The Black Woman’s Stress Solution Podcast: discover the connection between Black women’s stress in work, love, and health

Brig Johnson

Welcome to ”The Black Woman’s Stress Solution,” the podcast for ambitious black women who are navigating the complexities of success while striving for balance and well-being in their lives. Brig Johnson, your host and go-to coach for stress management, brings you insights, strategies, tools and a little bit of neurobiology to master mindfulness, self-improvement, confidence, and personal growth. With Brig’s guidance, you’ll learn how to become unstuck and manage stress effectively while pursuing your goals and dreams to create your EPIC shit. Each week Brig dives deep into the world of self-care, mindset shifts, and empowerment strategies tailored specifically for Black women in business and leadership roles. With a focus on self-awareness, confidence-building, and goal-setting, this podcast provides the tools and guidance needed to navigate the challenges of work, health, relationships, and modern life with grace and resilience. Whether you’re an experienced women boss or just starting your journey of self-discovery, this podcast is your go-to resource for becoming the empowered, confident woman you were meant to be. Brig addresses common questions and challenges faced by high-achieving black women, offering practical advice and actionable steps to help you unlearn and unleash to live a more balanced and fulfilling life. Examples of these questions are: *How can Black women effectively manage stress while juggling multiple responsibilities? *What are some mindfulness techniques specifically tailored for Black women? *How can Black women develop a positive mindset in the face of challenges and setbacks? *What strategies can Black women employ to boost self-confidence and self-esteem? *How can Black women set achievable goals for personal and professional growth? *What are some practical self-care practices that Black women can incorporate into their daily routines? *How can Black women navigate imposter syndrome and overcome feelings of inadequacy? *What role does self-love play in stress management and personal empowerment for Black women? *How can Black women overcome barriers to seeking help and support for their mental health? *What are some effective techniques for boundary-setting and prioritizing self-care in a demanding work environment? *How can Black women cultivate resilience and bounce back from triggers stronger than before? *What resources are available for Black women seeking mentorship, coaching, or community support? *How can Black women leverage their unique experiences societal b******t and perspectives to excel in their careers and personal lives? *What are some common misconceptions about stress management and self-improvement for Black women, and how can they be addressed? *How can Black women balance ambition and self-care to achieve sustainable success and fulfillment? * How can Black women become unstoppable and unf*ckwithable being their absolute best self…no matter what the situation—not allowing outside things to impact how they think and feel about themselves, what they do, or how they show up in the world? *Health and relationships and societal b******t that create stress for black women *Why stress is the biggest block to your confidence, keeping you stuck. *Why is creating safety one of the first things we must address as black women? *Why is stress hindering the growth of our relationships? Subscribe to ”The Black Woman’s Stress Solution” today and embark on a journey of empowerment, resilience, and growth. Visit https://brigjohnson.com/ to learn more about Brig Johnson and her coaching services.

  1. 3d ago

    EP. 260 ​Why You Keep Feeling Behind — And The Truth About The Timeline That Was Never Built For You

    In this episode, Brig Johnson talks about the pressure to follow the “right” timeline and what happens when your life does not match the road you were told you should take. She speaks to the quiet grief that can come with missed milestones, delayed dreams, career pivots, motherhood, rebuilding, or starting later than expected. Brig also challenges the shame that says a different path means you are behind. Through her own story and practical reflection questions, Brig invites us to look at the road we are actually on and consider what may still be available to us. This episode is for anyone who has been measuring their life against someone else’s timeline and wondering if they somehow missed their chance. What You Will Learn How to name and let go of the milestones you feel you’ve missed. Why different roads can still get you to the same destination. How to see the options that may still be available to you. How to look differently at timing, closed doors, and opportunity. Why the road you had access to is not behind, but simply different. Why This Matters This episode is a clear reminder that the timelines we were taught to follow can make us feel behind, inadequate, or like we missed our chance. Brig encourages us to stop shaming the road we had to take and start noticing what that road has taught us. By seeing value in a different road, we can begin to notice other doors, release the grief around missed milestones, and let success look different than expected. Take Action Think about the milestones you feel you’ve missed and ask yourself: Is the destination still available, even if that particular road is closed? Then consider what other roads you may have overlooked and what action you would take today if you fully believed there was another way to reach your goals. To stay connected and receive more insights, sign up for the Reduce the Noise Memo, Brig’s weekly newsletter that dives deeper into the topics discussed on the podcast. STAY CONNECTED — Website | Instagram | Facebook

  2. Jul 20

    EP. 259 How To Stop Letting Other People's Words Live In Your Head and And Take Your Confidence Back

