Emboldened with Jessica is a mental health and wellness podcast exploring belonging, trauma healing, adult friendships, burnout recovery, identity, and rebuilding community in an increasingly isolating world. Hosted by licensed therapist and somatic practitioner Jessica Jackson, alongside producer and co-host Ariele, with cultural commentary and insight from Cultural Chatterist Kathleen Onyejekwe, the show blends psychology, nervous system science, lived experience, and cultural analysis to explore how we navigate relationships, healing, visibility, and self-trust in complex times. Each episode explores topics like: • the loneliness epidemic and rebuilding community • somatic therapy and nervous system regulation • adult friendships and social exhaustion • trauma, shame, and heal...
Latest episodes
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49 min
The Group Chat: Current Obsessions, Pop Culture & Unfiltered Hot Takes
What happens when the group chat gets microphones? After our conversation about grief resonated so deeply with listeners, we decided it was time for a little range. This week, Jess…
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1 h 31
Living With Grief: Love, Loss & Humor with Lilli Lopez
In this episode, we're talking about navigating grief, loss, and the ways love, connection, humor, and community can exist alongside it. Jessica, Ariele, and Kathleen are joined by…
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46 min
Is Anybody Still Dating? App Fatigue, Emotional Safety & Real Connection
Is anybody still dating? Nearly half of U.S. adults are unpartnered, but that doesn't mean they're all out there swiping. On this episode, Jessica, Ariele, and cultural chatteress…
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1 h 23
Is Delulu the Solulu? The Psychology of Radical Self-Belief
In this milestone 25th episode of Emboldened with Jessica, Jessica, Ariele, special guests Bri and Monse explore the viral phrase "Delulu is the Solulu" through the lens of psychol…
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47 min
You're Not Behind: Letting Go of Timelines & Decentering Work Identity
We were taught that if we followed the steps — work hard, get the degree, build the career — life would fall into place. For many people, that hasn't happened. In this episode, Jes…
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45 min
The Loneliness Epidemic: Rebuilding Community Through Intentional Gathering
Loneliness is rising worldwide. In this episode, Jessica explores why connection feels harder today and how intentional gathering can rebuild community. In this conversation, Jessi…
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1 h 01
The Year We Chose Ourselves: Season 3 Reflections on Healing and Growth
Personal growth often begins when we decide to choose ourselves. In this Season 3 reflection, Jessica explores healing, life transitions, and the courage it takes to redefine your…
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51 min
Child-Free by Choice: Redefining Life, Legacy & Fulfillment Beyond Parenthood
Choosing a child-free life is becoming a more visible path in modern adulthood. In this episode, Jessica, Ariele, and Kathleen Onyejekwe explore identity, legacy, and fulfillment b…
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48 min
Purity Culture Harms: Healing Shame, Reclaiming Pleasure, and Body Autonomy
Purity culture has shaped how many people experience shame, sexuality, and body autonomy—especially within religious environments. In this episode, Jessica explores the lasting har…
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42 min
Packing Up, Leveling Up: Moving Through Life Transitions & Long-Distance Friendships
Moving to a new place can shift more than your address—it can reshape friendships, identity, and community. In this episode, Jessica and Ariele explore long-distance friendships, l…
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24 min
A Soft Summer: Rest, Nervous System Healing & Burnout Recovery
Burnout recovery often begins with something simple but difficult: rest. Jessica and Ariele explore nervous system regulation, presence, and choosing a softer pace of life. This we…
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58 min
Modern Dating Unfiltered: Breaking Norms, Navigating Connections & Embracing Self-Awareness
In this episode of Emboldened with Jessica, Jessica sits down with trauma-focused somatic bodyworker Cortenay Crosson to unpack the realities of modern dating. Together they explor…
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59 min
Starting a Business: Practical Strategies for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
Starting a business requires more than a great idea. In this episode, Jessica and entrepreneur Jason Jackson explore practical strategies for aspiring entrepreneurs. In celebration…
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25 min
Personal Rebranding: Big Goals, Bold Moves & Reinventing Your Life
Personal rebranding can help align who you are becoming with how you show up in the world. Jessica and Ariele explore how to reinvent your story with intention. Reinvention is ofte…
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43 min
Family Estrangement: Boundaries, Grief & Healing When Family Relationships Hurt
Family estrangement is more common than many people realize. In this episode, Jessica explores boundaries, grief, and how people navigate going no contact with family. In this epis…
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42 min
More Than Fashion: How Style, Ballroom Culture, and Community Organizing Create Change
In this episode of 'Emboldened with Jessica', the conversation explores the intricate relationship between fashion and personal style, emphasizing how they shape identity and self-…
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12 min
Living "That Girl" Energy: Boundaries, Relationships & Choosing Yourself Daily
In Part 2 of this two-part series, Jessica and Ariele move from becoming "that girl" to living it—daily, imperfectly, and in real relationships. This episode explores how confidenc…
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18 min
Becoming "That Girl": Confidence, Self-Worth & Rewriting the Rules of Who You Get to Be
In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, Jessica, Ariele and returning special guest Lisa Holmes unpack what it really means to be "that girl"—beyond aesthetics, trends, or social…
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14 min
Hot Girl Walks & Health Wake-Up Calls: Rethinking the "Summer Body"
The phrase "summer body" trends every year — alongside viral phrases like "unbig your back," body transformation challenges, and seasonal pressure to get in shape. In this summer m…
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18 min
Dating With Intention: Summer Fun, Boundaries & Knowing What You Want
Summer is here, and after years of isolation because of the pandemic, many of us feel ready to be outside — socially, romantically, and energetically. But being "outside" doesn't h…