065 | Superwoman Syndrome: After the Applause — What Strength Really Cost w/ Katina Barnes

The life they taught her to build almost took her with it.

For decades, Katina Barnes poured into families, mentored girls, launched programs, led ministries, and moved mountains with two-person teams. The world clapped. But no one asked what it cost.

In this National Black Girl Month™ feature, Katina joins Felicia Ford and co-host Dr. Rikesha Fry Brown to name what many Black women are only starting to admit: that being “strong” is often a trap. That sometimes it takes collapsing in your own bed to realize what was never sustainable. That no matter how much good you’re doing—you still deserve to live.

This conversation is not a warning. It’s a reckoning. If you’ve been performing strength while privately unraveling, If you’ve been told to push through while your body says no, If you’ve outgrown the expectations that once defined your worth— this episode is where you lay it down.

You’ll hear:

• How burnout disguises itself as achievement

• Why letting go of control isn’t failure—it’s survival

• What real boundaries sound like when they’re held, not explained

• How to model wellness for the next generation without apology

• Why “being needed” can no longer be the measure of your value

This is not about doing less. It’s about doing what’s yours to carry—and no more.

🎧 Listen now and access the free toolkit at NationalBlackGirlMonth.com

Next Steps:  Join The Sanctuary & The Strategy: https://resources.feliciafordandco.com/nbgm 

Connect with Katina at Butterfly Village, Inc.: www.butterflyvillagein.org 

Connect with Dr. Rikesha Fry Brown - www.instagram.com/dr.rikesha

Tune in to Echelon Live with Felicia - https://bit.ly/echelonlivefelicia 

Get Free Resources: https://resources.feliciafordandco.com/

Learn more about Katina Barnes: 

I have always had a love for impacting change, whether through my love for fashion or through community building. This passion to for community change was ignited while employed at Children's Hospital of The Kings Daughters where I had the opportunity to coordinate free health insurance for uninsured children. My journey of making a difference in the lives of others led me to The Up Center, a non-profit organization specializing in helping people live better lives. After serving a little over eleven years in Prevention Services, I  decided to extend my career to higher education, joining Tidewater Community College in 2011 as an Adjunct Instructor and Academic Advisor.  Within the first year I was promoted to work in student engagement and then advancing as the inaugural Director of the Portsmouth Campus Student Center. I changed the culture of co-curricular learning by establishing student success initiatives, incorporating collaborative learning experiences and creating a vibrant environment for academic success. During my tenure at TCC, I also served as the Coordinator of Dual Enrollment Academies, providing opportunities for high school students to concurrently earn a high school diploma and an associate’s degree.  I joined Old Dominion University in 2023 as the Assistant Director of Monarch Internship and Co--Op Success, continuing my passion for ensuring students are successful in their academic journey through work-based learning.​Leadership is important to me.  I've had the privilege of spearheading several impactful initiatives, and serving on various boards to include Girls Scouts of Colonial Coast, Portsmouth Schools Foundation, Lefcoe Board of Trustees, YMCA Effingham Street Portsmouth, and Prevent Child