Powerfully Broken

Barbara L Parker MA, LPCC-S, CEO
  • 0.0 (0)
  • MENTAL HEALTH

Because you don’t need to be perfect to live powerfully. You just need to be you—open, healing, and willing to grow.  Hosted by Barbara L Parker, MA, LPCC-S, CEO of BF Empowerment Center and advocate for healing, this podcast is a sanctuary for anyone navigating life after heartbreak, divorce, trauma, or major life transitions. Each episode dives deep into the real, raw, and often messy journey of healing—with honesty, compassion, and zero judgment. We explore powerful conversations around: Healing from intimate partner violence and toxic relationshipsAuthentic parenting and building stronger familiesMindset shifts that create emotional and financial freedomEntrepreneurship with purpose and resilienceWellness tools that support your mental, emotional, and spiritual health You’ll hear from survivors, experts, change-makers, and everyday warriors—people who turned their pain into purpose and found the power in their brokenness.

  1. 4D AGO

    From NFL Grind To Guarding The Stars: Melvin Cantrell On Training, Safety, And Integrity

    Your strongest rep might be the one you don’t take—and that simple shift could save your progress and your health. We sit down with Melvin Cantrell, former NFL player turned celebrity bodyguard and certified personal trainer, to unpack how beginners can train smarter: light weights, perfect form, and breathing that powers every lift without risking injury. Along the way, we talk about mental health, how stress hijacks your breath, and why routine is the real secret to staying consistent when life gets loud. Melvin’s journey brings rare perspective. He earned his shot in the league the hard way—through tryouts, grit, and lessons learned the painful way about humility. That same discipline fuels his work in executive protection for public figures. Instead of swagger, he relies on judgment, tactical training, and a calm presence. We connect these worlds to show how integrity, preparation, and patience are the foundations of both peak performance and personal safety. You’ll leave with a clear, beginner-friendly blueprint: start on machines, keep weights light, and master breathing by exhaling on the hard part of each rep. Use simple rep ranges to decide when to move weight up or down, and add a spotter only when you’re truly ready to push. We also tackle gym anxiety with practical steps to build confidence, reduce injury risk, and make steady gains that support both body and mind. If “no pain, no gain” ever left you hurt or discouraged, this conversation offers a better path—one day at a time, with form, breath, and patience leading the way. If this resonated, follow for more powerfully practical health insights, share the episode with a friend who’s starting out, and leave a review to help others find the show. Your support helps more people trade ego for progress and turn discipline into real strength. Shop: 📖 Book — A Powerful Divorce https://www.bfempowerment.com/powerfuldivorce 🧠 Coaching & Relationship Programs https://www.bfempowerment.com/coaching 💊 Kintsugi Kulture Supplements https://www.bfempowerment.com/supplements 👕 Kintsugi Kulture Beauty https://www.bfempowerment.com/beauty 👕 Kintsugi Kulture Apparel https://www.bfempowerment.com/clothing 🐾 Emotional Support Animal Letters https://www.bfempowerment.com/emotional-support-animal-letter 🎙 Hosted by BF Empowerment Center https://www.bfempowerment.com Follow: @powerfullybroken | @queenblparker | @bfempowerment Therapy: BF Empowerment Center 526 South Main Street Akron, Ohio 44311 Watch Powerfully Broken Podcast airing on Fridays at 9am.

