Bounce Back, Black Woman! | Healing, Personal Growth, & Resilience

Del Smith, M.S. | Coach, Author & Speaker helping women heal, rebuild, and live more intentionally.
  • 4.8 (21)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Semiweekly

Life doesn't just challenge you—it changes you. Whether you're navigating grief, burnout, life transitions, relationship challenges, identity shifts, emotional exhaustion, or simply trying to find your way back to yourself, Bounce Back, Black Woman!® is a space for honest conversations about healing, resilience, personal growth, and intentional living. Hosted by Del Smith, M.S., coach, author, and speaker, this podcast blends storytelling, emotional insight, practical encouragement, faith-rooted wisdom, and real-life reflection to help women heal, rebuild, and move forward—one intentional step at a time. This isn't surface-level motivation or toxic positivity. We talk honestly about: emotional healing and resilience confidence, identity, and self-worth relationships and healthy boundaries grief, burnout, and life transitions emotional patterns and personal growth reinvention, purpose, and rediscovering yourself choosing intentionality, even in difficult seasons Faith is part of the foundation here—not loud, forced, or performative—but present as strength, wisdom, grounding, and hope through life's most challenging moments. New episodes are released every Tuesday and Friday (with occasional video versions), with conversations designed to help women feel seen, supported, encouraged, and empowered to live with greater awareness, courage, resilience, and joy. Because at the end of the day... ✨ It's not just you. ✨ It's not just me. ✨ It's US. ✨ It’s not just you. ✨ It’s not just me. ✨ It’s US.

  1. 2d ago

    140. What Are Your "Overs & Unders" Trying to Tell You?

    Have you been spending more than usual? Eating differently? Working too much? Scrolling for hours? Or maybe you’re on the other side—sleeping less, struggling to focus, pulling away from people, or simply not doing some of the things you normally do. Coach Del calls these our “overs and unders.” Sometimes when life gets stressful, overwhelming, uncertain, lonely, or just plain HARD, what we’re carrying starts showing up in our behavior before we’ve fully acknowledged what’s going on. And our first instinct is often to fix the behavior: I need to stop spending. I need to get off this phone. I need to focus. I need more discipline. And maybe we do. But what if we also asked: What might this behavior be doing for me? In this episode of Bounce Back, Black Woman!, Coach Del talks about recognizing changes in our behavior as information—not as another opportunity to criticize ourselves. You’ll explore: How stress and other difficult experiences can show up through our “overs and unders” Why focusing only on stopping a behavior may leave the underlying issue untouched How seemingly positive behaviors—like working or exercising—can also become “overs” Why there’s room for both accountability and curiosity Questions that can help you notice patterns in your own behavior How your overs and unders may provide clues to the bottleneck underneath Sometimes the thing you’re trying to fix isn’t the first thing that needs your attention. Instead of asking, “What is wrong with me?” try asking: “What is going on with me?” That little shift can open the door to greater awareness, more compassion, and more intentional choices. What’s REALLY Holding You Back? If today’s conversation has you wondering what might be underneath some of your own patterns, take Coach Del’s short “What’s REALLY Holding You Back?” assessment. It can help you begin identifying where your bottleneck may be and what could be getting in the way of moving forward. Find the assessment at CoachDel.com. Stay Connected with Coach Del 🌐 Website: CoachDel.com 🎙️ Podcast: BounceBackBlackWoman.com Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and all major podcast platforms 📱 Follow on Instagram & TikTok: @BounceBackBlackWoman 💼 Follow on LinkedIn: @delphinesmith

  2. 6d ago

    139. What if the Change You're Waiting For Isn't Yours to Make?

    You’ve communicated, waited, adjusted, and offered another chance. But the change you’ve been hoping for still hasn’t happened. How long should you continue waiting? In this episode, Del shares a personal experience from a past relationship that looked good on paper—even as her intuition repeatedly told her something wasn’t right. She wanted the relationship to change, but eventually realized that the change she was waiting for wasn’t hers to create. Her turning point came when she stopped asking whether things might eventually improve and asked: “If nothing ever changes, can I accept this relationship exactly as it is?” Later, she received confirmation that ending the relationship had been the right decision when the man’s now-wife contacted her and revealed his double life—a story Del previously shared in “When the Truth Finds You.” But that confirmation came after the decision. In this episode, you’ll consider: Why a person’s potential can make it difficult to accept present reality The difference between offering room to grow and building your life around someone’s potential Why more explaining, patience, or sacrifice may not create change What happens when your life becomes organized around something outside your control Why accepting reality does not mean approving of someone’s behavior How to distinguish not knowing what to do from not liking what your choices require The question that can help you stop waiting and begin deciding If you’re unsure what may be keeping you circling, take the free What’s REALLY Holding You Back? assessment. It can help you begin identifying the pattern underneath the explanation you’ve been giving yourself: https://tally.so/r/J94V1X Once you’ve completed the assessment—or if you already recognize the bottleneck but need help determining what to do next—book a free one-on-one call with Del to discuss what you’ve discovered and explore whether Stuck-to-Steady is the right support for you: https://calendly.com/delphine-smith/your-next-step-let-s-talk  Connect with Del: https://CoachDel.com https://BounceBackBlackWoman.com Instagram and TikTok: @BounceBackBlackWoman LinkedIn: @delphinesmith

