Black Girl Burnout

Kelley Bonner

Black Girl Burnout is a podcast about burnout, ambition, care, and what it actually takes to build a life that feels good to live—not just impressive from the outside.  Hosted by Kelley Bonner, the show explores how burnout takes hold, why ambition doesn’t need to be abandoned but redesigned, and how joy, rest, and gentleness can coexist with meaningful work and forward movement. Through reflection, practical insight, and carefully chosen conversations, Black Girl Burnout offers both grounding and direction, helping listeners feel seen and take action toward lives that are sustainable, intentional, and their own.

  1. 6d ago

    Let Fall Remind You To Let Go

    After a few heavier episodes, Kelley comes in with a celebration of fall, her favorite season. Working off the quote "Autumn shows us how beautiful it is to let things go," she walks through her personal Fall Inventory, five gentle questions about what to release and what to welcome in as the season turns, with zero self-judgment required. Key TakeawaysFall is an invitation to let go, not another season to optimize or berate yourself. Reflection can be gentle instead of punishing.Comfort and coziness aren't selfish or lazy, they're the pathway to safety. And safety isn't a one-time act, it's a ritual you repeat.The Fall Inventory is five questions: what are you letting go of, what are you leaning into, what keeps you cozy, what keeps you safe, and what keeps you optimistic.Optimism is a natural byproduct of safety and comfort, not something you force or tie to hitting a specific goal or number.Episode Highlights & Timestamps01:00 The quote that inspired the episode, "Autumn shows us how beautiful it is to let things go" 03:00 What are you letting go of this fall? (Kelley lets go of obsessively tracking goals and numbers) 06:00 What are you leaning into? (Prioritizing coziness and a slower pace) 14:00 What's keeping you safe? Why safety is a ritual, not a one-time act 9:00 What's keeping you optimistic, and why it's a natural byproduct of safety and comfort Gentle InvitationPick one or two of the five questions, what to let go of, what to lean into, what keeps you cozy, what keeps you safe, what keeps you optimistic, and gently reflect. No self-judgment required, just curiosity. Support the ShowIf you'd like to make a one-time gift in honor of this milestone and support the continued work of Black Girl Burnout, you can donate through Ko-fi at ko-fi.com/blackgirlburnout. Like, follow, and subscribe across all platforms. Find us @blackgirlburnout. Subscribe to our newsletter at blackgirlburnout.com. Watch on YouTube. Drop a review, your words make a real difference, and they warm Kelley's whole heart every single time. Stay in TouchJoin our Substack family for weekly reflections, tools, and behind-the-scenes notes from Kelley. Become a paid subscriber ($8/month) for exclusive resources and monthly workshops. Our SponsorsSavvy Ladies Free Financial Helpline: https://www.savvyladies.org/ Advertising Inquiries: RedCircle | Privacy & Opt-Out: RedCircle Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

  2. Sep 23

    What Self Abandonment Costs Us

    Kelley tells the story of a surgery that went wrong, and the email from her job that made her realize she'd been doing her life wrong: "So when are you coming back?" In this solo episode, she unpacks what self-abandonment gave her, what it cost her, and how it doesn't just harm you individually, it changes how we relate to each other too. She closes with a three-step practice for staying open instead of closing off. Key TakeawaysSelf-abandonment can work for a while, it makes you look dependable, gets you opportunities, even more money. But the bill always comes due, sometimes as burnout, sometimes as a health crisis.Ambition isn't the problem. The problem is leaving yourself behind while chasing it.Self-abandonment doesn't just cost you individually, it costs community too. Depleted, distrustful work environments teach us to be suspicious of each other, even other Black women who genuinely like each other.When jealousy or comparison shows up, get curious instead of combative. Ask what you actually want, and how you can move differently, not how to take it from someone else.Episode Highlights & Timestamps00:00 The surgery that went wrong, and the email that changed everything, "So when are you coming back?" 04:00 What self-abandonment actually looked like day to day 09:00 What self-abandonment cost Kelley, individually, health-wise, and long-term 11:00 How depleted work environments teach Black women to distrust each other 14:00 A three-step practice for staying open: sit with it, get curious, ask "how can I get what they got?" Gentle InvitationThis week, notice one place you might be abandoning yourself for a short-term win. Ask yourself: how can I keep my hand open without handing myself over? Support the ShowIf you'd like to make a one-time gift in honor of this milestone and support the continued work of Black Girl Burnout, you can donate through Ko-fi at ko-fi.com/blackgirlburnout. Like, follow, and subscribe across all platforms. Find us @blackgirlburnout. Subscribe to our newsletter at blackgirlburnout.com. Watch on YouTube. Drop a review, your words make a real difference, and they warm Kelley's whole heart every single time. Stay in TouchJoin our Substack family for weekly reflections, tools, and behind-the-scenes notes from Kelley. Become a paid subscriber ($8/month) for exclusive resources and monthly workshops. Our SponsorsSavvy Ladies Free Financial Helpline: https://www.savvyladies.org/ Advertising Inquiries: RedCircle | Privacy & Opt-Out: RedCircle Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