    24 min

  2. FEB 27

    Break, Rebuild, Repeat: The Power Of Choosing Your Hard

    What happens when you stop negotiating with fear and jump anyway? We sit down with Elec Simon—world-class bucket drummer, event MC, Jiu-Jitsu gold medalist, and relentless builder—to unpack the mindset that turns setbacks into fuel. From winning on stage to getting humbled on the mat, Elec shows how quiet discipline beats loud ego, and how listening to mentors can save you years of pain in business and in life. We trace his path through private struggles, including divorce and the motel nights where everything he owned lived in his car. Then the phone rang: the NBA, a championship season, and primetime spots with LeBron. When the world shut down, he didn’t wait—he drove school buses and trucks, kept the lights on, and kept his craft sharp. That’s the theme here: survive first, then build bigger. He shares the simple “three tasks a day” system, the power of staying in your lane, and why some seasons demand you build your own table instead of begging for a seat at someone else’s. Elec’s tough-love advice hits home for creators, athletes, and entrepreneurs: train daily, stay humble, and choose your hard. Your gift can make room, but sometimes you need to pick up a hammer and make the room yourself. If you’ve ever battled comfort, feared failure, or wondered when to bet on yourself, this conversation will light a fire under your feet and give you practical tools to move. Subscribe, share with someone who needs a push, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway—what “hard” are you choosing today? Shop: 📖 Book — A Powerful Divorce https://www.bfempowerment.com/powerfuldivorce 🧠 Coaching & Relationship Programs https://www.bfempowerment.com/coaching 💊 Kintsugi Kulture Supplements https://www.bfempowerment.com/supplements 👕 Kintsugi Kulture Beauty https://www.bfempowerment.com/beauty 👕 Kintsugi Kulture Apparel https://www.bfempowerment.com/clothing 🐾 Emotional Support Animal Letters https://www.bfempowerment.com/emotional-support-animal-letter 🎙 Hosted by BF Empowerment Center https://www.bfempowerment.com Follow: @powerfullybroken | @queenblparker | @bfempowerment Therapy: BF Empowerment Center 526 South Main Street Akron, Ohio 44311 Watch Powerfully Broken Podcast airing on Fridays at 9am.

    24 min

  3. FEB 20

    A Bucket Drummer’s Mission To Save Lives Through Music And Grit

    The story begins with loss and lands in purpose. We sit down with world-traveled bucket drummer and MC Elec Simon to unpack how a best friend’s death pushed him to build work that preserves life—school assemblies turned “motivational musical,” community shows that reach kids where they are, and a personal code that values impact over applause. It’s a conversation that blends art, mental health, and mentorship with a clear message: authenticity isn’t a brand strategy, it’s a lifeline. Alex gets real about the lure of clout, the habit of chasing celebrity attention, and the moment he chose to double down on his own voice. That pivot reshaped everything—from booking shows without begging gatekeepers to watching bigger stages open when the work spoke for itself. We explore the uncomfortable math of social media, why most people forget your wins in a week, and how posting what you genuinely love attracts a tribe that sticks. If you’re building a platform in music, education, or wellness, this is a field guide to staying human while you scale. There’s also a powerful detour onto the jiu-jitsu mats: training through travel and injuries, facing fear under arena lights, and winning gold by leaning on pressure, patience, and discipline. Alex draws a direct line from competition to career—turn off distractions, flip the internal switch, and trust timing when a door isn’t your door. Along the way, we spotlight our shared mission to reduce loss from suicide, homicide, and domestic violence, and to replace shame with support through real conversations and consistent action. If purpose, resilience, and honest growth matter to you, press play, share with a friend who needs it, and leave a quick review so more people can find the show. Then tell us: what’s one place you’re choosing authenticity over approval today? Shop: 📖 Book — A Powerful Divorce https://www.bfempowerment.com/powerfuldivorce 🧠 Coaching & Relationship Programs https://www.bfempowerment.com/coaching 💊 Kintsugi Kulture Supplements https://www.bfempowerment.com/supplements 👕 Kintsugi Kulture Beauty https://www.bfempowerment.com/beauty 👕 Kintsugi Kulture Apparel https://www.bfempowerment.com/clothing 🐾 Emotional Support Animal Letters https://www.bfempowerment.com/emotional-support-animal-letter 🎙 Hosted by BF Empowerment Center https://www.bfempowerment.com Follow: @powerfullybroken | @queenblparker | @bfempowerment Therapy: BF Empowerment Center 526 South Main Street Akron, Ohio 44311 Watch Powerfully Broken Podcast airing on Fridays at 9am.

