NOIRPOISED Podcast

Why does giving birth feel scarier for Black and Brown families—and why are so many of us told the hospital is the only safe option? Are we choosing what’s best for us—or what we’ve been conditioned to fear less?

With Certified Birth & Postpartum Doula, Chris Gonzalez Baez, we’re unpacking the truth about home birth, doulas, and what really happens inside hospital delivery rooms. From personal birth stories to real talk about fear, safety, trust, and advocacy, we break down the myths that keep families misinformed—and often unheard.

This isn’t about “hospital vs. home.” It’s about knowledge, choice, and taking your power back during one of the most vulnerable moments of your life.

And stay tuned for the continuation of the conversation with Chris in next week's episode!

Send us your questions and/or topic suggestions here

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Read the weekly BLOG: https://noirpoised.wixsite.com/noirpoisedpodcast

Youtube: @noirpoisedpodcast
Instagram: @noirpoisedpodcast
Twitter: @noirpoised

*This podcast is for conversation and reflection only. We’re not licensed therapists or medical professionals. The stories and perspectives shared here are based on personal experience and should not replace professional advice. If you’re struggling or need guidance, we encourage you to seek help from a qualified therapist or mental health professional.

So many women walk into the hospital planning one kind of birth… and leave with a C-section they never expected. Why does that keep happening?

In this episode, we kick off our childbirth series by talking honestly about C-sections—why they’re necessary in some cases, why they may be overused in others, and what most people aren’t told before decisions are made. This isn’t about judging choices. It’s about asking better questions, understanding your options, and advocating for yourself when it matters most.

Are C-sections always about safety—or sometimes about speed, control, and convenience?

If you’re pregnant, planning, or just curious about how birth really works, this one’s a must-listen.

Send us your questions and/or topic suggestions here

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Read the weekly BLOG: https://noirpoised.wixsite.com/noirpoisedpodcast

Youtube: @noirpoisedpodcast
Instagram: @noirpoisedpodcast
Twitter: @noirpoised

*This podcast is for conversation and reflection only. We’re not licensed therapists or medical professionals. The stories and perspectives shared here are based on personal experience and should not replace professional advice. If you’re struggling or need guidance, we encourage you to seek help from a qualified therapist or mental health professional.

New year, same pressure to “change everything.” But what if that’s the problem? In this episode, we talk about daily habits, procrastination, accountability, and the uncomfortable truth about goals we say we want… but don’t really want to work for.

From fitness and productivity to mindset and self-talk, this is a real conversation about starting small, being honest with yourself, and building habits that fit your real life—not some perfect version of it. Especially when life is chaotic, kids are loud, and motivation comes and goes.

Here’s the question we keep coming back to: Are you stuck because life is busy—or because you haven’t been honest about what you’re willing to change?

If you’re tired of restarting every January, this episode is for you.

Send us your questions and/or topic suggestions here

Like, share, follow and rate the podcast!

Read the weekly BLOG: https://noirpoised.wixsite.com/noirpoisedpodcast

Youtube: @noirpoisedpodcast
Instagram: @noirpoisedpodcast
Twitter: @noirpoised

*This podcast is for conversation and reflection only. We’re not licensed therapists or medical professionals. The stories and perspectives shared here are based on personal experience and should not replace professional advice. If you’re struggling or need guidance, we encourage you to seek help from a qualified therapist or mental health professional.

We’re talking about love languages beyond romance—with parents, siblings, friends, and the people who drive you a little crazy this season.

Are you loving people the way you want to be loved—or the way they actually receive it? We break down why good intentions still miss the mark and how understanding love languages can reduce conflict, save time, and deepen connection.

As you gather around the table, ask yourself: What if loving differently could change your family dynamic for the better?

Send us your questions and/or topic suggestions here

Like, share, follow and rate the podcast!

Read the weekly BLOG: https://noirpoised.wixsite.com/noirpoisedpodcast

Youtube: @noirpoisedpodcast
Instagram: @noirpoisedpodcast
Twitter: @noirpoised

*This podcast is for conversation and reflection only. We’re not licensed therapists or medical professionals. The stories and perspectives shared here are based on personal experience and should not replace professional advice. If you’re struggling or need guidance, we encourage you to seek help from a qualified therapist or mental health professional.

Perimenopause hits every woman—but most of us don’t even know it’s happening. In this episode, we sit down with a women’s health educator, Gail Janicola, who breaks down what perimenopause really is, why it starts earlier than you think, and the symptoms no one warns you about.

We talk about why so many women feel like they’re “losing control” of their own bodies. If this is a normal part of being a woman, why are we all walking into it blind?

You’ll learn what’s actually happening behind the scenes, how to spot the early signs, and how to prepare before you’re in the thick of it.

P.S. Gail will have educational modules available in the near future pertaining to this topic. Once available, we will link it to this episode. Stay tuned for it! 

Send us your questions and/or topic suggestions here

Like, share, follow and rate the podcast!

