Out Here Tryna Survive

Send us Fan MailSubscribe to my Substack: https://substack.com/@outheretrynasurviveGet the Out Here Tryna Survive Journal: https://stan.store/GraceSandraBusiness Inquiries: [email protected] man knows where you live, and suddenly rejection isn’t a simple text, it’s a safety decision. That’s the reality I’m sitting in after letting my guard down with someone I barely knew, then realizing I felt afraid of what he might do when I ended it. That fear sent me straight into a bigger question: what does dating safety even mean for Black women when so much violence comes from the people closest to us?I talk through the Rape Academy news and what it reveals about online misogyny, rape culture, and the way some men organize, teach, and normalize sexual violence against partners. It forces a reckoning with the “not all men” argument, because the issue isn’t statistical comfort, it’s lived risk. When you can’t tell which person is dangerous, you start moving differently. I also share the prayer “Banish the Fantasy of Male Protection,” and why it shattered the leftover belief that patriarchy, religion, or tradition can guarantee women’s safety.We go into the grief and anger of realizing how often male accountability fails, how men protect other men, and what it looks like to opt out of the protector myth while still trying to heal. As a mom raising sons, I get real about pushing back on red pill content, incel logic, and manosphere talking points, and why it can feel frightening even with good kids. I close with what actually helps me process trauma: EMDR, therapy, friends, and intentional journaling as a daily practice to rebuild self-trust.If this resonates, listen, share it with someone who needs a language for what she’s feeling, and please subscribe, rate, and review so more people can find the show.Support the show

Send us Fan MailFifty lessons. Three themes. Zero sugarcoating. I’m celebrating a huge personal milestone with a rapid-fire list of what I’ve learned about sex, healing, and survival while rebuilding my life and learning to trust my body again.We start with sexual healing and body autonomy: why arbitrary dating rules don’t matter as much as consent and safety, how purity culture can train us to ignore our own signals, and why being able to say “do this” or “stop” is a requirement, not a bonus. I talk about pleasure as something we’re allowed to enjoy, how self-pleasure is maintenance, and why sexual chemistry is not the same thing as emotional compatibility. I also get real about aging, perimenopause, and sexual health, because the culture loves to shame older women into silence even when our bodies still want aliveness.Then we move into healing and survival mode: why healing is hard and messy, why it isn’t linear, and why rest sometimes counts as the most courageous step. I share the lessons that helped me set boundaries, stop explaining myself to people committed to misunderstanding me, and take accountability even when I’m triggered. We end with survival truths about compassion fatigue, money stress and the nervous system, the need for community, and choosing abundance over just “getting by.”If any of this hits home, subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find these lessons and feel less alone.Support the show

Send us Fan MailA grown ssa man can say something vile about Brandy on camera, and somehow the loudest anger still lands on the her. That’s the real story I can’t stop thinking about and it’s why I’m speaking on the resurfaced comments about Wanyye Morris and Brandy, who was 16 at the time. I’m not interested in nostalgia or celebrity tea. I’m interested in what our reactions reveal about grooming, consent, and the way purity culture trains people to police girls instead of confronting adult accountability. We get into why “she was old enough” is not just disgusting, it’s a tell. We talk power imbalance, coerced consent, and how grooming often works by making a child feel chosen, special, and safe. I also share personal stories that connect this public discourse to what survivors carry privately, including how an inner child can still feel blamed years later when the internet starts rewriting harm as “her decision.” We name adultification and hypersexualization of Black girls, and why it’s heartbreaking to watch women join in on the pile-on. I ground the conversation in reality beyond celebrity culture, including research on age gaps and teen pregnancy, and I explain why the myth that teen girls are “chasing grown men” keeps predators comfortable. We end with what protection can look like: consent conversations early, honest education, and real healing work, including guided journaling and support for anyone triggered by this topic. If this hit home, subscribe, leave a rating and review, share with a friend, and tell me in the comments what you want me to cover for episode 50.Check out my signature Out Here Tryna Survive Journal: https://stan.store/GraceSandra/p/out-here-tryna-survive-journalSupport the show

Send us Fan MailSurvival mode is sneaky because it can feel like “I’m just handling life” right up until you pause and realize you’ve been white knuckling everything for years. I’m Grace Sandra, and I’m talking about the way trauma, chronic stress, and a cruel culture can plant beliefs in us that sound true but quietly wreck our self-worth, our relationships, and our health.I share a personal story from the years after leaving a severely abusive marriage, when CPTSD, grief, postpartum fallout, financial pressure, and perimenopause collided and I truly believed I wouldn’t survive. From that place, the mind starts looping on lies: I have to do everything alone, rest is laziness, my worth is what I produce, being needed means being loved, and if I stop everything will fall apart. We slow each one down and tell the truth about what it costs, especially for Black women who are constantly expected to be strong, silent, and self-sacrificing.Then we get practical. I explain why journaling and expressive writing are such powerful tools for nervous system regulation, reducing rumination, and challenging the “something is wrong with me” storyline that can come with complex PTSD. I talk guided prompts, simple daily habits like gratitude and affirmations, and how writing helps you name the lie and replace it with something real. If you’re trying to get out of survival mode, this is a gentle place to start.If this resonates, subscribe, share it with a friend who’s carrying too much, and leave a five-star review so more people can find Out Here Trying To Survive. What’s one survival mode lie you’re ready to stop believing?Support the show

Send us Fan MailA man tells me, “You’re not like those other Black girls,” and suddenly the real conversation isn’t about compliments at all. It’s about misogyny, colorism, and the quiet ways “pretty privilege” can become a trap that asks us to shrink other women just to feel chosen. I’m pulling the lens inward and telling the truth from the inside looking out: getting attention is easy, but getting real love can still feel impossible. I take you back to a night when I was a teenager and male attention got so intense it turned into a literal line of men handing me their numbers. It felt powerful until it didn’t. Later, kneeling on my bedroom floor with a pile of scraps of paper, I realized how empty attention can be when it’s disconnected from care, safety, and genuine interest. That moment becomes a mirror for modern dating culture, where “options” stack up fast but emotional availability stays rare. We get into the halo effect, dating psychology, and why attraction often leads to projection. When a man decides he wants you before he knows you, he may love bomb, chase a fantasy, and fight the reality of who you actually are. I also talk about how privilege intersects with race and proximity to whiteness, how social media DMs amplify pursuit, and why power and emotional maturity are not the same thing. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by attention but still unseen, you’re not alone. Subscribe for more honest conversations, share this with a friend who’s navigating the dating streets, and leave a review so more people can find the show. What’s one moment that taught you the difference between being desired and being loved?Support the show

Send us Fan MailThe hardest part of watching the Epstein files dominate the headlines is not the shock. It is the familiar, stomach-dropping feeling of seeing alleged abusers stay protected while victims get ignored. If you are a sexual abuse survivor, that public denial can hit like a flashback, not because you are “too sensitive,” but because your nervous system remembers what it meant to have power used against you with no consequences.I’m Grace Sandra, and I get personal about why accountability matters at a bodily level. I share the story of being sexually assaulted as a child, testifying in court, and the complicated emotions that followed even after my abuser went to prison: shame, guilt, confusion, and eventually relief. We talk about victim blaming, how justice can reduce cognitive dissonance, and why societal validation helps the brain finally register that what happened was real and wrong.Then we zoom out to the bigger power problem: institutions that protect harmful men and the way that protection retraumatizes survivors through helplessness, rage, dissociation, and deep cynicism. To end on something you can actually use, I walk through trauma healing practices that support recovery when the world refuses to do the right thing, including EMDR therapy, meditation, mindfulness, journaling, and building safe relationships while cutting off toxic dynamics.If this resonates, subscribe, share the episode with someone who needs it, and leave a review so more survivors can find this space.Support the show

Send us Fan MailWhat if survival means walking away from what was supposed to save you? Grace opens up about growing up in church, stepping into ministry, and the slow burn of shame that came with purity culture, constant confession, and the pressure to be “holier than thou.” When her marriage and identity cracked, she didn’t lose the sacred—she lost a system that needed her small. This is a raw, grounded journey from evangelical guilt to a freer, embodied spirituality that keeps God and drops control.We explore the difference between conviction and conditioning, and why a faith that shrinks your voice, your body, and your questions cannot be called good news. Grace shares how listening beyond the evangelical bubble, studying on her own, and hearing other women’s stories reframed everything: patriarchy as governance dressed as God, prayer as presence instead of pleading, and holiness as inherent worth rather than earned approval. Along the way, we name the cultural forces at play—Christian nationalism, apocalyptic fear, and the political weaponization of scripture—that have untethered compassion from the very figure who embodied it.If you’re quietly deconstructing, you’ll hear practical anchors: start from inherent value, measure teachings by their fruit, and choose communities that honor agency over compliance. We center Black women’s healing, autonomy, and joy, insisting that true spirituality expands your life instead of shrinking it. Keep the flame and leave the furnace. Hit play, then tell us: what belief are you brave enough to release today? If this resonates, subscribe, share with a friend who needs it, and leave a review to help us reach more listeners.Support the show

Send us Fan MailA stranger’s 5 a.m. DM tried to make me small—attacking my sexuality, my finances, and my motherhood in one breath. What they didn’t expect was how quickly I would choose boundaries, body wisdom, and community over shame. This conversation starts with the gut punch of anonymous cruelty and opens into something larger: why sexually autonomous Black women who ask for help in public unsettle people who rely on control.I unpack how purity culture once trained me to police myself and how perimenopause, therapy, and hard-won healing led me to claim my desire without apology. We talk through nervous system flares, the difference between constructive critique and projection, and the discipline of not feeding the spiral—block, delete, breathe, phone a friend, and return to self. I share the much-speculated Detroit story as a case study in assumptions, and then we get to the heart of it: support without moral tests. My GoFundMe was fully funded, not because I performed respectability, but because people chose care over punishment. That truth breaks a brittle system built on withholding.We also zoom out to a fresh look at America’s Next Top Model: Reality Check on Netflix, asking where accountability lives when power shapes and harms young women on camera. Tyra’s role as mentor and face of the franchise comes into focus, along with what responsibility looks like when the receipts are public and the wounds are real. Across the episode you’ll hear practical tools for stopping rumination, language for rejecting shame, and a reminder that asking for help is not a moral failure. It’s community in action.If you’ve ever been told your sexuality disqualifies you from dignity, motherhood, or support, take this as your permission slip to live ungoverned. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs it, and leave a review to help more people find these conversations.Support the show

Send us Fan MailThe anger you’re feeling isn’t random—it’s a signal. We open up about what happens when survival mode collides with a culture that shrugs at harm, from the Epstein files to everyday silence, and why so many women are rethinking romance, risk, and what safety actually looks like. This is a candid walk through fury, data, and the deep relief that comes with choosing alignment over appeasement.We explore the matriarchy not as a revenge fantasy but as a care-centered blueprint that prioritizes children, community, and the planet. Along the way, a seemingly small DM exchange becomes a case study in how “correction” can slip into control, and why policing a marginalized person’s language often lands like gaslighting. If you’ve ever been told your boundaries are “intellectually unbecoming,” you’ll recognize the moment the window of tolerance snaps shut—and why that’s wisdom, not weakness.From South Korea’s 4B movement to shifting marriage and birth trends, the global signals are clear: women are recalibrating. We talk about midlife data that shows many perimenopausal and menopausal women are happier single, the power of building intentional community over coupledom, and how reality dating shows read differently when you refuse to gamble with safety. Through it all, we keep coming back to one question: where are the loud male allies who name harm without hedging, and what does real partnership require now?Listen for a grounded, unflinching take on modern love, safety, and the quiet revolution happening in women’s lives. If this conversation resonates, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review so more folks can find it. Your voice helps this community grow.Support the show

