Be Well Sis: The Podcast

By: Cassandre Dunbar
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  • Summary

  • After being consistently left out of wellness conversations, Be Well Sis is a podcast dedicated to providing resources for Black millennial women to be their best selves physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Hosted by Dr. Cassandre Dunbar, the conversations are candid, informative, and unapologetic. Join us!
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Episodes
  • High Functioning with Dr. Judith Joseph

    High Functioning with Dr. Judith Joseph
    Apr 16 2025
    If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing all the “right” things—showing up for work, taking care of everyone, checking all the boxes—but inside, you feel numb, disconnected, or just... not okay, this episode is for you.This week on Be Well, Sis, I’m joined by the brilliant Dr. Judith Joseph, a board-certified psychiatrist and researcher, to talk about something that doesn’t get nearly enough attention: high functioning depression.We often associate depression with what we see—sadness, withdrawal, tears. But what happens when it looks more like achievement, perfectionism, and over-functioning? When the pain hides behind productivity? That’s where this conversation begins.Dr. Judith breaks down what high functioning depression actually is, why it’s often missed in clinical settings, and how trauma, societal pressure, and internalized expectations can all contribute to emotional burnout, anhedonia (the loss of joy), and disconnection.She also introduces her powerful framework, the Five V’s to Thriving—a model that prioritizes validation, venting, values, vitals, and vision to support true emotional well-being.In this episode, we explore:What high functioning depression really looks and feels likeThe link between trauma, anhedonia, and collective numbnessHow societal expectations can mask mental health struggles in high-achieving womenWhy validation and venting are essential for healingThe Five V’s to Thriving and how to use them as tools for personal growthWhy joy is an experience, not an achievementHow to stop chasing external validation and start doing the inner work of self-careDr. Judith also speaks candidly about how mental wellness is deeply connected to relationships, rest, and reimagining what success and happiness truly mean—especially for Black women and women of color who are often taught to suppress their feelings to survive.This episode is for you if:You feel emotionally drained, even when everything looks “fine” on the outsideYou’ve normalized burnout and high stress as your baselineYou’re curious about new ways to think about healing and emotional regulationYou’re doing the work, but still feel like joy is just out of reachYou want to understand your mental health through both a clinical and compassionate lensAbout Dr. Judith Joseph: Dr. Judith Joseph is a board-certified psychiatrist, media expert, and mental health advocate whose work bridges the gap between clinical research and culturally competent care. Her mission is to empower people—especially those in marginalized communities—to prioritize their mental wellness with evidence-based, heart-centered tools.🔗 Learn more about here 📲 Follow Dr. Judith on InstagramMentioned in this episode:Click here to purchase Dr. Judith’s High Functioning: Overcome Your Hidden Depression and Reclaim Your Joy!More on High Functioning Depression here and here Looking to go deeper?✨Join Replenished audio wellness series here✨ Subscribe to Be Well, Sis wherever you listen to podcasts💌 Subscribe to the newsletter!📱 Follow me on Instagram: @bewellsis_podcastIf this episode hit home, I’d love for you to leave a review or share it with someone who needs to know they’re not alone.-We’re supporting St Jude’s- head over to www.stjude.org/bewellsis right now and sign up to be a monthly donor. Together, we can make a real impact.Want to get in touch? Maybe you want to hear from a certain guest or have a recommendation for On My Radar? Get in touch at hello@editaud.io with Be Well Sis in the subject line! Have you’re on Not Well, Sis rant to contribute? Click here to send it into the show!Be Well, Sis is hosted by Dr Cassandre Dunbar. The show is edited, mixed and produced by Megan Hayward. Our Production Manager is Kathleen Speckert. Be Well, Sis is an editaudio collaboration. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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    24 mins
  • Survival Mode

    Survival Mode
    Apr 9 2025

    Feeling burned out, stuck in survival mode, or constantly on edge? In this vulnerable solo episode, Dr. Cassandre shares the moment she realized that what she had accepted as “normal” was actually survival mode. High-functioning. Always “on.” But beneath the surface? Exhausted, disconnected, and stretched way too thin.

