In today’s very special episode, we are continuing our podcast collaboration streak with the incredible and trailblazing Hunter and Michaela McGrady. The superstar models, podcast hosts, entrepreneurs, and sisters join me today to have an honest conversation about all things relationships. We discuss the beauty of being an Auntie, how our upbringing influences our approach to relationships, opening up about mental health struggles in new relationships, navigating body image in the public eye...

In today's very special episode, I am joined by philanthropist, award-winning OB-GYN and the self-proclaimed Olivia Pope of Vaginas, Dr. Jackie Walters! We discuss the inextricable link between feminine health and mental health, Dr. Jackie shares her own harrowing fertility journey, and the societal pressures on women in the realm of fertility. I had so much fun, learned so much, and was so inspired having Dr. Jackie on the pod and I hope you enjoy it too!    “Pain has a purpose. Misery...

In today’s episode, my girl Jordan joins me as our cohost to kick off our new series, Ask a Therapist! We asked you to submit your questions about all things mental health on Instagram (follow us at @becauselifewithsydel if you aren’t already to join the conversation) and today, we are here to answer them and provide insights that will hopefully help you wherever you are in your journey. We get into stress vs. anxiety, techniques to practice when anxiety grips you, and processing triggers in...

In today’s episode, our resident ‘Healing Consultant’ from across the pond, Tasha Bailey, joins me as our co-host.  We check in on our feelings today and how to treat our feelings, especially the negative ones, as guests in our home, rather than annoyances we want to get rid of. Also, we do have a kiki about our shared obsession with ‘Love Island’ (which, to our delight, our very special guest shared as well).   Speaking of our very special guest…today, we are joined by the amazing Brittany...

Our resident ‘healing consultant’ (still my favorite job title), Tasha Bailey, joins me as our cohost today. After a little catch-up, we assign flavors to our moods. Tasha is feeling vanilla with sprinkles and I am the happiest flavor I could think of – the one that brings me back to field days at school…rainbow sherbet. Today’s guest is the wonderful Raechel. We discuss grappling with anxiety growing up with a family that doesn’t recognize mental health struggles, learning how to become the...

In today’s very special episode, I am joined by my new friend, the amazing, Molly Carmel. Molly is an addictions and eating disorder therapist, author of ‘Breaking Up with Sugar,’ and host of the podcast ‘What You’re Craving.’ We talk about the complicated relationship we have with food, the toxic impact diet culture has on that relationship, recovering from food addiction and disordered eating, and how we can learn to love and appreciate our bodies. Molly details her own journey overcoming...

Dr. Ebony is back as the co-pilot today to help us navigate some new waters in the mental health space for me personally. We are joined by the incredible Erin, whose journey with mental health started as a teenager and came to a head when she was diagnosed with post-adoption depression. We discuss navigating mental health and mental illness in a religious household, especially as a Black person in America, the very real ‘middle child syndrome,’ and the struggle of postpartum depression,...

In today’s episode, we are continuing the conversation surrounding fertility and mental health. Following the episode outlining my own journey to parenthood and the impact on my mental health, today, I am answering your questions about navigating mental health while struggling to become a parent. We touch on the anxiety of constant test results, dealing with jealousy of others’ pregnancies, finding a new support system and more.   While I can only speak to my own journey and experiences, I...

In today’s pod, Minaa B is back as a co-host to help guide a heavy but extremely important conversation with our incredible guest, Taffie. Taffie has dealt with struggles with her mental health for much of her life but her struggles became unimaginable when she lost her daughter to suicide. In today’s episode, Taffie joins Minaa and me to share her daughter’s story, dealing with the grief of losing a loved one to suicide, and what we can do to break the stigma.   Please be advised that...

In today’s episode, I am joined by the Founder of the Pattern App, Lisa Donovan, for an illuminating conversation about using Astrology as a tool to navigate your mental health. We talk about how her own mental health struggles sparked her introduction to Astrology and how the practices she learned from it helped her forge her way out of turmoil. We discuss finding and living in our purpose and how she created the Pattern App as a tool for users to help understand their own purpose and...

In today’s episode, Dr. Ebony is back in the co-hosting seat fresh off of Austin Black Pride. We catch up on the current happenings in our lives now that the world is finally opening up, pregnancy news, and the miracle of modern medicine. Then, we are joined by a pioneering modern man, Ricky, for a conversation we have been waiting to have on the podcast: opening the conversation surrounding mental health among men and boys. We discuss Ricky’s  experience navigating his mental health...

In today’s episode, Sydel opens up about her long and taxing journey to parenthood and the mental health implications she faced along the way. She details her struggle to get pregnant naturally and the many, often taxing fertility treatments she and her husband explored to start their family together. Sydel opens up about her feelings of depression and hopelessness she fought facing consistent, bad news, navigating her mental health and relationship to her faith, and the importance of her...

In this week’s episode,  Sydel is joined by friend and licensed therapist and wellness coach, Tasha Bailey. The two speak with guest, Mariam who shares her long journey with depression that started when she was a teenager. Mariam has overcome many extremely difficult challenges and situations including being hospitalized after a family member recognized signs of suicidal thoughts. Her story is one that many can relate to and empathize with and recognizes the importance of a strong support...

In today’s episode Sydel and licensed psychologist, Dr. Ebony Butler are joined by Lexie. Lexie’s journey with mental health struggles came to a head in the wake of losing her mother suddenly and a betrayal by her father shortly thereafter. They discuss the power of naming your feelings, the struggle between your faith and the religion you were raised in, and dealing with multiple forms of grief at the same time.   For information on mental health, learning how to help a loved one,...

On this week’s episode, Sydel is joined by friend and licensed therapist, Minaa B.! The two speak with Chantal from New York City, who has a story we can all likely relate to, especially over the last year. Chantal’s anxiety and depression peaked once the pandemic hit, and she felt an overwhelming amount of stress and inadequacy. Being a teacher, she was used to interacting with her students on a daily basis face to face. That reality was turned upside down, and she was forced to navigate...

On this exciting premiere episode of Because Life, Sydel shares her personal journey with her mental health and reasoning and importance behind wanting to start this podcast. Sydel dives into her religious upbringing and how she's learned to balance her faith and mental health. Additionally, she highlights a huge goal of this podcast, which is to de-stigmatize discussing mental health within the black community.   Produced by Dear Media.   In association with Scale Productions.    

In today’s episode Sydel is joined by friend and licensed therapist, Jordan Madison, and the two of them speak with special guest Jazmin Smith about her battle with mental health struggles after an unexpected divorce. The women discuss finding yourself and not feeling shame after a long-term relationship ends, strengthening your support system, accepting not having the closure you want, and finding the passion to move forward in life and relearning how to be “alone.”   Produced by Dear...

Check out Because Life, hosted by Sydel Curry-Lee - coming to Dear Media on May 19th!    Produced by Dear Media. 

Check out a sneak peek of Because Life, hosted by Sydel Curry Lee - coming to Dear Media on May 19th!