Dr. Amutah-Onukagha shares how she built the life she once envisioned, why discomfort is part of growth, and how Black women and birthing people can reclaim joy while still demanding better care, better systems, and better outcomes.

This is a conversation about preparation, power, advocacy, and remembering that everything you need is already within you.

About Dr. Ndidiamaka Amutah-Onukagha: 

Dr. Ndidiamaka Amutah-Onukagha is the Julia A. Okoro Professor of Black Maternal Health in the Department of Public Health and Community Medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine.

Dr. Amutah-Onukagha is the Founder and Director of the Center for Black Maternal Health and Reproductive Justice (CBMHRJ), and of the Maternal Outcomes of Translational Health Equity Research (MOTHER) Lab. In addition, she is the founder of the largest conference on Black maternal health in the United States, held annually in April. 

In its 9th year, the conference has recently attracted participants from
over 46 states and 10 countries. An active scholar, Dr. Amutah-Onukagha’s research investigates maternal health disparities, infant mortality, reproductive justice, and women's health, as experienced by Black women. 

She also serves as the inaugural Dean of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for the
university’s Public Health and Professional Degree Programs. A well-published author, Dr. Amutah-Onukagha’s research has been presented in nearly 100
manuscripts, 8 book chapters, a best-selling book on Amazon, and a textbook on culturally responsive evaluation. Her research has also been featured across a series of platforms, including, The Lancet, TedX, Boston Globe, Washington Post, USA Today, MSNBC, and most recently in the New York Times. She
also serves on the editorial board for the Journal of Women’s Health Issues. 

Dr. Amutah-Onukagha recently served as the Principal Investigator of two multi-year studies on maternal mortality and morbidity funded by NIH and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. She is an active co-investigator on several other research studies with collaborators across the country.

Dr. Ndidiamaka Amutah-Onukagha is a nationally recognized public health scholar and leader whose work centers on advancing equity in maternal and child health. She has received numerous honors for her contributions to maternal health, including the Heroes Among Us Award from the Boston Celtics (2025),
the Humanitarian of the Year Award from the March of Dimes (2023), and the Academic Excellence in Maternal Health Award from IRTH App (2023). In 2022, she was awarded the John MacQueen Lecture Award by the Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs, and in 2020 she was named one of the Top 40 Under 40 Minority Leaders in Healthcare by the National Minority Quality Forum.
In November 2025, Dr. Amutah-Onukagha began her term as Chair-Elect of the Maternal and Child Health Section of the American Public Health Association, reflecting her national leadership in the field. She also recently held a federal appointment on the Advisory Council on Infant and Maternal Mortality. In 2024, she was appointed to serve as the Inaugural Health Equity Think Tank Director for Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc, an international organization with over 125,000 members. 

In 2026 she was inducted into the National Academies of Practice as a Distinguished Fellow of Public Health. Globally, she serves as a Health Equity Advisor for Salzburg Global, an independent non-profit organization headquartered in Austria.

A deeply community-engaged leader, Dr. Amutah-Onukagha is a founding member of Birth Equity Justice Massachusetts and serves on the boards of the Neighborhood Birth Center in Boston, Dr. Shalon’s Maternal Action Project, and the Ariah Foundation. She is also the President and Founder of Amaka Consulting and Evaluation Services, LLC, a minority- and women-owned public health
research and evaluation firm dedicated to advancing equity and evidence-based practice.

Dr. Amutah-Onukagha received her Master of Public Health from The George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services before completing her Ph.D. in Public Health from the University of Maryland. She also completed the Kellogg Health Scholars postdoctoral fellowship with an
emphasis on community-based participatory research and health disparities.

Stay connected to the work! 

1. https://stateline.org/2026/04/03/its-a-safe-space-mobile-midwifery-clinics-meet-patients-where-they-are/
2. https://www.blackenterprise.com/more-black-fathers-active-roles-birth-process/
3. https://apnews.com/article/maternal-mortality-black-fathers-racism-1c6e39018a907eac6daf241acb8a3c41
4. https://www.theflowspace.com/physical-health/prevention-longevity/ndidiamaka-amutah-onukagha-equity-black-maternal-health-3022690/
5. https://www.bostonglobe.com/2025/09/12/metro/doula-access-massachusetts-birth-boston/
6. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/23/nyregion/doulas-childbirth-medicaid.html
7. https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/special-reports/fierce-healthcares-2025-most-influential-minority-executives
8. https://www.forbes.com/sites/evaepker/2025/04/30/to-improve-black-maternal-health-look-to-an-untapped-resource-fathers/
9. https://www.heart.org/en/news/2024/04/11/safety-bundles-may-reduce-pregnancy-related-deaths-particularly-among-black-women
10. https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/mother-lab-tufts-university-maternal-health-care/

Further Forward: Honest Conversations on the Art of Becoming, is hosted by Ashley Mitchell. 

📩 Subscribe to Ashley’s newsletter, Mind & Motion: https://blackgirlmagicmama.substack.com/

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More effort.
More discipline.
More productivity.
More hustle.

But what if that's exactly what's keeping us stuck?

In this first episode of Season 2, Ashley explores the difference between slowing down and stopping, why hustle culture can disconnect us from ourselves, and how a surprising health challenge taught her that observation creates options.

If you've been feeling overwhelmed, stuck, burned out, or unsure of your next move, this conversation is for you.

Topics include:

•  Slowing down without giving up 
•  Burnout and hustle culture 
•  Learning to trust yourself 
•  Blood sugar, health, and behavior change 
•  Sustainable wellness habits 
•  Personal growth and self-awareness 
•  Why observation creates options

Don't forget to follow the podcast and share this episode!

Further Forward: Honest Conversations on the Art of Becoming, is hosted by Ashley Mitchell. 

📩 Subscribe to Ashley’s newsletter, Mind & Motion: https://blackgirlmagicmama.substack.com/

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This little mini episode is part reflection, part thank you, and part look ahead at what’s coming next.

