The Sugar Free Podcast

Occupying spaces where you are one of a select few or the “only”…the only woman, the only person of color, the only non-binary person…etc. can be a truly isolating experience. The treatment you experience as a marginalized person can not only make you feel alone, but it can also make you feel ‘less than’ or like you don’t belong. This, my friends is the root of imposter syndrome. This syndrome will have you believing you are made of cheap plastic, when in fact, you AND your credentials are as strong, resilient and valuable as platinum. Never again will we allow imposter syndrome to make us see ourselves as anything but what we are, GOLDEN. Season One Remix Episode 1.10,  Feeling Real Fake: Overcoming Imposter Syndrome, discusses “Imposter Syndrome,” a disease most often prescribed to women characterized by internal feelings of inadequacy, inferiority and/or lack of belonging in the workplace that often ignores the external factors that contribute to these feelings. Join Syd and guest, Abimbola Oladokun, as they explore the internal and external factors that have contributed to their feelings of imposter syndrome and the tools/resources they have used to overcome those feelings.  Abimbola is a San Francisco-based tech attorney. She’s a lifelong learner, fashionista, traveler, and enjoys spending time with loved ones. When not posting various IG stories about how she sees the world, you can find her planning her next trip or reviewing Netflix for her next fix. You can find her on IG at @the.a.league. Tune into The Sugar Free Podcast everywhere podcasts are available. Show Notes: Definition: According to the Harvard Business Review, Imposter syndrome is a label characterized by INTERNAL feelings of doubting your abilities and feeling like a fraud. It disproportionately affects high-achieving people, who find it difficult to accept their accomplishments that is often assigned to women. One issue with the characterization is that it doesn’t take into account the EXTERNAL factors that ultimately contribute to these feelings for women. What external experiences have caused you to question your place in a professional setting? Seeds of imposter syndrome were planted as early as middle school for Abi when she felf that she was “othered” in homogenous spaces by asking her, the only Black kid in class if she belonged in an Honors Class when other students have to submit any proof of their belonging In professional settings, the way people talk to her, not getting promoted, the way people have treated her have contributed to her questioning her place at work Microaggressions in the workplace against persons of color can be characterized as death by one million paper cuts because most acts committed against marginalized people are small and covert but over time have the cumulative effect of making people feel like they don’t belong The experiences of most Black and Brown people is different than their more privileged counterparts because Black and Brown people tend to have less access and connection to these spaces by virtue of being the first or the second person in their families to gain access to certain spaces. Experience also may differ based on socio-economic background. It can be difficult to thrive in competitive academic or professional spaces when you’re also trying to manage your survival. Imposter Syndrome can be traumatic because in most cases imposter syndrome manifests itself as repeated instances and experiences that may have scarred you that you need to heal from. Having to do more and be better than counterparts in order to find success. Differences not being valued and/or understood in the workplace What internal experiences or thoughts have caused you to question your place in a professional setting? A lack of celebration or acknowledgement of successes because of a feeling that you are doing what you’re supposed to do to survive verses that you’ve done something great Internal feelings of unworthiness because you haven’t “suffered” enough to earn your place Internal thoughts of being unfairly critical of EVERY thought, action and behavior based on a fear that every mistake or misstep may cause you to lose your job or irreparably tarnish your reputation What work have you done to build your confidence over the years and reinforce the fact that you’ve earned your place in the world? Give myself grace—It’s okay to make mistakes Practice Gratitude Learning to work in a way that’s not abut exacting revenge on those who may have harmed you Trust the fact that you’ve done the work Build a thick skin Advice for overcoming imposter syndrome Figure out what makes you happy, brings you joy and grounds you and do those things OFTEN Develop a support system that keeps you grounded during the tough times Tune into The Sugar Free Podcast everywhere podcasts are available:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/.../the-sugar.../id1573862487Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/.../aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc3VnYXJmc...Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0G7127VhGnhnD36X0t72gmAmazon/Audible: https://music.amazon.com/.../ebc55.../THE-SUGAR-FREE-PODCASTYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0cHoUmESN8CF3uGZ7IyeDAWebsite: www.sugarfreepodcast.com

