Melanin And Menopause

Just because May is ending doesn’t mean your healing journey is.

On this week’s Melanin & Menopause minisode, we’re closing out #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth with reflection, wisdom, and a reminder:
Healing doesn’t follow a calendar.

🎙️ We’re recapping:
✔️ How to reclaim joy as a form of resistance
✔️ The power of rest (without guilt!)
✔️ Why boundaries necessary
✔️ Simple self-care
✔️ And how community is a form of therapy

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and we are continuing the conversation. 

I’m honored to be joined by Dr. Kristie Norwood—licensed clinical psychologist, professor, speaker, and mental health advocate—who is doing powerful work to shift how we think about wellness in professional spaces.

We’re talking:

📍Boundaries and burnout

📍Building workplace cultures that care

📍The power of community & advocacy

📍The Exhale Summit

Contact Dr. Kristie Norwood:

- https://www.remind-u.com

- https://www.exhalesummit.org

- IG: drkristienorwood

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and this episode is something truly special.

We’re holding space for a conversation that doesn’t happen nearly enough: Black women, mental health, and healing—beyond the “strong Black woman” trope, beyond the stigma, and beyond the silence.

🎙️ I’m honored to be joined by Rhonda Nikole Bush—a powerhouse motivational speaker, mindset coach, and mental health advocate. Rhonda is also a veteran who has personally navigated anxiety, depression, and PTSD. She’s the founder of Girl, Get Up, a movement born from her journey to help women of faith move from hurt to healing.

In this episode, we talk:
💬 The real meaning of therapy & soul work
💬 Community care and what it looks like in our circles
💬 Identity, spirituality, and shedding unrealistic expectations
💬 Building mental health routines that actually fit our lives

It’s raw, real, and necessary. So grab your tea, notebook, and lean in with us.

Where to find Rhonda: https://www.girlgetupsociety.org

This week on Melanin & Menopause, we're digging deep into how nutrition impacts our hormones, our energy, and our sanity during perimenopause and menopause.

✨ I'm joined by a powerhouse guest — a Registered Dietitian who breaks down what’s really going on in our bodies and how we can fuel ourselves to feel better, sleep better, and live better.

💥 This one’s packed with gems — don’t miss it!

Guest information:

Demetria Cox, MS, RDN, LDN

IG: Deeveggierd

Website: www.deeveggierd.com

In this Menopause Mailbox Minisode, we're answering a powerful listener question: "How do I advocate for myself with my doctor?"

If you've ever been dismissed, rushed, or unsure how to speak up in the exam room - this one's for you. Plus, hear my personal experience.

Your gut is talking… are you listening?

In this week's Melanin & Menopause, we're exploring how gut hormones impact menopause and why women should pay close attention.

We're breaking down: 💥 What gut hormones like GLP-1, leptin, and insulin really do
🥗 How diet, stress, and estrogen shifts impact your gut health
🧬 Why Black women are at higher risk for metabolic issues during menopause
💡 Real, doable strategies to feel better from the inside out

Did you know your autonomic nervous system (ANS) plays a huge role in how you experience menopause? From hot flashes to mood swings, stress and imbalance in the ANS can make symptoms feel even more intense. But small shifts in how you breathe, move, eat, and rest can bring relief!

✨ In this episode, we’re talking about:
🔹 How stress impacts menopause symptoms
🔹 The connection between your nervous system & hormonal changes
🔹 Simple techniques like box breathing, gentle movement & mindful rest to find balance.

Enjoy!

Imagine facing **menopause** and **breast cancer** in the same lifetime. Now, imagine not just surviving—but **thriving**. ✨  

In this powerful episode of **Melanin & Menopause**, we’re having a **real, raw, and necessary conversation** about resilience, healing, and the power of self-care.  

Black women have long been expected to carry the weight of the world on our shoulders—pushing through pain, exhaustion, and stress without complaint. But what happens when menopause demands that we slow down, listen to our bodies, and prioritize our own healing? 🤔

In this episode of Melanin & Menopause, we’re breaking the silence on:
🔥 The impact of the "Strong Black Woman" expectation on our health
💨 How chronic stress makes menopause symptoms worse
💔 The toll of being dismissed in medical spaces
💆🏾‍♀️ Why self-care isn’t selfish—it’s survival

In this empowering episode of Melanin & Menopause, we're joined by Lakesha Bennett, a personal trainer and the owner of BennettFit Fitness and Wellness, who shares her expertise on how fitness can transform your experience during menopause.

Lakesha discusses how staying active can improve both physical and mental health. This episode is packed with advice to help you thrive during menopause and beyond.

Tune in for a conversation filled with inspiration, practical advice, and a fresh perspective on health and wellness!