  3. Sep 22

    138. What if "I'm Not Ready" isn't the REAL Problem?

    You have the talent. You have experience. You may even have evidence that other people value what you can do. So why don’t you feel ready? After being fired and spending approximately a year searching for another traditional job, Del began paying closer attention to women who were earning meaningful income from skills like hers. She saw full-time self-employed home bakers, coaches, authors, and speakers building businesses around their abilities. Their success didn’t guarantee hers. But it raised an important question: "Why not me, too?" In this episode, Del explores how practical preparation can sometimes conceal a deeper doubt about our own capability. While training, strategy, and experience matter, constantly creating another requirement can keep us preparing for something we may already be capable of beginning. In this episode, you’ll consider: Why familiar structures can feel safer than creating your own The difference between being inexperienced and being incapable How “I’m not ready” can become a permanent waiting room Why accomplishments don’t always silence self-doubt What other women’s success can reveal about possibility Why belief doesn’t require certainty that you will succeed How action can create evidence that strengthens self-trust If you’ve been questioning whether you’re truly ready, take the free What’s REALLY Holding You Back? assessment. It can help you begin identifying the pattern beneath the reason you’ve been giving yourself: https://tally.so/r/J94V1X Once you’ve completed the assessment—or if you already recognize the bottleneck making forward movement difficult—book a free one-on-one call with Del to talk through what you’ve discovered and explore whether Stuck-to-Steady is the right support for you: [BOOKING LINK TO BE ADDED] Connect with Del: https://BounceBackBlackWoman.com Instagram and TikTok: @BounceBackBlackWoman LinkedIn: @delphinesmith

  4. Sep 18

    137. When Staying Feels Safer than Leaving

    You know something isn’t working—but leaving feels too risky. Maybe you’re worried about money, your children, other people’s judgment, beginning again, or discovering that the next situation isn’t any better. So you remain where you are, telling yourself you haven’t made a decision yet. But staying is also a decision. In this episode, Del shares two personal experiences in which staying initially felt safer than leaving: her first marriage after multiple infidelities had been exposed and a micromanaging workplace that diminished her expertise until the company ultimately terminated her. Although the circumstances were different, both experiences reveal how fear can narrow our view of the choices available to us—and how carrying everything alone can make the situation feel even more impossible. In this episode, you’ll consider: Why familiar pain can feel safer than an uncertain future The difference between consciously choosing to stay and feeling unable to leave What your children and loved ones may already recognize How fear and isolation can make your options appear smaller Why the first step doesn’t always have to be the final departure How the reason you believe you’re staying may not tell the entire story This episode is not an instruction to leave your job, marriage, or relationship. It is an invitation to examine what is influencing your decision and to seek the support needed to make that decision intentionally. If you’re still unsure what may be keeping you from moving forward, take the free What’s REALLY Holding You Back? assessment HERE https://tally.so/r/J94V1X If you have identified what may be restricting your movement but need help deciding what to do next, book a free one-on-one call with me! [Book your free 1:1 Call]   Stay Connected with Del: Meet Coach Del Podcast Website Instagram and TikTok: @BounceBackBlackWoman LinkedIn: @delphinesmith

