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Welcome to The UNKAGED™ Woman, the podcast where high-achieving Black and Brown women stop shrinking and start showing up fully as themselves.
Hosted by Brig Johnson, APN, MSNA, Master Coach Instructor, Nurse Anesthesiologist, and the Black Woman Thrive Architect, this is not another wellness podcast telling you to breathe and journal your way through burnout. Brig brings neurobiology, clinical insight, real lived experience, and the kind of truth most coaching spaces are too polished to say out loud.
Here is what nobody is telling you: you are not the problem. You are running patterns that were wired into you long before you had a choice, and those patterns are draining your health, your joy, your relationships, and your sense of self.
If you have ever:
- Hit every goal and still felt like something was missing
- Said yes when your whole body was screaming no
- Been the strong one so long you stopped knowing what you actually need
- Kept pushing because rest felt like a luxury you hadn't earned
- Made yourself smaller to avoid conflict at work, at home, in love
- Felt guilty for wanting more when everyone says you should be grateful
- Wondered why doing everything right still doesn't feel like enough
This podcast was made for you.
Each week, Brig gets into the survival patterns that keep accomplished women stuck, exhausted, and disconnected from themselves. And explores how to stop over-functioning, build boundaries that actually stick, and live in a way that matches the woman you have worked so hard to become.
This show is for the woman holding everything together while running on empty. The one who is done performing fine and ready to feel it for real.
You were never broken. You were just never given a framework built for you.
Welcome to UNKAGED™.
New episodes drop weekly. Visit https://brigjohnson.com/ to learn more about Brig Johnson and her coaching services.
Episodes
Jan 20, 2025
Jan 20, 2025
59 min
As we step into our ruthless era in 2025, it's more important than ever to prioritize peace, time, and strong support systems. Roberto, an expert in identifying and resolving financial gaps, joins us to share actionable strategies for unlocking new opportunities and creating a life of ease.
In this episode, Roberto emphasizes the mental freedom that comes from outsourcing. He candidly shares his experiences with grief and illness, along with practical tips for hiring help in both business and daily life. His stories highlight the transformative power of seeking support.
Whether you're an entrepreneur or someone striving to simplify life, this episode is filled with practical advice to reduce stress, boost productivity, and effectively leverage resources.
GUEST —
Roberto Candelaria, Master Certified Business + Life Coach | Instagram | Website | Facebook | Podcast
MENTIONED —
For those ready to take the next step, our Impact One-On-One Coaching offers personalized guidance to help you fully embrace the Freedom Formula. It's time to opt out of their formulas and into your power.
RESOURCES —
- Join my Newsletter, Unlearn and Unleash
- Join the Next Breakthrough Master Class here
- Register for the Next Melanin Hour here
- Book a Breakthrough Call here
- Share Your Takeaways With Me at brig@brigjohnson.com
STAY CONNECTED —
Jan 13, 2025
Jan 13, 2025
39 min
Feeling drained no matter how much you rest? In this episode, Brig reveals the surprising brain chemistry driving your exhaustion. Meet glutamate—the brain’s most abundant excitatory neurotransmitter. When it builds up, it acts like an internal overload alarm, triggering mental fatigue, brain fog, and even anxiety.
Learn how stress, decision fatigue, and cultural conditioning fuel glutamate overload, and gain practical strategies to reclaim your energy, clarity, and vitality. Tune in to uncover the keys to feeling truly energized and empowered in your daily life.
MENTIONED —
For those ready to take the next step, our Impact One-On-One Coaching offers personalized guidance to help you fully embrace the Freedom Formula. It's time to opt out of their formulas and into your power.
RESOURCES —
- Join my Newsletter, Unlearn and Unleash
- Join the Next Breakthrough Master Class here
- Register for the Next Melanin Hour here
- Book a Breakthrough Call here
- Share Your Takeaways With Me at brig@brigjohnson.com
STAY CONNECTED —
Jan 6, 2025
Jan 6, 2025
14 min
As the calendar flips to 2025, many of us are busy crafting our to-do lists, setting goals, and planning how to conquer the year ahead. But what if we flipped the script? What if instead of focusing on what we need to do, we concentrate on what we need to stop doing? This is exactly what Brig proposes in her latest podcast episode, where she introduces the concept of a "not gon’ do" list.
Tune in to hear the ten things we should not do in 2025, then start crafting your list of what you're not going to do.
