Deb Davis, award-winning professional photographer, speaker, author, life and empowerment coach, and founder of The Transparency Table, shares her personal journey from corporate leadership and constantly “pushing through” to embracing vulnerability, boundaries, authenticity, and healing. Together, Dr. Barbara and Deb explore how our identities can become tied to titles, responsibility, and being the dependable one, and what it takes to rediscover who we truly are.

This conversation offers encouragement for women who have spent years showing up for everyone else while neglecting themselves. Deb shares how faith, honesty, self-reflection, and learning to say “no” helped her reclaim her confidence and find her voice.

Key Takeaways:

• Healing begins with noticing, naming, and telling yourself the truth.

• Reclaiming your voice can transform how you lead and live.

• Boundaries and saying “no” are part of authentic self-leadership.

• Your story can become a source of purpose, impact, and legacy.

• Transparency starts with being honest with yourself.

If this conversation speaks to you, like, share, and subscribe to DEEPER Conversations. Then join the DEEPER Spaces community and explore the 3-Day Live Intensive at Deeper Women Lead Global.

Anu shares her deeply personal journey from childhood trauma and abuse to healing, resilience, and the creation of her Victim to Victor brand. Together, Dr. Barbara and Anu explore how trauma can shape people-pleasing, validation seeking, overworking, toxic relationships, hyper-independence, burnout, and difficulty trusting yourself.

The conversation goes beyond simply becoming aware of our patterns. Anu explains why deeper healing requires examining the beliefs beneath those patterns, developing self-awareness, reconnecting with the body, practicing grounding and self-reflection, and learning to build self-trust.

Key takeaways:

• How childhood trauma can influence identity, relationships, and self-worth

• Why awareness alone may not be enough to break deeply rooted survival patterns

• The connection between people-pleasing, hyper-independence, burnout, and trauma

• How self-trust and confidence can be rebuilt through experience and self-awareness

• Why healing can create space to discover who you are beyond your survival story

If this conversation speaks to you, like the episode, subscribe to DEEPER Conversations, and share it with someone who needs to hear it. Then take the conversation deeper by joining the DEEPER Space Community and continuing the work of healing, reconnecting, and becoming.

Dawn shares the deeply personal journey behind her award-winning Potter’s Vessel series and explains what it means to be a “fruit pot,” a vessel willing to let God grow something through her rather than finding identity in what she holds. Together, Dr. Barbara and Dawn explore career transitions, loss, leadership, burnout, uncomfortable seasons, spiritual growth, and the surprising ways our wounds and “cracks” can become places through which wisdom and purpose flow.

This conversation is especially meaningful for women navigating a life transition, questioning their identity, or learning to surrender what they thought their path was supposed to look like.

Key Takeaways:

• Your identity is deeper than your job, achievements, education, or titles.

• Difficult seasons can become opportunities for spiritual and personal growth.

• Surrendering a dream is not necessarily giving up on your purpose.

• Our wounds and “cracks” can become sources of wisdom and connection.

• Your story can be transformed into something that serves and helps others.

If this conversation speaks to you, like, share, and subscribe to DEEPER Conversations. Then share it with a woman who needs this reminder: your story is not just what happened to you, it is where the wisdom and purpose can be found.

In this powerful episode of DEEPER Conversations with Dr. Barbara Swinney, Dr. Barbara welcomes Alicia Thomas Searcy back for an honest conversation about life after trauma, rediscovering identity, and learning to choose a life rooted in freedom, wholeness, and self-worth. Alicia shares how walking away from an abusive marriage and toxic work environment forced her to confront the patterns that shaped her choices and ultimately discover who she was beyond her titles and accomplishments.

Together, Barbara and Alicia explore healing, identity, toxic relationships, leadership, self-worth, healthy love, personal growth, and what it means to intentionally create the life you want. Alicia also opens up about recognizing a healthy relationship, building a life with her husband Carlos, philanthropy, education advocacy, and saying yes to experiences she once believed were out of reach.

Key Takeaways:

• Healing creates capacity for a new life, not simply relief from the past.
• Your choices can change when you begin to understand your patterns.
• You deserve relationships and environments rooted in respect and healthy values.
• Ask, “Who do I get to be now?” rather than only chasing the next title or achievement.
• You have permission to choose, live, thrive, and become more.

If this conversation resonates with you, like, subscribe, and share it with a woman who needs to hear that her healing is not the end of her story. Keep healing, keep leading, and keep going deeper.

Keisha opens up about her struggles with weight, health, emotional eating, accountability, and the mindset shifts that helped her create lasting change. She shares how intermittent fasting, keto, understanding insulin and hormones, consistent routines, and community support became part of her transformation. She also reveals how documenting her journey on YouTube helped her stay accountable and ultimately became the foundation for a thriving multimillion-dollar business.

