In this solo episode, I freestyle my way through a realization I’ve been avoiding for a while. The people you’re closest to might not be the people helping you move forward. And that doesn’t make them bad people. It just means your life has shifted.

I break down why trying to get everything from one group will burn you out, how over-pouring into others can stall your own progress, and why it’s okay to build different cliques for different parts of your life.

This isn’t about cutting people off.

It’s about getting honest about what you need.

Because loyalty without growth eventually turns into resentment.

And it’s about damn time we talked about that.

1. Why being the “captain” of your clique can quietly hold you back
2. The difference between pouring into people and being pulled up
3. Why you don’t need one clique. You need the right ones
4. How your environment impacts your motivation, discipline, and goals
5. The mistake I keep making with the relationships that actually push me forward
6. Why balance beats grind culture and comfort every time

It’s about damn time you stop expecting one group of people to meet every need in your life.

This week, identify the cliques you actually need.

Not who you’ve been loyal to.

Not who’s always around.

Who makes you better?

For me, that’s:

1. A fitness clique
2. A creative clique
3. A fun, blow-off-steam clique

Figure out yours. Then start watering the right relationships.

If this episode had you thinking about your circle, your growth, or your balance, share it with someone who might need to hear it too.

Let’s build better environments.

Let’s get 1% better every day.

🔗 Follow me on all platforms: @DaWholeDamnShow

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You ever think you’re burned out… but realize you’re just exhausted from being available to everybody but yourself?

Yeah. That part.

In this episode, I’m coming back from a short hiatus and telling the truth about why rest didn’t actually feel like rest. It wasn’t burnout. It was overextension.

Too many conversations. Too much access. Too much proving love by showing up at the expense of my own goals.

We talk about the difference between consistency and over-availability, how poor boundaries turn other people’s urgency into your emergency, and why this season of building requires less access to me and more commitment to myself.

This isn’t about cutting people off.

It’s about finally choosing yourself without guilt.

1. Why burnout isn’t always the real problem
2. How overextending for others drains your purpose
3. The lie we tell ourselves about “being consistent”
4. Why availability is not the same as love
5. Setting boundaries without over-explaining yourself
6. Choosing your goals without feeling like the villain

1. “Everybody’s urgency became my emergency”
2. Why helping everyone else kept me stuck
3. The cost of proving love through access
4. Why this season requires less of them and more of me

It’s about damn time I limit access to pursue the goals and dreams I actually want and need.

Identify one place where you’re overextending yourself this week.

Pull back without explanation.

No long story. No justification. Just do it.

See how it feels.

If this episode hit home, don’t just listen.

Share it.

Post it in your stories.

Send it to someone who needs permission to choose themselves.

That’s how you help me keep this thing moving.

🔗 Follow me on all platforms: @DaWholeDamnShow

🎧 Follow It’s About DAMN Time: @ItsAboutDamnTimePod

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Episode: Stress Less, Weigh Less: The Connection Between Stress and Weight (Featuring Medina Henry)

Originally aired: 11/7/2023

This week’s Fan Favorite comes from Malinda, who picked this episode because it finally connected the dots between stress, survival mode, and weight in a way that made sense without shame.

In this conversation, I’m joined by Medina Henry, and we break down why doing “everything right” still doesn’t work when your nervous system is fried. This isn’t about willpower. It’s about cortisol, trauma, sleep, and the weight we carry that has nothing to do with food.

You’ll hear the full replay, then I’ll close with a short reflection on why managing stress had to come before managing anything else.

1. Why chronic stress sabotages weight loss
2. How cortisol affects cravings, sleep, digestion, and metabolism
3. The mental and emotional side of “holding weight”
4. Why weight is often the symptom, not the problem
5. Unlearning shame around health and body image
6. Realistic, practical ways to support your nervous system
7. Letting go of Instagram wellness fluff and choosing grace

I reflect on the moment I realized I couldn’t out-diet or out-exercise unmanaged stress.

Identify your top two stress triggers this week. Choose one small way to show your body some love.

Which episode changed how you look at your body or your health? Tag @DaWholeDamnShow and @ItsAboutDamnTimePod with your pick and why.

🔗 Follow me on all platforms: @DaWholeDamnShow

🎧 Follow It’s About DAMN Time: @ItsAboutDamnTimePod

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Episode: Choosing Yourself: How to Set Boundaries With Difficult Family Members (Featuring Stephanie Perkins)

Originally aired: June 6, 2023

This week’s Fan Favorite comes from Jamie, who picked this episode because it tackles one of the hardest truths: sometimes the people you need boundaries with the most are family. Even when the love is real. Even when the guilt is heavy.

In this conversation, I’m joined by Stephanie Perkins — mental health advocate, dope energy carrier, and friend — as she shares how choosing herself meant creating distance from a toxic family dynamic. Not for drama. Not for punishment. For survival.

You’ll hear the full replay, then I’ll close with a short reflection on why this message still matters.

