On this week's episode, The Black Woman's Confidant welcomes Dr. Nikia Smith to share her journey with burnout and how she healed from the exhausting hustle culture. Dr. Nikia is a practicing, board-certified anesthesiologist, a wellness coach, and the founder of She Is Fire Forged, a wellness brand supporting high-achieving women of color through burnout recovery and radical rest. After over a decade in medicine, she knows firsthand what it's like to chase the dream, hit every milestone, and still struggle with self-worth. Dr. Nikia shares vital insights on sustainable goal-setting, reclaiming personal autonomy, achieving success without sacrifice, and the core belief that rest is a fundamental right, not a reward.

On this week's episode of The Black Woman's Confidant, Dr. Nicole takes a look back at the past year. As she reflects, Dr. Nicole shares her biggest lessons, favorite moments, and most cherished memories from 2025. Looking ahead, Dr. Nicole also outlines her goals for the upcoming year and reveals her chosen "word of the year."

This week on the Black Woman's Confidant we welcome Dr. Christina Clark, a child psychiatrist, parent coach, and founder of aPARENT.world to discuss authoritative vs authoritarian parenting styles . Dr. Clark is board-certified in both Adult and Adolescent Psychiatry and brings decades of experience to her work supporting children, teens, and adults through consultation, therapy, and coaching. Dr. Clark also offers practical tools through aPARENT.world—a digital learning space designed to help parents strengthen emotional regulation and deepen family connection. As a child psychiatrist and parent, Dr. Clark breaks down common misconceptions about gentle parenting, explaining what it truly is and how parents can implement it into their own parenting style.

This week on The Black Woman's Confidant, Dr. Nicole welcomes Robyn Malone, CEO and Chief Partner Officer of RJ Communications, to delve into her journey as a Black woman in health and wellness PR.

Robyn's distinguished career is defined by her ability to spearhead major campaigns for international organizations such as Pfizer and P&G, while leading large, diverse teams with empathy and purpose. She prioritizes storytelling and humanity, even in fast-paced industries that often focus on metrics. Her work includes impactful initiatives like the "You Don't Know Jack About MS" awareness campaign and successful brand relaunches with a focus on heart.

As a seasoned industry veteran, Robyn shares invaluable wisdom on holding space as a leader and how to cultivate healthy, empathetic corporate cultures, particularly within high-pressure environments.

Black women navigate the difficult intersection of sexism and racism, a combination that has serious consequences for our health. On this week's episode of The Black Woman's Confidant, Dr. Nicole explores the concept of "weathering" and how the chronic stress of societal complexities affects Black women's bodies. She details how continuous exposure to stress, a constant state of fight-or-flight, and the burden of supporting our families' social and economic needs can manifest physically in health problems. Dr. Nicole also offers actionable insights and strategies for Black women to combat weathering as we live in a world not designed with our well-being in mind.

This week on The Black Woman's Confidant, Dr. Nicole concludes her parenting conversation with Dr. Ann-Louise Lockhart. As a pediatric psychologist and parent coach, Dr. Lockhart shares her expertise on why removing yourself from the parenting equation is important, how self-care can improve your parenting as well the importance of individualized parenting for each of your children.

This week, The Black Woman's Confidant welcomes Dr. Ann-Louise Lockhart, a pediatric psychologist, parent coach, speaker, and author. Driven by her own experience of disconnect with her mother during her teenage years, Dr. Lockhart wrote "Love the Teen You Have" to help parents foster stronger connections with their teens. In the first part of our conversation, Dr. Lockhart shares her insights on how to embrace the teen you have, how to create an environment that nurtures healthy adults, and how you can equip your children with essential coping strategies for daily life.

On this week's episode, Dr. Nicole reflects on her 30-year high school reunion and the emotions it evoked. She explores how events like reunions, homecomings, visits to one's hometown, or even chance encounters with old friends can trigger past feelings. Dr. Nicole also shares strategies for reframing these emotions and memories positively by fostering gratitude for the past, present, and future.

On this week's episode of The Black Woman's Confidant, Dr. Nicole explores the intricate emotions and difficulties parents encounter when experiencing an empty nest. Having recently navigated this personal journey, Dr. Nicole offers guidance on managing the emotional shifts as children leave home. She also provides insights on how to reassess personal aspirations, reignite forgotten interests, and embrace a renewed sense of self.

This week on The Black Woman's Confidant, Dr. Nicole discusses the relationship between introverted parents and their extroverted children. Drawing from her own experience as an introverted parent, Dr. Nicole offers advice on nurturing your child's confidence and social abilities while also preserving your own need for quiet time. She also provides strategies for balancing the distinct worlds of introversion and extroversion.