  3. Sep 16

    Recession Lies: 3 Money Myths I Need Black Women to Stop Believing

    Kelley is doing Hot Takes today. In this solo episode, she breaks down three money myths circulating as the economy gets shakier: the belief that you need more income streams, that entrepreneurship is an automatic escape from a bad job, and that every hobby needs to become a hustle, and offers a grounded, researched alternative to the panic. Key Takeaways Myth: you need more ways to make money. Truth: go deeper before you go broader. Social media isn't a reliable revenue stream, and deepening the skills and relationships you already have often pays off more than chasing seven new income streams.Myth: entrepreneurship is an escape hatch from a hard job. Truth: it's a different kind of stress, not a lesser one. It requires financial runway, high tolerance for uncertainty, and a level of discipline most people underestimate.Myth: everything valuable in your life needs to make money. Truth: hobbies don't need customers. Protect at least one thing in your life that exists purely for joy, not revenue.Relationships over reach. Ten people who trust your work and are willing to pay you will do more for your financial security than a million casual followers.Episode Highlights & Timestamps 02:00 Myth #1: You need more ways to make money, and why social media isn't a reliable income source 14:00 How to vet anyone selling you a "how to make money" program (the receipts test) 24:00 Myth #2: Entrepreneurship is an automatic escape hatch from a bad job 34:00 Myth #3: Don't monetize your hobbies, protecting the things that are just for joy 39:00 Relationships over reach: the story of rebuilding her business after losing a year of work in three days Gentle Invitation This week, resist the urge to add. Instead, pick one thing to deepen, one relationship, one skill, one income stream you already have. Ask yourself: am I making this decision from strategy, or from panic? Support the Show If you'd like to make a one-time gift in honor of this milestone and support the continued work of Black Girl Burnout, you can donate through Ko-fi at ko-fi.com/blackgirlburnout. Like, follow, and subscribe across all platforms. Find us @blackgirlburnout. Subscribe to our newsletter at blackgirlburnout.com. Watch on YouTube. Drop a review, your words make a real difference, and they warm Kelley's whole heart every single time. Stay in Touch Join our Substack family for weekly reflections, tools, and behind-the-scenes notes from Kelley. Become a paid subscriber ($8/month) for exclusive resources and monthly workshops. Our Sponsors Savvy Ladies Free Financial Helpline: https://www.savvyladies.org/ Advertising Inquiries: RedCircle | Privacy & Opt-Out: RedCircle Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

