UNRULY is a weekly culture and wellness podcast hosted by Shelah Marie that delves into transformative conversations around self-love, acceptance, and holistic wellness. Each episode is a deep dive into various aspects of personal growth, featuring candid discussions with experts, influencers, and community members. The goal is to provide listeners with practical tools and inspiration to enhance their well-being and reclaim their true selves. The series is meant to serve as an extension and umbilical to Shelah Marie’s book “UNRULY.”
Shelah Marie is an author, content creator, and women’s wellness influencer, helping disrupt the ideas that women should place themselves last or seek others’ approval in order to lead healthy, fulfilling lives. She is the founder of the Curvy, Curly, Conscious movement, author of Positive You , and has partnered with the United Nations and other humanitarian organizations to bring her Sustainable Theater Workshop to students around the world. She lives in Atlanta. For more, visit shelahmarie.com
Want Shelah to answer your question? Record your question on: https://www.speakpipe.com/unruly and it could be featured on an upcoming episode
42: The Messy Middle Is Sacred: Season One Finale
Jul 15, 2025
Show notes
Perfection? Overrated. Progress? That’s the real magic. In this final episode of Season One, Shelah reflects on the lessons that only the messy middle can teach us—and why “done” is sometimes the most powerful thing you can be. We’re wrapping this season with deep gratitude for every single one of you who tuned in, called in, and rode this wave with us. This isn’t goodbye. It’s a pause, a breath, a thank you. Season Two? Let’s just say... we’re just getting started.
41: When the Path Isn’t Clear, But You Keep Going ft. Myleik Teele
Jul 08, 2025
Show notes
What do you do when the vision isn’t clear, the money isn’t flowing, and you’re not even sure who you are becoming—but you still have to show up? In this deeply honest episode, Shelah sits down with entrepreneur, truth-teller, and blueprint-for-many Myleik Teele to talk about The Fog Years—those quiet, uncertain seasons when the old life doesn’t fit, but the new one hasn’t fully revealed itself. If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re doing it “right,” this one’s for you. The fog doesn’t mean you’re lost—it means you’re becoming.
40: Healed Girl, Working Woman: Being Whole in a Hustle Culture ft. Gia Peppers
Jul 01, 2025
Show notes
What happens when the life you prayed for starts to wear you down? In this episode, Shelah sits down with Gia Peppers—award-winning journalist, host, and creator of Healed Girl Era—to talk about the sacred (and often messy) work of healing while still showing up for the job, the dream, and the people who count on you. From red carpets to radio shows, Gia built a thriving career in media—but behind the scenes, she was burnt out, spiritually depleted, and craving softness in a culture that demands grind. Now, she’s rewriting the rules. Together, they unpack what it means to heal in real time, the prayers that carried her through, and the boundaries she’s learning to honor as she chooses peace over performance. This one’s for the women doing the work—even when no one claps for it.
39: Permission to Evolve: The Art of the Rebrand ft. Brooke DeVard Ozaydinli
Jun 24, 2025
Show notes
What happens when you outgrow the version of yourself everyone else still recognizes? In this powerful episode, Shelah sits down with Brooke DeVard Ozaydinli—storyteller, beauty archivist, and brand strategist—to talk about the art of becoming someone new. From building Naked Beauty into a cult-favorite podcast to shapeshifting through motherhood, career pivots, and internal awakening, Brooke opens up about what it means to rebrand your life from the inside out. This isn’t about changing your bio or curating your grid. It’s about choosing a softer, deeper, more liberated self—even when the world wants you to stay the same.
38: Becoming Who Your Purpose Requires ft. Jovian Zayne
Jun 17, 2025
Show notes
What if your purpose isn’t just about what you do, but who you’re becoming in the process? In this powerful episode of Unruly, Shelah Marie is joined by speaker and leadership coach Jovian Zayne to talk about the spiritual work of living on purpose. But this isn’t your typical conversation about career or calling. This one’s for anyone who’s in a season of transition, wrestling with the gap between who they are and who they’re becoming.
37: I’m Not Your Symbol: Finally Being Seen on My Own Terms ft. Tabria Majors
Jun 10, 2025
Show notes
What happens when your body becomes a symbol before your story is even heard? In this raw and honest episode, Shelah sits down with Tabria Majors—a model, creator, and disruptor who’s helped expand what beauty can look like. Together, they unpack the pressure of being “the face” of body positivity—and the daily work of becoming more than a brand, more than a body. This one’s for the women who are done being reduced. For the ones ready to be seen—and still feel safe.
35: The Science of Sleep: Why Black Women Deserve Better Rest ft. Dr. Angela Holliday-Bell
Jun 03, 2025
Show notes
We know rest is important—but what if your sleep struggles aren’t just about self-care? What if they’re a medical issue being overlooked? In this episode of Unruly, Shelah Marie sits down with Dr. Angela Holliday-Bell, a board-certified physician and certified sleep specialist, to explore the science behind sleep—and why Black women are so often misdiagnosed, dismissed, or left exhausted by a system that doesn’t see our full picture. This isn’t just about winding down—it’s about understanding your body, your hormones, your nervous system, and your right to real rest.
34: Your Body Knows: Healing Outside the System ft. Walda Laurenceau
May 27, 2025
Show notesWhat if healing didn’t start with a prescription—but with a return? In this episode, Shelah sits down with licensed acupuncturist and herbalist Walda Laurenceau, founder of Root & Essence Acupuncture, to explore the practices that have always been ours—before the system taught us to forget. From Haitian remèd to Chinese medicine, we unpack how Black women can care for their bodies through ancient, body-first modalities that go deeper than symptom management. If you’ve ever felt dismissed, overprescribed, or just ready to try something different—this one’s for you.
33: Expat or Escape? The Truth About Leaving the U.S. for Good ft. Imani Bashir
May 20, 2025
Show notes
Is leaving the U.S. a privilege—or survival? Award-winning journalist and global citizen Imani Bashir joins us to unpack Black mobility, the hidden costs of expatriation, and whether travel is truly a form of freedom—or just another illusion. We talk about movement as resistance, raising a third-culture kid, and what it really means to belong anywhere in the world. If you’ve ever wondered whether you should stay, go, or redefine freedom on your own terms—this one’s for you.
32: Catching Creative Spirits: Answer the Call, Sis ft. Kendra Austin
May 13, 2025
Show notes
Is creativity something you’re born with, or do you have to catch it? And what happens when you ignore the creative spirits calling you? In this episode, we’re breaking down the myths about creativity, purpose, and why Black women, in particular, are taught to deprioritize their artistic dreams. Kendra Austin joins us to unpack what it means to truly step into your creative power, why spirituality and creativity go hand in hand, and the real reason you’re afraid to answer your creative calling. If you’ve been waiting for the sign to chase your vision—this is it.
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