Share this episode with friends and hold each other accountable to this transformative "not gon’ do" list. Let's commit to moving differently, living boldly, and claiming what's ours. Here's to a beautiful and empowered 2025!
MENTIONED —
For those ready to take the next step, our Impact One-On-One Coaching offers personalized guidance to help you fully embrace the Freedom Formula. It's time to opt out of their formulas and into your power.
RESOURCES —
- Join my Newsletter, Unlearn and Unleash
- Join the Next Breakthrough Master Class here
- Register for the Next Melanin Hour here
- Book a Breakthrough Call here
- Share Your Takeaways With Me at brig@brigjohnson.com
STAY CONNECTED —
Dec 30, 2024
Dec 30, 2024
11 min
As we stand on the cusp of a new year, Brig challenges us to leave behind one destructive habit: being our own worst critic.
As Black women, we carry the weight of many roles—protector, nurturer, and fixer—not just for ourselves but for others too. Yet, in the process, we often become our own harshest critics. In this quick yet impactful episode, Brig implores us to stop turning our frustrations and disappointments inward.
Tune in as Brig unpacks how societal conditioning has trained us to see ourselves as the problem, making us our easiest target. She also emphasizes the importance of recognizing when we're doing this, refusing to shrink, and turning compassion inward.
This episode is a powerful love note to every Black woman, reminding us that we are not too much, not broken, but a whole masterpiece navigating a world that wasn't built for us to thrive.
Imagine the bold moves we could make and the peace we could feel if we stopped the self-blame. In 2025, let's choose to be our greatest ally, not our easiest target.
MENTIONED —
For those ready to take the next step, our Impact One-On-One Coaching offers personalized guidance to help you fully embrace the Freedom Formula. It's time to opt out of their formulas and into your power.
RESOURCES —
- Join my Newsletter, Unlearn and Unleash
- Join the Next Breakthrough Master Class here
- Register for the Next Melanin Hour here
- Book a Breakthrough Call here
- Share Your Takeaways With Me at brig@brigjohnson.com
STAY CONNECTED —
Dec 23, 2024
Dec 23, 2024
39 min
Welcome to the final installment of Brig's 60th birthday series, "Lessons from 60 Years." Today's episode is a heartfelt exploration of what it truly means to live liberated.
If you've been living a life that looks good on paper but feels lacking in zest and joy, this episode is your wake-up call. Brig challenges you to stop talking yourself out of what you truly want and to start living a life that prioritizes your deepest desires. She shares her hard-earned wisdom on breaking free from self-imposed limitations and societal expectations, encouraging you to dream epic dreams and live boldly.
Press play now to join Brig as she dives deep into the journey from living a responsible life to embracing true freedom, not just in terms of societal expectations but in soul-deep fulfillment.
Here's your homework - Write down one epic dream you've been denying yourself and give yourself permission to pursue it. Happy holidays, Queens!
MENTIONED —
Reach out with your wins and truths about freedom that resonated with you at brig@brigjohnson.com.
RESOURCES —
- Join my Newsletter, Unlearn and Unleash
- Join the Next Breakthrough Master Class here
- Register for the Next Melanin Hour here
- Book a Breakthrough Call here
- Share Your Takeaways With Me at brig@brigjohnson.com
STAY CONNECTED —
Dec 16, 2024
Dec 16, 2024
21 min
Join Brig in her series on the transformative power of dreaming as she reflects on her journey to dream big in honor of her 60th birthday.
Brig shares how she overcame societal expectations and personal fears, reclaiming her power and purpose. She encourages us all to free ourselves from the mental drain of self-doubt and societal lies through dreaming.
Tune in to learn how to let go of self-doubt, free up mental energy, and create a life path that doesn’t require anyone else’s approval. Whether you’re considering a career change or seeking more joy in daily life, this episode will inspire you to dream fearlessly and live boldly.
MENTIONED —
For those ready to take the next step, our Impact One-On-One Coaching offers personalized guidance to help you fully embrace the Freedom Formula. It's time to opt out of their formulas and into your power.
RESOURCES —
- Join my Newsletter, Unlearn and Unleash
- Join the Next Breakthrough Master Class here
- Register for the Next Melanin Hour here
- Book a Breakthrough Call here
- Share Your Takeaways With Me at brig@brigjohnson.com
STAY CONNECTED —
Dec 9, 2024
Dec 9, 2024
48 min
In this special 60th birthday episode, Brig Johnson takes us on a deeply personal journey of self-discovery and empowerment. This episode is the first in a three-part series where Brig shares the invaluable lessons she's gathered over six decades.