    In this episode, Brig breaks down why protecting your confidence is not optional. It is the foundation for chasing your impossible. Using Michelle Kwan’s response after winning Olympic silver as the central story, Brig shows how quickly someone else can try to define your win as a loss. Kwan’s response, “I didn’t lose the gold. I won the silver,” becomes the anchor for this episode and a reminder that you get to decide what story you let live in your mind. Brig explains that confidence is not just mindset, discipline, or consistency. It is something you have to protect on purpose. She names the everyday threats that can quietly chip away at confidence, including self-criticism, comparison, reframing your wins as not enough, and allowing small negative thoughts to build over time. What You Will Learn How to recognize when someone is trying to reframe your win as something less Why you need to name the win before you name the gap How comparison drains your confidence when you turn it into evidence against yourself Why self-compassion is a strategy, not an excuse How to create a Daily Win file and build evidence of your own capability Why This Matters Brig reminds listeners that confidence is an instrument. It needs maintenance, protection, and care. For Black women, confidence can carry even more weight because shrinking was often taught as a form of safety. This episode challenges that pattern and offers a new way to relate to your wins, your growth, and your impossible goals. Take Action Start a Daily Win file and write down at least one win every day. Practice the Kwan rewrite when something does not go the way you hoped. Instead of using the result against yourself, tell the truth about what happened and what you learned. When self-criticism shows up, pause and remind yourself: This is hard. Other women feel this too. I can be kind to myself while I figure this out. Take the free Kages Self-Assessment  to identify the underlying patterns and fears influencing your life choices. Use these insights to break through obstacles and center yourself in future decision-making. STAY CONNECTED — Website | Instagram | Facebook

  3. Jul 13

    EP. 258 The Lie We Tell Women About Age

    In this episode, Brig explores the societal pressures dictating a woman's worth based on age, challenging the ingrained belief that women have an expiration date.  At 61, Brig reflects on her own journey from feeling like used goods at 35 to embracing a fulfilling life today. She uncovers the traditional rules that keep women trapped in fear and scarcity, urging women to break free from these limits.  What You Will Learn How societal expectations shape our perceptions of self-worth and age. The importance of choosing yourself first without apology. Why the fear of being alone or used goods is an outdated lie. Ways to recognize and dismantle limiting beliefs about aging. How to embrace your power and thrive at any stage of life. Why This Matters Brig reminds us that age is not a barrier to pursuing dreams and living fully. By challenging the ideas that tell us we are past our prime, we can reclaim our power and redefine what it means to grow. This episode is a rallying cry for women to embrace their worth and realize that the best is yet to come, regardless of age. Take Action Reflect on the beliefs you hold about aging. Ask yourself: What fears have I internalized about my worth as I get older? Challenge those thoughts and consider how you can center yourself in your life decisions moving forward. Take the free Kages Self-Assessment  to identify the underlying patterns and fears influencing your life choices. Use these insights to break through obstacles and center yourself in future decision-making. STAY CONNECTED — Website | Instagram | Facebook

  4. Jul 6

    EP. 257 Inner Critic Or Inner Cutie?

    What if the voice you have been calling your inner critic is actually trying to protect you? In this episode, Brig introduces the idea of your “inner cutie,” the part of you that gets loud when you are about to do something new, uncomfortable, or important. That voice may sound like fear, hesitation, or self-doubt, but Brig encourages you to stop treating it like the enemy. Instead of trying to silence that voice, she shows you how to get curious about it. What is it afraid of? What is it trying to protect you from? What information is it giving you? Brig also shares from her own experience and explains how listening to this part of yourself can help you build trust with yourself, make clearer decisions, and move forward without waiting for fear to disappear. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN How to recognize the difference between your inner critic and your inner cutie Why self-doubt may be information, not proof that you should stop How to question negative self-talk instead of automatically believing it Why listening to your inner voice can strengthen self-trust How to work with fear instead of fighting against it WHY THIS MATTERS Many of us have learned to push down fear, ignore doubt, and force ourselves forward. But Brig offers another way. The feelings you are trying to get rid of may be trying to tell you something. When you slow down, listen, and respond with curiosity instead of judgment, you can make decisions from a place of awareness instead of fear. TAKE ACTION The next time self-doubt shows up, pause before trying to silence it. Ask yourself: What is this part of me trying to tell me? What is she afraid will happen? What does she need to feel safe enough for me to move forward? You do not have to let fear make the decision, but you also do not have to fight yourself to grow. For a clearer look at the patterns shaping your choices, take the free Kages Self-Assessment and discover what may be keeping you stuck.   STAY CONNECTED — Website | Instagram | Facebook

