Softly Unfiltered

Softly Unfiltered

By Ashlyn & BlakeSociety & Culture
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Softly Unfiltered episodes

  • The Friendships That Shaped Us — Part 2: Adoption, Identity & Never Feeling “Black Enough”

    In part two of our one-year anniversary celebration, we sit down with our best friends for an open and emotional conversation about identity, belonging, and what it really means to feel “Black enough.” From being adopted by two white moms in a small Pennsylvania town to growing up as the youngest of eleven in Houston, our friends share their stories of family, culture, and self-discovery. We talk about navigating Blackness through different upbringings, breaking generational patterns, and how friendship and therapy have helped us all embrace who we are inside and out.

    (Part 2 of our anniversary series — catch Part 1 for how these friendships began!)

    42 min
  • The Friendships That Shaped Us Part One —A Special Anniversary Episode with Our Best Friends
    We’re celebrating sisterhood, growth, and a full year of The Suburban Black Girl Podcast with the women who know us best our best friends. From college memories and fake IDs to growing into healed, confident women, this episode is equal parts laughter, love, and reflection. We talk about what it really takes to maintain adult friendships, how we’ve supported each other through every version of ourselves, and why showing up for your girls is sacred. Expect unfiltered stories, a few chaotic moments, and a whole lot of heart because real friendship is the ultimate love story.
    54 min
  • Why Do Black Women Have To Be Everything All At Once?
    This week on The Suburban Black Girl Podcast, we’re unpacking what it really means to “do it all.” From the generational roots of the Superwoman complex to the pressure of having to be strong, successful, and soft all at once, we explore the emotional reality behind the phrase “Black women make it look easy.” We talk about masking emotions, redefining strength, and unlearning the idea that rest and softness must be earned. From corporate rooms to personal relationships, this conversation gets real about what it takes to hold so much and why it’s okay to finally put some of it down. Mantra Moments: 💭 “You don’t have to earn rest, softness, or peace. You already deserve it.” 💭 “Your worth is not determined by your productivity — you were never meant to carry the world, only your purpose.”
    37 min
  • La’Torria Lemon: Building a PR Empire & Making Moves on Heart & Hustle
    This week on The Suburban Black Girl Podcast, we’re joined by the incomparable La’Torria Lemon — publicist, entrepreneur, and star of Heart & Hustle on OWN Network. As the founder of Lemon Limelight Media, La’Torria has built an empire rooted in authenticity, hard work, and heart. She opens up about navigating grief, faith, and purpose while breaking barriers in entertainment PR. From working with legends like Beyoncé and Jamie Foxx to learning the power of saying no, La’Torria shares what it truly means to stand tall, stay grounded, and protect your peace while chasing your dreams.
    1 hr 12 min
  • The Dilemma of a Woman in Her 30's Part Four: Why Love Hits Differently After 30
    We’re closing out The Dilemma of a Woman in Her 30s series with the topic everyone’s been waiting for — love. From emotional maturity to self-awareness and everything in between, we’re unpacking how dating shifts once you truly know yourself. We talk about avoiding situationships, spinning the block, and recognizing that peace will always compete with love and often win. From the hard lessons of our 20s to the softer standards of our 30s, this conversation is all about choosing love from a healed, whole, and grounded place. Mantra Moment: Love after 30 hits different because now, you’re choosing from wholeness, not loneliness.
    42 min
  • The Dilemma of a Woman in Her 30's Part Three: Becoming HER
    In part three of The Dilemma of a Woman in Her 30s series, we’re stepping into our “Becoming Her” era the version of you that’s grounded, healed, and unapologetically evolving. This episode dives into what it really means to grow into yourself: defining your identity beyond your career or relationship, embracing softness and strength, and learning to love who you’re becoming flaws and all. We talk about therapy, inner work, and the constant balance between grace and growth. From unlearning toxic family patterns to feeling more confident in our 30s than ever before, this is a love letter to the women who are still becoming even when it’s messy. Mantra Moment: Becoming her isn’t about perfection it’s about permission. Permission to heal, to grow, to unlearn, and to show up as the woman you were always meant to be.
    50 min
  • The Dilemma of a Woman in Her 30's Part Two: The Career Crossroads
    In part two of our Dilemma of a Woman in Her 30s series, we’re diving into the messy, motivating, and sometimes maddening world of careers. From chasing promotions and navigating corporate politics to battling burnout and questioning hustle culture, we unpack what it really feels like to be a Black woman at this stage of life. We share our own stories of advocating for raises, dealing with overwork, learning from strong mentors, and setting boundaries (yes, even on vacation). This episode explores the push and pull between ambition and peace and why choosing alignment over appearances might be the ultimate career move. Mantra Moment: Your career isn’t a straight line. It’s a journey you’re allowed to pivot, pause, and protect your peace.
    55 min
  • The Dilemma of a Woman in Her 30's Part One: The Clock & The Choice
    In Part 1 of our new series The Dilemma of a Woman in Her 30s, we’re diving into the conversation so many women quietly carry: the ticking clock. From love and marriage to motherhood and timelines, society often tells us where we “should” be by now but what if your path looks different? We talk candidly about biological clocks, shifting desires, the stigma of being single in your 30s, and the reality of balancing freedom with the idea of family. Can you be fulfilled without kids? Is motherhood the definition of womanhood? And why are women judged more harshly than men for the same choices? This episode is about rejecting shame, embracing self-awareness, and learning to define your own timeline whether that’s marriage, kids, or living your best rich-auntie life.
    43 min
  • I'm Not Healing For A Man, I'm Healing For Me
    This week on Suburban Black Girl, we’re reclaiming what healing really means. Too often, people assume our growth is about becoming “more dateable” or recovering from a toxic ex — but healing isn’t about proving your worth to anyone else. It’s about choosing yourself, protecting your peace, and becoming the woman you’re proud of. We open up about therapy, spirituality, and finding mentors, plus the pressure social media creates to “heal perfectly” or move on quickly. From breaking free of narcissistic partners to navigating healthy love that challenges you in new ways, we’re talking about the messy, non-linear journey of becoming whole. Mantra Moment: My healing isn’t about being chosen it’s about choosing myself.
    51 min
  • Friendship Red Flags We Don’t Talk About Enough
    Friendships are supposed to feel safe, supportive, and genuine but what happens when subtle red flags start to show? In this episode, we get real about the signs we’ve ignored in the past and how they show up in adulthood. From “playful shade” that cuts too deep, to one-sided emotional dumping, to friends who compete instead of clap we’re naming the patterns that quietly drain our peace. We also unpack how therapy and self-reflection have shaped the way we approach adult friendships, the guilt of outgrowing people we’ve known forever, and why protecting your peace is the ultimate boundary. Mantra Moment: A real friend doesn’t dim your light, compete with your peace, or hide behind shade. Red flags don’t turn green with time.
    51 min

About Softly Unfiltered

From the publisher's feed

Hosted by Ashlyn and Blake, two multifaceted Black women based in Houston, Softly Unfiltered is where soft meets honest. Each week, we get real about personal growth, healing, navigating corporate America, and the messy, funny, and complex realities of modern dating. From breaking generational cycles to finding our voice in spaces that weren't built for us, our conversations blend honesty, humor, and hard truths—all rooted in our lived experiences.

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