1. Why setting boundaries with family hits differently
2. Recognizing when love becomes emotionally unsafe
3. Stephanie’s decision to stand firm with her mother
4. How therapy and support helped interrupt generational trauma
5. Choosing yourself without waiting for permission
6. Creating healthy distance from one-sided relationships
7. What it’s about damn time for you to start doing

Which episode helped you choose yourself? Tag @DaWholeDamnShow and @ItsAboutDamnTimePod with your pick and why.

🔗 Follow me on all platforms: @DaWholeDamnShow

🎧 Follow It’s About DAMN Time: @ItsAboutDamnTimePod

💥 Cop the DAMN University merch right here → Shop now

Episode: No Matter What They Say: Embrace the Power of Not Giving a Fck (Featuring Paula Sima)

Originally aired: [8/27/2024]

This week’s Fan Favorite comes from Deanie in Atlanta, who fell in love with this episode because of Paula’s energy, her honesty, and her don’t-hold-back way of reminding you to be unapologetically yourself.

Deanie said it best: people are going to think and act how they want, so you might as well live your life on your terms with a happy heart and maybe a drink or two along the way.

You’ll hear Deanie’s take first, then the full replay. I’ll wrap things up with a short reflection on why this message still lands today.

• Why caring less about other people’s opinions creates more freedom
• How to shift your mindset when self-doubt tries to take over
• The balance between protecting your peace and knowing when to clap back
• Paula’s journey through self-improvement and mental health
• Finding your tribe and surrounding yourself with people who uplift you
• Living bold, loud, real, and unapologetically you
• Owning your creativity, your voice, and your damn truth

What’s your favorite It’s About DAMN Time episode?

Tag @DaWholeDamnShow and @ItsAboutDamnTimePod with your pick and why you might hear it next.

🎙 Follow Paula Sima on IG

🌐 Explore all things Paula

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Episode: The Weight of Being Everyone’s Person: Being Strong Isn’t Enough for Your Mental Health

Originally aired: [5/15/25]

This week’s Fan Favorite comes from Lara and Cely, (two for the price of one) who chose this episode because it’s one of the realest moments on the show.

This is the one where I finally said out loud what a lot of us feel but don’t admit: being “everyone’s person” will break you down if you don’t learn how to save yourself first.

You’ll hear both Cely and Lara’s reason for picking it, then the full replay. At the end, I’ll share a new reflection on how much this message still hits, especially after the year I’ve had.

• The emotional weight of being “the strong one”
• What burnout really looks like when no one sees it
• Why support systems break down when you never ask for help
• Setting boundaries without apologizing
• How to choose yourself even when it feels selfish
• Learning to say “no” without guilt
• Releasing the pressure to hold everybody together

What episode still sticks with you? Tag @DaWholeDamnShow and @ItsAboutDamnTimePod with your pick and why — you might hear it featured next.

🔗 Follow me on all platforms: @DaWholeDamnShow

🎧 Follow It’s About DAMN Time: @ItsAboutDamnTimePod

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mental health, burnout, strong friend, emotional exhaustion, people pleasing, boundaries, self care, Black mental health, mindset shift, personal growth podcast, stress awareness, It’s About DAMN Time, DaWholeDamnShow

Episode: Show Them Who You Are: Reflecting on 2023 & Exploring New Possibilities

Originally aired: December 19, 2023

This week’s Fan Favorite comes from Jawanda. She chose this episode because it captures a real turning point: telling the truth about where you are, then choosing to show up as your full self.

You’ll hear her reason first and then the full replay.

• Honest reflection on 2023: wins, misses, and what mattered
• Seasonal depression, stress, and the weight of being “everyone’s person”
• Health goals, diabetes awareness, and getting back to basics
• Boundaries vs people-pleasing and why mid-course changes feel messy
• Building a podcast label, spreading yourself thin, and staying the course
• The core lesson: stop dimming. Show people who you are.
• Why authenticity beats performance in life and podcasting

🔗 Follow me on all platforms: @DaWholeDamnShow

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Episode: You Can’t Take Everyone With You

Originally aired: October 11, 2022

This week, we’re kicking off the Fan Favorite Series — 10 episodes handpicked by the DAMN Fam that left a real mark.

First up is Storm’s pick, “You Can’t Take Everyone With You.”

She shares why this one hit her the hardest and honestly, I get it. Sometimes growth means leaving certain people, patterns, and places behind… even when it hurts.

• Learning how to move forward without guilt
• Understanding when people have reached their “stop” on your journey
• Protecting your peace as you evolve
• Why letting go isn’t rejection — it’s redirection

🔗 Follow me on all platforms: @DaWholeDamnShow

🎧 Follow It’s About DAMN Time: @ItsAboutDamnTimePod

💥 Cop the DAMN University merch right here → Shop now

self growth, letting go, boundaries, personal development podcast, It’s About DAMN Time, DaWholeDamnShow, Black podcaster, mental health, mindset shift, emotional healing, toxic relationships