Emboldened with Jessica

About Emboldened with Jessica

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 healing • neurodivergence and masking • burnout and high-achiever recovery • decolonizing mental health • relationships, boundaries, and belonging • identity shifts, embodiment, and personal growth Rather than offering surface-level self-help, Emboldened with Jessica examines the deeper cultural, relational, and psychological forces shaping how we live, connect, and understand ourselves. Conversations are thoughtful, honest, reflective, and often humorous — inviting listeners to move away from comparison and performance and toward embodied, sustainable ways of living. This podcast is not therapy and is not a substitute for working with a licensed mental health professional. It is a space for reflection, learning, emotional wellness, and collective care. At its heart, Emboldened with Jessica is an invitation to embrace your worth, reconnect with yourself, and build a life that feels more honest, grounded, and fully your own. A space where complexity is welcome, curiosity is encouraged, and your worth is not up for debate.

Publisher

Jessica Jackson

Category

health & fitness · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

6 May 2023

Latest episode

25 Aug 2026

Latest episodes

36 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   25 Aug 2026

   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 comedian and storyteller Lilli Lopez, who shares openly about grieving her father and her beloved dog—and how music, friendship, storytelling, and comedy have helped her carry those relationships forward. If you're navigating grief yourself, we invite you to take what you need from this conversation. Pause when you need to. Come back when you're ready. In This Episode We Discuss Why grief isn't linear or bound by a timeline Losing a parent and the often-minimized experience of pet loss Humor, creativity, and joy alongside grief Cultural traditions, remembrance, and honoring our ancestors Storytelling, remembrance and maintaining connection after someone dies What to say—and do—when someone you love is grieving Emboldened with Jessica is for educational and informational purposes and is not a substitute for therapy or other mental health services. Connect with Lilli Lopez Lilli is a stand-up comedian, producer, writer, and longtime improv performer. Website: YoSoyLilliLopez.com Social: @ComboLoca Support the Show If this episode resonated with you, there are a few meaningful ways you can support Emboldened with Jessica: ⭐ Rate and review the show—this helps more people find these conversations 💌If this episode feels meaningful to you, consider sharing it with someone who may need this conversation. ☕ Support the podcast financially by leaving a tip to help cover production costs: https://buymeacoffee.com/emboldenedwithjessica Your listening, sharing, and support help sustain this space—thank you for being here. Show Credits Host: Jessica Jackson Cohost: Ariele Cultural Chatterist: Kathleen Onyejekwe Special Guest: Lilli Lopez Produced by: Ariele & Jessica Edited by: Ariele

2. 

   16 Jul 2026

   Is Anybody Still Dating? Trends, "Alpine Divorce," and the Return of Commitment

   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 Kathleen sit down to talk about what's actually happening in the current dating landscape — the stats, the shifts, and the very online terms (looking at you, "alpine divorce") that are shaping how people feel about putting themselves out there. We go there on the hard parts first: red pill manipulation tactics, dating app burnout, and what it means to build felt safety with someone new — including an honest conversation about how race and fetishization show up in dating for women of color. But we don't stop in the bad. We flip it and talk about what's genuinely good about dating: what it teaches you about yourself, why dating yourself matters just as much as dating anyone else, and why long-term partners need to keep dating each other, too. And because we can't be serious the whole time, we close it out with a new segment — What Kind of Dater Are You? — to help you figure out your dating type once and for all. This one's for the folks actively swiping, the folks who took a step back, the folks who are happily partnered and want to keep the spark alive, and the folks who are just here for the tea. In this episode: What the current dating statistics actually say about who's out there — and who's opted out Red pill tactics and how manipulation shows up in early dating "Alpine divorce" — the viral term behind the trend, and what it signals about safety Dating app fatigue and the pull back toward in-person, community-based connection Race, fetishization, and the dating experience for women of color Felt safety: what to notice about how someone shows up when things get inconvenient The upside of dating: what it teaches you about yourself Dating yourself: pleasure, self-compassion, and enjoying your own company Keeping the romance alive when you're already partnered New segment: What Kind of Dater Are You? (coffee house, fancy restaurant, diner, brunch, or activity dater) 🌧️ Jessica's Cozy Book Nook "After the Rain: Gentle Reminders for Healing, Courage, and Self-Love" by Alexandra Elle Whether you're dating yourself this season or working on staying present with a long-term partner, this one's a gentle companion either way — its short chapters and end-of-chapter meditations make it easy to dip into for a few minutes of reflection on self-love and self-forgiveness, no matter where you are in your dating journey. 🪞 Reflection What kind of dating season are you in right now: dating others, dating yourself, dating your partner, taking a pause, or redefining what connection means for you? 💛 Support the Show If this episode resonated with you, subscribe to Emboldened with Jessica, leave a review, and share it with someone navigating dating, relationships, self-discovery, or personal growth. Every share and review helps more people find their way to this table — and keeps this community growing. ☕ Support the podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/emboldenedwithjessica This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for therapy, counseling, or other mental health services provided by a licensed professional. 🎙️ Show Credits Host: Jessica Jackson Cohost: Ariele Produced by: Ariele & Jessica Edited by: Ariele Cultural Chatterist: Kathleen Onyejekwe Sources: Dating and partnership statistics referenced in this episode draw on Pew Research Center's ongoing analysis of unpartnered U.S. adults.

3. 

   2 Jun 2026

   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 psychology, nervous system science, identity, and radical self-belief. Together, we unpack why confidence sometimes feels uncomfortable, how internal validation changes the way we move through the world, and what happens when we stop waiting for permission before building the lives we want. This conversation explores entrepreneurship, life transitions, self-trust, relationships, identity shifts, and the science behind believing in yourself before external validation catches up. Because sometimes the thing that looks "delusional" is simply believing you deserve more. The group explores: why self-belief changes the way we move through the world the neuroscience behind confidence and internal validation navigating fear, visibility, and imposter syndrome identity shifts and becoming the version of yourself you imagine the difference between fantasy, manifestation, and grounded self-trust why community matters when building a new life Through humor, storytelling, and honest reflection, this episode invites listeners to examine the narratives shaping their lives—and what becomes possible when we stop waiting for permission to believe in ourselves. 💛 Support the Show If this episode resonated with you, there are a few meaningful ways you can support Emboldened with Jessica: 🎧 Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite listening platform so you never miss an episode ⭐ Rate and review the show—this helps more people find these conversations 💌 Share this episode with someone you think would appreciate it ☕ Support the podcast financially by leaving a tip to help cover production costs: 👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/emboldenedwithjessica Your listening, sharing, and support help sustain this space—thank you for being here. 🎙️ Show Credits Host: Jessica Jackson Cohost: Ariele Cultural Chatterist: Kathleen Onyejekwe Special Guest: Bri & Monse Produced by: Ariele & Jessica Edited by: Ariele

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

92

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

7 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

10 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 64 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

80

Social presence

0

YouTube

63

Engagement

60

Contact Emboldened with Jessica

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.