The UNKAGED™ Woman Podcast with Brig Johnson, APN, MSNA. Where high-achieving Black & Brown women reclaim themselves.

Hosted by Brig Johnson

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282

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Oct 2026

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About the show

Welcome to The UNKAGED™ Woman, the podcast where high-achieving Black and Brown women stop shrinking and start showing up fully as themselves. Hosted by Brig Johnson, APN, MSNA, Master Coach Instructor, Nurse Anesthesiologist, and the Black Woman Thrive Architect, this is not another wellness podcast telling you to breathe and journal your way through burnout. Brig brings neurobiology, clinical insight, real lived experience, and the kind of truth most coaching spaces are too polished to say out loud. Here is what nobody is telling you: you are not the problem. You are running patterns that were wired into you long before you had a choice, and those patterns are draining your health, your joy, your relationships, and your sense of self. If you have ever: Hit every goal and still felt like something was missing Said yes when your whole body was screaming no Been the strong one so long you stopped knowing what you actually need Kept pushing because rest felt like a luxury you hadn't earned Made yourself smaller to avoid conflict at work, at home, in love Felt guilty for wanting more when everyone says you should be grateful Wondered why doing everything right still doesn't feel like enough This podcast was made for you. Each week, Brig gets into the survival patterns that keep accomplished women stuck, exhausted, and disconnected from themselves. And explores how to stop over-functioning, build boundaries that actually stick, and live in a way that matches the woman you have worked so hard to become. This show is for the woman holding everything together while running on empty. The one who is done performing fine and ready to feel it for real. You were never broken. You were just never given a framework built for you. Welcome to UNKAGED™. New episodes drop weekly. Visit https://brigjohnson.com/ to learn more about Brig Johnson and her coaching services.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

October 26, 202618 min

EP. 273 Too Much? Good. Let Them Choke — Let’s Stop Shrinking To Keep Everyone Comfortable

They call you "too much." Too ambitious. Too independent. Too confident. Too outspoken. Brig has a response: Let them choke, Queen. In this episode, Brig isn't holding back. She's calling out the expectations that tell women to dream big but stay small enough to keep everyone else comfortable. She reflects on the rise of Black women in positions of power, the backlash she's witnessed, and the conflicting messages women receive about ambition, leadership, and knowing their worth. Brig also challenges you to consider how much of your energy goes toward managing other people's reactions instead of pursuing your own goals. If you've ever been told you're too much, this episode asks you to reconsider who decided that and why you've been expected to make yourself smaller. What You'll Learn Why being called "too much" doesn't have to be an insult How women are taught to question their ambition and confidence Why knowing and trusting yourself matters when pursuing your impossible thing What happens when you stop making other people's discomfort your responsibility How to take up space without explaining or apologizing for it Why This Matters Women are often encouraged to be confident and ambitious, but criticized when they actually show up that way. Brig challenges that contradiction and asks what becomes possible when you stop measuring yourself against standards that were never designed with you in mind. You don't have to make yourself smaller to make someone else comfortable. Take Action This week, pay attention to the moments when you feel tempted to tone yourself down, explain your ambitions, or apologize for taking up space. And the next time someone suggests you're "too much," Brig has a response for you: "Yes, I am. Thank you for noticing." Then keep moving. No explanation necessary. Mentioned Come inside The Return , Brig’s new membership where you’ll work through the full S.T.A.Y. framework with support, coaching, and women who are learning to hear themselves again. To keep listening between episodes, sign up for the Reduce the Noise Memo , Brig’s weekly note for the woman chasing her impossible thing. STAY CONNECTED — Website | Instagram | Facebook

October 19, 202628 min

EP. 272 Do You Actually Know Yourself — Or Just The Version Everyone Needs?

In this episode, Brig closes out the S.T.A.Y. framework with Yada, the root pillar. She asks a question that may be harder to answer than it first sounds: who actually knows you, Queen? Not the version that serves, performs, achieves, helps, or keeps everything moving. The real you. Brig talks about the gap between being known for what you do and actually being known for who you are. She also shares why knowing yourself is not selfish, why letting people see the whole you matters, and how the daily return can help you start coming back to yourself. What You Will Learn What Yada means and why Brig calls it the root pillar How the Yada gap shows up in over-giving and overachieving Why knowing yourself changes the way you trust yourself How letting people know the whole you can create more freedom How to begin the daily return practice Why This Matters Brig is not talking about another self-improvement project. She is talking about knowing the woman underneath the roles, the performance, the service, and the expectations. Because when you know yourself, you stop being so easy to manage, talk out of your truth, or shrink away from the impossible thing you actually want. Take Action This week, start with one question: Who is actually here right now? Not who should be here. Not who everyone needs you to be. Who is actually here? Check in. Tell the truth. Reassure yourself. Then take one small action that keeps a promise to you. Mentioned Come inside The Return , Brig’s new membership where you’ll work through the full S.T.A.Y. framework with support, coaching, and women who are learning to hear themselves again. To keep listening between episodes, sign up for the Reduce the Noise Memo , Brig’s weekly note for the woman chasing her impossible thing. STAY CONNECTED — Website | Instagram | Facebook

