space to exhale: the podcast
inspiring conversations for everyone who is ready to recover from burnout, redefine success, and enjoy a softer, more sustainable life
hosted by five-time anthem award-winning author, Lisa Hurley •inspired by the multi-award-winning book space to exhale •5-star rated
say no to hustle culture and yes to a life of ease. that’s what making space to exhale is all about. join five-time anthem award winning author, speaker, reiki master, and community builder Lisa Hurley as she provides you with tips, tools, and strategies to help you curate a life you love.
inspired by her multi-award-winning book, space to exhale: a handbook for curating a soft, centered, serene life, space to exhale: the podcast brings together leading voices for inspiring conversations about burnout recovery, mental health, rest, boundaries, workplace wellbeing, leadership, soft living, and sustainable success. each episode explores practical ways to preserve your peace, reconnect with yourself, and create a life that you don’t feel you need to take a break from.
through healing modalities like breathwork, affirmations, meditations, and insights born from lived experience, Lisa guides you on a life-changing journey to help you know yourself, love yourself, be yourself—and create much-needed space to exhale.
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inspiring conversations with leading voices
space to exhale: the podcast brings together bestselling authors, leadership experts, workplace strategists, clinicians, researchers, and changemakers for thoughtful conversations about burnout recovery, mental health, rest, boundaries, leadership, sustainable success, and creating lives with more space to exhale.
featuring Trey Anthony, Lola Bakare, Amira Barger, Janelle Benjamin, Jeri Bingham, Tara Jaye Frank, Minda Harts, Sharon Hurley Hall, Elaine Lin Hering, Dr. Jade Singleton, Dr. Nika White, and many more.
discover the conversations helping thousands of viewers and listeners create more space to exhale.
latest episode
community exhales: reflections from viewers, listeners & guests
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"what you are doing is wonderful, and most valuable for Black women and more."
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"Lisa Hurley's space to exhale podcast is the only thing I'm listening to these days."
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“as a white guy I find myself learning something new with every conversation."
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"i have thoroughly enjoyed Lisa Hurley's perspectives and those of her guests. I encourage others to tune in"
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"the voices are authentic, the experiences are true, and the connections are undeniable. there is a takeaway in each episode that you can use."
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"the space to exhale podcast is at the same time a wake-up call and a source of hope. Lisa has created something rare: a safe space for hard truths, which educates, uplifts, and inspires."
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every episode is a powerful mix of the truth, joy, and perspective that the world needs now. I'm grateful for what I have learned already, and I can't recommend space to exhale highly enough--for anyone."
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"ultimately, there is a reason in each exchange that reminds you that, no matter how hectic life gets, a Black woman deserves to, and must make space to exhale."
recent episodes
Overdrive vs. Underdrive: Redefining Success | Lisa Hurley & Latrice Torres, SPHR
Overdrive has become the default for far too many of us. Hustling. Pushing. Relentlessly pursuing more, more, more. This episode invites you to imagine healthier, more sustainable way to live and work.
In this episode of Space To Exhale: The Podcast, Lisa Hurley is joined by leadership coach, HR executive, TEDx speaker, and LeaderKeys Consulting Founder & CEO Latrice Torres for a thought-provoking conversation about work-life balance, leadership, burnout recovery, authenticity, rest, and sustainable success.
Together, Lisa and Latrice explore the difference between overdrive and underdrive: a signature concept from Lisa's multi-award-winning book, Space To Exhale: A Handbook for Curating a Soft, Centered, Serene Life. They examine why so many high achievers, especially Black women, feel pressured to overperform, and how embracing underdrive can lead to greater wellbeing, stronger leadership, and lasting success without sacrificing your peace.
Whether you're navigating career growth, leading others, or recovering from burnout, this conversation offers practical wisdom for redefining success with greater ease, clarity, and intention.
Menopause, Managed: Rest, Resilience & Reclaiming Yourself | Lisa Hurley & Dr. Daemon Jones
People experiencing menopause deserve more than myths, fear, and silent suffering. They deserve honest conversations, practical tools, and the reminder that this season of life can also be one of renewal.