Brig opens up about the transformative power of embracing one's true self, challenging the societal norms that dictate women's roles in relationships. Through her story, Brig encourages us to question the narratives we've been told, especially around love and marriage, but Brig's truths are not just for those in relationships but apply to all areas of life, offering a blueprint for living authentically and unapologetically.
This is a call to action for anyone stuck in "pick me" energy, urging them to rewrite their own stories and find happiness on their terms. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from her decades of experience and transform your own life. Tune in now and start your journey to emotional liberation and true happiness.
Freedom and happiness are within reach, no matter your age or circumstances.
MENTIONED —
For those ready to take the next step, our Impact One-On-One Coaching offers personalized guidance to help you fully embrace the Freedom Formula. It's time to opt out of their formulas and into your power.
RESOURCES —
- Join my Newsletter, Unlearn and Unleash
- Join the Next Breakthrough Master Class here
- Register for the Next Melanin Hour here
- Book a Breakthrough Call here
- Share Your Takeaways With Me at brig@brigjohnson.com
STAY CONNECTED —
Dec 2, 2024
Dec 2, 2024
18 min
In this third and final installment of the series "The Betrayal of the Black Woman", Brig introduces us to the "Freedom Formula," a powerful tool for breaking free from the chains of external validation and societal expectations. Brig also introduces the concept of "freedom indicators"—signs that you're living the Freedom Formula—and provides actionable steps to opt out of others' equations and into your own power.
Imagine a life where you're not plagued by 3 a.m. anxiety, second-guessing your decisions, or dimming your light to make others comfortable. This episode offers practical steps to achieve that freedom, from setting boundaries to prioritizing self-care.
Tune in to discover how to prioritize yourself, manage your energy, and set personal expectations that liberate you from emotional whiplash. It's time to reclaim our peace, power, and happiness.
MENTIONED —
For those ready to take the next step, our Impact One-On-One Coaching offers personalized guidance to help you fully embrace the Freedom Formula. It's time to opt out of their formulas and into your power.
RESOURCES —
- Join my Newsletter, Unlearn and Unleash
- Join the Next Breakthrough Master Class here
- Register for the Next Melanin Hour here
- Book a Breakthrough Call here
- Share Your Takeaways With Me at brig@brigjohnson.com
STAY CONNECTED —
Nov 25, 2024
Nov 25, 2024
23 min
Welcome to part 2 of the powerful series, "Emotional Whiplash: The Betrayal of the Black Woman." In this episode, Brig’s diving into the emotional rollercoaster that many of us face when expectations clash with reality.
So often we keep getting surprised when people show us who they truly are. It's time to stop acting brand new and start understanding the formula fallacy that keeps us tied to false expectations. Join Brig as she unpacks the broken formula we've inherited, one that convinces us that if we just do things right, others will reciprocate. But this formula is designed to fail us, keeping us in a cycle of self-betrayal and emotional whiplash. From relationships to work environments, we explore how this fallacy manifests and the toll it takes on our health and well-being.
Don't miss this empowering discussion that not only identifies the problem but also sets the stage for transformative solutions.
MENTIONED —
RESOURCES —
- Join my Newsletter, Unlearn and Unleash
- Join the Next Breakthrough Master Class here
- Register for the Next Melanin Hour here
- Book a Breakthrough Call here
- Share Your Takeaways With Me at brig@brigjohnson.com
STAY CONNECTED —
Nov 18, 2024
Nov 18, 2024
30 min
In this powerful episode, Brig dives into the emotional turmoil many Black women are experiencing post-election, aptly naming it "emotional whiplash." This episode marks the beginning of a three-part series where Brig unpacks the deep-seated feelings of betrayal and exhaustion that come with being at the forefront of societal change, yet still feeling unsupported.
In this episode, Brig introduces three major emotional taxes that are depleting Black women's energy. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing these taxes and the need to give ourselves the "all clear" signal to relax and recover.
Join Brig as she discusses how these burdens affect us and how we can empower ourselves to overcome them.
MENTIONED —
Take the Black Woman Stress Tax Quiz designed to show you the of the cost of unmastered stress in your life.
RESOURCES —
- Join my Newsletter, Unlearn and Unleash
- Join the Next Breakthrough Master Class here
- Register for the Next Melanin Hour here
- Book a Breakthrough Call here
- Share Your Takeaways With Me at brig@brigjohnson.com
STAY CONNECTED —