In this powerful episode, Kelley is joined by Daria Burke for a truth-filled, liberating conversation about breaking up with performative ambition and reclaiming what success feels like, rather than how it looks. Together, they explore how Black women can move beyond hustle culture, make room for joy, and embrace post-traumatic growth. This episode invites you to stop waiting for “later” and start living on your own terms now.

• Why it’s time to stop mistaking ambition for identity
• The quiet danger of "performing wellness"
• How to move from self-improvement to self-examination
• The signs and power of post-traumatic growth
• Why tending to your joy isn’t optional — it’s essential

[06:10] – From Self-Improvement to Self-Examination

Daria explains why self-improvement can become another form of hustle—and how self-examination invites softness, clarity, and truth.

[14:50] – Burn the Bucket List

This is the moment that names the episode: a rallying cry to abandon achievement checklists and start asking, “Does this feel good?”

[21:00] – There Is No Later

A mic-drop reminder that deferring joy is a trap. The life you want isn’t down the road—it’s in your daily decisions now.

[25:00] – The Power of Post-Traumatic Growth

Daria introduces PTG and unpacks how growth after hardship is not only possible but already happening for many Black women.

[33:00] – Joy Is Not a Luxury, It’s Medicine

A bold truth: chronic stress is harming us. Prioritizing joy, rest, and pleasure is not selfish—it’s survival.

• Instagram: @dariaburke
• dariaburke.com
• LinkedIn newsletter: The Power of Possibility
• Buy her debut memoir, "Of My Own Making."

If you’re looking for more ways to connect with the Black Girl Burnout community, we’ve got you covered:

• Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @blackgirlburnout — Each platform offers something different, so come vibe with us where it feels right for you.
• Join our Substack family! Think of it as a modern-day online magazine (Tumblr-coded for the millennial hearts). We share weekly reflections, tips, tools, and deeper insights into each podcast episode—plus personal notes from Kelley’s life.
• Become a paid Substack subscriber for just $8/month (about the cost of a fancy latte) and access exclusive content like digital tools, apps, and free resources that are valued far beyond that.
• Work with Kelley directly:
• Book a 90-minute Clarity Catalyst Coaching Session — a deep-dive roadmap session to bring clarity and strategy to your next life move (not therapy, just powerful support).
• If you’re in New York State, Kelley is also accepting short-term therapy clients with select insurance and private pay options. Sessions are designed to be focused and transformational within 90 days. Join the waitlist now.

What are you ready to burn from your bucket list? DM us on IG @blackgirlburnout or share your thoughts in the comments.

In this soul-nourishing and joy-filled conclusion to the Black Girl Burnout series with Rhonda Ross, Kelley and Rhonda close out their conversation by focusing on the power of integration, community, and what it truly means to protect your joy. Rhonda shares how centering and claiming all parts of herself has not only deepened her personal healing but also allowed her to show up more fully for the communities she loves.

💡 Today You’ll Learn:

• Why self-care is a radical act of community care
• How meeting your own emotional needs empowers you to be more generous and grounded
• The difference between happiness and true, sustainable joy
• How Black women can build community around healing, stability, and reciprocity
• Practical ways to protect your joy—even in the face of life’s inevitable challenges
• 
  

This episode is a celebration of what becomes possible when you tend to your inner world. Rhonda reminds us that joy is not about perfection—it’s about power, presence, and mindset.

✨ Episode Highlights:

01:00 Why community care starts with self-nourishment

05:00 How mutual care creates a feedback loop of love and support

07:00 Why obstacles are not the enemy of joy—they’re part of the path

09:00 Rhonda defines the difference between happy and joyful

11:00 How the “magic of mindset” keeps her grounded, no matter what

If you’ve ever wondered how to hold joy in the midst of struggle, this episode is your answer. You can be soft. You can be stable. You can be joyful—and still be healing.

Ways To Support The Podcast:

⭐ Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts & Spotify (goal: 1,000 reviews!)