In this episode of Space To Exhale: The Podcast, Lisa Hurley is joined by licensed naturopathic doctor and menopause educator Dr. Daemon Jones, author of Eat More Plants, for an empowering conversation about perimenopause, menopause, women's health, resilience, rest, and self-care.
Together, Lisa and Dr. Dae explore how you can navigate hormonal changes with knowledge, confidence, and self-compassion, while reframing menopause as an opportunity to reconnect with yourself and embrace a new season of life.
Whether you're experiencing perimenopause, supporting someone who is, or simply preparing for the future, this conversation offers practical guidance and an encouraging reminder that menopause isn't the end of your story—it's the beginning of a healthier, more grounded, and more vibrant chapter.
Responsible Success: Thriving Without Losing Yourself | Lisa Hurley & Lola Bakare
Success means very little if it costs you your peace.
In this episode of Space To Exhale: The Podcast, Lisa Hurley is joined by Lola Bakare—Founder of be/co, creator of the #ResponsibleMarketing movement, and author of Responsible Marketing—for an inspiring conversation about burnout recovery, sustainable success, work-life balance, leadership, boundaries, rest, and self-love.
Together, Lisa and Lola explore how to build a meaningful life and career without sacrificing your wellbeing. They discuss responsible marketing, values-based leadership, the power of affirmations, and why true success should support your life—not consume it.
Whether you're navigating burnout, leading a team, building a business, or redefining success on your own terms, this conversation offers practical wisdom to help you preserve your peace while creating a life you love.
The Devil Emails at Midnight: The Cost of Bad Bosses | Lisa Hurley & Mita Mallick
Bad bosses don't just ruin our workdays—they can affect our mental health, relationships, confidence, and ability to rest.
In this episode of Space To Exhale: The Podcast, Lisa Hurley is joined by Wall Street Journal bestselling author Mita Mallick, author of Reimagine Inclusion and The Devil Emails at Midnight, for a powerful conversation about toxic leadership, workplace culture, burnout, boundaries, and wellbeing.
Together, Lisa and Mita explore the hidden cost of bad bosses, why healthy boundaries are essential for sustainable success, and how to protect your peace in demanding work environments. Whether you're leading a team, navigating a difficult workplace, or recovering from burnout, this conversation offers practical insights to help you redefine success without sacrificing your wellbeing.
Still & Sovereign: Designing Spaces to Exhale | Lisa Hurley & Sharon Hurley Hall
Season 2 of Space To Exhale: The Podcast begins with an invitation to slow down, breathe deeply, and intentionally create space to exhale.
Lisa Hurley is joined by her sister, Sharon Hurley Hall—author of I'm Tired of Racism and creator of The Unsilenced Method™—for a thoughtful conversation about rest, soft living, community, introversion, and creating environments where Black women can thrive without performance or perfection.
Together, they explore the power of designing spaces that support healing, self-trust, and sustainable wellbeing. From Sharon's Still & Sovereign Retreat in Barbados to her Quiet Queens gatherings in London, this episode offers practical wisdom for anyone seeking a more peaceful, intentional, and authentic way to live.
Whether you're recovering from burnout, embracing a softer life, or learning to honor your needs without apology, this conversation is a beautiful place to begin.