Over the last year, this podcast has become so much more than I expected. What started as a space for honest conversations has evolved into something deeper — conversations about growth, identity, courage, grief, ambition, healing, belonging, becoming, and what it actually means to build a meaningful life.

Season Two is going deeper.

Thank you for listening, sharing, reviewing, messaging me, and growing alongside me in real time. Every download, every conversation, every kind word has mattered more than you know.

Listen now wherever you get your podcasts — and let me know:
What conversations resonated most this season?
What do you want more of in Season Two?

Further Forward: Honest Conversations on the Art of Becoming, is hosted by Ashley Mitchell. 

📩 Subscribe to Ashley’s newsletter, Mind & Motion: https://blackgirlmagicmama.substack.com/

 🎙️ Follow for new episodes + bts footage: https://www.instagram.com/furtherforwardpod?igsh=MWJuaDFiMjlzcjJ1dw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr 

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Together, they explore:

•  why so many women are operating in chronic overload 
•  the connection between breath, stress, and emotional patterns 
•  how nervous system regulation differs from “just relaxing” 
•  why recovery doesn’t have to mean doing less 
•  the role of cold exposure and breathwork in healing 
•  inherited patterns, trauma responses, and rewiring behavior 
•  micro-moments of recovery that actually fit into real life 
•  the difference between coping and true regulation 

Rachel also shares the deeply personal story that led her to this work after years of anxiety, medication, and grief — and why she believes nervous system regulation is a skill anyone can learn.

This conversation is science-backed, honest, thoughtful, and deeply human.

Connect with Rachel: 

https://icebathboston.com/

https://www.instagram.com/icebathboston/

About Rachel: 

Rachel is the founder of Ice Bath Boston & Breath, where she helps professionals and parents break free from anxiety, breathlessness, and pain by rewiring the nervous system through breathwork, ice baths, and interoceptive awareness. She finds where stress hides in the body and delivers actionable tools to make the body tell the mind it's safe. A published academic breathing specialist with 5+ certifications from leading programs around the world, Rachel is deeply committed to the science of helping people feel safe in their bodies and live with greater calm, focus, and confidence. She believes nervous system regulation is a foundational life skill that everyone deserves to learn.

Further Forward: Honest Conversations on the Art of Becoming, is hosted by Ashley Mitchell. 

📩 Subscribe to Ashley’s newsletter, Mind & Motion: https://blackgirlmagicmama.substack.com/

 🎙️ Follow for new episodes + bts footage: https://www.instagram.com/furtherforwardpod?igsh=MWJuaDFiMjlzcjJ1dw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr 

 🌱 Support this work and share it with a friend who’s ready to move further forward.

Together, they explore:

•  the hidden cost of constantly pushing through 
•  how trauma and conditioning live in the body 
•  why healing isn’t about becoming perfect 
•  the difference between reacting and responding 
•  the pressure Black women often carry to stay strong 
•  how movement can help regulate the nervous system 
•  why avoiding discomfort creates its own kind of suffering 

Ivy shares her journey from struggling silently as a top-performing athlete to becoming a mental health speaker and creator of Squat & Reset, a somatic fitness experience designed to help people build capacity for stress without losing themselves in it. 

This conversation is a reminder that healing isn’t linear, self-care doesn’t have to be elaborate, and no one is coming to save us — but we can learn to hold ourselves differently through hard things.

Connect with Ivy: 

https://www.ivywattsspeaks.com/

https://www.squatandreset.com/

https://www.instagram.com/ivywattsspeaks/

About Ivy: 

Ivy Watts, Somatic Fitness Coach & Mental Health Speaker, looked like she had it all together, but behind the scenes, she was silently struggling with anxiety and crippling self-doubt. Through grief, single motherhood, and a series of major life transitions, Ivy lost herself until utilizing somatic practices to rebuild self-love, access deep joy, and live with authenticity and aliveness.

Now, as a Mental Health Speaker, Author and Somatic Coach, Ivy empowers others to prioritize self-care and rise into their best selves. Through her keynotes, workshops, somatic fitness classes and self-help book, You Are Worth Fighting For, she has impacted over 200,000 individuals, from students to corporate professionals, equipping them with the tools to manage stress, cultivate self-love, and thrive.

Ivy provides a unique approach to fitness - combining nervous system regulation and strength training to help people release stress that is keeping them stuck and step into joy, alignment and self-love. Her work centers unapologetic joy, and her approach is playful yet grounding, designed for those who are done pushing through and ready to live with more presence, clarity, and authenticity.

Further Forward: Honest Conversations on the Art of Becoming, is hosted by Ashley Mitchell. 

📩 Subscribe to Ashley’s newsletter, Mind & Motion: https://blackgirlmagicmama.substack.com/

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 🌱 Support this work and share it with a friend who’s ready to move further forward.

Ashley sits down with Nicole Pichette, founder of Live Well Collaborative, to unpack what actually moves the needle when it comes to health— and why so many of us avoid it.

From the frustration of traditional medicine to the rise of “quick fixes,” they explore the gap between what we know and what we actually do. Nicole shares her journey from primary care to integrative medicine, and breaks down the six foundational pillars of health that most people overlook: fueling your body, movement, sleep, stress, substances, and community.

But this conversation goes deeper than habits.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by wellness, stuck between doing “everything right” and still not feeling right, or unsure where to start, this episode will meet you there.

Visit Nicole's Website

Follow Nicole on Instagram 

About Nicole: 

Nicole Pichette is a board‑certified primary care nurse practitioner since 2013 who now focuses on integrative and holistic lifestyle medicine. Her approach weaves the best of conventional science with targeted habit shifts, so you get practical, evidence‑based guidance that honors your physical, mental, emotional, and energetic health. Through her personalized, comprehensive programs at Live Well Collaborative, she helps motivated adults cut through conflicting health advice, streamline treatments, and build sustainable routines that improve chronic concerns, calm the mind, and boost energy using integrative and lifestyle approaches. Nicole's focus is on the core foundations of health (nutrition, movement, sleep, stress/nervous system, and energetics) to reduce symptoms and prevent chronic disease, as well as support hormones, a resilient metabolism, and sustainable energy for the long term. Additionally, she is a Menopause Society Certified Provider, Diplomat of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, Yoga Alliance RYT‑200 teacher and Usui Level II Reiki practitioner. Nicole is the clinician for someone who wants one trusted person managing their whole health picture: hormones, metabolism, fatigue, gut health, nervous system, lifestyle, energy work, and beyond. 