Holidays are all about family, friends, fun and FOOD. Join Syd as she sits down this week with a VERY special guest, her mama, Dr. Jean Jackson for a fun conversation about holiday traditions, do’s and don’ts. Dr. Jean Jackson (my mama) is a life-long educator, child psychologist and author. For parenting tips and tricks, you can purchase her book, Surviving Kidcatraz here: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/surviving-kidcatraz-dr-jean-jackson/1135800730 To help others celebrate the holiday season, me and my mama have teamed up to give away two $50 grocery store e-gift cards (grocery store of your choice) to make sure your Christmas holiday meal is on point! No struggle plates allowed this year. Deadline to enter is Wednesday December 22, 2021 at 11:59pm. See additional details below to enter.  How to Enter Gift Card Giveaway: Like The Sugar Free Podcast on Instagram: instagram.com/sugarfreepodcast Like/Follow The Sugar Free Podcast on Facebook: facebook.com/sugarfreepod Subscribe to The Sugar Free Podcast Show: sugarfreepodcast.com Comment “I’m in” on this post to let us know you’ve entered Giveaway Rules: Must be at least 18 years of age to enter. Open to US residents ONLY Only one entry allowed per person Must show proof of entry Giveaway is in no way affiliated with Instagram or Facebook Void where prohibited by law Must enter by 11:59pm on December 22, 2021. A winner will be announced and gift card awarded on December 23, 2021. Show Notes: What dishes MUST be on the holiday table? Turkey Ham Greens (collards, mustards and turnips ONLY. No Kale allowed) Yams/Candied Sweet Potatoes Macaroni and Cheese Cornbread Stuffing (/w sausage) Rice and Gravy Cranberry Sauce shaped like a can Rolls Sweet Potato Pie Peach Cobbler (optional) What dishes should NEVER be on the holiday table? Green salad Pasta salad Corn on the cob Tips from my Mama on how to cook greens for the holidays: Use pork (ham hock or neckbone) or some kind of smoked meat to flavor your greens ALWAYS cook the meat FIRST Boil the meat in water to make a stock Add greens at the very end when water is almost cooked down so greens will absorb the most flavorful part of the stock If greens still need more flavor, add Lipton’s Onion Soup Mix to taste Best advice for making the holidays special? Keep things festive and interesting. Make sure everyone has a GREAT and memorable time. Tune into the Sugar Free Podcast everywhere podcasts are available: Apple Podcasts Spotify Audible Google Pandora Stitcher YouTube www.sugarfreeepodcast.com

The only thing harder than getting a coin is keeping a coin, especially when the cost of education, affordable housing and good avocado toast just keep rising! Join Syd and Special Guest, Kevin L. Matthews II, for a Sugar Free discussion about finances, 401(k)’s, Investing and building generational wealth. Kevin Matthews is a former Top 100 financial advisor (as named by Investopedia) and founder of @BuildingBread, a financial education consultancy designed to educate and advise both organizations and Individuals on the basics of financial literacy, investing and retirement  planning. He has managed over $140mm during his financial advising career and is author of the best-selling book— Starting Point: How to Create Wealth that Lasts. For more information on Kevin, visit www.buildingbread.com. ENROLL IN A COURSE: Ready to start investing but don’t know where to start? Take one of Kevin’s AMAZING financial literacy and investing courses by clicking this link: https://buildingbread.thinkific.com/?ref=85305c SHOW NOTES I read an article recently that stated 60% of Millenials making over $60,000 live paycheck to paycheck. What factors/obstacles are keeping us from financial stability? Inflation is outpacing earnings Cost of living is too high College tuition is too high Childcare is expensive How much of your current salary should you be saving for retirement? 12-15% including any matching or contributions provided by your current employer. However, you can work up to that gradually if you’re not ready to put a full 12 The goal for a comfortable retirement should be to save at least $2.1 million or 25x your current salary for retirement. Start NOW. Is $100k still THE marker for financial stability? It depends on your location. One hundred thousand dollars may be enough if you live in Oklahoma, maybe not if you live in New York. Generally the marker for annual earnings is probably closer to $125,000 for financial stability but may go up or down depending on location You should be striving to have a solid structure and plan in place to achieve financial stability. The plan should include paying your bills, emergency savings, investing and saving for retirement. How much do children cost? The average cost for caring for one child is $300k-$400k from age 0-18 years old, but you don’t need all of that on day one. What tools do you recommend for new investors? Public – a social media app for investing Best advice for saving and investing Start now and be consistent The key to investing is time and consistency. Small amounts add up to sizeable amounts over time. You can save and invest no matter how much you’re making. If you had put $100/mo in Google stock from 2012-present, you would have $74k now. It’s okay to start small. Tune in to the Sugar Free Podcast everywhere podcasts are available: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/.../the-sugar.../id1573862487 Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/.../aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc3VnYXJmc... Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0G7127VhGnhnD36X0t72gm Amazon/Audible: https://music.amazon.com/.../ebc55.../THE-SUGAR-FREE-PODCAST Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0cHoUmESN8CF3uGZ7IyeDA Website: www.sugarfreepodcast.com

Once you’ve broken the cycle of toxicity, grieved the losses you needed to grieve and healed the wounds that need to heal, there is a beautiful life waiting for you to discover. A beautiful life, I like to call the GLOW UP. Break ups and heartbreak are never easy, but on the other side of heartbreak lies the opportunity for a re-imagined life that is filled with your deepest dreams and desires. Never fear heartbreak. Fear staying stuck in a situation that prevents you from being the greatest, most authentic version of yourself. Season One Remix, Episode 1.7 of the Sugar Free Podcast, Navigating Real Heartbreak Pt. II: Grieving, Growing, Glowing breaks down the journey towards a healthier, happier and more fulfilled life after healing from some a really painful breakup. Join Syd as she sits down with Life Coach and Attorney, Daphne McGee, for a conversation on how to identify and break toxic cycles to engage in healthier, happier relationships with yourself and others to lessen the occurrence and pain of heartbreak. Daphne is a legal aid attorney and owner of Golden Daph Life Coaching. Daphne helps people leaving harmful situations move forward with clarity and confidence. Daphne also blogs about her experiences with marriage, divorce, and faith deconstruction. Want to work with Daphne? Daphne is offering all Sugar Free Podcast listeners an EXTRA coaching session for FREE if they mention “SUGAR FREE” when booking their session. This means Sugar Free listeners will get 7 coaching sessions instead of the standard six sessions that come in Daphne's standard package. Shoot Daphne a message on IG @goldendaph for more details. If you want to learn more about Daphne or read her blog, you can find her at www.goldendaph.com. Tune in to the Sugar Free Podcast everywhere podcasts are available: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/.../the-sugar.../id1573862487 Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/.../aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc3VnYXJmc... Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0G7127VhGnhnD36X0t72gm Amazon/Audible: https://music.amazon.com/.../ebc55.../THE-SUGAR-FREE-PODCAST Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0cHoUmESN8CF3uGZ7IyeDA Website: www.sugarfreepodcast.com #podcast #podcasting #sugarfreepodcast #heartbreak #relationships #survivingheartbreak #findinglove #blacklove #loveyourself #toxicrelationships #blackgirlmagic #relationshipadvice #advice  SHOW NOTES Grieving the loss of a relationship It is okay, normal and healthy to grieve the loss of a relationship, even if the relationship wasn’t good. When you lose a relationship, you may be losing companionship, financial stability, future dreams, future children, community,  your current family structure…etc. and you are allowed and encouraged to grieve those losses. For Daphne, much of the healing and grieving process happened during the relationship once she realized the relationship wasn’t what she wanted. Grieving the loss of Community in the Church After grieving the loss of the church, Daphne had to confront her relationship with the church and decide whether she could remain in community and in fellowship with people and ideas that didn’t support her decision for divorce Decided she needed to seek a religion and religious community that allowed her space to care for herself, allowed others to care for her and allowed her to make decisions that were best for her life, her goals, her dreams and mental health Navigating heartbreak in your Career You can do “everything right” (i.e. go to college, join all the clubs, get all the awards, participate in all the internship programs…etc.) and still not be guaranteed the life that you want. There is no reward “for doing everything right.” A more fulfilled life comes from doing what you WANT to do vs. what you think you SHOULD be doing The other Side of Heartbreak Heartbreak provides an opportunity for a renewed life You should start by figuring out EXACTLY what you want your life to look like Give yourself permission to indulge ALL of your heart’s deepest desires Give yourself permission to change your mind about the things that you want. Breaking the Cycle You must first recognize and understand what about that toxic situation was attractive to you Until you change your mindset and your view of what you want, you will continue on the same cycle of toxicity with a new partner Seek counseling and/or life coaching to assist you on your journey