explore the archive
The Gift of Gratitude: Appreciation as Alchemy, featuring Sharon Hurley Hall. Discover how gratitude can transform the way you live. Listen on Spotify ↑
Tender Armor: Better Boundaries for Softer Living, featuring Alexis Mobley. Preserve your peace without hardening your heart. Listen on Spotify ↑
Choose Yourself: Survival, Self-Care, and Sovereignty, featuring Tara Jaye Frank. Putting yourself before the world isn't selfish: it's essential. Listen on Spotify ↑
Rest as Revolt: The Ninety-Two Documentary and The Stoic Era, featuring Dr. Jade Singleton. What if rest became your greatest act of resistance? Listen on Spotify ↑
Be Yourself: Showing up Authentic, Abundant, and Aligned, featuring Trey Anthony. Stop performing. Start living authentically. Listen on Spotify ↑
The Real Glow Up: Soft Living as Self Care featuring Dr. Kathryn Tapper. The most powerful transformation begins within. Listen on Spotify ↑
Working While Black, Trials, Tribulations, and Transcendence, Part 2, featuring Sharon Hurley Hall. Thriving at work shouldn't require sacrificing yourself. Listen on Spotify ↑
Exhale Into Empathy: Choosing Grace, Joy, and Self-Love, featuring Tammy Triolo. Empathy heals us as much as it heals others. Listen on Spotify ↑
Know Your Self: The Blueprint for Soft Living, featuring Dana Brownlee. Self-awareness is where soft living begins. Listen on Spotify ↑
Reclaiming Our Breath: Moving from Survival Mode to Serenity, featuring Zee Clarke. Move beyond merely surviving, and reclaim your peace. Listen on Spotify ↑
The ROI of Rest: Choosing Health Over Hustle Culture, featuring Dr. Nika White. Rest is one of the smartest investments you'll ever make. Listen on Spotify ↑
The Power of the Pause: How a Sabbatical Saved my Spirit, featuring Dr. Samantha-Rae Dickenson. Sometimes stepping away is the bravest thing to do. Listen on Spotify ↑
The Price of Nice: The Hidden Costs of People-Pleasing, featuring Amira Barger. People-pleasing often costs more than we realize. Listen on Spotify ↑
Writing to Exhale: Triumph, Truth, and Transcendence (Part 2), featuring Elona Washington. Stories have the power to heal us. Listen on Spotify ↑
Working Twice As Hard: Why Black Women Need a Break, featuring Janelle Benjamin. Black women should be valued for more than their labor. Listen on Spotify ↑
Work Smart: Build Better Teams with the Seven Trust Languages, featuring Minda Harts. Build stronger teams by leading with trust. Listen on Spotify ↑
Hush Loudly, Live Boldly: The Power of the Quiet Ones, featuring Jeri Bingham. Quiet voices can change the world. Listen on Spotify ↑
Triumph After Trauma: Going from Triggered to Transformed, featuring Alechia Reese. Healing is possible after even the deepest wounds. Listen on Spotify ↑
Writing to Exhale: Triumph, Truth, and Transcendence (Part 1), featuring Elona Washington. Writing can become a pathway to freedom. Listen on Spotify ↑
Soft-Life School: Black Genius and the Need for Rest featuring Dr. Chantell Frazier. Rest isn't a reward; it's a human need. Listen on Spotify ↑
Visas, Verses, and Vulnerability: Healing Through Words and Wandering featuring Herisa Stanislaus. The transformational power of travel and poetry. Listen on Spotify ↑
Having It All: Reframing the Narative for Black Women, featuring Liku Amadi, Esq. It's time to redefine what "having it all" means for Black Women. Listen on Spotify ↑
Writing While Black: The Words, The Work, and The Wisdom, featuring Sharon Hurley Hall. Writing is both an act of courage and liberation. Listen on Spotify ↑
The Space To Exhale Book Launch: A Celebration of Sisterhood, Success, and Soft Living, featuring Liku Amadi, Esq., LaTonya Davis, Lisa hurley, Sharon Hurley Hall, Alexis Mobley, and Elona Washington. Listen on Spotify ↑
Working While Black: Trials, Tribulations, and Transcendence, Part 1, featuring Sharon Hurley Hall. Let's tell the truth about work, and imagine a better way. Listen on Spotify ↑
Finding Balance: The Silence Within vs. The Silence Without, featuring Elaine Lin Hering. Finding your voice begins with listening to yourself. Listen on Spotify ↑
Thinking Gently: Why Living the Soft Life Starts in the Mind, featuring LaTonya Davis. The tenderest thoughts often create the deepest change. Listen on Spotify ↑
Curate Your Career: Strategies for Charting Your Path, featuring Latrice Torres. Design a career that reflects who you truly are. Listen on Spotify ↑
Being a Black Woman: How Boundaries Benefit Us, featuring Alexis Mobley. Boundaries create the freedom to thrive. Listen on Spotify ↑
Just Breathe: Why We All Need Some Space To Exhale, featuring Lisa Hurley. Everything begins with one deep, healing breath. Listen on Spotify ↑
Loving the show? Rate it and leave a review! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Loving the show? Rate it and leave a review! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Lisa’s podcast appearances
Real Talk on Racism, hosted by Russ Terry. Guest: Lisa Hurley
October 2021