    We explore:

    • What survival mode really looks like (even when you're "doing fine")
    • The science of chronic stress and how it affects your body and brain
    • Symptoms of a dysregulated nervous system you might be ignoring
    • Small but powerful ways to begin feeling safe, soft, and regulated again
    • Why joy, rest, and boundaries are essential—not indulgent


    If you’ve been stuck in go-mode for way too long, this is your invitation to breathe deep, unclench, and begin your journey back to yourself.

    ✨ Subscribe to Be Well, Sis wherever you listen to podcasts

    💌 Subscribe to the newsletter!

    📱 Follow me on Instagram: @bewellsis_podcast


    If this episode resonated with you- share with a friend!


    We’re supporting St Jude’s- head over to www.stjude.org/bewellsis right now and sign up to be a monthly donor. Together, we can make a real impact.

    Want to get in touch? Maybe you want to hear from a certain guest or have a recommendation for On My Radar? Get in touch at hello@editaud.io with Be Well Sis in the subject line!

    Have you’re on Not Well, Sis rant to contribute? Click here to send it into the show!

    Be Well, Sis is hosted by Dr Cassandre Dunbar. The show is edited, mixed and produced by Megan Hayward. Our Production Manager is Kathleen Speckert.

    Be Well, Sis is an editaudio collaboration.

    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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    21 mins
  • Self-Advocacy Is Self-Care: Reclaiming Power in the Exam Room with Dr Bayo

    Self-Advocacy Is Self-Care: Reclaiming Power in the Exam Room with Dr Bayo
    Apr 2 2025
    Navigating the healthcare system as a woman, especially as a Black woman, can feel like a battle. A battle to be heard, believed, and treated with the care and respect we deserve. In this affirming and eye-opening episode of Be Well, Sis, I’m joined by Dr. Bayo, a physician and patient advocate who’s using her voice to challenge bias in medicine and close the gap on maternal health disparities and healthcare inequities.Together, we dive into what it really takes to build trust in healthcare- not just between patient and provider, but within ourselves as we learn to speak up, ask questions, and challenge the harmful systems we’ve been taught to accept.Dr. Bayo shares her own journey into medicine and advocacy, including the influence of family, personal experience, and generational knowledge that shaped her commitment to making healthcare safer and more human.We explore the power of self-advocacy, the necessity of community, and why curiosity is one of the most powerful tools we can bring into any medical setting. This episode is for you if:You’ve ever felt dismissed or gaslit in a medical settingYou’re curious about how to become a stronger advocate for yourself or your familyYou’re a provider seeking to understand and confront your own biasesYou believe in the power of community-based healing and generational wisdomYou’re ready to reclaim agency over your body, your choices, and your careWhether you're a patient trying to make sense of conflicting medical advice, a new mom seeking support, or a provider looking to serve with more empathy and equity—this conversation is your reminder that you deserve to be seen, heard, and cared for.Mentioned in this episode:Why Black patients don’t trust the healthcare system | Bayo Curry-Winchell | TEDxRenoDo No Harm | Dr. Bayo Curry-Winchell | TEDxRutgersAbout Dr. Bayo: Dr. Bayo is a physician and passionate advocate for health equity, especially within maternal health. Her work centers around patient empowerment, provider accountability, and breaking cycles of harm in medicine. She believes in treating the whole person—body, mind, and spirit—with intention, respect, and curiosity.📲 Follow Dr. Bayo on Instagram: @doctor.bayo 🌐 Learn more about her work: https://doctorbayo.comStay connected with me:✨ Subscribe to Be Well, Sis wherever you listen to podcasts💌 Subscribe to the newsletter!📱 Follow me on Instagram: @bewellsis_podcast💬 Share this episode with someone who needs to hear it!We’re supporting St Jude’s- head over to www.stjude.org/bewellsis right now and sign up to be a monthly donor. Together, we can make a real impact.Want to get in touch? Maybe you want to hear from a certain guest or have a recommendation for On My Radar? Get in touch at hello@editaud.io with Be Well Sis in the subject line! Have you’re on Not Well, Sis rant to contribute? Click here to send it into the show!Be Well, Sis is hosted by Dr Cassandre Dunbar. The show is edited, mixed and produced by Megan Hayward. Our Production Manager is Kathleen Speckert. Be Well, Sis is an editaudio collaboration.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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    36 mins
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