Further Forward: Honest Conversations on the Art of Becoming, is hosted by Ashley Mitchell. 

📩 Subscribe to Ashley’s newsletter, Mind & Motion: https://blackgirlmagicmama.substack.com/

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 🌱 Support this work and share it with a friend who’s ready to move further forward.

From organizing her first protest in third grade to stepping into elected office years later, Rep. Fluker- Reid shares how advocacy was always part of her story—even when she couldn’t fully see it herself. They explore the role of mentors, the quiet impact of limiting beliefs, and what it means to answer a call that disrupts comfort but aligns with purpose.

The conversation shifts between the personal and the political, navigating grief, caring for family, maintaining wellness in high-pressure work, and staying grounded while serving the community. Rep. Fluker- Reid also breaks down the real issues she’s fighting for—from education and economic justice to transportation and reentry systems—and what it looks like to build a world where people are truly supported.

If you’ve ever felt the tension between who you are and who you could be, this conversation will meet you there.

About the Rep: 

Brandy Fluker-Reid, Esq. is the Massachusetts State Representative for the 12th Suffolk District serving parts of Dorchester, Hyde Park, Mattapan, Roslindale and Milton. Representative Fluker-Reid holds the esteemed position of Vice Chair of the Joint Committee on the Judiciary as well as being a member of the Joint Committee on Cannabis Policy and the House Committee on Operations, Facilities and Security. She proudly serves on the Women’s Caucus executive board as Treasurer and is an active member of the Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus. Prior to her work in public service, Representative Fluker-Reid worked as a defense attorney and a public school teacher. In addition to being a practicing attorney, she is the founder and president of Delighting in God Ministries (D.I.G.), a life member of the NAACP, a member of both the Massachusetts Black Lawyers Association and the Women’s Bar Association, and an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.

Follow along: 

Wesbite 

Instagram 

Further Forward: Honest Conversations on the Art of Becoming, is hosted by Ashley Mitchell. 

📩 Subscribe to Ashley’s newsletter, Mind & Motion: https://blackgirlmagicmama.substack.com/

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 🌱 Support this work and share it with a friend who’s ready to move further forward.

Working out. Journaling. Meditating. Trying to take care of ourselves in a world that feels like a lot.

So why does it still feel like it’s not working?

In this conversation, I sit down with Liz Bucar– professor, writer, and author of Beyond Wellness– to unpack what’s really going on beneath the surface of modern wellness.

We talk about:

•  The difference between feeling better and actually changing your life
•  How wellness became something we consume instead of something that shapes us 
•  Why intention, depth, and community matter more than doing everything perfectly 
•  The role movement can play- not just in your body, but in how you live 
•  What it looks like to carry your practices forward, instead of leaving them behind 

This is a conversation about choosing practices that don’t just comfort you, but change you.

Because if nothing shifts outside of the hour you spend taking care of yourself…what are we really doing?

About Liz: 

LIZ BUCAR is a religious ethicist and professor of religion at
Northeastern University, as well as a certified intenSati and Kripalu
yoga instructor. Her popular writing has appeared in The Atlantic, the
Los Angeles Times, Teen Vogue, and The Wall Street Journal, and she is
the author of four books, including the award-winning Stealing My
Religion and Pious Fashion. She lives in Brookline, Massachusetts. For
more about how religion shapes us all, even if we don't believe,
subscribe to Liz’s newsletter at LizBucar.com.

Connect with Liz
Instagram: @LizBucar | TikTok: @LizBucar | Substack: Religion, Reimagined

Pre-order Beyond Wellness today!

Attend our workshop on May 2nd!!

Further Forward: Honest Conversations on the Art of Becoming, is hosted by Ashley Mitchell. 

📩 Subscribe to Ashley’s newsletter, Mind & Motion: https://blackgirlmagicmama.substack.com/

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 🌱 Support this work and share it with a friend who’s ready to move further forward.

From redefining core values to building something new, this episode explores what it means to move forward with intention— even when it’s messy.

Ashley also opens up about:

•  The five core values currently guiding her decisions 
•  Why constant visibility can disconnect you from your voice 
•  The truth about building something from the ground up 
•  How her perspective on her parents and her own story is evolving 
•  Why you might be the thing holding yourself back 
•  And what it actually looks like to protect your energy, your work, and your life 

If you’ve been feeling stretched thin, questioning your direction, or trying to force something that doesn’t feel right, this episode is a reset.

Key takeaway: Growth is self-trust in action.

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👉 Share this episode with someone who needs it

Further Forward: Honest Conversations on the Art of Becoming, is hosted by Ashley Mitchell. 

📩 Subscribe to Ashley’s newsletter, Mind & Motion: https://blackgirlmagicmama.substack.com/

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 🌱 Support this work and share it with a friend who’s ready to move further forward.

In this episode, I sit down with Maya Grevatt- Director of Operations at Artists for Humanity and Chief of Staff at Tomorrow’s Women Today, to talk about leadership, identity, and the quiet beliefs that shape how we move through the world.

We unpack the hidden cost of hyper-competence, and why generosity, not ego, might be the most powerful leadership skill we have.

This is a conversation about success- but not the version most of us were taught to chase.

What we explore:

•  Why “doing it all on your own” is a myth—and what it costs us 
•  The downside of hyper-competence (and how it quietly pushes people away) 
•  Rethinking imposter syndrome: is it you, or is it the room? 
•  What generous leadership actually looks like in practice 
•  Identity, perception, and navigating spaces that weren’t built for you 
•  Why mentorship matters (and why proximity often matters more than hierarchy)
•  Burnout from the things you love (and how to reframe it) 
•  Decision-making: how to move forward without waiting for certainty 

Maya T. Grevatt is the Director of Operations at Artists for Humanity, a nonprofit that employs and mentors young artists, and Chief of Staff at Tomorrow’s Women Today, a cross-industry leadership community for women.

