Shades of Strong
The Podcast
Real conversations for the “strong”
Black woman who’s tired of pretending.
THE PODCAST
Conversations about what support looks like in real life.
The Shades of Strong Podcast is where we talk about the expectations Black women live with, the things we don’t always say out loud, and what support can look like in our actual lives.
Some episodes go deeper into strength, relationships, family, work, boundaries, and the gap between being surrounded by people and actually feeling supported.
Monday through Friday, Support Pauses offer shorter conversations for the middle of the day, when you need a few minutes to hear something that speaks to what you’re dealing with right then.
MEET YOUR HOST
The woman behind the mic.
I’m Shirl. I’m based in Mississippi, and yes, I’m a writer, podcast host, and the creator of Support Languages™. But if we were sitting somewhere talking in real life, that’s probably not how I’d introduce myself.
I would probably tell you I’m a super curious Sagittarius born on the 5th day of December at exactly 5:00 a.m. I ask a lot of questions because I’ve always been a firm believer in above all things, get an understanding. I want to know why people think the way they think, why we do the things we do, and what’s really underneath the thing we’re talking about.
I’m also somebody who loves being with my children and grandchildren. They’re my favorite people in the world. Give me a slow morning before anybody starts talking, a really good conversation that goes way longer than we planned, or a bingeable series I should’ve turned off three episodes ago, and I’m good.
That’s pretty much how I show up behind the mic too. I’ll ask the extra question. I’ll follow the part of the conversation that made me curious. And if you say something that makes me go, “Wait a minute, say more about that,” we’re probably staying there for a while.
So when you listen to this podcast, you’re not getting somebody sitting behind a microphone pretending to have all the answers. You’re getting me. A woman who asks a lot of questions, pays attention to what people say and what they don’t, and really wants to understand what’s going on underneath the obvious answer.
LISTEN + SUBSCRIBE
Find the Show wherever You Listen.
FROM LISTENERS
What it Feels Like on the Other Side of the Mic.
Real. Needed. Healing. I don’t usually leave reviews, but this podcast is different. It feels like sitting with your favorite auntie who just gets it. Shirl talks about strength and softness in a way that makes you rethink how you’ve been carrying everything. She doesn’t just talk at you, she talks to you and you can tell it’s coming from a real place. I found this podcast during a season where I didn’t even know how much I needed support, and now I don’t feel as alone navigating that.
JAYCI MIL
“Until next time, take care of you.” Very outspoken, Shirl says the things people may be scared to say, or even won’t allow themselves to be vulnerable about. Touching on every subject and the problems of our community! This podcast is a breath of fresh air and reassures me know that even when I feel like I’m alone , I’m not alone.
Ladaishia
I’m back. I love how you discuss topics that may bring disagreement, but you explain everything so thoroughly. You make me want to put the things I’ve learned from these episodes into my life. I appreciate the work you’re doing for our community while creating a safe space for us.
MylesReese
LATEST EPISODES
Listen to the Latest Conversations.
Breaking the Silence That Strength Required with Grace Rabia Wood
Grace Rabia Wood didn’t choose to be strong. She learned it early, in an environment where survival meant staying quiet, staying aware, and getting everything right. Long before she had language for what she was carrying, she was already learning how to read a...
Unlearning the Life That Was Costing Me My Peace with Dr. Froswa’ Booker-Drew
Dr. Froswa Booker-Drew spent much of her life doing what was expected of her. From an early age, she learned how to be responsible, how to show up, and how to carry what was placed on her without question. It was reinforced in the way she was raised, in what she...
When Helping Everyone Starts to Hurt You with Simone Gordon
Simone Gordon is used to being the one people call when they need help. She shows up for her autistic son, her community, and the families who rely on her every day. It’s what she’s known for. It’s what people expect from her. And for a long time, she kept saying...
Fighting to Stay Sane While Everyone Calls You Strong with Mary Sims
Mary Sims has been called strong more times than she can count. But what people didn’t see was what it was taking for her to keep going. In this episode, Mary shares what it looked like to navigate a cancer diagnosis, a stem cell transplant, and the long road of...
Learning to Be Held After Always Being Strong with Alyson Brown
For a long time, Alyson Brown believed being strong meant handling everything on her own. She was showing up, holding it together, and figuring things out without needing much from anyone else. And for a while, it worked. At least it looked like it did. In this...
When Work Becomes Your Identity with Joyel Crawford
When work becomes your identity, it can be hard to recognize where your job ends and you begin. This episode is story seven of the 26 Black Women Storytelling Series, where Black women share what being strong has cost them, and the kind of support that could have...
