In today’s summer rewind episode, we’re revisiting this conversation with Dr. Kristian Henderson of BLK+GRN.

Dr. Kristian Henderson is a professor of public health, a natural lifestyle enthusiast, and the founder of BLK+GRN, an all-natural marketplace by all Black artisans. BLK+GRN curates products that are sold in categories like skincare, home, bath and body to meet the needs of wellness seekers who want to buy Black and live green.

In the U.S. black women buy nearly twice as many body care and beauty products, with nearly 75% of the products marketing to black women containing toxic ingredients that can have a negative impact on our health. Through the creation of BLK+GRN, Dr. Kristian is tackling this issue head-on. She is an unshakable optimist who is passionate about helping women cultivate a lifestyle that’s free of artificial ingredients, toxins, and harmful chemicals. She believes that doing so is the only way to foster true happiness.

In this episode, we dive into the importance of understanding what ingredients are in our body care products, and how doing so can have a profound impact on our health. 

She and her team are leading their community into a Toxic-Free 2019 when it comes to products, mindset, and lifestyle. We had an inspiring, insightful conversation that will have a positive takeaway for everyone. We’re so grateful for the opportunity to share her story and mission. 

In this episode, we talk about…

• How to make the switch to non-toxic products.
• Toxic ingredients we should avoid. 
• The importance of supporting Black-owned businesses.
• What inspired her to start BLK+GRN.

 

RESOURCES:

• Stay up to date on Dr. Kristian’s Recovery
• Send support to Dr. Kristian’s family
• BLK+GRN Website: www.blkgrn.com 
• Follow BLK+GRN on Instagram: @blkgrn

Follow Dr. Kristian on Instagram: @drkristianh

Follow Facebook: BLK+GRN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BLKandGRN/ 

Follow BLK+GRN on Twitter: @blkgrn

From the BLK+GRN Blog: The Black Girl’s Guide to Self Care

Use the code ‘BBG20’ for 20% off your BLK+GRN order!

To unlock weekly bonus episodes, support Balanced Black Girl on Patreon.

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.

Our Sponsors:
* Check out Babbel: http://babbel.com/balanced


Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/balanced-black-girl/donations

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Time to take it back to an earlier interview! In this rewind episode, we’re sharing the first-ever interview on Balanced Black Girl featuring Chrissy King. 

Chrissy King is a Milwaukee-based ISSA Certified Personal Trainer, lifestyle coach, fitness blogger, and truth-teller. While on her own fitness journey, Chrissy was introduced to strength training and powerlifting, which helped her build confidence and inner strength. Chrissy shows her clients that fat loss and weight management don’t have to be cumbersome or restrictive. She also encourages women to love their body in every stage, regardless of size or body fat percentage. 

In this episode, we talk about... 

• Ways the wellness community can be more inclusive and representative for all 
• True self-care that doesn’t feel like a commodity
• How to hold ourselves and each other accountable when we miss the mark with diversity and inclusion
• Why it is important for women to feel comfortable taking up space.

 

Resources:

• Visit Chrissy’s Website
• Follow Chrissy on Instagram @iamchrissyking

“Is Fitness Only for Thin, White Women?” 

“Words That Don’t Belong to Us: Why It’s Time to Say Goodbye to Using the World ‘Savage’”

 

This episode is sponsored by Sound Craft Seltzer - the perfect drink for summer!

To unlock exclusive Balanced Black Girl content including weekly bonus episodes, support Balanced Black Girl on Patreon. 

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.

Our Sponsors:
* Check out Babbel: http://babbel.com/balanced


Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/balanced-black-girl/donations

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, we’re talking to Monique Melton, host of the Shine Brighter Together Podcast. Monique is an anti-racism educator, published author, and international speaker. She is also the founder of Shine Brighter Together, which is a community dedicated to healthy relationships & diverse unity.

She travels the world speaking at conferences and events on topics related to anti-racism, personal growth, diversity, and relationships. She’s been published in magazines, featured in blogs and podcasts and has touched the lives of people all over the world.

She is a natural big-bold dreamer and a deeply rooted woman of faith. She is a proud Navy wife to her high-school sweetheart and she is a loving mother to two little ones. She has a BA in social science with an emphasis in sociology & psychology and two years of graduate school education in Clinical Counseling from Johns Hopkins University.

In this episode, we talk about…

• Why being “not racist” isn’t enough.
• Practicing self-care after performing intense emotional labor.
• Understanding internalized racism.
• Dismantling problematic beliefs and behaviors.

 

RESOURCES:

• Register for the SHINE Seattle Class
• Monique’s 10-Week Anti-Racism Course, Unity Over Comfort

Follow Monique on Instagram @moemotivate

Listen to the Shine Brighter Together Podcast

Support Balanced Black Girl on Patreon for exclusive episodes and content. 

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.