    21 min

  4. FEB 13

    Stop Dating Boys: Choose Respect, Communication, And Accountability

    If love keeps feeling like a storm, maybe the problem isn’t romance—it’s access. We sit down with Apostle Andre Dodson to talk about the kind of boundaries that change outcomes, the difference between truth and omission, and why respect means protecting someone’s heart when no one is watching. Andre brings the lived experience of a father, husband, and community leader to redefine what healthy partnership looks like when you finally choose maturity over chaos. We walk through the early red flags we all rationalize—ghosting, mixed signals, financial leeching—and show how standards clarify who stays and who goes. Andre shares how divorce and single fatherhood forged discipline, from refusing a revolving door at home to modeling restraint and stability for his son. We explore men’s emotional safety, the right to be soft at home, and how shaming vulnerability turns a relationship into a hostile workplace. You’ll hear how “good women help cheaters cheat” by making it easy to hide, and how radical transparency kills suspicion before it grows. This conversation also confronts toxic norms that mistake gentleness for weakness. We talk aligning intimacy with emotional connection, pressing pause on sex during conflict, and building a shared life that values planning, honesty, and spiritual grounding. If you’ve ever dated a “boy” in a man’s body—or felt pressured to perform while starving for real care—this will feel like a mirror and a map. Expect clear language, hard truths, and practical wisdom you can use today to set boundaries, spot red flags, and build a home where both people can rest and rise. If this resonated, follow and subscribe for new episodes every Friday at 9 a.m., share it with someone who needs stronger boundaries, and leave a review telling us the one standard you’re raising this week. Shop: 📖 Book — A Powerful Divorce https://www.bfempowerment.com/powerfuldivorce 🧠 Coaching & Relationship Programs https://www.bfempowerment.com/coaching 💊 Kintsugi Kulture Supplements https://www.bfempowerment.com/supplements 👕 Kintsugi Kulture Beauty https://www.bfempowerment.com/beauty 👕 Kintsugi Kulture Apparel https://www.bfempowerment.com/clothing 🐾 Emotional Support Animal Letters https://www.bfempowerment.com/emotional-support-animal-letter 🎙 Hosted by BF Empowerment Center https://www.bfempowerment.com Follow: @powerfullybroken | @queenblparker | @bfempowerment Therapy: BF Empowerment Center 526 South Main Street Akron, Ohio 44311 Watch Powerfully Broken Podcast airing on Fridays at 9am.

    27 min

  5. FEB 6

    Love Is A Choice, Not A Feeling

    What if love isn’t a feeling to chase but a responsibility you choose every day? We sit down with Apostle Andre Dotson—community leader, father, husband, and repeat guest—to explore how disciplined love outlasts mood swings, why honor dictates access, and how preparation turns heartbreak into wisdom. His candid reflections after divorce reveal a path many skip: the prep season where you assess patterns, rebuild standards, and develop the character to love well. We dig into the Five Ps—proper preparation prevents poor performance—and apply them to relationships, from dating with intention to marriage under pressure. Andre explains how boundaries protect safety and respect, and why he withholds access where there’s no honor. We also tackle a hard reality: women often go silent after asking for change multiple times; by the time comfort is disrupted, it’s usually too late. That insight reframes listening as an urgent skill, not a romantic bonus. The conversation shifts to service as the core of mature love. Andre challenges men to hear needs like prayers to answer, and he challenges women and men alike to stop playing parent-child dynamics in adult relationships. Instead, choose partners who build, not burden—because the wrong choice won’t just waste time; it can wreck your purpose, finances, and peace. We close with practical takeaways on prioritization, reciprocity, and daily habits that keep love steady when emotions wobble. If this resonates, share it with someone who needs a reset, subscribe for more grounded conversations on healthy relationships, and leave a review to tell us the habit you’re choosing to practice this week. Shop: 📖 Book — A Powerful Divorce https://www.bfempowerment.com/powerfuldivorce 🧠 Coaching & Relationship Programs https://www.bfempowerment.com/coaching 💊 Kintsugi Kulture Supplements https://www.bfempowerment.com/supplements 👕 Kintsugi Kulture Beauty https://www.bfempowerment.com/beauty 👕 Kintsugi Kulture Apparel https://www.bfempowerment.com/clothing 🐾 Emotional Support Animal Letters https://www.bfempowerment.com/emotional-support-animal-letter 🎙 Hosted by BF Empowerment Center https://www.bfempowerment.com Follow: @powerfullybroken | @queenblparker | @bfempowerment Therapy: BF Empowerment Center 526 South Main Street Akron, Ohio 44311 Watch Powerfully Broken Podcast airing on Fridays at 9am.

