In this calm, 15-minute conversation, Shilz and Djenys speak plainly about suicide—how it touches real people, families, and communities, and why the topic is so often silenced in Black households. This is not a headline; it’s everyday life. Shilz reflects on losses close to home and the unanswered questions they leave behind. Together, the hosts unpick the idea that suicide equals weakness, and centre what it more often signals: unmanaged pain and untreated mental-health struggles.

They explore why “just pray about it” can’t replace open dialogue, therapy, or medical care—and how faith and professional support can sit side by side. The episode also walks through risk factors and warning signs to notice with care:

• Mental-health conditions (depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, trauma)

• Prolonged stress (relationship breakdown, bullying, financial strain)

• Substance misuse and chronic physical pain

• Historical/environmental factors (family history, abuse, exposure to suicide)

The heart of the message is practical and compassionate: many people don’t want to die—they want the pain to stop. Check in, listen beyond “I’m fine,” and help normalise getting support.

If this conversation meets you where you are, follow the podcast on Spotify/Apple, rate the episode, and share it with someone who might need gentler language today.

Content note & support
This episode discusses suicide. If you are thinking about suicide or worried you might act on thoughts of self-harm, seek immediate help. In the UK:

• Samaritans: 116 123 (free, 24/7)

• NHS: 111 (urgent care)

• Shout: text SHOUT to 85258 (24/7 text support)

If you’re outside the UK, please contact your local emergency number or a crisis hotline in your country. You are not alone.

This week, Shilz and Djenys take “power,” “pride,” and “resilience” off the poster and place them back into everyday life—how Black women carry them in voices, choices, and community. Framed by the UK Black History Month theme Standing firm in Power and Pride, the conversation moves from principle to practice: influence over dominance, representation that opens doors, and the quiet courage it takes to keep showing up.

Djenys reflects on power as influence—using dialogue to teach, mentor, and create fair conversations. Shilz traces a 15-year career journey from being one of the few in the room to seeing more leaders of colour, naming the women and allies who opened doors along the way. Pride becomes personal and generational—Djenys speaks to her Congolese roots, passing confidence and culture to her children. And resilience anchors the hour: parents and grandparents who migrated, worked multiple jobs, learned new languages, and still built foundations their families now stand on.

Together they hold a hopeful tension: progress worth celebrating, responsibility in how we use power, and a commitment to keep widening the circle. This episode feels like a love letter to the past—and a clear challenge to the present.

In this episode, we explore

• Power as influence, not control — and how CML uses conversation to shape culture

• Representation, sponsorship, and the doors opened by Black women and allies

• Pride as heritage, language, music, and confidence passed to the next generation

• Resilience beyond survival: building, leading, and creating opportunity for others

• Using positions of power responsibly, with community in mind

• Why Black History Month matters—and why the work continues all year

If this meets you where you are, follow the podcast on Spotify/Apple, rate the episode, and share it with someone who would find strength in it.

Season 7 keeps rolling with a lighter, heart-warming catch-up. Shilz and Djenys pause the heavy to reconnect—life, love, and the summer that just was. Djenys steps into her 40s with gratitude after a dinner filled with harmony and laughter; she shares candidly about falling in and out of love, and why she’s keeping something new quiet for now. Shilz chooses privacy around dating, but opens up about a restorative six-week break—Houston to Nigeria to Ibiza (and Beyoncé)—and the decision to calendar real rest every year. Together they agree: when life gives you a good season, lean in.

The conversation holds tenderness and perspective. Djenys looks back at a difficult patch and is surprised by how much brighter she feels now—smiling, laughing, thankful. The pair then reflect on recent events: reactions to political violence in the U.S.; protests in Britain, including anti-immigration rhetoric and clashes; why “free speech” debates so often tilt against marginalised communities; and small, everyday ways to stand in solidarity. They also note Black History Month and point ahead to a future episode on interracial relationships—communication, boundaries, and loving across difference.

It all lands where CML lives: warm, candid, and human—ready to hold both laughter and reflection.

In this episode

• Turning 40, friendship dinners, and choosing joy

• Travel, rest, and building a sustainable pace

• Dating with honesty and privacy

• Gratitude after a hard season

• Reflections on current events in the U.K. and U.S.

• Looking ahead: interracial relationships

If this episode sits with you:
Follow the podcast on Spotify/Apple, rate and review, and share with a friend who’d enjoy a gentle catch-up. Saving the episode helps you return when you need it most.

Editors note: mentions of political violence and racism. Views are personal. This conversation is not legal or medical advice.