Ready to Exhale

We’re honored to welcome back Dr. Gail Parker to the Ready to Exhale podcast for a powerful two-part conversation. Together, we explore what it means to care for our mental health before reaching the breaking point and how daily practices can help us stay grounded and whole, especially in a year where over 300,000 Black women are unemployed and 45% of Black Women voters say their mental health has worsened this year. (according to ...

We’re honored to welcome back Dr. Gail Parker to the Ready to Exhale podcast for a powerful two-part conversation. Together, we explore what it means to care for our mental health before reaching the breaking point and how daily practices can help us stay grounded and whole, especially in a year where over 300,000 Black women are unemployed and 45% of Black Women voters say their mental health has worsened this year. (according to ...

In this solo episode, Katara invites us to pause, breathe, and reflect on the urgent importance of prioritizing our mental health and well-being as Black women. Especially now.

She begins with grounding breathwork practice, weaves in data from The State of Self-Care for Black Women and The Highland Project’s Poll and speaks truth about the systems that harm us while pointing toward collective care as resistance.

The episode closes wi...

Our host, Katara, sits down with the brilliant Tamara Winfrey-Harris, award-winning author of Dear Black Girl and The Sisters Are Alright.

In this conversation, Tamara reminds us that freedom isn’t a finish line we cross, it’s a daily practice of telling the truth, creating community, and making space for Black women and girls to breathe fully. Together, Katara and Tamara explore what it means to live free in our bodies, our choices...

Katara sits down with visionary leader Vanessa Garrison, co-founder of GirlTrek, the largest health nonprofit for Black women and girls in the U.S., with over one million walkers. Vanessa is reimagining public health as a path to liberation—grounding her work in the radical, beautiful act of walking.

From reclaiming green spaces to sparking a civil rights–inspired health movement, Vanessa shares how walking can be both healing and r...

This month on Ready to Exhale, we’re joined by Dr. Lakeysha “Key” Hallmon - educator, entrepreneur, and author of No One Is Self-Made: Build Your Village to Flourish in Business and Life.

In this powerful conversation, Dr. Hallmon unpacks the myth of individualism and invites us to reimagine success through the lens of collaboration and community. Together, we explore what it means to build a village that nourishes your growth, supp...

In this episode, Katara sits down with Kyra Epps for a heartfelt conversation on identity, legacy, and the power of staying grounded. Kyra—creative, producer, founder, and a woman deeply rooted in care—opens up about her journey navigating her career, motherhood, and legacy building, all while prioritizing her own healing and growth.

This episode is full of reflection and real talk about what it means to build a life with intention,...

We are thrilled to kick off a new season of Ready to Exhale with the incredible Dr. Colette Pierce Burnette!

Dr. B is a trailblazer in education, leadership, and community impact. She made history as the first female president of Huston-Tillotson University, Austin’s oldest institution of higher learning. With a background in engineering and technology, she has held executive roles in higher education, corporate America, and nonprof...

I sat down with Aseanté Renee, a colleague and healer. 

A few days after the election, she asked me what emotions were loud for me. Her question caused me to pause and be with all of the emotions I was having. I was grateful for her thoughtfulness and care during this tender moment for many of us. 

Aseanté is a beautiful human doing beautiful work. I was honored to have her on this episode of Ready to Exhale. I hope you enjoy our con...

In this episode, I sat down with the lovely Octavia Raheem to discuss all things rest and her new book, Rest is Sacred, which is out now! As you will hear, Octavia is committed to herself, her family, community and being well rested in body, mind, heart, and spirit. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. 

Order Rest is Sacred Here https://www.octaviaraheem.com/rest-is-sacred

Octavia's website ht...

In this episode, Katara sits down with her friend Dr. Marlo D. David for a beautiful conversation to chat about how Black Women deserve space and time to think, to dream, and to reimagine our careers and lives. 

Dr. Marlo D. David is an associate professor of English and Women’s, Gender, and
Sexuality Studies at Purdue University. She is the author of Mama’s Gun: Black
Maternal Figures and the Politics of Transgres...

In this episode our host Katara chats with Dr. Gail Parker to discuss race-based stress and trauma and ways we can heal and live thriving lives.

Gail Parker, PhD., CIAYT, is an author, psychologist, yoga therapist educator, and a lifelong practitioner of yoga. She is President Emerita of the Black Yoga Teachers Alliance (BYTA) Board of Directors where she served as President of the Board from 2020-2024. Dr. Gail is well kn...

In this episode, Katara engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Tonya Lewis Lee, the visionary behind Movita Organics. They delve into the concept that, as Black Women, we are in a constant battle and must prioritize our wellness to effectively fight it.

Tonya created Movita to help women gain a baseline of good nutrition and practice positive choices that support a lifestyle of well-being. For Tonya, Movita is a platform t...

In this episode, our host, Katara, sat down with Dr. Stella Safo to discuss her work as a board-certified HIV primary care physician, public health advocate, and Just Equity for Health founder. This healthcare improvement company uses advocacy, education, and care model design to ensure equitable care delivery across all sectors of medicine.

Dr. Safo has experience in clinical transformation and healthcare redesign in acad...

We sat down with Dr. Topeka to hear her beautiful story, from incarceration to launching and leading an amazing organization. Dr. Topeka K. Sam founded The Ladies of Hope Ministries (The LOHM) in 2017 to support women and girls impacted by the criminal legal system. While incarcerated, she realized that prison and jail are not conducive to healing and rehabilitation. Upon her release, Topeka made it her mission to create pathways t...

Episode #2 was recorded live during Essence Fest Weekend, we stopped by Magnolia Yoga Studio to discuss "The State of Self-Care for Black Women" report by Exhale. Listen in as Rhonda Broussard, author of One Good Question, educator, and entrepreneur, along with Shelina Davis, CEO of Louisiana Public Health Institute, and Ajax Jackson, founder & CEO of Magnolia Yoga Studio, the first Black Yoga Studio in New Orleans si...