Balanced Black Girl Podcast: [Bonus Solo] Having an Identity Crisis, My Ideal Workout Routine, and Big Podcast Updates

Release Date: February 28, 2025

In this bonus solo episode of the Balanced Black Girl podcast, host Les Delissa offers a candid and heartfelt update on her personal and professional journey. This episode delves deep into her current identity crisis, plans for rebranding the podcast, reflections on her year living in New York, and insights into her evolving workout routines. The episode is structured into several key sections, each highlighting significant aspects of Les's life and work.

1. Reflections on Solo Episodes and Community Engagement (00:10 - 02:30)

Les begins by discussing her experience with solo podcast episodes, which comprised about 50-60% of her content last year. She shares the positive feedback from her community, appreciating the deeper connection formed through one-on-one conversations. However, she also addresses the challenges, noting that solo episodes are more taxing mentally despite being logistically simpler.

Notable Quote:

"Sitting and talking to myself for an extended period of time to make a cohesive episode is so much harder than being in conversation with somebody else." (00:50)

Les announces a shift to a monthly solo episode cadence, believing that spacing out these episodes will allow her to bring more valuable and diverse content by living through more experiences in between.

2. Navigating an Identity Crisis in Content Creation (02:30 - 15:00)

Les opens up about experiencing a significant identity crisis, not personally but professionally. She feels that the wellness niche, which has been the core of her podcast since its inception in 2014, no longer aligns with her current interests and professional direction.

Key Points:

• Over Saturation of Wellness Content: After nearly 300 episodes, Les feels she has exhausted the topics within wellness that she is passionate about.
• Desire for Broader Content: She expresses a yearning to explore beyond wellness, venturing into areas like business, entrepreneurship, and the mindset of successful women.
• Pressure to Conform: Despite her evolving interests, Les feels pigeonholed by her established identity as a wellness guru, leading to internal pressure to maintain this image even when it no longer resonates with her.

Notable Quote:

"Calling it wellness kind of waters it down and doesn't really fit anymore." (05:15)

Les emphasizes the importance of authenticity, acknowledging that her current audience primarily understands her through the wellness lens, making the transition challenging but necessary for her growth.

3. Plans for Rebranding the Podcast (15:00 - 35:00)

One of the central themes of this episode is Les’s announcement of rebranding her podcast. She reveals that later in the spring, the podcast will undergo a significant transformation to better reflect the diverse content she now wishes to explore.

Key Points:

• New Branding Goals: The new brand will move away from the restrictive notion of "balance" and embrace a broader lifestyle focus.
• Community Trust: Les reassures her listeners that the rebrand is not an abandonment but an evolution, ensuring that loyal followers remain connected through the transition.
• Positive Messaging: She aims to shift the narrative from predominantly discussing challenges and trauma to highlighting uplifting and multifaceted aspects of life.
• Protecting the Platform: Concerns about censorship and suppression under the old brand name prompted the rebrand to safeguard her business and continue delivering valuable content.

Notable Quote:

"This is really an evolution that I want everyone to be a part of." (25:45)

Les shares her excitement and apprehension about the change, highlighting the importance of evolving to stay true to her current self and the needs of her growing community.

4. Life Update: Moving to New York and Reflections on LA (35:00 - 49:00)

Les provides a personal update on her life, sharing insights into her first year living in New York City compared to her previous four years in Los Angeles.

Key Points:

• Dynamic Lifestyle in NYC: Contrary to her experience in LA, where she felt isolated and stuck in repetitive routines, New York offers a vibrant and ever-changing environment.
• Personal Growth: The move has allowed her to connect more with the community, fostering a stronger sense of belonging and support.
• Challenges of Transition: Despite the positive changes, Les acknowledges moments of burnout from the constant activity and the need to find balance between social engagements and downtime.
• Emotional Well-being: Reflecting on her time in LA, Les realizes how the pandemic-induced isolation contributed to feelings of depression, whereas her life in NYC has been more fulfilling and authentic.

Notable Quote:

"I like who I am here more than I liked who I was there." (40:20)

Les emphasizes the significance of environment on personal well-being and how intentional living in New York has positively impacted her life.

5. Evolving Workout Routines and Fitness Philosophy (49:00 - 55:00)

Despite expressing fatigue with discussing wellness content, Les shares her evolved approach to fitness, which aligns with her broader content goals.

Key Points:

• Shift to Class-Based Workouts: Moving away from solo training, Les now engages in various fitness classes, including strength and conditioning, Pilates, and bar classes. This change has enhanced her muscular endurance and overall fitness.
• Community and Convenience: Participating in classes provides Les with the community support and structured guidance she found lacking in solo workouts.
• Personal Satisfaction: She feels stronger, fitter, and more confident in her body than she did in her mid-20s, attributing this to her new workout regimen.

Notable Quote:

"With bar, I'm building more muscular endurance, which makes my heavy strength workouts more effective." (50:10)

Les advocates for reducing decision fatigue in fitness by relying more on structured classes, highlighting the mental and physical benefits she has experienced.

6. Personal Aspirations and Creative Pursuits (55:00 - End)

Les concludes the episode by discussing her aspirations beyond the podcast and her current focus on achieving specific goals.

Key Points:

• Manifesting a New Apartment: A significant goal for Les this year is moving into her dream apartment. She is actively saving for this move by cutting back on expenses like nail services.
• Future Creative Projects: Les expresses a desire to delve into fiction writing and self-publishing in her 40s, treating each decade of her life as a distinct phase with its own focus.
• Balance Between Work and Play: While currently prioritizing work on the rebrand and business goals, Les plans to incorporate more playful and creative activities later in the year, such as writing classes and retreats.

Notable Quote:

"I do not feel like there's anything missing from my life right now. I consider myself such a lucky, blessed person." (53:15)

Les emphasizes a sense of contentment with her current life while remaining open to future changes and growth, encouraging her listeners to embrace their own evolution.

Conclusion

In this introspective solo episode, Les Delissa provides an in-depth look into her ongoing personal and professional transformation. From grappling with an identity crisis within her content niche to planning a strategic rebrand of her podcast, Les demonstrates a commitment to authenticity and growth. Her reflections on moving to New York, evolving fitness routines, and future creative ambitions offer a comprehensive update for her listeners. By sharing her vulnerabilities and aspirations, Les fosters a deeper connection with her audience, inviting them to join her on this journey of continuous evolution.

Final Thoughts: Les's honesty about her struggles and excitement for her future endeavors serves as an inspiration for listeners navigating their own paths. Her decision to rebrand signifies a fearless approach to change, encouraging others to align their work with their true selves.

Thank you for tuning into this bonus solo episode of Balanced Black Girl. Stay connected through Les’s social media channels for more updates and behind-the-scenes content as she embarks on this new chapter.