The Melanin Wellness Podcast: Holistic Health and Healing for Black Women’s Wellness

Cori Dunn

The Melanin Wellness Podcast is a holistic wellness and healing podcast centered on Black women navigating life, body changes, and emotional health in real time. Hosted by Cori, the show explores nervous system care, fitness without burnout, hormone health, generational healing, rest, and redefining strength beyond aesthetics. Through honest solo episodes and meaningful conversations, this podcast supports women in their healing era — prioritizing longevity, balance, and self-trust over hustle and perfection. Wellness here isn’t about doing more. It’s about doing what actually supports your life. 🎧 New episodes explore movement, mindset, nourishment, and rest — all through a culturally grounded, compassionate lens. Guest and business inquires only: hello@themelaninwellnesspodcast.com

  1. 4D AGO

    Sweat, Setbacks & Self-Worth: The Truth About Fitness as Therapy

    In this episode of The Melanin Wellness Podcast, Cori gets real about the relationship between fitness, healing, and self-worth. While movement can be a powerful tool for managing stress, anxiety, and emotional overwhelm, it’s not a cure-all—and it’s definitely not a substitute for doing the deeper work. Cori breaks down the truth about using fitness as therapy, including the highs, the setbacks, and the moments where progress has nothing to do with physical results. If you’ve ever: Used the gym to cope with stress or emotional pain Felt frustrated when fitness didn’t “fix” everything Struggled with motivation, consistency, or burnout Tied your self-worth to your body or performance This episode is for you. Topics include: Fitness and mental health: what it can and cannot do Emotional reliance on workouts Navigating setbacks and plateaus Rebuilding self-worth outside of physical results Creating a healthier relationship with movement Resources:   Speakpipe for voice message: https://www.speakpipe.com/themelaninwellnesspodcast Fit Fab Cori: https://www.youtube.com/@fitfabcori Featured in Voyage Raleigh | Ranked Top 25% Globally on Apple Podcasts

    5 min

  2. MAR 25

    Healing Isn’t Ugly: The Beauty Rituals That Support My Mental Health

    Welcome back to The Melanin Wellness Podcast! In today’s episode, we’re diving into how beauty rituals are good for your health—perfect for busy Black women who want to learn how what they are already doing organically could be having an effect beyond the asthetics.    If you’ve ever wondered how beauty rituals are good for your health, why beauty and wellness are important, or what a beauty ritual is, this episode is packed with actionable tips you can start using today!    We’ll cover:  ✅ Reframing Beauty as Care, Not Performance ✅ Beauty as Nervous System Support ✅ And the 3 steps I take during all my beauty rituals   This podcast is created with Black women in mind, offering real conversations about health, wellness, and thriving through every stage of life. Whether you’re looking for holistic health created for women or searching for a healing and wellness space created especially for Black women but loved by wellness seekers everywhere, you’re in the right place!     ✨ Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE, RATE, and SHARE this podcast with someone who needs it.   Resources: Speakpipe for voice message: https://www.speakpipe.com/themelaninwellnesspodcast Featured in Voyage Raleigh | Ranked Top 25% Globally on Apple Podcasts

    9 min

  3. MAR 18

    Silence Isn’t Strength: Why Black Women Deserve Safe Spaces to Speak and Soften

    Host: Cori Guest: Leseliey Welch, MPH, MBA — Public Health Strategist, Social Entrepreneur, Poet, Founder of Birth Detroit & Birth Center Equity, Aspen Institute Ascend Fellow Welcome back to The Melanin Wellness Podcast, where we explore holistic wellness, healing, and empowerment for Black women. In this episode, I sit down with Leseliey Welch, a public health strategist, writer, and professional dreamer whose work centers on love, care, and community. Leseliey shares her journey into birth equity, the founding of Birth Detroit and Birth Center Equity, and why creating safe spaces for Black women is essential for healing, self-expression, and wellness. We also discuss how creativity, poetry, and personal reflection intersect with professional advocacy, and why softening, slowing down, and prioritizing rest are revolutionary acts for Black women in today's fast-paced world. If you’re interested in holistic health, wellness for Black women, maternal care equity, self-care, and community advocacy, this episode is for you.   What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Leseliey’s journey into public health and how her early experiences shaped her understanding of love, care, and community The impact of opening Birth Detroit, Detroit’s first freestanding community birth center How Birth Center Equity is transforming birth care access for Black, Indigenous, and communities of color across the U.S. Defining safe spaces for Black women in both wellness and healthcare settings How poetry, creativity, and public health intersect to inspire social change The importance of softening, slowing down, and self-care in maintaining balance and wellness Advice for Black women claiming their voice, space, and wellness without guilt Connect with Leseliey Welch: Birth Detroit: https://www.birthdetroit.org Birth Center Equity: https://www.birthcenterequity.org Poetry / Chapbook: Awaken LOVE (available Valentine’s Day) Subscribe & Stay Connected: Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe to The Melanin Wellness Podcast on your favorite streaming platform. Follow along for more on holistic wellness, self-care, maternal health equity, and Black women’s empowerment. If this episode inspired you, leave a review, share your favorite takeaways, or send a voice message via SpeakPipe. Your engagement helps us reach more Black women seeking healing, wellness, and empowerment. Speakpipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/themelaninwellnesspodcast