Send us Fan MailThe mic is on, the map is clearer, and the mission just got sharper. We’re opening Season Two with Survival Diaries—a deliberate turn toward stories that center how Black women survive, heal, and reimagine life in a world that keeps testing our limits. This isn’t about polish. It’s about truth told from a steadier place, where faith can shift and still affirm that God wants us whole.We trace the path from early social posts and mommy blogs to a podcast born after a near‑spiral, then plant a stake in what comes next: intentional storytelling, cultural reflection, and moments to breathe. Along the way, I share a raw work story—public belittling at a post office counter, a 20‑minute tirade over a spreadsheet, and a last‑minute commission yanked to wound on purpose. My body remembered old patterns of verbal and narcissistic abuse: shaking hands, tight chest, sleepless loops. The lesson is simple and hard—if survival costs your nervous system every day, it isn’t survival. It’s self-erasure.So I chose a different cost: boundaries, no‑contact, and walking away despite rent due and court dates looming. Community stepped in where cruelty tried to starve me—support arrived and, with it, proof there are other ways to live than enduring harm. We talk about decentering men, why romance can’t bloom without accountability, and how self‑love can look like closing a laptop and refusing to negotiate your dignity.This season brings guests—Black women at every stage of the journey—plus tools that have helped me heal, including a digital journal packed with prompts and reflective questions. If your nervous system needs a place where your story is honored and your safety matters, you’re home. Press play, share it with someone who needs it, and leave a review so more people can find these conversations. And if you’re a Black woman with a survival story to tell, reach out—your voice belongs here.Support the show

Send us Fan MailThe day already felt heavy—parenting logistics, frayed edges, and no Sunday reset—so we start where real life starts: tired and still showing up. From there, we move into the sharp stuff making so many of us ache right now: Don Lemon’s arrest for “witnessing,” Nicki Minaj’s homophobic attacks, and the public prize of siding with power. The throughline is bigger than celebrity drama. It’s the old playbook of authoritarianism: punish dissenters, criminalize documentation, and loudly reward betrayal so everyone else gets the message.We connect the headlines to the body. When you trade your people for clout, the invoice lands in your nervous system—anxiety, shame, and a hollow “win” that cannot hold. That’s why we talk about PMDD, gratitude, and high-vibration practices as more than self-help; they’re survival tools that keep us regulated enough to tell the truth without burning out. We walk through how platforms amplify bullying, why witness work matters even when it’s risky, and what it means to protect journalists and storytellers who hold a mirror to power.Then we imagine something better. Drawing from a decolonized faith and years of anti-racism work, we sketch a grace-shaped society where repair is real, accountability isn’t performative, and community is the safety net that systems refuse to provide. White folks must do the work with white folks; Black communities deserve to center care, joy, and mutual aid. The most practical takeaway lands close to home: name where you’re self-abandoning, set the boundary that brings you back, and let your people keep you honest.If this conversation steadied you or sparked a boundary you’re ready to set, share it with a friend who needs the reminder, hit follow, and leave a quick review so others can find our community. Your voice keeps this space alive—what line are you drawing today?Support the show

Send us Fan MailYour eyes told the truth, and then the headlines told you they didn’t. That whiplash has a name—DARVO—and once you see how deny, attack, and reverse victim and offender operate, it becomes impossible to unsee the pattern in both intimate relationships and public life. We connect the dots between personal narcissistic abuse and national narrative control, exploring how gaslighting erodes trust in your senses, scrambles your nervous system, and turns outrage into exhaustion.I share hard-earned survivor tools to navigate this moment with clarity and care. We unpack the Minneapolis case as a live example of how stories get spun within hours, then zoom out to the larger system that punishes truth tellers, manages its image, and conditions the public to accept the unacceptable. Instead of feeding the doom machine, we build a plan: set an information diet, refuse trauma loops, block freely, and pick one role—caller, donor, organizer, caregiver, or witness—so your energy touches real people. We talk about why sleep is resistance, how a regulated body is harder to manipulate, and we practice a simple grounding reset you can use today: feet on the floor, long exhale, and the affirmation “We are here and safe enough in this moment.”This conversation is a warm hug of solidarity for Black and brown women carrying too much for too long, and an invitation to stay awake without burning out. If this spoke to you, share it with a friend who’s been doom scrolling into despair, subscribe for more hope-oriented storytelling, and leave a review so others can find their way here. What boundary will you set this week to stay engaged without being consumed?Support the show

Send us Fan MailThe camera rolls, a woman dies, and then the story tries to kill her again. We talk about Renee Good’s killing and the speed with which power moves to rename a victim a threat, turning language into a shield for violence. As Black women, we know this pattern by heart. The harm happens, then the management of the harm—press briefings, headlines, talking points—asks us to doubt our eyes. We refuse that bargain. We grieve without confusion, and we get practical about what comes next.I share why the DOJ’s non-action reads as posture, not neutrality, and how labels like domestic terrorism blur law on purpose. We look at the long history of “law and order” as a tool to justify surveillance, force, and public fear, and we name the cost of that blur: fewer checks on state power and more room for abuse. For white listeners, this is a mirror as much as a map. Organizing is not a slogan; it’s sustained work—roles, logistics, fundraising, safety teams, and local pressure where you actually live. Study what Black organizers have built for generations and put your numbers to use.We also draw a hard line around energy and care. Doom scrolling is wrecking our nervous systems, so we set simple rules: choose two reliable sources, read once, log off. We talk through roles beyond protests—mutual aid, childcare, food banks, mental health support, and raising children who refuse dehumanization. If you do march, plan like it matters: buddies, meeting points, charged phones, shared locations, exits. If you don’t, support those who do. Most of all, we hold memory. They will try to erase what we saw and who Renee was. Don’t let them.If this lands heavy on your chest, you’re not broken—you’re human. Stay informed but not consumed. Stay connected so fear can’t isolate you. And if a Black woman you love is carrying too much, send this her way. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs clarity and care today, and leave a review with the role you’re choosing this week.Support the show

Send us Fan MailHeadlines love a simple story, but real relationships rarely fit clean plots. When Christy filed for divorce and Desmond responded publicly, the internet crowned a villain overnight. We slow down the scroll and ask harder questions: why does a stranger’s breakup cut so deep, what myths about beauty and “being enough” do we keep swallowing, and how do religious rules shape the way people stay, confess, and finally leave?We talk candidly about parasocial grief—how attachment to public couples becomes a mirror for our own hopes—and the dangerous idea that fidelity can be earned through perfection. From there, we examine high-control faith cultures where divorce is framed as failure, endurance is praised over safety, and agency gets outsourced to pastors and communities. Grace shares her personal story of trying to exit under pressure, the costs of “confession” without accountability, and the quiet ways institutions protect themselves while individuals lose themselves.Then we go further. What if monogamy isn’t a moral default but one valid option among many? We explore how ethical non-monogamy, temporary separation with boundaries, and consent-forward renegotiations could reduce harm by normalizing honest conversations about desire and change. The goal isn’t to prescribe a model—it’s to champion clarity, boundaries, and the courage to tell the truth before the internet tells it for you.If the Christy–Desmond news or the Philip Yancey revelation stirred something in you, consider this your invitation to reflect without shame and reclaim your agency. Listen, share with a friend who needs nuance today, and if the conversation resonates, subscribe and leave a review so more people can find their way here. Your stories and questions help shape what we explore next.Support the show

Send us Fan MailYour sexuality is not a community project—and it never needed a committee’s approval. We’re pulling back the curtain on how purity culture, patriarchy, and respectability politics train women, especially Black Gen X women, to carry shame like an heirloom. I share where I’ve judged and been judged, why celibacy and casual sex are both valid when they’re chosen freely, and how agency turns the volume down on everyone else’s projections.We get practical and personal. I walk through the questions I ask before intimacy—am I safe, aligned, honest, and free to change my mind—and tell a story about a surprising, respectful one-night connection that felt calm, clean, and shame-free the morning after. From there, we dive into deprogramming: replacing endurance with consent, building aftercare to release guilt immediately, and dropping the imaginary audience of pastors, aunties, and internet pundits living rent-free in our heads. A woman with sexual agency is hard to control, and that’s exactly the point.Midlife brings its own truths. Perimenopause shifts sensitivity and libido, but pleasure remains powerful: better sleep, lower stress, improved mood, pelvic health, and deeper embodiment. We talk HRT, lube, longer foreplay, sex therapy, and the basics of safety—barriers, testing, clear exits, location sharing, and listening when your spirit says no. Sexual freedom today might be a season of celibacy, a safe friends-with-benefits, or simply self-pleasure without apology. Your body is yours. Your yes is yours. Your no is yours. If this conversation gives you language or relief, share it with a sister who needs to hear she’s not too old, not too much, and not required to be chosen to deserve pleasure.If this resonated, subscribe, leave a review on Apple or Spotify, share with a friend, and grab my book, Grace Axley: Memoirs of Life, Faith, Loss, and Black Womanhood. Then tell me: what belief about sex are you ready to retire?Support the show

Send us Fan MailLet’s tell the truth about a “good, not greatest” year and why it still mattered. We walk through six lessons that rewired how we think about success, love, and healing: movement as medicine for the nervous system, the power of changing your scenery, and why the best highlights might be free. From a poolside summer with my daughter to a hike that started tense and ended in laughter, these small moments outshined the glossy wins and reminded me that you don’t need a new life—you need new inputs.We also get real about relationships. Dating didn’t end in a ring; it ended in peace. Safe experiences built secure attachment, and gentle, mutual goodbyes felt like progress. I share why I chose myself over a future that didn’t fit, what aging and marriage data look like for women, and how attachment spirals turned into therapy, boundaries, and a calmer nervous system. If you’ve ever wondered whether a short romance can still be meaningful, here’s the case for yes.Healing refused to be linear. Money stress stayed loud, but the brain changed. Weekly therapy, long walks, sunlight, and podcasts on mindset stacked into tangible calm. Hormone therapy and finally treating ADHD restored precious focus windows, and with them came a new measure of worth: not output, but aliveness. I talk about launch attempts, burnout, and the choice to unlink capacity from self-esteem. The result is a hopeful, rosterless ending to the year, defined by quiet wins, clearer limits, and a plan to start 2026 with simple, free shifts that actually move the needle.If this resonates, hit follow, share it with a friend who had a meaningful but unremarkable year, and leave a quick review—your words help more people find the show and rethink what a “good year” can be.Support the show

Send us Fan MailA woman is eight minutes from delivery, screaming through a wheelchair ride, and a nurse is still asking about “live births.” That moment—followed by another mother turned away to give birth on the roadside—sparked a raw, necessary conversation about disbelief, danger, and the cost of bias on Black women’s bodies.We trace the throughline from the labor ward to the comment section: how joy gets labeled arrogance, how visibility is framed as provocation, and how a simple hello on a dating app can trigger a stranger’s need to diminish. I share my own birth story and the memories that still burn twenty years later, then connect those memories to a nervous system shaped by chronic dismissal. Hypervigilance isn’t drama; it’s adaptation. When medical staff ignore pain or minimize symptoms, the body flips to survival mode, and over time that stress hardens into complex PTSD—one reason Black maternal mortality and Black infant mortality remain disturbingly high in the United States.We also explore the political stage, where double standards make mistreatment for some a scandal and for others a baseline. Through it all, we honor the resilience of Black women—most educated demographic in America—who keep creating, parenting, leading, and loving in a culture that too often refuses to protect us. This conversation offers language, validation, and practical grounding for anyone who’s felt unseen, along with guidance for raising kids who know their worth and can claim their voice early.If this resonates, subscribe, share with someone who needs it, and leave a review to help more listeners find the show. Tell me: where were you last dismissed, and what would believing you the first time have changed?Support the show

Send us Fan MailA headline asked whether having a boyfriend is embarrassing—and it landed because so many women are done letting public romance define their worth. I take you from “boyfriend land” and early mommy blogging to a new center of gravity where sovereignty, safety, and self-respect lead. As a Gen X Black woman who grew up in church culture, married young, and lived the trad-wife script, I’ve seen how the internet once rewarded hard launches and identity-by-relationship. Now, younger women are choosing privacy, soft launches, and lives not anchored to men. That isn’t cynicism; it’s clarity.We dig into why Gen Z calls relationships a brand risk, the rise of “aura,” and how heterofatalism names the real fatigue of cishet dating. I share why I posted the back of my boyfriend’s head, what protecting our adult kids online looks like, and how choosing to share less can reflect more power. We also talk data: why single women often age happier and wealthier, why men’s outcomes improve with marriage, and how that asymmetry shapes whether marriage, partnership, or a private bond makes sense. The theme running through it all is agency—love as a choice, not a rescue plan.You’ll hear what a sovereign relationship feels like in practice: two full lives, mutual respect, effort and consistency without codependence. We celebrate friendship, community, and mothering as real sites of intimacy, and we reject manipulative “get-his-money” strategies that mirror the worst of patriarchy. Share your joy loudly or guard it quietly—either way, let the center be you. If this conversation resonates, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review with your take: do you hard launch, soft launch, or keep love off the grid?Support the show