  5. Jun 29

    EP. 256 Why You Can't Receive What You've ALREADY Earned

    In this episode, Brig speaks to the high-achieving Black woman who has worked hard, planted faithfully, and built so much, but still feels guilty slowing down long enough to receive the harvest. If rest feels like falling behind, or receiving feels harder than doing, this conversation will hit home. Brig breaks down the old thoughts that keep you proving, producing, and pushing, even when you have already done the work. She challenges you to notice when you are still operating in planting mode, even though life may be inviting you into a season of harvest. What You'll Learn Recognize when you are always planting but never allowing yourself to harvest Understand why receiving may feel uncomfortable, even when you have earned what is coming to you Identify the thoughts that keep you overworking, overgiving, and under-receiving Learn how to stop treating every season like it requires more striving Practice celebrating your wins without guilt, apology, or the need to immediately move on to the next thing Why This Hits So Hard So many women have been taught to measure their value by how much they can carry. That conditioning can make rest feel unsafe, success feel temporary, and receiving feel undeserved. This episode challenges that pattern. Brig reminds you that you are not failing because you need rest. You are not lazy because you want to enjoy what you have built. And you do not have to keep planting just because planting is what you know. Take Action Ask yourself: Am I in a planting season, or am I in a harvest season? Then pause long enough to name what your work has already produced. Receive the compliment. Take the break. Let the win count. Let yourself experience the peace and joy you keep working toward. To take a closer look at what may be driving your pattern of overworking and under-receiving, take the free Kages Self-Assessment and discover which old beliefs may be keeping you from fully receiving your success. STAY CONNECTED — Website | Instagram | Facebook

  6. Jun 22

    EP. 255 If I Could Teach You One Thing This Would Be It

    It's time to unpack the pictures in your head that shape your reality, because they often aren't the truth. In this episode, Brig breaks down the mental images we create about how life is "supposed" to be, and how these pictures can lead to unnecessary frustration and pain. Join in as she shares a personal story about a flat tire that showed her a massive lesson about expectations and reality. You'll learn how these constructs can hold you back, and how recognizing them can set you free. What You'll Learn Identify the difference between reality and the pictures in your head that rule your life Understand how these mental images are formed and the impact they have on your emotions Explore the roots of your expectations and question their validity Discover practical steps to dissolve the emotional charge around unmet expectations Learn how to shift your perspective from frustration to acceptance, freeing up energy for what truly matters Why It Matters We often find ourselves moving through life with rigid expectations that lead to disappointment. By recognizing that these pictures are constructs rather than truths, we can stop arguing with reality and start embracing it. This shift allows for greater peace and the ability to actually enjoy our days, instead of just getting by.  Take Action When you feel disappointment or frustration, pause and ask yourself: What did I think was supposed to happen here? Then, challenge that picture: Is this based on something real, or is it a story I've absorbed over time? This simple practice can help you get your focus back on what actually matters.   RESOURCE — Then take the free Kages Self-Assessment and find out which kage has been keeping you stuck.   STAY CONNECTED — Website | Instagram | Facebook

  7. Jun 15

    EP 254: Wife Work on Girlfriend Salary

    Queen, you've been giving wife-level loyalty on a girlfriend-level container — and it's time to name that pattern without shame. In this episode, I'm getting into something tricky but necessary: the gap between what you're giving in a relationship and what's actually been established. This isn't about weakness, desperation, or low self-esteem. It's a program — and once you can see it clearly, you get to choose something different. What You'll Learn Understand the difference between "wife work" and "girlfriend salary" — and why that gap deserves to be named Recognize the real cost of over-giving: your time, your self-trust, your standards, and the version of you with her own dreams Trace where this programming comes from — childhood, love songs, church messaging, and the women in our families we admired most Unpack the most dangerous belief hiding underneath it all: if he leaves, it's because you didn't give enough Learn why a man who only stays when you're over-giving wasn't staying — he was being comfortable Discover the most important question in the whole episode: are you giving from love, or from fear? Why It Matters We were taught that the ring was the reward — that if we gave enough, waited long enough, loved hard enough, it would all be worth it. But the reward was never the ring. It's respect, reciprocity, and a relationship where both people show up because they want to, not because one person has been auditioning for a position the other person never offered. You were never the problem. You were running a program that was never designed to serve you. Society designed it to serve everyone else — and now you get to choose something different. Take Action Before you give at wife level, define the container. Ask yourself: what's actually been established here? And what's driving this — love, or obligation? Then take the free Kages Self-Assessment and find out which program has been running your relationships: 👉🏾 assessment.brigjohnson.com Visit my website: brigjohnson.com

