https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-messy-middle--6702278enSociety & CultureCopyright Jamilahttps://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/30a82014ac90cacf6ad4645fb5e7e5e3.jpghttps://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-messy-middle--6702278Tue, 06 Oct 2026 13:22:09 +0000JamilaJamilafeeds@spreaker.comWelcome to The Messy Middle. This is where we talk about what it means to live in the in-between—between healing and wholeness, clarity and confusion, exhaustion and hope. I’m Mila, a self-actualization coach who works with Black millennial women...falseb6e68caa-d874-5436-a105-14a31ff27bf4episodichttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/how-to-make-a-decision-when-you-re-scared--75595202754cefad-fa4f-4835-8e34-478b5f68d9dbTue, 06 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000JamilaWe treat readiness like something that shows up before you act. Most of the time it's the other way around. You move first, and the sure feeling catches up to you later, once you're already going.This episode is about the decisions you already know...266false36fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/when-you-outgrow-the-room--754292138cbc3a7f-107b-4d1b-86eb-be909acceb74Tue, 29 Sep 2026 12:00:00 +0000JamilaWe talk about growth like it only ever adds to your life. It doesn't always. Sometimes the thing it quietly takes is the ease you used to have with the people who've known you longest.This episode is about what happens when you change on the inside,...786false35fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/why-choosing-yourself-triggers-guilt-every-time--75297341b03ac43f-d118-4f11-90ce-c5f04f582ee6Tue, 22 Sep 2026 12:00:00 +0000JamilaYou set the boundary. You said the no. It was reasonable, it was necessary, and you'd stand by it if anyone asked. So why have you been replaying it for two days, wondering if you were too harsh?This episode is about the part of boundaries nobody...782false34fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-real-reason-you-can-t-admit-you-re-not-okay--75145762c837faa6-63db-4f99-9668-3f319989e172Tue, 15 Sep 2026 12:00:00 +0000JamilaSomebody asks how you're doing and you say fine before the question even lands. No pause, no thought, just the reflex. It's practical, it keeps things moving, and it works so well that you can spend years managing everything on the surface while...702false33fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-help-you-won-t-let-yourself-take--75000452Amazon Link:

]]>815b3ee8-8ead-4198-bf07-6f9fd6ba99abTue, 08 Sep 2026 12:00:00 +0000JamilaYou've learned to need almost nothing. You'd rather do it the hard way, on your own, than ask for help and feel whatever asking brings up in you. It looks like independence, and a lot of it is, but underneath sits a quieter belief that needing...Amazon Link:

]]>780false32fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-cost-of-survival--74782454bec49656-c8c8-418f-ae3c-c84273fb2c4aTue, 01 Sep 2026 12:00:00 +0000JamilaYou've always been the one who handles things. When life got hard, you found a way through, and somewhere along the way being strong stopped feeling like a choice and started feeling like the only version of you that's allowed to exist.This episode is...788false31fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-middle-is-longer-than-i-thought-season-2-finale--705675977e5f17f2-7294-4158-b99a-f275511f977fTue, 10 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000JamilaThe middle of a life transition is often longer than we expect. In the Season 2 finale, Jamila reflects on what it means to live in the in-between — after things have changed, but before anything feels resolved.This episode explores the quiet,...558false210fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/navigating-wins-when-you-have-no-one-to-share-them-with--70409567bd3ae6cf-5a1b-488e-a673-280dfff714d7Tue, 03 Mar 2026 13:00:00 +0000JamilaIn this episode of The Messy Middle, Season 2, Jamila sits down with special guest, Elle, to explore a rarely discussed experience — what it’s like to achieve wins, reach milestones, and make progress with no cheering section.Success is often imagined...3189false29fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/forgiving-without-forgetting--7025002086e3cc70-603d-48dd-8dd2-10de91c47f25Tue, 24 Feb 2026 13:00:00 +0000JamilaForgiveness isn’t the same as forgetting — and it isn’t a one-time decision. In this episode, Jamila explores what forgiveness really looks like when the hurt still lives in your body, your memory, and your