Send us Fan MailThe headline said SNAP might pause, and my stomach dropped. Not because of theory, but because of dinner. What follows is a raw, grounded look at who gets hit first when social safety nets fray—women-led households, elders, disabled neighbors, and children—and how Black women absorb the shock long before it makes the news. I share what it felt like to pencil out November with nothing extra, why “just get a job” ignores reality, and how pulling millions from local stores drives grocery prices up for everyone.We go deeper than policy. I talk candidly about mental health, perimenopause, PTSD, and ADHD—and how these shape work, parenting, and capacity. We unpack the Strong Black Woman myth and name the invisible load so many of us carry in silence. Then we get practical: a simple breathing practice to steady your nervous system, small manifestation routines that help your brain find a path, and the boundaries that keep your energy from leaking away. Softness is not surrender; it’s a calibrated form of strength that lets us remain human while the system shakes.You’ll hear the story of growing up hungry, the first years of overeating when food was finally accessible, and why food insecurity leaves fingerprints on our present. You’ll also hear how community care shows up in real life, why asking for help is strategy not shame, and how the Soft Girl Survival System gathers tools—grounding, self-advocacy, and daily energy audits—for women who are tired of being everyone’s backbone. If this conversation lands, share it with someone who needs proof they aren’t alone, subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next, and leave a review with one practice you’ll try this week. Your softness is a strategy. Your joy is resistance. Let’s protect both.Support the show

Send us Fan MailThe moment I stopped needing a relationship, everything changed. After years of pushing through “little t” traumas in the dating pool and holding out hope that the right man would make it all click, a brutal Valentine’s reveal forced a reset. I saw the real pattern: every time I accepted nonchalant energy or waited for potential, I was abandoning myself.I walk you through the exact shifts that followed—clear boundaries, daily self-love you can actually feel in your body, and a short season of singleness and celibacy that sharpened my standards. I cut ties fast when anxiety showed up. I stopped negotiating with mixed signals. I told myself “I love you” every morning and meant it. And then, without the noise of need, I realized something radical: I don’t need men for anything—money, safety, sex, or companionship. That clarity didn’t make me cold; it made me free.From that grounded place, someone new reached out. No pressure. No games. Respect, follow-through, and real conversation. I share how I evaluated green flags, why voice and nervous system cues matter, and how we’re protecting a healthy, chalant connection while it grows. The biggest shift isn’t him—it’s me. Wanting without needing changed my choices, my peace, and the kind of partner I could even notice.If you’re tired of the chase, this is your roadmap: drop nonchalance, practice embodied self-love, and treat brief dating as data. Hit play, then tell me your new non-negotiable. If this resonated, subscribe, share it with a friend who needs stronger boundaries, and leave a review so more people can find the show.Support the show

Send us Fan MailA high school football game ended with an injury—and a prayer. What came next exposed something bigger than sports: the way covert racism hides behind “safety,” outrage, and the performance of white motherhood. When my short clip of my son praying went viral, the internet rushed to judge a 14-year-old Black boy as a criminal, calling for prison instead of proportionate accountability. We walk through what actually happened on the field, how the refs missed it, and how a missed flag turned into death threats, doxxing attempts, and a media circus that prized punishment over truth.I share the uncomfortable pattern I’ve seen my whole life—raised by a white mother in Northern institutions where racism rarely shouts but always signals. We unpack why so many of the most aggressive comments came from white women, how “protect the children” becomes a permission slip for control, and why the carceral reflex lands hardest on Black kids. This isn’t abstract: the comments moved from moral judgment to targeted harm, and we had to draw firm boundaries to protect our family and the students at the center of the story. Along the way, there were bright spots. My son’s calm, thoughtful response reached even farther than the prayer clip, and families began reaching out to make peace beyond the glare of virality.Together, we separate accountability from vengeance, context from panic, and safety from supremacy. We talk practical steps for navigating online harassment, centering kids’ dignity, and refusing unpaid “prove it” labor when the receipts are already public. Most of all, we wrestle with the power of narrative: who gets to be seen as a child, who is cast as a threat, and how those stories shape schools, policing, and the daily lives of Black families. If this resonates, subscribe, share with a friend who cares about racial justice and youth sports, and leave a review to keep these conversations visible. Your voice helps push back against the noise and keeps the focus where it belongs—on humanity, truth, and protecting our kids.Support the show

Send us Fan MailThe feed won’t stop. One more video of a life ending, one more thread turning human pain into content—and our nervous systems keep paying the price. I’m talking frankly about what it’s like to be inundated by violent imagery, how selective empathy fractures trust, and why we need boundaries that protect our peace without blurring our values.I share personal updates from a year of real healing—therapy, Gabor Maté’s The Myth of Normal, The Body Keeps the Score, long walks, and a stubborn commitment to more joy. Then we get into the hard stuff: the public reaction to Charlie Kirk’s death, the gulf between tone and truth, and how civility can be used to launder harm. We unpack why scripture, read inductively, centers the poor, the immigrant, and the vulnerable—and how that lens challenges Christian nationalism’s power plays. We also take on gun violence and why “more guns at schools” is a fear industry talking point, not a safety plan.Most importantly, we map a path back to center. Practical tools include turning off violent videos while staying informed, restructuring your algorithm, claiming a weekly reset day, and using diaphragmatic breathing to steady your body before you act. We talk about following Black women’s leadership for moral clarity, building micro-environments you can control, and treating joy as a strategy that keeps you resourced for the long haul. If you’ve felt torn between staying engaged and staying sane, this conversation offers honest language, grounded perspective, and a plan you can start today.If this resonated, subscribe, share with a friend who needs a reset, and leave a review so more people can find the show. Your support helps this community grow—and helps all of us keep showing up with clear eyes and steady hearts.Support the show

Send us Fan Mail// The Soft Girl Survival System - https://stan.store/GraceSandra/p/the-soft-girl-survival-system //💌SIGN UP FOR MY NEWSLETTER! 💌https://substack.com/@outheretrynasurviveEver felt like you're hanging by a thread, quietly crumbling while trying to hold it all together? This raw, honest conversation dives into what happens when a Black woman reaches rock bottom—and finds her way back.I'm sharing my personal journey from escaping domestic violence through the darkest valleys of complex PTSD, perimenopause, financial hardship, and suicidal ideation. For years, I searched desperately for resources created by Black women who understood these specific struggles, only to come up empty-handed. That search led me to create what I couldn't find: the Soft Girl Survival System.What makes this healing approach different is its foundation in the lived experience of being "down bad"—so down that traditional healing resources feel impossible to implement. When your nervous system is shot, when you can't focus because of ADHD or perimenopause brain fog, when you're parenting alone or drowning in grief—you need tools designed with these realities in mind.The most transformative revelation in my journey wasn't finding external safety or validation, but realizing these must first be cultivated within. Society doesn't provide adequate systems to hold Black women in our pain, so we must create our own. This shift from seeking softness outside myself to embodying it internally changed everything about how I navigate relationships, work, and self-worth.If you've ever felt stuck in survival mode despite trying everything—therapy, meditation, journaling, medication—know that healing is possible on your terms and timeline. You deserve softness, especially when life has been hard. You're allowed to thrive, and you don't need to be perfect to begin.Ready to stop surviving and start thriving? Check out the Soft Girl Survival System in the show notes, designed specifically for Black women navigating trauma, ADHD, perimenopause, and the unique challenges we face. Your healing journey doesn't have to look like anyone else's—it just needs to start📚MY BOOK📚Grace, Actually: Faith, Love, Loss & Black Womanhood🔗 https://amzn.to/2I2uqBE📧 BUSINESS INQUIRIES📧 - [email protected]⚡️CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIAL⚡️📲INSTAGRAM -https://www.instagram.com/grace_sandra_📲TIK-TOK - https://www.tiktok.com/@OutHereTrynaSurvive📲FACEBOOK -https://www.facebook.com/gracesandrawrites🖇AFFILIATE INFO🖇 Affiliate Links included. I only recommend products & services I use myself & love. Using affiliate links helps me & is no extra cost to you.🎶MUSIC🎶All music & permissions provided by: Epidemic Sound.🔗 https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/vm2l9🙏🏾Thank you for watching + liking + commenting + sharing!Support the show

Send us Fan MailConnect with Lily!Website - https://www.bodyintelligenceacademy.comIG: https://www.instagram.com/bodyintelligence_academyHer Medium article-  https://medium.com/@lily_56950/love-bombs-and-red-flags-a-story-about-self-trust-703e50041bbcWhat happens when two women discover they've been manipulated by the same man? In this raw, intimate conversation, we meet Lily - a woman who had a brief encounter with the Grace's ex-husband years before their marriage. When Grace discovered her then-husband was obsessively creating disturbing artwork featuring Lily's face and planning to sell it, she reached out with a warning. What blossomed was an unexpected friendship and a powerful testament to female solidarity.The conversation takes us through the disturbing reality of how manipulative partners create false narratives about former relationships. The host's ex-husband maintained a years-long fixation on Lily, even painting a violent portrait that began as a beautiful image but evolved into something grotesque over time. This obsession became a tool for emotional abuse in his marriage, as he would taunt his wife by comparing her to Lily and suggesting she was trying to imitate her.Beyond the shared trauma, this episode reveals Lily's remarkable journey from professional dancer to somatic coach and creator of the Body Intelligence Collective. Her work helps women reconnect with their bodies through movement, especially after experiencing trauma or disconnection. Lily shares how movement became her pathway to healing after her own divorce, as it allowed her to process emotions that couldn't be resolved through traditional talking therapies.Both women discuss society's tendency to define women by their relationships with men and how they've found strength in rejecting these limitations. Lily explains why she fired a marketing person who insisted on featuring her husband prominently in her business materials, believing women would only be interested in her work if it promised a "happily ever after" with a partner.This conversation offers a message of hope: even from painful experiences, beautiful connections can emerge. As Lily puts it in the closing moments, "Create a quiet space where you can hear yourself...get in nature, and move a little bit. It doesn't have to be a huge movement practice...just be able to hear yourself."📚MY BOOK📚Grace, Actually: Faith, Love, Loss & Black Womanhood🔗 https://amzn.to/2I2uqBE💌SIGN UP FOR MY SUBSTACK NEWSLETTER! 💌https://outheretrynasurvive.substack.com/📧 BUSINESS INQUIRIES📧[email protected]💻MY WEBSITE💻🔗 https://outheretrynasurvive.com⚡️CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIAL⚡️📲INSTAGRAM -https://www.instagram.com/grace_sandra_📲TIK-TOK - https://www.tiktok.com/@OutHereTrynaSurvive🎗SUPPORT🎗💐Support here: https://www.patreon.com/GraceSandra🎶MUSIC🎶All music & permissions provided by: Epidemic Sound.🔗 https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/vm2l9Support the show