  8. Jun 8

    EP 253: After The Betrayal - The One Question That Actually Gives You Peace

    Queen, the question you've been asking after the betrayal isn't the one that will actually give you peace. If you've ever been blindsided by someone you trusted, this episode is for you. Grab your tea, find a quiet space, and let's talk — as friends, as women who've been there. Because there's something we do after we've been hurt that feels like healing but isn't. And today I want to give you the one question that actually gets you to the other side. What You'll Learn Understand why your brain goes into detective mode after betrayal — and why it's not torturing you, it's trying to protect you See why the answer you're looking for was never in the evidence, no matter how long you search for it Discover the real question underneath the question — the one that actually has an answer you can build on Recognize the difference between performing okay and actually being strong — and what it costs you to hold it all together when you're not Learn why self-trust isn't a decision you make once, but a practice you build through real reps over time Why It Matters We spend months — sometimes years — going back through every conversation, every red flag, every moment we should have seen coming. But here's what I've learned at 61: some things just don't make sense, and the person who hurt you may not even understand why they did it. No amount of investigation is going to give you that answer. The security you've been looking for was never in them. It was always in you. The woman who trusts herself to handle whatever comes doesn't need to run an investigation anymore. She's free to love fully — not from fear, but from knowing she's got herself no matter what. Doing it soft is how you do it strong. Take Action Sit with this question: Can I trust myself to take care of me, no matter what someone else does? And find out which Kage has been making it hard to trust yourself — take the free Kages Self-Assessment, five minutes, completely free: 👉🏾 assessment.brigjohnson.com Visit my website: brigjohnson.com

4.9
out of 5
53 Ratings

About

Welcome to ”The Black Woman’s Stress Solution,” the podcast for ambitious black women who are navigating the complexities of success while striving for balance and well-being in their lives. Brig Johnson, your host and go-to coach for stress management, brings you insights, strategies, tools and a little bit of neurobiology to master mindfulness, self-improvement, confidence, and personal growth. With Brig’s guidance, you’ll learn how to become unstuck and manage stress effectively while pursuing your goals and dreams to create your EPIC shit. Each week Brig dives deep into the world of self-care, mindset shifts, and empowerment strategies tailored specifically for Black women in business and leadership roles. With a focus on self-awareness, confidence-building, and goal-setting, this podcast provides the tools and guidance needed to navigate the challenges of work, health, relationships, and modern life with grace and resilience. Whether you’re an experienced women boss or just starting your journey of self-discovery, this podcast is your go-to resource for becoming the empowered, confident woman you were meant to be. Brig addresses common questions and challenges faced by high-achieving black women, offering practical advice and actionable steps to help you unlearn and unleash to live a more balanced and fulfilling life. Examples of these questions are: *How can Black women effectively manage stress while juggling multiple responsibilities? *What are some mindfulness techniques specifically tailored for Black women? *How can Black women develop a positive mindset in the face of challenges and setbacks? *What strategies can Black women employ to boost self-confidence and self-esteem? *How can Black women set achievable goals for personal and professional growth? *What are some practical self-care practices that Black women can incorporate into their daily routines? *How can Black women navigate imposter syndrome and overcome feelings of inadequacy? *What role does self-love play in stress management and personal empowerment for Black women? *How can Black women overcome barriers to seeking help and support for their mental health? *What are some effective techniques for boundary-setting and prioritizing self-care in a demanding work environment? *How can Black women cultivate resilience and bounce back from triggers stronger than before? *What resources are available for Black women seeking mentorship, coaching, or community support? *How can Black women leverage their unique experiences societal b******t and perspectives to excel in their careers and personal lives? *What are some common misconceptions about stress management and self-improvement for Black women, and how can they be addressed? *How can Black women balance ambition and self-care to achieve sustainable success and fulfillment? * How can Black women become unstoppable and unf*ckwithable being their absolute best self…no matter what the situation—not allowing outside things to impact how they think and feel about themselves, what they do, or how they show up in the world? *Health and relationships and societal b******t that create stress for black women *Why stress is the biggest block to your confidence, keeping you stuck. *Why is creating safety one of the first things we must address as black women? *Why is stress hindering the growth of our relationships? Subscribe to ”The Black Woman’s Stress Solution” today and embark on a journey of empowerment, resilience, and growth. Visit https://brigjohnson.com/ to learn more about Brig Johnson and her coaching services.