Ain’t NOTHIN that hurts worse than a broken heart. Grieving the losses of failed relationships, friendships, career choices or life decisions, NEVER gets any easier, but there may be ways to make it hurt a little less. Learning how to: (1) identify your role in a heartbreak, (2) give yourself grace during the grieving process and (3) move forward with hopefulness and openness has to be one of the most difficult lessons to navigate as an adult. But it’s okay, friend! We will work through it together. This episode of the Sugar Free Podcast, Navigating Real Heartbreak Pt. 1: Breaking Cycles of Toxicity explores the patterns and behaviors commonly exhibited in toxic situations and how those cycles often lead to heartbreak. Join Syd as she sits down with Life Coach and Attorney, Daphne McGee, for a conversation on how to identify and break toxic cycles to engage in healthier, happier relationships with yourself and others to lessen the occurrence and pain of heartbreak. Daphne is a legal aid attorney and owner of Golden Daph Life Coaching. Daphne helps people leaving harmful situations move forward with clarity and confidence. Daphne also blogs about her experiences with marriage, divorce, and faith deconstruction. Want to work with Daphne? Daphne is offering all Sugar Free Podcast listeners an EXTRA coaching session for FREE if they mention “SUGAR FREE” when booking their session. This means Sugar Free listeners will get 7 coaching sessions instead of the standard six sessions that come in Daphne's standard package. Shoot Daphne a message on IG @goldendaph for more details. If you want to learn more about Daphne or read her blog, you can find her at www.goldendaph.com. Tune in to the Sugar Free Podcast everywhere podcasts are available: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/.../the-sugar.../id1573862487 Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/.../aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc3VnYXJmc... Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0G7127VhGnhnD36X0t72gm Amazon/Audible: https://music.amazon.com/.../ebc55.../THE-SUGAR-FREE-PODCAST Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0cHoUmESN8CF3uGZ7IyeDA Website: www.sugarfreepodcast.com #podcast #podcasting #sugarfreepodcast #heartbreak #relationships #survivingheartbreak #findinglove #blacklove #loveyourself #toxicrelationships #blackgirlmagic #relationshipadvice #advice Show Notes How do you define heartbreak? The point where your reality fails to meet your expectations. The Reality To begin our discussion, Daphne shared the realities of her marriage and her relationship with the church and how both realities failed to meet her expectations. She explained how the realities of both relationships included unhappiness, uneasiness, cycles of toxicity and her own failure to trust her intuition about the toxicity that surrounded her. The Expectation Daphne then described how her religious teachings guided her to believe that marriage was the pinnacle achievement of spirituality in terms of bringing her closest to God. Syd then explained how societal pressures are also placed on women to marry to gain access to status, acceptance and financial stability without placing the same value on seeking partnership for happiness, companionship, pleasure or compatibility. Daphne then described religion as re-packaged patriarchy designed to uphold traditional systems of oppression for women that have been dismantled in recent years through political and economic revolutions. She also described how said re-packaged patriarchy aka religion kept her in a relationship that she knew wasn’t good for her. Red Flags She told us how her religion had conditioned her not to rely on her own thoughts and intuitions but to rely instead upon her religion to guide her through life and it was that conditioning that caused her to ignore certain red flags exhibited by her ex-husband. Red flags that many women ignore regardless of religious beliefs to increase chances of marriage. Daphne then described that the biggest red flag that she had experienced in her relationship was her distrust of her own intuition and her own behavior which had become uncharacteristic of her normally rational nature. She had started to behave in ways that she didn’t recognize. Cycles of Toxicity Toxicity in the context of relationships generally happens in cycles where a partner displays a toxic behavior and instead of fixing or addressing the behavior, the behavior is ignored, or forgiven and the relationship continues until the behavior is exhibited again and the cycle repeated. The episode ended with the beginnings of an explanation on how to navigate breaking the cycle of toxicity and the steps Daphne took to end her toxic relationships with both her ex-husband and the church.