Send us Fan MailHave you ever watched a show that unexpectedly cracked your heart open? That's what happened when I watched Netflix's "Forever" - and I'm still processing all the feelings it brought up.This adaptation of Judy Blume's 1975 novel follows two Black teenagers in 2018 Los Angeles through their experiences of first love. But what struck me most powerfully were the parents - particularly Justin's mother with her protective (sometimes "overbearing") love and his father with his perfect balance of firmness and unconditional acceptance. "You will never lose my love," he tells his son in one pivotal moment, and those words illuminated something I've been missing my entire life.As someone raised by a white mother with paranoid schizophrenia and an absent Black father who later abused me, watching these functional, loving Black families on screen created an ache of recognition. I found myself wondering what it would have been like to grow up with that protection, that stability, that unconditional love. Not just theoretically, but specifically - what would my life trajectory have looked like with parents who could create safe spaces for me instead of spaces I needed to escape?This isn't about claiming victimhood or staying stuck in grief. It's about acknowledging our specific wounds so we can heal them. For Black women especially, we're so often expected to be endlessly resilient without acknowledging our pain. But naming our losses matters. And healing happens when we learn to reparent ourselves - offering our inner children the protection, validation, and love they didn't receive.What helps me most is building community with other Black women, pursuing therapy when needed, and focusing on relationships built on mutual respect rather than just chemistry. I'm learning to create the environment I longed for rather than looking for it elsewhere.What small act of kindness or protection can you offer your inner child today? Remember - we can become the parents we wished we had, not just for our children, but for ourselves. Share your thoughts in the comments, and don't forget to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.Support the show

Send us Fan Mail"Why didn't she just leave?" It's a question that reveals how profoundly we misunderstand the dynamics of abuse. Drawing from personal experience as both a childhood sexual abuse survivor and domestic violence survivor, I'm pulling back the curtain on why this question hurts victims and protects abusers.The truth is that leaving an abusive relationship isn't simply a matter of walking out the door. Trauma bonding creates powerful psychological attachments that feel impossible to break. Statistics show the most dangerous time for any abuse victim is when they attempt to leave, with significantly increased risk of severe violence or homicide. When an abuser controls your finances, your career, and has isolated you from support systems, the question becomes not "Why didn't you leave?" but "Where would you go? How would you survive?"Many victims develop learned helplessness after repeated failed attempts to change their circumstances. After experiencing the consequences of resistance – like we've seen in viral videos of abusers violently attacking partners who tried to leave – victims learn that compliance feels safer than escape. This isn't weakness; it's a survival strategy.What's truly devastating is how victim-blaming perpetuates cycles of abuse by reinforcing the abuser's narrative. When we question victims rather than perpetrators, we validate the messaging they've heard from their abuser: that no one will believe them, that they provoked the abuse, that they somehow deserved what happened.If someone trusts you enough to share their experience of abuse, please don't ask why they stayed. Ask what support they need now. Remember that your empathy could be the lifeline that helps them find their way to safety and healing.Support the show

Send us Fan MailThe journey to inner peace often begins in unexpected ways. For me, it started with a desperate search for financial independence while trapped in an abusive marriage. In 2018, I turned to meditation not for spiritual enlightenment but because successful people in an MLM claimed it helped them make money. What began as a practical pursuit transformed into the cornerstone of my healing journey.That first 45-minute guided meditation sent me into the deepest, most cathartic sleep I'd ever experienced—so profound that concerned colleagues and my then-husband couldn't reach me for hours. My traumatized body had finally found permission to truly rest. This moment marked the beginning of a practice that would eventually guide me through leaving my abuser, navigating single motherhood, and managing increasingly complex mental health challenges.From falling asleep during every attempt to gradually building my practice minute by minute, my relationship with meditation evolved alongside my understanding of myself. Walking meditations during work breaks became sacred moments of reprieve from anxiety. Silent morning sessions on my patio became conversations with my inner child and shadow self. This practice—now spanning nearly nine years and hundreds of logged hours—became especially crucial when perimenopause amplified my depression, anxiety, and ADHD symptoms to debilitating levels.As Black women, we inherit expectations of unwavering strength that can make the vulnerability of stillness feel counterintuitive or even frightening. Yet I've found that teaching my nervous system to calm down, becoming attuned to my body's signals, and creating space for quiet introspection are revolutionary acts of self-care. In my darkest moments of 2023, when poverty and hormonal fluctuations led to serious suicidal ideation, meditation remained my pathway to moments of peace.Whether you're struggling with trauma, mental health challenges, or simply the overwhelming nature of modern life, I encourage you to begin with just one minute of stillness daily. You deserve peace. You deserve a calm nervous system. You are worthy of creating moments of stillness in your life—and you may be surprised by how profoundly they transform everything else.📚MY BOOK📚Grace, Actually: Faith, Love, Loss & Black Womanhood 🔗 https://amzn.to/2I2uqBE💌SIGN UP FOR MY SUBSTACK NEWSLETTER! 💌https://outheretrynasurvive.substack.com/📧 BUSINESS INQUIRIES📧[email protected]⚡️CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIAL⚡️📲INSTAGRAM -https://www.instagram.com/grace_sandra_📲TIK-TOK - https://www.tiktok.com/@OutHereTrynaSurvive📲FACEBOOK -https://www.facebook.com/gracesandrawrites🖇AFFILIATE INFO🖇Affiliate Links included. I only recommend products & services I use myself & love. Using affiliate links helps me & is no extra cost to you.🎗SUPPORT🎗💐Support here: https://www.patreon.com/GraceSandra🎶MUSIC🎶All music & permissions provided by: Epidemic Sound.🔗 https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/vm2l9Support the show

Send us Fan MailWhen Tracy Ellis Ross mentioned dating younger men, she faced an immediate wave of criticism and bizarre comparisons to Shannon Sharp – a man facing multiple sexual assault allegations. This glaring double standard perfectly illustrates the misogynoir Black women face when simply discussing their dating preferences.As a 48-year-old Black woman navigating modern dating, I deeply relate to Tracy's perspective. The reluctance many of us feel toward dating older men isn't arbitrary – it's rooted in consistent experiences with men who remain entrenched in outdated values and toxic masculinity. These older men often expect traditional gender roles while lacking the emotional intelligence that healthy relationships require. Meanwhile, they believe their age and financial stability alone should attract partners, without recognizing that respect, progressive values, and emotional maturity have become the new currency in modern relationships.Younger generations of men tend to challenge traditional gender norms, support social justice causes, and demonstrate greater emotional awareness. They're more likely to be allies to marginalized communities and understand the importance of mutual respect in relationships. This isn't about physical appearance or shallow preferences – it's about finding partners whose fundamental values align with our own. The stark reality is that many men over 50 were socialized in eras where women were expected to be submissive and obedient, creating relationship dynamics that feel stifling and unhealthy to independent women today.Dating in 2025 presents unique challenges, especially for Black women navigating spaces not designed with us in mind. But there's freedom in recognizing we deserve partners who enhance rather than diminish our lives – regardless of their age. Whatever your dating preferences, the most important thing is staying true to your values and choosing relationships that bring joy, growth, and mutual respect. After all, we're still figuring out this modern dating landscape together, and there's no single right path for everyone.How do you navigate age differences in your relationships? Do you find generational values impact your dating choices?📚MY BOOK📚 Grace, Actually: Faith, Love, Loss & Black Womanhood🔗 https://amzn.to/2I2uqBE💌SIGN UP FOR MY SUBSTACK NEWSLETTER! 💌https://outheretrynasurvive.substack.com/📧 BUSINESS INQUIRIES📧 [email protected]💻MY WEBSITE💻 🔗 https://outheretrynasurvive.com⚡️CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIAL⚡️📲INSTAGRAM -https://www.instagram.com/grace_sandra_📲TIK-TOK - https://www.tiktok.com/@OutHereTrynaSurvive🖇AFFILIATE INFO🖇Affiliate Links included. I only recommend products & services I use myself & love. Using affiliate links helps me & is no extra cost to you.🎗SUPPORT🎗 💐Support here: https://www.patreon.com/GraceSandra🎶MUSIC🎶All music & permissions provided by: Epidemic Sound.🔗 https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/vm2l9Support the show

Send us Fan MailThat voice inside your head telling you something feels off? It might be your inner child trying to protect you from making painful mistakes. In this deeply personal episode, I share how a seemingly perfect romantic connection triggered a surprising healing journey that saved me from potential heartbreak.After 20 years of marriage followed by dating in my 40s, I found myself experiencing an electric connection with a younger man. Despite our incredible chemistry, aligned worldviews, and mutual respect, my body kept sending intense anxiety signals whenever we weren't together. During one sleepless night beside him, my inner child spoke with startling clarity: "I feel like you're going to hurt me. I feel like you're going to abandon me."What unfolded was an unexpectedly perfect example of how inner child healing work can protect us when we listen to those internal warnings. Though brief, this dating experience revealed how childhood abandonment wounds still influenced my adult relationships - and how acknowledging them allowed me to make choices aligned with my true needs rather than temporary desires.The beauty in this story isn't just about avoiding heartbreak. It reveals how far I've come in my healing journey, having moved from someone who once told her inner child to "shut up" before making life-altering mistakes, to someone who can hear, honor, and protect that vulnerable part of myself. For Black women especially, this inner child work creates sacred space for self-compassion in a world that often denies us gentleness.Whether you're dating, healing from past trauma, or simply trying to understand why certain situations trigger intense emotions, this episode offers practical journal prompts and visualization techniques to help you connect with your inner child. Because sometimes the wisest guide for your future is the part of you that still remembers what it felt like to be small and unprotected.📚MY BOOK📚Grace, Actually: Faith, Love, Loss & Black Womanhood🔗 https://amzn.to/2I2uqBE💌SIGN UP FOR MY SUBSTACK NEWSLETTER! 💌https://outheretrynasurvive.substack.com/📧 BUSINESS INQUIRIES📧[email protected]💻MY WEBSITE💻🔗 https://outheretrynasurvive.com⚡️CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIAL⚡️📲INSTAGRAM -https://www.instagram.com/grace_sandra_📲TIK-TOK - https://www.tiktok.com/@OutHereTrynaSurvive📲FACEBOOK -https://www.facebook.com/gracesandrawrites📲TWITTER - https://mobile.twitter.com/Grace_Sandra_🖇AFFILIATE INFO🖇Affiliate Links included. I only recommend products & services I use myself & love. Using affiliate links helps me & is no extra cost to you.🎗SUPPORT🎗💐Support here: https://www.patreon.com/GraceSandra🎶MUSIC🎶All music & permissions provided by: Epidemic Sound.🔗 https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/vm2l9Support the show

Send us Fan MailWhat happens when you walk the opposite path of the "influencer to evangelical pipeline"? As someone who spent 16 years as a minister with a nearly-completed Master's of Divinity, my journey away from evangelicalism toward a more liberated spirituality offers a powerful counternarrative to what we often see in today's culture.The evangelical world I inhabited taught me I was fundamentally flawed—a "worm" in need of constant redemption. This theology created an environment where shame, guilt, and hopelessness flourished despite my genuine love for God. I felt trapped in a system where my happiness depended entirely on divine whim rather than my own agency or choices. The breaking point came when I realized I couldn't sustain the weight of perpetual inadequacy, especially within a troubled marriage and restrictive ministry.My spiritual evolution didn't mean abandoning faith—rather, it meant expanding it. I discovered that principles of manifestation and the law of attraction could coexist beautifully with my Christian beliefs. God created natural laws like gravity; why not also laws governing how our thoughts shape reality? This revelation transformed how I approach gratitude, sexuality, and hope itself. Instead of deferring joy to some heavenly future, I began experiencing divine love and abundance in the present moment.The contrast between my former and current spiritual understanding is perhaps most evident in my relationship with my body and sexuality. Evangelical purity culture created unbearable shame around natural desires, while my current understanding celebrates sexuality as a divine gift meant for pleasure and connection within contexts of safety and consent. This liberation hasn't made me "apostate" as some might claim—it's brought me closer to the God who created pleasure itself.For anyone navigating their own spiritual deconstruction or questioning rigid religious frameworks, know that curiosity is sacred.Ready to explore more? Follow my Substack "Out Here Thriving" where I continue unpacking these themes, and check out my book "Grace Actually: Memoirs of Love, Faith, Loss, and Black Womanhood."📚MY BOOK📚Grace, Actually: Faith, Love, Loss & Black Womanhood🔗 https://amzn.to/2I2uqBE💌SIGN UP FOR MY NEWSLETTER! 💌https://outheretrynasurvive.substack.com/📧 BUSINESS INQUIRIES📧 [email protected]⚡️CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIAL⚡️📲INSTAGRAM -https://www.instagram.com/grace_sandra_📲TIK-TOK - https://www.tiktok.com/@OutHereTrynaSurvive📲FACEBOOK -https://www.facebook.com/gracesandrawrites📲TWITTER - https://mobile.twitter.com/Grace_Sandra_Affiliate Links included. I only recommend products & services I use myself & love. Using affiliate links helps me & is no extra cost to you.💐Support here: https://www.patreon.com/GraceSandraAll music & permissions provided by: Epidemic Sound.🔗 https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/vm2l9Support the show

