It's About DAMN Time

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

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

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

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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

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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

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Damn University Merch now available click link → Here

🎧 Love this episode? Share it with someone who needs to hear it!

Y’all, let’s be real—asking for help is HARD.

If you’re like me, you’ve spent most of your life figuring things out on your own, carrying the weight, and feeling like it’s your job to hold it all together. But what happens when you don’t have a choice?

In this solo episode of It’s About DAMN Time, I’m getting real about the past five months—losing my job, struggling financially, and realizing that sometimes, you just gotta say “Hench Here” (hand it here) and take the help being offered.

This episode is all about:

✔️ Why we resist help (spoiler: it’s deeper than just pride)

✔️ How struggling in silence only makes things worse

✔️ What changed when I finally let go and said yes

✔️ The unexpected blessings that come when you open yourself up to receiving

This conversation is for anyone who’s ever felt like they had to do it all alone. If you’ve ever struggled to accept help—whether it’s financial, emotional, or just having someone be there—this one’s for you.

🔹 Struggling alone won’t make you stronger. I tried it, and let me tell you—it just makes things harder.

🔹 The people around you want to help. You’ve been there for them, now let them return the favor.

🔹 Asking for help isn’t a weakness, it’s a strength. Being vulnerable is one of the hardest things to do, but it’s also one of the most powerful.

🔹 The moment you say “yes,” things start to shift. Trust me on this one.

This week, ask for help.

Not just hint at it, not just hope someone offers—ask.

Whether it’s advice, a connection, or support in any form, just take a deep breath and do it. You might be surprised at what happens when you finally say yes.

🙏 Big shoutout to everyone who’s had my back:

Kal (my barber who came through when I needed it), Leigh, Lil D, and the people who reminded me that I don’t have to do this alone. Y’all are real ones.

🙏 Special thanks to Big Daddy (my great-grandfather) for the wisdom I didn’t know I needed until now.

🙏 And to YOU, for listening and growing with me.

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

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Damn University Merch now available click link → Here

#SelfImprovement #MindsetShift #PersonalGrowth #MentalHealthMatters #VulnerabilityIsStrength #PodcastLife #AskForHelp

Let’s be real—sometimes the common denominator in all our problems is us.

But self-accountability isn’t about self-blame; it’s about self-growth. In this episode, I sit down with my good friend and podcast producer extraordinaire, Stephy Kiss, to talk about what it really means to take responsibility for our actions, choices, and the patterns we keep repeating.

We’re getting into:

✔️ The hard truth about why we struggle with self-awareness

✔️ How taking ownership of our mistakes can actually heal us

✔️ Red flags we ignore and why we do it (spoiler: we know better)

✔️ The difference between self-accountability and self-sabotage

✔️ Why your birth chart might have the answers you’ve been avoiding 👀

This is one of those raw, introspective conversations that might just have you rethinking some of your past decisions. So, grab your journal, take a deep breath, and let’s get into it!

Follow Stephy Kiss on IG → here

Follow Am I The Problem? Because WTF on IG → here

Want to learn more about Stephy Kiss → here

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

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Damn University Merch now available click link → Here

In this week’s deeply moving and inspirational episode, I’m joined by the amazing Kenda Lawson—visionary educator, masterful storyteller, and host of The B Word podcast.

Together, we explore what it means to find beauty in life’s struggles, uncover gratitude in the darkest moments, and use trials as stepping stones to discovering our purpose.

Kenda’s journey of resilience and gratitude is one for the books. From enduring childhood trauma to becoming a leading voice in education and storytelling, she shows us how to embrace life’s challenges as opportunities for growth.

If you’ve ever felt stuck, struggled to find your purpose, or needed a reminder of the power of gratitude, this episode is for you.

What We Cover in This Episode

Finding Gratitude in Life’s Toughest Moments

• Kenda’s belief that challenges give us our superpowers while reminding us we’re not superhuman.
• Why it’s okay to feel stuck and how regularly “visiting gratitude” can help us move forward.

Purpose as a Process, Not a Destination

• Kenda’s unique take on finding purpose: it’s not about searching—it’s about noticing.
• How life’s “sandpaper moments” polish us into our most authentic selves.

Life Lessons from Kenda’s Storytelling Mastery

• The childhood lessons that shaped Kenda’s resilience and storytelling genius.
• Why “your presence is required” and how the universe aligns to guide you toward your purpose.

Practical Steps to Discover Gratitude and Purpose

• How to identify the tools life has handed you through its challenges.
• The power of acceptance and how acknowledging your experiences unlocks personal growth.

Real Talk About Fear, Doubt, and Monetizing Your Skills

• Kenda’s advice on overcoming fear and self-doubt to step into your purpose.
• Why it’s okay—and necessary—to monetize your unique skills and contributions.

Why You Should Listen

If you’ve ever wondered how to find purpose amidst the chaos or struggled with being grateful when life feels overwhelming, this conversation is the guide you didn’t know you needed. With actionable advice and stories that hit deep, Kenda and I unpack what it means to live intentionally, protect your peace, and uncover your “why.”

Follow Kenda on IG → here

Follow The B Word on IG → here

Visit Black is America Podcast → here

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

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Damn University Merch now available click link → Here

What’s stopping you from showing up as your full, authentic self?

In this solo episode, I get real about the ways I’ve been holding myself back—not just in my podcast, but in my life. I’ve spent too much time shaping myself to fit other people’s expectations instead of just being me.

And if I’m being honest? It’s exhausting.

I share a personal reflection on how people-pleasing, fear, and lack of discipline have kept me from stepping into my full potential. But that stops now. I break down the importance of self-awareness, discipline, and taking real action—because talking about change isn’t enough. If you’re tired of playing small, this episode is for you.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

🔥 How we put ourselves in boxes to please others—and why it’s holding us back

🔥 The power of embracing who you truly are, unapologetically

🔥 Why discipline matters more than motivation when it comes to achieving your goals

🔥 A raw look at my own struggles with self-doubt and mental health—and how I’m pushing through

🔥 The steps I’m taking to transition into full-time podcasting and living on my own terms

Key Takeaways:

💡 If you can be yourself with your mama, why hold back for strangers?

💡 Stop making declarations about change—start putting in the work.

💡 Fuck your feelings. Stick to the plan.

Let’s Keep the Conversation Going:

Got a story about how you’ve held yourself back? Hit me up on social media or drop a comment—I want to hear from you!

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

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Damn University Merch now available click link → Here