  5. Sep 15

    136. Why More Information Isn't Helping You Decide

    EPISODE 136: Why More Information Isn’t Helping You Decide You’ve gathered the information. You’ve compared the options. You’ve considered the risks, asked for advice, and replayed the possibilities. So why can’t you decide? In this episode, Del shares the real-life decision she is currently navigating: whether to renovate part of her home to generate rental income, keep the property as it is, or sell and transition to apartment living. Each option offers legitimate benefits. Each also introduces financial, practical, and emotional risks. What initially appeared to be a decision requiring more information has revealed a deeper question: Can additional information create clarity—or are we sometimes asking it to eliminate uncertainty, regret, and judgment? In this episode, you’ll consider: When responsible research becomes endless analysis Why having several good options can make choosing more difficult What you may be asking additional information to guarantee How identity and other people’s perceptions can complicate practical decisions Why an imperfect outcome doesn’t necessarily mean you made the wrong choice How the apparent problem may not be the real reason you can’t move forward If you’re unsure what may be keeping you circling, take the free What’s REALLY Holding You Back? assessment: https://tally.so/r/J94V1X If you have identified what may be restricting your movement but need help determining what to do next, book a free one-on-one call with Del: LET'S TALK! Connect with Del: Podcast Website BounceBackBlackWoman.com Instagram and TikTok: @BounceBackBlackWoman LinkedIn: @delphinesmith

  6. Sep 11

    135. Are Your Boundaries the REAL Problem? 5 Areas Where They Might Be...

    Episode 135: Are Your Boundaries the REAL Problem? 5 Areas Where They Might Be Your life may not be out of control—but certain parts of it may feel exhausting, frustrating, or increasingly difficult to manage. The problem may not be your ability to handle responsibility. It may be that too many people and obligations have unrestricted access to your time, energy, attention, money, and emotional capacity. In this episode, Coach Del explores five areas where missing, unclear, or inconsistently enforced boundaries may be contributing to problems in your life: Time and availability Emotional responsibility Relationships and communication Work and obligations Money and material support In This Episode Why being dependable is not the same as being perpetually available The difference between caring about someone's feelings and becoming responsible for them Why a boundary must focus on what you will do—not controlling someone else How competence can quietly create unreasonable expectations at work Why generosity stops being freely chosen when guilt makes the decision How resentment, dread, and depletion can reveal a missing boundary The four steps to establishing a healthier boundary: Notice it, name it, communicate it, and hold it Why another person's disappointment does not automatically mean your boundary is wrong A Reminder From This Episode The right boundaries do not stop you from being generous, compassionate, loving, or dependable. They allow those qualities to remain freely chosen instead of continually required. Take the Free Assessment If you know you're stuck but aren't sure why, take the free What's REALLY Holding You Back? assessment. Discover what's getting between you and where you want to be: https://tally.so/r/J94V1X Kitchen Table Conversation LIVE Join Coach Del for the next Bounce Back, Black Woman! Kitchen Table Conversation LIVE on Monday, September 21, 2026, from 8:00–9:00 PM ET. This free virtual gathering will create space for honest conversation, reflection, laughter, and connection. Registration is required, and attendance is limited to 25 women. Register here: https://o8dbkm.subscribepage.io Stay Connected with Coach Del 🌐 Website: CoachDel.com 🎙️ Podcast: BounceBackBlackWoman.com Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and all major podcast platforms 📱 Follow on Instagram & TikTok: @BounceBackBlackWoman 💼 Follow on LinkedIn: @delphinesmith

  7. Sep 8

    134. Are You Thinking it Through — or Just Going in Circles?

    Ep. 134: Are You Thinking It Through—or Just Going in Circles? Some decisions deserve time, prayer, research, and careful consideration. But there comes a point when thinking something through stops producing new information—and simply returns you to the same fears, questions, and possibilities. In this episode, Coach Del explores the difference between thoughtful consideration and circular thinking. She explains why going in circles can feel productive, what it may be protecting you from, and why some clarity only becomes available after you take action. You’ll learn: How to recognize when productive thinking has become circling • Why repeatedly asking for advice may leave you with less clarity • How waiting for certainty can quietly keep you stuck • Why intentional movement is different from impulsive action • How a manageable step can give you information that thinking cannot • Four questions to help you determine your next step You don’t have to make one enormous, irreversible decision. Sometimes you simply need to take one intentional step, pay attention to what it reveals, and use that information to decide what comes next. Take the Free Assessment If you know you’re stuck but aren’t sure why, take the free What’s REALLY Holding You Back? assessment. Discover what may be getting between you and where you want to be: https://tally.so/r/J94V1X Join the Kitchen Table Conversation Join Coach Del for the next Bounce Back, Black Woman! Kitchen Table Conversation LIVE on Monday, September 21, 2026, from 8:00–9:00 PM ET. This free virtual gathering will create space for honest conversation, reflection, laughter, and connection. Registration is required, and attendance is limited to 25 women. Register here (or on my website): https://o8dbkm.subscribepage.io Stay Connected with Coach Del 🌐 Website: CoachDel.com 🎙️ Podcast: BounceBackBlackWoman.com Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and all major podcast platforms 📱 Follow on Instagram & TikTok: @BounceBackBlackWoman 💼 Follow on LinkedIn: @delphinesmith