Send us Fan MailBlack women across America are drawing boundaries and prioritizing self-care as they "quiet quit" a country that has historically demanded their emotional labor while offering little in return. This revolutionary act of self-preservation represents a profound shift in how Black women approach their relationship with America.• Recognizing the roots of the "strong Black woman" trope and its harmful impact• Setting personal boundaries about which battles to fight and which to pass on• Deciding in advance when to speak up against injustice without sacrificing personal wellbeing• Creating space for healing by intentionally seeking out Black spaces and community• Replacing activism burnout with meaningful self-care practices like meditation and journaling• Challenging the expectation that Black women must be America's saviors and caretakers• Prioritizing friendships with other Black women as a source of understanding and validation• Setting small, realistic personal goals instead of carrying the burden of fixing societyWe are not this country's mammy, point blank and period. Subscribe to my YouTube channel called "Out Here Trying to Survive" and follow me on all socials with the same name. Please leave a review on Apple Podcasts!📚MY BOOK📚Grace, Actually: Faith, Love, Loss & Black Womanhood🔗 https://amzn.to/2I2uqBE💌SIGN UP FOR MY NEWSLETTER! 💌https://outheretrynasurvive.substack.com/📧 BUSINESS INQUIRIES📧[email protected]💐SUBSCRIBE TO MY PODCAST INNER CIRCLEhttps://www.buzzsprout.com/2160787/supporters/new💻MY WEBSITE💻🔗 https://outheretrynasurvive.com⚡️CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIAL⚡️📲INSTAGRAM -https://www.instagram.com/grace_sandra_📲TIK-TOK - https://www.tiktok.com/@OutHereTrynaSurvive📲FACEBOOK -https://www.facebook.com/gracesandrawrites📲TWITTER - https://mobile.twitter.com/Grace_Sandra_🖇AFFILIATE INFO🖇Affiliate Links included. I only recommend products & services I use myself & love. Using affiliate links helps me & is no extra cost to you.🎗SUPPORT🎗💐Support here: https://www.patreon.com/GraceSandra🎶MUSIC🎶All music & permissions provided by: Epidemic Sound.🔗 https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/vm2l9Support the show

Send us Fan MailThe accusations of narcissism against Meghan Markle have reached a fever pitch, but do any of them hold water? As someone who survived severe narcissistic abuse and later coached other survivors, I bring a uniquely qualified perspective to this conversation.When researching my previous episode about Meghan's new ventures, I discovered an entire ecosystem of content dedicated to labeling her a narcissist. However, after examining the top five claims against her—that she "manipulated" Harry to leave the UK, "love bombed" him, "can't take criticism," has an excessive "love for attention," and is "manipulative"—I found nothing but conjecture, projection, and thinly veiled racism.The truth is far simpler: Harry himself has repeatedly stated his desire to leave royal life predated meeting Meghan. Having watched his mother's destruction at the hands of tabloid media, he was determined not to let history repeat itself. Yet critics refuse to take his words at face value, instead constructing elaborate narratives that strip him of agency and paint Meghan as a master manipulator.What's particularly troubling is how these accusations reveal the intersection of racism and misogyny. When Meghan speaks about experiencing racism, she's accused of "race baiting." When she pursues creative projects (as she did before meeting Harry), she's labeled attention-seeking. The royal family's documented deceptions and manipulations are overlooked, while Meghan is scrutinized for every facial expression and word choice.Real narcissistic personality disorder causes irreparable damage to relationships and leaves verifiable patterns of harm. As someone intimately familiar with these patterns, I see no evidence of them in Meghan's behavior—only in the obsessive hatred directed at her by people who've never met her.What are your thoughts on this controversy? Have you noticed how differently Meghan is treated compared to other public figures? Join the conversation and subscribe to my new newsletter "Out Here Thriving" for more perspectives on navigating life's challenges.Sign up here: https://outheretrynasurvive.substack.com/📚MY BOOK📚Grace, Actually: Faith, Love, Loss & Black Womanhood🔗 https://amzn.to/2I2uqBE💌SIGN UP FOR MY NEWSLETTER! 💌https://outheretrynasurvive.substack.com/📧 BUSINESS INQUIRIES📧[email protected]💐SUBSCRIBE TO MY PODCAST INNER CIRCLEhttps://www.buzzsprout.com/2160787/supporters/new💻MY WEBSITE💻🔗 https://outheretrynasurvive.com⚡️CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIAL⚡️📲INSTAGRAM -https://www.instagram.com/grace_sandra_📲TIK-TOK - https://www.tiktok.com/@OutHereTrynaSurvive📲FACEBOOK -https://www.facebook.com/gracesandrawrites📲TWITTER - https://mobile.twitter.com/Grace_Sandra_🖇AFFILIATE INFO🖇Affiliate Links included. I only recommend products & services I use myself & love. Using affiliate links helps me & is no extra cost to you.🎗SUPPORT🎗💐Support here: https://www.patreon.com/GraceSandra🎶MUSIC🎶All music & permissions provided by: Epidemic Sound.🔗 https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/vm2l9🙏🏾Thank you for watching + liking + commenting + sharing!🤎🤎🤎Love you, OHTS Fam! 🤎🤎🤎❤️‍🩹,GraceSupport the show

Send us Fan MailWhen you strip away the noise surrounding Meghan Markle's Netflix show "With Love Megan," what emerges is a powerful narrative about a woman reclaiming her identity after trauma. Before becoming a royal, Meghan had a lifestyle blog and philanthropic pursuits that she was forced to abandon. Now, freed from those constraints, she's returned to her authentic creative self—and it's beautiful to witness.The vitriol directed at Meghan reveals something troubling about how society responds to Black women who refuse to stay in their "assigned" places. The cooking show, with its whimsical edible flowers and casual conversations, represents more than just lifestyle content—it's a declaration that she survived the racist attacks of British tabloids and emerged with her joy intact.As someone who understands aspects of Meghan's experience as a light-skinned biracial woman, I see the subtle racism beneath complaints about "unrelatability." Yes, her Montecito garden and royal connections aren't everyday reality for most of us, but rejecting content solely because a Black woman dares to occupy traditionally white spaces says more about the critics than the content itself.What we can learn from Meghan is resilience, authenticity, and the courage to define yourself rather than letting others define you. When she says "I'm gonna do it my way," it's a lesson for all of us struggling under expectations that dim our light. Her journey reminds us to rediscover what brings us joy and pursue it relentlessly, regardless of criticism.Don't let haters determine your path. Whether you're preparing elaborate meals with edible flowers or pursuing other creative passions, the act of living authentically despite opposition is revolutionary. What would your life look like if you followed Meghan's example and refused to let others dictate your worth?📚MY BOOK📚Grace, Actually: Faith, Love, Loss & Black Womanhood🔗 https://amzn.to/2I2uqBE💌SIGN UP FOR MY NEWSLETTER! 💌https://www.outheretrynasurvive.com/newslettersignup📧 BUSINESS INQUIRIES📧[email protected]💐SUBSCRIBE TO MY PODCAST INNER CIRCLEhttps://www.buzzsprout.com/2160787/supporters/new💻MY BLOG💻🔗 https://outheretrynasurvive.com⚡️CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIAL⚡️📲INSTAGRAM -https://www.instagram.com/grace_sandra_📲TIK-TOK - https://www.tiktok.com/@OutHereTrynaSurvive📲FACEBOOK -https://www.facebook.com/gracesandrawrites📲TWITTER - https://mobile.twitter.com/Grace_Sandra_🖇AFFILIATE INFO🖇Affiliate Links included. I only recommend products & services I use myself & love. Using affiliate links helps me & is no extra cost to you.🎗SUPPORT🎗💐Support here: https://www.patreon.com/GraceSandra🎶MUSIC🎶All music & permissions provided by: Epidemic Sound.🔗Support the show

Send us Fan MailHave you ever felt like life knocked you flat, leaving you to start over when everyone else seems firmly established? You're not alone in that journey of rebuilding.At 48, I found myself making just $10,000 a year after once having a stable career, retirement savings, and a home. The crushing weight of feeling "behind" where society says I should be had me questioning my worth on the darkest days. Between divorce, mental health struggles, and periods of financial insecurity that had me skipping meals so my kids could eat, I've faced the brutal reality of starting over in midlife.What I've discovered through this process is that the metrics we use to measure our lives are fundamentally flawed. Society tells us that by certain ages, we should have specific achievements checked off: career stability, property ownership, financial security. But these markers ignore the complex realities of trauma, systemic barriers, health challenges, and the unpredictable nature of life itself.The most transformative shift happened when I stopped seeing myself as a "loser" and recognized myself as a survivor. This isn't just a semantic difference – it fundamentally changes how we value ourselves and our journeys. Survivors acknowledge their resilience, honor their capacity to endure, and recognize that continuing forward takes immense courage. Your achievements, whatever they may be, are testament to your determination to keep going.Whether you're rebuilding after divorce, career setbacks, health challenges, or other life upheavals, remember that your timeline is your own. The unaccomplished life isn't a permanent condition – it's simply a chapter in an ongoing story of reinvention. Your worth exists independently of your bank account, job title, or relationship status, and recognizing this truth is the first step toward creating a future aligned with who you truly are.Sign up for my newsletter "Not Just Surviving But Thriving" on my website where we'll explore how to move beyond mere survival into a life of possibility and purpose. Because no matter where you are in your journey, it's never too late to become the best version of yourself that's ever existed.📚MY BOOK📚Grace, Actually: Faith, Love, Loss & Black Womanhood🔗 https://amzn.to/2I2uqBE💌SIGN UP FOR MY NEWSLETTER! 💌https://www.outheretrynasurvive.com/newslettersignup📧 BUSINESS INQUIRIES📧[email protected]⚡️CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIAL⚡️📲INSTAGRAM -https://www.instagram.com/grace_sandra_📲TIK-TOK - https://www.tiktok.com/@OutHereTrynaSurvive📲FACEBOOK -https://www.facebook.com/gracesandrawrites📲TWITTER - https://mobile.twitter.com/Grace_Sandra_🎶MUSIC🎶All music & permissions provided by: Epidemic Sound.🔗 https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/vm2l9Support the show

Send us Fan MailWhat if you could transform your harsh inner critic into a voice of warmth and understanding? Join me, Grace Sandra, on a heartfelt exploration of self-compassion, where I reveal the deeply personal journey that shifted my perspective from self-criticism to self-kindness. Through this episode, we unpack common misconceptions surrounding self-compassion and learn how it can be a practical, daily practice, especially for black women facing life's myriad challenges.Reflecting on my own experiences, I delve into the roots of negative self-talk that sprouted in my childhood, shaped by familial interactions and racial dynamics. Growing up in a racially diverse family presented its unique challenges, which influenced my self-perception and beliefs about my intelligence. I share poignant stories from my family life, including the complex relationship with my mother and the impact of derogatory remarks from my brother. These narratives illuminate how early experiences can shape us and how self-compassion can help rewrite these internal scripts in adulthood.Guided by the wisdom of my late counselor, Dr. Angie Hershey, I discuss the power of therapy in overcoming internalized shame and embracing self-kindness. This episode highlights the necessity of being "at home with yourself" and the transformative effect of self-compassion on resilience and emotional regulation. We explore practical steps to cultivate this vital practice, leading to healthier relationships and a stronger sense of self-worth. Tune in to discover how recognizing shared humanity and silencing the harsh inner critic can usher in healing, personal growth, and a profound sense of acceptance.📚MY BOOK📚Grace, Actually: Faith, Love, Loss & Black Womanhood🔗 https://amzn.to/2I2uqBE💌SIGN UP FOR MY NEWSLETTER! 💌https://www.outheretrynasurvive.com/newslettersignup📧 BUSINESS INQUIRIES📧[email protected]💐SUBSCRIBE TO MY PODCAST INNER CIRCLEhttps://www.buzzsprout.com/2160787/supporters/new💻MY BLOG💻🔗 https://outheretrynasurvive.com⚡️CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIAL⚡️📲INSTAGRAM -https://www.instagram.com/grace_sandra_📲TIK-TOK - https://www.tiktok.com/@OutHereTrynaSurvive📲FACEBOOK -https://www.facebook.com/gracesandrawrites📲TWITTER - https://mobile.twitter.com/Grace_Sandra_🖇AFFILIATE INFO🖇Affiliate Links included. I only recommend products & services I use myself & love. Using affiliate links helps me & is no extra cost to you.🎗SUPPORT🎗💐Support here: https://www.patreon.com/GraceSandra🎶MUSIC🎶All music & permissions provided by: Epidemic Sound.🔗 https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/vm2l9🙏🏾Thank you for watching + liking + commenting + sharing!🤎🤎🤎Love you, OHTS Fam! 🤎Support the show