Her work focuses on building more equitable leadership pipelines—centering mentorship, access, and a more generous, human approach to leadership.

LinkedIn 

Tomorrow's Women Today 

Artists For Humanity 

Further Forward: Honest Conversations on the Art of Becoming, is hosted by Ashley Mitchell. 

📩 Subscribe to Ashley’s newsletter, Mind & Motion: https://blackgirlmagicmama.substack.com/

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 🌱 Support this work and share it with a friend who’s ready to move further forward.

Leakage. Pain. Tension. Discomfort. Or the quiet sense that something in the body isn’t working the way it used to.

In this episode of Further Forward, Ashley sits down with pelvic floor physical therapist Dr. Maya Lespinasse, founder of How’s Your Pelvis Physical Therapy, to talk about one of the most misunderstood parts of the body.

Dr. Maya explains what the pelvic floor actually is, why so many people suffer in silence, and how pelvic floor dysfunction can affect people across the entire lifespan — from young athletes to aging bodies.

They also explore the surprising ways the body is connected, including the relationship between jaw tension, stress, and pelvic floor health.

This conversation is honest, educational, and deeply empowering for anyone who wants to better understand their body.

In this episode we discuss:

• what the pelvic floor actually is
 • why pelvic floor issues are more common than people realize
 • why young athletes can experience pelvic floor dysfunction
 • the surprising connection between jaw tension and pelvic floor tension
 • what actually happens during pelvic floor physical therapy
 • why many people suffer in silence

If you have a body, this conversation will likely change how you think about it.

Website 

Instagram 

About Dr. Maya: 

Dr. Maya Lespinasse, PT, DPT, is a pelvic floor physical therapist, entrepreneur, and mentor dedicated to transforming the way women’s health and pelvic floor dysfunction are treated. As the founder of How’s Your Pelvis? a boutique practice in Foxboro, she specializes in complex pelvic pain, and women’s health concerns. She prioritizes whole-body rehabilitation, blending evidence-based care with compassionate, patient-centered treatment. Her work has been featured in Cosmopolitan, and she is recognized for her clinical excellence, education, and advocacy for equitable, stigma-free pelvic healthcare.

Further Forward: Honest Conversations on the Art of Becoming, is hosted by Ashley Mitchell. 

📩 Subscribe to Ashley’s newsletter, Mind & Motion: https://blackgirlmagicmama.substack.com/

 🎙️ Follow for new episodes + bts footage: https://www.instagram.com/furtherforwardpod?igsh=MWJuaDFiMjlzcjJ1dw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr 

 🌱 Support this work and share it with a friend who’s ready to move further forward.

We talk about rejection, persistence, social media, entrepreneurship, and what it means to build something meaningful without waiting for permission. From getting rejected three times early on to turning a college passion project into a full-time business, Kate shares what it looks like to trust your instincts, stay true to your values, and create your own lane.

If you’ve ever wondered whether the work you want is out there, or whether you might have to build it yourself, this episode is for you.

Website 

Instagram 

TikTok 

YouTube

About Kate: 

Kate is the founder and creative force behind Bucket List Boston, a lifestyle platform dedicated to discovering the best experiences in Boston and beyond. She started the brand as a passion project as a freshman at Boston University and spent the past decade growing it into a full-time business and trusted guide for locals and visitors alike.

Through her content, Kate highlights hidden gems, supports small businesses, and inspires people to explore their city with fresh eyes. In addition to creating content, she works with hospitality brands and tourism destinations and runs Bucket List Consulting, where she helps businesses refine their brand storytelling and social media strategy.

Kate is passionate about building community, championing local businesses, and showing that a creative idea — when nurtured with consistency and heart — can grow into a meaningful entrepreneurial career.

Further Forward: Honest Conversations on the Art of Becoming, is hosted by Ashley Mitchell. 

📩 Subscribe to Ashley’s newsletter, Mind & Motion: https://blackgirlmagicmama.substack.com/

 🎙️ Follow for new episodes + bts footage: https://www.instagram.com/furtherforwardpod?igsh=MWJuaDFiMjlzcjJ1dw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr 

 🌱 Support this work and share it with a friend who’s ready to move further forward.

In this conversation, Kim and I talk about what service looks like when it’s done with dignity—not savior energy—and how leadership is often something we grow into while we’re already doing the job. Kim shares a pivotal early lesson: even “help” can feel degrading if we aren’t listening. We also get into workplace culture, why flexibility is a form of care, how Dress for Success adapted during COVID, and the mobile boutique that’s now bringing confidence directly into communities.

If you’ve ever wanted to be part of the solution, but worried you don’t know enough yet—this one’s for you.

Follow Along! 

Website 

Instagram 

Facebook

About Kim: 

Kim Todd has been involved in fundraising/development for over 30 years. As President of Dress for Success Boston, Kim is responsible for running day-to-day operations, fundraising, Board management and strategic planning. She oversees a staff of four, and over 100 volunteers. Kim also serves as spokesperson for the organization, and has appeared on WCVB-TV's Chronicle, FOX 25 News, and has been a guest on several radio shows. Previously, as Grant Writer/Assistant Director of Development at The New England Center for Children, Kim was responsible for researching and writing grant proposals to secure funding for general operations and special programs. In this position, Kim brought in over $400,000 in grants and in-kind technology. Kim earned a Bachelor’s Degree in English/Theatre from Emerson College, and a Certificate in Non-Profit Management and Leadership from Boston University. Kim is an avid reader and fitness fanatic.  She has two children, Ruby and Alexander, and lives in the suburbs with her husband, Chuck.

Further Forward: Honest Conversations on the Art of Becoming, is hosted by Ashley Mitchell. 

📩 Subscribe to Ashley’s newsletter, Mind & Motion: https://blackgirlmagicmama.substack.com/

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 🌱 Support this work and share it with a friend who’s ready to move further forward.