  8. Sep 4

    133. Coffee, Chemistry, and All the Things We Overthink in Dating

    Episode 133: Coffee, Chemistry, and All the Things We Overthink Dating has a way of turning one cup of coffee into a twelve-part strategic forecast. What should you wear? Will the conversation flow? Will there be chemistry? What if you like him and he doesn’t like you—or he likes you and you don’t like him? In this episode of Bounce Back, Black Woman!, Del shares the funny story behind an upcoming coffee date that began only after she paid for Bumble—and promptly matched with someone on the free version of Hinge. But the bigger story isn’t the date itself. It’s the growth Del recognized when she realized she wasn’t anxious, future-casting, or trying to decide how she should present herself. She was simply looking forward to meeting another person and seeing whether their easy phone chemistry translated in person. This episode offers a grounded way to approach dating: stay open without getting ahead of yourself, remain discerning without allowing fear to take over, and remember that you are not auditioning for someone else’s approval. In This Episode Why a first date is not an audition The questions to ask yourself instead of only wondering whether the other person likes you Why chemistry can invite another conversation but cannot prove compatibility How we make potential carry the weight of a promise The difference between discernment and fear Why one interaction should be allowed to remain one interaction How to protect yourself without closing yourself off Why rejection or a lack of mutual chemistry is information—not a verdict on your worth How friends can support women who are navigating modern dating Questions to Carry Into Your Next Date Do I feel comfortable? Do I feel heard? Can I relax and be myself? Does this person seem genuinely curious about me? Do their words and behavior align? Do I enjoy the person I am when I’m interacting with them? A Reminder From This Episode The goal of a first date is not to determine whether someone is your person. It is simply to discover whether you would enjoy having a second conversation. You can be hopeful without getting ahead of yourself. You can enjoy someone’s attention without depending on it. You can allow experience to make you wiser without allowing it to make you harder. For Friends Supporting Someone Who Is Dating Practical safety conversations are loving and necessary. But support does not have to turn one date into either a threat assessment or a bridal consultation. Let your friend enjoy the possibility without inflating it or puncturing it. Sometimes the most supportive response is simply: “That sounds promising. Have fun. Be yourself. Pay attention to how you feel, and tell me about it afterward.” Kitchen Table Conversation LIVE Join us on September 21st for the first Bounce Back, Black Woman! Kitchen Table Conversation LIVE. This live virtual gathering will create space for honest conversation about dating, relationships, standards, hope, disappointment, loneliness, companionship, and connection—with plenty of reflection and laughter too. Register to join us  at the Kitchen Table Conversation here! I’d love to have you at the table. What’s REALLY holding you back? If you’re ready to uncover what may be standing between you and where you want to be—and identify your next intentional step—take the free What’s REALLY Holding You Back? assessment. Take the FREE assessment here! Stay Connected with Coach Del 🌐 Website: CoachDel.com 🎙️ Podcast: BounceBackBlackWoman.com Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and all major podcast platforms 📱 Follow on Instagram & TikTok: @BounceBackBlackWoman 💼 Follow on LinkedIn: @delphinesmith

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4.8
out of 5
21 Ratings

About

Life doesn't just challenge you—it changes you. Whether you're navigating grief, burnout, life transitions, relationship challenges, identity shifts, emotional exhaustion, or simply trying to find your way back to yourself, Bounce Back, Black Woman!® is a space for honest conversations about healing, resilience, personal growth, and intentional living. Hosted by Del Smith, M.S., coach, author, and speaker, this podcast blends storytelling, emotional insight, practical encouragement, faith-rooted wisdom, and real-life reflection to help women heal, rebuild, and move forward—one intentional step at a time. This isn't surface-level motivation or toxic positivity. We talk honestly about: emotional healing and resilience confidence, identity, and self-worth relationships and healthy boundaries grief, burnout, and life transitions emotional patterns and personal growth reinvention, purpose, and rediscovering yourself choosing intentionality, even in difficult seasons Faith is part of the foundation here—not loud, forced, or performative—but present as strength, wisdom, grounding, and hope through life's most challenging moments. New episodes are released every Tuesday and Friday (with occasional video versions), with conversations designed to help women feel seen, supported, encouraged, and empowered to live with greater awareness, courage, resilience, and joy. Because at the end of the day... ✨ It's not just you. ✨ It's not just me. ✨ It's US. ✨ It’s not just you. ✨ It’s not just me. ✨ It’s US.

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