Between Love & Lessons: Unfiltered Conversations with Courtney

It’s April. It’s Spring. It’s Resurrection weekend. And it’s my birthday month! So of course I’m excited to be back with another episode of Between Love and Lessons and I’m honored that my dear friend, Albert Tsibu, joined me again for another rich, layered, and intellectually grounded conversation.In this episode of Between Love and Lessons, Albert and I have a layered conversation about legacy, influence, and what it truly means to honor the people and platforms that shaped us. We get into how magazines like Vibe, Essence, and Jet played a role in our creative development, our love for music, and the way we show up as storytellers today.We also explore the tension of honoring what came before us while navigating disagreement, and how respect, perspective, and emotional maturity all play a role in that process. This conversation doesn’t stay on the surface. We talk about conflict, communication, and the importance of being solution-oriented, not just in culture but in our personal relationships as well.At its core, this episode is about recognizing the blueprint, carrying it forward with intention, and allowing yourself the space to grow, evolve, and think independently without dismissing the foundation that helped shape you.As you enjoy this episode, I want to share that I left out an album I’m currently listening to, 6WA, a collaborative project featuring BigXthaPlug, Ro$ama, MurdaGang PB, and Yung Hood. The album is solid, but I personally think it highlights even more that Ro$ama is an artist we should be keeping a close eye on.Don’t forget to share your thoughts about this episode and your favorite songs in the comments!Follow Albert on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tsibuuuu___Follow Induct Aaliyah: https://www.instagram.com/inductaaliyahSign the Induct Aaliyah Petition: https://www.change.org/p/aaliyah-s-induction-to-the-rock-roll-hall-of-fameListen to Albert’s Love Playlist: https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/for-the-love-with-love-in-love-lust/pl.u-zPyLmZXsZpEm7PjCourtney Arlesia’s Aries Season Playlist: https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/these-hxes-mad/pl.u-NpXmoagTLXaz2AFor coaching, consulting, writing, speaking, or interviews, email me at [email protected]. Please note that some episodes will be exclusive for paid subscribersThis Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.© 2026 Courtney A. Clardy. All rights reserved. This post, including all written content, may not be copied, reproduced, or used without express written permission from the author. Intellectual property protection is in effect.Thanks for reading! This post is public so feel free to share it. Get full access to Courtney Arlesia at courtneyarlesia.substack.com/subscribe

It is a new year and I am grateful that I began it surrounded by love. I have been allowing myself to bask in the shifts taking place in my life, embracing rest, welcoming a change of scenery, and leaning fully into the adventures life presents.The first episode of Between Love and Lessons for 2026 marks a beautiful return, and I am joined by my longtime friend Albert Tsibu. Albert is an R&B and hip hop connoisseur and a true student of music and Black culture. He is widely known for spearheading the Induct Aaliyah campaign, advocating for Aaliyah’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Through his Change.org petition and relentless dedication, Aaliyah was inducted into the National R&B Hall of Fame in 2023. His work garnered nearly 11,000 signatures and support from influential voices including Missy Elliott, Maxwell, Jimmy Jam, Tank, and Nicole Ray, with coverage from outlets such as Black Enterprise and Power 105.In this episode, we explore what it means to bring back the love, grounding our conversation in the intentionality of 90s R&B and the timeless music that continues to shape how we understand intimacy, vulnerability, and connection across generations and genres.One of my favorite moments in our conversation is when Albert encourages us to fall into faith and trust the process of surrender without forcing or resisting what God is unfolding. It was a thoughtful and expansive dialogue about love, accountability, vulnerability, and the courage required to let go.This episode is a beautiful reflection on life, music, faith, and the kind of love that feels safe, seen, and sustaining.Don’t forget to share your thoughts about this episode and your favorite songs in the comments!* Follow Albert on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tsibuuuu___* Follow Induct Aaliyah: https://www.instagram.com/inductaaliyah* Sign the Induct Aaliyah Petition: https://www.change.org/p/aaliyah-s-induction-to-the-rock-roll-hall-of-fame* Listen to Albert’s Love Playlist: https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/for-the-love-with-love-in-love-lust/pl.u-zPyLmZXsZpEm7PjFor coaching, consulting, writing, speaking, or interviews, email me at [email protected]. Please note that some episodes will be exclusive for paid subscribers.This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.© 2026 Courtney A. Clardy. All rights reserved. This post, including all written content, may not be copied, reproduced, or used without express written permission from the author. Intellectual property protection is in effect.Thanks for reading! This post is public so feel free to share it. Get full access to Courtney Arlesia at courtneyarlesia.substack.com/subscribe

