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257 - The Gift of Growth with Shika

The Boonie Breakdown

Release Date: 12/09/2024

273 - Ratchet Reflections with Boonie show art 273 - Ratchet Reflections with Boonie

The Boonie Breakdown

In this solo episode closing out Season 14, I’m sounding off on everything from chaotic reality TV to the very real “romance recession” y’all are living through. Then we get into the good stuff: 💋 Love Island drama and the emotional chaos of bingeing 20+ episodes—why is everyone kissing everybody?! 🎤 Getting hyped for the Cowboy Carter concert and celeb beauty products that actually do what they say. 🧳 The struggle of packing. Because why does it take this much energy now?? 💔 The “romance recession”—a real convo about why so many women are tired of the dating scene....

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272 - Unlearning the BS with Dr. Donna Oriowo show art 272 - Unlearning the BS with Dr. Donna Oriowo

The Boonie Breakdown

In this episode, I welcome back Dr. Donna Oriowo—the brilliant therapist, dynamic speaker, and now author of Drink Water and Mind Your Business: A Black Woman’s Guide to Unlearning the BS and Healing Your Self-Esteem. Known for her candid insights and unapologetic approach to mental wellness, Dr. Donna returns to break down what it really means to heal, unlearn, and radically embrace self-worth as a Black woman. We dive deep into: 🧠 The difference between self-esteem and self-confidence—and why it matters 😞 How shame shows up in our lives and keeps us disconnected from ourselves...

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271 - Why You’re Not Ready for the Love You Say You Want with Brian & KG show art 271 - Why You’re Not Ready for the Love You Say You Want with Brian & KG

The Boonie Breakdown

In this episode, I’m joined by two of my favorite guests—Brian, our problematic fav, and KG, our responsible fav—for a real, unfiltered conversation about dating in today’s world. For the first time, we explore the game from both of their perspectives, diving into the chaos, calm, confusion, and comedy that comes with it.  We talk about the shift from “Brian-type” energy—thrilling but unstable—to “Kenny-type” stability and why so many women say they want the latter but still get caught up in the former. There are moments that left me speechless (literally) as we unpack...

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270 - What If You Let It All Go? with Samia Burton show art 270 - What If You Let It All Go? with Samia Burton

The Boonie Breakdown

In this episode, I welcome back Samia—the vibrant creator behind Sexual Essentials, Not Just Another Sex Podcast, and The Art Exhibit—for an honest, raw, and refreshing conversation about reinvention, resilience, and redefining success. Known for her bold takes and fearless transparency, Samia returns in a new light as The Bankrupt Millionaire, sharing the powerful story of what it means to lose everything—and gain yourself. We also discuss: 💸 Why she walked away from successful platforms and content creation 🧠 The mental toll of pretending everything’s fine when it’s not...

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REPLAY - From $1Million in Debt to Millionaire with Naseema McElroy show art REPLAY - From $1Million in Debt to Millionaire with Naseema McElroy

The Boonie Breakdown

We’re hitting replay on one of the most jaw-dropping and inspiring conversations we’ve had on the podcast. In this episode, I’m joined by Naseema McElroy—nurse, mom, money coach, and the powerhouse behind Financially Intentional. We dive deep into her incredible story of paying off over $1 MILLION in debt in under 3 years (yes, you read that right), and how that financial freedom unlocked a new purpose: helping others—especially Black women—build lasting wealth and take control of their money story. We also discuss: 💰 What it really looks like to pay off 7 figures of debt 🧠...

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269 - Naked, Unashamed & Holy with Brittany Broaddus-Smith show art 269 - Naked, Unashamed & Holy with Brittany Broaddus-Smith

The Boonie Breakdown

In this episode, I sit down with Brittany Broaddus-Smith—a Christian sexologist and the bold, brilliant founder of The Intimacy Firm—for an eye-opening conversation at the intersection of faith, sexuality, and healing. We dive into taboo topics often brushed aside in the church, including the legitimacy of soul ties, the emotional confusion they can bring, and why over-spiritualizing these concepts can cause more harm than good. Brittany keeps it all the way real, offering clarity, nuance, and a path to healing that doesn’t require abandoning your faith. We...