    20 min

  4. MAR 11

    Your Healing Era Over Your Aesthetic Era: Reframing Body Goals for Grown Women

    This episode explores Soft life wellness and how Black women can reframe fitness, hormones, and body goals for grown women who are done chasing unrealistic standards and ready to feel strong, supported, and at home in their bodies.   In this episode we’ll cover: ✨five powerful mindset shifts that help you move away from punishment-based fitness ✨understanding how your body actually works as you age ✨how hormones influence energy, weight, mood, and motivation ✨ why healing should come before aesthetics If you’re tired of chasing a look and ready to build a body that feels safe, strong, and supported, this episode is your permission slip. Healing isn’t a detour from your goals — it’s the foundation.   Speakpipe for voice message: https://www.speakpipe.com/themelaninwellnesspodcast Fit Fab Cori: https://www.youtube.com/@fitfabcori Featured in Voyage Raleigh | Ranked Top 25% Globally on Apple Podcasts

    11 min

  5. MAR 4

    From Pretty to Powerful: How Modeling Taught Me to Take Up Space

    "There is nowhere to hide when you’re standing on a runway. It’s just you. Every insecurity. Every doubt. Every fear." In this episode of The Melanin Wellness Podcast, host Cori reflects on a lifelong dream that took an unexpected path. From watching trailblazers like Beverly Johnson and Tyra Banks to revisiting the complicated legacy of America’s Next Top Model through the recent Netflix documentary Reality Check, Cori explores the narrow (and often damaging) beauty standards that Black women have navigated for decades. Cori shares her personal journey of stepping onto the runway later in life—not just to build her daughter’s confidence, but to reclaim her own. Discover how "taking up space" in front of a camera transformed her life in midlife and why your own "runway" is calling you to stop shrinking and start standing tall. In this episode, we discuss: The impact of early representation (and the lack thereof) in fashion. The lessons learned from Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model. How modeling became a tool for self-discovery and power. Why your dreams are an invitation to expand, no matter your age or stage of life. Take Up Space with Us: What is calling you to take up space more boldly in your life? We want to hear from you! Share your story with Cori via the SpeakPipe link below.   Resources & Tools: https://bio.site/themelaninwellnesspodcast Featured in Voyage Raleigh | Ranked Top 25% Globally on Apple Podcasts

    6 min

  6. FEB 25

    Lessons from Grandma Series: Her Lessons, My Lifestyle: The Wellness Habits I Inherited & Updated

    This episode explores wellness for grown women and how Black women can use valuable healing lessons from their ancestors to play a role in long-term health.   You'll learn: ✅ how our approach to wellness is often learned behavior ✅ that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to wellness ✅ how updating you legacy isn't disrespect--it's honor   Please don't forget to subscribe to the show Resources & Freebies: Speakpipe for voice message: https://www.speakpipe.com/themelaninwellnesspodcast Fit Fab Cori: https://www.youtube.com/@fitfabcori Holistic Nutrition Cheatsheet: https://subscribepage.io/holisticnutritioncheatsheet Support the show with a one-time donation: https://buymeacoffee.com/themelaninwellnesspodcast

    8 min

  7. FEB 18

    Love Lessons From Grandma: Aging Well: What Love Looks Like Over Time

    This episode explores Holistic wellness for Black women and how Black women can use valuable healing lessons from their ancestors to play a role in long-term health.   You'll learn: ✅ holistic remedies passed down through generations ✅ how survival vs. thriving mode has shifted in our lifetime ✅ how breaking generational cycles is actually honoring our ancestors   Please don't forget to subscribe to the show Resources & Freebies: Want to leave us a voice message? Visit our Speakpipe. We would love to hear from you! https://www.speakpipe.com/themelaninwellnesspodcast Fit Fab Cori: https://www.youtube.com/@fitfabcori Holistic Nutrition Cheatsheet: http://subscribepage.io/holisticnutritioncheatsheet

    7 min

  8. FEB 11

    Love Lessons From Grandma Series: Love Looks Like Rest: What Grandma Tried to Tell Us

    This episode explores rest and recovery for women and how Black women can use valuable healing lessons from their ancestors to play a role in long-term health.   You'll learn: ✅ the importance of rest ✅ how rest often wasn't an option for Black women in early generations ✅ how rest is a manifestation of love   Please don't forget to subscribe to the show Resources Mentioned: Speakpipe for voice message: https://www.speakpipe.com/themelaninwellnesspodcast Support the show with a one time donation: https://buymeacoffee.com/themelaninwellnesspodcast

    6 min
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4.9
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

The Melanin Wellness Podcast is a holistic wellness and healing podcast centered on Black women navigating life, body changes, and emotional health in real time. Hosted by Cori, the show explores nervous system care, fitness without burnout, hormone health, generational healing, rest, and redefining strength beyond aesthetics. Through honest solo episodes and meaningful conversations, this podcast supports women in their healing era — prioritizing longevity, balance, and self-trust over hustle and perfection. Wellness here isn’t about doing more. It’s about doing what actually supports your life. 🎧 New episodes explore movement, mindset, nourishment, and rest — all through a culturally grounded, compassionate lens. Guest and business inquires only: hello@themelaninwellnesspodcast.com

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