The Unbreakable Black Man Podcast

Michael "Coolen" Terrell
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Society & Culture
  • Updated Weekly

“Welcome to The Unbreakable Black Man Podcast, where we dive into the real-life conversations about everyday challenges, relationships, work, and money. From navigating modern dating to balancing career goals with personal ambitions, we unpack it all with humor, honesty, and practical advice. Whether you’re hustling at work, figuring out your love life, or just trying to make sense of it all, join us each week for insights that feel like a chat with your best friend.”

  1. 3d ago

    M.I. - Don't let a bad morning ruin a good career.

    Send us Fan Mail A bad morning is normal. Letting it steal your career is optional. We kick off with one hard-earned gem: don’t let a bad morning ruin a good career. We have all had days where everything goes wrong before we even get to work, and it’s tempting to drag that anger and frustration straight into the building. But the mood that feels huge at 8 a.m. can be gone by lunchtime, while the consequences of what you say or do at 8:15 can last for years. Speaking as a people manager, I get real about what happens when someone “fires off” at work. That quick “F this job” moment can turn into termination, no severance, no easy unemployment path, and a stressful scramble to rebuild income. This is not fear-mongering, it’s career reality. Protecting your job is often less about having the best skills and more about emotional intelligence, self-control, and knowing how to pause before you make a point you can’t undo. We also get practical. If you struggle with emotional regulation, we talk about simple stress management tools: take a breath before you respond, step away for a minute, meditate or pray, and remind yourself you’re strong and this is not the end all be all. If you have PTO and you know today is the kind of day you might blow up, use it. The closing image says it best: be the boat that stays steady even when the waves hit. If this message lands, subscribe for more morning motivation, share it with a friend who needs it, and leave a review so more people can find the show. What helps you reset when your morning goes sideways?

  2. 6d ago ·  Bonus

    Bonus throw back from 2022 - Choosing Single On Purpose

    Send us Fan Mail If you’ve ever felt the pull to start dating again just to stop the ache, this conversation is your pause button. We dig into why jumping into a new relationship too fast can turn into “borrowed anger” and misplaced punishment, where a good person ends up paying for someone else’s damage. We’re honest about what it looks like to admit, out loud, that you are not ready, and why that can be the most respectful choice you make for yourself and for anyone you might date. We also talk about being single by choice and what that really means when you’ve spent most of your life in relationships. There’s a difference between wanting attention and wanting partnership, and we unpack how time alone can help you learn your standards, your triggers, and your real needs. That includes asking the uncomfortable question: what role did I play in the breakup, and what patterns do I keep repeating? From there, things get real about heartbreak as trauma, the fear of being hurt again, and the slow work of emotional healing. We get into co-parenting done right, keeping kids out of adult conflict, and why bitterness can quietly damage a child’s sense of safety. We also challenge the idea that men can’t be vulnerable, and explore how to share pain without letting fear control the future. If any of this hits close to home, listen through, share it with a friend who’s rebuilding, and leave a review. What helps you know you’re truly ready to love again?

  3. Jul 23

    M.I. - Love Is A Choice

    Send us Fan Mail Love can feel amazing on Monday and exhausting by Friday, so what are we actually building our relationships on: emotion, or decision? We’re getting honest about a simple truth that a lot of people avoid saying out loud: love is a choice, not just a feeling. Feelings shift, chemistry comes and goes, and life has a way of testing anyone who promises “forever.” The difference-maker is commitment and intentional effort, the kind you bring even when it’s uncomfortable. We talk about why so many relationships collapse at the first sign of hardship, and how the modern divorce conversation can turn quitting into the default option. I also draw a hard line between normal hard seasons and real harm. Supporting someone through job loss, grief, depression, or health struggles is part of partnership. But “ride it out” does not mean staying in situations that involve abuse, theft, or constant chaos. Choosing love still includes boundaries, safety, and self-respect. Then we get into the image problem: when love becomes a social media prop, a highlight reel, or an accessory for likes, the real work gets ignored. Saying “I love you” is easy. Living it looks like showing up, staying honest, and doing the unglamorous work that keeps a bond strong when nobody is clapping. If you want grounded relationship advice, marriage mindset clarity, and a real take on commitment, press play. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs it, and leave a review. Do you believe love is a feeling, a choice, or both?

  4. Jul 22

    M.I. - Every Job Is A Stepping Stone

    Send us Fan Mail Most people want a better career, but they keep waiting for the perfect job to appear fully formed. I share a different approach: treat every job as a stepping stone and let each role pay you twice, once in money and once in skills. That mindset took me from turning my nose up at landscaping to realizing the work was quietly building the exact foundation I needed.  I talk through watching someone close to me move from job to job with purpose, learning something new each time and raising her value along the way. Meanwhile, I tried to rely on loyalty and “sticking it out,” even when the role was not teaching me what I needed. Eventually I took the landscaping work I had resisted, ended up on hardscape crews, got corrected hard, and started learning the details that separate average work from professional work. That is where transferable skills got real: tools, timing, quality standards, irrigation basics, and how to handle pressure without folding.  From there, the opportunities started stacking. I explain what changed when I began treating each site like it was my business, leading crews, keeping customers happy, and staying consistent even when COVID forced sudden changes. Then a facilities leader noticed the work and offered something I never expected: a chance to manage a whole department. The big takeaway is simple and hard at the same time: don’t fight the current. Learn everything you can where you are, carry it forward, and you might end up beyond where you thought you could go.  If this helped you rethink your next move, subscribe, share it with a friend who feels stuck, and leave a quick review. What job turned out to be your biggest stepping stone?

