I started Beyond the Self when I was 27 years old, recordings would be in my wardrobe in a small box room at my Mama's house, in the thick of deep personal change. I had moved back to the family home after a tough breakup. I was a couple of years into building my company, 4 years into sharing my story of sabotaging my entire life and being forced to get sober. Years into allowing my work to exist publicly. And although I had my convictions, I was uncertain, curious, and committed to growth. All of which I still am, in varying proportions.

Now, at 32, I’ve had the honour of sitting with you through some of the most transformative years of my life. This podcast has of course been a place for ideas and reflection, but it’s also been a sacred container where I could show up fully, be seen, and be met by an open-hearted, intelligent, loving community. You allowed me to be ALL of myself, even as that self changed again and again. For that, I will always be grateful.

This final episode is a gentle but potent closing chapter. It’s, as always... raw, honest, and full of love. I speak about what these past five years have meant, how much I’ve grown, what's been happening in my life as I sit here writing this, and why it feels right to let this version of things go. I also shared things that still feel very tender, but it's why we're here, right?

And while this is an ending, it’s also a beginning. A BIG one. Unthinkable Thoughts, my new show, is on its way (EEEEEEK!!!!), and I’ve never felt more ready to say the things that have been waiting to be said. Thank you for walking with me. I’ll see you on the other side.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

JOIN ME NEXT MONTH FOR The In-Between - a LIVE virtual masterclass on Sunday 6th July (replay will be available if you can't make it live):

It's for those moving through quiet or loud change. No longer who they were, and maybe not yet sure who they’re becoming. I created this for anyone who’s facing a shift. Be it subtly or deeply - and needs room to name it, honour the ending, and step gently into what’s next. I can't wait to have you in the room!

BUY MY BOOK THE THIRD PERSPECTIVE:

(also available at Waterstones, Barnes & Nobles and all major bookstores and independents - check for international delivery. Request it at your libraries too!)

SUPPORT THE SHOW:

If you found this valuable - be sure to follow, RATE, subscribe, leave a review on Apple Podcasts, and share this podcast with your pals, family, and community - let's not withhold transformation from each other.⁣⁣⁣⁣

You can also connect with me directly over on Instagram, I'd love to continue the conversation with you - @africabrooke or you can email me (including if you have podcast episode requests) at hello@africabrooke.com with the subject line 'Beyond the Self'. I can't wait to hear from you!⁣⁣⁣⁣

PLEASE NOTE: I do not give advice in DM's, emails, or comments, but I'd love to hear your feedback and know what your lightbulb moments or breakthroughs were. It also lights me up when you tag me in the screenshots of you listening, do continue!

Oh my goodness. This conversation is everything I needed, and more.

I’m joined by one of my best friends and favourite humans on this planet, the incredible Rui Liu, a child of tea and founder of Grass People Tree. We went beyond what you might expect from a conversation that centres tea (though we go deep into that too). We found ourselves going into culture, identity, ancestry, friendship, artistry, business, beauty, rebellion, ritual… all of it.

We talk about Rui’s childhood in rural China, her unexpected leap into the fashion world, and how tea became the anchor that brought her back home. To herself, to her people, and to a way of life rooted in reverence. We unpack what it means to create from truth, to honour your roots while navigating the modern world, and to stay close to the quiet, sacred things even when life gets loud. I'M SO EXCITED FOR YOU TO DIVE INNNN!

I especially wanted Rui to tell us all the story behind building Grass People Tree. And to go into the details of why GPT is beyond being a brand, but more of a living archive of oral histories, indigenous knowledge, and living tea. We explore the difference between tea that is alive versus tea that’s been industrialised, and how language, story, and care make all the difference.

This was one of the most expansive, soul-shifting conversations I’ve ever had. Guys, I honestly felt like we were sitting in a temple, laughing and crying and remembering the parts of ourselves that are often forgotten in the rush of it all.

I just know you will love where we took this! She's also kindly given us a 10% DISCOUNT (use code AFRICABROOKE) when you buy yourself some tea from the GPT website, below. Make use of it, and you'll see why I drink this tea each time I sit down to connect.

Resources Mentioned:

The Roots of Tea (A Self-paced Course) - I have to say it again, this offering is phenomenal!

