After a beautiful, intentional break to bring the Positioned to Pause Retreat to life, Samantha returns with reflections on the power of community, compassion, and rest.

This episode is a love letter to the women who showed up, the ones who helped make it happen, and the reminder that you don’t have to recreate the same oppressive systems inside the business you’re building.

“Rest isn’t what happens when everything stops. Rest is what allows you to keep becoming.”

Brown Heart Affirmation:

“Today, I choose compassion over comparison.
I honor the season I’m in.
My pause is not proof of failure, it’s evidence of faith.”

Today's conversation is all about:

• The beauty of pausing with purpose

• What it means to heal with other people

• How community and joy fuel brave living

• A gentle invitation to join the One Brave Thing Community (free until Nov 8)

Healing happens with other people.
Join the free community through November 8 → samanthaedu.com/obtcommunity

This episode and the Positioned to Pause Retreat were made possible by partners who believe in rest, joy, and community care:

• The Honey Pot Co – Wellness reimagined for the modern woman.

• Smooth September Tea – Hand-blended teas that soothe and center.

• Georgia in a Jar – Southern sweetness and local love in every bite.

• Get Into Wine – Charcuterie pairings and bottles that make community gatherings even sweeter.

• Hormonal Cookie – Balancing indulgence with nourishment for your inner goddess.

Thank you for pouring into this moment of rest and reflection. 🤎

Samantha Edu is a licensed therapist, certified coach, and founder of Brown Heart Wellness—a community where Black women leaders, caregivers, and creatives learn to live bravely, rest intentionally, and lead authentically through the ROOT Framework (Reflect, Open, Overcome, Thrive).

A gentle reset before the pour. I open with a short intro, then Dr. Nicole Pertillar and I dig into what a real pause looks like and why it matters.

Episode overview:
Today I’m sharing our co-live conversation with Dr. Nicole Pertillar as we partner her Sip from the Well: 10 Days of Pause (Oct 1–10) with my Positioned to Pause mini-retreat (Oct 11). We talk about rest as a brave choice, how to pause without guilt, and practical ways to return to yourself so you can pour from overflow, not empty.

What you’ll hear:

• How to pause with intention and not lose your momentum

• Simple practices to create room for rest in a full life

• Why community helps you keep your pause promise to yourself

Save your seat for Positioned to Pause on Oct 11. Light bites, teacher-led mindful movement, journal time, community space, and a wellness kit.
www.samanthaedu.com/retreats

• Sip from the Well: 10 Days of Pause with Dr. Nicole Pertillar (Oct 1–10) — Register Here

• • Follow Dr. Nicole Pertillar on IG

  Resources:

  • Join the Brown Heart Substack Community

  Disclosure:
  This conversation is a collaboration to uplift rest, reflection, and community care.

  
  

In this episode of the Brown Heart Wellness Podcast, Samantha sits down with Khalia Davis Philp and Demetrius Philp, co-founders of Smooth September. They share the inspiration behind their wellness beverage company rooted in Caribbean healing traditions, the role of tea as a daily ritual, and the “One Brave Thing” guiding their journey as entrepreneurs. Samantha also shares her own experience with Smooth September’s Awakening Blend and how it has become part of her morning ritual.

Smooth September is a proud sponsor of the Positioned to Pause Retreat happening October 11 in Atlanta. Early bird tickets are going fast, and listeners can also enjoy 15% off Smooth September teas and juices with code BHW2025.

👉 Shop Smooth September: smoothseptember.com/discount/BHW2025
👉 Join the retreat: samanthaedu.com/retreats