    15 min

  6. JAN 30

    He Thought He’d Die By 25 And Chose To Live For Kids Instead

    The story opens on a fast street where violence felt normal and kids learned to run before they could read the signs. Melvin Cantrell takes us through Edgewood’s split reality—games and laughter on one side, stabbings and speeding cars on the other—and shows how a simple, stubborn no to drugs became the first brick in a new life. He talks about father wounds, the rush of being an athlete with a secret, and the moment friends’ funerals made people say, “We thought you were dead,” forcing a shift from surviving to choosing to live. We dig into the hard parts: learning to read and write after graduation with help from siblings, hiding cars and cash from a mother who knew more than she said, and serving time in a summer boot camp that taught discipline the painful way. Melvin shares how grief counseling and even being typecast as the bad guy in community theater gave him space to process loss, especially after his mom passed. That path, combined with a second-degree black belt, kickboxing, and Tai Chi, became the backbone for his work in behavioral health and the IMPACT program. Fitness isn’t just a career for him; it’s a mental health toolkit—breathing, movement, and structure that help kids pause before the street pulls them under. We also get practical. Melvin lays out the red flags parents miss—sudden upgrades, hidden spending, secretive routines—and makes a case that kids need presence more than privacy. He explains his approach to hands-on parenting, how he stays reachable, and why he’ll leave work if a child calls. If you’re a parent, educator, or mentor trying to keep kids safe, this conversation gives you concrete strategies and a real-world playbook from someone who’s lived both sides. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs it, and leave a review with the biggest red flag you’re watching for right now. Shop: 📖 Book — A Powerful Divorce https://www.bfempowerment.com/powerfuldivorce 🧠 Coaching & Relationship Programs https://www.bfempowerment.com/coaching 💊 Kintsugi Kulture Supplements https://www.bfempowerment.com/supplements 👕 Kintsugi Kulture Beauty https://www.bfempowerment.com/beauty 👕 Kintsugi Kulture Apparel https://www.bfempowerment.com/clothing 🐾 Emotional Support Animal Letters https://www.bfempowerment.com/emotional-support-animal-letter 🎙 Hosted by BF Empowerment Center https://www.bfempowerment.com Follow: @powerfullybroken | @queenblparker | @bfempowerment Therapy: BF Empowerment Center 526 South Main Street Akron, Ohio 44311 Watch Powerfully Broken Podcast airing on Fridays at 9am.

    26 min

  7. JAN 23

    How A Former Teen Hustler Became A Community Apostle

    What does it really take to unlearn a street-made identity and rebuild a life that lifts others? We sit down with Andre Dotson—once a teen hustler in East Cleveland, now an apostle, youth mentor, CCW instructor, and mayoral candidate—to trace the choices, influences, and turning points that shaped his transformation. The story is raw and unvarnished: early drinking at 11, hustling at 12, juvenile life by 14, and the gravitational pull of fast money even after release. Andre credits grace for keeping him out of prison—but he also names the daily discipline and the adults who finally modeled a better way. We dig into the mechanics of influence: how so-called OGs can either funnel kids toward danger or shield them with real opportunity. Andre breaks down why kids crave structure, not chaos, and how consistent boundaries create safety where posturing and peer pressure once ruled. From late-night parties that spiral to violence, to small moments where a mentor shows a teen how to start an LLC instead of carrying a pack, the pattern is the same: environment teaches. We explore youth programs that carve out hours of safety, feed kids, and normalize accountability, and we share a practical framework for teaching consequences without shaming—so a flipped desk becomes a lesson in cause and effect, not a scarlet letter. Parents get a straight answer too: raise your child, don’t be their friend. Love includes the courage to say no, enforce limits, and build habits that outlast the moment. Andre’s idea of being “powerfully broken” reframes pain as a doorway—something has to end for something stronger to rise. If you’re a parent, educator, mentor, or community leader searching for tools to keep kids safe and growing, you’ll find a blueprint here: consistent boundaries, safe spaces, real-world skills, and adults who mean what they say. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs it, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway—what boundary are you recommitting to today? Shop: 📖 Book — A Powerful Divorce https://www.bfempowerment.com/powerfuldivorce 🧠 Coaching & Relationship Programs https://www.bfempowerment.com/coaching 💊 Kintsugi Kulture Supplements https://www.bfempowerment.com/supplements 👕 Kintsugi Kulture Beauty https://www.bfempowerment.com/beauty 👕 Kintsugi Kulture Apparel https://www.bfempowerment.com/clothing 🐾 Emotional Support Animal Letters https://www.bfempowerment.com/emotional-support-animal-letter 🎙 Hosted by BF Empowerment Center https://www.bfempowerment.com Follow: @powerfullybroken | @queenblparker | @bfempowerment Therapy: BF Empowerment Center 526 South Main Street Akron, Ohio 44311 Watch Powerfully Broken Podcast airing on Fridays at 9am.