Grass People Tree Journal

GET IN TOUCH WITH RUI:

Website: Grass People Tree (discount code AFRICABROOKE for 10% off)

Instagram: @grasspeopletree / @rui.rae

Email: getsharing@grasspeopletree.com

If you found this valuable - be sure to follow, RATE, subscribe, leave a review on Apple Podcasts, and share this podcast with your pals, family, and community - let's not withhold transformation from each other.⁣⁣⁣⁣

You can also connect with me directly over on Instagram, I'd love to continue the conversation with you - @africabrooke or you can email me (including if you have podcast episode requests) at hello@africabrooke.com with the subject line 'Beyond the Self'. I can't wait to hear from you!⁣⁣⁣⁣

PLEASE NOTE: I do not give advice in DM's, emails, or comments, but I'd love to hear your feedback and know what your lightbulb moments or breakthroughs were. It also lights me up when you tag me in the screenshots of you listening, do continue!

I’ve been thinking a lot about the ways we convince ourselves we’re doing something noble - spiritual, even - when really, we’re just avoiding the thing that actually wants to set us free. Like last week, this conversation is personal. It’s present. And it’s pulled straight from the patterns I’ve had to face, and some I’m still facing, in real time. If you’re someone who’s ever thought or said ‘I’m just protecting my peace’ while secretly knowing that something deeper is going unaddressed, this episode is for you.

I asked a confronting question:
Are you protecting your peace, or is it just avoidance in disguise?

And I take us all through the 8 shadowy, often socially-acceptable ways avoidance hides in plain sight. I go into how we cloak it as boundaries, empowerment, self-care, independence, or emotional intelligence.

I speak about:

• The silent treatment as a form of self-sabotage, masked as boundary-setting.
• How we wear solitude like a badge of honour, when it’s actually isolation.
• The self-betrayal of over-compromising and calling it “keeping the peace.”
• The seductive nature of numbing through productivity, fitness, or “wellness.”
• Avoiding commitment and calling it “empowered detachment.” LOL
• How refusing accountability is often disguised as “not engaging in drama.”
• Dodging difficult feedback under the guise of “protecting your energy.”
• And the ultimate intimacy-killer: withdrawing emotionally and calling it space.

I loveddddd this one because I shared stories from my own life, including my past relationships, addiction, healing, and even the deeply internal narratives that still challenge me today. This episode is an invitation to look closely at the ways you might be calling something peace when it’s really just another way to avoid yourself, others, or 'the work'.

If you've been telling yourself, "I’m just protecting my peace", but it doesn’t feel peaceful in your body… this one is for you.

Let me know what lands.

Resources Mentioned:

BUY THE THIRD PERSPECTIVE NOW

(also available at Waterstones, Barnes & Nobles and all major bookstores and independents - check for international delivery. Request it at your libraries too!)

If you found this valuable - be sure to follow, RATE, subscribe, leave a review on Apple Podcasts, and share this podcast with your pals, family, and community - let's not withhold transformation from each other.⁣⁣⁣⁣

You can also connect with me directly over on Instagram, I'd love to continue the conversation with you - @africabrooke or you can email me (including if you have podcast episode requests) at hello@africabrooke.com with the subject line 'Beyond the Self'. I can't wait to hear from you!⁣⁣⁣⁣

PLEASE NOTE: I do not give advice in DM's, emails, or comments, but I'd love to hear your feedback and know what your lightbulb moments or breakthroughs were. It also lights me up when you tag me in the screenshots of you listening, do continue!

WOW! I really went there with you for this one. March is here, Spring is upon us, which means my 2025 begins. I return here with fresh thoughts and an open heart. I'm learning to allow myself to share the truth of what's happening in REAL TIME, instead of only sharing retrospectively, and as a very reflective but also private person - this feels exposing, yet insanely liberating. I am practicing what I preach. I am practicing courage. I am practicing brave expression. And it's making me trust my self-leadership at another level. Privately and publicly.

In this episode, I decided to take you deep into the raw, painful, and necessary truth of my recent breakup. A relationship that was both my greatest teacher and my biggest test. I share what it’s like to grieve someone who is still alive (AGAIN), the profound heartbreak of loving someone deeply but knowing you cannot stay, and the brutal self-reckoning that followed. I wanted to be completely fucking open about how this experience has forced me to confront my own self-betrayal, how I shrunk myself in ways I didn’t even realise, and why I'm, having to become my own student to find my way back to integrity.