Our Sponsors:
* Check out Babbel: http://babbel.com/balanced


Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/balanced-black-girl/donations

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today’s guest is Kristin Iris. Kristin is a Film Producer, Speaker, and Coach who helps Black creatives cultivate liberation, joy, and power through deep personal work and Black creative expression. Her work centers on helping Black folx dismantle their internalized oppressions and stand in their power she works in particular on healing “The Oreo Complex” or the idea that an individual isn’t Black enough. 

As a creative she shares powerful messages through her writing (currently working on a novel and a screenplay), videos, and her podcast Melanated Rising which is meant to inspire, uplift, and ignite Black creatives all while changing the narratives around Blackness. She is also a Producer at MegaMind Media, a Black-owned feature film and television production company.

Her mission, whether in her art, coaching, or speaking, is to challenge and break down oppressive power dynamics and systems by inspiring and igniting Black folx into their greatness and their capacity to make great change in the world. 

We had a great conversation about the unique challenges Black entrepreneurs and creatives face, and how we can unlock our creative power to achieve success. 

 

In this episode, we talk about…

• How everyone can unlock their creativity.
• Being a Black woman in the online coaching space. 
• Unique obstacles Black entrepreneurs and creatives face. 
• Understanding and dismantling The Oreo Complex.

 

RESOURCES:

• Visit Kristin’s Website: www.kristiniris.com

Listen to Kristin’s Podcast Melanated Rising.

Check out Kristin’s course, From Oreo to Empowered.

Follow Kristin on Instagram: @kristiniris

Want to support Balanced Black Girl? Join our community on Patreon to unlock Feel Good Friday episodes and bonus content. 

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.

Our Sponsors:
* Check out Babbel: http://babbel.com/balanced


Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/balanced-black-girl/donations

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today, we’re talking about sexual health, effective sexual education for Black and brown students, and how to create our own individual definitions of what it means to be sex-positive with Michelle Hope. Michelle is a dedicated Sexologist, educator and activist with a Master’s degree in Human Development and extensive post graduate training in sexuality. As a veteran speaker, Michelle has over 15 years of experience delivering impactful informative lectures and trainings across the nation. She believes as though her work, in marginalized urban communities, has provided her with deep insight and comprehension of the holistic implications of sexuality on one’s life.

 

Michelle has dedicated her career to understanding and communicating to the masses the complex intersections of various social identities: race, class, gender, and sexual orientation, through a Reproductive Justice lens. She has taken deliberate actions in exploring and developing a unique language to speak to communities of color. Michelle feels as though her experience in working with marginalized urban communities, and understanding holistic sexuality, has shaped her perspectives on the direct connections between sexuality and generational poverty in those communities. 

 

Her passion and commitment to the work has provided her with a unique style that has the ability to captivate and educate across various populations; with a proven track record of developing, implementing and evaluating dynamic and creative programming for individuals.

 

In this episode, we talk about…

• The implications of how our community views, talks about, and teaches about sex.
• How being overly sexualized and fetishized impacts Black women.
• Understanding where feelings of shame around sex and sexuality come from.
• How consent and pleasure are deeply intertwined.
• Helping individuals define what being sex positive means for them. 

 

RESOURCES:

• Michelle’s Website: http://www.mhsexpert.com/

Follow Michelle on Instagram: @mhsexpert

Follow Michelle on Twitter: @mhsexpert

 

PARTNERS:

• Get 20% off your order on BLK+GRN using the code 'BBG20'
• Get 20% off Black Girl Sunscreen using the code 'BBG20'
• Get 30% off Methodology Meals delivered to your doorstep using the code 'BALANCEDBLACKGIRL30'

Support Balanced Black Girl on Patreon for weekly bonus episodes. 

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.

Our Sponsors:
* Check out Babbel: http://babbel.com/balanced


Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/balanced-black-girl/donations

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today, we’re talking to Moji Igun. Moji is the founder of Blue Daisi Consulting, a sustainability consulting company that helps small businesses reduce waste and implement sustainable practices.

After pursuing a career in engineering and realizing it wasn’t the right fit, Moji channeled her passion for sustainability to create meaningful work for herself.

Climate change is creating a state of crisis that impacts us all. Moji is sharing her expertise in low-waste living and shares practical advice we can all take to make our planet a better place.

In this episode, we talk about…

• Simple ways to adopt a lower-waste lifestyle.
• How sustainable practices are rooted in the Black community.
• Using your interests and skillset to create the job of your dreams.
• How to create a foundation of sustainability when starting a new business.

 

RESOURCES:

• Blue Daisi Consulting
• Follow Moji on Instagram: @hippiemoji

Follow Blue Daisi on Instagram: @bluedaisiconsulting 

Support Balanced Black Girl on Patreon to unlock weekly bonus podcast episodes.

This episode is sponsored by Sound Craft Seltzer. Fermented on unprocessed, whole, and organic ingredients, Sound Craft Seltzer Co. elevates hard seltzer to another level. 

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.

