Unbothered and Puffin Pearls

Unbothered and Puffin Pearls

What happens when a group of women decide they're done shrinking themselves to fit into someone else's expectations? This week on Basically Unbothered, Gabi is joined by the incredible women of Puffin' With My Pearls, a Detroit-based cigar sisterhood that has grown into something far bigger than cigars. Together, they talk about: ✨ Finding community as women in traditionally male-dominated spaces✨ Why you don't need to prove your expertise to belong✨ Building confidence later in life✨ The story behind Puffin' With My Pearls✨ Shaq earning another degree and the power of lifelong learning✨ The return of A Different World and why representation still matters✨ Kanye, confidence, ego, and knowing when to stay unbothered From sports bars and cigar lounges to college campuses and boardrooms, this conversation is a reminder that women deserve to take up space exactly as they are. Pour yourself a drink, light a cigar if that's your thing, and join us for one of the most candid and uplifting conversations we've had yet. Puffin All Week Events: https://puffinwithmypearls.ludus.com/index.php [https://puffinwithmypearls.ludus.com/index.php] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit blakegabrielle.substack.com/subscribe [https://blakegabrielle.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Unbothered and Creating My Own Path

Basically Unbothered: Books, Black Fantasy, Celebrity Boundaries & Building a Life That Fits You This week, Gabi is joined by entrepreneur and Agency 811 founder Myra for a conversation that starts with books and somehow ends up unpacking creativity, entrepreneurship, celebrity culture, and what it means to build a life on your own terms. The pair dive into Black fantasy literature, the importance of representation in storytelling, the challenges of writing and publishing books, and why Gabi personally curates every title that enters her indie bookstore. They also discuss Harry Potter's lasting impact, the realities of indie publishing, and the difference between creating for passion versus creating for profit. Later, they tackle the week's pop culture headlines, including Pete Davidson's parenting controversy, Ashley Tisdale's former mom group drama, Queen Latifah's thoughts on privacy, and why society feels entitled to celebrities' personal lives. The episode closes with an inspiring conversation about entrepreneurship, multiple streams of income, authenticity in marketing, and why you don't have to limit yourself to one dream, one career, or one version of yourself opics Include: Black fantasy and diverse storytelling Writing, publishing, and indie bookstores Harry Potter and the power of worldbuilding Pete Davidson and modern parenting debates Ashley Tisdale's mom group controversy Queen Latifah on privacy and fame Entrepreneurship and side hustles Building a personal brand authentically Why your life can have more than one chapter This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit blakegabrielle.substack.com/subscribe [https://blakegabrielle.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Recapped: Hayden Panettiere, Hot Takes & Hard Truths

Healing Isn’t Linear, and Neither Is This Week’s Recap This week on Basically Unbothered Recapped, I’m sharing a little bit of where I’ve been emotionally as I continue processing trauma and preparing to tell a story I’ve carried for a very long time. Alongside life updates, we talk about the launch of The Creatives, upcoming bookstore events, and the realities of trying to build creative dreams while navigating real life. Of course, we also get into: ✨ The rumored return of the Cheetah Girls ✨ Ariana Grande’s newest music ✨ Updates from The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives ✨ Why the internet’s obsession with criticizing Taylor Frankie Paul continues to spark conversations about accountability, healing, and public perception ✨ My latest Criminal Minds and The Rookie binge updates The heart of this episode centers around Hayden Panettiere’s powerful conversation with Jay Shetty, which sparked a deeper discussion about trauma, addiction, motherhood, family expectations, and what it means to finally tell your truth. Sometimes healing looks like therapy. Sometimes it looks like magnesium supplements and reality TV. And sometimes it looks like realizing you’re allowed to take up space with your own story. This week’s episode is equal parts vulnerable, chaotic, reflective, and unapologetically unbothered. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit blakegabrielle.substack.com/subscribe [https://blakegabrielle.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Unbothered and Refusing to Be an Athena

This week on Basically Unbothered, we got into one of those conversations that somehow starts in one place and then suddenly you’re talking about grief, women’s health, mental health, AI, survival, societal pressure, and all the things people usually try to tiptoe around. And honestly? I love conversations like that because they remind me how human we all actually are underneath all the noise. I sat down with Kayla Branstetter to talk about the inspiration behind Don’t Be an Athena, the importance of women’s stories, and the reality that so many women are expected to carry impossible emotional weight while still showing up for everybody else. Kayla shares the inspiration behind her book Don’t Be an Athena, which focuses on amplifying women’s stories across different backgrounds and experiences. We talked about the way society often expects women to be endlessly strong, endlessly selfless, endlessly resilient, while rarely giving them room to simply be human. We also get into: * The realities of women’s reproductive healthcare * Mental health and societal expectations * The ethics of AI and technology * Celebrity culture and emotional disconnection * Community support and survival * Why empathy feels so rare right now * The importance of telling stories that reflect real women’s lives There’s a moment in the episode where we discuss how legislation impacts real women’s lives, and honestly, that conversation stayed with me long after recording ended. So much of this episode is about remembering the humanity behind the headlines, statistics, and debates people casually throw around online. It’s emotional. It’s thoughtful. It’s occasionally chaotic in the most human way possible. And at the center of it all is the reminder that women deserve to exist outside of impossible expectations. You can connect with Kayla here: * Kayla Branstetter on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/kbranstetter87/] * Kayla Branstetter on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kayla-branstetter?utm_source=chatgpt.com] And check out Don’t Be an Athena [https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/don't%20be%20an%20athena]. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit blakegabrielle.substack.com/subscribe [https://blakegabrielle.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Recapped: Breadcrumbs, Bad Twists & Bucharest

On this episode of Basically Unbothered Recaps, Blake takes listeners through the chaotic aftermath of a writers retreat that promised creativity and delivered… gluten-free disappointment, questionable planning, and emotional whiplash. From overpriced workshops and identity discourse gone sideways to being kicked out of a group chat after speaking up, this episode is equal parts hilarious, frustrating, and painfully honest. Then the pop culture spiral begins: fake AI music drops, Cat’s Eye controversy, Huda’s new single, Drake’s contract escape plan, Ariana Grande updates, and finally a deep dive into the psychological thriller Unforgettable starring Rosario Dawson and Katherine Heigl. Blake breaks down why the movie almost works, where the thriller breadcrumbs fail, and why some twists collapse like a folding chair at a family reunion. It’s messy, funny, sharp, and deeply “what the hell was THAT?” energy from start to finish. Watch Unforgettable here. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvaxT8UmWvo] Read the Katseye article here. [https://creators.yahoo.com/lifestyle/story/katseyes-new-world-tour-introduces-a-new-member-to-the-group---the-elephant-in-the-room-214608972.html] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit blakegabrielle.substack.com/subscribe [https://blakegabrielle.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]