In today’s world of inflated costs of living and unaffordable housing, we all need at least two jobs just to survive. This week, we are discussing the ever-popular act of side-hustling, a practice characterized by working a part time job or pursuing an entrepreneurial venture in addition to having a full-time job for the purpose of producing additional income or pursuing a passion. Join Syd as she sits down with social media influencer, blogger and ULTIMATE side hustler, Ana of Fiddle Leaf Interiors and the Creators Coaching Co., for a conversation on how to leverage your 9 to 5 to chase your entrepreneurial dreams and earn some extra coin through side-hustling. Ana Ochoa is currently disrupting the Blogging and Business Coaching Industries! Her mission is to help fellow creative entrepreneurs EMBODY the CEO role in their business with positioning, energetics, lead generation, and sales that feel GOOD! She’s a successful blogger and creator at Fiddle Leaf Interiors and the CEO of Creators Coaching Co. Ana recently founded Creators Coaching Co. to share her passion for building a sustainable online business, while helping others do the same. Want to learn more about Ana? You can visit her at www.creatorscoachingco.com or www.fiddleleafblog.com. Want to work with Ana? Sign up for her latest course, “Create a 5K Course that Sells,” by clicking here: https://creatorscoachingco.com/masterclass Tune in to The Sugar Free Podcast everywhere podcasts are available: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/.../the-sugar.../id1573862487 Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc3VnYXJmcmVlcG9kY2FzdC5jb20vZmVlZC54bWw?sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjB1rzQnKv0AhU8rmoFHZ1jCU8Q9sEGegQIARAC Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0G7127VhGnhnD36X0t72gm Amazon/Audible: https://music.amazon.com/.../ebc55.../THE-SUGAR-FREE-PODCAST Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0cHoUmESN8CF3uGZ7IyeDA Website: www.sugarfreepodcast.com SHOW NOTES In today’s episode, our guest discussed her journey on turning her side hustle into a successful full-time entrepreneurial venture. Side hustling is a practice characterized by working a part time job or pursuing an entrepreneurial venture in addition to having a full-time job for the purpose of producing additional income. We then discussed Ana’s entrepreneurial journey from IG influencer to blogger to side hustler to now CEO of her very own business, the Creator’s Coaching Co. Ana then shared with us how she was able to monetize her social media platform on Instagram and through her blog through sponsored ads and other content on both her blog and IG. She then explained the four key ways to monetize a blog which are: 1) affiliate marketing, 2) digital products, 3) Google ads, and 4) brand partnerships. She also told us about the importance of “owning your own real estate” online by having your own website that you control verses relying solely on social media to store/share your content. And even if you’re not ready to build out your website, it’s important for you to secure your domain name to ensure that it will be available for your use when you’re ready. Ana then shared how she was able to turn her side hustle into a successful business by creating online courses and offering business coaching on how to start a blog and successfully run a business as a business coach or online service provider. We ended the episode with Ana sharing with us some tips on how to best manage your time as a side-hustler and how to know when it’s time to leave your 9-5 to pursue entrepreneurship full time.