  5. Jul 21

    M.I. - Don't wait for someone to tell you your good enough

    Send us Fan Mail Waiting for someone else to approve your life can quietly turn into a lifelong delay. Today we get blunt about confidence, self-worth, and the mindset shift that happens when you stop asking for permission and start taking action. If you’ve ever felt stuck because you’re hoping a boss, partner, friend, or the internet will finally say you’re “ready,” this is your reminder that readiness is built, not granted. We talk through why chasing validation never really satisfies, especially when your biggest critic is already inside your own head. There will always be someone willing to critique, move the goalposts, or tell you “maybe next time,” and living by those voices makes your growth dependent on people who don’t have to carry your consequences. Instead, we focus on finding your own value and protecting it. That means listening to advice when it truly helps, adjusting when it makes sense, and refusing to let anyone dictate your identity, your timeline, or your next move. We also dig into the real-life side of learning and leadership: nobody has a perfect remedy for being a parent, a partner, or a fully formed adult. You learn by living. And sometimes the only way to see your potential is to break away from the crowd, stop performing for the masses, and discover what you can do when you’re not trying to fit in. If you’ve been feeling chained down while wanting to fly higher, consider this your push to choose bravery and protect your worth. If this message hits, subscribe, share it with someone who needs a lift, and leave a quick review telling us what you’re ready to try next.

  6. Jul 18

    M.I. - Give Them Their Flowers

    Send us Fan Mail The words you don’t say can become the ones you regret most. Today’s Morning Inspirations is a straight, heartfelt reminder to give people their flowers while they can still smell them and to stop waiting for a “perfect moment” to show appreciation. I talk about the people who hold us up in real life: grandparents who keep us grounded, parents who sacrifice in ways we don’t fully see, family who gives us a place to reset, friends and acquaintances who drop one piece of advice at the right time, and even a boss who hires you when you need it most. This isn’t about material stuff or putting on a show. It’s about naming the impact. A simple, specific thank you can land harder than any gift because it tells someone their kindness mattered. We also get into the side of gratitude people don’t talk about: when you don’t acknowledge a good deed, it can come off as ungrateful, and it can change how people feel about helping again. Giving flowers is how we build stronger relationships, healthier workplace culture, and a life where we notice the good instead of only amplifying the negative. If someone helped you stand up, tell them you can walk because of them. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs the nudge, and leave a review with the name of someone you’re giving flowers to today.

  7. Jul 17

    M.I. - Overcoming Adversity

    Send us Fan Mail Setbacks do not just hurt, they teach, if we are willing to look for the lesson. We sit down for a straight-shooting morning talk on overcoming adversity and how resilience is built through the stuff we would never choose: losing a job, getting your heart broken, feeling like you have nothing left to give, and still finding a way to grow.  We walk through practical mindset shifts that turn pain into progress. If you have ever been fired or forced to start over, we talk about how to take ownership of what you can control, adjust your habits, and show up stronger at the next opportunity. If you are dealing with heartbreak, we get real about stepping back, learning the “tidbits” you missed, and using that hard feedback to build a healthier next relationship and a better sense of self.  We also dig into the bigger theme: pressure makes the diamond. When you feel like you are about to quit, you might be closer to greatness than you think. A story about climbing Stone Mountain brings it home, because sometimes you need a physical climb to remind your mind how far you have come. If you want motivation, mental toughness, and a grounded approach to personal growth, press play.  Subscribe for more morning inspirations, share this with someone pushing through a hard season, and leave a review with the biggest challenge you have overcome.

  8. Jul 16

    M.I. - Staying Focused When Success Requires Struggle

    Send us Fan Mail Success looks glamorous from the outside, but the part nobody posts is the struggle: the early alarms, the extra reps, the late-night studying, and the decisions to stay focused when distraction feels easier. We dig into a blunt truth that applies to fitness, career growth, learning new skills, credit repair, sports, and relationships: nothing “just happens,” and you do not wake up successful. You build it, one disciplined day at a time, with a plan that matches what you say you want. We also get honest about the mindset side of self-improvement. The hardest part usually is not your body or your schedule, it is the mental resistance that shows up as procrastination, excuses, and trying to live two different lives at once. If you want more than mediocrity, you need clarity, consistency, and the willingness to feel uncomfortable on purpose. That includes making trade-offs, cutting back on “fun” for a season, and showing up long enough for effort to turn into momentum. The big takeaway is simple: handle the struggle early and life gets easier later because your skills, habits, and confidence compound. Wait too long and you risk paying that price when you have less time, less energy, or fewer options. If you’re ready for a quick, motivating reset on focus, discipline, and real-world goal setting, press play now. If this hits home, subscribe, share with a friend who needs it, and leave a review with the goal you’re committing to next.

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

“Welcome to The Unbreakable Black Man Podcast, where we dive into the real-life conversations about everyday challenges, relationships, work, and money. From navigating modern dating to balancing career goals with personal ambitions, we unpack it all with humor, honesty, and practical advice. Whether you’re hustling at work, figuring out your love life, or just trying to make sense of it all, join us each week for insights that feel like a chat with your best friend.”

Information

  • Creator
    Michael "Coolen" Terrell
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    60
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Unbreakable Black Man Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Unbreakable Black Man Podcast