Three Black Women and Their White Coach

9. Why Black Women Are Burnt Out in Coaching Spaces: Emotional Labor

Black women are carrying weight in coaching spaces that was never theirs to lift, and today, we’re finally naming it. Black women aren’t just showing up to coaching spaces to learn. Too often, we’re asked (directly or indirectly) to educate, soothe, translate, and “keep the peace.” In this episode of Three Black Women and Their White Coach, hosts Catryce Sutson and Breanna LaShell unpack the invisible, unpaid, and unspoken emotional labor Black women are expected to shoulder in the coaching industry. Catryce (your mixed-race internet bestie + serial entrepreneur) and Breanna (your biracial nonprofit coach for impact-driven leaders) break down how emotional labor shows up in masterminds, group programs, and community spaces, especially when you’re the only Black woman in the room. In this episode: A clear definition of emotional labor—and how it lands uniquely on Black women in coaching spaces The hidden costs: burnout, nervous system dysregulation, therapy bills, and reputational risk What true allyship from white coaches can look like: paying Black women for their expertise, not centering guilt, and holding the space you’re actually being paid to hold Heart Check: For Black Women: Where have you been holding emotional space that no one asked you to hold? And what would it look like to gently put that weight down? For White Coaches: Where are your Black counterparts showing up in ways you aren’t and what would it mean to create a space where they don’t have to? And what boundaries or structures would create true safety for everyone involved? Keep the Conversation Going Share your reflections and stories with us on Instagram, we want to hear from you. https://www.instagram.com/threeblackwomenpod If this episode resonated, leave a 5 star review so more women (and coaches) can find these conversations. Tag a friend, a client, or a coach who needs to hear this one.

8. Not Your Trend, Not Your Talking Point: Black Hair in the Coaching Space

What changes when we stop treating Black women’s hair like a trend and start honoring it as identity? In this deeply personal, often politicized conversation, we unpack Black hair in life and in the coaching industry—from the “petting-zoo effect” and microaggressions to workplace “professionalism,” branding shoots, and who gets to call what “distracting.” We name the history (from enslavement to the natural hair movement and the CROWN Act), share stories of unwanted touching and respectless curiosity, and celebrate hair joy, self-expression, and reclaiming our crowns—without apology. This episode is not about shame; it’s about correction, care, and liberation. In this episode: * The history and politics of Black hair—and why Eurocentric “professionalism” was never neutral * The “petting-zoo effect”: when curiosity turns into dehumanization * How microaggressions around hair show up in the coaching and corporate space * Why “put-together” looks different for Black women—and deserves to be respected as such * Guidance for non-Black coaches on affirming clients without causing harm * The line between appreciation and appropriation when it comes to protective styles * How affirmation during branding shoots can empower clients to show up fully * The importance of boundaries, consent, and self-definition in how we wear our crowns * The CROWN Act as progress—and why cultural change still matters beyond policy  Heart Check: For Black women: Where have you policed your own hair to feel “safe” in white spaces? What would showing up whole look like, starting with your crown? For White Coaches: What comments or “jokes” have you made about Black women’s hair? Who can you apologize to and how will you show up differently next time? Keep the Conversation Going Share your reflections and stories with us on Instagram, we want to hear from you. https://www.instagram.com/threeblackwomenpod If this episode resonated, leave a 5 star review so more women (and coaches) can find these conversations. Tag a friend, a client, or a coach who needs to hear this one.

7. Hyper-Visible, Under-Supported: Inside Tokenism in the Coaching Industry

Today we unpack “the tokenized Black girl” in the coaching industry, the hyper-visible, under-supported Black woman who’s praised in public but dismissed in private. We define tokenism (symbolic inclusion for optics), trace its roots and modern tropes, and get honest about how it shows up in branding, hiring, speaker lineups, and client features. We talk about the emotional toll, self-monitoring, isolation, gaslighting, and what true equity looks like: power-sharing, pay parity, policy, and sustained inclusion. What we cover * What tokenism is (and isn’t): representation vs. performance * Historical context & modern tropes (the “strong Black woman,” “palatable” beauty standards) * Red flags: the single Black face in year-round marketing, diversity-month invites only, citing values without policy, expecting education + politeness, public support without private defense * How tokenism harms: isolation, self-doubt, pressure to speak for “everyone,” diminished authority * From quota to collaboration: sharing power, paying equally, inviting voices to shape—not just show—your spaces Heart Check For Black women Where am I choosing visibility over having a voice? Have I been placed in a space to be seen, not to lead? How did that feel, and what boundaries will I set next time? What do I need to ask before entering a room (Who else is at the table? Has this coach worked with Black women before?) Where can I say no, rest, or build my own table? For White coaches Where might I be unintentionally tokenizing (speaker lineups, marketing, “one Black client” thinking, diversity-month invites)? How will I share power (roles, decision-making, budgets), pay equitably, and institute policies—not just posts? How will I support Black women privately when they’re not in the room? Keep the Conversation Going Share your reflections and stories with us on Instagram, we want to hear from you. https://www.instagram.com/threeblackwomenpod If this episode resonated, leave a 5 star review so more women (and coaches) can find these conversations. Tag a friend, a client, or a coach who needs to hear this one.