Don't forget to follow the show, leave a review, and share Further Forward with a woman in the midst of her own becoming!

Further Forward: Honest Conversations on the Art of Becoming, is hosted by Ashley Mitchell. 

📩 Subscribe to Ashley’s newsletter, Mind & Motion: https://blackgirlmagicmama.substack.com/

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 🌱 Support this work and share it with a friend who’s ready to move further forward.

We’ve had the data.
We’ve had the stories.
We’ve had the heartbreak. 

In this episode, maternal health advocate Jessie Colbert breaks down how policy shapes maternal mental health — and what we can actually do about it.

Jessie and I talk about:

• what “perinatal mental health” actually means 
• why postpartum depression is only part of the story
• how policy quietly shapes the care mothers receive
• what you can actually do (yes, you)

This is part motherhood, part civics lesson, part reality check.

If you’ve ever wondered why the system feels slow… this one’s for you.

About Jessie: 

Jessie Colbert is the Coordinator of the Massachusetts Mind the Gap Coalition, a group of health care organizations, nonprofits, community-based organizations, mental health and maternity care providers, survivors of Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs) and/or pregnancy and infant loss and other
advocates working to improve state policies impacting perinatal mental health.

 Under Jessie’s leadership, Massachusetts Mind the Gap was successful in passing the Moms Matter Act – legislation investing in community-based organizations supporting perinatal mental health, particularly in historically marginalized communities – as part of the state’s 2024 omnibus maternal health law.

Previously, Jessie was the Founder and Executive Director of the Mass. PPD Fund, a nonprofit focused on improving communities’ capacity to address PMADs through education, training, and advocacy. She has also worked in nonprofit fundraising, and was the first Director of the Ellen Story Special Legislative Commission on Postpartum Depression, now a national model.

Jessie is the mom of three kids in college, high school, and elementary school. Although she didn't go through PMADs herself, she brings lived experience as a mom and with other mental health challenges
to her work.

Resources: 

Massachusetts Mind the Gap Coalition

Postpartum Support International, including Perinatal Mental Health 101

Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance

National MMH hotline: 1-833-TLC-MAMA

Bay State Birth Coalition

PSI’s postpartum psychosis discussion tool

Find your legislator MA

MSPCC

Further Forward: Honest Conversations on the Art of Becoming, is hosted by Ashley Mitchell. 

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Ashley sits down with breathwork facilitator and equine-guided practitioner Catie Macken to explore what happens when the life you built no longer feels aligned-  even when it looks successful from the outside.

Together, they discuss reinvention, listening to intuition, working through limiting beliefs, and why slowing down may be the most powerful path forward in a world that constantly pushes us to move faster.

Catie shares her journey from leading wellness spaces in Boston to creating intimate transformational work rooted in breathwork, nature, and equine-guided experiences, as well as what it truly means to trust the inner voice that asks you to evolve.

This episode is for anyone standing at a crossroads-  feeling the quiet pull toward something different, but unsure how to begin.

About Catie: 

Catie Macken is a passionate, embodied guide and mentor offering transformative groups, 1:1 sessions, and corporate experiences in Topanga Canyon. Her work is multifaceted, harnessing the power of the horse - human connection, earth based tradition, nature experiences, and breathwork to increase self awareness, unblock patterns, and live with greater ease and freedom through life. 

With a deep appreciation for the power of ritual and intentional living, Catie invites you into deeper intimacy with yourself and your life. 

Additionally, she supports organizations, business owners, and executives with impactful, innovative content and mentorship opportunities to develop emotionally intelligent leadership. 

Website 

Instagram 

Further Forward: Honest Conversations on the Art of Becoming, is hosted by Ashley Mitchell. 

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In this episode, Midori shares how she pivoted from elementary education to exercise science after noticing how movement transformed her mental health. We talk about the “inner voice” (and how it shows up in the body), the power of slowing down and getting bored, and why being fiercely protective of your time and energy isn’t selfish— it’s survival.

We also get into the real behind-the-scenes of building a business: leaving a stable job, navigating COVID, turning her parents’ garage into a private training studio, and creating a coaching model that’s personal, not cookie-cutter. 

And as we wrap, she gives a loving-but-firm message for women: strength train—because life is physical, and being strong is a form of freedom. Also? Her 2026 challenge: make cooking your hobby.

About Midori: 

Midori Dowdie is a holistic health coach, strength coach, and Pilates instructor with over 10 years of experience in the health and wellness industry. Her work is grounded in the principles of bio-individuality and evidence-based practice, recognizing that effective health and fitness interventions must be personalized. She specializes in helping women build strength, improve their relationship with food and movement, and develop sustainable habits that support long term health rather than short term fixes. Midori’s coaching programs are collaborative by design, and she considers herself part of each client’s broader care team, integrating movement, nutrition behaviors, and lifestyle strategies to support physical resilience and overall well-being.

Instagram

Website

MADsoleful Instagram 

Further Forward: Honest Conversations on the Art of Becoming, is hosted by Ashley Mitchell. 

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Diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in her early 20s, Qiana shares the realities no one prepared her for: the mental weight of numbers, the danger of insulin omission, and how body image, diet culture, and the music industry shaped her relationship with her health. She opens up about motherhood as a turning point—how becoming a parent forced her to ask a life-altering question: What’s the story my body is telling, and do I want it to end here?

This episode isn’t about perfection or “doing wellness right.” It’s about learning to see your body as a vessel worth caring for, breaking cycles of shame, and choosing repair—for yourself and for the people watching you live.

In This Episode, We Talk About:

• Getting diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in your early 20s
• Why diabetes management is about patterns, not punishment
• The emotional toll of living by numbers (blood sugar, A1C, weight)
• Insulin omission and why it’s so hard to name—and escape
• How shame disconnects us from our bodies
• Motherhood as a wake-up call: choosing life and longevity
• Postpartum body image and telling the truth without self-abandonment
• Parenting a teenager with Type 1 diabetes without passing down fear
• Repair, compassion, and learning to choose stewardship over control

Don't forget to rate & review the pod!