  4. Sep 9

    You Don't Have to Go to War

    Kelley names three wars she believes so many Black women are fighting right now, wars we've been mislabeling as something else entirely. In this solo episode, she unpacks the war with ourselves (that we call self-improvement), the war with our community (that we call accountability), and the war with the world (that we call activism), and makes the case for stepping out of all three and choosing peace instead. Key TakeawaysThe war with yourself often gets mislabeled as self-improvement. Urgency, self-punishment, and arbitrary deadlines aren't growth, they're just a fight with yourself in disguise.The war with community often gets mislabeled as accountability. There's a real difference between holding someone accountable and piling on. Call people in before you cut them off, and hold boundaries with love, not cruelty.The war with the world often gets mislabeled as activism. Anger alone isn't activism. Real change comes from being steady and grounded, not embattled.You can't fight three wars at once and survive it. Noticing which battle you're actually in is the first step to choosing peace instead.Episode Highlights & Timestamps03:00 The first war: mistaking self-punishment for self-improvement 07:00 The second war: when accountability turns into pile-on culture and cruelty 14:00 Calling people in instead of cutting them off, and holding boundaries with love 16:00 The third war: confusing anger with activism 18:00 Three questions to ask yourself before you go to war Gentle InvitationThis week, notice which war you're in, with yourself, with your community, or with the world. Ask yourself: is this actually a battle I need to be in, or one I wandered into? You don't have to win it today. Just notice it's there. Support the ShowIf you'd like to make a one-time gift in honor of this milestone and support the continued work of Black Girl Burnout, you can donate through Ko-fi at ko-fi.com/blackgirlburnout. Like, follow, and subscribe across all platforms. Find us @blackgirlburnout. Subscribe to our newsletter at blackgirlburnout.com. Watch on YouTube. Drop a review, your words make a real difference, and they warm Kelley's whole heart every single time. Stay in TouchJoin our Substack family for weekly reflections, tools, and behind-the-scenes notes from Kelley. Become a paid subscriber ($8/month) for exclusive resources and monthly workshops. Our SponsorsSavvy Ladies Free Financial Helpline: https://www.savvyladies.org/ Advertising Inquiries: RedCircle | Privacy & Opt-Out: RedCircle Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

  5. Sep 2

    Before You "Lock In", Check In

    It's September, and Kelley wants you to pause before you "lock in." This solo episode challenges lock-in culture, the cultural pressure to suddenly get disciplined, finish the year strong, and fix your whole life in three months. Kelley shares her own cautionary tale of what years of pushing through cost her health, then walks through a gentler four-step framework for having real goals without declaring war on yourself. Key TakeawaysLock-in syndrome sounds motivating, but it usually runs on shame, the assumption that you're behind, undisciplined, or broken and need to be fixed by December 31st.September 1st isn't magic. There's nothing wrong with ambition, but arbitrary deadlines and 75-day challenges often create false urgency instead of real progress.Sometimes the most honest answer isn't to lock in harder, it's to ask whether you even need to optimize right now, or whether you just need to rest.The Gentle Lock-In Framework has four steps: check in, use discernment, choose, and gently commit.Episode Highlights & Timestamps02:00 What lock-in syndrome is, and the real cost of ignoring how you actually feel 05:00 Kelley's own cautionary tale: what years of "locking in" cost her health 12:00 Do you even need to optimize? Toxic self-care vs. toxic self-improvement 16:00 Redefining "locking in": the four-step gentle framework 19:00 What Kelley's own lock-in looks like this season (a "75 extra soft") Gentle InvitationBefore you set any goals this month, stop and ask yourself: how am I actually doing? Not what you should be doing, not what everyone else is doing, but what's actually true in your body, your mind, and your spirit right now. Choose one thing, a few things, or nothing at all. And whatever you choose, commit to it gently. Support the ShowIf you'd like to make a one-time gift in honor of this milestone and support the continued work of Black Girl Burnout, you can donate through Ko-fi at ko-fi.com/blackgirlburnout. Like, follow, and subscribe across all platforms. Find us @blackgirlburnout. Subscribe to our newsletter at blackgirlburnout.com. Watch on YouTube. Drop a review, your words make a real difference, and they warm Kelley's whole heart every single time. Stay in TouchJoin our Substack family for weekly reflections, tools, and behind-the-scenes notes from Kelley. Become a paid subscriber ($8/month) for exclusive resources and monthly workshops. Our SponsorsSavvy Ladies Free Financial Helpline: https://www.savvyladies.org/ Advertising Inquiries: RedCircle | Privacy & Opt-Out: RedCircle Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

