Men cry. Men break. Men heal. In this powerful roundtable, Brian D. Nordstrom Jr., Apostle Andre Dodson, and Will Van Dyke sit with host Barbara L. Parker, MA, LPCC-S & Co-Host Mary Kent to break the stigma around male emotions—especially for Black men—and talk boundaries, therapy, co-parenting, and choosing peace over chaos.

What happens when men's emotions are invalidated in relationships? Our raw, honest conversation with three men who've walked through relationship trauma reveals the hidden struggles many face behind closed doors.

The stigma against men expressing emotions runs deep in our culture. As one guest poignantly shares, "The only time you can show that you are human is if there's a loss of life." This emotional suppression creates devastating ripple effects through relationships, yet few talk openly about it.

These men courageously share their journeys from denial to acceptance about their failing relationships. "My friends had told me several times what was going on. I didn't want to hear, didn't want to see it," one guest admits. This resistance to seeing relationship problems keeps countless men trapped in cycles of pain and frustration.

The most powerful revelation comes when discussing healing. Against cultural norms urging men to "get another one" after breakups, our guests took radical paths of self-discovery. One spent five years intentionally single, focusing on therapy and personal growth. "Quit blaming other people. Find fault in yourself," he advises. This counterintuitive approach - taking responsibility rather than casting blame - transformed their ability to build healthy relationships later.

Communication emerges as the critical skill many men never learned. "I hid it through religion, I hid it through prayer," one guest shares about his former approach to relationship problems. Learning to express emotions clearly and set boundaries compassionately revolutionized his marriage.

Perhaps most importantly, these men challenge the stigma around therapy in the Black community. Their unanimous endorsement of counseling offers a powerful alternative narrative for men struggling with emotional issues. As one powerfully states, "I had to be broken to be as powerful as I am right now."

Join us for this essential conversation about vulnerability, healing, and finding strength through brokenness. Subscribe, share, and follow us @QueenBLParker or @BF_Empowerment for more transformative discussions on relationships and emotional health.

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After a 17-year relationship ended, veteran and artist Brian D. Nordstrom Jr. hit an unthinkable low—then rebuilt from the inside out. In this raw conversation with host Barbara L. Parker, MA, LPCC-S, Brian shares how therapy, Buddhism, creativity, and a service dog helped him choose life, self-love, and purpose.

The path from despair to self-discovery rarely follows a straight line. In this raw and deeply moving conversation, veteran Brian Norson shares his journey through the darkest moments of his life to finding profound self-love and purpose.

When a 17-year relationship suddenly ended, Brian found himself at rock bottom. Covering mirrors because he couldn't stand his reflection and contemplating suicide on his 50th birthday, he credits his service dog Miles Walker with the moment that saved his life. "I had a gun in my mouth... I looked at my dog and thought, he'll never understand. How could I do that?" From that pivotal moment, Brian began the slow, challenging work of rebuilding himself.

Buddhism became Brian's philosophical framework for healing, teaching him the compassion he desperately needed to show himself. "I started saying it out loud in the shower—you deserve this, you're a good man. And then right after, I'd say, 'You're a fucking liar,' because I couldn't get past myself." Through persistent self-work, meditation, and therapy for his PTSD, Brian gradually reclaimed not only his mental health but also his artistic passions that had been neglected during his relationship struggles.

Today, Brian creates beautiful furniture pieces, has purchased a home with a workshop, and practices meditation four times daily. His perspective on his journey reflects profound wisdom: "I would never change what happened to me. The things and trials I've gone through, I'm glad I went through them because I'm the best man I've ever been in my life now." For anyone struggling with trauma, relationship loss, or thoughts of suicide, Brian's story offers a powerful reminder that healing begins with self-compassion and that our darkest moments don't define us—they refine us.

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Three men sit around a table, sharing their raw, unfiltered stories of marriage dissolution. Their voices sometimes catch, sometimes strengthen as they reveal the moment they knew their marriages were over.

"I knew it was over like 10 years prior, like you just know," Will confesses, describing how he stayed in his 22-year marriage until a health crisis revealed his wife's true priorities. "The straw that broke the camel's back for me is when I got sick and I spent six months in the hospital and she wasn't there."

Andre's story carries a different weight – the shock of coming home to find his wife and daughters gone, disappeared to a battered women's shelter despite no physical abuse occurring. He describes years of "rearranging idols" in his marriage, constantly adjusting himself to make things work while battling what he later recognized as mental abuse. His powerful metaphor resonates with anyone who's ever twisted themselves into emotional pretzels trying to save a relationship.