Send us Fan MailCan a powerful group of women change the political landscape of a nation? In this episode, I explore how Black women have consistently been at the forefront of political activism in the United States. With the startling statistic of 92% of Black women supporting Doug Jones in Alabama, I delve into the critical role they play in pushing back against alarming executive actions. As part of our discussion, I bring to light the importance of resilience and solidarity, reminding us of the collective strength needed to navigate these tumultuous times.Personal well-being and community building take center stage as I unpack the emotional and physical toll of activism on Black women. History shows us that while Black women lead social justice movements, they often do so without sufficient support. I share cautionary tales, like that of Eric Garner's daughter, to highlight the dire need for self-care and community-centric efforts. As social services dwindle, mutual aid becomes a lifeline, and I emphasize the necessity of balancing activism with nurturing our own health and well-being.I recount my own journey towards a healthier lifestyle, highlighting key areas like physical health, relationship-building, financial stability, and mental well-being. Through personal stories, I encourage listeners to embrace change, manage stress, and focus on self-growth. This episode is not just a call for empowerment but a guide to readiness, arming listeners, especially Black women, with the tools to face future challenges. LINKS & THINGS...📚MY BOOK📚Grace, Actually: Faith, Love, Loss & Black Womanhood🔗 https://amzn.to/2I2uqBE💌SIGN UP FOR MY NEWSLETTER! 💌https://www.outheretrynasurvive.com/newslettersignup📧 BUSINESS INQUIRIES📧[email protected]💐SUBSCRIBE TO MY PODCAST INNER CIRCLEhttps://www.buzzsprout.com/2160787/supporters/new💻MY BLOG💻🔗 https://outheretrynasurvive.com⚡️CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIAL⚡️📲INSTAGRAM -https://www.instagram.com/grace_sandra_📲TIK-TOK - https://www.tiktok.com/@OutHereTrynaSurvive📲FACEBOOK -https://www.facebook.com/gracesandrawrites📲TWITTER - https://mobile.twitter.com/Grace_Sandra_🖇AFFILIATE INFO🖇Affiliate Links included. I only recommend products & services I use myself & love. Using affiliate links helps me & is no extra cost to you.🎗SUPPORT🎗💐Support here: https://www.patreon.com/GraceSandra🎶MUSIC🎶All music & permissions provided by: Epidemic Sound.🔗 https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/vm2l9🙏🏾Thank you for watching + liking + commenting + sharing!🤎🤎🤎Love you, OHTS Fam! 🤎🤎🤎❤️‍🩹,GraceSupport the show

Send us Fan MailIn episode 15, I'm exploring the journey of reclaiming one's voice after experiencing trauma. Sharing my personal story of abuse, the deep-rooted effects of silence, and actionable steps to empower YOU to find your authentic selves. In this episode I'm covering...• The silence around trauma and its impact on self-worth  • Recognizing signs of a silenced voice  • The importance of self-compassion and patience in healing  • Practical steps for expressing emotions and setting boundaries  • The ongoing journey of reclaiming one's voice and celebrating resilience  • Encouragement for sharing experiences and finding community support📚MY BOOK📚Grace, Actually: Faith, Love, Loss & Black Womanhood🔗 https://amzn.to/2I2uqBE💌SIGN UP FOR MY NEWSLETTER! 💌https://www.outheretrynasurvive.com/newslettersignup📧 BUSINESS INQUIRIES📧[email protected]💐SUBSCRIBE TO MY PODCAST INNER CIRCLEhttps://www.buzzsprout.com/2160787/supporters/new💻MY BLOG💻🔗 https://outheretrynasurvive.com⚡️CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIAL⚡️📲INSTAGRAM -https://www.instagram.com/grace_sandra_📲TIK-TOK - https://www.tiktok.com/@OutHereTrynaSurvive📲FACEBOOK -https://www.facebook.com/gracesandrawrites📲TWITTER - https://mobile.twitter.com/Grace_Sandra_🖇AFFILIATE INFO🖇Affiliate Links included. I only recommend products & services I use myself & love. Using affiliate links helps me & is no extra cost to you.🎗SUPPORT🎗💐Support here: https://www.patreon.com/GraceSandra🎶MUSIC🎶All music & permissions provided by: Epidemic Sound.🔗 https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/vm2l9🙏🏾Thank you for watching + liking + commenting + sharing!🤎🤎🤎Love you, OHTS Fam! 🤎🤎🤎❤️‍🩹,GraceGET TO KNOW ME//Age: 47//I swear //Enneagram 7(6w)//3 kiddos: 19, 15 & 8 yrs. old//Heritage: Black American + Italian//Twice Divorced. Now happily in love myself. 🤎//Sexual, Verbal, Rape, Narcissistic Domestic Violence SURVIVOR.//Body Positive + Sex Positive//Black Lives Matter Activist//Mental Health Advocate//Diagnosed ADHD, PMDD & CPTSD SURVIVOR//Healing from Complex PTSD using EMDR therapy//Liberal, Jesus-following, justice oriented, feminist, inclusive, divesting + decolonizing from Evangelical Christianity//Mental Health Advocate, Writer, Speaker, podcaster, TikTok'er & YouTuber…& yes I believe in prayer AND manifesting! ✨✨✨✨Support the show

Send us Fan MailHave you ever found yourself trapped in a cycle of love and pain that you just can't seem to escape? Join me, Grace Sandra, as I uncover the truth behind trauma bonds and why breaking free is so much harder than it seems. Sharing my own journey through a manipulative relationship, I reveal the addictive cycle of abuse and affection that binds victims to their abusers. This episode challenges the oversimplified narratives often touted by pop psychology, urging listeners to seek deeper understanding and authentic healing.Social media is flooded with catchy, feel-good advice, but is it really helping? Together, we'll explore the complexities of trauma and the misleading nature of pop psychology, particularly when it comes to issues like narcissistic abuse. I dive into the importance of therapy, meditation, and self-education in my healing journey. Discover why relying on evidence-based practices and being discerning with online content is crucial for moving beyond mere survival to true emotional well-being.Embracing negative emotions is not a sign of weakness but a necessary step towards authentic healing. In this empowering episode, I encourage listeners to reject the "good vibes only" mindset and instead embrace the full spectrum of their emotions. As we journey together, I extend a heartfelt message of solidarity and strength, reminding you that you are not alone in this. Share your own experiences with pop psychology by reaching out via the email provided, and let’s continue to build a community of resilience and support.Support the show

Send us Fan MailIn today's episode we're talmout setting intentions for the entire year using just one word. I'm sharing a little bit of my tumultuous journey of the past few years & how I've gotten through it.BOOK MENTIONED: Shonda Rimes, The Year of Yes - https://amzn.to/3WuHnYd📚MY BOOK📚Grace, Actually: Faith, Love, Loss & Black Womanhood🔗 https://amzn.to/2I2uqBE💌SIGN UP FOR MY NEWSLETTER! 💌https://www.outheretrynasurvive.com/newslettersignup📧 BUSINESS INQUIRIES📧[email protected]💐SUBSCRIBE TO MY PODCAST INNER CIRCLEhttps://www.buzzsprout.com/2160787/supporters/new💻MY BLOG💻🔗 https://outheretrynasurvive.com⚡️CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIAL⚡️📲INSTAGRAM -https://www.instagram.com/grace_sandra_📲TIK-TOK - https://www.tiktok.com/@OutHereTrynaSurvive📲FACEBOOK -https://www.facebook.com/gracesandrawrites📲TWITTER - https://mobile.twitter.com/Grace_Sandra_🖇AFFILIATE INFO🖇Affiliate Links included. I only recommend products & services I use myself & love. Using affiliate links helps me & is no extra cost to you.🎗SUPPORT🎗💐Support here: https://www.patreon.com/GraceSandra🎶MUSIC🎶All music & permissions provided by: Epidemic Sound.🔗 https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/vm2l9🙏🏾Thank you for watching + liking + commenting + sharing!🤎🤎🤎Love you, OHTS Fam! 🤎🤎🤎❤️‍🩹,GraceGET TO KNOW ME//Age: 47//I swear a //Enneagram 7(6w)//3 kiddos: 19, 15 & 8 yrs. old//Heritage: Black American + Italian//Twice Divorced. Now happily in love myself. 🤎//Sexual, Verbal, Rape, Narcissistic Domestic Violence SURVIVOR.//Body Positive + Sex Positive//Black Lives Matter Activist//Mental Health Advocate//Diagnosed ADHD, PMDD & CPTSD SURVIVOR//Healing from Complex PTSD using EMDR therapy//Liberal, Jesus-following, justice oriented, feminist, inclusive, divesting + decolonizing from Evangelical Christianity//Mental Health Advocate, Writer, Speaker, podcaster, TikTok'er & YouTuber…& yes I believe in prayer AND manifesting! ✨✨✨✨Support the show

Send us Fan MailBook mentioned: The Body is Not an Apology - https://amzn.to/3W8IDAe🌳MY LINKTREE🌳https://linktr.ee/Outheretrynasurvive📺 WATCH MY PODCAST on YouTube  @OutHereTrynaSurvive📺💌SIGN UP FOR MY NEWSLETTER! 💌https://www.outheretrynasurvive.com/newslettersignup🎗SUPPORT A BLACK WOMAN🎗💐Support here: https://www.patreon.com/GraceSandra📧 BUSINESS INQUIRIES📧[email protected]👵🏽SKINCARE ESSENTIALS FOR AGING SKIN (MY AMAZON STOREFRONT)👵🏽https://www.amazon.com/shop/outheretrynasurvive/list/PCFW3HODRLM4?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_aipsflist_aipsfoutheretrynasurvive_2F35N1HG7P65D7JY75GP📚MY BOOK📚 Grace, Actually: Faith, Love, Loss & Black Womanhood🔗 https://amzn.to/3yyTk5N✍🏽SILK & SONDER - MY FAVE WELLNESS PLANNER!http://shrsl.com/38ewb💥USE MY CODE 0HTS15 FOR 15% OFF!💥⚡️CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIALS⚡️📲INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/grace_sandra_/📲TIK-TOK - https://www.tiktok.com/@OutHereTrynaSurvive📲FACEBOOK -https://www.facebook.com/gracesandrawrites🖇AFFILIATE INFO🖇Affiliate Links included. I only recommend products & services I use myself & love. Using affiliate links helps me & is no extra cost to you.🎥EQUIPMENT🎥📸Camera, Canon Powershot G7X Mark III Kit: https://amzn.to/44OF44U📸Tripod: https://amzn.to/3K82XeA📸Vlog Tripod: https://amzn.to/3K82XeA🎤Mic: https://amzn.to/3yzQNZ2🎤Mic Boot: https://amzn.to/3K51yoL✍🏽Editor: iMovie, Garageband & VLLO🎶MUSIC🎶All music & permissions provided by: Epidemic Sound.🔗 https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/vm2l9🙏🏾Thank you for watching + liking + commenting + sharing!FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS//Age: 47//I swear a little//Enneagram 7(6w)//I have ADHD.//I'm in Perimenopause//3 kiddos: 18, 14 & 8 yrs. old//Heritage: Black American + Italian//Twice Divorced. Now happily in love myself. 🤎//Sexual, Verbal, Rape, Narcissistic Domestic Violence SURVIVOR.//Body positive + Sex Positive//Black Lives Matter Activist//Mental Health Advocate//Depression, Anxiety, PMDD & CPTSD SURVIVOR//Healing from Complex PTSD using EMDR therapy//Liberal, Jesus-following, justice oriented, feminist, inclusive, divesting + decolonizing from Evangelical Christianity//Mental Health Advocate, Writer, Speaker, podcaster, TikTok'er & YouTuber//I believe in prayer AND manifesting! ✨Support the show