Ladies, yesterday was the last day that we will apologize for what we want. Today and everyday henceforth, we will be dating and living life WITHOUT apology. This episode will provide insight, guidance and actionable tips on how to date in a way that empowers women to show up as their true authentic selves at every phase of dating by not compromising any of their wants, needs or deepest desires. Join Syd and, Jephonne Roy, as they share stories about their dating lives and how the lessons they’ve learned have helped them to be bold, fearless and downright unapologetic daters.  Jephonne Roy is the “Roy” in Fairell Roy & Associates, a boutique Family and Personal Injury Law firm in Atlanta that is owned, lead and run by a team of black women. Jephonne leads the litigation division of the firm, helping the firm’s clients to navigate all of their divorce, child support, custody and personal injury needs. If you want to connect with or learn more about Jephonne or Fairell Roy & Associates, you can find out more here: https://www.fairellfirm.com. Tune in to the Sugar Free Podcast everywhere podcasts are available: Podcast Website YouTube Channel. Apple Podcasts:  Stitcher: Spotify: Amazon/Audible iHeart Radio:  #podcast #podcasting #sugarfreepodcast #host #podcasthost #dating #datingadvice #mentalhealth #settingboundaries #womensupportingwomen #womenempowerment #healing #blackgirlmagic #blackwomenheal #datingtips Show Notes What is your dating philosophy? Dating is gathering data. In order to make a competent decision about whether or not to continue dating a person, you need to ask very specific and direct questions as early as possible. You also need to be clear, direct and honest about the data that you are presenting to the other person. What should we look for on a first date to determine whether a man is serious about dating? The vibe—check to see if there is some chemistry between the two of you. Make sure that he is mentally stimulating you and that he seems genuinely interested in the conversation. If the vibe is right, Jephonne recommends asking specific questions as early as the first date to ensure that neither of you waste your time. Some potential questions to ask are: What are your goals for dating? Are you interested in marriage? How long do you believe in dating before marriage? Do you have children? Have you been married before? What do you look for in a guy to determine whether you should go on a date with him? All potential suitors should display the following before making it to a first date: Consistency Persistence Effort What is the biggest mistake women make when dating? Over-Accommodating-- Women tend to be over-accommodating in dating because of insecurity and fear of rejection. But the key to dating is setting a standard and/or boundary, giving the other person an opportunity to meet it and WALKING away FEARLESSLY when the standard is not met. Women are the prize. You do not have to bend over backwards to please a man. If he wants to date you, he will please YOU. He will meet YOUR standards. Not being honest with themselves – It is important to be brutally honest with yourself about what YOU want, clearly communicating to your potential partners what you want and WALKING away from a potential partner if/when it becomes apparent he/she won’t be able to give you what you want/need. If you don’t want to wait around 2-3 years to get engaged, there’s no rule saying you have to. What is your best advice for women who are still dating? Be HONEST and UPFRONT at every stage of the process to weed out ALL THE MEN WHO DON’T DESERVE TO BE IN YOUR PRESENCE EARLY AND OFTEN.

