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Black Girl Burnout

Black Girl Burnout

Written by: Kelley Bonner
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Black Girl Burnout is a podcast about burnout, ambition, care, and what it actually takes to build a life that feels good to live—not just impressive from the outside.

Hosted by Kelley Bonner, the show explores how burnout takes hold, why ambition doesn’t need to be abandoned but redesigned, and how joy, rest, and gentleness can coexist with meaningful work and forward movement.

Through reflection, practical insight, and carefully chosen conversations, Black Girl Burnout offers both grounding and direction, helping listeners feel seen and take action toward lives that are sustainable, intentional, and their own.

© Black Girl Burnout Hygiene & Healthy Living Psychology Psychology & Mental Health
Episodes
  • Strength & Softness: Michelle Goodloe on Burnout Recovery for Black Women (REPLAY)

    Strength & Softness: Michelle Goodloe on Burnout Recovery for Black Women (REPLAY)
    Jul 29 2026
    In this thoughtful conversation, Kelley sits down with licensed clinical social worker Michelle Goodloe to explore what burnout really is—and why so many Black women experience it differently. Michelle shares her personal journey through professional burnout, explains why self-care alone isn't enough to recover, and offers a compassionate framework for rebuilding a healthier relationship with yourself through boundaries, restorative self-care, and intentional slowing down.Together, they unpack the Strong Black Woman stereotype, capitalism fatigue, identity beyond work, and why healing begins with giving yourself permission to become more than what the world expects of you. The episode is both validating and practical, offering listeners tangible first steps toward burnout recovery and a more joyful, sustainable life.Key TakeawaysBurnout develops over time—and recovery does too. Healing begins by slowing down, identifying what's contributing to burnout, and taking small, sustainable steps toward rest.Boundaries are an act of self-respect. Healthy boundaries protect your time, energy, and joy while teaching others how to have healthy relationships with you.Black women deserve identities beyond "strong." You have permission to redefine strength to include rest, softness, vulnerability, and self-compassion.Episode Highlights & Timestamps00:02 – Michelle's personal burnout storyMichelle shares how professional burnout transformed both her life and the work she does today.09:00 – What burnout actually isA powerful conversation on how burnout develops over time, the role of capitalism fatigue, and recognizing the signs before your body forces you to stop.16:30 – Beyond the Strong Black Woman stereotypeMichelle and Kelley unpack how inherited expectations around strength contribute to burnout and how Black women can redefine what strength means for themselves.29:00 – Boundaries protect your joyMichelle shares practical boundary-setting strategies—including her "Yes, No, Yes" framework—and explains why protecting your time is essential for burnout recovery.A Gentle InvitationThis week, ask yourself one simple question: "What would help me go from a 10 to a 9?" Instead of trying to overhaul your life, choose one small way to slow down—reschedule one task, say no to one request, or create one boundary that protects your time. Burnout recovery isn't about changing everything overnight; it's about consistently choosing yourself, one step at a time.Connect with MichelleG. Michelle Goodloe, LCSW, is a licensed clinical social worker, burnout recovery strategist, and founder of Gmichelle Wellness. Through her therapy-informed approach, Michelle helps exhausted professionals—especially Black women and helping professionals—recover from burnout, unlearn toxic productivity, and build sustainable self-care practices rooted in compassion and rest.Website: Gmichelle WellnessInstagram: @thegmichelle (https://www.instagram.com/thegmichelle)Books & Guided JournalsThe Self-Care Investment: Your Guide to Making Your Self-Care Non-Negotiable – A practical workbook filled with guided exercises, self-care trackers, and reflective activities to help you build a personalized, sustainable self-care practice.Purchase: The Self-Care InvestmentI Own My Magic: Self-Talk for Black Women – An affirmation and self-reflection journal designed to help Black women strengthen self-esteem, practice self-compassion, and embrace their softness.Purchase: I Own My MagicSelf Explore, Self Restore – A guided self-care journal with thoughtful prompts to help you reconnect with yourself, reduce stress, and make self-care a consistent part of everyday life.Purchase: Self Explore, Self RestoreSupport the ShowIf you'd like to make a one-time gift in honor of this milestone and support the continued work of Black Girl Burnout, you can donate through Ko-fi at ko-fi.com/blackgirlburnout. Thank you for being part of this community.Like, follow, and subscribe across all platforms. Find us @blackgirlburnout.Subscribe to our newsletter at blackgirlburnout.com. Watch on YouTube. Drop a review — your words make a real difference, and they warm Kelley's whole heart every single time.Stay in TouchJoin our Substack family for weekly reflections, tools, and behind-the-scenes notes from Kelley.Become a paid subscriber ($8/month) for exclusive resources and monthly workshops.Our SponsorsAdvertising Inquiries: RedCircle | Privacy & Opt-Out: RedCircleOur Sponsors:* Check out Super.com and use my code super.com/credit for a great deal: https://super.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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    37 mins
  • When Your Body Changes the Plan: Michelle Young on Chronic Illness, Rest & Redefining Success

