Happy New Year! Welcome to 2025 and to year 3 of our January Jumpstart series. Kicking off this month’s lineup of transformative conversations is a guest that I know several of you will know and recognize: Les Alfred, host of the Balanced Black Girl podcast. With expertise as a personal trainer, nutrition coach, and certified yoga instructor, Les uses her platform to support her community in creating nourishing habits that help them create the necessary space to live their best lives. In today’s discussion, we approached a topic that I know many of you are thinking through any time we enter a new year — how can I “glow-up” into my best self? What habits might we consider adopting in order to facilitate a glow-up? Along the glow-up journey, how do I handle situations in which I’m forced to step out of my comfort zone? And lastly, what changes might I have to make in my life to fully actualize my desired glow-up? We answer those questions and more in today’s episode.

About the Podcast

The Therapy for Black Girls Podcast is a weekly conversation with Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, a licensed Psychologist in Atlanta, Georgia, about all things mental health, personal development, and all the small decisions we can make to become the best possible versions of ourselves.

Resources & Announcements

Grab your copy of Sisterhood Heals.

Where to Find Les

Instagram

YouTube

Balanced Black Girl Podcast

Stay Connected

Is there a topic you'd like covered on the podcast? Submit it at therapyforblackgirls.com/mailbox.

If you're looking for a therapist in your area, check out the directory at https://www.therapyforblackgirls.com/directory.

Take the info from the podcast to the next level by joining us in the Therapy for Black Girls Sister Circle community.therapyforblackgirls.com

Grab your copy of our guided affirmation and other TBG Merch at therapyforblackgirls.com/shop.

The hashtag for the podcast is #TBGinSession.

Make sure to follow us on social media:

Twitter: @therapy4bgirls

Instagram: @therapyforblackgirls

Facebook: @therapyforblackgirls

Our Production Team

Executive Producers: Dennison Bradford & Maya Cole Howard

Senior Producer: Ellice Ellis

Producer: Tyree Rush

Associate Producer: Zariah Taylor

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The New Year often brings a whirlwind of pressure to reinvent ourselves, leading us to set unrealistic goals. In this final podcast episode of the year, I’m challenging you to consider what it might look like to spend these final days of 2024 reflecting, reframing, and being present rather than rushing ahead.

Please welcome meditation teacher Dora Kamau as our guest for this week. She is here to discuss how we might welcome in the new year by practicing mindfulness. With a background in Psychology and Psychiatric nursing, Dora leads workshops, events, and retreats to hold space for individuals to explore different expressions of presence. You may recognize Dora’s voice, as she is also a meditation teacher at Headspace, a leading mindfulness and meditation app.

Together, Dora and I unpacked some of the common anxieties that come up at the dawn of a new year, explored what it looks like to shift from making New Year’s resolutions to simply setting intentions, and gave tips for how you can incorporate mindfulness activities like journaling, meditating, and affirmation-setting into our daily lives as we enter 2025. And as a special end-of-the-year treat, we’ve included a 10-minute meditation from Dora to support you in easing any lingering worries as we head into 2025.

About the Podcast

The Therapy for Black Girls Podcast is a weekly conversation with Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, a licensed Psychologist in Atlanta, Georgia, about all things mental health, personal development, and all the small decisions we can make to become the best possible versions of ourselves.

Resources & Announcements

Headspace

Radio Headspace + Dear Headspace

Wherever You Go, There You Are by John Kabat-Zinn

When Things Fall Apart by Pema Chodron

Joyfully Just by Kamilah Majied

Grab your copy of Sisterhood Heals.

Where to Find Dora

Instagram

Website

TikTok

Stay Connected

Is there a topic you'd like covered on the podcast? Submit it at therapyforblackgirls.com/mailbox.

If you're looking for a therapist in your area, check out the directory at https://www.therapyforblackgirls.com/directory.

Take the info from the podcast to the next level by joining us in the Therapy for Black Girls Sister Circle community.therapyforblackgirls.com

Grab your copy of our guided affirmation and other TBG Merch at therapyforblackgirls.com/shop.

The hashtag for the podcast is #TBGinSession.

Make sure to follow us on social media:

Twitter: @therapy4bgirls

Instagram: @therapyforblackgirls

Facebook: @therapyforblackgirls

Our Production Team

Executive Producers: Dennison Bradford & Maya Cole Howard

Senior Producer: Ellice Ellis

Producer: Tyree Rush

Associate Producer: Zariah Taylor

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With so much happening this year, from the presidential election to rap beef, we could all use an explanation for why things went the way they did. More importantly, what’s next as we look to 2025? Helping us to answer that question is returning guest Mecca Woods. Mecca is a New York City-based astrologer and author who works to help others create a life they truly want using their natural-born gifts. Her writing and Astro-guidance have appeared in places like Bustle, Essence, and TLC. During our conversation we go back to 2023 to see how many of Mecca’s predictions about 2024 were accurate, discuss how astrology can be used to guide the success of businesses and companies, and lastly, share some of the major astrological events and transits that will influence our lives in 2025.

About the Podcast

The Therapy for Black Girls Podcast is a weekly conversation with Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, a licensed Psychologist in Atlanta, Georgia, about all things mental health, personal development, and all the small decisions we can make to become the best possible versions of ourselves.

Resources & Announcements

Grab your copy of Sisterhood Heals.

Where to Find Mecca

Website

Instagram

Books

Stay Connected

Is there a topic you'd like covered on the podcast? Submit it at therapyforblackgirls.com/mailbox.

If you're looking for a therapist in your area, check out the directory at https://www.therapyforblackgirls.com/directory.

Take the info from the podcast to the next level by joining us in the Therapy for Black Girls Sister Circle community.therapyforblackgirls.com

Grab your copy of our guided affirmation and other TBG Merch at therapyforblackgirls.com/shop.

The hashtag for the podcast is #TBGinSession.

Make sure to follow us on social media:

Twitter: @therapy4bgirls

Instagram: @therapyforblackgirls

Facebook: @therapyforblackgirls

Our Production Team

Executive Producers: Dennison Bradford & Maya Cole Howard

Senior Producer: Ellice Ellis

Producer: Tyree Rush

Associate Producer: Zariah Taylor

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.