Read the weekly BLOG: https://noirpoised.wixsite.com/noirpoisedpodcast

Youtube: @noirpoisedpodcast
Instagram: @noirpoisedpodcast
Twitter: @noirpoised

*This podcast is for conversation and reflection only. We’re not licensed therapists or medical professionals. The stories and perspectives shared here are based on personal experience and should not replace professional advice. If you’re struggling or need guidance, we encourage you to seek help from a qualified therapist or mental health professional.

Welcome to part 2 of this conversation. Therapy is trending, but is it truly helping us grow—or just giving us buzzwords? In this continued episode, we unpack real healing, generational patterns, and why perspective matters. How do you know if you’re doing the work… or just surviving on autopilot? And honestly—do you think YOU need therapy?

We continue the conversation revolving around mental health in our Black communities with Ketayma. If you missed the first part, make sure you check it out before watching this one.

Send us your questions and/or topic suggestions here

Like, share, follow and rate the podcast!

Read the weekly BLOG: https://noirpoised.wixsite.com/noirpoisedpodcast

Youtube: @noirpoisedpodcast
Instagram: @noirpoisedpodcast
Twitter: @noirpoised

*This podcast is for conversation and reflection only. We’re not licensed therapists or medical professionals. The stories and perspectives shared here are based on personal experience and should not replace professional advice. If you’re struggling or need guidance, we encourage you to seek help from a qualified therapist or mental health professional.

In part 1 of 2 of this episode, we sit down with a friend to talk about something many of us grew up avoiding—mental health in the Black community. We laugh, we reminisce, and we get real about what it means to normalize trauma, function through pain, and still tell ourselves we’re “fine.”

Ketayma opens up about therapy, anxiety, depression, and the moment he realized he was repeating patterns he thought he’d escaped. We also talk about why so many of us confuse survival with strength… and why healing requires more than prayer, jokes, or pushing through.

This episode asks one simple question: Are you actually okay, or just really good at pretending?

…And come back next week for the continuation to this conversation.

Send us your questions and/or topic suggestions here

Like, share, follow and rate the podcast!

Read the weekly BLOG: https://noirpoised.wixsite.com/noirpoisedpodcast

Youtube: @noirpoisedpodcast
Instagram: @noirpoisedpodcast
Twitter: @noirpoised

*This podcast is for conversation and reflection only. We’re not licensed therapists or medical professionals. The stories and perspectives shared here are based on personal experience and should not replace professional advice. If you’re struggling or need guidance, we encourage you to seek help from a qualified therapist or mental health professional.

Thanksgiving is here, and while we love the food, the laughs, and the chaos… being around family can hit some nerves. In this episode, we’re asking the one question most of us avoid: What’s your role in your family—and is it really who you are, or just what you do?

We unpack the labels families give us, how those roles stick, and why some of us feel out of place when life changes. Before you walk into that family gathering this holiday season, tune in to this episode.

Send us your questions and/or topic suggestions here

Like, share, follow and rate the podcast!

Read the weekly BLOG: https://noirpoised.wixsite.com/noirpoisedpodcast

Youtube: @noirpoisedpodcast
Instagram: @noirpoisedpodcast
Twitter: @noirpoised

*This podcast is for conversation and reflection only. We’re not licensed therapists or medical professionals. The stories and perspectives shared here are based on personal experience and should not replace professional advice. If you’re struggling or need guidance, we encourage you to seek help from a qualified therapist or mental health professional.

What really happens to men after they become dads—emotionally, mentally, even biologically? Does fatherhood reshape masculinity, from shifting testosterone to shifting priorities? We talk about fear, identity, and that quiet pressure men feel to “get it right,” even when they don’t know what that looks like.

Send us your questions and/or topic suggestions here

Like, share, follow and rate the podcast!

Read the weekly BLOG: https://noirpoised.wixsite.com/noirpoisedpodcast

Youtube: @noirpoisedpodcast
Instagram: @noirpoisedpodcast
Twitter: @noirpoised

*This podcast is for conversation and reflection only. We’re not licensed therapists or medical professionals. The stories and perspectives shared here are based on personal experience and should not replace professional advice. If you’re struggling or need guidance, we encourage you to seek help from a qualified therapist or mental health professional.

Are you a gentle parent—or just trying not to repeat what you grew up with? In this episode, we’re discussing emotional intelligence, boundaries, and that unspoken fear of “raising a soft kid.”

Let’s talk about the real difference between gentle parenting and tough love—and why most of us are probably somewhere in between. 

Send us your questions and/or topic suggestions here

Like, share, follow and rate the podcast!

Read the weekly BLOG: https://noirpoised.wixsite.com/noirpoisedpodcast

Youtube: @noirpoisedpodcast
Instagram: @noirpoisedpodcast
Twitter: @noirpoised

*This podcast is for conversation and reflection only. We’re not licensed therapists or medical professionals. The stories and perspectives shared here are based on personal experience and should not replace professional advice. If you’re struggling or need guidance, we encourage you to seek help from a qualified therapist or mental health professional.