A Black Woman’s Dream, Delayed but Still Divine

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Shades of Strong® | From “Strong Black Woman” to Supported Black Woman

Shirl

232 episodes

3 days ago

The Shades of Strong® podcast is your weekly invitation to stop carrying it all alone.
Hosted by Shirl — the friend who sees through your “I’m fine” mask and gently says, “Let’s talk about it” — this space is for Black women ready to redefine what strength looks like and finally feel supported.
Through honest storytelling, soul-stirring conversations, and the Support Languages™ framework, we unpack what the “Strong Black Woman” trope has cost us, and explore what support can actually look like in real life.
If you’ve been doing the most, feeling unseen, and wondering when it’s your turn to exhale… you’re in the right place.
This is where every shade of strong is welcome — and every Black woman is seen, heard, and held.

All content for Shades of Strong® | From “Strong Black Woman” to Supported Black Woman is the property of Shirl and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.

A Black Woman’s Dream, Delayed but Still Divine

Shades of Strong® | From “Strong Black Woman” to Supported Black Woman

10 minutes 12 seconds

2 weeks ago

A Black Woman’s Dream, Delayed but Still Divine

At 56 years old, I’m walking into a Black woman’s dream I’ve carried for decades — sitting in New York, preparing to speak with agents and an editor from one of the Big Five publishing houses… about my book.
This moment didn’t come fast, but it came faithfully.And in this short, heartfelt episode, I’m reflecting on what it means to finally say yes to the calling — after years of wrestling, resisting, and wondering if it was too late.
Because this isn’t just about publishing a book.It’s about legacy.It’s about healing.It’s about breaking patterns for every Black woman who’s ever whispered, “I don’t want to be strong anymore.”
So if you’ve ever questioned the timing of your dream…If you’ve ever felt like you missed your moment…This episode is a gentle reminder that what’s for you is still for you.It may be delayed — but it is never denied.
This is a Black woman’s dream.Delayed, yes.But still divine.

Other Ways to Be Supported:

* Schedule a 1:1 Support Session
* Get the Guide: "You Know Your Support Language—Now What?"
* Take the Support Language Quiz. and learn how you actually receive support best.
* Get Support Right in Your Inbox: Gentle words, real-life reflection, and soft reminders every week

Let’s Stay Connected:

* Subscribe to Shades of Strong on Apple Podcasts or your favorite platform
* Share this episode with a sista who’s tired of being the strong one
* Leave a review if the episode spoke to your spirit — it helps more Black women find this space
* Join Shades of Strong on Substack for deeper convos that don’t always make it to the mic
* Follow Shades of Strong on Instagram for daily reflections on what it means to be supported
* Be a Guest on the Show
* www.shadesofstrong.com

Related Episodes

* Finding Support in the Pause
* When Black Women Are Well, Everybody's Well
* Learning How to Hold Yourself When Nobody Else Does

Shirl is the creator of Support Languages and host of Shades of Strong® — a movement shifting the narrative from Strong Black Woman to Supported Black Woman through language, rest, and real support.