October 12, 202630 min

EP. 271 Are You Chase Ready? Build The Body That Has The Capacity To Chase Your Impossible

In this episode, Brig asks a question every woman chasing something impossible needs to answer: are you chase ready? Not just mentally. Not just strategically. Physically. Tune in as Brig talks about the body behind the dream, the energy required to keep going, and why the scale may not be the measure that matters most. This is not a fitness episode. It is a conversation about capacity, recovery, and building the engine that can carry what you say you want. What You Will Learn What it really means to be chase ready Why your body needs capacity, not just motivation How stress, sleep, and inflammation affect your energy Why Zone 2 training helps build the engine for your impossible Why the scale is not the measure, capacity is Why This Matters Brig is not talking about shrinking your body. She is talking about building a body that can carry your life, your business, your relationships, and the impossible thing you keep saying you want. Because chase ready does not have a look. It does not have a size. It has capacity. Take Action This week, Brig invites you to start with one thing. Not eight things. Not a whole life overhaul. One thing your body needs most right now, whether that is better sleep, morning sunlight, Zone 2 movement, protein, a post-meal walk, or a simple evening wind-down. Start there. Build the body that can chase your impossible. Mentioned Come back to yourself inside The Return Six months of live coaching. One hour a week. For the woman who is done calling it a character flaw when she has been carrying drag. Bring the goal, the dream, the conversation, the version of you that keeps getting postponed, and let this be the place you finally practice staying with her. And to stay connected and receive more insights, sign up for the Reduce the Noise Memo , Brig’s weekly newsletter that dives deeper into the topics discussed on the podcast. STAY CONNECTED — Website | Instagram | Facebook

October 5, 202622 min

EP. 270 Stop Asking The Wrong People For The Right Things — And Build A Circle That Actually Refuels You

In this episode, Brig gets into the relationships that either support your next level or quietly keep you tied to an older version of yourself. She introduces the Tend pillar from the S.T.A.Y. framework and invites you to look at your circle with honesty. Who gives you energy? Who drains it? Where are you expecting one person to meet needs they were never meant to carry? This conversation is not about cutting everybody off. It is about learning how to stop forcing old relationships to fit new assignments. Brig talks about building relationships on purpose, allowing people to be who they are, and creating a circle that can actually support the life you say you want. What You Will Learn Why your current season may require a different kind of support How to notice where your relationships feel draining, limited, or out of alignment Why one person cannot be responsible for every part of your emotional, social, and growth needs How to build connections around specific areas of your life, from accountability to adventure to deeper conversations Why adjusting access is not the same as ending a relationship Why This Matters The people around you shape what feels normal, possible, and safe to pursue. If your circle only understands who you used to be, it may be harder to keep becoming who you are called to be. Brig reminds you that support does not always appear by accident. Sometimes you have to name what you need, make the invitation, and build the room you keep wishing existed. Take Action This week, Brig invites you to look at your relationships with fresh eyes. Notice where you feel supported, where you feel drained, and where you may be asking the wrong people to meet the right need. Then take one step toward connection. Send the message. Make the invite. Start the conversation. Let people show you who they are, and decide how close they get from there. Come back to yourself inside THE RETURN . Six months of live coaching. One hour a week. For the woman who is done calling it a character flaw when she has been carrying drag. Bring the goal, the dream, the conversation, the version of you that keeps getting postponed, and let this be the place you finally practice staying with her. And to stay connected and receive more insights, sign up for the Reduce the Noise Memo , Brig’s weekly newsletter that dives deeper into the topics discussed on the podcast. STAY CONNECTED — Website | Instagram | Facebook

