Podcast Summary: The Mindful Marketing Podcast

Episode: Embracing Your True Voice in Marketing with Dr. Rhonda Alexander
Host: Andréa Jones
Guest: Dr. Rhonda Alexander
Date: November 4, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode centers on embracing authenticity in personal branding and marketing. Host Andréa Jones and guest Dr. Rhonda Alexander dive deep into the concept of showing up as your true self—removing the “performance” mask, breaking free from trends, and redefining strength, especially as it relates to women and women of color in entrepreneurship. Dr. Rhonda shares vulnerable insights from her own journey and offers actionable advice for business owners aiming to communicate and market with their real voice.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Journey to Authenticity

• Titles & Identity:
  Dr. Rhonda opens up about losing titles (employee, leader, mom, scholar) and having to rediscover who she truly is outside of roles.

  • “It's really difficult to know who you are when you have all of these titles. ... And then one day, some of those titles are gone.” (03:38)
  • She emphasizes the importance of helping entrepreneurs, especially women, uncover their personal truth—something that shapes the most effective, relatable brands.

• Host Resonance:
  Andréa connects personally—discussing her struggle merging pre- and post-motherhood identities and how this shift impacts her business priorities.

  • “For a long time my identity was tied up in my business and now it's not the most important thing in my life.” (03:22)

2. Discovering Your Real Voice

• Honesty & Introspection:
  Dr. Rhonda advocates for self-awareness and honest introspection, considering not just what you want, but what you don’t want.

  • “What you want to be is as important as what you don't want to be.” (07:07)
  • Our values and priorities evolve with life seasons; authenticity is about reflecting your current self accurately.

• Performance vs. Being:
  The discussion notes the prevalence of “performing” in business—presenting yourself how you think others want, rather than how you truly are.

  • “We hide behind the performance because the performance is comfortable.” (07:38, Dr. Rhonda)
  • “Most of us are performing instead of being... We're concerned that that person doesn't have what it takes to get into the rooms that we wanna be in.” (07:38, Dr. Rhonda)

3. Bridging the Gap: Past vs. Present Self

• Evolution Without Guilt:
  Andréa shares her shift—starting to curse in her marketing, reflecting her true self, but feeling guilt about alienating some followers.
  • “I used to say things like, I don't curse in my marketing. ... And now that I don't care, like, I literally just don't care anymore, the curses are becoming out.” (10:37)
• Dr. Rhonda’s Framework:
  Decide if your authentic habits harm or help, and recognize not everyone is your audience.
  • “When I'm true to me, I attract people who like me, and I get to work with people I like, who understand my vibe, my flow.” (13:07)
  • Sometimes, there isn’t a “bridge” between old and new self; some seasons simply end and new ones begin.

4. Facing Self-Doubt in Challenging Times

• Navigating Business Droughts:
  Andréa voices a common worry—whether the newfound authenticity might be to blame for slower business.
  • Dr. Rhonda reassures: cycles are normal, and confidence must come from within.
  • “My advice to my clients ... is double down. ... Bet on you. Bet on the fact that this is your life's assignment.” (17:45)
  • Flexibility in “how” you do things is key—what matters most is sticking to your authentic “why.”

5. A Practice for Self-Awareness

• Let the Body Lead:
  Dr. Rhonda suggests tuning into your body's reactions—listen for tension, dread, or excitement as reliable signals.
  • “If somebody says ... can you meet us Thursday at 6 for a 3 hour meeting? ... your body is saying, we don't want to do this.” (22:58)
  • Self-awareness begins with honesty and bodily intuition about decisions; it’s not about never doing uncomfortable things, but about avoiding needless self-betrayal.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Dr. Rhonda Alexander [03:38]:
  “The journey to really being authentic in your brand, ... really starts with understanding who you actually are outside of all of the hats you wear.”
• Dr. Rhonda Alexander [07:38]:
  “A lot of us are performing instead of being, and I talk about this in my book, we hide behind the performance because the performance is comfortable.”
• Dr. Rhonda Alexander [13:07]:
  “When I'm true to me, I attract people who like me, and I get to work with people I like, who understand my vibe, my flow.”
• Dr. Rhonda Alexander [17:45]:
  “Double down. My mom has this saying—before I take it back, I'll add more to it. ... Bet on you. Bet on the fact that this is your life's assignment.”
• Dr. Rhonda Alexander [22:58]:
  “One of the things I encourage people to do is to let your body help you make decisions.”
• Dr. Rhonda Alexander [25:25]:
  “Just because I had the idea doesn't necessarily mean I'm married to it or that I have to do it. ... When my body said we don't like this, self awareness allowed me to sit in that feeling, acknowledge the feeling, acknowledge, and make a decision.”
• Dr. Rhonda Alexander [28:17]:
  (On her book) “This book is the journey of my taking off that mask ... Everybody thought I had this great life. But behind the scenes, I was insecure, I was heartbroken... And one day my body said, we're done, we're finished.”

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:38] Dr. Rhonda’s Story – Discovering Authenticity
• [03:22] Andréa on Merging Identities (Parenthood & Business)
• [04:10] Finding Your Real Voice: What Do You Want To Be?
• [07:07] The Cost of Performance vs. Being
• [11:49] Visibly Shifting Your Brand; Losing Old Audiences
• [13:07] Example: “Burn it all down” coaching—embracing realness
• [16:48] Season Two—Doubt Gremlins & Business Droughts
• [17:45] Navigating Financial Slumps as an Entrepreneur
• [22:58] Self-Awareness Exercise—Listening to Your Body
• [28:17] Dr. Rhonda's Book: Seven Dirty Secrets of a Strong Black Woman

Resources Mentioned

• Book: Seven Dirty Secrets of a Strong Black Woman
• Audiobook: Coming January (pre-order info at 7dirtysecrets.net)
• Rhonda Alexander:
  • Author, coach, and advocate for authentic living and branding for women entrepreneurs
• The Mindful Marketing Podcast:
  • Next “What’s the Scoop” session: December 2nd (find links on their website)

Tone & Closing Reflections

Throughout, the episode maintains a warm, honest, and empowering tone—sprinkling in humor and real talk (“I cut the fool like everybody else”). Both Andréa and Dr. Rhonda encourage listeners to be unapologetically themselves, market from a place of self-knowledge, and trust the right audience will resonate.

“I'm at the stage now. I'm not, I'm not. I'm not gonna do it.” (27:54, Dr. Rhonda)
A simple, powerful mantra for listeners eager to market with integrity and heart.