In this episode, we unpack the uncomfortable tension that can sometimes exist between women — especially when it feels unprovoked or unnecessary.

We reflect on experiences where women have been mean or hostile toward us "for no reason," and what we discovered when we looked deeper. As light-skinned, conventionally attractive women who grew up with access to education and opportunity, we acknowledge that we move through the world with advantages rooted in colorism, proximity to beauty standards, and the experience of often being "chosen."

We didn't create those systems — but we do benefit from them.

We talk honestly about how constantly being overlooked, never feeling chosen, or growing up outside of the beauty standard can harden someone. How that pain can sometimes manifest as resentment toward women who appear to have it "easier." And how layered and systemic these dynamics really are.

We also acknowledge a harder truth: while we don't consciously weaponize our privileges, there are women who look like us who do. And that reality contributes to the narrative.

But this conversation isn't about defensiveness — it's about responsibility.

We discuss our responsibility to go out of our way to be kind in those moments. To soften instead of react. To reshape the narrative. To build community over competition. To create safety instead of reinforcing hostility with our sisters.

Giving grace doesn't mean excusing behavior. It means understanding where it may come from — and choosing to respond in a way that heals instead of divides.

If you've ever felt tension with other women, questioned the role beauty standards play in female dynamics, or wondered how to create sisterhood instead of rivalry — this episode goes there.

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🍒 @thekelsilee
🍒 @janaiiman
✨ @xo.upfromhere

In this episode, we unpack something that quietly shapes the way women move through the world — our cycles.

We talk about how being on a monthly hormonal cycle impacts the way women show up in their careers, creatively, emotionally, and physically — and how that differs from men, who operate on a 24-hour hormonal rhythm. What does it mean to live in a world built around daily consistency when your body naturally moves in phases?

We explore the pressure women feel to perform at the same level every single day, even when their energy, focus, and emotional bandwidth naturally fluctuate. From pushing through creative lows to honoring rest without guilt, we question whether the expectation of constant productivity was ever designed with women in mind.

We also discuss the privilege in realizing we could choose to do nothing — and how that awareness shifts the way we think about ambition, softness, and choice.

From office temperatures literally calibrated to male bodies, to workplace structures built around male rhythms, we unpack how deeply male-centered design runs — and what it might look like to build systems that acknowledge biological differences without turning them into limitations.

This episode is about understanding your body, honoring your phases, and redefining performance in a way that feels sustainable — not punishing.

If you've ever felt behind, inconsistent, or frustrated with your own energy levels, this conversation might reframe everything.

Follow us on Instagram:
🍒 @thekelsilee
🍒 @janaiiman
✨ @xo.upfromhere

In this special Valentine's Day episode, David joins us for an honest, layered conversation about love, friendship, and the realities of being in a healthy relationship — especially when your relationship exists in the public eye.

We address the rumors head-on (no, we are not a throuple 🙄) and talk about why people are so quick to project narratives onto close friendships and romantic partnerships. From there, the conversation opens up into what David has learned about love through our relationship — the work it requires, the emotional accountability, and the intention it takes to build something real.

David shares how being in a relationship where strong friendships are valued has changed the way he sees connection altogether — how it's helped him appreciate friendship in a deeper way, while also awakening a desire for meaningful male friendships of his own.

We also talk honestly about what it feels like to "share" a partner with close friends, navigating boundaries, balance, and security without resentment. And we reflect on how witnessing healthy love can quietly raise the standard — Janai's understanding of what she deserves in relationships has shifted simply by seeing how Kelsi is treated.

This episode is about love in all its forms — romantic, platonic, and everything in between — and what happens when you choose to grow together instead of compete for space.

If you've ever questioned relationship dynamics, boundaries, or what healthy love actually looks like in real life, this episode is for you.

Follow us on Instagram:
🍒 @thekelsilee
🍒 @janaiiman
✨ @xo.upfromhere