Maintaining friendships as an adult is HARD WORK. After going to work, working out, drinking 64oz of water (most days), caring for the dog, building a side business and checking in with your mama, who has time to hang out!? This is a question that Syd and special guest will try to answer in Season One Remix Episode 3, Maintaining Real Friendships.   Join host, Syd Mack, and special guest, Krystyna Braxton, as they sit down to discuss the challenges of maintaining your friendships as a working, BOSS adult. Krystyna Braxton is a 7-year veteran in the Sports Licensing Industry with degrees from both Howard and Georgetown University. You can  find out more about and/or connect with Krystyna on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/krystynabraxton/.   Show Notes What has been the most challenging aspect of maintaining your friendships as an adult? • Physical Proximity—as friends begin to move to different states and cities and become increasingly more difficult to remain in contact • Keeping up with Life’s Changes – As you move into your mid 20’s to early 30’s, you find that your friend’s lives begin to progress at different rates and it can be difficult to maintain your friendships with friends when you all are in different life stations. • Managing Internal Insecurities When Comparing Yourself to Friends – When friends start to hit certain personal goals (i.e. obtaining that dream job, making that dream salary, having children, finding love, getting married…etc.) that you both aspire to attain before you, sometimes their achievement can expose insecurity and/or anxiety about your current position in life. This can cause you to question where you are and you may start finding yourself saying things like, “Why isn’t this happening for me,” or “When is it my turn?” This may be an opportunity for you to address your insecurities and also to find friends who can meet you where you are • Financial Status – When you’re the “broke friend” it can be difficult to maintain relationships with friends when they want to indulge in activities (i.e. birthday dinners, brunch, travel…etc.) that you cannot afford)   How much time do you actually get to spend with your friends as an adult? • Growing In Different Directions -- As you get older you find that you naturally start to spend less time with friends as everyone is spending the majority of their time managing their own lives, families and careers. • Priorities Change -- You may also notice that your desire to hang out on weekends has declined as your priorities shift and change from being social to career growth, financial stability and recharging from long weeks at work. This is normal behavior and should not be a point of concern. You will also find that real friends will understand and the two of you won’t miss a beat.   Tune in to the Sugar Free Podcast everywhere podcasts are available:   Website: www.sugarfreepodcast.com YouTube: https://youtube.com/channel/UC0cHoUmESN8CF3uGZ7IyeDA Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/.../the-sugar.../id1573862487 Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/the-sugar-free-podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0G7127VhGnhnD36X0t72gm Amazon/Audible: https://music.amazon.com/.../ebc55.../THE-SUGAR-FREE-PODCAST iHeart Radio: https://www.iheart.com/.../269-the-sugar-free-podcast.../  

Season One Remix Episode 2, Setting Real Boundaries, is about setting  sustainable, clearly defined boundaries. According to this week's special guest, boundary setting is critical for "protecting that which we are nurturing." Without establishing clearly defined boundaries, it's almost impossible for us to address what we critically need.  Join host, Syd Mack, and special guest Anana Harris Parris, founder of the The Self Care Agency, LLC for a life-changing discussion on how to set and sustain boundaries  Want to Learn More About Anana? Anana Johari Harris Parris is the founder and CEO of the Self Care Agency, LLC, where she operates as the lead Strategic Business & Self Care Consultant. Anana is also founder of the SisterCARE Alliance, a socially responsible enterprise that focuses on social justice as a form of self-care. She is also author of the book Self Care Matters A Revolutionary’s Approach. Want to Work With Anana? The Self-Care agency is offering TEN PERCENT (10%) OFF its Strategic Self-Care Online Training for ALL Sugar Free Podcast Listeners. Email sugarfreepod@gmail.com to redeem your 10% off Coupon. You can also purchase her book, Self-Care Matters a Revolutionary Approach, on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Self-Care-Matters-Revolutionarys-Approach/dp/0996891013 or visit her website  at https://www.selfcareagency.com/. Summary of Today’s Show What is a boundary? A boundary is a very clear, proactive, communicated stance that is tied to what you critically need to fulfill your purpose and it can be a belief or an action. The most basic function of a boundary is that it serves as protection. Why are boundaries critical to self-care? Boundaries are critical to self-care because there is no way to sustain addressing what you critically need if you don’t set a boundary that’s also sustainable Why is it so difficult to set boundaries? Setting boundaries is difficult because doing so requires courage. Courage that sometimes cannot be established on your own. Often