6. Representation Isn’t Enough: Redefining Mentorship for Black Women in Coaching

Mentorship isn’t about advice, it’s about being seen. In a coaching industry that often celebrates representation without real inclusion, we’re asking the deeper question: What does true mentorship for Black women look like? In this episode, we shift from calling out harm to calling in vision. We unpack the real meaning of mentorship for Black women in coaching: what’s missing, what’s working, and how to build something better. From the difference between mentorship, coaching, and sponsorship to the challenges of being “the only one in the room,” we share honest stories about what support should feel like. You’ll hear candid reflections on tokenism, access, cultural awareness, and integrity in leadership — plus actionable ways both Black women and white coaches can create safer, more intentional spaces for growth. This isn’t just a conversation about what’s broken. It’s a vision for what’s next. In this episode: * Mentorship vs. Coaching vs. Sponsorship vs. Consulting — and Why They’re Not the Same * What True Mentorship Is (and What It’s Not) * The Emotional Cost of Being “the Only” Black Woman in the Room * Why So Many Black Women Still Feel They Have to Shrink or Prove Themselves * How White Coaches Can Use Privilege Without Causing Harm * Why Referring Out Is Integrity, Not Losing a Sale * Why All Money Isn’t Good Money Heart Check for Black Women and White Coaches:  Where have you wished for mentorship and what would it look like to create it for someone else?  What would it look like for you to be the mentor that you need and for you to be? Are you open to mentorship from someone who doesn't look like you? What kind of mentor do you need to become for others?    Keep the Conversation Going Share your reflections and stories with us on Instagram, we want to hear from you. https://www.instagram.com/threeblackwomenpod [https://www.instagram.com/threeblackwomenpod] If this episode resonated, leave a 5 star review so more women (and coaches) can find these conversations. Tag a friend, a client, or a coach who needs to hear this one.

5. Allyship vs. Accountability: Beyond Performative “Good Branding”

Two words get tossed around a lot: allyship and accountability, but what happens when they’re more caption than practice? Today we unpack the gap between intention and impact in the coaching industry—and what real repair looks like. Catryce Sutson and Breanna LaShell dig into how allyship shows up, or doesn’t, across coaching, events, and online spaces. We talk history, lived experiences, and why “I read the book” is not the finish line. This isn’t about shame. It’s about growth, nuance, and staying in the room when it’s uncomfortable. In this episode: * What real allyship actually looks like in the online coaching space * What real accountability means for coaches and creators * From performative to practiced: beyond black squares, buzzwords, and “good branding” * Real stories of allyship in action — and moments that missed the mark * The hidden power dynamics in marketing: who’s centered on your panels, lineups, and feeds * Being “trauma-informed” doesn’t make you untouchable: credentials don’t replace accountability * Shifting from reactive to proactive: turning “I’ll do better” into real change through policy, hiring, and culture Heart Check For Black women and women of color: * Where are you shrinking for access? What would full-self participation look like? * Do your current rooms feel safe enough for honest feedback? If not, what boundary or new room is needed? For white coaches and creators: * Where are you expecting grace without showing growth? * If inclusion is a value, where is it visible on your team, stage, pricing, and policies? * What will you change this month, such as one hire, one policy, one lineup, or one vendor list, to reflect your values? Keep the Conversation Going Share your reflections and stories with us on Instagram, we want to hear from you. https://www.instagram.com/threeblackwomenpod [https://www.instagram.com/threeblackwomenpod] If this episode resonated, leave a 5 star review so more women (and coaches) can find these conversations. Tag a friend, a client, or a coach who needs to hear this one.