  6. Aug 25

    Chloe Nwangwu, Brand Scientist: Curiosity, Curation, and Confidence

    Kelley sits down with N. Chloé Nwangwu, keynote speaker, principal investigator at Nobiworks, and known as The Brand Scientist, for a conversation about the real difference between going viral and being truly visible. Chloé breaks down two decades of research into the science of visibility, from her early career in international conflict mediation to the framework she now teaches leaders, brands, and Black women specifically on how recognition actually works, and why the usual advice to "just show up more" isn't enough. Key TakeawaysRecognition is the invisible currency of influence. Without it, you don't have access to shaping the beliefs, judgments, and decisions of the people around you.Being seen isn't the same as being remembered, and being remembered isn't the same as being recognized. Chloé's "Three Rs of Visibility", represented, remembered, recognized, explain why some ideas stick and others get filtered out.Visibility bias creates a real invisibility tax. The "reciprocity gap" means under-recognized people often have to give more and get less back for the same effort as their peers.Lasting visibility isn't luck, it's an ecosystem. Building a platform, a real "circle of recognition" (not just a follower count), and decision architecture is what actually moves people.Episode Highlights & Timestamps05:00 From conflict mediation to Brand Scientist: the through-line Chloé didn't see coming 14:00 Recognition as the invisible currency of influence: who gets the seat at the table, and why 18:00 The Three Rs of Visibility: represented, remembered, recognized 32:00 Under-recognition, visibility bias, and the invisibility tax 43:00 Building an ecosystem of influence: platform, circle of recognition, and decision architecture Gentle InvitationThis week, notice one input you let into your life on autopilot, a feed, a follow, an opinion you didn't choose. Ask yourself: who does this benefit? Do I want to play along? Choose one small act of curation. Unfollow one account, mute one feed, protect one hour. Not everything. Just one thing. Connect with Chloé NwangwuFind Chloé on LinkedIn, where she shares her nerdiest, most in-depth work She also offers a free recognition assessment that tells you where you stand and gives you your next best step Support the ShowIf you'd like to make a one-time gift in honor of this milestone and support the continued work of Black Girl Burnout, you can donate through Ko-fi at ko-fi.com/blackgirlburnout. Like, follow, and subscribe across all platforms. Find us @blackgirlburnout. Subscribe to our newsletter at blackgirlburnout.com. Watch on YouTube. Drop a review, your words make a real difference, and they warm Kelley's whole heart every single time. Stay in TouchJoin our Substack family for weekly reflections, tools, and behind-the-scenes notes from Kelley. Become a paid subscriber ($8/month) for exclusive resources and monthly workshops. Our SponsorsSavvy Ladies Free Financial Helpline: https://www.savvyladies.org/ Advertising Inquiries: RedCircle | Privacy & Opt-Out: RedCircle Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

  7. Aug 19

    Joy Economics: Shani Godwin on Ending Over-Functioning & Choosing Joy on Your Own Terms

    Joy Economics: Shani Godwin on Ending Over-Functioning & Choosing Joy on Your Own Terms Kelley sits down with Shani Godwin, writer, entrepreneur, and creator of the concept of Joy Economics, for a conversation that started with a line from her viral Oprah Magazine piece: "Black girl magic isn't magic, it's normalized over-functioning." Shani opens up about the mental health crisis that changed her life at 30, the 3 a.m. breakdown that made her rethink what success actually costs, and the practice she now teaches to help Black women build lives and businesses around joy instead of around proving they can carry it all. Key TakeawaysBlack girl magic isn't magic, it's normalized over-functioning. Making the hard things look effortless comes with an invisible tax, and the more we achieve, the heavier that tax gets.Being "strong" isn't always the answer. Sometimes the most loving thing we can do for each other is stop saying "you got this" and instead just show up, sit in it, and let someone be broken for a moment.Joy Economics means building your life and business around what actually brings you joy, not around growth for growth's sake. Profit and freedom over vanity metrics; joy in the journey, not just the destination.Episode Highlights & Timestamps2:00 — Where "Black girl magic isn't magic, it's normalized over-functioning" came from 10:00 — Shani's mental health crisis at 30, and the 20-year journey that followed 27:00 — What Joy Economics actually is 37:00 — Practical first steps: radical honesty with yourself, and learning where joy lives in your body 53:00 — What brings Shani joy day to day, and how she protects it Gentle InvitationThis week, notice a moment when you feel genuinely good, when your shoulders drop, you laugh, or you feel peaceful. Don't rush past it. Ask yourself: what does joy actually feel like in my body? Not what should make you happy, or what looks successful, what does it actually feel like? Joy doesn't only belong after you've made it. It belongs in the life that's already happening now. Connect with Shani GodwinWebsite: shanigodwin.com Instagram: @iamshanigodwin Support the ShowIf you'd like to make a one-time gift in honor of this milestone and support the continued work of Black Girl Burnout, you can donate through Ko-fi at ko-fi.com/blackgirlburnout. Like, follow, and subscribe across all platforms. Find us @blackgirlburnout. Subscribe to our newsletter at blackgirlburnout.com. Watch on YouTube. Drop a review — your words make a real difference, and they warm Kelley's whole heart every single time. Stay in TouchJoin our Substack family for weekly reflections, tools, and behind-the-scenes notes from Kelley. Become a paid subscriber ($8/month) for exclusive resources and monthly workshops. Our SponsorsSavvy Ladies Free Financial Helpline: https://www.savvyladies.org/ Advertising Inquiries: RedCircle | Privacy & Opt-Out: RedCircle Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