Our Sponsors:
* Check out Babbel: http://babbel.com/balanced


Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/balanced-black-girl/donations

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today’s episode is a special one - it is from our first LIVE recording of Balanced Black Girl Podcast. We hosted our first live podcast at The Collective in Seattle and had an open, honest conversation about the importance of community, and how we can build more authentic connections and relationships. Get to know our amazing guests.

Michaela Ayers is the founder of Nourish, a social impact organization that drives cultural change through human connection and experiential learning. Through the lens of social justice, she designs meaningful moments that embrace diversity and foster a culture of belonging.

Trina Baker co-leads the Seattle chapter of GirlTrek, the largest public health nonprofit for African-American women and girls in the United States. With nearly 100,000 neighborhood walkers nationwide, GirlTrek encourages women to use walking as a practical first step to inspire healthy living, families, and communities.

Falesha Johnson is the founder of Felite Performance where she works as a speed and agility coach for young athletes. She is also a seasoned public speaker, and the Associate Director of Development at the Michael G. Foster School of Business at the University of Washington.

In this episode, we talk about…

• The need for consistent sisterhood, and why it is so important for our health.
• How to take online connections offline.
• Finding community when you move to a new city.
• Overcoming feelings of competition with other women.
• Connecting with people from different cultural backgrounds.

 

RESOURCES:

• Learn more about The Collective Seattle.

Connect with GirlTrek in your city.

Check out future events with Nourish.

Support Balanced Black Girl Podcast on Patreon for exclusive podcast episodes.

 

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

 

PS: If you really want to take your year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.

Our Sponsors:
* Check out Babbel: http://babbel.com/balanced


Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/balanced-black-girl/donations

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In today’s episode, Les is flying solo answering all of your burning questions about fitness, wellness, entrepreneurship, mental health, and more. The tea is hot today.

 

In this episode, we talk about…

• Current favorite workouts and why.
• Tips for navigating post-grad life, and finding your purpose.
• Staying organized when it comes to wellness, fitness, and life.
• Future Balanced Black Girl events and meet-ups.
• ...and more

 

SUPPORT THE SHOW - Become a Balanced Black Girl patron on Patreon to unlock Feel Good Friday episodes and exclusive podcast content. https://www.patreon.com/balancedblackgirl

LIVE PODCAST - Join us on June 21st for the first live recording of Balanced Black Girl in Seattle. RSVP here - only a few tickets left! 

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.

Our Sponsors:
* Check out Babbel: http://babbel.com/balanced


Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/balanced-black-girl/donations

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today’s guest is Koya Webb. Koya is an internationally recognized yoga teacher, personal trainer, holistic health and wellness coach, author, motivational speaker, and professional fitness model revolutionizing the holistic living landscape.

She is the creator of Get Loved Up, a platform that encourages people to “love yourself, love others, and love the planet” by practicing environmental sustainability, plant-based nutrition, and mindful movement.

Koya is gearing up for the release of her latest book, Let Your Fears Make You Fierce: How to Turn Obstacles Into Seeds for Growth, an insightful guide sharing the ways she has lived in fear and the tools she's used to get herself to a more confident and fierce place, moving through life in alignment with everything she believes in.

We had an inspiring conversation about overcoming obstacles and finding triumph over limiting beliefs. Get ready for some serious inspiration.

In this episode, we talk about…

• Turning obstacles into inspiration.
• Listening to your body as an important form of self-care.
• The importance of diverse yoga training programs.
• Why love should play a major role in your wellness routine.

RESOURCES:

• Get Koya’s new book, Let Your Fears Make You Fierce: How to Turn Obstacles Into Seeds for Growth

Sign Up for Koya’s Get Loved Up Yoga Teacher Training

Follow Koya on Instagram: @koyawebb

Follow Get Loved Up on Instagram: @getlovedup

Join us for our first live show in Seattle on June 21st all about creating community. RSVP here.

This episode is sponsored by Black Girl Sunscreen. Finally, a sunscreen designed to protect your melanin without the white residue. Use the code “BBG20” for 20% off your order at blackgirlsunscreen.com, or grab Black Girl Sunscreen at your local Target!

Like the show? Want to see it thrive? Support Balanced Black Girl Podcast on Patreon for exclusive benefits and perks!

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.

Our Sponsors:
* Check out Babbel: http://babbel.com/balanced


Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/balanced-black-girl/donations

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In today’s Feel Good Friday episode, we’re talking about incorporating rest and recovery into your fitness routine. While moving your body is important, in order to make progress, the magic is in the rest. If you don’t adequately recover from your workouts, your body isn’t able to repair and become stronger. This episode breaks down what signs to look for to help you decide when to recover, and how to determine when it’s time to take your fitness routine down a notch.

RESOURCES:

• To hear future Feel Good Friday episodes, support Balanced Black Girl Podcast on Patreon.

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast, and join the Balanced Black Girl Podcast Community on Facebook.

PS: If you really want to take your year to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.

Our Sponsors:
* Check out Babbel: http://babbel.com/balanced


Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/balanced-black-girl/donations

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.