About Qiana: 

Qiana Drew is a recording artist, actress, and motivational speaker who has lived with Type 1 Diabetes for over 25 years. A former Arista Records signee and *American Idol* Hollywood finalist, she has worked with legends like Missy Elliott while managing chronic illness behind the scenes. Today, Qiana is a powerful voice in the diabetes community — a Diabetes Empowerment Coach and CDC DPP facilitator — using her story, voice, and creativity to uplift others. Her original songs, “You Are Not Alone” and “Coast” (an upbeat track that symbolizes ideal blood sugar balance), serve as love letters to the community. With her daughter also diagnosed with Type 1 in 2021, Qiana brings personal and generational insight to every stage she steps on. She's currently producing a motivational series that blends meditation, sound, and physical movement — designed to help people build a strong foundation for sustainable lifestyle changes that support successful blood sugar management. 

Wesbite 

Instagram 

Further Forward: Honest Conversations on the Art of Becoming, is hosted by Ashley Mitchell. 

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From systems and hierarchies to habits and self-trust, this conversation explores what it truly means to live differently now. 

This episode weaves together personal reflection, cultural critique, history, and legacy thinking, touching on:

• Why writing the same goals every year is a signal—not a failure
• How top-down leadership and hierarchy shape our sense of readiness
• The hidden comfort of stress, busyness, and familiar patterns
• Why the world being hard doesn’t absolve us from responsibility
• Cathedral thinking and building for a future we may never see

Further Forward: Honest Conversations on the Art of Becoming, is hosted by Ashley Mitchell. 

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Connect:

• Soulful Sister Collective: soulfulsistercollective.com
• Social: IG/Facebook/Threads/TikTok @soulfulsistercollective 
• Brittany’s classes: Life Time (Station Landing/Medford), Republic (HealthWorks), Dance Complex (Cambridge)

About Britney: 

Britney is a movement professional and seasoned fitness instructor, with a special focus in Pilates. She’s dedicated over ten years to leading classes & has had the pleasure of teaching in a variety of studios and wellness spaces throughout New England. Her thoughtfully designed programming is accessible to all levels and focuses on celebrating the body’s strengths through mindful, intentional movement.

Outside of teaching, Britney is a community builder who takes pride in creating spaces that bring people together & empower others through movement. In 2024, Britney founded the Soulful Sister Collective—a wellness community dedicated to the inclusion, appreciation, and empowerment of Black Women. To learn more, visit soulfulsistercollective.com

Further Forward: Honest Conversations on the Art of Becoming, is hosted by Ashley Mitchell. 

📩 Subscribe to Ashley’s newsletter, Mind & Motion: https://blackgirlmagicmama.substack.com/

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In this conversation, Ashley and Amy talk about self-esteem, aging, motherhood, and why honoring your capacity is not a lack of ambition but a form of wisdom.

It’s about listening to your body, trusting your timing, and choosing work that fits the life you actually want.

We'll also discuss: 

• How Amy went from TV producer to yoga teacher to unexpected studio owner
• The moment yoga became more than “just a workout”
• Designing work around your natural energy instead of forcing a grind
• Aging, menopause, and the shift from nitpicking in the mirror to “not bad, girl”
• How somatic experiencing changed the way Amy teaches and moves through her life
• Motherhood, resentment, and naming what you need before you burn out
• What she looks for in teachers and how she protects the energy at Soma

If you’re craving a version of success that feels embodied and joyful, this episode is meant for you. 

About Amy: 

Amy (E-RYT 500) is the Co-founder and Director of Soma Yoga. She is a pioneer in the Boston yoga scene and is one of the most sought-after teachers in the city. She utilizes mindfulness meditation and somatic techniques in her teaching to help students connect their minds with their bodies. She makes the practice accessible and uncomplicated so everyone can benefit from this vital work.

Along with her many yoga certifications, Amy is an Intermediate Somatic Experience Practitioner with Peter Levine and a certified Postural and Movement Analyst with Tom Myers. Her private yoga therapy practice caters to individual needs, from reducing stress and anxiety to healing chronic pain. She has studied extensively with Barbara Benagh and Shiva Rea and credits much of her teaching style to their influence.

Amy has been teaching yoga, movement, and mindfulness for over 20 years. She was awarded Best Yoga Teacher in Boston by Boston Magazine, leads 200-hour teacher training and mentorship programs as the Director of Soma Yoga School, and is a contributing teacher at Harvard.

Further Forward: Honest Conversations on the Art of Becoming, is hosted by Ashley Mitchell. 

📩 Subscribe to Ashley’s newsletter, Mind & Motion: https://blackgirlmagicmama.substack.com/

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In this conversation, she walks you through:

• A vulnerable New York hotel moment, reading old journals and realizing she’d been looping the same problems all year.
• How self-betrayal can look like being “the helpful one,” “the reliable one,” or “the good mom/wife/friend.”
• Why your body often knows you’re betraying yourself before your brain will admit it.
• How movement and the nervous system can help you access the pause between reaction and response.
• A simple way to use your workouts, cool downs, and even your warmups as a practice ground for self-trust.
• Why relying solely on wearables and data can quietly train you to mistrust your own experience.

If you’ve ever felt that little seed of disappointment in your belly after saying yes when you meant no, this one’s for you. We’re not fixing it overnight—but we are slowing down, paying attention, and taking the next right step further forward together.

Further Forward is about knowing we’re not doing this alone. If this episode supported you, share it with one woman you love and let her know you’re rooting for her, too.

Further Forward: Honest Conversations on the Art of Becoming, is hosted by Ashley Mitchell. 

📩 Subscribe to Ashley’s newsletter, Mind & Motion: https://blackgirlmagicmama.substack.com/

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• The scam of “doing it all" & the trade-offs nobody admits
• Why time freedom beats work titles 
• Class anxiety
• Values alignment 
• Telling the truth even when it changes relationships  
• Paid leave & childcare
• Why motherhood is inherently political.
• The resurrection of the “girl boss” era, and what a more human alternative looks like.

 If you’re craving language for your boundaries and a vision bigger than individual hustle, you’re going to feel seen.