But this conversation goes far beyond weight loss. Dr. Barbara and Keisha explore how your personal story can become your platform, how solving real problems can become a business, and why health, confidence, discipline, identity, and leadership are deeply connected.

Key Takeaways:

• Why accountability can transform your health journey
• The importance of focusing on overall health, not just the number on the scale
• How routines become habits, consistency, and lifestyle change
• How Keisha turned her personal transformation into a successful business
• Why your story can become the foundation for your next chapter

If this conversation inspires you, like, share, and subscribe so you never miss a DEEPER conversation. And if you're ready to heal, lead, and leverage your story, visit Deeper Women Lead Global and discover what's possible when you go deeper.

Together, they explore the connection between healing, identity, and purpose, unpacking how imposter syndrome, emotional wounds, and people-pleasing can keep us disconnected from who we were truly created to be. Dr. Leona shares her deeply personal journey from struggling with her own health and self-worth to becoming a trusted leader in natural health, weight loss, and lifestyle coaching. This inspiring episode offers practical wisdom for anyone seeking personal growth, emotional healing, and the confidence to step into their authentic purpose.

Key Takeaways:

• Why "busy is a blessing" when your actions align with your purpose
• How healing your identity helps overcome imposter syndrome and self-doubt
• The importance of forgiving yourself to move forward with confidence
• Why healing is an ongoing journey, not a one-time destination
• How your greatest struggles can become your greatest source of impact and leadership

If this episode encouraged you, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs a reminder that healing, purpose, and lasting transformation begin from within.

Donna shares her remarkable journey, from growing up in a loving, faith-filled family to navigating the heartbreaking loss of her father, and how those experiences shaped her leadership and resilience. Together, they explore the power of authentic friendships, accountability, intentional healing, and taking bold risks to create financial freedom through real estate investing. Whether you're a woman in leadership, an aspiring entrepreneur, or someone seeking personal growth, this episode offers practical wisdom and encouragement to help you move forward with purpose.

Key takeaways:

• How healing and self-awareness create stronger leaders
• Why your inner circle can accelerate or limit your growth
• Donna's five-step framework: Revelation, Recognition, Recovery, Redemption, and Rejoicing
• How real estate investing can help build generational wealth and financial legacy
• Why betting on yourself can transform your life and future

If this conversation inspired you, subscribe to DEEPER Conversations, leave a review, and share this episode with a woman who is ready to heal, lead boldly, and build a lasting legacy.

Meka shares her deeply personal story of losing her father at a young age, stepping into a caregiving role, battling stage three triple-negative breast cancer, navigating grief, and discovering that true strength comes from vulnerability, not perfection. Together, they unpack the pressure many women, especially Black women, feel to always appear strong, while offering practical wisdom on healing, self-awareness, authentic friendships, and silencing the inner critic. If you've ever struggled with people-pleasing, emotional healing, or rediscovering who you are beneath life's responsibilities, this episode will remind you that healing is work, and you don't have to do it alone.

Key Takeaways:

• Why "shape-shifting" can disconnect you from your authentic identity.
• How naming your inner critic can help you reclaim your confidence.
• Why vulnerability is a strength, not a weakness.
• The importance of community, therapy, and asking for help during healing.
• How giving yourself permission to feel, rest, and heal creates lasting transformation.

If this conversation encouraged you, subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with a woman who needs permission to stop carrying the world alone. Your support helps more women find healing, hope, and deeper conversations.

From childhood relaxers and damaged hair to discovering natural curls, learning self-care, and embracing every stage of growth, this honest conversation highlights the emotional impact of hair on Black women and girls. The episode also shares a powerful story of mentoring young students, showing how words of encouragement can help shape confidence and heal wounds across generations. Whether you're navigating your own natural hair journey or learning to celebrate who you are, this conversation offers hope, encouragement, and practical reminders that healing is a process.

Key Takeaways:

• Why embracing natural hair is closely connected to confidence and self-worth.
• How childhood experiences can shape our relationship with beauty and identity.
• The importance of replacing negative self-talk with self-compassion.
• How mentoring and encouraging young girls creates lasting impact.
• Why celebrating others can become part of your own healing journey.

If this episode encouraged you, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs the reminder that they are already worthy, beautiful, and enough. Join us for more conversations that inspire healing, growth, and authentic leadership.

What happens when the pain you hide begins shaping your life, your relationships, and even your purpose? In this powerful episode of DEEPER Conversations, Dr. Barbara Swinney sits down with Michelle Poitier, also known as Michelle Speakz, for a raw conversation about trauma, healing, faith, identity, and finding the courage to use your voice.