  8. Aug 12

    The Body Is Not an Apology: Sonya Renee Taylor on Radical Self-Love & Letting Go of Shame (REPLAY)

    Kelley sits down with Sonya Renee Taylor, author of The Body Is Not an Apology: The Power of Radical Self-Love, for a conversation Kelley calls essential reading for every Black woman. They trace the phrase's origin story, unpack what body shame really is beneath the physical, and walk through Sonya's roadmap for opting out of shame and into radical self-love: mapping your way out of shame, the four pillars of practice, and why community and self-compassion are what actually make the work sustainable. Key TakeawaysBody shame isn't only physical. It shows up as shame around our needs, our emotions, our voice, and how much space we let ourselves take up. The physical body is just where 90% of the conversation gets stuck. Opting out of shame starts with three peace treaties: making peace with not understanding, making peace with difference, and making peace with our bodies, in that order.Radical self-love isn't something you build, it's your default state. The four pillars (taking out the toxic, mind matters, unapologetic action, collective compassion) are about removing what's been layered on top, not adding something new.Episode Highlights & Timestamps02:00 - Where the phrase "the body is not an apology" came from 08:00 - What body shame really means, beyond the physical 13:00 - Mapping your way out of shame: the three-step framework 20:00 - Making peace with our bodies as "currency" 29:00 - The four pillars of a radical self-love practice 55:00 - Where to connect with Sonya Renee Taylor Gentle InvitationThis week, notice one place you apologize for taking up space, in your body, your voice, your needs, or your wants. You don't have to fix it. Just notice it, and see if you can meet it with the same grace Sonya describes: "It's okay. I love you, just as you are." Choose one small, unapologetic action. Not ten. Just one. Let that be enough for now. Connect with Sonya Renee TaylorInstagram: @SonyaReneeTaylor Patreon: Sonya Renee Taylor Website: sonyareneetaylor.com Book: The Body Is Not an Apology: The Power of Radical Self-Love Support the ShowIf you'd like to make a one-time gift in honor of this milestone and support the continued work of Black Girl Burnout, you can donate through Ko-fi at ko-fi.com/blackgirlburnout. Like, follow, and subscribe across all platforms. Find us @blackgirlburnout. Subscribe to our newsletter at blackgirlburnout.com. Watch on YouTube. Drop a review — your words make a real difference, and they warm Kelley's whole heart every single time. Stay in TouchJoin our Substack family for weekly reflections, tools, and behind-the-scenes notes from Kelley. Become a paid subscriber ($8/month) for exclusive resources and monthly workshops. Our SponsorsSavvy Ladies Free Financial Helpline: https://www.savvyladies.org/ Advertising Inquiries: RedCircle | Privacy & Opt-Out: RedCircle Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

4.7
out of 5
786 Ratings

About

Black Girl Burnout is a podcast about burnout, ambition, care, and what it actually takes to build a life that feels good to live—not just impressive from the outside.  Hosted by Kelley Bonner, the show explores how burnout takes hold, why ambition doesn’t need to be abandoned but redesigned, and how joy, rest, and gentleness can coexist with meaningful work and forward movement. Through reflection, practical insight, and carefully chosen conversations, Black Girl Burnout offers both grounding and direction, helping listeners feel seen and take action toward lives that are sustainable, intentional, and their own.

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