourself this week. Just one.

Whether it’s a bedtime, screen time limit, or not answering every call...keep a promise to you and stick to it

📲 Instagram – @bewellsis_podcast

📝 Substack – bewellsis.substack.com

🌐 Website – bewellsis.com

🎧 Podcast – Be Well, Sis

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I said I’d report back...so here it is.

Five days of living unfiltered taught me way more than I expected. In this follow-up, I share what worked, where I froze, and the deeper roots underneath my overthinking: people-pleasing and a scarcity mindset. This isn’t just a challenge anymore—it’s a lifestyle shift.

In this episode:

• What five days unfiltered actually felt like (wins + misses)
• The real roots: people-pleasing and scarcity (and how they tax your peace)
• The mirror test: deciding how you see you
• Why “1% better” beats chasing home runs
• A simple weekly practice to build self-trust

It’s About DAMN Time segment:

It’s about DAMN time I stop needing permission to be myself.

Our D.A.M.N. Challenge (this week):

Do one selfish thing for yourself. Don’t manage anyone else’s feelings. Do it, feel it, note the surprise—and don’t apologize for it.

🔗 Follow me on all platforms: @DaWholeDamnShow

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In this episode, I kick off a 5-day experiment to do exactly that—no filters, no edits, and definitely no second-guessing. For five days, I’m saying what I feel, doing what I want, and seeing who I am when I’m not stuck in my head.

This isn’t about being reckless or hurting feelings—it’s about finding out who I am without constantly managing everyone else’s expectations. It’s about trusting myself, even when it feels scary.

I’m taking you along for the ride, day by day. And next week, I’ll be back with the results.

It’s about DAMN time I stop waiting for the perfect plan and just trust myself in the moment.

• Do something you’ve been overthinking
• Acknowledge how it feels
• Make a note of what surprised you
• Never apologize for being yourself

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Does saying “no” feels like a betrayal…

This week, I’m joined by the incredibly insightful and hilarious SaKarra Fite, and we’re talking about the people-pleasing habits that hold us hostage.

From family pressure to generational patterns to simply not wanting to let people down, we get real about where it starts...and how to break free.

We unpack the cost of being the “go-to” person, how boundaries got a bad reputation, and why so many of us overcorrect and end up isolating instead of healing.

This one’s honest, layered, funny, and filled with truth. Press play...you’ll see what I mean.

• When people-pleasing becomes your identity
• Childhood programming and the pressure to be the “responsible one”
• Setting boundaries without guilt
• Learning to say yes again—but on your terms
• Breaking generational cycles of overgiving
• Parenting, purpose, and letting people evolve

SaKarra is a creative intellect, entrepreneur, author, and the host of SaKarra, Why?—a podcast exploring life’s questions, transitions, and unfiltered truths.

📲 Follow her on all platforms: @SakiCertified

🎧 Listen to her podcast: SaKarra, Why? on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts

Say “no” this week without explaining.

Say it with love, say it with clarity—but don’t say it with guilt.

Then tell me how it felt. DM me, tag the pod, or drop a comment. Let’s normalize protecting our peace.

🔗 Follow me on all platforms: @DaWholeDamnShow

🎧 Follow It’s About DAMN Time: @ItsAboutDamnTimePod

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