Groove with Portia

Portia Booker
  • 5.0 (13)
  • Health & Fitness
  • Updated Semiweekly

Welcome, friend. I’m Portia Booker, storyteller, producer, and host of Groove with Portia. Groove with Portia is a storytelling podcast centered on one powerful question: how did you find your groove through adversity? If you’re here, chances are you’ve experienced grief. The loss of a loved one, a dream, or the version of yourself you once knew. Maybe you pivoted from corporate life into entrepreneurship, or maybe everything you worked for was suddenly stripped away. Every Thursday, I sit down with everyday people, leaders, creatives, and visionaries who share how they turned pain into purpose, obstacles into opportunities, and grief into growth. These conversations are honest, soulful, and healing. Groove with Portia is recognized as a top 10 percent global podcast, reflecting a growing community that believes in the power of storytelling to guide, teach, and restore. If you’re navigating loss, faith, mental wellness, or a major life transition, you’re in the right place. Welcome to the groove.

  1. 6d ago

    Menopause, Identity and the Woman You’re Becoming

    We’re finally talking about menopause. But are we really listening to what women are experiencing? On this episode of Groove with Portia, I welcome back my longtime friend and menopause expert Carleeka Basnight Menendez for a conversation about where the menopause conversation is today—and the work that still needs to be done. We’ll talk about the symptoms women still aren't prepared for, advocating for yourself at the doctor's office, creating menopause-inclusive workplaces, and the emotional, personal, and spiritual changes that can come with this season of life. Connect with Carleeka: https://www.insoinc.org/ Connect with Portia: https://linktr.ee/portiabkr Interested in being a future guest on Groove with Portia? Send your story or interview pitch to: portiatheproducer@gmail.com

  2. 6d ago

    A Promise Kept: Love, Alzheimer’s and Dying With Dignity

    On this episode of Groove with Portia, I sit down with Erica Baccus, author of A Promise Kept, to talk about her love story with her husband, John, his Alzheimer's diagnosis, and their deeply personal decision to travel outside the United States so John could choose how his life ended. We discuss grief, faith, love, Alzheimer's, dying with dignity, and why conversations about our end-of-life wishes need to happen long before a crisis forces our families to make difficult decisions. Connect with Erica Baccus: https://ericabaccus.com/ Connect with Portia: https://linktr.ee/portiabkr Interested in being a future guest on Groove with Portia? Send your story or interview pitch to: portiatheproducer@gmail.com

  3. Aug 6

    When High Achievers Hit an Invisible Wall

    What happens when the life you envisioned for yourself doesn’t happen according to plan? On this live episode of Groove with Portia, I sit down with Dr. Marline C. Duroseau, affectionately known as “Dr. Mar,” for a deeply personal conversation about infertility, pregnancy loss, grief, motherhood, and the hidden struggles women can carry behind professional success. Dr. Mar opens up about navigating infertility while building her career, losing her daughter Angel, and grieving more than a pregnancy—the expectations, timelines, and version of life she once imagined. We’ll also explore her research on the lived infertility experiences of women in leadership roles and what workplaces need to better understand about women navigating fertility challenges while maintaining demanding careers. Her journey ultimately became part of the inspiration behind her memoir, It’ll Happen By 30: A Relentless Journey of Faith | Delayed But Not Denied. We’ll talk about what happens when 30 comes and goes, life takes a different direction, and you have to redefine what success, motherhood, and fulfillment look like for yourself. This conversation is about infertility, but it’s also about something many of us understand: grieving the timeline we thought our lives would follow and learning how to embrace the life unfolding in front of us. Connect with Portia: https://linktr.ee/portiabkr Connect with Dr. Mar: https://mcdbe.com/ Join us for The Colors of Our Grief at Kent State: https://www.kent.edu/cci/colors-our-grief Interested in being a future guest on Groove with Portia? Send your story or interview pitch to: portiatheproducer@gmail.com

  4. Aug 5

    Why Domestic Violence Survivors Don't "Just Leave"

    Leaving an abusive relationship is often described as the end of the story. For many survivors, it's only the beginning of another journey—healing from what happened, rebuilding an identity, supporting children who experienced the trauma, and grieving the life they once imagined. On this episode of Groove with Portia, I sit down with domestic violence survivor and author Yolanda Cope for an honest conversation about what it really takes to break free from abuse. Yolanda shares her experience of leaving her abuser, the impact domestic violence had on her children, and the misconceptions that continue to surround women who stay in abusive relationships. We also explore a side of leaving that isn't always discussed: grieving the relationship, family, future, and version of yourself you once believed you would have. Yolanda also shares how she began separating her identity from what happened to her and how her journey is now inspiring her upcoming book. This conversation isn't just about leaving. It's about what happens when survival is no longer the destination and you begin discovering who you are on the other side. Connect with Portia:
https://linktr.ee/portiabkr Join us for The Colors of Our Grief at Kent State:
https://www.kent.edu/cci/colors-our-grief Interested in being a future guest on Groove with Portia?
Send your story or interview pitch to: portiatheproducer@gmail.com