September 28, 202627 min

EP. 269 Stop Treating Your Brain Like It Knows Better Than You Do - It Doesn't

In this episode, Brig talks about what happens when you stop treating every thought like it knows better than you do. She explains that your brain is not giving final answers. It is scanning for danger, pulling from old data, and trying to keep you safe. Some thoughts offer useful information, but others simply need to be questioned, answered, and moved past. Using the Batman and Robin example, Brig reminds listeners that the brain can send signals, but it does not get the final say. You do. If you’ve been stopped by thoughts like “you’re not ready,” “who do you think you are,” or “this probably won’t work” I encourage you to tune in as Brig shows how to answer those thoughts and take the next small step forward. What You Will Learn Why every thought does not deserve your obedience. How to tell the difference between fear and useful information. How to answer a thought without arguing with it. Why authority over your mind is built one response at a time. Why This Matters Brig reminds us that our brain is not the final authority. When you stop obeying every thought, you can move with more clarity, confidence, and ownership. Take Action This week, notice one thought that has been stopping you. Ask whether it gives real information or vague fear. Then answer it directly and take one small step forward. To stay connected and receive more insights, sign up for the Reduce the Noise Memo , Brig’s weekly newsletter that dives deeper into the topics discussed on the podcast. STAY CONNECTED — Website | Instagram | Facebook

September 21, 202620 min

EP. 268 It Was Never About Not Being Enough — We Just Needed To Learn To STAY

In this episode, Brig introduces S.T.A.Y, a framework for women chasing impossible goals who are tired of starting over, running out of energy, or blaming themselves when they quit. Brig names a truth many women need to hear: the issue is not that you are not enough. The issue may be that you have been trying to do hard things without the support, capacity, and structure those hard things require. Using the example of an ultra runner, Brig shows why no one finishes a demanding race alone. A runner needs pacers, a pit crew, training, fuel, and recovery. In the same way, women need infrastructure for their impossible. Brig introduces the four pillars of the S.T.A.Y framework: Speak, Tend, Armor, and Yara. These pillars help women look at their thoughts, relationships, bodies, and self-knowledge so they can build what they need to stay in the fight. What You Will Learn Why the issue may not be discipline, motivation, or ability. Why women need infrastructure when pursuing hard goals. What the four pillars of S.T.A.Y are. Why staying requires support, capacity, recovery, and self-knowledge. Why This Matters Brig reminds listeners that staying is the work. The goal is not to push through on an empty tank. The goal is to build the support needed to last the distance. Take Action This week, Brig invites you to: Notice where you have been blaming yourself for not staying. Identify one place where you need more support or structure. Ask what would help you stay in the fight when the dark miles come. To stay connected and receive more insights, sign up for the Reduce the Noise Memo , Brig’s weekly newsletter that dives deeper into the topics discussed on the podcast. STAY CONNECTED — Website | Instagram | Facebook

September 14, 202619 min

EP. 267 What's Draining You Series Recap

In this episode, Brig recaps the three drains that can leave women exhausted before they ever get to their impossible thing: the Vigilance Drain, the Relationship Drain, and the Decision Drain. She explains that exhaustion is not always coming from the work itself. Sometimes it comes from watching yourself, giving to everyone else, and deciding everything from scratch every single day. By the time you get to the business, the body, the book, or the life you want to build, you are already running low. Brig revisits each drain and gives one simple step for each. Track the moments when you edit yourself or monitor the room. Do an honest relationship audit and ask whether each relationship deposits or withdraws. Then make one North Star decision that helps smaller decisions become easier. This episode is for the woman who feels tired, scattered, and frustrated because she is working hard but moving slowly. Brig reminds us that we are not lazy. We are drained, and once we know where the energy is going, we can begin to close the drains. What You Will Learn What the Vigilance Drain is and how it keeps you watching yourself all day. How the Relationship Drain shows up when everyone leans on you, but you have no one to lean on. Why the Decision Drain happens when you have not made clear North Star decisions. How North Star decisions make smaller choices easier. How to start locating the drains so you can protect your energy. Why This Matters Brig reminds us that working harder is not always the answer. When your energy is leaking through vigilance, relationships, and constant decision-making, effort alone will not fix it. You have to see where the drain is happening before you can redirect your energy back to your impossible thing. Take Action This week, Brig invites you to: Track where you edit, monitor, or second-guess yourself for one day. Do a relationship audit and ask: does this deposit or withdraw? Make one North Star decision that gives your next decisions a clear filter. MENTIONED — 264 Why You're Exhausted By 12pm and You Ain't Done But One Thang 265 The Hidden Problem With Being Everybody's Person — But Nobody Is Yours 266 When Nothing You Try Seems to Work- Try This STAY CONNECTED — Website | Instagram | Facebook