times, finding the courage you need to establish a clearly defined boundary requires you to ask for help. This can be especially difficult if you tend to be a perfectionist and place immense amounts of pressure on yourself to not make a mistake. This is because perfectionism requires that you not share your struggles with others. Others that you may need to establish sustainable boundaries and a strategy for self-care. What does it say about you if you have difficulty setting boundaries? It says that you’re normal. How do we set a boundary? Knowing how and when to set a boundary requires you to develop a strategy around your critical self-care needs. Anana recommends evaluating your self-care needs by assessing what you need based on the seven self-care categories. The  seven categories of self-care are: (1) Spiritual, (2) Emotional, (3) Artistic, (4) Economic, (5) Physical, (6) Educational, and  (7) Social. An assessment of your needs should be taken EVERY DAY and your boundaries should be placed around those needs. Download Anana’s Self Care Check-In Form Here: https://www.selfcareagency.com/self-care-edu?pgid=j91fln7a-294601e1-3a7d-40fa-8f09-d1e0b24c8298 Tune in to the Sugar Free Podcast everywhere podcasts are available: Podcast Website YouTube Channel. Apple Podcasts:  Stitcher: Spotify: Amazon/Audible iHeart Radio:  #podcast #podcasting #sugarfreepodcast #host #podcasthost #boundaries #selfcare #mentalhealth #settingboundaries #womensupportingwomen #womenempowerment #healing #blackgirlmagic #blackwomenheal

New look, new season(kinda), who dis? This episode kicks off the start of Season One 2.0, the Remix, where we will be running back all your fave episodes with added commentary (by me), out takes, bonus content and special offers from some of our guests on the show! To get things kicked off, we are running back Season One Favorite, Getting Real Coin Part III: Negotiating for Your Life with NBA Senior Team Talent Advisor, Nicole Britenriker. In this episode, Nicole breaks down all the things we need to know to get every penny we’re worth in our next salary negotiations for a new role, raise or promotion. In the age of the Great Resignation, I figured y’all needed this one first. You’re welcome! Want to learn more about Nicole? A former professional volleyball player and student-athlete for the University of Kentucky, Nicole Britenriker has served in various roles across the professional and collegiate sports landscape including sponsorships, sales, corporate partnership development, ticketing and currently, talent acquisition and talent management with an emphasis on diversity, equity and inclusion. If you want to connect with Nicole, find her on LinkedIn at: www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-britenriker/. Summary of Today’s Show           Why is this conversation important?. According to the US Census Bureau: White, non Hispanic women are paid 79 cents,  Black women are typically paid 63 cents, Native American women 60 cents, Latinas just 55cents, and Asian American and Pacific Islander women are paid as little as 52 cents on the dollar as compared to their white male counterparts. Why are women of color, gay, lesbian, queer, non-binary, gender non-conforming and other marginalized groups are paid less? External Resources we can use to determine market rate for purpose of salary negotiations Glass Door LinkedIn Nerd Wallet CNN Money National Association for Law Placement (NALP) University Career Services Department What is the “point of no return in a negotiation? When have you gone too far with your demands? Asking for something that has not yet been discussed at the end of a negotiation Initiate salary discussions by the second round of interviews. Don’t wait until the end of a process to have a discussion regarding salary requirements/expectations. Don’t OVER negotiate. An employer is unlikely to come back more than twice with a counter offer during a negotiation How to initiate and navigate salary discussions ALWAYS NEGOTIATE. NEVER ACCEPT A FIRST OFFER Potential employers CANNOT ask you what your current salary is. Do not feel pressured to share this information unless you want to. Share your DESIRED salary range. It’s okay if that’s considerably more than what you’re currently making, especially if your number is supported by the current market rate Never toss out the first number, unless required. In that case, provide a salary range and not an exact figure. If the employer is being vague about their salary budget, you be vague as well. Your counter-offer should be 10%-20% higher than the initial offer Weigh the FULL value of the opportunity when making a decision whether or not to accept a role. There may be other considerations that make a role attractive outside of compensation based on your overall career goals/current position. Red flags to look out for during the negotiation process that may signal a company is not a good fit for you Be fearless in holding employers accountable for providing you what they promised you and what you deserve Tune in to the Sugar Free Podcast everywhere podcasts are available: YouTube Channel. Apple Podcasts:  Stitcher: Spotify: Amazon/Audible: iHeart Radio:  #podcast #podcasting #sugarfreepodcast #finances #financialsecurity #blackgirlmagic #negotiatingtips #coins #knowyourworth #worktips #workadvice #getyourcoins #bossbabe