    21 min

  8. JAN 23

    How A Former Teen Hustler Became A Community Apostle

    What does it take to turn a twelve-year-old drug dealer into a community father who keeps kids safe and seen? Andre Dotson joins us to unpack the hard choices, small mercies, and steady mentorship that carried him from East Cleveland’s street economy to a life spent building structure, courage, and opportunity for the next generation. No gloss, no shortcuts—just the real mechanics of prevention: boundaries that hold, programs that protect, and adults who keep their word. We open with Andre’s early exposure to alcohol, gangs, and fast money, and how juvenile time sharpened his focus without hardening his heart. He lays out a simple code for parents and mentors: say what you mean, mean what you say, and replace bad options with better ones. From teaching kids how to start an LLC to offering a safe room with food and accountability, Andre shows how “real OGs” redirect energy instead of exploiting it. Along the way, we talk about risky parties, late-night decisions, and how a consistent “no” can save a life when attention and affirmation are on the line. If you care about youth violence prevention, fatherhood, mental health, and building safer neighborhoods, this conversation is a blueprint. You’ll hear practical steps for creating safe spaces, setting consequences that stick, and having honest talks about sex, money, relationships, and anger—starting in elementary school. Andre shares where to connect with him and how his work through Civilians Against Violence helps kids be themselves without the mask. Subscribe, share with a parent or mentor, and leave a review with the one boundary that changed your life—your story might become someone else’s turning point. Shop: 📖 Book — A Powerful Divorce https://www.bfempowerment.com/powerfuldivorce 🧠 Coaching & Relationship Programs https://www.bfempowerment.com/coaching 💊 Kintsugi Kulture Supplements https://www.bfempowerment.com/supplements 👕 Kintsugi Kulture Beauty https://www.bfempowerment.com/beauty 👕 Kintsugi Kulture Apparel https://www.bfempowerment.com/clothing 🐾 Emotional Support Animal Letters https://www.bfempowerment.com/emotional-support-animal-letter 🎙 Hosted by BF Empowerment Center https://www.bfempowerment.com Follow: @powerfullybroken | @queenblparker | @bfempowerment Therapy: BF Empowerment Center 526 South Main Street Akron, Ohio 44311 Watch Powerfully Broken Podcast airing on Fridays at 9am.

    21 min
See All (29)

About

Because you don’t need to be perfect to live powerfully. You just need to be you—open, healing, and willing to grow.  Hosted by Barbara L Parker, MA, LPCC-S, CEO of BF Empowerment Center and advocate for healing, this podcast is a sanctuary for anyone navigating life after heartbreak, divorce, trauma, or major life transitions. Each episode dives deep into the real, raw, and often messy journey of healing—with honesty, compassion, and zero judgment. We explore powerful conversations around: Healing from intimate partner violence and toxic relationshipsAuthentic parenting and building stronger familiesMindset shifts that create emotional and financial freedomEntrepreneurship with purpose and resilienceWellness tools that support your mental, emotional, and spiritual health You’ll hear from survivors, experts, change-makers, and everyday warriors—people who turned their pain into purpose and found the power in their brokenness.

Information

  • Creator
    Barbara L Parker MA, LPCC-S, CEO
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    29
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Powerfully Broken
  • Show Website
    Powerfully Broken