She Did Everything Right w/ Symone' Austin

In this episode of Owning Pleasure As A Black Woman, we sit down with Simone’ — UX content designer turned full-time content creator — for one of the most honest conversations we've had about what happens when you do everything you were supposed to do... and life still falls apart. After nearly a decade in tech, Simone was laid off in 2025. She recorded the moment, posted it, and watched it reach over 700,000 views overnight. But this episode isn't really about going viral. It's about what it means to lose the thing you built your identity around, have to ask for help when you've never done that before, and slowly discover that the version of yourself on the other side is someone you actually like.If you've ever felt like your worth was wrapped up in your job title, struggled to ask for support, or wondered what it would look like to finally choose yourself — this one's for you.📷 Love the video quality in this episode? Simone records using the Acer 4K Webcam — shop it on her Amazon Storefront here.This is an affiliate link. Simone’ may earn a small commission if you purchase through this link, at no extra cost to you.Key Takeaways:Grief looks like guilt: Simone’ shares how losing a job she didn't even cause felt like letting her family down — and what that revealed about where her sense of worth was living.Asking for help is a skill, not a weakness: From getting a roommate to launching a Buy Me a Coffee, Simone’ had to completely reframe what it meant to receive support — and found out people were more generous than she expected.Survival mode can quietly become your ceiling: It wasn't until Simone’ stopped just trying to cover her bills and started asking "what if I actually went for it?" that everything shifted.Watch the Video That Started It All: See the moment Simone recorded her layoff in real time — the video that reached over 700,000 views. And yes, she made $15,000 in 30 days – check out how she did it.Watch on YouTube: Prefer to watch instead of listen? Head over to our YouTube channel to catch the full episode: [Watch it here.]Listen Now: Ready to get inspired? Hit play to hear what becomes possible when the life you planned stops working — and you finally let yourself want something different.Follow Simone:YouTube: youtube.com/@lifeandnumbersInstagram: instagram.com/thelifeandnumbersTikTok: tiktok.com/@lifeandnumbersSubstack: substack.com/@lifeandnumbersLinks Mentioned:Start Your Healing Journey: Ready to stop carrying this alone? Complete the intake form at Javery Integrative Wellness Services to take your next step. [javerywellness.com/get-started]Free 7-Day Self-Care Reset: Not sure if therapy is your next step? Start here. [javerywellness.com/reset]Connect with Us:Instagram: @javerywellnessFacebook: @javeryIWSYouTube: @javerywellnessWebsite: www.javerywellness.com Leave a Review:If this episode resonated with you, please leave a 5-star rating and share what stood out to you in a comment. Your feedback helps other women find this message when they need it most!Music: Mykhailo Kyryliuk via <a href="https://pixabay.com/">Pixabay</a>