For many Black women, faith and the church have been foundational.

But what happens when the same space that offers covering…also creates pressure?

In Episode 4 of The Psychology of Us, we explore the role of faith in shaping identity, self-esteem, and emotional expression.

This conversation unpacks:

• faith as a source of structure, hope, and belonging
• performance versus authenticity in spiritual spaces
• the pressure of “being chosen,” called, or seen as strong
• and the difference between healing and hiding in faith environments

Faith should be a place of freedom.

This episode asks:
Do you feel safe being honest… or do you feel pressure to appear whole?

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"Where Innovators & Creators Connect".

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Community is meant to be a place of support.
But what happens when it also becomes a space of comparison?

In Episode 3 of The Psychology of Us, we explore the tension between connection and silent competition among Black women.

This conversation unpacks:

• The difference between genuine support and unspoken comparison
• How social media intensifies pressure and perception
• Respectability politics and the expectation to “present well”
• And how scarcity and environment can shape how we see each other

You can be surrounded by people… and still feel like you’re measuring yourself.

This episode invites you to reflect on where you feel most like yourself…and where you feel like you’re performing.

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"Where Innovators & Creators Connect".

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What we call “strength” is not always strength. Sometimes… it’s survival.

In Episode 2 of The Psychology of Us, we move beyond the foundation of self-esteem and take a deeper look at how trauma shapes identity for Black women.

Not just the obvious trauma…
but the subtle, normalized experiences that taught us to keep going, stay strong, and push through without processing what we’ve carried.

This conversation unpacks:

• What trauma actually looks like beyond extreme experiences
• The “Strong Black Woman” archetype and how it shapes expectation and identity
• Emotional suppression and over-functioning as survival responses
• The difference between generational trauma and personal trauma
• And how survival can quietly become who we believe we are

This is not about labeling yourself. It’s about understanding what you’ve carried… and why.

Because survival may have protected you… But it was never meant to define you.

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Self-esteem doesn’t start in adulthood. It begins early… shaped by what we were told, what we experienced, and what we were expected to become.

In this opening episode of The Psychology of Us, we start at the foundation.

We explore how self-esteem is formed in Black women through early messages, childhood environments, and the subtle (and not so subtle) ways identity is shaped over time.

This conversation unpacks:

• The lack of consistent affirmation many young Black girls experience
• The early adultification of Black girls and the pressure to “be grown” too soon
• The impact of being labeled, corrected, and conditioned before fully developing identity
• The question we don’t always ask: Who told you who you were?
• And the difference between survival and identity

This is not about blame. It’s about awareness. Because you cannot rebuild what you don’t first recognize.

If you’ve ever questioned why you think the way you do about yourself…this is where the conversation begins.

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"Where Innovators & Creators Connect".

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Excited was an understatement!

I had the honor of sitting down with a legend within the D9 community. That's right, W. Eric Lusain joined me for a conversation on:

- Maximizing your leverage as an entrepreneur

- Navigating grief with his family in this season

- Balancing mental health...and so much more.

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"Where Innovators & Creators Connect".

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Jessica Grace stopped by to unpack what it means to navigate faith, leadership, and identity as a Black woman in 2026. We discuss the weight behind the best of ministry - not just the platform.

If you've ever felt called and stretched at the same time, this conversation gives language to that tension.

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"Where Innovators & Creators Connect".

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Here is a BTS episode as we prepare to kick of new live episodes of The SpeakHer Podcast. In this episode, I am sharing:

- What's coming up next

- The jourmey behind the TSP Soundtrack

- What's up with the color pink and brand identity for me (It's personal)

Be sure to tap in & share with a friend...or three.

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"Where Innovators & Creators Connect".

**I do not own the rights to this music.**

Hey, ya'll hey! Welcome to the 2026 Season of The SpeakHer Podcast. Before we dive into these exciting conversations impacting the community and the culture, I wanted to take a moment to pause and give you a few things to consider as you begin your creative journey for this year.

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YT: CamilleEssick

"Where Innovators & Creators Connect".

**I do not own the rights to this music.**