Home Podcasts Softly Unfiltered
Softly Unfiltered

Softly Unfiltered

Ashlyn & Blake 89 Episodes Aug 19, 2026

Hosted by Ashlyn and Blake, two multifaceted Black women based in Houston, Softly Unfiltered is where soft meets honest. Each week, they get real about personal growth, healing, navigating corporate America, and the messy, funny, and complex realities of modern dating. From breaking generational cycles to finding their voice in spaces that weren't built for them, their conversations blend honesty, humor, and hard truths—all rooted in their lived experiences. New episodes every Wednesday.

Episodes

Why Is It So Hard for Black Women to Be Average? | Twice as Good, Rest & Overachieving
Why Is It So Hard for Black Women to Be Average? | Twice as Good, Rest & Overachieving Aug 19, 2026 39:10 In this episode, Blake and Ashlyn are asking a question that sounds simple but carries a lot of weight: why is it so hard for Black women to be average? From childhood, many Black women are taught to be twice as good, overly prepared, polished, resilient, and constantly improving. We talk about what happens when those lessons follow us into adulthood and excellence stops feeling like a choice and
The Good Black Girl | How Being Good Follows Black Women Into Adulthood
The Good Black Girl | How Being Good Follows Black Women Into Adulthood Aug 12, 2026 42:15 Softly Unfiltered is a podcast exploring Black womanhood, identity, relationships, healing, self-worth, friendship, career, and the unspoken experiences of modern Black women.In this episode, Blake and Ashlyn are unpacking the “Good Black Girl” identity and what happens when the traits that earned you praise growing up start following you into adulthood. Being responsible, accomplished, dependable
Finish the Damn Thing. Stop Starting. Start Finishing.
Finish the Damn Thing. Stop Starting. Start Finishing. Aug 5, 2026 39:02 In this episode Blake and Ashlyn are talking about the thing nobody wants to admit. The half-finished projects. The goals that started strong and lost steam. The new ideas that keep replacing the old ones before any of them get finished. This episode is about the psychology of starting without finishing, and why finishing the damn thing is one of the most powerful things you can do for your confid
Keep the Promises You Make to Yourself | Coach Zha on Pilates, Self-Trust & Discipline
Keep the Promises You Make to Yourself | Coach Zha on Pilates, Self-Trust & Discipline Jul 29, 2026 50:06 Softly Unfiltered is a podcast exploring Black womanhood, identity, relationships, healing, self-worth, friendship, career, and the unspoken experiences of modern Black women.In this episode, Blake and Ashlyn sit down with Coach Zha, Nike Well Collective trainer, certified Pilates instructor, marathoner, founder of The League, and creator of Black Girl Pilates Club.What starts as a conversation ab
Knowing When to Walk Away | Jobs, Friendships & Relationships
Knowing When to Walk Away | Jobs, Friendships & Relationships Jul 22, 2026 37:26 Softly Unfiltered is a podcast exploring Black womanhood, identity, relationships, healing, self-worth, friendship, career, and the unspoken experiences of modern Black women.In this episode Blake and Ashlyn are talking about knowing when to leave. A job. A relationship. A friendship. And why so many of us stay way longer than we should, waiting for some dramatic event to justify the exit. The tru
Strong or Struggling? | Why Black Women Struggle Asking For Help
Strong or Struggling? | Why Black Women Struggle Asking For Help Jul 15, 2026 29:50 In this episode Blake and Ashlyn are talking about something that a lot of women, and especially Black women, have a really hard time with. Asking for help. Why do we resist it so much? What does it actually cost us to always say we are fine? And what does it look like to finally let people in without losing ourselves in the process?We got into:• The difference between being genuinely strong and j
All I Need to Do Is Stay Black and Die | The Pressure to Make Everyone Else Comfortable
All I Need to Do Is Stay Black and Die | The Pressure to Make Everyone Else Comfortable Jul 8, 2026 31:18 In this episode Blake and Ashlyn are talking about something that every Black woman in a predominantly white space has felt but does not always have the language for. The invisible labor of performing palatability. The exhaustion of scanning every room. The pressure to shrink yourself, over-explain yourself, and apologize for taking up space. And the very real question of how you stay pro-Black wh
What If Changing Direction Was the Best Thing That Ever Happened to You?
What If Changing Direction Was the Best Thing That Ever Happened to You? Jul 1, 2026 33:34 Welcome to Season 3 of Softly Unfiltered. Formerly known as Suburban Black Girl Podcast, we're back with a new name, the same mission, and a season opener that felt only right. Because what better way to kick off a rebrand than by talking about what happens when life forces you to change direction?In this episode, Blake and Ashlyn unpack the pivots, redirections, fear, and even grief that come wit
Why Are Girls Low Key Weird? | The Truth About Female Friendships and Female Rivalry
Why Are Girls Low Key Weird? | The Truth About Female Friendships and Female Rivalry Jun 24, 2026 42:49 In this episode Blake and Ashlyn are getting into something every woman has experienced but rarely says out loud. Why do female friendships sometimes come with unspoken competition instead of pure support? Why does the energy shift the moment you start surpassing someone? They get into jealousy, passive aggression, social media as a hater detector, and what it actually means to protect your peace
You're Not Asking for Too Much, You're Just Done Settling | Standards vs. Settling
You're Not Asking for Too Much, You're Just Done Settling | Standards vs. Settling Jun 17, 2026 34:23 In this episode Blake and Ashlyn are getting into something a lot of women have felt but couldn't always name. The difference between being fed up and being truly done. What settling actually looks like in real life, not the dramatic version but the quiet everyday version where you're pretending you're happy and dimming your light to keep the peace. And why you were never asking for too much. You
She Has Everything But A Man | Why a Woman's Life Is Never Allowed to Just Be Enough on Its Own
She Has Everything But A Man | Why a Woman's Life Is Never Allowed to Just Be Enough on Its Own Jun 10, 2026 36:18 In this episode Blake and Ashlyn are talking about something that does not get said enough. Why is a woman's life never allowed to just be enough on its own? Why does a successful, accomplished, thriving single woman still get treated like she is missing something? And why is it always a man that is supposed to complete the picture? They get into the double standards, the societal pressure, the da
You Can Be Confident and Still Have Low Self-Worth | Why We Accept Less Than We Deserve
You Can Be Confident and Still Have Low Self-Worth | Why We Accept Less Than We Deserve Jun 3, 2026 32:07 In this episode Blake and Ashlyn are breaking down something that a lot of high achieving women have felt but could never fully name. You can be the most confident, accomplished, successful woman in the room and still not believe you deserve the things you have built. That is the difference between self-esteem and self-worth. And in this episode they get deeply personal about where that gap comes

Recommended