September 7, 202627 min

EP. 266 When Nothing You Try Seems to Work - Try This

In this episode, Brig closes the Drain series by naming the authority drain: the energy lost when you do not know what you are for, what you are building, or what problem you are actually solving. Brig shares how, early in her coaching business, she spent thousands of dollars on programs, courses, workshops, and certifications because she had not made a clear North Star decision. She was buying solutions to problems she had not confirmed she actually had. The issue was not her skill. The issue was clarity. She explains that North Star decisions are high-level choices that make smaller decisions easier. When you know who you are, what you are building, and what matters most, you stop starting from zero every day. You have a filter for what to say yes to, what to pass on, and where your energy needs to go. This episode is for the woman who has done the work, bought the programs, hired the coaches, and still feels stuck. Brig reminds us that the next step may not be another solution. It may be getting clear on the actual problem, making one North Star decision, and building a simple protocol that removes the daily negotiation. What You Will Learn What the authority drain is and why it keeps you stuck. Why more skill is not always the answer. How North Star decisions make smaller decisions easier. Why you need to identify the actual problem before buying another solution. How protocols help remove daily negotiation and protect your energy. Why This Matters Brig reminds us that clarity protects energy. When you do not know what you are for, every decision costs full price. But when you make a North Star decision, your choices become clearer, your energy stops leaking, and execution becomes easier. Take Action This week, Brig invites you to: Identify the actual problem before investing in another solution. Make one North Star decision about who you are or what you are building. Create one simple protocol that makes a smaller decision automatic. To stay connected and receive more insights, sign up for the Reduce the Noise Memo , Brig’s weekly newsletter that dives deeper into the topics discussed on the podcast. MENTIONED — 264 Why You're Exhausted By 12pm and You Ain't Done But One Thang 265 The Hidden Problem With Being Everybody's Person — But Nobody Is Yours STAY CONNECTED — Website | Instagram | Facebook

August 31, 202623 min

EP. 265 The Hidden Problem With Being Everybody's Person — But Nobody Is Yours

In this episode, Brig talks about the hidden cost of always being the one who shows up. She names the relationship drain: the energy spent being the person everyone calls, the person who gives advice, holds the family together, handles the crisis, and shows up every time and shares how this drain showed up in her own life through a romantic relationship that took more than it gave. If you are a woman who keeps showing up for everyone else while your own impossible waits, this episode is your reminder that you are allowed to protect the fuel your dream requires. What You Will Learn How to tell the difference between relationships that deposit into you and relationships that only withdraw. Why your energy may already exist, but may be going somewhere else first. How romantic relationships, family, and friends can drain the same energy your impossible needs. Why receiving support is a skill, not a weakness. How to do a relationship audit without immediately forcing yourself to make a decision. Why This Matters Brig reminds us that exhaustion is not always about having too much to do. Sometimes it comes from relationships that only withdraw, leaving your energy, attention, and capacity constantly going out with very little coming back in. The energy you need to build your impossible may already exist. It may just be tied up in people, patterns, and obligations that are not giving anything back. Take Action This week, Brig invites you to do three things: Do an honest relationship audit. Ask: does this relationship deposit or withdraw? Choose one relationship that nourishes you and let yourself receive support. Name one place where you have been saying yes out of guilt instead of genuine desire. To stay connected and receive more insights, sign up for the Reduce the Noise Memo , Brig’s weekly newsletter that dives deeper into the topics discussed on the podcast. MENTIONED — EP. 263 I Should Have Known Better- Is Not A Lesson, It's a Sentence Keeping You Stuck STAY CONNECTED — Website | Instagram | Facebook

August 24, 202624 min

EP. 264 Why You're Exhausted By 12pm and You Ain't Done But One Thang

In this episode, Brig names the hidden reason many women feel exhausted before the day even starts. She calls it the vigilance drain. Brig explains how much energy gets spent reading rooms, monitoring your tone, rereading emails, softening your words, choosing how to show up, and watching for threats that may no longer be present. Through her experience as a Black Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist walking into new work environments, she shows how vigilance can keep you safe, but it can also quietly drain the energy you need for your real work, relationships, and dreams. What You Will Learn What the vigilance drain is and why it leaves you exhausted by noon. How self-monitoring, decision fatigue, and reading the room use up energy. Why familiar fear can feel like present danger. How to tell the difference between a room that is actually unsafe and a room that only feels familiar. How to put your guard down in spaces where you have already earned your place. Why This Matters Brig reminds listeners that exhaustion is not always about doing too much. Sometimes it comes from spending premium energy on surveillance, self-editing, and old safety patterns. This episode helps women recognize where their energy is going so they can stop giving every room the same level of attention. That energy belongs to the life, work, and impossible thing they are trying to build. Take Action Track your vigilance for one day. Notice every time you edit yourself, soften your tone, reread a message, monitor someone’s reaction, or question whether the room is actually safe. Then ask yourself: Is this situation truly dangerous, or does it just feel familiar to something I already survived? Practice putting your guard down on purpose in one room where you have already earned your place. To stay connected and receive more insights, sign up for the Reduce the Noise Memo , Brig’s weekly newsletter that dives deeper into the topics discussed on the podcast. STAY CONNECTED — Website | Instagram | Facebook

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