When life feels chaotic, your body whispers: come home. In this episode, Areena reflects on the times she lost touch with her body through conflict, projection, and the weight of others’ expectations and how she found her way back through stillness, self-compassion, and truth. This conversation is an invitation to listen to your body's wisdom, ground yourself in love, and to become the safe space your inner child has always needed.
As an energy exchange, please rate, review and write a loving note to host Areena Antoine on Spotify, Apple Podcast and all major Platforms. Follow us on Instagram: @selflovelounge_
Who’s afraid of Little weak me? In this episode, I talk about what it really means to feel weak, not as failure but as the space where courage grows. It’s about choosing softness in a world that tells you to armour up. It’s realizing that silence can lead you back to the right people. And it’s learning to let go of stories that never belonged to you in the first place. This episode is your reminder that Weakness doesn’t mean losing yourself.
As an energy exchange, please rate, review and write a loving note to host Areena Antoine on Spotify, Apple Podcast and All major Platforms. Follow us on Instagram: @selflovelounge_
This episode is from my heart to anyone who know what it’s like to show up fully but still feel unseen. To be misunderstood, mislabeled, and told to make yourself smaller in spaces that were never made for all of you. I see you. I’ve been there too. This episode is about shedding all those survival layers. It’s about choosing peace and power, the kind our ancestors prayed for, even when the world wasn’t ready to handle our full light. It’s about setting boundaries, standing in your truth, and owning your whole self, contradictions and all, without apology. If you’ve ever felt like you’re only partially welcome in your own skin, this episode is your space to come home.
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You know you’ve crossed over when your life reflects your soul, not your survival. My inner child is screaming/whispering, "omgomgomg," because it's finally happening. Since my teens, I’ve been choosing myself, even when it was hard, even when I didn’t fully know who I was. I kept choosing until it stuck. Now, adulthood isn’t an arrival, it’s a daily becoming. It means no longer abandoning the parts of me once called too much, too sensitive, too bold, too magical, too Black, too brown. I’m not just surviving anymore, I’m finally living as me. This episode is for anyone who hears their younger self whisper, “Thank you for not giving up on me.”
As an energy exchange, please rate, review and write a loving note to host Areena Antoine on Spotify, Apple Podcast and All major Platforms. Follow us on Instagram: @selflovelounge_
Sometimes we enter situations knowing they aren’t meant to last forever. We stay because it feels right, or we convince ourselves it’s different this time. But eventually, we realize the only person we needed to be was ourselves. This episode is about breaking up with the versions of ourselves and relationships that no longer align. It's about finding peace in letting go and realizing that true healing comes when we stop performing for spaces that don’t see us. If you’re navigating a similar breakup then this episode is for you.
A little message from your Host, Areena: Hey listeners, I wanted this episode to be my love letter to you. This was a really hard yet freeing experience to navigate, but I’m releasing it as a gift to help align with the New Moon in Taurus, honoring a cycle closing and new beginnings. Love you. Be gentle and let peace flow within you.
As an energy exchange, please rate, review and write a loving note to host Areena Antoine on Spotify, Apple Podcast and All major Platforms. Follow us on Instagram: @selflovelounge_
A gentle whisper calls you back to yourself. In the depths of uncertainty, in the echoes of doubt, there is a quiet voice urging you to remember who you are. Cameron and I explore the journey of self-reclamation, the power of intuition, and the shadows that reveal our deepest truths. This episode is for you to know that you were never lost, only waiting to be found.
As an energy exchange, please rate, review and write a loving note to host Areena Antoine on Spotify, Apple Podcast and All major Platforms. Follow us on Instagram: @selflovelounge_
Guest Speaker - Cameron Hubert-Langston is an artist, human-centered storyteller, and mental health advocate. As a proud Philly native, he has worked to cultivate his love for the arts, people, and the world by honing his skills as a thought-provoking creative and contributor within the media and wellness landscape. The idea for Sharing Air emerged from Cameron's personal journey with mental health challenges. By leaning on his artistry as a performer and producer, he discovered a middle ground where storytelling and mental health intersect, fostering truth and healing. This inner work of rediscovery inspired him to create a mindfulness media platform that shares stories, sparks thought, and shapes change. Cameron's excitement and dedication to being a prominent voice for all people are at the core of Sharing Air, encouraging everyone to keep breathing well and sharing air because of it.