More about Raena: 

Raena Boston is a writer, HR professional, and an award-winning care activist, as well as a mom of three. Her thought leadership has been featured on NPR and Good Morning America, where she speaks about paid leave, childcare, and working parenthood in America.

Connect: https://www.theworkingmomtras.com/

https://www.instagram.com/theworkingmomtras

Further Forward: Honest Conversations on the Art of Becoming, is hosted by Ashley Mitchell. 

📩 Subscribe to Ashley’s newsletter, Mind & Motion: https://blackgirlmagicmama.substack.com/

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If you’ve ever felt guilty for needing rest, struggled to say a full-sentence “no,” or sensed your nervous system fraying at the edges, this episode is a gentle permission slip to come back to yourself.

Key themes: nervous system regulation, the wisdom of the body, finding your people, astrology and yoga, frequency music, creating soft spaces, the importance of touch post-pandemic

If you enjoyed this episode, share it with someone who needs these words!

Cassandre Titus is a Licensed Practical Nurse, yoga teacher, and Thai bodywork practitioner whose work centers around nervous system care, restorative movement, and community wellness. Drawing from 12 years in healthcare and her experience in teaching yin, restorative, and vinyasa, she helps students and clients embody grounded presence through movement, breath, sound, and mindful touch. Cassandre offers weekly classes, monthly bodywork sessions, seasonally inspired workshops, and emerging virtual resources that support holistic self-care and sustainable well-being.

You can connect with her on Instagram at @cassandre.titus, where she shares gentle practices, reflections, and upcoming offerings designed to help you slow down, soften, and reconnect.

Rachelle Pierre is a hot power yoga teacher, Thai bodyworker, and educator who trains others in intuitive, supportive assisting in the yoga classroom. Rooted in movement as a pathway to clarity, connection, and presence, her work centers on helping students feel grounded, strong, and deeply attuned to their bodies. Through athletic flow and mindful breath, Rachelle creates classes that invite students to meet challenges with curiosity and show up exactly as they are. She weaves together intentional sequencing, embodied awareness, and the potency of mindful touch to support connection, empowerment, and awakening in places where words alone cannot reach.

You can connect with Rachelle through her Linktree, where she shares her weekly teaching schedule and upcoming offerings for deeper practice and embodied exploration.

Further Forward: Honest Conversations on the Art of Becoming, is hosted by Ashley Mitchell. 

📩 Subscribe to Ashley’s newsletter, Mind & Motion: https://blackgirlmagicmama.substack.com/

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Gwen shares the evolving shape of her identity in adulthood, how writing her memoir changed her relationship to purpose and risk, why softness is a form of strength, and the unexpected ways friendships can hold us through the most difficult seasons. 

Together, Ashley and Gwen reflect on becoming, self-awareness, community, grief as a backdrop rather than a headline, and the unglamorous daily courage of simply showing up.

This is a slow, deep, grounding episode about being human, being honest, and choosing openness even when it’s uncomfortable.

In this episode, we talk about:

• The role of female friendships in holding us through grief, change, and adulthood
• What writing a memoir taught Gwen about purpose, timing, and surrender
• How to keep becoming your truest self in your 30s and beyond
• Creativity, fear, and the discipline of sitting down to write
• The quiet bravery required to stay open to love, community, and possibility

Connect with Gwen: 

• Gwen’s book: Did I Ever Tell You? 
• NYT Modern Love essay: “She Put Her Unspent Love in a Cardboard Box”
• Gwen on Instagram

Books/authors mentioned:

• Educated by Tara Westover (audiobook read by Julia Whelan)
• Autobiography of a Face by Lucy Grealy
• Truth & Beauty by Ann Patchett
• In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado
• Wild Game by Adrienne Brodeur
• Collective Illusions by Todd Rose
• Sidle Creek by Jolene McIlwain

Misc:

• Botanical Brothers (NYC flower subscription Gwen sends to herself)

Genevieve (Gwen) Kingston is an actor, playwright, and author based in Brooklyn, New York. She holds an MFA in Acting from Brown University and BAs in Theater and Linguistics from UC Berkeley. Her viral essay “She Put Her Unspent Love in a Cardboard Box” appeared in the New York Times Modern Love column in 2021, and her 2024 memoir, Did I Ever Tell You?, was a New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice and is currently being translated into 16 languages worldwide.

Further Forward: Honest Conversations on the Art of Becoming, is hosted by Ashley Mitchell. 

📩 Subscribe to Ashley’s newsletter, Mind & Motion: https://blackgirlmagicmama.substack.com/

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Executive recruiter, coach, and founder Meghan Houle joins Ashley to discuss confidence without ego, imposter syndrome, and the mindset shifts that help you transition from overlooked to in-demand. Meghan shares her personal journey of overcoming early challenges, embracing self-awareness, and learning to take bold, intentional action in her career.

They dive into the realities of today’s job market- from 9-round interviews and AI screening to the art of authentic networking and personal investment. Meghan also introduces her innovative platform CONCÉ, designed to revolutionize and humanize the recruiting and hiring process, and build a supportive professional community that helps people get seen and get paid.

In this episode:

• Why great candidates get overlooked (and how to fix it)
• How to pitch yourself with quiet conviction
• The truth about recruiters, referrals, and multi-round interviews
• Creating a “personal P&L” and investing in yourself
• Imposter syndrome and the power of self-awareness
• Building community and finding mentors who open doors
• Taking bold action and rewriting limiting beliefs
• Introducing CONCÉ and the realities of building a start-up

Meghan Houle is a globally recognized hiring expert, accredited Career & Business Coach, and newly minted tech founder of CEO of CONCÉ (pronounced Con-SEE) a next-generation concierge-style hiring platform revolutionizing the talent space.

As the “go-to” agency recruiter for CEOs, founders, and visionary business owners, Meghan helps build high-performing teams designed for long-term success and has been celebrated for a multi-decade career marked by over a thousand successful placements.

 Meghan has built her reputation through high-touch partnerships with luxury and specialty retail brands across North America.