  5. Jul 30

    When the Rescuer Needs Saving: A First Responder's Story

    Grief and healing don't discriminate. Even the people we call during our darkest moments experience heartbreaking loss, mental health struggles, and the challenge of rebuilding after tragedy. In this episode of Groove with Portia, I sit down with Larry "LP" Penton Sr.—former firefighter, paramedic, mental health advocate, consultant, and podcast host—to discuss the heartbreaking loss of his son, the emotional toll first responders carry, and why talking openly about grief can save lives. Together, we explore the unique challenges first responders face, the impact of addiction and loss on families, breaking the stigma surrounding men's mental health, and how sharing our stories can become part of the healing process. In this episode, we discuss: • Honoring Larry Penton Jr.'s life and legacy • The grief of losing a child • Mental health in the first responder community • Addiction, recovery, and supporting families • Why asking for help is a sign of strength • The emotional weight carried by firefighters and paramedics • Turning personal tragedy into purpose • Healing through storytelling and honest conversations Whether you're a first responder, have experienced the loss of a loved one, or are supporting someone through grief, this conversation is a reminder that healing begins when we allow ourselves to be seen and heard. Connect with Larry "LP" Penton Sr.: https://www.pentonpending.com/

  6. Jul 23

    She Lost Her Daughter to Fentanyl. Then Found Her Voice

    Grief and healing often begin with telling the story we've been afraid to share. In this heartfelt conversation about child loss, domestic violence, mental health, and healing through storytelling, we explore how one mother transformed unimaginable pain into purpose. In this episode of Groove with Portia, I sit down with Kia Wallace, domestic violence survivor, advocate, and spoken word artist. Kia opens her heart about the loss of her 15-year-old daughter, Jordan, to a fentanyl overdose, surviving domestic violence, and discovering that poetry became a pathway toward healing. Together, we discuss the realities of grief after losing a child, the misconceptions surrounding domestic violence, rebuilding faith after tragedy, and why survivors deserve compassion instead of judgment. Kia also shares how spoken word gave her the courage to reclaim her voice and encourage others to do the same. In this episode, we discuss: • Honoring Jordan's life and legacy • The impact of fentanyl on families • Life after domestic violence • Healing through poetry and spoken word • Rebuilding faith after profound loss • The stigma survivors continue to face • Finding strength through storytelling • Turning pain into purpose Whether you're grieving the loss of a loved one, healing from trauma, or supporting someone through a difficult season, this conversation is a reminder that hope can still be found, even after life's darkest moments. Connect with Kia Wallace: https://www.facebook.com/ksade.savage Email: KiaW1012@icloud.com

  7. Jul 16

    The Emotional Prison So Many People Never Escape

    Grief and healing don't always begin after the loss of a loved one. Sometimes they begin when we decide to let go of shame, forgive ourselves, and rewrite the story we've been carrying for years. In this episode of Groove with Portia, I sit down with Matilde Hernandez, author of Beyond These Walls and founder of Dare 2 Lift It. After experiencing incarceration, separation from her children, and the difficult journey of rebuilding her life, Matilde now helps others move beyond survival and into intentional living. Together, we explore what it means to release the labels that keep us emotionally imprisoned, why healing takes time, and how resilience is built one decision at a time. We also discuss the stigma surrounding incarceration, rebuilding family relationships, forgiveness, faith, and finding purpose after life's hardest chapters. In this episode, we discuss: • Healing after incarceration • Breaking free from shame and limiting beliefs • Rebuilding life after adversity • The grief of separation from family • Why an "incarcerated mindset" affects more people than we realize • Self-forgiveness and emotional healing • Finding purpose after trauma • Turning pain into purpose through storytelling No matter what chapter you're in, this conversation is a reminder that your past may shape your story, but it doesn't have to define your future. Connect with Matilde Hernandez https://www.dare2liftit.com https://www.instagram.com/dare2liftit

  8. Jul 14

    What My Daughter's Brain Surgery Taught Me About Gratitude

    Grief and healing often begin with the smallest daily choices. In this heartfelt conversation about gratitude, mental wellness, resilience, and healing through storytelling, we explore how one mother's darkest season became the inspiration for helping families build hope together. In this episode of Groove with Portia, I sit down with Katie Wood, author of A Simple Seed, to discuss how her daughter's life-saving brain surgery transformed the way she viewed gratitude, parenting, and emotional resilience. Together, we explore how gratitude became an anchor during uncertainty, why creating meaningful moments with our children matters more than ever, and how parents can help kids build confidence and emotional strength in a world filled with distractions. In this episode, we discuss: • Katie's daughter's life-saving brain surgery • Finding gratitude during life's most difficult seasons • Helping children build emotional resilience • Parenting in the age of technology and social media • Creating magical mornings as a family • The inspiration behind A Simple Seed • What children can teach adults about gratitude • How small daily habits create lasting change Whether you're navigating grief, raising children, or simply looking for ways to bring more peace into your everyday life, this conversation is filled with practical encouragement and hope. Connect with Katie Wood Grab a copy of the book: https://www.amazon.com/Simple-Seed-Five-Minute-Gratitude-Goodness/dp/B0DT3Y5RP5 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katiewood_simpleseed/

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5
out of 5
13 Ratings

About

Welcome, friend. I’m Portia Booker, storyteller, producer, and host of Groove with Portia. Groove with Portia is a storytelling podcast centered on one powerful question: how did you find your groove through adversity? If you’re here, chances are you’ve experienced grief. The loss of a loved one, a dream, or the version of yourself you once knew. Maybe you pivoted from corporate life into entrepreneurship, or maybe everything you worked for was suddenly stripped away. Every Thursday, I sit down with everyday people, leaders, creatives, and visionaries who share how they turned pain into purpose, obstacles into opportunities, and grief into growth. These conversations are honest, soulful, and healing. Groove with Portia is recognized as a top 10 percent global podcast, reflecting a growing community that believes in the power of storytelling to guide, teach, and restore. If you’re navigating loss, faith, mental wellness, or a major life transition, you’re in the right place. Welcome to the groove.

Information

  • Creator
    Portia Booker
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    264
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Portia The Producer
  • Show Website
    Groove with Portia