In this episode, we dive into the kind of inner growth that doesn't look glamorous on the outside — the quiet shifts, the identity deaths, the chapters closing before we even know what the next one is. The parts of ourselves we outgrow, and the versions of us we're finally brave enough to walk away from.

Kelsi opens up about no longer feeling beholden to "auditioning" for anything — rooms, roles, or identities that never truly fit. She talks about releasing the need to be chosen, stepping out of the box of "actor," and finally embracing the fullness of being a creative. It's a conversation about choosing yourself, redefining purpose, and letting your real life matter more than the life you thought you should want.

Janai shares where she is in her own transition, knowing her era doing brows is coming to an end, yet not fully knowing what comes next. Together, they unpack the discomfort and the beauty of being in the in-between — the pivot, the pause, the pull toward something you can't name yet.

They dive into the boundaries they're learning to set in real time: protecting their energy, choosing what's good for them instead of what's convenient for everyone else, and giving themselves permission to not do what they don't want to do. No guilt. No fear. Just truth.

If you're in your reinvention era, questioning old dreams, or trying to grow into the most honest version of yourself, this episode is for you.

Follow us on Instagram:

🍒@thekelsilee

🍒@janaiiman

✨@xo.upfromhere

In this episode, we open up about the kind of childhood trauma that stays in your body long after you've grown up - the patterns you inherit, the wounds you didn't ask for, and the mothers who were doing their best... even when their best wasn't enough.

Kelsi gets vulnerable about growing up with a mother whose love was often overshadowed by meanness, emotional neglect, and expectations no child could meet. She talks about understanding the why behind it — her mom's own painful upbringing, her lack of support, and the unresolved trauma she carried. But she also sits with the truth that understanding doesn't erase the impact.

Janai adds her perspective as someone who watched Kelsi's experience up close, and together they unpack how immigrant households — especially Jamaican culture - shape daughters through harshness, misogyny, and "tough love." They also dive into how Christianity can block real healing by avoiding accountability in the name of faith.

If you've ever had to heal from a mother wound, confront your upbringing, or break generational patterns, this episode is for you.

Follow along with us: 🍒@thekelsilee (https://www.instagram.com/thekelsilee) 🍒@janaiiman (https://www.instagram.com/janaiiman) ✨@xo.upfromhere (https://www.instagram.com/xo.upfromhere)

Welcome back to the group chat, babes — and buckle up because this episode went from comedy to chaos REAL quick.

This week, we unpack the full story of how one of us ended up in JAIL (yes… actual jail), why the first phone call was straight to Mommy, and the reality check that followed. From mugshots to mommy-dependency to "girl, you need to grow up," this episode has everything.

We dive into:

✨ The unexpected jail story no one saw coming

✨ Why Mommy still has us in a chokehold at 30

✨ Spoiled vs. grown — are we actually adults?

✨ Childhood trauma, support systems & learning the hard way

✨ Laughing through the healing (because… what else can we do?)

It's giving therapy disguised as girl talk, sprinkled with unhinged humor, unexpected honesty, and just a little chaos. This one? Yeah… it got REAL.

Tap in, comment your thoughts, and join the conversation. Welcome to the group chat. 💖

Follow along with us: 🍒@thekelsilee (https://www.instagram.com/thekelsilee) 🍒@janaiiman (https://www.instagram.com/janaiiman) ✨@xo.upfromhere (https://www.instagram.com/xo.upfromhere)

In this episode, we get real about how the childhoods we didn't choose ended up shaping the women we are today.

Kelsi opens up about growing up in Georgia with no real family support system — just her mom and sisters — and how that isolation showed up in adulthood. Meanwhile, Janai shares what it was like being surrounded by cousins, a full village, and how that shaped her confidence and identity.

We also dive into the dreams we had as kids, the dreams our parents shut down, and the dreams we're finally coming back to now. From acting and theatre to family pressure and "realistic" expectations… this one gets personal.

If you've ever felt like your upbringing put you on a path you didn't ask for, this episode is for you.

Follow along with us: 🍒@thekelsilee (https://www.instagram.com/thekelsilee) 🍒@janaiiman (https://www.instagram.com/janaiiman) ✨@xo.upfromhere (https://www.instagram.com/xo.upfromhere)

Hey babes — it's Kelsi Lee and Janai Iman, and welcome to Up From Here 💋

We're kicking things off by introducing us — who we are, how we met, and how dating has evolved from our wild 20s to our grown 30s.🥂 We're also sharing our hot take on why couples might actually need separate bedrooms (yeah, we said it).

Think of this as your new favorite group chat — unfiltered, funny, and way too real. Grab your wine, get comfy, and let's talk.

Follow along with us: 🍒@thekelsilee (https://www.instagram.com/thekelsilee) 🍒@janaiiman (https://www.instagram.com/janaiiman) ✨@xo.upfromhere (https://www.instagram.com/xo.upfromhere)