ABOUT THE SHADES OF STRONG® PODCAST
Shades of Strong is a conversational podcast about the everyday experiences of the Strong Black Woman.
On it you will hear conversations about the importance of tearing down the myths and stereotypes that have kept Black women in bondage for years.
We recognize that Black women are tired of the Strong Black Woman, Super Woman myth that is used to ignore our pain and frustrations while praising us for putting up with mistreatment and disrespect. It is our hope that this podcast empowers all Black women to ditch the cape so that they can be and feel whatever Shade of Strong that feels right for them.
Meet Your Hosts, Shirl & Natty
Shirley Hubbard aka Shirl
Writer, speaker, conversation facilitator and emotional wellness coach residing in the southern state of Mississippi. She holds a degree in Human Services with an emphasis in counseling. She’s spent most of her adult life working in the non-profit sector mentoring Black female youth living below the poverty line.
Natalyn Bradshaw aka Natty
Multi-disciplinary artist and writer based in Southwest Virginia. She has worked as an artistic coach and mentor, and as a music and voice teacher for two decades. Her creative interests come from her desire to express vulnerability in ways that draw people in and encourage self-reflection and awareness.
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I love you both so much. I can’t wait until God brings women like you all into my physical circle. You both speak to my heart & I’m grateful God brought you both in my virtual life. I fell in love with Shades Of Strong while listening to the episode-Behind the Mask of Angry Black Woman. I now have an IPhone, so I faithfully listen to you all on Apple Podcasts. My voice gets stronger with every episode. I have been silent for way too long.
L. Carter
This podcast is so amazing. Shirl and Natty are already my best friends in my head. They immediately make you feel like you are sitting on their couch with a glass of wine, having girl talk. I love the transparency, raw, realness and laughter. No matter what you are going thru these two amazing women will give you the courage and strength to get through it. Each episode will take you on a healing journey you’ll never forget.
J. Danielle
I usually don’t listen to podcasts, but today I said, “while you walk, you’re gonna feed your spirit.” I typed in “healing” to the podcast app & stumbled upon your episode “Dear Sis, You Don’t Have To Fake It.” I was beyond blessed by every word, so much so, I started sending the link out to others whom I thought could benefit. I am now a subscriber & I’m so glad I made the spontaneous choice to listen.
A. McKoy
Shirley Hubbard
Writer, speaker, conversation facilitator and emotional wellness coach residing in the southern state of Mississippi. Shirley holds a Master’s degree in Human Services with an emphasis in counseling. She’s spent most of her adult life working in the non-profit sector mentoring Black female youth living below the poverty line. Her love for writing, speaking, mentoring and coaching was birthed from her desire to see Black women given a fair chance in a world that often demeans them and wants to keep them from speaking up about it.
Shirley is motivated by her desire to see Black women given the same respect, courtesies, and opportunities that all cultures enjoy and she is committed to facilitating conversations around these issues and creating safe spaces where Black women feel supported and loved.
She has had numerous conversations with Black women about the unreasonable expectations constantly being thrown at them and how those expectations have and continue to cause emotional trauma. Those conversations moved her to create a podcast so that these unreasonable expectations could be tackled in a meaningful, and impactful way and so that Black women across the globe know that are not in the fight [to JUST BE] alone.
Natalyn Bradshaw
Multi-disciplinary artist and writer based in Southwest Virginia. She has worked as an artistic coach and mentor, and as a music and voice teacher for two decades. Her creative interests come from her desire to express vulnerability in ways that draw people in and encourage self-reflection and awareness.
EXPLORE LATEST EPISODES
NEW EPISODES AIR EVERY MONDAY .
BLACK FROM THE PAST ™ EPISODES AIR EVERY FRIDAY.
DAY 24 Uncaping, Unmasking, Unhiding | Perfectionism, Alignment, and the Pursuit of Love
If perfectionism is the enemy of happiness, why are so many striving for it?!? WHEW!!! That's a loaded question, right? But the truth is none of us wants to be perfect because perfectionism is too heavy a burden to bear. What we really want is to be LOVED,...
DAY 23 Uncaping, Unmasking, Unhiding | Has Anyone Told You Your Needs Matter?
Somewhere along life's journey, Mary Jane Paul [like so many Black women] got the message that the needs of others should be prioritized over hers. She went from one unhealthy relationship to the next giving others the very things she was lacking in her life. In...
DAY 22 Uncaping, Unmasking, Unhiding | Dear Mary Jane Paul, Perfection ≠ Success
In today's episode of the Uncaping, Unmasking, and Unhiding series Shirl and Natty welcome listeners to the first day of peeling back the layers of Mary Jane Paul of the hit show Being Mary Jane. Being Mary Jane is a story of a single Black woman trying to...
DAY 21 Uncaping, Unmasking, Unhiding | Strategies to Doing Life Without Performing and Manipulating
Today is the final day of uncaping, unmasking, and unhiding Annalise Keating. Shirl and Natty close it by offering a few strategies to overcome living a life of a manipulator and performer. It's so easy to UNKOWINGLY get caught up in this kind of behavior, but...
DAY 20 Uncaping, Unmasking, Unhiding | The Consequences of Hiding Your True Self
In today's episode of the Uncaping, Unmasking, and Unhiding series Shirl and Natty tackle the topic of what happens when you choose to live a life where you're hiding your true self. Shirl and Natty are both of the belief that hiding your true self is a form of...
DAY 19 Uncaping, Unmasking, Unhiding | The Consequences of Being a Manipulator
The UNCAPING, UNMASKING, and UNHIDING with Shirl and Natty is getting real. In today's episode as they start wrapping up peeling back the layers of Annalise Keating, they take a deep dive into the murky world of the manipulator to address some of the consequences...
