We Root Ourselves Here

In this special mini episode of Ready to Exhale, Katara reflects on the power of Black women following the historic election victories across the country, honoring not only the women who made history but also those who organized, mobilized, and helped make those victories possible.Drawing on a powerful distinction between being strong and being powerful, Katara explores what it means to embrace our power without sacrificing our well-being.This reflection is an invitation to celebrate our collective impact while remembering that our power is not only in what we do for the world, but also in how we choose to live within it.

We Deserve More Than Self-CareWhat does it really mean for Black women to be well, not just to keep going, but to truly experience peace, joy, and a life that supports our well-being?In this solo episode of Ready to Exhale, host Katara McCarty reflects on findings from The Highland Project's 2026 Annual National Poll and what Black women are telling us about joy, mental health, and the conditions shaping our lives.From the expectations placed on our strength and resilience to the systems that make sustained well-being difficult, Katara explores why self-care matters deeply, but cannot carry the entire responsibility for our wellness.This conversation is an invitation to rethink what it means to be well, recognize what was never ours to carry, and remember that we deserve more than strategies for enduring difficult conditions.Because we cannot keep placing the responsibility for being well on Black women without taking into consideration the systems that are making us unwell.The Highland Project's Fall Poll https://www.thehighlandproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/2026-Annual-National-Poll_THP_reduced_5.pdf

In this episode of Ready to Exhale, Katara sits down with author, activist, spiritual teacher, racial equity consultant, educator, and intuitive and shamanic healer Michelle Cassandra Johnson for a grounding conversation about ritual, joy, nature, and the practices that help us return to ourselves.Michelle shares how her relationship with the natural world, from tending to bees and chickens to simply noticing the rhythms around her, has become a source of connection, restoration, and remembering. Together, they explore what nature can teach us about slowing down, listening to our bodies, honoring our ancestors, and creating rituals that sustain us.This conversation is an invitation to notice what grounds you, reconnect with what has always been available to you, and consider how returning to ritual might also help you return to yourself.Take a breath, settle in, and come exhale with us.Also, be sure to connect, follow, and pre-order Michelle's new book👇🏽Website: https://www.michellecjohnson.com/Instagram page: @skillinactionPre-order You Are Protected: https://www.michellecjohnson.com/you-are-protectedParticipate in a Year of Rituals with me: https://www.michellecjohnson.com/events/you-are-protected-a-year-of-rituals

In this episode of Ready to Exhale, Katara sits down with Christine Platt to explore the powerful lessons from her new book, Less Is Liberation. Together, they discuss the importance of releasing what no longer serves us and creating space for the things that truly nourish us.Whether you're navigating leadership, caregiving, entrepreneurship, or simply the demands of everyday life, this episode invites you to consider what it means to prioritize your well-being without guilt.In a culture that constantly asks us to do more and carry more, Christine offers a different invitation: to return to yourself, tend to your well-being, and replenish your wells before they run dry.Join us for a thoughtful conversation on intentional living, well-being, and the liberating power of choosing yourself.Order Less is Liberation here: https://www.iamchristineplatt.com/nonfictionFollow Christine here: https://www.instagram.com/iamchristineplatt/

In this episode of Ready to Exhale, Katara sits down with Faith Hunter for a grounding conversation on healing, spiritual well-being, and the power of returning to ourselves. A globally celebrated wellness guide and creator of the Spiritually Fly™ philosophy, Faith shares how yoga, meditation, and breath became part of her own healing journey and life’s purpose.Together, they explore emotional release, presence, and what it means to care for ourselves in a world that often asks us to keep pushing. This conversation is an invitation to slow down, reconnect with yourself, and make space to exhale.Check out Faith and her offerings here https://www.faithhunter.com/

In this episode of Ready to Exhale, Katara is joined by Latham Thomas—author, educator, and founder of Mama Glow—whose work is reshaping how we understand birth, postpartum care, and the well-being of mothers and babies.Together, they explore what it means to build systems where Black women are not only heard, but truly safe. Because too often, safety isn’t given—it’s something Black women are forced to fight for.As Latham shares, “It’s actually demanding our strength to advocate… because systems refuse to create circumstances where you’re safe. That is a violation of human rights.”This conversation is both grounding and urgent—a reminder of what care should feel like, and what Black women have always deserved.To learn more about Latham and her work, visit:https://mamaglow.com/https://mamaglowfoundation.org/

In this episode of Ready to Exhale, Katara McCarty sits down with Dr. Raquel Martin, psychologist, educator, and thought leader in Black mental health and liberation psychology. Together they explore what it means to cultivate “Black mental wealth,” how our mental health is shaped by the world around us, and why community care is essential to our well-being.This conversation invites us to think deeper about healing, community, and the ways we can support our mental and emotional well-being as Black women.Check out Dr Martin and her offerings here https://www.raquelmartinphd.com/

In our final episode of Ready to Exhale for the year, Katara sits with you for a short solo reflection to gently close this season of conversation and care. This episode is a moment of gratitude for every listener and for each of the incredible women who joined her throughout the year.In this closing reflection, Katara shares what this year has held, what we are carrying forward, and offers an invitation to move into the next season with intention, softness, and breath.

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 The Highland Project Poll). In these episodes, Katara and Dr. Parker reflect on a recent event they co-hosted and a deeply moving moment standing at the river, a place Dr. Parker described as both boundary and horizon. Their conversation invites us to consider how that same duality lives within us today: the limits we honor and the possibilities we continue to reach for.Tune in to both parts of this soul-nourishing dialogue on Ready to Exhale, available now.

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 The Highland Project Poll). In these episodes, Katara and Dr. Parker reflect on a recent event they co-hosted and a deeply moving moment standing at the river, a place Dr. Parker described as both boundary and horizon. Their conversation invites us to consider how that same duality lives within us today: the limits we honor and the possibilities we continue to reach for.Tune in to both parts of this soul-nourishing dialogue on Ready to Exhale, available now.