And in the words of Aaliyah, “it’s been too long and I’m lost without you”. I am being a tinch bit over dramatic, but I truly have missed connecting with you all. I know those of you who have been loving Between Love and Lessons have probably been wondering where I have been.There were moments when I was sick, shut in, and really needing to listen to my body. There were also many moments when I needed to focus on other parts of my growth and successes. I’ve been experiencing wins and so many moments worth celebrating.In this episode, I am catching you up. I am sharing what I have been doing, what I am working on, and of course, a moment of encouragement.Don’t forget that there’s still time to join the Endless Love Circle and participate in my new Fruitful Foundations course. Click here to learn more!Read my recent article with Hearts of Hearts Foundation here.This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.© 2025 Courtney A. Clardy. All rights reserved. This post, including all written content, may not be copied, reproduced, or used without express written permission from the author. Intellectual property protection is in effect.Thanks for reading! This post is public so feel free to share it. Get full access to Courtney Arlesia at courtneyarlesia.substack.com/subscribe

Thank you for your patience with me posting today. I have intentionally been moving with ease and allowing myself to go at a slower pace while still experiencing momentum. Knowing that I can produce even while resting has been a game changer for me. I have been resting and winning and I am not making it up.As you listen to this love note, I briefly reflect on new wins, share more about what to expect with Fruitful Foundations, and offer a word of encouragement that I hope reminds you of how worthy you are not to quit on yourself. Below are the words I share in this episode. Read along with them and really take them in.Keep going, do not give up. Celebrate every win. Do not play yourself small. Everything you do that helps you grow closer to your goals is worth celebrating. Go at your own pace. You get distracted when you worry about what everyone else is doing. Trust me, when your time comes, it is going to feel amazing. You are going to be so proud of yourself.Stay focused. Keep your eye on your prize. Protect what you are building and the things you love. Sometimes the first team you need to build is one full of people who will not let you fall or fail. Let God clear space so He can send you people who do not really play about you. But you also should not play about you.Make decisions that honor you. It might hurt to let that thing go, but once you do, you get what you have always been praying for. You might be feeling lonely, but you are not alone. Go out and enjoy the little things. The little things bring you the peace and joy that you need in your life.I hope to see you in the Endless Love Circle soon and enjoying my new Fruitful Foundations course. Click here to learn more! This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.© 2025 Courtney A. Clardy. All rights reserved. This post, including all written content, may not be copied, reproduced, or used without express written permission from the author. Intellectual property protection is in effect.Thanks for reading! This post is public so feel free to share it. Get full access to Courtney Arlesia at courtneyarlesia.substack.com/subscribe

Oftentimes people and society will try to make you feel small and as if you aren’t good enough if you aren’t trending or if you don’t have thousands and thousands of followers. However, I want to remind us that quantity is less important than impact, engagement, and reach. This podcast episode isn’t to discuss social media metrics. It’s to remind us of our power no matter where we are in our lives. Just because you are “small” doesn’t mean you aren’t mighty. Your one versus someone else’s one million could be even more impactful because of who you are and who your one is. I hope this episode encourages us to stop looking at surface level things and comparing our whole life existence to them and to start realizing that what you are offering in every area of life is more than good enough.Celebrate yourself for every step you take and for every movement you’ve made that progresses you forward. I know that the pressures of life make us feel like we have something to constantly show and prove or that we are always in competition. That is a lie. Well it’s true if you put yourself there.So if you are in fields where numbers seem really important, such as being a content creator, remember this: the person you need to be viewing your work could be in those 100 or fewer views just as well as they could be in 1,000 or more. Trust in yourself, your work, and your network. You will think you are far behind because you don’t have a “viral” post and then suddenly realize you are in divine alignment. Your phone can ring with major opportunities and blessings with no followers or even social media platforms just as much as it could ring with them. You make the difference, who you are, not the ways of the world or societal pressures.As we move through the rest of the year, may your focus shift to what you know you can produce. May what you produce keep you in divine alignment and continuously receiving favor from God and in the hearts and eyes of man. And may you always know that your best is good enough, your effort does produce results, and wherever you are heading in life you can and will get there.I’ll be sharing an announcement soon that will help us move through the rest of 2025 with greater focus and ensure that our foundation is strong, stable, and fruitful for what’s ahead.For those interested in working with me, I offer spiritual and mental wellness coaching and consulting, writing and content creation, speaking engagements, interviews, and more. Email me at [email protected] to learn more!Important Note: Some episodes will be exclusive for paid subscribers to support my work and journey. Thank you to all of you for your love and support.Checkout my interview with The Balanced Woman Podcast: Watch my interview on Boss Women Network Podcast: This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.© 2025 Courtney A. Clardy. All rights reserved. This post, including all written content, may not be copied, reproduced, or used without express written permission from the author. Intellectual property protection is in effect.Thanks for reading! This post is public so feel free to share it. Get full access to Courtney Arlesia at courtneyarlesia.substack.com/subscribe