Thank you for letting me go there <3

Resources Mentioned:

Your UNCENSORED Year: A 2.5HR masterclass with me (available now!)

africabrooke.com/your-uncensored-year

This masterclass is a call to the audacious, the curious, and the brave—to those who know they’ve been hiding in plain sight, censoring their thoughts, suppressing their greatness, and settling for “safe.” This masterclass will prepare you for the year ahead (whenever you decide your 12 months will begin) by provoking you to think bigger, become braver, and step fully into the life you’ve been avoiding. I'm excited to support you with this.

BUY THE THIRD PERSPECTIVE NOW

(also available at Waterstones, Barnes & Nobles and all major bookstores and independents - check for international delivery. Request it at your libraries too!)

If you found this valuable - be sure to follow, RATE, subscribe, leave a review on Apple Podcasts, and share this podcast with your pals, family, and community - let's not withhold transformation from each other.⁣⁣⁣⁣

You can also connect with me directly over on Instagram, I'd love to continue the conversation with you - @africabrooke or you can email me (including if you have podcast episode requests) at hello@africabrooke.com with the subject line 'Beyond the Self'. I can't wait to hear from you!⁣⁣⁣⁣

PLEASE NOTE: I do not give advice in DM's, emails, or comments, but I'd love to hear your feedback and know what your lightbulb moments or breakthroughs were. It also lights me up when you tag me in the screenshots of you listening, do continue!

What does belonging look like for you? Can you think of a time when you navigated the space between two cultures, and how did it shape your identity? These are themes I'm exploring today with my guest, Caro Gomez.

Caro opens up about her journey of figuring out her identity and finding her place, sharing the ups and downs of blending cultures and the hurdles she jumped over. We also explore the idea of privilege, cultural pride, and the emotional rollercoaster of staying true to her roots while soaking up new freedoms.

Caro's story is not just about her journey but also the universal quest for connection and being okay with being the unconventional one. Whether you’re an immigrant, someone interested in cultural dynamics, or simply a lover of inspiring stories, this episode has something for you.

GET IN TOUCH WITH CARO:

Instagram: @carogomez_joywitch

Email: hello@carogomez.com

Resources Mentioned:

BUY THE THIRD PERSPECTIVE NOW (also available at Waterstones, Barnes & Nobles and all major bookstores and independents - check for international delivery)

Join the waitlist for Dine with Your Ancestors here

Get your Mayan horoscope sign here

Be the first to know when Joy Witch's Cacao from El Salvador lands!

Caro Gomez is a visionary shaman’s apprentice of the MayaQ’eqchi’ lineage, an award-winning fashion designer, and founder of the Mayan School of Embodiment. With an ICF-accredited diploma in body-oriented coaching, she has guided hundreds of creative women to embrace their true selves. Proud of her Mayan and Spanish roots, Caro blends ancient wisdom with modern artistry, offering transformational experiences in self-discovery and expression.

Her accolades include "Ones to Watch" by the Sustainable Lifestyle Awards, Fashion Designer of the Year at the 2019 LUKAS Awards, and Best Sustainable Luxury Womenswear Label in 2022 and 2023 at the LuxLife Awards. Caro is also a published author and regular speaker, with appearances at the University of the Arts, Wilderness Festival, and Tate Modern.

If you found this valuable - be sure to follow, RATE, subscribe, leave a review on Apple Podcasts, and share this podcast with your pals, family, and community - let's not withhold transformation from each other.⁣⁣⁣⁣

You can also connect with me directly over on Instagram, I'd love to continue the conversation with you - @africabrooke or you can email me at hello@africabrooke.com with the subject line 'Beyond the Self'. I can't wait to hear from you!⁣⁣⁣⁣

PLEASE NOTE: I do not give advice in DM's, emails, or comments, but I'd love to hear your feedback and know what your lightbulb moments or breakthroughs were. It also lights me up when you tag me in the screenshots of you listening, do continue!

I know there's a sense of hopelessness in the world right now, and to be very honest, there always will be. And something that I want to do here is I don't want us to deny reality. That is not what we do. And at the same time, I want you to look at the areas of your life where you are in the driver's seat.

In this episode, I want to impart my wisdom, experiences, and intellectual property and share anything I'm learning that I think could be useful for you. So tune in to hear me riff aloud about letting people fucking help you.

P.S. This episode's audio is a reupload from our archives, but the insights are timeless!