boundaries.This conversation unpacks the...396false28fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-weight-of-stereotypes-and-expectations-on-black-women--700984040977d9df-fae1-4304-93e7-59567a21faacTue, 17 Feb 2026 13:00:00 +0000JamilaThis episode digs into the pressure Black women carry when we’re expected to be “strong,” unbreakable, and always okay — even when we’re exhausted. We’re talking about the stereotypes that shape how we’re treated, how we treat ourselves, and what it...544false27fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/how-black-women-use-life-transitions-to-build-wealth-and-success--69951918This episode sits in the messy middle of transition — where you’re no longer who you were spiritually, but you’re still figuring out who you’re becoming.]]>e68a6858-7906-4109-9032-3efdd4a3ecccTue, 10 Feb 2026 13:00:00 +0000JamilaLife transitions don’t just change your circumstances — they force you to rebuild how you see yourself, your future, and your possibilities. In this episode of The Messy Middle, we’re talking about how Black women are using major life shifts — career...This episode sits in the messy middle of transition — where you’re no longer who you were spiritually, but you’re still figuring out who you’re becoming.]]>364false26fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/when-naming-your-needs-feels-risky--69761021We explore why so many women learn to shrink, adjust, and “make do” in relationships — and how our history with abandonment, dismissal, and emotional minimization shapes the way we show up when it’s time to ask for reciprocity, consistency, or emotional safety. We talk about what clarity reveals, why some people pull away when accountability shows up, and how honoring your needs can strengthen the relationship you have with yourself — even when it rearranges the dynamics around you.
If you’ve ever felt like speaking your truth might cost you connection, this conversation is for you.]]>29f56399-a7b1-4ad3-8722-98e0da8ae91dTue, 03 Feb 2026 13:00:00 +0000JamilaIn this episode, we’re talking about the moments when naming your needs doesn’t just feel vulnerable — it feels risky. The kind of risky that makes your chest tighten, your voice hesitate, and your mind wonder what might change once you finally say...We explore why so many women learn to shrink, adjust, and “make do” in relationships — and how our history with abandonment, dismissal, and emotional minimization shapes the way we show up when it’s time to ask for reciprocity, consistency, or emotional safety. We talk about what clarity reveals, why some people pull away when accountability shows up, and how honoring your needs can strengthen the relationship you have with yourself — even when it rearranges the dynamics around you.
If you’ve ever felt like speaking your truth might cost you connection, this conversation is for you.]]>721false25fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/learning-how-to-live-with-uncertainty--6962145260cc35b1-e709-40b7-8adb-c9a9146959a2Tue, 27 Jan 2026 13:00:00 +0000JamilaThis episode digs into what it means to keep moving when you don’t know the answer, the timing, or what comes next. We talk about the tension of waiting, the fear that rises in the unknown, and the courage it takes to show up anyway — with honesty,...521false24fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/starting-over-in-your-40s--69519118e3a7978b-187d-4df5-9fe0-0523afbaefbdTue, 20 Jan 2026 13:00:00 +0000JamilaStarting over in your 40s can feel like standing in the middle of a life you’ve already lived and realizing you’re being asked to build again — with fewer illusions and a whole lot more truth. In this episode, we talk about the grief, the courage, and...424false23fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/dating-after-damage-with-special-guest-nichole-williams--6942029499d48aa2-5e01-424d-b441-207f9977348cTue, 13 Jan 2026 13:00:00 +0000JamilaDating after you’ve been hurt is not simple. In this episode of The Messy Middle, Jamila sits down with Mindset and Confidence Coach Nichole Williams for a real conversation about love, trust, triggers, and rebuilding confidence after emotional...3042false22fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/faith-in-transition-leaving-what-no-longer-fits--69324312This is the middle of a spiritual turning point — where the old version of faith doesn’t fit anymore, and the new version hasn’t fully formed. If you’re questioning, rethinking, or rebuilding your relationship with God, this conversation creates space to be honest about where you are without guilt or fear.