You are here to explore, to dream, and to peel back the layers of what truly calls to you. Your desires are unfolding, revealing themselves again and again, until you are ready to fully claim them. This episode Sherhara Burrell serves as a reminder that you are the youngest you will ever be, right now. So, what’s the rush? Take your time, trust the journey, and embrace the beautiful process of becoming. The world is waiting, and you have all the time you need to discover what truly lights you up.
As an energy exchange, please rate, review and write a loving note to host Areena Antoine on Spotify, Apple Podcast and All major Platforms. Follow us on Instagram: @selflovelounge_
Guest Speaker - Sherhara Burrell is a keynote speaker, communication coach, and Co-founder of SpeakHaus, a leadership coaching company. With 17 years of experience, she helps leaders communicate confidently and shape organizational culture. She works with Fortune 1000 companies and startups, using storytelling to drive cultural transformation. Known for her signature haircut and expertise on Coming to America, Sherhara is also a newlywed and aspiring comedienne. She's passionate about fostering meaningful connections and creating impactful leadership.
What story have you been telling yourself? Sometimes, we long for something, only to realize it’s not ours to claim. It’s beautiful to pause and honor the truth that what we thought we wanted may not align with who we’re becoming. Myriah Johnson, Program Director for ColorCreative’s Find Your People Program, guides us in crafting the story we share with the world. But first, we must ask: What story are you telling yourself? This episode invites you to trust, be present, and recognize that as you reach for the stars, you are already aligned with them.
As an energy exchange, please rate, review and write a loving note to host Areena Antoine on Spotify, Apple Podcast and All major Platforms. Follow us on Instagram: @selflovelounge_
Guest Speaker - Myriah started her career as a sideline reporter for minor league baseball and high school football. It was here she found her love for producing which led her to become the Executive Producer of a live positive focused news show for Comcast. Coincidence and magic took her from producing into the world of sports marketing. She was the second employee hired to start a professional soccer team in San Francisco where she honed her craft of using the power of data and automated processes to drive strategy as the Director of Marketing.
Today, Myriah is the Program Director for ColorCreative’s Find Your People Program, where all her talents—creativity, strategy, authenticity and intentionality—come together to support and elevate Black and brown creators. Her work is grounded in a belief that, in order to create the change we dream of in the world, we must move beyond our minds and lead more with our hearts.
Beyond her program work, Myriah is an integral coach, guiding people through the process of unblocking self-limiting beliefs that hold them back from living their fullest lives. She guides people to discover the treasure hidden deep within—and the dirt that covers it up—seeing both as equally valuable parts of the journey.
Elusive by design and intentionally difficult to find online, Myriah invites those interested in her story to follow the Find Your People Program. If you’re drawn to connect with her, she encourages you to reflect on what it is within you that is seeking that connection, offering it as an opportunity to discover something new about yourself
Wherever you may find yourself, the stillness of calm reminds you that only you know what’s best for you. Amid the rush of all you've been told you are, allow your story to unfold and your true self to simply be free. This episode honored Kayla Greaves, a true trailblazer in the beauty industry. With 13 years of experience, Kayla has built an incredible career, moving from editorial and commercial beauty modeling to becoming one of the most sought-after voices both in front of the camera and behind-the-scenes. If this episode finds you, I hope you feel encouraged to trust in your own wisdom.
As an energy exchange, please rate, review and write a loving note to host Areena Antoine on Spotify, Apple Podcast and All major Platforms. Follow us on Instagram: @selflovelounge_
Guest Speaker - Kayla Greaves is one of the most sought-after and authoritative voices in the beauty world—both in front of the camera and behind-the-scenes. With 13 years of industry experience under her belt, Kayla has truly done it all—from editorial to commercial beauty modeling. She has interviewed dozens of notable celebrities, from Kate Winslet, to Brad Pitt, Naomi Campbell, Halle Berry, Dionne Warwick, Dolly Parton, and Chaka Khan, just to name a few. Kayla can be seen as an expert commentator on HBO’s The Beauty of Blackness and Netflix’s The Black Beauty Effect, among other TV appearances, and can be seen in campaigns for Augustinus Bader, Olay, and Shark Beauty. Her vast expertise—from her gift of sparking fun and captivating conversations to creating her own best-selling, award-winning beauty product—has solidified her name in the industry as a true multi-hyphenated storyteller, on-camera talent, and beauty authority.