Her clients include global leaders such as LVMH, Veronica Beard, Victoria Beckham and Christian Louboutin (to name a few)

Positioned as the future of hiring, CONCÉ is an all-in-one solution helping businesses manage every step of the recruitment journey from job description to job offer while introducing the industry's first soft-skills-driven job matchmaking experience within a privately vetted, professional community. Think: RAYA for jobs.

Today, with CONCÉ (beta launching late 2025), Meghan is reimagining recruitment curating a premium private career community with a deeply personalized experience leaning into her signature brand ethos; authenticity, intentional matchmaking, and concierge-level service which will continue to guide her mission: making every career move both empowering and purposeful for both businesses and job seekers alike.

Schedule a hiring strategy session with Meghan: https://calendly.com/mhm-career-concierge/30min

Connect on Instagram:

Meghan Houle https://www.instagram.com/allthingsmeghoule/

Follow CONCÉ https://www.instagram.com/hirewithconce/

Get your business on the CONCÉ waitlist https://hirewithconce.com/waitlist/business

Further Forward: Honest Conversations on the Art of Becoming, is hosted by Ashley Mitchell. 

📩 Subscribe to Ashley’s newsletter, Mind & Motion: https://blackgirlmagicmama.substack.com/

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Through raw honesty and reflection, she explores how we create our own chaos, how to stop chasing approval, and what it really means to soften without losing power. From being late (twice!) to her Pilates training, to confronting her own perfectionism and anger, Ashley reminds us that surrender isn’t weakness — it’s wisdom.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing everything “right” but still stuck in the same loops, this one’s your mirror.

With her signature mix of truth and tenderness, Ashley explores:

• What control really costs us
• The link between anger, algorithms, and authenticity
• How to stop using productivity or fitness as emotional avoidance
• The quiet courage of surrender
• Why grace is the ultimate teacher

Further Forward: Honest Conversations on the Art of Becoming, is hosted by Ashley Mitchell. 

📩 Subscribe to Ashley’s newsletter, Mind & Motion: https://blackgirlmagicmama.substack.com/

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Ashley Houston-King is a Ph.D. student at Boston University studying Language and Literacy in Education. Ashley is also a reading specialist in a K-6 Boston Public School, and a former classroom teacher. Her research interests include exploring the intersections of literacy instruction, identity, and disrupting anti-Blackness in education. She is interested in studying in-and-out-of-school literacy spaces to better understand how youth navigate injustice and work toward collective liberation. 

Follow her on Instagram: @ashley_althea4

Share this episode with a teacher, parent, or community organizer who’s building outside the lines.

Further Forward: Honest Conversations on the Art of Becoming, is hosted by Ashley Mitchell. 

📩 Subscribe to Ashley’s newsletter, Mind & Motion: https://blackgirlmagicmama.substack.com/

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In this episode:

• Healing as “organizing the parts” of self; we are each other’s mirrors
• Postpartum realities, support gaps, and doula work as service
• Somatic experiencing and IFS (“no bad parts”)- why change must be gentle
• The “empty boat” story: releasing assumed intent + choosing peace
• Real-life over performative wellness: connection, community, and being held
• Micro-practices: drink water, get sunlight, honest rest, name one thing you’re grateful for

Bio: 

Yera brings a wealth of experience to her work, offering integrative and compassionate care. Dedicated to this path for much of her life, she blends knowledge and intuition to create supportive spaces for healing and connection. Her practice is informed by both formal training and lived experience, allowing her to meet each person with depth, empathy, and presence.

Through a trauma-informed and integrative approach, Yera offers a variety of ways to explore emotional, energetic, mental, and physical well-being. Her work draws from breathing, restorative, and somatic practices to support clients in reconnecting with themselves and cultivating a sense of peace. Whether in one-on-one sessions or group settings, she creates opportunities for individuals to slow down, restore, and listen deeply to their bodies' innate wisdom.

In addition to her healing arts practice, Yera is a full-spectrum birth worker, an Integrated Doula, which reflects her unique, holistic approach to supporting families through fertility, pregnancy, birth, and the tender postpartum phase. Her approach to birth work blends emotional and physical support while honoring the uniqueness of each family’s needs. With warmth and deep respect for parenthood, she creates a space where families can feel supported, empowered, and cared for.

At the heart of Yera’s offerings is a belief in the body’s innate capacity to heal and the integration that occurs when people are truly seen and supported. Whether she is guiding an individual through a restorative practice or nurturing a family during birth and postpartum, Yera’s work is rooted in connection, care, and deep reverence for life. 

Stay connected with Yera and learn more at Yeradmi.com  

If this episode supported you, follow/subscribe, leave a review, and share with a friend who’s in their own season of remembering.

Further Forward: Honest Conversations on the Art of Becoming, is hosted by Ashley Mitchell. 

📩 Subscribe to Ashley’s newsletter, Mind & Motion: https://blackgirlmagicmama.substack.com/

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Show Notes: 

• Why Ashley almost didn’t start this podcast—and what changed
• Feelings vs. facts: why resonance matters for real change
• Redefining success beyond followers, money, and grind culture
• Curiosity > comfort: challenging ideas without losing respect
• Comparison, social media, and the pace of becoming
• Grief, urgency, and the legacy of Ashley’s father (a boxer & mailman)
• Motherhood, community, and doing hard things when you’re tired
• The practice of one small step—the “.1 on the treadmill” mindset
• Invitation: pick the next right step and begin

Follow along: 

Instagram

@furtherforwardpod

@blackgirlmagicmama

Websites

further-forward.com 

https://blackgirlmagicmama.substack.com/

Further Forward: Honest Conversations on the Art of Becoming, is hosted by Ashley Mitchell. 

📩 Subscribe to Ashley’s newsletter, Mind & Motion: https://blackgirlmagicmama.substack.com/

 🎙️ Follow for new episodes + bts footage: https://www.instagram.com/furtherforwardpod?igsh=MWJuaDFiMjlzcjJ1dw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr 

 🌱 Support this work and share it with a friend who’s ready to move further forward.