Rooted and Rising

What does it really mean to be a Black woman in America—and who gets to decide what that should look like?

In this powerful, candid, and sometimes hilarious episode of Rooted & Rising, Dr. Carmela Maxell is joined by Kristen Matthews and Chloe Simone for an honest conversation about Black womanhood, motherhood, sisterhood, identity, and the expectations placed on Black women.

Together, we explore the pressure to always be strong, the experience of navigating predominantly white spaces, colorism, beauty standards, cultural identity, and the exhausting reality of being celebrated for what we can endure while being overlooked for who we are.

We share personal stories, challenge stereotypes, laugh through some unbelievable experiences, and reflect on what it means to raise children, embrace our individuality, and find community in one another.

This isn't a conversation about speaking for every Black woman. It's about three women with different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives coming together to celebrate the beauty, complexity, resilience, and joy of Black womanhood.

Because Black women deserve more than being needed, admired for their strength, or expected to carry everyone else.

We deserve to be seen, supported, loved, valued—and given the freedom to simply be.

🌱 Stay rooted in who you are, and keep rising into who you're becoming.

Content Advisory: This episode includes strong language and candid discussions of racism, discrimination, slavery, racial stereotypes, and personal experiences. The perspectives shared reflect the individual experiences and opinions of the speakers.

When did being yourself become something to apologize for?

Somewhere along the way, we learned to feel embarrassed about the things that make us human—getting excited, wanting love, starting over, aging, making mistakes, or simply taking up space.

In this episode of Sunday Seeds, Dr. Carmela Maxell explores how social expectations, childhood messages, and the fear of judgment quietly shape our confidence and convince us to shrink ourselves.

We're challenging the invisible rules we've spent years following and asking one powerful question: Who told you that was embarrassing, and why did you believe them?

Because your joy isn't embarrassing. Your vulnerability isn't embarrassing. And becoming who you were always meant to be certainly isn't embarrassing.

🌱 Stay rooted in who you are, and keep rising into who you're becoming.

Rooted & Rising with Dr. Carmela Maxell

Hot flashes. Brain fog. Mood swings. Vaginal dryness. Exhaustion. And a whole lot of WTF moments.

Dear Perimenopause… we need to talk. And we're not sugarcoating a damn thing.

In this candid, emotional, and hilariously unfiltered episode of Rooted & Rising, Dr. Carmela Maxell gets personalabout the physical, emotional, and psychological realities of navigating perimenopause.

Because what happens when your body starts changing, your emotions feel unfamiliar, and you're still expected to show up as a mother, professional, partner, friend, and functioning human being?

From hormonal changes and intimate health concerns to shifting confidence, sexuality, identity, and the frustration of not always recognizing yourself, we're discussing the things women are too often expected to endure quietly.

And yes, we're talking about vaginal dryness, too. Because why the hell should that be taboo?

But this conversation goes deeper than symptoms. It's about aging, femininity, relationships, self-image, and finding compassion for yourself during a transition you didn't exactly sign up for.

We're going to laugh. We might cry. We're definitely going to swear.

Most importantly, we're going to remind women that they deserve to feel heard, supported, informed, and empowered at every stage of life.

You're not invisible. You're not past your prime. And you're certainly not alone. ❤️

⚠️ Listener Discretion Advised

Explicit Language: This episode contains profanity and candid expressions of frustration and humor.

Mature Health Discussions: This episode includes personal conversations about reproductive health, vaginal dryness, sexual wellness, intimacy, hormonal changes, and aging.

Medical Disclaimer: This podcast is intended for educational, informational, and personal storytelling purposes only. Although Dr. Carmela Maxell is a mental health professional, the content does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Individual experiences vary. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding personal symptoms, concerns, or treatment options.

🎧 Listen, Follow & Share!

Find Rooted & Rising with Dr. Carmela Maxell on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, and other major podcast platforms.

If this episode resonates with you, please like, follow, subscribe, rate, review, and share! Help us bring these conversations to more women who deserve to know they're not navigating this experience alone.

🌱 Stay rooted in who you are, and keep rising into who you're becoming.

#Perimenopause #MenopauseAwareness #WomensHealth #MidlifeWomen #RootedAndRising

What if the version of yourself you're constantly trying to improve is the very version someone else will someday wish they could experience just one more time?

In this deeply personal and emotional episode of Sunday Seeds, Dr. Carmela Maxell explores the beauty of ordinary moments, the memories we leave behind, and the quiet ways we become part of other people's lives without even realizing it.

We spend so much time chasing the next milestone, criticizing our imperfections, and waiting for life to finally come together that we sometimes forget to appreciate the life we're living right now.

From childhood memories and the people we miss to the photographs we almost deleted and the conversations we wish we could have one more time, this episode is a reminder that some of life's most meaningful moments are the ones we barely notice while they're happening.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why we struggle to appreciate who we are in the present.
• How ordinary moments become some of our most treasured memories.
• The complicated relationship between love, grief, and nostalgia.
• Why perfection isn't a requirement for being deeply loved or remembered.
• The importance of expressing appreciation while people are still here to receive it.
• How to stop postponing happiness while waiting for life to become "better."

As you prepare for another week, this episode invites you to slow down, reconnect with the people you love, and extend a little more compassion to the person you're becoming.

Because one day, someone may miss your laugh, your voice, your hugs, or the way you made an ordinary day feel special.

And one day, that someone might even be you.

You don't have to be perfect to be unforgettable. ❤️

🎙️ Rooted & Rising with Dr. Carmela Maxell

🌱 Sunday Seeds | New episodes Sundays at 4 PM Pacific

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Every follow, review, and share helps us grow a community rooted in connection, authenticity, and the beautifully complicated experience of being human.

Stay rooted in who you are, and keep rising into who you're becoming.

#RootedAndRising #SundaySeeds #DrCarmelaMaxell #GriefAndLove #PersonalGrowth #MentalHealth #MindfulLiving #SelfCompassion #Podcast

We've made being unbothered look like an art form. We celebrate protecting our peace, cutting people off, and pretending that nothing gets to us. But somewhere along the way, did we start confusing emotional distance with healing?

In this deeply personal episode of Rooted & Rising, Dr. Carmela Maxell gets candid about heartbreak, betrayal, broken friendships, starting over, and the uncomfortable reality of learning to trust again.

From giving people the benefit of the doubt who didn't deserve it, to mistaking a packed schedule for self-care, to discovering that silence doesn't always mean you've healed, this episode explores what happens when the person who's always been strong finally admits they've been hurt.

Because sometimes healing isn't about moving on quietly. Sometimes it's about having the difficult conversations, acknowledging what happened, and refusing to let someone else's dishonesty determine how you see yourself.

And sometimes, the bravest thing you can do is remain open to love, connection, and possibility, even when life has given you every reason to close yourself off.

Vulnerability isn't about giving everyone access to you. It's about refusing to abandon yourself just to appear strong.

So, let's talk about the messy, uncomfortable, beautifully human experience of being vulnerable.

Because being guarded might feel safe, but being vulnerable? That's kinda chic. 

🎙️ Rooted & Rising with Dr. Carmela Maxell

🌱 Stay rooted in who you are and keep rising into who you're becoming.

New episodes every Tuesday at 7 AM Pacific.

#RootedAndRising #DrCarmelaMaxell #Vulnerability #HealingJourney #Heartbreak #SelfWorth #EmotionalWellness #StartingOver #PersonalGrowth