    When Your Body Changes the Plan: Michelle Young on Chronic Illness, Rest & Redefining Success
    Jul 22 2026
    Michelle Young joins Kelley for an honest conversation about what happens when life changes in ways you never expected. From navigating sudden public attention after The Bachelor and The Bachelorette to living with POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome), Michelle shares how she's learned to redefine strength, embrace rest, and let go of the belief that productivity determines worth.Together, they explore burnout, chronic illness, boundaries, activism, community, and the courage to build a gentler life. Michelle also reflects on finding new purpose through her foundation, supporting underserved students, and discovering that slowing down doesn't mean giving up—it creates space to live with greater intention, joy, and authenticity.Key TakeawaysRest is not something you earn—it's essential to healing. True strength isn't always pushing through; sometimes it's leaving a little energy in the tank.Your worth isn't measured by your productivity. Healing often requires redefining success and learning that who you are matters more than what you accomplish.A meaningful life is built through intentional choices. Whether it's protecting your energy, setting boundaries, or nurturing relationships, small daily decisions create lasting change.Episode Highlights & Timestamps00:00 – When life changes overnight: Michelle reflects on staying grounded through sudden fame, remaining true to herself, and navigating life in the public eye.17:45 – Living with POTS and redefining strength: Michelle explains POTS, shares how chronic illness transformed her relationship with rest, and why pushing through is no longer the goal.33:20 – Finding purpose after burnout: Michelle discusses building her foundation, discovering a new way to make an impact, and embracing seasons where purpose evolves instead of disappears.49:30 – Leaving a little energy in the tank: Michelle and Kelley explore what it means to measure success differently, embrace intentional living, and find joy in slowing down.See You SoonLeave a Little Energy in the TankThis week, notice where you're treating exhaustion as proof that you've done enough. Instead of giving every ounce of yourself away, experiment with ending one day with a little energy left. Rest before you're depleted, be fully present with someone you love, and remember that your value isn't determined by how much you produce—it's already yours.Connect with MichelleMichelle Young is a former elementary school teacher, television personality, and fan favorite from The Bachelor and The Bachelorette. Today, she continues her work as an educator, speaker, and advocate, using her platform to expand opportunities for young people and support communities through education-focused initiatives.Website: https://michelleyoungofficial.comInstagram: @michelleyoungTikTok: @michelleyoungThe Michelle Young FoundationThe Michelle Young Foundation: https://www.themichelleyoungfoundation.orgThrough The Michelle Young Foundation, Michelle partners with educators and school districts to connect underserved students with scholarships, enrichment opportunities, and after-school programming like Homework and Hoops. The foundation is dedicated to helping students access experiences that foster growth while supporting the educators who champion them every day.Support the ShowIf you'd like to make a one-time gift in honor of this milestone and support the continued work of Black Girl Burnout, you can donate through Ko-fi at ko-fi.com/blackgirlburnout. Thank you for being part of this community.Like, follow, and subscribe across all platforms. Find us @blackgirlburnout.Subscribe to our newsletter at blackgirlburnout.com. Watch on YouTube. Drop a review — your words make a real difference, and they warm Kelley's whole heart every single time.Stay in TouchJoin our Substack family for weekly reflections, tools, and behind-the-scenes notes from Kelley.Become a paid subscriber ($8/month) for exclusive resources and monthly workshops.Our SponsorsAdvertising Inquiries: RedCircle | Privacy & Opt-Out: RedCircleOur Sponsors:* Check out Super.com and use my code super.com/credit for a great deal: https://super.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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    49 mins
  • Reclaiming Your Body, Joy & Capacity with Jayden Aubren

    Reclaiming Your Body, Joy & Capacity with Jayden Aubren
    Jul 15 2026

    Healing isn't another achievement to unlock—it's a relationship we cultivate with ourselves over time. In this conversation, Kelley sits down with therapist, trauma-informed movement specialist, and holistic health coach Jayden Aubren to explore why lasting healing begins with honoring our capacity instead of pushing past it. Together they unpack the connection between trauma, movement, nervous system regulation, and intentional living, offering practical ways to build sustainable habits that support healing without burnout. If you've ever felt pressured to "fix yourself" faster, this episode is an invitation to embrace a softer, more sustainable path.

    Key Takeaways
    • Healing becomes more sustainable when we honor our body's capacity instead of chasing perfection or quick fixes.
    • Small, consistent practices—like mindful movement, breathwork, quality rest, and intentional routines—create lasting transformation over time.
    • Building a healing lifestyle means shifting from solving isolated problems to nurturing your whole ecosystem: body, mind, relationships, and daily habits.
    Episode Highlights & Timestamps

    00:00 — What does healing on your own terms actually look like?

    Kelley introduces Jayden Aubren and explores why healing should honor our whole humanity—not just our productivity.

    15:45 — Why your body needs less, not more

    Jayden explains trauma-informed movement, the nervous system, and why slowing down often creates better long-term results than pushing harder.

    39:30 — Building a healing lifestyle through small daily habits

    The conversation turns toward practical ways to reconnect with your body through sleep, movement, food, breathwork, and mindful routines.

    59:10 — "What brings you joy?"

    Jayden shares a memorable answer about finding joy in themselves, followed by Kelley's reflections on nurturing the relationship we have with ourselves.

    Gentle Invitation

    This week, choose one small practice that helps you reconnect with yourself. Maybe it's taking three intentional breaths before your next meeting, eating one meal without distractions, going for a short walk, or simply allowing yourself to rest without trying to earn it. Notice how that one small act shifts the way you move through your day. Healing doesn't have to be rushed to be real.

    Support the Show

    If you'd like to make a one-time gift in honor of this milestone and support the continued work of Black Girl Burnout, you can donate through Ko-fi at ko-fi.com/blackgirlburnout. Thank you for being part of this community.

    Like, follow, and subscribe across all platforms. Find us @blackgirlburnout.

    Subscribe to our newsletter at blackgirlburnout.com. Watch on YouTube. Drop a review — your words make a real difference, and they warm Kelley's whole heart every single time.

    Stay in Touch

    Join our Substack family for weekly reflections, tools, and behind-the-scenes notes from Kelley.

    Become a paid subscriber ($8/month) for exclusive resources and monthly workshops.

    Our Sponsors

    Advertising Inquiries: RedCircle | Privacy & Opt-Out: RedCircle



    Our Sponsors:
    * Check out Super.com and use my code super.com/credit for a great deal: https://super.com


    Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

    Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
    Show More Show Less
    45 mins
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