Your faith can grow with you. You’re allowed to change spiritually. And you’re not wrong for asking the questions you were taught to ignore.]]>0adcb220-c9bc-4caa-808c-915430a505fbTue, 06 Jan 2026 13:00:00 +0000JamilaThis episode dives into the quiet, complicated journey Black women face when their faith begins to shift. It explores what it feels like to still believe in God while feeling disconnected from the pressure, silence, and expectations that came with...This is the middle of a spiritual turning point — where the old version of faith doesn’t fit anymore, and the new version hasn’t fully formed. If you’re questioning, rethinking, or rebuilding your relationship with God, this conversation creates space to be honest about where you are without guilt or fear.
Your faith can grow with you. You’re allowed to change spiritually. And you’re not wrong for asking the questions you were taught to ignore.]]>466false21fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/creating-in-the-dark--680543055d962f3e-3f37-44df-8af8-4ebc6589f011Tue, 07 Oct 2025 21:50:00 +0000JamilaIn this season finale, I’m not talking to you—I’m talking with you. About the tension between wanting to create something meaningful and feeling invisible while doing it. About the moments when you show up with your whole heart and still feel like no...493false16fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/half-healed-lingering-after-breakup-the-messy-middle-podcast--67950354]]>7fe69f8d-7370-45e7-bd0f-0955ec7cef37Tue, 30 Sep 2025 10:00:00 +0000JamilaThere’s a space nobody talks about—the one after the breakup but before the healing. You’re not checking their page every day anymore, but they still live in your mind rent-free. You’re not going back, but you’re also not quite free either.In this...]]>401false15fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/still-friends-but-not-really-outgrowing-friendships--67863724b9280744-853e-4d18-9235-8d4cb098d21dTue, 23 Sep 2025 10:00:00 +0000JamilaSome friendships don’t end. They just fade. The texts get shorter. The laughs feel forced. The connection starts to feel more like obligation than closeness. In this episode, we sit with the in-between of a friendship that’s still technically...297false14fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-cost-of-doing-what-you-love--6777774019612ba1-d246-4455-bc58-fd8b552eb383Tue, 16 Sep 2025 10:00:00 +0000JamilaEveryone says that if you love what you do, it shouldn’t feel like work. But the truth is, even meaningful work can drain you. In this episode, we sit with the uncomfortable middle—when your purpose starts to feel like pressure, and the thing you once...533false13fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/but-that-s-still-your-family--676883632b78b69d-225b-44ff-86e1-b95b7ef6e692Tue, 09 Sep 2025 10:00:00 +0000JamilaWhat do you do when people tell you to stick it out with toxic family members—because “family is everything”—but your spirit knows you need distance? This episode holds space for that painful middle ground: the guilt, the grief, and the radical choice...514false12fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/in-progress--6759344679e2dbbf-434d-4a9c-a0c9-42b1581b1fe7Tue, 02 Sep 2025 10:00:00 +0000JamilaYou’ve done the work. You’ve journaled, reflected, and outgrown the chaos—but you still don’t feel like you’ve “arrived.” This episode is for anyone who’s stuck in that in-between space: where stability isn’t really a thing yet, but neither is...593falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/intro--6751676090d74387-15ce-4e7a-998f-a39d204c5dcbTue, 26 Aug 2025 10:00:00 +0000JamilaThis is your official welcome to The Messy Middle—a podcast for women navigating the space between what was and what’s next. In this short intro, I’m sharing what this show is about, who it’s for, and what you can expect each week. If you’ve ever felt...218falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-messy-middle-trailer--672480493f0b59dc-12e2-46d9-8852-0392eaed129cMon, 04 Aug 2025 13:00:00 +0000JamilaWelcome to The Messy Middle—the podcast that holds space for all the in-between moments. This isn’t about healing perfectly or thriving nonstop. It’s about navigating the parts of life that don’t have easy answers. In this short trailer, I share what...54falsefull