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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love the show? subscribe, rate, and write a review!
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."
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“Hurley, an activist and community builder, has also cultivated the podcast that is the book's namesake. She draws upon the power of the auditory medium to tell compelling, accessible stories. Her voice is at once relatable, empowering, and creative.”
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"Thank you for hosting such a rich and important conversation. Your openness in sharing your own experience created a space that was both powerful and deeply human."
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"Lisa Hurley I love that you are bringing up the intersectionality of all the elements that influence our mental health and wellbeing."
recent episodes
Black Fatigue: Rest, Resistance, and Reclaiming the Self | Lisa Hurley, Mary-Frances Winters & Mareisha Winters Reese
Black people are expected to carry the weight of racism while continuing to work, lead, care for others, and prove their worth. That cumulative, intergenerational exhaustion has a name: Black fatigue.
In this episode of Space To Exhale: The Podcast, Lisa Hurley is joined by Mary-Frances Winters, founder and CEO of The Winters Group and bestselling author of Black Fatigue: How Racism Erodes the Mind, Body, and Spirit, and Mareisha Winters Reese, president and chief operating officer of The Winters Group and coauthor of the newly released second edition, for a powerful conversation about racism, chronic stress, health inequities, rest, resistance, and reclaiming the self.
Together, Lisa, Mary-Frances, and Mareisha explore the concept of Black fatigue, a phrase coined by Mary-Frances to describe the toll racism takes on the mind, body, and spirit. They examine why this fatigue persists, how it has intensified in a post-COVID world, and what it means for Black people to move beyond work, proving, and survival. They also discuss how individuals and organizations can move from awareness to meaningful, sustained change.
Whether you are experiencing the weight of Black fatigue, seeking language for what you have been carrying, or working to create more equitable and humane systems, this conversation offers insight, affirmation, and an urgent reminder: Black people deserve more than endurance. We deserve the space to heal, flourish, and rest.
Less Noise, More Connection: Creating Spaces Where Introverts Can Thrive | Lisa Hurley, Sharon Hurley Hall & Latrice Torres, SPHR
Meaningful connection does not have to be loud, crowded, or performative. When spaces are designed with care, introverts can connect, contribute, and thrive without being pressured to socialize or perform in ways that drain them.
In this episode of Space To Exhale: The Podcast, Lisa Hurley is joined by her sister, author and community builder Sharon Hurley Hall, and her friend, author and event strategist Latrice Torres, for a warm, candid conversation about introversion, intentional community, restorative rest, inclusive event design, and creating spaces where quieter people can fully belong.
Together, Lisa, Sharon, and Latrice explore how intimate gatherings, thoughtful retreats, and alternative approaches to networking can foster deeper relationships without constant activity or social pressure. They discuss the hidden energy required to host, network, build community, and “people” as an introvert; the importance of allowing participants to step away and recharge without explanation; and why rest should be built into our lives, events, and experiences. The conversation also offers a glimpse into Sharon’s Still & Sovereign Retreat in Barbados and Latrice’s book launch and TEDx celebration.
Whether you are an introvert seeking more affirming ways to connect, an event organizer designing inclusive experiences, or a community builder reconsidering what meaningful engagement can look like, this conversation offers practical insight into creating quieter, more restorative spaces where people can participate on their own terms—and where less noise can lead to more connection.
Not Built for Burnout | Lisa Hurley & Lauren Dike
Burnout is not a mark of personal failure. It's often the body's honest response to environments that demand constant performance while ignoring what the nervous system is trying to say.
In this episode of Space To Exhale: The Podcast, Lisa Hurley is joined by performance consultant, somatic coach, Harmonna founder, and author Lauren Dike for a grounded conversation about burnout recovery, somatics, nervous system regulation, workplace wellbeing, and sustainable success.
Together, Lisa and Lauren explore what becomes possible when the body is included in conversations about work, leadership, and success. They examine the difference between somatic practices and Somatic Experiencing, why nervous system safety is essential for wellbeing, and how rest, boundaries, joy, and self-trust can help people recover from burnout and build lives that are truly sustainable.
Whether you're feeling overwhelmed at work, recovering from burnout, or searching for a healthier way to succeed, this conversation offers practical insights for reconnecting with your body, honoring your nervous system, and creating success without sacrificing your wellbeing.