Sometimes life feels stuck, stagnant, or like failure, but that does not mean you are off track. In this episode, I reflect on being content in your journey, trusting God’s plan, and recognizing growth even when it does not feel visible.I share my perspective on Ruth and Boaz, a story I have been reflecting on all year, and how God’s plan unfolded for both of them. It was not just about Ruth being found by Boaz, but Boaz finding Ruth. I talk about how this story relates to my own life and the ways God’s plan is at work in every part of our journey. I also discuss my plans to watch the upcoming Netflix adaptation starring Serayah McNeill, Tyler Lepley, and Phylicia Rashad, premiering September 26. I look forward to sharing more of my reflections through a Substack article diving more into the themes of Ruth and Boaz and the new movies alignment. You will also learn more about my recent interviews, articles, past + upcoming events, and the growth I am seeing across my platforms. And I have some exciting news, if you loved the 91 Day Fast that I hosted two years ago, then you will love what is coming exclusively on Substack.Overall, I hope this is an episode that you will enjoy and that you walk away with the reminder that it is okay to be exactly where you are.For those interested in working with me, I offer spiritual and mental wellness coaching and consulting, writing and content creation, speaking engagements, interviews, and more. Email me at [email protected] to learn more!Important Note: Some episodes will be exclusive for paid subscribers to support my work and journey. Thank you to all of you for your love and support.This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.© 2025 Courtney A. Clardy. All rights reserved. This post, including all written content, may not be copied, reproduced, or used without express written permission from the author. Intellectual property protection is in effect.Thanks for reading! This post is public so feel free to share it. Get full access to Courtney Arlesia at courtneyarlesia.substack.com/subscribe

In this in-between episode of Between Love and Lessons, I’m sharing a quick word from my heart to yours, because sometimes the smallest reminders can carry the biggest encouragement.This Love Note is a gentle reminder for the moments when the journey feels heavy. It’s about showing yourself compassion, giving yourself room to breathe, and trusting that even when progress feels slow, you are still moving forward. Life doesn’t always unfold the way we expect, but that doesn’t mean you’ve lost your way.This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.© 2025 Courtney A. Clardy. All rights reserved. This post, including all written content, may not be copied, reproduced, or used without express written permission from the author. Intellectual property protection is in effect.Thanks for reading! This post is public so feel free to share it. Get full access to Courtney Arlesia at courtneyarlesia.substack.com/subscribe

I’m Courtney, and this is a space for authentic, transparent, and healing conversations about life, love, and everything in between. In this episode, I introduce Between Love and Lessons and I also share a word of encouragement discussing the story of Sarah from the Bible and how impatience almost cost her God’s promise. Her story reminds us to trust God’s timing.Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not onto your own understanding. God is going to do exactly what He said.Be sure to subscribe and to share this episode with someone you love.Important Note: Some episodes will be exclusive for paid subscribers to support my work and journey. Thank you to all of you for your love and support.Check out my Worry-Free Playlist here.This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.© 2025 Courtney A. Clardy. All rights reserved. This post, including all written content, may not be copied, reproduced, or used without express written permission from the author. Intellectual property protection is in effect.Thanks for reading! This post is public so feel free to share it. Get full access to Courtney Arlesia at courtneyarlesia.substack.com/subscribe