Even if our innocence was mistaken for weakness, a part of us has learned to grow without losing its essence. Who would've thought I'd end up in a relationship with someone who would run me over, without even an apology? At some point, you move away, just enough to let them collapse. And, in the end, you’re left picking up the pieces of yourself they refused to hold, just as you once held theirs. This episode is a reminder for that version of you, the one who went through the hurt is waiting for the person you are now.
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Building a relationship with yourself means allowing old versions of you to rise from the ashes of loss. Ouch. But as we sit with the ashes and let them transmute into gold, it becomes a connection to something greater than ourselves, anchoring us into the wholeness of our being. This episode is a reminder that you are a miracle, and because of that, what once seemed impossible becomes possible.
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A year later, it’s hard to acknowledge all that we’ve felt, just for it to now be released. The dance between what once was before what is no longer, is now surrendered. When we run at the cost of losing someone or something we know is never going to be true, walking to acceptance is the new light. This episode, to me, is a celebration, not a lesson because we’ve already experienced enough of those in 2024.
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Spiritual awakenings are often romanticized as beautiful, but in reality, they can be overwhelming and full of pain. We often find ourselves seeking, only to realize that what we seek has always resided within us. There comes a time in our healing journey when we are prompted to release everything we’ve sown, allowing our soul to blossom—a process that can only happen in the dark. Allow the dark parts of yourself to be, rather than maintaining a façade you know isn’t true. This episode is for YOU.
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We’ve been taught to fear the dark, but it’s often where we find the truest parts of ourselves. From the safety of our mother’s womb to life’s quiet, reflective spaces, darkness holds a kind of nurturing that’s rarely recognized. Our next guest speaker, lotus and I dive into reclaiming this space and the power of documenting our life for ourselves. Embracing the ebbs and flows, we learn to see the dark not as something to fear but as a space for rebirth. This episode is for those looking to reclaim all parts of their journey, finding power in places that are often left in shadow.
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Guest Speaker - Lotus Laloba is a certified trauma-informed practitioner specializing in EFT, NLP, and Quantum Reiki, dedicated to the belief that true power lies in embracing both light and darkness. As the host of the LOTUSLIKE podcast, she creates sacred spaces for mental and spiritual wellness, particularly for Black creatives. Lotus empowers individuals to cultivate confidence, clarity, and courage by exploring the wisdom in their shadows, guiding them toward self-mastery through dark feminine energy. This December, she will host manifestation parties, offering participants a powerful environment to align their energy, harness their darkness, and manifest their desires with intention and grace.
Here is Her Morning Ritual for Free: Click Here
📷 Instagram @Lotus Laloba
We’ve spent years as students and actually become good. So, how does 5 years feel like a tug of war? I’ve been fighting with myself for control while the judges are the ones listening to this episode today. The judges, successful or not, get to sit comfortably at my expense. She didn’t make it after university. She has a degree and works minimum wage? She majored in arts, that’s why? What I choose to do next, is finally up to me and maybe that’s scary but freeing. This episodes will feel like being ok in the dark but needing a flashlight just to be sure you made the right decision and ironically this is how we Art Students feel. So I guess here's to being freely lost, confidently (post grad).
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When you begin to grow, those around you may either evolve with you or remain where you left them. Choosing for yourself can trigger envy and jealousy from your circles, creating dynamics that seek to keep you in a past version of yourself that no longer exists. Executive Director of 5X, Harpo reminds us to stay grounded in who we are, affirming there’s no right or wrong way to feel safe in truth, it just is. This episode is for those who are reaching for the stars.
