Hot Combs, Safe Spaces, and Growing Up Black

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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.

Hot Combs, Safe Spaces, and Growing Up Black

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

13 minutes 26 seconds

2 months ago

Hot Combs, Safe Spaces, and Growing Up Black

For so many Black women, emotional safety started in the kitchen.
The smell of Blue Magic, the sizzle of a straightening comb, the sound of “Hold your ear” — those weren’t just routines. They were rituals. In that chair by the stove, we found connection, care, and permission to let our guards down.
Those moments — ordinary as they seemed — were often the first time emotional safety showed up for us.We didn’t always have the words for it back then, but we felt it.
And these aren’t just memories. They’re reminders.Reminders that emotional safety is still possible, even if it looks different now.
For Black women navigating life without those small sacred spaces, this episode is an invitation:To name the need.To remember you still deserve to be held.And to reclaim the truth that emotional safety isn’t new — it’s something we’ve known in our bones all along.

Resources to Support You:

* 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
* Join Shades of Strong on Substack for deeper convos that don’t always make it to the mic
* Be a Guest on the Show
* www.shadesofstrong.com