In this profound and deeply vulnerable episode of the healing collective, join host Toni C. Gayle in conversation with Dr. LaShaon Machado Brinson—former pastor, superintendent, and now a therapeutic coach and advocate for Black generational mental wellness.

LaShaon opens up about her journey from living a life of performance and "subtle suicide" within a toxic church system to discovering the liberating power of profound self-love. She shares how years of silencing her own needs—first as a pastor’s daughter, then as a wife and mother of five in ministry—led to a physical and emotional breaking point, including a moment where her vision literally began "glitching" from exhaustion.

This conversation explores:

• How "dying to self" became a slow erasure of her identity

• The wake-up call that came when her daughter attempted suicide

• Why bubble baths and affirmations aren’t enough—and what profound self-love really means

• How leaving the church helped her reclaim her faith and hear God’s voice more clearly than ever

• The revolutionary idea that self-love isn’t selfish—it’s the foundation for knowing God’s love

This isn’t a story about abandoning faith, but about fulfilling it. It’s for anyone who has ever felt trapped by a role, a religion, or a version of themselves that no longer serves their soul.

Listen now to begin your own journey from performance to purpose.