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Guest Speaker - Harpo Mander is a dynamic cultural producer and leader in the South Asian arts scene in British Columbia, Canada. As the Executive Director of 5X, an organization dedicated to young South Asians, she embodies the South Asian identity in Surrey, driven by her tagline, "Building the world I want to live in."
Holding a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology & Gender Studies from Simon Fraser University and a Master of Arts in Education & Society from McGill University, Harpo’s research focuses on the challenges faced by second-generation Canadians. Since becoming Executive Director in 2023, she has led the 5X Festival to amplify South Asian voices. Recognized as one of Surrey's Top 25 Under 25 in 2021, she is a community builder and thought leader, contributing insights to organizations like the BC Arts Council and media outlets such as CBC Radio.
Additionally, she hosts the podcast "Brown Girl Guilt," which has garnered over 183,000 plays, showcasing her commitment to community empowerment and cultural representation in Canada.
Have you ever found yourself peeling away layers of lies, only to uncover truths that shake the very foundation of who you thought you were? In this special birthday episode of Self Love Lounge, Areena Channels her journey of shedding the lies that once defined her early 20s, revealing the pain and freedom that comes with embracing truth. She dives into the chaos of losing people, dreams, and the life you thought was yours, offering wisdom for those who are struggling to find themselves. Areena encourages listeners to let go of who they were never meant to be, to embrace the courage of living authentically, and to trust that this process will lead to a more fulfilled and joyful life. Whether you're just starting this journey or reflecting on how far you've come, this episode is a reminder that being yourself is always enough.
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Happy Birthday not to me to us. - Areena Antoine
There comes a time in our journey when our external reality no longer aligns with the truth emerging from our hearts. In those moments, our wounds slow us down, guiding our tears to transform into a soulful breath that welcomes the wisdom within our pain. Breathwork Teacher Krista Reid reminds us that a healing journey may not always be clear, but the distance we’ve traveled illuminates the many candles we blew out as our inner child, reminding us that we are our own medicine. This episode is for those who have come so far—honor yourself. We are so proud of you! Go be you for you!!!
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Guest Speaker - Krista Reid is here to help you connect more deeply to your heart through the power of your breath. I’m a lifelong student and certified facilitator of Breathwork, an active self-healing technique that has changed my life. This practice is an effective way to bring greater awareness to our limiting beliefs and emotional/mental blocks and build one’s ability to see the potential beyond the ‘stories’. Breathwork enables us to nourish a stronger relationship with our most confident, intuitive selves and live in greater accordance with nature. We all have the capacity to mend our spirit. With the proper tools, anything is possible.
📷 Instagram @Krista Reid
Have you ever tried on your favorite outfit, only to find it no longer fits? It’s a mix of emotions—grieving the loss of who we were while finding joy in creating new memories as a new version of self. Embracing new styles that reflect who we’re becoming can be daunting, as old stories—often far from the truth—weigh on our hearts. Joy and grief can coexist as we move on from what we once loved. Guest speaker Elisha Kainth and I mirror our experiences of leaving home and adapting to a new place we can call home, for now. If you’ve been trying on an outfit that no longer fits and are seeking a new look that truly mirrors your truth, then this episode is for you.
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Guest Speaker - Elisha Kainth is on a journey of growth, transformation, and self-discovery. As an acupuncture student, Elisha is deeply passionate about holistic healing and the power of the mind-body connection. Elisha’s focus has been on embracing change, stepping into the unknown, and finding strength in new beginnings. After experiencing a significant transformation, including moving to a new city and starting school again, Elisha knows firsthand the challenges and rewards of navigating life's transitions. Elisha hopes this inspires listeners to take bold steps, embrace their true selves, and trust in the journey ahead. Together let’s explore the beauty of life's uncertainties and the endless possibilities that come with them.
📷 Instagram @elisha.kainth
When you and your soul are misaligned, you ignore signs that may be truthful for you. This disconnection can manifest as physical disturbances, making you the worst version of yourself. Recently, life has been about making tough decisions and pushing past complacency. I say, hell yes! Keep making those difficult choices that set you apart. We weren't brought here to be the same; we were meant to light up this world by embracing who we truly are.