The conversation delves into rarely discussed territory: men as victims of emotional abuse, the gendered differences in how people process relationship endings, and the surprising capacity for men to maintain unconditional concern for ex-partners long after divorce. As Andre observes, "A woman will leave their stability for happiness; a man will sacrifice his happiness for stability."

What emerges is a profound meditation on healing after betrayal. Each man shares how divorce, despite its devastation, ultimately freed them to grow into better versions of themselves. They speak of finding peace, raising children alone, building healthy new relationships, and discovering that sometimes, breaking ties is the most powerful form of self-care.

For anyone questioning a troubled relationship or healing from divorce, this conversation offers rare male perspectives on emotional vulnerability, recognizing abuse, and finding the courage to rebuild after everything falls apart. Listen, reflect, and remember – you can be powerfully broken without being defeated.

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What does it take to navigate the glamorous yet often treacherous world of modeling while keeping your values intact? Miriam White opens up about her fascinating journey from child commercial actor to adult model, nurse, and mother in this eye-opening conversation.

Starting at just three years old in Cleveland's commercial scene, Miriam's path took an unexpected turn when she stopped growing at 5'3" in eighth grade—far shorter than the industry standard. Rather than abandoning her passion, she adapted, finding her niche in prom dress and swimwear modeling while developing crucial protective boundaries. Her simple yet powerful strategy? Always bringing a companion to potential jobs, which immediately filtered out questionable opportunities.

Miriam pulls back the curtain on the disturbing realities many models face, including the notorious "celery, carrots, and cocaine" diet that pervades certain circles of the industry. Unlike many of her peers who struggled with weight maintenance through extreme measures, Miriam's naturally slim build allowed her to avoid these dangerous practices, though she witnessed their devastating effects firsthand.

Perhaps most valuable is Miriam's advice for those captivated by today's social media modeling world. Rather than relying on filters that render you unrecognizable, she advocates mastering makeup techniques to enhance your natural features and developing authentic confidence through self-acceptance. Her parting wisdom resonates beyond modeling: "All money isn't good money." The fast track might seem appealing, but compromising your values never leads to lasting fulfillment. Share your thoughts on maintaining integrity in challenging industries—we'd love to hear your perspective!

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🎧 Available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more.

🔗 Learn more: www.bfempowerment.com/pbp

📲 Follow: @powerfullybroken | @queenblparker

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Sex, trauma, and faith collide in this candid conversation with Stephanie Brooks, who fearlessly guides us through topics many find difficult to discuss. Breaking down the barriers to authentic sexual communication, Stephanie reveals why "Nobody can read your mind, nobody knows how to please you but you" and how this simple truth transforms intimate relationships.

The conversation dives deep into navigating sexual triggers and flashbacks from trauma. Stephanie shares insights from her experience as both a counselor and dominant in the BDSM community, emphasizing the critical importance of aftercare and creating safe spaces. Whether you're in a marriage or new relationship, her practical wisdom offers a roadmap for expressing boundaries while still embracing sexual freedom.

Most powerfully, Stephanie reframes the relationship between faith and sexuality, challenging the shame that often permeates religious communities. "Your journey of bisexuality, your journey of BDSM, your journey of being a lesbian... all of that formed your ministry," she explains, offering a liberating perspective where past experiences become pathways to authentic spiritual connection rather than sources of condemnation. Through her Women Who Loves Christ Ministries, she demonstrates how faith can embrace our complete selves—sexual histories included—creating what she calls an "unfuckwittable" spiritual maturity that transcends judgment.

Whether you're struggling with sexual communication, healing from trauma, or reconciling your faith with your desires, this episode provides compassionate guidance for breaking unhealthy patterns and embracing your whole self. Follow Stephanie's ministry on Instagram and Facebook to continue the journey toward integration, healing, and authentic connection.

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In this deeply personal episode of the Powerfully Broken Podcast, host Barbara L. Parker, MA, LPCC-S talks with Miriam White — nurse, qualified behavioral health specialist, mother, and model — about her journey from people-pleasing and unhealthy love to reclaiming her identity, confidence, and peace.

What happens when a lifetime of people-pleasing collides with new motherhood and toxic relationships? Miriam's powerful journey of transformation will resonate with anyone who's ever struggled to put themselves first.

From the earliest years of her life, Miriam was conditioned to be the family caretaker. As the oldest child and first grandchild, nurturing others came naturally—until it nearly cost her everything. In this raw and honest conversation, she reveals the exact moment at age 30 when everything changed: "The day my son turned a year old, I just said that I could not please anybody but myself." That awakening began a courageous journey toward reclaiming her identity and establishing healthy boundaries.