Michelle shares how generational trauma, sexual abuse, shame, silence, and suppressed pain impacted her journey, and how confronting what she had hidden became a pathway toward freedom. She opens up about moving from military service and personal trauma into ministry, leadership, authorship, and a deeper understanding of her calling. Key Takeaways:

Silence and shame can keep painful cycles alive, while sharing your story can become part of the healing process. Your trauma is something you experienced, not an identity that defines you. Sometimes stepping into your purpose requires releasing expectations, relationships, and identities that no longer fit. Healing can prepare you to lead, serve, and help others discover their own voice and calling. Rest, stillness, spiritual discernment, and obedience can be essential parts of navigating your next assignment.

Watch, listen, and share this episode with someone who needs the reminder that their past does not have to define their future. Like, subscribe, and join the conversation for more real stories of healing, leadership, faith, and purpose.

What happens when the little girl who learned to stay quiet becomes the woman who finally finds her voice? In this powerful episode of DEEPER Conversations, Dr. Barbara Swinney sits down with Chaka Serrant for an honest conversation about healing, faith, leadership, identity, and using your God-given gifts without shrinking yourself.

Chaka shares her journey from Dominica to Brooklyn, navigating language barriers, cultural identity, childhood silence, church hurt, grief, motherhood, and the pressure to meet everyone else’s expectations. She opens up about how those experiences shaped her leadership and created patterns that followed her into professional and personal relationships.

The conversation also explores the intersection of faith and leadership, the importance of therapy and trusted relationships, recovering from compounded trauma, and learning when to speak up and when to remain silent. Chaka also reveals how she now uses her background in technology, AI, and automation to help women and business owners reclaim time and build businesses around what matters most.

Key Takeaways Finding your voice starts with recognizing that you are already enough. Healing requires time, grace, support, and sometimes professional therapy. Faith can help you separate your identity from the actions of other people. Self-awareness allows you to recognize old patterns and choose differently. AI and automation can help entrepreneurs reclaim time and protect what matters most.

Listen, subscribe, and share this episode with a woman who needs the reminder that it is her time to be heard

Alisha shares her remarkable journey from becoming the first African American elected to the Georgia House of Representatives from Cobb County at just 23 years old to navigating political setbacks, divorce, and personal reinvention. Together, Barbara and Alisha explore how losing careers, relationships, and status can catalyze deeper healing, healthier boundaries, and authentic leadership. This inspiring conversation is filled with practical wisdom for women rebuilding after disappointment, redefining success, and embracing the life they were always meant to live.

Key Takeaways:

• Why your identity should never be defined by your titles or achievements
• How healing from past relationships creates healthier future choices
• The importance of taking responsibility for your own growth and patterns
• Practical ways to create a life that reflects your values, purpose, and peace
• Why choosing yourself is often the first step toward authentic leadership

Dr. Coleman shares her deeply personal story of growing up in foster care, navigating emotional wounds, overcoming people-pleasing, and discovering that true healing requires both faith and intentional work. Together, they discuss the importance of therapy, community, identity, and breaking cycles of shame so that women can lead from a place of wholeness rather than survival. If you've ever struggled with trauma, self-worth, or finding purpose after pain, this conversation offers hope, practical wisdom, and the reminder that your story does not define your future.

Key Takeaways:

• Healing is an ongoing process, not a one-time event.
• Trauma can shape your identity, but it does not have to determine your future.
• Faith and professional counseling can work together in the healing journey.
• Moving from survival to healing requires vulnerability, community, and intentional action.
• Your story can become a source of hope, leadership, and legacy for others.

Ready to begin your own healing journey? Listen now, subscribe to DEEPER Conversations, and share this episode with someone who needs encouragement to heal, grow, and rise.

I'm Dr. Barbara Swinney, life and holistic leadership coach, coach trainer, founder and CEO of DEEPER Women Lead Global, and your host. This podcast is more than a conversation; it's a movement for women who are ready to heal from what happened, lead with confidence, and leverage their stories to create lasting impact.

Each episode features courageous women who pull back the curtain on their journeys through trauma, triumph, faith, relationships, business, and leadership. Together, we'll explore the real strategies that helped them heal, the lessons that shaped their leadership, and the practical wisdom you can apply to your own life.

Whether you're building a business, leading a team, growing your platform, writing your story, or simply trying to become the woman you know you're called to be, you'll find encouragement, actionable insights, and the reminder that your story still has power.

Because here at DEEPER Conversations, we believe healing leads to stronger leadership, and your greatest pain can become someone else's greatest breakthrough.

So subscribe, tune in, and join us each week as we go deeper into life, love, leadership, and legacy.

Your story isn't over. It's just getting deeper.