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 life-work 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, life-work 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.
enjoying the podcast? leave a review
If Space To Exhale: The Podcast has helped you rest, reflect, heal, or see your life differently, leaving a rating or review is a meaningful way to support the show.
Your words help new listeners decide to press play, and remind me that these conversations about rest, burnout recovery, emotional wellbeing, and softer living are reaching the people who need them.
A sentence or two is more than enough.
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 write a review. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Loving the show? Rate it and write a review. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Lisa’s podcast appearances
Real Talk on Racism, hosted by Russ Terry. Guest: Lisa Hurley
October 2021
frequently asked questions
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Space To Exhale: The Podcast is a 5-star-rated podcast and LinkedIn Live series hosted and executive produced by five-time Anthem Award-winning author, speaker, and cultural commentator Lisa Hurley.
The show explores rest, burnout recovery, emotional wellbeing, sustainable success, leadership, workplace culture, neurodivergence, and what it means to create a life that feels as good on the inside as it looks on the outside.
Through thoughtful conversations with experts, authors, leaders, healers, and changemakers, Lisa offers listeners new ways to think about how we live, work, rest, heal, and define success.
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The podcast is for anyone who is tired of living in constant overdrive and wants to experience a gentler, healthier, more rested life.
It may especially resonate with Black women, high achievers, leaders, caregivers, creatives, neurodivergent people, and anyone navigating burnout, workplace stress, major life transitions, or the pressure to keep producing at the expense of their wellbeing.
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Each episode combines a meaningful conversation with moments of reflection, grounding, and care. Depending on the topic, you may hear discussions about rest, mental health, workplace culture, identity, leadership, relationships, healing, boundaries, or sustainable success.
Episodes may also include breathwork, an affirmation, practical insights, and an invitation to consider how you are making space to exhale in your own life.
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No. You are welcome to join the live conversation, but you can also watch or listen whenever it works for you.
Live episodes include opportunities for audience participation and questions. Recordings are available afterward through podcast and video platforms, so you can engage with each conversation at your own pace.
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You can watch or listen to Space To Exhale: The Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, LinkedIn, and other major podcast platforms.
New episodes and upcoming live conversations are also shared through the Space To Exhale email community and social media channels.
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The podcast is inspired by the ideas explored in Space To Exhale: A Handbook for Curating a Soft, Centered, Serene Life.
Both the book and the show invite people to say no to hustle culture and yes to a life of ease. The podcast expands that conversation by bringing together a wide range of voices and perspectives on rest, healing, burnout recovery, wellbeing, and sustainable success.
You do not need to have read the book to enjoy or benefit from the podcast.
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The podcast is inspired by the ideas explored in Space To Exhale: A Handbook for Curating a Soft, Centered, Serene Life.
Both the book and the show invite people to say no to hustle culture and yes to a life of ease. The podcast expands that conversation by bringing together a wide range of voices and perspectives on rest, healing, burnout recovery, wellbeing, and sustainable success.
You do not need to have read the book to enjoy or benefit from the podcast.
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No. The podcast is rooted in my perspective as a Black Caribbean woman and intentionally creates space for conversations that center Black women and other people whose experiences are often overlooked.
At the same time, the themes explored on the show are relevant to listeners from many identities and backgrounds. Anyone seeking a more humane, grounded, and sustainable way to live and work is welcome.
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Guests are selected based on the relevance of their work to Lisa’s areas of focus, their lived or professional expertise, and their ability to contribute meaningfully to conversations about rest, wellbeing, burnout recovery, leadership, healing, workplace culture, neurodivergence, and sustainable success.
The goal is not simply to feature accomplished people, but to create thoughtful conversations that leave listeners feeling seen, supported, informed, or inspired.
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Yes. Thoughtful recommendations are welcome, particularly when the proposed guest or topic aligns closely with the purpose and themes of Space To Exhale.
Submitting a recommendation does not guarantee an invitation, but all suggestions may be considered for future conversations.
To express interest in being a guest, complete this form.
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No. The podcast offers education, reflection, personal perspectives, and general wellbeing support. It is not a substitute for therapy, medical treatment, mental health care, diagnosis, or individualized professional advice.
Please seek support from an appropriately licensed and qualified professional for your specific circumstances and needs.