Send us Fan MailEpisode 11: There's a time to shed & a time to birth. Join me this week & we discuss shedding, releasing control & giving birth to new things! Thanks for joining in!JOIN OUR NEW PODCAST COMMUNITY -- https://www.facebook.com/groups/bwbfreegroup✍🏽SILK & SONDER - USE MY CODE 0HTS15 FOR 15% OFF!http://shrsl.com/38ewb📚MY BOOK📚 Grace, Actually: Faith, Love, Loss & Black Womanhood🔗 https://amzn.to/2I2uqBE💌SIGN UP FOR MY NEWSLETTER! 💌https://www.outheretrynasurvive.com/newslettersignup📧 BUSINESS INQUIRIES📧[email protected]💲TIP JAR💲💐Cash app -$gracesandra💐SUBSCRIBE TO MY PODCAST INNER CIRCLEhttps://www.buzzsprout.com/2160787/supporters/new💻MY BLOG💻🔗 https://outheretrynasurvive.com⚡️CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIAL⚡️📲INSTAGRAM -https://www.instagram.com/outheretrynasurvive/📲TIK-TOK - https://www.tiktok.com/@OutHereTrynaSurvive📲FACEBOOK -https://www.facebook.com/gracesandrawrites📲TWITTER - https://mobile.twitter.com/Grace_Sandra_🖇AFFILIATE INFO🖇Affiliate Links included. I only recommend products & services I use myself & love. Using affiliate links helps me & is no extra cost to you.🎗SUPPORT🎗💐Support here: https://www.patreon.com/GraceSandra🎥EQUIPMENT🎥📸Camera, Canon Powershot G7X Mark III Kit: https://amzn.to/3hrLfpe📸Tripod: https://amzn.to/2RUfg6a📸Vlog Tripod: https://amzn.to/3eS7tix🎤Mic: https://amzn.to/33KzQZu🎤Mic Boot: https://amzn.to/3vYtPo6💡Ring light: https://amzn.to/3eN1BH5✍🏽Editor: iMovie, Garageband & VLLO🎶MUSIC🎶All music & permissions provided by: Epidemic Sound.🔗 https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/vm2l9🙏🏾Thank you for watching + liking + commenting + sharing!🤎🤎🤎Love you, OHTS Fam! 🤎🤎🤎❤️‍🩹,GraceGET TO KNOW ME//Age: 47//I swear a little//Enneagram 7(6w)//3 kiddos: 18, 14 & 7 yrs. old//Heritage: Black American + Italian//Twice Divorced. Now happily in love myself. 🤎//Sexual, Verbal, Rape, Narcissistic Domestic Violence SURVIVOR.//Body positive + Sex Positive//Black Lives Matter Activist//Mental Health Advocate//Depression, Anxiety, PMDD & CPTSD SURVIVOR//Healing from Complex PTSD using EMDR therapy//Liberal, Jesus-following, justice oriented, feminist, inclusive, divesting + decolonizing from Evangelical Christianity//Mental Health Advocate, Writer, Speaker, podcaster, TikTok'er & YouTuber…& yes I believe in prayer AND manifesting! ✨✨✨✨Support the show

Send us Fan Mail✍🏽SILK & SONDERhttp://shrsl.com/38ewb📚MY BOOK📚 Grace, Actually: Faith, Love, Loss & Black Womanhood🔗 https://amzn.to/2I2uqBE💌SIGN UP FOR MY NEWSLETTER! 💌https://www.outheretrynasurvive.com/newslettersignup📧 BUSINESS INQUIRIES📧[email protected] TO MY PODCAST INNER CIRCLEhttps://www.buzzsprout.com/2160787/supporters/new💲TIP JAR💲💐Cash app -$gracesandra💐Buy Me A Coffee - 🔗https://www.buymeacoffee.com/GraceSandra💻MY BLOG💻🔗 https://outheretrynasurvive.com⚡️CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIAL⚡️📲INSTAGRAM -https://www.instagram.com/outheretrynasurvive/📲TIK-TOK - https://www.tiktok.com/@OutHereTrynaSurvive📲FACEBOOK -https://www.facebook.com/gracesandrawrites📲TWITTER - https://mobile.twitter.com/Grace_Sandra_🖇AFFILIATE INFO🖇Affiliate Links included. I only recommend products & services I use myself & love. Using affiliate links helps me & is no extra cost to you.🎗SUPPORT🎗💐Support here: https://www.patreon.com/GraceSandra🎥EQUIPMENT🎥📸Camera, Canon Powershot G7X Mark III Kit: https://amzn.to/3hrLfpe📸Tripod: https://amzn.to/2RUfg6a📸Vlog Tripod: https://amzn.to/3eS7tix🎤Mic: https://amzn.to/33KzQZu🎤Mic Boot: https://amzn.to/3vYtPo6💡Ring light: https://amzn.to/3eN1BH5✍🏽Editor: iMovie, Garageband & VLLO🎶MUSIC🎶All music & permissions provided by: Epidemic Sound.🔗 https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/vm2l9🙏🏾Thank you for watching + liking + commenting + sharing!🤎🤎🤎Love you, Fam! 🤎🤎🤎❤️‍🩹,GraceGET TO KNOW ME//Age: 47//I swear a little//Enneagram 7(6w)//3 kiddos: 18, 14 & 7 yrs. old//Heritage: Black American + Italian//Twice Divorced. Now happily in love myself. 🤎//Sexual, Verbal, Rape, Narcissistic Domestic Violence SURVIVOR.//Body positive + Sex Positive//Black Lives Matter Activist//Mental Health Advocate//Depression, Anxiety, PMDD & CPTSD SURVIVOR//Healing from Complex PTSD using EMDR therapy//Liberal, Jesus-following, justice oriented, feminist, inclusive, divesting + decolonizing from Evangelical Christianity//Mental Health Advocate, Writer, Speaker, podcaster, TikTok'er & YouTuber…& yes I believe in prayer AND manifesting! ✨✨✨✨Support the show

Send us Fan MailLearning to Romanticize Yourself is a skill that needs to be learned. In today's episode we're talmbout how to embrace the present & find beauty in the imperfection of our lives. There's a bit of Love is Blind round-up (after the first set of epi's dropped) & a few of my own stories. How do you romanticize yourself?✍🏽SILK & SONDERhttp://shrsl.com/38ewb📚MY BOOK📚 Grace, Actually: Faith, Love, Loss & Black Womanhood🔗 https://amzn.to/2I2uqBE💌SIGN UP FOR MY NEWSLETTER! 💌 https://www.outheretrynasurvive.com/newslettersignup📧 BUSINESS INQUIRIES📧[email protected] TO MY PODCAST INNER CIRCLEhttps://www.buzzsprout.com/2160787/supporters/new💲TIP JAR💲💐Cash app -$gracesandra💐Buy Me A Coffee - 🔗https://www.buymeacoffee.com/GraceSandra💻MY BLOG💻🔗 https://outheretrynasurvive.com⚡️CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIAL⚡️📲INSTAGRAM -https://www.instagram.com/outheretrynasurvive/📲TIK-TOK - https://www.tiktok.com/@OutHereTrynaSurvive📲FACEBOOK -https://www.facebook.com/gracesandrawrites📲TWITTER - https://mobile.twitter.com/Grace_Sandra_🖇AFFILIATE INFO🖇Affiliate Links included. I only recommend products & services I use myself & love. Using affiliate links helps me & is no extra cost to you.🎗SUPPORT🎗💐Support here: https://www.patreon.com/GraceSandra🎥EQUIPMENT🎥📸Camera, Canon Powershot G7X Mark III Kit: https://amzn.to/3hrLfpe📸Tripod: https://amzn.to/2RUfg6a📸Vlog Tripod: https://amzn.to/3eS7tix🎤Mic: https://amzn.to/33KzQZu🎤Mic Boot: https://amzn.to/3vYtPo6💡Ring light: https://amzn.to/3eN1BH5✍🏽Editor: iMovie, Garageband & VLLO🎶MUSIC🎶All music & permissions provided by: Epidemic Sound.🔗 https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/vm2l9🙏🏾Thank you for watching + liking + commenting + sharing!🤎🤎🤎Love you, YouTube Fam! 🤎🤎🤎❤️‍🩹,GraceGET TO KNOW ME//Age: 47//I swear a little//Enneagram 7(6w)//3 kiddos: 18, 14 & 7 yrs. old//Heritage: Black American + Italian//Twice Divorced. Now happily in love myself. 🤎//Sexual, Verbal, Rape, Narcissistic Domestic Violence SURVIVOR.//Body positive + Sex Positive//Black Lives Matter Activist//Mental Health Advocate//Depression, Anxiety, PMDD & CPTSD SURVIVOR//Healing from Complex PTSD using EMDR therapy//Liberal, Jesus-following, justice oriented, feminist, inclusive, divesting + decolonizing from Evangelical Christianity//Mental Health Advocate, Writer, Speaker, podcaster, TikTok'er & YouTuber…& yes I believe in prayer AND manifesting! ✨✨✨✨Support the show

Send us Fan MailCodependence. I had no idea I was operating in this way for years! On today's podcast epi, I'm talmbout codependence. I'll be giving a few examples from my own life & providing a few suggestions for how you can begin to heal from #codependence & #codependentrelationships. I'm also briefly hitting on Diddy & Cassie & the much needed HipHop/Rap #MeToo Moment that's long overdue!BOOK MENTIONED:Codependent No More - Melody Beattiehttps://amzn.to/3T5FErj✍🏽SILK & SONDERhttp://shrsl.com/38ewb📚MY BOOK📚 Grace, Actually: Faith, Love, Loss & Black Womanhood🔗 https://amzn.to/2I2uqBE💌SIGN UP FOR MY NEWSLETTER! 💌https://www.outheretrynasurvive.com/newslettersignup📧 BUSINESS INQUIRIES📧[email protected] TO MY PODCAST INNER CIRCLEhttps://www.buzzsprout.com/2160787/supporters/new💲TIP JAR💲💐Cash app -$gracesandra💐Buy Me A Coffee - 🔗https://www.buymeacoffee.com/GraceSandra💻MY BLOG💻🔗 https://outheretrynasurvive.com⚡️CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIAL⚡️📲INSTAGRAM -https://www.instagram.com/outheretrynasurvive/📲TIK-TOK - https://www.tiktok.com/@OutHereTrynaSurvive📲FACEBOOK -https://www.facebook.com/gracesandrawrites📲TWITTER - https://mobile.twitter.com/Grace_Sandra_🖇AFFILIATE INFO🖇Affiliate Links included. I only recommend products & services I use myself & love. Using affiliate links helps me & is no extra cost to you.🎗SUPPORT🎗💐Support here: https://www.patreon.com/GraceSandra🎥EQUIPMENT🎥📸Camera, Canon Powershot G7X Mark III Kit: https://amzn.to/3hrLfpe📸Tripod: https://amzn.to/2RUfg6a📸Vlog Tripod: https://amzn.to/3eS7tix🎤Mic: https://amzn.to/33KzQZu🎤Mic Boot: https://amzn.to/3vYtPo6💡Ring light: https://amzn.to/3eN1BH5✍🏽Editor: iMovie, Garageband & VLLO🎶MUSIC🎶All music & permissions provided by: Epidemic Sound.🔗 https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/vm2l9🙏🏾Thank you for watching + liking + commenting + sharing!🤎🤎🤎Love you, YouTube Fam! 🤎🤎🤎❤️‍🩹,GraceGET TO KNOW ME//Age: 46//I swear a little//Enneagram 7(6w)//3 kiddos: 18, 14 & 7 yrs. old//Heritage: Black American + Italian//Twice Divorced. Now happily in love myself. 🤎//Sexual, Verbal, Rape, Narcissistic Domestic Violence SURVIVOR.//Body positive + Sex Positive//Black Lives Matter Activist//Mental Health Advocate//Depression, Anxiety, PMDD & CPTSD SURVIVOR//Healing from Complex PTSD using EMDR therapy//Liberal, Jesus-following, justice oriented, feminist, inclusive, divesting + decolonizing from Evangelical Christianity//Mental Health Advocate, Writer, Speaker, podcaster, TikTok'er & YouTuber…& yes I believe in prayer AND manifesting! ✨✨✨✨Support the show