👉Check Out This Month’s BGB Freebie l The Mini Money Reset

📲 Follow on TikTok & Instagram (@blackgirlburnout)

💬 Tag a Black creator, artist, or entrepreneur you’ve supported recently.

Stay engaged! Follow us on Substack: Substack

🎧 Share this episode with someone who needs to hear it!

👉 Let’s continue this conversation: What’s one act of reciprocity you’ve done this week? DM us or comment on our latest IG post!

Remember, support isn’t just about money. Visibility, engagement, and amplification matter, too.

• Want To Partner With Black Girl Burnout: sponsorships@blackgirlburnout.com

• Check Out Our Partners:
• Happy Mammoth and use my code BGB for a great deal: www.happymammoth.com
• Revolve and use code BGB for a great deal: https://www.revolve.com/bgb

• Connect With Rhonda Ross:
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therhondaross/
• YouTube:Shaping Freedom - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYv95PMu4Wc&t=9s

#BlackGirlBurnout #OptOutOfStruggle #ReciprocityMatters #SupportBlackWomen

In this transformative and deeply practical episode of Black Girl Burnout, Kelley continues her conversation with Rhonda Ross as they dive into the heart of Rhonda’s life-changing framework: the magic of mindset. Rhonda vulnerably shares her personal journey through depression, infertility, and career setbacks—and the tools she used to reclaim her power. Through her “RUN ON” method, she teaches us how to stop gaslighting ourselves, feel our feelings, and rewire our internal narratives with gentleness and intention.

💡 Today You’ll Learn:

• Why your feelings are your responsibility—and why that’s empowering, not blaming
• How to identify and shift the automatic, negative thoughts looping in your mind
• Rhonda’s RUN ON method for transforming mindset and managing emotions
• Why intentional, nourishing thoughts (INTs) are the first step to healing burnout

If you’ve ever felt stuck in loops of negative thinking, disconnected from your true feelings, or unsure how to shift out of burnout, Rhonda’s wisdom offers a way forward that is both powerful and deeply compassionate. You’ll leave with practical steps to help you feel more grounded, seen, and in control of your inner world.

✨ Episode Highlights:

• 01:00 Rhonda shares her personal experience with depression and infertility
• 03:10 Discovering the space between event and emotion and reclaiming power within it
• 05:00 The “RUN ON” framework: five steps to shift your mindset
• 08:45 Why INTs (Intentionally Nourishing Thoughts) matter more than toxic positivity
• 17:00 A gift from Rhonda: free access to her course The Crucial First Step
• 20:00 A sneak peek at the next episode: self-care, community care, and joy

This episode is an invitation to stop running on empty and start running on truth, gentleness, and intentional thought. You have the power—and now you have the tools.

Ways To Support The Podcast:

⭐ Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts & Spotify (goal: 1,000 reviews!)

👉Check Out This Month’s BGB Freebie l The Mini Money Reset

📲 Follow on TikTok & Instagram (@blackgirlburnout)

💬 Tag a Black creator, artist, or entrepreneur you’ve supported recently.

Stay engaged! Follow us on Substack: Substack

🎧 Share this episode with someone who needs to hear it!

👉 Let’s continue this conversation: What’s one act of reciprocity you’ve done this week? DM us or comment on our latest IG post!

Remember, support isn’t just about money. Visibility, engagement, and amplification matter, too.

• Want To Partner With Black Girl Burnout: sponsorships@blackgirlburnout.com

• Check Out Our Partners:
• Happy Mammoth and use my code BGB for a great deal: www.happymammoth.com
• Revolve and use code BGB for a great deal: https://www.revolve.com/bgb

• Connect With Rhonda Ross:
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therhondaross/
• YouTube:Shaping Freedom - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYv95PMu4Wc&t=9s

#BlackGirlBurnout #OptOutOfStruggle #ReciprocityMatters #SupportBlackWomen