Resources Mentioned:

BUY THE THIRD PERSPECTIVE NOW

(also available at Waterstones, Barnes & Nobles and all major bookstores and independents - check for international delivery)

If you found this valuable - be sure to follow, RATE, subscribe, leave a review on Apple Podcasts, and share this podcast with your pals, family, and community - let's not withhold transformation from each other.⁣⁣⁣⁣

You can also connect with me directly over on Instagram, I'd love to continue the conversation with you - @africabrooke or you can email me at hello@africabrooke.com with the subject line 'Beyond the Self'. I can't wait to hear from you!⁣⁣⁣⁣

PLEASE NOTE: I do not give advice in DM's, emails, or comments, but I'd love to hear your feedback and know what your lightbulb moments or breakthroughs were. It also lights me up when you tag me in the screenshots of you listening, do continue!

Tired of feeling like you're constantly tripping over your own feet when it comes to sex and intimacy? You're not alone. Let's get real about the sneaky ways self-sabotage creeps into our bedrooms.

In this episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on the dirty little secrets that might be holding you back. From the mind-bending effects of porn to the pressure cooker of societal expectations, I dive into the stuff that really matters.

Tune in to hear how you can break free from the shackles of shame and unlock your true sexual potential. Get ready for a no-holds-barred conversation about pleasure, power, and personal liberation.

P.S. This episode's audio is a reupload from our archives, but the insights are timeless!

Resources Mentioned:

BUY THE THIRD PERSPECTIVE NOW

(also available at Waterstones, Barnes & Nobles and all major bookstores and independents - check for international delivery)

Women’s Anatomy of Arousal - Sheri Winston

Tantric Orgasm for Women - Diana Richardson

Tantric Orgasm for Men - Diana Richardson

Practices mentioned:

Pussy Gazing

Tantric / Yoni massage

If you found this valuable - be sure to follow, RATE, subscribe, leave a review on Apple Podcasts, and share this podcast with your pals, family, and community - let's not withhold transformation from each other.⁣⁣⁣⁣

You can also connect with me directly over on Instagram, I'd love to continue the conversation with you - @africabrooke or you can email me at hello@africabrooke.com with the subject line 'Beyond the Self'. I can't wait to hear from you!⁣⁣⁣⁣

PLEASE NOTE: I do not give advice in DM's, emails, or comments, but I'd love to hear your feedback and know what your lightbulb moments or breakthroughs were. It also lights me up when you tag me in the screenshots of you listening, do continue!

Feeling like the system's rigged against you? Join us as Sharmadean Reid MBE, founder of The Stack and author of "New Methods for Women," dismantles that narrative.

In this episode, we explore Sharmadean's journey of overcoming societal barriers, navigating limited resources, and redefining success on her own terms. Discover how she balanced creative and spiritual growth with financial empowerment, all while building wealth and escaping a scarcity mindset.

This is an episode packed with practical tools to challenge limitations and create a richer, more fulfilling life.

Connect with Sharmadean:
Sharmadean Reid MBE is a founder, writer and creative consultant who in her 20 year career has launched an innovation led salon, a beauty tech start up and now a media company. Her work explores women’s power, equity and ownership.

She is currently working a series of essays on the theme of EQUITY and a scripted TV show about female founders. In 2015 Sharmadean was awarded an MBE from HRH Queen Elizabeth.

Her first book, New Methods For Women is published in June 2024 by Penguin Random House.

BUY SHARMADEAN'S BOOK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/New-Methods-Women-Perspective-Relationships/dp/0241461758

Sharmadean's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sharmadeanreid/

BUY THE THIRD PERSPECTIVE NOW
(also available at Waterstones, Barnes & Nobles and all major bookstores and independents - check for international delivery)

If you found this valuable - be sure to follow, RATE, subscribe, leave a review on Apple Podcasts, and share this podcast with your pals, family, and community - let's not withhold transformation from each other.⁣⁣⁣⁣

You can also connect with me directly over on Instagram, I'd love to continue the conversation with you - @africabrooke or you can email me at hello@africabrooke.com with the subject line 'Beyond the Self'. I can't wait to hear from you!⁣⁣⁣⁣

PLEASE NOTE: I do not give advice in DM's, emails, or comments, but I'd love to hear your feedback and know what your lightbulb moments or breakthroughs were. It also lights me up when you tag me in the screenshots of you listening, do continue!