Send us Fan MailIn today's episode, I'm talmbout how much healing can happen when we get in touch with and fall in love with our inner child. Thanks for being a listener! xo✍🏽SILK & SONDER -http://shrsl.com/38ewb📚MY BOOK📚 Grace, Actually: Faith, Love, Loss & Black Womanhood🔗 https://amzn.to/2I2uqBE💌SIGN UP FOR MY NEWSLETTER! 💌https://www.outheretrynasurvive.com/newslettersignup📧 BUSINESS INQUIRIES / WRITE ME!📧[email protected] TO MY PODCAST INNER CIRCLEhttps://www.buzzsprout.com/2160787/supporters/new💲TIP JAR💲💐Cash app -$gracesandra💐Buy Me A Coffee - 🔗https://www.buymeacoffee.com/GraceSandra💻MY BLOG💻🔗 https://outheretrynasurvive.com⚡️CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIAL⚡️📲INSTAGRAM -https://www.instagram.com/outheretrynasurvive/📲TIK-TOK - https://www.tiktok.com/@OutHereTrynaSurvive📲FACEBOOK -https://www.facebook.com/gracesandrawrites📲TWITTER - https://mobile.twitter.com/Grace_Sandra_🖇AFFILIATE INFO🖇Affiliate Links included. I only recommend products & services I use myself & love. Using affiliate links helps me & is no extra cost to you.🎗SUPPORT🎗💐Support here: https://www.patreon.com/GraceSandra🎥EQUIPMENT🎥📸Camera, Canon Powershot G7X Mark III Kit: https://amzn.to/3hrLfpe📸Tripod: https://amzn.to/2RUfg6a📸Vlog Tripod: https://amzn.to/3eS7tix🎤Mic: https://amzn.to/33KzQZu🎤Mic Boot: https://amzn.to/3vYtPo6💡Ring light: https://amzn.to/3eN1BH5✍🏽Editor: iMovie, Garageband & VLLO🎶MUSIC🎶All music & permissions provided by: Epidemic Sound.🔗 https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/vm2l9🙏🏾Thank you for watching + liking + commenting + sharingGET TO KNOW ME//Age: 46//I swear a little//Enneagram 7(6w)//3 kiddos: 17, 13 & 6 yrs. old//Heritage: Black American + Italian//Twice Divorced. Now happily in love myself. 🤎//Sexual, Verbal, Rape, Narcissistic Domestic Violence SURVIVOR.//Body positive + Sex Positive//Black Lives Matter Activist//Mental Health Advocate//Depression, Anxiety, PMDD & CPTSD SURVIVOR//Healing from Complex PTSD using EMDR therapy//Liberal, Jesus-following, justice oriented, feminist, inclusive, divesting + decolonizing from Evangelical Christianity//Mental Health Advocate, Writer, Speaker, podcaster, TikTok'er & YouTuber…& yes I believe in prayer AND manifesting! ✨✨✨✨Support the show

Send us Fan MailIn today's episode, I'm talmout the unfortunate need to end relationships with women in our lives that have become toxic. I'm hitting a little bit on the boundary issues with KeKe & also, Jonah Hill... and the overall story of letting go.  I hope this helps you feel a little less alone!✍🏽SILK & SONDERhttp://shrsl.com/38ewb📚MY BOOK📚 Grace, Actually: Faith, Love, Loss & Black Womanhood🔗 https://amzn.to/2I2uqBE💌SIGN UP FOR MY NEWSLETTER! 💌https://www.outheretrynasurvive.com/newslettersignup📧 BUSINESS INQUIRIES📧[email protected] TO MY PODCAST INNER CIRCLEhttps://www.buzzsprout.com/2160787/supporters/new💲TIP JAR💲💐Cash app -$gracesandra💐Buy Me A Coffee - 🔗https://www.buymeacoffee.com/GraceSandra💻MY BLOG💻🔗 https://outheretrynasurvive.com⚡️CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIAL⚡️📲INSTAGRAM -https://www.instagram.com/outheretrynasurvive/📲TIK-TOK - https://www.tiktok.com/@OutHereTrynaSurvive📲FACEBOOK -https://www.facebook.com/gracesandrawrites📲TWITTER - https://mobile.twitter.com/Grace_Sandra_🖇AFFILIATE INFO🖇Affiliate Links included. I only recommend products & services I use myself & love. Using affiliate links helps me & is no extra cost to you.🎗SUPPORT🎗💐Support here: https://www.patreon.com/GraceSandraSupport the show

Send us Fan MailThanks so much for listening! In today's episode I'm talmbout all the ways we can protect ourselves from getting into a narcissistically abusive or highly toxic relationship by being who we need to be beforehand. Here's just a few of the things I wish I had knew or been about before I met my ex.✍🏽SILK & SONDERhttp://shrsl.com/38ewb📚MY BOOK📚 Grace, Actually: Faith, Love, Loss & Black Womanhood🔗 https://amzn.to/2I2uqBE💌SIGN UP FOR MY NEWSLETTER! 💌https://www.outheretrynasurvive.com/newslettersignup📧 BUSINESS INQUIRIES📧[email protected]💲TIP JAR💲💐Cash app -$gracesandra💐Buy Me A Coffee - 🔗https://www.buymeacoffee.com/GraceSandra💻MY BLOG💻🔗 https://outheretrynasurvive.com⚡️CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIAL⚡️📲INSTAGRAM -https://www.instagram.com/outheretrynasurvive/📲TIK-TOK - https://www.tiktok.com/@OutHereTrynaSurvive📲FACEBOOK -https://www.facebook.com/gracesandrawrites📲TWITTER - https://mobile.twitter.com/Grace_Sandra_🖇AFFILIATE INFO🖇Affiliate Links included. I only recommend products & services I use myself & love. Using affiliate links helps me & is no extra cost to you.🎗SUPPORT🎗💐Support here: https://www.patreon.com/GraceSandra🎥EQUIPMENT🎥📸Camera, Canon Powershot G7X Mark III Kit: https://amzn.to/3hrLfpe📸Tripod: https://amzn.to/2RUfg6a📸Vlog Tripod: https://amzn.to/3eS7tix🎤Mic: https://amzn.to/33KzQZu🎤Mic Boot: https://amzn.to/3vYtPo6💡Ring light: https://amzn.to/3eN1BH5✍🏽Editor: iMovie, Garageband & VLLO🎶MUSIC🎶All music & permissions provided by: Epidemic Sound.🔗 https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/vm2l9GET TO KNOW ME//Age: 46//I swear a little//Enneagram 7(6w)//3 kiddos: 17, 13 & 6 yrs. old//Heritage: Black American + Italian//Twice Divorced. Now happily in love myself. 🤎//Sexual, Verbal, Rape, Narcissistic Domestic Violence SURVIVOR.//Body positive + Sex Positive//Black Lives Matter Activist//Mental Health Advocate//Depression, Anxiety, PMDD & CPTSD SURVIVOR//Healing from Complex PTSD using EMDR therapy//Liberal, Jesus-following, justice oriented, feminist, inclusive, divesting + decolonizing from Evangelical Christianity//Mental Health Advocate, Writer, Speaker, podcaster, TikTok'er & YouTuber…& yes I believe in prayer AND manifesting! ✨✨✨✨Support the show

Send us Fan MailIn today's episode I'm talmbout  How to survive ourselves, if we should get married a 2nd or 3rd time, our ONE WORD for 2023 & a quick dating shenanigan story. Join us!Reach out anytime! [email protected]✍🏽SILK & SONDERhttp://shrsl.com/38ewb📚MY BOOK📚 Grace, Actually: Faith, Love, Loss & Black Womanhood is available on Amazon digitally & in hard copy.🔗 https://amzn.to/2I2uqBE💌SIGN UP FOR MY NEWSLETTER! 💌🔗 https://www.outheretrynasurvive.com/newslettersignup📧FOR BUSINESS INQUIRIES📧[email protected]🖨SHOP MY ETSY STORE FOR SURVIVOR PRINTABLES🖨🔗 https://www.etsy.com/shop/OutHereTrynaSurvive?ref=profile_header💲TIP JAR💲💐Cash app -$gracesandra💐Buy Me A Coffee - 🔗https://www.buymeacoffee.com/GraceSandra💻MY BLOG💻🔗 https://outheretrynasurvive.com⚡️CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIAL⚡️📲INSTAGRAM -https://www.instagram.com/outheretrynasurvive/📲TIK-TOK - https://www.tiktok.com/@OutHereTrynaSurvive📲FACEBOOK -https://www.facebook.com/gracesandrawrites📲TWITTER - https://mobile.twitter.com/Grace_Sandra_🖇AFFILIATE INFO🖇Affiliate Links included. I only recommend products & services I use myself & love. Using affiliate links helps me & is no extra cost to you.🎗SUPPORT🎗💐Support here: https://www.patreon.com/GraceSandra🎥EQUIPMENT🎥📸Camera, Canon Powershot G7X Mark III Kit: https://amzn.to/3hrLfpe📸Tripod: https://amzn.to/2RUfg6a📸Vlog Tripod: https://amzn.to/3eS7tix🎤Mic: https://amzn.to/33KzQZu🎤Mic Boot: https://amzn.to/3vYtPo6💡Ring light: https://amzn.to/3eN1BH5✍🏽Editor: iMovie, Garageband & VLLO🎶MUSIC🎶All music & permissions provided by: Epidemic Sound.🔗 https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/vm2l9🙏🏾Thank you for listening!❤️‍🩹,GraceGET TO KNOW ME//Age: 46//I swear a little//Enneagram 7(6w)//3 kiddos: 17, 13 & 6 yrs. old//Heritage: Black American + Italian//Twice Divorced. Now happily in love myself. 🤎//Sexual, Verbal, Rape, Narcissistic Domestic Violence SURVIVOR.//Body positive + Sex Positive//Black Lives Matter Activist//Mental Health Advocate//Depression, Anxiety, PMDD & CPTSD SURVIVOR//Healing from Complex PTSD using EMDR therapy//Liberal, Jesus-following, justice oriented, feminist, inclusive, divesting + decolonizing from Evangelical Christianity//Mental Health Advocate, Writer, Speaker, podcaster, TikTok'er & YouTuber…& yes I believe in prayer AND manifesting! ✨✨✨✨Support the show

Send us Fan MailHey Sis, hey!In today's episode I'm discussing how to cope with losing our parents, the story of losing mine, how and why I'm struggling to date men my own age, things we can do to move through our grief and making meaning out of loss. Join me! I talked about this book, which is very good, but also a really difficult read if you've had a painful experience with your Mother. Mother Hunger: How Adult Daughters can Understand & Heal from Lost Nurturance, Protection & Guidance: https://amzn.to/43Nvq1Q (*affiliate link).Today's hot topic: Tiffany from Love is Blind, Season 4.Support the show

Send us Fan MailPerimenopause, recent suicidal ideations I've struggled with, a sex drive to contend with and more. In today's episode, I'm discussing some of my most recent challenges with aging: perimenopause.PRODUCTS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE:1: BOOK: Preparing for the Perimenopause and Menopause - https://amzn.to/3KtnqLG2. Raspberry Tea - https://amzn.to/42UIMJ0Thanks for listening! Questions, thoughts or ideas for future episodes? Write me: [email protected] this episode on my YouTube channel: Out Here Tryna SurviveFollow me on Instagram: @grace_sandra_Luv,gSupport the show