On this episode of Okay And?, Leah Henry sits down with viral “mother wound” coach Jennifer Arnise for a raw and deeply personal conversation.

In the Black community, mothers are often revered — seen as the heart and backbone of the household. But what happens when that’s not your experience? What if your relationship with your mother was the source of pain instead of peace?

As Leah reflects on the last two pivotal years of her life, she opens up about her own mother wound — a truth that surfaced after her mother’s breast cancer diagnosis. What followed was a journey through unspoken trauma, healing, and self-discovery.

Jennifer Arnise has built a powerful community of Black women working to heal the pain that stems from childhood — especially the complex, often unacknowledged wounds created in their relationships with their mothers. In this episode, she breaks down the “perfection complex,” how it ties into our self-worth, and why healing your inner child is key to living a fuller, freer life.

If anything in this episode triggers something in you, it might be a sign that your own healing journey is calling. This conversation is raw, real, emotional — and ultimately, full of hope.

We hope you listen with an open heart and leave feeling seen.

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Follow Jennifer Arnise On IG: @BlackMotherWound