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268 - America Is Crashing Out! with KG show art 268 - America Is Crashing Out! with KG

The Boonie Breakdown

In this episode, I’m joined by my favorite political analyst, KG for a deep, unfiltered convo on the state of American politics, the economy, and the emotional toll it’s all taking—especially on men. From Trump’s possible 2028 run to supply chain fears and the media’s obsession with crisis, we unpack what’s real, what’s hype, and what it means for everyday people. We also dig into how young men are navigating their political identity, why they’re often left out of campaign messaging, and the deeper existential question—do men even believe they deserve happiness? The...

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267 - Cutting Through the Silence: Black Women, Fibroids & the Hysterectomy Decision with Melissa show art 267 - Cutting Through the Silence: Black Women, Fibroids & the Hysterectomy Decision with Melissa

The Boonie Breakdown

In this episode, I sit down with Melissa of Fab Glance—a lifestyle influencer, digital strategist, and one of the realest voices online—to have a deeply personal conversation about women’s health, fibroids, and her decision to have a hysterectomy. After sharing my own story in a previous episode, I opened the door for others to speak up—and Melissa walked through it with vulnerability, courage, and honesty. We talk through the emotional and physical realities of living with fibroids, navigating the decision to be child-free, and how society often places unfair expectations on women’s...

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266 - Teachers Are People Too! with Smitty show art 266 - Teachers Are People Too! with Smitty

The Boonie Breakdown

In this episode, I sit down with my podcasting cousin, Smitty—an English teacher, mom of three, and host of the Patreon-exclusive podcast Teachers After Dark. We dive into her life as an educator, the wild dynamics of parent-teacher conferences, and how she balances being a public figure with her own very real, very human experiences. Smitty gets real about the often-unspoken realities of working in education and the challenges teachers face outside of the classroom—from social media scrutiny to the spicy politics of staff relationships. As someone who doesn’t have kids, I was floored...

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265 - Monogamy, Maybes & Modern Mess with Brian show art 265 - Monogamy, Maybes & Modern Mess with Brian

The Boonie Breakdown

In this episode, I sit down with returning guest and our problematic fav, Brian, for a hilarious, honest, and thought-provoking conversation that runs the gamut—from Greek life to the chaos of modern dating. We break down the challenges facing Black Greek organizations today and how they intersect with cultural shifts and current events. And because the convo got that good, we saved the unfiltered extras exclusively for the Patreon crew! We also discuss: 🎓 The cultural impact (and complications) of Black Greek life 💔 Why dating feels harder—and more casual—than ever 👀 How...

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More Episodes

Join Boonie and the homie Shika as we dive into a hilarious and heartfelt chat about last year's  Toronto trip, turning 40, and the holiday season. We share funny travel misadventures, reflections on self-care and personal growth, and the joys of experiences over material gifts.

From Mariah Carey’s Christmas concert to rants about consumerism and modern relationships, we keep it real while celebrating friendship and resilience. With plenty of laughs and insights, this episode is the perfect mix of humor and inspiration to carry you into 2025.

Tune in for:
🎤 Toronto travel tales and life lessons
🎄 Holiday spending and self-care tips
💡 Reflections on personal growth and relationships

A transcript of the full episode is available here.

The hashtag for the podcast is #TheBoonieBreakdown. Share with others using the hashtag #PodIn.

Join Boonie over on Patreon for exclusive content and events here: Patreon.com/TheBoonieBreakdown 

Have something to say? You can ask your questions, send comments via email to [email protected] or submit them here: www.thebooniebreakdown.com/contact/.  

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IG: @TheBoonieBreakdown

Twitter: @BoonieBreakdown 

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Chapters

0:10 Welcome Back to Boonie and Friends
5:17 Birthday Reflections and Upcoming Plans
7:34 Life Lessons and Transformation
10:25 Therapy Talks and Self-Discovery
12:44 Highs and Lows of the Year
14:07 Turning 40: Embracing Change
17:11 Workplace Realities and Responsibilities
22:12 Money and Happiness: A Discussion
26:09 Cleaning Services and Life Simplified
26:59 The Impact of Delivery Services
34:00 Air Travel Woes: A Toronto Tale
40:43 The Effect of Social Media Relationships
45:35 Catfishing and Online Scams
58:10 Grocery Shopping Preferences
1:14:18 Closing Thoughts for the New Year