Miriam doesn't shy away from the darkest moments of her story—losing her father unexpectedly, facing postpartum depression, and reaching the breaking point in her relationship with a narcissistic partner. Her candid admission that she called her mother for help when she feared what she might do if her ex wouldn't respect her boundaries highlights the critical importance of reaching out when you're struggling. The conversation offers invaluable insights about rediscovering yourself after trauma and relationships that diminish your sense of worth.

Perhaps most inspiring is Miriam's reflection on how books became her pathway to healing, teaching her to reestablish her personal "uniform," reclaim her confidence, and recognize her intrinsic value beyond physical appearance. Her message to her younger self—"continue to love yourself"—serves as a powerful reminder for anyone who has allowed others' opinions to shape their self-perception. Listen, subscribe, and share this episode with someone who might need to hear that they're not just surviving their struggles—they're becoming something powerful through them.

🔥 What you’ll discover in this episode:

• The hidden cost of growing up as a people-pleaser
• How motherhood became Miriam’s turning point for self-love
• The struggle of leaving a narcissistic relationship — and finding freedom
• Postpartum depression, grief, and rebuilding mental health
• 3 powerful lessons from an unlikely source that rebuilt Miriam’s confidence
• Why true healing begins when you choose yourself first

✨ If you’ve ever lost yourself in a relationship, struggled with confidence after motherhood, or felt trapped by other people’s expectations, this episode will remind you that brokenness is the place where power begins.

🔔 Don’t forget to Like, Comment, and Subscribe for new episodes every Friday at 9 AM EST.
📲 Follow us: @powerfullybroken | @queenblparker
🌐 Learn more: www.bfempowerment.com/pbp

#WorkingMoms #PostpartumDepression #ToxicRelationships #PowerfullyBroken #DivorceRecovery #WomensEmpowerment #MentalHealthAwareness #NotAnother1

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What does it truly mean to maintain your identity within a relationship? The Powerfully Broken Podcast tackles this question head-on as host Barbara Parker welcomes a diverse panel of guests to share their journeys through healthy and unhealthy relationship patterns.

The conversation takes a deeply personal turn when Stephanie Brent reveals her transformative realization: "I could still be a hundred percent me and still a hundred percent love God." This powerful statement sets the tone for an honest exploration of authenticity within both faith and relationships. The panel agrees that abandoning your true self doesn't honor God or strengthen your partnerships – quite the opposite.

When discussing advice for prospective brides, each guest offers wisdom shaped by their unique experiences. Joy emphasizes following your own path rather than others' expectations. Lauren stresses the value of pre-marital counseling, sharing how therapy revealed incompatibilities in her own relationship: "That's when I started to realize this isn't working." Meanwhile, Stephanie advocates for balancing psychological insights with spiritual guidance, reminding listeners to "filter what you're learning in therapy through what your heavenly Father says."

The most transformative segment challenges the harmful "other half" mythology many grew up with. Instead of seeking completion through another person, the panel promotes the healthier vision of "two circles that fit nicely together" – two whole individuals choosing partnership. As one guest poignantly observes, "God didn't want you to be unhappy every day of your life," dispelling the notion that suffering through bad marriages somehow honors commitment.

Whether you're navigating a relationship, healing from divorce, or seeking to understand healthy partnership dynamics, this episode offers candid insights to help you maintain your authentic self while building meaningful connections. Follow us at @QueenBLParker or @BF_Empowerment and subscribe for more conversations that transform brokenness into power.

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Why do we miss the red flags in relationships — and how do we heal enough to try love again? ❤️

In this powerful episode of the Powerfully Broken Podcast, host Barbara L. Parker, MA, LPCC-S sits down with a panel of women — Miriam White, Stephanie Brown, Lauren, Joy Jackson, and co-host Mary Kent — to talk candidly about:

• 🚩 Why we ignore red flags in relationships (even when they’re obvious)
• 💔 How childhood and father relationships shape our standards in love
• ✝️ What faith and Christian values teach us about marriage, divorce, and remarriage
• 🌱 The courage it takes to love again after betrayal or loss
• 👩‍👧 The impact of unhealthy relationships on family and mental health

You’ll hear raw stories of eloping, jealousy, broken vows, deep faith journeys, and learning to rebuild with wisdom and courage. This is an honest look at how women overcome toxic cycles, redefine love, and walk boldly into second chances.

✨ Powerfully Broken Podcast is here to remind you: you are not broken — you’re powerful.

🔔 Don’t forget to Like, Comment, and Subscribe for more healing conversations every Friday at 9 AM EST.
📲 Follow us: @powerfullybroken | @queenblparker
🌐 Learn more: www.bfempowerment.com/pbp

#RedFlags #ToxicLove #DivorceRecovery #FaithAndHealing #PowerfullyBroken #RelationshipAdvice #ChristianMarriage #SecondChances

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